AB AMES BUSINESS
MONTHLY F E B R U A R Y 2017
February Chamber Update
MARY GREELEY REACHES 2,000 ROBOT-ASSISTED SURGERIES SEE PAGE 21
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2 | AMES BUSINESS MONTHLY | FEBRUARY 2017
AMES BUSINESS
MONTHLY FEBRUARY 2017 Vol. 10, No. 2 AMES TRIBUNE Ames Business Monthly is a publication of the Ames Tribune, 317 Fifth St., Ames, IA, 50010; (515) 232-2160.
3 Ames man retires after 50 years at Hy-Vee 4 Battlecry to close North Grand location 5 Christmas Tree Farm sees record year 5 Blaze Pizza coming to Ames 6 City receives award for paving project 6 Local author publishes history of Campustown 7 February Chamber Update 19 Ames receives 4 grants from Iowa Department of Cultural Affairs
19 Merk, NewLink vaccine shows 100 percent protection 20 Love’s in Ellsworth opens for business 20 Iowa farmland prices fall for third-straight year 21 Mary Greeley reaches 2,000 robotassisted surgeries 22 Good receives honor from Iowa Farm Bureau Federation 22 Richard Brimeyer 23 Local sisters prepare to open wedding shop on Main Street
FEBRUARY 2017 | AMES BUSINESS MONTHLY | 3
CAREERS
Ames man retires after 50 years at Hy-Vee By Dan Mika
Staff Writer dmika@amestrib.com
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n a sunny Friday afternoon, George Moon is sitting at a table with balloons handing out slices of cake to customers coming into the West Ames Hy-Vee. His custom- “Over ers know him time, these by name, and he greets them people by theirs. He become like gives out handfamily. So shakes, gives a hug to the it’s tough woman who was his daugh- to retire, ter’s teacher because and talks to I know a man about his wife’s I won’t recent surgery. see these A group of firemen from people the Ames much Fire Department swing by anymore.” to give him a shirt and wish George Moon, him well. Former Hy-Vee “It’s been employee a great way to meet people,” he said, giving off a sly smile underneath his gray mustache. Moon retired in late December after working for Hy-Vee for 50 years, spending seven in Newton and 43 in Ames. Moon spent much of his childhood moving around the country with his family when his father was activated during the Korean War. His family eventually settled in Newton, where he grew up and went to high school. When he was 15, Moon became restless and wanted to go to work as soon as he could. “I had some friends that worked for Hy-Vee… and knew some people that worked for the competitors,” he said. “And it
George Moon inside the West Ames Hy-Vee. Moon retired in late December after 50 years working for the grocery company, 43 of them in Ames. PHOTO BY DAN MIKA/AMES TRIBUNE
seemed like the guys that were at Hy-Vee seemed the happiest.” Moon pestered the Newton store’s manager for a year, saying he wanted to work there as soon as he turned 16 and could be legally employed. Ten days after his 16th birthday, the store’s manager called him up, told him to put on a white shirt and tie and come down for his first day. Moon traveled around the midwest for a while after that, studying at community college and the University of Central Missouri. He later met his wife,
then a nursing student, and returned to her native Ames to try and finish his degree in marketing at Iowa State. He began working part-time while studying, but quickly preferred working at Hy-Vee than working on his degree and soon left to work full-time. “Once I got to Hy-Vee, it really didn’t matter,” he said. Moon said he has only two classes left before finishing his degree. He isn’t sure if he will return to complete it. Moon said the greatest
change in his half-century on the job has been the invention of bar scanners, which made stocking the shelves and pricing goods easier. “We used to have to manually change the prices on the items when a new ad came out,” he said. “Now, we can do it with a computer.” Moon plans to spend the first few weeks of his retirement visiting his daughters in Florida and his still-living parents, age 94 and 96, in Newton. He also plans spend a lot of time with
some of his grandchildren that live in the area. Although he’s happy to retire and spend time with his family, Moon’s going to miss his second family of customers and friends that visited him in the aisles of the West Ames Hy-Vee for decades. He said that second family was what made coming into work every day so pleasant. “Over time, these people become like family,” he said. “So it’s tough to retire, because I know I won’t see these people much anymore.”
4 | AMES BUSINESS MONTHLY | FEBRUARY 2017
RESTAURANT
Battlecry to close North Grand location Battlecry Iowa Smokehouse and Bar will be closing its North Ames location — at 823 Wheeler St. — after opening last summer. PHOTO
By Dan Mika, Staff Writer dmika@amestrib.com
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he future of Battlecry Iowa Smokehouse and Bar in Ames is uncertain as the restaurant prepares to close its North Grand location. The restaurant’s location in north Ames is closing due to low foot traffic, co-owner Chad Watkins said. He attributed the low traffic to a menu with new recipes and a staff that wasn’t “trained extremely well,” struggling to handle sometimes hectic nights. He also said the location was far from the usual hotspots in the city, making it less likely for people to walk in. “We didn’t succeed well enough in the first few months to get people to return and give us a shot,” he said. Watkins said more than half
BY GRAYSON SCHMIDT/AMES TRIBUNE
the staff at the North Grand location have already left, and the rest are either transferring to the original Campustown location or preparing to find new work. Watkins, who has been involved in the restaurant for seven years and has been a coowner since 2014, said the
original Campustown location will be his focus for the time being. However, Kum & Go has purchased Battlecry’s Welch Avenue building. Watkins said the future of the Campustown location is “up in the air.” Kum & Go is lobbying the city to rezone the Battlecry
building, he said. If unsuccessful, Kum & Go could continue to lease out the building to Battlecry or sell it. Since the restaurant is on a month-to-month lease, it would receive a 30-day notice to vacate if Kum & Go were to cancel the lease. But other than that, Watkins doesn’t know how long his restaurant will stay open in Campustown. “It could be a year, could be five years; it depends on the structure of Kum & Go’s movement towards building something there,” he said. If the restaurant were to lose its lease, Watkins said moving to another spot would depend on when he’d be asked to vacate. He said if Kum & Go cancels the lease within a year or two, it wouldn’t give him and other restaurant staff time to find a new
storefront in west Ames, Somerset or its current neighborhood. “I think we have the best barbeque in town, but if we don’t find the right spot, people will forget about us,” he said. Battlecry, which has been open under two different iterations for almost 30 years, has been the biggest project Watkins has taken on. He began his restaurant career 10 to 15 years ago working the Superdog cart in Campustown before becoming part-owner of that and Battlecry. But Watkins intends to continue on running restaurants in the area despite Battlecry’s troubles, saying Ames deserves plenty of food spots customers can’t find anywhere else. “People grow up in an area and they have a place they go to that doesn’t exist anywhere else,” he said. “When you lose a place that’s been around for 30 years and it’s comfortable for you and you know it, you miss it.”
