About Us 
The Marriage Matters staff works together to develop healthy marriage programming across the state of Iowa in community and faith-based organizations. For more information on Marriage Mentoring programming or to enroll in Marriage Mentoring, please contact the staff member in your area.
Dr. Mike Hartwig, Ph.D. and his wife, LeeAnn
Mike earned his Ph.D. in Education from Trinity Evangelical Divinity School, M.Div. from Grace Seminary in Winona Lake, IN., B.A. from Faith Baptist Bible College. He is the "Grand PooBah" of Marriage Matters® & Vice President of Iowa Family Policy Center. He and his wife, LeeAnn, have 3 children: 20-yr-old son at Iowa State University in the ROTC Air Force & Industrial Tech. Programs, 19-year-old son at Iowa State in the Business Program, and a 17-year-old daughter in high school in the breaking boys hearts program. They have been happily married 26 years!!!
Where you went for your first date?Bowling and Pizza Hut.
A source of conflict in your marriage?
Money, money, money. Lee Ann isn’t satisfied until we have the equivalent of Fort Knox in our bank account and I want to die with just $.32 in my pocket.
TV shows you watch together?
HGTV! You mean there are other stations?!?
Something interesting about your wedding?
The wedding march started playing, people stood, the doors to the back of the auditorium opened and there was Lee Ann. She looked at me and turned to go to the bathroom only to reappear a few moments later.
Southeast Regional Coordinators
Jon & Angela Pedersen
Jon and Angela have been working with couples to help strengthen marriages and families for 10 years. Angela has a Psychology degree from Truman State University. Jon works in Sales and Marketing, and Angela homeschools their three beautiful children: Jonathan (14), Samuel (11), and Emma (8). They have been married for 17 years.
Where you went for your first date?
We were high school sweethearts. Our first date was to a youth rally and Jon's church and then out for pizza afterward. We have been inseparable ever since.
A source of conflict in your marriage?
Since we are both first born and bull headed, we waste too much time and energy arguing over little things that don't really matter. We have learned over the years to stop taking ourselves so seriously and enjoy our time together. It is important to have fun as a couple.
TV shows you watch together?
We don't have time to sit down on a regular basis to watch TV, but on the treasured "family night" we can be found sitting down with our children to watch an episode of Little House on the Prairie on DVD.
Tim Boettger and his wife, Kris
Tim Boettger is a minister at Orchard Hill Church in Cedar Falls, Iowa. He and his wife Kris were married in 1991. They live on an acreage outside of town with their two Children Isaac (age 14) and Adrienne (age 11). Tim and Kris work to strengthen marriages throughout the state by leading marriage enrichment workshops and facilitating a marriage mentoring ministry in their community. They love time together as a couple and as a family, and they are thankful to be able to serve on the Marriage Matters team.
Where you went for your first date?
Our first date was to a movie in Pella Iowa after we met in 1987 at Central College in Pella.
A source of conflict in your marriage?
Whether or not dresser drawers and closet doors were designed to be left open or made so they can be closed!
TV shows you watch together?
None… wish we had time to find one!
Something interesting about your wedding?
The the meal served as a celebration of our wedding included all you can eat pizza from a Godfather’s pizza truck that baked pizza on demand and make-your-own banana splits for dessert!Regional Coordinator for Northeast Iowa, Project Coordinator
Lynn Nelson and her husband, Gary
Lynn works full-time for Marriage Matters as Project Coordinator. Lynn lives in Cedar Rapids with her husband, Gary and their daughter, Ellie. Lynn and Gary were married in 1991 and have been blessed with two wonderful children (Kyle 21 and Ellie 15). Gary is a partner in the law firm of Rush & Nicholson in Cedar Rapids. Gary recently joined the staff at Marriage Matters as the NE Iowa Regional Coordinator. Lynn and Gary feel their marriage has been richly blessed by working together as marriage mentors, leading small groups on marriage, leading marriage enrichments and training other mentor couples.
Where you went for your first date?
Dinner and Bowling
A source of conflict in your marriage?
When we handle conflict immaturely!
TV shows you watch together?
Everyone Loves Raymond and Seinfeld
Something interesting about your wedding?
We eloped in Key West, Florida and then renewed our vows in a beautiful church ceremony ten years later.
