Solutions Magazine: Fall 2022

FALL 2022

SOLUTIONS National Mississippi River Museum & Aquarium Takes Pride in Culture and Professional Development pg. 8 Leadership vs. Management pg. 14

INFO-CIRCLE www.nicc.edu/solutions

SOLUTIONS

Now Streaming Solutions Podcast Today’s busy professionals are constantly on the go but moving in the fast lane shouldn’t mean you sacrifice professional development. Northeast Iowa Community College created the Solutions podcast just for you!

We speak with experts in their field to provide you with solutions and insights on continuing education and lifelong learning. Our pod host dives into topics affecting the workforce today. From leadership and professional development to brain health, workplace culture and so much more.

These 15-minute episodes can easily fit into your morning commute, lunch break or afternoon walk.

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Wilder Business Center 1625 Hwy. 150 S. P.O. Box 400 Calmar, IA 52132 Town Clock Business Center 680 Main St., Ste. 100 Dubuque, IA 52001

SOLUTIONS MAGAZINE • FALL / WINTER 2022

CENTER LOCATIONS

MAIN LOCATIONS

Follow us to get all the latest episodes.

Cresco Center 1020 Second Ave. S.E. Cresco, IA 52136 844.642.2338, ext. 4700

Iowa’s Dairy Center 1527 Hwy. 150 S. Calmar, IA 52132 563.534.9957

Dubuque Center 700 Main St. Dubuque, IA 52001 844.642.2338, ext. 3100

Manchester Center 1200 ½ W. Main St. Manchester, IA 52057 844.642.2338, ext. 7700

Contents

Letter from the Vice President

Introducing New NICC President Dr. Herbert Riedel........................................... 2

“Earn and Learn” Partnerships Impact Business Success, Recruitment and Retention.............. 4

Building Leaders from Within.......................... 6

National Mississippi River Museum & Aquarium Takes Pride in Culture and Professional Development ............................. 8

Leadership Insights...................................... 11

We Can Help with Your Small Business Startup Plan.................................................. 12

Leadership vs. Management ........................ 14

Renewing our Focus on Brain Health............ 16

This is a time of transformation for Northeast Iowa Community College. After 11 years of service, Liang Chee Wee, Ph.D., passed the torch to President Herbert Riedel, Ph.D. Dr. Riedel’s presidency began on July 1 and we look forward to continuing to serve our region’s business leaders and discuss northeast Iowa’s current and future workforce needs. We will have many opportunities in the near future to meet Dr. Riedel.

In any organization, yours included, leaders exemplify and communicate the mission and vision at all levels. Your leaders can work collaboratively with their teams to impact your organization's success and employee development.

In this issue, you’ll find features to inspire and resources to create leaders at any level of your organization. Business and Community Solutions offers expert instruction in using the DiSC® assessment to strengthen teams, development programs like Leadership Academy to improve leadership skills and by utilizing consortiums we can pool financial resources to increase your return on investment for employee training.

Business and Community Solutions can help you develop these leaders and plan for succession of the next executives with customized consultation and training solutions. Our expert staff will work with you to evaluate your needs and create a plan to achieve your organizational goals. As one example, Progressive Processing partners with the College on Earn and Learn programs to retain and retrain employees while many of its management team are also enrolled in advanced leadership courses.

We look forward to serving you and your business in the future.

To learn more, view our course catalog at www.nicc.edu/solutions or call 844.642.2338, ext. 1399.

Out of the Office: Celebrating the Holidays............................... 17

Wendy Mihm-Herold, Ph.D. Vice President, Business and Community Solutions

New Hampton 710 W. Main St. New Hampton, IA 50659 844.642.2338, ext. 7104

National Education Center for Agricultural Safety (NECAS) 8342 NICC Drive Peosta, IA 52068 888.844.6322

Waukon Center 1220 Third Ave. N.W., Ste. 102, Waukon, IA 52172 844.642.2338, ext. 6100

RAMS/Oelwein Center 1400 Technology Drive Oelwein, IA 50662 844.642.2338, ext. 6700

Small Business Development Center (SBDC) 900 Jackson St, Suite 110 Dubuque, IA 52001 563.588.3350

For more information about our centers, visit www.nicc.edu/centers INFO-CIRCLE www.nicc.edu/solutions / phone 844.642.2338, ext. 1399

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RIEDEL Spotlight EMPLOYEE

Herbert H. J. Riedel

Introducing NEW NICC President Dr. Herbert Riedel

Northeast Iowa Community College welcomed its new President, Herbert H. J. Riedel, Ph.D., in July.

