Partnership's 125th Annual Dinner Ushers in New Chair, Concludes Historical Celebrations and Honors Three Businesses with Inclusion Awards!
The Greater Des Moines Partnership’s 125th Annual Dinner was held on Monday, January 20, at Veterans’ Memorial Community Choice Credit Union Conference Center in Downtown Des Moines (DSM). The Partnership’s Annual Dinner is the celebration of its past year’s work. This year’s event speaker was 25-time award winning journalist, Bob Costas, who addressed a sold-out crowd of more than 1,400 business and community leaders. During the dinner, the Partnership presented its 2013 Annual Report in video format. The report is available on the Partnership’s website in both video and pdf formats and can be viewed by visiting DSMpartnership.com.
Jim Wallace, President and CEO of GuideOne Insurance and 2013 Partnership Chair passed the gavel to Paul E. Schickler, President, DuPont Pioneer. Schickler has been Vice Chair on the Partnership’s Executive Committee of the Board of Directors for the past two years, and an active volunteer since the organization’s founding in 1999.
The dinner also celebrated the diversity and inclusion efforts within the business community, observing Martin Luther King, Jr. Day. The 2014 Inclusion Awards were presented by Robin Jenkins, 2013-14 Chair of the Partnership’s Diversity and Inclusion Council, to three local companies for their extensive diversity efforts. The Partnership’s 2014 Inclusion Award for a large business went to Unity Point Health. The medium sized business award winner for 2014 went to Des Moines University. The small business Inclusion Award winner was Veridian Credit Union. Each company prepared a video acknowledgement.
The Annual Dinner wrapped up a year-long celebration of the 125th anniversary of the Partnership’s founding organization, The Commercial Exchange. The Dinner program included a video conversation with Partnership Chairs since 1999.
Media inquiries should be directed to Susan Ramsey at (515) 286-4954 or sramsey@DSMpartnership.com.
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 23 Affiliate Chambers of Commerce, more than 6,100 Regional Business Members and more than 330 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. Learn more at DSMpartnership.com.