CIBC 2026 Breakout Sessions & Speakers
“Leading Across Generations with Emotional Intelligence”
Anna Mason | Leadership Coach and a Certified Predictive Index Partner
Presented By 
Today’s leaders are navigating a workforce that’s more generationally diverse than ever—and the differences often run deeper than communication style or work preferences. Expectations around feedback, motivation, and trust are shaped by the experiences people bring with them, and when those perspectives don’t align, it can create real friction.
In this interactive 60-minute session, we’ll explore how emotional intelligence helps leaders navigate these dynamics more effectively. We’ll connect generational traits to the historical events that shaped them and unpack why misunderstandings happen in the first place. From there, the focus shifts to what helps in practice: moving from assumptions to curiosity so leaders can adapt their approach without relying on stereotypes.
Key Takeaways:
- A clearer understanding of how generational experiences shape workplace expectations
- Practical ways to apply EQ to communication and feedback across generations
- A more flexible, curiosity-driven approach to leading diverse teams
Anna Mason is an executive and leadership coach and a Certified Predictive Index (PI) Partner who works with leaders and organizations that believe their people are their greatest competitive advantage. Her career has been shaped by building strong relationships across diverse cultures and teams, giving her deep insight into how people think, learn, and perform at their best.
She partners with executives, HR leaders, and managers to strengthen trust, engagement, and performance through executive coaching, leadership development, and data-driven insight. Anna leverages The Predictive Index, EQ-i 2.0, and the Elite 5 program to help leaders build self-awareness, lead more effectively, and create high-performing, aligned teams.
Anna works with organizations that want more than surface-level solutions — leaders who are committed to building cultures where people thrive and results follow.
“WINtheNOW- The Moment Needs YOU!”
Eric Recker | Business Owner, Success Coach & Author
Business Owners look like they have it all together until the cracks start to show. Burnout, disengagement, and “just pushing through” are quietly draining the energy, creativity, and health of leaders everywhere. The problem isn’t effort. The problem is believing that exhaustion is normal, that more is always better, and that taking care of yourself is optional. You are invited to learn a better way!
1. Scale Your Recovery: Why micro-resets matter more than week-long vacations and how to build them into ordinary days, allowing you to be able to adapt quickly to changing inputs.
2. WINtheNOW: A practical framework for creating momentum by finding and stacking small wins in the moment and being present as a leader.
3. Oxygen in the Tank: The Everest lesson. Why success isn’t just reaching the summit but making it back down with reserves left.
Dr Eric Recker is a dentist, husband, father, keynote speaker, Elite Success Coach, author, pilot, mountain climber, and recovering triathlete. After severe burnout led to him nearly selling his dental practice and walking away in 2021, he took a step back to discover his purpose and figure out what he truly wanted. In his second half of life, he is committed to helping people shorten the distance to becoming their best version and learning to #WINtheNOW.
“Customer Service Advantage: Driving Loyalty and Revenue“
Connie Fiscus | Founder and CEO of Sunflower People & Culture Solutions, LLC
Presented By
What if your customer service became your greatest competitive advantage?
What if it directly drove your revenue, retention, and reputation?
Customer service is not a “nice to have.” It is a growth strategy. A 5% increase in retention can boost profits by 25% to 95%, and 86% of customers will pay more for a better experience (HBR; Microsoft).
Customers do not just remember what you delivered. They remember how you made them feel. That determines whether they stay, leave, or tell others.
In this energetic, interactive session, Connie Fiscus, Founder and CEO of Sunflower People & Culture Solutions, LLC, brings more than 20 years of leadership experience building Customer First strategies in high-stakes environments. As a former Press Ganey Administrator, she understands what drives satisfaction, loyalty, and trust when it matters most.
You will learn how to make customer service consistent and repeatable through clear standards, aligned behaviors, and ownership in key Moments of Truth. Gain practical tools to elevate interactions, build trust through communication, and apply the Empathy, De-Escalate, Recover model when things go wrong. You will also learn how to create consistency across teams and reinforce expectations through leadership and accountability.
Because when customer service consistently exceeds expectations, customers do not just remember the transaction.
They remember how they were treated. And that is what drives loyalty, reputation, and revenue.
