Chris Deal

Partner, Modus Engineering; manager, Deal’s Orchard

Age: 38

Wife: Tracy Deal 

Children: Aidan (9), Charlie (7) and Addie (4).

Reasons he is a Forty: He splits his time between running a family farming business that was recognized as Iowa’s Outstanding Rural Retail Experience and serving as a partner at an engineering firm that is a leader in sustainable design. In Jefferson, his community efforts have helped complete several historic renovations of downtown buildings and attract multiple new businesses. He co-founded a nonprofit with three college friends that has had an impact on over 1 million people in Central America. He helped create the vision and plan that allowed for a $35 million school and career academy project for Greene County.

What are your goals in your role at your company? Deal’s Orchard: It’s the offseason, so this is our opportunity to plan for this upcoming year – and future years – so we can continue to provide a special place that creates memorable experiences for the families that visit our family farm. Modus Engineering: We’re working to enable our staff of engineers to improve society through the design of safe, sustainable and innovative buildings. 

What are your goals for your community involvement? I am helping with two historic renovations in Jefferson. One project will add six downtown apartments as well as a new restaurant to the historic downtown square. The other will convert a vacated school building into 25 apartments.

What's your biggest passion, and why? My focus these past years – and for the foreseeable future – is on the revitalization of rural Iowa. I think there’s something special about the small communities around our state, and I think we need to find a synergy between urban and rural for our state to thrive.

What is it that drives you? Every day we’re presented with an opportunity to make the world a slightly better place. I hope to show that anyone can make an impact with a combination of hard work, dedication and a sense of possibility.

What are your future aspirations? I want to find ways to ensure that kids growing up in our rural communities have similar opportunities to kids growing up in suburban and urban communities.

Three hobbies: Spending time with my wife and kids.

Fun fact: He has a love for travel and new experiences. Some notable examples include skydiving in Australia, whitewater rafting on the Nile River, and hang gliding in Rio de Janeiro.

One word to describe you: Optimistic.

What is your wish for the Central Iowa business community? In a time when discord and disagreement seem to rule the airwaves, I wish that we could realize that our success comes from focusing on the bigger picture and aligning behind common goals to enable progress.

What's one piece of advice that you would give to a young professional? Find what motivates you. There are plenty of opportunities outside of the corporate ladder. Be willing to step outside of your comfort zone and try something new and different.

What is one issue you would like to see Central Iowa leaders address? A sound economy goes hand in hand with community growth. As we work to grow Iowa for the next generation, I’d like business leaders to be at the table to help provide real-world feedback on priorities so that we can create an environment that is attractive for business and entrepreneurship throughout the state, in both urban and rural communities.