Manis and Vance to lead the 2017 YMCA-YWCA Annual Campaign

Funds raised help youth achieve their potential and empower people of all ages to live healthier lives. The 2017 Marshalltown YMCA-YWCA Annual Campaign has officially kicked off with Ronnie Manis and Samantha Vance leading a team of volunteers working to reach this year’s goal of $137,000.

Manis and Vance are both board members of the YMCA-YWCA. Manis is principal of Anson Elementary School in Marshalltown. “The Y is a positive force in our community, and I’m proud to help lead its fundraising efforts. In 2016, more than 2,700 people were impacted through the Annual Campaign. We hope to serve even more this year.”

Vance, a buyer specialist with Five Star Home Team in Marshalltown, said, “I believe that being part of a community means supporting each other and making the world a better place. The people and programs at the Y do that every day.”

The Y works to address three urgent needs within the Marshalltown community: Improving health for everyone; Providing a safe place for children to grow and Strengthening families and developing future leaders.

With support from Annual Campaign funds, more kids can have a safe place to learn and build self-confidence and more families can reconnect and grow together. The funds also support programs offered free of charge, such as LIVESTRONG at the YMCA for cancer survivors seeking to reclaim health and Teach Them To Swim, which is available to qualified students from Lenihan Intermediate School.

For more information about the Marshalltown YMCA-YWCA Annual Campaign visit www.ymca-ywca.org or contact Kim Jass-Ramirez at 641-752-8658.

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IVH receives energy award

Alliant Energy recently celebrated the energy efficiency efforts of 14 of its larger Iowa customers. These schools, companies and state agencies found ways to save energy and money while also boosting production and increasing profits. They

combined to cut more than $500,000 from their energy bills and reduced their use by more than 11 million kilowatt hours.

“Our customers’ success is our success, especially when we can help them

manage costs in smart and cost-effective ways. A great example of this is when the Iowa

Veterans Home installed LED lights and occupancy sensors. By working with the

Veterans Home to develop a customized energy efficiency plan they were able to save $75,000,” said Alliant Energy Senior Vice President Doug Kopp.

Karen Connell, IVH operations division administrator, and Brad VanBaale, IVH plant operations manager, accepted the award on behalf of the IVH at a ceremony on June 27.

Leffler joins board of Farmers Savings Bank

FSB President and CEO Tom Campbell announced that Executive Vice President and Loan Manager Jerrod Leffler has been named to the board of Farmers Savings Bank and Beaman Bancshares Inc., the parent company of FSB.

Leffler joined the FSB staff in January 2013, relocating from the Osceola area. He is an experienced lending professional with more than 20 years in the financial industry and has expertise in loan development, portfolio management and customer service. Leffler is a graduate of Illinois College, Jacksonville, Ill., holds an MBA from Western Illinois University, Macomb, Ill., and is a graduate of the Graduate School of Banking in Boulder, Colo.

Leffler and his wife, Michelle, live in Marshalltown. They have four children and two grandchildren. In addition to his responsibilities with FSB, he is a Reserve Officer with the Marshalltown Police Department, a Chamber volunteer, a board member of the Marshalltown Central Business District and a volunteer with the Isaak Walton League.

Campbell commented, “Jerrod is very actively involved in the communities in which we serve and his lending expertise has been a valuable asset to Farmers Savings Bank. Jerrod shares my confidence in the future of FSB in our market area which makes him a natural fit for our board.”

Rippy Excellence in Education runner-up

DES MOINES — Marilyn Rippy, a music teacher at South Tama Elementary in Tama, is a 2017 Excellence in Education Award runner-up. The award is sponsored by the Iowa State Education Association. Rippy was chosen among a top field of educators-all nominated by colleagues, students, parents and community members-because of the difference they make every day in the lives of Iowa’s students.

“This award is truly about recognizing the educators who work hard on a daily basis and rarely get the recognition they so richly deserve,” said Tammy Wawro, president of the ISEA. “The nominations we receive are a testament to the dedication and compassion Iowa educators have for their students and the communities in which they live. Clearly, Iowa educators go above and beyond to help shape and, in many cases, to help change the lives of the students they teach,” Wawro said.

Rippy’s students love their music class and adore their teacher. Her music programs are anticipated by her students and families alike for their fun and creativity and she makes all of her students feel proud and welcome. Mentoring new teachers when professional advice is needed and assisting as a curriculum advisor for her school, Rippy is also well respected among her colleagues. She is a model teacher for the school and a volunteer in her community striving to give her students new experiences, help her colleagues and be a good neighbor in her community.

“It is clear that Marilyn’s creativity, passion and work all combine to make a tremendous impact in her classroom and beyond, and we applaud her achievement,” said Wawro. “The Excellence in Education Award celebrates educators like Marilyn who are invested in the lives of their students and go beyond what is expected to make an exceptional experience for them,” added Wawro.

Rippy received a $100 gift from the ISEA during an awards ceremony and banquet on July 31, at Prairie Meadows Convention Center in Altoona, courtesy of the ISEA.

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The Times-Republican invites businesses in its circulation area to submit brief items concerning their employees or businesses for the Names & Notes column, which is published on Sundays.

Potential subjects of these business briefs include announcements of new businesses, branch acquisitions, departures of longtime employees, employee recognitions or new hires. Submissions will be edited and run on a space-available basis. Items must be received by 5 p.m. Thursday for consideration in Sunday’s column.

Submit brief articles and JPEG headshots to: Names & Notes, Newsroom, Times-Republican, 135 W. Main St., Marshalltown 50158, or call Kathy Beane at 641-753-6611 or email news@timesrepublican.com