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The Iowa Idea: Melissa Murer Corrigan

In this episode of The Iowa Idea Podcast, I sit down with Melissa Murer Corrigan. Melissa was the founding Executive Director and CEO of the Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (PTCB) in Washington, D.C. from 1994-2011. In 2012, Melissa joined the educational assessment leader ACT as an executive leader for the Workforce Development Division. She then took on the role of Vice President of Social Impact in ACT’s Center for Equity in Learning. Melissa currently serves on the Board of Directors for the American Institute for the History of Pharmacy. Her contributions to pharmacy have been recognized by Drake University, who honored Melissa with the Weaver Medal.

Melissa and I talk about her journey into pharmacy, including her career start that included working in 52 Walgreen’s stores in her first year. We explore the importance of mentorship and paying it forward, as a way of paying it back. We discuss Melissa’s drive to encourage more women leaders. We also dig into the fascinating story of Zada Cooper. Zada was the first woman to graduate from The University of Iowa’s College of Pharmacy in 1897.

It was great having Melissa on the podcast. I thank her for her time and insights, and I hope you enjoy the episode.

About Melissa

Melissa Murer Corrigan was founding Executive Director and CEO of the Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (PTCB) in Washington, D.C. from 1994-2011.  She also is an innovator in credentialing and pharmacy workforce initiatives.  Melissa’s leadership launched the PTCB program that has now certified over 700,000 pharmacy technicians working across the United States in large chains such as Walgreens and CVS, health systems and community pharmacies. PTCB certified technicians serve millions of patients annually.  Murer Corrigan embraced ambition, took risks, and was the only woman on the PTCB Board of Governors during her 17-year tenure as CEO.

In 2012 Melissa joined the educational assessment leader ACT in Iowa City as an executive leader for the Workforce Development Division and then progressed to serve as Vice President of Social Impact for ACT’s Center for Equity in Learning. Her current chapter includes leading the healthcare and credentialing consultancy Manville Heights LLC. She currently serves on the Board of Directors for the American Institute for the History of Pharmacy and is the host of the MelisRxScripts podcast.

Melissa has served as adjunct faculty with the University of Iowa College of Pharmacy since 2013. In 2015, she was named a Fellow of the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists and in 2016 Melissa was named a Fellow of the American Pharmacists Association. Also in 2016, she received the Honorary Alumni Award from the University of Iowa College of Pharmacy.  She had the honor of being the commencement speaker for the University of Iowa College of Pharmacy in 2013 and Drake University in 2014.

Passionate about both leadership and encouraging women leaders, Melissa provided the vision for the inaugural Zada Cooper Leadership Symposium. This now annual event features women in pharmacy leadership roles and celebrates the legacy of Locally in Eastern Iowa, Melissa has been recognized as a Woman of Influence and has served on the Board of Directors for Corridor Women Connect.

Melissa is a graduate of Drake University’s College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences. She received the 2010 Weaver Medal which is Drake University College of Pharmacy’s highest honor. Melissa is a past president of the Institute for Credentialing Excellence and received the association’s distinguished Certification Industry Leadership Award in 2008. She has served as President of the Board of Directors for the Council on Credentialing in Pharmacy. Melissa also received the Henry Cade Memorial Award from the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy in 2012.

Links:

https://www.melisrxscripts.com/

https://www.journimap.com/

Credits

Episode produced by Spark Consulting Group (www.inspiredbyspark.com) in Iowa City, with support from Executive Podcast Solutions (https://www.executivepodcastsolutions.com/)

The Iowa Idea Podcast music was written and performed by Paisley Bible (https://paisleybible.bandcamp.com/).

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The Iowa Idea: Chris Gersbeck

“xxx.”

In this episode of The Iowa Idea Podcast, I sit down with Chris Gersbeck. Chris is a producer, publicist and writer based in Queens, NY. He currently produces and makes regular appearances on comedy podcasts Dave Hill: History Fluffer, Dave Hill’s Podcasting Incident, and So… You’re Canadian with Dave Hill, the latter two of which are on the Maximum Fun network. Chris also produces numerous live comedy events throughout New York City under the banner of Dumb Industries and handles publicity for several popular podcasts and comedians including Frank Conniff & Trace Beaulieu, The State, RISK! and Keith and The Girl.

Chris and I talk about what led to the end of Ernest Borgnine and Ethel Merman’s 32-day marriage. We dig into show business urban legends as well as Chris’s journey from comedian to podcast producer and publicist.

It was an honor to have Chris join the podcast. I really appreciated his perspective. Thanks to Chris for joining me. I hope you enjoy the episode.

