Photo courtesy of Laura Wills Photography

Where were you born?

I was born in St. Louis, Missouri.

Where did you go to college?

I attended Southern Methodist University, University of North Texas and Rutgers University.  I graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in English and Political Science.

Tell us about your family.

My wife’s name is Lisa, and my grandmother, Dorothy, is 95.

Tell us briefly about your current career.

I left Stivers Lincoln Mercury in 2005 to open Stivers Ford in 2006. We had purchased the assets of Mid States Ford. We had a very large learning curve in terms of sales and service because of the number of Ford models. The auto business experienced tremendous change from 2008-2010, and we adapted with the times. We put a lot of time into finding and training the right people, and it has paid off.

We added Lincoln to our Ford dealership, and have been Iowa’s#1 Ford Lincoln dealer since 2010. We completed a 14,000 square-foot expansion in 2013. We were recently awarded the President’s Award by Ford Motor Company.  We’re the only dealership in central Iowa to achieve it. It’s Ford’s most prestigious award, and only the top 10% of dealers earn it.

What are your hobbies and interests?

I like to read when there is no football or hockey to watch.

What do you like most about living and/or working in Waukee?

I live and work in Waukee, so being a part of intelligent growth is exciting.  I like seeing familiar faces everywhere I go. I like greeting friends when they come to the dealership. Being involved with the Waukee Chamber of Commerce, Waukee Arts Council, the Waukee Leadership Institute, and several other organizations means that I get to meet other people that are also highly engaged in the activities and opportunities in Waukee.

What motivates and inspires you?

I’m inspired by the life lessons and values that my parents instilled in me – honesty, hard work and treating others as you would like to be treated.  I also like the quote: “If you don’t have the time to do it right, when will you have the time to do it over?”

Do you know anyone we should feature for future editions of Faces of Waukee? Let us know! Visit our contact page and drop us a line.

Photo courtesy of Laura Wills Photography

Where were you born?
I was born in Fort Madison and raised on a farm outside of West Point.  As the youngest of six girls, my sisters always thought that I was spoiled, but I remind them that if I had been a boy, I would have given a whole new definition to spoiled.

Where did you go to college?
After attending a small Catholic high school, I chose a small Catholic college, St. Ambrose University in Davenport, to pursue my degree inaccounting. After graduation, I went on to pass the CPA exam.

Tell us about your family.
My husband Leroy and I have two boys. Owen just graduated from Waukee High School and will be attending DMACC in the fall. He’ll be living in the campus housing in Ankeny. Jerad will be junior at Waukee High School.

Tell us briefly about your current career.
I’m a Manager at McGowen Hurst Clark and Smith, PC, a full-service public accounting and business advisory firm with offices in West Des Moines and Winterset. I work at the West Des Moines location. I help both individual and corporate clients by assisting them with their tax returns, providing accounting services and serving as a consultant on other financial issues. I enjoy working at MHC&S and I’m proud to be part of the team.

What are your hobbies/interests?
My boys are growing up quickly, so I enjoy spending as much time with them as I can – or as much as they will allow!  I also enjoy giving back to my community.  I have served on the boards of the Waukee Chamber of Commerce and the Waukee Leadership Institute. I currently serve on the board of the Greater Iowa Chapter of JDRF, a Type 1 Diabetes research foundation, and I volunteer at many of their events.

What do you like most about living and/or working in Waukee?
When I moved to Waukee more than 20 years ago, I thought I was moving to the country. Hickman Road was only two lanes and the home I currently live in was a grassy field. Who would have known back then that my son would graduate from a high school with 475 students in his class? Although Waukee has grown greatly, it still maintains its small-town feel.

Living in Waukee, where much of the development is complete, I can walk to the ice cream shop, farmer’s market and football stadium, which makes it feel like a small town. However, I’m excited to see the next phase of Waukee develop. The growth in the past has been in housing and in the school system. It will be great to see the commercial side of Waukee expand and grow, especially as the new Kettlestone Development begins to unfold. It’s an exciting time to live in Waukee.

What motivates and inspires you?
I enjoy helping clients and knowing that my work is valued. Hearing “thank you” from anyone – be it a client, co-worker, family member or friend – always makes me feel appreciated and makes me want to do even more.

Do you know anyone we should feature for future editions of Faces of Waukee? Let us know! Visit our contact page and drop us a line.