2025 Iowa Business Hall of Fame

Registration for the 2025 Iowa Business Hall of Fame is now open. Please reach out to Anna Regole, aregole@downtownDSMUSA.com, with any questions.

MICHAEL J. GERDIN
Born in Shenandoah, IA in 1969, Michael J. Gerdin started with Heartland Express in 1983 as a teenager washing trucks, sweeping floors and working in the shop. Since that time, he has held a variety of positions throughout the Company in operations, sales, safety, shop and driver recruiting departments. Heartland Express has been a publicly traded company since 1986 and celebrates 40 years as a public company. Mr. Gerdin graduated from Solon High School in 1988, received his BA degree in Business Management from Luther College in 1992. He was elected to the Heartland Express board of directors in 1996, an appointment in which he still serves today. From 1998 to 2001 he was President of A&M Express of Kingsport, TN, a wholly owned subsidiary of Heartland Express. In 2011 Michael was appointed to Vice President of Regional Operations of Heartland Express. In May 2006 he was named President of Heartland Express. In September 2011 he was named CEO and Chairman of the Board. In November 2013 Heartland Express acquired Gordon Trucking of Pacific, WA. In July 2017 Heartland Express acquired Interstate Distributor of Tacoma, WA. In August 2019 Heartland Express acquired Millis Transfer Black River Falls, WI. In June 2022 Heartland Express acquired CFI of Joplin, MO. Heartland Express has been awarded Newsweek "Most Trusted Companies" for 2022 and 2024. In 2025 the Gerdin Family Foundation was awarded National Philanthropist of the year by Make-A-Wish America.

Michael serves on the Board of Directors and the Executive Steering Committee for the Iowa Motor Truck Association. He serves on the College of Business Deans Advisory at Iowa State University and served 10 years on the Board of Directors for West Bank of West Des Moines, Iowa.

In addition to his professional interests, Michael is a long-distance runner, having competed in 19 marathons including Boston, Chicago, and the Marine Corps in Washington D.C., 3 Half-Ironman competitions and completed 2 Full Ironman competitions. He is an avid outdoors man, loving to hunt, fish, golf and coach his sons. His favorite past time is spending time with his wife Nicole of 29 years and their four sons Clay 25, Grant 22, Nick 18, and Adam 13.

MICHAEL R. MCCOY
Since taking on the role of CEO at National Chiropractic Mutual Insurance Company (NCMIC) in 2017, Mike McCoy has propelled the company to a dominant 60% market share in its chosen markets, securing its leadership in the industry. Under his guidance, NCMIC's assets have increased to over $1.0 Billion (or by $270 million), with a surplus growth of $142 million, all while sustaining an "A" (Excellent) rating from A.M. Best. Mike's strategic direction has transformed the finance subsidiary from a secondary function into a key revenue driver, establishing NCMIC as one of the top 10 payment processors among its peers in the U.S,

Under Mike's leadership, NCMIC's growth extends beyond assets and revenue. He has expanded the company's cultural footprint, community support, and local recognition. Through the launch of the Rotational Leadership Program, he has prioritized recruiting diverse talent, increasing diversity at NCMIC by nearly 140% since he became CEO. NCMIC's annual philanthropic contributions have grown to $1 million, supporting over 150 organizations each year.

NCMIC has also been celebrated as a Top Workplace in Iowa for seven consecutive years and has earned numerous accolades in the Des Moines Business Record "Best Of" polls. The company has been recognized as an Inspiring Business for Women by the Girl Scouts of Greater Iowa and received the Inclusion Award from the Greater Des Moines Partnership, along with various other honors at both local and industry levels.

Mike served as an executive business leader for more than 10 years with Wells Fargo, serving a number of functions across multiple business units. He most recently served as President and head of Wells Fargo Consumer Credit Cards where he was responsible for $20 billion in assets, 6 million customers, and more than 4,000 team members. As President of WFC Card Services, Mike led the organization through the 2008 financial downturn resulting in best-in-class performance of any large bank credit card company. In his final year, he led the credit card company to its best financial performance in its history (earnings of $1 billion after tax) and retained the headquarters in Des Moines during a time of potential transition.

And in December of 2025, Mike was awarded an honorary Doctorate of Humanities from Parker University in Dallas, TX.

A strong believer in giving back to the community, Mike has chaired the following boards: 

• Executive Stewardship Council of the Greater Des Moines Partnership, 2025
• United Way of Central Iowa Annual Campaign Chair, 2024
• Bravo Greater Des Moines Chair, 2023-2024
• Greater Des Moines Partnership Chair, 2023
• ChildServe Chair, 2022

• UnityPoint Health Foundation
• Principal Charity Classic
• Grand View University Board of Trustees
• United Way of Central Iowa
• Oakridge Neighborhood
• Salisbury House

KIRT A. WALKER
Kirt Walker is Chief Executive Officer of Nationwide, a mutual insurance and financial services company focused on protecting people, business and futures with extraordinary care. He was elected to this position in 2019 and in this role also serves as a member of the Nationwide Board of Directors and chair of the Nationwide Foundation.

Kirt initially joined the Nationwide family of companies in 1986. Prior to being elected CEO, he served for 10 years as President and Chief Operating Officer of Nationwide Financial.
During his first 23 years, he served in various leadership positions within the company's Property of Casualty business, including President and COO of Nationwide Insurance and President of Allied Insurance, Nationwide's former independent agency subsidiary.

Under Kirt's leadership, Nationwide has grown to be the seventh-largest insurance industry company in the U.S. - a modern mutual that ranks No. 72 overall on the Fortune 500. His leadership philosophy focuses on "The Four Ps". People, Planning, Performance and Partnerships. This philosophy extends to driving a high performing, caring culture of associates that leads to better solutions for customers and other stakeholders.

Kirt is a proud graduate of Iowa State University where he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in management. He also holds a Master of Science in management with an emphasis in leadership degree from The American College of Financial Services.

Kirt is passionate about the community in which he works and lives. He advocates for the professional development and advancement of industry professionals as a board trustee for The Institutes, a property & casualty risk and insurance knowledge group. He is a member of the Dean's Advisory Council at Iowa State University's Ivy College of Business. He also serves as chair of the Nationwide Children's Hospital board. As co-chair of the Columbus Partnership governing board and a member of the Ohio Business Roundtable governing board, Kirt is focused on driving regional economic development. Kirt also serves on the Board of Directors for Catalyst - a global non-profit dedicated to supporting workforce development and advancement.

Kirt previously served on the Columbus State Community College Board of Trustees, the American Red Cross Board of Governors and the boards of the American Council of Life Insurers, Association of Ohio Life Insurance Companies, Mid-Ohio Food Collective, American Red Cross of Greater Columbus, White Castle restaurant company, and as a trust for Grand View College in Des Moines.
Past honors for his community involvement include receiving the Iowa State University Distinguished Alumnus Award, COSI John Glenn Inspiration Award, National 4-H Luminary recognition, Outstanding Iowa 4-H Alum Award, CEO of the Year by both Columbus CEO and the Des Moines Business Journal and Most Admired Executive in Central Ohio by Columbus Business First.

A native of Irvington, Iowa, Kirt was raised on a Century Farm, instilling the values of hard work and community responsibility that he carries forth today. His favorite pastimes include spending time with family, reading and rooting for the Cyclones.