Staff
Matt Unger
Chief Executive Officer
munger (at) dmarcunited.org

Prior to joining the non-profit sector, Matt spent more than a dozen years working in the world of political campaigns and management of state government. His political career spanned multiple Iowa Caucus campaigns, Iowa Gubernatorial campaigns, and a four year stint as Chief of Staff to Lt. Governor Patty Judge. Judge and Unger then partnered in a consulting firm, PJJ Solutions, where they would focus not just on political campaigns, but business and organizational strategy as well as public policy.
Originally from Wisconsin, Matt, a Drake grad, has called Des Moines home for over twenty years, and lives with his wife, Anita, in Beaverdale.
Leslie L. Garman, CFRE
Director of Development and Outreach
lgarman (at) dmarcunited.org

Her experience has focused on nonprofit organizations and working in several different roles, including mostly recently as Community Engagement Director for Employee & Family Resources (EFR). She has also worked with such organizations as the Spina Bifida Association of Iowa, Des Moines Metro Opera, the Chrysalis Foundation, and House of Mercy which is a part of the Mercy Foundation. While there she was instrumental in the re-forming of the House of Mercy board of directors and in the creation of the organization’s FIRST signature event: Helping Lives Bloom.
As a heart survivor herself, Leslie spent the majority of her career (nearly two decades) with the American Heart Association, leaving in 2005, as Metro Executive Director. While at Heart she visited nearly every school in Iowa for Jump Rope for Heart, trained staff statewide, and in Des Moines, conducted hundreds of events, and organized communities to hold educational events. Her more recognizable accomplishments in Des Moines include the creation of the Des Moines Heart Ball and Nurturing Women’s Hearts (the predecessor of Go Red For Women).
Leslie attended Morningside College in Sioux City, Iowa and received her CFRE (Certified Fund Raising Executive) designation in 2013. Today she is active with several organizations, including the Association of Fundraising Professionals, the Association for Women in Communications, MOIsson Women’s Breakfast Club, the Affinity Breakfast Club and the Des Moines Downtown Chamber.
In her spare time, she enjoys running, playing tennis, thrifting and restoring antique furniture. She has two adult children (Vanessa and Adam) one granddaughter named Devyn (age 2) and currently resides in Urbandale.
Rebecca Whitlow
Food Pantry Network Director
rwhitlow (at) dmarcunited.org

With a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration – Marketing and a Sociology minor, she oversees the daily operations of a 14-site food pantry network distribution system serving 54,000 consumers annually, and will be invaluable to the growth of the system. Becky is a gifted speaker and regularly presents to faith, civic and student groups about food access needs in Greater Des Moines, and the work of the food pantry network.
Rev. Sarah Trone Garriott
Coordinator of Interfaith Engagement
stronegarriott (at) dmarcunited.org

As an AmeriCorps VISTA working for Northern New Mexico Legal Aid in Gallup, New Mexico, Sarah engaged community and faith leaders around the issue of Domestic Violence. As a hospital chaplain in Philadelphia and Chicago, Sarah supported patients and staff of all religious backgrounds. In parish ministry, first in rural Virginia and later in suburban Des Moines, it was her priority to build relationships beyond the church building and work together with interfaith partners.
Sarah holds a BA in History from the College of St. Scholastica, a Master of Theological Studies from Harvard Divinity School, a Master of Divinity from the Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago, and ordination through Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA).
Daniel Beck
Data, Analytics, and Program Coordinator
dbeck (at) dmarcunited.org

Daniel has an educational background in nutrition and exercise science, and worked in this field as a nutrition advisor and personal trainer while attending Northwest Mississippi Community College and University of Mississippi. He began work with DMARC shortly after moving back to Iowa, leaving his position as a nutritionist soon after. Daniel is a passionate advocate for communities in need, particularly in the areas of nutrition equity, and medical/mental health access.
In his time away from work Daniel loves cooking (decently), reading, listening to podcasts, playing quite a few sports, exercising, storm watching/chasing, stargazing, and listening to music.
Joe Dolack
Operations Manager
jdolack (at) dmarcunited.org