4 Key Takeaways:
- Translate service standards into everyday actions that drive retention, reputation, and revenue
- Balance relationship and task using the Experience Equation (Experience = Emotion + Memory)
- Apply the Empathy, De-Escalate, Recover model to restore trust and loyalty
- Build repeatable systems that sustain service excellence through standards, communication, feedback, and leadership
Connie Fiscus is the Founder and CEO of Sunflower People & Culture Solutions, LLC, where she partners with organizations to build leaders, elevate teams, and transform culture through practical, people-centered strategies. With more than 20 years of leadership experience in healthcare and organizational development, Connie brings a rare blend of operational expertise, executive coaching, and real-world service excellence experience to every stage she steps on.
Connie holds a Master of Health Administration (MHA) and is a Certified Master Coach, with advanced training in executive and leadership development. Her career includes leading large, complex teams in high-stakes environments where customer experience is not theoretical, it is deeply personal. She helped design and launch a comprehensive Patient Experience program from the ground up, spanning the entire customer journey from first contact to follow-up. As a former Press Ganey Administrator, she has worked closely with leaders and frontline teams to translate feedback into meaningful, behavior-based service improvements that build trust, loyalty, and measurable results.
What truly differentiates Connie is her heart for service. She is deeply motivated to improve the way people are treated in everyday business interactions. It genuinely saddens her when customers pay for a service and are met with indifference, frustration, or disrespect. Connie’s philosophy is simple and unwavering: “People do not pay for your service to be treated poorly; they pay to have a need met respectfully.” This belief shapes how she teaches leaders to operationalize service excellence through clarity, consistency, accountability, and care.
Connie’s sessions are known for being energetic, practical, and deeply relatable. She equips leaders with clear service standards, tools to elevate key Moments of Truth, and practical service recovery strategies to restore trust and loyalty when service recovery is needed. Participants leave with frameworks they can apply immediately and a renewed commitment to serve with heart and lead with purpose.
“Small Business, Big Talent — Turn Your People Into Your Biggest Competitive Advantage”
Jeremy Vos | Owner of Exit Factor
Presented By 
You didn’t sacrifice nights, weekends, and a steady paycheck to spend your days managing a revolving door. This session is built specifically for small business owners competing for talent in Central Iowa — not corporate HR teams with dedicated recruiters and six-figure onboarding budgets. You’ll walk away with a practical hiring and retention playbook you can actually use: how to compete for top talent without out-spending larger employers, how to stop the revolving door, and how to build a team that runs the business so the business doesn’t run you. If you own or operate a small business and people are your biggest challenge, this one’s for you.
Jeremy Vos has built and sold four businesses — so he knows exactly what separates a valuable company from an expensive job. As the owner of Exit Factor Des Moines, he works with Central Iowa entrepreneurs to build the teams and systems that unlock the real value in what they’ve built. Jeremy brings both the hard-won experience of a serial entrepreneur and a proven methodology that gives small business owners a clear path to building something worth owning — and eventually worth selling.
“Maximizing Local SEO in the Age of AI: How to get your business found first”
Laura Nguyen | Founder of Solle Solutions
Presented By
AI-driven search is reshaping how customers discover local businesses, from Google’s AI Overviews to conversational engines like ChatGPT, Bing Copilot and Perplexity. This session breaks down the new rules of visibility—how structured data, reviews, local content, and GBP optimization feed AI systems—and shows business owners exactly how to appear in AI search results before their competitors. Attendees will walk away with a practical, step-by-step framework to strengthen their local SEO foundation, improve ranking signals and build long-term discoverability that survives every algorithm change.
Key Takeaways:
- How to optimize for AI Overviews and AI-generated answers to ensure your business information is pulled accurately and consistently.
- Which data sources matter most (GBP, citations, first-party content, reviews) and how to strengthen them.
- How to future-proof your local SEO strategy so your business remains findable as AI continues to change consumer behavior.
Laura Nguyen is a growth-focused marketing executive with nearly 20 years of experience in digital marketing, demand generation, and eCommerce. She specializes in data-driven strategies that help businesses increase leads, revenue, and long-term visibility—particularly through Local SEO, AI-powered search optimization, and performance marketing.
Laura has led marketing and digital transformation efforts for Fortune 500 companies, private equity portfolio organizations, and emerging businesses, including roles at Mercer, Perrigo Company plc, Corteva Agriscience, EVERSANA, Mindr, and FleishmanHillard.
