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DES MOINES — It’s a big year for Corridor hospitality leadership.

The Iowa Restaurant Association has named nine Corridor women to its annual “40 Women to Watch” list honoring those who have made an impact on Iowa’s restaurant and hospitality industry.

This year’s number of honorees from Linn, Johnson and Washington counties far surpassed the number who landed the list in recent years, making up a quarter of those honored for 2025. The honor celebrating women’s contributions to Iowa hospitality, started in 2019, has become a showcase of opportunities available to women in the industry.

Owner Alex Smith cooks down a large amount of onions for a dish at The Plated Table in Iowa City, Iowa on T

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