Abm 06 2018

AB AMES BUSINESS

MONTHLY J U N E 2018

GROOM ROOM BEGINS EXPANSION SEE PAGE 1

June Chamber Update

CAFE BEAUDELAIRE CHOSEN AS THE BEST BURGER IN IOWA

SEE PAGE 4

AB

2 | AMES BUSINESS MONTHLY | JUNE 2018

AMES BUSINESS

MONTHLY JUNE 2018 Vol. 11, No. 6 AMES TRIBUNE Ames Business Monthly is a publication of the Ames Tribune, 317 Fifth St., Ames, IA, 50010; (515) 232-2160.

2 Groom Room expands 3 Pet groomer open to cats 3 Younkers closing 4 Beaudelaire’s burger is best 5 Chamber of Commerce 17 Planting season begins 18 Rick Brimeyer 18 Danfoss fined 19 Nate Brammer 19 Deere announces lab

Groom Room co-owner Jake Sage in the shop. The Main Street barbershop which is in the middle of an expansion and remodel set to end later this summer. PHOTO BY DAN MIKA/AMES TRIBUNE

Groom Room begins expansion

By Dan Mika, Staff Writer dmika@amestrib.com

The Groom Room, a men’s barbershop in the far west end of Main Street, has started an expansion and renovation project to double its space and its number of barber chairs.

The barbershop, located in the Main Street Station at 526 Main St., is building a new cutting area in an unused space next to its current storefront and increasing the number of barber chairs from four to eight. That initial renovation is expected to end by mid-May. Co-owner Jake Sage said the shop is expanding because of overwhelming requests for their services.

Plans for a remodel have

been in the works for about a year, he said.

“We are booked solid for a week, two weeks in advance,” Sage said. “We’re not keeping up with the demand in the area.”

Sage said the Groom Room will also hire up to five more barbers over time.

After the new area is remodeled, Groom Room will remodel its existing room into a new reception and demonstration chair.

Sage said customers will be able to look at products while waiting for their cut or shave, and barbers can teach them best practices with products or razors.

The new reception area will also have tributes to the train depot’s history, he said, with framed posters of the building’s original

blueprints and pictures of “The Dinkey,” a trolley that moved people and mail to and from the depot and what later became Iowa State University.

Once that remodel is done, the wall between the two spaces will be knocked down. Sage said the remodel will cost more than $100,000.

Sage said the separation between the cutting area and reception is key for creating the ambiance men want during their visit.

“We wanted to create an experience, so to speak, where some of the noise and the conversation is kept on one side, so when you’re in the chair getting your hair cut on this side, it’s a little more specific to you and what you want out of a haircut or a beard trim or a service,” he said. “It creates that definition of space by separating them a little more.”

The barbershop intends to complete both of the remodels by the end of June.

JUNE 2018 | AMES BUSINESS MONTHLY | 3

Local pet groomer to open cats-only salon and kennel this summer

By Dan Mika, Staff Writer dmika@amestrib.com

A local pet groomer is planning to give Ames’ feline friends a place of their own for grooming and boarding when their owners are away.

Jasmine Conrad, owner of Suite Whiskers, is opening a grooming salon and boarding facility, located at 1201 Airport Road, No. 105. She said it’ll be the only cat-specific grooming business in the city.

Conrad learned dog grooming under Sam Johnson, owner of Pet Styling by Sam, and currently shares her space with her while they run two separate businesses.

She mainly focused on dog grooming until she decided to take a class on cat grooming for a laugh.

“Once I went up to the Minnesota grooming conference, they had a whole lecture on grooming cats,” she said. “I was totally thinking I would do this as a joke and do it for the fun of it, but it turns out

Jasmine Conrad dries offCharmon, a client’s cat, at Pet Styling by Sam Friday afternoon. Conrad is planning to open a cat-only grooming parlor and kennel this summer. PHOTO BY DAN MIKA/AMES TRIBUNE

it’s a real thing.”

Conrad has since been studying to get a certification from the National Cat Groomers Institute of America for about a year.

With Johnson’s blessing,

North Grand Younkers to close in nationwide sale

By Dan Mika, Staff Writer dmika@amestrib.com

Younkers, a central tenant at North Grand Mall, is one of hundreds of stores set to be liquidated by the end of summer, according to bankruptcy court order filed April 18.

The 49,888 square-foot store at the mall was listed as part of the closures in a bankruptcy sale order filed in Delaware for Bon-Ton, Younkers’ parent company.

All stores are in the middle of liquidation sales and are set to close by Aug. 31.

Bon-Ton, based in Pennsylvania, began bankruptcy

proceedings in February.

Two liquidation firms are set to purchase Bon-Ton’s assets.

Bon-Ton, which was founded 120 years ago, also operates Bergner’s, Boston Store, Carson’s, Elder-Beerman and Herberger’s stores across the country.

Stores in Mason City, Fort Dodge, Marshalltown, Waterloo and Davenport and in the Merle Hay, Valley West and Jordan Creek malls in the Des Moines metro, will also close, along with nine other Iowa locations. In all, 212 stores across the country are set to close.

It’s unclear how many

Conrad spent months looking for a location for her own salon with the intention to switch between catspecific days and dog-specific days, but decided to go cat-only because she wants her furry clients to be

employees work at the Ames location or when its liquidation sale will begin. Ames Younkers manager Greg Kruse declined to comment.

According to a news release from the company Thursday, all stores will begin going out of business sales Friday, April 20.

Ed Kaizer, asset manager for the mall, said it’s sad to see a company close after more than a century in operation, and to see employees lose their jobs.

“Besides tradition, there’s a lot of people that have worked for the company in Ames for many years,” he said. “It’s sad to see that come to an end.”

While the mall will take a short-term hit due to the vacancy, Kaizer said the mall will continue to adjust its long-term strategy for improving its tenant mix.

