The Board
Phil Wasta
President
Philip Wasta is the Executive Director of the MedQuarter Regional Medical District. Wasta is a graduate of the University of Iowa - College of Liberal Arts with a Bachelor of General Studies degree. A graduate of the Leadership for Five Seasons program, he has consistently dedicated decades of service in many influential community organizations such as the Fifteen In Five/PLAY Committee, Witwer Center, the American Cancer Society of Linn County, and the Downtown School Committee. Wasta has served on the District board since it was founded in February 2007.
Karla Sibert
Vice President
Karla Sibert is the owner of Dairy Queen#4 located on 16th Street NE. She attended the University of Iowa, and Pacific Travel School. She was involved with the travel and tourism business for the majority of her life. A 1994 graduate of the Leadership of Five Season program, she has stayed committed to her passion of volunteering with several non-profit organizations within the community and the State of Iowa. Karla has served on several boards; Miracles in Motion, the Cedar Valley Humane Society, and founded The Iowa Equine Rescue & Awareness League in 2006.
Kevin Platz
Treasurer
Kevin Platz joined the Cedar Rapids Area Association of REALTORS® as Chief Executive Officer in January 2007. He reports directly to the Board of Directors and is responsible for managing the staff, financial and asset management, strategic planning, oversight of government affairs and community involvement, continuing education, as well as public relations and event planning.
Olivia Brown
Emily Stochl
Lieutenant Michelle Omar
Olivia Brown joined Hills Bank and Trust in July 2024. Prior to her role, she steadily grew her banking expertise over the past five years within the Cedar Rapids area. Olivia stays focused on growing and developing staff in her branch as well as building customer relationships. She's passionate towards helping youth gain more knowledge about the financial world and setting them up for success. In her spare time, Olivia adores spending time with her family and going on vacations.
Emily Stochl is the co-owner of Café Allez (coming soon)—a European-inspired coffee shop and bakery within the College District—and Panache Properties LLC as well as a Kohawk (Coe College) alumni. Emily serves as the Vice President of Education & Advocacy at Remake—a global advocacy organization fighting for fair pay and climate justice in fashion—where she leads changemaking efforts across an international network of citizens, educators, legislators, and students. In addition, Emily’s passion lies within journalism, especially in the vintage and secondhand fashion industry, where she has written and contributed to: Refinery29, Vogue Business, Glamour, the BBC, WWD, and more. You can find out more about her on her podcast, Pre-Loved Podcast, the world's top weekly interview show about vintage and secondhand fashion.
Lt. Michelle Omar is a graduate of Coe College and Mount Mercy University, and then earned her Master’s in Business Administration from the University of Iowa. After starting out as a patrol officer in Cedar Rapids in 2003, she then worked as a burglary investigator and then a computer forensics examiner. She was promoted to sergeant and was reassigned to Patrol. She was then promoted to lieutenant and continued working Patrol. In 2024, she was reassigned to the Community Services Division and is the liaison for the Central District.
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Barb Tupper
Barb Tupper is the Associate Vice President for Advancement at Coe College. Barb is a Coe College graduate and also holds a Master's degree in higher education. She has worked in higher education in a variety of capacities, including annual and corporate giving, career services, community engagement, and alumni engagement. Barb is active in the community, including serving on the Willis Dady Board and as a member of Kiwanis.
Todd Coleman
Todd Coleman is the Vice President for Enrollment & Marketing. Prior to Mount Mercy, He has led programs at Indiana State University, University of Missouri, Purdue University, Wartburg College, Jacksonville University. Todd has been an active member of each community he has lived in and active professionally in NACAC, Iowa ACAC, SACAC as well by serving on the CASE Board of Trustees. He served on the Terre Haute, IN, Columbia, MO Chamber of Commerce and was President of the Waverly, IA Chamber of Commerce in 2017. In addition, he is a frequent speaker at NACAC and CASE on a variety of topics. He serves on advisory boards for ACT and Hobson’s in addition to other state associations.
Briana Wagner
Marketing Intern
Briana Wagner is a graduate of Marketing from Mount Mercy University. She is responsible for maintaining the College District's website and social media accounts. Besides the College District, she is working as a Web Design intern for Mount Mercy's Marketing Department. In her time at Mount Mercy, she also participates in the university band as a flutist and got her creative works published in the PAHA, 3 years in a row.