January 2019 ABM

Page 1

AB AMES BUSINESS

M O N T H LY J A N U A R Y 2 0 19

January Chamber Update

SEE PAGE 2

‘THE SPIRIT OF THE SEASON’

REG DONATES $250K TO BOYS AND GIRLS CLUB OF STORY COUNTY SEE PAGE 4

AB

2 | A M E S B U S I N E S S M O N T H LY | J A N U A RY 2 019

AMES BUSINESS

M O N T H LY J A N UA RY 2 0 19 Vol. 12, No. 1 AMES TRIBUNE Ames Business Monthly is a publication of the Ames Tribune, 317 Fifth St., Ames, IA, 50010; (515) 232-2160.

3 Rick Brimeyer: Complexity... the silent killer 4 REG donates $250K to Boys & Girls Club of SC 4 REG names new CEO 17 Amberly J. Ehret: An important road map from start to finish 17 AEDC recognized for workplace development 18 Downtown Ames begins search for new director

ON THE COVER:

Jayden, 8, reacts after opening a gift during Wilson Toyota’s annual Christmas party for children at the Beloit Residential Treatment Center. PHOTO BY MICHAEL CRUMB/AMES TRIBUNE

‘The spirit of the season’ Children from Beloit Residential Treatment Center were honored guests at Wilson Toyota By Michael Crumb, Editor mcrumb@amestrib.com

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here was an elf, and Frosty and a battle for gifts between the Grinch and Santa, and while it all made for a lot of fun, the true meaning of the season wasn’t lost on the 17 children from the Beloit Residential Treatment Center when they were the honored guests at Wilson Toyota. It was the eighth year for the partnership between the car dealership and Lutheran Services in Iowa, which operates Beloit Center, as they work to make the holiday season just a little merrier for the children, some of whom won’t get to go home for Christmas. “I feel like it’s wonderful because there’s people out there who care about us and want to help us,” said 12-year-old Scott at the Dec. 11 event. “Christmas is a time where we care about each other.” It was Scott’s second year of participating the program, and he had some sage advice for younger children who maybe were there for the first time. “I’m telling them there will be good food and presents but not to be focused on the presents, but to be caring about other people,” said Scott, who will get to go home for Christmas. For Abby, 14, it was also her second time participating in the Wilson Toyota Christmas. “Having all these people here to celebrate with us, because some of us don’t have families, so at least we know someone is here for us,” said Abby, who will spend her Christmas at Beloit. Danny Wilson, owner of Wilson Toyota, said the party is a way the dealership can give back to the community each year. “As an organization we decided to celebrate the holiday season and rather than go out and do something for ourselves, everyone has embraced the idea of giving to somebody else and boy, has this been a great partnership and the young kids, we have a great impact on their Christmas season, and that’s what we want to do,” Wilson said. He said each child at Beloit makes a Christmas wish list and that list is given to a Wilson employee, who adopts that child for the holiday season. Each employee is then given a

Santa is swarmed by children from the Beloit Residential Treatment Center during Wilson Toyota’s annual Christmas party for the children as Frosty watches on. PHOTO BY MICHAEL CRUMB/AMES TRIBUNE

gift card to buy gifts for a child, he said. Wilson said the “enthusiasm and chaos” of the evening are part of the magic. “You go back to when you were a young person, that excitement, that’s hard to duplicate as you grow older, but you also realize these kids are going through more than the average kid, there’s a lot of things already stacked against them, they’re kind of moving against the wind, and if we can do something to help them escape for one evening, that’s what we want to do,” he said. Jason Lee, vice president of philanthropy and church relations for LSI, said Tuesday night’s party is an important part of the children’s lives. “This is the best day of the year for many of the kids,” he said. “Some get to go home for Christmas and share that with family, and some others stay here with us, so for them to be shown they’re loved and cared for, it just makes their year.”

