Leadership Urbandale Alumni

With a background in marketing, communications, and psychology, Kalese Sheldahl is passionate about creating and elevating the customer experience, building a strong brand, and telling her company’s story. As a Marketing Program Manager at Van Meter Inc, she leads the creative services and marketing communications arm of the marketing team. She has helped develop award-winning creative marketing campaigns, assists in overseeing internal and external communications, and enjoys innovating for her team and partners.
She holds a bachelors in journalism and mass communication from Iowa State and a masters in leadership development from Drake University. Kalese is a wife and mom of three. She enjoys traveling, volleyball and a good sushi roll.

Derek Zarn is an experienced public relations and marketing professional with a rich background in creativity and design. His passion for storytelling, user experience design, and strategic communication has shaped his career, leading to his current role as the Director of Communications and Marketing for the City of Urbandale. Derek’s work has been awarded and recognized by multiple organizations including the Bioeconomy Institute, Public Relations Society of America Iowa Chapter, City-County Communication & Marketing Association, and Graphic Design USA. Outside of his professional life, Derek is deeply committed to community service, serving on the Board of Directors for the Urbandale Food Pantry. He is passionate about staying active through yoga, powerlifting, and exploring new countries. His recent travels have taken him to Tokyo, Rio de Janeiro, and São Paulo.

With twenty years of experience in the Human Resources profession, Erin  has established herself as a local leader in the public sector. As a graduate from the University of Iowa College of Business, she went on to achieve HR certifications including the Professional in Human Resources (PHR), Society for Human Resources Management Certified Professional (SHRM-CP), Group Benefits Associate (GBA), and most recently the Certified Public Manager (CPM) from Drake. Erin is an long-standing member of the National Public Employer Labor Relations Association (NPELRA) which provides professional development, networking, and advocacy services to public sector organizations across the nation and was recently appointed Vice President of the Iowa PELRA Chapter in 2023. 

Captain Underwood has been employed with the Urbandale Police Department since 2003. He started his law enforcement career in 2001 and served two years with the St. Louis Airport Police Department.

Captain Underwood was promoted to Captain January of 2024 and currently leads as the Patrol Division Commander. Captain Underwood served at a Sergeant for the Support Services and Criminal Investigations Division. Prior to his promotion to Sergeant, he worked as a detective in the Investigation Division for the department. As a detective, he served as a Property Crimes and Crimes Against Person. He has also served as a Defensive Tactics Instructor, Rape Aggression Defense Instructor (RADD), Field Training Officer, a S.W.A.T/Suburban Emergency Response Team Member and a Domestic Violence Instructor.

Amanda has been an Account Executive at Palmer Group for more than two years and has been in recruitment for nearly 10. Amanda enjoys consulting with hiring managers and HR professionals on their staffing needs, employee retention, and sharing market data for the Des Moines employment scene. In her freetime, Amanda enjoys working out at Krave Gym, reading books and watching movies, and spending time with her two sons.

Born and raised in eastern Iowa, Daycen now works as an Associate Financial Planner with AO Wealth Advisory in Urbandale. After graduating from Iowa State University, he and his wife, Payton, moved to West Des Moines before embarking on the journey of home ownership with the recent purchase of a home in Clive. They love to explore local eateries and coffee shops in their free time as well as taking their Goldendoodle, Hazel, on adventures.

Brittany Schmidt is an Operations Manager at Delta Dental of Iowa. After working in healthcare and the insurance industry, she is passionate about making a positive impact on the lives of others. With a strong background in streamlining processes, optimizing resources, and fostering collaboration within teams, Brittany is committed to driving success and creating a lasting difference in both professional and community settings. 

Zach was born and raised in Des Moines and currently resides in Urbandale with his wife, Kelsi, and their children, Berkley and Bowen.  He graduated from the University of Iowa and spent nearly a decade traveling the country in his previous career as a Regional Vice President for two prominent financial services companies.  Currently, Zach is a financial advisor and partner of The Des Moines Group at Morgan Stanley.  Their team focuses on holistic financial planning where his areas of expertise are insurance planning, retirement income, estate, and tax planning. He has been on the Board of Directors of the Rotary Club of Des Moines AM for 5 years and will assume the role of President in July 2025.  He was recently appointed as a member of the City of Urbandale Economic Development Advisory Board.  He is heavily engaged in various philanthropic ventures in central Iowa.

Living in and around the Urbandale area since fourth grade, Amy Gulling currently resides in Urbandale and is a board member for URBSAF (Urbandale Schools and Alumni Foundation and her homeowner’s association.
After graduating from Urbandale High School, Amy attended Simpson College, obtaining a dual major in liberal arts and education. She earned endorsements in reading and special education. Amy furthered her education at Drake University and received her master’s in education leadership. She went on to receive a consulting endorsement from Morningside College. Her tenure has led to a diverse career background working as a teacher, being an assistant director, and most recently a special education consultant. She has experience working in public and private settings, along with urban, rural, and suburban districts.
Currently, Amy is pursuing her entrepreneurial endeavors

After spending four years working in insurance & technology industries, Colton made the move to start a career in commercial real estate. Colton enjoys learning about business operations and building relationships along the way. When outside of the office, he attends many Iowa State football & basketball games with family and is always up for a round of golf.

Josh Boyle was born and raised in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.  Following high school, Josh pursued higher education at Mount Mercy University, where he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology. His career path led him to serve the community as a firefighter for Urbandale. Over the past 14 years, Josh has dedicated himself to this noble profession and was promoted to Lieutenant in 2019, a testament to his commitment and expertise.
Josh resides in Urbandale with his wife and three stepchildren.

Meticulous. Goal oriented. Tactical. These qualities accurately describe Alex as he delves into understanding his clients’ strengths, weaknesses and vulnerabilities. He is a team leader who connects with his clients to create effective marketing initiatives that drive brands and get results. Throughout the planning process, Alex works with all departments within the agency to meet the goals and expectations of every client and every project, all while staying within budget.
Alex started his career with Trilix. After interning for one summer, Alex was hired full-time and has been a public relations specialist, project manager, senior project manager, account manager and team lead, prior to assuming his current role as senior account manager.
In the evenings and weekends, you’ll find Alex coaching his kids’ soccer teams, involved in community events, or simply relaxing outside with family and friends.

Kevin Lohry is a Development Manager with Hubbell Realty Co., where he works to lead multi-family and senior living development projects across Central Iowa. Kevin joined Hubbell after 2 years as a Development Manager for Senior Living Partners in St. Paul, MN. Kevin’s experience also includes 10 years in the mortgage banking, regulatory compliance, and anti-money laundering industries. Kevin completed his Masters in Real Estate Development from Iowa State University in 2021 and holds a Bachelors Degree in Economics from Princeton University. Born and raised in Sioux City, IA, Kevin now happily resides in Urbandale with his wife and two sons.

Marla Mayberry is a seasoned professional with over 20 years of experience, having held key roles at Accenture, Sprint, and Asurion. She is currently the Director of Commercial Readiness for the Client Growth & Tech Sales organization at JLL, a position she has held since 2019. At JLL, Marla also serves as a mentor for the Women Transforming Tech ERG, fostering growth and development in the tech industry.

Marla holds a bachelor's degree in journalism & mass communications from Kansas State University and an MBA from the University of Kansas. She is a 2014 graduate of the Greater Des Moines Leadership Institute and is deeply engaged in her community. Her leadership roles include service with both Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts, active participation as an Election Worker & Precinct Official in Dallas County, and regular volunteering with Des Moines Refugee Support. She is also a member of the Urbandale Parks & Recreation Commission since 2022.