Board of Directors - Fairfield Economic Development Association (2023)

After joining the JCHC in 1990, Curtis Smith served as vice president ancillary services, out-patient director, emergency department manager, assistant emergency department manager, house supervisor of the emergency department, LPN in the emergency department, and nursing assistant. Curtis holds an associate’s degree in nursing from Indian Hills Community College, a Bachelor of Science degree in nursing from the University of Phoenix, a Master of Healthcare Administration degree from the University of Iowa, and is a registered nurse (RN). He is an Army National Guard Veteran, serving as a combat medic from 1989 to 1996. Curtis served on the Iowa Organization of Nurse Leaders Board, Iowa Hospital Association Council on Education and Member Services, and Iowa Healthcare Collaborative’s Advisory Council.

csmith@jeffersoncountyhealthcenter.org

Amy is currently the Director of Business Development for Agri-Industrial Plastics Company. Amy grew up in Nevada, Iowa. She then attended the University of Iowa where she studied business and majored in Marketing.

Upon graduation, Amy and her husband moved to Pennsylvania where she began her career at Airgas, Inc. in the safety division in sales and sales management. An opportunity to relocate back to Iowa came in 2005 when Amy joined Copperfield Chimney Supply in Fairfield as the Director of Sales and Customer Service.

Amy is married to Brent Jones and they have two children: Caden and Olivia. She enjoys coaching and supporting youth sports programs, cheering on the Iowa Hawkeyes and the Chicago Cubs.

Alissa is a third generation insurance agent at Gamrath-Doyle Insurance. Alissa grew up in Fairfield, graduating from Fairfield High School. After graduation, she went on to the University of Iowa’s Tippie College of Business, majoring in Marketing and International Business.

After finishing college, Alissa and her husband, Tai, lived in Raleigh, North Carolina and the Chicagoland area. Prior to returning to Fairfield, her career was in the Human Resources field, including positions as Regional Human Resources Manager for Einstein Bros. Bagels and then Jason’s Deli.

Coming back to Fairfield has been a great move for Alissa and Tai, who are the proud parents of two daughters, Elliott and Delaney. Joining the family business has allowed Alissa the opportunity to become active in the Fairfield community through involvement with many organizations, boards and clubs. She is an Ambassador with the Chamber of Commerce, a member of the Board of Directors for the Fairfield Rotary Club, the Fairfield Economic Development Association and the Fairfield Area Convention and Visitors Bureau.

In her free time, Alissa enjoys watching her children’s sporting events, playing golf and cheering for the Chicago Cubs and the Iowa Hawkeyes (especially when they are playing her husband’s team, the Iowa State Cyclones!).

Ken is currently President of Fourth Street Partners, LLC. From 2006 to 2017, Ken served as the CEO of FoodChain ID, a global provider of food safety testing and certification services to the food and agriculture industries. From 2000 to 2005, Ken was the President of Orthonix, LLC, a consumer products development firm and from 1990 to 2000, Ken served as CEO of PackageNet, Inc., a nationwide network of over 4,000 consumer service centers. Prior to PackageNet, Ken was the Founder and President of Atrium Information Group, an enterprise software tools company that was acquired by Computer Associates in 1988.

Ken has been active in the entrepreneurial community in Fairfield and was a founder, in 1989, of the Fairfield Entrepreneur’s Association. He is currently on the Board of the Fairfield Arts and Convention Center and FEDA. Ken has served on the Boards of a number of local technology startups and is currently Chairman of the Board of Logic Products, also based in Fairfield. Ken has also served two terms on the Board of the Fairfield Chamber of Commerce and served on the Board of Netherlands-based ProTerra Foundation (which certifies sustainable and responsible agriculture around the world). Ken received his B.A. from the U. of Wisconsin-Madison and his M.B.A from New York University in Finance and Information Technology. Ken has been residing in Fairfield since 1983 with his wife, Sheila, and has two daughters, Taylor and Julia. Ken enjoys golf, pickleball, skiing, and going to Iowa Hawkeye football and basketball games.

Joe is a Financial Advisor with Edward Jones in Fairfield, helping clients build long term strategies to achieve the goals that are most important to them. Joe and his family were born and raised in Fairfield and he is passionate about giving back to his community serving on numerous local boards and advisory committees.

Prior to his current profession as an Edward Jones Financial Advisor, Joe worked within his families Waste and Recycling business in Fairfield as they partnered with local businesses and communities on environmental service solutions. Joe’s past and current professional experience has given him a broad perspective on the overlap between economic development and the prosperity and health of a community. These experiences have further reinforced his belief in the importance of relationships, giving back, and synergies between the success of local companies and the residents that live within
them.

Joe is an active member in his church and has most recently served with the Fairfield Kiwanis, Fairfield Public Library, Township Trustees and the Fairfield Convention and Visitors Bureau. He is married to his wife of over 20 years Joni and they have four children together. In his spare time, Joe enjoys hunting, boating, golf, travel, motor sports, reading, the Iowa Hawkeyes, and anytime spent with family.

