February 5, 2001
WELLMARK CEO LEADS GREATER DES MOINES PARTNERSHIP IN 2001!
Chair John Forsyth continues history of community service

GREATER DES MOINES – Nearly 850 members of the Greater Des Moines business community attended the Greater Des Moines Partnership’s 112th Annual Dinner last month to witness the passing of the gavel from outgoing Partnership Chair Teresa Wahlert of Qwest to incoming Chair John Forsyth of Wellmark, Inc.

Forsyth is Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Wellmark. The Greater Des Moines Partnership is the economic and community development organization serving Greater Des Moines. Its mission is to maximize local resources to address opportunities for economic and community growth through a united economic development effort, with one voice, one mission, one focus.

John Forsyth has a long-standing reputation of service to the community. He served as Chairman of the Detroit Branch of the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago and is a member of the Iowa Business Council. He served as Chair of the Board of United Way of Central Iowa during 1999-2000 and is again serving in that capacity for 2000-2001. He served on State Commissions on Educational Excellence for the 21st Century under two Governors and recently completed work undertaken at the request of Governor Vilsack to develop a new K-12 teacher compensation system for the state of Iowa.

Before coming to Wellmark, Forsyth served as president and chief executive officer of the University of Michigan Health System, one of the largest and most prestigious academic health centers in the nation. He served in a variety of executive roles in the University of Michigan system over a 26-year career there.

Forsyth will lead the Partnership’s Board of Directors for a period of one year. The Board directs the goals and policies of the Partnership staff, headed by President & CEO Mike Blouin. The staff serves the interests of more than 1,750 local business members and provides support to 18 affiliated chambers of commerce in Greater Des Moines. It also has alliances with numerous business, education and governmental entities, strengthening its efforts politically, economically and strategically.

For more information, contact Susan Ramsey, Communications & Marketing (515) 286-4954, or send us an email.