A Collaborative Approach to Workforce Training
The Business Partnership membership program is designed to provide members with access to high-quality training programs led by respected national and regional trainers. Our goal is to offer a wide range of topics and expand employee access by delivering classes in both face-to-face and online formats. Each year, NIACC Continuing Education collaborates with North Iowa businesses to identify common training needs. Together, these businesses pool resources to support employee professional development. Each member contributes to an annual operating budget that covers trainers, venues, livestreaming, and more.
Thank you for being part of NIACC Continuing Education’s Business Partnership! Employee engagement, development, and retention are more important than ever in today’s changing workplace. Our goal is to empower your teams with a wide variety of opportunities for learning and growth.
Last spring, Business Partnership members shared feedback and ideas, and then voted on training priorities for the 2025–2026 season. The top-rated topics, such as leadership, leading efficient meetings, communication skills, and productivity, are all included in this year’s line-up along with other important subjects presented by top-ranked speakers.
Business Partnership classes will be offered in a variety of ways and times to allow for increased flexibility in scheduling. Classes will be offered both in-person and live-online. Live-online classes take place via Zoom. Please refer to the schedule for specifics on how and when each class will be offered. Recordings of Zoom sessions will be available for two weeks after the recording link is sent out.
We invite you to spend some time exploring this catalog, where you will find detailed information about the 2025–2026 speakers and class offerings. Mark your calendars and register early for the sessions that interest you most. We look forward to an engaging and impactful Business Partnership season!
Inclement Weather Policy:
Hello! I wanted to take a few minutes to thank you for investing in your employees by participating in Business Partnership. NIACC’s Business & Workforce Solutions is dedicated to serving the businesses and job seekers in our area. The Business & Workforce Solutions team is here to help you with training, upskilling, and building a job-ready pipeline. The team can help you in a variety of ways – customized training, continued professional education, apprenticeship, training to prepare the emerging workforce, and a variety of other services.
We look forward to continuing to serve you and bringing you amazing opportunities in this upcoming year! See you soon!
Patti Hanson
Season at a Glance
NIACC Business Partnership 2025-2026
Rewiring Workplace Relationships: A Brain-Based Approach to Leading Difficult Team Members
Speaker: Vanessa McNeal
Lead Smarter: Unleash Engagement With the 5 People Types
Speaker: Dr. Sherene McHenry
The 5 Levels of Leadership: Proven Steps to Maximize Your Potential
Speaker: Derek Deprey
Compete on Awesome With AI
Speaker: Susan Frew
Change That Lasts
Speaker: Courtney Smock
Speaker: Lisa Ryan They Might Not Be Crazy: Working With People You Disagree With (And Might Not Even Like)
Speaker: Dallin Cooper
Speaker:
•
CUSTOMIZED TRAINING TEAM
See something you are really interested in and would like to share with the rest of your team?
Reach out today!
Please contact our team to discuss having these speakers come to your location for a customized training! BWS@niacc.edu
Customized Training:
Whether it’s a speaker that really inspired you or a topic your staff could benefit from, customized training is an opportunity to engage your staff in training built specifically for your company’s needs. Our team will meet with you and discuss how we can connect you with the most innovative, dynamic, and valuable speakers to meet the needs of your team. Customized training can provide training services that enhance workforce skills, focus on team building, assist employees with professional growth, increase your organization’s efficiency and productivity, and so much more! Customized training can be held on site at your company, on campus, at a convenient location near you, or even virtually.
These opportunities have an immediate impact on your day-to-day operations. For more information, contact NIACC’s Business and Workforce Solutions team at BWS@NIACC.edu.
Rewiring Workplace Relationships: A Brain-Based Approach to Leading
Difficult Team Members
Instructor: Vanessa McNeal
Every leader encounters team members who seem resistant, disruptive, or “difficult.” But what if the key isn’t changing them—but understanding the root of these behaviors? In this unique 3-hour workshop, national speaker and transformation coach Vanessa McNeal offers a neuroscience-backed, trauma-informed approach to leadership that shifts conflict management from reactive to responsive. You’ll explore how stress and unmet psychological needs drive behavior—and how to foster the safety that transforms team dynamics.
Vanessa, an award-winning filmmaker, TEDx speaker, and Mind Body Green Instructor, blends personal experience with her Master’s in Social Work to deliver practical, evidence-based strategies for lasting change. Her signature framework—Release, Rewire, Rebirth—equips high-performing professionals with tools for emotional intelligence, resilience, and authentic leadership. Vanessa has inspired audiences from Fortune 500 companies to U.S. military branches. Don’t miss this transformative opportunity.
