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Leadership. (2002 Best of Des Moines Business Record).

Article Excerpt
BEST METRO BUSINESS LEADER:

William C. Knapp

Local legend has it that when William C. "Bill" Knapp first got into real estate more than a half century ago, he sold so many homes that the man he worked for couldn't afford to pay Knapp the commissions he owed him.

Rather than give Knapp an IOU, Knapp's boss gave him the company. Knapp promptly changed the name to Iowa Realty Co. Inc., and over the next 40 years built the company into the state's biggest residential real estate broker.

Iowa Realty, from which Knapp retired in 1996, continues to dominate Iowa real estate. Last year, the company's agents sold $2.73 billion worth of real estate.

Meantime, Knapp, who is 76 years old, refuses to slow down. As chairman emeritus of Knapp Properties Inc., a property development management company he founded, he teamed with Iowa Realty, which is now headed by nephew Mike Knapp, to buy Crowley Commercial Real Estate Services.

The new firm, to be called Iowa Realty Commercial, will employ 13 commercial brokers.

His ongoing energy and his commitment to Des Moines are just two of the reasons he has been selected as this year's Best Metro Business Leader, a category he won last year as well.

And Knapp is not just a leader in the Des Moines' business world. He is also known for his philanthropy, giving thousands of dollars to a variety of programs. One of his favorites is working with inner-city children.

RUNNERS-UP: Ron Pearson, Hy-Vee Inc.; Marvin Pomerantz, Mid-America Group Ltd.

BEST FEMALE BUSINESS LEADER

Mary O'Keefe

Mary O'Keefe, an officer with Principal Financial Group Inc. wears as many hats as she has passions. None is stronger than her enthusiasm for the Principal Riverwalk, a multimillion-dollar riverfront development her employer is sponsoring.

The plan to add new life to the Des Moines River stems from a discussion between O'Keefe and co-worker Libby Jacobs, who represented Principal on the communitywide Major Projects Task Force. Ideas to boost Greater Des Moines' profile abounded, tempered only by the realization that priorities would have to be established. "Libby and I looked at the community, and kept coming back to the notion that we weren't getting to the river," O'Keefe said. More fully utilizing the river as a resource had been a recommendation of the city of Des Moines' Two Rivers Task Force, as well as Des Moines Parks and Recreation Department studies.

"We brainstormed and felt strongly that would be a great opportunity," O'Keefe said of the Riverwalk plan.

They took the idea to J. Barry Griswell, Principal's chief executive, whose solid support translated into a $10 million pledge for the project by The Principal Financial Group Foundation.

"I think it's got...

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