Kaizer said he has not heard from Bon-Ton regarding a closure timeline on the Ames Younkers location.

stress-free during their stay.

That philosophy also guides the planned boarding area, where Conrad said each boarding area will be a “luxury-size” suite with fourby-four foot or four-by-six foot areas for each animal. She believes the city, particularly international students, can benefit from having their cats in the kennels while they leave town for weeks or months at a time.

“We define long-term boarding as anywhere over two weeks, and that’s when (the cats) hit that ‘I don’t want to be here any longer’ point, the ‘I’m bored and want my family back’ point,” she said with a laugh. “It becomes a different dynamic, you have to keep them stimulated and enough things to beef up their environment so they aren’t doing destructive behavior.”

Conrad intends to keep grooming dog clients at Pet Styling at Sam while running her cat salon.

Grooming cats versus grooming dogs is “a totally different

ballgame,” she said, in the physical way a groomer has to approach and handle each animal and what grooming maneuvers have to be done.

The biggest difference is how both species reacts to a stern warning.

“The dog wants to please you.

It can sit up here all day long and if it snaps at you, it still looks pretty repentant at you when you scold him with a scruff mama voice,” she said. “In general, dogs aim to please you, but cats, they don’t care.”

Conrad was describing those differences as she dried off a client’s cat. She would spin the cat around every few seconds, which she said is a cat-specific trick to prevent them from finding an escape route and leaping off the table.

The location will start undergoing renovations once Conrad secures a building permit from the city, with the hopes to open sometime in May or June this year.

4 | AMES BUSINESS MONTHLY | JUNE 2018

Cafe Beaudelaire kitchen manager Tom Otting, left, holds a burger alongside owner Claudio Gianello. PHOTO BY DAN MIKA/AMES TRIBUNE

Cafe Beaudelaire chosen as the best burger in Iowa

By Dan Mika, Staff Writer dmika@amestrib.com

Tom Otting walked into work May 1 wearing a plastic and felt crown, trying to add a little bit of levity to the joy he was feeling.

Otting, the kitchen manager of Cafe Beaudelaire, and the rest of the staff were celebrating after Iowa’s top beef advocacy group named their burgers the

best in the state for 2018.

In a news release, the Iowa Cattlemen’s Association named the Ames restaurant’s burger as the best in Iowa during its annual “Best Burger in Iowa” contest. Judges said “the taste and quality of the burger is outstanding and worth a drive to have it again,” the release read.

Cafe Beaudelaire, 2504 Lincoln Way in Campustown, beat out the Iowa Stater, also in

Ames, and eight other Iowa restaurants named to the contest’s top 10 finalists for this year.

The Somerset-based Brick City Grill won the award in 2013.

Otting, who has worked at the restaurant for about six years and has managed the kitchen for about three, said the win is a validation for him and the staff’s hard work.

“I was hoping we would get at

least top three, but I had no idea we’d get number one,” he said.

“We take the food very seriously and make the quality as high as we can, and we just feel all our hard work has paid off and we’re finally getting some recognition for all the hard work and all the quality we put into our dishes.”

The word already got around to the restaurant’s fans in town, as one customer came in Tuesday morning chanting, “You’re

number one! You’re number one!”

Owner Claudio Gianello said he was happy to have been honored, but also slightly nervous about the wave of burger fans the restaurant expects to get in the coming days and weeks.

“I feel pressure, because now it’s out there and there’ll be less time for me to be at home with family,” he said. “I’m happy and cautiously optimistic.”

JUNE 2018 | AMES BUSINESS MONTHLY | 5

&KDPEHU8SGDWH -81(

/($'(56+,3 6(5,(6

38%/,& 32/,&< $0(6 &+$0%(5 2) &200(5&(

LEADERSHIP

S OA R

SERIES

7R ULVH RU DVSLUH WR D KLJKHU RU PRUH H[DOWHG OHYHO

/HDGHUVKLS 3DQHO 7KXUVGD\ -XO\ D P %UHDNIDVW D P 3URJUDP *DWHZD\ +RWHO &RQIHUHQFH &HQWHU *UHHQ +LOOV 'U $PHV

/HDGHUVKLS SDQHO IHDWXULQJ Dr. Calli Sanders, 6HQLRU $VVRFLDWH $' 6SRUWV $GPLQ ,RZD 6WDWH $WKOHWLFV

Dean Hunziker, %URNHU 2ZQHU +XQ]LNHU $VVRFLDWHV ,QF 5HDOWRUV

Julie Weeks, 3UHVLGHQW &(2 $PHV &RQYHQWLRQ 9LVLWRUV %XUHDX

Brian Dieter, 3UHVLGHQW &(2 0DU\ *UHHOH\ 0HGLFDO &HQWHU

3UHVHQWLQJ 6SRQVRU

&RVW 6SDFH LV OLPLWHG UHJLVWHU DW

ZZZ $PHV&KDPEHU FRP 2U FDOO

Join us June 15 for the Story County Board of Supervisors Legislative Luncheon

P

lease join your fellow Ames Chamber of Commerce members on Friday, June 15 from 11:30am-1:00pm for the Ames Chamber of Commerce Story County Board of Supervisors Legislative Luncheon.

Attendees will hear from the Story County Board of Supervisors regarding important issues and projects being undertaken by our County government.

The schedule for the Luncheon will be: 11:30-11:45am: Registration and lunch available to all attendees.

11:45am-1:00pm: Story County Supervisors address the crowd and ďŹ eld questions.

The event is open to Chamber members and their guest. The cost of attendance is $10.00 and includes lunch.

If you have questions regarding the event, are interested in attending, or wish to submit a question, please

contact Drew Kamp at 515817-6311 or drew@ ameschamber.com.

