AB AMES BUSINESS
M O N T H LY
WORKIVA RANKED 19TH ON 2019 BEST WORKPLACES IN TECHNOLOGY SEE PAGE 2
March Chamber Update
AMES CHAMBER AND MAIN STREET SEARCHING FOR EVENTS COORDINATOR SEE PAGE 3
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AMES BUSINESS
M O N T H LY MARCH 2 0 19 Vol. 12, No. 3 AMES TRIBUNE Ames Business Monthly is a publication of the Ames Tribune, 317 Fifth St., Ames, IA, 50010; (515) 232-2160.
3 Ames Chamber and Main Street searching for events coordinator 3 Rick Brimeyer: Loyalty vs. complicity 4 Ames Fitness Center tennis bubble now open 17 Amberly J. Ehret: Net worth know-how 17 Hiring underway for new Ames Menards 18 Bronze515 Custom Airbrush Tanning coming to Ames 18 Ames ranks No. 6 on Silicon Prairie report 19 Swank’s Jewelry closes after 66 years 19 1 Million Cups to Ames
2019 is the third year Workiva has made the Best Workplaces in Technology list. Companies that make the list are chosen based on employee survey responses. PHOTO BY LEXIE TROUTMAN/AMES TRIBUNE
Workiva ranked 19th on 2019 Best Workplaces in Tech By Lexie Troutman, Staff Writer ltroutman@amestrib.com
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mployees at Workiva had cause for celebration this year, when they found out the company was ranked No. 19 on the 2019 Best Workplaces in Technology list put together by Great Place to Work and Fortune Magazine. This was the third time Workiva made the list, and in order to Vanderploeg be considered, Eileen Gannon, vice president of corporate communications at Workiva, said it had to go through an extensive application process, and then the employees from each of the companies that applied were surveyed. “We win because of employees responses about how they feel about our company, and that’s what’s really important,” Gannon said. According to Great Place to Work, more than 340 companies were considered and 220,000 employees from those companies were surveyed. Marty Vanderploeg, CEO and president of Workiva, said being featured on the list lets the company know it’s continuing to create an environment the employees appreciate, and by doing this, giving their customers the same care.
Workiva opened in Ames in 2008. It is known for a cloud-based software tool used in financial reporting. Vanderploeg said the company owes a lot of its success to all of the support it has received from the city of Ames, the Iowa State University Research Park and the state of Iowa. The corporate offices for many of the companies on the list were either located on the West Coast or the East Coast. A few companies were scattered across the Midwest, but Vanderploeg said having a company in Iowa featured on the list does not surprise him because of the support companies receive from the people in the state. “Iowa is becoming a really big place to start companies because of the local people here who invest in these young companies,” Vanderploeg said. “(It) results in a lot of jobs in Iowa. It’s really a whole community effort.” Vanderploeg said because of the support the company receives from the community, and the talented students coming from the state universities, Workiva’s future is on an upward path. “Our goal is to keep growing the company, continue to grow our revenue base and grow our employee base,” Vanderploeg said. “We get so much good talent from universities. We anticipate the Ames office will continue to grow with the company.”
Workiva, located at 2900 University Blvd., opened in Ames in 2008. It is known for a cloud-based software tool used in financial reporting. PHOTO BY LEXIE TROUTMAN/AMES TRIBUNE
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The difference between loyalty and complicity
Ames Chamber and Main Street search for events coordinator
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he search is underway for the new events coordinator position after members of Ames Main Street announced last week its board unanimously voted to merge with the Ames Chamber of Commerce regarding its leadership position. During the meeting on Jan. 23, members of Ames Main Street were able to listen and ask questions as Dan Culhane, president and CEO of the Ames Chamber of Commerce, proposed this agreement. The agreement states during the oneyear-trial, the Ames Main Street Board still will be able to control the activities and events it holds on Main Street, but Ames Chamber employees would help lighten the workload normally done by the Ames Main Street executive director. Drew Kamp, director of public policy and business development at the Chamber, would head the team of chamber employees. The new events coordinator position
t’s a situation that unfortunately we all almost certainly encounter at least once over the course of our career. We become convinced the organization is headed down the wrong track. We no longer support the direction leadership is prompting us. Obviously, by its very nature, change involves discomfort. That’s why strong leaders spend so much time communicating when they are leading change. They are clear on what problem(s) they are trying to solve. They try to remove as many of the unknowns associated with the future state as possible. They also define what’s in it for all participants. Strong leaders cultivate an atmosphere of open, healthy debate. That means they are good listeners, open to questions, concerns and suggestions regarding the change. Those fortunate enough to work in such an environment have a responsibility to share their concerns when given the opportunity. But what about those situations where the person in charge is either unwilling to take input, or quickly brushes it aside? When do we put our head down and become the loyal soldier and when do we take a stand? A key distinction in my mind is whether the point of disagreement is one involving strategy or principle. Occasionally, truly visionary leaders no doubt cause great consternation with major shifts in direction. That’s to be expected. Think of the hand wringing which must
Rick Brimeyer have accompanied ground shaking strategic shifts over the past couple of decades at Apple and IBM, and more recently, at Lego. Although ground shaking, those shifts turned out more than okay. Obviously, major strategic pivots can and occasionally do result in epic failures (remember New Coke?). In situations regarding a strategic change in direction, my experience is it’s worth giving the change a fighting chance. Given the value of hindsight, I can confidently say a couple of strategic changes I initially struggled with were indeed necessary, and ultimately resulted in a much better organization. For example, adapting the strategy of Lean, with smaller batch sizes and leaders pushing decisions down as far as possible in the organization, was so outside of my sphere of experience I initially struggled with it when introduced 30 years ago. Today my consulting business focuses on helping organizations with that same strategy. Disputes over principle
are another matter. It’s not okay to blindly follow when organizational or personal principles are being challenged. In such cases, it’s best to find a trusted and objective sounding board within the organization to ensure one is reading the situation correctly. I emphasize “within the organization,” because they will have a much better perspective than someone outside who will rely solely on our biased summary of the situation. It’s also important to choose someone from outside of our own echo chamber, someone who perhaps sees the world a bit differently than we do. During the course of my career, a sage mentor fulfilled this role on more than one occasion. Winston Churchill is reported to have said, “If two people agree on everything, one of them is unnecessary.” Healthy dialogue and effective conflict resolution almost always lead to a better plan. On the other hand, a witty but anonymous corollary to Churchill’s quote is, “If two people agree on everything, one of them is not thinking.” That’s a recipe for organizational disaster. 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.
