Our staff is happy to assist you with information about the Greater Cedar Rapids Community Foundation. If you have additional questions, please call 319.366.2862. Our office hours are Monday thru Friday 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Administration
Dr. Les Garner, Jr., President & CEO
319.366.2862
les.garner@gcrcf.org
Les joined the Greater Cedar Rapids Community Foundation as President & CEO in 2010. He works closely with the board to carry out the vision, mission and strategies of the Community Foundation. He provides leadership for charitable giving, community opportunities and administrative activities of the Community Foundation. Les enjoys working with donors to help them discover ways to meet their philanthropic goals.
Les most recently served as president of Cornell College in Mount Vernon, Iowa, from 1994 to 2010. During his tenure, President Garner created a strategic plan for the college’s future that resulted in innovative opportunities for students. He was key in leading a successful five-year, $108 million effort to enhance the college’s endowment and upgrade its facilities. Les was also previously president of North Carolina Wesleyan College in Rocky Mount, North Carolina. Prior to this appointment, he served as assistant professor of business administration and director of the Young Executives Institute at the University of North Carolina. He also served as special assistant to the director at the International Institute of Applied Systems Analysis in Laxenburg, Austria.
Les received his undergraduate degree from the University of North Carolina with a Bachelor of Arts in history and holds master’s and doctoral degrees in public policy from Harvard University.
Les lives on a 35-acre farm in Ely with his wife Katrina. They have two sons, Brantley and William. Les appreciates the opportunities and the extraordinary quality of life that pervades the Cedar Rapids community through education, arts and culture, and the ability to enjoy the physical environment.
Click here to view a video message from President & CEO, Les Garner, about how the Greater Cedar Rapids Community Foundation creates opportunities for everyone.
Dahlia Latif, Executive Assistant and Donor Relations Officer
319.774.2364
dahlia.latif@gcrcf.org
Dahlia provides a variety of support to the Community Foundation teams. As the Executive Assistant / Donor Relations Officer, she serves as assistant to the President & CEO. She also provides executive support to members of the Development Team, coordinates donor stewardship for corporate and family fund holders, and is the principal liaison to the Board of Directors and Council of Foundations for National Standards.
Dahlia is originally from Iraq. She grew up in Chicago and has lived in Cedar Rapids for over fifteen years. She received her A.A. Degree and Paralegal Certificate from Kirkwood Community College and her Bachelor of Liberal Studies degree in Linguistics from the University of Iowa. She also went to Capri College and received her Cosmetology license from the Iowa Board of Cosmetology Arts & Sciences. Dahlia has been a business owner and has over seven years of paralegal experience in the Cedar Rapids community.
Dahlia is trilingual and is on the roster of Arabic court interpreters for Linn County. She is passionate about music, health and fitness. She enjoys working out and watching various sporting events. Also, she enjoys traveling to new places with her son and daughter.
Development
Michelle Beisker, Senior Vice President of Development
319.774.2362
michelle.beisker@gcrcf.org
Michelle Beisker is Senior Vice President of Development at the Greater Cedar Rapids Community Foundation. She provides guidance and support to donors to help them achieve their charitable giving goals. She is responsible for the asset development activities for the Community Foundation – overseeing donor service, stewardship, communication, as well as the administrative database and systems that support those activities. Since joining the Community Foundation in June 2014, Michelle developed an asset development strategic plan resulting in over $62 million in contributions in 5 years. She is 21/64 Certified Advisor – Next Generation Philanthropy.
Michelle is a member of Downtown Rotary, Rotary Foundation Committee, Cedar Rapids Area Estate Planning Council, Association of Fundraising Professionals, Eastern Iowa Planned Giving Council and 100+ Who Care. She currently serves as board chair of the Eastern Iowa Health Center and member of the board of directors at Theatre Cedar Rapids.
Prior to joining the Community Foundation in 2014, Michelle was the Program Director of PUSH-CR with Four Oaks, a federal demonstration program to end family homelessness; Assistant Vice President of Development at Mount Mercy University; and Chief Operations Officer at Waypoint. In addition, she worked 10 years in business development at PMX Industries, Inc. in several roles including Inside Sales Manager and Global Sales Manager and was responsible for negotiating multi-million dollar contracts with global mints.
