Abm 08 2017

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AB AMES BUSINESS

MONTHLY A U G U S T 2017

August Chamber Update

ALLUVIAL TO EXPAND BREWING CAPACITY NEXT YEAR SEE PAGE 3

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2 | A M E S B U S I N E S S M O N T H L Y | AUGUST 2017

AMES BUSINESS

2 Iowa State student launches massage roller startup 3 Alluvial to expand brewing capacity next year 4 Rick Brimeyer 4 Nathan Brammer 5 August Chamber Update 17 Provisions Lot F opens in ISU Research Park

MONTHLY AUGUST 2017

17 REG CEO unexpectedly resigns 18 Competition for low-skill labor driving up wages

Vol. 10, No. 8

18 Ciao’s Italian restaurant opens 18 ISO Startup Factory to graduate fi rst round of businesses

AMES TRIBUNE Ames Business Monthly is a publication of the Ames Tribune, 317 Fifth St., Ames, IA, 50010; (515) 232-2160.

19 Local barbecue champion to launch food truck this summer

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Iowa State student launches massage roller startup By Dan Mika, Staff Writer dmika@amestrib.com

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n Iowa State student is launching a customizable foam roller business through crowdfunding. The “Roll and Go” is a hard plastic roller device strung on a rope, allowing the roller to target the curvature of an entire muscle. ISU junior Steven Williams said he developed the Roll and Go last November with a friend in his native Wisconsin who hikes frequently. “She has a massage roller that’s about 18 inches long, and it’s a solid stick and you can’t bend it,” he said. “So you can’t shove it in the backpack because it doesn’t fit very well, so we thought about something you could compress or something that would be optimal for backpacks.” The product has a one-year

provisional patent, and Williams said the company is working on getting a full patent grant. The rollers can also be made into custom colors and designs depending on how strong the customer wants their massage to be. He said the company has a contract to produce the rollers with a plastic molding factory in Minnesota and can start once he has the $12,000 down payment. As of June 15, the product’s Indiegogo crowdfunding campaign has raised $185 of its $15,000 goal with 20 days to go. Williams said developing the Roll and Go while being a fulltime engineering student has kept him busy, but he and his partner are looking to restructure the business to make it less laborintensive before they go back for another year of college. “Once we get it up and running, which will be in early

ISU junior Steven Williams with his Roll and Go prototype. Williams and a friend are trying to crowdfund enough money to produce the massage rollers on a larger scale. PHOTO BY DAN MIKA/AMES TRIBUNE

August before school starts, it really should run like going to a normal part-time job while doing school full-time,” he said. Williams said he hopes to continue running the business as a

side job through graduation and make it a full-time effort for a few more years before he pursues a career in engineering. He’s also aiming to have the Roll and Go on shelves at Walmart, Target,

REI and other big box and athletic stores. Roll and Go’s crowdfunding page is at www.indiegogo.com/ projects/roll-and-go.

AUGUST 2017 | AMES BUSINESS MONTHLY | 3

BREWING

Alluvial to expand brewing capacity next year By Dan Mika, Staff Writer dmika@amestrib.com

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lluvial Brewing Company has secured a loan for a new brewing system that can produce more beer and allow more guests in its taphouse. Owner Elliot Thompson said he wanted to replace Alluvial’s current brewing system because it required cooling down and cleaning every other day. The new system is also a 10-barrel system instead of the 2 1/2-barrel system currently in use, which will allow Alluvial to brew more beer more often. “We could brew five days a week if we wanted to, we could do seven days a week,” he said. “It just gives us more flexibility where we don’t have such a waiting game with when we can brew.” The new system will be housed in a separate building about 500 feet from the taproom, freeing up

space in the north Ames brewery’s back room for guests. He also said Alluvial will likely produce more in-bottle special releases and have more beer styles rotating more often on the weekly menu. The loan will also cover installing a second bathroom in the taphouse, allowing for more people to occupy the back room where the brewing system is currently located. Under current configuration, Alluvial is allowed to have only 50 people in the building because it has only one restroom. “We just figured we knock out two birds with one stone here by also adding a bathroom,” Thompson said. Thompson said while the amount of beer Alluvial is making will go up, his focus is still going to be on the north Ames taphouse and his three on-tap accounts in Des Moines.

He said the increased production will allow Alluvial to have a larger presence at Foodies and Brew, Oktoberfest and other area beer festivals. The biggest priority, however will still remain on customers in the area coming into the taphouse. “One of the positive and kind of shocking parts of this is the community that’s been created around this brewery,” he said. “Yes, the beer is part of that, but who comes out here and what it means for them, that’s the most enjoyable part of this for me and everyone that works here.” The rapid growth of the craft beer market is another reason Thompson wants to keep beer close to home. He said he and the rest of the brewers on staff are more keen on focusing on producing beer locally instead of jumping into an already competitive market filled with other craft options.

Alluvial Brewing Company owner Elliot Thompson prepares kegs for delivery. Alluvial recently secured a loan to buy a larger brewing system, which will be housed in a building outside of Alluvial’s taphouse. PHOTO BY DAN MIKA/AMES TRIBUNE

“I was up in Minneapolis trying to pick up some beer from a liquor store for the Fourth (of July) and there was thousands of options, and I didn’t even know what to get,” he said. “It’s a tough market to be on the shelf at some of these

outlets, and for us, taking it slow is a more approachable way for us … we want to keep it tight-knit here.” Thompson said the new brewing system will arrive in January and likely will be online in April.

4 | A M E S B U S I N E S S M O N T H L Y | AUGUST 2017

BRIMEYER

What to tell the kids?