FEBRUARY 2017 | AMES BUSINESS MONTHLY | 5
AGRICULTURE
RESTAURANT
Blaze Pizza coming to Ames By Grayson Schmidt
Staff Writer gschmidt@amestrib.com
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The Christmas Tree Farm in Maxwell saw record sales this year, with 370 trees sold.
PHOTO
BY MARLYS BAKER/NEVADA JOURNAL
Christmas Tree Farm sees record year By Grayson Schmidt, Staff Writer gschmidt@amestrib.com
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or local Christmas tree farmers, this past holiday season had a little something extra to be merry about: An increased interest in buying real trees. As the owner and operator of The Christmas Tree Farm in Maxwell, Sandra Hunter said the trend is not only good for business, but also shows people are putting more of an emphasis on the experience of picking out a tree, and establishing their own Christmas traditions. “It is increasing for sure; almost all the tree growers that I have talked to have had an increase in business,” Hunter said. Hunter opened The Christmas Tree Farm in 1998, and operates from the day after Thanksgiving until around Dec. 20. This season, Hunter said was her best yet, as she sold 370 trees, compared to 300 last year. And because she is only open for several weeks out of the year, she said that seeing that large of an increase in profit fits the increased amount of work she puts in each year. “A lot of growers are getting older, and they can’t do the work that’s required to maintain, because it’s not just the Christmas season that you’re working,” Hunter said. “There’s not too many young people that are interested in maintaining a Christmas tree farm.” What Hunter said is different about her farm is that she does not advertise. She has
established customers, and relies on wordof-mouth to bring in new ones, which she said adds to that family business feel. And once at the farm, she said it’s the entire atmosphere of picking out a tree from her farm that enhances the experience for families. At her farm, patrons can sip on lemonade or warm apple cider while they search for that perfect tree, and on several occasions, Santa made time to visit the farm and listen to children’s Christmas wishes. “There are a lot of people that I think are interested in starting family traditions, and coming to a tree farm is part of that tradition, and a fun holiday thing for families to do together,” Hunter said. “(The numbers) have never dipped. It’s gotten better every year, actually.” Every year, Hunter said she tries to focus on what worked in the previous season, and improve for the next year, whether that is by accepting credit cards or increasing parking. But one thing she said she enjoys every year more than anything else, is the appreciation of her customers. And those smiles of the families walking through her farm are what she said keeps her going every year. “I’ve had people tell me that one of the reasons they come is because they know all of the work that I put into it,” Hunter said. “(People) tell me that my trees look beautiful, and that is the biggest compliment because I work hard to get them to look beautiful.”
aul McCrae thought the Campustown area needed another pizza option. And less than a year after opening two locations in Des Moines, he will bring a new Blaze Pizza to Ames by late February at 2320 Lincoln Way. “Blaze Pizza is great by a college,” McCrae said. “We’ve had it on our radar since the beginning, so if we could’ve opened there first, we would have.” Blaze Pizza was started in 2011 in Pasadena, Calif., and McCrae — Blaze franchise partner — said that it is now the fastest-growing restaurant chain in the country, with roughly 180 locations across the U.S. and Canada. McCrae opened his first location in Des Moines this past July, and then opened another in West Des Moines earlier this month. Though McCrae initially wanted to start in Ames, he said July and December were not good times to introduce his restaurant to students. Despite being located less than a block from Jeff’s Pizza (which is widely considered an Ames and ISU staple), McCrae said he thinks Blaze’s price, preparation style, service and ingredients create enough separation in a competitive environment.
Blaze Pizza is set to open in February at 2320 Lincoln Way in Campustown. PHOTO BY GRAYSON SCHMIDT/AMES TRIBUNE
“I’ve eaten at Jeff’s before, and we’re a completely different style,” McCrae said. “People can come down, and make a pizza for themselves, and watch it being made and cooked in front of them. It’s a whole different atmosphere than just going into a pizza joint.” According to McCrae, Blaze is a “fast-casual” dining experience, in which customers can see employees construct the pizzas with the toppings of their choosing. Then once the pizza are made, customers can see them bake — for only 180 seconds — before they are ready to be served, and all for around $8. In addition to having pizzas made directly in front of you and baked all within roughly 8 minutes, McCrae said Blaze also has a phone app, which allows people to pick their toppings and order ahead of time, then when they come in, Blaze staff
throws them in the oven for 3 minutes and then boxes them up for people take. “That’s going to be a big piece (of our success), especially being that close to the campus,” McCrae said. But aside from the convenience and fast service, McCrae said that the ingredients are really what separates Blaze from other pizza chains. “The product is phenomenal,” McCrae said. “It’s a chef-driven company, so everything that we do and all of our food is clean.” And McCrae said that all of those elements combined with easy access for ISU students (especially with an app), will ensure Blaze’s success in Ames. “I think with Ames, and the college students, it’s just a win-win,” McCrae said. “My GM always says that we will ruin you for pizza. I mean it’s just that good.”
6 | AMES BUSINESS MONTHLY | FEBRUARY 2017
MUNICIPAL AWARD
City receives award for paving project By Austin Harrington
Staff Writer aharrington@amestrib.com
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city employee for the Ames Water Pollution Control Facility recently earned an award for the city due to a project that involved the replacement of failed pavement on city owned property. Because of the work done by Neil Weiss, Water & Pollution Control Department environmental engineer, Ames was awarded the “Parking Lot/ Heavy Industrial Paving Award” for work completed on the Ames Water Pollution Control Facility at the APAI Quality Paving Awards Banquet. APAI announced a new awards program in conjunction with its 60th Anniversary
in 2015. According to a press release, the program continues to feature the new awards, expanded categories, and the opportunity for Iowa Department of Transportation, city, county and consulting engineers to submit project award applications for the best local projects and paving programs in their region. The winning project from Ames consisted of removing and replacing the failed pavement that was originally built with the Water Pollution Control Facility, which was constructed in 1988. The new pavement thickness and mix design was developed for the increased load the plant has seen over the years. Special consideration of heavy loading areas was accounted for by
placing reinforced concrete to prevent future rutting. To reduce material cost for the project, the asphalt millings from the existing pavement were recycled and used to repair areas of poor sub-base and also resurface the granular roads at the facility. Along with removing and replacing the pavement, minor grading to the facility was performed to help improve drainage of the site. Weiss served as project manager. Annette Thompson, Ames Public Works Department, and former Ames employee Rudy Koester contributed significantly to the design of the project as well. Former W&PC engineering intern, Justin Robinson also played a key role in preparing the contract documents for bidding.
