Tammy Stapp didn’t become a nurse because it was her calling. Her mother, a former nurse, suggested the job, having observed that nurses can find work anywhere.

Stapp got a nursing diploma from Iowa Methodist School of Nursing in 1986, and aB.S. in nursing from Drake University in 1988. In 1991, she earned her master’s degree in health-care administration from Des Moines University.

Upon receiving her nurse’s diploma, Stapp joined Iowa Methodist Medical Center, where she worked until 1990. She then transferred to Blank Children’s hospital, where she found her calling.

“I realized my passion for working with children,” Stapp said. “I knew whatever I would do after that would be about building services for children.”

At Blank, she managed a general pediatrics floor, organizing schedules, budget and staffing for two and one-half years.

“It was my first management job,” Stapp said. “It wasn’t that I didn’t enjoy nursing. I realized there was something else for me.”

She then went to work for Kimberly Quality Care as a branch manager. Stapp was eventually promoted to regional manager, overseeing six operations in Iowa. During her six years with the company, she developed its pediatric home healthcare program. Stapp loved her job, but it kept her on the road. She missed her husband, Gary, and her then-small children, Jacob and Calen.

“I needed to be closer to home,” she said. “I was blessed to find ChildServe. They decided to start a home health care program from scratch.”

Stapp’s experience with Kimberly was invaluable in that process. Now, five and one-half years later, she is vice president for care at ChildServe, a non-profit organization that works to improve the quality of life for children with special health-care needs.

Stapp’s role at ChildServe is to make sure clients receive the highest possible level of care. One of her greatest challenges, she said, is making sure no aspect of the children’s needs are neglected, whether physical, emotional or intellectual.

Stapp also serves on the board of the Greater Des Moines Leadership Institute and as chair of its Transformational Leadership program.  

“I love to unleash leadership, or to help leaders continue to grow and learn,” she said.