Deanna Strable, a native Iowan and a Dowling Catholic High School graduate, will be the next CEO of Principal Financial Group, the company announced Tuesday.

Strable, the first woman to lead the Des Moines-based Fortune 500 firm, will take over Jan. 7, 2025. She will succeed Dan Houston.

“I am honored to be appointed as the company’s next president and CEO and build upon the strong foundation we’ve established under Dan’s leadership,” Strable said in a news release. “Throughout my career, I’ve seen Principal strengthen its position as a leading global financial services company dedicated to helping customers build strong financial futures. Alongside our committed and passionate colleagues around the world, I look forward to continuing our culture of innovation, inclusion, and service, with a focus on meeting customer needs to drive growth and create shareholder value.”

Houston will continue to serve as executive chair of the Principal board of directors, the company said.

“It has been an honor to serve as president and CEO and work with so many talented employees around the world,” Houston said in the news release. “Deanna has been a trusted partner and a co-architect in the company’s growth strategy. I have the utmost confidence in her leadership and business acumen and look forward to working with her to ensure a smooth transition.”

One of Iowa’s largest financial firms, the company has nearly 19,000 employees worldwide serving 68 million customers. It has $288 billion in assets and had $14.9 billion in revenue and $1.3 billion in profits in 2024, according to Forbes.

Strable will join the Principal board in January. She has been the company’s president and chief operating officer since August, and before that had been chief financial officer since 2017. She also has been president of the company’s workplace benefits and insurance business.

“Deanna brings strategic vision, strong leadership experience, and a deep understanding of the company’s interconnected business units and great culture,” Scott M. Mills, lead independent director of the Principal board, said in the news release. “She has cultivated a breadth and depth of experience during her 35 years with Principal and held key leadership roles in shaping its strategy and portfolio of businesses. We look forward to her continued leadership driving Principal into the next phase of growth.”

The news release said Strable has been instrumental in leading business strategy and operations. It said she helped build the company’s benefits and protection business as the first leader of its specialty benefits division before stepping into the role of business unit president in 2015.

Locally, Strable serves on the board of directors at Simpson College and previously held various positions for the United Way of Central Iowa.

Houston has served as president and CEO of Principal since 2015 and has held several leadership positions during his 40 years with the company. During his tenure, Principal’s market capitalization grew from $13 billion to more than $20 billion, the news release said.

“Dan has been the driving force behind Principal’s evolution over the last 10 years,” Mills said in the release. “He set the company’s growth agenda and led the company through significant transformation. Principal is in a position of strength today and is well positioned for continued growth thanks to his leadership.”

Kevin Baskins covers jobs and the economy for the Des Moines Register. Reach him at kbaskins@registermedia.com.

It was business as usual for the Iowa State men’s basketball team Monday night, as the Cyclones remained perfect with an 82-56 victory over Kansas City. The game took place from Hilton Coliseum in Ames, Iowa.

For Iowa State (2-0) head coach TJ Otzelberger, it represented another opportunity for his team to gain more valuable minutes together on the court. Even with a veteran roster back for the seventh-ranked Cyclones, kinks still need to be worked out.

Iowa State broke the game with UMKC open thanks to a 34-18 run in the first half. The Cyclone defense held the Roos to just 1 of 11 shooting from the floor. 

Curtis Jones came off the bench to lead ISU in scoring with 20 points, adding five assists and five rebounds. Jones knocked down 7 of 11 shots and had 16 of his 20 over the final half of play.

Keshon Gilbert dished out 10 assists, Milan Momcilovic had 16 points and Dishon Jackson added 13 points with six rebounds. The Cyclones held the preseason Summit League favorites well below their season scoring average while dominating the glass with a plus-10 advantage and recording 21 assists on 30 made field goals.

Here is what Otzelberger had to say after the game:

“I liked his urgency right away,” Otzelberger said. “His feet were set and he was hunting. From my vantage point, the more he can hunt, the better we will be. We need him to continue to hunt and encourage him to hunt. He needs to hunt, catch-and-shoot, attack, use his floater and turnaround jump shot, and get to the foul line. We want him to be as efficient as we know he can.”

“He’s improved a lot on defense,” Otzelberger said. “More of a commitment on glass, finishing possessions. I’m proud to see him make those plays and he had good energy out there.”

“I thought they both played great and we are just tring to get everybody to play to their strengths,” Otzelberger said. “We want them at the best of their abilities. I look at it like we have six starters and four guards that all return are all starters to me. The minutes need to reflect that more than who we call out for the start.”

