Siouxland GO thrives thanks to its dedicated board. Led by a President, Vice President, Treasurer, and Secretary, nine passionate individuals volunteer their time throughout the year. Each board member also chairs a key committee: Connect, Community Engagement, Innovation Market, Marketing, and Special Events. Together, they create and offer valuable opportunities for current members, attract new members, and partner with local businesses. From professional development workshops to engaging volunteer events, Siouxland GO remains a strong, stable, and vibrant organization thanks to the tireless efforts of its nine-member board.
Kristen Heimgartner, President
Explore Siouxland – Destination Experience Manager
As the President of Siouxland GO, Kristen leads the charge in connecting and empowering young professionals in the Siouxland region. With a passion for fostering collaboration and growth, they work to create opportunities for members to thrive both personally and professionally.
Kristen grew up not too far from Sioux City in Le Mars, IA, and graduated from Le Mars Community. She then attended college at Iowa State University and received her bachelors degree in Event Management. After college graduation, she moved to Kansas City to work at the Kansas City Downtown Marriott in the Events department. After a short while there, she realized she missed Siouxland and being close to family. Kristen now works for Explore Siouxland, the Sioux City Regional Convention and Visitors Bureau. There you can find her assisting visitors with ideas for places to stay, visit, and eat while they’re in the city. She also attends many tradeshows and works to bring new events and conferences to Siouxland.
In her free time, you can find Kristen spending time outside kayaking or reading a book. She also enjoys quilting, baking, and spending time with friends and family!
Sidney Marks, Past President
Food Bank of Siouxland – External Development & Communications Associate
Sidney Marks joined Siouxland GO in May of 2022, becoming the Community Engagement Chair starting January 2023. Originally from Omaha, Sidney came to Sioux City following in the footsteps of her father, attending Briar Cliff University. (Go Chargers!) After graduating in 2018, she worked for her alma mater’s marketing department for 4 years until closing the yearbook and going to work for the Food Bank of Siouxland, assisting in promoting the services the Food Bank provides to the community. Sidney has grown to love Sioux City as her home, finding some of her favorite people out here. If you’re looking, you can probably spot her eating some truffle fries at Diving Elk, playing sand volleyball/intramurals at the Ickey Nickel and Long Lines, attending shows at the Hard Rock, throwing some axes at Axe to Grind, or just taking a walk at Bacon Creek. Her motto on living here: “Sioux City is a trap in the best way possible. Once you find your people here, you’ll never want to leave.”
Diego Hernandez, Vice President
United Real Estate Solutions – Realtor
Born and raised in Sioux Center, NW Iowa is what Diego has always called home. Upon graduating from Sioux Center High School, Diego chose to pursue a higher education at Western Iowa Tech where he was heavily involved with the Business & Accounting Club. Diego was elected president of the club from fall of 2021 to spring of 2022 and later received the Business Student of The Year Award. After receiving his associates, he knew he wanted to chase his dream of being a Realtor. He went on to get his real estate license and has been doing it since! His goal is to guide and help those who want to buy or sell a home while educating the clients to make the process as seamless as possible, and being a resource and trusted advisor.
When Diego isn’t busy with real estate he likes to stay involved by being a member of Siouxland Go and a current student of Leadership Siouxland. His hobbies include: Fishing, biking, traveling, and boating with friends. He also enjoys watching movies at home and looking after his pet cat named Theo.
Diego loves trying new experiences and meeting new people. Growing up constantly meeting new faces, he credits that for his extravert personality. When he was younger, his parents had a few businesses and was always helping them out. This exposed him to a ton of experiences and interactions that he is grateful for to this day.
Marisa Porter, Treasurer
Security National Bank – Operations Project Manager
Marisa Porter is excited to serve on the Siouxland Growth Organization Board as the Treasurer. Marisa’s goal is to help Siouxlanders find like-minded individuals who want to invest in themselves and their community by getting involved.
