September 2018 ABM

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MCFARLAND CLINIC OPENS RESEARCH PARK LOCATION SEE PAGE 3

AMES BUSINESS

MONTHLY S E P T E M B E R 2018

September Chamber Update

AMES CITY COUNCIL GIVES INITIAL APPROVAL TO CAMPUSTOWN TAX DISTRICT PROPOSAL SEE PAGE 2

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2 | AMES BUSINESS MONTHLY | SEPTEMBER 2018

AMES BUSINESS

MONTHLY SEPTEMBER 2018 Vol. 11, No. 9 AMES TRIBUNE Ames Business Monthly is a publication of the Ames Tribune, 317 Fifth St., Ames, IA, 50010; (515) 232-2160.

3 McFarland Clinic opens Research Park location 4 Local teenager opens confectionery, donates some proceeds to charity 5 Chamber of Commerce 17 Collins woman opens mobile wine bar 18 Rick Brimeyer 18 Developers advertise space for Kmart building subdivision, new buildings 19 Nathan Brammer 19 City approves Menards site plan, store to open next spring

Ames City Council gives initial approval to Campustown tax district proposal

By Dan Mika, Staff Writer dmika@amestrib.com

A proposed special tax district for Campustown is moving forward after the Ames City Council gave a first blessing to the plan despite opposition from some property owners in the area earlier this month.

The council unanimously approved a first reading of a resolution to establish a self-supported municipal improvement district (SSMID) and directed city staff to start writing a memorandum of understanding between the city and the Campustown Action Association, the group sponsoring the push.

Under the SSMID, property owners of commercialonly buildings would take a tax increase between $2 to $5 per every $1,000 of taxable value, while mixeduse building owners would see a $5 to $8 per $1,000 increase only on their commercial space.

The rates would be set by an elected board overseeing the district, but would require city council approval to change the levy.

City staff estimated those taxes would raise between $50,000 to $70,000 in revenue in the first year, which would be used for ice and snow removal on sidewalks, litter pickup and various marketing efforts.

Ryan Jeffrey, a co-owner of Arcadia Cafe and a CAA member, argued that the city has to pass the SSMID if it’s serious about overcoming what he says is a “citywide bias” against visiting the area. He hears people say every week that they don’t

want to visit Campustown because they believe the district is dirty and unkempt, and said the SSMID is a step toward dispelling that reputation.

“If we don’t do it, we should really probably just give up on the idea that we are serious about bridging that gap,” he said. “This program is a serious way for the local community within Campustown to help bridge that gap. Without it, I honestly don’t see much hope of that happening.”

However, a few owners of Campustown property objected to the tax district.

Andrew White, who owns and operates several bars in the district, said the proposal would unfairly benefit merchants in the district using money drawn from property owners who already pay taxes. He said a loose calculation showed he would pay $6,000 to $8,000 per year on the two buildings he owns.

White also argued that because properties in Campustown will likely go up at reassessment time due to a deluge of development in the area over the past few years, small property owners and businesses will be priced out of the district.

“These rates will eventually be passed on to future tenants, whether they be residential or commercial, and I’m not sure Campustown can continue to keep going higher and higher with its rates,” he said. “It’s already lost a lot of its diversity with small business operators being in there with eclectic little momand-pop stores. They’re all gone to chains and other

retail, and with the higher rates, it’ll be a continuation of that.”

Luke Jensen, a developer with Jensen Properties, said the higher tax levy for mixed-use properties isn’t fair for property owners with that type of building, and that the SSMID leaving out the Kingland Building from the district gives those building owners an advantage (the Kingland Building wasn’t included in the SSMID because it’s part of a tax district.)

However, Jensen said the area can still use funding for the services CAA wants to add.

“I think what you’re hearing is Campustown wants investment, and SSMID is one way to do it,” he said. “I think there’s other ways that we can look at allocating more dollars to do some of these services, some of these things in this important business district.”

In an interview with the Ames Tribune, CAA executive director Karin Chitty said her organization is doing as much as it can to keep the district clean and to promote it to people outside of the local neighborhoods, but almost all of their problems are supported by volunteers.

Without a dedicated revenue source, she said, the group simply can’t carry out the services it wants to provide to the area.

“We’re dependent on people coming down here and being willing to pick up trash and do cleanups,” she said. “I get that people say we should be able to do that … we just don’t think it’s enough.”

SEPTEMBER 2018 | AMES BUSINESS MONTHLY | 3

McFarland Clinic opens Research Park location

By Dan Mika, Staff Writer dmika@amestrib.com

McFarland Clinic opened its new $7.6 million clinic in the Iowa State Research Park last month with the first of the company’s dedicated sports medicine facilities.

The new 20,000-square-foot facility at 3500 University Blvd., which shares its building with daycare provider Lily Pad Learning Center, houses optometry, physical therapy and family medicine practices. It is the fifth office the clinic operates in Ames, along with buildings on Duff Avenue and in east, west and north Ames and “express care” clinics in both of Ames’ Hy-Vees.

