Progress 2018: Cedar Valley by the Numbers
Things to watch for in
AREA BUSINESS, MANUFACTURING Wednesday, February 21, 2018 | wcfcourier.com | SECTION C
BRANDON POLLOCK PHOTOS, COURIER STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
Seth Wortinger moves cast parts at the John Deere foundry in Waterloo on Jan. 23.
Happy anniversary Deere and Waterloo by the numbers
Deere leaping into its second century in the Cedar Valley
1. Deere & Co. was 180 years old last year. It was founded in 1837.
PAT KINNEY
pat.kinney@wcfcourier.com
W
2. Deere has been in Waterloo 100 of those years.
ATERLOO — John Deere is beginning its second century in Waterloo with a sec-
ond wind. The Moline, Ill.-based agricultural implement manufacturer, which has its largest North American manufacturing complex in Waterloo-Cedar Falls is hiring, reaping the benefits of millions in capital investment in facilities. Deere is planning a big community party in June celebrating its 100th anniversary in Waterloo. Deere employs a total of 5,000 people in Waterloo. Company fortunes have rebounded markedly from an ag downturn that resulted in the layoff of about 900 workers in recent years. It’s DeVault a welcome contrast from when Dave DeVault became Waterloo operations general manager in 2014. “Anyone that was laid off in 2014 or early 2015, all employees with potential recall have been recalled at this point,” DeVault said. “We did hire 27 new employees in the foundry at the end of last calendar year. And we’re actively looking at interviewing, more so right now to fill up
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3. On March 10, 1918, Deere purchased the Waterloo Gasoline Engine Co., makers of the “Waterloo Boy” Tractor. 4. The purchase price was $2.35 million. 5. For fiscal year 2017, the company posted earnings of $2.159 billion. 6. A copy of the front page of the March 10, 1918, Waterloo Courier announcing Deere’s purchase is in a case on the display floor at company headquarters in Moline, Ill. 7. Deere’s original Waterloo manufacturing site on Westfield Avenue was once part of a large Meskwaki village on the Cedar River that extended northwest to the National Cattle Congress grounds.
Chelsey Weepie cleans off sand castings at the John Deere foundry in Waterloo on Jan. 23. the pool of potential employees. What we’ve found is that it takes a long time to build up a talent pool of potential employees. So we go through the screening and the testing, interviews and medical evaluations.” It takes about three months for an employment candidate to work through that process. “We like to keep a talent pool 50 to 100 deep so if things change one way or another we can go up appropriately in production,” DeVault said. “The type of positions we’re
looking at right now, No. 1, No. 2 and No. 3 would be skilled trades,” DeVault said. “Mechanical repairmen, electricians, plumbers, pipe fitters, that group. Skilled trades are tough to come by because they’re very good at what they do and they tend not to want to change employers in their career, which is understandable. So that’s a challenge. And we also hire from the skilled trades into the salaried (management) ranks, because we need good on-the-ground understanding from an engineering
standpoint. “We have an apprentice program, and we also have a schoolto-work program we’re working with Hawkeye (Community College) on as far as the apprentice (training) goes,” DeVault said. “We’ve gotten that up and running in the past couple of years, and it’s good. Really. Not just beneficial, but it’s been good for the community in bringing more and more of that talent into our area.” There’s also a demand for machinists, DeVault said, and
8. Deere Waterloo operations, with five plants around town, are the company’s largest North American manufacturing complex. Hawkeye Community College is working closely with the company to provide qualified workers with training in computerized numerical control, or CNC, manufacturing. There’s a smaller demand for welders, and assemblers make up the bulk of Deere’s work force.
Good things in store
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US 63 corridor flourishing, and more improvements coming C6
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Please see DEERE, Page C2
PROGRESS 2018
C2 | Wednesday, February 21, 2018
The Courier
Deere From C1
The company is finding enough workers locally, and beyond, DeVault said. “From the schools around the country, we do regular campaigns, regular interview schedules,” DeVault said. “We draw from multiple different schools. I was out at Donald Street (tractor cap assembly operations) looking for a parking spot, just looking at the license plates and the different college stickers on cars today. It’s pretty cool. It’s no longer just Iowa State and the University of Iowa, let’s put it that way.” The company has made significant improvements in the foundry over the past several years, said DeVault and Dave Davis of the foundry operations. And those improvements are a sight to see. “A picture’s worth a thousand words. And walking through it is worth a million,” DeVault said. “Starting in the core room we added some cells that will handle larger cores which go in the castings,” Davis said. “We put in an automated store and retrieval system.” A new massive mold line is known in the plant as the “804 line.” “We’ve been ramping that up for four years and we’re finally at a pace or a rate we feel pretty good about. The quality is where we need it to be. And with this new line we’re able to produce larger parts. That was the biggest advantage for us. We’re able to make longer and wider parts than we were on our previous lines,” Davis said. Those parts are sent to plants companywide. The foundry is in hot demand within Deere as the company upgrades and introduces new products. “Right now we have plenty to do,” Davis said. “We have more work that we can bring in as we improve our efficiencies. The next generation of tractors is really going to maximize the advantages we have with this foundry. The size, the technology we have, the complexity of what we can produce is just far better than most others in the industry.” It also has allowed the company to bring work that has previously been outsourced back into the plant. “We have to really be careful on the balance between the new products we’re designing and the current products we’re building, so we keep that balance in the scale of what we can produce at the foundry,” DeVault said. “Now that we have that competency here, we’re able to design larger and more complex castings out of our design community into the foundry. We want to make sure we keep the runway open for that new work coming in.” The foundry also provides staff support to sister factories in Brazil, North Carolina — where mowers are produced — and other plants. Expansion of other elements of the Waterloo operation will begin this year, DeVault said. “We’ll start seeing some expansion on the southwest building of drivetrain (operations), the company’s ‘T-10’ building at Westfield Avenue and the Commercial Street extension. We’re going to expand that building for more transmission assem-
BRANDON POLLOCK PHOTOS, COURIER STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
Giant buckets pour molten metal into molds at the John Deere foundry.
Left: Robotic arms drill holes in molds. Middle: Joe Van Nice inspects parts at the John Deere foundry. Right: Giant buckets pour molten metal into molds at the John Deere foundry in Waterloo Jan. 23. Below: Precise measurements of parts ensure consistent size and fit.
“
Right now we have plenty to do. We have more work that we can bring in as we improve our efficiencies. The next generation of tractors is really going to maximize the advantages we have with this foundry. The size, the technology we have, the complexity of what we can produce is just far better than most others in the industry.” Dave Davis, foundry operations
bly capability there.” Also, DeVault said, “We’re re-arranging the one right on Westfield Avenue, the service parts building (east of the foundry) the ‘1020 building,’ rearranging that one. We are renovating the building right off River Drive on the back side of Black Hawk Creek, the ‘1010 building.’” It had been idle for decades and has been used for temporary machine storage during the redevelopment of other facilities over the past 15
years. “Now that we’re needing the extra assembly space, we’re renovating it” for storerooms and other purposes to free up manufacturing space in the service parts building. The Donald Street site will see infrastructure improvements and “rearrangement of assembly lines, getting ready for different changes coming out over the next three years,” DeVault said. And Deere will be putting a training center in the new Courtyard by Mariott hotel at the Cedar Valley TechWorks campus. “The community will see the
drivetrain group (work) first, from the outside,” DeVault said, with that work beginning in the spring. “From a company standpoint we’re in the next phase of re-engineering the products and the factories that we do it in,” DeVault said. “And we got ready for it here five or six years ago with the foundry, modernizing it. We did it in redevelopment back in 200310 at drivetrain (Westfield) and tractor cab assembly operations (Donald Street). Now here we are 10 years later looking at a refresh again. We’ve got the foundation in on the foundry to do what we
need to do; we have the foundation in the component part of drivetrain,” and now that will continue with additional work at drivetrain operations and at Donald Street. That’s in addition to new product research and development at the Product Engineering Center in Cedar Falls. It represents a capital investment, in rough figures, of about $100 million within Black Hawk County. “It’s cool. That’s really neat to see,” DeVault said of new product research. Deere is planning a celebration June 15-16 downtown and at the John Deere Tractor and Engine Museum to mark the company’s 100th anniversary in Waterloo. Deere purchased the Waterloo Gasoline Engine Co., makers of the “Waterloo Boy” tractor, in March 1918. The museum also has ongoing exhibits marking the anniversary. Tractors produced will be marked with a 100th anniversary logo. Both DeVault and Davis said they have much respect for the local Deere workforce.
