AB AMES BUSINESS
GOV. REYNOLDS CELEBRATES MANUFACTURING DAY IN STORY COUNTY SEE PAGE 2
M O N T H LY N O V E M B E R 2 0 18
WHICH WICH DEBUTS IN AMES SEE PAGE 19
November Chamber Update
2 | A M E S B U S I N E S S M O N T H LY | N O V E M B E R 2 018
AB AMES BUSINESS
M O N T H LY N O V E M B E R 2 0 18 V O L . 11 , N O . 11 AMES TRIBUNE Ames Business Monthly is a publication of the Ames Tribune, 317 Fifth St., Ames, IA, 50010; (515) 232-2160
3 Tennis bubble to return indoor play to Ames 4 Story City plans for new housing development 5 Ames Chamber of Commerce 17 Andra Reason 18 Rick Brimeyer 19 Which Wich debuts in Ames 19 Danfoss announces $3 million project at ISU
ON THE FRONT:
Gov. Kim Reynolds and Adam Anderson, branch manager of M.H. Eby in Story City, prepare to tour the manufacturing facility. PHOTO BY RONNA LAWLESS/AMES TRIBUNE
Gov. Reynolds celebrates October’s Manufacturing Day in Story County Ronna Lawless Staff Writer
G
ov. Kim Reynolds visited three manufacturing plants in Story County recently that had been tapped to receive state funding through the Iowa Economic Development Authority. Reynolds started the tours at M.H. Eby trailer manufacturing in Story City, where the IEDA has awarded $176,000 in direct financial assistance as well as tax benefits from the state’s High Quality Jobs program. Reynolds said that celebrating the milestone accomplishment for Eby was timely because it was Manufacturing Day in Iowa in early October. The visit comes almost a month to the day before the Nov. 6 election, in which Reynolds is seeking re-election and being challenged by Democrat Fred Hubbell. “Manufacturing is the highest percentage of our GDP. It’s about $30 billion that is infused into our economy annually,” Reynolds said. “So, to be able to celebrate the expansion of Eby is a great way to celebrate Manufacturing Day in Iowa.” “We’ve been working really hard to create an environment where business and industry feel confident about continuing to invest and grow in our state and in communities like Story City.” Reynolds said the state is seeing “great results and phenomenal momentum” from these efforts. “Our economy is growing. Wages are growing. It is an exciting time to be in Iowa,” she said.
“We’re recognized as the No. 1 state in the country, and that is all about our people, our work ethic, our values and companies just like Eby that are making a difference in communities all across the state.” Eby’s $7.2 million expansion will more than double the square footage of the Story City facility and is expected to add between 64 and 68 new jobs. The company makes aluminum truck bodies and livestock haulers. The expansion will increase existing lines and add product lines into the facility. “Basically, we’ve got about 40,000 square feet now, and we’re going to be adding this 41,000 square foot expansion and are hoping to break ground soon,” said Adam Anderson, branch manager of Eby in Story City. A new building, as large as 16,000 square feet, will also be built on the east side of the property and will be a sales and service building, with a customer-focused atmosphere. “It’s going to be a very attractive building. It will remind you a lot of an implement dealer when you go in there — just class,” Anderson said. Anderson and Reynolds said partnership is a key to successes like the expansion of Eby. “It’s about local, it’s about state and it’s about economic development working together,” Reynolds said. “This is a great day in Story County. There are 10,000 manufacturing jobs here in Story County,” said Dan Culhane, president and CEO of the Ames Chamber of Commerce and Economic
M.H. Eby branch manager Adam Anderson talks with Iowa Sen. Annette Sweeney, Gov. Kim Reynolds and Story County Supervisor Rick Sanders as a group of state and local officials tour the manufacturing facility in Story City. PHOTO BY RONNA LAWLESS/AMES TRIBUNE
Development Commission. Reynolds and other officials were slated to visit two other Story County locations after they left Eby: Burke Marketing Corporation in Nevada and 3M in Ames. All three companies were among five projects that recently were awarded IEDA funds. Along with Eby, 3M and Burke, the companies recently approved for the state funding are automed Inc., in Huxley, and Nebullam, of Ames. The funding supports the creation of 330 jobs with a combined capital investment of more than $185 million. 3M was awarded tax benefits for a project that will repurpose about 30,000 square feet in the company’s Ames facility. The project, estimated at $27.8 million, will include increasing the capacity of utilities and adding climate controls to areas of the plant. The project is expected to create 16 jobs. The IEDA board also
awarded Burke Manufacturing Corp. tax benefits for the addition of 200,000 square feet at its Nevada plant. The $150 million expansion is expected to create 210 jobs to accommodate increased production. The company automed Inc., which specializes in automatic livestock medication delivery, received a $300,000 low-interest loan to help with its expansion. The funding will help hire and train up to 40 new workers, build out a new office and research production facility, and facilitate new research and development and commercialization efforts. The IEDA also awarded a $100,000 Demonstration fund loan to Nebullam to continue development and refinement technology. The company is a comprehensive technology provider to new and expanding indoor farmers in leafy green, microgreen, herb and pharmaceutical plant production.
