2024 Finalists
We are thrilled to introduce the finalists for the 2024 Inspiring Women of Iowa Event.
Inspiring Advocate for Women Award Finalists
Teleza “TJ” Daniels
Director of the Iowa Center’s Women’s Business Center at Iowa Center for Economic Success
Teleza “TJ” Daniels, a native of Des Moines, Iowa, passionately believes in the potential of Iowa as an ideal landscape for nurturing and expanding small businesses. With over 8 years of dedicated service at The Iowa Center, she has become an integral part of its mission. Currently serving as the Director of The Iowa Center's Women’s Business Center, TJ exemplifies unwavering commitment and leadership. Renowned as the team cheerleader, her uplifting spirit resonates not only among her colleagues but also with clients. TJ's role extends far beyond conventional boundaries as she adeptly navigates the journey with clients from inception to fruition, and often beyond. Her ability to seamlessly handle diverse client needs underscores her exceptional skill set and dedication. Through her tireless efforts, TJ fosters an environment where entrepreneurship thrives, making significant contributions to the small business community in Iowa.
Rachel Formaro
Founder & CEO, Blu Pagoda LLC
Rachel Formaro is the CEO at Blu Pagoda LLC, a company she founded in 2014. With more than 20 years of both corporate and agency experience, Rachel is known for her creativity, compassion, and commitment to ensuring success for both clients and consultants, while having a positive impact on her community.
Prior to starting Blu Pagoda, Rachel was a Managing Director with Charles Schwab for almost 15 years. Before joining Schwab, Rachel started and ran a small advertising agency in Toronto, Canada.
Rachel attended the University of Toronto, where she earned a BA in English and History, and holds a post-graduate certificate in Market Research Analysis.
Outside of her work at Blu Pagoda, Rachel prioritizes her family, community, and well-being. In addition to being a mom and wife, she is an active volunteer and board member— Rachel is currently on the board at the Chrysalis Foundation for Women and Girls.
Lisa Grefe
Trust Officer at First Community Trust
Lisa is an experienced financial advisor and sports leader with a heart for helping others. She is originally from Des Moines, IA and spent 10 years of her life living out East in New York and Massachusetts. She currently lives in West Des Moines with her wife Abby, her two girls, (Mary and Maggie) and golden retriever, Penny. She loves to travel to sporting events (fun fact, she has been to two women’s world cup soccer finals), loves to eat good food, and loves to spend time in nature with her family. She is a former All American college goalkeeper, Semi Pro Soccer player, and continues to coach and mentor young women in soccer in the DSM community. She is a passionate advocate for access and opportunities in sports and believes in the power of sports to change lives.
Adrienne Hardin
Digital Marketer
Never one to settle for the status quo, Adrienne Hardin is a strategic marketer who loves to innovate by translating data into compelling storytelling. Adrienne does freelance work in photography, digital marketing, web design, social media strategy, and business development. She is also president of the Drake Community Library Board, where she advocates for initiatives that decrease barriers to access.
Adrienne is an Iowa native who has managed to live in most parts of the state. In the nine years she has lived in Grinnell with her two children, Adrienne has assembled a chosen family of strong women who care as much as she does about making change at a local level. She supports Mid-Iowa Community Action, the Iowa Kitchen, the Abortion Access Fund, and the Poweshiek Animal League Shelter, among many other organizations.
Courage Award Finalists
Trudy Carlson
CEO & Founder of Conversational Lounge Network;
Senior Business Execution Consultant, Senior AVP at Wells Fargo; Author of It Starts With You
Trudy's a first-generation immigrant in Iowa who currently lives in Des Moines with her husband, Cale, and dog, Royco. She enjoys traveling, sight-seeing and experiencing different cuisines and cultures.
Her American journey included overcoming health challenges like open-heart surgery and strokes, shaping her into a resilient and compassionate leader. In 2020, she founded Conversational Lounge Media, a platform that connects and inspires immigrants through authentic Iowan stories. Beyond professional success at Wells Fargo, where she's a Senior Business Execution Consultant, Trudy dedicates herself to community service. As a board member for One Voice DSM, she amplifies African communities' voices, while with Gotabgaa Iowa, she mentors youth for a brighter future.
Her decade-long banking career, marked by continuous promotions, showcases her ability to turn challenges into opportunities. Trudy, a summa cum laude graduate of Kaplan University, brings dynamic leadership to any organization, fostering a culture of improvement and elevating operational effectiveness.
Rosalind Fox
Factory Manager at John Deere
Rosalind is responsible for all aspects of the John Deere Des Moines Works operations including safety, quality, delivery, efficiency, and overall profitability. She and her team manufacture Application, Tillage, Grain, and Cotton Harvesting for customers around the world.
