Liz Winders is the new Director of Communications for the Iowa Annual Conference. After the retirement of Dr. Arthur McClanahan, she began her role on July 1, 2020.
A five-year employee of the Iowa Annual Conference, Liz has worked in the Communications office as the Associate Director since March of 2015.
“Art’s retirement left big shoes to fill in our department. He was not only a leader, teacher, and mentor but a very good friend,” said Winders. “2020 has already seen it’s set of challenges with a worldwide pandemic and the delaying of the Iowa, General and Jurisdictional Conferences. But the Communication’s office is creative, pliable and equipped to provide leadership and teamwork that is needed to Connect the people to The Story of faith, in action, so that God’s hope for the world will be made real through faithful leaders, fruitful congregations, and fire-filled people.”
Before working for the Iowa Annual Conference, Winders worked as a freelance creative professional for over 15 years. She wrote, designed, and produced marketing materials for businesses seeking new ideas and fresh approaches for branding, advertising, and marketing messages. She planned budgets, gave guidance, and led the creative process. She has extensive experience directing client pitches and presentations and has managed the production and budgets of multiple projects working with photographers, designers, printers, and web developers while maintaining the highest quality and within the required deadline.
Winders was born and raised in Clive, Iowa a suburb of Des Moines. She attended West Des Moines Valley High School and Iowa State University. She is married to Steve Winders and has three adult daughters, Lindsey, Kaitlyn, and Grace.
Courtney Levin is the new Communications Officer for the Iowa Annual Conference and also began her role on July 1, 2020.
A 12-year employee of the Iowa Annual Conference, Courtney has worked in the Communications office as the Staff Writer and Social Media Coordinator since April of 2018. Previously, she has worked in the Conference Office as Camp Registrar, and at Lake Okoboji United Methodist Camp and Retreat Center in various roles, including Program Coordinator.
“I will greatly miss Art’s leadership in our conference,” Levin said. “He is a wonderful mentor and friend and I am excited for the future of the Iowa Annual Conference built off of his legacy.”
Born and raised in Aurelia, Iowa, Levin attended church at Aurelia First United Methodist Church and graduated from Aurelia Community High School in 2008. She then attended Simpson College and graduated in 2012 with a Bachelor of Arts in Multimedia Journalism and German.