Elizabeth Meyer

Shareholder attorney/board member
Davis Brown Law Firm

Age: 36

Partner: Alex Meyer

Children: Thomas (9), James (7) and Benny (2)

Mentor: Stan Thompson

Why she’s a Forty: She is a board member of Davis Brown Law Firm, chair of Davis Brown’s Trust & Estate Litigation Department, current board chair of Girl Scouts of Greater Iowa, and a founding member of ALLIED Education Fund.

What are your goals in your role at your company? 

My goals for our organization as a whole include keeping Davis Brown strong throughout the pandemic, and maximizing the opportunities for our lawyers and clients presented by Davis Brown’s upcoming combination with Dentons. On a personal level, my goal is to develop a national trust and estate litigation practice. 

What are your goals for your community involvement? 

In my role as board chair of Girl Scouts of Greater Iowa, I have already seen the organization grow and become an example of innovation for other councils throughout the U.S., even under difficult circumstances. My goal is to keep that momentum going in 2021 and beyond. 

What's your biggest passion, and why? 

My biggest passion is learning. I am a person of varied interests, from natural history to linguistics, to the art of barbecue. If you stop learning, you stop living. Learning new things keeps me excited about life and builds creativity. 

What is it that drives you? 

My family instilled in me the value of helping others, and leaving the world a better place than you found it. This value was reinforced through my experiences in Girl Scouts. I find myself driven by the satisfaction that comes with solving difficult problems and relieving the burdens of others.   

What are your future aspirations? 

Along with four close friends, I recently founded a scholarship fund in my hometown called the ALLIED Education Fund. ALLIED stands for Alumni Lifting up Leaders in Inclusion, Equity and Diversity. I hope to see this project grow into something bigger, and to become more involved in DEI initiatives. 

Three hobbies: Gardening (flowers and vegetables), cooking and exploring the outdoors with my three boys. 

Fun fact: Elizabeth is a huge fan of Disney parks, and staves off boredom by planning dream Disney vacations for her family. 

ONE word: Feisty.

What is your wish for the Central Iowa business community? 

I wish to see the small business community, including the Des Moines restaurant scene, come back after the pandemic as vibrant as it was before the pandemic. I miss dining out downtown.

Anything else you haven't addressed that people must know about you? 

I was born and raised in Missouri, but fell in love with Iowa after moving here in 2006.