Board of Directors & Cabinets

Monica Friedman-2

 "United Way of Central Iowa makes a tremendous difference through strategies focused on uniting central Iowans in fostering a thriving community.  United Way staff, volunteers, cabinet members, and board members all work together on supporting programs and priorities with measurable outcomes that positively impact essential needs, economic opportunity, education success, early childhood success, and health & well-being to build a stronger community.  I have been a long time volunteer and donor to the United Way of Central Iowa and I am so proud to continue to serve this extraordinary organization."

Monica Friedman
Board Chair
Executive Vice President, Chief Human Resources Officer of LCS

 

Executive Committee

  • Monica Friedman
    Board Chair
    Executive Vice President, Chief Human Resources Officer, LCS
  • Emily Abbas
    Vice Chair, Strategic Communications
    EVP - Chief Consumer Banking & Marketing Officer, Bankers Trust
  • Philip Blumberg
    Vice Chair, Health & Well-being
    CEO, Iowa Donor Network
  • Pete Hird
    At-Large, Labor
    Secretary-Treasurer Iowa Federation of Labor, AFL-CIO
  • Brian Israel
    Vice Chair, Economic Opportunity
  • Jacquie Easley McGhee
    Vice Chair, Early Childhood Success
    Director, Health Equity, Community and Diversity Services, MercyOne
  • Colin Pennycooke
    Vice Chair, Education Success
    Assistant General Counsel, Law Department Principal Financial Group
  • Janell Pittman
    Vice Chair, Essential Needs
    Consultant, Chief Outsiders
  • Jeremy Staun
    Vice Chair, Volunteer Engagement
    Vice President, Sales & Distribution-Personal Lines, Nationwide
  • Mary Sellers
    Corporate Secretary
    President United Way of Central Iowa
  • Chris Terhark
    Board Treasurer Vice Chair, Finance/Audit
    Managing Director / Audit Assurance Deloitte & Touche LLP
  • Maria Volante
    Vice Chair, Give
  • Andrea Woodard
    Vice Chair, Advocacy
    Executive Director, Iowa State Association of Counties

Board of Directors

Wendy Batchelder
Community Volunteer

Aaron Boushek
Chief Financial Officer
American Equity

Brian Brown, PhD
Campus Lead Pastor
Hope+Elim Church

Kristi Burma
Exec VP/Chief Human Resources Officer
Athene

Alexis Campbell, PhD
Director
Science Bound, Iowa State University

Ryan Downing
VP & CIO,  Enterprise Business Solutions
Principal Financial Group

Kimberly Graham
Polk County Attorney
Polk County, IA

Phil Hall
United LEAGUE Representative
Senior Vice President – Employee Relations Leader
Wells Fargo Corp. Human Resources

Dr. Hayley Harvey, DDS
Broadlawns

Lance Henning
CEO
Greater Des Moines Habitat for Humanity

Erica Jensen
SVP, Chief Communications Officer
People, Inc

Erin Kuhl
Community Volunteer

Kevin Larkin
Chief Information and Operations Officer
Federal Home Loan Bank

Michael McTaggart
Chief of Police
Des Moines Police Department
 
Brian Ohorilko
President & CEO
Prairie Meadows Racetrack & Casino
 
Cathy Padilla
Business Accountability Executive, Managing Director, Consumer & Small Business Banking (CSBB)
Wells Fargo & Company

 

Nancy Post
Community Volunteer
 
Brandon Qualley
Manager of Financial Reporting
Sammons Financial Group
 
Lindsey Riley
Vice President, Head of Enterprise Planning & Insights
F&G
 
Nataliya Boychenko Stone, PhD
Senior Vice President/Shareholder
Holmes Murphy
 
Pastor Jonathan Whitfield
Senior Pastor
Corinthian Baptist Church
 
Steve Whitty
Community Volunteer
 
Kim Willis
Community Volunteer
 
Kara Wilson
Partner
PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP
 
Kevin Zaugg
Des Moines Office Managing Partner
Ernst & Young

 

Community Impact Cabinets

The primary purpose of the Community Impact Cabinets is to actively drive the resources and influence of United Way of Central Iowa to maximize impact in each of the Five Elements of a Thriving Community; Essential Needs, Early Childhood Success, Education Success, Economic Opportunity, and Health & Well-Being. Each Cabinet is comprised of community leaders and content matter experts who demonstrate a strong commitment to United Way of Central Iowa and who are willing to play a part in decision making about designing and investing funds to implement effective strategies to designed to make a real impact on central Iowa’s toughest challenges.

