A native of Coon Rapids, Iowa, Michael Galloway joined the Prairie Meadows board in November 2004. Michael presently works in labor relations and employment law at Ahlers & Cooney, P.C., a firm representing private sector employers and local government bodies (cities, counties and school districts). Previously as general counsel and division administrator of labor relations and legal services for Iowa Department of Personnel, Michael was responsible for the administration of all labor relations functions for approximately 20,000 employees. Before that, he was labor relations manager for Polk County, Iowa. Michael is a 1993 graduate of Iowa State University, earning his diploma with distinction from the college of business administration. He also graduated with honors in 1996 from Drake University Law School. Michael is married to Jennifer Galloway. The couple has a daughter, Avery.

Jack Bishop, former chair of the Polk County Board of Supervisors, joined the Racing Association of Central Iowa Board of Directors in June 2003 following 28 years of service to Polk County. Bishop has been a strong supporter of Prairie Meadows since the very beginning, always showing his leadership by lobbying to save jobs and keep Prairie Meadows open. He was also instrumental in facilitating the debt retirement of Prairie Meadows' $40 million revenue bond following the first 18 months after the casino opened in April 1995. In 2004, Jack was elected to the Prairie Meadows Hall of Fame and was inducted during ceremonies in August as a visionary and leader of economic development in Eastern Polk County.

Ron Morden rejoined the Prairie Meadows board in November 2006 after having served from 1998-2000. He was the organization’s Vice President-Finance & Chief Financial Officer from 2001-2002. The Jefferson, Iowa native attended Iowa State University, Ames, and earned a BS degree in Business Administration from Drake University, Des Moines. In 1999, he retired as Senior Vice President and Treasurer following 29 years at American Republic Insurance Company, Des Moines. He is a past president of Financial Executives Institute and Polk Des Moines Taxpayers Association and served on the Polk County Charter Commission and Criminal Justice Task Force. Ron is a member of the American Institute of CPAs, Iowa Society of CPAs, Financial Executives International, and is Treasurer of the board of the Lake Panorama Association. He enjoys water activities, golf, aviation, and barbershop harmony singing with his wife, Jayne.

Gerard "Gerry" Neugent joined the board in November 2004. A native of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Gerry has lived in Polk County for more than three decades. He earned a bachelor of arts degree in 1973 from Marquette University, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and a juris doctor from Drake University Law School, Des Moines, Iowa, in 1975. In 1993, he became president and chief operating officer of Knapp Properties, Inc., West Des Moines. Before that, from 1976-1993, he owned a private law practice in Des Moines. Gerry's community service work includes the Public Library of Des Moines Foundation Board and Dowling High School Foundation Board. In addition, he is a member of the American, Iowa, and Polk County Bar Associations. In 2000, he received the South Des Moines Citizen of the Year Award and, in 2003, was named Alumnus of the Year by Drake University Law School. Gerry is married to Mary Louise H. Neugent. The couple has two children and three grandchildren.

Sunnie Richer made Polk County her home when she moved to Des Moines from Chicago in 1983 as branch manager for IBM. She joined the Prairie Meadows board in November 2004 and is currently the president of Doextra Corporation, a software business partner for Customer Relationship Management (CRM) manufacturers that include Sales Logix and Microsoft. Prior to forming Doextra, Sunnie was president of Opis Corporation, which was purchased in 1997 by Sales Logix. From 1990-1995, she was senior vice president of marketing and technology at Brenton Banks, Inc., a $1.6 billion holding company in Iowa, and also served the Des Moines based bank as executive vice president of sales, marketing, and office administration before its merger with Norwest Bank (now Wells Fargo). She held various management and business development positions over a 17-year period with IBM, primarily in the Chicago area. At the beginning of her career, she was recruiting manager for the Internal Revenue Service from 1970-1973. Sunnie attended the Stonier Graduate School of Banking from 1993-1994. In 1968, she earned a bachelor of science degree from Loyola University, Chicago. Sunnie received this area's distinguished Women of Achievement award in 2002. She is past chairperson of United Way, the Greater Des Moines Partnership co-chair for Project Destiny, a member of the Airport board, and the Des Moines Metropolitan Opera board. She also currently serves on the board of directors of Simpson College. Sunnie has one son, Adam, and three stepsons Mike, Jeff, and David, from her marriage to Roger Brooks.

