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cedar valley business monthly
John Deery Sr. By JIM OFFNER
jim.offner@wcfcourier.com
CEDAR FALLS — People who know John Deery Sr. agree that the 80year-old iconic local car dealer has done everything his way. Deery himself makes it clear that such has been the case most, if not all, of his life. He says he quit school twice to go to work. Later, after he got out of the Marine Corps Reserves following the Korean War, he wanted to go into business for himself. “I came home and made up my mind that I was never going to work for anybody again,” he said. He made good on that vow. He opened up his first used-car lot in Rockford, Ill., with the help of a $1,000 loan from his sister. He said he paid that loan back in short order. Then, he opened another lot in Rockford. And another. And still another in Freeport, Ill., as well as a scrap yard in Sterling, Ill. Later, he opened a dealership in Wisconsin. In the late 1960s, he bought a Buick dealership in Cedar Falls, and he never looked back. The community has benefited from Deery’s presence, according to those who nominated him for The Courier’s inaugural Eight Over 80 Awards. “The businesses that John has founded have employed hundreds of people over the years and still keep over 200 people employed,” said Barney Niner, general manager at Dan Deery Motors in Cedar Falls, which John Deery opened in 1979 with his son, Dan. The businesses to which Niner referred include John Deery Motors, Dan Deery Motors and Deery Brothers Collision Center. That’s just part of Deery’s contribution to the Cedar Valley, Niner said, pointing out that Deery has been a major real estate developer in the area for many years. “The Briar Hills housing development has attracted many new families to Cedar Falls,” Niner said. “The land for the new Target store in Cedar Falls and several strip mall developments originated with
cvbusinessmonthly.com
JulY 2010
Cedar Valley car dealer’s vision has turned into community’s gain
John Deery Sr. ■ Age: 80. ■ Occupation: Automobile dealer. ■ Biggest accomplishment of your life: “I suppose having my two boys and my nephew join me and the fact that we have 10 dealerships.” ■ One word that describes you: Determination. ■ Someone WHO inspired you and why: “Everybody that I worked with in my early days, I tried to follow their best steps.”
John.” Deery has touched numerous nonprofit and community-oriented organizations and agencies, as well, Niner noted, listing the Deery Center of EPI, the University of Northern Iowa, Black Hawk County Sheriffs Office, the Cedar Falls and Waterloo police departments, St. Patrick’s Catholic Church and school and El Kahir Shrine are among the beneficiaries. “He has always been a visionary for the community,” Niner said. “He sees what will be better for the Cedar Valley. When he buys property, he sees the vision of the housing development and how it will make homes for families. He’s always done that with everything he touches.” It’s all a result of a seemingly innate can-do attitude, Niner said. “He’s a self-made man and because of that, he has a strong sense of doing things his way,” he said. Dan Deery, who like his brother, John Jr., has been involved in their father’s car business since their school days, said John Sr.’s influence has been invaluable to their success. “His work ethic is probably way better than mine,” Dan Deery said. “He was of that generation, so I Brandon Pollock / Courier Staff Photographer think he probably turned a lot of his John Deery Sr. work ethic over to us, I hope.” “I think he gave a lot of people same. He had a lot of opportunity John Deery and his wife, Mar- said. “She has been a wonderful, opportunities and was fair with and worked with a lot of different lene, celebrated their 56th wedding wonderful mother.” What one thing could the com- everybody,” Dan Deery said. “He people in a lot of different areas, anniversary May 29. treated everybody exactly the and he was fair with all of them.” “Those boys are the luckiest,” he munity say about him?
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jUly 2010
cedar valley business monthly
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PAGE 11
‘Old Folks Club’ offers template for success that benefits us all An Old Folk’s Club? Now that I have your attention, let me first congratulate those honored in The Courier’s first-ever Eight Over 80 event. I consider myself privileged to know these wonderful Joe Vich leaders who have is chief executive given so much to officer of our community. I Community National Bank in was lucky enough Waterloo. Contact to be on the panel him at 291-2000. chosen to select this year’s winners. The elite eight were selected from a large pool of qualified entries. That our community is so blessed to have that many leaders over 80 is impressive. Clearly the “Old Folk’s Club” has been growing. Today, one out of every nine Americans is over 50. Those 65 and over now exceed 35 million and are expected to accelerate to 50 million as the baby boomers retire. So, what are the members of this “club” doing? Most of the nominees are active in the community. Don’t drag out the rocking chairs and recliners for these folks. Several of them are active in their business; others are active in nonprofit organizations. All have given back to their community for decades. While their backgrounds are different, each has left a legacy in the Cedar Valley, and they aren’t done. Perhaps that is what keeps them young. As our population continues to age, we will have the chance to benefit from these leaders.
How fortunate for those who are younger to learn from the experience of leaders with decades of knowledge. A recent survey showed half of retiring boomers expect to work at least parttime, and they want high-speed Internet connections in their homes. Some might think Arizona and Florida have a jumpstart on this opportunity, but Iowa and the Cedar Valley are more able to recognize this great opportunity. So, Cedar Valley boomers, how can we (I am an old boomer) become a member of the elite “Old Folk’s Club?” We can learn from those nominated this year: ■ Work hard at whatever you do. ■ Be a leader — volunteer for the uncomfortable. ■ Give back to your community with money or by volunteering. ■ Mentor someone younger. ■ Have a positive attitude about life and the community. ■ Continuing education. The benefits of encouraging growth in this club are immeasurable. Imagine how much we will accomplish as this club grows. There are those that bemoan the aging of our population. Instead, we need to embrace this progression and take advantage of the opportunity. Let’s hope the club nominees double next year and continues to grow. Congratulations again to this year’s winners and nominees. Our community is blessed to have such astonishing leaders. As for the rest of us, let’s learn from them and set our sights on joining the club when we become eligible.
Find all your latest news in
IF YOU WANT MORE
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cedar valley business monthly
cvbusinessmonthly.com
Betty Jean Furgerson By MARY STEGMEIR
mary.stegmeir@wcfcourier.com
WATERLOO — Betty Jean “B.J.” Furgerson’s early service work started with a mission to provide Waterloo’s African-American community with food, housing and employment. Along the way, she bestowed those she helped with an even greater gift — a voice in the decision-making process. Furgerson helped coordinate the school system’s desegregation plan and later fought for equal access to educational opportunities as a member of the local school board in the 1970s and 1980s, and as part of Iowa’s Board of Regents in the late 1980s and early 1990s. But even as she served as a vocal advocate for African-Americans, the Waterloo native also encouraged other blacks to speak up. “In a democratic society, I think we all need to find ways to make sure that people are involved,” said Furgerson, who was also helped found the city’s Human Rights Commission and was active in the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People. “One of the most difficult things was making people realize the importance of getting out and making things happen. Everybody has a right for their voice to be heard.” Although the 83-year-old has scaled back her involvement in recent years — making way for a new crop of community leaders — she continues to promote public discourse as a member of the board of directors for Iowa Public Broadcasting and Waterloo’s KBBG-FM 88.1, an African-American-owned-andoperated radio station. “We didn’t have a newspaper; we needed an opportunity to tell our story” Furgerson said, referencing KBBG. “It gave African-Americans a place to talk about things that were going on in the community.” Furgerson grew up in a family committed to serving others. Her father, Dr. Lee Burton Furgerson was a physician, while her mother, Lily Furgerson was the first African-American to teach in the Waterloo school system. Furgerson herself received
july 2010
Activist fought racial injustice
Betty Jean “B.J.” Furgerson Name: Betty Jean “B.J.” Furgerson Age: 83 Occupation: Community activist Biggest accomplishment of your life: Loving my 27 nieces and nephews and multiple great-nieces and -nephews and great-great-neices and -nephews One word that describes you: Curious — I love finding out things. If you never ask questions, you’re not going to learn new things. Someone who inspired you: My parents, Dr. Lee and Lily Fergurson, and KBBG founder the late Jimmie Porter
a teaching degree from what is now the University of Northern Iowa and completed a master’s in social work at the University of Kansas. “B.J. showed that if you believe it, you can make it happen,” said Lou Porter, president and CEO of KBBG. “She’s living her legacy right now through all the programs and services she made possible.” Furgerson, whose grandparents were born into slavery, said she treasures the education she received both in and out the classroom. A lifelong learner, she lists newspapers, news magazines and nonfiction history books among her favorite reading materials. “She has the heart and spirit of a youth,” Beverly Douglas wrote on a form nominating Furgerson for the Eight Over 80 honor. “She’s always trying to learn and broaden her perspectives.” Along the way, Furgerson has witnessed many of life’s harsh inequalities — from discrimination to poverty. And although Waterloo still faces issues of injustice, she’s satisfied to say that she and other civil rights activists in the 1960s and 1970s made the Cedar Valley a better place to live. She hopes the next generation of young leaders continues the fight. “People need to stop and listen and learn the elements of their community,” Furgerson said. “When they see something that’s not right, they need to speak up.”
RICK CHASE / Courier Staff Photographer)
Betty Jean Furgerson
JULY 2010
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cedar valley business monthly
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THE COURIER
Ed and Cathy GPerforming allagher arts center
among lasting legacies for Ed, Cathy Gallagher By MELODY PARKER melody.parker@wcfcourier.com
BRANDON POLLOCK / Courier Staff Photographer
Cathy and Ed Gallagher.
WATERLOO — Things might have been different in the Cedar Valley if Ed Gallagher had become a professional singer. The name might not be part of the Gallagher-Bluedorn Performing Arts Center. The Sullivan Brothers Iowa Veterans Museum may not have launched without his fundraising efforts. Catholic schools wouldn’t have Ed and Cathy Gallagher championing their efforts. As a young man, the slim, darkhaired Gallagher performed solo and with bands and at one time, toured with actor Farley Granger. Both men were serving in the U.S. Navy during World War II. “He called me ‘the Rib’ and I called him ‘the Profile.’ It was a great time, a lot of fun,” recalled Gallagher. “I was offered a job singing in a nightclub.” Cathy Gallagher, who grew up in Dubuque, recalls hearing Ed sing at halftime at a Loras College basketball game. “He was very Frank Sinatra-ish — ‘I Couldn’t Sleep a Wink Last Night,’” she said, smiling. Ed laughed. “People would throw pennies and nickels on the gym floor and I’d pick ’em up. I needed the money.” But the Waterloo native wanted to be a lawyer, not an entertainer. After his honorable discharge from the Navy, the Loras College graduate received his law degree at Georgetown University Law School. He also married his sweetheart, Cathy, on Dec. 29, 1948. In 1950, the couple moved to Waterloo. In 1951,
Edward Gallagher Jr. Age: 84 Occupation: Lawyer, Gallagher, Langlas & Gallagher Biggest accomplishment of your life: “Marrying Cathy. We’re a great team.” One word that describes you: Caring Someone who inspired you and why: “My teachers through life, here in Waterloo, at Loras College and Georgetown Law School. I was inspired to be a lawyer when I read about Clarence Darrow and Oliver Wendell Holmes.”
Cathy Cassidy Gallagher Age: 82 Occupation: Philanthropist Biggest accomplishment of your life: “Marrying Ed.” One word that describes you: Compassionate Someone who inspired you and why: My childhood teachers who taught me the importance of education. And good friends.
Gallagher put up his shingle as an attorney and, with his characteristic determination, set out to become a successful litigator. He later served as Waterloo city attorney and today, his law firm is thriving. “You can’t keep taking,” Ed Gallagher said. “You have to give something back. What we have we made by working hard and now we’re giving back to the community we love.”
See gallaghers, page 14
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cedar valley business monthly
Employers of Choice Awards nominees sought by Courier By JIM OFFNER jim.offner@wcfcourier.com
WATERLOO — Employees across the Cedar Valley will get a chance to reward their bosses once again in The Courier’s Employers of Choice Awards for 2010. It will be the third year for the program, which is designed to recognize companies that show encouragement and respect for their workers and reward them more than monetarily. Through July 15, The Courier will accept nominations from employees for feel their companies deserve such notice. A panel representing a crosssection of the regional business community will sift through all nominations to determine the Cedar Valley’s top 20 places to work — Employers of Choice.
The Courier will publish stories about each of the winners on Labor Day, Sept. 6. Nominations can be made by completing a form found at www.wcfcourier. com/employersofchoice. The Courier received nearly 250 nominations for last year’s honor. Nominations typically mentioned bosses who went beyond the fundamentals in the employer-employee relationship. Workers who submitted nominations mentioned supervisors who cared about qualityof-life issues, encouraged strong families and allowed flexibility for family issues and provided opportunities to grow in the job, offering regular feedback and recognizing a job well done. The awards are open to employers of all sizes.
between “The differenceordinary
&
EXTRAORDINARY
”
is that little extra.
Thank you, John Deery Sr. and family for the little extra you have always given to the community. Congratulations to being a part of 8 over 80. -Beaver Hills Country Club
For breaking news coverage, photos and video updated all day
gallaghers From page 13 The civic-minded Gallaghers have made their imprint on the Cedar Valley. Cathy, now 82, attended Clarke College and completed her degree at the University of Northern Iowa. She has served as president of the Waterloo-Cedar Falls Junior League and Waterloo-Cedar Falls Symphony Guild, and as a regent at Clarke College. Ed, 84, has been a regent and regent emeritus of Loras College and is a member of the UNI Foundation, serving as chairman and chairing the investment committee. He has served more than 20 years as trustee and chairman of the HW Grout Trust and as a board member of the Grout Museum. Active in military service organizations, he was a leader in the drive to raise $12 million to
cvbusinessmonthly.com
establish the Sullivan Brothers Iowa Veterans Museum. An exhibition hall at the museum bears the Gallagher name. His crewmates from the CVE 28 USS Chenango will gather at the museum Oct. 8 for their reunion. “There’s never a good cause in this community that they’ve said ‘no’ to, and they’re committed to giving back and making this a better place,” said Billie Bailey, Grout Museum District director. “They’re a team, and they enjoy having a good time.” The Gallaghers are passionate advocates for Catholic education. Each year, they provide funds for parochial students to attend museum school at the Grout Museum. But their lasting legacy will be the Gallagher-Bluedorn Performing Arts Center on the University of Northern Iowa campus. Longtime supporters of the Waterloo-Cedar Falls Symphony Orchestra, they
july 2010 helped lead the fund-raising drive to build the center. “All we wanted was a home for the symphony — a home where the acoustics are perfect,” Ed Gallagher said. “The center’s success has exceeded our expectations. The UNI music department and students share it, and the center has given Northeastern Iowans an opportunity to see firstclass shows.” “We didn’t think of it as our legacy when we first began,” Cathy Gallagher said. “I think it has helped bring the communities of Waterloo and Cedar Falls together.” The couple continue to contribute to an endowment to support the center. “I grew up here, and I don’t drive anyplace through town that I don’t have nostalgic thoughts,” Ed Gallagher said. “I’ve done everything I’ve wanted to do, and I’m happy to walk into the sunset and forget about it.”
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PAGE 16
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cedar valley business monthly
Tunis Den Hartog By JOHN MOLSEED
john.molseed@wcfcourier.com
WATERLOO — When Tunis Den Hartog retired in 1972, he found himself busier than he was when he worked full time. Den Hartog, an accountant, retired at an earlier age than most of his friends. “My friends couldn’t go play golf because they were still working,” he said. “I just got kind of bored.” Den Hartog joined the Retired Seniors Volunteer Program. He used his skills to train volunteers to give free tax help to lowincome people and seniors. Den Hartog didn’t mind putting his skills to good use at no charge. “If you have the abilities to do things like that, you just enjoy doing it,” he said. “Do you think you have to be paid for everything you do?” Money was a secondary concern before and after his retirement. “I feel bad for people who say, ‘I hate to go to work,’” he said. “I did not work for money. Money came and I appreciated that, but that’d be a bad way to work — just to make money.” Den Hartog also began serving on boards of community organizations. A two-time Waterloo Chamber of Commerce president, he also served on the Grout Museum board, the National Cattle Congress board, the Goodwill board among others. Den Hartog said his accounting background made him for a good fit on the various boards. “I think people like to get an accounting-type mentality on boards,” he said. “You need to be able to think with your intellect rather than your emotions.” He also has an ability to bring people together. When people clash, Den Hartog uses humor to diffuse the situation and reminds people who are at odds that they have a common goal. “Nobody’s ornery by nature,” he said. “They either have something to vent about or don’t feel good.”
cvbusinessmonthly.com
july 2010
Accountant escapes boredom of boardrooms as a volunteer
Tunis Den Hartog Age: 86 Occupation: CPA Biggest accomplishment of your life: Tough to name one, but while with RSVP, filed about 1,600 tax returns for seniors and low-income people. One word that describes you: Accountant Someone who inspired you and why: My father; he was my mentor and raised me in a business world.
Den Hartog said his father taught him venting can be a key to a long life. “My father told me the vial that contains the poison deteriorates from within,” he said. His size also makes him a good mediator. “I’ve always been big enough I can just say ‘alright everybody calm down.’” Den Hartog said he is glad to play the number-cruncher and peacemaker, but wouldn’t go so far as to call himself a diplomat. “My friends wouldn’t agree with that,” he said. Den Hartog credits his father for teaching him business skills. The 86-year-old grew up in Washington, Iowa, where his father ran a meat business. Den Hartog moved to Waterloo in 1941 and became a CPA in 1946. With 10 grandchildren and four great-grandchildren, much of his resources in recent years have gone to family. “It gets expensive at Christmas time,” he joked. He still keeps an office at Randall & Nelson PLC and still donates his time to boards and causes. His involvement is his way of giving back to the community that gave much to him. “I don’t think I’ve given any more than I’ve received,” he said. Like his work, Den Hartog said, he’s still selective on how he spends his time. “I’ve never worked anywhere or did anything I didn’t enjoy,” he said.