Essential Needs Cabinet

Janell Pittman – Chair
Consultant
Chief Outsiders
 
Britney Appelgate
Senior Social Impact &
Sustainability Specialist
Wells Fargo
 
Emily Berman
Division Director of Social & Clinical Care Integration
MercyOne System Services
 
Sarah Boese
Deputy County Administrator
Polk County, IA
 
Zane Hendricks
LINC Representative 
Midwest Growth Partners
 
Joy Ihle
Deputy Director
Polk County Community Family & Youth Services
 
 Latoya Lewis
Product Manager
Optum, Care Delivery Operations
 
Emily Porter
Chief People Officer
The Waldinger Corp.
 
Doug Romig
Executive Director
Housing Solutions Alliance
 
Claudia Shabel
CEO & President
Schabel Solutions Inc.
 
Mak Sućeska
Manager of Operations
Polk County, Global Neighbors

UNITED WAY STAFF

Michael Berger (Lead)
Community Impact Officer

Erin Davison-Rippey
Senior Community Impact Officer

Joseph Jones
Chief Community Impact Officer

Jody Kanne
Executive Assistant

Diana Pawnell
Community Impact Manager

Marian Reuter-Godwin
Community Impact Services Director

Mikal Settle
United LEAGUE and LINC Director

Vanessa Sedrel
Data and Research Associate

Early Childhood Success Cabinet

Jacquie Easley McGhee – Chair
Division Director, Health Equity, Diversity
& Inclusion
Community Services & Diversity Services MercyOne DM Medical
 
Christine Bruner
Product Manager
Principal 
 
Jack Chimbetete
Client Relations Consultant
CultureALL
 
Marc Elcock
Attorney
Elcock Law Firm
Jonathan Holstrom
COO
Willis Automotive 
 
Shelley Horak
Director of Early Intervention & Support
Iowa Department of Health & Human Services
 
Lauren Llewellyn
Women United Representative
Community Volunteer
 
Sheridan Penney
AssociateDirector
Bipartisan Policy Center

Eric Schulz
Program Manager
John Deere

Tim Shanahan
Community Volunteer

UNITED WAY STAFF

Kate Bennett (Lead)
Community Impact and Integration Officer

Erin Davison-Rippey
Senior Community Impact Officer

Courtney Frahm
Women United Director

Joseph Jones
Chief Community Impact Officer

Jody Kanne
Executive Assistant

Marian Reuter-Godwin
Community Impact Services Director

Vanessa Sedrel
Data and Research Associate

Cheryl Werner
Community Impact Manager

Education Success Cabinet

Colin Pennycooke – Chair
Counsel
Principal
 
Connie Boesen
Mayor
City of Des Moines
 
Chad Ellsworth
ELI Representative
Iowa Bankers Association
 
Angela Gallagher
Community Volunteer
 
Samantha Groark
Executive Director
Central Iowa Building &
Construction Trades Council
 
Dau Jok
Executive Director of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion
West Des Moines Community School District
 
Benjy Klosterman
ELI Representative
Wells Fargo
Denise Kyle-Needs
Director Talent Development
Farm Bureau Financial Services
 
Keith Mercer
Executive Director
Mercer Elite
 
Goodluck Mukome
Software Engineer
Wells Fargo
 
Hannah Olson
Community Volunteer
 
Jennifer Rhuppiah
Manager, Regulatory Strategy
ITC Midwest, LLC
 
Connor Stengel
Pre Construction Manager
Estes Construction
 
Srinivasa (Rao) Uppalapati
Program Leader
Corteva Agriscience

UNITED WAY STAFF

Kate Bennett (Lead)
Community Impact Officer

Erin Davison-Rippey
Senior Community Impact Officer

Joseph Jones
Chief Community Impact Officer

Jody Kanne
Executive Assistant

Marian Rueter-Godwin
Senior Community Impact
Services Officer

Cheryl Werner
Community Impact Manager

Chase Young
Education Leadership Initiative Director (ELI)

