Al Lautenslager
Principal, Market for Profits
Owner, The Ink Well

He has shared the stage with Mayor Rudy Giuliani. He has worked with Donald Trump and The Apprentice. Every year he makes numerous media appearances reviewing Super Bowl TV commercials.

Al Lautenslager is the former president and owner of The Ink Well, a commercial printing and mailing company in Wheaton, IL, and the principal of Market For Profits, a Chicago based marketing consulting and coaching firm. He is a multiple, “Business of the Year” award winner.

Al is the featured marketing and PR expert for the online version of Entrepreneur Magazine and a certified Guerrilla Marketing Coach.

Al is a member of USA Today’s small business panel and also appears regularly on radio and TV. Al is also the co-author of Guerrilla Marketing in 30 Days, the most recent best-selling book in the guerrilla marketing series, which by the way hit the No. 1 spot on Amazon in Japan in 2006. Al is the author of The Ultimate Guide to Direct Marketing and numerous other marketing and business books. His latest venture is as CEO of CertifiedSocialMedia.com, a social media marketing educational and certification company.

Susan Wilson Solovic
CEO, SBTV.com

Susan Wilson Solovic is CEO of SBTV.com – small business television. SBTV.com is the first and only video news and information destination site for American’s small businesses. On behalf of SBTV.com Solovic accepted the Stevie Award for the Most Innovative Company up to 100 employees. The Stevie Awards are considered the Oscars of business.

Solovic serves on the advisory board for the John Cook School of Business Entrepreneurial Studies at Saint Louis University – one of the top rated entrepreneurial schools in the U.S. She is a member of the Board of Advisors for Enterprising Women magazine and in 2007 was selected as one of the magazine’s Enterprising Women of the Year and she is a member of the National Advisory Board of the Women Presidents’ Organization. Solovic served on the National Women’s Business Council which counsels the President, Congress and the SBA on issues impacting women business owners. She was named one of the Most Influential Women in St. Louis (2004) by the St. Louis Business Journal and received the 2004 YWCA’s Special Business Leader award for Entrepreneurial Success. She was a featured columnist on women’s business issues for UPI, and she is a regular small business contributor on ABC’s America This Morning. She is also a popular media guest on radio and television programs across the country including CNN, Bloomberg, Early Today, and Good Day New York.

Solovic is the author of the popular books, The Girls’ Guide to Power and Success, Reinvent Your Career: Attain the Success You Deserve and Desire and The Girls’ Guide to Building a Million Dollar Business.

Al Lautenslager
Principal, Market for Profits
Owner, The Ink Well

He has shared the stage with Mayor Rudy Giuliani. He has worked with Donald Trump and The Apprentice. Every year he makes numerous media appearances reviewing Super Bowl TV commercials.

Al Lautenslager is the former president and owner of The Ink Well, a commercial printing and mailing company in Wheaton, IL, and the principal of Market For Profits, a Chicago based marketing consulting and coaching firm. He is a multiple, “Business of the Year” award winner.

Al is the featured marketing and PR expert for the online version of Entrepreneur Magazine and a certified Guerrilla Marketing Coach.

Al is a member of USA Today’s small business panel and also appears regularly on radio and TV. Al is also the co-author of Guerrilla Marketing in 30 Days, the most recent best-selling book in the guerrilla marketing series, which by the way hit the No. 1 spot on Amazon in Japan in 2006. Al is the author of The Ultimate Guide to Direct Marketing and numerous other marketing and business books. His latest venture is as CEO of CertifiedSocialMedia.com, a social media marketing educational and certification company.

Susan Wilson Solovic
CEO, SBTV.com

Susan Wilson Solovic is CEO of SBTV.com – small business television. SBTV.com is the first and only video news and information destination site for American’s small businesses. On behalf of SBTV.com Solovic accepted the Stevie Award for the Most Innovative Company up to 100 employees. The Stevie Awards are considered the Oscars of business.

Solovic serves on the advisory board for the John Cook School of Business Entrepreneurial Studies at Saint Louis University – one of the top rated entrepreneurial schools in the U.S. She is a member of the Board of Advisors for Enterprising Women magazine and in 2007 was selected as one of the magazine’s Enterprising Women of the Year and she is a member of the National Advisory Board of the Women Presidents’ Organization. Solovic served on the National Women’s Business Council which counsels the President, Congress and the SBA on issues impacting women business owners. She was named one of the Most Influential Women in St. Louis (2004) by the St. Louis Business Journal and received the 2004 YWCA’s Special Business Leader award for Entrepreneurial Success. She was a featured columnist on women’s business issues for UPI, and she is a regular small business contributor on ABC’s America This Morning. She is also a popular media guest on radio and television programs across the country including CNN, Bloomberg, Early Today, and Good Day New York.

Solovic is the author of the popular books, The Girls’ Guide to Power and Success, Reinvent Your Career: Attain the Success You Deserve and Desire and The Girls’ Guide to Building a Million Dollar Business.