Website Editor
Stephanie Blair and her husband, John
Stephanie has worked for Iowa Family Policy Center since January, 2006. She has assisted two Project Directors in organizing and implementing statewide initiatives: Compassion Iowa and The Iowa Healthy Marriage Initiative. Currently, she is the web editor and project manager for the Marriage Matters website. Stephanie lives in Albany, Georgia where she telecommutes. Her and her husband, John, are newly-weds, and they have two cats, Conan and Bunny. Both John and Stephanie feel strongly about the mission of Marriage Matters and contribute when and where they can to strengthen the marriages of couples around them.
Where you went for your first date?
We went to Copeland's Cheesecake Bistro.
A source of conflict in your marriage?
What color to paint our bedroom walls. We're happy to report that we have settled on white!
TV shows you watch together?
We enjoy watching the IT Crowd and recently, White Collar and 30 Rock.
Something interesting about your wedding?
We were married on a Monday. What a great way to start off the week!
Marketing Coordinator
Julie Summa and her husband, Dean.
Julie has been primarily a stay-at-home Mom for the last 19 years with work experience in the areas of marketing and product management. She and her husband have two sons; one a freshman at Bethel University in St. Paul, MN and one a sophomore at Iowa State University. They have been married for 29 years.
Where you went for your first date?
St. Louis Symphony Concert
A source of conflict in your marriage?
Money
TV shows you watch together?
Bill O'Reilly
Something interesting about your wedding?It was the year of the 17-year cicadas so our outdoor reception was very loud with insect singing!
Del Palmer, and his wife, Marilyn
Del received his Bachelor’s Degree from Trinity University. He and his wife, Marilyn have two children, a 41 year-old daughter and a 39 year-old son who are both married to wonderful Christians. They also have 4 grandchildren. They spent 15 years in Japan as missionaries and were involved in three church start-ups and began a Marriage Ministry to the Japanese. They are national trainers for FOCCUS, Inc. Del was also a national trainer and seminar instructor for Marriage Savers and was Director of the Faith-Based Initiative for Florida’s Department of Children & Families. Del was also the Director of Development for Christian Academy in Japan, and he now works as a Fundraising Consultant for Non-profits. He and Marilyn have been married for 44 years in December, 2009.
Where you went for your first date?
First date was to the movie “My Fair Lady” in Chicago.
A source of conflict in your marriage?
Finances…..We come from different spending-habits learned from our parents.
TV shows you watch together?
Talent shows, some sports.
Something interesting about your wedding?Honeymoon cruise ship caught fire and went down at sea a month before our wedding. Needless to say our tickets were no good and required us to change our honeymoon destination.
Mark and Jody Stevenson
Mark attended the University of Iowa and spent the first 13 years of his career as a Certified Hotel Administrator. The next 11 years were spent in full-time ministry leading Bible Camps, worship and administrative pastor of a church plant and Director of a Bible Conference. Jody went to Northwestern College for a year of Bible training before going to school to be a nurse. She was a Bible Camp nurse for 7 years, volunteer coordinator and children's minister for a church plant and co-directed a Bible Conference with Mark. Mark owns his own business doing Town home property management. Jody is a Clinic nurse. Together they have begun Treasure Chest Ministries, a catalyst for ministry across denominational lines. They have two children, Amber (26) who married Ryan DeYoung on July 11, and Seth (24) who married Becky Holmes June 17th. (Yep, two weddings 3 weeks apart!) Mark and Jody have been married for 28 years.
Where you went for your first date?
First official date was Jody's junior prom.
A source of conflict in your marriage?
Talking to each other while in another room.
TV shows you watch together?
American Idol and 24.
Something interesting about your wedding?We sang to each other, although we wouldn't recommend it. Tears get in the way! And our cake just about didn't make it. The cake maker lived 20 miles away and didn't drive. When she tried to get her husband (& chauffeur) to help with the mints the day of the wedding he left without telling her, leaving her stranded with no way to get to the church! A neighbor went and got her and they were literally putting the cake together in the presence of our guests as the wedding was starting.
Cindy Welsher and her husband, Rod
Cindy works full-time for Marriage Matters and resides in Des Moines with her husband, Rod. They have been married for 6 years and have 4 daughters, 2 sons, and 5 ½ grandchildren collectively. Both are mentors and have a passion for the work of Marriage Matters. Prior to working at Marriage Matters, Cindy felt that NOTHING could save her marriage, but thanks to persistent family members, she and Rod contacted Marriage Matters. After much hard work and experiencing the mentoring process, their marriage has been completely restored.
