Greater Des Moines Leadership Institute

Distinguished Leadership Awards

Each year, the Greater Des Moines Leadership Institute celebrates six individuals who exemplify the heart of community stewardship at our annual Honors event. The awards ceremony was paused due to the pandemic, but we expect it to return. Stay tuned for more details in 2022.

Thank you to our presenting sponsor!

More About the Awards

Alumni Volunteer Award: Recognizes a Leadership Institute alumni volunteer who has made significant notable contributions to the betterment of The Institute. Nominations for this award are submitted by The Institute's Board of Governors or committee members.

Community Vision Awards: Recognize four Leadership Institute alumni who have adopted the heart of our vision in one of four areas through their work in the Greater Des Moines community:
- Developing: Facilitates learning opportunities for the development and preparation of leaders to serve their communities.
- Connecting: Connects leaders across the Greater Des Moines Community.
- Inspiring: Inspires leaders to be good community stewards.
- Challenging: Challenges leaders to take action in the community.

A. Arthur Davis Community Leadership Award: Recognizes a community leader who exemplifies the qualities of Leadership Institute founder, A. Arthur Davis, including:
- Demonstrating a positive regard for the dignity and worth of others
- Acting as an agent for change and taking the lead when appropriate.
- Displaying an ability to positively influence people, activities and factors.
- Demonstrating leadership as well as membership in community, state, national, or International organizations.
- Exhibiting commitment to career progression and is a leader in his/her chosen field.

Questions can be directed to Amy Jennings at director@gdmli.com or 515-286-4980.

Watch more videos from Distinguished Leadership Award recipients.

Past Leadership Award Recipients

A. Arthur Davis Award

A. Arthur Davis, 1996
Mary Louise Smith, 1997
Robert Houser, 1998
Monroe Colston, 1999
Martha Willits, 2000
David Kruidenier, 2001
Connie Cook, 2002
Loretta Sieman, 2004
Tim Neugent, 2005
Jim Crawford, 2006
Ric Jurgens, 2007
Jim Cownie, 2008
Scott M. Brennan, 2009
Robert Denson, 2010
Steve Zumbach, 2011
David Maxwell, 2012
Mark Ackelson, 2013
Lena Avila Robison, 2014
Lori Chesser, 2015
Thomas J. Mahoney Jr, 2016
Teree Caldwell-Johnson, 2017
Rick Tollakson, 2018
Pat Boddy, 2019

Community Vision Awards

2012

Developing: Kim Butler
Connecting: Joe Gonzales
Inspiring: David Stark
Challenging: Vernon Delpesce

2013

Developing: Megan Ruble
Connecting: Bob Stewart
Inspiring: Tony Dickinson
Challenging: Tony Timm

2014

Developing: Randy Kunert
Connecting: Karen Goldsworth
Inspiring: Anjela Shutts
Challenging: Neal Westin

2015

Developing: Carol Moser
Connecting: Hannah Inman
Inspiring: Dick Goodson
Challenging: Eric Burmeister

2016

Developing: Kyle Gamble
Connecting: Nathan Ritz
Inspiring: Nathan Overberg
Challenging: Nataliya Boychenko

2017

Developing: June Owens
Connecting: Davis Sanders
Inspiring: Jenna Ekstrom
Challenging: Tony Kioko

2018

Developing: Rick Newmann
Connecting: Elizabeth Presutti
Inspiring: Christina Moffatt
Challenging: Clemen Wilcox

2019

Developing - Joe Pietruszynski
Connecting - Kyle Horn
Inspiring - Marina Grabchuk
Challenging - Daniel Hoffman-Zinnel

Alumni Volunteer Award

Jackie Matt, 2012
Renee Hardman, 2013
Mary Mendenhall-Core, 2014
Tamara Kenworthy, 2015
Bryan Huggins, 2016
Bridget Cravens-Neely, 2017
Danette Kenne, 2018
Sam Early, 2019

Business Leadership Award

Doug Reichardt, 2003
Lloyd Vander Kwaak, 2004
Jeri Mace, 2005
John Burgeson, 2006
Scott Hatfield, 2007
Libby Jacobs, 2008
Surasee Rodari, 2009
Sarah Grant, 2010
Kyle K. Krause, 2011
Joyce Chapman, 2012
Chris Kyhl, 2013

Civic Leadership Award

Rosalie Gallagher, 2003
Phil Hodgin, 2004
Stan Gibson, 2005
Soozie McBroom, 2006
Sarah Oltrogge, 2007
Russell Jensen, 2008
Leisha Barcus, 2009
Judy Bradshaw, 2010
Dory Briles, 2011

Education Leadership Award

Chris Hensley, 2003
Som Baccam, 2004
Margaret Borgen, 2005
Dr. Phyllis M. Staplin, Ed.D., 2006
Duane Van Hemert, 2007
J. Marc Ward, 2008
Dr. Wanda Everage, 2009
Bill Burma, 2010
Jeri Le Henry, 2011

Government Leadership Award

Chris Hensley, 2003
Tom Hadden, 2004
Brigadier General Steve Van Every, 2005
Kevin Techau, 2006
Bill McCarthy, 2007
Lt. Col. Dyann Edwards, 2008
Brian J. Laurenzo, 2009
Sharon Malheiro, 2010
Charles Schnieder, 2011

Neighborhood Leadership Award

John Clarke, 2003
Don Adams, 2004
Becky Morelock, 2005
Kimberly Hansen, 2006
Emily Lawson, 2007
Soozie McBroom, 2008
Matt Meline, 2009
Teva Dawson, 2010
Lance Henning, 2011