Small and mid-sized businesses are the foundation of many Iowa communities—the hubs of activity that are plugged into every aspect of community life. They sponsor softball teams, contribute to charitable organizations, and support the local schools. These businesses also rely on a productive workforce, and their leaders understand the value of creating livable communities with healthy populations.

In 2011, the UI College of Public Health rolled out a new initiative, the Business Leadership Network (BLN), designed to engage Iowa businesses and communities with the training, service, and research opportunities offered by the college. The BLN currently encompasses 46 counties throughout the state with the ultimate goal of engaging all 99 counties. The BLN provides participants with opportunities to connect with other business and industry leaders throughout Iowa around public health priorities, and to share ideas and best practices for community health and wellness.

Place-Based Public Health

“We understand that public health is place-based,” says Sue Curry, dean of the College of Public Health, “and we wanted to establish a network that would help us create and foster mutually beneficial relationships with businesses and communities around the state.”

According to Curry, the great strength of the network is its flexibility. There is not a menu of prescribed public health programs or a list of services. Instead, the course and shape of the business and community relationship with the college is guided by local needs and priorities.

“The concept of ‘network’ is really central to the initiative,” Curry explains. “We want people to view it as a way to share information, exchange ideas, and explore opportunities for collaboration, not only between the college and various businesses, but from business to business and community to community as well.”

The network has a steering committee of 10 businesses leaders who have an intrinsic interest in public health and a strong commitment to their own communities.

“These people are the ones who make the network function,” says Mitch Overton, Business Leadership Network coordinator. “They open doors for us, help us organize meetings and events, and essentially function as our liaisons to help identify people in their own communities and networks who should be involved in any public health-related discussions.”

In addition to the steering committee, the network has grown to include more than 300 business, community, and health care leaders across Iowa.

Healthy and Safe Employees

Gerald Edgar is the health and safety manager for Mitas Tire North America in Charles City and serves as a member of the BLN steering committee. According to Edgar, the connection with the UI College of Public Health is an important one for both his company and his community.

“Having healthy and safe employees is important for any company, and working with the college and other businesses to share information and expertise is a real benefit,” says Edgar.

Through Edgar’s connection with the BLN, Mitas Tires and the college are discussing opportunities for students and faculty to conduct research that could be useful in creating a safer work environment for Mitas employees.

Creating Relationships

The BLN has focused on creating relationships in two areas of the state where the college has not traditionally had a strong presence: north-central and south-central Iowa. In the past two years, the Business Leadership Network has hosted eight community forums in these regions, taking CPH faculty and students on the road to present information and, most importantly, engage participants in public health-related conversations that lead to new collaborations.

Curry says the forums have been a beneficial experience. “Members of our faculty have given presentations on important topics such as the Affordable Care Act and cyberbullying, but to me, the highlights of every forum are the group discussions among community members, faculty, and students,” she says.

Topics at these discussion tables have included aging populations and the workforce, community health and wellness, and workplace health and safety. While the discussion tables are given a topic, they have no specific agenda and participants are free to explore ideas. According to Overton, CPH faculty have established some potentially productive relationships with community members at these forums.

“By simply getting the college together with these community leaders and sharing information and ideas, we’ve started a dialog that can lead to valuable collaborations and innovations to address public health issues in Iowa,” he says. “That’s exactly how a network is supposed to work.”

Business Leadership Network Steering Committee

• Jill Baze, Van Gorp Co., Pella
• Gerald Edgar, Mitas Tires North America, Charles City
• Maureen Elbert, Kossuth/Palo Alto Economic Development, Algona
• Mona Everson, Life and Health Care, Webster City
• Greg Fenton, Lee Container, Centerville
• Claudia Gates, U.S. Bank, Ottumwa
• Michael Halley, Natural Selections, Fairfield
• Kevin Klemesrud, American State Bank, Osceola
• Rich Paulsen, Creston News Advertiser, Creston
• Don Woodruff, Woodruff Construction, Ft. Dodge