N O V E M B E R 2 018 | A M E S B U S I N E S S M O N T H LY | 3
Tennis bubble to return indoor play to Ames
A digital rendering of what the tennis bubble being built at Ames Fitness Center in the Iowa State University Research Park will look like. PHOTO CONTRIBUTED BY AMES FITNESS CENTER
By Michael Crumb, Editor mcrumb@amestrib.com
A
mes tennis players will be able to return to indoor play later this fall if all goes according to plan, thanks to a new tennis bubble facility being built near Ames Fitness Center in the Iowa State University Research Park. Ground on the approximately $1 million facility was broken earlier this month and plans are for the bubble to be delivered late November and have it ready for play by mid-November, said Tom Durkin, the general manager of the fitness center. Durkin said the project is a 50/50 partnership between the fitness center and a group of avid tennis players that approached the center about building this type of facility. “This has really been driven by the community,” Durkin said. Ames Fitness Center, formerly Ames Racquet and
Fitness, had indoor courts at its facility on South 17th Street until it sold the center to Harvest Vineyard Church a couple of years ago and built a new center at the Research Park. Now, the center plans to get back into the tennis game with the bubble, which will include four hard surface indoor courts in the heated and lighted bubble. Durkin said he believes it will be the first facility of its kind in the area. If all goes well, the center and its community partners will consider building two clay courts outside of the bubble next spring, he said. Again, Durkin believes if they are built, they would be the first clay courts in the area. All of the courts will be open to the public, he said. “The general public can use it, they just need to pay for the time on the court,” Durkin said. “Someone can just come in, and we’ll book a court for you.”
He said the big differences between the new courts and what the fitness center had at its previous location is they will be open 24/7, while at the old location, the courts, which were also open to the public, were only available during fitness center hours. “The only other real difference is the fabric of the bubble,” Durkin said. “You really won’t be able to tell the difference from a traditional structure, other than with the fabric, it’s less expensive to build than a traditional structure.” Durkin said the fitness center also wants to use the courts to expand Pickleball in Ames. Pickleball is a cross between tennis, table-tennis and badminton. It’s played on a court smaller than a tennis court, with players using what looks like oversized table tennis paddles and a wiffle ball. “It’s one of the fastest growing activities in the Ames area,” Durkin said.
4 | A M E S B U S I N E S S M O N T H LY | N O V E M B E R 2 018
Story City plans for new housing development By Ronna Lawless Staff Writer
O
This map shows the relation of the proposed housing development in relation to the elementary school and Henryson Street in Story City. CONTRIBUTED GRAPHIC
fficials are making way for a new housing development in Story City. R. Friedrich & Sons, of Ames, is proposing to acquire property and develop 28 lots along Henryson Street, located north of Roland-Story Elementary School. “One of the top goals of the city and the Economic Development Corporation has been the need for a new housing subdivision,” said City Administrator Mark Jackson. “The developer will improve the street and install the sanitary sewer, water and all related infrastructure improvements,” he said. The city will make an economic development grant to Friedrich for 33 percent of the costs, up to $420,000. The economic development grant will be paid from property taxes generated by the new housing subdivision. The property proposed
for development totals to roughly four acres — about 2 1/4 acres on both the north and the south side of Henryson Street, north of Roland-Story Elementary School. For the housing development to progress, the city of Story City is in the process of amending its urban renewal plan for the Story City Urban Renewal Area, in order to describe the new urban renewal projects related to economic development grants. It also required a zoning change, from R1 residential, to PUD (Planned Unit Development). “We have two groundbreakings that we’re really excited about — this expansion at Eby, and the start of the new housing development by the elementary school,” said Mayor Mike Jensen prior to a plant tour at M.H. Eby last Friday. “Both of these projects are really good for Story City.” Eby’s $7.2 million expansion is expected to add as many as 68 new jobs to the local workforce, which is
another reason new housing is timely for the community. From 2000 through 2009, there were approximately 209 housing units constructed in Story City. This includes single family homes, apartments, condominiums, duplexes and mobile homes. From 2010 through September of 2017, there were 37 units constructed, with four lots left for new housing construction in the Jacobson Park Subdivision. Story City is in need of additional housing opportunities for its current and prospective residents. More available housing also increases the property tax base, and is likely to have a positive impact on enrollment in the RolandStory school district. But there’s another reason new housing is a positive step for Story City. “Why is this important? We’re starting to prepare for the 2020 census,” Jackson said in a statement last fall. “From 2000 through 2010, Story City’s population increased by 208 residents, or 6.3 percent.”
