Lift IOWA: News briefs – Week of Sept. 8

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Cristoffer takes reins as Veridian president and CEO: Renee Christoffer has officially stepped into her new role as president and CEO of Veridian Credit Union. In her 27-year career at Veridian, Christoffer most recently was chief administration officer. She began her career at Veridian in 1993 as a co-op student in a school-to-work program in Waterloo, and was hired as a teller the next year. She remained at the credit union as a loan officer, branch manager, regional manager and vice president of branches. A resident of Waterloo, she currently serves as board president for the Waterloo Schools Foundation.

Nyemaster attorney Stanger assumes command of Iowa Guard medical battalion: Kristina Stanger, an attorney with Nyemaster Goode PC in Des Moines and a lieutenant colonel in the Iowa Army National Guard, has assumed command of the 109th Multifunctional Medical Battalion. Stanger formally assumed command on Aug. 29 in a ceremony in Iowa City. She is a shareholder with Nyemaster, where she is a bankruptcy and creditors’ rights attorney. As commander of the 109th Medical Battalion, Lt. Col. Stanger leads more than 300 soldiers, including combat medics, doctors, nurses, mental health specialists and other support personnel.

Community Leadership Program class of 2021 announced: Twenty-five people chosen to participate in the Community Leadership Program were recently named by the board of governors of the Greater Des Moines Leadership Institute. According to a news release, each person was nominated and vetted in a competitive selection process. Members represent private and nonprofit sectors of the community. They will spend the next nine months participating in a curriculum that looks at the community from different perspectives, heightening their awareness of current conditions and challenges, and building individual and group leadership skills. For a full list of the members of the Community Leadership Program Class of 2021, click here.


Parents who keep kids home not eligible for federal paid leave: The Department of Labor last week answered a question about the emergency paid leave Congress passed in March for parents without access to child care during the coronavirus pandemic. As schools reopen, parents who opt to keep their kids at home — for their children’s safety or their own — won’t be eligible for that leave. At schools with hybrid learning, families still qualify for leave on days when their child is not permitted to attend in-person instruction.

AND IN CASE YOU MISSED IT: 

Fortune last week published its 2020 40 Under 40 lists. You can dive into all the lists — combined, they feature more than 100 women — here.

Lean In last week launched its new “Tilted” podcast, which explores the intersection of gender and culture and brings you conversations with people pushing for change. Listen to a sneak peek here and subscribe on Apple podcasts.


The movement against hair discrimination has seen success in large part thanks to lawmakers who have put the issue at the top of their agendas.