Presenters: Ronee Andersen, Leadership Coach and Business Consultant Date: June 9, 2020 Time: 12:00pm–1:00pm Location: Online Join Ronee Andersen, leadership coach and business consultant, as she does a run through on the importance of creating and developing a strong company culture. She will be highlighting ways to change an unhealthy culture, how to make your mission and vision statement a living and breathing document and the importance of innovation and creativity in maintaining your company culture.   About our speaker Ronee Andersen, SPHR, MBA, CTACC, is an experienced Human Resource professional with 20 years of experience in companies from 50 to 6,000 employees. She has experience working in family-owned businesses, private sector and publicly traded companies, as well as, experience in the public sector in city and county government. She has held positions as HR Officer, HR Director and Senior HR Director. She has been a member of leadership and executive teams. With her HR background, she knows what employers and executives and looking for in leaders, employees and future leaders. She knows who gets promoted and why. Ronee has held her Senior Professional in Human Resources (SPHR) certification since 2003. She has an MBA with an emphasis in Human Resources and an advance certificate in Strategic Human Resources from Cornell University. She is a certified coach through the Coach Training Alliance. She is a member of the Iowa Chapter of the International Coaching Federation (ICF), Central Iowa SHRM, West Des Moines Chamber, and Des Moines FemCity. Ronee is passionate about leadership and team development, culture creation and helping individuals and organizations meet their full potential.

Presenters: Keesha Ward, Owner & Photographer Date: June 18, 2020 Time: 12:00pm–1:00pm Location: Online We all have the responsibility, including small business owners, to elevate the voices of Black people - educate ourselves; speak out publicly; support Black-owned businesses; and donate. Join Keesha as she walks through four ways you can support Black lives during the movement and beyond. About our speaker Keesha Ward is the owner and photographer of ward creative studios. Keesha is an entrepreneur and advocate for racial justice. She has a decade of experience working in higher education in Iowa, and has served in areas of family services, work/life, diversity, equity and inclusion, and business development.

Presenter: Jenn Riggs, Owner and Founder I Wander Women Iowa Date: June 23, 2020 Time: 12:00pm–1:00pm Location: Online The Iowa Center is headed outdoors for a guided virtual tour! As an entrepreneur and small biz owner it is important to disconnect and practice self-care in order to continue working at your best and avoid burn out. Join Jenn Riggs from Wander Women Iowa and Ciara Ladroma on a guided tour in the wilderness to learn how to safely and respectfully connect with nature. Join us for a moment of peace where we will listen to nature, take in the views, watch the stream and just relax. Jenn will be sharing different places to go in the area that aren’t your usual spots and suggestions on what you should take with you on your next adventure. About our speaker Jenn Riggs is the owner and founder of Wander Women Iowa, an Iowa-based outdoor company that guides, connects, and empowers women on all-inclusive camping adventures throughout Iowa. She's a born and raised Iowan, fierce advocate for Iowa's wild places, and a wildflower and hiking enthusiast. Her love for the outdoors started at a young age in rural Iowa where she grew up exploring near-by creeks, native prairie remnants, and hiking and camping with her family. She's passionate about connecting others with Iowa's great outdoor places!  

Presenter: Andi Fagen, Owner of Creative DSM Date: June 25, 2020 Time: Noon – 1:00pm Location: Online If you're ready to offer your clients digital benefits, and make some sales online, this is the information you’ve been looking for. Join Andi Fagen, owner of Creative DSM | Digital & Social Marketing as she guides us through search engine optimization (SEO) for online stores, how to create a positive customer experience, and stories of wins and fails through multiple marketplaces. She’ll touch on modern marketing strategies for local businesses in Iowa, including shoulder industry strategies and email follow up. About our speaker Andi has been assisting in brand launches and business growth since her time at Iowa State in 2009. The journey brought her to Los Angeles, Miami and eventually back home to the Midwest-Best, Des Moines. She opened Creative DSM to continue helping small businesses launch and scale their businesses in the Des Moines community. Using creative digital marketing strategies, Creative DSM manages small business web design, search engine optimization, email marketing, pay-per-click campaign management, and social media optimization. Andi currently has successful shops running on platforms such as shopify, squarespace, wordpress, etsy, and amazon seller central. Which is why she is happy to guide us through her process of earning online sales.