Tunis Den Hartog
BRANDON POLLOCK / Courier Staff Photographer
july 2010
cvbusinessmonthly.com
Ike Leighty
cedar valley business monthly
THE COURIER
PAGE 17
Engineered Products Company co-founder finds joy in giving By JON ERICSON jonathan.ericson@wcfcourier.com
WATERLOO — Ike Leighty spent his life working hard until money started to roll in from a business he created. Then he worked harder, expanding his business and giving back to his community. “The good Lord knew well enough not to give me any significant money until after I was 60 years old,” Leighty said. “He knew I would be able to do something that he could wrap his arms around and help people in need.” Leighty was co-founder of Engineered Products Company in Waterloo. His partner, Joe Nelson, created a gadget called the Filter Minder to measure the life left in air filters for trucks and cars. The company was starting to get rolling when Nelson died. The business started in 1977. By 1985, he was ready to start the Leighty Foundation. Leighty gives credit to his family for everything he has done. He created the foundation as a family venture and has involved the family on the board of directors. His grandchildren were introduced to giving at an early age. Each grandchild was assigned $50 to give away in junior high school, then $500 in high school. After graduating, they were given $5,000 per year to give away. “I told them when I set this up I don’t want to run the foundation from the grave. It’s up to you. I have full confidence in my family,” Leighty said. Leighty grew up in Macomb, Ill., the son of a sharecropper. His mother died when he was 5. His youth was shaped by his family and a neighbor, Sadie Moon, whom he called Mother Moon. “She saw that we were taken care of, got what we needed, and we always had a seat at her table
H.D. “Ike” Leighty Age: 94 Occupation: Marketing and sales consultant Biggest accomplishment of your life: “My family. The loving, caring and sharing that we’ve been able to pass on to them and the third generation is a crowning glory of my life.” One word that describes you: Stewardship Someone who inspired you and why: Sadie “Mother” Moon, his neighbor woman helped take care of Ike and his siblings after Ike’s mother died when he was 5. Also his brother, Wayne Leighty, a Methodist pastor.
whenever we were hungry,” he said. The Mother Moon scholarship has become a mainstay, with awards to high school graduates who participate in community service. The scholarships are awarded in Colorado Springs — where Ike’s daughter, Jane Leighty Justis — lives, and Macomb, in addition to the Cedar Valley. Leighty was influenced by his time in the military, his faith in God, a deep involvement with the Cedar Valley and supporting his family. He has also worked with the Community Foundation of Northeast Iowa. Grout Museum Director Billie Bailey has worked with Leighty through the foundations. “Ike leads by example,” Bailey said. “He never hesitates to say yes and is always anxious to help others take advantage of an opportunity to support good works in the community.” Even today, at 94, Leighty is not retired. He works on foundation business but also serves as a marketing and sales consultant with an office at Community National Bank.
BRANDON POLLOCK / Courier Staff Photographer
Ike Leighty
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cedar valley business monthly
Milton Roth By EMILY CHRISTENSEN
emily.christensen@wcfcourier.com
WATERLOO — After two years of college Milt Roth needed a break. Educationally he was ready to transfer from the Iowa State Teachers College, now the University of Northern Iowa, where he was studying business and accounting, to the University of Iowa, where he hoped to earn a degree in accounting. But financially Roth was drained. Even in the late ’30s college was expensive. So he went to work at The Rath Packing Co. to earn a little bit of cash for school. In his spare time, he puttered around his father’s business, Roth Jewelers, in downtown Waterloo. “During that year I realized I liked mechanical things,” he said. “I knew he would love to have me but would never tell me that. And mechanical things had always been easy for me. It seems to be in my genes.” When he returned to school his plans had changed. He enrolled in a technical program at Bradley University in Peoria, Ill., and upon graduation joined his father at the jewelry shop. The two worked side-by-side for decades — save for a stint in the Army during World War II — until his father, Alvin, retired. “At first it was just the two of us and a salesperson,” Roth said. “Gradually we built up the business to 15 people. Our customers have always been very good to us. We have a lot of second and third generation customers now. I feel very blessed.” Through the years Roth, 92, has worked hard to give back to the community he feels blessed him. He has sat on the Human Rights Commission, the MET Transit board of directors, the Visiting Nurses Association Board, Main Street Waterloo and numerous other boards. He has helped raise money for school scholarships, Waterloo Fire & Rescue, muscular dystrophy and Hawkeye Community College.
cvbusinessmonthly.com
july 2010
Still active at 92, Waterloo jeweler’s passion for business, community keeps him going
Milton Roth Age: 92 Occupation: Owner, Roth Jewelers Biggest accomplishment of your life: It was my privilege to contribute to the development, the education and the successful careers of my son Rick and my daughter Roberta. One word that describes you: Industrious Someone who inspired you and why: Dr. G.E. Melchert, a Lutheran pastor, taught me I was saved by grace and made me aware of the blessings that I have received. His teaching have helped me through some of the rough spots in life several times.
“The list of organizations that he has volunteered for are too long to list,” wrote Community National Bank President and CEO Josef Vich, one of Roth’s conominators for the “8 Over 80” recognition. “Not only has Milt been a trusted business person in our community, but has given back countless hours and dollars to make the Cedar Valley a much better place.” Roth — and his father —worked hard to remain a cornerstone of downtown, even after their first building was consumed by fire and later when many of the other mainstays were jumping ship for new shopping malls. The store, opened in 1931, is the secondoldest retail business in downtown Waterloo and the oldest on the east side of the Cedar River. It’s not all work and philanthropy for Milt and his wife, Joanie — they’ve been married for 14 years. They enjoy traveling. Roth uses the down time to feed his other interests, like photography. They also are well-known in their condo community. “Joanie and Milt make me feel young,” their neighbor Wade Dalrymple wrote in the nomination form. “They never sit still. And, believe me, if you need a lift, listen to Milt’s infectious laugh. I love it. ... He’s quite the
BRANDON POLLOCK / Courier Staff Photographer
Milt Roth storyteller.” At this point, Roth hasn’t made any official plans to hang up his businessman’s hat. He still enjoys hanging out at the store
most weekdays and visiting with customers, both new and old. He said the work also keeps him young. “I don’t want to just sit around
at home,” he said. “I want to have a reason to get up and have a place to go and something to do. I may be old enough to drop dead, but I’m still ready to go to work.”
2010
Business MILESTONES 158 YEARS 151 YEARS
139 YEARS 122 YEARS
www.blackhawkabstract.com (319) 352-8200 (319) 234-3566 100 Wartburg Blvd. • Waverly 501 Commercial St. • Waterloo
115 YEARS 114 YEARS
Michael's
Painting & Decorating Painting & Decorating • Quality Since 1895
(319) 291-4000 614 Sycamore St. • Waterloo
115 YEARS CARDINAL CONSTRUCTION INC.
The Funk Group (319) 233-8441 110 Plaza Circle • Waterloo
(319) 232-5400 700 Waterloo Building • Waterloo
106 YEARS 101 YEARS 100.5 YEARS
FEREDAY
Every thing you love about home www.McGregors Furniture.com
Heating & air Conditioning
www.feredayheating .com 268-9110 • Cedar Falls
(319) 232-3755 1008 Jefferson Street • Waterloo
Crossroads Center WATERLOO and 6 other Iowa locations
(319) 827-1448 850 6th St. • Jesup
233-8411 • 1010 Broadway, Waterloo
(319) 266-1741 406 State St. • Cedar Falls
99 YEARS
96 YEARS
96 YEARS
92 YEARS
94 YEARS
Hudson Printing Co., Inc. HUDSON HERALD Black Hawk County, Iowa • Established 1911
GENERAL SHEET METAL “Custom Fabrication”
(319) 988-3855 411 Jefferson • Hudson
(319) 234-5428 Ph (319) 234-5026 Fax 217 Rath • Waterloo
88 YEARS www.thatpartsplace.com
(319) 234-6681 201 E Mullen Ave • Waterloo
www.pdcm.com
generalsheetmetaliowa.com 150+ Combined Years of Family Auctioneering
Waterloo Operations
Locally Owned Since 1916
www.hilpipre.com
6 Sites • Waterloo
319-234-8888 3927 University Ave. • Waterloo
87 YEARS
84 YEARS
79 YEARS
79 YEARS
Growing is the Nature of our businesss
ESTABLISHED 1926
(319) 232-3954 1685 Independences Ave. Waterloo
(319) 235-7091 999 Home Plaza Suite 300 Waterloo
“Since 1914”
CLEANERS (319) 233-3571 216 W 11th St • Waterloo
(319) 234-6979 229 E. 5th St. • Waterloo
People you know, experience you trust
Congratulations To This Year’s Elite Eight Over 80 W. Louis Beecher Harold Brock John Deery Sr. Betty Jean Furgerson
Ed and Cathy Gallagher Tunis Den Hartog Ike Leighty Milton Roth
The Cedar Valley honors these 8 and all of the Senior Community Leaders.
Waterloo Cedar Falls
422 Commercial St. | 11 Tower Park 312 W. First St. | 6004 University Ave.
319-291-2000 www.CNB1.com
2010
Business MILESTONES 79 YEARS
79 YEARS
78 YEARS
77 YEARS
www.carneycpa.com
www.fogdallrv.com
(319) 233-3318 500 W. 4th St., Ste. 300 Waterloo
(319) 277-2641 Ridgeway Ave. & Hwy 58 Cedar Falls
74 YEARS
www.marquartconcreteproducts.com
See us for your Block Brick & Landscaping Needs (319) 234-5238 1118 Ansborough • Waterloo
(319) 233-8421 110 Dunham Place • Waterloo
73 YEARS
67 YEARS
65 YEARS
65 YEARS Co.
www.panthersupply.com
Commercial Printing www.thepioneergroup.com
(319) 266-7581 1009 W 23rd St. • Cedar Falls
(319) 234-8969 319 W. 5th St. • Waterloo
64 YEARS
62 YEARS
www.invisionarch.com (319) 233-8419 531 Commercial Street #900 Waterloo
62 YEARS
The ONE store for your perfect floor.™
www.carpetone.com
(319) 233-6131 4003 University Ave. • Waterloo
61 YEARS
61 YEARS Waterloo -Warren Transports
(319) 266-3535 515 Main St. • Cedar Falls
(319) 233-8473 1004 Decathlon Dr. • Waterloo
(319) 232-0140 451 LaPorte Rd. • Waterloo
61 YEARS
60 YEARS
60 YEARS
(319) 266-3513 • Cedar Falls (319) 234-2150 • Waterloo (319) 352-1405 • Waverly
PETERMAN & HAES
(319) 232-7993 84 W. 11th St. • Waterloo
Home 100 years of Warren Trasport Know How
FAMILY OWNED AND OPERATED SINCE 1948
Since 1949
65 YEARS HOME BUILDERS ASSOCIATION OF NORTHEAST IOWA
www.simpsonfurniture.com
of excellence
(319) 232-4535 123 Arizona • Waterloo
Paul G. Christensen Construction (319) 266-2598 1405 Center St. • Cedar Falls
60 YEARS
(319) 233-6113 210 Beck Ave. • Waterloo
58 YEARS JOHNSON’S Jewell’s Body Shop BAKERY
(319) 232-4000 3842 Airline Hwy. • Waterloo
(319) 232-8154 820 W 5th St. • Waterloo
(319) 233-4407 305 N. Rd. • Evansdale (Next to City Hall)
2010
Business MILESTONES 57 YEARS
ALLEN GLASS CO., INC.
www.allenglassco.com (319) 232-0461 1620 Jefferson St. • Waterloo
54 YEARS
Evansdale Pharmacy
57 YEARS
55 YEARS
www.maxss.com
We are commited to products, and service which exceed our customers expectations www.steson.com (319) 236-5074 320 W 18th St. • Waterloo
(319) 234-0344 4017 University • Waterloo
54 YEARS
52 YEARS
55 YEARS
www.city-national.com
Mini Storage
www.cfneia.org (319) 277-5900 2225 Lincoln St. • Cedar Falls
50 YEARS
Harris Cleaning Service
www.cfln.org
Fred J. Harris Brian • Tim • Ronda
(319) 268-0401 7511 University Ave. • Cedar Falls
(319) 235-6647 Waterloo
50 YEARS
47 YEARS
(319) 352-4286 220 8th Ave. SW • Waverly
53 YEARS
52 YEARS Ray Mount
(319) 287-9106 425 Cedar St. • Waterloo
Dry Wall, Plastering & Painting www.Iowawallsystems.com (319) 296-1663 4601 Crestwood Dr. • Waterloo
50 YEARS
50 YEARS
www.riddlesjewelry.com Crossroads Center, Waterloo (319) 233-7641
(319) 277-2121 3321 Cedar Heights Dr. Cedar Falls
42 YEARS
www.sandeesltd.com (319) 235-1681 1111 South St. • Waterloo
Our Pride is our Care (319) 234-4423 310 Upland Dr. • Waterloo
(319) 232-4444 829 Sycamore St. • Waterloo
50 YEARS
R.C. Willett Co.
northstarcampers.com
(319) 233-3461 3040 Leversee Rd. • Waterloo
41 YEARS
38 YEARS
(319) 268-0489 2305 Cresent Dr. • Cedar Falls
(319) 232-6537 3613 Texas St. • Waterloo
www.lassoerv.com Service (319) 462-3258 Sales (319) 1-800-798-3511 Anamosa Iowa
www.ramker.com
(319) 232-6641 221 E 4th St. • Waterloo
Wrecker Service
“For all your health-care needs” (319) 233-3395 3506 Lafayette Rd. • Evansdale
54 YEARS
55 YEARS
4130
2010
Business MILESTONES 37 YEARS
36 YEARS
35 YEARS
35 YEARS
34 YEARS
Stephen D. Knapp Lockard Realty
www.yoursoundroom.com
493-4000
(319) 232-6282 Corner of University & Flecher Waterloo
www.universitymotorsonline.com 1-800-232-7721 (319) 235-6509 4501 Prairie Parkway • Cedar Falls 525 East 18th St. • Cedar Falls 3610 University Ave. • Waterloo
34 YEARS
(319) 233-7649 2125 Falls Ave. • Waterloo
30 YEARS
(319) 266-1771 7314 Chancellor Dr. • Cedar Falls
23 YEARS
33 YEARS
32 YEARS
31 YEARS
(319) 272-2002 • (800) 617-1972 cvhospice.org and Associates L.L.P. Waterloo | Grundy Center (319) 277-7173 Independence (319) 268-9802 Waverly | Hospice Home 2615 Rainbow Dr. • Cedar Falls 9128 W. Cedar Waspi Rd. • Cedar Falls
30 YEARS
29 YEARS
(319) 266-0807 215 E. Main St. • Cedar Falls
(319) 277-5661 516 Washington St. Cedar Falls
22 YEARS
21 YEARS
30 YEARS Diamonds Body Shop, Inc. (319) 235-0479 3419 Lafayette • Evansdale
28 YEARS
26 YEARS
(319) 277-8121 215 W. 9th St. • Cedar Falls
www.billcolwellford.com (319 988-4153 Hwy 63 • Hudson
21 YEARS
NORTHSIDE
20 YEARS auto insurance
kvale Fast Quotes insurance
Auto Salvage and Repair
(319) 234-1595 812 Dearborn Ave. • Waterloo
(319) 272-2112 2055 Kimball Ave. • Waterloo
www.hawkeyetrucks.com (319) 233-8313 2420 K-Line Dr. • Waterloo
• Auto/Home • Life • Health
www.elvatorindustries.com (319) 277-7952 121 Parker • Cedar Falls
(319) 233-9911 3230 Marnie Ave. • Waterloo
(319) 833-9428 1425 W. 5th St. • Waterloo
2010
Business MILESTONES 19 YEARS
18 YEARS
SJ
17 YEARS
15 YEARS
(319) 233-3280 Waterloo Iowa
(319) 234-0051 www.kastliauctions.com
(319) 266-5829 1501 Technology • Cedar Falls
Construction Inc.
www.expresspros.com SJConstinc@mchsi.com (319) 277-6603 (319) 232-9178 3014 Rownd St. • Cedar Falls 1027 Sycamore St. • Waterloo
12 YEARS
17 YEARS
10 YEARS
8 YEARS 8 YEARS Schmitt telecom ABC PartnerS inc. Embroidery Our Experience Makes It Simple
(319) 233-2455 924 La Porte Rd. • Waterloo
cvhospsice.org (319) 272-1771 2001 Kimball Ave. • Waterloo
schmitthouse.com
(319) 232-3701 722 Water St. • Waterloo
(319) 232-0094 105 Industrual Dr. • Evansdale
Congratulations to these businesses and their many years of service
visit business monthly’s website
www. cv business monthly .com
PAGE 24
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cedar valley business monthly
cvbusinessmonthly.com
july 2010
Put your next vacation to work for your small business Travelling is a good way to keep your business fresh. Taking a vacation to another city, state or country can provide the opportunity for you to be a customer, to see new practices and learn new ways to make your customers’ experiences more Katherine A. enjoyable. Cota- Uyar When you as the is program owner of a busimanager at the ness pay attention John Pappajohn Entrepreneurial to how you are treated as a cusCenter at the tomer at a busiUniversity of Northern Iowa. ness in another Contact her at location, you can (319) 273-5732 or learn from that katherine. cota@ experience. uni.edu. On a recent trip to several states west of Iowa, I had the opportunity to experience food establish-
ments, retail operations, hotels and attractions. I used each of these as an opportunity to view business practices and conduct marketing assessments. In one restaurant, the server presented a small “thank you” card at the end of the meal that read, “It was my pleasure serving you today. Thanks, Meredith.” This card was not part of the bill. It was nice touch. The card has been added to my teaching materials as a simple way to thank customers for their business. One thing apparent was many businesses did not think about how a new customer might not understand the procedures of the operation. For example, one food establishment had two entrances and neither had a sign stating, “Please, wait to be seated.” We watched servers running around, but no one said anything about needing to go to the other door and waiting to be seated. We
figured this out when we saw other people entering through the other door and being seated. Locals may understand which door to enter, but is it apparent to a new customer? The same can be asked about placing an order and paying the check. Road signage was one of the biggest perpetrators of the failure to provide help to visitors. Several states put signage at the entrance ramp, exit ramp or road change without prior warning. Locals know where they are going; it’s visitors who require the signs. The lesson for the business owner is to think like a visitor or a new customer, and not like a local. When implementing change, be sure to keep what works and improve upon it. Businesses need to grow and change when appropriate. Without adapting when appropriate to new environments, technology or changes in the industry, the business owner
could unwittingly be driving the business out of business. A few other observations from my travels are worth noting here. First, make sure your staff is interested in serving the customers and is friendly, polite and courteous. In one restaurant our server was more interested in her cigarette break than providing the dessert course of the meal. Second, is your business open when your customers are likely to require your services? In one town, we stopped at the information and welcome center for the town only to find it closed at 5 p.m. Many travelers arrive at a town to eat and settle into a hotel between 6 and 7 p.m. Third, make sure your employees know local attractions, basic directions and information on the area. Further, make sure your employees know the policy or your company and can state it. We had a couple of instances
where different or contradictory policies where stated by employees of the same company. Finally, look at the layout of your physical space. Is it inviting? Does it have flow? Will customers be able to understand and use the space effectively? On our trip, I stopped counting the number of poorly designed toilets in women’s restrooms where I would have to step to the side of the toilet to open the door. The advice I would offer is to take a vacation and see what’s going on in other parts of the country or world. Will a new marketing technique work for your business? A new color scheme? A new recipe? As you are on that vacation, pay attention to how you are treated and how you would like to be treated. Then, return to your business and conduct an evaluation of your operations from this new perspective. Happy travels.
july 2010
cvbusinessmonthly.com
cedar valley business monthly
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PAGE 25
J.R. Roberts combined true friendship, wise business guidance I met J.R. Roberts when I was selling cars for Fellmer Imports. He was a customer. He later told me he could use me in his business. He needed someone to sell and service John Deere products — lawnmowRon Potter ers, snowmois owner of Potter's biles, bicycles and Hearing Aid Service such. J.R. owned in Waterloo. a lumberyard and Contact him at wanted to get out 232-7133. of the John Deere business. He figured this would take about a year, and he was willing to pay me whatever I wanted to help him. I knew I wanted to eventually go into business for myself, and so I decided to work for him for that limited time. J.R. and I became good friends in just a matter of days. I was impressed with his service, the number of friends he had and his customers’ loyalty. I came to respect him and his ideas. Several years later when I was considering purchasing my business, I visited with him. He asked
me if I liked the hearing aid business. Of course I did. He then looked at the financial statements from the business I was buying and told me the owner ran a good business and was a fine person. He said, “Buy it, and don’t look back. You will need to be 10 percent better than your competition in every area of your business in order to succeed. That means you must give excellent service and have fair prices.” J.R. would call me frequently to see how I was doing and would offer any help I needed. When J.R. Roberts died suddenly at the age of 68 years, I was devastated. At his funeral, the Rev. Homer Larsen gave a powerful eulogy, telling how J.R. came from very humble beginnings and had created a wonderful business by honest hard work. The night before his funeral, I awakened with thoughts of him. I got up and wrote down all the personal traits he had — honesty, compassion, perseverance, humility, respect — and how he influenced me in all parts of my life. I review those often and I will never forget him.
