Marvin DeJear, the director of the Evelyn K. Davis Center for Working Families at Des Moines Area Community College, was named today as the new senior vice president of talent development for the Greater Des Moines Partnership.

He is scheduled to begin his new role on Jan. 25. DeJear fills a position recently held by Mary Bontrager, who retired at the end of 2020.

Jay Byers, Partnership president and CEO, cited DeJear’s “wide range of experiences, deep community connections and proven track record of helping people gain access to education and career opportunities,” saying he is “strategically positioned to lead the Partnership’s talent development work moving forward.”

“His leadership will be instrumental in advancing our region’s Future Ready DSM goal of skilling up our existing and future workforce, in helping guide our Diversity, Equity and Inclusion initiatives, and in continuing to attract and retain talented people in Greater Des Moines to help fuel our future growth,” Byers said in a news release announcing DeJear’s hiring.

DeJear said he is excited to join the Partnership and continue its efforts to strengthen the region’s talent pipeline.

“The organization and region have had tremendous success in ensuring growth in population as well as educational attainment, and I am committed to helping continue that momentum,” he said in the release.

DeJear received his Ph.D. in community college leadership from Iowa State University. He also earned his Master of Business Administration degree and a Bachelor of Arts degree in entrepreneurship and strategy from ISU.

In his current role at DMACC, which he’s held since 2013, DeJear has worked with nearly 60 other organizations and businesses to maximize services to connect income/work support, financial education and asset building, as well as educational and workforce training opportunities in the community. In the eight years it has been open, the Evelyn K. Davis Center for Working Families has reported an economic impact of $60 million and served more than 35,000 people.

DeJear also has served on the Partnership’s Diversity and Inclusion Council, the Future Ready Iowa Steering Committee, Minority Unemployment & Outreach Standing Committee, Access to Justice Commission, the state’s Economic Recovery Advisory Committee, the Director’s Council, and many other committees and boards.