The Ames Chamber of Commcer thanks our 2018 Taking Leadership Legislative Sponsors: Converse Conditioned Air, First National Bank, Renewable Energy Group, and Workiva.

The Chamber also thanks Greater Iowa Credit Union, Roseland, Mackey, Harris Architects, and VenuWorks for their continued support and generosity as 2018 Legislative Lunch Sponsors.

Without the continued support of our great sponsor, the Ames Chamber of Commerce would not be able to provide the great events and services we do today.

*2/) '$<

Golf Day is June 18

C

hamber Golf Day is Monday, June 18 at the Ames Golf & Country Club. Donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t delay - register today before Golf Day 2018 sells out!

Visit www.ameschamber.com or call 515-232-2310 to register today.

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.

6 | AMES BUSINESS MONTHLY | JUNE 2018

$0(6 &+$0%(5 2) &200(5&( _ -81(

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he Chamber Update newsletter is published by the Ames Chamber of Commerce 304 Main Street | Ames, IA, 50010 phone: (515) 232-2310 | www.ameschamber.com

Calling All Area Summer Interns!

Join us for our 2018 See Yourself In Ames Summer Intern Program. Events will highlight Ames as the place to live, work, and play! Interns, recent college graduates, young professionals, and local business leaders are all invited to participate.

N

P mes has Power,, Presence, North Ames & Style

W

A Am he Game in West Ames the ett in th Get

and ďŹ nishing urâ&#x20AC;? an ail hourâ&#x20AC;? â&#x20AC;&#x153;cockta â&#x20AC;&#x153;cocktail th a â&#x20AC;&#x153;cockt Starting with Beach will dinner,, Jodie Bea own dinner with a sit-down evening on how ractive eve interactive un and inter present a fun nal events. professional to navigate profession

Ames e great companies Am about the n abou arn Learn Sho Showcase, uring the Sponsor S er during offe o offer hass to nig with ith prizes! End the night with ete w mplete complete bowling, and mini golf. za, bowling, pizza,

pm 7 0 pm â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 7:30 5:00 uly 10 5:00 Tuesday, July 801 W 190th St) y (3801 W oon Winery Prairie Moon

7:30 pm y, June 5 5:00 pm â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 7 esday, Tuesday, Ave) Dicki ames (1320 Dickinson Games rfect G Perfect

North, South, East, West See Yourself In Ames

Play the Money Game in South Ames

S

De Des Moines d with the Greater D Co-sponsored an Cultivation and SU Research Park, a Partnership, ISU oppo opportunity to erns will have an opp Corridor, interns Ames Chamber of Commerce network with the A Development Boards during a and Economicc Develo Carroll, back by Car South Ames grill out! Adam Carroll evening with an the e d will conclude th and, popular demand, building a bigger life. n buildin resentation on interactive presentation

E

A lff in East Ames See Yourself

s will share their pro g professionals A panel of young themsselves in Ames. The stories on how they ssaw themselves interns may have ns inte question er any questions panel will answer college, working in colleg on ďŹ nding a job right out of co wil conclude with a wise. The series will Ames, or otherwise. buffe dinner. local band and buffet

7:3 pm ne 26 5:00 pm â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 7:30 Tuesday, June Facilit (1805 ch Park Core Facility ISU Research on Place) Collaboration

Tuesday, July 31 5:00 pm â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 7:30 pm (316 Main St) ewing Company (3 Olde Main Brewing

All events are FREE to attend!

For more information contact Brenda Dryer: brenda@ameschamber.com or 515-232-2310 Follow See Yourself In Ames:

www.ameschamber.com

Thank you to our sponsors:

Ag Leader Alliant Energy Bethany Life

City of Ames Converse Conditioned Air Danfoss

DMACC Global Reach GlobalVetLINK

Mary Greeley Medical Center REG Story County Workiva

JUNE 2018 | AMES BUSINESS MONTHLY | 7

$0(6 &+$0%(5 2) &200(5&( _ -81(

$0(6 6((' &$37,$/

Ames Seed Capital Holds Annual Event

T

he Ames Seed Capital held its Annual Meeting and Luncheon on April 19. For the third year in a row, attendance to this event reached maximum capacity at the Scheman Building with 380 attendees.

Those in attendance included Ames Seed Capital members, Iowa State senior administration, and a number of individuals from both Iowa and the greater Midwest.

The Annual Meeting included a review of 2017 accomplishments, speakers from two companies that the ASC invested in the year prior (Find Bob and Accelerated Ag Technologies), recognized ASC members, and heard remarks from Jon Darsee, a founding member of iRhythm Technologies.

Darsee, an Iowa native who works at the OfďŹ ce of the President at the University of Iowa, spoke about the importance of innovation and fostering startups in the state of Iowa. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The reality is you [Iowa State] have done a much better job at collaborating and building an ecosystem that is sup-

portive of for startups. We [University of Iowa] hope that there are opportunities where we can take some great ideas and look for synergies here to collaborate,â&#x20AC;?

Darsee said.

Highlights from the Annual Meeting include the total investment return to date of 2018, which totaled $715, 255.

From pre-2013 until now, the total investment return to date is $4,483,594. In addition to the investment returns, Ron Hallenbeck, Executive Vice President of the Ames Economic Development Commission, announced Fund VII. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I was really pleased today with the tremendous support of our events. With our new Fund VII, Ames Seed Capital looks forward to continuing to make investments which help build our Iowa entrepreneurship eco-system and create positive returns for our investors,â&#x20AC;? Hallenbeck said.

In addition to the Annual Meeting and Luncheon, the ASC Pitch Competition and Entrepreneur Showcase also took place. Twelve entrepreneurs who were in the early start-up stages of their busi-

Jon Darsee, Founding Member of iRhythm Technologies, presenting at the ASC Annual Meeting and Luncheon.

ness venture were invited to the Pitch Competition and competed for prize money. Crown Innovations placed ďŹ rst, followed by Hurd Health Group and Fixx Stick.

