Business Tax Group Holds 70th Annual Meeting

The Iowa Taxpayers Association (ITA), the state's leading nonpartisan business tax policy advocacy organization founded in 1935, held its 70th Annual Meeting in Des Moines on December 6, 2005.  Tax experts and government relations professionals from across the nation, representing companies doing business in Iowa, heard presentations from a variety of state and national speakers.

In business conducted during the course of the meeting, Association members elected Thomas K. Jarrett as Chair of the Board of Directors.  Jarrett is Vice President of Taxes at Deere & Company.  A widely respected corporate tax expert involved with various advisory groups and commissions, Jarrett is the fourth individual from his company to serve as Chair of the Iowa Taxpayers Association's Board of Directors.  His company has been a long standing member of this Association, with 65 years of membership.   Tom received his BS degree from the University of Illinois, and was employed by the Internal Revenue Service from 1970 until 1988.  He was in charge of the San Francisco Appeals Office at the time of his departure for Deere & Company.  Tom has been with Deere & Company since 1988 and is currently their Vice President, Tax.  The Tax Department is responsible for Deere's Global Tax Structure.

Also during the meeting, Myron Linn, Manager of Compensation & Government Affairs at Pella Corporation was elected as ITA Board Vice Chair and Kim Conroy, Assistant Director State Tax Legislation & Planning at Union Pacific Railroad was elected as the group's Secretary/Treasurer.