WeLead Board Members

The mission of WeLead's Board of Directors is to stimulate economic development in the West Liberty area. Their work has helped create strong business relationships and establish a climate in which new business can flourish. As a volunteer board, each member contributes a different perspective from within the community.

Dana Nelson (President) - Active Health Chiropractic

Dana is a doctor of chiropractic and has owned and operated Active Health Chiropractic & Wellness in West Liberty since 2007. She has served on the WeLead board since April 2016 and is passionate about the West Liberty community. Dana values health and wellness, traveling, and spending time with family.

Santos Saucedo - Muscatine County Board ​of Supervisors

Santos has 2 children, and 21 yr old son and 19 yr old daughter, and 1 beautiful granddaughter. He has lived in Muscatine all of his life, and is very active in his community. He serves on the Muscatine City Council and as a Muscatine County Supervisor for Dist 1; as well as several other committees for the school, State, and local charities.  Santos worked at Louis Rich when he was going to college, and is currently employed at Bayer as a Project Manager. He has been employed there for 23 years total.
 “My goal is to always bring value to the table as I hope I can with We Lead.”

Melody Russell (Secretary) - Community Representative 

Melody lived and worked in Kuwait for several years before continuing her teaching career at West Liberty Schools. She served two terms on City Council and continues to stay active in the community. 

Jason Cassady (Treasurer) - West Liberty State Bank

​Jason Cassady is Vice President of West Liberty State Bank and has been with the bank since 2002. Jason resides in West Liberty with his wife, Amy, and four children. Jason has been on the WeLead board since February 2018.

Brad Akers (Board Member) - Real Estate Agent & Developer

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Jerry Melick (Board Member) - Liberty Communications

Jerry has served as the General Manager of Liberty Communications since 1992.  He has also served as President of the West Liberty Chamber of Commerce, and as a board member of the West Branch Chamber of Commerce. He has served on the Iowa Communications Alliance Board of Directors since 1998, and served on the Aureon Board of Directors from 2004 to 2016. He graduated from the University of Iowa with a BA in Journalism. He lives in rural West Liberty with his three children. In his spare time he enjoys landscaping, tree farming, bicycling, and off-road motorcycle racing.

David Dvorak (Board Member) - Real Estate Developer

Dave is a farmer and real estate developer who has resided in West Liberty since 1988, and has served on the WeLead board since November 2017. Dave enjoys steak fajitas, Iowa State football, and traveling with his family. ​

Steve Hanson (Board Member) - Community Representative

Steve is a retired superintendent who moved to West Liberty to work for the school district in 2011, when he became a member of the WeLead board representing the school district. Following his retirement in 2017, Steve has continued serving as a community representative. He enjoys serving the community through the Chamber of Commerce, the Coalition, LULAC and Rotary.

Tom Alberti (Board Member) - West Liberty Foods

Tom is the Plant Manager for West Liberty Foods' West Liberty facility and has resided in West Liberty since 2008.  He has served on the WeLead board since September 2018 and in his spare time he enjoys playing golf and working in his yard.

Dr. Joe Potts (Board Member) - WL Community School District

Joe Potts is Superintendent of Schools for the West Liberty Community School District.  He has held that position and has served on the WeLead Board since August of 2017.  Prior to West Liberty, Joe worked as an assistant principal, principal, curriculum director and college professor.  Joe is a proud graduate of The University of Iowa’s Graduate School. He enjoys outdoor activities and traveling with his family.

Joey Iske (Board Member) - Community Representative

Joey is a substitute teacher in the West Liberty School District.  She spent several years directing corporate communication and investor relations programs in Chicago. Joey has been a City Council board member since 2016 and appointed by the City of West Liberty to serve on the WeLead Board. Joey enjoys watching football - Comets, ISU, Iowa and Bears - and her son Tanner running track.