Scott Raecker: Strengthening Communities Through Civility & Leadership

Scott Raecker, a veteran of Iowa politics and civic leadership, has been named the 2026 Forty Under 40 Alum of the Year by the Business Record. The recognition honors Raecker’s decades of work strengthening communities through a focus on character development and ethical leadership.

Raecker’s career has spanned both the public and private sectors. He served 14 years in the Iowa House of Representatives, rising to chair the House Appropriations Committee. He then transitioned to leading the Robert D. And Billie Ray Center at Drake University, a position he has held for nearly three decades.

The Ray Center, established as a legacy project following Iowa’s 1996 sesquicentennial, was envisioned by former Governor Robert D. Ray to promote civility and civic engagement among Iowans. Raecker has overseen the center’s growth from a state-focused initiative to a global resource, now reaching over 9 million young people worldwide through the Character Counts initiative. The center officially became part of Drake University in 2015, solidifying its ties to higher education and expanding its reach.

“For me, I think the common thread is mission drive and impact in the lives of others in each of those arenas,” Raecker said in a recent interview. “I’ve always gravitated toward things that are cause related. Can I receive up today and in what I do see that I have made a difference in the world?”

The Character Counts program, central to the Ray Center’s work, is built around six core pillars: trustworthiness, respect, responsibility, fairness, caring, and excellent citizenship. Initially implemented in a single Iowa fifth-grade classroom in 1997, the program expanded rapidly, training over 50,000 Iowa educators and community leaders within its first decade. In July 2019, the Ray Center acquired global rights to Character Counts, significantly broadening its impact.

Raecker emphasized that civility is not simply about politeness, but about equipping individuals to navigate difficult conversations and disagreements constructively. “When we talk about civility, the foundation…is courtesy, decency, respect, kindness and decorum,” he explained. “But what we’re really trying to get to is, ‘How do we equip people at all levels to work better together, to utilize this concept of civility to move us forward in any challenging and difficult decision.’”

He also stressed the importance of character education as a lifelong pursuit. “Character Counts is not a program, it is a way of life,” Raecker said. “The Six Pillars of Character are life skills that are important in every stage of our lives.”

Reflecting on his time in the Iowa House, Raecker highlighted the enduring value of building intentional relationships, even amidst political differences. “The intentionality of building relationships with people that are new and different was critical then, and it’s critical now,” he stated. He noted the importance of active listening and seeking to understand opposing viewpoints, skills he believes are increasingly vital in a polarized political climate.

Looking ahead, Raecker expressed optimism about the potential for progress, emphasizing the role of informed and engaged citizens. “I believe to my core that people are good,” he said. “I am going to be part of the solution of trying to equip people with tools and strategies to elevate our civility and how we interact with each other.”

Raecker described his approach to leadership as evolving, with a growing emphasis on hiring for character competencies and shaping organizational culture. “I wish to know what values are you going to bring to our organization from a culture standpoint,” he said. “If we’re not modeling the character competencies we expect to see with those we’re working with, we have no credibility in what we do.”