Greater Des Moines Leadership Institute

Community Leadership Program Class of 2020

Participants

Ahmed Agyeman, Des Moines Area Community College
Nichole Aksamit Purcell, Meredith Corporation
Shaimaa Aly, Wells Fargo
Bailey Anderson, Principal
Kristyn Arnold, Anawim Housing
Mike Bechtel, INVISION Architecture
Soumya Bhattacharya, Corteva Agriscience
Ryan Carroll, Greater Des Moines Partnership
Stephanie Cassady, EveryStep
Mark Core, Des Moines Public Schools
Nora Crosthwaite, Home Sweet Des Moines
Kristi Edwards, Business Publications Corporation - Business Record
Brooke Findley, Chrysalis Foundation
Daniel Fitzgerald, West Bank
Emily Frimml, Mediacom Communications
Jared Heidemann, MODUS
Catherine Hillestad, The Iowa Clinic
Erin Hockman, DART
Matthew Hoeg, Des Moines Civil and Human Rights Department
Christina Jarck, Bankers Trust
Heather Jones, Financial Empowerment Center
Allison Kerndt, Nyemaster Goode P.C
Shivani Kharbanda, John Deere Financial
Kourtney Kirkpatrick, HOME, Inc.

Emily Kistner, OPN Architects
Michael Kremer, American Concrete Pipe Association
Tar Macias, Hola Iowa
Mandy McWherter, Catch Des Moines
Deidra Meyer, Palmer Group
Laura Miller, ProDash
Shane Parker, Wells Fargo
Heidi Pollmann, Ryan Companies US, Inc.
Marie Procyk, Wells Fargo
R.J. Rademacher, Thrivent Financial
Sean Raisch, Davis Brown Law Firm
Annette Renaud, McGough Construction
Douglas Rooney, Invest DSM
Elsie Rotich, United Way of Central Iowa
Amanda Shetler, By Degrees Foundation
Kendra Simmons, Fredrikson & Byron
Ann Smisek, Ahlers & Cooney, P.C.
Phonsavanh Sullins, Businessolver
Joy Talmon, United Way of Central Iowa
Jessica Terrill, Substance Architecture
Dennis Tibben, Iowa Medical Society
Brett Turner, Storey Kenworthy
Sharon Wegner, Iowa Department of Justice
Veronica White, Corteva Agrisciences

Class Projects

The primary objective of the class projects is to provide class members with opportunities to develop meaningful leadership skills in real-world settings, while benefiting local non-profit organizations and ultimately preparing class members to effectively lead change in Greater Des Moines.

2020 Project Partners and Goals

Children’s Garden – Enhance the cooperative structure to ensure the non-profit childcare center can offer affordable, quality care for children in central Iowa. Check out the team video to learn more!

Pursuit of Innovation (Pi515)– Develop an easy-to-use communications toolkit to facilitate storytelling and sharing successes with various audiences and stakeholders. Learn More!

Anawim Housing – Continue momentum gained by the Full Circle program, which helps recently homeless individuals to succeed in a permanent living situation. Check out the team video to learn more!

Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Iowa – Re-imagined the recruitment and on-boarding of adults to serve as Bigs, to capture their early excitement of serving in this role and make the process of becoming a Big more seamless and fulfilling. Check out the team video to learn more!

Youth Homes of Mid-America – Create formal strategy for staff retention and development to ensure passionate, talented employees are supported in their service to youth and families. Learn More!