Chris Nelson is District 6000 Rotary's DGND for 2028-2029.
He has put together a wonderful bio for everyone to get to know him and his wife.
Let's welcome him into his new role.
Chris began his West Des Moines Rotary involvement by saying yes to a Rotary exchange student in 2008. Past District Governor, Tom and Carol Narak, recruited Chris, his wife, Robin, and their three daughters to host an exchange daughter. That experience grew into more exchange student involvement, along with Chris being the exchange student liaison and local Rotary Exchange Student Coordinator in 2014-2017. Chris and his daughter, Mia, experienced the Xicotepec Project in 2014. He has held the following leadership roles in Rotary: West Des Moines Rotary Membership Chair 2010, West Des Moines Rotary Club President 2012-2013, District 6000 Assistant Governor 2014-2018, District 6000 Membership Chair 2018-2019, and RLI Graduate 2025.
Chris has a BA in physics from Augustana College, Sioux Falls, SD and a BS in Mechanical Engineering from South Dakota State University in Brookings, SD. He has been employed as a Mechanical HVAC (heating, ventilation, air conditioning) consultant by Shive-Hattery from 1989 to the present. He has been involved in many hospitals, school and corporate projects in central Iowa. In 2000-2001, he served as president of the ASHRAE, Iowa Chapter.
Supporting his community has been an important part of Chris’ life. He coached girls soccer for the West Des Moines Recreational League from 1999-2009. He has been a member of St. Mark Church council 1998-2003, 2008-2014 and congregational president 2002-2004. He was a part of the Greater Des Moines Leadership Institute 2007-2008. He has been a member of West Des Moines Chamber with various officer roles, Chamber Chair 2020, West Des Moines Chamber Foundation Chair 2024-2025, and Chris is a board member of the Veterans of Valley Junction Foundation 2025.
Chris enjoys life to the fullest through his energetic and adventurous personality. He enjoys kayaking, John Deere tractors, and lifting weights while watching adventure shows like Star Trek or Top Gun. He enjoys bringing people together for fellowship with activities such as his monthly Book Club, which has never read book, and his weekly breakfast hunting group that discusses all things hunting, complete with weekly written meeting summaries.
Chris’ main love of his life is his family. He met Robin at Augustana College in 1985. They married in 1988. Robin taught Special Education in Sioux Falls, SD for two years and Special Education and kindergarten for 35 years in the West Des Moines Community School District. They are blessed to have three daughters and their families, Siri and David, Sage, Chase, and Lena Fliehler in Johnston, IA, Mia and Nick Kelly in Ankeny, IA, Kara and Zach, and new baby (Arriving Jan., 2026) Lukas, in Sioux Falls, SD.