As the founder of Solle Solutions, her marketing consultancy, Laura builds comprehensive growth programs that blend Local SEO, AI-driven customer acquisition, website optimization, and paid media strategy. She has launched and scaled digital programs across home services, healthcare, retail, and professional services—consistently delivering measurable improvements in lead volume, conversion rate, and customer engagement.
One of her key strengths is transforming complex marketing trends—like AI search, structured data, and multichannel attribution—into clear, actionable frameworks that teams can easily understand and implement. She also serves as a certified executive coach, helping marketing leaders and teams achieve sustainable success and operate at high performance.
Laura earned her Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Science from Truman State University and her MBA from the Rochester Institute of Technology.
“Decode the Blueprint: Stop Miscommunication Mistakes”
Lynsey Mulder | Owner of Mulder Consulting
Presented By
When messages miss, momentum dies. 86% of workplace mistakes stem from miscommunication—not lack of talent or skill—because the connection never lands. 63% of Americans say they waste time every day due to miscommunication—hello, lost profit, lost productivity, and rising burnout. And in a world of 60–80K daily inputs, if your message isn’t delivered in the listener’s preferred “language,” it simply won’t be heard.
Learn how to spot someone’s communication and learning blueprint in seven seconds—and then tailor on the fly so the right message gets to the right brain, the first time. Attendees learn to read quick cues, switch styles without losing authenticity, and deliver ideas in a way that cuts through noise, drives action, and preserves energy.
Key Takeaways:
- The 7-Second Read: A simple scan to identify core cues—pace, posture, processing style, and preference—so you know how to approach before you speak.
- Decode the Four Core Styles: What each style needs to feel safe, engaged, and ready to act (and what instantly turns them off).
- Learning Lanes, Not Speed Bumps: Match delivery (visual, verbal, experiential, data-driven) to how they absorb information.
Lynsey Mulder is a dynamic speaker, elite coach, and SparkLife Connoisseur known for igniting passion and empowering individuals, teams, and organizations to unlock their full potential. With experience as a C-suite executive, entrepreneur, and non-profit founder – plus her favorite role as a mom to four amazing boys – Lynsey brings a unique blend of real-world leadership and relatable authenticity. In today’s rapidly evolving world, where the future of work demands more than just a title, Lynsey equips you with the tools to lead with purpose, clarity, and connection. Her compelling stories, practical strategies, and energizing presence inspire leaders to embrace their authentic edge, the true X-factor for navigating what’s next.
“Navigating Your Cash Flow”
Rafael Colon | Chase for Business | Coaching for Impact
Presented By 
Navigating Your Cash Flow is a practical workshop designed to help business owners strengthen day to day cash management by increasing cash in and decreasing cash out, therefore cash is available when it’s needed most.
In this session, we’ll cover cash flow basics and why a business can be profitable and still feel cash strained, then move into actionable strategies to maximize inflows, minimize outflows, and make cash work for you.
You’ll explore four ways to turn more sales into cash on hand: Know your competition – Segment your customers – Consider your prices – Collect on your sales. Plus, key opportunities to reduce spend by reevaluating vendor relationships, building high performing teams, taking a fresh look at real estate, controlling inventory spending, and getting real value from marketing.
Key takeaways:
Cash flow basics • Maximizing cash in • Minimizing cash out • Make cash work for you
Rafael Colon is a part of a team committed to helping business owners grow their business through 1:1 consulting and executive coaching, and access to on-demand educational resources.
He can connect you to a broader network of experts in areas such as cash management, credit and banking solutions and other services to help make your business banking as simple as possible. Our resources are crafted to help you
overcome business obstacles, supporting both your growth plans and the development of your local community.
“From Insight to Action: Applying Leadership Tools That Drive Results”
Richard Bryan | Executive Coach
This interactive breakout builds on the keynote and is designed for business owners and leaders who want to turn ideas into practical action.
Richard J. Bryan takes a deeper dive into the leadership tools that help growing organizations execute more effectively – including clarifying the leader’s role, strengthening culture through clear communication and using Job Scorecards to hire, manage and develop talent.
The session includes live audience Q&A, giving participants the opportunity to raise real-world leadership challenges and walk away with practical guidance they can apply immediately.
