Meet the Board
Jim Beal
President
Partner, Tax Services
RSM US LLP
Email Jim
Jim Beal
Partner, Tax Services RSM US LLP
Jim coordinates a wide range of services to businesses and their owners in a variety of industries. Jim has been with the firm since 1992. He provides consulting expertise to clients in income and estate tax planning. He also provides consulting services in business planning, business purchase/sale, and all manner of real estate transactions.
Jim serves as the local and is part of national leadership in the Construction/Real Estate Services Group. This group provides professional services to contractors and real estate owners, developers, and investor entities. Jim also provides expertise to clients involved in subsidized development projects utilizing Low-Income Housing Tax Credits, Historic Rehabilitation Credits, New Markets Tax Credits, and various state and local tax credits and incentives.
Professional Affiliations and Credentials
- Certified Public Accountant
- Certified Management Accountant
- American Institute of Certified Public Accountants
- Housing Credit Certified Professional
- Iowa Society of Certified Public Accountants
- National Council of State Housing Agencies
- National Association of Home Builders
Jim served as Board Chair of ANAWIM Housing, Inc. (a not-for-profit affordable housing and service organization), Riverfront YMCA in Des Moines, IA and Treasurer of both Cross Trainer Ministries and Amanda Cares, Inc. He is an instrument rated private pilot.
Ahmed Agyeman, Ph.D.
Director, Evelyn K. Davis Center for Working Families
Ahmed Agyeman, Ph.D.
Dr. Ahmed Agyeman is the Director at the Evelyn K. Davis Center for Working Families, a partnership between the Community Foundation of Greater Des Moines, The Directors Council and Des Moines Area Community College (DMACC). He is part of a team, 28 in total, who serve individuals and families, assisting them to connect to career goals and achieve financial stability. Dr. Agyeman holds a Ph.D. in Educational Leadership and Policy Studies, with a Higher Education/Community College Emphasis, from Iowa State University. He has served in multiple leadership roles at DMACC.
Dr. Agyeman serves the community on the boards of Urban Dreams, Iowa International Center, Homeward, Polk County Early Childhood, and The Director’s Council.
Dr. Agyeman and his partner, Rhoderline Agyeman, have three sons: Roland (20), Dylan (18), and Ethan (13) years. He enjoys traveling with family to visit extended family. Dr. Agyeman is a native of Ghana, West-Africa.
Brooke Cook
Community Impact Advisor
Brooke Cook
Dedicated to connecting, motivating, and engaging people to positively impact others and the community is what drives Brooke Cook. She is passionate about people and the community that she lives, works and plays in. She thrives when she is at the table strategically advising how to drive impact through engagement and memorable moments.
Most recently Brooke spent seven years at ITA Group in a leadership role. Brooke and her direct team were focused on designing strategic solutions to realize results through assessment, engagement, motivation, and experiences for Fortune 100 and 500 companies. During her time at ITA Group, Brooke was also the Committee Chair for Ignite. Ignite is ITA Group’s committee for all things give back, volunteer time off, 501c3 partnerships, and overall community impact.
No matter the objective, Brooke begins with the end in mind. She can visualize the results and foster an impactful experience. She prides herself on keeping people aligned, energized, and involved, all while having fun and calling it like it is along the way.
Giving back has always been in Brooke’s veins. Her ITA Group Ignite work, pared with her meaningful time in sales for Sigler Companies (where she focused on traditional agency relationships as well as countless 501c3 partnerships), and this zest for doing good is what prompted Brooke to step away from “earning a paycheck” in her leadership role at ITA Group. Brooke now focuses her time making an impact with and for organizations she is passionate about.Brooke and her husband Josh, reside in Ankeny. Together, they have five children and two dogs.
Jeremy Harder
Carpenter and Partner, Hansen Company, Inc.
Jeremy Harder
Jeremy Harder is a carpenter, specifically a Partner with Hansen Company, Inc. His background includes nonprofit and social work, with an emphasis on ministry community development and music.
Jeremy’s formative years included moving with his large family across the United States and abroad. Through mission work, he learned important values which he incorporates in all aspects of his relationship-based interactions. Inspired by his dad and driven by his own passion to help others, Jeremy and his wife Shana took a detour from construction to work in the nonprofit world for several years. They love working directly with people to help influence systemic change in the lives of people who live on the margins.
Jeremy, in addition to being part of the GDMSH Board of Directors, volunteers his time with Children & Families of Iowa and at Hubbell Elementary School.
Jeremy and his wife, Shana, love to be outdoors with their sons. Depending on the season, you can find them spending their time paddle boarding, hiking, skiing, and fly fishing. You can find Jeremy sharing his musical gifts - guitar playing and singing – at “Beer and Hymns”, in The Hall in West Des Moines. He especially loves introducing the sacred in ordinary, unexpected places.