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cedar valley business monthly
cvbusinessmonthly.com
july 2010
Long lives can provide important lessons in finances First of two parts. We’ve all heard the saying, “live and learn.” As we celebrate those over the age of 80 who have contributed to our community, we can also honor all our local over-80 citizens by taking time to learn from them. I sat down to take a look back with two local couples in their early-to mid-80s. Erica Feldick We talked about is a financial the financial lesadvisor with Jacobson Financial sons they have learned throughServices LLC in Cedar Falls. out their lives Contact her at and how younger 266-2445 or erica. generations can feldick@lpl.com benefit from those lessons. Their answers were so fascinating that I am dedicating this month, as well as next month’s articles, to them.
Q. Do you feel there are certain
events/circumstances your generation has experienced that have influenced how they think or feel about their finances?
A. “We got in the habit of sacrificing now for the future good,” explained one woman and mother of 8 whose family lost their home during the Depression. Although they were under the age of 10 in 1933, both couples said experiencing the Great Depression as children made a powerful impression on their lives. Also, she thought the sacrifices Americans made during World War II, including the rationing of gasoline and invention of oleo as a substitute for butter, were influential for her. “I don’t think people would accept it if they were asked to make these sacrifices today,” she said. Because they didn’t have much growing up, there was no expectation of a life of luxury after they left home. A former Deere employee and Korean War veteran recalled that World War II impacted his generation greatly
because, for 30 years afterwards, “manufacturing couldn’t keep up with producing the things people wanted.” He didn’t recall having many financial worries while raising his three children during this period.
Q. Have you noticed any differ-
ences between the generations regarding money and finance? In your opinion, what are those differences?
A. “Our children and grandchildren grew up in the land of plenty. We had different experiences. I’m not too critical of the younger generations because they just didn’t have the experiences we did,” said a mother of three. Both agreed that their children and grandchildren have more at a younger age than they did. Because of this, both couples have noticed that younger people tend to enter adulthood with a greater expectation of wealth. “I also think our children feel pressure to keep up with others financially for the sake of their kids. Everyone we knew was poor, so we didn’t feel that pressure,” they said. Q. If you could give a young
person a piece of advice about handling their money, what would it be?
A. “Live within your means. Don’t go into debt unless you absolutely need to. If you must use a credit card, pay the balance by the end of the month,” advised both couples. They encouraged young people to start investing early and develop a plan. Both couples expressed concern for younger generations who have been turned off from investing due to the recent extreme volatility of the markets. “Don’t get all caught up in the ups and downs. Don’t get excited and sell too soon. Stay the course,” they advised. For Part 2 of the interview, please see next month’s Cedar Valley Business Monthly.
John Deere Waterloo Operations It all started in a blacksmith shop… Integrity - Quality - Commitment - Innovation
july 2010
cvbusinessmonthly.com
cedar valley business monthly
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PAGE 27
Keep valuable employees by understanding caregivers’ needs Most Americans spend the majority of their waking hours at work. So what happens when an employee is faced with the daunting task of caring for a sick loved one? They become emotionally and physically Christy drained, have Kessens trouble maintainis a gerontologist. ing a work-life Contact her at (319) 239-1126 or balance and may christy@alzoi.org. eventually leave the company. What does this mean to you, the employer? According to a MetLife report, companies in the United States can spend anywhere between $17.1 billion and $33.6 billion each year in lost productivity depending on the number of caregivers they have employed. Medical advances have allowed us to live longer, fuller lives. Living longer allows people to maintain employment beyond the traditional retirement age. Longer life spans also mean our parents and grandparents are a part of our life for a longer period of time. While all of these changes are positive, life can dramatically change when an employee must take on the added responsibility of caring for an older adult. A good business depends on dedicated, motivated and reliable employees. But even the best employee can become stressed when faced with the challenge of providing care to an older adult. Among family caregivers who are still working, the majority are caring for someone over the age of 50. And with smaller, more dispersed families the caregiver is often left without assistance of other family members. As an employer, all this information may be daunting for you. You care about your employees, but you also need to meet your profit margins. If your caregiving employee feels unsupportive at work, you may find yourself needing to find a replacement for them.
By making adjustments to the work environment your employee is more likely to feel supported. This can give them the motivation to continue doing their best work. The following information will help you better assist your staff when they are experiencing difficult times. By understanding your workers’ needs and offering support, you are not only helping your employees, you are helping yourself and your business.
Caregiving education
What does caregiving mean? What do caregivers do? What are the emotional, physical and social challenges experienced by caregivers? When the human resources department, managers, supervisors and co-workers understand the various aspects of caregiving, they will better understand how to support the employee who is also a caregiver. This can be done by talking to caregivers, reading relevant material or holding an educational workshop.
Resource list
When a caregiver is overwhelmed they may lack the ability to find appropriate resources for their situation. A resource list would offer them information about local aging agencies, support groups, respite care, nursing homes, hospice and grief counselors.
Health fairs
Since caregivers often overlook their own health, having the opportunity to learn about a healthy lifestyle in their place of employment can be a great benefit. In addition to your regular health demonstrations, how about including caregiving information and your resource list? Making even small changes to your organization will provide the support needed to your employees and better assure your company is reaching its required levels of productivity.
PAGE 28
www.GrEAtErcEdArvAllEychAmbEr.com
Ribbon Cuttings
Aerial Services 6315 Chancellor Dr., Cedar Falls
Cedar Bend Humane Society 1166 W. Airline Hwy., Waterloo
Families First 111 Plaza Cir., Waterloo
NRG Pilates, LLC 115 E. 4th St., Cedar Falls
JUly 2010
Welcome New Chamber Member Art is a good thing! P.O. Box 869 Cedar Falls, IA 50613 Phone: 319-575-0021 Website: www.artisagoodthing.com Contact: Mike Nelson Category: Advertising Agencies/Public Relations
The Greater Cedar Valley Alliance & Chamber would like to say
Congratulations
to the Courier's Eight over Eighty Award Recipients W. Louis Beecher, 88 Harold Brock, 95 John Deery Sr., 80 Tunis Den Hartog, 86 Betty Jean Furgerson, 84 Ed and Cathy Gallagher, 84 and 81, respectively Ike Leighty, 94 Milton Roth, 92
Thank you for your contributions to the Cedar Valley!
Thank You to everyone who helped make My
Waterloo Days a success. Special thanks to the My Waterloo Days committee, volunteers, sponsors, and the City of Waterloo. This festival would not be possible without your time and cooperation!
JUly 2010 mArch 2010
www.GrEAtErcEdArvAllEychAmbEr.com
Sponsorship Investment: $500 Sponsorship for both the Waterloo and Cedar Falls New Teachers’ Breakfasts Breakfast for four representatives from your company and four New Teachers per event Company representative speaks at both events Opportunity to provide a promotional teacher gift at both events Opportunity to have a table promoting services and products at both events Company logo displayed in program at both events Company logo used on all promotional materials i.e. Cedar Valley Business Monthly, Cedar Valley EXTRA, Greater Cedar Valley Chamber web site, etc. Fifty word promotional e-mail for your business in the Chamber EXTRA to be used by December 31, 2010 Chamber membership mailing labels Opportunity to show your support for Cedar Valley teachers Opportunity to network with fellow businesses and new teachers Limited number available
PAGE 29
Waterloo New Teachers' Breakfast Tuesday, August 17—7:30 - 9:00 AM 5 Sullivan Brothers Convention Center
Cedar Falls New Teachers' Breakfast Thursday, August 19—7:30 - 9:00 AM Prairie Lakes Church
Sponsorship Investment: $250 Sponsorship for both the Waterloo and Cedar Falls New Teachers’ Breakfasts Breakfast for two representatives from your company and two New Teachers per event Company logo displayed in program at both events Company recognition during program at both events Company logo used on all promotional materials i.e. Cedar Valley Business Monthly, Cedar Valley EXTRA, Greater Cedar Valley Chamber web site, etc. Opportunity to provide a promotional teacher gift at both events Opportunity to show your support for Cedar Valley teachers Opportunity to network with fellow businesses and new teachers
Sponsorship Investment: $30 Breakfast for one representative from your company and a new teacher Company name listed in program at event Opportunity to list your name, company, services and contact information in the New Teachers’ Breakfast Business Directory that will be placed in teacher gifts Ability to show your support for the Cedar Valley teachers Ability to network with fellow businesses and new teachers * A company is able to sponsor more than one teacher per event (or both events)
Save the Date! Thursday, September 9 5:00 - 8:00 PM Overman Park, Cedar Falls Sponsorships are available!
Contact Molly Brown at 266-3593 or molly@greatercedarvalleychamber.com with questions or for more information!
cvbusinessmonthly.com
july 2010
cedar valley business monthly
PAGE
THE COURIER
Volume 4 l No. 7
www.cvbusinessmonthly.com
BUSINESS MONTHLY columns Page 5
David Braton Honoring this crop of community leaders was a no-brainer.
Page 24 University of Northern Iowa Put your vacation to work for your small business.
Page 45 Wartburg College Retired professor pursues wanderlust without worry.
BUSINESS MONTHLY staff directory EDITORIAL CONTENT Nancy Raffensperger Newhoff nancy.newhoff@wcfcourier.com (319) 291-1445 Jim Offner jim.offner@wcfcourier.com (319) 291-1598
ADVERTISING Bret Danielson bret.danielson@wcfcourier.com (319) 291-1403 Jackie Nowparvar jackie.nowparvar@wcfcourier.com (319) 291-1527 Sheila Kerns sheila.kerns@wcfcourier.com (319) 291-1448
Cedar Valley Business Monthly is published monthly. It is a free publication direct-mailed to more than 6,500 area businesses. For distribution, call Courier Communications at (319) 291-1527 Contact Cedar Valley Business Monthly at P.O. Box 540, Waterloo, IA 50704.
BUSINESS MONTHLY on the cover Cover by Brice Johnson
COURIER PHOTO
The 2010 Eight Over 80 winners are, top row from left, John Deery Sr., Harold Brock, Betty Jean Furgerson, Milton Roth, center, Ike Leighty, bottom row, Tunis Den Hartog, Cathy and Ed Gallagher, and W. Louis Beecher.
Eight Over 80
Courier honors pillars of the Cedar Valley It is well-established tradition for The Courier’s 20 Under 40 Awards to look to the future. The annual event honors some of the Cedar Valley’s best and brightJim Offner est, the leaders of is the Courier tomorrow. business editor. Now for the Contact him at first time we do jim.offner@ wcfcourier.com. precisely the same thing from the perspective of the past in our
inaugural 8 Over 80 Awards. All of the recipients have demonstrated a lifetime of integrity, devotion and selflessness in this community. The civic contributions of each of the honorees are indelible. The region is profoundly richer for having been home to these people. Their contributions are as varied as their backgrounds. They all have taken leadership positions in such diverse areas as education, law, retail, engineering and civil rights. Their accomplishments in an array of
fields have been chronicled over the decades. They share one key trait: All have devoted much of their long lives to building a better Cedar Valley. As such, they have become exemplars of generosity to an entire region. By making the Cedar Valley their home, they have built a richer home for everyone around them. This first go-round at selecting our 8 Over 80 has brought its own lessons.
See 8 OVER 80, page 4
PAGE 30
JUly 2010
www.GrEAtErcEdArvAllEychAmbEr.com
Greater Cedar Valley Chamber 41st Annual
Fall Golf Classic August 24 at Pheasant Ridge Golf Course, Cedar Falls Morning Tee Time: 7:30 AM
Sign Sponsor
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Contact Kim Schleisman or Bette Wubbena at 232-1156 if you are intersted in : • Sponsoring a Tee & Green • Registering a foursome • Donating a prize.
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The Greater Cedar Valley Chamber would like to extend a special thank you to our 2010 Chairman's Circle Sponsors:
July Calendar of Events July 4
Happy 4th of July!
July 5
Alliance & Chamber offices closed
July 13
Cedar Valley Ambassadors, Beck's Sports Brewery, 3295 University Ave., Waterloo
July 14
Diplomats, Waterloo office, 9:30 AM
July 29
Waterloo RAGBRAI
JUly 2010
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PAGE 31
The Greater Cedar Valley Chamber is pleased to present the 2010-2011 Cedar Valley Leadership Institute, a professional development series designed for business members who want to develop and strengthen their leadership skills within the community.
Program Mission
To develop leaders representing our diverse communities.
Program Objectives t t t t
Topics and What to Expect
To develop effective and involved future volunteers for the community by providing local civic organizations with graduate biographies interested in serving on committees, boards of directors and associations. To provide local businesses with prospective employees exposed to effective leadership techniques such as lecture, interactive role-play, civic government access and education overviews. To build awareness of the Leadership Institute throughout the community. To intellectually engage participants in discussions on community activities and issues and involve them in creating solutions.
October 6, 2010 - Developing Relations with Memory Enhancements Dale Carnegie seminar will help you with name memory enhancement (to show how your memory can serve you well in business and social gatherings). The day will focus on networking and interpersonal skills, while you get to know your classmates. November 3, 2010 - Leadership through Community Volunteerism Through personality/management assessments learn how you and others interact. Learn directly from community leaders on the rewards experienced through leadership and volunteering. Experience the servant style and explore ways to implement serving into your routine. December 1, 2010 - Meet Your Community You will gain an insight into the community’s history and culture in the Cedar Valley. Gain a better knowledge of the present and future demographics of our workforce and community. Take the Diversity tour to highlight the Cedar Valley history museums, cultural centers, places of worship and much more. January 5, 2011 - Understanding Your Local and State Government/Power of Communication Meet local and state government officials and gain an understanding of their roles in shaping our community. Through this session, you will learn how the government works, how it impacts local and state issues, and how you can make a difference with important community issues. Learn the process involved in gathering newsworthy information from different media outlets and business professionals. February 2, 2011 - Healthcare Learn how the workplace is affected by several hot button issues including aging generations in the workplace, worker shortages in the healthcare industry, costs of healthcare and government reimbursement, and community recourses available. You will also get active with workplace wellness! Get insights into drug and alcohol abuse in the workplace with a testing coordinator. March 2, 2011 - Economic Development in the Cedar Valley Tour the Cedar Valley to understand economic development collaboration through the many organizations such as the Greater Cedar Valley Chamber of Commerce, the Greater Cedar Valley Alliance, Main Street Programs, Tourism Bureaus, City Departments and many others. April 6, 2011 - Education in the Cedar Valley Understand the challenges of education and how working as a community we can improve and enhance the Cedar Valley. Learn more about education issues through open discussion with superintendents, principals and administrators. May 4, 2011 - Leading by Example Non-profit organizations assist the community in quality of life and improvements to the Cedar Valley. During a poverty simulation, understand the role of the various community non-profit organizations. Also gain a greater understanding of immigration in the Cedar Valley and the state. Class of 2010-2011 is now taking reservations! If you or your business know of an area professional that would benefit from CVLI, please contact Molly Brown at 266-3593 or molly@greatercedarvalleychamber.com.