Maureen Collins-Williams Director, UNI Regional Business Center & UNI Business Development and Incubation

Maureen Collins-Williams is the Director of the Regional Business Center and Business Development and Incubation at the University of Northern Iowa. The Regional Business Center serves as an umbrella for several key outreach entrepreneurship programs of the university, including a service/technology business incubator in Waterloo, an Innovation Incubator on the UNI campus, the offices of the SBDC and an award winning entrepreneurship development system called MyEntre.Net. Collins-Williams is a frequent national speaker on topics associated with entrepreneurship and is on faculty at the Midwestern Heartland Economic Development Course and the International Economic Development Council's Economic Development Institute (OUEDI).

Jenny Condon Director of Business Development, VentureNet Iowa

Jenny is the Director of Business Development with VentureNet Iowa in Des Moines. In her role she is responsible for business evaluation, valuation determination, organization and structural logistics, strategic planning, expert & management recruitment, public relations, marketing and intern management.

In addition, she is the CEO of a local nonprofit media company - Illumination Media, as well as a national speaker and retreat director for a faith-based organization

Jenny’s background includes small business management; nonprofit management, fundraising and programming, media sales, team development and management; marketing and public relations, and host of a radio talk show.  She holds a B.A. in Business Management and a M.S. in Adult Learning & Organizational Performance and Development.

Lori Day President, FocusFirst, Inc.

Lori’s business leadership, management, coaching and consulting spans 20 years. During her career she’s held executive positions in marketing, sales and service in Fortune 500 corporations and worked with privately held companies and individuals. Her unique combination of expertise enables her to help individuals and organizations grow through practical solutions that work. An accomplished facilitator of the prestigious Kauffman Foundation’s FastTrac entrepreneur program, she has helped many entrepreneurs reach the next level.     

Lori has built high performance leaders, teams and results across a wide range of industries and applications including financial services, manufacturing, insurance, publishing, mortgage, service centers, distribution, sales and call centers.  Selected for a premier executive assignment in a Fortune 500 company, she worked directly with the Chairman of the Board to advance strategic initiatives.  In addition, she established several new functions—Global Customer Relations, direct marketing, Internet, inside sales and service call centers—with an impressive record of results.  She was chosen to lead a career center for Maytag/Whirlpool—the largest center in the U.S. with four comprehensive career tracks (traditional employment, life options, education and entrepreneurship).  She’s also known for her work creating loyal clients and “Wow” customer experiences. Over 6,000 people have been trained in her Professional Business Communication Program, consistently receiving the highest marks. 

Known for her commitment to the success of every client, she recently launched two new programs for established and emerging entrepreneurs following two years of research and design.  She’s known for her focused coaching, leadership development, business communication skills and contagious positive attitude. Through her varied business experience she understands the direct impact to clients and staff, competitive differentiation, operational effectiveness, revenue, expenses and profitability….and how to produce sustainable results.

Craig Downs Loan Administrator, Iowa Foundation for Microenterprise and Community Vitality

Craig Downs is the Loan Administrator for the Iowa Foundation for Microenterprise and Community Vitality which has established a $750,000 microloan pool for statewide access. He came to this position with 28 years of banking experience in several locations across Iowa. He has expertise in entrepreneurial lending and compliance issues and has helped turn around the financial status of multiple banks. He also has experience in managing accounting issues and has provided various leadership roles in nonprofit organizations. He has a BS degree in Agricultural Business from Iowa State University and has attended graduate schools of banking in Colorado, Oklahoma, and Iowa.

Kris Jensen Vice President - Corporate Services, Wisdom Worker Solutions

Kris Jensen has more than 30 years of experience in corporate America advising CEOs, executives and managers regarding human resource strategy and working with employees to help them create and sustain productive workplaces. She has been an integral member of an executive team to transition a Board of Directors’ governance structure and establish a process for the succession of a CEO, published in WorkSpan magazine.

Today, Kris is the Vice President of Corporate Services for Wisdom Worker Solutions®. She joined WWS after serving as the Senior Vice President of Human Resources for The Weitz Company, a $1.5 billion national commercial contractor where among her other accomplishments, she created a best-in-class leadership development program. Prior to her work with Weitz, Kris spent 18 years with The Principal Financial Group, an international financial services firm, as a human resource professional assuming the leadership of their employment, administration, succession planning, training and development, Affirmative Action and diversity functions.

She holds a Bachelors degree in Industrial Administration Behavioral Management and is the author of numerous articles and books. She is a contributing author of the recently published Motivating Millenials.

Jim Lobaito Founder and President, The Performance Group

Jim Lobaito started his sales career during the 1981 recession.  In a market where the unemployment rate went to 17.8% and interest rates skyrocketed to 20%.  Jim became one of the top sellers in his industry!  Since then, he has set sales records and successfully grown companies during the recessions of 1981, 1991 and 2001.
 
