OCTOBER 10TH2018

TOOLBOX FOR WORKFORCE

SUCCESS!

TODAY’S SCHEDULE

Registration 8:00-9:00 am

“Tools of the Trade”

Work Zone Ahead9:00-9:10 am Presented by Evan BlakleyThe K-12 system is producing the largest pool of our future workforce. We will share the importance of connecting schools and businesses to create, sustain our workforce, and growth in the local economy. The road to success is always under construction.

Frame It Up9:10-9:40 am Presented by Debi DurhamDirector Debi Durham will “frame it up” with her plans for Iowa Economic Development Authority and how this will help recruit a workforce to Iowa.

Hit the Nail on the Head9:40-10:25 am Presented by a Resource Panel 9:40-9:55 Robyn Ploeger, Teacher Leader Team & Kylee Boettcher, Instructional Coach, Panorama MS/HS 9:55-10:10 Mollie Clark, Youth Coordinator, Guthrie County ISU Extension 10:10-10:25 Laurie Phelan, President/CEO, iJAG Learn from a variety of resource experts on programs and events that have proven to hit the “nail on the head”.

The Nuts and Bolts10:35-11:00 am Presented by Wage and Child Labor Investigator, Jim Harris, Department of LaborWhat is the minimum age for employment? How many hours can a minor work in a year? What types of jobs can a minor legally perform? Learn the answers to these “nuts and bolts” questions in this session.

Hammering Out the Details11:00 to 12:00 pm Presented by a Resource Panel 11:00-11:15 Will Fett, Executive Director, Iowa Ag Literacy Foundation 11:15-11:30 Kathy Leggett, Policy Advisor, Future Ready Iowa 11:30-11:45 Emily Betz, Process Improvement & Technology Coordinator, DMACC 11:45-12:00 Q&ALearn the steps to having successful programs in your region by hearing from a panel of three expert resources available in your toolkit.

No Loose Screws Here12:00-12:45 pm Lunch & AwardsDinner will be a chance to converse about topics that are of interest to all. Let’s have some good table conversation!

Raise the Roof12:45-1:45 pm Presented by Community Outreach Program Manager at ISU College of Engineering, Camille SchroederGet out of your comfort zone and make things happen! Making change in your community is critical to workplace success. By working together, we can “raise the roof”.

Measuring Success1:45-2:45 pm Presented by Business Panel 1:45-2:00 Brett Meyer, Plant Manager, EVAPCO 2:00-2:15 Jeff Blum, Operations Manager, Puck Custom Enterprises 2:15-2:30 Mike Weich, Project Manager, NextEra Energy Resources 2:30-2:45 Q&ALearn from three area businesses as they share secrets of the trade for success in the workplace.

Building Dreams2:45-3:00 pm Presented by Evan BlakleyEvan Blakley will reflect on how the best is yet to come with new opportunities to make Iowa a great place to learn and work.

Safety Zone 10:25-10:35 am

TODAY’S SPEAKERS

Evan BlakleyBio: Evan Blakley became Executive Director of the Chamber and Development Council of Crawford County in November 2012. The CDC is an organization of more than 200 investor/member businesses in Denison and Crawford County. Evan is responsible for the industrial, commercial and retail development efforts for the county as well as the public relations, marketing and promotional aspects of the Chamber and Development Council.

Evan formerly worked for bluespace creative, inc., of Denison, providing strategic marketing services to businesses and communities across the globe. He acted as project lead for major initiatives for companies including regional manufacturers and Fortune 500 companies, and shared marketing awards from the National Science Foundation, Logo Lounge and Exhibitor Magazine.

As a Denison resident and member of numerous boards and organizations, Evan is motivated to give back to his community and use his strategic planning and marketing skills to improve economic growth, job opportunities and quality of life in Crawford County and Iowa.

Debi DurhamBio: Debi Durham is a longtime economic development professional and currently serves as the Director of the Iowa Economic Development Authority. Durham was appointed to the position by Iowa Governor Terry Branstad in 2011 and has turned the economic development agency into a successful public-private partnership.

During her tenure at IEDA, she has helped land billion-dollar economic development projects for Iowa and works tirelessly on expanding trade and investment opportunities for the state. She prides herself on building coalitions, supporting new ventures and strengthening the state’s key industries.

Prior to joining IEDA, Durham served as president of the Siouxland Chamber of Commerce.

Her several accolades include receiving the Technology Association of Iowa’s Legislative Advocacy Leader Award in 2017 and being recognized by the Des Moines Business Record as a “Woman of Influence” in 2016.

Durham holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration, Marketing and Management from Missouri Southern State University.

