Christine Vorhies’ relationship with Camp Courageous goes back to some of her earliest years.  Chris’ parents, Dan & Carol Vorhies, of Monticello, IA, were involved in Camp Courageous for most the Camp’s life.  Seldom did a day go by that Dan & Carol weren’t doing something for Camp.  Dan & Carol were both Honorary Board Members, the highest honor that can be bestowed by the Camp on anyone.  Other Honorary Board Members included Tait Cummins and Leo Greco.

Chris set the Camp on fire for years, when she would lead Aegon, (later to become Transamerica), for a month set aside each year to promote, support, and advocate for Camp Courageous.  There were raffles and competition between departments.  They would compete to see which department could produce the best auction item(s) for the Pineapple Gala.  Every basket, which was sometimes as big as canoe, filled with $1,000s in supplies, became top live auction items.  It would take an entire straight truck to pick-up what they collected for Camp…those were truly ‘glory days.’

With the trend toward health and wellness, Chris switched gears to help start the Camp Courageous Sprint Triathlon, with the Title Sponsor being Transamerica.  There she played a key role in making the event a premier race in Eastern Iowa, and for the vast majority of participants, it was their first triathlon.  She accomplished the goal of making more and more people set health goals, like completing a triathlon.  Once again raising awareness for Camp Courageous, raising money for the Camp, and making, thousands of people, healthier, over the years.

Chris’s entire life has been a labor of love, from Transamerica to her family, to her friends, to the community…everything she does, she gives 100%.

Unfortunately, her dad, Dan, one of the nicest people one could ever meet, passed in 2021 at the age of 80 from Parkinson’s Disease, but her mom, Carol, stays active.  Chris, is one incredible individual, blessed with two wonderful parents, who were all about giving back to their community.  In addition, her grandmother just passed, at the age 104. At one time Chris’ grandparents were the longest married couple in Iowa, 78.5 years!

Thank you to the CBJ (Corridor Business Journal) for allowing Camp Courageous to print their story on Chris….a heartwarming tribute to a wonderful person….Congratulations Chris!

This profile was originally published in the CBJ’s 2024 Women of Influence publication. The 2024 Women of Influence are an inspiring group of community leaders who have each overcome adversity, taken chances and challenged themselves to make a positive impact in their community, despite demanding schedules in their personal and professional lives.

The positive influence of Christine Vorhies reverberates not only in her professional life, but through her community involvement as well. 

As head of operations at Transamerica, Ms. Vorhies has enhanced efficiency and significantly improved customer experience at the insurance company, Chris Fleming, Chief Operating Officer of Individual Solutions at Transamerica wrote in nominating her for the Women of Influence award.

“However, what truly sets Christine apart is her unwavering commitment to community service,” Mr. Fleming wrote. “Her dedication goes beyond her professional responsibilities, extending into significant community involvement that aligns perfectly with the ideals of the Women of Influence awards.”                                        

Ms. Vorhies graduated from high school in her hometown of Monticello and received her bachelor’s degree in business marketing from the University of Northern Iowa, where she completed three internships in different industries.

“This is where I started to recognize that operations management was something I enjoyed,” she said, adding she did not have a specific career goal during her youth. 

Job opportunities brought her to Cedar Rapids, where she has lived for more than 30 years, including 20 with Transamerica.

Ms. Vorhies has been in her current position for two years but has been an operations leader her entire time at Transamerica. 

In her role as head of annuity operations, she is responsible for the overall service delivery for annuity policy owners and advisors and has direct oversight of approximately 500 operations staff and service providers to administer Transamerica’s annuity business.

Early in her career, Ms. Vorhies worked at a telecom startup for eight years as an operations leader, during a time of explosive growth when the company grew from just a couple hundred employees to more than 14,000 employees through acquisitions.

“And I was there through a decline with corporate bankruptcies and reorganizations,” she said. “As a young manager at the time, I gained valuable leadership experience managing fast-paced change that was both positive and negative.”

While Ms. Vorhies recalled both ends of that journey as overwhelming at times, one of her most important realizations was the impact she had on a large number of employees, and the responsibility she had to be transparent, yet disciplined in how she led through changes.

“There were times where I was scared or uncertain about a change, but it was more important for me to convey confidence,” she said. “I could control my response to the change and help others feel included and heard in the process. I didn’t get it right every time, but it was a foundational lesson early in my career.”                                                        

That experience carried over into her leadership philosophy at Transamerica.

“I always look to put people in positions to grow and where they can be their personal best,” Ms. Vorhies said. “It takes personal commitment for people to develop the right level of competency for any position, and I believe helping people be accountable to create that competency is important in their development and career.” 

One way to do that is by taking on challenges that create change and lead to positive outcomes, she noted, by giving people the tools and guidance they need to flourish in their roles, so they can hone their skills and make a positive impact.

Ms. Vorhies served on the board of directors and as a classroom volunteer for Junior Achievement of Eastern Iowa from 2012 to 2018 and as a Girl Scouts of Eastern Iowa leader from 2008 to 2015, and she was a Waypoint Women of Achievement honoree in 2012.

She currently serves on the United Way of East Central Iowa Board of Directors, Transamerica’s Cedar Rapids Foundation Committee and as a volunteer for Camp Courageous, where her leadership on the triathlon committee has helped raise more than $500,000 and raised awareness for people with special needs.

Ms. Vorhies said technology has helped with her work-life balance, including using FaceTime to connect with her husband, Randy Harris, and their two adult daughters during a recent worldwide business trip. 

Travel is another learning opportunity.

“I do try to learn from everybody I interact with,” Ms. Vorhies said. “I often remind myself to stay curious and be intentional about learning more about people with views or customs that are different from my own.”