Construction began on the new facility last spring as Ames Racquet and Fitness Center and Provisions Lot F were ending construction. Those two businesses opened last summer.

The businesses were building

in the area as part of the Research Park’s plan to more than double the amount of employees working there over the next decade, and to add amenities such as health care, childcare, gyms and restaurants to cater to those employees.

It also houses a sports medicine clinic, which will be used to treat athletes from Iowa State, local youth sports teams and from the general community, and is the only facility in central Iowa using the C3Logix system to help diagnose and treat concussions in patients ages 10 to 25.

Dr. Marc Shulman, a sports medicine specialist with the clinic, said there has been an established demand for athletic care in the area for some time.

“Just in the last year … we’ve seen our practice grow, and there’s a lot of recreational athletes who were are seeing who are already looking for something to stay active, and they want that level of care,” he said. “And for the kids in

the community, we have so many active kids here that may not be in the school sports, and even those that are in the school sports, Ames High, Gilbert High, and all the clubs around, we want to get those kids back doing what they’re doing.”

McFarland Clinic CEO Andrew Perry said the doctors currently in the new office moved their practices from older buildings around Ames, and McFarland is recruiting to fill those vacancies.

Perry said the new office positions the clinic as a whole for serving what could become a sizable number of employees and residents of south Ames as the Research Park advances on its plans.

“We just feel that this is good positioning for us,” he said. “I think it helps with the fitness center coming out here, so with sports medicine and the fitness center, there’s a lot of activity orientation we feel in this area.”

McFarland Clinic’s offices in the Iowa State Research Park, a $7.6 million facility, opened recently. PHOTO BY DAN MIKA/AMES TRIBUNE

4 | AMES BUSINESS MONTHLY | SEPTEMBER 2018

Local teenager opens confectionery, donates some proceeds to charity

By Dan Mika, Staff Writer dmika@amestrib.com

An Ames teenager is slinging sweet treats out of a home bakery with the plan to donate some of her profits to charitable causes in her home country.

Zoe Lee, 14, was born in the Democratic Republic of Congo, a central African country marred by a history of violence between the government, internal rebels and geopolitical conflict.

She was an orphan in the country before her adoptive parents, Jason and Jen Lee, brought her to the U.S. when she was eight years old.

Zoe said she got her love of cooking watching adults in her home country as they made native dishes of fish, rice, beans and more. She also remembers not having enough food to eat as a child.

Jason, Zoe’s father, recalls her running a handful of side businesses when she was younger, from mowing lawns to selling origami flowers.

But her passion was always food. Eating is one of Zoe’s favorite pastimes, Jen quipped, but she’s an excellent chef for her age.

“It’s just really a gift,” Jen said. “She picked up some things from me, but I’m not any kind of chef. She really has a natural gift for cooking.”

Zoe said she first wanted to start a business when she started listening to a podcast aimed at young, homeschooled entrepreneurs around March of this year. After getting just under $4,000 in start-up funds from a GoFundMe drive, Sweetery Z was established.

She originally wanted to go into catering, and she thought about starting a

From left: Jen Lee, Zoey Lee and Jason Lee stand in their kitchen. Zoey, 14, is the owner of Sweetery Z, a home bakery that donates some of its sales to charity in the Democratic Republic of Congo. PHOTO BY DAN MIKA/AMES TRIBUNE

food bike at certain points.

But due to various licensing restrictions, Zoe’s only realistic option was to get a home bakery license from the State of Iowa.

She makes caramel corn, Rice Krispies treats and mini-pies.

Currently, Zoe sells her goods at a stall at the Ames Farmers Market, and has catered a few birthday parties and a wedding so far this summer.

She got some help decorating her booth from her mom while her dad handles some of the financial duties. Her siblings and friends sometimes help by packaging her goods.

But for the most part, Zoe is at the helm of the business.

“She has her own business email, her own phone number, she has a designer starting a new website, more built out, more options,” Jason said.

There’s a sense of barely-contained energy from Zoe. Her voice, still carrying an African accent, bursts with zeal in parts of her sentences, and she is sometimes so enthusiastic about what she’s talking

about that she has to catch her breath and remember what she was going to say.

When asked how she competes with other booths at the market, she offered up her novel strategy.

“Sometimes I try to sing, but that’s not good for the other vendors,” she said.

Sweetery Z also has a charitable function baked into its operations. Zoe gives 10 percent of all proceeds to a mission building a home for special needs children in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

She estimates she’s made $1,500 in sales so far.

When she grows older, Zoe plans to open a restaurant and a cafe, with the latter essentially being a permanent version of Sweetery Z. Ultimately, she just wants to be her own boss.

“I don’t want to just go and work for somebody,” she said. “…Somehow I just want to do a business instead of being just contented working.”

Customers can place orders at www.sweeteryz. com.

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ou and your guests are invited to join the Past Chairs of the Ames Chamber for a fun, casual (no ties allowed!) grill-your-own Steak Fry! This year's event will be on Tuesday, September 4 from 5:00-7:00 p.m. at Ames Ford Lincoln (123 Airport Rd, Ames). Purchase your tickets today before this event sells out! Call 515-232-2310 or visit www.ameschamber.com.

