Age 49

Market president and senior trust

officer, First American Bank

Grew up

in Webster City

Has lived in

Fort Dodge/

Webster County since 1994

What is important

to you?

Of upmost importance to me are my faith, my husband and my children. Additionally, I prioritize education, experiences, and giving back to our community. Learning is a life-long process for all of us — learning about ourselves, our friends and family, our community, our past, and our world. Part of the way we learn is through the experiences we seek and to which we are open — putting ourselves “out there” to live and learn outside our comfort zone. Our experiences enable us to be empathetic and to understand where we can make a difference. I believe we have a duty to share our blessings with our community — our time, talent and treasure. Whether we are making a difference in the lives of the disadvantaged in our community, improving quality of life, or helping our youth live happier, healthier lives — “The purpose of life is to contribute in some way to making things better.” Robert F. Kennedy

What do you like

about Fort Dodge?

I’ve lived in Fort Dodge over half of my life and have raised my children here. I am inspired by the can-do and will-do spirit, stemming from the pride Fort Dodgers take in their community. I believe our community members want to continue to improve the quality of life, the education available to our youth, and our economic base. Our community’s commitment is evident in the expansion of our trail systems, the care and maintenance of our beautiful parks, the resurgence of downtown Fort Dodge, the increased awareness of and collaboration between our amazing arts organization, the construction of new school buildings, and the expansion of Iowa Central Community College.

What are you building

for the future?

My focus has been, and will be, continuing to support and advocate for Fort Dodge’s rich tradition of arts and culture. The mothers and fathers of Fort Dodge brought with them an entrepreneurial spirit as well as a love of the arts. The latter is evident in the works which make up the Blanden (Memorial) Art Museum’s permanent collection, the beautiful architecture in the Historical District, and in the exhibits at our Fort Museum and Frontier Village. They recognized that art is connected to the human experience. For the past five years, I have worked with Executive Director Shelly Bottorff and a wonderful team of Board Members to refocus and rebuild the Fort Dodge Fine Arts Association. This organization supports, promotes and connects visual, performing and literary artists, arts organizations and businesses. We have made great strides. Our Members and Supporting Artists create over 40 opportunities per month for individuals and families to participate in or experience the arts. The FDFA is well-positioned to continue to grow in our community and our region. Additionally, I am excited to see Stage Door Productions, a community theatre group I helped establish in 2013, continue to provide musical theatre opportunities for youth 5-18. It has met a huge need in our community and surrounding counties. I look forward to continuing to support this organization and to volunteer as a parent. All of us are artists — Stage Door Productions provides an important training ground for our youth to explore and find themselves with the musical theatre experience. Going forward, I would like to spend time and energy on building greater awareness of Fort Dodge’s history — both the individuals and the businesses. Our past can inform and inspire our future.

What are you working

hardest on?

Currently, I’m working hardest on continuing to create awareness and building financial support for the organizations that focus on arts, history and culture. These groups are nonprofits. In many cases, they are led solely by volunteers. They don’t sell a “commodity.” These organizations deliver an experience; they speak to our humanness; they educate about our past, inform our present and inspire our future; they bring people together to celebrate, laugh, cry, and bond. Ann Smeltzer and Catherine Vincent Deardorf both established financial legacies supporting the arts. We need to continue to build upon their foresight to ensure the arts are available and thriving for generations to come.