Becky Reif

Attorney, Ahlers & Cooney PC

Age: 38

Education: Drake University Law School - Juris Doctor (2013), highest honors; Colorado State University - B.A., political science (2008), magna cum laude

Husband: Aaron Reif

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Tell us some of your proudest accomplishments or accolades.

Making shareholder at my law firm only three years after being hired by the firm, and moving both into a leadership role and head of the Higher Education Practice Group while still relatively early in my career.

Serving as a trusted legal partner for many (if not most) of Iowa’s private colleges and community colleges, particularly in navigating these tumultuous times.

Focusing on volunteering and civic engagement not just in big “board” or “counsel” roles, but day-to-day volunteering for direct impacts, like with the Everybody Wins! Power Read mentoring program in elementary schools or a book club at the Iowa Correctional Institution for Women in Mitchellville.

What's your biggest passion, and why?

My biggest passion is quite honestly “slow food” and sustainability. In the last five or six years in particular, I have worked on building skills and practices to improve my and my family’s lives, and to make a positive impact on the food chain and environment. I grow and make much of my own food (veggies, fruit, eggs, chicken, honey, sourdough, etc.), and my husband and I are always looking for ways to be self-sufficient and benefit our environment. I am very invested in the “slow food” and sustainability movement for all the good it can bring to my family and the plants, animals and world around me.

How do you define success, both personally and professionally?

To me, “success” is having a sense of well-being and security, which I largely get from making a positive impact on those around me. I feel successful professionally when my clients trust me to guide them through stressful and risky situations, and to feel more certain in an uncertain world. I feel successful personally when I am hitting all cylinders and taking care of my family, friends and community.

Tell us about an issue you think more people should know about.

Relating to my personal passion projects, I think more people should think about where their food and other consumables come from, and the impact on their bodies, the economy and the environment. It can get overwhelming, I know. And it is a privilege to have the time and make the investment to learn and do more to be more sustainable.

What's an experience or memory that influenced how you saw the world or what you wanted to do in life?

Before I decided for certain to go to law school, I worked as a paralegal at the Wyoming Attorney General's Office supporting the personnel section. In that job, I realized the investment people have in their jobs; it is where we spend most of our waking hours, and can matter so much to identity and relationships. We saw people do the most ridiculous things at work, especially if they had conflict or tumult. Once, we had to terminate an employee for going around the office and LICKING the phone handsets and doorknobs of co-workers in anger. These experiences made me interested in employment law when I went to law school (which I practice now), largely because you see so much of people and their stories in their work.

What are your aspirations for the future?

This is particularly hard to answer in such a particularly uncertain time, for Iowa, the country and myself. My biggest aspirations are to keep doing what I am doing, with the hopes of making realistically and incrementally bigger impacts, such as representing more clients seeking empathetic and experienced legal counsel and maintaining civic engagement in organizations around mentorship, food security and animal rescue. In a few words: sustained positive impact.

What's one piece of advice you'd give to a young professional?

Don’t try to do it all at once. It is great to have ambition and drive, and a list of goals and desired accomplishments. But, doing too much at one time can cause burnout and discouragement. Set meaningful and realistic goals, even if that means not doing everything at once. Maybe take some time to really focus on your career, a different time to really focus on your community engagement, and a different time to better yourself.

What's one regular habit that's made you successful?

I honestly cannot think of one. I don’t know if I see any of my habits as particularly “good” or driving my success. Maybe that is my answer — I can identify my bad habits and not give into them!

What is one thing you would like to see Central Iowa leaders address, and why?

Making Iowa an attractive place for young professionals from all walks of life. I moved to Iowa from the Rocky Mountain West in 2010. At that time, Iowa was a “purple” state with great opportunities for education, employment and activities, with a low cost of living. It felt welcoming, vibrant and forward-looking. If I were in the same position now, I don’t know that I would choose to move to 2025 Iowa. The “culture war” policies and laws being passed at a furious rate risk driving young professionals away, which is a negative for economic growth and business regardless of your politics.

What's one fun fact about you?

I am a full-fledged "chicken lady." I got my first four hens six years ago, and now have a flock of more than a dozen hens and a rooster. I sure get popular when egg prices go up!

Hobbies:

Vegetable gardening, cooking, hiking/nature walks.

What is one word that best describes you?

Committed.

What’s one food (meal, snack, dessert, whatever!) you think people must try in the Des Moines area?

The burgers at Lachele's Fine Foods — the best!

What’s the funniest or most surprising thing that’s happened to you recently?

We adopted a rescue dog with a rough background, knowing we had the time and ability to give her a quiet, supportive home. We got more than we bargained for. In addition to being neglected and malnourished, unbeknownst to us or the rescue, she was pregnant! I quickly learned everything I could about whelping puppies, and served as her doggie midwife. We got four beautiful puppies and kept one. Now our mom-and-puppy pair are the best of friends, and my husband’s and my wonderful companions.

What’s your favorite tradition to participate in locally?

The World Food Fest. My husband and I are adventurous eaters and international travelers, and we love going to the World Food Fest each year to try and find new dishes — the more obscure and unpronounceable the better. One year, to prove that we will try anything, we ordered a “chocolate soup,” which was a stew made with pork blood. It was not my favorite, but I will try anything at least once!