Business Monthly - February 2021 by Waterloo-Cedar Falls Courier

CONTENTS

Meet CBT’s Newest Team Member MARY PABST

IOWA MANUFACTURERS

Manufacturers optimistic about recovery post-COVID

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CEDAR VALLEY START UP

FAMILY OWNED BUSINESS

LIFT recognized for growth

Foundation built from love

FINANCIAL GOALS

Be specific and realistic

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IOWA MANUFACTURERS EXPECT STRONG START TO NEW YEAR

hey’re the words Iowa manufacturers have been waiting to hear: “Things are looking

up.” Iowa manufacturers expect

Simon Gingerich 319-464-7781 www.gingerichpostandframe.com 4 FEBRUARY 2021 CEDAR VALLEY BUSINESS MONTHLY

latest ABI Quarterly Iowa Business Survey. “The survey results are incredibly positive for Iowa’s economy,” said ABI President Mike Ralston. “This is a great

manufacturers. The association represents nearly every industry in Iowa. Iowa manufacturers may not be alone. “From what I’m hearing, the

Dozens of topics Participate anytime, day or night Photographer

Azra Mujkic sews medical gowns for UnityPoint Health-Allen Hospital at the Powers Manufacturing Co. plant in Waterloo in this April 2020 file photo. ABI surveyed its board members in early December 2020. The survey found:

55% of survey respondents expect sales to expand over the next quarter.

“From what I’m hearing, the U.S. manufacturing economy is growing, and there are many positive signs in other parts of the world, as well.”

52% expect the number of employees in their business to

Mike Ralston

68% of survey respondents plan to make capital expenditures

increased sales, employment and capital investments in the first quarter (January-March), according to the results of the

way to build momentum as we begin the new year.” Approximately half of ABI’s 1,500 member companies are

U.S. manufacturing economy is growing, and there are many positive signs in other parts of the world, as well,” he said. CVBUSINESSMONTHLY.COM

grow in Q1. That’s compared to 37% last quarter.

in Q1. That’s compared to 57% last quarter.

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The news isn’t all positive, however. Workforce shortages continue to plague Iowa manufacturers. “The biggest issue is finding people who want to work and learn a trade,” said Ralston. “Manufacturers are experiencing shortages at every level of their operation.” The situation was made even worse by the pandemic. “Since we first started conducting these surveys in 2017, this is the most concerned I’ve seen ABI members about labor availability,” he warned. The survey results may be found at https://bit.ly/3gPnpBl.

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IOWA MANUFACTURERS EXPECT STRONG START TO NEW YEAR

hey’re the words Iowa manufacturers have been waiting to hear: “Things are looking

up.” Iowa manufacturers expect

Simon Gingerich 319-464-7781 www.gingerichpostandframe.com 4 FEBRUARY 2021 CEDAR VALLEY BUSINESS MONTHLY

latest ABI Quarterly Iowa Business Survey. “The survey results are incredibly positive for Iowa’s economy,” said ABI President Mike Ralston. “This is a great

manufacturers. The association represents nearly every industry in Iowa. Iowa manufacturers may not be alone. “From what I’m hearing, the

Dozens of topics Participate anytime, day or night Photographer

55% of survey respondents expect sales to expand over the next quarter.

“From what I’m hearing, the U.S. manufacturing economy is growing, and there are many positive signs in other parts of the world, as well.”

52% expect the number of employees in their business to

Mike Ralston

68% of survey respondents plan to make capital expenditures

increased sales, employment and capital investments in the first quarter (January-March), according to the results of the

way to build momentum as we begin the new year.” Approximately half of ABI’s 1,500 member companies are

U.S. manufacturing economy is growing, and there are many positive signs in other parts of the world, as well,” he said. CVBUSINESSMONTHLY.COM

grow in Q1. That’s compared to 37% last quarter.

in Q1. That’s compared to 57% last quarter.

