ProLEAD Certificate Program — Advanced Leadership

Boost Your Leadership Skills

Becoming a great leader takes an entirely different skill set from where you started as an entry-level employee. Unless you have been taken under the wing of a great mentor or participated in an immersive training program at your organization, you're learning to swim in an ocean of uncharted waters with unpredictable challenges and obstacles every day.

The ProLEAD program is designed for those with basic managerial skills who are seeking more guidance and insight on tough topics that keep them up at night, such as terminating employees, handling budgets, and internal politics. Through this program, you’ll gain the knowledge and practical skills needed to strengthen your leadership style and approach challenges with confidence.

Who Should Attend

  • Managers who have the basics down but want deeper insight and coaching for more complex situations.
  • Professionals looking to advance their careers, but may be struggling to fill a knowledge gap.
  • Managers who are stuck or plateaued and need a boost of knowledge, advice, or momentum to get back on track.

2026 ProLEAD Certificate Program Classes

The ProLEAD Certificate Program includes ten monthly four-hour classes, two one-hour coaching sessions with a professional coach, and a one-hour Habit Builder Webinar. The Habit Builder tool will help participants apply new leadership skills in their roles.

To earn the ProLEAD Certificate, participants must attend at least seven of the ten classes, complete both individual coaching sessions, and participate in the required one-hour Habit Builder webinar.

Classes are offered twice in February and then once a month through December (except July), on Thursdays from 8 AM to 12 PM. Classes can be attended in person on Hawkeye's Main Campus at Buchanan Hall or remotely via Zoom.

For more details, including the specific class date, refer to the class information.

  • Class Date: Thursday, February 12, 2026

Facilitator:Lisa Schaefer

Lisa Schaefer is a John Maxwell Certified Coach, trainer, and speaker. Lisa is an expert in behavioral coaching, organizational psychology, and customer service success strategies, and has served as a professor, staff development professional, and counselor. Her experiences include working for Walt Disney World, and hosting on-air radio programs, as well as more than 15 years of education, corporate training, and executive coaching experience. She holds a master’s degree in counseling and bachelor’s degrees in psychology and marketing from the University of Wisconsin.

Her goal is to help participants have fun while learning why we do the things we do. Her biggest passion is asking questions to learn as much as she can from others. Lisa loves to make people laugh and believes if everyone just smiled more, the world would be a better place.

In this introductory webinar, leadership coach, Joel Bennett, will help participants identify leadership behaviors they would like to improve throughout the certificate program. Using an individualized process and the Habit Builder tool, each participant will implement these new behaviors into their daily work habits.

  • Class Date: Thursday, February 19, 2026

Facilitator: Joel Bennett

Joel Bennett has more than 20 years of human resource experience and excels at building organizational capacity by providing customized consulting, training, and coaching services to growth focused businesses. His expertise in leadership and organizational development, performance management, and recruiting allow him to assist leaders in tackling challenging personnel and organizational issues. Joel has worked with clients in a variety of industries, including manufacturing, construction, service, education, and healthcare.

Joel graduated from the University of Northern Iowa with a Bachelor of Arts in History and Geography, and a Master's in Organization Management from the University of Phoenix. He is also a certified practitioner of the DISC assessment and an Actionable Consulting Partner for the Actionable Conversations line of leadership development tools.

Are your performance reports making a difference? By the end of this class, you will be better equipped to write and deliver performance reviews that are filled with evidence and value that direct reports appreciate and specifically know what to work on to improve their work performance. Class will practice phrasing sticky scenarios and will be exposed to tools to assist them in the future.

  • Class Date: Thursday, March 5, 2026

Facilitator: Sarah Hermanson

As an entrepreneur, farmer, and human resource professional, Sarah has experienced firsthand the challenges of running a business and wearing all the hats. She has over 30 years of experience in human resources and recruiting, working with Iowa businesses. Sarah is a technical expert with an outstanding ability to connect, ascertain needs, and provide creative solutions. She loves utilizing her gifts of discernment and bringing people together to help create meaningful relationships and healthy, thriving organizations.

We take proactive steps to build a retirement plan, to manage our health, even invest in cars and properties to maintain and create value, but too often leave our own careers to chance. Be the architect of your professional life, starting now. Step one as a leader happens in your current role and decisions – at the place where your expertise, your brand communication, and your relationship network meet – a blueprint. Step two is building out a career vision through strategic learning – digital technologies, industry trends, and people knowledge transfer. This course will touch on topics from LinkedIn and productivity tools to hiring and seeking feedback. Learn how to architect your career, as a professional and as a leader, like a pro.

