Kyle J. Krause, founder & CEO of Krause Group, will receive the Oscar C. Schmidt Iowa Business Leadership Award from the University of Iowa’s Tippie College of Business.

His organization draws on generations of business expertise, most notably 64 years of ownership of Kum & Go, a convenience-store with over 400 locations across 13 states prior to its sale in August 2023.

The award, which recognizes individuals and organizations that have made a significant impact on the Iowa economy and improved the lives of Iowans, will be presented during a ceremony on Monday, Oct. 9, starting with a reception at 6 p.m. and the program at 6:45 p.m. The event will take place in the Krause Gateway Center, located at 1459 Grand Ave. in Des Moines.

Krause is the second member of his family to receive the award. His father William (Bill) Krause of the Kum & Go convenience store chain was honored in 2007. Both have also served on Tippie’s Board of Visitors (now called the Tippie Advisory Board), a position currently held by Krause’s son, Tanner.

“Few companies in Iowa have had the kind of impact on the state’s economy as those founded and operated by the Krause family,” said Amy Kristof-Brown, dean of the Tippie College of Business. “Kyle is playing a key role in building on that foundation and setting the organization up to make an even greater impact in the future.”

The Krause Group is the family-owned parent company of a diverse set of businesses in the United States and Italy. Significant holdings include Parma Calcio, an Italian soccer club; Vietti and Enrico Serafino, two wineries based in Piedmont, Italy; Krause+, a real estate development and property management company; Casa di Langa, a sustainable 5-star resort in Piedmont, Italy; and Des Moines Menace, a US-based soccer team.

Krause Group is also committed to USL Pro Iowa, an initiative to bring professional soccer to Central Iowa along with the construction of a stadium and global plaza in downtown Des Moines.

Iowa has a rich soccer history and Krause’s commitment to the game and USL are without equal. He has over two decades of experience in soccer team ownership and was inducted into the United Soccer League’s Hall of Fame in 2011 for his many contributions to the world's sport.

Krause and his purpose-driven organization have a commitment to community engagement and corporate social responsibility, donating at least 10% of profits to the communities it serves each year.

The Oscar C. Schmidt Award has been presented since 1980 by the Tippie College of Business and is named after Oscar. C. Schmidt, president of the Cincinnati Butcher’s Supply Co. Among previous recipients are C. Maxwell Stanley of HON Industries, Ronald Pearson of Hy-Vee Food Stores, Leonard Hadley of Maytag Corp., and J. Barry Griswell of Principal Financial Group.

Media contact: Tom Snee, 319-384-0010 (o); 319-541-8434 (c); tom-snee@uiowa.edu