Center for Innovation & Leadership
Board of Advisers

Leandro Costa '26, a student-athlete from Brazil, is pursuing marketing, entrepreneurship and public relations degrees while involved in leadership positions at Northwestern. Raised in the corporate environment of his family business, founded in 1962, he strives to become a more effective communicator and to make a difference in the world.

Luke Francois is a process engineer with Pella Corporation in Sioux Center, Iowa. He also leads the continuous improvement department and is an industry 4.0 champion, building a culture of servant leadership and delivering innovative solutions to manufacturing processes. Previously, he worked at Cargill, supporting the deployment of continuous improvement as a change, communication and education leader. Francois has a bachelor’s degree in chemistry from the University of Northern Iowa. 

Julie Haverly ’12 is the senior manager for integration at Renewable Energy Group, Inc. in Ames, Iowa. Her department is responsible for transforming vision into reality. She works across the company to facilitate post-merger integrations and manages cross-functional expansion projects. She previously held roles at REG in marketing and strategy. Haverly completed her MBA at the University of Iowa, worked at a software startup company in Ames, and served on the Metro Women Connect steering committee for Iowa Women Lead Change.

Kari Hickman ’13 is the owner of Petals + Perks in Sioux Center, Iowa, a small business specializing in floral designs, weddings and home decor that also has an in-house coffeeshop. Hickman spearheads the operations, management, bookwork, marketing, and design work of the business. She purchased it in January 2021 after working at Petals + Perks under the previous owner for 12 years. She is a graduate of Northwestern, where she earned a bachelor’s degree in elementary education.

Jessica Mulder was raised in Ohio but has called Sioux Center home for all of her adult life. She has worked at Perspective Insurance, formally Ambank Insurance for over 16 years.  Jessica began her career answering phones and have since advanced to the position of Vice President of Operations. Her recent accomplishment includes graduating from Northwestern’s Accelerate Siouxland leadership program, which has further enhanced her professional development. Jessica is actively involved in an Recreation & Arts Committee, Applied Client Network, and serving as a member of the Big I Governance Board.

Cindy Prewitt is a teacher and instructional coach with the Sheldon Community School District. In that role, she coaches individuals to improve curriculum, instruction and assessment; plans professional development activities for the district; and helps implement and manage systems within the schools. She also teaches the CAPS class which supports students’ growth in leadership, communication, purpose, innovation and professionalism. Previously, Prewitt taught gifted students and high school math. She has a bachelor’s degree in mathematics education from the University of Northern Iowa and a master’s degree in curriculum and instruction from Wayne State University.

Steve Roesner ’83 works for Vogel Traffic Services in Orange City as the vice president for strategic development. Roesner serves Orange City as an elected member of the city council, as well as a member of the Orange City Economic Development board and Prairie Winds Event Center board. He is also a member of the Iowa Economic Development Authority work group. Roesner earned an MBA from the University of South Dakota.

Colby Shelton ’25, a student-athlete at Northwestern College, is pursuing degrees in marketing and entrepreneurship. Through his coursework and several internships, he has developed a strong foundation in these fields and cultivated an interest in the insurance brokerage sector. Driven by a passion for service and problem-solving, Colby is committed to making a positive impact and looks forward to supporting clients in achieving their goals in his future career.