Events

Help us clean up the highway by Jordan Creek Parkway.

Iowa has unique advantages that translate into tremendous opportunities for growing and diversifying its economy through the Biosciences. First, the category consistently outperforms Iowa’s overall private sector growth; second, Bioscience-related employment in the state is 36% above national levels; and third, there is enormous potential for further growth while providing high-paying jobs (average salaries of $68,000 for the Biosciences sector, versus $42,000 for all private-sector jobs).

Nadilia Gomez is the Chief Technology Officer (CTO) for the Digital and Precision Agriculture biosciences platform at Iowa State University. Gomez most recently served as executive director for the Iowa AgriTech Accelerator. For the decade prior to that, she served in a variety of roles for DuPont-Pioneer and Corteva Agriscience, including the role of digital pillar leader. In that role, she managed a portfolio of research initiatives in digital innovations and trained more than 100 scientists and mentored more than 30 intrapreneurs, providing guidance in Lean Startup methodologies, project valuation, the use of the Business Model Canvas, and the creation of investment memos. As CTO, Gomez works closely with the Digital and Precision Agriculture platform lead and research teams at Iowa State to identify technologies with commercial potential in the Digital and Precision Agriculture space.

Teams for May 24^th and May 25^th to help put flags out at our cemetery.

We start at 9:00 on Tuesday. We have found that two/three hour shifts work best but some stay all day. We welcome all the help we can get.

Volunteers need to be able to walk, place flags in flag holder. Bring gloves, wear clothing per weather.

Meeting offsite at John Deere.

Born to Deaf parents, Diana has been immersed in the Deaf Community all her life. In 1996, she founded Deaf Services Unlimited (DSU), a nationwide interpreting agency, and has been an entrepreneur and practicing interpreter for more than 30 years. Her company provides equal communication access to thousands of Deaf and hearing people throughout the country. During the last 25 years, Diana has devoted her time and expertise at DSU developing solutions and services for businesses and organizations nationwide to ensure equal communication access through sign language interpreting, video remote interpreting, CART captioning services and educational seminars on Deaf Culture ensuring inclusive environments. During this same time, she has closely worked with interpreters in all 50 states to develop their own practices and supported them through education and numerous business opportunities. Currently DSU coordinates services through an extraordinary team who collaborate with over 1,500 interpreters/CART writers nationwide providing services in all 50 states.

Diana Kautzky is President and Founder of Deaf Services Unlimited (DSU), a nationwide interpreting and communication access company providing sign language interpreting, video remote interpreting and captioning services. Diana has been immersed in the Deaf Community throughout her career, is a nationally certified interpreter by profession, and strives to bring greater understanding of the Deaf Community from a Cultural perspective.

Billi Hunt was named the Executive Director of the America’s Cultivation Corridor in February 2018. She brings 25 years of experience in agriculture and the Iowa business community to the Corridor’s efforts to enhance agricultural sustainability and accelerate business development by attracting new companies, talent and capital to central Iowa. She works with America’s Cultivation Corridor investors, partners and other organizations to build the Corridor brand and broaden opportunities within the region.

Prior to joining America’s Cultivation Corridor, Hunt served as government affairs manager for DuPont, leading state-level advocacy, public-policy initiatives and government-related business collaborations for the U.S. Central region, and throughout the United States. She also worked for Optimum Quality Grains, LLC, and Greater Des Moines Chamber of Commerce.

An Iowa native, Hunt received her Bachelor of Science from Iowa State University and her Master of Public Administration from Drake University. She and her husband Mike Elam and children live in Urbandale, Iowa.

Hear about Kevin's exhilerating 98-day trip from Lake Itasca to New Orleans.

My name is Austin Blythe, and I grew up in Williamsburg, Iowa where I attended school until graduating from Williamsburg High School in 2011. In high school I participated in football, wrestling and track. Upon graduating, I attended the University of Iowa on a full ride scholarship to play football for the Hawkeyes.

I played for Iowa from 2011-2015. During my time there I started 52 games, appearing in 4 bowl games including the 2016 Rose Bowl after a 12-0 regular season start. I was a freshman All-American in 2012, and a Rimington Award finalist, which is awarded to the nation’s top center, in 2015.

After I graduated from the University, I began training for an opportunity to play in the NFL. I was drafted in the 7^th round with the 248 pick by the Indianapolis Colts. I spent one year with the organization, starting one game in London. The next spring I was waived and then claimed by the Los Angeles Rams. Over the next four years, I started 69 games including the 2019 Super Bowl against the New England Patriots. In the spring of 2021, I signed a one-year contract with the Kansas City Chiefs, appearing in 4 games. This past spring I signed a one year contract to play the 2022 season with the Seattle Seahawks.