LEARNING OBJECTIVES:
• Master the Nervous System Navigator Framework: Recognize when team members are in fight, flight, or freeze, and apply techniques to help them return to a calm, collaborative state.
• Practice Trauma-Informed Leadership: Use communication, boundaries, and environment design to create psychological safety and reduce defensiveness.
• Build Emotional Intelligence: Learn to identify and regulate your own stress responses to stay clear and connected during tough interactions.
• Create Lasting Behavior Change: Use proven strategies for tough conversations, setting expectations, and building accountability that leads to real transformation.
Tuesday, 9/16/2025, 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM
Face-to-Face, Class ID: 21128
Location: Muse Norris Conference Center (NC180)
Tuesday, 9/30/2025, 9:00 - 11:00 AM
Live-Online, Class ID: 21129
*Recording available through 10/14/2025
Vanessa McNeal
Lead Smarter: Unleash Engagement With the
5 People Types
Instructor: Dr. Sherene McHenry
According to Gallup, only 33% of U.S. employees report being actively engaged and committed to their work and workplace, 50% report being passively disengaged, and a terrifying 17% admit to being actively disengaged and trying to cause problems. While it would be wonderful if everyone showed up, got along, and performed at the highest levels, Lackers, Slackers and Hackers exist and negatively impact organizational culture, engagement, and performance.
Based on her book Navigate: Understanding the Five Types of People, Dr. Sherene McHenry introduces a simple yet powerful framework for recognizing the five key people types that shape our workplaces.
Dr. Sherene McHenry, a Certified Speaking Professional with a PhD in Counseling, is known as “The People IQ Expert®.” Drawing from decades as a graduate professor and researcher, she delivers high-energy, insightpacked keynotes that equip leaders and teams with practical tools to build psychologically safe, burnoutresistant cultures. Her signature framework, The People IQ Advantage™, helps organizations foster healthier engagement and performance through greater emotional intelligence and resilience.
LEARNING OBJECTIVES:
• The ability to identify different people types and their unique needs.
• Practical strategies for adjusting your leadership style to effectively manage and motivate others.
• Techniques to build trust, boost engagement, and maximize team performance.
• An understanding of how to set yourself and others up for success in and out of the workplace.
Tuesday, 10/21/2025, 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM
Face-to-Face, Class ID: 21163
Location: Muse Norris Conference Center (NC180)
Tuesday, 10/28/2025, 9:00 - 11:00 AM
Live-Online, Class ID: 21164
*Recording available through 11/11/2025
Dr. Sherene McHenry
The 5 Levels of Leadership: Proven Steps to Maximize Your Potential
Instructor: Derek Deprey
True leadership isn’t a matter of having a certain job or title. In fact, being chosen for a position is only the first of the five levels every effective leader strives to achieve. To become more than “the boss” people follow only because they are required to, you have to master the ability to inspire and invest in them. To further grow in your role, you must build a team that produces while helping teammates develop their skills to become leaders in their own right. In this workshop, Derek will show you how to master each level and rise up to become a more influential, respected, and successful leader.
Derek Deprey is a leadership expert, keynote speaker, and author dedicated to helping individuals become the leaders they’d want to follow. With a background in basketball operations at the NCAA Division 1 and NBA levels, as well as experience in the fitness and automotive industries, he now focuses on transforming managers into leaders through his company, Fit to Lead. Derek has written two books, SHIFT: Move from Frustrated to Fulfilled and Everyday Leaders: Small Actions, Big Results. When he’s not geeking out on leadership, he’s working out, coaching basketball, or carting his daughters all over like an Uber driver.
LEARNING OBJECTIVES:
• Provide a clear picture of leadership.
• Define leading as a verb, not a noun.
• Break down leading into understandable steps.
• Implement a game plan for leadership development.
• Extend your influence for the benefit of others.
Thursday, 11/13/2025, 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM
Face-to-Face, Class ID: 21166
Location: Muse Norris Conference Center (NC180)
Tuesday, 11/25/2025, 10:30 - 12:30 PM
Live-Online, Class ID: 21167
*Recording available through 12/9/2025
Derek Deprey
Compete on Awesome With AI
Instructor: Susan Frew
Dive into AI essentials, break down real-world examples from her award-winning business experience, and explore how smart organizations are already using AI. You’ll participate in lightning interactive demos, ask live questions, and leave with clarity on how and where AI can fit into your work—whether you’re teaching, leading, or building. It’s practical, powerful, and precisely the launchpad you need for the sessions ahead.
