Business Publications Corp. announced and awarded its inaugural News Changemaker Awards for 2023 on Wednesday evening at the company’s 20|40 event to celebrate the 20th anniversary of dsm magazine and the 40th anniversary of the Business Record.

The 18 finalists were selected from reader nominations, and readers cast more than 1,000 votes to determine this year’s winners. These awards recognize people and organizations making headlines within the Business Record and dsm magazine in business and culture.

The award winners and finalists are:

Business Leader – Legacy
This award recognizes a Des Moines-area business leader who has retired, plans to retire in the coming year, or is transitioning from their leadership role, for their outstanding career accomplishments and track record of community involvement.

• Winner: Frank Cownie – mayor, city of Des Moines. After serving as mayor of Des Moines for 20 years, Cownie chose not to seek reelection. His tenure was noted for an increase in city park access and a focus on environmental issues. Cownie was first elected mayor in 2003 and took office in 2004. Since then, he has helped lead downtown growth and revitalization, and efforts to increase residential housing downtown. Cownie, 75, said it was the transparency, communication and collaboration of the city, business owners and residents that have led to the revitalization of downtown, making it an economic hub for Iowa and the region. It’s that convening of groups that he credits for Des Moines’ growth and for positioning the city for continued growth in the future.
• Finalist: Clyde Evans – community and economic development director, city of West Des Moines. Evans retired in July after 32 years with the city of West Des Moines. Evans oversaw several major development and redevelopment efforts during his tenure.
• Finalist: Scott Packard – chairman, Wright Service Corp. Packard retired as CEO of Wright Service Corp. after nearly 21 years in the position. The company grew from 1,000 to 6,000 employees under his leadership. He will continue as chairman.

Cultural Leader – Legacy
This award recognizes a Des Moines-area cultural leader who has retired, plans to retire in the coming year, or is transitioning from their leadership role, for their outstanding career accomplishments and track record of community involvement.

• Winner: Molly Phillips – executive director and general manager, Iowa PBS. Phillips is retiring from Iowa PBS after 34 years with the organization, the last 10 in her current role. Iowa PBS has thrived under her leadership, a time that included its 50th anniversary. During Phillips’ tenure, Iowa PBS expanded its programming and responded to new trends in broadcasting and technology including the addition of PBS Kids program and YouTube channels; multiple livestreams and on-demand viewing. She helped lead an organizational rebrand at the network and earned dozens of national awards and regional Emmys.

• Finalist: Jeff Fleming – director, Des Moines Art Center. Fleming retired after 25 years at the Des Moines Art Center, the last 18 as director.
• Finalist: Mark Wyatt – executive director, Iowa Bicycle Coalition. Wyatt announced his retirement from the Iowa Bicycle Coalition in July, an organization he helped start and for which he served as executive director since 2006.

Business Story of the Year
This award recognizes a notable story of a company’s, organization’s or business leader’s success and achievements that have made a significant positive contribution to the region’s economy.

• Winner: Des Moines International Airport breaks ground on expansion. The Des Moines Airport Authority broke ground on its terminal expansion and received an affirmative bond vote from the community. Airport Executive Director Kevin Foley and the Des Moines International Airport Authority have navigated the plan to expand the airport, including the construction of a new terminal and the expansion of the parking garage. Foley and other airport officials said the improvements are an integral component to continuing the economic development momentum the region has seen in recent years. The airport received a big boost in November when Polk County voters overwhelmingly approved the $350 million bond issue to help fund the first phase of construction of a new terminal. The airport celebrated the beginning of construction on a new terminal with a groundbreaking ceremony this fall. Completion of the first phase of the new terminal is planned for fall of 2026.
• Finalist: BLK & Bold named one of America’s fastest-growing companies. BLK & Bold, a 100% Black-owned nationally distributed coffee brand, was within the top 100 of the prestigious Inc. 5000 Fastest-Growing Company List.
• Finalist: Greater Des Moines Partnership navigates successful leadership transition to new CEO Tiffany Tauscheck. The Greater Des Moines Partnership, the largest local economic development organization in the metro, completed a seamless CEO transition.

Cultural Story of the Year
This award recognizes a notable story of a nonprofit, cultural organization or cultural leader’s success and achievements that have made a significant positive contribution to the community.

• Winner: Easter Lake project announced – Polk County Conservation Board. Easter Lake’s new recreation site will be one of the most universally accessible waterfront parks in the country. The Athene North Shore Recreation Area project at Easter Lake Park has been designed with features that make the beach and activities like canoeing and rowing available to all. The process used to design the space, which was led by Molly Wuebker and partners at Shive-Hattery and the Harkin Institute, is being made available as a tool for other projects locally and nationally seeking to apply universal design. After renovations are complete in 2024, Polk County Conversation will have completed $23.2 million in renovations since 2018 across the park. More than $8 million was raised through local and state funding and private donations. Fundraising was led by former Casey’s CEO Bob Myers, former Hy-Vee CEO Ric Jurgens and EMC Insurance Cos. CEO Scott Jean.
• Finalist: ICON Water Trails’ Scott Avenue project launched. The recently launched Scott Avenue portion of the ICON Water Trails project improves the safety and recreational potential of the Scott Avenue dam site.
• Finalist: Community Foundation C3 Center opens. The C3 Center is a new community hub serving the entire nonprofit and charitable giving sectors and will bring diverse groups and perspectives together to make our community better together.

Business Leader – Newcomer of the Year
This award recognizes a business leader who is new to the community or in a new position of leadership in their organization who has already and will continue making significant contributions to the community.

• Winner: Dr. Adreain Henry – president, Mercy College of Health Sciences. Henry is the fourth president of Mercy College of Health Sciences. He is now in his second year as president and CEO of Mercy College of Health Sciences after previously serving as chief academic officer and associate provost at Hallmark University in San Antonio, Texas, where he had also been dean of arts, sciences, graduate studies and research. An avid scholar, Henry has seven degrees, including a pair of master’s degrees and a pair of doctorate degrees. He also served more than five years on active duty in the U.S. Army as an optometry officer and practiced optometry in the private sector for six years before being recruited into the higher education field.
• Finalist: David Keith – president of insurance solutions, Wellabe. Keith will become the CEO of the recently rebranded Wellabe (formerly American Enterprise Group) in January of 2024.
• Finalist: Amanda Wanke – CEO, DART. Wanke is the new CEO of the Des Moines Area Regional Transit Authority (DART), the state’s largest public transit agency.

Cultural Leader – Newcomer of the Year
This award recognizes an individual who is new to the community or in a new position of leadership in a cultural or nonprofit organization who has already and will continue making significant contributions to the community.

• Winner: Ian Roberts – superintendent, Des Moines Public Schools. Roberts became superintendent of the state’s largest school district in July. Roberts taught special education before he began to move through the administrative ranks; his last stop before Des Moines was as a superintendent in Pennsylvania. The 2000 Olympian in track and field for Guyana has degrees from Coppin State, St. John’s, Georgetown and Trident universities. At DMPS, Robert’s tasks include responding to enrollment declines and repairing the district’s ties with leaders that frayed during the COVID-19 pandemic.
• Finalist: Jerrica Marshall – executive director, the Directors Council. Marshall is the first executive director of the Directors Council, a coalition of leaders whose mission is to improve conditions in neighborhoods they serve through systemic change.
• Finalist: Kelly Baum – director, Des Moines Art Center. Baum became the director of the internationally recognized Des Moines Art Center in May of 2023.