2023 Finalist Bios

Courage Award Finalists

Dr. Elizabeth Day

Pulmonary/Critical Care Medicine, Fort Dodge

Elizabeth Day was born and raised in suburban Detroit.  She received academic and music scholarships to Grand Valley State University in Allendale, Michigan where she obtained a BS in biomedical science.  After attending Des Moines University for a medical degree, she spent seven years training in internal medicine, pulmonary and critical care medicine in Detroit.  After choosing to practice in Iowa, she found a passion for rural medicine and health care delivery to rural Iowans.

After a long battle with infertility, she had twins in 2004. She is happily involved in their activities including band, choir, drama, speech, 4H and Girl Scouts. Elizabeth started riding horses as an adult and has two horses along with many other animals.

Elizabeth left her position in September 2022 and plans on taking a year off to spend with her kids as they prepare for college while she searches for a new opportunity.

Riley Schreder, MA CCC-SLP      

Speech-Language Pathologist, Des Moines Public Schools

Riley Schreder was born and raised in Eastern Iowa. She received her speech-language pathology degrees at the University of Northern Iowa, beginning her career in 2016 in California. Returning to Iowa, she bought her first home, joined Des Moines Public Schools, and got married in Fall 2019. Riley’s son Elysian “Eli” was born and died September 12th, 2020, saving Riley’s life during organ failure. Amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, Riley sold a home, ended a marriage, and started anew by purchasing a fixer-upper home in Beaverdale. She continues to openly share about her journey and is currently writing a book. 

Riley has been nominated for the Courage Award in honor of her leadership and committed advocacy within her field, her ability to speak up, ask for help, be vulnerable, break down stereotypes, model strength, and inspire others to keep going, keep shining, and be grateful for all that you are.

Bethany Snyder            

Nonprofit Advocacy Expert, Snyder Strategies, LLC

Bethany Snyder, MPP, is an Advocacy Strategist, Enthusiast, Optimist – and the founder of Snyder Strategies, LLC, a boutique consulting firm designed to share her deep understanding of the advocacy world with nonprofit organizations.

With nearly 25 years of experience in communications, advocacy, and public affairs, Bethany has been on all sides of the advocacy desk - as a grassroots director, a lobbyist, a consultant, and a US Senate staffer.

Bethany leads Central Iowa Rainbow Families which provides social support and advocacy opportunities for LGBTQ families. She also serves on the board of One Iowa Action and is a long-time donor and volunteer for Family Equality.

Bethany grew up in Altoona and attended the University of Iowa, since then, she has lived in Washington, DC, Minnesota, and California, moving back to Iowa in 2019. Bethany and her family enjoy exploring the US in their travel trailer, visiting 42 states so far.

Jennifer Trevillian

Co-Founder/Co-Owner/Player of The Iowa Phoenix and Lead CT Technologist at The Iowa Clinic

Her name is Jennifer Trevillian, but her friends call her JT. She has been a co-founder and player for the Iowa Phoenix women’s tackle football team since 2018. When she is not playing football, she works full time as the Lead CT Technologist for The Iowa Clinic. JT and the other founders started the Iowa Phoenix because they are passionate about creating opportunities for women that they don’t otherwise have. She believes that women deserve to be part of something bigger than themselves. JT strives to be an inspiration to others and to remind people that anything is possible no matter what challenges you are faced with.

Confidence Award Finalists

Courageous Fire           

Owner/Social Entrepreneur of Courageous Fire, LLC & Founding Executive Director of Courageous Access

Courageous Fire is Founding Executive Director of Courageous Access and Owner and Social Entrepreneur of Courageous Fire LLC. These organizations were established to increase safe spaces where Black women can show up authentically in crisis and still receive compassionate services. Courageous is a consultant, trainer, and women's empowerment speaker with 12+ years of curriculum development and delivery experience, 5+ years as a motivational speaker, and 4+ years of independent studies in the historical and systematic racial impact on Black women and DV (domestic violence). As a survivor of domestic violence and sexual assault, she's determined to structure this work to pay abuse reparations to her and her sisters coming behind her - and to not stop until she has established this work nationwide. Reading the summary of her finalist category gave her even more determination, as she feels she is seeing her vision come to life right before her eyes. #changethenarrative

Erin Kirtley       

Associate Director, Iowa Girls High School Athletic Union (IGHSAU)

Erin Kirtley is a native of Panora and is a 2002 graduate of Panorama High School. She is a graduate of Iowa State University and earned her masters at Oklahoma State. Erin was the Activities Director and Athletic Trainer at Panorama High School from 2013 through 2021. She is a member of the Iowa Athletic Directors Association Executive Board where she serves as the organization’s President and is the first female in this role in the over fifty years of membership existence.

