The business affairs of the BCEDC are conducted by a board of 17 commissioners, all of whom have one vote on any proposition coming before the commission. The day-to-day management of the organization is entrusted to a hired executive director who is evaluated annually by the board of directors. Leadership meets on the fourth Tuesday of each month (except July and December) at 5:30 pm for monthly meetings. The officer seats of chair, vice-chair, treasurer, and secretary are selected at the scheduled annual meeting in January. Currently, each board seat does not have a term limit.

The current Board of Directors includes:

• One (1) A representative of the Buchanan County Board of Supervisors
• Eleven (11) appointees, one (1) from each of the eleven incorporated cities in Buchanan County, named by each city council
• One (1) representative appointed by the board from a Buchanan County-based bank or credit union
• One (1) representative from Buchanan County, with an appointed interest by an organized agricultural group (Farm Bureau, Cattlemen’s Association, etc.)
• One (1) representative appointed by the board from a Buchanan County-based inter-state commerce commercial or industrial company
• One (1) representative of a Buchanan County Utility
• One (1) representative of education from Hawkeye Community College