Speakers

We will not have a regular meeting at Biaggi's today. Instead, we will serve lunch to Veterans at Freedom Foundation located at 4001 Center Point Road NE, Cedar Rapids, IA 52402.

Please arrive at 11:30 am. We start serving at 11:45 and are done serving at 12:15. We then clean up afterwards and should be completely done by 1 pm.

 

Sarah Blais graduated from Grinnell College with Bachelors degrees in Art History and Anthropology. She attended Georgetown University to earn her Masters in Museum Studies. She studied Arts Business at
the Sotheby's Institute in London and started her career at the National Czech & Slovak Museum & Library as a Museum Educator. In her time at the National Czech & Slovak Museum & Library, she went on to oversee the department of Outreach and Innovation. After four years in this role, she moved on to NewBo City Market where she works to support their mission of fostering regional economic development by uplifting entrepreneurs and artists. As a part of the leadership team, Sarah helps oversee all aspects of Market fundraising, staff operations, and community partnerships.

LifeServe Blood Center is the new sole provider of blood for UnityPoint Health—St. Luke’s since June 1, 2024. They are excited to build local connections to help support this new partnership.

Keirra McFadden graduated from Iowa State University with Bachelors degrees in Public Relations and Political Science. She quickly started working for LifeServe Blood Center after she graduated as a phlebotomist but this past spring she transitioned into her dream job of being a territory representative. In this new role, Keirra oversees all the blood drives, events, and outreach in East Iowa for LifeServe Blood Center. She is excited to introduce LifeServe to Cedar Rapids as the new sole provider of blood for UnityPoint Health—St. Luke’s Hospital and to start building local connections to help support the new partnership.

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.