This map shows the proposed location of the Planned Unit Development, which is located to the north of Roland-Story Elementary School in Story City. CONTRIBUTED GRAPHIC
N O V E M B E R 2 018 | A M E S B U S I N E S S M O N T H LY | 5
ChamberUpdate NOVEMBER 2018
PUBLIC POLICY
Vote Your Voice: Nov. 6
T
he November 6 General Election is rapidly approaching, and the Ames Chamber of Commerce reminds you that your vote matters and asks you to make your voice heard at the polls on Election Day. If you are not registered to vote, you can now do so online via the Iowa Secretary of State’s website or the Secretary of State’s mobile app. Iowa law also allows you to register to vote on Election Day at your respective polling place via Iowa’s Same Day Registration Law, but you will be required to show proof of residence and proof of identity to do so. Absentee Voting will be available in the Auditor’s Office through 5:00 p.m. on Monday, November 5 at the Story County Auditor’s Office (900 6th Street, Nevada, IA 50201). It is important to note there will be new rules in place for the 2018 Election for Absentee Voting including: 1. Your absentee request form MUST include an ID number - either your Iowa driver's license (or non-operator ID) number, or the 4-digit PIN on the new voter ID card. 3. Absentee voting can begin no more than 29 days prior to the election. 4. The deadline to request a mailed ballot is October 27 by 5:00 p.m. Voters can also request an Absentee Ballot through Saturday, October 27 by submitting an Absentee Ballot Request Form. Once your completed form is submitted and received, a
INCLUSIVE ORGANIZATIONS
ballot will be mailed to the address provided. Completed ballots can be submitted by any of the following methods: By Mail. A return envelope is provided with pre-paid postage. The return envelope must be postmarked no later than November 5, and received in the Auditor's Office by November 13. In Person. You may deliver your ballot to the Auditor's Office up until 9:00 p.m. on Election Day. Completed ballots may not be dropped off or used at polling locations. By Designee. You may designate someone else to mail or deliver your ballot for you. The instructions included in your mailed absentee ballot packet include a receipt, if you choose to use it, for this method. The Chamber thanks our 2018 Taking Leadership Legislative Sponsors for their continued support of our Government Affairs Program and Get-Outthe-Vote efforts: Converse Conditioned Air, First National Bank, Renewable Energy Group, and Workiva.
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 LY | N O V E M B E R 2 018
AMES CHAMBER OF COMMERCE | NOVEMBER 2018
2018 BOARD OF DIRECTORS 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, AMS Representative, Hunziker & Associates, Realtors Jessica Mortvedt,YPA Representative Haverkamp Properties, Inc. Nate Rippke, Rippke Design Jason Schwenneker, Renewable Energy Group, Inc. Dr. Sonya Stoltze Newstrom, Stoltze & Stoltze Family Dentistry 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
STEAK FRY 2018
Thank you for attending Steak Fry! Steak Fry 2018 was another big success! Thank you to our sponsors: Presenting Sponsors: Ames Ford Lincoln and Hy-Vee Past Chairs Mug Sponsor: Sigler Entertainment Sponsors: ISU Athletics and VisionBank Beverage Sponsor: Chitty Garbage Service Grill Master Sponsor: CIT Signature Transportation
N O V E M B E R 2 018 | A M E S B U S I N E S S M O N T H LY | 7
AMES CHAMBER OF COMMERCE | NOVEMBER 2018
CHAMBER
WORKFORCE SOLUTIONS
MEMBERS Thank you to the following members who have donated ten percent more than their annual dues for Chamber projects. Because of contributions from members like these, the Ames Chamber can maintain a level of excellence in the services we provide. Please note: This represents only a portion of the Chamber’s Gold members.
