Best of the Best 2012 by Waterloo-Cedar Falls Courier

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BEST OF THE BEST 2012

THE COURIER

“THANK YOU!”

www.wcfcourier.com

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 18, 2012

Visit Our All New, Larger Showroom Today!

PLACE!

• Furniture • Floor Covering • Home Decor We Thank You for voting us First Place in “Best of the Best” year after year. Use this “$100 Simpson Bonus Dollars” on any new purchase of $799*

*Use this “Simpson Cash” this weekend on any new purchase. Expires: 10-22-2012

Since 1946 •Floor Covering • Furniture • Home Decor Check us out on facebook!

Furniture-Design Floor Covering

319-266-3535

St Store Hours Mo Mon & Thurs 10-8 Tu Tues & Wed 10-6 F Fri & Sat 10-5 Fr Sun 12-4

2300 Main Street, Cedar Falls

www.SimpsonFurniture.com

Toll Free 800-962-3535

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 18, 2012

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BEST OF THE BEST 2012

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Simpson Furniture First Place: Flooring, Furniture, Home Decor When the Cedar Valley thinks of furniture, home decor, design and floor covering, the first company that usually pops into their minds is the Simpson Furniture Companies. Simpson has been in the Cedar Valley for more than 66 years and was founded by the namesake of the company, R.L. Simpson, in 1946. You could add up all of the other furniture companies in the area and still fall short of the total number of times that Simpson has been honored as first place in the Best of the Best voting for furniture, home decor/accessories and floor covering. Since The Courier has started the honor of naming the Best of the Best in many categories, Simpson Furniture and been a Best of the Best honoree every year. Since starting in 1984, President and CEO Dale Emmert has seen the company grow from an important player in the home furniture areas to the dominate player in eastern Iowa. “Our company has always had the motto that if you are not growing you are going backward,” Emmert said. The Simpson company has watched sales grow year after year to the point that the Simpson name is known statewide by the furniture and flooring industry. “Our company has had just four presidents throughout our 66 years, and all of the leaders of the company have managed with the driving desire to make our customers and clients happy and come back again and again,” Emmert added. Emmert also praises the staff at Simpson Furniture as the main reason for the success and growth of the firm. “We now employ just over 50 people between our two stores. Back in 1983, just after the fire, we employed 17,” he said. Employees like Emmert, Marla Channer and Rick Koch have been with the company ever since the fire. Former presidents Dave Sandvold, who worked at the company from 1948 until his death in 1996, and semi-retired David Olson were the driving force in rebuilding after the 1983 fire. Just this summer, Simpson moved from the downtown Cedar Falls location to a new, larger showroom at 2300 Main St., a building Olson purchased in 1998 to

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help plan for more company growth. The move helps streamline the company as they now have the warehouse and showroom under one roof. “When we bought this building, we had thoughts of moving the entire operation here at a later date, and being here now helps the entire company operate more smoothly and better serves our customers,” Olson said. Dale Emmert’s wife, Deb, has been working in the business since the mid1990s and is the buyer for accessories and home decor. “We really try to keep with the times when looking for those perfect accents to your homes,” Deb Emmert said. “Being honored as the Best of the Best helps fuel our ﬁre to keep doing what we’re doing … display affordable accent and decorative pieces that ﬁt the looks of the homes of today.” Emmert thanks Simpson employees Katie Patterson and Stacey Epley, as well as the sales staffs at both stores, for helping make the Simpson showrooms

stand out. “Our entire staff on the floor helps with setting the furniture and the accessories when needed, and we couldn’t do it without them,” Deb Emmert said. Two other great areas in the new location are the expanded flooring center and the new Simpson Design gallery. Vice President Terry Glasgow headed up the larger floor covering offerings and displays plus the addition of 100 area rugs on display. “We have almost anything our customers could ask for in flooring, and being selected as Best of the Best is a real honor,” Glasgow said. Veteran designer Kathy Flack, an ASIDregistered designer, adds her experience and talents to the Design Studio, and her department has won many regional and national awards. Flack joined the company in 2008, and the design area is a newer and growing segment of the business Simpson did not have before. “From furniture and flooring to light-

★ 2300 Main St., Cedar Falls ★ (319) 266-3535 ★ 2300 Jones Blvd., Coralville ★ (319) 545-5005 ★ www. SimpsonFurniture.com ★ 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday and Thursday; 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesday and Wednesday; 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday and Saturday; noon to 4 p.m. Sunday

ing and design advice, we do it all,” Flack added. This 66-year-old business is far from showing its age, and owners Deb and Dale Emmert, David Olson, Tom Cagley and Jeff Mick vow to keep moving forward, always trying to be the very best of the Best of the Best. Stop in soon to the all-new showroom at 2300 Main St. in Cedar Falls or their store in Coralville at 2300 Jones Blvd. and see why, year after year, Simpson is chosen the ﬁrst-place winner of the Best of the Best.

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BEST OF THE BEST 2012

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THURSDAY, OCTOBER 18, 2012

Congratulations

TO THIS YEAR’S HONOREES...

Adult Shoe Store Von Maur Runner’s Flat Scheels

Bakery Scratch Cupcakery ..........................................29 Hy-Vee Johnson’s Bakery ............................................12

Buy Video Games Game Stop Best Buy Family Video

Chinese Hong Kong East China Golden China

Antique Store Calico Hen House Antiques & Stuff Shoppe on the Corner

Bank Lincoln Savings Bank.......................................60 US Bank Veridian Credit Union .......................................13

Car Wash Waterfalls Jim Lind Miracle Car Wash

Chips & Salsa Carlos O’Kelly’s Chapala ...........................................................41 Los Cabos

Appetizers Applebee’s Bourbon Street ................................................47 Soho ................................................................47

Bank Teller Travis Morehouse, Regions Bank Deni Badker, Lincoln Savings Bank ..................60 Kayla Seeley, Liberty Bank ...............................30

Carpet Cleaning Mr. Carpet ........................................................10 ChemDry of NE Iowa ServPro of BH Co. ............................................30

Chiropractor Blake Wayson, Wayson Chiropractic Chris Fretheim, Evansdale Chiropractic Derrick Benner, Elite Chiropractic & Wellness

Applaince Store Sears .................................................................8 Direct Appliance...............................................31 Smitty’s

Bartender Maggee Forsyth, Stuffed Olive .........................47 Amee Barrett, BJ’s Ryan Steckleberg, Mulligans

Carpet/Floor Covering Simpson’s Furniture/Floor Coverings ..................3 Custom Flooring Menards

Coffee Shop Cup of Joe Cottonwood Canyon Starbucks

Art & Frame Shop Hobby Lobby Heritage Art Gallery Twin Oaks

Beautician/Barber Lisa King, Hair Biz Nicole Parker, Hair Biz Sedika Sabic, KJ & Kompany ...........................37

Catering Service Hy-Vee Moment in Thyme Randall’s

Consignment Store Main Street Exchange ......................................24 Goodwill Stuff Etc...........................................................26

Assisted Living Western Home Communities ............................63 Friendship Village NewAldaya Lifescapes .....................................52

Bike Shop Europa Cycle & Ski Bike Tech Scheels

Celebrate an Anniversary Bourbon Street ................................................47 Cu Montage

Cookies Subway Johnson’s Bakery ............................................12 Panera

ATV Leers Cycle Center ...........................................62 Silver Eagle Harley Davidson ............................14 Webers Cycle Center

Bowling Alley Maple Lanes Cadillac Lanes Waverly Bowl Inn .............................................28

Cell Phone Dealer US Cellular .......................................................16 Next Generation Wireless .................................53 Verizon

Craft Store Hobby Lobby Joanne’s Plaid Peacock

Auctioneer Dick Backes, Backes Auctioneers Chad Shepard, Chadderbox Auction Greg Kastli, Kastli Auctions

Brake Service Rydell Chevrolet ...............................................42 Jim Lind Tuffy Auto

Cheap Eats McDonald’s Rocco Jojos Steamboat Gardens

Credit Union Veridian Community Credit Union .....................13 Cedar Falls Community Credit Union ................50 Iowa Community Credit Union ..........................11

Auto Body Repair Deery Brothers Collision Center........................15 Coffman’s Body Shop Rydell Chevrolet ...............................................42

Bridal Shop An Elegant Affair ..............................................31 Bride’s Corner Simply “I Do”

Chicken Pizza Ranch Bourbon Street ................................................47 Kentucky Fried Chicken

Day Care Provider Community United Child Care Centers..............36 A to Z Learning Center & Day Care ...................12 Happy Time Day Care & Preschool

Auto Dealership Dan Deery Motors ............................................32 Community Auto Group John Deery

Business Lunch Ferrari’s ...........................................................47 Cu Newton’s

Children’s Clothing Kohl’s Children’s Place Von Maur

Deli Fareway Boardwalk Deli Sub City

Auto Service Dan Deery Motors ............................................32 Community Motors Rydell Chevrolet ...............................................42

Buy A Lawnmower Waterloo Implement Lowe’s Outdoor & More

Children’s Shoe Store Von Maur Dillards Shoe Carnival

Dentist Beau Beecher, Kimball & Beecher ....................56 David Bottke, Bottke Dental Eric Kimball, Kimball & Beecher .......................56

Automotive Salesperson Mike Potter, Rydell Chevrolet ............................42 Jake Soppe, Dan Deery Motors ........................50 Phil Powers, Dan Deery Toyota .........................31

Buy Collectibles Limited Edition Comics ....................................12 Calico Hen House The CORE

Chili Wendy’s Doughy Joey’s Texas Roadhouse

Dessert Scratch Cupcakery ..........................................29 Bourbon Street ................................................47 Four Queens

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THURSDAY, OCTOBER 18, 2012

BEST OF THE BEST 2012

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PAGE 5

Congratulations

HONOREES CONT’D...

Dinner Bourbon Street ................................................47 Sakura Texas Roadhouse

Full Service Nails LA Nails in Waterloo .........................................27 Bella’s..............................................................50 Top Line Nails

Health & Natural Foods Roots Market Hy-Vee TnK Health Food Store

Liquor Selection Hy-Vee Wine & Spirits Sam’s Club Stuffed Olive ....................................................47

DJ Service Ultimate Entertainment LNS Sounds (Luke Schaefer) Xpress Entertainment

Funeral Home Hagarty-Waychoff Grarup Funeral Service Locke Funeral Home Richardson Funeral Service

Hearing Aids/Service Potter’s Hearing ...............................................45 Black Hawk Hearing Aid Center Iowa Hearing Clinics

Local/State Day Trip Des Moines Isle Casino Hotel Waterloo ................................46 Lost Island .......................................................54

Drive-Up Service McDonald’s 4 Queens Wendy’s

Furniture Simpson’s Furniture/Floor Coverings ..................2 McGregor’s Slumberland

Heating & Cooling Young Plumbing & Heating ...............................25 Gubbel’s One Hour Mike Fereday Heating & Cooling ......................11

Locally Owned Restaurant Bourbon Street ................................................47 Newton’s Rudy’s

Electrician Cedar Valley Electric ........................................59 Scott’s Electric, Inc. Stickfort Electric, Cedar Falls ...........................24

Girls Night Out Stuffed Olive ....................................................47 Bourbon Street ................................................47 Joker’s.............................................................47

Home Builder Koch Construction............................................48 Kugler Construction Magee Construction .........................................51

Margaritas Carlos O’Kelly’s Chapala ...........................................................41 Las Margaritas

Electronics Store Best Buy Hawkeye Audio Radio Shack

Golf Course Gates Park Golf Course Pheasant Ridge Golf Course South Hills Golf Course

Home Décor Store Simpson’s Furniture/Floor Coverings ..................2 Hobby Lobby Pier One

Martial Arts Instructor Lee Dawson, Cedar Falls Karate Club Russ O’Connel, RocFit Steve Decker, Iowa Tang Soo Do

Eye Doctor Amy Hartmann, Mauer Eye...............................37 Anthony D. Bailey Dr. Richard Mauer, Mauer Eye ..........................37

Golf Equipment Golf Headquarters ............................................28 Dick’s Scheels

Home Health Agency Cedar Valley Hospice..........................................7 Community Based Services Home Health .........41 Covenant Home Health ....................................22

Massage Jiva Salonspa ..................................................21 d’Vine Medical Spa ..........................................37 Elements Therapeutic Massage

Family Doctor Dr. Kyle Christiason, Cedarloo Family Practice ..20 Dr. Anne Kontos (San Marnan) Dr. Brian Burnett, Covenant Clinic Arrowhead ...22

Greenhouse Petersen & Tietz Hy-Vee Jordan’s Nursery

Hotel/Motel Isle Casino Hotel Waterloo ................................46 Black Hawk Hotel, Cedar Falls..........................28 Country Inn & Suites

Meat Counter Fareway Gilbertville Locker Hy-Vee

Financial/Investment LSB Financial Services .....................................30 Financial Architects ..........................................15 Kremer Kehe Financial

Grocery Hy-Vee Fareway Target

Insurance Agent Monte McCunniff, State Farm...........................58 Ryan Sullivan, State Farm ................................28 Sandy Benak, State Farm

Medical Staff Member Deb Card, Western Home Communities ............63 Dr. Michael Deters, Cedar Valley Hospice............7 Kit Carpenter (Dr. Bickley), Wheaton .................22

Fitness Center Next Level Xtreme Fitness Key West Fitness The Gym/Crossﬁt Kilo

Hair Salon Hair Biz Jiva Salonspa ..................................................21 KJ & Kompany .................................................37

Jewelry Store Davidson Dittmer Jewelers ..............................34 Precieux Art Jewelers ......................................45 Roth Jewelers ..................................................26

Men’s Clothing Dillard’s Kohl’s Palace Clothier’s

Florist Hy-Vee Bancroft’s Flowers Flowerama

Hamburger Beck’s .............................................................47 Culvers Pump Haus

Food Delivery Jimmy John’s East China Pizza Hut

Happy Hour Stuffed Olive ....................................................47 Spicolis Toad’s

Fresh Vegetables/Fruit Hy-Vee Aldi’s Fareway

Hardware Store O’Donnell Ace - Cedar Falls Lowe’s Menards

Karaoke Ultimate Entertainment Applebee’s Voodoo Lounge ................................................47 Landscape Service Matthias Landscaping ......................................24 B&K Lawncare .................................................31 Wapsie Pines Laundromat Hudson Rd. Laundry & Tanning Ansborough Laundromat Metro Laundry

Mexican Chapala ...........................................................41 Amigo’s Carlos O’Kelly’s Motorcycle Silver Eagle Harley Davidson ............................14 Leer’s ..............................................................62 Weber’s Cycle News Anchor Ron Steele Natasha Chughtai Tara Thomas

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BEST OF THE BEST 2012

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THURSDAY, OCTOBER 18, 2012

Congratulations

HONOREES CONT’D...

Nursing Home Western Home Communities ............................63 NewAldaya Lifescapes .....................................52 Ravenwood ......................................................27

Physical Therapist Ray Harrington, Allen on Ridgeway Dan McGrane, Accelerated Rehab ....................12 Kris Marcks, A Step Ahead Therapy ..................11

Receptionist Berdell Schaulis, Cedar Valley Hospice ...............7 Joan Balm, Beau Monde Lindsay Taylor, KJ & Kompany ..........................37

Tenderloin Newton’s Beck’s .............................................................47 Townhouse Tenderloin

OBGYN Dr. Anthony Onuigbo, OBGYN Specialists ..........52 Dr. Brent Hintz, Allen Dr. Marilyn Hines, Partners in Obstetrics & Gynecology

Pizza The Other Place ...............................................30 Pizza Hut Tony’s

Remodeler Koch Construction............................................48 Jon Bronemann ...............................................50 Magee Construction .........................................51

Transmissions Rydell Chevrolet ...............................................42 L&M Transmission & Towing Tuffy Auto

Oil Change Service Dan Deery Motors ............................................32 Rydell Chevrolet ...............................................42 Tuffy’s, Cedar Falls

Place for Lunch Soho ................................................................47 Newton’s Panera

Ribs Famous Dave’s Bourbon Street ................................................47 Hickory House

Travel Agent Jayne Morris, AAA Travel ..................................11 Greg Humble, Humble Travel Maureen Payton, The Travel Store

Optical Mauer Eye .......................................................37 Eye Care Associates Target

Place to go for Family Entertainment Adrenaline X Laser Tag ....................................38 Lost Island .......................................................54 Palmers

Salad Bar Bourbon Street ................................................47 Hy-Vee Pizza Ranch

Veterinarian Jerry Den Herder, Den Herder Veterinary Hospital...21 Tammy Stevenson, Advanced Pet Care Clinic Tom Taylor, Den Herder Veterinary Hospital ......21

Outdoor Patio Furniture Menard’s Home Depot McGowan’s Furniture

Place to go on a ﬁrst date Bourbon Street ................................................47 Brown Bottle Montage

Seafood Red Lobster Bourbon Street ................................................47 Soho ................................................................47

Video Store Family Video Digital Dog Pound Red Box

Painting/Wallpaper Sherwin Williams .............................................18 Lowe’s Menards

Place to have a Beer Toad’s Beck’s .............................................................47 Pump Haus

Sporting Goods Store Scheels Dick’s Runner’s Flat

Waiter/Waitress Michelle Smith, Jameson’s Public House Megan Lickness, Zsavooz

Pediatrician Dr. Brian Sims, Covenant..................................22 Dr. Jodi Van Sickle, Covenant ...........................22 Dr. Lori Shockley, Covenant ..............................22

Place to Shoot Pool Voodoo Lounge ................................................47 Beck’s .............................................................47 Casey’s

Sports Bar Beck’s .............................................................47 Peppers Screaming Eagle

Pest Control Aable Pest Control ...........................................55 Enviro Pest Solutions Platinum Pest Services

Plumber Dalton Plumbing, Heating & Cooling .................20 Tony’s Plumbing...............................................19

State/Midwest Weekend Trip Isle Casino Hotel Waterloo ................................46 Chicago, IL Galena, IL

Pet Grooming Pet Smart Paw Prints Pet Salon (Hudson) Pawsitive Pet Care Pharmacy Walgreen’s Hy-Vee Target Photo Finishing Walgreen’s Hy-Vee Wal-Mart Photographer Michelle Stricker, Stricker Photography Click by Kate (Kate Elliott) Tim Dodd Photography

Podiatrist Dr. Stephen Solomon, NE Iowa Podiatry ...........62 Dr. Greg Lantz, Allen Dr. Rick Bremner, Wheaton...............................22 Radio Station 98.5 FM 92.3 FM 93.5 FM Real Estate Firm/Brokerage Oakridge Realtors ............................................51 Century 21 REMAX Realtor Dan Berregaard, Oakridge Realtors ..................47 Carl Ericson, Oakridge Realtors ........................52 Robin Schrader, Century 21

Steak Texas Roadhouse Bourbon Street ................................................47 Long Horn Steak House Subs Sub City Jimmy John’s Subway Sunday Brunch Bourbon Street ................................................47 Isle Casino Hotel Waterloo ................................46 Newton’s Tanning Salon Suntan City ......................................................24 Carribean Tan & Spa Key West Fitness

Wine Selection Hy-Vee Ferrari’s ...........................................................47 Montage Women’s Clothing Von Maur Kohl’s Lillian’s Wrecker Service Rasmussen Towing L&M Towing Ray Mount Wrecker Service

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 18, 2012

BEST OF THE BEST 2012

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Cedar Valley Hospice

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because it’s about living

First Place: Home Health Agency; Receptionist — Berdell Schauls Honorable Mention: Medical Staff Member — Dr. Michael Deters Since 1979, Cedar Valley Hospice has been the area’s leader in delivering comprehensive palliative and end-of-life care. The organization’s 145 employees and 450 volunteers provide services based on core values including, compassion, respect, integrity, education, leadership, relationships, quality and excellence. “We are humbled and honored to be recognized once again by the community we serve as the best home health agency,” said Executive Director Marvin Fagerlind. “We are very proud of our employees and volunteers for showing their dedication to patients and families by providing the highest quality care,” said Katie Unland, human resources director. “From our care team to our office staff, every member of our agency has a unique contribution in the support of the mission of Cedar Valley Hospice. Everyone plays a valuable role in providing the highest quality care.” Two employees recognized for their individual efforts are Berdell Schauls, Waterloo receptionist, and Dr. Michael Deters, medical director. Berdell has been an employee of Cedar Valley Hospice since 2001 and Dr. Deters joined the organization in 2008, after retiring from his private practice. “We are fortunate to have Berdell Schauls as a member of the Cedar Valley Hospice team,” Unland said. “She is so considerate and caring of everyone and goes above and beyond in every interaction. Her dedication to Cedar Valley Hospice is apparent and her support provided to patients, families and co-workers is invaluable.” “Cedar Valley Hospice is very grateful to have Dr. Deters on staff because of his wealth of knowledge and skill,” Fagerlind said. “In every interaction, both personally and professionally, he treats people with respect and compassion.” The focus of the Cedar Valley Hospice team of professionals is the comfort and care of each patient. A team of doctors, nurses, social workers, aides, spiritual counselors and volunteers combine to provide excellent care with emotional and

★ Waterloo Central Ofﬁce: 2101 Kimball Ave., Suite 401, Waterloo ★ (319) 272-2002, (800) 617 1972 ★ www.cvhospice.org ★ Hospice Home: 2001 Kimball Ave., Waterloo ★ (319) 272-1771 ★ 310 E. G Ave., Grundy Center ★ (319) 824-3868, (888) 878-3868

★ 801 First St. E, Independence ★ (319) 334-6960, (888) 273- 8957 ★ 207 20th St. NW, Waverly ★ (319) 352-1274, (877) 485-7081

spiritual support, emphasizing comfort and quality of life. The patient and their family are the decision-makers of the care provided in the patient’s home, nursing home, assisted living facility, hospital, the Cedar Valley Hospice Home or wherever the patient calls home. Cedar Valley Hospice services are available to people of all ages who are suffering from any life-limiting illness, regardless of age, diagnosis or ability to pay. Grief support services for children and adults are available to anyone in the community. Additional community programs offered include palliative care and medical case management for those living with HIV or AIDS. Staff may be contacted 24 hours a day, seven days a week for hospice referrals. Cedar Valley Hospice is honored to be viewed as providing the best in end-of-life care and grief support services to thousands of patients and families throughout northeast Iowa. With offices in Waterloo, Grundy Center, Independence and Waverly, Cedar Valley Hospice serves Black Hawk, Bremer, Buchanan, Butler, Grundy, parts of Benton, Chickasaw, Delaware, Fayette, Hardin, Linn, Marshall and Tama counties.

