Network Awards - Network Against Human Trafficking and Slavery

Iowa Outstanding Anti-Trafficking Service Awards

Award Purpose

Each year, the Network honors the outstanding efforts of those individual Iowans and organizations who have inspired others in the fight to end human trafficking. Eligible individuals and organizations include those who have significantly contributed to anti-trafficking public policy, education, and prevention, coalition-building, service to survivors, law enforcement and prosecution, rescue of victims, raising awareness, and advocacy. This award demonstrates how one individual or one organization can make a positive contribution to the eradication of modern day slavery.

How to Nominate

If you would like to nominate someone for an Iowa Outstanding Anti-Trafficking Service Award, you are asked to complete and submit an Outstanding Anti-Trafficking Service Award Nomination Form. Send your completed nomination form at any time to gbelitsos55@gmail.com.

2026 Awards

On January 22, 2026 on the Rotunda of the State Capitol Building, Governor Kim Reynolds and the NAHT presented the 2026 Outstanding Human Trafficking Service Awards. Pictured with each awardee is the Iowa Lieutenant Governor Chris Cournoyer (right side of each awardee) and NAHT Vice Chair Teresa Davidson (left side of each awardee).

Allie Riches – Dubuque

Teachers often wonder whether their students are listening to anything they say. Allie Riches, however, was REALLY listening in Kim Hilby’s course on human trafficking at the University of Dubuque. After taking that class, Allie became a leader in the fight against human trafficking not only on campus but also as the youngest member of the Tri-State Coalition Against Human Trafficking. Riches won the Criminal Justice Student of the Year award and was chosen by the University of Dubuque as the one 2025 graduate to be highlighted in a feature story in the Dubuque Telegraph-Herald. She advocated for proclamations designating January as Human Trafficking Awareness and Prevention Month in five cities and three counties, made presentations to hundreds of junior and senior high students about human trafficking and online safety, helped train local police and fire departments to identify signs of human trafficking, and represented the Tri-State Coalition at a national conference in Baltimore.

A letter from the Tri-State coalition supporting Allie’s nomination states: “As a younger person, [Allie] has been able to connect with students more effectively than we can, and her knowledge of the current and developing technologies – and the dangers they bring – enable her to share experiences from her peer group that illustrate the lure of on-line entrapment and the need for vigilance to all forms of trafficking by persons of all ages. If only we could clone Allie and her dedication, knowledge, and ability to connect with multiple generations – from grandparents to middle-schoolers! As we age, we cheer her willingness to become a leader and to invite more of her generation to join the struggle.”

Sara Kellums – Davenport

Sara Kellums is a human trafficking survivor advocate with Braking Traffik in Davenport. Her nomination letter states: “Sara is a survivor of human trafficking who has transformed the pain of her past into a powerful testimony of hope and service. While many in her position would long to put their trauma behind them, Sara has chosen instead to use her experience to protect others from exploitation and to walk alongside survivors on their journey toward healing.

After escaping trafficking, Sara attended college in St. Louis, where she devoted herself to mentoring and supporting inner-city youth—many of whom faced similar vulnerabilities that traffickers exploit. She later traveled to Thailand to counsel exploited women, offering emotional support and spiritual encouragement to those rebuilding their lives. Upon returning to the United States, Sara completed a restoration program through the Chicago Dream Center, then was hired by the Center as a staff member, where she helped other women experience the same freedom and healing she had found.

Today, Sara serves as an advocate with Braking Traffic, where she continues to pour her life into helping others. She leads a support group for incarcerated women, works with at-risk youth, and provides awareness and prevention education throughout her community. Her impact is not only life-changing– it is life-saving. Sara’s story is one of redemption, resilience, and relentless compassion. From victim to advocate, she embodies the very essence of service and leadership.

Doll Distributing – Des Moines

Here’s what Secretary of State Paul Pate had to say about this exceptional participant in the IBAT (Iowa Businesses Against Trafficking) program: They’ve transformed the traditional business model by weaving anti-trafficking awareness into their daily operations and company culture. They put the Human Trafficking Hotline number and IBAT logo on delivery trucks, turning their fleet into mobile awareness campaigns across lowa.

Their creative approach extends to providing custom coasters featuring the IBAT logo to their clients, sparking important conversations about this serious crime occurring in our communities. They regularly send staff trivia surveys about human trafficking awareness, combining education with engagement by offering prizes and drawings. This approach ensures their team stays informed while encouraging them to carry this knowledge into their personal lives and communities.

During Human Trafficking Awareness Month, they invested in billboard campaigns throughout downtown Des Moines. [Company owner] Lauren Dolls has represented the company alongside [the Secretary of State’s team] when hosting international delegates studying lowa’s anti-trafficking initiatives. Doll Distributing represents the best of what IBAT stands for: businesses that don’t just sign up but actively work to protect vulnerable people in our state. Their leadership demonstrates that fighting human trafficking isn’t just the responsibility of law enforcement or nonprofits; it’s something every lowa business can and should embrace. Accepting the award was Kelle Molloy, Director of Marketing for Doll Distributing.

Project LIVE – Omaha and Des Moines

Wouldn’t it be wonderful if human trafficking could be prevented? But what would an effective prevention program look like, especially one for young people? That’s the goal of Project LIVE, a joint effort by three partners: academic researchers at the University of Nebraska and the University of Michigan, plus Omaha-based anti-trafficking nonprofit The Set Me Free Project, and the Des Moines Public schools.