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financing as pensions have ugust is back-to-school almost disappeared in favor of month. The stakes have employee funded accounts. never been higher. An True, we’ve been through this intelligent, informed, and practisort of transformation before as cal friend of mine who has three kids in their upper teens recently the mechanization of agriculture drove the percent of the labor lamented, “I don’t even know force employed as farmers from what to tell my kids to study almost 70 percent in 1840 to anymore.” roughly 1.5 percent Let’s start out today. But that with some facts. transition occurred Despite the rheslowly over decades. torical nonsense And, in most spewed during (and cases, displaced since) the 2016 farmers were presidential camable to migrate to paign, the vast other relatively majority of job loss low-skilled jobs. — 88 percent based Today’s misplaced on a study by the workers essentially Center for Busineed to reinvent ness & Economic themselves. Research and Ball Rick Brimeyer So how to State University — advise the kids (and is due to automation grandkids)? and not globalization. It’s much Regardless of the grade they easier (and apparently, politically are entering, make it irrevocaeffective) to villainize Mexican bly clear that school matters. and Chinese workers than faceIn his best-selling book Hillless robots or computer servers. billy Elegy, J.D. Vance describes Furthermore, the rate of a pervasive attitude of “learned change is, and will continue, helplessness” among the disincreasing. Robo financial adviplaced, a belief that choices made sors and retail self-checkouts have little impact on the outare already commonplace. Next comes of one’s life. Education up, robotic blackjack dealers and is the primary defense against autonomous semis. displacement. This can lead to a rather Encourage kids to identify cynical, even scary view of a aspects of jobs they might enjoy future bifurcated population rather than declare what they consisting of the educated who want to be when they grow up. identify and implement the The latter causes fixation on a next wave of automation and specific job which may or may the uneducated who become not be available in the future. displaced. Get kids involved in team Thomas Friedman’s excellent activities and nurture their EmoMay 10 column, Owning Your tional Quotient (EQ). The ability Own Future, states the only way to empathize and connect with to guarantee lifelong employothers has always been a differment is by embracing lifelong ence-maker, but is becoming a learning. To quote Friedman, “And that means: More is now on truly distinguishing characteristic. Regardless of how “real” you. And that means self-motirobots get, I believe there will be vation to learn and keep learnalways be consumers willing to ing becomes the most important pay a premium for some services life skill.” from a real live person. This “more is on you” is a Don’t panic if your youngcontinuation of a 30-year-old ster’s interests tend toward practice relative to retirement

BRAMMER hands-on activities. Think trades. Excellent opportunities will continue to exist in HVAC, auto service, construction and advanced manufacturing. I foresee automation perhaps replacing some of the most physically demanding tasks in these fields, thus allowing them to remain viable options into their later years. Realize that success in the trades will still require strong comprehension, people, math and problem-solving skills. So school still matters. Also, depending on your school district, your child may have wonderful or dismal opportunities to explore trades. Unfortunately, some of the best college prep high schools are the most lacking in trades preparation. I’m not sure if this results from needing to focus on a niche because of inadequate state funding or a lack of demand from students due to a pervasive culture that college is the only path to success. If your trades-oriented child is in a weak district for trades, you may want to consider open enrolling in a neighboring district and/or exploring apprenticeship opportunities with local employers … most of which are extremely open to finding good, long term employees. In any event, more is on you. Finally, help kids explore various means of learning and discover which are more and less effective for them. For her eighth birthday, my granddaughter’s want list contained a number of “frilly” items typical of her peers. We got her a beginner’s programmable robot. The look of surprise and confusion quickly turned to excitement as she started to learn it’s potential. Game on. 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.

Higher returns, Lower risk? What, are you trying to pull over on me?

companies in the United States has actually decreased by about 2,500 names. While during roughly the same time period the number of stocks listed in on the world exchanges including the U.S has increased by 10,000 companies. Great info, Nate, but what’s in it for me? Well, two of my favorite things. Investing globally has the dual benefit of lowering risk and providing higher returns. This seems counterintuitive for a number of people, but when looked at through the lens of portfolio management adding ud Light, Coors foreign or internaLight, Miller tional stocks reduces Light, Vasethe correlation for line, Good Humor your portfolio thus Ice Cream, Hellman’s reducing the portfolio Mayo, Toll House volatility. Cookies, Tombstone Over the course Pizza, Alpo, Friskof the last 20 years, ies, Stouffer’s, 7-11 1997-2016, the U.S. Convenience Stores, stock market, among Hot Pockets, Popsicle, developed countries, Frigidaire, Bridgestone has only finished in Tires and Gerber Baby the top two spots Food. in terms of annual What do all these Nate Brammer return one time. iconic brands have While countries such in common? Draas Canada, New Zealand, Ireland, matic pause. They are all owned by foreign companies. Many products Japan, Austria and others have finished in the top 2 multiple times. we commonly use today are not So again, there is opportunity produced by U.S. based companies. globally. We use these products and many These dual benefits can wax more just like them every day and and wane as things such as curdo not consider their origin. Many rency movements influence stocks times this applies to our retirein the short run. Also, the U.S. ment portfolio as well. It is a good market has had wonderful run ups reminder to take a hard look at our investment portfolios to make sure in prices, but as we often remind people the market doesn’t only we understand what we own and whether it is reflective of the global go up. Historically having a more diversified portfolio benefits inveseconomy at large. tors for the long term. I often find portfolios that are Finally, these benefits are not either 100 percent invested in the exclusive to the stock market. U.S. or very over weighted in U.S The U.S. makes up only about 30 stocks. The U.S. stock market does percent of the global investment make up approximately 50 percent grade band market. So again there of the total world market capitaliis great opportunity for diversificazation so having a large U.S. position. Do not have all your eggs in tion does make sense and it has one basket. Global diversification performed well over the years. However, there is a world of oppor- is your friend. tunity that you as investor do not NATHAN D. BRAMMER MBA, want to walk by with your portfoCIMA®, AIF® is a Principal and lio. Why not profit from the prodInvestment Advisor at Marrs Wealth ucts and services we use every day? Management. He can be reached at Since the mid-1990s, the Nate@marrswealthmanagement.com. number of publicly listed

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A U G U S T 2 017 | A M E S B U S I N E S S M O N T H LY | 5

Chamber Update AUGUST 2017

REGISTER NOW!