We are proud to have been voted “Best of the Best” in home health care! Congratulations to our entire staff, as well as the following individuals: Berdell Schauls - First Place, Best Receptionist Dr. Michael Deters, M.D. - Honorable Mention, Medical Staff Member Since 1979 Cedar Valley Hospice has been Making Each Moment Matter with quality end-of-life care and grief support in your community. ask the questions. make the call.

319.272.2002 :: cvhospice.org waterloo . independence . grundy center . waverly . hospice home

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BEST OF THE BEST 2012

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THURSDAY, OCTOBER 18, 2012

Sears First Place: Appliance Store Sears is unique because of the spectrum of products it offers in the store, from appliances and tools to clothing and jewelry, according to manager Travis Weepie. Sears houses two of the most wellknown brands in the retail industry: Kenmore and Craftsman. Online product offerings are nearly infinite and customers have the flexibility of shopping at home and choosing store pickup or Sears can sell items from the store and provide shipping right to the customer’s door. Weepie began working at Sears while attending the University of Northern Iowa and had no intentions of staying afterward, but he just loved coming to work every day. “That is a very difficult thing to walk away from,” he said. “I feel so closely tied to this community because I have been able to help so many great people over the years that have become more than just customers to me. “Even though we are a large corporation, I feel like this is my business and my family here at Sears,” Weepie said. “It is pure enjoyment to be able to walk through these doors every day and talk to my customers. “We have worked hard for the past few years at developing a staff of selling associates in the store that is able to provide a memorable experience for our customers,” Weepie continued. “To have satisfied customers is not good enough. We want every customer to walk out of this store wanting to tell people they know about their shopping experience. “We have the broadest assortment of appliances of any retailer, the largest service organization in the industry, and I truly believe the best staff of selling associates to aid our customers in making an educated buying decision. It is our duty to our customer to provide the best value for their dollar that they worked hard to earn.” In 2011, the Waterloo Sears was the No. 1 store in the company on a scorecard that combined sales, profitability and customer service scores. This was a great accomplishment for

a team that took every associate understanding their role relative to great customer service. Sears has received The Courier’s Best of the Best recognition in previous years as well. “We are very honored to have our customers give us this great recognition as the best store to purchase an appliance in the Cedar Valley,” Weepie said. “We understand that there are so many options you have when shopping for appliances, so just being granted an opportunity to earn someone’s business when they walk through the door is very humbling for us. “For those who gave us the opportunity in the past year, we sincerely thank

★ 2060 Crossroads Blvd., Waterloo ★ (319) 235-6311 ★ 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Thursday; 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Friday and Saturday; 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday ★ www.sears.com

you for your business. “For those of you who have not shopped Sears in some time, I invite you to stop in. “Our entire staff is on a mission to make a clear distinction between your Sears store and any competitor, whether you are shopping for an appliance, a tool or a pair of jeans. Thank you again, Cedar Valley.”

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THURSDAY, OCTOBER 18, 2012

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BEST OF THE BEST 2012

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PAGE 9

Kenmore Elite 31 cu. ft. French-Door Grab-N-Go Bottom-Freezer Refrigerator ENERGY STAR速

2060 Crossroads Blvd, Waterloo, IA 50702

319-235-6311

PAGE 10

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BEST OF THE BEST 2012

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THURSDAY, OCTOBER 18, 2012

Mr. Carpet First Place: Carpet Cleaning For the past 16 years, Mr. Carpet has developed the trust of its customers. “They trust us to do a great job cleaning, trust that we’ll value their home and possessions, trust we’ll treat them fairly and trust that only the best employees will come to their home,” said Brad Smith, who has owned Mr. Carpet since 2006 with his wife, Dana. The company was formed in 1996 by founder Marty Stoakes. Brad Smith came aboard in 2002 as the general manager and acquired the business with Dana in a buyout in 2006. “I’ve always enjoyed the service industry. It seemed ﬁtting to be in a business that made people happy and, as a bonus, being paid to do it,” he said. “I decided if I was going to be in the service industry that it only made sense to have a business that is the best in the area and continue to build it through word-of-mouth referrals and results-based marketing. Mr. Carpet was a perfect ﬁt, as Marty built the business with

the intent of being the very best.” Stoakes did that by utilizing the industry’s best equipment, best cleaning products and best training, coupled with four written unbeatable guarantees and top-quality personal service. Our company cleans residential and commercial carpet, ceramic tile, upholstery, strips and waxes VCT and holds some of the area’s highest certiﬁcations in water damage restoration. Smith offers Four Written Guarantees, which is unheard of in the industry in our area. “The only way people are willing to pay for your services over and over is if we are able to create value,” he said. Creating value in this business covers a few key points: 1. Arm consumers with knowledge: Educated consumers ask better questions, which leads to making more informed decisions that are best for them. Truth is, no one likes to spend money blindly, hoping

they will come out with desirable results. When you have the education you need to make the right decision for your situation, it makes the outcome much more predictable. 2. Do the job with excellence from beginning to end: My business runs almost solely on word-of-mouth advertising. Words from friends spoken to you about a company that provided service to them will make or break a small company like mine. That’s why it’s so important to do it right from beginning to end the ﬁrst time and make sure they are thrilled before we leave and will pass high praises along when needed. 3. Be honest, ethical and personable, and in turn build trust: This speaks for itself. 4. Communicate with our clients: The truth is that not every carpet, piece of upholstery, ceramic tile ﬂoor, etc. will look brand new forever. Not even if they’re properly maintained. Life happens. Things eventually wear out. A properly trained specialist communicates with their client and gives reasonable expectations for the

★ 3715 Carlton Drive, Cedar Falls ★ (319) 291-8665 ★ www.mrcarpet.net

outcome. Example: I had a particular client call me to look at a room of carpet. She wanted it to look absolutely perfect when it was cleaned, but I could see there was a fraction of wear that was irreversible and was a result of heavy traffic. I made sure to tell her what to expect when it was properly cleaned, knowing it wasn’t what she had hoped to hear. But it was the truth and she thanked me for telling her, so she didn’t waste money on a cleaning that wasn’t going to produce the results she desired. Although I didn’t make any money because I didn’t clean the carpet, I know I earned her trust and future business because I was honest and communicated with her. “This is our 9th year being voted as the Best of the Best,” Smith added. “We are humbled and extremely grateful.”

You Get The Most Thorough Carpet and Tile Cleaning Ever, Or It’s FREE!

9Y Years Running! R i ! Pick Your Discount! Every 3rd Room Cleaned FREE! or 25% OFF!

What Your Neighbors Have To Say:

6 Reasons Why You Should Choose Mr. Carpet Cleaning Company:

“I loved it– cleaned the carpets better than any other carpet cleaner I have used before.” -Linnea Chiattello, CF

1. BECAUSE YOU GET AN EXACT APPOINTMENT TIME. None of this “I’ll be there between noon and 5” stuff here. And if we’re ever off of schedule, we’ll call and let you know. 2. YOU GET PROMPT RESPONSE I usually have an opening within a week 3. YOU GET HONEST PRICING No sales nono hidden costs. I charge per square foot so everyone is No salesgimmicks, gimmicks, hidden costs. I charge per square foot so everyone is treated equally. here. aboutitit– treated equally.No No‘per perroom’ roomgimmicks gimmicks here.Think Think about —ififII charged charged room’ wouldn't someone large be getting a great deal and per room‘per wouldn’t someone with a with largea room room be getting a great deal and someone with a small room be get ing a someone with a small room be getting a terrible one? terrible one? 4. I DON’T CUT CORNERS– I CLEAN THEM! I take the time necessary to make sure every square inch is cared for. 5. NO PRACTICING ON YOUR CARPETS! My Lucashas hascleaned cleaned well over 1 million square MySpecialist, Specialist, Lucas well over 1 million square feet offeet carof carpet, sopet, heso wouldn’t be practicing on on yours. he wouldn’t be practicing yours. 6. BECAUSE WE WERE VOTED ‘BEST OF THE BEST’ FOR 98 YEARS RUNNING!! Look– the truth is that I could brag on my company all day long. Most people would expect me to. But when you see that we’ve been voted the Best of the Best now for 98 YEARS RUNNING, wouldn’t you start to believe the hype???

“I found that Mr. Carpet was trustworthy. I was very satisfied with their work.” -Larry & Cheryl Hetherton, CF “It is comforting to work with a company that you trust.” -Pam Bader, Dunkerton “Arrived exactly on time! Personable young men. My carpet looks like new!” -Sandy Truman, Waterloo

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THURSDAY, OCTOBER 18, 2012

BEST OF THE BEST 2012

Mike Fereday Iowa A Step Ahead Heating and Air Community Therapy Conditioning Credit Union Honorable Mention: Physical Therapist

Honorable Mention: Heating and Cooling Mike Fereday Heating and Air Conditioning combines customer service and competitive pricing with superior workmanship and the most experienced and loyal staff in the state to best serve the Cedar Valley. Our staff keeps educated on the changing market, such as geothermal and Wi-Fi thermostats, making sure we can offer our customers the most efficient and convenient options available. Mike Fereday has 40 years’ experience in the profession. Mike’s sons, Kevin and Tim, have taken over the residential market. “My employees make us what we are,” Mike Fereday said. ★ 827 W. Fifth St., Waterloo ★ (319) 232-0900 ★ 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday ★ mikeferedayheating.com

Honorable Mention: Credit Union Iowa Community Credit Union is a nonprofit, cooperative financial institution. Established in 1950 in Waterloo, ICCU has been a leader in offering competitive rates and progressive electronic services. Mark Heth serves as president and CEO of the member-owned credit union. ICCU strives to give great quality member service quickly and easily. We offer competitive rates and products that are beneﬁcial to our members.

★ 3301 Cedar Heights Drive, Cedar Falls ★ (319) 277-3940 ★ www.icccu.org

We’re The Best At Putting You In The Driver’s Seat.

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A Step Ahead Therapy owner Kris Marcks has been in business for nine years. After spending four years at a ★ 3606 Kimball local hospital, she Ave., Waterloo decided to open A ★ (319) 234-3736 Step Ahead Ther- ★ 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through apy. She wanted to Friday offer an environment that places patients’ needs above all else. “Our manual therapists provide handson therapy and one-on-one patient treatment,” Marcks said. “We specialize in acute injuries, chronic pain, neck and back pain, pain with pregnancy, incontinence, sports injuries, amputees and Pilates. “Our goal is to offer the best physical therapy we can to the people in the Cedar Valley.”

Thank You! For Voting Us “Best Best of the Best Best” iin n the the Cedar Valley! Vallley y!

12 Waterloo: (319) 232-0900 Cedar Falls: (319) 277-1091 Waverly: (319) 352-4099 827 W. 5th Street, Waterloo

AAA Travel First Place: Travel Agent — Jayne Morris Jayne Morris wanted to be a travel agent her whole life, and that’s just what she’s been doing for the past 34 years. “I love to see new places, explore and see all the things there is to offer,” she said. As an agent with AAA Travel, Morris specializes in groups, luxury, weddings/honeymoons and personal trips for clients. “Treat your customers the way you would like to be treated,” she said. “Be honest and listen to your customers’ wants and needs.” Morris is a certiﬁed travel associate. “I treat everyone the same,” she said. “I’m honest and a very caring person. I take everyone’s travel very seriously and try to make their trips stress free.” ★ 3366 Kimball Ave., Waterloo ★ (319) 235-7056 ★ 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Monday through Friday

AAA Travel Agency delivers the best trips.

You’ll get more vacation for your money from AAA Travel Agency. More value. More than you ever expected. • Exclusive values to Disney • Special upgrades and privileges on select cruise & tours •Hotel & car rental discounts, plus more! Call for expert help in planning and booking your next trip.

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See Us For All Your Loan Needs Today! Cedar Falls Waterloo Cedar Rapids Carroll

Therapy Center, Inc.

3366 Kimball Ave. Waterloo, Iowa (319) 236-3620

PAGE 12

BEST OF THE BEST 2012

THE COURIER

www.wcfcourier.com

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 18, 2012

Limited Edition Comics First Place: Buy Collectibles Limited Edition Comics specializes in ★ 2225 College St., Cedar Falls comics, Magic the Gathering, graphic ★ (319) 268-4094 novels, board games, statues and basically ★ 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Friday; anything a collector wants. 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday ★ www.limitededitioncomics.com Co-owner Robert Rodgers saw a need for a comic store next to UNI’s campus and wanted to share his enthusiasm of collecting. “We have the lowest prices in town. Limited Edition Comics has won ﬁrst Everything is discounted,” Rodgers said. place in Best of the Best collectibles for “We go the extra mile to make sure your the past three years. collection is complete.”

Johnson’s Bakery

Honorable Mention: Bakery, Cookies

Johnson’s Bakery opened in 1950 as a ★ 820 W. Fifth St., doughnut shop and expanded into a full Waterloo bakery offering old-world-style prod★ (319) 232-8154 ucts, including wedding cakes, cupcakes, ★ 5 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Monday through buns, doughnuts, rolls, cookies, etc. Saturday, 6 a.m. to 2 We cater to sweet tooths. It’s not just a p.m. Sunday job, but a way of life to us. ★ www.johnsonsbakerywaterloo.com Johnson’s Bakery has been recognized in Best of the Best for 11 years. Visit Johnson’s this holiday season as items, including Kringle Christmas we offer a variety of holiday-themed cookies.

Thank You Cedar Valley for voting us Best of the Best.

Johnson's Bakery 820 W. 5th St. Waterloo • 232-8154

Accelerated Rehabilitation Center

ACCELERATE YOUR RECOVERY

Honorable Mention: Physical Therapist – Dan McGrane

CONGRATULATIONS! DAN MCGRANE, ACCELERATED WATERLOO FACILITY MANAGER Honorable Mention: Best Physical Therapist, WCF Courier Best of the Best Competition

Dan McGrane’s lifelong interest in health, ★ 1111 Ansborough Ave., Waterloo ﬁtness and sports led him to be a physi★ (319) 433-0130 cal therapist. At Accelerated Rehabilitation ★ 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Thursday; Center, he specializes in outpatient ortho7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday ★ www.acceleratedrehab.com pedic physical therapy and sports medicine. “We put our patients’ needs ﬁrst,” he said. “We make it our mission to get new patients Accelerated Rehabilitation Center proin a timely manner and are available early vides comprehensive physical therapy, servand late to meet the needs of everyone we ing private insurance and industrial rehabilserve.” itation. Free injury screens are available.

A to Z Learning Center Honorable Mention: Day Care Provider With four locations to serve the Cedar Valley, A to Z Learning Center provides quality child care and preschool in a nurturing environment where all children are unique and allowed to express themselves through daily activities. A to Z offers year-round preschool and child care, including school-age care with transportation to local schools for chil-

★ Open 5:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday

dren 6 weeks to 12 years old. A to Z is currently involved in the Voluntary Iowa Quality Rating Systems that sets standards for high-quality child care in the Cedar Valley.

OFFERING FREE INJURY SCREENS STOP IN TODAY!

