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.

Explore how thoughtful design and simple adjustments to your workspace, posture, and daily habits can reduce discomfort, boost productivity, and support long-term well-being. Learn practical tips to create a healthier, more balanced environment—at work and beyond.

Speaker Bio

Caley Ploessl is a Doctorate of Physical Therapy and Certified Professional Ergonomist at Balanced Fitness & Health. Caley partners with manufacturers and other companies to provide industry-leading injury prevention and ergonomics expertise. Her goal is to take safety and injury prevention programs to the next level by providing ergonomic assessments, presentations and creating individualized early intervention programs. She has helped companies bring total workers’ health to the forefront of every employee’s mind while improving safety, health and wellness and increasing morale. Her work has been proven to reduce injuries, resulting in decreased recordables and time away from work, which leads to savings for the company.

Caley excels in these areas thanks to her Biomedical Engineering background. Her unique problem-solving skills along with advanced knowledge of the physics of the body, result in clear directives for ergonomically safe interactions in various work environments.

Prevent burnout by knowing when to say yes and when to say no to opportunities without the fear of missing out or overcommitting.

Speaker Bio

Kara Hinze is a forward-thinking leader with 20 years of expertise in developing people, building relationships, and managing through change. She has a track record of high performance by cultivating a positive work environment and a proactive approach to obstacles that focuses on continuous improvement. Kara is also a certified Health & Wellness Coach, specializing in helping professionals balance their workload and prevent burnout. She is an advocate for mental health, lifelong learning and supporting one's community.

This session brings the Conscious Leadership Group’s concept of “the line” to life as a practical tool for structuring your day and working more intentionally. Participants will learn how to recognize their mindset and align tasks, collaboration, and creativity accordingly. Whether planning solo work or leading a team meeting, this approach boosts productivity, self-awareness, and team effectiveness.

Speaker Bio

Known for her interactive and thought-provoking style, Emily Zimmon helps groups strengthen connection, improve engagement, and create healthier, more inclusive environments. Her sessions blend insight, compassion, and practical tools to address real-world challenges—leaving audiences inspired, reflective, and ready to take action.

Emily is a professional public speaker and trainer who discovered her passion for connecting with audiences while teaching in classrooms along the Pacific Coast of Mexico. Today, she brings that same energy and thoughtfulness to events, workshops, and team experiences across the country.

In this 20-minute interactive session, participants will explore a simple yet powerful model that illuminates what drives human behavior—both our own and others’. The model provides a shared language for understanding differences, building empathy, and increasing self-awareness in any team or relationship. You’ll leave with practical insights to help you approach conversations and collaboration with greater curiosity, compassion, and effectiveness.

Speaker Bio

Barb Ranck is a lifelong learner and educator, holding an undergraduate degree in secondary English education and a Master’s degree from Drake University in Adult Learning and Performance Improvement. Barb’s passion for helping people learn and grow includes a 23+ year career in the corporate Learning & Development roles, training employees and consulting with leaders in large companies, (including a Fortune 500 financial services company), helping those she served become more professional and productive.

Barb now coaches and trains individuals and teams from organizations just like yours become more productive, collaborative, and self-aware of individual strengths and stress points. While Barb uses a variety of assessments in her work, she specializes in the Enneagram, holding a practitioner certification through iEQ9 – Integrative Enneagram.

Inspired by a juggling kit from his grandmother, Tom Hicks delivers a fun, hands-on, 90-minute workshop that transforms the fear of failure into fuel for growth. Embracing Failure & Growth Through Juggling blends laughter, resilience, and connection, giving participants a safe space to try, fail, and try again—while building trust, adaptability, and a true continuous improvement mindset. Perfect for teams, schools, and organizations ready to strengthen culture, spark collaboration, and leave with lessons that last long after the balls stop flying. Are you ready to juggle?

Speaker Bio

Tom Hicks is the founder and CJO (Chief Juggling Officer) of Throw & Catch Consulting (throwcatchlead.com) based in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. He provides practical and fun leadership development experiences that blend storytelling, reflection, and active learning to create deeper connections while playing with a purpose for individuals, teams, and organizations. Tom has worked at all levels in higher education for the past 20+ years and has adapted several of his most popular campus-based workshops for organizations of all types. When he’s not on campus or conducting juggling workshops, Tom enjoys cycling and traveling with his wife Megan and cheering on their daughter Emily in all her activities.

We'll wrap up the showcase and everyone is invited to a complimentary lunch.