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Iowa Business Hall of Fame Honors 2015 Inductees

October 27, 2015

The Greater Des Moines Committee will recognize Charese E. Yanney, James W. Hubbell III, and James R. Tyler as the 2015 Inductees to the Iowa Business Hall of Fame. The inductees will be honored during the Greater Des Moines Committee’s annual Black Tie Dinner to be held at The Meadows Events and Conference Center on Thursday, Dec. 3, 2015. The Iowa Business Hall of Fame honors the achievements of Iowans who have made outstanding contributions to the development and enhancement of Iowa’s business climate.

Charese E. Yanney

Charese Yanney is a Managing Partner in Guarantee Roofing, Siding and Insulation Company of Sioux City, where she has worked since 1976. The company provides a full range of products and services, and holds the prestigious GAF certification as “Master Elite Contractor.” Prior to that, Yanney was a junior high and high school teacher at Sioux City Community Schools. 

Yanney currently serves on the Iowa Transportation Commission, the Vision Iowa board of directors, is past president of the St. Luke’s Unity Point board of directors, is past president of the Sioux City Symphony’s board of directors and past chairman of the Siouxland Chamber of Commerce. She has served in several governor-appointed positions, including the Privacy Task Force, Vertical Infrastructure Committee, the Governor’s Committee on Community Colleges, the Governor’s Committee on Reformed Spending, the Iowa Economic Development Board and the Iowa Beer & Liquor Control Department Board. Yanney was inducted into the Iowa Women’s Hall of Fame in 2010.

James W. Hubbell III

James W. Hubbell III began his career with Hubbell Realty Company in 1973, when he moved back to Des Moines after working in Chicago for a few years. At first, Hubbell’s primary responsibility was to manage the company’s assets. Within 10 years, the direction of the company shifted as the Family Trust opened, allowing him to lead the redevelopment of the company’s assets, most of which were in downtown Des Moines.

During the 1980s, the company built Kaleidoscope at the Hub and developed two important business parks that lead to the expansion of the downtown core: Capitol Center I, II & III and Riverpoint Business Park. Under Jim’s leadership, Hubbell Realty Company expanded its real estate offerings to include land development, construction, commercial brokerage (through a partnership with CBRE) and single and multifamily housing. Today, Hubbell is the largest land developer and home builder in the state. This success has spurred job growth within many of the trade industries in Central Iowa, as well as provided new neighborhoods within the metro for the growing workforce to call home.

Hubbell currently serves as the Chairman of the Board for Hubbell Realty’s Board of Directors. Mr. Hubbell has also been an active volunteer in the community, serving on the boards of Iowa Health System, Bankers Trust Company, the Greater Des Moines Partnership and as a member of the Board of Trustees of Drake University. He holds a bachelor’s degree from Trinity College in Hartford, Connecticut. Mr. Hubbell is a shareholder of Hubbell Realty Company and a descendant of Frederick M. Hubbell.

James R. Tyler

James R. Tyler is the second generation family owner of Atlantic Coca-Cola Bottling Company, which was founded in 1909. James took over management of the company in 1958. Within 10 years the company grew from 16 to 40 employees and added a number of soda brands to its bottling lineup. In 1975, Atlantic Coca-Cola Bottling purchased the Des Moines area Coca-Cola franchise, which increased the brand’s presence and popularity. In 1989, James led the way as the company’s Des Moines operation moved into a larger warehouse and sales center on Hickman Road in Waukee. James became the company’s chairman in 1991.

James was a 1949 graduate of Simpson College, and he has given back to higher education in the state of Iowa through serving for six years on the State Board of Regents. He has been heavily involved in the community, serving on the Atlantic School Board for nine years, including four as President, in addition to serving as President of the Atlantic Rotary Club, President of Atlantic Golf & Country Club and Vice-President of the Atlantic Chamber of Commerce. He served as President of the Iowa Association of Business and Industry, and nationally served on the Board of Governors for the Coca-Cola Bottlers Association for 22 years and on the board of the National Soft Drink Association for nine years.

Inductees to the Iowa Business Hall of Fame are selected on merit rather than endorsement.  Past Hall of Fame honorees under the leadership of the current Chair serves as the selection committee. The criteria for selection are as follows:

  • Business Leadership:  The nominated individual should lead or have led a business that has provided valued jobs and economic development to his/her community and the state; creating both wealth and workforce opportunity.
  • Community Development Impact:  The nominated individual should have made an impact by improving the economies of the community and the state through his/her leadership in such organizations as Chambers of Commerce, economic development organizations or centers of education.
  • Community Volunteerism/Leadership:  The nominated individual should have personally given of his/her time and financial resources for the betterment of the community through support of charities and organizations.
  • Strategic Leadership:  The nominated individual should have contributed to community economic growth through visionary leadership, community problem-solving, and building strategic alliances.
  • Business Recognition:  The nominated individual should be recognized by his/her peers as a business leader.

About the Greater Des Moines Committee

The Greater Des Moines Committee was formed in 1907 by a group of 30 local business leaders. Today, the Committee consists of 128 members and provides an opportunity for business leaders to come together for an information exchange about important topics in the community, the state, and the nation. The Committee founded the Iowa Business Hall of Fame in 1975 to honor the achievements of Iowans who have made outstanding contributions to the development and enhancement of Iowa’s business climate. 

The Greater Des Moines Committee’s purpose is to encourage, promote, develop and protect commercial, manufacturing and other business interests of Greater Des Moines and the state of Iowa. The Committee is comprised of CEO’s, or in the case of professional firms, the senior managing partner of central Iowa companies who have a vested interest in the growth and development of our community and state.