The Pella Area Community and Economic (PACE) Alliance honored five individuals, organizations, and businesses by presenting the annual Hall of Fame Awards this morning.

This year’s recipients are:


Classic Aviation, Inc.




Fields of Our Future Committee




Ivan Mulder




Marion County Bank




Pella Community Foundation

Executive Director of the PACE Alliance Karen Eischen tells KNIA/KRLS News they aim to recognize those who have significant impact the community, quality of life, and economy of Pella.

“We have lots and lots of people who contribute to the overall success in Pella,” she says.

Also at the meeting, Eischen discussed how the new PACE Alliance will work, committee chairs described six working councils and their goals and functions, and the new board of directors was formally introduced, including:

Cyndi Atkins, Pella Regional Health Center (Event Council Chair)
Dell Collins, Vermeer Corporation (Economic Development Council Chair)
Ryan Davis, Pella Corporation (Trustee Investor)
Steve Kraayenbrink, Marion County Bank (Platinum Investor)
Barb Kniff McCulla, KLK Construction, Inc. (Bronze Investor)
Julie Mueller, Pella Historical Downtown Retail Group (Gold Investor)
Lesli Nelson, Pella Hosting and Website Solutions (Business Development Council Chair)
Mark Putnam, Central College (Elite Investor)
Sherri Te Grootenhuis, Royal Amsterdam Hotel (Destination Development Council Chair)
Jill Vande Weerd, Prudential First of Pella Realty (Silver Investor)
Mindi Vanden Bosch, Vermeer Corporation (Downtown Development Council Chair)
Bob Vermeer, Vermeer Corporation (Trustee Investor)
Teri Vos, Vermeer Corporation (Workforce Development Council Chair)
Jamie Wisse, US Bank (Elite Investor)