PRESS RELEASE: Business and Marketing Programs Take Center Stage at Iowa Lakes Board of Trustees Meeting
ESTHERVILLE, IOWA – The Iowa Lakes Community College Board of Trustees met Tuesday, November 18, 2025, at the Administration Building in Estherville for its regular monthly meeting. During the session, trustees received a detailed academic presentation highlighting the strength, rigor, and student impact of the Business Administration & Management and the Sales & Marketing Management programs.
Professor Denise Reimer, who has served Iowa Lakes for 39 years, provided an overview of the college’s core business programs, which prepare students for diverse, high-demand careers through hands-on learning and industry-relevant coursework.
Reimer has led the Sales & Marketing Management program since 1987 and added oversight of the Business Administration & Management program in 2006. She also advises the Parts Sales & Inventory Control program and teaches a wide array of business courses taken by students across multiple career and technical fields. Known for her commitment to academic excellence, she has coordinated all program reviews and assessments while also contributing extensively to collegewide faculty committees.
A graduate of the University of Northern Iowa (B.A.) and Drake University (M.A.), Reimer continues to advance her expertise through ongoing graduate coursework. She is also deeply active in the Emmetsburg community, serving on several local boards.
Iowa Lakes Business Administration & Management and the Sales & Marketing Management programs are intentionally designed to equip students with the knowledge, skills, and experiences needed to succeed in today’s dynamic business environment.
The programs emphasize lifelong learning, ensuring students stay current with evolving industry expectations and emerging trends. Coursework is routinely updated to maintain relevant, real-world content, delivering transferable and career-ready skills that prepare graduates for immediate entry into the workforce or continued education.
Students benefit from hands-on learning opportunities, including applied projects and internships that connect classroom concepts to practical experience. Both programs offer diverse electives and concentration options, allowing students to tailor their degree to their interests and career goals.
A hallmark of the business programs is the personalized advising and mentorship students receive from experienced faculty, who guide academic planning, provide career insight, and support student success from enrollment through graduation.
Four Iowa Lakes students, Kadin Walter, Chelsea Van Roekel, Aspen Rork, and Coral Rork — attended the Board meeting to share how the Business Administration & Management and the Sales & Marketing Management programs have shaped their academic journeys and future goals.
Coral Rork told trustees that she chose Iowa Lakes “for new experiences and opportunities,” noting that she enjoys meeting new people and appreciates the ability to continue her swimming career while pursuing her degree. Her sister, Aspen Rork, described Iowa Lakes as a place that allowed her to grow personally and academically. “Iowa Lakes was an opportunity for me to expand out of my comfort zone but still attend a college with smaller class sizes and the faculty support needed to thrive,” she said.
Non-traditional student Chelsea Van Roekel emphasized the value of flexibility in her educational pathway. “The online option provides the flexibility I need to complete my education while caring for my family,” she shared.
Student Kadin Walter spoke about his experience with the Okoboji Entrepreneurial Institute (OEI), explaining how the opportunity broadened his perspective and strengthened both his academic direction and long-term professional aspirations.
The students’ stories reflect the breadth of opportunities available through Iowa Lakes’ business programs. Graduates enter a wide range of high-demand fields, including financial services, retail and wholesale operations, hotel and convention sales, marketing departments, direct sales, real estate, food marketing, and media and communications. Employers consistently seek the communication, leadership, analytical, and customer-focused skills reinforced throughout the curriculum
Coursework across the programs includes Principles of Marketing, Principles of Management, Consumer Behavior, Business Law, Human Relations, Professionalism, Accounting, and Business Communications, culminating in hands-on capstone internships that help students develop the practical experience necessary for career success.
For more information about the Business Administration & Management program or the Sales and Marketing Management Program at Iowa Lakes, visit www.iowalakes.edu.
The next regular Iowa Lakes Board of Trustees meeting will be held on Tuesday, December 9, 2025, at the Administration Building, 19 South 7th Street, Estherville. The work session will begin at 4 p.m., followed by the formal meeting at 4:30 p.m.