Jim is the Founder and President of The Performance Group, www.pmgllc.net , host of the weekly radio show BizTalk on WHO radio, www.biztalkradioshow.com  and author of The Turbulent Times Success Manual.  The Performance Group, founded by Jim Lobaito in 2000, is a sales development company located in Urbandale, Iowa.  The Performance Group offers an integrated approach to systematically growing sales by improving the people, systems and strategies that impact sales.  They work with companies that are, or want to be, sales driven and growth orientated.  After working with The Performance Group, clients regularly comment on having a clearer sense of direction and capability, in addition to revenue growth.

Zachary R. Mannheimer Executive Director/Founder, The Des Moines Social Club

For The Subjective Theatre Company (NYC/DSM, serving as Producer for all shows): Directed Americana Absurdum (4^th St. 2008), R.U.R. (DMSC 2009), Directed/Co-Wrote Party Discipline: A Political Transformation Seminar (2006 at The Ohio Theatre, 2007 at the AAWW), Directed Karel Capek's The White Plague and co-produced The UnConvention (2004), Directed Jesse Alick's Sleep Awake (2003), John Osborne's Look Back in Anger (2002), Eugene Ionesco's Victims of Duty (2001, 2002 OOBR Award for Overall Excellence), Set Design for John Patrick Shanley's The Big Funk (2003), Producer of Mac Wellman's 7 Blowjobs (2005) and Co-Wrote and Directed Burt Reynolds' Amazing Napalm Powered Oven and Other Paid Programming for 2001 NYC Fringe Festival. Zachary created and directs STC's Busking Bonanza. Zachary is the Founding Artistic Director of The Subjective Theatre Company www.SubjectiveTheatre.org.

Zachary has been an intern with New Georges, The Flea Theatre and The Present Company. He was the director of Fringe Al Fresco, the 100% outdoor version of the NYC International Fringe Festival (2001-2002). He has taught and lectured at Wagner College, Muhlenberg College, The East Harlem Development Association, and St. Margaret's in Ascot, England. He has served as the Corporate Sponsorship Associate for HERE Arts Center (NYC). Previously he served as the Managing Director for East Coast Artists, a 10-year old not-for-profit theatre company producing adaptations of classic works under the Artistic Direction of Richard Schechner at New York University from 2003-2004. Additionally, Zachary was the Administrator of New York Dance Affinity (2003) and founded the short-lived Public Works Project (2001-2002), a street-theatre group where he published the theatrical newsletter The Geek.

Zachary is the founder of The Community Dish, a consortium of over 90 NYC Independent Theatre Companies who meet bi-monthly to share a meal and ideas: www.CommunityDish.org. Zachary has received training from The Second City in Chicago, Goldsmiths College at University of London and studied under playwrights Maria Irene Fornes, James Ryan, Erik Ehn, Mac Wellman and directors Richard Schechner and John Clancy. He has previously held positions at Samuel French London, The Royal Court, and Tribeca Performing Arts Center. He holds a dual BA in Theatre Arts and Philosophy from Muhlenberg College in Allentown, Pennsylvania.

Zachary currently serves as the Vice President of The Western Gateway Business Association in Des Moines, as well as a board member for Modest Needs, an incredibly altruistic financial granting not-for-profit www.ModestNeeds.org. Additional blog work can be found at www.zacksblog.subjectivetheatre.org.

Zachary has articles and essays published in the following publications: The New York Theater Review, American Theater Magazine and The Brooklyn Rail. The Subjective Theatre Company has been featured in Time Magazine, USA Today, The Village Voice and The New York Times.

Zachary has been a server, Head Waiter, Manager and Sommelier at many restaurants and clubs, most recently Maitre d’ at The Des Moines Embassy Club and Tempo, Fiamma, Balthazar, The Boat House and The Cub Room in Manhattan. He has worked in the service industry for over 15 years, beginning as a dishwasher.

Zachary was recently awarded The Governor’s Volunteer Award by Governor Culver for 2009. 

Curt Nelson President & CEO, Entrepreneurial Development Center, Inc

With over thirty years of successful national and international business creation and leadership experience, Curtis Nelson has directed the development and successful launch of over 45 new businesses and more than 300 new products for the communications, IT, military, transportation, medical, health, food, and gardening industries worldwide. Nelson is a seasoned public speaker, entrepreneur, investor, consultant, and three-time veteran of Inc. Magazine's 500 Fastest-Growing Private Companies® list.

A 1974 graduate from the University of Iowa, Nelson holds a BBA in Marketing. He has been an active U of I alumnus and is a member and past chairman of the Marketing Advisory Council for the Tippie School of Business. Additionally, he currently serves on the board and executive committee for the University of Iowa Research Foundation. Nelson serves as a director and officer on multiple private and public boards and is also the author of The Recipe for Business Success.

Nelson currently serves as President & CEO of the Entrepreneurial Development Center, Inc., a nationally recognized business accelerator. He is the managing member of CRN LLC, a business consulting organization, and AccelerateIT, LLC; manager of Iowa Seed Fund, LLC, a seed-stage investment fund.

