Program Manager
Alliant Energy Foundation
The 20th floor of the Alliant Tower where Leah Rodenberg works offers a nearly birds-eye view of Cedar Rapids; a far-reaching perspective that mirrors her volunteer and work life.
As a community volunteer, the 43-year-old Marion woman gives her time to a wide number of organizations, while her job as program manager for the Alliant Energy Foundation helps the company further the mission of towns, schools and non-profits through its grants program.
“We’re making sure the (grant) money goes to where it will have the most impact,” Ms. Rodenberg said of her role with the foundation, which has donated $40 million in its 15 years; about 600 grants awarded annually.
Ms. Rodenberg calls her career with Alliant a “dream job,” not only for allowing her to act as a conduit to help various groups, but because of the utility company’s corporate culture.
“I work for a company that values community service and involvement,” she said. “For me, it’s meaningful.”
When it comes to volunteer work, Ms. Rodenberg is a leader in more ways than one. She doesn’t keep a running total, but agreed with the number when Ann Stark of Benefit Solutions, who nominated her for the Women of Influence award, tallied 14 organizations.
“She has endless energy and juggles a successful career and the many volunteer activities that she is deeply passionate about, while never forgetting about family and friends,” Ms. Stark stated in her nomination.
“Everyone (who) knows Leah wants to know when this woman finds time to sleep. Her accomplishments are too numerous to list.”
For the record, Ms. Rodenberg estimates she gets about six hours of sleep per night.
Ms. Stark went on to note that Ms. Rodenberg’s volunteer activities are not in name-only. Ms. Rodenberg often serves as president, secretary, treasurer, or in other leadership capacities, she said.
“As a volunteer, she is not the type to simply attend a committee meeting or sign up to add one more committee to her resume,” Ms. Stark wrote. “Leah is a hands-on volunteer.”
Ms. Rodenberg attributes her volunteer ethos to her upbringing in rural Iowa. A native of Gladbrook in central Iowa, she lived on a farm and spent years showing the family’s breeding herd in 4-H. With just 20 classmates in her high school class, Ms. Rodenberg said she felt like a “small fish in a big sea” when she attended Iowa State University as a journalism major, but soon found that by joining organizations, she could feel connected and build relationships.
Her parents, John and Emily Putney, also provided the model for volunteering and community service. Her father served in the Iowa Legislature and is executive director of the Iowa State Fair Blue Ribbon Foundation, the funding arm of the fair. Both of her parents were involved with the school board and other volunteer efforts.
“I’ve seen my parents lead by example,” Ms. Rodenberg said. “That inspires you to want to make a difference in the community you’re living in.”
While her list of volunteer activities is long, she points to Waypoint, one of the first boards she served on after moving to Cedar Rapids, and Junior League, where she served as president for active members and co-president for sustaining members, among the highlights.
She worked for the Greater Des Moines Chamber of Commerce during the 1990s before moving to Cedar Rapids with her husband, Tom, in 1996. They now have two sons who attend school in the Linn-Mar District.
Linn-Mar Superintendent Katie Mulholland cited Ms. Rodenberg’s leadership as president of the Linn-Mar Foundation in bringing a major endowment drive to completion.
“She finds time to do what she values and channels her energy to projects that benefit the schools and the community,” Ms. Mulholland noted. “She genuinely offers help and expertise for any need that is presented … I value her leadership, her ability to see opportunities and possibilities and her dedication to making things happen.”
Tom Aller, president of Alliant’s Interstate Power and Light subsidiary, said Ms. Rodenberg’s passion for her work is echoed in the many leadership roles she has with area non-profits.
“In addition, she manages her work/life balance as well as anyone I have seen,” he wrote in his nomination letter for the Women of Influence award. “Her family is very active locally and at events statewide.”
Ms. Rodenberg said she doesn’t see herself as a “woman of influence,” but instead, wants to be known as a “caring and hardworking community member who is willing to step in wherever needed.”
Those who have seen her efforts, however, say the result she achieves is proof of her influence in the Corridor.
“Leah demonstrates caring, honesty, integrity and a sense of humor that is selfeffacing,” Linn-Mar’s Ms. Mulholland said. “Leah Rodenberg truly merits being honored as a woman of influence and is representative of what the recognition stands for: women whose drive is to make the Corridor a better place for all.”
– Cindy Hadish
