November YP Connector

NOVEMBER 2020
BUILDING
RESILIENCE
in the Midst of Chaos
Shawn K. Woods
with

The The Dubuque
Monthly Membership
Luncheon
Hosts
area chamber
Positivity During Challenging Times
The Chamber's Monthly Membership Luncheon will be on Thursday,
November 19 from 12:00 Noon - 1:00pm via GoToWebinar. The
event will feature Don Sandel.
.
Don Sandel has a Master of Arts and
Bachelor of Science from Western
Michigan University. Since
graduation, he has amassed a
number of highly specialized
certificates in Human Performance
Improvement, Training, Leadership
Development, Coaching, Business
Acumen, and Applied Positive Psychology.
Don’s expertise is in the field leadership development as well as the
impact of shifting to a positive mindset. He is currently the Founder of
GoPositiv, but has spent a quarter century leading talent development
for such companies as Astellas Pharma, Allscripts, and United Airlines.
He has recently consulted for such organizations as Wintrust Bank,
Remarkable Health, Ada S. McKinley Community Services and Audentes
Therapuetics and has thrilled thousands with his energetic keynotes on
shifting to a positive mindset.
Where Business Belongs
300 Main Street Suite 200 | Dubuque, IA 52001
563.557.9200 | www.dubuqueChamber.com

Page 3
Contents
3 // Shawn K. Woods
Looking ahead towards our November YP
Luncheon presenter
5 // Joni Ernst
Reviewing the impact of our October YP
Luncheon presenter
9 // YP Sponsor Feature
Eagle Point Solar
Page 9
12 // Upcoming Events
View a list of the upcoming YP events
13 // Top YP Podcasts
Find out where your YP Board Volunteers
Page 15
15 // THINGS I LEARNED IN MY
FIRST YEAR OF HOMEOWNERSHIP
The Young Professional Blog entry
by Margaret O'Reilly
Follow Us
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@ypdubuque
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JOIN THE CONVERSATION
#YPDUBUQUE

AT THE YP LUNCHEON ON NOVEMBER 18
BUILDING RES
IN THE MIDST OF C
Shawn K. Woods
with
Shawn K. Woods is President and CEO of Shawn K. Woods & Associates, an organization
committed to ·empowering businesses and individuals to unleash their full potential."
An international trainer/facilitator. author and executive/life/career coach. He has delivered
over 2500 conferences including keynote presentations. bullying awareness seminars and
leadership training to Fortune 500 companies, associations, small business owners. government
and non-profit organizations throughout the United States, Canada, Europe and Africa.
Through Shawn's expertise and diverse background he has helped clients decrease turnover.
increase accountability. effectiveness and productivity through COMMUNICATION,
TEAM-BUILDING, LEADERSHIP. DIVERSITY/INCLUSION and CHANGE/TRANSITION workshops
and coaching modules. He has also helped individuals gain the courage to chase their personal
goals and coached them on how to achieve them.
Shawn is the youngest of eleven children He was raised in a dual parent household on the
West Side of Chicago where drugs. gangs and violence were a dominant part of his everyday
life. Faced with difficult choices every day. some of his juvenile decisions eventually cost him
several full ride scholarships to play Division I Football. With the COURAGE to overcome his
difficult childhood and a tough JOURNEY ahead of him, Shawn had one of two choices to
make: l) He could be consumed by the temptations of street life or 2) He could redirect his
energy. make smarter personal and professional decisions in life and reshape his future.
Shawn clearly chose the latter.
Shawn has since achieved great academic and professional successes. His list of academic
accomplishments include: an Associate's Degree. a Bachelor's of Arts Degree. a Master's
Degree in Business Administration and a Master's Degree in Human Resources. Shawn's
professional accomplishments are numerous including positions held as a Law Enforcement
Officer. Decorated Detective-Hostage Negotiator, Assistant Director of Human Resources for
the Board of Education as well as an Investigator for the Office of the Executive Inspector
General for the State of Illinois In addition to the Training and Development Company, Shawn
also developed his own Real Estate Investment and Property Management Company and is
President/CEO of his own Private Detective Agency. These professional accomplishments are
part of the foundation that Shawn leverages to help businesses and individuals unleash their
full potential.

