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Contact The Greater Des Moines Partnership

The Partnership's office hours are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. Parking is available in The Partnership building at the corner of 8th and Locust Streets or the City Parking Garage at 9th and Locust Streets. This parking ramp only accepts debit or credit card payment.

Location

700 Locust St., Ste. 100
Des Moines, Iowa 50309
(515) 286-4950

Jay Byers, CCE, IOM

President and Chief Executive Officer

Jay Byers, CCE, IOM

President and Chief Executive Officer


(515) 286-4933

jbyers@DSMpartnership.com

Jay Byers serves as President and CEO of the Greater Des Moines Partnership. Additionally, he serves on the Executive Committee of the Iowa Chamber Alliance, the General Council of the World Chambers Federation (WCF), U.S. Chamber of Commerce Committee of 100 and is the past Chair of the Association of Chamber of Commerce Executives (ACCE). He is also a member of the Professional Developers of Iowa, Iowa Association of Business and Industry, International Economic Development Council and Young Presidents’ Organization. Byers also serves on the boards of Simpson College, Catch Des Moines, Greater Des Moines Committee, Blank Park Zoo and ChildServe.

Byers was named to the ACCE 2009 “40 Under 40 Rising Stars of the Chamber World,” Des Moines Business Record’s “Forty Under 40” Class of 2006 and Business Record’s “Forty Under 40” Alum of the Year in 2012. He received the Greater Des Moines Convention and Visitors Bureau Community Champion Award in 2014 and the Simpson College Alumni Achievement Award in 2015.

Prior to his current role, Byers served as The Partnership’s Senior Vice President of Government Relations and Public Policy. Before joining The Partnership, he worked as District Director for Iowa Congressman Leonard Boswell and as an attorney at the Ice Miller Law Firm in Indianapolis, Indiana. Byers is a graduate of Simpson College and the University of Iowa College of Law. He also is a Certified Chamber Executive (CCE), graduate of the U.S Chamber of Commerce Institute of Organization Management (IOM), graduate of the University of Oklahoma Economic Development Institute (OUEDI) and graduate of Association of Chamber of Commerce Executives’ (ACCE) Ford Foundation Regionalism and Sustainable Development Fellowship. Byers resides in Des Moines with his wife, Katie, and has two daughters, Sophie and Charlotte.

Kirk Irwin, CPA, MBA

Chief Administrative Officer

Kirk Irwin, CPA, MBA

Chief Administrative Officer


(515) 286-4955

kirwin@DSMpartnership.com

Tiffany Tauscheck, CCE, CDME, IOM

Chief Operations Officer, President of Downtown DSM, Inc.

Tiffany Tauscheck, CCE, CDME, IOM

Chief Operations Officer, President of Downtown DSM, Inc.


(515) 286-4954

ttauscheck@DSMpartnership.com

Tiffany Tauscheck, CCE, IOM & CDME, is the Chief Operations Officer and President of Downtown DSM, Inc. at the Greater Des Moines Partnership, leading organizational strategic planning and culture, Investor Relations, Downtown Development and high-profile regional initiatives. Prior to her current role at The Partnership, Tauscheck served as the organization’s Chief Strategy Officer, and before that was Chief Communications Officer. Before joining the economic development and community development organization, Tauscheck was the Vice President of Marketing and Development at Catch Des Moines, served as Director of Marketing at the Des Moines Radio Group and was a TV reporter and producer for FOX in Des Moines and KGAN (CBS Affiliate) in Cedar Rapids.

Tauscheck is passionate about community-building, working on large regional projects and initiatives that impact her community’s quality of life for years to come. Tauscheck and her husband, Mark, have two children, Ty and Tenny, and a long-haired Chihuahua, Winnie. She is an alum of Drake University, Greater Des Moines Leadership Institute and Drake University’s Executive Leadership program. Tauscheck is a Certified Chamber Executive (CCE), a graduate of the Institute of Organizational Management (IOM) and a Certified Destination Management Executive (CDME).

Dr. Marvin DeJear, Ph.D, MBA

Chief Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Officer

Dr. Marvin DeJear, Ph.D, MBA

Chief Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Officer


(515) 286-4957

mdejear@DSMpartnership.com

Meg Schneider, IOM

Senior Vice President of Business Resources and Community Development

Meg Schneider, IOM

Senior Vice President of Business Resources and Community Development


(515) 286-4934

mschneider@DSMpartnership.com

Courtney Shaw, APR

Senior Vice President of Communications

Courtney Shaw, APR

Senior Vice President of Communications


(515) 286-4919

cshaw@DSMpartnership.com

Courtney Shaw is the Senior Vice President of Communications at the Greater Des Moines Partnership, leading public relations strategy and media relations to tell the DSM USA story loud, bold and broad. Previously, Shaw was the Director of Communications at Strategic America and executed public awareness campaigns for government and non-profit clients. She serves on several boards and committees including Healthy Birth Day & Count the Kicks, Waukee APEX, United Way of Central Iowa, Community Foundation of Greater Des Moines, and is a member of the Public Relations Society of America.

