Mindy Bockewitz knows the thrill of being on stage in a performance. Before starting college, the Illinois native spent six months on the road with an Up With People troupe that toured the United States and Europe, and even performed for Pope John Paul II at the Vatican. Throughout her insurance career, she has volunteered with community theater groups, most recently with StageWest Theatre Company, where she regularly leads the “Talk Back” program prior to shows.  
StageWest’s venue at the Des Moines Social Club is virtually in her backyard since she and her husband moved downtown from Waukee, “so I tend to get more involved in downtown activities,” Bockewitz said. 

Another favorite volunteer activity for Bockewitz is serving as co-chair of United Way of Central Iowa’s Education Leadership Initiative, which she first joined in 2012. The professional membership group raise money to promote mentoring, after-school activities and groups for middle school students. 

Her insurance career began in her hometown of Quincy, Ill., while she was a student at Quincy University. Needing some extra income, she took a position as a receptionist with the local insurance agency. The broker there suggested she get her insurance license, which she did before even graduating.

“It was a great gig,” she recalled. “Go to college, and when you’re not in class, hop over to the agency asd sell some home or auto insurance.”

Bockewitz went on to become an underwriter for an insurance company in Cincinnati and then moved into sales. She joined Nationwide Mutual Insurance Co. and moved to Des Moines 3 1/2 years ago for her current position. She’s part of a new team called Nationwide National Partners, organized to “bring a true Nationwide experience” to larger brokers in the industry that are buying up the small agencies. “It’s very fun, trying to broaden those relationships,” she said. 

Bockewitz has found that leadership opportunities – whether on the job or in volunteer roles – often happen informally. 

“You don’t necessarily have to have a management or leadership role to be a leader,” she said. 

Reasons she’s a forty:

• At Nationwide she created a program underwriting team that has grown to more than $17 million in premiums. 
• She co-chairs the Education Leadership Initiative and has helped increase Nationwide employees’ involvement.  
• She has initiated a volunteer project at Nationwide for the company to donate catering and cafeteria leftovers to food pantries .
• She volunteers with Fence Project Des Moines, which provides fencing and other dog housing, grooming and supply needs.