United Way speaker series 'Voices of Inspiration' 2026 fall series set

NEWTON - United Way of Jasper County's innovative and educational programming  “Voices of Inspiration” spearker series will kick off its fall season in September.
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​“Voices of Inspiration” will feature engaging speakers who will inspire, motivate and inform the audience. The series aligns with the core mission of United Way of Jasper County, which is to uplift and empower the community, and promote life-long learning.

2026 LINEUP INCLUDES:
● Magician & Historian William Pack - Sept. 3
● Historian & Author Rachelle Chase - Sept. 17
​● Baseball Historian John Liepa - Sept. 24
● Mountaineer Jen Loeb - Oct. 22
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Adults and students alike are encouraged to attend. The event is open to all with a free-will admission collected to help continue and grow the speaker series.

The program is made possible thanks to generous support from presenting sponsors Dodd's Trash Hauling & Recycling and Black Hills Energy. Additional funding and support is from Ryan's Tire & Auto, Doug & Rhonda Wolf Family, Pence-Reese Funeral Home, Jessica Lowe Vokes and Erik Vokes and DMACC Newton Campus.

KNOW BEFORE YOU GO:
● Doors open at 6 p.m. No early admission will be allowed.
● Line up is not allowed before 5 p.m.
● Please no recording. Photographs are welcome.
● Admission is free but donations are accepted to support our mission.
● Seating is first come, first served. ​
PAST GUESTS INCLUDE:
● Philanthropist and viral sign guy Carson King
● Former professional athlete & UNI Hall of Famer, motivation speaker Andre Allen
● Environmentalist, activist, retired teacher and Native American Carol Kramer
● Iowa historian and professor Kevin Mason
● Olympic Wrestling Champion, coach, motivational speaker Ben Peterson
● Emmy Award-winning TV Host and Newton native Sara Haines 
● Spy historian, author & film consultant Gary Powers, Jr.
● Famed Norway baseball coach & author Kent Stock 
● Newton resident, journalist & author Mike Chapman 
● Journalist, professor and former Newton resident Ty Rushing
● Olympic champion and drag car racer Matt Stutzman
● Rebuild Nepal founder Ernie Schiller and RN board member Nathan Unsworth
● Iowa businessman and innovator Terry Rich
● Donna Reed Foundation's Mary Owen (daughter of Donna Reed)
● Professional magician and historian William Pack
● Dog trainer/photographer Bev Klingensmith & Bing, her movie star dog of "The Friend"
● Colin Behr - fashion designer and publisher, Nike shoe designer
● Iowa Scenic Views By Feet author and Tyler Sullivan
● Butter Cow Sculptor, teacher & artist Sarah Pratt
​● NFL referee Scott Helverson
​● Mentalist, teacher, movie set designer "The Mind Meddler" Troy Peters
​● Story board artist Adam Van Wyk 

Speaker Biographies

Iowa's State Climatologist
DR. JUSTIN GLISAN
POSTPONED

DR. JUSTIN GLISAN - In a state where the weather can make or break a growing season, it’s crucial to have someone keeping a close eye on the skies. Dr. Justin Glisan is that individual. Serving as Iowa's State Climatologist at the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship, he plays a vital role in tracking and interpreting the states' ever-changing weather. He then makes the information accessible to the people who need it most. 

Magic Historian, Magician/Mentalist
​WILLIAM PACK
​Sept. 3, 2026

WILLIAM PACK - At age 11, William Pack got his first job in a magic shop and has been performing ever since. He has performed close-up magic at Chicago’s legendary Schulien’s restaurant, caught cheats for a casino, recreated Victorian Seances, and regularly headlines at the Chicago Magic Lounge. He is also a noted speaker and the author of six books. He has also consulted actors and for Hollywood blockbusters.

