Member Directory
When you keep it local, you keep the Quad Cities strong.
Leah Allen is the Director of Sales with the Isle Casino Hotel and the Quad-Cities Waterfront Convention Center with over 15 years of expertise bringing tourism to the area and orchestrating corporate and social events. Making connections and helping a vision come to life drives her professional journey. Actively living the Quad Cities narrative is her personal journey helping the area thrive as an incredible place to work, play and raise a family. Raised in Eldridge, Iowa and a graduate of the University of Iowa, Leah remains connected to her home roots. Leah is the proud mother of two and is delighted they are following her footsteps attending the University of Iowa (one currently and one in the fall). Outside of work, Leah enjoys traveling, attending local sporting and music events, dining at a locally owned establishments and walking her two black lab fur babies.
Paul Backe has been in the Wireless Telecommunication Industry for over 30 years. He has owned/managed several companies over the years in several markets including Chicago, NW Indiana, Wisconsin, Omaha and Phoenix area. Currently Wireless Central has 9 locations in Eastern Iowa, Western IL markets for U.S. Cellular with over 48 associates. As a top Agent for U.S. Cellular, Wireless Central has been an elite performer and is known for delivering results along with award winning customer service.
Graduate of Eastern Illinois University with his Business degree, Paul started is career working for Ambassador Office Equipment-Subsidiary of Cannon, Downers Grove, IL. in the sales division. He then moved into the retail wireless environment and has worked with Cellular One, Ameritech, Verizon and U.S. Cellular over the years. He opened his first store in Bettendorf Iowa with U.S. Cellular in 2002 and is still in the same location today.
Paul lived in Naperville, IL for 27 years where he raised his four children. He was active member of his community and Church. He has coached and volunteered over the years and is still involved in High School sports including the rugby club. He also resided in Bettendorf for three years while running his current company and now lives in Plainfield, IL.
Garrett Beirne is a Financial Advisor for Edward Jones. He was born and raised in the Quad Cities and has an office in downtown Bettendorf. His passion as an advisor comes from getting to know clients on a personal level and helping them invest to achieve their goals. He finds value in partnering with the BBN to highlight businesses in our community that are making a difference.
Garrett has a wife named Katie and two daughters, Everly and Emmalyn. Outside of work and spending time with family, his hobbies are hunting elk in the mountains and deer on his home farm.
Graduated with Distinction with a degree in Political Science from the University of Kansas. Moved from Kansas to the Quad Cities in 2010 with his wife, Sammy.
Tyler has 16 years of experience in the telecommunication industry, including 11 at CS Technologies, where his role is to develop, maintain, and manager customer relationships as well as communicate technology solutions.
Tyler became active in BBN several years ago and has enjoyed watching the organization grow. He is also active as a member of North Scott Rotary where he has been on the board of directors for the last four years in addition to other committee assignments. In 2022 he became a Big with Big Brothers Big Sisters and has fun introducing his Little to new experiences and activities.
Outside of work, Tyler enjoys traveling and outdoor activities such as golf, fishing, hiking, paddle boarding, and most recently SCUBA diving. He is known by friends and family for his home cooking and craft cocktails. He and his wife have two dogs, Eva and Taco.
Bill has 42 years experience in both public and private accounting, including six years with a Top 5 global accounting firm, six years with a robotics systems manufacturer and 14 years leading his own firm before merging with Honkamp. At Honkamp, he provides professional accounting, audit, tax and consulting services to clients of all sizes in a variety of manufacturing, SEC, and other public and private clientele. With this expertise, Bill has served as an instructor for the AICPA teaching auditing courses on a variety of topics. He joined Honkamp in 2018.
Jeff is a lifelong Bettendorf resident and an active member of the community. Jeff enjoyed a successful career in Sales and Business Development for 30-plus years with two prominent Quad Cities organizations, Bawden Printing in Eldridge, IA and Estes Construction in Davenport, IA. Prior to joining the Bettendorf Business Network, Jeff spent many years coaching youth baseball and basketball for various Bettendorf Park Board and AAU travel teams. Jeff was a Bettendorf Rotarian for six years and has served as a board member for the Bettendorf Parks & Recreation Foundation, Bettendorf Development Corporation, Scott Community College Foundation, and as a Committee Member for The Miracle Field. Jeff is currently a Realtor, licensed in Iowa with Realty One Group Opening Doors. He also enjoys working part-time at Palmer Hills Golf Course in Bettendorf. Jeff and his wife Tera have three boys…..Baylor James, Parker Jeffrey, and Barrett William.
Heidi Huiskamp Collins is the founder and CEO of Huiskamp Collins Investments, LLC and Huiskamp Collins Educational Planning, LLC. She earned her undergraduate degree in Business Administration with a minor in Economics from Augustana College. Heidi earned her master’s degree in Banking at the University of Wisconsin/Madison where she was Valedictorian and President of her class.
A passionate community volunteer, Heidi has mentored “at-risk” girls for 22 years in her community along with volunteering at two other schools every week. She also serves on several area non-profit boards including the Martin Luther King, Jr. Center, Women United, Family Resources, the Rock Island/Milan 1st Day Fund which supplies free school supplies to “at-risk” students, the Two Rivers YMCA and the QC Community Foundation’s Coordinated Field of Interest (formerly the Amy Helpenstell Foundation). Heidi is also on the board of the Bettendorf Business Network where she formerly held the role of President.
