The Greater Des Moines Leadership Institute is seeking nominations for the A. Arthur Davis Award and the 2009 Distinguished Leadership Awards, which recognize people who serve our community through civic service and leadership. The leadership awards are for current and former institute students in the categories of business, government, education, neighborhood and civic. The A. Arthur Davis Award is not limited to institute students and alumni and is the institute’s top community leadership award. Nominations can be submitted online at www.gdmli.com. The deadline is March 27. The awards will be presented June 24 at Prairie Meadows Racetrack and Casino.

Sheryl Barnes has been named associate administrator of Mercy Medical Center – West Lakes. Barnes presently is a vice president at Mercy’s main campus. She will begin work at Mercy West Lakes later this month in anticipation of its opening later this year. She will share leadership responsibilities with Dan Aten, Mercy West Lakes senior vice president and administrator.

Wells Fargo & Co. cut its quarterly dividend to 5 cents from 34 cents today, saying the move would allow it to save $5 billion a year in common equity, Reuters reported. Moody’s Investor Service is considering a downgrade Wells Fargo’s Aa3 rating because of concerns about the financial giant’s ability to raise capital after its acquisition last year of Wachovia Corp., the Minneapolis/St. Paul Business Journal reported Thursday. Wells Fargo CEO John Stumpf said today in a press release that total costs of the merger could be lower than originally projected.

The Greater Des Moines Partnership is sponsoring a series of panel discussions featuring federal and state experts to discuss the potential impact on Central Iowa of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, the federal economic stimulus bill. The half-day event begins at 8 a.m. March 13 at Hy-Vee Hall, lower level, 730 Third St., Des Moines. The program includes three consecutive panels, each addressing specific industries and programs identified by the act. The cost of the event is $15 for Partnership investors or affiliated chamber of commerce members and is $25 for nonmembers. Registration is available by calling 286-4934 or on the Web at www.desmoinesmetro.com/events.