Community Difference Makers: Recent Episodes
Bankers Trust
Join Bankers Trust as we sit down with nonprofit leaders from the Des Moines community this season to hear more about the organizations they lead, the missions they work to fulfill and the difference they're making in our community. Welcome to Community Difference Makers.
Learn more about the important work the Iowa Bankers Association is doing to be the voice for financial services in Iowa from President and CEO Adam Gregg, and host Emily Abbas.
Learn more about the important work that The Avenues of Ingersoll & Grand is doing to is doing to improve, engage, and promote this area in the historical heart of Des Moines from Executive Director Lauren Kollauf, and host Emily Abbas.
Learn more about the important work that the Chris Norton Foundation is doing to help people with neuromuscular injuries and disabilities overcome their obstacles and live better lives from Founder Chris Norton, Chris' mother, Deb Norton, who is Client Experience & Relationship Manager for the bank's affiliate, BTC Capital Management, and host Emily Abbas.
Learn more about Broadlawns Medical Center and how you can support their mission from Proctor Lureman, President and Chief Executive Officer of Broadlawns Medical Center, and host Emily Abbas.
Learn more about the Bankers Trust Employee Volunteer Award winners. Hear about what drives our top volunteers, what causes they are most passionate about and how they serve our community.
Learn more about Healthy Birth Day and how you can support their mission from Emily Price, Chief Executive Officer of Healthy Birth Day, and host Emily Abbas.
Learn more about Mainframe Studios’ journey and how you can support local artists from Julia Franklin, Executive Director of Mainframe Studios, and host Emily Abbas.
Learn more about ICON Water Trails’ mission and their top priorities in 2025 from Stephanie Oppel, Executive Director of ICON Water Trails, and host Emily Abbas.
Learn more on the state of fundraising for Central Iowa nonprofits from Nikki Syverson, Principal of Isaacson-Syverson Consulting, and host Emily Abbas.
Learn more about the important work Above + Beyond Cancer is doing to doing to elevate the mind, body, and spirit of patients, survivors, and caregivers throughout the cancer journey from Executive Director Alissa McKinney, Above + Beyond Cancer board member and Senior Private Banking Officer Becky Moomey, and host Emily Abbas.
Learn more about how the Greater Des Moines Botanical Garden works to explore, explain and celebrate the world of plants with our community from CEO Kim Perez and host Emily Abbas.
Learn more about how the Principal Charity Classic not only brings world class professional golf to Des Moines but how it also raises millions of dollars for Iowa’s children’s charities from Alex McCarty, Tournament Director, and host Emily Abbas.
Learn more about the important work WesleyLife is doing to support the independence, health and well-being of older adults wherever they call home from Sophia Ahmad, Vice President of Philanthropy of the WesleyLife Foundation and host Emily Abbas.
Learn more about the important work Variety – the Children’s Charity of Iowa is doing to improve the lives of children who are at-risk, underprivileged, critically ill or living with special needs from Executive Director Sheri McMichael, Polo on the Green committee member and Bankers Trust’s General Counsel and Senior Risk Officer Emily Stork, and host Emily Abbas.
Learn more about the important work the Greater Des Moines Partnership is doing to support economic and community development initiatives throughout the region from President and CEO Tiffany Tauscheck and host Emily Abbas.
Learn more about what HOME, Inc. is doing to give their clients the tools and resources needed to feel empowered to make a safe, stable home for themselves or their family from Executive Director Carrie Woerdeman, board member Jeni Cooper, and host Emily Abbas.
Learn more about the work 6th Avenue Corridor is doing to remember the history of the area while focusing on purposeful revitalization and economic development from executive director Breann Bye, board member Wayne Middleton, and host Emily Abbas.
Learn more about what the Young Women’s Resource Center is doing to empower participants to become strong, self-confident and resilient from Executive Director Kari Zimmerman, board member Stephanie Dose, and host Emily Abbas.
Learn more about what The Iowa Center is doing to empower and guide entrepreneurs to start believing they can achieve financial success from President and CEO Megan Milligan, board member Kevin Chorniak, and host Emily Abbas.
Learn more about the work Boys & Girls Clubs of Central Iowa is doing to remove barriers and level the playing field so all young people can reach their full potential from CEO Tony Timm, board member David Chapman, and host Emily Abbas.
Learn more about the work Orchard Place, the largest children’s mental health provider in Iowa, is doing to develop strong futures for Iowa’s kids from CEO Anne Starr, board member Joe DeJong, and host Emily Abbas.
Learn more about the Bankers Trust Employee Volunteer Award winners. Hear about what drives our top volunteers, what causes they are most passionate about and how they serve our community.
Learn more about the creation of the Bankers Trust Iowa Artists Collection and how individuals, businesses and cities can enhance their spaces through art with Liz Lidgett of Liz Lidgett Gallery and Design.
Learn more about the work Girl Scouts of Greater Iowa is doing to help girls build courage, confidence and character from CEO Beth Shelton, board member Jenny Carter, and host Emily Abbas.
Learn more about the work Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Iowa is doing to support mentoring relationships that empower youth from CEO Bridget Cravens-Neely, board member D’Angelo Johnson, and host Emily Abbas.
Learn more about the work Goodwill of Central Iowa is doing to help make purposeful employment possible for all from president and CEO, Mary Hunter; board member, Susan Rathjen; and host Emily Abbas.