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PROGRESS 2018
The Courier
Wednesday, February 21, 2018 | C3
Warehousing is big business W PAT KINNEY
pat.kinney@wcfcourier.com
ATERLOO — Food storage is the “meat’ of the business for Crystal Distribution
Services. The company, which took over and rehabilitated large portions of the former Rath Packing Co. plant site, is in the middle of a $5.5 million, 50,000-square-foot expansion onto its refrigerated warehouse at Vinton and Sycamore streets on the old Rath site. The expansion, coupled with other developments like the growth of Standard Distribution — the addition of an Ashley Furniture warehouse in Cedar Falls, expansions by Martin Brothers Distributing about two years ago and the location of the massive Target Distribution Center nearby — help further cement the position of Waterloo-Cedar Falls as a major warehousing and distribution hub. That growth has continued since the reconstruction of the metro highway system in the 1980sand ’90s under the federal interstate highway substitution program following the extension of Interstate 380 to the metro area in 1985. The company also has added some meat processing to the operation, trimming fat and packaging meat from Tyson Fresh Meats in Waterloo and other firms for further processing. “Lot of history here. It’s kind of ironic that we’re still doing the meat business,” Poe said, given the history of the old Rath site. “We do a lot of work with Tyson but there’s other customers. Different proteins — beef, turkey, chicken — all proteins. “We box meat, temper it, do some trimming of meat. That’s new this past year. We started that for a customer. If we can add more value-added service, those thing are good for us,” and add jobs “The thing that’s been holding us up now is the lack of freezer space,” which makes the expansion timely. It is anticipated to be completed in May.
MATTHEW PUTNEY, COURIER PHOTO EDITOR
Tavarus Smith trims fat off of pork before packaging at Crystal Distribution on Jan. 18 in Waterloo. The business employs 55 people full time, plus some temporary labor of about 20 to 40 workers during busy periods. The catalyst for the warehousing and distribution growth of Crystal and others was the highway system, Tom Poe said. “That was a large part of it. (Interstate) 380 connecting with 80 was a big deal, and the Avenue of the Saints in general. Most of our traffic rolls that way or (U.S.) Highway 20. When we’re in the middle of agriculture heartland here, between a number of large cities, it lends itself really well to distribution. Obviously Target recognized that, and other companies. My brothers (Stan and David Poe, Standard Distribution) have expanded their dry storage business and done a good job with that,” utilizing highway as well as rail. “Having the infrastructure for highways and rail is key for our business,” Tom Poe said. Poe’s brothers’ Stan’s and David’s enterprise, Standard Distribution, has several sites in
Waterloo-Cedar Falls and does dry storage for food-grade packaging material, ag products such as animal feed additives and manufacturing components. One of its newest constructed facilities is a 103,000-squarefoot building in the North Cedar Falls Industrial Park, about three years old. In all, Standard has about 800,000 square feet under roof at seven different facilities in Waterloo-Cedar Falls. It also has a location in Omaha, Neb. The business is, by design, not well known, because its client base is confidential. “That’s kind of the nature of our industry. We fly below the radar,” Poe said. “We operate like an extension of our clients’ business. Companies don’t want to spend millions of dollars on a distribution center when they can outsource it to us. “We’ve got all the headaches of operation that they don’t want to mess with. So they send orders to us every day and we load them back out on trucks,” Stan Poe said.
“It’s a big industry throughout the world but almost nobody knows about it. It’s called third-party logistics. “It’s similar to all these little storage units all over town, Stan Poe said. “It’s the same concept. Why build another garage if you can go rent one? It’s the same deal here. Why put up your own warehouse? These things aren’t cheap,” and also need to be staffed. “Most of the larger companies, especially larger companies, outsource to companies like us because they don’t want to tie up their capital.” Standard employs about 80 people and that can fluctuate depending on workload and projects. Products stored can be massive, ranging to multiple 7,000 pound rolls of paper. “But our clamp trucks just pick it up like it’s a piece of paper,” Stan Poe said. The area benefits as a warehousing hub from its trucking companies. But for Standard’s Cedar Falls operation rail access Please see WAREHOUSING, Page C10
Tale of two families Two multi-generation locally owned families are among the fastest growing warehousing and distribution businesses in the Cedar Valley — the Poe and Martin families. Here’s a brief chronology on each:
Poe family
In 1936, Stan and Norma Seroke move to Iowa from Chicago and start Standard Distributing Co., a wholesale beer business, at the end of Prohibition. In 1971, Joan Poe, daughter of Stan Seroke, takes over the business after her husband, Bud, dies. Bud had operated the business since the late ‘50s. Joan struggles with their supplier who is reluctant to do business with a woman distributor. Beer giant Joseph Schlitz Brewing Co. of Milwaukee tries to force Joan out of the business. Standard perseveres and prospers. Joan and Bud’s children help out with the family business. In 1979, Standard Distributing purchases Crystal Ice and Cold Storage from the Young family. It later becomes Crystal Distribution Services. In 1985, Crystal Distribution purchases and renovates many of the former Rath buildings for cold storage throughout the next two decades and continues multiple expansions at different facilities over the next several years. In 2000, Standard Distributing’s beer business is sold to United Beverage of Waterloo. Standard Distribution continues on in dry-goods warehousing. In 2001, Joan Poe dies and her sons Stan, David and Tom continue management of the business. Tom operates Crystal Distribution Services. Stan and David Poe operate Standard Distribution.
Martin Bros.
The company was founded in 1940 by brothers Roy and Glenn Martin. They started in their parents’ Cedar Falls garage and later relocating to a warehouse on South Main Street. Martin Bros. moved its warehouse to the industrial park in 1969. It has undergone several expansions there, growing to 362,000 square feet and is now being led by the third generation of Martins. Martin Bros. Distributing Co., Inc. is a full-line, family- and employee-owned food service distributor serving Iowa and surrounding states.
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PROGRESS 2018
C4 | Wednesday, February 21, 2018
The Courier
Merger creates largest Iowa-based insurance agency AMIE STEFFEN
amie.steffen@wcfcourier.com
W
AVERLY — When Mike Byl and Tim Gassmann were coming up in their careers, with The Accel Group and Millhiser Smith Agency, respectively, both men had the ability to climb up the company ladder to the top. But it wasn’t clear, given the state of the insurance industry market, their own employees would eventually be able to do the same. So the two, who have been friends for 15 years and running similar operations — Byl in Waverly and Gassmann in Cedar Rapids — began talking earnestly with one another about how to solve that problem. “Basically, that was our whole goal,” said Gassmann. “How do we create and afford the same opportunities to our employees that Mike and I had when we started?” There were two directions insurance agencies like Accel and
Millhiser Smith were headed, reasoned Gassmann: Get bigger, or go away. Both preferred the former. “To be relevant in the market, we felt we needed to Byl be larger,” Byl said. Two years ago, the companies began working with a consultant to decide if a merger of their companies was the best course of action. “We spent a lot of time working with financials, but more importantly with culture,” Byl said. “The number one reason a merger doesn’t work is culture, so we spent a lot of time working on that.” Byl said both companies strive for a “family atmosphere,” where employees’ time is respected with flexible time off and paid time to volunteer throughout the year. “We like to promote a work-life balance — that’s a strong culture
Accel Group BY THE NUMBERS 39: Employees at The Accel Group in Waverly, pre-merger. 40: Employees at Millhiser Smith Agency in Cedar Rapids, pre-merger.
“We want to be able to offer a wide range of products and services to our customers.”
82: Full-time positions at the merged Accel Group now. 25,000: Customers Accel Group serves now. 1936: The year The Accel Group was begun in Waverly.
Byl said customers have been Tim Gassmann excited for the change as well — if they even noticed at all. “In the Cedar Valley market it’s with both of us,” he said. When it was finally clear a really been, ‘Congratulations,’ and merger would make sense, the two a lot of good comments,” he said. companies combined into one, of- “But if they haven’t followed the ficially, on Jan. 1 of this year. The press, they might not have even merger combined Gassmann’s known.” 40 employees with Byl’s 39 into Byl’s new title is president, overThe Accel Group, keeping offices seeing day-to-day management of in Cedar Rapids, Waverly and the company, while Gassmann beCedar Falls and becoming one of came CEO, in charge of looking for the largest Iowa-based insurance new opportunities to merge or acagencies. quire more like-minded agencies. “Our employees have been “We plan on growing both orgreat,” Gassmann said. “They’ve ganically as well as through mergembraced the new change.” ers and acquisitions,” Gassmann
said, noting they would continue to look for companies whose cultures meshed with their own. “Industry-wide, I think 2017 (had) the most acquisition activity in the insurance industry in quite a few years, and that continues to be at the forefront.” And both say growing larger isn’t just good for themselves and their employees — it’s good for their clients as well. “Obviously (the merger) gave us more leverage, more diversification, which is kind of critical,” Gassmann said. “We want to be able to offer a wide range of products and services to our customers.”
