Business & Industry Forums

Your Voice. Our Future Workforce. 

Eastern Iowa Community Colleges (EICC) invites you to be part of shaping the future of workforce development in our region. Following the results of our recent Workforce Development and Training Survey, we’re hosting a series of Business & Industry Forums to share findings, gather further insights, and engage in meaningful conversations about how we can grow and strengthen our regional talent pipeline—together.

Forum Details 

Join us at one of four interactive forums across our campuses: 

• Wednesday, October 1 | 7 a.m. – 12 p.m. 
  Muscatine Community College 
• Friday, October 3 | 7 a.m. – 12 p.m. 
  DeWitt, IA 
• Monday, October 13 | 7 a.m. – 12 p.m. 
  Clinton Community College 
• Thursday, October 16 | 7 a.m. – 12 p.m. 
  Scott Community College – Davenport, IA 

Featured Keynote: Dean Heffta 

Leadership Speaker | Author | Founder of Clarus Results 

Dean Heffta is a leadership speaker, author, and trainer. Through his tailored training programs, he helps leadership teams become more connected, committed, and courageous. He is the co-author of “How We Connect: Using Process Communication Model to build healthy relationships”. Dean is the past president of the Illinois chapter of the National Speakers Association and Co-Dean of the chapter's Speakers Academy which launched this March.  

Keynote Presentation: “Building a Learning Culture” 

7:30 – 9 a.m. at each forum 

In today’s rapidly changing environment—where businesses face fierce competition for top talent—your organization’s ability to learn faster than others is a powerful competitive advantage. 

In his keynote message, Dean Heffta will explore how leaders can foster a culture that drives continuous learning and adaptability. He’ll share: 

• The single biggest mistake organizations make when trying to grow people 
• Three actionable levers leaders can use immediately to boost team learning 
• Strategies to create a learning culture that fuels business success and workforce development 

Heffta’s engaging and insightful talk will energize you for the roundtable discussions that follow, helping you think critically and creatively about the skills and training your industry needs. 

Why Attend? 

• Review and reflect on survey findings from across the region 
• Add your voice to shape the next phase of workforce training 
• Connect with industry peers and educational leaders 
• Contribute to building a talent pipeline that supports economic growth 

Whether your business is in manufacturing, healthcare, construction, transportation, education, agriculture—or anywhere in between—your insights are vital. 

Be Part of the Conversation 

We’re building more than training programs—we’re building the future of our regional workforce. 

RSVP for a Forum