Three business leaders have accepted invitations to join the Iowa Business Council, an organization made up of executives from 24 of the state’s largest employers.

The new members are Ric Jurgens, president and CEO of Hy-Vee Inc.; David Vellinga, president and CEO of Mercy Medical Center-Des Moines, Mercy Health Network and Michigan-based Trinity International Health Services; and Samuel Wallace, president of Iowa Health System.

The Iowa Business Council is a non-profit organization that works to identify major business issues, evaluate options and help implement solutions through public-private partnerships. Its current top priorities include lean business processes and early childhood education.

The other council members are Thomas Aller, president of Alliant Energy-Interstate Power and Light; Stan Askren, chairman, president and CEO of HNI Corp.; John Forsyth, chairman and CEO of Wellmark Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Iowa; Gregory Geoffroy, president of Iowa State University; J. Barry Griswell, chairman, president and CEO of Principal Financial Group Inc.; Melvin Haught, president and CEO of Pella Corp.; Clayton Jones, chairman, president and CEO of Rockwell Collins Inc.; Donna Katen-Bahensky, director and CEO of University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics; Robert Koob, president of the University of Northern Iowa; Dean Oestreich, president of Pioneer Hi-Bred International Inc.; Mark Oman, group executive vice president of Home and Consumer Finance at Wells Fargo & Co.; Max Phillips, president of Iowa operations for Qwest Communications International Inc.; Todd Raba, president of MidAmerican Energy Co.; John Ruan III, chairman and CEO of Ruan Transportation Management Systems; Barry Schaffter, senior vice president of engineering and manufacturing, Worldwide Construction and Forestry Division, Deere & Co.; David Skorton, president of the University of Iowa; John Sorensen, president of the Iowa Bankers Association; James Sutter, vice president of Cargill Inc.; Robert Vermeer, chairman and CEO of Vermeer Manufacturing Co.; Kirt Walker, president of Allied Insurance; and Gary Wells, CEO of Wells’ Dairy Inc.