Justin Lossner
Commercial Real Estate Broker
Justin Lossner
Justin Lossner is a Commercial Real Estate Broker. Justin helped launch the corporate office for JLL Iowa in 2014. He is the Co-Market lead and Senior Managing Director at the Des Moines and Omaha office. He maintains highly prestigious designations of Certified Commercial Investment Member (CCIM) and Society of Industrial and Office Realtors (SIOR).
Justin is a graduate of the University of Northern Iowa in Cedar Falls, IA. In addition to volunteering his time as a member of the Greater Des Moines Supportive Housing Board of Directors, Justin currently gives his time to CCIM, SIOR, and Iowa Commercial Real Estate Association (ICREA). He has been an energetic and connected volunteer in leadership roles for many area organizations.
Justin has been married for 15 years and has three children: 8, 7, and 3. He is a devoted Hawkeye fan.
Michael Kremer
Vice President of Marketing, American Concrete Pipe Association
Michael Kremer
Michael Kremer is the Vice President of Marketing at the American Concrete Pipe Association, a national association that acts as a resource, voice, and advocate for the concrete pipe industry. As the Vice President of Marketing, Michael leads the marketing efforts including the national marketing strategy, operations, and campaigns, along with the management of their websites and educational programs.
Michael has been married to his wife, Annie, for 17 years. They have two children: Izzy, 10, and Patrick, 7. They enjoy keeping themselves active through sports, dance, and spending time outdoors hiking and skiing (water and snow). They also love family time, traveling, and watching Marvel movies together.
Anne MacFarland
Insurance Broker
Anne MacFarland
Anne MacFarland is an attorney by background, but no longer in practice. She was an insurance defense attorney in Las Vegas for several years before moving to Iowa in 2013. Anne then took a job as a litigation adjuster for a national insurance carrier. In 2015, she moved to LMC Insurance & Risk Management (now called AssuredPartners) to take on the role of Claims Director and corporate counsel. She became an equity partner at LMC in 2018 and moved into a sales role in 2020. Anne is currently a licensed insurance broker, focusing mainly on large commercial accounts.
Anne currently serves on the board of Balance Autism and formerly served on the board of the Dragon Scholarship Fund.
Anne is a military spouse and the mom of two boys. Her husband, Will, is a lieutenant colonel in the Iowa Air National Guard. When they married 17 years ago, Will was a 1st lieutenant in the active duty Air Force, flying KC-135s out of Grand Forks, ND. Several years and many moves later, he retired from active-duty and they decided to settle in Iowa, which was the absolute best decision they could have made. Over the past 10 years, they have found Iowa to be a wonderfully welcoming, vibrant, and community-oriented place to raise their boys. They even managed to convince Anne’s parents to move here from Michigan and Anne’s sister to move here from Connecticut!
Anne’s sons, Ethan and Ryan, are in 8th and 7th grades, respectively. They attend middle school in Johnston where they are involved in a million activities. When Anne is not acting as a chauffeur and/or cheerleader for her children, she enjoys golfing with her parents and sister, bike rides with her husband, sewing, embroidery, home improvement projects (all the tools in the house are hers!), and interior design. Besides her family, the other love of her life is her 85-pound goldendoodle, Dexter.
Mark K. Phillips
Treasurer
Vice President Treasury Management Services,
Bank Iowa
Mark K. Phillips
Vice President, Treasury Management Services
Mark Phillips learned early in his career that he could make a big world seem small by finding and establishing a community of people all working together to achieve something great; a belief and philosophy that he continues to put into practice today. As Vice President Treasury Management for Bank Iowa, Iowa’s second-largest family-owned financial institution, Mark is responsible for the direction, sales, and support of treasury management services for the entire bank’s business clients.
Before joining Bank Iowa, Mark was the Executive Director of the Polk County Continuum of Care Board where he led a co-sponsored city and county homeless initiative. Through that opportunity, Mark learned about the value of partnerships, diverse voices, and a large group moving towards a common goal. Mark has also spent time serving clients at Bankers Trust in Des Moines and First Western Trust in Colorado.
Mark lives in Urbandale and is married to Jen, a teacher and coach, and has four sons. Mark enjoys his relationship with God, playing and coaching sports, and being active through performance fitness and triathlons.
Doug Shiplett
Antioch Investments, LLC and Vine Capital Partners
Doug Shiplett
Antioch Investments, LLC and Vine Capital Partners
Doug Shiplett has been involved in the Des Moines business community since 2005, initially in investment real estate through his company Antioch Investments and additionally now with his son and daughter-in-law at Eden & Gray Design Build, Inc, a custom home/remodeling company. He is a real estate broker and a partner in Vine Capital Partners where he heads capital acquisition.
Doug’s faith-based work has been extensive as he serves currently as visionary leader of Kaleo Church Network, a church planting network based in Iowa and California as well as Executive Director of Hope for India, a non-profit working with leadership groups throughout India. Prior to that focus, Doug served as Executive Vice President and Director of International Partnerships at BILD International through 2012, after serving as the senior pastor of Crossroads Bible Church in San Jose, California, for nine years.
