Cedar Valley Business monthly
February 2014 1
FROM THE EDITOR
Entrepreneurs share their dreams Entrepreneurs aren’t much different from most people who put everything on the line — including their reputations — to build a dream into a business. We talked to a few of them for this month’s issue of the Cedar Valley Business Monthly to get an idea of what makes them — and their young companies — tick. Their ideas differ, and perhaps that’s the point: Jim Offner Each dream is is the Courier unique, whethbusiness editor. Contact er it’s creating a multimillion-dollar him at construction comjim.offner@ pany from classwcfcourier. com. room doodlings or converting one’s passion for music into a custom guitar business. The Cedar Valley is rife with startup success stories in areas as diverse as information technolo-
gy to basic services. All operators of those enterprises saw a need and leaped into the fray with eyes wide open and hearts pounding. That’s what makes business work. Business incubators, such as those found at the University of Northern Iowa, provide invaluable guidance and voices of experience to these nascent tycoons. That’s how a growing economy operates. For every successful enterprise, there are would-be rivals out there looking to compete by making a widget or offering a service that is just a bit better. The key, business owners say, is to love what one does. It takes a passion to see a business through tough times before it can reach its heights. There are other aspects to making a go of a business. One of the most important is to see a business from a detached perspective, “from above,” as one put it. That has to be one of the most difficult hurdles for any startup owner when one has poured so much time and treasure into a business.
Still, the temptation to do everything yourself remains strong, said Travis Augustyn, who opened an Elkader-based construction company three years ago. “Another thing, too, is I was used to doing the work and trying to get stuff done,” he said. “You want to make sure you’re bidding the jobs you can do, and the guys are doing what you want them to do.” The stories behind each business offer fascinating glimpses into the things that drive entrepreneurs to sleepless nights and years of sacrifice. Together, the anecdotes about the lessons and heartaches that go into building a business provide fodder for the next wave of idea people who aim for the stars and, with a combination of work and dedication, get there. Before they know it, they’re worrying not about whether their company makes it but how they will manage its growth. Josh Carroll, owner of startup Midwest Information Develop-
ment LLC in Cedar Falls, is at that point now. Carroll returned to UNI to pursue a master’s degree after having been in the business world in Kentucky for several years. His nascent IT business is growing, but he has a challenge many tech companies face: He cannot find programmers, since there is more of a demand than supply for programmers across the country. “I’m sort of at the point where I’m hitting critical mass,” Carroll said. “I have enough strong work coming in that it’s dominating my time. I don’t get to spend as much time in marketing endeavors to promote my business.” Carroll’s business has grown to the point where he’ll have to make some tough decisions — including whether to bring on full-time help and, if so, how many workers. In a way, it’s an enviable problem to have. It’s not unique. There are a lot of stories like that across the Cedar Valley.
CONTENTS
www.cvbusinessmonthly.com
Vol. 8 No. 3
Cedar Valley Business Monthly is a free monthly publication direct-mailed to more than 5,300 area businesses. Contact us at (319) 291-1448 or P.O. Box 540, Waterloo, IA 50704.
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EDITORIAL STAFF
Sheila Kerns sheila.kerns@wcfcourier.com (319) 291-1448
Jim Offner jim.offner@wcfcourier.com (319) 291-1598
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Nancy Raffensperger Newhoff nancy.newhoff@wcfcourier.com
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COURTNEY COLLINS / Courier Staff Photographer FROM THE COVER Robert Colin of System Services connects wiring at the Russell Lamson Building in Waterloo.
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TECHNOLOGY You should care what screens your customers use to access your website. CVBUSINESSMONTHLY.COM
CEDAR VALLEY BUSINESS MONTHLY
page 4 FEBRUARY 2014 3
technology
Screen jumpers might surf past a faulty website Prior to reading “Your Client Families are Screen Jumpers, are You?” in the Sept. 17 issue of Is Social Media Working for You, “screen jumping” meant nothing to me. So what is screen jumping, and who is doing it? The term refers to how we juggle various devices to get online — from our smartphone in the morning, Cherie to the office PC or Dargan Mac during the is associate work day, back to professor of the smartphone communications periodically and at Hawkeye to a tablet toward Community evening. College in Waterloo. Screen jumpContact her at ing is significant (800) 670-4769 to businesses that ext. 1701 or cherie.dargan@ use the Web to inhawkeyecollege. terface with customers. Accordedu. ing to research by Media Metrex, since February 2010, American adults have almost doubled the amount of time that they spend online, with most of that increase attributable to increased use of mobile devices. PCs dominate the workplace, but smartphones are our constant companions, according to the article, and increasingly, tablets get used more at night. Evidence of this growing trend? Online revenues for Christmas 2013 were expected to exceed 2012 by about 15 percent, but preliminary estimates are settling on 24 percent. Who are these shoppers, and how are they connecting with vendors? According to Media Metrex, the demographics vary according to age but not so much by gender. Younger people are more likely to be screen jumpers than their parents and grandparents. They are also more likely to use tablets and smartphones. Why does it matter? Web traffic is rapidly driving profits, and different devices require different website 4
February 2014
Cedar Valley Business monthly
Learn more For more information, see these sources ■■ “Is Your Web Site mobile-friendly?” W3c MobileOK (The World Wide Web Consortium Mobile checker) http:// validator.w3.org/mobile/. The W3C is the organization that sets the standards for the Web; it was founded by Tim Berners-Lee. This online tool generates a detailed report about the problems found with the website. ■■ “Your Client Families Are Screen Jumpers, Are You?” Posted on September 17, 2013 by DISRUPT Media. Article and Infographic, showing the emerging pattern of people using multiple devices to go online.
strategies to optimize the experiences of users. For instance, a website sales form that works great on a 21-inch LCD of a personal computer may be cramped on an 11-inch iPad Air, annoying on a 7-inch Galaxy Tab and non-functional on a 4-inch Google Nexus. If you’re selling your product on the Web, it’s important to not leave anyone out. Having an all-inclusive business website sounds logical, but identifying your customers’ operating systems, web browsers and screen resolutions on the fly can be a daunting task. However, properly configured, modern websites can accommodate all comers. The moment a customer requests a page, your website identifies the technology and diverts subsequent requests to web pages that are optimized for the user’s environment. So, if a smart website detects activity from a Windows 7 Pro operating system running 1600x900 screen resolution, browsing with Internet Explorer 9, future requests result in the display of pages that are attractively displayed and easily understood by the user. On the other hand, if the smart server detects an Android running the Ice Cream Sandwich OS with a screen resolution of 1080x1920 and a Chrome browser, the same content is provided in a manner appropriate for the smaller screen.