Marty Stratton President, Strat Exe, Inc.

Marty Stratton, President of Strat Exe, Inc has a passion for your success. “Strategic Execution for your Success,” delivers business growth through value creation and execution expertise. He brings creative and innovative solutions focused on your business situation and coaches you and your team for enhanced satisfaction and sales growth. Marty brings an “organizational marketing” philosophy, grounded in the entrepreneurial spirit to enhances business execution. Marty is a presenter and speaker, facilitator and people developer and works with organizations of all sizes. You can reach him at martin.stratton@stratexe.com, www.stratexe.com or call 641-831-9440.

Shane Tiernan Senior Vice President/Chief of Lending, Grundy National Bank

Shane Tiernan is currently Senior Vice President/Chief of Lending for Grundy National Bank in Grundy Center and Conrad Iowa and in charge of strategic planning for the holding Company GNB Bancorporation a $285 million holding company consisting of Grundy National Bank and Ackley State Bank. GNB Bancorporation is a locally owned holding company with its headquarters in Grundy Center Iowa. The company is owned by approximately 250 shareholders two-thirds of who are residents, businesses men and women and farmers in the Grundy and Hardin County Iowa area.

Throughout his banking career Shane has been directly and indirectly involved in several business and rural community development initiatives. He has made presentations and provided consulting and strategic planning assistance for several rural communities in Iowa as well as the Iowa Department of Economic Development. He has made presentations addressing rural economic development initiatives for the State and National Main Street Centers, and the Federal Home Loan Bank of Des Moines. In August 2004 he was asked to testify before the U.S. Senate Finance Committee addressing concerns surrounding the out-migration of rural regions in Iowa. He has been the recipient of three Governor’s Volunteer Awards and has been recognized by USDA Rural Development for his work in rural community development projects.

Shane resides in Conrad, Iowa with his wife Cathy and they have four children ages 18 to 27. He is Treasurer for Conrad Chamber Main Street Inc, member of Conrad Chamber Main Street Community Development Committee, President of Conrad Development Corporation, Secretary-Treasurer for Heart of Iowa Communications Cooperative and Co-chair of the Northern Iowa Food and Farm Partnership.

Jason Trout Founder, BlueBrain Consulting

Jason launched his first Internet business in 2001 while attending the University of Iowa. His dotcom was the winner of the Merle Volding Business Plan Competition sponsored by the U of I John Pappajohn Entrepreneurial Center (from which he also received his Certificate in Entrepreneurship).

Upon graduation he decided to forgo the traditional career path to instead focus on his business, which he then sold to a larger company in 2002. He has since launched several other Internet businesses and in 2006 began helping individuals start online businesses of their own through a series of classes and workshops. Beginning in 2007 he also started working with existing businesses, assisting them with using the Internet to increase their profitability.

He lives in Decorah, Iowa and runs Blue Brain Consulting which assists businesses small and large throughout the United States.

Michael C. Wagner President, White Rabbit Group

Michael Wagner, President of White Rabbit Group, is a skilled communicator, facilitator, and business coach. The White Rabbit Group is a business development consultancy that helps orgranizations grow through the concept of brand ownership.

Nathan Wright Founder, Lava Row

Nathan has over 10 years of expertise in social media, web culture, emerging media, user interface design, branding and digital communications. He founded Lava Row in 2007 after serving as the Interactive Lead at The Meyocks Group, an integrated branding firm. Nathan is dedicated to fostering the creative capital within Des Moines and can often be found organizing/attending TweetUps and Social Media Breakfasts.

In addition to this blog, Nathan also writes about web strategy for The Des Moines Business Record’s IowaBiz.com.

His web geekery was forged in the fires of ancient IRC chatrooms and continues today as @nathantwright on Twitter. In 2002, much to the shame of his family, Nathan attempted to sell his soul on eBay and achieved 15 minutes of worldwide fame and mockery. He aspires to one day be distinguished enough to wear a monocle.

Nathan can’t wait to talk to you about the possibilities of social media, so why don’t you contact him right now.

Drew McLellan Creator, McLellan Marketing Group

Drew McLellan gets branding and marketing and he desperately wants you to get it too.  So he tells stories, asks questions, and milks sacred cows.  All to help clients discover their brand so they can create authentic love affairs with their customers.  Drew has not only survived 20 years in the advertising and marketing arena, he's thrived in it.  After working for several agencies, including Young and Rubicam's CMF&Z, Drew created McLellan Marketing Group in 1995. 

Considered a national branding expert, Drew is a highly sought after speaker and has given about a zillion presentations at national conferences, keynote addresses, training for his peers in the profession, college students and even his daughter's tenth grade class.  Over the years, Drew has lent his expertise to clients like Nabisco, IAMS pet foods, Kraft Foods, Meredith Publishing, John Deere, Iowa Health System, Make-A-Wish, University of Central Florida, SkiDoo and a wide array of others.