Bob Beattie, who joined the Prairie Meadows board in November 2006, traces his family heritage in Polk County dating back to 1860. After spending his youth on a dairy farm, Bob graduated from Runnells High School and served honorably for four years in the United States Navy. At that point, he began a 40-year venture in real estate. In 1990, he sold Bob Beattie Realty and became a commercial Realtor at Iowa Realty in Altoona. His record of community service being lengthy, Bob participated on the following board and committees: Iowa Association of Realtors [regional vice president.]; Greater Des Moines Board of Realtors [president]; Greater Des Moines Board of Realtors [board of directors]; Professional Standards Committee [Des Moines board chairman]; The Heart Connection [director]; Southeast Polk Schools [board member]; Polk County Board of Adjustment; Polk-Des Moines Consolidation Committee; Hartford-Carlisle Bank; and Mentor Iowa. He is currently a member of the American Legion, Lions Club, MENSA, Greater Des Moines Association of Realtors, Iowa Association of Realtors, and National Association of Realtors. Bob has five children and 13 grandchildren.

Michael Helak joined the Prairie Meadows Board of Directors in November 2009. As Central Region President of U.S. Bank, N.A., his primary duties include divisional responsibility for the middle market commercial lending unit, small business lending team, Commercial Real Estate group, Private Banking and Wealth Management Groups and the Retail/ Consumer group. Michael graduated from University of Arizona with a degree in finance and a minor in economics.

He began his career in Kansas City in 1980 at UMB Bank as a credit analyst, loan review officer and commercial banking officer. He then spent two years with a regional investment-banking firm (AF Stepp Investments) in the municipal institutional sales and underwriting areas.

Michael returned to banking in 1984 with First National Bank of Kansas City (subsequently merged into Boatmen's First National Bank of Kansas City, NationsBank, and then Bank of America). The majority of his assignments were in commercial banking including commercial account management for regional and national corporate clients, management of the Regional Corporate and National Groups, and responsibility for the banks International Banking Department. While with NationsBank, he managed the Commercial Growth Group. He moved to Des Moines joining US Bank as Regional President in 1998.

Michael is a director and finance committee chairman for the Greater Des Moines Partnership and serves on the 2030 Task Force. He currently serves the following organizations, which he formerly chaired: Junior Achievement of Central Iowa Executive Committee, Greater Des Moines Committee (Treasurer), and March of Dimes of Central Iowa (state board member and Honorary Walk America Chairman, 2002-2003). In addition, Michael is treasurer and board member of the Board of Governors for the Iowa College Foundation, he chairs the Business Advisory Council for Des Moines University, and is a board member of the US Bank Political Action Committee for Iowa and Nebraska.

He previously served as past campaign cabinet member, Focus Group chair, and executive committee member of the United Way of Central Iowa. He served on the legislative committee for the Iowa Bankers Association and he was a past director of Des Moines Development Corporation and Neighborhood Improvement Corporation.

Michael and Cathy Helak have three children, Nicole, Megan, and Jonathan.

Dr. Andy McGuire is presently Chief Medical Officer, Vice President for American Enterprise Group Inc. including the subsidiary companies American Republic Insurance Company and World Insurance Company. This role includes strategic direction for the Enterprise and clinical oversight of Medical Management, Pharmacy Management, Risk Selection, and Network Management. Previously, Dr. McGuire was Vice President, Medical Director for Wellmark, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Iowa and South Dakota. She is a nuclear medicine physician by training. Her academic career includes research with multiple publications on positron emission tomography focused on breast cancer utilizing radioactive labeled estrogen at Washington University School of Medicine (Missouri) and Mallinckrodt Institute of Radiology (Missouri). Dr. McGuire earned a bachelor of science in chemistry and a medical doctorate, both from Creighton University (Nebraska), in addition to a master’s in business administration from Kennesaw State University (Georgia). She is currently involved in State and National Health Policy, is a member of the CPT® (Current Procedural Terminology) panel of the American Medical Association charged with overseeing coding for all health care professionals, and is a member of the Chief Medical Officers Committee of the Association of Health Insurance Plans. Dr. McGuire serves on multiple boards focused on her interests in health, women, and children. She presently serves on the University of Iowa School of Public Health Board of Advisors and the Des Moines Partnership Board, in addition to co-chairing the Partnership for Better Health. She is a member of the Mercy Hospital Foundation Board and a former member of the House of Mercy Board of Directors. She is past president of the Creighton University National Alumni Board. Dr. McGuire is involved with the Society of Nuclear Medicine and she previously worked with the Low Level Radioactive Waste Committee and Radiation Safety Committee. She is currently involved with early childhood issues through the Woman’s Leadership Connection of the United Way, which she co-chairs. In addition, she chairs the United Way’s Advocacy Committee for Woman’s Leadership and co-chairs its Loaned Executive program. Dr. McGuire’s advocacy for health, women, and children led her to run for Lt. Governor of Iowa to emphasize these issues. Her accolades include the Des Moines Business Record’s “Women of Influence.” Dr. McGuire is married to Dan McGuire, an orthopedic spine surgeon, and resides in Des Moines. The couple has seven children.