ILIENCE
HAOS

Recapping last m

onth’s Luncheon
Senator Joni Ernst
with
A Conversation on Leadership and
Service with Senator Joni Ernst
Senator Joni Ernst was able to join us for a luncheon in right before she
joined the floor to vote on COVID relief package for Iowa. She gave us an
update on things she has been working on and right now a major part of
her time is working on child care both prior to pandemic and even more
so now due to the pandemic. Iowa is considered a desert state for child
care and she is proposing a 32 million dollar package to help Iowa child
care. The new package today that she will be voting on right after this
luncheon is a 15 billion dollar bill for the United States that she sponsors.
This bill will provide a 9 month gap assistant program for child care,
10 million dollars would go to the expansion of child care facilities and 5
billion dollars would go to child care development grand program that
helps families who need assistance. After a brief over view of a few
other things she is working on we were able to participate in a conversation/
question and answer with Senator Joni Ernst and here is what we
talked about...

Recapping last month’s Lunch
Jack Mescher
Government Relations & Assistant Director
Hills and Dales
Jack Mecsher: “Sen. Ernst, thank you for introducing
the “Front Line Act” which address supporting
Frontline Workforce, who were largely left out of
the initial COVID relief packages. At Hills and Dales,
we work to build meaningful lives for individuals
with disabilities—many of our services are 24/7
and very much essential. Shutting down or going
virtual was not an option. Through-out this
pandemic, it has been our 465 employees who
proved themselves as true heroes. They have
reported to work in-person, complied with extensive
new regulations, and faced school shutdowns
and daycare closings like many other families. But
in many cases they received the least support from
the federal government. What are the conversations
you are having in the Senate to pass your
Front Line Act, what needs to happen for your
legislation to pass? Our workforce is feeling it!”
ANSWER: Senator Joni Ernst
thanked all for their essential
service on the font line of Child
Care. The Front Line Act will benefit
essential works with a pay roll
tax and income tax holiday.
There is also a proposal
for all Americans to have a
tax holiday. The best way
to get the Front Line Act
passed is to please
promote with various
legislators, reach out to
them, and encourage
support of the front line
act.
Samantha Bruck
Insurance Services Representative
Dupaco Community Credit Union
Samantha Bruck: “How/when did you decide that
you wanted to join the Marines?”
ANSWER: On an Agriculture exchange to the
Ukraine in 1989 between her freshman and sophomore
year of college she went to their collective
farm for 2 weeks. At this farm they were still using
horses and wagons to do farming. It was a very
different in a socialist country compared to home
(Iowa) were they had tractors and combines. In the
evenings they would get together in a community
center and many did not care about Iowa agriculture
but asked more about what American Government
was like and what it is like to be free? At
that point she knew she wanted to be able to
contribute to her country, to wear the uniform and
uphold the values of the United States. She was
apart of the United States Army and Iowa National
Guard for 23 years, retiring as a lieutenant colonel,
she served with the best men and women.
Samantha Bruck: “Who do you look up to for
inspiration or mentorship?”
ANSWER: Senator Chuck Grassley in Iowa because
he is bottom line through and through. An Iowan
and has been through 40 years of state senate but
he is always state centric. He visits all 99 counties,
for 40 years in a row. She looks to him and his
model of supporting constituents. Her Mother and
family are also her mentors. Her other grew up in
a humble family and learned to be extremely
thrifty. She learned farm traits that carried women
through younger years sewing, canning ,cooking,
and being a farm hand. All these taught to Senator
Joni Ernst and her sibling, teaching work values
that were really important. Her mom inspires her
because she was not college educated until kids
were older she got an associates degree, she has
been through hard times and challenges but
always encouraged Senator Joni to keep doing
what she loved.

