UNI Institute for Decision Making (IDM)

09/10/2026

We’re excited to be part of the 2026 Iowa Nonprofit Summit, September 14–15 in Ankeny! 💜

IDM’s Liesl Seabert and Karla Organist will lead “Flip the Agenda: Building Board Meetings People Actually Want to Attend,” an interactive session focused on shifting board meetings from routine reporting to meaningful discussion, decision-making, and engagement.

Liesl will also join the “Collaborating with Higher Ed” panel to discuss how nonprofits can build stronger partnerships with higher education to access resources, advance their missions, and develop future talent.

We’re looking forward to two days of learning and connection with nonprofit leaders from across Iowa. Let us know if we will see you there!

09/02/2026

Know someone ready to level up their economic development skills? 🎮

Heartland 2027 registration is open! We can’t wait to welcome another class of professionals from across the region!

Tag a future Heartland classmate in the comments or send this their way.

🎮 NEW LEVEL UNLOCKED: Registration for Heartland 2027 is OPEN!

Ready to level up your economic development game? Join us for four days of learning, connections, real-world application and plenty of opportunities to build your ED toolkit.

- April 27–30, 2027
- Independence, Missouri

Secure your spot online, or know someone ready for their next level? Send this their way or share it with your network!

Register now at https://heartland.uni.edu/

08/26/2026

IDM recently partnered with Iowa Northland Regional Council of Governments (INRCOG) to support an update to the Cedar Falls, Iowa, City Government Housing Needs Assessment. With INRCOG leading the update, our team assisted with facilitating focus groups and gathering and analyzing input to help bring community perspectives into the assessment.

We’re looking forward to seeing how INRCOG brings that input together with housing data and additional analysis to help Cedar Falls better understand its current and future housing needs.

We appreciate the opportunity to contribute to this important work!

08/10/2026

IDM’s James Hoelscher recently joined the UNI Iowa Waste Reduction Center (IWRC) team at Iowa Speedway, supporting a pilot fan-facing recycling initiative during the Iowa Corn 350.

IWRC was invited by NASCAR to assist with recycling efforts and worked alongside NASCAR’s waste and circularity programs team. James helped support recycling in the Iowa Corn Growers Association suite - with a pretty great view of the action!

We love seeing our Business & Community Services colleagues collaborate, pitch in, and put UNI expertise to work in some unexpected places!

08/06/2026

Yesterday, the IDM team had the opportunity to facilitate an economic development action planning session with community leaders in Pleasantville. Together, we explored the community's strengths, discussed opportunities for future growth, and began identifying the priorities that will shape Pleasantville's next 3–5 years.

One of the best parts of strategic planning is bringing people with different perspectives to the table to build a shared vision. Yesterday's session was filled with thoughtful discussion, creative ideas, and a genuine commitment to moving the community forward.

Thank you to Marion County Development, the City of Pleasantville, and everyone who participated. We're looking forward to the next phase as we turn these conversations into an actionable roadmap for the future!

08/04/2026

Strong communities start with strong leaders!

The Heartland Economic Development Course (HEDC) is designed to equip professionals with practical skills, meaningful connections, and real-world strategies they can take back to the communities and organizations they serve.

We're grateful to see the program highlighted by UNI and proud of the impact Heartland alumni continue to make across the Midwest.

📖 Learn more in the article below!

The UNI Institute for Decision Making (IDM) is helping prepare the next generation of leaders to strengthen local economies, support businesses and create vibrant communities across the Midwest via the Heartland Economic Development Course.

Learn more in the comments ⬇️

07/30/2026

Every successful organization benefits from a clear direction!

This spring, IDM partnered with the Madison County Development Group to develop a new 3–5 year strategic plan focused on strengthening the organization, aligning priorities, and positioning Madison County for continued economic growth.

Congratulations to the MCDG board, staff, and partners for their thoughtful engagement throughout the process. We appreciate the opportunity to help build a roadmap that will guide the organization's work for years to come.

We look forward to seeing what's next for Madison County!

07/23/2026

🎉 Happy Birthday to Kiptia! 🎂💜

Today we're celebrating a teammate who brings enthusiasm, dedication, and a collaborative spirit to everything she does. We're grateful for the expertise and positivity that Kiptia brings to the IDM team and entire BCS building!

Please join us in wishing Kiptia a wonderful birthday and a fantastic year ahead! 🥳

07/20/2026

NEW RESOURCE | Disaster Response Resource Guide

Disasters can take many forms - from floods and tornadoes to cyberattacks, major employer closures, public health emergencies, and other unexpected events. Preparation before a crisis can make all the difference.

IDM's new Disaster Response Resources Guide brings together practical tools, best practices, and Iowa-specific resources to help economic development organizations and community leaders prepare for, respond to, and recover from disasters.

Whether you're updating your emergency plans or building resilience for the future, we hope this guide serves as a valuable resource.

Check it out on our website under "Tools, Resources and Reports for Economic & Community Development" - https://idm.uni.edu/idm-insights-best-practices-resource-links

Or download the guide here:https://idm.uni.edu/sites/default/files/inline-uploads/IDM%20Disaster%20Response%20Resource%20Guide%20(2).pdf

07/13/2026

🎙️ Have you listened to Storm Tested Leadership?

Hosted by IDM's own James Hoelscher and Dave Miller from Homes for Iowa, this podcast explores the real stories of leaders who have navigated significant challenges and emerged stronger on the other side.

From natural disasters to organizational crises and unexpected setbacks, each episode uncovers practical leadership lessons on resilience, decision-making, and leading through uncertainty.

If you're a community leader, economic developer, nonprofit professional, or anyone interested in leadership, this podcast is worth adding to your playlist.

🎧 Listen here:

When it hits the fan it frequently brings out the very best, and occasionally the very worst, in organizations, communities, and individuals. This podcast is devoted to delivering the true and impactful stories of those who have weathered sig...