Ames city employees recently received an award for a local paving project at the Ames Water Pollution Control Facility. Neil Weiss, Water & Pollution Control Department environmental engineer, served as project manager and was among the group that accepted the award. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO
LITERATURE
Local author publishes history of Campustown By Dan Mika
Staff Writer dmika@amestrib.com
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new book written by an Iowa State University graduate tells the story of how Campustown began as a separate entity to Ames and grew into a core of the city today. Anthony Capps, an ISU graduate and former Ames Tribune reporter, began working on the book two years ago when he was approached by a history publisher. He mainly relied on newspapers to piece together
what life was like in Campustown, using mostly the Iowa State Daily up to the 1930s and incorporating the Ames Tribune from that point on. He said the use between the Daily and the Tribune exemplifies the division between Ames’ downtown and Campustown. The city papers didn’t cover Campustown very well during its first 30 years, Capps said. “They viewed it as ‘out there,’ so they covered it, but not nearly to the extent they covered the rest of Ames,” he said. He said Ames more than
doubled in size when it annexed Campustown for the population growth, but those living in downtown ignored much of their counterpart’s problems. City resources like water and electricity were slow to make their way from east Ames into Campustown until the 1920’s. “Campustown always felt it because they never got the nice streets, they never got the nice sidewalks,” Capps said. “It took them years to get sewers.” Capps said many who lived in the area agree the two sides of the city began to grow into
one city as multiple streets began to run across Squaw Creek. Before then, residents in the city still felt the divide. “People that grew up in the sixties and seventies would still say there were two separate Ames,” he said. “There were schools on either side of the creek, so you never interacted with the other side of Ames unless it was extracurricular or went to the movies or went to church.” “Campustown” is now available for purchase through The History Press.
FEBRUARY 2017 | AMES BUSINESS MONTHLY | 7
Chamber Update FEBRUARY 2017
2017 ANNUAL EVENT
Ames Chamber of Commerce Annual Event
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ur biggest event of the year, the 2017 Annual Event, presented by Des Moines Area Community College, is here!
Tuesday, February 7, 2017 11am - 1:30pm Featuring Jon Gordon Cornerstone ChurchLarge Auditorium
We are excited to showcase the past year’s accomplishments for the Ames &KDPEHU DQG LWV DI¿OLDWH RUJDQL]DWLRQV Ames Economic Development Commission, Ames Seed Capital, LLC, Campustown Action Association, Main Street Cultural District, Ames Main Street Farmers’ Market, The Ames Foundation and Young Professionals of Ames, and look forward into what is coming in 2017. A brief recap of the Annual Awards winners will be featured during the program. Guest Speaker for the event is international best-selling author and speaker Jon Gordon.
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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 | AMES BUSINESS MONTHLY | FEBRUARY 2017
AMES CHAMBER OF COMMERCE | FEBRUARY 2017
YOUTH LEADERSHIP AMES UPDATE 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.
The Youth Leadership Ames Class visited Mary Greeley Medical Center as part of their Healthcare Day session. The Youth Leadership Ames program is made possible by sponsors Renewable Energy Group and McDonald’s
LEADERSHIP AMES CLASS 30 UPDATE
During their “City of Ames Day,” Leadership Ames Class 30 visited with staff at City Hall, the Ames Police Department, Animal Control and Shelter, Ames Public Library, Raising Readers, the Ames Water Plant and Fire Station #3
FEBRUARY 2017 | AMES BUSINESS MONTHLY | 9
AMES CHAMBER OF COMMERCE | FEBRUARY 2017
ANNUAL AWARDS
Annual AwardWinners to be announced at media conference;celebration/Business After Hours to follow
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10 | AMES BUSINESS MONTHLY | FEBRUARY 2017
AMES CHAMBER OF COMMERCE | FEBRUARY 2017
GOVERNMENT RELATIONS
February Legislative Save the date: Ames Luncheon Feb. 17th Day at the Capitol Tuesday, March 7th
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lease join your fellow Chamber PHPEHUV DW 5HQHZDEOH (QHUJ\ Group on Friday, February 17th IURP DP SP IRU WKH Ames Chamber of Commerce February Legislative Luncheon. Attendees will have the opportunity to hear from our State Legislators regarding developing policy issues of the 2017 Session heading into funnel. The schedule for the /XQFKHRQ ZLOO EH DP SP 5HJLVWUDWLRQ DQG lunch is available to all attendees. SP SP 6WDWH /HJLVODWRUV ZLOO DGGUHVV WKH FURZG DQG ¿HOG TXHVtions. The event is open to Chamber members and their guest. The cost of attendance is $10.00 and includes lunch. If you have questions regarding the
event, are interested in attending, or wish to submit a question, please conWDFW 'UHZ .DPS DW RU drew@ameschamber.com. The Ames Chamber of Commerce thanks Converse Conditioned Air, Des Moines Area Community College, First 1DWLRQDO %DQN 5HQHZDEOH (QHUJ\ Group, and Workiva for their support as 2017 Taking Leadership Legislative Sponsors. The Ames Chamber of Commerce also thanks Harold Pike Construction; 5RVHODQG 0DFNH\ +DUULV $UFKLWHFWV and VenuWorks for their generosity as 2017 Legislative Lunch Sponsors. Without the continued support of our sponsors, the Ames Chamber of Commerce would not be able to provide the great events and services we do today.
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he 2017 Ames Day at the CapiWRO ZLOO EH KHOG IURP DP SP RQ 7XHVGD\ 0DUFK WK at Iowaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s beautiful State Capitol. With our famous lunch from Hickory Park, exhibitors will have an excellent opportunity to directly engage legislators, RI¿FLDOV DQG OREE\LVWV IURP WKURXJKRXW the state. Following the Community Showcase LQ WKH &DSLWRO 5RWXQGD IURP DP SP $PHV DQG 6WRU\ &RXQW\ EXVLness, community, and institutional leaders will meet with Legislative Leadership from both Parties and both Chambers to discuss policy priorities of the Ames Chamber of Commerce and our commuQLW\ SDUWQHUV DQG PHPEHU RUJDQL]DWLRQV Chamber business and individual members interested in exhibiting a booth
LQ WKH &DSLWRO 5RWXQGD GXULQJ WKH VHUYLQJ RI +LFNRU\ 3DUN IURP DP SP can contact Drew Kamp at drew@amesFKDPEHU FRP RU IRU DGGLtional information. The Ames Chamber of Commerce thanks Converse Conditioned Air, Des Moines Area Community College, First 1DWLRQDO %DQN 5HQHZDEOH (QHUJ\ Group, and Workiva for their support as 2017 Taking Leadership Legislative Sponsors. The Chamber also thanks Harold Pike &RQVWUXFWLRQ 5RVHODQG 0DFNH\ +DUULV Architects, P.C.; and VenuWorks for their generosity as 2017 Legislative Lunch Sponsors. Without the continued support of our sponsors, the Ames Chamber of Commerce would not be able to provide the great events and services we do today.