WATERLOO 1111 Ansborough Ave.,319-433-0130 CEDAR FALLS 1710 W. 1st St., Ste. D, 319-273-8988 Not for federally funded payers

Not for federally funded payers

PUTTING PATIENTS FIRST | 877.97.REHAB (877.977.4322) | acceleratedrehab.com

LEARNING CENTER & DAY CARE Cedar Falls, Waterloo 4828 University, CF 266-6755

3823 W 4th, Waterloo 234-1919

307 E. Donald, W’loo 232-4325

3423 University W’loo 232-2624

Ages 6 Weeks to 13 Years.

www.atozlearningcenteranddaycare.com

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 18, 2012

www.wcfcourier.com

BEST OF THE BEST 2012

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Veridian Credit Union First Place: Credit Union Honorable Mention: Bank In 1934, John Deere Employees Credit Union was founded in Waterloo by a handful of John Deere employees who wanted to offer their co-workers an alternative to commercial banks and other for-profit financial institutions. During the tough economic times of the mid-’80s, we expanded our membership to the community and changed our name to John Deere Community Credit Union. In 2006, at the request of Deere & Co., we discontinued using John Deere in our name to avoid trademark confusion. We choose Veridian, derived from the words “verdant,” which means green and growing, and “veritas,” which means truth. Veridian is very proud of our heritage. It has provided a strong foundation upon which to build our future. We are continuing to grow with 26 branches throughout Iowa and more than 500 employees. Veridian is an Iowa original. We are an Iowa-based, nonprofit credit union owned by our members. Any profit we make is returned to members in the form of higher dividends, lower interest rates on loans and new services. Every member benefits, regardless of the size of the balance in their account. We help members reach their financial goals through individual attention and a welcoming atmosphere. These goals range from buying a home or vehicle for the first time to preparing for retirement. Our staff is able to provide knowledge and guidance for these goals and every goal in between. We know that each member has unique needs and we enjoy working with them to find services that will be the right fit. Membership at Veridian is open to people living or working in 35 Iowa counties and their family members; employees of Veridian’s business partners and their family members; and Iowa residents with disabilities as defined by the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990. We are a full-service financial institution that offers an assortment of finan-

★ 1827 Ansborough Ave., Waterloo ★ (319) 236-5600 ★ www.veridiancu.org

cial services. Our traditional services include checking, savings and money market accounts and auto, home equity and mortgage loans. Members are able to access their Veridian account with online banking and through a mobile device with Veridian Mobile Banking. Statements are available to view online with eStatements. Veridian also offers guidance for investments, insurance and retirement planning, thanks to partnerships and organizations such as MEMBERS Financial Services, Veridian Insurance and First Community Trust. Veridian is committed to making members feel welcome and responding to their changing needs. Staff members create relationships with our members to help us understand what is going on in a member’s life so we can meet their needs. In every interaction, we want to exceed members’ expectations. Veridian has been helping Iowans create successful ﬁnancial futures since 1934. You can trust us to offer the best combination of low loan rates, fewer fees and excellent service. We are pleased to help enrich the community in the following ways: grant funding to organizations that provide ﬁnancial education or help create an inclusive community, partnerships with many local organizations, sponsorships for various events, scholarships for college students and more. We want to create an environment where everyone feels like they belong. Veridian continues to work on our inclusion efforts. This year, members and staff shared their inclusive experiences in two videos, and Veridian is growing our Supplier Diversity program. To learn about these efforts and more, visit www.veridiancu. org/inclusion.

we’re honored Veridian Credit Union would like to thank everyone who voted us Best of the Best. ®

First place: Best Credit Union

Honorable mention: Best Bank

AN IOWA ORIGINAL. 319.236.5600 | www.veridiancu.org

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BEST OF THE BEST 2012

www.wcfcourier.com

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 18, 2012

Silver Eagle Harley-Davidson/Yamaha First Place: Motorcycles | Honorable Mention: ATVs Silver Eagle Harley-Davidson/Yamaha, at the corner of U.S. highways 63 and 20 in Waterloo, has been recognized by The Courier’s Best of the Best for six years in a row. “Along with Harley-Davidson, we now provide the Cedar Valley and surrounding areas with Yamaha products, including sport ATVs, utility ATVs, off-road motorcycles, side-by-sides, off-road scooters and Waverunner watercraft,” said owner Anthony Lumetta. “With this additional product line, we are now able to offer our customers products that Harley-Davidson does not manufacture.” Owners Anthony and Vince Lumetta believe in two things: customer service and community.

The focus at Silver Eagle Harley-Davidson/Yamaha is ﬁrst and foremost their customers. Their belief is when they focus on their customers, they come back time and time again delighted in quality HarleyDavidson products and more importantly, delighted in Silver Eagle. This customer service concept rings true from the motorclothes, sales and parts departments to the award-winning service department with the area’s only Harley-Davidson factory-trained technicians. They also feature Harley-Davidson authorized Express Lane Service, where customers can “roll in and roll out in less than an hour.” Sales Manager Jim Mehmen reports brisk sales in both new and used Harleys and

Yamahas. “Every day we get deliveries of new motorcycles and clean trade-ins we can’t wait to show you, plus we’ve seen accelerated interest in our ATVs, side-bysides and Waverunners.” And, if you are in the market for Harley parts, motorclothes or collectibles, Silver Eagle prides itself on having the best selection in the region of must-have merchandise sure to ﬁt any biker’s needs and desires. Almost monthly, Silver Eagle holds special events focused on customer involvement, entertainment and just plain camaraderie. “We’re just all one big family out here,” said Anthony Lumetta. Anthony and Vince also believe giving back to the community aids in the sense

★ Silver Eagle Harley-Davidson ★ Silver Eagle Yamaha Power Sports ★ 4022 Sergeant Road, Waterloo ★ (319) 235-6505 ★ 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Thursday; 9 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. Friday; 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Saturday ★ www.silvereagleharley.com

of pride that always accompanies HarleyDavidson riders and employees. These local events include support of local charities, and they also sponsor countless activities in the Cedar Valley throughout the year. “We believe in the Cedar Valley, and we believe in supporting our community by buying local and giving back to those in need,” Lumetta said.

Thank You from YOUR Silver Eagle Family *Harley-Davidson Motorcycles, Motorclothes, Parts, Accessories and Service *Yamaha ATV’s, Motorcycles, Side by Sides, Waverunners, Parts, Accessories and Service 4022 Sergeant Road, Waterloo 319-235-6505

SilverEagleHarley.com SilverEagleYahama.com

www.wcfcourier.com

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 18, 2012

BEST OF THE BEST 2012

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Financial Architects Deery Brothers Collision Center Honorable Mention: Financial/Investment

The associates at Financial Architects help you design financial success. They don’t simply, talk the talk, they walk with you on the walk. Those they walk with call them Financial Strategy Specialists. Let’s paint a picture of common financial decision-making problems: You make financial decisions typically one at a time, at different times, with different people, under different economic conditions. After several years, this leads to the point that you end up with a financial “junk drawer.” Now let’s paint a picture of how to make sense of those financial decisions: When you walk with an associate at Financial Architects, you will find they are trained to coordinate and integrate the scattered financial decisions you have made. They do this without replacing your other trusted professionals, or when possible, without having you sell what you own. That common focus brought this group of trusted financial professionals together

★ 1704 State St., Cedar Falls ★ (319) 266-9500 ★ Monday through Friday

at Financial Architects. Financial Architects associates teach you a process that includes an economic model and economic principles for a macro look during the walk. The model offers both a zoom-in and zoom-out approach to look at all the financial decisions being made. This helps determine what strategies would be best to maximize benefits and minimize expenses, including taxes*. At times, the principles will challenge traditional planning with finances by bringing tax saving strategies, risk reduction strategies along with cost reduction strategies to those they walk with. *Associates at Financial Architects do not give tax or legal advice. You should consult your tax or legal advisor regarding your individual situation.

First Place: Auto Body — Collision We at Deery Brothers Collision Center would like to say thank you to all our customers, vendors, insurance companies and insurance agents throughout the Cedar Valley. It seems like only yesterday we opened this 36,000-square-foot state-of-the-art facility, said general manager Glen Hulbert, who has been with the Deery organization for more than 28 years. Currently, we have gone green by changing to a PPG waterborne paint system. This is much healthier for our employees as well as the environment. Deery Brothers Collision Center is the first of two Toyota-certified shops in all of Iowa. The other is Deery Brothers in Burlington, which is patterned on our shop. Toyota has only 167 certified shops in the United States. It takes a lot of talented, well-trained employees to keep this size of shop going,

★ 201 E. Seerley Blvd., Cedar Falls ★ (319) 266-9900 or (800) 263-2414 ★ 7:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday, 7:30 a.m. to noon Saturday ★ www.deerycollision.com

and we couldn’t do any of it without our excellent office run by Kim Hansen. Our estimators, Mark, Charlie, Kevin and Kim, and parts manager Charlie, have backgrounds in repair and insurance and are more than willing to walk you through the entire repair process. Our top-notch technicians are what really set us apart from the rest. We offer a full line detail shop, run by Greg Azbill, and we also apply spray-in bed liners.

Thank You Cedar Valley for Making Us Your Choice.

THANK YOU TO THE CEDAR VALLEY AND ESPECIALLY THOSE WE WALK WITH!

sstt

DEERY BROTHERS

WE STAND READY TO SERVE! • Curt Patterson

• Todd Thomas

• Randy Kraayenbrink

• Steve Umthun

• Ryan Kriener

• Travis Ravn

• Ian Flores

Associates are Registered Representative of Park Avenue Securities, LLC (PAS), 12345 University Ave, Des Moines, IA 50325. Securities products and services are offered through PAS, 515-457-1276. Financial Representative, The Guardian Life Insurance Company of America (Guardian), New York, NY. PAS is an indirect wholly-owned subsidiary of Guardian. Financial Architects is not an afﬁliate or subsidiary of PAS or Guardian. PAS is a member NASD, SIPC Ian Flores, Field Representative, The Guardian Life Insurance Company of America, (Guardian), New York, NY

COLLISION CENTER, C CEN CENT CE ENT NTER NTER R IN INC C

Member of the Cedar Valley Collision Association Member of the IADA (Iowa Auto Dealers Association) Member of Iowa Collision Repair Association.

Deery Brothers Collision Center 201 E. Seerley Blvd. • Cedar Falls, Iowa • 266-9900

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BEST OF THE BEST 2012

www.wcfcourier.com

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 18, 2012

U.S. Cellular First Place: Cellphone Dealer It’s no secret that people are frustrated with their wireless experience. However, people tolerate less because they don’t believe there is a better option. Contracts are confusing. There is too much “techno-babble.” At U.S. Cellular, we believe people deserve better. A mobile phone is supposed to make life simpler and easier to get things done. Your relationship with your wireless carrier should be the same. It’s just common sense. We practice something other carriers only give lip service to: elevating the customer experience. We treat our customers like neighbors, not numbers. We have always understood that providing exceptional customer service is the most important part of what we do. Chicago-based U.S. Cellular has provided wireless service throughout Iowa for more than 20 years. There are almost 180 locations and nearly 1,500 associates across Iowa. U.S. Cellular has two locations in Waterloo, at 2060 Crossroads Blvd. (inside Crossroads Center) and 1513 Flammang Drive, and three in Cedar Falls, at 6301 University Ave. (one inside and one outside College Square Mall) and 314B Brandilynn Blvd. “We appreciate everyone in the Cedar Valley who voted U.S. Cellular the Best of the Best again this year,” said Don Cochran, director of sales for U.S. Cellular in Iowa. “We believe it’s time for consumers to know they don’t have to settle with their wireless relationship. At U.S. Cellular, people can expect to be treated with respect, fairness and honesty. Our 9,000 associates aim to deliver on this commitment every day at every consumer interaction.” In addition to our associates’ passion, U.S. Cellular provides customers with unique beneﬁts, such as the industry’s only points-based rewards program, no contract after the ﬁrst contract ends, free incoming calls and texts, free Overage Protection and free Battery Swap for your device. U.S. Cellular features a strong lineup of cutting-edge Android, Windows Phone and BlackBerry devices. The Samsung Galaxy S III is designed to enhance your life and make it easier

COURTESY PHOTO

to do the things you need your phone to do, such as messaging, taking pictures, multimedia activities and sharing information. Using revolutionary technology, the Galaxy S III is capable of doing things never seen before with other smartphones. With Share Shot, there is no longer a need to email or download photos. Photos taken can be immediately shared with up to ﬁve others by syncing devices. Photos, calendars, documents and video can be shared simply with S Beam by touching Galaxy S III phones together. The large screen with Trace technology makes text messaging a breeze by swiping between letters instead of typing, and the 8-megapixel camera means you can leave your point-and-shoot camera at home. U.S. Cellular devices are all backed by its high-speed nationwide network that has the highest call quality of any national carrier. Currently, 31 percent of

customers have access to 4G LTE speeds and 58 percent will have access by the end of 2012. U.S. Cellular was the ﬁrst wireless carrier to offer a 4G LTE network in Waterloo and Cedar Falls. “With 4G LTE, our customers have faster connections to the people, information and entertainment that enhance their lives and help them stay organized,” said Chad Hansen, area sales manager for U.S. Cellular. “4G LTE speeds allow customers to begin watching a movie in seconds and enjoy smoother video streaming with little to no buffering, and video chatting with family or business colleagues is seamless.” Not everyone has the time to learn how to use their device to its full potential. To address this, U.S. Cellular offers free Device Workshops each month, where current or potential smartphone users can learn more about the features, tips and tricks of their speciﬁc device. The workshop is open to everyone.

★ 2060 Crossroads Blvd., Waterloo ★ (319) 269-3550 ★ 1513 Flammang Drive, Waterloo ★ (319) 226-3500 ★ 6301 University Ave., Cedar Falls ★ (319) 269-3500, (319) 266-2500 ★ 314 B. Brandilynn Blvd., Cedar Falls ★ (319) 266-2140

“Ensuring every customer knows how to get the most out of their device is just one of the ways we provide the best customer experience,” Cochran said. “At each Device Workshop, our associates offer hands-on assistance to help you get the most out of the features on your smartphone.”

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 18, 2012

www.wcfcourier.com

BEST OF THE BEST 2012

THE COURIER

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BEST OF THE BEST 2012

SherwinWilliams

www.wcfcourier.com

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 18, 2012

Make the Most of Your Color with the Very Best Paint.

First Place: Paint/Wallpaper

Thank you for voting us the BEST paint store!

We strive for trademark customer service & we’re glad you noticed! COURTESY PHOTO

Whether you’re looking to spruce up a room with a fresh coat of paint or dramatically transform your living space, your local Sherwin-Williams stores have more options in decorating products than ever before. Today’s DIY consumer has a huge array of choices in textures, patterns and colors. At Sherwin-Williams, we bring all of these creative options together in one store, along with expert, how-to advice from salespeople who really understand the products they’ve been selling for years at these area locations. At the stores, you will ﬁnd a broad selection of easy-to-use, pre-coordinated color cards that help you choose the perfect palette of hues for your interior or exterior project. The Cedar Falls and Waterloo SherwinWilliams store staffs also are trained to help professional contractors with their jobs. Services include on-site delivery, custom color-matching, credit programs, speciﬁcation assistance and technical advice. At Sherwin-Williams, consumers can enjoy a high level of personalized, oneon-one service where individual tastes and preferences in color and design can be explored. There’s no need to feel over-

★ 5212 University Ave., Cedar Falls ★ (319) 277-1034 ★ 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday ★ 1411 E. San Marnan Drive, Waterloo ★ (319) 234-6138 ★ 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday ★ www.sherwin-williams.com

whelmed by the many decorating options available: Sherwin-Williams staff are on hand to help you access the products and tools you need to make decorating dreams a reality. Sherwin-Williams is the nation’s largest specialty retailer of paint, stains, coatings, wall coverings and sundry items. With more than 3,000 neighborhood stores in North America, the company is dedicated to supporting the do-it-yourself consumer with specialized products; superior technical knowledge; tools to make conﬁdent color selections; and expert, personalized service that’s focused on the do-it-yourselfer’s unique project needs.

Sherwin-Williams.com

1411 E San Marnan Dr WATERLOO 319.234.6138

5212 University Ave CEDAR FALLS 319.277.1034

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 18, 2012

www.wcfcourier.com

BEST OF THE BEST 2012

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Tony’s Plumbing and Heating Honorable Mention: Plumber In business for 3 years, Tony’s Plumbing and Heating provides great customer service and loyalty to customers. Tony’s Plumbing and Heating specializes in residential, commercial and industrial plumbing and also installs hydronic piping, boilers and process piping. ★ 1924 State St., Cedar Falls They also do excavating for sewer and ★ (319) 277-2750 water repair and new septic systems and ★ 7 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Monday through Friday service work, including hospitals and ★ www.tonyplumbingllc.com retirement communities. Tony’s service department treats each call as an opportunity to provide quality active approach to keep your plumbing service to our old and new clients. The system working properly. service team will get familiar with each Over many years of quality and profes- the ability to quickly and accurately diagclient so we as a company can take a pro- sional experience, Tony’s has acquired nose the work that needs to be done. This

1924 State Street Cedar Falls, IA 319-277-2750

makes it possible for them to provide customers with a realistic and fair estimate before any service is begun. Tony’s plumbers are well-trained to do their job safely and efficiently. All have been through ten hours of OSHA training. We send all our apprentices through apprenticeship programs, so they can get experience and the proper training to satisfy our customers. Two of our projects were featured in the Parade of Homes. We are a company that cares about having quality employees who are happy to serve our customers, and we thank all of our customers for choosing to use us.

www.tonyplumbingllc.com

• Plumbing • Heating • Geo Thermal

• In Floor Radiant Heat • Sewer & Water Repair • Mechanical

• Excavating • Process Piping • And More

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Dr. Kyle Christiason “I love the constant evolution of medicine,” Dr. Christiason said. “There is a lifetime of learning, and I am always amazed by the countless possibilities of family medicine.” Dr. Christiason has previously been recognized in The Courier’s Best of the Best and 20 Under 40. “Everyday I’m humbled by the opportunity and privilege of being part of my patients’ lives,” he said. “I am blessed to be part of a phenomenal health care team at Cedarloo.”

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 18, 2012

Dalton Plumbing, Heating and Cooling Inc.

First Place: Family Doctor

★ Cedarloo Family Practice ★ 2624 Orchard Drive, Cedar Falls ★ (319) 277-1990

www.wcfcourier.com

First Place: Plumber

COURTESY PHOTO

Dalton’s has been providing exceptional quality service to the Cedar Valley for more than 50 years. Owner Dave Krejchi and the Dalton team are certified, highly trained heating, cooling and plumbing technicians. They service all brands and types of equipment and carry top-name brands such as Lennox, Carrier, Rheem, Aprilaire, Kohler, Well-McLain and Hague and Northstar Water Conditioning. Dalton’s also boasts the area’s largest fireplace showroom, complete with 14 working models at their location in the Cedar Falls Industrial Park. Dalton carries Regency and Heat & Glo fireplace products. Besides

st ★ 5536 Nordic Drive, Cedar Falls ★ (319) 266-3513 (Cedar Falls) ★ (319) 234-2150 (Waterloo) ★ (319) 352-1405 (Waverly) ★ 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday ★ www.daltonphc.com indoor ﬁreplace units, a new trend is outdoor ﬁreplaces. The showroom is open from 9 a.m. to noon Saturdays through Dec. 15. Consumers are always looking for cleaner, more efficient, cost-effective ways to satisfy their household energy needs. Dalton’s does green with solar hot-water heating and geothermal heat.

THANK YOU for 1st Place Best of Best Plumbing Our professionally trained plumbers and support staff work very hard to earn your recognition for the Best of the Best 1st Place in Plumbers in the Cedar Valley!

Thank you Cedar Valley for voting Dr. Kyle Christiason

We are proud of our professional partnership with McDonald Supply Co. in Waterloo and Rheem Water Heaters.

Best of the Best! Dave Krejchi Owner st

1 Cedarloo Family Practice 2624 Orchard Drive • Cedar Falls • 277-1990

12 Your Comfort Is Our Promise 5536 Nordic Drive Cedar Falls www.DaltonPHC.com • 319-266-3513

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 18, 2012

www.wcfcourier.com

BEST OF THE BEST 2012

Den Herder Veterinary Hospital First Place: Veterinarian — Jerry Den Herder Honorable Mention: Veterinarian — Tom Taylor The doctors and staff of Den Herder Veterinary Hospital are very excited that our clients voted Jerry Den Herder as Best of the Best veterinarian and Tom Taylor honorable mention. Jerry Den Herder, owner of Den Herder Veterinary Hospital, has been a veterinarian for 40 years. Tom Taylor has been practicing for eight years, and Lori Cherney has been with Den Herder for 16 years. We specialize in preventive medicine, utilizing ultrasound, direct digital radiography, state-of-the-art laboratory analy-

★ 974 Home Plaza, Waterloo ★ (319) 232-5292 ★ 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday, 8 to 11:30 a.m. Saturday ★ www.denherdervet.com

sis, stem cell transplants, exotic animal medicine and surgical solutions. We put our clients’ and patients’ needs ﬁrst by building a strong, talented and well-educated team. We want every patient to feel how important they are to us and how much we want the best possible care for them.

