Salsa & Moolah

Baile Conmigo (Dance with Me)

In celebration of National Hispanic Heritage month, the Young Professionals Connection (YPC) organized a get together at Salsa Des Moines' third birthday celebration. We gathered in the ritzy Embassy Club to dance the night away. The skyline view was breathtaking, the samba beat was drumming, and we were ready to dance!  

Salsa Des Moines teacher Jessica Ireland led us through the beginning steps to salsa, breaking us into two rows of men and women. As we anxiously followed her steps, the only thing I could think about was what would happen when we partnered up. Luckily, I didn’t need to worry. After each practice, we rotated partners. I danced with an elderly married gentleman, a young lawyer, and an accountant before the practice session was through. After a few practice sessions, we were unleashed to dance on our own to Latin music, with a live band serenading us. Under the expert guidance of dance instructor Luisito Cabera, my inner Latina danced until her feet hurt. All in all, it was a great night with fantastic music, handsome guys, and spicy Latin dancing.

Ini Augustine
SocialWise Media Group

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Inside the Vault

Martini? Check. Piles of $20 bills? Check.

This was the scenario about 50 YPs enjoyed on Monday at the Inside the Vault event at Bankers Trust. Unfortunately, we could only look at the piles of $20s (and $100s!), but we could certainly enjoy the free-flowing booze!

The event, which kicked off YPC’s philanthropy month, started on the 34th floor of the Ruan Building at the Des Moines Club. Banker’s Trust CEO and President Suku Radia shared his thoughts on the importance of philanthropy. He shared his story about how he came to the United States and some facts about the pervasive culture of giving back at Banker’s Trust; employees contribute about 14,000 hours of volunteer time every year. Perhaps my biggest takeaway was when he quoted Winston Churchill: “We make a living by what we get, we make a life by what we give.”

Then it was on to a tour of Bankers Trust. At each stop, there was a new (and oftentimes strong) drink and a different part of the company. It was very enlightening to hear more about Bankers Trust. I think my two favorite stops were the HR floor (they have a lot of fun there — one of the attendees even rapped for us!) and, of course, the vault. Dana, our host in the vault, was really entertaining.

All in all, it was a great event and we got some wonderful feedback. Thank you so much to Banker’s Trust for putting on such a great event (and for the hangover on Tuesday). Be sure to check out the rest of the events for YPC’s philanthropy month.

Alyssa Cashman