Using a five-year grant from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Project LIVE is currently delivering a human trafficking curriculum in the Des Moines high schools with the goal of finding out what works in school-based human trafficking prevention. The Ready to Stand prevention curriculum, developed by The Set Me Free Project, is already in use in almost 400 schools in Iowa, Nebraska, and South Dakota. Researchers are using student surveys to determine whether participation in Ready to Stand reduces child sex trafficking, teen dating violence, and sexual assault. The means to this end is raising awareness among students, faculty, and staff that sex trafficking can happen anywhere. The program will then be fine-tuned so that it can be used not only in this region but throughout the country. Accepting the award were Stephanie Olson of the Set Me Free Project and Jennifer Stalder of the Des Moines Public ..

Nicole Leonard & Molly Edwards – Des Moines and Cedar Rapids

In 2023, the Iowa Legislature passed HF 630, making trafficking of a minor a class A felony with a penalty of life in prison with no possibility of parole. In Linn County in 2025, the first charges for trafficking a minor under this new law were filed against Jarod Earl Anderson. Assistant [Linn] County Attorney Molly Edwards and Assistant Attorney General Nicole Leonard prosecuted Anderson, resulting in a conviction and a sentence of life in prison. Here’s what the lawyers who work for them had to say about their work in this case.

Linn County Attorney Nicholas Maybanks wrote, “Molly dedicated countless hours preparing to file the charges in this case and then to bring it to trial. Her work was nothing less than ground-breaking. Molly’s work in this case has now provided a successful blueprint for future prosecutions.”

Keisha Cretsinger, Chief of Statewide Prosecution for the AG’s office, wrote, “When Nikki was asked to assist on the human trafficking prosecution in Linn County, she did not hesitate. The hours, weeks, and months it takes to present a case like this can take their toll. There were many sleepless nights, weekends, and holidays spent making sure the case was ready. But Nikki will always give her all to seek justice for child victims. Nikki and the entire prosecution team stood with the child victim in this case, fighting to make sure her voice was heard and that her abuser would never be able to hurt anyone ever again.”

And finally, Teresa Davidson wrote, “The prosecution of child trafficking cases is uniquely challenging. It requires prosecutors who can balance legal rigor with compassion, who can build trust with deeply traumatized victims, and who can navigate the most harrowing details of human exploitation without losing sight of the humanity of those they serve. Ms. Leonard and Ms. Edwards exemplified these qualities at every stage of the process. Their dedication brought safety, closure, and hope not only to the young victim in this case, but to countless other vulnerable youth whose futures will be safer because of the precedent they set.”

Nicole Leonard and Molly Edwards are shown accepting their awards.

2025 Awards

On January 15, 2025, Governor Kim Reynolds and Secretary of State Paul Pate signed a proclamation declaring January 2025 as Slavery and Human Trafficking Prevention Month in Iowa. This event was held at the Rotunda of the Iowa State Capitol Building and was organized and sponsored by the Iowa Network Against Human Trafficking and Slavery. 106 advocates and concerned citizens attended the event.

Governor Reynolds signed the proclamation but the newly appointed Lieutenant Governor, Chris Cournoyer, represented the governor and presented the proclamation. Following the proclamation event, Outstanding Anti-Trafficking Service Awards were presented to six Iowa unsung heroes. This award honors individuals and organizations that have made remarkable contributions to ending trafficking in Iowa.

CIVITAS (Tamara Kenworthy)

CIVITAS, our first awardee, is a prime example of how collaboration among public and private organizations can have a significant impact on human trafficking. CIVITAS, otherwise known as the Rotary Multi-Club Committee of Greater Des Moines, consists of the 10 Rotary Clubs who gather together as one club for education, fellowship and community service. Every year they hold a public forum to raise awareness on an important issue. In 2022, CIVITAS chose human trafficking as the topic and invited law-enforcement and nonprofit groups to present. The response to this event was so positive that CIVITAS repeated the topic of human trafficking again in 2023, inviting representatives from the judicial system and a survivor of human trafficking to present. And the response to this second event in 2023 was so great that they decided to sponsor a third event in 2024.

But in 2024 they decided that raising awareness was not enough. Working with the Iowa Law Enforcement Academy and a nationally known training consultant, in September 2024 CIVITAS provided a free two-day training session for more than 100 Iowa law enforcement officials on how to identify human trafficking perpetrators and victims, as well as an evening session open to the public. During the last three years, CIVITAS has raised over $90,000 to support non-profit survivor service agencies in Central Iowa. CIVITAS co-chair Tamara Kenworthy accepted the award.

Ken Garff Auto Group/Dan Boettcher

The Iowa Businesses Against Trafficking program (known as IBAT) founded and operated by Iowa Secretary of State Paul Pate is a first-of-its-kind program in the US and is now being adopted in several other states. But IBAT is still growing in Iowa, adding more businesses who are doing more to combat trafficking in Iowa. A great example is our next awardee. The Ken Garff Auto Group owns car dealerships in nine states, including seven dealerships in Iowa.

In 2024 Iowa Regional President Dan Boettcher engaged his dealerships in the fight against human trafficking. After learning about the problem of human trafficking in Iowa, Dan heard that a faith-based anti-trafficking nonprofit, Team Jesus of Iowa, needed a new SUV to use in its work assisting and providing shelter for individuals being trafficked. When Dan explained this need to the team, they responded by raising over $40,000 to purchase this SUV.