Our latest episode of the Community Difference Makers podcast features @ChildServe! Listen to ChildServe CEO Dr. Teri Wahlig, board member and Bankers Trust Chief Human Resources Officer Amanda Young, and host Emily Abbas discuss the organization’s efforts to help children with special healthcare needs.
In this episode, we learn more about Polk County Housing Trust Fund from executive director Eric Burmeister and board president Cole McClelland, who is a CRE relationship manager at Bankers Trust. Listen to learn about how the organization is strengthening the Central Iowa community through affordable housing.
Greater Des Moines Habitat for Humanity CEO Lance Henning and Habitat board member and Bankers Trust COO Tina Fritz join the podcast to help us learn about the organization's long history of developing community and housing.
We close out Season 2 of the podcast with a Quick Community Insights episode featuring Ray Cole, award-winning broadcaster and author of the book, "Hangin' with Winners."
Michelle Book, President and CEO at the Food Bank of Iowa joins the podcast and shares more about the organization's 40 years helping reduce food insecurity for Iowans, with the help of 5,000 volunteers annually!
Joe Gonzalez, executive director at Latino Resources, Inc., joins us for this week's episode of the Community Difference Makers podcast to talk about the annual Latino Heritage Festival, which will celebrate its 20th year in Des Moines this fall.
In this Quick Community Insight episode of our Community Difference Makers podcast, we welcome Bankers Trust's own Christina Jarck, who oversees the bank's employee volunteer program, to share the many ways we encourage, support and recognize team members for their involvement within the community.
Peter Cownie, executive director of Iowa State Fair Blue Ribbon Foundation, joins us to talk about the foundation's mission to raise funds for fair improvements and make the Iowa State Fair the best it can be.
Kellie Markey, founder and executive director of Dorothy's House, joins us to talk about her mission to help people whose lives have been interrupted by human trafficking.
Easterseals Iowa President and CEO Sherri Nielsen joins us to talk about how the organization serves children and adults with disabilities and special needs throughout the community.
Jeff Fleming, Director of the Des Moines Arts Center, joins us to talk about how the Arts Center was founded, how he first got involved, and what the organization has planned for its 75th anniversary.
Daniel Zinnel, CEO of Proteus joins us to talk about the organization's mission to provide agricultural workers and their families with affordable healthcare, education assistance and job training.
Joshua Kummer, Bankers Trust Fair Banking Officer, shares insights on how the bank invests in the communities we serve through the Community Reinvestment Act, fair banking and partnering with local nonprofits.
This week we're kicking off Pride Month by talking with Courtney Reyes, Executive Director of One Iowa about the organization work to support equality and inclusion of the Iowa LGBTQ community.
Dwana Bradley joins us today on the Bankers Trust Community Difference Makers podcast to talk all things Iowa Juneteenth Observance and their 2022 Neighbor's Day!
Nu Huynh kicks off Season 2 to share all about her work at the Iowa Asian Alliance, Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month and gives listeners a preview of the upcoming 2022 CelebrAsian festival.
In our final Quick Community Insight of Season 1, Suku Radia, retired CEO of Bankers Trust, joins the podcast to share why it's so important to "pay your civic rent," how he first got involved in the community and much more.
In our last episode of Season 1, Will Keeps speaks with Emily about empowering youth through music, starting over and changing lives through his work at Starts Right Here.
Sara Kurovski, President and CEO of Make-A-Wish Iowa joins the podcast to talk about how the organization provides hope, joy and strength to kids at a time they need it most.
This week, Shannon Cofield, president of the MercyOne Des Moines Foundation, talks with Emily about the philanthropic arm of MercyOne, including the recently completed Richard Deming Cancer Center, the popular Game Show Gala and more.
Urban Dreams Executive Director and Bankers Trust Community Board Member Izaah Knox joins the podcast this week to talk about his organization's mission to break down barriers within the community, how a walk home led to his current role and his vision for Urban Dreams.
This week on Community Difference Makers, David Kilpatrick, executive director of the Des Moines Community Playhouse, talks with Emily about the human connections fostered by community theatre and how The Playhouse is enriching lives for people of all ages.
Oakridge Neighborhood President and CEO Teree Caldwell-Johnson joins the podcast today to talk about her 18-year journey with Oakridge and the great impact this organization has on the individuals and families it serves.
In our second Quick Community Insights, Emily walks through everything you need to know about joining a board, including how to get started and what to expect.
Mary Sellers, president of United Way of Central Iowa, and Emily discuss UWCI's updated strategic focus, United to Thrive and how it has helped the organization reflect and respond to the needs within our Central Iowa community.
Bravo Greater Des Moines Executive Director Sally Dix joins host Emily Abbas this week. Sally talks about Bravo's mission and shares how the organization was formed and how it's funded - with some facts that may surprise to listeners!
Kristi Knous, president of the Community Foundation of Greater Des Moines, joins Bankers Trust Chief Consumer Banking and Marketing Officer Emily Abbas and discusses her path to nonprofit work and the partnerships the Community Foundation leverages to help build a stronger community.
Host Emily Abbas shares quick insights on why you might want to start volunteering in the community, how to get started and what you can expect in different types of volunteer roles.
Scott Raecker joins host Emily Abbas to share the history of the Robert D. and Billie Ray Center at Drake University and the impact the organization has made since its inception.
Bankers Trust is sitting down with local nonprofit leaders in the communities we serve to learn more about their missions and how the community can get involved. Join Chief Consumer Banking and Marketing Officer Emily Abbas for new conversation with a special guest each week.