Our Founder, Dick Goodson

Portrait of Dick Goodson

Dick Goodson

DMS Founder 

Dick Goodson in many ways represented the magic that is Des Moines as he worked to bring countless individuals together to work to better our community and make an impact. For many of our long-term clients, he was the face of our company – the first person they met – the leader of providing “service beyond expectation.” For our staff he was the leader that saw their individual talents, beyond their title.

Dick purchased DMS in 1996 after working with the Iowa League of Savings Institute to build it from the ground up. He spent many years working with nonprofits and organizations throughout the Des Moines metro, including the Greater Des Moines Committee on Foreign Relations, the 5th Judicial District as well as the Guardian Project and the Iowa Chapter of the Alzheimers Association.

Dick lead this company to many successes, including the 2002 Associations Advance America Award from ASAE for security focused work following 9/11 and the “Small Business Best Kept Secret Award” from the Greater Des Moines Partnership and the Des Moines Business Record. Around our office we talk about our DMS family, and he was definitely at the heart of that, which many of us feel is perhaps one of the best of his successes.

Our ongoing testament to him will be to live up to that level of client and community commitment.

Click here to read more about Dick and his legacy.

1967

Served as a cook in the US Army

1970

Worked as a Journeyman Meat-Cutter butcher at A&P in New Jersey & Krogers in Indiana until recruited for management.

1973

Moved to Iowa to become the Research Director for the Polk Des Moines Taxpayers

1976

Became Executive Director of Polk Des Moines Taxpayers and began the Metropolitan Sewer Authority.

1979

Appointed by Mayor Arthur Davis as Chair of the Metro 2000 Committee that created the Greater DSM Leadership Institute and brought Seniom Sed back to downtown

1980

Began working at Iowa Savings & Loan League (Iowa League of Savings Institutions)

1987

Iowa League of Savings Institutions created an association management company called Diversified Management Services (DMS)

1991

Purchased DMS with 6 others and became the President and CEO

1992

DMS created their first start-up association, the American Specialty Toy Retailing Association (ASTRA)

1993

DMS pioneered a path into the web design arena with DMS WebWorks

1996

Served on the Board of Directors for the Wakonda Club

1996

Dick served 7 years on the Board of Directors for the AMC Institute and held positions of Secretary, Vice President, and President Elect.

1998

Moved DMS from the Midland Building to the Riverfront

2001

DMS received ASAE Accreditation

2002

Post 9/11, Dick led DMS to put on a first-ever security conference called Secure Iowa. DMS received the 2002 Associations Advance America Award from ASAE for creating this important event.

2007

Dick volunteered for Iowa's 5th Judicial District and worked passionately toward the rehabilitation of convicts

2008

DMS received the "Small Business Best Kept Secret Award" from the Greater Des Moines Partnership and the Des Moines Business Record

2010

DMS received the AMC Institute Accreditation

2012

Dick retires from DMS after a long career

2016

Founded the Guardian Project in Des Moines to create a public and private partnership to help fund important police programs like body cameras, for DMPD and to work toward making the relationship between law enforcement and the community at large a true partnership

2017

After receiving an diagnosis of Stage One Alzheimer's, Dick served as a Volunteer Support Group leader and huge advocate for Alzheimer's Awareness with the Greater Iowa Chapter of the Alzheimer's Association. Dick and Kerry also served as hosts of an Alzheimer's Walk.