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Special thanks
to the following for their support of the Spring Golf Classic on June 16th at South Hills Golf Course:
Cart Sponsor
Hole Sponsors Allen Health System BankIowa
Sign Sponsor
Comfort Suites Fahr Beverage Farmers State Bank
19th Hole Sponsor
KWWL Manatt's PDCM Insurance PIPAC Life Brokerage Regions Bank
Lunch Sponsors
Schmitt Telecom Partners Sign Fusion US Bank Veridian Credit Union VGM Forbin Wheaton Franciscan Healthcare-Iowa, Inc. Wingate Inn
Help us welcome RAGBRAI to Waterloo! Volunteers Needed! Get Involved! volunteer@WaterlooRAGBRAI.com 319-233-8350 WaterlooRAGBRAI.com
THURSDAY, JULY 29
Happy Trails through Waterloo On Thursday, July 29, Waterloo will host approximately 20,000 visitors when riders on RAGBRAIŽ XXXVIII stay overnight in the Cedar Valley. Organizers estimate that it will give our economy an approximate $2 million boost. It has been 25 years since Waterloo last had the opportunity to host RAGBRAI. The theme is Happy Trails through Waterloo, focusing on the more than 100 miles of paved recreational trails available within the community. RAGBRAI riders will come into town from Hudson and stay at the main campground by Lost Island Waterpark and be within walking distance to the Isle Casino Hotel Waterloo. Shuttles will be provided to several key areas of the city including downtown and the Crossroads area. Entertainment, food and beverages will be provided at the main campground and also downtown Waterloo. We are excited to have The Fab Four – The Ultimate Tribute Band as our headliner on the main campground stage. The Fab Four is elevated far above every other Beatles tribute bands due to their precise attention to detail. With uncanny, note-for-note live renditions of Beatles' songs, the Fab Four will make you think you're watching the real thing. They will take the stage at 8 PM. Admission to
the concert is free visit Waterloo. Shifts will to those wearing typically range from 2-4 hours. their RAGBRAI There is a complete list of w r i s t b a n d opportunities and descriptions or Waterloo on our web site. For more R A G B R A I information, email volunteer@ t-shirt. Those not Wa t e r l o o R AG B R A I . c o m . How can your business wearing a shirt or a wristband will pay $2 support Waterloo RAGBRAI? at the beverage garden the Sponsor! There are various day of the event. Tickets sponsorship levels available will not be sold in advance. for the opportunity to Official Waterloo RAGBRAI expose your business to t-shirts are available for $15 approximately 20,000 visitors. more information, at the following locations: For sponsorship@ t FridayLoo (July 9 & 23) contact waterlooRAGBRAI.com. t Isle Casino Hotel There are also advertising Waterloo Gift Shop opportunities available on our t Main Street Waterloo web site, on our community t Roux Orleans map and in the official tabloid. t Waterloo CVB For more information about t Waterloo Hy-Vee stores the Waterloo RAGBRAI event, t Waterloo Open (July please contact Kassey Foster 15-19) t www.waterlooRAGBRAI. or Erin Bishop at publicity@ waterlooRAGBRAI. com By wearing your Waterloo com. Happy Trails to You! RAGBRAI t-shirt every Thursday, you are also eligible for exclusive discounts at participating locations Save some GREEN with the throughout the Cedar reusable coupon Valley. A complete list of RAGBRAI T-SHIRTs participating locations is discounts at Free entry to RAGBRAI available on the Waterloo Exclusive participating locations beer garden July 29 RAGBRAI web site. An event of this ay Thursd magnitude would not be irt every h -s T r ou Wear y able to happen without the support of our community. What can you do to support Waterloo RAGBRAI? Volunteer! There are various volunteer opportunities available m RAI.co oRAGB for the day before, day lo r te a W of and day after riders ls and a
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WORDS of WISDOM FOR THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY
“Who was your business mentor and why?”
“My father would be my business role model. He taught me to know and respect all of my customers, always work hard and to be sure to enjoy nature at the end of the day.”
Skip Fell / Calico Hen House
“My mom Nina Robinson, because she inspired me to pray, work hard and strive for exellence no matter what the position.”
Mike Robinson / Heal the Family
“My role model is business was my father who also owned his own pharmacy in the Sandhills of Nebraska. He also sold veterinary supplies, Sherwin Williams paint, wall-paper, gifts and Hallmark Cards in a small town of less than 1,000 residents.””
James Hughes, R. Ph. / Q&T Pharmacy
“Frank Mollenhoff, my predecessor, took the time to share his experience and his considerable talent to ensure that one day I could fill the position he once held. I am grateful for all the time, interest and support he gave me prior to his untimely death.”
David E. Boyd / Goodwill Industries
“Mary Altekruse is our mentor for starting TnK Health Food Store in the 1970’s. Her interest, vision, and love for overall health has impacted thousands of people to live each day in a healthier way. All of us at TnK have a great responsibility to see this legacy carried forward here in the Cedar Valley.”
Marilyn & John Bartels / TnK Health Food Store
“Because I’ve taken little ideas from lots of people, it’s difficult for me to choose one individual, but my wife and my parents would be at the top of the list. Although none of their professions are in the business world, they have taught me the importance of being organized, doing the right thing, and caring for those I work with and serve.”
Kelly Christensen / Principal Financial
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When told to improve, don’t wait to act By MAriE G. McintyrE McClatchy-Tribune News Service
Q. I just had a horrible performance review in which I was given 30 days to improve as a supervisor. Now I’m afraid I might be terminated. My boss is a micromanager who keeps trying to take control of my staff and my duties. She gives a lot of negative criticism and never acts like a mentor. A. Getting a bad review from a difficult boss may seem unfair, but right now fairness must take a back seat to rescuing your career. Since upper management has undoubtedly signed off on this warning, your job could very well be in jeopardy. Critiquing your manager’s leadership style will only make you seem resistant and defensive. Instead, you must focus on one single goal: changing her opinion of your job performance. Start by making it clear that
you have gotten the message, then ask questions to define her expectations. For example: “After thinking about our conversation, I realized that I could take a stronger leadership role with my team. What do you think I need to do differently? And what evidence will show you that I’m improving?� Next, schedule regular meetings to discuss your progress. Although such frequent feedback may sound like torture, it’s actually to your benefit. Otherwise, you won’t know whether you’ve succeeded in shifting your boss’s perceptions. If you make every effort to meet expectations, odds are that your 30-day review will be encouraging. But if success proves to be unattainable, you will need to reassess either your skills or your choice of employer. Marie G. McIntyre is a workplace coach and the author of “Secrets to Winning at Office Politics.�
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Estate planning failures: Don’t be next Estate planning is the most important step you can take to ensure your legacy passes intact to your heirs. Poor planning for one’s estate or doing nothing can and usually does become very costly financially, as well as emotionally. A famous examJack J. ple of this is Chief Peterson Justice of the is director of Court, financial services Supreme Burger. with PIPAC Life Warren though Brokerage. Contact Even him at 268-7300. Burger was once Chief Justice, the small 176-word will he left his two children failed to empower his executors and did
not plan for estate taxes. His $1.6 million estate lost $450,000 in federal and state estate taxes. The estate lost even more money because of expenses in going to probate to empower the executors. What would happen to your business if an untimely death or disability like Warren Burger’s would occur? Are you prepared for the financial challenges you may face? More than 80 percent of Americans have not put a comprehensive plan in place to meet these challenges. A professionally designed estate plan allows you to employ various techniques that can minimize estate settlement costs and satisfy your objectives by: n Reducing estate and inheri-
tance tax liability. n Conserving principal. n Avoiding costly, frustrating settlement delays. n Minimizing income taxes. n Reducing probate and administrative costs. Another example of an estate planning failure was former Miami Dolphins owner, Joe Robbie. His mistake was not planning for estate tax that ended up being $47 million. Robbie’s family had to sell the Miami Dolphins football team, which Robbie cofounded and helped build into a powerhouse that won two consecutive Super Bowls. Even if the estate could not have avoided the tax, Robbie could have covered the bill with a life insurance policy.
What would happen to your business if an untimely death or disability were to occur? We have all heard of businesses being sold like Joe Robbie’s because the estate was poorly planned. Estate planning tools used to keep your business from being sold, or sold at a fraction of its value, are: n Properly drafted and funded buy – sell agreement. n Key person insurance. n Business succession plan (family member, key employee or friendly competitor). n Properly drafted wills, trusts and durable powers. There are many life-changing events we may face. PIPAC LIFE Brokerage has helped our clients who have experienced life-
changing events such as a recent marriage or divorce, sending children to college, inheritance, special needs children, business ownership, untimely death, and retirement dilemmas to name a few. We will analyze your financial position and review all pertinent financial documents and business agreements. We will discuss the road ahead by making suggestions and recommendations designed to meet your current and future goals and obligations. The estate plan roadmap reflects the way you want your personal affairs to be handled in case of incapacity or death and the subsequent implementation of the strategies that will fulfill those objectives.
Congratulations On All Of Your Achievements
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The Partners of Gallagher, Langlas and Gallagher PC
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july 2010
Analyze charities so donations do the most good Despite the recession, Americans haven’t shut down much of their charitable giving. According to the Giving USA Foundation, U.S. charitable giving stood at $307.65 billion in 2008, down only 2 percent from the previous year. This year may not be an exception given the outpouring after the Haitian John Englin earthquake. But is a certified if you’re going to financial planner give, give smart. at Lincoln Savings It makes sense to Bank and LSB develop a longFinancial and a member of the term giving stratFinancial Planning egy that dovetails with your financAssociation. Contact him at es, your estate233-1900 or john. planning strategy englin@lpl.com. and your values. A visit with a qualified financial and tax adviser is a good first step in the giving process no matter what your age or assets. View this process the way you would examine any investment — with solid research and an open ear to advice. There are ways to research and give to nonprofits and charities. Go online. The Internet is a great starting point. Sites such as www.Guidestar.org, www.Charitynavigator.org, www.Charitywatch.org and www.Give.org give overviews of various charities and help identify nonprofits for specific causes. A foundation called Philanthropedia not only rates various nonprofits but allows visitors to make donations through the site. If your charity is not on the Internet, request a copy of its IRS Form 990. The IRS overhauled the form in 2007 to request more information on governance. While the forms are detailed and sometimes tough to understand, it’s not a bad idea to keep the information on file as you discuss the material with your advisers. Figure out if you’ll need income from your gift: There are ways to draw income from donations. A financial adviser can work with
an attorney and CPA to help you understand the following options: ■ Charitable gift annuities allow a donor and a charity to enter into an agreement that will allow payments back to the donor that may be partially or all tax free. ■ Charitable remainder trusts
allow someone to donate cash or appreciated property to a trust that can sell the appreciated property and distribute proceeds to the donor on a tax-advantaged basis. ■ Life estate agreements let someone with a home or farm to live there while they receive a
A personal, more meaningful approach to financial planning. Whether you’re a small business owner, evaluating your estate plan, or sending your kids to college, We can help you plan to reach your financial goals through personal, customized financial planning. Call (319) 234-7000 and ask for Larry today!
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tax deduction for the gift. When they die, there may be savings in probate costs and estate taxes. ■ Pooled income funds offered by mutual fund companies allow you to deposit money now for distribution to charity in the future while allowing you to receive tax-advantaged income.
Consider making a major direct donation if the charity or foundation will accept it: If you know a cause you want to support, research it and see what its policies are toward accepting donations of cash, stock or property. Not all foundations accept such gifts from the general public.
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cedar valley business monthly
Awards & more.... plaques-trophies-medals-ribbons business gifts-promo items-apparel personalized for you, no job is too big or small
Gibson Specialty Co.
2829 Falls Ave Ph 233-9333
www.gibsonspecialty.com
Congratulations to Our
2010
Eight over Eighty Recipients. A special recognition reception and luncheon with family, friends and community members was held at Park Place Event Centre on Thursday, June 24.
2010 Elite Eight: W. Louis Beecher Harold Brock John Deery, Sr. Betty Jean Furgerson Ed & Cathy Gallagher Tunis Den Hartog H.D. (Ike) Leighty Milton Roth
8 over 80 From page 3 The process served as one more reminder that the Cedar Valley has been blessed with a veritable army of community-minded leaders, and their legions transcend the first Eight Over 80 designates. A committee of community leaders — Lou Porter, Judith Cutler, Joe Vich, Bob Justis and Steve Carignan — analyzed nominations and selected the winners in consultation with Courier Publisher David Braton, Editor Nancy Newhoff, Business Editor Jim Offner, Marketing Manager Angela Dark and Account Executive Jackie Nowparvar. The process was both arduous and refreshing. The Courier is deeply appreciative of the committee’s time in laboring over the many worthy
cvbusinessmonthly.com
nominations. The committee members’ took their cue from the examples of the nominees they studied and discussed. Poring over the qualifications of the 55 nominees took hours, as well could be expected for an award that could justifiably go to all of the people whose names were submitted. There was enthusiasm among committee members that was palpable. They were well aware that this was an important way to say thanks to all of these civic leaders. There also were challenges. In the assessment of committee members, all nominees had proven themselves winners in life, not just in the community. Hashing through so many worthy names to get to the required eight was no small feat. The committee had to deal with issues concerning the guidelines for nominations this first time around. One
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jUly 2010 committee member even submitted a nomination, although — as was common — that name also was submitted by someone not connected to the process. There was surprise that some obvious candidates were not nominated. Also, note that one award was given to two people who were nominated together, since their contributions as a team have been long-established. The Courier also wishes to thank Barmuda Cos. and Nelsom Properties, which provided the setting for photographs of each of the winners in Barmuda’s Roux Orleans and Sky Event Centre in the Black’s Building in downtown Waterloo. As you thumb through this issue of the Cedar Valley Business Monthly, you will read the stories of each of the winners and gain some insights into the inestimable generosity of these local treasures.
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Infrastructure important for nonprofits, too Nonprofit organizations play a vital role in providing essential services in the social sector. They also represent a significant portion of the local economy. Indeed, federal, state and local governments rely heavily on the services provided by nonprofit organizations providing a variety of important functions and necessary services. Yet, many nonprofit organizations are starving themselves withMark Witmer out even realizing is executive director of North it. For years, nonStar Community profits have balServices Inc. in anced their budWaterloo. Contact gets by cutting him at 236-0901 critical indirect and or mwitmer@ overhead expenses, northstarcs.org. scrimped on technology and made due with substandard materials. Some of the first things to be cut include staff training, computer and software replacement and upgrades, marketing activities and maintaining generally accepted accounting practices. And, as the global recession continues, this
budget balancing strategy will become even more entrenched further damaging the overall health of nonprofits. A recent article in the fall 2009 issue of Stanford Social Innovation Review entitled “The Nonprofit Starvation Cycle” by Ann Goggins Gregory and Don Howard asserted “Organizations that build robust infrastructure — which includes sturdy information technology systems, financial systems, skills training, fundraising processes and other essential overhead — are more likely to succeed than those that do not”. The continued underfunding of critical business practice activities can have disastrous effects, the article says. Many people believe that the cost of overhead for a nonprofit should be as low as possible. The underlying rationale here probably makes sense. We want the majority of any nonprofit’s resources to be used to directly benefit the people served. And, it is true, that some people judge a nonprofit’s success (or lack of success) based upon its percentage of overhead expense. Theoretically, therefore, the nonprofit is using most of its resources
to provide services. It does make sense to draw the conclusion that a nonprofit that invests the vast majority of its resources into its services will have better services. And, to be honest, I have been known to tout North Star’s rather low overhead percentage, as well. However, the Stanford article paints a much different picture. The article postulates that the consistent underfunding of overhead is a vicious cycle that simply keeps perpetuating itself. It starts with unrealistic expectations of funders, payers and contributors about how much it costs to run a nonprofit. Then the nonprofits feel pressure to conform to the funders’ expectations. This pressure manifests itself either by the nonprofit actually under spending in critical areas and/or the nonprofit under reports its overhead costs (the rob-
bing Peter to pay Paul strategy). This leads the funder to believe that the nonprofit is able to control its overhead costs at the original level stipulated by the funder. So, the cycle continues. The article goes on to suggest that the way to alleviate the situation and break the cycle is to begin with funders’ expectations and then reeducate and advocate for a more reasonable approach to dealing with overhead costs. However, every nonprofit is different, just as any for-profit business is different. One nonprofit’s technology needs may be significantly different from another’s – even if the two are in the same field. Each nonprofit must make its own determination about its overhead needs and expenses. The challenge for nonprofit leaders is to determine the appropriate overhead needs of the organization and set-
ting aside the necessary funds to invest in its infrastructure. Funders and other nonprofit contributors seem also to be taking another look at this issue. One particularly forward thinking grant maker I recently spoke with about a special project we were seeking funding for, said, “It’s difficult to ask for special project funding if you’re having difficulty keeping the lights on”. This grant maker recognized the importance of maintaining a strong infrastructure in order to keep the nonprofit healthy over the long term. As with any business, nonprofits need an appropriate infrastructure in order to be successful. They need appropriate financial accounting, development and public relations, technology infrastructure, and, of course, staff development and training opportunities.
For more information on how The Principal® can help give you an edge, call Mathew or Kelly today.
Louis Beecher
Ike Leighty
Congratulations on being a nominee and a recipient of the 8 Over 80 Award.
