Abmoctober2017low

AB AMES BUSINESS

MONTHLY

WHAT’S NEW AT NORTH GRAND MALL ANNOUNCES NEW THEATER, EXTERIOR REDESIGNS SEE PAGE 2

O C T O B E R 2017

October Chamber Update

COMMUNITY GATHERS FOR AMES WATER TREATMENT PLANT OPEN HOUSE SEE PAGE 4

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

ADDITIONS Renderings of the planned renovations to the main entrance at North Grand Mall. The mall announced the return of a movie theater and an exterior renovation project.

AMES BUSINESS

MONTHLY OCTOBER 2017

CONTRIBUTED ART

Vol. 10, No. 10 AMES TRIBUNE Ames Business Monthly is a publication of the Ames Tribune, 317 Fifth St., Ames, IA, 50010; (515) 232-2160.

2 North Grand Mall 3 Garst moving on 4 Water treatment plant open house 5 VF Outlet moving 5 New restaurant in Campustown 6 Laser-cutting business 7 Chamber of Commerce 19 Makeup studio opening 20 Nate Brammer 20 New Draintech facility 21 Hair product start-up 22 Rick Brimeyer 22 ISU-McFarland Clinic and sports medicine

North Grand Mall announces new movie theater, exterior redesigns

By Dan Mika, Staff Writer dmika@amestrib.com

A

million-dollar luxury movie theater is the first major addition to the North Grand Mall after it was purchased by three centralIowa developers last year.

North Grand Cinema will move into the site formerly occupied by North Grand 5 in the rear of the mall.

Co-owner Diane Akin said she and her husband, Lee, said the redecorating will run north of $1 million before opening to the public sometime in November before the holiday season.

“We’re not doing major reconstruction, just major redecorating,” Diane Akin said.

North Grand 5, a secondrun theater, closed in 2014 after 18 years in business when its lease expired.

The foyer of the theater will eschew North Grand 5’s purple and green color scheme for a darker, wood-accented decor

complete with a fake fireplace.

It’ll feature a beer and wine bar, along with sandwiches and standard movie theater snacks.

The showing rooms will have about half of the seating as North Grand 5, with the smallest auditoriums only having 88 seats. The cinema will instead have recliner seating which guests reserve online or at the box office.

The screens will also have the newest projection and audio systems on the market, Akin said.

Akin said she wanted to open a theater in Ames to be closer to her parents, and to return to the Iowa State University community. Akin, along with her parents and some of her siblings, are ISU alumni.

“My mom and dad graduated with their Ph.Ds at the same time my little sister graduated with her undergraduate degree,” she said.

The Akins operate a

single-screen theater in Elkader and a six-screen theater in Prairie Du Chien, Wis. Akin said the cinema will be “mom-and-pop” because they’re independent operators, but will carry the latest releases and potentially a few indie films if they so choose.

The Cinema is expected to hire about 20 part-time staffers and assistant managers, then later hire a general manager from that group, Akin said.

North Grand Cinema will open in a market where Cinemark Movies 12 is the only competitor for first-run movies.

Lee Akin said there are enough differences between the two theaters in terms of size and feel that they won’t be competing with each other too intensely.

“We don’t have a lot of experience working with one large competitor, but we believe that the Ames market is large enough to service both theaters

easily,” he said. “I think there’s room for us both.”

North Grand Cinema’s announcement comes more than eight months after a trio of developers in Ames and Des Moines purchased the mall last December, promising to revitalize the shopping center and add more retailers.

The mall also announced it will renovate the building’s exterior in the near future during a press conference Thursday.

Renderings provided to the Tribune show several of the major entrances built out with tall, wood-paneled accents and gray, cemented panels along parts of the wall.

Ed Kaizer, asset manager for the Mall, said he and the owners are still working to finalize the designs and secure permits from the city. There is no set time-line for the renovations, but Kaizer said the mall hopes to start construction this month.

OCTOBER 2017 | AMES BUSINESS MONTHLY | 3

TRANSITIONS

Garst reflects on time with Story County Community Foundation

By Grayson Schmidt, Staff Writer

gschmidt@amestrib.com

W

hen Jennifer Garst took over as executive director of the Story County Community Foundation part-time in 2010, the foundation was onefifth the size that it is today. Seven years later, the size of the foundation now requires a full-time executive director, which Garst said she cannot fulfill in that capacity.

The result is Garst transitioning out of her current role, which she describes as extremely “bittersweet.”

“It’s a mixed bag because it’s wonderful that the community is supporting its nonprofits, but boy, am I going to be sad to go,”

Garst said. “Oh, I’m going to cry. I’m going to be very, very bummed out to leave, so bittersweet … but I can’t do what is necessary.”

The Story County Community Foundation is a nonprofit public charity that builds permanent charitable funds or endowments that distribute a portion of the earnings annually to support a charitable purpose.

According to the SCCF, the foundation was founded in 1995 and now holds more than 90 different funds established by individuals, families and nonprofit agencies to benefit Story County.

According to the Story County Community Foundation, in 2010 the total market value for all charitable funds under the SCCF umbrella was $2.6 million. In 2016 that

Story County Community Foundation Executive Director Jennifer Garst is transitioning from her current role.

PHOTO BY GRAYSON SCHMIDT/AMES TRIBUNE

number grew to nearly $11 million.

While serving as executive director, Garst said she was also working for her family’s business, which she said deals with banking and farming. Currently, the foundation has two part-time paid employees, and, due to growth, will now have one full-time and one part-time paid employee, Garst said.

She said she always knew the foundation would grow to this size, but that alone does not make the transition any less difficult.

“We’re just growing like crazy,” Garst said. “It’s fascinating how many ways people love their community. I get to work with people who love their community, and there is no one prototype of that person or what they want to support, and that’s pretty cool.”

SCCF Advisory Board Chair Charles Glatz is leading the transition, which entails searching for the right candidate to fill the position. Glatz hopes to have someone selected by late fall to early winter. With Garst not leaving her post until spring, Glatz said that the new executive director will get some time with Garst to help ensure a smooth transition.

“I will be there to help them … and then I will go away to let them do their own things, and in the future, if they want me back, I’d be happy to be involved,” Garst said.

According to Glatz, the foundation will feel the absence of Garst. And going forward, he just hopes the search committee can find the right person to help the foundation continue to grow.

“Her comfort in getting out there and talking to donors, not everyone has that,” Glatz said. “People that are interested in donating, she’s very good at being able to guide them to what’s most beneficial to them.”

For her successor, Garst said that she just hopes that the person chosen is dedicated to the community, and wants to help others fulfill their dreams in terms of giving back.

“The tools are there to keep building it, and that’s a great comfort, that we’re setting the structures to keep going,” Garst said.