PAGE 21

THE COURIER

Jiva Salonspa

First Place: Massage Honorable Mention: Hair Salon Bill Bradford purchased Jiva Salonspa in June when he saw it was a great business that had a solid foundation already in place, and he is excited to take it to the next level. At Jiva, it’s all about the experience and wowing guests, stemming from the ritual services such as hand massages, scalp massages, makeup touch ups, etc. At the full-service salon spa, guests are offered hair services, manicures and pedicures, massages, facials, body waxes and more. Jiva is an Aveda Lifestyle Center, where only Aveda products are sold. Aveda products are naturally derived products made from more than 600 plants and ﬂowers, which is better for clients and the environment. Guests are encouraged to sit back, relax and enjoy being pampered in the relaxing environment at Jiva. Jiva was recognized as a national Salon Today Top 200 winner in 2009 and has been represented in the Best of the Best

sstt

★ 223 Main St., Cedar Falls ★ (319) 268-0772 ★ 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Friday and Saturday ★ www.jivasalonspa.com

massage category every year since 2003. The business also cares about its community. “We are very involved with our community in terms of giving back,” said owner Bill Bradford. “We recognized that need and do what we can to give back.”

Thank You TO ALL OUR LOYAL CUSTOMERS WHO VOTED US BEST OF THE BEST MASSAGE AND HONORABLE MENTION FOR BEST HAIR SALON.

• Preventative medicine • Advanced in-house diagnostics including Digital X-ray

• • • •

General & Orthopedic Surgery Stem-Cell Transplants Grooming & Boarding Exotic Animal Care CEDAR FALLS

974 Home Plaza,Waterloo • 232-5292 Mon-Fri- 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. ; Sat 8 a.m - 11:30 a.m. www.denherdervet.com

223 MAIN STREET (319) 268-0772

PAGE 22

THE COURIER

BEST OF THE BEST 2012

www.wcfcourier.com

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 18, 2012

Wheaton Franciscan Healthcare First Place: Pediatrician — Brian Sims, DO Honorable Mention: Family Doctor — Brian Burnett, MD; Home Health Agency — Covenant Home Health; Pediatrician — Jodi Van Sickle, MD; Medical Staff Member — Kit Carpenter; Pediatrician — Lori Shockley, MD; Podiatrist — Rick Bremner, DPM Wheaton Franciscan Healthcare is an integrated health care network including Covenant Medical Center in Waterloo, Sartori Memorial Hospital in Cedar Falls, Mercy Hospital in Oelwein, Covenant Cancer Treatment Center in Waterloo and Covenant Clinic, with more than 120 primary and specialty care professionals at 22 locations across Northeast Iowa. Areas of excellence include: orthopedics, neurosurgery, maternity and NICU, cancer treatment, minimally invasive and bariatric surgery. Wheaton Franciscan Healthcare invests in the communities we serve and is committed to living out the healing ministry by providing exceptional and compassionate health care service that promotes the dignity and well-being of the people we serve. Wheaton Franciscan Healthcare’s Covenant Medical Center traces its origins to 1912 when Franciscan Sisters founded St. Francis Hospital in Waterloo. In 1986, the Wheaton Franciscan Sisters consolidated St. Francis Hospital with neighboring Schoitz Medical Center to form Covenant Medical Center. Sartori Memorial Hospital, the ﬁrst in Cedar Falls, was owned by the city of Cedar Falls until 1996 when it was sold to the Wheaton Franciscan Sisters. Today, Sartori Memorial is a 100-bed, full-service community hospital providing acute, sub-acute and outpatient care to the people living in and near Cedar Falls. Mercy Hospital was founded in 1926 by the Sisters of Mercy in the railroad town of Oelwein. In 1982, The Sisters of Mercy transferred sponsorship of the hospital to the Wheaton Franciscan Sisters. Mercy Hospital is a 25-bed, full-service hospital that provides acute, skilled and outpatient care to the community and surrounding area of Oelwein. When it comes to the health and wellbeing of your family, you want to ﬁnd the right health care provider. The Covenant

Clinic network of more than 100 primary care and specialty physicians, physician assistants, nurse practitioners all share the common goal of providing exceptional quality health care to families like yours throughout Northeast Iowa. Covenant Clinic was formed in 1994 to further extend our integrated network of physician health care services to the communities we serve. Covenant Clinic comprises more than 125 primary care and specialty physicians, physician assistants, nurse practitioners and numerous health care and office professionals who share the common goal of providing quality health care services to individuals throughout Northeast Iowa. Clinic offices are located within the metropolitan area of Waterloo/Cedar Falls, as well as in 13 outlying rural communities including Arlington, Dysart, Evansdale, Fairbank, Gladbrook, Jesup, La Porte City, Oelwein, Reinbeck, Shell Rock, Tripoli, Traer and Waverly. In this age of remarkable technology, it’s the people who remain Wheaton Franciscan Healthcare’s most valuable asset. Thank you, Cedar Valley, for recognizing these outstanding people in 2012.

Individual winners

■ Kit Carpenter, medical assistant at Covenant Clinic in Waterloo: “Growing up, I saw the true compassion Dr. Donald Bickley had for his patients,” Carpenter said. “Now I see the same while working with his son, Dr. Mark. That kindness is something I only hope I can convey as well.” ■ Lori Shockley, MD, Covenant Professional Office Building, Waterloo: “I am truly humbled and honored to be chosen for this award,” Shockley said. “It shows that I have connected with my patients in a meaningful way, and hopefully have provided the care and caring that they need. I will continue to work hard to meet your child’s needs and your needs as parents.” ■ Rick Bremner, DPM, Covenant Clin-

ic, Cedar Falls: “What ‘Best of the Best’ means to me is that I have wonderful support from the receptionist, facilities and administration to my two nurses who have been with me for many years,” Bremner said. “I believe this is a team approach and we try and treat patients the way we would want to be treated.” ■ Brian Burnett, MD, Covenant Clinic Arrowhead: “Pediatrics and sports medicine are two areas I enjoy,” Burnett said. “Having patients trust and depend on my medical advice has been humbling and motivating over time.” ■ Brian Sims, DO, Covenant Clinic Pediatrics, Waterloo: “It is again a great honor to be named The Courier’s Best of the Best pediatrician,” Sims said. “ I am so grateful to the trust my patients and their parents place in me. I ﬁnd it very satisfying to have my patients’ parents recommend me to their friends and family. I love being a pediatrician. I feel myself to be a partner with my patients’ parents in keeping them healthy and well. I hope to be around for my patients’ own kids and grandkids. “ ■ Jodi VanSickle, MD, Covenant Clinic Kimball: “Our staff is excellent. We have a team that provides care with an attitude of respect and service,” VanSickle said. “I am proud to be a part of the Kimball Clinic. It is a privilege to provide care to families and watch their children grow.” In addition to the individual winners, Covenant Home Health garnered Best of the Best recognition this year. “Happy staff equals happy patients and our team treats each other and patients like family, providing top quality home care in a supportive and caring environment,” said Cheryl Neill, patient care director of home health/home medical. “I went into nursing because there were so many options, even in the ’80s. Nursing was expanding into more home care and occupational health. Home health was my favorite clinical experience as a student nurse. Home health care continues to bring joy and satisfaction 29 years

★ 3421 W. Ninth St., Waterloo ★ (319) 272-8000 ★ www.WheatonIowa.org

later.” To Wheaton Franciscan Healthcare, providing exceptional care also means going beyond hospital and clinic walls to reach out to those at risk. That’s exactly what the Covenant Home Health staff is focused on. A team of RNs, LPNs, home care aides, therapists and homemakers make more than 45,000 home visits each year, providing much needed health care services in the comfort of the patient’s home. Taking Great Care of Our Communities is what our associates, medical staff, volunteers and auxilians strive to do each and every day. It is a part of our mission and it is the very fabric of what makes us Wheaton Franciscan Healthcare. This past year, we provided more than $13.5 million in beneﬁts to the community in the form of Charity Care, public programs, community health services, ﬁnancial contributions and subsidized, education and community building activities. We are very proud of the work that we do for you and your family. It is a commitment that we have continually made to the communities we serve.

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 18, 2012

www.wcfcourier.com

BEST OF THE BEST 2012

PAGE 23

THE COURIER

FIRST PLACE

Brian Sims, DO Covenant Clinic Category: Pediatrician

Honorable Mention

Brian Burnett, MD Covenant Clinic Category: Family Doctor

Richard Bremner, DPM Covenant Clinic Category: Podiatrist

Honorable Mention

Lori Shockley, MD Covenant Clinic Category: Pediatrician

Jodi Van Sickle, MD Covenant Clinic Category: Pediatrician

Kit Carpenter Covenant Clinic Category: Medical Assistant

Our associates â&#x20AC;&#x201C; caring and confident. Dedicated to enhancing the quality of life; to sustaining excellence in health care; and to affirming the dignity of the individual â&#x20AC;&#x201C; we rely heavily on their expertise and experience. Your confidence in these individuals is a tribute to their caring spirit. And we, like you, value their friendship and compassion.

Covenant Home Health Category: Home Health Agency

PAGE 24

BEST OF THE BEST 2012

THE COURIER

Stickfort Electric

www.wcfcourier.com

Matthias The Main Street Landscaping Exchange

Honorable Mention: Electrician

First Place: Landscape Service

First Place: Consignment Store

Stickfort Electric Co. has served the Cedar Valley for more than 50 years. Erwin Stickfort started the company in 1957 on the foundation of integrity, quality and trust. After 50 years, we strive to continue that tradition by providing the most reliable products and the highest level of service to all our valued customers. With years of experience, the professional and conscientious service we provide to our customers is what has made Stickfort Electric the area’s premier electrical contractor in the Cedar Valley. We will continue to earn your trust and vote of conﬁdence in the future.

Matthias Landscaping specializes in creating unique landscapes to suit a homeowner’s personality and site. Because they do not have a garden center, they offer a broader range of plant material for those who want something different, said owner Doug Matthias. The high-quality staff is kept up-todate on the improved products that create the one-of-a-kind look people want. “We have the expertise and ability to take on projects of any size, even acting as the general contractor to ensure the quality and integrity of the design are followed throughout the process,” Matthias said. Matthias Landscaping has received several manufacturer awards from its vendors, as well being recognized in The Courier’s Best of the Best.

The Main Street Exchange was born 3 1/2 years ago out of the Craig and Candy Wood family’s love to shop consignment stores and find a bargain. We are proud to say that we have the Best of the Best consignors who bring us the Best of their Best items to resell. We share this honor with them. We enjoy working in the Cedar Valley, and we give 10 percent of our profit to a nonprofit organization in the community each month. Our store specializes in clothing for all ages, housewares, home decor, jewelry, books, collectibles, kitchenware and some furniture. We have high-quality merchandise that is very gently used. There is something for everyone. Thank you for voting us the Best of the Best.

★ 201 E. 22nd St., Cedar Falls ★ (319) 266-5438 ★ 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Thank You!

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 18, 2012

★ 3170 Wagner Rd., Waterloo ★ (319) 226-6000 ★ 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday ★ www.matthiaslandscaping.com

Add Life

to your Outdoor Living Space

★ 309 Main St., Cedar Falls ★ (319) 268-7243 ★ 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday; 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday ★ www.themainstreetexchange.com

OCTOBER 2012

IN GOOD TASTE

PULSE HIT LIST

HOUSE MUSIC

BIG SCREEN RUNDOWN

COLLEGE GUIDE PULSE 1

AVAILABLE AT OVER

160

LOCATIONS NEAR YOU

CVPULSE.COM

Because of you, we are “The Best of the Best”

For Voting Us “Best of the Best” in the Cedar Valley!

Serving the Cedar Valley since 1957

319-226-6000 3170 Wagner Rd. | Waterloo, IA

matthiaslandscaping.com

We share this honor with all our customers 309 Main Street Cedar Falls, IA 50613 319.268.7243 E-mail: mainstreetexchange@cfu.net www.themainstreetexchange.com Join us on Facebook suntancity.com

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 18, 2012

BEST OF THE BEST 2012

www.wcfcourier.com

PAGE 25

THE COURIER

Young Plumbing, Heating and Cooling First Place: Heating and Cooling

Thank you Cedar Valley

for voting us

COURTESY PHOTO

Young Plumbing, Heating and Cooling specializes in being a full-scale mechanical contractor to commercial, industrial, medical and residential buildings with a strong emphasis on plumbing, heating, air conditioning and ventilation. Customer satisfaction and customer security — knowing we will stand behind all the work we complete — sets Young Plumbing, Heating and Cooling apart. We always look for total solutions to problems versus temporary repairs. We are advancing with technology to provide options for energy savings as well as providing quality installations and repairs at a fair price. Young Plumbing, Heating and Cooling has been recognized as one of the ★ 750 S. Hackett Road, Waterloo Top 600 Specialty Contractors by Engi★ (319) 234-4411 neering News, Top 20 Employers in the ★ 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday Cedar Valley by the Courier and has ★ www.youngphc.com received numerous John Deere Excellence Awards. most sophisticated systems in industrial We provide services from minor resi- and medical facilities. No project is too dential repairs, all the way to installing the large or too small.

Best of the Best! st

Young Plumbing & Heating Co.

750 South Hackett R. Waterloo, Iowa (P) 319-234-4411 (F) 319-234-4540 www.youngphc.com WO-012212103

PAGE 26

BEST OF THE BEST 2012

THE COURIER

www.wcfcourier.com

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 18, 2012

Stuff Etc.

Roth Jewelers

Honorable Mention: Consignment Store

Honorable Mention: Jewelry Store

Stuff Etc., locally owned and operated by John and Nancy Claassen, opened next to Menards in Waterloo in October 2010. Stuff Etc. is a department store of quality consigned items. Consignment means people bring in their gently used items, and we sell the items to the public and pay the consignor after their items sell. We accept a complete line, including clothes, furniture, books, jewelry, home decor, kitchen items, electronics, appliances, tools and more. We have 23,000 square feet of used items, many of which are one-of-a-kind or have never been used. We currently serve more than 6,000 consignors, guaranteeing a large variety of quality items. Being a part of a franchise gives us an advantage and an opportunity to learn from the best. Stuff Etc. has been in operation since 1985 in Iowa City, with other stores in Coralville, Cedar Rapids and Davenport. New franchise opportunities are available in Des Moines, Sioux City and other

NEW CONSIGNORS:

Bring in this coupon when you open a new Stuff account, and receive a

FREE Stuff Etc Bag and

$5.00 off your next purchase of $10 or more.

Good at Waterloo Only,

★ 1210 Flammang Drive, Waterloo ★ (319) 233-8009 ★ 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, noon to 5 p.m. Sunday

areas. One of our best features is our computerized inventory system. It allows every consignor to have an individual account that keeps track of all their items. Each item is barcoded, and when their items sell, the money is automatically applied to their account. Consignors are able to view their sold items in their account online at any time. We strive to provide an easy-to-shop department store setting that is appealing and inviting. We go to great lengths to handle our consignors’ items in a professional and secure manner. We want to make consigning a fruitful and enjoyable experience for everyone. Give it a try; it’s a great way to go green and “Recycle, Reuse, Resell.”

Milton E. Roth, whose father founded the company in 1931, owns Roth Jewelers. They specialize in diamonds, diamond engagement rings, watches, watch repair, appraisals, in-house custom design and jewelry repair, gift items, Pandora and pearls. Roth Jewelers has been a staple in downtown Waterloo for 81 years. The goal is to provide exceptional customer service with a family-friendly atmosphere. General Manager Kevin Schreiber says: “We are on our fourth generation of customers. Every customer has a unique request and we are so proud of our staff as they pay attention to every detail from the selection of just the right engagement ring to complete renovations of existing jewelry.” Roth’s has been selected Best of the Best jeweler every year by Courier readers. Through the years, they have reﬁned their brands with the changing times. Roth recently became a dealer for Pandora Jewelry. They carry a full line of

★ 229 E. Fifth St., Waterloo ★ (319) 234-6479 ★ 9:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday and Friday; 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday; 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday ★ www.rothjewelers.com

Pandora beads and accessories including earrings, watches, rings and necklaces. Watchmakers are on staff daily. For collectors, Roth offers Swarovski Crystal with everything from collectible art pieces to stunningly beautiful ﬁne jewelry for all occasions. One thing that has never changed is their knowledge of diamonds, ﬁne jewelry and exceptional service. Roth Jewelers is a member of the American Gem Society, which requires completion of a complicated regimen in order to achieve this high status among jewelers.

$20% off 2 full-priced items (excludes furniture, mattresses/box springs/bed frames)

Good at Waterloo Only. expires Nov 30, 2012

expires 11/30/12

CEDAR VALLEY’S DIAMOND EXPERTS Waterloo (next to Menards) 1210 Flammang Drive 319-233-8009 www.stuffetconline.com

SINCE 1931.

WWW.ROTHJEWELERS.COM

M-F 9AM-8PM • Sat. 9AM-5PM • Sun. Noon-5PM

www.wcfcourier.com

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 18, 2012

BEST OF THE BEST 2012

L.A. Nails & Spa

Ravenwood Nursing and Rehab Center

First Place: Full-Service Nails L.A. Nails & Spa, which specializes in the art of nails — artiﬁcial nails, nail care, pedicures and manicures — has been named Best of Best each year since 2005. “We want to make people look nice and feel conﬁdent about themselves,” said owner Loan Pham. “We enjoy working with people.” Guests can enjoy such services as full sets of nails, manicure, pedicures, shellac, gel and acrylic nails, and relax in the waiting room with many iPads for internet access. There is a kid’s room and complementary drinks with your service. “We go above and beyond to make our customers feel special and happy,” Pham said. ★ 1403 Flammang Drive, Waterloo ★ (319) 236-4464 ★ 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Friday; 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday

PAGE 27

THE COURIER

Honorable Mention: Nursing Home

st COURTESY PHOTO

Ravenwood Nursing and Rehab Center has been a provider of long-term and skilled nursing for more than 38 years, specializing in physical, occupational and speech therapy and wound care. “Our skilled unit is one of the ﬁnest in the Cedar Valley and surrounding area,” said administrator Diana Roberts. “We provide extraordinary care with welltrained and experienced staff.” Roberts has been in the long-term care business for more than 19 years. “I wanted to make a difference in the lives of others,” she said. “We all have a lot to gain both personally and professionally from the elderly

★ 2651 St. Francis Drive, Waterloo ★ (319) 232-6808

population.” Ravenwood has previously been recognized in Best of the Best as well as being named Care Initiatives Facility of the Year and winning Iowa Health Care Association’s Quality of Life Award for its “Walk and Dine Program.” They have a nurse practitioner on staff full time, with more than 20 years of wound care experience. They also have state-of-the-art therapy equipment and programming.

Welcome to

NURSING AND REHAB CENTER to all our loyal friends and customers for voting LA NAILS SALON “Best of the Best”

PROFESSIONAL NAILS & SPA FOR LADIES & GENTLEMEN THE UNIQUE TREATMENT YOU DESERVE

319-236-4464 Monday-Friday 9:00-8:00 Saturday 9:00-6:00, Sunday-CLOSED

The Cedar Valley’s Premier Skilled Nursing Facility

1403 Flammang Dr., Waterloo, IA Email: LanailsNspa@yahoo.com

“PROVIDING THAT TRANSITION FROM

” E M O H HOSPITAL to 2651 St. Francis Dr. Waterloo, IA (319) WO 062412129

232-6808

BEST OF THE BEST 2012

THE COURIER

Black Hawk Hotel As owners of an architectural ﬁrm involved in historic renovation, Dan and Kathy Tindall decided to purchase the Black Hawk Hotel in 2002 and bring it back to its glory as a historic boutique hotel that could serve the Cedar Valley area as a premier lodging facility. The hotel, listed on the National Register of Historical Places, was voted Best Hotel in the Cedar Valley in 2009, voted Best of the Best in the hotel category in 2009, 2010, 2011 and 2012 by The Courier readership,

www.wcfcourier.com

★ 115 Main St., Cedar Falls ★ (319) 277-1161 ★ www.blackhawk-hotel.com

is the recipient of the 2006 Iowa Architectural Foundation’s Community Design Excellence Award and was cited by the Des Moines Register in 2006 as one of the top 100 “unique/wonderful” places to visit. The hotel offers luxury lodging in a historic setting for the discriminating business or recreational traveler.

