Dr. Marvin DeJear, Jr., Named Senior Vice President of Talent Development
The Greater Des Moines Partnership has named Dr. Marvin DeJear, Jr., Ph.D, MBA, as its Senior Vice President of Talent Development. In the role, DeJear will lead The Partnership’s efforts in attracting and retaining talent, and strengthening the region’s talent pipeline. DeJear will begin his role at The Partnership on Monday, Jan. 25.
DeJear is currently the Director of the Evelyn K. Davis Center for Working Families at Des Moines Area Community College. Since taking on the role in 2013, DeJear has collaborated with nearly 60 other community-based organizations and businesses with the Center in efforts to maximize services that promote connecting to income/work support, financial education and asset building, as well as educational, workforce training and employment opportunities within the community. The Center has been open eight years and has reported more than $60 million dollars of impact into the economy and served more than 35,000 individuals since opening.
“Marvin’s wide range of experiences, deep community connections and proven track record of helping people gain access to education and career opportunities make him strategically positioned to lead The Partnership’s talent development work moving forward,” said Jay Byers, President and CEO of the Greater Des Moines Partnership. “His leadership will be instrumental in advancing our region’s Future Ready DSM goal of skilling up our existing and future workforce, in helping guide our Diversity, Equity and Inclusion initiatives, and in continuing to attract and retain talented people in Greater Des Moines to help fuel our future growth.”
In addition to having served on The Partnership’s Diversity and Inclusion Council, DeJear’s efforts toward civic engagement include serving on the Future Ready Iowa Steering Committee, Minority Unemployment & Outreach Standing Committee, Access to Justice Commission, Iowa Two Generation Steering Committee, Iowa Work Based Learning Clearinghouse, State of Iowa Economic Recovery Advisory Committee, Pathways to Work Clearing House Advisory Committee, The Director’s Council, Polk County Early Childhood Board, Back-to-School Iowa Board, Opportunity: Creating Prosperity for All Steering Committee, the John R. Grubb YMCA Martin Luther King Prayer Breakfast Steering Committee, Tomorrow Plan Steering Committee, and the Back 2 School Iowa Board. He also serves as an Opportunity Leader for Opportunity Nation.
“I am excited for the opportunity to lead The Partnership’s talent area of work,” said DeJear. “The organization and region have had tremendous success in ensuring growth in population as well as educational attainment, and I am committed to helping continue the momentum.”
DeJear holds a Ph.D in Higher Education, Community College Leadership from Iowa State University. He also has a Master of Business Administration degree from Iowa State as well as a Bachelor of Arts degree in Entrepreneurship and Strategy from Iowa State.
About the Greater Des Moines Partnership
The Greater Des Moines Partnership is the economic and community development organization that serves Greater Des Moines (DSM), Iowa. Together with 24 Affiliate Chambers of Commerce, more than 6,500 Regional Business Members and more than 365 Investors, The Partnership drives economic growth with one voice, one mission and as one region. Through innovation, strategic planning and global collaboration, The Partnership grows opportunity, helps create jobs and promotes DSM as the best place to build a business, a career and a future.