August YP Connector

August 2021
AUGUST
YP LUNCHEON SPEAKER
Das
Nobel

The The Dubuque
area chamber
Monthly Membership
Luncheon
Hosts
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.
Find us on your favorite
social media app.
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 4
Page 6
Contents
4 // Das Nobel
Looking ahead towards our August YP Luncheon
presenter
6 // Justin Stinson
Reviewing the impact of our June YP Luncheon
presenter
10 // New In Town?
7 Tips to make friends in a new area
12 // Upcoming YP Events
View a list of upcoming YP events
Page 10
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JOIN THE CONVERSATION
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GETTING TO KNOW YOUR
August YP Lunch
Das Nobel
with
Das Nobel is a business leader, technologist, and philanthropist. Das currently serves as the
Co-founder, Chairman, and CEO of MTX Group, a leading global technology consulting firm dedicated
to transforming lives and communities through technology.
Under Das' leadership, MTX has become a go-to partner for government agencies, businesses, and
institutions for digital transformation and mission-critical projects. Das recently spearheaded the
development of the Maverick Quantum (mavQ) Artificial Intelligence Platform that powers much of
its work with partners. The company is known for its speed, innovation, and flexibility for its
customers. During the COVID-19 pandemic, MTX served an integral role in providing emergency
response solutions for clients across the country, including developing the vaccine management
platform for three of the country's biggest cities – New York, Chicago, and Houston – and in states
across the country like Arizona, Nevada, and Utah.
Das supports a wide range of community initiatives and philanthropy efforts. He is a proud Pledge
1% member, and every year dedicates 1% of revenue, time, and pro-bono services to nonprofits.
Outside of MTX, Das and his business partner and wife, Nipa, co-founded the Nobel Foundation to
provide educational opportunities to underprivileged children and plan to build 100 schools in
marginalized communities worldwide over the next ten years. Das also serves as an Advisory Board
Member for the Cybersecurity program at Rutgers University.
A big believer in giving back to communities where it works, MTX partnered with FC Dallas to
become the official front of the jersey sponsor and technology consulting partner. Additionally,
MTX participates in FC Dallas' Homegrown Partner Program by providing technical insights and
solutions to five Dallas-Fort Worth-based Black and minority-owned businesses. MTX also serves as
a partner of the FC Dallas Foundation's Field Development Program, which has built eight minisoccer
fields across the Dallas-Fort Worth region.
Das is a native of Bangladesh and immigrated to the United States
at the age of fifteen. Coming from humble beginnings, Das is
committed to contributing to a world where everyone has
equal opportunities in life, education, and human
rights. He lives in Frisco, Texas, with his wife,
Nipa, and their two beautiful boys, Nike
and Chaim.

eon Speaker

ecapping
Last Month’s
LUncheon
Understanding the
ROADBLOCKS TO CREATIVITY
The July YP Luncheon was held at the Holiday Inn in downtown Dubuque
on July 21. Justin Stinson gave an engaging and thoughtful presentation
on why having creativity in your leadership style can provide you a
competitive advantage.
Justin, a photographer by trade and passion, worked many years in
management roles, made his way up the ladder corporately, and eventually
started his own corporate coaching company called Capture Coaching
and Consulting.
As the owner and coach of Capture Coaching and Consulting, Justin
works with leaders, businesses, and start-ups to scale through creativity,
accountability, and focus. His coaching style always comes back to his
photography, and his step-by-step process starts with being the lens.

Justin Stinson
High-Performance Global
Start-up and Leadership Coach
Capture Business Coaching and
Consulting

ecapping
Last Month’s
Understanding the
LUncheon
ROADBLOCKS TO CREATIVITY
Justin says understanding how creativity can add to a business and its leaders begins with changing your perspective
and overcoming the common roadblocks.
Roadblock No. 1:
THIS IS HOW WE'VE ALWAYS DONE IT
Justin talks about overcoming this roadblock through
quilt-maker culture instead of the more common
puzzle-builder culture. A puzzle-builder already
knows what the end product will look like. If you lose
one piece, you can never finish it, and if you do finish
it, it falls apart when you pick it up. Whereas
quilt-makers use many different colors of their own
selection, create large or small pieces, aren't a
carbon copy of a "box," mistakes won't ruin the
piece, and is solid and unbreakable when lifted.
Justin described creating a quilt-maker culture is
about:
1. Encouraging Mistakes
2. Communication
3. Open-Minded Leadership
4. Coaching versus Reprimanding
5. Praise
6. Consistency
7. Practice What You Preach
Roadblock No. 2:
THAT'S NOT THE PROCESS
Justin talks about how a process is all about perspective.
If you change your perspective, can you find a
different way, a better way? Most of the time, yes.
Roadblock No.3:
WHAT IF IT COSTS MONEY?
Justin's response to this roadblock is, "what if it
doesn't?" Or "what if it saves money?"
Roadblock No. 4:
MY COMPETITORS AREN'T DOING IT
And, that is exactly why you should do something
different! Justin goes on to say that there is competition
for a reason. Beating the competition means
finding differentiation between you and your
competitors. Your customers want better, not the
same.