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

INFRASTRUCTURE

Community gathers for Ames Water Treatment Plant open house WesTech Product Manager Scott Pallwitz, left, demonstrates water treatment technology during the ribbon cutting and open house ceremony for the Ames Water Treatment Plant on Aug. 26.

WesTech was a subcontractor on the project.

By Grayson Schmidt, Staff Writer gschmidt@amesrib.com

F

or the first time in nearly 100 years, the Ames community last month was able to experience how a brand new water treatment facility operates, at the ribbon cutting and open house ceremony for the Ames Water Treatment Plant.

About 1,300 people attended the ceremony and tour, with many gathering in the rain to get a glimpse of the new plant, and witness what Ames Water and Pollution Control Director John Dunn called a “momentous event.”

“The one-sentence description we used to describe the project was, ‘What is it going to take for this facility to be able to serve the next generation of the Ames community?’” Dunn said.

The new 15 million gallon per day (MGD) water treatment plant — located at 1800 E. 13th St. — replaces the more than 90-yearold facility located at 300 E. Fifth St. According to the city of Ames, planning for the new plant began in 2008 when a study determined that the future needs of the Ames community could not be met by the current plant. So, for Dunn, this day has been a long time coming.

In her opening remarks, Ames Mayor Ann Campbell thanked the various City Council members who have served since initial talks began almost 10 years ago, and said that this project would have never happened without that collaborative effort.

“Every single vote has voted yes for taking the next step on the water treatment plant, and that doesn’t often happen,” Campbell said.

Dunn said the entire project can be credited to the massive

PHOTO BY GRAYSON SCHMIDT/AMES TRIBUNE

collaboration, starting with the City Council voting in favor of the plant, to the engineering consultants from FOX Engineering, Barr Engineering and HDR, Inc., a long with the primary contractor Knutson Construction.

According to the city of Ames, the entire cost of the project was nearly $70 million, making the new plant the largest Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED)-certified water treatment plant in Iowa. Not only was the plant designed to be environmentally efficient, the LEED certification has resulted in approximately $6.5 million of

borrowed cost to be forgiven by the Iowa Department of Natural Resources Drinking Water State Revolving Fund, according to the city.

Part of what led to the LEED certification includes a white roof used to reduce the heat island effect and water efficient landscaping to filter storm water runoff, while also reducing the water footprint of the facility. The plant also features water efficient plumbing that provides a 33 percent reduction over baseline water use.

According to the city, 88 percent of construction waste was recycled and diverted from the landfill, and

materials for the new plant have 20 percent recycled content and 20 percent of total materials came from regional resources.

City officials said the Ames Water Plant also pulls water out of the aquifer from a network of 22 wells spread over four well fields.

The wells range in depth from 76 to 146-feet, and range in capacity from 200 gallons per minute to as much as 1,200 gallons per minute. In addition, three new wells in a new well field are under design and anticipated to be active by 2018.

“One of the goals we had when we started was that the water

taste exactly the same, and so the treatment process that we use is the same chemistry that we used to use, but it’s generations newer in technology,” Dunn said.

Ames resident Dennis Warme was one of the open house visitors, and he said he was amazed at the size and organization of the new facility. But as with Dunn, Warme said that the ultimate goal is the same quality water that Ames has come to be known for.

“I don’t have any complaints about the water, and I’m glad it’s going to continue to be high-quality, good-tasting water,” Warme said.

RELOCATING

OCTOBER 2017 | AMES BUSINESS MONTHLY | 5

Story City’s VF Outlet leaving for Altoona

By Ronna Lawless Staff Writer

A

fter more than a quartercentury in Story City, the VF Outlet will be leaving town this fall.

“We will be relocating our Story

City store to a brand-new location at the Outlets at Des Moines in October,” said Amy Music, a spokesperson for the VF Outlet corporation.

“After more than 25 years at the current location, it was hard to leave, but in the current mall, we

could no longer provide our customers with the type of shopping experience they deserve.”

The mall in Story City is owned

by VF Mall Realty Management Iowa and is located at 324 Factory Outlet Drive.

“We are very excited about our

upcoming move and very much look forward to continuing to serve the greater Des Moines area, including our super loyal existing customers from Story City,” Music said. “This new outlet center will provide our customers so many additional reasons to make the trip while still enjoying the best VF Outlet has to offer.”

With the mall location now available for sale, the Roland-Story

school district has been in closed negotiations recently to consider purchasing the location.

On July 20, the school board voted unanimously to purchase the outlet mall property for $540,000.

The purchase is contingent on the successful passage of a bond vote for a new athletic stadium and auditorium upgrades; that bond election likely will be scheduled for sometime in February.

proximity to students and Iowa State University staff just across Lincoln Way. “We know that being close to campus is a great place to be,” he said. “You have all those students, educators, all the visitors to campus, whether it be for sporting events or the arts, whatever it might be.”

Freddy’s serves its steakburgers and custard, along with fries and hot dogs.

The Campustown location will be the fourth in Iowa, with two locations in Cedar Rapids and one in Waterloo.

Young said he plans to add a second drive-through Freddy’s somewhere in Ames after opening the Campustown location, but didn’t specify if when or where that would be located.

Freddy’s opens in an area already flooded with fast-casual options, but Young said that will

work to the restaurant’s advantage due to the heavy foot traffic nearby.

“We like being in areas where there are other restaurants that are doing well,” he said. “That means there’s a lot of trade in the area, and that’ll help us and we’ll help them.”

Young said the restaurant is targeting an open date in early November and expects to hire 35 to 60 full- and part-time employees.

CAMPUSTOWN EATS

Freddy’s Steakburgers to open in Campustown this fall

By Dan Mika, Staff Writer dmika@amestrib.com

F

reddy’s Steakburgers and Custard will be the next restaurant to open in Campustown later this fall, the chain

confirmed.

Franchise owner Mike Young said the restaurant is a fast casual family-friendly restaurant that makes all orders on demand.

He said Campustown was a target for Freddy’s due to its

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

ART TECH

Braucher starts Lasered LLC as creative outlet

By Ronna Lawless Staff Writer

D

oug Braucher was looking for a business that would fill a creative void in his life. He was looking for a niche.

He had done some handengraving and found it enjoyable and wondered how he could improve that process.

That’s when he decided to purchase a laser engraver and open a small business at his family’s farm northwest of Story City.

Thus, Lasered LLC began last spring.

“I work full-time as a molecular biologist, working on early vaccines for Boehringer Ingelheim,” Braucher said. “It’s very structured, and I enjoy it, but I wanted a side business that would let me explore my creativity.”

Doug and his wife, Kendra, a special education teacher in the Gilbert school district, portioned off part of their machine shed to accommodate the laser engraver. And they went to work, engraving everything from bench backs to drink tumblers.