Dr. Riedel’s energetic, collaborative leadership style has impacted large research universities, a four-year liberal arts military college and technical and community colleges in Alabama, Florida, South Carolina and Texas. For more than 10 years, he served as president of Lurleen B. Wallace Community College in Alabama.

His successful tenure was highlighted by many innovations, including new program offerings in advanced manufacturing, healthcare and short-term skills training. He has also taught undergraduate and graduate courses in mathematics and served as a research center deputy director, vice president and president.

“There is no mystery to leadership. Everyone can and should be a leader wherever they are in the organization. Realize that you are doing something important and focus on how your actions can improve the lives of others,” Dr. Riedel said. “By growing and encouraging leadership at all levels, the president of an organization can be most effective. People thrive when they are empowered, with proper resources, guidance and accountability.”

For Dr. Riedel, being a leader gives you the opportunity to make positive changes in people’s lives, to help individuals learn and grow, to conceive of projects and see them through to completion, and to connect in a meaningful way with your colleagues and the broader community.

Dr. Riedel and his wife, Lisa, have two sons, both of whom graduated from the college where he was president. A lover of classical music, he founded the Andalusia Chamber Music Society, which brings high quality live classical music to the community. In his spare time, he repairs farm equipment, including an old diesel tractor, restores and tunes classic cars for performance and does physical training.

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L INFO-CIRCLE www.nicc.edu/solutions / phone 844.642.2338, ext. 1399

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“Earn and Learn” PARTNERSHIPS IMPACT BUSINESS SUCCESS, RECRUITMENT AND RETENTION

It’s truly the best of both worlds.

Local businesses send their part- or full-time employees to Northeast Iowa Community College to develop their skills; these same employees, while receiving a paycheck, directly contribute their new skills and knowledge to the company. These “earn and learn” partnerships allow participating businesses to stay competitive, save time and money, without a slowdown in production. Long term, a business develops workforce talent and enhances employee retention. Paid training is also a plus when recruiting new people.

Progressive Processing LLC in Dubuque is one company partnering with NICC on earn and learn programs through the College’s Industrial Maintenance Technician degree program.

“Our partnership with Northeast Iowa Community College has been a significant success for our team at Progressive Processing.

Team members at our facility look forward to the opportunity to be a part of this program, which offers them tuition assistance and the opportunity to gain new skills, while then returning with the ability for additional earning potential on our team,” Joe Muzik, plant manager, said.

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Through the earn and learn model, Progressive Processing employee-students are advancing into positions at the company with greater earning power and responsibility.

“Some of our team members who have worked through this program have now gone on to help our team meet key organizational goals, while also improving their professional positions,” Joe said.

Joe Muzik Plant Manager Progressive Processing LLC

Community Leader.

Being a leader is much more than just a leadership position in the workplace, you can be a leader in your community and personal life.

HOW TO BE A LEADER IN YOUR COMMUNITY check Volunteering: find an organization that you are passionate about and give back. check Join a board of directors or committee: take your volunteer efforts a step further and help a non-profit organization. check Be a mentor: mentor a child or adult in your field of work. check Become a coach: being a coach is much more than just teaching a sport, it’s about being a leader to today’s youth.

Nick Blakesley is one of the newest instructors at Northeast Iowa Community College teaching Coaching Theory to those looking to receive their Coaching Authorization for the state of Iowa.

SIGN UP NOW TO GET YOUR COACHING AUTHORIZATION AND BE A LEADER TO OUR YOUTH.

The company contracts with NICC on customized leadership and management training needs as well, to offer growing leaders opportunities to complete a Project Management Proficiency certificate and a Leadership Development program.