Life lesson: Geater builds on its school outreach program Geater
JIM OFFNER
Special to The Courier
I
NDEPENDENCE — Area students are learning there are career options aplenty in advanced manufacturing these days. That’s one of the messages behind a school-outreach program Independence-based Geater Machining & Manufacturing has created in the last few years. “We’ve done a lot with outreach the last year,” said Amber Youngblut, the company’s human resources manager. That outreach comes in many forms, Youngblut said. It could be an overview of the career opportunities that kids might not otherwise be aware of. It could involve bringing some pieces of equipment to school to show students. It might involve such basics as how to get into the advanced manufacturing field. The options are almost unlimited, and the outreach effort is growing, Youngblut said. “We focus on what each school is looking for,” she said. “Some need career readiness (assistance), so we’ve gone out and helped with resumes or interviews. Some schools like to give their students an idea of what manufacturing is about, so we host students here.” If students can’t travel, Geater will send a delegation to schools, and it will make sure its emissaries have any materials they might need to spark student interest, Youngblut said. “It’s kind of based on what the school needs,” she said. “We send employees to metals classes and talk to them about careers in metals. We’ve done some career readiness with interviewing. We’ve donated equipment to the schools. It’s not a one-size-fits all; we try to meet them where they’re at.” The school outreach initiative has been going on five years, Youngblut said. It has been an unqualified suc-
BY THE NUMBERS 500: Percentage growth the company has had in the last 12 years. 55: Years the company has been operating in Independence, where it was founded. 14,000: Square feet of additional space the company is opening this year. More than 300: Full-time employees. 17: Percentage growth of employee roster in 2017. FUN FACTS
Company founded in 1962 by
Duane Geater. His son, Scott, is current president. MATTHEW PUTNEY, COURIER PHOTO EDITOR Geater employs more than 300 full-time workers; 12 years ago, it Jorge Lopez-Acosta uses a machine to sand down aluminum parts at Geater Machining & Manufacturing on Jan. had 100 full-time workers. 17 in Independence. The company employs 30-36 partcess, said Jerry Bitterman, the year degree, a two -year degree or about.” time employees. company’s CEO. a master’s.” Geater Machining & Manu- Life lesson: Geater builds on its “Our aggressive approach with School outreach is an important facturing, which the late Duane school outreach program. it increased our awareness this investment in the Geater’s future, Geater launched in 1962 in Indelast year significantly,” Bitterman Bitterman noted. pendence, remains a family-oper- needs. said, noting Geater had contact “The way I look at it is, there’s a ated company, with a third gener“Our customers trust us that with 10 schools at 28 events. lot of growth out there and soci- ation now involved. Scott Geater, we’re going to get it done and done “We reached over 950 students ety, for quite a few years, said you the founder’s son, is president. right,” he said. in Northeast Iowa last year, and needed a four-year degree,” he Geater, which sells preciGeater has widened its cuswe did a couple (of events) in the said. “We also found out 70 to 80 sion-machined and fabricated tomer base, as well, and that has Cedar Rapids area,” she said. percent of students in high school parts for use in aerospace and fueled growth, Meier said. More events are likely in 2018, don’t get a four-year degree. It’s other high -tech industries, con“Seven of our top 10 customYoungblut noted. about opportunities. It’s trying to tinues to grow and, indeed, will ers in volume weren’t with us six “I think it’s so important to get educate people about manufac- open a 14,000-square-foot ad- years ago,” he noted. that advanced manufacturing turing. It’s entirely different now. dition in March, Bitterman said. Geater draws employees from perspective out to the schools, There’s engineering, computer “It’s really due to growth,” Joe a 60-mile radius around Indebecause they don’t have it in a lot programming.” Meier, vice president of opera- pendence, Bitterman said, citing Geater values its employees for tions, said of the need for more Meier, a resident of Waverly, as of cases,” she said. “They can’t afford equipment, which is ex- the roles they play in building a space. “We’re really in growth one of several examples. pensive. We like to show them in successful company, but also in mode, and that’s what’s driving “Our plant manager, Dan Heller, general what advanced manufac- contributing to a better world, employment levels.” lives in Cedar Falls; our CFO, Tyturing has to offer. It doesn’t have Bitterman said. Indeed, Meier said, the com- ler Sturtz, lives in Marion,” Bitterto (require) a four-year degree.” “Society needs us; a lot of our pany now has more than 300 full- man said. Some Geater employees do con- parts are on that aircraft that takes time employees, compared to 100 Casting a wider net for customtinue with their education, and us from place to place,” he said. about 12 years ago. ers, as well as future employees, the company helps them with a “Each one of us now has a smart “We also are open basically bodes well for further growth at tuition reimbursement program, phone or cellphone, and the sat- around the clock – first, second, Geater, Bitterman said. ellites that help direct those calls, third and weekend shifts,” he said. “I look for additional opportuBitterman said. “There are 10 employees right we have parts on the rockets that Bitterman said the company nities, new customers,” he said. now that are active with that took those up. That’s something is busy due to “having a plan in “Each day around here is differnow,” he said. “It may be a four- that not everybody would think place” that caters to all customer ent.”
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Wednesday, February 21, 2018 | C5
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C6 | Wednesday, February 21, 2018
The Courier
U.S. 63 flourishing with road, business improvements TIM JAMISON
tim.jamison@wcfcourier.com
W
ATERLOO — Expect to see “pardon our progress” signs along U.S. Highway 63 this spring. The highway corridor from downtown Waterloo north through the UnityPoint Health-Allen Hospital will turn into a major construction zone as highway contractors rebuild the road and entrepreneurs invest in projects outside the curbs. “This has been a great looking project for the community that’s stirred economic and educational benefits,” said Waterloo Mayor Quentin Hart. “It’s restored a sense of pride, and it’s going to correct some of the challenges we’ve had. “This has the recognition of our neighborhood groups,” he added. “It’s just been a very positive, positive project for the community.” Economic development and neighborhood improvements were a key aspect of the highway project, which kicked off in 2013 when the Iowa Department of Transportation began rebuilding the roadway between Newell and Donald streets. Construction and detours are expected again this spring when contractors return to complete the northbound lanes of U.S. 63 through the downtown to Franklin Street. The southbound lanes on Mullan Avenue were rebuilt in 2017. Also starting this spring is a $26.4 million project for Peterson Contractors Inc. of Reinbeck to rebuild the highway between Franklin and Newell streets and erect a landscape-changing
BRANDON POLLOCK, COURIER STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
Rodney Anderson and Dan Levi are planning to break ground this spring on the All In Grocers supermarket to be located near the intersection of U.S. Highway 63 and Franklin Street in Waterloo.
U.S. 63 By the numbers 3: Feet that must be added to the Virden Creek flood levee so it can still be certified on flood maps. Virden Creek goes underground at U.S. 63. 7: Formal neighborhood associations along U.S. 63 from the Cedar River to north city limits: Franklin Gateway, Walnut, Common Grounds, We Care, Gates Park, MAPLES and Good Shepherd. 30: Homes along U.S. 63 demolished or relocated in 2010 in advance of the highway reconstruction. 30: Feet from the top of the planned U.S. 63 overpass roadway to the existing Canadian National Railroad tracks. 9,500: Average daily vehicles on U.S. Highway 63
southbound at the Cedar River bridge based on 2014 Iowa Department of Transportation traffic counts. Fun facts The planned All In Grocers will include Grandma’s
Hands Restaurant in honor of developer Rodney Anderson’s grandmother. Thought to be the only remaining 19th-century limestone house in Waterloo, the Dunsmore House at U.S. 63 and Conger Street was built in 1866 by English immigrant stonemason Thomas Chadwick using limestone from a small quarry near the present site of Allen Hospital. Before starting North Crossing at the former Logan Plaza strip mall location, entrepreneur Ben Stroh recycling the former Crossroads Kmart location into Crossing Point Plaza.
