Iowa Western Community College

February 15, 2026, from 8:00am-2:00pm in Looft Hall
This continuing education course is designed for licensed cosmetologists looking to refine their skills, stay updated on industry trends, and meet licensure renewal requirements. Participants will explore advanced techniques, products innovations, and business strategies to elevate their professional practice while fostering creativity and client satisfaction. This course will be 2 hours of Iowa Law and 4 hours of continuing education.
 

Wednesday March 11th, 2026, 11:00am-1:30pm, Council Bluffs Campus-Looft Hall #023 – Lunch provided
Learn what leadership truly means, whether you have formal authority or not. Define your leadership identity, map areas where you already influence, and begin habits of intentional leadership. Develop the foundational knowledge and competencies required to excel in your role as a leader supervisor.

*Zoom participation is available at Iowa Western center locations only.

Wednesdays from March 11 through May 13, 11:00 AM to 1:30 PM   Council Bluffs campus Looft Hall, Room 023, – Lunch provided Lead with Influence: Practical Skills for Everyday Leaders is a dynamic,10-week professional development series designed for individuals who want to become stronger, more effective leaders whether or not they hold a formal leadership title. This series focuses on the real-world skills leaders use every day to build trust, communicate clearly, motivate others, and lead with confidence and credibility. Participants will explore their personal leadership and management style, strengthen emotional intelligence, enhance communication skills, and learn how to motivate and develop strong teams. The series also addresses essential leadership challenges such as problem-solving, decision-making, delegation, accountability, presenting with influence, and leading through change and uncertainty. 

Wednesday March 18th 2026  11:00am-1:30pm  Council Bluffs Campus-Looft Hall  #023 – Lunch provided

“The most effective leader isn’t perfect. They’re real.”
Learn what leadership truly means, whether you have formal authority or not. Define your leadership identity, map areas where you already influence, and begin habits of intentional leadership. Develop the foundational knowledge and competencies required to excel in your role as a leader supervisor.

*Zoom participation is available at Iowa Western center locations only.

These classes meet every Tuesday morning from 9:00 am – 11:00 am: March 24, 2026, thru May 5, 2026 Looft Hall – Room #023.
This is a comprehensive and structured workshop series that provides participants with the practical skills they need to create a successful marketing foundation. This course is led by Sue Pitts, an experienced business advisor and founder of Just Sue Creative, specializing in digital marketing, business strategy, and AI-driven innovation. Each workshop builds on core marketing competencies, moving from strategic planning and branding to digital tactics like SEO, social media, email marketing, and advertising. The series consists of seven classes, each designed to be impactful on its own, but registering for the entire series offers a discounted rate and ensures a cohesive learning experience that ties all the components together.

Class is Tuesday, March 24, 2026, 9:00 am – 11:00 am – Council Bluffs Campus – Looft Hall Room #023.
This class is 1 of 7 in “Your Marketing Playbook Series”. Developing Your Marketing Plan, Strategy, and Calendar.
Goal: Establish a foundational marketing plan by guiding participants through essential marketing concepts, helping them
define their audience and brand message, set goals, and build a structured marketing calendar for effective execution. This course is led by Sue Pitts, an experienced business advisor and founder of Just Sue Creative, specializing in digital marketing, business strategy, and AI-driven innovation.

Wednesday March 25th 2026  11:00am-1:30pm  Council Bluffs Campus-Looft Hall  #023 – Lunch provided

“Self-awareness isn’t soft—it’s the sharpest tool you’ve got.” 
Equip yourself to recognize emotions in yourself and others; regulate responses; lead with empathy and clarity. Build tools for connection and cut miscommunication.

*Zoom participation is available at Iowa Western center locations only.