Michelle is a Cedar Rapids native and graduated from Prairie High School. She earned her Bachelor of Arts in Spanish and Business minor at the University of Iowa. Michelle and her husband, Craig, have two children, Alyssa and Erik, and live on an acreage south of Shueyville. In her spare time, Michelle enjoys spending time with her family, gardening, tending to their 15 acres of timber, and traveling. She appreciates the people of Cedar Rapids and their passion for enriching our community. Michelle believes this is a resource-rich community that offers a great place to raise a family. Although she and her family have done extensive traveling, they always enjoy coming home to Cedar Rapids.
Josie Velles, Director of Development Services
319.774.2363
josie.velles@gcrcf.org
Josie provides assistance to donors to help them with their philanthropic goals. She develops and oversees processes for donor services, including the online donor portal, Donor View. She likes being able to work with donors and agencies who are passionate about their commitment to building a strong community. Josie began at the Community Foundation in 2005, her current position is her fourth promotion within in the Community Foundation. Josie earned her Bachelor of Arts at the University of Iowa in Anthropology. Previously, Josie worked for nine years in development at the Milwaukee Public Museum and the National Czech & Slovak Museum & Library.
Josie was born in San Francisco, moved to the Iowa City area when she was 10 and then later moved to Cedar Rapids. She loves the diverse arts and culture Cedar Rapids offers, such as Theatre Cedar Rapids, Legion Arts, NewBo Market and the many wonderful museums. Josie spends her free time traveling. She has visited all 50 states. Her favorite places to visit are national parks, public gardens and quirky offbeat spots. She also volunteers for the American Cancer Society’s Relay for Life and enjoys reading and spending time with her large extended family.
Susan Willey, JD, Director of Planned Giving
319.366.2862
susan.willey@gcrcf.org
Susan is responsible for meeting with current fund holders and identifying, cultivating and soliciting planned gifts from potential donors. She cultivates relationships with financial advisors, attorneys, accountants, insurance agents and other estate planning professionals regarding gift opportunities for fund holders and prospects. Susan attended UCLA where she studied Political Science and Economics. She went on to get her Law Degree at the University of California Hastings College of the Law and her Masters in Tax Law from Georgetown University. Susan was a lawyer at Simmons Perrine Moyer Bergman for the tax, business and estate planning groups. She also worked for RSM US in the National Tax Group for 23 years. She served as Senator Grassley’s Tax Counsel for the Senate Finance Committee before moving to the private sector. Susan was the chair of the Tax Section of the Iowa State Bar Association during 2015-2016.
Susan was born in Glendale, California but has lived in Cedar Rapids for the past 29 years. She has two adult children, Katharine and James. Susan likes living in Cedar Rapids because the people are caring and conscientious. She appreciates the growth and revitalization that is taking place after the flood. You may see her biking or walking the nature trails because that is her favorite place to frequent in Cedar Rapids. Susan also enjoys attending concerts and plays, reading, gardening and spending time with friends. She also likes to travel all over the world, but her favorite place she has visited so far is South Africa. Susan serves as the Finance Chair for Matthew 25 and volunteers for Legal Aid and at Christ Episcopal Church.
Susan is excited to be able to use her tax skills at the Community Foundation to help people and the community. She is eager to work with people to help them identify their charitable goals.
Laura Booth, CFRE, Donor Relations Officer
319.774.2367
laura.booth@gcrcf.org
Laura coordinates stewardship for nonprofit and affiliate fund holders, serves as the primary contact for the Endow Iowa Tax Credit Program, and is the principal liaison to the Board of Directors and the Council of Foundations for National Standards. She enjoys partnering with our area nonprofits who provide such invaluable services to our community. Laura is a Cedar Rapids native and graduate of Jefferson High School. She earned her Bachelor of Arts in Political Communication at the University of Northern Iowa. After graduation, Laura stayed in Cedar Falls, where she lived for 12 years. Her family, including her husband Joe and their two children, Nathan and Ashlyn, relocated to Cedar Rapids to be closer to family.
Laura started at the Community Foundation in 2014 after working in the retirement division at Principal Financial Group for 10 years. In her free time, Laura enjoys watching her children participate in their activities. She loves crafting jewelry and hair bows, as well as baking cakes and cupcakes. She and her family also like to spend time outside riding their bikes and walking on the trails. Laura loved growing up in Cedar Rapids and is glad she gets to share her favorite childhood experiences, like Kernels games and the Freedom Festival, with her own children.
