Siouxland Magazine - Volume 5 Issue 5

Volume 5, Issue 5 

presented by

Y O U R T E A M | O U R C O M M U N I T Y 

Caring for patients 

and welcoming worshipers. 

Shari Moon, GI Registered Nurse | Church Greeter 

Being connected to our community is just one way we care. 

That’s why you’ll see us in the office and around town 

making a difference — in many different ways. 

605-217-2667 • CNOS.NET 

ORTHOPAEDICS • NEUROSURGERY • NEUROLOGY • GASTROENTEROLOGY • GENERAL SURGERY 

DERMATOLOGY • RHEUMATOLOGY • PODIATRY • SPINE • OCCUPATIONAL MEDICINE • IMAGING CENTER

October 19 th 2023 

2023 SPEAKERS 

RYAN LEAK 

SPEAKER, 

EXECUTIVE COACH, & 

WALL STREET JOURNAL 

BEST-SELLING AUTHOR 

KENDRA SCOTT 

DESIGNER, FOUNDER, 

EXECUTIVE CHAIRWOMAN 

JOHN MAXWELL 

#1 LEADERSHIP EXPERT 

AND BEST-SELLING AUTHOR 

MARCUS BUCKINGHAM 

BEST-SELLING AUTHOR, 

GLOBAL RESEARCHER, 

AND STRENGTHS 

REVOLUTIONIST 

TICKETS 

www.SiouxlandMagazine.com 

Stoney Creek | 300 3rd Street, Sioux City, IA 51101

ON THE COVERCONTENTS 

Conversing 

8-17 10 Under 40 

19 Inclusive Peek – Maria Rundquist 

Collaborating 

20-21 Small Business Spotlight – Verde Outdoor 

22-23 IWCI’s Business Feature – Coffee & Purrs 

25 SBDC – Taking Care of Business 

27 Chamber – Let the Siouxland Chamber Work for You 

29 Experience Downtown – Revitalized Downtown Storefront Grants 

31 Council Connection – Representing Sioux City at the White House 

33 Leading the Way – Leadership Siouxland 

35 Future Foundation – Siouxland GO 

37 Tony Michaels – Hot Air 

BeComing 

38-39 Up From The Earth 

40-41 Ask the Therapist – Not Taking Rejection So Personally 

42-43 Health is a Journey – The Fear of Beginning 

44-45 Living Lumin – Keep Breathing, Please 

47 Dare 2B Great – Too Much of a Great Thing? 

Photo Credit Britton Hacke Photography.

Welcome To siouxland magazine 

It’s in these pages we educate and inspire. Even more importantly, we 

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 

business Empowering Conversations. 

Siouxland Magazine / 5 

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 

Want to be included in our November issue? Contact us soon! 

Deadline to reserve space is October 9th. Media Kit at siouxlandmagazine.com. 

E m p o w e r i n g 

Conversations, LLC 

siouxlandmagazine.com

Siouxland Magazine Writers 

Megan Fuhrman-Wheeler, 

Owner of MEGAN & CO. 

Apothecary + Teahouse 

Dr. Meghan Nelson & 

Dr. Ryan Allen, Co-owners 

of Lumin Therapy, LLC, 

Integrative Health & 

Education Provider 

Carly Howrey, 

Business 

Development 

Coordinator for 

Downtown Partners 

Sydney McManamy, 

President of Siouxland 

Growth Organization 

Tony “Michaels” Michalski, 

Writer & 

Account Executive 

Jackie Paulson, 

Licensed Mental 

Health Counselor & 

500Hr Yoga Instructor 

Todd Rausch, 

SBDC Regional 

Director at WITCC 

Amy Buster, 

Writer & Editor 

Cody Rininger, 

Owner of 2B Imperium 

& Certified Professional 

Fitness Instructorr 

Peggy Smith, 

Executive Director 

for Leadership 

Siouxland 

Britton Hacke, 

Photographer 

Up from the Earth 

Leadership Team 

Alex Watters, 

Sioux City Council 

Kari Nelson, 

Graphic Designer

Editors 

Note 

I am very excited to announce this year’s Top 10 Under 40 Winners! We had a record number of 

nominations which made the judges’ work difficult. Siouxland is fortunate to have so many kind and 

talented young professionals. After much deliberation, they arrived at their decision. 

Now to introduce our 2023 Winners… 

Andrew Gerodias 

Sarah Gill 

Korey Kletschke 

Jessica Martinez 

Sydney McManamy 

Chrystal Mollet 

Andrew Nilges 

Karina Pedroza 

Ivonet Torres De Anda 

Aaron Van Beek 

Siouxland Magazine / 7 

These individuals put so much heart into their work and passion projects. We want to take this time to 

applaud them, but even more, to support their efforts. Let’s do our part to keep the momentum rolling. 

In the following pages, you’ll find out how you can get involved. I encourage you to reach out to them, 

and share your thoughts and ideas. Is there an introduction you can make or resources you can provide? 

Every little bit helps. Also, consider sharing their Facebook posts that will pop up over the next few 

weeks, to help them and the work they are doing, get even more exposure. 

The conversations around town continue to circle around how we can keep young professionals in 

Siouxland. This is it. Give them your support. 

Congratulations to this year’s winners! 

Finally, Siouxland Magazine is excited to announce that we will be hosting the John Maxwell Live2Lead 

event on October 19th, bringing exceptional leadership development to our community. It is up to each 

of us to continue investing in our own growth and then bring someone up alongside us. We can’t give 

what we don’t have. Do this for yourself! Do this for others! I hope you’ll join us! 

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.

Andrew Gerodias 

LMHC, CADC 

Behavioral Therapist 

Rosecrance Jackson Centers 

What are you working on now? 

Through my work, I am trying to offer opportunities for 

people to create change within their lives and bring 

the best version of themselves to their loved ones and 

integrate into the community. I believe education and 

information help people to make the healthiest choices 

in their lives and through these actions, the community 

flourishes. I am also actively working on finding ways 

of bringing back the fraternal organizations, such as 

the Masonic bodies, back into the community to build 

connections and better the community. 

What is your vision for the future? 

I envision Siouxland becoming a more inviting place to 

live, grow, and develop. I see this happening through 

additional opportunities for Siouxland residents to begin 

their journey through employment, home ownership, and 

educational opportunities. 

What would you like to see happen in Siouxland? 

I believe Siouxland offers amazing activities for people 

to take part in around the area. With places such as the 

public museum, the Lewis and Clark Interpretive Center, 

Floyd Monument, and the Children’s Museum there are 

plenty of things to do in Sioux City. This may bring people 

to visit, but it is becoming increasingly difficult for people 

to begin their journey here due to the lack of affordable 

housing. A mixture of expanding housing opportunities 

and bringing well-paying jobs to the area could increase 

the possibility of keeping our young talent here in the 

area. 

What are you doing to make that happen? 

Through my work at Rosecrance Jackson Centers, I 

strive to assist my clients in building their lives through 

sober living, mental health services, and bringing out 

the abilities which will reinforce their lives and better 

Siouxland. In the state of Iowa, 35.7% of adults reported 

having a serious mental illness, or 45,000, didn’t receive 

any services. I want to help in providing a place for those 

services to be given. As an educator at Morningside, I do 

similar work promoting the growth of young adults who 

are striving to obtain their education and do great things 

in the communities. I also continue to advocate for the 

events, activities, locations, food, and people of Siouxland 

which kept me in the area. 

How can people help you make that happen? 

Although I understand not everyone I work with will stay in 

Siouxland, I believe if we can provide all the necessities a 

family could need to thrive there is a much better chance of 

holding onto young and growing families. If more people 

can come together with a unified voice and advocate for 

those in need or those just getting started with their life 

journey, we can help provide what is needed. I believe you 

do not need to be rich to be able to offer your abilities, 

your time, and your voice to make change for those who 

need it. Just take the time to be involved. 

Volunteer Organizations 

Morningside Masonic Lodge #615 

Abu Bekr Shrine Temple 

Sioux City Scottish Rite 

Morningside University Alumni Board 

Grace United Methodist Church 

Friends of Latham Park 

presented by 

“I’m not perfect… but I’m enough.”

Sarah Gill 

Photographer, Body Image Coach, 

Yoga Teacher & Community Builder 

Let Free Your Wild Studio 


Our Facebook group, Body Love Warriors, just had our 

2nd annual body positive pool party that raised money as 

well as collected non-perishable donations for Safe Place, 

an organization we love and have donated to the last 4-5 

years. I am honored to have recently joined the SUX PRIDE 

Committee and am currently in the beginning stages of 

planning PRIDE Night on Historic 4th St. in 2024. I am 

looking forward to meeting new folks and adding more 

fun things to do downtown. I’ll have a couple body image 

workshops coming up this Winter and Spring too! 


I would love to see more accessible spaces for all bodies 

to enjoy. A future where folks are free to be themselves. 

I would love to have the city attract and nurture more 

businesses that center around sustainability and more 

green spaces for the community to gather; and to have 

Sioux City continue to be where small businesses thrive. 

that foster connection and healing while building community. 

At these community events, we will usually raise money and/ 

or collect donations for local nonprofits. I advocate for larger 

bodies to have access and am in the beginning of starting 

up a consulting business where folks can hire me to come in 

and teach them about body image and help them find ways 

to improve their space and business to be accessible for all 

bodies. As a yoga teacher, I love to hold space for folks to get 

curious about their body image while getting in touch with 

their bodies through joyful movement and mindfulness. I also 

pour myself into continuing education so I can continue to 

grow as a person. 


The best way to help me make this happen is to book a 

session with me, come to the community events, come to a 

retreat, share my work, refer your friends, hire me to speak 

to your class/workplace. Come to a Body Image Bootcamp 

workshop if you really want to dive deep into your body 

image. Unpacking what influences our body image is hard 

and it can get messy, but it frees up so much brain space for 

us to concentrate on more important things. It took me 31 

years to figure out that my body wasn’t the problem. Now, I’m 

37 and have the tools to know better. I want to help others 

start on their own path of body image healing. 


SUX PRIDE Committee 

presented by 

“And here you are living despite it all.” 


I would like to see more support for local businesses by 

providing affordable rent, as well as housing, which will 

encourage entrepreneurship and will help keep folks in 

Siouxland. I would also love to see more art and events 

that celebrate diversity. 


For the last six years, I was using photography as my 

medium. I have offered a body affirming space for folks to 

be seen and celebrated for who they are. I also offer a sliding 

scale for the LGBTQIA+ Community. As a body image 

coach, I offer workshops, retreats, and put together events

Korey Kletschke 

Branch Manager, 

Associate Vice President/Investments 

Stifel 


I have been working with local businesses and nonprofits 

providing financial wellness programs to their employees. 

Financial matters are one of the leading stressors 

that employees bring to work leading to decreased 

productivity, higher turnover, and increased health care 

problems. To help alleviate these issues, our financial 

wellness programs are designed to help empower 

employees to live better lives. It’s rewarding to see how 

some basic financial education can make a positive impact 

on the trajectory of someone’s life. 


Sioux City is a great place to live, work, and raise a family. 

My vision for Siouxland is that we can continue to focus on 

ways to attract and retain young professionals. We have 

made a lot of progress but I think we still have work to do. 

Putting continued emphasis on what young families are 

looking for will help our community continue to move in 

the right direction. 

to these students, I share my own experiences of how 

getting involved in local organizations and nonprofits has 

helped me grow on both personal and professional levels. 

I owe a lot of my success to the people and organizations 

in Siouxland and I feel that I have a duty to give back. 

When talking to students, I show them that they can live 

prosperous, fulfilling lives by sticking around Siouxland. 

My goal is to show them that by taking ownership within 

their community that they have the ability to help shape 

the future of where they live. 


People can take steps to get more involved. Whether 

it’s donating your time or resources, everybody should 

want to see Siouxland continue to prosper for future 

generations. Are there specific causes that are important 

to you? Are there things that we don’t have that would 

help improve our community? Things aren’t going to 

change if people don’t take the initiative to get involved 

and make things happen. Are you unsure of how you can 

get involved? Reach out to me and I’m happy to help get 

you in the right direction. One thing that I’ve noticed is 

that the people living the most fulfilling lives in Siouxland 

are also those that are the most active in our community. 

I hope that everybody in Siouxland can take that type of 

pride in where we live. 