By Lexie Troutman, Staff Writer ltroutman@amestrib.com
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will be employed by the Chamber of Commerce, which means he or she will also assist with Chamber events, but his or her main job will be to help with all of the events held by Ames Main Street. “It’s a great program,” said Kristin Roach, president of Ames Main Street and co-owner of Little Woods Herbs and Tea. “I’m completely confident that no matter how things internally develop, this year’s going to be great, and there’s going to be lots of great things to do downtown.” Roach said since the vote, there have been various small discussions between herself and Culhane about the next steps of this process. “It’s kind of an exciting time. We’re working through roles and responsibilities,” Culhane said. Roach said the main points they discussed dealt with how they should be organizing their internal workflow and how best to communicate between Main Street board members and Chamber staff on a day-to-day basis. Hiring the new events coordinator is the next step in this process.
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Ames Fitness Center tennis bubble officially open By Lexie Troutman, Staff Writer ltroutman@amestrib.com
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Andy Almquist and Angela Carl, Ames Fitness Center members, take a tennis cardio class on Monday at the new facility. Most classes are an hour long. PHOTO BY LEXIE TROUTMAN/AMES TRIBUNE
mes residents are officially able to break out their tennis racquets and head to Ames Fitness Center’s new tennis bubble at its south facility at 3600 University Blvd. Construction for the facility began in September, and the building officially open now, and Huneke even with the snowy weather, Jim Huneke, tennis director at the fitness center, said they’ve already had a large number of youth and adult class participants. Huneke said he joined the club in September 2016, and by October of that year, he started the conversation about creating the indoor courts. Huneke said in January 2017, a group of private investors were interested in the idea of the courts, and half of the funding for the building
came from them. The investors were mainly tennis players around Ames who frequented the first tennis facility before it was closed. The new facility has four asphalt tennis courts. Three of them have quickstart tennis lines, as well as the regular lines, for children ages 10 and under, Huneke said. The fourth court has lines for pickleball courts — one on each side of the tennis court. “(Pickleball is) the fastest-growing sport in the country,” Huneke said. The bubble was supposed to be open 24/7, but they have scaled those hours back, so the facility will be open during regular gym hours, available on Ames Fitness Center’s website. “We don’t know if it’s going to happen, or when,” Huneke said. “We’re hoping to move to that in the future.” Anyone is able to use the tennis courts, Huneke said, but there will be a guest fee if the individuals are not members of the gym. All of the
reservation and payment information can be found online, and the courts can be reserved for 1 1/2 hours each day. The bubble facility is a design fairly new to the area, Huneke said. He said the facility has a skyline that allows enough natural light to enter the facility during the day, so no lights would be needed to play. The bubble structure was also more cost effective than a permanent structure would have been, Huneke said, and he said most facilities like this last for about 30 years or more. Plans are also in the works to add two outdoor clay courts on the east side of the bubble facility during the summer months. For now, the Ames Fitness Center members, and residents of Ames, are able to make use of the classes and available space the indoor courts offer. “We restructured our classes a little bit,” Huneke said. “We switched some of the names and stuff, but for the most part the classes are the same.”
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ChamberUpdate MARCH 2019
AMES SEED CAPITAL
Ames Seed Capital 2019 Annual Event
Join Us at the Ames Seed Capital Annual Event on Tuesday, April 23!
