Leadership Sioux Center is pleased to announce those accepted to participate in the Leadership Sioux Center program for 2015-2016.  Leadership Sioux Center is an educational program intended for Sioux Center area citizens who have an interest in their community, their leaders and institutions, their decision-making processes and specific leadership opportunities available in Sioux Center. 

“We had a very high level of interest in this year’s program and many qualified applicants. Due to the nature of the program, we limit the class size to 20 participants per year. This group of participants is diverse and each will bring their own unique perspective, skill sets and personal experience to the program,” states Barb Den Herder, Chamber Director.  During the program, participants will learn and practice leadership skills for use in their professional and community service roles.  Additionally, participants will build a leadership network among current and emerging leaders, learn about community issues, and become familiar with the rewards of community service work. .  “We believe in the importance of identifying the future leaders of our community, and we hope this program connects those future leaders and allows them to exchange ideas with the current and past leaders who have committed to making Sioux Center a great place to live,”  added Cory Gotto with Peoples Bank. Leadership Sioux Center will use the community as its classroom with the first session being held at The Ridge Golf Club on Tuesday, October 13.  This session will focus on Sioux Center Land Development, Joint-Use, and how growth and development happens in the Sioux Center community.  Class members will also take part in several team building and networking activities.   

Congratulations to the following individuals and their sponsors:

Jared Ackerman                               Sioux Center Community Schools
Tiffany Armstrong                           Sioux Center Chiropractic and Wellness Clinic, PC
Becky Bilby                                       Sioux Center Public Library
Dan Clousing                                    Beaver Eye Care
Daren Dieleman                               Interstates Companies
Nick Doelman                                   Doelman Financial Advisory and Wealth Management
Adam Fedders                                  City of Sioux Center
Michael Gallagher                            Peoples Bank
Paul Hoogendoorn                           American Investment and Trust
Greg Hulstein                                    Link Manufacturing, Ltd
Amber Jaworski                                Pella Corporation
Brady Kroeze                                     Kroese and Kroese, PC
Jared Oldenkamp                             Ver Hoef Automotive
Chad Schuiteman                             Northwest Bank
Monica Sedelmeier                         Sioux Center Health
Joel Sikkema                                      Dordt College
Karrie Van Ravenswaay                  The Ridge Golf Club
Kim Van Zee                                      Sioux Automation Center
Derrick Vander Waal                       Promise Community Health Center
Jennifer Vermeer                             Zeutenhorst Financial, Inc

 “We hope this group can find their place as the next generation of energetic and engaged leaders that can point to many ways they plan to make their community even better,” adds Erica Vonk.  “We have some incredible individuals who as a whole are already very involved with the community, but are wanting to step it up to the next level.  Leadership Sioux Center desires to become a continuing legacy for our community.”

We are excited to introduce you to our newest intern, Vanessa Blankespoor!  Vanessa is a junior at Dordt College with a major in graphic design.  We've already put her skills to use in designing our Women's Expo ad and she is now recreating some of our "touch pieces" so they better represent our Sioux Center Chamber brand.  Graphic Design is a skill set that neither Heather nor I possess so you can imagine how invaluable Vanessa will be to us this fall!

Vanessa is the third intern that we've had the pleasure to get to know over the past few years and they have all been a tremendous resource to us.  For businesses that have not actively partnered with interns, I encourage you to give it a try. The value that a student can bring into your office is often immeasurable.  From their insights in how to engage the millennial generation, to sharing their social media savvy, to implementing into your workplace the creative and cutting-edge ideas that they just learned in the classroom, it's all information that us "seasoned" employees should grasp onto with vigor.  Not only will you show them valuable aspects of your business, but they will bless you with a fresh, new perspective. I can guarantee that by the end of your partnership with them, you will find yourself incorporating a few of their ingenious ideas!

Please feel free introduce yourself to Vanessa. She's excited to meet our membership!