Janice Baldes Founder and CEO, Bagolitas, LLC

Janice Baldes, Founder and CEO of Bagolitas, LLC, is an unconventional entrepreneur making the move from graphic design to handbags.  In less than 5 years of operations, Bagolitas has sold over $5M in handbags and accessories while donating over $100,000 to communities and non-profit organizations across the country.  Janice's start-up story is heartfelt and inspiring: a story of faith, passion, and perseverance right from the cornfields of Iowa. 

Beyond the Bagolitas story, Janice will share lessons she has learned during the journey of Bagolitas balancing her life as a busy wife, mom, friend, daughter, and more with the determined pursuit of the American Dream.  Don't be surprised if you leave inspired to make your dreams a reality! 

To learn more about Bagolitas, their mission, the opportunity, and their products, visit www.bagolitas.com. 

Bob Rees is the president of Bubble-Worm, LLC and Rees Outdoor Products, LLC.  He is the inventor and developer of several products, including the patented Bubble-Worm bubble toy, the MPG Grill and Collapsible Charcoal Chimney for tailgating and camping, and the Canopy Anchor Pad System. 

In addition to developing new and innovative products, Bob has 25+ years of IT experience and installed and administered the first PC network at Equitable Group and Health/EQUICOR Inc.  Bob is currently an application system engineer with Wells Fargo. 

In his spare time, Bob can be found 4-wheeling and is the founder of the Iowa Association of 4-Wheel Drive Clubs, Inc. and co-founder of the Jeep Outdoor Club of Central Iowa, Inc.

Jane Whalen President, Midwest Project Partners, Inc and Midwest Procurement Partners, LLC

Jane Whalen is president of Midwest Project Partners, Inc and Midwest Procurement Partners, LLC.  Today she leverages her more than 25 years of experience in the financial services industry along with her business development responsibilities for Cap Gemini Ernst & Young and merger and acquisition program management, business strategies development, and client relationship management with EDS. 

Midwest Project Partners is a project management consulting organization that assists clients through the entire life cycle of their projects: from strategy and planning to execution and conclusion.  Every Midwest Project Partners colleague applies our proven approach to transform the power of an idea into results.  This is the Midwest Project Partners' defining difference that provides our clients great value.  

Midwest Procurement Partners, LLC was founded in 2007, as a wholly owned subsidiary of Midwest Project Partners, Inc.  From building construction, office supplies, employee benefits, to large IT initiatives, we have saved our clients millions of dollars.  Our consultants serve as catalysts to inspire and challenge your leadership team.  Our processes help clients further define and implement a successful procurement strategy. 

Maureen Collins-Williams Director, UNI Regional Business Center & UNI Business Development and Incubation

Maureen Collins-Williams is the Director of the Regional Business Center and Business Development and Incubation at the University of Northern Iowa. The Regional Business Center serves as an umbrella for several key outreach entrepreneurship programs of the university, including a service/technology business incubator in Waterloo, an Innovation Incubator on the UNI campus, the offices of the SBDC and an award winning entrepreneurship development system called MyEntre.Net. Collins-Williams is a frequent national speaker on topics associated with entrepreneurship and is on faculty at the Midwestern Heartland Economic Development Course and the International Economic Development Council's Economic Development Institute (OUEDI).

Jenny Condon Director of Business Development, VentureNet Iowa

Jenny is the Director of Business Development with VentureNet Iowa in Des Moines. In her role she is responsible for business evaluation, valuation determination, organization and structural logistics, strategic planning, expert & management recruitment, public relations, marketing and intern management.

In addition, she is the CEO of a local nonprofit media company - Illumination Media, as well as a national speaker and retreat director for a faith-based organization

Jenny’s background includes small business management; nonprofit management, fundraising and programming, media sales, team development and management; marketing and public relations, and host of a radio talk show.  She holds a B.A. in Business Management and a M.S. in Adult Learning & Organizational Performance and Development.

Lori Day President, FocusFirst, Inc.

Lori’s business leadership, management, coaching and consulting spans 20 years. During her career she’s held executive positions in marketing, sales and service in Fortune 500 corporations and worked with privately held companies and individuals. Her unique combination of expertise enables her to help individuals and organizations grow through practical solutions that work. An accomplished facilitator of the prestigious Kauffman Foundation’s FastTrac entrepreneur program, she has helped many entrepreneurs reach the next level.     

Lori has built high performance leaders, teams and results across a wide range of industries and applications including financial services, manufacturing, insurance, publishing, mortgage, service centers, distribution, sales and call centers.  Selected for a premier executive assignment in a Fortune 500 company, she worked directly with the Chairman of the Board to advance strategic initiatives.  In addition, she established several new functions—Global Customer Relations, direct marketing, Internet, inside sales and service call centers—with an impressive record of results.  She was chosen to lead a career center for Maytag/Whirlpool—the largest center in the U.S. with four comprehensive career tracks (traditional employment, life options, education and entrepreneurship).  She’s also known for her work creating loyal clients and “Wow” customer experiences. Over 6,000 people have been trained in her Professional Business Communication Program, consistently receiving the highest marks. 