bridge over the Canadian Na- the flood-prone underpass there. 2 field services coordinator, said tional Railway tracks, replacing Pete Hjelmstad, IDOT District the downtown to Franklin work
should wrap in late November, but the overpass segment between Franklin and Newell will remain closed through next winter and into the fall of 2019. The threat of detours and construction traffic isn’t scaring off developers like Rodney Anderson and Dan Levi. The entrepreneurs are preparing to break ground this spring on a new 30,000-square-foot supermarket near the CVS Pharmacy at U.S. 63 and Franklin. The planned $8.5 million All In Grocers will include a restaurant and community room and is expected to employ 80 to 100 people. “This is personal to me,” said Anderson, who previously invested in a nearby retail building including Earth Beauty Supply and Harold’s Chicken. Levi said the goal is to complete construction and open before the end of 2018. “We’re still working with the Walnut Neighborhood to get their feedback,” Levi said. “They’re really fired up about the project. We’re already getting calls from nonprofits and others wanting to use the community room.” Anderson and Levi are working with UpLift Solutions, a nonprofit company that provides technical support to grocery stores locating in under served neighborhoods. “They’ll be involved with us even after we open,” Levi said. “They’ve never had a store fail.” North Crossing, a project replacing the former Logan Plaza strip mall on the northeast corner of U.S. 63 and Donald, will continue to develop this year. Please see U.S. 63, Page C8
Western Home Communities’ new LifePlan redefines aging Western Home Communities
MELODY PARKER
melody.parker@wcfcourier.com
C
EDAR FALLS — More baby boomers are ready to rock retirement, and rules for retirement communities are being rewritten. It’s estimated about 10,000 members of the generation born from 1946 to 1964 are entering retirement daily. By 2030, people ages 65 and older will comprise more than 20 percent of the population. Much as this generation altered the cultural landscape in their youth, Boomers’ vision for their retirement is considerably different from their parents. They’re not content to stroll off into the sunset listening to the Stones on their wireless headphones, or sit passively in the proverbial rocking chair scrolling websites on an iPad. They want to be active, youthful, engaged and challenged. Many, either from financial need or sense of purpose, plan to continue working. The Transamerica Center for Retirement Studies says roughly 3 out of 5 boomers plan to work beyond age 65. At Western Home Communities, the mission is create fulfilling lifestyles that fit a new “LifePlan” community focus and redefine aging. “We know the status quo isn’t
By the numbers 885: Employees at Western Home Communities, including facilities at Jesup and Grundy Center. 1,000+: Residents in the south campus and downtown residences. 150: Acres on the south campus; started with 13 acres. 2,100: Calendars printed in 2017 featuring residents’ collections, MATTHEW PUTNEY, COURIER PHOTO EDITOR such as kaleidoscopes, wedding Kris Hansen, CEO of the Western Home, in front of the Western Home cake toppers, salt-and-pepper Jorgensen Plaza, a $52 million project that will open in April. shakers and train sets. going to fit what’s coming in the future,” said Western Home Communities CEO Kris Hansen. “We’re an innovative and future-focused organization, so how do we position ourselves to offer housing and services, holistic wellness and active, fulfilling lifestyles? We celebrate our history, but innovation is in our DNA, it’s who we are. I think we’re definitely on the cutting edge of some things in order to help people live the fullest lives they can, in a setting they want to be in. “It’s not just about a place to live or receive care; it’s about a holistic lifestyle. We’re creating communities among seniors, and we also are open to making connections with
the greater community around us,” he explained. “We’re taking our services and offering them in a way that folks are comfortable with, and it’s a much broader focus on community-based services and outreach.” The $52 million expansion in southern Cedar Falls, particularly the Jorgensen Plaza for Well-Being, is helping forge that connection. Expected to open this spring, the facility will provide a much broader focus on community-based services and community involvement. The wellness center boasts an aquatic center with Olympic-sized pool, walking track, exercise class-
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rooms and equipment, a beauty salon and inpatient and outpatient therapy. Chef Jim Nadeau will oversee Table 1912, a fine-dining restaurant, fast-casual food at Caraway Café, Gilmore’s Pub and food at the Prairie Wind complex. “It gives our residents several convenient spots to go on campus for socializing opportunities with friends and family, a place to enjoy a fine dining experience, farm-totable dishes, a quick meal or pick up a smoothie after exercising, or join their friends at the pub,” Hansen said. The Diamond Event Center, seating up to 400 with state-of-
the-art audio-visual systems and on-site catering, will provide a venue for wedding receptions, anniversary celebrations, luncheons, dinners, parties, dances, graduations and fundraisers. “Certainly we have our Windy Hill Choir thinking about performances here and we’re encouraging other events, but it’s not just about an event or performance. It’s more about the friendships, the relationships that can be built,” the CEO explained. “I’d like to create some senior maker spaces, too, so people can be creative and pursue new interests, and I can see retired business professionals, retired engineers and others sharing their expertise with young entrepreneurs in the community.” In addition, Prairie Wind opened last summer. The 75-apartment, three-story independent living facility is attached to Jorgensen Plaza and features a breakfast café on the first floor, a third-floor library/lounge and kitchen area for resident use, two guest suites and a large conference room. This is Western Home’s sixth independent living community, the fifth on the south campus. The first, Willowwood, opened near downtown in 1989. The organization also has expanded into Grundy Center and other communities in Northeast Iowa.
WATERLOO CAREER CENTER
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PROGRESS 2018
Wednesday, February 21, 2018 | C7
Industrial parks prepared for growth in Cedar Valley TIM JAMISON
tim.jamison@wcfcourier.com
W
ATERLOO — Construction crews were braving winter weather conditions to erect a new Kwik Trip fuel blending plant in Waterloo’s Martin Road industrial park. Farther west, workers in the Cedar Falls Industrial Park remained busy in late January working on a new office building, fitness center and gymnasium at 924 W. Viking Road. Economic development officials in both cities point to the ongoing activity and available room for growth as signs their industrial parks are healthy and ready for more business in 2018. “We’ve had very strong growth happening,” said Cedar Falls Community Development Director Stephanie Houk Sheetz, pointing to the city’s rapidly filling industrial park expansion west of the Target Distribution Center. “We’ve got some lots spoken for there,” she added. “And we’re expecting to see a couple of projects in 2018.” That expansion area, created in 2009 as available lots became scarce in the industrial park between Hudson Road and Iowa Highway 58, saw a new $7.2 million Ashley Furniture distribution center open last November and expects Buckeye Corrugated Inc., formerly known as Hawkeye Corrugated Box, to break ground this spring on an $8 million building. Sheetz said there are still plenty of shovel-ready lots available for prospects in the industrial park, which have available street, sewer, water, communications and utilities in place. The city also is marketing its Northern Cedar Falls Industrial Park, northeast of the U.S. 218 and Iowa 58 interchange. The East Central Iowa Co-op and Standard Distribution already have large facilities in the park. Sheetz noted there are still plenty of lots available in the northern industrial area, which adds railroad access to the other utilities available on site. Meanwhile, Cedar Falls planners will be contemplating the next expansion area for the southern industrial park, which includes about 160 acres of farm land the city already acquired between West Ridgeway Avenue and U.S. Highway 20 on both sides of Hudson Road. “Our steps here will be thinking about what kind of infrastructure, what kind of plan should we develop,” she said. “What types of uses should we encourage there?” Meanwhile, the city of Waterloo has accumulated plenty of industrial develop-
BRANDON POLLOCK, COURIER STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
Noel Anderson is shown Jan. 31 at the Kwik Star fuel blending facility under construction on West Ridgeway Avenue.
Industrial parks
tax-increment financing district was named be-
cause the first project was paving Martin Road as part of a Fahr Beverage expansion in 1996. Viking Pump was the first industry to locate in what is now the Cedar Falls Industrial Park, erecting a 20,000-square-foot building in 1959 that has now expanded beyond 300,000 square feet. The construction of Martin Luther King Jr. Drive, which helped create Waterloo’s Northeast Industrial Park, was designed to help industrial freight movements between John Deere’s downtown site and tractor assembly plant. The Cedar Falls Industrial Park started on 80 acres of land Cedar Falls Utilities bought in the 1960s for a new power plant, which was ultimately rejected due to federal and state regulations.
ment acres around the city and will be working to install the necessary infrastructure this year to ensure lots are ready to go when prospects come knocking. “We have worked to assemble land in strategic places to match the overall land use plan and to match up with favorable mains for infrastructure, compatible uses, overall transportation networks, etc.,” said Community Planning and Development Director Noel Anderson. “Now we need to plat the lots, extend the infrastructure into the parks and to each lot, as well as connect into the major roadway networks for efficient layouts and shovel-ready lots,” he added. That includes the South Waterloo Business Park around the U.S. 20 and Ansborough Avenue interchange. The Iowa Economic Development Authority certified the site last year, putting it on a short list of cities contacted when major development projects are searching Iowa locations. Waterloo also is in the process of installing infrastructure and platting a 50-acre expansion of the Northeast Industrial Site
along Martin Luther King Jr. Drive. Another 180 acres are available in that area for larger projects needing major water and sewer capacity or rail service. The city also is continuing to work to create industrial lots in the MidPort America park around the airport. While the city doesn’t own more land in the Martin Road Industrial Park, also known as Greenbelt Centre, the area around the former Waterloo Greyhound Park and intersection of U.S. Highways 20 and 63 is being developed in partnership with private owners. Anderson noted more than 115 acres remains available in Greenbelt Centre, where Love’s Travel Plaza recently built, and about 90 acres are available on the east side of U.S. 63 from north of Ridgeway south to U.S. 20. Along with those “greenfield” industrial sites, Waterloo also is working to bring new businesses into the former Rath Packing Co. property it acquired following the meatpacker’s bankruptcy in 1985. SJ Construction built there last year and Crystal Distribution broke ground late last year on a 50,000-square-foot expansion.
