Glenn Lyons will be the new president of the Downtown Community Alliance. Lyons is currently the executive director of the Downtown Development Corp. in Tucson, Ariz., but will begin leading downtown development in Des Moines on May 17. “I am very excited about the prospect of moving to Des Moines and continuing the good work of the Downtown Community Alliance,” said Lyons in a press release. “Downtown Des Moines is an amazing asset, and I am committed to doing my part to make it the best downtown in America.”

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has awarded two grants totaling more than $3 million to the Iowa Department of Public Health ($2.75 million) and the University of Iowa ($285,000). The Iowa Department of Public Health will use the funding to help pay for treatment given under the Ryan White Care Act Title II and the University of Iowa will use its funding to help pay for a pharmacology, physiology and biological chemistry research project.

Principal Financial Group Inc. announced today that Randy Blanchetti will re-assume the role of vice president of the southeastern region for retirement and investor services, effective April 1. Blanchetti spent 17 years with Principal before leaving to spend three years as a retirement plan consultant for American Funds.

The West Des Moines Leadership Academy is accepting applications for the Class of 2010-2011. The class provides opportunities for both current and future leaders to develop and enhance leadership skills while learning about important issues facing the community of West Des Moines. This will be the nine-month class’s third year. Class size is limited to 30 people. The application deadline is June 30. For more information or to apply, go to

www.wdmleaders.org.

Dubuque has been selected as the host city for the fourth annual Entrefest! Conference, which will be held Feb. 24-25, 2011, at the Hotel Julien. EntreFrest! Is Iowa’s conference dedicated to small business owners and aspiring entrepreneurs. The 2010 conference in West Des Moines attracted more than 300 attendees. For more information and highlights from this past year’s conference, go to www.entrefest.com.

Marsh & McLennan Cos. Inc. completed its previously agreed-to acquisition of HSBC Insurance Brokers Ltd. (HIBL), a wholly owned subsidiary of HSBC Bank plc. Marsh announced it would acquire HIBL for a price of $135 million last December. Concurrent with this transaction, Marsh has entered into an agreement as a preferred strategic partner to HSBC. Read more.