Greater Iowa City, Inc. welcomed 25 business and community leaders to our Ambassador Program. During Greater IC’s annual Officially Official ceremony at the Hy-Vee Center at Centennial Park, Ambassador candidates completed their introductory period and were welcomed into the volunteer group dedicated to strengthening our business community.
Throughout the year, Ambassadors volunteer their time to welcome new businesses, build connections and serve as informed representatives of Greater IC’s work. Their service includes celebrating ribbon cuttings, attending networking events and supporting volunteer projects that help foster relationships and create a welcoming business environment throughout Johnson County.
This year’s Officially Official ceremony also brought back an old tradition to recognize outstanding engagement: the Golden Stapler. The Golden Stapler serves as a quarterly recognition of those whose leadership and service set an example for others, and this quarter’s recipient is Sandy Steele, a Farm Bureau Financial Services agent and agency owner serving the Iowa City and Corridor area. Sandy has been a champion for the Ambassador Program through her consistent presence at events like 1 Million Cups and by recently stepping forward to lend her expertise to the Business Resource Center. She also regularly uses her LinkedIn platform to highlight the entrepreneurs who present at 1 Million Cups, helping extend their reach and celebrate their successes.
Congratulations to the Ambassador Class of 2026:
Brett Bachtle – University of Iowa
Kit Baloun – Athena Group
Sara Barth – CommUnity Crisis Services
Ashley Black – Corda Credit Union
Rachele Cagle – Rally Appraisal
Adriana Contreras – Adriana’s Salon & Boutique
Alyssa Davin – Pigott
Angela Dougherty – Goodwill of the Heartland
Sibya Eash – Hy-Vee
Lauden Edwards – Nexus Visions
Byron Ezeugo Nwonye – Royal Family Chiropractic
Mylz Foreman – Nexus Visions
Michael Gaunt – McClure Engineering
Caroline Giehl – Farm Bureau Financial Services
Danielle Humphreys – State Farm Insurance
Anna Jensen – University of Iowa
Garrett Lafler – Flanker Media
Christy Logan – Community Leader
Marissa Nimmers – Community Leader
Shannon Penisten – White Pumpkin
Hannah Shelton-Hauck – University of Iowa
Ben Swenson – Miron Construction Co.
Tasha Tatara – Holiday Inn/Hampton Inn
Heidi Van Auken – City of West Branch
Monique Washington – Iowa City Community School District
Greater IC extends its gratitude to the City of North Liberty and Hy-Vee for their support in making this year’s Officially Official ceremony possible. Applications for the next Ambassador class will open this winter. For more information about the Ambassador Program, please email Michael Chen at michael@greateriowacity.com.
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