The Ames Chamber Annual Steak Fry -RLQ XV IRU WKH Ames Chamber Annual Steak Fry 7XHVGD\ 6HSWHPEHU SP 3UHVHQWHG E\ $PHV )RUG /LQFROQ DQG +\9HH <RX DQG \RXU JXHVWV DUH LQYLWHG WR MRLQ WKH 3DVW %RDUG &KDLUV RI WKH $PHV &KDPEHU DW D IXQ FDVXDO QR WLHV DOORZHG

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The Thrill of the

Contact Sarah Buss for more details 232.2310 or sarah@ameschamber.com **All registrations must be paid PRIOR to the event** **No Refunds**

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 | A M E S B U S I N E S S M O N T H L Y | AUGUST 2017

AMES CHAMBER OF COMMERCE | AUGUST 2017

GOLF DAY 2017 BOARD OF DIRECTORS EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE CASEY JOHNSON, Chair of Board of Directors Ames Ford Lincoln LUKE JENSEN, Vice Chair Real Estate Service Group, Inc. ANDREW PERRY, 2nd Vice Chair McFarland Clinic, PC SCOTT BLUM, Divisional Chair, Community Development Accord Architecture / Henkel STACY DREYER, Divisional Chair, Government Affairs & Treasurer First National Bank NATE EASTER, Divisional Chair, Membership Iowa State University Research Park DAVE TUCKER, Immediate Past Chair Workiva DAN CULHANE, President / CEO Ames Chamber & Economic Development Commission BOARD MEMBERS Vanessa Baker-Latimer, City of Ames Bret Bartholomew, Bartholomew Chiropractic Lindsey Beecher, Gilbert Community School District Scott Blum, Accord Architecture/Henkel Construction Nathan Buss - YPA Past President, VisionBank Matt Converse, Converse Conditioned Air Lawrence Cunningham, Iowa State Daily Media Group Stacy Dreyer, First National Bank Nate Easter, ISU Research Park Sara Hunter, Vermeer Corporation Luke Jensen, Real Estate Service Group, Inc. Casey Johnson, Ames Ford Lincoln Dr. Sonya Stoltze Newstrom, Stoltze and Stoltze Family Dentistry Andrew Perry, McFarland Clinic, PC Cliff Smith - MSCD Past President, GlobalVetLink Jason Schwenneker, Renewable Energy Group Trevin Ward - CAA President Elect, Workiva Jill Wellman, Danfoss Dave Tucker,Workiva The Chamber Update newsletter is published by the Ames Chamber of Commerce 304 Main Street,Ames, IA, 50010; phone: (515) 232-2310; fax: (515) 233-3203 www.ameschamber.com.

Thank you teams and sponsors! Golf Day 2017 presented by Wells Fargo Bank was a sold out success!

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hat a beautiful day on the golf course! Thanks to all the sponsors that made it possible: Presented by Wells Fargo | Gold Sponsor: 3M | Golf Ball Sponsor: OXEN Technology| Lunch Sponsor: North Grand Mall, IA | Beverage Cart Sponsors : McDonald's, Travel and Transport and Gateway Hotel & Conference Center | Hole Sponsors: First National Bank, Campustown Action Association, Great Western Bank, McFarland Clinic , Cyclone Liquors, Wells Fargo, Main Street Cultural District, Green Hills Health Care Center Young Professionals of Ames, Ames Chamber of Commerce, Bankers Trust Company WCI Pools & Spas, Logiclean, Iowa State Center, Ames Main Street Farmers' Market Story Construction, FASTSIGNS & U.S. Bank.

AUGUST 2017 | AMES BUSINESS MONTHLY | 7

AMES CHAMBER OF COMMERCE | AUGUST 2017

SCENES FROM 20107 GOLF DAY

Ames Chamber and AfďŹ liate staff ‡ Dan Culhane, President and CEO ‡ Peter Ampe, Director, Project Management ‡Stephanie Bates, Client Services Coordinator ‡ Sarah Buss, Director, Sponsorship and Membership Events

‡ Karin Chitty, Campustown Action Association Executive Director ‡ Edana Delagardelle, Event Coordinator, Main Street Cultural District ‡ %UHQGD 'U\HU Director, Workforce Solutions &

Story County Community Outreach ‡ Lauren Frandsen, Director, Communications & Marketing ‡ John Hall, Director, Business Development & Marketing ‡ Ron Hallenbeck, Executive Vice President ‡ Cindy Hicks, Main Street Cultural District Executive Director

‡ Amy Howard, Vice President, Finance & Operations ‡ Drew Kamp, Director, Business Retention/Expansion & Government Relations ‡Lojean Petersen, Ames Main Street Farmers’ Market Manager ‡Jan Williams, Director, External Business Relations

8 | A M E S B U S I N E S S M O N T H LY | A U G U S T 2 017

AMES CHAMBER OF COMMERCE | AUGUST 2017

GOVERNMENT RELATIONS

Story County Board of Supervisors Legislative Luncheon August 16

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lease join your fellow Ames Chamber of Commerce members at the City Church of Ames-Des Moines, located at 2400 Oakwood Road, Wednesday, August 16th from 11:15am-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:

11:15am-11:45am: Registration and lunch available to all attendees. 11:45am-1:00pm: Story County Supervisors address the crowd and ÂżHOG TXHVWLRQV Per usual, 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 515-817-6311 or drew@ameschamber.com. The Ames Chamber of Commerce thanks our 2017 Taking Leadership Legislative Sponsors: Converse Conditioned Air, Des Moines Area Community College, First National Bank, Midland Power Cooperative, Renewable Energy Group, and Workiva. The Chamber also thanks Greater Iowa Credit Union, Harold Pike Construction, Roseland, Mackey, Harris Architects, and VenuWorks for their continued support and generosity as 2017 Legislative Lunch Sponsors. Without the continued support of our great sponsors, the Ames Chamber of Commerce would not be able to provide the great events and services we do today.

WILSON TOYOTA Invites You to Our

AMES CHAMBER of COMMERCE

BUSINESS AFTER HOURS AUGUST 15, 2017 4:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. 2212 S DUFF AVE., AMES

THANK YOU TO OUR 2017 INNER CIRCLE SPONSORS

AUGUST 2017 | AMES BUSINESS MONTHLY | 9

AMES CHAMBER OF COMMERCE | AUGUST 2017

August calendar Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday

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12 noon: Knowledge Hour (C)

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12 noon: Mainstream Living (R/C)

5pm, Wilson Toyota (BAH)

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4:30 p.m.: BooSt Together for Children (R/C)

ISU Fall Classes Begin

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12 noon: Ames Racquet & Fitness Center (R/C)

Chamber Board

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24

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AEDC Board

8am: Ames Main Street Farmers’ Market (300 & 400 blocks Main Street)

8am: Ames Main Street Farmers’ Market (300 & 400 blocks Main Street)

8am: Ames Main Street Farmers’ Market (300 & 400 blocks Main Street)

8am: Ames Main Street Farmers’ Market (300 & 400 blocks Main Street)

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4:30 p.m.: Erbert & Gerbert’s Sandwich Shop (R/C)

AEDC !MES %CONOMIC $EVELOPMENT #OMMISSION s BAH "USINESS !FTER (OURS s CAA #AMPUSTOWN !CTION !SSOCIATION s C #HAMBER /FlCE s FAW: Friday After Work s L&L: ,UNCH ,EARN s R/C 2IBBON #UTTING s YPA 9OUNG 0ROFESSIONALS OF !MES s YLA: Youth Leadership Ames

AMES MAIN STREET

FARMERS’

MARKET

MAIN STREET SATURDAYS FREE FAMILY FUN LIVE MUSIC COOKING CONTESTS LOCAL PRODUCE

10 | A M E S B U S I N E S S M O N T H L Y | AUGUST 2017

AMES CHAMBER OF COMMERCE | AUGUST 2017

RIBBON CUTTINGS

Celebrate with a ribbon cutting If your business has completed a major remodeling project, moved to a new location, changed ownership, or reached a milestone, you need to 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 in the Chamber’s Weekly E-mail Update and the Ames Business Monthly. A Ribbon Cutting is a great way to invite people to your location and showcase your business.

Hogan - Hansen 1601 Golden Aspen Drive Suite 107

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 Jan Williams at jan@ameschamber.com or call 232-2310, to schedule your Ribbon Cutting today!

✂ Iowa Able Foundation 130 S Sheldon Ave. Suite 305

A U G U S T 2 0 1 7 | A M E S B U S I N E S S M O N T H L Y | 11

AMES CHAMBER OF COMMERCE | AUGUST 2017

AMES CHAMBER OF COMMERCE AMBASSADORS Cindy Albin, Hunziker & Associates Tess Ashley,Global State Mortgage Alli Azbill, Global State Mortgage Don Borcherding, Greater Iowa Credit Union Steve Bock, RE/MAX Real Estate Center Adam Brungardt, Americann & County Suites/Ames Nathan Buss, VisionBank John Coder, VisionBank Lisa Downs, EXIT Realty Stacy Dreyer, First National Bank Marci Ferguson, Re/MAX Real Estate Pam Fleener, First National Bank Teresa Garman, Individual Member Leslie Ginder, ISU LAS Career Services Shelley Goecke, McFarland Clinic 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

McFarland Urgent Care North 3815 Stange Road

Michelle King, The Krell Institute Matt Koehler, Greater Iowa Credit Union Tony LaRosa, Individual Member Paul Livingston, Hunziker & Associates, Realtors Danielle Minde, EXIT Realty Amanda Moorman, Morgan Stanley Brandon Mumm, Ames Tribune David Orth, Spirited Giving Matthew Pacha, Hy-Vee Lincoln Center Mike Peckis, Sam’s Club Sarah Powers, RE/MAX Real Estate Tom Randall, Tom Randall Real Estate Team Tim Rasmussen, Flooring America Matt Roghair, Exchange State Bank Dorothy Schumer, Ames Convention & Visitors Bureau Tim Tryon, First National Bank Daryle Vegge, Ames Morning Rotary Allyson Walter, Ames Convention and Visitors Bureau Cherie Wandling, Wilson Toyota of Ames Patricia Wheeler,Waterford of Ames

Valor & Violet 310 Main St.