“As workplace dynamics evolve, understanding how to excel at people management is so crucial. From sensitivity training, to time management, to leading various generations – there are many things for which to consider and NICC has been able to customize sessions for our learning goals that address our largest areas of need,” Joe explained.

Earn and learn programs and leadership training provide direct benefits to northeast Iowa companies of all sizes, from 10 employees to 500. Employee skill development contributes to success short-term and long-term.

STAY COMPETITIVE AND LEARN MORE ABOUT CUSTOMIZED TRAINING OPTIONS.

“My interest in coaching and

sports started at a young age

with participation in all sports.

As I grew older the fundamentals

and strategies of the game

interested me as much as playing

the game. Now, I'm a father of two young, beautiful daughters who I am sharing my passion with through coaching various youth leagues. This is a humbling experience and a far cry from the competitive nature of high school athletics. These experiences coupled with years of coaching middle and high school sports have given me a rounded experience that I can share with future students.”

– Nick Blakesley

INFO-CIRCLE www.nicc.edu/customized-solutions

INFO-CIRCLE www.nicc.edu/solutions / phone 844.642.2338, ext. 1399

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Building Leaders from Within This year, Northeast Iowa Community College has established 260E Iowa New Jobs Training agreements with 12 northeast Iowa companies that will lead to the creation of 605 local jobs.

Since 1985, the College has secured and invested more than $102 million through the 260E program, funding 338 different projects and creating 17,498 jobs.

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Mobile Track Solutions ensures new employees and veteran managers alike receive the encouragement and leadership training they need to grow. The Elkader-based manufacturer partners with Northeast Iowa Community College each year to cultivate its leadership talent.

“We believe in investing in all levels of leadership at Mobile Track Solutions. This year our Executive Committee and upper leadership team launched strategic planning, and part of this effort includes developing our company’s leaders. We have provided leadership training and coaching to our team leads and supervisors for the past five years,” said Tasha Henkes, Human Resources.

The training covers a variety of topics, such as management principles, communication and resolving conflict, and what leaders learn can be put immediately to use.

Mobile Track works with NICC and the 260E Iowa New Jobs Training Program, which defrays much of the training expense for participating companies in any northeast Iowa industry sector – healthcare, transportation, business or manufacturing. Affordable workforce training is crucial for companies like Mobile Track Solutions, especially when supply chains are strained and lead times for materials could slow a manufacturer’s output or ability to serve customers in new markets.

Training for new employees develops the next generation of skilled people, Tasha explained. “We also need to keep growing interest among young students who may pursue careers in manufacturing and need technical skills,” she said.

NICC provides customized training to fit your company’s needs for leaders new and experienced at any level of your organization.

“The formal training customized for us

LEARN MORE ABOUT CUSTOMIZED TRAINING.

by NICC is structured for the end user.

User

It’s very consistent and our efforts are focused. It also complements the

User Wendy Mihm-Herold, Vice President of Business and Community Solutions Envelope mihm-heroldw@nicc.edu phone 844.642.2338, ext. 1221

on-the-job training we do,” Tasha said.

Tasha Henkes Human Resources Mobile Track Solutions

INFO-CIRCLE www.nicc.edu/solutions / phone 844.642.2338, ext. 1399

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"NICC was a great partner and we look forward to working together again."

- Tommy Lange

National Mississippi River Museum & Aquarium TAKES PRIDE IN CULTURE AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT Whether you have worked for an organization for many years or just joined the management team as a recent hire, you can benefit as an employee from leadership development training. The National Mississippi River Museum & Aquarium is one organization that embraces professional development opportunities for their team members to foster employee engagement and learn from each other. Northeast Iowa Community College visited with Tommy Lange to gain more insights, feedback and to learn about future opportunities to work together.

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SOLUTIONS MAGAZINE • FALL / WINTER 2022

Q&A

Tommy Lange Vice President of Finance & Operations National Mississippi River Museum & Aquarium

WHAT MADE YOU INTERESTED IN HAVING THE STAFF DO LEADERSHIP TRAINING? We continually explore ways to expand our professional development opportunities.

