Where did you grow up?

I was born in Storm Lake and moved to Spirit Lake, where I graduated high school.

When did you discover you wanted to be a dentist?  What inspired you?  

After high school graduation, I attended college at the University of Northern Colorado in Greeley, Colorado.  I played basketball all four years while studying chemistry with a pre-health emphasis.

I always had aspirations to be in the healthcare field, but I didn’t know which route to follow.  Throughout college, I career shadowed several physicians who suggested I look into dentistry if I was uncertain about becoming a practitioner.

Taking this advice, I shadowed Dr. Corte McGuffey of Bear Tooth Dental in Greeley, Colorado.  He inspired me to explore the dental field more intensely.  Both Dr. McGuffey and my hometown dentist, Dr. Eric Nielsen (a hometown hero in his own right), helped develop my passion.  I would love to return the favor to the aspiring healthcare students of Waukee.  

You’re a basketball coach here in the Waukee School District. Tell us about that.

I’ve been so fortunate to be a part of a tremendous program.  Chris and Sheri Guess have created one of the best high school programs in the state of Iowa.  They are two of the most dedicated coaches you could ask for, and they have a blast while doing it.  Their work ethic and the high level of care they demonstrate are rare in high school athletics.  I look forward to seeing what they accomplish.  

I was also able to work with Jodi Vogt and the junior varsity girls.  We have a lot of talent coming up and we improved tremendously throughout the year.  I’m excited to see what the next couple of years hold for this young and talented group!

Why did you choose to set up your practice in Waukee?

I first heard of Waukee at the 2004 state softball tournament when we (Spirit Lake) played Waukee.  Later, when I was in dental school, I was thinking about where in Iowa I could see myself living long-term, and Waukee sparked my interest.  I love that Waukee feels like a small town in the large metro area.  Waukee has been very welcoming and made me feel right at home.  I look forward to meeting more people and getting to know more about the community, its history and where it’s going in the future!

In this issue, we feature local creatives.  Do you have any creative hobbies?

We’re so fortunate to live in an area where art is thriving!  I absolutely love to see the murals, sculptures and paintings created by some of the most talented artists in the country.  My creativity isn’t as strong I’d like it to be, but I hope to spend more time taking advantage of the classes and events offered by our growing art community.

Some people fear a trip to the dentist.  What would you like to tell these folks who are likely long overdue for a checkup?

We understand!  Going to the dentist is a very common fear.  It’s up there with the fear of public speaking—which is my fear!  We’d love to help you get over this fear, and with small steps (or nitrous oxide sedation), you can.  Stop in and meet us sometime.  We’d love to get to know you!  After you get acquainted with us, we can schedule a check-up and talk you through every step of the appointment!

Tell us about your family.

I’ve been married to my husband Mitch for three years, and we welcomed our vizsla puppy, Aries, into the family two months after getting married. It’s just the three of us, but vizslas are high-energy and she keeps us busy!

What do you do for a living?

I am a published author of four novels and one holiday novella—“Destined to Fail,” “The Green Ticket,” “A Questionable Friendship,” “Up To I Do” and “The Christmas Surprise.” I got started in publishing by creating my blog, ChickLitPlus.com, in 2009, and I still feature book reviews nearly daily on the blog. I also do freelance work for authors, such as editing, proofreading and book marketing. I’m also a beauty vlogger (video blogger) and content creator, and I upload daily videos on YouTube featuring makeup reviews, beauty hauls, makeup tutorials and more. I work out of my home office and I’m always busy, but I’m grateful that I get to do what I love every day.

What do you enjoy most about living in Waukee?

We were first attracted to Waukee because it had a small town feel, yet it was close enough to West Des Moines for shopping, food, etc. As Waukee grows, it’s great to see more restaurants and retail space popping up, and yet its small town, friendly vibe hasn’t changed!

Tell us about your experience working at Eason Elementary.

I started at Eason Elementary last year, when I was struggling to write my fifth book. This was the first book I had attempted to write since working at home full-time, and I truly think the lack of being around people was making it hard to create a story. Knowing I would need a very part-time job, working for two hours each school day seemed perfect, and I ended up really enjoying being at Eason. I help out in the lunchroom and at recess, and the kids make me laugh every day. As someone who doesn’t have children yet, it’s been so interesting to be around elementary school kids each day. I love the stories they tell me, and what they find cool and trendy. They gave me so much writing inspiration, I wrote my fifth book in six weeks—a new record for me. I enjoyed my time there so much that I came back for a second year!

