Category Archive Sponsors

BySuzanne Hull

Edward Jones – Ryan Kent, CFP® | 2024 Hut Sponsor

Many thanks to Edward Jones – Ryan Kent, CFP®for his support of Christkindlmarket Des Moines 2024. Learn more about Ryan:

I believe in treating our clients with honesty and empathy, which means being transparent about the costs and risks involved with investing. We are honored to partner with you, to explore your possibilities and to create financial strategies that can have a positive impact on your life. Working closely with your CPA, attorney and other professionals, I can help determine the most appropriate long-term financial strategy for you and your family. I am registered in over 30 states and can serve clients nationwide.

I joined Edward Jones in 2011 and became a financial advisor in 2015. Fort Dodge is where I was born and raised. I am incredibly proud to build my business in my hometown. I partnered with my father for the first five years until his retirement. The knowledge and care he provided had a significant impact on my work ethic and client relationships.

Lifelong learning is very important to me. I received my MBA at Iowa State. I’m proud to have earned my CFP®, ChFC®, CAP®, ABFP™, CLU®, and AAMS™ certifications to broaden my education and better serve those who partner with me. I was named to the Forbes Best-In-State Wealth Advisors in Iowa* in 2023, as well as being named to the Forbes Next-Gen Best-In-State Wealth Advisors in both 2022 and 2023**. It has been an honor for my branch team to be recognized for our dedication to service.

My branch office administrators, Terri VanNostrand and Angela Barton, serve our clients with the utmost respect and integrity. I have been blessed with an excellent team. As a team, we strive to provide our clients with the highest level of service possible and help our clients to have every opportunity to achieve your financial goals.

My spouse, Sara, is a psychologist in private practice. She’s a fantastic chef, and we enjoy traveling and cooking together.

Please reach out to me if you would like to partner together. My team and I would be honored to serve you and your family.

*2023 Forbes Best-In-State Wealth Advisors in Iowa, published April 2023, research by SHOOK Research LLC, data as of June 2022. Compensation provided for using, not obtaining, the rating.
**Forbes Top Next-Gen Wealth Advisors Best-in-State for Iowa in 2022 and 2023, published in August each year, research by SHOOK Research LLC, data as of March of the same year. Compensation provided for using, not obtaining, the rating.

BySuzanne Hull

Siegwerk USA | 2024 Weihnachtswald Sponsor

We’re pleased to announce Siegwerk USA as the Weihnachtswald Sponsor of Christkindlmarket Des Moines 2024.

Siegwerk was founded in Siegburg, Germany in 1830 as a retailer of manufactured goods. The company capitalized on its expertise in printing obtained from the “Kattunfabrik”, a fabric print shop, and progressed to become one of the top international manufacturers of printing inks and coatings. Globally, Siegwerk employs over 5,000 people in 30 countries.

Siegwerk plays an important role in packaging, as we use color to bring products to life for our customers. Every day people come across Siegwerk inks no matter where they are, including walking down the grocery aisle where there are many offerings of examples including confectionery packaging, beverage bottles or food pouches.

Des Moines is the home of Siegwerk’s U.S. headquarters and is proud to sponsor this event, as having strong roots from Germany, and currently celebrating 200 years in business. We love seeing the European culture come to life in our city.

BySuzanne Hull

Duke Rentals | 2024 Platinum Sponsor

We’re pleased to have Duke Rentals as a member of our team as a Platinum Sponsor.

Headquartered in Southwest Iowa, Duke Rentals is locally owned and operated, supplying the Midwest with an extensive fleet of over 9000 machines. Since modest beginnings in 2000, we continually strive to offer the best equipment, at the lowest cost, with the best customer service. Exceeding customer expectations is our goal by constantly improving quality and communications.

We provide industry-leading customer satisfaction through rentals and sales of scissor lifts, boom lifts, telehandlers, industrial forklifts, light and general dirt equipment, and most recently, the WolfLift. By offering a wide range of equipment through 14 convenient locations, we’re able to provide our services to customers in multiple industries, including construction, industrial, and entertainment to name a few. Whether you’re a contractor, a homeowner, or anything in between, we’ve got the equipment you need to get the job done quickly and safely.