12 | A M E S B U S I N E S S M O N T H L Y | AUGUST 2017

AMES CHAMBER OF COMMERCE | AUGUST 2017

C HA M B E R

Welcome, new Ames Chamber members Squeaky Clean provides high quality laundry machines to

MEMBERS Thank you to the following members who have donated 10 percent more than their annual dues for Chamber projects: Ames Living Magazine At-Home Care Company Burke Corporation Cafe Diem Complete Spine & Headache Center Consamus and Hampton Dental Clinic, PLC Crawford Endodontics DSM Nutritional Dayton Road Development Dr. Thomas Stark, D.D.S, M.S.D. Fortress Insurance Services Fred Winkler & Sons Friedrich Iowa Realty Heartland Senior Services ISU Research Park Jim Lohr - Individual Logiclean of Ames Inc. Manatt’s Midwest Heritage Bank Nyemaster Goode Pioneer Cleaning Pizza Pit Extreme Quilting Connection Robert & Shirley Grathwohl Teresa Garman The Gilligan Group U.S. Army VisionBank 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. All Gold members will be listed one time during the year.

effectively clean everything from throw pillows, to rugs and comforters, and personal delicates! Stop in at 517 Lincoln Way. Open seven days a week, 365 days a year. For more information, call 515.232.2274.

The Loft, a quality resale store is located at 233 Main Street in Ames. They offer a wide variety of men's and women's apparel, shoes, purses, and much more. Stop by today and check out our always changing inventory, or visit their website at www.theloftames.com for more information or call 515.232.9053.

Duckworth Wearing, a quality children's resale store, is located at 232 Main Street in Ames. They offer a large variety of children's clothing, toys, equipment, and maternity clothing. Duck Worth Wearing has everything you could want for your little ones so plan to stop in and see them today or call them at 515.233.4901 or visit them at www.duckworthwearing.com Progress Industries located at 2603 Northridge Pkwy, #102, is a non-profit organization that provides supported employment services for people with physical & intellectual disabilities in Story County. Our service model focuses on the abilities of individuals & approaches service delivery as a partnership, respecting the needs and desires of the individuals as well as the employers. For more information, call 515.292.4957 or visit their website at www.progressindustries.org.

Steve Betts, Individual Member

Join the Chamber. Make new connections, promote your business, take advantage of professional development programs and more when you join the Ames Chamber of Commerce. Contact Jan Williams at (515) 232-2310 for more information on how you or your organization can become a Chamber member. When you join, here are some of the many benefits you can take advantage of right away. s 0OST COUPONS on our Web site for FREE. s!TTEND MONTHLY Business After Hours, First Shot Sessions, Legislative Luncheons and more for FREE. s 4AKE ADVANTAGE of reasonably priced ways to promote your business such as ribbon cuttings and mailing labels, just to name a few. s $ISCOUNTED 9OUNG Professionals of Ames membership (ages 21 to 40).

A U G U S T 2 0 1 7 | A M E S B U S I N E S S M O N T H L Y | 13

AMES CHAMBER OF COMMERCE | AUGUST 2017

WORKFORCE SOLUTIONS

Concierge Program details announced

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Businesses encouraged to post jobs on website

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ewly redesigned in 2017, www.WorkInAmes.com is a free job board targeting job seekers that are looking for an employment opportunity in the Ames and Story County area. The site allows employers to post their local opportunities at no cost. The site is also free for job seekers to use. The new website features matching capabilities between job seekers and employers as well as an intern guide, an online Ames Chamber of Commerce Relocation Guide and community highlight and testimonial videos. “We have been promoting this job site in a 60—mile radius of Ames,â€? said Brenda Dryer, Director of Workforce Solutions. “We have more than 100 job VHHNHUV WKDW KDYH FXUUHQW SURÂżOHV HVWDElished on the WorkInAmes.com job board. Businesses need to register and HVWDEOLVK D SURÂżOH RQ :RUN,Q$PHV FRP LQ RUGHU WR YLHZ WKH MRE VHHNHU SURÂżOH information.â€?

Businesses are encouraged to go to www.WorkInAmes.com and select “EMPLOYERâ€? – then select “Access My Accountâ€? – look for the link to establish an account for free. The Ames Chamber of Commerce staff review all initial business requests to ensure the company’s opportunities will be located in Story County. Once approved (usually less than 24 hours) businesses can proceed with posting employment RSSRUWXQLWLHV DQG UHYLHZ WKH SURÂżOHV RI job seekers. While the job site pulls employment opportunities that have been posted on Indeed; only registered employees and jobs posted directly to WorkInAmes. com can utilize the job seeker-employer matching function. For more information contact Brenda Dryer, Director-Workforce Solutions at 515.232.2310 or by email at brenda@ ameschamber.com

etails of the Ames Chamber of Commerce and Economic Development Commission’s “Smart Choiceâ€? Concierge Program were unveiled at the June Joint Board meeting by Brenda Dryer, Director of Workforce Solutions. “We are excited to formally roll this multi-level program out to all Ames and Story County businesses as a way to assist them with their recruiting efforts,â€? Dryer said. “We appreciate the partnership with the Ames Convention & Visitor’s Bureau who will be assisting us with this program.â€? The program is broken into three levels: Level One: Eligibility: All Ames & Story County employers recruiting new workforce or entertaining important JXHVWV %HQHÂżWV &RPSOLPHQWDU\ ZHOcome basket placed in hotel room, Prospective resident tours by Ames Convention & Visitors Bureau, CYtes magazine and the Ames Chamber of Commerce Relocation Guide will be made available to prospective residents and guests. Level Two: Eligibility: All Ames Chamber of Commerce & Ames Economic Development Commission Members/