See Screens, page 5
cvbusinessmonthly.com
Will DirecTV keep its Sunday Ticket? Los Angeles Times
For almost two decades, DirecTV’s Sunday Ticket package of National Football League games has been a superstar performer for the satellite broadcaster. But like any team with an aging and expensive player, DirecTV now has to decide whether to keep Sunday Ticket on its roster. DirecTV pays $1 billion a season for the rights to all Sunday afternoon games under an exclusive deal that runs through next season. The satellite broadcaster and the NFL are in talks on a new contract, with cost and length being two sticking points. Sunday Ticket, created in 1994, is a football fan’s dream that provides a live feed to every afternoon game around the country. The package liberated fans from watching only the games being shown on local channels in their market. It also fueled growth for DirecTV. Two million of the broad-
Screens From page 4 The importance of such adaptability is obvious: The combinations of operating systems, web browsers, screen resolutions and processors mean attempts to optimize for one combination would isolate the business from much of the Web population. For example, in September WiFi users at a local public library accessed its authentication website a total of 1,102 times. A scan of the access log shows the iPod browser as most common, accounting for 17 percent of all traffic with Safari as least popular, accounting for 4 percent of users. In this environment, optimizing for the most common browser, iPod, would result in degraded performance for the other 83 percent of users. When operating system variability is considered, complexity increases. A total of nine unique operating systems were detected by the library’s authentication site in September, with Windows 7 being the most popular with 22 percent of users. In contrast, only 3 percent used Mac OS X Snow Leopard. Clearly, aiming for the optimization middle is futile, as even the cvbusinessmonthly.com
caster’s 20 million subscribers pay as much as $250 a season to receive the extra football programming. “The Sunday Ticket package was a brilliant play for DirecTV, as it gave the displaced NFL fan an option to watch their team in the comfort of their own home and not be forced to go to the local sports bar,” said Marc Bluestein, president of consulting firm Aquarius Sports & Entertainment. The “association with NFL definitely delivered large brand awareness for DirecTV, especially in its early years.” That has come at a cost. DirecTV’s Sunday Ticket bill has more than doubled in the past 10 years and will probably continue rising. One network sports executive predicts that DirecTV will be looking at a 40 percent increase to $1.4 billion for the 2015 season and 4 percent annual increases after that. Neither the NFL nor DirecTV would comment on their talks. best efforts will result in poor performance for the majority of users. Some businesses try to cope with the great variability of Internet user technology by using the one- (or maybe two-) size-fits-all. For an example, look at an article on Wikipedia using your PC-based browser. Then, view the same article using your smartphone: You see the same content with different formats. Wikipedia recognizes your smartphone and “dumbs down” the display. This approach is acceptable for a nonprofit organization; however, it is not acceptable for a business selling online. Other businesses use the “app” approach: They equip users with a piece of software customized for the technology that the user happens to own. This approach requires the user to download, install and update software from the vendor. Either way, effective vendors accommodate all comers. Attempting to sell through a one-size-fitsall portal is folly until the majority of users standardize their technology. Meanwhile, test the mobile friendliness of your business website by doing a copy and paste of your URL into the W3c MobileOK checker and see how you’re doing at http://validator.w3.org/mobile/.
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Register online or call 319-296-4290. www.hawkeyecollege.edu/business-and-community
Cedar Valley Business monthly
February 2014 5
Cover story
Minding their own business Entrepreneurs turn hard work, passion into startup success
JIM OFFNER jim.offner@wcfcourier.com Owners of budding businesses in the Cedar Valley say they rely on heart as much as intellect in their quest to reap a payoff from their risks. “Find something you really have a passion for and love doing, because if you want to be an entrepreneur and you get into something you don’t like in the first place, there’s no way you’re going to succeed,” said Austin Baughman, 21.
The junior advanced manufacturing major at the University of Northern Iowa launched Anvil Guitars last year as part of a manufacturing class. “I started it because I had a final project due,” he said. “That project was to develop and take a concept of a product from an idea and drawing into a physical piece that could be manufactured in today’s industry.” Baughman, who started playing the piano at around age 7 and took up the guitar late in grade
COURTNEY COLLINS Cedar Valley Business Monthly
Trent Weber of System Services works on a fire alarm at the Russell Lamson Building in Waterloo. school, designed and built a guitar. It marked the beginning of his company. Baughman took his idea to the John Pappajohn Entrepreneurial Center at UNI. It’s not all a matter of passion, he
said. “The first piece is to seek out any kind of entrepreneurial help, whether it’s a program at their college or university or their hometown,” he said when asked how to get started. “If there’s some pro-
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February 2014
Cedar Valley Business monthly
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gram that could give you advice, there’s help. There are things out there that I’ve been blown away by.” Baughman he has built and sold four guitars so far at an average price of about $900. His shop has been at home in Denison, but he plans to move it to Cedar Falls next summer. “There’s a lot of hands-on workshops that I’ve gone to to help get my idea going,” he said. Advisers at the Pappajohn Center helped Baughman find a niche market for his guitars, he said. “My business is all about customer preference at this stage. ... I’ve noticed as a guitar player myself, I didn’t like what I saw and played at guitar shops. They didn’t have characteristics I needed for music I wanted to play. That’s why I started Anvil Guiltars the way I did. I offered the custom experience.”