Randy Minear, a native of Des Moines, Iowa, graduated from Valley High School, West Des Moines, and received a bachelor's degree in business management at Iowa State University, Ames. Randy's career includes 19 years with the Commercial Real Estate Department at The Principal Financial Group, Des Moines. He founded Terrus Real Estate Group in January 2000 as the organization's president, employing 150 veteran professionals of commercial real estate. Randy is actively involved on the following Des Moines area boards: Downtown Community Alliance, Operation Downtown, Neighborhood Improvement Corporation, and First Federal Savings Bank. He previously served on the boards of the Greater Des Moines Leadership Institute, YMCA, and Downtown Housing Committee. Randy and his wife, Lisa, have two children, Emily and Scott. In his spare time, Randy enjoys attending his children's activities, hunting, fishing, and bicycling.

Jack Peters joined the Prairie Meadows Board in July 2010. He was the Board's Vice Chair a portion of the time he previously served on the Prairie Meadows Board from 2000 to 2008. Jack breeds and raises American Quarter Horses and Thoroughbreds, and he races them in Iowa, Oklahoma, Indiana, and Minnesota. Jack served two consecutive terms as president of the Iowa Quarter Horse Racing Association and he has been a member of the American Quarter Horse Racing Association's Racing Committee since 2000. In his professional career, Jack served on the board of directors of the American Feed Industry and he was general manager of U.S. Feeds in Eldora, Iowa. In 2009, Jack retired following 45 years in agri-business having held various management positions during his career in Iowa, Illinois, and Indiana. Jack's hobbies include golfing, hunting, trap shooting and spending time with his children and grandchildren.

Lynette Rasmussen, general counsel for Rasmussen Group, Inc., Des Moines, joined the Prairie Meadows Board in January 2007. An honors student her first year at the University of Chicago, Lynette transferred to Augustana College in Rock Island in 1984 and she graduated a Presidential Scholar in 1987. In 1988, Lynette enrolled at the University of Iowa College of Law in Iowa City. In her later studies at Drake University Law School, she earned a juris doctor in 1991 and became a Member of The Order of the Coif. From 1990 through1993, Lynette worked as a summer associate and litigation associate at the Des Moines law firm Nyemaster, Goode, McLaughlin, Voigts, West, Hansell & O’Brien, P.C. and she was an adjunct professor at Drake University [1993, 1995]. Lynette is a member of the Iowa State Bar Association and Polk County Women Attorneys. In addition, she is a member of the City of Johnston Board of Adjustment and serves on the board of the Danish Immigrant Museum in Elk Horn, Iowa. Lynette previously served on the Charter Commission for the Study of City/County Consolidated Alternate Form of County Government [2001-2003] and was a member of the YMCA Camp Board and Luther Memorial Church Council.

Dan Riley joined the Prairie Meadows board in February 2010. He has worked for Polk County since 1989 and he has been president of AFSCME Local 1868 since 2007 representing Polk County and City of Ankeny employees. Dan has served as negotiator for Local 1868 since 2001 and he has been a delegate at the South Central Federation of Labor, Iowa Federation of Labor, and AFSCME international and state conventions. He is a licensed Stationary Engineer, Power Engineer and he has received certification from the University of Iowa Labor Center in grievance and arbitration proceedings. In addition, he is a member of the Union Sportsmen's Alliance and the Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership. Dan and Stephanie Riley have lived with their family in eastern Polk County since 1999. Dan has been active in his community coaching recreation and ASA softball. In addition, he is an avid outdoor sportsman and golfer.

