Iowa Valley Leadership Kicks Off Year with Two-Day Retreat
MARSHALLTOWN –The Iowa Valley Continuing Education Leadership Class of 2013 kicked off the year with a two-day retreat that included class members participating in Challenge Course activities, listening to panels of community leaders, and learning about vital community projects.
While on the IVCE Challenge Course, the 26 class members tackled the tower and ropes 
structure, giving them the opportunity to discover individual and team strengths. Their “challenge by choice” curriculum spanned low-to-the ground team initiatives, high ropes initiatives, as well as tower initiatives. Class members participated in group problem-solving and team-building activities, which enhanced communication skills. Their challenge course teamwork demonstrated and taught leadership skills while promoting growth of trust, with cooperative games emphasizing challenge, fun and cooperation.
The second day featured a Real Colors Personality Inventory with Jean Brownlie and brainstorming for class project ideas, featuring a panel of previous Iowa Valley Leadership participants: Mary Giese, Executive Director Marshall County Arts and Culture Alliance; Brian Batterson, Captain, Marshalltown Police Department; Paul Beals, Independent Insurance Services; and Mike Hanken, Captain, Marshalltown Police Department.
The topic of “leadership in the community” was covered by Sue Martin, Executive Director of the Martha-Ellen Tye Foundation (METF) and STEP students (Students Teaching & Empowering Philanthropy), a program sponsored by the METF, led by Heidi Pierson, Program Manager for METF.
A panel of local leaders discussed projects and community involvement. The panel included Ken Anderson, Executive Director, Marshalltown Area Chamber of Commerce; Mary Giese, Executive Director, Marshall County Arts & Culture Alliance; Terry Gray, Marshalltown Parks & Recreation; Sharon Greer, attorney, Marshalltown Planning & Zoning Board; Sue Martin, Executive Director, METF; Mike Schlessinger, Publisher, Times-Republican; and Randy Wetmore, City Administrator, Marshalltown.
IVL 2013 class members include Nicholas Barnes, Independent Insurance Services; RaDonna Bracy, Marshall County Sheriff’s Office; Joe Cahill, MHS student; John Christen, Emerson Process Management; Shirley Clement, IVCE; Elizabeth Crandon, MMSC; Lauren Davis, JBS; Mandy Fox, Marshalltown Community College; Deb Holsapple, Marshalltown Community School District; Emily Hoop, Fisher Controls; Jon Kirner, MHS student; Emily Murtha, MHS student; Angie Paxson, Community Y; Abigail Pelzer, Times-Republican; Luis Sanchez, Mid-Iowa Community Action; Jodi Sanders, McFarland Clinic; Eric Sieverding, Lennox Industries; Austin Smith, JBS; Meghan Smith, Mid-Iowa Community Action; Abby Snyder, MHS student; Brent Thornton, Eyecare Associates; Michael Tupper, Marshalltown Police Department; Kimberly Wallace, Central Iowa Residential Services, Inc.; Bradley Weidenaar, Marshalltown Community School District/MEA; Chad Weir, Marshalltown Parks & Recreation; and Rebeca Wells, Lennox Industries. Program facilitator is Betsy Macke in conjunction with Lori Wildman, IVCE Workforce Education Coordinator.
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Photo Caption: Iowa Valley Leadership Class of 2013
Deb Holsapple, MHS, a member of the Iowa Valley Leadership Class of 2013, “trusts” her classmates to guide her through the spider web challenge as part the team building process of the IVL retreat, held at the IVCE Challenge Course. Class members had to get through the web without touching any part of the netting. Pictured from left are Jon Kirner, MHS student; Eric Sieverding, Lennox; Mike Tupper, Marshalltown Police Department; Brent Thornton, Eyecare Associates; and Lauren Davis, JBS.