Braucher has designed products with local themes: Norsemen, Scandinavian Days, Uff-da.

And he’s been commissioned to create a variety of personalized items, such as a tumbler that depicts a vintage Chevy named Agnes 2, which was given as a birthday gift to the owner of the beloved vehicle.

Doug and Kendra are both from Wisconsin and moved to the Ames area so he could attend graduate school at Iowa State.

When they moved to Iowa, they expected it would be temporary.

The pieces for this 3D airplane puzzle were cut by Doug Braucher’s laser.

PHOTO BY RONNA

LAWLESS

Kendra and Doug Braucher pose with their kids, Sam, Lillian and Ella. PHOTO BY RONNA LAWLESS

“But we love it here,” Kendra said. “This is where we want to stay. Story City is a wonderful community and now we can’t imagine living anywhere else.”

The Brauchers have three children, who are excited about the laser engraving business.

The oldest of the three, Sam, a Roland-Story fifthgrader, even created his fair project using the laser engraver.

Daughters Lillian, second grade, and Ella, preschool, have added some paint and artistic flair to some of Braucher’s test products.

Braucher is able to work with a large variety of

materials and shapes for the products he engraves.

Items can be up to 40 inches wide and can be any length. Materials can range from wood to metal to fabric. He can also etch glass and cut wood or paper pieces for puzzles and invitations.

“We shop locally for as many things as we can,” Doug Braucher said. “There are so many things you can get locally, like from the lumber yard here. And as a result, the prices I can offer often even beat pricing you could get from overseas.”

Braucher can be reached through his Lasered LLC Facebook page or by email at laseredllc@gmail.com.

A tumbler is custom made by the laser engraver at Lasered LLC. PHOTO

BY RONNA LAWLESS

OCTOBER 2017 | AMES BUSINESS MONTHLY | 7

Chamber Update OCTOBER 2017

Ames Main Street Farmers’ Market wraps up a successful season at end of October

October Market Hours: Saturdays 9:00a.m.-12:30p.m.

I

f you haven’t experienced a Saturday at the Ames Main Street Farmers’ Market yet this season, you’ve missed out. The good news is that you still have a month to stop down and experience all the local food, produce, music, and family fun the Market has to offer!

7KH SDVW ÂżYH PRQWKV RI WKH PDUNHW season welcomed beautiful weather, lots of fun, and exceptional attendance every

week. As the air becomes crisp and the leaves continue to change, visitors can look forward to local vendors sharing seasonal favorites such as peppers, carrots, melons and pumpkins, along with many of their other signature offerings.

Don’t miss the homemade pies, caramel DSSOHV EDNHG JRRGV DQG IDOO ÀDYRUV In October, the Market will begin one hour later and will be open from 9:00a.m.-12:30p.m.

Weekly entertainment including music and kid’s activities will continue in October. The Hovick Petting Zoo will be at the Market October 14th and Joyful Colorz will provide free face painting on the 7th. The Chili Cook Off contest will also be held October 7th. Music in October includes Virginia Creeper, Elizabeth Zimmerman, Mississippi Jake, Ace Jones and Ryan Sheeler. So be sure to stop down to Main Street sometime in October - There is always something for the entire family to enjoy at the Market!

The Market is grateful to the following sponsors who have made this past season possible: Iowa State University, Ames Chamber of Commerce, Ames Convention and Visitors Bureau, Ames Ford Lincoln, Wells Fargo Bank, Converse Conditioned Air, Barilla and Stoltze & Stoltze Family Denistry. The market is also supported by the Ames Convention & Visitors Bureau Community Grant Program.

To keep up to date on weekly vendors, kids’ activities and special events at the Market please bookmark www.

AmesMainStreetFarmersMarket.com and become a fan on Facebook (Ames Main Street Farmers’ Market) or follow the Market on Twitter (AmesFarmersMkt).

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.

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

AMES CHAMBER OF COMMERCE | OCTOBER 2017

LEADERSHIP

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.

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OCTOBER 2017 | AMES BUSINESS MONTHLY | 9

AMES CHAMBER OF COMMERCE | OCTOBER 2017

GOVERNMENT RELATIONS

Vote your Voice: The 2017 City Election is here

A

bsentee voting for the November 7th City Election has yet to begin, but registered voters can request an absentee ballot at any time, and one will be sent as soon as the Absentee Voting Period begins in late September. Throughout the absentee voting period, voters can also vote at the $XGLWRUÂśV 2IÂżFH ORFDWHG DW WK 6WUHHW in Nevada, during their regular business hours of 8:00am-5:00pm. On Election 'D\ 1RYHPEHU WK WKH $XGLWRUÂśV 2IÂżFH will be open from 8:00am-11:00am for registered voters residing in areas where polling site do not open until noon.

For those wishing to submit an absentee ballot, an electronic copy of the Absentee Ballot Request Form is available via: http://www.storycountyiowa.gov/DocuPHQW&HQWHU 9LHZ $GGLWLRQDO LQIRUmation on the absentee voting process can be found at: http://www.storycountyiowa. gov/FAQ.aspx?TID=42 and https://sos. iowa.gov/elections/electioninfo/absenteeinfo.html. Once submitted, Absentee Ballots can be tracked via: https://sos.iowa. gov/elections/absenteeballotstatus/search. aspx.

Those hoping to submit their ballot while serving in the military or overseas can do so by completing the following form: https://www.fvap.gov/uploads/ FVAP/Forms/fpca2013.pdf. Additional information on the Federal Voting Assistance Program is available via: https:// www.fvap.gov/.

As of the drafting of this article, polling places for the City Election have yet to be released, but check the Ames Chamber of Commerce website and Weekly Updates for up-to-date listings.

Though absentee ballots are not yet available for the November 7th City Election, voters can request an absentee ballot for the City Election at any time. Once the ballots are ready and available, they will be sent to all individuals who have

requested one, along with instructions for completing the ballot and returning it to the County Auditor.

7KH ÂżQDO GD\ WR UHTXHVW DQ DEVHQtee ballot for the City Election is Friday, November 3rd. Absentee ballots received in the mail can be returned by the following methods: By mail: the ballot will need to be mailed to the Auditor in the envelope provided with a postmark no later than Monday, September 11th for the School ElecWLRQ DQG 0RQGD\ 1RYHPEHU WK IRU WKH City Election.

In person: ballots may be delivered to WKH $XGLWRUÂśV 2IÂżFH XQWLO SP RQ HLWKHU Election Day. By designee: an individual may des-

ignate someone to mail or deliver their ballot. The instructions included in the Absentee Ballot packet include a receipt for this method. Designees must adhere to the same requirements listed above for returning the ballot by mail or in person.