Robyn PloegerBio: Robyn Ploeger is in her 12th year of teaching. Her first teaching experience was at West Marshall High School, then on to Creston High School, and now at Panorama Middle School and High School. At Panorama, she teachers Pre-Algebra, Probability and Statistics, Project Lead the Way (PLTW): Introduction to Engineering, and DMACC Applied Math I & II. She has been a member of the Teacher Leader Team for five years where she provides STEM leadership.

Ploeger graduated high school from Nodaway Valley and then attended Southwestern Community College in Creston where she played softball and obtained an Associate of Arts Degree. From there, she received her Bachelors of Science Degree in Mathematics at Buena Vista University in Storm Lake. Currently she is a graduate student at the University of Iowa pursuing her Master’s Degree in Teaching and Learning (STEM Education). She was recently honored with the Air Force Association General Charles Horner and State of Iowa Air Force Association Teacher of the Year. Her goal is to prepare students for their futures by providing them with STEM-enriched learning opportunities that transcend beyond the classroom.

Kylee BoettcherBio: As a graduate of Buena Vista University, Boettcher began her teaching career at Cherokee Middle School/High School and then moved to the Waukee Middle School. For the past 11 years, she has been at Panorama where she has taught multiple ELA classes. Currently, she is in her third year as the Instructional Coach, but fifth year as a member of the Teacher Leadership program. With this title, she has the privilege of working with many amazing teachers and community members. The Teacher Leadership team organizes and plans our Professional Development, provides mentoring for new teachers, and coaches staff in their disciplines. She is excited to start her work with MISIC (Impacting Students; Improving Curriculum) after joining the Region 1 Steering Committee this fall.

Boettcher can also find me outside of the classroom. She coaches Junior High girls basketball and softball and is the sponsor of the High School Student Council, FCA (Fellowship of Christian Athletes), and the Senior Class. Her passion for learning, leadership, and athletics began on a farm south of Panora. It continued as she attended college in Storm Lake, Iowa. While there, she had the opportunity to obtain her degree, to play both basketball and softball for the Beavers, and to marry her husband Trevor. She is very thankful for all those who aided in her educational journey, and hopes to have the same impact on students and staff that she works with today.

Mollie ClarkBio: Mollie Clark is the Youth Coordinator at Guthrie County ISU Extension & Outreach, where she focuses on creating a positive learning environment through youth-adult partnerships for all youth. She is most recognized for leading the county’s 4-H programs but she also works with schools and community partners to offer in-school and after school programs throughout the county.

Mollie is committed to helping all youth better understand that STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) is everywhere, how to practice critical thinking, and to be college and career-ready. She partners with local schools to ensure they are connected with STEM resources and with the local libraries to have real world inquiry-based after school learning opportunities. You can expect some form of fun and educational method creativity when working with Mollie.

Outside of work, Mollie keeps busy with being a new mom and can be found working alongside her husband on their crop and livestock farm near Yale.

Laurie PhelanBio: Laurie Phelan serves as the current and only President and CEO of Iowa Jobs for America’s Graduates (iJAG). During the past 19 years, the majority of her work has focused on designing and implementing programs for students who were not experiencing success in the traditional education system.

Since 1999 Laurie has dedicated her time to establishing and managing one of the most successful dropout prevention programs in her state, Iowa Jobs for America’s Graduates (iJAG). Spanning over 19 years, the program averages a 94% graduation rate among students who have faced significant life challenges and many barriers to successful graduation, continued education, and work. iJAG continually exceeds national standards for employment and school-to-work transition.

The National JAG organization regularly requests Laurie’s leadership with new JAG state start-ups, establishing a non-profits, and accreditation reviews. The keys to her success include tireless advocacy and passion, precision partnerships with business, education, and community, accountability, and authenticity.

The majority of Laurie’s professional and volunteer work incorporates some aspect of equality. Whether it is building programs to assure equal opportunities to unlock student potential, or helping with legislation and policy to provide all students safe learning environments, or providing guidance to schools for the development of quality supports for all students; Laurie believes in doing work that can be life changing.

Jim HarrisBio: Jim Harris is a Wage and Child Labor Investigator for the State of Iowa. Prior to this he was an auditor for the State of Iowa Tax Division enforcing compliance with the State’s Unemployment Tax Laws for five years.

Before joining the State of Iowa, Jim performed audits of financial institutions and reviews of bank commercial loan portfolios for accounting firms in Des Moines. Jim was also a Retail Bank Manager for various banks from 1995 through 2000.

Jim’s employment experience has assisted him in understanding the challenges businesses face to maintain compliance with laws and regulations that affect them. Educating and enforcing Iowa’s Wage and Child Labor Laws to ensure compliance protects both employers and employees.

He graduated from Iowa State University in 1992 with a B.B.A in Accounting and obtained his Certified Public Accountant license in 2002.

