In Business December 2009 by Globe Gazette

2 • IN BUSINESS

WINTER 2009 • GLOBE GAZETTE

In This Issue:

Getting Started:

FOCUS ON

YOUR

HUMAN RESOURCES:

HEALTH:

• Keeping your work force happy in tough times/Page 3.

• H1N1 flu virus: Is your workplace prepared for an outbreak? Page 12

Focusing on HR critical now more than ever T

PARTY TIME: • Has the economy played Scrooge with holiday parties? Page 30. • Recruiting: Life in North Iowa is a major selling point/Page 4. • Striking a balance between productivity, training/Page 8.

Q & A: • Scott Moorman came to Mason City hoping to fulfill a dream. Mission accomplished/ Page 31.

Moorman

PLUS: • Webinars streamline the training process/Page 9.

ON THE COVER: • Dr. Matt Maurer believes investing in training and technology can keep North Iowa businesses as advanced as their urban counterparts/Page 6. (Photo by Tim Ackarman)

• HR: Respecting the HR function/Page 33. • TECH: Stay connected with mobile broadband/Page 34. • FINANCE: Dealing with flextime, incentives/Page 36. • JOBS: Chamber backs major national incentive/Page 37. • EDC: Corridor group assisting 8 businesses/Page 39.

In Business: Vol. 7, No. 4, December 2009 Publisher: Howard Query 641-421-0500 howard.query@globegazette.com Editor: Joe Buttweiler 641-421-0542 joe.buttweiler@globegazette.com Managing Editor: Tom Thoma 641-421-0566 tom.thoma @globegazette.com Associate Editor: Jane Reynolds 641-421-0564 jane.reynolds@globegazette.com

here’s no sugar-coating it: The last year has been an ugly one for most businesses. Many companies in North Iowa have had to implement painful work force reductions, cut pay and benefits, and slash budgets for all but the most critical functions. While mostly happy — or at least relieved — to still have their jobs, many employees remain wary about their job security and their ability to do their work well given the extra duties and responsibilities they’ve taken on and, in some cases, less time to work. It could be argued that the times we’re in are the most crucial for managing human resources. Show me a manager who doesn’t think his or her employees are the most valuable asset of his or her business and I’ll show you a manager who should find something else to do. But how, in these budget-cutting times, is the good manager to treat those employees well, give them the freedom to do what they do best, train them to perform new tasks and, perhaps most importantly, help them to remain upbeat and enthusiastic? A potluck, of course! OK, so maybe the solution isn’t so simple, although the value of camaraderie inspired by feeding each other cannot be discounted. So we have dedicated this edition of In Business to the topic of human resources — how to be good to employees, attract top talent, how to train them on a budget and how to use local resources to help with human resource development. In our lead story, Tim Ackarman reports on how 3M in Forest City has maintained “extras’’ such as tuition reimbursement, scholarships for employees’ children and product discounts. Highlighting the availability of such programs is a step many companies can take. Also, underscoring provisions in health-care programs that focus on

Associate Editor: Bob Steenson 641-421-0530 bob.steenson@globegazette.com Advertising and Circulation: Greg Wilderman 641-421-0545 greg.wilderman@globegazette.com

••• In Business is a quarterly publication of the Globe Gazette. Reach us at Box 271, Mason City, IA 504020271 or by e-mail at news@globegazette.com.

maintaining or improving the health of employees is wise not only from a relations standpoint but for potentially improving the bottom line by having healthier employees. Emphasizing security of the workplace, recognizing achievement and taking steps to increase market share are other steps that can improve employees’ senses of satisfaction and commitment to their employer. In a story sharing tips Joe Buttweiler on recruiting talent, it is In Business suggested that besides Editor playing up the benefits of working for your company that managers focus on the many and various advantages of living in North Iowa. Using technology, including webinars, can be a cost-effective way to train employees, but it’s wise to weigh the advantages of face-to-face sessions if imparting a great deal of information that will take time to learn. Also in this edition, tech columnist Michael Munshower shares the 411 on using mobile broadband, Robin Anderson describes the national Chamber effort to create 20 million jobs and Jan Horgen writes about Small Business Administration efforts to provide more credit to small businesses. Human resource columnist Jim Cronin offers sterling advice on making HR professionals integral members of management teams. Plus, there’s a special advertising section called “Made in the Region.” Although in good businesses it happens year-round, there’s no better time of year than the holidays to focus on your people. I hope this edition of In Business provides some helpful advice on improving the lives of your employees, and that you have a blessed holiday season and a profitable 2010.

GLOBE GAZETTE • DECEMBER 2009

IN BUSINESS • 3

HR: The Work Force

Keeping ’em happy in tough times How North Iowa employers are keeping workers motivated and productive while controlling costs By TIM ACKARMAN For In Business hile the recession has taken its toll everywhere, it’s been a particularly challenging year in Forest City. No sector has been hit harder by the credit freeze and stock market plunge than the recreational vehicle industry, and layoffs at Winnebago Industries have had a ripple effect throughout all of North Iowa. The agricultural sector, once an economic bright spot, has been rocked by falling prices and almost unprecedented bad weather during the prime harvest weeks of October. Add state budget cuts and ongoing layoffs at Cummins Filtration in nearby Lake Mills, and it might seem difficult to find reason for optimism. In the face of these difficul-

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ties, employers must control costs while still keeping employees motivated and productive. Adjacent to Winnebago is a 3M distribution center with 140 employees where layoffs have been avoided. Human Resources Manager Kevin Moseley attributes this to the Moseley diversity of 3M’s business and its commitment to retaining valued employees. In addition to good salaries and traditional benefits, 3M has been able to maintain “extras” such as educational resources and tuition reimbursement, scholarship programs for dependents of employees and employee discounts on 3M products.

Web-based programs on maintaining work-life balance and personal wellness benefit both employees and the company, Moseley believes. “3M is self-insured. Healthy living is one way of controlling insurance costs,” he said. An Employee Assistance Program offers free access to counseling services. “When you talk about tough economic times, we don’t know what people are going through,” Moseley said. “Maybe you’re working and your spouse is laid off. These (programs) help people during stressful times.” While not all companies have the resources to offer such diverse benefits, all can strive to create a safe, supportive work environment. Moseley believes 3M leads in this area as well. “Nothing you do is worth

getting hurt here,” he said. “You won’t get in trouble for asking a question or making sure something is safe.” Employees can provide input on operational decisions through anonymous surveys and direct interaction with superiors, Moseley said. “3M has a big emphasis on respecting everyone’s opinion,” he said. “People are encouraged to participate.” All 3M locations are also encouraged to celebrate successes. “It’s important during tough times to continue to recognize achievement,” Moseley said. Recognition is provided for individual and locationwide achievements in areas such as attendance, safety, productivity and longevity with the company. “That’s important to people,” Moseley said. “It helps take the

focus off gloom and doom.” AT LICHTSINN MOTORS, gloom and doom might easily have taken hold. Iowa’s largest RV dealer and only full-line General Motors dealer has struggled with both the downturn in the RV industry and the GM bankruptcy. Rather than Lichtsinn make cuts, owner Ron Lichtsinn has taken aggressive steps to improve his business and gain market share. “We focused on reinvesting in our people and reinvesting in our digital technology,” he said. Like 3M, Lichtsinn Motors uses surveys to assess business operations. Regular meetings Continued on Page 5

4 • IN BUSINESS

DECEMBER 2009 • GLOBE GAZETTE

HR: Recruiting Top Talent

Life in North Iowa a major selling point But even with a job available and great quality of life, attracting skilled workers remains a challenge, one HR official says By TIM ACKARMAN For In Business hree years ago Eric Neitzke was living in Davidson, N.C., a city of 7,000 about 20 miles from Charlotte. He and his family enjoyed the close-knit community and Neitzke had what seemed like a stable job in construction equipment sales. The business he worked for was purchased by foreign companies and his position eliminated. For a year he worked independently within the industry, enjoying reasonable success. Although Neitzke was receptive to new opportunities, he was able to hold out for the right position. “I didn’t have to make a move unless it was a good move,” he said. When Neitzke was approached by a recruiter from Iowa Mold Tooling Co. (IMT) in Garner, he examined the business as well as the North Iowa area. He liked what he saw. “(IMT) does so many things right in terms of being progressive in product development and (in terms of) the quality team that the president has pulled together,” Neitzke said. He believes the Midwest offers “a stable work force, good people and strong family ethics.”

Eric Neitzke believes the Midwest offers “a stable work force, good people and strong family ethics.” And that’s why he chose to live and work here.

NEITZKE WAS ALSO looking for safety, good schools, a reasonable cost of living and a sense of community similar to what he was leaving behind in Davidson. “We didn’t want to live in a big metropolitan area,” he said. Although they looked at homes in Garner, the Neitzke family settled on a brick bungalow with a tile roof in the Forest Park area of Mason City. Neitzke likes the character of the neighborhood and admires the city’s investment in assets such as the public library and the Historic Park Inn Hotel. “I do have to travel quite a bit for my job,” he said. “It’s a safe place. As for daily living, it has all the amenities.” Neitzke became IMT’s vice president of sales in July 2008. More recently the company has filled positions in finance and human resources. Recruitment

TIM ACKARMAN/ For In Business

for an engineering position is ongoing. Todd Lightner is the vice president of human resources in the commercial division of Oshkosh Corp., IMT’s parent company. The positives Neitzke saw in North Iowa are the same points Lightner uses when recruiting prospective employees. “We sell first the IMT company,” Lightner said. “It’s a great management team. Second we sell the larger Oshkosh organization (which offers) opportunities for improvement.” Finally, Lightner touts the benefits of North Iowa, including low crime, friendly people, low traffic and opportunities to connect with the community. He also notes the area is situated between Des Moines and Minneapolis, meaning big-city amenities aren’t far away. DESPITE HIGHER UNEMPLOYMENT, attracting skilled workers remains a challenge. “It’s still hard to find that really good candidate,” Lightner said. “We’re seeing more volume but I’m not sure the quality of individuals is that much higher.” Oshkosh is always alert for those whose skills and Continued on Page 6

Financial advice: Page 36

GLOBE GAZETTE • DECEMBER 2009

IN BUSINESS • 5

WORKERS/From Page 3 have been instituted to improve communication between departments while affording managers a high level of autonomy. “We’ve allowed our managers to make decisions and they’ve stepped up,” Lichtsinn said. The company has invested in training through the consulting firm Sobel and Associates. A Sobel representative meets with staff members regularly to refine their customer-centered approach. “We really see her as our personal trainer,” Lichtsinn said. Marketing efforts have been expanded to include a Web site featuring hi-def video of every vehicle. New hires have been made in the areas of sales and digital marketing. Lichtsinn believes the changes have helped to maintain morale as well as sales. “For an employee to see that kind of reinvestment is a pretty strong statement of confidence,” he said. Choosing good employees is essential to maintaining a positive and successful work environment, Lichtsinn believes. He emphasizes quality over qualifications. “If I can find people with good common-sense problem-solving skills and good interpersonal skills,

I can train them to do anything,” he said. Lichtsinn and his wife, Hope, took over the family business in part to escape the pressure of demanding careers. “God gives you 24 hours a day. It’s your choice to do with them what you want,” he said. While he expects employees to work hard and be productive, Lichtsinn also wants them to have adequate time for family and personal endeavors. Investing in training and technology has made those goals compatible. “We’ve done some things to allow people to be incredibly productive in their work time,” he said. Lichtsinn also believes investing in the community is good for morale as well as business. The company’s “We Care” program allows customers to direct a portion of the proceeds from their purchase to one of five non-profit organizations. Customers can also vote to determine which organizations will be included in future programs. “We’ll let our customers decide where our charitable giving will go,” Lichtsinn explained.

INVESTING IN THE communities it serves is also a business and team-building strategy at Titonka Savings Bank. Employees raise money for charities and community projects, sponsor floats in area parades and volunteer at local fundraisers, among other initiatives. “People get the biggest kick out of seeing bankers serve someone,” said Paul Anderson Fitzgerald, vice president of community development at TSB in Forest City. It’s hard to miss the employees in action. The bank’s major community service program, “TSB is Steppin’ Up,” includes a uniform featuring yellow T-shirts and oldschool high-top canvas tennis shoes dyed bright green. Although the outfit may be a bit outlandish, there are serious benefits for the community and those who participate, Fitzgerald believes. “When any one of us is out helping, it makes us feel better,” he said. “That kind of thing gets everyone working together.” Marketing Director Jan Anderson agrees.

TIM ACKARMAN/In Business

Paul Fitzgerald models Titonka Savings Bank’s “uniform” for its “TSB is Steppin’ Up” promotion. “(Employees) are we going to decorate for always talking about, it?’ ‘What are we going to “It just makes (work) sponsor next and how are more fun sometimes.”

6 • IN BUSINESS

DECEMBER 2009 • GLOBE GAZETTE

HR: Training

High-tech gives training a whole new meaning But it doesn’t come easy. Significant training was required at the dental office. When introducing such new systems, Hemer usually By TIM ACKARMAN brings in an outside conFor In Business sultant to train staff. ileen Hemer is the office adminis“We pay for it but it’s trator for Drs. Tesene, Maurer and worth it,” Hemer said. Maurer in Garner. She has wit“It’s very frustrating nessed plenty of changes in more than when you have work to do two decades serving the dental practice. and can’t figure out how “When I first started we used paper to do it.” charts and sent a few of our business Hemer Once a core group of records out to be entered on a computemployees understands a new technoler,” Hemer recalled. Today the practice uses digital med- ogy, it can often train others. For example, the practice’s office functions were ical records, digital radiography and computerized before its patient files. computerized scheduling. “Our business people were able to Staying modern is also stressed at help train the clinical team” during the Krysilis, a human services agency in switch to electronic medical records, Forest City.

Sure, it can be expensive, but it’s necessary and worth it

Hemer said. The clinical team of dentists, dental hygienists and dental assistants must also obtain continuing education to maintain professional licensure or certification. The practice pays for this education and related expenses. Each year the entire staff, both clinical and business, travels to St. Paul for the Star of the North conference sponsored by the Minnesota Dental Association. Classes are offered regarding clinical topics, efficient business practices and customer service. “We take the whole team,” said Dr. Matt Maurer. “It’s a team camaraderie thing. You get everyone together and have fun and learn at the same time.” “It is expensive for them to do that,” Hemer said, “but I think it pays off in

RECRUITMENT/From Page 4 background are a good fit with the company. Web sites such as Career Builder and Monster are good resources for national searches, Lightner said.

higher-skilled work force available.” Companies still must use sound recruiting strategies to attract the best workers, Lightner said. “I wouldn’t say it’s WHILE IMT REMAINS easy. It’s never easy to find good, focused on its core business of talented people.” manufacturing truck-mounted IMT has attracted some cancranes and similar service vehi- didates by hanging signs at its cles, the company has also been facilities and placing ads in area able to expand its product line as papers. Oshkosh has also worked well as produce components extensively with community used by other manufacturers. colleges and Iowa Workforce “We have a flexible work force Development. and a flexible production enviRecent job fairs in Osage, ronment,” Neitzke said. “We can Cresco and Charles City have go find (opportunities) or we been particularly successful, can react when they’re present- Lightner said. “Our job fairs ed.” have been our No. 1 source for IMT has hired welders in Gar- welders.” ner and recently opened a new facility in McIntire. Layoffs at IMT RECENTLY began offerother manufacturers have teming incentives to current porarily increased the pool of employees referring new candiindustrial employees, according dates who are hired by and to Lightner. “We’re seeing a remain with the company.

“Time will tell whether that really works,” Lightner said, “but early indications from our job fair (on Nov. 6 in Charles City) look promising.” Lightner believes he has enough candidates to fill all current openings. However, he expects competition for skilled welders to increase as the economy improves. “We could get additional work, and we’ll have some attrition,” he said. “Right now it’s not an issue but it could be down the road.” Lightner hopes industrial arts classes in area high schools and post-secondary programs such as the one offered at North Iowa Area Community College will help supply IMT’s future employment needs. “We need to encourage people who want job security: If they want a trade, they need to consider welding.”

terms of a pretty cohesive clinical group back there.” To maximize efficiency, all staff members are encouraged to take classes on similar topics at the conference. This makes it easier to implement any desired changes across the entire practice, Hemer said. Additional continuing education can be obtained through online courses and by attending other meetings. Most seminars require travel, although a limited number of course hours can be obtained through meetings at NIACC. Drs. Tesene, Maurer and Maurer also participate in the North Iowa Area Study Club. This group of approximately 50 dentists led by Drs. Juhlin and Hogg of Mason City plans to feature Continued on Page 7

GLOBE GAZETTE • DECEMBER 2009

IN BUSINESS • 7

TIM ACKARMAN/For In Business

Dr. Matt Maurer holds a DIAGNOdent laser, a device used to measure the density of grooves in a tooth and thus detect cavities earlier. Maurer believes investment in technology and training can keep North Iowa businesses as advanced as their urban counterparts.