Marisa is a Siouxland native and a graduate of Sergeant Bluff-Luton High School. She attended the University of South Dakota to pursue a Business Administration degree with a Mathematics minor. She currently works as the Operations Project Manager at Security National Bank. In her free time, Marisa likes to read and spend time with her husband and their two giant schnauzers. In addition to Siouxland Growth Organization, Marisa enjoys giving back to her community through her involvement in Big Brothers Big Sisters, United Way, and various other non-profits. If you see Marisa around Siouxland, make sure to say hi!
Kari Sandage, Secretary
Dorothy Pecaut Nature Center – Naturalist I
Kari grew up in the small southwest Iowa town of Atlantic. She attended Central College in Pella, IA where she played volleyball and double majored in Environmental Studies and Spanish. After graduating, she pursued a master’s degree in environmental science at Antioch University New England in Keene, NH. She was also enrolled in the Peace Corps Master’s International program and spent 27 months as an Environmental Education Volunteer in Nicaragua, where she completed her master’s thesis project. After finishing her degree, Kari continued traveling and landed her first job with the National Park Service in Alaska at Denali National Park. Afterward she moved to Fort Payne, Alabama to work at Little River Canyon National Preserve. During the 2020 pandemic, Kari had to make a career change and fortunately ended up in Sioux City. Kari now works as a Naturalist for the Dorothy Pecaut Nature Center. She is happy to be closer to family and is thrilled to call Sioux City home. In her free time Kari enjoys playing volleyball, going for runs around her neighborhood, hiking, yoga, and hanging out with her cats.
Kari joined Siouxland GO in 2023 with the hopes of making friends and career connections. She is excited for her new role as Secretary and hopes to connect with other people who are new to Sioux City and welcome them into our community.
Sydney Palmer, Marketing
Ronald McDonald House Charities – Fundraising & Events Coordinator
Prince Shema, Special Events
Century Business Products – Solutions Consultant
Prince is from Kigali, Rwanda, Africa. He moved to Siouxland in 2014 and attended Briar Cliff. After graduating, he moved to Minneapolis and started a career in IT management. He moved back to sioux city in 20222 and was eager to contribute more towards the community. Through SGO, he was able to get involved with volunteering opportunities and expand his network professionally and personally.
In his free time, Prince enjoys going to the gym, riding bicycles and going on walks/hikes. He is looking forward to all the opportunities and involvement that comes with being a board member.
Leslie Sanchez, Community Engagement
U.S. Bank – Credit Analyst
Leslie Sanchez is excited to serve on the Siouxland Growth Organization Board as the Community Engagement Chair. Leslie’s goal is to promote the benefits, activities, businesses, and resources of the Siouxland area so that other individuals can also grow to appreciate all that Siouxland has to offer whether new to or returning to the area. Originally from Zamora, Michoacan, Mexico, Leslie grew up in Sioux City since she was five years old, graduating from North High School. She continued her education at Iowa State University, earning an Accounting degree. Leslie started her career at U.S. Bank as an intern in Des Moines before moving back to Siouxland and continues with the bank, currently a Commercial Credit Analyst. Joining Siouxland Growth Organization has played an important role in her appreciation for the Siouxland area and has discovered she loves giving back to the Siouxland community. She has given back to the community through the VITA Program (Volunteer Income Tax Assistance) both in Des Moines and Siouxland, but is eager to find more opportunities to give back. In her free time she enjoys spending time with family, going on bike rides, hiking, attending yoga classes, painting, or taking weekend naps with her cat.
Karina Pedroza, Innovation Market
Iowa’s West Coast Initiative – Entrepreneurial Community Navigator
Bin Ware, Connect
Great West Casualty Company – Software Developer
Bin Ware serves as the Connect board member for Siouxland Growth Organization. Originally from Ethiopia, Bin has called Siouxland home since 2010 when his family moved to the area. After completing his education at Bishop Heelan High School and growing up in the community, he brings a unique perspective and deep appreciation for the region. As someone who has witnessed Siouxland’s impact on his own journey, Bin is passionate about connecting local college students to opportunities that showcase the area’s potential. In his role, he works closely with Morningside University, Briar Cliff University, and Western Iowa Tech Community College to help shape the future of our community through young professional engagement and development.