About Chris

Chris Gersbeck is a producer, publicist and writer based in Queens, NY. He currently produces and makes regular appearances on comedy podcasts Dave Hill: History Fluffer, Dave Hill’s Podcasting Incident, and So… You’re Canadian with Dave Hill, the latter two of which are on the Maximum Fun network. Chris also produces numerous live comedy events throughout New York City under the banner of Dumb Industries and handles publicity for several popular podcasts and comedians including Frank Conniff & Trace Beaulieu, The State, RISK! and Keith and The Girl.

Links:

Dumb Industries website

Dumb Industries on Facebook

Dumb Industries on Twitter

Personal Twitter

Credits

Episode produce by Spark Consulting Group (www.inspiredbyspark.com) in Iowa City, with support from Executive Podcast Solutions (https://www.executivepodcastsolutions.com/)

The Iowa Idea Podcast music written and performed by Paisley Bible (https://paisleybible.bandcamp.com/).

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The Iowa Idea: Alex Hillman

“I’m really bad at faking it.”

In this episode of The Iowa Idea Podcast, I sit down with Alex Hillman. Alex is always thinking about the intersection of people, relationships, trust, and business. These days, he splits his time between running Indy Hall (Philadelphia’s oldest coworking space), teaching creative people how to bootstrap their own business, and collaborating with people and organizations towards the goal of helping 10,000 people become sustainably independent by 2029.

Alex and I talk about business, creativity, community, collaboration, and his journey that led him to create Indy Hall, as well as his latest book The Tiny MBA. We discuss the importance of trust and authenticity to build ongoing partnerships and business collaborations.

It was an honor to have Alex join the podcast. I really appreciated his insights and passion. Thanks to Alex Hillman for joining me. I hope you enjoy the episode.

About Alex

Alex Hillman is always thinking about the intersection of people, relationships, trust and business. These days, he splits his time between running Indy Hall (Philly’s oldest coworking space), teaching creative people how to bootstrap their own business, and collaborating with people and organizations towards the goal of helping 10,000 people become sustainably independent by 2029.

He’s worked globally with hundreds of coworking operators and thousands of business owners, executives, entrepreneurs, and community leaders to deploy his lessons in the intersection of business and community building.

Alex’s expertise has contributed to everything from academic research to mainstream media, including the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, Harvard Business Review, Philadelphia Inquirer, WIRED magazine, and many more.

https://dangerouslyawesome.com/

https://stackingthebricks.com/

https://stackingthebricks.com/tinymba/

Credits

Episode produce by Spark Consulting Group (www.inspiredbyspark.com) in Iowa City, with support from Executive Podcast Solutions (https://www.executivepodcastsolutions.com/)

The Iowa Idea Podcast music written and performed by Paisley Bible (https://paisleybible.bandcamp.com/).

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The Iowa Idea: Katie Roche

“No one can give you permission to become the person you want to become.”

In this episode of The Iowa Idea Podcast, I sit down with Katie Roche. Raised in rural Eastern Iowa, Katie has always been an advocate for artists and arts the community. She honed her arts-world skills in NYC in the early 2000s, working for record labels, festivals, and venues like The Knitting Factory. She returned to Iowa in 2006, settling in Iowa City. She served as the first Executive Director of Summer of the Arts where she oversaw the annual Iowa Arts and Iowa City Jazz Festivals. A trusted community leader, Katie also helped rebuild the artist-run gallery, Public Space One, co-founded the long-running Saturday Night Free Movies series, and has advised numerous arts organizations through periods of crisis over the years.

Katie and I discuss, her journey in the arts, the role of the inner critic, and we dig into how The Awful Purdies were able to complete their latest album, The Great Unraveling, collaborating remotely during a time of pandemic.

It was an honor to have Katie join the podcast. I really appreciate her insights, passion, and contributions to the arts. Thanks to Katie for joining me. I hope you enjoy the episode.

About Katie

Raised in rural Eastern Iowa, Katie has always been an advocate for artists and arts in communities. She honed her arts-world skills in NYC in the early 2000s, working for record labels, festivals, and venues like The Knitting Factory. She returned to Iowa in 2006, settling in Iowa City. She served as the first Executive Director of Summer of the Arts where she oversaw the annual Iowa Arts and Iowa City Jazz Festivals. A trusted community leader, Katie also helped rebuild the artist-run gallery, Public Space One, co-founded the long-running Saturday Night Free Movies series, and has advised numerous arts organizations through periods of crisis over the years.

Katie joined the Englert as Development Director in 2011, bringing the belief that fundraising is a partnership–helping supporters focus their time, energy, and funds into the positive change they want to see in the world. As the Englert’s key arts fundraiser and community advocate, Katie balances data and personal relationships to grow the Friends of the Englert individual giving program by an average of 12% annually, while managing a sponsorship program that responds to the growing programmatic needs of the organization. She is currently developing the Arts Access Initiative: a county-wide assessment that will be used to create a baseline for improved cultural services for students, artists, and underserved populations.