Joe attended Westwood College and Lewis University studying Criminal Justice. Joe relocated to Des Moines in 2012. While never seeing himself as an Iowan in the past Joe is now a proud transplant, with deep roots in Iowa.
Joe enjoys being outside, wandering around the metro thrifting in his time off, along with cooking and watching documentary films.
Luke Elzinga
Communications and Advocacy Manager
lelzinga (at) dmarcunited.org

Luke Elzinga joined DMARC in April of 2014. As Communications and Advocacy Manager, he writes, edits and designs The Voice, creates and distributes the eVoice, designs and maintains dmarcunited.org, takes photos at events, produces videos, manages social media, designs print pieces and graphics, manages advocacy efforts, and other communications tasks.
Luke earned his BA in Advertising from Iowa State University. He previously served as an AmeriCorps VISTA member at Montana Legal Services Association in Helena, Montana. Luke is a 2017 fellow of the New Leaders Council Des Moines Chapter. He is the board chair of the Iowa Hunger Coalition, and has previously served on the boards of the Young Nonprofit Professionals Network (YNPN) Des Moines and dsmHack.
In his free time, Luke enjoys cooking, reading, documentary films, board games, and spending time with his wife, daughter, two cats, and dog.
Nisha Kishor
Volunteer & Outreach Manager
nkishor (at) dmarcunited.org

Nisha just moved to Des Moines in August 2020 and is looking forward to meeting new people and getting to know her new home. Outside of work, she enjoys outdoor activities, cooking, and spending time at home with her husband Ashish.
John McPhee
Warehouse Manager
jmcphee (at) dmarcunited.org

John graduated from Oklahoma State University with a degree in Technical Education- Adult Learning. In John’s free time he enjoys spending time with his wife and dog, traveling to state parks and watching sports.
Cindy West
Grant Writing and Storytelling Manager
cwest (at) dmarcunited.org
Cindy attended college at Iowa State University, earning a bachelor’s degree in community health education and sociology, as well as a master’s degree in business administration. She has always had a passion for helping others, and she actively volunteers to help underserved populations and those experiencing homelessness, trauma, alcoholism, and addiction.
In her spare time, Cindy enjoys organizing anything and everything, and spending time with her husband, John, while laughing, cooking, listening to music, reading, volunteering, and being outside. She is an avid Kansas City Chiefs and Cyclones fan and she enjoys spending time with her adult daughter, Peyton, as well as her bonus children and three bonus grandchildren.
Pamphile (Phil) Kiwayiele
Accounting/Office Administrator
pkiwayiele (at) dmarcunited.org

Monica Curl
Development & Outreach Associate
mcurl (at) dmarcunited.org
Jeffrey Czerwiec
Development Specialist
jczerwiec (at) dmarcunited.org
Jeffrey, who grew up in the Des Moines Area, earned his BA in Political Science from the University of Iowa. Previously, Jeffrey has spent many years in the service industry, organized college students around public interest issues, and served as an AmeriCorps VISTA member at Drake University. Concern about the climate crisis has been a thread throughout a majority of his life, and in 2014 Jeffrey walked across the country from LA to DC with a group of activists to bring attention to the issue.
In his free time, Jeffrey enjoys cycling, deep dives into genealogy research, eating at new vegan restaurants, and hanging out with his cat, Phoebe. During the summer you might find him hiking to 14,000 feet in Colorado as he has a new goal to hike as many “14ers” as his legs can manage.
Andrew Firestine
Mobile Food Pantry Associate
afirestine (at) dmarcunited.org
Chris Haugen
Warehouse Associate/Driver
chaugen (at) dmarcunited.org
Patrick Minor
Mobile Food Pantry Associate
pminor (at) dmarcunited.org

Michael Sirois
Warehouse Associate
msirois (at) dmarcunited.org
Ken Witmer
Driver
kwitmer (at) dmarcunited.org