Then Dan had all seven of the dealerships register as IBAT businesses. Finally, he arranged for a whole day of training during business hours for his 50 managers to learn about human trafficking. This is a model response of a business that not only signs up for IBAT but follows through with effective action.

Lisa Becker/Iowa Girl Inspired

Iowa Girl Inspired, founded and owned by Lisa Becker, is another outstanding example of an IBAT business fighting human trafficking in Iowa. Through this business, Lisa has made extraordinary contributions to raising awareness, supporting survivors, and funding prevention efforts. Lisa joined the effort against human trafficking as a volunteer and later as a board member for Chains Interrupted, a Cedar Rapids-based nonprofit that works for the freedom of youth from human trafficking and exploitation.

Lisa’s dedication to the cause led her to found Iowa Girl Inspired, a business that designs and produces merchandise that raises awareness about human trafficking. These products include jewelry, keychains, Christmas ornaments, cutting boards, coasters, and glasses, each carefully crafted to spread the message of anti-trafficking and support local prevention efforts. Iowa Girl Inspired dedicates a portion of profits to supporting anti-trafficking organizations.

Lisa recently began a program called “Crafting for a Cause,” where attendees are guided in creating their own handcrafted jewelry piece while receiving information about human trafficking. Her work not only financially benefits the nonprofit but also inspires community members to become more informed and engaged in anti-trafficking efforts. She and her husband Kerry are also members of Bikers Against Child Abuse (BACA) and are currently going through the vetting process to become BACA Child Liaisons, an intense certification process that equips them to provide care and support to abused children.

Secretary of State Paul Pate/Deputy Secretary of State Michael Ross

Iowa Secretary of State Paul Pate first learned in depth about human trafficking at a Chains Interrupted training session in Cedar Rapids led by Teresa Davidson. As the former mayor of Cedar Rapids, he was deeply moved by the impact of this crime and has since shown unwavering dedication to fighting it.

After becoming Iowa Secretary of State, he mobilized the Secretary of State’s Office in the fight against human trafficking. His most impactful initiative is no doubt the lowa Businesses Against Human Trafficking (IBAT) program, which encourages Iowa’s 260,000 businesses to raise awareness about and to help prevent human trafficking. IBAT encourages businesses to train their employees and customers to recognize the signs of trafficking and to take action by sharing critical resources, including a social media toolkit available on the IBAT website.

The Secretary of State’s Office also provides access to trainings to help businesses better understand and address the impact of human trafficking in Iowa. Not only has Secretary Pate sponsored trainings every January, but he travels throughout Iowa speaking out about human trafficking. The Secretary of State’s Office also operates the Safe at Home program, which gives participants some protection from traffickers who try to locate them by providing them with a substitute address, mail forwarding, confidential voter registration and absentee voting.

Monica Peterson/presented posthumously

Monica Kirsten Petersen was born on July 2, 1984 in Ames, lowa, and died near Port-au-Prince, Haiti, on November 13, 2016 at age 32. As an active 4H participant, young Monica learned not only about sewing, dairy cattle, and llama farms, but also about the plight of impoverished and oppressed people around the world, particularly women and children. She pursued this interest as a student in archeological anthropology at Western State University in Colorado, which led her to archaeology in the Kalahari Desert of South Africa.

After college graduation, Monica traveled to Bolivia and Peru to learn about local medicines and traditions, then to rural Jaipur, India where she taught English to orphaned and homeless children and taught life skills, including animal husbandry and financial management, to women. Monica then interviewed women in the ghettos of India to understand their needs and struggles, hoping to improve programs and resources for these women and their families. Before long, Monica had visited all 50 US states and 22 countries on five continents in a constant effort to understand and help women and children.

The result of all these travels and experiences was this: Monica decided to devote all her efforts to human trafficking. She enrolled in a master’s program at the University of Denver, where as a graduate assistant she taught classes on human trafficking. After graduating in 2014, she worked as a research fellow at the University of Denver Human Trafficking Center and was appointed to the Data and Research Task Force of the Colorado Human Trafficking Council.

In October 2016, Monica moved to Haiti to teach, investigate human trafficking and set up an NGO. Less than a month later Monica was found dead. Most likely she was murdered as a direct result of her anti-trafficking work, but the chaos and corruption of that country makes it impossible to know for sure. What we do know is that this young Iowa woman courageously faced the same dangers and sufferings as the people she served, giving her life in the mission against human trafficking. We are honored to present this posthumous award to Monica Peterson. Monica’s mother Marcia Peterson and her sister Maureen accepted the award.

George Belitsos

All of us are passionate about the problem of human trafficking but making a real difference requires something more: leadership. No one embodies leadership in the fight against human trafficking more than George Belitsos. Dr. George has been a tireless leader on the NAHT board since 2012, serving as board chair from 2015 to 2022. He now serves as the NAHT Treasurer. There is no doubt that Dr. George’s leadership has made the NAHT what it is today: a statewide anti-trafficking collaboration including service providers, regional coalitions, and law enforcement officials.