Any New Year’s Resolutions you’d like our readers to know about?

A few goals I have for 2017 include releasing three new books and hitting 100,000 subscribers on both Instagram (@MarchBeautyWord) and YouTube (Samantha March). I need to get to work!

Where did you grow up?

I was born and raised in the South. I spent a lot of time in Florida during my youth and I have a fondness for returning.

You’re opening up a new business in the area; can you tell us about that?

The Club Herf, LLC business model centers around the boutique cigar market. Along with cigars and a lounge, we’ll have two golf simulators, televisions, wireless stereo and a BYOB policy. We’ll also have cigar lockers for our customers’ use inside the humidor. To top it off, we’ll have a loyalty program for our customers. It’s my belief that customer relationship management is huge in regards to customer lifetime value.

Can you tell us why you chose Waukee for your business?

We were looking for retail space that could support our projected business growth. Existing retail space in the area did not provide that opportunity. We also encountered some extremely high square-footage costs. As we progressed in the establishment of Club Herf, everyone kept saying that growth in this area is moving towards Waukee. We were introduced to Signature Real Estate by Clyde Evans at West Des Moines Community and Economic Development, and it has turned out to be a great relationship. As we progressed towards signing the lease, we were told that Global Brew would be moving into Hawthorne Center. After signing the lease, we heard Barn Town Brewing would be occupying space as well. There are some great business synergies that we are or will be working on with our neighbors.

How did your passion for cigars begin?

Cigars began for me as a hobby during the cigar boom of the 90’s. I discovered boutique cigar manufacturers within the last five years and realized I wanted to be involved in this industry.

It’s that time of the year—any New Year’s resolutions you’d like to share?

My New Year’s resolution is to prove out my business model. We discussed increasing the size of our model, but in the end, it’s all about getting the doors open and proving out our business networking efforts.

Where did you grow up?

I grew up right here in Des Moines.

How did you come to specialize in gluten-free baking?

I’ve always loved baking, but when my husband started having health issues, I had to learn how to bake using other forms of ingredients.  See, my husband, Chad, can’t have a trace of gluten or dairy in anything he eats or drinks. So this was something I had to learn to do.  It took a lot of practice, and a lot of sampling, but eventually I got it.  Every time I made something that turned out how I wanted it, it was a wonderful feeling, because I knew Chad would be able to enjoy things just like everyone else.

We started the bakery to provide a service for those like Chad. Hopefully, we’re able to help them feel just like everyone else.  We want them to be able to walk into a bakery and choose their treats instead of having to buy a frozen treat at the grocery store.  It’s wonderful to see the joy on people’s faces when they come in for the first time and they’re overwhelmed with options.  It’s a good feeling.

Why did you choose Waukee for your business?

We live in Waukee.  Our oldest graduated from Waukee High School, and our youngest is a junior at Waukee High School. This is the only place we wanted to be. Waukee is our home.

Tell us what a typical day at a gluten-free bakery is like.  

A typical day varies, but most days it’s off and running from the moment I walk in the door.  We partner with Scratch Cupcakery and Gusto Pizza Co.  Both partners keep us very busy on their own, but then we also have orders and walk-in business.  We make a lot of cupcakes, dessert bars, cookies, muffins, French bread—and even more items—daily. We’re adding to our staff to help with the increase in business, and it won’t be long until we add again. We’ve been very blessed.

Even though it’s hard some days, it’s so worth it.  Even when I have a long day and feel like I’ve hit a wall, I know people appreciate the time and effort.  I can’t say it enough—we’re blessed!

Now that we’re well into the holiday season, what sorts of seasonal goodies would you like to brag about?

The funny thing is, what some people consider seasonal, we bake all of the time. We do pumpkin bars every single day, and we offer pumpkin pie all year long.  The nice thing about our products is that they freeze well, so a lot of people order large amounts and freeze the items to take to family events, or just to keep around for their go-to treat. We also have soft frosted sugar cookies. We offer pre-frosted cookies, or cookie dough for them to take and bake, or baked cookies with frosting on the side for them to decorate at home.

