Terrence Thames is an entrepreneur, husband, father, son, and man of faith. He has a passion for seeing others succeed in business and in life, especially people of color. In college, Terrence work professionally for a Division 1 athletic department. This experience led to freelancing for major networks such as ESPN, Fox Sports, and CBS for college football and basketball. He began Advanced Media Production Firm, LLC in 2011. Soon after he began to work full time for Drake University, where he became the Director of Creative Service. During his time there, Terrence also became a producer for ESPN, overseeing the production of college volleyball, men's basketball and women's basketball for the Missouri Valley Conference. He worked for these organizations for several years before leaving to begin working for himself. He started Cocoa Creative Agency (an extension of Advanced Media Production Firm, LLC) to better define who he was and what he wanted to do. Terrence is active in the National Minority Supplier Diversity Council and served as a member of their prestigious Emerging Young Entrepreneurs program which he graduated from in 2018. Cocoa Creative has worked with brands such as ESPN, NBC Sports, Wells Fargo, McDonald's, Coca-Cola, Jimmy John's, State Farm, American Family Insurance, Marriott, Sheraton and more.
Tej Dhawan is a member of Central Iowa’s technology, entrepreneurial and venture capital community. As an immigrant from India, he has co-owned three technology companies, co-created the Startupcity Des Moines incubator, Plains Angels angel investor network, and advises venture and capital funds. He also serves as Chief Data Officer for Principal.
Kerty is the Managing Director of the Techstars Iowa Accelerator, part of Techstars, the worldwide network that helps entrepreneurs succeed. Prior to joining Techstars, Kerty worked with startups and small businesses as entrepreneur in residence and interim director of the Iowa AgriTech Accelerator and as founder of KNLWorks, a small business advisory. Prior to that she spent nine years with Kemin Industries as corporate vice president and president of an intrapreneurial venture within Kemin. She was also president of the Downtown Community Alliance, focusing on Des Moines core business district economic development. Earlier in her career, Kerty held roles as product manager and business development manager with startups in the e-learning space, she has also been a management consultant with BCG in the US and Technomic Consultants in Hong Kong.
A 27-year veteran of Hy-Vee, Nate Stewart’s career began in 1993 in Chariton, Iowa. Management positions at stores in West Des Moines, Iowa and Sioux Falls, South Dakota, led to his first assignment as a store director in Lenexa, Kansas in 2005. He led the teams in Papillion, Nebraska and Sioux Falls, South Dakota before being brought into the corporate office as assistant vice president, operations in 2010. In 2011 he was promoted to president of Perishables Distributors of Iowa (PDI), our largest subsidiary. Nate was named Vice President in 2012 and was in charge of perishables and later, marketing. In 2015 he was named senior vice president, northern region in operations. Since that time he has also been in charge of perishables, C-stores, food service, restaurants, and now serves as Sr. Vice President, Merchandising. Nate serves on the board at our largest subsidiary, PDI, and is also active in his church. Nate has two children; Quinlan and Jillian.
Carlos is a design and innovation enabler focused on understanding new technology, behaviors, and techniques. His passion for understanding customers has helped Fortune 500 organizations shape the conditions that challenge rules, and helps them build themselves on different assumptions, that challenge the status quo based on the next paradigm.
In 1998, Sailu began working for Hy-Vee as a part-time produce clerk in Waterloo. From there he has led multiple stores to success. Sailu now oversees the Community and Diversity Relations team at the corporate office. In his free time, Sailu likes to spend time with his wife Kaitlyn and daughters Lyla and Lena.
Barry Adams is a Founding and Managing Partner of Prairie Crest Capital, LLC, which is a Midwest-based venture capital firm focused on early stage investments in promising, transformational agriculture and technology innovation Mr. Adams was a Principal at ColBridge Capital Management, LLC, an event driven hedge fund. Prior to joining ColBridge Capital Management, LLC, Mr. Adams served as President at Grant Park Capital Partners, LLC, a start-up, event driven fund of hedge funds. Prior to Grant Park Capital Partners, LLC, Mr. Adams was a Senior Vice President at U.S. Trust Company where he was responsible for the delivery of asset management, alternative investments and capital market solutions as well as placement of “Master Class Hedge Funds,” primarily to family offices. Mr. Adams holds B.A. in Economics from Northwestern University and an M.B.A. from Columbia Business School.
Nora is the founder of Stagerie, an online home staging marketplace. She has spent time in the real estate and software development fields and is passionate about helping other entrepreneurs succeed. Within the Des Moines community, Nora supports Pi 515, Greater Des Moines Habitat for Humanity, Girl Scouts of Greater Iowa, and her own nonprofit, the KIAP Foundation.
Miriam De Dios Woodward is Global CEO of ViClarity, formerly PolicyWorks, a GRC technology solutions company. She currently volunteers on the Food Bank of Iowa board of directors and Iowa State University’s Women in Business Advisory Board. In 2020, Miriam was named one of 32 of the Midwest Region’s Most Influential People of Color by Madison365 and a Hall of Fame Top 100 LatinX/Hispanic Executive by theboardiQ.