Shaw and her husband, Bret, have three children, Beck, Barrett and Blaine. She was named a Des Moines Business Record Forty Under 40 and has received the Governor’s Volunteer Award. Shaw is an alum of Oklahoma State University, Greater Des Moines Leadership Institute and Drake University’s Executive Leadership program.

Jenae Sikkink

Senior Vice President of Talent Development

Jenae Sikkink

Senior Vice President of Talent Development


(515) 286-4927

jsikkink@DSMpartnership.com

Angie Stepsis

Chief of Staff

Angie Stepsis

Chief of Staff


(515) 286-4933

astepsis@DSMpartnership.com

Mike Swesey

Executive Vice President of Economic Development

Mike Swesey

Executive Vice President of Economic Development


(515) 286-4997

mswesey@DSMpartnership.com

Andrea Woodard

Senior Vice President of Government Relations and Public Policy

Andrea Woodard

Senior Vice President of Government Relations and Public Policy


(515) 286-4924

awoodard@DSMpartnership.com

Andrea Woodard serves as the Senior Vice President of Government Affairs and Public Policy, leading The Partnership’s Government Policy Council, lobbying on behalf of The Partnership at the federal and state levels and guiding policy and political strategy for the organization. Prior to The Partnership, Woodard’s career included roles in government affairs in the private sector and working in the Iowa Legislature. She has bee recognized as a 2020 40 Under 40 honoree by the Association of Chamber of Commerce Executives and will complete her fourth and final year of the U.S. Chamber Institute for Organizational Management in 2022.

Woodard is a Past President of the Junior League of Des Moines and currently serves on the boards of the University of Iowa Political Science Department Advisory Board, On With Life Foundation, Orchard Place Foundation, City of Des Moines Parks and Recreation and Iowa State Carrie Chapman Catt Center for Women and Politics Ready to Run Advisory Board. Woodard was named Juice YP of the Year and received the Community Service Award from the Junior League of Des Moines in 2014 and was a member of the 2013 Greater Des Moines Leadership Institute and 2018-2019 class of Leadership Iowa.

A graduate of the University of Iowa, Cedar Rapids native and avid runner, Woodard has lived in Des Moines since 2008 and is married to Grant Woodard.

Molly Atkins

Events Specialist

Molly Atkins

Events Specialist


(515) 286-4915

matkins@downtownDSMUSA.com

Marlena M. Bandurski

Vice President of Research

Marlena M. Bandurski

Vice President of Research


(515) 286-4953

mbandurski@DSMpartnership.com

Pam Bull

Senior Director of Human Resources and Information Technology

Pam Bull

Senior Director of Human Resources and Information Technology


(515) 286-4975

pbull@DSMpartnership.com

Ryan Carroll

Senior Director of Regional Business Development

Ryan Carroll

Senior Director of Regional Business Development


(515) 286-4998

rcarroll@DSMpartnership.com

Lisa Chicchelly

Sr. Administrative Assistant

Lisa Chicchelly

Sr. Administrative Assistant


(515) 286-4901

lchicchelly@dsmpartnership.com

Alicia Chilton

Director of Marketing

Alicia Chilton

Director of Marketing


(515) 286-4932

achilton@DSMpartnership.com

Stacy Cox

Accountant

Amy Crowell

Downtown Program Manager

Amy Crowell

Downtown Program Manager


(515) 286-4946

acrowell@downtownDSMUSA.com

Missy Farni

PR & Marketing Manager

Missy Farni

PR & Marketing Manager


(515) 286-4982

mfarni@DSMpartnership.com

Billi Hunt

Executive Director of America's Cultivation Corridor

Billi Hunt

Executive Director of America's Cultivation Corridor


(515) 294-2227

bhunt@cultivationcorridor.org

Nick Imerman

Graphic Designer

Nick Imerman

Graphic Designer


(515) 286-4909

nimerman@DSMpartnership.com

Amelia Klatt

Director of Events

Amelia Klatt

Director of Events


(515) 286-4917

aklatt@downtownDSMUSA.com

Amy Lego

Executive Director of Operation Downtown

Amy Lego

Executive Director of Operation Downtown


(515) 286-4962

alego@downtownDSMUSA.com

Amy Lego is the Executive Director of Operation Downtown, Downtown Des Moines’ Self-Supported Municipal Improvement District (SSMID) and has been with the organization for over twenty years. She works with the Board of Directors, non-profit and private sector partners and local government to strengthen the business environment and quality of life in Downtown Des Moines (DSM). With a budget over $3 million, Lego oversees programs and services provided within the 150+ square block district, including safe and clean operations, aesthetic improvements, research, special projects (including placemaking) and public space maintenance (including Downtown park maintenance). She has conducted multiple successful petition campaigns to ensure the continuation of Downtown DSM’s improvement district. Amy works closely with property owners and managers, contractors and local government officials on streetscape and public space improvement projects, including a unique collaborative effort to keep major Downtown public parks and streetscapes like the Principal Riverwalk, John and Mary Pappajohn Sculpture Park and Brenton Skating Plaza safe, clean and well-maintained.