Frosty high-fives a girl during the Wilson Toyota Christmas party for children at the Beloit Residential Treatment Center. PHOTO BY MICHAEL CRUMB/AMES TRIBUNE

JANUARY 2019 | AMES BUSINESS MONTHLY | 3

Complexity... I

had the great fortune to work under a very wise engineering manager at two points in my career, first as a graduate and almost 20 years later while leading a design team. John was of the generation that used a slide rule in college (Google it kids) and had amassed decades of practical experience designing products that resulted in millions of dollars in sales. John often referred to a complex design as an “engineering marvel.” It was not a compliment. It meant there were more things that could go wrong than you could shake a stick at. The ultimate accolade from John was that one’s design was “elegantly simple.” Supporting John’s position, fellow engineer Leonardo da Vinci is reported to have said, “Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication.” That’s pretty good company. This may seem counterintuitive. We live in a world where we expect to “have it your way” with highly customized products and services. Access to ever-increasing and low-cost computing power would appear to allow one to manage variation. Why limit customers? Product and service variation can take on many different forms:  Number of different product lines offered and supported  Number of options available on a given line  Number of services provided  Number of various means of serving customers (walk-in, phone, mail, online, referral) Without a well-designed system to manage variation, complexity reigns.

the silent killer

Rick Brimeyer

Most organizations severely underestimate the true cost of complexity in their business which is hidden in defects, disappointed (lost) customers and frustrated employees. While simplicity doesn’t guarantee something will be easy, complexity almost assures it will not be easy. Defining our niche allows us to define the finite number of systems that are required to consistently offer customers a great experience with a customized output. For example, McDonald’s has a robust system in place for supplying hamburgers without onions. But try ordering an omelet there without jalapenos and you’ll get a funny look. Later in my career, our design team developed a hydraulic motor for the aerial lift industry. Because most units were sold into the rental vehicle market and driven by operators several feet up in the air, it was critical the product be extremely safe, simple to control and cost effective. As much as possible, we attempted to re-use proven components from existing products. Time and again during the design effort we were tempted to add a bell or whistle to the design in order to appeal to an additional market, but at the

risk of losing our primary target … aerial lifts. We consistently resisted those temptations, keeping a laser-like focus on the aerial lift market. A co-worker brought an unassembled prototype unit in a box to a group of middle school girls who were interested in engineering. When she reported they correctly assembled the unit, without instructions, we knew we had what John would call an “elegantly simple” design. The product went on to dominate not only the aerial lift market, but also many of the peripheral markets we had avoided by not adding bells and whistles. The low cost of the aerial lift motor allowed customers to purchase it and cost effectively add the needed bells and whistles themselves. “Never say ‘no’ to a customer” is an outdated and misguided mantra. The best one can hope for is to become a jack of all trades, a master of none. That’s not a recipe for success today when competing against a field of focused masters. The key word is focus. Successful organizations continually define what business they are in and, perhaps more importantly, which ones they are not. They understand that riches are in the niches. Rick Brimeyer is the president of Brimeyer LLC, an independent management consulting firm located in Ames which guides organizations to higher performance by focusing on process improvement and leadership development. Further information is available at www.brimeyerllc.com, or by calling (515) 450-8855.

4 | A M E S B U S I N E S S M O N T H LY | J A N U A RY 2 019

REG donates $250K to Boys REG names new CEO & Girls Club of Story County R

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EG, the Ames-based biofuels company, has announced it will commit $250,000 to the Boys & Girls Club of Story County. In a news release, company officials said the gift will be paid over five years and enable the club to “to meet the challenges facing Story County youth today and overcome obstacles impeding young people’s success in the future.” The commitment, the largest the club has received from a company, helped kick off the club’s Vision 2020 initiative. “Vision 2020 is both an awareness and fundraising initiative to raise $8 million by 2020 and achieve our mission: To enable all young people, especially those who need us most, to reach their full potential as productive, caring and responsible citizens,” said Erika Peterson, CEO of Boys & Girls Clubs of Story County, in the release. “REG has been a valued partner of the club for many years and we are honored to have them be the first leader in the community to join us in achieving Vision 2020.” Raymond Richie, REG vice president of

strategic planning and analysis, managing director, and a member of the Boys & Girls Club of Story County Board of Directors, said the commitment is just a continuation of the relationship between REG and the club. “It has been an honor to be able to work with the Boys and Girls Clubs of Story County for a number of years, and we are thrilled to continue this relationship,” said Richie, who serves as the board’s treasurer. “This commitment is really a long-term investment in the lives of the youth who are attending the club, which is something we are really proud of.”