THANK YOU TO OUR 2017 INNER CIRCLE SPONSORS
F E B R U A R Y 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 | JANUARY 2017
February calendar Sunday
Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
1 4 p.m.: Annual Awards
Thursday
Friday
Saturday
2
3
4
9
10
11
17
18
Media Conference 4:30 p.m.: BAH (Ames Golf & Country Club)
5
6
7
8
11 a.m.: Ames Chamber of Commerce Annual Event
Leadership Ames
12
13
14
15
16
11:30 a.m.: Legislative Luncheon (REG)
Valentine’s Day
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
ACC/AEDC Board Presidents’ Day
26
27
4:30 p.m.: Story County Medical Center(R/C)
Leadership Ames
Youth Leadership Ames
28
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12 | AMES BUSINESS MONTHLY | F E B R U A R Y 2 0 1 7
AMES CHAMBER OF COMMERCE | FEBRUARY 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 Chamberâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s 5LEERQ &XWWLQJ VHUYLFH WKDW EULQJV members and the media to you. :LWK HDFK 5LEERQ &XWWLQJ your business will be exposed to the Ames community and Story &RXQW\ (YHQW SKRWRV RI \RXU 5LEbon Cutting will be published in the Chamberâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Weekly E-mail Update and the Ames Business Monthly. $ 5LEERQ &XWWLQJ LV D JUHDW ZD\ WR invite people to your location and showcase your business.
Dentistry at Somerset 2720 Stange Rd.
1RW RQO\ GRHV WKLV RSSRUWXQLW\ get people to your place of business, but it offers a unique networking environment in addition to some great marketing. So what are you waiting for? Contact Jan Williams at jan@ameschamber.com RU FDOO WR VFKHGXOH \RXU 5LEERQ &XWWLQJ WRGD\
â&#x153;&#x201A; Grandgenett Dentistry 2208 Philadelphia St.
F E B R U A R Y 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 | FEBRUARY 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 Laura Brassell, Bank of the West Nathan Buss, VisionBank Tara Carlson, Tom Randall Real Estate Team Kelsey Carper, Re/Max Real Estate Center John Coder, VisionBank Zack Cregeen, Re/Max Real Estate Center Lisa Downs, EXIT Realty Stacy Dreyer, First National Bank Pam Fleener, First National Bank Laura Freeman, Hanger Clinic Teresa Garman, Individual Member Leslie Ginder, ISU LAS Career Services Ashlee Goetsch, Waterford at Ames Chris Helland, George White Chevrolet Sherry Hosteng, RE/MAX Real Estate Ashley Howe, Xpanxion Jamie Hudson, Great Southern Bank Sharon Johnson, RE/MAX Real Estate Michelle King, The Krell Institute Greg King, South Duff Matt Koehler, Greater Iowa Credit Union Paul Livingston, Hunziker & Associates, Realtors Brandon Mumm, Ames Tribune David Orth, Spirited Giving Matthew Pacha, Hy-Vee Lincoln Center Mike Peckis, Sam’s Club Sarah Powers, RE/MAX Real Estate Tom Randall, Tom Randall Real Estate Team Tim Rasmussen, Alfred’s Carpet & Decorating Molly Redenbaugh, Danfoss Power Solutions 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 Michelle Wild, Ames Convention & Visitors Bureau Keathen Winter,Northridge Village
Northridge Village Independent Living 3300 George Washington Carver
Thisday Photography 300 Main Street #201
14 | AMES BUSINESS MONTHLY | F E B R U A R Y 2 0 1 7
AMES CHAMBER OF COMMERCE | FEBRUARY 2017
C HA M B E R
Welcome, new Ames Chamber members Brown’s Shoe Fit Co., located at 306 Main Street, is a
MEMBERS Thank you to the following members who have donated 10 percent more than their annual dues IRU &KDPEHU SURMHFWV Ames Trenching & Excavation, Inc. Arends Sanitation Bank of the West Beisser's, Inc. Central Iowa Ready Mix / Iowa State Ready Mix Central States Roofing Company Century 21 Signature Real Estate Chitty Garbage Service, Inc. Dairy Queen Draintech, Inc. Exit Realty Lora & Company Fifth Street Dental First Property management of Ames, LC Friendship Ark, Inc. Gary Thompson Oil Co. Great Plains Sauce & Dough JKB Restaurants LC / McDonald's Jeffrey Byrn - Northwestern Mutual Mainstream Living Miller & Clark Real Estate Newbrough Law Firm, L.L.P Oakwood Road Church Pyle & Associates, P.C. Roseland, Mackey, Harris Architects, P.C. Sam's Club - Ames Scott Richardson Agency, Inc. Skarshaug Testing Laboratory, Inc. Super Wal-Mart Technical Services, Inc. Wal-Mart North Wesley Life WestTowne Pub 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.
dedicated, Full-service shoe store specializing in comfort casual, athletic, safety shoes and boot wear. Stop in and let the expert, friendly staff give you a personalized experience and find the right shoes for your needs. Call 232.6633 or visit online at www. brownsshoefitcompany.com
The Sports Page Bar & Grill, one of West Ames’ newest family-friendly restaurants is located at 3720 Lincoln Way. Plan to stop in for specials, Happy Hour, GameDay or to watch your favorite team on a variety of large TV’s. Call 292.2644 for more information.
Indian Creek Country Club is a semi-private ninehole golf course, CreekCafe restaurant and bar located in Nevada. Call or stop in for a round of golf, or if you are planning a special event, let the beautiful backdrop of rolling hills make your event memorable! Call 515.382.9070 or visit them at www. indiancreekcc.com for more information.
Redz Bluez Band started with a gig at Ames Octoberfest in the Fall of 2013, and has played at various other local venues ever since! For a customized experience at your next event, Call Larry at 515.451.9183 or email redzroxx52@gmail.com.
IA ABLE Foundation is a non-profit organization that empowers Iowans with disabilities, their families, and the aging to achieve and maintain independence through micro lending, educating and advancing statewide. Stop in at 130 S. Sheldon Ave, Ste #201, or visit www.iowaable.org for more information.
