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Good morning, Fearless readers:
This past weekend, I attended the World Food & Music Festival in downtown Des Moines with my family.
This is one of my favorite events in Des Moines. I love trying food from all over the world and celebrating the people from so many cultures that call Des Moines home.
It's a great reminder of how lucky we are to have such a diverse community.
In this week’s Fearless e-newsletter, you will find:
- Our 2025 Women of Influence answer what leaders should focus on to support working women.
- A column from Quinlan Riser on why men should support women-focused organizations.
- In the headlines: Invest DSM named Theresa Greenfield its new CEO.
- In case you missed it: A closer look with Keshia Meissner.
- Lots more!
— Macey Shofroth, Fearless editor
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What policies or business practices should leaders focus on to support working women? 2025 Women of Influence respond
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COMPILED BY EMILY BARSKE WOOD, SPECIAL PROJECTS EDITOR
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Courtney Clarke: Mentorship programs and unbiased evaluations are two areas that spring to mind.
Bridget Cravens-Neely: Business practices: equal pay for equal skill and equal work and equal experience. Give women the experiential opportunities when they have the skills to do so. Give women a voice at the decision-making table and LISTEN to them. Walk beside women, not behind and not in front of. Be a true partner as they are partners to men.
Suzanna de Baca: Leaders should implement equitable pay structures, flexible work arrangements and transparent promotion pathways. Mentorship programs and leadership development opportunities tailored for women can also bridge existing gaps. Creating an inclusive culture where women's contributions are recognized and valued is essential for sustainable progress.
Sally Dix: For me, flexibility has been essential. We are a two-working-parent household and to raise our kids, we both need to be present for them when they need us, which is rarely only after work hours. Recognizing that my professional role is only one of my full-time jobs and trusting me to get the work done while supporting my family – without feeling guilty about it – has made all the difference for me.
Sally Frank: Reproductive justice: access to birth control, abortion and sterilization if desired. Also needed are paid parental leave, affordable day care, a living wage, an end to sexual harassment and discrimination, and access to medical care (no cut to Medicaid) and food (no cuts to food stamps).
Christina Moffatt: Leaders should implement policies and practices that recognize primary caregivers disproportionate roles for children and aging parents. This includes offering robust paid family leave for all parents — so caregivers aren’t penalized for stepping away when a child is sick or an elder needs care — and ensuring flexible work arrangements, such as adjustable start/end times or the ability to work remotely without stigma. In my own experience, flexibility in my current role has made all the difference, allowing me to manage family needs without derailing my career progression.
Jackie Norris: Workplace flexibility policies including including remote work days, core work hours and a caregiving policy to complement other policies such as caregiving leave and maternity leave.
Dawn Refsell: Flexible work arrangements – remote options, flexible hours and part-time opportunities that support work-life harmony.
Leadership development and mentorship – intentional pipelines that help women grow, supported by structured programs and advocacy.
Supportive culture – zero tolerance for bias or harassment, with inclusive practices that elevate diverse voices, celebrate differences and ensure recognition for all.
Accessible child care – affordable and reliable child care is essential for working parents to thrive. Whether through employer support, community partnerships or public investment.
Kimberly Baeth: While women have gained greater representation in the workforce and higher education, and have seen improvements in legal protections, disparities in pay, care work and political representation still exist.
Leaders should focus on supporting women in the workplace, though: promoting gender diversity, gender equality, flexible work arrangements, recognizing their achievements, offering networking opportunities, mentorship and sponsorship programs for professional development, offering safe and inclusive environments, promoting transparency, encouraging work-life balance and ensuring women have the same opportunities, rights, equal pay and privileges as men in the workplace is critical to achieving gender equality.
Courtney Shaw: I’m often called a “working mom,” and like many others, I wear that title with pride. But it’s worth noting we don’t often hear the phrase “working dad.” As leaders, we need to make sure we’re creating and building cultures of flexibility, empathy and shared accountability so everyone can thrive at work and at home.
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ADVOCACY & COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT
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Guest essay: A mother’s journey
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BY QUINLAN RISER, GUEST COLUMNIST
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In 2004, my family moved to Colorado Springs, Colo. My mother, Tina, had been commuting 3 hours a day through Seattle traffic to reach her banking job in the city center. She would usually make it home around 7:30 p.m., just in time to prepare dinner and help my twin brother, Quentin, and me with our homework before getting us off to bed. As a single mother raising two boys in a large city, she had limited options. The job she held to support us didn’t offer flexibility to attend all of our extracurricular activities and events. The tradeoff for providing for our family was missing some moments in our academic and athletic endeavors that she would have preferred not to.
