The Community Foundation for Western Iowa was delighted to have representation from our frontline medical and emergency response teams, as well as At Ease, First Reponders Foundation, and Heartland Family Service.
A special thank you to our Event Sponsor, American National Bank,
and Venue Sponsor, Iowa Western Community College, for their generosity
and continued support of the Community Foundation for Western Iowa and its initiatives.
Chief Matthew Davis has over 26 years of experience in law enforcement and has served as the Chief of Police for the City of Council Bluffs, Iowa since November of 2023. Chief Davis began his law enforcement career with the Illinois State Police (ISP) in 1998 as a Trooper patrolling the Chicagoland-area expressways. He served in a variety of capacities with the ISP and in February of 2019, he was appointed to serve as the First Deputy Director (FDD), the highest ranking sworn officer accountable for the entire agency’s operations. He served in this capacity until his retirement from the ISP in November of 2023.
Since coming to the Council Bluffs Police Department (CBPD), Chief Davis has worked to develop strong relationships within the department and community. Over the past year, the CBPD helped established the Pottawattamie County Threat Assessment Team and the “Speak Up” confidential reporting tool. He also led the establishment of the CBPD’s Homeless Outreach Program (HOP) where officers work in tandem with a Community Health Coach to ensure the delivery of services to individuals experiencing homelessness. Chief Davis has also led efforts to improve recruiting efforts for sworn officers at the CBPD. This resulted in the CBPD attracting more applicants than it has in the last decade and the largest single group of officers hired since the early 1980’s.
Chief Davis earned a bachelor’s degree in anthropology and history from the University of Delaware, a master’s degree in biological anthropology from Northern Illinois University, and a juris doctorate from the Saint Louis University School of Law. He is licensed to practice law in Iowa and Illinois. Chief Davis is a graduate of the Northwestern University’s Center for Public Safety’s School of Police Staff and Command, Class #496 and the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s National Executive Institute, Session #46.
Leah is a Licensed Independent Mental Health Practitioner, Certified Professional Counselor, and Licensed Alcohol and Drug Counselor who specializes in working with first responders and their spouses. Growing up the daughter of a Lincoln Firefighter and currently the spouse of a Council Bluffs Firefighter, Leah has found her niche helping those in the first responder community. Leah is trained in Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), Reconsolidation of Traumatic Memories (RTM), and brainspotting. She also facilitates a monthly spouse support group. She is available for both in-person and telehealth sessions throughout Nebraska and Iowa.
Mary oversees day-to-day operations, including facility operations, and strategy of our three program areas: Child & Family Well-Being, Counseling & Prevention, and Housing, Safety, & Financial Stability. She provides particular focus in identifying community service gaps for the clients we serve and advocates for funding to address these issues imperative to our clients.
Deputy Stewart has served in law enforcement for 19 years, beginning in Nebraska in 2005, and making his way to the Pottawattamie County Sheriff's Office in 2011.
Currently assigned to the Road Patrol Division, Deputy Stewart is CIT Certified, and specializes in Mental Health Crisis and Defensive Tactics. He has worked directly with the Heartland Family Service Crisis Response & ASAP teams for 13 years, and has been a peer support member for a First Responders and Military Peer Support Group in Omaha, specializing in PTSD and trauma.
Deputy Stewart also served in the United States Navy for 8 years, including a combat tour in Afghanistan, operating in a multitude of areas to include; Reactionary Forces Commander, Defensive Tactics Instructor, and Firearms Instructor.
Deputy Stewart has a passion for Mental Health, and has worked diligently over the years to aid in bridging the gap between the Law Enforcement and Mental Health worlds.
Dave has worked in the MH field for over 38 years beginning his professional journey in 1987 in Topeka, Kansas. He graduated with an MSW from the University of Kansas in 1990. He spent the next 12 years involved in both clinical and administrative work in the Topeka area while marveling at the growth and uniqueness of his three children.
In 2002, Dave and family moved back to the Omaha/Co. Bluffs area where he is from originally. He worked at Heartland Family Service and Community Alliance prior to the VA. He has served as the VA-Nebraska-Western Iowa Suicide Prevention Coordinator since 2007.
Jenene Vandenburg, MS, BSN, RN, joined the Methodist family in 2010 as a registered nurse. She’s currently Methodist Jennie Edmundson Hospital’s vice president of patient services and chief nursing officer, overseeing the medical/surgical unit, telemetry, intensive care, the birthing center, the emergency department, respiratory care, surgery, outpatient services and the inpatient psychiatric unit.
Prior to her current role, Vandenburg served as Jennie Edmundson’s director of quality and performance improvement. She’s also taken on multiple leadership roles, including administrative director of nursing services at Jennie Edmundson and patient safety lead at Methodist Hospital and Methodist Women’s Hospital.
The Nebraska Methodist College alumna has more than five years of clinical experience and a multistate nursing license in Nebraska and Iowa. She is trained in emergency management and holds a Green Belt in Lean Six Sigma, which represents proficiency in planning, controlling, and improving performance.
Gail Williams is the clinical director of At Ease USA a local non-profit dedicated to serving military members, veterans, frontline healthcare workers and their families with quality mental health and wellness services. At Ease USA serves those who have been impacted by trauma, post-traumatic stress, suicide, and moral injury. Many people believe that if they have not actively been in combat, that they do not or cannot develop PTS. This is far from true; there are many experiences and events that can cause PTS. Additionally, loved ones can develop what we call “vicarious trauma or secondary trauma” through learning of another’s’ traumatic experience. This is why At Ease USA serves the entire family. At Ease USA adopts the old adage of “no man left behind”.
Since 2014, Gail has been the owner and CEO of Williams Counseling & Consulting (WCC). WCC is a private therapy practice and consulting agency. Gail has written curriculum on a variety mental and emotional health conditions which have been trained in non-profit agencies in the metro area over the last ten years. Gail has also recently developed a high level suicidal/homicidal ideation training for customer service representatives which is being used in local crisis call centers (specifically those working with the veteran population).
Gail is the wife, daughter, and sister of retired Air Force veterans. She has lived in many states as well as in Germany and Japan. Both of her sons are currently serving in the United States Air Force.