Siouxland Growth Organization 

Siouxland Estate Planning Council 

100+ Men Who Care 

Rotary Club of Sioux City 

presented by 

“Someone’s sitting in the shade today 

because someone planted a tree a long 

time ago.” 


I would like to see more people take a vested interest in 

what happens in Siouxland. Siouxland is big enough to 

have all the amenities that we need but still small enough 

that you can still have a voice and I value that I can be part 

of the solution to the place that my family calls home. I 

hope more people realize this early on in life and take the 

initiative to go out and make a difference. 


I work with the local high schools and colleges educating 

their students on professional development. When talking

Jessica Martinez, MA, CCC-SLP, IBCLC 

Speech-Language Pathologist & 

Intl. Board-Certified Lactation Consultant 

Floyd Valley Healthcare 

presented by 

It’s crucial that we have excellent and easily accessible medical 

facilities. Our schools should be staffed with great teachers 

and contain the resources necessary for our children to thrive 

here. And it would be fantastic to have more local activities and 

places to hang out, like parks, theaters, and community events. 

Born and raised in LeMars, and now a mother myself, I am 

proud of our community. However, I know we can make our 

community more attractive to outsiders and give our current 

residents more reasons to stay and be proud of the place they 

call home. 


I would like to see every mother and woman empowered 

and supported during their postpartum journey, ensuring 

they feel confident, educated, and cherished. I firmly believe 

that motherhood should be celebrated and that all children 

deserve the highest quality healthcare and education locally. 


My current passion projects are centered around infants, 

children, healthcare, and education. I utilize my professional 

career as a Speech-Language Pathologist (SLP) and 

International Board-Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC) 

to support these endeavors. 

Most recently, I completed my IBCLC licensure which allows 

me to empower women by providing essential support and 

guidance during their breastfeeding journey. I educate 

women about breastfeeding benefits and techniques, offer 

personalized assistance, emotional support, and problemsolving 

solutions. While respecting the mother’s individual 

choices regarding infant feeding, my expertise and 

compassion help them make informed decisions, fostering 

a positive and rewarding breastfeeding experience for both 

mother and baby. 

I am a member of the Iowa SIDS Foundation, which educates 

on safe sleep practices, raises money for research and 

resources such as bassinets for local families in need, and 

holds memorials for infants at the annual Iowa SIDS Walk. 

As a member of the LeMars Community Schools Foundation 

Board, I assist with matters such as scholarships provided to 

local high school seniors, and subcommittees that honor 

local teachers with awards such as the “Teacher of the Year.” 


Looking ahead to the future of my community, I really want 

to see a continued increase in quality healthcare, education, 

and family activities here in Siouxland. 


Through my employment at Floyd Valley Healthcare, I volunteer 

and participate in committees within the hospital such as 

the Obstetrics Committee. Committees like these focus on 

utilizing evidence-based practices and patient satisfaction to 

update protocols to provide exceptional, progressive care to 

all our local families. 

I organize internship opportunities for college students and 

job shadowing opportunities for high school students. My 

goal is to empower the next generation with the knowledge 

and firsthand experience as speech-language pathologists or 

lactation professionals, helping them understand the profound 

impact they can have in these essential fields. 

I also volunteer for local boards that focus on infant safety and 

health and local educational systems. 


Take a moment to think about what interests you, and then 

explore career and volunteer opportunities that align with 

those passions. Each of us possesses beautiful and unique 

skills that can be used to make a difference in the lives of 

others. In Siouxland, we are fortunate to have a supportive 

community, and when we come together and contribute our 

talents, incredible things can happen. 


Iowa SIDS Foundation 

LeMars Community School District Foundation Board 

Floyd Valley Health Obstetrics Committee 

“A voice is a voice, no matter how small.”

Sydney McManamy 

REALTOR® 

United Real Estate Solutions 

presented by 

someone finds their “home” away from the office, it is 

easier to acclimate to their new normal and connect with 

the community in which they live. 


I describe myself as one of Siouxland’s cheerleaders! I 

have had the opportunity to sit in rooms that keep me up 

to date on what is happening around town. I do my best 

to share what I know while encouraging people to look for 

places and find opportunities around Siouxland that they 

are passionate about. 


I have the privilege of being on several boards that focus 

on community connections and making Siouxland not 

only a better place to live and work, but a destination 

people want to visit and stay. Through my involvement 

in Siouxland GO, I work to create opportunities to 

make professionals and entrepreneurs feel they are an 

important part of this community. There are so many 

great events and traditions in Siouxland that need to be 

preserved and shared. Serving on the River-Cade Board, 

EFTAB – Events Facilities & Tourism Advisory Board, and 

RAGBRAI Hospitality Committee have allowed me to help 

bring some of the events that I loved growing up to the 

families of today in my hometown. 


I would love to see Siouxland continue to rally around small 

businesses and entrepreneurs. There are an incredible 

number of passionate business leaders in Siouxland 

that put everything into growing their business and the 

community. I enjoy being able to support new restaurants, 

coffee shops, and stores as they open but also have some 

of my favorite Siouxland staples that I enjoy sharing with 

others when they visit our community! 


I would love to see each person in our community find 

one passion outside of their career that brings them 

fulfillment. This personal ideology is one of the many 

reasons I am so heavily involved in Siouxland. I believe 

that when someone starts a new career, starts a career in 

a new community, or enters a new stage of life, there is 

an unintended isolation that people go through. When 


As a Siouxland resident, please encourage your friends, 

coworkers, and employees to get involved outside of 

their careers. If they’re not sure what their passions are, 

encourage them to sign up for an organization where they 

can meet potential friends or find nonprofit work where 

they feel connected. 

If community engagement isn’t what fills their cup, 

encourage them to find events happening around 

town! Did you know that there is a community calendar 

on exploresiouxcity.org? Now you do! I would love for 

all businesses, organizations, nonprofits, and groups to 

start submitting events to the Visitor Bureau’s website so 

visitors and locals have a one-stop-shop for all the fun 

things they can do! 


Siouxland Growth Organization (Siouxland GO) - 2023 

President, 2021-2022 Secretary 

Siouxland Chamber of Commerce Board Member 

Young Professionals of Iowa Board Member 

City of Sioux City Events Facilities Tourism Advisory 

Board Member 

Port of Sioux City River-Cade Board Member 

River-Cade Royalty Committee Member 

Summer In Siouxland Committee Member 

2023 RAGBRAI Hospitality Committee Member 

United Way Loan Executive Volunteer 

“Alone, we can do so little; together, we 

can do so much.”

Chrystal E. Mollet 

Trust Officer 

Security National Bank Wealth Management 

presented by 


I would like to see leaders in Siouxland pledge long-term 

commitment to mentor young individuals, foster engagement 

in workplaces, and build a lasting positive culture. 


As an Executive Board member for the Siouxland 

Community Foundation, I have the privilege of reviewing 

scholarships and grants from all over Siouxland, which 

gives me a unique insight into the needs of the Siouxland 

community, and the philanthropy and resources available 

to meet those needs. I use the insight I have gained when 

speaking to others about what resources might be available 

to them, as well as what opportunities exist to volunteer and 

contribute within the community. The Foundation’s hallmark 

event, The Big Give, is just around the corner on October 3, 

2023. I take every chance to participate in the pre-meetings 

with the Foundation staff, and the not-for-profit groups, and 

to help provide guidance to the groups on effective tips for 

marketing their cause and creating more visibility prior to 

and during the event. 

I am also active in various leadership committees in 

my organization that seek to improve processes and 

procedures, to drive employee job satisfaction, retention, 

and culture; the positivity has proven to be contagious. 

I coordinate volunteer opportunities for my organization, 

and work with our marketing team to promote them 

company-wide. We have ongoing monthly commitments 

to the Soup Kitchen, and semiannually to the Food Bank 

of Siouxland. When I discover underserved organizations, I 

strive to organize group volunteering events to assist them. 


I encourage and assist other leaders to improve their workplace 

culture by mentoring current employees, and by building a 

lasting framework for current and future mentors to utilize in 

their organizations for successful onboarding and retention 

of the young talent in Siouxland. I train and mentor new hires 

in my department and provide shadowing opportunities 

to employees throughout the company. Listening is the 

most invaluable tool in this quest. I have sat with new hires 

to discuss their onboarding experiences and provided my 

insights on how to combine old and new approaches to help 

our company shape a more refined and revitalized onboarding 

process. I discuss the ongoing concerns and progress with 

senior leadership and encourage their thoughts, insights, 

and participation in the process with the ultimate end goal of 

establishing a strong, connected, and ongoing positive culture 

in our organization. I also call on peers in other businesses to 

discuss and share what has and has not worked for them in 

their own process. 


Others can offer to mentor someone in their workplace, or 

outside of it, by first listening to their needs, and then sharing 

their knowledge and experiences to assist them in forming 

goals. It doesn’t stop there—mentors must continue being a 

constant resource for individuals by following up throughout 

a mentee’s career journey. 


Siouxland Community Foundation 

The Soup Kitchen 

Food Bank of Siouxland 

Miracle League 

“Be the change you wish to see in the world.” 


My vision for the future is to see improved engagement and 

retention of the young talent of Siouxland.

Andrew Nilges 

Executive Director 

North Sioux City Economic Development Corp. 


With the North Sioux City Economic Development 

Corporation (NSCEDC), I have been working with existing 

businesses to help them grow and thrive, as well as 

recruiting new businesses to North Sioux City. I have been 

working with the City of North Sioux City to establish a new 

industrial park which will open significant opportunities 

for further economic development in the community. I 

have also been working on workforce housing, advocacy 

efforts, and infrastructure planning. I have had the honor 

of serving on the Dakota Valley School Board for the past 

two years. In 2022, Dakota Valley was ranked the 3rd best 

school district in the state of South Dakota. I am excited to 

continue working as a board member to see that Dakota 

Valley remains a top school district. I am serving on several 

boards and committees to strategically grow North Sioux 

City and the Siouxland area. I am also working to improve 

as a coach ahead of the fall youth soccer season. 


My vision for the future of Siouxland centers around 

establishing opportunities for people living here and those 

looking at relocating here. These opportunities include 

creating high-quality job opportunities, developing 

affordable housing, enhancing educational opportunities, 

and establishing more events and activities. I believe if we 

build upon recent progress, we’ll continue to see growth. 

More importantly, lives will be positively impacted. 

presented by 

over the past several years. My hope is to see the positive 

momentum continue. If the area is going to continue 

growing and thriving, then we need people celebrating 

what makes our home great. It is always wonderful to see 

people spreading positivity, supporting small businesses, 

attending events, serving nonprofits, and so much more. 

The more individuals come together as a community the 

better off we’ll all be. 


In my role at the NSCEDC, I have the opportunity to grow 

the community through economic development efforts, 

hosting events, advocacy, and more. I serve on several 

boards which support tourism, leadership development, 

and economic development. I try to support education 

and youth development through my roles as a school 

board member and as a coach. I always try to spread 

positivity by sharing all that’s great about North Sioux City 

and Siouxland. 


I appreciate people embracing what makes Siouxland 

great. I love it when people are attending events, 

supporting small businesses, volunteering, and spreading 

positivity. My hope is that people will continue to embrace 

all the good in Siouxland. At the same time, I hope people 

recognize the ways Siouxland can improve as a region, 

not be blind to where we can do better. As we identify 

opportunities to better our area, I’d encourage people 

to be part of the change, to get engaged in improving 

Siouxland. 


Dakota Valley School Board 

Leadership Siouxland Board 

Explore Sioux City Board 

Heartland Economic Development Course Board 

South Eastern Council of Governments (SECOG) Board 

EDPA Legislative Committee 

Youth Soccer Coach 

“Love your family, work super hard, live 

your passion.” 


I am incredibly optimistic about Siouxland’s future. We 

might not always realize it living here day to day, but the 

Siouxland region has seen an incredible amount of growth


Title III Project Manager 

Western Iowa Tech Community College 

presented by 


I have worked in higher education for almost ten years, and it 

has been my mission to advocate and create changes so more 

people in our community not only have access to education, 

but also succeed and strive within those realms. I strive to 

create spaces and opportunities for other people through 

mentorship and by advocating for policies that promote equal 

access to education, employment, and civic engagement. 


To unlock the full potential of diversity in Siouxland, it is essential 

to create inclusive policies, practices, and spaces that embrace 

and celebrate the contributions of all community members. 


