Meet OUr Board
Bridget Shoemaker
(She/Her)
President
Bridget joined GR!DSM in 2021 to teach Bass, and coach bands during Summer camps. Following that Summer, she joined our staff as the Executive Assistant to the Executive Director. In the Spring of 2023, she joined our Board of Directors, assuming the position of Vice President and President in January of 2024.
Bridget is a Des Moines native and Valley High School graduate. Bridget graduated from UNI in 2020 with a BA in Biochemistry and was immediately hired by Drake University as a Biochemistry Laboratory Instructor.
Bridget has completed her MBA in business analytics at Drake University and now serves as a Program Evaluator for Des Moines Public Schools. This role uses data analytics and consulting to support district leaders.
Bridget’s passion for STEM & the arts is apparent through her work with GR!DSM, and the variety of ensembles she plays in. You can catch her with Des Moines Gay Men’s Chorus, Community Center Jazz, playing with a local band or in the pit at the Des Moines Playhouse, or sitting in for a gig at Wells Fargo with The Eagles.
Jill McLain (She/Her)
Marketing Chair
I grew up playing piano and percussion, but it wasn’t until I was in my 30s that I realized how much I loved to rock. I’d been an active fan and spectator of dozens of Des Moines bands for over a decade when I picked up a bass for the first time in 2016 — and I’ve been playing in the punk band, Greg Wheeler and the Poly Mall Cops, ever since.
Nearly seven years into my musical tenure, it’s still not unusual for me to be the only musician on a bill who isn’t a cis male — and I want that to change. I’m thrilled to be part of Girls Rock! Des Moines, so I can share my love of the stage with kids who might not have seen people like them represented before. I truly believe that if Girls Rock had been around during my adolescence, I would have discovered my love of live performance years earlier.
When I’m not rocking out, I work as a creative director for a local woman-owned advertising agency, ZLR Ignition.
Lia Brown (She/Her)
Outreach Chair
Lia joined the Board of Directors in the Fall of 2020. She volunteered with Summer camps in 2021 and now supports GRDSM through outreach. In 2023 she participated in the WE Rock Retreat for adults and played keys. Lia plays flute, and keys, and sings some mean karaoke. Ask her about her favorite Karaoke song to sing.
Lia is all about community-focused communications and is an incredible catalyst for connecting people to a variety of communities and interests. She’s an experienced relationship builder with a drive for uniting individuals and their passions and has proven collaborative success in various environments including government, non-profit, and private sectors.
She’s a Community Relations Coordinator with the Polk County Treasurer.
Maddy LeDuc (She/Her)
At-Large
I’ve been involved with GR!DSM since the first camp in 2013, where I volunteered as a drum instructor and band coach. My favorite thing about GR is the environment that we create and the incredible effect that it has on the youth we serve. It is so incredibly rewarding to witness the transformation that occurs in such an open, creative, and encouraging space, and to know that rockers feel empowered to find their voices and explore their identities.
Mia Buch
(She/Her)
Vice President
Mia Buch is a Des Moines-based creative force, championing inclusivity and celebrating visual arts and music. With a decade of diverse experiences in volunteering, teaching, and promoting the local arts scene, Mia strives to break down barriers in contemporary art spaces. A lifelong resident of Des Moines and an artist herself, Mia aims to share unique experiences and connect the community through various art forms. By day, she's the Museum Education Manager at the Art Center, but by night, Mia is a cultural catalyst on a mission to make art accessible and exciting for everyone.
Adrienne Gross (She/Her)
Governance Chair
Adrienne joined the board in 2023.
Self-motivated business leader and attorney who loves taking on challenges and learning new things. Specializes in breaking down complexities in the subrogation field across a wide variety of disciplines (auto, property, contribution, E&O, agribusiness, general leadership). Gets things done while keeping overall strategy at the forefront.
Additional experience in employment law, administrative law (unemployment and workers' compensation), real estate, wills/trusts, and criminal law.Self-motivated business leader and attorney who loves taking on challenges and learning new things. Specializes in breaking down complexities in the subrogation field across a wide variety of disciplines (auto, property, contribution, E&O, agribusiness, general leadership). Gets things done while keeping overall strategy at the forefront. Additional experience in employment law, administrative law (unemployment and workers' compensation), real estate, wills/trusts, and criminal law.
Lee Buell (They/Them)
Advisor
Lee came to GR!DSM in March of 2023 when they attended the first We Rock Retreat for adults. They instantly became a supporter of the mission. Lee volunteered to teach drums and coach bands at two of GRDSM’s Summer Rock camps in 2023. During that summer of camps, they were asked to join the board as an Advisor. Now they share a unique view on things with the board!
Lee is a graduate of Drake University with a B.A. in Advertising and Public Relations as well as an M.A. in Mass Communications. At Drake, they taught insurance courses as an Adjunct Professor. Currently, Lee serves on the President's Board and the Central Iowa Regional Advisory Board for Drake.
Lee continues to pursue music through guitar and bass lessons as well as jamming at We Jam! with GR!DSM.
Jean Classon (She/Her)
Chairperson Emeritus
We lost Jean Classon on May 26th, 2023.
Jean was involved with Girls Rock Des Moines from the beginning. In 2013 she helped found and incorporate the organization, serving all 10 years as Treasurer on the Board of Directors and as our accountant. Jean owned and operated her small business, Classon Accounting for just over 45 years. In 1971, at 21 years of age, she founded both the Iowa and Des Moines chapters of The National Organization for Women (NOW), and has been involved with these organizations for over 50 years. In fact, Jean was in Washington DC in 1973 with NOW, when Roe v. Wade was passed.
