What are your goals in your role at your company?
Since 1980, Beacon of Life has been serving homeless women in Central Iowa by being a home of hope and healing. It’s my goal to continue building a solid infrastructure of funding and philanthropic support by increasing our visibility and connections in the community. 

What are your goals for community involvement?
I’m very excited for my upcoming role as president for the Rotary Club of Greater Des Moines. As a small group of mainly young professionals, we strive to be informed on issues and involved in our communities. Our hope is to continue to grow our membership so that we can make an even greater impact on Central Iowa.  

What’s your biggest passion, and why?
Lifting up and supporting other women. I’m proud to be a member of Lead Like a Lady, an organization that has a mission to connect women through support and development to become a community of empowered and engaged leaders. I’m constantly energized by this group of women who are supportive and passionate about each other’s goals, projects and interests.   

What is it that drives you?
I have my parents to thank for this. I learned very early on what it means to work hard and to be the best version of myself I can be. I was taught that whatever you do you should do it well and to the best of your ability — or why else do it?

What are your future aspirations?
I’m currently working on my organization’s first-ever major capital campaign. This has been a goal of mine since joining the Beacon of Life in 2011. Our wish is to renovate our facility, pay off mortgage debt, secure reserves and fortify our endowment fund for future stability.

          
Reasons she’s a Forty:

1.) Keshia is a 2017 graduate of the Greater Des Moines Leadership Institute’s CLP program and a 2015 graduate of the Community Connect program.
2.) She served on the board for the Des Moines Downtown Chamber of Commerce and was the 2016 president.
3.) She serves on the board for the Rotary Club of Greater Des Moines and is the 2019-2020 president-elect.
4.) She is a member of Lead Like a Lady and serves as a co-chair for the events and speakers committee.

See all 2018 honorees