enewable Energy Group Inc., the Ames-based biofuels producer, announced recently Cynthia (CJ) Warner will become the company’s new president and chief executive officer starting Jan. 14. Warner will also join the company’s board of directors, according to a news release announcing her appointment. “After completing a thorough and deliberWarner ate succession planning process, we are pleased to welcome CJ Warner as our new President and CEO,” said Jeff Stroburg, Chairman of the REG Board of Directors, in the release. “Her

background and success, coupled with her passion for developing renewable fuels that transform the transportation fuels market to a cleaner and sustainable future, makes her an exceptional choice to lead REG.” Warner, who will succeed Randy Howard, comes to REG with more than 35 years of experience in the energy industry, most recently serving as executive vice president, operations for Andeaver, formerly Tesoro Corporation, an integrated marketing, logistics and refining company. Prior to that, Warner was executive vice president, strategy and business development of Andeaver. And before that, she was the president, CEO and chairman of the board at Sapphire Energy, a biofuels company. Earlier, she

worked as group vice president of global refining and group vice president of health, safety, security, environmental and technology for BP (British Petroleum.) Warner also serves as a member of the board of directors for IDEX Corporation and serves as a member of the National Petroleum Council. “I am delighted and honored to be joining the REG team as President and CEO,” Warner said in the release. “This growing company is well positioned to meet the rising global demand for cleaner, competitive low carbon fuel solutions. I look forward to the exciting future ahead and to leading the team with a continued focus on value creation.” During the leadership transition, Howard will remain engaged with the business, and he will continue to serve on the REG Board of Directors.

JANUARY 2019 | AMES BUSINESS MONTHLY | 5

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ate in November more than 50 people representing business and human services organizations from across Story County convened for the purpose of having a workforce discussion. The event conveners included the United Way of Story County, Ames Chamber & Economic Development Commission, and Story County. Jean Kresse, President and CEO for United Way of Story County explains, “We have Ames/Story County employers expanding and needing workforce. Our human service organizations continue to see individuals and families working hard but struggling to meet all their monthly expenses. Our goal is to bring together employers and human service agencies so they may have a better understanding of each other’s challenges with the goal to work together to develop solutions to make Ames/Story County an even better place to work, live and retire.� The day’s events started with a presentation by Brenda Dryer, Director of Existing Industry and Workforce Solutions for the Ames Chamber & Economic Development Commission. She provided a snapshot of the Story County labor market; highlighting the current unemployment/underemployment rates, number of current job open-

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ings on WorkInAmes.com (the Story County job board), recent project announcements, and top full-time job openings. Frances Nolan, Director of Human Resources for Bethany Life goes on to explain, “We each get so focused on the day to day operations of our individual organizations, it was great to come together to identify ways that we can work together to positively impact all of Story County." The focus for much of the day was discussion around opportunities that exist and what can be done as organizations and individuals to address the challenges and operationalize solutions.

“It was a great opportunity to bring together employers and human service agencies to have an open discussion about barriers and possible solutions to employment. I learned a lot from hearing other perspectives, and feel energized as we continue to work towards collaborative solutions!� stated Carrie Moser, Executive Director for the Emergency Residence Project. All participants put together an action plan highlighting two ideas that they intend to mobilize with the goal of moving those ideas from conversation to action!

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Andrew Perry, Chair McFarland Clinic Stacy Dreyer, Vice Chair, First National Bank Matt Converse, Second Vice Chair Converse Conditioned Air Vanessa Baker-Latimer, Treasurer City of Ames Sara Hunter, Divisional Chair, Community Development Vermeer Corporation Lawrence Cunningham, Divisional Chair, Government Affairs Iowa State Daily Media Group Nate Easter, Divisional Chair, Membership Iowa State University Research Park Luke Jensen, Immediate Past Chair Real Estate Service Group, Inc. Dan Culhane, President / CEO Ames Chamber of Commerce & Economic Development Commission

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hank you everyone who attended the 2019 Economic Outlook Breakfast! Iowa State University professor Dr. Peter Orazem spoke on the economy of Ames and Story County with facts and humor on what we should expect moving in to 2019. A big thank you to our Presenting Sponsor, South Story Bank & Trust, and our Breakfast Sponsor, Mediacom Business!