Those needing to register to vote will QHHG WR ÂżOO RXW DQG VXEPLW D 9RWHU 5HJLVtration Form: http://www.storycountyiowa.gov/DocumentCenter/Home/View/270 and return it via mail or direct delivery to the Story County Auditor at 900 Sixth Street, Nevada, IA 50201.

Iowa residents can also register to vote/ change their registration online via the following link: https://mymvd.iowadot.gov/ Account/Login?ReturnUrl=%2fVoterReg istration.

The registration deadline for the City Election is 5:00pm on Friday, October 27th. Iowa residents can also register to vote on Election Day at their respective polling place via Iowa’s Same Day Registration Law. Registrants will be required to show proof of residence and identity prior to registering. Additional information on Election Day Voting is available via: http:// www.storycountyiowa.gov/DocumentCenter/Home/View/1393 and https://sos.iowa. gov/elections/voterinformation/edr.html.

As engaged and informed residents of Ames and Story County, please take the time to participate in this year’s School and City Elections and empower yourself by voting your voice.

Ames Chamber and AfďŹ liate staff ‡ Dan Culhane, President and CEO

Street Cultural District

‡Andrea Hammes Dodge, Director, Public Relations

& Government Relations

‡ Sarah Buss, Director, Sponsorship and Membership Events

‡ %UHQGD 'U\HU Director, Workforce Solutions

‡ Cindy Hicks, Main Street Cultural District Executive Director

‡ Brandon Mumm, Director, External Business Relations

‡ Amy Howard, Vice President, Finance & Operations

‡Lojean Petersen, Ames Main Street Farmers’ Market Manager

‡ Karin Chitty, Campustown Action Association Executive Director ‡ Edana Delagardelle, Event Coordinator, Main

‡ John Hall, Director, Business Development & Marketing ‡ Ron Hallenbeck, Executive Vice President

‡ Drew Kamp, Director, Business Retention/Expansion

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

AMES CHAMBER OF COMMERCE | OCTOBER 2017

GOVERNMENT RELATIONS

Ames Mayor and City Council Candidate Forum to be held Oct. 6

Chamber to host Coffee with the City Candidates

P

lease join your fellow Ames Chamber of Commerce members for an informal, open conversation with Ames Mayor and City Council candidates from 7:30am-8:30am at the Ames Chamber of Commerce. Details for each event can be found on the Ames Chamber of Commerce website, www.AmesChamber.com. Pastries and coffee will be available free of charge.

The schedule for these events is: Tuesday, October 10th Ames Mayoral Candidate John Haila

O

Q )ULGD\ 2FWREHU WK IURP 11:30am-2:00pm at the City Church of Ames-Des Moines, located at 2400 Oakwood Road, Ames Mayoral Candidates John Haila and Victoria Szopinski, and City Council Candidates Gloria Betcher, Amber Corrieri, Rob Bowers, and David Martin will be featured at the Ames Mayor and City Council Candidate Forum. The Forum will be hosted by KASI, the Ames Tribune, and the Iowa State Daily and presented by the Ames Chamber of Commerce. The event will be broadcast live on 1430 KASI with KASI News Director Trent Rice, Ames Tribune Publisher Scott Anderson, and Iowa State Daily Editor Emily Barske serving as moderators.

As the November 7th City Election inches closer, this event will provide the candidates an opportunity to address attendees, KASI listeners, and Ames Tribune and Iowa State Daily readers in an open forum. It will also be an excellent way to inform voters of their campaign platforms and vision for the City of Ames.

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

If you wish to attend or have any questions regarding the Forum, please contact 'UHZ .DPS DW RU E\ HPDLO at drew@ameschamber.com. If you wish to submit a question, please send it to Drew at the contact information listed above to ensure it is asked at the event.

Finally, the Ames Chamber of Commerce would like to thank to our generous 2017 sponsors: Taking Leadership Legislative Sponsors Converse Conditioned Air Des Moines Area Community College First National Bank Midland Power Cooperative Renewable Energy Group Legislative Lunch Sponsors Greater Iowa Credit Union Harold Pike Construction Roseland, Mackey, Harris Architects VenuWorks Workiva

Thursday, October 12th Ames City Council Ward 3 Candidate Rob Bowers Wednesday, October 18th Ames City Council At-Large Candidate Amber Corrieri Thursday, October 19th Ames City Council Ward 3 Candidate David Martin Tuesday, October 31st Ames City Council Ward 1 Candidate Gloria Betcher

ski

Thursday, November 2nd Ames Mayoral Candidate Victoria Szopin-

THANK YOU TO OUR 2017 INNER CIRCLE SPONSORS

O C T O B E R 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 | OCTOBER 2017

October calendar Sunday

Monday

Tuesday

Wednesday

1

2

3

4

Thursday

5

Friday

Saturday

6

7 11:30 a.m.: Mayor and Council Candidate Forum

8

9

10

7:30 a.m.: Coffee with the Candidate - John Haila (C)

Columbus Day

15

16

4:30 p.m.: Loya’s Little House Bed & Breakfast (R/C)

17 4:30 p.m.: Windsor Oaks Senior Living (R/C)

22

23

24

Chamber Board

29

30

11 4:30 p.m.: Leadership Series Capstone Event

12

13

1 p.m.: Crafts & Draughts (CAA)

14 9am: Ames Main

7:30 a.m.: Coffee with the Candidate - Rob Bowers (C)

Street Farmers’ Market (300 & 400 blocks Main Street)

4:30 p.m.: First National Bank (BAH)

18

19

7:30 a.m.: Coffee with the Candidate - Amber Corrieri (C)

7:30 a.m.: Coffee with the Candidate - David Martin (C)

25

26

9am: Ames Main Street Farmers’ Market (300 & 400

20

21

27

28

AEDC Board

9am: Ames Main Street Farmers’ Market (300 & 400 blocks Main Street)

9am: Ames Main Street Farmers’ Market (300 & 400 blocks Main Street)

31

7:30 a.m.: Coffee with the Candidate - Gloria Betcher (C)

4:30 p.m.: Best Western Plus University Park Inn & Suites (C)

Halloween 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

LAST MONTH OF THE SEASON!

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

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

AMES CHAMBER OF COMMERCE | OCTOBER 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.

Coe’s Floral and Gifts 2619 Northridge Pkwy

Not only does this opportunity get people to your place of business, but it offers a unique networking environment in addition to some great marketing. So what are you waiting for? Contact Brandon Mumm at Brandon@ameschamber. com or call 232-2310, to schedule your Ribbon Cutting today!