From Corporate Leadership to Entrepreneurial Success
Susan’s professional journey began in the fast-paced tech industry of New York City, where she honed her skills at a Fortune 20 company. Her leadership capabilities led her to serve as the General Manager for AT&T Wireless in two Caribbean countries, overseeing international operations and driving growth strategies in competitive markets.
Transitioning from corporate to entrepreneurship, Susan founded Sunshine Home Services, a plumbing and heating company in Colorado. Under her leadership, the company achieved a remarkable 535% growth, earning a spot on the Inc. 5000 list and recognition as one of Inc.’s Best Places to Work. Her hands-on experience in scaling a small business provides her with a deep understanding of the challenges and opportunities that entrepreneurs face.
LEARNING OBJECTIVES:
• Understand core AI concepts and practical applications relevant to leadership, education, and business through real-world examples.
• Explore how innovative organizations are leveraging AI to drive efficiency, innovation, and impact.
• Engage in live demos and Q&A to identify actionable ways AI can support your specific role and goals.
Tuesday, 12/16/2025, 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM
Face-to-Face, Class ID: 21168
Location: Muse Norris Conference Center (NC180)
Tuesday, 12/30/2025, 9:00 - 11:00 AM
Live-Online, Class ID: 21169
*Recording available through 1/13/2026
Susan Frew
Change That Lasts
Instructor: Courtney Smock
Change is inevitable. But meaningful, lasting change? That’s the real challenge.
Most organizations tackle change with a quick fix, one-and-done programs that spark short-term progress but rarely stick. Sound familiar?
In this session, seasoned change and leadership expert, Courtney Smock, will reveal the strategic steps that make change sustainable. This isn’t your typical “change management” talk. It’s an approach to move beyond theory and start making real, lasting change happen.
Courtney Smock is a change leadership expert, certified coach, and founding partner at Slingshot25, where she helps leaders and teams thrive through transition by improving impact, care, and decisive action during change. With over 20 years of experience backboning corporate change through real-world implementation, she brings high-energy facilitation and practical insights that empower audiences to navigate complexity with confidence and clarity.
LEARNING OBJECTIVES:
• Avoid the common traps that cause change initiatives to fail.
• Build lasting change maturity at every level of your organization.
• Create a culture where progress isn’t just a moment - it’s a movement.
Tuesday, 2/10/2026, 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM
Face-to-Face, Class ID: 21170
Location: Muse Norris Conference Center (NC180) Thursday, 2/19/2026, 9:00 - 11:00 AM
Live-Online, Class ID: 21171
*Recording available through 3/5/2026
Courtney Smock
Bridging the Gap: Attracting and Retaining a Multigenerational Workforce
Instructor: Lisa Ryan
With up to five generations now working side by side, and Gen Z bringing a whole new energy to the workforce, leaders are under pressure to engage, motivate, and retain talent across vastly different mindsets and expectations. This session goes beyond surface-level stereotypes to uncover what truly drives each generation at work and how to build a culture that keeps them.
Through a blend of humor, real-world insights, and actionable strategies, Lisa Ryan will guide participants through today’s top generational challenges. From onboarding Gen Zs who crave meaning and immediacy to reigniting engagement in your Gen Xers and Millennials, this program offers clear, practical solutions for creating a workplace where everyone feels valued and chooses to stay.
Whether you’re hiring your first Gen Z or navigating the clash between Boomers and new hires, you’ll leave with tools to build bridges and boost retention.
Lisa Ryan is a dynamic keynote speaker, best-selling author, and Certified Speaking Professional (CSP) who helps organizations create energized workplaces where employees want to stay. As the Founder and Chief Appreciation Strategist of Grategy®, Lisa delivers engaging, high-energy presentations that inspire leaders to build strong workplace cultures through gratitude, recognition, and connection. Her expertise in manufacturing, construction, and skilled trades enables her to connect with blue-collar and white-collar audiences alike, delivering practical, real-world strategies that drive retention, productivity, and engagement.
LEARNING OBJECTIVES:
• Understand the core motivators and workplace values of each generation: from Baby Boomers to Gen Z, and why “one-size-fits-all” doesn’t work.
• Identify simple yet powerful shifts in communication and feedback that increase engagement across all age groups.
• Learn how to create an onboarding experience that connects early, reduces turnover, and builds long-term loyalty, especially for younger hires.
• Walk away with a fresh perspective on how appreciation, access, and accountability can align your culture and improve team performance across generations.
