Our Team

teva Dawson

Founder / Director

Teva Dawson began her career path of invention by designing her own major in Environmental Education from Drake University which led to the creation of Des Moines’s first Community Garden Program. Recently she spearheaded Greater Des Moines’ first Water Trails and Greenways Plan. Teva invested 15 years in central Iowa implementing civic engagement and integrated planning with cities and through regional government collaboration around the themes of parks and recreation, transportation systems, resiliency planning and heath in all policies.

Siobhan Spain

Creative Incubator Advisor

Siobhan Spain has over 20 years of experience working across the industries of art, business, communications and nonprofit management. As Founding Executive Director, she developed Mainframe Studios as the largest nonprofit creative workspace in the nation and achieved a financially self-sustaining business plan. Previously, she served in various roles with Mary Goldman Gallery; Santa Monica Museum of Art; Los Angeles Times; Des Moines Art Center; Des Moines Public Art Foundation; SITE Santa Fe; the studio of blacksmith and MacArthur Fellow Tom Joyce; Center for Contemporary Arts Santa Fe; and Women Food & Agriculture Network. She earned a B.S. in Business Administration at University of Iowa with the goal of fostering robust creative ecosystems in which artists can thrive.

Rachel Buse

Creative Strategy

Rachel Buse is a sculptor working in soft materials that can sometimes be played with. Buse has lived in Des Moines since 2008 and is originally from Lincoln, Nebraska. She received her Bachelor of Fine Arts from the University of Nebraska – Lincoln. In 2015, the Iowa Arts Council awarded Buse an Iowa Artist Fellowship. She’s been an artist in residency at the Children’s Museum in Pittsburgh, Grin City in Grinnell, and Art Farm in Nebraska. Temporary installations by Buse have taken over a bedroom, a library, a factory, a farmers’ market, and a music festival. Her projects range from community-based interaction to wearable works. Buse looks for opportunities to exaggerate shapes and settings with bold, squishy, large-scale surprises

Alex Braidwood

Artistic Director / Graphic Designer

Alex Braidwood is a sound artist, designer, creative technologist, and educator maintaining a practice exploring issues of sustainability at the intersection of art and science. He has lectured, exhibited, and performed around the world and has been an artist in residence in places like an Australian mountain village, a mid-western field research station, and on Isle Royale National Park. In addition to his work with Group, Alex is Director of Artist-in-Residence at Iowa Lakeside Lab, Director of Graphic Design Graduate Education at Iowa State University, and President of the World Listening Project.

Lorin Ditzler

Project Manager

Lorin is a community development expert with 15 years of experience helping communities realize their full potential. Lorin has led the creation of comprehensive plans, strategic plans and special issue plans for communities and organizations. She has worked with city leaders and volunteers to fund and implement hundreds of community improvement projects, taking the process from idea to completion. She holds a Masters in Urban Planning, and certification from the American Institute of Certified Planners, with additional training in grant writing and group facilitation.

Emily KESSINGER

Art Advisor

Emily Kessinger has 10+ years of experience in business communications, marketing, and art advisory services. Emily worked in the art world of Chicago for nonprofits, the auction industry and private collectors before moving to Des Moines in 2016. In 2017, Emily opened Yellow Door Gallery, which she ran until2020. Emily has a BA in English and an MBA in Organizational Development/Marketing from the University of Denver (DU). She joined the Group Creatives team in 2021.

Alyson O’Hara

Creative Strategy / Writer / Designer

Alyson O’Hara is a designer, photographer, filmmaker, illustrator, and actor whose work centers on creativity, connection, and storytelling. She earned a B.F.A. in Graphic Design from Iowa State University, where she also studied theatre. Drawing from a background in both visual experiential media, Alyson creates brands, campaigns, photographs, and experiences that help people share what matters most to them. She is especially passionate about working with artists, community organizations, and mission-driven businesses, bringing curiosity, empathy, and a playful creative spirit to every project.