West Des Moines Chamber of Commerce

The West Des Moines Chamber of Commerce has announced Ying Sa, CEO at Community CPA & Associates, Inc. as the recipient of the 2026 Mel Essex Entrepreneur Award. Sa will be honored at the Sixth Annual Athene Beyond Boundaries Business Summit, presented by Chase. The Summit will take place at the Sheraton West Des Moines Hotel on April 14–15. Sa is the founder and Principal Certified Public Accountant at Community CPA. The firm provides tax, audit, accounting, business consultations and IT solutions to businesses and individuals across the United States, Canada, and around the world. Sa was born in Beijing, China before becoming a citizen of Canada and then the United States of America. She got an accounting degree in Canada and worked as an accountant in Canada for several years before relocating to Iowa. Ying served six years as the Chief Financial Officer for the Iowa Manufacturing Extension Partnership at Iowa State University and five years as Vice President of Controllers for Wells Fargo Financial, Inc. in Des Moines, Iowa. She started Community CPA in 1998 and has been leading Community CPA full time since 2008. Sa has received numerous high-profile recognitions for her leadership, professional excellence, and community impact. Most notably, she was inducted into the Iowa Volunteer Hall of Fame (2010), the highest honor for volunteerism in the State of Iowa, recognized by the Governor and First Lady at the Iowa Capitol for her exceptional dedication to community service. She has also earned statewide and national recognition, including the Iowa Minority Small Business Champion of the Year Award (2016) from the U.S. Small Business Administration, appointment by the Governor to serve on the Iowa Board of Accountancy (2013-2018), and selection to the National Taxpayer Advocacy Panel (2019-2022), an advisory body to the IRS. In addition, Sa has been nationally featured in Accounting Today—including recognition in the Managing Partner Elite (2021)—and her firm has been named among the Top Ten Best Firms for Technology (2024), reflecting her innovation and leadership within the accounting profession. These honors collectively highlight her influence as a trusted professional, entrepreneur, and community leader. Sa lives in Des Moines with her family. Her husband Steve is a retired full professor of applied mathematics and currently a Partner of Community CPA. The Mel Essex Entrepreneur of the Year Award celebrates individuals who exemplify Mel’s spirit, dedication and passion for uplifting all entrepreneurs. This prestigious honor recognizes community champions who have made a significant impact by fostering and supporting small business success and inspiring others to achieve economic independence. Visit bbbsummit.com to learn more and visit https://lnkd.in/gNpXBhTs to read the press release. #GoWestWDM #WDMstrong #DSMUSA

🌟 Apply now for the WDM Leadership Academy! 🌟 Grow your leadership skills, connect with local professionals, and gain a deeper understanding of our community through this immersive program. If you’re ready to invest in yourself and make a lasting impact in your community, this opportunity is for you. 👉 Apply today: https://lnkd.in/g9R8nK5 📆Applications deadline: April 13th. Thank you to the WDMLA presenting sponsor NCMIC.

So true, Brett! Thanks for your Words of Wisdom. Brett Guy with Northwest Bank is a current member of the 2025-2026 WDMLA program. The West Des Moines Leadership Academy is sponsored by NCMIC.

Thanks to everyone who joined us last week for Rush Hour hosted by Gilbert & Cook, Inc! Visit https://lnkd.in/gRg-U2vY to learn more. Presented by Blue Ox Spirits. #GoWestWDM #WDMstrong #DSMUSA

Meet the speakers at the Athene Beyond Boundaries Business Summit, presented by Chase, this April. Including: - Erin Rollenhagen, People-Friendly Tech - Madelyn Ridgeway, 24/7 Blac - Zaydoon Munir, RainyDayPal - Sarah Burt, Good Burt Media - Audrey Kennis, City of West Des Moines - Russel Karim, SourceEazy Visit bbbsummit.com to learn more. #GoWestWDM #WDMstrong #DSMUSA #BBBSummit

Please join us in celebrating the Ribbon Cutting for Affinity Care of Iowa in West Des Moines, IA. Enjoy networking and hearing a few words from Executive Director Kyle Valois and the team. The cut will follow announcements that begin at 3:15 PM. Location: 4601 Westown Pkwy, Ste 100, West Des Moines, IA 50266 #GoWestWDM #WDMstrong #DSMUSA

Meet the speakers at the Athene Beyond Boundaries Business Summit, presented by Chase, this April. Including: - Aaron Jones, Belin McCormick - Marc Hollander, Whitfield & Eddy Law - Rocio Hermosillo, Team ELLA - Matthew Gilbert, Esq., Iowa C.O.R.E - Tej Dhawan, Plains Angels - Bridget Cravens-Neely, MBA, CDE, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Iowa Visit bbbsummit.com to learn more. #GoWestWDM #WDMstrong #DSMUSA #BBBSummit

🌟 Apply now for the WDM Leadership Academy! 🌟 Grow your leadership skills, connect with local professionals, and gain a deeper understanding of our community through this immersive program. If you’re ready to invest in yourself and make a lasting impact in your community, this opportunity is for you. 👉 Apply today: https://lnkd.in/g9R8nK5 📆Applications deadline: April 13th. Thank you to the WDMLA presenting sponsor NCMIC.

Check out these Words of Wisdom from 2025-2026 WDMLA class member, Katie Bertness with Merkle Retirement Planning. The West Des Moines Leadership Academy is sponsored by NCMIC.