eon with Senator Joni Ernst
Margaret O’Reilly
Sales Manager
Hotel Julien Dubuque
Margaret O’Reilly: “Why did you get into public
policy and politics? Was there a particular situation
or were there multiple motivators?”
ANSWER: Senator Joni Ernst was involved in
student government in a small rural high school
with a class of 24 kids. Being in a small school
meant you participated in everything. She continued
to do so at Iowa State and then after she
graduated she got involved with Jim Ross Life
campaign with a friend. It ended up being unsuccessful
but eye opening to engage in a campaign.
Later on in the middle east trip with the Iowa Army
National Guard members from her community
back home started to reach out to her and ask her
to run for their county auditor position. There had
been difficulties and disruptions to services to
citizens for awhile. Being the county auditor for 6
years was fantastic and when starting to be more
apart of local issues, taxing, and budgets. Seeing
that should could bring everyone back together
and fix problems is what started her journey in
politics. Learning that in politics you have to work
together to get things done. She prides her self on
being the most bipartisan senator and being able
to help people in their everyday lives.
Tori Freese
Dupaco
Tori Freese: What is going to be done with Student
Loan concerns after the pandemic is over?
ANSWER: They are working on negotiations for
longer terms, different payment options, and
lower rates. Senator Joni Ernst feels strongly about
this topic and that young professionals are delaying
their lives because of debt. They are delaying
getting married, starting a family and buying a
home due to debts. She is working towards helping
employers get tax credits to help them pay of
employees current student loan debt. Many
employers already assume college tax credits for
paying for or helping paying for employees to go to
school. Employers should also get a tax credit to
help those employees who join the company
already with debt, in hopes of employers being
able to help pay down that debt. Everything
should be on the table and we should start
discussing it so young professionals can engage in
activities that they want to and not have to put
lives on hold to pay off student loan debt.
We want to thank Senator Joni Ernst and her
staffers that joined us today,
Tyler Brown - Tax issues, small business, financial
service and education - Sioux city, IA
Brittney Carroll - Eastern Iowa, Cedar Rapids and
the Dubuque area
Ann Breann- Health care, labor and veterans
affairs

Welcome our new sponsor!
Founded in 2010, Eagle Point Solar is dedicated to
providing renewable solar energy solutions throughout
Iowa, Illinois and Wisconsin. We have designed,
engineered and built systems of all sizes for residential
homes, small businesses, large commercial
facilities, agricultural operations, local government,
academic institutions and local utilities. Eagle Point
Solar is one of the largest solar installers in the
Midwest, and consistently ranked as a Solar Power
World Top 500 Solar and Solar + Storage installer in
the U.S. In addition to providing turnkey energy
management solutions, we also offer, sales, design &
engineering, permitting, utility interconnection,
construction and maintenance. The professional staff
consists of NABCEP certified designers, master
electricians, and individuals with decades of construction
management and administration experience. At
Eagle Point Solar, our people are trusted, our process
is tested, and our results are proven.

New YP
Board
Members
We welcome 2 new board
members to the Young Professionals
Board of Directors
Wes Hartig
Affiliated under the Dubuque Area
Chamber of Commerce, Young
Professionals Dubuque (YPD) exists
to connect young professionals
with each other, the business
community, and the city in which
we live, work, play and do business.
The members of the YP Board
of Directors are faces behind the
scenes that make that happen. This
month we welcome two new
board members.
Find us on your favorite
social media app.
Wes Hartig
Member Relations
Brock Renbarger
Diversity Focus
Brock Renbarger

Upcoming
Events
Join us at one of our
upcoming virtual events
YP VIRTUAL LUNCHEON
Shawn K .Woods
November 18
YP VIRTUAL LUNCHEON
Cris Houlihan
December 16
YP VIRTUAL LUNCHEON
TBA
January 20, 2021
YP VIRTUAL LUNCHEON
TBA
February 17, 2021

Top YP Podcasts
A list of Young Professional Podcasts to start your morning, get you through your commute,
to listen to during the day or evening! Podcasts are a great way to listen to high
quality content no matter where you are or what you are doing. Most podcast offer bite
sized chunks of information during your busy routine so you can continue to grow!
Todays Young Professional
Sharpen: The podcast for young professionals
Honest HR: A podcast from SHRM Spilling HR Truths
You Winning Life
Listen Money Matters
How to be awesome at your job
Working
The GenTwenty Podcast
Stuff you Should Know
Professional Development Forum