I am on the Board for Women Aware. I believe in its work 

to provide resources to every member of the community. 

I especially believe in the mission and purpose of Women 

of Excellence in celebrating truly extraordinary women in 

Siouxland. As a project manager at Western Iowa Tech, I 

strive to create changes that ensure all students know that 

they belong in institutions of higher education, so they can 

reach their goals and succeed in education and beyond. 

This includes creating a culture of inclusion and instituting 

equitable policies. 


Unity in Action, Board President 

Women Aware-Strategic Planning Committee 

Bishop Heelan Leadership & Governance Committee 

Siouxland Autism Acceptance Walk 

“Believing in your talents, your abilities, and your 

self-worth can empower you to walk down an 

even brighter path.” 


Siouxland has the potential to be a hub of cultural wealth. 

It is a place where anyone can pursue their goals and 

dreams. By harnessing the power of diversity and ensuring 

that everyone feels included and valued, Siouxland can 

leverage its cultural wealth to propel the community to new 

heights of innovation, prosperity, and social cohesion. 


Siouxland, as a community, needs to invest in its young 

people so they can first believe in themselves and then be 

provided with the resources and opportunities to thrive. 

I would love to see Siouxland create more mentorship 

opportunities for young adults, especially for young people 

of color. There is a tremendous amount of undiscovered 

young talent in Siouxland and all they need is for someone 

to provide the opportunities for them to succeed. They 

need to be included in networking circles and valued for 

who they are and the experiences they bring, not just for 

what they represent.

Ivonet Torres De Anda 

Residential Realtor 

Century 21 ProLink 


I am very passionate about our DACA (Deferred Action for 

Childhood Arrivals) and our Spanish speaking community 

in Siouxland, and because of this, a group of us founded 

Siouxland’s first bilingual/Spanish theater program in our 

metro area, El Proyecto Dramatico del Teatro New Stage 

Players. It is important to help spread the message of the 

importance diversity plays in our community, the obstacles 

and struggles and the achievements many immigrants 

face when coming to a new country. It’s a very powerful 

and inspiring program that helps in raising awareness that 

all cultures are beautiful and not all have had easy paths 

to be where they are now. I’m also a bilingual residential 

realtor licensed in Iowa & Nebraska and enjoy educating 

our community on the benefits of becoming homeowners. 

I’ve assisted several families with the sale and purchase 

of a home, many of whom are first-time homebuyers; the 

feeling of handing them their keys to the place they’ll call 

home at the end of the process is by far my favorite part 

of what I do.. 


We live in a vibrant and diverse community that has 

several opportunities for growth both personally and 

professionally. It is because of great leadership and 

true trailblazers within several organizations that many 

communities have prospered and grown. My vision is to 

keep being the change and motivate others to do the 

same. 

presented by 

time to listen and guide individuals, especially our youth, 

to get to where they want to be. There are many great 

programs in our local colleges looking for individuals to 

assist with mentoring on a yearly basis. Churches and 

organizations also have these types of programs that 

people may get involved in. If we want to see the change, 

we must be the change. 


Our program is currently creating a production about 

people from Siouxland who will share their stories to 

help others understand and see that anything is possible 

even if you are not in your native land. These stories are 

inspirational and give a voice and shine light to those who 

in the past have felt like they lived in the shadows and 

were afraid or intimidated to share their life story as we 

all have more in common than we think we do. I’m also 

a proud supporter of the economic development in our 

area and enjoy connecting people to our local businesses 

and business leaders that are looking to start a business 

of their own one day. 


Involvement. There are many great organizations to 

volunteer your time in and make an impact in Siouxland. 


Siouxland Chamber of Commerce, Green Coat 

Ambassador, Executive Committee, Key Leadership 

Welcome Dinner Chair 

New Stage Players Performing Arts Center, Marketing 

Committee 

El Proyecto Dramatico del Teatro New Stage Players 

(Spanish/ Bilingual Theater) Co-founder, Sales/ 

Marketing & Sponsorship Director 

Unity in Action, Celebrate Siouxland 

“They’ll tell you you’re too loud, that you 

need to wait your turn, and ask the right 

people for permission. Do it anyway.” 


I would like to see mentorship programs continue to 

flourish. The talent is here, we just need to truly take the

Aaron Van Beek 

CEO 

Midwest Honor Flight 

presented by 

storytelling that captures the experiences and perspectives 

of individuals from different cultural backgrounds. It would 

be great to create opportunities for community members, 

particularly elders and cultural leaders, to share their stories, 

memories, and traditions. 

Siouxland Magazine | Conversing /17 


I saw a need in Northwest Iowa, South Dakota, Northeast 

Nebraska, and Southwest Minnesota - Veterans were not 

having the time or the funds to see their memorials in 

Washington, D.C. In 2017, I started the Midwest Honor 

Flight through the Honor Flight Network. At the time, I 

was a 20-year-old college student studying to become an 

elementary teacher. Midwest Honor Flight has orchestrated 

15 successful missions, honoring more than 1,300 Veterans 

by May 2023 at no cost to them. With more than 720 

Veterans waiting to go, and more applying each day, we 

hope to continue funding and flying four flights each year. 


If America thought it was important to build a memorial to 

their service and sacrifice, Midwest Honor Flight believes 

it’s important for them to visit their memorial before it’s 

too late. We can never repay them for what they’ve done. 

An “Honor Flight Tour” is simply a small token of our 

appreciation for everything they’ve done. Throughout 

their Midwest Honor Flight tour, the Veterans are thanked, 

recognized, and admired for their service. They come home 

personally knowing how much their country loves them and 

respects them. Veterans will never forget this gratitude and 

adoration. 


Preserving the history of Siouxland while embracing new 

generations, cultures, and diversity is important. Siouxland 

has such a rich history not only in the structures of downtown 

but also with the families that have lived here for generations. 

We also have such a diverse community that has become 

part of Siouxland over the years. Each person, each family, 

and each culture has a story to be told. I would encourage 


By sharing their stories, Veterans may help themselves process 

and understand their experiences and also help those around 

them get a glimpse into military service. We need reminders of 

what war and oppression truly look like, to stay the course and 

fight the good fight of freedom and liberty for all. Preserving 

Veteran stories is an excellent way of showing our support and 

appreciation for all that our Veterans have done, and all that 

the military is still doing and sacrificing, all over the world. 


Encourage the Veterans that you know to share their story and 

to take their Honor Flight. Oral histories and traditions are 

often passed down for generations. They tell more than just 

the dates and places of service; they bring to life the details. By 

hearing history from the veterans who experienced it in living 

color, it not only makes those experiences all that more real, 

but it also enhances their stories. Those stories are no longer 

just dates and names in a history book, but the lives of a group 

of living, breathing humans and the valiant actions they took 

on behalf of freedom and country. 


Previously volunteer Director for Midwest Honor Flight for the 

first five years before being offered the CEO position (newly 

created) 

Siouxland Philanthropy Board 

Wreaths Across America Sioux Center 

Wreaths Across America South Dakota Veterans Cemetery 

Freedom Festival Board 

Midwest Veterans Fundraising Group Board 

Lone Eagle Honor Flight volunteer 

Honor Flight Network Volunteer Tour Guide 

“We can’t help everyone, but everyone can help 

someone..”

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W E A R E P R O U D O F O U R T E A M F O R 

M A K I N G A D I F F E R E N C E I N T H E C O M M U N I T Y 

C O N G R A T U L A T I O N S S Y D N E Y M C M A N A M Y 

T O P 1 0 U N D E R 4 0

Inclusive Peek – Maria Rundquist 

What challenges have you experienced in 

Siouxland? 

I have had many challenges, but the most significant is not 

being elected in Sioux City. After several losses, I decided 

to stop being on the ballot and seek other opportunities. 

Currently, I am a registered FINRA Arbitrator and recovering 

from a total knee replacement surgery. I am getting better 

each day and enjoying traveling with my family. 

The reason I wanted to be elected was to demonstrate to 

public officials how to be a good public servant. Our political 

environment is so divided and toxic. Some politicians are 

corrupt: wanting power and to get rich quick at the expense 

of the people they serve. Nothing gets done about the real 

issues affecting our people. Because of that I have lost interest 

in putting my name on the ballot again. However, I recently sent 

a letter of interest to the school board to serve for a remainingterm 

vacancy on the school board as an appointee. 

How has Siouxland been welcoming? 

I have seen some changes over the years, welcoming people 

from all walks of life, including people of color. However, we 

have a long way to go to be fully 

welcoming to everyone. We need 

more people of color, and more 

women, in all levels of government. 

What do you want the people 

of Siouxland to know? 

I want them to be kind, respectful, 

truthful, and impartial. I want 

them to get involved in our 

community, to serve on boards 

and commissions, and/or to 

volunteer for any organization of 

their choice. It is also important to 

take care of yourself physically and 

Maria Rundquist 

mentally. I have served on many 

boards and commissions at varying levels of our government. It is 

satisfying to look at all I have achieved since I moved to Sioux City. 

Most of all, it feels good to receive respect from my neighbors. I 

would like to see the young generations assume leadership roles 

and bring good ideas to make our community the best it can be. 

“Equality is the soul of liberty; there is, in fact, no liberties without it.” 

Inclusive Peek – In Spanish 

¿Qué desafíos ha experimentado en Siouxland? 

He tenido muchos desafíos, pero el más significativo fue no 

ser elegida en Sioux City. Después de varias pérdidas, decidí 

dejar de estar en la boleta y buscar otras oportunidades. 

Actualmente, soy un árbitro registrada de FINRA y me estoy 

recuperando de una cirugía de reemplazo total de rodilla. 

Estoy mejorando cada día y disfruto viajar con mi familia. 

La razón por la que quería ser elegida era para demostrarles 

a los funcionarios públicos cómo ser una buena servidora 

pública. Nuestro entorno político está tan dividido y es 

tóxico. Algunos políticos son corruptos; querer poder y 

enriquecerse rápidamente a expensas de las personas a las 

que sirven. No se hace nada sobre los problemas reales que 

afectan a nuestra gente. Debido a eso, he perdido interés 

en volver a poner mi nombre en la boleta. Sin embargo, 

recientemente envié una carta de interés a la junta escolar 

para ocupar una vacante del término restante en la junta 

escolar como persona designada. 

– Frances Wright 

¿Cómo ha sido la recibida de Siouxland? 

He visto algunos cambios a lo largo de los años, dando la 

bienvenida a personas de todos los ámbitos de la vida, incluidas 

las personas de color. Sin embargo, tenemos un largo camino 

por recorrer para ser completamente acogedores con todos. 

Necesitamos más personas de color y más mujeres en todos los 

niveles de gobierno.. 

¿Qué quiere que sepa la gente de Siouxland? 

Quiero que sean amables, respetuosos, veraces e imparciales. 

Quiero que se involucren en nuestra comunidad, que sirvan en 

juntas y comisiones y/o que se ofrezcan como voluntarios para 

cualquier organización de su elección. También es importante 

cuidarse física y mentalmente. He servido en muchas juntas 

y comisiones en diferentes niveles de nuestro gobierno. Es 

satisfactorio ver todo lo que he logrado desde que me mudé 

a Sioux City. Sobre todo, se siente bien recibir el respeto de 

mis vecinos. Me gustaría ver a las generaciones jóvenes asumir 

roles de liderazgo y traer buenas ideas para hacer que nuestra 

comunidad sea lo mejor posible. 

Siouxland Magazine | Conversing / 19 

“La igualdad es el alma de la libertad; de hecho, no hay libertades sin ella.” 

– Frances Wright

Siouxland Magazine | Collaborating / 20 

Want to join 

Stacie on a 

Facebook 

Spotlight? 

Small Business Spotlight 

Verde Outdoor 

By Amy Buster 

In today’s business world, getting your 

product or service to your target audience is 

the backbone of your success. 

In the Siouxland community, Verde Outdoor is a 

company skilled in helping your business reach that 

goal. 

“Billboards are the most effective way of formal 

marketing right now. They help brand your company 

and what you bring to the area, not strictly your 

product or service. Our billboards can tell that story 

in an incredibly effective manner. They’re always 

there. They’re always out in front of you. You can’t 

change the channel or turn them off. Blue tooth and 

podcasts won’t stop the effectiveness of billboards 

from working. The message is so strong and so 

present. That’s why our customers love them so 

much. We see it repeatedly with increased renewal 

rates,” stated new General Manager David English. 

