One of a kind. The best of the very best. Transformational leader. 

In reading so many tributes over the last several days, I, and so many others, have read these phrases and many more to try to capture Jay’s spirit. One thing that sticks out is that everyone who interacted with Jay felt a strong personal connection to him. He had an ability to relate to everyone and make them feel like family. I can tell you that his love for his wife, Katie, and daughters, Charlotte and Sophie, was unmatched. He adored them and was inspired by each of them and their creativity.

He was a visionary leader for Greater Des Moines and for the Partnership. He helped shape the future of our region in profound ways with his bold ideas and strategic vision. Jay believed deeply in the power of kindness, optimism and community. He was a friend to all, and a genuinely wonderful person whose positive impact will leave a legacy for generations to come.

Jay believed in what was possible, and brought others along on his vision. He knew how to get the right leaders to the table at the right time. He inspired action. When the Iowa Confluence Water Trails project was in its very early stages, Jay didn’t blink at the challenge of public, private and nonprofit partners taking on and finding funding for such an ambitious undertaking. He called it “the most transformational regional project of our generation,” and used his infectious optimism to sell the vision to others. 

Photos courtesy of Greater Des Moines Partnership

Photos courtesy of Greater Des Moines Partnership

Photos courtesy of Greater Des Moines Partnership

Photos courtesy of Greater Des Moines Partnership

Photos courtesy of Greater Des Moines Partnership

Photos courtesy of Greater Des Moines Partnership

Photos courtesy of Greater Des Moines Partnership

Jay was also not quick to let a project fail, even when things did not feel promising. When someone would declare “this project is not going to happen,” he’d reframe it to “it’s not going to happen yet.” And when the project ultimately did happen, he was the first one to give credit to everyone else. 

Jay had an uncanny ability to relate to people. He could find ways to connect with everyone – even in a room of some of the most powerful people in our state, country and world. And he could also find ways to relate to anyone – an Iowa farmer, a brand-new team member, a student. He could speak their language and make them feel welcome and respected. And he always cheered them on. Even if he only had a few minutes with someone, he would remember that conversation and follow up with them the next time he saw them, or through a quick text message.

Jay was universally recognized as a chamber of commerce leader nationally and internationally. He was honored by the Association of Chamber of Commerce Executives in 2024 with a Life Member Award. He served on the ACCE Executive Board, the General Council of the World Chambers Federation and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Committee of 100. When he graduated from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce’s Institute for Organizational Management, he was selected to speak at his graduation. When team members at the Partnership attended industry conferences and training opportunities, Jay was often mentioned in sessions as an example of a leader who applied best practices and created countless wins. 

We are incredibly fortunate to have learned from and worked alongside Jay – he was simply the best.

Jay always kept the focus on others and our region. He was the face of our organization on a local and national level, but it was never about him. It was about lifting up the region, building a Greater Des Moines that we could all be proud of, making it the best it could be, and making sure everyone felt like they had a role to play in it.

We often say that we are standing on the shoulders of giants in Greater Des Moines. Our success as a region can be traced back decades to community leaders who stepped up to invest in the region for future generations to enjoy. Jay is one of those giants we honor. 

I believe Jay would tell us to carry the torch forward. “Keep on keeping on,” he would say. He often spoke about Greater Des Moines’ “secret sauce” of public/private partnerships, community visioning, community leadership and regional collaboration. All of these elements exist today and I, and many others I’ve heard from, feel more motivated than ever to build upon the momentum Jay created and carry his legacy forward to ensure continued collaboration, and continued growth in our region. Jay’s favorite quote was from Peter Drucker: “The best way to predict the future is to create it.” Let’s continue to work together to create the future we all want for Greater Des Moines.

We are heartbroken to lose Jay, and this will hurt for a long time. His legacy will live on for decades through the people, projects, events and ideas he championed and helped shape. His friendship, guidance and belief in our region will never be forgotten. We at the Partnership and countless others will forever be grateful that he believed in each of us and what is possible. He gave us hope.

As Jay would often say to close out his messages, “Onward!”

This column included contributions from Kyle Oppenhuizen and Courtney Shaw. Tiffany, Kyle, Courtney and Jay worked together on Partnership communications for five years.