EdgeBusiness Magazine June 2009 by Janet Rorholm

JUNE 2009

The Real Deal Commercial real estate remains strong investment in Corridor

www.edgebusinessmagazine.com P.O. Box 511 â&#x2013; Cedar Rapids, IA 52406

High Hopes

Business celebrate successes after ďŹ&#x201A;ood yet worries remain

The Name Game Weighing the pros, cons of buying a franchise

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EdgeBusiness ■ JUNE 2009

BOOK r • e • v • i • e •w

“Crucial Conversations: Tools for talking when stakes are high” By Kerry Patterson, Joseph Grenny, Ron McMillan and Al Switzler Have you ever found yourself in a conversation with two or more people that you did not know how to manage your way through? Did opinions vary? Were the stakes high? Did emotions run strong? If so, you were having a “crucial conversation.” The authors make an audacious claim in the first chapter: Master your crucial conversations and you’ll kick-start your career, strengthen your relationships and improve your health. As you master high-stakes discussions, you’ll also vitalize your organization and your community. The authors demonstrate that strong relationships, careers, organizations and communities all draw from the same source of power – the ability to talk openly about highstakes, emotional, controversial topics. This book takes you through the mental and emotional processes to help you understand how you react in these situations, including the physical and chemical changes that take place in your body and how to overcome them. You’ll learn how to stay focused on what you really want, how to notice when safety is at risk and how to make it safe to talk about almost anything. One of the key skills is how to stay in dialogue when you’re angry, scared or hurt, and how to listen when others blow up or clam up. Finally, they show you how to turn crucial conversations into action and results. I had no idea the profound impact this book would have on my personal and professional life. Now, I apply the principles every day. Learning how to have a crucial conversation is truly one of the most powerful tools you can add to your skill set and apply to every aspect of your life. — Review by Julie Perrine with Julie Perrine Virtual Assistant LLC

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JUNE 2009 ■ EdgeBusiness

CONTENTS

ON THE COVER

Downtown Iowa City looking west up Iowa Avenue. The commercial property market in Iowa City remains strong despite the economy, according to real estate agents and property owners. Brian Ray photo/EdgeBusiness

JU NE 200 9

The Real Deal ains real estate rem Commercialestment in Corridor strong inv

www.edgebus P.O. Box 511

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e.com 6

ds, IA 5240

! Cedar Rapi

Features 14

s es Hope Highs cele brate success

Busines remain yet worries after ﬂood

me Game e Na Thghin g the pros, e Wei ing a franchis cons of buy

About us VOLUME 5 ■ ISSUE 10 ■ JUNE 2009 Online: www.edgebusinessmagazine.com E-mail: theedge@gazcomm.com EdgeBusiness Magazine is a monthly magazine for business owners and executives in Iowa’s Technology Corridor and is published by Gazette Communications Inc.

Staff Editor: Janet Rorholm (319) 398-8469 Art director: Rachel Young Advertising: Mary Reeder (319) 368-8506 Contributing editors: George C. Ford

Permissions: The content of EdgeBusiness Magazine

may not be reprinted without written permission. If you have questions about reprinting The Edge content, call (319) 398-8328.

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page 3

4 8

20 22

Cover story: Commercial

real estate remains strong investment in Corridor 4 Business coach helps woman turn dream into reality

Business coach helps woman turn dream into reality Businesses celebrate successes after ﬂood yet worries remain Slow economy means teens face tough competition for summer jobs Weighing the pros, cons of buying a franchise

Departments 5 Corridor News 6 Human Factor 7 Newsmakers 11 Marketing on the Edge 12 Accounting 13 Barometers 16 Technical Support 18 Efﬁcient Workplace 19 Toughest Decision 24 Legal Angle 25 Calendar 26 Digest

5/19/2009 3:14:49 PM

EdgeBusiness ■ JUNE 2009

This monthly feature shows how business experts have helped entrepreneurs address specific issues that face small businesses.

Business coach helps woman turn dream into reality By Janet Rorholm

hristine Smart always dreamed of opening a business one day. But the ideas never turned into a reality until recently. “I always have ideas, but I don’t always follow through,” she said. She admits fear played a role in her inertia. The difference this time was that she hired Lisa Van Allen with Van Allen & Associates as a business coach to make sure this idea become a reality.

“She helped me to see what I feared and offered suggestions to change my way of thinking, which helped me tackle the issue rather than being paralyzed by fear,” Smart said. “I think this is what has kept me from doing my own business in the past — all the what ifs. Some of my biggest fears with starting Designing Moves were just silly little things, that once I talked to Lisa about suddenly seemed irrelevant.” “Being in the right mind-set is important for a lot of people, especially someone opening a business right now. It’s a scary time...” Van Allen said. “But during a recession is a great time to start a business. A lot of great businesses were started in a recession.” They key was calming those fears of failure

Christine Smart of Marion opened Designing Moves, an interior designing, senior move management company, to help people downsize their homes. Photo courtesy of Gordon Photography & Gallery

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and finding a way to overcome the financial stress that comes from starting a new business, she said. Designing Moves helps people, especially older adults, downsize their households to smaller houses, apartments or assisted living facilities by helping them sell, give away or donate items. The company also helps set up people in their new homes. Since family often live out of town, hiring someone they can trust to help family get through this can be helpful, Smart said. “It’s more than just downsizing, it’s giving seniors the emotional support to get them through this. I can be that daughter or daughter-in-law in town,” Smart said. But before opening the doors in October, Smart and Van Allen sat down to the drawing board. First, they worked on designing a business plan. That included doing a competitive analysis to determined who were her competitors. She found there weren’t many in the Cedar Rapids area who focused largely on older adults and did the whole package of downsizing from one place to another while setting up the customer’s new home, taking advantage of her interior designing background. Then they talked about prices, which Smart was struggling with. “She helped me see the value in what I did. I didn’t want to be too low that people did not take me seriously and I didn’t want them to be too high that people could not use me,” Smart said. Next, Van Allen had Smart focus on building strategic alliances like getting in touch with movers, attorneys who handle estate work, senior living centers and real estate agents, so that she could provide them information about her services Van Allen also urged her to create a Web site (www.designingmoves.net) and start using social media networking. She also is offering free seminars and talking with local retirement communities to share information about her services. Part of starting any business is

5/19/2009 11:29:02 AM

JUNE 2009 ■ EdgeBusiness

creating a marketing plan and building name awareness. “She’s really in a building mode and relationship marketing is huge right now,” Van Allen said. “Throwing out advertising and expecting people to come doesn’t work as well as it once did.”

“

But during a recession is a great time to start a business. A lot of great businesses were started in a recession.

“

– Lisa Van Allen, Van Allen & Associates, Cedar Rapids

Smart said the one-on-one interaction has been important to letting people know she’s there since her business is unique. “(This is) really needed. The biggest hurdle with this business is educating people. People don’t understanding what’s out there and what I do,” Smart said. Developing an initial customer base was easy because Smart already had a following of customers from the furniture store where she previously worked. That allowed her to draw on those customers now and generate some income while growing the moving side of the business. In addition with working with Van Al-

CORRIDOR NEWS CEDAR RAPIDS: Union confirms Midland Forge plans to leave — Midland Forge announced in mid-April it will close its Cedar Rapids plant with the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers at a date not yet determined. Columbus McKinnon Corp., the parent company of Midland Forge, plans to move operations from Cedar Rapids to Chattanooga, Tenn., where it operates Dixie Industries. CEDAR RAPIDS: Flooded bar moving into new location — Teeghan’s Ice Bar, which was destroyed by the June 2008 flooding five months after it opened reopened in mid-May at 315 Second Ave. SE. The spot had been operated as Dublin City Pub by Matt Blake before the flood. Owner Tory Thompson said the restoration job was easier at the new location because it took on about 2 feet of water, compared with the old location at 223 Second St. SE, which took on about 8 feet of water. CEDAR RAPIDS: Downturn claims 62 jobs

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len one-on-one, Smart also joined one of Van Allen’s Mastermind groups, which allowed her to network and learn from other small business owners. “It’s all about turning your dreams into reality and keeping your goals in front of you,” Van Allen said. She also urged Smart to build in some “me time” from the start. Smart feels passionate about volunteering with the charitable organization, House of Hope, and she wanted to keep doing that even with her business. Van Allen urged her to carve out some time during her day for that and to get some needed quiet time. “Every business owner does it. They run themselves ragged trying to make their business work that they don’t make time for themselves,” Van Allen said. But taking that time can help strengthen the business because it will be reflected in the business, she said. Smart now has the confidence needed to grow her business and a game plan to get her there. With an aging population, Smart suspects it is only a matter of time before she is so busy she has to hire help. “It was well worth the money. I feel like I am building a really strong foundation for my business,” Smart said. “I feel really comfortable where I’m going... it’s a clear path. Things are just falling into place.”

at Nordstrom Direct — Nordstrom Direct announced April 21 it would lay off 62 employees at its Cedar Rapids fulfillment center and 10 at its Seattle contact center. The company cited soft market conditions and a recent $50 million upgrade of the distribution center, which improved efficiency, as the primary reason for the layoffs. CEDAR RAPIDS: Union OKs MidAmerican contract — The union representing 1,600 MidAmerican Energy workers ratified a new three-year contract in mid-April against the recommendation of a union bargaining committee. The International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 499 in Clive and IBEW Local 109 in East Moline, Ill., represents employees in power plants, line crews and natural gas operations of MidAmerican. WEST BRANCH: State helping Acciona with $11 million plant upgrade — Plans for an $11 million upgrade to Acciona North America’s West Branch wind turbine plant received a boost from the Iowa Department of Economic Development board in April. The board approved tax benefits from the High Quality Jobs Creation Program for the project to add 30,000 square feet of plant space for final assembly of wind turbine nacelles, which house the electric generating components of wind turbine towers.

