West Des Moines Chamber of Commerce

Enjoy the opportunity to make new connections and grow your network! Location: Blue Zoo - 6925 Mills Civic Pkwy Ste 125, West Des Moines, IA 50266 Visit https://lnkd.in/g3pvdNyX to learn more. Presented by Blue Ox Spirits #GoWestWDM #WDMstrong #DSMUSA

It is no secret that in the digital era, a business’s ability to function is directly tied to its internet connectivity. Whether processing transactions, communicating with customers, managing cloud-based applications, or supporting remote employees, internet access is the foundation of daily operations. Yet, while internet reliability is often an afterthought, downtime can have serious financial and operational consequences. And while some companies may think that occasional internet disruptions are just a minor inconvenience, the reality is that downtime can be extraordinarily costly. Aureon Visit https://lnkd.in/gHMfwXDz to learn more. #GoWestWDM #WDMstrong #DSMUSA

Please join us in celebrating the ribbon cutting for Northbridge Event Center in Des Moines. Enjoy networking and hearing a few words from the team. The cut will follow announcements that begin at 12:15 PM. Location: 4530 East 46th Street, Des Moines, IA 50317 All Ribbon Cuttings in 2025 are supported by Presenting Sponsor, Aureon. #GoWestWDM #WDMstrong #DSMUSA

We agree, Michelle! Today's Words of Wisdom come from WDMLA current class member, Michelle Cole with Merchants Bonding Company. If you’re interested in being part of the class, see more information and apply at the link below 👇 https://lnkd.in/g9R8nK5 The West Des Moines Leadership Academy is sponsored by NCMIC.

The West Des Moines Chamber of Commerce is excited to announce the seven finalists for the 2025 pitch competition at the Fifth Annual Athene Black & Brown Business Summit. The pitch competition is supported by Bank of America, and the Summit is presented by Wells Fargo. Seven finalists were chosen from a pool of over 400 applicants from across the globe. These finalists will each present a five-minute pitch to the judges. Furthermore, an additional competitor will be randomly selected from the applicant pool on the day of the event. Since 2021, over $150,000 has been awarded to business owners. This year’s finalists include: Do The Math 247 - Waukee, IA Halm Style LLC - Los Angeles, CA MinkeeBlue - Philadelphia, PA Regeily LLC - Bloomfield Hills, MI Sensiil Studios - Des Moines, IA Spoonful Wellness - Brooklyn, NY West X East - Brooklyn, NY The prize amount will be divided among eight winners and the judges will determine how the prize is distributed. The pitch competition will take place on April 16 from 2:30 to 4:30 p.m. at the Sheraton West Des Moines Hotel. To learn more and register, please visit bbbsummit.com. #GoWestWDM #WDMstrong #DSMUSA

Don't miss this opportunity to transform your leadership skills and make a lasting community impact 💚💙 APPLY NOW for the West Des Moines Leadership Academy class of 2025-2026 at the link below. Applications due Friday, April 18th! https://lnkd.in/g9R8nK5

Bridget Cravens-Neely is Chief Executive Officer of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Iowa (BBBSCI). Prior to this, Bridget had a successful 30-year career in the insurance industry. Her educational background includes a Bachelor of Science degree in Mathematics from Illinois State University and a Masters of Business Administration in Entrepreneurship from Keller Graduate School of Management. Bridget is a thought leader who is collaborative, entrepreneurial, and innovative. She is very passionate about mentorship and helping all young people achieve their full potential. At BBBSCI, Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (JEDI) is an integral part of their values and mission. Visit bbbsummit.com to learn more about the Athene Black & Brown Business Summit Presented by Wells Fargo. #GoWestWDM #WDMstrong #DSMUSA #BBBSummit

Harrington, the president and CEO of the West Des Moines Chamber of Commerce, is a familiar face to many in the Greater Des Moines area, with her involvement as former board president of Ballet Des Moines and a teacher at its school, to her work with the Food Bank of Iowa and her role with the governor’s STEM council. But it’s her new role where she believes all prior roads have been leading. From growing up in a newspaper family to turning professional dancer and later a marketing professional, Harrington said her innate drive and creativity make her a perfect fit for her new role leading the West Des Moines business community. Before her current role, she worked on the sales team at the Business Record. Visit bbbsummit.com to learn more about the Athene Black & Brown Business Summit Presented by Wells Fargo. #GoWestWDM #WDMstrong #DSMUSA #BBBSummit

Joy Hankins is the founder and CEO of The Joy of Curls, a plant-based hair care brand with a mission to empower and support foster children. As a foster parent, Joy combines her passion for textured hair with advocacy, offering styling workshops and culture classes to agencies and caregivers. Her impactful work has been featured in Foster Families Today, national podcasts, and ABC, CBS and NBC news affiliates. Joy, a champion for inclusion and confidence, has scaled her business with the earnings of several pitch competitions and loves encouraging small business owners to tell their stories. In her spare time, Joy loves traveling with her husband and their small children as well as finding opportunities to speak Spanish. Visit bbbsummit.com to learn more about the Athene Black & Brown Business Summit Presented by Wells Fargo. #GoWestWDM #WDMstrong #DSMUSA #BBBSummit

A native of Waterloo, Iowa; Matthew R. Gilbert, Esq. descends from generations of servant leadership. The Furgerson – Harris – Nash families are well known for advancing civil rights, education, health and equity for African American communities in Iowa. An advocate, entrepreneur, and ecosystem builder that values cooperation, justice, and historic preservation; Matthew is differentiated by a complement of executive strategies, transactional expertise, and transformative resilience. An experienced advisor for elected officials, public figures, business owners, faith-based leaders, and public-private partnerships; Matthew’s mission is to coach and advise families, businesses, and communities in creating generational wealth by leveraging legacy and impact. Matthew is Founder and President of Iowa C.O.R.E. Inc., Economic Development Chair for the Iowa-Nebraska NAACP, and a servant-leader on local, state, and national boards, commissions, and committees. Matthew enjoys mentoring youth, volunteering, and holistic wellness. “My vision is to develop compassionate leaders who demonstrate a mentality reflecting greatness, influence change, and commit to generational impact in historically disenfranchised communities of color.” Visit bbbsummit.com to learn more about the Athene Black & Brown Business Summit Presented by Wells Fargo. #GoWestWDM #WDMstrong #DSMUSA #BBBSummit