614 Sycamore Street Waterloo, IA 50703 order@blackhawkabstract.com
Office: 319-291-4000 Fax:319-291-3929 www.blackhawkabstract.com
Mathew Driscoll, CFP® Financial Services Representative Princor Registered Representative Financial Advisor driscoll.mathew@princor.com
Kelly Christensen Financial Services Representative Princor Registered Representative christensen.kelly@princor.com
(319) 266-6270 2302 W. First St., Suite 201E, Cedar Falls, IA 50613
©2009 Principal Financial Services, Inc. “The Principal,” “Principal Financial Group,” the Edge design, “We’ll Give You an Edge” and the illustrated character are registered service marks of Principal Financial Services, Inc. Insurance products from the Principal Financial Group® are issued by Principal National Life Insurance Company (except in New York) and Principal Life Insurance Company. Securities offered through Princor Financial Services Corporation, 800/247-1737, member SIPC. Principal National, Principal Life, and Princor® are members of the Principal Financial Group, Des Moines, IA 50392. AD1793 | t100311001e
WE’LL GIVE YOU AN EDGE®
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Prevent or treat osteoporosis with medications Osteoporosis causes fractures, deformity, disabilities and loss of independent living. Twenty years ago there was nothing we could do to prevent or treat osteoporosis. Today we have many Dr. Jay medications to Ginther is director of the prevent or treat Cedar Valley Bone o s t e o p o r o s i s . Health Institute. But which one Contact him at is right for you? 319-233-BONE The answer can or 319-233get complicated. 2663 or at www. OsteoporoCVBoneHealth. sis medications com. come in three main classes, and the biggest class now has three divisions. The trick is to find which is best for you. That depends on your situation. Do you have low bone mineral density, or osteoporosis, or vertebral compression fractures, or a recent hip or other fracture? A DXA test can determine your bone mineral density. To see if you have a vertebral compression fracture, you need a VFA test or a lateral spine x-ray. We have the only VFA machine in the area. We can check for vertebral compression fractures easily and with only 10 percent of the radiation exposure of standard x-ray. If you have low bone mineral density but no fractures you need to prevent osteoporosis and fractures, preserve your bone tissue and add more cal-
cium. Medications appropriate for this situation include Antiresorptive drugs like Fosamax, generic Alendronate, Actonel, Boniva, Reclast, and Prolia. Evista also could be considered. If you have fractures or very low bone mineral density, you need aggressive treatment because your risk fracture is greater. You need to consider the “anabolic” medication which actually builds new bone matrix and increases bone volume. Forteo is the only medication in this class. Before you can determine which of the medications is best for you, you need to have blood tests and a detailed history taken by your doctor. Each medication is safe for most people, but can be unsafe in certain situations. None of these medications work without calcium and vitamin D. Antiresorptive medications are all pills taken on an empty stomach with at least 8 ounces of water. They are taken weekly or monthly. You must stay standing or sitting upright for at least 30 minutes for all but Boniva which needs 60 minutes. You cannot eat or drink anything but water during that time. You generally should not take these medications orally if you have ulcers, heartburn or reflux disease. You could take intervenous Boniva or Reclast to avoid that problem. IV Boniva is given every three months in our office. Reclast is once a year and must be given over an hour in an infu-
sion center. IV Boniva and especially IV Reclast can be dangerous if you have kidney disease, so we need to test for that. All of these are bisphosphonates. They accumulate in the bone and slow down the cells that cause osteoporosis by resorbing or eating away bone too fast. They can slow down the normal replacement and repair process in your bones. We generally do not give them more than five years before taking a “holiday” for at least one year. Prolia has just been approved by the FDA this month. It also slows down the cells that cause osteoporosis by resorbing or eating away bone too fast. It is an antiresorptive of a new variety. It does not accumulate in bone, so it is totally gone 12 months after the last shot. It is a shot given in
the office twice a year. Evista is a medication that convinces the bone that estrogen is still on board. Evista reverses menopause effects in the bone so that a woman maintains her bone density and strength. It also can prevent invasive breast cancer in women at high risk by blocking estrogen receptors in breast tissue. Evista is ideal for a woman with a family history of invasive breast cancer who also wants to prevent osteoporosis. It is a daily pill. If you have had blood clots in your veins or lungs, you should not take Evista. Forteo is an anabolic. Its primary function is to build new bone. Forteo is the only medication to target the cells that make new bone. In two years Forteo can build up your bone
volume by 30 percent or more. Forteo is often the best medication for someone with a vertebral compression or other fracture or a very low bone mineral density. Forteo is a daily shot with a very small, similar to insulin. If you have cancer that has spread to bone or radiation to bone you should not take Forteo. None of these medications can work without calcium and vitamin D. There are many ways to prevent and treat osteoporosis. Picking the best method for any individual takes a full evaluation and careful thought and discussion. You need to spend an entire visit with your doctor dealing only with osteoporosis if you want to have enough time to do the job right.
Few people have influenced the Cedar Valley as much as Louie Beecher. As a bright and exceptional lawyer starting his practice in Waterloo, he quickly gained a reputation as a “Go to guy” on many important projects that have shaped our community. For as long as I can remember (I’m 61) I’ve heard the phrase “Let’s ask Louie!” That inquiry would lead to a fair and objective opinion as to what should be done. Louie has been able to gain consensus, build partnerships successfully, and set the standard of practice both professionally and civically.
Kevan Cortright “MR. REAL ESTATE”
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Technology helps seniors stay home, stay safe Ever been distracted and left something cooking on the stove, only to result in near-disaster? The same can happen when you’re running water in the sink or bathtub, leave the room and forget about it. Those issues can happen to us Linda Hudwalker at any age, but the likelihood of falls Bowman and other home is director of public relations emergencies does for Western Home increase as we get Communities. older. Contact her at A product line of 277-2141 or the latest technolinda.bowman@ logical tools will westernhome.org. soon be offered in the Cedar Valley to help seniors live at home independently with more safety and security. The concept is telecare: a system of integrated products and services that help monitor daily living without invading privacy. The system is easy to use, affordable and easily installed.
The product line begins with a personal emergency response system similar to a Lifeline pendant you may have heard about. What makes the telecare system unique, however, is its base unit, a wireless device that plugs into a home phone line. It looks like an answering machine. Multiple wireless sensors can be added based on individual needs, and all are monitored through the same unit. When a sensor is activated, the unit calls the monitoring center, staffed around the clock by trained professionals. They have two-way conversation with the subscriber and assess the appropriate response. Not only does the technology respond to emergencies, it can detect problems before they rise to that level. For instance, flood detectors on the floor of a kitchen or bath send a warning when as little as 1/16 of water an inch is detected. The CookStop monitors motion around a stove, shutting it off after five minutes if no motion is detected. The call center notifies the resident by
Phone 319.266.2445 • Toll-Free 800.316.2445 • Fax 319.266.4259 P.O. Box 1106 • 411 Clay Street • Cedar Falls, IA 50613 www.jacobsonfinancialservices.com
Wayne A. Jacobson Investment Consultant wayne.jacobson@lpl.com
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phone, and if he or she is already talking to someone the operator can break into that call to ask why someone was away from a hot stove. Other add-ons include an extreme temperature sensor, which sends an alert when someone’s home is too hot or too cold. A motion detector can discreetly make sure someone has gotten out of bed by a certain time of day. Monthly subscriptions start at about the price of cable television. Fees vary depending on additional services, but product offerings remain individualized. Each subscription starts with an in-home assessment done by a qualified consultant. This health professional understands complex health issues and knows
which tools best address an individual’s needs. Telecare can quickly and easily be adapted as those needs change. Western Home Communities see these technologies as a continuation of service to older adults. Our mission is to provide fulfilling lifestyles for seniors,
wherever they live. Some prefer the home where they raised a family; others choose new residences at a retirement community or assisted living facility. Telecare technology helps seniors age wherever they choose, living there with more confidence and peace of mind.
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Former Goodwill executive Nothnagel still indomitable As the new marketing director of Goodwill Industries of Northeast Iowa Inc., I like to share first-hand stories of the people who helped build this organization over the last half-century. Unfortunately, I took the position just a bit too late to talk with icons like Jim Glaza and Wendy Knapp Alan Levi, both is marketing Goodwill cham- director of Goodwill pions who died in Industries of the last year. North East Iowa in But Doris Noth- Waterloo. Contact nagel was able to her at 234-4626, ext. 253. squeeze me into an extremely full calendar. As she approached her 90th birthday this summer, I sat down with Doris. Well, I sat. Many can boast 15 years of volunteering in our community, but how many start their volunteer career in their 70s? Doris Nothnagel retired from the business world at age 75 and refocused her boundless energy toward serving others. “Hello. Yes, this is Doris. Yes, I’ll be there. I will get there early. I’ll set up the table and get the coffee ready. Yes, I will take care of it. Goodbye.” She returns to her chair to continue our conversation about her passion for Goodwill. Five minutes later she’s up again answering the phone. “Hello. Yes, this is Doris. Yes, I am the treasurer. Yes. You can drop it off there. Thank you. Goodbye.” I imagine this routine replayed
many times each day over the last 15 years. I was lucky to get an interview with Doris between her numerous volunteer activities at Friendship Village, where she lives, and Westminster Presbyterian Church, where you will find her ushering and serving. When Doris retired at 75, she often was asked what she would do with her life. Her reply was, “Volunteer, of course!” There is no other option for Doris than to keep working serving others and making them feel special. This deeply rooted determination keeps her going. Six years ago, Doris was diagnosed with cancer and underwent major surgery. She and her family were told if she managed to survive the surgery, she would require oxygen permanently. The prognosis was not good. The doctors underestimated Doris. “I just had my physical last week, and my doctor is amazed at me,” she said. The amazement is contagious. Look up the word spry in the dictionary. You’ll find Doris’s photo. “All I know is (volunteering) makes me feel good. I’ve always volunteered but more in the last six years. I just want to give back. I’m just so happy to be alive. I’m so happy the Lord let me live that I want to help other people. I just keep doing.” Doris says life would be boring without the relationships and experiences she gains volunteering. Many organizations have benefited from her service: Elkettes, YWCA, Orange School, Waterloo
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Memorial Park Cemetery Board Treasurer, Altrusa Club, 60 years at Westminster Presbyterian as three-time Deacon and Presbyterian Women’s Board and current Treasurer Church Women United. “Of all the things I have ever done, my church and serving at Goodwill are my favorite. It’s the best thing I’ve ever done,” she said. Doris first became involved with Goodwill through Special Olympics. “Years ago you hid people with disabilities away. You didn’t take them out in public. Today we are proud of them. I would have 20 to 25 adults with disabilities on my bowling team at a time. They were all so loving. They called me grandma. To this day when I see one of them in a store or out I get
a big smile and hug.” Doris also served on the Auxiliary, putting on style shows to educate the community about the mission of Goodwill, and later served on the board of directors, retiring in 2007. In her time with Goodwill Industries, Doris experienced the tremendous growth of the agency, participating at groundbreakings and ribbon cuttings at retail and human service centers in Independence and Dubuque. She witnessed firsthand the sense of pride and accomplishment as adults with disabilities received training and then were hired at their first jobs in the community. “With the help of Goodwill, people with disabilities are out in the public. They are proud, and their families are proud because
they have a job with the help of Goodwill. To me, Goodwill is all about letting people with disabilities be individuals, let them be themselves. It is so important.” Doris hoped to be on hand for the grand opening of the new Waverly store and at Goodwill Industries of Northeast Iowa Inc.’s 50th anniversary celebration, if her schedule would allow it. As I left, Doris she was on her way to set up for the evening Bible study, but not without showing off a few new outfits — recent purchases from the Crossroads Goodwill Retail Store. Not to be outdone, I posed in my shirt purchased at the University Avenue store. There are many treasures to be found at Goodwill, and Doris Nothnagel is certainly one.
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Retired Wartburg professor pursues carefree wanderlust At 84, retired music professor Maynard Anderson still exudes the enthusiasm for travel and the arts that he nurtured in generations of Wartburg College students. Anderson taught music education and a popular survey of arts class at Wartburg from 1958 to his retireLinda Moeller ment in 1991. He also accompais director of nied many music advancement communication at groups on May Wartburg College term tours of in Waverly. Contact Europe, teaching her at linda. a Tour with the moeller@wartburg. Arts course that edu. involves attendance at concerts, visits to museums and galleries, demonstrations and discussions with practicing artists. Anderson’s wife, Doris, accompanied him on most of these trips, and the couple planned an active retirement that would include more time for the travel they both loved. Those plans were cut short when Doris, an elementary school music teacher, was killed in a car accident on May 23, 1991, the same month she and Maynard were both to retire. “I experienced what are described as life’s two greatest traumas, retirement and the death of a spouse, at the same time,” observed Anderson. Teaching part-time for the next five years and making additional international trips with the Wartburg Choir and Wind Ensemble
helped ease his adjustment. “I’m determined not to become a couch potato,” said Anderson, who still sports his signature gray ponytail. He underscored his point last December, when he sold his home of 50 years, moved to a new community for active adults, then left for a two-week trip to Turkey. “I really didn’t want to leave Waverly and Wartburg,” he said. But lawn care and snow removal complicated his trips to far-away destinations and his frequent forays to concerts, galleries, and theater productions across the Midwest. He sold the split-level house he and Doris built in 1959 to a former student and now owns a home in Eisenach Village, a new development that’s part of Bartels Lutheran Retirement Community in Waverly. The one-level home has two bedrooms, two baths, and an attached double garage. Anderson’s professor-emeritus status gives him access to most Wartburg programs, but the college offers a variety of perks to all Eisenach Village residents, including free admission to Wartburg home athletic events, free admission to Wartburg recitals and music ensemble concerts and tuition-free enrollment as an auditor in classes with available seats. Best of all, the intrepid professor can now pursue his lifelong wanderlust without worrying about who’s mowing the lawn or shoveling the drive.
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Father’s life provided inspiration By BETTE WUBBENA
When asked to name an individual who has influenced my life as a mentor, the first person that came to my mind was my deceased father, Frank Schoneman. He was from humble beginnings, the oldest of 10 children with only an eighthgrade education. Before the age of 12 he was working on his aunt and uncle’s farms for room and board. His brothers and sisters looked to him as a father figure. He, along with two of his brothers, served in the Army during World War II. His tenure of five years was spent in Germany and France. He was proud to be a veteran and would march in every Memorial Day parade. Our family is fortunate to have a diary he wrote during the war of his experiences.
My dad was kind and honest, loyal to family, friends and the community of Allison. Everyone knew they could count on him for family or community projects. He would treat others with respect and taught my sister and myself to do the same. If one asked him about an individual, only kind words were spoken. He could not contribute large monetary donations to civic groups or our church, so he would give his talent. He came home from war to marry my mother and drove a cattle truck to Rath’s for several years. He was fortunate to secure employment with Butler County Maintenance and was a loyal employee for 37 years. He taught his “girls” to play by the rules, take turns and share,
be open minded, listen to others, not take advantage of others and never blame others carelessly. Our dad encouraged us to do our best in school and church activities and was proud of our accomplishments. In March 1976, my father was diagnosed with the cancer and on June 15, 1976, at the age of 61, he left us as his family stood by his bedside. I am thankful for his guidance and proud he was my mentor for 29 years. Sometimes I feel someone smiling down on me after I have finished a project or need a friend. Bette Wubbena is director of membership retention for the Greater Cedar Valley Chamber of Commerce. Contact her at 266-3593 at the Cedar Falls office or 233-8431 at the Waterloo office.
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The late ‘Bud’ Field would have fit in with the 8 Over 80 Burton M. Field was born May 26, 1912, in Hancock, Mich., to Hugo and Lucy Field. His brother, Jack, came along shortly after that. Burton often spoke fondly of his childhood, strict as it was, and of memories he shared about growing up in the upper peninsula of Steve Volz Michigan. is owner of Palace Field went on Clothiers in Waterloo. Contact him at 234- to college at the 7537. University of Southern California. With graduation close at hand from USC law school, his father was killed in an explosion at Cleveland Clinic. He returned home and look after the family business. While searching for another store to buy, he and Jack came upon an ideal opportunity in Waterloo. The owners of Palace Clothiers at the time were Harry Simon and a brother who had started the business sometime during 1898 in Oelwein. Originally, Pal-
ace Clothiers was on the corner of East Fourth and Sycamore streets in Waterloo. Prior to Harry Simon’s death in an automobile accident in 1935, the store had moved to the west side. On Jan. 1, 1936, Burton and Jack Field and took over ownership of Palace Clothiers, then located at 522 Commercial St. In one of the more quiet moments in conversation with me as he was mentoring me, Burton talked about his decision to make Waterloo his home. “This is the best and safest place to raise a family and own a business,” he said. Field was also as a charter member of Clothiers Corp., a national clothing buying office in New York. He was well-known across the country as in Waterloo for his business expertise. Burton or “Bud,” as he preferred to be called, was very much involved in the Waterloo Community for Community Chest (now United Way) to hospital board work, Sunnyside Country Club, Elks Club and a great deal of anonymous contributions to what he thought were worthy causes.
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Bud’s feeling for the business was an incredible devotion. At one point in time, Bud and Ja ck owned controlling interest or outright ownership in 12 men’s and women’s stores in Iowa, Illinois, Michigan, Minnesota and Kansas. All of which were located in the downtown areas of their cities. In the mid-1960s, shopping centers started entering the retail landscape. Bud said, “It doesn’t take rocket science to see what’s going on.” That was when he opened the College Square store, shortly followed by the Crossroads store. The other stores under Bud’s wings were systematically closed or sold. He opened the Crossroads store in April 1971, and that one store proved to be more profitable than all the others combined. Bud took a great deal of pride in that.
The ’70s were great in the clothing business. The ’80s were a different story, with the issues at John Deere, Rath and the farm crisis, but as a credit to Bud’s deep understanding of business, Palace remained strong and remains strong today. As committed as he was to his family and his business, he also was committed to the health of the Waterloo commercial and industrial development. He knew full well that without good jobs there would be no growth. Bud’s belief in this was supported by many investments in local and national businesses that were active in the Waterloo community. To Bud, this wasn’t just reinvestment; he felt it was an obligation. One story has to do with the hospitals in Waterloo. At the time there were three hospitals,
Schoitz, St Francis, and Allen all vying for more market share in the ’80s downturn. Bud was the CEO of Schoitz, and Sister Mary Pint was the head of Franciscan Health Services and in charge of St. Francis. Secret talks were in progress to combine the two hospitals. One of the final issues was to determine the name of the two merging hospitals. I remember being in the office I shared with Bud as he and Sister Mary discussed possible names. The word “Covenant” came up. In a matter of 10-15 seconds, that was the agreed-upon name. Bud said, “Covenant. The first covenants were between God and man. Sold!” Bud died May 4, 1993. Everything happens for a reason from which great lessons can be learned. Bud was always teaching lessons.
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Long-term planning is the strategy for the market Are the markets predictably unpredictable? You’ve heard these words before — the direction of the stock market — particularly over short time periods — is very difficult to predict. Look no further than the recovery Larry K. Fox in stocks that is senior financial began, unanadviser with Ameriprise Financial nounced, in Inc. in Waterloo. early March Contact him 2009. at 234-7000. That period of time represents yet another case where, just when you are convinced the market will continue moving in one direction, sentiment shifts without notice and stocks are suddenly heading in a completely different direction. While this has happened throughout the history of the markets, too many investors have a difficult time remembering the market’s history of unpredictability, and often change course at precisely the wrong time. Many make the mistake of selling near the market’s low point, then miss out on a recovery. Those who sold out in early
2009 paid a steep price. From its low on March 9, 2009 to the end of April 2010, the Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 67 percent, a dramatic rally for such a short period of time — but not unprecedented. And other major bear markets were followed by similar recoveries. In 1929, after dropping 89 percent, the Dow climbed 148 percent over the next 13 months. In 1973, after a 48 percent drop, the market climbed 69 percent over the next 13 months. In 2000 the market bottomed out after a 49 percent loss, the grew by 43 percent over the bext 13 months. In each of the cases, the starting point of the rally was unpredictable but the results were beneficial for those who kept their money in the market.
investment approach few have mastered. It is also a high-stress style of investing subject to a wide range of unforeseen variables that can impact markets on a day-to-day basis. For most of us, it may be more sensible to maintain a triedand-true approach to investing. This involves: ■ Putting money to work regularly – most of us do this with each paycheck by directing part of our income into our workplace retirement plans. Regular contributions to IRAs and other investments also make sense. ■ Owning a diversified mix of investments — you should choose an asset allocation strategy appropriate for your risk tolerance level, investment objectives and the time you have available to let your investments
grow. ■ Holding for the long run — to help avoid the potential for losses from short-term market swings, you may be better positioned for success by maintaining a long-term stance with your portfolio. Most of us are trying to achieve long-range goals. Trying to manage money in a short-term fashion in response to changes in the market may be detrimental in your quest to build wealth over time. You may be better served by maintaining a disciplined, long-term, diversified approach. Discuss strategies for your situation with your financial professional.
prise Financial Services Inc. Member FINRA and SIPC. Some products may not be available in all jurisdictions or to all clients. Diversification helps you spread risk throughout your portfolio, so investments that do poorly may be balanced by others that do relatively better. Diversification and asset allocation do not assure a profit and do not protect against loss in declining markets. The Dow Jones Industrial Average is an unmanaged index that follows the returns of 30 wellestablished American companies, and is frequently used as a general measure of market performance. The index reflects reinvestment of all distributions and changes in the market prices, but Brokerage, investment and excludes brokerage commissions financial advisory services are and other fees. It is not possible made available through Ameri- to invest directly in an index.