The business: Designing Moves 1155 Indian Creek Rd. Marion, IA 52302 (319) 721-6008 www.designingmoves.net designingmoves@gmail.com The consultant:

Lisa Van Allen with Van Allen & Associates Personal & Executive Coaching in Cedar Rapids (319) 551-1414 www.vallencoaching.com lisa@vanallencoaching.com

MARION: Marion industrial push gets boost — The Iowa Transportation Commission approved in April a RISE grant of $1,313,031 to pay 50 percent of the cost of extending Partners Avenue the rest of the way from 62nd Street into a new 11-lot industrial park bordering the Marion Airport. The 184-acre industrial development, known as the Marion Enterprise Center, will help partners in the project provide “shovel-ready” industrial sites for 66 percent to 75 percent less than prevailing costs in the area. CEDAR RAPIDS: Mall owner files bankruptcy — General Growth Properties, the nation’s largest shopping mall owner, filed bankruptcy in April. The company, which got its start more than a half-century ago in Cedar Rapids, listed $29.5 billion in assets and $27.3 billion in debts. The filing involved 158 regional shopping centers and other subsidiaries, including Jordan Creek Town Center in West Des Moines. It did not include Coral Ridge Mall in Coralville. IOWA CITY: Bike shop caters to commuters — Cody Gieselman and Steve Goetzelman opened 30th Century Bicycle, 310 Prentiss St. on April 22 to serve the needs of people like themselves who commute by bike.

5/19/2009 11:29:03 AM

EdgeBusiness ■ JUNE 2009

HUMAN FACTOR

Finding agreement on top performers

The only way to consistently define and measure performance is in targeted conversations within groups. Human resource officials or upper management can provide some guidance, but you need to figure out what it means for your group and employees. Collectively, managers should talk through what a high performing employee acts like and accomplishes. It’s not good enough to say, “You know it when you see it.” Results (what you do) can be measured and behavior (how you do it) can be observed. You need to consider both and be able to articulate it to others. Be careful not to try to develop a formula, however. There is a certain amount of subjectivity in any job, but you can have similar standards. These discussions will ensure everyone is singing from the same sheet of music come review time. There’ll be fewer tough/easy grading problems. You’ll also realize how many of your people truly are outstanding. Every organization is different, but you want to guard against having too many (if everyone is great, nobody is) or too few (you’re being stingy) in that category. Don’t mistake contribution level or title for performance. You need to consider an employee’s performance to the job. A filing clerk can be an excellent performer just like a vice president can be terrible. If you’re having trouble getting started on the definition, skip to the next ques-

tion and come back to this one. Look at the characteristics of your high performers to help define high performance. Who are your high performers? Once you’ve defined it, you need to identify who your top folks are. This should be the easy part. You know who is driving your business. Problem is, others may not know, or may not agree. Once again, communication is key. Talk with your peers and superiors about who the top performers are and why. Solicit input to get different perspectives. Accept feedback. You’ll get great insight for the employee’s performance review and learn more about how they’re perceived in the organization. It may seem like I’m advocating lots of meetings, but it’s really just one good one. If facilitated well, it’ll be one of the most enlightening and rewarding meetings you’ll have all year. And it will be information you can use. Imagine that, an interesting meeting that brings lasting value. What do you do with these high performers? You already know this answer. You reward, recognize and develop these employees. That becomes easier with common definitions and agreements across groups defining who they are. Now you can link to other business processes like succession planning, merit increases, development opportunities, etc. All of these things become easier and more valuable since you know people better. It’s easier to move people around, find them special projects and develop them for roles outside their current group because their visibility has been raised. Performance becomes the common thread through all this activity. What about everyone else? Obviously, you can’t ignore the rest of your organization. You have many solid performers that do a lot and make up the bulk of your employees. Don’t neglect good performers, but don’t let the illusion of fairness get in the way of good business practice. It’s not fair to reward everyone

“

Talk with your peers and superiors about who the top performers are and why. Solicit input to get different perspectives. Accept feedback. You’ll get great insight for the employee’s performance review and learn more about how they’re perceived in the organization.

“

hat is high performance? It seems this would be a simple question to answer. It’s not. Ask 10 managers how they deﬁne high performance and you’ll probably get 10 different answers — unless they’ve discussed it together. Therein lies the key.

— Jason Glass, human resources manager for Pearson, Iowa City

the same when they don’t perform the same. Although the exact ratios vary, I’ll bet your high performers accomplish the majority of the work. You need to differentiate rewards proportionally. In a fixed-resources environment, (and we’re all there, especially today) you need to make choices based on your priorities. Make sure you are not alienating your top folks. They’re the most likely to leave (or worse, disengage), whether it’s now or when the job market improves. Show them their results and actions are worth the effort, skill and passion they put into it. Evaluating performance is a constantly moving target (welcome to dealing with people) and it’s not easy. There will always be subjectivity and judgment when it comes to managing people. However, this is the most important role you have as a manager and it’s important you to go about it in a thoughtful way that best benefits your business. Believe me, you’ll be happy you did.

Jason Glass is a human resources manager with Pearson in Iowa City. He can be reached at (319) 3217405 or glass01@mchsi.com

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JUNE 2009 ■ EdgeBusiness

Doug Miskimen Carol O’Brien Jason Blomme Nate Clapham

Steven Pitts

Eric Engelmann Mike Schooley John Lockhart

Jeff Janssen

NEWSMAKERS Doug Miskimen was named president of Cedar Crest Manufacturing, a new Cedar Rapids supplier of writing instruments to the promotional products industry. Miskimen was formerly general manager of Norwood Souvenir in Cedar Rapids.

■

Carol O’Brien joined Diversity Focus in Cedar Rapids as director of programs. O’Brien served as vocational specialist, program coordinator and program director for Goodwill of the Heartland.

■

Jason Blomme recently joined Pioneer Workspace Solutions in Cedar Rapids as facility services manager/project coordinator. Blomme was previously a project manager with Storey Kenworthy/Workspace Inc. of Des Moines. ■

■

Nate Clapham has joined Coe College in

Cedar Rapids as director of the Coe Fund. Previously, Clapham was with GreatAmerica Leasing in Cedar Rapids. Steven Pitts joined Mercy Medical Center in Cedar Rapids as director of Organizational Integrity. Pitts previously lived in Twin Falls, Idaho, where he specialized in health law, providing legal services to hospitals in Idaho and surrounding areas.

■

Eric Engelmann, president and chief executive ofﬁcer of Geonetric in Cedar Rapids, was recognized as 2009 CEO of the Year at the Technology Association of Iowa’s annual Prometheus Awards Ceremony.

■

■ David VanDusseldorp (not pictured) of Iowa City recently joined Freedom Security Bank in Coralville, as vice president, Mortgage Lend-

ing. VanDusseldorp was previously with the University of Iowa Community Credit Union. Mike Schooley recently joined Securian Advisors MidAmerica in Hiawatha as ﬁnancial adviser. ■

■ ImOn Communications in Cedar Rapids announced two recent promotions. John Lockhart was promoted to supervisor of network operations. Lockhart was previously network technician III. Jeff Janssen was promoted to director of marketing. Janssen was previously marketing manager. ■ Clear Channel Radio of Cedar Rapids and Iowa City named 96.5 WMT morning radio host Carla Davis (not pictured) public service director for all six of the company’s station in the market.

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Downtown Cedar Rapids businesses are returning. Surveys show that more than 70 percent of businesses are back in business, including downtown mainstay Smulekoff’s. Smulekoff’s employee Bud McFadden washes the outside display windows Nov. 23, 2008. Amanda Larae Larkin photo/EdgeBusiness

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Highhopes

Businesses celebrate successes after flood yet worries remain

than 5,000 homes. And while there his month marks a year since has been much to celebrate in the the Cedar River reached his- business community as nearly 80 toric levels and stunned city percent of ﬂood-affected businessresidents by damaging or destroy- es in Cedar Rapids have reopened, ing nearly 700 businesses and more it doesn’t mean all is well.

By Janet Rorholm

5/19/2009 2:27:12 PM

JUNE 2009 ■ EdgeBusiness

“We’re not out of the woods yet,” said Edwin Hung, business counselor with the Iowa Small Business Development Center, who has been working with and keeping tabs on many of these businesses during the last year. Doug Neumann, executive director of the Economic Planning and Redevelopment Corp., agrees. “My big fear right now is trying to keep these businesses in business, and I’m not confident we’re doing enough to do that,” he said. Look beyond the newly renovated interiors of many of these businesses and you will likely find a business owner stressed about finances. “They are opening with additional load of debt and then you have this double whammy of dealing with the economy where we have seen a drop in business. People are dropping off on their spending because of the uncertainty or they have been laid off. In some cases, businesses have opened in areas that are not fully recovered... Time Check and Czech town are virtual ghost towns, so there is definitely an uphill battle for small businesses there,” Hung said. So far, Hung does not know of a single flood-affected business that has reopened and was then forced to close its doors, but the statistics suggest that won’t last. The business mortality rate for affected business in New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina was 70 percent over a three-year period. In Grand Forks, N.D., the business mortality rate was 55 percent. Between year one and year two after the Grand Forks flood, 40 percent of businesses failed. In year three, 10 percent to 15 percent failed. While those statistics are sobering, Hung said those communities weren’t facing the economy that area businesses are facing today, which has him that much more worried. The U.S. Department of Labor is predicting that in the Cedar Rapids area, 35 percent of flood-affected businesses will fail by the three-year anniversary largely because of that additional debt load, Hung said. That could mean the loss of 6,500 jobs or $130 million in wages to the area, he said.

“So the waters have receded, but we are still dealing with it,” he said. The buy local campaign brings on even more importance in the community because of that. Local officials also still are trying to get more state and federal assistance and are seeking out national media attention in an effort to help these businesses and residents because even a small amount of funding can help reduce debt loads.