,QYHVWRUV %HQHÂżWV $OO OHYHO , EHQHÂżWV Utilization of “Smart Choiceâ€? booklet for recruiting needs, New employee/resident monthly communication touch point, including but not limited to postcards, HPDLOV DQG YLGHRV GXULQJ WKHLU ÂżUVW \HDU of new employment, New employees/ residents invited to attend a “Newcomerâ€? reception to be held during April and October. Level Three: Eligibility: All “WorkIRUFH 6ROXWLRQV´ VSRQVRUV %HQHÂżWV $OO EHQHÂżWV UHFHLYHG LQ OHYHOV , ,, 9,3 community tours & dining engagement with a member of the Chamber/AEDC staff and a member of the Chamber / AEDC board of directors, Trailing spouse networking opportunities, $50 in “Dining Dollarsâ€? available for candidate to use during their visit to be left in hotel room with the complementary welcome basket, Coordination of meetings associated with community points of interest (schools, sports, recreation, etc.) For more information on this program contact Brenda Dryer at 515-232-2310 or brenda@ameschamber.com

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14 | A M E S B U S I N E S S M O N T H L Y | AUGUST 2017

AMES CHAMBER OF COMMERCE | AUGUST 2017

Young Professionals of Ames

G

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

!MES &IREWORKS 0RESENTED BY 90! 2017 YPA Board

s,EADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT s0ROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT s#OMMUNITY /UTREACH s#ULTURAL AND SOCIAL OPPORTUNITIES Visit www.ypames.com to learn more and join us!

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A HUGE, “Thank you!” goes out to all of you who helped make the 2017 Ames Fireworks event a successful one. Thanks to those who helped organize ahead of time, for those who sweat it out during the day helping set up, and all of you who came to keep the area safe and help clean up after.

,UNCH ,EARN

Thank you to our 2017 YPA sponsors

Ames Ford Lincoln First National Bank Global Reach Internet Productions Hunziker & Associates, Realtors ISU MBA Kingland Systems Mary Greeley Medical Center Munn Lumber North Grand Mall Story Construction VisionBank Hy-Vee Converse Conditioned Air

*DLQ NQRZOHGJH RI WKH EXVLQHVV FRPPXQLW\ &UHDWH SDUWQHUVKLSV Ő \RX QHYHU NQRZ ZKR \RXŔOO PHHW &RQWULEXWH WR WKH $PHV FRPPXQLW\ /HDUQ DERXW QHZ SURIHVVLRQV DQG FDUHHU SDWKV +DYH IXQ DQG PHHW VRPH OLNH PLQGHG IULHQGV

Jessica Mortvedt, President, Haverkamp Properties Nathan Buss, Past-President, VisionBank Taylor Hopper, President-Elect, Fox Engineering Charmian Stewart, Hilton Garden Inn Heather Johnson, Octagon Center for the Arts Nikki Mesenbrink, Friendship Ark Homes & Community Services Jason Mortvedt, Kinzler Construction Bri Anderson, Ames Public Library Justin Moorman, Moorman Clothiers Melissa Muschick, Heuss Printing Megan Filipi, Ames Convention & Visitors Bureau Chamber Liaison/Staff: Sarah Buss, Ames Chamber of Commerce

Connect with YPA Visit www.ypames.com for upcoming events, committee openings and volunteer opportunities. What a great Lunch & Learn last week, learning from Sarah Buck at Mary Greeley Medical Center about being effective board members! If you'd like to help plan lunch and learns like this one, join the YPA Leadership & Professional Development Committee! Contact Jason Mortvedt for details at jason.mortvedt@insulation.net.

AUGUST 2017 | AMES BUSINESS MONTHLY | 15

AMES CHAMBER OF COMMERCE | AUGUST 2017

MAIN STREET CULTURAL DISTRICT

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16 | A M E S B U S I N E S S M O N T H L Y | AUGUST 2017

AMES CHAMBER OF COMMERCE | AUGUST 2017

CAMPUSTOWN ACTION ASSOCIATION

2017 CCA Board President: Kathy Dubansky,

Workiva Past-President: Trevin Ward,

Workiva President-Elect: Scott Wannarka, GlobalVetLink Business Improvement Chair: Ryan Jeffrey, Arcadia Café Community Outreach Chair: Xena Jolly, Copyworks Promotions Chair: Kristin Erdman, Memorial Union Amy Mellies, St. John’s by the

Campus Mike Adams, Welch Avenue

Station Chad Watkins, Battlecry Iowa

Smokehouse Kelsey Bolte-Carper, RE/MAX Mark Rowe-Barth, Iowa State

University Julie Gould, City of Ames Amy Howard, Ames Chamber of

Commerce Janelle Gibney, ISU Student Rep-

resentative Joe Biegger, ISU Student Repre-

sentative

Thank you to our 2017 Sustaining Investors Arcadia Café Chitty Garbage Service, Inc. Dogtown University Fighting Burrito Kingland Systems Workiva

SAVE the DATe

Connect with CAA Visit www.amescampustown.com for upcoming events, committee openings and volunteer opportunities.

