The Iowa Bankers Association presented Dave Nelson, West Bank chairman and CEO, with the 2023 James A. Leach Leadership Award last week during the Iowa Bankers Association Annual Convention at Veterans Memorial Auditorium in Des Moines. Nelson, who has worked in the banking industry for 39 years, has been the CEO of West Des Moines-based West Bank for the past 13 years. Before joining West Bank in 2010, he gained more than 25 years of banking experience in commercial banking, credit administration and relationship building. Nelson is also a member of the American Bankers Association board of directors and served as chairman of the Iowa Bankers Association in 2016-17. The IBA created the Leach award in 2000, following Leach’s term as chairman of the U.S. House Banking Committee. The award “recognizes an Iowa banker who, like Leach, has made significant, lifelong contributions to how Iowa banks serve Iowa communities,” a press release said.