Known for her commitment to the success of every client, she recently launched two new programs for established and emerging entrepreneurs following two years of research and design.  She’s known for her focused coaching, leadership development, business communication skills and contagious positive attitude. Through her varied business experience she understands the direct impact to clients and staff, competitive differentiation, operational effectiveness, revenue, expenses and profitability….and how to produce sustainable results.

Craig Downs Loan Administrator, Iowa Foundation for Microenterprise and Community Vitality

Craig Downs is the Loan Administrator for the Iowa Foundation for Microenterprise and Community Vitality which has established a $750,000 microloan pool for statewide access. He came to this position with 28 years of banking experience in several locations across Iowa. He has expertise in entrepreneurial lending and compliance issues and has helped turn around the financial status of multiple banks. He also has experience in managing accounting issues and has provided various leadership roles in nonprofit organizations. He has a BS degree in Agricultural Business from Iowa State University and has attended graduate schools of banking in Colorado, Oklahoma, and Iowa.

Kris Jensen Vice President - Corporate Services, Wisdom Worker Solutions

Kris Jensen has more than 30 years of experience in corporate America advising CEOs, executives and managers regarding human resource strategy and working with employees to help them create and sustain productive workplaces. She has been an integral member of an executive team to transition a Board of Directors’ governance structure and establish a process for the succession of a CEO, published in WorkSpan magazine.

Today, Kris is the Vice President of Corporate Services for Wisdom Worker Solutions®. She joined WWS after serving as the Senior Vice President of Human Resources for The Weitz Company, a $1.5 billion national commercial contractor where among her other accomplishments, she created a best-in-class leadership development program. Prior to her work with Weitz, Kris spent 18 years with The Principal Financial Group, an international financial services firm, as a human resource professional assuming the leadership of their employment, administration, succession planning, training and development, Affirmative Action and diversity functions.

She holds a Bachelors degree in Industrial Administration Behavioral Management and is the author of numerous articles and books. She is a contributing author of the recently published Motivating Millenials.

Jim Lobaito Founder and President, The Performance Group

Jim Lobaito started his sales career during the 1981 recession.  In a market where the unemployment rate went to 17.8% and interest rates skyrocketed to 20%.  Jim became one of the top sellers in his industry!  Since then, he has set sales records and successfully grown companies during the recessions of 1981, 1991 and 2001.
 
Jim is the Founder and President of The Performance Group, www.pmgllc.net , host of the weekly radio show BizTalk on WHO radio, www.biztalkradioshow.com  and author of The Turbulent Times Success Manual.  The Performance Group, founded by Jim Lobaito in 2000, is a sales development company located in Urbandale, Iowa.  The Performance Group offers an integrated approach to systematically growing sales by improving the people, systems and strategies that impact sales.  They work with companies that are, or want to be, sales driven and growth orientated.  After working with The Performance Group, clients regularly comment on having a clearer sense of direction and capability, in addition to revenue growth.

Zachary R. Mannheimer Executive Director/Founder, The Des Moines Social Club

For The Subjective Theatre Company (NYC/DSM, serving as Producer for all shows): Directed Americana Absurdum (4^th St. 2008), R.U.R. (DMSC 2009), Directed/Co-Wrote Party Discipline: A Political Transformation Seminar (2006 at The Ohio Theatre, 2007 at the AAWW), Directed Karel Capek's The White Plague and co-produced The UnConvention (2004), Directed Jesse Alick's Sleep Awake (2003), John Osborne's Look Back in Anger (2002), Eugene Ionesco's Victims of Duty (2001, 2002 OOBR Award for Overall Excellence), Set Design for John Patrick Shanley's The Big Funk (2003), Producer of Mac Wellman's 7 Blowjobs (2005) and Co-Wrote and Directed Burt Reynolds' Amazing Napalm Powered Oven and Other Paid Programming for 2001 NYC Fringe Festival. Zachary created and directs STC's Busking Bonanza. Zachary is the Founding Artistic Director of The Subjective Theatre Company www.SubjectiveTheatre.org.

Zachary has been an intern with New Georges, The Flea Theatre and The Present Company. He was the director of Fringe Al Fresco, the 100% outdoor version of the NYC International Fringe Festival (2001-2002). He has taught and lectured at Wagner College, Muhlenberg College, The East Harlem Development Association, and St. Margaret's in Ascot, England. He has served as the Corporate Sponsorship Associate for HERE Arts Center (NYC). Previously he served as the Managing Director for East Coast Artists, a 10-year old not-for-profit theatre company producing adaptations of classic works under the Artistic Direction of Richard Schechner at New York University from 2003-2004. Additionally, Zachary was the Administrator of New York Dance Affinity (2003) and founded the short-lived Public Works Project (2001-2002), a street-theatre group where he published the theatrical newsletter The Geek.

