Inside Iowa State: Iowa State University

March 17, 2003

Conference focuses on generational challenges in the workplace

by Anne Krapfl
Strategies for helping co-workers of different generations work well together is the focus of the keynote address at the annual ISU professional development day. The event will be held Tuesday, March 25, at The Hotel at Gateway Center, Ames. It is co-sponsored by ISU Extension and the Professional and Scientific Council.

The keynote talk will be given by Bob Googe, an ordained Presbyterian minister and director of the Presbyterian Student Center at the University of Georgia, Athens. Googe also is president of GEN-4 Inc. and has consulted with corporations, schools, professional groups and churches for 15 years on recruiting, training, motivating and retaining employees.

"Generation-to-generation dynamics in the workplace is a hot topic right now, particularly in Iowa, where we're dealing with issues such as people working older and younger workers looking for reasons not to stay in Iowa," said Bruce Bearinger, extension education director for Buchanan County and co-chair of the planning committee for the event. "Understanding the issues between generations is very important to office relationships and, ultimately, efficiency."

In addition to Googe's 90-minute talk, the day will include three 50-minute break-out sessions with topics as wide-ranging as grant proposal writing, healthy lunches, identity theft, Iowa's college savings fund, diversity in the workplace, the educator's role in controversy and creating PowerPoint presentations. Joseph Pine, a co-holder of the Helen LeBaron Hilton Chair this year in the College of Family and Consumer Sciences, will lead a breakout session titled "Welcome to the Experience Economy."

Workshop participants also are invited to a free gathering of all P&S employees, including past council members, at the Reiman Gardens conservatory from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m. that day. Ice cream cones will be served; the butterfly wing will be open. The reception celebrates the 25th anniversary of the P&S Council.

Registration for professional development day is online only at http://www.ucs.iastate.edu/303/professional.htm. The cost is $65 through today (March 14) and $80 after.