Christi Smeed, Development Associate
319.774.2377
christi.smeed@gcrcf.org
Christi provides support within the development team at the Community Foundation by assisting with administrative operations including gift processing, donor acknowledgement, and donor database management. She graduated from Kansas State University with her Bachelors and Masters in Accounting. After completing her education, Christi and her husband Bill moved to Arizona where she worked in Public and Corporate Accounting for six years. In 2001, Christi and her husband moved to Cedar Rapids, Iowa. For the last 15 years, Christi stayed home to care for her three children, Thomas, Christopher and Bethany, while actively volunteering in the community. She served as Girl Scout leader; volunteered at school, including serving as PTA president; and is actively involved as a volunteer at church. In her free time, Christi enjoys watching her children participate in their activities, such as swimming, tennis, orchestra, football and Discovery Chorus.
Christi and her family are very interested in music and enjoy attending the Orchestra Iowa concerts. They also like to visit different museums around the country and travel Kansas City to cheer on the Royals baseball team. She enjoys living in Cedar Rapids because it is a community that encourages family life and her children have the opportunity to be involved in many different sports and activities. Christi enjoys the open, welcoming environment that the Cedar Rapids community offers.
Programs
Karla Twedt-Ball, Senior Vice President, Programs and Community Investment
319.774.2371
karla.twedt-ball@gcrcf.org
Karla leads the program initiatives of the Community Foundation. She guides policy and strategy for grant making, nonprofit capacity building and community leadership, and helps guide the Community Foundation’s efforts to assist donors in meeting their philanthropic intent. Karla loves learning about the impressive work of local nonprofit organizations, and enjoys working with donors to help them accomplish their philanthropic goals.
Karla received her Bachelor of Science in Geography from the University of Iowa and her Master of Public Policy from the Humphrey Institute at the University of Minnesota. Past positions include Northwestern University in the Institute for Policy Research and Executive Director of Churches United. Karla began at the Community Foundation in 2007 as the program director. Karla enjoys being a part of improving our community and getting to know the people and nonprofits that live and work here. She believes that the nonprofit organizations serving Linn County are exceptionally skilled and passionate about their missions.
Karla and her husband Clint have two children, Isaac and Annika. She is on the board of the Iowa Council of Foundations and St. Paul’s United Methodist Church Foundation, among other volunteer commitments. She enjoys being outdoors, including camping and hiking, and also loves to cook, play games and read. Karla enjoys Cedar Rapids because it is large enough to have an urban experience but small enough to be a cohesive community. Karla and her family like to spend time together in the community, including bike rides on the trails and attending concerts, theatre and other cultural events.
Jenny Becker, Director of Grant Programs
319.200.2279
jenny.becker@gcrcf.org
Jenny comes to the Community Foundation with 15 years of experience in corporate philanthropy through her years at Rockwell Collins. A Minnesota native, Jenny and her husband moved to Cedar Rapids 1993. While they intended for it to be a short stay, they decided to raise their family here, in part because of the “authentic generosity of the people.”
She is an avid traveler, regularly making trips to visit her two adult daughters and son-in-law. She also enjoys spending days at home reading and gardening.
Jenny has a B.B.A. in Marketing from University of Wisconsin, Eau Claire and a B.B.A. in Accounting from Mount Mercy University.
She enjoys working with our community’s many exceptional nonprofit organizations and enjoys helping donor-advisors understand the impact of their grantmaking.
Elizabeth Cwik, Program Officer
319.774.2372
elizabeth.cwik@gcrcf.org
Elizabeth manages all aspects of grants made from the Program Fund as well competitive donor-advised funds. She also provides technical support for the online grant application process.
Elizabeth graduated from Loras College She worked for St. Pius X Church in Cedar Rapids for 24 years as a pastoral associate, in education and social outreach and pastoral care. She served as a founding board member of the Community Health Free Clinic. Elizabeth loves learning about the breadth and depth of programs and initiatives going on in the community. Elizabeth has two adult children and is married to Bryan Schlotfelt, a retired teacher. They recently moved to Marion and enjoy walking to Uptown Marion venues and performing in community theatre productions.
Rochelle Naylor, Program Officer
319.774.2373
rochelle.naylor@gcrcf.org
Rochelle manages several grant programs at the Community Foundation including the Organizational Development Fund, Endowment Challenge Fund, Linn County Fund, and President’s Fund, in addition to the education and scholarship programs. She enjoys being part of the Community Foundation’s work to strengthen nonprofit organizations in our community.
