Joining the firm in 2024, Jeff represents clients in the Public Law Practice Area, including cities, counties, and municipal utilities. He advises clients on a variety of labor and employment related matters, and represents employers in collective bargaining contract negotiations, in cases before the Public Employment Relations Board and in other administrative hearings, and in grievance arbitrations. 

Jeff has represented employers in every aspect of collective bargaining including the formation, amendment, and decertification of bargaining units, all aspects of table negotiations, resolution of negotiability disputes, mediation, arbitration, and related proceedings such as prohibited practice complaints. In the area of employment law, Jeff assists employers with contract administration, the development and implementation of employee policies and handbooks, personnel issues, and conducting workplace investigations.

Prior to Ahlers, Jeff worked for the Polk County, Iowa, Human Resources Department, first as Labor Relations Counsel and then as Human Resources Director, where he served as the County’s chief negotiator/spokesperson during collective bargaining negotiations, and directed all aspects of the County’s HR programs, including workforce planning, employment, employee development, labor/management relations, affirmative action, diversity, compensation and rewards, benefits, organization development, HR information systems, and policy development and implementation.

Prior to Polk County, he served in several roles at the State of Iowa, Department of Administrative Services, first as a Labor Relations Attorney, then as HR Program Coordinator/Labor Relations, and as General Counsel Supervisor, where he served as chief legal counsel for the department on matters both intradepartmental and interdepartmental, and supervised a team of Labor and Legal Services attorneys.

Jeff grew up in Colfax, Iowa and graduated from the University of Iowa with a B.A. in Communication Studies, and then from Drake University with both Master of Public Administration and Law degrees, where he served on the Ag Law Review Journal. After law school, he worked in private practice with a Des Moines firm as an Associate Attorney in areas including employment law, municipal litigation, and workers’ compensation.