After 10 years in Seattle, my mother decided to sacrifice her career and comforts for the chance to share more moments with us. She made the bold decision to move to Colorado Springs, where my uncle was stationed at Fort Carson Army Base. He frequently shared stories about the strong school system and encouraged her to seek employment in the district. This move promised her proximity and flexibility to attend our events and support our academic pursuits, so she took the leap.
My mother began working as a librarian at Fountain Middle School, where we enrolled in sixth grade. From sixth to eighth grade, we saw our mother at school every day, and our teachers knew that Ms. Johnson was just down the hall if we needed anything. Her unwavering support helped us excel in every activity we pursued during our middle school years.
However, it was in ninth grade that we began to fully understand the financial sacrifices my mom made to be present in our lives. Despite being awarded Employee of the Year at Fountain Middle School for the 2006-2007 school year, her pay did not reflect her hard work. At that point, she sat down with Quentin and me and explained that she needed to take on a second job to continue paying for our club sports, outings with friends and other expenses.
My science teacher, Mrs. White, one of my all-time favorites, knew about my mother’s situation. Her husband was the manager at the local retail store, and she recommended my mother for a part-time position there. My mom was hired, and she started working.
During this time, a typical day for her was filled to the brim: She would work at the school from 7 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. and then head to her second job from 6 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. She ensured she had time off on days we had games or events so she could support us. In between jobs, she prepared dinner for us so we wouldn’t have to worry about meals after practice. This routine continued throughout our high school years, leading to my brother being named valedictorian while I finished with a strong 3.9 GPA. Both of us received football scholarships to William Jewell College.
I share this story not only to highlight my mother’s strength and resilience but also to emphasize that her experience is not unique. Many women in Des Moines, across the country and throughout the world wake up each day to conquer unimaginable challenges. Whether in business, academia, education, philanthropy or uplifting future generations, their strength is palpable.
In 2023, when the executive director of the Beacon shared with me the organization’s mission of helping women recover from trauma, substance use and mental illness, I was eager to get involved. As I joined the board and began to interact with the women we support, I recognized that same strength in them that I saw in my mother and in the countless women who have served as mentors and advocates in my life. No matter what obstacles they face or how stacked the odds may seem, these women possess the ability to envision a brighter future and tackle each challenge with courage, confidence and an unyielding determination that tells the world they won’t be stopped. That is why I advocate. Just as we admire dynasties in sports, titans in business and innovators of all kinds, I advocate for women because the remarkable women I have met defy the odds.
As men in today’s society, we must acknowledge the efforts and contributions of the women we encounter every day. Recognition goes beyond simply letting an individual know you see their potential; it involves sharing with others the impact you observe that individual having. When this message is communicated, it highlights the best and brightest in our community. It opens doors to greater opportunities for impact and ultimately improves outcomes for our society as a whole. Failing to advocate constrains not only that individual’s potential but also the potential of our society at large. One of my favorite quotes is by Michelle Obama, which I find particularly relevant in the context of advocacy:
“If there’s one thing I’ve learned in life, it’s the power of using your voice.”
To advocate is to recognize the strength of women in our lives and their remarkable ability to overcome challenges and achieve greatness, regardless of the circumstances, and tell others about it.
Quinlan Riser is the vice president of insurance and a wealth adviser at First Community Trust, N.A. He also owns Riser Property Management Group, LLC. Quinlan holds an MBA from the University of Iowa and dual bachelor’s degrees in accounting and economics from William Jewell College. Riser was named a Business Record Forty Under 40 earlier this year. He resides in Des Moines with his dog, Ace.
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“NOTHING IN LIFE IS TO BE FEARED; IT IS ONLY TO BE UNDERSTOOD. NOW IS THE TIME TO UNDERSTAND MORE SO THAT WE MAY FEAR LESS.”
MARIE CURIE
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Greenfield named CEO of Invest DSM. Theresa Greenfield has been named CEO of Invest DSM, a nonprofit focused on revitalization efforts in Des Moines’ neighborhoods. She replaces Amber Lynch, who led Invest DSM since it was founded in mid-2019. Greenfield, 61, began her career in urban planning and later moved into leadership roles in real estate development. As Invest DSM’s executive director, Greenfield will oversee a staff of seven, and lead the nonprofit’s investments in Des Moines’ Special Investment Districts, run programs that support homeowners and business owners, and continue building partnerships in neighborhoods across the city.
