Age 36 | Attorney, Brown Winick law firm

Rebecca Brommel is an attorney specializing in civil litigation at the BrownWinick law firm in Des Moines, where she first went to work as a clerk in 2000 and has worked as an attorney for the last 11 years. She was voted in as a member of the firm in 2007.

Those are key dates, because they point to the fact that her career has been spent with one firm, and she is proud of that kind of dedication, possibly owing to her upbringing on a farm near St. Mary’s in Warren County.

Brommel comes from a large family, and she relishes the time she spends with sisters and cousins each year.

Much of her volunteer work also centers on health organizations. Her mother, Shirley, died of colon cancer when Brommel was a junior at Drake University. She would receive a David W. Opperman scholarship to attend Drake Law School, where she was among the top five graduates.

For additional inspiration, Brommel looks to her sisters, Lori Jordan and Jolene Gehringer, who are breast cancer survivors.

“They are very strong women,” Brommel said. “They get up and go to work every day; they give back to the community.”

Brommel is a member of the board of governors of Greater Des Moines Leadership Institute, Women for Wish Kids steering committee, Variety — The Children’s Charity, Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, Walk Now for Autism and the Iowa Mission of Mercy, and she provides pro bono legal services for Immaculate Conception Church in St. Mary’s.

Five reasons she’s a 40:

• Finished college and law school after her mother, Shirley, died in 1996.

• Graduated magna cum laude from Drake University.

• Graduated with highest honors from Drake University Law School.

• Has worked for one law firm throughout her career.

• All community activities. “I can’t think of one thing that is more important than the other.”

Fun Fact:

In what is called the Brommel girls weekend, Rebecca and as many as 15 sisters and cousins put on matching T-shirts and shop, dine and carry on over a weekend.