Knapp Properties Inc. President and CEO Gerry Neugent is the first and only member, so far, of Iowa Events Center Hotel Corp., the nonprofit organization that will own and operate a proposed $101 million, 330-room convention center hotel. Neugent is one of five appointments that the Polk County Board of Supervisors can make to IEC Corp., with the remaining two members to be appointed by the city of Des Moines. The nonprofit needed one director to accompany the legal documents that will record its creation with the Iowa secretary of state. In a rare joint meeting, the Des Moines City Council and the Board of Supervisors approved a financial package for the hotel and bylaws for the nonprofit organization. The county owns the site at Fifth Avenue and Park Street where the 10-story structure will be constructed. It will transfer ownership to IEC Corp. Belin McCormick P.C. will be legal advisers to the organization and Piper Jaffray & Co. will be financial advisers. Read more