Where are you from originally?

I’m originally from Urbandale and graduated from Urbandale High School.

Tell us a little about your family.

I’ve been married to my wife Staci for 11 years, and we have two daughters that attend Waukee schools. Abby is 9 and will be in 4th grade and Katy is 6 and will be in 1st grade. My wife is from Texas but we met while we were both living in Las Vegas. I convinced her that Iowa would be a great place to raise a family and that our winters aren’t that bad. I lied about the winter part, but we love raising our family here.  

Tell us what you do as the Center Director for Mathnasium of West Des Moines.

My role is largely hiring and training instructors, assessing kids’ math skills, designing learning plans and communicating progress with parents, as well as all the sales, marketing and back office aspects of the business. I also get to promote Mathnasium in our community while also giving back. I currently serve on the Waukee Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors and the Waukee Community Schools Foundation Board.

When did your own passion for math really take hold?

I was always good with numbers in school, and math came easy for me. I had taught high school overseas for a couple years and really liked working with kids. I also used math in various corporate jobs and became a Certified Internal Auditor, earning an MBA along the way. So, opening a Mathnasium Learning Center was the perfect entrepreneurial outlet to blend my love of math while also helping kids. I’m fortunate that I get the opportunity to really impact kids’ lives and hopefully pass on my passion for math to the kids that attend our center.

What makes Mathnasium different from regular tutors?

We have the resources to find out exactly where kids are in their math skills and provide help filling in missing foundational gaps or challenging kids with higher level material from our proprietary curriculum. Traditional tutors are more of a short-term solution and a quick fix to get through homework. We offer a lasting solution for kids’ math deficiencies while also providing a way for advanced students to get ahead. Most kids that have a regular tutor will always need one because they develop a “learned helplessness.” In other words, they get too used to having a tutor work through each problem. We focus on building confidence and making math make sense so students can apply concepts and solve problems on their own. We also offer more scheduling flexibility because our sessions are on a drop-in basis. Our student “mathletes” are members that pay a monthly fee—like a gym membership—where kids attend 2-3 times per week. But the biggest difference is that we make math FUN!

How can people learn more about Mathnasium?

We assess kids with no risk or obligation to enroll. You can reach us at Mathnasium of West Des Moines (by Jordan Creek Mall) at 515-440-MATH (6284).

Tell us about your family.

My dad is from Des Moines and my mom is from Huxley. They’re two of my biggest sources of inspiration and motivation, because my dad is incredibly knowledgeable and sensible, and my mom always says “go for it.” I have two younger sisters, Madison and Sydney, that both attend Waukee High School. It’s funny to watch my youngest sister, Madison, grow up because ever since I’ve gotten into fashion and high-end brands, she has followed along and will now show me the latest release from Gucci or Balenciaga.

We heard that you’ve launched your own clothing line. Tell us how that came about.

From a young age, I wanted to play baseball in college, and eventually, professionally. However, when I was diagnosed with Crohn’s Disease at 16, I had to quit baseball due to the risk of taking a blow to the abdomen and rupturing something.

I used to think fashion was a profession for women only, until I became obsessed with the fit of my clothing and the different fibers and fabrics I was wearing. It was like the saying, “When one door closes, another opens.” Since the age of 16, I have tried my hand at four different businesses, three of which were clothing related. My biggest success was a line was called Vero Apparel. We geared our product towards baseball players. At one point, I believe we had over 75k followers on our social media accounts.

However, I recognized that a lot of people were just slapping a cliché saying on a shirt and suddenly they had a “company.” I sold my shares from Vero and started Keep On Apparel, which I eventually rebranded as “NEAL.”

Do you have any mentors that have helped you along the way?

I have all sorts of mentors—primarily, my dad. He’s a business owner himself, so I would be ignorant if I didn’t listen to the advice he gives me on the logistical and business sides of things. Another mentor that I look up to is Josh Ansah. He has his own clothing brand and storefront in Valley Junction called Jaytees Apparel. He has all sorts of events in the backyard of his store and gives a lot back to the city. Josh has given me a lot of advice on both business and life in general. I first contacted him in 2013 and just met him in February of this year. The day I met him, he gave me a big hug and assured me we would do amazing work together. I have great respect for him, his wife Melissa and their kids.

Most of all, I credit all my blessings and thought processes to Jesus Christ. Without him, I would be lost and stuck in a job I hate, so I’m forever grateful and give everything to Him.

What sort of styles can people expect from your work?