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Cedar Valley start-up LIFT recognized for speedy growth

Upper Iowa University accounting majors to provide

FREE TAX PREPARATION

ccounting students of Upper Iowa University’s (UIU) School of Business and Professional Studies will provide free income tax preparation at Fayette Campus on Mondays, February 1 through March 26. The Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program will be provided from 4 - 6:30 p.m. each day in the first floor computer lab of the UIU Andres Center for Business and Education. To adhere to Campus policies, masks and distancing are required upon entry through the Andres Center east door and until exiting through the building’s west Mike door. Individuals may stay until Van Sickle their return is completed or their respective tax information can be dropped off contactless for later pick up. The VITA program is sponsored by the IRS. Individuals or families who generally make $57,000 or less during 2020, persons with disabilities, and limited English-speaking taxpayers are eligible to participate. Both state and federal income taxes will be prepared and filed electronically. Those who participate are asked to bring a copy of their tax returns from the last three years or tax return transcripts, as well as W-2s and 1099s. The preparers will not have access to last year’s return information. To request a transcript, go to www. IRS.gov, and under “Tools,” click on “Get a tax transcript.” After answering the questions, the transcript can be printed. Alternatively, persons may call 1-800-908-9946 and follow the prompts to retrieve a transcript. Those with questions can call 2-1-1. The VITA volunteers assisting with the tax preparation include Jordan Baumler, an accounting/financial management double major from West Union, Iowa, and Colin Lacey, an accounting major from Pleasant Hill, Iowa. In addition to pre6 FEBRUARY 2021 CEDAR VALLEY BUSINESS MONTHLY

viously completing federal taxation coursework at UIU, each of the student volunteers preparing tax returns has completed training for IRS certification. For additional information regarding the VITA program at UIU’s Fayette Campus, contact assistant professor of accounting Blair M. Seim at 563.425.5180. About Upper Iowa University Founded in 1857, Upper Iowa University is a private, nonprofit university providing undergraduate and graduate degree programs to about 4,500 students nationally and internation-

ally at its Fayette campus, 21 U.S. locations, as well as a location in Hong Kong. Upper Iowa University is a recognized innovator in offering accredited, quality programs through flexible, multiple delivery systems, including online and self-paced degree programs. With a focus on developing leaders and lifelong learners, UIU provides dual enrollment programs for high school students as well as continuing education and professional development opportunities for learners of any age. For more information, visit uiu.edu. Mike Van Sickle serves as the Editorial Services Director at Upper Iowa University

edar Valley company LIFT recently placed No. 681 on the Inc 5000 list of America’s fastest-growing private companies. The list represents a look at the most successful companies within the American economy’s most dynamic segment—its independent small businesses. Intuit, Zappos, Under Armour, Microsoft, Patagonia and many other well-known names gained their Jeff Kaplan first national exposure as honorees on the Inc. 5000. LIFTinnovate LLC (LIFT) is a technology consulting company formed in 2014, whose cofounder Dr. Jeff Kaplan is based in Waterloo. “Our company was founded on the belief that our relationship with work is broken. We need to build a bridge between the boardroom and the breakroom by creating more human organizations and that’s what LIFT is all about. The best part about our growth is that most of our virtual workforce is located right here in Iowa,” said Kaplan, LIFT chief operating officer and founding partner. The ranking comes from LIFT’s 690% growth

during the past three years. LIFT is a pioneer in what the technology industry calls social organic adoption and has helped develop customer success strategies for over 500 organizations and more than 3,500 individuals globally. Kaplan works out of his Waterloo home and manages a team of some 40 employees in the

United States and Canada. He is an expert in the form, feature and function of remote working, who writes and speaks worldwide on the topic. Complete results of the Inc. 5000, including company profiles and an interactive database that can be sorted by industry, region and other criteria, can be found at www.inc.com/inc5000.

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Upper Iowa University students (l-r) Colin Lacey, an accounting major from Pleasant Hill, Iowa, and Jordan Baumler, an accounting/financial management double major from West Union, Iowa, will be assisting with free tax preparation offered at UIU's Fayette Campus on Mondays, February 1 through March 26. In addition to previously completing federal taxation coursework at UIU, each of the student volunteers preparing tax returns has completed training for IRS certification. CVBUSINESSMONTHLY.COM

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Cedar Valley start-up LIFT recognized for speedy growth

Upper Iowa University accounting majors to provide

FREE TAX PREPARATION

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CLASSES START MARCH 15, 2021 CONTACT US: 319.232.6980 — WATERLOO@UIU.EDU

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Virtually Unprecedented: The Evolution of Virtual Classrooms and Virtual Teams