✂ Green Hills Retirement Community 2200 Hamilton Drive #100

O C T O B E R 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 | OCTOBER 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 Bonnie Brown, Global State Mortgage 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 Colette Gunhus, Keeling Wealth Advisors Tom Haggas, Cheshire Moon Films Jeff Harrison, Midwest Heritage Bank

Integrity Construction Services

Sherry Hosteng, RE/MAX Real Estate

623 E. Lincoln Way

Ashley Howe, Xpanxion Sharon Johnson, RE/MAX Real Estate 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 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

Iowa State Center - Kitchen Remodel 102 Scheman Building

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

AMES CHAMBER OF COMMERCE | OCTOBER 2017

C HA M B E R

MEMBERS Thank you to the following members who have donated 10 percent more than their annual dues for Chamber projects:

3M Bethany Life Converse Conditioned Air Fast Signs Iowa State University Kasperbauer Cleaners Inc. Kevin Kimle Individual Members 1st Credit Union Renewable Energy Group Tasteful Dinners / Tasteful Catering The Grove at Ames 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.

Welcome, new Ames Chamber members Century 21 Signature Real Estate, located at 1615 Golden Aspen Dr, #104, is driven by the goal to be the most admired real estate company in central Iowa for our exceptional client services, unrivaled professionalism, and world class marketing innovations. For more information, please visit www.iowa21.com or call 515.233.2623 Towne Place Suites by Marriott Ames, located at 1532 S Dayton, is an extended stay hotel where you can balance work and life with the comfort, flexibility and affordability you require. Relax and feel at home with a fully equipped kitchen and high-speed Internet access.

Stop in anytime or call 515.232.5500 when seeking your next overnight room or meeting space needs.

Neighbors Heating, Cooling, and Plumbing, provides heating, cooling, plumbing, geothermal & radon testing and mitigation for their clients. For over 25 years, they’ve provided the highest quality of products, along with professionally trained expert service technicians to deliver great value. Visit them at 2700 Graham St., www.neighborscomfort.com, or call 515.232.7777 for more information.

Goodwill Industries of Central Iowa, has been serving central Iowa communities since 1955. Serving 22 counties and 19 retail stores, they improve the quality of life for all individuals by providing skills training and assist those needing employment. Goodwill reinvests .88 of every dollar back into programs & training. For more information, visit them at 3718 Lincoln Way or call 515.292.8454.

Shelly Billings, Individual Member Gina McAndrews, Individual Member Brandi Nelson, 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 Brandon Mumm 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).

OCTOBER 2017 | AMES BUSINESS MONTHLY | 15

AMES CHAMBER OF COMMERCE | OCTOBER 2017

WORKFORCE SOLUTIONS

IowaWORKS 2017 Story County Career Fair

I

owaWORKS Central Iowa is holding a Career Fair on Wednesday, Sept. 27 from 10 a.m. to noon at the Ames Public Library.

IowaWORKS 2017 Story County Career Fair Wednesday, Sept. 27

10 a.m. to Noon Ames Public Library 515 Douglas Ave, Ames More than 20 top employers representing a wide variety of industries will be available to meet with job seekers to disFXVV FXUUHQW MRE RSHQLQJV LQ ¿HOGV VXFK DV

KHDOWK FDUH ¿QDQFH HGXFDWLRQ DQG PDQXfacturing.

Job seekers should bring copies of their resume and be prepared to meet a future employer.

Prior to attending the career fair, job seekers interested in receiving free resume and interviewing help should contact the

,RZD:25.6 RI¿FH DW 7KH RI¿FH LV ORFDWHG DW ( *UDQG $YH LQ Des Moines.

Employers interested in participating in the career fair should call IowaWORKS at RU HPDLO WKH FDUHHU IDLU FRRUdinator at asgdish.fellake@iwd.iowa.gov.

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

AMES CHAMBER OF COMMERCE | OCTOBER 2017

Young Professionals of Ames

G

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

'ET )NVOLVED 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!

"ACKPACK 0ROGRAM

Lunch and Learns: Young Professionals of Ames has a long-standing history of quality lunch and learn sessions for members to take part in. Combining networking time with a topic of interest means members can maximize their lunch hour.

In July, Terry Stark, Owner of Chocolaterie Stam Ames spoke to Young Professionals of Ames for our July Lunch & Learn about how to create winning teams. Terry shared how he trains and organizes teams for success. And of course, he shared some amazing chocolates for us to eat!

Young Professionals of Ames packaged 71 bags of toiletry items during month of August to be delivered to local elementary students in need.

Young Professionals of Ames has partnered with The United Way of Story County for the backpack program! This program provides food and hygiene products to 252 elementary children in need throughout the Story County area. Every month the YPA will collect enough travel sized shampoo, conditioner, soap, deodorant, tooth paste, and toothbrushes to provide these children with these necessities.

If you would like to contribute travel sized toiletries, please drop off any of the items to the following locations through end of October: The Ames Chamber of Commerce 304 Main Street Ames, IA 50010 Haverkamp Properties 4720 Mortensen road Suite 105 Ames, IA 50014 Friendship Ark Homes & Community Services 130 S. Sheldon ave.

Ames, Iowa 50014

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

Thank you to our 2017 YPA sponsors

Thursday After Work events: or ThAWs are YPA socials held monthly at a Chamber business where members and non-members can meet each other and network, as well as enjoy some free appetizers! We will hold a prize drawing at every ThAW this year for those in attendance. Are you feeling lucky?

4OTALLY 2AD S 0ROM 'ONE "AD Totally Rad 80’s Prom Gone Bad: A Night of Mullets and Mystery Date: Friday October 13th Location: Hilton Garden Inn, Ames Members will enjoy a night of Mullets and Mystery.

For more information please visit the YP Ames website at www.ypames.com and go to the events page.

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

Connect with YPA Visit www.ypames.com for upcoming events, committee openings and volunteer opportunities.

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

AMES CHAMBER OF COMMERCE | OCTOBER 2017

MAIN STREET CULTURAL DISTRICT

Ames tech company uses volunteerism to build positive workplace culture and benefit community

Global VetLINK employees at Young Professionals of Ames event

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small tech company in Ames has found a way to create a positive workplace culture that not only retains the best employees, but DOVR EHQHÂżWV WKH HQWLUH FRPPXQLW\ ,WÂśV done through volunteerism and is a concept that starts with the top management.

Leading by example is one way Cliff Smith, CEO of GlobalVetLINK (GVL) and past president of the Main Street Cultural District (MSCD), creates the type of workplace culture which helps his company keep employees happy. Smith, recognized in September with the Iowa Governor’s Volunteer Award, knows happy employees are engaged employees, and engaged employees are essential to the success of GVL. Smith was nominated for the Governor’s Volunteer Award for his work with the MSCD. He has dedicated over 100 hours a year, for the past three years, serving the nationally-accredited program dedicated to economic development, historic SUHVHUYDWLRQ DQG EHDXWL¿FDWLRQ RI GRZQtown Ames. ³&OLII KDV GHPRQVWUDWHG VLJQL¿FDQW leadership for the local program and downtown revitalization effort,� said Michael Wagler, Main Street Iowa State CoordinaWRU ³, VSHFL¿FDOO\ WKRXJKW RI &OLII IRU WKH

award for his leadership and personal and professional investment of his time, talents, and resources.â€? )RU ÂżIWHHQ \HDUV 6PLWK KDV GRQDWHG KLV skills and experiences to help others start and grow their own business. But it isn’t about money, it’s about the impact a new business can have on a community. “It is about creating opportunities for people to impact the lives of others either economically through job creation, or socially through a new experience,â€? Smith said.

