RELEASE: Kunert & O’Connor named next Co-Chairs of ICON Water Trails Board of Directors

DES MOINES, IA (September 24, 2026) – ICON Water Trails has named Kathryn Kunert, Vice President of Economic Connections and Integration at MidAmerican Energy, and Dean O’Connor, Mayor of the City of Altoona, as the next Co-Chairs of the ICON Water Trails Board of Directors. Kunert and O’Connor succeed Dan Houston and Matt McKinney, who have completed their terms as the organization’s inaugural Co-Chairs and will continue serving on the ICON Board.

Houston and McKinney have helped guide ICON from its early planning stages into a transformational regional initiative, providing leadership across the public and private sectors and helping steward the partnerships, funding, and collaboration necessary to advance ICON’s vision.

“It’s been an honor serving as Co-Chair of the ICON Water Trails Board,” Houston said. “To see this project go from a concept to a reality is incredible. It is a testament to the support of our entire community, including cities, counties, the state of Iowa, and the federal government and Iowa’s representatives. Countless small, medium and large businesses, in addition to thousands of individuals giving their time and resources, and board members and staff have made this progress possible. We can all be proud of the accomplishments to date.”

“Serving as Co-Chair of the ICON Board has been an incredible experience,” McKinney said. “As a representative from the regional side, it has been rewarding to not only see the progress on the downtown projects over the years, but also the tremendous growth of our Regional Network.”

Kunert brings significant experience in regional economic development, community partnerships and private-sector leadership to her new role. As Vice President of Economic Connections and Integration at MidAmerican Energy, she leads the company’s business and community development efforts and has played an important role in connecting ICON with business and community leaders across the region. MidAmerican Energy has also been a significant partner in ICON’s growth, including a $5 million commitment through its Regional Fund to support the development of ICON’s Regional Network.

“I am excited to serve in this role and continue to help ICON achieve meaningful progress as we enter this new phase of having downtown sites open,” Kunert said. “So much has been done, and there is so much yet to come for ICON. I’m grateful for the leadership Dan has provided and excited to build on the strong foundation he and Matt have helped create.”

O’Connor brings a strong perspective from ICON’s participating jurisdictions and has been involved with the organization since its inception. As Mayor of Altoona, he provides insight into the opportunities and challenges communities face as they work to connect residents and visitors with their waterways. His perspective will be particularly valuable as ICON continues to expand its Regional Network and works with participating jurisdictions to develop new access points and amenities.

“I’m honored to take on this role and help lead ICON into its next phase,” O’Connor said. “As more projects open and communities become connected through the Regional Network, I’m excited to build on the momentum we’ve created and continue making ICON a resource for communities across Central Iowa.”

As ICON enters this next phase, the Board of Directors will continue to play an important role in providing leadership, supporting the organization’s long-term strategy and strengthening the partnerships needed to advance the water trails network.

“We are incredibly grateful for the leadership Dan and Matt have provided as ICON’s inaugural Co-Chairs,” said Stephanie Oppel, Executive Director of ICON Water Trails. “They helped guide ICON through some of the most important years in our organization’s history, and we are fortunate that they will continue to serve on the Board. At the same time, we are excited to welcome Kathryn and Dean into these leadership roles. They each bring a unique perspective and deep understanding of ICON.”

The ICON Water Trails Board of Directors meets bi-monthly and is made up of leaders representing the public and private sectors from across Central Iowa. The Board provides leadership and guidance on ICON’s strategy, governance, partnerships and continued development of the regional water trails network. To view the full Board of Directors, visit iconwatertrails.com.

About ICON Water Trails 

ICON Water Trails is a regionally inclusive recreational confluence connecting culture, conservation, and adventure by empowering our waterways. ICON is creating a connected network of access points across 150 miles of rivers and creeks in Central Iowa. This transformational initiative represents a new commitment to water safety and conservation as well as a concerted effort to drive economic development, visitor attraction, and workforce retention.