Through this exploration in addition to staff suggestion, we discovered these courses though NICC with John and Kathie Rotz to be a great fit both in topic and style. Oftentimes when promotions occur, management training can get overlooked as an essential part of the professional development process. Utilizing these courses teaches our management team vital skills and strategies to incorporate both inside and outside of our organization.

A BIG THING WE HEAR IN THE COMMUNITY FREQUENTLY IS COMPANIES DON'T HAVE TIME TO DO EMPLOYMENT TRAINING BECAUSE THEY ARE SO BUSY. HOW DID YOU MAKE THAT WORK WITH THE RIVER MUSEUM? A few years ago, we established a monthly series of lunch and learns featuring our own employees as well as outside professionals to present information on a variety of topics.

Providing these opportunities for growth during the lunch hour allows for maximum employee participation and enables us as leaders in the organization to hold ourselves accountable in providing continued growth opportunities for our staff. This built a solid foundation for continued professional development within our organization. Now with our partnership with NICC, we are working to expand these offerings to include morning and late afternoon sessions to accommodate varying employee schedules.

HOW DID THE STAFF VIEW THE TRAINING? Staff appreciated the diversity of topics offered by NICC. They found many of the suggestions and strategies to be easily applicable to their individual workplace responsibilities as well as larger organization-wide goals.

HAVE YOU NOTICED ANY BENEFITS ALREADY OF THE LEADERSHIP TRAINING? We have been excited to see our staff applying skills and strategies they learned through these leadership trainings, as well as sharing this information with the rest of their teams.

Offerings such as stress management could not have come at a better time as we continue to focus on brain health after a difficult couple of years with the pandemic.

FOR MORE INFORMATION ON CUSTOMIZED PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT FOR YOUR EMPLOYEES, CONTACT: User Theresa Leisen Business Solutions Consultant Envelope leisent@nicc.edu phone 844.642.2338, ext. 3207

INFO-CIRCLE www.nicc.edu/solutions / phone 844.642.2338, ext. 1399

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DiSC® If you want to learn more about yourself, employees or other individuals in your life, learn to understand personalities. A great way to do this is through assessments. DiSC® is one tool used to learn more about personality traits and community styles.

WHAT IS DISC®?

DiSC® is a personal assessment tool used by more than one million people every year to help improve teamwork, communication and productivity in the workplace. DiSC® is an acronym that stands for the four main personality profiles described in the DiSC® model: (D)ominance, (i)nfluence, (S)teadiness and (C)onscientiousness.

D People with D personalities tend to be confident and place an emphasis on accomplishing bottom-line results.

i People with i personalities tend to be more open and place an emphasis on relationships and influencing or persuading others.

S People with S personalities tend to be dependable and place the emphasis on cooperation and sincerity.

C People with C personalities tend to place the emphasis on quality, accuracy, expertise and competency.

“Everything DiSC®” also measures priorities (the words around the circle), providing more nuanced and memorable feedback in profiles.

Not every employee is the same, so this tool can help you learn how to communicate with and motivate individual employees.

INCORPORATE DISC® IN YOUR ORGANIZATION THROUGH NICC: check Leadership Academy check An on-demand online class check Hosting an NICC trainer in your workplace check Participating in a class at NICC for just your employees

FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT PERSONALITY TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES, CONTACT: User Bailey Kloft Envelope kloftb@nicc.edu phone 844.642.2338, ext. 3140

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SOLUTIONS MAGAZINE • FALL / WINTER 2022

Leadership Insights Here are what local leaders have to say about leadership

JOAN FUNKE Human Resources Director Regional Medical Center Successful leadership today is about developing meaningful connections.

Every position in an organization is important to reaching its goals and achieving success, and it is important for leaders to recognize each employee for the contributions they provide. Leaders should employ good listening skills and routinely gather feedback from employees; each team member has a unique perspective and experience.

KURT STRAND President and CEO National Mississippi River Museum & Aquarium Over the last couple years, we’ve faced COVID-19, supply chain issues, rising inflation, a crisis in Ukraine and more. How does a leader successfully navigate their team through difficult times?