TRAINING/ From Page 6 presentations by nationally recognized speakers. Although each dentist must take continuing education, they often share information gained with colleagues. Dr. Roy Tesene attends a meeting in each year dedicated to reviewing new products. As a result the practice at Garner is using highly modern equipment and methods, Maurer said. “Just because you’re in the country doesn’t mean you’re outdated by any means,” Maurer said. Krysilis, based in Forest City, serves the needs of individuals facing physical and mental challenges. “You always have to keep updating,” Continued on next page

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8 • IN BUSINESS

DECEMBER 2009 • GLOBE GAZETTE

Striking a balance between productivity, adequate training By TIM ACKARMAN For In Business ean” is a favorite corporate buzzword in the current tight economy. Companies are looking to milk maximum productivity from their resources, including human resources. Direct costs of training employees can be significant. Less measurable but equally significant are costs related to lost productivity when employees train on the job or increased staff costs when covering for employees who train off-site. At the dental practice of Tesene, Maurer and Maurer, leaders attempt to strike a balance between maintaining productivity and ensuring adequate training. The practice closes for a few days annually so the entire staff can attend the Star of the North dental conference in St. Paul. While this adds to the expense, Dr. Matt Maurer believes such training is a good

“L

investment. “If you’re not efficient, it might cost you even more money,” Maurer said. Maurer’s group tends to favor weekend seminars for additional training needs. Usually the practice can be open at least a half day on Friday and all day the following Monday. Participation in such meetings is often staggered, Maurer explained. “We try to keep one doctor and a few hygienists (available) in case there’s an emergency.” As an organization serving individuals with special needs, Krysilis does not have the option to shut down for training. “That’s always been a challenge for any agency that’s open 24/7,” said Human Resources Coordinator Connie Gremmer. Many CME courses are available online for staff to use as their schedule allows. Residential aid classes offered quarterly at Krysilis are usually held on

Human Resources Coordinator Connie Gremmer (right) introduces Jason Schaufenbuel, a loss-control specialist with United Heartland, during an allstaff meeting at Krysilis in Forest City. Regular staff meetings held at multiple times to allow all employees access are an important part of the agency's training strategy. TIM ACKARMAN/ For In Business

Monday evening from 3-9 p.m. “That’s when we had the greatest need,” Gremmer said. As Krysilis has three shifts, workers are often able to change hours in order to cover for fellow employees in need of training.

Monthly staff meetings are held at 8:15 a.m., 2 p.m. and 3:15 p.m., allowing most workers to attend. Mandatory sessions are also recorded for those unable to make one of the meetings. Gremmer attempts to make

all-staff meetings interesting and fun so most employees will want to attend. Door prizes are sometimes offered and snacks are generally provided. “Feed them,” Gremmer said with a smile, “and they will come.”

TRAINING/From Page 7 explained Connie Gremmer, coordinator of human resources and staff development. “Some of the things we were doing 20 years ago we’re doing completely different now because times have changed.” Gremmer is able to handle much of the training at Krysilis in-house. She conducts initial classroom training with new employees, emphasizing the history, mission and structure of the organization along with general policies and procedures. From there most of the learning takes place on the job under the guidance of more experienced staff members. “They’re not really going to know the job until they get out in the home and work with the persons served by

Krysilis,” Gremmer said. Employees continue to need training long after this initial introduction. Relatively brief topics are covered during monthly all-staff meetings. More in-depth training is available to direct care staff through the Resident Attendant Training Program, also available at Krysilis. Offered in cooperation with Des Moines Area Community College, the program encompasses 64 hours of advanced training regarding the care of those with special needs. Gremmer also coordinates this training. “I developed the curriculum and sent it to DMACC for approval,” she explained. Although direct-care staff members

are not required to complete the RA program, Gremmer believes doing so improves their job performance. It also provides employees the opportunity to become certified medication aides (CMAs). Krysilis employs numerous CMAs as well as a limited number of nurses. The agency pays for continuing education (CEUs) required to maintain those professional credentials. CEUs are available to employees online through CE Solutions, an Internet-based educational provider. As a member of the Iowa Care Provider Network, Krysilis receives a discount on these services. Some mandatory training and more specialized leadership instruction is best obtained by attending seminars.

Often such courses are available at NIACC, although Gremmer will send staff to more distant sites as needed. “We try to do things that are a little closer to home, (but) if it’s especially pertinent we will have people travel,” she said. Gremmer started at Krysilis more than 20 years ago as a direct-support provider. She said she appreciates opportunities the company has afforded her for career development and hopes to provide similar opportunities for the current staff. “Being able to go to a seminar and gain that knowledge empowered me to want to grow within the agency,” she said. “I want to offer that to our employees.”

GLOBE GAZETTE • DECEMBER 2009

IN BUSINESS • 9

HR: Training

Webinars streamline training process By TIM ACKARMAN For In Business an Lovell, president of CL Tel in Clear Lake, has seen many changes in her 23 years with the family-owned business. The company’s offerings were once limited primarily to local telephone service carried on metal wires and controlled by electromechanical switches. Today CL Tel offers cable television, cellular telephones and Internet access, including wireless technology. Information is transmitted digitally using Internet-protocol switches. Fiberoptic lines with almost limitless capacity are replacing traditional wires and cables. The rapid evolution in Lovell telecommunications has made it challenging to keep staff trained in the latest advances. “The No. 1 thing I’m looking for in new employees is the willingness and ability to learn,” Lovell said.

TIM ACKARMAN/In Business

CL Tel's video conference center provides training opportunities for the company and its customers.

versity in Minneapolis to earn her master’s degree while still working full-time and starting a family. “Imagine all that driving,” Lovell said. “Now a lot of the same information is available online.” Not only is travel expensive, ADVANCES IN TECHNOL Lovell explained, but having OGY have also changed the employees away from work for way learning takes place. long periods can present a Training that could once only be obtained by attending acad- staffing challenge for small businesses. Online training emic institutions or traveling to seminars and trade shows is addresses both issues. CL Tel uses broad-based now increasingly available Web modules about the through webinars and online telecommunications industry training. extensively when training new After a few years at CL Tel, Lovell wanted to obtain a more employees, Lovell said. “It streamlines your training formal education in telecommunications. For several years process,” she said. “It saves she traveled to St. Mary’s Uni- time and it saves money.”

The company uses billing software provided by an outof-state company. Online training is advantageous for both the vendor and its customers. “They can educate their entire client base in one fell swoop,” Lovell said. “It’s economical for us as well as them.” Customers access CL Tel’s video conference room for seminars, meetings, interviews and depositions, among other uses. The company also employs the facility for its own needs. In the past Lovell would often have one member of her management team attend a class and share the information with others. Bringing the

entire team to the conference room for a webinar is more effective, Lovell believes. “There’s an advantage to having everyone there at the same time. We can discuss (new information) immediately,” she said.

Today almost every aspect of the business is computerized, with most information available on HomeField, Farm Bureau’s Web site for agents. “They said, ‘Everything will be on HomeField,’ ” Huling recalled, “and they weren’t lying.” Insurance agents are required to complete continuing education to maintain their state licenses as well as to keep current with industry regulations, government programs and new products. Often Huling is able to complete this education online. Farm Bureau offers longterm care insurance in cooperation with SIA Marketing out of Fargo, N.D. Online learning allows Huling to be better informed about those products than he might be otherwise. “I wouldn’t go to North Dakota for a day meeting,” he said.

WHILE THE INTERNET was once an innovation for Huling, it’s been a standard tool during the nineyear career of fellow agent Nick LIKE LOVELL, Mark Huling Garman. Garman with Farm “It (HomeBureau Financial Field) has brought the home Services in Gar- office to our office,” Garman ner has seen said. technology bring Garman appreciates the time significant he saves when using online change to his training as opposed to attendindustry. ing meetings. Huling “When I start“That’s half a day vs. 10 ed in this business in Decemminutes,” he said. ber of ’83, a month later we He also enjoys being able to bought our first computer, a train on his own schedule and hand-held Panasonic,” he said. Continued on next page

10 • IN BUSINESS

DECEMBER 2009 • GLOBE GAZETTE

Training

NIACC offers solid partnership By MARY PIEPER

agreements with NIACC. Peterson said every few years or the past decade, Metalcraft Metalcraft puts together a training of Mason City has called on plan, including how much money North Iowa Area Community will be needed, and College for its workplace training NIACC does the needs. administrative work That training includes teamso the company can building exercises for new get state funding for employees as well as teaching the the training. more specialized skills that workPeterson said one ers need. training program “It has been very beneficial,” offered by NIACC Peterson that the company has said Doug Peterson, Metalcraft participated in is Lean ManufacCEO. “It helps us do the training turing. This program teaches peowe would otherwise have a hard ple how to make their business time doing budget-wise.” more efficient and boost profits. Metalcraft is one of the many Terry Schumaker, director of North Iowa companies that have economic development for the Industrial Jobs Training Program In Business

WEBINARS/From Page 9 at his own speed. “You can go at your own pace instead of someone else’s pace.” However, both Garman and Huling also believe there are advantages to traditional meetings and seminars, particularly when dealing with complex topics. “You’ve got people there directing you rather than being online and wondering what’s important,” Huling said. When learning about new products, Garman appreciates the opportunity to hear directly from agents with real-world experience. “Without that face-to-

face it’s very difficult,” he said. Although telecommunications is her business, Lovell agrees there are situations in which faceto-face interactions are preferable. She notes it’s often best to learn about new products by attending hands-on workshops provided by vendors. Lovell also believes trade shows and other meetings offer a value beyond that of the information provided. “What’s lost (online) is dealing with colleagues in the industry,” she said. “It’s essential to have that personal connection.”

When duty calls one of your workers, he’s there to help: See Page 32

Workforce Development Partnership at NIACC, said the college also has a New Jobs Training Program to provide training when a company creates new jobs. In both cases, NIACC helps companies access state funding for the training and helps them identify what their training needs Schumaker are, he said. Often NIACC is the training provider, but sometimes it is a third party doing the training. New employees at Metalcraft recently went through a six-week Continued on Page 12

12 • IN BUSINESS

DECEMBER 2009 • GLOBE GAZETTE

Health

TRAINING/From Page 10

Are you prepared for H1N1 outbreak? ness kits” with thermometers and face masks. Whether those efforts and other measures will protect businesses will depend largely on By LINDA A. JOHNSON AP Business Writer whether the H1N1 flu RENTON, N.J. — mutates into a moreBig businesses are dangerous virus. spending serious “Large and mid-sized time and money trying to organizations are not limit the H1N1 flu pangoing to go bankrupt. demic’s impact on opera- Small organizations, that tions, from bankrolling could be different,” said video on good hygiene to Jim MacMicking of busitraining employees to ness continuity consulcover for co-workers tants SunGard Availabiliwith critical jobs. ty Services. Companies from His company has seen health insurer Uniteda surge of customers Health Group Inc. to bev- seeking guidance on erage can maker Ball preparing for swine flu Corp. are arranging for and either beefing up employees with flu their telecommunicasymptoms or sick family tions capacity or, if they members to work from can’t afford it because of home where possible, the weak economy, realholding fewer in-person locating laptops and meetings, even discourother equipment to key aging handshakes. And personnel. hand sanitizers, disinfecDozens of companies tant wipes and tissues are at the ready everywhere as employers make keeping workers healthy their first line of defense. Employers are playing Dr. Mom, teaching about hygiene, distributing information about the pandemic, telling folks to stay home if they get sick — generally with pay — and scrapping the required doctor’s note. Some companies have even distributed “well-

Small organizations will feel the biggest hit if the virus mutates, expert says

AP photo

interviewed by The Associated Press report little effect — so far. Centers for Disease Control and Continued on Page 29

course offered on site titled “Building a Culture of Employee Empowerment.” It was taught by Gale Mote, founder of Gale Mote Associates of Cedar Rapids, which offers organizational training, design and development to companies. Mote said she has a number of corporate clients in North Iowa and she works with a lot of those clients through NIACC. Her focus is helping companies build a highperformance work culture through employee empowerment. She does a lot of teambuilding exercises with employees and helps them develop interpersonal skills and emotional intelligence. Mote also does management training to help managers create the right atmosphere in the workplace. “The more engaged

your employees are, the better business results you get,” she said. Industrial technology instructors at NIACC also train employees at North Iowa companies. Josh Byrnes, industrial technology division chairman at NIACC, said the college has trained Kraft Foods employees in Mason City in stainless steel welding because food production requires stainless steel equipment. Byrnes said training can take place on the NIACC campus or in the workplace. The training program for Kraft was conducted at the plant so the employees could practice on the exact type of equipment they use on the job. “We are very flexible in terms of where we do the training,” Byrnes said. “We try to meet the needs of the customer as much as we can.”

DECEMBER 2009

NORTH IOWA MANUFACTURER’S DIRECTORY

We are pleased to share with our readers this edition of”Made in the Region”, a very special feature guide to the manufacturers in North Iowa. This directory includes manufacturers from Butler, Cerro Gordo, Floyd, Franklin, Hancock, Mitchell, Winnebago, Worth and Wright counties in North Iowa. “Made in the Region” is a special presentation of InBusiness that is made possible through the support of these sponsors: Electronic Engineering, First Citizens National Bank, North Iowa Area Community College, and the Globe Gazette. InBusiness is also deeply indebted to the many chamber of commerce organizations and economic development groups in North Iowa for their contributions, changes, corrections and additions to the North Iowa manufacturing directory. We have made every attempt to create a complete and accurate directory and guide to manufacturers in North Iowa in this special edition. We reviewed the lists numerous times, mailed out hundreds of letters seeking to verify the accuracy and completeness of the information. In addition to the mailings we also sent numerous emails and faxes to try to insure both the completeness and the accuracy of “Made in the Region”. If for some reason your manufacturing firm was not included in this year’s second annual “Made in the Region” directory, please contact project coordinator Ozzie Ohl at 421-0554 or ozzie.ohl@globegazette.com so that you are not overlooked next year. A SPECIAL PRESENTATION OF:

www.globegazette.com

BUTLER COUNTY MANUFACTURERS ■ Allan Industrial Coatings

ADDRESS: PO Box 798 - Allison, IA PHONE: 319-267-2292 CONTACT: Randy Krull MANUFACTURES: Industrial & commercial powder coating & piece work final assembly WEBSITE: www.allanindustrialcoatings.com

■ Custom Fit Orthotics

■ American Tool & Engineering, Inc.

ADDRESS: 113 North 2nd Street- Greene, IA PHONE: 641-823-5562 CONTACT: Kip Bouillon MANUFACTURES: Offset & textile screen printing & embroidery

ADDRESS: PO Box 599 - Greene, IA PHONE: 641-816-4921 CONTACT: Robert Hobson MANUFACTURES: Blow, thermoform & pressure form molds, patterns, models & prototypes WEBSITE: www.atemold.com

■ Blue Ribbon Specialties ADDRESS: 2261 280th Street - Greene, IA PHONE: 641-823-5910 MANUFACTURES: horse grooming, show accessories WEBSITE: www.blueribbonsp.com EMAIL: blurbnsp@yahoo.com

ADDRESS: 204 3rd Street - Parkersburg, IA PHONE: 319-346-1024

■ Electronic Quill

■ Flammang Guitars ADDRESS: PO Box 540 - Greene, IA PHONE: 641-823-5625 CONTACT: David Flammang MANUFACTURES: Guitars WEBSITE: www.flammangguitars.com EMAIL: info@flammangguitars.com

__________ ■ J & L Engines ADDRESS: PO Box 768 - Allison, IA PHONE: 319-267-2546 CONTACT: Jane A. Keating, Owner MANUFACTURES: Automotive machining job shop

■ Martzahn’s Farm Processing ADDRESS: 728 North 2nd Street - Greene, IA PHONE: 641-823-5362 CONTACT: Ardith Buss MANUFACTURES: Poultry processing

■ Seed Stop, Inc. ADDRESS: 18384 Jay Avenue - Allison, IA PHONE: 319-267-2530 MANUFACTURES: air planter shut offs WEBSITE: www.seedstopinc.com EMAIL: seedstopinc@gmail.com

CERRO GORDO COUNTY MANUFACTURERS ■ Ag Processing, Inc.

■ C & R Print Shop

■ D & D Sales, Inc.

ADDRESS: PO Box 1068 - Mason City, IA PHONE: 641-423-4733 CONTACT: Mark Meierotto MANUFACTURERS: Soybean processing WEBSITE: www.agp.com EMAIL: info@agp.com

ADDRESS: 537 3rd Street NE - Mason City, IA PHONE: 641-423-1877 CONTACT: W. Kurt Renner, Owner MANUFACTURES: Offset printing

ADDRESS: 840 12th St NW - Mason City, IA PHONE: 641-423-9487 CONTACT: Sue Helgeland, Sales MANUFACTURES: Signs, banners, screen printing, embroidery, trophies, promotional products YEAR STARTED: 1987 WEBSITE: www.ddsalesonline.com

■ Alexander Technologies USA, Inc. ADDRESS: 1511 S. Garfield Pl. - Mason City, IA PHONE: 641-423-8955 CONTACT: Steven Thoe MANUFACURES: Rechargeable batteries WEBSITE: www.alexandertechnologies.com EMAIL: cservice@alexenergy.com

■ Andrews Prestressed Concrete, Inc. ADDRESS: PO Box 33 - Clear Lake, IA PHONE: 641-357-5217 CONTACT: Ray T. Andrews Jr., President MANUFACTURES: Prestressed & precast concrete products WEBSITE: www.andrewsprestressedconcrete.com EMAIL: andrews@netins.net

■ Armour-Eckrich Meats, LLC

ADDRESS: PO Box 341 - Mason City, IA PHONE: 641-421-5100 CONTACT: Paul Harthan MANUFACTURES: Ham & sausage processing WEBSITE: www.armour-eckrich.com

■ Associated Milk Producers, Inc. ADDRESS: 1305 19th St. SW - Mason City, IA PHONE: 641-424-6111 CONTACT: Sylvia Brainard MANUFACTURES: Instant nonfat dry milk WEBSITE: www.ampi.com

Made in the Region • InBusiness Sunday, December 6, 2009

■ Behr Iron & Steel, Inc.

ADDRESS: 12050 W State St. - Mason City, IA PHONE: 641-424-9521 CONTACT: Terry Carlson MANUFACTURES: Scrap metal recycling, including steel, copper, aluminum & brass WEBSITE: www.josbehr.com

■ Birdsall Ice Cream Co.

