Today we’re joined by Karla Jones, the Chief Financial & Administrative Officer of the Community Foundation of Greater Des Moines — a member of the Community Foundation leadership team for over two decades. Under Karla’s financial leadership the organization grew dramatically, from a small foundation with big dreams to one of the largest Community Foundations in the nation with more than $1B in assets under administration. Karla also helped lead the Foundation through major initiatives including the development of the Community Foundation’s Campus and C3 Center.

Karla flexed her innovation and visionary muscle building the financial infrastructure for instrumental philanthropic programs such as the Community Foundation’s affiliate program, Endow Iowa Tax Credit program, the Charitable Investment Partners program and ImpactDSM, the Community Foundation’s impact investing program. She lives the better together spirit and she will most certainly be missed.

Links from the episode:

Community Foundation Campus and C3 Center

Community Foundation Affiliate Program

Endow Iowa Tax Credit Program

Charitable Investment Partners

Arizona Community Foundation

Today on Legacy Leavers, we're excited to sit down with a true journalistic icon and committed civic steward, Michael Gartner. Born and raised right here in Des Moines, Michael’s professional story began when he was just 15 years old in the sports department of The Des Moines Register and has since spanned the highest echelons of national media, public service and community building.

Over decades, Michael served as Page-One Editor at The Wall Street Journal, led The Des Moines Register as editor and president, oversaw NBC News as its president, and was editor of The Daily Tribune in Ames—where he earned a Pulitzer Prize for Editorial Writing.

His passion for civic life is just as impressive. Michael chaired Vision Iowa, which revitalized the state’s infrastructure, he served as president of the Iowa Board of Regents, and was owner of the Iowa Cubs, demonstrating his spirit of generosity by distributing proceeds from the sale of the team among the Iowa Cubs’ staff.

Michael’s life reminds us that legacy is built through stories, community and the people we lift up along the way.

Links from the Episode:

The Des Moines Register

The Wall Street Journal

NBC News

The Ames Daily Tribune

Pulitzer Prize

Vision Iowa

Iowa Cubs

Today on the Legacy Leavers podcast, we're pleased to have Ambassador Mary E. Kramer join us to tell her story as an Iowa trailblazer whose remarkable career spans classrooms, boardrooms, the Iowa capitol and even international diplomacy.

An Iowa native, Ambassador Kramer spent twenty years teaching and serving as a school administrator. In 1975, she transitioned into the corporate world—first as personnel director at Younkers, then as Vice President of Human Resources and Community Investments at Wellmark Blue Cross & Blue Shield.

Mary entered politics in 1990 as an Iowa State Senator, ultimately becoming the first woman independently elected President of the Iowa Senate in 1997.

In 2002, she chaired the White House Commission on Presidential Scholars, and in 2004, was confirmed as U.S. Ambassador to Barbados and the Eastern Caribbean. She’s written two books and is an inspiring advocate and promoter of civility in life, work and politics.

Mary Kramer embodies the wisdom that legacy isn’t given—it’s earned, moment by moment.

Links from the Episode:

Younkers

Political Career

More Than A Walk On The Beach: Confessions of an Unlikely Diplomat

An Unlikely Ambassador and Her Diplomatic Daughter: Stories & Recipes for the Life You Want

Today on Legacy Leavers, we're welcoming Joe Gonzalez — a retired Des Moines Police Department leader whose 42-year career helped build lasting bridges between law enforcement and the community. As a trusted liaison, Joe championed outreach and trust-building and mentored many who came up behind him both at the police department but also in the community.

Born in Mexico and raised in Des Moines from 1957, Joe was the eldest of seven, often translating for his parents — an early lesson in responsibility that shaped a lifetime of public service. He joined DMPD at the age of 18 and for years was the department’s only Latino officer, paving the way for others.

After a 2013 on-duty accident ended his policing career, Joe turned resilience into service—stepping in as executive director of Iowa’s Latino Heritage Festival, a two-day celebration representing cultures from across Latin America.

Joe’s story embodies our belief that we’re simply better together.