Rochelle received her Bachelor of Music degree in music performance from the University of Iowa, and she completed music therapy and elementary education certification there as a graduate student. She worked previously as a music therapist and teacher and served as both Operations Director and Education Director for the Cedar Rapids Symphony, now known as Orchestra Iowa.
Rochelle has lived in the Cedar Rapids area all her life, so she has had the opportunity to see the community grow and develop over the years. She is grateful for many positive changes in the community, including those since the 2008 flood.
Rachel Rockwell, Program Officer
319.200.4007
rachel.rockwell@gcrcf.org
Rachel started as Program Officer in February 2019. Her role is to facilitate a grant process to accomplish the Safe Equitable & Thriving Communities (SET) goals as outlined in the SET task force final report.
Rachel works to engage nonprofit organizations, governmental bodies and community groups in identifying and implementing appropriate projects; assists with convening interested partners; assists with project development and proposal submission; leads the application review process; provides analysis and support to the grant committee; and monitors funded projects.
Rachel received her Bachelor of Arts degree from Grandview University in Des Moines, where she also completed art therapy certification. Rachel has an extensive background in community, organization and nonprofit development serving as a business development consultant for nearly 15 years to a variety of organizations internationally. Rachel has served as the County Education Director at the Iowa State University Agricultural Extension for Linn County. She was also the founder and executive director of a nonprofit called Culture Incorporated, a community center in Des Moines, Iowa focused on engaging and supporting at-risk youth and families.
Rachel was born and grew up in Cedar Rapids before moving to Des Moines in 2000. Most recently spending close to 5 years living and working in Tanzania. She is energized and encouraged by the measurable progress the community has made, especially around cultural diversity and social justice issues.
Bernadette Gladish, Program Associate
319.774.2374
bernadette.gladish@gcrcf.org
Bernadette provides administrative and grants management support to the program team.
Bernadette is originally from Manila, Philippines but moved to California with her family after college. She received a Bachelor of Arts degree from St. Joseph’s College in Mass Communication and worked at the Paley Center for Media in Visitor Services Department for 13 years. Bernadette and her husband Daniel moved to Cedar Rapids to raise their children, Jullian and Claire.
Bernadette’s customer service experience has equipped her to help grant applicants work through any problems they have. She enjoys connecting with the people of the nonprofit organizations in the community and playing a part in their good works, no matter how small. As a mother, Bernadette loves the greater Cedar Rapids community because it is a good place to raise a family with many opportunities for her kids to get involved. Her children like to swim at the YMCA, play in t-ball leagues, participate in dance programs and play at any of the wonderful parks in the area. Bernadette typically stays pretty busy with her children but if she gets a free moment, she likes to cook, explore different types of food, watch television and spend time with her family. She is also very involved at her church and takes time to volunteer at her children’s schools.
Carrie Walker, Nonprofit Network Manager
319.774.2375
carrie.walker@gcrcf.org
Carrie manages the activities of the Nonprofit Network, which provides resources for local nonprofit organizations including peer groups, professional development opportunities, and information. Carrie is proud to be part of an organization that supports the initiatives of local nonprofit organizations. She enjoys working with nonprofit professionals and sharing in their successes and challenges; as well as helping them connect with resources for support.
Carrie grew up in La Porte City, Iowa and then attended the University of Northern Iowa where she received her Bachelor of Arts in Communications/Public Relations. Before joining the Community Foundation in 2014, Carrie spent ten years raising her kids while maintaining substantial volunteer work and running a home-based crafting business. Previously, Carrie was the Development Director at Big Brothers Big Sisters and worked at a local advertising agency.
Carrie’s family includes her husband Chad, three boys, Cameron, Casey and Coleman, and their dachshund Brewster. Carrie enjoys scrapbooking, taking pictures, volunteering, and being a fan of her kids’ various activities.
Finance
Jean Brenneman, Chief Financial Officer
319.774.2368
jean.brenneman@gcrcf.org
Jean is responsible for the management and oversight of the Community Foundation’s financial and administrative functions. This includes financial management, fund administration, investment management, audit and tax compliance, human resources management, and building maintenance. Jean graduated from the University of Iowa with a BBA in Accounting and passed the CPA exam. Before the Community Foundation, she worked at McGladrey and Orchestra Iowa. Jean has been with the Community Foundation since 2007. She enjoys learning about the diversified pool of investments held by the Community Foundation and working with Emmy and Latonja to provide accurate and timely financial information to our donors and agencies.