Rosalind graduated with a B.S. degree in Electrical Engineering and a M.S. degree in Industrial Engineering, both from the University of Missouri at Columbia. She later completed her Executive MBA from the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University.
Rosalind currently serves on the Board of Directors for Grand View University, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Iowa, United Way of Central Iowa, and the Greater Des Moines Partnership. She was previously ranked one of the Top 26 Powerful Women Engineers by Business Insider. In 2015, she was awarded the Prism Award by the Society of Women Engineers and 2013 STEP Award Honoree for Women in Manufacturing. In 2018, Rosalind was featured in a special advertisement section for Midwestern issues of Fortune, Entrepreneur, and O, The Oprah Magazine. Most recently, she has been featured as the protagonist in a Harvard Business School Case Study.
Shalika Khindurangala
President and Founder of Iowans for Ukrainians & Career Coordinator at Ivy College of Business, Iowa State University
Shalika Khindurangala is a dedicated Career Coordinator at Ivy College of Business, Iowa State University, committed to guiding students toward success. With her expertise in technology integration and client support, she has significantly improved operational efficiency, doubling student access to resources. Beyond her professional role, Shalika is the founder of Iowans for Ukrainians, a nonprofit providing vital aid to Ukrainians during the war that started in 2022. The organization focuses on helping Ukrainians in Ukraine and in Iowa. Fostering a welcoming and inclusive community. Her passion for empowering others and making a difference in the community shines through in all her endeavors.
Smita Nishant
Vice President of Technology and Data Strategy at Wells Fargo
Smita Nishant, Vice President of Technology and Data Strategy at Wells Fargo, epitomizes leadership and commitment as a dedicated mother of two, wife, entrepreneur, and mentor. Overcoming educational and social barriers while pursuing her undergraduate education at ISU, Smita defied expectations, establishing her small business, NaturalThirst, as Trip-Advisors’ top-rated destination in 2011. Simultaneously working full-time, she earned her master’s in data-science. Passionate about education, community building, civic engagement, and cultural advocacy, Smita actively contributes as a motivational speaker, annual Academic Competition Co-Coordinator, and Robotics coach, nurturing young talent. She currently serves as a Board of Director at the Hindu Temple and India Heritage Cultural Center fostering service and cultural engagement. Since 2018, Smita has served in numerous capacities at Wells Fargo, including the Disability Connection’s Employee Resource Network Board. For her outstanding contributions, Smita was nominated for “2020 Women of Color in Banking” and recognized as the 2021 Enterprise DE&I Champion Award.
Confidence Award Finalists
Trina Flack
Vice President of Sales at Catch Des Moines
Trina Flack is the Vice President of Sales for Catch Des Moines. She oversees the strategic sales and servicing efforts for the conventions and sports team working to bring meetings and events to the region.
In her more than 15 years with Catch Des Moines she has had a role in bringing and hosting many events, including the First in the Nation Iowa Caucus, IRONMAN North American Championships, National Governor’s Association Annual Conference, Dew Tour, NCAA Men’s Basketball, and the Kennedy Center American College Theater Festival.
She believes strongly that investing in your community makes it a place that people will want to live AND visit. Trina lives in Ankeny with her husband, Adam, and three children. She spends her free time running, eating ice cream, cheering for the Cyclones and wandering the aisles of Target.
Penny Furgerson
Co-Founder of Gateway Dance Theatre
Gateway Dance Theatre was co-founded in 1972 by Penny Furgerson and her late husband, Lee Furgerson II, and was inspired by Alvin Ailey and the Dance Theatre of Harlem. GDT created a multi-faceted, multi-generational urban arts program, and its vision was to advance a diverse arts movement for all ages, broaden arts outreach to increase cultural sensitivity, and champion social justice.
Penny danced with the Ram Gopal company at the International Festival of the Arts in Edinburgh, Scotland. After graduating from Drake University’s pharmacy program, she played the lead role in the New York City Off-Broadway production of Kalidasa's "Shakuntala."
Penny has choreographed several works for GDT—inspired by and in collaboration with visiting international guest artists. GDT has received several awards, including the 2023 Governors Legacy Arts Award.
Penny directed the pharmacy programs at Wellmark until 1996 and continues her love of dance and the performing arts.
Kori Heuss
President & Owner of Heuss Printing, Inc., Pioneer Publishing, The Iowan Magazine, Standing Ovations Iowa Arts Program, & Kori Heuss, LLC.