Links from the Episode:

• Saint Anthony’s Catholic Church

• Des Moines Police Department

• Iowa Latino Heritage Festival

• Des Moines Technical High School (now Des Moines Central Campus)

Today on Legacy Leavers, we welcome Martha Willits, a lifelong educator, public servant, and community leader whose influence has touched nearly every corner of Greater Des Moines. She began her career as a teacher, shaping young minds and instilling the value of learning, before stepping into public service as the first woman elected to the Polk County Board of Supervisors. That groundbreaking role paved the way for other women in local government and underscored her commitment to making sure every voice had a place at the table.

Martha went on to lead the Des Moines Partnership during a time of transformative growth, helping unite business, civic, and community interests around a shared vision for Central Iowa’s future. Along the way, she has served on countless boards, mentored rising leaders, and championed initiatives that continue to strengthen the cultural, educational, and economic fabric of our community.

Through every phase, Martha has fused kindness with impact, always guided by her teaching spirit, and believing that we are, as our own tagline says, better together.

Links from the Episode:

• Des Moines Partnership

• Prairie Meadows

• Project Destiny

• United Way of Central Iowa

We’re kicking off season 2 with an inspiring conversation featuring Ambassador Terry Branstad! Ambassador Branstad is a tremendously skilled and respected political leader whose life’s work reflects deep public service on a truly historic scale.

An Iowa native, his journey began in the Iowa House of Representatives, continued through service as lieutenant governor and ascended to his record-breaking tenure as the longest-serving governor in U.S. history, spanning over 22 years. He was appointed by the president as the US Ambassador to China, leveraging a decades-long friendship with the Chinese President to advance key initiatives on behalf of the United States.

Following his political path, Ambassador Branstad continued to leave a legacy by leading both Des Moines University and the World Food Prize Foundation both of which flourished under his leadership.

Beyond politics, Terry Branstad is a deeply committed husband, father and grandfather, ensuring his legacy transcends his professional accolades and lives on through his family.

His lifetime of leadership—spanning local, state, national, and global stages—embodies what it means to leave a lasting legacy, indeed.

Links from the Episode:

• Iowa's Record Setting Governor: The Terry Branstad Story

• Branstad-Reynolds Agriculture Scholarship

• Des Moines University

• World Food Prize

In this final episode of Season 1, we're honored to welcome Dr. Mary Chapman — a pioneering educator, civic leader and tireless advocate for equity and opportunity in Greater Des Moines.

As the first woman to serve as Executive Dean at Des Moines Area Community College's Urban Campus, Dr. Chapman broke barriers and set new standards for inclusive leadership. Her visionary work and passion for youth led to the creation of transformative programs like YouthBuild, Gateway to College and the Evelyn K. Davis Center for Working Families, all aimed at empowering underrepresented youth and adults.

Beyond her professional achievements, Dr. Chapman has been a steadfast community servant, contributing to organizations such as the NAACP Des Moines Branch, The Links, Inc. and Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. Her dedication has been recognized with numerous honors, including inductions into both the Iowa African American Hall of Fame and the Iowa Women’s Hall of Fame.

In alignment with our belief that we’re simply better together, Dr. Chapman's story exemplifies the profound impact that inclusive, collaborative leadership can have in making real community change.

Links from the Episode

NAACP Des Moines Branch

Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority

Evelyn K. Davis Center for Working Families

Des Moines Public Schools

Des Moines Area Community College – Urban Campus

Evelyn K. Davis Center for Working Families

Des Moines Major Projects Task Force

In this episode of Legacy Leavers, we are honored to welcome a long-time friend and mentor, Fred Weitz. As you’ll hear today, Fred is a man of great vision whose contributions have shaped the landscape of Des Moines and beyond.

Professionally, Fred Weitz served as the CEO of The Weitz Company from 1974 to 1995, a period during which he guided the company through transformative growth. Under his leadership, The Weitz Company became well-known as a pioneer in the construction and management of retirement communities.

Beyond his professional achievements, Fred is deeply connected to the natural beauty of Iowa and beyond. Having grown up exploring the woodlands on the southwest edge of Des Moines, he later sought to provide similar experiences for his own family, finding solace in a family home along the banks of the Raccoon River in West Des Moines.

Fred’s dedication to innovation, community, and the environment makes him a true legacy leaver and I can’t wait for you to hear his story in his own words.

Links from the Episode

The Weitz Company

Cranbrook School

MIT

Harvard Business School

Des Moines Civic Center