WDM Chamber 2016 Citizen of the Year and Emerging Citizen of the Year Celebration
Citizen of the Year Recipient
Dr. Larry Swanger is the owner of Valley Eye Clinic Vision Source and continues to practice full-time. He is a member of the Iowa Optometric Association and served as president from 1986-1987. He was recognized as Iowa Optometrist of the Year in 1992.
Dr. Swanger has been a member of the WDM Kiwanis since 1973 and served as the Kiwanis Club president twice. Dr. Swanger was recognized as Kiwanian of the Year and continues to be an active member providing courtesy eye exams to help Kiwanis provide eyeglasses to less fortunate children.
He was a member of the WDM Development Corporation and served as president in 2007. From 2008- 2015, Dr. Swanger was president of the WDM Human Services Advisory Board and continues to be an avid supporter. Dr. Swanger is a member of the WDM Christian Church where he has been an elder, deacon, and board member.
With his background in farming, Dr. Swanger is currently the president of the Central Iowa Tractor Club.
Emerging Citizen of the Year Recipient
Kelsey Feller is an Assistant Account Manager at Strategic America. Feller participates in a variety of civic organizations including Habitat for Humanity through Saint Francis Church, West Des Moines Student Scholarship Fund and the American Advertising Federation of Des Moines. Feller assists Habitat for Humanity in fundraising through the church along with coordinating the home build each year.
As a board member of Student Scholarship Fund, Feller assisted in many fundraising efforts which included raising nearly $10,000 in the last year. In 2015, Feller was recognized as the American Advertising Federation of Des Moines Rookie of the Year and raised over $14,000 for the organization in their annual media auction. In 2016, she received the honor of Ad Pro of the Year for her continued dedication and service to AAF of Des Moines, along with being selected as President for the 2016-2017 year.
In the evenings, Feller is working towards her MBA through the University of Iowa and expects to graduate next year. Feller and her husband, Adam, enjoy staying active together through running while cheering on the Iowa Hawkeyes and Minnesota Vikings.