Join the Chamber. Make new connections, promote your business, take advantage of professional development programs and more when you join the Ames Chamber of Commerce. Contact Jan Williams at (515) 232-2310 for more information on how you or your organization can become a Chamber member. When you join, here are some of the many benefits you can take advantage of right away. s 0OST COUPONS on our Web site for FREE. s!TTEND MONTHLY Business After Hours, First Shot Sessions, Legislative Luncheons and more for FREE. s 4AKE ADVANTAGE of reasonably priced ways to promote your business such as ribbon cuttings and mailing labels, just to name a few. s $ISCOUNTED 9OUNG Professionals of Ames membership (ages 21 to 40).
FEBRUARY 2017 | AMES BUSINESS MONTHLY | 15
AMES CHAMBER OF COMMERCE | FEBRUARY 2017 If a company shows that it is highly involved in its local Chamber, consumers are 10% more likely to think that its products stack up
CHAMBER MEMBERSHIP
better against its competition
Making a Smart Choice
Consumers are 80% more likely to patronize a business
A National Survey * of 2,000 adults reveals that being an active member of a local Chamber of Commerce is an effective business strategy. Two-thirds of consumers believe that Chamber member businesses use good business practices, are reputable, care about their customers and are involved in the community.
that is a member of the local Chamber of Commerce Local reputation for a business increases 68% when the consumer is aware the business is a Chamber member. Consumer awareness increases 73% for a Chamber-member business over a non-Chamber business
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When consumers know a business is a local Chamber member, there is a 49% increase in favorability towards that business.
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* The study was conducted by The Schapiro Group, an Atlanta-based strategic consulting ďŹ rm, commissioned by the American Chamber of Commerce Executives, in cooperation with the Western Assocation of Chamber Executives.
In a separate study, the American Chamber of Commerce Executives commissioned Cortera, a community-based commercial credit bureau, to produce a study on the businesses that make up 10 regional chambers of commerce. The results show chamber members consistently pay their bills in a more timely manner resulting in better credit scores (629 vs. 557) than U.S. businesses, as a whole.
What a Local Chamber Membership Shows Consumers Showing people about your company Showing that you care about your customers Showing that you are involved in the community Showing that you have a good reputation Showing that you have good business practices
Ames Chamber and AfďŹ liate staff Â&#x2021; Dan Culhane, President and CEO Â&#x2021; Peter Ampe, Director, Project Management Â&#x2021; Sarah Buss, Director, Sponsorship and Membership Events Â&#x2021; Karin Chitty, Campustown Action Association Executive Director
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16 | AMES BUSINESS MONTHLY | FEBRUARY 2017
AMES CHAMBER OF COMMERCE | FEBRUARY 2017
Young Professionals of Ames
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et involved with Young Professionals of Ames for opportunities to build and IRVWHU UHODWLRQVKLSV WKRXJK
2017 YPA Board
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ou 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! :H DUH D GXHV EDVHG RUJDQL]DWLRQ DQG GXHV KHOS VXSSRUW -Monthly Lunch & Learns -Annual Leadership Symposium 5HDG ZLWK 0H 3URJUDP -Monthly After Work Social Events -And many events and activities throughout the year Visit www.ypames.com to learn more and join us!
Top: Lunch & 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. Below: ThAW: YPA’s Thursday After Work (ThAW) events provide a great opportunity for networking and socializing with other young professionals! Join us for our next ThAW! For details about the date and the location, visit www.ypames.com.
Jessica Mortvedt, President, Haverkamp Properties Nathan Buss, Past-President, VisionBank Megan Vollstedt, PresidentElect, Workiva Charmian Stewart, Hilton Garden Inn Ames Taylor Hopper, Fox Engineering Heather Johnson, Octagon Adam Halbur, Grandgenett Family Dental Jason Mortvedt, Kinzler Construction Bri Anderson, Ames Public Library Justin Moorman, Moorman Clothiers Megan Filipi, Ames Convention and Visitors Bureau Chamber Liaison/Staff: Sarah Buss, Ames Chamber of Commerce
Thank you to our 2017 YPA sponsors
Ames Ford Lincoln First National Bank Global Reach Internet Productions Hunziker & Associates, Realtors ISU MBA Kingland Systems Mary Greeley Medical Center Munn Lumber North Grand Mall Story Construction VisionBank Hy-Vee Converse Conditioned Air
Connect with YPA Visit www.ypames.com for upcoming events, committee openings and volunteer opportunities.
F E B R U A R Y 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 | FEBRUARY 2017
MAIN STREET CULTURAL DISTRICT
2017 Events January Dollar Days January 26-28 Art Walk June 2 July 4th Parade July 4 Summer Sidewalk Sales July 27-29 Foodies & Brew August 4 Oktoberfest September 16
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Trick or Treat October 27 Snow Magic Nov 10—Dec 23 tĂŶƚ ƚŽ ƐƉŽŶƐŽƌ ĂŶ ĞǀĞŶƚ Žƌ ǀŽůƵŶƚĞĞƌ ŽŶ ĂŶ ĞǀĞŶƚ ĐŽŵŵŝƩĞĞ͍ ŽŶƚĂĐƚ ƵƐ Ăƚ͗ 304 Main Street Ames, IA 50010 Phone: 515-233-3472 E-mail: director@amesdowntown.org
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18 | AMES BUSINESS MONTHLY | FEBRUARY 2017
AMES CHAMBER OF COMMERCE | FEBRUARY 2017
CAMPUSTOWN ACTION ASSOCIATION
Campustown Façade Grant !PPLICATIONS DUE &EBRUARY
T
he Campustown Façade Grant Program, funded and administered by the City of Ames, strives to provide incentive to enhance the appearance of existing buildings for commercial use. Projects awarded a façade grant are eligible for up to $15,000 in matching funds with the possibility of an additional $2,000 for professional design fees. Commercial property and business owners who are interested in enhancing the street-facing sides of commercial buildings located in the Campustown District are encouraged to apply. For more information, or to complete an application, please visit the Planning section of the City of Ames website.