Ryan Sullivan State Farm

We would like to thank our customers for voting us Best of the Best

Honorable Mention: Insurance Agent For the past year, Ryan Sullivan State ★ 1809 University Ave., Farm Insurance has specialized in auto, Waterloo home and life insurance. ★ (319) 236-1099 “I wanted to start giving back to my ★ www.ryansullivansf. community that has given so much to com ★ 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. me,” Sullivan said. Monday through Friday “I am always there for my customers. I drove 25 miles to help one of my clients change his tire because he was not physiSullivan and his staff are available to help cally able to do it.” their clients at any time of the day.

Waverly Bowl Inn Open seven days a week, Waverly Bowl Inn is known for being a bright and clean center with great food and friendly service. “We try to make your bowling event the best experience. You are buying not a game of bowling, but a feeling,” said manager Mary Anna Denton. As well as friendly customer service, Waverly Bowl Inn also boasts great burgers. Waverly Bowl Inn has been No. 1 in

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 18, 2012

Honorable Mention: Hotel/Motel

Honorable Mention: Bowling Alley

★ Honorable Mention: Bowling Alley ★ 915 Fourth St. S.W., Waverly ★ (319) 352-4724 ★ www.waverlybowl.com

summer youth registrations with kidsbowlfree.com, sponsor of the year in 2007, and has been recognized for sponsoring Jaycees, Waverly Exchange and youth events.

Waterloo Golf Headquarters First Place: Golf Equipment Waterloo Golf Headquarters is known ★ 2020 Bopp St., Waterloo for offering the largest selection of golf ★ (319) 232-3979 equipment, accessories and clothing with ★ 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Saturday, the best knowledge and customer service. 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday; winter hours subject to change With 15 years experience in the golf business, Mike Schuchmann has owned Waterloo Golf Headquarters for nine of its same respect and customer service if they 29 years. are buying a bag of tees or new clubs,” “We try to treat each customer with the Schuchmann said.

If you have any questions on your insurance or would like a quote, please call me at the ofﬁce 319-236-1099 or on my cell 319-415-0699

Ryan Sullivan State Farm Agent 1809 University Avenue Waterloo, IA 50701

Business: 319-236-1099 Cell: 319-415-0699 Fax: 319-233-0599

E-mail-Ryan@RyanSullivanSF.com Providing Insurance and Financial Services

THANK

YOU

FOR VOTING US

RLY E V A W I NN L W O B

BEST OF THE BEST!! g e st G olf L a r c ti o n S ele e In T h a r Va l l e y ! d e C

80 -05 -06 -07

915 4th St. SW, Waverly 319-352-4724 waverlybowl.com

Enjoy Golf at it’s best with all the right En equ equipment at highly competitive prices! • Golf Simulator Open All Year Long • Same Day Re-Gripping • Custom Fitting • Trade-Ins Accepted • Gift Certiﬁcates Available • Travel Bags Available • Expert Staff To Help You • Junior Clubs Available • Loft And Lie Machine • Golf Lessons Available

09 -10 -11

PAGE 28

Come meet our knowledgable staff today. From “beginner to pro” we can help you!

Locally Owned and Operated by Mike Schuchmann

WATERLOO GOLF HEADQUARTERS 2020 Bopp St., Waterloo • 232-3979 Hours: Mon. - Fri. 9-8, Sat. 9-6, Sun. 11-5 Golﬁng Has Never Been Better Come See Us Today!

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 18, 2012

www.wcfcourier.com

BEST OF THE BEST 2012

Scratch Cupcakery First Place: Bakery, Dessert

COURIER FILE PHOTO

Scratch Cupcakery was a leap of faith for owner Natalie Brown two years ago. Since then, she has expanded the cupcake business into a new Main Street location in Cedar Falls and opened Scratch Too in Waterloo. Scratch offers 14 to 20 flavors of cupcakes each day with different flavors available at each store. We also serve fresh-squeezed lemonade, fruit smoothies, slushies, hot drinks and frozen blends. The Cedar Falls store carries 18 flavors of artisan gelato and sorbet as well. We deliver cupcakes all over the Cedar Valley five days a week and cater numerous weddings and large events each year. Scratch Curbside is our mobile cupcake truck and can be found all over Iowa serving up cupcake goodness. We ship cupcakes November through May all over the country and are currently expanding to additional locations, including a new store at 165 S. Jordan Creek Parkway, across from the Jordan Creek Mall in West Des Moines.

★ 315 Main St., Cedar Falls, and 1517 Flammang Drive, Waterloo ★ (319) 277-7855 ★ Cedar Falls: 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Friday; 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday. ★ Waterloo: 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday ★ www.scratchcupcakery.com

“Customers told us early on what they loved, and what they didn’t,” Brown said. “It wasn’t hard to focus and really listen. We’re really spoiled to be a part of so many lives in the Cedar Valley and beyond.” Scratch has been on the Best of the Best Bakery and Desserts lists in 2010, 2011 and 2012, and has won titles at Beers to You and Gourmet Too in 2011 and 2012. Scratch also sponsors four major nonproﬁt organizations each year. “We want our customers to know that when they come in to Scratch, they’re doing more than buying cupcakes, they’re helping us give back, too,” Brown said.

THE COURIER

PAGE 29

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THE COURIER

Liberty Bank Honorable Mention: Bank Teller â&#x20AC;&#x201D; Kayla Seeley

BEST OF THE BEST 2012

Servpro of Black Hawk County

www.wcfcourier.com

The Other Place

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 18, 2012

First Place: Pizza

The Other Place of the Cedar Valley wants to say â&#x2DC;&#x2026; 4214 University Ave., Cedar Falls thank you for voting us Best of the Best for pizza â&#x2DC;&#x2026; (319) 268-1655 this year. This honor has been bestowed upon The â&#x2DC;&#x2026; 2214 College St., Cedar Falls â&#x20AC;&#x153;I absolutely love working at Liberty OP now for eight years. â&#x2DC;&#x2026; (319) 277-9720 â&#x2DC;&#x2026; 360 E. Ridgeway, Waterloo Bank,â&#x20AC;? said teller Kayla Seeley. A locally owned and operated business for more â&#x2DC;&#x2026; (319) 287-9400 â&#x20AC;&#x153;Currently, I am a full-time student than 40 years, The OP strives to produce a quality â&#x2DC;&#x2026; 821 W. Bremer Ave., Waverly at UNI, studying pizza made from scratch each and every day. Honorable Mention: â&#x2DC;&#x2026; (319) 352-4742 business finance. â&#x2DC;&#x2026; 4020 Bankers In addition to mouth-watering pizza, The Other Carpet Cleaning â&#x2DC;&#x2026; 3904 Lafayette, Evansdale When I graduate, Place serves oven-baked subs, sandwiches, pasta, Blvd., Waterloo â&#x2DC;&#x2026; (319) 232-3536 Servpro of Black Hawk County special- salads, chili and a variety of other selections that I am planning to â&#x2DC;&#x2026; (319) 233-8527 â&#x2DC;&#x2026; Open daily at 11 a.m. izes in carpet cleaning, ďŹ re and water res- may vary between the locations in the Cedar make banking my â&#x2DC;&#x2026; 8:30 a.m. to 5 â&#x2DC;&#x2026; www.theotherplace.com p.m. Monday toration and mold remediation. career. Valley. through â&#x20AC;&#x153;We take pride in being quality over â&#x20AC;&#x153;I work between Thursday; 8:30 quantity,â&#x20AC;? said owner Scott Demuth. 15-20 hours a a.m. to 5:30 â&#x20AC;&#x153;We love working with homeowners and week. I open new p.m. Friday; 8:30 helping them out when a disaster affects accounts and run a.m. to noon them. customer transacSaturday â&#x20AC;&#x153;We are fair, honest and do the absolute tions. The best part best we can. We take pride in our business of my job is seeing customers who I have established a rela- and what we do for our customers!â&#x20AC;? tionship with. I try to make every custom â&#x2DC;&#x2026; 5719 Westminster er feel special. We are grateful for every Drive, Suite C, Cedar customer we have. If you are looking for a Falls new bank, I would highly suggest Liberty â&#x2DC;&#x2026; (319) 268-1521 Bank.â&#x20AC;? â&#x2DC;&#x2026; 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Ryan Sheridan, market president, said:

Monday through â&#x20AC;&#x153;We are truly fortunate to have Kayla ! ! $! % " # & ' Friday and 24 hours " " 319.277.9720 319.268.1655 319.287.9400 319.352.4742 319.232.3536 on our staff. This honor is very well emergency service (#) * $ ) *)+ +)( , - # (. )(. $ ) $/ 0* $ / 1 1 deserved.â&#x20AC;?

Congratulations KaylaSeeleyâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;LibertyBank

Honorable ention est ank eller

U O U Y O Y K N K A N H A T H T

CEDAR VALLEY FOR VOTING US

BEST OF

THE BEST

get found.

Kayla Seeley

4020 Bankers Boulevard O Waterloo, IA 319-233-8527 libertybankiowa.com

Scott Demuth 319-268-1521

@ WCFCourier.com/get-it

WCFCourier.com/get-it is the Cedar Valleyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s premier social network. Create a blog. Connect with your friends. Form or join a group. Advertise your business. Voice your opinion. Post stories, photos and videos. Get found.

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Direct Appliance and TV Honorable Mention: Appliance Store Direct Appliance and TV has been in ★ 5424 University Ave., Cedar Falls business since 2000 and is locally owned ★ (319) 553-0171 by Karl Morehouse and Tom Ridder, who ★ 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday; 9 sell the products and stand behind them a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday ★ www.directapplianceandtv.com with local service. The store carries a wide variety of brands, including GE, Viking, Electro“We have a great team,” Morehouse said. lux vacuum cleaners, Frigidaire, Fisher & “We work together to make sure the cusPaykel, Speed Queen, Monogram, Sharp, tomer is taken care of. We thank all of you Toshiba, Sony and Omaha Bedding. who voted for us in Best of the Best.”

3319-553-0171 5424 University U Ave. I Cedar Falls

Locally owned & operated by Karl Morehouse & Tom Ridder

Dan Deery Toyota

(319) 277-4500

Honorable Mention: Auto Salesperson — Phil Powers

Dan Deery

Phil Powers has been in automotive sales ★ 7404 University Ave., Cedar Falls for more than 14 years and has spent more ★ (319) 277-4500 than nine of them with Dan Deery. ★ 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Thursday, Powers is a certiﬁed new Toyota sales 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Friday and Saturday ★ www.dandeerytoyota.com representative. “I believe there is no better place to work than for Mr. Deery,” Powers said. “I believe with past and present customers. in treating my customers right and strive “I invite all of you to stop by, say hi and on each one of them to be completely sat- check us out at our brand-new state-ofisﬁed. I enjoy building new relationships the-art facility.”

B&K Lawn Care B&K Lawn Care specializes in complete lawn care and snow removal services. Tyler Kunkle and Ryan Bockes have owned and operated B&K Lawn Care for the past nine years. Their services include mowing, fertilizing, organic-based fertilizing, aeration, landscaping, dethatching, shrub trimming, snow removal and other requested lawn care services. Tyler and Ryan continued to operate B&K Lawn Care while completing their

Toyota

All new

7404 University Ave., Cedar Falls, IA

STATE OF THE ART

FACILITY

Phil Powers

Sales Consultant

Honorable Mention: Landscape Service

★ 3132 Big Woods Road, Cedar Falls ★ (319) 415-6935 or (319) 415-6934 ★ Monday through Friday, seasonally on Saturday

degrees in business at the University of Northern Iowa. All of B&K’s employees take pride in caring for both their residential and commercial clients in the Cedar Valley Area. They look forward to serving the Cedar Valley for years to come.

An Elegant Affair

1-800-728-4501

319-415-6935 Mowing • Lawn Fertilizing • Organic Based Fertilizing • Weed Control • Aeration • Snow Removal

CEDAR FALLS, IOWA

First Place: Bridal Shop

An Elegant Affair specializes in all your ★ 215 Main St., Cedar Falls bridal apparel needs, from bridal gowns ★ (319) 277-5655 and bridesmaids dresses to tuxedoes and ★ 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday and Thursday, accessories. Owner Jen Johnson started 10 a.m.to 5 p.m. Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday working at An Elegant Affair seven years ★ www.anelegantaffairbridal.com ago after graduating from college. With her interest in fashion, especially bridal gowns, it was a perfect ﬁt for her. “It is also best to bring trusted friends Because the staff at An Elegant Affair and family to help you shop,” Johnson want customers to receive all the attention said. “Our priorities are to make our brides they deserve, appointments are preferred. beautiful and everyone happy!”

215 Main Street Cedar Falls, Iowa 50613 Phone: 319-277-5655

www.anelegantaffairbridal.com

Thank You Cedar Valley For Voting Dan Deery Motors

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best of the best 2012

www.wcfcourier.com

Thursday, October 18, 2012

tions a r e n e 3 G eery's of the D

BES

Dan Deery

John Deery Sr.

DJ Deery

Dylan Deery

Dustin Deery

All New Look State of The Art Facility

Dan Deery Toyota-Scion 7404 University Ave., Cedar Falls 277-4500 www.dandeerytoyota.com

Thursday, October 18, 2012

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best of the best 2012

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PAGE 33

ST OF THE BEST!!

Dan Deery Motor Co. www.dandeerymotors.com

3900 Alexandra Dr., Waterloo 233-5000 University & Main, Cedar Falls 266-5500

Thursday, October 18, 2012

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best of the best 2012

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ST OF THE BEST!!

Dan Deery Motor Co. www.dandeerymotors.com

3900 Alexandra Dr., Waterloo 233-5000 University & Main, Cedar Falls 266-5500

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THURSDAY, OCTOBER 18, 2012

Davidson Dittmer Jewelers First Place: Jewelry Store Davidson Dittmer Jewelers, located at 116 Main St., is the longest established jeweler on the Parkade in downtown Cedar Falls. Founded by Dave Davidson and Brandon Dittmer, they originally specialized in custom design and diamond sales, but now in addition, they have made a huge transformation into the hottest and latest fashion trends in jewelry, providing the largest selection in sterling silver and white gold designs to fit any budget. With the addition of the Pandora Shop in Shop, they have the distinction of being the largest Pandora dealer in the Cedar Valley. They have the best selection and latest styles with the most experienced staff in the area to help you on your journey of Pandora’s unforgettable moments. Davidson Dittmer Jewelers also has added the Kameleon Jewelry line. Kameleon offers choices and expands versatility for the woman who enjoys everchanging styling options. It is affordable, fashionable and fun. Fashion conscious women love to change, like a Kameleon, their inter-changeable “pops” to fit the style of the day. Davidson Dittmer Jewelers also wanted to present something for the ladies who appreciate a more feminine look. Belle E’toile, French for “Beautiful Star”, is not merely a style; it’s a vision to inspire the uniqueness in us all. With its European styling, it features quality craftsmanship and innovative designs to express a woman’s femininity, individuality and, above all, beauty. Appealing to the sophisticated “Fashionista,” it is finely crafted and affordable. Ladies are able to get that “Runway Look” right here in the Cedar Valley. Finally, with the addition of Metalsmiths Sterling, Davidson Dittmer Jewelers offers the highest quality handmade sterling silver jewelry made by the best craftsmen in the world. Simply elegant, their pieces are timeless classics with clean and contemporary lines, and include semi-precious stones that will never go out of style. With multiple collections to choose from, you are certain to find classic pieces to last a lifetime. With all of these great brands to choose from at Davidson Dittmer Jewelers, ladies are certain to find something to fit their

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★ 116 Main St., Cedar Falls ★ (319) 266-2601 ★ 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday; 10 am. to 7 p.m. Thursday; 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday ★ www.davidsondittmer.com

needs in any price range and their excellent staff will help men ﬁnd that perfect gift for the lady in your life. Indulge yourself in the Davidson Dittmer Jewelers experience and stop in today or go to davidsondittmer.com.

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THURSDAY, OCTOBER 18, 2012

BEST OF THE BEST 2012

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Thanks for voting us

Best of the Best!

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BEST OF THE BEST 2012

Community United Child Care Centers First Place: Day Care Provider

Community United Child Care Centers specializes in the care of children 6 weeks to 10 years old, operating three out of ﬁve nationally accredited child care centers in a 50-mile radius of Black Hawk County. Executive Director Susan Dehl owned and operated a private preschool for many years and has worked as a substitute teacher in the Waterloo, Hudson and Denver school districts. She has worked for CUCCC for 18 years. “I believe the best way to ensure a cohesive and energized community is by providing high-quality education and care for our youngest members,” Dehl said. “I believe this business can provide the foundation that allows a child the opportunity to achieve greatness.” The care centers offer scholarships and participate in the Waterloo and Cedar

★ 1026 Seerley Blvd., Cedar Falls ★ (319) 277-7303 ★ www.cuccc.org

Falls Voluntary Preschool Programs. The well-trained teaching staff has earned a BA, AA, CDA or is working toward an early childhood certiﬁcation, which is essential in achieving quality education and care. CUCCC goes through a yearly strategic planning process and applies that information to goals that complement our mission statement, “Partnering with families to nurture and educate tomorrow’s leaders.” “We continue to look for ways to improve our service to families and strengthen the early childhood education programs in our community,” Dehl said.

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Mauer Eye Center KJ & Kompany First Place: Eye Doctor — Dr. Amy Hartmann; Optical Honorable Mention: Eye Doctor — Dr. Richard Mauer; Massage Mauer Eye Center has been a staple in the Cedar Valley community since 1990, providing state-of-the-art eye care. In our facility, our doctors use the latest technology and techniques for laser vision correction, cataracts, glaucoma, macular degeneration, fitting contact lenses and glasses and treating diseases of the eye. Whether you are in need of a routine eye exam or needing more specialized care, Mauer Eye Center will be there to ensure your healthy vision for the long term. Our commitment to the highest level of care and customer service is what has continually made our optical staff an award-winning staff. Our optical department has been awarded Best of the Best by the Cedar Valley for three straight years. An Iowa native, Dr. Amy Hartmann has been in the field of optometry for more than 14 years. “I always knew I wanted to be in a field of taking care of patients and helping to

★ 2515 Cyclone Drive, Waterloo ★ (319) 433-3000 ★ www.mauereye.com ★ www.divinemedicalspa.com

make a positive difference in their health and lives,” she said. Dr. Richard Mauer has been head of the Mauer Eye Center for more than 21 years. He is a board-certiﬁed ophthalmologist. “My career path in Ophthalmology was ﬁrst ignited when I realized this specialty could really make a huge difference in peoples’ lives,” he said. The d’vine Medical Spa offers a full range of day spa and medical spa services including facials, massages and nail treatments, all within its inviting, winethemed facility. Additionally, it features a unique retail assortment showcasing Dr. Richard Mauer’s skincare line, d’vine, as well as many other options to create a spa-like feel in the comfort of your own home.

Honorable Mention: Hair Stylist — Sedika Sabic; Receptionist — Lindsay Taylor Since April 1970, KJ & Kompany Hair Salon, conveniently located inside Crossroads Mall, has been providing high quality hair care services to the Cedar Valley. KJ & Kompany Hair Salon would like to congratulate Sedika Sabic, Honorable Mention Hair Stylist, and Lindsay Taylor, Honorable Mention Receptionist. Sedika Sedika has brought a lot Sabic to our KJ & Kompany team since 2000, from previously owning and operating her salon in Bosnia for nine years. Sedika came to the United States in October 1997. She is hard-working with a strong attention to detail. Above all, her caring Lindsay personality to her guests is Taylor why she deserves this award. We are proud to have her on our team.