ADDRESS: 518 N. Federal Ave. - Mason City, IA PHONE: 641-423-5365 CONTACT: Mark Repp, General Manager MANUFACTURES: Ice cream

■ Blue House Pottery

ADDRESS: 205 17th Ave. S. - Clear Lake, IA PHONE: 641-357-3490 CONTACT: Judith Miller, Owner MANUFACTURES: Pottery

■ Boxes Unlimited, Inc.

ADDRESS: 509 N. Georgia Ave. - Mason City, IA PHONE: 641-421-9563 CONTACT: Mark Stanton, Owner MANUFACTURES: Processor of Corrugated Sheets into MultiSize Boxes. “The King of Small Runs” allows us to offer custom-made boxes in small and large quantities. YEAR STARTED: 1998 PURPOSE: Serving the mid-west with custom packaging services including cardboard boxes from e-flute to triple-wall thickness. Specializing in food carriers, gift boxes and shipping containers. We do custom die cutting of corrugate, coroplast, etc. Any size order accepted. WEBSITE: www.boxesunl.com EMAIL: boxes@jumpgate.net

■ Cedar River Laboratories ADDRESS: PO Box 1462 - Mason City, IA PHONE: 800-323-4858 CONTACT: Mary Shaw MANUFACTURES: Animal cages WEBSITE: www.cedarriverlaboratories.com EMAIL: info@cedarriverlaboratories.com

■ Clear Lake Specialty Products, Inc. ADDRESS: 2205 6th Ave. S. - Clear Lake, IA PHONE: 641-357-5916 CONTACT: Tim Hartnett MANUFACTURES: Cookies WEBSITE: www.auntbonnies.com EMAIL: bertclsp@netins.net

■ Clear Lake Stained & Beveled Glass ADDRESS: 9926 Eagle Avenue - Clear Lake, IA PHONE: 641-357-5103 CONTACT: John P. Larsen MANUFACTURES: Leaded, stained & beveled glass windows, church restoration & supplies WEBSITE: www.netins.net/showcase/jplarsen EMAIL: jplarsen@netins.net

■ Corn Field Productions ADDRESS: 1105 Birch Drive - Mason City, IA PHONE: 641-422-0920 CONTACT: Shelly Koren, Owner MANUFACTURES: Quilts

■ Croell Redi-Mix, Inc. ADDRESS: PO Box 1015 - Mason City, IA PHONE: 641-424-6391 CONTACT: Ed Ohden, Dispatcher MANUFACTURES: Ready-mixed concrete WEBSITE: www.croell.com

■ Curries Co. ADDRESS: PO Box 1648 - Mason City, IA PHONE: 641-423-1334 CONTACT: Bruce R. Wuttke MANUFACTURES: Steel doors WEBSITE: www.curries.com EMAIL: curries@curries.com

■ Decker Sporting Goods ADDRESS: 4850 SW 4th St - Mason City, IA PHONE: 641-423-7423 CONTACT: Bob Lemon MANUFACTURES: Complete design services for businesses, schools, groups and individuals. Locally owned since 1954. Open 7 days a week. EMAIL: deckersports@netconx.net

■ Dimensional Graphics Corp. ADDRESS: 325 N Jackson Ave - Mason City, IA PHONE: 641-423-8931 CONTACT: Carolyn Gold MANUFACTURES: Screen printing, die cutting, laminating, packaging WEBSITE: www.dgconline.net

■ Douglas & Douglas Mfg. ADDRESS: 10922 Eagle Ave. - Clear Lake, IA PHONE: 641-357-4282 CONTACT: Doug Schmitz, President MANUFACTURES: Rebuilt tractor parts

■ Enterprise Pacific

■ Jensen Neon Sign Co., Inc.

ADDRESS: PO Box 1333 - Mason City, IA PHONE: 641-424-1554 CONTACT: Mike Deets, President MANUFACTURES: Garment & giveaway heat transfers WEBSITE: www.fabricprints.net

ADDRESS: PO Box 586 - Mason City, IA PHONE: 641-423-6123 CONTACT: Arnold L. Jensen, President MANUFACTURES: Neon & plastic signs

PHONE: 641-357-7645 CONTACT: Richard Finstead, President MANUFACTURES: Soil probes WEBSITE: www.showcase.netins.net/web/soilprobe EMAIL: soil@netins.net

■ Johansen Welding

■ Mach III Inc.

■ F R C Component Products, Inc. ADDRESS: 1511 S Benjamin Ave - Mason City, IA PHONE: 641-424-0370 CONTACT: Susan Raji, General Manager MANUFACTURES: Aircraft components WEBSITE: www.frccorp.com

■ Federal Fire Equipment Co.

ADDRESS: 902 N Federal Ave - Mason City, IA PHONE: 641-423-4200 CONTACT: Steve Moore, Owner MANUFACTURES: Protex, Amerex, Justrite YEAR STARTED: 1959

■ Fredriksen Welding Shop

ADDRESS: 209 1st Avenue South - Clear Lake, IA PHONE: 641-357-4115 CONTACT: Lawrence Fredriksen, Owner MANUFACTURES: Welding job shop

■ Graham Mfg. Corp. ADDRESS: 2510 19th Street SW - Mason City, IA PHONE: 641-423-1334 CONTACT: Don Halferty MANUFACTURES: Wooden doors - Graham has the unique ability to design and build the most innovative, secure, and technologically advanced wood doors in the nation. CONTACT: Don Halferty, General Manager WEBSITE: www.grahamdoors.com EMAIL: info@grahamdoors.com

■ Grawmondbeck’s Competition Engines

■ Great Impressions Co.

ADDRESS: 10 8th St SE - Mason City, IA PHONE: 641-423-7061 CONTACT: Ronald Howell MANUFACTURES: Screen printing & embroidery

■ Heartland Asphalt, Inc. ADDRESS: 2601 S Federal AveMason CityIA PHONE: 641-424-1733 CONTACT: David Ricken, Vice President MANUFACTURES: Asphalt paving products including hot mix asphalt, cold mix asphalt, crushed stone, sand and gravel. YEAR STARTED: 1991 WEBSITE: www.heartlandasphalt.com

■ Holcim (US), Inc. ADDRESS: 1840 N Federal Ave. - Mason City, IA PHONE: 641-421-3308 CONTACT: Tim Sautter MANUFACTURES: Portland cement WEBSITE: www.holcim.com

■ J. Galt Enterprises ADDRESS: 497 N Shore Drive - Clear Lake, IA PHONE: 641-357-7977 CONTACT: Ted Christensen, Owner MANUFACTURES: T-shirt imprinting & embroidery

■ Johnson Sign Service ADDRESS: 1019 17th St NE - Mason City, IA PHONE: 641-423-1487 CONTACT: Jeannie Johnson MANUFACTURES: Interior & exterior signs EMAIL: johnsonsign@netconx.net

■ Kraft Foods, Inc.

ADDRESS: 1022 12th St NW - Mason City, IA PHONE: 641-421-2900 CONTACT: Mark Koerber MANUFACTURES: Prepared desserts WEBSITE: www.kraft.com

■ Land O’ Lakes Purina Feed, LLC ADDRESS: 1609 19th St SW - Mason City, IA PHONE: 641-423-3419 CONTACT: Joyce Odegaard MANUFACTURES: Livestock feed WEBSITE: www.lolfeed.com

■ Larson Mfg. Co. ADDRESS: 2109 4th Ave S - Clear Lake, IA PHONE: 641-355-5100 CONTACT: Brad Worrall MANUFACTURES: Storm doors WEBSITE: www.larsondoors.com

■ Larson Printing, Inc. ADDRESS: PO Box 380 - Mason City, IA PHONE: 641-424-2623 CONTACT: Ron Larson, President MANUFACTURES: Commercial, instant, instant color & fourcolor printing EMAIL: larsonpr@netconx.net

■ Larson Signs ADDRESS: 838 4th St SE - Mason City, IA PHONE: 641-423-4439 CONTACT: Bruce Larson, Owner MANUFACTURES: Wooden signs, sign & truck lettering & screenprint

■ Ledoux Signs

ADDRESS: 1409 S Federal Ave - Mason City, IA PHONE: 641-424-6464 CONTACT: Bob Ledoux, Owner MANUFACTURES: Interior & exterior signs

■ Lehigh Cement Co. ADDRESS: 700 25th St NW - Mason City, IA PHONE: 641-421-3400 CONTACT: Ronald W. Guthrie MANUFACTURES: Portland cement WEBSITE: www.lehighcement.com EMAIL: info@lehighcement.com

■ Luke’s Central Machine ADDRESS: 360 N Delaware Ave - Mason City, IA PHONE: 641-422-0021 CONTACT: Ronald Lukes, Owner MANUFACTURES: Rebuilt auto, truck & tractor engines

■ M & M Supply Co. ADDRESS: PO Box 407 - Clear Lake, IA

ADDRESS: PO Box 1333 - Mason City, IA PHONE: 641-421-7838 CONTACT: Darrell Newman MANUFACTURES: Screen printing

■ Marquart Concrete Products ADDRESS: PO Box 166 - Clear Lake, IA PHONE: 641-357-2176 CONTACT: Bruce Carlson MANUFACTURES: Concrete products, concrete blocks WEBSITE: www.marquartconcreteproducts.com

■ Martin Marietta Materials, Inc. ADDRESS: 14454 300th St - Mason City, IA PHONE: 641-423-9411 CONTACT: Sandy Johnson MANUFACTURES: Sand & gravel processing WEBSITE: www.martinmarietta.com

■ Mason City By-Products, Inc. ADDRESS: PO Box 1542 - Mason City, IA PHONE: 641-423-4404 CONTACT: Barbara Eide MANUFACTURES: Animal feed ingredients WEBSITE: www.masoncitybyproducts.com EMAIL: mcbyp@msn.com

■ Mason City Iron & Metal Co.

ADDRESS: PO Box 986 - Mason City, IA PHONE: 641-423-2155 CONTACT: Eric Sowada MANUFACTURES: Wholesaler of metal scrap WEBSITE: www.scirecycling.com EMAIL: info@scirecycling.com

■ Mason City Recycling Center Ltd.

ADDRESS: PO Box 1534 - Mason City, IA PHONE: 641-423-1200 CONTACT: Thomas Berger MANUFACTURES: Glass, paper cardboard & plastic recycling & cellulose insulation fabrication WEBSITE: www.mcrecycling.com EMAIL: contactus@mcrecycling.com

InBusiness Sunday, December 6, 2009 • Made in the Region

ADDRESS: 3709 S Federal AveMason CityIA PHONE: 641-423-8726 CONTACT: Joe DeGraw & Stacy Redmond MANUFACTURES: Full service automotive machine shop specializing in high-performance street, racing, and E-85 powered engines. YEAR STARTED: 1993 WEBSITE: www.grawmondbecks.com

ADDRESS: 15162 Mallard Avenue - Mason City, IA PHONE: 641-422-0100 CONTACT: Rick Johansen, Owner MANUFACTURES: Welding job shop

Made in the Region â&#x20AC;˘ InBusiness Sunday, December 6, 2009

■ Mason City Tent & Awning Co.

■ Midwest Roofing Co.

MANUFACTURES: Rubber stamps

ADDRESS: 408 S Federal Ave - Mason City, IA PHONE: 641-423-0044 CONTACT: Russalyn Davia MANUFACTURES: Custom boat covers, tarps, repair canvas and vinyl coated products. Also manufacture flag football belts with flags.

ADDRESS: PO Box 710 - Mason City, IA PHONE: 641-424-4114 CONTACT: Brad Johnson, President MANUFACTURES: Structural & architectural sheet metal fabrication & HVAC contracting, including roofing WEBSITE: www.roofsndoors.com EMAIL: mwroof@mchsi.com

■ Postnet

■ Mason City Wilbert Burial Vault Co.

■ Minnesota Rubber - Mason City

ADDRESS: PO Box 864 - Mason City, IA PHONE: 641-423-5062 CONTACT: Daniel Clarke MANUFACTURES: Concrete burial vaults

ADDRESS: 1700 15th St SW - Mason City, IA PHONE: 641-424-8222 CONTACT: Rick Quantt MANUFACTURES: Rubber mixing WEBSITE: www.mnrubber.com

ADDRESS: 451 Indian Head Drive - Mason City, IA PHONE: 641-423-1980 CONTACT: Jennifer Hanson, Manager MANUFACTURES: We offer Print & Copy Services including digital black and white and color copies, complete business printing services and document finishing services, as well as custom packaging and supplies. PostNet also offers a host of Business and Additional Services including passport photos, notary services, fax services, signs and banners and office supplies. WEBSITE: www.postnet.com EMAIL: ia103@postnet.com

■ Morris Pallets

■ Printing Services, Inc.

■ Metal Fabricators, Inc. ADDRESS: 1907 6th Ave S - Clear Lake, IA PHONE: 641-357-1777 CONTACT: John Lowry MANUFACTURES: Sheet metal fabrication

■ Metalcraft, Inc. ADDRESS: 149 4th Street SW - Mason City, IA PHONE: 641-423-9460 CONTACT: Julia Deets MANUFACTURES: Custom nameplates & labels PURPOSE: To provide durable, reusable ID products for tracking property, processes & products. WEBSITE: www.idplate.com EMAIL: metalcraft@idplate.com

ADDRESS: 209 N 40th St - Clear Lake, IA PHONE: 641-357-1316 CONTACT: Louann Morris, Owner MANUFACTURES: Wooden pallets EMAIL: pallets@myclearwave.net

■ North Iowa Sand & Gravel, Inc. ADDRESS: 18237 Killdeer Avenue - Mason City, IA PHONE: 641-424-5591 CONTACT: Sandi Wright MANUFACTURES: Sand & gravel processing, asphalt paving

■ North Iowa Vocational Center ADDRESS: PO Box 428 - Mason City, IA PHONE: 641-423-3301 CONTACT: Sherry Becker MANUFACTURES: Wooden pallets, shipping containers & contract packaging & assembly WEBSITE: www.nivcservices.org

■ Petro Blend Corp.

■ Pirkl’s Rubber Stamps ADDRESS: 105 1st Street SE - Mason City, IA PHONE: 641-423-6133 CONTACT: Paul Pirkl, Owner

■ River City Fence ADDRESS: 21 10th St SW - Mason City, IA PHONE: 641-423-6980 CONTACT: Joel Ernst, President MANUFACTURES: Chain-link fences

■ R-Quest, Inc. ADDRESS: 1017 1st St NW - Mason City, IA PHONE: 641-424-6230 CONTACT: Rohn Luker, President MANUFACTURES: Wooden toys EMAIL: rgluker@jumpgate.net

■ Serta Mattress Co. ADDRESS: 500 S 17th St - Clear Lake, IA PHONE: 641-357-2276 CONTACT: Scott Moore, Sales Manager MANUFACTURES: Mattresses & box springs

■ Sign Pro Of Mason City, Inc. ADDRESS: 1803 S Pierce Ave. - Mason City, IA PHONE: 641-424-2122 CONTACT: Brenda Lein, President MANUFACTURES: Interior & exterior signs, vehicle graphics & wraps & color digital printing EMAIL: signpro@jumpgate.net

■ Solum Enterprises ADDRESS: 2201 19th St SW - Mason City, IA PHONE: 641-423-7546 CONTACT: Carl Solum MANUFACTURES: Welding job shop

InBusiness Sunday, December 6, 2009 • Made in the Region

ADDRESS: 1515 18th St SW - Mason City, IA PHONE: 641-423-0734 CONTACT: Jeff Johnson MANUFACTURES: Industrial oils, filters & batteries WEBSITE: www.petroblend.com

ADDRESS: 1915 4th St SW - Mason City, IA PHONE: 641-424-3538 CONTACT: Peter T. Gardner MANUFACTURES: Offset, screen & commercial printing, including business cards & stationery, graphic design & advertising specialties for office supplies & furniture WEBSITE: www.printingservicesinc.net EMAIL: mcpsi@printingservicesinc.net

■ Sweat Shoppe ADDRESS: 30 E State Street - Mason City, IA PHONE: 641-424-9177 CONTACT: Dan Cutler, Owner MANUFACTURES: Embroidery & screen printing EMAIL: sweatshp@netins.net

■ Trophies Unlimited

■ T & R Custom Tops Co., Inc.

■ Varied Industries Corp.

ADDRESS: 1075 15th Street SW - Mason City, IA PHONE: 641-424-0252 CONTACT: Tom Wetter, President MANUFACTURES: Laminate & solid-surface countertops

■ Tear Enterprises, Inc.

ADDRESS: 3 Industrial Park Rd. - Rockwell, IA PHONE: 641-822-4505 CONTACT: Darrold Arrowwood MANUFACTURES: Tractor parts & machining job shop

■ Theiss Shirts, Inc.

ADDRESS: PO Box 191 - Clear Lake, IA PHONE: 641-357-3616 CONTACT: Patrice A. Theiss MANUFACTURES: Screen printing & embroidery

■ Thomas Electric Co.

ADDRESS: 1310 3rd Street NW - Mason City, IA PHONE: 641-424-3345 CONTACT: Randi Thomas

ADDRESS: 524 N Federal Avenue - Mason City, IA PHONE: 641-423-5105 CONTACT: Scott Metcalf MANUFACTURES: Trophy engraving ADDRESS: 905 S. Carolina Avenue - Mason City, IA PHONE: 641-423-1460 CONTACT: Jodi Ames, Vice President MANUFACTURES: Animal feed PURPOSE: To be the best in the world at providing natural solutions to animal health, nutrition, and performance. WEBSITE: www.vi-cor.com EMAIL: vi-cor@vi-cor.com

■ Warp Drive, Inc.