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mes Seed Capital is hosting their Annual Meeting and Luncheon on Tuesday, April 23, 2019, at the Gateway Hotel & Conference Center in Ames, IA. The event will take place from 11:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. The Annual Meeting and Luncheon will feature our keynote speakers, the State of Iowa’s three Regent Presidents. This year’s theme is “Universities, Communities, Entrepreneurs – Adding Value to Iowa.” The annual event will celebrate Ames Seed Capital’s accomplishments throughout the past year and contributions to entrepreneurship initiatives in the State of Iowa. Ames Seed Capital has been active and in operation for 32 years in the Ames community. This past year Ames Seed Capital raised $4.235 million for their new investment fund, Ames Seed Capital Fund VII, LLC. Ames Seed Capital has collaborated with CyBIZ Lab students the past two years to coordinate the events. CyBIZ Lab is an Iowa State University program that hires students with a variety of majors to work on real-world business consulting projects. CyBIZ Lab and Ames Seed Capital look forward to hosting our members, local community and statewide attendees, students, entrepreneurs, and investors from across the state of Iowa and midwest for this event. In addition to the Annual Meeting and Luncheon, there will be two additional sessions. Those sessions include an Entrepreneur Showcase and Pitch Competition. The Entrepreneur Showcase will run from 9:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m. and is open to entrepreneurs who have developed their business venture ideas and are ready for direct investment from seed capital groups and/or early-
stage venture capital organizations. The Pitch Competition will take place from 1:30 p.m. - 3:30 p.m. and is open to entrepreneurs who are in the You're Invited: early development stages of their business. Top pitches will be awarded a total Ames Seed Capital ™ of $2,500 in prize money. In 2018, Ames Seed Capital drew 2019 Annual Event almost 400 attendees for the annual Universities, Communities, Entrepreneurs, event. Jon Darsee, Entrepreneur-BusiAdding Value to Iowa ness Leader-Native Iowan and keynote speaker was quoted, “The reality is you [Iowa State] have done a much better job Tuesday, April 23rd at collaborating and building an ecosystem that is supportive for startups. We [University of Iowa] hope that there are 9:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m. Entrepreneur Showcase 11:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. Annual Meeting & Luncheon* opportunities where we can take some 1:30 p.m. - 3:30 p.m. Pitch Competition great ideas and look for synergies here to collaborate,” Darsee said. This year we are taking steps to build upon Mr. *Luncheon: $40 per person, $400 per table of 10 Darsee’s comments by extending our reach for more participants throughout Gateway Hotel & Conference Center the state of Iowa. Ames Seed Capital looks forward 2100 Green Hills Dr Ames, IA 50010 to bringing entrepreneurs and Iowans together to celebrate innovation at the annual event. Reserve your table of 10 for the Annual Meeting and Luncheon For RVSP and table registration click: HERE Registration Deadline: Friday, April 5th today, $40 per person, or $400.00 per Please contact the Ames Chamber of Commerce table. The Pitch Competition and Entre515-232-2310 or Sydney Dighton at preneur Showcase are free of charge and sydney@ameschamber.com with any questions the public is welcome. Register online at AmesChamber. com. Please contact the Ames Chamber office at 515-232-2310 with any questions and table reservations.
The mission of the Ames Chamber of Commerce is to provide our members services that strengthen the economic vitality in Ames and enhance the quality of life in our community.
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AMES CHAMBER OF COMMERCE | MARCH 2019
2019 BOARD OF DIRECTORS EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE 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
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. The Chamber Update newsletter is published by the Ames Chamber of Commerce 304 Main Street | Ames, IA, 50010 515-232-2310 | www.ameschamber.com
PUBLIC POLICY
Register Today for Ames Day at the Capitol
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he 2019 Ames Day at the Capitol is only a few short weeks away! It will be held from 11:30 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. on Thursday, March 14 in the Rotunda of Iowa’s State Capitol Complex. With our famous and always popular lunch from Hickory Park, exhibitors and attendees will have an excellent opportunity to directly engage Legislators, state officials, and lobbyists from throughout the state. Prior to the Community Showcase, from 9:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m., Ames and Story County
business, community, and institutional leaders will meet with Legislative Leadership from both Parties and both Chambers to discuss policy priorities and brief Legislative Leaders on the issues facing our community. Ames Chamber of Commerce business and individual members who are interested in exhibiting a booth in the Capitol Rotunda during the Community Showcase and serving of Hickory Park from 11:30 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. can contact Drew Kamp at drew@ ameschamber.com or 515-8176311 for additional information.
AMES CHAMBER AND AFFILIATE STAFF • Dan Culhane, President and CEO • Ron Hallenbeck, Executive Vice President • Andrea Hammes Dodge, Vice President • Amy Howard, Vice President, Finance & Operations • Sarah Buss, Director, Events & Sponsorship
• Karin Chitty, Campustown Action Association, Executive Director • Sydney Dighton, Client Services Coordinator • 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, Ames Main Street Executive Director • Brandon Mumm, Director, Membership Development • Lojean Petersen, Ames Main Street Farmers’ Market Manager • Calli Sandahl, Director, Digital Marketing • Allee Wengert, Workforce Development
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AMES CHAMBER OF COMMERCE | MARCH 2019
WORKFORCE SOLUTIONS
Workforce Attraction Partnership Announced
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he Ames Chamber of Commerce & Economic Development Commission is pleased to announce a partnership with the Iowan Project, an initiative of the Technology Association of Iowa (TAI). The Iowan Project is a web-based application featuring a map of Iowa expats from around the world. Expats drop a pin on their current location and highlight past associations with the state of Iowa including hometown, educational institutions, and past workplaces. TAI and their partners have access to this data to support workforce attraction campaigns that identify
tech-skilled Iowa expats with the goal to recruit them back to the Iowa. Brenda Dryer, Director of Existing Industry and Workforce Solutions for the Ames Chamber and Economic Development Commission explains, “This partnership affords us a unique opportunity to connect with tech-skilled Iowa expats; introducing them to our great Story County technology companies. "Our goal," she continues, "is to expose this group to the hundreds of high-skilled careers posted on WorkInAmes.com. Iowa expats already know the Iowa story, our
focus is to highlight the growing number of job opportunities we have in Ames and the surrounding area.� To learn more about the Iowan Project, visit their website, IowanProject.com.