3M Ann Campbell, Individual Member Boulders Inn & Suites Boehringer Ingelheim Vetmedica Cafe Diem Cookies, Etc. Copyworks Danfoss Davis Brown Law Firm First National Bank GrandStay Hotel & Suites ISU Research Park NAACP Sherwin Williams Texas Roadhouse Tres Teal Vincent Construction
COME VISIT THE
IowaWORKS AMES EXPANSION OFFICE
903 Lincoln Way (Northside) Ames, Iowa, 50010 (515) 725-5495
Days and Hours of Operation Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday - 8:30 am to 4:30 pm Wednesday, 9:00 am to 4:30 pm
8 | A M E S B U S I N E S S M O N T H LY | N O V E M B E R 2 018
AMES CHAMBER OF COMMERCE | NOVEMBER 2018
YOUTH LEADERSHIP AMES
Youth Leadership Ames Class 9 Kick Off Youth Leadership Ames Class 9 kicked off in September with a Leadership and Team Building session. We are pleased to announce the Youth Leadership Ames Class 9 members:
Vera Barkosky Madi Baughman Jewels Buss Joscelyn Buss Solomon Farner Ally Frisk Kaitlyn Goodman Amy Guan Drew Hawthorn Hannah Huang Katherine Klein Teagan Lipsey
Catherine Merchant Max Nelson Mitchell Oh Dane Pinkerton Jay Rathe Anna Roeth Ben Schwartz Bianca Sorrentino Ethan Tulp Lauren Wieland Billy Woodward
SAVE THE DATE! Economic Outlook Breakfast,
presented by South Story Bank & Trust
November 20 | 7:30 am - 9:00 am Gateway Hotel & Conference Center Speaker: Debi Durham, Director of Iowa Economic Development Tickets are $25, register online at www.ameschamber.com
AMES CHAMBER AND AFFILIATE STAFF • Dan Culhane, President and CEO • Ron Hallenbeck, Executive Vice President • Andrea Hammes Dodge, Vice President • Amy Howard, Vice President, Finance & Operations
• Karin Chitty, Campustown Action Association, Executive Director • Edana Delagardelle, Client Services Coordinator
• Sarah Buss, Director, Events & Sponsorship
• John Hall, Director, Marketing • Cindy Hicks, Ames Main Street, Executive Director
• Brenda Dryer, Director, Existing Industry & Workforce Solutions
• Dustin Ingram, Director, Community & Economic Development Outreach • Drew Kamp, Director, Public Policy & Business Development • Brandon Mumm, Director, Membership Development • Lojean Petersen, Ames Main Street Farmers’ Market Manager • Calli Sandahl, Director, Digital Marketing
N O V E M B E R 2 018 | A M E S B U S I N E S S M O N T H LY | 9
AMES CHAMBER OF COMMERCE | NOVEMBER 2018
November Calendar Sunday
Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
Thursday
5
6
Election Day
7
Saturday
1
2
3
8
9
10
Ribbon Cutting: Whatcha Smokin' BBQ & Brew
4
Friday
Annual Event (TAF)
Sust "ames' (AMS)
Tree Lighting Ceremony (AMS)
11
12
13
18
19
20 Economic Outlook
AEDC Board
Breakfast
14
15
16
17
21
22
23
24
28
29
30
Leadership Ames
Small Business Saturday (AMS)
Chamber Board
25
26
27
Mingle on Main (AMS)
AEDC: Ames Economic Development Commission • AMS: Ames Main Street CAA: Campustown Action Association • SUA: Start Up Ames • TAF: The Ames Foundation • YPA: Young Professionals of Ames
THANK YOU TO OUR INNER CIRCLE SPONSORS
10 | A M E S B U S I N E S S M O N T H LY | N O V E M B E R 2 018
AMES CHAMBER OF COMMERCE | NOVEMBER 2018
MEMBERSHIP
Congratulations to these Chamber members who
Ames Center for Cosmetic & Family Dentistry 415 S. Duff Ave. Ste. D - Remodel
Dentistry at Somerset
2720 Stange Rd. – New Dentist
Boulders Inn & Suites
1900 Lakewood Dr., Boone – Grand Opening
Fareway Meat Market
3720 Lincoln Way – Grand Opening
N O V 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 LY | 11
AMES CHAMBER OF COMMERCE | NOVEMBER 2018
celebrated milestones with Ribbon Cuttings!
Informed Choices/Obria
1606 Golden Aspen Rd. #105 – Name Change
Tommy’s Salon
4720 Mortensen Rd. Ste. 102 – Wig Room Addition
Welcome, new Ames Chamber members! MyTown2Go
515-598-4456 www.mytown2go.com Joined 9/4/18
St. Cecilia School 515-232-5290
www.stceciliaparish.org/school/
Joined: 9/21/18
Boulders Inn & Suites 515-212-8823 Joined 9/12/18
Inside Golf
Union on Lincoln Way Apartments 2700 Lincoln Way – Grand Opening
515-715-1602 www.insidegolfames.com Joined 9/18/18
Vincent Construction 515-203-0830
www.vincentconstructionames.com
Joined: 9/26/18
12 | A M E S B U S I N E S S M O N T H LY | N O V E M B E R 2 018
AMES CHAMBER OF COMMERCE | NOVEMBER 2018
INTER-CITY VISIT
Successful Inter-City Visit to Bloomington On October 3 and 4 a group of 30 community leaders and Chamber staff participated in the 3rd Annual Inter-City visit. This year, to Bloomington, Indiana. The goal of the visit to Bloomington, Indiana was straightforward. How might we apply some of the methods that have been successful in Bloomington to stimulate new opportunities in our own marketplace? We also learned more about some of the local partnerships and collaborations within the Bloomington community. Our visit will also afforded the opportunity to see what challenges Bloomington faces.
