West Des Moines Chamber Reveals 2013 Citizen of the Year

Anita Messerschmidt, a tireless community volunteer and small business owner, will be honored next month as the 68^th recipient of the West Des Moines 2013 Citizen of the Year Award, according to a news release from the West Des Moines Chamber of Commerce.

She will be recognized at a special reception to be held on Wednesday, May 1, 2013 from 4-6 p.m. at ers. This event is open to the public and there is no charge to attend.

Messerschmdit is the founder of an information technology company, EmbarkIT Inc., located at 1854 Fuller Road. The company moved to the larger facility there in 2011 to meet growth needs that Messerschmidt attributed to its proactive sales and service departments.

Messerschmdit was unanimously selected as the recipient based on a long history of service in West Des Moines, according to the news release. A 2010 graduate of the West Des Moines Leadership Academy, she also belongs to several local and national professional and service organizations. Among them are:

• Past president of Des Moines Mu Phi Epsilon Chapter,
• Current member of Breakfast Club Inc.,
• Current member of the West Des Moines Chamber of Commerce and an ambassador for the West Des Moines Chamber,
• Member of the Greater Des Moines Partnership,
• Past president of the West Des Moines Kiwanis Club,
• Member of the West Des Moines Development Connection,
• Current president of the West Des Moines Business Incubator.

The honoree was born in South Dakota and attended the University of South Dakota at Vermillion where she received a bachelor of fine arts degree. While attending college, she met Rick Messerschmidt, a West Des Moines native. After both graduated, they a decided that Iowa would be their home where they would raise two sons, Anthony and Daniel.

The Messerschmidts are now proud grandparents of six grandchildren, ages 10 and under.  Anita taught music in Iowa Schools for 10 years before beginning her computer career.

Outside of work, Anita enjoys her membership in the St. Boniface Catholic Church choir, singing and playing guitar, reading, swimming and playing an occasional round of golf.

For more information on the reception, contact the West Des Moines Chamber of Commerce at  (515) 225.6009.