BOARD MEMBERS

Lindsey Beecher, Gilbert Community School District Scott Blum, Accord Architecture/Henkel Construction Ben Conway, HyVee West Ames Brenda Fugere, 3M Jeff Janes, Des Moines Area Community College Nikki Kyle, Central Iowa Air Service Nate Rippke, Rippke Design Dr. Sonya Stoltze Newstrom, Stoltze & Stoltze Family Dentistry Jason Schwenneker, Renewable Energy Group, Inc. Dr. Reginald Stewart, Iowa State University Michelle Vogel, Sigler Companies Randy Woodbeck, Atlantic Bottling, Inc. Eric Abrams, AMS Representative, Duck Worth Wearing & The Loft Justin Dodge, TAF Representative, Hunziker Companies Scott Wannarka, CAA Representative, 1RKA, LLC Taylor Hopper, YPA Representative, Fox Engineering Associates, Inc.

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• Brenda Dryer, Director, Existing Industry & Workforce Solutions • John Hall, Director, Marketing • Dustin Ingram, Director, Community & Economic Development Outreach • Drew Kamp, Director, Public Policy & Business Development • Brandon Mumm, Director, Membership Development • Lojean Petersen, Ames Main Street Farmers’ Market Manager • Calli Sandahl, Director, Digital Marketing

J A N U A RY 2 019 | A M E S B U S I N E S S M O N T H LY | 7

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hen the 116th United States Congress gavels in on January 3, 2019, there will be several new dynamics at play in the nation’s capital. In the United States Senate, Iowa will be very well represented, as Senator Chuck Grassley will be Senate President Pro Tempore, meaning only the Vice President and Speaker of the House will be ahead of him in the Presidential Line of Succession. Iowa’s Junior Senator, Joni Ernst, LV QRZ SDUW RI WKH ¿YH SHUVRQ 6HQDWH GOP Leadership Team as well. She will serve as the Vice Chairwoman of the Republican Conference, which LV WKH ¿IWK KLJKHVW SRVW ZLWK 6HQDWRU Mitch McConnell (R-KY) retaining his role as Senate Majority Leader, Senator John Thune (R-SD) assuming the role of Majority Whip from Senator John Cornyn (R-TX) who was removed due to leadership term limits, Senator John Barrasso (R-WY) taking on the position of Chair of the Republican Conference, and Senator 5R\ %OXQW 5 02 ¿OOLQJ WKH UROH RI Policy Committee Chair. In the position, Senator Ernst will be featured prominently in interviews on all news networks. Senate Democrats held their Leadership Elections in mid-November as well, and their leadership slate will be Senator Chuck Schumer (D-NY) serving as Minority Leader, Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) Minority Whip, Senator Patty Murray (D-WA) Assistant Democratic Leader, Senator Debbie

Stabenow (D-MI) Chair of the Democratic Policy and Communications Committee, Senator Elizbeth Warren (D-MA), Vice Chair of the Conference, Senator Mark Warner (D-VA) Vice Chair of the Conference, Senator Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) Chair of Steering Committee, Senator Bernie Sanders (D-VT) Chair of Outreach, Senator Joe Manchin (D-WV) Vice Chair of the Democratic Policy and Communications Committee, and Senator Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) Senate Democratic Conference Secretary. In the United States House of Representatives, the Democratic and Republican Caucuses have yet to hold their formal Leadership Elections, but there have been formal nominations for individuals to be voted on to serve in their respective leadership posts, which will be voted on formally on or after the 116th Congress gaveling in on January 3. For the Democratic Majority, the following nominations have been made: Representative Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) serving as Speaker of the House, Representative Steny Hoyer (D-MD) Majority Leader, Representative James Clyburn (D-SC) Majority Whip, Representative Marcia Fudge (D-OH) Chair of House Administration Subcommittee on Elections, and Representative Hakeem Jeffries (DNY) Democratic Conference Caucus Chair. In the House Republican Caucus, Representative Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) has been nominated House Minority Leader, Representative Steve