“I don’t want to be the community that watches these small businesses fall by the wayside. We want to take a proactive approach to help,” Hung said. Hung said people are working hard to make sure Cedar Rapids’ story doesn’t turn tragic. “We can beat it. We don’t want to be a statistic. We want to be a positive case study on how we beat the odds,” Hung said. As he looks back on the last year, Doug

Top: The inside of McKinnon’s Barber Shop, 1601 Ellis Blvd. NW, Cedar Rapids, just days after last year’s flood. Courtney Sargent photo/EdgeBusiness Bottom: Barber shop owner Larry McKinnon cuts his grandson’s, Cameron McEldoon, hair as McKinnon’s wife, Mary Jo, right, watches with the couple’s other grandson, Christopher McEldoon after the business reopened Nov. 11, 2008. Photo courtesy of Christy McEldoon

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EdgeBusiness ■ JUNE 2009

Schumacher with A-Rental, 737 First Ave. SW, Cedar Rapids, said feelings are mixed. “I’d say we’re in better shape than we had hoped for and worse shape than we wanted to be,” he said of the Cedar Rapids business community. There’s no question that cash flows are tight. A-1 Rental isn’t immune even though the company had the best quarter it ever had right after the flood and demand for its equipment continues to be high. Schumacher believes the company will survive as a result, but he still worries. The 30-year loan he took out to get the building back in shape using his house as collateral will mean his children likely will have to pay it off. Schumacher said other business owners are in the same boat, but business hasn’t been as good for them, putting not only their business at risk, but also their home. “You just hate to see people lose a house, especially because this was a result of a natural disaster,” he said. Don Karr, with Affordable Plumbing & Remodeling, agrees. His business just got back into its showroom at 816 First Ave. NW, Cedar Rapids. “I lost $300,000 in 24 hours,” Karr said. He took $80,000 in Jumpstart and U.S. Housing and Urban Development grants but refused to accept a U.S. Small Business Administration loan. “If we had taken out an SBA loan, it would have doubled our payments and would have put us, with the economy, in a terrible situation,” Karr said. Instead, Karr and his children, who now own the business, worked out of their homes and rebuilt slowly doing most of the work themselves “a dollar at a time, a penny at a time.” But sales are off and they aren’t sure when things will improve. People are putting off large home remodels and with so few residents rebuilding their flooded homes, business is slow, he said. Steve Bruzek, president and owner of Cedar Rapids Sheet Metal, 406 Ninth Ave. SE, Cedar Rapid, said business is off for him as well.

• • • •

The business got 5 feet to 7 feet throughout its offices and warehouse but was only closed for 10 days. Still, the bureaucratic headaches at every level of government he’s gone through since then has been enormous and to top it off, business is slow. “It stinks. I’m waiting to get stimulated,” he said. He, too, turned down an SBA loan because of unfavorable conditions. Instead, he used the money he had in the bank, but that depleted any cushion he had, forcing him to reduce inventory. He’s not alone. “So many businesses are working just on time delivery that if anybody in the food chain screws up, there will be problems,” he said. Another problem facing flood-affected businesses is that flood insurance that goes above and beyond what the Federal Emergency Management Agency offers is impossible to get. That leaves them vulnerable if another flood occurs before the city’s flood protection systems are put in place. Loren Coppock, managing director of TrueNorth in Cedar Rapids, said there has been a “modest uptick” in the number of flood insurance policies his company has written in the Cedar Rapids area since the flood. The reason there isn’t more is that it’s almost impossible to find. Businesses want more coverage than what the FEMA offers, but can’t get it, he said. FEMA offers $500,000 in coverage on building and $500,000 on contents. “Almost everyone else has abandoned the market,” Coppock said. Insurance companies took such a hit in the flood they won’t touch it since there hasn’t been any flood mediation systems put in place. “If a building sustained $5 million in damage, there’s no reason it couldn’t happen again,” Coppock said. According to FEMA statistics, the number of flood insurance policies the government has written in Linn County was up 125 percent from 870 to 1,965 between April 30, 2008, and Feb. 28. These include residential and commercial policies. The number of policies in Johnson County was up 71 percent during that same time frame going from 528 to 905. State-

wide, the number of commercial FEMA flood insurance polices increased 30 percent from 1,615 to 2,103 during that time period. Coppock calls FEMA flood insurance “the bargain of the century” since rates haven’t gone up — yet. As the anniversary draws nearer, there is plenty of time for reflection, however painful. “This was a life changing year and many lives have been changed forever...” Neumann said. “There is also a sense of pride and a sense of accomplishment. We did beat those statistics with business recovery. We are ahead in some rebuilding and planning steps.” Neumann said many lessons have been learned and more are likely on the way. “It wouldn’t surprise me at all of Cedar Rapids and Iowans wind up being consultants on some of these federal problems. We are exhibit A that the federal government is not at all equipped to help rebuild after such a disaster,” he said. Hung said the turmoil many of these businesses faced in the last year has shown their dedication. “This really shows the resiliency of the entrepreneurs in this area. They are taking additional steps and risk. This really shows their true heart,” he said. Karr agrees and he remains upbeat about the future of Cedar Rapids. “We will get this community back and it will be beautiful,” he said.

Flood-affected business status Out of business 8% Unreachable Not open yet 3%

10%

Moved from Cedar Rapids

77%

Open for business

Source: Iowa Small Development Center

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MARKETING ON THE EDGE

Lessons from real estate marketing?

rom the ﬁrst handshake to handing over the keys, the interaction between a real estate professional and a buyer is that of an interdependent and mutually beneﬁcial relationship. Each needs to give and receive information from the other to proceed and succeed.

Today we cannot overlook the power of real relations combined with the reach and engage-

“

As real estate professionals know, you cannot sell a property with advertising alone. Advertising is, in some ways, the underwear of a marketing mix: It’s not strictly necessary, but can prove pretty obvious (and embarrassing) if it’s missing. Just as in real estate marketing, branding today for success should include a mix of strategies leveraging two-way bridges of communication. This is about opening conversation — dialogue — with people we have, until now, thought of as audience.

Real estate professionals have been relationship experts since they began and we can all learn lessons from them.

“

JUNE 2009 ■ EdgeBusiness

–Tami Garvin, public relations writer, Marketing and Communications Strategies, Cedar Rpaids

ment of online social communities and networks. Just as in face-to-face communication, social networking is about sharing information. It also invites interaction. Barack Obama’s campaign Online tools such as Facebook, MySpace and Twitter contributed to the netting of recordbreaking campaign funding for the Obama campaign. Advertising was certainly utilized; Obama, for example, outspent his opponent, John McCain, nearly three-to-one on TV ads toward the end of the campaign. Neither candidate could opt out of advertising. However,

Real People. Real Experience.

in addition, the Obama campaign successfully leveraged multiple technology platforms, social immersion strategies and the perpetually necessary relationship building (door-to-door) to engage constituents directly, raising an astounding $600 million in campaign contributions. In a text message sent to supporters on the eve of the election, Obama reaffirmed the real virtual connections he and staff had made, writing, “We have a lot of work to do to get our country back on track, and I’ll be in touch soon about what comes next.” Real estate professionals have been relationship experts since they began and we can all learn lessons from them. Today’s marketing cannot be about message delivery, but instead engagement and interaction. It’s no longer information distribution, but information exchange. Tami Garvin is a public relations writer for Marketing and Communication Strategies in Cedar Rapids, a full-service marketing ﬁrm and advertising agency. She can be reached at (319) 363-6005 or tami@mcshome.com

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5/19/2009 2:30:24 PM

EdgeBusiness ■ JUNE 2009

ACCOUNTING

Economy offers wake-up call for us all

uch has been written about the negative aspects of today’s economy, but maybe we are looking at it the wrong way. Being an accountant and financial adviser, I have seen and heard firsthand how the economy has impacted our clients’ lives. My focus at the firm, among other things, is to work with businesses and individuals to help them realize value. Unfortunately, I do not get to take a vacation when the economy is in a downturn. On the contrary, the work I do with our clients is all the more important in an economy such as this and I know they rely on me to help them weather these types of storms. I have clients in the Corridor who have been impacted by the recent layoffs that have taken place around us. I have clients who have been forced to consider laying off some of their employees (There is nothing easy about being on either side of that issue). I also have clients who thought they were going into business for themselves, only to find out belt-tightening banks are keeping them from getting the working capital loan to make it happen. Others are simply hav-

“

— Mike Mesch, Terry, Lockridge & Dunn

“

What surprised me about Joe was that instead of coming into my office and discussing his difficulties and what might happen, he did just the opposite. Joe admitted that the economy has been somewhat of a blessing in disguise to him and his family. I asked him how this could be.

ing a difficult time working through personal budgets and maintaining any type of savings. Unfortunately, there are a lot of people

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who have come into my office without much optimism left after having been through the proverbial wringer this past year, so I thought I would attempt to put a positive spin on what are some difficult times. What I’ve seen is that no decision during this difficult time is going to be easy, but people who seem to be the most successful in life find opportunity and wisdom in not only good experiences but also difficult ones. We have all heard that before, right? Well, what does it really mean? Maybe it is best explained by an anecdote from a client I met earlier this year. “Joe” is a man in his early 40s who works for a company that recently laid off many of his co-workers. Joe was lucky enough to miss this round of layoffs, but he is unsure how long he will continue to be so lucky. Joe has a wife and two teenage children and, like many of us, has a car loan, some credit card debt and lingering student loans among his monthly bills. What surprised me about Joe was that instead of coming into my office and discussing his difficulties and what might happen, he did just the opposite. Joe admitted that the economy has been somewhat of a blessing in disguise to him and his family. I asked him how this could be. Joe said he saw the layoffs coming and started putting together his resume. The process led him to rethink some of his career decisions and he has begun to explore what options might be out there. He realizes it might be some time before the economy turns around and he is able to switch jobs, but he is excited about the opportunity to explore areas that have always interested him. Joe also decided it was the time to review his family’s priorities. The family has cut out most of their unnecessary spending and are putting any extra resources into paying off their debt. Joe realized it was his family’s debt that was keeping them from putting any money toward savings and that without savings, he would never have peace of mind. He also realized that it would be his debt that would, ultimately, keep him from switching careers. Lastly, Joe’s wife has decided to return to work on a part-time basis in order to accelerate their debt-reduction plan. Although returning to work was going to be difficult for his wife, they were both excited about paying things off and in order to provide them with motivation, they had set up a schedule showing when they would have each loan paid off over the next few years. Joe discussed the details of his plan and, I must admit, he amazed me. After Joe left my office that day, I could not get our conversation out of my mind. I

The economy is forcing many families to review their priorities, cut unnecessary spending and reduce their debt. iStock photo

went home and discussed it with my wife. We decided it was time for us to change the way we were thinking about our own situation and put together a plan to add value to our own lives. We now have a schedule of our own and are excited to see our debt going down each month. I hope Joe’s story is able to help others look for opportunities this year. Getting personal finances in order is something many of us have been forced into as the economy has declined and, hopefully, as difficult as it may be, we will all emerge two or three years from now as happier, more confident and secure people.

Mike Mesch is managing director of business valuations and advisory services at Terry, Lockridge & Dunn, Cedar Rapids and Iowa City. He can be reached at (319) 364-2945

5/19/2009 2:31:27 PM

JUNE 2009 ■ EdgeBusiness

BAROMETERS Work pressure

Swine ﬂu

Keep it clean

The pressure to work long hours and on vacation aren’t always demanded of employees. One survey found that 35 percent frequently worked beyond their scheduled hours. Another 35 percent said they did occassionally. Why?

