What follows is a short newsletter for a short month. BCS leadership is hard at work with the legislature at the State House and in D.C., supporting BCS programs and UNI priorities. We will have more details soon regarding the UNI Day at the Capitol on March 25.

Please note that our all-BCS staff meeting has been moved to Monday, March 23, at 11 a.m. During the meeting, each BCS program will provide a brief update and introduce any “newer” team members they have, plus some BCS and Colleges updates will be shared. 

• February 2 — You Can't Pour From an Empty Cup: Self-Care 101
• February 3 — Getting the Most Out of Your UNI Benefits
• February 3 — BCS Marketing Meeting
• February 6 — Cedar Falls CAPS training (GBPAC)
• February 9 — BCS Directors Meeting (BCS 30)
• February 10 — Tax Mistakes Could Be Costing You—Learn How to Avoid Them
• February 16 — BCS Potluck (BCS 30)
• February 23 — Cedar Valley Legislative Reception, Des Moines
• February 27 — FBC Hosts the IRDC Zoominar
• March 23, 10 a.m. — BCS All-Staff Meeting (BCS 30)
• March 25 — UNI Day at the Capitol
• April 8 — Cats Who Care: UNI Day of Service

The JPEC's Upcoming Events

February 5: Cedar Valley Coffee Connect

Join us on February 5, 8-9:30 a.m., for Cedar Valley Coffee Connect at The Hive Coworking within Farmers State Bank. Coffee and networking will kick off at the top of the hour, followed by presentations from the founders of Kruger Co. Productions (photo/video) and Happy At Home Cleaning Services at 8:30 a.m. This is an open-community event for those interested in Cedar Valley startups. Coffee provided.

February 20-21: Business Breakthrough

Business Breakthrough is a 15-hour, fast-paced experience designed to challenge students, grow entrepreneurial skills, and connect them with people who are actually doing business right here in the Cedar Valley. More details here >>

Dean's Search Update

candidates for the position of Wilson College Dean on campus for interviews. As part of this process, candidates will tour the BCS Building and learn about our work. More details will be released in the near future on how BCS staff will be able to hear from each of the candidates when they are on campus. See the full search details here.

Timeline
Candidate Review & Semi-Finalist Interviews: Early February – Mid February 2026
‌Campus Visits for Finalists: February 24 – March 6, 2026

• Jim Olson, who retires today after 37 years dedicated to his work in the Iowa Waste Reduction Center.

• February 13 — Shelly Wessels, John Pappajohn Entrepreneurial Center
• February 19 — Liesl Seabert, Institute for Decision Making
• February 21 — Jennifer Trent, Iowa Waste Reduction Center
• February 29 — Kim Eastman, Strategic Marketing Services

• 2000 — Julie Reinitz, Iowa Waste Reduction Center
• 2016 — Karla Organist, Institute for Decision Making
• 2016 — Judy Butler, Advance Iowa

Submit an item for the next monthly BCS Brief newsletter by emailing katie.kreis@uni.edu.