If you have considered using billboards as part 

of your advertising campaign but haven’t, he 

recommended talking to one of the team. 

“There are a lot of assumptions about requirements 

in a billboard campaign about costs, and how long 

you have to have a board up. You don’t always need 

a board on the highway. If you’re a local company, 

having a board on a local street might benefit you 

and your business more. You would be putting your 

message out in front of local traffic; these are the 

people you see in the grocery store, at church, that 

you play ball with, or that your children are friends 

with; these are the people you serve as customers. 

Many people on I-29 are great people, but they are 

going from Kansas City up to Minneapolis; they’re 

not your target audience. That’s what our team can 

bring to the table for you. We can take the time to 

explain to you why some boards would work for 

your business and why some might not work as well. 

Those conversations are what help lead people to 

your business. It is really fun to start having those highend 

intelligent conversations with clients and go into 

great depth and detail on how we can best serve you,” 

shared David. 

When David mentions billboards, he isn’t just talking 

about signs on a post. In today’s digitally enhanced 

world, Verde Outdoor utilizes Static Billboards and 

Digital Billboards. 

“There’s no such thing as dated copy on a digital board. 

Concerts, venues you can promote all kinds of things, 

and it’s flexible and easy for the client. It’s a brilliant 

medium and intelligent way to promote your message. 

They’re going to be a mainstay of what we do. Your 

entire marketing budget doesn’t need to be outdoors, 

but some of it should be. We serve all of Siouxland. 

We have businesses in Minnesota, Iowa, South Dakota, 

and Nebraska. Geographically, it’s a huge footprint 

that we serve. Touching more than 900 boards, we 

have a presence anywhere in Siouxland. We service 

many incredible communities with boutiques, the 

mom and pop stores, restaurants, and local heating 

and cooling companies. These small cities bring such 

a powerful punch to our area. We love serving these 

communities,” said David. 

So what was it about 

Verde Outdoor that 

brought David to Sioux 

City to accept the role of 

New General Manager? 

“Before I accepted the 

position and agreed to 

jump and move up here, 

the company brought me 

up to meet with the team 

first. I won’t ever forget 

that trip. I was working for 

a locally owned Outdoor 

David English


Verde Outdoor billboard. 

Advertising company, and I’d heard great things 

about Verde Outdoor from people in the business 

that I knew and trusted. I come from a tiny town in 

Kansas. Despite having lived in Kansas City for so 

long, I still have a little bit of that Midwestern country 

boy in me. Something is exciting about returning to 

a community designed for families, for people trying 

to earn their own path. It was a challenge I hadn’t 

seen anywhere else. I embraced that challenge, and 

thankfully so did my family. I love introducing my 

family back into a little of that Midwestern feel. Sioux 

City, from the minute we came to town, provided 

that. It was the combination of the great company 

itself and the opportunity to embrace yourself and 

dive into a community like this and be part of a really 

neat place,” said David. 

However, what Verde Outdoor can do for your 

company is only half of the story. The company itself, 

the TEAM that delivers with its heart and soul for 

every business they serve, is another story in itself. 

“TEAM, the people of the company, and a lot of 

passion and experience; we have a lot of people that 

were here when Avery Outdoors was the company, 

and then when Verde bought it, we added to it. 

I’ve never been involved with another company or 

organization that leads with so much care and 

compassion for the communities that they serve. 

The installers get up early on a Saturday morning 

after a night of storms to go check on the boards; 

the charting managers and the graphic designers 

come in early because we have a big project in the 

works. We serve a community and are responsible 

for serving it properly. We have a voice with our 

billboards that can help many businesses in the area. 

We understand these locally owned businesses, 

which is most of the people we work with at Verde 

Outdoor. They can trust us to help market and grow 

their business. That’s a huge responsibility, one we 

truly understand and respect. There is a connection 

that you have to have with the people that you serve 

and the people that you work with as well,” explained 

David. 

The Siouxland Branch of Verde Outdoor is located at 

2420 Correctionville Road, Sioux City, Iowa 51106. 

Find them online at verdeoutdoor.com or reach them 

by phone at 1-800-369-SIGN (7446). 

Amy Buster has been working as a writer/editor for 

the past 25 years. The majority of her work has been 

writing and editing for small-town newspapers in 

both the Kansas City Metro area and the Siouxland 

Community. 

Siouxland Magazine is Committed to 

Supporting Siouxland’s Local Small 

Businesses and Nonprofits. 

We have a platform, 

and we want to share it with you. 

Get in front of the community by joining 

Stacie on a Facebook Spotlight. 

Get the details by scanning 

the QR code or visit 

siouxlandmagazine.com.


Coffee & Purrs 

Iowa’s West Coast Initiative Feature 

Business Owner: Megan Thompson 

Business Name: Coffee & Purrs 

Main Products/Services: Coffee Shop and Cat Cafe 

Location: 500 Nebraska St. Sioux City, IA 51101 

Connect: coffeeandpurrs.co 

Short description of your business: 

Coffee & Purrs is a coffee shop and cat cafe dedicated to 

providing a warm, aesthetic, and comfortable space for the cats 

we house looking for their furever homes. All but one of our 

cats (we have a permanent resident kitty, Blue) are adoptable 

through the Siouxland Humane Society. Customers can come 

into our separate coffee shop where we serve lattes, frappes, 

smoothies, lotus (plant-based energy drinks), muffins, bagel 

breakfast sandwiches, dairy free smoothie bowls, overnight 

oats, and more. Then customers can choose to pay a small 

entry fee to go next door to our cat cafe lounge. The fee goes 

to helping to pay for the cats expenses, such as food and litter. 

What motivated you to start your business? What 

drives you each day? 

I decided to pursue Coffee & Purrs because I have always had 

a passion for helping cats, but never knew how I could put it 

to good use. I wanted to partner with the Siouxland Humane 

Society due to them always overflowing with cats and I thought 

I could help them out with providing a space for them to be 

taken care of until they get adopted. 

What’s unique about your business? Coffee & Purrs is 

Siouxland’s first and only cat cafe. We have nothing similar to 

this in our surrounding areas. Coffee & Purrs is also unique 

in the sense that customers looking to adopt can come to 

our facility to spend time with the kitties and really get to 

know them. When cats are in cages, they become scared & 

confused. When cats are scared, some get aggressive or super 

shy, but when the cats get to roam around and do their own 

thing, customers are more likely to see their true personality 

come out. They can have time to bond with the kitty in an 

environment where the cat feels safe and comfortable. 

Storefront on 5 th and Nebraska. 

What’s the biggest challenge you’ve had to 

overcome as you’ve grown your business? 

Back in October 2021 when I had the idea to open a cat cafe 

in Sioux City, back then, it was against city ordinance code 

in the downtown zone. I had to go in front of the city council 

and pitch them my idea. They asked me a load of questions 

which some of I never even thought of before, so it opened 

up new perspectives. This resulted in me going to multiple 

city council meetings up until they finally passed my city 

ordinance code request and it was then legal to open my 

cat cafe. Next on my to-do list was to figure out a way to 

fund this all by myself. I’ve ran a photography business 

since 2016, and I had built up quite a savings, so I decided 

to take nearly all of it out, take the risk and go for it. After 

finding the right space (the old Subway downtown) where 

I could have my coffee shop and cat cafe right next to each 

other, yet they still had separate air systems, I decided to 

sign the lease, launch Coffee & Purrs and start remodeling 

in October 2022. 

What has been your greatest reward? 

We have been successful at finding homes for 62 cats so far 

as of today, July 12th, 2023, since opening day, January 3rd, 

2023. It has been super rewarding to see these sweet kitties 

that we’ve gotten to know over time, find a home they know 

they will be safe and loved in for the rest of their lives. 

How have you benefited from the startup 

community in Sioux City and the region? What 

resources did you use? 

When I was pitching my ordinance change to the city, Coffee 

& Purrs got a lot of news coverage and hype around it. I 

had a lot of supporters already and it was really fascinating 

to see. I even had people reach out to me before we even 

opened to see if I was hiring. 

Are there any experiences that were particularly 

influential in that regard? 

My now manager of Coffee & Purrs, Kenzie Gass, reached 

out to me all the way back in November 2021 when she 

saw me on the news. She was the first one to help me rip 

up carpet in the cat cafe when we got access, and another 

employee, Jess Funkhouser came and helped me for long 

hours painting the ceiling. I had a lot of support all over 

Siouxland and it gave me a lot of confidence that I was 

taking the right risk. 

Why is it important for the community to support 

startups and small businesses? What more can be 

done to help them? 

The community is important to keep small businesses running 

because we wouldn’t be anywhere without the regulars, and 

the people who keep coming back. No business would ever 

survive more than a few years if the business didn’t have 

regulars, and those regulars telling other people. Word of

mouth is, in my opinion, the best 

thing you can do to support a 

business for free. Small businesses 

are what keeps the community 

going too, we host events that 

are fun for families and get more 

people out of their houses. We all 

just need to be supportive and help 

each other out! 

What is one thing you know 

now that you wish you knew 

when starting your business? 

This is really out there, but I wish 

I would have known how much 

money I was realllyyyyy going to 

spend to get this place going. 

Obviously I knew it was going Megan holding a cat for adoption. 

to be expensive, but I think it’s 

important to be more transparent about the startup costs of businesses, 

because some make it look so easy and affordable. All in all, it was 100% 

worth it, and I think it’s fun jumping into something without knowing the 

outcome. 


What advice would you give to someone looking to start a 

business? 

Keep on going. People will tell you it’s impossible or you’re not going 

to make it, but if you truly believe in yourself and have a true passion for 

the products or services you’re providing, there is no limit. Everyone has 

dreams for a reason, and 99% of the time, those dreams are meant to 

become reality, you just have to figure out the steps to make it happen 

and put in the work. Self-discipline really comes in handy when running 

a business. It can become hard sometimes, but no challenge is too hard 

to take on if it’s really what you want. 

How can the community continue to help your business? 

Share the word! Not many people know our cat cafe is completely 

separate from our coffee shop, so no, we don’t have kitties walking 

around on the counters where the food is being made of course! The 

kitties are housed right next door to our corner shop where they have a 

separate HVAC system, separate plumbing, and their own comfortable 

space to roam around in where customers can also go sit with them and 

enjoy their coffee/food! 

What are some future goals for your company? 

I would like to see us get to 100 adoptions by the end of 2023, but I 

would also just love for more people to discover our business so the 

kitties can get more cuddles and love! I really wanted this business 

to become an enjoyable space where people want to keep coming 

back, and I want it to be an overall great experience to the people of 

Siouxland and visitors. 

Iowa’s West Coast Initiative (IWCI) is a collaboration between the 

economic development organizations in Plymouth, Monona, and 

Woodbury counties, and includes the following organizations: 

City of Sioux City, Siouxland Interstate Metropolitan Planning 

Council, Siouxland Economic Development Corporation, The 

Siouxland Initiative, Le Mars Business Initiative Corporation, 

Woodbury County, and Monona County. Learn more about IWCI 

at www.IAWestCoast.com. 

Photos Contributed By Coffee & Purrs.


Korey C. Kletschke, CFP ® , ChFC ® 

Associate Vice President/Investments 

Branch Manager 

PERSONALIZED INVESTMENT STRATEGIES 

(712) 252-6931 | www.kletschkeinvest.com 

Kletschke Wealth 

Management Group 

700 4th Street, Suite 100 | Sioux City, Iowa 51101 

Stifel, Nicolaus & Company, Incorporated | Member SIPC & NYSE | www.stifel.com

In recent years, the LGBTQ community has made 

significant strides towards equality, including 

entrepreneurship. LGBTQ-owned businesses are 

thriving, thanks in part to the support provided by various 

governmental bodies. This article explores the specific 

assistance available to LGBTQ entrepreneurs in the state of 

Iowa and the support provided by the federal government. 

By highlighting these initiatives, we shed light on the 

steps taken to foster inclusivity, economic growth, and 

empowerment within the LGBTQ business community. 