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Just as dramatic market recoveries often begin without notice, the same can be true of market downturns. In today’s environment, where the media can provide you with nearly a minute-by-minute assessment of where the markets stand, it is easy to think about short-term trends and get caught up in the idea of trading in-and-out of the market. This is a challenging
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Toys R Us launches Christmas club in June Chicago Tribune
CHICAGO — Summer has just begun, and yet the mad dash for Christmas cash is under way. In a nod to the fragile economy, Toys R Us has trotted out an oldfashioned idea: its first Christmas Savers Club — in June. The program, which debuted June 16, marks an unusually early kickoff to the holiday season and signals the unease in the retail industry as unemployment and financial worries continue to weigh on consumer spending. The short-lived U.S. retail sales revival this spring suggests retailers are heading into a lukewarm holiday shopping season.
Encouraging shoppers to put money away early in a Toys R Us account allows the company to lock in sales before holiday toy price wars begin. For the past four holiday seasons, Wal-Mart Stores Inc., the nation’s largest toy seller, launched price cuts on popular toys before Halloween. And Target Corp. and Amazon. com Inc. followed suit. Toy merchants in particular count on the last three months of the year for a large chunk of their annual sales. During the last three years, Toys “R” Us generated more than 39 percent of its sales and a “substantial portion” of operating earnings in the fourth quarter.
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Long-established procedures benefit from fresh eyes By RICK BRIMEYER
Over the course of my career I’ve made a somewhat sad, but certainly not surprising observation: those most adamant that there is nothing to be gained from an outside opinion are typically the people who need it the most. Recently I was facilitating a process improvement event. One of the participants had obviously been “strongly encouraged” to attend. He stewed in his seat with his arms tightly crossed. Very early into our three-day agenda, he proudly proclaimed that he had been performing the task under review for 25 years and he saw no value wasting time on an already-optimized process. I quickly glanced at my watch. “Only 20 minutes into Day 1; that’s a new personal record for initial verbal resistance,” I marveled to myself. “There’s likely to be more opportunity here than I initially thought.” I assured Mr. Adamant that his feelings were not uncommon and asked him to trust the improvement process that we were about to embark upon, explaining that it had proven
2
$
itself effective time and time again. Sure enough, less than two hours later (another personal record), the team had identified a major process improvement and was in the process of implementing their breakthrough. Over the course of the next three days, several other improvements would be identified, tested, modified, implemented, and finally documented into standard work. To his credit, at the end of the three days Mr. Adamant shook my hand and thanked me for the help. As a former general manager used to regularly remind me and my colleagues on his staff, “We don’t know what we don’t know.” This was his way of encouraging us to continually explore outside of our comfort zone. Savvy leaders understand this and make conscious efforts to introduce themselves to new people, fresh situations and innovative ideas that help them illuminate their organization’s blind spots. There are many ways to go about obtaining these “fresh
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eyes.” Perhaps the most important is to ensure that the senior management staff doesn’t become over-weighted with members that have grown up in the organization. While it’s nice to promote from within, it’s critical that top management contain a balance of capable members with a different set of experiences. The current and desired ratio of company veterans to newcomers should be considered whenever filling a management opening. For smaller organizations or those that do not frequently experience management turnover, a trusted consultant or adviser can provide an invaluable perspective. Their constant exposure to other organizations (both within and
outside of your industry) as well as their ability rise to above the trees and assess the forest can compliment your detailed understanding of your business. Benchmarking is another means for obtaining an outsider’s perspective. This is most valuable when a specific weakness is identified, and an organization is visited which excels in the targeted weakness. A game plan for the visit should be predetermined with expectations that those visiting will be accountable for identifying and implementing an improvement plan. Reciprocal tours with area businesses also can be helpful. In order to be truly meaningful, ground rules should be established which makes it not
only acceptable but expected that participants provide tour hosts with insightful, honest and critical feedback rather than “happy talk.” Finally, any method of learning broadens an understanding of the organization. Formal classes, books, magazine articles, seminars, webinars … the list goes on and on. What we’re talking about with any of the above strategies are means for nurturing a learning organization; one which welcomes rather than resists new ideas and opportunities. Rick Brimeyer is the president of Brimeyer LLC, an independent management consulting firm located in Ames. Contact him at www.brimeyerllc. com or by calling (515) 450-8855.
Congratulations to all the eight individuals selected for this
unique recognition—you’re all deserving of it after living 8 to 9 decades and being active in the community and accomplishing a variety of significant things in your life. I know you all and admire your accomplishments. Being active in business and in life is a primary key to a long, healthy and meaningful life. Faye Martin Anderson—my mother—was almost 103 and was involved in business and the community for most of those years. As TV personality Larry King stated about interviewing his favorite guests: They all had realistic intelligence, a sense of adventure and humor, and the ability to communicate well about what they did in life. Truly these individuals have traveled many roads—long and well. I hope they still have this recognition going in 40 years so I might qualify.
CHERISH YESTERDAY
DREAM TOMORROW
LIVE TODAY
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Make sure companies earn your business By CHAD FELDMANN
A few weeks ago, a major storm went through Cedar Falls, pummeling some areas of town with tennis ball-sized hail. As you might expect, shortly after the storm hit the out-oftown roofing companies Chad Feldmann followed. It’s pretty is with Far Reach easy for these Technologies in Cedar Falls. Contact companies to him at 273-8060, identify houses ext. 105; toll-free with hail dam(877) 373-8060; or age because (mobile) 239-2137. when adjusters inspects a hail-damaged roof, they circle the damaged spots with bright chalk. These chalk lines are like an open invitation to every flyby-night company out there to knock on your door, pitching their services. That’s what happened to me. Someone stopped by my house shortly after the storm
wanting to know if I had chosen a subcontractor yet. He was very polite and told me he “wanted to earn my business.” Such a simple phrase, but it really struck a chord with me. I can’t remember the last time someone told me they wanted to earn my business. Every company earns business, at least initially. The thing I always wonder about is, once they have my business, will they continue to earn it? It’s very common for my company to meet with potential clients who are not happy with their current website or the programmers working on their IT project. Since they are meeting with us, they are obviously looking for alternatives. Generally, however, they are hesitant to work with another firm because they think they will receive similar service. Just a couple of weeks ago, I met with a potential client in this situation. She had spent a lot of money and time on a website that never went live. When the development was
done and it was time for her to use the content management system to add content to her website, it became apparent that the system was not userfriendly and, therefore, not a viable option for her going forward. This company did a great job earning her initial business, but failed on the execution and, consequently, lost the account. Caveat emptor — “Let the buyer beware.” If you’re looking for a programmer to build you a website or any other software, unless you have a history with the person/company and are comfortable you know what you’re getting into, you would be wise to undertake some due diligence to help ensure they will continue to earn your busi-
ness before, during and after the project. How do you do this? ■ Go to the company’s website. Look at the projects they have completed. Do you like the quality of the work? ■ Ask around. Call the company’s existing customers and find out about their experience. ■ Ask to see demos of a project. If you need the ability to update content on your website, ask the company to give you a demo of the system you would use to update your site. ■ Take into account all aspects of working with the company, not just the price. Very often in this arena you get what you pay for. I have seen a lot of people try to skimp on a project only to have it come back to bite them later.
Often, spending a little more will ensure it gets done right the first time. ■ When you meet with the company, tell them the longterm vision and goals for your site or project. Ask them if and how their solution will be able to accommodate your ongoing needs. Ask how they will keep you informed during the course of the project. Will you be involved throughout or just when it is complete? Approach any project the same way you would approach remodeling your house. You wouldn’t just let a contractor go off and build something without being involved in the decision making process, right? Expect the same from other companies you work with.
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It’s common sense to honor these longtime community leaders In 2002, The Courier introduced the first honorees of the 20 Under 40 Awards. It has been a wonderful way to mark the achievements of those that are impacting the Cedar Valley as they start their careers and David Braton become involved is publisher in community of The Courier. service, nonprofits, churches, schools and at work. Last fall, around the time of our 20 Under 40 event, two items prompted me to think of honoring those who have left a legacy by their work, community involvement, financial support and mentoring. The first was at a Waterloo Downtown Rotary Club meeting. I recall they were honoring birthdays when a comment was made that more than 25 members were over the age of 80. “Wow,� I thought to myself. “These are people who are still involved, continue to be active, financially support community causes and in some cases still work!� The second was Fortune magazine. In the Oct. 24 edition, Fortune featured octogenarians who are leaders both in business and society. They included David Murdock, chairman of Dole Foods; John Bogle, founder
of Vanguard Group; T. Boone Pickens, CEO of BP Capital; and Sumner Redstone, chairman of Viacom and CBS. I quickly realized we are so fortunate in the Cedar Valley to have a number of “youthful� individuals over the age of 80 who have made a legacy in their work and in the community, and we needed to honor them. When we announced Eight Over 80, we had no idea what kind of response we would see. We didn’t know how many applicants would be submitted, but with more than 55 nominee s it is clear we will continue this honor in the years ahead. We also didn’t realize how challenging it would be to narrow the group to a limited number of honorees. Since we had so many great nominations, we decided anyone nominated this year will have their nomination carry over to next year. It simply makes sense, with all that they have done and continue to do for Cedar Valley community. This honor is a great bookend to 20 Under 40 as we honor leaders in the Cedar Valley business community. Hopefully, I’ll be around in about 33 years to watch a past 20 Under 40 winner receive the Eight Over 80 award! Congratulations to the first Eight Over 80 recipients. The community is thankful for your contributions and efforts to make this a great place to live.
Wedding bells, cash registers ringing The Associated Press
More people are tying the knot and spending on their weddings this year as the economy improves, according to a recent survey of the entire membership of the National Association of Catering Executives. More than three-quarters of those polled said more weddings were taking place in 2010 compared with 2009, a near reversal of the trend reported last year. At that time, less than a third said they saw more weddings compared with the year before.
Meanwhile, nearly 30 percent said this year that they saw an increase in expenditures per event, while 40 percent saw increases in total wedding revenue. Last year, nearly 90 percent reported seeing a decline in overall wedding spending due to the economy. “We are cautiously optimistic that our survey results this year will predict a return from the brink of the recession,� said Greg Casella, president of NASE and owner of Catered Too! in San Jose, Calif.
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Is your travel investment really being managed? By MIKE HULME
Did you know a local company is responsible for the movement of over 200,000 studentathletes to collegiate athletic events each year? Short’s Travel Management Inc., located in the Cedar Valley, does just that. As the exclusive travel provider of the NCAA since 2003, Short’s Travel moves thousands of student-athletes to high-profile sporting events every year, including college basketball’s famous March Madness and college baseball’s World Series. Founded as a traditional travel agency in 1946, Short’s Travel has evolved into an innovative and leading travel management company that serves a diverse spectrum of customers across the nation. So, what is a travel management company? It is much more than the common perception of a small travel agency booking airline tickets and cruises for an individual or small group. A travel management company provides a wide range of services to help institutions and
businesses manage nearly all aspects of their travel. Sucj companies provides a spectrum of around the clock online and agent booking services for airlines, hotels and car rentals; on-line resources and reporting: travel policy enforcement; access to discounts; account management; air charters of all sizes; and meeting and event planning. Your business’s travel budget is an investment. Presumably, you spend your money on travel because the return expected from the purpose of the travel is perceived to be greater than the cost of the travel. It is an investment similar to how your investment in employees, equipment, or inventory. Is your travel investment really being managed? Do you manage your travel spending as well as you manage employees or inventory? Or, is your travel budget simply a number and travelers are on their own as to how they spend their part of that number? If it is the latter, it is actually an unmanaged
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travel investment. Even if the traveler believes their spending decisions are wise that doesn’t mean the company is getting optimal value. Are there better ways to optimize your travel dollars? If you are unmanaged, does your company know how much is spent in total and by supplier for airfare, hotels, and rental cars? Do you have a travel policy? If so, do you know if it is followed, or if it is being “gamed?” There are opportunities to improve the return on your travel investment even if your company is “small” compared to very large corporations. Whether your company annually spends $50,000 or $300,000 on airfare, opportunities exist in cost savings, service, and transparency.
Cost savings can come from managing unused tickets (before expiration and ensuring they are used for business rather than personal travel), policy controls, hotel discounts, reporting (value in visibility), and unique costsaving search tools for scheduling trips with flexible date options. Service and convenience opportunities are abundant for travelers and the company, especially if the travelers are currently using consumer on-line booking websites. The option of a designated agent to do the initial booking or be of assistance in a time of need is reassuring and efficient. From the company’s perspective the level of total travel spending usually drives the demand for services, which can range from standard
to highly customized services that include consulting. Transparency means your policies are clearly communicated and visible to travelers and to those that book trips for travelers. It means online consolidated reporting of companywide travel spending available at any time. It means knowing where all of your travelers are on a given day with a few simple clicks on a website. Is your business really managing its travel investment? Is your business covering all the bases noted above? You could benefit by checking with a travel management company. Mike Hulme is chief products officer for Short’s Travel Management Inc. in Waterloo. Contact him at 433-0638 or mhulme@shortstravel.com.
CONGRATULATIONS TO THE 8 OVER 80 WINNERS! Thank you for all you have done and continue to do for the Cedar Valley!
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cedar valley business monthly
cvbusinessmonthly.com
july 2010
Taking a temp position involves transitions The Associated Press
Contract work and temporary employment are on the rise as the economy improves, especially for companies that need to meet increased demand but are hesitant to commit to permanent employees and higher benefit costs. Working a temp job can be a great opportunity to keep skills current and make new networking contracts while continuing to look for permanent employment. But those seeking to turn these positions into full-time jobs need to be cautious, says Tim Schoonover, chairman of career consulting firm OI Partners. “There are often no guarantees and no promises that they will be hired full-time even if suitable openings arise,” Schoonover said. “The downside of contract work is there is the possibility that it can detract from a regular job search and create false hope about a fulltime job.” OI Partners offers this advice
for making the most out of your short-time position and potentially making a smooth transition into permanent work: ■ Ask up front if you can apply for full-time openings that arise during your contract period. ■ Aim to out-perform full-time employees who are doing the same or similar jobs as you. ■ Be positive and upbeat about your commitment to the company, and act as if you already are a full-time employee during your contract period. “Don’t go around the workplace thinking of yourself as ‘only a contractor,’ and never display a negative attitude,” said Schoonover. ■ Understand the reason for the contract job and the circumstances surrounding the position. This will help you determine whether there is a future with the company. ■ Meet as many key people in the organization as you can. Sit in on staff meetings and let it be known what you are doing for the organization, as well as your past background, experience, and
Cedar Falls Lutheran Home thanks the 8 over 80 for their contributions to the Cedar Valley Community
accomplishments. ■ Keep in contact with people who recruit for the company, as well as employees in other
departments. ■ Complete any projects you are working on, even if you aren’t hired. “Leaving projects unfin-
ished will hurt you if you need to be a contract worker again or want a reference for your work,” said Schoonover.
We’ll Give You an Edge Michael D. Farmer, LUTCF Senior Financial Representative Financial Advisor Princor Registered Representative 4901 University Ave, Suite E Cedar Falls, IA 50613 Phone: (319) 277-3500 Fax: (319) 277-3600 farmer.michael@cfu.net ©2009 Principal Financial Services, Inc. “The Principal,” “Principal Financial Group,” the Edge design, “We’ll Give You an Edge,” and the illustrated character are registered service marks of Principal Financial Services, Inc. Insurance products from the Principal Financial Group are issued by Principal National Life Insurance Company (except in New York) and Principal Life Insurance Company. Securities are offered through Princor Financial Services Corporation, (800) 247-1737, member SPC. Principal National, Principal Life, and Princor are members of the Principal Financial Group, Des Moines, IA 50392. AD1729 | #9197102010
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cvbusinessmonthly.com
JUly 2010
Companies juggle rebuilding, employee vacations NEW YORK (AP) — Small-business owners may feel in a bit of a bind this summer. Just as many companies are recovering from the recession and making do with fewer staffers, it’s high season for employee vacations. Owners may feel anxiety and resentment when workers say they want time off. They may be afraid of losing customers just when the business is picking up some momentum. The fact is, it’s pretty hard to ban all employee vacations. The only companies that can realistically do that make most of their money during the summer months, such as restaurants that cater to beach-goers. Management consultants say owners should deal with this summer’s vacation requests as they would in any year. That means managing staffers’ expectations about how much time they can take and when they can take it. It also means planning now for how an employee’s work will be done when he or she is away.
Think beyond the summer
A business owner who’s tempted to say no to staffers’ vacation requests needs to think about what impact that response will have on workplace morale. Also, whether it might make employees think about finding other jobs as the labor market improves. “Don’t take a hasty position that solves a problem in the short run but in the long run burns a bridge,” said Leslie Yerkes, president of Catalyst Consulting Group in Cleveland. Yerkes noted that employees
will especially remember how the boss treats them during the summer, when even the most dedicated staffer will want time off. They’ll also hold on to their anger if they’ve had to make other sacrifices, such as not getting raises and having heavier workloads due to layoffs.
Explain the situation
If you do have to limit vacations, workers need to hear that now, when they’re making their plans. Spring it on them at the last minute and you’ll have an unhappy staff. Throughout the recession, management and human resources consultants have encouraged business owners to be up-front with workers about how the company is doing. Similarly, the staff needs to know why there might be limits on vacations. Yerkes warned that this isn’t the sort of news to be delivered by email or posted on a bulletin board. It needs to be part of a conversation, she said. “Talk about business volume, the clients’ needs, the current state and the anticipated or future state” of business,” she said. If the current business climate means changing the company’s policy (for example, how many staffers can be on vacation at the same time), that also needs to be discussed as part of a conversation. But it also needs to be written down, as all employee-related policies should be. Many management consultants will suggest that owners bring the staff into the decision-making process. In other words, rather
than issue a ruling, ask staffers for their ideas about how to balance vacations and the important work that needs to be done. You may find that they’re willing to take on extra work if it means everyone gets some time off. And you’ll earn some respect and appreciation rather than bitterness.