Your team looks to you for guidance, support, direction and your time. Regular communication is essential, as is listening to your team’s concerns, questions and fears. Without regular communication, your grapevine will make things up, and oftentimes, it is incorrect. It’s okay to not have all the answers, but being completely transparent with your team is important. Communicate what you know, and what you don’t know, and use multiple ways of communicating, such as email, meetings, memos, conversations, town halls, etc.

As a leader, you are never not communicating. And in difficult times, you can’t over communicate. Be visible. Be in the moment. Be transparent. Lead.

SCOTT PERKINS Senior Vice President and CFO TriMark Corporation A leader sets the direction of the organization and turns the employees loose to get it done. Do not micro-manage. Trust that they will use their skills and commitment to pursue the organization’s end goals. A great leader will know when to step in and steer them back in the direction the business needs to go.

INFO-CIRCLE www.nicc.edu/solutions / phone 844.642.2338, ext. 1399

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We Can Help with Your Small Business Startup Plan The proportion of the US workforce that is self-employed has hit its highest level since 2008.* When you own a small business, one skill you might not think about is leadership. Iowans registered the highest number of new business entities in state history during the 2021 fiscal year, with 33,260 new businesses registering through the Secretary of State’s Office between July 1, 2020, and June 30, 2021.** According to Entrepreneur.com, one of the biggest steps to being a leader and small business owner is to become a student again.

Northeast Iowa Community College (NICC) is here to help! We want to make sure that small business owners have the resources and skills needed to make their business a success. NICC Business and Community Solutions is lucky enough to have insightful instructors who are also small business owners to help the community.

One of these local instructors is Brittany Todd, who started doing photography as a way to get by until she could find a “real job,” as she put it. What started as a hobby became an 11-year career and she is now sharing what she learned as a small business owner to help others. A tip she gives to those that are just starting out is to find something that gives you purpose. Focusing on building the community, not just your business, is the guiding principle she lives by in Decorah with both her photography business and family ice cream shop. Her one key piece of advice is following this quote, “If you love what you do you never work a day in your life, or if you love what you do, you work every single day of your life because it doesn’t feel like work.”

Instructor Tama-Lea Lorenzen also has a passion for small business development and entrepreneurial thinking. Marketing is a big part of helping small businesses be successful, Tama-Lea says, and that focusing on a few key questions will help set up your marketing plan.

Question 1: What makes you different? There are a lot of companies out there that might do something similar to you; identify how you are different.

Question 2: Who is most likely to buy your product? Narrow down your target audience.

Hint: it’s not everyone. A mistake small business owners sometimes make is thinking everyone is their audience.

If you already have a plan, it’s important to reassess your marketing and message. Tama-Lea’s key piece of advice is, “If you reframe challenges you encounter with your small business, see them as opportunities to adjust and become more successful.”

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Brittany Todd Instructor / Small Business Owner

Tama-Lea Lorenzen Instructor / Small Business Owner

Small Business Opportunities BUSINESS COUNSELING In partnership with the Small Business Development Center, you can receive no-cost business counseling. Our experts work with you every step of the way to ensure you are 100 percent satisfied and objectives are met. Consulting services are focused on three areas: your people, your organization and your process.

STRATEGIC THINKING AND PLANNING By engaging with a new, local and experienced collection of executive leaders, the process of strategic planning and implementation can be made easy, cost-effective and enjoyable.

CONTINUING EDUCATION Classes in continuing education can help you upskill in various areas to improve your small business. Classes range from one hour to a few weeks depending on your need.

SMALL BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT CENTER (SBDC) Established in 1981, America’s SBDC Iowa provides no cost, confidential, customized, professional business advice in all 99 Iowa counties to entrepreneurs and existing small businesses. We also present affordable workshops that teach practical skills and techniques, conduct research, provide comprehensive information services, and offer access to subject matter experts in a variety of fields.

TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THE SERVICES THROUGH THE SMALL BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT CENTER CONTACT: User Jay Wickham Regional Director Envelope sbhelpline@nicc.edu phone 563.588.3350

Classes have included: check Small Business Marketing check Social Media Bootcamp check Small Business Photography check Business Purpose check Computer Technology check Data Analytics Sources: *Morning Brew Jobs Report **iowa.gov

INFO-CIRCLE www.nicc.edu/solutions / phone 844.642.2338, ext. 1399

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Leadership vs. Management Being a manager is not the same as being a leader. Just because someone is in a management position does not mean they are naturally a leader, and just because someone is not in a management position does not mean they can’t be a leader.

