Nominations are NOW OPEN for the 2027 event. Submit your nomination for the Courage, Confidence, Character, and Inspiring Advocate for Women Awards by November 9, 2026.
Meet our 2027 Event Co-Chairs: Derek & Jill Trobaugh!
Derek Trobaugh is an Engagement Leader with Thrivent. In this role, he supports the central and western Iowa market as a community connector, collaborator, and relationship builder in partnership with Thrivent Financial Advisors and market leadership. He assists in business development efforts for the market.
Derek serves on multiple nonprofit boards, including Girl Scouts of Greater Iowa, Easterseals Iowa Foundation, and Iowa Fraternal Alliance. He believes that everyone has something to give and enjoys doing what he can to positively impact society. Derek is a graduate of Johnston High School, University of Northern Iowa, and the Greater Des Moines Leadership Institute class of 2019.
Jill Trobaugh is the Vice President of Strategy and Development for Talent Collective DSM, a local nonprofit that works alongside Des Moines Public High Schools to close the gap between education and business by creating career opportunities through supportive relationships, individualized coaching, and training. In her role, Jill fosters and supports partnership development, leads fundraising initiatives, strategic communications, and community engagement.
An Iowa native, Jill is passionate about giving back to her community through volunteerism. She serves on the boards of Easterseals Iowa (ESI) and the Johnston Community School Foundation (JCSF) and volunteers with other nonprofits including Girl Scouts of Greater Iowa, Greater Des Moines Habitat for Humanity, local food pantries, the Beacon Des Moines, and LifeServe Blood Center. Jill holds a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Northern Iowa and a master’s degree in business leadership from William Penn University. She is a 2012 graduate of the Greater Des Moines Leadership Institute (GDMLI), and a past recipient of the Volunteer of Excellence Award with Girl Scouts.
Jill and her husband, Derek, reside in Johnston with their children, Mara and Grant, and their Goldendoodle, Penny.
All proceeds from this fundraising event benefit Girl Scouts of Greater Iowa, and their mission to build girls of courage, confidence, and character, who make the world a better place.