Deb Millizer, Executive Director
Thank you for visiting the MCBD web page. If you are here, then we have at least peaked your interest. I’d like to share a bit about myself with you, with the hope that at some point, I will also get to learn more about you as well.
I was born and raised in Mystic, Iowa, attending the Centerville School District. Mystic is an old coal mining town, with the top three most notable things being its Fourth of July celebration, where there are fun activities that you don’t find anywhere else, like goat races. The main street is literally laid out in red brick, and of course the “slab,” which is the town playground. I spent many days at the “slab” with my siblings and friends.
My husband Wendell and I ate the Marshall County honey in 1998, when we relocated our small family of 4 to the area. Over the past 22 years, our family has grown tremendously through birth, fostering and adopting, as we now have 11 children, plus so many grandchildren, I can’t give you an accurate count. Wendell has been employed for over 15 years at the Marshall County Jail, with his current position being a Lieutenant. Prior to having the honor of being the MCBD Executive Director, I was employed with Lutheran Services in Iowa as Family Safety Risk & Permanency Supervisor (child welfare social work), serving Marshall and surrounding counties. I received my formal education at Buena Vista University majoring in Psychology, Human Services and Organizational Leadership. I am currently in the middle of earning my Master’s degree in Organizational Leadership. Generally, when people hear of our family size, and our work, we are told that we must be very committed. I often respond that at times, I feel that I need, like many parents feel from time to time, to be “committed,” but honestly our family is our greatest accomplishment & joy.
Through working with many professionals and families in the community, I have learned the importance of community service, teamwork and partnership. My office is decorated in sunflowers and bees, as motivators. My affinity for bees started when I worked at LSI. Our FSRP team named ourselves after bees as they work to bridge gaps, care for each other, and work in partnership for the greater good of the hive. The sunflower turns to track the sun, as I like to think, the positives in life.
My drive as part of the MCBD is to help Marshalltown’s downtown district to thrive. This comes with an understanding that downtown Marshalltown, is not only the heart of Marshalltown but the heart of Marshall county. When the downtown thrives, the community thrives, and it ripples to surrounding communities. When companies look to expand, or people are looking to relocate, the downtown is one of the key interests of exploration.
When the Millizer family gathers, it can look like a small-town festival. We chase kids instead of goats, (wait a minute aren’t baby goats called kids?) although the antics can bring on the same hysterical laughter. I want to keep my family close so these gatherings continue to grow. I’m not unique in this, but in order for our families to remain close, have our children return to our community after college, and raise families locally, we must have opportunities for them to want to work, play and shop in Marshalltown. One of the best things we can do to assure our generations return, is to work together like the bees, help each other, bridge the gaps, and work on our hive - the downtown.
I was born and raised in Mystic, Iowa, attending the Centerville School District. Mystic is an old coal mining town, with the top three most notable things being its Fourth of July celebration, where there are fun activities that you don’t find anywhere else, like goat races. The main street is literally laid out in red brick, and of course the “slab,” which is the town playground. I spent many days at the “slab” with my siblings and friends.
My husband Wendell and I ate the Marshall County honey in 1998, when we relocated our small family of 4 to the area. Over the past 22 years, our family has grown tremendously through birth, fostering and adopting, as we now have 11 children, plus so many grandchildren, I can’t give you an accurate count. Wendell has been employed for over 15 years at the Marshall County Jail, with his current position being a Lieutenant. Prior to having the honor of being the MCBD Executive Director, I was employed with Lutheran Services in Iowa as Family Safety Risk & Permanency Supervisor (child welfare social work), serving Marshall and surrounding counties. I received my formal education at Buena Vista University majoring in Psychology, Human Services and Organizational Leadership. I am currently in the middle of earning my Master’s degree in Organizational Leadership. Generally, when people hear of our family size, and our work, we are told that we must be very committed. I often respond that at times, I feel that I need, like many parents feel from time to time, to be “committed,” but honestly our family is our greatest accomplishment & joy.
Through working with many professionals and families in the community, I have learned the importance of community service, teamwork and partnership. My office is decorated in sunflowers and bees, as motivators. My affinity for bees started when I worked at LSI. Our FSRP team named ourselves after bees as they work to bridge gaps, care for each other, and work in partnership for the greater good of the hive. The sunflower turns to track the sun, as I like to think, the positives in life.
My drive as part of the MCBD is to help Marshalltown’s downtown district to thrive. This comes with an understanding that downtown Marshalltown, is not only the heart of Marshalltown but the heart of Marshall county. When the downtown thrives, the community thrives, and it ripples to surrounding communities. When companies look to expand, or people are looking to relocate, the downtown is one of the key interests of exploration.
When the Millizer family gathers, it can look like a small-town festival. We chase kids instead of goats, (wait a minute aren’t baby goats called kids?) although the antics can bring on the same hysterical laughter. I want to keep my family close so these gatherings continue to grow. I’m not unique in this, but in order for our families to remain close, have our children return to our community after college, and raise families locally, we must have opportunities for them to want to work, play and shop in Marshalltown. One of the best things we can do to assure our generations return, is to work together like the bees, help each other, bridge the gaps, and work on our hive - the downtown.