Curtis Smith, President
Chief Operating Officer
Jefferson County Health Center
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.
Aaron Kness, Treasurer
President & CEO, Iowa State Bank & Trust Company of Fairfield
Aaron Kness has been President and CEO of Iowa State Bank & Trust Company in Fairfield, Iowa since 2013. He has been in the banking and financial services industry since 1996 and is a graduate of both University of Iowa’s College of Business and Graduate School of Banking at the University of Wisconsin. Aaron’s better half, Terri Kness, grew up in Fairfield and has worked in both the public and private sectors for many years. Their two boys are both active and participate in a wide variety of sports and activities. Aaron grew up in northeast Iowa and his many passions include family, music, fitness, the outdoors, banking and community service. Involvement at both the local and state levels is of great importance. Over the years Aaron has served on a number of non-profit organizations’ boards and as a director for several for-profit companies as well. He feels these experiences have prepared him for his current role on the Grow Fairfield board of directors.
Amy Jones
Director of HR & Business Dev., Agri Industrial Plastics Company
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 Doyle Ward
Vice President, HR and Marketing, Iowa State Bank & Trust Company of Fairfield
Alissa is currently the Vice President of Human Resources and Marketing at Iowa State Bank. 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. Returning to her hometown 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, Grow 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!).
Nick Graham
Executive Vice President and Chief Technology Officer | Cambridge Investment Research, Inc.
Nick Graham joined Cambridge in 2017 and serves as a member of Cambridge’s Board of Directors and Executive Council. In his current role, he leads one of the most innovative financial professional workstations in the financial services industry, and works with his team to develop technology that is customizable for the broadest range of independent business models and business channels. Nick was named Chief Technology Officer of the Year by WealthManagement.com1 at the 2021 Industry Awards and earned a Bachelor of Science degree from Clemson University.
Nick has been committed to making a difference in Fairfield and its surrounding communities since he moved to the area in 2017. In 2022, he joined a City of Fairfield and Grow Fairfield Economic Development Association joint task force to help prepare and conduct a housing needs survey designed to help the City make data-driven decisions about existing housing while encouraging new development in the area. Nick and his team also worked with Indian Hills College to develop and introduce the Cambridge Internship and Employment Program, an initiative that offers an opportunity for Computer Software Development students to earn a paid internship at Cambridge. He has a passion for giving back and enjoys supporting his community.
1WealthManagement.com, Wealthies Awards, 2021. Finalists are chosen based on nominations from industry peers. To learn about the award nomination and selection process, visit https://www.wealthmanagement.com/wealthies-circle/
Ken Ross
Entrepreneur
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 Grow Fairfield. 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 Stever, Financial Advisor
Edward Jones Investments
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.
Roger Vorhies
Partner, Schaus-Vorhies Companies
COMMUNITY PARTNERS (EX-OFFICIOS)
Connie Boyer
Mayor of Fairfield
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 email mayor@fairfieldiowa.gov
Doug Reinert
City Administrator, City of Fairfield
Doug began his role as the City Administrator of Fairfield, IA in June 2023. Raised on a farm in Ellsworth, Kansas, Doug embarked on his public service career in 1992, immediately after high school. He earned a BA from Utah State University in 1998 and later an MPA from the University of Kansas in 2014. Throughout his career, Doug has held various positions. He served as a Wildland Fire Fighter for the United States Forest Service and a Heavy Equipment Operator for the Kansas Department of Transportation. Furthermore, he has experienced every level of municipal government, working roles from Operator and Supervisor to Department Head and now City Administrator. Doug’s family consists of his wife, Michelle, their three daughters – Maggie, Olivia, and Jillian, and two sons – Joe and Jeremy. Doug cherishes spending time with his family, exploring new cultures, appreciating the outdoors, and enjoying good food.
Dee Sandquist
Chair, Jefferson County Board of Supervisors
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.
John Morrissey
Legal Council
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; Grow Fairfield has always been a favorite. He helped organize incorporate and gain tax status for the Greater Jefferson County Foundation in 1975 and similarly, Grow 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.
Dr. Stephanie Mishler
Interim-Superintendent, Fairfield Community School District
Dr. Mishler is a familiar face within FCSD, having been an integral part of the district since 2018, serving as Associate Principal at FHS and Curriculum Director during her time here. Now, she embraces the opportunity to step into the role of Interim Superintendent with gratitude and excitement. “I am truly honored and thrilled to serve as Interim Superintendent,” she says. “I am eager to collaborate with our incredible staff, students, and community to enhance learning opportunities for all students while also highlighting that FCSD is an exceptional place to learn and work.”
With an impressive educational background, Dr. Mishler holds a Doctorate in Education and superintendent certification from Drake University. She also boasts a Master’s in Educational Administration from Iowa State, a Master of Arts in Teaching from the University of Iowa, and a Bachelor of Science in Biology from the University of Denver. Her passion for education extends beyond the professional realm, as she enjoys spending her spare time cooking, golfing, and keeping up with her four daughters and all of their activities.
As Dr. Mishler takes on this new role, she brings with her a wealth of experience and a genuine commitment to fostering a thriving educational community within FCSD. With her leadership, we are confident that our district will continue to flourish and provide exceptional opportunities for all students.
Terry Baker
Executive Director, Fairfield Convention & Visitors Bureau
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
Mendy McAdams
Executive Director, Fairfield Area Chamber of Commerce
Mendy is passionate about serving her community and making a difference. She has experience in marketing, relationship building, and non-profits. She is high-energy and wants to see businesses succeed. She lives in What Cheer but LOVES Fairfield.