  • Class Date: Thursday, April 9, 2026

Facilitator: Sandra Flikkema

Sandra delivers a unique combination of experience in coaching, training and career management, leading managers and high potentials to make strategic changes in communication, business, and relational skills. Throughout her career, she has partnered with directors, managers, and professionals to leverage their full career potential using practical, skill-building techniques to support business results. Topics she has covered include upgrading customer service, resilience, change management, coaching & leadership skills, and career management.

Sandra is notable for her tech-leaning instructional design, highly engaging interaction, capability to discern and uncover core issues, future-focused and confidence building coaching, and her ability to promote real and effective learning. She lived for several years in Europe and has traveled extensively in pursuit of her passion for diverse ideas and effective, global communication.

Currently taking engagements in corporate training, career consulting, and executive coaching, Sandra began her career with successful stints in human resources and consulting in the Chicago area, where she completed her Bachelor of Science in Business at DePaul University. She has a Master of Arts in Organizational Communication from the University of Northern Iowa and is a knowledgeable and trusted advisor to assist clients reaching for optimal performance and success.

During this week you will have a scheduled one-hour, one-on-one coaching call with leadership coach, Joel Bennett. This is your time to reflect on what you are learning in the program and target new leadership behaviors you want to practice. This is a wonderful opportunity to get personalized coaching, integrate key learnings from the program into your daily leadership habits, and build a plan to measure the impact your efforts are having.

Coaching calls will be held April 13 – 24, 2026 and September 8 – 30, 2026.

Leadership Coach: Joel Bennett

Joel Bennett has more than 20 years of human resource experience and excels at building organizational capacity by providing customized consulting, training, and coaching services to growth focused businesses. His expertise in leadership and organizational development, performance management, and recruiting allow him to assist leaders in tackling challenging personnel and organizational issues. Joel has worked with clients in a variety of industries, including manufacturing, construction, service, education, and healthcare.

Joel graduated from the University of Northern Iowa with a Bachelor of Arts in History and Geography, and a Master's in Organization Management from the University of Phoenix. He is also a certified practitioner of the DISC assessment and an Actionable Consulting Partner for the Actionable Conversations line of leadership development tools.

More than ever people are looking for leaders who they can trust and respect. This is built on a foundation of ethics. In this class you will learn the vital role that the values of trust, respect and ethics play in the workplace. Behaviors that exemplify each of these values will be clarified, and the class will observe how each of the values play a role in a leader’s influence. This class will challenge and inspire you to be that kind of leader we all need now and in the future.

  • Class Date: Wednesday, May 14, 2026

Facilitator: Heather Woody

Heather L. Woody is a success coach who assists individuals personally and professionally to help them experience their greatness. She has a passion for working with people as they pursue their own road to success, goal achievement and fulfilled lives.

Heather is a master certified coach through the Certified Coach Federation and a graduate of Coach Inc., one of the largest international training organizations for professional coaches. She also holds a Bachelor of Arts in Public Relations and Communications from the University of Northern Iowa. She is also a FranklinCovey consultant/facilitator and certified in The 5 Choices, The 7 Habits Signature, and Great Leaders, Great Teams, Great Results Leadership.

Managers negotiate every day - from convincing a direct report to come in on Saturday, to reaching a starting salary for a new hire. In this class, you’ll discover how to approach different situations, ask better questions, frame the discussions, and analyze the risks along with weighing the various options. You will practice your new negotiation skills in a safe environment with positive feedback from the instructor and other class participants.

  • Class Date: Thursday, June 11, 2026

Facilitator: Helena Long

Helena Long is a seasoned professional with over 25 years of experience in Strategic Planning, Human Resources, and Learning and Development, holding senior and executive roles in various organizations. She provides training and consulting services to Fortune 500 companies and small to mid-sized businesses across diverse industries, including manufacturing, financial, and local government. Helena has led successful company-wide transformations and offers customized, high-energy training sessions focused on achieving tangible results.

According to the 80/20 principle, 80% of the work gets done by 20% of your employees. It’s very likely those employees are probably the most engaged at the company, which is why they are the most productive. What if you, as the leader, knew what to do to get more employees engaged? This class will share the key conversations leaders need to have with their teams to impact their company culture and give them a competitive edge.

  • Class Date: Thursday, August 13, 2026

Facilitator: Joel Bennett

Joel Bennett has more than 20 years of human resource experience and excels at building organizational capacity by providing customized consulting, training, and coaching services to growth focused businesses. His expertise in leadership and organizational development, performance management, and recruiting allow him to assist leaders in tackling challenging personnel and organizational issues. Joel has worked with clients in a variety of industries, including manufacturing, construction, service, education, and healthcare.