Presenters: Tricia Rivas | Owner, Trixie’s Salon. Hannah Arant | Manager & Director of Education Date: July 7, 2020 Time: 11:00am – 12:00pm Location: Online It’s often the entrepreneurial way to be involved in owning one or more businesses and working on other projects within your community. Join small business owner Tricia Rivas and social media guru, Hannah Arant from Trixies Salon for a discussion on personal branding and your online presence as an ambitious entrepreneur. Learn why it’s important to show up as yourself and how to execute well via online platforms. About our speakers Hannah has always had a creative, fun spirit and an interest in fashion, art, and hair. These passions led her cosmetology and a career at Trixies Salon when it opened in 2010. Since that time, her career has grown with her passions, and she is also the director of education at the salon, as well as helping as social media coordinator for the salon. She loves that social media and online marketing are always changing, and loves sharing and educating others on the possibilities that are out there! Tricia is a native Des Moines' southsider. She attended La James International College. Tricia is affiliated with Aveda and has completed many hours of Aveda training. She has been a freelance makeup artist for MAC Cosmetics, Aveda, as well as a makeup educator for Toni & Guy Cosmetic Art Team. Tricia has owned Trixie’s Salon since 2007 and now leads a team of 19 amazing hairdressers. Her motto is, hairdressers can change the world. She also is the founder of the non-profit Dream Catchers Foundation Inc. where licensed beauty professionals provide free beauty services to those in need here in Des Moines.

Presenter: Dr. Ayah Bilbeisi, owner of Cedar Ridge Dentistry Date: July 10, 2020 Time: Noon – 1:00pm Location: Online Come and listen to the stories of entrepreneurs, small business owners and community members making their mark in Iowa. As you create your own story, treat yourself to this time each month to rekindle your entrepreneurial spirit and connect with others. This month listen to the amazing story of Dr. Ayah Bilbeisi, owner of Cedar Ridge Dentistry. About our speaker Dr. Ayah Bilbeisi is a native of Ann Arbor, Michigan. Dr. Bilbeisi graduated from the University of Detroit Mercy School of Dentistry and completed a General Practice Residency from the University of Michigan before moving to Iowa in 2011. In Januart 2019, she was the official owner of her own clinic Cedar Ridge Esthetic and Family Dentistry. Dr. Bilbeisi has a wide range of experience having worked in both public health and private practice settings. She is passionate about the science of dentistry as part of holistic health and wellness believes in educating and empowering patients to help them unlock their full potential. She strives to get to know her patients on a personal level because she believes that a dental visit should be comfortable and even enjoyable. Dr. Bilbeisi is the mother to a son, daughter and cat. She likes to stay active and often spends her weekends exploring the nature centers of Central Iowa with her children.

Presenter: Drew Harden, President & Co-founder Date: July 14, 2020 Time: 12:00pm – 1:00pm Location: Online Join Drew Harden, President and Co-Founder of Blue Compass, a leading digital marketing agency in the Midwest, as he shares insights on how to create compelling website content, gain more visitors, and connect with your audience online. About our speaker Drew Harden is the President and Co-Founder of Blue Compass, Drew has grown and guided the company from a two-person start-up in 2007 to one of the Midwest's leading digital marketing companies today. He's a published author, speaks at marketing conferences around the country, has been cited by publications like USA Today, and has led web projects for clients like Spalding Sports Equipment, NAPA Autoparts, and the NFL.

Presenter: Gina Campbell, Psychotherapist Date: July 28, 2020 Time: 12:00pm – 1:00pm Location: Online Small business entrepreneurs never lack hard work or dedication, but with all that ambition sometimes we forget to take care of ourselves. In this highly experiential workshop, we will move beyond superficial ideas about self-care and learn to skillfully care for ourselves so we can keep feeding that entrepreneurial spirit. Join us for a discussion and exercises targeted at the role of mindfulness in self-care, self-rest, and meditation. After this event, participants will have the tools to continue self-care practices as they face the challenges and success of owning a small business. About our speaker Gina has been a psychotherapist in private practice for 15 years. She specializes in mindfulness-based counseling and helps people get unstuck so they can lead full and meaningful lives. Gina has training in meditation and yoga which enriches her approach as a holistic mental health provider.

Presenters: Whitney Warne, Christina Moffatt and Annie Woods Date: August 4, 2020 Time: 11:00am – 12:00pm Location: Online Join small business owners, Annie Woods, Christina Moffatt and Whitney Warne for a lively panel discussion on building big community for your small business. Our panel will share some of their best tips for creating a solid community of supporters and how it's impacted their own businesses. About our speaker Whitney Warne is an Unapologetically Extra creative entrepreneur, community builder and confidence champion living in Des Moines, IA. Whitney owns Ivory House Photography and specializes in disproving the phrase "I don't photograph well." Her special gift is her ability to recognize and lift up every human's beauty and power and she loves using her camera and her voice to share this vision with the world. She is also founder of Brand Launch which specializes in personal brand education and community building strategies for individuals and businesses looking to increase their impact using their unique voice. When she's not pursuing her passion and purpose through work, you can find Whitney in her hammock, reading memoirs, practicing yoga or going for walks with her partner. Annie has over 6 years of experience as a life coach and leadership trainer. It all started in her native country, the Dominican Republic. She currently resides in the Greater Des Moines Area, where she opened her coaching practice in 2016, working with women in professional and personal transition and organizations focused on diversifying and empowering their personnel. She enjoys creating custom made programs for both her 1:1 practice and corporate clients, and throwing down with her CrossFit family in between episodes of her podcast "Convos with Lola."   Christina Moffatt serves as Director of Small Business Resources at the Greater Des Moines Partnership, part of Christina’s role is...