I dropped my freshman collection in June of this year. The line I’m releasing is Luxury Streetwear. Some of the fabrics I’m using include Japanese denim, silk, and Italian wool. Being the only employee of NEAL, I make every piece by hand, with love. I hope everyone will see how much I’ve given to this and that they’ll give NEAL a chance.

Where can people find your clothes?

You can find me on social media. I’m producing a short movie featuring the pieces that will be released with the help of Jordan Allen. When the pieces are available for purchase, I’ll take orders exclusively through Instagram (@_n3al_). I’ll also set up some pop-up stores around the state and will post notifications of these on social media.

Tell us a little about your family.

I’ve lived in Ames for 23 years.  My husband, Marc, is the team physician for Iowa State University. I have two children, Jennifer, who is 21 and a senior at Syracuse University and Mitchell, who is 17 and a junior at Ames High School. My daughter was a competitive figure skater for 14 years and my son plays hockey for the Ames Little Cyclones. I’ve spent a great deal of my time in Iowa visiting ice rinks.

How did you come to start Kiln Time?

I moved from the suburbs of Boston to Iowa. To me, the Midwest was vastly different from the East Coast. Massachusetts offers many things for all ages, but Ames, where I started this business, was missing a place where families, friends and groups could socialize and embrace their creativity. When another studio, which was not so strategically located, closed, I saw my opportunity.  

What made you decide to set up shop in the Waukee area?

I began my business on Main Street in Ames, and was there for eight years. When the economic crash happened, I realized that I needed to move my business to a more populated area. If people were going to visit me a couple times a year to celebrate a special occasion such as a birthday or Christmas, I needed to be located in a more populated area. We have a very unique business. I felt that the Waukee area and the surrounding suburbs would benefit from our services.

In this issue, we highlight local artists who don’t hone their craft full time, but express their creativity when they can. Do you have any advice for those wanting to get into ceramics?

We have promoted two classes online over the past few years for guests to try their hand. One is for glass fusion and the other is for pottery wheel throwing. If you ask anyone who has thrown on pottery wheels, they will tell you they have a new respect for potters and their highly-priced pieces. Ceramics, and more specifically, wheel throwing, are a practiced craft, just like learning to play an instrument. If you practice with the intent to get better, you will become proficient. Like everything, it just takes time.

Tell our readers about your business.

I’ve been in practice as a plastic surgeon for 13 years, and opened Des Moines Plastic Surgery 10 years ago.  Des Moines Plastic Surgery offers cosmetic surgery of the face, breast and body.  We also offer Neograft hair transplants, feminine rejuvenation treatments, Botox and wrinkle fillers. The popularity of plastic surgery and nonsurgical procedures has grown dramatically, so to meet the growing demand, we recently moved into an 18,000 square-foot facility in West Des Moines, where I perform cosmetic surgery in our private operating room, and where the Coachlight Clinic & Spa is located.

How did you come to choose your profession?

When I was in surgery training, I was exposed to all surgical specialties, but I didn’t want to limit myself to one type of surgery or one body area.  I found plastic surgery to be a fascinating combination of reconstruction and cosmetic surgery, which would allow me to operate on any part of the body, on both adults and children.  My practice initially involved mainly complex reconstruction after cancer surgery, pediatric birth deformities and trauma-related surgery.  My practice is now 100 percent cosmetic surgery, and has been for several years, but my reconstructive background certainly helps me to be a better cosmetic plastic surgeon.

What is the Coachlight Clinic & Spa and how did it come about?  

After I opened Des Moines Plastic Surgery 10 years ago, I quickly learned that many people were interested in nonsurgical treatments such as Botox, wrinkle fillers, CoolSculpting and laser treatments, which we have been offering for many years.  Now, with our recent move to the new facility, we have also incorporated a 10,000-square-foot, five-star spa, which offers herbal and organic facials, therapeutic massages (including couples’ massages), body treatments, private men’s and women’s locker facilities and a relaxation lounge.  It’s something you can’t find anywhere else in Iowa!

A spa sounds like a great way to relax when Iowa’s cold season is “uncooperative.” If you had to recommend one or two of Coachlight’s amenities, what would they be?  

We have taken great time and care when planning the spa. We want people to feel comfortable and relax!  One of our favorite amenities is the Relaxation Lounge, where you can curl up in your plush robe with a soft blanket and an herbal tea or infused water.  Another is the Himalayan Salt Sauna, which provides great health benefits.  Other unique amenities include the Eucalyptus Steam Room and Circular Rain Experience.  Come relax and escape the stress of everyday life at Coachlight Clinic & Spa!