Rick Dickinson, a Sabula, Iowa, native and the eldest of seven children, has dedicated his career to economic development and public service. He holds a B.A. from William Penn University in Oskaloosa, Iowa and an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters (honoris causa) from Clarke University.
From 1995 until his retirement in January 2026, Rick served as President and CEO of Greater Dubuque Development Corporation, leading efforts to strengthen the region’s economy through strategic public-private partnerships. Under his leadership, Greater Dubuque Development earned national recognition as a model for economic development, prioritizing service to the business community, providing solutions for workforce development, and advancing strategic initiatives to position the Greater Dubuque region as a community of choice.
Notable achievements included actively partnering with community leaders to develop the Port of Dubuque, multiple industrial parks, and the Bright Minds Campus, along with the creation of Business Champions for Child Care—one of the most recent public-private collaborations focused on addressing child care needs for years to come. Rick and his team also partnered with the City of Dubuque to expand universal broadband access, enhancing regional connectivity, and collaborated on initiatives to address housing needs.
Prior to his work in economic development, Rick spent 15 years in industrial sales,serving as Sales Manager for the Eastern U.S. and North American Marketing Representative for H.B. Fuller Company, a Fortune 500 company based in St. Paul, Minnesota.
Rick’s career also included 15 years in public service. He was elected Mayor of Sabula, Iowa, in 1978, later serving on the City Council and as a Jackson County Supervisor for six years. From 1990 to 1994, he represented Iowa’s 34th House District in the Iowa Legislature, focusing on policies that supported economic growth and rural communities.
Beyond his professional work, Rick demonstrated a longstanding commitment to community leadership. He served as Campaign Chair for United Way of Dubuque in 2002, was a founding board member of the Iowa Child Advocacy Board, and served as past Chair and Treasurer of the DRA. He continues to serve multiple non-profits including Dubuque Initiatives and Northeast Iowa Community Investment Fund.
Rick and his wife, Rae Ann, have two daughters: Katy and Bob Wethal and Sara and Josh Dickinson-Lynch, and seven grandchildren: Grace, Alexandra, Julien, Evie, Brandon, Declan, and Nolan.
Email: [email protected]