Richard J. Bryan took the reins of a 100 year-old, $120 million family-owned car dealership business at only 28 years of age when his father was forced to retire due to illness. That in itself was a challenge; but even worse, the business was losing $3.5 million a year and there was absolutely no leadership succession plan in place.
With the help of his mentor Frank, Richard was able to apply creative strategies, articulate a crystal-clear vision, hire the right people, forge a dynamic team of A-Players and help the business to first survive, and then thrive. After 10 years as CEO he sold the dealership business and embarked upon a new career path.
Today Richard is an executive coach, keynote speaker and author focused on business growth, leadership development and succession planning.
Put AI to Work: A Hands-On Workshop for Business Leaders
Brandon Carlson | Owner of Lean TECHniques
This hands-on workshop gives business leaders a practical, repeatable framework for finding and evaluating AI opportunities in their day-to-day work. You’ll learn how to apply disciplined thinking to any AI idea to cut through the noise and identify where it actually creates value, and how to move forward. You’ll leave with a framework you can apply again and again, any time an AI idea surfaces in your organization.
Key Takeaways:
By the end of this workshop, you will be able to:
– Identify a real AI opportunity within a workflow your team runs today
– Determine whether AI is the right tool
– Assess complexity, and what it would actually take to move forward
– Leave with one concrete next action
Brandon Carlson is the founder of Lean TECHniques, a technology and management consultancy based in Des Moines specializing in Digital Transformation, IT Modernization, and Software Delivery. Known for replacing ego with empathy and a straightforward, “meet people where they are” approach, Brandon values curiosity and collaboration over dogma and has been on his learning journey in technology for over 30 years.
“HR Unfiltered: Real Talk on Today’s Workplace”
HR Panel
Presented By
HR is changing fast—and not always in ways that make sense on paper. HR Unfiltered: Real Talk on Today’s Workplace is a candid, no-nonsense panel discussion designed for business owners and managers who are navigating the real challenges of leading people right now.
Join a panel of experienced professionals as they cut through the jargon and tackle the issues that are actually keeping leaders up at night. From hiring and retention struggles to managing performance, navigating generational differences, handling difficult conversations, and responding to shifting employee expectations—nothing is off the table.
This session isn’t about theory or textbook HR. It’s about what’s really happening in workplaces across Iowa and beyond. You’ll hear honest perspectives, practical insights, and lessons learned from the front lines—what’s working, what’s not, and what leaders need to rethink moving forward.
Whether you’re dealing with disengaged employees, unclear accountability, culture challenges, or just trying to make sense of “what employees want now,” this conversation will provide clarity and actionable takeaways you can use immediately.
Come ready to listen, reflect, and maybe even challenge a few assumptions. This is HR without the filter—real issues, real experiences, and real solutions for today’s workplace.
Gayle Essex is a Human Resources professional that has served in HR Director Roles where she her focus has been on leading Talent Management teams and partnering with leadership to develop workforce strategies that enhance retention, productivity, and company culture. Throughout her career, Gayle has held key HR leadership roles with organizations including Ruan, The Coca-Cola Company, Titan Tire Corporation, Ryder Transportation Services, and Principal Financial Group. She brings deep expertise in employee relations, leadership development, HR compliance, and change management across both union and non-union environments. Gayle is recognized for her ability to lead complex investigations, develop impactful HR programs, and guide organizations through change while maintaining a strong people-first approach.
Katie Stull is a strategic HR business partner at F&G, bringing cross-industry expertise to a leading provider of innovative life insurance and annuity solutions distributed through a national network of financial professionals. With experience across small local employers and global Fortune 100 enterprises, she has developed her HR toolkit in organization design, workforce strategy, talent management & leadership coaching. Beyond her corporate role, she demonstrates impactful community leadership as President of Variety – the Children’s Charity of Iowa, past board member of Iowa Aces 360 and the Central Iowa SHRM, and a Des Moines Business Record Forty Under 40 honoree.