This is the approach behind Leadership Academy taught

by John Rotz, Kathie Rotz and Lisa Schaefer. The Leadership Academy is a two-tiered program aimed to develop and optimize one's leadership potential. Covering both business skills and relationship enhancement, each tier is eight weeks of half-day sessions. This platform gives participants an opportunity for thorough training in an efficient, convenient timeframe.

“I was always taught that leadership is influence, nothing more, nothing less,” said John Rotz. “The greatest reflection on a leader being a true leader is whether or not they are influencing anyone. And, of course, the first place you’ll see that is in the leader’s people. An organization is only as great as its people. If the people aren’t following, the leader isn’t leading. Too often leaders get focused on the bottom line financial results instead of growing their people and the company.”

FORBES STATES THAT BY 2030 LEADERS ARE GOING TO NEED SKILLS IN: check Mindset

“Successful leaders need more than technical knowledge or the ability to manage tasks and processes.

They need other capabilities often referred to as “soft skills.”

Successfully communicating with different types of people, showing empathy while resolving conflict, emotional intelligence and developing a team for top performance are just a few examples of these soft skills.

Honestly, there is nothing soft about these skills. They are powerful skills rarely inherent within people and often challenging to master.”

check Coaching check Technology check Emotional Intelligence

- Kathie Rotz

check Communication If you are in a management position and see someone on your team with leadership skills, don’t wait for them to gain a new role — start the development process now. Training your employee for new skills is also a great way to improve employee retention.

With some understanding and direction, great employees can become strong leaders. The NICC Leadership Academy is training that prepares leaders for their roles. They might be new leaders or seasoned leaders.

Everyone benefits from this powerful growth opportunity.

Learn from these Leadership Experts

John Rotz Unity Consulting

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SOLUTIONS MAGAZINE • FALL / WINTER 2022

Kathie Rotz Unity Consulting

Difference Between Leaders and Managers BASIS FOR COMPARISON

LEADERSHIP

MANAGEMENT

Meaning

Leadership is a skill of leading others by example

Management is an art of systematically organizing and coordinating things in an efficient way

Basis

Trust

Control

Emphasis on

Inspiring people

Managing activities

Power

Influence

Rule

Focus on

Encouraging change

Bringing stability

Strategy

Proactive

Reactive

Formulation of

Principles and guidelines

Policies and procedures

Perspective

Leadership requires good foresightedness

Management has a short range perspective

WHAT KIND OF TRAINING CAN YOU EXPECT FROM LEADERSHIP ACADEMY? check Presenting & Training

Crescent Community Health Center recently partnered with Lisa Schaefer and NICC to bring a customized Leadership Academy right to their facility. Mary Kay Kirgis, Human Resources Generalist, had this to say about the experience.

check Knowing Your Audience When Communicating

check Emotional Intelligence

“Our Executive Leadership agreed after looking at the options that partnering with Northeast Iowa Community College was the best option and would provide the most ROI for our team. We received some great information on how to handle difficult situations and lead teams, but I think the best overall take-away was the team building. Now there is more teamwork among our leadership team and more understanding on how each of us lead. As we continue to grow and advance in our mission, this helps our leadership team understand differences in culture and work styles and how to manage them,” said Kirgis.

check Embracing and Managing Change

INFO-CIRCLE www.nicc.edu/leadershipacademy

check Appraising Performance check Resolving Employee Conflicts check Drive: The Surprising Truth About What Motivates Us check Attitude & Accountability check Motivating and Engaging Different Generations in the Workplace

Lisa Schaefer Shine with Schaefer

INFO-CIRCLE www.nicc.edu/solutions / phone 844.642.2338, ext. 1399

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Renewing our Focus on Brain Health

More than 2,000 community members have participated in brain health events and webinars through Northeast Iowa Community College. During the pandemic and beyond, these presentations shared strategies for coping with personal and workplace stress, burnout, managing teams and remote work environments, and self-care.

