Iowa West Boards

2021 Board Officers

Iowa West Foundation Board

The Foundation Board of Directors is made of volunteer community leaders from throughout Pottawattamie County. The Foundation is a private foundation under the IRS code, and grants are awarded to nonprofits and governmental entities through a deliberative process including grant advisory committees.

The committees consist of community volunteers with backgrounds in the Foundation’s focus areas. Grants are funded primarily by investment income and also from distributions by the Iowa West Racing Association, which receives fee income from Ameristar and Harrah’s.

Matt Gronstal, Chair (Banking)
Tara Slevin, Vice Chair (Healthcare)
Tammy Pavich, Secretary/Treasurer (Business)

Ron Dickinson (Investment)
Jason James (Real Estate)
Rick Killion (Banking)
Susan Miller (Banking)
*Phil Reed (General Business)

*Denotes Dual Board Member

Iowa West Racing Association Board

The Association Board of Directors is also made up of volunteer community leaders from throughout Pottawattamie County. Because the Association is the nonprofit license sponsor for Ameristar and Harrah’s, it receives contracted fees from those casino operators. The Association — which is regulated by the Iowa Racing & Gaming Commission — grants the fees to charity, in this case the Iowa West Foundation.

Amy Crawford, President (Legal)
Jack Ruesch, Vice President (Legal)
Cindy Hume, Secretary/Treasurer (Business)

Steve Baumert (Healthcare)
Kate Cutler, (Ret. Legal)
*Phil Reed (General Business)
Vergarie Sanford (Business)
Polina Schlott (Business)
Warren Weber (Ret. Education)

*Denotes Dual Board Member

Ex-officios:
Lynn Grobe (County Board of Supervisors)
Mike Wolf (City Council)

Grant Advisory Committees

Education

Sandi Burmeister
Tori Christie
Deb Goodman
Ami Leath
Dr. Ann Mausbach, Chair
Bailey McQueen-Jones
Melanie Shellberg

Healthy Families

Jenny Barnett, Chair
Sarena Dacus
Rod James
Debbie Orduna
Joanie Poore
Shelley Whitcher

Placemaking

Mike Alford
Alan Byers
Paula Hazlewood, Chair
Shane Hoss
Doug Klahn, Vice Chair
Cory Peters
Brian Rhoten
Dave Wise