Our Leadership Team

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Renee HardmanPresident 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 500 employees and an operating budget of $32 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

Dan DeanVice President of Capacity and Strategy Development

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 2017, 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:

Dan.Dean@LSIowa.org
Lutheran Services in Iowa
3125 Cottage Grove Avenue
Des Moines, IA 50311

Nancy KrauseVice President of Programs and Services

Nancy Krause is LSI’s Vice President of Programs and Services.

She is a lifelong champion for children and families and has been with LSI for 24 years, most recently as Director of LSI Early Childhood Services. In her tenure with LSI, she began as a caseworker in child welfare services, which at the time included services similar to Behavioral Health Intervention Services. She taught classes for prospective foster parents, and offered support to licensed foster families. Since 2004, she has focused on prevention services, where she has a strong passion for strengths-based and family-driven principles.

Nancy is also well-known and respected within local, state, and national circles. She has served on multiple committees for Early Childhood Iowa; the Family Support Leadership Group; the National Advisory Committee for Healthy Families America (HFA), including a two-year stint as chairperson; and the state contact for HFA and the HFA co-lead, along with the Iowa Department of Public Health. She is an active member of the Coaching Work Group for the Professional Development Community of Practice. She played a key role in the federal reauthorization of Maternal, Infant, and Early Childhood Home Visiting (MIECHV) funding, which supports home visiting for families of young children in communities experiencing lower child health outcomes and other risk indicators.

“The work we do at LSI makes a life-changing impact for hundreds of children and families across the state,” Nancy says. “I am honored to serve in this role, where I am able to lead the pack so that I can find solutions to challenges and ensure LSI can continue to provide high quality care to Iowans.”

Nancy can be reached at:
Nancy.Krause@LSIowa.org
Lutheran Services in Iowa
3125 Cottage Grove Avenue
Des Moines, IA 50311

Sarah GreenVice President of Philanthropy and Church Relations

Sarah is LSI’s Vice President of Philanthropy and Church Relations, overseeing LSI’s fundraising strategy and growth, donor development, community outreach, and church relations.

“I look forward to connecting Iowa’s philanthropic leaders to the deserving individuals LSI supports,” Sarah says. “My professional experiences have been focused on global initiatives, but I have always been interested in serving directly in my community. I was inspired to become part of LSI and ‘come home’ to the state of Iowa to make an impact. I have been inspired by the hundreds of dedicated employees at LSI providing life-changing services, and I am humbled to be part of the team.”

Sarah earned her Master’s in Public Administration with a focus in Executive Leadership from Drake University, where she developed a passion for multiculturalism and global diversity. She received her undergraduate degree in Leisure, Youth, and Human Services, with certificates in Nonprofit Management, Tourism, and Public Relations from the University of Northern Iowa.

Prior to LSI, Sarah worked as the Director of U.S. Development for Blessman International, which serves communities in Limpopo, South Africa. She led eight teams to South Africa and expanded Blessman’s philanthropy, branding, and awareness efforts. Sarah also has experience working at Children’s Cancer Connection, managing statewide volunteers and fundraising events.

Residents of West Des Moines, Sarah and her husband are avid cyclists and love exploring national parks. They are active members of Westminster Presbyterian Church. Sarah is also a member of Rotary, Young Professionals Connection, and Young Nonprofit Professionals Connection.

Sarah can be reached at:

Sarah.Green@LSIowa.org
Lutheran Services in Iowa
3125 Cottage Grove Avenue
Des Moines, IA 50311

Roni KniefVice President of Finance, Chief Financial Officer

Roni Knief is LSI’s Vice President of Finance and Chief Financial Officer.

Roni has been with LSI since 2019, when she started as a budget and financial analyst and was later promoted to service line support and budget manager. In addition to many other tasks, Roni has overseen LSI’s annual budget development process, as well as financial analysis and contract reporting.

Prior to LSI, Roni has served in executive roles, including at American Enterprise Group and Etrema Products, where she has overseen finance, sales, and customer service. She has also owned a small business. In her free time, Roni enjoys golf, Crossfit, boating, spending time with her family, and watching sports — especially the Iowa Hawkeyes.

“I am grateful to be a partner with LSI’s service lines, providing financial insight and analysis so they can focus on providing life-changing care 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

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