Strategies businesses now have in place to reduce the spread of the H1N1 virus, known as the swine ﬂu, in the workplace:

A survey ﬁnds that small business owners prefer to keep it clean. The survey found that 80 percent of owners believe seemingly innocent ofﬁce swearing can be interpreted the wrong way and have negative consequences on the job. Only 11 percent said swearing could act as a morale booster. What should business owners do if profanity is disrupting the workplace?

Other 4%

Impetus was self imposed 52%

44% Project or performance goals

Source: Society for Human Resource Management

EdgeBusiness graphic

70 %

Monitoring the H1N1 virus situation by following the guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and the World Health Organization

63 %

Educating employees on ﬂu prevention measures

57%

Developed an employee communication strategy

54%

Making hand sanitizer, other disinfectants, masks and other ﬂu prevention tools readily available

52%

Frequently disinfecting common areas of the ofﬁce EdgeBusiness graphic

Source: Society for Human Resource Management

! Discuss the issue in private ! Explain why it’s a problem ! Start an ofﬁce “swearing fund” ! Use code words to cuss ! Seek outside help

Still, despite their desire for profanity-free work environments, 40 percent of people admitted to swearing at work at least occassionally, indicating language isn’t as clean as they want it to be. The economy isn’t to blame either. More than 80 percent believe the amount of swearing has nothing to do with the recession.

Source: SurePayroll

EdgeBusiness graphic

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5/19/2009 11:44:28 AM

EdgeBusiness ■ JUNE 2009

The Real Deal Commercial real estate remains strong investment in Corridor

Rents have remained fairly stable in the Corridor, even in Cedar Rapids, largely because supply is down as a result of the flood and the on Dusek, president of financial crisis. Armstrong Development, “The market has contracted and demand is not watched much of his down- as high, so right now we’re holding,” Dusek said. Commercial real estate property transactions town property ﬂood last year. remain fairly active in the Corridor, said Scott Yet, he remains upbeat and op- Olson with Skogman Commercial Real Estate timistic about the commercial Services Group in Cedar Rapids. He said much of the activity appears to be smaller properties, real estate market — at least largely because funding streams have dried in the Corridor — even as the up when it comes to financing major projects. Helping boost sales of smaller properties, howrecession drags on. ever, are low interest rates in the range of 5.5 percent to 6.5 percent for commercial proper“Cedar Rapids is the tortoise and all other ties, he said. places are the hare,” he said. “We never saw “There’s been a lot of good activity in the the high highs or the low lows that other places community,” said Mike Eshave seen...,” he said. ker, commercial broker for “We’re going to avoid most Coldwell Banker Hedges in of the really bad stuff.” Cedar Rapids. Commercial real estate While commercial continues to be a good property continues to investment, even in downremain a good investtown Cedar Rapids, he said. ment in the Corridor, he “We’re not where we noted that every project were pre-flood, but we’re and every transaction needs making good progress. I’d to be carefully scrutinized say we have 80 (percent) Scott Olson Mike Esker because not everything will to 85 percent back,” Dusek do as well as it did several years ago. said of his downtown property. “Some people “Definitely, buyers are being much more cauhave moved elsewhere, a couple went out of tious and doing due diligence,” he said. business and some are still considering what Flood-affected properties aside, commercial they want to do.” By Janet Rorholm

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values have held strong in both Cedar Rapids and Iowa City, bucking the national trend. How long that will remain is anyone’s guess as the recession is starting to take a toll. Like Dusek, commercial property owner and developer Penny Berry also likes to stay optimistic. So despite last year’s flood and a recession that is straining all businesses, Berry is convinced that many area businesses, including hers, will get through this. “(Commercial property is) still a good investment, you’ve just got to ride the storm out,” she said. She acknowledges that “it’s a difficult and unique market out there.” Retail businesses are Penny Berry hurting the worst, but no one seems to be immune, she said. As a result, more renters are asking to renegotiate their leases. “We’re trying to work with them,” she said. In turn for renegotiating leases, she’s extending leases whenever possible. But she noted that some businesses are asking for month-to-month terms. “Two years ago you wouldn’t have considered that,” Berry said. Her view is that “something is better than nothing,” so she agreed to a month-to-month lease in at least one case. As the recession drags on, Berry said the situ-

5/19/2009 2:49:08 PM

JUNE 2009 ■ EdgeBusiness

Left: A bull dozer sits outside The Flamingo, 1211 Ellis Blvd. NW, Cedar Rapids. Work is progressing on the Time Check restaurant. The city lost about $70 million in commercial valuation because of last year’s flooding. Right: Tim Meyer, left, field superintendent for Hunter Cos. in Cedar Rapids, gives a construction update to property owner Jon Dusek, president of Armstrong Development, about 303 Third Ave. SE, Cedar Rapids. The office formerly housed AG Edwards, which was acquired by Wells Fargo. The office space is almost ready for tenants. Janet Rorholm photos/EdgeBusiness

ation is likely to get worse before it gets better. Cedar Rapids City Assessor Scott Labus said the city lost about $11 million in industrial value and about $70 million in commercial value in last year’s flood. Commercial property owners had their 2009 assessments reduced anywhere from 5 percent to as much as 50 percent, Labus said. Owners will see that reflected in their 2010-11 property tax bill. Johnson County saw about $2 million in lost commercial value, which Johnson County Assessor Bill Greazel called negligible, easily absorbed in the market. Since University of Iowa’s losses are exempt, Iowa City saw even less damage, he said. One program making a positive impact on downtown real estate is the state’s Jump Start Business Rental Assistance Program, which will provide rental assistance to offset lease payments for up to six months, for a maximum of $50,000. Tenants must sign a one-year lease to qualify. “That’s having in impact,” Olson said. Dusek agreed, saying the assistance will be helpful for his business and his tenants. Kirk Hiland, managing broker at NAI Iowa Realty Commercial, said the market in Iowa

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City/Coralville remains active. “Some businesses are relocating because of the flood and the university has taken up some space, so the market in general is pretty good,” he said. “Even retail has remained fairly strong, so we’re bucking the trend a little bit.” Commercial real estate owners continue to complain about property taxes, which continues to make development difficult. Before last year’s flood, there had been talk that 2009 would be the year that the state lawmakers would finally tackle the disparity in property taxes. But last year’s flood effectively eliminated it from any discussion and no one in the business community believes the state will tackle the inequality that exists when it comes to residential versus commercial/industrial property taxes anytime soon. Residential property owners pay 45.6 percent of the value of their house in taxes versus 100 percent for commercial/industrial owners, a system economic developers said makes it hard for the state to compete for new business. “The likelihood of anything ever happening, I’d say, it’s going to be some time,” Esker said. “We’ve talked about it for years and years, but there always seems to be other priorities com-

ing up.” Berry said she simply passes on the high cost of property taxes to the tenant who in turn passes it on to their customers in higher prices. “It then becomes a burden on them,” she said. Hiland said the inequity stymies new business development, especially from companies looking to come into the state. “Unless they get some sort of substantial tax break, they turn away,” he said. “Something just has to be done. Commercial property taxes cannot keep paying the lion’s share and remain competitive outside of the state. Something has to give.” Kirk Hiland Commercial property owners and developers in Cedar Rapids, however, remain much more optimistic about the revitalization of flood-affected areas given that federal and state disaster assistance should be coming to the area soon. “That flow of money into the community, which seems to be breaking free, should benefit both residential and commercial property owners,” Esker said.

5/19/2009 2:49:09 PM

EdgeBusiness ■ JUNE 2009

TECHNICAL SUPPORT

Practical communications technology advice for businesses

companies’ basic communications capabilities are found to be misused or go unused, either of which seriously impact both efficiency and the bottom line. Start by consciously evaluating the following communications systems areas. 1. Review all communications bills. How many incoming and outgoing lines does your business have? Are they all necessary? While it may seem simplistic, some companies are buying three standard business phone lines, yet only have two-line phones. Needless to say, that third line is unused and costly. Could you use your fax line for outgoing voice communications? You may be able to delete one voice line and use the fax line for both fax and outgoing voice conversations. (Note: you may be able to use “distinctive ring” to get double use of your fax line for both voice and fax traffic). While we all know that we live in a time Phone billing and plans can be complicated. of 24/7, on-demand communication. Meeting Have a professional benchmark and negotiate these internal business and customer requireyour communication needs and contracts. Each ments can be some of the highest costs in any sized organization. Upon close evaluation, some voice line may cost you as much as $40 per

Are you still reading someone else’s

c o py ?

month. The savings over just a few months may more than pay for an expert’s advice. 2. Control cell phone expenses. Does your company have the plan that best meets its needs? Just like at home, check to see that the time purchased closely matches what is

“

While we all know that we live in a time of 24/7, on-demand communication. Meeting these internal business and customer requirements can be some of the highest costs in any sized organization.

“

any articles about business technology focus on how to spend money, but never contain much concrete advice on how to save money. Today’s business environment demands just the opposite — getting the best return on investment for sometimes costly, yet admittedly necessary, business technology.

– Doug Flugum, president and CEO of Tektivity Inc., Cedar Rapids.

being used and that all options you are paying for are necessary to meet customer or business needs.

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5/19/2009 2:42:43 PM

JUNE 2009 ■ EdgeBusiness

Jupiterimages

Does your current provider review your bill and usage with you at least once a year? If not, they should. Ask for it. Does every staff member with a companypaid cell phone need one or would a single, floating phone for “on-call” responsibilities work? In fact, if you have on-call services would it be more professional to have just one

telephone number that doesn’t constantly have to be rerouted to the on-call person? 3. Evaluate the costs for the data plan that comes with the phones (e-mail and Internet access, etc.) Is it imperative that people surf the Web and receive their e-mail on the phone? Remember, convenience comes with a price.

MorningEdge The

4. Make it a priority to learn if your company is using all of its communication system’s features. For example, the system might have the capability to move internal business calling from the receptionist to an auto attendant. This move would make the receptionist available for other projects — like attending to customers. Look into Direct Inward Dialing to allow people to direct dial an extension. Both customers and the receptionist will appreciate this service. 5. Ask yourself (and your employees) if it is time, or past time, to replace out of date or unreliable equipment? The cost of your customer not being able to get through to your business can be high. The employee time allocated to investigate or fix a communication issue can be costly and it takes time away from more important responsibilities like selling. Downtime caused from special-ordered parts because of an obsolete system and components are not stocked can be expensive in both time and dollars.