Derek Lippincott

Digital Media Specialist

Derek Lippincott

Digital Media Specialist


(515) 286-4969

dlippincott@DSMpartnership.com

Stacie LoVan

Vice President of Economic Development

Stacie LoVan

Vice President of Economic Development


(515) 286-4971

slovan@DSMpartnership.com

Anne Lowder

Education and Talent Coordinator

Anne Lowder

Education and Talent Coordinator


(515) 286-4944

alowder@dsmpartnership.com

Alex Lynch

Senior Director of Business Attraction

Alex Lynch

Senior Director of Business Attraction


(515) 286-4958

alynch@DSMpartnership.com

Jerrica Marshall

Downtown Placemaking Manager

Jerrica Marshall

Downtown Placemaking Manager


(515) 286-4911

jmarshall@downtownDSMUSA.com

Emily McLain

Small Business and Member Support Manager

Emily McLain

Small Business and Member Support Manager


(515) 286-4904

emclain@DSMpartnership.com

Ryan Moon

Director of Public Policy

Ryan Moon

Director of Public Policy


(515) 286-4912

rmoon@DSMpartnership.com

Ryan Moon, a graduate of the University of Northern Iowa, is the Director of Public Policy at the Greater Des Moines Partnership. In this role, he helps support engagement with local, state and federal officials to create public policy that generates economic growth, business prosperity and talent development in Greater Des Moines (DSM). He also helps lead policy related events from the Legislative Reception to the annual Washington, D.C. fly-in 'DMDC' event. Prior to this role, he served as the Membership Director at the Urbandale Chamber of Commerce. Moon currently serves on the Board of Directors for MS Moments, a nonprofit that serves Iowa families living with Multiple Sclerosis. Moon, a native of Casey, resides in West Des Moines with his wife Haley, their son Holden and two dogs Hilton and Stark. Ryan's ideal night is cheering for one of his favorite sport teams with his family and friends and with a bourbon in hand.

Melissa Moyer

Economic Development Coordination Manager

Melissa Moyer

Economic Development Coordination Manager


(515) 286-4929

mmoyer@DSMpartnership.com

Kathy O' Connor

Receptionist

Kathy O' Connor

Receptionist


(515) 286-4950

koconnor@DSMpartnership.com

Kyle Oppenhuizen

Vice President of Communications

Kyle Oppenhuizen

Vice President of Communications


(515) 286-4972

koppenhuizen@DSMpartnership.com

Kyle Oppenhuizen is the Vice President of Communications at the Greater Des Moines Partnership, where is has worked since 2014. In this role, he helps lead and support public relations and marketing projects including newsletters, organizational and regional announcements, internal communications, communications to Partnership stakeholders and more. Prior to working at The Partnership, Oppenhuizen was a reporter at the Des Moines Business Record, where he covered economic development among other areas of focus for the publication. He has been involved in the Young Professionals Connection, Young Professionals of Iowa, the Iowa State Daily Publication Board and more. Oppenhuizen was a Business Record Forty Under 40 honoree in 2020, a 2018 graduate of the Greater Des Moines Leadership Institute’s Community Leadership Program and was named the 2016 Juice Young Professional of the Year. Oppenhuizen is a graduate of Iowa State University, where he earned a degree in Journalism and Mass Communications.

Oppenhuizen and his wife, Paige, enjoy experiencing the many festivals and attractions of Greater Des Moines (DSM), traveling and spending time with their dog, Oliver, and two cats, Winston and Rizzo. An avid sports fan, Oppenhuizen attends countless Iowa State Cyclone sporting events and closely follows the Chicago Cubs and Tottenham Hotspur, among many other teams.

Rachel Ori

Media Relations & Content Specialist

Rachel Ori

Media Relations & Content Specialist


(515) 286-4913

rori@DSMpartnership.com

Jane Page

Receptionist

Jane Page

Receptionist


(515) 286-4950

jpage@DSMpartnership.com

Megan Renkel

Downtown Farmers' Market Manager

Megan Renkel

Downtown Farmers' Market Manager


(515) 286-4928

mrenkel@downtownDSMUSA.com

Juan Pablo Sanchez

Director of Inclusive Business Strategies

Juan Pablo Sanchez

Director of Inclusive Business Strategies


(515) 286-4943

jsanchez@DSMPartnership.com

Kathryn Smith

Director of Community Engagement

Kathryn Smith

Director of Community Engagement


(515) 286-4914

ksmith@DSMpartnership.com

Kelsey Way

Web Manager

Kelsey Way

Web Manager


(515) 286-4966

kway@DSMpartnership.com

Diana Wright

Startup Community Builder

Diana Wright

Startup Community Builder


(515) 286-4949

dwright@DSMpartnership.com

Katherine White

Communications and Marketing Project Coordinator

Katherine White

Communications and Marketing Project Coordinator


(515) 286-4987

kwhite@DSMpartnership.com