As a musician Katie performs professionally with her all-woman ensemble, Awful Purdies, notably receiving funding from the NEA and Iowa Department of Cultural Affairs for projects that seek to bring rural populations, immigrants, and low wage earners into the creation of art.

www.awfulpurdies.com

www.dandelionstompers.com

www.englert.org

www.strengthengrowevolve.org

Credits

Episode produced by Spark Consulting Group (www.inspiredbyspark.com) in Iowa City, with support from Executive Podcast Solutions (https://www.executivepodcastsolutions.com/)

The Iowa Idea Podcast music is written and performed by Paisley Bible (https://paisleybible.bandcamp.com/).

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The Iowa Idea: David Dylan Thomas

“It’s not about having more information. It’s about having the right information.”

In this episode of The Iowa Idea Podcast, I sit down with David Dylan Thomas. Dave is the author of the book Design for Cognitive Bias from A Book Apart, serves as Content Strategy Advocate at Think Company and is the creator and host of the Cognitive Bias Podcast. He has developed digital strategies for major clients in entertainment, healthcare, publishing, finance, and retail. Dave has presented at TEDNYC, SXSW Interactive, Confab, IA Conference, and many other conferences on topics at the intersection of bias, design, and social justice.

Dave and I discuss the ethics, or lack thereof, in design with a focus on cognitive bias. I appreciated Dave’s perspective regarding the importance once we recognize a bias, we have the responsibility to address it and the connection to social justice. As with other behavioral science and bias discussions, we talk about how bad our brains are as a memory machine.

It was an honor to have Dave join the podcast. I really appreciated his insights and passion. Thanks to David for joining me. I hope you enjoy the episode.

About David

David Dylan Thomas, author of the book Design for Cognitive Bias from A Book Apart, serves as Content Strategy Advocate at Think Company and is the creator and host of the Cognitive Bias Podcast. He has developed digital strategies for major clients in entertainment, healthcare, publishing, finance, and retail. He has presented at TEDNYC, SXSW Interactive, Confab, LavaCon, UX Copenhagen, Artifact, IA Conference, Design and Content Conference, and the Wharton Web Conference on topics at the intersection of bias, design, and social justice.

Credits

Episode produce by Spark Consulting Group (www.inspiredbyspark.com) in Iowa City, with support from Executive Podcast Solutions (https://www.executivepodcastsolutions.com/)

The Iowa Idea Podcast music written and performed by Paisley Bible (https://paisleybible.bandcamp.com/).

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The Iowa Idea: Adam Hansen

“The brain is a great goal-seeking instrument.”

In this episode of The Iowa Idea Podcast, I sit down with Adam Hansen. Adam is a Principal and VP of Behavioral Innovation at Ideas To Go, Inc. and a career-long innovation leader, and student. He is co-author of Outsmart Your Instincts: How The Behavioral Innovation™ Approach Drives Your Company Forward. Adam serves client teams’ innovation needs across the Fortune 200 in consumer-packaged goods, healthcare, and finance. Adam and I talk about innovation, cognitive biases, the importance of models – without being slavish to the model, and ways that we might overcome our biases to improve innovation outcomes. We talk about Adam’s journey to innovation and the connection to music and practice. I enjoyed Adam’s comment that “you have to like something enough to be willing to suck at it.” If you’re looking for ways to be more innovative, pay attention to the DREAM acronym that Adam describes in the interview.

It was an honor to have Adam join the podcast. I really appreciated Adam’s insights and passion for innovation and the importance of replacing bad behavior in organizations with more positive behavior to enable innovation. Thanks to Adam for joining me. I hope you enjoy the episode.

About Adam

Adam Hansen is a Principal and VP of Behavioral Innovation at Ideas To Go, Inc. and a career-long innovation leader, student and devotee. He is co-author of Outsmart Your Instincts: How The Behavioral Innovation™ Approach Drives Your Company Forward. Adam serves client teams’ innovation needs across the Fortune 200 in consumer-packaged goods, healthcare, and finance. Prior to his time at Ideas To Go, Adam led innovation teams in and consulted with Mars, American Harvest, Procter and Gamble, and Bayer and received his MBA in product management at Indiana University. He has served on the board of the Product Development and Management Association and as an innovation and strategy expert with select causes in education and public health care.

Credits

Episode produce by Spark Consulting Group (www.inspiredbyspark.com) in Iowa City, with support from Executive Podcast Solutions (https://www.executivepodcastsolutions.com/)

The Iowa Idea Podcast music written and performed by Paisley Bible (https://paisleybible.bandcamp.com/).