Doug Flugum is president and CEO of Tektivity Inc. in Cedar Rapids. He can be reached at (319) 362-3336 or info@tektivity.com

Join us the second Tuesday of every month for a

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Each month The EdgeBusiness Magazine brings you advice to help your business from local experts in ﬁelds like efﬁciency, marketing, accounting and legal.

7 a.m. to 8:30 a.m. | The Gazette | 500 Third Ave. SE in the Nile Kinnick room, 2nd ﬂoor

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June 9 – Make Meetings Matter Learn how to solve problems quickly and easily, achieve better alignment around strategic decisions and communicate more effectively using meeting rhythms. Learn who should attend, what the agenda should focus on and when these meetings should occur. Speaker will be Doug Wick, business consultant with Positioning Systems of Cedar Rapids. July 14 – Search Engine Optimization If your Web site can’t be easily found in Google, you could be missing out on new customers. Learn about some of the steps you can take to optimize your company’s Web site so customers can ﬁnd you online. Presented by Sarah Farebrother, data analyst at Gazette Communications.

5/19/2009 2:42:44 PM

EdgeBusiness ■ JUNE 2009

EFFICIENT WORKPLACE

Motivating employees during tough times

There is no doubt motivated employees are more productive. But during this economic climate, low morale is common. Fearful of being let go and gossip in the workplace can squash motivation and reduce productivity. As a manager or owner, take an active role to minimize negativity and promote a positive workplace. iStock photo

CRS_01MOTIP018.indd 18

Readily recognizing some non-traditional motivators can bring boundless efficiency to your organization. In particular, the old thought of life balance is now being replaced with life integration. The new and current generations of workers are looking for flexible schedules and autonomy. With the 24/7 connectivity and the ability to work from just about anywhere, employees want flextime. For instance, if they want to take a couple hours of personal time at two o’clock in the afternoon, that should be acceptable since they normally work from home or from their BlackBerry at eight o’clock in the evening. Accommodating employees’ flexible work schedules can have a huge impact on motivation. Clear and regular communication must be evident in these trying times. Keep your staff informed on how the company is doing and provide an opportunity for them to ask questions. By initiating these discussions, you will reduce the amount of gossip traveling around the building. Moreover, when you provide information to your staff, it creates loyalty and empowers them to further support the company. Recognize right now is the perfect time to evaluate the strengths and interests of your staff. Initiate an engagement survey. The survey extracts information concerning not only where your employees want to go but also how they feel they fit into your organization. Here are four of the 13 questions on the engagement survey we use in our business. 1. What three things must you do regularly to feel fulfilled in your work? 2. If you could be given the confidence and responsibility of doing two new things in your position, what would you most like to do? 3. “I have the tools and resources I need to do my job.” Yes or no. If no, please explain and identify exactly what resources are lacking. 4. “My talents and abilities are being fully used in my current position.” Yes or no. If no,

explain and identify what talents you feel are being overlooked. Keep in mind that no matter how stressful the financial climate may be, take care to shield your employees from your frustration. When emotions are running high, it is easy to take

“

With this valuable information, you can confirm your staff is plugged into their ideal responsibilities. If not, moving duties around would be in order. This strategy will place your staff in positions that lends itself to increased productivity and job satisfaction.

“

uring tough economic times it is imperative for employees to be efﬁcient in the workplace. The capacity of increased productivity in challenging times may be the difference between staying in business and folding.

— Becky Esker, president of Get Organized!

it out on those nearest you. Remember your employees are your most valuable asset and during tough economic times, they are even more valuable. Take care to value your employees as much as you value your customers.

Becky Esker is the president and owner of Get Organized! LLC, Cedar Rapids. She can be reached at (319) 395-7477 or becky@getorganizedcr.com

5/19/2009 2:44:04 PM

JUNE 2009 ■ EdgeBusiness

MY toughest M

DECISION

y hardest decision did not happen at a single point in time. It was a lifelong decision to make decisions and exert some control over the circumstances swirling around me rather than sitting back and letting those circumstances determine my destiny.

Dawn Ainger

nology or try the newest software package. I Genova Technologies made the decision to put off those activities in lieu of attending my children’s games, making sure that when they looked up from Age: 46 second base, they saw their mom clapping for them and paying attention to the game. Title: President and CEO I also made a hard decision to have quiet Hometown: Hull time with each boy each day. Every day, I would spend 15 minutes with each son with- Residence: Hiawatha out siblings or TV. Games, reading, talking, playing catch, etc., were the only activities Dot-com bomb hit and then 9/11. allowed during quiet time. It sounds like I was The country was in an economic free fall and an awful mother; spending only 15 minutes a Genova was along for the ride. We were going The military teaches, “Make a decision; day with each son, but most days, I had to fight downhill fast. We survived due to everyone’s don’t wait for it to be made for you. Even if it is to carry out that decision to have that quiet time hard work, long hours and the will to succeed. the wrong decision, at least you are in control, with them. No matter how much office work I In 2001, the owner offered to sell me a not the enemy.” I think that is wise advice. had taken home, no matter how far behind I was majority of stock in Genova. I took a deep The Business of Self Sufficiency with laundry, as long as we had enough clean breath and made the decision to become a small My husband and I grew up on farms, the underwear for the next day, we had quiet time. technology business owner and leave my career first of our families to work ourselves through It was a hard decision to put my children ahead as a software engineer. college. My husband decided to become a of career aspirations, but it was one of the best The Business of Success physician and as a young mother, I struggled decisions I made. There were years of putting in more than 60 with my decision to finish my master’s degree in The Business of Marriage hours a week to grow the company and learn computer science. After all, my husband was a After being a single mom for the first five new skills as a business owner. Then, in three surgeon and many days it seemed fruitless to be years of my career, I met a wonderful man who years, the company grew tenfold. The probworking so hard at a job and trying to earn my asked me to marry him. I made the hard decilem was no longer growing the business, but advanced degree while raising children when sion to try to answer the nuptial question with managing growth. Besides putting processes and someday we could comfortably live on my my head, not just my heart. Would he be a good systems in place to ease work flow for new emhusband’s income. But when he left our family stepdad to my boys? Support me in my career? ployees, I realized some long-term employees to pursue another relationship, I realized the Stay with the boys while I traveled on business? did not want to be eased into a larger organizahard decision I made to be able to support my Take them to their events while I worked late? tion. They were uncomfortable with the process family was a good one. I knew that if I could not have a heart-tostructures and information flows that a larger orThe Business of Parenting heart with him on these issues, we were not ganization requires. Their negativity toward the Being a single mom of three boys, my day ready for marriage. My fiance and I discussed new processes and new people resulted in a loss started as a software engineer. After the work these questions, and more, at length, and I made of productivity. They were good people who day was over, I started my second shift as a the decision to marry again. were not happy anymore. Yet their loyalty to chauffeur, short-order cook, maid, teacher and The Business of Failure Genova, or possibly their fear of the unknown, sibling referee. My neighbors told me that Shortly after getting married, the owner would not allow them to quit. I made the hard between 4 and 9 p.m., they would see my van of the software company I worked for went decision to let them go. This would give them come and go at least eight times, dropping off bankrupt, leaving his partner holding the bag. the opportunity to be happy somewhere else. and picking up my boys at their various events. The remaining owner, along with myself and The Business of Life Seasons didn’t end, they just marked the begin- the other employees pulled together to get the Our business and personal life intertwine and ning of the next season. I coordinated schedules company through the crisis. I began managing we must blend those two sides of our life into a with other parents, dropping off one son as the team that was left and slowly we turned the beautiful circle. Divorce, bankruptcy, firings and another would be dropped off by other parents. company around. economic crisis, can all take a toll on our lives, I reminded myself that this was their only opMost of those years I remember working but we can make hard decisions to get through portunity in life to play with their childhood Christmas Day before the children got out of them and emerge better than before. We cannot friends, not wanting them to suffer just because bed. Genova was a small company at that time go back and make a new beginning, but starting I was a single, working mom. and was on life support, fighting for every today, we can make a new ending. Deciding to I was jealous of some of my co-workers who economic breath it could gasp. Just as it was choose the ending, is the hardest and best decihad the time after work to read the latest techstarting to make consistent profits, the 2001 sion anyone can make.

CRS_01MOTIP019.indd 19

5/19/2009 2:45:03 PM

Deb Law of Marion waters plants in one of the greenhouses at Culver’s Lawn Care & Landscaping in Marion. Law is a seasonal employee who works from February to October for the company. Janet Rorholm photo/EdgeBusiness

TeenageWoes Slow economy means teens face tough competition for summer jobs

it’s having a dramatic impact on youth looking for a job,” said Kerry Koonce, spokeswoman owa’s 5.2 percent unemploy- for the Iowa Department of Workforce Development. ment ﬁgure, while much Just like in the housing market, there are better than the national times when it’s a buyer’s market or a seller’s market. Well, today it’s an employer’s market, average of 8.3 percent, means said. it is stiff competition out there Koonce Across the Corridor, employers are reportfor any job, including seasonal ing higher than normal applications for job openings, allowing them to pick much more jobs this summer. qualified candidates for all job openings, includ“With all the layoffs, people who are trying ing seasonal positions, leaving teens out of the to go back to work are taking the jobs, including job market. seasonal jobs, that were once filled by teenagers “This has been a good year for hiring,” said in areas like retail and fast food restaurants and Carolyn Hamilton, aquatics supervisor for the By Janet Rorholm

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city of Cedar Rapids. By early May, she said she had hired all but a handful of positions of the 140 positions she needed at the city’s four pools. That’s much earlier than previous years. Ellis Pool remains closed this summer because last year’s flood damaged the pool. While she has hired teens as young as 15 years of age to fill cashier positions, Hamilton said across the board, the number of employees this year are older with a lot more experience. She said she’s been able to hire more teachers, college students and adults who have been laid off. “They’ve been laid off so they figure they’ll do whatever they can. They look at this as a good job for now,” Hamilton said.