ADDRESS: PO Box 78 - Ventura, IA PHONE: 641-357-6000 CONTACT: Daryl Heineman MANUFACTURES: Aircraft & airboat propellers

ADDRESS: 413 N Main St. - Charles City, IA PHONE: 641-228-2818 CONTACT: Jason R. Meyer, President MANUFACTURES: Liquid crystal displays WEBSITE: www.bluecubelcd.com

Made in the Region • InBusiness Sunday, December 6, 2009

■ Brallier Tool & Mfg.

ADDRESS: P.O. Box 517 - Nora Springs, IA PHONE: 641-749-5726 CONTACT: Alan W. Brallier, Owner MANUFACTURES: General machining job shop

■ Cambrex Charles City, Inc. ADDRESS: 1205 11th St. - Charles City, IA PHONE: 641-257-1000 MANUFACTURES: Industrial chemicals, pharmaceutical products WEBSITE: www.cambrex.com

■ Cedar Valley Printing & Supplies

ADDRESS: 214 N Main St - Charles City, IA PHONE: 641-228-7401 CONTACT: Deb Montagne, President MANUFACTURES: Commercial printing EMAIL: cvp@fiai.net

■ Comprehensive Systems, Inc. ADDRESS: P.O. Box 457 - Charles City, IA PHONE: 641-228-4842 CONTACT: Laura Wallace, Director MANUFACTURES: Contract packaging & assembly WEBSITE: www.comp-systems.org

■ Denny's Cabinet Shop ADDRESS: 1211 E Street - Charles City, IA PHONE: 641-228-1972 MANUFACTURES: Wooden cabinets

■ Diversified Fastening Systems, Inc. ADDRESS: P.O. Box 339 - Charles City, IA PHONE: 641-228-1162

ADDRESS: 3649 4th Street SW - Mason City, IA PHONE: 641-423-0444 CONTACT: Kevin Lewerke MANUFACTURES: Kitchen, Bath & Home Cabinetry; Interior & Exterior Doors, Molding & Millwork PURPOSE: Doors and cabinetry that reflect qualities of fine furniture simplicity, beauty, attention to detail, solid craftsmanship WEBSITE: www.woodharbor.com EMAIL: klewerke@woodharbor.com

■ Wunderlich Woodworking, Inc.

ADDRESS: 15791 Nettle Avenue - Mason City, IA PHONE: 641-423-9663 CONTACT: Ron Wunderlich, President MANUFACTURES: Cabinets, furniture, millwork, etc. PURPOSE: We provide high quality materials, tools and custom woodworking to North Iowa and beyond.

■ Yohn Co.

■ Wojcik Boat Works ADDRESS: 1004 N Monroe Avenue - Mason City, IA PHONE: 641-421-8748 CONTACT: David Wojcik, President MANUFACTURES: Wooden sail boats

FLOYD COUNTY MANUFACTURERS ■ Blue Cube, LLC

■ Woodharbor Doors & Cabinetry, Inc.

MANUFACTURES: Electric, plastic, wooden, vinyl signs

ADDRESS: PO Box 246 - Clear Lake, IA PHONE: 641-357-6090 CONTACT: Don Mills MANUFACTURES: Ready-mixed concrete

_____

MANUFACTURES: Industrial fasteners, concrete anchors, screws WEBSITE: www.dfsusa.com EMAIL: dfssales@netconx.net

MANUFACTURES: Aluminum & plastics blow molds WEBSITE: www.hawkeyemold.com

■ Eagle Woodworking

■ Hollar Electric

ADDRESS: 206 N Main St., Suite 1 - Charles City, IA PHONE: 641-228-3455 CONTACT: Brian Crane, Owner MANUFACTURES: Hardwood & plywood composites, panels, veneers & woodworking

■ F & H Aluminum, Inc. ADDRESS: 101 E Corporate Drive - Charles City, IA PHONE: 641-228-3601 CONTACT: Keith Ferch, President MANUFACTURES: Aluminum thermoform tooling & production casting, pattern, blow mold, pressure form mold, vacuum form, roto mold, core boxes & production castings EMAIL: fhaluminum@netconx.net

■ Farmchem Corp.

ADDRESS: P.O. Box 309 - Floyd, IA PHONE: 641-398-2893 CONTACT: Gary Jacques, President MANUFACTURES: Bulk seed handling & tank monitoring systems & equipment & fertilizer blenders WEBSITE: www.farmchem.com EMAIL: sales@farmchem.com

■ Floyd's Motor & Machine Co. ADDRESS: P.O. Box 92 - Floyd, IA PHONE: 641-398-2863 CONTACT: Merlin Holtz, Owner MANUFACTURES: General machining job shop

■ Fort Dodge Animal Health ADDRESS: 2000 Rockford Road - Charles City, IA PHONE: 641-257-2422 MANUFACTURES: Animal vaccines, pharmaceuticals WEBSITE: www.wyeth.com

■ Hawkeye Mold & Design Co. ADDRESS: 2323 Old Highway Road - Charles City, IA PHONE: 641-228-3099 CONTACT: Tim Rediske, President

ADDRESS: 100 Saint Marys Street - Charles City, IA PHONE: 641-228-1731 CONTACT: William Hollar, Owner MANUFACTURES: Rebuilt ag equipment, electric motors

■ Jackson Street Press ADDRESS: 708 N Jackson Street - Charles City, IA PHONE: 641-228-3257 CONTACT: Richard McDonald, Owner MANUFACTURES: Offset & lithographic printing & bookbinding EMAIL: jsp@netconx.net

■ L & J Industries, Inc.

ADDRESS: P.O. Box 274 - Charles City, IA PHONE: 641-228-1753 MANUFACTURES: General metal fabrication job shop, including welding, forming, rolling & rod straightening services WEBSITE: www.ljind.com EMAIL: ljind@netconx.net

■ Machine Tool Engineering, Inc. ADDRESS: PO Box 94 - Charles City, IA PHONE: 641-228-4524 CONTACT: Brian Ross MANUFACTURES: Custom machining, industrial protypes & short & long production machining PURPOSE: CNC Machining - We offer the latest in CNC technology to provide our customers with the top quality service. We are experienced in taking a prototype need through production. WEBSITE: www.gomte.com EMAIL: info@gomte.com

■ Mike's Welding & Supply ADDRESS: 1220 Winnebago Road - Rockford, IA PHONE: 641-756-2476 CONTACT: Mike Dow, Owner MANUFACTURES: Welding job shop

■ North Iowa Fabrication, Inc. ADDRESS: 1149 215th Street - Rockford, IA PHONE: 641-756-3478 CONTACT: James Sliger MANUFACTURES: Metal fabrication, laser cutting & powder coating job shop EMAIL: noiafab@omnitelcom.com

■ Quilting On Cameo ADDRESS: 1531 Cameo Road - Nora Springs, IA PHONE: 641-749-2743 CONTACT: Mindy Prohaski, Owner MANUFACTURES: Quilting

■ T & C Machine, Inc. ADDRESS: PO Box 61 - Charles City, IA PHONE: 641-228-1140 CONTACT: Teresa Knecht MANUFACTURES: Metal fabrication, precision & general machining & welding job shop

■ United Suppliers, Inc. - Fertilizer Div. ADDRESS: 2521 7 Mile Road - Charles City, IA PHONE: 641-228-2916 CONTACT: Denny Shollenbarger, GM MANUFACTURES: Fertilizer blending & agricultural chemicals WEBSITE: www.unitedsuppliers.com EMAIL: info@unitedsuppliers.com

■ Wesam, Inc. ADDRESS: PO Box 276 - Floyd, IA PHONE: 641-398-2875 CONTACT: Mike Miller, President MANUFACTURES: Silo unloader parts PURPOSE: We provide quality, new, wear type parts for the top unloading tower silos. EMAIL: wesam@omnitelcom.com

FRANKLIN COUNTY

_____

■ Century Machine

■ Hall Industries Ltd.

ADDRESS: 416 1st Street - Coulter, IA CONTACT: George Eddy

ADDRESS: 2479 Lark Ave. - Sheffield, IA PHONE: 641-892-4443 CONTACT: Todd Hall, President MANUFACTURES: Conveyors EMAIL: hallind@frontiernet.net

■ Classic Custom Wood ADDRESS: 602 Central Ave. E. - Hampton, IA PHONE: 641-456-4599 CONTACT: Ray Jorgensen, Owner MANUFACTURES: Fishing pole grips WEBSITE: www.classiccustomwood.com EMAIL: ccw@classicustomwood.com

■ Despenas Mechanical, Inc. ADDRESS: 1074 250th Street - Sheffield, IA PHONE: 641-892-8053 CONTACT: Aaron & Gina Despenas MANUFACTURES: Customized piping skids to industrial & commercial customers, as well as Mechanical Millwright services WEBSITE: www.despenasmech.com

■ Giddings Signs ADDRESS: 1105 4th St. SE - Hampton, IA PHONE: 641-456-2182 CONTACT: Grant Giddings, Owner MANUFACTURES: Interior & exterior signs EMAIL: giddingsigns@qwest.net

■ Hampton Hydraulics, LLC ADDRESS: 1483 Highway 3 - Hampton, IA PHONE: 641-456-4411 CONTACT: George Winchester, President MANUFACTURES: Hydraulic cylinders & accumulators WEBSITE: www.hampton-hydraulics.com EMAIL: seabeecylinders@hampton-hydraulics.com

■ Hansell A G Repair ADDRESS: 1612 Vine Avenue - Hampton, IA PHONE: 641-456-2034 CONTACT: Dan Knoll, Owner MANUFACTURES: Rebuilt tractors

■ J T Machine & Tool Co., Inc. ADDRESS: 602 S. Federal Street - Hampton, IA PHONE: 641-456-4513 CONTACT: Jeff Spear, Owner MANUFACTURES: CNC machining job shop EMAIL: jtmachineandtool@iowaconnect.com

■ Latham Seed Co. ADDRESS: 131 180th Street - Alexander, IA PHONE: 641-692-3258 CONTACT: Willard J. Latham, President MANUFACTURES: Wholesaler of seeds

■ Midwest Machine & Tools, Inc.

■ Midwest Meter, Inc. ADDRESS: 1605 170th Street - Hampton, IA PHONE: 641-456-4802 CONTACT: Ted Vosburg, President MANUFACTURES: Distributor of liquid flow meters, pumps & hose reels WEBSITE: www.midwestmeter.com EMAIL: sales@midwestmeter.com

■ Northern Pipe Products, Inc. ADDRESS: 1268 Imperial Road - Hampton, IA PHONE: 641-456-4351 CONTACT: Roger Wagg MANUFACTURES: plastic pipe WEBSITE: www.northernpipe.com EMAIL: info@ottertail.com

■ Omnium ADDRESS: 1280 Imperial Road - Hampton, IA PHONE: 641-456-2500 CONTACT: Phil Johnson MANUFACTURES: herbicides

■ Profiseed, Inc. ADDRESS: 1691 Highway 65 - Hampton, IA PHONE: 641-456-4751 CONTACT: Jason DoddPres. MANUFACTURES: seed & soybean processing WEBSITE: www.profiseed.com

InBusiness Sunday, December 6, 2009 • Made in the Region

ADDRESS: 1207 Central Ave E - Hampton, IA PHONE: 641-456-2183 CONTACT: Jim Wilkson, President MANUFACTURES: General machining job shop

Made in the Region â&#x20AC;˘ InBusiness Sunday, December 6, 2009

■ Seabee, a Ligon Company - Cylinder Div. ADDRESS: 712 1st St NW - Hampton, IA PHONE: 641-456-4871 CONTACT: Laura Hovenga MANUFACTURES: Custom-engineered hydraulic cylinders for construction, forestry, agricultural equipment, material handling, aerial work platforms & other manufacturing and mobile industries. WEBSITE: www.hamptonhydraulics.com

■ Spear Tool & Die ADDRESS: 220 6th Ave NE - Hampton, IA PHONE: 641-456-2909 CONTACT: Larry Spear, Owner MANUFACTURES: tool & die job shop

■ Sukup Manufacturing Co. ADDRESS: 1555 255th Street - Sheffield, IA PHONE: 641-892-4222 CONTACT: Nicole Poock

MANUFACTURES: grain drying, handling & storage equipment including grain bins, dryers, fans and heaters, stirring machines, unloading equipment, & bin floors and supports PURPOSE: As a manufacturer and supplier of agricultural equipment, the goal of Sukup Manufacturing Co. is to provide the agricultural industry with innovative, reliable products that help producers to be more profitable. As a member of the North Iowa community, the goal of Sukup Manufacturing Co. is to provide steady employment for residents of the area and support a variety projects that provide valuable services within the community. WEBSITE: www.sukup.com EMAIL: info@sukup.com

■ Syngenta Seeds, Inc. ADDRESS: 1274-A Olive Avenue - Hampton, IA PHONE: 641-456-2592 CONTACT: Jeff Burkley MANUFACTURES: hybrid corn & soybeans

WEBSITE: www.syngenta.com

■ Twin State, Inc. ADDRESS: 1455 140th Street - Hampton, IA PHONE: 641-456-4825 CONTACT: Steven Heilskov MANUFACTURES: liquid fertilizer WEBSITE: www.twinstateinc.com

■ Winfield Solutions ADDRESS: 1280 Imperial Rd, Suite B - Hampton, IA CONTACT: Alan Moritz, Manager

■ Wullbrandt Studio ADDRESS: 1270 Hwy 65 - Hampton, IA PHONE: 641-456-3580 CONTACT: Paul Wullbrandt MANUFACTURES: glass etching WEBSITE: www.wullbrandtstudio.com EMAIL: wullbrandt@sswireless.net

HANCOCK COUNTY MANUFACTURERS_________ ■ American Crane, Inc.

ADDRESS: 130 Allen Avenue - Garner, IA PHONE: 641-923-3200 CONTACT: John Collins, President MANUFACTURES: Manufactures and re-manufactures cranes, tire-handlers, compressors and truck bodies, which are used in tire service and mining industries WEBSITE: www.acrane.com

■ Aspen Hills, Inc.

ADDRESS: 830 North State Street - Garner, IA PHONE: 641-923-0917 CONTACT: Tom Lundeen, President MANUFACTURES: Cookie dough in pail, puck and pellet form WEBSITE: www.cookiedough.com EMAIL: mail@cookiedough.com

■ Conductive Circuits

■ Country Threads

ADDRESS: 2345 Palm Avenue - Garner, IA PHONE: 641-923-3893 CONTACT: Connie Tesene & Mary Etherington MANUFACTURES: Quilt Patterns WEBSITE: www.countrythreads.com EMAIL: info@countrythreads.com

ADDRESS: 365 Cottonwood Dr. - Garner, IA PHONE: 641-923-3685 CONTACT: Pete Gouge, Owner MANUFACTURES: Truck drive shafts, automotive machining shop EMAIL: ufc@imttrans.com

■ Iowa Mold Tooling Co., Inc.

ADDRESS: 500 Highway 18 W. - Garner, IA PHONE: 641-923-3711 CONTACT: Nicole Kyle MANUFACTURES: Mechanics Trucks, Tire Trucks, Lube Trucks, Truck Mounted Cranes, Air Compressors OUR MISSION: To be a successful, people-oriented company serving global equipment markets. WEBSITE: www.imt.com

■ Johnson Architectural Woodworks, Inc. ADDRESS: 201 E Main Street - Klemme, IA PHONE: 641-587-3037 CONTACT: Bruce Johnson, Pres. MANUFACTURES: Architectural millwork & moldings WEBSITE: www.johnsonwoodworks.com EMAIL: bruce@johnsonwoodworks.com

■ Kiefer Built, LLC

ADDRESS: 305 E First Street - Kanawha, IA PHONE: 641-762-3201 CONTACT: Jack Thorton, President MANUFACTURES: Livestock equipment, horse & cargo trailers WEBSITE: www.kieferbuiltinc.com EMAIL: sales@kieferbuiltinc.com

■ Marting Mfg. of Iowa, Inc.

ADDRESS: 551 3rd Ave. SE - Britt, IA PHONE: 641-843-4431 CONTACT: Jim Peterson MANUFACTURES: livestock feeders & handling equipment WEBSITE: www.marting.com EMAIL: info@marting.com

■ Midwest Organics

ADDRESS: 805 250th Street - Britt, IA PHONE: 641-843-4001 CONTACT: Jay Burgardt MANUFACTURES: Natural, worm castings fertilizer WEBSITE: www.midwestorganics.net EMAIL: info@midwestorganics.net

■ National Purity Kleen King, LLC ADDRESS: 225 9th Avenue NW - Britt, IA

PHONE: 641-843-3157 CONTACT: Jeff Mahoney MANUFACTURES: custom blending of cleaning chemicals WEBSITE: www.nationalpurity.com EMAIL: sspillane@nationalpurity.com

■ Norco Mfg., Inc.

ADDRESS: 270 Diagonal St NE - Britt, IA PHONE: 641-843-4421 CONTACT: Florence M. Norstrud MANUFACTURES: brass & steel screw machine products, wire welding, tube bending & cast iron machining job shop

■ Nortech Systems, Inc.

ADDRESS: 325 N State Street - Garner, IA PHONE: 641-923-3751 CONTACT: Phillip Savoie, GM MANUFACTURES: printed circuit boards, cable, wire harness assemblies

■ North Iowa Printing & Office Supply Co.

ADDRESS: 435 State Street - Garner, IA PHONE: 641-923-2322 CONTACT: Robert Sniezek, Owner MANUFACTURES: Commercial printing,typesetting, office supplies & furniture EMAIL: nipco15@yahoo.com

■ Par Products, Inc.

ADDRESS: 101 E. Main Street - Klemme, IA PHONE: 641-587-2460 CONTACT: Elaine C. Ristau MANUFACTURES: mobile home draperies, bedspreads & miniblinds

■ Plas-Tech Tooling, Inc.