Cleo Franklin graduated from Morningside College in 1981, and he is passionate about providing opportunities and resources to inspire and support the next generation of leaders. He is the Founder of the Morningside College Franklin Leadership Foundation, Author of the leadership book "Coffee With Cleo" and the Founder, President, and CEO of Franklin Strategic Solutions, a global consultant and leadership development business specializing in global strategic planning, marketing, business development, organizational development, brand strategy, executive coaching and keynote speaking for all industries.
Vada has owned several businesses as an entrepreneur. He and his wife owned a food promotion company with over 500 employees in eight states. After selling the company, they started a marketing research company specializing in testing new and existing products with consumers from; commercials, ad campaigns, focus groups, market analysis, and more. Vada teaches business courses at DMACC. Plus, he has mentored successful entrepreneurs and judged numerous start-up venture competitions.
Dan Lugar is the vice president of Lomar Operations for Hy-Vee, leading the department that provides specialty and imported food products for Hy-Vee stores. Dan joined the Lomar sales team in 2000. In 2017, he was promoted to assistant vice president of grocery purchasing. In 2018, Dan moved into the role of assistant vice president of business development and promoted to his current role in September 2020. Dan has a keen understanding of retail sales and merchandising as well as the purchasing side of operations. As the vice president of Lomar operations, Dan brings his retail and purchasing knowledge to get the best specialty and imported foods to Hy-Vee stores. Dan enjoys spending time with his wife, four children, and six grandchildren when he's not working.
Lu Spaine is owner of Zumi Collections, LLC a brick & mortar and online business for over 25 years. She also serves on the boards of organizations that are dedicated to small business including Des Moines West Side Chamber of Commerce, One Economy Financial Development Corp, and Iowa CORE.
Currently a Financial Advisor with Merrill Lynch Wealth Management, Mo Sane is driven by a passion for providing outstanding service and helping clients achieve their goals. Prior to Merrill Lynch, Mo worked in economic development in Tampa while pursuing an MBA at the University of Tampa. Having lived in the boroughs of The Bronx and Harlem in New York City, Washington DC, Miami and Tampa, he has worked for businesses owned by minorities and has seen firsthand the unique challenges they face. Mo is a member of the national black MBA association.
While many recognize this 8-year NFL veteran for his prowess on the football field, others know him as an Ivy League professor, financial education consultant, philanthropist, or real estate developer.
As a graduate of the University of Pennsylvaniaʼs Wharton School of Business, Brandon developed a passion for personal finance – which he delivers to Penn students through his own course, “Life 101”. Copeland has also shared his financial acumen with countless others as a member of CNBC’s Financial Wellness Council and a contributing editor for Kiplinger’s Personal Finance.
In 2020, Copeland received the Alan Page Community Service Award for extraordinary dedication to service, social justice, and equality. Ending the year on a high note, he was named to the 2021 Forbes 30 Under 30 list, highlighting the brightest young innovators across a variety of industries, and was awarded the NFLPA’s Community MVP on Christmas for bringing 19 other NFL players together to give $160K to over 200 families from underserved communities across the country.
Brandon embodies the “More Than An Athlete” mantra through his work experience and entrepreneurial endeavors. He has used the knowledge gained in internships at firms like UBS and George Weiss Multi-Strategy Advisers to become a trusted financial wellness advocate, build a successful real estate development business, and become the first active NFL player who doubles as an Ivy League Professor.
George Herrera is the founder and President & CEO of the Herrera-Cristina Group, Ltd, a Hispanic-owned, multidisciplinary management firm, specializing in marketing, communications, corporate diversity, public affairs, event planning, and research. Founded in 2003, with offices in New York City and Washington, DC, the Herrera-Cristina Group has an impressive roster consisting of Fortune 500 companies and national organizations as clients.
Mr. Herrera is currently an Independent Director of the Board of Directors of Travel and Leisure Co, where he serves as Chairman of the Corporate Governance Committee and is also a member of the Audit Committee. Prior to joining the Travel and Leisure Co board, Mr. Herrera served as a member of the Board of Directors of Wyndham Worldwide. From 2004-2006 Mr. Herrera served on the Board of Directors of Cendant a Fortune 50 company.
Prior to establishing Herrera-Cristina Group, Ltd. Mr. Herrera was President & Chief Executive Officer of the United States Hispanic Chamber of Commerce (USHCC), a position he held from 1998 through 2004.
Mr. Herrera is the creator of the nationally syndicated TV show “Hispanics Today”, seen on NBC, ABC, CBS nationally. In 2001, Mr. Herrera was named a “FELLOW”, Wharton Society of Fellows. Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania. In 2016 Mr. Herrera was honored with the Lifetime Business Achievement Award by the Hispanic Heritage Awards.
Oluchi Assumani is a wife, mother, nurse and entrepreneur based in Des Moines, Iowa. She does natural hair, beauty and lifestyle videos. She also owns her own Luxury Hair Care & Lifestyle brand, Frobelle Naturale. You can find her across social media platforms @oluchiassumani.