&AÂ ADE 'RANT 0ROJECTS
The Cranford Building, façade grant recipient 2015 and 2016
Arcadia CafĂŠâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s new façade on Welch Avenue
FEBRUARY 2017 | AMES BUSINESS MONTHLY | 19
VISUAL ARTS
MEDICINE
Ames receives 4 grants from Iowa Merck, Department of Cultural Affairs NewLink
vaccine shows 100 percent protection
By Grayson Schmidt, Staff Writer gschmidt@amestrib.com
I
n an effort to bring in more diverse arts programs and education, the Iowa Department of Cultural Affairs recently awarded $16,875 in grants to four Ames art projects. Ames-based software engineer and artist Tiberiu Chelcea was one of the recipients of the grants, and said that the $2,075 he received will be used towards bringing in a new style of artwork that Ames has never seen before. “I think people are used to the idea that artwork is done on paper or on canvas, and this is kind of like a new medium to create artwork,” Chelcea said. “I’m hoping that people will like them, and also see that art can be created in different ways and with new materials.” Chelcea’s exhibit and series of workshops known as “PCB Drawings,” will explore the usage of electronic circuit board software to create art. Each circuit board that Chelcea creates will be 4 inches square, and Chelcea said that the bulk of the grant money would be used towards the actual manufacturing of the circuit boards. According to Chelcea, he started taking old circuit boards from VCR’s and boomboxes, and began using them for various art projects. At some point he thought that maybe he could create his own circuit board, and began using the software that he writes. None of the circuit boards that Chelcea has made for this exhibit are functional, but the workshop will teach people how to either make art, or a fully functional circuit boards. “Either way, you learn how to create something useful, or something nice that you can display on the wall,” Chelcea said. In addition to Chelcea, Ames’ Friends of Roosevelt Park received a $2,300 grant towards their summer concert series, by presenting Parranderos Latin Combo, a 12-member Latin music group. A $2,500 grant was awarded to The Art Educators of Iowa (AEI), which will use it to launch the statewide Emerging
By Dan Mika
Staff Writer dmika@amestrib.com
A
One of Tiberiu Chelcea’s printed circuit boards.
Excellence program to help visual arts students develop their artistic skills through recognition, critique and exhibition of artwork. The largest grant, at $10,000, was awarded to the Iowa State Center to present “Slapstick Sonata,”a production by Cirk La Putyka. It is the hope of the ISU Center, and Development & Sponsorship Manager Paul Ferrone, that this production will expose area students to a unique style of theater that includes comedy, dance and acrobatics. “It’s a real fusion of different art forms into what we call ‘Contemporary Circus,’” Ferrone said. “We thought this was a very innovative art form; it was something different, and the support from the Arts Council really makes it possible.”
PHOTO CONTRIBUTED BY TIBERIU CHELCEA
“Slapstick Sonata” premieres March 3, and without the grant, Ferrone said that putting on a different type of show like it would have been incredibly difficult. This is not a show that he said many people in Ames or the Midwest in general are accustomed to, and does not have that same recognition as a production like the musical “Chicago.” “It’s a standard line, but ticket sales simply do cover the cost of everything that we do, so we’re always looking for support to do these cutting-edge projects,” Ferrone said. “It really makes a difference for us to get this grant, and give students on campus and the community a glimpse into something that they might not be familiar with, but we feel is worthwhile.”
n Ebola vaccine jointly developed by pharmaceutical company Merck and Amesbased biopharmaceutical company NewLink Genetics has shown to give 100 percent protection, according to newly released research. In its final trials last year, World Health Organization researchers gave the rVSV-ZEBOV vaccine to 5,837 people in Guinea, which suffered an outbreak of the virus with west African neighbors Liberia and Sierra Leone from 2014 to 2016. WHO estimates just over 28,000 people developed the illness and just over 11,000 died from it. While some patients experienced headaches and muscle pain after vaccination, none contracted Ebola during the trial period, compared to 23 cases in a test group that wasn’t vaccinated. The results were published in medical journal “The Lancet” on Friday. The vaccine was originally developed by the Public Health Agency of Canada before NewLink licensed it. Merck later licensed the vaccine from NewLink in 2014, but the two companies worked together to develop it. Merck secured fast-track priority from U.S. and European drug regulators for the vaccine in July, allowing it to file clinical data as it is collected instead of all at once. Regulators were also directed to respond more quickly to updates in its testing. Merck hopes to submit the vaccine for final approving by the end of 2017. It has also created 300,000 doses for emergency use if another outbreak occurs. At the close of markets Friday, NewLink’s stock price was trading up 8.99 percent. A spokesperson for NewLink was not available for comment.
20 | AMES BUSINESS MONTHLY | FEBRUARY 2017
FUEL
Love’s in Ellsworth opens for business By Ronna Lawless Staff Writer
T
ravelers heading north of Ames along Interstate 35 have a new place to take a break and fill up — on food or fuel. Love’s Travel Stop opened for business in late 2016 near Ellsworth, bringing 60 jobs to Hamilton County. The $12 million project, which is located at exit 133 on I-35, was originally planned for Story City, on the east side of the interstate, but the City Council refused to rezone that land in early 2015 to accommodate the project. The issue became a divisive one in the community. In mid-August of 2015, Love’s announced it was moving the plans for its new travel stop about eight miles to the north. The Ellsworth City Council voted unanimously to approve rezoning land in its industrial park to accommodate the new business.
Love’s Travel Stop opened its new location in Ellsworth on Thursday. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO
“We are excited to open our second store in Iowa this month,” said Tom Love, founder and executive chairman of Love’s. “With its location along Interstate 35, its proximity to Ames on the south and the busy U.S. Highway 20 to the north, Ellsworth is in a great location for us to serve customers.” The new 11,000-square foot facility includes a Hardee’s restaurant, gourmet coffee, fresh fruit, gift items and a game room.
Ellsworth is Love’s seventh location in Iowa. “We have 14 gas pumps for regular vehicles and eight diesel pumps for professional truck drivers,” said Kealey Dorian, a communications specialist for Love’s. Professional drivers will be able to use 100 truck-parking spaces, seven showers and an 8,000-square-foot Love’s Truck Tire Care center, which will open next month.
The majority of Love’s employees in Ellsworth are full-time and eligible for benefits, Dorian said. “We do have a handful of highschool students who are parttime employees. Also, most of the employees are from Ellsworth and Jewell,” she said. Although Dorian said she couldn’t release specific information about wages at the Ellsworth Love’s Travel Stop, she said the company had conducted research in the local area to offer competitive wages. “We pay more than minimum wage, and we are more competitive than similar businesses in the area,” she said. Love’s has more than 400 locations in 40 states. The familyowned and -operated company is headquartered in Oklahoma City, Okla. Opponents of allowing the project to be built in Story City said they were concerned about issues
ranging from traffic congestion to a rise in crimes, such as human trafficking. The project had many supporters in the Story City community, as well, with at times more than 100 people attending municipal meetings. In January of 2015, Barb Frohling spoke at a council meeting as a representative of community members in favor of the Love’s construction, and told the council the vote to deny rezoning did not reflect the wishes of the majority of Story City residents. Frohling also presented a petition with nearly 1,200 signatures in favor of the truck stop. Reasons given for favoring the truck stop and for rezoning the property included increased revenue, additional tax dollars from the local option tax, increased property tax revenue, increased business at area hotels, restaurants and businesses, and use by Love’s of public works, including sewer, water and electricity. The issue ended up splitting the Story City Council, being defeated on a 3-2 vote.