The 2018 Chamber Steak Fry is presented by Ames Ford Lincoln and Hy-Vee.

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lease join your fellow Chamber members on Friday, August 31 from 11:30 a.m.-1:00 p.m. at the Ames Community School District Administration Building (2005 24th Street) for the Ames Community School District Board of Directors Legislative Luncheon.

Attendees will hear from the Ames Community School District Board of Directors regarding important issues

and projects being undertaken by the Ames School Board. The schedule for the luncheon is: 11:30 a.m.-11:45 a.m.: Registration and lunch available to all attendees.

11:45 a.m.-11:50 a.m.: Superintendent Jenny Risner addresses the audience.

11:50 a.m.-1:00 p.m.: School Board members address the crowd and field 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 515-817-6311 or drew@ameschamber.com.

The Ames Chamber of Commerce thanks Converse Conditioned Air, First National Bank, Renewable Energy Group, and Workiva for their

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

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 | SEPTEMBER 2018

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$0(6 0$,1 675((7 )$50(56 0$5.(7 %2$5' 2) ',5(&7256 EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE Luke Jensen, Chair Real Estate Service Group, Inc. Andrew Perry, Vice Chair McFarland Clinic Stacy Dreyer, Second Vice Chair, First National Bank Vanessa Baker-Latimer, Divisional Chair, Community Development City of Ames Scott Blum, Treasurer, Accord Architecture / Henkel Construction Matt Converse, Divisional Chair, Government Affairs Converse Conditioned Air, Inc. Nate Easter, Divisional Chair, Membership Iowa State University Research Park Casey Johnson, Immediate Past Chair Ames Ford Lincoln Dan Culhane, President / CEO Ames Chamber of Commerce & Economic Development Commission BOARD MEMBERS Lindsey Beecher, Gilbert Community School District Ben Conway, HyVee West Ames Lawrence Cunningham, Iowa State Daily Media Group Kathy Dubansky, CAA Representative Workiva Sara Hunter, Vermeer Corporation Jeff Janes, Des Moines Area Community College Nikki Kyle, Central Iowa Air Service Paul Livingston, Ames Main Street Representative, Hunziker & Associates, Realtors Jessica Mortvedt,YPA Representative Haverkamp Properties, Inc. Nate Rippke, Rippke Design Dr. Sonya Stoltze Newstrom, Stoltze & Stoltze Family Dentistry Jason Schwenneker, Renewable Energy Group, Inc. Randy Woodbeck, Atlantic Bottling, Inc. The Chamber Update newsletter is published by the Ames Chamber of Commerce 304 Main Street | Ames, IA, 50010 phone: (515) 232-2310 | www.ameschamber.com

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BIG THANKS also goes out to our awesome partners in creating this first annual event: â&#x20AC;¢ VisionBank â&#x20AC;¢ Aunt Maudeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s â&#x20AC;¢ Della Viti â&#x20AC;¢ Atlantic Bottling / Coca Cola â&#x20AC;¢ The Bill Martin Trio â&#x20AC;¢ The Ames Main Street Farmers' Market vendors and volunteers

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he Ames Chamber of Commerce and Economic Development Commission recently wrapped up their summer programming for interns working in Ames and Story County. There were four events held this Summer with more than 100 interns from a wide array of businesses in attendance at each event.

Thank you to our generous sponsors: Ag Leader Technology, Alliant Energy, Bethany Life, City of Ames, Converse Conditioned Air, Inc., Danfoss, Des Moines Area Community College, Global Reach Internet Productions, GlobalVetLINK, ISU Research Park, Kingland Systems, Mary Greeley Medical Center, Renewable Energy Group, Inc., Story County, and Workiva, for their continued support with our Workforce Development programming.

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Kelsey McConnell, Danfoss Madi Mills, Ames Chamber of Commerce Ethan Moran, REG Haley Moser, REG Kelly Naumann, Ames Chamber of Commerce Joe Palazzo, REG Manas Pawar, REG Cameron Rasmussen, Ames Chamber of Commerce Mitchell Riggs, Danfoss Paige Ringhofer, Workiva Nathan Rodriguez, Team Chiropractic and Rehab Jamie Sampson, Workiva Maya Schneider, REG Daniel Schubert, Workiva Sriramjee Singh, REG Tia Snyder, Cultivation Corridor Brooklyn Treinen, REG Diana Valencia, REG Zach Withers, REG

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n Friday, September 21 and Friday, September 28 from 11:30 a.m.-1:00 p.m. at the City Church of Ames-Des Moines, (2400 Oakwood Road, Ames) candidates for State Legislature and Story County Board of Supervisors, respectively, will be featured at their respective Candidate Forum. The Forums will be hosted by KASI, the Ames Tribune, and the Iowa State Daily, and presented by the Ames Chamber of Commerce.

Candidates will field questions from KASI News Director Trent Rice, Ames Tribune Publisher Scott Anderson, and Iowa State Daily Editor-in-Chief Alex Connor, providing the candidates a great opportunity to present their vision and platform. Attendees will also have ample opportunity to learn more about each candidate as they determine who they will support in the November 6 General Election.

