Gene Meyer has been hired as the vice president of strategic initiatives for the Greater Des Moines Partnership.

The position is designed to support the Partnership’s roles in implementing the region’s Capital Crossroads strategic visioning plan, as well as elevating the alliance between business and education in Central Iowa and developing a strategic direction for the next phase of the Partnership’s work.

Meyer served as the mayor of West Des Moines between 1997 and 2006 and was most recently the commissioner of the Iowa Department of Public Safety under the appointment of former Gov. Chet Culver in 2007. He will begin his job at the Partnership on March 1.