Joyce Kohl, Iowa’s State Director, was presented with the W. R. Russell Leadership Award by Greg Gumbel and Dr. Jennifer Howse at the National Field Training Conference in Phoenix, in July 2006.
The Iowa Chapter has earned the President’s Team Award the past two years and was also awarded the Chapter of the Year Award for medium sized chapters in Communications, Public Affairs and Mission Triangle for 2005. A large part of their success is due to Joyce’s commitment to our mission and passion for excellence. For more than 19 years, Joyce has been the driving force behind great relationships and solid results.
Community leaders, volunteers and staff hold her in high regard, and the chapter enjoys low turnover. She empowers people and trusts them to do their jobs. She’s patient and professional, which pays off in the end. For example, she cultivated a relationship that led to three-year funding of a new NICU Family Support project, and she can depend on local leaders to participate in special events.
Her staff has modeled their recruitment and development efforts after her “we can do it” attitude and team-building style. She never forgets to thank people for a job well done, and she calmly and thoughtfully guides others through challenges and change.
As national board member Mike Mohnsen said in his nomination letter, “If you look up ‘leadership’ in the Iowa March of Dimes dictionary, you will find Joyce Kohl’s picture, most likely working at a March of Dimes event.”