Business takes off
Not all startups are new. In 2003, Nathan Neuman and his father, Lawrence, founded System Services, specializing in commercial fire alarm systems. Growth was slow if steady at
COURTESY PHOTO
Employees of Travis Augustyn Construction work on a highway project near Des Moines over the summer. first, Nathan Neuman said. As time went on, the company expanded to offer more products and services, including video camera systems for school districts. “We were just kind of running it out of my home, but once I started
hiring, my wife wasn’t too excited to open the doors to our house to others,” Neuman said, laughing. Neuman operated out of UNI’s business incubator for several years. Recently, the company purchased its own building at 2201
Falls Ave. in Waterloo and will move in this year. Neuman said he a receptive market in schools, and the company is branching out to include more
See Startups, page 8
This is my Wartburg story.
What’s yours?
Balancing the rigors of two majors — computer science and math — and an engineering minor prepared me to face challenges as CEO of a mobile gaming company I helped build. At Wartburg, I pushed myself every day to balance my studies and student government. I persisted and became the first in my family to earn a four-year degree. That same determination helped me manage and grow a start-up company. Despite the demands of small-business ownership, Wartburg’s spirit of service guides me to give of my time and talents. I’m glad I chose Wartburg. It’s an important part of my life. — Scott Davis ’96 CEO, QONQR St. Paul, Minn.
Read more of Scott’s story and others at www.wartburg.edu/ourstory cvbusinessmonthly.com
Leadership. Service. Faith. Learning. 100 Wartburg Blvd., Waverly, Iowa • www.wartburg.edu
Cedar Valley Business monthly
February 2014 7
Startups From page 7
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commercial spots. One recent job was to install a system in the revamped Russell Lamson Building in downtown Waterloo. Advertising is basically “word-of-mouth.” Lawrence Neuman still helps out, but has primarily moved into retirement. The younger Neuman has brought on about a half-dozen employees. The company covers Iowa roughly “from Clear Lake to the Mississippi,” Nathan Neuman said.
Help from experts
Neuman has had to learn to trust his help and be more of a manager. That’s a lesson he said he learned from Dan Beenken, director of UNI’s Small Business Development Center and manager of the UNI Innovation Incubator. “He stressed to me to try to look at the business from above rather than within, to be more of a boss, and I’m still learning that.” Further growth is in sight. Neuman wants to get settled in his new building and eventually to hire two more technicians. Service Systems is profitable, but how well the company is doing is difficult to gauge, he said. “I think I’m doing good where the business is now and where we came from,” he said. “Maybe that’s another thing I learned from Dan: I’m trying to manage the growth. I kind of got to that point this fall where we maybe got too much work on the plate.” Beenken has been impressed with System Services’ growth. “They’re doing a ton of school work right now,” Beenken said. “They’re growing. That’s the whole purpose of what we’re supposed to be about — training them on the business side of things and getting them out of here. So, he’s getting out of here.”
Constructing a business
Three years ago, Decorah resident Travis Augustyn was working his way through construction management classes at UNI. Now, he’s looking back on a $2.5 million revenue year for his three-year-old company, Travis Augustyn Construction, based in Elkader. The springboard to this year’s success, he said, was a subcontracting job on a stretch of U.S. Highway 20 near Fort Dodge. That preceded another subcontracting gig at the new Menards in Cedar Falls.
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When he started his company in 2010, all he had was a pickup truck. He had to rent his heavy equipment. But he was in business, degree fresh in hand, planting drainage pipe along Highway 20. “That was a start,” he said. “We were there that whole summer and fall and a little the following spring,” he said. Augustyn said he, too, followed his passion to start his own enterprise. “I always wanted to do something in construction,” he said. “I started with framing houses, but that didn’t work out. I made a pretty radical change; I went to heavy highway construction. ... It’s pretty much all drainage.” The Menards contract pushed the business along, Augustyn said. “That was a pretty big one,” he said. “We were laying structures that weighed over 150,000 pounds.” To grow his company, Augustyn said, it was crucial to firmly grasp what he was doing with it. “There’s a certain point to delegate, but you can’t delegate very much with a young company,” he said. “The biggest thing is to pay attention to what you’re doing. It’s a dangerous job, and you have to be on your toes. I bid the work, and I’ve got guys out there, but I’m also out there with them. I’m back and forth between all my crews.” Augustyn started with just one or two helpers; now he has eight employees. Over the summer of 2013, the crews focused on a highway project in the Des Moines area. Augustyn said his company’s progress has exceeded plans he drew up for it in his school days. “I was just going through a bunch of paperwork and found some old projections from college,” he said. “In one of my classes, I had to do a business plan and I had projected so much volume in Year 1, Year 2 and Year 3. Now, on Year 3, I’ve just about doubled what I predicted in college. I’m doing better than I originally thought.” His advice to other would-be entrepreneurs? Be realistic. “You can’t want to take over the world,” Augustyn said. “You feel like you have to do everything the first year. You’ve got to know you take small steps that first year and see that everything gets done. You can grow real fast, and it’s a nightmare when some companies double and triple in growth. Their employees don’t know what they’re doing and don’t know how to communicate with everybody.” cvbusinessmonthly.com
Consumer protection
Read cell phone contracts closely Are you thinking about signing up for new wireless phone service, changing your wireless plan or changing carriers? There are countless plans available, with different features to suit your usage needs. Do you think you’ll spend a lot of minutes — or very few Tom Miller minutes — talking? is attorney general for the Will you use the phone locally, restate of Iowa. gionally, nationally or even internationally? Will you use the phone mostly during the day, at night or on weekends? What about texting? If it’s a smartphone, how much time will you spend on the Internet, and how much data allotment do you think you’ll need for uploads and downloads? Will others share your account, and how will they use their phones? How does the wireless provider charge when a phone exceeds monthly usage allotments for talking, texting or data usage? Ask friends and co-workers in your area about their wireless providers and their level of satisfaction.