★ 2060 Crossroads Blvd., Waterloo ★ (319) 232-9177 ★ 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday ★ www.kjandkompany.com

This is Lindsay Taylor’s second year in a row to win Honorable Mention Receptionist. Lindsay has been with KJ & Kompany since 2010. Besides her role as receptionist, Lindsay also is our assistant manager, as well as being in charge of product knowledge and displays. Her fun-loving personality and the level of customer service that she gives our guests is why she deserves this award. Owners Angie Lashbrook and Stephanie Bass and the KJ & Kompany team would like to thank our guests for their continued support and voting us Best of the Best for 2012.

Thank you Cedar Valley for Voting us...

Best of the Best •Mauer Eye Center •Dr. Amy Hartmann •Dr. Richard Mauer • d’vine Medical Spa *

denotes Honorable Mention

— — — —

Optical Eye Doctor Eye Doctor* Massage*

319.433.3000 2515 Cyclone Drive, Waterloo 319.233.2000 mauereye.com Expert care... done beautifully dvinemedicalspa.com

“Thank You” Cedar Valley for voting KJ&Kompany Lindsay Taylor and Sedika Sabic for “Best of the Best” our fr y m o Fr at

iends

-91 Crossroads Center • 319-232

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THURSDAY, OCTOBER 18, 2012

Adrenaline X Laser Tag First Place: Place to Go for Family Entertainment Mark Mayfield has made his vision of a “real life” video game come to fruition. Mayfield, along with his wife, Alisha, owns and operates Adrenaline X Laser Tag. In less than two years, Mayfield’s concept, based on the “Call of Duty” video game, has blossomed in to a successful family business that moved to a new facility in July and now employees 11 people. Last year, the business won a $5,000 first prize in the Greater Cedar Valley Alliance’s first Dream Big Grow Here Cedar Valley contest for small businesses in the region. “We started up in February 2011 with mobile laser tag,” Mayfield said, who was still working at Target Distribution Center at the time. “We would do fairs, birthday parties, post proms. We worked out of my truck. But I knew I wanted to be in an indoor location by wintertime.” In November 2011, Adrenaline X opened a location at College Square Mall in Cedar Falls and in July moved again to their more spacious current location on University Avenue. The new facility boasts a party room and two laser tag courses – a rookie course and a pro course. The rookie course, which is about 2,000 square feet, is intended for younger players and their families and features inflatable bunkers and Tippmann guns. The pro course, which is about 4,000 square feet, resembles a burned out village and is for older, more experienced players. MP-5 guns are used on this course. Mayfield has drawn on his own military experience — he served in the Iowa National Guard, including a stint in Iraq — and his love of video games to create the courses. “There is a wide spectrum of laser tag options,” he said. “I wanted to go tactical.” While business at the indoor facility is booming, the Mayfields still do mobile events such as lock-ins, dances, fairs and after-prom events. “I think we already have five or six afterproms booked for this year,” Mayfield said. “It’s fun for us to go make the kids happy. It’s all about the kids.” This year, Adrenaline X is taking their mobile business up a notch by hosting Zombies in the Park, an interactive zom-

bie hunt, from 7 p.m. to midnight Oct. 19, 20, 26 and 27 at Riverfront Stadium in Waterloo. Participants work their way through four levels to “terminate zombies, detonate the bomb and save the world.” Guests can go through once for $20 or purchase an all-night pass for $35. “We are really excited about it,” Mayﬁeld said. “Make It Up Face Painting will be there doing the zombie make-up and we have friends and high school kids volunteering as zombies.” During the Oct. 26 and 27 sessions, members of a group from the University of Northern Iowa, Clear Water Movement, will volunteer and Adrenaline X will make a donation toward their efforts to build

wells in Sierra Leone. Community service is nothing new to Adrenaline X, who contributes to a number of area nonprofits and make numerous donations to local benefits. “Any way we can help the community, we’re there,” Mayfield said. Adrenaline X also is available for groups looking for a fundraising option. “It’s a lot of fun,” Mayfield said. “It gets the kids up and active and gets them doing something. There’s no pain, no mess, just fun. “We are just laser tag, but we’re awesome laser tag,” he said. “You’ll have the greatest time of your life.” For more information, including prices and scheduling, go to xlasertag.com.

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★ 4051 University Ave., Waterloo ★ (319) 939-7279 ★ xlasertag.com ★ Private events, Monday and Tuesday; 3 to 9 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday; 3 to 10 p.m. Friday; noon to 11 p.m. Saturday; noon to 9 p.m. Sunday

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 18, 2012

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THURSDAY, OCTOBER 18, 2012

4x4

Veteran’s Day is a day set aside to acknowledge those men and women who have served and are presently serving in all branches of the U.S. Military in defense of our country and in preservation of our freedoms. This is your opportunity to recognize a family member or friend for their service with a picture and note of their achievements in the “Honoring our U.S. Armed Forces” feature in the Sunday, November 11 Courier. When you place and sign your order for one of the sizes located here, YOUR VETERAN’S name will be entered into a DRAWING for a chance to receive a free 5” x 2.5” PLAQUE on the Wilbur & Mildred Demmel & Melvin Juel Veterans Memorial Plaza at the SULLIVAN BROTHERS IOWA VETERANS MUSEUM in Waterloo. The winner will be CONTACTED BY PHONE and will be named in our feature on NOVEMBER 11.

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If you would like to have your photo returned to you, please include a self-addressed stamped envelope.

YOU CAN ALSO SUBMIT YOUR VETERAN ONLINE AT WCFCOURIER.COM NAME ADDRESS CITY

STATE

ZIP

PHONE PHOTO SIZE *Actual Sizes Shown

PUBLISHING DATE: SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 11 DEADLINE: WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 31 [COLOR PHOTOS WILL BE PRINTED IN COLOR]

2x2 Picture (with up to 30 words) $35 2x3 Picture (with up to 30 words) $40 4x4 Picture (with up to 30 words) $50 Additional words available on any package: $5 for each 15 (Note: Providing a larger photo gives better resolution)

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ADDED COST FOR ADDITIONAL WORDS $ Note: If you are placing multiple family members or friends, take 25% OFF all additional orders.

PLEASE PROVIDE COPY ON A SEPARATE SHEET AND ATTACH TO FORM. METHOD OF PAYMENT: CHECK

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THURSDAY, OCTOBER 18, 2012

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Community Based Services Home Health

Chapala Mexican Restaurant

Honorable Mention: Home Health Agency

First Place: Mexican Restaurant Honorable Mention: Chips and salsa, margarita

On July 1, 2010, Bremer County Home Care, a public health agency, and Waverly Health Center Home Health, a certiﬁed agency, merged together to form Community Based Services Home Health, a Medicare/Medicaid-certified home health agency that also provides public health services. Community Based Services Home Health in Waverly brings experienced home health care professionals into a client’s home 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, providing nursing care and rehabilitative services such as physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social worker and personal care services.

★ 403 Third St. S.E., Waverly ★ (319) 352-0082 ★ 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday, with on-call nurse 24 hours a day ★ www.co.bremer.ia.us

Chapala Mexican Restaurant, owned by Sergio Areco, has been in business ﬁve years. Areco has been in the restaurant busiFor those who qualify, Community ness for 25 years. Chapala is a family business offering Based Services Home Health provides services through Medicare, Medicaid and authentic Mexican food, good service and great margaritas. private insurance. Community Based Services Home Health is committed to giving clients ★ 900 La Porte Road, Waterloo opportunities and choices to reach their ★ (319) 287-8005 goals in the comfort of their own home, ★ 11 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 11 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday, 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday while helping to maintain their level of wellness for a longer period of time.

Your loved ones deserve the best in Home Health Care

Thank You! for voting us “Best of the Best” for Mexican Restaurant and Margaritas,, cchips ps aandd sa salsa. st

Community Based Services Home Health 403 3rd Street SE, Waverly, Iowa 50677

Now accepting new referrals:

(319) 352-0082

900 La Porte • Waterloo, Iowa • (319) 287-8005

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THURSDAY, OCTOBER 18, 2012

Rydell Chevrolet First Place: Brake Service, Transmission Service, Automotive Salesperson — Mike Potter Honorable Mention: Oil Change Service, Auto Service, Auto Body Repair At Rydell Chevrolet in Waterloo, our guests are always No. 1. An unconditional dedication to service is what has set Rydell at the forefront of sales volume and market effectiveness in the Cedar Valley and eastern Iowa. This year, Rydell Chevrolet won Best of the Best for Auto Service, Oil Change Service, Auto Body Repair, and first place for Brake Service and Transmission Service. In addition, Mike Potter also earned first place in the Cedar Valley for Automotive Salesperson. “We couldn’t do what we do effectively if it weren’t for our 135 employees and the thousands of customers in the Cedar Valley who make Rydell Chevrolet their destination for sales, service, auto body repair and parts,” said Matt Halbur, general manager. After 28 years in business, Rydell Chevrolet has made many improvements in the way they sell and service vehicles. In 2004, Rydell made a significant investment in the infrastructure of the Waterloo dealership by adding a new service drive, quick lube and car wash. In 2012, Rydell stepped up and remodeled again utilizing the Essential Brand Elements that GM has laid in place for the next generation of Chevrolet Dealerships. This makes Rydell the only Chevy dealer in the Cedar Valley who has completed this to date. “We want our guests to be comfortable in every aspect of ownership from sales to service, and our facility needs to represent that,” Halbur said. The Rydell Quick Lube offers a noappointment 13-minute oil change from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Friday and 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday. “We typically service between 65 to 100 vehicles per day in our Quick Lube” Halbur said. “Our guests love the convenience and peace of mind knowing that we are taking complete care of their vehicle.” Rydell’s vast inventories of parts and accessories make it easy to have the part in stock and get your vehicle fixed right the first time. “Bottom Line Pricing” is a hallmark at Rydell Chevrolet. All vehicles are priced up front with the best price, right on the

COURTESY PHOTO

windshield. Studies done by J.D. Power and Associates and other research groups have determined that most people dread the automobile-buying experience and ﬁnd the negotiating process distasteful. The stress and time involved with purchasing a vehicle coupled with the uncertainty of knowing if you got the best deal makes lots of folks uncomfortable. Rydell has changed all that. “We believe that buying a vehicle should be fun and stress-free,” said Jeff Smock, general sales manager. “Guests are treated in a friendly, professional and courteous manner.” Doing business this way represents a cultural change within the organization and industry. “It is an ethical and easy way of doing business,” Smock said, “and it serves our guests.” The price that you pay for a vehicle has nothing to do with a person’s negotiating skills — that’s not the way Rydell does business. “No pushy salespeople, no high pres-

sure, no negotiating and no game playing. We put our very best price on all of our vehicles upfront everyday, which makes buying a vehicle at Rydell quick and enjoyable,” Halbur said. “When you leave Rydell, you don’t have to wonder if you got the best deal. You know you did.” Rydell’s Mike Potter also was recognized for Best of the Best Auto Salesperson. “Mike is truly a special salesperson,” Smock said. “His customers just love him. Mike’s genuine concern for them and their needs is what keeps his customers coming back. Rydell is very proud of him.” Mike has been selling Chevrolets in the Cedar Valley for 23 years and has found a great home at Rydell Chevrolet. Along with selling vehicles, Mike enjoys being involved in many hobbies and organizations throughout the Cedar Valley. Rydell Chevrolet also has a fantastic pre-owned vehicle program. Bottom Line piece of mind, which includes the famous ﬁve-day like-it or return-it, 30-

★ 1325 San Marnan Drive, Waterloo ★ (319) 234-4601 or (800) 782-0046 ★ Sales: 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Thursday; 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. Friday; 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday ★ Service: 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Friday; 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday ★ www.rydellauto.com

day exchange, and a 3-month/3,000 mile warranty on all pre-owned vehicles. If a guest is not happy with the preowned vehicle they purchased, just return it to Rydell within ﬁve days in the same condition for a 100 percent refund. They also can exchange the vehicle up to 30 days after the purchase. You can’t make a mistake and buy the wrong preowned vehicle at Rydell. “We know loyalty is not given, but earned. That’s why we do what we do, we want customers for life,” Halbur said.

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 18, 2012

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MIKE POTTER 1ST PLACE SALES CON NSU NSU ULTANT ULTANT

EXPRESS LUBE

RYDE LL CHEVROLET

BEST OF THE BEST 2012

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1325 E. San Marnan Dr., Waterloo

(319) 234-4601

Mike Potter: First Place Automotive Salesperson Brake Service: First Transmission: First Auto Body Repair: Honorable Auto Service: Honorable Au Oil Change Chan Service: Honorable

THAN K YO U CE DAR YOU V A RE OUR ALLEY !

SALES TEAM

SERVICE TEAM

BODY SHOP TEAM

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NO ONE DELIVERS QUALITY NEWS QUITE LIKE US. *

85%

OF ADULTS READ OR USED THE COURIER OR WCFCOURIER.COM OVER THE PAST WEEK!

REACHING THE CEDAR VALLEY WITH PRINT ONLINE, TABLET AND SMARTPHONE. Every day The Courier’s print products reach over 77,000 readers. Add to that an online audience that accounts for over 3 million page views per month and our audience is larger than any time in our 150-year history. Contact your Courier multi-media marketing specialist or call 319-291-1497 for details about reaching a large and engaged audience.

UP-TO-THE-MINUTE INFORMATION WHEN YOU WANT IT. WHERE YOU WANT IT. www.WCFCourier.com

*Thoroughbred Research, 2011

TO SUBSCRIBE CALL 319-291-1444

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Potter’s Hearing

First Place: Hearing Aids/Service Providing good service with high quality products at a reasonable price is Ron Potter’s goal at Potter’s Hearing. He also makes sure the personal attention doesn’t stop after the sale. Ron Potter has been involved in sales for 40 years. He became a hearing aid specialist nearly 30 years ago to help people in a more personal way. Potter’s Hearing offers compassion and takes a genuine interest in each patient, working to ﬁnd solutions to hearing problems. At Potter’s, hearing exams are thorough and at no expense to the patient. There is a wide variety of hearing instruments, inexpensive repairs, batteries and assistive listening devices offered. Potter’s offers a three-day money-back guarantee. Financing is available.

sstt

★ 1416 W. Fourth St., Waterloo ★ (319 232-7113 or (800) 974-7113 ★ 8:30 a.m. to noon and 1 to 5 p.m. Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday

Potter’s Hearing was recognized in the 2011 Best of the Best and was featured in a Dear Abby column when a California reader wrote Abby to detail his favorable experience with Potter’s on a Saturday morning.

Expect the Best Quality | Service | Price

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Precieux Art Jewelers Honorable Mention: Jewelry Store Many customers ask us what makes us different than all the other jewelry stores, and how we obtained our reputation. The answer is easy: passion! There are tons of businesses in any profession that are in it for the money, but only a handful of jewelry businesses in the state are passionate about providing well-made designs and honestly graded diamonds. We will never win an award for being the biggest store, the fanciest dressed or for having the slickest sales pitches. What you will ﬁnd is a jewelry store with employees who actually understand what they are selling and, most importantly, are interested in what they are selling, not just if they sell it to you. Precieux Art Jewelers has always had a reputation for offering jewelry to those in business and those who know jewelry, but we handle everything from $99 pieces to

★ In front of Kohl’s, Cedar Falls ★ (319) 277-0717 ★ 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Friday

the finest quality jewelry available. This allows a customer to compare the whole spectrum before making a buying decision, rather than relying on a salesperson. We confidently offer the best prices and values compared to other stores, as well as online vendors — without the gimmicks. Our online store, thediamondstore. com, features a smaller selection of our inventory including both jewelry and loose diamonds. Our website is one of the oldest online jewelry vendors, with an equally outstanding reputation as reflected in the reviews it receives. We are looking forward to helping you with all your jewelry needs.

Largest Selection of quality made traditional and designer rings in the area - - many times at 1/2 the national price! “We buy old Gold and Diamonds.”

Precieux Art Jewelers Ron Potter

1416 W. 4th St., Waterloo | 319-232-7113

In front of Kohls , Cedar Falls, 319-277-0717 www.thediamondstore.com

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THURSDAY, OCTOBER 18, 2012

The Isle Casino Hotel Waterloo First Place: Hotel/Motel, State/Midwest Weekend Trip Honorable Mention: Local/State Day Trip, Sunday Brunch The secret to the Isle Casino Hotel Waterloo’s success is clean, safe, friendly and fun. Isle employees work hard to make sure guests walk into a safe, clean property, are greeted by friendly team members, and have a fantastic time. June 30 marked the Isle’s fifth anniversary. In the five years the Isle Waterloo has been in the Cedar Valley, the entertainment venue has hosted over 7.5 million guests. In 2011 alone, over 2 million guests visited the full-service entertainment venue, while over 100,000 guests stayed overnight at the Isle and took advantage of all the Cedar Valley had to offer. Since opening, the casino hotel has employed nearly 600 residents in the region and has made giving back to the community a priority through buying local, volunteerism and significant financial contributions to communities across the Cedar Valley and beyond. As an active member of the Cedar Valley, the casino hotel encourages its team

members to be active and support their own communities. In 2011, Isle team members volunteered nearly 900 volunteer hours to organizations such as Boys & Girls Club, American Cancer Society, Muscular Dystrophy Association, Northeast Iowa Food Bank, Waterloo/Cedar Falls schools and more. Isle also donated food, money, hotel rooms, ballroom space and culinary equipment to local organizations, nonproﬁts and fundraisers totaling over $80,000 in 2011 and nearly $300,000 in the ﬁve years it has been in business. According to Jenny Graeser, the campaign director for the Cedar Valley United Way, the Isle is a true community partner. “Their organization and employees have contributed to our efforts here at United Way and in the community in a variety of ways since their existence here in the Cedar Valley and each time exceeds our expectations,” she said. “What means even more then the long list of their philanthropic generosity is

that every Isle team member that we have had the opportunity to work with and their entire organizations as a whole contributes to our efforts here at United Way not for the recognition but because they believe in our mission and making our community a better place.” The Isle has also won numerous awards, including: ■ Waterloo Convention & Visitors Bureau’s Cedar Valley Tourism Awards — Hotel of the Year. ■ Beers to You and Gourmet Too — People’s Choice Award for Chef Henry Rodriguez and Best Beef Item. ■ Employees Challenge Award for raising $5,384 for the Great Stride’s Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. ★ 777 Isle of Capri Blvd., Waterloo ■ Mission Award for raising $4,700 for ★ (800) THE-ISLE the Alzheimer’s Association’s Walk to End Alzheimer’s. Whether you are looking for hot gaming has it all. If it has been a while since you’ve action, a delicious meal, a comfortable visited the Isle Casino Hotel Waterloo, place to stay or live entertainment, the Isle stop by and check out The Lone Wolf.

THANK YOU FOR VOTING US THE ST OF THE BEST! 2012 BEST

Hotel/Motel State/Midwest Weekend Trip

2012 HONORABLE MENTION Sunday Brunch Local/State Day Trip

7 1

aprii Boulevard • Waterloo, IA 50701 HE-ISLE • www.theislewaterloo.com sle of Capri Casinos, Inc. Gambling a problem? There is help. And hope. Call 1-800-BETS-OFF.

