Caitlin Clark is coming home to headline a leadership conference, and she will not be the only name turning heads at the Community Choice Convention Center on Tuesday. NXT 515: The No Excuses Tour brings together business leaders, sports agents and a former Secret Service agent for a single day aimed squarely at Iowa women and the people who support their careers.
The one-day event is being hosted by CREW Iowa and is focused on advancing women and community leaders, according to the Business Record. The conference is set for Tuesday at the Community Choice Convention Center in Des Moines, per the same report. Organizers describe the tour on its website as a one-day event designed to ignite inspiration, expand attendees' networks and arm them with tools to take their next step, according to nxt515.com.
The event is built for high-potential, high-performing women, as well as the managers, executives and teammates who grow and lead alongside them, the site notes. Programming will run across three content tracks — commercial real estate, community building and legacy development — the Business Record reports. The Iowa Events Center describes the day's format as action-driven breakout sessions offering education, resources and opportunities.
Clark Headlines a Lineup With National Reach
Clark, the WNBA star and West Des Moines native, tops the announced lineup, according to the Business Record's report on the conference. She was selected first overall by the Indiana Fever in the 2024 WNBA Draft, per nxt515.com. The lineup also includes Molly Fletcher, Evy Poumpouras and Greg Offner.
Fletcher is among the event's speakers. WHO 13 interviewed Fletcher — described as a sports agent, author and keynote speaker — ahead of the event, in which she previewed the conference and its lineup, according to WHO 13. The event also features a former Secret Service special agent and interrogator, nxt515.com notes.
Attendance Expectations and Ticket Details Still in Flux
Welcher's LinkedIn post said more than 1,000 business leaders, innovators and professionals are expected to come together for the Tuesday gathering. The NXT 515 website listed registration details as coming soon. The Iowa Events Center's event page similarly points attendees to a buy-tickets link for registration, while nxt515.com still listed registration details as coming soon — a discrepancy that had not been resolved as of this writing.
Welcher's post also noted that Josh Cook, CEO of title sponsor Community Choice Credit Union, joined Kandace Edwards of Downing Construction on WHO-TV 13's Hello Iowa to discuss the conference.
Getting There and Event Conduct
Parking will be available at the Iowa Events Center, with entrances off 3rd Street and 5th Avenue, according to the venue's event listing. NXT515 also outlines conduct expectations for attendees: harassment, sexual harassment, bullying and discrimination are prohibited, and staff may remove anyone for unacceptable behavior without warning and without a refund, per the official NXT515 website.
