2025 Catalysts Live Event – Innovation for All Iowans
The Catalysts Series is a collection of conversations with the changemakers and organizations forging new paths through innovation to guide Iowa’s technology industry forward to a more inclusive future.
At the 2025 Catalysts Live event on July 17th, this year’s five honorees were celebrated and honored.
Years ago, the Catalysts Live series was created to highlight those who inspire change, forge new paths, and ignite innovations across the state of Iowa.
But it’s grown into much more than that. Today, the series is a testament to the transformative power of technology and the community’s dedication to inclusivity.
At this year’s Catalysts Live event, attendees heard inspiring stories and diverse perspectives that highlighted how five different organizations are sparking change and innovation through big ideas.
This year’s honorees were:
Denton Davis Brown: From Cornfields to Code: How Immigrants are Key to Fueling Iowa’s Growing Tech Industry
Easterseals Iowa: Path to Independence: Disability & Employment
Tumbleweed: From the Heartland to the Heart of the Matter: Innovation, Caregiving & Community
generate @ UnityPoint Health: Health Making in the Heartland
IA Women in Tech: Beyond the Title; Building Belonging for Women in Tech
Brian Waller, President of the Technology Association of Iowa, kicked off the event by sharing how the Catalysts event is about possibility.
“It’s about stories that remind us what’s possible when innovation is made accessible to all. When people are empowered, are invited in, and given space to thrive.”
The program served as a call to action. A reminder that innovation doesn’t just happen in boardrooms or labs. It happens in classrooms, communities, and everyday conversations. This year’s honorees exemplified that idea, expanding what’s possible in Iowa by ensuring more people have a seat and a voice at the table.
The event also welcomed Jason Katcher, TAI’s 2025 Board Chair and Senior Vice President and Chief Information Officer at ITA Group, who underscored the momentum of the event.
“It’s energizing to be in a room filled with creators, leaders, and changemakers all committed to shaping an Iowa where innovation is for everyone."
Catalysts Live wouldn’t be possible without the support of UnityPoint Health, which has been a key partner in making the event a reality. Each year, Laura Smith of UnityPoint Health meets with Waller to align on the shared mission of caring for people — a value at the heart of both the organization and the Catalysts experience.
UnityPoint Health not only sponsored the event, but also underwrote free tickets for several community organizations and created a scholarship for Iowa Tech Connect to ensure access and opportunity.
“This event reminds us that innovation and inclusion go hand in hand, and that meaningful progress happens when all voices are welcome and at the table."
As Catalysts Live continues to inspire, its message remains the same: Let these stories move you to act. Keep building a future where innovation truly is for everyone in Iowa.
Explore more stories from this year’s honorees:
