Siouxland Magazine - Volume 3 Issue 1

STARTING CONVERSATIONS
Dancing Her Way
Through
The Arts Tell Us What It Is
To Be Human
Lessons Learned in 2020
Appreciating Everything I Have
Shifting Towards Passion
Getting Focused
A Rooted Passion
Shopping Local
20
21
Passion
Volume 3, Issue 1

By your side
to move you
FORWARD.
We wake up every day to serve in the towns
and places you call home. We’ve expanded
our innovative care, expertise and access to
always keep you moving. Because forward
is the only direction we know.
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Welcome to Siouxland Magazine
It’s in these pages we hope to educate and inspire, even more importantly,
to create a community that thrives on connecting with one another. At our
core, we all want to connect. When we seek to understand, by listening
more intently, we find that our relationships deepen and our community
strengthens as a result. With appreciation for the power of connection
through meaningful conversations, it only made sense to name the
b u s i n e s s Empowering Conversations.
Siouxland Magazine | Passion / 3
Stacie Anderson, Owner
It all starts with a conversation; with a desire to learn;
to see things from another perspective; to seek
truth. The truth is, we have more in common than we have
differences. Well, maybe it would be more accurate to say, what
brings us together is stronger than anything that divides us.
We would never want to marginalize our differences. We love the words of Audre Lorde,
“It is not our differences that divide us. It is our inability to recognize, accept, and celebrate
those differences.” We are unique in vast and complicated ways. It’s our hope that we can
come together with our unique strengths, perspectives and ideas to build a community with a
powerful narrative of “us.”
Through this humble publication, we will start having conversations. This is an ambitious and
beautifully optimistic attempt to shine light on all the things that make our community strong,
but also discuss, in a productive and compassionate manner, the challenges we face.
We are doing our small part in building a cohesive community by creating conversations
that refocus our attention on our similarities. We are bringing people together; replacing
judgment with understanding. Perspective is powerful.
We want to hear from you. At Siouxland Magazine, we feel it is imperative to understand what
the community wants and needs. Share your vision and dreams for Siouxland.
We want you to lean into the conversation and participate in the discussion.
connect@empowering-conversations.com
Facebook @siouxlandmag
E m p o w e r i n g
Conversations, LLC
siouxlandmagazine.com

Passion
Converse22
Shifting Focus Towards Passion....................................................................................8
Passionate About Conversation.......................................................................10
To Screen or Not To Screen..........................................................................12
Lessons Learned......................................................................................................................15
Real Life Passion......................................................................................................................17
Balance
explore
Indulging with Better Ingredients..............................................................36
Passion for the Pause..........................................................................................................38
Ask the Therapist........................................................................................................................4 0
Worthy of Beauty.......................................................................................................................42
Together We Can Heal...................................................................................................44
You Are the One You Have Been Waiting For.....................46
Passion for Lifelong Learning.................................................................................50
“Passion is energy. Feel the power that comes from focusing on what excites you.”
– Oprah Winfrey

“Every great dream begins with a dreamer. Always remember, you have within you the
strength, the patience, and the passion to reach for the stars to change the world.”
– Harriet Tubman
Inspire
Grow
Dancing Her Way Through...................................................................................18
The Arts Tell Us What It Is To be Human...........................................20
Passion for Home Improvement..........................................................................22
Katie + Company Furniture Restorations........................................24
Boss Babe..............................................................................................................................................27
Small Business, Big Passion...................................................................................29
Once You Find It, Do Not Lose It!............................................................31
My Hometown Commitment...............................................................................33
Is Passion Enough?.................................................................................................................35
enjoy
A Rooted Passion........................................................................................................................52
At our core, we all want to connect. When we seek
to understand by listening more intently, we find that our
relationships deepen and our community strengthens as
a result. That’s what our Siouxland Magazine is all about!
We can’t wait to talk to you and truly connect with you and
your audience. If you are interested in learning more about
how to advertise with us, download the media kit on our
website at siouxlandmagazine.com. Always feel free to
reach out to us via phone, email or Facebook.
We promise to not disappoint. We’re creating a magazine
you won’t want to put down.
Want to be included in our March issue?
Contact us soon!
Deadline to reserve space is
February 8th!
Media Kit at siouxlandmagazine.com
JOIN US! You won’t want to miss...
Siouxland Magazine’s Facebook Spotlights
Monday @ 7:30 pm – Small Business Spotlight
Wednesday @ 7:30 pm – Nonprofit Spotlight
ON THE COVER
Photography by Troy Kern with Ask2Media.

Siouxland Magazine writers
CONVERSE
EXPLORE
Tony Michaels,
KSUX morning
show host with
Candice Nash.
Alex Watters,
Sioux City Council.
University of
Nebraska – Lincoln
Nebraska Extension
Educators
Member of Up
From the Earth
Leadership Team
Oliva Parks,
Naturalist &
Recreation
Specialist at
Sioux City Parks
and Recreation
INSPIRE
BALANCE
Dr. Cyndi Hanson,
Executive Director for
Northeast Community
College’s Extended
Campus.
Amber Sherman,
Yoga Instructor,
Reiki Master & Regenerative
Detoxification Specialist.
Hali Benson,
Certified Holistic Nutrition
and Wellness Practitioner
& Owner of Blossom Services.
Dr. Meghan Nelson,
Licensed Physical Therapist,
Professional Yoga Therapist &
Co-owner of Lumin Therapy.
Gladys Smith,
Licensed Independent
Social Worker &
Co-founder of Soul
Creek Nature Therapy
Dr. Nesrin Abu Ata,
Family Medicine
Physician, Integrative
Psychiatrist & Yoga
Instructor.
Emily Larson,
Licensed Massage
Therapist & Private
Yoga Instructor.
GROW
ENJOY
Stacy Orndorff,
Entrepreneurial
Community
Navigator &
Stacy O. Speaks.
Todd Rausch,
SBDC Regional
Director at
WITCC.
Grace Nordquist,
Business
Development
Coordinator for
Downtown Partners.
Emily Vondrak,
Marketing Board
Chair for Sioux
City Growth
Organization.
Peggy Smith,
Executive Director
for Leadership
Siouxland.
Erika Hanson,
Lifelong
Siouxland
Resident &
Model.
Starting Conversations in our Community
Align your business with Siouxland Magazine.
Advertise your business in a publication
commited to improving our community.
Visit SiouxlandMagazine.com
And by the way…
…we want to hear from you.
Send us your stories.
Visit our website and click on article submission.

Editors Note
“Nothing is as important as
passion. No matter what you
want to do with your life, be
passionate.”
– Jon Bon Jovi
Do you write New Year’s resolutions?
Maybe a better question is, do you follow through on your
resolutions?
What compels us to write out our goals, and yet, doesn’t
motivate us to follow through? What’s the missing link?
With approximately only twenty percent of people keeping
their resolutions, it seems something important is missing in
the process.
Is there a better way to approach the new year?
What if we greeted the new year with Passion? What if we
focused on how we want to feel, what we want to experience
in this life? What if we acknowledged the gift and the power
of the present moment? If we were to find joy and passion in
what we’re doing, wouldn’t that fuel the pursuit of our dreams
and conquer our daily mountains?
Don’t get me wrong, I’m all for goals. And don’t get me
started on lists - creating long to-do lists, crossing items off
with intense satisfaction, and then adding more in an endless
pursuit to feel accomplished. They’ve propelled me forward,
but have also left me on occasion feeling exhausted.
If 2020 taught us anything, it was to slow down and take stock
of what really matters.
What if instead of just creating a list of things to do, we
contemplated just being - being here, being alive and vibrant,
being passionate about our life?
Why do you want the things you do? Is it really to have
them? Or is it about how you will feel once you have them
or accomplish something? Could the answer be that we start
with how we feel?
I’d encourage you to go within and explore…
What fuels your passion?
Siouxland Magazine | Passion / 7
Stacie Anderson
Owner of Empowering Conversations LLC & Siouxland Magazine
Certified John Maxwell Speaker, Trainer & Coach
Passionate about Leadership & Communication
Siouxland Magazine is owned and published by Empowering Conversations, LLC. All materials contained in this magazine (including text, content, and photographs)
are protected by United States copyright law and may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, displayed, published, broadcast or modified in any
way without the prior written consent of Empowering Conversations, LLC or in the case of third party materials, the owner of that content. You may not alter or
remove any trademark, copyright or other notice from copies of this content.

Passion
energy
intensity
purpose
Shifting Focus Towards Passion
By Stacie Anderson
Words are powerful. It’s interesting how we attach so
much emotion to a word. Then we string these words into
a story that we repeat over and over, often unaware of
how it affects our inner being.
I have been told that I can be intense on more than one
occasion. In my mind, whether it was intended that way
or not, I interpreted that as a character flaw - thinking that
my intensity made others uncomfortable. I equated it to
words like harsh, severe or extreme even though I could
have gravitated towards focused, deliberate or strong.
This word, intense, became a theme that
kept creeping up.
Several years back, I asked someone to describe me in
three words, and you guessed it, one of those words was:
intense. This time, with further inquiry as to why she chose
that word, a new word surfaced. In that process of going
deeper and exploring, she gave me a different answer that
she said better articulated what she meant. The word was
passionate. This word immediately resonated with me.
At that moment, there was a shift. Nothing changed,
and yet, everything changed. I was still the same intense
person, but now with a new interpretation, a recognition
of how my energy could be focused to inspire someone.
How I showed up each day after that was slightly different.
The intensity that I channeled stemmed from experiencing
the loss of my mother as a child. Death is a masterful teacher.
The reality is, life is short, and that no matter how strongly
you wish, you can’t roll back time for even a moment to
make an adjustment that would change the outcome. We
aren’t promised more than this present moment and it’s up
to each of us how we choose to use it.
There is no arguing that I can be intense, but when you’ve
stood in a moment that changes you, that clarifies what is
important in life with no certainty of how much time you’ll
have, you get passionate. At least I did.
I’d like to think that from that deep pain, my capacity for joy
increased, that my awareness was heightened in a way that
guides me to appreciate all the ways life expresses itself.
That I was abruptly nudged to focus on what I have and
not what I lost.
With an intensity to extract every drop of life’s experiences
out of my days, I am certain there have been moments
where I was “intense.” In the past, I’ve struggled with
boundaries. In my attempt to encourage others to live
fully and face their fears, I’m sure I’ve overstepped. I
so desperately wanted to reach people at their core,

focus
obsession
fascination
dedication
awakening them from their slumber routine, and ignite
their passion.
Time has also been a great teacher. Throughout the
years, my approach softened, at least for the most part.
Time and experience, when accompanied with reflection,
offers many insights. We are all on our own journey. Now
when I feel prompted to intervene, I step back and look
at what internal work I need to do. It’s often the things we
feel compelled to comment on about others that requires
our own reflection.
I wanted people to live boldly, but the truth is, I wasn’t
playing full out. Sure, I was always the first on the dance
floor, the first to put myself out there and try something
new, and someone who moved in spite of fear most of
the time. But when it came to work, or what some would
define as life’s purpose, I wasn’t surrendering to my
passion.
Communication has been a lifeline for me. It’s the people
in my life that have given me the greatest joy and they’ve
carried me through the hardest of times. It’s in those
moments when we pour our hearts out or share our
dreams that we connect in meaningful ways.
Over the last decade, the importance of communicating
well and bridging understanding has become my driving
force. I’ve never been one to shy away from difficult
conversations, or to stand so firmly in a position that
I can no longer hear another perspective. I welcome
conversation. I’m passionate about it. And with that
passion came the desire to grow, consuming information
and seeking experiences to be more effective in my
communication.
I committed to improving my message and delivery. I joined
Toastmasters, and after years of work, this past spring
received the Distinguished Toastmaster Designation (DTM)
award from Toastmasters International. But more importantly,
I aligned myself with others who share my passion. Again,
it’s the people in life that make all the difference. The John
Maxwell Team has been the other place I have found a strong
sense of community. Being part of these two organizations
has accelerated my learning, expanded my impact and
fueled my passion. Once you align with your purpose, the
world meets you in unexpected ways.
It was then, just two years ago, that Siouxland Magazine
came into my path. Within an instant the decision was made.
It was a vehicle to have community conversations and lead
towards my passion, communication. In the last two years,
through the magazine, I’ve been able to reach people that
I might not have otherwise, to engage them in meaningful
community-based conversations. And in every passing day,
the expansion keeps unfolding.
What could the world have in store for you if you chose to
yield to your passion? Life will surprise you when you show
up ready to play. Life is supposed to be fun and your passion
is a massive indicator that you are on the right path. You
might find that your passion can be more than a pastime,
but regardless it will light you up and bring you joy.
My business Empowering Conversations publishes
Siouxland Magazine, but it’s also more than that. Through
the Facebook page, I’m growing a community that thrives
on connection and person growth. It’s here I’m going
further with my passion, having insightful conversations that
support others in their journey to explore and live out their
purpose with passion. Hope to see you there.
By Stacie Anderson, Owner of Empowering Conversations
LLC & Siouxland Magazine. Certified John Maxwell
Speaker, Trainer & Coach.
Photo Credit Photography by KJ
Stacie Anderson
Scan with
Smartphone Camera.
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to learn about
Workshops &
Mastermind Groups.

Siouxland Magazine | Passion / 10
Erik
AJ
Passionate About Conversation
Here at Siouxland Magazine, we are passionate
about conversation, action, and inspiration. Each
issue, we strive to bring you stories that elevate
you, prompt you to talk to others, act, and make an
impact on the world around us. This year, we begin
having a regular “Inspire Conversation” centered around
the issue’s theme. The conversation will include responses
from two Siouxlanders. If you or someone you know would
like to be part of the conversation, reach out to us!
This month, our conversation involves AJ Delfs and Erik
Marto. AJ is Market Center Administrator for KW Siouxland
and Erik is the owner of Marto Brewing. Both agreed to
share their thoughts on passion.
Siouxland Magazine (SM): In your opinion, is there a
difference between doing something as a hobby, having
skill in a task, and having a passion for something? Why or
why not?
AJ Delfs (AJ): I think there is certainly a difference
between these things. For example, it may turn out that
I’m skilled at, let’s say, hanging wallpaper, but if I don’t like
doing it and have no desire to do it then that skill serves
me no purpose. In this scenario I would probably also
keep that skill to myself for fear that if other people knew
about it, they’d ask me to do it - then I’m stuck between
feeling bad for declining to help and agreeing to help but
resenting it. In terms of hobby vs. passion, I think the two
can coexist but aren’t necessarily exclusive. Hobbies are
often associated with things that people do for fun, to fill
time, or to create some extra income on the side, whereas
passion I think infers an inner drive that compels a person
to do something.
Erick Marto (EM): For me, they all played together. I
started out doing something as a hobby, it turned into a
passion and eventually evolved into a skill as I keep working
on it and improving as much as I could. I saw the potential
of learning more and wanting to be the best at it. Literally
every second I had available, I was listening to podcasts
and audiobooks to learn more. I would be mowing the
lawn learning about brewing. It had evolved from a hobby
to something I wanted to build a skill in doing because I
was passionate about it.
SM: How have you discovered what you are passionate
about?
EM: It just started with doing some home brewing for
family and friends. Then I got interested in learning about
different growing techniques, different recipes, and sharing
that product with friends. It evolved as I started to enter
competitions and eventually, I wrote a business plan, and it
has become the center of my life.
AJ: I think finding what you are passionate about is
something that happens naturally over the course of your
life. I try to experience new things that pique my interest,
and the ones that I find joy or satisfaction in usually stick
around while the others fall to the side. In my case, I have
found, through trial and error, that I enjoy creating things
- whether it be cooking, arts and crafts, furniture building,
sewing, etc. However, over time I’ve realized my passion
isn’t so much about the activity itself but the sense of
satisfaction I get from creating something beautiful and the
pride I get when I share it with others and it brings them joy.
SM: Describe how it feels to be engaged in your passion?
AJ: In a broad sense I feel my passion is making other
people happy. So, while I enjoy the process of sewing -
creating a beautiful 3D garment from flat raw materials - it
is the act of sharing it with others that drives me to do it. If I

Siouxland Magazine | Passion / 11
were creating them and just stashing them in a closet, I think
I would quickly lose my drive to do it. It is an admittedly
selfish pursuit in that I do it for the happiness I get from
seeing how excited others get over the finished product.
EM: It is good. Sometimes I get stressed about it, I’m a
tough critic of my product. The potential of having an
awesome product and wowing people is big. It is a balance
between being nervous and knowing you can do it. The
opportunity to keep trying new things is what keeps me
most passionate. The variety and doing something new
along with the tried and true.
SM: I sometimes hear people say, I love to do X, but I don’t
want to make it my career because I’m afraid I’ll lose the
love of it. How do you respond to that?
EM: That’s something I still think about too. I knew there
was market potential for a craft beer, and I just decided I
didn’t want to look back with regret for not pursuing it
when I saw it there. The things that you are worried about
hurting your passion when you turn it into a business are
the things that you’re not good at. It takes a lot of different
skills to run a business. Find other people to do the things
you aren’t good at. Build a good team with a good balance
of checks and balances. For example – I’m not a chef, so I
hired one to do the kitchen. Find people to compliment you
and complete your team and you can keep your passion
focused on the area you are good at.
AJ: This is a tricky one - I think when people say that it is
often in reference to starting their own company in order
to do this thing that they love, and I think that is where the
fear stems from - and it’s a legitimate concern. If people
are passionate about what they do I don’t think they lose
their love for doing it; however, I think that love is often
overshadowed by the additional work that goes into starting
up and running a successful and profitable business. I don’t
think that should be a deterrent for anyone looking to turn
a hobby into a career. It’s just a reality that has to be taken
into consideration.
SM: What advice do you have for people who do not know
what their passion is?
AJ: Passion looks different for everyone and you get
to define what it is for you. Often it is more abstract than
people want it to be which is what I think makes it so hard to
define. So, my best advice is to just keep trying new things
and when you find it you’ll know it.
EM: Think about what you do, or try out new things at
home or with friends. If you enjoy it, keep putting time into
it. It does not have to turn into a business. It’s ok to keep
doing something as a hobby. Just look for what you like to
do, what do you want to learn more about, what gives you
energy.
Thank you to AJ and Erik for sharing their thoughts. As you
can see from the conversation, there is no one way to find
and pursue your passion.
I hope you are inspired to find your passion, pursue your
passion, and share your passion. You can enjoy AJ’s passion
through costumes at several high school madrigals and
Sioux City Community Theatre productions, as well as his
involvement in various non-profit activities. Erik’s passion
for brewing can be shared by visiting Marto Brewing at 930
4th Street in Sioux City.
Photo Credit Britton Hacke Photography (Erik).
Photos Contributed by AJ Delfs (AJ).

converse
curious
Cultivating Meaningful
Powerful narrative of “us”
truth seekers
Spending time in nature has many benefits.
To Screen or Not To Screen
By Julie Boyle
Have you ever said, “When I was your age, we
didn’t have cell phones. We had to go outside to
play,” or something similar? Whether we like it or not,
our advances in technology have increased the amount
of time we spend in front of a screen. Now that we are
living through a pandemic, and many things have gone
virtual, the amount of screen time we have to put in for
work or school has increased dramatically. Obviously,
we can’t eliminate screen time because we still need to
work and our kids still need to go to school. However, the
amount of time, and quality of what we are doing during
that screen time, could be further examined.
children 2-5 years old, limit screen time to an hour-a-day,
and watch with them to help them understand what they
are watching. For children 6 years old, and older, place
consistent limits on screen time and the types of media
they are using. Make sure screen time does not take the
place of adequate sleep, physical activity, other positive
actions, and interaction with friends and family.
On average, adults spend approximately 11 hours-a-day
staring at some type of screen. While some of that screen
time is inescapable, we need to be better about limiting
For children and youth, research shows that excessive
screen time is linked to health issues such as sleep
problems, behavior problems, impaired social skills,
lower scores on thinking and language tests, and more.
According to an article from Harvard Medical School,
the growing brain is continually building new neural
connections and eliminating less used ones. The use of
digital devices provides limited stimulation for the brain
compared to reality. Children need all kinds of offline and
online stimulation to help build those brains!
The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends
avoiding screen time for children under 18 months,
other than video chatting. For children, 18-24 months,
choose high-quality programming and watch with your
child to help them understand what they are seeing. For
Office screen time.

strengthening our community
Conversations exploring perspectives
coming together
open minded
focused on common good
our recreational screen time. Excessive screen time for
adults has been linked to vision problems, headaches,
poor sleep, media addiction, back pain, neck and shoulder
pain, and an inactive lifestyle. An inactive, or sedentary,
lifestyle has been connected to heart disease, obesity,
and other health problems. According to an article from
Harvard School of Public Health, “…for every two hours
spent watching TV, the risk of developing diabetes,
developing heart disease, and early death increased by
20, 15, and 13 percent, respectively.”
Here are some local activities to get you started!
• Visit the Lewis and Clark Interpretive Center.
• Check out Dorothy Pecaut Nature Center.
• Visit the Sioux City Art Center.
• Walk the trails at Stone State Park
• Visit the Sioux City Public Museums
• Walk the trails and play on the playgrounds at
Bacon Creek Park.
• Visit the South Sioux City Community Orchard.
For adults at work:
• 20/20/20 rule: Look at something at least 20 feet
away, for at least 20 seconds, every 20 minutes.
• Stretch: Take a quick stretch break every hour.
Stand up and move your body, even if it’s only
for a few minutes.
• Posture: Pay attention to your posture while
sitting at your desk and computer.
• Mealtime: Make mealtime screen-free. Focus on
conversations, giving your eyes a break.
• Walk: Take a quick 5-minute walk every hour.
• Move: Walk in place while on webinars or on the
phone.
• Consider your chair. Consider trading in your
chair for a stability ball to help with balance and
posture.
Family spending time together outside.
So, in the day and age where screen time is
unavoidable, what can we do?
For children and families:
• Adults should follow the suggested guidelines for
correct amounts of screen time. Be a good role model
for the children in your life and limit your screen time.
Set your phone down and play with your children.
Instead of checking emails after work hours, spend time
doing something fun and active with the family.
• Get outside! Research has shown when children spend
time outside, they enhance thinking skills, strengthen
the ability to handle negative stress, increase creativity,
reduce depression, and decrease symptoms of ADHD.
If you have more time and want to get moving
or want to get moving with your family, try these
local ideas!
• Go hiking at Stone Park, First Brides Grave Trail,
Floyd River Trail, Perry Creek Trail, and South
Ravine Park.
• Go sledding at Cone Park.
• Play in the snow.
• Go on scavenger hunts.
• Nebraska Extension Marathon Kids: Get moving
with the family and walk or run a marathon.
For more information, check out their website -
https://food.unl.edu/marathon-kids.

Siouxland Magazine | Passion / 14
For adults, being active outside can improve blood
pressure, boost mental health, and decrease cancer
risks. So why not go outside in all kinds of weather?
• Think about quality. We know screen time is unavoidable,
so think about how you and your children are interacting
with screens. When not using screens for work and
school, choose things that are worth your time. Use it in a
way that promotes interaction, connection, and creativity.
For younger children, watch with them and talk through
what they are watching. Or use screen time to connect
with family you can’t see in person.
• Screen-free times and areas. Have time throughout your
day where you are intentional about being screen-free.
Meal-time and bedtime are great times to go screenfree.
Avoid having screens in bedrooms as the blue light
produced by a screen can effect the quality of sleep.
• Provide alternatives. It can be easy to forget what else
there is to do when screen time becomes a habit. Give
children alternatives like playing outside, doing puzzles,
making crafts, or building and creating. A quick google
search (I know, I know more screen use) on screen-free
activities for a certain age will give you many ideas.
• Let them be bored! “Boredom is the space in which
creativity and imagination happen,” pediatrician Dr.
Michael Rich, Director of the Center on Media and Child
Health at Boston Children’s Hospital, stated. Boredom
isn’t a bad thing. It helps children come up with lots of
great ideas for playing.
As we navigate through this pandemic, let’s live by
these words from Albert Einstein, “Rejoice with your
family in the beautiful land of life!”
Julie Boyle, an employee of the University of Nebraska
for 6 years. She is also a Nebraska Extension Educator
working with youth programs in Northeast Nebraska. She
has a bachelor’s degree in Nutrition and Exercise Science,
and a master’s in Child, Youth, and Family Studies.
Photo Contributed by Julie Boyle.
Nebraska Extension’s Mission: Helping Nebraskans enhance
their lives through research-based education.
If Communication is Key,
Why Don’t We Master It?
Clarify Your Message
Communicate with Confidence
Connect Through Conversation
Like us on Facebook @
Empowering Conversations LLC
Stacie Anderson
Owner of Empowering Conversations LLC & Siouxland Magazine
Certified John Maxwell Speaker, Trainer & Coach
Passionate about Leadership & Communication
Empowering Conversations LLC, proudly publishing Siouxland Magazine.

Lessons Learned
By Alex Watters
During the last six months, a lot of people
have shared quotes reflecting on 2020. The
one that stuck out most to me went like this, “I thought
2020 would be the year I got everything I wanted.
Now I know 2020 is the year I appreciated everything
I have.“ And that’s where I find myself writing this
article. Just as I would at the closing of any year,
reflecting on the past and looking to the new year.
However, this year I feel like we have learned many
more lessons and have greater hope for the promise
of a new year.
From a personal stance, some of us were able to
spend more time with people within our household.
Due to my concern with the increased exposure that
caregivers had to go from home to home caring
for patients as well as staffing shortages, my mom
moved into my home to provide my full-time care.
It’s not something I had expected at my age, but the
time I’ve been able to spend with her is a time that
I am thankful for having. A lot of parents have found
themselves trying to be teachers, and while I can’t
imagine what that would be like, hopefully, some of
those moments and occasional successes will make
a lasting impact on their development.
As someone comfortable going out every night to
fundraisers and community events, this has forced
me to slow down. It also introduced me to new
technology. I never thought I would be so familiar
with Zoom, WebEx, Ring Central, Microsoft Teams,
or any number of other platforms to stay connected.
If you would’ve told me that I was going to have a
happy hour with my friends through a computer
screen last year I would’ve thought you were crazy.
But, that technology allowed me to reconnect with
friends and family that I haven’t talked to in some
time.
This year also had a number of us prioritizing our
mental health as much as our physical health,
probably because it was pushed more than ever.
While I can find silver-linings, I know there have been
personal sacrifices made. Our essential workers were
pushed to their limits, and far too many people in our
community have lost their lives.
From a business perspective, many have had to
completely shift their business model to ensure
the safety of their customers and follow the everevolving
restrictions. We ordered our food to go or
picked it up curbside, grabbed a cocktail to go, and
found out that we are far from the home chefs that
we had hoped we were.
We also learned what it was to be an “essential
worker.” I’ve always been appreciative of the
sacrifices made by our healthcare workers, first
responders, and the police force/fire department.
But 2020 has given me an entirely new perspective
on my favorite restaurants, shops, and entertainment
venues. While some have adapted and persevered,
others have had to close their doors and lay off
employees.
Although this election year may have brought about
divisiveness, we have also seen incredible chances
to rally, to learn from one another, and to grow. We
saw a social justice movement where we’ve learned
the importance of being inclusive. We’ve instituted
body cameras on all sworn officers, created a new
“Inclusive Sioux City” advisory committee, and added
a Community Inclusion Liaison position. These positive
changes have been created by reflecting on difficult
situations and making a commitment to better our
community.
The year 2020 has affected us all. Although it’s easy to
focus on the hardships, it’s also been a huge growth
opportunity and a chance to recognize the blessings
we have around us. I have witnessed companies
and individuals adapting and thriving in this new
environment. It has shown me just how resilient
are the people of Siouxland. We have learned how
innovative the workplace can be when pushed, how
entrepreneurial and adaptive some of us are - even
sewing masks as a side-gig, how important it is to
check in on our neighbors and loved ones, and the
extent that our decisions can affect the lives of those
around us. I hope we don’t forget these important
lessons, and that through all of this frustration and
sacrifice, you too, can find some silver-linings.
“I thought 2020 would be the year I got everything
I wanted. Now I know 2020 is the year I appreciated
everything I have.“
Alex Watters, City Council of Sioux City
awatters@sioux-city.org
Siouxland Magazine | Converse / 15

Siouxland Magazine | Converse / 16
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Real Life Passion
By Tony Michaels
My close friends mock me a lot. I’m almost afraid to
admit this in writing about one of my favorite hobbies.
You will judge me. I just know it. You may even question
how I spend my free time. Please don’t tell my motherin-law.
Here it goes…
I constantly update my list of Top 319 movies of all time.
Yes. When I watch a movie, I immediately decide
whether or not the quality of the movie deserves a spot
in the Top 319. Some people do puzzles for fun. I rank
movies according to the rubric of Tony. I won’t share the
list here – that’s best saved for a drinking establishment
that serves free munchies. What’s the main theme of
my favorite movies? The main character displays an
unparalleled passion for something.
Rocky Balboa overcame all the odds. Rudy was five feet
nothing. The owner of the Cleveland baseball team
wanted the team to lose and the team rallies! P-A-S-S-
I-O-N!
And just to prove not all are sports themed movies,
Howard Stern bounced from market to market for his
radio passion, and Brian Flanagan learned how to toss a
bottle of liquor in the air to impress bar patrons and win
the love of Jordan Mooney! That’s passion on the big
screen, baby!
Cowboy Bob and Tony Michaels back when posing for a
picture together was cool.
microphone in the studio here at work or from his Sunday
Morning Gold studio at his home in the Moville area.
Howard Stern gets the accolades and commas in his
paycheck, but I’ll ride with Cowboy any day.
But who would play Cowboy Bob in a movie?
That flick would definitely make my Top 319.
Tony Michaels has been with KSUX since 1997.
He serves as morning show host with Candice
Nash and is one grateful dude.
Siouxland Magazine | Converse / 17
But Hollywood misses the best stories.
My father started his own heating and air conditioning
business on the side while working a very tough job in
construction. My mother sacrificed daily for the love of
her family.
My buddy, Don, rolled the dice, started his own software
company with a partner, and now boasts having more
than 20 employees on the payroll. That takes some
serious passion and belief in your abilities.
I am so thankful to know my friend Josh. He has a son who
is autistic. Like myself, he is very involved with his autism
just like I am with my oldest son. More than a decade ago,
he dreamt about starting the Pier Center for Autism. That
initiative is now a blessing for the Siouxland community,
and the center is doing big things and impacting lives in
a positive way. A dream built on passion.
Yesterday, I saw some high school cross country athletes
running on the sidewalk at Lakeport Drive working on
their passion for sport. Ten years ago, Shelby Houlihan
shadowed that same path all the way to the Olympics.
Talk about passion paired with thousands of hours of
practice.
This morning, I type this essay in my office about three
steps away from Cowboy Bob from Y Country 101.3. He
has been a familiar voice on Siouxland radio airwaves
for more than four decades. You can hear his passion
and dedication to his listeners every time he opens a
Photos Contributed by Tony Michaels.
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Inspire
Lessons learned from stories in our community.
Teaching choreography for New Stage Players production of Newsies.
Dancing Her Way Through
By Dr. Cyndi Hanson
“My parents put me in dance when I was six
because I was painfully shy. They thought it would
encourage interaction – I fell in love with it in the first
class!”
Kayla Kellen started dancing at the age of six, which she
says is pretty late in the dance world – many students
start at two or three years old. However, her passion for
dance allowed her to catch up and surpass her peers
very quickly. She became a teacher’s assistant by the
time she was 10 and choreographed her first musical at
age 12.
year she merged with The Arena, and today operates the
Arena Dance Academy.
She currently has approximately 80 dance students. “I
start working with them as soon as they are potty-trained.
Some will stay in throughout high school. I even have a
few college students that will come back to use the studio
when they have breaks,” said Kayla. The classes are set
up by age and include various stations to accommodate
different levels of experience and skill. “It’s beneficial for
“I practiced wherever I found space – the basement, the
garage, any surface I could find. I danced constantly! I
was always trying to learn more, teach myself things. This
was without resources like YouTube,” said Kayla.
Her first dance style was jazz, and it remains her favorite
because there is so much that can be done in the jazz
genre. She quickly added other types of dance and spent
three days a week in the studio feeding her passion. She
danced competitively for years, stayed in dance class
throughout high school, and a bit into her college years.
At age 19, a full-time college student, Kayla opened
Sioux City Rhythm Avenue dance academy and made
the shift to dance instructor. The business grew and four
years later moved to a larger space in Sergeant Bluff. Last
Raegan Jensen won a special award at our recital in 2018.

non-profit
community
family
small business
people
beginners to have advanced dancers in the same
room to inspire them,” she explained.
“Dance really made me happy. I knew that I
would not be able to function without dance
somehow incorporated into my life.”
“I think about dancing 24 hours a day! I don’t think I
would be able to function without dance somehow
incorporated into my life. Dance has opened so many
doors,” Kayla explained. “I spent a month living in New
York when I was in high school. Attending workshops
there – intense performing arts focused on dancing,
singing, and theatre. I got to perform on a Broadway
stage at the end of that time. I’ve danced in Chicago,
Minneapolis, and Omaha. I traveled a lot and still travel
to learn. I like to go to conventions all over the place to
learn more. Conventions are my opportunity to be back
in the student role again and learn,” said Kayla.
“I still dance but not competitively.
Conventions are my opportunity to learn new
things for the kids and also dance full-out and
reinvest in my dancing skills. It’s kind of cool
to take a different role and be a student.”
It’s clear in talking with her, that Kayla is equally as
passionate about her kids at the Arena Dance Academy
as she is about her own dancing. “When I see that spark
in them, it brings so much joy to me. I always call my
students my kids because I take my role in their lives very
seriously. I wear many hats in regard to my relationship
with them - sometimes I’m a big sister, sometimes I’m
mom, sometimes I’m a doctor, therapist, chauffeur- you
name it. I truly love them so much, I wear every hat with
pride.”
The last 20 years of teaching have presented many
challenges, but 2020 may have held the most. “During
the pandemic, we were forced to transition to an online
platform. I had to think creatively to provide not only
online classes that would be beneficial to my kids, but
additional resources to help them cope.”
Kayla Kellen
for hours. We gave away prizes just like a typical afterprom
party.”
In addition, most of their competitions were canceled,
so their studio General Manager (Gretchen Cooper) and
Kayla started a virtual competition. Dancers from all over
the world submitted videos to be judged and compete.
“We even mailed trophies to all the winners,” shared
Kayla.
For someone who truly has a song in her heart and
rhythm in her feet, nothing can stand in the way. “Dance
is something you can do your entire life. Your body ability
changes but there is some way to move and be happy.
And the beat goes on. . . .”
Photos Contributed by Kayla Kellen (pg 18).
Photo Credit Britton Hacke Photography (pg 19).
She went on to further explain, “When proms were
canceled, my heart cried for my six seniors. I was
determined to give them this rite of passage. We held a
virtual prom. We drove to their houses to take pictures in
their prom gowns, we all jumped on zoom and danced

Siouxland Magazine | Inspire /20
James and The Giant Peach 2017
The Arts Tell Us What It Is To be Human
By Dr. Cyndi Hanson
The year was 1978. The characters, Russ & Diana Wooley,
a newly married couple passionate about the performing arts.
The location, Sioux City, Iowa, an area hungry for dinner theatre.
The curtain opened on LAMB Arts Regional Theater in a way
many of us probably don’t know. The small Lamb Productions
started out conducting dinner theatre performances at the old
Hilton Crystal Ballroom. The dinner was served on one end
of the room and the stage production was on the other. A
challenging endeavor.
“We’d wait for their other events to be over, then build the set
and rehearse with only a day or two before a performance. Each
production ran for only two weekends. We did 11 productions
there,” said Diana Wooley.
“We realized it was too much, and considered leaving Sioux
City for a larger city and a different type of venue,” added Russ
Wooley.
getting the show ready. Then one week before we were to
open, I broke my leg and ended up in the hospital. So now,
Russ was running the show, getting the venue ready, and
running to the hospital to check on me. I look back and am
amazed at all the people who came out to help us be ready.
Things I had been trying to do all by myself, now volunteers
were painting the hallways and ironing curtains,” shared Diana.
Public support for the theater has been constant and what kept
the Wooley’s focused on pursuing their passion in Siouxland.
Diana worked in various jobs in the public-school systems
for 22 years, and yet it was difficult to get into the schools to
work with students as a subchapter S corporation. It became
clear that ticket sales alone would not be enough to keep the
business afloat. In 2006, they became a non-profit organization
known as Lamb Arts Regional Theater.
It was at that time, Marvin and Frances Kline intervened and
partnered with the Wooleys to keep Lamb Productions in Sioux
City. For the next year-and-half, the company did not know
where to go. They looked at several old schools, abandoned
churches, and other structures. Then in the fall of 1986, they
leased Webster school. The ambitious couple set out to open
their first show in January 1987.
“There was a lot to be done. I was rushing around to get the
public areas presentable, while Russ was rehearsing and
Metamorphoses 2017

Matilda 2019
“This change allowed us to do more with kids and outreach. We
now had access to other resources,” said Diana.
The next evolution came in the Summer of 2017.
“Anne Westra from the city called; at that time, she was in
Economic Development. She told us Channel 9 was moving
and the building would be vacant. She asked if Diana and I
would be interested in moving the theatre and school to the
building. I never knew the complete history of the building. But
after that call, I started researching and learned that it opened
in 1909 as the first regional auditorium. It was truly a regional
entertainment hub. The list of notables who performed there is
long. If the alternative was to tear it down? We had to embrace
it,” shared Russ.
“This restoration is not a Russ and Diana Wooley
project, it is so much more!”
When the theater opens, it will be a complete restoration to its
original purpose. While the façade will reflect the 1909 look,
everything on the inside will be new – plumbing, electrical, roof,
and the roof were replaced and updated under the guidance of
architects specializing in historic theater restorations.
“We are about one-third of the way there. It’s a 17-million-dollar
project,” he explained.
Diana shared about the youth programs they’ve conducted to
help foster the next generation of performers.
“It’s been so exciting to see kids – now in their mid to late 40’s –
send notes or make comments about how much they learned in
classes or performances. They are in all kinds of jobs – doctors,
lawyers, and teachers who see that learning about theater in
their youth has helped in their adult lives,” she said.
While the COVID-19 pandemic has generated some challenges,
it has also provided additional opportunities for creativity. The
pair was adamant they would still produce theater in a way
that keeps the actors and audience safe. They found an online
children’s musical, an adult play called “Couples” that was
specifically written to be performed via Zoom, and Monologue
Madness, which was created by playwrights from all over the
country.
However, their favorite outcome of the pandemic has been
Pandemic Playlets. This fundraiser encouraged families to
recreate familiar fairy tales, record, and submit them for the
public to vote on. Diana stated how important it is, especially
for young people, to keep creative opportunities available at a
time when the world seems bleak and closed in.
“I watched an early class this fall. The students came into the
building masked and socially distant with no shine in their
eyes, just trudging along. When they left, they were animated,
had energy and spark in their eyes – still masked and socially
distant, but alive. I’m looking forward to the time when we can
have big classes again and maybe even give a hug,” said Diana.
The productions scheduled for this season were all specifically
chosen to keep casts small, allowing the actors and audience
to be safe. “Our box office software automatically distances
people when they purchase tickets. There is also a streaming
opportunity for people who don’t want to go out in public,”
said Russ.
Midsummer Night’s Dream 2016
“Sioux City is an incredible arts area. Our symphony is
magnificent. For a community our size, the Art Center has
brought in incredible stuff. The Museum and the LaunchPad,
add to that” said Diana.
Lamb Arts is truly a regional theater. They have season ticket
holders from across the region. The new, bigger venue will
allow the organization to bring in big playwrights and larger
productions. What the couple believes to be Lamb Art’s
biggest contributions to the community are a sense of wellbeing,
health, and humanity.
“The arts are vitally important in a community. They tell us
what it is to be human. The arts are part of the heartbeat of
a community. They tell us how to relate to each other. People
need to be exposed to that. It’s what keeps me going,”
concluded Diana.
Photos Contributed by Lamb Theatre.
Ways you can support
Lamb Arts Regional Theater:
• Contribute to the Gilchrist matching gift
challenge.
• Explore Legacy Naming Gifts.
• Participate in the February Fundraiser.
• Buy tickets for live performances or
streaming options.
• https://www.lambtheatre.com/
Siouxland Magazine | inspire/21

Siouxland Magazine | Inspire /22
Jason Schrunk
Passion for Home Improvement
By Dr. Cyndi Hanson
Some people dream of owning their own business
for as long as they can remember. That was not the
case with Jason Schrunk. The owner of Schrunk Roofing,
Jason got into the construction business somewhat by
happenstance.
“Some of my friends got themselves through college
by roofing on the weekends and summer days. I helped
a few times. I worked at Premier Bankcard. Once I
learned how to do roofing, I started to do some work on
weekends as a sideline in the summer. When my full-time
job ended, roofing helped me get through financially. I
decided to focus on that,” said Jason.
Today, Schrunk Roofing is so much more than roofing.
“We do roofs, siding, windows, stone – pretty
much anything on the exterior of your home.”
“We do roofs, a lot of siding, windows, stone – pretty
much anything on the exterior of your home,” Jason
explained. The balance of services helps to provide
stability for the business.
“Summer is mainly roofing, but the cooler months we
do siding and other jobs,” added Jason. The company
focuses primarily on residential; however, it does
commercial work when the opportunity arises.
When I spoke with Jason, it was easy to see he is passionate
about his work.
“I love to see the transformation of houses.
We’ve worked on some rundown houses, and
turned them into something the owner can be
proud of owning.”
“I love to see the transformation of houses. We’ve worked
with a lot of really rundown houses and transforming
them into something the owner can be proud of is great,”
shared Jason.
Schrunk Roofing is focused on maintaining a good
reputation by taking care of the homeowner, working hard
to maintain integrity.
“There are a lot of fly-by-night roofing companies around.
People need to be careful and make sure the company has
insurance, operates safely, pays their taxes, and will follow
through,” explained Jason.
The freedom of working for yourself is something most
entrepreneurs enjoy. Jason does as well.

“Though it would be nice to punch a clock some
days, you have to know when you run a business it
isn’t a 40-hours a week thing. It’s not 8-5, and there’s
no guaranteed paycheck for the business owner,” he
warned.
Some of the biggest risks in the construction business
are the possibility of paying for materials, or doing the
work and not getting paid. However, those risks do not
deter Jason from his passion.
“I’m ok with risk, so that has been good. I’m not afraid
to invest in new tools, learn processes that help us do
better work,” shared Jason.
Siouxland Magazine | inspire/23
Jason has been intentional about investing in himself,
as well as his business. He graduated from Morningside
college at age 31 with a bachelor’s degree in Business
Administration. He is proud that he was able to operate
a business, spend time with his wife and three kids, and
complete that degree. Two years ago, he purchased
the GenPro business, which provides him with various
choices for customers when replacing siding and
windows. Additionally, Jason volunteers at Camp High
Hopes when he has time, and they have a need.
“It’s near and dear to me,” he said, explaining that his
daughter goes to Camp High Hopes.
When asked what is new in the home exterior business,
Jason shared the biggest thing right now is the challenge
with the supply chain. Coronavirus has impacted the
construction business, too.
“Demand is extremely high. I guess people are working
at home and seeing these things that bother them a lot
more and deciding to get it done,” he said. However, that
demand created a challenge with supplies. Materials
are taking much longer to arrive, and because of higher
demand, prices have increased as well.
“I’ve had some very patient homeowners this year. I’ve
been fortunate, it’s been a great year for work,” shared
Jason.
Jason hopes his kids grow up to share his passion for
home improvement.
“I would love for my kids to take it over someday. But that’s
a long way off – we’ll wait and see,” he concluded.
Schrunk Roofing
https://www.schrunkroofing.com/
(712) 204-2206
jasonschrunk@msn.com
Photo Credit Britton Hacke Photography.
When asked what advice he would offer readers who
may be interested in starting their own business, Jason
offers several pieces of wisdom for consideration.
“Do your homework. Know everything you can about
the business you are starting, do not just jump in.
Have some money set aside for the IRS, unexpected
expenses, or slow times. Know the regulations and
build in the expense associated with them. Remember,
your employer doesn’t pay the taxes when you work for
yourself. You are also going to need to hire professionals
to help with tax prep and other things. Finally – love
what you do because you will be married to it,” advised
Jason.

grow
Don’t fear failure. Embrace it. It’s where the learning happens.
No risk. No reward.
Katie + Company Furniture Restorations
By Katie Cloud-Paulsen
Short description of your business:
I have been restoring and painting furniture for
14 years from my home workshop. I had a brick
and mortar store in Moville for a few years, where
I displayed my pieces and sold my hand-poured,
soy candles. The candle business has taken off for
me this last year. I am currently selling them on-line
while we renovate the new shop in Anthon. I am also
selling them wholesale across the United States to
other small businesses. We plan to open the new
store in the summer 2021. It will have a larger space
full of vintage and antique furniture, home décor,
and other great finds, in addition to my candle line
for sale.
What motivated you to start your business?
What drives you each day? I had my daughter when
I was 26 and wanted to be able to spend more time
with her. I quit my job of nine years and started painting
and restoring commissioned pieces to pay my bills and
fuel my soul! I have such a passion for old furniture and
forgotten things. I don’t know why, but it’s strong! I love
what I do and I get to use my creativity every single day
so each day I look forward to getting up and starting
right where I left off the day before whether it be making
candles and products, working on furniture, or helping
my dad renovate our building!
What’s unique about your business?
What makes my business unique is everything is done
by hand. The furniture, the finding/picking, and the
making of all the products. Every single thing touches
my hands and is carefully looked over because I’m a
crazy perfectionist!
What’s the biggest challenge you’ve had to
overcome as you’ve grown your business?
For me, the greatest challenge is organization! I
need to work on that still, but it has become easier
overtime. Also, realizing I cannot do everything myself
and knowing it is okay to ask for help.
What has been your greatest reward?
My greatest reward has been being able to help support
my family and it is also so rewarding that my customers
continue to support me time and time again!
Katie Cloud-Paulsen, Owner

personal growth
leadership
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business development
influence
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Why is it important for the community to support
start-ups and small businesses?
Small shops help create jobs for locals and stimulate
the local economy. It keeps small towns alive. Sharing
your experiences and spreading the word about small
businesses is extremely helpful.
What is one thing you know now that you wish you
knew when starting your business?
How much time it really takes! Running my own business is
one of the best things I have ever done, but it is hard work.
Work that at times requires making sacrifices.
What advice would you give to someone looking
to start a business?
Write down your goals! Dream big, believe in yourself,
and never give up! Set your mind to succeed and achieve
your goals. Surround yourself with positive, like minded
people. Ask questions and for help when you need it!
How can the community continue to help your
business?
Support my business by spreading the word, sharing on
social media, swinging by with family and friends, and
shopping with me!
What are some future goals for your company?
I want to sell my candles wholesale to a business in each
state! Another goal is to have workshops in the candle
studio, and to host other small businesses at my shop so
they can teach workshops too! I am also planning to have
a different popup business each month setup while we are
open! I want to help share all the talent there is around us!
We are also planning a local market for 2021, but I can’t
share all the details just yet!
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Do you need free, confidential and customized business
counseling? Contact SBDC for advice on developing a
successful business plan.
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Siouxland Economic Development Corporation offers
financial assistance programs and services to assist
small and medium sized businesses in getting started or
expanding.
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MakerSpace Sioux City offers shared space for hobbyists,
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to create and teach through hands-on learning.
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Springboard Coworking offers shared office space in
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ISU Startup Factory is designed to help businesses bring
new products to the market and work with companies to
make them attractive to outside capital investors.
VENTURENETIOWA.COM I 515.471.1300
VentureNet Iowa connects ideas to resources,
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businesses in Iowa. If you have a business idea in the
areas of Biosciences, Advanced Manufacturing, Value-
Added Ag, or Information Technology, you may qualify
for assistance through VentureNet Iowa.
Did you use one of these great resources? We
want to share your story! Visit our website at
siouxlandmagazine.com, fill out the form and connect
with us today!

Siouxland Magazine | Grow/26
Unleashing the Power of Vision and Values with Passion
and Purpose – Welcome 2021!
By Linda K. Krei (ActionCOACH ExcelEDGE)
How do you ignite within yourself and others
a passion to actively engage? You know what it
looks like and feels like when you are passionate about
something, right? You simply can’t stop talking about it.
Your eyes light up with a sparkle and your heart jumps
whenever you hear someone talking about it. You wake
up in the morning and can’t wait to start working on it;
or you can’t stop thinking about it and you want to learn
more about it.
An effective Vision inspires others with Purpose and
Passion. Without a clear statement of Vision, a business
is like a society with no culture, or a team with no
direction to move forward. A Vision along with clearly
defined Core Values helps to put your ideal business,
brand identity, and business ethics into words to then
serve as a framework and guide for self and others. With
such a powerful resource in hand, it is possible to inspire
yourself and existing team members, in addition to being
a resource to use when implementing a practical search
for future employees who exhibit the traits needed to
ensure business credibility, continuity, consistency, and
creative growth.
fueled by the power of your Vision, in alignment with Core
Values will ignite Passion with Purpose and clearly make
your company a wonderful, rewarding place to work and
learn, making growth and profitability possible in any
market cycle. So, Welcome 2021. Let’s go…Let’s grow
with clarity in Vision, Value, Passion and Purpose!
In what areas are you interested in becoming
even more effective as a leader?
Invest in yourself. Engage a business coach
to learn more about characteristics and
traits of truly effective leaders and together
determine how you gain a wonderfully
inspiring boost of confidence, foresight,
and determination to realize that you, too,
can experience that winning leadership
strategy. Contact Coach Linda today for
a complimentary session!
The Vision statement must clearly spell out the following:
Who are we?
What business are we in?
Who are our clients and customers?
What makes us different from our competitors?
Your Vision should advance your Mission and help define
what it is you value, as well as inform what is acceptable
or unacceptable behavior. It should form the central
theme or philosophy regarding customer service, and
it becomes a game plan for executing every detail of
your business from a specific agreed-upon and a shared
premise.
Once a business’ Core Values are articulated, they
permeate and underlie each and every decision that is
made. Whether you are trying to decide which products
or services to add or enhance, or whether you are
determining what kinds of employee benefits you wish to
offer, your business Vision and Core Values will influence
everything you say and do going forward.
Your personal Passion to live into your Vision and Core
Values will create Purpose and Meaning for others to
align and engage with eagerness and effectiveness. Your
shared Vision and Core Values with Passion and Purpose
become the backbone of your business and the glue
that keeps teams working cooperatively and successfully
through any challenge and in any environment. Teamwork
As an award winning, globally
recognized, Certified Executive
Business Coach and Facilitator,
Linda would love to help you take
your leadership to the next level.
Linda Krei, ActionCOACH Excel Edge
712.251.7189
E: lindakrei@actioncoach.com
https://lindakrei.actioncoach.com

Boss Babe
By Stacy Orndorff
If I’m being honest, this shirt cracks me up. One
thing I have had a hard time embracing is the term boss,
and I definitely don’t think of myself as a babe. But this
company offered it to me at a discount and with an
affiliate code, so I thought why not? However, wearing
this shirt has me feeling a certain way.
Have you heard the term, Imposter Syndrome? It is a
term used by entrepreneurs. It is loosely defined as “a
collection of feelings of inadequacy that persist despite
evident success.” It is when someone asks, “can you
come speak about how to start your own business?”
and you respond (whether spoken or not) with “what
the heck do I know about that?” It is when you clearly
have had success. You must, then, know something
about something. However, you still feel like you are just
making it up and fooling everyone around you.
Siouxland Magazine | Grow/27
Yes,I felt like this for a long time. Then I started getting to
know people who were running successful businesses.
I quickly realized I was surrounded by a large group of
people who were all “just faking it.” Of course, people
are not faking it, but entrepreneurship comes without an
obvious playbook. There are experts that are in essence
also entrepreneurs, selling their expert services, but we
are all in this conglomerate of people that are making
new roads for which maps do not exist. We don’t know
what we are doing, but yet we do it. Then someone wants
you to tell others how you are doing it and boom, you
feel exposed as an Imposter.
Sound familiar? I hear this a lot. This is what
I’ve done to overcome this syndrome. This
was accomplished using three tools.
First, share that struggle with someone! When people
started coming to me, talking about this Imposter
idea, I was elated to know I was not alone. To find out
this is a common inner struggle shared with fellow
entrepreneurs…. I mean, everyone wants to feel normal,
right?
Second, I sought out resources. Two of the resources that
have been instrumental in embracing my special powers
are John Maxwell’s “Law of Influence: Laws of Leadership,
and the law itself. The Law doesn’t teach you how to have
influence, but rather how to use the influence you already
have at your disposal. You do have knowledge in areas
others don’t, you do have connections and networks, and
resources that others do not. Acknowledging this allows
you to come out from being an Imposter and come into
being someone with value to those around you.
Lastly, being a student of who I was created to be. I’ve
spent endless hours discovering my strengths (Strength
Stacy as “The Boss Babe.”
Finder 2.0, Personality Plus, etc.) and acknowledging
my weaknesses (just poll your employees or family
members if you’re unsure...yikes). Most recently, I’ve
fallen in love with the Enneagram.
The Enneagram Institute was created in 1997 by
the late Don Richard Riso and Russ Hudson. It was
formed to further research and development of the
Enneagram, one of the most powerful and insightful
tools for understanding ourselves and others. At its
core, the Enneagram helps us to see ourselves at a
deeper, more objective level and can be of invaluable
assistance on our path to self-knowledge.
I’ve come to understand this Imposter Syndrome is
greatly shared by Enneagram Type 3. It was interesting,
and literally freeing, to find out this Syndrome is
characteristically shared by certain Enneagram Types.
If you haven’t explored the Enneagram, it is lifechanging!
I am, in fact, a 3 (with a 4 wing and a social
subtype for all you ennea-nerds out there). There are
so many great resources to explore in the form of
books, podcasts, blogs, etc.
I want to hear from all of you Imposters out there! Do
you know where I’m coming from? What has helped
you feel comfortable in your own skin when it comes
to being an expert in your field?
Stacy Orndorff, Stacy O. Speaks
Facebook @ stacyospeaks

Siouxland Magazine | Grow/28
Yesterday.
Today.
Tomorrow.
A Station for You.
A Station for Everyone.
Join the Conversation.

Thank
You
Small businesses are the
backbone of our community.
When small businesses succeed,
our community succeeds. Your
passion, skills and dedication
benefit everyone in Siouxland. Your
hard work, creativity and resilience
will lead us to a brighter future.
Thank you to all the small
business owners, staff and
families for being a part of
our downtown community.
Siouxland Magazine | Grow/29
DOWNTOWN
BUSINESSES
downtownsiouxcity.com
Small Business, Big Passion
By Grace Nordquist
You know you have a passion for something when
you aren’t happy or satisfied with your life unless
you are pursuing it. Passion is a powerful driving tool in
life. It gives us the determination to go and do, to succeed,
and to fail. Without passion, life is monotonous and stale.
When a person is passionate about something, you can see
it in the way they act, the way they talk about the thing they
are passionate about, and the steps they take to pursue
their passion.
As you read this article, perhaps someone you know comes
to mind. That someone could be you, and a passion you
once had or currently have. It could be a famous athlete
who was so passionate about their sport, they trained in
ways others didn’t so they could be the best. Perhaps it’s
a teacher you had who inspired you and made a lasting
impact on your life. Or maybe it’s someone who had a
dream to start or own a business, and despite the obstacles,
made that dream a reality.
If there’s anyone we know who has passion, it’s small
business owners. From bars and restaurants, auto repair
shops, retail, and everything in between- downtown Sioux
City has many passionate business owners.
At Downtown Partners, we’ve seen home businesses grow
into their very own storefronts. Ideas and plans went from
being sketched out on paper to brick and mortar stores.
The best part about it is, we were able to share in the
excitement and help business owners pursue their dreams
and passion.
Ragen Cote, executive director of Downtown Partners, has
been working with downtown businesses for more than
10 years now. When it comes to small business owners,
“getting to know someone who is putting their heart, soul,
and livelihood into a business, makes you want to do
everything you can to help them. It becomes personal. I’m
honored to be able to do what I do,” shared Ragen.
Downtown Partners is here to help small business owners.
The organization works to create an expanding and
vibrant downtown, whether it’s offering a storefront grant,
promoting their business on social media, or helping
execute a new event. We recognize the commitment it
takes to own a small business. Our goal is to make it easier
so small business owners can continue to pursue their
passion, one sale, idea, or event at a time.
Bring your passion and your ideas, and Downtown Partners
will help you with the rest.
Downtown Partners is a non-profit organization that works
with downtown stakeholders to create a vibrant, expanding
downtown. To learn more about Downtown Partners and to
stay up to date on downtown projects and events, visit www.
downtownsiouxcity.com

Siouxland Magazine | Grow/30
TO FIND PASSIONATE TALENT

Once You Find It, Do Not Lose It!
By Peggy Smith
I could be talking about your car keys, or the
password for your internet banking account,
or in my case, my cell phone (which I lose/
misplace at least five times a day!), but I am
not. I am talking about something I hope you have
found already and kept…passion!
contagious enthusiasm. Passion is one thing this year we
DO want to catch!
I wish you a 2021 that brings you joy, that allows you to
turn your talents into strengths, and to use those strengths
in a way that creates a positive difference.
Siouxland Magazine | | Grow/31 / 39
Passion is the fire that keeps us going, the strong
driver that makes us work longer and harder to
accomplish something, the topic that we can talk
about with enthusiasm and persuasion.
As a Gallup Strength Finder certified trainer, I have
helped many people discover their inherent “talents”
and how to turn them into strengths. It is amazing to
me that once someone learns about their talents,
and the descriptions of each, the lightbulb goes on
as they now understand themselves better and WHY
they are passionate about certain things. “Learners”
are passionate about learning; “Achievers” are
passionate about getting things done – checking
off their “to do” list; “Ideation” means you are
passionate about ideas, context, connections. Once
you understand yourself, you can focus your talents
to use them in positive ways to make a difference in
the area you are passionate about.
The Gallup Strength Finder is a wonderful tool to
help you develop as a leader in your career and in
your community. Understanding how our talents
can hold us back or propel us forward can be the
difference between success and failure. I encourage
you to reach out if you are interested in taking an
assessment to find out your top talents.
Peggy Smith, Executive Director for Leadership Siouxland.
Leadership Siouxland is an organization dedicated
to developing diverse, informed leaders who shape
our community for today and tomorrow.
More wow MoMents
As we look around the world as we know it today,
there is so much need that the opportunities to
use our talents productively seem unending. In the
spring, when we were reeling from the beginnings
of the pandemic and everything seemed unknown,
uncertain, and frightening, I found myself spinning
in circles verses focusing on a single area in which
I could make a difference. Sometimes we lose our
passion when we feel overwhelmed, and we feel
useless and ineffective. That’s when we need to
surround ourselves with others that can invigorate
us, get us excited over possibilities and keep us
moving forward.
Another challenge with passion is keeping it real –
not letting passion cause us to ignore the facts, or
glide over the details. I love seeing leaders who
have learned how to manage reality yet still exhibit
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So how does an air purifier work? It installs in any duct air
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by the device reduce pathogens, allergens, particles,
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without producing any harmful byproducts. It uses
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When the ions come in contact with viruses, bacteria or
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The ions also attach to allergens like pollen and other
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Air purifiers are a tool to fight against
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712.252.3007

My Hometown Commitment
By Emily Vondrak
Sometimes, it takes leaving somewhere to
realize how much you love it there.
A native Sioux Citian, I truly never imagined staying
here forever when I was younger. I always thought I’d
move on to some new adventure. And, eventually,
I did. After graduating from Briar Cliff, I packed my
stuff into an SUV and moved to Boston, a city I’d
never visited or lived in, to attend graduate school.
Siouxland Magazine | | Grow/33 / 39
While studying, I had the extreme privilege of
travelling not only around the US, but abroad as
well. As I explored ancient castles and European
metropolises, my small hometown on the Missouri
River was far from my mind. I also met my now-fiancé
and landed a job upon graduation, so staying in
Boston was a no-brainer.
But sometimes it takes leaving somewhere to
realize how much you love it there. As I spent long
hours every week in bumper-to-bumper traffic, or
on a packed train, I missed the wide-open roads
of the Loess Hills. I missed going outside at night
and seeing more stars than I could count. I missed
strangers smiling and waving, and I missed seeing
someone I knew every time I went to the grocery
store. I missed all of the big and little things that
make a place a home.
So, when I had the chance to move back to Siouxland
for a job, I leapt at the opportunity. Everyone in my
corporate office in downtown Boston thought I was
a little crazy to leave a big city for what they viewed
as the-middle-of-nowhere, and frequently confused
with Ohio or Idaho. I can’t blame them. It certainly
isn’t a typical career move for a young professional.
Yet, there was something they were missing- the
passion I have for my hometown.
Sioux City may not be the biggest, most modern
city with the trendiest places to go. But it is resilient,
generous, friendly, welcoming, and committed to
progress. The Siouxland community has a history
of coming together in times of crisis, a rich and
fascinating history, and ranks as a city with fantastic
job growth year after year. In the past decade we’ve
seen the downtown area completely revitalized, with
much more to come.
And, when I moved back in 2019, I knew I wanted
to be a part of helping Sioux City reach its full
potential. That summer, I joined Sioux City Growth
Organization (SCGO). Founded in 2002, our primary
mission is to attract and retain young professionals
Sioux City Growth Organization.
to the Siouxland area. SCGO members are passionate
about the community and take action by networking,
volunteering, and getting involved in all Siouxland has to
offer.
Every year, we host our Innovation Market, which
showcases and gives grants to aspiring entrepreneurs,
and Meet the Candidates, where individuals running for
local office can debate and interact with voters. We also
hold monthly business networking events and volunteer
with numerous organizations throughout the year.
Additionally, Sioux City Growth Organization is committed
to the overall improvement of Siouxland. We recently
sponsored the painting of a new Sioux City Historythemed
mural on the side of Work-n-Church Booze Parlor
and have contributed to similar initiatives in the past.
I love being a member of SCGO because it gives me an
outlet to turn my passion for Siouxland into meaningful
improvement. If you feel the same way, we’d love to have
you as a member!
Sioux City Growth Organization welcomes progressive
and innovative ideas. As a group, we work to put these
ideas into action and build the momentum to take Sioux
City into the future.
Photos Contributed by SCGO.

and young when you trigger its amazing abilities. Third, they
wanted to work with athletes who are eager to throttle their
performance up to the highest level of strength, speed, and
injury-resistance.
They are 18 months in and can now say from experience that
what they were expecting was right on. The first 9 DXA’s have
come in with 8 of them having bone-density INCREASES and 1
of them showing no more loss…a HUGE win. Of the athletes that
have used OsteoStrong so far, there have been many positive
testimonies about greater strength and endurance, on and off
the field or lane. And for those who have used it to pursue
greater, pain-free performance and anti-aging? The stories
What is OsteoStrong?
OsteoStrong is an unequaled, patented system that peaks
performance, increases fracture resistance, and reduces
pain by triggering the body to rebuild bone and strengthen
connective tissues in one, 10-minute session per week. It
does this with four machines that allow the user to safely
load their bones with the impact-level forces necessary to
trigger osteogenesis, or the regrowth of bone tissue. It is a
well-known fact that gymnasts, due the high impact forces
put on their bodies, have some of the strongest bones in the
human population. But the landings required to safely achieve
this require an extremely high degree of precision and skill.
OsteoStrong allows the user to attain these concentrations of
impact-level forces in a safe and controlled environment.
What have we learned in the last
18 months?
When Keith and Neleigh Ranschau opened OsteoStrong
Sioux City in May of 2019 their goal was to be help these
three groups: First, those with low bone-density issues who
wanted to safely and effectively rebuild their bones. Second,
they wanted to work with those in the mid-point of their lives
who wanted to fight the effects of aging on their muscles and
bones…those aware of the body’s capacity to stay healthy
come in every single week of huge reductions in pain, longer golf
games, energy to play with their kids and grandkids. This results
in a greater confidence that they are building a health savings
account that God-willing, they will be able to draw off of for the
next 3-4 decades.
How do I try it?
You can call the center located at Lakeport Commons by calling
712-522-5675 to take advantage of one of their no-charge
introductory sessions. Call them today and try for yourself the
system that is helping individuals all over the world reclaim
their bone health and supercharge their performance. The
OsteoStrong Team is eager to serve you!
712-522-5675
5001 Sergeant Rd. Suite 265, Sioux City, IA 51106

Is Passion Enough?
By Todd Rausch
We have all heard that you must be passionate
about your business, follow your passion and you
will succeed, or be passionate about your products
or service.My question is this, is that enough?
I am sure you look at your own life and realize that you
have different levels of passion for different things.
You are still passionate about them, but the level of
passion changes, or is different for different areas.
Siouxland Magazine | Grow/35
For example, when we first meet our spouse or
significant other, our passion is a blazing fire. Over
time, however, that passion may seem to become
less. In my experience, though, after 28 years of being
with my amazing wife, I would say the passion is at
a much deeper level. Magma from a volcano after it
cools is hard on the outside, but underneath, it can be
a fiery furnace that just needs the outer layer cracked.
At other times, we can be passionate about things
that really don’t matter, and may change over time. I
used to be a rabid Packer fan, but now they are OK.
They just aren’t as important to me anymore. I have
lost my passion for them.
In business, when we first are a start-up, wow the
passion is visible and it’s there! It truly is our life. After
a few years, though, things may change. The passion
is still there, it may just be hidden by other things. Or,
we could lose our passion for it.
In my experience, I can truly say that when you lose
your passion for your business, it usually is because
the business has become a job, or has taken over your
life. This is not a good thing. The only real solution is to
learn to become passionate about customer service
and sales. Learn to love to meet your customers’
needs and to love to sell them what they want.
When I was 54, an amazing 23-year-old and I were
having a conversation about our businesses and
sales. He was really doing well and mentioned how I
could be better. He said, “Todd, your problem is you
love your products.” I said, “Of course, that’s why I sell
them.” His response changed my thinking forever. He
said, “You need to learn to love to sell.”
He had discovered the truth of having a passion that
wouldn’t die or grow cold. He had discovered that
it wasn’t about him, it was about his customers. He
loved to sell them what they wanted or needed! He
has been awarded several national awards for his
business and is now living near Des Moines. Those
words, though, are still as important to me today as
when he told them to me five years ago.
If you become passionate about serving others and
meeting their needs through a service or a product, then
your road to success will be sure. People’s needs change
with time. Flip phones at one time were all we would ever
need. That lasted about five years. Technology changes
and needs may change. However, being passionate about
meeting people’s needs never has to change.
So, yes, we need to be passionate about our businesses.
But, be passionate about the right things for your business.
Truly, some of it will change over time. That is the way
things are. Some things will never change. I know that if a
customer leaves your business happy, whether in-person
or online, they will come back and be a repeat customer.
If you have enough of those, you will never have to worry
about your business.
In closing, as we enter the new year, I hope that you learn
a new passion or renew your passion for customer service
and meeting your customers’ needs. I also hope 2021 is
your business’s best year.
Todd Rausch, Regional Director for the Small Business
Development Center at Western Iowa Tech Community
College.
America’s SBDC Iowa provides free, confidential,
customized, professional business advice and consulting
in all 99 Iowa counties to entrepreneurs.

alance
Inside and out.
Indulging with Better Ingredients
By Hali Benson
Each of us is unique in our own ways. How is
this so? We have each lived thus far experiencing
certain situations, making distinct decisions, and
creating the exact life we are in at this moment.
Since we are where we are, do we expect to change
things? There may be things in your life that you
would like to change: what you are eating, how you
are dressed, where you live, etc. Though we cannot
change the past, we can, in fact, change the direction
of our future. This is through mindful daily decisions;
such as waking up earlier to create a morning
routine, spending a couple of hours a week meal
prepping, or getting involved with other like-minded
individuals, or hiring a coach. Where does it all start?
It starts with knowing your purpose. Purpose gives
our life meaning, it gives us a reason to wake up in
the morning, to see every day as a fresh slate!
Instead of saying, “I need to find my purpose,”
because our purpose isn’t some far off thing that we
lost like our keys, it is something that is truly near…
as close to you as your nail bed is to your fingertip.
With a little exploration, you may live your life with
purpose. When you know your purpose, you feel
a certain way, a little excited, butterflies in your
stomach, action in your steps, a zest for life, and a
reason to live fully. I encourage you to explore your heart
to see what is your purpose.
What does nutrition have to do with purpose? When we
are fully aligned in our purpose-driven life, then we eat
according to the needs of our bodies, not restricting but
limiting the foods that are toxic to our systems. My passion
for nutrition is foundational around eating intuitively. We
must first understand that food is for fuel. Imagine a cup of
water gets filled at the start of your day, and all throughout
you take a little water out at a time . A fourth of a cup goes
to your day job, an eighth to exercise, a fourth to your
children’s needs, another eighth to prepping meals, and
your last fourth to the fun things you like to do. In order
to give your best every day, you must fuel your body with
whole foods to nourish and supply the best water for all
that energy you expend!
How do you fuel your body with the absolute best?
This is my list of ways I eat by the Human Design:
Eat fresh, whole foods.
Shaping your meals around fresh ingredients will increase
your supply of energy. The best being fresh fruits, leafy
greens, and vegetables of variety: broccoli, cauliflower,
cabbage, sprouts, carrots, and onions… the list goes on.
Energy is expressed as ATP (adenosine triphosphate). The

eathe
clarity
nutrition
flexibility
body uses food to replenish the ATP in your body,
which means it is vital to use the best ingredients to
increase your energy!
Being prepared.
The absolute best thing I can do for myself is to be
prepared every day. I do this by looking at the items
in my kitchen and deciding what I am going to eat the
next day. When I use this tool personally, it has helped
free up brain space to do other things throughout my
day. Use a journal to prep the night before, writing
down what you will eat for breakfast, lunch, and
dinner. Also, make certain to Include all your snacks.
Everything is documented. As time progresses, it will
get easier to eat with intuition; however, for now,
following this style helps connect the brain with your
desire for change. You are creating a new habit.
Choosing the highest quality ingredients.
I’m all for enjoying occasional treats, so I make
homemade treats with the highest quality ingredients.
Trading out refined/processed ingredients, and using
ones that are healing. This would include replacing
white flour with coconut or almond flour and
replacing cane sugar with coconut sugar or honey.
I recommend this transition to anyone wanting to
cut back on their sugar intake, or overall feel better
about eating sweet treats.
Anytime you make lifelong changes towards a
purposeful life, it’s going to feel exciting at first. After
a couple of weeks, you may feel the desire to go back
to your old habits; however, I encourage you to stick
to the things you desire to create long-term changes
in order to become the best version of yourself. One
way to achieve that is to have things that you do
when you feel unmotivated to pick you back up. Here
are a few things I do to inspire me: take a warm bath
with soothing essential oils, call a friend who is on
my level to chat with, read a book that awakens my
senses like books by Dr. Joe Dispenza, making some
fresh juice like apple-cucumber or celery, invite a
friend over and cook for them. You know the things
that spark joy in your life, make a list of them and
put that list somewhere you can return to when not
feeling up to your daily rituals.
Passion is the outcome of finding your purpose,
it is the zest of life. Those uncontrollable emotions
that you feel when you find something pleasurable
and make life worth living. For me, passion comes
from an innate desire to help others live vibrantly
through healing their relationship to food. This, too,
means our relationship to foods being pleasurable,
Chocolate Cake with Fudge Topping
Ingredients:
¼ cup coconut flour ½ cup cacao powder
¾ cup of coconut sugar ¼ tsp sea salt
½ cup of coconut oil 1 teaspoon baking powder
1 tbsp vanilla extract 8 lg. eggs, room temp
Fudge Topping:
¾ C vegan chocolate chips 3 T organic coconut milk
Optional Topping:
Vanilla Bean ice cream or chopped strawberries
Preheat oven to 350 degrees
In a 10 inch cast iron skillet, melt the ½ cup coconut
oil and let it slightly cool while also coating the pan.
In a large mixing bowl whisk together the eggs,
sugar, coconut oil, vanilla, and salt.
In a separate bowl sift cacao powder, coconut flour,
and baking powder removing any clumps.
Stir in the dry ingredients to the wet and mix well.
Pour batter into the cast iron pan and place into the
oven.
Bake for 20-25 minutes until the center begins to firm
up. Remove from the oven and set aside.
While the cake begins to cool make the topping; in a
small saucepan over very low heat add the chocolate
chips and coconut milk and melt stirring continually
until smooth, then add to the top of the cake.
like enjoying something sweet. Here’s a fun recipe I’ve
made for birthdays that ranks at the top of my list for just
enough richness. I hope you enjoy it!
Hali Benson, Certified Holistic Nutrition and Wellness
Practitioner & Owner Blossom Services.
Photos Contributed by Hali Benson.

Siouxland Magazine | Balance /38
Passion for the Pause
By Dr. Meghan Nelson
It’s important to consult your physician or physical
therapist before beginning any new physical activity.
Always listen to your body and respect any warnings
you hear.
“I have no special talents.
I am only passionately curious.”
– Albert Einstein
I’m passionate about the pause—the pause in-between
breaths and movements, in-between seasons and
cycles, and in-between memories and the millions
of moments that shape them. I’m passionate about
the pause because it is instructional, it is healing, and
because it is, in its own curious way, fun.
It’s one of the most difficult practices, to take that
second for a breath, a stretch, or a word. What is
more difficult, if you’re anything like me, is to find
that moment in a space free of self-doubt or selfloathing.
How great would it be if in these moments
of mindfulness, of awareness, I could meet myself as
the witness and not as the judge and jury?
The most intimidating part is just beginning, to put it
simply, having the courage to start. Being comfortable
enough with yourself to just be. Recognizing that all
the cheesy affirmations of Stuart Smalley are true—that
“I am good enough, smart enough, and dog-gone-it,
people like me.” We’re all telling stories. What if ours
just started sounding a little kinder, more forgiving,
with some grace?
Being a physical therapist, I’ve always been interested
in the body ; however, it took becoming a yogi to
finally learn to be interested in my own body. It’s in
this journey, through the physical body, that I’ve
learned to connect to those deeper parts of myself,
the spaces that have been dormant for way too long.
I’d like to start helping you achieve finding that
place through breathing exercises. It is through
these exercises that you can calm your mind, center
yourself, ground yourself, and be present in the
moment. There are two breathing exercises I would
like to introduce to you. They are the centering breath
and ocean breathing.
Centering Breath: can help to bring focus and
clarity. Start in a mindful seated posture, fingertips
connected to the Earth. Pause for one breath of
gratitude for all the diverse, rich, and worthy life that
resides on this beautiful planet. Inhale, reach arms
up and overhead, pause with prayer hands towards
the heavens to connect with your angels, ancestors, and
divine light, energy, and love. Draw prayer hands to your
heart, center to pause and connect with your own breath
within. In that pause, we can find gratitude for the Earth
below us, the heavens above us, and the breath which
unites us all.

Ocean breathing: involves constricting the back
of the throat to encourage lengthening each breath
cycle. Keep your mouth closed, and slowly inhale
through the nose with the back of the throat partially
closed. Remember to pause your breath at the top of
that inhale to notice. Maintain the partially restricted
throat as you slowly exhale through the nose. Pause
at the bottom of the exhale to notice. The breath
cycle remains full, deep, slow, and controlled through
the constriction of the back of the throat. Match your
breath with the motion of the ocean, visualize those
beautiful crystal-clear blue waves rising and falling
as they dissolve over the smooth sand. Repeat often,
remember the pause.
Siouxland Magazine | Balance /39
Another technique used to reach your true center
is through placing your body in specific poses. The
pose I want to introduce to you is the half-moon. This
may be done either in a seated position, or standing.
Half-moon (chair version): due to joint stability,
strength and balance required for this pose, this
pose is for intermediate to advanced practitioners.
Caution needs be taken with all versions of this pose
for safety.
The wall may be used for balance to support your
back side. The seat of the chair should be facing you
at the top of the mat. Step into a wide stance, back
towards the wall and toes near the chair pointed
towards the seat. Bend into the front knee as you
extend your trunk over the legs reaching the bottom
hand to the seat of the chair. Top arm can reach to
the sky as you straighten the standing leg and lift the
back leg with the knee extended.
Half-moon: if you are an advanced yogi and this pose
is in your practice, let’s focus on safety and alignment
with this posture. The advanced yogi will determine
where the hip can allow for safe range of motion below
the pelvis hinging diagonally. Focus on a neutral spine
from pelvis to crown with strong core engagement. Do
not sacrifice a side bend of the trunk to reach the hand
closer to the earth, then we have lost the connection of
the expansiveness of the pose. Any support as high as
a chair or block could be used. Imagine creating the
largest diameter of your moon. Think length from lifted
heel to crown as well as from hand to hand, with an
open heart.
It’s in the pause that I’ve learned to access that space,
that I’ve learned to rediscover and reimagine my
being. That I am more than a mother, wife, daughter,
sister, therapist, teacher, and friend. That when all the
layers of my identity get peeled away, there is still
that part of me that’s left. Finding that is my passion.
Helping you find it is my purpose and mission.
It’s out there in the field, in the pause, in the space of
the in-between. I’ll meet you there.
Dr. Meghan Nelson, a licensed physical therapist and
professional yoga therapist with a passion for using
yoga as medicine for optimal health, injury prevention,
and overall health and wellness. Meghan is co-owner of
Lumin Therapy, which provides integrative healing of the
mind, body, and spirit through the practice of physical
therapy, medical therapeutic yoga, and mindfulness.
Photo Credit Britton Hacke Photography.

Siouxland Magazine | Balance /40
Ask the Therapist
By Gladys Smith
Question: Lately, I have been feeling as
though my life lacks passion. How can I work
towards finding something I could do that I
am passionate about?
Response: Finding your passion in life is often a
journey that starts from within. For some, this journey
begins with a quiet stirring that catches our attention
from time to time. For others, the journey starts with
a defining moment or event that happens in their
lives that causes us to question how we’re living our
lives. However, your journey begins, the quest to find
one’s passion can be an exciting journey that leads
to self-discovery, empowerment, and an enhanced
quality of life.
To discover what it is you’re passionate about, it may
be helpful to spend some quiet time alone reflecting
on what is important to you. Spending time in nature
is a good way to clear your mind and help you get in
touch with what your heart and soul is calling you to
do. Taking a walk in a park, shoveling snow on a quiet
night, or watching a sunrise are just a few ways you
can quiet your mind and meditate on what it is that
you’re passionate about.
Once you’ve had a chance to quiet your mind and
tap into your inner voice, try asking yourself the
following questions:
• What did you enjoy doing as a child?
• What did you dream of doing when you grew up?
• Is there a particular topic that you truly enjoy talking
about?
• What topics do you enjoy sharing your knowledge
about with others?
• What talents, skills and strengths do you have that
you might enjoy using in a different way?
• Are there activities you enjoy that make you lose
track of time?
• Who are the people in your life that you admire?
• What is it about them or what they do that you
admire?
• If you decided to return to school, what would you
choose to study?
• If money were no object, what choices would you
make that would propel you toward your passion?
Here are a few steps you can take to move you closer
to finding your passion.
• Make a list of activities you may want to try. Include
things you may, or may not, have an interest in. You
may find that your passion lies in an area that you
were not aware of prior to this time. Don’t forget
Send Your
Questions to
the Therapist.
to include activities that will challenge you to move
outside of your comfort zone. Remember, you can
always add to your list!
• Look around you for opportunities to get involved in
activities that may spark an interest. Are there projects/
activities at your place of employment or your church
you could get involved in to help? What about volunteer
opportunities in your community? Could you take a
class or teach a subject? Reading books or articles
about topics that pique your interests is yet another way
to investigate where your passion lies.

• Develop a schedule or timeline for the steps
you want to take in finding your passion. It can
be intimidating to try new and different things,
so having a time-line can help motivate you to
continue moving to achieving your goals.
Once you have made the decision to take steps
toward finding your passion, you may experience
feelings of fear and hesitation. If this happens, it’s
important to explore your feelings so they don’t
stop you from moving to accomplishing your goals.
Are your fears related to what others may think? Are
you afraid of failure? It may help to explore these
feelings by talking to a trusted, supportive friend,
family member, or mentor. Another way to examine
your fear is to journal about them. In our fast-paced
world, this can provide an opportunity for you to
slow down, take a step back, and reflect on what’s
important to you. Just remember that spending
time exploring your fears may not alleviate them
altogether. There will be some steps you’ve chosen
to take that will require you to take a leap of faith
and move forward in spite of your fears.
In closing, I would like to wish you the best on your
journey to finding your passion! Don’t forget to
enjoy yourself along the way.
“If there is no passion in your life, then have you really
lived? Find your passion, whatever it may be. Become
it, and let it become you. and you will find great things
happen for you, to you. and because of you.”
– T. Alan Armstrong
Gladys Smith, a Licensed Independent Social Worker
with Mental Health Associates, who has over 35 years
of clinical experience in inpatient, outpatient, and
residential settings. Although she provides therapy
to adults and families, she specializes in working with
adolescents who are struggling with mental health,
behavioral and substance disorders. Gladys is a cofounder
of Soul Creek Nature Therapy that focuses
on offering peace and healing through a connection
with nature.
Photo Credit Carolyn Goodwin Photography.
Siouxland Magazine | Balance /41
P R E V E N T I V E H E A L T H S E R V I C E S
NEW YEAR,
SAME YOU
IBCINS.BIZ

Siouxland Magazine | Balance /42
“My cup is full and so is my house!” Jenny with her kids.
Worthy of Beauty
By Jenny Bullington
It’s nap time at my home, that blessed time
in the middle of my hectic day when I can
have a quick moment to myself, as long as the
baby sleeps, that is! The older kids are working on
their distance learning for school, the younger ones
are either napping or working on quiet projects.
My steaming cup of tea warms my hand as I hold it
close, smelling the berries while enjoying the mantra
written on the mug. “Hello, beautiful,” it reminds me,
rays of sunshine all around the words. I can’t help but
smile.
Beautiful, that word resonates with something in
me deeply. There was a time when my life was not
beautiful, nor did I feel beautiful in any way. I am a
survivor of domestic violence, and in addition to that,
four of my six children are also survivors. Although
we were able to criminally convict our abuser, life
still felt void of that deep, soul-crushing beauty that
I thought was supposed to come to my heart after
surviving that. What, if any, was the meaning behind
what we went through? How could I ever feel the
beauty in life again? Could I ever transform from
surviving to thriving, to that place where I felt worthy
of the beauty I so longed for in life?
It dawned on me one day, that the way I feel, the
thoughts that race through my head, those negative
stories I tell myself, are all being fed by something,
from somewhere. You get what you focus your mind on.
Where is your focus? I had to ask myself, “Where is your
lens of focus, Jenny?” That question alone stopped me
in my tracks. This doesn’t change what’s happened to
you, but it starts to get you in the mindset to not let the
past keep you in shackles forever. That is no life worth
living, and certainly devoid of any beauty.
Beloved, I never have gotten an answer to my question
of “Why?” but I had to make a conscious effort to shift
my mind’s lens to the other answers life had given me.
Life has shown me what real, healthy love is from a
partner. Life has shown me that when I focus each day
on my gratitude for what I do have, instead of what was
taken from me during those years of abuse, I smile more
and my heart lightens as if a healing salve keeps being
tenderly applied to those old wounds. I have learned to
see the good in myself, though imperfect and yet still
beautiful. Life has given me loyal friendships that lift me
up, and not tear me down. When I thought of these gifts,
I started to feel beauty coming back into my life. I even
started to consider myself beautiful again.

Getting to the place of daring to be worthy of life’s
beauty can be difficult, especially for those who have
gone through interpersonal trauma. Abuse isn’t just
physical; it’s emotional and spiritual, too, and it gets
in the way of the narrative you tell yourself every day.
I knew someone who had made what she called a
wailing wall in her master bedroom. It was a place she
went to cry. It was an overall source of negativity in her
life. I kept wondering to myself, “Why would you make
a place like that in your life?” Of course, there needs to
be space for you to feel what you need to feel, letting
every emotion out as you process what you’ve gone
through. But I also believe there has to be a way you can
remind yourself to walk in victory, every day, instead
of wallowing in the thoughts of defeat, rejection, and
replaying your abuse.
To get rid of that negative self-talk and thinking, I want
to ask you to do something to get your mind back to
where it should be - focusing on all the good, all the
positive, and all the love. I decided in my life there
was going to be one place I could go whenever I was
feeling down or flooded by negative thoughts. I want
the same for you – I want you to reclaim your life and
the truth of who you are, regardless of what has gone
on in the past!
I want you to make what I call a Worthy Wall.
Who are you? Do you see who you had hoped you would
see, who you’d always wanted to be? I passionately
believe now is the time for empowerment, self-love,
and to take the steps necessary to become the best
you, the one who is worthy of all things beautiful,
whatever that means to you!
My husband, Branden, and I decided to take the
concept of a Worthy Wall one step further... we wrote
on our bathroom mirrors all that we love about each
other. So, grab your bestie, partner, or special family
member, or fill your own mirror with what you love
about yourself. Any time doubt, failure, depression,
anxiety, and lies start to rear their ugly heads, you
go to this place of worth and read each thing you
and others love about you! When you get to really
struggling, you can go to your Worthy Wall and
say out loud you will not agree with those negative
thoughts that go against who you are and whatever
you’re trying to accomplish. Read aloud what you
and your partner have written.
The more I began to shift my focus to all the goodness
life has brought me, the beauty in life that I thought
was missing after enduring abuse came back many
times over. I am living proof you can come back
from trauma. You can not only survive but thrive. I
genuinely believe you deserve to have every bit of
life’s beauty, and it starts with that narrative inside
you.
Naptime is over, the baby needs a diaper change,
one of my kids needs help with long division. We have
piano lessons in 30 minutes, and I just stepped on
a Cheerio. That could easily become overwhelming;
however, having spent that time at my Worthy Wall,
filling my own love cup with life’s beauty, has shown
me I can handle anything. You know what, beloved?
You can, too.
Let’s do this in 2021! Be well, dear ones, and take
good care of you.
Jenny Bullington, MA, CTLC, a writer, and a survivor
of domestic violence and interpersonal trauma wants
to help everyone find their own personal victories.
She has focused her work on spreading awareness
and healing through inspirational speaking, traumainformed
life coaching, building up survivor
leadership, legislative advocacy, and creating a safe
space for survivors to find community. When she’s
not working, you can find her on adventures with her
beloved husband, Branden, their six kids, and one
crazy dog. As a two-time state champion black belt in
taekwondo, you can also find her on the mats training
self-defense in a variety of martial arts.
Siouxland Magazine | Balance /43
Photo Credit (left page) by Branden Bullington.
Photo Credit (this page) by Makenna Bullington.
Jenny and Branden Bullington at her Worthy Wall.

Siouxland Magazine | Balance /44
Fire cupping demonstration by Brian David Gilbert.
Together We Can Heal
By Emily Larson
With open arms, I’d like to say hello to you,
reader. I am so grateful for this opportunity to
support you as a member of this great Siouxland
community. The place that so many artists, healers,
great minds, entrepreneurs, and most especially,
hard workers call home.
I intend to offer myself as a resource for each of you
regarding methods of healing. These modalities all
have the ability to deeply heal and strengthen the
connection between the mind and body so that you,
as an individual, can walk the path of your true self.
When we strengthen this connection, it gives us the
ability to be well in these beautifully complex bodies
which our consciousness. This, in turn, prevents
disease so that we do not have to behave reactively
to dysfunction in the mind-body connection.
To begin our journey together, I want to provide you
with a window into the perspective I will be taking
in my articles. I have developed such a passion for
my role in this community as a healer and yoga
instructor. I want to share with you many of the
valuable tools I have received walking my path. As
complex individual human beings, we can take in
many different forms of healing that tap our innate
ability to evolve and grow. Throughout the year, I
hope to present information about these practices that
help you discover the methods that work best for you.
When we take the time to self-discover and heal within,
it gives us the ability to expand this healing beyond the
individual being to other members of our community.
I will limit my focus to one healing modality per issue.
I also intend to make these modalities as accessible as
possible. I will provide this by utilizing the great passion
I have for the connection between the physiological and
physical, with the unseen and spiritual. My perspective
with whole human healing is grounded in physical
anatomy, human biology, and kinetics of movement.
I also take inspiration from Einstein, who stated that
the more he studied the physical world, the more he
discovered the unseen. By offering a variety of healing
methods, I hope to help you develop your self-care and
healing routine so that we can reach new and expanded
growth as a whole community.
I have learned to love the sense of awe I feel for the
great variety of creative and intelligent forms of healing
in our community. They are highly accessible, yet
deeply transformational. You have heard of some of
these modes of healing such as yoga, massage, and
meditation. However, I want to offer you information
about alternative healing modalities that may not be as

well-known. They offer brilliant opportunities for the
transformation of pain, fear, and trauma.
Many of these modalities I have learned through
formal education, but I will also be tapping other
community resources to offer you a variety of
approaches for your healing practices. One of my
main resources will be the Mind & Body Connection,
a well-established massage and bodywork clinic
in Siouxland. They also have an affiliated massage
therapy school called the Bio-Chi Institute. All of
the professional massage therapists at this clinic,
including myself, also work as teachers for the school.
As a group of teachers and healers, we have a wide
variety of approaches to healing including effective
and outcome-based bodywork, medicinal herbs,
hydrotherapy, and martial arts.
One of these practices I will introduce to you is fire
cupping, a traditional Chinese medicine practice
that aims to remove stagnation in the blood and
tissues and also stimulate the flow of vital energy, or
Chi. This practice safely utilizes the heat from a flame
to create a vacuum between a glass cup and the skin
of the body. The consequent suction has more than a
few therapeutic benefits that are especially cleansing
and clearing. The practitioner can also make a
selection from a variety of cupping techniques, each
with unique restorative effects on the body.
Another unique healing modality is therapeutic
partner yoga. This practice involves one partner
holding the other in passive yoga postures. Its
purpose is to stretch and decompress the body.
Partner yoga is especially healing and toning for
relationships because the two individuals develop a
connection in each posture enabling them to function
as one unit while also practicing communication and
trust skills. We will also investigate specific types of
medicinal cleanses as they relate to seasonal shifts
and the organs of the body.
These are just a few of the many different alternative
healing methods we will explore together, all of
which are mediums I have explored and learned
to love, especially during these times when our
collective struggles seem to feel so magnified. I
whole-heartedly believe that, as we discover selfhealing
and care, we can meet these challenges as a
whole community. We can become impassioned by
transformations we have seen within ourselves and,
with a full cup, give the gift of healing to the people
around us in our community.
It is my hope the information I have to offer feels
both objective and creatively motivational. This way,
you have plenty of space to decide the compatibility
of each modality with your self-care practices but
also feel safe and excited to experiment. I am deeply
grateful and eager to take this voyage of wellness
opportunities with you and hope we can harness this
opportunity to grow and heal together.
Siouxland Magazine | Balance /45
Emily Larson
Emily is a licensed massage therapist and private
yoga instructor at the Mind & Body Connection in
Sioux City, Iowa. With a Bachelor of Science degree
from Briar Cliff University in Kinesiology and Human
Performance, Emily also co-teaches the Anatomy
section for massage therapy students at the Bio-Chi
Institute. Most importantly, Emily is a mother to her
eight-year-old son, Noah.
Photo Credit (left page) Aurora Adams IG:
@auroraphoto. Photo Credit (this page) Gabby
Weber IG: @graycephotoco.
Therapeutic Acro with Noah.

Siouxland Magazine | Balance /46
You Are the One You Have Been Waiting For
By Dr. Nesrin Abu Ata
As the new year starts, and you think of what
intentions you want to set for this new year,
how do you approach it? Do you make a list of
goals you want to accomplish? Do you use a vision
board? Do you find yourself sometimes feeling like
you may not have all the needed resources, be it
physical, material, emotional, or spiritual? Do you feel
overwhelmed or start judging yourself for the past
goals that you had and didn’t quite accomplish the
way you planned? Have you wondered if there is one
crucial ingredient or a secret weapon that can help
you on your journey to bring you fulfillment of your
intentions? If such a thing existed, how far would you
be willing to travel to obtain it?
The crucial ingredient to inspire you, support you,
uplift you, and sustain you on your journey to pursue
your intentions for this year is you-nique. It is you.
Some people refer to it as your true self. I refer to it as
your wise heart. Your wise heart has depth, evenness,
acceptance, and wisdom that only you would know
and that only would apply to you.
How do you access your wise heart? Once you access
your wise heart you will recognize it, you will know it.
From that point forward, there is no stopping you from
fulfilling your life’s trajectory.
There are eight qualities that are doorways to your wise
heart. By distancing yourself from your common behaviors,
patterns and thoughts, you tap into these eight qualities
and experience your wise heart. As you set change in
motion in your thoughts, behaviors, and patterns, start
listening to the following qualities in your life.
They are as follows:
• Curiosity: This is the first step to making any change. This
is where you start to be able to turn towards yourself
and inquire within yourself to see what you are doing
before you can make any changes. Do you find yourself
judgmental, closed off and so stay stuck and negative?
What happens if you let go of that judgement and
become curious about getting to know yourself?
• Clarity: This comes from curiosity. If you are open to
looking inward and learning about your patterns, then
you begin to understand why you do the things you do.
You become an observer of yourself. The observer self
sees the big picture and offers a bigger perspective
beyond a narrow viewpoint. Making decisions and
setting boundaries become easier as a result.
• Compassion: This happens naturally after taking an
inventory inwards and gaining clarity of why you did
what you did. Compassion is hard to practice, both

for yourself and for everyone else. But, with
perspective and seeing the picture, you understand
that you are not the only one struggling and that
others are struggling also. And you apply the
same compassion you would give to a friend to
yourself. You notice that you become kinder and
less defensive and feeling isolated.
• Calm: This comes with clarity, and you can see and
trust the bigger picture. You are no longer seeing
things through the lens of fear and intention
emotions. You are no longer holding on too tight
and getting upset over the smallest things that may
not be relevant to your path in the long run.
• Confidence: This comes with finding calm and
clarity. Inner trust comes more naturally and with
trust, you are able to bounce back more easily,
even when things don’t go as you expected.
• Courage: This comes with confidence, and the
ability to act on decisions. It is taking the right
action and is the anecdote to fear. You will find
yourself pursing experience you were previously
afraid to do.
• Creativity: With courage and confidence, you may
feel yourself lighter, more creative and expressing
yourself more. You will feel your connection to your
intuition and be inspired.
• Connectedness: This comes with self-compassion and
being able to feel seen and accepted. You will start to
feel more at peace and safe. And as result, you will find
yourself spending more time with people and be in
nature.
So, what are you waiting for?
What you have been waiting for is you.
Will you take the first step to be with yourself, and look
within yourself with curiosity, and compassion?
Are you ready to be inspired and transformed by
experiencing your amazing wise heart?
Dr. Abu Ata believes in providing holistic care that includes
the mind, body and spirit in the context of personal growth,
relationships with others and in community. Who doesn’t
want growth and being the best version of herself? But
so often, the journey of transformation that is required is
challenging and scary to travel alone. Dr. Abu Ata is here
to support you by providing mindfully cultivated practice
of presence and expertise. Her healing practice draws
on her training in mindfulness, yoga, family medicine
and integrative psychiatry to weave a unique tapestry
that supports your needs on your amazing journey. Dr.
Abu Ata can be found at www.nesrinabuatamd.com or
reached at drnesrinabuata@gmail.com.
Photos Contributed by Dr. Nesrin Abu Ata.
References: Internal Family Systems. Richard Schwartz, Ph.D.
Siouxland Magazine | Balance /47
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Introducing
Shelley Worthington comes to Belle Salon and Spa,
with over twenty years of experience in the beauty
industry. Most of her career has been in upscale
salons in Des Moines and Miami. With a strong focus
on anti-aging, Shelley is very excited to share a
procedure, new to the Siouxland area.
Fibroblast Plasma
Imagine taking years off your face with minimal
pain and downtime, and no risky anesthesia
or side effects. Sound too good to be true?
Fibroblast Plasma is an all natural, revolutionary
procedure which is nonsurgical, and noninvasive.
Designed to tighten and lift, shrinking
excess skin, crows feet, bags, and wrinkles. As
an alternative to surgery, and lower cost, eyelids
can be lifted/tightened, wrinkles reduced, and
tighten areas such as neck and jawline.
Shelley received excellent one on one
training through Plamere Plasma. During your
consultation, she will do a thorough health
history, an evaluation of your skin condition,
and discuss what changes you would like to
see in yourself. During your Fibroblast Plasma
procedure, your comfort is very important. All
instruments are disinfected, and a topical cream
Before
After

is applied, to numb the area. The
plasma pen never touches your
skin. A tiny Plasma flash creates
a small dot upon contact, each
pattern of dots are completely
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This affect causes tightening of
the skin’s fibers, and stimulates
the production of collagen.
Afterwards, you can expect some
inflammation, and the treated area
to feel like a sunburn. Included
with your service, is a care package
to soothe and pamper your skin,
for optimal results.
Fibroblast Plasma after 5 days
Within days, as the plasma dot
flake off of the treated area, skin
is smoother, tighter, and lifted.
Each day, noticeable results are
achieved. Results can vary, based
on skin condition and lifestyle. You
can expect the effect to last about
three years, and the procedure can
be repeated, after twelve weeks,
for more dramatic results.
Before
After
Customized Aveda Facials
Relax and enjoy an Aveda facial while Shelley
customizes each treatment to target your
concerns. Whether you are concerned with dry,
aging, oily, uneven texture, sensitive or acneic skin
conditions, Shelley can customize your Tulasāra
facial treatment. After a thorough consultation,
she will provide the best combination of products,
personalized Aveda aromas and techniques, and
design a customized treatment that will move your
skin toward balance and reveal its natural beauty.

explore
Get dirty.
Passion for Lifelong Learning
By Jenny Jorgensen
What is passion? It is something that drives you, holds
your focus, and keeps moving you forward. Thinking
about a few of my personal passions, or “objects of
deep interest,” came the problem of choosing which
one to write about. That was harder than I thought! I
doubt that I am unusual in having several areas of deep
interest that I consider important. Have you spent time
really thinking about what things in life are important to
you? What passions would you list and describe if you
were writing an article about passion?
Family: I am passionate about not only my family and all
that means to me, but also about the concept of family;
which, for each of us may look very different from others.
A “family” connection is a desire for most in our society.
We all need others where we can feel safe, loved, and
supported with people we trust and who trust us. There
is often a blood connection, but there might not be
that connection at all. I think about what a traditional
family looked like from my youth. That was great, but I
have grown to know there are many, many varied family
make-ups in our world today. Each identified family
is special and fully deserves the recognition of family.
Family connection is a passion for me! We all deserve
whatever form that security takes.
Education: Growing up on a farm that at one point was
owned by my great-grandfather, then my grandfather,
and then my parents, I have always been taught the
importance of an education. Both of my grandmothers,
my mom, and two out of three of my aunts were teachers.
Education was always talked around our supper table.
We were taught that an education is more than a piece
of paper, and that education in life happens all around
us…not just in a classroom. I, too, was a teacher for
nearly 30 years, having taught kindergarten in Sioux City
Schools. I truly consider myself a LIFELONG LEARNER,
as I continue to take online courses to increase my
knowledge, improve my health, grow my passions, and
just for fun.
Kiddo Collaboration: I enjoy volunteering as a
Master Gardener to educate children about the value
and importance of gardening, doing lessons with them,
and planting grow towers or garden boxes. My partner
in this adventure, Lisa, and I are missing this form of
education right now because as volunteers we are not
able to access classes in the school. We get that! We’ll
Marcia Jane Jorgensen, gardener in training, made a quick
trip to the garden to pick some Juliet tomatoes to eat!
be back when it is safe for the kiddos and staff! Through
the years, I have shared this passion in many venues, not
just the schools.
Teacher Outreach: Through Woodbury County
Extension and the Master Gardener program, I work in
a team of four Master Gardeners who co-teach School
Garden 101 for teams of school staff, supporting them in
how to establish, maintain, and sustain school gardens.
This coming February/March 2021, we will be teaching
this course virtually. Teams of 3-5 teachers can take this for
renewal, or graduate credit, or just audit. Contact Katelyn
Brinkerhoff, Horticulture Educator at kbrink@iastate.edu
for more information. While going virtual this year, we will
be opening the course to other NW Iowa counties, as well
as Woodbury, offering another great learning opportunity.

fresh air
get outside
protect
active
play
Gardening: I grew up helping both of my grandfathers
and my mom in the garden. I admit, I probably was
only involved so I could nibble certain veggies before
they even made it to the house. (I loved freshly shelled
peas.) As a child, I likely hated some of the weeding
grunt work. Despite lack of sincere interest at the time,
I did learn. I wish I could pick the minds of all three
of those gardeners again, now that I know more about
what to ask! As an adult, I have had a garden for more
than 45 years. I continue to learn new research-based
strategies and techniques to improve food we grow
and love processing for storage whether pressure
canning, drying, dehydrating, or freezing. There is true
satisfaction in growing, preparing for winter, and then
eating our own produce throughout the year. (Fulfilling
another passion!)
Food Security: A major path for gardening, and
a passion for me, is working with Up from the Earth
(UFTE), a local initiative and 100% volunteer system
designed to connect excess fresh produce from home
gardens to people in need through our existing food
pantry system. Established in 2014, the program
has recruited 30 local collection sites to achieve this
objective.
From Feeding America.org October 2020 Update
Gundersen, C., M. Hake, A. Dewey, E. Engelhard (2020).
The Impact of the Coronavirus on Food Insecurity in 2020,
Update October 2020 [Data file and FAQ]. Available form
Feeding America: research@feedingamerica.org
UFTE promotes the motto “Plant, Grow, Share” to help
feed those in need. To date, community support of Up
from the Earth has put more than 152,000 pounds of
fresh produce into the food pantry system and we’re
still waiting on a few of the 2020 season reports to
come in. That poundage equals 456,000 servings of
fresh produce!! Thanks to our generous community
volunteers and gardeners, 2020 has shaped up to be
another banner year.
I can think of other passions I have, such as maintaining
relationships with friends, reading good books,and
listening to music (participating at times). Before
COVID-19, I played in the Solid Brass Handbell Choir
at Grace UMC. We will be back when it is safe! During
the winter months, a new passion I’ve discovered
is delving further into our family history through
Ancestry. I’ve already ordered and organized seeds
that will be used to garden plants from seed inside,
starting some soon, and the rest in mid-February on
into spring. Am I proficient at all of these? I can give
a hardy no! However, they are some of my passions,
and as a lifelong learner, I will continue to grow my
knowledge base, my skills, and my interest. Some of
the seedlings I grow will be given to clients at food
pantries, and others shared with friends, family, and
others who will grow them to help increase food
security locally.
Consider taking some time soon to create your list
of passions. What are they? Why did you choose
those passions? How can you share these passions
with others? In the end, it is often about community:
family, friends, neighbors, schools, churches, and
more! Make the most of your passions in 2021! Happy
New Year!
Jenny Jorgensen, a retired educator and Master
Gardener. She also keeps busy working with the Up From
the Earth team to increase food security in the Siouxland
area. Though retired, she finds many other areas to serve
her community, including being elected to the Woodbury
County Extension Council.
Up From The Earth exists to connect extra produce
from home gardens to people in need.
Photo Contributed by Jenny Jorgensen.

enjoy
You only live once.
Inside Rooted Boutique.
A Rooted Passion
By Erika Hanson
In 2019, after a 27-year hiatus, I set a goal for myself
– to get back into the modeling industry. Fueled
by the rise of more mature-aged models showing up in
mainstream ad campaigns and on major fashion runways, I
started plotting my course. After a year of introspection, lots
of meditation, some really dark days, and gradually, finally,
listening to my authentic self, the pieces fell into place and
I signed a modeling contract in March of 2020, at age 45.
Passion is a funny thing. I believe it’s always inside us. From
the moment we are born, we have an innate desire to do
the thing that lights us up, that makes us feel like we’re
doing what we were created to do. But understanding
passion’s direction, and
hearing its message,
can be tricky business.
Sometimes, it takes
years to dig out. Other
times, our passions
take us by the hand and
give us no choice but to
follow.
That’s what happened
with Emily Vollmar, a
Holstein, Iowa, native
who made the decision
to start her own retail
clothing store in 2016,
Emily Vollmar, Owner of Rooted
Boutique.
Rooted Boutique. The name Rooted comes from two
places: her strong ties to the local Holstein community,
and to her ongoing process of self-discovery.
It was during that process of self-discovery that Emily
realized her own personal fulfillment came from helping
women find their own roots through self-confidence and
inner happiness expressed through fashion. That’s what
fuels her ongoing commitment to her store and to her
clients.
“Rooted is about relationships,” reiterated Emily as we
chatted in her chic-yet-cozy retail store, located at the
corner of S Main St. and Elm in Holstein. She has many
stories about personal connections she’s developed with
clients across the Midwest. They return to her store time
and time again for style advice, to pick out clothing for
special occasions, or when they need a boost of retail
therapy.
“I saw a bunch of my friends, educated women, who
were moving back to more rural areas like Holstein,
and realized they needed a place to shop. Many were
ordering clothes from services like Stitch Fix and keeping
whatever they got, not because they loved the pieces,
but because they just needed clothes! I thought we
needed to fix that,” said Emily.
At first, Emily sold clothes out of the attic of her home.
Then she moved her business to a refurbished mobile

have fun
entertainment
culture
gather
relax
snowmobile trailer that she could take anywhere. Now
her business has moved to a permanent storefront. Emily
said the business unfolded at its own pace – whether or
not she was ready for it.
“The momentum of this business really pulled me along
faster than I planned,” she said. Although she thought
she’d wait till her youngest daughter was in kindergarten
before diving in full-time, Emily said her store was filling a
need that had been lacking. The path continued to unveil
itself as Emily figured out how to fund her newly created
business.
Starting with one interest-free credit card and a limit of
$10,000, Emily started building up her inventory. A small
business loan from a local bank ensured she’d be able to
put down a stable foundation for a long-term investment.
“In the beginning, every time I made a payment on my
small business loan, I felt relief. Like I would be OK. I had
to learn it’s good to accept help from people. You really
can’t be too proud to let others help you,” shared Emily.
Emily stated that each time she learned something
new, she felt empowered. “The first time I went to the
STYLEMAX market in Chicago, I had no idea what I was
doing!” But she knew this was where she was meant to
be. It was her passion! She had no doubt it would work.
Now, 4 years later, Rooted Boutique continues to grow
and evolve.
Partnering with Galva jewelry
designer, Rae Soellner,
Emily is able to offer unique
stone earrings, necklaces,
rings, and bracelets to her
clients. “Rae sources stones
directly from craftspeople in
Brazil, where she regularly
visits, and is able to make
just about any piece a client
might want,” said Emily.
With the onset of the
COVID-19 pandemic, Emily
is trying new ways of doing
business to continue to give
her customers the service
Galva jewelry stone earrings.
they’ve come to rely on from her.
“During Mother’s Day weekend, we sold style boxes for
the first time. We talked to clients to find out what they
needed, what colors they liked, and then we would put
together five looks, package them up, and either deliver
Passions collide: Emily’s fondness for fashion and mine for
the runway found their way to each other at the 2020 Rooted
Boutique Virtual Fashion Show in November.
the boxes or provide curbside pick-up service,” said
Emily. The idea was a huge hit, and something she’s
considered doing again.
For the 2020 holiday shopping season, Emily took part
in a pop-up store campaign in downtown Sioux City. She
experimented with a storefront in a community outside
of Holstein, where she enjoyed meeting a whole new
batch of customers, sure to become future Rooted fans.
“The best compliment I’ve received came from a client.
She told me, ‘shopping at Rooted is like going to my
best friend’s house and shopping in her closet.’ I need
to figure out how to turn that into a tagline,” said Emily.
By, Erika Hanson, a professional model, influencer, and
lifelong lover of fashion. She combines her passion for
trend spotting with her desire to support women in their
own personal style journeys. Support local business,
shop small, and have the safest, most wonderful holiday
season as we warmly welcome the healing power of
2021.
Erika Hansen, a lifelong Siouxland resident, model, mom,
and community volunteer. Curious about exploring the
connection between outward appearances and inner power,
Erika is passionate about making fashion fun, and fostering a
spirit of inclusion with no limits on age or body type. You can
find more of Erika’s love of style, and her modeling journey,
on Instagram: @kings_from_ash.
Photo Credit Erika Hansen and Heather Bogue.

Siouxland Magazine | Enjoy /54
One short but also painstakingly long year
ago, our city’s landscape, make-up, and
skyline looked vastly different. We have all
faced challenges this year that left different levels
of ugliness in our lives but through a display of
Siouxland’s inherent resilience beacons of light
began to emerge from the shadows. There was a
beauty from years gone by waiting to be unlocked.
Visions lingering in the deepest most imaginative
corners of hopeful entrepreneur’s and leader’s minds
who were passionately set on willing them into
existence. Beautification through the chaos.
Sioux City has a rich beautiful antiquity. Historic
buildings that had once headlined a bustling
downtown had become decrepit shells. Uglier
versions of their former selves exuding a bleak
contribution to a prominent skyline. No more. Years
of preparation, grit, and determination rose to
the surface. Projects that will create and facilitate
significant economic impact.
The Warrior Hotel once again illuminates the skyline.
This historic property opened its doors some 90 years
ago in 1930. Celebrities the likes of boxing legend Joe
Louis and the incomparable Elvis Presley inhabited
the halls and reveled in its amenities. An epicenter for
the bustling streets of downtown, tragically closed its
doors in 1976 and has been a dilapidated eye sore
until now. A complete restoration has brought back
the Art Deco brilliance, grandeur of the staircase,
and ornate architectural elements in all their infinite
splendor. Glamorous rooms and suites exude cozy
elegance. Woodbury’s Steakhouse, War Eagle Lanes,
and The Crowne rooftop bar are a nod to the past but
also beg the question, why leave when a staycation is
right in your back yard?
The famous Motor Mart was built in 1911. It welcomed
revered musicians to its showroom. One such musician
was Louis Armstrong, who would go on to sign with
Bluebird records after a superb performance in the
venue’s renowned roof garden. Enter Bluebird Flats.
An urban industrial revival can be found on every floor
of this historical building restored
to its former glory. No apartment
is identical with many enjoying
stunning views of The Warrior and
the gardens at First Presbyterian
Church. Original mail shoots,
elevators, and terra cotta flooring
highlight the restoration. Bluebird
Flats will shine as the unique
original exterior was embraced and
accentuated.
Apparently, celebrities were
abundant on our streets in the
early part of the 20th century. 14
days after the ‘27 Yankees won the
World Series, Babe Ruth and Lou
Gehrig were found barnstorming
on fields located in the Stockyards,
the former lifeblood of the region.
A behemoth now sits in this place.
The EXPO Center supplies 80K
sq./ft. of tradeshow space, while

housing 55K sq./ft. of indoor turf primed for athletic
competition. A once ancient vacant lot, is now a
welcoming symbol of strength and a nod to an area
that molded us.
Speaking of sports. A leaky vacated strip mall anchor
became the newly renovated local “DisneyWorld” of
Sports. The ARENA Sports Academy has welcomed
tens of thousands through its doors. A mission
of uplifting youth has been paramount. The staff
believes in creating opportunities for young people
that are greater than sports, while drawing visitors
regionally and nationally. If you build it they will
come, but if you build it right…they will come back.
Marto Brewing, complimented by the newly
constructed Crowne-Marriot, has created a town
square experience with big city feel. One of the best
breweries in the country is found right here. Local
ownership leaves everything on the table in their
dedication to offer excellence.
Ownership at Avid Hotel continues the resurgence
of downtown giving encouragement that outside
investors believe in our progressive growth. The
leadership team at HoChunk are believers in
this premise as they continue to make a positive
impact developing the region’s greatest asset. The
riverfront.
These additions withstood the largest pandemic in
100 years. We look at them and see the heart and
resilience of our community.
– Jeff and Rachel Carlson, RE/MAX Preferred
B
Good news! Existing home sales continue to
trend up during this unprecedented time. Per the
National Association of Realtors, existing-home sales
grew for the fifth consecutive month in October to
a seasonally-adjusted annual rate of 6.85 million –
up 4.3% from the prior month and 26.6% from one
year ago. The numbers are phenomenal! October’s
national price increase marks 104 straight months of
year-over-year gains.
The median existing-home price was $313,000. 16%
more than in October 2019. Total housing inventory
declined to 1.42 million, enough to last 2.5 months.
A record low at this sales pace.More than 7 in 10
homes sold in October 2020.
Interest rates have never been better. As a result,
buyers are purchasing! Sellers anticipating sales,
have closely watched the activity of the market. Their
neighbor’s home sold in two days and they are anxious
to sell.
“A recent sales surge has now offset the spring market
losses,” per Yun with NAR. “With news that a COVID-19
vaccine will soon be available, and mortgage rates
projected to hover around 3% in 2021, I expect the
market’s growth to continue into 2021.” Yun, with NAR,
forecasts existing-home sales to rise by 10% to six
million in 2021.
Properties remained on the market for 21 days in
October. This is down from 36 days in October
2019. 72% of homes sold in October were on the
market for less than a month. First-time buyers were
responsible for 32% of sales in October, up from the
31% in both September 2020 and October 2019. Per
NAR’s 2020 Profile of Home
Buyers and Sellers.
Midwest sales jumped 8.6% to an annual rate of
1,640,000, that’s up 28.1% from a year ago!
Opportunities
for remote work
have current
homeowners
and first-time
buyers wanting
more space.
Last night I had
a conversation
with a client
relocating from
Los Angeles,
her employer is
allowing her to
work remotely. In
her words, “she
wants a simpler
way of life, not
the craziness of
LA, where every
time you pull out of your driveway, you’re not taking
your life in your hands.” A reminder of how great it is to
live here!
– Amy Kakacek, RE/MAX Preferred
Siouxland Magazine | Enjoy / 55

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