William will be sharing his program: "The Mind Readers."  From Washington Irving Bishop to The Amazing Kreskin, “Mind Readers” have performed feats that were so extraordinary that those who witnessed the demonstrations were dismissed as foolish, or even insane. The mystery proved so difficult to solve, it challenged science, disturbed religion, and bewildered experts in legerdemain. You’ll learn about the utterly remarkable lives of these "psychic" performers, and you’ll experience some of their most baffling feats.​

Author, Journalist, Historian & Podcaster
​RACHELLE CHASE
Sept. 17, 2026

RACHELLE CHASE - Rachelle Chase, author of Creating the Black Utopia of Buxton, Iowa and Lost Buxton, along with six fiction book and novellas, has given more than 120 presentations about the amazing town of Buxton and has appeared more than 60 times in news publications and on the radio, podcasts, and tv, both locally and nationally. Additionally, her new historical fiction book for middle grade students, The Time I Was Susan Clark, is in production.

She’s also a published romance author who, while writing romance, created and co-hosted an online writing contest for aspiring romance writers (which resulted in numerous writers landing agents and book deals) and hosted two popular podcasts featuring bestselling authors that amassed more than 19,000 profile views and 40,000 listens. 
Rachelle’s is also a freelance journalist whose work has appeared in National Geographic, USA TODAY, Iowa History Journal, and in the Des Moines Register and Iowa Starting Line, where she was a columnist/reporter.  
In 2020, Rachelle launched a nonprofit, Uniting Through History and invites all to join their monthly History Book Club for adults.
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Baseball Enthusiast & Historian
JOHN LIEPA
​Sept. 24, 2026

JOHN LIEPA - John Liepa will be sharing his program: "How Iowa Met Baseball: The Myths, The History, The Players." The program  explores the myths of baseball’s origins, the early history and evolution of the game, baseball’s journey to Iowa and the role of the Civil War in spreading its popularity. Audiences will learn about some of Iowa’s baseball pioneers and view an extensive collection of baseball memorabilia featuring Iowa players.
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A life-long baseball card collector, John Liepa owns an extensive collection of cards and memorabilia representing Iowa’s 227 Major Leaguers, featuring Iowa’s seven Hall-of-Famers. 

A charter member of Iowa’s “Field of Dreams” chapter of the Society for American Baseball Research (SABR), he has published numerous articles on Iowa baseball history and currently serves on an ‘ad hoc’ committee working with Major League Baseball to host activities at the Field of Dreams site as part of the game to be played on August 12, 2021.

​John is Professor Emeritus of History and Political Science at Des Moines Area Community College (DMACC.) 
Picture from Iowa State Daily - David Boschwitz/Iowa State Daily
He taught courses in Political Science, U.S., and Iowa History from 1972-2010.He served five terms on the State Historical Society of Iowa’s Board of Trustees from 1998 – 2013, John has been a 22-year member and Program Chair of the Des Moines Civil War Roundtable. John lives in West Des Moines, Iowa with his wife, Dianne.

Mountaineer, Photographer & Author
JEN LOEB
Oct. 22, 2026

JEN LOEB - Jen Loeb is a mountain climber, photographer, guest speaker, author, and humanitarian. She was born and raised in Jesup, Iowa. After high school she went to Wartburg College and graduated with a degree in biology.

She currently lives in Marengo and works in Cedar Rapids. Jen started mountain climbing in 2010 and since that time has climbed mountains all over the world, including Everest on May 19, 2016. She's the first
and only woman from Iowa to climb it. She recently became one of less than 25 women in the United States to complete the “7 Summits,” which is when you climb the highest mountain on every continent.

​When she’s not climbing or working she also does a lot of volunteer work.
Jen has released a book called “Shots From The Heart”. It’s 238 pages ofphotographs and journal excerpts from her travels both near and far. The book and select prints are available on her website Iowaclimberjen.com. 

PRESENTING SPONSORS

PARTNERING SPONSORS

Doug & Rhonda Wolf & Family

Mark & Emily Allen

Erik Vokes & ​Jessica Lowe Vokes 

SITE HOST SPONSOR