Programs

TBA

April 24, 2026 • 7:00am • Wakonda

Rotarians Telling Their Stories

Each of us has at least one great story to tell. Join us in hearing as three Des Moines AM Rotary members share their stories in our Friday morning meeting. Speakers to be announced.

David Oppedahl, Chicago Federal Reserve

April 17, 2026 • 7:00am • Wakonda

Remarks on the Economy

TBA

Matt McIver

April 10, 2026 • 7:00am • Wakonda

You Are The Message

TBA

Robert Cramer, Board of Regents Chair

April 3, 2026 • 7:00am • Wakonda

Top 10 Things You Didn’t Know About Iowa’s Public Universities

Robert Cramer, after growing up outside of West Des Moines, moved to Johnston for his high school years. He graduated from Iowa State University in 1990 with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Construction Engineering and went on to become a Licensed Professional Engineer in 1996.

Cramer served as Co-President of Cramer and Associates, Inc., a family-owned and employee-owned bridge construction company, until January 1, 2022. At that time, he stepped away from the bridge side of the business and now works as Vice President of Land Development. While Co-President, Cramer oversaw engineering, estimating, accounting, safety, human resources, and risk management. Now, he serves as Co-Chair of the Cramer board and is overseeing their large land development in Adel and a smaller one in Altoona.

Cramer is on the Industry Advisory Council for the Construction Engineering Department at Iowa State University and is on the statewide STEM Advisory Board. He served as President of the Associated General Contractors of Iowa (AGC) in 2010, was a member of their Board of Directors for eight years, and continues to serve the AGC as liaison to the Iowa Department of Transportation. He served nine years on the Johnston Community School Board as well as serving on several boards of non-profits including his church.

One such board was Blessman International. Cramer’s sister and brother-in-law run the ministry in South Africa which now feeds several million “Meals From The Heartland” per year to children in need.  He also served on the board of The Family Leader and on the Advisory Board of Starts Right Here, Will Keeps’ non-profit that is helping kids from the streets get back in school and graduate.

He and his wife, Lori, have two adult children and opened their home to foster children for nine years. They took care of over 20 kids during that time.

He was appointed to the Board by Governor Reynolds on March 3, 2023, with his term beginning on May 1. His term expires on April 30, 2029.  He was elected President of the Board with his term beginning December 4, 2025.

Connie Wimer, BPC Chairwoman, Founder

March 27, 2026 • 7:00am • Wakonda

Reflections and Expectations

 Connie Wimer was born in Merrill, Iowa, a small town in northwest Iowa and attended Morningside College. Connie is the owner and Chair of Business Publications Corporation. In addition to publishing the Business Record and dsm magazine, they publish thirty-some different publications each year. The company also does custom publishing, book publishing and has created more than 40 events presented throughout the year. Connie serves on a number of civic, charitable and higher education boards in the city, the state and nationally. She is the founder of Winefest and was the first woman to serve as Chair of the Greater Des Moines Chamber and the first woman to receive the Business Hall of Fame Award from the Greater Des Moines Committee. Editor & Publisher, the respected monthly trade news magazine covering the publishing industry, recognized the Business Record in a special section called “10 News Publishers That Do It Right” in 2021 and two subsequent years. BPC was cited for launching “new initiatives that provided value to the community”. She received the Lewis Conn Award for Outstanding Contributions to the Alliance of Area Business Publications as well as the Milton W. Jones Lifetime Achievement Award from the City/Regional Magazine Association (CRMA), for her contributions to that organization and the magazine publishing industry as a whole.

Steven Ponsetto, Head of Attorney General’s Cold Case Unit

March 20, 2026 • 7:00am • Wakonda

Cold Case Investigations

Steve Ponsetto grew up and was educated in Iowa. He is also a graduate of the FBI National Academy, Northwestern University School of Police Staff and Command and the Certified Managers Program (CPM) at Drake University.

 Steve was selected by the Iowa Dept. of Public Safety (DPS) as a State Trooper in 1981. In 1991 he became a Special Agent with the Division of Criminal Investigation (DCI).

 In 2011, DPS Commissioner selected Steve to serve as the department’s Executive Director, a position he remained in until his retirement in 2014. Steve’s 33-year law enforcement career in DPS included a variety of positions and assignments.

 In 2023, Steve was selected by Iowa Attorney General Bird to develop, implement and lead the Attorney General’s Cold Case Unit.

Andrew Batt, Executive Director of Iowa PBS

March 13, 2026 • 7:00am • Wakonda

The Changing Path of Public Television

Andrew Batt serves as executive director and general manager of Iowa PBS, Iowa’s statewide public television network. He leads the organization’s four broadcast channels and expanding digital platforms, advancing its mission to educate, inform and inspire Iowans through trusted content, lifelong learning and community engagement.

