Who we are.

VolunteerLocal has been empowering athletic competitions, community festivals, and non-profit events to success since 2003. Born out of a need identified by Des Moines Arts Festival, our web-based software has proven to be a key component in managing the volunteer force that is so vital to events that range from AAU Junior Olympic Games to the World Food Festival. 

VolunteerLocal, LLC is proudly based in the Western Gateway neighborhood in Des Moines, Iowa, a thriving Midwestern city that we love, but we serve events all across the country (and eventually the world).

The VolunteerLocal Team

Brian Hemesath - Founder

Brian wrote the original version of the VolunteerLocal software in 2003 and remains our technical lead. He's a serial entrepreneur founding Diligent IS, a web development company, and Catchwind, a mobile marketing company, as well as VolunteerLocal. 

Brian is active in the business and philanthropic communities in Des Moines.

Geoff Wood - Executive Director

Geoff leads the day-to-day operations of VolunteerLocal and is the main contact for most current and future clients. He has a background in leading software teams and implementing emerging technologies. He's consulted for clients all across the country but has always held tight to his Midwestern roots, basing his career at various times from Iowa, Nebraska and Indiana.

In addition to VolunteerLocal, he's passionate about entrepreneurship and his community of Des Moines. He's the local contributer to Silicon Prairie News, the leading information source for information on innovation in the heartland. He can often be found speaking on topics related to entrepreneurship in the community or collaborating with other local leaders on how to further the entrepreneurial ecosystem in the community. 

Learn more about Geoff at his personal website: www.geoffreyhwood.com