2024 Iowa Business Hall of Fame
Name:
2024 Iowa Business Hall of Fame
Date:
April 22, 2025
Time:
5:30 PM - 9:00 PM CDT
Registration:
Register Now
Event Description:
Registration for the 2024 Iowa Business Hall of Fame is now open. Please reach out to Anna Regole, aregole@downtownDSMUSA.com, with any questions.
ROBERT G. RILEY, JR.
Robert G. Riley, Jr., has worked for more than 50 years in the agriculture industry. Since the purchase of Feed Energy in 1986, he has injected a strategy of science and research into nutraceutical products. This helped unleash the full genetic potential of the animals fed, providing health and productivity to over 80 million animals per year.Beginning with 11 employees, Riley adopted an organic growth strategy and diversified the company by adding new products and services. These moves allowed the organization to expand to five companies and a workforce of 125, and from the beginning weekly sales of 7 truckloads, to entities that handle and transport over 1 billion pounds annually.
Riley continues to be active in board and leadership roles in many organizations, including Iowa Department of Economic Development, North Central Poultry Association, The Nature Conservancy of Iowa, Community Foundation of Greater Des Moines, Des Moines Water Works, Whiterock Conservancy, Simpson College, American Feed Industry Association, Iowa Innovation Corporation, Two Rivers Financial Group, Iowa State University Research Foundation, Iowa Environmental Council, and others throughout his career.
CHRISTOPHER J. RISEWICK
Chris Risewick started Seneca Companies in 1972. At 21, Risewick, a junior at Drake University, started selling petroleum equipment. This quickly became his focus and by the early 1980's, he opened the first branch location in Bettendorf, Iowa. Since then, Seneca has grown to 14 physical office locations throughout the Midwest, Mountain and Southern regions, and added several divisions to provide "The Complete Solution" to its customers and allowed Seneca to be self-sustainable in the market like no other competitor.Over the course of 50 years, Seneca has grown from simply providing fuel systems to seven other complimentary businesses. In early 2024, the Risewick family sold Seneca Companies to Trive Capital, a large private equity firm in Dallas, Texas for a record multiple in the industry. Over the course of those 50 years, Seneca grew to employ as many as 450 people with most of them being Iowans.
Risewick has been involved with ChildServe since the 1980s and served as Chair of the Board of Trustees twice. In 2023, he and his wife, Mary received the “ChildServe Champions” award in recognition of their dedication and impact to the children and families. Risewick also served on the Board of Impact Iowa’s Heroes, and has been involved with the Greater Des Moines Partnership, Greater Des Moines Community Foundation, Dowling Catholic High School, Holy Family Catholic School Foundation, Des Moines Christian School, Junior Achievement of Central Iowa, the University of Iowa Foundation, The Breakfast Club, YPO and WPO.
TERI WAHLIG, MD
Dr. Wahlig has served as the CEO of ChildServe, a specialty pediatric healthcare organization, since July 2018. She joined the organization in 2011 as vice president and medical director. Prior to joining ChildServe, Dr. Wahlig was medical director of MercyOne's Neonatal Intensive Care Unit for 17 years. Under Dr. Wahlig’s exemplary business and community leadership, ChildServe has flourished and grown, making a major difference across the state of Iowa.In her role as CEO, Dr. Wahlig manages a complex enterprise with challenging financials and operations. ChildServe serves children with special health care needs through more than 30 different types of services. In 2024, as one of the largest non-profit organizations in Central Iowa with a net operating revenue of $83M and 1,500 employees, ChildServe supported 5,800 children and their families throughout the state.
Dr. Wahlig is an active member in the community including a Founding Member and Chair of the Iowa Pediatric Healthcare Collaborative, Board Member of the Iowa Hospital Association, Past Chair of the Greater Des Moines Committee, member of Variety Children’s Charity, among many others. In 2018, the Iowa Hospital Association named Dr. Wahlig a Hospital Hero and the Des Moines Business Record named her a Women of Influence Honoree.
A native of Greater Des Moines, Dr. Wahlig graduated from Marquette University, did her pediatric residency at Northwestern, and completed a Neonatology Fellowship at the University of Minnesota Medical School before returning to Iowa. She is board certified in pediatrics, neonatal – perinatal medicine, and palliative care – hospice medicine. While working, Dr. Wahlig earned a MBA from the University of Iowa Tippie College of Business.
