LSI Leadership

As president and CEO of LSI, Doug Johnson leads one of Iowa’s largest human service agencies, with over 1,000 employees and programs that impact tens of thousands of Iowans.

Prior to joining LSI in 2007, Doug served as vice president of programs and services for Lutheran Services in America (LSA), overseeing LSA’s services to 300 Lutheran social ministry organizations across the country.

Doug also previously served as LSA’s director of leadership and communications, and the board chair and later executive vice president of Lutheran Social Services of South Central Pennsylvania.

A native of upstate New York, Doug served as a pastor to three Lutheran congregations over a span of 27 years.

As LSI’s president and CEO, Doug has led the agency through innovative responses to industry changes, such as an increase in privately contracted child welfare services, a state budget crisis and a large-scale disaster response effort to historic Iowa floods.

“In an era of tight budgets and limited resources, the future is clearly changing for human services providers. Fortunately, LSI is an agency that plans ahead. Our efficiency, engagement in public and private partnerships, and success in delivering non-traditional services straight to the client’s doorstep will help us keep making a difference for Iowans far into the future. It’s an exciting time to be a part of God’s work in our communities.”

Doug earned his B.A. in philosophy from the State University of New York. He has a Master of Divinity degree and Doctor of Ministry degree from Lutheran Theological Seminary in Gettysburg.

Doug is currently the co-chair of Iowa’s Child Welfare Partners Steering Committee, which is a collaboration of public-private work groups focusing on child welfare contracted services in Iowa.

He is also a board member of the Coalition for Family and Children’s Services in Iowa and a former board chair of the Center for Faith-Based Leadership.

Doug resides in Pleasant Hill, Iowa, with his wife Stephanie and their dog Maggie. He has two adult children and is the proud grandfather of Natalia. An active member of his local church, Doug enjoys walking, camping and golf in his free time.

Doug can be reached at:
Lutheran Services in Iowa
3125 Cottage Grove Avenue
Des Moines, IA 50311
.

Mike Buck is LSI’s vice president of administration, leading the stewardship of LSI’s $40.4 million annual budget in which 90 cents of every dollar is spent on services.

A former certified public accountant, Mike received his Bachelor’s of Science degree in Industrial Administration and Accounting from Iowa State University.

Prior to joining LSI in 1994, Mike served as Chief Financial Officer of Midland Savings Bank in Des Moines, where he managed the financial, regulatory, tax, compliance and administrative operations of a $900 million financial institution.

In 2002, Mike guided LSI through one of its most difficult periods, including a human services budget crisis, industry changes and the untimely death of former president and CEO Roger Gutmann.

As interim president, Mike helped complete the integration of Bremwood Lutheran Services and Lutheran Social Service of Iowa to form what is today known as LSI.

Mike currently oversees the agency’s finance, information technology, marketing communications and facilities departments in providing quality support for LSI services. He also has administrative responsibility for all contracts, insurance, and the LSI Charitable Foundation.

“I am continually amazed at how much LSI accomplishes across the state every day. We have a long list of programs, and the fact that we can do so much with what are often pretty limited resources, is very humbling. It’s remarkable to see how God continues to provide for this ministry.”

Mike’s public service extends to his local community where he serves as a church team ambassador for Meals from the Heartland and a volunteer for various ministries of Lutheran Church of Hope. He is also a member of the Lutheran Financial Managers Association.

Residents of West Des Moines, Mike and his wife have three sons and one granddaughter.

Mike can be reached at:
Lutheran Services in Iowa
3125 Cottage Grove Avenue
Des Moines, IA 50311
.

As vice president of capacity and strategy development, Dan Dean directs LSI’s personnel, quality improvement and compliance programs across the state. He is also responsible for strategic planning, development, measurement and the oversight of operations at all sites.

Dan joined LSI in 1997, first as resident manager for LSI’s Beloit Residential Treatment Center in Ames. He later served as statewide director in areas of quality and capacity development.

In 2009, Dan steered LSI through its most recent national accreditation process with the Council on Accreditation (COA), an intensive assessment that occurs every three years. LSI achieved a near perfect score, acing a rigorous review of more than 1,400 national best practice standards.

“We take a very strategic approach to quality at LSI, and it sets us apart,” Dan says. “It gives our funders confidence that their resources are well spent and that we deliver real and lasting results. Quality is an important part of fulfilling our promises – both to the people we support and the other agencies with whom we partner.”

An active member of Lutheran Services in America’s (LSA) Council of Human Resource Management, Dan currently serves on the Council’s board of directors. Since 2006, Dan has served as a COA national peer reviewer, traveling the country to review other human services agencies.

Dan earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in recreation education from the University of Iowa and his Master’s degree in Public Administration from Drake University in Des Moines.

A resident of West Des Moines, Dan and his wife Vicki have two children, Jordan and Ashley. They are active members of Lutheran Church of Hope. Dan stays busy with his family at church, school and the YMCA youth swim program.

Dan can be reached at:
Lutheran Services in Iowa
3125 Cottage Grove Avenue
Des Moines, IA 50311
.

In 2010, Cheryl Plank was named LSI’s vice president of programs and services, overseeing the agency’s services and supervising all service directors.

Cheryl joined LSI in 1997 as a direct care caseworker, later managing a range of local and regional foster care, adoption and community programs. In 2006, Cheryl was named statewide director of LSI’s services for people with disabilities.

As director, Cheryl made innovative changes to LSI’s services for Iowans with disabilities, streamlining operations across the state, cementing the agency’s reputation for high quality services and expanding LSI’s outreach in rural areas. As vice president, her focus is on strengthening all services in areas of consistency, integration, quality and growth.

In 2008, Cheryl led LSI’s partnership in Harmony Place, one of Iowa’s first independent living facilities for medically fragile individuals. Established by the Muscatine Welfare Association, this community project built a residence where individuals live independently while still receiving needed care. LSI is the provider of 24-hour supported community living services for the site.

A licensed social worker, Cheryl has a B.A. in sociology from Iowa Wesleyan College with a minor in social work. In 2005, she earned a Master’s degree in Public Administration from Drake University.

“LSI’s best work has always involved partnering with people to build on their strengths, with the ultimate goal of guiding people toward self-sufficiency and independence,” Cheryl says. “When families can live each day on their own – the best they can with the skills they have – that’s when we know LSI has made a difference.”

Cheryl’s nonprofit management experience extends to the Council on Accreditation’s (COA) national accreditation process. She is a former COA peer reviewer and has served as a COA team leader since 2008.

Cheryl is also a member of the Iowa Association of Community Partnerships and the Lutheran Services in America Disability Network. She is a graduate of the Lutheran Services in America Leadership Academy in Arizona and the Data Use Academy (DUA) in Nebraska. Her public service includes serving on the board of directors for Muscatine Volunteers and Information from 2000 to 2006.

A resident of Muscatine, Cheryl and her husband have two adult children, Joshua and Mikel, and one granddaughter. When she’s not traveling the state for LSI, she enjoys biking, camping, hiking and walking.

Cheryl can be reached at:
Lutheran Services in Iowa
315 Iowa Avenue, Suite C
Muscatine, IA 52761
.