Presenter: Jenny Quiner, Founder of Dog Patch Urban Gardens Date: August 7, 2020 Time: 12:00pm – 1:00pm Location: Online Come and listen to the stories of entrepreneurs, small business owners and community members making their mark in Iowa. As you create your own story, treat yourself to this time each month to rekindle your entrepreneurial spirit and connect with others. This month listen to the amazing story of Jenny Quiner, Founder of Dog Patch Urban Gardens About our speaker Jenny started Dogpatch Urban Gardens in the fall of 2015 with the help of her husband, Eric Quiner.  The main reasons for starting the farm are to promote health/nutrition, enhance the community, environmental conservation as well as to instill family values for their sons. Jenny is a Des Moines native and loves the Des Moines community. Her husband Eric is also a Des Moines native, and they have three sons: Oliver, Walter, and Lewis. Jenny graduated from the University of Iowa with a B.A. in Health Promotions and earned her Masters of Education from Colorado State University.  She has always been very health-minded and this is one of the guiding principles behind the creation of the farm. After graduating from CSU, she was offered a job to teach science at her alma-mater Dowling Catholic High School in West Des Moines, Iowa. Jenny and Eric moved back home to Des Moines in 2010.  While teaching, Jenny had her 3 sons and felt compelled for a life change, and that is when the farm operation come into fruition.

Presenter: Pamela Smith, Microsoft Office Specialist Date: August 18, 2020 Time: 12:00pm – 1:00pm Location: Online What can Microsoft Office do for your Business? Microsoft Office includes many features that can help you run your business. With built in Templates we can quickly create a Customer Invoice, Inventory List, Flyer, or Newsletter. In this session we will look at the Programs in the Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, Outlook, and PowerPoint) and explore features that can benefit your business. We will also take a look at features in Microsoft 365 (Teams, OneDrive, Forms, Planner, Stream, Shift) that can be valuable tools you can access from your computer, tablet or phone. If you are currently using Microsoft Office or thinking about purchasing office, this session will give you an overview of features that can make your life easier. About our speaker Pamela Smith, Microsoft Office Specialist, has been educating individuals and corporations for over 25 years on the features of Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Outlook. Most recently, Pamela has helped train on the features of Microsoft Office 365, including but not limited to O365, OneDrive, Teams and OneNote. “At first my training was about teaching employees and individuals how to use the computer and the Microsoft Office programs. As employees have become more proficient with the programs, my training focus has changed. My training is now about educating employees on the features of the programs that can save them time and streamline their workflow.” “I have traveled all over the United States and in Canada training employees on Microsoft Office and custom software. One of the things I love about my job is having the opportunity to teach people how to be more productive through tips and tricks in the various programs.”

Start Date: August 20, 2020 Time: 9 am - Noon Location: Online Writing a business plan can be intimidating. You're juggling market research with competitor analysis, financial projections with marketing strategies. With so much to consider and organize, it's easy to lose your drive. DreamBuilder Virtual makes it simpler. Here's what you'll do during this 8-week online course: Work to develop your business plan Access online material as well as group + one-on-one virtual support Build your professional network Connect with others working toward the goal of business ownership Learn from guest mentors (including CPAs, attorneys, marketing experts and other small business owners) Class meets weekly online from 9 am to noon for 8 weeks beginning Thursday, August 20. Our final class meeting will take place Thursday, October 8. No Longer Accepting Applications. Cost: $250 (inquire about scholarships!) What we cover: Creating a business plan Delivering the story of your business Targeted Small Business Access to capital Small business banking Taxes Legal considerations Insurance Leasing contacts Understanding profit margin Setting your price point Target audience Marketing Outreach strategy Social media and deciding what works for you Interested? Please download the application here, fill it out and then email to Ciara Ladroma at cladroma@theiowacenter.org. Once your application has been reviewed, you'll be contacted to schedule a short interview to determine your readiness for DreamBuilder.