Mark Your Calendars! 2019 Story County Career Fair Dates Announced
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ttention Story County employers and job seekers! Mark your calendars for these 2019 Story County career fair dates. IowaWORKS Central Iowa will be holding career fairs on April 3, June 5, August 7, and October 2 at the Ames Public Library from 10:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. throughout 2019. More than 20 top employers representing a wide variety of industries will be available to meet with job seekers to discuss current job openings in fields such as maufacturing, health care, education, and finance.
Job seekers should bring copies of their resume and be prepared to meet a future employer. Prior to attending the career fair, job seekers interested in receiving free resume and interviewing help should contact the IowaWORKS office at 515-725-3611. The office is located at 430 E. Grand Ave in Des Moines. Employers interested in participating in one or more of the career fairs should contact the career fair coordinator, Asgdish Fellake by email at asgdish.fellake@iwd.iowa.gov.
2019 STORY COUNTY CAREER FAIRS
Wednesday, April 3 Wednesday, June 5 Wednesday, August 7 Wednesday, October 2 10:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. Ames Public Library (515 Douglas Ave)
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AMES CHAMBER OF COMMERCE | MARCH 2019
COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT
Scenes From Youth Leadership Ames he Youth Leadership Ames Class 9 toured Mary Greeley Medical Center and learned about various professions in the medical field, visited patients and took them cards and balloons and also toured the operating rooms and sterilization department. Youth Leadership Ames ended their day visiting the Boys and Girls Club of Story County and completed a service project for them by cleaning the club, putting air in all the balls in the gym and organizing the games. YLA are pictured with their new class shirts, generously donated by Boehringer Ingelheim.
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STARTUP AMES
Startup Ames Hosts Inaugural 1 Million Cups Event
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tartup Ames is excited to bring 1 Million Cups, a free program designed to educate, engage, and inspire entrepreneurs around the country, to Ames, Iowa. The inaugural event hosted in February included a presentation by local startup company, Magic Tee. Attendees heard tips about outsourcing manufacturing and learned the importance of passion within an entrepreneurial project. 1 Million Cups Ames takes place every Wednesday starting at 7:30 a.m. with networking, followed by a presentation and Q&A session from a local startup. For more information on Startup Ames or 1 Million Cups, follow their Facebook page www. facebook.com/startupames
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AMES CHAMBER OF COMMERCE | MARCH 2019
March Events Sunday
Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
Thursday
Friday
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2
7
8
9
14
15
16
22
23
29
30
Legislative Luncheon
3
10
4
11
5
Leadership Ames
12
6 SUA: 1 Million Cups
13 SUA: 1 Million Cups
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18
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20 SUA: 1 Million Cups
24
25
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27 SUA: 1 Million Cups
31
Saturday
2019 Ames Day at the Capitol
21 CAA: Member Social
28 Leadership Ames
AEDC: Ames Economic Development Commission • AMS: Ames Main Street ASC: Ames Seed Capital • CAA: Campustown Action Association • SUA: Start Up Ames TAF: The Ames Foundation • YPA: Young Professionals of Ames
THANK YOU TO OUR INNER CIRCLE SPONSORS
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AMES CHAMBER OF COMMERCE | MARCH 2019
RIBBON CUTTINGS
Congratulations to these Chamber members who celebrated milestones with ribbon cuttings!
Ames Community Preschool Center
Raspberry Hill Bed & Breakfast
920 Carroll Ave, Ames, IA 50010
5500 240th St, Ames, IA 50014
Host Your Own Ribbon Cutting Today! A Ribbon Cutting is a great way to invite people to your location and showcase your business! If your business has completed a major remodeling project, moved to a new location, changed ownership, or reached a milestone, take advantage of the Chamber’s Ribbon Cutting service that brings members and the media to you! With each Ribbon Cutting, your business will be exposed to the Ames community and Story County. Event photos of your Ribbon Cutting will be published the Ames Business Monthly. Not only does this opportunity get people to your place of business, but it offers a unique networking environment in addition to some great marketing. So what are you waiting for? Contact Brandon Mumm at Brandon@ameschamber.com or call 232-2310, to schedule your Ribbon Cutting today!
