Juliet Abdel is the Chief Executive Officer of the Cedar Rapids Metro Economic Alliance (CRMEA), representing over 1,200 businesses in the region. She’s responsible for leading the organization and team which serves the Cedar Rapids Region through economic development, public policy, business support programs, and community development.

Previously, Juliet was senior vice president at the Greater Topeka Partnership and President of the Greater Topeka Chamber of Commerce. She made history as the first female executive to lead the chamber since its inception in the 1930s. During her tenure, the Greater Topeka Chamber achieved a 97% legislative policy success rate through state-level lobbying, a 100% track record of candidate wins at County and State levels by the Greater Topeka Chamber Political Action Committee.

Prior roles include positions in government affairs, entrepreneurship, and serving as President/CEO of the Westminster Colorado Chamber of Commerce. With well over a decade of experience in Chamber and Economic Development, she has served on the U.S. Chamber Board of Regents, the Association of Chamber of Commerce Executives, and several industry/community organizations. She holds credentials as a certified chamber executive, institute for organizational management, and a master’s degree in international studies with a focus on development from Oklahoma State University.