Meet the Panelists: Tom Newkirk

The Tackling Unintentional Bias panel discussion is Thursday, June 18th. Learn a little more about our final panelist, Tom Newkirk!

Tom Newkirk, Partner, Newkirk Zwagerman

Thomas Newkirk is a civil rights attorney practicing law in Iowa for 25 years. Tom's primary focus is in the representation of persons of color and women in their pursuit of an equitable share of the benefits of American society. To accomplish that goal Tom has developed an expertise in the analysis of bias and its impact on decision-making that he applies to the practice of law.

In 2003, Tom was invited, along with 20 leading social scientists and law professors, to participate in the first of its kind symposium at Harvard University to address the need to merge a more scientific understanding of bias and its effect on decisions into the law. Since that time Tom has continued to develop his expertise in the analysis of bias and to develop methods to reduce the harm from bias (in all its forms) upon equal access to criminal and civil justice, employment, and other areas affecting distribution of resources including equality for women in universities and for all groups in access to medical care.

Tom holds degrees from Drake University and Drake Law School in Des Moines, Iowa.  He was admitted before the courts of the State of Iowa in 1989.  He is also admitted to practice in both Federal District Courts in Iowa, as well as the Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals.  Current professional affiliations include the National Employment Lawyers Association, and Iowa Employment Lawyers Association, for which he has been an officer for several years.

Tom currently lives in Des Moines, Iowa, where he and his wife are raising three children to be enlightened and respectful to all walks of life.

Don’t forget to sign up for Tackling Unintentional Bias on Thursday, June 18th at 11:30 AM – 1:00 PM. Sign up on the following link: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/tackling-unintentional-bias-tickets-17157883692

Meet the Panelists: Renee Thomas

The Tackling Unintentional Bias panel discussion is on Thursday, June 18th. Learn a little more about our panelist, Renee Thomas!

Renee Thomas, Lighting Designer, RDG

Simultaneously engaged in the complementary professions of Lighting Engineering, Commercial Architecture and Architectural Lighting Design - Renée Thomas brings extensive ‘hands-on’ experience and focused competencies that cross multiple disciplines. She is a member of the American Institute of Architects and a licensed registered architect with over 20 years of multi-disciplinary AED design and project management experience.  She is as well an NCIDQ Certified Commercial Interior Designer. Lastly she is a professional member of the Illuminating Engineering Society of North America. Thomas specializes in rigorous, creative, constructible and environmentally sustainable design solutions at all levels and scales of the built environment.

Don’t forget to sign up for Tackling Unintentional Bias on Thursday, June 18th at 11:30 AM – 1:00 PM. Sign up on the following link: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/tackling-unintentional-bias-tickets-17157883692

Meet the Panelists: Lindsay Moser

The Tackling Unintentional Bias panel discussion is on Thursday, June 18th. Learn a little more about our panelist, Lindsay Moser!

Lindsay Moser, Campus and Diversity & Inclusion Manager, Principal Financial Group Inc.

Lindsay is a campus relations, diversity, and sourcing manager with the Principal Financial Group®. She has responsibilities for the campus recruiting functions, proactive sourcing/recruitment functions diversity & inclusion for the organization. On the campus side, she is responsible for oversight of the campus recruiting efforts, internship program recruitment efforts, and campus relations universities/college relationships within the areas of IT, Accounting, Actuarial Science, Marketing/PR/Communications, Management, and the Leadership Development Rotation Program at The Principal.

On the diversity & inclusion side, she is responsible for the oversight of the diversity & inclusion efforts which include but are not limited to, oversight of the company sponsored Employee Resource Groups, diversity & inclusion programming, and supporting company efforts to attract and retain top qualified diverse talent within the organization. Early 2015 she assumed additional responsibilities for oversight of the proactive sourcing function which includes consulting and creating strategies to attract top talent for niche positions to join our firm. Additionally, as a member of the Recruitment and Diversity team at The Principal, I thrive on making connections with individuals to reflect the global markets Principal serves. Finding the diversity in the differences that bring us all together unite us as a company to continue our success as a leader in retirement and global asset management.

Moser joined The Principal® in July 2005 as a campus consultant within HR Recruiting. In 2006 she moved into a recruitment consultant position, in 2008 into the senior recruitment consultant position, in March 2013 she re-joined the campus team as the campus relations manager, in July 2013 she assumed responsibility for the diversity & inclusion team in addition to the campus team., and early in 2015 assumed responsibilities for the proactive sourcing function in the department. Prior to joining The Principal, Moser was an Assistant Athletic Director within Student-Athlete Services at Iowa State University.

A native Iowan, Moser earned her BS degree in Psychology and M Ed in Higher Education, Student Affairs at Iowa State University. She recently was recognized as a member of the Business Record's 40 under 40 Class of 2015. She is an active member of the Greater Des Moines Partnership Inclusion Council as well as the HR Advisor for The Principal Financial Diversity Council. She resides in Ames, IA with her husband (Andrew) and their three children Jasmine (10), Jade (8), and Aysia (6).

Don’t forget to sign up for Tackling Unintentional Bias on Thursday, June 18th at 11:30 AM – 1:00 PM. Sign up on the following link: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/tackling-unintentional-bias-tickets-17157883692

Meet the Panelists: Rona Berinobis

The Tackling Unintentional Bias panel discussion is on Thursday, June 18th. Learn a little more about our first panelist, Rona Berinobis!

