Membership Luncheon Presented by Vision Park Family Eye Care
Every month members of the Urbandale Chamber come together to network, enjoy lunch and listen to a speaker to learn about happenings in Urbandale and around the Greater Des Moines Area.
This month will be our Candidate Forum for Iowa House District 40, House District 39 and House District 19. Representative John Forbes (D), Gregg Gustafson (D), Richard Dedor (I) and Karin Derry (D) Brad Zahn (R) have confirmed attendance. Chris Hagenow (R) and Jake Highfill have been invited, but are unable to attend. Moderated by E.J. Giovannetti.
Location: Ramada Tropics Resort & Conference Center (5000 Merle Hay Rd. - Urbandale)
Cost: $25/members $35/nonmembers
Thank you to this month's SPONSOR: Christopher's Fine Jewelry & Rare Coin and our EXHIBITORS: CultureALL, Urbandale Food Pantry, Fusion Boutique and Triplett Office Essentials
 Moderator
E.J. Giovannetti has been practicing law in Iowa since 1966. E.J. joined Hopkins & Huebner in 1970, and has been with the firm for over 45 years. A graduate from Creighton University for both his bachelor’s and law degree, E.J. now specializes in workers’ compensation and mediation. E.J. Giovannetti is a member of the Polk County, Iowa State and American Bar Associations. E.J. is a current and past member of many civic organizations and committees and was mayor of Urbandale for 20 years. |
John Forbes (D) john.forbes@legis.iowa.gov
John Forbes is a small business owner and former City Councilman in Urbandale. He is a pharmacist and has owned and operated Medicap Pharmacy in Urbandale for the past 35 years. Forbes is a member and past president of the Urbandale Chamber of Commerce. He also served as President of the Urbandale Library Foundation Board, and currently serves as a Board member.John has served as President of the Iowa Pharmacy Association and the Polk County Pharmacists Association. He was named by a leading pharmacy journal as one of the Top 100 Most Influential Pharmacists in the Nation. In 2010, Forbes received the Bowl of Hygeia Award for community service given by the Iowa Pharmacy Association. In recent years, he has headed up the Central Iowa Honor Flight, which flew World War II veterans to Washington, DC, for a one-day trip to view the World War II Memorial and other historical sites around the DC area. John was the winner of the Heroes of the Heartland Award from the American Red Cross in 2011. He was chosen by a leading pharmacy trade journal in 2011 as a Next Generation Pharmacist for Community Service. In 2014, the Drake University College of Pharmacy granted John its highest public service award, the Weaver Medal of Honor. John resides in Urbandale with his wife, Cindy, a registered nurse. They raised two children in Urbandale, Adam, 34, and Meredith, 29. The couple also enjoys spending time with their grandson, Logan. |
Gregg Gustafson (D) info@greggforiowa.com
Gregg Gustafson was raised on a farm in Northwest Iowa where he learned the value of hard work, a good education and caring about others. It started when his grandfather immigrated to Northwest Iowa from Sweden at the age of 16. He started farming and eventually became a seed salesman where Gregg would travel with him and they would talk about the land, caring for your family and neighbors, what it meant to be a Democrat and why Iowa is so special. After graduating high school, Gregg attended Iowa State University where he earned a degree in Agronomy. He also met his wife, Peg Armstrong-Gustafson, an Iowa native. They've have been married for 35 years and have a daughter, Alexandra. Gregg's entrepreneurial spirit led him to start his own company, which recycled garbage and reclaimed paper and cubed it as an alternative energy source to coal. His passion for finance and economics led me to become a financial planner which later led Gregg to earn a MBA degree from Drake University and studying international finance at City University in London, England. This work experience and education prepared me to start his current business, which owns and manages commercial housing in the Des Moines area. While working and raising his family, Gregg serves his community. He's volunteered and served in leadership roles at Windsor Heights Lutheran Church, Special Olympics Iowa, Variety Club -The Children’s Charity, Port of Entry for recovering alcoholics and addicts, Planned Parenthood of Iowa, Greater Des Moines Cyclone Club and Iowa State University Foundation Board of Governors.