Entrepreneurs whose business ventures were ready for direct investment were invited to the afternoon Entrepre-

neur Showcase event. Companies in attendance included Smart Ag, Tractor Zoom, WatchPoint, Earth Energy Renewables, Aker Technologies, Code Emoji, The Oh Ball, Noviqu, Magic Sports, and Cargofy Inc.

38%/,& 32/,&<

Ames Chamber of Commerce Delegation Returns from Washington, D.C.

T

he 2018 Ames Chamber of Commerce Washington, D.C. Fly-In delegation recently returned from the 2018 FlyIn, which was held Tuesday, May 15 through Thursday, May 17 in our nationâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Capital.

During the Fly-In, the delegation presented the Ames Chamber of Commerce 2018 Federal Priorities to Amesâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; federal elected ofďŹ cials, their staffsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;, the Trump Administration, and the United States Department of Transportation and Agriculture.

Along with Chamber staff, the Ames delegation included representatives from the City of Ames, Iowa State University, Des Moines Area Community College, Real Estate Service Group, Inc., the

Story County Board of Supervisors, Renewable Energy Group, Inc., Hunziker & Associates, C2 Development, OEI, Inc., Merck Animal Health, Alliant Energy, the Ames Tribune, and Global VetLINK. The Chamberâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s federal priorities highlighted the issues of trade and exports, infrastructure, agriculture and bioscience, animal health, education

and workforce development, renewable energy and fuels, research and development, and the budget, deďŹ cit, and national debt.

The trip provided an excellent opportunity for all members of the delegation to share their appreciation, as well as their concerns, while always celebrating our successes and the innovative things we get to be a part of

as residents of Ames and Story County.

The Ames Chamber of Commerce thanks our 2018 Washington, D.C. Trip Sponsors: Renewable Energy Group, Midland Power Cooperative, Global VetLINK, and Des Moines Area Community College.

We also thank Converse Conditioned Air, Inc., First National Bank, Renewable Energy Group, Inc., and Workiva for their ongoing support as 2018 Taking Leadership Legislative Sponsors.

Without their strong and continued support the Ames Chamber of Commerce could not provide the advocacy and educational efforts we do at the local, state, and federal level.

8 | A M E S B U S I N E S S M O N T H LY | J U N E 2 018

$0(6 &+$0%(5 2) &200(5&( _ -81(

/($'(56+,3 $0(6

Leadership Ames Class XXXI Update ,RZD 6WDWH 8QLYHUVLW\ 'D\ DQG 4XDOLW\ RI /LIH 'D\ Thank you to ISU Day session coordinators Tillie Good (ISU Extension and Outreach) and Alex Andrade (CyBiz Lab), as well as Quality of Life Day session coordinators Tammy Koolbeck (Iowa State Center) and Kyle Woiwood (LWBJ), all graduates of Leader-

ship Ames Class XXX. Special thanks to Leadership Ames Class XXXI Sponsor Mary Greeley Medical Center, and Class XXXI Co-Chairs Kelsey Carper (Friedrich Iowa Realty) and Adam Bates (Mary Greeley Medical Center).

ISU Day - Class enjoying lunch at the Joan Bice Underwood Tearoom

ISU Day - Student panel from CyBiz Lab and CyStarters

Quality of Life Day - The class enjoying a VIP treatment with a tour and lunch on the stage at Stephens Auditorium

ISU Day - Chamber Board Member Lawrence Cunningham talking to the class about the ISU Daily and Model Farm

Quality of Life Day - Tour at Creative Artistsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Studios of Ames (CASA)

Quality of Life Day - Learning about Ames Parks & Recreation from Melissa Rowan

Quality of Life Day - Checking out the curtain at Stephens Auditorium

â&#x20AC;¢ Brandon Mumm, Director, Membership Development

$0(6 &+$0%(5 $1' $)),/,$7( 67$)) â&#x20AC;¢ Dan Culhane, President and CEO

â&#x20AC;¢ Sarah Buss, Director, Events & Sponsorship

â&#x20AC;¢ John Hall, Director, Marketing

â&#x20AC;¢ Ron Hallenbeck, Executive Vice President

â&#x20AC;¢ Karin Chitty, Campustown Action Association Executive Director

â&#x20AC;¢ Cindy Hicks, Main Street Cultural District Executive Director

â&#x20AC;¢ Edana Delagardelle, Client Services Coordinator

â&#x20AC;¢ Drew Kamp, Director, Business Retention/Expansion & Public Policy

â&#x20AC;¢ Andrea Hammes Dodge, Vice President â&#x20AC;¢ Amy Howard, Vice President, Finance & Operations

â&#x20AC;¢ Brenda Dryer, Director, Workforce Solutions

â&#x20AC;¢ Lojean Petersen, Ames Main Street Farmersâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Market Manager â&#x20AC;¢ Calli Sandahl, Director, Digital Marketing

JUNE 2018 | AMES BUSINESS MONTHLY | 9

$0(6 &+$0%(5 2) &200(5&( _ -81(

June Calendar Sunday

Monday

Tuesday

Wednesday

Thursday

Friday

Saturday

1

2

$UW :DON 06&'

