Throughout her life, Amy Ostrander Croll’s experiences taught her the value of perseverance and taking calculated risks, and the insane accuracy of intuition.

But the most valuable lessons weren’t learned in the office or behind a desk. She learned most through a favorite pastime.

“Everything you need to know in life and leadership can be learned on a bike,” she said. “Be prepared for detours and flats. … Jump on the opportunity to go off the beaten path. Occasionally you have to adjust your expectations and that’s OK, but know where the brakes are and be ready to use them. Finally, appreciate the scenery, and sometimes, you just need to stop and enjoy the company.”

Ostrander Croll, an Adel native, grew up using volunteerism as her outlet. At age 11, she volunteered at a nursing home, even organizing wheelchair races for the residents. To her, it was a way to be active and engaged and give back to the community.

The importance of this traveled with Ostrander Croll through adolescence. At age 20, she recalls knowing she wanted to open a center focusing on engaging young people.

That’s exactly what she did. In 2008, Ostrander Croll founded Community Youth Concepts, leaving her job with the Iowa Department of Human Rights.

“I have always been a person who does things I think are right, and then I figure it out along the way,” she said. “I talked to my dad about (starting Community Youth Concepts) the most. He’s a small business owner, but he’s also my sounding board. He asked me a bunch of questions, but he told me, ‘You know what your gut tells you, so do what you think you need to do.’ ”

Outside of work and volunteering, Ostrander Croll is a master gardener. She loves the outdoors and advocates for environmental issues. She also enjoys traveling and takes what she calls “real-life vacations.” Her family regularly hosts international students in their home. 

“I really enjoy advocacy work,” Ostrander Croll said. “I’m much better at providing a big-picture perspective – just don’t ever ask me to plan an event!”

Reasons she’s a forty:

• She founded Community Youth Concepts, an organization serving 4,000 children that promotes positive youth development principles and practices.
• She was a member of the Greater Des Moines Leadership Institute class of 2014.
• She received the Urbandale Character Counts Award (2008) and the Iowa Governor’s Above and Beyond Award (2004).
• She is actively involved with the Urbandale Community Action Network and the Iowa Commission on Volunteer Service, among other organizations.