Iowa West Welcomes Two New Board Members

Iowa West recently welcomed two Pottawattamie County residents as new board members to the organization. Laura Heisterkamp and Sarah Yrkoski will begin their four-year terms in January 2025. Both women bring a wealth of experience, Heisterkamp as the assistant vice president of bulk marketing and sales and Yrkoski as the general director for workforce resources, both for Union Pacific.

Heisterkamp of Council Bluffs brings a business acumen with 30+ years of experience in the financial, law, human resources, and marketing sectors. She earned her bachelor’s degree from the University of Iowa, and her master’s degree from Creighton University, both in Business Administration. She also has her CPA. Heisterkamp is eager to put her skillset to use on the board.

“I have lived in southwest Iowa the vast majority of my life.  Watching the awesome transformation of Council Bluffs from the days when I would visit as a child to now living here for the last 30 years has been heartwarming,” she said. “I have tremendous respect for the Iowa West Foundation leadership and the positive impact they have made not only in Council Bluffs but in the surrounding counties. I am honored to have an opportunity to further the mission of shaping communities where families love to live and businesses thrive.”

Yrkoski of Crescent brings 20 years of human resources experience, working to attract, develop, and retain talent for Union Pacific, Interim HealthCare, and ConAgra foods. She earned her bachelor’s degree from Creighton University with a major in Marketing and Business Administration and has served on the Crescent Beautification Committee in addition to other volunteer roles. Yrkoski looks forward to contributing as a member of the board of directors.

“Over the past decade, my family has grown and built a life we love here in southwest Iowa, thanks in large part to the incredible work of the Iowa West Foundation,” she said. “I am honored to join the board and deeply committed to advancing initiatives that cultivate our thriving community—one where families are proud to call home, businesses can prosper, and everyone feels included.”

The Iowa West Foundation and the Iowa West Racing Association boards also re-elected officers:.

• Tara Slevin, IWF Chair
• Tammy Pavich, IWF Vice-Chair
• Kate Cutler, IWRA President
• Joanie Balk, IWRA Vice-President

“Board members oversee the Foundation’s resources while ensuring we stay connected to the community’s needs and collaborate to support the growth and success of our residents and neighborhoods,” said Brenda Mainwaring, President and CEO of the Iowa West Foundation. “We are grateful to each one of the dedicated volunteers who generously give of their time to serve the community this way.”

Nominations for board members are made by the Council Bluffs Chamber of Commerce, Council Bluffs City Council, the Council Bluffs and Lewis Central Community School Districts, Pottawattamie County Board of Supervisors, and current board members of Iowa West.