THINGS I LEARNED IN MY FIRST YEAR OF
Homeownership
By Margaret O'Reilly
I bought a home in March of 2018, little did I know I
was NOT ready for that adventure. It didn’t help that
my boyfriend and I were planning on completely
renovating, but I don’t think he realized the monster
he created. First thing you should know about me is I
work in the hospitality industry and I am an event
planner by trade, which means I have a passion for
creating pretty spaces. I continue to think of projects
everyday, and I don’t think they’ll ever stop. Other
than the obvious, home renovating is hard, these are
some of the lessons I learned in my first year of
homeownership.
Understand your goal for homeownership. Do you
want to buy your forever home to raise a family in? Do
you want a home that does not need any work? Do
you want to renovate and sell the home? Do you plan
on selling this house in a few years? Do you want an
investment property? One thing my boyfriend and I
knew going in is this house would not be our forever
home. We weren’t sure if we wanted to fix it up and
sell it right away, or if we wanted to hold it and rent it.
The one thing we were confident on was that we
weren’t staying longer than a few years and we wanted
to renovate, so we had a goal during our search.
Pay attention to the things you do and use daily.
Create a list of your ‘must haves’ as well as be
prepared to rank those. In my last apartment I did not
have a dishwasher, and I truly despised hand washing
dishes. I also have a lot of clothes, always have and
always will, so I knew I would want to have a space for
those clothes. Going into the house hunt I knew I
absolutely needed a dishwasher as well as someplace
to house my clothes (no this wasn’t the extent of my
list just some examples) Be prepared for your checklist
to change as you grow and change. In the next place I
live, I want to make sure I have a nice outdoor space,
I’ve learned that I like entertaining outside.
Shop around on EVERYTHING. This starts at the very
beginning of the home owning process. Price shop
your mortgage, insurance, inspection, literally everything.
Taking the time to price shop your mortgage and
insurance, especially, could save you hundreds a
month as well as thousands over the long term. But
don’t stop there, any outside job you have to hire, any
furniture you want to buy, the new light fixture,
everything. This helps you not only save money, but
helps you compare quality of the service or product.
Buy below your means. When I started looking for
homes I was envisioning that I was living by myself and
paying for everything by myself so I was approved for a
certain amount that I knew I was never going to buy a
house for since I was living alone. This is when my
boyfriend and I decided to move in together (yup you
read that right, we moved in for the first time and
renovated a whole house - yes we’re still together!),
but we still wanted to be below what I was approved
for. This was going to help with renovation costs as
well as if we ever broke up, I wanted to make sure I
was okay financially. My biggest piece of advice, would
always buy below your approved rate so you can live
financially secure. You don’t want to hold off retirement
because you bought too big of a house.
Don’t be afraid to negotiate. Real estate can be a very
emotional process for some, but don’t be afraid to
negotiate the asking price or add concessions. Each
party is looking to make a deal and the worst thing
they can do is deny your offer, but if you never ask the
answer will always be no. Remember, most homes are
priced to leave room for negotiation.

Know your local market. Do your own research on
what other homes sold for in your area. Having a good
understanding of the comp set helps you know what is
a good price to offer and what you could sell the home
for in the future. With the home I bought, I researched
the local area to know what the highest price a home
sold for within the last year. This way, I was very
conscious of how much money we would put into the
home. One thing I wish I knew was that the area
around my home is mostly rental homes, that could
help or hurt me depending on what we decide to do
once we move.
There will always be things you want to change.
Unless you are building a house, there will always be
things you want to change. I would recommend you
really know what you want to change or what you
could live with if you can’t change it. Also, if you are
renovating you have a little more freedom of what you
can and can’t change.
Always sample. Buy the paint sample. Buy the carpet
sample. Buy any other sample you can. It is not a
waste. Put it in the room you are thinking of changing
and watch it. For example, if you are choosing
between paint colors - paint the wall and check on it
multiple times a day. The sunlight will be different in
the room at different points of the day. Believe me,
this matters.
for my house, I just wanted furniture. Taking the time
will also help you realize what you can buy on the
cheap or what pieces you want to really invest in.
Some furniture is not meant to last forever.
Always have an emergency fund. There will always be
something that will break unexpectedly or will need to
be replaced in the future. We’ve had our dishwasher
leak, our water line to the fridge split, our basement
flood. For the most part these were minimal costs, but
if we have to replace an appliance it will be easier to
have an emergency fund to pay for. You will need to
replace a roof, a water heater, or any of the large items
if you stay in your home long enough.
During this adventure, I learned that I don’t think I will
ever buy a completely finished home. I truly enjoy the
projects (thinking of them, not the labor part) and
making the home ours. It has been a lot of work, but
extremely rewarding. There was a lot of stress and
long nights the first few months, but our home is
exactly how I want it to look. *wink* The biggest thing
for me is it helps me build equity and build wealth.
Don’t buy all your furniture at once. This was my
biggest struggle and still continues to be to this day. I
want to buy all the furniture at once and have a
completely finished home. Nice furniture is an investment.
Make sure you love it. I have already gotten rid
of a TV stand, two coffee tables, and dining chairs. I
didn’t take time to really settle into the look I wanted

For more information on YP Dubuque please contact the Dubuque Area Chamber at
office@dubuquechamber.com or 563.557.9200.
Young Professionals Dubuque is a program of the Dubuque Area Chamber of Commerce