About the Urbandale Chamber

Christy Jones, Former Owner of R Jones Collision 1 has been helping customers through the collision claim process since 2001. Christy was a second-generation owner, who bought the business from her Father and Uncle in 2015. As someone who has grown up, worked in and purchased a family-owned business, Christy brings a wealth of knowledge to her employees and customers each day. She serves as an ambassador for her customers. She takes a hands-on approach by educating them about the collision repair process. Christy can sum up her dedication to collision repair with this service statement: Our customers feel safe and secure trusting their vehicle to the care of our knowledgeable employees who produce quality repairs. We write it right, fix it right and bill it right.

Jason grew up in LeMars, IA and attended the University of Iowa, receiving a degree in Communications, and Iowa State University, where he received a degree in meteorology. He has worked at WHO-TV, KCCI-TV, and KCWI-TV forecasting and covering Iowa’s ever-changing weather. Jason joined Compass Financial Services as a Sales Assistant in Oct. of 2016. He lives in Urbandale with his wife Kelly and sons Nolen, Maddox, and Hudson and their trusty dog, Radar. 

Ben has 7 years of experience in public accounting. He currently serves as an Assurance Manager for TDT CPAs & Advisors specializing in audits of non-profits, governmental entities as well as employee benefit plans. Outside of work Ben enjoys golfing, cheering on the Chiefs and the Cyclones, and spending time with his family. Ben and his wife live in Waukee with their daughter Baylor.

Creighton has over 20 years’ experience working in areas of economic development, construction, and municipal and state government.

His background in construction, land development, lobbying and working with local municipalities has helped many companies and leaders with regulatory requirements and working together to improve the quality of life of central Iowans through good planning and strong infrastructure.

Prior to joining Turner Construction, a General Contractor, Creighton worked at Olsson Engineering and served as the Executive Officer of the Home Builders Association of Greater Des Moines. He also worked in the office of the Iowa Senate Republican Leader and as a consultant and lobbyist for M & R Strategic Services. He served eight years as a City Council Member for the City of Urbandale, 2011-2019.

Creighton currently serves on the Polk County Housing Trust Fund Board of Directors, and has served on the boards of the Better Business Bureau, Developers Council of Greater Des Moines, Des Moines HBA Green Building Council, Iowa State Extension Iowa Housing Policy Roundtable, Des Moines Area Metropolitan Planning Organization, Iowa HOBY, and Think Green Iowa. In addition, he is a member of the Des Moines Business Record Forty Under Forty class of 2010 and is a graduate of Leadership Urbandale.  Creighton also enjoys coaching Urbandale Little League and Urbandale Rec youth basketball.

Creighton graduated from the University of Iowa in 1997 with a bachelor’s degree in political science and history. He was born in New York and as part of a military family lived in Vermont, Alabama, and Michigan before moving to Iowa 1986. He has lived in Urbandale since 2006 with his wife Katie, and two children, Braeden and Stella.

With more than 20 years’ experience working in construction and electrical distribution, Rob Olney understands the importance of progress and has contributed to the success of countless commercial, institutional, and industrial projects.

He currently leads Van Meter Inc.’s contractor business as Vice President of Sales. Van Meter is an award-winning workplace with more than 800 employee-owners serving the electrical and automation needs of customers in 25 locations across the country—including Des Moines and Urbandale.

Rob considers it an honor and responsibility to give back to the communities where he works and lives. He has served on the American Lung Association Local Leadership Board since 2018 and is a past board member for the Urbandale Food Pantry.

Born and raised in Cedar Rapids, Rob is a proud Iowan and Hawkeye. He graduated from the University of Iowa College of Business in 1997 with a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration and a Minor in Communications. Following graduation, Rob spent the next 13 years expanding his skills as a leader and business strategist while working in various roles and cities throughout the Midwest. In 2011, he was thrilled to join the Van Meter team and Urbandale community, where he continues to make an impact personally and professionally.

Rob and his wife, Wendi, have two children – Carly and Luke. The Olney family is passionate about sports, loves spending time outdoors, and appreciates the quality of life found in central Iowa.

I’ve been a Head Hunter since 2015 and love it! Previous to that, I have 25+ years of Human Resources management experience, with Senior Professional in Human Resources (SPHR) certification. My full range of HR knowledge, coupled with a multitude of business and professional connections, ensures my success in identifying top talent to meet my client’s needs. Here at Career Search Associates, we help businesses fill full time positions ranging from the front desk to the CEO. We specialize in Administration, Accounting, Marketing, Sales, Human Resources, Project Management, Call Center Management and Retail Store Management. We are respected recruiters who also help the passive candidate that wants to explore opportunities in a confidential manner.