Roadblock No. 5:
CREATIVITY IS CHAOS
There are many reasons why people think creativity
can be chaotic, but Justin gave six reasons for why
creativity is not chaos:
1. Attention to detail has to be extremely high.
2. Cost and time savings because of multiple options
being looked at.
3. It is different, not crazy.
4. It tends to require a more dedicated focus.
5. Creatives go into a project with a plan of action.
6. Creatives offer a more aggressive outcome.
Justin stated that creatives tend to "aim further to
go over what is expected," which should be a rule of
thumb for all individuals.
Roadblock No. 6:
TOO BUSY TO LOOK AT OPTIONS
Justin discussed the importance of getting "unbusy."
He explained the importance of looking up; scheduling,
including time to review processes and breaks;
not scheduling; picking up; building; collaborating;
and asking questions. Justin provided many statistics
about meetings and how a lot of meetings do not
provide the intended outcome.
Justin's message on getting unbusy in regards to
spending less time in unproductive meetings was
very clear, "Don't have a meeting that could be an
email. Don't send an email that could be a phone
call. And, pick up the damn phone!"
Justin's final thoughts offered advice for young professionals as they think about their futures, where they want
to go, and what type of leader they want to be, "If you want something you've never had, you have to do
something you've never done."

New in town?
7 TIPS TO MAKE FRIENDS IN A NEW AREA
By: Brock Renbarger
MidWestOne Bank
YP Co-Director of
Member Relations
Warning: This list may cause uneasiness, clenched fists, and tightening of jaws or chest…
I’m talking to you introverts.
Making friends in a new community will require stepping out of one’s
comfort zone to establish a circle of friends. This is vital to the success
of a new move. Not to sound like a physical trainer, believe me, I’m not,
but short-term discomfort will result in long-term gains. The list below
should produce situations where you either meet new people, build
stronger relationships with people you already know, or both.

NO HOMEBODIES (at least until you establish a friend group)
It’s so easy to spend your after-work hours on the couch watching Netflix and looking
at your phone. I’ve been guilty of this… It’s hard to make friends at your house. Get off
the couch and do tips 2-7.
TAKE A STEP OUTSIDE YOUR BOX
Introduce yourself to neighbors. I am guilty again of not doing this a time or two in my
younger years, but the times I said hi and introduced myself resulted in friendships
and a sense of home. Pro tip: I find the best time to do this is when a neighbor is
already outside. If they’re gardening or doing busy work, keep it short and sweet so
they can get back to what they’re doing.
Get drinks or dinner after work with coworkers. Often, when one moves to a new
town, it’s due to a job opportunity. More likely than not, the first people you’ll meet
are coworkers. Try to get a group together on a weekday after hours to grab a bite or a
quick drink. These types of gatherings have a better success rate of making deeper
friendships.
JOIN A GROUP – Better chance of meeting likeminded people
· Clubs
· Church
· Young Professionals…ahem
· Gyms
MAKE A LIST OF HOBBIES, PICK ONE, AND DIVE IN
· Exercise – Running, biking, or hiking
· Sports – Golf, tennis, volleyball, or softball
· Woodworking, welding, ceramics, 3-D printing, or quilting
DONATE YOUR TIME WITH VOLUNTEERING
Triple win here. Do something for the greater good, meet new people, and it’s a nice
thing to have on your résumé.
GET A DOG
Dog parks are an excellent place for the pup to burn off some energy while the
owners socialize with one another.
TAKE A CLASS
· Distinctively Dubuque – a class for people new to the Dubuque area
· Local colleges
· Luncheons

Upcoming Events
Join us at one of our upcoming virtual events
AUGUST 27
SEPTEMBER 15
YP LUNCHEON
with
Das Nobel
YP LUNCHEON
with
Shannon
Lundgren
OCTOBER 20 NOVEMBER 17
YP LUNCHEON
with
TBA

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