Board Members

Commercial Real Estate Agent

For this local business champion, every business opportunity is a new,

exciting experience. 

Peggy considers herself lucky to work with the people who want to invest in our community and take risks to open their businesses, whether they’re well-established companies or startups. 

Peggy is an Iowa City native who’s spent over 20 years in commercial real estate. Over 30 years in commercial development, and commercial construction. She specializes in commercial construction sales with an

emphasis on general construction, design build, turn-key, build-to-suit, and construction management. After graduating from the University of

Iowa and Kirkwood Community College, Peggy got her start in real estate working with a development company, and then with a commercial construction company. She currently manages between 12 to 30 million dollars in projects at one time.

Iowa State Representative

After teaching for 33 years in the Iowa City schools, Mary retired from teaching in June of 2009. Mary has been very active in her community. 

She helped organize the first girls’ softball league in Iowa City and served on its board of directors. 

She has been a member of the Iowa City Parks and Recreation Commission, the Iowa City Riverfront Commission, and was president of the Iowa City Education Association. 

​In 1994, Mary was elected to the Iowa House where she has been an advocate for women, children and families. Mary served on the State Reading Recovery Advisory Board and Executive Committee. Mary was appointed by Governor Vilsack to the State Council on Continuous Improvement of Educational Excellence. Mary served as an ex-officio board member of the Iowa Public Employees Retirement System and Early Childhood Iowa.   

Heartwood Carpentry

John Reynolds has been a teacher for the Iowa City Community School District since August of 1998. 

Throughout John's 25 years of service he has taught Industrial Tech, Home Construction, and a variety of CTE courses also serving as a STEM club sponsor. He has taught at SEJH, NWJH, City High School, and West High School. "John is one of the reasons we have been able to bring back the Home Building Program in our District. John successfully led the implementation of the ACE (Architecture, Construction, and Engineering) curriculum in our District and because of his connection and relationships with students he was able to spur student interest into those courses creating the push for more high end opportunities for students. We are incredibly thankful for Mr. Reynolds and his leadership. He is the epitome of the saying, it's people not programs that serve our kids." 

(quote submitted by Matt Degner) 

Sales & Admin Director

Shawn is passionate about business growth through strategic execution of marketing and relationship building. Leadership executive with over 20 years experience leading successful sales & marketing teams. 

Collaborative and strategic thinker with experience in customer experience, sales, process improvement, client relationship and retention. Shawn is affiliated with KCRG.

Chief Financial Officer

Office Manager 

Amy has a diverse financial and project management background with a basis in Engineering. 

She worked for nearly two decades for a number of private consultants serving in high level roles managing internal and external teams for large scale design and construction efforts. She is also a certified Project Management Professional. Amy's long history of successful project delivery is substantially based in financial management and she brings her expertise in invoicing, budgeting, and performance to the table for all of Axiom's efforts.

​Amy has a long history of working in the general contracting and engineering fields. Prior to working for Axiom Consultants she served for over fifteen years as a project manager coordinating large scale construction efforts and managing design teams of engineers and architects for a variety of public and private clients across Eastern Iowa. 

Lead Representative for Eastern Iowa

North Central States Regional Council of Carpenters

Royce Peterson has been a carpenter for over 30 years. 

After working in the field since 1992, he was hired as a Business Rep for Carpenters Local Union 1260 In Iowa City and then promoted to the Lead Rep for Eastern Iowa. 

Royce has served as a chairperson for the Health & Welfare Funds as well as the Joint Apprenticeship Trust Fund. Through his community activism, he chose to run for office in November 2023 where he was elected and is now serving as a Coralville City Councilman. Royce is very passionate about helping people find sustainable jobs in the trades.

Technology Advisor at Marco Technologies

Leslie Sampson is a Technology Advisor at Marco Technologies, where she specializes in helping businesses with a wide range of IT services. Passionate about building strong relationships, Leslie works closely with clients to solve business challenges through technology.

Leslie holds a Master of Organizational Leadership (MOL) from Saint Ambrose University. Outside of work, she enjoys playing golf, spending time with her puppies, and sharing a glass of wine with friends.

I realized the need to bring awareness and fill positions within the trades.

I even caught myself asking my kids “where are you going to college” and not talking to them about trade options. 

Foundation for the Trades increases access to trade careers and shape industry standards.  We have a chance to directly influence conversations, direction, and standards of the trade industry. 

Our funding raising efforts play a crucial role to support the long-term growth and sustainability of the trade.  I want to be part of a changing that conversation.

General Superintendent 

JE Dunn Construction

Chris has over 28 years of experience in the construction industry, completing a wide range of projects that span civil/heavy highway, telecommunications, mission-critical facilities, commercial buildings, aviation, retirement communities, religious institutions, collegiate buildings, zoo operations, skilled nursing, and healthcare facilities. 

Raised in the Midwest, Chris’s father, an industrial arts teacher who later became a college professor in manufacturing technology, and his mother, who encouraged him to work on the family wheat farm in Kansas during the summers, instilled in him a deep appreciation for the value of education and professionalism in one’s trade.

Throughout junior and senior high school, Chris was actively involved in every industrial arts program his school offered. Excellent teachers played a pivotal role in shaping his decision to pursue a career in construction, ultimately leading him to earn a degree in Construction Engineering. 

Today, he serves as a General Superintendent at JE Dunn Construction.

Chris is passionate about exposing youth to the vast, sustainable, and rewarding opportunities that a career in the trades offers, understanding firsthand the significant impact that a strong trade workforce can have.