Mary Bontrager is the Executive Vice President of Talent Development for the Greater Des Moines Partnership where she oversees all areas of talent recruitment and development, diversity/inclusion and education relations.  

Mary first joined the Greater Des Moines Chamber (now known as The Partnership) in 1992 as Membership Services Manager. In 1995 she became Vice President of Business Growth and was named Senior Vice President in 1998. Since moving to Des Moines in 1979 she has also worked for SVPA Architects, The Weitz Company and Storey-Kenworthy Company.

Bontrager currently serves on the Grand View University Board of Trustees, Girl Scouts of Greater Iowa Board, Iowa Collage Access Network (ICAN) Board, Iowa Credit Union Foundation Board, Project Iowa Board, WE Global Network Steering Committee member, Education Attainment Division Advisory Council for the Association of Chamber of Commerce Executives (ACCE), and the Leadership Council for United Way’s OpportUNITY initiative. She is a 2008/09 alumni of Leadership Iowa and a graduate of Greater Des Moines Leadership Institute where she also served on the Board. In 2001, she was named to the Des Moines Business Record’s “Women of Influence.”

Mary grew up in Exira, Iowa and attended the University of Northern Iowa majoring in Interior Design and Marketing.

Bontrager says she “is very fortunate to be able to work her passion to grow and promote Greater Des Moines.  The opportunities for all to live, work and thrive in greater Des Moines are endless and it’s The Partnership’s role to help  individuals and companies realize those opportunities.”

Breakout Session C- Attraction & Retention Panel Discussion

We hear it all the time, we are hiring, we are looking for great employees, and if only there were people out there to fill these positions! But once we fill these positions how do we ensure that those hired stay? This panel will touch on attracting a great work force and then ensuring and helping with ideas on how to keep them. There will be time for questions and interaction with the panelists.