Tuesday, 3/10/2026, 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM
Face-to-Face, Class ID: 21172
Location: Muse Norris Conference Center (NC180)
Tuesday, 3/24/2026, 9:00 - 11:00 AM
Live-Online, Class ID: 21173
*Recording available through 4/7/2026
Lisa Ryan
They Might Not Be Crazy:
Working With People You Disagree With (And Might Not Even Like)
Instructor: Dallin Cooper
Dallin Cooper helps audiences rethink leadership, communication, and workplace relationships. Top-tier leaders aren’t those who avoid tough conversations—but those who navigate them with clarity, confidence, and connection. Through powerful stories and practical tools, Dallin equips attendees to break down barriers, foster collaboration, and lead with empathy.
Whether you’re leading a team or growing your influence, this session delivers strategies to strengthen communication, resolve conflict, and build trust—especially with people you don’t always agree with. An award-winning humorist and storyteller, Dallin blends research with real-life experiences—from ranching in Wyoming to living in China—to challenge assumptions, inspire ethical leadership, and help teams truly connect.
LEARNING OBJECTIVES:
• Learn how to shift from conflict to connection by understanding what drives people’s perspectives (even when they seem completely irrational).
• Discover how top leaders engage and inspire teams, creating a culture of trust and high performance without micromanagement.
• Develop a growth-oriented approach to workplace challenges that turns obstacles into opportunities for stronger collaboration.
• Master the skills of effective communication and emotional intelligence to lead with confidence in any situation, even the toughest conversations.
• Walk away with proven strategies to elevate team morale, drive better results, and create a culture where people feel heard, valued, and motivated to grow.
Tuesday, 4/14/2026, 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM
Face-to-Face, Class ID: 21174
Location: Muse Norris Conference Center (NC180)
Thursday, 4/23/2026, 9:00 - 11:00 AM
Live-Online, Class ID: 21175
*Recording available through 5/7/2026
Dallin Cooper
Sell the Experience –What Your Customers Really Want
Sales Strategy | Customer Experience | Differentiation
Instructor: Dustin E. James
In today’s hyper-competitive marketplace, every executive is asking the same question: How do we stand out? The answer isn’t just in product innovation or pricing strategies—it’s in the experience you deliver.
In this high-impact keynote, Dustin James unpacks how a simple concept grew into a nationally top-performing formalwear business—not by chasing trends, but by mastering the fundamentals: strategic customer engagement, adaptive business models, and a relentless commitment to excellence.
Whether you’re leading a startup or a national enterprise, you’ll walk away with actionable strategies to elevate customer experience, drive loyalty, and increase top-line growth. Because duplication doesn’t drive innovation. Experience does. Get ready to shift your mindset, sharpen your approach, and lead your team into the future of customer-centric growth.
Dustin E. James, known as “America’s Top Corporate Energizer,” is a high-energy keynote speaker and Certified Speaking Professional who has inspired over 500,000 individuals with his dynamic presentations on leadership, sales, and customer experience. Drawing upon his background as a serial entrepreneur, TEDx speaker, and John Maxwell Certified Coach, Dustin crafts interactive, creativity-driven keynotes like Elevate the Everyday with Black Tie Moments, Make Creativity Your Calling Card, and Building Million Dollar Connections. His mission is to help organizations increase performance, resilience, and engagement through crowd-driven energy and motivational storytelling.
LEARNING OBJECTIVES:
• Turning everyday customer interactions into unforgettable brand moments.
• Creating a culture that scales world-class service across teams.
• Leveraging storytelling as a strategic differentiator.
• Identifying and optimizing every customer touchpoint for maximum impact.
Tuesday, 5/12/2026, 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM
Face-to-Face, Class ID: 21176
Location: Muse Norris Conference Center (NC180)
Thursday, 5/21/2026, 9:00 - 11:00 AM
Live-Online, Class ID: 21177
*Recording available through 6/4/2026
Dustin E. James
Unleash your creativity at NIACC’s fabrication laboratory, a makerspace designed to empower your innovation.
Membership Details
• $29 / Year to Get Started
• Maker Access Pass: Self-Paced
• Expert Project Advice
Offerings
• Prototyping
• Custom Fabrication
• Product Customization
• Equipment Training
Community Maker Club
Available Equipment
• CO2 Laser Cutters
• 3D Printing
• Desktop CNC Mill
• Desktop Waterjet
• 3D Scanner
• Vinyl Printing
• And More!
Join NIACC’s free Community Maker Club at the Innovation Workspace. Connect with fellow dreamers and builders, and explore tools from 3D printers to lasers. Whether you’re a student, entrepreneur, or hobbyist, discover a place to learn, create, and collaborate. Stop by Tuesdays at 6 PM - no signup or membership required! Just bring your ideas, your curiosity, and maybe a friend!
Curious about the Innovation Workspace? Check out our videojust scan!