The events will be broadcast live on 1430 KASI, and will also be available via Facebook Live, allowing those unable to attend to watch or listen to the event remotely.

The cost of attendance for both events is $10.00 and includes lunch.

Those wishing to attend can register on the Ames Chamber of Commerce

website. If you have questions regarding the Forum, please contact Drew Kamp at 515-817-6311 or by email at drew@ameschamber.com. If you wish to submit a question for the candidates, please submit it to Drew by the Thursday before either Forum.

The Ames Chamber of Commerce is happy to once again partner with KASI, the Ames Tribune, and the Iowa State Daily to provide this unique opportunity to candidates and voters. Elected officials devote a great amount of time and effort to their position and play a critical role in the community.

The Ames Chamber of Commerce thanks our 2018 Taking Leadership Sponsors: Converse Conditioned Air, First National Bank, Renewable Energy Group, and Workiva for their strong and continued support.

Without the assistance provided by these and our other great sponsors, events such as this would not be possible.

$0(6 &+$0%(5 $1' $)),/,$7( 67$)) â&#x20AC;˘ Dan Culhane, President and CEO â&#x20AC;˘ Ron Hallenbeck, Executive Vice President â&#x20AC;˘ Andrea Hammes Dodge, Vice President â&#x20AC;˘ Amy Howard, Vice President, Finance & Operations â&#x20AC;˘ Sarah Buss, Director, Events & Sponsorship

â&#x20AC;˘ Karin Chitty, Campustown Action Association, Executive Director â&#x20AC;˘ Edana Delagardelle, Client Services Coordinator â&#x20AC;˘ Brenda Dryer, Director, Workforce Solutions

â&#x20AC;˘ Dustin Ingram, Director, Business Development â&#x20AC;˘ Drew Kamp, Director, Business Retention/Expansion & Public Policy â&#x20AC;˘ Brandon Mumm, Director, Membership Development

â&#x20AC;˘ John Hall, Director, Marketing â&#x20AC;˘ Cindy Hicks, Ames Main Street, Executive Director

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

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LOCATION

SET UP

IowaWORKS Career Fair September 20, 2018

Iowa Valley Community College (Room # 608 , 610 & 612) 3700 S. Center St. Marshalltown, Iowa Career fair set up starting at 9:35 am (Please plan on being set up for the entire event 10 am to 12:30 pm)

Paul Livingston, Hunziker & Associates, Realtors

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Danielle Minde, iHome Realty Amanda Moorman, Morgan Stanley David Orth, Spirited Giving Matthew Pacha, Hy-Vee Lincoln Center

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10:00 am â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 12:30 pm

Michele Partridge, Hunziker & Associates, Realtors

FREE PARKING

Free parking on the south side of the building, parking lot G see map attached . Enter the building through door # 11

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 Michael Sills, OnMedia Tiffany Tope, Stevens Memorial Chapel Tim Tryon, U.S. Bank Daryle Vegge, Story County Community Foundation Barb Vincent, Ames Christian School Allyson Walter, GlobalVetLINK Jan Williams, First National Bank

BOOTH INFO Table will be set up with company names, please feel free to bring your company tablecloth, marketing materials.

WI-FI Iowa Valley Community College public Wi-Fi

CAREER FAIR

IowaWORKS will provide generic applications for job seekers to complete, our career fairs let you interview or briefly visit with job seekers to determine if they are a good fit for your company (we will have tables set aside for you to meet with job seekers one on one) please feel free to utilize any of these services available to you.

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he Community Academy, an educational nonprofit formed by innovative teachers from the Ames School District, held its first program in July by offering educational experiences for pre-kindergarten through high school aged youth.

The two weeks of programming gave students the opportunity to experience the educational vision of teachers Mike Todd, Collin Reichert, and Melissa May-Maxey, emphasizing learning in nature through hands-on projects.

Each day, students scrambled into two vans Renewable Energy Group graciously lent to The Community Academy, and went on field trips around Story County.

During the week titled â&#x20AC;&#x153;Our Land,â&#x20AC;? students learned about the â&#x20AC;&#x153;Land Ethicâ&#x20AC;? of Iowa-born-born conservationist, Aldo Leopold, and traveled to Ada Hayden Park, Ledges State Park, Hans Christofferson Park, and Worrell Creek.

During the second week, titled â&#x20AC;&#x153;Our Water,â&#x20AC;? participants explored areas related to water systems and watersheds such as the Chichaqua Bottoms Greenbelt, Peterson Pits, Ames Water Treatment Plant, Ames Water Pollution Control Facility, and North River Valley Park. In addition, an older group of students canoed and camped overnight along the Skunk River.

Through field trips and other projects, teachers encouraged students to consider real-world applications of various disciplines, such as science, history, and art, as well as the nature of those disciplines.

Students enjoyed an academically rich experience while exploring many natural areas in and around the Ames community while having a lot of fun. Work products included wooden benches built and decorated by the students, plus numerous art projects centered on nature.

