LYONS, David J.

LYONS, David J. (Dubuque, IA-- ). Lyons received his B. S. degree from LORAS COLLEGE in 1980 in the area of political science. In 1983 he received his J. D. degree from the University of Iowa School of Law in the area of international law and legal studies. (1)

Moving to Des Moines, Lyons served as a counsel to the Iowa Legislature from 1982 to 1987. He directed and coordinated legal drafting and consultation to both chambers of the Iowa Legislature in the areas of commerce, judiciary, state government and ethics. He also directed teams for advanced activity on civil, corporate and constitutional law issues. (2)

From 1987 to 1994 he served as the commissioner of the Iowa Insurance Division. It during this time and through his determined investigation across the United States that millions of dollars invested by Iowa municipalities in the IOWA TRUST FUND were recovered after they had been misappropriated by Steven Wymer. (3) During this time, he directed all activity for statewide oversight of insurance, securities, regulated industries and other responsibilities assigned by the governor or the legislature. He directed a multi-million budget and a staff of approximately one hundred. (4)

Lyons served as the director of the Iowa Department of Economic Development from 1994 to 2000. In this capacity, he directed all activity for statewide business development, workforce support, community development, international trade, finance authority, tourism in addition to other responsibilities assigned by the governor, legislature of the Economic Development board of directors. (5)

Moving outside of government, Lyons served as the Chief Business Development Officer of the Iowa Farm Bureau from 2000 to 2009. He was the senior executive for new business research and development with areas of responsibility including rural vitality, health insurance and wellness, new business opportunities, community development, and membership benefits. (6)

In 2010 Lyons and Cliff Gold founded CoOpportunity Health, a cooperative, member-owned company set up with millions of dollars in seed money from the federal Affordable Care Act. It has 93,000 members in Iowa and Nebraska. CoOportunity, hailed as one of the most successful of the 23 such health-insurance co-ops organized nationally, is one of two main insurance carriers selling policies on the new online public insurance exchange, a key part of the Affordable Care Act. Lyons, who had led the company, would serve on the organization's board and focus on turning the company's board into one controlled by co-op members who are elected by other members, as required by the new federal law. Gold would focus on running the company. (7)

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Special appreciation to Amy Muchmore of the Carnegie Stout Library for research.

Source:

1. David Lyons. Online: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dave-lyons-87489631

2. City of Dubuque. Online: http://weblink.cityofdubuque.org/WebLink/1/doc/189565/Page35.aspx

3. See: IOWA TRUST FUND

4. City of Dubuque

5. City of Dubuque

6. City of Dubuque

7. Leys, Tony. "CoOportunity Health Board Names Gold CEO," Des Moines Register, August 28, 2014. Online: http://www.desmoinesregister.com/story/news/health/2014/08/28/cooportunity-health-board-names-cliff-gold-as-ceo/14761431/