Contracts
Wireless providers typically encourage consumers to sign longterm contracts. In exchange for “free” or heavily discounted phones, providers will typically require a two-year commitment. If you cancel or switch providers before the contract expires, the contracts may impose a hefty early termination fee, which could be several hundred dollars per phone line. Be sure to understand what’s in the written contract as opposed to what someone verbally claims or promises. Written contracts override verbal representations and promises. ■■ Read the contract and any other documents that the carrier claims will govern your agreement. Clarify any terms you don’t understand, including claims you see in promotional materials. ■■ If you are paying a promotional rate, be sure you understand the duration of the promotion and how much costs will increase after
cvbusinessmonthly.com
the promotional rate ends. ■■ Find out exactly what it will cost to cancel or change your plan before the contract expires. Find out how the provider prorates its early termination fees. ■■ Ask for a coverage map, and ask about extra charges for roaming outside of the home service area. Be sure you understand how you know whether you are roaming. ■■ Ask about the trial period, which enables you to cancel and seek a refund without an early termination fee. When you first get your new phone, make sure you are satisfied with it and also your wireless carrier’s service. Test your phone in places where you’ll most likely use it.
Contract changes
■■ Know when your contract expires. If your carrier makes a promotional offer before your contract expires, ask whether it requires you to extend your agreement. ■■ Your wireless provider may not require you to sign a new contract if you extend or make changes to your existing plan, including upgrades. Be sure you understand the terms if you change or extend your agreement. ■■ Ask what you need to do to end, continue or change your agreement at the end of the contract. It’s possible that your provider will automatically renew or extend your agreement unless you ask to terminate it. ■■ Men and women who are serving on active duty in the U.S. military, including members of the National Guard and Reserves called to active duty status, can suspend long-term contracts when deployed for at least 90 days or when permanently transferred if the change results in an inability to use the service or an inability to satisfy the terms of the contract.
Prepaid phones
■■ You may avoid facing early termination fees if you buy the phone up front at full price. ■■ Prepaid and monthly phone service is not subject to long-term contracts.
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February 2014 9
PERSONAL FINANCE
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• 2.86 Acre commercial development site • On corner of Rownd and University, next to new Happy Hippo Car Wash • High traffic counts and great visibility! Priced at: $895,000 Jim Sulentic 215-5000
For Lease
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• 2,916 Sq. Ft. Retail Building Available busy corner of University/Ansborough • Formerly Wonder Bread Outlet Store • Overhead door and paved parking lot
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How do you f If you had money invested in the stock market in 2013, you’re most likely pleased with the results. It’s rare that major stock indexes like the benchmark Standard & Poor’s 500 generate returns in excess of 20 percent in a single year as they did in 2013. In fact, the Larry K. Fox S&P 500 reached a is a private new all-time high, a wealth adviser major milestone. with Ameriprise Like many inFinancial Inc. vestors, you may in Waterloo. Contact him at be asking, can the 234-7000. upward ride that stock investors have enjoyed since 2009 continue? It’s a question that nobody can answer with certainty. We know that over time, stock markets are unpredictable and do move up and down, sometimes in dramatic fashion. As an investor, you always need to be prepared for periodic market
swings. Even more important than determining what’s next for financial markets is to understand your own perspective as an investor.
Questions to ask
Here are some of the key questions you should ask and issues you should consider as you think about your investments in 2014: 1. Now that the stock market has reached a new record, am I happy with how much I have invested? During the severe market downturn in 2008, many investors took money out of stocks, and not all of that money came back. Have you been a participant in this market rally to the extent you would like to be? Whether the answer yes or no, you may want to meet with a financial adviser to talk about the steps you can take to make investment decisions based on your financial goals and risk tolerance. 2. Should I consider selling my stock positions given the market’s recent strong run?
Junior Achievement of Eastern Iowa is currently accepting nominations for three elite individuals to be inducted as Laureates and one to be inducted as a Young Entrepreneur to the 2014 Cedar Valley Business Hall of Fame. Individuals inducted into the Cedar Valley Business Hall of Fame are outstanding business leaders who have made legendary contributions to the free enterprise system. Nominations are made by members of the community then selected by an independent committee. The event is a black tie gala held in honor of the honorees on Thursday, October 16, 2014 at the Pipac Centre, 1521 Technology Parkway, Cedar Falls. Highlights of the evening will include video biographies of each laureate being honored.
Individuals are encouraged to nominate business leaders who have accomplished significant business and personal goals while making Eastern Iowa a better place to live. These individuals: • Made an IMPACT on their industry or organization • Bestow INTEGRITY as an ethical business leader • Are committed to bettering the COMMUNITY as a whole • Display LEADERSHIP qualities, which allow them to be exemplary role models for all of us – especially the children of Eastern Iowa • Exhibit an ENTREPRENEURIAL SPIRIT in starting or significantly advancing local business Nominees for the Young Entrepreneur Award must exemplify the above qualities, have started or purchased a business, be a current or previous resident of the Cedar Valley area and be 40 years of age or younger at the time of the event. To obtain a nomination form please visit www.JAEasternIowa.org or e-mail amckelvy@jaeasterniowa.org for a copy. Nominations will be accepted through
Friday, March 7, 2014. 10
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follow 2013? This question is related to “timing” the market. Trying to choose the right time to buy or sell can be difficult, even for professionals who invest for a living. That said, because stocks have been performing well you may want to consider rebalancing your investment portfolio as the recent surge could have increased the stock weighting of your overall portfolio. Stocks can be part of almost any asset allocation model, but how much and what type to own varies for everyone. The decision to make changes to your portfolio should be centered on your own needs, goals and risk tolerance. Think about your long-term goals and what you hope to accomplish before making any significant changes. 3. Couldn’t a major economic or world event cause a big decline in the stock market? This is always a concern for investors. Nobody can predict when the next market downturn will occur. By the same token, few predicted that the stock market would soar in 2013. Surprises can happen in either direction. This is why you need to
maintain a well-diversified portfolio designed to help you achieve your long-term goals. Although diversification doesn’t guarantee a gain or prevent a loss, it can help to mitigate the effects of volatility on a portfolio. Markets will move up and down over time, and on occasion, significant events may cause more dramatic shifts in stock prices. A long-term plan is important to help you achieve your ultimate goals. 4. How do I know what’s the right move to make with my equity portfolio now? There is no single right answer for every investor. You need to assess your personal circumstances — most notably the amount of time you have to keep your money invested before reaching specific goals and the degree of market fluctuation you can live with in your portfolio. Making your decision based on what works for you in the long-term will make it easier to weather short-term concerns. It may be beneficial for you to consult with an investment professional to help you reach your financial goals.