Kori Heuss is the President and owner of Heuss Printing. Six years ago, she purchased Pioneer Communications and owns The Iowan Magazine as well as the Standing Ovations Arts Program. She also owns Kori Heuss LLC, a consulting and interior design company. Driven to help others be successful, she has built a company around that vision. . .to communicate yours. Equal parts creative studio and diverse production powerhouse, Heuss Printing helps tell stories that change markets, minds, and behaviors. The talented team does it all, from strategy and branding to content creation, design, printing, screen printing & embroidery, mailing and distribution. An outdoor enthusiast, bow hunter, and explorer, she loves new adventures and new friends. Want a conversation starter? Ask her about the time she purchased chickens in the middle of the night. She tells a good story, even when it’s her own.
April Schmaltz
President & CEO at Delta Dental of Iowa
April Schmaltz is the President and CEO for Delta Dental of Iowa. As a leading health carrier, Delta Dental provides dental, vision, legal, life and caregiving benefits to more than 1.6 million members. With a mission to improve the health and smiles of the people we serve, April leads with passion to deliver on this promise to our customers and communities.
Ms. Schmaltz has been with Delta Dental since 2014 leading sales, marketing and product development. With more than 25 years of experience in executive leadership, strategy, and new business growth, April has held a variety of executive leadership roles in the health care and financial services industries. She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from St. Mary’s University and a Master of Business Administration from Iowa State University.
In addition, April serves on numerous professional and community boards and councils including Healthiest State Initiative, EveryStep, and the Global Insurance Accelerator
Character Award Finalists
Dr. Lindsey Christianson
Broadlawns Primary Care Clinic Section Chief and Faculty for Broadlawns Medical Center FP/TY Residency Program
Dr. Lindsey Christianson went to Central College where she graduated with a degree in Chemistry. After college, her next stop was medical school at Des Moines University, graduating there in 2011. She did her Family Medicine Residency at Broadlawns Medical Center and then took a job there as an attending after finishing her residency. Her passion as a family medicine physician has always been to ensure that all patients, regardless of background, have access to medical care. Everyone deserves to have a primary care doctor they feel comfortable with.
Valora’ James
Co-Chair of Hip-Hope Many Shades of Colour Young Women’s Conference
Valora’ James is a Team Leader at Wellmark BCBS, mother, and community leader. She is a native of Des Moines, IA. Valora’ graduated from East High School, and went on to further her education at William Penn University receiving her Bachelor of Arts in Business Management and master’s degree in business leadership. She furthered her leadership skills receiving certificates from the African American Leadership Academy and the Greater Des Moines Leadership Institute. Finally, she is a proud member of Epsilon Theta Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority Inc.
Valora’ lives a life of public service striving to make the world a better place. Most notably, she serves as the Co-Chair of Hip-Hope “Know Your Worth” Many Shades of Colour Young Women’s Conference where we focus on knowing your worth academically, socially, financially, emotionally, and tie in leadership as well as community engagement.
She loves representing overchallenged under privileged youth.
Justine Teut
Human Resources Executive
Justine Teut finds purpose in her roles as the devoted wife to her favorite person, Nate and loving mother to Madison, Mia and stepmother to Maddox and Harper. Guided by her father, she places integrity at the heart of all of her endeavors. With a robust Human Resources career rooted in serving others, Justine believes that egos should be checked at the door, fostering a culture of collaboration, inclusion and empathy. Beyond her professional life, Justine has made philanthropy and volunteerism her life’s mission. She volunteers on many boards and actively engages in initiatives focused on marginalized and impoverished youth, working tirelessly to break the cycles of abuse, poverty, teenage pregnancy and drug use. Justine believes that true success is measured by the positive impact one has on the lives of others and spends her free time giving back to those who need it most.
Sarah Noll Wilson
President of Sarah Noll Wilson, Inc.
Through her global work as an Entrepreneur, Executive Coach, Keynote Speaker, Researcher, contributor to Harvard Business Review, and Bestselling Author of “Don’t Feed the Elephants”, Sarah Noll Wilson and her colleagues help leaders reduce their harm and create stronger impact. Her work has been featured on BBC Radio, Business Insider, Forbes, New York Post, The Washington Post, and Thrive Global. Sarah hosts the podcast “Conversations on Conversations” which has listeners in over 75 countries. Sarah and her colleagues are on a mission to create and support companies built for humans.
Her most challenging roles are navigating neurodivergence (ADHD), panic disorder, and OCD. While these create difficulties, they have expanded her capacity for compassion and mental health advocacy. Her favorite roles, however, are that of daughter, sister, wife, fur mama, friend, and aunt. She is who she is and where she is because of the people who have supported her every step of the way.