ADDRESS: 520 E Lyon Street - Garner, IA PHONE: 641-923-9232 CONTACT: Dean Sonquist, President MANUFACTURES: plastic injection molds, molding & production machining

■ Stellar Industries, Inc.

ADDRESS: 190 State Avenue - Garner, IA PHONE: 641-923-3741 CONTACT: Donna Popp-Bruesewitz MANUFACTURES: Hooklift hoists, cable hoists, tire service trucks, mechanic service trucks, hydraulic knuckleboom and telescopic cranes, truckmounted air compressors, tool drawer systems, the X-Tra-Lift WEBSITE: www.stellarindustries.com

InBusiness Sunday, December 6, 2009 • Made in the Region

ADDRESS: 230 State Street - Garner, IA PHONE: 641-923-2260 CONTACT: Ed Roberts, President MANUFACTURES: Printed circuit boards WEBSITE: www.conductivecircuits.com EMAIL: sales@conductivecircuits.com

■ IMT Transport

■ The Original Saw Co.

ADDRESS: 265 3rd Ave SE - Britt, IA PHONE: 641-843-3868 CONTACT: Allen Eden, Vice President MANUFACTURES: Industrial Radial Arm Saws, Horizontal Beam Saws, Electric Arbor Motors, Material Handling extension roller tables & flat tables. Series manual measuring systems. WEBSITE: www.originalsaw.com EMAIL: customerservice@originalsaw.com

■ Unicover, Inc.

ADDRESS: 1040 Diagonal Street - Britt, IA PHONE: 641-843-3698 CONTACT: Jim Bakken, President MANUFACTURES: aluminum & fiberglass pickup toppers WEBSITE: www.unicovercaps.com EMAIL: unicover@kalnet.com

■ United Fabrication Co. Inc.

ADDRESS: PO Box 561 - Algona, IA PHONE: 515-295-3546 CONTACT: Kathy Andersen MANUFACTURES: Glass & mirrors, aluminum entrances & storefronts WEBSITE: www.algonaglass.com

■ Algona Machine & Supply, Inc. ADDRESS: 2204 Plum Creek Road - Algona, IA PHONE: 515-295-9521 CONTACT: Barb Wempen MANUFACTURES: Metal fabrication & machining job shop

■ Algona Vault Service, Inc. ADDRESS: PO Box 427 - Algona, IA PHONE: 515-295-5273 CONTACT: John Pfeffer, President MANUFACTURES: Concrete burial vaults, septic tanks & steps, monuments, landscaping products EMAIL: avs@netamumail.com

■ Worldwide Marketing

■ Algona Welding & Machine

■ Zinpro Corp.

ADDRESS: 880 E Lyon Streett - Garner, IA PHONE: 641-923-3646 CONTACT: Jon Morrison MANUFACTURES: nutritional feed additives WEBSITE: www.zinpro.com

Made in the Region • InBusiness Sunday, December 6, 2009

■ Algona Glass, Inc.

ADDRESS: 455 W 3rd Street - Garner, IA PHONE: 641-923-3196 CONTACT: Dan Wolf MANUFACTURES: drive shafts/automotive machining shop EMAIL: ufc@imttrans.com ADDRESS: 106 E Main Street - Klemme, IA PHONE: 641-587-2158 CONTACT: Mary Ann Kingsbury-Korlesk MANUFACTURES: Meat processing & packing

KOSSUTH COUNTY MANUFACTURERS

ADDRESS: 1416 E Locust St - Algona, IA PHONE: 515-295-7685 CONTACT: John Bowman, President MANUFACTURES: Metal fabrication & welding job shop

■ Aluma Ltd. ADDRESS: PO Box 287 - Bancroft, IA PHONE: 515-885-2398 CONTACT: Eldean Maschoff MANUFACTURES: Aluminum trailers WEBSITE: www.alumaklm.com

■ American Concrete Products, Inc. ADDRESS: 413 Highway 18 West Algona, IA PHONE: 515-295-5515 CONTACT: Orland Steil MANUFACTURES: Ready-mixed concrete WEBSITE: www.amerconcrete.com

■ American Concrete Products, Inc. ADDRESS: 410 3rd St - Lakota, IA PHONE: 515-886-2404 CONTACT: Steve Scott MANUFACTURES: Ready-mixed concrete WEBSITE: www.amerconcrete.com

■ BrandFX Body Company ADDRESS: 404 4th Avenue West - Swea City, IA PHONE: 515-272-4372 CONTACT: Janet Deim MANUFACTURES: Fiberglass service, line bodies, toppers & inserts for medium and heavy duty applications & pickups WEBSITE: www.brandfxbody.com

■ Cook’s Scrap Iron & Metal ADDRESS: PO Box 426 - Algona, IA PHONE: 515-295-2512 CONTACT: Jean Weishaar MANUFACTURES: Metal recycling & welding supplies

■ Countryside Ltd. ADDRESS: PO Box 523 - Algona, IA PHONE: 515-295-3583 CONTACT: Richard Chase, President MANUFACTURES: Barbecue sauce

■ Cozzini, Inc.

ADDRESS: 2400 Highway 18 East - Algona, IA PHONE: 515-295-7234 CONTACT: Mike Rooney MANUFACTURES: Food processing & material handling equipment, including conveyors, sandblasting, zinc metallizing & stainless steel fabrication WEBSITE: www.cozzini.com EMAIL: sales@cozzini.com

■ Custom Built

■ Hormel Foods Corp.

■ Sign Works Ink, Inc.

ADDRESS: PO Box 677 - Algona, IA PHONE: 515-295-2477 CONTACT: Peter Von Ruden MANUFACTURES: Pepperoni processing WEBSITE: www.hormelfoods.com EMAIL: sales@hormelfoods.com

ADDRESS: 1613 E Locust Street - Algona. IA PHONE: 515-295-9544 CONTACT: Rick Remy, President MANUFACTURES: Interior, exterior signs, textile screen printing EMAIL: info@signworksink.com

■ Hydrogen Engine Center, Inc.

■ Snap-On Tools Inc.

ADDRESS: 2502 E Poplar Street - Algona, IA PHONE: 515-295-3178 CONTACT: Ted Hollinger, President MANUFACTURES: Hydrogen-fueled internal combustion engines for industrial applications WEBSITE: www.hydrogenenginecenter.com

ADDRESS: 2600 Highway 18 East - Algona, IA PHONE: 515-295-2456 CONTACT: Scott Marienau MANUFACTURES: Tool storage units WEBSITE: www.snapon.com

ADDRESS: 1801 E Oak Street - Algona, IA PHONE: 515-295-4835 CONTACT: Joyce A. Frideres MANUFACTURES: Solid-surface & laminated countertops EMAIL: cctops@netamumail.com

■ Koch Materials Co. ADDRESS: 832 N Main Street - Algona, IA PHONE: 515-295-2883 CONTACT: Mark Erdman MANUFACTURES: Liquid asphalt

ADDRESS: PO Box 260 - Bancroft, IA PHONE: 515-885-2366 CONTACT: John Skallerup MANUFACTURES: Livestock feed WEBSITE: www.standardnutrition.com

■ FCA Mfg. Co.

■ KOFAB

■ Steinman Insulation & Roofing

ADDRESS: 908 S Phillips Street - Algona, IA PHONE: 515-295-6142 CONTACT: Robert Arend, Owner MANUFACTURES: Automotive machining job shop

■ Custom Countertops & More, Inc.

ADDRESS: PO Box 38 - Algona, IA PHONE: 515-295-5880 CONTACT: Phil Specht MANUFACTURES: Wooden skids & crates

■ Global Ethanol

ADDRESS: 1660 428th Street - Lakota, IA PHONE: 515-886-2222 CONTACT: Tracy Welch MANUFACTURES: Ethanol automotive fuel additives WEBSITE: www.globalethanolservices.com

ADDRESS: 1615 E Poplar Street - Algona, IA PHONE: 515-295-2435 MANUFACTURES: Stainless steel fabricating, including food processing equipment & conveyor systems for food, mining, entertainment & package handling equipment, water-jet cutting & plastic CNC routering WEBSITE: www.kofab.com EMAIL: sales@kofab.com

■ Midlife Printing

ADDRESS: 1215 E Elm Street - Algona, IA PHONE: 515-295-5672 CONTACT: Bruce Gervais, Owner MANUFACTURES: Commercial printing

■ Office Etc. ADDRESS: PO Box 217 - Bancroft, IA PHONE: 515-885-2692 CONTACT: Phil Jaren Jr. MANUFACTURES: Commercial printing EMAIL: office1@hickorytech.net ADDRESS: 1901 Highway 169 N - Algona, IA PHONE: 515-295-9411 CONTACT: Karen Lambert MANUFACTURES: Seed corn processing WEBSITE: www.pioneer.com

■ Sbemco International, Inc.

ADDRESS: 715 N Finn Drive - Algona, IA PHONE: 515-295-3902 CONTACT: Joel Davis MANUFACTURES: Custom floor mats WEBSITE: www.sbemco.com EMAIL: info@sbemco.com

ADDRESS: PO Box 146 - Wesley, IA PHONE: 515-679-4225 CONTACT: Craig Steinman, President MANUFACTURES: Polyurethane foam insulation & single-ply roofing

■ Terry’s Welding, Inc.

ADDRESS: 1608 190th Street - Algona, IA PHONE: 515-295-3010 CONTACT: Terry Wagner, Owner MANUFACTURES: Steel & aluminum fabrication

■ Universal Mfg. Co. ADDRESS: 405 Diagonal Street - Algona, IA PHONE: 515-295-3557 CONTACT: Lance Frame MANUFACTURES: Rebuilt automotive parts WEBSITE: www.universalmanf.com EMAIL: info@universalmanf.com

■ Vaske Welding & Repair

ADDRESS: PO Box 425 - Bancroft, IA PHONE: 515-885-2067 CONTACT: Judy Vaske MANUFACTURES: Metal fabrication, welding & general machining job shop EMAIL: vaskweld@hickorytech.net

■ Wayne T. Hansen Corp. ADDRESS: 13 Country Est. - Algona, IA PHONE: 515-295-5573 CONTACT: Wayne T. Hansen, President MANUFACTURES: Sand & gravel processing

SAVE THE DATE MAGAZINE

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2010 IF YOU ARE INTERESTED IN A BOOTH, PLEASE CALL LYNETTE HARRINGTON

641.421.0586

InBusiness Sunday, December 6, 2009 • Made in the Region

■ Pioneer Hi-Bred International, Inc.

■ Standard Nutrition Co.

MITCHELL COUNTY MANUFACTURERS ■ A To Z Drying

■ Fox River Mills, Inc.

■ Milkhouse Candle Co.

ADDRESS: PO Box 180 - Osage, IA PHONE: 641-732-5805 CONTACT: Al Penfold, President MANUFACTURES: Dry dairy products

ADDRESS: 227 Poplar Street - Osage, IA PHONE: 641-732-3798 CONTACT: Joel Anderson MANUFACTURES: High quality men's, women's and children's socks and handwear WEBSITE: www.foxsox.com

ADDRESS: PO Box 361 - St. Ansgar, IA PHONE: 641-713-3445 CONTACT: Eric Sparrow, Owner MANUFACTURES: Organic soy & beeswax blend candles WEBSITE: www.milkhousecandles.com EMAIL: milkhouseinfo@milkhousecandles.com

■ Grain Millers, Inc.

■ Moore Wallace North America, Inc.

ADDRESS: PO Box 399 - St. Ansgar, IA PHONE: 641-713-4801 CONTACT: Melissa Edgington MANUFACTURES: Cereal grain milling

ADDRESS: 900 Heritage Drive - Osage, IA PHONE: 641-732-5811 CONTACT: Tim Pink MANUFACTURES: Manifold business form printing WEBSITE: www.rrd.com

■ Aluminum King Mfg. Ltd. ADDRESS: 700 E Van Buren Street - Mitchell, IA PHONE: 641-732-5558 CONTACT: Katie Mostek MANUFACTURES: Aluminum sweat furnaces WEBSITE: www.aluminumking.com

■ American Cereal Co. ADDRESS: PO Box 399 - St. Ansgar, IA PHONE: 641-713-4611 MANUFACTURES: Oatmeal WEBSITE: www.countrychoicenaturals.com EMAIL: sales@countrychoiceorganic.com

ADDRESS: 12150 Addison Avenue - Riceville, IA PHONE: 641-985-2900 CONTACT: Jim Irvine, GM MANUFACTURES: Truck parts WEBSITE: www.mcneilusco.com EMAIL: info@mcneilusco.com

■ L & M Machine

ADDRESS: 3290 Lancer Avenue - Osage, IA PHONE: 641-732-1460 CONTACT: Gorden Barker MANUFACTURES: Egg processing equipment for small to medium sized egg producers, including chickens, turkeys, ducks, geese & game birds WEBSITE: www.nationalpoultryequipment.com EMAIL: poultry@osage.net

ADDRESS: PO Box 238 - Riceville, IA PHONE: 641-985-2529 CONTACT: Keith Levorsen, Owner MANUFACTURES: General machining job shop

ADDRESS: 1227 Ash Street - Osage, IA PHONE: 641-732-5957 CONTACT: Betty Kleckner MANUFACTURES: Draperies & curtains

■ Boerjan Agri Made in the Region • InBusiness Sunday, December 6, 2009

■ Iowa Contract Fabricators, Inc.

■ Barlar Industries, LLC

■ Betty’s Drapery Shop

_____

ADDRESS: 4017 Glass Avenue - St. Ansgar, IA PHONE: 641-713-2372 CONTACT: Lee Boerjan, Owner MANUFACTURES: Agricultural equipment, including sprayers & skid loader attachments

■ Croell Redi-Mix, Inc. ADDRESS: 414 N 2nd Street Osage, IA PHONE: 641-732-5483 CONTACT: Loren Taets MANUFACTURES: Ready-mixed concrete WEBSITE: www.croell.com

■ Croell Redi-Mix, Inc. ADDRESS: 308 S Pleasant St. St. Ansgar, IA PHONE: 641-736-2450 CONTACT: Lonnie Hillman MANUFACTURES: Ready-mixed concrete WEBSITE: www.croell.com

■ L.R. Falk Construction Co. ADDRESS: PO Box 189 - St. Ansgar, IA PHONE: 641-713-4569 MANUFACTURES: Agricultural limestone, crushed stone, sand & gravel

■ Machine Shop Services ADDRESS: 3128 Mitchell Line Street - Orchard, IA PHONE: 641-982-4207 CONTACT: Jim Cimmerman, Owner MANUFACTURES: Machining job shop

■ McIntire Fabricators, Inc. ADDRESS: 800 1st Street - McIntire, IA PHONE: 641-985-2995 CONTACT: Brian Stevenson MANUFACTURES: Water tanks & chutes

■ New Haven Mfg. ADDRESS: PO Box 204 - Osage - IA PHONE: 641-982-4869 CONTACT: Bill Huebsch, Owner MANUFACTURES: Animal traps

■ Osage Mfg., Inc.

ADDRESS: PO Box 210 - Osage, IA PHONE: 641-732-5541 CONTACT: Helen Schmidt MANUFACTURES: Aluminum doors, windows & wooden porch enclosures

■ See ‘N’ Sew

ADDRESS: 703 1/2 Main Street - Osage, IA PHONE: 641-832-2464 CONTACT: Diane Emerson, Owner MANUFACTURES: Embroidery

■ Simply Home Grown

ADDRESS: 4830 Epic Avenue - St. Ansgar, IA PHONE: 641-326-2488 CONTACT: Annette Halvorson, Owner MANUFACTURES: Dried flowers WEBSITE: www.simplyhomegrown.com EMAIL: annette@simplyhomegrown.com

■ Spaceage Tool & Mfg., Inc. ADDRESS: 611 N Park Street - St. Ansgar, IA PHONE: 641-713-2055 CONTACT: Chris Landherr

MANUFACTURES: Metal stampings

■ TD Machine ADDRESS: 205 Industrial Park Drive - St. Ansgar, IA PHONE: 641-713-2015 CONTACT: Dean Storgaard, Owner MANUFACTURES: Tool & die job shop EMAIL: tdmach@omnitelcom.com

■ Theobald Custom Mfg. ADDRESS: PO Box 220 - Stacyville, IA PHONE: 641-710-2161 CONTACT: Sam Katter MANUFACTURES: Rebuilt clutches & water pumps

■ Tops ADDRESS: PO Box 119 - OsageIA PHONE: 641-732-5877 CONTACT: Dan Berentsen MANUFACTURES: Manifold business form & pad printing WEBSITE: www.rrd.com

■ Wold Rim & Wheel Service

ADDRESS: 103 Industrial Drive - St. Ansgar, IA PHONE: 641-713-2205 CONTACT: Jon Hanson, Sales Manager MANUFACTURES: Custom built agricultural wheels and components WEBSITE: www.woldinc.com

WINNEBAGO COUNTY MANUFACTURERS ■ 3M Distribution Center ADDRESS: 806 W. Crystal Lake Road - Forest City, IA PHONE: 641-585-2700

■ A & B Welding & Mfg.

ADDRESS: 307 Walnut Street - Forest City, IA PHONE: 641-585-5407 CONTACT: Jack Smith, President MANUFACTURES: Factory automation (special machines) OUR PURPOSE: To design and build assembly equipment, leak teasters, fixtures, welders, etc. WEBSITE: www.cybersmith.com EMAIL: jack@cybersmith.com

■ Andy C. Sinnwell Co.

■ Dielectric Corp.

■ Bob’s Cabinet Shop

■ Dras Cases, Inc.