By the numbers 28: Percent of Cedar Falls property values designated as commercial and industrial. Residential property makes up 71 percent of the tax base. 38: Percent of Waterloo property values deemed commercial and industrial. Just 58 percent of the tax base is residential. $155 million: Value of Cedar Falls’ record construction season set in fiscal year 2016. It was highlighted by the Western Home Communities $42 million expansion. $181 million: Value of Waterloo’s record construction season set in fiscal year 2007. A $64 million permit for the Isle Hotel Casino Waterloo was the biggest project. Fun facts Waterloo Martin Road
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PROGRESS 2018
C8 | Wednesday, February 21, 2018
The Courier
BraceAbility finds home in downtown Cedar Falls HOLLY HUDSON
holly.hudson@wcfcourier.com
C
EDAR FALLS — Shaun Linderbaum started his company, BraceAbility, in the basement of his home in 2011. The e-commerce business now resides in the renovated Woolverton Building at 115 E. Second St. in downtown Cedar Falls. After a nine-month remodeling project on the 130-year-old building, BraceAbility, an online retailer of orthopedic braces from manufacturers all over the world, moved into the new office space in April 2017. Prior to the move, it was located above Whiskey Road Tavern & Grill at Fourth and Main streets. “I really wanted to be downtown,” Linderbaum said. “And — although it was more money and work than I anticipated — the building was a good investment. I have a thing for old buildings.” The building — which at different times housed businesses ranging from a blacksmith shop, a hardware store and a tractor dealership to the Circle Lounge, a pizza parlor and a printing shop — now boasts an open eating area, office space, areas for the customer service team and filling orders and a garage in the rear. Design features such as steel accents and exposed beams pay homage to the building’s history. BraceAbility employs 20 workers. “We have a lot of UNI students,” Linderbaum said. “A lot of them started out as interns and now work for us full time. The college is a great resource for us. The Cedar Valley has a highly educated workforce.” Linderbaum likes to promote a relaxed work atmosphere. “We all eat lunch together,” he said. “It’s very laid back. Employees have flexible work schedules, there is no dress code.” Linderbaum, a Cresco native now living in Cedar Falls, said his first business was delivering the Waterloo Courier when he was 12 years old. “It was a defining experience for me,” he said. “I had to collect. I had to show up on time. It taught me responsibility. I look back on it fondly.” Linderbaum went to school at UNI and worked for John Deere for 10 years. “IT stuff,” he said. “I loved the company, but not the corporate environment.” Before launching BraceAbility, Linderbaum worked for Clickstop in Urbana, another e-commerce business. “I learned a lot there,” he said. “I applied what I liked to my business and discarded what I didn’t like.” BraceAbility had more than
U.S. 63 From C6
Contractors in February were putting the finishing touches on a 23,000-square-foot primary care medical clinic, a 10,260-squarefoot building partially occupied by an urgent care clinic and a new
MATTHEW PUTNEY, COURIER PHOTO EDITOR
Shaun Linderbaum, CEO of BraceAbility, is shown in his Cedar Falls firm.
10 million visitors to its website, braceability.com, in 2017 from all 50 states and 10 other countries, Linderbaum said, and saw a 60 percent growth in sales last year, selling 150,000 braces. Linderbaum said he is not surprised by his company’s success. “We are a little business tucked away that no one knows about, but I expected we had a big opportunity here. I hoped for the best and planned for the worst,” he said. “You work, you adapt, you grow. That has been our focus.” Linderbaum said BraceAbility offers great products that are typically hard to find locally. “And, it may sound cliche, but making people feel better is a really rewarding feeling.” Linderbaum said Cedar Falls is a good fit for his company. “I love Cedar Falls,” he said. “I think from a business perspective, the city government is focused on growing businesses like
us. Then you add UNI and the labor force and downtown with the atmosphere and all the amenities. I went to school here, fell in love and never wanted to leave. “We are making the transition from a small-sized business to a medium-sized business,” he said. “That includes the new space, introducing a benefits packages to our employees. That is vital to attract talent and reward existing employees. It’s all part of being a grown-up business.” While Linderbaum is creating the foundation for his company to grow, he doesn’t have specific expectations. “I’m not too set on any hard and fast numbers,” he said. “I’m a contrarian in all aspects of my life. I like to keep it simple. We concentrate on how we interact with our customers, our products. We focus on a few things and do them really, really well. Doing those simple things over and over leads to growth. It
is a simple business model. We can’t be all things to all people. “Some companies set aggressive sales goals, but sometimes the actions taken to reach those goals can backfire. “We have tremendous worklife balance,” he said. “I don’t like to work on the weekends. It is rare if I work over 40 hours a week.” Linderbaum said he sees a continuing diversion away from the agriculture economy in the Cedar Valley and more focus on technology, or companies that take advantage of technology. “Locally — and statewide — I see a shift toward science and technology. That’s the only way we can set ourselves apart. “I think business people in this area are hardworking, smart and conservative,” Linderbaum said. “Conservative in that we don’t overextend ourselves, and we tend to focus on business strategies that contribute just as much. “This building may not have been the smartest decision, but it is a passion project. I think it reflects my philosophy on business. Selling things to people is the oldest job in the world, yet we are putting a modern twist on it.”
facade on an existing strip mall. “We pretty much have everything spoken for that will be up this year,” said North Crossing developer Ben Stroh. “You’ll start to see activity and cars around there before long.” North Crossing just finished platting a lot for a new Kwik Star convenience store on the corner
of U.S. 63 and Donald. “We’re hoping that it will get done in ’18,” Stroh said. “I think that Kwik Star is going to be a great addition to that neighborhood and the hospital. “Other than that, I don’t know how much activity you’ll see this year,” he added. “But I know we’ll be doing a lot of planning and I
anticipate a lot of activity in 2019.” Construction on two major downtown projects along the highway are expected to be finished early this year. Developer Brent Dahlstrom is wrapping up working on a new Grand Crossing building at Mullan and Jefferson Street, which
“Locally — and statewide — I see a shift toward science and technology. That’s the only way we can set ourselves apart.” Shaun Linderbaum
BraceAbility By the numbers 5,000,000: People who visited the BraceAbility website last year. Eighty percent were from the United States, but people from every country visited the website. 150,000: Braces shipped in 2017. 20: People employed by BraceAbility. 200: Braces donated to the University of Northern Iowa Athletic Department. 70: Percent of BraceAbility workforce who are current UNI students or alumni. Fun facts Dahcotah, a local band that
hit it big in the 1970s, played its first and last shows in the BraceAbility building when it was the Circle Lounge. BraceAbility has an all-female management team with the exception of owner Shaun Linderbaum. BraceAbility has several pro athletes as customers, including a former Major League Baseball MVP.
will include a Jimmy John’s restaurant and ground floor office space with upper floor condominiums. Hawkeye Community College is expected to finish its downtown metro campus building on the former Waterloo Bowl-In site along Jefferson between East First Street and Mullan Avenue.
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PROGRESS 2018
C10 | Wednesday, February 21, 2018
The Courier
DISTek marks its 25th anniversary this year JIM OFFNER
DISTek
Special to The Courier
C
EDAR FALLS — A quarter-century is over in a flash. That seems to be the sentiment around DISTek Integration Inc., which turns 25 this year. It’s also the 20th anniversary for DISTek’s location – its largest of five — in Cedar Falls, where founder Matt Dickinson previously worked, at the John Deere Product Engineering Center. The Carthage, Ill.-based company relocated to Cedar Falls in 1998, expanded a few years later and purchased its present location on 6612 Chancellor Drive in 2005. The company designs software for off-highway equipment in agriculture, construction, forestry, mining and utility vehicles, including Deere. Jeremy Yoder, the DISTek’s chief operating officer, was one of the first employees hired at the Cedar Falls location. Yoder said the company always has been about growth, and recent developments spell that out. “We certainly want to continue to grow,” he said. “We’ve been making recent investments over the past several years of having employees – we added 17 employees last year. We want to add more going forward.” More than 60 of DISTek’s 107 employees work in Cedar Falls, which is the company’s chief operation base, Yoder said. “In 2011, we opened an office in Fargo, N.D., and in 2015 we opened offices in Milwaukee and Des Moines,” he said. “We opened some strategic new locations near our customer base. Iowa is a great for ag, but also Milwaukee and Fargo are strategic areas where both ends are stationed and doing business. “Now, we want to grow our employees and service offerings in those different areas.” DISTek also has been working to expand its business model, Yoder said.