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AMES CHAMBER OF COMMERCE | MARCH 2019
Thank You to Our Ames Chamber Ambassadors! Tess Ashley, Global State Mortgage Steve Bock, RE/MAX Real Estate Center Don Borcherding, Greater Iowa Credit Union Bonnie Brown, US Bank Tobias Brown, OrangeTheory Fitness Nathan Buss, VisionBank Adam Calder, Wheatsfield CoOp Buffy Clatt, First National Bank John Coder, VisionBank Lisa Downs, Hunziker & Associates, Realtors Stacy Dreyer, Small Business Development Center Paula Feltner, Thisday Photography Pam Fleener, First National Bank Teresa Garman, Individual Member Shelley Goecke, McFarland Clinic Colette Gunhus, Keeling Wealth Advisors Tom Haggas, Cheshire Moon Films Jeff Harrison, Midwest Heritage Bank Ashley Howe, Xpanxion Demond Lee, U.S. Cellular Premier Locations Jeff Louang, Radisson Hotel Ames Conference Center at ISU Michelle King, The Krell Institute Carol Kisling, iHeart Media Matt Koehler, Greater Iowa Credit Union
Paul Livingston, Hunziker & Associates, Realtors Stephanie Livingston, Hunziker & Associates, Realtors Danielle Minde, iHome Realty Amanda Moorman, Morgan Stanley David Orth, Spirited Giving Matthew Pacha, Hy-Vee Lincoln Center Michele Partridge, Hunziker & Associates, Realtors Tim Rasmussen, Flooring America Matt Roghair, Exchange State Bank Lindsey Samson, Northridge Village Dorothy Schumer, Ames Convention and Visitors Bureau Dustin Shannon, Chesnut Signs Tiffany Tope, Stevens Memorial Chapel Tim Tryon, U.S. Bank David Tucker, Great Western Bank Brittni Van, Premier Athlete Training Daryle Vegge, Story County Community Foundation Barb Vincent, Ames Christian School Allyson Walter, GlobalVet LINK Jan Williams, First National Bank Michael Zehr, OnMedia
McFarland Clinic is a proud sponsor of the Ames Chamber Ambassadors
Welcome, new members! Mel’s Sweet Occasions
Kelsey Motley
515-233-2222 www.melsweetoccasions.com Joined: 1/11/19
Individual Member
PC Matic
Stephanie’s Pet Sitting Services
712-253-4641 www.pcmatic.com Joined: 1/14/19
Suncrest Hospice
515-327-6026 www.suncrestcare.com Joined: 1/14/19
Joined: 1/16/19
515-707-2699 www.Pierson097.wixsite.com/ stephaniespets Joined: 1/25/19
Ubreakifix
515-423-4238 www.ubreakifix.com Joined: 1/31/19
Join the Ames Chamber! Make new connections, promote your business, take advantage of professional development programs and more when you join the Ames Chamber of Commerce. For more information, contact Brandon Mumm at (515) 232-2310
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AMES CHAMBER OF COMMERCE | MARCH 2019
CHAMBER GOLD MEMBERS
CHAMBER
Alluvial AmericInn Motel & Suites Ames Community Preschool Center Ames Eye Clinic
MEMBERS 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.
Aspen - Ames Barilla
Donna Gilligan Consulting
Neighbors Heating, Cooling, and Plumbing
Door & Fence Store
Nyemaster, Goode, P.C.
Dublin Bay
O'Donnell Ace Hardware
First Property Management
Overflow Thrift Store
First United Methodist Church
Radisson Hotel Ames Conference Center at ISU
Flooring America
Roger Underwood, Individual Member
Goodwill Industries of Central Iowa
Roseland, Mackey, Harris Architects, P.C.
Central Iowa Air Service
Green Hills Retirement Community
Stifel
Central Iowa Ready-Mix
Hallett Materials
Christ Community Church
Heartland Companies
Tami Hicks, Individual Member
Hy-Vee Drugstore
The Weitz Company
Hy-Vee Lincoln Center iHeart Media
Torrent Brewing Company
Iowa Heart Center
TrueNorth Companies
Iowa State Center
US Bank
Clouser Plumbing Technologies
Kempker's True Value and Rental
Wells Fargo
Coe's Floral & Gifts
Kinzler Construction
Wheatsfield Cooperative
Cornerstone Church of Ames
Kreg Tool Company
Workiva
LWBJ
Xpanxion
Merck Animal Health
YSS
Bolton & Menk Buffalo Wild Wings C2 Development
Chuck and Carolyn Jons, Individual Members CIT Charters Clapsaddle-Garber Associates, Inc.
Country Landscapes, Inc. Dairy Queen
Midland Power Cooperative
Sukup Manufacturing
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AMES CHAMBER OF COMMERCE | MARCH 2019
LEADERSHIP AMES
Leadership Ames Class XXXII Update
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eadership Ames Class XXXII is more than halfway through their year! The class started off 2019 with a session on Leadership Development, hosted by Towneplace Suites by Marriott Ames. During this session the class learned more about attributes of effective leaders, best practices of leadership, a deep dive into Strengths Finder 2.0, and teambuilding exercises including the “bull ring challenge.” In late January, the group participated in the State and County Government Day. The morning sessions started off with a Lobbyist Panel featuring Kristin Bauer, Iowa State University, Kent Hartwig, Renewable Energy Group, and Drew Kamp, Ames Chamber of Commerce. Next the class heard from Mark Lowe, Director of the Iowa Department of Transportation, about transportation and infrastructure updates including what’s on the horizon for the regulation of automated vehicles in Iowa and across the country. Just before lunch the class heard from a State Legislative Panel, including State Senators Jerry Behn and Herman Quirmbach, and State Representatives Dave Deyoe, Beth Wessel-Kroeschell, Rob Bacon. Following lunch the group heard from the Story County Board of Supervisors Lauris Olson, Rick Sanders and Linda Murken. The class then traveled to the Story County Justice Center for a presentation and mock jury selection by County Attorney Jessica Reynolds and Judge Currie, and capped off with a tour of the Story County Jail. Special thanks to the Leadership Ames Class XXXII Sponsor Mary Greeley Medical Center!
