Tiffany O’Donnell has been named the first chief operating officer of Iowa Women Lead Change, the organization announced Friday.

“I am beyond thrilled to be part of the IWLC team,” O’Donnell said in a news release. “What started as a volunteer opportunity for me two years ago has, incredibly, turned into a second career. As the mother of two daughters and a woman who’s been in the workforce for more than two decades, I can personally speak to the powerful mission of this organization. Empowering women in leadership is not only the right thing to do; it’s the smart thing to do when it comes to a competitive Iowa workforce.”

Since 2001, O’Donnell has worked for CBS2 and Fox28 in Cedar Rapids. She is credited with launching two successful news programs for the networks and won a Midwest Regional Emmy for Best Newscast in 2012, in addition to receiving several nominations.

A native of Bettendorf, O’Donnell holds Bachelor of Arts degree in communications and French from DePauw University in Greencastle, Ind. She represented Iowa in the 1989 Miss America pageant after being crowned Miss Iowa 1988.

O’Donnell began her broadcasting career at WHO-TV in Des Moines as a morning weather reporter and news anchor, and later expanded to posts ranging from weekend producer and anchor to special assignment investigative reporter to co-anchor of the 5 p.m. daily newscast.

“I am honored that Tiffany will bring her significant talents to IWLC and join our mission of furthering women’s leadership across Iowa,” said Diane Ramsey, chief executive officer of IWLC. “Iowans know Tiffany for her career in broadcast journalism, but may not know that she has served on the forefront of women’s leadership and nonprofit causes – including IWLC – for many years. Tiffany brings a wealth of marketing, journalism and operational experiences to our staff, and I look forward to re-introducing her to Iowans in this new role.”

O’Donnell will begin her new role on July.