I was recently recruited and interviewed for the Director of Marketing job at Prairie Meadows Racetrack Casino hotel in Altoona, and from all appearances, and a discussion with the recruiting firm today, it seems as though I have a real shot to be offered the position.

I am in a great situation, obviously, as I already have a great position, and I was 'headhunted' so I will likely be able to negotiate a fair arrangement, but I know nothing about the area, and only what I was able to see in less than 1 day of the racetrack/casino.

Does anyone have any insight into the area or the company?

Thanks in advance!

Dont know anything about the company but Altoona is not too bad. Really Ankeny is much bigger and growing much more than Altoona. There is not too much in or near the casino although they are building out there. When we moved here my wife wanted to move to west Des Moines and I thought that was the west side of Des Moines, but it was a whole different city.

Des Moines has about 10 "cities" that are all around it Altoona, Ankeny etc that make up the area. Downtown Des Moines has some nice lofts and tons of stuff going on. All in all the city is a really good city and a great place for a family. The winter is what it is snow and cold, but most other months it is great.

I live in Iowa City and work in Davenport, so I'm not usually around Des Moines, but I can tell you that I love living in Iowa. I did my medical residency at the University of Iowa Hospital and signed a contract with a major hospital in Davenport a year and a half before I graduated, so convinced was I that I wanted to stay up here. And I haven't regretted it. I was raised in San Antonio and both sides of my family have lived in Texas since before the Alamo, so if I can love Iowa, I think just about any Texan can