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Karin Derry (D) KarinDerryForIowa@gmail.com
Karin Derry is a resident of Johnston and a wife and mother of three. Karin is an attorney and has served her community as a volunteer on the Primary Health Care Board of Directors, Iowa Dependent Adult Protective Advisory Council, Central Iowa AIDS Project Board and with St. James Lutheran Church in Johnston. Karin is running to bring our common-sense values to the Statehouse. As the daughter of Iowa small business owners, Karin grew up seeing the sacrifice her parents made to run a successful business that paid employees a good wage. Karin is running for the Iowa House to help build a better Iowa. That means building an economy with better jobs and higher pay, balancing our state's budget, investing in educating all of our children, providing a health care system that is both affordable and accessible and making sure that Iowans have clean air to breath and clean water to drink. |
Senator Brad Zaun was first elected to the Iowa Senate in 2004. Before serving in the Iowa Senate, Senator Zaun was the mayor of Urbandale, and owner and operator of Zaun’s Trustworthy Hardware. He is currently partner at Grapnel Tech Services of Clive and Director of Sales at Master Dowel in Ankeny. Senator Zaun generously gives back to his community by serving on various boards and commissions. He is a past board member of the Greater Dallas County Development Alliance, the Greater Des Moines Animal Rescue League, Iowa Commercial Real Estate Association and a current member of the Urbandale Breakfast Lions Club to name a few. Senator Zaun finds time for his biking hobby, his family, and enjoys time with the love of his life, Dede. He and Dede live in Urbandale and have five children: Zac, Bailey, Drew, Greyson and Devon. Employment Highlights: Owner of Zaun’s Trustworthy Hardware (1988-2005) Vice President R&R Realty (2005-2012) Director of Sales & Marketing Grapnel Tech Services (2012-Current) Director of Sales Master Dowel (2014-Current) Civic/Professional Organizations: Past State of Iowa Child Support Advisory Board, Iowa Jobs for America’s Graduates board member, Past Generation Iowa Commission member, Mid Iowa Small Business Development Center board member Elected Offices Held: Mayor of Urbandale (1988-2004), Urbandale City Council (1996-1998) Iowa Senate ((2005-Current) |
Chris Hagenow (R) chris.hagenow@legis.state.ia.us
State Representative Chris Hagenow serves as the Majority Leader of the Iowa House. Chris was first elected to the Iowa House in 2008 and is currently serving his fifth term.Chris previously served as the Chairman as the House Government Oversight Committee and served three years as the Majority Whip before being elected Majority Leader in 2015. Chris is a sixth-generation Iowan, grew up in Cedar Falls, graduated from Northern University High School and the University of Northern Iowa Magna Cum Laude in 1994. Chris earned his JD from the University of Iowa College of Law in 1997 and is a member of the Iowa State Bar Association. Chris is a founding partner of the Des Moines law firm Hagenow, Gustoff and Dummermuth LLP. Chris and his wife Amanda have three children, Owen, Noah and Sophia. Amanda is a native Iowa farm girl from Poweshiek County, a graduate of Iowa State University and works as a Dietitian for Hy-Vee. The Hagenow family lives in Urbandale. |
Jake Highfill (R) jake.highfill@legis.iowa.gov
Jake Highfill is serving his third term in the House.Jake is a lifelong resident of District 39, graduating from Johnston High School in 2008. He went on to attend the University of Iowa, where he studied business and exercise science. Jake currently works in commercial real estate as a broker with NAI Optimum in West Des Moines. He has previously worked in management at Hy-Vee and as a sports performance coach for children and young adults with Acceleration Iowa. In his community, Jake remains active in the Rotary and both the Grimes and Johnston area Chambers of Commerce. He attends the Lutheran Church of Hope. |
Deadline to register is 48 hours before event. Any registration that comes in after this deadline will be put on a waiting list and billed an additional $5 (if space allows). Prepayment is highly encouraged and appreciated.
Reservations not kept will be billed.
Registrations must be canceled the day prior to the luncheon by 12 pm in order to receive a credit. If not, you will still be billed. All cancellations must be made over the phone to ensure staff is aware of your cancellation. Thank you.
