The West Des Moines Chamber of Commerce has announced its annual West Des Moines Citizen and Emerging Citizen of the Year: Dan Houston and Kara Matheson, respectively. The two will be honored at the chamber’s annual dinner on Feb. 26 at the Val Air Ballroom.

Houston is a retired business leader whose career spanned more than 40 years at Principal Financial Group, where he rose from early roles to serve as president, CEO and executive chair. Throughout his career, Houston helped guide the company through periods of transition and expansion. In retirement, Houston and his wife, Joanie Houston, are engaged in civic and nonprofit efforts focused on economic development, workforce readiness and strengthening communities across Iowa. The Houstons have lived in West Des Moines for over 36 years.

Matheson served in workforce development roles with the West Des Moines Chamber of Commerce for seven years before taking on a new role as a strategist at ITA Group in West Des Moines. At the chamber, she championed inclusion, service and local talent development, working on initiatives like the Reignite CommUNITY Awards, Day of Kindness, YURtern, West YP and the West Des Moines Leadership Academy, according to a news release.