HE REALITY

The pandemic of COVID-19 in the year 2020 gave an unanticipated pause to businesses by requiring all residents stay at home to slow, and hopefully eliminate, the spread of the virus. “ We l l - p re pa re d ” crisis management strategies had not considered the possibility that members of the economy would be required to scramble franJohn ticly to implement Schwarm remote operations. In contrast, others would not be able to work at all. Planners seem to have overlooked the prospect of long-term continuous business interruptions. An ability to continue necessary tasks with now suddenly geographically dispersed team members requires communication, professionalism, and patience. Taking cues from higher education, where online work is the norm, indicates practical ways for leaders to continue to meet organizational objectives and, perhaps, embrace new cost-effective technological processes. Post-secondary education was at the epicenter of the activity with classes moving modalities from in-class to online seemingly overnight. Those post-secondary institutions with robust online learning platforms and faculty, with instructional expertise, shifted with minimal disruption. ADAPTING Online classwork has been around for decades often lauded, and simultaneously criticized, for its efficiency. Although online meetings are cost-effective and convenient, the decreased human connection—often plagued with connection instability and security threats—result in a “dry” and challenging resource. Students learning within virtual spaces, like any other work effort, require an ability to take direction and work collaboratively. Virtual learning utilizes discussion threads, written assignments, and even final projects

requiring on-camera presentations to demonstrate proficiencies. In most instances, students interact almost daily with faculty members and their peers, heightening the learning experience in both synchronous and asynchronous sessions. The metaphorical equivalent of virtual learning: using an exercise machine at home every day rather than going to a health club once a week. The issue to discuss is the use of online tools as part of our contemporary learning and working environment. If you are an educational institution, government entity or corporation, training materials should be developed for online consumption. The challenge here is to engage the platform with measurable outcomes. In the midst of the pandemic, faculty had the responsibility to prepare students for jobs that, at the time, did not exist. Training students to work in teams and remote environments prepares the students for positions in the next generation. In business environments, starting a virtual team can happen organically, inevitably with a shared directory or unique secured webpage. In a small company, forms, blank contracts, RFP responses, market

When you think of the business world, how often does

“

find its way into your descriptions? ENGAGEMENT Engagement is the foundation of any virtual environment. The geographic disbursement of individuals requires carefully planning and polite consideration of varied time schedules. In a virtual classroom environment, faculty must continuously engage students with daily updates, facilitating discussions, video lectures, notes, and feedback via grade assignments. Likewise, companies can exist in a virtual environment with reliance on virtual meet-

example, faculty seek total engagement by the students and monitor strict deadlines and student progress. The facilitation by the team leader holds the group accountable for their roles and responsibilities by follow-up, coordination, and deadlines. Contemporary technology provides ample business resources to share virtually via asynchronous and synchronous platforms allowing collaborative exchanges. Much like meeting in the same room, members can share documents, provide

“When history looks upon this pandemic, there will be examples of heroes, unwavering faith, fear, stoic management, communication, professionalism, and patience.” intelligence, and financial reports were all on a cloud-based platform. The use of existing software such as Jell, Trello, Zoom, or Google Suite offers options for shared resources frequently used by team members. The ability to access pertinent information regardless of time or location is an essential component. Industry or organizational-specific customer data and reports must transition to cloud-based access for universal use. If COVID-19 is to teach business leaders anything, it is to adapt and prepare to have your teams work remotely and to overcome any disruptions.

8 FEBRUARY 2021 CEDAR VALLEY BUSINESS MONTHLY

LOVE

”

ings and constant communication via email, chat, text and telephone, however selection of online tools for project management and scheduling is necessary to provide global access to employees. Other aspects are hiring the right people who may or may not have experience working remotely, scheduling regular meetings that support open communication, and encouraging employees to embrace the company culture. The responsibilities of the team leader and team members can resemble the participation students have with their post-secondary education online classroom. In this

timelines, discuss challenges, and seek joint solutions. The team leader should establish weekly agendas for meetings, receive project status updates from team members, and engage with team members with questions and/or project problems. INFORMATION SECURITY Regardless if you are on a virtual team or part of a class, security is important. In 2020, Zoom had numerous instances of security breaches or what has been commonly called “Zoom Bombing”. Paul (2020) stated, “The company also claimed its calls were encrypted, and

