IOWA CHARACTER AWARDS - Key Persons
Job Titles:
- Educational Consultant and Trainer
Allie Gardner is known for her faith-filled leadership and a deep passion for imparting knowledge and love through education. She is an educator, mentor, and facilitator with an extensive leadership, education, and emotional intelligence background. Allie's educational journey includes a Master of Education in Leadership from Dordt College, a Master of Arts in Teaching from Morningside College, and a Bachelor of Science in Education from Peru State College. She is pursuing her Doctorate in Organizational Leadership at California Coast University.
Allie's professional journey spans over two decades, where she has served as an Education and Leadership Consultant crafting personalized educational and motivational curricula. With her diverse skill set, which includes leadership development, program administration, special education, and classroom teaching, Allie has positively impacted the education landscape.
Job Titles:
- Director, Communications and Administration
Amy Smit joined The Ray Center team in 2004.
Amy earned a B.A. in Political Science from the University of Minnesota, a Master's degree in Communications Leadership from Drake University, and is a certified character development specialist through the Josephson Institute of Ethics. Amy gained professional experience in both the political and non-profit fields before joining the team.
She lives in Urbandale with her husband, Chad, and their children, Noah and Avery.
As First Lady of Iowa, Mrs. Ray was a bridge builder who always extended the very best of Iowa to Iowans and guests from around world. She was actively supportive and engaged in the efforts to launch our work.
With her experience in education and passion for shaping the lives of young students, Mrs. Ray continues to provide advice, insights, and strong encouragement to help The Ray Center transform lives and strengthen communities.
Job Titles:
- Educational Consultant and Trainer
Growing up in a spiritually and culturally rich Appalachian community in southwest Virginia helped shape Carrie's values of integrity, honesty, caring, and especially her ability to never give up and look at adversity as an opportunity.
She received her Master's Degree in Criminology and Criminal Justice from East Tennessee State University. She has also served as an adjunct faculty for the Criminal Justice / Criminology Department at Northeast State Community College in Blountville, TN, and has previously served as an adjunct professor at East Tennessee State University in Johnson City, TN. Carrie is the President of Foundations for Life Principles (FLP), a mental health organization, incorporating all her vast experience, education, and drive into a multifaceted ethics-based organization with an array of services offered. Carrie has practiced what she preached about being a life-long learner, by obtaining another Master's Degree in Marriage and Family Therapy with an emphasis in Licensed Professional Clinical Counseling.
Job Titles:
- Executive Assistant and Project Specialist
Cheri joined the team in December 2005. Prior to joining our team, she spent ten years in different positions with a school district. Cheri attended business school in Spencer, Iowa, and has spent her career taking care of others.
Cheri married her best friend Howard in November 1985. Since then they have lived in the Storm Lake area and then the Des Moines metro. They have two adult children and two grandchildren.
Job Titles:
- Administrative and Program Specialist
Debra Taylor joined The Robert D. and Billie Ray Center team in March of 2016. Her prior experience includes administrative assistant for the Marketing & Institutional Advancement director and Education Foundation Office at Southwestern Community College and serving as an assistant to the bureau chief at the Iowa Department of Education within The Division of Community Colleges.
Debra and her husband reside in Urbandale and still own their acreage home in Creston, Iowa. She is the mother of three grown children Cayla, Cyle, and Casey. She loves children and enjoys spending time with her grandchildren: Althea, Cordelia, Calvin, and Claire.
Emily joined The Robert D. and Billie Ray Center in December 2024. She graduated from Iowa State University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Hospitality Management and later earned a Master of Science in Interdisciplinary Graduate Studies, focusing on educational leadership and public relations. Emily has over a decade of experience in event management, including leading large-scale donor engagement events and creating mission-driven experiences that drive impactful outcomes.
Emily and her husband, Eric, live in Ankeny and have two children, Ava and Jack.
Job Titles:
- Educational Consultant and Trainer
Gary Smit was a superintendent for 25 years in Illinois and Wisconsin and has also been a school principal and classroom teacher.
Taking the perspective that the goal of education is not only to have students do their best academic work but to be their best self, Gary provides educators with useful and relevant strategies to use in building classrooms and schools of character. An attention-grabbing and practical presenter, Gary gives keynote addresses for schools and districts that speak not only to the head but the heart.
Job Titles:
- Merchandising and Licensing Coordinator
Gwendolyn Martin has been with The Robert D. and Billie Ray Center since October 2019. She has her Bachelor of Arts in Psychology with a Minor in Educational Studies from Buena Vista University in Storm Lake, Iowa. She also earned her Master of Business Administration from Drake University in 2022. Gwen worked as an associate in a central Iowa school district prior to her work with CHARACTER COUNTS!
Gwendolyn lives in Granger with her husband, Kyle, and their two children, Nolan and Elzada.