Support from the State of Iowa: The state of Iowa has 

demonstrated a commitment to fostering an inclusive 

business environment and supporting LGBTQ-owned 

businesses through several initiatives. One notable program 

is the Iowa Small Business Administration (SBA). The SBA 

provides access to capital, counseling, and government 

contracting opportunities, helping LGBTQ entrepreneurs 

establish and expand their businesses. Through the SBA, 

LGBTQ business owners can receive valuable guidance on 

developing business plans, accessing funding options, and 

navigating the complexities of the marketplace. 

Additionally, Iowa’s Office of Minority and Women Business 

Development (OMWBD) plays a crucial role in assisting 

LGBTQ entrepreneurs. The OMWBD offers certification 

programs that help LGBTQ-owned businesses gain access 

to government procurement contracts. These contracts can 

provide significant growth opportunities, allowing LGBTQ 

entrepreneurs to showcase their products and services 

to a wider customer base. The OMWBD also facilitates 

networking events, workshops, and training sessions that 

help LGBTQ business owners build connections, enhance 

their skills, and increase their chances of success. 

Furthermore, the state of Iowa actively supports diversity 

and inclusion through its Supplier Diversity Program. This 

program encourages government agencies and contractors 

to partner with businesses owned by minorities, including 

LGBTQ individuals. By promoting diversity in their supply 

chains, the state aims to create a level playing field for all 

entrepreneurs, fostering economic growth and diversity in 

Iowa’s business landscape. 

Federal Support for LGBTQ-Owned Businesses: The 

federal government has also taken steps to support 

LGBTQ-owned businesses, recognizing their contributions 

to the economy and the need for inclusivity. The Small 

Business Administration (SBA) at the federal level provides 

resources and programs that benefit LGBTQ entrepreneurs 

SBDC – Taking Care of Business 

By Todd Rausch 

Government Support for LGBTQ-Owned Businesses: A Boost from Iowa State and the 

Federal Government 

nationwide. The SBA’s Office of Women’s Business 

Ownership offers training, counseling, and access to 

capital for LGBTQ women entrepreneurs, ensuring they 

receive the support necessary to succeed. The SBA’s 8(a) 

Business Development Program assists disadvantaged 

business owners, including those from the LGBTQ 

community, by offering business development services 

and government contracting opportunities. 

Additionally, the federal government has implemented 

policies to protect LGBTQ-owned businesses from 

discrimination. The U.S. Supreme Court’s landmark 

ruling in Bostock v. Clayton County extended workplace 

protections to LGBTQ individuals, including entrepreneurs, 

under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. This decision 

safeguards LGBTQ business owners from discriminatory 

practices based on sexual orientation or gender identity, 

promoting a fair and inclusive business environment. 

Furthermore, federal agencies, such as the Department 

of Commerce and the Department of Transportation, 

have developed supplier diversity programs to increase 

opportunities for marginalized business owners, including 

LGBTQ individuals. These programs promote inclusivity 

and encourage government agencies and contractors to 

engage with diverse suppliers, contributing to the growth 

and sustainability of LGBTQ-owned businesses. 

Conclusion: The state of Iowa and the federal government 

have demonstrated a commitment to supporting LGBTQowned 

businesses through various initiatives and 

programs. From the Iowa Small Business Administration to 

the federal Small Business Administration, these entities 

provide resources, access to capital, and networking 

opportunities that empower LGBTQ entrepreneurs. 

Additionally, federal policies and supplier diversity 

programs ensure protection from discrimination and 

promote inclusive business environments. By fostering a 

supportive and inclusive atmosphere, both the state of Iowa 

and the federal government are instrumental in driving 

the success and growth of LGBTQ-owned businesses, 

furthering equality and economic empowerment for the 

LGBTQ community. 

The SBDC is federally and state funded with the sole 

purpose of helping small businesses to succeed! Our 

entire purpose is to help you move your business forward. 

Todd Rausch, Regional Director for the Small Business 

Development Center at Western Iowa Tech Community 

College. 712-274-6454 | Todd.rausch@witcc.edu 

Siouxland Magazine | Collaborating / 25

Siouxland Magazine | Collaborating /26 

NGRATULATIONS 

CONGRATULATIONS 

RATULATIONS ANDREW 

NDREW 

Andrew Gerodia Andrew Gerodia 

CONGRATULATIONS 

ONGRATULATIONS 

ANDREW 

ONGRATULATIONS 

vioral Andrew Therapist Gerodia Andrew at Rosecrance Gerodia Jackson Centers 

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Siouxland 

at Therapist Rosecrance Andrew 

Magazine 

at Rosecrance Jackson Gerodia 

10 

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Behavioral Therapist at Rosecrance Jackson Centers 

Siouxland Magazine 10 under 40 

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Siouxland Magazine 10 under 40

Sioux City Shines for 50th Anniversary 

Siouxland Chamber of Commerce 

When you invite a group of friends or family 

members to your home, you usually tidy up a bit 

and do things to make them feel welcome. The 

same simple concept is true when 50,000 guests pay a 

visit to your community. Sioux City recently rolled out the 

red carpet for a historic number of bicyclists and support 

crew members for the 50th Anniversary of the Register’s 

Annual Great Bicycle Ride Across Iowa (RAGBRAI). Since the 

initial announcement of Sioux City as the RAGBRAI starting 

point, volunteers from all corners of the community worked 

together to create a fantastic event that highlighted what 

makes our city truly special. Thank you to everyone who 

helped make it a successful weekend. 

I am incredibly proud of the way so many Siouxlanders 

stepped up to greet our guests, address our appearance, 

and put our absolute best foot forward. I cannot 

remember a time when our downtown district, streets, and 

neighborhoods looked better. Thank you! Your efforts did 

not go unnoticed. Crews from the City of Sioux City and the 

Iowa Department of Transportation worked long hours to 

make sure spaces were mowed and litter was picked up. 

City leaders and staff, the RAGBRAI committees, Siouxland 

Chamber of Commerce, countless volunteers, and 

businesses also went the extra mile to prove our community 

can look exceptional. I heard wonderful compliments from 

fellow Iowans who made the trek to Sioux City, as well as first 

time visitors from other parts of the country. It proves that 

when we work together, we can accomplish so much. We 

have wonderful things going on in our community. 

This year I have the privilege and honor of serving as Chair 

of the Board of Directors of the Siouxland Chamber of 

Commerce. One of my priorities is the reduction of litter 

in our community, including strategies for cleanup and 

prevention. This is possible when we work together. It is 

my sincere hope and humble request that we all work to 

maintain this momentum and continue to do our part to 

eliminate litter. Visitors are in our community every day. 

We host concerts, conferences, sports tournaments, and 

weddings all year long. Since you never get a second 

chance to make a first impression, I challenge everyone to 

do their part and make sure we continue to be a destination 

that instills a sense of pride. 

Kristie VerMulm McManamy, Chair, Siouxland Chamber of 

Commerce Board of Directors 

Siouxland Magazine | Collaborating BeComing / 27 / 27

Congratulations, Chrystal. 

Thank you for always making 

Everything Matter. 

Chrystal 

Mollet 

Congratulations 


Top 10 Under 40 

Western Iowa Tech is proud of you.

Experience Downtown 

By Carly Howrey 

Revitalized Downtown Storefront Grants 

We are thrilled to announce that the Downtown 

Sioux City Storefront Grant was reimagined 

this spring with the help of business owners, 

realtors, and community members. While the 

funds have been used and appreciated greatly by our 

stakeholders throughout the years, we recognized that 

our Downtown is expanding—and so should our grants! 


Since 2018, Downtown Partners have offered a matching 

grant of up to $2,500 to enhance downtown storefronts. 

The grant was most often used for signage, which is 

great! But we felt the grant had untapped potential and 

our message of wanting to improve every aspect of 

the storefront was not being communicated well. After 

assessing the situation, we reevaluated the content and 

marketing of the program. We are now excited to offer 

the Downtown Sioux City Storefront Grants. Yes, you 

read that right, grants, plural. Downtown businesses and 

property owners can now select one or multiple grant 

categories and receive up to $4,000. Categories include 

signage, outdoor dining and seating, safety and security, 

aesthetic upgrades, and sidewalk improvements. 

Signage can be a projecting logo, a window decal, a 

backlit sign, and more. Signage is the first impression 

a business makes on a person; and like a great first 

impression, it can lead to big opportunities and growth! 

We want that for every business downtown, so we knew 

we had to include signage in the new Storefront Grants. 

As the weather cools down, it’s the perfect time to enjoy 

a brew on a patio. A patio is fun, casual, and energetic. 

We want more of that feeling downtown—and we’ll 

help pay for it! Our Outdoor Dining & Seating category 

invites businesses to expand into the great outdoors 

with patio furniture, heaters, planters, and more. 

Safety is embedded into every conversation we have 

about improving Downtown. As much as we want 

pedestrians to feel safe walking down Historic Fourth 

Street, we also want businesses to feel safe locking up at 

night. The Safety and Security category was created to 

help offset the costs of motion lights, security cameras, 

and other safety measures that will ease owners’ minds 

and protect our businesses. 

While we have always endorsed Aesthetic Upgrades, we 

really wanted to market the new, targeted opportunity 

with our Storefront Grants refresh. We love murals, fresh 

paint, new windows, and accessibility; and we wanted 

more of it all! This category was created to increase 

the number of colorful, useful, and permanent upgrades to 

downtown storefronts. 

We know, Sidewalk Improvements do not sound exciting to 

some, but they make a huge difference. Broken or cracked 

sidewalks can be a hazard, or an eyesore—neither of which 

we want to represent our properties, businesses, and 

community—so we’ve created this category to encourage 

sidewalk upgrades and increase foot traffic downtown. 

Visit our website downtownsiouxcity.com and click ‘Latest 

News’ to learn more about our new Storefront Grants. We 

are ready, able, and excited to put these funds to good 

use! Apply today! Email info@downtownsiouxcity.com with 

any questions about the program or Downtown Partners 

services. 

Contributed by Downtown Partners, a non-profit organization 

that works with downtown stakeholders to create a vibrant, 

expanding downtown. To learn more about Downtown 

Partners and stay up to date on downtown projects and events, 

visit downtownsiouxcity.com.


Congratulations 

Andrew! 

You have done amazing 

things for North Sioux City 

& we are proud to have 

you working for us.

Last month on behalf of Sioux City, 

I was able to join mayors, nonprofit 

executives, state senators, county 

supervisors, and other leaders from 

Iowa for Communities in Action: 

Building a Better Iowa. This was an 

opportunity to share successes and 

offer feedback regarding a number of 

the Biden administration’s initiatives 

such as the American Rescue Plan 

which directed more than $40 million 

to Sioux City. 

Council Connection 

By Alex Watters 

Representing Sioux City at the White House 


We heard from a number of senior 

advisers to the President and the 

Secretary of Agriculture, former Iowa 

Governor, Tom Vilsack. I was able to 

share with them that the American 

Rescue Plan in particular allowed Sioux 

City to replace failing infrastructure 

such as our 140-year-old water main 

on Pierce Street and put nearly $2 

million in infrastructure in place for 

affordable housing developments. 

The Iowa delegation gathered to discuss the Biden administration‘s 

priorities and investments in Iowa. 

In addition to infrastructure programs, the Emergency Connectivity 

Fund provided the Sioux City Public Library with 2,000 internetconnected 

devices for people of Sioux City that needed internet 

access. 

Finally, the Homelessness Prevention Program kept 71 families from 

becoming homeless, 31 of which have children. 

These investments from this administration and federal grants/ 

programs are transforming Sioux City, and it was great to hear what 

is coming next and how we will be able to benefit. If you would like 

to learn more about these investments in our state, please visit invest. 

gov. If you would like to hear more specifically about a number of 

these programs and their impact on our community, never hesitate to 

reach out. 

Alex Watters, City Council of Sioux City 

awatters@sioux-city.org 

Photos Contributed By Alex Watters.

A New Store 

with 

All-New Styles 

Now Open! 

4380 Seargeant Road 

South Hills Mall 

Sioux City, IA 51106 

Phone: 712-454-5330

The Difference in Dreams 

Leading the Way – Leadership Siouxland 

By Peggy Smith 

I’m a terrible sleeper. I toss and turn, wake up multiple 

times, and sleep fitfully all night long. My husband is 

just the opposite. He can fall asleep in 15 seconds or 

less, and usually wakes up in the exact same position 

he fell asleep in. I’ve known for years that we are 

opposite in our sleep patterns, but I didn’t realize until 

today that we are totally opposite in how we dream! I 

have fascinating (and sometimes terrifying), detailed, 

and drama-filled dreams, full of people, places, and 

action. My husband? Well, last night his dream was 

about two words - “artic” and “Arctic”! I kid you not…. 

no action, no images of frozen tundra, just analyzing 

the difference between the words and the correct 

usage of each. 

Of course, I had to immediately google “arctic vs. 

artic” and learned there is indeed a true difference. 

Arctic - pronouncing both c’s - is the correct word for 

describing an arctic weather blast of cold weather. 

Most people mispronounce the word, ignoring the 

first “c”, which led to the common spelling of artic. 

The two words have totally different meanings - artic 

is actually an informal abbreviation of a large truck 

- an “articulated lorry” - that has a tractor and trailer 

together as one unit. My husband and I will now be 

way more conscientious about correctly pronouncing 

Arctic - although I can’t recall when the word came up 

in any of my recent thoughts or conversations, unlike 

my hubby! 

weaker areas (analytical comes immediately to mind!) 

that will never, ever be areas in which I can excel. 

Each year, the September Orientation for the new 

Leadership Siouxland class dives into the Gallup 

Strengthsfinder and we focus on ensuring that each 

class participant understands the five themes that drive 

their decisions, their approach to situations, and their 

interaction with others. Throughout the nine-month 

program, we help the class to be cognizant of how 

to best use their talents, in collaboration with those 

of their team, to get the best results on projects or in 

discussions. It is always a true joy to watch program 

participants become more self-aware and blossom 

as they manage and develop their unique blend of 

talents. 

Work groups can benefit greatly when members 

understand themselves, and others, better. Leadership 

Siouxland can come to your place of business 

and provide this specific training at a low cost and 

time commitment, helping your work groups to be 

more productive and engaged. Contact Leadership 

Siouxland for more information. 

I am sure now that when you plan your trip to the North 

Pole, you will pronounce (and spell) the Arctic Circle 

correctly, thanks to my husband’s intrigue. Sweet 

dreams, everyone… 


A humorous (and true) story that exemplifies the 

differences in our personalities, our strengths, and 

talents. As a certified Gallup Strengthsfinder trainer, 

I am intrigued by how each of us possess varying 

degrees of 34 different innate talents, and how we 

each have five main themes (talents) that identify 

how we approach problem-solving, how we perceive 

others, and how we look at the world around us. 

My husband (surprise, surprise!) has Analytical as one 

of his main themes. I am sure that is probably about 

number 33 for me! Understanding, and appreciating, 

the fact that each of us has different talents/strengths 

that drive us is crucial in building strong relationships 

and strong teams and working together in harmony. 

Being able to recognize the four talents that drive 

me (achiever, empathy, positivity, developer) and 

concentrate on maximizing them into true strengths 

is much more powerful than trying to work on the 

The mission of Leadership Siouxland is to develop 

diverse, passionate leaders who positively impact 

our community for today and tomorrow. Leadership 

Siouxland began in 1984 and is proud of the over 

1200 graduates who make positive differences each 

and every day. To learn more, contact Peggy Smith, 

Executive Director, at 712-898-8594 or email info@ 

leadershipsiouxland.org. 

Peggy Smith, Executive Director of Leadership Siouxland, 

is dedicated to inspiring others to follow their passion to 

positively impact the Siouxland Community.


So beautiful, 

you may want to design your home around it. 

712.252.4431 

siouxcitydoor.com 

2500 Dace Ave., Sioux City, IA 51106 

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The industry leader for over 100 years, Overhead Door garage 

door systems add beauty distinction and value to any home.

Growth In Siouxland 

Future Foundation – Siouxland GO 

By Sydney McManamy 

Siouxland Growth Organization’s summer has 

been jam packed with exciting opportunities for 

our members and the community! Our members 

have been giving back to the local community through 

involvement with Saturday in the Park, Downtown LIVE, 

RAGBRAI, and the Summer In Siouxland Internship Program. 

SGO members have also been out and about at local 

colleges speaking on panels to assist the next generation 

of young professionals on their transition to the working 

world and have religiously been attending community 

events to support community development. We have also 

fostered camaraderie in the community through monthly 

socials, general meetings, committee meetings, and more. 

We had the pleasure of hosting our 14th annual Innovation 

Market this May, which strives to grow our community 

through innovative ideas and supporting local businesses 

by helping to bridge the gap between the inception 

of an entrepreneurial idea and making it a reality. At the 

end of several inspiring presentations at our Pitch Event 

finals in June, Melting Cow BBQ received first place 

($5,000 provided by Sterling Computers) to assist with 

their startup costs. Second place ($2,500 provided by the 

City of Sioux City, the Siouxland Initiative, and Vitus) was 

awarded to GuitarX Upcycled Instruments and third place 

($1,000 provided by Iowa’s West Coast Initiative) was 

awarded to Siouxland Floral Collective to help make their 

entrepreneurial dreams a reality. We are incredibly grateful 

for the support of our event sponsors who helped us create 

a space locally where progress can take root. 

People gather to read Innovation Market ideas. 

This winter, we are thrilled to announce that you have the 

opportunity to celebrate the end of 2023 in style. You can 

“Fall in Love With Siouxland” at our Wedding-Themed 

Murder Mystery Reception on Friday, December 29. Join us 

for a night of drama, great food, conversation, and dancing. 

Make sure to follow us on Facebook so you can be the first to 

know when ticket sales open. 

If you are someone who wants to get involved in the 

community but you’re not sure where to begin, feel free to 

stop by any of our general meetings. We will be holding our 

September general meeting on Wednesday, September 

13, at 5:30 p.m., at the South Sioux City College Center. For 

more information on our upcoming events, please check us 

out on Facebook! 

If you’re interested in becoming a member of Siouxland 

GO, there are many opportunities to affect change in our 

community. Check out our website at SiouxCityGO.com to 

learn more about Siouxland Growth Organization and the 

committees you can get involved in. Please reach out to any 

of the board members if you want to start a dialogue about 

the benefits of membership for yourself or your employees. 


Siouxland Growth Organization was formed in 2002 to 

encourage young professionals to become active members 

of the Siouxland community. Our goal is to attract 

and retain young professionals in the area by providing 

insight into what Siouxland has to offer and how they can 

get involved in shaping its future. 

Ashley VandeBrake, Innovation Market Chair, and Travis 

Morgan read finalist names. 

Sydney McManamy, 2023 Siouxland Growth Organization 

President. 

Photo Credit Britton Hacke Photography.


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Welcome to the Club! 

Hot Air 

By Tony Michaels 

This is an issue I always look forward to 

reading from cover to cover. As a member of 

the first class of “Top 10 Under 40” way back when it 

was printed on papyrus, it’s fun to read the details of 

these leaders making the community a better place 

to live for us all. I was honored this year to be a judge 

and that was a harder task than writing a country song 

without referencing a pickup truck and whiskey. 

When reviewing the many qualified candidates, I 

looked at their impact on Siouxland, how they built a 

career in their field, and their compassion for others. 

It’s funny how MY own personal definition of success 

has changed from decade to decade; heck, even 

from year to year, perhaps, month to month. This 

issue is a perfect reminder about how fleeting time 

is when you look at it from afar at a bird’s eye view. 

I can tell you the goals I had at 25 years old differ 

dramatically from the goals I set for myself this year. 

Re-evaluation is necessary for all of us. For me, I chose 

to leave career fields I absolutely loved in order to 

chase another dream, being a full-time advocate and 

care provider for my oldest son. Starting something 

new is scary; however, so is going down the same 

path just because that is what you have always done. 

Over this summer, I have learned one splendid 

attribute that most of the class of 2023 Top 10 Under 

40 would probably echo if you asked them. This 

community really cares about the underdog. I average 

about five individuals a day that come up to me and 

ask how Trey is doing. Many times, they are complete 

strangers. They often ask about my lovely wife and 

younger son as well. I guess when you share every 

thought and experience on the radio for more than 

25 years, big-hearted people take note. The world is 

a lot more interesting and caring when you log off 

social media platforms and ask real questions about 

how our neighbors are doing, with extra bonus points 

if you really listen. I’m getting much better at this as I 

reach the age where I find out more about AARP as 

opposed to going out clubbin’ on the weekend. Do 

hip peeps still say clubbin? I didn’t think so. 

up in future years. Please do me a favor and CELEBRATE the 

kind-hearted who invest so much of their time and energy 

to make the tri-state area a better place. Say thanks, write a 

note and keep submitting their details so we all can know 

how vital they are to the heartbeat of our hometown. 

It is a shame so many newspapers and other journalistic 

outlets had their circulation stunted recently. We NEED 

a bullhorn to amplify the good. I am so happy Siouxland 

Magazine can do that with every issue, and I am thrilled to 

join the team in that mission. 

My guess is the top 10 this year probably spend their time 

helping others and not sending angsty messages on social 

platforms. 

Compassion takes work. 

Rolling up your sleeves and working towards a goal for the 

betterment of Siouxland may not grab clicks online like the 

Kardashians, but the result is much more rewarding. 

That is something you don’t learn in a dance club. 

Tony “Michaels” Michalski is an author of “Tacos and 

Beer Atmosphere” and former radio broadcaster. He is 

also the co-host of the podcast, Starting Conversations 

with Stacie and Tony, and is the new Account Executive 

for Siouxland Magazine. 


We had so many very qualified young professionals 

that I wished we all could have learned about all of 

them in this issue. Unfortunately, only ten made the 

issue. Hopefully, names not picked this year will pop

Siouxland Magazine | Collaborating / 38

UFTE Connects with a Couple Community Gardens 

By Pam Mickelson 

The definition of a community garden can vary 

greatly. The only constant seems to be that it is a garden 

in a community. How it is managed, and its functions are 

variables as seen in these two articles. Up From the Earth 

would like to think another constant is that they are of great 

value to the community and serving members of our local 

area. 

Growing Spirits and Sprouts by Cindy Feeser; 

Garden Manager, Jerry Logemann 

Growing Spirits and Sprouts Community Garden was 

organized in September 2014. Six committee members 

sought a location to begin the garden project. A 

cooperative agreement was set up with Embassy Tower 

nursing home for a plot of land to start the garden. The 

original plan was to share produce with the members 

of four local churches. In the last few years, churches’ 

interests have waned, so produce is picked by committee 

members and left in several area businesses for Sergeant 

Bluff residents to use. We have been blessed to have 

the help of Mr. Hensley’s 7th grade classes to assist us in 

preparing, planting, and fall clean-up. We enjoy working 

with the youth and hope that we can plant “the gardening 

seed” in the next generation. 

The second desire for having the garden on the nursing 

home property was to be able to share proceeds and 

interests with the residents of Embassy Tower. Residents 

can move about the garden area by walking or using 

wheelchairs. There is also a special area at the back side 

of the large garden where residents can get close to 

gardening in their own flower bed. 

As any gardener can tell you, the garden takes a lot of work 

and doesn’t come without a side of frustration from time 

to time. The rabbits feel we are furnishing a salad buffet, 

but we persist and enjoy a good harvest to share with our 

community. 

Siouxland Community Health Center Garden by 

LaVone Sopher, Garden Manager 

In 2021 a community garden was started for the Siouxland 

Community Health Center to provide fresh produce to 

individuals and families with food insecurity by La Vone 

Sopher, Master Gardener. Grant funding from the Iowa 

State Extension program, “Growing Together” and Iowa 

Total Care were used to purchase materials and soil for the 

raised garden beds and gardening tools. The Community 

Health Center has also contributed to the purchase of 

gardening supplies. In 2022, two additional raised beds 

were added. 

The garden is entirely organic with no chemicals used. 

Many of the plants are grown from seed, starting in March. 

We focus on growing vegetables with longer storage times 

such as tomatoes, peppers, summer and winter squash, 

cabbage, carrots, and potatoes. All produce is weighed 

before being distributed. In 2021, the garden netted a 

harvest of 437 pounds of vegetables, and 862 pounds in 

2022. 

Garden volunteers assist with planting, maintenance 

(watering and weeding), harvest, and clean up through the 

gardening season. Dale Jacques, also a Master Gardener, 

assisted in 2022. Lauren (2 years) and Juliet (1 year) 

Bainbridge are Heelan students who also assisted La Vone 

Sopher. 