By helping create a better community, Smith feels he helps create a better place for his employees to live, work, and play.

In 2014, GVL established a “Cultural Committee� consisting of employees wanting to help improve the moral and culture of GVL. Initially, this group’s focus was on organizing team-building events and social events like bowling and a day at a minor league baseball game.

But it wasn’t long before the committee proposed that employees be organized in to teams that would spend half to a full ZRUN GD\ YROXQWHHULQJ RXWVLGH WKH RI¿FH at local charities. It was an idea quickly embraced by the management. ³:H GLVFRYHUHG WKDW ZH KDG DQ DI¿QLW\ to want to help and that doing this together

Dr. Chamberlin also says happy employees help companies they work for stay novel, relevant and adaptive within their respective industries. A 2017 Gallup Poll, State of the American Workplace, EDFNV WKLV XS ÂżQGLQJ KDSS\ ZRUNHUV DUH absent from work 41 percent less and are 17 percent more productive. The survey showed businesses that did the best job of engaging employees and keeping them KDSS\ KDG SHUFHQW JUHDWHU SURÂżWDELOLW\ and 20 percent higher sales.

The Gallup Poll also shows businesses that operate like GVL have an easier time keeping employees, with 59 percent less turnover. “Employee engagement makes it less likely that employees will quit their jobs, reducing the costs associated with recruiting, hiring, and training new employees,�

Dr. Chamberlin said.

And while 51 percent of American Cliff Smith, CEO of GlobalVetLINK companies have this problem, it is almost non-existent for GVL. The company has enabled us to form bonds we weren’t able WR IRUP DW WKH ERZOLQJ DOOH\ RU LQ WKH RIÂżFH very little turnover, which Smith attributes, working together,â€? said Smith. “Today the in part, to the company’s “peopleâ€? philosophy. His employees agree. employees encourage each other to get “GVL is very involved in the wellinvolved in a number of ways.â€? being of their employees, and always do The time spent volunteering can be in large or small blocks of time, but the teams right by people,â€? said Christian Hempen, are encouraged to do the volunteer activity GVL employee. “Personal development goals are of the utmost importance, and together. Volunteer activities ranged from achievement of those goals is celebrated.

Habitat for Humanity and toy drives to GVL gives you all the tools that you need PDNLQJ EODQNHWV DW WKH RI¿FH WR GRQDWH WR to be successful.�

Blank Children’s Hospital.

Other employees use words like “col“It just seems that the kind of peolaborative� and “passionate� to describe ple who choose to work at GVL have a desire to help,� said Smith. “This desire is the culture at GVL. They work hard, they have fun, and the result has spilled over engrained in our culture and core values.�

5HVHDUFK FRQÂżUPV ZKDW *9/ KDV VHHQ into the community of Ames through the volunteerism of GVL employees. Some ÂżUVW KDQG $ ZRUN DWPRVSKHUH ZLWK JRRG promote events like a blood drive and ask culture and employee “happiness,â€? is for volunteers, some get involved with linked to an increase in employee engageprograms like Leadership Ames or Main ment and retention, and as a result, an Street Cultural District, while others creLQFUHDVH LQ SURÂżWV ate teams to participate in charitable events “Happy employees tend to be better like Race for the Cure. GVL also allows performers and have higher productivemployees to use its meeting facilities to ity than less happy employees,â€? said Dr. host leadership, planning, and commitMelissa Chamberlin, Assistant Professor tee meetings for community, religious and of Management, Iowa State University. charitable causes. “They are more likely to engage in cre“It is all about the people,â€? Smith said. ative thinking and apply a broader range of “We provide people an opportunity to do ideas or solutions to issues that arise in the what they love and love what they do.â€? workplace.â€?

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

AMES CHAMBER OF COMMERCE | OCTOBER 2017

CAMPUSTOWN ACTION ASSOCIATION

SSMID Informational Meeting September 28th There will be an informational meeting regarding the proposed Campustown SSMID (Self Supported Municipal Improvement District) held on Thursday, September 28th at 30 LQ WKH &DPSXVWRZQ $FWLRQ $VVRFLDWLRQÂśV RIÂżFH ORFDWHG DW 6WDQWRQ 7KH PHHWLQJ LV RSHQ WR WKH SXEOLF DQG all Campustown property owners are encouraged to attend.

Contact Karin Chitty at director@amescampustown.com for more information.

ART CLASSES PAINT YOUR OWN POTTERY WALK-IN CRAFTS

Campustown Gets Crafty

T open to everyone event calendar @ workspace.mu.iastate.edu find us in the east basement

he second annual Crafts & Draughts in Campustown is scheduled for Saturday, October 7th IURP 30 7KH HYHQW ZLOO IHDture crafting projects led by staff from The Workspace. “We are so lucky to have Letitia and her group leading the crafts. “This is what they love to do‌and it shows.â€? said Karin Chitty, director of the Campustown Action Association. The Workspace, located in the Iowa State Memorial Union, offers classes to students, faculty and staff at ISU as well as members of the communiW\ RYHU WKH DJH RI 7KHLU DUW VWXGLRV KDYH something for everyone and they feature a new walk-in craft every month. There will be a variety of crafting projects for all ages at this year’s Crafts & Draughts.

The event will take place in the 200 block of Welch Avenue in Campustown Ames. There will also be live music

throughout the afternoon. Jason Walsmith will play from 1-3PM and Brian Congdon ZLOO WDNH WKH VWDJH IURP 30 %RWK DUWists 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 availDEOH IRU SXUFKDVH <RX PLJKW HYHQ ÂżQG D few free samples if you get there early on. A beer garden featuring local craft brews will round out the offerings at this yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s event. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Last yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s event was very well receivedâ&#x20AC;?, states Chitty. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We will be bringing back a few favorites, but weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve also tried to incorporate new ideas. We think Crafts & Draughts 2017 will be even better.â&#x20AC;?

The event is free and open to the public.

Watch the Campustown Action Association Facebook page for updates and sneak peeks.

OCTOBER 2017 | AMES BUSINESS MONTHLY | 19

BEAUTY

Makeup studio to open in Sheldon Munn corner

By Dan Mika, Staff Writer dmika@amestrib.com

A Des Moines-based makeup salon will move into the Sheldon Munn’s floor space at the corner of Main Street and Kellogg Avenue later this fall.