Job Titles:
- Executive Director
- Member of the Board
- Executive Director of the Robert D. and Billie Ray Center at Drake University
Scott Raecker serves as Executive Director of The Robert D. and Billie Ray Center at Drake University - a position he has held since the work of the center was founded by former Governor Robert D. Ray as a lasting legacy to the Iowa Sesquicentennial in 1997. In addition to his leadership of The Ray Center, Scott also serves as Co-Executive Director of the Center for Public Democracy at Drake.
Job Titles:
- Director, CHARACTER COUNTS! Business Development
Jason came to Drake with 20 years of experience in business development and has held leadership roles in directing sales and marketing strategy. Jason is passionate about personnel development, ethical leadership, and creating a positive culture in the workplace. Jason was with Aureon for the past 15 years and ultimately focused on helping businesses better leverage technology to advance their mission and purpose. Jason has also spent several years as an adjunct professor at Grand View University. He has taught classes in Business Ethics and Strategic Marketing and has created and delivered courses in all formats, including online learning. Jason is a graduate of the University of Iowa with a BBA in Marketing (1995) and an MBA from Drake University (2004).
Jason and his wife Lori have two daughters, Jayna and Cara and live in Johnston. In his free time he enjoys spending time with family, coaching youth sports, church activities, running, and golfing.
Job Titles:
- Director of Josephson Exemplary Policing Initiative
Jim has a professional career path that is both accomplished and diverse. During his 13-year law enforcement career, Jim worked primarily in the areas of narcotic enforcement and police training. During that time, he received numerous awards and accommodations for his work in those areas and was a speaker at several state-wide law enforcement conferences throughout the northeast. He achieved the rank of Captain of Detectives at the age of 32 when he was promoted to Director of a New Jersey State Certified Police Training Academy.
Jim's highly decorated police career ended abruptly in 1997 because of an ethical tragedy caused by "one bad decision" that took him outside the lines of what was right. In this course, Jim takes you through the painful journey, both professionally and personally, that resulted from his unethical conduct.
Job Titles:
- Assistant Director, Programs
Megan Watson joined The Robert D. and Billie Ray Center in September 2023. Her background is in education, having taught fifth grade for four years prior to joining the team. She is originally from the Des Moines area and is a graduate of Butler University with a Bachelor's degree in Elementary Education. Megan is passionate about equipping young learners with life skills and creating positive learning environments.
Megan lives in Des Moines with her family. In her free time, she enjoys running, reading, spending time with family, and watching sports.
Job Titles:
- Communications and Events Coordinator
Megan joined the Robert D. and Billie Ray Center in September of 2022 as Communications & Events Coordinator. Megan's background is in corporate events, communications, and marketing, having spent time working for both The University of Northern Iowa and EMC Insurance Companies prior to joining The Ray Center.
A native of Bondurant, Iowa, Megan graduated from the University of Northern Iowa in May of 2022 with a Bachelor's in Public Relations and Event Planning and a minor in Marketing. Megan lives in Ankeny, Iowa, with her husband Koby. She enjoys reading, traveling, a good coffee shop, and spending time with friends and family.
Job Titles:
- Founder, CHARACTER COUNTS!
As the founder of CHARACTER COUNTS!, Michael Josephson is an influential and internationally renowned champion of character education for ethical conduct in business, government, policing, and law. Employing his groundbreaking insights and strategies, Mr. Josephson has assisted law enforcement agencies to strengthen individual and institutional decision-making and create sustainable ethical cultures.
He is the author of over a dozen books and major studies including the Exemplary Peace Officer series for police officers. Michael has received many honors for his work, including America's Award for Integrity, presented by former President Ronald Reagan.
Ray grew up in Des Moines, IA. He met his future wife, Billie Lee Hornberger, while they were students at Roosevelt High School. The high school sweethearts started dating in 1945 and were married on December 22, 1951. His life revolved around his love of family. He was a devoted husband, dedicated father to three daughters, and adoring grandfather to eight grandchildren.
Job Titles:
- Associate Director, CHARACTER COUNTS! Business Development
Ryan Harris joined The Robert D. and Billie Ray Center in January 2020. Prior to joining The Ray Center, Ryan worked for Drake University Athletics. His career has focused on marketing, revenue generation, and customer service in professional and collegiate athletics.
A native of Marshalltown, Iowa, he earned a Bachelor's degree in marketing from the University of Northern Iowa and Master's degree in Sport Management from Northern Illinois University. Ryan and his wife, Liz, have two daughters, Nora and Eloise, and live in Huxley.
Tabitha graduated from the University of Kentucky in Lexington, KY with a B.A. in Education with a Major in Social Studies Secondary Education. She moved to Iowa in 2010. For twelve years she worked in the early childhood field, serving as a teacher and then administrator. She managed a site to national accreditation and implemented new programing that focused on social and emotional development. Her passion is helping young children gain skills to become better adults full of civility, resiliency and kindness.
Tabitha and her family live in Des Moines and enjoy taking advantage of all the parks, events, and community engagement opportunities it has to offer.