Todd Wuestenberg is a Chief Culture Officer. Todd leads culture initiatives at Haverkamp Group, a real estate company based in Ames, Iowa. With over 20 years at Haverkamp, Todd is dedicated to creating an environment where employees feel valued and motivated. His leadership has helped Haverkamp earn recognition as a Des Moines Register Top Workplace for three consecutive years. Todd is passionate about leadership development and aligning company values with those of its people. He has launched key programs, including a company-wide recognition initiative and an annual culture survey, which have driven meaningful improvements across the organization. Active in the broader culture community, Todd holds an Organizational Culture Leadership certificate from CultureCon and was recently recognized as a Culture Catalyst. He’s also appeared on several podcasts discussing workplace culture and the strategies needed to cultivate a sustainable, scalable organizational culture. Outside of work, Todd enjoys life in rural Iowa with his wife, Kendra, their eight children (4 biological and 4 in-laws), and time spent outdoors. He believes service starts with caring for people and is committed to helping others become the best versions of themselves.
“Capital Panel: Funding Your Business from Every Angle“
Finance Panel
Presented By
Securing capital is one of the biggest challenges—and opportunities—business owners face. Whether you’re launching, scaling, or navigating your next phase of growth, understanding your funding options is critical.
This dynamic panel brings together experts and real-world success stories from across the capital spectrum. Hear from a representative of the SBA on government-backed funding programs, a local banker on traditional lending strategies, a business owner who successfully leveraged state grant funding, and an entrepreneur who secured investment capital after appearing on Shark Tank.
Together, they’ll break down the realities, requirements, and strategies behind each funding path—so you can identify the right fit for your business.
Walk away with practical insights, insider tips, and a clearer roadmap to funding your next move.
Rafael Colon is a part of a team committed to helping business owners grow their business through 1:1 consulting and executive coaching, and access to on-demand educational resources.
He can connect you to a broader network of experts in areas such as cash management, credit and banking solutions and other services to help make your business banking as simple as possible. Our resources are crafted to help you
overcome business obstacles, supporting both your growth plans and the development of your local community.
Riana LeJeune is the founder of Repinned Luxury Upholstery and the creator of Renewabl, a technology platform transforming the home furnishings industry. With over 13 years of experience in upholstery, she built her business from the ground up and went on to develop the nation’s first Registered Apprenticeship for professional custom upholstery. Riana is passionate about bridging craftsmanship with technology, helping artisans become more profitable, scalable, and sustainable. Her work positions Renewabl as a leading tool in the circular furniture economy, empowering both professionals and consumers to reimagine furniture with confidence.
Dave Lentell is a 1994 graduate of Drake University. He has been with the U.S. Small Business Administration since 1993, where he currently serves as the Lead Lender Relations Specialist for the SBA’s Des Moines District Office. During his time at SBA, Dave has been involved in lender outreach, lender training, business development, marketing and public affairs. As Lead Lender Relations Specialist, Dave works with the lending institutions in Iowa that provide small business financing with SBA’s guarantee. He also helps promote the programs and services offered by SBA to the small business community.
Cassie Edgar is Vice President of FIN Capital, a women-led angel investment group, and serves as an independent board director and strategic advisor to emerging companies. A scientist and attorney, with McKee, Voorheees and Sease, she acts as virtual general counsel for businesses worldwide, helping innovators navigate growth, investment, intellectual property, and commercialization. Throughout her career, Cassie has held leadership roles in both R&D and legal, translating innovation into revenue opportunities in the healthcare, agriculture, and life sciences sectors. She earned a B.S. in Molecular Genetics from The Ohio State University, an M.S. with an emphasis in Biomathematics from North Carolina State University, a J.D. from Drake University Law School, and completed the General Management Program at Harvard Business School.
Emcee For The Day @ The Central Iowa Business Conference
Tyler Kamerman | Many Hands CDO & Founder of Pursue Your Passion Podcast
As the CDO of Many Hands, a faith-based international non-profit with a local focus through their Many Hands Thrift Markets, Tyler’s job is to tell the story of Many Hands to gain and retain partnerships with local businesses, organizations, churches and individuals.
The name of the podcast he hosts is “Pursue Your Passion,” and that’s exactly the journey he is on and the one he wants to help you navigate as well.
Whether it’s through his speaking & training, his podcasts or his coaching, Tyler helps fun, successful people to “Be more intentional about Pursuing their Passion,” and map out a path to do more of what they were put on the planet to do.
Tyler is consistently spinning more plates than he should be in Clive, IA with his wife and their two children. The Kamerman’s have a passion-filled household and are very active in their church and community!
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