After completing the 2022 garden season, the garden beds 

were moved to the South Sioux Clinic site to accommodate 

the expansion of needed parking. There is room to expand 

the garden, as the site is quite large. Garden produce will 

be transported to the Sioux City clinic and distributed to 

those in need. 

There is a second garden supported by Dakota Voices for 

Food and its harvest is given to clients at the South Sioux 

City Community Health Center site. 


Up From the Earth is a 100% volunteer organization 

working to increase food security in Woodbury County 

and the surrounding area. 

Siouxland Community Health Center Garden produce. 

Randy Burnight, an ISU Extension Woodbury County Master 

Gardener, facilitates numerous other gardeners as well as 

collection sites which get fresh produce during the growing 

season into the food pantry system and thereby into the 

hands of those in need. Community Garden projects such 

as the two highlighted above are important parts of this 

growing food system supporting our citizens.

Siouxland Magazine | BeComing / 40 

Ask the Therapist 

By Jackie Paulson 

Send Your 

Questions 

to the 

Therapist. 

noticed recently that if someone doesn’t answer my 

text right away or doesn’t take me up on my invitations, 

I feel so dejected and lonely. I know my friends love 

me, and I think I am a fairly confident person, so why do 

Q:“I 

I take it so personally and how can I overcome it?” 

Dear Reader, 

The fact that you have such an insight, first and 

foremost, is brilliant. It shows that you have 

increased awareness of your body and mind that 

allows you to see the dissonance between what you 

are feeling and what is really happening. You are 

also not alone in this experience. These triggers 

are common in most people, no matter their 

upbringing. Some believe that perhaps it goes 

back all the way to our birth experience, being 

pushed out of the warm, safe womb into a big and 

wild world! Other life experiences, of course, can 

make these triggers even more challenging for 

some. 

Trauma and loss can make people feel less secure in 

the world at large and ultimately within themselves. 

When we have experienced various little “t” and 

big “T” traumas, it can leave us subconsciously 

questioning our worthiness and we often take it 

personally. For example, “If I was a better person, 

bad things wouldn’t happen to me.” This kind of 

narrative or stories similar to this, may be playing 

the background of someone’s subconscious, 

especially people who have experienced early 

childhood wounding, trauma, or complicated loss 

in their life. 

This, in itself, may drive the fear of rejection 

or abandonment in someone and leave them 

to be more hypervigilant to the potential of 

being rejected. This, too, would then make it very 

challenging for someone to experience hearing a “no” 

or make them more anxious if someone wasn’t getting 

back to them, because the fear and shame that comes 

from feeling that level of abandonment and rejection 

feels too great to bear. The parts within us then want 

to make up a lot of stories, some projecting inward 

(self-blame and shame) and/or outward (judging and 

blaming others). We do this to make sense of it and try 

to protect ourselves from the hurt of not getting what 

we feel like we need in the moment. 

Let’s move onto how to start working with the feelings 

and behaviors that arise when one has felt rejected or 

abandoned. It is especially important to remember that 

the truth of the situation does not actually warrant the 

stories and feelings playing through your body and 

your mind. 

In the somatic world, there is a term to describe when 

our body has paired a current experience with what 

feels like a similar experience of the past. Let’s say 

you have some painful past experience with rejection. 

Maybe you were bullied and left out in middle school, 

or you perceived that your mom doted on your brother 

more than you, or perhaps a parent died at a young 

age (there are many ways we can experience painful 

rejection throughout our life that could lead us to want 

to avoid it later on in life. We are relating beings and 

our brains are hardwired for connection. Belonging is

vital for all of us so it makes sense it has a bigger 

“ring” to it in our systems when we feel rejected.) 

That pain of the original experience of rejection 

gets stored in the body. When you experience 

something that might look similar in the future 

(like receiving a “no” to a request) it can drum up 

the feelings from the past rejection. Even though 

they are entirely different scenarios, and you hold a 

much larger capacity to hold rejection than you did 

in the past. This is called “coupling”. 

Kimberly Johnson, a somatic embodiment teacher, 

defines coupling as: “when channels get fused 

together and the association becomes so strong 

that you cannot perceive the individual channels. 

Your nervous system might couple a place with 

danger, or a movement or look or other sensory 

input (like hearing a “no”).” 

What might be happening in your situation is the 

current experience is coupled in your body with the 

past experience of rejection. One of the ways we 

begin to heal is by “uncoupling” them in your body. 

This is a process that requires somatic understanding 

and awareness of the body in the present moment. 

This is best done, first, with someone who can guide 

the process (often a somatic coach, therapist, or 

movement person). You can begin to explore it just 

by simply noticing what is happening in your body 

as it is - without the story. 

You can start with the acronym TIMES (THOUGHT, 

SENSATION, IMAGE, MOVEMENT, EMOTION, 

SENSATION) to take note of what you are 

experiencing in your body when triggered and just 

acknowledge them as sensations and experiences 

in the moment. They do not have to be related to 

the current situation. You can separate the story 

from the sensations in the body by naming what is 

happening and just acknowledging that as pleasant, 

unpleasant, or neutral. 

Once you have done that, allowing the body to have 

the experience without reinforcing it with a story, it 

can settle into the present moment. Here we let the 

whole body come online, not just the thoughts in the 

mind. We can arrive here in this moment, rather than 

being pulled back into our past. One of my favorite 

sayings is from Codependency Anonymous, “If it is 

hysterical, it’s likely historical.” 

If you are curious in learning more on the uncoupling 

process, you can connect with me through email 

below. Otherwise, this is a great first start on healing 

from the past. You are doing great! 

With love, 

Jackie 

You can submit your question for “Ask the Therapist” 

by visiting jaclynpaulson@gmail.com and sending your 

question through the contact page. Please put “Ask the 

Therapist” in the subject line. 

Jackie Paulson is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor 

in the state of Iowa. It is her belief that every person 

has an innate intelligence within them and can 

“whole” themselves with the right support. Jackie 

offers a holistic and somatic based therapy practice 

in Sioux City, IA. Ultimately, she humbly sits with 

others in hopes to empower them to seek and 

connect into their own deep and sacred wisdom that 

resides within. You already have the answers, it is 

with the right witnessing and curiosity that the truth 

is revealed. 

Siouxland Magazine | BeComing /41 

Hours: 

Wednesday – Thursday: 11am - 6pm 

Friday: 11am - 4pm 

Saturday: 11am - 2pm 

Connect: expansion-center.com 

@TheExpansionCenterSiouxland


The Fear of Beginning 

Health is a Journey 

By Megan Fuhrman-Wheeler 

What comes to mind when you explore the 

thought of herbal medicine and taking control 

of your health? If it is fear and uncertainty, then you 

are not alone. When we find ourselves overwhelmed, 

flooded with imposter syndrome, and/or fearful of 

our next step, these should be taken as signs to realize 

you hold potential for incredible growth. Here are 

some common questions which can cause fear and 

uncertainty when entering the world of herbalism. 

With these questions answered you can take control 

of your herbal knowledge and your health. 

Q: What exactly is an herbalist? 

In simple terms, an herbalist is someone who utilizes 

plants for medicinal purposes. 

An herbalist may blend medicinal plants with 

different ingredients; all with a healing purpose in 

mind. Herbalists may use natural ingredients with a 

medicinal purpose in mind; however, they are not 

doctors. They cannot treat, diagnose, or prescribe 

pharmaceuticals. 

That being said, there are many different types of 

herbalists. The type of herbalist you are depends on 

what herbs you use and how you were trained. 

For instance, I am a Certified Clinical Western 

Herbalist, trained in the Vitalist and Wise Women 

Approach. 

• The Certified Clinical means my training covered 

a clinical, one-on-one setting. 

• I am a Western Herbalist, and this means I use 

herbs in the Western hemisphere. 

• The Vitalist and Wise Women approach both 

speak more clearly to how I will use herbs 

and view the healing process as a whole. This 

approach looks for root causes and aids through 

nourishment, nature, and spiritual connection. 

If you begin working with an herbalist, the best way 

to identify if their practice will meet your health goals 

is to ask. That conversation may begin similar to 

Herbal dreaming. 

this, “Please tell me a little about your approach and 

training as an herbalist.” 

There are so many herbs that it becomes 

overwhelming. Where does one start? 

There are so many herbs it can paralyze any initial 

progress moving forward. However, the great thing 

is that herbs have categories, and the brain likes 

to group and clump things together when learning 

anew. 

It is my recommendation to start by grouping herbs 

into categories. Begin with one body system at a time 

and learn five herbs in that system before you move 

on to the next. 

Here is an example of how to conduct a simple search 

on the internet, with no herbal literature at hand. 

Example: Start with the general search question, 

“herbs that affect the Central Nervous System (CNS).” 

My results came up with Lemon Balm, Skullcap, 

Lavender, Chamomile, Oat, Passionflower, Valerian,

plus the herbs you wish to take and it will generate 

interactions for you. The benefit of this is it also displays 

pharmaceutical interactions you were possibly 

unaware of with your medications. The downside is 

not all natural products and herbs are listed. 

Wherever you are in your herbal journey, there is a 

space for you. Learning a new craft, lifestyle, and/ 

or way of healing can be daunting but also truly 

rewarding. If you have been on the sidelines waiting 

with uncertainty; there is no better time than now. It’s 

your life; choose the direction of healing you want to 

go and take the step. 


Herbal production. 

etc. My next step is to choose one herb and search for 

more in-depth information. An example of a search 

would be “Lemon Balm Materia Medica.” The materia 

medica is an important addition when searching as 

this will give me a clinical perspective of the plant 

and will filter out a lot of untrustworthy information. 

It is important to realize that even with hundreds of 

plants, most practicing herbalists typically only utilize 

25 herbs consistently in their practice. When fear or 

uncertainty creeps up, it’s okay, you are learning! 

I’d suggest finding a network and a community of 

herbalists that will help support you along your 

journey. 

Megan Fuhrman-Wheeler, CCH, CCN, Flower Essence 

Practitioner 

She is the owner of MEGAN & CO. Herbal Apothecary 

and Clinic. It is Megan’s hope to spread herbal knowledge 

to rural America in a safe, constructive, and accessible 

manner. She has been a trained and working herbalist for 

the past ten years. 

Trained at the Colorado School of Clinical Herbalism 

Certified Clinical Herbalist 

Certified Clinical Nutritionist 

Certified Flower Essence Practitioner 

Photo Credit Megan Fuhrman–Wheeler. 

Q: How do I know if an herb is safe for me? 

This is such a great question to ask. There is misguided 

information out there that states because it is natural 

it is safe. This is absolutely not the case. Herbs are 

powerful. They have the ability to heal and do harm 

when misused. How do you know if you are using 

them safely? First, you could reach out to an herbalist 

for advice. Herbalists should have the training and 

expertise to identify herbal safety. However, that may 

not always be an option as herbalists are not always 

available or easy to find. So, I will provide you with a 

few tools; however, if these tools still leave you feeling 

unsure it’s best to not use the herbs until you have 

spoken to a professional. 

1). Herbal Materia Medica: These publications 

both online and in print are going to be your best 

friend. They discuss the clinical actions of herbs but also 

contraindications. The downside of materia medica, 

you need to become fluent with clinical language. Use 

a glossary. In addition, most materia medicas do not 

include specific interactions with medications. 

2). Drug Interaction Checker: There are a few 

websites that have these. A simple google search will 

lead you to them. Simply add your medication list


Keep Breathing, Please 

Living Lumin 

Dr. Meghan Nelson & Dr. Ryan Allen 

None of this is easy. If it were, we wouldn’t need 

to write about it. We wouldn’t be where we are at this 

time. It’s time, though. Time to peel back the curtain 

and feel around to what’s there in the shadows. Time 

to engage a subject that makes us all uncomfortable. 

Our lives, and the lives of those we care for and love 

depends on it. It could happen to you. 

126 lives are lost each day 

to suicide (CDC, 2022). 

Hearing my 12-year-old child say he wanted to die 

has been more than a wake-up call. It’s a five-alarm 

fire in my head that compels me to act. I must do 

something. It’s not theoretical. It’s not drama. It’s fear. 

A fear so profound that I can’t see or think straight. 

It’s overwhelmingly real. 

In these last few months, this has all hit way too 

close to home. First, a high school friend, a father, a 

husband, one of the most genuinely happy people I 

have ever known - gone. He shot himself with a gun. 