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The Iowa Idea: Andre Perry

“How can we better express ourselves through art?”

In this episode of The Iowa Idea Podcast, I sit down with Andre Perry. Andre is an essayist and arts advocate. He received his MFA from the University of Iowa’s Nonfiction Writing Program and his work has appeared in The Believer, Catapult, and  other journals. He co-founded Iowa City’s Mission Creek Festival, a celebration of music and literature, as well as the multidisciplinary festival of creative process, Witching Hour. He currently serves as the Executive Director of The Englert Theatre in Iowa City.

Andre and I talk about creativity and collaboration in the contexts of music, writing, festival curation, civic engagement, and bold capital campaigns. We discuss Andre’s personal journey from growing up overseas and on the East Coast, as well as living in San Francisco before moving to Iowa City to attend the Iowa Writers’ Workshop.

I really appreciated Andre’s insights and passion for making the world a better, more equitable, and creative place. Thanks to Andre for joining me. I hope you enjoy the episode.

About Andre

Andre Perry is an essayist and arts advocate. He received his MFA from the University of Iowa’s Nonfiction Writing Program and his work has appeared in The Believer, Catapult, Granta and other journals. He co-founded Iowa City’s Mission Creek Festival, a celebration of music and literature, as well as the multidisciplinary festival of creative process, Witching Hour. He currently serves as the Executive Director of The Englert Theatre in Iowa City.

Credits

Episode produce by Spark Consulting Group (www.inspiredbyspark.com) in Iowa City, with support from Executive Podcast Solutions (https://www.executivepodcastsolutions.com/)

The Iowa Idea Podcast music written and performed by Paisley Bible (https://paisleybible.bandcamp.com/).

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The Iowa Idea: Tim Houlihan

“We don’t know our own motivations very well.”

In this episode of The Iowa Idea Podcast, I sit down with Tim Houlihan. Tim is intensely curious about why people do what they do. His understanding of human behavior and his applied experience help policy makers, marketers, human resource executives, and sales leaders make better decisions about their constituencies.

Tim founded BehaviorAlchemy, LLC, a strategy, training and design consultancy, to focus the behavioral lens on productivity, team effectiveness, retention, sales effectiveness, compliance and the customer experience. Along with co-host Kurt Nelson, Tim runs the wildly successful Behavioral Grooves podcast and Meetup.

I really appreciated Tim’s insights and spirit. We dig into monetary vs non-monetary rewards, the power of music, biases, and motivation; as well as Tim’s journey into the world of music and behavioral science. Thanks to Tim for joining me. I hope you enjoy the episode.

About Tim

Tim Houlihan is intensely curious about why people do what they do. His understanding of human behavior and his applied experience help policy makers, marketers, human resource executives, and sales leaders make better decisions about their constituencies.

Tim founded BehaviorAlchemy, LLC, a strategy, training and design consultancy, to focus the behavioral lens on productivity, team effectiveness, retention, sales effectiveness, compliance and the customer experience. The consultancy works primarily with organizations based in the United States and Europe and helps clients solve business problems through a behavioral lens. He also guest lectures at colleges and universities – including Carnegie Mellon University, Monmouth, Quinnipiac, Iowa State University, the University of St. Thomas and others – to bring real-world experiences to the classroom.

With partner, Kurt Nelson PhD, Tim co-founded Behavioral Grooves. It is a meetup based in Minneapolis, Minnesota with outposts in other cities. The meetup enables curious minds to pursue their interests in the application of behavioral sciences with TED-like talks from both academics and practitioners. Kurt and Tim also record a Behavioral Grooves podcast that features world-renowned researchers and practitioners by diving deep into the why-people-do-what-they-do question for listeners in more than 100 countries.

Before he launched BehaviorAlchemy and the Behavioral Grooves, he was the Vice President of Reward Systems at BI WORLDWIDE.  There, he was responsible for a $300,000,000 global portfolio of innovative reward systems, a thought leader in behavioral sciences, and was the chief liaison with academic research partnerships around the world. His research collaborations have included projects with Dan Ariely, George Loewenstein, Saurabh Bhargava, Francesca Gino, Scott Jeffrey, Victoria Shaffer, and Patricia Norberg, among others.

Tim’s crusade is to help us all realize that we are underestimating the role of the unconscious in our behaviors and to help address what we can do about it.

BehavioralAlchemy – https://www.behavioralchemy.com/

Behavioral Grooves – https://behavioralgrooves.com/

Credits

Episode produce by Spark Consulting Group (www.inspiredbyspark.com) in Iowa City, with support from Executive Podcast Solutions (https://www.executivepodcastsolutions.com/)

The Iowa Idea Podcast music written and performed by Paisley Bible (https://paisleybible.bandcamp.com/).