Mindy Atkinson
Co-President
Mindy and her family relocated to Belle Plaine in 2015. She resides in Belle Plaine with her husband John and son Carter. She has two steps sons Christian and Tyler. Christian graduated from Iowa State University in 2022 and Tyler is attending Iowa State University.
Mindy has been in the banking industry for over 20 years. Currently, Mindy works at MidWestOne Bank as the 2VP/Retail Managing officer.
Mindy joined the Belle Plaine Community Development Promotions committee in 2015. She has served many roles since getting involved with the organization. She has been a board member since 2016. She currently serves as the Co- President & Treasurer and is the co-chair of the promotions committee. Mindy has been active in the community since moving to Belle Plaine in 2015. In addition to BPCDC she’s involved with Rotary, Library Foundation, and AYSO.
Mindy enjoys the opportunity to help her community grow and create memories.
Casey Neuhaus
Co-President
Casey is a mother of 3 children and a registered foster parent. She graduated from the University of Iowa with a BS degree in Radiation Sciences and worked for the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics for 10 years as an Interventional Radiology Technologist.
In 2015, Casey and her husband Andy purchased the Hrabak Funeral Home and together they operate Hrabak-Neuhaus Funeral Service. She graduated from DMACC Mortuary Science program in 2017.
Casey has been active in Belle Plaine since moving here serving on the Belle Plaine Rotary and the Belle Plaine Community Development. As a small business owner, she believes it is important to be active in the community. If we support each other as community and business, we will grow and succeed together.
Stephen Beck
Director
Stephen grew up in Belle Plaine, graduated from BPHS, Kirkwood Community College, and then Grinnell College. Working and living in Belle Plaine provides plenty of motivation to continue striving for the betterment of the community.
Stephen accepted the role of city administrator in late 2019 and serves as a representative of the City of Belle Plaine on the BPCDC board.
Heather Carl
Director
Heather is a native of Marengo and graduated from Iowa Valley High School in 1992. She graduated with an Accounting Associate degree from Kirkwood Community College and later a Bachelor of Applied Studies degree and additional certificate in Entrepreneurial Management from the University of Iowa. Heather spent over twenty years in corporate accounting of varying roles before concentrating her efforts on her and her husband’s company. Don Carl Trucking was founded in 2014 and specializes in agricultural transportation.
Heather is married to Donny Carl, a life-long Belle Plaine native, and they have five adult children and four grandchildren (plus on more on the way) between them.
She is new to the BPCDC board (April) but has volunteered with various local groups, most recently as part of the Remembering the Derecho committee. The group not only coordinated a town-wide event, but also raised over $2000) and partnered with the Belle Plaine Nursery to replace trees in our city parks.
Ryan Devereux
Director
Ryan Devereux is a new member of the Belle Plaine Community Development Corporation. Currently, he serves as the high school principal for Belle Plaine Community School District.
Previously, he served as an assistant principal and curriculum director at Beckman Catholic High School in Dyersville. Prior to entering educational administration, Ryan spent twelve years at Denison Community Schools where he was a business teacher and cooperative work coordinator.
Ryan is excited to serve on the board to help promote commerce in Belle Plaine where he and his family resides.
Amber Hoover
Director
Amber grew up in Belle Plaine and graduated from Belle Plaine High School in 1997. She attended the University of Iowa in Iowa City, Iowa.
In 2001 Amber moved back to Belle Plaine to be closer to her family. Since moving back to Belle Plaine Amber has been employed with Chelsea Savings Bank as a Mortgage/ Compliance Officer. Amber is married to James Hoover. They have two children, Nathan and Allison.
Amber has been active with the Belle Plaine Community Development since 2019 as a member of the Organization Committee. She has recently been appointed as a Board Member and is looking forward to this new opportunity to serve her community.
Judy Schlesselman
Director
Judy joined the board in 2022 after previously serving on the Organization Committee and volunteering in the BPCDC office.
A University of Northern Iowa graduate and Belle Plaine resident since the early 1970s, Judy taught in the local school district, worked at First Lutheran Church and reported for the local newspaper before her retirement. She is currently serving her third term on the Belle Plaine City Council.
Judy and her husband, Jack, raised three daughters in Belle Plaine and appreciate small-town living. They enjoy giving back to the community that has been so good to them throughout the years.