Aaron Groves, executive director

Aaron Groves was hired by the Jasper County Sheriff’s Office in 2003 as a deputy sheriff where he served until he medically retired in 2020. During his career, Aaron assumed multiple different roles inside his agency. Aaron was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant in 2012 where he spent time supervising the patrol division, the jail division, a regional narcotics enforcement team, and the Central Iowa Regional Tactical Team. 

In 2021 the Impact Iowa’s Heroes (IIH) board asked Aaron to come aboard as Program Coordinator to help them broaden their reach to heroes across Iowa. Since that time, Aaron and the IIH team have developed and implemented a vision to create more opportunities to strengthen hero marriages throughout the year. New partnerships, speaking to new recruits at law enforcement academies, and developing a “date night in a box” for any couple to host a date night across Iowa are just some of the exciting things IIH is now doing. Aaron and his wife, Tricia, are excited to start their marriage coaching journey as they receive training through the International Christian Coaching Institute and mentoring from Dr. Gary and Barb Rosberg.

Aaron has been married to Tricia since 2007 and they currently have three children: Adalynn, Gracelynn, and Gideon. They live in Newton where Tricia works as the Director of Operations at Newton Church of The Way. As a couple, they enjoy sharing their testimony of persevering through the challenges of being married while serving in a law enforcement career. Aaron and Tricia have a passion for strengthening the marriages of Iowa’s hero couples across the state while also finding opportunities to strengthen their own marriage.

vernon delpesce

Vernon serves an independent consultant specializing in financial development and nonprofit leadership. He has worked with Impact Iowa’s Heroes from its inception as well as other non-profits both locally and nationally. In early 2016 he retired from a 38-year career with the YMCA including fourteen years serving as President/CEO of the YMCA of Greater Des Moines. Throughout his career he has worked with the YMCA of the USA, and YMCA’s in Houston, Texas and Toledo, Ohio. He is a graduate of the University of Houston. He is also very involved in the community serving on several boards and volunteering in his local church. Vernon and his wife Lauren split their time between West Des Moines and their rural home in southern Iowa. They have two adult children and one grandchild.

sarah morrison, Operations director

Sarah serves as behind the scenes support to Impact Iowa’s Heroes, CrossTrainers Men’s Ministry, and America’s Family Coaches and has been part-time since 2014. She is the Operations Director for Impact Iowa’s Heroes which includes coordinating all office systems, event planning, and board support. Sarah is married to Mike and combined they have 7 children that keep them very busy. They live in Clive, IA and enjoy traveling any chance they get.

Hannah Johnson, Designer

Hannah Johnson stumbled into the role of graphic designer in 2014. Since then, she has experience as a communication director, designer, and social media specialist. She recently joined the team as our resident graphic designer and web developer.

Hannah married Michael on a snowy January afternoon in 2021. That first year of marriage, they spent A LOT of quality time together converting a school bus which they lived in and traveled around the country for several months. They recently settled into an old farm house in eastern Nebraska where Michael works as a farm hand.