Zachary is the founder of The Community Dish, a consortium of over 90 NYC Independent Theatre Companies who meet bi-monthly to share a meal and ideas: www.CommunityDish.org. Zachary has received training from The Second City in Chicago, Goldsmiths College at University of London and studied under playwrights Maria Irene Fornes, James Ryan, Erik Ehn, Mac Wellman and directors Richard Schechner and John Clancy. He has previously held positions at Samuel French London, The Royal Court, and Tribeca Performing Arts Center. He holds a dual BA in Theatre Arts and Philosophy from Muhlenberg College in Allentown, Pennsylvania.

Zachary currently serves as the Vice President of The Western Gateway Business Association in Des Moines, as well as a board member for Modest Needs, an incredibly altruistic financial granting not-for-profit www.ModestNeeds.org. Additional blog work can be found at www.zacksblog.subjectivetheatre.org.

Zachary has articles and essays published in the following publications: The New York Theater Review, American Theater Magazine and The Brooklyn Rail. The Subjective Theatre Company has been featured in Time Magazine, USA Today, The Village Voice and The New York Times.

Zachary has been a server, Head Waiter, Manager and Sommelier at many restaurants and clubs, most recently Maitre d’ at The Des Moines Embassy Club and Tempo, Fiamma, Balthazar, The Boat House and The Cub Room in Manhattan. He has worked in the service industry for over 15 years, beginning as a dishwasher.

Zachary was recently awarded The Governor’s Volunteer Award by Governor Culver for 2009. 

Curt Nelson President & CEO, Entrepreneurial Development Center, Inc

With over thirty years of successful national and international business creation and leadership experience, Curtis Nelson has directed the development and successful launch of over 45 new businesses and more than 300 new products for the communications, IT, military, transportation, medical, health, food, and gardening industries worldwide. Nelson is a seasoned public speaker, entrepreneur, investor, consultant, and three-time veteran of Inc. Magazine's 500 Fastest-Growing Private Companies® list.

A 1974 graduate from the University of Iowa, Nelson holds a BBA in Marketing. He has been an active U of I alumnus and is a member and past chairman of the Marketing Advisory Council for the Tippie School of Business. Additionally, he currently serves on the board and executive committee for the University of Iowa Research Foundation. Nelson serves as a director and officer on multiple private and public boards and is also the author of The Recipe for Business Success.

Nelson currently serves as President & CEO of the Entrepreneurial Development Center, Inc., a nationally recognized business accelerator. He is the managing member of CRN LLC, a business consulting organization, and AccelerateIT, LLC; manager of Iowa Seed Fund, LLC, a seed-stage investment fund.

Marty Stratton President, Strat Exe, Inc.

Marty Stratton, President of Strat Exe, Inc has a passion for your success. “Strategic Execution for your Success,” delivers business growth through value creation and execution expertise. He brings creative and innovative solutions focused on your business situation and coaches you and your team for enhanced satisfaction and sales growth. Marty brings an “organizational marketing” philosophy, grounded in the entrepreneurial spirit to enhances business execution. Marty is a presenter and speaker, facilitator and people developer and works with organizations of all sizes. You can reach him at martin.stratton@stratexe.com, www.stratexe.com or call 641-831-9440.

Shane Tiernan Senior Vice President/Chief of Lending, Grundy National Bank

Shane Tiernan is currently Senior Vice President/Chief of Lending for Grundy National Bank in Grundy Center and Conrad Iowa and in charge of strategic planning for the holding Company GNB Bancorporation a $285 million holding company consisting of Grundy National Bank and Ackley State Bank. GNB Bancorporation is a locally owned holding company with its headquarters in Grundy Center Iowa. The company is owned by approximately 250 shareholders two-thirds of who are residents, businesses men and women and farmers in the Grundy and Hardin County Iowa area.

Throughout his banking career Shane has been directly and indirectly involved in several business and rural community development initiatives. He has made presentations and provided consulting and strategic planning assistance for several rural communities in Iowa as well as the Iowa Department of Economic Development. He has made presentations addressing rural economic development initiatives for the State and National Main Street Centers, and the Federal Home Loan Bank of Des Moines. In August 2004 he was asked to testify before the U.S. Senate Finance Committee addressing concerns surrounding the out-migration of rural regions in Iowa. He has been the recipient of three Governor’s Volunteer Awards and has been recognized by USDA Rural Development for his work in rural community development projects.

Shane resides in Conrad, Iowa with his wife Cathy and they have four children ages 18 to 27. He is Treasurer for Conrad Chamber Main Street Inc, member of Conrad Chamber Main Street Community Development Committee, President of Conrad Development Corporation, Secretary-Treasurer for Heart of Iowa Communications Cooperative and Co-chair of the Northern Iowa Food and Farm Partnership.

Jason Trout Founder, BlueBrain Consulting

Jason launched his first Internet business in 2001 while attending the University of Iowa. His dotcom was the winner of the Merle Volding Business Plan Competition sponsored by the U of I John Pappajohn Entrepreneurial Center (from which he also received his Certificate in Entrepreneurship).

