Eileen O'Brien Denner

Transformational giving is something that is just part of who Eileen Denner is. She and her husband, Keith, both founders of ICGC, continue to follow God’s call to bring like-minded Christian leaders together to inspire, educate and support nonprofits in their community to advance the Kingdom of God through Christ-minded generosity.

Eileen holds an Executive Certificate in Transformational Nonprofit Leadership from the University of Notre Dame, College of Mendoza School of Business and ICGC isn’t the only place to benefit from her time and talents. She is a Journey of Generosity facilitator at Generous Giving and the current president of a nonprofit within the real estate industry. As a certified music practitioner with a Masters in Voice from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Eileen has taught voice at her alma mater, coached students in various locations, and continues to share her beautiful operatic voice in concerts and churches.

This Christian leadership team continues to amaze Eileen with their tremendous collaboration and passion for transformational giving. The ripple effect of Christ-minded generosity in her life, marriage and community deepens her faith-walk on a daily basis.

Eileen and her husband, Keith,still participate in mission trips like the ones that inspired them to start ICGC. When they are home, some of the things Eileen enjoys doing in her off-time include singing opera, spending time with family, writing, and baking kolaches using her mother’s secret recipe.

Keith Denner

Keith Denner has operated his own business, Professional Property Management, for over 44 years with a focus on extreme energy efficiency. He also shares his time and expertise about energy efficiency assisting and consulting with churches and private schools. His passion for education also encompassed some time on the faculty at Iowa State University teaching sales and business courses.

Founding ICGC with his wife, Eileen, and others has changed his life. He enjoys working with other Christian leaders and he’s thankful for the devotion to Christ-centered giving he is witnessing within the leadership team and membership. He is hopeful that others will also be motivated to become transformational givers and experience the joy that comes from giving in ways they never thought were possible.

During his down-time, Keith enjoys traveling and spending time with Eileen, family time, men’s Bible studies, and making chocolate covered strawberries and other creations.

Jerry Foster

Striving to be a catalyst for generosity in his community in central Iowa is a driving force for Jerry Foster. He is the founder/chairman of the board for The Foster Group and is proud to serve as a board member for Kingdom Advisors. He is also a public speaker for several national and international Christian organizations. The combination of many years as a business owner, industry leader, and speaker have allowed Jerry to gain a perspective of cultural needs and generosity that is transferable to others.

A natural teacher, Jerry appreciates the teaching and inspiration ICGC provides around the topic of generosity. When asked what he likes most about volunteering with the ICGC leadership team, he replied, “I love the spirit of collaboration amongst the many nonprofits. I love that we are all striving for the same thing - impacting God’s kingdom.”

When he’s not working or volunteering, Jerry enjoys spending time with his fifteen (!) grandchildren, cycling, painting, and traveling.

Bill Gustoff

Bill Gustoff’s legal expertise as a law firm partner working with values-driven charitable estate planning and non-profit organization law gives him a particularized focus on the issues impacting philanthropy from both the donor’s and charity’s perspectives. He has served and continues to serve on the board of several non-profit organizations using his work experience and training to help them.

As a member of the ICGC leadership team, Bill values the opportunity to apply his training, knowledge and experience to help God-honoring charitable causes in a way that leverages the impact among many organizations at the same time while in an environment not focused on marketing or selling services. Bill also loves meeting people from diverse backgrounds and from different organizations.

It is Bill’s hope to continue sharing his technical knowledge and practical experience from a Christ-centered perspective for organizations and people seeking to honor Christ with their giving and their work. Beyond that, Bill cherishes time with his family and enjoys the outdoors while biking or running.

Pastor Michael Hurst

Pastor Michael Hurst has dedicated his extensive career to tirelessly advancing the Kingdom of God, with a special emphasis on embodying the love of Jesus Christ to those around him. In his role as the executive director of Pillars of Promise, his mission is to combat intergenerational poverty in innovative ways, by fostering collaboration among public, private, and nonprofit organizations to address the needs of the heart of the Greater Des Moines community. Pastor Hurst is inspiring others to join him in purposefully working towards a city free from poverty.

With his extensive tenure as a pastor at Hope+Elim and Elim Christian Fellowship, Pastor Hurst embodies a spirit of love that possesses the power to turn adversaries into allies. He consistently extends his outreach beyond the confines of the church, aiming to connect with others. His core belief lies in pursuing unity and oneness in Christ, a love that overflows without expecting anything in return, essentially manifesting the love of God in people's lives.