Economic Opportunity Cabinet

Brian Israel – Chair
Assistant General Counsel
John Deere Financial

Ena Babic Barnes
Executive Director
Iowa Credit Union Foundation

David Chapman 
Managing Director, Institutional Relationship Manager
BTC Capital Management

Mike Cisney
Chief Community Banking Officer
Lincoln Savings Bank

Dennis Henderson
Internship Coordinator
Broadlawns Medical Center

Paula Martinez
Past President
South Central Iowa Federation of Labor, AFL-CIO

Nursel McFarland
Staff Accountant
Life Care Services (LCS)

Bo Modlin
Business Manager
Heat & Frost Insulators Local 74

Stephanie Moris
Director
Refugee Alliance of Central Iowa - Polk County

Edgar Ramirez
Refugee Workforce Liaison
Iowa Department of Health and Human Services

Renee Schaaf 
Community Volunteer

Liza Veren
SVP Human Resources
Athene

UNITED WAY STAFF

Kate Bennett (Lead)
Community Impact Officer

Erin Davison-Rippey
Senior Community Impact Officer

Joseph Jones
Chief Community Impact Officer

Jody Kanne
Executive Assistant

Marian Reuter-Godwin
Community Impact Services Director

Vanessa Sedrel
Data and Research Associate

Mikal Settle
United LEAGUE and LINC Director

 

Health & Well-Being Cabinet

Philip Blumberg – Chair
CEO
Iowa Donor Network

Rona Berinobis
SVP, Employee Experience
Athene
 
Dwana Bradley
Owner
Iowa Urban Media
 
Ana Coppola
Public Health Planner
Polk County Health Department
 
Chris Costa
President & CEO
Knapp Properties
 
Sarah Dixon
Senior Director of Partnerships
& Development
Iowa Primary Health Care Association
 
Nalo Johnson, PhD
President & CEO
Mid-Iowa Health Foundation
 
Corey Lewis
Health Coach
Broadlawns Medical Center
 
Amy Madyun
Community Volunteer
 
Jeneane McDonald, DrPH
Public Health Workforce Director
Iowa Department of Health and Human Services
 
Michelle Sandbulte
ID&E Program Manager
Corteva Agriscience
 
Michelle Weil
Communication Director
 
Holmes Murphy
 
Chaney Yeast
Director of Government Relations &
Family Services
Blank Children’s Hospital

UNITED WAY STAFF

Michael Berger (Lead)
Community Impact Officer

Erin Davison-Rippey
Senior Community Impact Officer

Joseph Jones
Chief Community Impact Officer

Jody Kanne
Executive Assistant

Diana Pawnell
Community Impact Manager

Marian Reuter-Godwin
Senior Community Impact
Services Officer

Vanessa Sedrel
Data and Research Associate

2025 Campaign Cabinet

  • Deanna Strable
    Campaign Chair
    Principal
  • Jeff Lorenzen
    Campaign Vice Chair
    American Equity
Emily Abbas
Bankers Trust

McKenzie Allely
Wells Fargo

Margaret Allen
Bankers Trust

Conor Boffeli
Aligned Wealth Advisors

Blake Crow
Eide Bailly LLP

Matt Fryar
Fryar Private Wealth

Jennifer Hahn
Youth Justice Initiative

Christina Jarck
Bankers Trust

Benjy Klostermann
Wells Fargo

Grant Kvalheim
Athene USA

Steve Lacy 
Meredith Corporation, Retired

Tiffany Latshaw
Holmes Murphy

Matt Marckmann
The Prairie View Group
at Morgan Stanley

Todd Millang
CBRE

Andy Moffitt
Ryan Companies

Brian Ohorilko
Prairie Meadows

Dr. Jennifer Olson
Community Volunteer

Jamie Peterson
Weitz Company

Joe Riesberg
EMC Insurance

Ryan Schnoes
Corteva Agriscience

Matt Sokolowski
Willis Automotive

Jeremy Staun
Nationwide 

Tom Stewart
Holmes Murphy & Associates

Rob Tekolste
Sammons Financial Group

Tony Timm
Boys & Girls Clubs of Central Iowa

Sean Vicente
KPMG

Scott Walter
EFCO

VinceWard
Weitz Company

Bill Wright
CBRE

 