The Community Academy will be offering an expanded three week version of The Summer Experience in 2019 from June 10-28. Students from across Story County are encouraged to participate.

The Community Academy sponsors and supporters include the Ames

Chamber of Commerce/WorkInAmes. com, Renewable Energy Group, Wilson Toyota, City Church of Ames-Des Moines, Fareway, and various local individuals. For more information visit: https://www.facebook.com/thecommunityacademy www.thecommunityacademy.org

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0 ( 0 % ( 5 6 Thank you to the following members who have donated ten percent more than their annual dues for Chamber projects. Because of contributions from members like these, the Ames Chamber can maintain a level of excellence in the services we provide. Please note: This represents only a portion of the Chamberâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Gold members.

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he Ames Foundation has been busy working to help beautify and enhance our community. We connect generosity with opportunity, and are the catalyst for public projects that make Ames a better place to live. Some of our current and past projects include:

7KH 0LUDFOH )LHOG DQG 3OD\JURXQG DW ,QLV *URYH 3DUN â&#x20AC;˘ This signature feature in the Ames parks system will allow children of all ages & abilities, along with their families, to play together in a safe, state-ofthe-art facility. â&#x20AC;˘ Partnering with the Miracle Field Steering Committee and the many donors who are making this project a reality, this has been the signature project for The Ames Foundation in 2017 and 2018. â&#x20AC;˘ Fundraising for the project is nearing completion. â&#x20AC;˘ Donations deadline is June 30, 2019.

We need you to help make this project a reality!

7KH $PHV &RPPXQLW\ 7UHH 3URJUDP â&#x20AC;˘ The Ames Foundation has long partnered with the City of Ames to plant trees throughout the city. â&#x20AC;˘ Thanks to the work of many volunteers, we planted nearly 200 trees in the public right-of-way throughout town in 2017. â&#x20AC;˘ The primary focus of recent plantings has been to replace ash trees that will eventually succumb to Emerald Ash Borer. â&#x20AC;˘ If you're interested please mark your calendars to assist with Fall Tree Planting Oct. 20, 2018

:HOFRPH WR $PHV 6LJQDJH â&#x20AC;˘ Signage providing a warm welcome to visitors to Ames from each of the compass directions will be installed. â&#x20AC;˘ Completed signs include East and West entrances to Ames on Highway 30. â&#x20AC;˘ Plans are underway to create signage on I-35 northbound welcoming guests and identifying Ames as the home of Iowa State University. â&#x20AC;˘ Plans are also underway to install welcome signage and landscaping at the Ames Municipal Airport.

Thank you for your past support of The Ames Foundation! If youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d like to make a gift to support the ongoing efforts of The Ames Foundation, please visit www.amesfoundation.org/donate or call 515-233-5904 today!

14 | AMES BUSINESS MONTHLY | S E P T E M B E R 2 0 1 8

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One member shared, â&#x20AC;&#x153;Ardie was so fun to listen to! I loved her tips on how to hold your drink, napkin, and appetizer plate during cocktail hours. Very helpful!â&#x20AC;? Keep an eye out for our next exciting Lunch and Learn opportunity!

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Thanks to everyone who attended our July ThAW at Prairie Moon Winery! Need something to do with your Thursday evening? What better way to spend it than networking with other local young professionals! Join us for our next ThAW on Thursday, September 6, 4:30-6:30 p.m. at Cellar 626. We hope to see you there!

S E P T E M B E R 2 0 1 8 | AMES BUSINESS MONTHLY | 15

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aseball. Soccer. Hockey.

Bowling. Kickball. Volleyball.

People in Story County and around the country are drawn to compete in these sports and many others. Still more gather on the sidelines to cheer for their favorite athletes and teams. Nowhere do Americans more intimately connect to sports than in their hometowns. Ames Main Street, in cooperation with Main Street Iowa, will celebrate this connection as it hosts â&#x20AC;&#x153;Hometown Teams: How Sports Shape America,â&#x20AC;? a traveling exhibition from the Smithsonianâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Museum on Main Street program. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Hometown Teamsâ&#x20AC;? will be on display September 29 through November 11, with an opening night â&#x20AC;&#x153;tailgate partyâ&#x20AC;? scheduled for October 4, 5-7 p.m. in downtown Ames. Ames and the surrounding community was chosen to host â&#x20AC;&#x153;Hometown Teamsâ&#x20AC;? as part of the Museum on Main Street programâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;a national/state/local partnership to bring exhibitions and programs to rural cultural organizations.

The main exhibit will be located at

the Octagon Center for the Arts, while complementing local exhibits can be seen at the Ames Historical Society, the Ames Public Library, Iowa State Universityâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Design on Main, and Little Woods Herbs and Teas.