We met with a diverse group of local leaders from Bloomington and the University of Indiana on this visit. Housing, downtown amenities, local partnerships, quality of life and what Bloomington is doing to cultivate a Startup/Entrepreneurial Culture in the city. Visits like these are not an indicator that Ames, Story County, and Iowa State University is lagging. To the contrary! This is a great way for all of us to share the many exciting projects and programs we are so very proud of with leaders from Bloomington and the University of Indiana. Thank you to all of the attendees!
Thank you to our sponsors – without them this visit would not have been possible: Ames Convention & Visitors Bureau Ames Ford Lincoln Chocolatarie Stam Paul Livingston, Hunziker & Associates, Realtors Mary Greeley Medical Center OEI, Inc. Real Estate Services Group, Inc.
MEMBERSHIP
Chamber Ambassadors Cindy Albin, Hunziker & Associates Tess Ashley, Global State Mortgage Steve Bock, RE/MAX Real Estate Center Don Borcherding, Greater Iowa Credit Union Bonnie Brown, Global State Mortgage Tobias Brown, OrangeTheory Fitness Nathan Buss, VisionBank Buffy Clatt, First National Bank John Coder, VisionBank Lisa Downs, Hunziker & Associates Stacy Dreyer, First National Bank Amy Engstrom, 2Men and Adame Cleaning Paula Feltner, Thisday Photography Pam Fleener, First National Bank Teresa Garman, Individual Member Shelley Goecke, McFarland Clinic Colette Gunhus, Keeling Wealth Advisors Tom Haggas, Cheshire Moon Films Jeff Harrison, Midwest Heritage Bank Sherry Hosteng, RE/MAX Real Estate Ashley Howe, Xpanxion Jeff Louang, Radisson Hotel Ames Conference Center at ISU Michelle King, The Krell Institute Carol Kisling, iHeart Media Matt Koehler, Greater Iowa Credit Union
Paul Livingston, Hunziker & Associates, Realtors Danielle Minde, iHome Realty Amanda Moorman, Morgan Stanley David Orth, Spirited Giving Matthew Pacha, Hy-Vee Lincoln Center Michele Partridge, Hunziker & Associates, Realtors 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
N O V E M B E R 2 018 | A M E S B U S I N E S S M O N T H LY | 13
AMES CHAMBER OF COMMERCE | NOVEMBER 2018
THE AMES FOUNDATION
The Ames Foundation Annual Fundraising Event Join Us at The Ames Foundation Annual Event on Friday, November 9! The Ames Foundation would like to invite you to a night of fantastic flavors and local entertainment! Join us Friday, November 9 from 6:30-10:00 pm at Ames Ford Lincoln, located at 123 Airport Road, as we will enjoy wonderful music by Matt Woods and Hawk McIntire, and delectable hors d’oeuvres from Dublin Bay. Cash bar will also be available. Proceeds from the event will benefit several projects, including the Ames Miracle Playground and Field, Ames Entryway Signage and Ames Community Tree Planting. Gather your friends and start the weekend off on a high note while contributing to a critical cause! Tickets are $50 each and available at Coe’s Floral & Gifts, located at 2619 Northridge Parkway, or the Ames Chamber of Commerce, located at 304 Main Street. Doors open at 6:30pm and performances begin at 7:30pm. To learn more about the Ames Foundation, visit our website at www.amesfoundation.org.
THE AMES FOUNDATION'S
ANNUAL FUNDRAISING EVENT
$SO I TICKETS AVAILABLE AT COE'S FLORAL & GIFTS I 2619 NORTHRIDGE PKWY AMES CHAMBER OF COMMERCE I 304 MAIN ST CASH. CHECK OR CREDIT CARD ACCEPTED
FRIDAY Doors open at 6:30pm • Show begins at 7:30pm
NOV.9
AMES FORD LINCOLN 123 Airport Rd .