Jean is the Treasurer of the nonprofit organization Matthew 25 and also volunteers at Brucemore events. She recently moved to the Newbo area and loves the revitalization that is taking place there. She especially enjoys going to concerts at CSPS to watch up-and-coming artists. Jean also enjoys spending time with her daughter Anne and trying new restaurants, attending University of Iowa sporting events, participating in a local book club and taking cooking classes. Jean appreciates a good movie and hosts an annual Oscar’s party.
Emmylou Ball, Systems Analyst
319.774.2369
emmylou.ball@gcrcf.org
Emmy is responsible for the management of the financial operations of the Community Foundation. She manages the financial accounting, reporting, and data analysis; audit and tax. She is also administers iPhiCore, the integrated information system used by the Community Foundation. Emmy graduated from the University of Iowa with a business degree in Economics.
In 2006, she moved to Cedar Rapids with her husband Courtney and their two daughters, Anyssa and Aidyn, so her husband could help start nonprofit organization called Matthew 25 Ministry Hub. Emmy began at the Community Foundation in 2007 in a position with the Linn County Nonprofit Resource Center, currently known as the Nonprofit Network. One year later she moved to the Finance Team as Accounting Assistant, worked her way up to Accountant and then was promoted to her current position of Controller. Even though Emmy loves accounting, she gets great satisfaction knowing that the work she does is making a greater impact in the community.
She enjoys the local food that is available to the Cedar Rapids community through the Farmers Markets and many CSAs in the area. She also really values the excellent school district in Cedar Rapids that allows her children to learn, grow and thrive. In her spare time Emmy enjoys reading, running, cooking, and watching movies.
Marketing
Corinne Ramler, Director of Marketing and Communications
319.774.2365
corinne.ramler@gcrcf.org
Corinne is responsible for leading the marketing and communications activities for the Community Foundation. She guides the strategy and educates the public about the Community Foundation’s role in philanthropy, grantmaking, and community initiatives.
Corinne graduated from Mount Mercy University with a Bachelor of Arts in Public Relations. Prior to joining the Community Foundation in 2012, Corinne worked at Waypoint Services and Henry Russell Bruce. She enjoys her work at the Community Foundation and being a part of a mission-driven organization. She feels honored to tell the stories of the people and organizations that are doing great things in our community.
Corinne and her husband Cory have two children, Jack and Alyssa. She enjoys the variety of activities her children are involved in. Corinne appreciates all that Cedar Rapids and its surrounding communities have to offer. The area provides her family with great schools, churches, restaurants, theatres, youth activities and outdoor entertainment. She enjoys living in a region with seasons and all of the activities that go along with each one.
Amber Waring, Marketing Associate
319.774.2366
amber.waring@gcrcf.org
Amber assists with the development of marketing and communications projects and materials. She also coordinates Community Foundation events and assists with donor stewardship. Amber grew up on a small farm in Walker, Iowa. She earned her bachelor of arts at Wartburg College in Communication Arts/Public Relations. She previously worked as the Marketing Specialist at Farmers State Bank in Marion, Iowa.
Amber’s favorite part of her job is planning events to celebrate the generosity of our donors and the hard work of the nonprofits. She loves connecting with people in the community and establishing relationships that matter. Although she hasn’t lived in Cedar Rapids for long, she has come to love the generosity and the genuine hearts of the people in our community.
Outside of work, Amber is active in her church group and volunteers with the high school ministry at her church. She is passionate about mentoring youth in our community and also plays in various co-ed recreational sports leagues. She enjoys working out, playing sports, working on her parent’s farm, cooking healthy meals, spending time with her family and being outdoors.
Dylan Cooley, Content Associate
319.774.2376
dylan.cooley@gcrcf.org
Dylan is the primary writer and editor at the Community Foundation, serving on the marketing and grant teams. He is responsible for writing informative and inspiring stories and content to promote philanthropy and impactful grantmaking in our community. In addition, he provides writing, research and analytical support regarding grant applications and programs.
Dylan holds a Bachelor of Arts in English from Iowa State University and a Master of Fine Arts in Nonfiction Writing from the University of Iowa. While a graduate student, he was the Nonfiction Editor of The Iowa Review and an Editorial Assistant at the University of Iowa Press. Dylan enjoys learning about all of the wonderful work local nonprofits are doing, as well as the generous donors that help make that work possible.
Dylan and his wife have two sons, Owen and Norman. As a family, they enjoy playing music, hiking and learning. When he’s not busy with kids, Dylan enjoys reading, writing and running.
