The Investing in Iowa Show

What happens when a family-first mindset drives a real estate career? In this episode, David Gellerman of Hawkeye Commercial Real Estate reflects on nearly four decades in the business. He talks about starting in wholesale, finding his way into real estate through mentorship, and the evolution of Hawkeye into a trusted family-run firm focused on brokerage, investment, and property management.  Dav...

What if your tenants were nationally recognized brands, and your real estate investments practically ran themselves? Tom Rauen breaks down the power of net lease investing and how he built a $55M commercial real estate portfolio featuring tenants like Starbucks, Arby's, and FedEx.  From market trends to lease structures, Tom shares why this focused strategy offers stability, simplicity, and seriou...

What happens when a football-playing teacher trades the classroom for construction? Andrew Long shares his journey from coaching and seminary to custom homebuilding, property management, and multifamily investing. With a background rooted in service and strategy, Andrew unpacks how vision, partnerships, and adaptability have shaped his success across multiple real estate lanes. Andrew dives into l...

 What if the most misunderstood asset class in real estate was also one of the most stable? Joanne Stevens brings decades of experience in mobile home parks to this episode, sharing how she's seen the industry evolve, the stigma it still fights, and why institutional investors are now taking notice.  Joanne unpacks key revenue drivers, investor trends, and the nuances of managing communities in a...

What does it take to turn a flooded bank into a luxury, mixed-use anchor in downtown Des Moines? Jesse Bunney, General Manager at Lawmark Capital, shares the inside story of the Mezzo on Walnut project, from redevelopment hurdles and $12 million renovations to 209 luxury apartments and game-changing leases.  With deep experience in asset management and a mindset built on persistence, Jesse walks t...

Are high-end rentals really worth the work?  After 15 years in real estate, Mark Lane has found his niche. And it's not where he started. Mark shares how his business evolved from flipping to wholesaling, and why certainty, simplicity, and smart marketing drive his strategy. He discusses how effective marketing fuels deal flow, why higher-end rentals became a new focus, and how vision and personal...

What can one flip teach you about risk, relationships, and resilience? Real estate investor Greg Rosa shares his journey from the mortgage world to house flipper in Des Moines. He reflects on the lessons learned from his first deal, the evolving market dynamics, and how buying right, building strong contractor relationships, and franchising with HomeVestors helped him find his stride. Tune in for...

What if your Airbnb business could fund your next investment, and your dumpster company could bring in your next client? In this episode, Darson Grantham shares how he's blending real estate savvy, short-term rental strategy, and entrepreneurship to build lasting wealth in Des Moines. From automation to mindset, Darson breaks down what it really takes to succeed in a shifting market. Darson shares...

What does 40+ years in banking teach you about real estate, risk, and resilience? Veteran lender Larry Wolf shares lessons from a career spanning market cycles and major real estate shifts. He unpacks the risks of lending, the trends shaping today's CRE landscape, and how adaptability and planning have guided his approach through decades of change. Tune in for real stories from the frontlines of c...

How does a beekeeping medic from Israel become a real estate investor?  In this conversation, real estate investor Adam Metzker opens up about his journey from military service in Israel to real estate investing across the U.S. He talks about weathering the oil crash in North Dakota, adapting to market slowdowns, and staying focused on fundamentals like affordable housing and strong economic indic...

The real estate market has a not-so-secret weapon: home staging. And few understand its power like Theresa Agey.  A Des Moines native who grew up in her family's furniture business, Theresa launched her own store in 2011 and quickly discovered how staging could transform a property's first impression—and its final sales price. Today, with nearly 80% of her clients being investors, Theresa has beco...

The U.S. is facing a double crisis: a shortage of affordable housing and a massive gap in skilled trades talent.  Few people sit at the intersection of both challenges quite like Dan Knoup. From serving in the Navy to building more than 700 homes over two decades, Dan now leads the Home Builders Association of Greater Des Moines—where he's championed initiatives that have already introduced over 3...

How do you stay relevant for 40+ years in a market that never stops shifting?  In this episode, Kevin Crowley—SIOR & COO of NAI Iowa Realty Commercial—traces his unexpected journey from the restaurant industry to becoming one of Des Moines' top commercial brokers.  He discusses the rise of Des Moines, why tenant credit matters more than ever, and how interest rates are reshaping deal flow. Kevin a...