Ames. IA
SERVING HEAVY HORS D'OEUVRES CATERED BY
+CASH BAR
FEATURING LOCAL MUSICIANS
HAWK MCINTYRE MATT WOODS
14 | A M E S B U S I N E S S M O N T H LY | N O V E M B E R 2 018
AMES CHAMBER OF COMMERCE | NOVEMBER 2018
YOUNG PROFESSIONALS OF AMES
Get Involved With YPA Lunch & Learns
A Big Thanks to Workiva, Jason Bennett and Kevin Walker for a great Lunch and Learn on work hacks and apps to supercharge your productivity!
Monthly ThAW (Thursday After Work)
ThAWs are YPA socials held monthly at a Chamber business. These events provide a great opportunity for networking and socializing with other young professionals as well as enjoy some free appetizers! Thank you to everyone who came out to Cellar 626 for our social event in September. Join us for our next ThAW in November! No registration is required! Visit www.ypames.com to find more ways to get involved and check the calendar for detail on future events!
Join YPA!
You can now join the more than 100 fascinating, involved, diverse individuals who make up the Young Professionals of Ames membership. And joining online is quick and easy! Get involved with Young Professionals of Ames for opportunities to build and foster relationships though: • Leadership development • Professional development • Community outreach • Cultural and social opportunities Visit www.ypames.com to learn more and join us! Visit www.ypames.com to learn more and join us!
N O V E M B E R 2 018 | A M E S B U S I N E S S M O N T H LY | 15
AMES CHAMBER OF COMMERCE | NOVEMBER 2018
AMES MAIN STREET
Friday, Nov 9
6 p.m. Tree Lighting Ceremony & Red Kettle Campaign Kick-off Tom Evans Park 5-8 p.m. Free Hot Chocolate Near Tom Evans Park Children’s Activities Throughout Downtown Ames 5:30-7:30 p.m. Santa Claus Olde Main Brewing Company 6-8 p.m. Free Carriage Rides Historic Depot to Octagon Center for the Arts
Saturday, Nov 10
Sust”ames” ISU student shopping day in downtown Ames. Shop Green by Shopping Local!
Saturday, Nov 24
Small Business Saturday Throughout Downtown Ames 9-11 a.m. Breakfast with Santa & Mrs Claus Olde Main Brewing Company
Thursday, Nov 29, Dec 6, 13, 20
5-7 p.m. Mingle on Main Stroll throughout downtown Ames and enjoy special sales, treats, drinks, and contests.
Saturday, Dec 8
2 p.m. Free Community Movie Day “Home Alone” City Auditorium at City Hall
16 | A M E S B U S I N E S S M O N T H LY | N O V E M B E R 2 018
AMES CHAMBER OF COMMERCE | NOVEMBER 2018
CAMPUSTOWN ACTION ASSOCIATION Did you know that Campustown has a public parking facility? The Ames Intermodal Facility opened in June of 2012 and is a cooperative venture between the City of Ames, CyRide and Iowa State University. Located at 129 Hayward, the facility contains permitted parking as well as public metered parking. The AIF utilizes a master meter system. Once they have chosen a parking spot, visitors enter their parking stall number and pay with cash or credit at the master meter located on the ground floor. The Ames Intermodal Facility is in easy walking distance to all of your Campustown favorites, as well as the ISU Campus. The facility also provides one stop access to transportation outside of the Ames community via Jefferson Lines, Burlington Trailways and Executive Express.
Thank you to our Sustaining Members:
N O V E M B E R 2 018 | A M E S B U S I N E S S M O N T H LY | 17
Do you know what month it is? O
f course you do. But, did you know October is Financial Planning Month? Every month is a good month to get your financial life in order. But, it just so happens to also be Positive Attitude Month, Long-term Care Planning Month, International Strategic Planning Month, and Organize your Medical Information Month. All of these together start to explain what financial planning looks like. When people think about financial planning, I want them to think about more than diversified asset classes. I want people to consider building a team of professionals (tax professionals, estate planning attorneys, insurance
consultants, and financial advisors) who work as a group and who listen to you and to one another. And when possible, consider adding women professionals while you are at it. In a male dominated industry, women add diverse perspectives and insights. Female financial advisors and other female leaders break gender barriers every day. When I think of female leaders, I think of Iowa State University’s first female president, Wendy Wintersteen. At the end of September, President Wintersteen, spoke at the Ames Public Library. She is a phenomenal storyteller and provided the audience with perspective and insights. In
When I think of female leaders, I think of Iowa State University’s first female president, Wendy Wintersteen.
