Where are you from originally?

I grew up in Sioux Center, Iowa. My father owned a Coast-to-Coast hardware store, where I worked as a teenager. My wife Sherri and I managed a Ben Franklin store from 1977 to 1986. I graduated from Dordt College in 1986 and then began my career in public administration. During that time, we also had our three wonderful daughters.

Tell us a little about your current career.

My entire public administration career has been in Iowa. My first position was as Finance Officer with the City of Jefferson in 1986.  I managed the cities of Sibley and Jefferson from 1988 to 1995, I served as the Assistant City Manager of Dubuque from 1995 to 2001, and I managed the City of Mason City from 2001 to 2005. My career changed course in 2005, when I became the Economic Development Director for the City of Ankeny. I was then Assistant City Manager in Ankeny prior to starting as City Administrator of the City of Waukee in 2013.

What do you do with your free time?

My wife and I dabble in biking and golfing. I follow college and pro football during the fall. We have 11 grandchildren living in Iowa, so there are many weekends devoted to birthdays, sporting activities, and other celebrations. We are also active in our church.

With the city’s continued changes, there’s always something new. Care to share any updates?

One challenge for Waukee in the next three years will be the widening of Alice’s Road from University Avenue to Hickman Road. It will take a significant amount of coordination, communication, and patience by Waukee residents and city staff. Discussions are already taking place on how to engage and inform motorists throughout the project. Residents will hear more about it as the project planning begins in 2016.

  Is there any one thing you are particularly excited about for our growing community?

I’m excited that Waukee and its neighbors are growing to a point where new businesses are interested in investing in Waukee. The opening of Grand Prairie Parkway will provide new development land to Waukee. Combined with the land on the Hickman Corridor, businesses have a variety of development options for retail, personal and professional services, restaurants, and hotels. Additionally, Waukee will have ideal land for office buildings and be able to offer opportunities for Waukee residents to work in Waukee. With a stable economy, the next several years should result in new services and career opportunities for Waukee residents.  

In this issue, we talk about making smart choices when cooking at home or going out. What are some of your go-to meals when you want a healthy option?

The evening meal is often a scramble. The healthiest options for us are grilling fish, chicken, or a lean cut of pork or beef.  

Any New Year’s Resolutions for 2016 that you’d like to share?

I am sort of a New Year’s resolution curmudgeon. My approach to making change is to commit to the change regardless of the time of year.

Where are you from originally?

I grew up in a small town in northwest Iowa called Odebolt. It has a population of 1,000 on a holiday weekend when everyone is home to visit, but I absolutely loved growing up there. I have lived in the Des Moines area for just over a year now, and I’m very excited to call it my new home.

Tell us a little about your career.

I attended school at Odebolt Arthur High School before heading to the University of Iowa, where I majored in Integrative Physiology and minored in Psychology. After a tough decision between Palmer College of Chiropractic in Florida and Logan College of Chiropractic in St. Louis, I decided to stay in the Midwest and move to St. Louis to attend chiropractic school at (what is now) Logan University.

What do you do with your free time?

I spend the majority of my free time with my husband, Aaron. We both enjoy staying active with sports or any outdoor activity. We play on a few different softball, kickball, and volleyball leagues, which usually keeps us entertained and busy. We also like to play with the Aerobie and go hiking when we can. When we’re not being active somewhere, you can usually find us with our families. We both have several siblings—I have six, and he has eight! We are truly blessed!

What are some of the things you like most about living and working on the west side of the metro?

One thing I like is the camaraderie. Everyone is very proud of being from the west side, and they absolutely should be. Although I am not native, I know how much things have changed in the last few years. It’s amazing how much everyone has embraced the change. The possibilities in this area are endless! Another thing I enjoy is the young families. This is truly a great place to raise a family of our own someday, and also to be a pediatric and family chiropractor that can help these families grow in health.

What should a person new to chiropractic care know before coming into your office?

The most common fear of new patients is whether their adjustment will hurt. Adjustments are not typically painful. More commonly, there is an almost immediate sense of relief. Your chiropractor will talk you through your first adjustment and make you feel comfortable. Another important thing to know is that it’s never too early or too late to start chiropractic care. So many people are surprised when I tell them I treat several kids! They are even more surprised when I tell them I have adjusted babies that were only a couple days old.

In this issue, we talk about making smart choices when going out to eat. What are some of your go-to restaurants when your family doesn’t eat at home?

Going out to eat truly is about making smart choices. I find that you can go almost anywhere and still choose to eat smart. You can always replace fries with veggies; get grilled instead of fried; skip the bread; skip the fancy drinks; skip dessert; box half of your meal before you even start; and drink lots of water before, during and after! But if I must say, one of my favorites lately is Fresh Mediterranean Express. It’s so delicious and pretty healthy! I also like places where I can make it myself, like Qdoba, Chipotle, and Pita Pit. Tripling the veggies always makes me feel better about going out to eat.

Care to share any of your 2016 New Year’s resolutions?

Some things my husband and I are working on for next year are spending more time in the gym and decreasing our stress levels.