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Dan Beenken

f you are like me, its not as often as it should. We are used to the images of Gordon Gekko, The Wolf of Wall Street, fraud, embezzlement, greed, and on and on. While all of those are realities of business, they really miss the mark when it comes to most family-owned firms. The past few years, the University of Northern Iowa has put a major emphasis on family owned business. They are truly Iowa’s economic engine, accounting for 78% of all new job creation and 64% of US GDP. The economic fabric of rural communities across our state and especially right here in the Cedar Valley are intertwined with family business. I have had the pleasure to work with family firms large and small across the state, and it is through this

school, public parks or pool you are going to find donor boards of one kind or another, and a quick read of those names will probably highlight the business families who have helped build the town and along the way so many of the families that call it home. Love is a foundation for family owned firms – at least for those that last. I’m reminded that love is “patient” and “kind”, and I can’t think of two better words to describe successful business families. They are by definition started by a founder wanting to provide for his or her family and grow from there. As the kids grow up and get involved in the company, its time to show patience. How do we integrate them, find a position for them, and allow them to start taking over responsibilities – while at the same time knowing that the Next Generation is

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Love is a foundation for family owned firms – at least for those that last. I’m reminded that love is “patient” and “kind”, and I can’t think of two better words to describe successful business families. lens that I feel “the love” so to speak. I see it in so many ways from how they treat employees to their care for their communities they live in. My guess is that if you walk through the doors of your community library, CVBUSINESSMONTLY.COM

going to make a few mistakes along the way. During those cringe moments, its critical for the older generation to grit their teeth and show that patience. Remember yourself at a similar

CEDAR VALLEY BUSINESS MONTHLY

FEBRUARY 2021

Virtually Unprecedented: The Evolution of Virtual Classrooms and Virtual Teams

HE REALITY

When you think of the business world, how often does

“

8 FEBRUARY 2021 CEDAR VALLEY BUSINESS MONTHLY

LOVE

”

CVBUSINESSMONTHLY.COM

Dan Beenken

YOU DESERVE AN AFFORDABLE EDUCATION. New scholarship packages mean a personalized education with less debt. belong.uni.edu/scholarship

going to make a few mistakes along the way. During those cringe moments, its critical for the older generation to grit their teeth and show that patience. Remember yourself at a similar

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FEBRUARY 2021

Jordan Alborn Joins Waterloo Ameriprise Financial Business Monthly ordan Alborn has joined the Waterloo office of Ameriprise Financial Services, LLC., as a financial advisor. He is joining Discerning Wealth, a private wealth advisory practice. The office is located at 3404 Midway Drive. Alborn has 14 years of experience in the financial services industry. He graduated from the University of Northern Iowa with a degree in Finance. Discerning Wealth provides financial advice that is anchored in a solid understanding of client needs and expectations provided in one-on-one relationships with their clients.

L A I C N FINA LS GOA

Jacob Bartlett promoted at Target center Business Monthly acob Bartlett has been promoted within Target Distribution as a warehouse operations manager. Bartlett previously worked in the packing department.

How to Set

FINANCIAL GOALS T

LOVE From 9

age or experience level and the numerous times you had to learn the hard way. Show your love to the kids by allowing them the leeway to make mistakes. In addition, help them put together a career plan for growth in the firm. What areas are they interested? What skills do they need to develop? Who will help them accomplish that things? And most important for the Next Gen is always “When”! Yes, patience isn’t just for the Current Generation. The Next Gen needs to show the same. Control of the company doesn’t come over night. As was often said in “Kung Fu” by Master Po to Young Caine – “Patience, young grasshopper.” Along with patience, a little kindness can go a long way when it comes to family business relationships. A healthy dose of empathy is always in order for the “young grasshopper” looking to push mom or dad out the door. At some point you will be in that same spot – a kind approach to those conversations will always get you farther. The tug of war created by the Current Gen holding on to the reins and the Next Gen wanting control is such a struggle for family owned firms. Our Family Business Center is focused on helping you learn and share with other business families about how to make these transitions smooth and successful.

10 FEBRUARY 2021 CEDAR VALLEY BUSINESS MONTHLY

Prioritize You’re not alone if you have a myriad of financial goals. However, it can be hard to achieve them all without focus or unlimited resources. Pick one or two goals, tailoring your savings, time and resources accordingly. If you have competing priorities such as saving for your child’s education and retirement, create a plan that will help you make measurable progress toward both. Remember, incremental changes and savings made over time can make a big difference in the long run.

Set deadlines Without target dates in mind, goals tend to drift. As you set deadlines for each task, consider adding a reminder on your calendar to keep the goal a priority throughout the year. If you fall short of what you want to accomplish, don’t give up. Adjust your dates and get back on track.