Class is Tuesday, March 31, 2026, 9:00 am – 11:00 am – Council Bluffs Campus – Looft Hall Room #023.
This class is 2 of 7 in “Your Marketing Playbook Series”. Equip participants with the skills to build a consistent brand identity
and develop content that resonates with their target audience across various formats. By the end, participants will have a
brand guide to ensure long-term consistency and a content plan ready for implementation. This course is led by Sue Pitts, an experienced business advisor and founder of Just Sue Creative, specializing in digital marketing, business strategy, and AI-driven innovation.

Wednesday April 1st 2026  11:00am-1:30pm  Council Bluffs Campus-Looft Hall  #023 – Lunch provided

“How you say it matters just as much as what you say.” 
Every leadership challenge is, at its core, a communication challenge. Whether you’re clarifying a project, offering feedback, addressing conflict, or just running a team meeting. How you communicate shapes trust, motivation, and results. This class dives deep into the communication habits of effective leaders. You’ll explore how to listen with intention, speak with clarity, and create a culture where people feel safe to share, ask, and grow. You’ll also learn frameworks for delivering feedback, navigating tough conversations, and adjusting your communication style to different personalities and settings..

*Zoom participation is available at Iowa Western center locations only.

Class is Tuesday, April 7, 2026, 9:00 am – 11:00 am – Council Bluffs Campus – Looft Hall Room #023.
This class is 3 of 7 in “Your Marketing Playbook Series”. Equip participants with the knowledge and tools to effectively
optimize their websites for search engines, with a focus on local SEO strategies to attract and engage nearby customers. This course is led by Sue Pitts, an experienced business advisor and founder of Just Sue Creative, specializing in digital marketing, business strategy, and AI-driven innovation.

Wednesday April 8th 2026  11:00am-1:30pm  Council Bluffs Campus-Looft Hall  #023 – Lunch provided

“Teams don’t get built in off-sites. They’re built in daily moments.”
Great teams aren’t powered by perks—they’re built through trust, clarity, and consistent leadership. This class explores how to genuinely motivate individuals while fostering a culture of shared ownership and growth. Learn how to recognize and develop your team without burning out, using coaching, mentoring, and small daily actions that lead to big impact. You’ll walk away with practical tools to boost morale, increase engagement, and build a team people want to be part of.

*Zoom participation is available at Iowa Western center locations only.

Class is Tuesday, April 14, 2026, 9:00 am – 11:00 am – Council Bluffs Campus – Looft Hall Room #023.
This class is 4 of 7 in “Your Marketing Playbook Series”. Enable participants to choose the right social media platforms for
their business, create engaging content tailored to each platform, and develop a strategic social media calendar to reach and
engage their target audience effectively. This course is led by Sue Pitts, an experienced business advisor and founder of Just Sue Creative, specializing in digital marketing, business strategy, and AI-driven innovation.
 

Wednesday April 15th 2026  11:00am-1:30pm  Council Bluffs Campus-Looft Hall  #023 – Lunch provided
“Small things, done consistently, lead to transformation.” This session is all about emotional steadiness, communication, and trust when the path forward is unclear. Focus on the human side of change—how to support people emotionally, communicate evolving plans, and sustain culture through ambiguity. Less about tactical decisions, more about mindset and presence during transitions.
*Zoom participation is available at Iowa Western center locations only.

Class is Tuesday, April 21, 2026, 9:00 am – 11:00 am – Council Bluffs Campus – Looft Hall Room #023.
This class is 5 of 7 in “Your Marketing Playbook Series”. Enable participants to use data insights and Al tools to make
informed decisions and improve marketing efforts. This course is led by Sue Pitts, an experienced business advisor and founder of Just Sue Creative, specializing in digital marketing, business strategy, and AI-driven innovation.

Wednesday April 22nd 202611:00am-1:30pm Council Bluffs Campus-Looft Hall #023 – Lunch provided
“Every challenge is a chance to lead.”
Learn how to tackle problems with clarity and confidence even when the stakes are high or the answers aren't obvious. In this course, participants will strengthen their ability to identify root issues, weigh options, and make decisions that are both strategic and practical. You’ll explore frameworks for collaborative problem-solving and learn how to move from analysis to action, even in fast-moving or messy environments. It's about using your brain (and a few simple systems) to lead well when there's a tough call to make.
*Zoom participation is available at Iowa Western center locations only.

