Events

John Myers has been executive director of Indian Creek Nature Center in Cedar Rapids, Iowa since May 2013. Working with the organization's board of directors, john leads the strategic planning and growth of the organization ensuring that its vision to create champions of nature is achieved. He has led the organization's growth in design and construction of Amazing Space, reinvention of programming, and more than doubling the staff size, the annual budget, and the land the organization owns. John has a bachelor's of science degree in business administration and is an Eagle Scout. John and his wife, Meridith, reside in Marion, Iowa with their three children.

Karla Twedt-Ball has served the Greater Cedar Rapids Community Foundation for 17 years, assuming the role of President & CEO in 2023. Karla’s career has been defined by fostering connected communities through cultivating relationships, supporting healthy community systems that work for everyone, and nurturing collaborative community efforts. Karla loves the role of community foundations in helping communities flourish. Karla is on the board of the Funders Network, a national philanthropic serving organization. She recently served on the Iowa Council of Foundations Board of Directors. Karla just finished teaching a graduate class on management and strategic planning for the School of Planning and Public Affairs at the University of Iowa. In her free time, Karla loves spending time with friends and family, especially with her husband Clint and her two adult children, Isaac and Annika.

Marie Hassel – ChildServe Director of Eastern Iowa

Marie Hassel is a native of the Midwest and grew up in Rockford, Illinois. She attended Northern Illinois University and the University of Phoenix, graduating with a degree in Health Care Administration. Her non-profit career began in Federally Qualified Health Centers in 2000. She spent 12 years with Community Health Care, Inc. in Davenport as the Director of Quality and Ancillary Services. She spent 5 years with Waianae Coast Comprehensive Health Center in Waianae, Hawaii as the Director of Quality and Director of Operations. She joined ChildServe in June of 2017 and serves as the Director of Eastern Iowa. She is a board member of Unity Point-Robert Young Center, in Rock Island, Illinois; the Center for Alcohol and Drug Services in Davenport, and Empower House-A Brain Injury Club House of the Quad Cities. Marie and her family live in Le Claire.

Fun Fact:  Robin Zander from Cheap Trick kissed Marie on the cheek when she was 10 years old and she didn’t wash her face for a week. 

 Sara Volz – ChildServe Director of Development

Sara Volz is the Regional Director of Development and is responsible for pursuing major gift opportunities, fundraising, and supporting community engagement in all our regional areas. Sara grew up in Davenport and attended the University of Iowa, where she graduated with an English and business degree and a minor in political science. Sara has previously worked in fundraising roles at the University of Iowa Center for Advancement for the Ophthalmology Department, focused on healthcare philanthropy, and as the Director of Development and Marketing at the Figge Art Museum. She lives in Tiffin, Iowa, with her two boys, Mitchell and Trevor, and their dogs, Thor and Izzy.

Fun fact: Sara enjoys traveling the Midwest to check out all the bike trails.

Justin is a proud Cedar Rapidian with a strong track record of success in education. He was born and raised in the Cedar Rapids community and is currently bringing up his family here. Justin has 15 years of educational experience in schools and districts across the country, including Houston, Des Moines, and Cedar Rapids. His seven years of school and district-level leadership in Cedar Rapids includes serving as the Principal of Roosevelt Creative Corridor Business Academy. Justin is an advocate for college and career preparation, and focuses on setting students up for success in high school and beyond

Here is a link to our site: Homepage - Cedar Rapids Prep

Jessie Lobb is a prevention specialist with the Area Substance Abuse Council (ASAC), a nonprofit organization that focuses on providing substance use and problem gambling prevention, treatment, and recovery services throughout eastern Iowa.

A proud Quad Cities native, Jessie earned her bachelor's degree in public health from Augustana College and went on to pursue her Master of Public Health degree in epidemiology, biosecurity and disaster preparedness at St. Louis University. She officially began her public health career earlier this year at ASAC, where she focuses primarily on opioid education and works to raise community awareness about the growing crisis surrounding fentanyl, prescription opioid misuse, and counterfeit pills. In her free time, Jessie enjoys woodcarving and spending quiet evenings at home with her two cats, Tally and Teddy.

Our program for April 24 will be about the City of Robins.  The speaker is Greg Neumeyer, the Economic Development Director for the Robins Economic Development Initiative.  He will talk a bit about the history of Robins and planning that has happened to prepare for growth.  He will then highlight development that is happening in Robins.

Greg has been a long-time member of Downtown Rotary.  After a career in banking and wealth management, he is now enjoying being “mostly” retired.  To keep busy, he is serving part-time as the Economic Development Director for the Robins Economic Development Initiative.  He also serves on the Board of Directors of Farmers State Bank.  In the summer Greg likes to spend time at their family cabin near Brainerd, Minnesota.  He lives in Robins with his wife Debbie and they have 2 adult children.