But honestly, our holiday seasons are crazy busy, and it’s about making an assortment of items, not just one or two specific things. So I guess if I were to brag about something, I would say that I feel anything you choose, you will enjoy.

Tell our readers about the people of Brewer Family Farms.

Brewer Family Farms LLC is a family farm located outside of Dallas Center. Brewers have been raising cattle in Dallas County for six generations. Siblings Joe Brewer and Emily Wynn grew up with a love for animal agriculture and formed the idea of a beef business after they both returned to the family farm from college and started thinking about how they could add to the farm.

Emily had always dreamed of opening a meat locker, and Joe was the cattle farmer in the family, so for them, creating the business plan was easy. With the support of their parents, Dan and Linda Brewer, along with Joe’s wife Brenda and Emily’s husband Jeff, Brewer Family Farms, LLC provides locally-grown, family-raised beef products and caseless bratwurst to customers across Iowa.

Our cover story is about pet adoption and care, and we hear you take the care of your livestock pretty seriously. Can you tell us about that?

Cattle care is our number one priority. Our cattle are housed in a hoop barn during the winter months, which protects them from the harsh Iowa winters. In the spring and summer, they spend their days in lush, green pastures. In the fall, you can find them roaming our family-owned cornstalk fields. Our goal is to produce and provide the most wholesome and flavorful locally-grown beef products possible.  

Where can customers find you?

Our products can be found at the Baker’s Pantry in Dallas Center, Picket Fence Creamery in Woodward and the Hy-Vee on Hickman Road in Waukee. You can also purchase directly from the farm by contacting any of us. Our website is brewerbeef.com.

If you had to pick just one favorite product that you’re known for, what would it be?

That would be our caseless beef bratwurst. Unlike a traditional bratwurst, ours does not have a casing around the meat, which we think makes it more enjoyable. Our beef bratwurst is available in five flavors: cheddar cheese, bacon cheddar cheese, plain (salt and pepper), Hawaiian (Canadian bacon and fresh pineapple), and for those who like the spicy side of life, jalapeno and pepper jack cheese. We also sell cuts of steak along with whole, half- and quarter-sides of beef.

In this issue, we also talk about charity during the holiday season. What are some ways the Brewer family gives back to the community?

We’re very active in 4-H in Dallas County. Joe and Brenda are leaders of the Sugar Grove Blue Ribbon Winners 4-H Club, while Emily is the chairman of the Dallas County 4-H Youth Committee and the coach for the Dallas County 4-H Livestock Judging Team. We’re all very active in the Dallas Center Church of the Brethren. Dan was president of the Dallas County Cattlemen’s and Linda is active with the Dallas County Pork Producers. We’re also always thrilled to participate in the different activities of the Waukee Chamber.

Tell us a little about your career.

I’m a negotiator for a consulting firm in West Des Moines—Corporate Contracts, LLC. We work primarily in the areas of strategic sourcing and vendor management, and I focus on contract negotiations, contract drafting and vendor management. I have my JD and MBA from Drake University, and I use both on a daily basis in my position. My true passion is working with businesses, from small start-ups to Fortune 500 businesses, to get them what they need to achieve viability and prosperity.

You’re a lifelong Waukee resident. What was it like to grow up in a community that grew up with you?

I couldn’t have asked for a better place to grow up, or a better time to do it. There were a lot of changes to the school district when I was in grade school, but I graduated with a large class that had more resources than we even had time to use. The academic and athletic opportunities seemed to multiply every year. I still remember when we’d travel across the state for sports and find the other teams were twice our size. Being a part of a once quite small school system while it grew to be competitive with some of the largest schools in the state made me very proud to be from Waukee.

You own Bergman Riding Academy, an equestrian training facility here in Waukee. Can you tell our readers about that?

Recognizing the cost and time barriers of owning horses, my goal for Bergman Riding is to provide the opportunity to be around horses, either competitively or recreationally, for anyone that can’t own their own horse. It started with a couple of retired show horses and the idea to give them a new purpose. I grew up showing those two horses and they ended up becoming a part of our family. We’re coming up on our fifth year already, and we’re up to ten horses now, all of which are finding their true calling being re-purposed as teachers to new riders.