5/19/2009 3:16:06 PM

JUNE 2009 ■ EdgeBusiness

Lisa Miller, golf operations manager for the city of Cedar Rapids, said the same was true in hiring for the city’s golf courses. “We certainly had a lot more qualified candidates than ever before,” she said. Culver’s Lawn Care & Landscaping in Cedar Rapids, which began hiring its seasonal help in March, employs about Tami Culver 150 people during the summer. Vice President Tami Culver said Culver’s hasn’t seen a drop in business because of the economy. Instead, she said she has seen an increase in business. Staffing has remained steady compared to previous years, but the number of applications was definitely up. “There is definitely a lot more people out there looking for a job,” Culver said. Based on the economy, it is possible that for the first time since 1954 fewer than 1 million 16- to 19-year-olds will find summer jobs across the nation, furthering impacting the woes, as jobless teenagers are less likely to spend money on clothes, music or entertainment, according to an outlook by Challenger, Gray & Christmas based in Chicago. Last year, employment among 16- to 19-year-olds grew

by only 1.15 million between May and July, according to non-seasonally adjusted data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. That was 29 percent lower than 2007, when 1.64 million teens found jobs during the summer months. Bureau data show that teen employment is already significantly lower than a year ago. As of March 31, 4.7 million 16- to 19-year-olds were employed, which is 11.6 percent less than the 5.3 million teens working at the same point in 2008. The non-seasonally adjusted unemployment rate among teens averaged 21.9 percent through the first three months of 2009, compared with 16.9 percent during the same period a year ago. Koonce said there are still jobs out there, just not as many. Iowa Workforce Development had about 15,000 jobs available in its job bank in early May, but that was about 10,000 fewer than the prior year. Since job growth typically lags behind the economy, she doesn’t expect to see the unemployment rate drop until 2010, provided that the economy improves later this year as predicted. She said teens will have to look harder to try and find that summer job. “They are going to have to look harder and present themselves well. They’ll have to look good, act professional and demonstrate a good work ethic,” Koonce said. Select teens and young adults, however,

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will get a boost in their job search by a new program called the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act created with federal stimulus funds. The statewide summer employment program provides Iowa youths with an opportunity to develop essential skills needed for successful employment. As part of the program, employers who participate have the young employees’ wages paid for them. The program is expected to fund the employment of 150 to 200 teens or young adults in Eastern Iowa, Koonce said. “As Iowa’s economy and job opportunities continue to evolve, it’s important that our youth develop the necessary skills to succeed in the new opportunities,” said Elisabeth Buck, director of Iowa Workforce Development. To qualify, teens and young adults must be between 14 and 24 years of age, are considered low-income and meet one of the following qualifications: ● Deficient in basic literacy skills ● High school dropout ● Homeless, runaway or foster child ● Pregnant or parenting ● An ex-offender ● An individual requiring additional assistance to complete an educational program or to secure and hold employment Employers or individuals interested in participating can go to www.youthforiowa.org for more information.

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EdgeBusiness ■ JUNE 2009

JUNE 2009 ■ EdgeBusiness

Name Game THE

Weighing the pros, cons of buying a franchise

should help sell the business. But just jumping into the consignment store business isn’t easy. “It’s very labor intensive,” Sundblad said. “If you don’t have systems in place or they are not working, you will drown.” Like any franchise, those systems are part of the package people buy when they buy into a franchise system, as well as name recognition and a support system. Franchises are everywhere, but is buying a franchise right for you? Being part of a franchise system comes with pros and cons and business consultants and even those already in the franchise business urge people to weigh those options closely before making a decision either way. Lisa Ogle has owned the Marion Curves franchise, 1119 Seventh Ave., for nearly three years. Before she started working at Curves five years ago, she hadn’t even heard of the company, but the women-only fitness facility now has 10,000 stores across the world. And when the previous owners decided to sell the store, they asked Ogle if she wanted to buy it. Ogle, Glenda Burgh (left) and Lisa Pazano, both from Marion, chat while working out who had managed the store for about two years, at Curves in Marion. The franchise store has more than 10,000 locations in Iowa. said she wasn’t sure about buying it since most Janet Rorholm photo/EdgeBusiness of her prior experience was in the restaurant and hotel industries. Turns out she didn’t have to worry because the franchise offered plenty of “We’ve had so much inBy Janet Rorholm support. terest. Every week we get “We’re like one big huge family,” she said. ver the last 24 years, calls,” Sundblad said. She said the systems work well and the She said she plans on company does national advertising for business Mary Sundblad, owner focusing on selling franowners, but if she or other local owners want of Stuff Etc., has perchises in Iowa first and to do something different, they must first get then branching out from permission. fected the sale of consignment there. She’s had interest “You can get creative to a limit, but you have items. This month, she’ll take to go through legal and advertising first and then from people from Washthey’re usually cool with it,” Ogle said. “There ington to Arkansas and another step and will sell her Mary Sundblad everywhere in between. It are constraints.” consignment store concept as doesn’t hurt that Stuff Etc. is having its best year She said she pays 5 percent of her gross part of a franchise operation. ever thanks largely to the recession, which also royalties to Curves and 3 percent of gross sales

CRS_01MOTIP022.indd 22

5/19/2009 3:28:20 PM

JUNE 2009 ■ EdgeBusiness

The Premier Learning Environment for Today’s Adult Learner.

● The responsibilities you and the seller will have to each other once you’ve invested in the opportunity. Franchise operations will do their homework as well, said Rodney Anderson, president of Panchero’s Franchise Corp. in Coralville, which got its start in Iowa City 16 years ago. It’s been a franchise for the last six and now has 54 stores in 18 states. “We are looking for their experience,” he said. “We’ve found people do much better if they have restaurant experience. We also will look at a person’s finances and get to know them and their attitude. We want to make

“

I figure I bought into a franchise, I might as well take advantage of what they have to offer. But the biggest benefit I’ve found is meeting with other franchise owners and learning from them. –Mickey Akers, owner several area Great Clips stores

“

for advertising fees, which Ogle considers reasonable. “I prefer the franchise because I prefer the structure,” Ogle said. That structure is one of the biggest benefits of owning a franchise business, said David Drewelow, business consultant for ActionCOACH in Cedar Rapids. ActionCOACH is also a franchise system and Drewelow, who owns the territory rights to ActionCOACH franchises in Nebraska and Iowa, sells ActionCOACH franchises. “We’ve found that about 80 percent of people aren’t crazy about looking at a franchise, but when you look at what they are better suited to, it often comes down to a 50-50 split,” Drewelow said. “For some people, they totally need some kind of system to be successful.” But not everyone is cut out to buy into a franchise, he said. The No. 1 reason why people should not buy into a franchise is if they are highly independent and don’t want to follow someone else’s guidelines or systems. The failure rate for people who start independent business ranges from 60 percent to 70 percent within the first three to five years. That compares with a 20 percent failure rate for people who buy into a franchise, Drewelow said. That’s because franchise businesses typically have a proven track record and support system already in place, he said. When considering a franchise, Drewelow said it is imperative to get a copy of the company’s Federal Disclosure Document. Franchises are highly regulated and the Federal Trade Commission’s Franchise and Business Opportunity Rule requires franchise sellers to give you specific information to make an informed decision, including: ● Names, addresses and telephone numbers of at least 10 previous purchasers who live closest to you. ● A fully audited financial statement of the seller. ● Background and experience of the business’s key executives. ● Cost of starting and maintaining the business, including what fees you’ll have to pay.

sure they have an understanding of what the business is about and what it will take to be successful. We have turned down people.” Anderson encourages people to look at a franchise’s history, opting for one that has a proven track record. “They know how to make it work,” he said. He said studying the franchise and its structure can also pay off. For some franchises, it’s less about running your business and more about buying your job because fees are so high. In some cases, Rodney Anderson the franchise will dictate where you can get your supplies, which could

further cut into your profit. He urges people to contact others in the franchise before making any decisions. A person can buy into a Panchero’s franchise for $30,000, which covers training, support and assistance in getting the business up and running. It costs about $400,000 to open the business. The franchise owner then pays 5 percent of its revenue to the franchise. There are no advertising fees because the company doesn’t do national advertising. Mickey Akers said she’s found the franchise system makes it easy to grow. Akers and her husband, Jerry, own six Great Clips stores, three in Cedar Rapids and three more in the Waterloo-Cedar Falls area, and are looking to expand. While both of them have run independent businesses, neither knew Mickey Akers anything about cutting hair — and still don’t, which Mickey Akers said makes things easier because she can’t be called upon to help cut hair. “I want to run the business and I spend all of my time trying to figure out better ways to run the business. So far we’ve been very successful. We’ll definitely be expanding,” she said. Akers attributes her success to her employees and their focus on customer service, which keeps customers coming back. She also takes advantage of corporate training opportunities, soaking up as much knowledge as she can. “I figure I bought into a franchise, I might as well take advantage of what they have to offer. But the biggest benefit I’ve found is meeting with other franchise owners and learning from them,” she said. Her best advice to people considering buying into a franchise? Look closely at its philosophy. “Find a franchise that fits you and your personal beliefs. We felt comfortable with Great Clips. It just seemed right,” she said.

At the Kirkwood Center for Continuing Education, the Corridor’s leading training and education center, we handle the details before, during and after your event. We take the guesswork out of planning with the latest technological tools and value-priced packages. To schedule a tour, contact Stephanie at 319-398-1276 or stephanie.bredman@kirkwood.edu. 7725 Kirkwood Blvd. SW | Cedar Rapids, IA | www.kirkwood.edu/kcce

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5/19/2009 3:28:22 PM

EdgeBusiness ■ JUNE 2009

LEGAL ANGLE

What to consider when entering or renewing a lease

he past year has dramatically changed the value, terms and risks associated with commercial real estate leases. Unlike residential leases, which are subject to statutory guidelines and protections, commercial real estate leases are governed almost exclusively by the speciﬁc terms of the agreement. While it is always important to carefully review the language when entering or renewing a commercial lease, the state of the economy and the aftermath of natural disasters in Iowa this past year provide an extra incentive.

