Employee & Family Resources

07/29/2026

Once a month, we take a Wednesday Wellness Walk. Regular movement breaks during your work day gives you a boost of energy, clears your mind, and sharpens your focus. This month we utilized the skywalk here in downtown Des Moines as the outside weather has just been too hot!

We encourage our employees to take regular stretch breaks and schedule movement into their day, but when we get together for our monthly walk it's a good opportunity to talk to people in other departments (and compare our walking footwear!).

07/23/2026

In this episode of Emotion Well, host Johanna Dunlevy welcomes life coach (as well as an EFR Life Coach), yoga instructor, and entrepreneur, Emily Manternach, for a thoughtful conversation about the transformative power of forgiveness.

Whether you’re navigating a difficult relationship, carrying past hurt, or simply looking to move forward with greater peace, this episode offers compassionate insights and practical tools to help take the next step toward healing.

Listen here:
https://na2.hubs.ly/H06QH9d0

07/15/2026

Read our latest blog, "Boundaries, Not Borders". If you struggle setting healthy boundaries, this is a helpful read.

https://na2.hubs.ly/H06D-CC0

07/13/2026

Here at EFR we are lucky to partner with trainers who have a wide variety of experiences. Amanda Sikkema is a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist and provides workshops and one-on-one nutrition consultations that support employee health and performance. She is also a published author. Manda's Meals is a collection of approachable, flavor forward recipes that Amanda developed during her training and refined over the years. Congratulations to Amanda on this accomplishment!

https://na2.hubs.ly/H06DZw40

07/08/2026

Recently, we received a request from TS Bank to have someone talk to a group of 5th graders about mental health. Jessica Streeter, EFR's School Assistance Program Onsite Manager, was able to connect with them via Zoom and spoke about the importance of mental health.

One take-away she hoped they would remember was to "normalize mental health like physical health - talk openly so others know they're not alone."

We're thankful for the opportunity to give back to our community and talk about this important topic with young people. It's inspiring to see that they are concerned and passionate about mental health.

You can read more here:

TS Bank mentors help students turn learning into action through mental health and financial literacy.

07/02/2026

Happy 250th Birthday to the USA!

As we head into this long weekend, we celebrate the freedoms we enjoy, the strength of our communities, and the individuals who make them special!

Whether you are celebrating with friends, or just taking a well deserved break, we hope you have a safe and meaningful holiday.

Remember to take care of yourself and those around you, stay hydrated, be mindful of fireworks, and check in on loved ones.

Have a safe and memorable 4th of July!

06/24/2026

Throughout the year, we have cultural competency events and today...we celebrated with food! Tamales (Mexico), Sambusa (Ethiopia), Llapingachos (Ecuador), and Sesame Balls (China). It was a great afternoon spent talking with colleagues and trying new things. Delicious!

06/18/2026

Make sure you take the time to listen to June's Emotion Well podcast to hear the honest and hopeful discussion our host Johanna Dunlevy has with Matt Connolly as he shares his personal journey as someone who has been diagnosed with schizophrenia, what it was like to live with the untreated symptoms, and how medication, support, and wellness practices have helped him remain symptom-free for more than 20 years.

Watch here: https://na2.hubs.ly/H064S_N0
Listen here: https://na2.hubs.ly/H064SyZ0

06/16/2026

We fell behind in celebrating the work anniversaries of our employees, but it's never too late to extend our best wishes to them! Our employees are our greatest strength and resource. Thank you all for contributing to the mission and success of EFR!

💚February💚
Alli Conrad – 4 years

☔April☔
Penny Seidenkranz – 5 years
Lars Peterson – 1 year

🌼May🌼
Tammy Hoyman – 30 years
Racheal Gibbons – 5 years
Jen Perez – 3 years
Lauren Asman – 2 years
Joanne Gara – 1 year
Mel Mackey – 1 year

☀️June☀️
Johanna Dunlevy – 11 years
Cortney Crowder – 5 years
Casey Keller – 2 years
Anthony Chilton – 1 year
Paula Genkinger – 1 year
Joyce Lassic – 1 year

06/12/2026

Do you know the difference between 988 and 911? 988 is a number where you can receive emotional support, de-escalation if you are in crisis, and be connected to community resources. 911 should be used if there is an urgent threat to life or safety, if there is a medical emergency, or if a crime is on progress. When you know the difference between these two important phone numbers, you'll be able to get the help you need.