WE’RE
MOBILE!
Co-worker’s email prank is not funny MARIE G. McINTYRE McClatchy-Tribune News Service
Hannah must be an immature idiot. Despite your discomfort with reporting her, she should not be allowed to get away with such an unprofessional stunt. But before taking the matter to your boss, give her one last chance to do the right thing. For example: “Hannah, the email which you sent from my computer was extremely inappropriate and could create a lot of problems for me. Unless you agree to send another email explaining what you did, I will have to ask our manager to handle this issue. It’s your choice, but you have to decide now.” If your childish co-worker still refuses to cooperate, present the facts to your boss and ask him to either require a retraction from Hannah or send out an explanation himself.
Q: A few days ago, while I was away from my desk, a co-worker used my computer to send out a very offensive email under my name. “Hannah” included everyone in our department on this message. When I confronted her, she laughed and said it was just a joke. She refuses to send another email explaining that the offensive message really came from her. Our company monitors employee email accounts, so Hannah’s prank could actually get me in trouble. My boss might be able to help, but I hate to complain to him because I already feel like an outsider here. I am almost 50, while my co-workers are all in Marie G. McIntyre is a workplace coach their 20s and 30s. What’s the best and the author of “Secrets to Winning at way to handle this? Office Politics.” Send in questions and get A: Since there was absolutely free coaching tips at www.yourofficecoach. com. nothing funny about this fake email, cvbusinessmonthly.com
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Wartburg college
Wartburg grad conquers gaming world During his days at Wartburg College, Scott Davis, a 1996 graduate, never thought the gaming world would consume his every waking moment. Davis, a McGregor native, majored in computer science and math with a minor in engineering. Four years ago he and six co-founders started “QONQR” Jerica (pronounced “conGeorge quer”), a mobile is a senior gaming company. at Wartburg Davis is chief execCollege in utive officer. Waverly. “We pitched ‘QONQR’ as an idea for a Twin Cities Startup Weekend event, where the goal was to build a company and a product in one weekend and pitch to a group of investors and startup experts,” said Davis, who has a master’s degree in business administration with an entrepreneurship concentration from the University of St. Thomas in St. Paul.
“QONQR” won the competition and has built momentum ever since. It entered the summer of 2012 as the No. 2 game in the “Best Rated” category of the Windows Phone marketplace in the United States and also was available on iPhones. “QONQR” is a multiplayer “geosocial game of world domination” that Davis calls “highly complex.” Players enter “an invisible war” with an “Artificial Intelligence (QONQR) of unknown origin,” although they must determine whether its intentions are to “enhance or destroy humanity.” The players form various “factions” including the “Legion,” which wants to save humanity before QONQR can mature; the “Swarm,” which protects QONQR, believing it will usher in “unprecedented technological advancement and human prosperity”; and the Faceless, militant hackers who want QONQR’s technology for their own while trying to avoid “human slavery.” Players seek control over three
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rapidly, especially in its primary demographic — males in their 30s. “They are competitive, usually have a significant amount of disposable income, and a busy life, resulting in a lack of time to play Xbox or PlayStation,” Davis said. “QONQR” also works for busy moms and teens who have some down time to play a one-to-three minute game. “In mobile gaming, you aren’t competing with other games as much as you are competing with everything else in people’s lives,” Davis said. Davis anticipates “QONQR” will expand its player population rapidly. One marketing strategy that has helped “QONQR” succeed is social networking, Davis said. Posting that you have captured a city on Facebook or Twitter allows your friends or followers to see what the game is all about. “It is a tremendous feeling to know that you have been part of making something that so many people use for entertainment every day,” he said.
