Our Staff

As executive director, Jarad oversees the operations of both the Federation and the Des Moines Jewish Foundation. A San Francisco Bay Area native, Jarad moved to Des Moines in 2006. He earned his BA from UC Santa Barbara and MBA from Drake University. Jarad previously worked at the Consulate General of Israel to the Pacific Northwest and Drake University. He met his wife, Lilianna, on Birthright Israel and together they are the proud parents of two daughters.

Sophie grew up in Des Moines and moved to Washington, DC for college in 1995. In November 2012, she moved back to Des Moines with her husband Matt, daughter Hailey, and son Lester. Formerly a Family Care Coordinator at Early Stages with DC Public Schools, Sophie supported families of children ages 0-5 from time of referral through the child’s placement into special education.

Sophie received a MEd in School Counseling from George Mason University and a BA in Elementary Education from American University. Sophie taught elementary school in Montgomery County, Maryland and Fairfax County, Virginia for 9 years. Sophie’s primary goal is to support and foster children’s growth and inquiry into Judaism.

As Director of Development and Venture Philanthropy, Karen helps make the Federation’s work possible. Her business background includes organizational development, strategy, human resources, learning and development, and over a decade of project management. For Karen, “ahavat Israel”—love and care for our tribe—is what led her to the Federation during this time when Jewish communal institutions are a critical resource for support and advocacy. A native San Franciscan and first-generation American from an Israeli family, Karen has been an Iowan since college, earning her BA, MSW, and MBA all at the University of Iowa (Go Hawks!). Karen and her husband Kevin have a daughter Rebecca, who is a college student in Boston.

Dawn Martinez Oropeza is the Director of the Iowa Jewish Heritage Museum (IJHM), where she oversees the organization’s management, development, promotion, and fundraising efforts. Before joining as director, she had served on the IJHM Board of Directors since 2018.

Dawn holds a Master of Fine Arts from the University of California, San Diego, and a Bachelor of Arts from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. Throughout her career, she has curated exhibitions and collaborated with museums and galleries across the United States. Her work includes a notable partnership with the Smithsonian Institution to preserve the private office of César E. Chávez, founder of the United Farm Workers.

Dawn brings a deep commitment to cultural preservation and community engagement to her leadership at IJHM.

Sarah serves as Program Manager for Jewish Family Services, where she develops programs and services that support individuals, families, and the broader Jewish community. She is passionate about helping people build meaningful connections, access needed resources, and feel a stronger sense of belonging.

A lifelong member of the Des Moines Jewish community, Sarah is especially grateful for the opportunity to serve the community she calls home. She values the strong relationships and enduring sense of community that define Jewish life in Central Iowa and considers it a privilege to help strengthen those connections through her work.

Before joining the Federation, Sarah held leadership roles in nonprofit and community organizations, including serving as president of the board of a local nonprofit and designing educational and community-building programs for Birthright Israel participants. Her experiences living in Israel and working with diverse communities have deepened her commitment to Jewish peoplehood and service.

When she’s not at work, Sarah can often be found in the garden, with a good book, dreaming about her next trip, or spending time on her family farm. 

Henry works in the Accounting department and really loves the friendly atmosphere and the rich Jewish history of the Jewish Federation of Greater Des Moines. He enjoys cooking, reading, and going to social activities such as concerts. One thing most people don’t know about Henry is that he used to play the banjo!