$PHV 0DLQ 6WUHHW )DUPHUVÅ&#x2019; 0DUNHW 6XPPHUIHVW &$$

3

4

5

6

7

8

6HH <RXUVHOI LQ $PHV (YHQW

10

11

12

13

14

15

18

19

20

21

22

25

23 $PHV 0DLQ 6WUHHW )DUPHUVÅ&#x2019; 0DUNHW

*ROI 'D\

24

16 $PHV 0DLQ 6WUHHW )DUPHUVÅ&#x2019; 0DUNHW

6XPPHU 3LFQLF <3$

17

9 $PHV 0DLQ 6WUHHW )DUPHUVÅ&#x2019; 0DUNHW

26 $('& %RDUG 0HHWLQJ &KDPEHU %RDUG 0HHWLQJ 6HH <RXUVHOI LQ $PHV (YHQW

27

28

29

%XVLQHVV $IWHU +RXUV %DQNHUV 7UXVW

30 $PHV 0DLQ 6WUHHW )DUPHUVÅ&#x2019; 0DUNHW

$('& $PHV (FRQRPLF 'HYHORSPHQW &RPPLVVLRQ Å&#x203A; %$+ %XVLQHVV $IWHU +RXUV Å&#x203A; &$$ &DPSXVWRZQ $FWLRQ $VVRFLDWLRQ Å&#x203A; & &KDPEHU 2IŲFH Å&#x203A; 06&' 0DLQ 6WUHHW &XOWXUDO 'LVWULFW Å&#x203A; 5 & 5LEERQ &XWWLQJ Å&#x203A; 7$) 7KH $PHV )RXQGDWLRQ Å&#x203A; <3$ <RXQJ 3URIHVVLRQDOV RI $PHV

7+$1. <28 72 285 ,11(5 &,5&/( 63216256

10 | AMES BUSINESS MONTHLY | JUNE 2018

$0(6 &+$0%(5 2) &200(5&( _ -81(

5,%%21 &877,1*6

Congratulations to these Chamber members who celebrated

:HVW +\ 9HH

%LNH :RUOG

/LQFROQ :D\ 5HPRGHO $QQLYHUVDU\

6RXWK UG 6WUHHW 1HZ 0HPEHU

7UHDWV RQ D /HDVK

9LEH 1XWULWLRQ

0DLQ 6WUHHW 1HZ 0HPEHU

/LQFROQ :D\ 6XLWH *UDQG 2SHQLQJ

J U N E 2 0 1 8 | A M E S B U S I N E S S M O N T H L Y | 11

$0(6 &+$0%(5 2) &200(5&( _ -81(

milestones with Ribbon Cuttings!

:LQJVWRS 6 'XII $YH 6XLWH *UDQG 2SHQLQJ

:HOFRPH QHZ $PHV &KDPEHU PHPEHUV $PHV 6SLQH 6SRUW 3//&

ZZZ DPHVVSLQHDQGVSRUW FRP -RLQHG

/LYDELOLW\ 0HGLD

ZZZ OLYDELOLW\ FRP -RLQHG

(ULQ :HQGW ,QGLYLGXDO 0HPEHU -RLQHG

$O]KHLPHUÅ&#x201D;V $VVRFLDWLRQ

ZZZ DO] RUJ JUHDWHULRZD -RLQHG

Join the Chamber!

0DNH QHZ FRQQHFWLRQV SURPRWH \RXU EXVLQHVV WDNH DGYDQWDJH RI SUR IHVVLRQDO GHYHORSPHQW SURJUDPV DQG PRUH ZKHQ \RX MRLQ WKH $PHV &KDPEHU RI &RPPHUFH &RQWDFW %UDQGRQ 0XPP DW IRU PRUH LQIRUPDWLRQ

Cindy Albin, Hunziker & Associates Tess Ashley,Global State Mortgage Alli Azbill, Global State Mortgage Steve Bock, RE/MAX Real Estate Center Don Borcherding, Greater Iowa Credit Union Bonnie Brown, Global State Mortgage Nathan Buss, VisionBank Buffy Clatt, First National Bank John Coder, VisionBank Lisa Downs, Hunziker & Associates Stacy Dreyer, First National Bank Amy Engstrom, 2Men and Adame Cleaning 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 Sherry Hosteng, RE/MAX Real Estate Ashley Howe, Xpanxion Sharon Johnson, RE/MAX Real Estate Jeff Louang, Holiday Inn Conference Center Michelle King, The Krell Institute Carol Kisling, iHeart Media Matt Koehler, Greater Iowa Credit Union Paul Livingston, Hunziker & Associates, Realtors Danielle Minde, EXIT Realty Amanda Moorman, Morgan Stanley David Orth, Spirited Giving Matthew Pacha, Hy-Vee Lincoln Center Michele Partridge, Hunziker & Associates, Realtors Sarah Powers, RE/MAX Real Estate Tom Randall, Tom Randall Real Estate Team at Keller Williams Tim Rasmussen, Flooring America Matt Roghair, Exchange State Bank Dorothy Schumer, Ames Convention and Visitors Bureau Tim Tryon, U.S. Bank Daryle Vegge, Story County Community Foundation Barb Vincent, Ames Christian School Allyson Walter,Ames Convention and Visitors Bureau Jan Williams, First National Bank

12 | AMES BUSINESS MONTHLY | J U N E 2 0 1 8

$0(6 &+$0%(5 2) &200(5&( _ -81(

0(0%(56+,3

:25.)25&( 62/87,216

C HA M B E R

MEMBERS Thank you to the following

members who have donated ten percent more than their annual dues for Chamber projects.

$OSKD &RSLHV &RXQWU\ /DQGVFDSHV +DOOHWW 0DWHULDOV 6DPÅ&#x201C;V &OXE 6WXGLR $ 'HVLJQV 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 Chamberâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Gold members.

Targeted Occupations x Administrative

Come & Meet Your Future Employer Today!

x Customer Services x Health Care x Financial x Manufacturing x Service Providing

Come Prepared With Professional Business Attire & Your Resume!

x And many more â&#x20AC;¦...