Learning about transportation and infrastructure updates.
Participating in the "bull ring challenge" on Leadership Development Day. State Legislative Panel on State and County Government Day.
Learning from the Story County Board of Supervisors.
Participating a mock jury selection led by County Attorny Jessica Reynolds and Judge Currie.
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AMES CHAMBER OF COMMERCE | MARCH 2019
FUEL STORY COUNTY
WE’RE CHANGING OUR NAME! YP Ames is excited to share we are now FUEL Story County Why the name change?
We are more than young professionals, and our reach extends beyond Ames. The new name reflects our inclusive nature and our vision to fuel and unite engaged leaders in Story County through our core areas: Leadership and Professional Development, Community Outreach & Partnerships, and Social Events.
Why should you get involved?
We’ve lowered our membership cost! And we continue to focus on our members’ professional growth, providing relevant events and programming that will empower you to better connect with your community. For more information please visit our website fuelstorycounty.com or reach out to us at Sarah@ameschamber.com.
JOIN TODAY!
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AMES CHAMBER OF COMMERCE | MARCH 2019
AMES MAIN STREET
Saturday, February 23 Downtown businesses are hosting DIY workshops & demos to help you paint, build, create, craft, cook, and have fun! Truly something for everyone of every age. Enjoy FREE parking downtown 2/23/19! Visit us online for more details and special shop hours. www.AmesDowntown.org
Community Happens Here Get Involved Today
www.AmesDowntown.org to find out more about the program, volunteer, and invest.
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AMES CHAMBER OF COMMERCE | MARCH 2019
CAMPUSTOWN ACTION ASSOCIATION
Make Campustown Shine in 2019!
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an You Help Make Campustown Shine? The Campustown Action Association is now accepting groups for Make Campustown Shine programming in 2019. CAA holds monthly clean up events from April through November. Volunteers provide the labor, CAA supplies trash bags, gloves and brooms. The MCS events are generally held on Saturday mornings between 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m., but you can also schedule a time to fit your group’s needs. One of CAA’s most important programs, Make Campustown Shine, would not be possible without our volunteers. These groups choose to give back to their community, to the Campustown district, and to CAA by picking up litter and debris throughout the area. This commitment to making Campustown a place we can all be proud of is the driving force behind the Campustown Action Association. THANK YOU to all the wonderful volunteers who helped during 2018. We continue to be honored that you chose us, and we look forward to working together in 2019. Contact the Campustown Action Association to book a date for your group. Email director@ amescampustown.com, call 515-2924528 or visit our website. Working together we can Make Campustown Shine!
Thank you to our Sustaining Sponsors:
CAA BOARD OF DIRECTORS Mark Rowe-Barth, President Iowa State University Student Wellness Xena Jolly, President-Elect Copyworks Ames Scott Wannarka, Past-President 1RKA, LLC Kelsey Bolte-Carper, Community Outreach Chair Friedrich Iowa Realty Anne Taylor, Business Improvement Chair A&R Marketing/Dogtown University Kaitlin Sandine, Promotions Chair Kingland Systems Deb Schildroth, At-Large Story County Sarah Lefeber, At-Large Iowa State Daily Media Group Mike Adams, Community Representative Welch Ave. Station Jen Hibben, Community Representative Collegiate United Methodist Church & Wesley Foundation Julie Gould, City Representative City of Ames Amy Howard, Chamber Representative Ames Chamber of Commerce Liv Hall, Student Representative Iowa State University Julian Neely, Student Representative Iowa State University Karin Chitty, Executive Director
Campustown Action Association 119 Stanton Ave. #602 Ames, IA 50014 515-292-4528 www.amescampustown.com
Personal net worth know-how
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hat’s your net worth? A question one may not have considered if they don’t fly on private jets or play polo; however, this simple equation is an important tool that says a lot about your financial health. Still, most people don’t bother to calculate it, which can be a mistake because it is the first snapshot into an overall look at your finances. Your net worth is the sum of all of your assets, minus any liabilities. Assets include cash, retirement accounts, college savings, house, cars, investment properties and valuables such as art and jewelry. Liabilities include long-term debt, suh as a mortgage, student loans, revolving credit card balances and any other personal loans. Essentially, you subtract what you owe from what you own to determine your personal net worth. More often than not, especially for those under 40, the number is going to be negative. It is not unusual, and not something to be afraid of. If your net worth is in the red, you’ll need to work on saving more
Amberly J. Ehret and spending less. Start with the rates you are paying on borrowed money and begin chipping away at the highest interest debt first, especially credit cards, followed by student loans. Currently, credit card rates are currently at a record high of more than 17 percent, on average. For student loans, rates for the 2018-19 academic year run from 5.05 percent for direct loans for undergrads, to 6.6 percent for direct unsubsidized loans for graduate and professional students. However, in the past, these rates have been much higher.
