FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Jan. 17, 2002 CONTACT: Lisa Lacher, (515) 271-3119 DRAKE BUSINESS LINK OFFERS FREE WORKSHOP ON MOTIVATING AND RETAINING THE BEST EMPLOYEES The Drake University Business Link will conduct a free workshop for managers Thursday, Jan. 31, on "How to Motivate and Retain Your Best Employees." The workshop will start at 12:30 p.m. in Parents Hall in Olmsted Center, 29th Street and University Avenue. The keynote speaker will be Marc Drizin of Walker Information, who will present the results of the 2001 National Employee Benchmark Study on employee commitment and loyalty. He will share findings by industry and region as well as discuss the high costs of turnover and ways to improve employee retention. The workshop also will include a panel discussion with local human resource managers who will talk about what they are doing to increase employee commitment and retention. Mike Wagner of Spindustry Systems will moderate the discussion. The panelists will be Nancy Berggren, division administrator for customer service, Iowa Department of Personnel; Jacquie Easley, assistant vice president, personnel, American Republic Insurance Co.; Shirley Poertner, president, Poertner Consulting; and Dorenda Walters, director of human resources, Des Moines Water Works. Although the workshop is free to interested managers, advance registration is required. To register, call the Drake College of Business and Public Administration at 271-2871, visit http://www.cbpa.drake.edu/businesslink/registration.htm or send an e-mail message to delaney.kirk@drake.edu.