Andra Reason
her short speech, President Wintersteen shared lessons learned while breaking gender barriers during college, afterwards in Extension, and later as a professor, Dean,
and President. Among the many great take-aways, I want to share three things I appreciated most: She taught that when a door is opened to a new opportunity, take that opportunity even if you may not feel prepared. Walk through that door and then work hard and show others what you can do. It takes courage to step out of your comfort zone. President Wintersteen is an inspiration to many and shows that great things happen when you say “yes.” A good advisor offers ideas which can lead
to opportunities in unexpected places. Listen deeply even when your instinct is to quickly solve problems. Advisors get energy from working through situations to find creative solutions. The real issue is often uncovered when the client is free to fully explain their problem and are actually heard. Set goals and make a plan to get there. This is where my article comes full circle. Goals and plans come easily to some people. For most though, it takes outside help to develop a plan and keep progressing
through steps toward financial confidence. And, if you need one final reason to get organized then you are in luck. October is Go On a Fieldtrip Month, so take your positive attitude on a fieldtrip to interview a financial planner and work on some strategic planning that will ultimately lead you closer to financial confidence. Andra Reason, CPA, CFP is an advisor at Marrs Wealth Management. She can be reached at andra@ marrswealth.com.
18 | A M E S B U S I N E S S M O N T H LY | N O V E M B E R 2 018
Blazing a new trail with patient-centered scheduling “Seventy-five percent of appointments now occur within H 30 minutes of schedule.”
ospital stays are steadily becoming shorter. That’s generally a good thing. Patients want to be home. Shorter hospital stays means smaller bills. But shorter stays also present challenges for hospitals. Sending a patient home before they are ready can result in a relapse. Hospitals are penalized by Medicare for readmissions. Shorter stays also means that all of the tests, treatments and therapies required for a safe discharge must be completed during a compressed time period. Late in 2016, I joined a cross-functional team of Mary Greeley Medical Center (MGMC) employees for a three-day Rapid Improvement Event to
address this challenge. Frequent schedule conflicts between ancillary services (e.g., lab, therapy, radiology, etc.) were identified as a major barrier to timely patient discharges. The daily schedule conflicts were also a source of employee frustration. Trying to fit all of the required services into a short stay was akin to playing an advanced level of Tetris. The root cause of the issue was the fact that, while each provider had their own independent schedule, these schedules were not coordinated with each other or shared with the most important person — the patient. Each provider basically showed up, hoping to find a ready patient. That was
Rick Brimeyer
rarely the case. In effect, the game of Tetris was being played blind. This situation was certainly not unique to MGMC. Prior to the event, we asked the hospital’s software provider
(Epic) for advice on who we could benchmark since they include a scheduling module in their system. Despite counting hundreds of hospitals among their customers, they couldn’t point to a single facility that was practicing patientcentered scheduling. We were blazing a new trail. Because of the monstrosity of the change, we agreed to two strategies while planning the event. First, we set the goal to pilot the concept on a small patient unit rather than facility-wide. The oncology floor was chosen because of its smaller size and highly predictable rounding by tending physicians. Second, we made it clear that we expected improvement rather than perfection. In fact, the term “betterish” was coined to promote trying something that would move us in the right direction. A team of 17 employees and leaders from Oncology as well as most of the various ancillary departments gathered for three consecutive days. Unlike most events, the solution was pretty clear. We needed to use the scheduling software tool already available to us and begin scheduling all pertinent activities which impacted inpatients on the patient’s schedule. The challenge was how to convince already stretched oncology nurses, x-ray techs, therapists, etc. to take the extra time to coordinate their daily schedule with the patient’s schedule and to resolve conflicts. Fortunately, most of the participants clearly recognized the waste experienced every day due to
schedule conflicts. They therefore saw the added time required to coordinate with the patient’s schedule as a worthy investment of their time. Significant time was required during the event to work through the details: What about those activities that are really short (e.g. blood draw)? How do we react to unforeseen situations that cause the schedule to change? How do we make the schedule visible to everyone that needs to see it and private to those who don’t? How do we share the schedule with patients and families? A challenge became obvious early in the event. Even though we were piloting solely on Oncology, ancillary departments would have to schedule all departments in order to have schedule integrity for oncology patients. Thus ancillaries would have the work of scheduling all patients but would realize the benefits of reduced conflicts from oncology patients only initially. Nevertheless, each department “contracted” what they would do to support the pilot. The pilot was kicked off. Monthly follow-up meetings were required to tweak agreements, address new barriers and most importantly, provide positive feedback to those implementing change. And there was plenty of positive news to share. Oncology nursing staff recognized an immediate improvement in patient schedule integrity, allowing
them to confidently share the daily plan with patients and their families. Float nurses working shifts on Oncology returned to their regular floors with questions of when they would be using patient-centered scheduling. Even ancillary departments noted improvements in schedule integrity for their services, despite Oncology representing a small portion of their workload. As one leader stated, “This is better than betterish!” Positive feedback resulted in expanding the pilot to larger patient floors faster than originally anticipated. Initial fears that it would be chaotic to expand patient-centered scheduling to more complex patients turned out to be unfounded. Rather, it was chaos trying to deliver services without a schedule. Today, patient-centered scheduling is the standard across all inpatient units of MGMC. By continually working as a team to address new barriers and using data to identify opportunities, 75 percent of appointments now occur within 30 minutes of schedule. The result is informed patients and families along with higher performing and less frustrated healthcare workers. 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.