Not long after that happened, a cousin, an eighteenyear-old 

young man just days before his high school 

graduation took an overdose of pills. By the grace 

of God, he survived. He’s alive. Just over 18 years 

ago, when this boy was just a few days old, his father, 

Danny, an Iraq war veteran, husband, brother, father, 

and friend, ended his life with a gun. His mom and dad, 

Marta and Ray, his wife, his children, his brothers, all 

his family and friends, his whole world, the survivors, 

are still in so many ways cataclysmically reeling. A 

suicide, Marta says, “is a death like no other.” We 

Nelson Family 

don’t have the vocabulary or 

space, the understanding or 

equipment to handle this kind 

of loss. 

We seem to operate from 

this notion or mentality that 

it ‘won’t happen to me.’ Of 

course, my children know they 

are loved. If love were enough, 

suicide wouldn’t happen. 

We have so much to learn. 

We need to listen. The U.S. 

Surgeon General, Dr. Vivek 

H. Murthy, just released, “Our 

Epidemic of Loneliness and 

Dan Nelson,Guardian 

Angel 

Isolation,” and in its opening letter he urges, “We are 

called to build a movement to mend the social fabric 

of our nation. It will take all of us […] working together 

to destigmatize loneliness and change our culture 

and policy response to it. It will require reimagining 

the structures, policies, and programs that shape 

a community to best support the development of 

healthy relationships” (Our Epidemic of Loneliness 

and Isolation (hhs.gov)). It’s about forming stronger, 

more engaged relationships, social connections, a 

sense of community, and co-regulation. 

We all need help. Help for ourselves and our kids. But 

my God, it’s all so big. Where do we begin? How do 

we begin to mobilize the understanding and will to 

strengthen economic supports and create protective 

environments, to improve access and delivery of 

suicide care, to promote healthy connections, to 

teach coping and problem-solving skills, to identify 

and support people at-risk, to lessen harm and reduce 

access to lethal means, preventing future risk, to 

collaborate, share resources, and build partnerships, 

to effectively monitor and evaluate—the scope of 

suicide care is exhausting as it forces us to do more 

than write a check, check a box, or prescribe a pill. It 

calls for awareness. It calls for engagement. It calls for 

genuine human connection of this highest caliber that 

is loving and kind and supportive and caring. It calls 

for a place that doesn’t cost money to get help. We 

need an interwoven social, cultural, economic, and 

psychological framework of support at a moment in 

history when the national trends for social connection

and it’ll look like we’re pretty far off from one another. From 2003 to 2023, according to the Office of 

U.S. Surgeon General, time spent alone increased, while time spent on in-person social engagement 

are alarming. Turn on the news or examine our political landscape and it’ll look like we’re pretty far off from one 

decreased. another. From 2003 to 2023, according to the Office of U.S. Surgeon General, time spent alone increased, while 

time spent on in-person social engagement decreased. 


In 2021, suicide was the second leading cause 

of death for people ages 10-14 and 20-34 (CDC 

In 2021, suicide was the second leading cause of death for people ages 10-14 and 20-34 (CDC WISQARS, 

WISQARS, 2020). Its impact is far-reaching—it our churches, our teams, and our clubs to rally to us. It’s 

2020). affects Its not impact only the is far-reaching—it individual, but the affects health and not onlyhard the individual, to dig yourself but out the of a health hole. Sometimes and well-being need ofa 

well-being of friends, loved ones, co-workers, and hand to help us out. 

friends, loved ones, co-workers, and the community. These survivors need resources too, and not just 

the community. These survivors need resources 

the too, flowers and not and just condolences the flowers and that condolences come in that the immediate aftermath of a loss, but genuine and authentic 

come in the immediate aftermath of a loss, but Over the course of this last year, while I’ve been 

shared 

genuine 

human 

and authentic 

connection 

shared 

five, 

human 

ten, 

connection 

twenty years out. internalizing That’s what all this Marta information has toldon Meghan a personal and level, I time and 

timefive, again—unless ten, twenty years you’ve out. been That’s there what and Marta walked aI’ve mile 

also 

in 

been 

thesesimultaneously shoes, how could 

researching 

you ever 

and 

know? 

writing 

has told Meghan and I time and time again— federal grants for non-profit organizations, colleges and 

Sitting unless beside you’ve someone been there who and has walked felt the a mile same in kind universities, of pain, agonized and healthcare over thesystems same kinds to improve of questions, their 

searched these shoes, for similar how could solace you and ever relief, know? is one Sitting system-wide prevention, intervention, and postvention 

powerful way we can learn to live again. Suicide is a dark 

beside someone who has felt the same kind of 

tunnel that’s hard to navigate alone. 

pain, agonized over the same kinds of questions, 

searched for similar solace and relief, is one 

powerful way we can learn to live again. Suicide 

It takes is a dark timetunnel and that’s space. hard In to the navigate meantime, alone. in the space made in-between, all this worse. we need to say all the important 

things while those we love are living. We can’t waitAnd till they yet, I’m die. whole-heartenedly It takes friendsencouraged, and family too. andI ahave 

It takes time and space. In the meantime, in the 

community willing to be vulnerable with you. A pathway 

hope because 

to peace 

people 

can’tlike be 

Marta 

bought 

are 

on 

going 

a shelf 

to sit 

or 

with 

scanned 

a 

space in-between, we need to say all the important 

family who just lost a loved one to suicide. This is the 

things while those we love are living. We can’t 

with a barcode. No one has the blueprint for anyonegreatest else. Research gift we can and give experience one another, show to just us, be though, there 

wait till they die. It takes friends and family and 

and be present. Human connection is the antidote to 

that a “social community isolation willing is to arguably be vulnerable the with strongest you. A and most reliable predictor of suicidal ideation, attempts, 

loneliness and isolation. We need each other. All we can 

pathway to peace can’t bought on a shelf or 

and lethal suicidal behavior among samples varyingdo in is age, all we nationality, can do. But and I also clinical know this severity” for certain (“The too: 

scanned with a barcode. No one has the blueprint 

the world could use a lot more Marta’s. It could be you. 

Interpersonal for anyone else. Theory Research of Suicide,” and experience 2010). show 

us, though, that “social isolation is arguably the 

strongest and most reliable predictor of suicidal 

Social ideation, connection attempts, canand save lethal us. suicidal It positively behavior impacts our biology, psychology, and behaviors, and 

among samples varying in age, nationality, and 

dramatically clinical severity” increases (“The our Interpersonal health andTheory wellness of outcomes. The past can’t be changed. The feeling of loss, 

like Suicide,” all traumas, 2010). lives inside us. But resilience lives there too, as well as play, fun, gratitude, and joy. We 

liveSocial in an attraction-based connection can save universe. us. It We’re positively not going to get to feeling good through feeling bad. This is 

whyimpacts we need our our biology, friends, psychology, our family, and behaviors, our churches, our teams, and our clubs to rally to us. It’s hard to dig 

and dramatically increases our health and 

yourself out of a hole. Sometimes we need a hand to help us out. 

wellness outcomes. The past can’t be changed. 

The feeling of loss, like all traumas, lives inside us. 

But resilience lives there too, as well as play, fun, 

gratitude, and joy. We live in an attraction-based 

universe. We’re not going to get to feeling good through 

feeling bad. This is why we need our friends, our family, 

capabilities in addressing suicidal behaviors. My eyes 

have never been more open. I’m terrified by what I see— 

we’re not prepared for this mental health crisis crashing 

through our doors. The Covid-19 pandemic has only 

We’ve got to try. 

Lumin Therapy provides integrative health and education 

for the mind, body, and spirit to those who are suffering or 

struggling to step into and live their heartfelt mission and 

purpose. Through the practice of physical therapy, medical 

therapeutic yoga, meditation, mindfulness, and resiliency 

mentoring, Dr. Meghan Nelson, DPT, and Dr. Ryan Allen, 

PhD, bring more than 40 years of knowledge and experience 

serving individuals, families, and organizations to learn and 

heal and live without boundaries. 

*** Photo Credit, left page, Jammer Photography and USAF. 

Over the course of this last year, while I’ve been internalizing all this information on a personal level, I’ve

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Too Much of a Great Thing? 

Is there such a thing? I am of the 

notion, no, but there is a lot of talk about 

how direct and certain glute exercises 

are dangerous for the lower back, but 

I disagree. My clients have been doing 

the barbell hip thrust and its variations 

with great success for 3.5 years. Those 

clients include competitors, athletes, 

fitness enthusiasts, and even physical 

therapy patients. Anything done with 

bad form or too much weight is risky. 

Which means that hip thrusts, done 

properly, are no more dangerous than 

bicep curls, done properly. If you want 

strong glutes, or just better-looking 

ones, you need to train them directly 

and intelligently. Here’s how to target 

your glutes and build them up without 

trashing your lower back. 

Glute Bridge or Banded Glue Bridge 

Never underestimate the power of a 

seemingly simple movement, such as 

the basic glute bridge. You can find this 

exercise in many therapy programs. 

My problem isn’t with the exercise, but 

rather the setup and execution. People 

set up the glute bridge incorrectly. The 

end result is that they shift the tension 

away from the glutes and onto the 

hamstrings or lower back, which defeats 

the purpose of a butt exercise. It’s called 

the “glute bridge” for a reason. And 

it’s up to us to get our bodies into the 

position that’ll allow for hard active 

contraction of the gluteal complex first, 

with the hamstrings and lower back 

kicking in as secondary extensors. 

Manipulate the position of your knees 

in relation to your hips. Most of the 

Dare 2B Great 

By Cody Rininger 

time it’s far wider than people think. Get that 

position right and you can recruit the glute 

muscles and get them to do their primary 

jobs. If you struggle positioning yourself and 

gaining torque and tension through the hips 

and glutes as you extend, add a band that acts 

as a “reactive neuromuscular stabilizer.” This 

will cause you “to kick more butt”. 

Making that backside great is going to be 

difficult and take hard work and sacrifice. One 

of those sacrifices is eating fat. To be great, you 

need to be informed. There are a few types of 

fats. And some of them are good fats and some 

are bad. We’re going to discuss four types of 

fats. Those are: 

Cody Rininger 

• Saturated Fats: Saturated fats are considered one of the bad types of fat. 

These fats are most of the time solid at room temperature. Foods that have 

saturated fat inside are butter, cakes, biscuits, coconut oil, and sausage as 

a few examples. Saturated fats increase LDL cholesterol which is called bad 

cholesterol. The increased LDL cholesterol can be harmful, as it is a leading 

cause of heart disease and strokes. 

• Trans Fats: Trans fats are the worst type of fats out there. Trans fats also level 

up LDL cholesterol. These cause different issues in our heart and nervous 

system. We can get trans fats in microwave popcorn, pizza, fried food, and 

coffee creamer. Trans fats are also known contributors to Diabetes Type II. 

Undoubtedly it is the worst fat. 

• Monounsaturated Fats: Monounsaturated Fats are one of the good types 

of fat. These fats help us to stay healthy. Monounsaturated fats might help 

us with weight loss too. They also help with heart diseases if taken with 

a balanced diet. Monounsaturated fats are found in olive oil, peanut oil, 

canola oil, avocado, almonds, pecan, hazelnuts, pumpkin, and sesame 

seeds. 

• Polyunsaturated Fats: Polyunsaturated Fats are also good fats. These help 

to lower the cholesterol levels in our blood. Our body cells are developed 

and maintained by this fat. Polyunsaturated fats are found in sunflower oil, 

flaxseeds, and fish. 


For more information on specific training to overcome your backside or nutrition, contact Cody. He is certified by the National 

Academy of Medicine as a Professional Fitness Instructor in Cardiorespiratory Fitness, Heart Variance, Nutrition, Neuromuscular 

Flexibility, Supplements and Mental/Behavior Performance. He incorporates techniques for concentration, focus, motivation, 

and ways to cope with anxiety. He has been featured in National Fitness Magazines and has spoken on several national Podcasts. 

Cody received his Master’s in Instruction, so has first-hand experience with differentiating personalized instruction, planning, 

and goal setting. He was named the 2022 and 2023 Siouxland Trainer of the Year Award. Cody trains out of the Four Seasons 

in Sioux City and North Sioux City. 

Photo Credit Brian Stalter.

Siouxland Magazine - Volume 5 Issue 5

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