New leaders emerged in Central Iowa as businesses, government, and nonprofit organizations put new people in top positions. Here are some key changes that occurred last year.

Culture

Iowa native David Chivers, 39, formerly chief digital officer at Jostens, was hired as president and publisher of the Des Moines Register in April. He replaced Rick Green.

Zachary Mannheimer, former executive director for the Des Moines Social Club, has been hired as vice president of creative placemaking at Iowa Business Growth Co.

Pete De Kock was hired in November as the new executive director for the Des Moines Social Club.

Robert Warren, formerly the executive director of Hartford Performs in Connecticut, was hired as executive director of Hoyt Sherman Place in November. Warren replaced Carol Pollock, who died earlier in the year.

Siobhan Spain was hired in February as director of nonprofit arts incubator for DesMoinesArts, located at 900 Keosauqua Way.

Health & Wellness

Kevin Vermeer, UnityPoint’s chief strategy officer, added the title of president for the rest of 2015 while working through the transition with Bill Leaver, who will retire in January 2016.

Nonprofit

Tony Timm left the job as director of Central Iowa Shelter and Services in October to become director of community relations and member outreach for AmeriHealth Caritas Iowa. Jim Ferguson was appointed interim director.

Carey Miller retired as executive director of Food Bank of Iowa after 25 years.

Janice Lane was named CEO of Children & Families of Iowa. She succeeds Gloria Gray.

HR & Education

Ryan Wise was appointed as director of the Iowa Department of Education by Gov. Terry Branstad, effective July 1. 

Marty Martin, was named Drake University president and began work on July 1,  replacing retiring president David Maxwell.

Business leader Bruce Harreld was hired to replace University of Iowa president Sally Mason, who retired on Aug. 1.

Retail

Jayne Armstrong started on Jan. 12 as district director of the Iowa Small Business Administration.

Terry Handley, current chief operating officer at Casey’s General Stores Inc., will succeed Robert Myers as chairman and CEO of the company. Myers will retire April 30, 2016.

Transportation

Randy Potts, president and CEO of recreational vehicle manufacturer Winnebago Industries Inc., retired Aug. 6. Robert Olson was named interim CEO, but he left the position a month and a half later and was replaced in the interim role by Lawrence Erickson.

Finance & Insurance

Jim Swift, former president, CEO and chairman, left Holmes Murphy & Associates Inc. after a 35-year career there.

Lisa M. Smith was elected president and CEO of Broker Dealer Financial Services Corp., Investment Advisors Corp. and Bankers Financial Services Corp. 

Gov. Terry Branstad named Ron Hansen superintendent of banking, effective Nov. 16. Jim Schipper retired as banking superintendent after serving in that capcity since 2011.

Chris Littlefield, president of Fidelity & Guaranty Life, succeeded Lee Launer Jr. as CEO on April 30.

Thomas Swank was elected CEO and board member of American Enterprise Group Inc.

Monte Berg was named by board of directors of Veridian Credit Union as the credit union’s new CEO; he succeeds Jean Trainor.

Paul Waltz was named CEO of SHAZAM Network.  He replaces longtime CEO Michael Hollinger, who retired from the company in August.

Dan Houston was chosen as president and CEO by Principal Financial Group’s board of directors. Larry Zimpleman is transitioning out of the role as president and CEO and will continue as executive chairman of the board.

Franklin Codel, 50, executive vice president and head of mortgage production, succeeded Mike Heid as head of Wells Fargo Home Mortgage, effective Oct. 1. Heid retired after 28 years with the company.

Law & Government

Michael Bousselot was appointed chief of staff to the governor and lieutenant governor, replacing Matt Hinch.

Roxann Ryan was appointed acting commissioner of the Iowa Department of Public Safety.

Linda Upmeyer, a Republican from Clear Lake, became the first female Speaker of the Iowa House, replacing Kraig Paulsen.

The city of Des Moines hired Jonathan Gano as its new public works director. He replaced Pat Kozitza, who retired Dec. 31, 2014. 

Mikki Stier was appointed director of the Iowa Medicaid Enterprise. She most recently was vice president of government and external relations at Broadlawns Medical Center in Des Moines.

Jessica Whitney, assistant attorney general, became  director of the office’s Consumer Protection Division. She replaced Bill Brauch, who retired July 15 after 20 years in that position.

Beth Townsend was appointed director of Iowa Workforce Development after serving as acting director since Jan. 11, when Teresa Wahlert resigned the position.

Sales & Marketing

Ryan Hanser moved into the role of president and principal of Hanser & Associates in West Des Moines in August. He succeeded Ronald Hanser, who became chairman and principal of the family business.

Tiffany Taucheck was hired as chief communications officer at the Greater Des Moines Partnership.

Emily Abbas, who joined Bankers Trust Co. in September 2014 as chief of staff, was named chief marketing officer. She will continue to serve as chief of staff.

Real Estate & Development

Robert Burns took over as president of West Des Moines-based Coldwell Banker Mid-America Group on Sept. 1. He took over for Randy Clarkson, who stepped down at the end of July.

Hollie Askey was named executive director of the Warren County Economic Development Corp., replacing Jason White, who left the organization earlier in 2015 for a similar position in Oshkosh, Wisc.

Brian Clark, Greater Des Moines landscape architect and urban planner left Confluence, the firm he co-founded in 1998, to join Ryan Companies US Inc. as director of development.

Gavin Blair was hired as the CEO of the Iowa Association of Realtors.

Kim Bakey, formerly senior vice president and chief financial officer of HomeServices of Iowa, and Brennan Buckley, formerly senior vice president and general manager for Iowa Realty Co Inc., have been named CEO and President respectively. They replace R. Michael Knapp of Iowa Realty Co. Inc., who will step down as president and CEO and take a role as chairman emeritus of HomeServices of Iowa Inc., Iowa Realty’s holding company.

Manufacturing & Logistics

Tony Orlando was appointed president of Bridgestone Agricultural Tire, U.S. & Canada Commercial Tire Sales, a division of Bridgestone Americas Tire Operations.

Pat Meyer stepped down as CEO after 25 years with Pella Corp., an Iowa manufacturer and designer of windows, doors, blinds and shades.