IowaWORKS Career Fair

When: May 30, 2018 10:00 am â&#x20AC;&#x201D; 12:00 pm

Free Parking: ISU Economic Development Parking lot

Where: ISU Economic Development (Core Facility) 1805 Collaboration Place Ames , Iowa 50010

Public Transportation : CyRide Bus # 6 ISU Research Park Brown Route/Southbound

Career Fair Etiquette Workshop Offered at ; IowaWORKS 430 E. Grand Ave Des Moines, Iowa 50309

J U N E 2 0 1 8 | A M E S B U S I N E S S M O N T H L Y | 13

$0(6 &+$0%(5 2) &200(5&( _ -81(

<287+ /($'(56+,3 $0(6

Youth Leadership Ames Update 6HFRQGDU\ (GXFDWLRQ 'D\ VSRQVRUHG E\ 9LVLRQ%DQN

Blankets that YLA Class VIII had collected for the area shelters

Eve Lederhouse of VisionBank presenting to the students on saving for college and finance management when in college

7+( $0(6 )281'$7,21

'LG <RX .QRZ" 7KH $PHV )RXQGDWLRQ LV WKH FDWDO\VW IRU SXEOLF SURMHFWV WKDW HQKDQFH WKH TXDOLW\ RI OLIH LQ $PHV LQFOXGLQJ Å&#x203A; 'RZQWRZQ EHDXWLŲFDWLRQ ZLWK VWUHHW OHYHO SODQWLQJV DQG RUQDPHQWDO FRQWDLQHUV Å&#x203A; :HOFRPH WR $PHV VLJQDJH Å&#x203A; %DQGVKHOO 3DUN UHVWRUDWLRQ DQG EHDXWLŲFDWLRQ 7R OHDUQ PRUH RU PDNH D WD[ GHGXFWLEOH GRQDWLRQ YLVLW

ZZZ DPHVIRXQGDWLRQ RUJ

John Kinley, giving the class tours of the Ames DMACC Hunziker Center

At Jack Trice Stadium

14 | AMES BUSINESS MONTHLY | J U N E 2 0 1 8

$0(6 &+$0%(5 2) &200(5&( _ -81(

<281* 352)(66,21$/6 2) $0(6

Join Young Profesionals of Ames!

G

et involved with Young Professionals of Ames for opportunities to build and foster relationships through:

â&#x20AC;˘ Leadership development â&#x20AC;˘ Professional development â&#x20AC;˘ Community outreach â&#x20AC;˘ Cultural and social opportunities Visit www.ypames.com to learn more and join us!

Join a YPA Committee!

0DUNHWLQJ &RPPLWWHH

Help us spread the word about all the great things YPA does in our community! Members of this committee help promote YPA events and opportunities by managing the YPA website, social media, press releases, email updates, and more.

6RFLDO &RPPLWWHH

The YPA Social Committee coordinates events and provides opportunities for YPA members and guests to come together to network and socialize.

Facebook Group for YPA Members

Y

PA members, we have a Facebook Group just for you!

Find the Group on Facebook titled â&#x20AC;&#x153;Members of Young Professionals of Amesâ&#x20AC;? and request to join.

In this setting, we hope to facilitate even greater communication within our member base. Please utilize the Group to post questions, look for fellow members attending an upcoming event, and start discussions on shared interests.

ThAW

J

oin us for our next ThAW! For details about the date and the location, visit www.ypames.com, sign up for our newsletter, or follow us on Facebook and Twitter!

Monthly Lunch & Learn

Y

PA hosts monthly Lunch & Learns. Taren Crow, Director of Career Services at Iowa State University â&#x20AC;&#x201C; College of Liberal Arts and Sciences shared strategies for being a more effective mentor or mentee at the May Lunch & Learn.

Special thanks to West Town Pub for hosting our group! Keep an eye on our social media or our website for our next Lunch & Learn opportunities.

YPAâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Thursday After Work (ThAW) events provide a great opportunity for networking and socializing with other young professionals!

J U N E 2 0 1 8 | AMES BUSINESS MONTHLY | 15

$0(6 &+$0%(5 2) &200(5&( _ -81(

0$,1 675((7 &8/785$/ ',675,&7

2018 Events July 4th Parade July 4 RAGBRAI on Main July 24 Summer Sidewalk Sales July 26-28 Restaurant Week Sept 14-23 Smithsonian Traveling Exhibit Sept 29â&#x20AC;&#x201D;Nov 11 Oktoberfest September 15 Trick or Treat October 26 Snow Magic Nov 9â&#x20AC;&#x201D;Dec 24 Small Business Saturday November 24

For sponsorship information or to volunteer for an event contact: Cindy Hicks director@amesdowntown.org

16 | AMES BUSINESS MONTHLY | J U N E 2 0 1 8

$0(6 &+$0%(5 2) &200(5&( _ -81(

&$038672:1 $&7,21 $662&,$7,21

1HZ WKLV \HDU DW 6XPPHUIHVW

SAT.

2018

200 Block Of Welch Ave.

JUNE 2 3:00 to 9:00 PM

Parking in the Ames Intermodal Facility (200 Block of Hayward)

3-7pm Free Fun Family Activities: Petting Zoo, Face Painting, Henna and Air Brush Tattoos, and Root Beer Garden 3-9pm Live Music/Beer Garden: 3-6pm: Courtney Krause 6-9pm: Hawk McIntyre

5HJLVWHU \RXU SXS DW WKH ZHOFRPH WDEOH EHWZHHQ 30 6KRZLQJ DQG MXGJLQJ ZLOO EHJLQ DW 30

Making Campustown Shine

I

n addition to monthly volunteer clean-up events, the Campustown Action Association will be utilizing contractors to pick up litter and power wash sidewalks. This is part of an ongoing effort to keep public spaces within the Campustown Service Center clean and attractive to both visitors and residents of Ames. Several projects are planned throughout the summer.

Supported by the Ames Convention & Visitors Bureau Community Grant Program

campustown action association

The Campustown Action Association is an Affiliate of the Ames Chamber of Commerce

Thank you to our sponsors:

ARCADIA CAFE

Power washing sidewalks in preparation for ISU graduation visitors.