Central Iowa teachers are invited to download free lesson plans for a variety of different subjects and all grade levels, sign up for field trips, and apply for field trip grant money at amessmithsonian.org. Iowa State University student interns will go through a Smithsonian docent training program to provide each field trip with a personalized and interactive learning experience. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We want to make it easy for area educators to use this unique opportunity,â&#x20AC;? said Cindy Hicks, Executive Director of Ames Main Street. â&#x20AC;&#x153;How often does a child in Iowa get the chance to see an exhibit from the Smithsonian Institute?â&#x20AC;? â&#x20AC;&#x153;Hometown Teamsâ&#x20AC;? captures the stories that unfold on the neighborhood fields and courts, the underdog heroics, larger-than-life legends, fierce rivalries

and gutwrenching defeats. For more than 100 years, sports have reflected the trials and triumphs of the American experience and helped shape the national character.

Whether it is professional sports or those played on the collegiate or scholastic level, amateur sports or sports played by kids on the local playground, sports are everywhere in America. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We are very pleased to be able to bring â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Hometown Teamsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; to Story County,â&#x20AC;? said Heather Johnson, Executive Director, Octagon Center for the Arts. â&#x20AC;&#x153;This exhibit offers residents of all ages the opportunity to explore

this fascinating aspect of our own regionâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s sports history. We hope many visitors will be inspired to become more involved in the cultural life of our community.â&#x20AC;?

Locally, the exhibit is sponsored by the Ames Convention and Visitors Bureau community grant, Ames Tribune, City of Ames, Hunziker Companies, Iowa State University Athletics Department, Mediacom, Wells Fargo Bank, and the Ames Chamber of Commerce.

$PHV 2NWREHUIHVW 7LFNHWV 1RZ RQ 6DOH Join us Saturday, September 15 in downtown Ames for the 7th Annual Main Street Oktoberfest celebration presented by First National Bank of Ames! Enjoy live polka music, dancing, great German Food, "Guten Tag" games, and much more!

Under 21 must be accompanied by parent. Gates open at 1:00 p.m.!

Beer and German wine will be sold by the glass all day, with a special craft beer sampling sponsored

by Alfred's Carpet and Decorating until 5:00 p.m.

Free beer mugs to the first 1,000Â people though the gate courtesy of Paul Livingston, Hunziker and Associates Realty.

Tickets available at amesdowntown.org

Be sure to visit Downtown Ames Main Street on Sunday, September 23 from 10:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m. for the Octagon Art Festival. Artwork by 100 artists from 15 states will be featured along with food vendors, live entertainment and art projects for kids. This is a fun event for the whole family to enjoy together.

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he third annual Crafts & Draughts in Campustown is scheduled for Saturday, October 6 from 1:00-6:00 p.m. The event will take place in the 200 block of Welch Avenue in Campustown Ames.

Crafts are led by staff from The Workspace. The Workspace, located in the Iowa State Memorial Union, offers classes to students, faculty and staff at ISU as well as members of the community over the age of 16. Their art studios have something for everyone and they feature a new walk-in craft every month. No need to be crafty! The crafts at C & D are designed to be done by anyone, with minimum instruction. Visitors are welcome to participate in as many crafts as they like and there will be something for everyone and every age. The idea is to have a good time and have some fun things to take home with you.

There will also be live acoustic music throughout the afternoon. Jason Walsmith will play from 1:00-3:00 p.m. and Hawk McIntyre will take the stage from 3:00-6:00 p.m. Both artists have a big following in Ames and the surrounding communities. This is a great chance to hear them for free.

Campustown food vendors will have delicious eats available for purchase.

A beer garden featuring local craft brews will round out the offerings at this yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s event.

The event is free and open to the public. Watch the Campustown Action Association Facebook page for updates and sneak peeks.

See you October 6!

Custom painted tic tac toe sets in 2016

Kindness rocks were a hit with kids and adults

Bottle opener craft was a crowd favorite in 2016 & 2017

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

Nikki Schneider in the Whimsical Wine Trailer. PHOTO BY DAN MIKA/AMES TRIBUNE

Collins woman opens mobile wine bar

By Dan Mika, Staff Writer dmika@amestrib.com

Nikki Schneider wants you to drink wine in her trailer, and she’ll even drive to your town for you to do it.

Schneider, a Collins resident, owns the Whimsical Wine Trailer, which she opened this spring after she and her husband moved to the town in southeast Story County. She wanted to start the bar after finding out there were only two other mobile bars licensed in the state, neither of which focused on wine.

The trailer debuted in May, when someone rented it out to propose to his girlfriend, Schneider said.

The trailer is black and unmarked on the outside, but the inside is covered in

restored barn wood, plants and trinkets that Schneider has found and bought second hand,such as the spray-painted shoe rack that holds wine bottles.

There are bar stools and seats mounted to the walls where guests can sit, and they can also sit on the seating posted just outside wherever the trailer is parked.

Schneider only sources her wine from only two wineries in the state: White Oak Winery in Cambridge and Calico Skies Winery in far-northwest Iowa. She’s planning to start carrying beers brewed in-state at a later point.

So far, the truck has been rented for a handful of private events and various town parties around Story County.

Schneider said she can take the trailer anywhere in the state, but has to apply for temporary liquor licenses from city or county-level governments for each event, which can be a time drain.

