Kent Sovern, state director for AARP since July 2011, plays to retire June 1. His seven-year stint at AARP was part of a 47-year career in which he worked in business development, association management, policy advocacy, higher education, a state parks association, and in other fields. His work at AARP included leading a “livable communities initiative” and working on age-friendly community issues in infrastructure and design plans. The Fort Madison native and Vietnam War veteran “has had a profound impact across the state,” AARP State President Chuck Betts said in a statement. Sovern previously served as president of the New Iowa Group, executive director of the Iowa Parks Foundation, executive director of the Des Moines Higher Education Collaborative at the Pappajohn Center, senior vice president of government and international relations for the Greater Des Moines Partnership and director of public policy for the League of Iowa Municipalities. AARP will conduct a nationwide search for Sovern’s replacement; here is the job posting. Read our Closer Look on Sovern at BusinessRecord.com (Insider).