How can one casual conversation change a city's skyline?  In this conversation, Tim Rypma, President of Rypma Properties, shares his journey from a college spark of interest in real estate to becoming one of Des Moines' most influential developers. Known for leading the 40-acre Market District redevelopment, Tim offers an inside look at how this transformative project will reshape the city's urban...

What if you built a great business—but no one wanted to buy it?  In this episode, Jeremy Vos business consultant and owner of Exit Factor breaks down the hard truths about exit planning, why most businesses never sell, and how to avoid the costly mistakes owners don't see coming. Whether you're thinking of selling in five years or still scaling, this conversation will reshape how you think about l...

What if your biggest impact came from the job you never planned to take?  Karie Kading Ramsey didn't set out to lead her family's housing business, but once she did, she transformed it. This episode dives into how she's redefining affordable housing in Iowa, balancing rapid growth with deep community partnerships, and leading with heart in an industry shaped by dollars and decisions. In this episo...

What does it take to turn a college side hustle into a portfolio of multi-million dollar businesses?  For Todd Mendenhall, it started with a mop and a mindset. In this episode, Todd shares how grit, focus, and knowing your lane helped him build, scale, and sell companies—while staying grounded in values that outlast any market cycle. In this candid conversation, entrepreneur Todd Mendenhall opens...

What if the symbol of Iowa's past—an old grain silo—could become the future of community, commerce, and inclusivity? Scott Turczynski isn't just building structures—he's building meaning. From navigating a life-changing injury to leading one of the Midwest's boldest redevelopment projects, Scott's story is one of resilience, purpose, and creative transformation. In this inspiring episode, we're jo...

What do you get when you mix a farm kid's work ethic with an entrepreneur's vision? A construction empire built from grit, faith, and fearlessness. In this episode, Bill Kimberley shares the ups, downs, and lessons of starting a business at 21 and growing it into one of Iowa's most respected development firms. Whether you're a builder, dreamer, or leader, his story will leave you inspired to take...

What happens when an engineer walks into the world of finance and real estate? Brett Olsen didn't just pivot—he transformed a university program, helped launch countless careers, and built a bridge between theory and real-world success. If you're curious about how practical education is shaping the next wave of real estate leaders, this episode is for you. In this episode, we sit down with Brett O...

In this episode, we sit down with Nathan Rupprecht and Adam Kaduce of R&R Realty Group to explore how Iowa roots, legal know-how, and relationship-first strategies are driving commercial real estate innovation in Des Moines. From office evolution to industrial stabilization, Nathan and Adam unpack how R&R is staying ahead of the curve in a shifting market—and why Des Moines may just be the perfect...

What happens when an 18-year-old residential real estate investor evolves into a data-driven commercial real estate leader with $100M+ in sales? In this episode, Jared Husmann shares the hard-earned lessons, mindset shifts, and frameworks that helped him transition from residential headaches to commercial clarity. From leveraging Dan Sullivan's Strategic Coach program to implementing RUBS, Jared b...

What does it take to transform a local real estate company into a regional powerhouse and shape the future of an entire city? In this conversation, Rick Tollakson, CEO of Hubbell Realty Company, shares his incredible journey from construction engineering to leading one of Iowa's largest and most innovative real estate firms. With insights on leadership, economic resilience, and community building,...

In this episode, we sit down with Philip Giudici, a Des Moines native who took the road less traveled—from knocking doors in Arizona to flipping distressed homes back in Iowa. Philip opens up about the hard-earned lessons from his early sales grind, why adaptability is every investor's secret weapon, and how reading people is just as important as reading the market. If you're looking to sharpen yo...

What happens when small-town work ethic meets big-city finance? In this insightful episode, Neil Timmins chats with Derek Vander Veen—a commercial finance professional by day and a passionate real estate investor by night. From milking cows on an Iowa dairy farm to structuring deals and scaling a rental portfolio, Derek shares how curiosity, discipline, and long-term strategy helped him turn a sid...