■ Byerly’s Food International

■ E C C Welding

ADDRESS: 246 Chapel Street - Forest City, IA PHONE: 641-582-2770 CONTACT: Andy Sinnwell, Owner MANUFACTURES: Fine art printing WEBSITE: www.andysinnwell.com EMAIL: asinnwell@gmail.com ADDRESS: 208 B Street - Leland, IA PHONE: 641-567-3368 CONTACT: Bob Verhoef, Owner MANUFACTURES: Wooden kitchen cabinets ADDRESS: 877 N Lake Street - Lake Mills, IA PHONE: 641-592-7700 CONTACT: Ron Pitkin MANUFACTURES: Frozen food products & soup WEBSITE: www.byerlys.com EMAIL: ron.pitkin@lfhi.com

■ CDI, LLC ADDRESS: 305 Nerem Dr. S - Forest City, IA PHONE: 641-585-5900

■ Cummins Filtration, Inc.

ADDRESS: 311 N Park Street - Lake Mills, IA PHONE: 641-592-1300 CONTACT: Kimberly Valentine MANUFACTURES: Automotive oil & wet filters WEBSITE: www.fleetguard.com EMAIL: fleetmaster.us@fleetguard.com

ADDRESS: 202 N 9th Ave E - Lake Mills, IA PHONE: 641-592-4300 CONTACT: Candy Hanna MANUFACTURES: Plastic fabrication WEBSITE: www.dielectriccorp.com ADDRESS: 880 N Lake Street - Lake Mills, IA PHONE: 641-592-3333 CONTACT: Amy Petersen MANUFACTURES: Custom commercial casework, retail store fixtures WEBSITE: www.drascases.com EMAIL: amy@drascases.com ADDRESS: Highway 69 W. - Lake Mills, IA PHONE: 641-592-2142 CONTACT: Earl Cavett, Owner MANUFACTURES: Welding job shop

■ Forest City Radiator & Air Conditioning ADDRESS: PO Box 9 - Forest City, IA PHONE: 641-585-4713 CONTACT: Steve Kaduce, President MANUFACTURES: Rebuilt industrial & automotive radiators & air conditioners

■ Gilbertson Tool & Die, Inc. ADDRESS: 211 N Western Street - Lake Mills, IA PHONE: 641-592-0100 CONTACT: Steve Gilbertson MANUFACTURES: Tool & die job shop

InBusiness Sunday, December 6, 2009 • Made in the Region

ADDRESS: PO Box 257 - Thompson, IA PHONE: 641-584-2900 CONTACT: Betty Kiel MANUFACTURES: Fertilization tank pipe fittings & storage tanks EMAIL: abwelding@wctatel.net

■ Cybersmith Engineering, Inc.

■ Golden Oval Eggs, LLC

■ Larson Mfg. Co.

■ Rake Casting

ADDRESS: 13780 450th Street - Thompson, IA PHONE: 641-584-2050 CONTACT: Darla Thompson MANUFACTURES: Liquid egg products WEBSITE: www.goldenovaleggs.com

ADDRESS: 500 Larson Avenue - Lake Mills, IA PHONE: 641-592-2282 CONTACT: Janet Hebrink MANUFACTURES: Storm doors WEBSITE: www.larsondoors.com

■ Graphic Signs

■ Leland Woodworks

ADDRESS: 116 N. Main St. - Rake, IA PHONE: 641-566-3200 CONTACT: Daniel Molitor, Owner MANUFACTURES: Plastic decorative castings, including light switch covers, planter rests, bird feeders & gears WEBSITE: www.rakecasting.com EMAIL: rakecasting@wctatel.net

ADDRESS: 13711 370th Street - Forest City, IA PHONE: 641-581-4500 CONTACT: Tim Palmer, Owner MANUFACTURES: Wooden, plastic, metal & electric signs

ADDRESS: Highway 69 - Leland, IA PHONE: 641-567-3387 CONTACT: Paul Charlson MANUFACTURES: Wooden & laminated cabinets EMAIL: lelandwood@wctatec.net

■ Holland Moving & Rigging Supplies, Inc. ADDRESS: 35545 Highway 69 - Forest City, IA PHONE: 641-585-3630 CONTACT: Chris Holland, Ron Holland MANUFACTURES: Heavy transport dollies and custom equipment to move large structures and equipment in the factory or on the road. WEBSITE: www.movingriggingsupplies.com

■ La Harv Construction Co., Inc. ADDRESS: PO Box 267 - Forest City, IA PHONE: 641-581-3643 CONTACT: Michael Harms, President MANUFACTURES: Sand & gravel quarrying

■ Midway Tooling Technologies, Inc. ADDRESS: 804 North Lake Street - Lake Mills, IA PHONE: 641-592-3571 CONTACT: Robert Greenfield, Matt Hershey MANUFACTURES: Dies, jigs, fixtures, machine parts, production machining, In-house CAD/CAM design EMAIL: smidway@wctatel.net

■ Palleton Pallets ADDRESS: PO Box 5 - Lake Mills, IA PHONE: 641-592-1500 MANUFACTURES: Wooden pallets CONTACT: Tim Breuer, Owner

■ Pit Stop Printing ADDRESS: 109 N. Main St. - Lake Mills, IA PHONE: 641-592-2520 CONTACT: Katie Benson, Owner MANUFACTURES: Vehicle Graphics & Magnets, Signs, Banners, Custom Apparel, Photo Crystals WEBSITE: www.PspCustomProducts.com EMAIL: pitstop@wctatel.net

■ Quality Composite Component Parts, Inc.

Made in the Region • InBusiness Sunday, December 6, 2009

ADDRESS: 204 N 2nd Ave West, Suite A - Lake Mills, IA PHONE: 641-592-1700 CONTACT: Laurie Sather, President MANUFACTURES: Plastic & foam fabrication EMAIL: qccpinc@wctatel.net

■ Rake Plastics, Inc. ADDRESS: 207 N. 2nd St. - Rake, IA PHONE: 641-566-3100 CONTACT: Danny Larson, President MANUFACTURES: Plastic bags & film

■ StateLine Cooperative ADDRESS: PO Box 348 - Buffalo Center, IA PHONE: 641-562-2828 MANUFACTURES: Dry farm fertilizer CONTACT: Vic Matthias WEBSITE: www.statelinecoop.com

■ Wilkinson Tool & Die, Inc. Midwest Metal Stampings ADDRESS: 43066 225th Avenue - Lake Mills, IA PHONE: 641-592-1120 CONTACT: Mark Wilkinson, President MANUFACTURES: Stamping & tool & die job shop WEBSITE: www.wilkinsontool.com EMAIL: wiltool@wctatel.net

■ Winnebago Industries, Inc.

ADDRESS: 605 W. Crystal Lake Road - Forest City, IA PHONE: 641-585-3535 CONTACT: Bob Olson, CEO MANUFACTURES: Motor homes which are self-contained vehicles used primarily in leisure travel and outdoor recreation activities WEBSITE: www.winnebagoind.com

■ Yohn Co. ADDRESS: 133 Industrial Drive - Forest City, IA PHONE: 641-581-3020 CONTACT: John Stebbins MANUFACTURES: Ready-mixed concrete

■ R & H Adaptive Equipment Co. ADDRESS: PO Box 175 - Thompson, IA PHONE: 641-584-2025 CONTACT: Jeff Robinson, President MANUFACTURES: Medical equipment & therapy devices

WORTH COUNTY MANUFACTURERS ■ Advance Components Technologies, Inc.

■ Iowa Ethanol, LLC

ADDRESS: PO Box 168 - Northwood, IA PHONE: 641-324-2231 CONTACT: Rob Stone MANUFACTURES: Acoustical plastic & vacuum forming WEBSITE: www.goact.net

ADDRESS: PO Box 135 Hanlontown, IA PHONE: 641-896-2500 CONTACT: Kelly Hansen MANUFACTURES: Ethanol fuels

■ Braun Industries, Inc.

■ Martin Marietta Materials, Inc.

ADDRESS: PO Box 28 - Grafton, IA PHONE: 641-748-2295 CONTACT: Chris Braun MANUFACTURES: Hog confining equipment

■ Eliot, Inc.

ADDRESS: 505 410th Street - Joice, IA PHONE: 641-588-3546 CONTACT: Eliot Evans, President MANUFACTURES: Metal fabrication EMAIL: eliotinc@wctatel.net

■ Grafton Welding

ADDRESS: 3979 Warbler Avenue - Grafton, IA PHONE: 641-748-2290 CONTACT: Tom Kruger, Owner MANUFACTURES: General machining job shop

ADDRESS: PO Box 125 - Northwood, IA PHONE: 641-324-2399 CONTACT: Tonya Holmes MANUFACTURES: Limestone quarrying WEBSITE: www.martinmarietta.com

■ North Woods Cabinetry, Inc.

ADDRESS: PO Box 163 - Northwood, IA PHONE: 641-324-1901 CONTACT: Tom Capranos, President MANUFACTURES: Wooden cabinets

■ Northwood Welding

ADDRESS: 2010 Central Avenue - Northwood, IA PHONE: 641-324-2237 CONTACT: Jack Barber, Owner MANUFACTURES: Welding job shop

■ Plastic Injection Molders, Inc. ADDRESS: PO Box 167 - Fertile, IA PHONE: 641-797-2265 CONTACT: Greg Knopf, President MANUFACTURES: Plastic injection molding, hot stamping & welding job shop WEBSITE: www.plastic-injection-molders.com EMAIL: pim@wctatel.net

■ Premier Polysteel

ADDRESS: PO Box 77 - Northwood, IA PHONE: 641-324-2750 CONTACT: Thomas Stensrud, President MANUFACTURES: Coated steel outdoor furniture, including picnic tables, benches, waste receptacles, bike racks & bench swings WEBSITE: www.premierpolysteel.com EMAIL: sales@premierpolysteel.com

■ Quality Composites, Inc.

ADDRESS: 4979 Orchid Avenue - Northwood, IA PHONE: 641-324-3130 CONTACT: Jodi Porter MANUFACTURES: Acoustical tractor/heavy machinery interiors & thermoforming EMAIL: qualitycomposite@willowtree.com

■ Randall Ready Mix LLC ADDRESS: PO Box 153 - Northwood, IA PHONE: 641-324-1063 CONTACT: Connie Estes, Office Manager MANUFACTURES: Ready-mixed concrete, sand & stone processing. Plants located in Northwood, St. Ansgar, Forest City, Lake Mills, and Manly. EMAIL: info@randallreadymix.com

WRIGHT COUNTY MANUFACTURERS ■ Advanced Drainage Systems, Inc. ADDRESS: 100 NE 20th Street - Eagle Grove, IA PHONE: 515-448-5101 CONTACT: Dwayne Kingeray MANUFACTURES: Drainage tubing WEBSITE: www.ads-pipe.com EMAIL: info@ads-pipe.com

■ Ahrends, Inc. ADDRESS: PO Box 203 - Clarion, IA PHONE: 515-532-3449 CONTACT: Judy Ahrends MANUFACTURES: Wooden pistol grips WEBSITE: www.ahrendsgripusa.com EMAIL: ahrends@goldfieldaccess.net

■ Alpharma, Inc. ADDRESS: PO Box 66 - Eagle Grove, IA PHONE: 515-448-4734 CONTACT: Gary Anderson MANUFACTURES: Animal health feed additives for the poultry, swine & cattle industries WEBSITE: www.alpharma.com

■ American Concrete Products, Inc. ADDRESS: 319 1st St. N.W. - Clarion, IA PHONE: 515-532-3561 CONTACT: Mike Brinker MANUFACTURES: Ready-mixed concrete WEBSITE: www.amerconcrete.com

■ Printing Services, Inc.

■ Corn L. P. ADDRESS: 1303 Highway 3 East - Goldfield, IA PHONE: 515-825-3933 CONTACT: Andy Miller, GM MANUFACTURES: Ethanol production

■ Eaton Corporation - Engine Components Div. ADDRESS: PO Box 303 - Belmond, IA PHONE: 641-444-3535 CONTACT: Terry Deboer MANUFACTURES: Engine valves & lifters WEBSITE: www.eaton.com EMAIL: customer@eaton.com

■ Farm & Home Publishers Ltd. ADDRESS: PO Box 305 - Belmond, IA PHONE: 641-444-3508 CONTACT: Cliff Sheakley, President MANUFACTURES: Rural plat & directory publishing WEBSITE: www.farmandhomepublishers.com EMAIL: info@farmandhomepublishers.com

■ Hagie Mfg. Co. ADDRESS: PO Box 273 - Clarion, IA PHONE: 515-532-2861 CONTACT: Jim Williams MANUFACTURES: Self-propelled high clearance sprayers, mechanical detassleing & nitrogen application equipment WEBSITE: www.hagie.com EMAIL: hagie@hagie.com

ADDRESS: 931 W Broadway Street - Rowan, IA PHONE: 641-853-2377 CONTACT: Leah Anderson MANUFACTURES: Outdoor incline tram elevators WEBSITE: www.lakeshoretram.com

■ Lee Ltd. Corp. ADDRESS: PO Box 211 - Belmond, IA PHONE: 641-444-4090 CONTACT: Jim Pasquariello, President MANUFACTURES: Hydraulic pumps & machining job shop

■ Lewright Meats, Inc. ADDRESS: 108 N Iowa Ave - Eagle Grove, IA PHONE: 515-448-4286 CONTACT: Paul Bubeck, GM MANUFACTURES: Smoked ham, bacon, cottage bacon, English bacon, pork loins, chops, beef & pork jerky, beef sticks, dried beef, BBQ pork & beef, summer sausage & bratwurst WEBSITE: www.lewrightmeats.biz

■ Mar Val Products Corp. ADDRESS: 2631 Wright Ave - Dows, IA PHONE: 515-852-4720 CONTACT: Verl Pray, President MANUFACTURES: Doorlocks, welding & machining job shop

■ Monsanto Co. ADDRESS: PO Box 108 - Clarion, IA PHONE: 515-532-6631 CONTACT: Dennis Murphy, GM MANUFACTURES: Soybean processing WEBSITE: www.monsanto.com

■ North Iowa Wood Products, Inc. ADDRESS: PO Box 86 - Belmond, IA PHONE: 641-444-4433 CONTACT: Larry Bailey MANUFACTURES: Blank cabinet door inserts, resurfaced lumber

■ Patington, Inc. ADDRESS: 2154 Hwys. 69 & 3 - Clarion, IA PHONE: 515-532-3817 CONTACT: Patty Stockman-Sann MANUFACTURES: Trailer accessories WEBSITE: www.trailer-hitch.com EMAIL: sales@trailer-hitch.com

■ Prep Illustrated, Inc. ADDRESS: PO Box 191 - Eagle Grove, IA PHONE: 515-448-4456 CONTACT: John Kuiper MANUFACTURES: Monthly sports magazine publishing

■ R & M Supplies & Mfg. ADDRESS: PO Box 362 - Clarion, IA PHONE: 515-532-3867 CONTACT: Rich Mussman, Owner MANUFACTURES: Snow pushers, livestock scrapers & grain & lawn rakes WEBSITE: www.cleaningsolutions4u.com EMAIL: randmsupplies@hotmail.com

InBusiness Sunday, December 6, 2009 • Made in the Region

ADDRESS: Highway 69 North - Belmond, IA PHONE: 641-444-3955 CONTACT: Joni Worden, Vice President MANUFACTURES: Corporate headquarters, commercial printing PURPOSE: Meeting our customers' needs through diversified printing, mailing, and fullfillment services. WEBSITE: www.printingservicesinc.net EMAIL: jworden@printingservicesinc.net

■ Lake Shore Tram, Inc.

■ Sport Cages, Inc. ADDRESS: PO Box 173 - Belmond, IA PHONE: 641-444-7187 CONTACT: Jeff Anderson, President MANUFACTURES: Golf driving cages & baseball batting cages OUR MISSION: To provide the safest battling & golf cages in the marketplace WEBSITE: www.sportcages.com EMAIL: info@sportcages.com

■ Sportsgraphics, Inc. ADDRESS: 1791 Page Ave - Clarion, IA PHONE: 515-532-2857 CONTACT: Pat Conlon, President MANUFACTURES: Gymnasium wall padding WEBSITE: www.sportsgraphicsinc.com

■ Stronghold Mfg. LLC

Made in the Region • InBusiness Sunday, December 6, 2009

ADDRESS: PO Box 364 - Clarion, IA PHONE: 515-602-6203 CONTACT: Tom Hinschberger & Gerry Diers MANUFACTURES: Cattle chutes, corral panels & livestock equipment PURPOSE: We provide the highest quality cattle handling equipment at an affordable price. WEBSITE: www.strongholdmfg.com EMAIL: sales@strongholdmfg.com

■ Syngenta Seeds, Inc. ADDRESS: PO Box 156 - Belmond, IA PHONE: 641-444-4414 CONTACT: Jerri Grundmire MANUFACTURES: Seed processing WEBSITE: www.syngenta.com

■ Team Effort, Inc. ADDRESS: PO Box 243 - Clarion, IA PHONE: 515-532-2040 CONTACT: Bruce Bradshaw, President MANUFACTURES: Golf accessories, screen printing, embroidery WEBSITE: www.teameffort.com EMAIL: office@teameffort.com

■ Tilley's Leathers ADDRESS: 111 NW 8th Street - Eagle Grove, IA PHONE: 515-448-5295 CONTACT: Rod Tilley, Owner MANUFACTURES: Leather wallets, belts & purses

■ Yohn Co. ADDRESS: PO Box 284 - Belmond, IA PHONE: 641-444-4148 CONTACT: Marlin Kuhlers MANUFACTURES: Ready-mixed concrete

north iowa is full of all types. and so are we. The Globe Gazette, in partnership with Yahoo! HotJobs makes finding a job easier no matter what you do. We have all kinds of up-to-date listings so you can find the right one. VISIT GLOBEGAZETTE.COM TODAY.

