Kelley Koch
Chair | Republican Party of Dallas County
Kelley was first introduced to a big dose of Iowa Republican Politics with
her Junior High friend, Vicki Ray, Governor Ray’s youngest daughter.
Add in a strong conservative household of Ronald Reagan matched with
academic studies of Dr. Ben Carson, and a firm core of conservative values
and principles were set in stone.
Following an extensive career as Director, Cardiac /Kidney/Organ
Transplant Programs, Mercy Hospital Medical Center, Kelley pivoted to
Republican Politics employing a new, bold, high energy model in bringing
Dallas County GOP to the forefront. By using a “Healthcare Approach’ with
political issues: assess/diagnose and plan/treat, Dallas has swiftly moved
forward and modernized as a dominant county party leader within the state
and greater Midwest.
Kelley’s other interest include serving as the State Advisor, Iowa Federation
of Young Republicans, saving/ rescuing animals at the Animal Rescue
League of Iowa, and anything and everything in the great outdoors.
Kelley holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Nursing, University of Iowa
and a Master’s of Science Degree in Healthcare, Rush University, Chicago.
Oliver Bardwell
Co-Chair | Republican Party of Dallas County
Shelly Hughes
Secretary | Republican Party of Dallas County
Secretary Shelly Hughes first became interested in public service and politics when she ran for Waukee City Council in 2011 and subsequently served two four-year terms. During her time on City Council Shelly served on several metro committees and helped grow the suburb from a city of 14,000 to almost 25,000; making many of the crucial decisions to handle the rapid growth responsibly and successfully. Since then, Shelly has assisted with multiple Campaigns from local to Presidential.
Shelly grew up on a farm in NE Iowa; she, her husband Brian, and their two boys have lived in Waukee since 2009. They have one son at Iowa State and one at Waukee Prairieview/Northwest.
Recently Shelly has been helping the Dallas County GOP with their Speaker Series and is excited to officially join as Secretary.
Treasurer | Republican Party of Dallas County
Tom M. Conley
Sergeant at Arms | Republican Party of Dallas County
Tom Conley is a lifelong Iowan. He is the President & C.E.O. of The Conley Group, Inc., headquartered in Urbandale, Iowa. The Conley Group provides a wide array of high-level security and consulting services.
He is a former municipal police captain and a senior-level commissioned officer from the U.S. Navy where he retired after nearly 30 years of honorable service to the United States. In the U. S. Navy, he has served in multiple law enforcement, criminal investigation, and classified information security leadership positions, as well as the commanding officer of an active-duty destroyer squadron detachment.
Mr. Conley was named one of the Most Influential People in Security globally in 2019 and has received other national and international awards for professional excellence. He is a certified Navy Master Training Specialist and a certified counter-terrorism instructor by the U.S. Department of Defense. He also served the State of Iowa as a Commissioner on the Iowa Civil Rights Commission for five years. He has served as a member of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security's Emergency Services Sector Coordinating Council as a Subject Matter Expert for many years.
He has earned three university degrees, including a Master of Arts Degree in Business Leadership with an emphasis in Quality Management as well as 13 professional certifications. The American Board has awarded him Diplomate status for Certification in Homeland Security. He is also a graduate of Executive Security International, a highly regarded executive protection academy, where he became certified as an Executive Security Specialist. He has been an Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) for more than 40 years and has earned a bona fide Black Belt in Karate. He is also a military expert with a handgun and a rifle. He has authored multiple professional publications and is a court-certified expert witness, where he has provided expert testimony in more than 50 legal cases.