You were very recently appointed to the Waukee City Council. What drove you to join the council?

I’ve always had a passion for public service, and I even had plans to run in 2017 because of that. Personally, it’s not enough for me to use my education and experience for my own career. I’ve always wanted to do more, and what better way to do that than to represent my own community as we look forward to a sustainable future? As a younger professional and local small business owner raised right here, I wanted to bring that new demographic to our current leadership and help usher in a new wave of development.

In this issue, we talk at length about the residential growth of our city. Now that you’re in a leadership position, what do you want to see happen in Waukee over the next several years?

We’ve done a great job at expanding our residential development in Waukee, but we’re also making great strides in our commercial development, which is something I see as key to our future. Waukee in unique in that it has a strong sense of community and a connection to small-town values and local business. Waukee isn’t just a place to live—it’s a place where people can come to work, stay to raise families and have the resources and conveniences they need. Our leadership has been working hard to make that happen, and I have every confidence that the future of Waukee is nothing short of limitless.

Could you give our readers a brief history of Gilcrest/Jewett?

Gilcrest Lumber Company started in 1856 and Jewett Lumber began in 1879, operating separately in Des Moines until 1985.  Back then, it was not uncommon to see both companies delivering building materials in carts and sleds pulled by oxen and mules on the streets of Des Moines. Throughout the years, both companies built their reputations by providing quality materials and offering the best service. In the fall of 1985, the two companies merged to form the company you see today on SW Alice’s Road at Grand Prairie Parkway. We also have locations in Marion, Coralville and Altoona, as well as Plum Building Systems—a truss and wall panel manufacturer—in Osceola.

How long has the company been a part of the Waukee community?

We left downtown Des Moines and opened our facility in Waukee in January of 2000. The Waukee facility employs nearly 230 people and encompasses 29 acres, including our 12,500 square-foot showroom.

People might be surprised to know you’re much more than a lumber company. What other services does Gilcrest/Jewett provide?

We built our Waukee location so we could serve our Central Iowa customers better, but also so we could showcase the products that we provide to consumers and their builders. We designed it to inspire people, and we named it our Idea Center!

Tell us about the “Idea Center.”

The Idea Center gives customers and builders the ability to come in and physically see and touch home design essentials such as carpeting, windows, doors and door hardware and cabinets. To be able to see these in person makes the decision process faster and easier for our customers.

The company is pretty active in the community. What are some of the ways Gilcrest/Jewett gives back?

It’s important for us to be involved and give back to the community. It’s an important part of our mission. Over the years, we’ve helped support hundreds of local organizations, including the Boy Scouts, YESS and Habitat for Humanity.

Tell us a little about your family.

Our family has been in the Coca-Cola business for over 107 years. I have a 91-year-old father that is still active in the business, and four sisters that are shareholders of our company. My wonderful wife, Janel, and I have been married for 37 years. Our daughter, Jessica, and her husband, Rob, have three children— Claire, Avery and Owen. Our son, Jay, lives in West Des Moines and works with us in the business. It truly is a family business.

We all see the big red trucks on our daily commutes in and out of Waukee. Tell us about Atlantic Coca-Cola Bottling Company and what you do there.

Atlantic Bottling began in Villisca, Iowa in the ice and ice cream business. We currently do business in central and southwest Iowa, but we’re soon expanding to service about 90 percent of the state with Coca-Cola products. I was fortunate enough to be named chairman of the company earlier this year. I oversee the daily operations in Atlantic and Waukee, but my favorite part of the job is getting out and visiting with our employees in the trade and listening to our customers talk about their needs and how we can help grow their businesses.

When you’re not working, what are some of your hobbies?

The people I work with say that while I never take vacations, I do work in some pretty nice places! Janel and I like to travel, and we also like to golf when time allows.

Generational ownership is becoming increasingly rare. What does it mean to you to work with your family?

A family business is a great place to work. I am the third generation in our business, and the fourth is working with us now. It’s a lot of work getting the family to work together, and it takes a lot of communication to keep everyone informed, but it’s all worth it.

We hear you make it a priority to give back to your community. Why is this so important to you?

We strongly believe in giving back to the communities in which we do business. These are the communities in which our employees live, work and play, so it’s important that we do what we can to keep them the type of places that keep and attract people that want to work for our company.