Aaron Sannes, is a Private Wealth Advisor with Discerning Wealth, a private wealth advisory practice of Ameriprise Financial Services, LLC. in Waterloo. CVBUSINESSMONTHLY.COM

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Your Financial Team Should Be as Discerning as You Are

Enlist family support If you’re married or in a committed relationship, involve your spouse or partner in financial goal setting. If your goal is a family affair, consider including your children in the process. Your children can benefit from watching you make smart financial choices. With everyone on the same page, you can support one another and overcome obstacles together. Work with a professional Share your goals with your financial advisor, tax professional or estate planner, as appropriate. These specialists may be able to suggest additional strategies to help you reach your goals, while being mindful of your other financial priorities.

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he start of a new year gives many people motivation to take a fresh look at their finances and focus on their goals for the future—but, as the year progresses, this enthusiasm can fall to the wayside. If you’re someone who falls into this trap, there are steps you can take to stay motivated and set attainable goes for 2021 and beyond. Be specific and realistic. Setting aspirational goals, such as living Aaron the life you want in retirement or Sannes taking a coast-to-coast road trip, is exciting and can be a great place to start. Yet, broad goals can quickly become overwhelming, so tangible ones can help you keep the commitment. The best way to make your dreams a reality is to break each goal into small, specific tasks that are realistic to accomplish this year.

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Aaron Sannes

Jordan Alborn

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Private Wealth Advisor

Financial Advisor

Meet the Discerning Wealth advisors! At Discerning Wealth, a private wealth advisory practice of Ameriprise Financial Services, LLC., we have an integrated team that will work with you to determine the service and solutions that fit your financial needs and priorities. Our team is committed to helping you achieve your financial goals.

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Ameriprise cannot guarantee future financial results. The Compass is a trademark of Ameriprise Financial, Inc. Investment advisory products and services are made available through Ameriprise Financial Services, LLC, a registered investment adviser. Ameriprise Financial Services, LLC. Member FINRA and SIPC. © 2021 Ameriprise Financial, Inc. All rights reserved.

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L A I C N FINA LS GOA

How to Set

FINANCIAL GOALS T

LOVE From 9

10 FEBRUARY 2021 CEDAR VALLEY BUSINESS MONTHLY

Aaron Sannes, is a Private Wealth Advisor with Discerning Wealth, a private wealth advisory practice of Ameriprise Financial Services, LLC. in Waterloo. CVBUSINESSMONTHLY.COM

319-287-9106 cfneia.org Confirmed in Compliance with National Standards for U.S. Community Foundations.

Your Financial Team Should Be as Discerning as You Are

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GOOD HAPPENS HERE

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2020 of the

Aaron Sannes

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Matthew Halverson Associate Financial Advisor

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1055 Longfellow Dr., Ste. A Hiawatha 319.200.2520 | 888.300.7844

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Virtually From 8

then backtracked when it was proven wrong by a report in the Intercept. Senator Michael Bennet of Colorado has requested responses from Zoom’s CEO, Eric Yuan, on privacy concerns and the FTC is being called to investigate the company.” Following some commonsense approaches to hosting meetings, allow only those with invitations into the session from the virtual lobby. Another challenge is allocating the appropriate level of site security to each of the team members. Each team member’s security clearance needs to be initially established based on their position description. As the business team evolves, the process for approval and allocating additional security preferences also needs to be considered. THE “NEW NORMAL” Pandemic environments are unforgiving as they do discriminate and impact all communities, businesses, educational institutions and governments, and the entire world has felt the impact. With everyone required to work and learn from their homes, both the business and classroom environments have changed. What made the change easier for new remote employees was a connection to the team. Utilizing Zoom, Skype or any virtual meeting product, hosting weekly meetings provides that connectivity, allows for questions, provides direction, assesses project schedules, and encourages communication and collaboration.

The challenge for the education and business communities post-COVID-19 is to examine the situations which occurred and add to the body of literature. When history looks upon this pandemic, there will be examples of heroes, unwavering faith, fear, stoic management, communication, professionalism, and patience. In reflection of these attributes, we must decide what our roles will be in this case study. How will people provide guidance in a time of uncertainty and solve problems with great empathy and concern, while balancing the needs of the company and the classroom? The challenge is to be consistent with both—the accuracy of communication and raising the standard in the industry. John Schwarm joined the team at CBE Companies in June 2020 as Sales Director for both higher education and government segments. Previously, John worked at a private university in Chicago, Illinois where he was Director of Business Development and Associate Professor. With an extensive career in higher education, John’s diversity of experience spans several universities, a national collection agency, state guaranty agency, secondary market, and community banks. Over the past 34 years, he has held board positions and presented at numerous financial aid, bursar, banking, and other professional organizations.