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IN BUSINESS • 29

H1N1/From Page 12 Prevention pandemic planners also have seen no big disruptions. But a large Harvard School of Public Health study found two-thirds of businesses could not maintain normal operations if half their workers were out for just two weeks. And the CDC estimates every person who comes to work with the H1N1 flu will infect 10 percent of co-workers. So companies are heeding advice from health and business groups on how to avoid a catastrophe. Many have provided seasonal flu vaccines free to employees or even employees’ families and stepped up cleaning schedules. Data storage company EMC Corp. now has doorknobs and handrails in every office scrubbed daily. Ford Motor Co. disinfects the work areas of anyone who’s had the virus. Just about every company has done staff presentations on swine flu or set up an information site on its intranet. Health insurer Aetna Inc. posted a video internally and

on YouTube in which cute little kids explain how not to get the flu: http://tinyurl. com/yjzsjzl. Besides promoting healthy behavior and arranging to temporarily get by without some workers, many employers are making backup plans for distributing their products and asking key suppliers what they’ve done to ensure they can keep delivering during a pandemic. “That is really one of the major concerns,” particularly for manufacturers that keep tiny inventories of raw materials on hand, said MacMicking. If the pandemic worsens, companies will step up efforts. Credit card lender Discover Financial Services and other companies with multiple locations plan to shift workloads around if one location is swamped by sickness. Cable TV operator Comcast Corp. has backup cable technicians set to take over appointments of sick ones. Utility companies, retailers, restaurants, construction firms and many other busi-

American Electric Power, one of the largest U.S. power Common strategies to limit H1N1’s spread generators, plans to sequester Some common strategies • Cross-training employees to its most critical employees for a employers are using or planning cover critical functions. while if needed — housing, to limit spread of the H1N1 flu • Planning to shift work from feeding and otherwise caring among their work force and keep hard-hit locations to other facilities. for them. The company has run operations going normally: • Stocking up on protective drills to ensure it can keep the • Posting information about the face masks. lights on if one-third or more of swine flu, including tips on hygiene • Stepping up office facility the work force is out sick, and and overall healthy behavior cleaning, particularly in “highstocked a 90-day supply of aimed at preventing infection, at touch” areas. surgical masks, disinfectants the work site or on the company • Telling workers to stay home if and respirators for 20,000 intranet. they are ill, generally until a day employees and 5,000 contrac• Giving hand sanitizers and after their fever breaks. tors, said Ted Kwiatkowski, disinfectant wipes to employees • Allowing telecommuting for manager of business recovery or placing them in major traffic staff members who must stay services. areas. home to care for relatives sick “We are not planning for • Limiting in-person meetings with swine flu. what it is today. We are planand instead opting for teleconfer• Drills to verify that computer ning for what it could eventuences. systems can handle a sharp ally be,” he said. • Encouraging social distancincrease in those working remotely. Telling people to stay home if — The Associated Press ing, such as not shaking hands. sick is fine for those guaranteed a paycheck, but a tough sell for workers in interpersonal skills, the 50 million U.S. workers who nesses likewise can’t simply held a class on how to clean have workers phone it in. have no paid sick leave. under rings and fingernails. Smaller firms, with few “I think what you’ll see The company also gave out resources and small talent there is people will want to free seasonal flu shots not just come to work even if they’re pools, also are in a tight spot. to the company’s 85 employees sick,” said Ann Beauchesne, They can’t do much crossbut to their family members as head of emergency preparedtraining, so they are mainly well, and isn’t counting days promoting health. ness at the U.S. Chamber of VitalSmarts, a Provo, Utah, spent home with the flu Commerce, which represents toward annual limits. consulting firm that trains small businesses.

30 • IN BUSINESS

DECEMBER 2009 • GLOBE GAZETTE

The Holidays!

’TIS THE SEASON TO PARTY Times might be tight but firms still planning gatherings S. Harrison Ave. The entrée has been donated, as have the services s the holidays approach, of a disc jockey. customers, staff and compa“We think it’s really important nies turn to thoughts of and we’re proud of staff and peoscheduling time to celebrate. ple stepping up to a lot of work,” While some businesses haven’t said Director Sherry Becker. made a decision yet, others are Staff and clients have tried to looking forward to celebrations. become more efficient and more And while some businesses are creative, said Becker. She emphascaling back on such expenses sized that they want to let people because of the economy, some they serve and the people who venues are looking toward a full work for NIVC Services know they holiday season. are appreciated. So while they have Rather than booking for a holicut back on expenditures, the spirday party, NIVC Services will host it of the holidays will be in place. a party at the Work Center at 1225 Papa’s American Café doesn’t By JOY DRENNEN For In BUSINESS

host company holiday parties but does encourage festivities for small groups, said manager Doug Brown. Company parties are served by Prime N’ Wine, said Brown. The two restaurants are owned by the same corporation. The trend now is that the same number of guests are being served in company parties but lessexpensive menu items are selected, Brown said. The Music Man Square remains a popular venue for holiday parties, said David Vikturek, CEO of the Mason City Foundation. Quite

JOY DRENNEN/For In Business

Continued on next page Paul Unser, manager of Carlos O’Kelly’s, Mason City.

GLOBE GAZETTE • DECEMBER 2009

DECEMBER 2009 • 31

Q & A: Scott Moorman

Dream Fulfilled By JOHN SKIPPER

“From the time I was in high school, I knew what I wanted to do. I worked in a men’s clothing store and I knew somehow, some way that’s the business I wanted to be in.” — Scott Moorman

In Business

ASON CITY — Scott Moorman came to Mason City 26 years ago hoping to fulfill a dream he had since his high school days in Boone — owning his own men’s clothing store. Today, he owns two stores, one in Mason City and one in Ames, and both are prospering. Moorman has been active in many civic activities over the years and has been a proponent of downtown redevelopment. In 2008, he and his wife, Susan, moved their store from one side of the pedestrian plaza at the north end of Southbridge mall to the other side. The original site is also the site of the old City National Bank Building,

JEFF HEINZ/ In Business

next to the Park Inn Hotel retail world. — both designed by Q. Where are your famed architect Frank roots? Lloyd Wright and both being renovated. The Moorman move facilitated the historic preservation efforts. In Business caught up with Moorman during the busy holiday season and gave him a chance to reflect on his successful journey into the

A. I was born and raised in Boone, Iowa, and graduated from high Continued on next page

Grain Millers Facility Expansion St. Ansgar

PARTIES/From Page 26 a few parties are booked for the holidays, including several weddings and receptions, Vikturek said. Those planning parties, reunions and receptions have their choice of Reunion Hall, the Exploratorium or the Streetscape. Parties can be held in one or a combination of the three. The Streetscape is particularly popular, said Vikturek. For the holidays, Carlos O’Kelly’s Mexican Cafe doesn’t book parties but does have rooms that can accommodate eight guests to 50, said Manager Paul Unser. Notice of a day or two is all that’s needed to seat a group. Weekends are a little harder to arrange, he said. Once the holiday rush is over, staff will celebrate at a Christmas party after the first of the year.

CLEAR LAKE, IA • A N K E N Y,IA

General Contractors Design-build Construction Management

641-357-2283 w w w.deansnyderconst.com

32 • IN BUSINESS

When duty calls your worker, ESGR is there to lend a hand

DECEMBER 2009 • GLOBE GAZETTE

Q & A/From Page 31 school there in 1978. Q. How long have you been in Mason City? A. I came to Mason City in 1983.

A. I opened Moorman Clothiers on April 1, 1993 — April Fool’s Day.

Q. You’ve been in the clothing business for a long time. Who are the Stanton heads local more finicky shoppers, Q. When you were in Employer Support of the high school, what did you men or women? A. Women, definitely. envision yourself doing Guard and Reserve Men come in, get what as a career? By DICK JOHNSON A. From the time I was they want and are done In Business and gone (for the most in high school, I knew ASON CITY — In 1988, part). what I wanted to do. Winnebago Industries Men come in with a I worked in a men’s needed information on the purpose. Women come in clothing store and I knew rules of deployment and reto shop. somehow, some way employment for more than 40 that’s the business I employees in the National Guard Q. What’s the best wanted to be in. and Reserve. business advice anyone Mark Stanton was all over it. ever gave you? Q. What did you do As Winnebago’s employee relaA. Someone told me if when you first came to tions director, he you don’t need a partner, Mason City? inquired about the don’t have one — and I’ve A. I worked at Gildner’s never had one. Uniformed Services (men’s clothing store), Employment and always with an eye on Q. What piece of Reemployment owning my own place. advice would you give to Rights Act (USERI left Gildner’s in 1988 someone who is thinking RA). and went into the food about starting their own Winnebago Stanton wholesale business for a business today? immediately put while. A. The first thing I USERRA into practice. But even then, I sold would tell someone is to Stanton was then asked to eduties and dress shirts out go for it. The next thing I cate employers as a representative DICK JOHNSON/The Globe Gazette of the trunk of my car, would say is, when you’re of the Employer Support of the Mason City Police Officer Ed Walthall (right) talks with Jeremy White, At-Risk trying to save enough thinking about having Guard and Reserve coordinator for Mason City’s middle schools, at John Adams Middle School. money to have my own your own business, paint (www.esgr.mil). Walthall nominated the Police Department for the Above and Beyond award for place some day. yourself the worst possi“I joined and have been spreadits efforts in going above and beyond the requirements of the Uniformed Serble picture of what could ing the information every since,” vices Employment and Re-employment Rights Act when a police officer was Q. W h e n d i d i t f i n a l l y happen — because it will he said. deployed overseas. The city also received the State Chairman’s Award for its sup- happen? never be that bad. Stanton, now owner of Boxes port of employees serving in the National Guard and Reserve. Unlimited in Mason City, is ESGR’s “We need to make sure that all Area 12 chairman. He oversees 10 the employers are knowledgeable people on a team working in 10 • Q&A on the of the law when soldiers are North Iowa counties. deployment, return deployed and re-employed,” StanUpon being nominated by a solton said, “so our SOS program is of National Guard, dier, employers are asked to sign a the way that we’re going into the Reservists to your Statement Of Support (SOS) for doors of the employers and saying, the Guard and Reserve. The firm. employers receive a 5-star certifi- ‘Would you be supportive?’ and • More on the this kind of thing. cate to display as a statement of “We need to show appreciation Employer Support their support. to those employers through our of the Guard and All Casey’s General Stores have awards program for what they have an SOS, Stanton said. Reserve He said an expected large Guard done,” he said, “because it’s not • See Page 33 and Reserve deployment next year over. Their commitment is going to be tapped again.” will make his job even more vital.

GLOBE GAZETTE • DECEMBER 2009

IN BUSINESS • 33

Advice: HR

Respecting the human resources function By JIM CRONIN For In Business uring recent years in which General Electric consistently ranked as one of the country’s most productive and profitable companies, then-CEO Jack Welch was widely quoted to the effect that he typically spent as many if not more of his working hours meeting with his human resources vice president than

with his finance vice president. The message from the top was that in many instances the people were more important than the numbers. Having spent decades working closely with human resources representatives in both the public and private sectors in many states, I can state that type of close relationship by top management with human resources is,

unfortunately, too often the exception rather than the rule. At the same time, as a result of having an extended career working on employee relations issues with many human resources managers, I am able to offer — based on my personal experiences — the following observations and recommendations: 1. Make the human

resources manager a full mem ber of your management team. Too often human resources managers are relegated to subordinate positions on the management team because the human resources function is viewed by other managers as playing a detached, supportive role rather than being involved in daily productivity and profit-related activities. Such a view is short-sighted.

Employees in all areas have reasons to communicate with human resources representatives regarding many significant issues, like resolving disagreements with their supervisors, questions about the applicability and enforcement of certain employee handbook provisions, the present or prospective availability of certain insurance coverage and Continued on next page

Q&A on deployment, re-employment of Guardsmen, Reservists Q&A with Becky Coady, deputy director of the Iowa Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve Committee, regarding deployment and re-employment of National Guard and reservists in the workplace: Q: Who replaces deployed workers, if anyone? A: A company has the right to hire someone to fill in for the military employee who is called to duty. We suggest that employers ensure the “fill-in” understands that when the military employee returns he could be laid off or fill another position within the company. Note: Iowa recently passed legislation to assist with the process when someone is laid off after a military member returns to the employer. Q: What happens when the reservists return from deployment? A: If the deployment is 181 days or longer, the reservist has up to 90 days to return to his or her employer. The 90 days begins when their Title 10 orders end. This can be found on the reservist’s DD214 (Certificate of Release of Discharge from Active Duty). The reservist may choose to return before the 90-day period ends. Most of them do. It’s up to them when they would like to return to work.

About ESGR Some 4,500 volunteers — business executives, senior government representatives, educators and military personnel — serve on local Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve field committees. With help and resources from headquarters in Arlington, Va., the field com-

Q: What are potential problems and how can they be headed off? Has anything happened over the past couple years, good or bad, that typifies the situation of a returning guardsman-reservist? A: One potential problem in today’s economic times is their jobs simply may no longer be there. The law states that an employer needs to bring them back to the position they would have been in had they not been gone; this would include promotions as well as downsizing or layoffs. For the most part, Iowa employers do a great job of bringing them back to the work with minimal issues. We’ve dealt with problems from simple vacation time issues to individuals who missed a promotion/job opportunity and were not given the option to apply for them when they returned. We have taken a more proactive role with employers throughout the state and offer opportunities for them to attend free informational sessions. At these we review our role as an organization as well as the USERRA law. The next opportunity is in Eagle Grove on Jan. 26. Feel free to come if you are able. — See iowaesgr.org for more information.

mittees conduct employer support programs, including informational briefings, mediation and recognition of employers whose policies support or encourage participation in the National Guard and Reserve. By explaining the missions of the National Guard and Reserve and increasing public awareness of the role of the

employer, ESGR works to develop a dialogue among employers, the ESGR committees, and local National Guard and Reserve unit commanders and service members. ESGR is lead advocate within the Department of Defense for Reserve Component employers. — www.esgr.org

Who’s doing what in the business world? Check Names & News In Business at globegazette.com.

34 • IN BUSINESS

DECEMBER 2009 • GLOBE GAZETTE

Advice: Tech

Stay connected with mobile broadband By MICHAEL MUNSHOWER In Business obile broadband is wireless Internet access that is delivered through cellular phone networks. It is a service that has been growing in popularity in recent years. Mobile broadband is available wherever there is a cell phone signal and requires a subscription or service agreement with a wireless provider and a special modem device to connect to the network. These devices can take several forms depending Michael Mun- on your needs. shower is a If you want to use system techmobile broadband nician for the but not always on the Globe same computer, there Gazette. is a USB stick modem Reach him at available. The advanmichael.mun- tage here is that virshower@ tually all computers globegazette. have a USB port. com. Another modem option would be a card of either PCMCIA or ExpressCard interface. This would be a good choice if you’re going to limit its use to a laptop. No netbooks have PCMCIA and only a few have ExpressCard. For desktop systems, it’s very rare to have PCMCIA or ExpressCard without a special aftermarket adapter. An additional consideration would be to buy a netbook that has mobile broadband capabilities built-in. Purchase this through your wireless provider along with a service agreement. Netbooks are becoming a popular alternative to their bigger counterparts — laptops — because of light weight, portability and extended bat-

Continued on Page 36

CRONIN/From Page 33 other items that contribute to or detract from employee morale and overall productivity and profitability. The outcome is that as a result of daily contacts and inquiries by employees in various departments, the human resources manager and representatives necessarily know more about an employer’s “people” issues than any other department and such issues frequently have major impacts on employee productivity. 2. Let the human resources manager manage. By being given the authority to address many of these issues directly on their own without having to pass the information through several layers of management before a decision can be made, human resources managers will be recognized as individuals who are viewed by other managers and employees as being able to make significant daily decisions on their own. An important first step is to recruit and fairly compensate the caliber of human resources manager your company or agency operations need. If some of your human resources managers do not have the necessary qualifications to make independent significant decisions on their own, then it is the responsibility of the employer’s top decision-makers to commit the personal and financial support to get their human resources managers and staff the additional continuing education they need to qualify them to make the tough decisions. 3. When communicating bad news in the workplace, do not place human resources managers or other staff members on the altar of sacrifice. These days for employers in many different fields there is no escape from the uncomfortable necessity of announcing departmental reductions in force or even shutdowns of plants. Putting aside press reports about the insensitive clods who have utilized e-mail to notify employees regarding job eliminations, it is important that the operations managers who know most about the “whys” of the job reductions or plant

About the author: Jim Cronin has been an employee relations (management) counsel with the Minneapolis-St. Paul law firm of Felhabor, Larson, Fenlon & Vogt for more than 30 years. The content of his column is presented as general information, not as legal advice. Specific situations must be assessed individually by counsel of your choice. Cronin is the author of “No Fluff, No Puff: Just Management/Communication Principles That Work.” Readers may preview chapters of this resource manual at www.nofluffnopuff.com. It is also available for purchase at www.Barnes&Noble.com. Cronin would like to respond to readers’ needs by addressing workplace-related questions of general interest in future issues. Send your questions or comments to him at jjcanddrb@earthlink.com.

And it needs to be made clear to the employees in attendance that the particular operations manager involved and the human resources manager will stay “connected” so that future questions can be answered promptly. It is important to maintain communications credibility by delivering accurate responses to employee questions the first time. When employer representatives give immediate on-the-spot answers without checking the facts thoroughly, they may get immediate ego satisfaction but they are subsequently embarrassed by having to acknowledge they spoke too soon, apologize for and retract the original answer and supply the correct answer.