-Project Manager for General Constructors, Inc. for 10+ years
-Retired from the US Navy Seabees (3 years active duty, 21 years active reserve)
-2 daughters, Rachel 29, occupational therapist and director of rehabilitation for the Quartet senior living in Bettendorf. Megan 24, interior designer for Fitzgerald Associates in Chicago.
-4 time Ironman finisher and about 125 triathlon races over the past 30 years.
-Board member for EHDG in davenport.
-American Legion member
-Amvets member
-Seabee Veterans of American member
-American Society of Professional Estimators, past board member and president of the local chapter.
-Member of the Iowa Quad Cities Rotary club, past board member.
-Bettendorf YMCA board member
-Bettendorf resident
Casey Keller is the Store Manager and a Co-Owner of K&K Hardware & Lumber in downtown Bettendorf. He is a 3rd generational owner and operator, and runs the family hardware store with his father, mother and 2 sisters.
Working at the store since he was 15, allowed him to work in a multitude of departments and accumulate over 25 years of retail experience. His family has made sure K&K is known for their award winning customer service. Carrying on that tradition and leading 70 team members ranging from 15 to 75 years old to excellence is a challenge that he happily accepts everyday.
He has served as a board member, then the President of the American Rental Association of Iowa. During that time he went to the state and national capitals to discuss with legislators the ongoing issues inside the rental industry. He is currently serving as the Vice President of the Bettendorf Business Network and serves on an Executive Advisory Council for True Value.
Miriam Lemke is the Director of Sales at the Hilton Garden Inn in Bettendorf. She has been with the Kinseth Hospitality Company for 4 years and has worked in the industry for 7 years. She is a Cedar Rapids native, meeting her husband at Linn-Mar High School. After graduating from the University of Iowa (Go Hawks!), she interned with the Walt Disney World Company in Orlando. Realizing she and her husband would rather live closer to family and maintain their Midwestern values for their future children, they moved to the Quad Cities in 2016.
Meet Larry, a seasoned professional in the financial institutions business with over 57 years of experience. He retired in November 2020 but his legacy in the industry continues to inspire others. Larry has been a proud resident of Bettendorf since 1963, where he lives happily with his wife Carolyn.
Larry is an active member of the Bettendorf community, volunteering his time with organizations like Kiwanis, Quad City Morning Optimist, QC Chamber, Ambassador, and Gyros. He has also served on the Bettendorf Park Board for 20 years, making a significant impact on the city’s parks and recreation system.
Larry is a founding member of BBN, a group that provides a platform for small businesses to network, exchange ideas and collaborate to achieve success. His vast experience and business acumen have been invaluable to the group’s growth and success.
Graduate of Central College in Pella, IA where she was born and raised. Now a current resident of Bettendorf where she lives with her family. Kelsey is the Marketing Coordinator at BankORION and has worked there for almost 4 years. Kelsey enjoys exploring new restaurants around the area and spending time with her family.
Jeff has lived in Bettendorf for more than 40 years. His wife is a teacher in and all his children all graduated from the Bettendorf Community Schools District. He attended the University of Iowa receiving undergraduate and law school degrees; Go Hawks! It was at the University of Iowa developed his passion for community service. Jeff is the chairman of the Scott County Civil Service Commission (Scott County Deputy Sheriffs), president of two University of Iowa alumni organizations, a past member of the Bettendorf Parks & Recreation Foundation, Bettendorf Schools Foundation, as well as youth athletics coach and Boy Scouts of America volunteer. He serves on the Bettendorf Business Network, the executive committee and its board of directors. He has practiced law for more than 30 years with the Brooks Law Firm, P.C . where he is the president of the firm. He practices law in the Iowa and Illinois state courts as well as 16 separate federal district and appellate courts.
Linda is the founder and owner of LogoPro Promotional Products, a leading supplier of branded merchandise to clubs, organizations, and businesses all over the country.
Linda completed her undergraduate degree at St. Ambrose University with an emphasis in marketing and economics. She earned her master’s degree in business administration also from St. Ambrose University.
Being active in the BBN the last nine years has been rewarding to be able to meet so many fantastic people at the BBN sponsored events.
In her free time, she can be found cheering on her son at the baseball field or at the basketball court.
I am honored to be on the current Executive Board, serving as President of the Bettendorf Business Network. As an active member of the BBN, I strongly believe in its mission to support the growth and development of the greater Bettendorf community by building a strong network.
In my current role as a member of LivWell Seniors, I am dedicated to promoting and educating families about the free solutions and resources available to ensure the highest quality of care and support for our seniors. Having worked as a Senior Living Advisor in the past, I have witnessed firsthand the challenges faced by seniors and their families in navigating the complex landscape of senior care. This has motivated me to serve the senior living community, particularly those affected by dementia and Alzheimer’s.
In addition, I am deeply committed to giving back to the community, particularly to our local veterans’ charities and participating in Rotary and volunteering in fundraising committees. Through my various roles and experiences, I remain passionate about making a positive impact in the lives of seniors and their families, and in building strong and vibrant communities where everyone can thrive.
Chris has over 35 years of experience at Donohoo Steel Treating with knowledge in all areas of the company. Chris has been overseeing the entire operation for the past 17 years.
Chris joined the BBN in 2014 and served on the board of directors for the past 9 years, serving as President from 2017 – 2019