Strategic America (SA), an integrated marketing and communications firm headquartered in West Des Moines, Iowa, recently announced the appointment of Matt Strawn as president and chief executive officer (CEO), effective Monday, June 8.
Mr. Strawn succeeds John Schreurs, who announced his retirement following a 43-year career at SA, the final 10 as president and CEO.
SA has clients and employees in Iowa and beyond including in the Quad Cities region, Laura Vanden Bosch, marketing and communications vice president, recently told the QCBJ. In fact, she wrote in an email about 30% of its staff works remotely, including from various eastern Iowa locales.
Quad Cities-based clients include Pella Quad Cities (dealers in Davenport and Peoria, Illinois); and Lennox (including dealer J.L. Brady in Moline). Statewide, some of its clients include the Iowa Lottery, ISave 529, the Iowa Governor’s Council on STEM Education, and Iowa College Foundation. Its members include St. Ambrose University and Upper Iowa University, both with QC locations).
SA specializes in multi-location marketing, brand building and customer engagement. It represents a diverse set of clients that span multiple industries and geographies.
Mr. Strawn has served as chief executive officer of the Iowa Lottery since 2019 and is chairman of the Powerball Product Group. As Iowa Lottery CEO, he modernized the organization’s technology platforms, business practices and marketing solutions to produce record lottery revenues and sales across more than 2,500 retail outlets. Strawn’s leadership of Powerball generated nearly $8 billion in annual sales, scaled its national marketing and product partnerships, and delivered the brand’s first-ever international expansion.
“Matt is a strategic and visionary leader who will drive SA’s growth and continued success for SA clients,” said Joe Garcia, member of SA’s Board of Directors and regional vice president, Aflac. “During a time of growing industry complexity, Matt’s unique strategic skills and entrepreneurial spirit are ideally suited to lead the talented SA team through these challenges, deliver innovative solutions for our clients, and position the firm for further growth.”
Mr. Strawn brings to SA a varied executive leadership background advising global brands, corporations, businesses, not-for-profit organizations, and public officials. This includes roles as co-founder and managing director of a Chicago-based professional services firm; president of a public policy advisory and strategic communications group; co-owner and operator of a minor league sports franchise, and senior-level public service positions within the State of Iowa and the United States Congress.
“Matt is the right leader at exactly the right moment for SA’s next chapter,” said Mr. Scheuers. “He brings to SA a wealth of knowledge across industry sectors, a record of operational excellence, innovative marketing savvy, and proven strategic leadership. Matt will champion a positive, high-performance culture that maintains our deep commitment to client success and the community. I am proud he is my successor and excited for the future.”
“It is a privilege to lead the talented SA team and an exceptional Iowa-based business,” said Strawn. “It’s a time of turbulent change for brands, businesses and organizations of all sizes, but one constant remains Strategic America’s culture of service. Service to each other. Service to our communities. And a service mindset that is critical to driving strategic growth, innovative solutions, and delivering value for SA’s clients.”
Mr. Strawn and his wife Erin, president and CEO of the Iowa Center for Economic Success, are Des Moines residents and active community leaders. The couple served as 2025 chairs of the John Stoddard Cancer Center Rally Against Cancer Gala. Mr. Strawn’s history of extensive community involvement includes leadership roles with non-profit organizations devoted to cancer patients and preventative health screenings, food insecurity, economic development, international diplomacy, and youth sports.
Mr. Strawn is an Iowa native and alumnus of the University of Iowa (B.A.) and earned his J.D. from The Catholic University of America’s Columbus School of Law in Washington, D.C. He is also a past Pritzker Fellow at the University of Chicago. He and Erin have three children.
To ensure a smooth transition, Mr. Schreurs will remain with Strategic America through much of 2026 to support the onboarding of his successor and will continue serving on SA’s Board of Directors.
