As we enter November, we’re reminded that gratitude isn’t just a personal virtue—it’s a business advantage. This month, we pause to appreciate the partnerships, teams, and stakeholders who make progress possible. Whether you're wrapping up projects, launching new ones, or simply planning for the year ahead, take a moment to celebrate the people behind the performance.

Go Cats

As Randy Pilkington is nearing retirement, please join us for an open house on Thursday, December 4. We will celebrate Randy's significant impact on economic development and his legacy of leadership and vision in shaping UNI's economic development efforts for nearly four decades. 

• December 4

• 1 p.m. to 4 p.m., with a brief program at 3 p.m.

• UNI's Business and Community Services Building 

• 8120 Jennings Drive, Ground Floor

Please RSVP to Darcy Wiegmann-Dally at darcy.wiegmann-dally@uni.edu by Thursday, November 20.

• November 6 — Iowa Family Business Conference in Des Moines

• November 11 — JPEC to host Side Hustle Series event on influencer marketing

• November 13 — Drew Conrad is presenting to the Board of Regents about UNI’s Economic Development work

• November 13 — Grow Cedar Valley’s Small Business & Startup Summit, led by JPEC/SBDC and attended by BCS

• November 14 — Wilson College’s Friday Lunch Seminar will feature BCS and its history of collaborating with Wilson faculty

• November 19 — Grow Cedar Valley’s Wake Up YP! Will be hosted in the JPEC

• November 19 — IDM’s Advisory Board Meeting

• November 27-28 — Paid Holidays for Thanksgiving

• December 10 — JPEC and NISG to host holiday market of student vendors in the Gallagher Bluedorn lobby, open to campus and community

• December 18 — 24/7BLAC (Building Legacy and Community) entrepreneurship accelerator graduation

• Patrick Luensmann (John Pappajohn Entrepreneurial Center), who was recognized as a recipient of The Courier’s 20 Under 40 recognition, and the celebration will be on Nov. 13

• Jennifer Trent (Iowa Waste Reduction Center), who was reelected to be president of the United States Composting Council 

• Liesl Seabert (Institute for Decision Making), who received the Iowa APA's Distinguished Leadership Award at their annual conference in Ankeny

• Joe Bolick (Iowa Waste Reduction Center), who was reelected to the National Pollution Prevention Roundtable board

• Dean Wilson, who gave her TEDx Talk on Oct. 25

• November 13  - Chelsea Morrison, Strategic Marketing Services

• 1994 — Dan Nickey, Iowa Waste Reduction Center
• 2010 — Janell Crow, Advance Iowa and Metal Casting Center
• 2012 — Jennifer Trent, Iowa Waste Reduction Center
• 2013 — Chelsea Morrison, Strategic Marketing Services
• 2024 — Ben Kwigne, Iowa Waste Reduction Cente

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