Which Wich T debuts in Ames
N O V E M B E R 2 018 | A M E S B U S I N E S S M O N T H LY | 19
By Michael Crumb, Editor mcrumb@amestrib.com
Which Wich manager Ashley Cruikshank sets a sandwhich down after removing it from the shop’s toaster. PHOTO BY MICHAEL CRUMB/AMES TRIBUNE
he latest addition to the local sandwich scene is hoping to be the most “upbeat and friendlier” sandwich shop in Ames. Which Wich opened in early September at 2710 Lincoln Way, just west of Campsutown. Its manager, Ashley Cruikshank, said its friendly atmosphere makes it a fun experience for customers. “We have a host that greets people to see how their visit is going, and our line is open so you can always interact with us,” Cruikshank said. “We’re friendly, we’re always looking to have people come out and see what we’re about. We’re not afraid to strike up a conversation.” “If you’re looking for a more upbeat, friendlier sandwhich shop, stop on in,” she said. Cruikshank said the shop’s menu also is a draw, with more than 50 toppings on the
Danfoss announces $3 million project at ISU By Tribune staff
D
anfoss Power Solutions will invest $1.8 million to buy and install equipment that will test off-road vehicle chassis in a variety of conditions, the company announced recently. The investment will be used to purchase and install a state-of-the-art off-road vehicle chassis dynamometer at the Iowa State University Agronomy and Agriculture Engineering Farm, near Ames. A groundbreaking ceremony on the $2.9 million facility will be at 8 a.m. on Friday at 1308 U Ave., between Ames and Boone. According to a news release, a chassis dynamometer tests vehicles using a
roller assembly to simulate a vehicle in motion in a controlled environment. The dynamometer will also serve as a resource for ISU industry partners, further promoting the sharing of resources between Danfoss, ISU and other partners. The vehicle chassis dynamometer will be one of only a few public facilities in the world dedicated to testing off-road vehicles in different conditions, such as varying levels of acceleration, braking, speeds and road grades. According to the release, each wheel will be able to be controlled independently. No other off-road vehicle lab is built to handle testing of this magnitude, the release states. “We are pleased the
new chassis dynamometer will provide the research and educational facilities necessary to foster breakthroughs in new engineering technologies for Danfoss,” said Dave Wohlsdorf Sr., director of strategic innovation at Danfoss. Completion of the project is expected by the summer of 2019. In the release, Wohlsdorf said the testing that will be done is important in the engineering and development process, reducing design cycles and speeding up research. That, Wohlsdorf said, will save time and money for customers. “That’s why Danfoss has made it a priority to stay on the leading edge of testing and simulation technology,” he said.
Build-Your-Own menu. There are also eight “favorites” and the new Eggwich menu, which is a sandwhich topped with an egg over-easy, which Cruiskshank says has been popular. The shop’s franchisee, Tonya Salvucci, also runs shops in Ankeny and Waukee, which opened in April. She said she’s been eyeing Ames for a while, but expedited the plan after the space the store is located in, opened up. “It’s getting harder and harder to get on Lincoln Way, space is getting taken up quickly,” she said. “They brought this to our broker and we just liked the location, we liked the student housing above it, we liked the residential side, that’s why we came to Ames at this time.” Salvucci said the plan was originally to move to Ames in a year or two. The first month, she said, has been focused on training of the shop’s 25 employees, most of whom are part-time. “It’s all about accuracy and getting the customer what
they want, that’s the most imporant thing,” Salvucci said. Salvucci said the restaurant’s ordering system is “unlimited,” when it comes to options for customers. “You can have something different every day if you wanted,” she said. “We use very fresh ingredients. We slice our own meats. We slice our own vegetables. We make our salads here.” But it’s the neighborhood environment that really sets Which Wich apart, Salvucci said. “We want everyone to converse, we want them to be greeted when they come in, we want people to talk over the line and get to know our customers,” she said. “We like to be a part of the town we are in. We like to see our customers come in and talk to them and get to know them, watch their kids grow up, watch them go through their education and graduate and start their first jobs, we see that in all our stores and that’s how we run all our stores.”
2 0 | A M E S B U S I N E S S M O N T H LY | N O V E M B E R 2 018