WDM Leaders

Class of 2011

Kara is a native of Des Moines. She attended Roosevelt High School and Iowa State University. Kara earned a Bachelors of Science degree in Community and Regional Planning and a Masters degree in Public Administration. She was a member of the political science honor society Pi Sigma Alpha. In 2001, she studied for and received the designation of Member of the American Society of Certified Planners and has maintained that certification to-date.

Kara has worked at the State, Regional, and Local levels in the transportation and land use planning fields in Iowa. Currently, she holds the Chair position for the Des Moines Area Metropolitan Planning Organization Transportation Technical Committee for the 3rd year in a row.

Kara has volunteered to work at her church's monthly Angel Food Distribution for reduced priced food menus, has joined with others to pack meals for Meals from the Heartland, donates goods and money to the Des Moines Area Religious Council Food Pantry, donates to Goodwill, and West Des Moines Human Services. She has participated in Learnapalooza representing the City of West Des Moines meeting and greeting the citizens and visitors of West Des Moines.

Kara enjoys learning various skills such as draft horse driving, needlework, cooking and baking with modern and pioneer methods, music, blacksmithing, motorcycle riding, and most anything else. She enjoys reading, being outdoors for relaxation, work games, and eating well.