Home / About the Y / Directors and Leadership

Leadership Team

Leisha DeSmet

President, CEO

leisha.desmet@dmymca.org

Cameron Nicholson

COO

cameron.nicholson@dmymca.org

Vicky Foresman

Vice President, Mission Advancement

vicky.foresman@dmymca.org

Stacey Haviland

Vice President, Human Resources

stacey.haviland@dmymca.org

Ruth Comer

Vice President, Marketing & Communications

ruth.comer@dmymca.org

Board of Directors

Executive Committee

Chair

Melinda Hanrahan

Principal Global Investors

Chair Elect

Mark Vukovich

Blank Park Zoo (Retired)

Treasurer

Rachel Stauffer

The Swanson Group

Secretary

Venessa Macro

Drake University

At-Large

Meredith Boesen

Exec1 Aviation

At-Large

Dave Everett

DuPont Pioneer (Retired)

At-Large

Kevin Brownell

Polk County

Past Chair

Matt Meline

Prairie Fire Wealth

President/CEO

Leisha DeSmet

YMCA of Greater Des Moines

At-Large Board Members

Joe Benesh

The Ingenuity Group

Dayna Chandler

Des Moines Public Schools

Tej Dhawan

Principal Financial Group

Brenna Finnerty

PSCU

Alex Hanna

Des Moines Public Schools (Retired)

Karen Kuhn

Nationwide

Dr. Jeff Rissman

Iowa Pathology Associates (Retired)

Cynthia Thorland

Life Care Services (Retired)

Steven Wandro

Wandro & Associates

Katie Wengert

Broadlawns Medical Center

Branch Board Chairs

Indianola YMCA

Angie Jensen

Community Volunteer

John R. Grubb YMCA

Chip Albright

Iowa Wolves

Walnut Creek YMCA

Kent Gummert

Lederer Weston Craig, PLC

Waukee Family YMCA

Scott Gojkovich

NCMIC

Wellmark YMCA

Doug Adamson

RDG Planning & Design

Des Moines Y Camp

Victor Aspengren

Consultant

YMCA Supportive Housing Campus

Becky Hansel

Invision

Past Board of Directors Chairs

2019-2020

Josh Russell

2018-2019

Jim Usgaard

2017-2018

Dr. Teri Wahlig

2016-2017

Rick Tollaksen

2014-2016

Clarence Hudson

2012-2014

Tom Stanberry

2010-2012

Nick Henderson

2008-2010

Jan Miller Straub

2006-2008

James P. Simmons

2004-2006

Tom Hamilton

2002-2004

David Hoak

2000-2002

Josh Ruan III

1998-2000

David Fisher