AGRICULTURE
Iowa farmland prices fall for third-straight year By Dan Mika, Staff Writer dmika@amestrib.com
I
owa’s farmers are blaming low commodity prices for continuing drops in farmland value, according to a report from an Iowa State economist. According to the university’s 2016 Iowa Land Value Survey, the average price of farmland in the state declined 5.9 percent from last year, or about $450 per acre. The average price
per acre in Story County decreased from $9,021 to $8,376, or about 7 percent. No county in the state reported a rise in land prices, and 2016 was the third straight year the report showed decreases in farmland value since reaching a record high in 2013. The last time farmland prices fell three years in a row was during the farm crisis of the 1980s. Weak commodity prices were the main driver of
falling prices in 2016, according to 40 percent of survey respondents. The survey also pointed to high input prices and livestock losses as other factors driving down farmland value. The USDA also blamed falling commodities prices for a projected 17.2 percent decline in farm income for the year. Wendong Zhang, an ISU economics professor and lead author of the study, said the price declines are a sign the
agricultural industry is readjusting after a “golden era” of extreme growth in farm income and land values from 2006 to 2013. “For a pessimist, there are reasons to worry, especially for landowners and/ or producers who are overleveraged,” he said. “For an optimist, this decline is still modest, and the probability of a replay of the 1980s farm crisis is low.” Zhang said changes to the Federal Reserve interest rate and the next secretary of agriculture’s policy stances are among the biggest factors to watch over the next year or two as they affect farm and commodity values. Survey respondents expect farmland to fluctuate over the next few years.
The sun rises behind a combine waiting for another day of harvest during fall 2016. PHOTO BY MICHAEL CRUMB/AMES TRIBUNE.
They predict farm prices to rise slightly next year before falling again in 2018 and eventually reaching stable increases in 2020. The respondents expect commodity prices to rise
over the next several years, predicting corn prices will rise from $3.38 per bushel in 2017 to $3.94 in 2020. They also expect soybean prices to climb from $9.24 per bushel next year to $10.06 in 2020.
FEBRUARY 2017 | AMES BUSINESS MONTHLY | 21
MEDICINE
Mary Greeley reaches 2,000 robot-assisted surgeries One of Mary Greeley Medical Center’s robotic surgery assistants in action. The hospital completed its 2,000th surgery with robotic assistance last week.
By Dan Mika, Staff Writer dmika@amestrib.com
W
hen a patient was rolled into an operating room at Mary Greeley Medical Center Friday morning for a double hernia surgery, he was tended to by a normal team handling an operation: a surgeon, anesthesiologist, a few nurses and a robot. It may seem futuristic, but robotic surgery assistants have already been embraced by surgeons at Mary Greeley. Eleven staff surgeons are trained to use them, and the hospital completed its 2,000th robot-assisted surgery earlier this week after purchasing its first machine six years ago, spokesman Steve Sullivan said. The metallic, white robotic assistant in this operating room has four arms, which can be mounted with surgical tools or a camera. James Partridge, a surgeon at Mary Greeley and the hospital’s chief of staff, was in charge during an operation the Tribune was allowed to observe. He directs the robot using a console in the corner of the room that links directly into the robot’s arms and moves the tools in minute maneuvers. Partridge and his staff are calm and relaxed while operating the machine, that cost about $1.4 million. Nurses move surgical equipment on and off its arms while the Red Hot Chili Peppers and DJ Kool plays softly from a speaker mounted on the ceiling. For the staff performing the operation, the robot isn’t a shiny toy to play with; it’s just another tool for the job. Sullivan said patients are just as willing to have robots conduct their procedure as they are having human hands. Patients across the age and technological aptitude spectrum have shown enthusiasm for it, he said. Partridge said some patients even insist on having the robot partake in the procedure. “An elderly lady came in saying, ‘why can’t you do my procedure with the robot,’ when it was very new at the hospital,” Partridge said.
PHOTO BY DAN MIKA/AMES TRIBUNE
“It was surprising to me.” Partridge said the robotassisted surgeries tend to cause less pain and discomfort for patients because it uses smaller incisions and causes less internal damage. For example, some surgeries require surgeons to use laparoscopes, or small tubes with a camera and light attached to the end, to see what’s inside the patient’s body. Partridge said surgeons have to twist the laparoscope around to get a better view, bruising organs and muscle and causing internal cramping afterwards. That isn’t the case for the robot, which is better at avoiding contact with internal parts of the body. “That’s what the robot does better than anything else,” he said. “It respects where the anatomy is and refuses to do any damage.” Because of that accuracy, Partridge said calls from patients feeling cramps and discomfort after surgery have vanished after adopting robotic-assisted surgery. Using the robot doesn’t affect how patients are covered by their insurance and doesn’t save the hospital money on their liability insurance,
Dr. James Partridge, McFarland Clinic general surgeon, and his team getting things set up for a robotassisted surgery. PHOTO COURTESY OF MARY GREELEY MEDICAL CENTER
and the procedure itself might cost a little more. But Partridge said patients get the benefit by reducing time in the hospital and returning to their lives more quickly. “They get back to work, so there’s a benefit to the employer,” he said. “Employers are not
requiring it, but they sure would like to have things done robotically, because it gets them to work faster.” Mary Greeley mainly uses robot assistance for thoracic and OB-GYN operations, and robotic surgery isn’t applicable in every
procedure. Partridge believes robotics-assisted surgeries is going to become standard use for almost every surgeon in the future. “Of course there’s going to be something better in the future,” he said. “But I’m happy with this right now.”
22 | AMES BUSINESS MONTHLY | FEBRUARY 2017
FUEL
Good receives honor from Iowa Farm Bureau Federation By Tribune Staff
N
evada businessman Charlie Good, owner of Good & Quick service station and convenience store in Nevada, was one of two Iowans recently honored for lifetime achievement and promotion of agriculture by the Iowa Farm Bureau Federation (IFBF).
Good, and agriculture educator Dr. Maynard Hogberg, were presented their 2016 IFB Distinguished Service to Agriculture awards at the IFBF’s annual meeting in Des Moines. It should come as no surprise to local residents that Good has received the award. He is, as a release from IFBF states,
a well-respected business owner, and a strong and nationally recognized advocate for Iowa’s renewable fuels industry. Good has regularly traveled to Washington, D.C., to lobby for a strong Renewable Fuel Standard and expanded markets for ethanol and biodiesel products. Good has been in the auto repair business for
Charlie Good, right, recently hosted Congressman Steve King at his business in Nevada. The two talked about Charlie’s business and ethanol.