Scalise (R-LA) House Minority Whip, and Representative Mark Walker (R-NC) Vice-Chair of the Republican Conference. The 88th Iowa General Assembly will gavel in on Monday, January 14. Governor Reynolds will give her Condition of the State Address on Tuesday, January 15. The Republicans hold WKH *RYHUQRUœV 2I¿FH ZLWK *RYHUQRU Reynolds and Lt. Governor Gregg, as well as the Iowa Senate by a majority of 32-18, and the Iowa House by a majority of 54-46. Leadership in each Chamber and Caucus will be: Senate Republican Leadership Team: • Senator Jack Whitver (Ankeny) Senate Majority Leader • Senator Charles Schneider (West Des Moines) - President of the Senate • Senator Jerry Behn (Boone) President Pro Tempore of the Senate • Senator Amy Sinclair (Allerton) Senate Majority Whip • Senator Waylon Brown (St. Ansgar) - Asst. Majority Leader • Senator Jake Chapman (Adel) Asst. Majority Leader • Senator Randy Feenstra (Hull) Asst. Majority Leader • Senator Dan Zumbach (Ryan) Asst. Majority Leader Senate Democrat Leadership Team: • Senator Janet Petersen (Des Moines) - Senate Minority Leader

• • • • • • •

Senator Amanda Ragan (Mason City) - Senate Minority Whip Senator Joe Bolkcom (Iowa City) - Asst. Minority Leader Senator Bill Dotzler (Waterloo) Asst. Minority Leader Senator Pam Jochum (Dubuque) Asst. Minority Leader Senator Liz Mathis (Hiawatha) Asst. Minority Leader Senator Herman Quirmbach (Ames) - Asst. Minority Leader Senator Rich Taylor (Mount Pleasant) - Asst. Minority Leader

House Republican Leadership Team: • Representative Linda Upmeyer (Clear Lake) - Speaker of the House • Representative Chris Hagenow (Urbandale) - House Majority Leader • Representative Matt Windschitl (Missouri Valley) - Speaker Pro Tempore • Representative John Wills (Spirit Lake) - House Majority Whip House Democratic Leadership Team: • Representative Todd Prichard (Charles City) - Minority Leader • Representative Bruce Bearinger (Oelwein) - Assistant Minority Leader • Representative Liz Bennett (Cedar Rapids) - Assistant Minority Leader • Representative Brian Meyer (Des Moines) - Assistant Minority Leader

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fter kicking off in late August, Leadership Ames Class 32 has had a great series of sessions this fall. This year’s class co-chairs Adam Bates (Mary Greeley Medical Center) and Mary Evanson (ISU Foundation) have been leading the group in learning, engaging and developing skills for personal growth and ultimately, community gain. Community Schools Day was held September 20. Class 31 graduates Mason Adams (Alliant Energy) and Amanda Estey (VisionBank) coordinated the day, which included tours and presentations at Northwood Preschool, DMACC Career Academy Hunziker Center, Ames High School and Gilbert Middle School, as well as a panel with Ames Community School District administration and board members. 1RQSUR¿W 'D\, sponsored by Mediacom, was held on October 18 and coordinated by Class 31 graduate Bryan Pates (Mary Greeley Medical Center). The morning included a tour of Boys & Girls Clubs of Story County, a community action poverty simulation and lunch with local volunteers. That afternoon the group toured the Smithsonian Hometown Teams Exhibit, learned about United Way of Story County and toured One Heart Equestrian Center's new permanent location. Inclusive Organizations Day was held October 31, where the class participated in the inaugural Symposium on Building Inclusive Organizations. This half-day event was a partnership between the Ames Chamber of Commerce, the City of Ames, and Iowa State University. Following that event, the class was led in a discussion about diversity and inclusion in Story County. Additionally, the community service project selections were announced. (More details will be featured in a future issue.)