J U N E 2 0 1 8 | A M E S B U S I N E S S M O N T H L Y | 17

Great weather, trade fears mark the beginning of planting season

By Dan Mika, Staff Writer dmika@amestrib.com

The sun has risen on another planting season in Iowa and across the Midwest, and as farmers in central Iowa put crops in the ground, they’ll likely have two things on their mind: the weather and the ongoing threat of a trade dispute.

WONDROUS WEATHER

Iowa State agronomist Mark Johnson summed up late April with three words: “absolute best window.”

After an extended winter spell that kept farmers from early field preparations, central Iowa’s weather has been pleasant with plenty of sunshine. That is key for farmers, as corn and soybeans need to be planted in soil temperatures at or above 50 degrees to spur growth and avoid disease.

The average soil temperature in Story County at the end of April was 57 degrees, according to the Iowa Environmental Mesonet.

Johnson said that puts the area well on track to reach its yield potential for the year, barring any extreme weather events. When asked if the weather puts farmers on track to eclipse 2016’s record yield, he seemed optimistic.

“It’s very possible,” he said.

Michael Timlin, a regional climatologist with the Midwest Regional Climate Center at the University of Illinois, said the state has a “greater than normal” chance of rain in the first week of May, which could make the fields too soft for heavy machinery to get onto without causing erosion.

“It looks like things are improving in the sense of getting warmer, but the downside is if we get the rain, then that can offset the benefits of it being warmer,” he said.

The warm weather is a boon to local farmers as they prepare to start planting, but fears of a trade war with China are deflating expectations for farm profits. TRIBUNE FILE PHOTO

TRADE DISPUTES LOOM LARGE

The U.S. and China are in the midst of a tariff standoff after President Donald Trump’s administration announced its intention to levy $50 billion in tariffs against Chinese aluminum and steel for alleged unfair trade practices.

China, in turn announced $50 billion in tariffs against more than 100 American products, including corn, beef and soybeans. The move rattled U.S.

soybean producers in particular, as China buys one out of every three soybeans produced on American soil.

ISU agricultural economist Chad Hart said several factors were looking up for U.S. farmers hoping for a jump in farm profitability. Farmers in South America are having poor luck in terms of weather, global demand has steadily increased and the glut of leftover crop from previous harvests are starting to shrink.

But the threat of tariffs, which already have shifted global commodity buying patterns, have cast a cloud over farmer’s optimism heading into planting. The idea is additional tariffs will discourage buyers from buying U.S. soybeans, meaning less demand and lower prices.

Hart said commodity prices could decline anywhere from 5 percent to 15 percent if the tariffs take effect, depending on the individual crop.

That, on top of the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s February prediction that nationwide farm profits will decline almost 7 percent this year, means farm defaults could spike.

“We’ll see a few of those happen too,” Hart said. “We’ve already seen a few happen over the past couple of years, we’ve lost a few farmers over the past couple of years and we’ll lose a few more.

This trade dispute just adds to that uncertainty.”

18 | AMES BUSINESS MONTHLY | JUNE 2018

A (not always) open door policy A

caring and supportive relationship with members of our team is the foundation for all we do as leaders and managers. Everything is easier, and more effective, Rick Brimeyer when mutual trust exists and employees know that we have their best interests at heart.

Intentionally and regularly spending time with each employee in their work area (iw.e., rounding) is a proven technique for deepening the relationship and for promoting frequent, constructive dialogue about the business. When employees know that a regularly scheduled visit is upcoming, they’re more apt to table topics until then, making more effective use of both parties’ valuable time.

Nonetheless, it’s still important to be available to employees when they need to

talk. Managers often brag about their “open door policy.” Does this mean that one has to always be available?

To answer, let’s revisit Stephen Covey’s third of seven habits of highly effective people — put first things first. Covey explains that the demands for our time can be classified by two factors, importance and urgency. He places the demands for our time into four different quadrants:

We want importance and not urgency to be the primary driver of how we spend

our time. But urgency possesses an alluring siren call, frequently suckering us to believe a demand is also important (Quadrant I) when it is really just urgent (Quadrant III).

Proactively scheduling important but not urgent tasks (Quadrant II) is a proven strategy for ensuring that one’s day isn’t consumed by the urgent but trivial (Quadrant III). It dramatically increases the odds that we will follow through on our goals to round on employees and to complete that critical project on time with quality thought instead of cramming the night before.

Therefore, there are occasions when the best use of a leader’s time is to be dedicated to a critical, scheduled Quadrant II activity, and essentially off-limits to the team. One can use the daily huddle to announce that they will be working on a critical project between 9 to 11 a.m. and that they appreciate the team respecting that time.

My friend Roger has developed a simple, visual system with his team:  When the lights are off and the door is closed, it means that he’s out of the office.  When the lights are on and the door is open, it means that he’s in and available.  When the lights are on and the door is closed, it means that he’s in, but working on an important task (what Covey called a “big rock”) and prefers not to be interrupted.

Team members should understand that a true emergency (i.e., important and urgent) warrants an interruption. But someone stopping by to announce that there are free donuts in Marketing probably justifies a short coaching opportunity.

(There are always free donuts in marketing; free donuts in accounting … now that’s news!)

Obviously, any manager spending a majority of their time behind a closed door is evading a critical portion of their job. But being available to employees — outside of an emergency — doesn’t have to be a 24/7 proposition. Intentionally carving out designated time to work on important projects, and protecting that time against interruptions, results in higher quality work and a saner manager. It can also lead to more independent employees who don’t feel compelled to run every little thing by the boss.

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.

Danfoss fi ned for January employee death

By Dan Mika, Staff Writer dmik@amestrib.com

Danfoss has been fined more than $12,000 by state workplace safety regulators after an employee died on the job in January.

