West Des Moines Chamber of Commerce Announces Recipient of the 2026 Mel Essex Entrepreneur of the Year Award

WEST DES MOINES, Iowa (March 31, 2026) – The West Des Moines Chamber of Commerce (WDM Chamber) has announced Ying Sa, CEO at Community CPA & Associates, Inc. as the recipient of the 2026 Mel Essex Entrepreneur Award. Sa will be honored at the Sixth Annual Athene Beyond Boundaries Business Summit, presented by Chase. The Summit will take place at the Sheraton West Des Moines Hotel on April 14–15.
 
Sa is the founder and Principal Certified Public Accountant at Community CPA. The firm provides tax, audit, accounting, business consultations and IT solutions to businesses and individuals across the United States, Canada, and around the world.
 
Sa was born in Beijing, China before becoming a citizen of Canada and then the United States of America. She got an accounting degree in Canada and worked as an accountant in Canada for several years before relocating to Iowa. Ying served six years as the Chief Financial Officer for the Iowa Manufacturing Extension Partnership at Iowa State University and five years as Vice President of Controllers for Wells Fargo Financial, Inc. in Des Moines, Iowa. She started Community CPA in 1998 and has been leading Community CPA full time since 2008.
 
Sa has received numerous high-profile recognitions for her leadership, professional excellence, and community impact. Most notably, she was inducted into the Iowa Volunteer Hall of Fame (2010), the highest honor for volunteerism in the State of Iowa, recognized by the Governor and First Lady at the Iowa Capitol for her exceptional dedication to community service. She has also earned statewide and national recognition, including the Iowa Minority Small Business Champion of the Year Award (2016) from the U.S. Small Business Administration, appointment by the Governor to serve on the Iowa Board of Accountancy (2013-2018), and selection to the National Taxpayer Advocacy Panel (2019-2022), an advisory body to the IRS. In addition, Sa has been nationally featured in Accounting Today—including recognition in the Managing Partner Elite (2021)—and her firm has been named among the Top Ten Best Firms for Technology (2024), reflecting her innovation and leadership within the accounting profession. These honors collectively highlight her influence as a trusted professional, entrepreneur, and community leader.
 
Sa lives in Des Moines with her family. Her husband Steve is a retired full professor of applied mathematics and currently a Partner of Community CPA.
  
The Mel Essex Entrepreneur of the Year Award celebrates individuals who exemplify Mel’s spirit, dedication and passion for uplifting all entrepreneurs. This prestigious honor recognizes community champions who have made a significant impact by fostering and supporting small business success and inspiring others to achieve economic independence. Visit wdmchamber.org/mel-essex-info to learn more about Mel Essex.
 
Since 2021, the Summit has been recognizing the Mel Essex Entrepreneur Award winners. Past recipients include:

• Pernell Cezar Jr.,BLK & Bold Specialty Beverages in 2021.

• Lu Spaine, Zumi Collection, LLC in 2022.

• Perlla Deluca, Southwest Contractors, Inc. in 2023.

• Blanca Plascencia, El Fogon and El Guacamole Patio & Cantina in 2024.

• Rachelle Long, Taste of the Junction in 2025.

 
“Ying Sa represents the very spirit of the Mel Essex Entrepreneur of the Year Award—resilient, innovative, and deeply committed to lifting others along the way,” said Katherine Harrington, President and CEO of the WDM Chamber. “Her leadership has not only built a successful business but has created opportunities, strengthened communities, and inspired entrepreneurs across our region. We are proud to celebrate her impact at this year’s Athene Beyond Boundaries Business Summit.”
 
“Congratulations to this year’s Mel Essex Entrepreneur of the Year Award winner,” said Kristi Kaye Burma, executive vice president and chief human resources officer at Athene. “This award recognizes entrepreneurs whose impact extends beyond the businesses they build, and we are proud to honor this year’s recipient at the Athene Beyond Boundaries Business Summit.”
 
Sa will be celebrated on April 15, 2026, at the Sheraton West Des Moines Hotel. To learn more and register, please visit bbbsummit.com.
 

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About the Athene Beyond Boundaries Business Summit
The Athene Beyond Boundaries Business Summit was created by national stakeholders to assist with connection building, programming, promotion, training and provide resources to help businesses grow and prosper. The Summit is owned and operated by the West Des Moines Chamber of Commerce and is supported by several key stakeholders, including Athene, Bank of America, Chase, Wells Fargo and more. The West Des Moines Chamber of Commerce created The Summit back in 2021, and Athene became the naming rights sponsor in 2022.
 
About the WDM Chamber of Commerce
Recognized by ACCE (Association of Chambers of Commerce Executives) as one of the top Chambers in the nation, the West Des Moines Chamber of Commerce, established in 1924, is the largest, most active chamber in the Greater Des Moines region. With a focus on strengthening local businesses, boosting economic development, and attracting a top-tier workforce, the Chamber aims to position WDM as the best suburban city in America. Celebrating over a century of excellence, the Chamber boasts a diverse community of over 1000 members, offering something for everyone. Explore the possibilities, learn more about the chamber, and discover how you can get involved in shaping the future of West Des Moines and our entire region at wdmchamber.org.
 
About Athene
Athene is the leading retirement solutions company with over $440 billion of total assets as of December 31, 2025, and operations in the United States, Bermuda, Canada, and Japan. Athene is focused on providing financial security to individuals by offering an attractive suite of retirement income and savings products and also serves as a solutions provider to corporations. For more information, please visit www.athene.com.