Des Moines Business Record

Over the past few months, business and nonprofit leaders have been met with a chain of current events nationally and locally that are creating uncertainty around how their organizations will be affected and how to provide steady leadership as circumstances fluctuate on a daily basis. Join us for a panel discussion to offer insight into the local effects of the most pressing economic and social issues on business leaders’ minds. Register today to join us Thursday, May 15! https://ow.ly/Bx6r50VFOe4

We are proud to recognize Bill Wright with CBRE as the Iowa State University - Ivy College of Business Commercial Real Estate Professional of the Year! Here's what those closest to him had to say about his impact. Read a story about Wright on our website: https://lnkd.in/e93gkqXQ

In its first-quarter earnings call this week, West Bancorporation's chief risk officer raised concerns about the weakening happening in the office sector. Read the full story: https://ow.ly/2r0r50VHTyC

Congratulations to these folks who are On the Move! Make sure to connect via LinkedIn and take a second to help us celebrate their promotions, job changes, awards and other accomplishments. Find details about everyone who is on the move this week at https://lnkd.in/eeBBaf3d Want to feature your employees in the Business Record’s free On the Move section? Submit your employees at https://lnkd.in/gCDehACK This week we congratulate: Jeremiah B., Josh August, CPCU, CIC, AU, MRIS, Casey Harvey and Katherine Hedrick

In this week's Business Record, we remember the kindness and impact of Jay Byers on our Central Iowa community. https://lnkd.in/dsCkHD9m

Des Moines Water Works CFO Amy Kahler, will be the utility's next CEO and general manager after Ted Corrigan retires this summer. Read more: https://ow.ly/vlBn50VHTqC

Meet Jake Brus, vice president and managing director at Wixted & Company and a member of our 2025 class of Forty Under 40. What's one piece of advice Jake would give to a young professional? "Just do it. Make a plan and get started. Go to the meeting. Introduce yourself. Email someone to meet for coffee. Do the research. Take the first step in making something you are interested in become a reality. The next steps will be easier." Learn more about Jake in his Forty Under 40 profile: https://lnkd.in/dUqFjpQ2

The Winterset, Iowa, community didn’t give up on redeveloping the former high school, developer Michael Kiernan said. The school has been converted to housing.

Take a look inside the Contrary, a cocktail bar that opened in the East Village in November. Its owner Billy Weathers is best known as a hip-hop artist, community organizer, founder and CEO of the B.Well Foundation and one of the Business Record’s Forty Under 40 honorees from 2022. But opening the Contrary, at 503 E. Locust St., is a new kind of venture for him, so he enlisted advice from his extensive network of friends and East Village neighbors.

Thanks to our panelists, sponsors and attendees who gathered this morning for the 2025 Commercial Real Estate Forum. We were proud to recognize the Iowa State University - Ivy College of Business Commercial Real Estate Professional of the Year, Bill Wright. Check out this year's Annual Real Estate Magazine at https://lnkd.in/dScH8F9T Thank you to our event sponsors: Community State Bank - Des Moines, IA, Des Moines Area Metropolitan Planning Organization, MidAmerican Energy Company, Polk County Housing Trust Fund and Whitfield & Eddy Law.