4. The virtue of explaining business developments on an ongoing basis. None of us like negative surprises. This is particularly true regarding our closures be the chief spokesperson at jobs. Such morale-damaging jolts can the relevant “bad news” meeting. be avoided when employers commit to It is also important to have the pre- having monthly meetings or issue written monthly summaries regarding siding operations manager spell out the current state of the employer’s the relevant details and timetables. business. Too often, employers assign the It is an unfortunate fact of business human relations managers to chair the meeting and make the announce- life that many of the same employers ments — with predicable results: The that love to brag about their successes are frequently unwilling to let their human relations manager is bomemployees know when the employer barded with questions from angry audience members — questions he or is anticipating or is already facing an economic downturn. she cannot, understandably, answer Sometimes it seems some employon the spot because they have simply ers take it as a “personal” failing if not been involved in the daily operatheir company or agency is caught in tions of the affected department or economic headwinds even though the plant. financial troubles are caused by cirToo often, the human resources manager is placed on the altar of sac- cumstances beyond their control (e.g., rifice in such “kill the messenger” when a long-time poorly managed meetings only to have other top man- customer finally goes out of business). agers subsequently express wonderFailure to keep employees current ment that the human resource manon the bad as well as the good news agers are held in low regard. can cause heightened concern and To be sure, a human resources rep- anger when employees find out the resentative needs to be present at financial troubles were a surprise only such meetings in a supplemental and to them — not to management. supportive role to explain ancillary Employers of all sizes need to details like potential severance payunderstand that employees can accept ments for those who qualify by length bad news much more easily when they of service and the shutdown timetahave been kept current about customer and industry events and trends. bles for every affected department.

36 • IN BUSINESS

DECEMBER 2009 • GLOBE GAZETTE

Advice: Finance

Dealing with flextime, incentives By EMILY MASTERS Manager in the Human Capital practice for RSM McGladrey, Minneapolis nder the Fair Labor Standards Act, flextime and incentives can pose challenges for today’s employers The Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), which outlines such wage and hour laws as overtime and exemption status, was enacted in 1938 and has only been modified slightly since. Many would argue that this law is archaic and difficult to apply to 2009’s work force. However, this does not prohibit the Wage and Hour Division of the Department of Labor (DOL) from holding organizations

accountable for compliance. In fact, this agency collected more than $140 million in back wages for employees in 2008 alone. While all difficulties related to the FLSA cannot be outlined within this article based on volume, the two points Masters below are common and pertinent for today’s employers. FLEXTIME OR TELECOMMUTING FOR NONEXEMPT WORKERS Employers are trying to attract, motivate and retain key talent

Tech/From Page 34 tery life. MiFi is a portable hotspot device that turns your mobile broadband into a portable Wi-Fi network. This way, a limited number of users within a fixed distance can connect through WiFi-capable devices — laptop, smart phone, iPod Touch and so on. The MiFi supports encryption for privacy. Data plans and prices vary with provider, but typical plans are twotiered: one for light, infrequent use and the other for heavier use. Each of these plans will indicate a maximum amount of data transfer. Exceeding this maximum will result in overage charges. Make sure to read the fine print of your plan.

Checking the specifications of three major wireless providers, a typical plan allows 5GB of data transfer for about $60 a month. Download speeds run 600 Kbps to 1.4 Mbps and upload speeds run 500 to 800 Kbps. Who would benefit from being a mobile broadband user? Frequent travelers and power users, business people and IT professionals. Mobile broadband can also be used as a backup when your primary Internet connection is down. The main disadvantages of mobile broadband are cost and connection speeds less than that of fixed-line broadband. For heavy downloaders, the 5GB data transfer limit might not be adequate.

while workers are trying to meet demands for work-life balance. Flexible work arrangements are becoming increasingly popular. While these flextime programs provide benefits to employers and employees, they also can create a unique set of liabilities for those employees who are nonexempt. Under FLSA regulations, nonexempt employees must be compensated for all time worked “on the job” and are eligible for overtime for time worked over 40 hours in a week. In addition to flexible schedules, this rule is often difficult to apply for nonexempt employees that have remote work access. All time Continued on next page

GLOBE GAZETTE • DECEMBER 2009

IN BUSINESS • 37

Commentary

Chamber embraces national effort to create 20 million jobs By ROBIN ANDERSON, CCE Executive Director, Mason City Area Chamber of Commerce he U.S. Chamber of Commerce has embarked on a free enterprise campaign to revive the nation’s economy by creating 20 million jobs by 2020. Nationwide, 7 million jobs have been lost to the current recession and population growth will require 13 million new jobs over the next decade to keep Americans working. In Iowa, the largest job growth gain in recent years has been in government jobs. According to the Center for Business and Economic Research at the University of Kentucky, Iowa has seen an overall decrease in employment of more than 35,000 jobs — most of them in the private sector. We often talk in terms of jobs, jobs, jobs — but we should also talk about the job mix. Growth in public sector employment increases government spending, deficits and debt. While these efforts are helpful in the short term, only free enterprise will create the innovation, opportunities and jobs we need to

grow our economy. Several of our neighboring states are predicting big increases in employable population over the next decade, but Iowa is expected to have a decrease of 41,356 in new entrants to the work force. This dismal forecast means fewer working Anderson families to share the increasing tax burden. It will take a unified effort to reverse this trend. In North Iowa, individuals are struggling to maintain and build their businesses, not only for themselves and their employees but also for Iowans who can’t find jobs today and our young people who will need jobs tomorrow. We applaud the efforts of the U.S. Chamber to aggressively promote the spirit of free enterprise. The Mason City Area Chamber of Commerce has pledged its support to this campaign. We face major policy challenges in areas such as health care, energy and the environment. But no challenge is

greater — or more important — than reviving the economy. We need a new paradigm to analyze policy proposals: • Will this help jobs or hurt them? • Will this proposal help economic growth or hurt it? As we enter the state legislative session in January, the Chamber will use this sharpened focus to review and evaluate proposed legislation. We’ll ask our elected officials to join us in making private sector job creation the top priority. Government efforts to stimulate the economy can provide a short-term bandage but economic renewal will begin where it always does — with entrepreneurs and small business. These everyday heroes are unparalleled in their ability to create jobs, spur local development and bring new products and services to the market. We support a system that fosters individual initiative, hard work, freedom of choice and the free exchange of trade, capital and ideas that built this country and can lead us back to prosperity. This means reasonable levels of taxation and regulation.

The entrepreneurial spirit has been at the heart of our economic success and it must continue to be allowed to thrive. North Iowans, embrace the tenets of free enterprise: • Opportunity — you have a chance to rise as high as your talent and hard work can take you. • Freedom of choice — no one picks your profession or limits what you can do or become. • Innovation — a system that encourages, fosters, embraces and rewards solutions. • A progressive society — a strong economy powered by free enterprise generates revenues to educate our children, care for the sick and elderly, provide compassionate support for the less fortunate and clean our environment. • A better world — our citizens have an unmatched capacity to address global problems and improve the world. — The Mason City Area Chamber of Commerce is the largest business organization in North Iowa. Its 653 member businesses employ 16,572 people locally.

FINANCE/From Page 36 worked must be tracked, including such tasks as checking e-mail at night, responding to voicemails in the car or working via Blackberry on the weekends. WorldatWork (a global association for compensation and benefit professionals) recently published a report, Flexible Work Arrangements for Nonexempt Employees, which found that tracking employees’ time is one of the biggest obstacles when it comes to flexible work arrangements. The report provided the following suggestions for

employers: • Create formal policies and procedures for employees that are using flextime or telecommuting arrangements. • Accurately track work hours and overtime. • Train supervisors on how to manage employees on a flexible work arrangement, especially on tracking time and overtime laws. • Train nonexempt employees on your policies and time tracking procedures relating to their particular flexible work arrangement. • Enforce lunch and work

breaks, even in telecommuting arrangements.

worked 41 hours in one week at $10 per hour plus receives a $50 productivity incentive. BONUSES/INCENTIVES The employee’s regular rate is Watson Wyatt recently not $10 but actually $11.22 reported that nearly 65 percent ($410 of regular pay plus $50 of of organizations offer at least incentive divided by 41 hours one variable pay plan to worked). The company would nonexempt employees. have to pay the one hour of What many employers don’t overtime at 1.5 times $11.22 realize is that for non-discre($16.83). Total employee pay tionary incentives (which com- for the week would then be 40 monly have some type of forhours at $10 per hour ($400) mula) the amount paid must be and one hour at $16.83 for a factored into the employee’s total of $416.83. regular rate of pay for purposes If incentives are paid less freof calculating overtime. quently (such as quarterly or For example, an employee annually), the organization will

have to go back to calculate additional overtime for the period in which the incentive is rewarded. If it seems complicated, it is, and leads to many employers being out of compliance. As the work force and technology change to meet the demands of today, there will be continued and new challenges related to the FLSA. The best way to avoid penalties and lawsuits is to ensure current pay practices are accurate and compliant. — For more information, contact Emily Masters at emily.masters@rsmi.com.

38 • IN BUSINESS

DECEMBER 2009 • GLOBE GAZETTE

HR: The Work Force

SBA financing expands during slowdown “As access to credit and capital tightened, many businesses faced increased challenges in meeting their financial obligations,” Folsom said. SBA officials are asking lenders to By JAN HORGEN work with business borrowers on an For In Business individual basis and take advantage of owa Small Business Administration American Recovery Capital loans. financing has been expanding durARC loans, at a maximum of ing the economic slowdown of the $35,000, are interest-free to the borpast 12 months. rower and carry no SBA lending fee When President Obama signed the charges, according to Dave Lentell, American Recovery and Reinvestment Iowa SBA public information officer. Act into law on Feb. 17, 2009, the U.S. The advantage to the bank or lender Small Business Administration in making an ARC loan is the 100 perreceived $730 million. cent guaranty from SBA. That money was targeted to assist in “Payments are not made to the busiunlocking lending and credit to small ness but directly to the creditor,” businesses, creating more free flow of Lentell said. “Loan proceeds are procapital, according to SBA vided over a six-month period and repayment of ARC loan principal is officials. It appears to be work- deferred from 12 months after the last disbursement. Repayment can extend ing in Iowa. During the recent fis- up to five years.” So the borrower gets 18 months cal year — Oct. 1, 2008, to Sept. 30, 2009 — Iowa before any repayment is required and SBA made 852 loans for a has five years to repay the loan, Folsom essentially giving the business six and total of $210.7 million, according to Joe Folsom, district direc- a half years of up to $35,000 interest tor. This was an increase from the pre- free. “We hope it’s a way to get the cusvious fiscal year of 741 loans totaling tomers coming back through the door $188 million. These figures represent and the cash flow going again before the total SBA-guaranteed loans made they need to start repayment,” Lentell during those years. said. “Statewide, in September (2009) alone there were 149 loans for $40.8 ARC IS NOT a direct loan to the million and in October there were 125 business as payments are made loans for $28.3 million,” he said. directly to the creditor and not all “Those numbers in loans and dollars are virtually double what we normally businesses need or qualify for the entire $35,000. see.” “This program can provide muchneeded flexibility for small businesses IOWA IS ONE of only a handful of hit hard by the economic slowdown states in which the SBA loan dollar that are now unable to make payroll or amount increased during the recent purchase essential inventory,” Folsom fiscal year. Folsom points to lenders continuing to extend lines of credit to said. SBA is also informing lenders they existing or new small-business borhave the authority, on a case-by-case rowers as the source of this good basis, to extend temporary payment news.

Money targeted to unlock lending and credit to small businesses — and it’s working

relief for qualifying borrowers who are struggling to make payments, according to Folsom. In an Oct. 20 statement, U.S. SBA Acting Administrator Sandy K. Baruah encouraged lenders to extend threemonth payment deferments on SBAguaranteed loans to qualified borrowers who need relief. “We recognize that small-business owners are faced with challenging decisions right now,” Baruah stated. “By providing three-month deferments to qualifying borrowers who are struggling, our lending partners can help small-business owners free up the capital they need to maintain their businesses.” In Iowa, the ARC program has been one of the larger users of the zero percent interest to borrower, with 100 percent guaranty for the lender, during 2009, according to Folsom. SBA subsidizes the interest to the lender at 2 percent over prime.

loans, according to Folsom, showing an increase from the previous year of 172 percent. “Those are fairly good numbers compared to before the Recovery Act was signed,” Folsom said. SBA does not release information identifying specific companies receiving the funding in order to avoid public concern that could cause further problems for these businesses. North Iowa has lenders actively using Recovery Act programs, Folsom added. This federal funding is generally targeted toward any business that has been struggling to make some of their debt repayments because of the downturn in the economy, Lentell said. “The ARC loan is to help them get caught up and give some opportunity to weather the situation over that sixmonth period.”

IN ADDITION to ARC loans, the AS OF NOV. 16, Iowa was fourthSBA also increased lender guaranty highest in the nation in number of ARC Continued on next page

GLOBE GAZETTE • WINTER 2009

IN BUSINESS • 39

Commentary

Corridor EDC assisting 8 existing businesses By GREGG GILLMAN

beginning of the process and some are far enough along that we are assisting ere at the North Iowa with applications Corridor Economic for funding from Development Corp., the Iowa Departwe’re seeing increased activity ment of Economic related to our No. 1 goal: FaciliDevelopment. tating retention and expansion Some will creof existing business and indusate five new jobs try operations, which results in and some will creGillman new private investment and ate dozens, but quality job retention and crejust as important right now is ation. that they all are going to retain The corridor agency is worktheir businesses and current ing with eight existing busiemployees in our area and most nesses in Cerro Gordo County on are going to grow here. expansion projects of varying In addition to these eight levels. companies, there are at least Some projects are at the another dozen or so that have Executive Director, North Iowa Corridor Economic Development Corp.

shared with us that they are growing slowly but steadily but don’t require our assistance right now. Of course, some of this growth is to replace jobs that were lost in the past two years, but much of it is new net job growth. Many times companies will grow jobs steadily and never make the news. To put this into perspective, if these 12 companies each hired five people in 2010, the 60 jobs created would be seen as a very nice impact on the local economy. We attempt to stay close to business and industry leaders so that when they do need assis-

tance they feel we are an extension of their company. Among requests we get from local businesses include assisting them with: • City or county issue(s) they may be having. • Funding options for machinery/equipment purchases or new building expansion. • Identifying and obtaining economic incentives from the local and state levels. • Job training/retraining. • Making connections to our many partner organizations in the area. • Locating available existing buildings and/or site locations. • Creating proposals to sup-

port a local expansion here instead of another area of the country. And many times, lending a hand with packaging all of the above is often the case. So if you represent a Cerro Gordo County business or industry and you have an issue that relates to the retention and/or expansion of your business, please contact us at the North Iowa Corridor EDC at 641-423-0315. — For more on the North Iowa Corridor EDC, visit www.northiowacorridor.com. — E-mail Gregg Gillman at ggillman@northiowacorridor. com.

SBA/From Page 38 “So dollars were not as high but there were more loans made,” Lentell said. “Typically we focus on the number of loan of approvals because dollar amount needs can vary greatly from business to business and year to year.” Statistics for SBA loans in some other North Iowa counties are: • FLOYD: 2008, two loans for $955,500; 2009 no loans. • FRANKLIN: 2008, two loans for $184,500; 2009, two loans for $1.2 million. • MITCHELL: 2008, one LOOKING AT NORTH loan for $5,000; none in 2009. • HANCOCK: 2008, one IOWA, Cerro Gordo County in fiscal 2008 had 25 SBA loans loan for $70,000; 2009, four totaling $6.8 million. In fiscal loans for $1.1 million. • WINNEBAGO: 2008, one 2009, the number of SBA loans in Cerro Gordo SBA loan for 84,000; 2009, five increased to 33 while the dollar loans for $233,000. • WORTH: 2008, two loans amount was down somewhat to $4.9 million. for $240,000; 2009, six loans

percentage on regular loan programs to 90 percent and dropped fees charged to borrowers. “By making those changes we think that helped open a lot of credit to small business in Iowa,” Folsom said. “We did that as means of trying to encourage banks to keep lines of credit flowing.” While ARC is only for qualifying small-business debt repayment, other SBA loans maybe used for most any business purpose.

with 500 to 1,500 employees and/or $6 million or less in annual sales as a small busiInformation on Iowa SBA and ness, Lentell said. available programs can be Wholesaling businesses found online at: www.sba. with 100 employees or fewer, gov/localresources/district/ia/ service companies with up to desmo $4.5 million in annual sales, retail operations with up to $7 for $447,100 million in annual sales, general “As these numbers show, construction with up to $7 some of the more rural counmillion in annual sales and ties received loans last year but agriculture with $750,000 or did not this year, which is very less in annual sales are considnormal for rural counties,” ered small businesses under Lentell said. federal guidelines. “Overall, The stimulus pro“Even applying those stangram administered through dards, the vast majority of SBA has helped keep and create businesses in the state of Iowa jobs during the economic are sole proprietorships and downturn,” Lentell said. “More are quite small. Most have less than 98 percent of businesses than 100 employees,” Lentell in Iowa are small, according to said. “So these new programs, federal standards.” guidelines and the funding are Federal standards consider very important in helping manufacturing companies Iowa’s small businesses.”

For more on SBA:

About the SBA: The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) was created in 1953 as an independent agency of the federal government to aid, counsel, assist and protect the interests of small business concerns, to preserve free competitive enterprise and to maintain and strengthen the overall economy. It recognizes that small business is critical to our economic recovery and strength, to building America’s future and to helping the United States compete in today’s global marketplace. Although SBA has grown and evolved in the years since it was established in 1953, the bottom line mission remains the same. The SBA helps Americans start, build and grow businesses, delivering its services through an extensive network of field offices and partnerships with public and private organizations. — From www.sba.gov