From there, work on building up your savings, particularly by participating in your company’s retirement savings plan, if offered. You should be contributing at least enough to receive an employer match, if you are eligible for one — even if that means cutting other expenses or dialing back your spending. If your company does not offer a 401(k) plan or company match, consider contributing to an individual retirement account or a Roth IRA. Contributions to a Roth are not tax-deductible and earnings grow tax-free. Additionally, the contributions are yours to withdraw at any time without penalty. Ideally, as you continue to earn and save, your net worth will grow. To track your progress, revisit your number once per year. Check in to see what goals you were able to accomplish over those 12 months and see the progress you make toward a positive net worth. AMBERLY J. EHRET is a Paraplanner at Marrs Wealth Management. She can be reached at amberly@ marrswealth.com.
Online hiring underway for new Ames Menards store By Tribune staff
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he new Menards home improvement store is on schedule to open later this spring although no official date has been announced, a company spokesman recently said. Work on the store has progressed in recent weeks as the store appears to be nearing completion. Menards spokesman Jeff Abbott said in an email hiring is already underway
for both full and part-time employees. “Candidates interested in working at the new Ames Mendards store may now apply online at Menards. com/careers,” Abbott said. He said the company will begin reviewing applicaitons on March 20. On-site applications will begin March 20 at the store, 700 SE 16th St., and continuing through March 29. Applications will be accepted from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. People who fill out
an application in person will also receive an on-site inteview, Abbott said in the email. The number of employees that will be hired was not released. Construction on the site began in August 2018. Site plans for the building were proposed by Menards around December 2017. “Everything appears to be going fine out there,” said Justin Moore, the city of Ames planner who is overseeing the project.
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Bronze515 Custom Airbrush Tanning expands business to Ames By Lexie Troutman, Staff Writer ltroutman@amestrib.com
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new business is coming to Ames entirely focused on spray tan services. Leah Wafful is the owner and founder of Bronze515. She created the business roughly 2 1/2 ago while working a regular 9-to-5 job in Des Moines. After a bad spray tan experience, Wafful researched the Wafful market in Des Moines and discovered there was not any one place focused solely on spray tans, but that this was a service that was growing. “The beauty services really gravitate toward the West and the East (coasts), and they come toward the Midwest and it takes a little bit of time for it to get here,” Wafful said. With a market that looked
Bronze515 Custom Airbrush Tanning is expanding its business to Ames. The store will be located on the first floor of the renovated Sheldon Munn building on the corner of Main Street and Kellogg Avenue. The store will focus solely on airbrush tanning services. PHOTO CONTRIBUTED BY LEAH WAFFUL
profitable and $100 in her bank account, Wafful started spray tanning clients in suites she would rent out, and she would do so after her other job from 5:30 p.m. to 10 p.m. When business picked up and
her clients began telling her they would be interested in being able to come in during the day for spray tans, she left her corporate job in August 2018 to pursue Bronze515 full-time. Since starting the business,
Wafful has had more than 3,000 clients walk through her doors, and she thought now was as good a time as any to look at expanding. At Bronze515, there are no tanning beds or spray tan booths. Clients are sprayed by the employees, and Wafful said the two biggest issues it faces are clients not comfortable standing in front of an employee while they are being sprayed, and clients who have the idea getting a spray tan will leave them looking orange. As far as the first issue goes, Wafful said she pushes body positivity at her stores, and she wants everyone who comes through her doors to feel comfortable with the experience and service they are receiving. As for the second issue, Wafful said it would not be an issue. “Never orange, always flawless,” Wafful said. For the Ames location, on the first floor of the renovated Sheldon Munn building on the corner of Main Street and Kellogg
Avenue, Wafful said the store will be open Tuesday through Friday from 5:30 to 10 p.m. It will also be open on Saturday from 9 a.m. until noon and on Sunday from 6 to 9 p.m. Bronze515 will be one of three stores in Iowa that solely provide spray tan services. Clients can set appointments online up to two hours in advance if there is availability, and information for that can be found on the website. “We want people to walk in and know they’re going to leave with a really good tan,” Wafful said. “We’re not going to push people out of the door every five minutes. Appointments are 15 to 20 minutes long. We’re going to talk to you about the process, what you should do and how you should take care of it. “There’s hair salons that do this, but that’s not their speciality. They’re specialty is hair, and waxing and facials,” Wafful said. “This is our dedicated (service). This is what we do all day long.”