Rona Berinobis, Vice President, Inclusion and Organizational Development, Wellmark

Rona has been with Wellmark for 22 years.  Since 2008, in collaboration with Chairman and CEO John Forsyth, she has led Wellmark’s diversity and inclusion initiatives. In this role, Rona has developed and executed comprehensive strategies for leveraging diversity and inclusion for the workforce, workplace and marketplace to maximize organizational effectiveness. In 2013 her role was expanded to assume accountability for talent acquisition focused on attracting and securing quality talent for the company. In 2015, she also assumed leadership responsibility for talent development and learning.

Before moving into Human Resources, Rona was the Director of National Accounts for Wellmark. She has extensive experience in health insurance sales, account management and marketing. Rona’s expertise is in strategic development, coaching and consulting and crafting innovative solutions to align with a client’s cultural and environmental needs. Prior to joining Wellmark, she held sales and marketing leadership roles with United Health Care and Mercy Health Services.

Rona holds a Master of Arts degree in Leadership from Bellevue University and a Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology from Upper Iowa University.  She’s secured designations as a Certified Health Consultant and Professional of the Academy of Health Management. 

Rona is the Vice-Chair of Wellmark’s Inclusion Council second in command to Wellmark’s Chairman and CEO John Forsyth. She has been appointed to the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association Diversity Alliance Council, is past chair of the Greater Des Moines Partnership’s Diversity Council and is the Chair for the Iowa Asian Alliance Board of Directors. Rona also serves on multiple community advisory committees. She is a member of the Talent Management and Diversity Executive Human Capital Executive Research Board.

Since assuming her current role, Wellmark has earned the CISHRM Diversity Award, Diversity Journal’s Diversity Leader Award, Diversity Journal’s CEO Leadership in Action Award, DiversityBusiness.com Diversity Champion Award, NAACP Merit Employer Award, Greater Des Moines Partnership Diversity Award, Better Business Bureau Integrity Award, Professional Women’s Magazine Diversity Best of the Best, Hispanic Network Magazine Diversity Best of the Best, Black Journal Diversity Best of the Best, and South Dakota SHRM Workplace Excellence Award.

Don’t forget to sign up for Tackling Unintentional Bias on Thursday, June 18th at 11:30 AM – 1:00 PM. Sign up on the following link: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/tackling-unintentional-bias-tickets-17157883692

New LEAP Series launches May 15th

The Des Moines Downtown Chamber is beginning a 10-month program series called LEAP (Leadership, Education, and Advancement Pipeline), a women's leadership development program. Each series event will feature an organization, speaker, or initiative with the goal to advance women in business by acting as a link for attendees to access mentors, positions on boards, leadership development skills, inspiration and more. The first event will take place on May 15th from 11:30 AM - 1:00 PM and will explore the topic of "The Business Case", a presentation from Nexus as a sneak peak preview of their new report. The Nexus Executive Women's Alliance presentation at the LEAP luncheon will give you a quick look at the current status of female leadership numbers and present the business case behind why it's in a company's self-interest to improve the gender balance on its leadership team.

To register for the event, go to the following link: http://events.r20.constantcontact.com/register/event?oeidk=a07eawgku2a82d77854&llr=hjtkt7cab

Congratulations to iaWia Student Member Graduates

  Congratulations to the iaWia student members who graduated on Saturday:

Jill Maltby

Shannon McGee

Tony Gonzalez

Rachel Johnson

Holly Pohlmeier

Emily Hilgendorf

Bobbi Jo Reiff

Jonathan Bartkowicz

Alexander Olevitch

Jessalyn Lafrenz

Jasmine Gunn

Erin McDonald

Sarah Ward

Best of luck to all of you as you begin your careers!

Judy McClure Recognized for 35 Years of AIA Membership

Congratulations to Judy McClure, AIA, for her recognition as an AIA member for 35 Years! Judy's many achievements as a lifelong preservation architect and Sherman Hill pioneer have led to honors like The Judith A. McClure Historic Preservation Award, which recognizes outstanding preservation of a residential property. Thank you to Judy and her vast achievements as an Iowa architect over these 35 years.

McClure was awarded at this year's 2015 AIA Iowa Spring Conference in Ames, Iowa alongside Bill Anderson, FAIA, Steve Gray, AIA, Paul Klein, AIA Emeritus, Rod Kruse, FAIA, Doug Sires, AIA Emeritus, and Rob Smith, AIA. Congratulations to all recipients for their achievement!

Anna Jones Receives 2015 Emerging Professional Leadership Scholarship

Congratulations to iaWia chair, Anna Jones, for receiving the 2015 AIA Central States Emerging Professional Leadership Scholarship!

Her exemplary performance as a leader for iaWia, as well as her outstanding performance as intern architect at Substance Architecture in Des Moines, Iowa have made her well deserving of this award. Congrats Anna!

Ann Sobiech Munson Receives 2015 Young Architects Award

 

Congratulations to iaWia founder, Ann Sobiech Munson, AIA CCS, for receiving the AIA's 2015 Young Architects Award!

To read more about Ann's award, visit the following link: http://www.aia.org/practicing/awards/2015/young-architects/munson/