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 18, 2012

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BEST OF THE BEST 2012

Barmuda First Place: Beck’s — Hamburger, Sports Bar Bourbon Street — Celebrate an Anniversary, Dinner, Locally Owned Restaurant, Place to Go on a First Date, Salad Bar, Sunday Brunch Ferrari’s — Business Lunch | Soho — Place for Lunch Stuffed Olive — Girls Night Out, Happy Hour Voodoo Lounge — Place to Shoot Pool Honorable Mention: Bourbon Street — Appetizers, Chicken, Dessert, Girls Night Out, Ribs, Seafood, Steak | Voodoo Lounge — Karaoke Ferarri’s — Wine Selection | Joker’s — Girls Night Out Soho — Appetizers, Seafood | Stuffed Olive — Liquor Selection Beck’s — Place to Have a Beer, Place to Shoot Pool, Tenderloin Barmuda, a locally owned food and beverage company, continues to earn its reputation as one of the Best of the Best in the Cedar Valley with 29 awards in the 2012 voting. We are proud to bring different cuisines from around the world to the Cedar Valley and we are thankful for the support we receive from this great community which enables us to continue doing what we love. Banditos Burritos recently opened in June on College Hill in Cedar Falls. It offers fast service made-to-order burritos, quesadil-

★ 900 Technology Parkway, Cedar Falls ★ (319) 266-9994 ★ www.barmuda.com

las, tacos and salads, as well as fresh salads and guacamole. Iguana Juan’s Mexican Cantina and Tequila Bar opened this August on College Hill in Cedar Falls next to Beck’s Sports Grill and Banditos Burritos. Mojo’s Party Bar is a true college nightlife experience with a live DJ and large dance ﬂoor as well as sand volleyball courts and an outdoor beer garden.

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Dan Berregaard Oakridge Realtors First Place: Realtor Dan Berregaard has been in the real estate business for 13 years. “Prior to real estate, I was in retail sales and management. I realized that the two things I enjoyed most were working directly with the client/customer and helping them, but also working with other sales agents to help them learn and grow in their abilities to help their own customers/clients,” Dan said. “Making the transition to being a real estate agent and broker gave me a great opportunity to practice both of the things I loved the most. My work hours are split between working with my own real estate clients, helping them purchase and sell residential real estate, and helping to lead our team of 50 licensed Realtors at Oakridge. “For me, it’s a great balance of those things that give me the most satisfaction,” he said.

★ 3313 Terrace Drive, Cedar Falls ★ (319) 269-1549 ★ DanBerregaard@aol.com

“I really enjoy what I do. I feel well-placed in my profession. When you love what you do, it comes across to your clients and in the service you provide. I care very much about my clients and the agents who work at Oakridge. I consider all I get to do a real privilege. “Life, and business, is about building quality relationships. My tag line is ‘Your Friend in Real Estate.’” “My goal is always to provide outstanding communication and professional counsel to my clients. At the same time, it is my hope that it is more than just a business transaction. My hope is that I truly become their friend in real estate.”

12 Dan Berregaard 1st PLACE REALTOR

269-1549

Nicole Burns

939-1138 Your Cedar Valley

Real Estate Leader for over 30 years!

www.OakridgeRealtors.net 319-277-5005

3313 Terrace Dr., Cedar Falls, IA 50613

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THURSDAY, OCTOBER 18, 2012

Koch Construction First Place: Home Builder, Remodeler We have one goal at Koch Construction: to create and maintain lifelong customers. We will achieve this goal by ensuring that the delivery and quality of your project is to your satisfaction from the planning stages, throughout the course of the work, at the time of completion and far into the future — no excuses. Koch Construction was founded in 1980 by Karl and Jeff Koch. Karl began his residential construction career in 1955 and is an accomplished homebuilder, finish carpenter and cabinet maker. Karl was born in America but raised in Denmark, returning to the United States in 1950. Koch Construction was founded on the world values of craftsmanship, work ethic and integrity that Karl brought back with him to America. These are the same values, coupled with modern-day technology, that our work today is based on. Karl first instilled the art of construction and

customer service in Jeff and then again when Mark Koch joined the business in 1988, as well as longtime employees John Everman and Justin Manifold. In turn, Jeff, Mark, John and Justin continue to pass along these base values to all Koch Construction staff. Koch Construction continues to see steady growth as demand for our services increases, along with the demand for us to take on new projects. At Koch Construction, we take your project seriously. We try to offer the service that we wish we would get but is all too rare in today’s environment. We feel no one works harder to provide you the best communication, accurate upfront pricing and work performed to a schedule that is rarely missed. Whether it is a home remodeling project, commercial roofing or having your gutters cleaned, your work will be completed with the goals and values supporting our philosophy of “Satisfaction … Today and Tomorrow” and “Lifelong Customers.”

Sherry Jaramillo

Brad Becker

Brett Kueker

Karl Koch

Dusty Schlette

Kenny Langston

Ryan Maltas

John Everman

Jason Roberts

James Toulouse

Carrie Buschmann

Suad Murgic

Jeff Koch

Justin Manifold

Ryan Clark

Mark Koch

215 E. Main St. | Cedar Falls | 319.266.0807

w w w. k o c h c o n s t r u c t i o n . o r g

★ 215 E. Main St., Cedar Falls ★ (319) 266-0807 ★ 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday

What We Do Like our logo says, we offer commercial, industrial and residential remodeling and roofing. Our founder Karl Koch has said, “Service is our business, construction work is just a sideline.” With that in mind, the following a more specific list of areas that we offer this service: Window and door replacement Kitchen and bathroom design and remodeling Egress windows Decks (wood and composite materials) Room additions Attached garage additions Sunrooms, screen rooms and porches Skylights Mini-excavation, trenching and tiling Wood harbor cabinetry and interior doors Interior and exterior design Toto plumbing fixtures Solid surface countertops (Avonite, LG HI-Macs, Paperstone) Commercial and industrial and exterior remodeling Wood pole building construction Engineered steel building construction Mule Hide EPDM and TPO membrane roofing for low slope and flat roofs Duro-Last CPA membrane roofing for low slope and flat roofs (15- and 20-year no-dollar limit labor and material warranties) Maintenance and repair work Roof patching services Steel roofing Shake shingle and wood shingle roofing Concrete work Shingle roofing Specialty trim

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 18, 2012

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BEST OF THE BEST 2012

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A SHORTER COMMUTE could be the small change that makes a big difference in your life. What does a better job mean to you? Is it sleeping a little later? Riding your bike to work? Whatever it is, Monster has the tools to help you find it. With millions of jobs, unparalleled search technology and professional networking, you can easily find the job that’s right for you. Monster. Find Better™.

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THURSDAY, OCTOBER 18, 2012

Dan Deery Motors

(319) 266-5500

Honorable Mention: Auto Salesperson — Jacob Soppe

Dan Deery

Jacob R. L. Soppe was born and raised in Waterloo and is a member of Waterloo First United Methodist Church. “I have worked for Dan Deery Motors for two years now,” Soppe said. “I really love what I do. It is quite gratifying when you can help someone ﬁnd the perfect vehicle that ﬁts their needs. “I work at both the Waterloo and Cedar

★ (319) 277-4500 or cell (319) 433-5341 ★ University Avenue & Main Street, Cedar Falls ★ jsoppe@dandeery.com

Falls Dodge stores. I am very appreciative that I’ve been able to help so many people ﬁnd a vehicle that ﬁts their needs and budget. “Thank you so much for the votes.”

Cedar Falls Community Credit Union

1-800-728-4501

You Want

MORE... YOU GET MORE!! MORE

MOTORS University & Main Street, Cedar Falls, IA

123 W 4th St, Cedar Falls, IA 50613

319-266-7531

★ 123 W. Fourth St., Cedar Falls ★ 420 Viking Road, Cedar Falls ★ 2000 Heritage Way, Waverly ★ (319) 266-7531 ★ www.cfccu.org

Bella Nails and Boutique Honorable Mention: Full Service Nails Jessica Hanna, owner and nail techni★ 103 E. Bremer Ave., Waverly cian, opened Bella Nails and Boutique three ★ (319) 352-4214 years ago. ★ 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday, Wednesday and “I chose this profession because I love the Friday; 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Thursday; 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday full transformation of an individual’s atti★ Nails by appointment tude after a great nail service has been provided,” she said. “They truly carry themselves in a whole different fashion. And to ognition 2 years in a row. We look forward help in that, it’s simply gratifying. to educating people every day on the health “We are truly honored to receive this rec- and well being of their nails and skin.”

Jon Bronemann Carpentry and Handyman

www.cfccu.org

12 Thank You

A huge to all who continue to support us! We appreciate your business and look forward to serving you again this year!

Hours: Monday Closed Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday 9am-5pm Thursday 9am-8pm, Saturday 9am-2pm 319-352-4214

Now offering Relaxation Facials and Waxing as well as Full Service Nails

Doing Your Project Like I Would Do My Own

Honorable Mention: Home Remodel With more than 20 years experience in ★ 3919 Maryhill Drive, Cedar Falls the construction trades, Jon Bronemann ★ (319) 239-5880 does each project like he would do his ★ 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday own. “From the initial call to the ﬁnal inspec- same degree of detail and care that I would tion, each phase of the job is done with the do my own project,” he said.

Sales Consultant

THANK YOU TO OUR MEMBERS FOR VOTING US BEST OF THE BEST!

Honorable Mention: Credit Union Cedar Falls Community Credit Union is a memberowned financial cooperative, providing a wide range of financial products and services, including savings accounts, certificates, IRAs and loans of all types. We are big enough to provide valuable services to our members, yet still small and local enough to really know our members and their needs and expectations.

Jacob Soppe

3919 Maryhill Dr., Cedar Falls, Iowa

319-239-5880 • www.jbch.us

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 18, 2012

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BEST OF THE BEST 2012

Oakridge Realtors First Place: Real Estate Firm/Brokerage Now in its 31st year, Oakridge Realtors is the Cedar Valley’s largest real estate brokerage. Broker-owners Dan Berregaard, Brian Page and Ann Lyons are proudly continuing a tradition of excellence that has earned them The Courier’s 2012 Best of the Best designation. Oakridge leadership attributes the company’s success to their 50 dedicated and highly trained agents. Oakridge associates participate in rigorous ongoing professional development programs to ensure that their clients beneﬁt from working with the area’s most knowledgeable agents. The Oakridge name is highly visible in the Cedar Valley. The company views community involvement as a marketing strategy, but more importantly, as a key component of corporate citizenship. “We encourage and support involvement of our agents in the communities we serve,” said Berregaard. “And we direct our corporate sponsorships and contributions toward events and organizations that are important to

★ 3313 Terrace Drive, Cedar Falls ★ (319) 277-5005 ★ Ofﬁce: 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday; agents available seven days a week ★ www.oakridgerealtors.net

our clients and their communities,” said Lyons. An area of interest to both home sellers and buyers is the technology changes that have impacted the ways in which residential real estate is marketed. Page directs the deployment of technology at Oakridge. “Social media platforms, such as Facebook and Twitter, virtual home tours and our interactive website are all tools that Oakridge agents utilize to facilitate making the buyer-seller connection,” Page said. As Courier Communications’ Best of the Best real estate ﬁrm for the ﬁfth consecutive year, Oakridge Realtors has made their case: In the Cedar Valley, we “Trust the Leader!”

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Magee Construction Honorable Mention: Remodeler, Home Builder Established in 1982, Magee Construction Co. has evolved into a nationally recognized design/build team. They were most recently awarded the 2007 Professional Remodeler’s Best of the Best Design Award for Exterior Remodeling. “Our professional and courteous crews act as guests in our clients’ homes,” Wayne Magee said. “Crews try to do everything possible to make the remodeling a pleasant one.” The Magee team believes the same level of attention should be applied to each and every project. As clients enjoy their new and remodeled spaces, they spread the word. “Clients are left with pleasant memories after the construction experience and appreciate having an extended warranty on their project,” Magee said. “Customers

★ 1705 Waterloo Road, Cedar Falls ★ 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday ★ (319) 277-0100

turn into friends for life.” Magee Construction is the 2006 recipient of Remodeler Magazine’s ﬁrst-place award for exterior living space design and second place for whole house design. It has received Remodeling Magazine’s Big 50 award, which recognizes the top 50 remodelers in the country, and has repeatedly ranked in Remodeler Magazine’s annual top 500. Locally, Magee Construction has received the Waterloo Historic Preservation award, as well as being voted Best of Best in the Courier poll every year.

Thank you to our many clients, associates, and friends who have again selected Oakridge Realtors as the Best Real Estate Office in the Cedar Valley. We understand the significance of decisions involving the purchase and sale of a home. It is deeply gratifying to know that our clients are pleased with the results when they put their trust in Oakridge. We look forward to another successful year serving YOU! Our thanks go out to the entire Cedar Valley for selecting Oakridge Realtors as the Best of the Best Real Estate Office for the fifth consecutive year.

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NewAldaya Lifescapes Honorable Mention: Assisted Living, Nursing Home NewAldaya Lifescapes is set apart from the rest as a stand-alone leader in nonproﬁt senior services. Nestled on 17 acres in Cedar Falls, NewAldaya is not just a place to live, but a home for nearly 300 independent living, assisted living and acute and extended care residents. NewAldaya Lifescapes is an award-winning organization that recently celebrated

★ 7511 University Ave., Cedar Falls ★ (319) 268-0401 ★ 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Saturday; 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday ★ www.NewAldaya.org

the one-year anniversary of its unique lifestyle center concept. It is a place for families to grow, friends to meet and couples to live care- and maintenance-free.

Oakridge Realtors Carl Ericson has been in the real estate business for 10 years. “I was always interested in real estate growing up and decided to major in management at the University of Northern Iowa with a real estate minor,” Ericson said. “I like to work with a wide range of clients including ﬁrst-time buyers, moveup buyers, investors and new construction clients.” Ericson was named the Waterloo/Cedar Falls Board of Realtors Rookie of the Year

www.wcfcourier.com

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 18, 2012

GET IN THE GAME AT NEWALDAYA LIFESCAPES!

TER BETTER E BET LIVE YO L LIV U’LL YOU’L YOU BELONG AT NEWALDAYA, WHERE YOU’LL FIND A SENSE OF COMMUNITY FOR EVERY STAGE OF LIFE: • Independent Living • Extended Care • Assisted Living • Skilled Care & onsite Rehab Therapy 94% of patients & family recommend NewAldaya Lifescapes!

Thank you Cedar Valley for voting us Best of the Best!

7511 University Avenue, Cedar Falls, IA 50613 • www.NewAldaya.org

Honorable Mention: Realtor — Carl Ericson

★ 3313 Terrace Drive, Cedar Falls ★ (319) 504-3640 ★ 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday (ofﬁce); Carl is available by phone 24 hours

and recognized in The Courier’s 2010 and 2011 Best of the Best. “Customers and clients are priority No. 1. My job is to put my clients in a position to make the best real estate decision for them. I love helping people make their home ownership dreams come true.”

FOR YOUR SUPPORT

12 SearchTheCederValley.com

CARL ERICSON 504-3640

OB-GYN Specialists First Place: OB-GYN As specialists in the health care of women, our physicians and staff are dedicated to providing you with the best medical care possible. You can expect to be treated professionally and courteously at all times. We are a health team concerned with your needs and welcome any suggestions you may have that will help improve the care you receive. You will be able to choose from our warm,

★ 432 King Drive, Waterloo ★ (319) 234-5764 ★ 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday ★ www.thechoiceyoutrust.com

caring staff of providers for your obstetric and gynecologic care. You may select one of our physicians, advanced registered nurse practitioners, certiﬁed nurse midwife or physician assistant.

Koch Construction “Satisfaction … Today and Tomorrow” since 1980.

Home Builder and Remodeler

A special thank you to our customers, and the employees of Koch Construction. Year in and Year out since 1980, you are the Best of the Best. Karl, Jeff, and Mark Koch

Home Builder and Remodeler www.kochconstruction.org

INDUSTRIAL COMMERCIAL RESIDENTIAL REMODELING & ROOFING

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 18, 2012

www.wcfcourier.com

BEST OF THE BEST 2012

Next Generation Wireless Honorable Mention: Cellphone Dealer

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Goodbye mediocre. Hello exceptional. Thank you to all our loyal customers who voted us one of the Cedar Valleyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Best of the Best. We truly appreciate your business.

COURIER FILE PHOTO

Next Generation Wireless is a U.S. Celluâ&#x2DC;&#x2026; College Square Mall, next to Old Chicago lar-authorized agent that has been serving â&#x2DC;&#x2026; 6301 University Ave., Cedar Falls the Cedar Valley for more than 10 years. â&#x2DC;&#x2026; (319) 266-2500 We pride ourselves on superior customâ&#x2DC;&#x2026; 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Friday, er service and especially our community 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday, noon to 6 p.m. Sunday involvement. Our customer service is our biggest asset â&#x2DC;&#x2026; Waterloo OfďŹ ce to being Best of the Best. We have always â&#x2DC;&#x2026; 1513 Flammang Drive prided ourselves on maintaining a superior â&#x2DC;&#x2026; (319) 226-3500 level of customer service. â&#x2DC;&#x2026; 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Friday, We also believe strongly in the associates 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Saturday, and staff who continuously maintain such a noon to 5 p.m. Sunday high level of excellence day in and day out. Next Generation Wireless has been â&#x2DC;&#x2026; Waverly ofďŹ ce â&#x2DC;&#x2026; 1010 Fourth St. S.W. named an Employer of Choice from 2007â&#x2DC;&#x2026; (319) 352-6200 10 and 2012, included on the Inc. 5000 â&#x2DC;&#x2026; 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Friday, Fastest Growing Companies from 200810 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday, 12 and chosen as Best of the Best from noon to 5 p.m. Sunday 2008-12. When you step into a Next Generation Wireless location, you will be greeted with their purchase. We also help ďŹ nd the best a smile and helping hand. We go the extra match for each customer on both service mile to give our customers peace of mind in and equipment.

Cedar Falls 6301 University Ave. (Inside College Square Mall)

Waterloo (Next to Starbucks)

Waverly 1810 4th St. SW (Across from Norbyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s)

Call store for hours.

Things we want you to know: A new 2-yr. agmt. (subject to a pro-rated $150 early termination fee for feature phones, modems and hotspot devices and a $350 early termination fee for smartphones and tablets) required. Agmt. terms apply as long as you are a cstmr. $30 device act. fee and credit approval may apply. Regulatory Cost Recovery Fee applies (currently $1.40/line/month); this is not a tax or gvmt. required charge. Add. fees, taxes and terms apply and vary by svc. and eqmt. See store or uscellular.com for details. Kansas Customers: In areas in which U.S. Cellular receives support from the Federal Universal Service Fund, all reasonable requests for service must be met. Unresolved questions concerning services availability can be directed to the Kansas Corporation Commission Office of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection NGW399 at 1-800-662-0027. Limited time offer. Trademarks and trade names are the property of their respective owners. ÂŠ2012 U.S. Cellular

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THURSDAY, OCTOBER 18, 2012

Lost Island Waterpark Honorable Mention: Family Entertainment Escape from the ordinary and enter a tropical paradise complete with palm trees and thatch huts at Lost Island Waterpark. Lost Island is the largest waterpark in Iowa, featuring many extreme slides, including a hydromagnetic coaster — one of only 10 in the world. This year, Lost Island added cabanas that can be rented for a day. Deluxe cabanas, which hold up to eight people, include Wi-Fi, a large keyed locker, a ceiling fan, lounge chairs, a table with side chairs, a loveseat, a refrigerator, eight bottles of water and an attendant on duty. For 12 years, Lost Island Waterpark has provided fun with quality customer service and a professional lifeguard staff. ★ 2225 E. Shaulis Road, Waterloo ★ (319) 233-8414 ★ Seasonal: June through August ★ www.thelostisland.com

COURTESY PHOTO

Open June through August 2225 E. Shaulis Road Waterloo, IA 50701 (319) 233-8414

We look forward to seeing you in the wavepool in 2013! Until then, you can visit us at

www.thelostisland.com

www.wcfcourier.com

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 18, 2012

BEST OF THE BEST 2012

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Aable Pest Control

First Place: Pest Control Mike Price has been working in the pest control business for 43 years. “I started in this business in 1969 working for a national pest control company,” he said. “In 1981, I started Aable Pest Control out of my basement and it has grown to where it is today. “In 1994, I purchased a Terminix franchise in Cedar Rapids, Iowa City and Dubuque. The rest of Northeast Iowa is my Aable business.” All Aable’s technicians are certiﬁed by the state of Iowa. After that, they all have to pass the Purdue entomology course, then the American Institute of Baking course, which is an advanced course in pest control. Besides winning Best of the Best nine years in a row, Aable has been recognized in two national pest magazines, plus has earned membership in the National Quality Pro Association. Aable controls ants, spiders, roaches,

mice, rats, bed bugs, termites, as well as product fumigation, weed control and bird eradication. Aable also has invested in a bed bug dog and handler, as well as a heat trailer to eradicate bed bugs. Aable Pest Control has been very fortunate to have been able to service the Cedar Valley area since its inception with the help of some great employees. Tony Wright, the branch manager, has been with Aable for 23 years; Lori Price, operations manager, for 24 years; Myron Engelhart, termite supervisor, 22 years; Dave Jansen, area manager, 17 years; and the list goes on. Mike Price Jr. also has rejoined Aable to carry on with the tradition. Mike Jr. had a successful pest control business in Reno, Nev., until he sold his business last year to work with Mike Sr. and Aable Pest Control to carry on the business when Mike Sr. retires. Mike Sr. says that pest control is an

ever-changing business, whether it’s the way pest control is performed or the insect pressures from year to year. Some years it’s Asian lady beetles, some years it’s ﬂeas, others it’s box elder bugs. Lately, the insect of choice is bed bugs. They’re extremely hard to terminate and very easy to transport. When some insecticides that had very good residual were banned, the bed bugs came back with a vengeance. Aable has made a choice to invest in the latest equipment and technology to try to stay ahead of the bugs. The heating equipment Aable purchased can heat an entire house to 135 to 140 degrees. Heat over 122 degrees will kill all stages of bed bugs. Mike Price says Aable will be around, hopefully, for another 30 years to be of service for the people of the Cedar Valley and surrounding areas.

