Hoyt Sherman Place Foundation Welcomes Five New Board Members

Hoyt Sherman Place Foundation is honored to announce its five new, high-profile board members. The combined and diverse expertise of Jeffrey Freude, Richard Salas, Karen Sievers, Larry Taylor, and Jeff White will help to build upon the Foundation’s continued successes.

Born and raised in Erie, Illinois, Jeffrey Freude graduated from Coe College in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, with a B.A. in economics and psychology. He worked in administration at Coe College for five years before moving to Des Moines, Iowa, to take a job in the Pension area of Bankers Life Company/Principal Financial Group. He worked as Senior Investment Consultant with corporate pension plan sponsors assisting with due diligence and asset allocation modeling on their investment lineup and retired in June 2023. Jeff’s community involvement includes Walnut Hills United Methodist Church, Bidwell Riverside Center, and the Bidwell Riverside Endowment.

Richard Salas serves as the Chief Diversity Officer at Des Moines University and is also an Assistant Professor for the Behavioral Medicine and Bioethics department. In this vital role, Dr. Salas has effectively and successfully established a DEI department from the ground up. His work includes creating and developing diversity and inclusion programming focused on providing students/faculty/staff training knowledge, skills, and overall awareness around cultural competency/humility. Rich earned his master’s degree in human resources and Ph.D. in Educational Leadership and Organization Change from Colorado State University. He has served as Executive Director of Cinco de Mayo in Colorado and, as a guitarist himself, has been a supporter of Hoyt Sherman Place for several years.

Karen Sievers is a retired teacher and joins the Foundation Board as the Des Moines Women’s Club President Elect. Since retiring, she devotes her time to “non-professional” activities such as the county political board, garden clubs, church activities, and enjoying all that lake living has to offer.

Larry Taylor is a graduate of Purdue University and joined Merchants Bonding Company in 1989 and serves as the company’s Chairman and President. Larry is past Chairman of The Surety and Fidelity Association of America and continues to serve on its Board. He is past Chairman of the National Association of Independent Sureties, a member of the Greater Des Moines Committee, a past Board member of the Master Builders of Iowa Associate Council, past President of the Board of Directors of Youth Homes of Mid-America, past Board member of the Iowa Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, and a United Way Campaign volunteer.

Jeff White has worked in public relations and advertising in Des Moines for more than 25 years and is currently a senior vice president and associate partner at Flynn Wright. His primary responsibilities include business development and public relations team management. He also helps oversee various clients including Catch Des Moines, Iowa Lottery, Mission Cancer + Blood, Colorbiotics, and business-to-business accounts. Prior to working at Flynn Wright, Jeff helped start another firm, Two Rivers Marketing, where he worked from 2000-2016. Jeff’s community involvement includes Public Relations Society of America, Greater Des Moines Partnership Public Relations Committee, Bravo Greater Des Moines Passport to Culture campaign, and The Morning Club (breakfast club), to name a few.