International faith-based work and partnerships have been at the center of Doug’s work for decades and he serves currently on two international mission boards as well as serving on the board of the Des Moines YMCA Supportive Housing Campus for several years. He has traveled in 32 countries to facilitate training and ministry over the last 20 years. Doug has been married to Marilyn for 44 years, and they have three children and 12 grandchildren all living in the Des Moines metro area.
Thomas Slaughter
Secretary
Attorney,
Fredrikson & Byron, P.A.
Thomas Slaughter
Attorney, Fredrikson & Byron, P.A.
Tom Slaughter is an experienced attorney and business leader with a passion for community service. Tom served as General Counsel of three Des Moines-based companies including Meredith Corporation and the Mittera Group and also led business units at both companies. He was in private legal practice with Faegre Baker Daniels LLP (now Faegre Drinker Biddle & Reath LLP) and currently is with Fredrikson & Byron, P.A. Tom helps clients with corporate governance, securities, commercial contracts, mergers and acquisitions, information technology, data security, intellectual property, and other business matters. His industry experience includes data services, media and marketing, financial services, life sciences, manufacturing, and technology companies. Among the community organizations Tom has provided legal services, board and other volunteer support are the Plymouth Congregational Church Homeless Assistance Team, Balance Autism, ChildServe Network, Blank Park Zoo, Oakridge Neighborhood, Science Center of Iowa, Iowa Legal Aid Society, Iowa Asian Alliance, The Greater Des Moines Convention and Visitors Bureau, and Hoyt Sherman Place. Tom is a graduate of the University of Iowa College of Law and the Advanced Executive Program of the Kellogg School of Management, Northwestern University.
James Spiller
Associate Professor and Program Director, Iowa State University
James Spiller
James Spiller is a native Texan and currently lives in Des Moines, Iowa with his wife and two children. He studied architecture at Washington University in St. Louis and received his Masters of Architecture from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. James currently serves as an Associate Professor of Practice and the Director of the Masters of Real Estate Development program in the College of Business and College of Design at Iowa State University. Prior to his current role, he taught in the Department of Architecture and College of Design at Iowa State University. Please note his wife went to the University of Iowa and she is a big Hawkeye fan.
James has worked at multiple architecture firms over the years and currently is a partner at Spiller Design & Architecture, an architecture firm he began with his wife in 2017. Spiller Design & Architecture focuses on residential projects and boutique commercial design. Prior to founding Spiller Design & Architecture, he was the Director of Design at the Iowa based real estate development firm Blackbird and participated in various projects built and un-built.
James’ passion doesn’t end with his professional pursuits, as he loves coaching his son and daughter in soccer, and serving as the President of the Des Moines Soccer Club. He also volunteers his time as the State of Iowa Licensing Advisor for the National Council of Architectural Registration Boards, and serves as the President of the Watrous South Neighborhood Association. He is a past Board Member of the YMCA Supportive Housing Campus.
Seth Stevenson
Digital Marketing Manager,
Businessolver
Seth Stevenson
Director of Digital Marketing, Des Moines University
Seth Stevenson, MCL is the Director of Digital Marketing at Des Moines University. Seth has 14 years of experience in optimizing digital communications through websites, online advertising, email marketing, and social media. He is passionate about helping those in need and previously served as a Board Member for the YMCA Supportive Housing campus. He is inspired daily by his wife, Katie, and his two sons. In his free time, Seth enjoys board games, local beer, and playing with his boys.
Aaron Todd
CEO, Iowa Primary Care Association, INConcertCare, and IowaHealth+
Aaron Todd
Aaron Todd’s biggest passions are making a difference and exploring the world. He is the CEO of the Iowa Primary Care Association, INConcertCare and IowaHealth+, three organizations working collaboratively with community health centers across Iowa focused on building an accessible, integrated system of care that empowers health equity for all. Their focus is on ensuring access to high quality, affordable outpatient medical, behavioral health, dental care, and pharmaceutical services, particularly for vulnerable, low-income and rural persons, serving over 260,000+ Iowans annually.
Aaron is a founding member of the 6th Avenue Corridor nonprofit, focused on community development on the north side of Des Moines. He serves on a variety of national boards that advance the community health center movement.
Aaron enjoys spending his time exploring new places and cultures, trying new foods, and hanging out with his two sons.
Edward Wollner
Peer Recovery Coach, UCS Healthcare
Edward Wollner
Edward Wollner is a Peer Recovery Coach at UCS Healthcare where he shares his experience, understanding, and hope with those struggling with substance abuse and/or mental health issues. While trying to help connect patients with community resources, Edward also strives to empower them to build healthy relationships and pay attention to physical health as those have such a positive correlation on mental health.
Edward volunteers with Sober Soldierz and Des Moines Refugee Support. He is a board member on the Iowa Mental Health Planning and Advisory Council, Professional Development Co-Chair for West Young Professionals, and holds service positions within the Des Moines AA community.
Edward is a dedicated member of the YMCA and can be found most mornings at the downtown Y. He lives with his wife, Chelsey, and their new dog.