Joel graduated from the University of Northern Iowa with a Bachelor of Arts in History and Geography, and a Master's in Organization Management from the University of Phoenix. He is also a certified practitioner of the DISC assessment and an Actionable Consulting Partner for the Actionable Conversations line of leadership development tools.

Dealing with difficult people and conducting those conversations is one of the most challenging tasks leaders perform. This class session will review productive and unproductive conflicts. Gain a deep appreciation for the purpose and opportunity for healthy and challenging conversations affords their organizations. Engage in strategies that offer the best results and relationship outcomes, and clarify the “what not to do” strategies.

  • Class Date: Thursday, September 10, 2026
  • Facilitator: Brenda Meeker

Are you stressed because you spend all day working and at the end of it you have nothing to show? Gain insight on when your peak performance time is during the day and what activities you should be doing during that time. Also, receive solutions for time wasters, review tips for utilizing work resources, and examine how super productive people get it done.

  • Class Date: Thursday, October 8, 2026

Facilitator: Sarah Gorsch

Sarah Gorsh is the founder of High Torque Business Solutions, a business consultant, coach, and fractional COO. With over 25 years of experience in project management and operations, she helps leaders and business owners cut through complexity, streamline operations, and build momentum for growth. In addition to project and process management, Sarah specializes in influential leadership, time management, and personal productivity; empowering people to work with clarity instead of chaos. Her philosophy is simple: strong leadership and smart systems drive lasting success. An iPEC-certified coach with an MBA in Entrepreneurship, Sarah partners with clients to bring order to their workload, confidence to their leadership, and energy back into their business.

Today’s organization must respond to dramatic shifting forces and a leading professional's ability to think through complex and changing situations is critical to future success. Practice how to scan the external environment so it improves judgment and decision-making internally. Expand your perspective further, use tools that support strategic thinking and learn ways to engage in new methods daily.

  • Class Date: Thursday, November 12, 2026

Facilitator: Dr. Celina Peerman

Dr. Celina Peerman serves as an organizational psychologist with over 25 years of experience from front line to senior level positions, in a wide range of industries and organizations. She is passionate about engaging our human resources in innovative ways to achieve even better organizational results.

While she does some traveling for nationally and internationally, Celina is focused on helping Iowa first. Making sure we are well prepared to recruit and keep the best people and companies right here is priority. Celina’s passion is for how people behave at work; the good, the bad and the worst. Her style has been described as dynamic noting the ability to draw in even the most resistant attendees through real life examples and humor.

Celina lives in Waverly with her husband David of 27 years and two teenage daughters, and a really needy dog.

The ultimate goal for a manager is to have self-sufficient, mature employees who are proactive, trusted role models in the organization and community. This is a long road of development that progresses at different speeds and takes different routes depending on the employee. In this session, participants will be challenged to raise the bar of expectations for their staff and themselves, and leave with ideas on how to do this.

  • Class Date: Thursday, December 10, 2026

Facilitator: Heather Woody

Heather L. Woody is a success coach who assists individuals personally and professionally to help them experience their greatness. She has a passion for working with people as they pursue their own road to success, goal achievement and fulfilled lives.

Heather is a master certified coach through the Certified Coach Federation and a graduate of Coach Inc., one of the largest international training organizations for professional coaches. She also holds a Bachelor of Arts in Public Relations and Communications from the University of Northern Iowa. She is also a FranklinCovey consultant/facilitator and certified in The 5 Choices, The 7 Habits Signature, and Great Leaders, Great Teams, Great Results Leadership.

Program Prerequisites

Prerequisites for the ProLEAD program include completing a comprehensive leadership or management training program, like Hawkeye’s LEAD Certificate, or having an associate or bachelor’s degree in business management.

Participants should also have at least one year of experience in managing others directly.

Ready to Get Started?

The registration deadline for the 2026 ProLEAD Certificate Program is Friday, January 30, 2026.

The cost is $1,945 per person for the first five employees, with a reduced rate of $1,745 for each additional participant.

Register by December 1, 2025 to get the early bird pricing — $1,795 for the first five registrants and $1,595 for each additional participant.

If you're interested in future sessions or would like to learn more, please contact Corporate and Business Solutions. A staff member will be happy to discuss upcoming opportunities and answer any questions you may have.

Have Questions? We’re Here to Help

Interested in the ProLEAD Certificate Program? Complete the form below to request more information and pricing.

Contact Us

Corporate & Business Solutions

Main Campus
Buchanan Hall 122
319-296-4223
Email Corporate and Business Solutions

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