Agenda

Iowa State University Memorial Union
Ames, Iowa
November 11, 2025

A professional development opportunity for our campus and county office professionals

Mon
Nov 10
Reiman Gardens – Garden Room

1:00 – 1:15 p.m. Welcome – Andrea Welchans 

1:15 – 4:45 p.m. Groups Activities 

  • PCI Academy providing chair massages
  • Working Out Loud Session
  • Succulent pot decorating

4:45 – 5:00 p.m. Closing

Tue
Nov 11
Iowa State University Memorial Union

7:45 - 8:50 a.m. Registration Check-In

Memorial Union – Great Hall

7:45 - 8:50 a.m. Professional Photos

Meet at Memorial Union Great Hall (Will be directed outside)

8:00 – 9:00 a.m. Learning Fair

9:00 – 9:30 a.m. Welcome and Ice Breaker - Dr. Henderson & Andrea Welchans

Memorial Union – Great Hall

9:30 - 10:15 a.m. Keynote - Stephanie Downs

Memorial Union – Great Hall

Stephanie has over 30 years of experience in the well-being and development field. She has worked in a variety of environments, including a city municipality, private corporation, K-12 school, and higher education. She currently leads ISU WellBeing and Engagement at Iowa State University and is responsible for creating and implementing the university’s award-winning well-being and engagement strategies for 7,000 employees.
Stephanie grew up on a farm in northwest Iowa and learned early on how important relationships and teamwork were to wholehearted living and well-being. She went on to earn her Bachelor of Science from ISU in exercise science and her Master’s in health promotion from Nebraska Methodist College. She continues to lean on learning over her career and is a Certified Intrinsic Coach®, PROSCI Certified Change Practitioner, and Judgment Index® Certified Affiliate.
Stephanie’s passion is working with and developing people and organizational cultures. She embraces the uniqueness of each individual, values the importance of a leadership philosophy that embodies care, clarity, and trust, and knows the impact of individual and organizational well-being in supporting a thriving workplace.
Stephanie frequently presents on topics of wellbeing, engagement, mindfulness, teambuilding, development, and workplace cultures. As a mother of three boys and wife to a high school coach, Stephanie knows the importance of resiliency, balance, and sustainability in our everyday lives!

10:25 - 11:10 a.m. Workshop #1

Memorial Union – Oak Room, Room 2360, Gold Room, Great Hall

11:20 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. Finance Session and Kahoot! – Hailee Sandberg and Katharinna Bain

Memorial Union – Great Hall

12:00 - 1:00 p.m. Lunch

Memorial Union – Sun Room

1:10 - 2:00 p.m. Workshop #2

Memorial Union – Oak Room, Room 2360, Gold Room, Great Hall

2:10 - 3:00 p.m. Office Professionals Q&A Panel 

Memorial Union – Great Hall
Lauren Nerad (Muscatine County), Carly Herum (Lyon County), Ashley Bruene (Grundy County), Jessica Heisdorffer (Wapello County)

3:10 – 3:30 p.m. Closing and Door Prizes 

Memorial Union – Great Hall