Karyl Bohnsack is executive officer (EO) for The Greater Iowa City Area Home Builders Association (HBA), being named to the position in May of 2015. She studied History Education at Wartburg College and Fort Hays State University. Bohnsack is a Certified New Home Sales Professional and a Certified Aging in Place Specialist.
Prior to joining the Iowa City Area HBA, Bohnsack worked in finance for more than 20 years - including 15 years as office manager at CPA firm Latta, Harris, Hanon & Penningroth, L.L.P. Her experience includes management roles in accounts receivable, accounts payable, debt collection, payroll and tax preparation.
Since taking the helm at the Iowa City Area HBA, Bohnsack has grown membership 36 percent, increased the association’s Remodelers Council by 370 percent, helped reinstitute the Student-Built House Program after a 10-year hiatus and guided the addition of Architecture, Construction, Engineering classes at Iowa City High School following more than a decade without a vocational technical class. She was active in the Iowa City Area HBA before becoming EO, serving on the board of directors (10 years), chairing the Women’s Council (three years), spearheading the Membership Committee (three years), acting as a state director (eight years) and operating as a national director (two years).
For nearly two decades, Bohnsack has been a consistent presence in numerous Iowa City organizations by volunteering for a variety of committee, council or board positions. She currently serves on the Iowa Valley Habitat for Humanity Board of Directors, the Johnson County Affordable Housing Coalition Affordable Homeownership Advocacy Committee, Iowa City Area Business Partnerships (Chamber of Commerce) Business Council on Legislative Affairs and the Iowa City Downtown District Legislative Committee. Bohnsack also is a member of the Livable Community Housing Action Team and an Iowa City Area Business Partnerships ambassador. Additionally, she is active at Iowa City’s Our Redeemer Lutheran Church as a Small Group Committee Chair and Small Group Bible Study Leader. Previous volunteer experience includes Silent Auction Chair and Executive Leadership Committee member for the Eastern Iowa American Heart Association Go Red for Women initiative and chairing the Our Redeemer Lutheran Church Cookie Walk to raise money for missions.
Bohnsack has received several awards, notably The Greater Iowa City Area HBA Associate of the Year and the Iowa City Area Chamber of Commerce Volunteer of the Year and Ambassador Diamond Club. She has twice received the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) Commitment to Excellence accolade and earned NAHB recognition for accumulating more than 100 continuing education hours. At IBS in January 2020, Bohnsack was honored to be named the NAHB Local Executive Officer of the Year.
When she’s not working or volunteering, Bohnsack enjoys reading, board games, craft beer festivals and traveling. She is originally from Anita, Iowa, and married to David Bohnsack. They have two children, Zac and Helen.