In 2015 I married my wife, Kiley. Kiley also attended Williamsburg High School and the University of Iowa. In high school she participated in cross country and track, graduating in 2011. She graduated in 2014 from the university with a degree in Elementary Education. She taught 4^th grade at English Valleys Elementary, in North English, Iowa for two years while I completed my career at Iowa. In June 2016, we welcomed our son, Reed, into the world. Then we had our daughter, Callie, in January of 2020. Our third child, a girl, is due in October via surrogacy thanks to our amazing sister-in-law, Kelly Blythe.

Kavi is a Partner at Bâton Global, a Des Moines-based research and advisory firm with offices in the Middle East and Asia. Kavi leads Bâton’s strategy advisory practice and is responsible for co-leading their non-US business. As a global strategy and finance leader, Kavi has over 20 years of experience advising companies, organizations, investors, and governments on strategic growth and capital allocation decisions. He has advised leading organizations in Iowa and across the world, including the governments of China, the Ukraine, and Russia. Kavi conducts industry and applied academic research on foreign direct investing and geopolitics, and in 2021 helped establish a Singapore-based think tank to provide sovereign, corporate, and financial investors with better data to inform their foreign direct investment strategies. He has been published in leading peer reviewed academic journals including the European Journal of International Management and Thunderbird International Business Review, and comments on foreign direct investing and geopolitics for financial industry press including The Economist and Channel News Asia. Kavi holds a Master’s in Business Administration from the University of Chicago Booth School of Business, a Master’s in International Affairs from the School of International and Public Affairs at Columbia University, and a Bachelor of Arts in Economics, History, and Political Science from Drake University.

Anna grew up in west Des Moines and has been a life long fan of this community. She attended Iowa state university where she graduated from the event and hospitality program. Before joining the chamber world, Anna worked in hospitality at the embassy suites downtown as a corporate Sales manager. Anna has been in her current role for 2+ years as the director of membership and strategic partnership for the west west Des Moines chamber of commerce . 

Sally Ortgies started her career with the City of West Des Moines in 1989 as an intern for the Parks and
Recreation Department. She quickly recognized how parks and recreation can make a difference in
people’s lives and developed a passion for being a public servant. Sally recently celebrated her 33 rd year
with the City having held several positions including Landscape Architect and Superintendent of Parks.
Since 2016, she has served as Director of Parks and Recreation, leading a team of dedicated
professionals who provide the community with everyday enjoyment through people, parks, and
programs.
Sally is a graduate of Iowa State University with degrees in Landscape Architecture and Horticulture. She
grew up in the small Danish community of Elk Horn, Iowa, but calls West Des Moines home. She has
lived in the Valley Junction neighborhood since 2001. When not working as the “Park Lady”, Sally enjoys
visiting National, State, and County Parks with her husband, Tony, having been to all 93 Iowa State
Parks. She also enjoys listening to live music, hiking, camping, and spending time with her daughter,
Clara.

Meeting location at Des Moines Golf and Country Club (thank you for hosting us!)

Address (click for driving directions):
Des Moines Golf & Country Club
1600 Jordan Creek Pkwy
West Des Moines, IA 50266

Lee Ann Bakros has been Marketing and PR Director for the Des Moines Playhouse for 27 years.  She has an MBA in Marketing from the University of Iowa and an undergraduate degree in mathematics. 

"I've got a horse right here, his name is Paul Revere".   Join us on August 23rd when Lee Ann Bakros, Marketing and Public Relations Director for the Des Moines Playhouse and some of the cast of Guys and Dolls will talk about the Sept 9-25th production of this iconic play!  

Help us plan fun social events and activities for the upcoming year.

Meeting location at Smash Park (thank you for hosting us!)
Smash Park
6625 Coachlight Dr
West Des Moines, IA 50266

If you are attending Rotary on Sept 6th at PEO International 3700 Grand Ave, please register by Friday Sept 2nd. This allows us enough time to get enough lunches for those attending.

Meeting location at P.E.O Executive Office (thank you for hosting us!)

P.E.O. Executive Office
3700 Grand Ave
Des Moines, IA 50312

Brief history of the P.E.O. Sisterhood and the impact of our mission of educating women. 

Meeting location at Des Moines Golf and Country Club (thank you for hosting us!)

Address (click for driving directions):
Des Moines Golf & Country Club
1600 Jordan Creek Pkwy
West Des Moines, IA 50266

Ellie Brooks and her husband, Loy are retired and split their time between Surprise, Arizona and Des Moines, Iowa.  

For more than forty years, Ellie has been a genealogist and has included DNA as one of her search tools for the last six years.  

When Covid-19 struck the country, Ellie needed a meaningful project to fill her time.  She decided to use her skills to help adoptees find their birth parents.  It has been her passion since Feb 2020.  

She was amazed at the stories she discovered about her adoptee clients..  Amanda’s Journey is her first novel and a thank you to those who have allowed her the privilege of researching their DNA to determine the truth about their biological family roots.

Amanda’s Journey is a fictional  story.  None of her clients stories are represented in this book, but they are the inspiration for this book.

Read more here

Join us for our September Social Event at Smash Park! We have an outside pickle ball court reserved from 6:00 – 7:00 with games, bags/cornhole, and more nearby!

