Who We Are
Our Team
Meet Our Leaders
Renee Hardman
PRESIDENT AND CEO
As president and CEO of Lutheran Services in Iowa, Renee will lead the organization and oversee one of Iowa’s largest human services agencies, with more than 400 employees and an operating budget of $28 million.
“I am honored and humbled to lead an organization that does such good work throughout the state for families, children, immigrants, refugees, persons with disabilities, DEI, and so many more, said Ms. Hardman “Serving my community and all 99 Iowa counties is my lifelong passion, and I am so excited to lift up our collective work while transforming and positively enhancing LSI’s brand.”
Renee has received numerous accolades recognized by the Des Moines Business Record as the Forty Under 40 Alumna of the Year (2023), a Woman of Influence, and named as one of the Top 25 Des Moines Business Leaders. She has also received a Lifetime Volunteer Award from President Biden and was recently awarded the Louise Rosenfield Noun Visionary Award. She is an Iowa Women Hall of Fame Inductee and a past Remarkable Woman Honoree by WHO 13.
Renee earned her Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and Master’s in Business Administration from Drake University in Des Moines.
As a resident of West Des Moines, Renee is currently serving her second term as a City Councilwoman for the City of West Des Moines. She recently served as Vice President of Human Resources and Chief Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Officer for Broadlawns Medical Center in Des Moines. Renee has a passion for helping to make the community a better place than she found it. She has served over 20 nonprofits as either a volunteer, board member, and CEO.
Renee can be reached at:
Renee.Hardman@LSIowa.org
Lutheran Services in Iowa
3125 Cottage Grove Avenue
Des Moines, IA 50311
Roni Knief
INTERIM PRESIDENT & CEO
Roni Knief serves as LSI’s Interim Chief Executive Officer.
Since joining LSI in 2019, Roni has held several key leadership roles, beginning as a Budget and Financial Analyst before being promoted to Service Line Support and Budget Manager. She has served as the Vice President of Finance and Chief Financial Officer since 2022, where she led the organization’s annual budget development process, financial analysis, contract reporting, and strategic financial planning.
Prior to joining LSI, Roni held executive leadership positions at American Enterprise Group (Wellabe) and Etrema Products, overseeing finance, sales, and customer service operations. She has also owned and operated a small business, bringing a well-rounded perspective to organizational leadership.
As Interim CEO, Roni is committed to advancing LSI’s mission while supporting employees, strengthening partnerships, and ensuring the organization continues to provide high-quality, life-changing services to Iowans.
In her free time, Roni enjoys spending time with her family, golf, boating, and watching sports.
“I am honored to serve as Interim CEO and to work alongside our dedicated team as we continue to strengthen LSI’s mission of providing life-changing care and support to the Iowans we are privileged to serve,” Roni says.
Roni can be reached at:
Roni.Knief@LSIowa.org
Lutheran Services in Iowa
3125 Cottage Grove Avenue
Des Moines, IA 50311
Andrea Maschka
CHIEF DEVELOPMENT OFFICER
As Chief Development Officer, Maschka leads LSI’s statewide fundraising and development strategy, guiding a team of philanthropy directors and strengthening donor, corporate, and foundation partnerships to expand support for vital services across Iowa. Andrea helps build and boosts the future of LSI, shaping a forward-looking philanthropic vision that leverages data-driven insights, meaningful relationships, and equity-centered fundraising practices to ensure sustainable growth.
Maschka joined LSI in 2025 from Hope Ministries, where she served as Major Gifts Officer and helped drive transformational giving by building deep, mission-aligned relationships with donors. She also brought her leadership to Mosaic Homes of Iowa, expanding donor networks and community partnerships, and to her role as a Business Restructuring Consultant, where she collaborated with nonprofits and small businesses to design sustainable growth strategies powered by innovation and purpose.
Earlier in her career, Maschka spent a decade in pharmaceutical sales and leadership, earning multiple national and divisional awards for excellence, including Platinum Cluband Top 10% National Performance distinctions with Astellas Pharma US and Forest Pharmaceuticals. Her success in this sector refined her expertise in relationship management, strategic growth, and team development—skills that now inform her philanthropic leadership approach.
Maschka holds a Bachelor of Science in Marketing with a Minor in German from Iowa State University. She is certified in Virtuous Responsive Fundraising and recognized for her commitment to integrating technology and data analytics into donor engagement strategy.
A dedicated community leader, Maschka has actively volunteered with Lutheran Church of Hope, Special Olympics Iowa, Mosaic Homes of Iowa, and Above & Beyond Cancer, championing causes that empower individuals and strengthen community connections.
Andrea and her husband, Brian, have been married for nearly 25 years and have three children, Creighton, Berkley and Drake.
Andrea can be reached at:
Andrea.Maschka@LSIowa.org
Lutheran Services in Iowa
3125 Cottage Grove Avenue
Des Moines, IA 50311
Nick Wuertz
VICE PRESIDENT OF Programs and Strategy Development
Nicholas Wuertz is the newest member of the Executive Leadership Team at Lutheran Services in Iowa (LSI), where he has worked since 2006. Nick previously served as the Director of Immigrant and Refugee Community Services (IRCS) from 2012 through 2026, managing 105 full and part-time staff members, welcoming refugee and immigrant families and enhancing services for newcomers around the state. Throughout his time at LSI, he has developed and implemented eighteen new refugee and immigrant-specific services and opportunities that now impact the lives of 3,000 new Iowans every year.
Nick was a co-founder of the Refugee Alliance of Central Iowa (RACI), which has brought together a diverse group of stakeholders to advance Central Iowa’s ability to welcome and equip refugee families for success. Nick is a 2014 graduate of the Greater Des Moines Leadership Institute and a 2026 Graduate of the Leading Others Executive Education Cohort at Drake University.
Nick is a native of Waverly, Iowa, and a graduate of Wartburg College. His mother’s family emigrated from Denmark when she was in kindergarten. His father comes from a family of German immigrants. In his free time Nick loves to be with his family, explore nature, and play soccer and tennis.
Nick can be reached at:
Nicholas.Wuertz@lsiowa.org
Lutheran Services in Iowa
3125 Cottage Grove Avenue
Des Moines, IA 50311
Our Values
Unite
Together we are stronger. We can achieve greater impact by supporting, celebrating, and trusting each other and our community.
Respect
Every person is a unique gift of God, worthy of being treated with humility, empathy, and integrity.
Grow
We create a culture of continuous learning and innovation to uplift one another and those we serve.
Empower
We amplify the voices of those who are not heard, advocate for social justice, and encourage people to achieve greatness.