We are deeply grateful for the decades of commitment Jean dedicated to advancing the lives of Women and Girls within our communities and for her constant mentorship within GR!DSM and the Greater Des Moines community.
Jean, your absence is a presence in our hearts, minds, and in the GR!DSM community. We love you, we miss you, and you will always be a rockstar in GR!DSM.
Katherine (Kat) Hutchison (She/Her)
Secretary
I have been involved with Girls Rock since 2021. I started out as a summer camp volunteer doing some fun arts & crafts projects with the Rockers. My favorite thing about Girls Rock is seeing the Rockers learn new skills and support one another. The caring friendships that are formed while at camp are just so lovely to witness! Music has always been an important part of my life – so many of my closest relationships & friendships have been formed around talking about, listening to, and appreciating music. While I do not play any instruments myself, I see myself as the biggest cheerleader there is for folks who are on stage sharing their talent & art.
CV (She/Her)
Programming Co-Chair
CV joined Girls Rock in 2019 as a vocal instructor and band coach during the Summer programming. Over the years she has facilitated workshops on body positivity, self-confidence, bystander intervention, and success building. During the summer of 2023, she joined the Board of Directors as the Programming Committee co-chair.
Being native to West Des Moines she graduated from Valley High School and began her adventure at Simpson College graduating with an interdisciplinary degree in gender studies, religion, and music. During her time at Simpson she was heavily involved in opera and choir, as well as volunteered as a sexual assault response advocate and was a mentor in violence prevention on campus.
She has a passion for integrating music and gender studies in hopes of creating a safe and inclusive environment for people of all identities. She encourages students, staff, and the community to express themselves and live the way that best suits them. As she always says, “In a world that wants to make you smaller, be BOLD, be LOUD, and WEAR YOURSELF PROUDLY.”
Lisette Murphy (She/Her)
WE Rock Chair & Advisor
I began working with Girls Rock Campaign in Boston in 2011 with their adult camp as a band coach and guitar/ keys instructor - I joined the GR!DSM board when I moved to Des Moines in the summer of 2022.
I love fiercely supporting one another to take up space, to be brave, and let ourselves really get loud. That moment when a quiet camper suddenly finds their rockstar voice on the mic, or a brand new musician finds an amazing groove during their first performance is electric-- and it feels so good to be in the audience cheering that on with everything I've got.
I've been writing and performing music for over 25 years and it continues to be a vital filter through which I've been able to process my emotions, tell stories & enjoy blissful moments of connection, collaboration and flow. More than any other practice, music reminds me of the power of my voice. I want to share that reminder with as many girls, women, non-binary, and gender-expansive youth and adult folx as possible!
Kole Ballantyne (She/Her)
Treasurer & Accountant
Having successfully completed an admirable 7-year tenure in the Army, which involved extensive travels throughout the United States and the acquisition of proficiency in 7 Middle Eastern languages, Kole returned to the state of Iowa in 2019. With the recent acquisition of her third bachelor's degree in accounting from Grand View University, she has fortified herself with a formidable academic foundation.
Kole embarked upon her journey in the Des Moines music scene in October 2021 where her innate talents as a sound engineer have garnered opportunities for collaboration with numerous esteemed bands and renowned live music venues. Her technical expertise and artistic sensibilities have allowed her to contribute significantly to the industry.
Seizing the auspicious occasion presented in May 2023, Kole embraced the opportunity to join GR!DSM, assuming the pivotal role of accountant and treasurer within this flourishing non-profit organization. As a recent graduate, she envisions a promising trajectory within the rapidly expanding non-profit sector, eager to apply her skills and knowledge to further this organization's mission.
During her leisure moments away from the demanding responsibilities of the mixing board and her emerging accounting startup, Kole indulges in the vibrant live performances of local musicians, appreciating the rich musical tapestry that her community has to offer.
Artist: Lisette Murphy
Torina (Tori) Gedler (They/She)
Programming Co-Chair
Tori joined Girls Rock in 2018 as a piano instructor and band coach for Summer camps. In January of 2023, they joined the Board of Directors as the Programming Committee co-chair. Gedler also teaches keyboard, songwriting, and about disability through her work with Girls Rock. Tori has supported projects such as the Girls Rock Toolbox & Activity book, and GRDSM’s 10-Year Anthology Songbook for which they project managed and transcribed approximately 165 songs written by youth at camps; curriculum development, GR!LIVE, live gigs, and music transcription.
Born and raised in Iowa, lifelong musician Torina Gedler (aka Torinasaurus, they/she) began taking piano and music theory lessons as soon as she could read and showed much promise as a musician in public school until a naturally occurring brain injury (AVM) almost took her life at age 14, altering her prospects of playing trombone and singing professionally. As soon as she recovered from a month-long coma, she now grappled with newfound chronic disabilities and struggled to express herself through music as she once did. Eventually, she started composing music and found great success with performances of her work at her high school, college, and beyond; she owes much of this success to the teachers, mentors, and peers who believed in her abilities.
Still living with multiple disabilities years later, she is now journeying into the realm of recording artistry, releasing her first single on October 31, 2023. By giving herself permission to pursue her music-making dreams, Tori aims to empower people facing adversity and disillusionment, especially those with marginalized identities.
Ashlie Coady (She/Her)
Fundraising Chair
I am a super newbie to Girls Rock! DSM. I started working alongside the non-profit in early 2022 through the Modern Muse Project, becoming a board member in August 2022. My favorite part about Girls Rock! DSM is its ability to empower through the creative expression of unique girls and gender-expansive folx in Des Moines.
I have not found my musical talent yet, but I am an ally of music. From small shows to large festivals, the expression of dance and being amongst the community is genuinely euphoric. From morning yoga sessions to work to cooking dinner. Thank you music makers for everything! My days wouldn't be as great without you!