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million battle zones in more than 250 countries. They help their faction capture battle zones by deploying nanobot swarms. The faction with the most bots controls its zone. “In effect, the players are trying to capture and control their hometowns and the surrounding areas in a secret battle for world domination,” Davis said. Since the official release of the game in March 2012, “QONQR” players have captured 400,000 cities in 175 countries. “QONQR” was initially accepted into the Demo Track of MidVenturesLAUNCH in Chicago — one of the largest startup conferences in the Midwest, which showcases startups and apps. It was a finalist in the entertainment category at the 2011 South by Southwest (SXSW) Accelerator in Austin, Tex., which has a reputation as a breeding ground for new ideas and creative technologies. With its growing recognition in the gaming world, Davis said “QONQR” community is gaining
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Management
Making employee suggestions work We’re all familiar with the wooden box located in the lunchroom labeled “employee suggestions.” You know, the one gathering dust. The one where great ideas go to die. Let’s start by identifying the typical pitfalls with employee suggestion systems: ■■ The process for Rick submitting ideas Brimeyer is president of is impersonal and Brimeyer LLC, rife with misunderan Ames-based standing. Writing is independent a one-way, shallow management form of commuconsulting firm. nication perhaps Contact him least favored by at (515) 450most employees. 8855 or rick@ ■■ A terrible thing brimeyerllc. happens as the sugcom. gestion slip slides through the slot; responsibility for the improvement transfers from the employee to management. Now it’s a matter of whether “they” want to
do it. ■■ The decision-making process for evaluating suggestions is slow and flawed. It often occurs by managers far-removed from the real issue during an agenda-filled monthly meeting, unwilling to leave the board room to investigate it. ■■ Feedback to the employee is frequently as slow and impersonal as the submittal and analysis steps. ■■ So how do we create an improvement system that is more personal, timely and results in better decisions? Many organizations are finding the secret lies with successfully implementing Standard Work. Standard Work is defined as the documented (preferably through photos) best process for completing a critical, repetitive task. It typically contains the following pieces of information: ■■ A clear definition of the expected output or outcome. ■■ The sequence of steps in the appropriate order. ■■ The “stuff” (tools, supplies, information and inventory) needed and
the appropriate amount of each. ■■ The expected time to complete. ■■ Once implemented, Standard Work is the training document for the process, providing consistency. It becomes the baseline against which future suggested improvements are measured. In a healthy environment, employees are challenged to improve Standard Work. Ideas are discussed with one’s supervisor at the place where the work actually occurs. A decision is made together on whether the idea warrants testing and how an objective evaluation can be completed. The employee knows the idea was heard. Regardless of whether the idea is pursued, they are recognized for using their noodle. If the suggestion results in a better process, the Standard Work is revised to reflect the change and employees are trained on the revision, thus resulting in an improved process for everyone. Early in 2012 the environmental services team at Mary Greeley
Medical Center utilized Standard Work to document the best method for cleaning patient rooms. Prior to Standard Work, cleaning process variation was significant due to the number of different workers, different patient units and the fact that almost 200 steps were required to thoroughly clean a room. Documented results from both inhouse testing and patient surveys show a notable improvement . The team also improved productivity as the average time to clean a room dropped and became more consistent. But here’s the cool part: Standard Work provided the vehicle for continuously improving the cleaning process. In less than two years, roughly 50 improvement suggestions have been implemented. That’s an average of two improvements per month by a single team on a single work activity. Those are numbers few suggestion boxes can match. Imagine that power unleashed across your entire organization.
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Personal finance
A good time for a financial checkup The new year is an excellent time to review your financial health and well-being. With that in mind, I have put together seven aspects of your financial plans you may want to review in 2014. Pete INVESTMENTS Meehan — Review your inis president vestment strategy of Financial and make sure it’s Decisions in keeping with Group in your current goals. Waterloo. Contact him at Look over your portfolio positions 233-8476. and revisit your asset allocations.
RETIREMENT — Take a look at your overall retirement strategy. Does it still make sense? If applicable, take your required minimum distribution from your traditional IRA. Take a look at and/or max out contributions to IRAs, and 401(k) s. Consider maxing out catch-up contributions, if applicable. Finally, consider Roth IRA conversion scenarios. TAXES — Review appreciated property sales and both realized and unrealized losses and gains. Take a look back at last year’s losses and gains; as well as last year’s loss carry forwards. If you’ve sold securities, gather cost-basis information. Look for any transactions that could potentially enhance
your circumstances. GIFTS and CONTRIBUTIONS — Plan charitable contributions or contributions to education accounts. Make any desired cash gifts to family members. Review and fund trusts, as applicable. INSURANCE — Are your policies and beneficiaries up-to-date? Review costs, beneficiaries and any and all life changes that may affect your insurance needs. PERSONAL CHANGES — Are you going to get married or divorced this year? Move or change jobs? Buy a home or business? Have or adopt a child? Will you be receiving an inheritance or gifting? Do you foresee a severe illness or ailment affecting a family
member? Is there a realization that your parent(s) will need assisted living? BIRTHDAY MILESTONES — If you turn 70½ this year, you must take a required minimum distribution from your IRA(s). If you turn 65 this year, you’re eligible to apply for Medicare. If you turn 62 this year, you’re eligible to apply for Social Security benefits. If you turn 59½ this year, you may take IRA distributions without penalty. If you turn 55 this year and you retire, you may now take distributions from your 401(k) account without penalty. If you turn 50 this year, “catch up” contributions may now be made to IRAs and other qualified retirement plans.
Pork producers call for more humane treatment of pigs TULSA, Okla. (AP) — The yearslong call by animal rights groups to improve conditions on American hog farms advanced considerably last month when two of the country’s biggest meat com-
panies urged producers to change how pregnant sows are housed, and one announced it wanted to stop the practice of killing sick or injured animals by “manual blunt force.”
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Tyson Foods sent new animal welfare guidelines to its 3,000 independent hog suppliers six weeks after gruesome video from an Oklahoma farm showed some animals being struck with bowling
balls and others being slammed onto a concrete floor. And Smithfield Foods announced last month it would ask growers to move pregnant sows from gestation crates to group housing by 2022.