Powder Studio, co-owned by makeup artist Kelly Kasper and local hair salon owner Joshua Duchene, will focus on selling makeup and other beauty products, along with offering classes, photoshoots and appointments for weddings and other special events.

“We’re wanting to help empower people through cosmetics and enhancing beauty and making people feel beautiful,” Kasper said.

Kasper said the store is still waiting for tables and displays to arrive, but expects to open within four to five weeks.

The store will specialize in selling products from cosmetic company Smashbox. Duchene said Powder Studio would be the second free-standing store in the country selling those products, the other being in Venice Beach, Calif.

Duchene, who also owns Valor and Violet just west on Main Street and is a coowner of Baffles Bar and Event Center in south Ames, said the shop will put cosmetics at the forefront instead of making it a complement to hairstyling or other salon services.

“It gets put on the backburner,” he said. “It’s kind of

like when hair salons try to be spas and all these other things and there’s too much going on… there needs to be an area where women and girls have a place to go that they can be taught all the new trends.”

The pair expect to hire six makeup artists and a few receptionists.

Duchene hopes Powder Studio will attract Iowa State students to come to Main Street more often, which he said in turn would drive more foot traffic.

“I think a lot of college kids don’t know about this area, and I think when you start to bring in a younger crowd it actually intrigues older people to see what’s going on,” he said.

Powder Studio co-owners Josh Duchene, left, and Kelly Kasper, outside their store’s upcoming location on Main Street. The makeup studio is expected to open within the next four to five weeks. PHOTO BY DAN MIKA/AMES TRIBUNE

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

BRAMMER

When you lose a spouse W

hether it’s sudden or after a lengthy illness, there’s nothing that can prepare you for losing your spouse. Grief and mourning affect each of us uniquely, but all widows and widowers share a painful dilemma: On the one hand, the world seems to demand rapid response to a barrage of critical questions – financial and otherwise. On the other hand, it’s usually a terrible time to be making big decisions.

Here are some helpful handholds to hang onto if you have been recently widowed (or you know someone who has.)

IF YOU’VE JUST BEEN WIDOWED Don’t decide anything you don’t have to — especially about your finances.

This may seem like odd advice from a financial advisor. Our usual role is to help people make sound money decisions and get on with their lives. The thing is, when you’re experiencing grief,

Nate Brammer

it’s not just an emotion.

It’s a biological process affecting your ability to make rational decisions regarding

your financial interests.

Even small choices can feel overwhelming, let alone the big ones. That’s why our advice at this time is to put off anything that can wait.

By the way, most financial decisions are NOT as urgent as they might seem.

Remember, service providers, friends and family (who may also be grieving) may mean well.

But their sense of urgency — and your own — may be off-kilter.

Basically, unless all heck is about to break loose if you fail to act,

give yourself a break and assume most financial decisions can wait.

Create the space to focus on matters that actually are urgent.

Putting long-term plans on hold also helps create space to take care of the essentials, such as making funeral arrangements, managing immediate expenses, and simply taking care of yourself and your dependents.

Do make sure you’ve got enough cash flow available to make daily purchases and pay your bills, so these don’t become a source of added stress. Gather critical paperwork such as any pre-planned funeral arrangements, and multiple copies of the death certificate. It’s also best to ensure your and your children’s healthcare coverage remains in place. Let everything else slide for a little while.

Lean on others, even if you don’t usually.

You don’t have to go it alone.

For practical and emotional

support, turn to friends, family, clergy and similar relationships.

For financial and legal paperwork, contact professionals such as your financial advisor, CPA, attorney and insurance agent.

Focus on relationships that help relieve your burden and avoid those that burn up your limited energy. Be cautious about forming brand new relationships at this time.

AFTER A LITTLE TIME HAS PASSED

Assess where you’re at.

Once you feel ready to take on some of the mid- and long-range logistics, slow and steady remain the ways to go. It can be helpful and cleansing to start by gathering up your scattered resources.

Wills and trusts, insurance policies, financial statements, personal identification, mortgages, retirement benefits, safety deposit box contents, business paperwork, military service records, club memberships …

Whether on paper or online, take stock of what you’ve got.

Reach out.

Continue reaching out to others to address your evolving needs. Turn to your advisor

for assistance in organizing your investment accounts, (shifting ownerships as needed, closing or consolidating unnecessary ones), and sorting through your spouse’s retirement and work benefits. Work with a lawyer for settling the estate. Meet with an insurance specialist to revisit your healthcare coverage. Speak with your accountant about the necessary tax filings. Contact creditors about resolving any outstanding debts. Firm up your ongoing banking and bill-payment routines.

When it comes to lifetime transitions, each of us is on our own schedule. But eventually, the time will come when you’re ready to circle back to those larger decisions you put on hold. Whether you determine everything is fine or adjustments are warranted, wait until you’re at a place in which you can make these sorts of decisions deliberately instead of in haste.

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

EXPANSION

Draintech to break ground on new $3 million facility planned, and we went more excessive on all the details,” he said. “I’m very particular, meaning we want to do this once ocal plumbing company and do it right.”

Draintech has announced He said the company outgrew plans to expand into a new 25,000-square-foot facility in the its current 5,400-square-footfacility on Ford Street, which southeast corner of Ames. was built in 1997 and built for Co-owner Mike Badger said $200,000. the new seven-acre location on “We have so much stuff stored South Bell Avenue will be enough exterior right now, we want to for his company to expand get it all underneath one roof,” on-site for the next several years. he said.

The new $3 million building will Plans were to break ground house Draintech’s ongoing shop on the new facility earlier this operations and act as a showmonth. room for products it sells to Badger said the company may nearby companies. add two or three new employees “We went larger than we

By Dan Mika, Staff Writer dmika@amestrib.com

L

about a year after it settles into the new building.

The new facility will take about six to eight months to build, and Badger expects it to be completed by March.

Badger said the new building is a reinvestment in the city after Draintech opened in 1983, and he expects to keep the company in town for decades to come.

“We want to make sure this will be our last location and ultimately take us through retirement,” he said. “To go from a $200,000 building 20 years ago to jumping to a $3 million location is definitely an exciting jump.”

Renderings of the upcoming Draintech building. The building is expected to open next spring. CONTRIBUTED ART

OCTOBER 2017 | AMES BUSINESS MONTHLY | 21

ENTREPRENEURS

Ames High senior, graduate to launch hair product startup

By Dan Mika, Staff Writer dmika@amestrib.com

A

n Ames native and an Ames High School senior are working together to start a hair product line targeting salons and hotels in both Iowa and California.

