For Immediate Release
Contact: Amy Day
Tel: 515.271.0344 (o)
515.612.0775 (m)
E-mail: aday@desmoinesartcenter.org
DES MOINES, IA (December 2024) –The Des Moines Art Center is pleased to announce the appointment of Cindy Gerjets as Senior Director of People and Culture. Gerjets is the first person to hold this newly retitled and reconceived position at the Art Center. Gerjets brings a wealth of experience in talent acquisition and development as well as management training, leadership coaching, organizational culture, benefits administration, wellness strategy, and general human resource policies to her role at the Art Center. In her capacity as Senior Director of People and Culture, Gerjets will serve as a key member of the Art Center’s executive leadership team and a strategic partner to the John and Mary Pappajohn Director, overseeing the enhancement and administration of all human resource-related operations. Under Gerjet’s leadership, the Art Center will continue to implement systems that foster a vibrant, inclusive internal culture and support the people who bring its mission to life every day.
“I am honored to join the Des Moines Art Center as the Senior Director of People and Culture during such an exciting and transformative time for the organization. The Art Center’s dedication to fostering a culture of creativity, collaboration, inclusion, and building meaningful connections aligns perfectly with my passion for empowering people and cultivating engaging workplaces. I look forward to partnering with this talented team to support and celebrate the individuals who make the Art Center so special.” -Cindy Gerjets
Gerjets has served in progressively more senior roles for the last 17 years at Liberty Bank, Holmes Murphy, Krause Group/Kum & Go, and, most recently, Maverik. She is currently Director of Talent Development at Maverik. Between 2014 and 2020, she served as Senior Human Resource Manager and Senior Talent Acquisition Manager at Krause Group/Kum & Go. Between 2012 and 2014, Gerjets was Total Rewards Consultant at Holmes Murphy and, before that, Associate Vice President of Human Resources at Liberty Bank. Gerjets holds both an MBA and a Leadership Certificate from the University of Iowa and a B.A. in Communication Studies from Iowa State University. She is certified in Professional Human Resources by the HRCI Learning Center.
Gerjets joins the Art Center at a significant moment in its history, as it launches a new five-year strategic plan that prioritizes the development and stewardship of its almost 100 employees and the enhancement of an inclusive, equitable internal culture. During her tenure at Krause Group/Kum & Go and Maverik, Gerjets led the design and implementation of robust talent management platforms, created high-impact learning programs for associates, and co-chaired the Culture Ambassadors team, driving initiatives to enrich organizational culture.
“Cindy’s role as Senior Director of People and Culture will be pivotal to the Art Center’s future,” says John and Mary Pappajohn Director, Kelly Baum. “As with other non-profit organizations, our success is measured on the basis of how well we care for the incredible people who manage our operations and programs as much as it is on the quality of our collections, the number of guests we host, and the amount of dollars we raise. It similarly depends on the cultivation of an organizational culture characterized by communication, collaboration, fairness, and respect. Cindy is perfectly positioned to lead the way in creating a comprehensive approach to people and culture at the Art Center.”
Gerjets will begin her new role on December 18, 2024.
For more information, contact Senior Director of Communications and Marketing Amy Day at 515.271.0344 or aday@desmoinesartcenter.org.
About the Des Moines Art Center
The Des Moines Art Center is a vibrant, AAM-accredited institution located in the capital city of Iowa that welcomes over 270,000 visitors annually from across the country and around the globe. Its historic campus consists of three buildings designed by major architects of the 20th century—Eliel Saarinen, I. M. Pei, and Richard Meier—incorporated into the natural landscape of Greenwood Park. The Art Center is home to one of the strongest collections of 20th and 21st century art in the region, and it hosts a series of ground-breaking exhibitions and lectures each year featuring artists known regionally, nationally, and internationally. The experimental spirit of the art for which the Art Center cares for is reflected in its creative offerings, including a celebrated education program that prioritizes access and collaboration, an art school with studio classes for all ages, and the John and Mary Pappajohn Sculpture Park, situated on 4.4 acres in downtown Des Moines. The Art Center is committed to the values of diversity, equity, and inclusion, which are incorporated into every facet of its mission and identity.
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