2026-2027 WDM Leadership Academy Class

Mikel Derby
Iowa Department of Transportation
Liz Rice
ServiceMaster by Rice, Marketing Coordinator
Laura Reveles
City of West Des Moines
Ryan Penning
City of West Des Moines
Andrew Johnson
Empower Communities Now INC, manager/ owner
Jake Francis
Des Moines Buccaneers, Sr. Director, Sales
I specialize in entertainment and hospitality for one of the oldest sports teams in the entire Des Moines metropolitan area. Go Bucs!
Kirby Nelson
R&R Realty Group, Marketing Manager
Kade Kelso
Truth Family Chiropractic, Associate Chiropractor
Alex Breitsprecher
Lincoln Savings Bank, Private Banker
Rick Breuss III
Sacred Encounter Hospice, CEO
I am a healthcare executive with more than 20 years of national hospice experience. My career began as a hospice volunteer at the bedside, where I ...
Ryan Simon
South Story Bank, Finance Officer
Betsy Solberg
Athene, Program Manager
Cooper Bolles
ISG, Assistant Project Manager
Jessica Copley
IMT Insurance, Manager of Project Management Office
Nate Geer
Merchants Bonding Company, RVP
Sam Hart
Sammons Financial Group, Director of Marketing Content Strategy
Maggie Herr
West Des Moines Public Library (City of WDM), Library Information Coordinator
Jeremy Huisman
Shive-Hattery, Inc., Healthcare Engineering Market Leader
Darla Hunzelman
Mid-Iowa Council, Scouting America, VP of Development
Diane Jeffries Ladd
SVPA Architects Inc., Senior Architect/Project Manager
Jeff Konrad
Deloitte & Touche LLP, Audit & Assurance Senior Manager
Maren LaFollette
Sikich LLP, Consultant
Monica May
Ascendant Wealth Management Group - Ameriprise, Accountant
Lindsey McKinstry
Hubbell Realty Company, Property Manager
Jodi Minard
Northwest Bank, Private Banker
Haley Moon
Iowa Association of Electric Cooperatives, Senior Manager of Policy & Advocacy
Andrea Odefey
GuideOne Insurance, Finance Director
Ethan Pitt
Eide Bailly , Tax Manager
Kelsey Ries
ITA Group, Sr. Manager of Creative Development
Steven Schappaugh
West Des Moines Community Schools, Executive Director of Secondary Education
Bryce Slaughter
Dentons Davis Brown Law Firm, Associate Attorney
Connor Stengel
Estes Construction, Pre-Construction Manager
Steph Strauss
Life in Overflow, Founder
Zach Umsted
Wellabe, Data Governance Manager
Lisa Wind
Homesteaders Life Co., Customer Service Phone Team Manager
Sara Wolter
MHCS, Talent Acquisition and Marketing Manager
Lydia Broadhead
Merkle Retirement Planning, Client Experience Team Lead

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