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Corn pile biggest since 1994
Bloomberg News
CHICAGO — Stockpiles of corn in the United States, the world’s top grower, are rising at the fastest pace in 19 years as a record crop overwhelms increased demand for the grain used to make livestock feed and ethanol. Inventories on Dec. 1, the first tally since the harvest was complete, probably totaled 10.76 billion bushels, 34 percent more than a year earlier, according to the average of 24 analyst estimates in a Bloomberg survey. The biggest gain for that date since 1994 signals ample supplies may extend the slump in March futures by 10 percent to $3.75 a bushel, according to Newedge USA’s Dan Cekander. Reserves are recovering after a drought in 2012 sent prices to a record, sparking a surge in output from the U.S. to Brazil and Ukraine. Farmers probably harvested more corn than the government forecast last month, expanding a global glut, separate surveys showed. Corn futures tumbled 40 percent last year, leading a slump
in commodity prices that helped send global food costs down 14 percent from an all-time high in 2011. “We have moved away from a supply deficit after the 2012 U.S. drought to one of surplus corn supplies,” said Bill Tierney, the chief economist for AgResource Co. in Chicago. “It will take two or more years for demand to catch up to more- abundant inventories.” Corn futures that reached a record $8.49 in 2012 tumbled last year by the most on record going back to 1960 and more than any of the 23 other commodities tracked by the Standard & Poor’s GSCI Spot Index, which slid 2.2 percent. The MSCI All-Country World Index of equities advanced 20 percent in 2013, while the Bloomberg U.S. Treasury index slid 3.4 percent. Agricultural prices are declining as world production of corn, soybeans and wheat surged to the highest ever. The S&P GSCI Agriculture Index of eight crops tumbled 22 percent last year, the most
since 1981. Last month, Deutsche Bank joined JPMorgan Chase and Morgan Stanley in cutting back on commodity trading after investors pulled a record $36.3 billion from funds linked to raw materials over the previous year. The 2013 U.S. corn crop probably totaled 14.06 billion bushels, a survey of 30 analysts showed, up from a December estimate by the U.S. Department of Agriculture of 13.989 billion and 30 percent more than in 2012. Chris Gadd, an analyst Macquarie Group in London, said yesterday that the total probably reached 14.255 billion, up 32 percent from 2012, mostly because of better yields and a higher percentage of harvested acres. The global surplus before this year’s harvest on Oct. 1 will total 163.08 million tons, up from a government forecast of 162.46 million, a survey of 15 analysts showed. The USDA will update its estimates in Washington tomorrow at noon. Low prices may help spur global demand, which is forecast to increase for an 18th straight year
to a record 936.73 million tons, up 44 percent from a decade ago, USDA data show. Rising incomes in emerging markets are boosting meat buying and increasing the use of corn to feed cattle, hogs and poultry. Based on current estimates of U.S. production in 2013 and the Dec. 1 inventories, domestic corn usage in the first quarter would be about 4.13 billion bushels, the most ever. Ethanol demand is forecast to rebound 6.5 percent this year to 4.95 billion bushels, and feed use will surge 20 percent to 5.2 billion bushels, USDA data show. China, the world’s second-largest grower, will more than double imports to a record 7 million tons as it expands stockpiles with cheaper grain, the USDA said. As of Dec. 26, China bought 5.18 million tons of U.S. corn for delivery before Aug. 31, more than double a year earlier, government data show. Prices may rebound to $5.25 this year, from $4.16 Thursday, Byron Wien, the vice chairman at
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Volunteerism
Philanthropy Day ideal for volunteering Feb. 24 is National Corporate Philanthropy Day, a global day created to mobilize the business community and others in the positive role that companies play in helping to address pressing social problems. It’s a day of sharing best practices, communicating progress on established proAnne Nass grams, shaping is new partnerships communications and recognizing coordinator for the importance the Volunteer of collectively adCenter of Cedar dressing pressing Valley. Contact challenges. her at 272-2087 This day beor anne_nass@ gan on the fourth vccv.org. Monday in February 2004 and has since grown into a international event, with participation not only from companies but also private foundations and nonprofit organizations. While the primary focus is on engaging the corporate sector, they do this with full recognition that true social progress is not possible without the coordination of the expertise, resources and networks across sectors. Nonprofits, government, and private foundations — each group has differing strengths, and together we must find the most promising trails for social progress. One great way to take part in this day and support philanthropy in the Cedar Valley is through volunteerism. Provide your employ-
Corn From page 18 Blackstone Advisory Partners in New York, said in a report on Jan. 6. Hedge funds and other large speculators have been betting on a drop in prices since July, holding a net-short position of 94,812 corn futures and options as of Dec. 31, U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission data show. China may not import as much as the USDA forecasts, after the Asian country rejected 601,000 tons of U.S. corn last month that contained an cvbusinessmonthly.com
ees with volunteer opportunities either on the clock or off. When a company invests in its community through volunteerism, employees gain access to networks and perspectives that help them keep in touch with social change. Companies that allow employee volunteering gain insight into new marketing ideas, explore different ways of working and encourage employees to use their initiative and foster cohesion by enabling new teams to work together and create a sense of common purpose. Employees who volunteer increase their skills, including teamwork, planning, communication, project management, problem solving, budgeting, listening skills and customer focus. The Volunteer Center of Cedar Valley can assist your business in becoming a strong service-engaged business. The Partners in Volunteerism program at the VCCV includes the ability to provide: ■■ Up-to-date information on available opportunities in the community weekly to share with all employees. ■■ Assistance with arrangement of a Volunteer Day on or off site with your employees. ■■ Survey and track results regarding employee engagement. ■■ Whether you are looking for individual opportunities or groupbased service experiences for your employees, contact the Volunteer Center of Cedar Valley at information@vccv.org or visit www.vccv. org for more information. unapproved genetically modified variety, said Cekander, Newedge’s director of grain market analysis in Chicago. The USDA may revise its global export forecast of 1.45 billion bushels by as much as 150 million, he said. U.S. corn inventories on Sept. 1 already are forecast by the USDA to be more than double a year earlier, so reduced exports will mean even bigger reserves. Stockpiles before this year’s harvest will reach 1.855 billion bushels, compared with 1.792 billion estimated by USDA in December and 824 million held a year earlier, a Bloomberg survey showed.
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Alliance & Chamber
Newsletter www.cedarvalleyalliance.com
Cedar Valley ManufaCturing ConferenCe february 5, 2014 8:15 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. 4:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m. 3D Printer Demo at Cedar Valley TechWorks, 360 Westfield Ave., Waterloo Manufacturing: global Success Network with other decision makers, discuss the global marketplace, review employment trends and statistics, question the panelists, and tour virtual technology labs. Hawkeye Community College, Main Campus – Tama Hall 1501 East Orange Road, Waterloo, Iowa for More information or to register www.hawkeyecollege.edu/go/manufacturing 319-296-4223
2014 Annual Celebration Celebrating 10 years of Economic Growth! March 27th, 5:30 p.m. – 9:00 p.m. Park Place Event Center
Contact Bette Wubbena for tables and tickets bwubbena@cedarvalleyalliance.com 20
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Be part of something greater! Join the Greater Cedar Valley Alliance & Chamber! Learn how you can benefit! Contact Bette Wubbena at (319) 232-1156 or bwubbena@cedarvalleyalliance.com.
