Our Team
Executive Director
Our Executive Director position is now open and we are accepting applications.
Karen Varley
Coordinator

Greetings! I’m delighted to join Midwest Partnership to continue its history of growing the businesses and supporting the communities of Adair and Guthrie Counties. This region has been my home since 1989 and I am devoted to its future, having served on the boards of Adair County Tourism, West Central Valley Scholarships, Wallace Centers of Iowa, Stuart Public Library, and the Stuart Chamber of Commerce. I’ve been practicing law with my husband, Warren, in Stuart since 2016, after 18 years in the legal department of Pioneer Hi-Bred. We raised our four children on the family farm in Adair County. In my spare time I enjoy gardening, biking, and tending to a small flock of poultry.
In a word, I see Midwest Partnership as a matchmaker. We help match businesses with the resources they need to flourish. Those resources can include physical location, employees, utilities, transportation options, funding for innovation, and networking to solve problems. We connect with school districts and community colleges building the skills that employers are seeking. As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, we strive to enhance opportunity and improve quality of life for residents. Also, by working with all local communities we can amplify distinct voices to bring attention to shared concerns.
We encourage you to connect with us. Peter and I will be out and about at your community meetings and events. I look forward to seeing you!
Board of Directors
Officers
Cheryl Marks, President
Rolling Hills Bank
Stuart, Adair County
Marty Doud, Vice President
First State Bank
Stuart, Guthrie County
Ryan Morrison, Secretary
Country Kitchen
Stuart, Guthrie County
Matt Wedemeyer, Treasurer
Adair County Supervisor
Casey, Adair County
Members
Charlie Dunn, Farmers Electric Cooperative, Stuart, Adair County
Stacie Eshelman, Greenfield Chamber/Main Street & Development, Greenfield, Adair County
Everett Grasty, Guthrie County Supervisor, Stuart, Guthrie County
Brad Hayes, BH Appraisals, Guthrie County
Dennis McClain, Adair-Casey/Guthrie Center Community Schools, Guthrie Center, Guthrie County
Kristen Renslow, City of Stuart, Guthrie County
Jerry Sullivan, Farmers State Bank, Yale, Guthrie County
Scott Tonderum, Greenfield Municipal Utilities, Greenfield, Adair County
Mike Underwood, Guthrie County State Bank, Guthrie Center, Guthrie County
Julie Zajicek, Panora State Bank, Panora, Guthrie County