September 22nd at the Memorial Union Watch the CAA Facebook page for more details

A U G U S T 2 0 1 7 | A M E S B U S I N E S S M O N T H L Y | 17

RESTAURANT

Provisions Lot F opens in ISU Research Park By Dan Mika, Staff Writer dmika@amestrib.com

P

rovisions Lot F, a spinoff of The Cafe in north Ames, opened its doors to the public in early July. The restaurant, named after the plot of land the new building sits on, features sit-down lunch and dinner service, a full bar, coffee and a bakery, just like its sister restaurant. The restaurant, at 2400 N. Loop Drive, is housed in a brandnew building filled in darkstained wood, leather booths, steel frames and large windows. Its kitchen is exposed in the dining area in full view of guests. Kevin Rettig, one of the three co-owners of The Cafe and Provisions Lot F, said the building went through a few redesigns as the owners tried to build a location that “didn’t look completely off the map” compared with other buildings around the Iowa State Research Park. Rettig said the two restaurants share the basic concepts, although the new restaurant

Left, co-owner Kevin Rittig, and an employee with behind the bakery counter at Provisions Lot F. The restaurant is the first to open in the ISU Research Park. Right, the Provisions Lot F bar. The restaurant, fi rst to open in the ISU Research Park, opened Monday. PHOTOS BY DAN MIKA/AMES TRIBUNE

offers a different feel — and a different menu. “Over time, we’ll grow, and this place will have its own identity,” he said. Rettig said the restaurant has hired about 85 staff, enough to be “comfortably” staffed. He said he and his partners are

continually hiring at both Provisions Lot F and The Cafe. He said the restaurant is offering all services. However, customers can purchase coffee and breakfast items at the bakery counter. Provisions Lot F was originally announced late 2015 as

part of the Research Park’s efforts to bring amenities such as restaurants, gyms, clinics, parks and apartments to the south side of town as it targets adding 6,000 more employees at the various companies in the park. “The south side of town is

about to have some significant growth, and there’s a lot of buzz in this area that a lot of people in town aren’t aware of because it has been a quiet section of town,” he said. “But I think that’s all changing … it’s the reason we decided to build here instead of Ankeny or Des Moines.”

when reached by phone, however, he said the company isn’t expecting any changes to its staffing or operations out of its Ames headquarters. “This is a leadership change, not a strategy change,” he said. Craig Irwin, an analyst covering REG for Roth Capital Partners, said there was no indication that Oh was planning to leave based on his recent bullish statements on the future of the company. He said Oh and other members of REG’s leadership team were at an investor conference in London two weeks ago and met with several investors. Oh and other company leaders also appeared optimistic in the company at its

own investor meeting last June, he said. The company also applauded the U.S. International Trade Commission’s decision in early May to investigate if biodiesel importers from Argentina and Indonesia were using unfair exporting practices to undercut American producers, which could improve profitability for REG and other biofuel companies. “These three things have us believe REG is facing a very healthy environment, where they are pursuing a well articulated strategy, and we expect the company to be entering a period of robust financial execution,” he said.

ENERGY

REG CEO unexpectedly resigns By Dan Mika, Staff Writer dmika@amestrib.com

R Oh

enewable Energy Group CEO Daniel Oh resigned last month from the company after a decade at the helm. According to a statement from the company, Oh’s resignation from the Ames-based biofuel producer was effective July 10. He had been with the company for 10 years. The company’s board of

directors appointed Randolph Howard, a member of the REG board since 2007, as its interim president and CEO while the company begins to look for another head executive. In a statement, Jeff Stroburg, chair of the REG Board of Directors, said he expects “a seamless transition” between the two CEOs and continued effort to the company’s strategy moving forward. Anthony Hulen, REG’s executive director of corporate affairs, declined to say why Oh resigned

18 | A M E S B U S I N E S S M O N T H L Y | AUGUST 2017

WAGES

RESTAURANT

Competition for low-skill labor driving up wages By Dan Mika, Staff Writer dmika@amestrib.com

T

he signs are literally all around town: businesses are advertising open positions for cooks, waiters, drivers, lifeguards and other jobs generally held by young people on summer vacation. But the competition could drive up wages for local low-skill jobs in the area. ISU economist Dave Swenson said the area isn’t facing a labor shortage as much as it’s seeing a spike in competition for teenagers, students and other groups that work low-skill jobs over the summer months. “That means that companies, commercial firms, service firms need to start competing for labor,” Swenson said. “And the only way to compete for labor is wage.” That leads to several businesses in the service and retail industry in town to raise their wages far above Iowa’s $7.25 minimum wage to get staffed or even draw those who’ve left the labor force to come back to work. According to the Iowa Workforce Development projections, the average hourly wage in the central Iowa area is expected to rise to $9.85 per hour by 2018, while service occupations are expected to rise to $11.82 per hour. Even the city of Ames isn’t immune to the tight labor market. It recently decided to spend an estimated $30,000 to quickly train and hire new guards for Furman Aquatic Center and increase its pay scale by $1 per hour. The waterpark has had to close some of its attractions since it opened because there haven’t been enough lifeguards to watch everyone. But entrepreneurs are racing to open new restaurants and stores in the area despite stiff competition for labor from already-existing businesses. Des Moines-based barbecue joint Jethro’s is looking to hire about 200 employees for its Ames location, while Ciao’s Italian near Lincoln Way and Duff Avenue is looking to hire about 20 employees after opening this week. Across the street, the owners of

the upcoming Boulder Taphouse in the former Okoboji Grill lot are expecting to hire 75 to 80 waiters and cooks by their target open date in October or November. Food spots elsewhere in town are also looking to bolster their ranks, both for in-store help and for delivery drivers. Fighting Burrito owner Matthew Goodman said his restaurant is almost always accepting applications because the area is prone to turnover because of the influx of Iowa State University students coming in and out of the city. “There’s summer breaks, there’s winter breaks, there’s internships, there’s a lot of transitions for the young people that come to this community, and those transitions will often times change the way they look for work,” he said. But ISU’s presence in Ames might be making it more difficult to find labor compared to other central Iowa metros. Goodman said he’s noticed students coming to Ames are from increasingly wealthy families and don’t need the work as much. “Twenty or 30 years ago, families needed their kids to earn a wage that the people who are in college now often times seem like they have a little money or monetary support from their family,” he said. Swenson said the city’s businesses could begin drawing labor from other cities in the county if wages rise to the level where it makes more sense for an employee to drive to Ames and make more per hour than work for minimum wage closer to home. Swenson said the wages are going to rise among restaurants and other service businesses simultaneously as they all compete for hires. While that could lead to some businesses closing, either because they can’t hire enough people or can’t afford them, it ultimately leads to better products for consumers and more wealth for workers, he said. “A growing economy is going to solve its problems with wages, and those wages are going to attract the labor that you need,” Swenson said.