Get some help
Many companies are already thinly staffed, and many aren’t ready to take on new workers even though business is showing some signs of improving. And many employees are already on overload and can’t take on co-workers’ responsibilities during a vacation. But it’s possible to get some help without hurting your cash flow too much. Yerkes noted that there are many people looking for internships this summer. Young people who are
anxious to learn and build their resumes may be able to help you get through the vacation period. Owners might also want to consider hiring freelancers or contract workers when specialized skills or talents are needed. This does, of course, mean an added expense. But it may be worth it if you can maintain a high level of customer service, or if you can keep rebuilding your business.
While you’re at it, lighten things up
Yerkes has some advice beyond being flexible and open about vacations. Try to have some fun this summer. ■ Order in lunch for everyone one day a week. ■ Bring in ice cream on hot days. ■ Hold a company picnic or baseball game.
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cvbusinessmonthly.com
July 2010
Tax law may convince more businesses to go high tech NEW YORK (AP) — Tucked away in the health care overhaul bill that became law this year was a provision that will require smallbusiness owners to keep better records of what they buy. They’ll also have to report some purchases to the government. This new law requires small businesses to issue 1099 forms to people or companies that sell them more than $600 worth of goods or services. It takes the 1099 beyond its most common business use, which is to report money paid to independent contractors or freelancers. The law doesn’t take effect until Jan. 1, 2012, which means owners won’t have to worry about the paperwork until early 2013, when they’re compiling their 2012 returns. But owners whose books and finances are chaotic might want to get themselves organized in the meantime so keeping track of such payments and reporting them becomes routine.
The new law
The law, called a revenue provision, was attached to the health care legislation that Congress passed and President Barack Obama signed into law in March. According to Congress’ Joint Committee on Taxation, under the new law a business is required to file a 1099 form “for all payments aggregating $600 or more in a calendar year to a single payee.” Between now and the Jan. 1, 2012, effective date for the law, the IRS will be formulating regulations that spell out what businesses must do under the law. Eric Smith, a spokesman for the agency, said that as with any regulations, the public will be able to comment on those regulations before they also take effect. Because the regulations don’t yet exist, it’s hard to predict exactly what businesses will have to do to comply. The law is designed to stop businesses, in this case vendors, from evading taxes on their income. The fact is, there are companies that don’t report all their sales, particularly small transactions.
But if a customer has to issue a The answer is to get help. Hir1099, which reports a payment ing a bookkeeper to do data entry to the government, the vendor will cost you , but in the long run that doesn’t report a matching will save time and money. You’ll sale could get a letter from the IRS questioning the discrepancy.
have a better handle on how profit or a loss. You’ll also be able your business is doing because to track your cash flow better. Moreover, you won’t be overan accounting program can tell you whether you’re running at a whelmed at tax time.
Paperwork overload?
There’s no getting around the fact that a requirement that companies issue 1099s for purchases will create more work. How big the burden is will depend in part on how many purchases a business makes. But the greater determinant will be how organized the company is. Owners whose accounting system is a pile of receipts jammed into file folders are going to have a miserable time. The easiest way to keep records of your business purchases is with software that tracks all your expenses. But while software to help small businesses keep their books is relatively inexpensive — some programs cost less than $200 — accountants say many owners are still shy about going high-tech. The new 1099 requirement might persuade some of the reluctant ones to make the change. Software designed to help run a small business includes payroll applications that can generate 1099s. The companies that make the software will have updated versions that comply with the new law by the time it goes into effect. So the same software that tracks your purchases will be able to create 1099s and make it easy for you to send them to the IRS. “You can set up recipients in your software to flag them for the end of the year,” said Gregg Wind, a certified public accountant with Wind & Stern in Los Angeles.
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jUly 2010
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Emotional appeals key to changing attitudes, author says The Associated Press
The St. Lucia Parrot became so endangered in the late 1970s that only about 100 were left, though not many people on the Caribbean island knew it. In fact, conservationists argue that not many would have noticed if the bird went extinct. So a college student named Paul Butler launched a “pride campaign� in St. Lucia, plastering images of the bird with the turquoise blue face and lime green wings on buses, beer bottles, posters, T-shirts, calling cards and bumper stickers. Suddenly, residents of St. Lucia embraced their national bird and were willing to do whatever it took to save what they suddenly saw as a part of their identity. The parrot’s population has since increased nearly sevenfold due to the dramatic rise in public support. Showing people statistics isn’t enough to motivate them to care about an issue or change their habits, says Dan Heath, who coauthored the recently published book “Switch: How to Change Things When Change is Hard� with his brother, Chip. Making an emotional case rather than a rational one will drive change, whether it’s for the environment, a community, a business or an individual, Heath said. “A manager’s Powerpoint presentation with graphs and data won’t really work for the same reasons that when we tell ourselves we need to lose some weight, we often do nothing to lose the weight,� Heath said. “The emotional side, which will tell you to eat those Oreos, will always win. That’s why movements like pride campaigns work.� The conservation organization in which Butler works as head of programs, called Rare, has launched more than 150 similar campaigns around the world. In his book, Heath points out another case in which a man working for a large manufacturer realizes that the company’s factories are purchasing 424 dif-
ferent kinds of gloves for drastically different prices. Rather than compile the data in a spreadsheet for executives, the man collects each glove, tags them with the paid price and piles them on a conference table. The glove shrine proves so compelling that the company immediately overhauls its purchasing system. Had the man made an analytic appeal, he may have gotten some supportive nods or promises to deal with the issue down the road, Heath said. “We often make the mistake of blaming people when change doesn’t happen,� Heath said. “We think people are stuck in their ways or lazy and dragging their feet. But it’s usually because there’s direction without motivation.� q WELCOME BACK, BOB: No matter how large an online business is, the company should still be able to offer the same personal experience to its customers as would a beloved bartender, doorman or hairstylist, one author says. Micah Solomon, co-author of the recently published book “Exceptional Service, Exceptional Profit,� offers these tips for earning customer loyalty: ■Remember each returning customer. Develop a client tracking system to help your employees recall Bob’s preferences, the name of Bob’s pet, what service or product Bob used last and when that was. ■Anticipate a customer’s wishes. When a person’s wish is met before it’s even been expressed, it sends the message that you care about the customer as an individual. ■Don’t leave the language that your team uses up to chance. Develop and rehearse a list of vocabulary words and expressions that fit your business brand perfectly. ■Remember that customers will recall the first and last minutes of a service more vividly and for much longer than the rest of the encounter. ■Set your clocks forward. Mod-
ern customers expect speedier service than previous generations. A perfect product delivered late is a defective product.
â– Customers want to connect with a real person, online or offline. Instead of a Webbased chat window that blandly
announces that, “You are now chatting with Toby,� try something such as, “You are now chatting with Toby Stapleton.�
!
!
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cedar valley business monthly
cvbusinessmonthly.com
jUly 2010
Medical professionals will try to spot elderly fraud victims McClatchy Newspapers
WASHINGTON — State regulators, social service workers and several medical organizations are teaming up to help health care providers identify and protect older patients who are vulnerable to financial abuse and scams. “Our goal is to improve the communication among medical professionals, older Americans, (their) adult children and state securities regulators in order to head off financial swindles before the damage is done,� said Don Blandin, president of the Investor Protection Trust, one of the groups behind the new campaign. The effort to curb the financial exploitation of seniors was announced June 15 on World Elder Abuse Awareness Day. It comes as a new survey by the trust shows that one in five
Americans over age 65 — more than 7.3 million people — reported being victimized in a financial swindle at some point in their life. In fact, the survey of more than 2,000 adults found that half of older Americans were ripe for potential financial victimization. For example, of 590 respondents age 65 and older, 37 percent reported being solicited by phone for money, while 16 percent said they weren’t confident making big financial decisions by themselves. Elder financial abuse can assume many forms, including telemarketing or mail fraud, contracting and repair scams, or bad advice from financial services professionals such as insurance salesmen and accountants. It can also include identity theft, abuse of guardianship or even Medicare fraud.
The “Elder Investment Fraud and Financial Exploitation� project will train medical professionals across the country to identify patients with mild cognitive impairments who are most susceptible to financial scams. The goal is to have caregivers inform state regulators about patients who pose the greatest risk for abuse. Elder financial scams are believed to be the third most common form of elder abuse, behind neglect and emotional abuse, according to the National Council on Aging. A 2009 study by the MetLife Mature Market Institute found that financial abuse costs America’s seniors more than $2.6 billion a year. The study found that up to 1 million older victims may be targeted each year, but 80 percent of cases go unreported. Family members and caregivers
were the perpetrators in 55 percent of reported cases. Experts say elderly fraud victims are at a higher risk for an early death. The typical victim of elder
financial abuse is a frail, white female age 70 and older who is cognitively impaired, according to the National Adult Protective Services Association. Victims are often trusting, lonely or isolated.
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jUly 2010
cedar valley business monthly
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Recovering alcoholic faces work problems; acing a self-appraisal By MAriE G. McintyrE McClatchy-Tribune News Service
Q. My husband, “Harry”, is a
recovering alcoholic. After 27 years in retail management, he is now working as the assistant manager in a Goodwill store. Although Harry is a very hard worker, he seems to be having problems with this job. Harry received a verbal warning from his boss because the store was not sufficiently straightened up when he closed the previous night. She criticized him for making mistakes with the floor displays. There have also been some questions about inaccurate financial records. It hurts me to see my husband being treated this way, and I’m beginning to worry that he might be fired.
A. Watching your formerly successful spouse endure this rather humiliating experience has to be difficult. But to address the problem, you must first determine the cause. There are several possibilities. If Harry views his Goodwill job as a backward step, he may be tempted to slack off a bit. However, that would be shortsighted. If he hopes to eventually return to retail, Harry must demonstrate that he can be a dependable employee. Sadly, another possibility is that Harry’s history of heavy drinking may have caused some subtle brain damage. If he is having unusual difficulty with tasks that should be easy, a thorough medical exam may be in order. Finally, the most discouraging explanation for Harry’s slipshod performance is that he has started sneaking drinks at work.
Q: As part of my performance
review, I have been asked to write a self-evaluation, which makes me uncomfortable. Since I tend to be very self-critical, how do I keep from sabotaging myself?
A: Self-assessments are a standard part of most formal appraisal systems. While they make some people uneasy, they also provide an excellent opportunity to highlight contributions and accomplishments. One way to make self-praise feel less like bragging is to present it as feedback from others. For example: “People say that I am very organized.” When problems must be acknowledged, describe how you resolved them. For example: “After losing the Anderson account due to delivery delays, I initiated a review of our order fulfillment system and eliminat-
ed several unnecessary steps.” To reduce anxiety about the self-appraisal process, view it as a chance to tell your boss what you have done this year. After all, if you want him to recognize
your achievements, you have to be willing to describe them. Marie G. McIntyre is a workplace coach and the author of “Secrets to Winning at Office Politics.”
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cedar valley business monthly
W. Louis Beecher By PAT KINNEY
pat.kinney@wcfcourier.com
WATERLOO — Practicing law in Waterloo after World War II was more than a new job for W. Louis Beecher. It was a second chance at life. He treated it that way because of where he’d been and what he’d seen during the war. Beecher, a native of Elma in Mitchell County and a law student at the University of Iowa, was a transport pilot in the China-Burma India theater of the war. He’d fly “over the hump” through the Himalayas, in conditions as dangerous as combat. “You’d have been safer in combat,” he said. They were supporting the Chinese and American war effort against imperial Japan in the Pacific. There was a human cost. And, for Beecher, the cost was personal. “I had 45 to 48 killed right under my nose” during his service, Beecher said. “That was a lot of people.” Now approaching 89, it’s hard for him to talk about his departed comrades without shedding a tear. Sometimes, he openly weeps. Sometimes, he wonders why he survived the war to live out a productive life, and nearly four dozen of his comrades didn’t. The flight group of which he was a member lost 3,600 men. “These are crew members, pilots and copilots — and 575 airplanes (crashed) on the ground between Calcutta, India, and across the Hump.” The losses of that war motivated him and others who survived it, he said. “I think they all came home knowing we can turn our attention to things having to deal with your lifetime,” Beecher said. “And they had very little difficulty getting motivated, doing things for themselves, their families, their communities. It worked like a
cvbusinessmonthly.com
july 2010
Waterloo attorney made the most of second chance at life after WWII
W. Louis Beecher Name: W. Louis Beecher Age: 88 — Born Sept. 17, 1921 Biggest accomplishment: “Acquisition of all that property for the (Donald Street) John Deere tractor plant. That was huge, to be able to pull all those farms together in one piece. And I did it in five weeks: 1,400 acres, and everyone went away happy. One word that describes you: Gratitude. Someone who inspired you and why: “My uncle Bill (Beecher, senior partner of his Waterloo law firm). An excellent attorney.”
charm. “Those that came home, came home in good spirits,” Beecher told the interviewer. But he added, composing himself after being overcome with emotion, “We all remember what happened. We’ll never forget it — as you probably noticed.” After the war, William Louis Beecher — who shortened up his name to “W. Louis” to avoid confusion with his senior partner, mentor and namesake uncle, Bill Beecher — became a seminal force in what seemed like practically every major public or private undertaking in Waterloo over the six decades that followed. Within five years of coming to town, Beecher was a significant mover and shaker in the community, and, along with fellow attorney Robert Buckmaster and Courier publisher Robert J. McCoy, became one of a cadre of youthful postwar leaders. “As a bright and exceptional lawyer starting his practice in Waterloo, he quickly gained a reputation as a ‘go-to guy’ on many important projects that have shaped our community,” longtime Waterloo real estate agent and developer Kevan Cortright wrote, in nominating Beecher for Eight Over 80 recognition.
See BEECHER, page 7
BRANDON POLLOCK / Courier Staff Photographer
W. Louis Beecher
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july 2010
Too-polite team member ignores suggestions for improvements By Liz Reyer Minneapolis Star Tribune
Q. One of my team members
isn’t open to feedback. Rather than get angry, he readily apologizes — but won’t listen to comments on how to improve. How can I break through this wall?
A. Move outside of the moment to provide feedback when your employee will be able to absorb it. And set a clear expectation of dialogue to compel him to engage. You’re frustrated. He’s avoiding. To break this impasse you’ll need to have your emotions under control. It may help to try to see the world through his eyes. Many people take correction as a message about their intrinsic worth. Or you may be more intimidating than you realize.
Your comments, especially at the point when there’s an error, may trigger his flight instinct. Imagine how he may be seeing his work life; this could open ways to improve the situation. Do some self-management. Notice the specific triggers in his behavior that get you most frustrated. Walk away when emotions are high. Get on track by having a conversation at a neutral time. Plan your conversation by setting out the situation as you see it, what you’d like to have happen, and steps to get there. It may go something like this: “As manager, it’s my role to help people get better at their jobs. When I talk to you about errors, you accept responsibility, but don’t seem open to hearing ways to improve. We need to talk more about the causes of errors and the ways to fix them, rather
than stopping at ‘I’m sorry, it won’t happen again.’” Then coach him on ways to approach improvement. Use a recent situation as an example, or invent one, which might seem safer. Use questions like the following: What was the underlying cause of the error? How could this have been prevented? What can you learn from this? Encourage him to use this approach himself to assess his own performance. In your regular one-on-one meetings, have an agenda item of “what’s been challenging and what have you learned from it?” When you catch an error, be consistent in discussing it using questions such as those above. Make an agreement with him that the conversation won’t stop at “sorry,” so that he doesn’t feel badgered when you take it further. Yet make it clear that future
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success depends on his willingness to engage. When you provide a structure for learning, your team member may be able to open up to improvement.
Liz Reyer is a credentialed coach with more than 20 years of business experience. Her company, Reyer Coaching & Consulting, offers services for organizations of all sizes.
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july 2010
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Laid-off workers start businesses, encounter unexpected obstacles NEW YORK (AP) — When Darren Drewitz was laid off in February, his first move was to start looking for another advertising agency job. He couldn’t find one. Instead, Drewitz began getting offers for freelance work. Four months later, he has become something he didn’t plan to be: a small business owner. Laid-off workers across the country are finding themselves in similar situations. Instead of fulltime work, they’re getting jobs as freelancers or independent contractors, and in the process have the role of entrepreneur thrust onto them. They suddenly have to deal not only with a change in status, but also details like choosing a business entity and paying self-employment taxes, the sort of minutiae that’s someone else’s problem when you’re an employee. Here is a look at the issues that Drewitz and Kerry McManama, another unintentional employee-turned-entrepreneur, have had to deal with:
McManama was laid off from her job as a copywriter at a Boston design firm in March 2009. She also started looking for fulltime work, and found nothing. Like Drewitz, though, McManama was approached with offers of freelance work. “I was hesitant, but three full days of work was better than zero days of work,” McManama said. But it turned out that she was making more during those three days of work than she had made full-time before. And McManama realized that the thing to do was find work to fill the other two days of the work week. She found plenty of work, enough that McManama decided to turn down two full-time job offers and continue working for herself as a copywriter. It’s only been in recent weeks that Drewitz made the decision to give up his job search and keep building a business. Over the Memorial Day weekend, he spent time doing some soul-searching and talking to his parents. He asked himself, “do I have the gumption and the business acuMaking the transition men to make this happen?” Like other unintentional entreDrewitz, who had worked for an ad agency in Austin, Texas, describes himself as “another statistic” of the recession, having been let go because of the weak advertising market. With 18 years of experience he had hopes of finding another position. But the salaries he was offered were too low. Or, he was told, “you’re overqualified.” While he was looking, freelance work started coming his way. Former clients, colleagues, friends and relatives asked Drewitz for marketing help. So Drewitz had some income coming in while he continued to look for a job. At some point, he realized there might be enough business for him to work for himself. “It’s like swimming in the ocean with a fishbowl and saying, ‘I’m looking for sea water,’” Drewitz said. Right now, he’s doing market research work, but in time hopes to have a full-service advertising business.
preneurs, Drewitz found there’s a psychic adjustment to be made. He quickly realized that as an employee, he was paid no matter what he did, but that’s not necessarily the case as a business owner. McManama said she loves the different lifestyle she has as a freelancer. But she’s also aware that “the nature of freelance work is it ends” and that she will continually need to bring in more business. So she has decided to form a limited liability company and create a website, two signs to the world that she’s serious about being in business.