35 years. He’s been an ASE-certified mechanic and board member of the Petroleum Marketers Retail Committee for several decades. He used this unique background to become outspoken in support of Iowa’s renewable fuels industry. The Distinguished Service to Agriculture award, given by IFBF, honors individuals who have played a significant role in the agricultural industry at the local, state and/or national level. This is the 38th year for the service award.
CONTRIBUTED PHOTO
BRIMEYER
Establishing red fl ag mechanisms T he concept of management by walking/wandering around (MBWA) is thought to have begun at Hewlitt-Packard in the 1970s. MBWA went mainstream in 1982 with Tom Peters and Robert Waterman’s classic book “In Search of Excellence: Lessons from America’s Best Run Companies.” The basic idea, as the name implies, is management making spontaneous, random, and unstructured checks on people, machines and processes. While I certainly support the idea of supervisors regularly spending face-to-face time with the people they manage where the work is completed (not the manager’s office), I have some misgivings with the concept of MBWA. First, supervisors are among the busiest people on the planet. Thus expecting them to “spontaneously” visit the troops when they find time is practically akin to ordering it not to happen.
Rick Brimeyer Second, over the course of the past 40 years or so, I’d like to think we’ve advanced beyond unstructured wandering. That seems a bit too hit-and-miss for me. Today’s practice of employee rounding adds structure or standard to spending time with employees at the point of value creation. These include: Intentionally scheduling time for rounding to increase the odds that it occurs. This doesn’t mean
that it must be predictable (“Well, it’s 10:28; the boss should be coming around the corner right about … now!) Connecting with employees on a personal level. Not with a generic “how’s it going?” but rather something specific like, “Have you got a photo of that 12-point buck I’ve been hearing about?” Consistently asking questions to understand if there are barriers to the employee serving their customers, if someone should be recognized for going the extra mile and if they have any ideas for improvement Documenting main ideas so they don’t get lost; these become topics for future rounding discussions If barriers or improvement ideas are identified, it’s important that resolution remain with the employee if they are capable. And most employees are typically more capable than given credit for or they sometimes want
to admit. Solving problems provides growth opportunities and frees the supervisor for their most important responsibilities. Which brings us back to time management. How does a busy supervisor consistently find time to round? Let’s start by reducing two of the biggest non-valueadded time suckers for any supervisor … administrational (i.e., paper) work and crisis clean-up. Be hypersensitive regarding administrational work required of supervisors. Ensure administrational processes are streamlined so supervisor involvement is minimal. Delegate administrational duties to clerical assistants or subordinates where possible. Having employees responsible for monitoring their own performance is more effective anyway. By being on top of things, both personneland process-related, problems can be identified
sooner and the number of crises reduced. In addition to saving time this eliminates the need to apologize to a customer or explain to management why numbers aren’t acceptable, among any supervisor’s least favorite activities. To spot problems early and make rounding most effective, create a series of mini-feedback systems (“flags”) which provide instantaneous feedback on whether things are in control (green flag) or out of control (red flag). Examples of potential red flag mechanisms might include: Is everyone wearing the appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE)? Do employees appear comfortable (physically and emotionally)? Are people working on the right jobs? Are bottlenecks protected (staffed, work staged in front of them)? Are standards being followed (e.g., are tools and electronic files stored in the agreed-to place, are the correct process steps being followed)? Are visual metrics
up-to-date and are results as expected? Audit various machine parameters; are they within the proper tolerances? Request a quality check; is it completed properly with the anticipated result? Do things look, sound, smell, and feel the way they should? If things are in control, a typical rounding discussion can occur. If not, immediate action must first be taken to get things back on track. Realize that really understanding what’s going on with people and processes is the most important priority for any supervisor. Intentional (scheduled) employee rounding is simply a way of putting first things first. 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.
FEBRUARY 2017 | AMES BUSINESS MONTHLY | 23
WEDDINGS
Local sisters prepare to open wedding shop on Main Street By Dan Mika
Staff Writer dmika@amestrib.com
T
wo sisters in Ames are planning to expand their bridal business to Main Street in an effort to make the city a destination for those looking to plan their weddings. Aeri Couture Bridal, a high-end wedding boutique, is set to become one of the first new businesses to occupy the renovated Sheldon Munn storefronts later this year, with window views looking out to the intersection of Main and Kellogg Streets. Co-owner Kayse Schulz said the shop’s
proximity makes it ideal for a bride and her bridesmaids looking to get their wedding planning done without traveling around a city. “It’s within a block of two coffee shops, a restaurant, it’s where everyone comes to a stop,” Schulz said. “(Local bakery) Ali Cakes is across the street and there are how many photographers nearby? It would be great for the wedding industry.” The sisters both graduated from Iowa State University with design degrees, Schulz in apparel, merchandising and design, and Gartin in interior design. After working in separate ways, the
duo returned to Ames in 2011 to open Pure Bridal, a formal clothing shop in the southern end of town. Through aggressive marketing and positive reviews from brides-to-be on wedding planning websites, the shop started to attract customers across state lines. “Every weekend, we get at least a few brides from Colorado or California or New York who say, ‘I’ve gone to every high-end bridal shop and now I’m here,” Schulz said. Schulz also said they work with their old departments at Iowa State to reach students who meet their fiancees while studying.
The two shops will continue to run as sister shops, Schulz said, with Pure Bridal having more traditional dresses in the $500 to $3,000 range. Aeri will have exclusive dress designs from designers in Australia, Israel and South Africa that are unavailable anywhere else in the Midwest in the $1,500 to $8,000 range. Schulz said she wants Aeri to push back against systemic issues in bridal shops, like not having enough wedding gown samples to fit women who aren’t in the average size eight to 12 range, especially if they carry European-made dresses which run smaller than
American-designed dresses. “It’s equally as hard for those size zero, two, fours as it is for the size 28, 30, 32s,” she said. “And not just what people would expect to see in those sizes, because who are we to say what someone should or shouldn’t wear at their wedding?” The two stores also differ in than Aeri will be by-appointment-only and have a single dressing room for customers. Gartin said she and her sister were considering expanding Pure Bridal, but they decided to create a whole new store because they want to focus solely on the bride-to-be with one dressing room
and a small staff devoting their attention solely on the customer. Schulz said once Aeri is fully staffed, the two stores will have around 15 employees, with the highest-trained staff moving between locations. Gartin said Ames is prime to become a bridal hub through its retailers, but it needs more reception halls to make it a viable contender against other Midwest cities. “Maybe by creating the draw of Ames as a bridal destination, those spots will pop up,” she said. Schulz expects Aeri Couture to open sometime in late February or early March.
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