BySuzanne Hull

EXIT Realty Capital City | 2023 Yuletide Hall Stage Sponsor

We’re pleased to welcome EXIT Realty Capital City as the Yuletide Hall Stage Sponsor of Christkindlmarket Des Moines 2023.

EXIT Realty Capital City is comprised of a team of local real estate professionals committed to fast, professional and courteous service to help you understand and feel at ease throughout the home buying and selling process.

EXIT Realty Capital City is interested in serving property buyers and sellers throughout Iowa. When you’re looking to buy a house, their agents will help match you with the perfect home for your family and help you navigate the complex transaction process. EXIT Realty agents provide guidance on everything from making the initial offer to fulfilling all the lender’s requirements and closing the deal. Home buyers are also encouraged to take advantage of a free home loan analysis to get the process started for approved financing.

If you’re looking to sell your home, use EXIT Realty’s expertise to get the full value of your house. With EXIT Realty’s innovative digital marketing strategies combined with proven direct marketing tactics, you’ll be able to sell your home faster at a rewarding price. Their agents value your time and respond promptly to your requests and questions as they come along.

BySuzanne Hull

Prairie Meadows Donates $20,000 to the Iowa European Cultural Connection

Betterment Grant will help fund Christkindlmarket Des Moines – an annual holiday tradition

Prairie Meadows recently awarded the Iowa European Cultural Connection (IECC) a Betterment Grant totaling $20,000. The grant will help fund Christkindlmarket Des Moines (CDM). Prairie Meadows is a nonprofit organization dedicated to lessening the burden of government by promoting economic development, jobs, agriculture, and tourism in the state of Iowa.

“We’re pleased to welcome Prairie Meadows as our Presenting Sponsor and hope to continue this community partnership for many years to come”, Suzanne Hull, the Director of Christkindlmarket Des Moines, explains. “For the last seven years, CDM has brought so much joy to the attendees, the surrounding communities and volunteers and we’re pleased to have become an annual family tradition”.

The Betterment Grant will improve the lives of people in central Iowa by enabling the Iowa European Cultural Connection to produce Christkindlmarket Des Moines again this year. The $20,000 grant will allow IECC to offset the costs of electrical distribution and electrical equipment rental to illuminate Principal Park during the festival on November 30 – December 3.

“As a nonprofit organization, Prairie Meadows fulfills its purpose by giving back to organizations that support arts and culture, education, economic development, and human services. We are excited to see the impact [insert name of project] will have on our central Iowa community,” said Julie Stewart, Prairie Meadows Vice President of Community Relations.

Visit prairiemeadows.com/community and christkindlmarketdsm.com to learn more about these organizations and the causes they support.

About Prairie Meadows

Prairie Meadows began operations as a nonprofit organization in 1989, with the goal of promoting economic development, jobs, agriculture, and tourism in the state of Iowa. Through taxes, grants, and charitable donations, Prairie Meadows has given $2.1 billion to the state of Iowa. Prairie Meadows offers slot machines, table games, live and simulcast racing, sports wagering, hotel accommodations, entertainment, and more.

About the Iowa European Cultural Connection (IECC)
IECC’s mission is to connect Iowans with European traditions, language learning and cultural experiences. IECC’s signature event is Christkindlmarket Des Moines taking place November 30 – December 3, 2023 at Principal Park. Over the past six years, this unique cultural experience has grown to become the second largest festival of its kind in the U.S. based on average daily attendance.

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BySuzanne Hull

Chicago Teahouse | 2023 Annual Hut Sponsor

We’re pleased to have Chicago Teahouse as an Annual Hut Sponsor.

From our location in the heart of the Historic Gold Coast of Chicago we have been able to share our passion with even more people. Our Chicago location has continued to impress for the past fifteen years. Our woman-owned local business was named The Best Tea Shop in Chicago by Chicago Magazine. Customers can trust they are getting the best service from an incredibly knowledgeable staff as our store is managed by a Certified Tea Sommelier, Agnieszka Rapacz. We have been trusted by Top Chefs, Local Country Clubs, Navy Pier, Art Institute of Chicago, Drake Hotel, and the Chicago/Milwaukee/Carmel Christkindlmarkets to provide the perfect tea for any occasion.

