Three new members were inducted into the Iowa Business Hall of Fame at a black-tie dinner last night in Des Moines. Susan Ramsey with the Greater Des Moines Partnership says they’re familiar to many statewide — Barry Griswell, Ron Pearson, and Harry Stine, men who’ve had a great deal to do with promoting the quality of life as well as the business community. Barry Griswell is chairman and CEO of Principal Financial Group. Ramsey says one of his biggest accomplishments was to chair the United Way campaign and led it to set records not just for Iowa but for the country. Ron Pearson’s known as the leader of Iowa’s successful Hy-Vee grocery chain. Ramsey says Pearson started out with a parttime job at Hy-Vee and while rising to CEO also has served as chair of the Food Marketing Institute, Iowa Business Council, served on the Drake board of trustees, Iowa College Foundation and the Greater Des Moines Partnership. The third member is known more for country than city success, but Ramsey says he has business savvy as well as country heart. Harry Stine calls himself a “farmer first and a seedsman second,” and in three decades, his Stine Seed Company has become one of the top soybean suppliers in the country. The Greater Des Moines Committee is a philanthropic group of metro-area business leaders. Last night’s Iowa Business Hall of Fame banquet was held at the Iowa State Historical Building in Des Moines.
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