References: Colvin, K., Champaign, J. Liu, A., Zhou, Q., Fredericks, C., and Pritchard, D. (September 2014). Learning in an Introductory Physics MOOC (Massive Open Online Courses): All Cohorts Learn Equally, Including an OnCampus Class. International Review of Research in Open and Distributed Learning. http://www.irrodl.org/index. php/irrodl/article/view/1902/3009 Faulconer, E. & Gruss, A. (April 2018). A Review to Weigh the Pros and Cons of Online, Remote, and Distance Science Laboratory Experiences. International Review of Research in Open and Distributed Learning, 19(2). http:// www.irrodl.org/index.php/irrodl/article/view/3386/4624 Jackson, C. (2018). Advantages and Disadvantages of Online Meetings. My Own Conference. https:// myownconference.com/blog/en/index.php/advantagesdisadvantages-Online-meetings/

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Lederman, D. (2020) Most teaching is going remote. Will that help or hurt online learning? Inside Higher Ed. https://www.insidehighered.com/digital-learning/ article/2020/03/18/most-teaching-going-remote-willhelp-or-hurt-online-learning McArdle, K. (2019). Best Practices for Managing Virtual Teams. SureSwift Capital. https://www.sureswiftcapital. com/blog/managing-virtual-teams-best-practices/ Paul, K. (2020). Worried about Zoom's privacy problems? A guide to your video-conferencing options. The Guardian. https://www.theguardian.com/ technology/2020/apr/08/zoom-privacy-video-chatalternatives

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Government Affairs Cary Darrah Announced as Chairman Of The Iowa Chamber Alliance Board of Directors The Iowa Chamber Alliance announced the appointment of Cary Darrah as the Chairman of the Board of Directors. Darrah was appointed to the Iowa Chamber Alliance Executive Committee in 2019 and served as the Vice-Chair. The Iowa Chamber Alliance (ICA) is a non-partisan

Many — even most — businesses don’t have the time, know-how or resources to commit to interpreting, disseminating and influencing legislation at the state or even local level. But even larger businesses with their own advocacy programs benefit from our efforts both directly and

The priorities of Grow Cedar Valley are shaped by feedback and priorities shared by dozens of businesses of all sizes across the Cedar Valley. Here is the breakdown of the top priorities from a survey administered by Grow Cedar Valley:

indirectly. Together with our partner organizations, Grow Cedar Valley: Presents a unified voice to the Legislature on behalf of our investors Listens to our investors’ ever-changing and evolving needs and wishes Promotes an agenda based on issues directly affecting business growth Creates and encourages awareness of and participation in advocacy issues

coalition that advocates for economic growth policies and initiatives by representing leading Chambers of Commerce and economic development

To learn more about the upcoming legislative session and Grow Cedar Valley's legislative priorities, use your camera to scan the QR code below.

organizations across Iowa. The mission of the Iowa Chamber Alliance is to drive a policy agenda that grows the state on behalf of our more than 17,000 members that range from small businesses to Fortune 100 companies. Grow Cedar Valley traditionally hosts a pre-session legislative reception, sharing upcoming priorities for the upcoming legislative session.

What Can You Do? Get involved. Be informed. Network with other businesses. We keep our finger on the pulse of legislative activity and identify and share with you those issues most relevant to your business growth. Simply put, no other resource is better positioned Many legislative leaders in Iowa came to the Cedar Valley to celebrate the grand opening of the Waterloo Career Center in 2019..

14 FEBRUARY 2021 CEDAR VALLEY BUSINESS MONTHLY

Steve Firman, Director of Government Affairs steve@growcedarvalley.com

to represent the legislative and regulatory concerns of Cedar Valley businesses and organizations at the state and local level.