John Rowen, manager of Polk County's public works development services division, joined the Prairie Meadows Board in November 2009. A lifelong resident of Polk County, John specializes in strategic planning, labor relations, and conflict management and resolution. He has served more than 15 years planning, developing, implementing and evaluating personnel and labor relations strategies in addition to contract and policy development. Previously, he was president of AFSCME Local Union 1868 and was Polk County's secondary roads roadside superintendent/weed commissioner. John earned a bachelor's degree in public administration from Upper Iowa University. John received certification from the University of Iowa Labor Center and the Polk County Professional Development Program. In addition, he completed the Drake University Certified Public Management Program.

John currently serves on the board of Neighborhood Finance Corporation. He previously served on the boards of Employee and Family Resources/NCA and Hispanic Educational Resources. He also chaired the Contract Negotiations Committee, AFSCME Iowa/Council 61 County Policy Committee and served on the Des Moines Public Schools Community Conversation Planning Committee. In addition, he was active in the Community Workforce Partnership, City of Des Moines Merger Commission, and he was a teaching fellow for the ALF-CIO Organizing Institute.

Jodi Urich, a lifelong resident of central Iowa, was elected to serve at-large on the Prairie Meadows Board in November 2005. Jodi is a regional and national art broker and she is the owner of Encore, a retail consignment shop for upscale furniture, artwork and jewelry. She also owns Jodi R. Urich Consulting, a designer of food product labels. A long time supporter of community betterment and fundraising activities, Jodi is currently involved in PEO, T.T.T., NARA, and The Des Moines Better Business Bureau. Previously, she owned Jodi's Art Gallery in Des Moines for more than 20 years. She also served five years as chairperson on the Polk County Conservation Board in which she oversaw budgeting, policy setting, fundraising and promotion of the County's parks system. As community communication coordinator, her work included grant writing and promoting awareness of the Americans with Disabilities Act. Jodi also served on the board of Jennifer Steensen Field of Dreams, a nonprofit organization designed to provide therapeutic horseback riding, and she was responsible for raising more than one million dollars to construct an indoor riding arena for special needs individuals. Jodi also previously directed, installed, operated, set financial goals, and recruited volunteers for the American Cancer Society's Discovery Shop.

Tom Whitney, a lifelong resident of Polk County and an attorney specializing in personal injury litigation, joined the Prairie Meadows board in November 2004. Tom graduated from Des Moines East High School, was an original inductee in East's Alumni Hall of Fame, and received the school's Service to Humanity award. He earned a bachelor of education and juris doctorate from Drake University, Des Moines, and as a result of his studies there received the Who's Who in American Colleges and Universities and Quax Personality of the Year awards. During his early career, Tom taught American government and American history in the Des Moines Public School System and, at age 23, became the youngest elected official in Polk County history. A member of the Polk County Board of Supervisors for 16 years, Tom authored Iowa's community-based corrections programs and community mental health and retardation programs. Tom has been recognized for numerous local government reforms in administration, zoning, public health, secondary roads, personnel, finance, employment, human services, conservation, and corrections. For five years, he was the Iowa Democratic Party State Chair and he was instrumental in Iowa becoming the gateway to the nation's presidential caucuses. Tom was the first recipient from Polk County to receive the Iowa Jaycees "Outstanding Young Man" Award. He has served on the boards of The Greater Des Moines United Way, Greater Des Moines YMCA, YMCA Boys Home, Polk County Welfare Board, Polk County Mental Health Coordinating Commission, and chaired Iowa's first local government Charter Commission. In addition, he is a past board member of the Friends of Public Television, Central Iowa Red Cross, and Central Iowa Health Council. He is a member of the American Bar Association, Iowa State Bar Association, Polk County Bar Association, American Trial Lawyers Association, and Iowa Trial Lawyers. Tom is admitted to practice in the Northern and Southern District federal courts and the Iowa Supreme Court.