But even if George had never heard of NAHT, we would still be giving him an award, primarily for two reasons. First, for his 40 years of work as the CEO of Youth & Shelter Services (YSS), a nonprofit that he founded while an ISU graduate student in 1976 and which is still going strong today with over 20 locations in Iowa. What is YSS? “Headquartered in Ames, YSS is dedicated to helping communities prepare young people for the challenges of life by providing information, services, and tools to create healthier opportunities and outcomes for troubled youth.” This description comes from George’s 2012 honorary doctorate from Iowa State University, an award that puts Dr. George in the same club as people like George Washington Carver, Simon Estes, Gov. Bob Ray, and Norman Borlaug. It was in his work with YSS, long before he joined the NAHT board, that George first encountered human trafficking survivors and decided to make a difference. For example, in 2008, before the NAHT even existed, George obtained a federal grant to train YSS staff on human trafficking and trauma-informed care.

The second reason that George earned this award is his leadership encouraging Rotary Clubs in Iowa and around the world to address human trafficking. George serves on the international board of the Rotary Action Group Against Slavery (RAGAS), where he led a successful effort to convince the Rotary International Board of Directors to pass a resolution asking that all 1.2 million Rotarians in more than 90 countries to engage in the fight against human trafficking. Here in Iowa Dr. George chairs the Rotary District 6000 Prevent Human Trafficking Action Team made up of 17 Rotary Clubs committed to preventing trafficking in their communities and schools.

2024 Awards

On January 11th, 2024, Governor Kim Reynolds and Secretary of State Paul Pate signed a proclamation declaring January 2024 as Slavery and Human Trafficking Prevention Month in Iowa. This event was held at the Rotunda of the Iowa State Capitol Building and was organized and sponsored by the Iowa Network Against Human Trafficking and Slavery. Despite the snow and low temperatures, 72 concerned Iowans from across the state attended.

Governor Reynolds signed the proclamation but departed in order to attend the funeral of Ahmir Jolliff, the six grader who was murdered at his school in Perry, Iowa. Following the proclamation signing, Outstanding Anti-Trafficking Service Awards were presented to five Iowa heroes. This award honors individuals and organizations that have made remarkable contributions to ending trafficking in Iowa. Substituting for the governor, Secretary of State Paul Pate and Lieutenant Governor Gregg Abbott are shown below with each awardee.

: Helping a survivor move from a trafficking victim back to normal life is a long and intensive process, requiring both professional expertise and emotional support. Our first awardee today, Wings of Refuge in Ames, plays this key role by providing restorative services to survivors of human trafficking. Wings of Refuge is a faith-based organization that provides opportunities for healing and restoration to women survivors of sex trafficking and sexual exploitation. Their program encompasses three elements: a restoration home, a trauma-informed work environment for learning practical job skills, and transitional housing. Here is an excerpt from their nomination letter. “There are at least four other safe homes in the state of Iowa now that provide housing and programming to survivors and plenty of groups that provide training and awareness to the community. So what makes Wings of Refuge stand out? I believe it’s their conviction and unique ability to empower survivors to step into positions of leadership . . . Wings of Refuge believes in the power of survivors to change our world.” In 2023, Wings of Refuge achieved two milestones: they marked their tenth anniversary of serving survivors of sex trafficking and also achieved accreditation by the National Trafficking Sheltered Alliance. Accepting the award for Wings of Refuge is Kelly Butcher.

: The Secretary of State’s Iowa Businesses Against Trafficking (IBAT) program encourages Iowa businesses to “see something, do something” about trafficking in Iowa. IBAT includes some of Iowa’s largest businesses but many small businesses as well. This year’s IBAT anti-trafficking awardee shows that a small business can have a big impact in the fight against trafficking. Susan Parker, owner and CEO of Sparker Solutions in Story City, hosts an annual archery tournament to raise funds for Wings of Refuge. The 2024 Target Trafficking event in August 2023 attracted more than 70 sponsors, 175 archers, and 300 spectators and raised more than $88,000 for Wings of Refuge. Here is an excerpt from the nomination letter of Sparker Solutions: “Do what you love to fight what you hate” is a mission taken seriously by Susan Parker of Sparker Solutions. This past August I was able to attend the third annual event and see firsthand the amount of support they had from their community. They also insured that there is an educational piece to tie into the fundraiser. They placed signs around the targets with information on trafficking information on their tables. It was incredible to see an event where the IBAT business truly brought the community together to fight something they hate by utilizing their passion. We look forward to seeing this event continue for years to come.”

: Raising awareness of human trafficking means addressing multiple audiences. No audience is more important when it comes to human trafficking awareness than the students and staff in Iowa schools. Raising awareness in schools is a huge factor in preventing trafficking in Iowa. Because Human Trafficking is not part of the Iowa school curriculum, this work is done by volunteers invited into individual schools by school administrators. Our next awardee is one of these tireless volunteers. Here is an excerpt from George Belitsos’s nomination form: “Very few of us have left a full-time job to become a full-time volunteer in the fight to end modern slavery. Kim is one of those few people. She has specialized as a trainer in protecting children and youth from being groomed [for trafficking]. She has distinguished herself as an expert on online safety here in Iowa. She linked up with Shared Hope International in 2018 and became a training ambassador. Her work in developing an Iowa curriculum for online safety was recognized by Shared Hope International and they placed her as their lead [trainer] in preparing a national school online safety curriculum. This curriculum was tested with proven results with 4,000 Iowa children and teens. Kim’s online training has now been adopted nationally by Shared Hope International. There are very few Iowans who have made a positive difference in preventing human trafficking in not only Iowa but the whole nation.”