“Everyone I knew was a little doubtful with my little venture I was about to go on, but I’m pretty stubborn, so I knew there was a way to make it work and bring something new to the area,” she said.

She’s also considering what to do during colder months, when people aren’t going to want to drink wine outside. She said she’s working with Collins officials to have a monthly wine night there, along with private events in which she plans to set up the bar inside.

18 | AMES BUSINESS MONTHLY | SEPTEMBER 2018

The power of purpose I

spent the first 25 years of my career working in the manufacturing industry.

It was reassuring to most of my co-workers and me that our product made the world a better place. OK, we weren’t curing cancer, but we also weren’t building bombs.

Most everyone would agree that the machines which used our products to build better roads and harvest crops were a good thing.

I enjoyed the fact that we had a very worthy global competitor and a handful of lesser rivals to keep us on our toes. There was a mutual respect among the competitors.

That competition led to an entrepreneurial atmosphere both in terms of the products we offered as well as the processes used to design, manufacture, sell and service them. Things were constantly changing, predominantly for the better. There was a great deal of satisfaction in knowing that we were one of the two best organizations in the

Rick Brimeyer world at fulfilling a somewhat specialized, but important market niche.

Best of all, every employee was encouraged to contribute to the continuous, positive change by solving problems and making improvements within their respective spheres of influence. With the exception of a few departments with poor managers (which were not tolerated for long), the opportunity existed for employees to make a difference by contributing their unique skills to meaningful work.

There were times I felt a little sorry for those working outside industry. I misperceived that there must be a lack of purpose, no competition and resulting stagnant processes. Then I started working with local (municipal and county) governments, health care and nonprofits as a consultant.

Talk about working with a purpose! These are folks that, for the most part, understand that they directly influence others’ quality of life daily. Those impacted are often known individuals from workers’ own communities, not faceless customers located in another state or even country. In some cases, they not only impact the quality of lives but whether others even continue to live.

Spend some time with staff at the Emergency Residence Project (ERP), a non-profit that battles both the effects and root causes of homelessness, and you’ll find some passionate workers. What about

competition? The folks at ERP understand that their competition ranges from the polar vortex forecasted to drop temperatures into life-threatening ranges this weekend to government policy changes that will make housing unaffordable for those on the fringes.

Unfortunately, many for-profit organizations make profits the purpose for their existence. That’s a big mistake.

Let’s be clear … there’s nothing wrong with profit as it ensures the sustainability of the organization. But profit makes for a lousy motivator. Very few employees leap out of bed in the morning for the sole purpose of making profits.

Worse yet, if profits aren’t perceived as being fairly distributed, they actually become a means for demotivating employees. A review of the relative growth rates over the past three decades of corporate profits (and thus, shareholder returns) versus that

Developers advertising space for Kmart building subdivision, new buildings in parking lot

By Dan Mika, Staff Writer dmika@amestrib.com

A development company is advertising subdividing the old Kmart building in Ames and building seven new structures on the lot, which would radically alter the area if built.

According to an advertisement on real estate site LoopNet, diagrams show developers plan to split the building at 1405 Buckeye Avenue into four separate retail suites ranging from 20,700 square feet to 6,400 square feet.

The renderings also propose constructing two 6,650-square foot buildings for retail or restaurant use on the south side of the lot near South 16th Street, a 4,350-squarefoot restaurant building near South 16th Street and another 4,350-square-foot building on Buckeye Avenue just north of the Gateway Insurance building.

The advertisement also shows plans to build a strip mall with three 8,625 square-foot retail units near the northwest corner of the lot.

Hard Corner LLC, the

Omaha-based commercial leasing company that posted the ad, is advertising an opening date of fall 2019.

The land hasn’t been sold yet.

According to property records, a holding company in California that has owned the lot since 2001 still holds the property.

However, another ad for the site on commercial real estate listing service CREXi says the lot is under contract, meaning a buyer has made an offer for the property and is in the due diligence phase before acquiring the property.

of wages suggests a clear and lopsided winner.

Fortunately, most organizations have an altruistic purpose. That purpose should be a consistent component of official communications, daily conversations, and (most importantly) actions.

Let’s say we run a sitdown restaurant. While the product is meals, the purpose might be creating a special place where patrons make memories. An effective leader will point out to employees:  The couple reconnecting on their fifth anniversary after a stressful week of work and caring for two toddlers.  The group of workers celebrating the retirement of a beloved co-worker.  The gathering of old friends sharing stories during their 40th high school reunion.

While a bad meal can certainly ruin the evening, creating positive memories involves the entire staff.

Helping patrons to make memories that last well beyond them remembering what they ordered is a more compelling purpose than simply feeding people.

Make sure that everyone

Todd Dyer, principal of California-based OnPoint Development, confirmed his company holds the contract on the property. He declined to comment on the timeline of when the company intends to acquire the property, begin construction or if the diagrams as advertised are what he expects to be the final product, saying it’s too early in the process to say for certain.

Hard Corner did not respond to multiple requests for comment.

