Event Details
Des Moines, Iowa
Holiday Inn Des Moines-Airport
6111 Fleur Drive
Des Moines, IA 50321
September 22, 2026 — September 24, 2026
Workshop | September 22, 2026
Registration begins at 7:45 am
Conference | September 23–24, 2026
Registration begins at 8:00 am
5 Credit Hours
Event Contact
About the Workshop
Attend this year’s workshop to learn about Team Development. There will be presentations on Leading and Motivating Teams, Working with Challenging Employees, and Selecting, Training, Hiring, and Recruiting Employees. There will also be a tour of Ziegler Caterpillar in Altoona after the workshop.
About the Conference
This year’s conference is sure to be one you won’t want to miss! Along with a slate of several relevant presentations, you can look forward to “mousetraps and gadgets” and roundtable discussions. Attendees will have ample time to meet with their peers and many exhibitors.
Note: Attendance to either the workshop or the conference is not necessary to participate in the other.
Who Should Attend
All public employees are invited to attend. Anyone who is in a leadership position, such as a first-line supervisor, or aspires to be in such a position will especially benefit from the workshop. Secondary road and street maintenance supervisors and staff will especially benefit from the conference.
Scholarship Opportunity
We are offering a limited number of scholarships for first-time attendees. Please contact Sherrie LaFleur for more information.
Workshop and Conference Credits
Attendance at the workshop and conference will each provide contact hours toward the Iowa Roads Scholar program.
Accommodations
Rooms are available at the Des Moines Airport Holiday Inn for $119 plus tax. Call the hotel directly at 515-287-2400 and mention “Streets & Roads” to book a room at the block rate. The block will end on September 1, 2026.
Mousetraps and Gadgets
Do you have an innovative idea or invention that has reduced costs or improved efficiency in your agency? Let us know about it! Send ideas to Sherrie LaFleur.
Tour
Join us on our tour of Ziegler Caterpillar in Altoona after the workshop. The departure time for the Tuesday, September 22 tour is 3:45 p.m. The tour will highlight Ziegler’s services, which includes their parts department, shop, paint booth, and their machine rebuild capabilities. Space is limited to 55 people, so register early!
Tentative Agenda
Workshop | Tuesday, September 22, 2026
| Time | Event Details |
|---|---|
| 8:00 a.m. | Registration |
| 8:25 a.m. | Welcome/Introduction |
| 8:30 a.m. | What Great Teams Do Differently: Why Some Teams Thrive (and Others Stall) |
| 9:00 a.m. | Hiring and Recruiting Employees |
| 9:45 a.m. | Break |
| 10:00 a.m. | Retaining Your Workforce: Practical Strategies |
| 10:45 a.m. | Effective Delegation and Employee Empowerment |
| 11:30 a.m. | Working with Challenging Employees |
| 12:15 p.m. | Lunch |
| 1:15 p.m. | Managing Conflict |
| 2:00 p.m. | Training New Employees |
| 2:30 p.m. | Break |
| 2:45 p.m. | Leading and Motivating Teams |
| 3:30 p.m. | Evaluations Please turn in evaluations prior to leaving for the tour! |
| 3:45 p.m. | Depart for Tour (registration required) |
Conference | Wednesday, September 23, 2026
| Time | Event Details |
|---|---|
| 8:00 a.m. | Registration |
| 8:30 a.m. | Welcome and Association Updates |
| 8:45 a.m. | Keynote Speaker - Coach Donnie Campbell |
| 9:45 a.m. | Break/Vendor Time |
| 10:30 a.m. | Completing Effective Annual Evaluations |
| 11:15 a.m. | County Built Bridge Reconstruction Practices |
| 12:00 p.m. | Lunch/Vendor Time |
| 1:00 p.m. | Excavation Safety |
| 2:00 p.m. | Break/Vendor Time |
| 2:45 p.m. | Implementing Technology into Winter Operations |
| 3:30 p.m. | Overview of IPERS |
| 4:00 p.m. | Mousetrap and ICEA Awards |
| 4:15–6 p.m. | Door Prizes/Vendor Time/Social Gathering |
Conference | Thursday, September 24, 2026
| Time | Event Details |
|---|---|
| 7:00 a.m. | Breakfast Buffet |
| 8:00 a.m. | Passing the Gavel |
| 8:05 a.m. | Roundtable Discussions Submit Questions Now |
| 9:00 a.m. | Roundtable Reports |
| 9:15 a.m. | Business Meeting/Elections |
| 9:30 a.m. | Panel Discussion: Approaches to Brush Management |
| 10:00 a.m. | Break |
| 10:15 a.m. | Federal Regulation Review |
| 11:30 a.m. | Mousetraps, Gadgets, Awards, and Door Prizes |
| 11:45 a.m. | Evaluations Please turn in evaluations prior to leaving! |
| 12:00 p.m. | Adjourn |
Questions
If you have questions or need more information, please contact Sherrie LaFleur.