Cady Sinnwell Gerlach

General Counsel & Director of Strategic Operations
and Resource Management  |  Shelter House
AGE: 37

Best advice you ever received?

My Syracuse commencement speaker, Judge James Graves, said something that resonates with me to this day: “Begin each day expecting that the world owes you nothing – and then you will be delighted with every kind word, every helping hand and every little smile … Each day when you wake up, determine that no matter what, you are going to make the world just a little better than it was when you woke up that day.”

What do you consider your biggest break so far?

Moving to Iowa City! For many young professionals around the country, Iowa isn’t on their radar. I’ve lived in Washington, D.C., Colorado, Wisconsin, New York and Mongolia. Iowa City and the Corridor is the most well-rounded, locally conscious place we’ve ever called home.

What would most people be surprised to learn about you?

I lived in Mongolia for over two years with my spouse, Peter. We got married in 2006 and the first thing we did was join the U.S. Peace Corps. He trained future English teachers as a university professor, and I spent my time in an NGO doing small business development with farmers and nomadic herders.

If you had $1 million to give, what causes would you support?

I’m biased, but Shelter House! The team at Shelter House could achieve incredible outcomes in providing permanent housing for many individuals and families through innovative solutions to end homelessness.