Deb Brown, IOM

Co-Founder
SaveYour.Town
Webster City , IA


Deb grew up on a farm outside of Geneva, Iowa, population 141. Her first entrepreneurial venture was raising a hog. You’d find her either with her nose in a history book or out exploring abandoned houses and buildings. Funny, things haven’t changed much, she’s still working on filling empty buildings in small towns.

She has the ability to listen, find the truths in what is working and what isn’t, and share your ideas for the future along with other town’s examples. Deb is a relentless optimist and knows how to build possibility in your small town. Better yet, she inspires you to take small steps towards a brighter future for your community.

Her programs on small business, what to do with empty buildings, customer service, marketing and economic development have been received by chambers, economic developers, tourism specialists, museum experts, business groups, and small town conferences. Deb has keynoted at Colorado Hospital Association Rural Health and Hospitals Conference, Women’s Business Conference in Kearney, NE, Building Communities Tourism Conference in Clear Lake, Iowa, Reviving Rural Downtowns in Adams County, Washington, Rural X Summit in Aberdeen, SD, R2R in Portland, OR, Michigan Rural Economic Development Conference, and Roscommon County Michigan. She did a TEDx presentation about empty buildings in Brookings, SD and has traveled the United States embedding herself in small towns for a week on Embedded Community Experiences.

You can find more information about Deb at www.buildingpossibility.com