Preschool program may shrink in Iowa under new citizenship requirement. Directors of the Head Start preschool program for low-income families in Iowa are waiting for more guidance before moving forward, as new federal policies will require proof of legal status for kids to enroll. Lisa Proctor, the Head Start director at Drake University, said she’s not sure how verification will affect the community, as the program never demanded proof of citizenship before. Drake’s Head Start program serves around 1,000 children in six Central Iowa counties. Proctor said asking families to verify citizenship might push them away from registering for the program, and Head Start programs are funded by the number of kids expected to enroll. If families stop enrolling their kids, Proctor said, the program might shrink. The program is focused on lowering barriers for high-need families caring for their kids.
Iowa is facing a shortage of OB-GYNs. The state's abortion law may be driving some out. Jonna Quinn was excited to work as an OG-GYN at a hospital in Mason City, just an hour from where she had grown up. But restrictions on women's health care, the closure of rural hospitals and an unmanageable patient load caused her to leave not only that job, but Iowa entirely. This is a common trend that has caused Iowa to have one of the lowest rates of OB-GYNs in the country, and the state's abortion restrictions are contributing. Read more in this story from Iowa Public Radio.
Central Iowa woman shares brain tumor journey in new children's book. It's been a year since Terri Stephens-Higgins had her first of two brain surgeries to remove to tumors. Since then, she's turned her experience into a children's book, "Bella Bean on Blueberry Lane: The Puppy Wonder.""There's so many times when people won't talk out loud about things that deal with your brain, and there's nobody better than a little puppy dog to help us understand that it takes all of us, and anybody should be able to talk about any of these topics,"Stephens-Higgins told KCCI. She is the marketing director at Southwestern Community College in Creston.
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Despite federal shift, state health officials encourage COVID vaccines for pregnant women (Iowa Capital Dispatch). Exclusive: NFL teams with The GIST to find football's hidden fans (AdWeek). From $24,000 to $147,000: How much daycare costs across America (Wall Street Journal). Night at the Capitol: One Democrat's unexpected protest grips Texas (New York Times). Suspending monthly economic reports would be really bad for women of color (The 19th). At 45, Venus Williams will be the oldest player in the U.S. Open in decades (NPR).
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A Closer Look: Keshia Meissner
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BY SARAH DIEHN, BUSINESS RECORD EDITOR
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Keshia Meissner’s move to the Salisbury House five years ago was already a big switch after a career in health and human services nonprofits. Then, throw in the pandemic as well.
She started as executive director in June 2020 when the house was closed to the public and it was unclear when they could return to holding tours and events. Meissner, a northwest Iowa native, said despite being a big challenge to contend with early on, the closure gave her time to “pause and reflect.”
“It gave me a chance to figure out how things really worked around here and [gave] me some time to step back and look at things with a fresh perspective,” Meissner said. “When we were able to reopen, we already had several policies in place. We had already made several new hires. … We were able to do that because we weren’t open and so we were able to really be strategic and spend time as a team figuring out the challenges and planning for the future together.”
Before joining the Salisbury House, Meissner served as executive director of the Beacon for nearly nine years and worked for a domestic sexual assault center.
Five years into working for the Salisbury House, her day-to-day looks nothing like her first days on the job as she bounces between event planning and administrative tasks to overseeing maintenance of the 28,000-square-foot house and nine acres of woodland and gardens.
“One of the things I love most about my job is that no two days are alike. While that can be challenging, it is also exciting and there’s always a lot of momentum of movement and activity,” she said.
The historical home is also marking its centennial. The celebration began in 2023 and continues through 2028, to mirror the time it took to build Salisbury House 100 years ago. Meissner said a few events have been held so far, but the official kickoff was the Gatsby Gala on Aug. 23.
We sat down with Meissner to discuss her path, the Salisbury House’s role in Des Moines arts and culture community and the nonprofit’s centennial celebration.
Read the story here.
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At its core, Fearless exists to help empower Iowa women to succeed in work and life. We believe that everyone has a story to share and that we cannot progress as a society unless we know about one another. We share stories through featuring women in our reporting, featuring guest contributions and speakers at our events.
We are always looking for new stories to share and people to feature. Get in touch with us!
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