Ames ranks No. 6 on Silicon Prairie report By Lexie Troutman, Staff Writer ltroutman@amestrib.com
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report that ranks cities on entrepreneurship health ranked Ames No. 6 among 42 cities across 11 Midwestern states. The report from the Omaha, Neb.-based consulting company Chapman and Company worked with Silicon Prairie News to release its 2018 State of the Silicon Prairie Report focusing on entrepreneurship in the Midwest. The rankings contained in the report is based on how well the entrepreneurial and business communities are doing. This is the second year the report has been published, and Scott Bragg, Vice President of Team Building
at Chapman and Company, said one of the main challenges they faced in building the report was finding current data. The 2018 report’s data is from 2017. Bragg said most studies of this sort pull data that is three years old, or older from when the report is sent out, so at Chapman and Company, they try to get the most current data as they can when putting this report together. “We like to say that this is right-ish,” Bragg said. “There isn’t any measure out there that is going to be 100 percent accurate.” The report looks at eight main factors in each city: small business activity, cool jobs, sustaining companies, structure, innovation, venture investment,
community spirit connectivity. Bragg said they look at these topics specifically because they feel like they are the best indicators on successful entrepreneurship. Along with the overall ranking of the cities, the report also splits up ranking into five tiers based on the city population. Tier one has the cities with the highest population, and tier five has the lowest population of the cities looked at. With Ames being ranked No. 1 on the tier five section and No. 6 on the overall list, it is the highest ranking city in Iowa. “That’s punching way above your weight class currently,” Bragg said. “There’s a lot of cool jobs coming out of Ames.”
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Entrepreneurship program 1 Million Cups comes to Ames By Lexie Troutman, Staff Writer ltroutman@amestrib.com
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Shirley and Rick Swank at Swank’s Jewelry store at 319 Main St. Shirley and her husband, Frank, opened their first jewelry store in 1952 in their old Campustown location. That shop closed in 1966, and they opened the shop on Main Street in 1964. The shop is now closing after 66 years. PHOTO BY LEXIE TROUTMAN/AMES TRIBUNE
Swank’s Jewelry closes up shop after 66 years By Lexie Troutman, Staff Writer ltroutman@amestrib.com
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red and Shirley Swank first opened the door’s of Swank’s Jewelry in 1952, and after 66 years in the business, the shop’s doors are closing for good. Shirley, 91, said she met Fred on a blind date in Kansas City, Mo., when he was going to watchmaking school. They moved to Iowa, and after Fred worked for a couple of years in Des Moines, the two moved to Ames, where Fred was originally from, and opened their first store in Campustown at 2522 Lincoln Way. “We had saved about $1,800, and so that didn’t buy too much merchandise,” Shirley said. “I worked different jobs, just to put groceries on the table, and (Fred) did a lot of work for other jewelers. That’s how we got started.” They moved to their current location at 319 Main St., in 1964, and they ended up closing their shop in Campustown in 1966.
“Because the students didn’t have any money,” Shirley said with a laugh. Rick Swank, 66, has been around his parents’ jewelry store since the beginning. In 1990, he took over ownership of the store, but at 8 years old, he got his start by sweeping the floors of the shop. Rick wasn’t always sure he wanted to continue the family business. He was studying business at Iowa State University, but when his parents opened a new shop in the mall in 1973, Rick began working there full-time while in school, and decided to continue with the business. After Rick graduated from ISU in 1975, he became a Certified Gemologist at the American Gem Society, where he received academic training in gem cuts and colors, and later, he became a Graduate Gemologist at the Gem Institute of America. Rick said that he learned his watchmaking and jewelry repair skills from watching his dad throughout the years.
Swank’s Jewelry has merchandise ranging from engagement rings and watches to anniversary gifts and baby gifts. “In the heydays, we sold a lot of china and crystals. That sort of went by the wayside in 2008 when the economy went south,” Rick said. “I owned a china center for three years, too, which had tons of china and crystal. It’s hard to believe now because nobody wants it.” After years of being in the jewelry business, Rick and Shirley agree that their favorite part has been meeting the people that visit their store. It takes a lot of commitment to run a business, Rick said, so even though it’s bittersweet, the decision to close up shop now and retire is one that Rick is ready for. “I have customers that have been customers for 60 years,” he said. “People have been very nice. (But now) they’re very concerned where they’re going to get their watch batteries fixed.”
he educational entrepreneurial program 1 Million Cups has branched out to Ames. The 1 Million Cups program was developed by the Kauffman Foundation, an organization dedicated to assisting entrepreneurs in their careers. Typically in every city 1 Million Cups is present in, the program will have one or two speakers come in each week to talk about their entrepreneurial journey and what they are doing now. After the presentations, the members of the audience will be able to ask questions and give suggestions to the presenters. Throughout the country,
these presentations always take place on a Wednesday morning, and as the name suggests, take place over a cup of coffee. Diana Wright, program coordinator of ISU Pappajohn Center for Entrepreneurship, was one of the organizers who brought 1 Million Cups to Ames. Wright said for the past two years, the Startup Ames organization has put on similar events such as these, but less frequently. This was one of the reasons why it decided to introduce 1 Million Cups to Ames. It would ensure those who are interested throughout the community will be able to come every Wednesday to hear different speakers discuss entrepreneurship.
Wright said each organization in 1 Million Cups decides how they want their program to be set up. “We’re also going to have panel topic discussions and fireside chats with established businesses or entrepreneurs,” Wright said. “We’re hoping to include more of the community.” Anyone who would be interested in presenting at future programs may contact Wright, or anyone at 1 Million Cups Ames, about their proposal. On the first Wednesday of every month, the presentation will take place in the Maintenance Shop, but every other Wednesday, the presentation will take place at the Ames American Legion.
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