Erin is currently an Associate Director of the Iowa Girls High School Athletic Union and serves as the Administrator for Wrestling and Tennis. Erin played an integral role in the sanctioning of girls’ wrestling as an official sport across the state with the first competitive season being this past 2022-2023 winter. Instilling confidence in young women through education-based activities is the driving force behind her body of work.

Rep. Jennifer Konfrst    

Iowa House of Representatives, House Minority Leader

Rep. Jennifer Konfrst is serving her third term representing the people of Iowa House District 32, which includes Windsor Heights, Clive, and West Des Moines. In 2021 she was elected by her colleagues to serve as Minority Leader, a role she continues in today. Jennifer has taught in Drake’s School of Journalism and Mass Communication since 2013 and is currently an associate professor there. She worked in communications leadership at Iowa PBS for 12 years, and has worked in various other communications positions in corporate, agency, and nonprofit public relations throughout her career. Jennifer has enjoyed volunteering with Des Moines Public Schools and various nonprofits in the community. She is a graduate of Johnston High School and has undergraduate and graduate degrees from Drake University. She and her husband of 26 years, Lee Konfrst, live in Windsor Heights. They have two adult children, Ellie and James.

Melissa Ness

Founder & CEO, Connectify HR

Melissa Ness left C-level positions to launch Connectify HR and serve the Iowa community.  Connectify HR is a Professional Employer Organization (PEO) based in Des Moines that serves small to medium sized businesses.  Her commitment, and daily mission, is providing a world class customer experience to her team, clients, their employees, and the community.   

Prior to Connectify HR, Melissa held positions of CFO, COO and President with companies such as Merit Resources, Aureon, and Oasis a Paychex Company. 

Melissa embodies servant leadership and community involvement. She is fueled by lifting others up to be the best version of themselves and watching them thrive. In addition to spending time volunteering in the community, Melissa commits a percentage of every dollar generated by Connectify back to the community.  

In her free time, Melissa loves to spend time with her family of four anywhere in nature. 

Character Award Finalists

Zuli Garcia

Des Moines Police Department & Founder of Knock and Drop Iowa

Zuli Garcia is the Founding President of Knock and Drop Iowa, the first Latino food pantry in Des Moines.  Zuli was born in El Salvador and grew up in California before moving to the City of Des Moines. As a full-time employee at the Des Moines Police Department, Zuli has dedicated both her career and personal time to educating, empowering, and assisting the Latino community in Des Moines.

She discovered the many unaddressed essential needs within the Latino community. Food insecurity came sharply into view as the pandemic limited access to food. Zuli acted by delivering food to various doorsteps of those in greatest need. On March 24, 2020, the first Latino food pantry – Knock and Drop Iowa, was established to service the needs in the Latino Community. The organization has expanded slightly from suppling food by raising funds, grants, and finding sponsors for winter coats, vaccination clinics and informational resources.

Maria Alejandra Guevara Hernandez, MD FACP FHM 

Program Director Internal Medicine Residency, MercyOne Des Moines Medical Center

Dr. Maria Guevara Hernandez is an internal medicine physician focused on hospital medicine. She is the Program Director for the Internal Medicine Residency at MercyOne Des Moines Medical Center. She participates in multiple activities integrating underrepresented minorities and underinsured populations into the healthcare system. She supervises quality improvement projects, case presentations, and research activities in the graduate medical education department. In addition, she works on planning, directing, and implementing policies to improve patient care, safety, and physician engagement.

She recently finished a fellowship in Health Equity at Baylor College of Medicine. Her areas of interest are diversity, equity, inclusion in healthcare, physicians’ well-being, and medical education. She lives with her husband, Victor Mejias, an international analyst, two beautiful and vibrant children, aged 4 and 3 years old, and a Golden Retriever named Ghost, their furry son. She enjoys the outdoors, traveling, reading, and spending time with family and friends.

Denise Kluever

Retired Occupational Therapist

After learning about Occupational Therapy from a Girl Scout event in Atlantic, Iowa, Denise studied OT at the College of St. Catherine in Minnesota. She then worked as a therapist in Iowa, treating patients who suffered life-altering illnesses and trauma. Her professional roles included serving as the Director of OT at Younker Rehabilitation Center and providing healthcare and managerial services in nursing homes and health care facilities across Iowa. She also holds a Master of Science in Health Services Administration.

