Staff
Lindi Trowbridge, Executive Director
Lindi Trowbridge was born and raised in Southeast GA, but made the move to Marshalltown four years ago, to be closer to her husband Joey’s family. Joey and Lindi have been married ten years, and have been blessed with an amazing daughter, Harper Leigh.
She spent the last twenty years working in Property Management, Real Estate, Senior Living, and most recently Banking. She is very passionate about serving others. She believes life should be lived every day to the fullest, as we are not guaranteed tomorrow, and when we put God first, everything else in life falls into place.
Madison Husak, Marketing and Outreach Coordinator
Madison Husak, a Marshall County native, earned her A.A. from Marshalltown Community College and will be pursuing a Dental Hygiene degree at Hawkeye Community College. Passionate about politics and the pro-life movement, Madison is actively involved in several community organizations. She also runs a part-time photography business, The Mad Lens.
Shelby Dolash , Volunteer Coordinator and Administrative Assistant
Shelby Dolash is a wife and mother of 4 girls and has several grandchildren. She is supportive of the Guiding Star philosophy and has served for many years on the board and as our Volunteer Coordinator.
Meghan Kodiaga, Client Services Coordinator
Meghan Kodiaga lives in rural Grundy Center and has two sons. She has a bachelor’s degree in social work from Wartburg College and a graduate certificate in Global Health and Health Disparities from University of Northern Iowa. She loves to cook, garden, attend her sons’ cross-country, track, and soccer events, and read Christian fiction and non-fiction. She is passionate about public health, especially natural/wholistic health pertaining to fertility, childbirth, breastfeeding, and motherhood. She is excited to be merging her faith with her love for all things related to maternal/child health in the mission and purpose of Guiding Star Marshalltown!
Board of Directors
Mark Mauk, Chair
Mark became aware of Guiding Star Project though activities associated with the Marshall County Culture of Life Committee. He was inspired by how Guiding Star Project services support women, men, and families in living out their lives in the way God intended. As a relatively new Catholic (he joined the Church in 2001) he was happy to see that the Guiding Star Project mission is in alignment with the Catholic Church’s teachings on family and fertility. Looking at this community and finding no organization that is focused on assisting women and families, Mark felt this was a way to actively bring these teachings to the community by helping others to live them, something that he wished he had access to earlier in his life. Although starting a non-profit like this is a little out of his comfort zone, it also became a calling as he found that both his wife, Mary and he was drawn toward the formation of Guiding Star Marshalltown. We know that those who become involved with Guiding Star Marshalltown will be blessed just as many others have been by the Guiding Star Project Affiliates who provide these services in their communities.
Rebecca Driscoll, PA, CLC, Vice Chair
Becca Driscoll is a new member of the Marshalltown community who is passionate about wholistic, life-affirming healthcare. She and her husband are the proud parents of a newborn son. She is an actively practicing Physician Assistant as well as a Certified Lactation Counselor. In addition to serving on the board, Becca is available by appointment for Lactation Counseling. Guiding Star’s mission and vision align closely with Becca’s personal and professional values and goals. She is excited to be involved and serve the community that Guiding Star has and will continue to build. She looks forward to being part of the growth of this organization and the positive impact it will have not only in the healthcare setting but in family life for years to come.
Roger Groteluschen, Treasurer
After graduating from Northwest Missouri State University with a BS in accounting Roger served two years in the US Army. He was Business Manager for Audubon Schools before moving to Marshalltown and eventually retired from IVCCD as CFO. He and his wife Rosemary have four children and enjoy being able to share experiences with grandchildren. He feels every life is precious and serving as treasurer of Guiding Star allows him to assist in a process which provides a needed alternative to abortion.
Pat Anderson, Member at Large
Pat Anderson is a wife, mother of three grown children, and loves being a grandmother. She has a BA in Accounting and has worked in various fields, including abstracting, banking and telecommunications. She has recently retired, but still enjoys working part time. She truly believes in the mission of Guiding Star and hopes to help promote and expand the services Guiding Star offers. Having always believed in the pro-life movement, she feels it is necessary to offer support to women who are in need and have no where else to turn, and to offer love and acceptance. It is also vital to continue support for the little ones, which is what Guiding Star is doing.