Upon graduation he decided to forgo the traditional career path to instead focus on his business, which he then sold to a larger company in 2002. He has since launched several other Internet businesses and in 2006 began helping individuals start online businesses of their own through a series of classes and workshops. Beginning in 2007 he also started working with existing businesses, assisting them with using the Internet to increase their profitability.

He lives in Decorah, Iowa and runs Blue Brain Consulting which assists businesses small and large throughout the United States.

Michael C. Wagner President, White Rabbit Group

Michael Wagner, President of White Rabbit Group, is a skilled communicator, facilitator, and business coach. The White Rabbit Group is a business development consultancy that helps orgranizations grow through the concept of brand ownership.

Nathan Wright Founder, Lava Row

Nathan has over 10 years of expertise in social media, web culture, emerging media, user interface design, branding and digital communications. He founded Lava Row in 2007 after serving as the Interactive Lead at The Meyocks Group, an integrated branding firm. Nathan is dedicated to fostering the creative capital within Des Moines and can often be found organizing/attending TweetUps and Social Media Breakfasts.

In addition to this blog, Nathan also writes about web strategy for The Des Moines Business Record’s IowaBiz.com.

His web geekery was forged in the fires of ancient IRC chatrooms and continues today as @nathantwright on Twitter. In 2002, much to the shame of his family, Nathan attempted to sell his soul on eBay and achieved 15 minutes of worldwide fame and mockery. He aspires to one day be distinguished enough to wear a monocle.

Nathan can’t wait to talk to you about the possibilities of social media, so why don’t you contact him right now.

Drew McLellan Creator, McLellan Marketing Group

Drew McLellan gets branding and marketing and he desperately wants you to get it too.  So he tells stories, asks questions, and milks sacred cows.  All to help clients discover their brand so they can create authentic love affairs with their customers.  Drew has not only survived 20 years in the advertising and marketing arena, he's thrived in it.  After working for several agencies, including Young and Rubicam's CMF&Z, Drew created McLellan Marketing Group in 1995. 

Considered a national branding expert, Drew is a highly sought after speaker and has given about a zillion presentations at national conferences, keynote addresses, training for his peers in the profession, college students and even his daughter's tenth grade class.  Over the years, Drew has lent his expertise to clients like Nabisco, IAMS pet foods, Kraft Foods, Meredith Publishing, John Deere, Iowa Health System, Make-A-Wish, University of Central Florida, SkiDoo and a wide array of others.

Janice Baldes Founder and CEO, Bagolitas, LLC

Janice Baldes, Founder and CEO of Bagolitas, LLC, is an unconventional entrepreneur making the move from graphic design to handbags.  In less than 5 years of operations, Bagolitas has sold over $5M in handbags and accessories while donating over $100,000 to communities and non-profit organizations across the country.  Janice's start-up story is heartfelt and inspiring: a story of faith, passion, and perseverance right from the cornfields of Iowa. 

Beyond the Bagolitas story, Janice will share lessons she has learned during the journey of Bagolitas balancing her life as a busy wife, mom, friend, daughter, and more with the determined pursuit of the American Dream.  Don't be surprised if you leave inspired to make your dreams a reality! 

To learn more about Bagolitas, their mission, the opportunity, and their products, visit www.bagolitas.com. 

Bob Rees is the president of Bubble-Worm, LLC and Rees Outdoor Products, LLC.  He is the inventor and developer of several products, including the patented Bubble-Worm bubble toy, the MPG Grill and Collapsible Charcoal Chimney for tailgating and camping, and the Canopy Anchor Pad System. 

In addition to developing new and innovative products, Bob has 25+ years of IT experience and installed and administered the first PC network at Equitable Group and Health/EQUICOR Inc.  Bob is currently an application system engineer with Wells Fargo. 

In his spare time, Bob can be found 4-wheeling and is the founder of the Iowa Association of 4-Wheel Drive Clubs, Inc. and co-founder of the Jeep Outdoor Club of Central Iowa, Inc.

Jane Whalen President, Midwest Project Partners, Inc and Midwest Procurement Partners, LLC

Jane Whalen is president of Midwest Project Partners, Inc and Midwest Procurement Partners, LLC.  Today she leverages her more than 25 years of experience in the financial services industry along with her business development responsibilities for Cap Gemini Ernst & Young and merger and acquisition program management, business strategies development, and client relationship management with EDS. 

Midwest Project Partners is a project management consulting organization that assists clients through the entire life cycle of their projects: from strategy and planning to execution and conclusion.  Every Midwest Project Partners colleague applies our proven approach to transform the power of an idea into results.  This is the Midwest Project Partners' defining difference that provides our clients great value.  

Midwest Procurement Partners, LLC was founded in 2007, as a wholly owned subsidiary of Midwest Project Partners, Inc.  From building construction, office supplies, employee benefits, to large IT initiatives, we have saved our clients millions of dollars.  Our consultants serve as catalysts to inspire and challenge your leadership team.  Our processes help clients further define and implement a successful procurement strategy.