2014 Cedar Valley Upcoming EVENTS
InternatIonal
trade export SemInar SerIeS Feb 26, 2014 @ 7:30AM
VGM Theater, 1111 W. San Marnan Dr., Waterloo, IA, 50701
Upcoming Seminars April 30 July 30 October 29 The Alliance & Chamber will be offering a series of four export seminars for existing businesses seeking to start or expand sales internationally. Each session will be offered quarterly with the subject matter building from the previous session. the first sessioN is ideal for those Cedar Valley businesses with little or no experience with international sales and cover the dos & don’ts respond to trade leads, and detailed information on what is an international pro forma invoice (quotations) and how to prepare one. For more information contact Lisa Skubal 319-232-1156 or lskubal@cedarvalleyalliance.com
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Investors
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FEB 11 Des Moines Legislative Reception
Contact: Cynthia Goro 3006 Waterbury Dr. Cedar Falls, IA 50613 319-235-0894 Consultants & Training
Renaissance Savery Hotel 5:00 – 7:00 p.m. rsvp@cedarvalleyalliance.com
Performance Painting, LLC Contact: Dan Bower 507 Broad St. Reinbeck, IA 50669 319-240-6536 Contractors-Painting
March 13 Good Morning Cedar Valley 7:30am – 9:30 a. m. Southdale Elementary School, 627 Orchard Dr., Cedar Falls
RSVP on the events calendar at www.cedarvalleyalliance.com. For more information please contact: info@cedarvalleyalliance.com or call (319) 232-1156
APR 1 2014 Strictly Business
Park Place Event Centre, Cedar Falls Find details on the events calendar www.cedarvalleyalliance.com Contact Bette Wubbena for a booth! bwubbena@cedarvalleyalliance.com
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February 2014 21
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America is reading Crown, 304 pages ($26) 13. “The Pause Principle: Step Back to Lead Forward” by Kevin Cashman; Berrett-Koehler, 177 pages ($16.95) 14. “Positive Intelligence: Why Only 20% of Teams and Individuals Achieve Their True Potential and How You Can Achieve Yours” by Shirzad Chamine; Greenleaf Book Group, 241 pages ($23.95) 15. “Hacking Leadership: The 11 Gaps Every Business Needs to Close and the Secrets to Closing Them Quickly” by Mike Myatt; John Wiley & Sons, 209 pages ($29.95) 16. “I Love You More Than My Dog: Five Decisions That Drive Extreme Customer Loyalty in Good Times and Bad” by Jeanne Bliss; Portfolio, 224 pages ($22.95) 17. “The Phoenix Project: A Novel About IT, DevOps, and Helping Business Win” by Gene Kim, Kevin Behr and George Spafford; IT Revolution Press, 345 pages ($32.95) 18. “One-Day Contract: How to Add Value to Every Minute of Your Life” by Eric Crawford and Rick Pitino; St. Martin’s Press, 272 pages ($25.99)
19. “The Alternative Answer: The Nontraditional Investments That Drive the World’s Best-Performing Portfolios” by Bob Rice; HarperBusiness, 288 pages ($27.99) 20. “The Power of Why: Breaking Out in a Competitive Marketplace” by C. Richard Weylman; New Harvest, 176 pages ($24) 21. “Fierce Conversations: Achieving Success at Work and in Life, One Conversation at a Time” by Susan Scott; Berkley Publishing Group, 320 pages ($16) 22. “Finding Allies, Building Alliances: 8 Elements That Bring — and Keep—People Together” by Mike Leavitt and Rich McKeown; Jossey-Bass, 241 pages ($29.95) 23. “The Story of Purpose: The Path to Creating a Brighter Brand, a Greater Company, and a Lasting Legacy” by Joey Reiman, John Wiley & Sons, 238 pages ($27.95) 24. “Joy, Inc.: How We Built a Workplace People Love” by Richard Sheridan; Portfolio, 288 pages ($27.95) 25. “Unthink: Rediscover Your Creative Genius” by Erik Wahl; Crown, 224 pages ($23)
Financial Solutions That Fit Growing Up, You had Big Dreams for Your Future! Now, you have BIG Dreams for your company. As you grow, First National Bank is here to work with you to make those dreams come true. We offer banking solutions to fit your daily demands so you can grow into those shoes when you’re ready.
Cedar Falls • Plainfield • Waverly www.myfnbbank.com cvbusinessmonthly.com
Cedar Valley Business monthly
February 2014 23
EXCELLENCE | INTEGRITY | HUMILITY
www.lockardonline.com
CONGRATULATIONS STEVE! The Cedar Valley is
on your service. Step ephen Knapp, managing broker with Lockard
Reaalty in Cedar Falls, IA was recently honored by the Nattional Association of Realtors as “Realtor Emeritus.�
Realtor Emeritus is an honor bestowed upon persons who have held membership in the National Association as a REALTOR, REALTOR-Associate, or a combination of both, for a cumulative period of 40 years in one or more associations of REALTORS. Knapp, a lifelong Waterloo-Cedar Falls resident, specializes in residential homes,
commercial and investment properties, development, and property management. He has been assisting buyers and sellers in Northeast Iowa for over 40 years and has earned the trust and respect of his peers. Additionally, Steve served on the Waterloo-Cedar Falls Board of Realtors as a director.
Congratulations Steve! Everyone at Lockard is grateful for your service. Stephen D. Knapp, Managing Broker sknapp@lockardonline.com