Our Service Partners
Brooke Bensema, Faith-Based Counselor
Brooke is currently completing an internship for her Master’s degree in Christian Counseling. Brooke’s background includes experience in pastoral counseling, behavioral health, and empathy-driven Christian counseling. Specializing in trauma-informed care, Brooke has a deep passion for meeting with and supporting individuals from diverse backgrounds who are hurting or broken. She relishes the challenge of working with a wide range of clients. Brooke looks forward to connecting with people on their level and meeting new individuals in the near future.
Jenny Butler, MAE, Infant Loss and Miscarriage Support Group
Jenny Butler lives in Marshalltown with her husband and children. She received her elementary education degree from the University of Northern Iowa and her Master’s degree from Viterbo University. Early in her marriage, she and her husband lost their infant son at 22 weeks gestation. Several years later she had another miscarriage. At Guiding Star, Jenny will work with Holly to provide support through an infant loss and miscarriage support group.
Danielle Dunning, Doula, Bump to Baby Support Group
Danielle is a mom of three wonderful children, with a drive to promote healthy connections and a vision to improve birthing outcomes. Her pastimes include anything outdoors- gardening, hiking, bird watching, mushroom & rock hunting, you name it! She enjoys reading and is always eager to learn. Her passion for caring for others has been instinctual from an early age. Having always resided in Tama County, her roots run deep & she enjoys all the little things in life.
From birth to end of life and everything in between, Danielle believes humanity is beautiful. Most of her early days of employment include working in the food industry, always serving others in one form or another. Since becoming a parent she has branched into library work, both pregnancy and post-partum doula services and is a certified lactation specialist. With over a decade of experience, she is happy to serve families in any aspect with their individual goals.
Jenny English, MS Nutrition Coaching Jen is a health and wellness coach and the owner of A Well + Fed Life. The mission of A Well + Fed Life is help women learn to increase their freedom with food and elevate their life by taking ownership of their health through the support of personal coaching, education and community.
Holly Erbes, MAE, Infant Loss and Miscarriage Support Group
Holly Erbes is a wife and mother with years of experience in education. When she first learned about Guiding Star, it was after some personal struggles and loss within the last two years and searching for a purpose and meaning behind it all. She knew she wanted to get involved with Guiding Star and be able to give back to others in the community who have experienced infant loss or miscarriage. Her and Jenny lead the Infant Loss and Miscarriage Support Group and she also leads a Greif Series at Guiding Star Marshalltown.
Julie Grunklee, RN, MCH Health and Wellness Coach
Julie Grunklee is a Registered Nurse, National Board Certified Health & Wellness Coach, FertilityCare Practitioner and holds a Master’s Degree in Community Health Education. At Guiding Star Marshalltown, Julie offers classes on how to Gracefully Navigate Perimenopause & Menopause as well as Infant and Child CPR.
Julie enjoys spending time with her family as well as going for walks in the woods and working around the acreage she shares with her husband, Dave. She is passionate about empowering others with the knowledge of how their body is designed so they can create health by aligning with that design.
James Hogan, Father and Son Inspirational Speaker James is a husband and father of two children. He grew up in CA and went to college at the US Merchant Marine Academy. There he studied Marine Engineering and traveled the world as a cadet visiting more than two dozen other countries and five continents, and then he earned his BS in 2001. After graduation he worked in Washington DC for seven years before meeting his wife, Heidi. After he and Heidi were married, they moved to the Midwest to be closer to her family and made Marshalltown his new home. In his many travels and experiences both aboard and in DC, James discovered his faith through trials and friendships. Since becoming a father, he was inspired to share his love of fatherhood and inspire other boys and fathers in the Masculine Journey.
