Katherine Atkinson has joined the Greater Des Moines Partnership as the director of workforce. In her role at the Partnership, Atkinson will identify, outline and execute strategies to strengthen and support talent development for the Greater Des Moines region. Atkinson previously worked for more than seven years at Marquette University in Milwaukee in a number of positions including director of engineering industry relations, entrepreneurial co-op project manager, and associate director of the Business Career Center in the College of Business. Before her time at Marquette, Atkinson worked at Mount Mary College in Milwaukee and Pacific Lutheran University in Tacoma, Wash. She has a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Wartburg College and a master’s degree in college student personnel from Western Illinois University. In other staffing changes, Ryan Carroll has been promoted to senior director of Regional Business Development. Carroll leads the Partnership’s Business Retention and Expansion program and international trade activities. Also, Jerrica Marshall has been promoted to the role of downtown placemaking manager. Marlena Bandurski has been promoted to vice president of research, and Lia Brown has been promoted to project coordinator for Business Resources and Community Development and Talent Development.