Economic Development Day, sponsored by Ames Ford Lincoln, was on November 20 and led by Class 31 graduates Erik Bunker (First National Bank) and Brenda Dryer (Ames Chamber of Commerce). After attending the Economic Outlook Breakfast, the class then had a housing panel, followed by a tour of Burke Corporation to end the morning. The afternoon was spent with an interactive economic development activity that was judged by AEDC Chair Dan Oh, and a special session of Startup Ames. City of Ames Day was held on December 13, coordinated by Class 31 graduates Brianne Anderson (Ames Public Library) and Jason Dietzenbach (Avec Design + Build). The day featured several presentations at City Hall including a panel with Mayor Haila and members of Ames City Council, as well as tours of Ames Public Library, the Resource Recovery Plant, CyRide, and Fire Station #1. More great sessions are planned for spring, including Leadership Development II Day hosted by Towneplace Suites (January 8), State & County Day (January 25), Healthcare Day (February 14), Business & Industry Day (March 5), Agriculture Day (March 28), Iowa State University Day sponsored by the ISU Foundation (April 18), and concluding with the Capstone and Graduation (May 13). Thank you to all of the sponsors and presenters for making this program possible, especially Class 32 Presenting Sponsor Mary Greeley Medical Center!

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Thank you to the following members who have donated ten percent more than their annual dues for Chamber projects. Because of contributions from members like these, the Ames Chamber can maintain a level of excellence in the services we provide. Please note: This represents only a portion of the Chamber’s Gold members.

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14 | AMES BUSINESS MONTHLY | JANUARY 2019

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he YPA '4 Under 40' Awards capture the spirit of extraordinary young professionals in our community by recognizing those indi-

viduals who take the mission of YPA to heart, which is to be leaders committed to improving the quality of life in Ames, and to establish a community of young

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Justin Dodge joined Hunziker Companies in 2014 specializing in land development, community growth and assists other business units within the organization with a variety of tasks. In 2015, he and Hunziker &RPSDQLHV ZHUH RQH RI WKH ¿UVW LQ WKH QDWLRQ to receive authorization from the federal government to operate drones commercially. This authorization captured nationwide attention, with coverage from national media outlets including USA Today. Community involvement is important to Dodge, and he is involved in numerous community organizations as a result. He is the past president of the Ames Masonic Lodge, current president of The Ames Foundation, president-elect of the Ames Homebuilder’s Association, treasurer for the Greek Alumni Alliance and serves on the board of the Ames Electric Utility Operations Review and Advisory Board. Dodge is a passionate Iowa State fan and supporter of Cyclone athletics. He is married to Andrea Hammes Dodge, together they reside in the heart of historical Ames near the Iowa State University campus.

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Andy McCormick is the founder and owner of Torrent Brewing Company in Downtown Ames. Andy also is an Architectural Designer and has been for over seventeen years currently at Shive-Hattery Architecture and Engineering in West Des Moines. When he isn’t working at the brewery or on a new commercial building project he enjoys working outside and doing off the wall spontaneous adventures with his wife Angie and their three children Ava, Ella and Carter. He is currently working on expanding the breweries distribution and DOVR JURZLQJ WKH ¿UPœV EHYHUDJH LQGXVWU\ PDUNHWLQJ <RX FDQ UHDFK $QG\ DW info@torrentbrewingco.com or by phone at (515) 233-3155.

professionals dedicated to building and fostering relationships through leadership development, professional development, philanthropic involvement, and

cultural and social opportunities. These young professionals have demonstrated outstanding leadership, professionalism, and community involvement in Ames.

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As a Financial Advisor at Morgan Stanley, Amanda has a passion for working with families and businesses in Ames to tailor investment portfolios to match their needs. She holds her Series 7 and Series 66 licenses, and is a member of The Milestone Group at Morgan Stanley, a team of advisors with over 100 years of combined experience in the investment industry. Prior to joining Morgan Stanley, Amanda worked as a Financial $QDO\VW IRU -RKQ 'HHUH IRU VHYHQ \HDUV KROGLQJ YDULRXV FRUSRUDWH ÂżQDQFH UROHV working with debt, derivatives, and insurance. She received her undergraduate degree in Finance from Wartburg College and her MBA in Finance and Economics from the University of Chicago: Booth School of Business.Amanda currently serves on The Ames Foundation board, the Young Professionals of Ames board, Wartburg College's Leadership National Advisory Board, United Way's Young Leaders Society, and the Stewardship Committee for Ames Ascension /XWKHUDQ &KXUFK $PDQGD PRYHG WR $PHV ÂżYH \HDUV DJR ZKHQ KHU KXVEDQG Justin, started working at Moorman Clothiers downtown. Justin and Amanda are so proud to live in Ames and feel very blessed to be able to raise their kids, Jack and Allie, in such an amazing town.

