Four NE Iowa ladies honored as Rising Stars Under 40 by 7 Rivers Alliance
Northeast Iowa ladies honored as Rising Stars Under 40 ... The four ladies pictured above from northeast Iowa were all recognized as Rising Stars Under 40 at a reception hosted by 7 Rivers Alliance October 20 in La Crescent, MN. Pictured, left to right, are Kristy Turner of Postville Child Care Center, Jenny Cole of The Learning Tree Child Center in Lansing, Jackie Cooper of Main Street Lansing, and Ashley Christensen of Upper Explorerland Regional Planning Commission. All four were honored as being emerging young leaders across the 7 Rivers Alliance tri-state region who are making a difference in their communities. Photo courtesy of Val Reinke, Allamakee County Economic Development and Tourism.
The 7 Rivers Alliance, an economic development organization for the tri-state area of the Upper Mississippi Region, held its 10th Annual Rising Stars Under 40 Reception October 20 at the La Crescent Event Center in La Crescent, MN. The Rising Stars Under 40 recognition honors emerging young leaders across the region who are making a difference in their communities - and beyond.
Among this year’s nearly two dozen honorees were four ladies from northeast Iowa who have each had their own impact within their local community and perhaps further beyond by themselves, but may also have collaborated within some of their work for even greater and farther reaching impact.
Those four ladies include Jenny Cole of Learning Tree Child Center in Lansing, Jackie Cooper of Main Street Lansing, Kristy Turner of Postville Childcare Center, and Ashley Christensen of Upper Explorerland Regional Planning Commission (UERPC).
Val Reinke, Executive Director of Allamakee County Economic Development and Tourism (ACED) has worked with each of these women in some capacity in her leadership role with Allamakee County. She has experienced first-hand the impact that each of them has made on their local community and beyond.
“I’m glad to work with all four Rising Stars!” Reinke praised. “All four of these women are change-makers, and I am proud to call them colleagues and friends. Kristy Turner recently started Mindful Solutions & Mediation in Postville, and we’re teaming up to bring Allamakee County Leadership to the county in 2026. Jenny Cole is the director at The Learning Tree Child Center in Lansing, and we collaborate within the Allamakee County Child Care Coalition through fundraising, advocacy, and education. Jackie Cooper is the director at Main Street Lansing and also serves on the ACED Board, and we work together to enhance tourism efforts in Lansing and throughout the county. Ashley Christensen is employed at UERPC, and we work together to move infrastructure projects forward in our communities.”
To read the full article, pick up the Wednesday, November 12, 2025 print edition of The Standard or subscribe to our e-edition or print edition by clicking here.