Batt previously served in multiple roles at Iowa PBS ranging from Director of Programming to Senior Producer overseeing work in documentaries, sports coverage, public affairs, and rural agriculture reporting.

A native of Council Bluffs, Iowa, Batt earned his bachelor’s degree in journalism and mass communication, with a minor in political science, from Iowa State University, and a master’s degree from the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication at Arizona State University.

Anne Shimerdla, President & CEO, Blank Park Zoo

March 6, 2026 • 7:00am • Wakonda

Blank Park Zoo

Anne Shimerdla has worked in a Zoo setting for the past 29 years. Over the years, she has gained experience in almost all Zoo departments.

Anne received a Bachelor of Science degree in Animal Ecology from Iowa State University and a Masters of Public Administration at Drake University. She started her career at the Blank Park Zoo before moving to Duluth, Minnesota where she was the Education Curator at the Lake Superior Zoo.

For the past 24 years, she has worked at the Blank Park Zoo in various capacities. Starting as the Education Curator, her job has changed and increased scope over the years to include education, volunteers, guest services, operations revenue, animal care & health and human resources. On June 1, 2020, she was named the President and CEO.

 Anne lives in Urbandale with her husband of 24 years and their three children. She enjoys volunteering with kids’ sports activities, the school and church.

Beth Goetz, Director of Athletics

February 27, 2026 • 7:00am • Wakonda

University of Iowa & Other Big 10 Sports

Beth Goetz was announced as Henry B. and Patricia B. Tippie Director of Athletics Chair at the University of Iowa on Jan. 18, 2024, after serving five months as UI’s interim director. Goetz joined the Iowa athletics staff as Deputy Director of Athletics and Chief Operating Officer (COO) on Sept. 7, 2022.

Goetz joined the Iowa athletics staff from Ball State University, where she served as Director of Athletics since May 2018. Prior to arriving at Ball State, Goetz was the chief operating officer/senior woman administrator at the University of Connecticut from 2016-18. She served as Minnesota’s Deputy Athletics Director from 2013-15 and the interim athletics director during the 2015-16 year. She was the associate athletics director at Butler University from 2008-13 following a 13-year stint at the University of Missouri-St. Louis, where she was the head women’s soccer coach and assistant athletics director/senior woman administrator Goetz was inducted into the UMSL Sports Hall of Fame in 2014.

In addition to her previous role as an administrator, Goetz has been selected for national leadership duties. Goetz was named to the NCAA Competition Oversight Committee in 2018 and served as vice chair of the NCAA Division I Women’s Basketball Committee in 2021. She was named by Women Leaders in College Sports as the 2022 NCAA Division I FBS Nike Executive of the Year, and was recognized by the Indianapolis Business Journal (IBJ) as one of the publication’s 2021 Women of Influence.

Adam DeCamp, DCI Special Agent in Charge

February 20, 2026 • 7:00am • Wakonda

Preparedness is a partnership

Adam DeCamp has served the people of Iowa and the Division of Criminal Investigation for nearly thirty years. In the wake of unscripted, life-altering events across the state, he has stood alongside law enforcement, victims, survivors, and community leaders. His experiences have reaffirmed relationships are the foundation of readiness.

Brad Zaun, SBA Regional Administrator

February 13, 2026 • 7:00am • Wakonda

Small Business Administration’s Efforts to Promote Businesses in America

Brad Zaun is the Great Plains Regional Administrator serving Iowa, Kansas, Missouri and Nebraska. He leverages over two decades of experience as a dedicated small business owner, community leader, and public servant. As former owner/operator of Zaun’s Trustworthy Hardware and vice president of R and R Realty Marketing Group, he gained direct insight into the complexities and needs of entrepreneurs.

Mr. Zaun’s extensive public service includes terms on the City Council of Urbandale, Iowa, and as mayor from 1998 to 2004, followed by 20 years championing small businesses in the Iowa State Senate from 2005 to 2025.

No Rotary Meeting

January 2, 2026 

Wakonda Club Annual Refresh

Our regularly scheduled Friday morning Rotary meeting is cancelled due to Wakonda Club’s annual 2-week cleaning and refresh. Have a great weekend!

No Rotary Meeting

January 9, 2026

Wakonda Club Annual Refresh

Our regularly scheduled Friday morning Rotary meeting is cancelled due to Wakonda Club’s annual 2-week cleaning and refresh. Have a great weekend!

Mike Draper, Founder of RAYGUN

January 16, 2026 • 7:00am • Wakonda

How I Did It

Mike Draper is the founder and owner of RAYGUN. RAYGUN is, to Mike’s surprise, still in business. It started in Des Moines in 2005 and has now grown to 11 (going on 12!) locations across the Midwest. RAYGUN has also been called ‘The Greatest Store in the Universe’ by RAYGUN (aa real honor).

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