Michael Ralston - IA Assoc. of Bus. and Industry

Michael Ralston was elected President of the Iowa Association of Business and Industry in November of 2005. ABI is Iowa's largest statewide business organization and has effectively served its members for over a century. Widely recognized as The Voice of Iowa Business, ABI has led the state in the development of sound public policy related to business and employers since 1903.

Prior to his service as ABI President, Ralston was appointed by Iowa Governor Thomas J. Vilsack, confirmed unanimously by the Iowa Senate, and served for almost three yeas as Director of Revenue for the State of Iowa. He led a staff of nearly 400 employees in administering Iowa's tax laws, collections operations, internal audit systems, and other essential functions.

From 1999 to his appointment, Ralston was Director of Policy and Law for Iowa for Qwest Communications, an international Fortune 500 telecommunications and broadband services company. Ralston led the company's governmental affairs and community affairs in Iowa, with primary responsibility for representing Qwest with Iowa's Governor and Lieutenant Governor, the Iowa General Assembly, and the Iowa Congressional Delegation.

Prior to joining Qwest in 1999, Ralston was president of the Iowa Taxpayers Association, a statewide corporate tax policy organization. In the past, Ralston has served as the chief executive of a local government tax research organization, as a corporate vice president with a health services company, and as chief Iowa assistant to former Congressman Cooper Evans. Ralston was elected mayor of Grundy Center, Iowa at age 18 and re-elected three times.

Ralston is a past member of the board of directors of the Iowa's Jobs for America's Graduates (IJAG) program, is a past member of the of the Board of Trustees of the U.S. Governmental Research Association, the Deputies Committee of the Iowa Business Council, the Board of Directors of the Iowa Taxpayers Association, and is a graduate and past chairman of the Board of Governors of the Leadership Iowa program. He is a former member of the Board of Trustees of the Federation of Tax Administrators, and is a member and past member of several other boards and organizations.

Ralston holds a B.A. from the University of Northern Iowa, which recognized him as an Outstanding Alumnus in 1992.