Connie Boyer grew up in Fairfield and is a sixth generation Jefferson County resident. She and husband, Bob, own Seven Roses Inn Bed and Breakfast in Fairfield. Connie worked at Iowa State Bank and parent company, Iowa State Financial Services Company in Fairfield for almost 24 years, retiring from banking in 2012 as CFO of Iowa State Financial Services Company. Connie graduated from the University of Wisconsin’s Graduate School of Banking in 2000 and Financial Manager’s School in 2004. She currently works as a Financial Advisor with Edward Jones.

Connie Boyer served on City Council from 2003-2007 and 2011-2013, with the second term serving as Mayor Pro-Tem. She participated on the 10 Year Strategic Plan, Co-Chaired the Go Green Commission in 2009, served on the Fairfield Arts & Convention Center Board for 10 years, is a member of Rotary, serving as President two different times and is currently a member of the Fairfield Library Foundation Board and PEO Chapter MB.

Connie has twin daughters and five grandchildren. In her spare time, she enjoys spending time outdoors, traveling, reading non-fiction, golf and being with her grandchildren. If you would like to contact Mayor Boyer, please emailmayor@fairfieldiowa.gov

Aaron was born in Clinton, Iowa and raised in Sioux Center Iowa. He began his public service degree as a police officer in Polk City, Iowa and then in West Des Moines, Iowa. He also spent 4 years as an instructor at the Iowa Law Enforcement Academy. Aaron has served the past five years as City Administrator in Hull, Iowa.

Aaron’s family includes his wife, Michelle, and two sons Asthon (20) and Landon (16). Aaron earned a BA in Sociology from the University of Iowa. He lettered in football from 1993 through 1995, playing right tackle on the Hawkeye offensive line in the Sun Bowl in 1995. He also earned a Master of Public Administration from Bellevue University.

Aaron has enjoyed coaching over the past 14 years in football and track. He also is an avid outdoorsman.

akooiker@fairfieldiowa.gov

Dee’s family has been in Jefferson County since 1886. Growing up, Dee worked on her family’s farm, graduating from Fairfield High School in 1971. In 2008, she returned to care for her aging mother and help manage the farm.

Dee and her husband are mid-size family farmers and use conservation practices to care for the land, air and water. She learned to care for the land from her dad, who was a state and national board member for soil and water conservation.

Dee is a successful small business owner. She and her husband started one of the first gluten-free specialty grocery stores in the nation in 2005 and sold it in 2009. She has a Master of Science degree in Hotel, Restaurant and Institution Management from Iowa State University and is an active member of the community.

dsandquist@jeffersoncountyia.com

John was raised and educated in Black Hawk County, Iowa. After high School in Waterloo, he attended the University of Northern Iowa, graduating in History Pre-Law. John attended Iowa College of Law at the University of Iowa, Iowa City, graduating with a Juris Doctor in 1971.

In 1973, after 32 months of Federal Defender work with South Dakota Indian Legal Services, John joined the firm Kelly & Morrissey in Fairfield, Iowa. John has maintained a private law practice ever since. His firm has always worked in trial and general practice, personal injury, commercial, probate, real estate, criminal and family law and has mentored more than 30 interns over the past 40 years. John was involved in County Attorney responsibilities for almost 18 years and has been Fairfield’s City Attorney since January 1991.

John has been behind the scenes in innumerable community organizations since the 1970s. He believes strongly in Fairfield’s greatest wealth – its Citizen Involvement. Every year he works with non-profits and tax-exempt organizations; FEDA has always been a favorite. He helped organize incorporate and gain tax status for the Greater Jefferson County Foundation in 1975 and similarly, the Fairfield Economic Development Association in 1977 and has stayed involved with both as General Counsel and sometimes Director, ever since. In the past ten years he has been part of organizing, and on the Board of Directors of, both the Fairfield Park and Recreation Foundation and the Carnegie Museum Foundation. He continues to stay involved with a multitude of other local and area civic groups.

“Fairfield and Jefferson County signify quality living, citizen friendliness and participation, intellectual stimulation, career enhancement and the best things for family living,” says John. John and his wife Nancy are pleased that three of their blended family of grown sons and daughters have preferred to reside in Fairfield and that it is always the “hometown” for the out-of-towners.

As the Fairfield Convention & Visitors Bureau’s Executive Director, Terry Baker knows that the business of tourism is about more than handing out brochures or being a visitor center; it’s about careful management and marketing of the destination and its brand. Throughout her varied careers, Terry has developed three superpowers; idea synthesis, rapid learning and vision. Her goal is simple; to use placemaking and messaging to reinvigorate Fairfield and build a community that enhances the lives of its residents and visitors alike.

Contact Terry at: director@visitfairfieldiowa.com