StaffExecutive Director
Marty Lester is the Executive Director for Mentor Iowa. Mr. Lester received his Bachelor’s Degree from Iowa State University in Leisure Studies. His previous experience in working with at-risk populations includes several positions within Boys & Girls Clubs of America. The last position he held was Executive Director for the Boys & Girls Club of Central-Southwest Iowa.
Mr. Lester is a graduate of the 2005-2006 Greater Des Moines Leadership Institute Community Leadership Program class. In 2008, he was selected by the Des Moines Business Record as a member of the Forty under 40 class.
He also is a certified official through the Iowa High School Athletic Association and is licensed to officiate baseball, football and wrestling.
Mr. Lester lives in Altoona and is the proud father of two children, Dawson (13) and Kinsey (11). He is originally from Slater, Iowa.
Volunteer Coordinator
Kristen Gruntorad is the Volunteer Coordinator for Mentor Iowa. She joined Mentor Iowa in September of 2008. Ms. Gruntorad received her Bachelor’s Degree from Iowa State University in Family Services and is currently working on her Master’s of Social Work through the University of Iowa. She has over 9 years of experience working with children and families in the child welfare system. Before Mentor Iowa, she worked as an in-home counselor. Within that job she worked with families involved in the court system that had lost custody of their children. The goal was to assist them in gaining skills allowing them to regain custody of their children.
Kristen lives in West Des Moines. She is originally from Fonda, Iowa.
Transition Program Coordinator
Rosemary Graff is the Transition Program Coordinator for Mentor Iowa. She rejoined Mentor Iowa in November of 2009. She will be working on a part-time basis with Mentor Iowa to provide mentors for a special group of young people who are referred through the Transition Program. Rosemary recently retired from Juvenile Court Services after 31 years as a Juvenile Court Field Officer. During those 31 years, 15 were spent as the Executive Director of Volunteers In Probation/Very Important Partners (now Mentor Iowa).
Rosemary lives in Des Moines with her husband, Jerry.