UNITED WAY STAFF

Kristin Young
Corporate Engagement Officer

Public Policy Cabinet

Andrea Woodard– Chair
Executive Director
Iowa State Association of Counties 

Brandon Geib
Government Relations Counsel
Wellmark Blue Cross Blue Shield

Pete Hird
Secretary/Treasurer
Iowa Federation of Labor, AFL-CIO

Natali Justiniano Pahl
Executive Coach & Community Leader
Community Volunteer

Tira Mays
Government Programs Coordinator
Broadlawns

Jess McCulloh
Women United Representative
Senior Human Resources Consultant
Wells Fargo

Mikki Stier
Vice President of Government Relations and Public Affairs
ChildServe

UNITED WAY STAFF

Dave Stone (Lead)
Advocacy Officer

Jody Kanne
Executive Assistant

 

Volunteer Engagement Cabinet 

Jeremy Staun - Chair
VP, Personal Lines Sales and Distribution        
Nationwide
 
Kayli Becker
Chief of Staff for Philanthropic Engagement
Des Moines Public Schools
 
Gabby Guerra Ceron
Executive Director
Al Éxito
 
Tina Finn
Corporate Social Responsibility Manager
Athene
 
Angela Jiskoot
Community Engagement Manager
F&G
Kristin Littlejohn             
Vice President Development
Oakridge Neighborhood
 
Ellen Moore
Marketing Director        
Holmes Murphy
 
Angela Ross
Director, Des Moines Graduate & Professional Programs 
University of Iowa Tippie College of Business 
 
Katie Thoman       
Material Flow Execution Manager
John Deere
 
Alicia Vermeer
Executive Director
Community Youth Concepts

UNITED WAY STAFF

Joy Talmon (Lead)
Volunteer Engagement Officer

Jennifer McCullough
Administrative Specialist

Sarah Underwood
Volunteer Engagement Manager

Finance/Audit Committee

Chris Terhark – Chair
Managing Director / Audit Assurance
Deloitte & Touche LLP

Wendy Batchelder
SVP of Global Data Governance and Chief Data Officer of Trust
Salesforce

Erin Kuhl
Community Volunteer
 
Lindsey Riley
Vice President, Head of Enterprise Planning & Insights
F&G

Kara Wilson
Partner
PricewaterhouseCooper LLP

Kevin Zaugg
Des Moines Office Managing Partner
Ernst & Young

UNITED WAY STAFF

Anne-Lyse Badou-James
Chief Financial Officer
 

Strategic Communications Cabinet

Emily Abbas – Chair
SVP, Chief Consumer Banking and Marketing Officer
Bankers Trust

Sara Bonney
Public Relations Leader
Principal Financial Group

Patrick Dix
Vice President of Public Relations
SHAZAM Network-ITS, Inc.

Josh Dreyer
Executive Vice President
Willis Automotive

Chris Jones
SVP Customer Engagement Solutions
ITA Group, Inc.

Cristy Magill
Community Involvement Specialist
EMC Insurance Company

Phil Roeder
Director of Communications & Public Affairs
Des Moines Public Schools

Courtney Shaw
Chief Communications and Engagement Officer
Greater Des Moines Partnership

Katie Wengert
Senior Vice President
ChildServe

UNITED WAY STAFF

Sarah Anderson (Lead)
Strategic Communications Officer

Demir Alford
Digital Communications and Social Media Manager

Jennifer McCullough
Administrative Specialist

Mujo Ramic
Strategic Communications Creative Services Manager

Laura Sweet
Chief Advancement Officer

Paige Weinschenk
Strategic Communications Content and Media Manager