People Making A Difference - 2018

17 business leaders who impacted Urbandale, Johnston or Grimes in a positive way in the last year

The northwestern suburbs thrive with commercial development and business opportunities.

It’s the faces behind these businesses who have made much of this development and economic growth a success. They’re the reason veterans at the Iowa Veterans Home have a special wheelchair clinic, those who are less fortunate have eye care, and children’s softball and Little League teams have coaches. That is why the Northwest Suburbs Business Journal is recognizing these individuals with the 17 from ’17 Awards.

“We created this to honor individuals who have made a difference in their business community,” says Shane Goodman, editor and publisher of the Iowa Business Journals. “There were no specific criteria upon which the nominees were chosen, but rather this was based on a collection of their accomplishments, involvement, and impact in their communities.”

Readers submitted nominations, and an advisory panel narrowed down the selected to 17 individuals whom it believed made the biggest difference in the communities of Grimes, Johnston and Urbandale in the past year.

Here are this year’s winners:

Sandy Taylor Jay Brewer

Barb Allen

David Russell

Clint Dudley

Bruce Whited

Pamela Kucera

Jay Petersma

John Forbes

Ben Buenzow

Michael Vaughn

Susan Bonnicksen

Dini Anderlik

Cara Gregory

Debra Heldt

Thomas Armstrong

Kimberly Baeth