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Jessica Reynolds is the Story County Attorney. She is a career prosecutor who has extensive experience as a criminal trial attorney, a civil attorney for Iowa counties, and as a juvenile attorney representing the Department of Human Services. Ms. Reynolds serves as Treasurer and Secretary for the Iowa County Attorney’s Association. She is licensed to practice law in Iowa, in federal court, and in the United States Supreme Court. She was appointed by Chief Justice Cady to serve on the Iowa Supreme Court Grievance Commission. Ms. Reynolds lives in Huxley with her husband Chris and her two children Ava and Drake.

JANUARY 2019 | AMES BUSINESS MONTHLY | 15

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16 | AMES BUSINESS MONTHLY | JANUARY 2019

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my is a long-time member of CAA. She served three years on the Board of Directors and has been a part of both the Promotions and Community Outreach Committees. Not only does Amy volunteer at the events hosted by the Campustown Action Association, she is always among the ¿UVW WR YROXQWHHU WR UHSUHVHQW &$$ DW HYHQWV WKURXJKRXW WKH $PHV FRPPXQLW\ Rummage RAMPage, Healthiest Ames’ Open Streets, ISU Homecoming Parade and Boys & Girls Club of Story County’s Over the Edge are just a few of the places Amy has served on behalf of CAA.

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Scan the QR Code or visit amescampustown.com

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What do YOU think is missing from

Campustown? Tell us what services or businesses you would like to see added to the district. Take the short 4 question survey today!

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An important road map: Start to finish

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n a road trip, we know exactly where we are going from start to finish. It is easy to do now-a-days with technology telling us to “take a left here” or “you missed your turn, get back on the route.” It is easy to blindly follow advice while on the road, but it can be much harder to trust someone to help you manage and direct your own money. As difficult as it may be to let someone help you, it can be extremely beneficial to let a credentialed financial advisor help you build a financial road map for your goals. We often need someone to reaffirm us when we are on the right path to meeting our financial goals while also keeping us accountable to get back in the right direction if we steer off course. A financial advisor can be that navigator for such occurrences. So you may be asking yourself, “How do I know if

Amberly J. Ehret

I need a financial advisor?” or “How do I find someone I can trust to take me on this journey?” If you feel lost when it comes to your financial future, hire a financial advisor to build you a road map. If you are avoiding your finances because you just don’t know where to begin or don’t want to take a DIY approach to your finances, hire a professional to help you. Or, if you are confident in managing your money, hire an impartial and unemotional third-party professional to give a second

opinion. Essentially everyone can benefit from meeting with a financial advisor. Now, how do you find someone to take on this great responsibility? I would say it is best to start interviewing financial advisors who you feel will meet your needs, goals, and priorities. To do this, take your time to interview multiple qualified financial advisors to ensure the right fit for you because much like a therapist, your financial advisor will know your most personal financial details, which makes it a pretty intimate relationship. Take the time you need to feel comfortable, reassured, and ultimately excited to begin your journey to accomplishing your financial goals one step at a time. Amberly J. Ehret is a Paraplanner at Marrs Wealth Management. She can be reached at amberly@ marrswealth.com.

J A N U A R Y 2 0 1 9 | A M E S B U S I N E S S M O N T H L Y | 17

AEDC recognized for workplace development initiatives

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he Ames Economic Development Commission was recently recognized for its innovative workforce development programs by the Mid-America Economic Development Council (MidAmerica EDC). The Ames Economic Development Commission was recognized at the 2018 Mid-America Competitiveness Conference & Site Selector Forum, held Dec. 2 to 4 at the Renaissance Chicago Downtown, as a finalist in the large division (community population over 50,000) of the Workforce Development category, recognizing activities and/ or innovative programs to attract new workforce to an area, strengthen the skills