: A key component in the anti-trafficking effort is raising community awareness. Iowa is fortunate to have 12 regional coalitions dedicated to raising awareness and fostering cooperation in the fight against human trafficking. Our next awardee is the founder of the Sioux City Coalition Against Human Trafficking. The two words that first come to mind with regard to Bernadette Rixner are “tireless” and “volunteer.” Here’s an excerpt from her nomination letter: “Bernadette Rixner has spent most of her adult life as a volunteer social justice advocate, focusing for most of the past 10 years primarily on human trafficking. Bernadette currently serves as Outreach Coordinator for the Siouxland Coalition Against Human Trafficking (SCAHT). As Outreach Coordinator (a volunteer position) she takes care of all the day-to-day matters and overseeing most of the Coalition’s projects, such as having five different anti-trafficking billboards placed around the Siouxland area. For the past few years, [the organization] has promoted the January observation of Slavery and Human Trafficking Prevention Month by working with the Siouxland Chambers of Commerce to encourage businesses to light up in blue for the month. Bernadette has given numerous presentations on human trafficking to groups from 5 to 275 in number and as varied as Girl Scout troops and local banks. It was the [Siouxland Coalition] that originally promoted January as National Human Trafficking Prevention Month in Iowa. This became the model for the Iowa Network Against Human Trafficking’s event here today.”

: Many caught in human trafficking do not even know they are victims of this crime. Unless someone in the situation identifies a human trafficking situation, the legal system will view the victim without regard to the trauma they have experienced. 15-year-old Pieper Lewis faced a murder charge for killing the buyer who raped her. In the case of Pieper Lewis, however, staff in the Iowa Office of the Public Defender recognized her as a victim of Human Trafficking. This made all the difference. That’s why Matthew Sheeley, Magdalena Reese, Paul White and Brandon Adams of the State Public Defender’s Office have received the 2024 Outstanding Human Trafficking Service Award. Here is an excerpt from their nomination letter: “Due to this team, Pieper now resides in a safe place of restoration and healing. This would not have happened were it not for this team’s dedication, hard work, willingness to think outside the box, patience, and perseverance. Pieper’s legal defense team worked long and countless hours on this case, often extending into evenings and weekends. They all fought extremely hard on this case, and continually went above and beyond typical attorney duties, serving as social workers, counselors, personal shoppers, advocates, researchers, answering services, mentors, father figures, bankers, media agents, and crisis line operators.” Matthew Sheeley, lead attorney, spoke on behalf of the four-member legal team.

2023 Awards

The Iowa Network Against Human Trafficking and Slavery recently presented six 2023 Outstanding Anti-Trafficking Service Awards. The presentations took place at the Rotunda of the Iowa State Capitol Building in Des Moines, Iowa.

Governor Reynolds was scheduled to present the awards but needed to prepare for her inauguration the next morning. Instead, the Governor asked Secretary of State Paul Pate to stand in for her. The SOS is pictured with each of the six honorees along with Maggie Tinsman, NAHT Board Secretary and John Chesser, NAHT Vice-Chair. This award was originally created in 2016 through a grant from the Rotary Club of Ames, Iowa, and is now administered by the NAHT and the Governor’s Office.

: The 2021-22 Rotary District 6000 Governor, Alka Khanolkar, set the awareness and prevention of human trafficking in Iowa and globally as her major goal during her term. Despite this growing crime not being on the radar of the 65 Iowa Rotary Clubs or within Rotary International, she was incredibly successful at engaging both Iowa Clubs and Rotary International to join the fight against modern slavery. Rotary International is made up of over 5000 clubs in 90 countries and 1.2 million members.

: Coach Schipper has made an outstanding contribution to raising awareness of human trafficking and the need for advocacy for victims and survivors. He called on Iowans to come to the aid of a survivor who had been his 9th-grade student before becoming homeless and sex trafficked at the age of 15. He single-handedly set up a GoFundMe page for Pieper Lewis, which resulted in an outpouring of support by 15,800 donors who contributed $562,638 far exceeding the original $150,000 goal, which was the required amount of a restitution payment Pieper was court-ordered to pay to the family of a man who had raped Pieper five times.

: Volunteer extraordinaire at Chains Interrupted for seven years. She has been working tirelessly in the fight against human trafficking from the moment she heard the Chains Interrupted plea for help in 2014. Tish has volunteered countless hours. She has trained thousands of people, designed awareness and fundraising events, recruited and supported other volunteers, and assisted with direct service to survivors.

: As an early member of Iowa Businesses Against Trafficking (IBAT), IMT Insurance has demonstrated an outstanding response to the Secretary of State’s challenge for Iowa businesses to “learn something” and “do something” to fight human trafficking. IMT received four nominations for the Outstanding Service Award. IMT’s commitment to combat modern slavery resulted in the donation of three vehicles for use by Hope for Justice staff members. These three staff members utilize the vehicles to investigate and rescue victims of human trafficking. IMT has also donated money to support Dorothy’s House.

: Melody Stone is relentless in her passion for bringing modern slavery/human trafficking to an end. She had three nominators for the Outstanding Service Award. Melody is the founder of the North Iowa Coalition Against Human Trafficking, which had been an underserved region of Iowa. She spearheaded anti-trafficking education interventions within 11 northern Iowa counties. Melody is also a licensed trauma-trained clinical therapist who works with survivors. She is highly qualified but what is more impressive is her commitment to sharing her knowledge with others. She has launched human trafficking training for first responders, and many other community groups. Melody also organizes awareness events but also coalition building, service to survivors, prevention programs, and public policy advocacy. Recently, Melody and the North Iowa Coalition have partnered with the faith community to create Iowa’s first-ever statewide Anti-Trafficking Day of Prayer on January 18, 2023.

