Be sure to arrive early and check in before 8:15am, where we'll begin with welcoming remarks and introductions from the Kirkwood Corporate Training team.

Improv Incubator is more than just for laughs - it can help your business and teamwork be even better. Big or small, these workshops will cater to what is important to you and your team. Benefits of improv include strengthened team collaboration, communication skills, creativity and innovation, adaptability and resilience, stress reduction, and problem solving.

Speaker Bio

Improvisation is often associated with comedy, but speaker Anthony Jensen takes improv seriously. With graduate degrees in Organizational Leadership and Business Administration, Anthony started Improv Incubator to help teams and individuals listen and respond more genuinely.

Focus on sharpening both written and verbal communication skills in the modern workplace. You will learn to:

• Write with the reader in mind
• Be open with their purpose and a call to action
• Be concise while maintaining relationship development
• Format for visual impact while staying mindful of informal “text talk”
• Decide which communication format is best for the job
• Use a combination of verbal and written communications as documentation

Speaker Bio

Lauren Cannon, MA, is a Professional Trainer, Coach, and Small-Business Entrepreneur with a wealth of experience spanning decades. Leveraging expertise in teaching, public speaking, training, coaching, and performing arts, Lauren delivers highly interactive and personalized training programs for diverse clients, including educational institutions, law enforcement, utilities, investment companies, and more. Lauren's client focus ranges from warehouse/industrial manufacturing to upper-level management and independent business owners, always striving to optimize work performance and communication skills.

Lauren holds a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Iowa and a Master of Arts with an emphasis in Teaching English from Arizona State University. She is a proud member of TESOL and has been honored with The Corridor's "40 Under 40" Award of Excellence in Small Business.

In this presentation we will explore strategies for effectively managing your time in both personal and professional realms. We'll discuss the art of delegation, emphasizing how distributing tasks strategically and stacking tasks can enhance productivity and create a more balanced workload. Additionally, we will discuss the significance of learning to say no when necessary, recognizing its role in setting boundaries and safeguarding your time and priorities.

Speaker Bio

Brooke Strahn-Koller is a dynamic and highly energetic individual with a passion for leadership. With a commitment to excellence, Brooke has a remarkable talent for rallying teams towards a common goal while creating a positive, supportive and collaborative work environment.

For two decades, she contributed to Kirkwood Community College as both a professor as well as through multiple high level leadership positions. Brooke’s entrepreneurial spirit led her to establish Lucky Pawz Dog Daycare and Boarding, currently serving the Iowa City area for over 20 years. She also owns BSK Coaching and Consulting where she assists individuals in overcoming leadership challenges and achieving professional goals through personalized coaching and workshops. Currently, she holds the position of Associate Clinical Professor and Director of the Doctorate in Education program at The University of Iowa.

Research shows that inclusive leadership directly enhances team performance. Teams with inclusive leaders are 17% more likely to report that they are high performing, 20% more likely to say they make high-quality decisions, and 29% more likely to report behaving collaboratively, according to a Harvard Business Review article. What actions can leaders take to be more inclusive? Come and find out.

Speaker Bio

Claudia, Founder, President, and CEO of Schabel Solutions, is a dedicated advocate for social justice with over 20 years of experience. Born in Brazil and educated in the U.S. with a BA in International Relations from Drake University, Claudia's expertise as a sought-after diversity, equity, and inclusion consultant stems from her multicultural background and extensive experience with Fortune 100 and Fortune 500 companies.

Serving on various boards, including the Grand View University Board of Trustees and the National Small Business Association's Leadership Council, Claudia is also the Director of Diversity for the Iowa Society for Human Resource Management. Her community leadership has earned her numerous accolades, such as Business Record's List of Business Leaders You Need to Know (2024) and the Iowa State University Ivy College of Business Woman Business Owner of the Year Award (2023). 

In this dynamic and interactive session, you will refine your sales approach by mastering the art of building rapport, recognizing diverse communication styles, and employing strategic questioning techniques to uncover prospect and customer needs. Learn to navigate the intricacies of human connection, tailoring communication to resonate with different styles and preferences. This session will explore the power of strategic questions and active listening, equipping participants with the skills to unveil valuable insights and nuances that drive effective sales solutions.

By the end of this training, you will not only have honed your ability to build authentic relationships, but will also be adept at adapting communication style and asking the right questions to deliver customized and tailored sales solutions that meet the unique needs of each prospect or customer.

Speaker Bio

With over three decades of expertise spanning Sales, Marketing, Customer Service, and Communications, Todd Saville brings a wealth of experience to the realm of dynamic and interactive training solutions. 

Drawing from a rich corporate background with four Fortune 500 companies and his role as a Business Professor at Kirkwood Community College, Mount Mercy University, and the University of Dubuque, Todd leads workshops and classes designed to build, refine, and maximize sales and customer service skills. Whether in the classroom, boardroom, cubicle, or on the sales floor, Todd imparts invaluable skills and techniques honed through years of practical experience.

Holding an undergraduate degree in Communications/Public Relations with a Business emphasis from the University of Northern Iowa and a Masters in Business Administration from NOVA South Eastern University, Todd combines academic knowledge with real-world insights for comprehensive and impactful training outcomes.

The daily grind of juggling our calendars and never-ending to-do list can keep us managing tasks without managing people. In this session, Amy will explore leadership and management tactics that will encourage respectful cooperation, build effective teams, and foster a culture of action and collaboration.

Speaker Bio

Meet Amy Hospodarsky, your expert navigator through the twists and turns of management and corporate culture. A change agent by nature, Amy is passionate about reshaping the future of leadership. She is on a mission to shake up the way we approach creating and sustaining culture, infusing workplaces with curiosity, self-awareness, and authenticity. Her action-oriented approach to team building and management is a catalyst for attracting and retaining diverse talent, achieving company and departmental goals, and ensuring long-term organizational health.

At the core of Amy's philosophy is a vibrant belief in people. As a consultant, speaker, and facilitator, she dives deep into the development of emotionally healthy workplaces that are beneficial to both the employees and customers they serve, all with her signature wit and fun.