Deidre DeJear is a small business owner and voting rights advocate who is driven by her passion to create equitable, inclusive, and accessible opportunities for those who need it most. For more than 12 years, Deidre has dedicated her time and talents to helping grow small businesses through earn-and-learn programs, increasing the financial management skills of over 20,000 Iowans via the Financial Empowerment Center, and strengthening the financial capability and wealth attainment of the Iowa African American community through her work with One Economy. In 2018, Deidre ran as the democratic nominee for the Iowa Secretary of State Office, making her the first African American in Iowa to be nominated by a major political party. She ran to restore Iowa’s progressive voting laws and fought for fair access to the ballot box. Deidre attributes her passion for voting rights advocacy to her experience working on her grandma’s Mississippi campaign in the ‘90s and continues to use that as a foundation for her work, which includes championing voting rights in Iowa, working on presidential campaigns, and managing local school board races. Deidre’s most recent efforts include the launch of 20/20 Vision PAC, which magnifies the integral roles equity and inclusion play in making local and national change and equips individuals with the necessary tools to facilitate effective, sustainable change.
Jen Haywood is an interior designer and the founder of Texturious Designs, an award-winning residential interior design studio. Jen holds a Master of Arts degree in Interior Design and is a Certified Kitchen & Bath Designer.® She started her business in 2017 after an unexpected layoff in her previous role. Texturious Designs services have now expanded to include space planning, design drawings, selections, project coordination, and styling. With her previous career in software project management, she is a stickler for organization and timelines, ensuring her projects are done the right way. Her work has been featured in DSM Magazine and the International Builders’ Show. She is an active member with the National Kitchen & Bath Association, National Association of Home Builders, and executive chair for the Professional Women in Building. She serves on the Diversity, Equity, Inclusion Committee of the West Des Moines Chamber of Commerce and is a volunteer with the Salisbury House & Gardens. Jen lives near Des Moines, IA with her husband, Austin and bichon frise, Louie. With her Mexican American roots, Jen enjoys visiting family near the Rio Grande Valley, where no trip is complete without a stop at Taco Cabana and a bag of fresh pan dulce.
Marc T. Hollander is the Director of Client Relations and Marketing at Whitfield & Eddy Law, a full service firm with over 40 attorneys in Des Moines, Iowa. He believes in the personal touch professionals can provide clients and the community and develops programs that deliver focused client development opportunities.
Christina Landon is Hy-Vee’s corporate communications social media specialist. She spent the majority of her career thus far as a graphic designer in the newsprint industry. During her time with newsprint, she earned more than 50 Illinois Press Association awards for her designs including Best Ad Designer in Illinois in 2006, 2008, 2009 and 2011. In 2013, Christina became the marketing coordinator for both Galesburg, Illinois, Hy-Vee locations. In that role she created all social media content, advertising collateral and in-store POS, as well as photographed everything for the stores. In May 2019, she joined the Hy-Vee corporate communications team in her current role where she is responsible for the department’s content creation, photography, social media calendar management and graphic design, as well as assists with campaign and event assets and collateral. In her spare time, Christina loves to explore Des Moines with her 8-year-old son Parker and is an avid Chicago Cubs fan.
Atiya Syverson has a Masters’ Degree in Environmental Health from the University of Iowa. She is a Certified Industrial Hygienist, a Certified Safety Professional, and a Certified Professional Ergonomist. She has over 30 years’ experience in industry and consulting. She started her own consulting business, Ash Health & Safety LLC, in 2004. Her goal is to help her clients not just comply with OSHA Regulations, but to go above and beyond in their pursuit of a safe and healthful work environment. Atiya has considerable experience in health, safety, and ergonomics training. It was while training a class on ergonomics that she identified the need to prevent, or at least reduce, the incidence and severity of Text Neck Syndrome. Ms. Syverson invented the Tekneksavr, a patent-pending ergonomic device to improve neck posture. The Tekneksavr was listed in the LA Times as a must-have health accessory, was featured in the Houston Chronicle and is in the book entitled “INVENTOR SECRETS: How 40 successful inventors got from idea to product”.
Terrence Thames is an entrepreneur, husband, father, son, and man of faith. He has a passion for seeing others succeed in business and in life, especially people of color. In college, Terrence work professionally for a Division 1 athletic department. This experience led to freelancing for major networks such as ESPN, Fox Sports, and CBS for college football and basketball. He began Advanced Media Production Firm, LLC in 2011. Soon after he began to work full time for Drake University, where he became the Director of Creative Service. During his time there, Terrence also became a producer for ESPN, overseeing the production of college volleyball, men's basketball and women's basketball for the Missouri Valley Conference. He worked for these organizations for several years before leaving to begin working for himself. He started Cocoa Creative Agency (an extension of Advanced Media Production Firm, LLC) to better define who he was and what he wanted to do. Terrence is active in the National Minority Supplier Diversity Council and served as a member of their prestigious Emerging Young Entrepreneurs program which he graduated from in 2018. Cocoa Creative has worked with brands such as ESPN, NBC Sports, Wells Fargo, McDonald's, Coca-Cola, Jimmy John's, State Farm, American Family Insurance, Marriott, Sheraton and more.