: Sister Shirley began her heroic work to fight human trafficking in 2015 by establishing a board of directors to promote awareness, education, and collaboration with the ultimate goal of establishing a home for adult survivors of sex trafficking. With a clear vision of service to survivors, Sister Shirley received the gift of a large house and the surrounding 35 acres for what was to become Lila Mae’s House. The first of twelve participants entered Lila Mae’s in January 2021. Without state or federal funding, Sister Shirley and her board have worked hard to raise funding for remodeling, staff, and operating expenses. Lila Mae’s was the first and remains the only residential service dedicated solely to trafficking survivors in the Siouxland service area. Sister Shirley is a retired Briar Cliff University Professor of Social Work and a four-year member of the Network Board of Directors.

2022 Awards

The Iowa Network Against Human Trafficking and Slavery presented five 2022 Outstanding Iowa Anti-Trafficking Service Awards. The presentations took place at the Rotunda of the Iowa State Capitol Building in Des Moines, Iowa. Governor Reynolds was scheduled to present the awards but was ill the day of the award presentation. Instead, the NAHT partnered with Secretary of State Paul Pate and Lt. Governor Adam Greg who are pictured with each of the five honorees.

: Max Christensen, School Transportation Executive Officer for the Iowa Department of Education – In the fall of 2018, Iowa became the nation’s first state to require training about human trafficking for its school bus drivers. The Iowa Department of Education collaborated with the Department of Transportation and Truckers Against Trafficking and now all 9,000 Iowa school bus drivers are trained!

: Tri-State Coalition – The Coalition continued to sponsor many trafficking awareness panels, films, and information booths. They distributed and posted Network Rescue Stickers, funded a billboard on Highway 20, held an annual “Run the Runway” 5k run/walk fundraising event, and funded a bus wrap that drove through Dubuque city streets all of last year.

: Kim Hilby – Kim leads the research, writing, and editing of a first-ever Iowa Best Practice guidelines for services to adult human trafficking survivors. Kim spent several hundred hours conducting literature reviews, as well as supervising two University of Dubuque student interns, who assisted Kim with her research to create the nearly 60 page document.

: Lenchen Raeside – Lenchen has been fighting human trafficking in Iowa long before many even knew it existed. She has been a fierce warrior in the fight, founding Cedar Rapids Gives and partnering with local, state, and national organizations to fight to end human trafficking.

: Hotel/Motel Employee Video Training Video Production Team – The Network partnered with the Department of Public Safety to come up with a training program to satisfy the passage of HF455 requiring all hotel/motels who want to do business with the state of Iowa to be trained in both labor and sex trafficking. This team volunteered to create the training video.

2021 Awards

Outstanding Anti-Trafficking Service Awards were presented by the NAHT and Governor Reynolds on January 14, 2021. Five exceptional Iowa anti-trafficking heroes were honored.

: Ruth Buckels, Advocate Extraordinaire – Foster/adoptive parent to 8 sex trafficked female survivors. Ruth is also a licensed therapist and has been a counselor to dozens of victims and survivors.

: U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Iowa – Rich Westphal is the acting U.S. Attorney and accepted this award on behalf of the U.S. Attorney’s Office. In recent years, the U.S. Attorney’s Office has prioritized human trafficking investigation and prosecution.

: The Rotary Club of West Liberty, Iowa is represented by Clifford McFerren, President Elect 2021-2022, and Steve Dakin, Rotary District 6000 Governor. This Rotary service club organized four anti-trafficking education and prevention projects for the public schools and community at large.

: Iowa City Human Trafficking Law Enforcement Task Force – This task force carried out a sex trafficking investigation that received what is considered the highest federal honor for victim services by law enforcement.

: Stacy West, Survivor Who Has Turned Her Scars Into Stars – Stacy now works as a Survivor Advocate for Chains Interrupted in Cedar Rapids.

2020 Awards

The Iowa Network Against Human Trafficking and Slavery presented five 2020 Outstanding Iowa Anti-Trafficking Awards. The presentations took place at the Rotunda of the Iowa State Capitol Building in Des Moines, Iowa. George Belitsos read the tribute to each outstanding honoree. We partnered with Governor Kim Reynolds and Lt. Governor Greg who are pictured with the honorees along with Maggie Tinsman, Co-Chair of the Network Legislative Advocacy Committee.