The Kmart building has been vacant since the company left in the fall of 2014. Since then, the lot has been used as excess parking for nearby businesses, and the building has been the subject of speculation by residents because of its proximity to South Duff

understands the competition. That’s especially important with government and nonprofit organizations where competition is frequently not another organization but rather forces working against its goals.

Finally, be true to that purpose. According to an August 2017 article by BusinessWeek, Facebook had the longest average employee retention among the 10 largest tech companies at just over two years. Since that survey, we’ve learned that the seemingly positive purpose of connecting people had a dark underside of gathering personal data and selling it to shady characters. The latter is hardly what one would proudly tell friends when they ask what they do for a living. I highly doubt that they’ll be on top of the next employee retention survey.

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.

Avenue, one of the busiest streets in Ames.

City planner Julie Gould said OnPoint held an initial meeting with city staff earlier this year, but has yet to submit a formal site plan.

The City Council heard a text amendment proposal during its July 31 meeting regarding interior storage, which might affect how the Kmart building is divided.

Gould said if a site plan similar to the advertisement was submitted to the city, it would likely require City Council approval.

“If they build what they’re showing in these plans, it would likely require subdivision and a major site plan approval, based on my opinion on what I’ve seen,” she said.

S E P T E M B E R 2 0 1 8 | AMES BUSINESS MONTHLY | 19

Lifeboat drills are practiced when the water is calm I

f you have ever taken a cruise, then you know on the first day, everyone is taught what to do and where to go in case of emergency. You line up in small groups near the lifeboats until crew can verify that everyone on the ship knows exactly what to do.

The hope is that by training the passengers, they won’t panic if something does happen. It is like the seatbelt and evacuation announcements before every flight.

When is the last time you did a “financial” lifeboat drill? When is the last time you reviewed your investment portfolios and financial goals to see if they are still on track and are aligned with each other? Are your

Nate Brammer investments allocated the way they should be — in the right strategy, with the right managers and the right investment philosophy?

In the short term, no one knows where the markets are going, but I

heard a very interesting quote, “Complacency is a huge threat to an investor’s portfolio.” A quick review of the S&P 500 stock index reveals it has increased about 190 percent since March 2009. Investors that who out the financial crisis and recession of 2008 and 2009 have been rewarded for their trust in the markets. Investors likely have some large capital big gains in their taxable portfolios. Even in their retirement accounts, they only must look at the five-year return number to see some impressive results.  Have you avoided rebalancing your portfolio because of the capital gain taxes that would be owed?  Have you not rebalanced because everything

City approves Menards site plan, store to open next spring

By Dan Mika, Staff Writer dmika@amestrib.com

Menards has been cleared by the city to start construction on a new site on South 16th Street, with plans to open the store next spring.

City planner Charlie Kuester said the Wisconsin-based hardware chain’s engineering firm submitted the final documents required for the site plan approval in early August, and can now begin developing on the land slightly east of the intersection of South 16th Street and

South Duff Avenue.

Menards has been planning to build on the 915,000-square-foot lot since at least last December, when it first submitted site plans to the city. The Ames City Council replatted two separate plots of land into one earlier this spring, while city staff approved Menards’ minor site plan.

The plot of land is situated west of the South Skunk River and is part of the city’s 100-year floodplain. The company is required to raise the lot at least 3 feet above 883 feet

above elevation, which is the city’s floodplain height, and will build three separate rain detention ponds around the store to offset raising the floodplain.

In an email, Menards spokesman Jeff Abbott said grading and site preparation for construction will begin “very soon,” but didn’t specify exactly when. He said the store will be built in the company’s largest format.

“If all goes as planned, we hope that this new store will be ready to open sometime in spring 2019,” he said.

seems to be going so well and you don’t rock the proverbial boat?  Has the risk level in your portfolio increased over time either consciously or unconsciously?  Have you thought about in real dollars, what a 10 percent, 20 percent or 30 percent stock market correction would look and feel like? How would it affect your lifestyle if you are retired and withdrawing money from your portfolio? How would it affect your plans if you are close to retirement; within five years?

The market went almost three years since the last 10 percent+ correction. We experienced that correct in January to February of this year. That length of

time without a correction has only happened four other times in history:  2005-07  1984-87  1934-37  1926-29

In comparison, a Bear Market is stock market decline of more than 20 percent. There have been 32 bear markets from 1900 to the present. Statistically, they occur about 1 in every 3 1/2 years and last about a year with an average 35 percent stock market loss. Our last Bear Market started Oct. 9, 2007, and lasted until March 9, 2009.

Lifeboat drills are helpful to prepare us for the stock market polar opposites. In times of

market crisis or concerns, investors are more likely to stay calm and focused on their goals and are better able to block out the noise after creating a plan. Conversely, in times like right now investors could be complacent, and a lifeboat drill could prepare them for what lies ahead.

Take time, periodically, to conduct a lifeboat drill to ensure you are prepared for calm waters and inevitable storms in the market by mapping out your financial goals and planning how to get there. Bon voyage!

NATHAN D. BRAMMER MBA, CIMA®, AIF® is a principal and investment advisor at Marrs Wealth Management. He can be reached at Nate@marrswealth.com

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