By the numbers 72: Percent increase in ESOP share price. 2: New products (VT Server & Dash). 1: Nomination for TAI Ag Company of Year. 18: Supported local FIRST teams (Including Lego League, FIRST Tech Challenge, & FIRST Robotics). 17: New employee hires. 12: New off-highway industry customers. 5: Office locations (Cedar Falls, Des Moines, Carthage, Ill.; Fargo, N.D.; MATTHEW PUTNEY, COURIER PHOTO EDITOR and Milwaukee). 107: Number of current employees. Software engineers Ebu Mathew, foreground, and Chris Thatcher attend a virtual team meeting with people in the Des Moines office at the DISTek 185: Engineering projects (40 difoffices Jan. 22 in Cedar Falls. ferent customers). “Historically, we’ve been primarily a services-based company,” he said. “A customer says they need software for this controller on that implement, and we come in and provide expertise to design, develop and test it; now, we’re starting to create our own products to license and sell to our customers. We’ll remain primarily a services company, but we want to continue to invest and grow the number of products we offer.” Bob Thiesen, vice president of infrastructure, has been with DISTek for 10 of its 25 years. He said he moved to the Cedar Valley from Minnesota to take the job. “When I did, one of the things that struck me when I was looking to move was a company that had a similar set of value systems that I have,” Thiesen said. “When I came here, it was very apparent from the onset that it matched up very well.” DISTek’s modus operandi – it’s way of doing business – always has been focused on its “purpose, value and future,” Thiesen said. Employees are central to “The
DISTek Way,” he said. Indeed, he noted, employees now have an ownership stake in the company, having formally launched an employee stock ownership plan at the end of 2014. Employees reflect DISTek’s values and commitment, Yoder said. “Bob talked about our values, and I think that’s instrumental,” Yoder said. “We’re picky on who we hire. We want to hire people who are very strong technically but are a match for our DISTek way and culture.” DISTek does keep its eyes out on potential recruits, and its workers help, Thiesen said. “One thing we do is have a reward program in place for employee referrals,” he said. “We like to take employees that are alumni from the schools we’ve recruited before. We take them with us so they can speak at job fairs at those schools directly to potential candidates and share their experience at DISTek.” The company also is selective about its clientele, Thiesen noted. “We’re willing to say no if it isn’t a right fit for us,” he said. Indeed, DISTek has zeroed in on
Fun facts
employee event called “DISTek After Hours” – from Board Game Night to Dungeons and Dragons to Happy Hours, tailgating, and cookouts. There also is an occasional all-day LAN party for the most die-hard gamers.
DISTek is involved in the commu-
nity, sponsoring or donating to employee-driven activities, such as annual blood drive, flu clinic, FIRST (FLL, FTC, FRC), holiday adopt-a-family and area food shelf.
Employee owned through an
ESOP – 30 percent ownership today with plans to become 100 percent employee owned in the coming years.
a niche area for software applications, Yoder said. “We just focused on the off-highway industry – vehicle and equipment manufacturers that make ag equipment, tractors, combines, construction equipment like loaders and graders, forestry, miners,” he said. “We’ve developed a really solid reputation; if you need high-tech software and you’re in the off-road industry, DISTek is a great place to go.” DISTek’s locations now are spread out across the Midwest, but operations are cohesive, Yoder said. “We have a team that has members in Fargo, Des Moines and Milwaukee, as well as Cedar Falls, all working on similar projects,” he said. “We have a process of daily meetings (via) video conferencing. We can do face-to-face meetings, making sure we have enough bandwidth, making sure we have
the right tech tools in front of our employees.” Having numerous locations has its advantages, Thiesen said. “If we can deliver the product or service, it doesn’t matter where we’re at,” he said. “A lot of services, software development doesn’t have to be done on-site. That affords us great flexibility and allows us to put offices not only where there are potential clients, but also in locations where we can tap the employee base.” DISTek looks forward to even more success in the years ahead, although there always are challenges, Yoder noted. “We’re focusing on industry that’s feeding, building and powering the world and so those are all areas where there is increasing need for technology,” he said. “We feel bullish or optimistic about the industry we’re in.”
Rolls of product in the Standard Cedar Valley is second to none. Distribution warehouse in the The Cedar Valley community has Northern Cedar Falls Industrial been extremely helpful in sup- Park Jan. 24. porting our growth needs and we look forward to many more years and shopping for employees. Adof growth. ditionally, the aesthetic look of Martin Brothers director of the Industrial Park is a positive warehousing and operations, from both an employee and cusEthan Dewall said, “The high- tomer perspective.” way access is certainly a positive Kevin Hemmen, president of as are the easy access to food, fuel Waterloo Warehousing & Service
Co., said that company began 34 years ago with Deere as a main customer. “Deere’s still a big customer but we’ve added to our customers base,” he said. The company has multiple locations, including several repurposed industrial buildings and about 120 to 140 employees. He agreed the revamped metro road system attracted more companies to down and consequently more potential customer snad business for everyone. The Cedar Valley’s advantage is its people as well as the location, said Jordan Kettner of the Target Distribution Center. “One of the things that’s key for us is the workforce of the area, the strong work ethic and our ability to draw top talent — highly educated team members — and being able to retain them,” Kettner said. “The work force here in Cedar Falls, the Cedar Valley, rivals anywhere in the United States. With that, we have the ability to draw great leaders from the area. Wartburg, Iowa, Iowa State, the University of Northern Iowa, they’re preparing people ready to come right in.”
From C3
PHOTOS BY MATTHEW PUTNEY, COURIER PHOTO EDITOR
Stan Poe of Standard Distribution stands outside his warehouse in the Cedar Falls Industrial Park. ley since 1940 has allowed Martin Brothers to grow our distribution network not only in Iowa, but throughout the Midwest,” company chief operation officer Jeff Martin said. “Our operations center in the Cedar Falls Industrial Park allows our fleet to reach the entire Midwest market with easy access to highways. The quality of the workforce in the
About once a week, there is an
alumni, DISTek participates in job fairs and recruits employees from schools across the Mid-
With the help of employee
Warehousing is a plus, particularly with the size and weight of the products stored. The company built a rail spur access of the adjacent Canadian National Railway line to load and unload product right out its door. “We’ve had steady growth over the years,” Stan Poe said. “We used to just be food grade. We’re expanding our base and clientele,” adding ag and industrial products. “I think our customers like the Cedar Valley,” Stan Poe said. “First of all, there’s good trucking here. Secondly, it’s a central location. You look on a map and you can draw arrows out to all these major metro areas that are within a six-hour drive. That’s kind of impressive.” Another family-owned warehousing and distribution business, Martin Brothers Distributing Co., said the highway access and labor pool has only accelerated their growth through the generations as a regional distributor of institutional food products. “Being located in the Cedar Val-
west – UNI, Hawkeye Community College, Iowa State, University of Iowa, Warburg, NDSU, University of Minnesota, Bradley, University of Wisconsin – Platteville, MSOE — just to name a few.
History of Cedar falls Community Credit union
Celebrate
60 years
with your hometown credit union!
Cedar Falls Community Credit Union was chartered in 1958 as Local #1728 Machinists Credit Union with 89 original members. In February 1960, our name was changed to Muni-Fac Credit Union, and membership was open to local municipal and factory employees. The credit union applied for a community charter in 1982 and became Cedar Falls Community Credit Union. In 1989, we expanded to Waverly when Century Life, now CUNA Mutual Group, requested we serve their employees. Being land locked at 411 Main Street in Cedar Falls caused a relocation of our main office to our current location at 123 W 4th Street in 1991. We have merged in several smaller credit unions over the years, including Waterloo Industries Credit Union, Bantam Credit Union, and Swiss Valley Farms Credit Union. In November of 1999, we expanded by adding our branch at 420 Viking Rd in the Cedar Falls Industrial Park. Since 1958, the credit union has grown steadily in size. Our community charter in 1991 gave us a field of membership of 7 counties including and surrounding Black Hawk County. In 2017, we applied to the Iowa Credit Union Division, and were approved to expand and serve a 20 county field of membership in Northeast Iowa.
123 W. 4th st., Cedar Falls, Ia 50613
(319) 266-7531 www.cfccu.org
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THE COURIER ANNUAL PROGRESS EDITION
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C12 | Wednesday, February 21, 2018
The Courier
Progress in 2018 Soon to open our doors at 5307 Caraway Lane to the public!
Watch for these new venues to open in April and May. dining with creative flair • Fine fresh local foods • Farm for any special occasion • Perfect • To be open daily 11 a.m. - 9 p.m.
extension of Table 1912 ’ • AnTo beelegant GILMORES • open daily 11 a.m. - 9 p.m. PUB EST.
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fare • Fast-casual soups, salads and more • ToPaninis, • be open daily 7 a.m. - 8 p.m. for parties, receptions, luncheons, galas • Perfect for up to 400 at tables • Seating DI A M O N D audio and visual • State-of-the-art reservations now! • Taking • Contact Crystal at (319) 859-9324 event center
Want to live next door and enjoy the attached wellness center and pool, reserved for residents and employees? Only a few homes remain at Prairie Wind!
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jesup • grundy center • reinbeck • denver • cresco • madrid • huxley www.WesternHomeCommunities.org 00 1
Wednesday, February 21, 2018 | C13
The Courier
UNIQUE. LOCAL. BOOK. JUST PUBLISHED AVAILABLE NOW HARDCOVER BOOK
CEDAR VALLEY MEMORIES VOL. III A PICTORIAL HISTORY $44.95 • LIMITED SUPPLY
Get this hardcover book while supplies last! After the overwhelming popularity of Cedar Valley Memories Volumes I and II, The Courier is proud to present this final volume in our Memories series: “Cedar Valley Memories III: More Than 125 Years of History in Photographs.” This heirloom-quality coffee-table book offers a final glimpse of historic Cedar Valley from the early years to current day through stunning historic photos from the archives of the Grout Museum and the Bremer County Historical Society and The Courier. In addition, as one last invitation, we are thrilled to include photographic memories of years gone by from our readers. This beautiful book truly captures the rich heritage of our area. Remaining books are selling quickly, so get your copy at $44.95 plus tax/shipping today!
