The Tippie College of Business will present the Oscar C. Schmidt Iowa Business Leadership Award to Lura McBride (BBA93), president and CEO of Van Meter Inc., along with the company’s employee-owners, in recognition of their exceptional leadership and transformative impact on Iowa’s business landscape and economy.

The ceremony will take place on Tuesday, November 11 at 6 p.m. at Big Grove Brewery in Cedar Rapids.

Headquartered in Cedar Rapids, Van Meter is a distributor of electrical and automation products, serving manufacturers and contractors nationwide from 27 locations. With more than 850 employee-owners—over half based in Iowa—the company continues to invest millions annually in expanding and enhancing its facilities, operations, and expertise. Recent investments include a new 60,000-square-foot facility added to its Cedar Rapids campus.

Recognized as a USA Top Workplace, Van Meter ranks 12th nationally among mid-sized companies and is consistently named one of Iowa’s best places to work. Putting people first, delivering on promises, and giving back to the communities where they work and live have been foundational to Van Meter’s success for nearly 100 years.

McBride joined Van Meter in 2008 and has served as president and CEO since 2016. Under her leadership, the company has cultivated a high-performance culture rooted in ownership, collaboration, and continuous development.

“Lura McBride exemplifies the kind of visionary leadership and values-driven culture that the Schmidt Award was created to honor,” said Amy Kristof-Brown, dean of the Tippie College of Business. “Her commitment to leadership development, customer and community impact, and employee empowerment sets a powerful example for our students and alumni.”