Free admission - see our fellow Rotarian and their band!

Meeting location at Des Moines Golf and Country Club (thank you for hosting us!)

Address (click for driving directions):
Des Moines Golf & Country Club
1600 Jordan Creek Pkwy
West Des Moines, IA 50266

Register to attend our evening meetings the 1st and 3rd Tuesday of each month at 5:30pm at Edgewater in West Des Moines. Come as a guest at no charge!

Meeting location at Des Moines Golf and Country Club (thank you for hosting us!)

Address (click for driving directions):
Des Moines Golf & Country Club
1600 Jordan Creek Pkwy
West Des Moines, IA 50266

Meeting location at Des Moines Golf and Country Club (thank you for hosting us!)

Address (click for driving directions):
Des Moines Golf & Country Club
1600 Jordan Creek Pkwy
West Des Moines, IA 50266

The Sunflower Gala will include amazing food and drinks, cultural entertainment, engaging speakers, a silent auction, and lots of opportunities to learn more about how you can support Ukrainians right now. The show will educate and immerse you in the culture of Ukraine. You don't want to miss this unique opportunity!

All proceeds will be sent to Ukraine by Iowans for Ukrainians, a local non-profit dedicated to funding small to medium projects in Ukraine. We focus on protecting soldiers and supporting families who have been displaced by the war. Iowans for Ukrainians is an entirely volunteer-run 501(c)(3) organization, with no overhead costs. So far this year the organization has purchased bulletproof vests, boots, drones, meal kits, vehicles, hydration packs, tourniquets, parts for vehicle repair, uniforms, disguise netting, baby food and diapers, and shirts for hospitalized soldiers.

Food will be provided by L & L European Delights, The Girls Catering, and Bash Catering., Dessert will be provided by Cakes for Ukraine.; Drinks will be served and provided by Apres Bar Co.; Beer will be provided by Exile Brewing Company.

More information on the Sunflower Gala here!

Register to attend our evening meetings the 1st and 3rd Tuesday of each month at 5:30pm at Edgewater in West Des Moines. Come as a guest at no charge!

The illustrious Katie Roth has kindly opened her home for a West Des Moines patio social. Please bring an appetizer or beverage to share and enjoy the fall weather! 

RSVP for address and driving directions.

Join us for this fun outdoor service event where we plant trees in our local community! Meet Saturday at 9am @Columbus Park, tree planting will conclude around noon. After getting our hands dirty, enjoy the conversation and fellowship with a well deserved lunch with fellow friends and Rotarians.

Meeting location at Des Moines Golf and Country Club (thank you for hosting us!)

Address (click for driving directions):
Des Moines Golf & Country Club
1600 Jordan Creek Pkwy
West Des Moines, IA 50266

Hope Bibens is an Associate Professor of Librarianship and Director of University Archives and Special Collections at Drake University.  She currently serves as president of the Association of Centers for the Study of Congress and has served as chair of the Society of American Archivists’ Congressional Papers Section.  Prior to her arrival at Drake, Bibens was Project Archivist for Indiana University’s Modern Political Papers Collection in Bloomington, Indiana where she processed the papers of Senator Richard Lugar, Congressman Dan Burton, and Congressman Mike Pence.  She holds a Bachelor of Arts in History from Monmouth College, a Master of Arts in American History from Indiana University, and a Master of Library Science from Indiana University.  She lives in Des Moines with her husband Robert and two-year-old daughter, Hattie.

Meeting location at Des Moines Golf and Country Club (thank you for hosting us!)

Address (click for driving directions):
Des Moines Golf & Country Club
1600 Jordan Creek Pkwy
West Des Moines, IA 50266

Get an insight from someone in the know! Rich Willis will address what is the outlook for the auto industry in 2023? Is the auto industry in trouble? Will car sales go down in 2023? Will, the car shortage be better in 2023? What’s happening in the used vehicle inventory? Where have all the computer chips gone?  What’s the future of autonomous cars? What’s the future of the electric vehicles? Electric vehicle - the cars are faster and quicker than gas powered vehicles, but a key factor to slower adoption is primarily due to lack of available batteries and charging technology. The average price paid for a new vehicle in the United States in September was $48,000.

Register to attend our evening meetings the 1st and 3rd Tuesday of each month at 5:30pm at Edgewater in West Des Moines. Come as a guest at no charge!

Meeting location at SpareTime Entertainment (thank you for hosting us!)

Address:

340 Jordan Creek Pkwy,
West Des Moines, IA 50266

All are welcome

Meeting location at Des Moines Golf and Country Club (thank you for hosting us!)

Address (click for driving directions):
Des Moines Golf & Country Club
1600 Jordan Creek Pkwy
West Des Moines, IA 50266

Register to attend our evening meetings the 1st and 3rd Tuesday of each month at 5:30pm at Edgewater in West Des Moines. Come as a guest at no charge!