The state of the economy and the area’s recent natural disaster makes it important to pay attention to the terms of the commercial real estate lease and what it spells out for unanticipated conditions. Mark Tade photo/ EdgeBusiness

2. Does the lease cover the rights of each party in the event of damages or a natural disaster? Does it matter how or when the damages are incurred? Does either party have the right to terminate the lease and, if so, under what circumstances? What are the rights and obligations of each party if the tenant cannot continue to conduct business on a full- or part-time basis? 3. Does the lease specify the kind of insurIdeally, a commercial lease should clearly ance each party is required to maintain? Does and simply reflect the landlord’s and tenant’s property insurance coverage protect against acts unique circumstances. Unfortunately, lease terms can sometimes be technical, cumbersome of God, including floods? Who is insured under the lease? To whom are insurance proceeds payand difficult to interpret. Even lease terms that able under the lease? are clear and unambiguous can seem exces4. If property is damaged by a natural sive, unfair, unreasonable or impossible when enforced in the wake of an economic downturn disaster, is it clear who will be responsible for overseeing repairs or rebuilding? Are there or natural disaster. While all the terms of a commercial lease are guidelines for the repairs? Can the tenant emimportant, the following issues may be particu- ploy a third party to repair damages? Are there larly important in light of the current economic adequate protections for the landlord to avoid mechanic’s liens for work authorized by the and post-disaster conditions: tenant? 1. What are the economic conditions of the 5. Who is required to pay for improvements landlord and tenant? Are there personal guaror repairs caused by a natural disaster? Are there antees required and by whom? Are there any economic red flags related to the landlord or the limits on when repairs and improvements must be made during the life of the lease? Does it tenant?

cover the impact of the Americans with Disabilities Act, zoning and building laws and upgrades required under a condominium declaration? 6. What constitutes a default in general and under various economic and post-natural disaster circumstances? Are remedies for the default clear to both landlord and tenant? 7. Is each party protected from environmental issues that may arise? These issues are not exhaustive. The usual business-related issues are relevant and should always be carefully reviewed as part of any commercial real estate lease negotiation. However, it is important to keep in mind that these atypical times demand a careful consideration of how the terms of a commercial real estate lease may apply to unanticipated conditions.

Dennis J. Mitchell is an attorney with Meardon, Sueppel & Downer PLC with ofﬁces in Coralville and Iowa City. He can be reached at (319) 338-9222 or dennism@ meardonlaw.com

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JUNE 2009 ■ EdgeBusiness

BUSINESS

e •v •e •n •t •s

June

BUSINESS CALENDAR 4

THURSDAY The Recipe for Business Success. Whether your company is a major corporation or startup, this one-day business seminar presented by Curtis Nelson with the Entrepreneurial Development Center and sponsored by the Cedar Rapids Area Chamber of Commerce is guaranteed to provoke strategic thinking throughout your organization and put your business on the road to success. The seminar covers: strategic ﬁt; business planning; balanced executive teams; great leadership; and resources. The seminar will be held from 8:30 a.m. to 3:15 p.m. at the chamber, 424 First Ave. NE. Cost is $50 for Chamber and EDC members and $85 for others. Lunch is included. For more information or to register, contact Julie Stow at (319) 730-1409 or jstow@cedarrapids.org

TUESDAY Make Meetings Matter. Learn how to solves problems quickly and easily, achieve better alignment around strategic decisions and communicate more effectively using meeting rhythms. Learn who should attend, what the agenda should focus on and when these meetings should occur. Speaker will be Doug Wick, business consultant with Positioning Systems in Cedar Rapids. This free Morning Edge seminar, sponsored by The EdgeBusiness Magazine, will be held from 7 to 8:30 a.m. at The Gazette, 500 Third Ave. SE, Cedar Rapids. Please RSVP to theedge@gazcomm.com as space is limited.

THURSDAY PM Exchange. This Cedar Rapids Area Chamber of Commerce networking event will be held from 5 to 7 p.m. at US Bank, 222 Second Ave. SE, Cedar Rapids.

11 & 12

THURSDAY & FRIDAY Customer-Oriented Selling. In today’s economy, it is necessary to think differently about business-to-business selling strategies. Learn to determine the customer’s objectives and situational factors, understand and use the key customer-focused communication skills, prepare for each sales call through pre- and post-call analysis, and conduct sales calls using a proven four-step customer-focused sales process. The one-day class, sponsored by the Skywalk Group, will be held from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at 205 Second Ave. SE, Cedar Rapids. Cost is $995. For more information or to register, contact Mindy Seiffert, at mseiffert@

CRS_01MOTIP025.indd 25

skywalkgroup.com or (319) 892-3980.

THURSDAY Navigating Change: Communication as Compass. We all know change is constant. It is going to happen with or without our inﬂuence. As leaders, you will want to, be asked to or need to be in the position of bringing about change in the organization. Find out the tools you can start using immediately to plan and execute a successful change effort. Learn how to avoid pitfalls associated with failed change attempts, prepare to respond to sources of resistance, access change readiness in the organizational culture, create visions, goals and practices for change and more. The class will be held from 8 a.m. to noon at Kirkwood Training & Outreach Services (KTOS), 3375 Armar Dr., Marion. Cost is $119. To register, call (319) 398-1022 or visit www.kirkwood.edu/ce

WEDNESDAY Speed Networking. Speed Networking is a growing phenomenon among business groups and professional organizations focused on business relationship development. It is a well-organized, fast paced program that allows participants to meet fellow business professionals, learn about other organizations and exchange business cards in a short period of time. It’s a bit like speed dating, only less risky. The event will be held from 7:30 to 8:30 a.m. at Hills Bank & Trust Co., 1009 Second St., Coralville. Cost is $10 for members and $20 for non-members. To attend, RSVP to rsvp@iowacityarea.com by June 10.

FRIDAY STAR Service for Retailers. In tough economic times, getting the customer to choose your store can be what sets you apart from the rest. Learn to increase consistency in creating positive memorable customer service experiences for your customers, increase customer retention, expand business relationships and drive an increase in customer referrals. The class, sponsored by the Skywalk Group, will be held from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at 205 Second Ave. SE, Cedar Rapids. Cost is $199. For more information or to register, contact Mindy Seiffert, at mseiffert@skywalkgroup. com or (319) 892-3980.

22 & 24

MONDAY & WEDNESDAY Excellence in Service. We all know what bad service looks like, but do we know how to give excellent service? What do you do when the customer is angry or unreasonable? You can keep your customer happy and satisfy business needs. In this course, you will gain the skills to address customer expectations, ﬁnd solutions in difﬁcult situations, communicate clearly and be empowered for excellence. The two-day class will be held from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. at Kirkwood Center for Continuing Education, 6301 Kirkwood Blvd. SW, Cedar Rapids Cost is $95. To register, call (319) 398-1022 or visit www.kirkwood.edu/ce TUESDAY

23 The Ins and Outs of Non-

Compete and Non-Solicitation Agreements. In today’s financial landscape, many companies will face the inevitable fight to enforce or fight against noncompete or non-solicitation agreements, so companies must understand the legal limitations and boundaries to enforce or protect their rights. This Cedar Rapids Area Chamber of Commerce Chamber Academy event is presented by Mark Hudson with Shuttleworth & Ingersoll. It will be held from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the Chamber boardroom, 424 First Ave. NE, Cedar Rapids. Cost is $35 for Chamber members and $50 for others. To register, contact Julie Stow, at (319) 7301409 or jstow@cedarrapids.org

THURSDAY Hiring Winning Talent. A successful hiring process doesn’t start with the job posting and doesn’t end when a candidate has been selected. Learn to establish an efﬁcient process that reduces the time it takes to interview and select a qualiﬁed candidate, maximize new hire’s productivity, ensure team cohesion and increase the retention of new hires. The class, sponsored by the Skywalk Group, will be held from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at 205 Second Ave. SE, Cedar Rapids. Cost is $595. For more information or to register, contact Mindy Seiffert, at mseiffert@ skywalkgroup.com or (319) 892-3980.

SOCIAL CALENDAR 4&6

THURSDAY & SATURDAY Iowa Arts Festival. This free festival starts at 5 p.m. on June 4 and 10 a.m. on June 6. It will be held in downtown Iowa City. There will be sales, auctions, ﬂea markets and craft sales. For more information, contact info@summerofthearts. org or call (319) 337-7944.

FRIDAY Uptown Friday Nights. Enjoy good music, good drinks and good friends this summer, featuring the band Super Size Seven. This event is held by the Cedar Rapids Jaycee from 5 to 8 p.m. in Greene Square Park in downtown Cedar Rapids between Fourth Ave. SE and Fifth St. SE. Cost is $5. The event also will be held June 12, 19 and 26. For more information go to www.uptownfridaynights.com

12 & 14

FRIDAY & SUNDAY Cosi FanTutte. Spurred on by the cynical Don Alfonso, who claims that women by nature are unfaithful, two young men bet that their girlfriends, who are sisters, will remain loyal. Drawn away by a trumped-up call to arms and aided by Alfonso and a maid, the men return in disguise to woo the girls in an intriguing and often comic game of ﬁancee-swapping. The performance is at 8 p.m. on June 12 and 2 p.m. on June 14 at the Kimmel Theatre in Youngker Hall Cornell College, 600 First St. SW, Mt. Vernon. Cost is $20 for adults. For tickets go to http://www.theatrecr.org

5/19/2009 3:23:00 PM

EdgeBusiness ■ JUNE 2009

DIGEST Building Permits

LINN COUNTY 411 First Ave. SE, Cedar Rapids, remodel, ●

Skogman Realty, $75,000.

● 1710 16th St. SE, Cedar Rapids, remodel, Cargill Inc., $800,000. ● 4444 First Ave. NE No. 136, Cedar Rapids, remodel, Footlocker, $160,000.

119 Third Ave. SE, Cedar Rapids, remodel, Cedar Rapids Symphony School, $400,000.

●

● 1815 First Ave. SE, Cedar Rapids, new commercial building, Compass Commercial Services, $605,000.

3117 First Ave. SE, Cedar Rapids, remodel, Btb Enterprises, $1,200,000. ●

907 15th St. SW, Cedar Rapids, new commercial building, Cedar Rapids School District, $398,000. ●

1001 Shaver Rd. NE, Cedar Rapids, addition, Alliant Energy, $2,715,237.

●

3905 Blairs Ferry Rd. NE, Cedar Rapids, new commercial building, Hills Bank & Trust, $2,118,000. ●

Invigorating We get a kick out of clients who transition from doing payroll in-house to hiring us to do it. After years of being chained to the desk dealing with time sheets, benefits, taxes, deposits and on and on, they are at last free—free to do the work that brings more benefit to their companies’ profits. It’s invigorating. These are very satisfied clients, and we never tire of our relationships.

