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Charla Schafer is a highly engaging and entertaining speaker on the subjects of sales, service, leadership, communication, life balance, and marketing.  She also speaks passionately on a variety of housing, non-profit, and poverty-related topics.

 

After serving 20 years, as Vice President of Marketing and Retail Banking at a progressive, Midwestern, two bank holding company, Charla had the privilege to serve as the Executive Director at Muscatine Center for Social Action, a non-profit that houses the homeless, offers homeless prevention services, domestic violence sheltering, and related health and educational services. Charla recently assumed the role of President at a local Community Foundation that is focused on affecting community change through leadership and strategic capital deployment.

   

She has been married for 35 consecutive years to an Accountant.  And, if that doesn't provide her with enough head-shaking anecdotes, she is the mother of three boys. 

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Personal ADVOCACY.

Charla is deeply committed to addressing the needs of children in our communities.

And, raising awareness for Type 1 Diabetes and Crohn's disease, which affect her youngest and middle sons.

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AWARDS.

  • Charla recently was awarded the Erma Bombeck Global Humor Writing award for her submission "Funeral Notes".

  • She was honored to receive the 2024 NAHRO (National Association of Housing and Redevelopment Officials) Iowa - R. Jack Paetz Award recognizing an individual that has furthered the goals of NAHRO in an outstanding and unusual manner

  • She was honored to receive the Iowa Public Health Hero award in 2022. 

  • She and her homeless shelter team were awarded the Iowa Finance Authority HousingIowa Special Needs Award in 2018. 

  • Charla and her bank team received numerous marketing awards from the Iowa Bankers Association (IBA) including the 2015 Best of Show award for bank marketing excellence; as well as helping her Bank achieve the 2012 IBA  Community Betterment Award. 

  • Charla's writing has also been recognized by HumorPress.

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Related BOARDS.

  • Iowa Council of Foundations 

  • Prevention Research Center for Rural Health State Advisory Board

  • Rural Policy Research Institute Housing Panel

  • University of Iowa Public Health Business Network

  • Trinity Muscatine Hospital Board

  • Aligned Impact Muscatine

  • Rotary of Muscatine


 

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