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EXAMPLE PAGES FROM THE BOOK
ABOVE: Royal Neighbors of Horton, circa 1900. Included in photo: Frank Boyd, Maggie Suvell, Nettie Fassett, Clara Thompson, Fanny Booker, Adaline Miller, Anna Thompson, Edith Inglam, Hattie Chambers, Viola Gallagher, Sylvia Dather, Dora Empson, Nancy Haines, Clara Abrams, Uretta Jackson, Nettie Chandler, Will Watkins. COURTESY BREMER COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY MUSEUM OPPOSITE LEFT: George T. Moulds grocery store, 307 East Bremer Avenue in Waverly, circa 1900. George Moulds is on the left. COURTESY BREMER COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY MUSEUM OPPOSITE TOP RIGHT: First- and second-grade class from John G. Holland School, circa 1898. Located at the intersection of Mulberry and Sixth Streets in Waterloo, the school served students between 1864 and 1898. COURTESY GROUT MUSEUM ARCHIVES OPPOSITE BOTTOM RIGHT: A busy Waterloo shoe store, circa 1900. COURTESY GROUT MUSEUM ARCHIVES 10 | TURN OF THE CENTURY
TURN OF THE CENTURY | 11
CHAPTER TWO
THE 1920s AND ’30s The Cedar Valley was literally on the move in the 1920s and ’30s — partly out of changing times and modes of transportation, but also from economic necessity, particularly when hard times hit in the second half of the period. By the dawn of this era, Waterloo had established itself as a key railroad crossroads between major cities in the upper Midwest, like Chicago, Kansas City, St. Louis, and Minneapolis. It was served by large railroads — and employers — such as the Illinois Central and Rock Island lines. Those railroads moved goods in and out of the area as the Cedar Valley’s industrial base grew and prospered. Those modes of transportation also had moved people to the area as the Cedar Valley’s population grew and became increasingly diverse, particularly in Waterloo. A cursory examination of street scenes from this era, compared to those before it, shows the Cedar Valley had become largely horseless in its modes of transportation. Horses and buggies dotted the streets at the turn of the century, but automobiles ruled by this period. Along with that came public transportation in the form of trolley and interurban cars that traversed downtown streets in Waterloo and between adjoining communities. The Cedar Valley needed brain power as well as brawn, and during this era many of the present-day educational institutions took shape. Waterloo had one school district instead of separate ones for each side of town. Cedar Falls and Waverly districts were already well established. Institutions of higher learning had taken root — most noticeably Iowa State Teachers College in Cedar Falls, under the leadership of its longest-serving president, Homer Seerley. Wartburg
College took up residence in Waverly, relocating from Clinton, and Waterloo boasted business and technical education in the form of Gates Business College, a forerunner to what is now Hawkeye Community College. As the area grew, so, too, did appetites for recreation. Electric Park, an amusement park and entertainment venue, and the adjoining National Dairy Cattle Congress flourished during this time. Numerous businesses sponsored baseball teams, and palatial entertainment venues like Waterloo’s Paramount Theatre were established. As was the case with the rest of the country, the good times of the 1920s came to an end with a resounding thud during the Great Depression of the 1930s. The rails that had brought people and jobs to Waterloo now became a convenient, if not necessarily legal, means of transportation for men riding the rails looking for work. The New Deal and initiatives like the Civilian Conservation Corps represented attempts to stave off hard times. As growth occurred in the first decade of this era, there was increased need for police and fire protection. With the declining economy of the ’30s, some chose less-than-legal and sometimes violent alternatives to survive. Waterloo’s now-established police force earned its pay when officers shot and killed John Dillinger gang member Tommy Carroll in a downtown pursuit and gun battle in this era. While times were indeed lean by the end of the 1930s, the Depression didn’t last forever. Cedar Valley residents would soon be on the move again — this time, off to war.
OPPOSITE: A group gathering at Lauerman’s, located on the corner of West Fourth and Jefferson Streets in Waterloo, for the broadcast of Voice of Iowa featuring R. J. McElroy (center, holding microphone), circa 1935. COURTESY GROUT MUSEUM ARCHIVES 32 | THE 1920s AND ’30s
Our Location
THE 1920s AND ’30s | 33
164 W. Dale St., Waterloo, IA 50703
Outreach Locations Prairie Parkway (Tuesday Afternoon & Thursday Morning) 5100 Prairie Parkway, Cedar Falls, IA 50613
ABOVE: Employees of John Deere in Waterloo next to the horizontal milling machine, 1948. In the center is Joseph Maxwell Branson, foreman. COURTESY GROUT MUSEUM ARCHIVES, COPYRIGHT DEERE & COMPANY
ABOVE RIGHT: Rath Packing Company employees on strike, 1948. COURTESY LEO R. LARSON RIGHT: Homecoming queens at Wartburg College, 1948. Seated, from left: Laura Gogg,
Jackie Sales. Standing: Donna Kratchmer, Emma Jean Aardal, Ellen Niewohner, Arlene Matthias, Delores Minneart, Mary Lou DeNeui. COURTESY BREMER COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY MUSEUM OPPOSITE: Black Hawk Motorcycle Club competition riders, circa 1948. From left: Mickey Jackson, Casey Jones, Jim Kearney, Bob Piper, Lloyd Tibbitts, Kenny Klein. COURTESY GROUT MUSEUM ARCHIVES
60 | THE 1940s AND ’50s
Waverly Health Center (Tuesday) 312 9th St. SW, Waverly, IA 50677
THE 1940s AND ’50s | 61
Grundy County Memorial Hospital (Thursday) 201 East J Ave., Grundy Center, IA 50638 ABOVE: Shaton Starks (left) helping Jemilex Rivera with the controls on an excavator simulator in the Hawkeye Community College construction equipment simulator trailer, January 15, 2016. COURTESY THE COURIER ABOVE LEFT: Members of team East High heading for dry land after participating in the Polar Plunge benefiting Special Olympics Iowa at George Wyth State Park, April 9, 2016. COURTESY THE COURIER LEFT: Participants in the 2016 Iowa Games Snowshoe 5k/10k race at Hartman Reserve in Cedar Falls, January 30, 2016. COURTESY THE COURIER OPPOSITE: Todd Thompson delivering mail in the snow along Home Park Boulevard in Waterloo, February 2, 2016. COURTESY THE COURIER
138 | THE NEW MILLENNIUM
THE NEW MILLENNIUM | 139
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Progress 2018: Cedar Valley by the Numbers
PEOPLE to watch in business
Wednesday, February 21, 2018 | wcfcourier.com | SECTION D
Amy Wienands CEO, broker/owner, Amy Wienands Real Estate nity. By getting involved with different things and sponsoring things we’ll continue to increase our capacity as far as giving back.
META HEMENWAY-FORBES
meta.hemenway-forbes@ wcfcourier.com
What drives you?
G
rowth is what drives me. The pursuit to do things What makes the Cedar on a different level and just Valley a great place continually raising the bar on the level of professionalism and the for business? way we function as a team. Our Obviously it’s the people. And whole approach is growth and we have such a big millennial always doing it better. population that’s growing, and that’s exciting. The Cedar ValWhat’s your biggest ley does a great job working with accomplishment in 2017? entrepreneurs and encouraging entrepreneurship. There’s a lot It’s a combination of things. of support from our commuNot only did we grow our team, nity in that. We have (Hawkeye we moved into a new building Community College) and (the and still serviced families in re- University of Northern Iowa) cord numbers. It was the right and think tanks for business. Betime and the right team mem- cause of that we are gaining mobers. We are a company that re- mentum in the Cedar Valley in ally believes in services, and we the way of young, bright thinkraised the level of how we mar- ers who are generous financially ket things. The marketing plans and with their time. For families, we’ve taken on have attracted I think our school systems are new buyers and sellers. I have a great. We have a great bike trail great team. We are 100 percent system, great golf courses and team-centric; everyone in our downtowns that are expanding. office is a specialist and we come The Cedar Valley has many gifts. together as a team.
What’s one piece of advice you’d give others?
What are your goals for 2018? Our goals are to continue to serve even more families than last year and to raise the bar in our industry. My goal is to get our team more visible. We want to raise our giving. Part of our mission statement is to make a positive impact on our commu-
Generosity wins. When you care about clients, it’s always a good deal. And always take the high road; you avoid a lot of pitfalls that way. Caring about your client instead of it just being a deal is something we’ll always do. Always walk in integrity and professionalism.