Truth time: What is your all-time favorite Coke product?

Nothing beats the taste of a Coca-Cola right off the production line in Atlantic. We make the best, and we are very proud of that.

Tell us a little about your family

I am truly blessed with an amazing family. My wife Cory and I have two boys— Ben is 5 and Tommy is 2. As anyone with young children knows, they are quite a handful at times, but we wouldn’t trade one ounce of their energy or enthusiasm, even when it’s not exactly focused in the right direction. My wife is a dentist with Lifepoint Dental Partners and works on the south side of Des Moines.  

What do you do for a living?  

I’m a partner at Hartung & Schroeder, LLP, a general litigation law firm in downtown Des Moines. While we do not specialize in any one area, a large portion of our practice is focused on business/corporate law, family law, personal injury litigation and class action lawsuits.

When you’re not working, what activities do you like to do with your family?

We try to spend as much time as possible outside. While this often revolves around soccer or tee ball games, we also spend a lot of time at the pool or with friends in our neighborhood. As is the case in much of the Waukee area, we have an amazing group of families in our neighborhood, and almost all of them have children, so on any given night, there’s usually a group of kids playing somewhere.  

We hear you’re a fitness enthusiast. Tell us about that.

I’m not sure I qualify as an “enthusiast,” but I definitely enjoy working out. I have historically been a runner, but over the last six months, I’ve gotten involved in hot yoga at Power Life Yoga. I find the workouts incredibly challenging, both mentally and physically, and I truly enjoy the community of individuals I’ve met there.     

In this issue, we talk about Iowa vineyards and finer dining. Do you and your wife have a favorite place for date nights?

That is a tough question! Des Moines has such a great collection of locally owned and operated restaurants to choose from. One of our favorites has always been Bistro Montage. Both the food and service are always amazing. A newer restaurant we have enjoyed is Reed’s Hollow in Beaverdale. It has an eclectic menu and great atmosphere.

Where did you grow up?

I was born and raised right here in Des Moines.

Tell us a little about your family.

I have a large family. I have three brothers and two sisters. My dad currently owns an ad agency. Both of my parents were in the advertising world for quite some time, so you could argue that it’s in my blood. I’m married and have three children—two boys and a girl, ranging in age from 20 years old to 1 year old. They keep me young!

We’re told that you run your own business. Tell us about that.  

After 20 years in advertising and marketing, I decided to make the jump and opened my own marketing consulting firm last October. It’s called Daly Marketing. Daly is my maiden name, and it’s the name by which many people know me in this market.

I have no desire to be just another ad agency. Instead, I’ve chosen to join my clients’ teams, as their consultant, and provide for their needs. This town has several ad agencies, but not many marketing partners that work alongside their clients and cater to their needs. My dad taught me a long time ago that if you take care of others, they will take care of you. That’s what I do. I’m their partner. My firm currently represents four businesses, and we may be up to six very soon. We’re growing, and I love it!

What do you enjoy about living in Waukee?  

My family and I moved to Waukee last August after living in Beaverdale for 10 years. We love it here. Suburbia has its benefits, and it’s also nice to be so close to West Des Moines and the interstate. Lifetime is my gym, and across the street from my home, I’ve got Dunkin Donuts for coffee and Gusto’s for a killer salad and a glass of wine. My chiropractor and kids’ daycare are just down the road, as well. It’s nice having everything so close by. We also love the school system here.

In this issue, we talk about different ways of staying active for people of various physical capabilities. How do you like to stay active?  

I couldn’t be the mom, wife or business owner I am without paying attention to my fitness and nutrition. It keeps me going. I’m the former owner of Kosama Downtown on Ingersoll, so fitness is my thing!

As a certified yoga instructor, I have to say that yoga is a super versatile way to get and stay fit and to keep your stress levels in check. It has benefits for not only the avid athlete, but also the beginner, and you can apply it to all aspects of your life—not just on the mat. Yoga boosts your immunity, helps you detox, strengthens your core and improves your flexibility. It’s great for little kids, the elderly, the Crossfit athlete that needs a recovery day or the runner that needs to stretch and lengthen their muscles. Yoga should be practiced and taken off the mat to bless others. That’s how I see it—as a way to give back.