Feed Your Mind Lunch & Learn - "Inclusion is Smart Business"
Our Panelists:
Breanna (she/her) is a small-town Iowa native, a lover of dogs, and a drinker of coffee. Practicing law for nearly 20 years, she is a compassionate LGBTQ+ advocate, frequently presenting for community organizations, financial advisors, and other lawyers on estate-planning topics and diversity, equity, and inclusion issues. She is past Chair of the Iowa State Bar Association's Probate, Trust, and Estate Planning Section, Director of the Iowa Academy of Trust and Estate Counsel, and Fellow of the American College of Trust and Estate Counsel. Breanna can often be found tending to her office plants, spending time with her kids and rescue dog, and helping individuals and families protect and empower themselves with adoptions, Wills, Trusts, Powers of Attorney, and more. She is a shareholder attorney at Dentons Davis Brown in Des Moines.
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Keenan Crow (they/them/theirs) is the One Iowa Director of Policy and Advocacy. Keenan has been active in Iowa politics since 2010 when they interned with Chris Hall’s campaign for Iowa State Representative. Since then, they have been involved with several nonprofit organizations including Planned Parenthood of the Heartland and Cedar Valley Citizens for Undoing Racism. They were also involved in One Iowa’s campus group at the University of Northern Iowa.
Keenan obtained a BA in Political Communications and a Master of Public Policy degree from the University of Northern Iowa. They are a 2018 New Leaders Council fellow.
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Cassie Sampson (she/her/hers) is a licensed massage therapist and owner of East Village Spa. The spa is celebrating 15 years in business with large growth, including a recent expansion into a 6000 square foot space. The motto at East Village Spa is Every. Body. Welcome. and Cassie has built a successful business with a team of 30 diverse employees, including at least 25% who identify as LGBTQ+. Cassie has learned that in a competitive labor market, welcoming diversity has been a key to recruiting and retaining top talent. With employee loyalty comes customer loyalty. The East Village Spa team has created a space where groups and individuals who may feel uncomfortable in wellness and beauty spaces feel welcomed and safe. In addition to studying massage therapy, Cassie has a BA in Recreation Therapy from UNI and spent 7 years working with seniors, people with traumatic brain injuries, and people receiving residential mental health services.
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Panel will be moderated by Kirstie Sargent (she/her/hers). Kirstie is a licensed massage therapist who stepped into a spa leadership role in 2023. Kirstie has a business degree from Iowa State and worked in corporate events before attending massage therapy school. After years as a massage therapist specializing in orthopedic and deep tissue massage, Kirstie is transitioning into a role helping to ensure the spa is running smoothly for both guests and providers. She will be coordinating events and new community outreach and partnerships.
