Jim Israel

Retired Deere & Co. executive Jim Israel will chair the 2015 United Way Campaign, United Way of Central Iowa announced today.

Israel, formerly president of Deere’s Worldwide Financial Services Division, will lead a 45-member volunteer Campaign Cabinet. The cabinet has set a goal of raising $28.5 million in the 2015 United Way of Central Iowa campaign, which will conclude in January.

The organization’s board of directors also announced it has approved the following leadership positions for 2015-2016:

Chris Littlefield

Tom Mahoney, CEO of ITA Group, is board chairman-elect.

Eight community leaders have joined the United Way of Central Iowa board of directors. Directors serve two-year terms, renewable up to six years. The new members are:

• Brian Brown, associate athletic director and Franklin P. Johnson Director of Drake Relays, Drake University.
• Franklin Codel, executive vice president, head of mortgage production, Wells Fargo Home Mortgage.
• Brenda Cushing, retired executive vice president and CFO, Athene USA.
• Nora Everett, president, Retirement and Investor Services, Principal Financial Group Inc.
• Monica Friedman, vice president, human resources, Nationwide.
• Mike Miller, president, Accordia Life.
• Nancy Galeazzi (ex officio), executive director, Catholic Charities of Des Moines.
• Claudia Henning (ex officio) director, West Des Moines Youth Justice Initiative.