Common Good Iowa

Staff members

Tywana Butts

Office Assistant

Tywana has been at the organization since 2008. She answers phones and greets visitors, assists other staff members and provides general office support. She previously worked as an administrative assistant and child care provider. Tywana is a native of Des Moines and lives on the city’s east side. She enjoys...

Anne Discher

Executive Director

Anne worked at the Child and Family Policy Center for 10 years before the merger with the Iowa Policy Project, serving as research associate, communication director, and most recently as executive director. She has a particular interest in using data, research and stories to make meaningful change for Iowa families...

Sean Finn

Policy Analyst

Sean’s work is focused on labor standards and practices in Iowa, with an emphasis on the construction industry, in partnership with the Center for Worker Justice of Eastern Iowa, the University of Iowa Labor Center, and the Economic Policy Institute’s EARN in the Midwest program. He is also interested in...

Sheila Hansen

Senior Policy Advocate/Government Relations Manager

Sheila concentrates her work on early childhood, primarily child care, preschool and home visitation. She also coordinates the advocacy and lobbying work at the state capitol. She has received numerous awards for her advocacy work around early childhood issues from the Iowa Head Start Association, the Association for the Education...

Mike Owen

Deputy Director

Mike coordinates fiscal policy work with other issue priorities at Common Good Iowa, engaging staff and partners to advance policy ideas that equitably and sustainably address the concerns of all Iowans. He is part of the communications team developing messages and strategies to better reach policy makers, advocates and the...

Nathan Shepherd

Finance Manager

Nathan provides operational and development support for the organization. He also contributes to the energy and environmental policy work of the organization. Nathan received a B.S. degree in General Agriculture - Environmental Studies from Southern Illinois University at Carbondale. He has two amazing adult children that he likes to spend...

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