Thursday, Nov. 12, 4:30-7:00 p.m.
Krause Gateway Center
At dsm magazine, we understand that Greater Des Moines benefits from the community spirit and contributions of local leaders who challenge all of us to improve the place we call home. That’s why we think it’s important to recognize this leadership through our annual Sages Over 70 awards, which honor local leaders and their decades of civic and business leadership, mentorship, advocacy and overall community involvement.
We are proud to introduce this year’s Sages Over 70 honorees. We’ll honor them at a special event Nov. 12 at Krause Gateway Center and their profiles will be published in the Nov/Dec issue of dsm magazine.
2026 Sages Over 70 Honorees
Mary Andringa is the former president and CEO of Vermeer Corporation, where she helped transform the Pella-based manufacturer into a global leader while championing innovation, employee well-being and values-driven leadership. A trailblazer for women in business, she was the first woman to chair both the National Association of Manufacturers and the Iowa Association of Business and Industry and has dedicated decades to advancing STEM education, philanthropy and workforce development.
Elizabeth Barnhill is the former executive director of the Iowa Coalition Against Sexual Assault, where she spent 33 years transforming Iowa’s response to sexual violence through survivor-centered policy, expanded victim services and legislative reform. A founding member of the National Alliance to End Sexual Violence, she helped make Iowa a national leader in supporting survivors while influencing advocacy and public policy nationwide.
Patricia Boddy is the former deputy director of the Iowa Department of Natural Resources and former director of the Polk County Conservation Board, where she helped shape Iowa’s approach to conservation, sustainability and outdoor recreation. Throughout her career, she has led many major projects, including the evolution of the High Trestle Trail, Water Works Park and the Tomorrow Plan, leaving a lasting impact on communities and public spaces across the state.
John Bruntz is the former CEO of The Wittern Group, where he led the company for nearly three decades and continues serving the company as chairman of the board. Beyond business and civic leadership, he is also a respected attorney and has authored several academic journal articles on labor and employment law, receiving the highest peer rating by attorneys and judges for his legal ability and ethical standards.
Frank Cownie is the longest-serving mayor in Des Moines history, leading Iowa’s capital city for 20 years after serving as chair of the Des Moines Planning and Zoning Commission. During his tenure, he championed neighborhood-driven planning and helped guide transformative projects, including developments at Gray’s Lake, Lauridsen Skatepark, Martin Luther King Jr. Parkway and more that have made the region a more vibrant place to live and work.
Joseph Giunta is the music director and conductor of the Des Moines Symphony, where he has spent nearly 40 years transforming the orchestra into one of the nation’s premier regional ensembles. He founded the Des Moines Symphony Academy, established the beloved Yankee Doodle Pops tradition and has championed diverse composers and world-class performances, helping elevate Central Iowa’s arts community while expanding access to music education for generations of Iowans.
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Where do you find your joy?
dsm magazine’s Sages Over 70 has partnered with WesleyLife to explore the question, “Where do you find your joy?” Through a short video series, we share the inspiring stories of our Sages honorees, showcasing the many ways joy is found in family, friends, community, and personal fulfillment. These snapshots offer a glimpse into the moments that bring meaning and happiness to their lives.
Joyful Aging is a video series featuring dsm’s Sages Over 70 who are redefining what it means to age well.
“When you are spreading joy, you are receiving joy. It’s one of those reciprocal things where the more you give the more you receive.”
“I am so looking forward to my life in the next 30 years.”
“We are different 73-year-olds than our parents were.”
“So much in life is attitude. Whatever it may, just go in with a good attitude, that life is only beginning.”
“I think those of us that are in our 70s now still feel pretty vibrant.”
“I’m a retired banker. A boring banker, maybe — but not exactly, because I’m interested in a lot of things.”
“I’m starting to understand I can’t climb Kilimanjaro anymore, but that’s OK. I can take a walk around the park.”
“I don’t think of myself as old; I just think of myself as someone who still has something to offer.”
“I just think there’s joy all around us, but I think that it’s taken me a lifetime to see more of it.”
Sages Honored in Previous Years
James A. Autry, Chuck Betts, Margo and Don Blumenthal, Richard “Red” Brannen, J.C. “Buz” Brenton, Bobbretta Brewton, Joe Brick, Donald Brush, Robert Burnett, Mary Campos, Linda Carter-Lewis, Joyce Chapman, Monroe Colston, Judith Conlin, Roxanne Conlin, Joy Corning, Patty and Jim Cownie, Paul Danforth, Johnny Danos, Rob Denson, Richard Deming, Phil Dorweiler, RuthAnn Gaines, Elaine Graham Estes, Simon Estes, Allison Fleming, Wayne Ford, Penny Furgerson, Michael Gartner, Nolden Gentry, E.J. Giovannetti, Willie Stevenson Glanton, Joe Gonzalez, Barbara Graham, Edgar Hansell, Tom and Ruth Harkin, Harlan “Bud” Hockenberg, H. Lynn Horak, James Hubbell III, David Hurd, Trudy Holman Hurd, Connie Isaacson, Dwight Jackson, Vernon Johnson, William Kimball, Gary Kirke, William Knapp, Linda and Tom Koehn, Mary Kramer, Elizabeth Kruidenier, Don and Charlene Lamberti, Robert Larsen, William Lillis, Elvin McDonald, Polly Moore, R.W. and Mary Nelson, Gerry and Mary Lou Neugent, Kenneth Quinn, John Pappajohn, Ila Plasencia, Robert Pulver, Suku Radia, Robert Ray, Stan and Jody Reynolds, Bob Riley, Stephen W. Roberts, David Roederer, John Ruan III, Pat Schneider, Mary Seidler, Bob Shaw, Patsy Shors, Loretta Sieman, Neal Smith, Tom Urban, Jack Wahlig, Fred Weitz, Doug West, Catherine G. Williams, Pam Williams, Rich Willis, Martha Willits and Alan Zuckert