: Heather Brown -Survivor and spokesperson for Iowa trafficking victims

: Senator Charles Grassley (represented by his grandson Pat Grassley) – Sponsor of several federal anti-trafficking congressional bills

: Brenda Long – Founder of Garden Gate Ranch and the annual Eyes Wide Open statewide anti-trafficking conference

: Jim Townsend – Business leader and voice against trafficking, especially in illicit massage businesses

: Mark “Rocky” Vest – founder of Break the Cycle bicycle ride, raising over $750,000 donated to anti-trafficking organizations

2019 Awards

The Iowa Network Against Human Trafficking and Slavery presented five 2019 Outstanding Iowa Anti-Trafficking Awards. The presentations took place at the Rotunda of the Iowa State Capitol Building in Des Moines, Iowa. We partnered with Governor Kim Reynolds and Lt. Governor Greg who are pictured with each of the five honorees along with the incoming chair of the Network board, Liz Cox. The five awardees were as follows:

: Teresa Davidson – founder of Chains Interrupted; Mercy Medical Center’s Anti-Human Trafficking Coordinator

: Joy Fopma – Development Director for Wings of Refuge, long term restoration home for survivors

: Chief David Lorenzen – instrumental in launching Iowa Model in conjunction with Truckers Against Trafficking, educating all of Iowa’s bus drivers, DOT website of survivor resources, and more

: Vanessa McNeal – produced “Gridshock,” a documentary on sex trafficking

: Stephen Patrick O’Meara – lead prosecutor for federal Omaha Child Exploitation Task Force for five years, Assistant US Attorney in Des Moines for 18 years; played lead role in hotel/motel training

2018 Awards

The 2018 NAHT Outstanding Iowa Anti-Trafficking Service Awards were presented by Governor Kim Reynolds and Lieutenant Governor Adam Gregg on January 17th, 2018 in the governor’s formal office at the State Capitol Building in Des Moines. In her opening remarks, the Governor stated “I want to tell you awardees how committed my administration is to joining you in your cause. This evil crime has no place in our state.” The five awardees were as follows:

: Brittany Sowder- Survivor and spokesperson for Iowa survivors

: Kellie Marky- Founder of Dorothy’s House in Des Moines

: Greg Heartsill- State representative and Erin’s Law advocate

: Mike Ferjak- Lead Iowa Human Trafficking Enforcement and Prosecution Task Force

: Teens Against Human Trafficking- 15 TAHT clubs reaching 90 schools

: There were nearly 100 in attendance at the award ceremony, including news media.

The final awardee was Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds. This plaque was presented by the chair of the Iowa Network Against Human Trafficking and Slavery, Dr. George Belitsos. For the past two years Kim Reynolds has served as an honorary NAHT board member. The governor’s support for the Network mission has been highly commendable. She has endorsed the Network’s statewide Hotel/Motel Employee Training Project and gave the network extensive media coverage by holding a September 19th 2017 press conference to announce this new initiative. That was the second time Kim Reynolds provided the Network with her administration’s weekly press conference.

Having such a high-profile anti-trafficking advocate as Governor Kim Reynolds has been a great help to getting out the Network mission and the undeniable truth that both sex and labor trafficking is in Iowa.

2017 Awardees

The first awards were presented on January 9th, 2017 by former Iowa Governor Terry Branstad. In his remarks, the Governor stated that he has become convinced of the urgent need for Iowans to recognize that human trafficking does happen in Iowa and that we each need to play a role to end it. Awards were presented to the following five deserving Iowans;

Maggie Tinsman– Author of Iowa’s first anti-trafficking legislation, founder of Braking Traffic
Kevin Kinney– Author of three human trafficking legislative bills and investigator of trafficking
Chris Branstad– Advocate for Teens Against Human Trafficking and AMP
Cathy O’Keefe– Braking Traffic CEO and FBI anti-trafficking service awardee
Brad Fox– Elementary school principal who uncovered a major trafficking ring in eastern Iowa
Christi Geisler– Survivor and spokesperson for Iowa survivors

Later in 2017, two additional awards were presented by the Iowa NAHT to the following;

Luis CdeBaca– Iowan who served as U.S. ambassador to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons. Mr. CdeBaca served in this role under three U.S. presidents. The Iowa Network Against Human Trafficking and Slavery Outstanding Anti-trafficking Service Award was presented on October 27th, 2017 at the ISU Scheman Building during an annual ISU alumni awards event. Ambassador CdeBaca also received the ISU Alumni Humanitarian Award at the ISU merit awards ceremony. The NAHT is proud to have nominated Ambassador CdeBaca for this ISU award.

City of Johnston, Iowa – The Outstanding Anti-Trafficking Service Award was presented to the city of Johnston, for becoming the first city in Iowa to adopt an ordinance to regulate massage businesses. This award was presented on September 19th 2017 during the governor’s weekly press conference. Mayor Paula Dierenfeld and Police Chief Dennis McDaniel accepted the award on behalf of the city. The NAHT has sent out a “call to action” to fight prostitution and sex trafficking that takes place in illicit massage parlors. All across Iowa, advocates and coalitions are asking their city councils to pass local ordinances similar to the City of Johnston.

Awardees Through the Years: 2017-2025

2025 Awardees

Paul Pate – Created the IA Business Against Human Trafficking (IBAT) with over 800 businesses now learning/doing something to fight HT. Several other U.S. states are replicating the Iowa IBAT model.

Dr. George Belitsos – Outstanding anti-trafficking volunteer leader both in Iowa and internationally. Chaired NAHT Board of Directors for 6 years. Editor of Network newsletter/blog and has sent 180 issues to 1,850 subscribers.

Monica Petersen (posthumously) – Iowa graduate research fellow studying HT who was murdered by traffickers while she was doing research in Haiti.

Ken Graff Auto Group – IBAT Business made up of 7 Iowa auto dealerships. 50 managers were trained to recognize HT. Donated a van to non-profit fighting HT.

Iowa Girl Inspired – IBAT business that has designed and produced items to raise funding and awareness about HT. Lisa Becker, owner, also volunteers at events and serves on Chains Interrupted Board.

