Special to the Times Vedette
Iowa business owners and community leaders are teaming up to launch the first-ever Business Owner Summer Summit (BOSS 2025), a two-day event focused on one of the most pressing challenges facing small businesses today: employee retention.
Set for June 5-6 at The Port on Lake Panorama, BOSS 2025 brings together business owners, HR professionals and community-minded entrepreneurs for two days of expert-led sessions, peer panels and lakeside networking — all designed to equip small and midsize businesses with tools to build strong teams and keep top talent.
A summit designed for small- and mid-sized employers
“Small businesses across Iowa are struggling with turnover, disengagement and workforce instability,” Mitch Johnk, lead organizer of the event, says. “BOSS 2025 is designed to give employers real-world strategies that go beyond flashy benefits and surface-level solutions.”
Headlining speakers
The speaker lineup includes several high-profile leaders from across Iowa:
Jamie Pollard, Iowa State University’s athletic director, will deliver a keynote on how organizational culture and leadership drive retention, drawing parallels between keeping top athletes and top employees.
Drew Harden, CEO of Blue Compass and author of “Retain,” will share five proven strategies for building a company culture that “makes Mondays feel like Fridays.”
Sinikka Waugh, founder of Your Clear Next Step, will present on empowering “change makers” within organizations — those team members who help businesses thrive through transformation and uncertainty.
Lance Farrell, founder of Farrell’s eXtreme Bodyshaping, will close the event with a motivational session on leading through growth and scaling with intention.
Additional sessions will cover executive benefit design, employee stock ownership plans (ESOPs), workplace financial wellness and real-world insights from a panel of Iowa business owners who have faced retention struggles firsthand.
Not just a conference — an experience
Attendees will enjoy more than just business insights. BOSS 2025 includes lunch and happy hour networking, a live music social at Twin Vines Winery, and optional “stay-and-play” activities on Friday, including golf, lake tours, shopping and lakeside yoga.
“We intentionally chose Lake Panorama as the venue because it allows people to relax, connect, and think differently about how they lead their businesses,” Ellen Betzer, one of the event organizers, says.
How to attend
The event is open to business owners, HR professionals and organizational leaders from across Iowa. Early registration is encouraged, as space is limited to 125 attendees.
Registration and full schedule details are available at https://bossiowa.com
About BOSS
The Business Owner Summer Summit (BOSS) is a grassroots event created by Iowa business owners for Iowa business owners. Its mission is to empower local leaders with practical strategies to retain talent, build resilient teams, and foster business growth that benefits communities across the state.