Iowa Valley Continuing Education

Iowa Valley Continuing Education sponsors four exciting and unique leadership development programs, one in each of the four counties we serve in Central Iowa. The goals of all four leadership training programs are similar.

(Click for IVL Website for more information and application.)
Marshall County residents may participate in the well-established and highly successful Iowa Valley Leadership (IVL) program. Participants meet once a month, September through May, to explore a variety of community and leadership issues. The topics for 2008-2009 are team building, community stewardship, economic development, education, law enforcement, city and county government, legislative issues, community diversity, conservation, and community involvement.

“I highly recommend the Iowa Valley Leadership class to anyone wanting to build community networks. This is an excellent opportunity to learn about organizations and people in our community. This experience was both educational and developed lasting relationships with other community leaders.” – Pat Whitmore, RN, BN, Emergency Medical Services Director at Marshalltown Medical & Surgical Center.

The IVL program is co-sponsored by Iowa Valley Continuing Education and the Marshalltown Area Chamber of Commerce. For more information, contact Betsy Macke at 641-742-4645 or Betsy.Macke@iavalley.edu.

Iowa Valley Life participants

Hardin County residents are encouraged to participate in Leadership Iowa Falls Experience (LIFE). LIFE targets individuals who are in positions of leadership in their organizations or who have “stepped up to the plate” in community roles. Through this dynamic 8-month learning experience, team members gain:

LIFE participants will be selected on the basis of their application, their commitment, and their potential for leadership. Application deadline is August 25, with notification of accept-

ance no later than September 2. Tuition for the 2008-2009 class is $300 per participant (Chamber/Main Street members) or $325 (non-members) for 13 days, all meals, materials, and other expenses.

The application process is selective; the team is limited to 12 persons. Sponsorship by an employer, organization, or the participant is encouraged. Applications are available at Chamber/Main Street, 648-5549, Iowa Valley Continuing Education, 648-8620 or download the brochure and/or application below.

The 2008-2009 meeting schedule, which goes from September through April, includes these topics: meeting the challenge, history, agriculture, extended living, local government, health care, education, state government, project day (2), leadership styles, business and industry, and graduation.

Without the support of the local business community this program would not be successful. The following businesses have sponsored employees to be members of LIFE classes since the charter class of 2001: Ellsworth Municipal Hospital, Ackley State Bank, Iowa Falls State Bank, Liberty Bank, Green Belt Bank & Trust, Ellsworth Community College, Iowa Falls Community Schools, Cam Spray, Campbell Supply Company, Charter Agricultural Marketing Company, Dr. David Gimer Dentistry, High Bowden & Stockdale Law Firm, Iowa Select, Heritage Care Center, Iowa Falls Area Economic Development, City of Iowa Falls, Barlow Memorial Library, Times Citizen Communications, Iowa Falls Clinic, and Jones Appliance & TV. Lisa Wiese was self-sponsored.

“We are all leaders to some degree. A program goal is to build a spirit of community involvement and service that will inspire others to continue the tradition of excellence our community has come to appreciate. LIFE opens doors of knowledge and opportunity so we can be leaders in ways we’ve never considered or thought possible. You’ll meet people who want to make our community the best it can be. You’ll learn more about Iowa Falls in one year than most do in a lifetime. Besides, I don’t know where else can you visit a hog confinement and a vineyard all in the same day!” –Mike Swartzendruber, Principal at Rock Run Elementary

The LIFE program is co-sponsored by Iowa Valley Continuing Education and Iowa Falls Chamber/Main Street Inc. For more information, contact Kathy Vitasek at 641-648-8620 or Kathy.Vitasek@iavalley.edu.

Poweshiek Leadership Program/PL
Poweshiek County residents are encouraged to participate in the Poweshiek Leadership Program (PLP). The PLP program meets nine times from September through May. The 2008-2009 session topics are the leader within, community resources, our agricultural economy, we the people, it takes a village, education recruitment and retention, it's your turn, county and local governance, seventh annual golf outing, and embrace the challenge.

Tama County residents are encouraged to participate in the relatively new Developing Dynamic Leaders (DDL) program. Participants meet for six sessions, every Thursday in September and October. Session topics include effective leadership, understanding ourselves and others, communicating and listening, understanding and dealing with controversy, leading effective meetings, and the leadership challenge.

To unite emerging leaders from diverse backgrounds and perspectives.
To increase participants’ knowledge and understanding of community issues.
To broaden a collective vision of a better county-wide community.
To enhance each individual’s ability to lead.

The DDL program is co-sponsored by Iowa Valley Continuing Education, ISU/Tama County Extension, and Tama County Economic Development. For more information, contact Anne Michael at 641-484-3334 or Anne.Michael@iavalley.edu; Ann Smith at 641-484-2703; or Deb Collum-Calderwood at 641-484-3108.

"I thought the Developing Dynamic Leaders program was excellent. The sessions were interactive and the teachers were excellent. While they covered a wide range of leadership topics, personally I found sessions on understanding personalities and others to be very helpful and applicable to my work. Building teams to work together is important and this session really helped. It also helped us better appreciate different views on controversial issues. The DDL program gave me a renewed sense of energy to work on community projects.” – Bruce Olson, Production Manager at Midwest Industries, Ida Grove