Chicago Teahouse is an advocate to promote organic and fair trade tea production. Our tea producers actively encourage development of a caring and sustainable industry that generates income and improves the lives of millions of people. Our producers maintain the highest ethical standards with regard to health, education, nutrition and environmental sustainability with Fair Trade certifications. We cultivate personal relationships with our tea growers and share their commitment to improving the lives of the people who produce our tea products. Our commitment to providing you with exceptional tea is matched by our commitment to the planet and the people who grow our tea.

We are an organization with superior knowledge of, and experience in, the tea market, with a mission to bring truly superlative teas to a growing community of tea lovers around the world and in our own neighborhood. While our company continues to grow, some things do not change. At Chicago Teahouse, our Passion for Tea is at the core of everything we do.

We carry over 200 products including black, green, oolong, white, rooibush, herbal and fruit, and ranging in price from just a few cents per cup all the way up the rarest teas grown exclusively for us by some of the world’s finest estates.

BySuzanne Hull

Hessen Haus | 2023 Bronze and Hut Sponsor

We’re pleased to include Hessen Haus among our family of 2023 sponsors!

The Hessen Haus perfectly recreates the authentic atmosphere of an old-world German bier hall. The imported German biers on tap, authentic German fare on the menu, and traditional bier hall interior create a lively yet cozy atmosphere where large crowds gather to pass the boot and small groups find themselves making new friends.

A combination of a state in west-central Germany and the German word for house, the name Hessen Haus was chosen for its authentic origins and welcoming feel. The state of Hessen which the bier hall is named for plays home to more than six million inhabitants – which are referred to as Hesses if male or Hessins if female. In English, occupants are known as Hessians – a term affectionately applied to our more frequent visitors to the restaurant.

BySuzanne Hull

Siegwerk USA | 2023 Weihnachtswald Sponsor

We’re pleased to announce Siegwerk USA as the Weihnachtswald Sponsor of Christkindlmarket Des Moines 2023.

Siegwerk was founded in Siegburg, Germany in 1830 as a retailer of manufactured goods. The company capitalized on its expertise in printing obtained from the “Kattunfabrik”, a fabric print shop, and progressed to become one of the top international manufacturers of printing inks and coatings. Globally, Siegwerk employs over 5,000 people in 30 countries.

Siegwerk plays an important role in packaging, as we use color to bring products to life for our customers. Every day people come across Siegwerk inks no matter where they are, including walking down the grocery aisle where there are many offerings of examples including confectionery packaging, beverage bottles or food pouches.

Des Moines is the home of Siegwerk’s U.S. headquarters and is proud to sponsor this event, as having strong roots from Germany. We love seeing the European culture come to life in our city.

BySuzanne Hull

Daughters of Norway’s Eva Nansen Lodge 46 | 2023 Hut Sponsor

Many thanks to Daughters of Norway’s Eva Nansen Lodge 46 for their support of Christkindlmarket Des Moines 2023. 

Scandinavians began immigrating to Iowa as early as the 1830s and 1840s where they settled mostly in central and northern Iowa. Eva Nansen Lodge 46 became the first Iowa lodge to bear the name Daughters of Norway on November 5, 2006 with forty-six charter members representing Norway, Denmark, and Sweden ancestries. Membership is available not only to Norwegians, but women with Danish, Swedish, Finnish, and Icelandic connections.

“Daughters of Norway’s Eva Nansen Lodge 46 is proud to continue the legacy of Nordic heritage throughout Iowa with cultural arts, history, and traditions that our ancestors brought to America to share among today’s children and women of all ages,” explained representative, Sandy Hansen. “The Lodge Sisters pride themselves in offering educational and festive events, cultural programs and activities, and social gatherings. Lifelong Nordic friendships have developed while sharing common interests.”

BySuzanne Hull

Creative Choice Solutions | 2023 Platinum Sponsor

We’re pleased to have Choice Creative Solutions as a member of our team as a Platinum Sponsor.

Choice Creative Solutions is the brainchild of the group behind the marketing wheel at Community Choice Credit Union (CCCU) in Des Moines, IA. After over a decade of proven success and awards of recognition for raising the awareness/success level for CCCU and pushing the marketing boundaries for a financial institution, it seemed logical to work with other businesses to help them achieve success.