“Curt was electric for us,” Otzelberger said. “It was important to have that spark. It helps to have somebody who can come in and do that. It was great to have him give us that spark off the bench. He was more of a playmaker with five assists.”

“It’s better,” he said. “We’re still working on getting that rhythm. Guys are starting to realize what they can do. We need to continue to have better ball movement. We have a lot of scoring options out there and could have six guys approach double figures in scoring. We need to get the best shot for our team.”

CEDAR FALLS — There’s a good amount to be excited about for Northern Iowa wrestling fans.

Nine of the 10 postseason starters for the Panthers return after UNI finished in 14th at the NCAA Championships, one place behind the program’s best all-time finish under Doug Schwab. Perhaps even more uplifting, the squad returns all seven of its NCAA qualifiers, including reigning 184-pound national champion Parker Keckeisen.

At media day Monday afternoon, reporters got the chance to catch up with the coaching staff and wrestlers. Here are the biggest takeaways ahead of their season, which begins Saturday at the Grand View Open in Grimes.

1. Northern Iowa’s culture keeps roster intact

Northern Iowa had no transfers off its roster and no transfers into its roster in the offseason. Only Tyrell Gordon graduated from last season’s team. Not many programs can say that, especially at the Division I level.

“Everyone gets this now, there’s no kids out there, no one is loyal anymore… come to my team, want to go down my roster,” Schwab said. “We got loyal men who are bought in and believe in something bigger than themselves. That’s why we didn’t have anybody leave last year.”

In an age where guys transfer in and out and flip commitments more than ever, the Panthers’ loyalty is evident in words and actions. Perhaps none more so than Keckeisen, who Schwab says could have had every opportunity to find a new home if he wanted it. For Keckeisen, however, the level of care from the staff is greater than any other opportunity he might have elsewhere.

“Whether it’s girlfriend things, life things or your car broke down, they’re going to be there for you,” Keckeisen said. “They’re more than just coaches. You can’t put a price tag on that.”

Given the amount of individual success the Panthers had last season, whether it be Big 12 Champion Ryder Downey as a freshman or Jared Simma’s incredible run to the NCAA quarterfinals, many of UNI’s wrestlers could have fetched a hefty price tag.

The reason they all stayed is the level of care and investment from coaches that has kept the roster intact in what is a free-flowing, increasingly transactional world.

2. Parker Keckeisen ready for matchup with Carter Starocci

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UNI’s Parker Keckeisen discusses matchup with Carter Starocci

Northern Iowa’s Parker Keckeisen discusses matchup with Carter Starocci, season ahead

After securing bonus-point victories in each of his matches at NCAAs and going undefeated on his way to a national title, Keckeisen will face the toughest test of his career this year. Penn State’s Carter Starocci, a four-time NCAA champ, makes his way to 184 pounds.

Keckeisen will wrestle him in an exhibition Saturday at the NWCA All-Star Classic. It seems like an inevitability, as well, that they will meet in the NCAA Finals in March.

While some could pout or avoid that challenge, Keckeisen is relishing the chance to compete.

“He’s one of the best wrestlers in the country… in the world,” Keckeisen said. “I think I’m up there, but an opportunity to test your skills against one of the best guys in the country, you got to take that opportunity.”

This undoubtedly is the best matchup of the year across college wrestling, and will likely determine the Dan Hodge Trophy winner.

3. Colin Realbuto embracing fatherhood, final season at UNI

There will be a couple of changes in the lineup, with Lance Runyon going to heavyweight and Colin Realbuto returning from an Olympic redshirt.

The biggest life-altering change, however, is that Realbuto became a father this offseason.

Wrestling at a series in Croatia as a warmup to the Olympic Trials Qualifier, Realbuto tore his ACL and knew he’d miss his chance to compete for Italy at the Olympics. While he sulked in a hotel room, he got a FaceTime call from his fiancé, Meredith, with a positive pregnancy test.

Now, Realbuto comes into the season with a bigger purpose: wrestling for his daughter, Georgia, and having a blast with her in his final season. That opportunity, while tough, is something he thanks his fiancé for ahead of what should be a strong season for the 149-pounder when he returns from injury.

“It’s been awesome, mostly because Meredith’s been a freaking trooper,” Realbuto said. “She’s taking the brunt of it. I got to give her credit because I’m gone all day at practice and at class, so I can’t do much during the day. She’s got no complaints, just taking it on. I really appreciate that, because without that, I wouldn’t be able to put as much time in on the wrestling mat and in class as I am now.”

Eli McKown covers high school sports and wrestling for the Des Moines Register. Contact him at Emckown@gannett.com. Follow him on Twitter at @EMcKown23.