Carrie Lippincott, Post Abortion Healing
Carrie Lippincott is a wife and mother living in State Center. All her children are grown and married. She has 9 grandchildren so far. She became involved in After Abortion Care a couple of years ago. Her Church had invited a couple of women to speak about abortion. This really struck home, and she knew it was time to do something about this issue. Through her time with some Godly women and men, she has decided to help others. Carrie offers time each month to counsel women and men who have experienced this kind of loss. She wishes that other women, like herself, can find hope and healing after abortion.
Karen Mussig, MSW Postpartum and Family Life Services
Karen is passionate about helping children and families. She understands many of the emotions and changes that come with childbirth. This mother of 6 wants to help other families get on the right start after the baby, and is a great resource for support in the postpartum time period. Karen holds a B.A. in social work from the University of Northern Iowa and a master’s degree from Drake University in school counseling. At Guiding Star, Karen offers valuable advice for parents in her class called “Daring to Parent”.
Amy Snyder, BSHRM, Baby and Family Photography
Amy and her husband Ron (also who enjoys photography) have raised three children that are all adults now. Amy has a B.S. degree from Iowa State University in Hotel, Restaurant, and Institutional Management. She is also a 4th Degree Master in Tae Kwon Do. While being involved in all these activities Amy has always had a love and passion for photography that dates back to her elementary school days. In 2014 she joined the Central Iowa Camera Club here in Marshalltown and by the next year had taken on the role of the Secretary which she still holds that office to this day. She has earned Photographer of the Year for 3 years in a row. She had a photo used in KWWL’s weather calendar and had one accepted to be displayed at the Iowa State Fair 2 years ago. Although she doesn’t have her own in-home studio, she has photographed a couple weddings, taken several peoples’ Senior Photos, and in 2019 started a business called “Have Camera Must Travel”. She is looking forward to taking photos of you and your families, because she encourages preserving memories that will last a lifetime.
Angela Swieter, BSN, RN, IBCLC, Lactation Services and Educator in Mom and Baby Care
Angela E. Bigler Swieter is the owner of Applaud Breastfeeding Services, LLC. She is a wife of over 40 years and a proud mom and grandmother. She supports moms and families through birth, breastfeeding, baby, and beyond with over 35 years of experience. She is a Registered Nurse with a Bachelor’s degree, and an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC). She offers prenatal and postnatal breastfeeding and baby-care support.
Jody Wunsch, BSW, Certified Health and Life Coach
Jody is a wife and mother of 3 children. She received her BA degree in Social Work from the University of Northern Iowa. In 2011 she began counseling others how to lose weight by stabilizing their blood sugars. Early 2017 she became certified as a Health coach continuing into Advanced Transformation Coaching Methods (TCM) and Mastery TCM certifications while recently completing Life Coach certification. She is founder of Inner Peace Health Coach Services and uses a holistic approach to help others change habits for a healthier life.
Emily Zambrano-Andrews, DNP, ARNP-CNM, IBCLC, Pregnancy Support Group and Lactation Support Group
Emily’s passion for women’s health care emerged after giving birth to her first child. This ignited her interest in human physiology and the seemingly miraculous process for women to grow, birth and nourish a baby. Emily’s journey to midwifery began with a career as a labor, delivery, and postpartum registered nurse, working alongside nurse midwives. Her journey continued with earning a Master of Science in Nursing , becoming an advanced registered nurse practitioner and Board-Certified Nurse Midwife, followed by earning a Doctor of Nursing Practice and becoming a International Board-Certified Lactation Consultant. Emily owns a private practice in Des Moines and services a 90 minute radius for her maternity care clients choosing an out-of-hospital birth, she works with women of all ages from the start of menses to postmenopause and provides lactation consulting services for clients in their homes or her office. She is excited to partner with Guiding Star Marshalltown. Emily is passionate in educating women about their amazing bodies across their lifespan, and supporting women through pregnancy, birth and their journey into motherhood. Emily was born and raised on her family’s century-old farm near Marshalltown. She grew up calling Marshalltown her hometown. Emily and her husband live in Des Moines and have five beautiful children. Emily finds life balance outside of being a midwife through spending time with her family, practicing her faith as a Christian, traveling, and exploring nature.