Thursday, January 16

Downtown Embassy Club - Ruan Building

**Starts 15 minutes earlier to allow time for the workshop**

11:30 a.m. until 1 p.m.

Communication Skills Workshop – “Speak As Well As Your Think” with Dardis Communications

Learn to speak as well as you think!  A powerful message is lost without powerful delivery.   During this 1-hour workshop participants you will learn how to overcome inhibitions and speak with purpose.    You will walk out with techniques that are immediately applicable and relevant. 

• Discuss the overall importance of good communication skills – what’s at stake 
• Achieve your personal brand with purpose
• Understand the components of powerful communication – improve what your audience sees and hears when you communicate
• Demonstrate eye contact that promotes trust and credibility
• Practice delivering a short talk while making effective eye contact

Greg Dardis founded the company in 2002. Since then, Dardis Communications has enhanced the careers of thousands of professionals. We help our customers become stronger leaders and communicators.

Each Dardis program emphasizes practical, effective skills that participants can apply immediately. Our training approach focuses on five core skill sets:

1. Effective communication and presentation skills
2. Professional image and etiquette
3. Consultative selling
4. Business writing
5. Executive coaching and development

Maria Volante serves as Senior Vice President at Dardis Communications.  Maria brings with her a tremendous wealth of knowledge, sales and marketing experience, and a proven track record of managing and developing successful teams.  Maria blends her 20+ years of business and leadership experience with the Dardis Communications service portfolio to best serve our clients’ needs in the area of professional presentation, image, consultative selling and personal/executive coaching.  

The Dardis executive coaches guide thousands of professionals to stronger career skills, increased confidence and improved business results. Companies such as Blue Cross and Blue Shield, Principal Financial Group and Wells Fargo partner with Dardis to enhance the skills of their teams. You also can choose to improve the abilities of key employees in one of our public programs.

Dardis Communications Website

Thursday, November 21

Private tour of the Des Moines Art Center (4700 Grand Avenue, Des Moines)

Tour begins promptly at 4:00 p.m. (will be about 45 minutes)

Social and happy hour to follow hosted by LW Advisors

Albert Baird Cummins Mansion - 2404 Forest Drive, Suite 240 Des Moines

Thursday, October 17

Downtown Embassy Club - Ruan Building

11:45 a.m. until 1 p.m.

Metro On The Move! Join us for a networking lunch and panel discussion where you can get your questions answered with the following local real estate experts as we host a discussion on the Des Moines market past, present and future.

The Realtor: Shannon Coryell is with RE/MAX Concepts and has been practicing real estate in the Des Moines Metro for almost 6 years. She loves being active in the community, traveling, eating, and spending time with family and friends.

The Lender: Ryan Jensen (Key Mortgage Group) has been in the financial services industry over 20 years producing mortgage and consumer loans, business development, financial planning, and sales management. An Iowa native and current Johnston resident, Ryan received his Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Northern Iowa, Cedar Falls, Iowa. For over 15 years, he has lived in the Des Moines area where he enjoys spending time with his amazing wife, Erica, and daughter, Ainsley. Ryan also likes working outdoors no matter the time of year, playing golf, and cycling on the beautiful trails around Iowa .

The Assessor: Jim Willett  (Polk County Assessor's Office) is the Director/Residential Deputy Assessor and has been employed by the assessors office for 42 years. He has lived in the Des Moines area all his life, and enjoys all outdoor activities (bicycling, walking, and boating in Okoboji). 

Thursday, September 19

Downtown Embassy Club - Ruan Building

11:45 a.m. until 1 p.m.

Des Moines Airport - Current Impact and Future Planning

We hope you can join for first luncheon for the 2019-2020 season!

Kayla Kovarna joined the Des Moines Airport Authority as the Communications, Marketing and Air Service Development Manager in April 2019 to increase visibility and help attain the Airport’s overall goals.  She oversees communications efforts including media relations and digital content creation while also driving air service business development.  Prior to the Airport, she was the Executive Director of the American Heart Association of Central Iowa where she increased revenues by over 50% and developed new health programming like Blood Pressure in Barber Shops.  Kayla holds a Bachelor of Arts from The University of Iowa in both Journalism and Mass Communication as well as Communication Studies and is a proud graduate of the Greater Des Moines Leadership Institute Community Leadership Program.

Des Moines International Airport Website

Thursday, August 29

Bellhop (440 E. Grand Avenue - East Village)

4:30 p.m. until 6:30 p.m.

Join us for the start of the 2019-2020 Des Moines Leadership Network year with a little taste of the tropics here downtown. Network with members new and old, catch up on all that has happened over the summer and get ready for an exciting year ahead!

Bring a prospect and both of your drinks are on us! Also, pay your dues at the event and save on a luncheon fee ... $215 gets you membership and all luncheons for the year!

We look forward to seeing you and your guest(s) there! Cheers!

Thursday, May 16

Downtown Embassy Club - Ruan Building

11:45 a.m. until 1 p.m.

Sam Carrell, Executive Director of Des Moines Water Works Park Foundation

We hope you can join for our last meeting before summer break! Monthly luncheons will start again in the Fall.

Des Moines Water Works Park Foundation Website

Thursday, April 18

Downtown Embassy Club - Ruan Building

11:45 a.m. until 1 p.m.

Teahl Bader, Executive Director of Single Parent Provision

Single Parent Provision is a non-profit organization providing valuable programs, services, and events to single parents and their families. Their mission is to glorify God by partnering with single parents to help strengthen their lives and the lives of their families. With 30% of children in Iowa raised in a single parent home, the opportunity for impact is great, and Single Parent Provision meets that opportunity with optimism and hope. In under six years, Single Parent Provision has grown 851% in the number of unique single parents and children served.

Teahl Bader has served as Executive Director of Single Parent Provision since the organization’s inception in 2014. She herself is a single mother and was raised by a single father. She shares those characteristics with others a part of the organization, as each board and staff member are either a current single parent, former single parent, or were raised in a single parent home, collectively putting them in a strong position to understand the unique needs of single parent families and how best to meet them.

Single Parent Provision Website

Thursday, March 21

The Grumpy Goat Tavern  - 1303 Walnut Street, Des Moines, IA

4:30 p.m. until 6:00 p.m.

Come join us for our March social event.  We'll have appetizers and beer.  Just bring your "thirst" to meet new people!

Grumpy Goat Tavern - Des Moines

Thursday, February 21

Downtown Embassy Club - Ruan Building

11:45 a.m. until 1 p.m.

Iowa Bicycle Coalition

Mark Wyatt is executive director of the Iowa Bicycle Coalition, an organization he helped create in 2004.  The group runs several large bike tours and events including the Iowa Bike Expo, RAGBRAI Route Announcement Party, Bacoon Ride, Pigtails Ride, and the new Big Rove Ride.  The organization's main focus is on policy advocacy with the Iowa Legislature and Iowa DOT.  Mark will be riding his 18th RAGBRAI this year.  

Iowa Bicycle Coalition Website