His devotion to meeting the needs of God’s children through generosity is a benefit and blessing to the ICGC Leadership Team. His goal as an ICGC leader is to always be Biblically-based, God-centered and Holy Spirit directed.

Pastor Hurst loves reading, exercising, and spending time with his wife, Cheryl, and their two children; but most of all, he loves God!

Randy Jensen

Now retired from Wells Fargo & Company, Randy Jensen is proud to fulfill the role of community volunteer. Randy currently serves on the board of the Des Moines Area Religious Council (DMARC) and is involved with a number of other central Iowa non-profit organizations. He is also very active in his church, where he serves on the pastoral council and is a member of the Knights of Columbus, Serra Club and Legatus.

Randy joined ICGC and its leadership team in 2019 and considers it a privilege to be a part of this unique and growing organization. He feels honored to have the opportunity that ICGC provides to get to know and support the many Christ-center nonprofits who are serving the needs of our communities.

When he’s not volunteering in the community, Randy and his wife, Cindy, cherish spending time with their growing family. He also enjoys traveling, biking, boating, hunting, home building and managing the family’s business interests.

Matt Moeckl

As executive director for Wildwood Hills Ranch, Matt Moeckl understands the everyday details and challenges that come with leading and operating a non-profit organization geared toward helping others from a Christ-centered perspective. He serves on the boards of the Christian Camping and Conference Association and the Advisory Board for Together for Good and is an active member of his church.

Being part of the leadership team has inspired Matt to recruit non-profit peers to explore ICGC membership and loves watching the membership grow. His favorite thing about this team is connecting with all the amazing people doing “unbelievable work for the Kingdom!”

When he’s not hard at work or volunteering, Matt enjoys spending time with friends and family, watching college football, golfing, and traveling.

Catherine Muthey

After working many years in human resources, marketing and business development, Catherine Muthey felt the Lord asking her to pray on a full time basis. She has been a prayer intercessor since 2013 and her heart’s desire is to see every ministry and corporation incorporate prayer in their organizational culture.

Praying for the Iowa Christian Generosity Council with some of the founding members since 2018, Catherine is now a member of the leadership team as the official prayer intercessor for ICGC. Her personal prayer is that all ministries and corporations be bathed in prayers and that God will raise more intercessors.

A resident of the state of Kansas, Catherine loves spending time outdoors to experience the beauty in nature that God has created. She is always opening up her home and heart to those in need of love and encouragement.

Travis Shelton

As the founder of Shelton Consulting and host of the Meaning Over Money podcast, Travis Shelton is helping families and businesses steward the resources they are blessed with. He says it’s never about having more, but rather about having “better.” Travis is on a mission to teach others to see the world through a different lens and reshape the role money plays in their lives, businesses, and ministries. Prior to the founding of his own company, Travis spent 15 years in commercial real estate portfolio management at Principal Real Estate Investors. With a heart for nonprofits, he has served on several boards including Pioneers, Coldwater Foundation, Alpha Iowa and Yoke Ministries.

Joining the ICGC leadership team allows Travis to use his talents and passion for Christian ministries to help equip and cultivate the values and practices surrounding generosity and stewardship within the member organizations. He considers it an honor to walk alongside ministries that have their own unique vision/calling and a shared heart toward the Kingdom and its people.

When Travis can set some time apart from work, he and his wife enjoy traveling internationally, trying new and unique foods. He’s a big NBA fan, loves spending time with the high school youth group he leads at church and playing with his TWIN 5-year-old sons every chance he gets!

Johnne Syverson

As a founding member and current chairperson for the ICGC leadership team, Johnne Syverson provides the guidance and wisdom necessary to lead ICGC with competence and heart. He has decades of leadership experience as a Senior Financial Planner and operating his own businesses, including his current venture, Charitable Giving Resource Center, designed to aid nonprofits with implementing any type of major asset gift that comes their way. Johnne served as past president of the Mid-Iowa Planned Giving Council, co-founded the International Association of Advisors in Philanthropy and has served in leadership roles for other industry organizations.

His devotion to growing the Kingdom of God in his community is evident in all that he does. He enjoys being part of the ICGC Leadership Team because it provides him the opportunity to help numerous Christian nonprofits at one time with their development efforts and encourage them to “keep on keeping on” as they seek to grow the Kingdom of God together.

These days, Johnne also shares his leadership skills as chairman for his church’s endowment committee. He enjoys attending several different men’s Bible study groups, traveling with his wife, Linda, and riding his Harley-Davidson!

