Third in The Courier's 20 Under 40 series

CEDAR FALLS -- For Heather Bremer-Miller, life can be a juggling act.

She's a wife and mother to three young children.

She's a successful career woman who is responsible for securing millions of dollars in donations as the executive director of foundations for Wheaton Franciscan Healthcare.

And she is a heavy hitter in the community, participating in numerous organizations that help everyone from impoverished children of Nicaragua to children served by the Variety Club of Iowa.

"The balls you want to drop are not the sharp ones or the ones on fire," Bremer-Miller said of her hectic schedule.

So far, those who know her best say she has yet to drop any of the tasks she's juggling. Chris Hyers, vice president of business development for the health care system, said in his nomination form that it is Bremer-Miller's "ability to balance work and life and get great results in both," that make her a perfect candidate for this year's 20 Under 40 honor.

"I realize there are many motivated and successful business leaders in the Cedar Valley, but … Heather has demonstrated she deserves to be selected as the best of the best in her area, someone who will make contributions to this community for the next 25 years," Hyers wrote.

Though Bremer-Miller once thought hard about leaving the Cedar Valley, she said now the possibilities are pretty slim.

"When I graduated from college, I applied for jobs all over, and my first job landed me here," she said. "Life is definitely not the same all over the United States, and I think we are just so lucky here. I saw a lot of the country when I was traveling for UNI, but now, Tripoli is home for us. I want my children to have the same opportunities and experience the same things I did as a kid."

Professionally, Bremer-Miller said her heart still lies with her work in nonprofits and fundraising. She started down that road 11 years ago with the American Cancer Society and continued working in fundraising through Hawkeye Community College and the University of Northern Iowa before landing the job at Wheaton Franciscan in 2006.

"It all started because I was looking at my career and it seemed I was doing a lot to make wealthy people wealthier. When the American Cancer Society opportunity came up, I had an uncle battling bone cancer," she said. "I didn't know if I would like nonprofit work, but it all kind of came together. Now, everything I do, I can see the results of it making people's lives better. By the time I end each day, I can smile and say 'I helped make a difference in someone's world.'"

Contact Emily Christensen at (319) 291-1570 or emily.christensen@wcfcourier.com.