From left to right: Jason Grinstead - Board Member, Barbara Hildebrandt - Secretary, Susan Voss - President,
Kevin W. Techau - Board Member, Jule Thorsen - Vice PresidentEmail the Library Board of Trustees
trustees@desmoineslibrary.com
Susan Voss - President
Susan Voss has worked for the state of Iowa since 1981 and has been First Deputy Insurance Commissioner for the Insurance Division since 1999. Prior to her work in the Insurance Division, Susan acted as staff attorney for the Iowa State Legislative Service Bureau, legal counsel for the Iowa State office of Citizen's Aide, and as assistant attorney general for the Iowa Department of Transportation.
Susan received her BA Degree from Simpson College and her JD from Gonzaga University School of Law in Spokane, WA. She was a member of the Greater Des Moines Leadership Class of 2002/2003. She has been a speaker and panelist at various state and national meetings concerning health care regulation, including Robert Wood Johnson Foundation/Alpha Center, the Agency for Health Care Policy and Research, NAIC, AHP, Iowa Managed Care Association, and the Iowa Life and Health Underwriters. Susan is active in a variety of community organizations including: Civic Music Association; Des Moines National Poetry Festival; Des Moines Area Religious Council; the Drama Workshop; Rotary; and P.E.O.
Jule Thorsen - Vice President
Jule Thorsen has served on the Des Moines Public Library Board of Trustees since 2005. She is an instructor of Management and is the Instructional Technological Specialist for Simpson College in Indianola. Thorsen has twice received the Excellence in Adult Teaching award (in 2000 and 2005) from Alpha Lambda Sigma, an adult student honorary society, and served as building committee co-chair for Monroe Elementary School in Des Moines, the first school building project completely paid for with sales tax monies. She has also served on the Beaverdale Little League Board, Beaverdale Neighborhood Association Board of Directors, was treasurer for Central Iowa Aquatics and has been an active volunteer in Des Moines schools, the PTA, and Faith Lutheran Church.
Thorsen is a graduate of Drake University with a BA in Journalism and a Masters in Public Administration. She currently lives in Des Moines with husband Robert, and children Michael, Kelly, Eric, and Alan.
Barbara Hildebrandt - Secretary
Barbara Hildebrandt has served on the Des Moines Public Library Board of Trustees since 1999. She was appointed to the board by Mayor Preston Daniels. She has served as Secretary of the board. Hildebrandt is a community activist and stay-at-home mother. She lives in Des Moines with her three daughters and husband Ben.
Kevin W. Techau
Kevin W. Techau has served on the Des Moines Public Library Board of Trustee since 1998. He served as President of the Board in 2000-02 and 2004-06 and Chair of the Building Committee for the “Creating New Destinations” project,
2000-7.
Kevin is Associate General Counsel at American Equity Investment Life Insurance Company. He served in Governor Tom Vilsack's and Lt Governor Sally Pederson's Cabinet as Director of the Iowa Department of Inspections and Appeals, 1999-2002 and Commissioner of the Iowa Department of Public Safety, 2002-07.
He is a graduate of the University of Iowa College Of Business and the University's College of Law. After graduation, he spent seven years on active duty with the United States Air Force including two tours in Europe. Since leaving active duty, Kevin has served with the Iowa Air National Guard where he is currently a Colonel assigned to the Iowa National Guard Joint Forces headquarters at Camp Dodge. His community affairs include serving as Chair of the Iowa Keep Iowa Beautiful Board and on the Civic Music Association Board. He lives in Des Moines with his wife Stephanie and their children Maxson and Grace.
Jason Grinstead
Jason Grinstead brings a broad background in Information Technology and Marketing to the Library Board. A native of Des Moines, Jason spent fifteen years outside of Iowa, holding technical and marketing positions for companies including General Motors, ADP and Target Corporation. He is currently employed by the Iowa Department of Education in Data Warehousing.
Jason received his BBA for Iowa State University and MBA from the University of St Thomas
in St Paul, MN.
Serving concurrently on an ISU Alumni board, Jason is an advocate of childhood literacy through the Everybody Wins! program in conjunction with the Des Moines Public Schools.
