According to Scott Siepker that lesson is: ”If Scott can be an actor in Iowa, I can be anything in my community.”

Siepker was the keynote speaker at Thursday’s annual dinner of the Greater Fort Dodge Growth Alliance at the Best Western Starlite Village Inn & Suites.

He entertained the audience of about 445 people with tales of his childhood and his acting career which began with stage plays at Iowa State University in Ames and led to films like ”Iowa Nice,” ”Hawkeye Nice” and ”Cyclone Nice.”

Siepker said he was born in the spotlight because on the day of his birth an ice storm knocked out power to the hospital and nurses brought flashlights into the delivery room. He grew up in Mount Carmel, which he described as a town of 101 people and 21 pets.

He said when he started acting in college, he learned to ”steal from the best.” That, he said, means copying the best practices of successful people and organizations.

”I encourage everyone to steal from the best,” he said.

Iowans , he said, are great at helping others, but terrible at asking for help.

The secret to success, he said, is to ”surround yourself with great people and ask for help.”

Also during the dinner, Randy Kuhlman, chief executive officer of the Fort Dodge Community Foundation and United Way, made some recognitions.

Valero Renewables was honored as a Pacesetter company that contributed $60,000 to the United Way.

Fort Dodge Ford Lincoln Toyota was honored for preparing donated used vehicles that are given to families that don’t have transportation through a program called Wheels for Work.

The Fort Dodge Housing Agency was recognized as an Outstanding Partner Organization. Kuhlman said it provides homes to 1,200 to 1,500 families.

Dave Ostheimer was recognized for serving as the honorary campaign chair for the 2019-2020 United Way campaign.

Also on Thursday, Jennifer Crimmins was named the Volunteer of the Year for the Greater Fort Dodge Growth Alliance. She was honored for her work with Market on Central, the Human Development Committee and Leadership Fort Dodge.