Class is Tuesday, April 28, 2026, 9:00 am – 11:00 am – Council Bluffs Campus – Looft Hall Room #023.
This class is 6 of 7 in “Your Marketing Playbook Series”. Teaches participants how to effectively use email marketing and
CRM tools to build and nurture lasting customer relationships, boost retention, and improve engagement through targeted
email campaigns. This course is led by Sue Pitts, an experienced business advisor and founder of Just Sue Creative, specializing in digital marketing, business strategy, and AI-driven innovation.

Wednesday April 29th 202611:00am-1:30pm Council Bluffs Campus-Looft Hall #023 – Lunch provided
“Letting go isn’t losing control—it’s leadership.”
Delegation and accountability are the quiet engines of great teams. This course goes beyond just assigning tasks; it teaches how to delegate in a way that builds ownership, autonomy, and results. You’ll explore tools for tracking progress, creating alignment, and fostering a culture where people follow through because they want to, not just because they have to.
*Zoom participation is available at Iowa Western center locations only.

Class is Tuesday, May 5, 2026, 9:00 am – 11:00 am – Council Bluffs Campus – Looft Hall Room #023.
This class is 7 of 7 in “Your Marketing Playbook Series”. Equip participants with practical skills to set up affordable, targeted ad campaigns on Google, Facebook, and Instagram. By the end of the workshop, participants will understand how to drive traffic, generate leads, and optimize their ad performance for better results.

Wednesday May 6th2026 11:00am-1:30pm Council Bluffs Campus-Looft Hall #023 – Lunch provided
“You don’t need to be flashy. You need to be clear and real.” 
Whether you’re pitching, presenting, or leading a meeting: craft your communication style and create your core messages to resonate and yield results. Learn storytelling for impact and communicate with presence—even if speaking isn’t your favorite.
*Zoom participation is available at Iowa Western center locations only.

Wednesday May 13th 202611:00am-1:30pm Council Bluffs Campus-Looft Hall #023 – Lunch provided
“True leadership can’t be assigned. It has to be earned.”
This session explores what it means to grow from positional leadership (title-based) to influential leadership (trust-based). Inspired by John Maxwell’s “5 Levels of Leadership,” this class helps participants identify their current leadership level and build habits that develop credibility, deepen connection, and expand their influence—regardless of role. It’s perfect for those shifting from “I’m the boss” to “I’m the kind of leader people choose to follow.”

Class Orientation: Thursday, May 28, 2026 1:30 pm – 3:30 pm – Looft Hall, Room 022
Hands-On Salon: Starting Tuesday, June 2, 2026  until Thursday, August 27, 2026, every Tu/Wed/Th 9:00 am – 3:30 pm – Dodge Hall, Room 1205
The Professional Dog Grooming certificate equips students with the essential skills for a successful career in the grooming industry. The completion of this course prepares you for the eligibility to sit for the AKC-PGC Exam and earn your industry credential. This course will involve numerous Zoom sessions and extensive self-paced learning to cover all the necessary material to ensure thorough understanding and preparation before working hands-on in the grooming salon.

*Students are required to wear closed-toe shoes. 

Class Orientation: Thursday, September 10, 2026 1:30 pm – 3:30 pm – Looft Hall, Room 022
Hands-On Salon: Starting Tuesday, September 15, 2026  until Thursday, December 10, 2026, every Tu/Wed/Th 9:00 am – 3:30 pm – Dodge Hall, Room 1205
The Professional Dog Grooming certificate equips students with the essential skills for a successful career in the grooming industry. The completion of this course prepares you for the eligibility to sit for the AKC-PGC Exam and earn your industry credential. This course will involve numerous Zoom sessions and extensive self-paced learning to cover all the necessary material to ensure thorough understanding and preparation before working hands-on in the grooming salon.