of your existing workforce or encourage retention of youth in an area. “It’s always nice to be recognized for your efforts and even more significant when that acknowledgement comes from your peers,” said Dan Culhane, president and CEO of the Ames Chamber of Commerce and Economic Development Commission, in a news release. “Our Workforce Solutions program is paramount to the work that we do and this highlights the efforts of our team and the importance of our valuable private and public partners in this endeavor.” Mid-America EDC members are dedicated economic development professionals who share best

practices to add value in their organizations and communities. Mid-America EDC is a multi-state association dedicated to being the leading resource for making contact with site selectors, advancing regional economic development programs, and accessing thought leadership. For many years, The Mid-America Economic Development Council has sponsored the annual Economic Development Awards competition to recognize and stimulate the creative use of quality marketing by economic development organizations throughout the 12-state Mid-America region in promoting their respective communities.

18 | A M E S B U S I N E S S M O N T H LY | J A N U A RY 2 019

Downtown Ames begins search for new director By Michael Crumb, Editor mcrumb@amestrib.com

W

ith the departure of Cindy Hicks, Downtown Ames is starting the new year searching for a new executive director to keep what group officials say is the momen- Hicks tum Hicks created in her more than three years on the job. Hicks began as executive director for what was then called the Main Street Cultural District in March 2015. Her last day on the job was Nov. 23 as she moved on to a marketing and communications job with the Seed Science Center at Iowa State University.

Downtown Ames has begun its search to fill the position, advertising on the local Ames Jobs site, Indeed and through Main Street Iowa, said Eric Abrams, president of the Downtown Ames board. Abrams, owner of the Loft and Duckworth Wearing, said a hiring team of Main Street members and someone from the Chamber is reviewing applications and that they hope to have someone in place by mid-January. Abrams said whoever is hired has big shoes to fill, citing a list of accomplishments during Hicks’ tenure as executive director. He said the annual summer concert series FireFly Nights and the Foodies and Brew event have both grown during Hicks’ tenure.

He also cited the downtown vegetable gardens that have drawn national attention as one of the major achievements under Hicks’ leadership. Other events, such as the Art Walk and Music Walk, and July 4 parade have all grown stronger since Hicks began, said Abrams, who also credited her for helping downtown Ames attract more grants for downtown improvements. “She’s very good at getting different grants, beautification grants and challenge grants, we’ve received quite a bit because of that,” he said. Most recently, Downtown Ames received a $75,000 Challenge Grant from the Iowa Economic Development Authority and Main Street Iowa to help Olde Main Restaurant and

Brewery build a rooftop bar. The grant brings the total to $406,000 the district has received over the past six years to preserve and renovate downtown buildings. Abrams also said last year’s rebranding from the Main Street Cultural District to Downtown Ames was a major achievement led by Hicks. “That was a big one,” he said. Hicks came to Ames after serving as executive director of Downtown Augusta Inc., an affiliate of the Kansas version of the Iowa Economic Development Authority’s Main Street Iowa program. She also worked in journalism for 20 years and worked as a small business owner. Hicks said accomplishments of the district since she began also include

forging partnerships with other organizations and improved relationships with the city. Receiving the Great Places Designation and finishing up the nomination for the National Historic Register, have also been important milestones, opening up grant possibilities for downtown business owners, she said. “But they weren’t my accomplishments,” she said. “I’m just the paid staff member so it’s really the accomplishments of the entire board and organization.” Hicks said the opportunity to move onto Iowa State University presented itself and was an opportunity that would be good for her and her family, allowing for a little more time off and fewer weekends. But she insisted she’ll remain

involved as a volunteer in downtown events and activities. “I live in the Ames community, we love downtown Ames and consider it the heart of the community, and so we still anticipate being involved in events and volunteering for different activities,” Hicks said. “My heart’s in the vegetable garden and want to make sure that continues to be an effort that grows and is successful.” “I’ve made a lot of friends downtown, and while I’ll be around, I won’t see them quite as much, so I”ll miss seeing those friendly faces on a daily basis,” she said. Abrams said Downtown Ames is looking for someone with Main Street experience, especially working with the Iowa Main Street Program.

J A N U A RY 2 019 | A M E S B U S I N E S S M O N T H LY | 19

2 0 | A M E S B U S I N E S S M O N T H LY | J A N U A RY 2 019

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