Rotary CIVITAS – IBAT business. 10 Rotary Clubs joined forces for three years to host major Iowa HT training events, awareness forums, and fundraisers. Raised $91,000 for survivor service providers.

2024 Awardees

Wings of Refuge – Iowa’s first survivor restoration residential facility

Sparker Solutions – Extraordinary financial support of trafficking survivor provider services as an Iowa Business Against Trafficking (IBAT)

Kim Smith – Shared Hope Ambassador and full-time volunteer trainer “online safety” for children and youth

Bernadette Rixner – V olunteer extraordinaire for the NAHT & Siouxland Coalition Against Human Trafficking

Pieper Lewis’s Legal Defense Team – Above and beyond advocacy and legal defense for human trafficking survivor resulting in a safe place of restoration/healing versus 20 years in prison

2023 Awardees

Alka Khanolkar – The 2021-2022 Rotary District 6000 Governor who set the awareness and prevention of human trafficking in Iowa and globally as her major goal during her term

Leland Schipper – Made an outstanding contribution to raising awareness of human trafficking and the need for advocacy for victims and survivors. He called on Iowans to come to the aid of a survivor (Pieper Lewis) who had been his 9th-grade student before becoming homeless and sex trafficked at the age of 15

Tish Young – V olunteer extraordinaire at Chains Interrupted for seven years

IMT Insurance – As an early member of the Iowa Businesses Against Trafficking (IBAT), IMT Insurance has demonstrated an outstanding response to the Secretary of State’s IBAT challenge for Iowa businesses to “learn something” and “do something” to fight human trafficking

2022 Awardees

Max Christensen and the Iowa Department of Education School Transportation Office – In the fall of 2018, Iowa became the nation’s first state to require training about human trafficking for its school bus drivers. This resulted in all 9,000 of Iowa school bus drivers now being trained

Tri-State Coalition Against Human Trafficking – Faith-based collaborative effort based in Dubuque, Iowa, fighting human trafficking in a portion of three states

Kim Hilby – Assistant Professor of Sociology and the University of Dubuque who led the research and writing of a first-ever Best Practice Guidelines for Iowa services to adult survivors.

Lenchen Raeside – An extraordinary community volunteer and philanthropist who has been fighting human trafficking in Cedar Rapids Iowa

NAHT Hotel/Motel Employee Training Video Production Team – This 12-member team of volunteers produced a one hour hotel/motel employee training video for the Iowa Department of Public Safety

2021 Awardees

Ruth Buckels – Foster and adoptive parent to eight sex trafficking female survivors. Led the YSS Human Trafficking School-Based Prevention program and provided awareness training for foster and adoptive youth in the Achieving Maximum Potential (AMP) state-wide program.

Iowa City Law Enforcement Task Force & Detective David Gonzalez – Carried out a sex trafficking investigation that received the highest law enforcement federal honor for trafficking investigation. As a result, five trafficking defendants pleaded guilty, and a sixth was convicted by a jury

Rotary Club of West Liberty – Funded four anti-trafficking education and prevention projects for public school children and faculty. Created bilingual rescue stickers unique to their community and posted in every business in West Liberty

U.S. Attorney Office Southern District of Iowa – Prioritized human trafficking investigation and prosecution. This Iowa District was in the top 10 districts nationwide in the number of new human trafficking defendants in 2019

2020 Awardees

Heather Brown – Survivor and spokesperson for Iowa victims

Sen. Charles Grassley – sponsor of several federal anti-trafficking congressional bills

Brenda Long– Founder of Garden Gate Garden Ranch and the annual “Eyes Wide Open” Conference

Jim Townsend – Business leader and voice against trafficking especially in illicit massage businesses

Mark “Rocky” Vest – Founder of “Break the Cycle 200” bike ride raising over $750,000 donated to anti-trafficking organizations

2019 Awardees

Teresa Davidson – Founder and President of Chains Interrupted; First in Iowa hospital-based human trafficking trainer

Joy Fopma – Founder and driving force behind Wings of Refuge

Motor Vehicle Enforcement Chief David Lorenzen – Instrumental in launching Iowa Truckers Against Trafficking

Vanessa McNeal – Filmmaker of 1-hour trafficking documentary GridshockStephen Patrick O’Meara – Former assistant U.S. attorney who has handled many human trafficking cases

2018 Awardees

Brittaney Sowder – Survivor and spokesperson for Iowa survivors

Kellie Markey – Founder of Dorothy’s House in Des Moines, IA

Greg Heartsill – State Representatives and Erin’s Law advocate

Mike Ferjak – Lead Iowa Human Trafficking Law Enforcement and Prosecution Task Force

Teens Against Human Trafficking – 15 TAHT clubs reaching 90 schools

Kim Reynolds – Governor and NAHT honorary board member and advocate

2017 Awardees

Maggie Tinsman – Author of the First Human Trafficking legislation, founder of Braking Traffik

Kevin Kinney – Author of three Human Trafficking legislative bills and investigator of trafficking

Chris Branstad – Advocate for Teens Against Human Trafficking and AMP

Cathy O’Keeffe – Braking Traffik CEO, and FBI human trafficking service awardee

Brad Fox – School principal who uncovered a major drug and sex trafficking ring in Eastern Iowa

Christi Geisler – Survivor and spokesperson for Iowa survivors