The Denmark-based company, which has two locations in Ames primarily producing hydraulic transport components, was ordered to pay $11,224 to Iowa Occupational Safety and Health (IOSH) last month for having machine guards that offered a chance of an accident in themselves, a serious violation, according to documents released by the agency.

IOSH also fined Danfoss $900 for not listing the objects that caused a workplace-related illness or injury for a handful of events on its safety log in 2017 and this year, an “other-than-serious” violation.

The employee, John Lavery, died Jan. 18 after a safety hood dropped onto his head while he was working at a motor test stand at the company’s 13th Street plant. He was pronounced dead upon arrival at Mary Greeley Medical Center.

He was 45.

Danfoss employs more than 1,000 people at its Ames locations.

Before his death, Lavery recently retired from the U.S. Army as a sergeant first class after serving tours of duty in Iraq and Afghanistan. The Lavery family moved to Ames after his retirement to be closer to his daughters as they studied at Iowa State University.

In an emailed statement, Danfoss spokesman Kurt Funke said the company has accepted the IOSH penalty.

He said the company’s local leadership took “prompt corrective actions” to replace the overhead hoods that were the same model involved in the accident with horizontal hoods, and the work-related injury and illness log was updated and resubmitted to state investigators.

“We have proactively addressed all areas outlined in the OSHA citations to eliminate a recurrence of the situation that was involved in the very tragic accident on January 18,” he wrote. “We believe the many steps we’ve taken since this accident makes Danfoss a safer place to work for our employees.”

J U N E 2 0 1 8 | AMES BUSINESS MONTHLY | 19

Congrats, grad – here are some thoughts on money T his spring is a great time of celebration in the Brammer household. We have not one, but two kids graduating from college and transitioning into the world as full-time tax payers. They have both secured their first jobs so we are proud as well as excited for their future. Like all parents, we tried to impart words of wisdom into their lives as they matured and hope they take those words with them into their next stage of life.

Recently, our discussions have turned more financial as they think about being self-sufficient. Here are some thoughts for all the new college grads.

Retirement plans — Start investing in your company’s retirement plan immediately. There is no

time like the present.

Start saving even if you have student Nate Brammer loans to pay.

There is maxim that we must pay ourselves first and then pay everyone else. Time is the magic elixir regarding investing. As the quote often attributed to Albert Einstein says, “Compound interest is the eighth wonder of the world. He who understands it, earns it, he who doesn’t … pays it.” Take advantage of the full company match.

Typically, a company will match your savings dollar for dollar or 50 cents to the dollar up to approximately 6 percent of your salary. This

is free money or guaranteed return on your investment.

Your goal should be to save 10 percent to 15 percent of your income towards retirement. Unfortunately, we as a country fall woefully short of that savings goal.

The temptation is to wait until your student loans are paid off or you make more money before starting retirement savings. This is an area where I would recommend a two-pronged approach; Attack your loans and save aggressively at the same time. When you get a pay raise, increase your contribution to your 401(k)/ retirement plan by at least 1 percent at the same time.

Minimize your biggest expenses — Housing, food and commuting are typically your biggest expenses. These three expenses allow the

for the area in late April, which will require final approval from the City Council.

Spokesman Ken Golden said John Deere is building the facility to test machines that spray fertilizers and pesticides after it acquired four different spraying startups in the past year.

“This facility gives us the capability of testing our future development projects in a more consistent and

controlled environment,” he said.

Golden said the building will have room for 40 fulltime employees. He declined to say how much the building is expected to cost.

John Deere already has a 2,000-square-foot office in the research park, opening it in February last year. That office has just under 10 full-time staff and several interns working on various company projects.

John Deere announces plans to build test lab at research park

By Dan Mika, Staff Writer dmika@amestrib.com

John Deere is planning to build a 33,000-squarefoot facility in the Iowa State Research Park beginning later this summer.

The Moline, Ill.-based agricultural machinery company said it intends to start construction in the park this summer, depending on when it secures construction permits from city officials.

The city’s Planning and Zoning Commission approved a preliminary plat

most flexibility to decrease total expenses. Regarding housing, probably your biggest expense, I would encourage you to find roommates to share rent, utilities and other expenses. I know you have likely had roommates the last few years, but it can really shave down costs. Also, eating out is budget killer. Take your lunch to work. Have friends over and share the expense and experience of cooking a nice meal in your own kitchen. Finally, resist the urge to go out and buy/ lease a new car. I know, who doesn’t love the smell of new car? Yes, you can rationalize the payment to have “reliable” transportation, but new cars lose 60 percent of their value in the first five years.

Let someone else pay for the depreciation while you

scoop-up a nice used car at a reasonable price.

Spend less than you make — This may seem obvious, but there is a reason that people in the U.S. have over 1 Trillion dollars in credit card balances. Create a spending plan (Shhhh, it’s a budget) so you control where every dollar goes; especially your cash purchases. Track your spending using a service like Mint.com. It is free.

You will be surprised where your money goes. Control your money or your money controls you.

Pay your bills on time — Most of you have been responsible for paying expenses already, but the number of bills to keep track of is probably going to increase. Paying your bills on time avoids late payments

and keeps your credit score in good shape when you want a loan for a car or home. For most people, cell phones are now a loan you pay over time. This has been an area where some have been more lax on prompt payments. Whenever possible, I would suggest having bills automatically deducted from your checking account through bill pay at your bank. This is a sure way to pay on time.

Create good money management skills today and you will reap benefits for a lifetime. It isn’t easy, but the reward is great. Good luck.

NATHAN D. BRAMMER MBA, CIMA®, AIF® is a principal and investment advisor at Marrs Wealth Management.

He can be reached at Nate@ marrswealth.com

20 | AMES BUSINESS MONTHLY | JUNE 2018