740 N. 15th Ave. | Hiawatha, IA 52233 www.honkamp.com | 800.765.2960

4545 Wenig Rd. NE, Cedar Rapids, new, John F. Kennedy High School, $52,000.

●

401 First St. SE, Cedar Rapids, remodel, Redwood Investments, $375,000.

●

426 First Ave. NW, Cedar Rapids, remodel, Edko LLC., $100,000. ●

318 Fifth St. SE, Cedar Rapids, repair, Waypoint/Madge Phillips Center, $70,165.

Sunday, June

advertising 3, 2007 An

feature of The

Gazette

Celebrating

years

in the Cedar

Rapids area

●

707 Boyson Rd. NE, Cedar Rapids, new, Century Communications, $65,000.

●

ion Fire &ClWeaatnuer p & Restorat 111 Miller Road,

SBA Loans* Pediatric Dentistry of Coralville, Coralville, $83,000, two jobs created or retained. ●

Los Portales Mexican Restaurant, Iowa City, $334,000, 20 jobs created or retained.

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Superior Welding and Fabrication, Iowa City, $401,000, one job created or retained.

●

● Core Group IC LLC, North Liberty, $2,000,000, 40 jobs created or retained.

Aguamiel LLC, Cedar Rapids, $30,000, two jobs created or retained. ●

● Steve’s Sodablasting, Cedar Rapids, $32,000, one job created or retained.

Cedar Rapids Chiropractic LLC, Cedar Rapids, $84,500, two jobs created or retained. ●

ened

r even happ

Like it neve

Hiawatha, IA

52233

Here are just a few stories we helped tell...

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Partner with The Gazette or EdgeBusiness Magazine and

tell your story A vendor supported section provides tremendous exposure and good will for your business – just ask our many past clients. We offer turn-key support from writing and photography to sales and distribution. Call Mary Reeder at 319-368-8506 and start telling your story today. of The Gazette An Advertising Feature October 22, 2006

THE INAUGURATION OF , PH.D. CHRISTOPHER R.L. BLAKE EIGHTH PRESIDENT OF MOUNT MERCY COLLEGE

● Sports Image, Hiawatha, $75,000, 37 jobs created or retained. ●

Walker Ag Equipment, Lisbon, $30,000,

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JUNE 2009 ■ EdgeBusiness

eight jobs created or retained. Walker Ag Equipment, Lisbon, $75,000, eight jobs created or retained.

●

The Jym Bag Company LLC, Marion, $60,000, ﬁve jobs created or retained.

●

* Note: Information is based on approvals only and does not imply funds have been disbursed.

Business Bankruptcies* Tammy D. Bowman, formerly doing business as Bowman Ventures Inc., doing business as Fitzpatrick’s, 714 19th Ave., Coralville, $446,193 debts and $244,450 assets.

●

Eugene D. Scalf, doing business as Gene Scalf Consulting Inc., also known as Gene Scalf, 3036 West Lake St., Apt. 400, Minneapolis, $181,663 debts and $164,712 assets. ●

Allen A. Zindrick, formerly doing business as Al’s Red Frog Inc., formerly doing business as Zindrick’s Czech Restaurant, 86 16th Ave. SW, Cedar Rapids, $614,040 debts, $101,415 assets.

●

Linda E. Goettel, doing business as Linda’s Lawncare & Landscaping, doing business as Towels & More, 55 Wright Dr., Hiawatha, $78,696 debts, $56,425 assets.

●

Brent D. Schlotfeldt and Jill A. Schlotfeldt, formerly doing business as Discovery Homes Inc., doing business as Ardor Homes Inc., formerly doing business as Synergy Development Group LLC, 118 N. Hillcrest Circle, Center Point, $2,445,600 debts, $2,184,802 assets.

●

● Ronald L. Schantz and Christine E. N. Schantz, formerly doing business as Ron Schantz Construction, 4602 Pine View Dr. NE, Cedar Rapids, $315,780 debts, $237,158 assets. ● Russell A. Power, also known as Russell A. Powers, and Sivi E. Power, formerly doing business as Russell’s Mobile Home Service, 981 First Ave., Marion, $243,799 debts, $161,574 assets.

Michael D. Kair, doing business as Digital Xpress, 4040 33rd Ave. SW, Apt. 11, Cedar Rapids, no debts or assets listed.

●

*Signiﬁes petitions that have been discharged by the court.

Patents Brake interface module; inventors: James Fenske, Marion; John Raid, Peter Tilly, from Cedar Rapids; assignee: Wabtec Holding Corp., Wilmerding, Pa.; ﬁled: Jan. 12, 2006; awarded: Dec. 30, 2008.

●

Method and apparatus for failure prediction of an electronic assembly using life consump●

CRS_01MOTIP025.indd 27

tion and environmental monitoring; inventor: Ross Wilcoxon of Cedar Rapids; assignee: Rockwell Collins Inc., Cedar Rapids; ﬁled: March 17, 2005; awarded: Jan. 6. Plants and seeds of corn variety I210292; inventors: Gary Stangland, Cedar Rapids; assignee: Monsanto Technology LLC, St. Louis, Mo.; ﬁled: April 24, 2006; awarded: Jan. 13.

●

Vertical profile display using color filled bands to provide terrain awareness; inventors: Sarah Barber, Robins; assignee: Rockwell Collins Inc., Cedar Rapids; filed: Dec. 8, 2004; awarded: Jan. 13.

●

Composition for a light ﬁltering material; inventors: Leslie Warren Jr. and Hong-Son Ryang, both of Camarillo, Calif.; assignee: Rockwell Collins Inc., Cedar Rapids; ﬁled: March 14, 2003; awarded: Jan. 27. ●

● Dual mode power ampliﬁer; inventors: Michael Hageman, Mount Vernon; Dale Brandt, Central City; David Ripley, Cedar Rapids; assignee: Skyworks Solutions Inc., Irvine, Calif.; ﬁled: Oct. 25, 2005; awarded: Jan. 27.

Radio frequency local area network; inventors: Robert Meier, Cedar Rapids and Ronald Luse, Marion; assignee: Broadcom Corp., Irvine, Calif.; ﬁled: Oct. 15, 2004; awarded: Jan. 27. ●

Pet chew; inventor: Jerry Lundwall, Centennial, Colo.; assignee: Penford Products Co., Cedar Rapids; ﬁled: Nov. 19, 2007; awarded: Feb. 24.

assignee: Rockwell Collins Inc., Cedar Rapids; ﬁled: Sept. 28, 2006; awarded: March 3. Method and apparatus for supporting a shotgun; inventor: Ron Bean, Cedar Rapids; assignee: Hunter’s Specialties Inc., Cedar Rapids; ﬁled: April 28, 2008; awarded: March 10. ●

Disposable chair cover and method of using; inventors: Rhonda Meek and Mary Finch, both of Cedar Rapids; assignee: Marylegs Corp., Cedar Rapids; ﬁled: May 16, 2008; awarded: March 24. ●

Envelope elimination and restoration ampliﬁer harmonic energy recovery system and method; inventors: Paul Wagner, Marion; Kil Kim, Freehold, N.J.; assignee: Rockwell Collins Inc., Cedar Rapids; ﬁled: Sept. 20, 2006; awarded: March 24. ●

GaN based digital controlled broadband MMIC power ampliﬁer; inventors: Mark Yu, Coralville; Chengang Xie, Phoenix, Ariz.; assignee: Rockwell Collins Inc., Cedar Rapids; ﬁled: Sept. 28, 2007; awarded: March 24.

●

Indirect analog synthesizer utilizing direct analog fractional frequency multiplier approach; inventor: Joseph Paniccia, Bel Air, Md. assignee: Rockwell Collins Inc., Cedar Rapids; ﬁled: Sept. 14, 2006; March 24. ●

●

Polarized light source using an organic liquid crystal; inventors: Martin Steffensmeier, Cedar Rapids; Thomas Seder, Northville, Mich.; assignee: Rockwell Collins Inc., Cedar Rapids; ﬁled: Sept. 30, 2004; awarded: March 3. ●

Proximity radar antenna co-located with GPS DRA fuze; inventors: Lee Paulsen and James West, both from Cedar Rapids; assignee: Rockwell Collins Inc., Cedar Rapids; ﬁled: Feb. 2, 2007; awarded: March 3. ●

● Method to improve accuracy of targeted position estimation through use of multiple networked observations; inventor: John Kelly, Murrieta, Calif.; assignee: Rockwell Collins Inc., Cedar Rapids; ﬁled: Aug. 9, 2006; awarded: March 3. ●

Response time compensation using dis-

play element modeling; inventors: William Perreault and Donald Mosier, both of Cedar Rapids; Rick Johnson, Shellsburg; assignee: Rockwell Collins Inc., Cedar Rapids; ﬁled: May 23, 2005; awarded: March 3. System and method for improved mapping of a location; inventors: Gary Bailey, Beaverton, Ore.; Kenneth Zimmerman, Lake Oswego, Ore.; Louis Bailey, Kent, Wash; John Wilson, West Linn, Ore.; Robert Armstrong, Canby, Ore.;

●

Large error to desired path correction in-

dicator; inventors: Michael Krenz and Arlen Breiholz, both of Cedar Rapids; Matthew Carrico and Kenneth Mc Elreath, Mount Vernon; assignee: Rockwell Collins Inc., Cedar Rapids; ﬁled: March 3, 2006; awarded: March 24. Anti-jam system for use with normal L1 only GPS receiver; inventor: Charles McDowell, Marion; assignee: Rockwell Collins Inc., Cedar Rapids; ﬁled: March 24, 2006; awarded: March 24. ●

Switched beam forming network for an amplitude monopulse directional and omnidirectional antenna; inventors: Leo Maloratsky and Andrew Vesel, both of Indialantic, Fla.; assignee: Rockwell Collins Inc., Cedar Rapids; ﬁled: Sept. 26, 2006; awarded: March 24. ●

Signal acquisition with transmit blanking compensation; inventors: Carlos Chavez and Kent Benson, both of Marion; Robert Fahler, Robert Frank, Scott Zogg, all of Cedar Rapids; assignee: Rockwell Collins Inc., Cedar Rapids; ﬁled: Sept. 6, 2005; awarded: March 24. ●

● Software deﬁned radio computing architecture; inventors: Steven Koenck, Julianne Crosmer, all of Cedar Rapids; Allen Mass, Lisbon; Gregory Arundale, Marion; Joel M. Wichgers, Urbana; James Marek, David Fitkin, both of Anamosa; David Haverkamp, Springville; assignee: Rockwell Collins Inc., Cedar Rapids;

5/19/2009 3:23:02 PM

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