In the latter half of her career, Denise used her years of experience and knowledge to help shape the next generation of therapists, serving first as Program Director for the OT Assistant program at Indian Hills Community College, and then finishing her career working at the Doctorate OT program at Drake University.

In retirement, Denise volunteers for the Alzheimer’s Association, Dementia Friendly Iowa, and Wesley Acres Adult Day Care.

Monica Yori     

K-5 Physical Education Teacher, Southeast Elementary (Ankeny)

Monica Yori has been a teacher in the Ankeny Community School District for her entire career. She is currently in her 34th year as an elementary physical education teacher and truly loves coming to work every day. She is passionate about teaching young children to enjoy exercise through fun games and movement. Her main goal is to provide children with tools to ensure they understand the importance of exercise, respecting their bodies, and how to make physical activity fun! One of the biggest joys of her job is being with students and staff all day long. It is top priority to reach each child and meet their physical, social, and emotional needs. As a teacher, she ensures that all students feel valued, important, and loved. This is what she loves most about her job as an educator. Although she teaches in and enjoys giving back to the Ankeny community, she lives in Ames and is a lifelong Cyclone. She has her bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Iowa State University and was a dedicated student athlete on the track and field team. Her family enjoys cheering on the Cyclones any chance they get! She also loves to travel and enjoy time on the golf course or in her pool during the summers with friends and family. Her biggest joy comes from having so many people in her life that bring constant love, happiness, and laughter. She is truly blessed and grateful for the beautiful life she gets to live each day.

Inspiring Advocate for Women Award Finalists

Emily Huebsch 

Senior Account Executive & Hereditary Cancer Patient Advocate, Ambry Genetics 

Emily Huebsch was diagnosed with the BRCA1 hereditary cancer mutation 8 years ago at the age of 30.  Her mom, aunt and grandmother passed from breast cancer in their 30’s & 40’s, so equipped with these test results, she made the choice to undergo a prophylactic mastectomy, reducing her risk of breast cancer from 87% to less than 5%. 

Since then, Emily has transformed her career to ensure that every patient not only knows about genetic testing but is offered it and can afford it. She works with the healthcare systems of Iowa to implement a high-risk detection program, which is empowering patients to be more proactive about their health.  She also spends a lot of her personal time helping women to navigate the mastectomy process and getting them appropriate resources when facing cancer and beyond. 

Emily Shearer 

Food Acquisition Manager, Food Bank of Iowa 

Emily graduated from Iowa State University with a bachelor’s degree in Fashion Merchandising and has been at Food Bank of Iowa as their food acquisition manager for 6 years. She is still a buyer, she just buys food instead of clothing. She discovered her passion for helping those struggling with food insecurity while volunteering at her local food pantry. In her free time, she likes reading, going to bookstores, enjoying an uninterrupted cup of coffee, and hanging with her beautiful manic son, 2 year-old Mason. 

Tina Padavich Smothers 

President/Partner, ARTISAN Management Group 

Tina is a Mom of three, Wife, Business Owner, Real Estate Investor, Loyal Friend and Mentor.  Tina is a supporter of Suicide Awareness and Mental Health Awareness.  Tina is a NAAEI trained instructor and co-founder of the Greater Iowa Apartment Association. She began in property management 26 years ago as a leasing agent while attending college at AIB. She rose through the property management ranks to become a director of operations. In 2017 she earned her broker's license, started a management company, and acquired a 97-unit property. In 2019 she purchased AIB to develop for multifamily and in 2022 a hotel to provide workforce housing to the market. Today 85 team members at ARTISAN Management Group manage 47 properties and 4,700 units in the Midwest. Supporting small Iowa woman owned businesses is must for her. Tina’s biggest successes are found by lifting those up around her and giving back whenever possible.   

Teresa Zilk 

Founder of Stories to Tell My Daughter & Owner of Teresa Zilk Creative Consulting LLC. 

Teresa Zilk is the founder and producer of Stories to Tell My Daughter, a storytelling platform that highlights the diverse lived experiences of Black women and women of color. It is a safe space and a brave space to be seen and heard.  She is also the owner of Teresa Zilk Creative Consulting LLC, a small business that helps individuals and organizations harness the power of story as a multidisciplinary tool to facilitate change, self-awareness, and increase authentic communication. Teresa has been a featured panelist and speaker on the topics of mental health, storytelling, and women’s empowerment. She is a community mental health advocate, a volunteer with Gateway Dance Theater and a member of the Iowa Writers Collaborative. She is thankful to the small but fierce group of family and friends who have supported her journey.