2022 Emerging Philanthropist Award
Tara and Chad ’93 Surprenant
Chad and Tara Surprenant represent the future of philanthropy and engagement at Iowa State University.
In their more than 20 years of giving back to the university, the Suprenants’ generosity has impacted many areas of campus. Chad, a 1993 civil engineering graduate, also volunteers his time to the university, specifically through his service on the Civil Engineering Industrial Advisory Council. Tara attended Iowa State as well and later taught preschool for 11 years while raising a busy family.
The couple recently saw a pressing need that would impact the experience of students within the College of Design. Partnering that with their philanthropic mindset – as well as Chad’s vision for impacting the delivery of educational opportunities and preparing students to enter the workforce – the Surprenants chose to completely fund a new design technology application space in the college.
The gift resulted in the Surprenant Ingenuity Lab, which currently houses equipment for virtual and augmented reality applications, as well as 3D scanning technology, but is designed to be flexible for future needs. Students who use the space have the opportunity to develop skills that make them well-prepared to enter today’s workforce.
Shared one nominator, “We aspire to train leaders who understand what Chad and Tara already know: working together, we can overcome any challenge, solve any problem and succeed. Their philanthropic support nurtures our growth in that direction.”
Chad’s innovative drive has also led to substantial growth of ISG, the multi-disciplinary design and engineering firm he led as president and CEO for 20 years. He now serves as the firm’s chief strategy officer and board chair. While at the helm of ISG, Chad has helped the firm grow from 10 employees to 500, expand from a family company and shareholders to 100% employee-owned, and be recognized annually as one of the fastest growing design firms in the nation.
Additionally, Chad has received such recognitions as the Young Engineer of the Year Award from the Minnesota Society of Professional Engineers and the Minnesota Federation of Engineering.
He said of his and Tara’s philanthropy, “As an engineer and graduate of Iowa State University and upon some significant internal transition in ISG, we were able to give back to organizations that meant so much to us getting where we are. My parents had always taught us the value of giving time, talent and treasure, and while those have not been available in equal parts, as soon as were able, we gave.”
Chad continued, “Initially, our intent was to give to the civil engineering program, but at ISG, we are so much more, and after seeing the immediate impact we could make with the Surprenant Ingenuity Lab, it became a natural fit. I am certain we are not done in our giving, and while architecture has been a huge part of our success, I would guess that engineering is next. Tara and I both attended Iowa State. For me, obtaining my degree was a challenge, and giving back for the open doors that degree provided me is very meaningful.”
The Surprenants are ISU Foundation Governors and members of the Order of the Knoll Campanile Society and President’s Circle. They currently reside in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, and have three children: Noah, Ellie and Caleb. Noah and Ellie are both current students at Iowa State.