Ciao’s Italian restaurant opens By Dan Mika, Staff Writer dmika@amestrib.com

C

iao’s Italian Restaurant opened its doors to customers earlier this summer just months after its new owner took over the building’s lease. The restaurant, at 217 S. Duff Ave., is Italianthemed with standard Italian chicken, seafood and pasta dishes and seats about 100 customers. Owner Tony Avdiu said all items are made from scratch and bread is baked early every day. Most entrees will cost diners about $12 or $13 per person at dinner, he said. Avdiu is also the owner of Napoli’s Italian restaurant in Fort Dodge, but wanted to open a second location in Ames because of the college student presence. He began advertising the restaurant with a banner in late February and spent most of the last month preparing Ciao’s for its opening.

Ciao’s owner Tony Avdiu stands in his restaurant. The Italian spot opened up just months after the previous owner vacated the building. PHOTO BY DAN MIKA/AMES TRIBUNE

“It was working 24/7,” Avdiu said. “It was a quick turnaround, but it was a lot of fun.” The building was formerly home to La Fuente restaurant, which abruptly closed down late last December. Ciao’s opened without removing La Fuente’s mural on the north side of the building and other references to the old restaurant inside. Avdiu said he will have someone remove the mural at a later date. “Ames needed an Italian restaurant,” he said. “There’s nothing here that does what we do.”

STARTUPS

ISU Startup Factory to graduate fi rst round of businesses By Dan Mika, Staff Writer dmika@amestrib.com

I

owa State’s Startup Factory closed its first year at the ISU Research Park and graduated its first round of companies earlier this summer. The first cohort of 10 companies has raised more than $4 million in funding from various groups during their year working in the park, Startup Factory director Bill Adamowski said. He said most of the companies have also found their first customer, while all are planning to remain either in the Research Park or in the Ames area for the next few years. “The fun part is seeing them go from ‘Here’s what we have’ to ‘Here’s what the customers are demanding from us’,” he said. “Last year at this time, you were wondering if you were even going to get a customer.” The Startup Factory was launched last

summer at the Research Park as a year-long intensive program to give entrepreneurs with early-stage ideas access to resources and mentors. Adamowski said the biggest change in how he and others are planning to run the program with the next series of businesses will be making the program’s syllabus is more formalized among the entire group instead of shaping individual programs for each company. The Startup Factory also adapted ideas from other collegiate startup incubators at Stanford University, University of Illinois-Champaign, Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Adamowski and his fellow startup supporters are moving forward on supporting the Startup Factory’s second cohort of businesses and launching their third cohort despite not having a president at the helm of the university. It’s unclear whether the next ISU president will take as aggressive a stance in favor of economic development as former president Steven Leath, but Adamowski is confident the Startup Factory and the Research Park as a whole will continue to grow under a new administration. Adamowski said the Startup Factory’s next step is to grab the attention of larger companies that are more willing to fund, partner with or acquire startups working on ideas they’re interested in but not willing to pursue in their own research and development efforts. “We want to grow local, but we also basically trying to get people that are more global in scale to work with us on some of these,” he said.

AUGUST 2017 | AMES BUSINESS MONTHLY | 19

RESTAURANT

Local barbecue champion to launch food truck this summer By Dan Mika, Staff Writer dmika@amestrib.com

A

champion barbecuer based in Ames is preparing to launch his own food truck in town later this summer. Ryan Newstrom, a member of “Big T’z Q Cru” team, said he purchased a food truck in May and will rebrand the team under the name “Cornbred” as it shifts from full-time competition barbecuing to food service. The team’s competed heavily in regional and nationwide championships held by the Kansas City BBQ Society, the world’s largest competitive barbecuing organization, and their brisket won first place nationally among 5,000 other teams in 2012. Big T’z Q Cru was also named the Iowa BBQ Society’s team of the year in 2009, 2010 and 2012.

Newstrom said he’s in the process of securing permits, finishing the outside of the truck and developing a route around the city. He said while the menu will be rotating often, Cornbred will also feature sides not seen in competition barbecuing and could potentially produce its own cured bacon and homeground sausages. Newstrom admitted that’s a lot of services to take care of within a single food truck. “That’s what me personally has been dealing with, is how to revise myself,” he said, laughing. “I have a lot of big ideas, but you can only do so much in a food truck.” Cornbred was originally supposed to start as a brick-andmortar store earlier this year and later expand into a food truck. Newstrom said his plans to occupy a location in downtown

A view of the Cornbred food truck, purchased by Ryan Newstrom, who said he expects to sell barbecue out of the truck sometime in late July. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO

Ames fell through, so in the meantime, he went forward with the food truck. “My goal has always been to be downtown or on Main Street,” he said. “The issue is trying to find that space now, and there’s

nothing really available that we’re looking for. So, we’re being patient with that and that’s still very much in our plans. We’re just doing things a little out of order.” But no matter when or where Newstrom finds a permanent

location, he is set on keeping his barbecue in Ames. He said he doesn’t expect to expand the restaurant into nearby cities. “I want it to be a small, independently-owned restaurant that’s just for Ames,” he said.

2 0 | A M E S B U S I N E S S M O N T H L Y | AUGUST 2017

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