Editor’s Note: Two weeks ago, we announced the four new inductees into the Iowa Women’s Hall of Fame. We wanted to do a little extra to celebrate this accomplishment, so we plan to feature honorees and show why they are “Iowa Females You Should Know.” Miss last week? Read about Linda Neuman here.

Joyce Chapman, a 2015 inductee into the Iowa Women’s Hall of Fame, has excelled in the male-dominated banking industry while making her mark on the Greater Des Moines community as a civic leader. She was named a Business Record Woman of Influence in 2001. She also was the first female president of the West Des Moines Chamber of Commerce, the West Des Moines Development Corp. and Rotary Club of Des Moines Foundation. The first female executive vice president at West Bank, she has served as a director of West Bank since 1975. This year marks her 40th anniversary on West Bank’s board.

WHERE SHE’S BEEN

A lifelong Iowan, Chapman started her career in banking directly after graduating from high school, taking an entry-level position at Plaza State Bank in Des Moines and then working at a bank in Iowa City while her husband attended college. She started her career at West Bank as auditor in 1971, continuing to advance until she retired as executive vice president in 2006.

Not only has her guidance contributed to the success of West Bank, which is currently rated as one of the top 30 banks in the country, her influence has guided the culture of the company. Today, fully half of the officers of the company are women.

CONNECTION POINTS

Chapman completed courses with the American Institute of Banking and graduated from the Graduate School of Banking, University of Wisconsin at Madison. She has been involved on numerous committees and boards of directors, and helmed several community projects over the years. She currently is the only female outside director on the board of American Equity Investment Life Holding Company, is president of Winefest Des Moines 2015, and serves on the Attorney Grievance Commission of the Iowa Supreme Court. She assisted in forming the West Bancorporation Foundation and the United Way of Central Iowa’s Women’s Leadership Connection. She also is a founding member and past president of the Nexus Executive Women’s Alliance.

CONTACT HER

Find her on LinkedIn.

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