Handling the details
As Drewitz evolved into a business owner, he quickly learned that being a marketing expert is only part of his work. He has to do the paperwork to create a limited liability company, keep the books and pay self-employment taxes — chores that Drewitz called tedious. “I am a writer. I am not a numbers person,” he said. Without a regular paycheck coming in, McManama has had to develop an entirely different
approach to money. After getting some good advice from mentors, she systematically saves most of what she brings in. McManama has learned that 30 percent of every check she gets needs to
go into a tax account. And she’s putting 40 percent into what she calls a “rainy day” account. “I know it’s going great today,” she said of her business. “I’m trying to save for that rainy day.”
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With worker discontent rising, bosses must work to keep staff McClatchy Newspapers
With the economy coming back, employers are increasingly worried about retaining stressedout employees who survived cutbacks, pay and benefit reductions, and increased workloads, experts say. Some employers are taking the opportunity to review their workplace cultures and how they recognize employees, re-examining everything from telecommuting to the structure of rewards programs and charity participation. The major challenge: doing it on a budget. “Companies are not going to want to spend any money,” said Hank Stringer, principal at Stringer Executive Search of Austin and co-author of “Talent Force: A New Manifesto for the Human Side of Business.” Twenty-eight percent of workers in a CareerBuilder survey this year said they expected to switch fields in next two years. “Employee satisfaction is really poor, and when job creation starts there’s going to be churn,” said Jimmy Taylor, chief operating officer for Novotus, a Texas employment services firm. “I think most companies just really haven’t started taking that into account yet.” Restoring pay and benefits might be difficult. “These cuts are down to what the market rate is for today’s environment,” he said. Minimally, employers should “be talking to employees,” Taylor said. “It’s real critical to keep an open line of communication, find out what the struggles are, address them if they can, and look for solutions: salary, workload,” he said. Companies most actively engaging employees tend to be ones that already are recognized as attractive workplaces, experts say. At Coca-Cola Enterprises, the bottler and distributor of Coke products, some managers recently spent a week working with employees in the ware-
house, on truck routes, and in merchandising and accounts. The company has always sent managers to work alongside other employees, but this year marked the first time it carved out a “shoulder to shoulder” week for all of its units, said Dani Dahlburg, human resources director for the North Texas region. Dahlburg, who participated, started her days at 6 a.m. delivering soft drinks with a driver. She then switched to merchandising and stocking shelves, and, finally, working in the warehouse. Workers asked her about their benefit plans; Dahlburg asked them about their jobs. The company’s engagement programs also include extensive communication that includes regular “town hall” meetings with employees and “engagement boards,” where workers find information about products and Coca-Cola Enterprises’ community involvement, Dahlburg said. “We know that drives retention,” she said. The company also continues to build on its environmental sustainability programs, replacing water rinsers with air rinsers,
maintaining what it says is one of North America’s largest fleets of hybrid trucks, and cutting materials in packaging. And the company is a stalwart recycler, sending employees to venues like Texas Motor Speedway to help recycle, Dahlburg said. “Those things are very important to our employees,” she said. Stringer, the Austin headhunter, already sees companies trying new tactics to retain employees. More companies are trying incentive-laden compensation packages, once reserved for salespeople, in other parts of their business, Stringer said. Customer service agents who record a high level of satisfaction, for example, might be in for a bonus. “We’re going to see a lot more of that,” he said. Some companies are also experimenting with health care coverage, long used as a recruitment tool. One established, growing Austin company provides at-home health care services through nurse practitioners for small monthly fees outside health insurance, Stringer said.
Congratulations Junior Achievement of Eastern Iowa is proud to congratulate seven past Hall of Fame Laureates as they are honored among the 8 over 80 award. Thank you for your contribution to our community! Louie Beecher Harold Brock John Deery Sr. Betty Jean Ferguson Ed & Cathy Gallagher Tunis Den Hartog Ike Leighty Milt Roth
Work Readiness • Entrepreneurship • Financial Literacy
It’s an approach employers can offer “if they can’t invest as much in insurance,” Stringer said. It could lower an employer’s insurance costs. And, for the employee, “it’s a
great solution for younger people who typically don’t need the kind of insurance older people need,” he said. Such changes often don’t cost employers more money, Stringer said.
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New small business owners need crash course in taxes NEW YORK (AP) — Estimated taxes. Self-employment taxes. Tax accounts. These words quickly enter the vocabulary of people making the transition to working for themselves. Small business owners have to worry about tax matters that weren’t their problem when they worked for someone else. Owners learn that they’re responsible for twice as much Social Security and Medicare taxes as they paid when they were employees. And that they need to make tax payments to the government quarterly. The best thing a new owner can do is meet with an accountant and get a quick lesson about small business taxes. An owner should also invest in recordkeeping software to ease the paperwork burden. Here is an introduction to taxes for the brand-new entrepreneur:
Estimated taxes
Because employees have their taxes withheld from their paychecks, most don’t need to worry about paying the government. But paying taxes is one of the
chores on business owners’ todo list. They’re expected to make quarterly tax payments, known as estimated payments. Accountants advise business owners to set aside 30 percent to 40 percent of the money they earn to cover their taxes. Moreover, the government can charge interest when estimated payments are late. It is a good idea to create a separate tax account. Skim 30 percent or 40 percent off the top of any income, deposit it into that account and leave it there until it’s time to make a payment. The IRS has a form to file estimated payments, 1040-ES, Estimated Tax for Individuals, that sole proprietors can use. These owners will file a Schedule C, Profit or Loss From Business, when they file their 1040 forms in April. Owners who operate as a corporation should use Form 1120-W, Estimated Tax for Corporations, to compute their payments. They can pay their tax using the Electronic Federal Tax Payment System, or they can use Form 8109, Federal Tax Deposit Coupon. The
instructions for Form 1120-W taxes, owners who fall behind on explain the options. Tax forms their self-employment taxes may can be downloaded from the IRS have to pay interest. website, www.irs.gov. Some small business owners decide to set up their companies Slef-employment taxes as what are called S corporations. Many workers don’t realize that In an S corporation, the corporawhile they have Social Securi- tion does not pay income tax, and ty and Medicare taxes deduct- the profits are passed through to ed from their paychecks, their shareholders in a fashion similar employers are paying an equal to a partnership. An S corporation owner is conamount to the government. Business owners have to come up sidered to be an employee of the with the full amount themselves. company, and is still responsiSo someone who paid $7,500 in ble for his or her share of Social Social Security and Medicare Security and Medicare taxes. taxes as an employee would pay The company, like any employ$15,000 if they earned the same er, pays its own share. Since the owner is not considered to be amount as a business owner. Self-employment taxes should self-employed, there are no selfbe paid quarterly as part of your employment taxes. estimated payments. At tax time, they need to complete Schedule Keeping good records SE, Self-Employment Tax, and Business owners don’t have attach it to their 1040 forms. the convenience of receiving pay As in the case of estimated stubs and W-2 forms that neatly
report their income and taxes paid. So owners need to keep track throughout the year of how much they’ve earned and what they’ve sent to the government. Recordkeeping software makes it easy for them to get a handle on how much estimated tax they need to pay each quarter. There is also software to make it easier to make your quarterly payments. During tax filing season, people who do freelance or project work need to get 1099 forms from the companies they’ve worked for. They also need to be sure the information on the forms is correct. The income owners receive must be reported on Schedule C or, if they’re operating as an S corporation, Form 1120S. The IRS receives copies of 1099 forms and matches them with what owners report. Owners should attach to their returns a list of the 1099s they’ve received.
Congratulations! The staff at Roth Jewelers wishes to congratulate and honor the recipients of 8 over 80 and to offer tribute to the many fine leaders and promoters who have preceded them to make our Cedar Valley the wonderful community it is. -The associates at Roth Jewelers
319-234-6979 • www.rothjewelers.com
Jack E. Jennings, CCIM
Sale Price:
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Lot Size:
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Year Built:
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Zoning:
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Parking:
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For information on these and other commercial listings, call:
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Dustin W. Whitehead, CCIM
Brady A. Gruhn, CCIM
july 2010
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Stay active, inquisitive and maintain your brain into old age According to the Alzheimer’s Association, Alzheimer’s Disease (AD) is the leading cause of dementia and the second-most feared disease in the United States behind cancer. AD is a devastating fatal illness and can be Elaine M. frightening Eshbaugh a is Davis Professor disease. So what and assistant can you do to professor of ensure you’re not gerontology and affected by AD? family studies at U n f o r t u n a t e l y, the University of Northern Iowa. nothing can absolutely guarantee Contact her at elaine.eshbaugh@ you won’t receive uni.edu. an AD diagnosis. But, there is good news. Although scientists don’t have all the answers yet,
BEECHER From page 6 Among Beecher’s many accomplishments: ■He served as legal counsel to what was then the Waterloo Municipal Airport, which became a modern aviation facility instead of a rural airstrip. ■In the early 1950s, he helped local broadcasting pioneer R.J. McElroy fight for, and win, a license for then-radio station KWWL to acquire a television station. When McElroy died in 1965, Beecher fought and won another fight over his friend’s estate that led to the creation of the R.J. McElroy Trust, which makes donations for scholarships and significant community projects to this day. ■He was involved with developers in major commercial developments such as Black Hawk Village and Crossroads Center, and served as John Deere’s “man of confidence� as he quietly secured options from rural property owners to build the mammoth East Donald Street Tractor Works.
they have found strategies that appear to reduce a person’s risk of being diagnosed with AD and other forms of dementia. Using this current research, the Alzheimer’s Association has a “Maintain Your Brain� initiative that makes suggestions for long-term cognitive health. As a bonus, strategies for preventing and delaying AD and other forms of dementia can enrich anyone’s life in their later years.
Wartburg College by the numbers In academics, service and athletics, Wartburg students excel
Lifelong learning
Staying mentally active throughout your lifespan is one way to maintain your brain. Researchers have used the phrase “use it or lose it� when discussing cognitive ability and the aging process; lifelong learning is key.
See Alzheimer’s, page 9 ■He was designated as a mediator between Waterloo’s black and white communities during a time of heightened racial tensions in the late 1960s and early 1970s, and worked through Federal Communications Commission contacts to help Afro-American Community Broadcasting start radio station KBBG. “Mr. Beecher’s commitment and contributions to this community for the past 64 years speaks for itself,� wrote Beecher’s Eight Over 80 co-nominator Cynthia L. High, office manager at his law firm. Beecher dismisses personal recognition. “Don’t make this all about me,� he said, suggesting he was a product of his generation. “You were anxious to win the war to get back into society,� he said. “You wanted to forget the war, but you all stayed proud of your military connection.� And, as suggested by the fictitious soldier who is the subject of the movie “Saving Private Ryan,� W. Louis Beecher and many others of his generation, were spared by the war, handed a second chance at life — and earned it.
92 Percentage of students accepted who applied to medical school (twice the national average of 46%)
100 Percentage of students accepted for programs in optometry, podiatry, veterinary medicine, nursing, occupational therapy, physician assistant; 98% in physical therapy, 96% in dentistry 10 One of 10 winners of a 2009 Associated Collegiate Press
Online Pacemaker Award for the Circuit, a converged site for student media
450 A quarter of all students participate in Wartburg’s nationally known and critically acclaimed music programs 1 The top college in the nation in percentage of students participating in service trips during breaks among chapters of BreakAway, the national alternative service organization 5 Recognized by The Washington Center for Internships and Academic Seminars as one of five recipients of its 2009 Higher Education Civic Engagement Award 7 NCAA wrestling championships 2 NCAA women’s national indoor track and field titles 2 NCAA women’s national outdoor track and field titles 3 Tied for the most 2008-09 NCAA team championships won by any U.S. college or university 600 Nearly one-third of Wartburg’s students compete in Iowa’s top-rated NCAA intercollegiate athletic program. (U.S. Sports Academy Directors Cup - all divisions)
Leadership. Service. Faith. Learning. 8BSUCVSH #MWE 8BWFSMZ *PXB t XXX XBSUCVSH FEV
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Harold Brock
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July 2010
Retired John Deere engineer has led productive life By ANDREW WIND andrew.wind@wcfcourier.com
WATERLOO — Harold Brock has led a productive life. From his long career designing tractors to his founding roles at Hawkeye Community College and Junior Achievement, the 95-year-old has racked up a list of accomplishments that would make Henry Ford and Thomas Edison proud. “My life’s been one of production, productive activities,” Brock said. “I learned that from Edison and Ford. They pretty well set my philosophy as a young person.” The retired John Deere engineer started his career at Ford Motor Co. But Brock’s relationship with Henry Ford predates his employment there. As a 15-year-old in 1929, Brock began attending the Ford Trade and Apprentice School, learning the various manufacturing skills needed on the factory floor. His father worked as an accountant for the company. After graduating from the trade school, Brock wanted to pursue the design aspect of the manufacturing process. As a result, he worked with Henry Ford as an engineering apprentice. He became close to the company founder, who also introduced him to famed inventors such as Edison and George Washington Carver. “He seemed to understand where I was coming from and my interests,” Brock said of Ford. “I wouldn’t have been promoted if it hadn’t been for our relationship, because he pretty much picked the people.” He was hired for a full-time position in 1935. Four years later, Brock became the head of tractor engineering at the company, a position he held for nearly 20 years. He left Ford over disagreements with the company’s direction, as Henry Ford II headed up its reorganization. Brock was hired in 1959 by John Deere Waterloo Works and served as the company’s first worldwide director of trac-
Harold Brock ■ Occupation: Engineer. ■ Biggest Accomplishment of your life: Raising a good family. ■ One word that describes you: “I’m inspired by the success of others.” ■ Someone that inspired you and why: Henry Ford. Brock first got to know Ford as a teenager and later designed tractors for him. “He seemed to understand where I was coming from and my interests. I wouldn’t have been promoted if it hadn’t been for our relationship, because he pretty much picked the people.”
tor engineering. He led the effort to design a new generation of tractors for the company. Brock’s work also allowed him to reach into the community. “I had a lot of chances to do things because of my position,” Brock said. Inspired by Henry Ford, he focused on efforts that could help teenagers find the right career path. Ford advised Brock to remain active as he got older and “stay around young people.” In 1965, Brock was instrumental to the founding of what was originally called Hawkeye Institute of Technology and served on its Board of Trustees for 24 years in two separate stints. In the early 1970s, he was one of the organizers of Junior Achievement of Black Hawk Land, which became part of Junior Achievement of Eastern Iowa in 2005. He served on the organization’s board for more than 30 years. Brock retired from John Deere in 1985 at age 70 but continued being active in the community. He still serves on the boards of the Grout Museum District and the HCC Foundation. “His mission reflects his life: Do things that are, No. 1, productive but, No. 2, enjoyable,” Hawkeye Community College President Greg Schmitz said. “A lot of people are very instrumenRICK CHASE / Courier Staff Photographer tal in activities in our community,” he Harold Brock added. “The thing that stands out is his longevity.” He noted that Brock has con- opportunity “to build a better world community.” It’s a legacy for which he hopes to be for people,” Brock said. “I contributsistently found ways to remain involved. That involvement represents the ed to the success of people and the remembered.
july 2010
Alzheimer’s From page 7 Studies show that individuals with higher levels of education are less likely to be diagnosed with AD, and when they are diagnosed, symptoms usually have a later onset. Researchers believe that more highly educated individuals tend to have more mental stimulation in their lives, and this stimulation strengthens brain cells and connections. But you don’t need a Ph.D. to gain the benefits of cognitive activity. Maintaining your brain can involve playing games such as Scrabble or Balderdash or working on crossword or Soduko puzzles. Some older adults may enjoy enrolling in courses at a local college or university or becoming involved in volunteer work that requires creative thinking.
Staying social
The Alzheimer’s Association also reports on a growing body of research that links social activity with the lessened risk of dementia. Social activity for older adults may come from a post-retirement part-time job or from joining a bridge club. Mentoring youth, through programs such as Foster Grandparents, is rewarding for many aging adults. Others may enjoy, and benefit from, more informal activities, such as regularly meeting friends for coffee or lunch.
No guarantees
Unfortunately, despite promising new research, AD diagnoses are on the rise. While exercis-
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ing your brain and participating in social activities are ways to reduce risk of cognitive decline, there are factors that affect our risk of dementia that we cannot modify. One uncontrollable factor is our genetic make-up, which certainly plays a role in AD and other forms of dementia. Although AD cannot be cured, it can be treated. Medications, such as Aricept, are effective in slowing the progress of the disease for some, but not all, AD patients. These medications are typically most effective for those with mild to moderate AD, which makes early detection vital. Many older adults hesitate to seek help when they experience dementia symptoms because they dread hearing bad news and think there is nothing that can be done to help them anyway. This hesitation may cost individuals with AD meaningful years with loved ones.
Personal responsibility
Aging experts are continuously reporting on new research that suggests we are not simply victims of chance when it comes to aging — we do have some control over how we age. Older adults should be encouraged to focus on staying mentally active and also to seek help if they notice warning signs of AD or dementia. The best advice is to take responsibility for your cognitive health by participating in cognitively stimulating activities, social activities and regular discussions about AD and dementia with your doctor. For more information about AD and related resources, visit the Alzheimer’s Association website at www.alz. org.
Davidson
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The University of Northern Iowa has many talented faculty, staff and students who are willing to share their expertise. UNI’s Speakers Bureau is a great resource for community organizations, businesses and industries looking for speakers at meetings, summits, conferences and more. More than 200 topics can be found in the categories listed below. If you don’t see what you’re looking for, let us know, we’re happy to assist. To request a speaker, contact the Office of University Marketing & Public Relations at 319-273-6728, or complete the online request form at www.uni.edu/speakers. Featured speakers include: Nadene Davidson, assistant professor and interim department head, teaching—Education in the 21st Century Adam Butler, professor, psychology—Motivation and Living a Balanced Life
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David Surdam, assistant professor, economics—Ten Things You Need to Know About the Economy Jeff Weld, associate professor of biology and director of the Iowa Mathematics and Science Education Partnership— Math and Science Education in Iowa: Earning our Quarter Surdam
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