NICC-sponsored presentations included Emotional Awareness in the Workplace, The Opioid Crisis and The COVID Pandemic, Promoting Brain Health in organizations and families, Conflict Management, and a Brain Health Summit with panelists and nationally recognized speakers.

The College’s brain health programming has a positive effect on employee productivity in the workplace and retention.

Additional presentation topics focused on essential worker training for employees in healthcare and first responders.

This growing awareness of brain health and learning new ways for individuals and organizations to discuss these issues is continuing. The advocacy non-profit organization, Brain Health Now, partnered with NICC to offer training opportunities to help destigmatize brain health in the community by providing practical hands-on information and tools to create an informed work environment.

A grassroots organization dedicated to ending the stigma of mental illness, Brain Health Now reframes these conditions as brain health. “The brain is an organ and it can get sick too,” said Brain Health Now Founder Debi Butler.

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“It’s so important to focus on brain health in the workplace. NICC is providing critical training and awareness for employees and your business should be participating to address the critical need,” Debi said.

According to a report released by Gallup, Americans’ rating of their own brain health has dropped to its lowest point since the survey began nearly two decades ago, with only 34 percent saying their mental health is excellent, a nine-point drop since 2019. Brain Health Now research indicated that one in five people have experienced a brain health issue in their lives – more than 482,000 Iowans.

Last fall, Governor Kim Reynolds signed a proclamation making October Brain Health Awareness Month in Iowa.

The American Rescue Plan Fund and funding through Mental Health & Disability Services of the East Central Region provide financial support for NICC brain health programming.

LEARN MORE ABOUT NICC BRAIN HEALTH PROGRAMMING INFO-CIRCLE www.nicc.edu/brainhealth

OUT OF THE OFFICE:

Celebrating the Holidays The holidays are a time for family, friends and cheer.

But the preparation can be overwhelming.

Business and Community Solutions personal enrichment classes are a great way to relax outside of the office. When you need a break or maybe a date night, we have lots of options to choose from - many can even help check a few items off your holiday planning list.

MAKE & TAKE CRAFT WORKSHOPS are instructor-guided so no experience (or crafty genes) are needed. Projects range from simple crafts to beautiful home decor and could make a wonderful handmade gift for someone in your life. As an added bonus, research shows that creative practices can improve our wellbeing, mental health and sense of connection.

COOKING CLASSES are led by local, expert chefs and bakers and perfect for all skill levels - beginner to advanced. Instructors provide the recipes and ingredient lists so you can add them to your repertoire for holiday gatherings.

Plus, who doesn’t love to taste-test during class! In Dubuque, cooking classes are held at the recently renovated Steeple Square teaching kitchen.

You can celebrate friends and family with a toast and unique craft cocktail. Our most popular classes in the Dubuque area include the craft cocktails and craft beer. These sessions make a perfect date night or group outing.

FIND THE NEXT "OUT OF OFFICE" OPPORTUNITY IN YOUR AREA.

INFO-CIRCLE www.nicc.edu/solutions / phone 844.642.2338, ext. 1399

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Business and Community Solutions P.O. Box 400 • Calmar, IA 52132

Business Consortium:

A LEADERSHIP TRAINING RESOURCE

You need to make the most of your company’s resources to upskill employees. Northeast Iowa Community College has a cost-effective solution designed especially for you.

The Business and Community Solutions innovative consortium model pools financial resources to increase your company’s return on investment. Consortiums are a collaboration between the College, local businesses and industries to allow monthly access to high quality professional development at a fraction of the cost.

An annual membership fee grants access to a full year of training sessions and resources for your employees. All trainings are led by regional experts and participants report increased skills and knowledge.

Now is the time to invest in your employees and grow the talent of your company.

FOR MORE INFORMATION ON CONSORTIUM OPPORTUNITIES, CONTACT: User Bailey Kloft Envelope kloftb@nicc.edu phone 844.642.2338, ext. 3140 info-circle www.nicc.edu/careertraining

CURRENT CONSORTIUMS INCLUDE: • Business Consortium in the Dubuque and Calmar areas • HR Alliance in the Calmar area