Board of Directors

Megan Reuther Chair

Anchor/Reporter for WHO 13/Hello Iowa

Megan joined the WHO 13 News Team in October 2007, as a live reporter for Today in Iowa. Her work on a month-long series about childhood cancer awareness won an Upper Midwest Regional Emmy for Health Series in 2020!

She got started in broadcast television at KWWL in Eastern Iowa, after graduating with a Broadcast Journalism degree from the University of Missouri-Columbia. She is recognized for her engaging storytelling abilities and commitment to providing the Des Moines community with engaging stories and news broadcasts.

Mack Rankin Vice Chair

Vice President Private Wealth Advisor at U.S. Bank

Mack Rankin ATFA®, AWMA®, AIF®, is an Iowa State University graduate, and he is a dedicated and accomplished professional in the finance industry. As a highly experienced professional in the financial industry, Rankin has had the privilege of working with esteemed organizations such as US Bank Private Wealth Management, First Community Trust, Greater Iowa Credit Union, Community 1st Credit Union, and Wells Fargo Bank.

With a strong background in private wealth management, trust services, mortgage lending, and general banking, he has developed a diverse skill set and a deep understanding of the financial needs of individuals and businesses.

Thomas P. Mathews Secretary/Treasurer

Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, Mary Washington Healthcare

Mathews was formerly vice president of finance for Mercy Health in Joplin, Mo., where he had responsibility for the southwest Missouri/Kansas region for that system. Before that role, he spent seven years in various financial and decision support roles with Mission Health System in Asheville, N.C. 

Mathews holds a Master of Health Service Administration and a Bachelor of Science in biology from Xavier University in Cincinnati and a B.S. in accounting from Colorado State University. He and his wife, Melissa, have three children.

Becki Brommel Board Member

Healthcare Litigation Attorney at Dorsey & Whitney LLP

Becki is always ready to present the strongest case for each client, and yet also finds it important to explore solutions that make sense, even if that does not include filing a lawsuit. Becki regularly assists health care providers with professional licensing board matters, regulatory citations and regulatory compliance. 

Becki also handles a significant number of judicial review proceedings arising out of healthcare regulatory matters, including, but not limited to Certificate of Need decisions. She can help lead clients through receipt of a subpoena to an appeal and everything in between, as well as helping healthcare and other businesses assess their policies and practices to help reduce their litigation risks.

Michael Nelson Board Member

Assistant Dean of Students Affairs, Drake University College of Pharmacy & Health Sciences

Michael is a Professor of Pharmaceutical Sciences and the Assistant Dean of Student Affairs.  He earned his B.S. in Pharmacy from the University of Washington, and his Ph.D. in Medicinal Chemistry from the University of Minnesota. Michael has focused his career on higher education within the healthcare professions to support development of a new generation of healthcare providers and leaders. Earlier in his career, Michael was active in hospital pharmacy practice until moving into administrative positions within higher education.

Matthew Triplett Board Member

Sr. Project Manager, ESO

As a Senior Project Manager, Matthew is leading projects with cross-functional teams (including C-Suite) to deliver high-impact enterprise-wide projects on time and in scope. He has led multiple projects, including helping transform ESOs CRM for handling international renewals and automation, working closely with their CTO (Transformation) and CFO along with other C-Suite members, to incorporate strategic pricing decisions across the business, and led ESO's Value Realization program in collaboration with Marketing which changes the way ESO sellers engage with our users and tell the full story of our products. 

After graduating from the University of Iowa, he is now helping to improve public health safety in local communities! He is part of our Finance Committee, and on the LifeServe Board of Directors. 

Janet Wilwerding Board Member

Senior Marketing & Communications Specialist, City of West Des Moines 

Janet is a strategic communications professional with a proven track record in advertising, marketing, and media relations. She specializes in executing communication strategies, elevating brand voices, and fostering cross-team collaboration to drive business results. With expertise in executive communications, crisis management, and stakeholder engagement, she can thrive in fast-paced environments. Janet is excited to bring skills in strategic planning, content development, and brand storytelling to help our organization grow and make an impact.

Janet has participated in many speaking engagements, including with the Iowa Parks and Recreation Association and the Iowa Municipal Finance Officers Association. On our Board of Directors, Janet is also the Director of Communications for the City of Johnston Government. She has a strong communications background, having worked with Iowa Corn and the City of Pleasant Hill, Iowa.

Wendy Woods-Swafford Board Member

Pediatric Hematology-Oncology, UnityPoint Health

I have spent my career caring for patients who depend on timely, life-sustaining blood products. I was inspired to join the board because of the critical role LifeServe plays in ensuring reliable access to these resources, and the opportunity to support a mission that directly saves lives every day.

I’m most excited about supporting strategic efforts to ensure sustainable growth and community access while strengthening engagement. There is a tremendous opportunity to expand awareness of donation needs and to partner more closely with healthcare systems and community organizations to meet future demand. Outside of work, I appreciate any opportunity to be outdoors and recharge. I enjoy thrifting and spending time with my family.

Through my clinical and leadership roles, I’ve seen firsthand the lifesaving impact of blood donation—particularly for pediatric patients, trauma care, and complex medical treatments. These experiences have reinforced the importance of maintaining a strong, reliable donor network.

Yulia Johnson Board Member

DO, Broadlawns Medical Center

I was inspired to join the LifeServe Board because of the organization's extraordinary mission and its direct impact on the communities we serve. The opportunity to help support a mission that saves lives every day through blood donation aligns closely with my commitment to healthcare, community service, and improving outcomes for others. I am honored to contribute my experience and perspective to an organization that makes such a meaningful difference.

I am most excited about helping advance LifeServe's mission and supporting the organization's continued growth and innovation. I look forward to collaborating with fellow board members, learning more about the evolving needs of our communities, and helping ensure that LifeServe remains a trusted and reliable resource for patients and healthcare organizations across the region.

I am from Ukraine, was born and raised there, and moved when I was 20 years old, in 1992. I have been in the US for 33 years now. I have a classical piano degree from Ukraine.

While I have long appreciated the critical importance of blood donation in patient care, serving in healthcare has given me a firsthand understanding of how essential a reliable blood supply is to saving lives, especially as an ER doctor. I have seen the impact that blood donors have on patients and families during some of their most vulnerable moments, which makes LifeServe's mission especially meaningful to me. 

Grant Taylor Board Member

Vice President/Partner at The Hansen Company

I’ve been a blood donor for a long time as I always knew that was important and just the right thing to do. It wasn’t until I learned more about LifeServe and how successfully it distributed blood across the country that I became enthralled in the operations. Whether you are donating blood, money, time, resources/talent; anyone who gives wants to know that what they give is cherished and used efficiently with the utmost reverence and LifeServe does that.

I’m excited to better understand the operations and inner workings of LifeServe. I hope I can contribute to the continued success of this amazing organization.

I am pretty involved with my church and I’ve taught some sort of youth ministry class (aka Sunday School, confirmation class, etc.) every year since our oldest child started Sunday School (probably around age 5). He’s now well behind Sunday School at age 22 but I’m still teaching. Thankfully I’ve been a longtime blood donor but I’ve never had to be a recipient.