Meet the Des Moines Register Editorial Team

Many talented editors have led the Des Moines Register throughout its 175-year history, in leadership roles and as heads of key departments.

One prominent editor stands out above all others for his longevity: Harvey Ingham, who served from 1902 to 1943. He is followed by William Waymack, who won a Pulitzer Prize as an editorial writer before taking the job, a position he held for a decade. Next comes Kenneth MacDonald, the second longest-serving editor, with 21 years of service.

Michael Gartner then took over, and the Register won two Pulitzer Prizes for national reporting during his tenure, until 1982 (and he later won one himself, for editorial writing, as owner and editor of the Ames Tribune).

See how the Des Moines Register’s production plant prints the news

Tour the Des Moines Register production facility, located at 7400 Register Drive in south Des Moines. It prints 14 newspapers in addition to the Register.

More recently, Geneva Overholser, who became the Register’s first female editor in 1988, demonstrated editorial courage by defying industry conventions that mandate the concealment of rape victims’ identities. A series she oversaw, reported by Jane Schorer Meisner, profiled a rape victim, naming her with her permission, in an effort to de-dramatize the victims of the crime. The book won the Pulitzer Prize for Public Service in 1991.

Editors and department editors also left their mark, such as the legendary Sec Taylor, sports editor for more than 50 years, from 1914 to 1965. The Principal Park playing field still bears his name.

More recent editors remembered as first-rate journalists and mentors include Randy Evans, whose 40-year tenure began Aug. 9, 1974, the day President Richard Nixon resigned, and included stints as associate editor and opinion editor, and the late Randy Brubaker, whose jobs included sports editor and managing editor, second in command of the newsroom, during his 26-year career at the Register.

And now I want to introduce you to today’s editorial team, who, like the best of their predecessors, are skilled, dedicated journalists who work hard at their jobs and care about their staff, their community and our state.

I will start with Mike Trautmann, Mike Trautmann, who serves as both news director (the equivalent of editor-in-chief) and political editor. This is Mike’s second stint at the Register, having served as business and investigations editor from 2015 to 2019. He has worked for the Register’s parent company, Gannett, for a total of 34 years, starting at the Argus Leader in Sioux Falls, his home state, and also working at the Louisville Courier-Journal, where he helped lead coverage of the last-minute gubernatorial pardons, which won a Pulitzer Prize for breaking news in 2020, and the shooting death of Breonna Taylor by Louisville police, which was a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize for breaking news and public service in 2021. Contact Mike: [email protected]

Other key members of the editorial team, listed in order of years at the Register, with contact details:

James Kramer, sports editor: He has worked at the Register for 25 years, almost exclusively in sports. A native of Farley, in northeast Iowa, and a graduate of the University of Iowa, he directly oversees coverage of Cyclone and Hawkeye sports. Assistant sports editor Will Kennedy oversees high school coverage. Contact: [email protected]

Lucas Grundmeier, opinion editor: He worked at the Register for 19 years and as an opinion editor for the past five. A Des Moines native and Iowa State graduate, he previously worked as a news editor, breaking news editor and planning editor. Contact: [email protected]

Brian Smith, audience growth strategist and editor-in-chief of Iowa Connect: Brian has worked at the Register for 12 years, and was hired right after graduating from Iowa State. A Davenport native, Brian focuses on growing the digital audience through outlets like newsletters and social media (primarily Facebook, X, Instagram and TikTok). He also oversees Iowa Connect, a three-person reporting team that focuses on service journalism, trends and breaking news. He is also the director of the Des Moines Storytellers Project. Contact: [email protected]

Zach Boyden-Holmes, Photo Editor: He worked on the photo staff for 12 years, starting as a photo editor for the Register’s Juice Magazine, a publication aimed at young professionals. He later became a photographer for the Register and was promoted last year to photo editor. He is a Davenport native and a graduate of the University of Iowa. Contact: [email protected]

Kim Norvell, Communities Editor: Kim has been with the Register for nine years, seven as a reporter and the last two as community editor. A Nebraska native and Iowa State graduate, she oversees reporters who cover the city of Des Moines and its eastern and western suburbs as well as breaking news. Kim also serves as content director for the Des Moines Storytellers Project. Contact: [email protected]

Bill Steiden, Business and Investigations Editor: I came to the Register five years ago after 19 years as a writer and publisher for the Atlanta Journal-Constitution and its parent company, Cox Media Group, and 11 years before that at the Sarasota, Fla., Herald-Tribune. Contact: [email protected]

Susan Stapleton, Entertainment Editor: She was hired as entertainment editor two years ago and also serves as food reporter. This is her second stint at the Register, having worked as a food reporter in 2015 and 2016. She grew up in the Davenport area and is a graduate of the University of Iowa. Contact: [email protected]

Matt Peterson, Senior Audience Manager: He oversees the programming, presentation and promotion of the Register’s content across all platforms, including print, our main website, apps and social media. He worked at the Register for 3 1/2 years and for 13 years before that at Gannett’s Springfield, Missouri, News-Leader newspaper. Contact: [email protected]

Furthermore, Brandon Hurley, Editor of the Ames Tribune and the Iowa City Press-Citizen, he helps supplement the Register’s coverage with articles and photos from these sister Iowa newspapers. Contact: [email protected]

I encourage you to contact these editors with story ideas, questions, and comments.

Carol Hunter is the Register’s editor-in-chief. She wants to hear your questions., story ideas or concerns at 515-284-8545, [email protected], or on Twitter: @carolhunter.