Each year, IPI staff from across the state gather together for the annual IPI training conference. However, this year’s event was perhaps even more special than usual, as 2025 marks 75 years of IPI as recognized by Iowa Code. The conference planning committee recognized that this was the perfect opportunity to go all-out and put together a very special event.
The day kicked off with words from IPI Director Bob Fairfax, who welcomed staff to the Lawrence Center in Anamosa and provided an outline for the eventful day to come. Iowa DOC Director Beth Skinner also shared a video congratulating the organization on 75 years of operations and sharing her gratitude for the service and dedication that IPI staff bring to the department each and every day. Bob then played a video presentation outlining the history of prison industries in Iowa from the very first inmate labor contract all the way to present day IPI operations.
The first teambuilding activity of the day was a fun one: back-to-back drawing! In this exercise, table groups lined up single file, and the person at the back of the line was given an image. The images included IPI products and imagery, such as an air filter, a license plate, a mattress, and the IPI logo. The team member given the image was tasked with drawing the picture one shape at a time on a piece of paper taped to the next person in line’s back. That person who was drawn on would then have to draw on the next person’s back based on the shape they felt drawn on their own back. When this step is repeated 5-6 times per cycle, each team’s drawings quickly deviated from the original image. The purpose of the exercise was to demonstrate the importance of efficient communication, and showcase how much can be lost when things go through multiple channels or are left up to interpretation. There was plenty of laughter throughout the activity, and of course plenty of very interesting art pieces by the end!
The next training activity brought teams back to their tables to conduct a SWOT analysis. A SWOT analysis is a common exercise used to identify strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats that an organization has in order to address them and grow. Each team brainstormed with each other, sharing their views on what IPI’s core competencies and areas for improvement were. It was a valuable opportunity to hear the opinions of staff who you might not normally see or hear from on account of their geographical location. By the end of the brainstorming session, each team had compiled their lists, which will serve as data for the IPI Leadership Team to look at and use to address key items.
After a short break, we welcomed our very special guest speaker for the day, Terry Rich! Terry is a very successful entrepreneur who is best known for his work revitalizing the Blank Park Zoo and serving as the President/CEO of the Iowa Lottery. During his speech, Terry emphasized the importance of taking calculated risks and innovative thinking. He presented several ideas that not only helped him go from a young man in Cooper, IA to a successful, nationally-recognized businessman, but that can also be used within IPI to allow innovation and organizational growth. He also shared the wild, fascinating story of how he led the team that cracked the largest lottery fraud in US history. The infamous Hot Lotto scandal includes many twists and turns, with shady lawyers, hot dogs and Bigfoot playing vital roles in uncovering the truth! From this experience, Terry shared some helpful tips for recognizing and preventing fraud for other organizations.
The group then took a break for lunch, which was appropriately ‘50s diner themed. The menu included burgers and hot dogs prepared by the Jones County Cattlemen’s Society, Matt Scranton’s secret-recipe mac & cheese, and even soft serve ice cream! The break also provided an opportunity to connect with several wardens, DOC staff and IPI alumni who were invited for lunch.
After a group photo and a 50’s-themed trivia game, Rod Kramer introduced the next teambuilding activity, one which he spent lots of time and effort putting together. Rod created an intricate escape room scenario based on a diamond heist gone wrong, with each table group having to work together to solve a series of puzzles to escape. Each team was given a variety of objects and clues to help them through, with some serving as red herrings and others as cleverly-connected pieces of the puzzle. The time limit that accompanied the activity added a bit of pressure and urgency to the exercise, and reinforced the importance of working together, keeping a level head, and thinking critically when the stakes are raised. The escape room activity was a big hit with staff, and served as a fun, yet valuable learning opportunity for the group.
As the day wrapped up, Bob Fairfax gave his closing remarks for the day. For the past few years, Bob has left staff with a different motto to take with them back to their work. This year, the motto was “Be the Difference,” a call to continue being exemplary and creating positive ripples throughout IPI and our communities at large. Based on feedback received from a post-conference survey, it seems like this year’s meeting was a great success. The day included several fantastic opportunities for teambuilding, networking and training, while still having a bit of fun too!