Meet Ardis Kelley

Growth from the top down. 

Ardis Kelley has traveled the country for her career, from California to Chicago with “a lot of stops in between.” But it’s the push for diversity here at FHLB Des Moines that has left a lasting impression.

Ardis joined FHLB Des Moines in 2012 as the Chief Accounting Officer and has advanced to her current position as Chief Strategy Officer.

“When I first started in my career, the push for diversity and inclusion—talking about it out loud—didn’t exist,” she said. “When I came to FHLB Des Moines almost seven years ago, I could see that they were on track to do things differently. And ever since then, I’ve seen a tremendous amount of growth in a pretty short period of time.”

That growth includes involvement from the top down. Senior leaders participate in development sessions throughout the year in an effort to engage in meaningful conversation and expand their understanding of diversity and inclusion.

“It’s truly introspective work,” Ardis said. “It even teaches people where their biases are, biases they may not even know they have. I have learned a lot about myself.”

We also encourage participation in employee-led resource groups and councils, which promote ongoing dialogue through networking, educational workshops and diverse outings and events.

And while we make diversity and inclusion an internal priority, we’re also known
for our presence in the community, taking part in local cultural events such as CelebrAsian, PrideFest and the Iowa Latino Heritage Festival.

“I’ve been impressed that our company always has diversity in our thoughts and in our actions,” said Ardis. “And what’s just as important is that people feel empowered to speak out if they have something to say. The management team is so approachable and so open—everyone knows you can give them honest feedback and you will be heard.”