Two members of the Greater Des Moines Partnership are stepping down as Mary Bontrager and David Maahs retire at the end of 2020.

 

Bontrager has served as executive vice president of talent development since 1995, and Maahs has served as executive vice president of economic development since 2005.

 

Bontrager and Maahs join Partnership President Gene Meyer in retiring this year. See a full story about Meyer’s retirement here. 

 

Bontrager said the growth in regionalism and collaboration has highlighted her time at the Partnership.

 

When she joined the Partnership, the organization was focused on three counties. Today, its eye is turned to growth in 10 Central Iowa counties.

 

“We’ve always been a community that collaborated, and we’ve been fortunate to have invested, caring leaders from the business community and not-for-profit world, education and government. We’ve always had that collaborative nature to us, but how that has expanded regionally … all working together, playing to our strengths not only independently but collectively playing to the strengths of the region.”

 

Maahs said those efforts have helped the Des Moines region grow into a national economic leader.

 

“Many of the cities in our metro have had very good success in population growth and tax base over the past 30 years that has just been the result of a lot of hard work by a lot of people,” he said. “You can pick out any community and single out some specific projects and when you add them all together, it’s really generated a lot of momentum for our region.”

Maahs said those efforts have helped the Des Moines region grow into a national economic leader.

 

“Many of the cities in our metro have had very good success in population growth and tax base over the past 30 years that has just been the result of a lot of hard work by a lot of people,” he said. “You can pick out any community and single out some specific projects and when you add them all together, it’s really generated a lot of momentum for our region.”

 

Maahs, who previously was the president and CEO of the Ames Chamber of Commerce, called the successes an “overall team effort.”

 

“There’s just a lot of great collaboration and people working together to promote the region,” said Maahs, 67.

 

Bontrager said one achievement is the ability of people in Des Moines and statewide to proudly talk about what the region has to offer.

 

She said people used to be afraid to say good things about Des Moines. When they did, they would often follow it up saying “but” — and then say something that counterbalanced what they just said to be humble.

 

“I truly believe today we are a city that has lost its ‘but,’” she said.

 

Bontrager said she’s been honored to be part of the region’s growth and success, but added, “Like everything else, it’s been a collaborative, collective effort.”

 

She said the ability of the city to reinvent itself over the past 20 years has been phenomenal.

 

“It’s been so rewarding and fulfilling,” she said. “I’m so proud and humbled that I’ve been able to play a role in some way. It’s been a phenomenal ride that I never knew I would have this opportunity to experience.”

 

Partnership CEO Jay Byers praised Bontrager and Maahs for their work.

 

“When Dave says he is going to do something, you know it is going to get done,” Byers said. “He is a true champion for regionalism and has helped the Partnership cultivate strong ties among our regional public, private and nonprofit partners that will help us to continue to achieve successful results after his retirement.” 

 

Bontrager has led the region’s efforts to attract high-level talent and positioned Greater Des Moines to outdistance its regional peers and receive national accolades, Byers said.

 

“Perhaps nobody has done more than Mary to cultivate an environment in Des Moines that attracts and retains talent,” Byers said. “She is an innovator who time and time again comes up with creative ways to reach prospective talent.”

 

Both positions will be filled, officials with the Partnership said.

 

What’s next?

For Maahs, after 40 years of economic development work, it’s time to see what the next chapter in his life holds, whether that be volunteering or spending more time with family, which includes his wife, who is a retired kindergarten teacher, their two adult children and a grandson.

 

Maahs described his time with the Partnership as a “fantastic ride.”

 

“Being part of a team that helps the community grow, it’s been very satisfying to have that sort of career,” he said.

 

Volunteering will also be part of Bontrager’s future, but beyond that, her options are open, she said.

 

“The one thing that I’m not going to do … is have a 12-month strategic plan,”  she said.

 

Bontrager, 64, said the time just seemed right to retire.

 

Her husband has been retired for a while, and last year she celebrated her 10th anniversary as a breast cancer survivor.

 

Paraphrasing a quote on a print her daughter gave her the year she received her cancer diagnosis, Bontrager said it’s time to focus on her bucket list, acknowledging she’s not sure what’s all on it quite yet.

 

“It basically says everything changed the day she realized she had just enough time to do everything she wanted to do,” Bontrager said. “I look at that every single day and say today’s the day; what am I going to do today that I really want to do.”

 

RELATED STORY: Meyer reflects on time at Partnership, career in public service