Will FettBio: As executive director, Fett oversees the day-to-day operations of the Iowa Agriculture Literacy Foundation including education programming, marketing, and fundraising. He is also the main contact for Agriculture in the Classroom for Iowa. Agriculture in the Classroom encourages teachers K-12 to integrate agriculture into their curriculum as the hands on application of science, technology, engineering and math concepts that are already being taught. Fett also serves as the president of the National Agriculture in the Classroom Organization that impacts nearly 7 million students annually.

Kathy LeggettBio: Kathy Leggett began her role as Future Ready Iowa Policy Adviser in January 2018, bringing 20 years of experience in statewide leadership, project management, collaboration and advocacy work. Kathy’s previous position was Director of the Center for Advocacy and Outreach at Blank Children’s Hospital. In this role her responsibilities included creating the government relations program at Blank Children’s Hospital and leading policy and advocacy work for the children’s hospital for 14 years. Kathy’s experience also includes creating and establishing programs and providing leadership, direction, budgeting and employee development for multiple departments.

In the role as Future Ready Iowa Policy Adviser, she is involved in extensive community outreach efforts, with a focus on Iowans who are low-income, members of underrepresented minority groups, disabled, refugees, first-generation college students and ex-offenders. She coordinates with a leadership team of collaborating agencies and leaders from business, education, government, workforce and the community. Kathy lives in Des Moines, where she loves to be on the trails and spend time with her children, Max and Jane.

Emily BetzBio:Emily is currently the Process Improvement & Technology Coordinator at DMACC in the Business Resources Department. She holds a B.A. from Central College and an M.A. from SUNY Stony Brook.

Emily is a certified workplacelean® trainer helping clients evaluate and improve work processes both across Iowa and nationally. She is also trained in Microsoft SharePoint® providing training and consulting services to organizations wanting to transition to an electronic document management system.

Emily’s past experience includes teaching art at DMACC, and English in Germany and France; and specific work experience in translation, web design, International Sales, payroll, hiring, and student services.

Camille Sloan SchroederBio: Camille Sloan Schroeder oversees Iowa State University’s College of Engineering Community Outreach programs with key efforts to increase representation of women and minorities in the STEM fields. Camille has been instrumental to Iowa STEM programming and promotion for many years from serving as inaugural director of Iowa FIRST LEGO® League (FLL) and FIRST LEGO® League Jr. (FLL Jr.) and Iowa Project Lead the Way (PLTW), to now working to lead efforts related to Iowa Manufacturing Day. Camille is in her third, Governor-appointed term to the North Central STEM Hub Advisory Board where she currently serves as chair, as well serving on the statewide STEM equity committee. Camille is a regularly invited speaker at events and conferences for both educators and employers. Camille serves her community as vice president of the Board of Education at her local school district, and holds an undergraduate degree in Business and a Master’s in Education.

Brett MeyerBio: Brett Meyer is a graduate of Iowa State University. He is the Plant Manager at Evapco Inc., located in Lake View. He manages 195 employees at this plant.

Jeff BlumBio: Jeff has spent his 15 years in operational and project management ensuring that great people have everything they need to be successful, and currently serves as Operations Manager for Puck Custom Enterprises. PCE manufactures and sells premier dragline manure application and water transfer equipment.

PCE has grown 6 fold over the 6 years Jeff has been a part of the company, and the growth can be directly attributed to assembling the best team and putting that team in a position to create the best product on the market. PCE works hard to create wealth and quality of life for the team, the customers, and the industry they serve.

Prior to being a part of the PCE team, Jeff worked for 9 years in construction management, and holds a degree in Industrial and Manufacturing Systems Engineering from Iowa State University. He also serves as President of the Main Street Manning board of directors and volunteers his time on many local projects and committees.

Mike WeichBio: Mike Weich is a Project Manager of Renewable Development for NextEra Energy Resources developing wind, solar, and battery storage projects throughout the U.S Continental Region, including Iowa and Minnesota. Mike was born in Northern New Jersey and attended the United States Military Academy at West Point, NY where he was a 4 year varsity football player on the Army Football team. Mike commissioned in 2011 as an officer in the United States Army and served in support of Operation Enduring Freedom as an Infantry Platoon Leader while deployed to Wardak Province, Afghanistan in 2013. During Mike’s military career he received the Ranger Tab, Airborne badge, Combat Infantry Badge and Bronze Star. Following Mikes military career he worked for Bank of America as part of their leadership development program before joining NextEra. Mike is currently obtaining his M.B.A from the Fuqua School of Business at Duke University. Mike is married and has a 2 year old son and lives in Palm Beach Gardens, FL. Mike is a passionate partner for communities looking to develop renewable assets and support America’s vision towards energy independence.

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