Matt Boylan, president of Plex Products and a 2012 Ames High graduate, and Alex Haislip, an AHS senior and sales representative for the company, got the idea for the pomade from a friend who swam with them. They wanted to have hair product that didn’t take up space in their bags and lockers, so they decided to put the pomade in singleserving packets.

The two met at the DECA club at Ames High and got into business despite Boylan having graduated and moved out of state to attend the

University of San Diego. The company’s strategy revolves around designing the packets holding the product and distributing them, while handing off the production of the hair product itself to a manufacturer.

“We can’t get in our dorm and cook stuff up,” Boylan said with a laugh.

The pomade already has approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and is undergoing Transportation Security Administration review to be allowed aboard planes.

Boylan said the products are being marketed to customers with active lifestyles.

“You can keep these in your car, in your gym bag, when you’re going for a bike ride, for a run, any time you want to use hair product outside of your home and your bathroom, this is a comfortable and convenient

manner,” he said.

The pair intend to reach out to local salons and barber shops to offer samples, and are in talks to stock their product at local Walmarts and Hy-Vees.

Haislip said the company is also preparing to pitch the product to hotels, including Grand Stay Hotel and AmericInn, as part of their line of single-serve amenities.

Boylan hopes to expand the company’s product line to shampoo, soap and other toiletries over the next several years, and to get distribution in nationwide big-box stores.

But in the meantime, the two and their business partners are preparing for their first sales push in just a few weeks.

“We’re like three weeks away from launching,” Haislip said. “We’re just waiting on our final bulk to get finished.”

Ames High School senior Alex Hailslip, left, and AHS graduate Matt Boylan, right, show off their pomade packets. PHOTO BY DAN MIKA/AMES TRIBUNE

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

BRIMEYER

How much time off?

A

hot topic in the business news recently is the trend of companies offering employees “unlimited vacation.”

Did you flinch the first time you heard that? (I did.)

But as Albert Einstein stated, “If at first the idea is not absurd, then there is no hope for it.” This doesn’t mean that every crazy idea should be pursued, but rather that significant, positive change starts with ideas that are initially outside of our existing paradigms.

Won’t people take advantage of the situation? In Love & Profit, former Meredith CEO James Autry defines bad policies as “those written to keep everyone from doing what only a few people are going to do … and they’re going to do it anyway.” In other words, those “special” people will provide you with multiple reasons to fire them.

For most of us, when and how much time off we take is dictated more by workload and perhaps personal situations outside of our

control (e.g., illness) than by the number of hours we’ve accrued.

Tax accountants Rick Brimeyer know a Spring Break trip is not in the cards for them regardless of how many vacation hours they have in the bank.

In fact, opponents rightfully suggest the “unlimited vacation” policy can be manipulative if the culture is one of overloading employees with work and making folks feel guilty for taking time off. They point to data from multiple organizations that implemented the flexible policy and had employees actually take less time off.

Thus, for a win-win situation to exist, the organization must truly value, preach and (most importantly) demonstrate the value of recharging. This includes leaders modeling time off.

The benefits for organizations can be significant, both in measurable and intangible areas:  Savings associated with not buying back unused time off from employees who were already paid full wages while working at less-than-peak levels because their batteries were drained.  Savings associated with not tracking and categorizing time off (sick, bereavement, jury duty, vacation, etc.) to the fractional hour.  Increased innovation and vigor resulting from physically and emotionally rested employees.

Perhaps even more important than how much time is taken off is how that time off is actually used. Many times I’ve shaken my

head in sadness while observing some poor soul lost in their laptop at the beach or the pool.

Increased capability of smart phones increases the subtlety as well as the frequency of this condition. That’s not time off, but rather exotic telecommuting.

Several years ago while on vacation I dove into my email on a Thursday afternoon in hopes of managing the backlog I would return to the following Monday.

From that moment on, I transitioned out of time off mode to work mode. “Never again!” I swore.

As a sole proprietor now, I confess that I’ve modified that a bit. Prior to leaving, I let existing clients know that I will be gone but available via cell phone in case of a true emergency.

They respect that; in eight years I recall a single call (and it was a true emergency). I quickly check my email inbox daily simply to determine if a new client is “entering the shop for the first time.” If so, I send them a short note explaining the situation and that I will get back to them.

Time off offers everyone — managers and employees — unique opportunities to see

the big picture. It’s why strategic planning sessions are best held off-site. There’s something about sitting on a deck at sunset and enjoying a unique landscape that’s conducive to clear thinking, to exploring high level strategic questions:  Are the most important relationships in my life growing stronger or weaker?  How is my work/life balance scale currently tilted?  Is the vision for my company (department) still valid?  Are the strategies for reaching that vision working?

Make sure that you and your employees are truly taking time away from work to recharge. The organization with survive the week (even two) and will be much stronger long term.

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.

SPORTS MEDICINE

ISU Department of Athletics, McFarland Clinic announce relationship for sports medicine care

By Tribune Staff

I

owa State University Department of Athletics and McFarland Clinic are teaming up to provide comprehensive sports medicine care for Cyclone student-athletes.

McFarland Clinic physicians will serve as the official team physicians for Iowa State student-athletes.

McFarland’s team of sports medicine physicians includes primary care physicians,

orthopedic surgeons, and additional specialists needed in the care of specific sports-related injuries or overall performance.

“We are thrilled to collaborate with McFarland Clinic to provide world-class health care for the Cyclones,” said Jamie Pollard, ISU director of athletics. “In today’s environment, student-athletes are focused on their health care, nutritional needs and strength and conditioning goals more than ever before.

“Our relationship with

McFarland Clinic ensures that our players will receive the best care available in a convenient and efficient manner.”

Two McFarland physicians, Sarah Bancroft and Marc Shulman, are the primary care team physicians and will provide medical care and game day coverage for ISU student-athletes. Bancroft and Shulman, recently joined the McFarland Clinic team and both are trained in sports medicine primary care.

“It is an honor and privilege for

McFarland Clinic to formalize our commitment to provide medical care for Iowa State athletes,” said Andrew Perry, chief executive officer.

“Our ability to coordinate an athlete’s care through electronic medical records and the expertise of a wide range of specialists enhances the level of service and the overall health and well-being of an athlete.”

Bancroft recently served as the medical director of the sports medicine program at the IU

Health La Porte Hospital in La Porte, Ind. Prior to joining McFarland Clinic, Shulman served as ISU’s team physician for more than 20 years. Shulman completed his sports medicine/faculty development fellowship and his family medicine residency at the University of Massachusetts Medical Center.

McFarland Clinic board-certified orthopedic sports medicine surgeons Peter Buck, Tom Greenwald and Bryan Warme are the orthopedic specialists for ISU student-athletes.

These physicians are members of the McFarland Sports Medicine team and have had a long-standing commitment to ISU athletics providing medical care to the sports programs for more than 25 years.

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