NEXT WEST DES MOINES LEADERSHIP ACADEMY CLASS ANNOUNCED

The leaders in the West Des Moines Chamber’s Leadership Academy are announced.

WEST DES MOINES, IA (JUNE 30, 2026) – The West Des Moines Leadership Academy (WDMLA), a program of the West Des Moines Chamber of Commerce (WDM Chamber), is pleased to announce its 2026-2027 class. This nine-month program will guide emerging leaders on a path to leadership effectiveness through experiential learning, critical thinking, and a community impact project.

We are thrilled to welcome such a dynamic and talented group of leaders to this program — individuals who have demonstrated a genuine commitment to growing not only themselves, but also the teams they lead and the community they serve,” said Leah Dillon, Workforce Development Coordinator for the WDM Chamber. “Seeing the impact this program has made on graduates, businesses, and the West Des Moines community over the past 19 years is truly powerful. We have no doubt the incoming 2026-2027 WDMLA class will be a meaningful addition to that legacy.”

The selected leaders for the West Des Moines Leadership Academy Class of 2026-2027 include:

• Cooper Bolles, I & S Group Inc.

• Alex Breitsprecher, Lincoln Savings Bank

• Rick Breuss III, Sacred Encounter Hospice

• Lydia Broadhead, Merkle Retirement Planning

• Jessica Copley, IMT Insurance

• Mikel Derby, Iowa Department of Transportation

• Jake Francis, Des Moines Buccaneers

• Nate Geer, Merchants Bonding Company

• Sam Hart, Sammons Financial Group

• Maggie Herr, West Des Moines Public Library

• Jeremy Huisman, Shive-Hattery

• Darla Hunzelman, Mid-Iowa Council, Scouting America

• Diane Jeffries Ladd, SVPA Architects

• Andrew Johnson, 21st Century Trading Company LLC

• Kade Kelso, Truth Family Chiropractic

• Jeff Konrad, Deloitte

• Maren LaFollette, Sikich LLP

• Monica May, Ascend Business Solutions

• Lindsey McKinstry, Hubbell Realty Company

• Jodi Minard, Northwest Bank

• Haley Moon, Iowa Association of Electric Cooperatives

• Kirby Nelson, R&R Realty Group

• Andrea Odefey, GuideOne Insurance

• Lisa Wind, Homesteaders Life Company

• Sara Wolter, MHCS

• ​Ryan Penning, City of West Des Moines

• ​Ethan Pitt, Eide Bailly LLP

• Laura Reveles, City of West Des Moines

• Liz Rice, ServiceMaster by Rice

• Kelsey Ries, ITA Group

• Steven Schappaugh, West Des Moines Community Schools

• Ryan Simon, South Story Bank and Trust

• Bryce Slaughter, Dentons Davis Brown PC

• Betsy Solberg, Athene

• Connor Stengel, Estes Construction

• Steph Strauss, Life In Overflow

• Caitlin Thompson Smith, NCMIC Group

• Zach Umsted, Wellabe

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The WDMLA is supported by presenting sponsor NCMIC and is led by an alumni Advisory Committee, led by Chair Kristen Koenig. To learn more about the program or the alumni volunteers, visit WDMchamber.org/WDMLA.  Interested in applying for a future year of the West Des Moines Leadership Academy? Watch the Chamber’s events calendar for an informational session held each winter.