Jim Hubbell isn’t the type of guy  who loads down his credenza  with a lot of stuff. But one item  you will find there is a gift he  received from the Downtown  Community Alliance after he  stepped down as its board chairman.

“I like this one because it came  from an organization I spent a lot  of years working for,” said Hubbell  of the handmade piece that was  crafted by Sticks Inc. “I enjoyed  being a part of (the DCA) and was  proud of what it accomplished. So  that had meaning.”

The colorful artwork reflects  many personal aspects of Hubbell’s  life at that time, such as where he  was living and some of his hobbies.  It even has some of his favorite  expressions written on it, such as  “Less is more. Done is better.”

Finding the right gift for a chief  executive, whether it’s the final  parting upon retirement or to mark  some other milestone, can be problematic.  Just ask Teresa Wahlert.

“It’s difficult to find good gifts  for executives, because they have  everything,” she said. “I recently  received a gumball machine, and I  don’t know why. I don’t chew gum.  … When I give something, I try to  research what would be appropriate  and useful to that person. As gift  giving goes, you really have to do  your homework as to what the person  likes, and consider the relationship  you have with the person.”

Cards and memorabilia were  probably the most meaningful gifts  at his recent retirement party, said  David Milligan, who recently  retired as vice chairman of West  Bank. He also received a gift certificate  he said he will probably use to  buy a new set of golf clubs.

“Very obviously, there were  things that will mean more to me  as time goes by,” he said, such as a  framed photo with more than 200  signatures from the bank’s employees.  Perhaps the most special was a  compact disc with images from  bank events through the years.

“I’m sure as time goes on, the  (CD) will be more meaningful to  me than the gift certificate, not that  I don’t appreciate the golf clubs,”  he said.

Similarly, contributions made in  a CEO’s name to his or her favorite  non-profit organization can make a  meaningful gift. Each year, United  Way of Central Iowa receives contributions  from companies in  recognition of CEOs for their service,  said Don Honnold,a United Way  spokesman. The organization also  honors its outgoing board or campaign  chairs with contributions in  their honor.

Personalizing such a gift can  also make a great gift in its own  right. To recognize Barry and  Michele Griswell’s $1 million contribution  last year to United Way for  early childhood learning, the organization  presented the Griswells  with a framed photo of the two of  them reading to a group of young  children at a local early-childhood  learning center.

So, what did Teresa Wahlert really  think of the customized wooden  putter she received after stepping  down as Greater Des Moines  Partnership chair?

“Actually, I think they didn’t  know what to get,” said Wahlert,  who hasn’t golfed in years.”I have  it in my office for visitors to use. If  it relaxes them to putt while they  visit, I let them putt.”