About Us

ABOUT US

Iowa Community Development is a certified Community Development Entity (CDE), or intermediary vehicle, for the provision of loans, investments, or financial counseling in low-income communities. Benefits of being a CDE include being able to apply to receive New Markets Tax Credit allocation to support transformational, job creation projects in designated low income areas.

Iowa Community Development has assisted with allocating New Markets Tax Credit dollars to 39 different projects across the state since July 2007. These projects have significantly and uniquely benefited each of the communities they have impacted by creating thousands of jobs, reusing existing structures, and rejuvenating and adding new value to existing neighborhoods.

BOARD

Daniel T. Robeson

Board Executive Director • President, Iowa Business Growth

Daniel T. Robeson is President of Iowa Business Growth Company (IBGC), which has a SBA 504 loan portfolio of approximately $100 million and manages a Mezzanine Fund owned by Wellmark Insurance Company. IBGC is the controlling entity in Iowa Community Development, LC who has received $320 million dollars in NMTC allocation.

Dennis Murdock

Board President • Retired

Dennis Murdock began his career at CIPCO as an accountant and gradually rose through the ranks to become chief executive of the generation and transmission cooperative in 1989. With over 50 years in the business, his expertise extends throughout nearly every aspect of the company including accounting, finance, contracts, and power supply.

John Rigler III photo

John Rigler III

President, Chief Operating Officer, Peoples Bank

John Rigler III has served as President & COO of Peoples Bank since 2018. Peoples Bank is primarily a commercial and agricultural community bank located in 9 towns across central and western Iowa. Originally getting his start as a bank teller John now has more than 20 years of experience in the industry. He obtained an undergraduate degree from the University of Wisconsin and later an MBA from Northwestern University. John also spent time working for two international banks in Chicago before rediscovering his roots

Bruce Tamisiea

Board Secretary • Founder, Tecton Industries, Inc.

Bruce Tamisiea founded Tecton Industries, Inc. in 1981 — a leading worldwide producer of precision components for original equipment manufacturers. Tamisiea also founded or co-founded STEK, Inc., Equilease Partners, Metal Technologies, Inc., Community State Bank and Specialty Archery. He serves on a variety of professional , local non-profit and venture capital boards for the state of Iowa.

John Sorensen

Board Treasurer • President & CEO, Iowa Bankers Association

John Sorensen has served as President & CEO of the Iowa Bankers Association since 1997. The IBA is the principal advocate for banking in the state of Iowa. Sorensen also provides direction to the Association’s service companies, including Iowa Bankers Insurance and Services, Inc. and Iowa Bankers Mortgage Corporation. These organizations offer a broad range of services to Iowa banks and their customers. Sorensen joined the IBA in 1986.

Rand Fisher

President, Iowa Area Development Group

Fisher has a proven record in business and community development at the local and state level, including five years as an Executive Assistant to the Governor. He is a leader and plays an active role with Iowa community foundations. Fisher can call upon an extensive network of local, state and national resources and partners to meet individual project needs.

ADVISORY BOARD

Tod Faris

Executive Director, Appanoose Economic Development Corporation

Tod Faris is the Executive Director of the Appanoose Economic Development Corporation (AEDC) in Centerville, IA. Faris serves on numerous boards that focus on community betterment, housing, and business and property development. He is a member of the Board of Directors for the Professional Developers of Iowa and is the Chair of the Opportunity Squared Regional Economic Development Group.

Abbie Gaffey

Community Development Program Specialist, Iowa State University Extension & Outreach

Abbie Gaffey has been a Community Development Program Specialist for Iowa State University Extension & Outreach since 2006. Ms. Gaffey works on a variety of statewide projects in the areas of affordable housing, strategic planning, sustainability, organizational development, leadership development and facilitation.

Deb Houghtaling

Fellow, Detroit Revitalization

A southwest Iowa native, Deb Houghtaling has more than 20 years of community and economic development experience. She served as Executive Director of the Grow Iowa Foundation for 11 years. Deb is currently serving as a Detroit Revitalization Fellow, helping a Detroit area nonprofit organization build its earned revenue and social enterprise strategies.

Bruce Nuzum

Vice President Finance, Iowa Area Development Group

With a background in finance and banking, Nuzum brings a broad knowledge of banking, financial tools, incentives and tax programs to every project he works with.   Nuzum serves as IADG’s primary contact for the USDA REDL&G program and helps IADG members administer their revolving loan funds which collectively total over $48 million.

Barbara Grant

Executive Director, Operation Threshold, Inc.

As executive director of Operation Threshold, Inc., Barbara Grant manages the operations of a Community Action Agency with an annual budget in excess of eight million dollars, serving a three-county area.