Committee Members

Who are the supporting individuals that make up the Aiming For A Cure Foundation Committee?

Photo to Come		Stacy Ackerman Bio Coming Soon

		Michelle Altmaier Michelle Altmaier works for the Children's Miracle Network at Children's Hospital of Iowa. I am thankful to have met such a wonderful group of caring individuals who give of their time to support young cancer patients and their families. This is a fabulous event that brings out the best in people and I am thrilled to be involved.

		Tim Anderson Tim Anderson is the Marketing Director at Hunter’s Specialties in Cedar Rapids. He has been involved with the Aiming for a Cure Foundation since its inception. “Steve Ries came to see us three years ago looking for a title sponsor to get behind his event. After listening to his vision and discussing it with Dave and Carman Forbes, we immediately jumped onboard. When I originally got involved, I felt to be part of my job and responsibility to the company. It quickly became part of life and a passion that is hard to explain. I will always be a part of AFAC because of its mission to assist and comfort children going through the fight for their life.” Tim and his wife Karen live in Delhi, Iowa. They have 4 children, Jeremy, Justin, Lindsey and Michael.

		Randy Fitzgerald Age 47 Ames, Iowa Randy is the Executive Vice President of Operations for a protein separation and purification company. Randy is the husband of Cathy and the father of Cori. Randy was raised in Ames, Iowa, graduated from Iowa State University, and has spent his career building and operating medical device and pharmaceutical operations around the world. Randy trains his Brittanys and supports his daughter in her 4H horse projects in his spare time. Randy became involved with Aiming for a Cure through his contact with Steve Ries in AKC Hunt Tests and developing a friendship with the Ries family. The inspiration of Ben Ries and the core values of the Aiming for a Cure Foundation are the primary motivating forces for him and helps all committee members focus on the need to continue their efforts. As an individual involved with the health care industry he feels that there is a need for an increased awareness on the mental well being of children and families experiencing difficult times and the Aiming for a Cure Foundation is working toward this goal.

		Curt Friis 46 years old Lifetime farmer in West Branch Aiming for a Cure member since 2003 Iowa State Graduate & also a Hawk Fan! Interests include spending time with family, reading, hunting, dog training, hunting artifacts and boating on the Cedar River. Wife Carla, four sons; Mat, Blake, Jay, & Ben, one daughter-in-law and two grandchildren; Christopher & Mya. My friendship with Steve Ries goes back about 25 years. When I heard of this committee the foundation has become another passion in my life.

		Ryan Giannini I have been with Highland Hideaway Hunting since they opened in 2000, and have managed the business for the last 3 years. My love of hunting comes from my grandpa. Most days you will find me conducting business, or guiding hunts with my German shorthairs. In my free time you will find me wondering through the woods or a prairie, doing what I love most, hunting. Other days I'll be working on a project at home. For one month out of the year you will find me up in mountainous terrain of Alaska guiding and packing out large game animals for hunters all over the world. I'm a graduate from Kirkwood Community College with an A.A.S. degree in Industrial Maintenance Technology. My involvement with Aiming for a cure started with my good friend Steve Ries. When the idea started floating around about such a great event for such a great cause I was nothing but excited. As my relationship with Ben, son of Steve Ries grew it made me realize how blessed we all are with life. It also made me realize what this cause is all about. Finding a way to cope with our disabilities is something that some of us go through life without doing. My friend Ben Ries was only a boy just starting life and was helping and showing all of us how to do it. In the last 4 years of knowing Steve and his family I have grown as a person and think everyday of my good friend Ben. This is why I'm so proud of being involved with of Aiming for a cure!

		Susan Grosclaude 38 years old Husband Jeff, two sons; Jordan (deceased) and Mitchell Resides in Marion Iowa Attended Krikwood Community College and Illinois Central College Aiming For A Cure member since 2004 Employed at St. Paul's Preschool I became a member if Aiming For A Cure shortly after my son Jordan died of cancer. Being apart of the committee has been very rewarding and healing experience.

		Ed Kempf Age 57 - Cedar Rapids, Iowa A love of dogs, pheasant hunting, sports, and photography put me on the doorstep of one of the formative meetings of the “Aiming for A Cure “ committee. Fortunately, they let me stay. Now, almost three years later, I couldn’t imagine my life without the great people I’ve met at Highland Hideaway Hunting in Riverside, Iowa, and all the members of the AFAC committee. It was a perfect fit for our family business, “ Impact Photo / Joe Photo, “ as we have specialized in special event photography concentrating on the Cedar Rapids / Iowa City corridor for 28 years. My wife, Molly, and kids, Sarah and Dan, all help in our business and help support AFAC. I earned my B.A. in History with a Physical Education minor in 1972 – Go Hawks!

		Jodie Ries “We had a vision that was put into action and became a dream come true”. Being parents of a child diagnosed with cancer and recently sharing a loss of this child was the inspiration to form Aiming For A Cure Foundation. My husband Steve and daughter Rachel and I want Ben’s legacy to live, as Ben would always think of the many children and Families at the Children’s Hospital of Iowa during their treatments for cancer. During his visits, Ben was consumed by the staff, new Friendships and many opportunities that would make his home away from home more enjoyable during a difficult time. With Ben’s love for the great outdoors in his hunting dogs and the many personal Friendships made it became easy to form such a great foundation that commit their time and efforts to continue the legacy of caring for the children and Families dealing with cancer at the Children’s Hospital of Iowa. We were blessed with calling Ben our son, and having so many caring people to volunteer their time, talents and financial support in helping children and their families with childhood cancer. The Ries Family resides in Alburnett on an acreage with their Family business in raising hunting dogs. Faith Family Friends

		Kate Shank Kate Shank graduated December of 2006 from Upper Iowa University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Conservation Management. Kate also obtained an A.A.S degree from Kirkwood Community College in May of 2005, studying Parks and Natural Resources. Kate is a Wildlife Habitat Specialist for the Iowa DNR and Pheasants Forever in Donnellson, IA, located in Lee County. She provides assistance to private landowners that are interested in providing better habitat for wildlife and to increase water quality in Iowa’s waters. Kate in her free time enjoys spoiling her German Shorthair Pointer Gauge, kickboxing, and hunting with her fiancé Ryan Giannini, also a committee member. I am involved with Aiming for a Cure through my friendship with the Ries Family, and my involvement with Highland Hideaway Hunting Preserve. The families and children that are forgoing the battle of cancer are the greatest encouragement in life. The courage and strength of these families are humbling. Because of this I am very grateful to have the opportunity to be apart of this committee.

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