DAVE JANSEN

MIKE PRICE

CRAIG VOCIKER

BILL CORNELL

GREG MEHLBERGER

RANDY COKER

SCOTT JOHNSON

ILL & Wisconsin

Owner/CEO

Accounting

Service Manager

Technician

Bed Bug Specialist

Technician

KYLE KOBLISKA TECHNICIAN

BECKY PRICE Data Retention

TONY WRIGHT MYRON ENGELHARDT JUSTIN ROUSE

MIKE PRICE JR

Termite Supervisor

Sales Manager

Branch Manager

LORI PRICE Operations Manager

JOHN GREENWALD Sr. Technician

Technician

MICHAEL GARRETT Sr. Technician

JASON PROFFITT Technician

9th

year in a row

We’re ready and “Aable” to serve you

MARK WILLMSEN Commercial Technician

APRIL SAUER Accounts Receivable

★ 1800 Commercial St., Waterloo ★ (319) 291-7200 ★ 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday ★ www.aablepestcontrol.com

BLAKE ROSE Technician

PAT JOHNSON Data Entry

CARYN GARBOWITZ

JOHN PETSCHE

Data Entry

Sr. Technician

DICK SCHOEMAN Termite Technician & Heat Specialist

MICHELLE O’BANNION Receptionist

DEB BENTLEY Customer Service - Lead Scheduler

APRIL KING Scheduler

CHRIS WALTERS Data Retention

ANGELA ROGERS Dog Handler Tucker Bedbug K-9

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THURSDAY, OCTOBER 18, 2012

Kimball & Beecher Family Dentistry First Place: Dentist — Beau Beecher Honorable Mention: Dentist — Eric Kimball Dr. Beau Beecher and Dr. Eric Kimball both have had family and very close friends in the dentistry business who served as role models for them. Beau Beecher chose dentistry because of the example set by his mentors, his uncle David Beecher, DDS, from Vinton, and Brian Bouck, DDS, a longtime friend and current dentist in the practice. “Both these guys explained how dentistry was fulfilling while offering the opportunity to be productive at home with family and in the community,” Beecher said. We are a five-member group dental practice offering general dentistry services to people of all ages. We emphasize preventative care with prompt attention given to patients with emergencies. Dr. Beau Beecher graduated from the University of Iowa and went on to earn his dental degree from the school’s College of Dentistry. His commitment to lifelong education means that he is constantly evaluating emerging dental methods and technologies to provide his patients with the best results and a high emphasis on comfort. Some areas of study include cosmetic and laser dentistry and sleep apnea. Dr. Eric Kimball earned his dental degree from the University of Iowa College of Dentistry after obtaining his bachelor’s degree from Wartburg College in Waverly. His numerous postgraduate courses include specific training in cosmetic and implant dentistry to offer you a smile of your dreams. Dr. Brian Bouck graduated from the University of Northern Iowa and went on to graduate from the University of Iowa College of Dentistry. Dr. Bouck holds a general dentist license as well as a sedation license, which allows patients to comfortably sleep during their dental procedures. Dr. Brian Andersen was born and raised in Marion. After working for several years, he went on to earn his doctorate from the

COURTESY PHOTO

University of Iowa College of Dentistry in 2008 and enjoys providing dentistry for all ages. Dr. Andersen strongly believes in continuing education and maintains active membership with the American Dental Association and the Academy of General Dentistry. Dr. Lindsey Vore was born and raised in Holstein. She earned her bachelor’s degree at the University of Northern Iowa and went on to the University of Iowa College of Dentistry to earn her D.D.S. in 2008. Growing up as the daughter of a dentist, she strives to treat every patient as if they were a member of her family. She enjoys developing new relationships and meeting new people of all ages. The practice also has the best dental

hygienists, dental assistants, front desk personnel and office management team. Kimball & Beecher Family Dentistry uses the latest technology to create beautiful and healthy smiles and is pleased to offer patients the following services in a friendly and comfortable environment: cosmetic dentistry, porcelain veneers, dental implant, tooth-colored ﬁllings, metal-free crowns, dentures and partials, gum care, root canal, TMJ, braces, teeth whitening and infection control. We offer free nitrous oxide to patients who are anxious. We keep up with all the latest technology when it comes to new dental procedures and equipment. We have televisions in our operatories and all-digital office.

★ 4015 Hurst Drive, Waterloo ★ (319) 235-6287 ★ 3217 Cedar Heights Drive, Cedar Falls ★ (319) 277-6921 ★ 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday ★ www.cedarvalleysmiles.net

Kimball & Beecher Family Dentistry has been recognized as Best of the Best in previous years. We are ready for and see new customers every day. We look forward to helping you.

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 18, 2012

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PAGE 57

Meet the newest member of our family Dr. Bouck,

Dr. Beecher,

Dr. Kimball,

Dr. Andersen

Thanks for Voting us

Best of the Best!

Eric Kimball, DDS • Beau Beecher, DDS Brian Bouck, DDS • Brian Andersen, DDS Lindsey Vore, DDS

FAMILY DENTISTRY

Call 319-277-6921 today to schedule your appointment with Dr. Lindsey Vore!

3217 Cedar Heights Drive Cedar Falls

4015 Hurst Drive Waterloo

277-6921

235-6287

www.cedarvalleysmiles.net

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THURSDAY, OCTOBER 18, 2012

Monte McCunniff State Farm Insurance Agency First Place: Insurance Agent On behalf of the Monte McCunniff State Farm Insurance Agency, we are very honored and proud to be voted the best insurance agency in the Cedar Valley. Thank you for putting your trust in us. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I have always tried to build my business by providing the best possible service to all of our clients,â&#x20AC;? McCunniff said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Giving personal attention to the familiesâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; ďŹ nancial and insurance needs has been my primary goal since the beginning, and I have found that doing business the right way will result in my clientâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s overall satisfaction and achieve their needs. I have worked very hard to earn the trust of our clients, and we all know that is something not easily achieved in todayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s environment.

â&#x20AC;&#x153;In the very near future, Brad McCunniff, my son who has been with me for more than 24 years, will continue this great legacy. I have a fantastic knowledgeable staff of ďŹ ve who will continue under Bradâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s leadership and, in my opinion, work together to form the best team. People always ask me, â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;When will I retire?â&#x20AC;&#x2122; I always respond, â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;As long as my health holds up and my clients need me, I will always be involved with the McCunniff Agency.â&#x20AC;&#x2122; â&#x20AC;&#x153;Just like teaching your kids to drive, at some point you need to sit in the passenger seat and let them take the wheel. There will always be the McCunniff Agency in the Cedar Valley area to give the same great service and personal attention, and I will be here willing and ready to help

in any way I can with our clientâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s insurance and ďŹ nancial needs. As you have supported me over these past years, I hope and encourage you to extend that same courtesy to Brad as he begins his career as a State Farm agent working with all of our current staff. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Julie and Dave have more than 50 years of combined experience and primarily service our existing clients as well as the banking, health and long-term products we offer. Jon, our marketing coordinator, greets our new clients to become familiar with not only products offered by State Farm, but also introduce them to the McCunniff service philosophy. Bridget contributes part time as she ďŹ nishes her degree at UNI.

A time to gather with

FAMILY AND FRIENDS. As your good neighbors, we appreciate your business.

Monte McCunniff, Agent

!"# " $$ %% & '( % $

P065053 04/06

statefarm.comÂŽ

â&#x2DC;&#x2026; 1708 State St., Cedar Falls â&#x2DC;&#x2026; (319) 266-7533

â&#x20AC;&#x153;Every person on the staff contributes towards this full-service agency providing insurance and ďŹ nancial services to the best of their abilities and knowledge. If you value service, you then expect it, and will want it every day as it gives you peace of mind to know that your protection needs will be taken care of as our number one goal. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I would like to thank our clients and the people of this community and surrounding areas for this great honor and we will continue to strive to provide the best service with the utmost personal attention that our clients have come to expect.â&#x20AC;?

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 18, 2012

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Cedar Valley Electric Rick Dumler and Kevin Juel started their business, Cedar Valley Electric Co. Inc., 14 years ago and have been working in their profession for more than 25 years. Rick and Kevin worked together at another business in town and decided in 1998 to start their business to provide customers with a solution for their electrical needs in an honest and professional manner. We specialize in all aspects of residential wiring from remodels, updates, new homes, etc. Also, we do commercial projects such as new buildings, remodels, etc. Because we and our employees are from the area, we try to take ownership of the projects we work on. This hopefully comes through to the customer and they know we will be there in the future to help them in any way we can. It’s about creating a great relationship with them. We want our customers to know we are just like them. We want to give the customer a job that

First Place: Electrician

★ 5743 Westminster Drive, Cedar Falls ★ (319) 266-1134 ★ 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday

is done right and they are happy with, keeping them informed on the progress so there are no surprises at the end of the project.

COURTESY PHOTO

Let Us Help Create Your Dream With Custom Lighting Design

Lighting Up the Cedar Valley Since 1998

PROVIDING ELECTRICAL & LIGHTING

Residential & Commercial 5743 Westminster | Suite A | Cedar Falls, IA | 319-266-1134

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Lincoln Savings Bank & LSB Financial First Place: Financial/Investment, Bank, Bank Teller Lincoln Savings Bank and LSB Financial operate seamlessly to provide complete financial services, extending traditional banking services to include insurance, investments, trust, mortgage and real estate. Our 110-year history of providing fullservice financial solutions started from a single-location agricultural bank and grew to include the diversified financial institution that exists today. Our agricultural roots, Iowa values and outstanding employees serve as a Steve strong foundation for Tscherter growth and success. Lincoln Savings Bank and LSB Financial have 22 locations: Adel, Allison, Ankeny, Aplington, Cedar Falls (4), Clive, Garwin, Greene, Grinnell, Hudson, Indianola, Lincoln, Mason City, Nashua, Reinbeck, Waterloo (2), Waverly and Tama. The Reinbeck office is considered the headquarters. A privately held company, Lincoln Savings Bank employees are a large shareholder of the company, with more than 20 percent of stock outstanding held by employees via the employee stock ownership program. The employees of Lincoln Savings Bank are loyal ambassadors and great resources to the company. Lincoln Savings Bank and LSB Financial invest a great deal of training and time in the development of employees to ensure clients receive the “best of the best” in service. Lincoln Savings Bank has won numerous awards, including 2009 ICBA National Community Bank Service Award, 2009 Best of the Best, 2009 ABA Community Bank Award, 2009 Iowa Bankers Association Community Betterment Award, 2010 Best of the Best and a number of individual awards. Lincoln Savings Bank offers complete financial services. Employees are truly equipped to handle every aspect of their

The Lincoln Savings Bank headquarters in Reinbeck. clients’ ﬁnancial picture. They also are passionate community stewards and invest both money and time into a variety of organizations and events. All Lincoln Savings Bank locations are open Monday through Friday, with many offices also open Saturday mornings. The hours of operation also vary by location. Visit www.mylsb.com/corporate-info/ locations.aspx for a complete listing of office hours.

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sstt

★ 508 Main St., Reinbeck ★ (319) 788-6441 (Reinbeck), (319) 233-1900 (Waterloo) ★ www.mylsb.com

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 18, 2012

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Thanks cedar valley for helping us pull off THe Trifecta in 2012!

1st place Best of the Best - Banking Member FDIC

1st place Best of the Best- Financial Services LSB Financial

Deni Badker Cedar Falls Washington St. Location

1st place Best of the Best- Bank Teller

web: www.MyLSB.com

phone: (800) 588-7551

Thank you Cedar Valley for recognizing C21 LSB Real Estate! Serving the Cedar Valley with two convenient locations. Cedar Falls- 221 Main St.- (319) 266-8080 Waverly- 1810 4th. St. SW- (866) 352-1157 www.Century21LSB.com

Robin Shrader

Honorable Mention- Real Estate Company

Honorable Mention- Real Estate Agent

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Northeast Iowa Podiatry

First Place: Podiatrist — Stephen Solomon, DPM Northeast Iowa Podiatry specializes in both surgical and nonsurgical treatment of all foot disorders, reconstructive foot surgery, bunion and hammertoe correction, diabetic foot care and shoes, skin and nail disorders, trauma repair, ingrown nail surgery, wound care and sports injuries. We are committed to providing the very best care to the patients in northeast Iowa. Dr. Stephen Solomon and Dr. Kelsey Harvey are dedicated to understanding each patient’s podiatric concerns and provide a complete diagnosis and treatment plan. We work with area physicians to have patients seen as quickly as possible. The main office is in Waterloo, with four satellite clinics serving Grundy Center, Manchester, New Hampton and Osage.

★ 44 Brookeridge Drive, Waterloo ★ (319) 234-2644 ★ 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Friday ★ www.neiapodiatry.com

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THURSDAY, OCTOBER 18, 2012

Leer’s Cycle Center First Place: ATV Honorable Mention: Motorcycles As an authorized dealer for Ski-Doo, Sea-Doo, PWC, boats, Can Am ATVs, Spyder motorcycles, Suzuki and Kawasaki, Leer’s Cycle Center provides sales and service to the Cedar Valley. “We have a large array of clothing and accessories in stock,” said co-owner Shannon Rousselow. “We are always adding new items to our stock to stay up-todate with our customers’ needs. COURTESY PHOTO “We have great employees who go out of their way to take care of our customers’ Stop in and see our state-of-the-art needs.” facility on Fletcher Avenue. ★ 101 Fletcher Ave., Waterloo ★ (319) 235-6453 ★ 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday; 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday; 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday ★ www.leerscyclecenter.com

Thank You Cedar Valley for Voting Dr. Stephen Solomon #1 Podiatrist 2012!

Northeast Iowa Podiatry Clinics

Helping People Since 1973

44 Brookeridge Dr. • Waterloo, Iowa 319-234-2644 • www.neiapodiatry.com

LEER’S CYCLE CENTER 101 Fletcher Ave • Waterloo 319-235-6453 www.leerscyclecenter.com

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 18, 2012

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Western Home Communities First Place: Assisted Living, Nursing Care Many organizations may talk about their mission statement. At Western Home Communities, employees live the mission each day. It’s why the sight of leather and sound of roaring engines recently captured attention at the downtown campus in Cedar Falls, when AMVETS Riders showed off their Harleys and offered rides to residents in assisted living and nursing care. “At this stage of my life, it’s the best gift I could receive,” enthused one resident as he reflected on his ride. Other recent activities enjoyed by residents include roasting marshmallows at a campfire, going fishing, taking in a Bucks baseball game, drinking margaritas on the patio, churning homemade ice cream, gardening and riding in parades. All of this happens because employees take seriously the charge to assertively create fulfilling lifestyles for residents, whether in organized events or small, often unseen ways. Recently an assisted living resident wanted to attend the funeral of a long-time friend, but it was during the day when his family wasn’t available. A resident assistant offered to drive the resident on her own time, and a co-worker from a different shift provided free day care to help make it happen. “She not only drove him but dressed up and attended the funeral with our resident,” recounted Briana Hilmer, RN, director of health services at Stanard Family Assisted Living. “I am really humbled by the extent of kindness and compassion that is shown here.” It gets to be a guessing game sometimes, Hilmer said, to figure out which employee may have secretly done something special for a resident, but no one confesses. Among the goodies recently brought in were pumpkin pie, after two women expressed their craving for it, and homemade chocolate cake, after one resident said it was the only thing that sounded good to him. “I have never experienced an environment so filled with following the mission and living out God’s love through us as a staff,” reflected Hilmer, who has worked in long-term care for more than two decades. “I am so blessed to work where the top leaders are caring and responsive. Even the chief executive officer, chief operating officer and administrator know everyone’s names and

Leisure services assistant Melanie Buhr with resident Harold Roth. COURTESY PHOTOS

Assisted-living resident Ruth Benton takes her seat for a ride with the Gold Wing Riders.

WHC resident Don Staley waves as he takes off with an AMVETS rider. their family members.” Wendy Ager, downtown campus administrator, recently watched Martin Health Center staff go the extra mile to care for a long-time resident whose health was declining. She had no immediate family. On their own, employees created a 24-hour schedule where someone would sit with her so she wouldn’t ever be alone. Later, it was revealed that many nurses and nurse assistants had provided clothes and other items for this resident for many

years. “All because they loved this lady for the last 13 years of her life,” Ager said. “They were truly her family and created a fulﬁlling lifestyle for her.” Many times, short-term residents who do their rehabilitation at Martin Health Center return to show the staff how well they are doing. “There are usually lots of hugs and even happy tears,” Ager said. “It is always fun to see the employees who gather around a

Mission statement Western Home Communities is a charitable Christian service organization that assertively creates fulﬁlling lifestyles for seniors, their families and our employees.

former resident when they visit.” Just last month, Western Home Communities enjoyed a weeklong celebration of its 100th anniversary. The organization has grown from 12 residents in the fall of 1912 to 800 residents in eight buildings on two campuses today. Growth is purposeful with each decision made in light of whether it furthers the mission and with an emphasis on making sure employees continue to live that mission to beneﬁt residents. “Many nurses call on their days off to check on residents and see how they’re doing,” said Sharon Lukes, RN, BSN, director of health services at Windhaven Assisted Living. “They’re never afraid to hug and cry with residents, and the families let us know what a difference it makes. They tell us how much they appreciate the little extras that make a resident’s day the best it can be.” It is not uncommon to see an employee on a day off, bringing their children and pets to visit with residents. “We often tell our residents that they are our bosses and we work for them,” Hilmer said. “We say if it wasn’t for them choosing to live in our assisted living, then where would we be?”

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Your 1st place votes were the icing on the cake for our 100th anniversary celebration.

Thank you, Cedar Valley, for your continued confidence in our employees, our services and our mission. As we close the book on our 100th year, stay tuned for the next chapter.

ACTIVE LIFESTYLES • INDEPENDENT LIVING • ASSISTED LIVING • MEMORY CARE NURSING CARE • REHAB TO HOME • SURECARE • AT HOME SOLUTIONS