IMWCA University
Ongoing training is critical to employee safety, a cornerstone of IMWCA’s mission. Our annual IMWCA University offers training on a broad range of topics aimed directly at Iowa’s local government employees: safety coordinators, managers, municipal staff, elected officials, and agents.
IMWCA University 2026
IMWCA University will be held April 8-9. Below you will find details about the event. Agenda is subject to change.
2026 Agenda
Wednesday, April 8
1 p.m. | Grimes Public Safety Facility Tour
Come join us for a tour of the Public Safety Center that opened this winter. This 16,500 sq ft state of the art facility provides space for both the Johnston-Grimes Metropolitan Fire District and the Polk County Sheriff’s Department which is contracted to provide law enforcement services to the City of Grimes.
2:15 – 4 p.m. | Grimes Public Works Safety Walk Through Training
Join IMWCA staff at the City of Grimes Public Works and Parks maintenance facility to learn how to conduct a safety walk-through. Learn about what to look at and how to identify safety-related issues before they lead to workplace injuries.
2:30 – 4 p.m. | Claims: How it Affects Your Premium
Location: Hilton Garden Inn, 8600 Northpark Drive, Johnston, IA 50131
A workers’ compensation claim directly influences an employer’s financial landscape, primarily through increased insurance premiums. Gain an understanding of the three types of workers’ compensation claims and how each affects your premium.
5 p.m. | Social Hour – Hilton Garden Inn, hosted by IMWCA
Location: Hilton Garden Inn, 8600 Northpark Drive, Johnston, IA 50131
Join IMWCA at 5 p.m. for a social hour at the Hilton Garden Inn to connect with IMWCA staff and other members of the pool. Lite apps and beverages will be provided. Pre-registration recommended.
Thursday, April 9
Location: Hilton Garden Inn, 8600 Northpark Drive, Johnston, IA 50131
8:30 a.m. | Registration
9:15 a.m. | Opening General Session: Safety Awareness
A main contributor to workplace incidents is the lack of safety awareness by employees. In this session, we will cover what safety awareness is and how to develop safety awareness in your employees and management.
10:30 a.m. | Break
10:45 a.m. | Breakout Sessions
- Option 1 – 2026 Leadership Training Program Overview: Unlock the Secrets to Effectively Managing Your People
Join us to hear about leadership training that will be offered in 2026. We will hold multiple 2-day sessions in locations around the state where supervisors will learn how to handle employee performance concerns, how to manage and prevent misconduct, and what to do when you have employee conflict. There will be a safety component to each section, along with a conclusion providing information on creating a culture of safety and accountability in your department. - Option 2 – You’re Newish Safety Contact, What Now?
Congratulations, you are the new safety coordinator for your employer. This breakout session will cover the responsibilities of that position, what you shouldn’t have to do, and what resources are available to you from IMWCA.
11:45 a.m. | Lunch
Roundtables are designed to foster open discussions, promote the exchange of ideas, and encourage attendee questions. Each session will last 30 minutes, after which participants will have the opportunity to join a different roundtable discussion for a second round.
12:45 p.m. | Round One – Round Tables
1:15 p.m. | Round Two – Round Tables
- Option 1 – AI & Safety
Ask questions and share ideas on how AI can enhance safety practices. - Option 2 – IMWCA Grants
IMWCA has two sets of grants with $100,000 in funding set aside available to our members. This round will answer your questions about what is eligible for funding and how to apply. We will also be interested in what you would like to see offered in a safety grant program as well. - Option 3 – Managing Frequent Workers’ Comp Claims
Statistically, most employees will never file a workers’ compensation claim. So, how do you handle the outliers who have filed three, four, five or even more? Join this collaborative roundtable to dive into this exact challenge. Our team and other members will exchange ideas, share “lessons learned,” and develop better ways to manage high-frequency claim environments. - Option 4 – Claims Q&A
Bring your questions about handling claims, hear from the experts, and learn from others as real-world questions and scenarios are discussed. - Option 5 – Drug Testing: Post Incident & Reasonable Suspicion
Share experiences and learn from one another while exploring best practices for post-incident and reasonable suspicion drug testing. - Option 6 – What to Expect From Your Agent
This roundtable will focus on what members can reasonably expect from their agent and what agents typically expect in return. We’ll walk through common practices, roles, and responsibilities, then open the floor for questions and discussion.
1:45 p.m. | Break
1:50 – 3 p.m. | Closing General Session: Public Works Response to a Community Tragedy
This session will focus on the events of that day from a Public Works Department perspective, including the department’s role during the incident and the challenges faced in the aftermath. Josh Wuebker, City of Perry Public Works Director, will share his firsthand experiences with the goal of helping other cities and departments better prepare for and respond to a critical incident of this nature.
Speaker: Josh Wuebker, CPM, Public Works Director, City of Perry
Training Videos
