With a journey marked by a steady progression through increasingly complex roles in the insurance, construction and compliance sectors, Tiffani Trappe, PhD, has reached a culmination of her career in her current position as technical and compliance specialist at Seek Now Inc. Since joining Seek Now, she has played a pivotal role in implementing processes and procedures, managing change initiatives, and guiding both the company and its employees through organizational changes. Dr. Trappe’s efforts have been instrumental in facilitating change management and ensuring the smooth adoption of new practices during a period of significant growth for the startup. Her expertise in technical compliance has positioned her as a key contributor during Seek Now’s expansion into insurance, real estate inspection and data capture development technologies, with active engagement in several projects within the company and commitment to further developments as the organization broadens its service portfolio.
Prior to her current role, Dr. Trappe served as a project manager at Acterra Group LLC, where she oversaw projects related to gas tank installation for federal government agencies and U.S. Air Force bases. From 2019 to 2024, she gained experience in construction management through a number of project manager positions, including at Cutter Construction LLC, Robison Construction Inc. and SERVPRO of Iowa City, where she leveraged her certifications in water and hazmat mitigation while adhering to compliance standards from the Institute of Inspection, Cleaning and Restoration Certification (ICCRC).
Earlier in her professional life, Dr. Trappe spent more than five years affiliated with Nationwide Mutual Insurance Company, beginning as an intern in 2012. Six months later, she was promoted to claims specialist, a role she held from 2012 to 2018. In this capacity, she conducted insurance assessments throughout central Iowa, eventually expanding her scope to catastrophic claims nationwide.
Outside of her primary vocation, Dr. Trappe has demonstrated a strong entrepreneurial spirit throughout her career journey, developing multiple side businesses. In one such endeavor, she built a keg-and-water business to a sustainable level before transitioning ownership, illustrating her approach to deeply understanding products and services.
Before embarking upon her career, Dr. Trappe sought a strong academic foundation, beginning with a bachelor’s degree in Spanish language and literature and secondary education from Simpson College in 2012. She obtained a master’s degree in organizational leadership from Colorado State University Global in 2019. Subsequently, Dr. Trappe earned a PhD in business administration and management from Northcentral University in 2024. Her dissertation, titled “Internal Digital Communication and Entry-Level Employee Engagement,” explored how leaders can better communicate with employees by recognizing varying levels of foundational knowledge within organizations.
In addition to formal degrees, Dr. Trappe has aspired to stay abreast of technological advancements shaping her field through continued professional training. Most recently, she was certified in artificial intelligence (AI) governance and ethics by Alison in 2025.
Dr. Trappe’s dedication to professional development and networking in her industry has been underscored by membership in a number of relevant organizations. She maintains membership in the Omega Nu Lambda National Honor Society and in Tri Delta. Dr. Trappe attributes much of her success to unwavering dedication, determination and belief in her capabilities. She has witnessed transformative changes throughout her career — such as advanced weather analytics platforms and the revolutionary integration of AI-driven “fast estimates” for damage assessments — but has continued to present a strong, dependable level of expertise despite the rapid pace of these advancements.
Beyond her work responsibilities, Dr. Trappe is actively involved with civic-minded projects. Since 2015, she has volunteered as a greeter for the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program through the United Way of East Central Iowa. She also supports Habitat for Humanity and Matthew 25 Ministries.
In her personal life, Dr. Trappe is a loving mother to one son, whom she values spending time with above all else. She finds fulfillment in balancing her family life with her ongoing professional ambition, aiming to nurture her family while also playing an integral role in shaping Seek Now’s future. Dr. Trappe plans to carry forward her reputation for confronting difficult tasks before they are able to grow into more imposing obstacles. She hopes this approach will help with the startup’s ongoing growth while inspiring colleagues and younger employees.