CVBUSINESSMONTHLY.COM #GrowingTheCedarValley - www.growcedarvalley.com - (319) 232-1156

Cary Darrah, CEO cary@growcedarvalley.com

CVBUSINESSMONTLY.COM

CEDAR VALLEY BUSINESS MONTHLY 2021 15 #GrowingTheCedarValley - www.growcedarvalley.com - (319) FEBRUARY 232-1156

coalition that advocates for economic growth policies and initiatives by representing leading Chambers of Commerce and economic development

To learn more about the upcoming legislative session and Grow Cedar Valley's legislative priorities, use your camera to scan the QR code below.

14 FEBRUARY 2021 CEDAR VALLEY BUSINESS MONTHLY

Steve Firman, Director of Government Affairs steve@growcedarvalley.com

to represent the legislative and regulatory concerns of Cedar Valley businesses and organizations at the state and local level.

CVBUSINESSMONTHLY.COM #GrowingTheCedarValley - www.growcedarvalley.com - (319) 232-1156

Cary Darrah, CEO cary@growcedarvalley.com

CVBUSINESSMONTLY.COM

CEDAR VALLEY BUSINESS MONTHLY 2021 15 #GrowingTheCedarValley - www.growcedarvalley.com - (319) FEBRUARY 232-1156

Check out our interactive gallery See all our Niche publications at: WCFCourier.com bookshelf

HOME & GARDEN

CEDAR VALLEY

I O W A' S P R E M I E R H O M E M A G A Z I N E

Color

trends

weddings Ideas& inspiration wcfcourier.com/weddings

A publication of Courier Communications

SPRING/SUMMER 2021

British invasion Escape to the home show

EXPLORE

stunning new and remodeled home projects by the area’s ﬁne builders and interior designers

INSIDE:

Comfort food classics, cherry chip cake & late-night snack hacks

Fall 2019

WEDDINGS ESSENTIAL PLANNER & RECEPTION HALL DIRECTORY

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SPRING 2020 | CV-HG.COM

InclUSion CELEBRATING DIVERSITY IN THE CEDAR VALLEY

Spotlighting the 2019 Courier

WINNERS SPRING | SUMMER 2019

November 2019

cvbusinessmonthly.com

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For more information contact: Sheila Kerns 319-291-1448 or sheila.kerns@wcfcourier.com 16 FEBRUARY 2021 CEDAR VALLEY BUSINESS MONTHLY

CVBUSINESSMONTHLY.COM

CVBUSINESSMONTLY.COM

CEDAR VALLEY BUSINESS MONTHLY

FEBRUARY 2021

Check out our interactive gallery See all our Niche publications at: WCFCourier.com bookshelf

HOME & GARDEN

CEDAR VALLEY

I O W A' S P R E M I E R H O M E M A G A Z I N E

Color

trends

weddings Ideas& inspiration wcfcourier.com/weddings

A publication of Courier Communications

SPRING/SUMMER 2021

British invasion Escape to the home show

EXPLORE

stunning new and remodeled home projects by the area’s ﬁne builders and interior designers

INSIDE:

Comfort food classics, cherry chip cake & late-night snack hacks

Fall 2019

WEDDINGS ESSENTIAL PLANNER & RECEPTION HALL DIRECTORY

cvgalleryofhomes.com A PRODUCT OF IOWA’S PREMIERE HOME MAGAZINE, CV HOME & GARDEN XXXXXXXXXXXXXX

XXXXXXXXXXXXXX

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX SUNDAY, AUGUST 25, 2019 2019 1

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 2021 1

SPRING 2020 | CV-HG.COM

InclUSion CELEBRATING DIVERSITY IN THE CEDAR VALLEY

Spotlighting the 2019 Courier

WINNERS SPRING | SUMMER 2019

November 2019

cvbusinessmonthly.com

XXXXXXXXXXXXXX

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX FRIDAY, MARCH 29, 2019 1

For more information contact: Sheila Kerns 319-291-1448 or sheila.kerns@wcfcourier.com 16 FEBRUARY 2021 CEDAR VALLEY BUSINESS MONTHLY

CVBUSINESSMONTHLY.COM

CVBUSINESSMONTLY.COM

CEDAR VALLEY BUSINESS MONTHLY

FEBRUARY 2021

Your Gilmore’s Pub favorites from the comfort of your home! Try the Turkey Club, Crispy Chicken Salad, Steak Street Tacos, or a delicious burger made with local beef. We’re making it convenient for you to order by phone at (319) 859-9342 or online at GilmoresPubCF.com and safe by offering contactless pick-up.

5307 Caraway Lane

MAKE GILMORE’S PUB YOUR DINNER TONIGHT!