Todd Herren graduated from Iowa State University with a Bachelor’s degree in Finance and earned an MBA from Drake University.

A New Look Exteriors is an exterior remodeling company.  Specializing in Roofing, Windows, Siding, Gutters, Soffit & Fascia and Concrete work.

We bring many years of experience paired with a drive to make our customers experience a great one.  

We are here to give clients the best customer experience when choosing to remodel their homes.  We do this by:

• Choosing the best materials
• Choosing the best installers
• Continuously pursuing certifications and training to be the best in our field
• Relentlessly pursuing our customers experience 

Farrell’s eXtreme Bodyshaping’s founder and CEO, Lance Farrell, is a sixth-degree black belt with one mission: to inspire people to live with power and purpose.

Lance Farrell began his Taekwondo journey under Master Yong Chin Pak while studying at Iowa State University in 1980. In 1982, Lance began teaching Taekwondo over the summer in his hometown of Guthrie Center, Iowa. In 1985, to accommodate the growing number of Taekwondo students, Lance relocated his program to Creston, Iowa.

Inspired by the art of Taekwondo, the concepts of bodybuilding, and the martial arts culture of accountability, Lance created the Farrell’s 10-Week Challenge.

In 2001, the first 10-Week Challenge was held in Des Moines, Iowa. Over 40 Taekwondo parents and instructors joined–and the results were groundbreaking. The transformations the first 10-Week students experienced were remarkable, and word quickly spread.

To further the mission of empowering others, Farrell’s became a franchise in 2007. Headquartered out of Urbandale, Iowa, Farrell’s has since expanded to over 60 locations across 12 states–and counting! Over 200,000 members have experienced their own transformation with Farrell’s. Since the inaugural 10-Week Challenge, members have lost over 4.5 million pounds of body fat. (That’s the weight of 356 elephants!) No other fitness company can produce results like Farrell’s.

For nearly 20 years, Farrell’s has stood the test of time. Today, Lance continues to lead the company with one mission in mind: to inspire others to live with power and purpose.

 Gina is a small town Iowa girl. Proud of her roots, she was born and raised on a farm. Her work ethic stems from the life her parents instilled in her and her 5 siblings. She was raised with strong Christian values and the belief she could accomplish anything if she put her mind to it. 

Gina has spent the majority of her professional career in hospitality and working with the community. She started as a server/waitress in college. This was truly the point in which she realized her passion for management, leadership and most of all, working with people! This simple position led her into development with multiple well-known brands. For the last 8 years she has been a Franchise Business Coach with the corporate entities of Subway and Pancheros. Leading a team and being results driven has excelled Gina’s career and made her who she is today. Relationship building and working with the community has always been her passion. Gina values working with a team that is committed to impacting change. This makes her a great match with the Urbandale Chamber of Commerce. As the Vice President, she is excited to get involved with your organization and start building strong, lasting relationships. 

In her free time, Gina is family focused. Family time is spent with her husband, Bobby and daughter, Shae. They enjoy time on the deck, grilling and entertaining. Shae is a student at Des Moines Christian and quite involved with softball, show choir and band.  It keeps them very busy in much of their free time but they wouldn’t have it any other way! 

Mary has had careers in banking, was Executive Assistant to the President of USG Annuity & Life Company, a Fundraiser & Events Director at Make-A-Wish Foundation of Iowa, & employed for 11-years at the Partnership. 
Mary is a member & is active in a number of organizations. She is past president & member of LPGA (Ladies Professional Golf Association)-Amateurs of DM, current President of the Willow Creek Tuesday Morning Ladies Golf League, past president & current member of PEO Chapter KD of Des Moines, & current member of the Urban Heights Covenant Church among various other organizations.
 
Mary married Pat Knueven in 1980. Their son (Jason) and daughter-in-law (Becky) live in Gardner, Kansas, with their 2 boys, Cael & Cameron. She loves to play golf, travel, & spend time with her two grandsons.

I was born and raised in Hawkeye country- Iowa City! Go Hawks! While attending the University of Iowa, I was involved in many student organizations, where my passion for event coordinating began. After 5 years primarily in the wedding industry, I was ready to take on a different and new avenue of events, leading me to the Chamber world! I am dedicated to bringing impactful event opportunities to life for our community’s professionals. 
When I’m not running around Urbandale, you might find me trying to keep my flower garden alive, in the kitchen cooking an extravagant meal, boating at the lake with my family, or at a country concert. A few of my favorite things include iced coffee, any form of pasta, cats, Kenny Chesney, and gnomes (solely because they’re cute).