Celebrating Our Top 100 Volunteers: A Tribute to Years of Dedication

Image caption: Junior Achievement volunteers in action—empowering the next generation with real-world skills, one classroom at a time!

At Junior Achievement of Eastern Iowa (JAEI), our volunteers are the foundation of everything we do. Every classroom lesson, every simulation, every moment of inspiration that sparks a student’s confidence and curiosity is made possible by the dedication of the incredible individuals who volunteer their time to bring Junior Achievement’s mission to life.

During Volunteer Appreciation Week, we’re honored to spotlight our Top 100 Volunteers based on years of service—those who have committed themselves year after year to shaping brighter futures for students across Eastern Iowa. Their service is a shining example of what it means to give back with heart and purpose.

How Volunteers Power the Junior Achievement Mission

Junior Achievement (JA) programming is delivered by passionate volunteers from all walks of life—business professionals, educators, retirees, and community leaders—who bring JA’s curriculum to life in classrooms and simulation-based programs across our region. These volunteers don’t just teach students about money management, career paths, and entrepreneurship—they help young people connect what they’re learning in school with real-life opportunities.

Our volunteers inspire students to dream big and plan for their future. Whether leading a lesson in a third-grade classroom, mentoring high school students through the JA Stock Market Challenge®, or guiding students through hands-on career simulations at JA BizTown® Mobile or JA Finance Park® Mobile, they are making a direct and lasting impact.

image of volunteer and group of children

Image caption: Smiles, inspiration, and impact—our volunteers bring learning to life for students across Eastern Iowa!

The Ripple Effect of Service

During the 2024–2025 school year, JAEI is reaching over 41,000 students across 14 counties in Eastern Iowa—all thanks to more than 1,300 volunteers who give their time to help students gain essential life skills.

“They shared stories of either famous entrepreneurs or themselves. It was helpful to hear about extremely successful businesses or products to help us understand what important things those companies did for people. It helped give us an idea if we wanted to do one as well.” – Central Middle School Student

JA students consistently report increased confidence, stronger financial decision-making skills, and a clearer understanding of the world of work. These outcomes wouldn’t be possible without our dedicated volunteers who make learning engaging, relevant, and real.

"Volunteers are the bridge between the classroom and the real world. Their stories, experiences, and passion bring our curriculum to life in a way that textbooks alone never could. Every time a volunteer steps into a classroom, they’re not just teaching a lesson—they’re sparking confidence, curiosity, and ambition in the next generation."
— Dani Carter, Program Director, Junior Achievement of Eastern Iowa

Image caption: Michael Sheeley, Junior Achievement of Eastern Iowa’s longest-serving volunteer, has 31 years inspiring students and shaping futures—one classroom at a time.

Honoring Our Top 100 Volunteers by Years of Service

We’re proud to recognize the following Top 100 Volunteers whose years of service to JAEI have made an incredible impact on generations of students:

Michael Sheeley
David Hardinger
Al Eckhoff
Thomas Hoffmann
Mike Bretz
Rick (Richard) Samek
Julie Hupp
Kory (Korlin) Kazimour
William McCartan
Karen Swalley
William Shepard
Jim Conklin
Jason Greenwaldt
Pat Heyer
John Koza
Robert Kucharski
Chris Scheldrup
Darin Smith
Anne Thing
Kimm Harris
Tony Tomash
Randy Bachman
Douglas Boe
Tess Duckett
Kellie Lindblom
Tiana McGuire
Diane Bys
Heather Fleming
George Ford
Jeffrey Rudolph
Amy Anderson
Christopher Davis
Lois Dougherty
Sherry Etringer
Daniel Hillers
Bradley Holub
Stephen Kane
Nancy Macomber
Keith McBride
Mark Morgan
Harold Stone
Tim Sullivan
James Klein
Shane Kron
Ronald Maxa
Jennifer Sweeney
John Wasta
Melissa Winter
Kris Berry
John Bickel
Lois Byers
Donald Dodd
Mark Edwards
Craig Olson
Sheri Purdy
Kalola Roby
Shelly Strellner
Shelley Sweet
Joanne Vlasak
Nancy Carrier
Kelly Christensen
Stephanie Hinz
TJ (Theodore) Meiners
Erik Mickalson
Janet Norris
Deb Pullin-VanAuken
Scott Reilly
Mark Robinson
April Rouner
Marianne Schlabach
Stacie Shannon
Michele Taiber
Steve Thorpe
Andrew Vaughn
Kevin Werner
Theresa Anderson
Dawn Bowlus
Pat Harstad
Weylon Heiser
Dennis Jordan
Teri Keenan
Brenda Langenberg
Robert Lorenz
James Maurice
Sandra Monahan
Dale Monroe
Greg Moore
John Nirschl
John Osako
Christina Osborn
Brock Renner
Michelle Ridder
Heidi Schultz
Amanda Smith
Kristine Twaites
Mary Van Houten
Jeff (Jeffrey) Wagner
Susan Weinschenk
Elizabeth Wilson
Cristiane Abou-Assaly

To each of these 100 outstanding individuals: thank you for your years of service, your compassion, and your belief in the potential of every student. You are changing lives, and we are endlessly grateful.

If you’re interested in joining this incredible group of changemakers, learn more and sign up to volunteer at:
https://easterniowa.ja.org/volunteer/volunteer-now

Let’s continue to inspire, educate, and empower—together.