Heidi Vermeer-Quist

Leading from a faith-based approach is at the heart of how Heidi Vermeer-Quist operates in everything she does - and she’s doing a lot these days! She and her husband, Chad, own and operate Heartland Christian Counseling where she is a Licensed Clinical Psychologist. She also provides family business and organizational consulting through her company, VM Consult, a branch of Heartland.

Heidi is also part of a multi-generational family business, Vermeer Corporation, and has served in various family governance roles, including establishing and chairing the Ownership Counsel and serving on the board of directors. She is also a committed leader elsewhere in the community; serving as a board member for Des Moines Christian School and several other non-profit boards.

When asked why she decided to join the ICGC leadership team, Heidi shared how she loves promoting generosity in her community. She is honored to know she is helping facilitate community connections and participation in Christ-centered giving and service.

When she’s not hard at work, Heidi enjoys music and being outdoors, especially if it includes riding her horses or playing tennis.

Lorie Williamson

As a small business owner pulling from decades of experience in a variety of industries, Lorie Williamson is able to use her knowledge and expertise to help her clients grow and feel confident in their ability to be organized, meet their goals and communicate effectively. With a passion for nonprofits, she has worked with and volunteered for several types of organizations including those focused on women, children, education, homelessness, and mission work. She has held several leadership positions, served on numerous committees and chaired the local board for Zonta International while living in Colorado Springs. Currently, she serves on the executive board for her local Chamber of Commerce and volunteers regularly with her church and local Ministerial Association.

Originally asked to help the ICGC leadership team achieve their communication goals, Lorie is now honored to serve as their Associate Administrative Director. She considers it a blessing to work with such caring and generous community leaders dedicated to sharing their faith with others while inspiring, educating and motivating Kingdom-minded generosity.

Lorie and her family (she has 5 children and 3 grands!) love to travel to new places and when she has the opportunity, she enjoys hiking and kayaking in the beautiful outdoors.

Wednesday, May 12 
(12:00 - 1:00 PM)

Overcoming It All
Dan Herod is a husband, father, friend, communicator and author. He and his family are no strangers to adversity. After enduring two consecutive miscarriages, they encountered an unimaginable tragedy when their 13-month-old daughter passed away from SIDS (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome). Since that fateful day, Dan and his family have found the key to living an incredibly abundant life in the midst of overwhelmingly heartbreaking circumstances.

Dan lives to encourage everyone to live the best life possible. For over 15 years he has been speaking to groups of all ages and sizes. Dan tells humorous stories and shares compelling experiences in each and every talk he gives. It is his joy to share what he has discovered in the most difficult season of his life.

Since 2010, Dan has served as the Youth Alive Director for Wisconsin and Northern Michigan. Youth Alive is an organization committed to helping students live the best life possible. He loves to spend time with his family and finds immense joy serving as a volunteer fire department in his community. Dan and his family reside in central Wisconsin where the summers are ever so beautifully breathtaking, and the winters are so cold they take your breath away.

Thursday, May 13 
(11:45 - 1:00 PM)

Assistant Coach at Michigan Tech
Dallas Steward enters his fourth season as an assistant coach at Michigan Tech in 2020-21. During his first season, Steward and the Huskies went to the NCAA Tournament after winning the WCHA Championship Game. Tech finished 22-17-5 overall and was ranked No. 16 in the final USCHO poll. Four players have signed NHL contracts in his first two seasons at Michigan Tech.

Steward was an Associate Head Coach with the Chicago Steel of the USHL for two seasons from 2015-17. The 2016-17 team went 38-17-2 in the regular season, defeated Youngstown and Dubuque in the first two rounds of the playoffs, and won the USHL Championship with an overtime win over Sioux City in Game 5 of the Clark Cup.

Steward started his coaching career with the Sioux Falls Stampede (USHL) as an assistant coach and scouting director from 2011-15. He helped lead the team to three consecutive playoff berths and a Clark Cup title in 2014-15.

Steward played 138 games over four years at the University of Alaska Anchorage from 2000-04. He scored 27 goals and added 32 assists as a forward, was an assistant captain as a senior, and a three-time WCHA All-Academic selection. Steward went on to play six years of professional hockey in both the CHL and ECHL from 2004-10.

Prior to college, Steward played three seasons with the Green Bay Gamblers, winning the Clark Cup in 2000. He amassed a total of 74 points over three seasons with the Gamblers, including 18 goals and 27 assists in their championship season.
The Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin native has a bachelor’s degree in journalism and public communication from UAA. He and his wife Janet have two daughters, Jade and Blake.