BRANDON POLLOCK, COURIER STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
Dave Morgan stands inside SingleSpeed Brewery in downtown Waterloo.
Dave Morgan Owner, SingleSpeed Brewing Co.
META HEMENWAY-FORBES
meta.hemenway-forbes@ wcfcourier.com
What drives you?
I
’m a mission-driven individual. My mission in the world of business right now is pretty simple: to make SingleSpeed Brewing Company the best it can be by consistently choosing to do the right thing while creating a great thing. How do we define ‘doing the right thing?’ That is a tough thing for us to do in short-form fashion, but our focus points include treating the environment responsibility, creating a work
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environment/culture that peo- fore 2018 draws to a close, we ple want to be a part of and grow hope for all of Iowa to have easy within, and staying active in our access to our liquid. community.
What makes the Cedar What was your biggest Valley a great place to do accomplishment in 2017? business? Surviving.
What are your goals for 2018?
The people. It’s as simple as that. The people of the Cedar Valley are second to none in terms of drive and vision.
To continue driving our com- What is a lesson you’ve pany forward in a responsible learned in your journey? manner. Among other things, this will include increasing proPatience is a virtue, but comduction, packaging options and placency is a detriment. Do not our distribution footprint. Be- confuse the two.
MATTHEW PUTNEY, COURIER PHOTO EDITOR
Amy Wienands, CEO of Amy Wienands Real Estate, in her new offices on West Ridgeway Avenue in Waterloo.
Jerry Thiel
Mark Kitrell
Kris Hansen
Exploring new technologies and sharing them with industry D2
Helping change the face of downtown Cedar Falls D4
Helping Western Home residents and employees live fulfilling lives D7
PROGRESS 2018
D2 | Wednesday, February 21, 2018
The Courier
BRANDON POLLOCK, COURIER STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
Jerry Thiel is director of the University of Northern Iowa Metal Casting Center, Rapid Casting Technologies, at Cedar Valley TechWorks.
Jerry Thiel to smaller, individual companies.
META HEMENWAY-FORBES
meta.hemenway-forbes@ wcfcourier.com
What drives you?
Y
What’s your biggest accomplishment in 2017?
ou know, what drives me is the opportunity to to explore new technologies and to be able to share this with people in the industry. (We have) the largest commercially available (3D printer in North America). It’s done well for us to be able to work with companies all the way from John Deere and big corporations, right down
Director, UNI Metal Casting Center, Rapid Casting Technologies
from the Department of Defense and U.S. military, to who we cater to — small- and medium-sized enterprises who create supply chains for larger companies. Iowa is full of small- to medium-sized companies that are finally now seeing additive manufacturing as a method to create parts.
up the position we have in the industry is a challenge. 2018 will be a year of growing with new technology and new interactions and partnerships with companies that produce the technology, and probably opportunities for larger amounts of students.
I think it’s the scope and the size of the audience that we reached with the technology. When additive manufacturing came out there was a bubble of interest. What we saw What makes the Cedar in 2017 was really an adoption of What are your goals Valley a great place for the technologies, an integration in for 2018? business? the companies and their business. There’s been a real growth of adPart of our goals are to continue The people. There’s no doubt ditive manufacturing in everything with what we’re doing. Keeping about it. The people form the basis
Jim Walsh
What’s one piece of advice you give others? Persistence. Perseverance. Those are the major attributes of all of the students we see pass through the center. We currently employ about 24 students and give them the opportunity to test their mettle.
JSA president, VGM board chairman Cedar Valley a great place for business?
META HEMENWAY-FORBES,
meta.hemenway-forbes@ wcfcourier.com
“Well, it’s stable. It’s got a quality workforce; it’s not a big enough workforce, but it’s a quality workforce. Except for January and Febru-
What drives you?
‘W
ell, I’m trying to re-establish the center of the community. It’s been neglected, the victim of bad public relations. It’s generally in need of a lot of help, so somebody has to do it. That’s what I’m doing.”
ary (weather), why wouldn’t and city government will you want to be located here?” always disappoint you. ... A good example is they incent What is a lesson you strip malls on the edges of have learned in your the city and draw tenants away from existing properjourney? ties. ... Why encourage and “Persistence is necessary incent them?”
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Lighting Design Wiring Updates
What’s was your biggest accomplishment in 2017? “I’ve been working on downtown since 2001. It’s 15-plus years of projects, making buildings attractive to tenants and businesses,” he said. Walsh also is board chairman and general counsel for VGM Group Inc., which provides business solutions to more than 25,000 companies across the country in a variety of industries including health care, restaurant, insurance, golf and more. VGM, which employs more than 900 people, is headquartered in Waterloo with offices in Georgia, Kansas, Florida, Arizona, New Jersey and Canada.
of companies. And this is a fantastic quality of life in the Cedar Valley. It’s not a big city, so we don’t have the issues of big cities — the traffic, the crowding.
BEST THE COURIER
OF THE BEST
2017
The Cedar Valley’s 7 time winner of the Best of the Best Electrician! COURIER FILE PHOTO
RESIDENTIAL/COMMERCIAL NEW CONSTRUCTION & REMODELING
Jim Walsh is president of JSA, a downtown Waterloo development firm, and board chairman and general counsel for VGM Group Inc.
What are your goals for 2018? “We’ve got three or four buildings laid out that are awaiting action from the state to approve for historic tax credits. Tax credits are under attack (at the statehouse) in Des Moines, but
they are not all the same,” Walsh said, adding that without historic tax credits some historic buildings that could and should be restored will meet the wrecking ball instead.
What makes the
Cedar Valley Electric
5743 Westminster,Suite A, Cedar Falls, IA 319-266-1134
www.cedarvalleyelectric.com
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PROGRESS 2018
The Courier
Tom Poe
Wednesday, February 21, 2018 | D3
President, Crystal Distribution Services Inc.
PAT KINNEY
pat.kinney@wcfcourier.com
What drives you?
I
’ve always had this feeling there’s more to do; we can do better; never settling for things as they are as OK. Keep pushing forward. Some people don’t like that.
What’s your biggest accomplishment in 2017? Last year, putting together this deal with the city and our bank (Farmers State Bank of Jesup) to get Poe this ($5.5 million freezer) expansion project off the ground and started. That’s probably the biggest thing that happened.
What are your goals for 2018?
Complete the construction of this freezer expansion and make it available to our customers to provide more service to them — space and services. And emphasize with our team here we need to consider ourselves true partners with our customers, be their eyes and ears, and do the very best we can. That’s what keeps us in business.
What makes the Cedar Valley a great place for business? The Cedar Valley in general is a great location — central location in an agricultural region between a lot of major cities. But in addition to that, it’s our people who show up to work every day who make things happen. Without a real dedicated crew we’re not able to provide that quality service for our customers. It’s not a very glamorous business. It’s always cold, even in the summer. But my hat’s off to all the people who work here, because they make it happen. We’ve been fortunate to get a good group of people that do come into work in a tough environment. We don’t have much turnover. That’s kind of a nice tes-
MATTHEW PUTNEY, COURIER PHOTO EDITOR
Crystal Distribution employees bag, weigh, and package pork Jan. 18 in Waterloo. timony to what we’re doing and we try to just out of college. My family had bought treat our people properly. My hat’s off to the business from the Young family, and our supervisors. we needed to find a manager. I said I’d try it for a short time until I found a real What’s a lesson you’ve learned job. Now here I am, over 38 years later. Nobody starts out in their careers exin your journey? pecting to stay in the same job very long. In 1979, I started in this business. I was However, when you find something you
enjoy (and) you’re able to work with good people, nothing’s really any better than that, so what else would you want? You work with dedicated staff and good customers, and it makes life good. Never give up. Set you goals high and enjoy the journey — with getting up and freezing every day!
A Worldwide Leader in Protein, Cedar Valley Strong Tyson Fresh Meats is the world’s leading provider of protein, including pork, chicken and beef. The Waterloo facility produces fresh cuts of pork such as boneless loins, tenderloins, hams and cuts of ribs, all of which are sold to retail, wholesale and foodservice customers throughout the world. Construction on the plant began in spring of 1988 and plant operations began May 3, 1990, under the IBP brand. Tyson Foods, Inc. purchased the plant in 2003. The facility currently has an annual payroll of more than $88 million. Our company and our team members are active in the community, donating food, time and financial support to many Cedar Valley nonprofit organizations and events. We partner with the Northeast Iowa Food Bank, United Way and the Salvation Army by raising funds annually through Tyson’s philanthropic effort, Powering the Spirit, which aims to end childhood hunger. Beyond Tyson’s many community contributions, our greatest asset are our 3,000 2,400 team members and the diversity they bring to the community. The many cultures found in our halls enrich the lives of everyone on the Tyson team, and in the Cedar Valley.
501 North Elk Run Road | 319-236-2636 00 1
w w w. t y s o n . c o m
PROGRESS 2018
D4 | Wednesday, February 21, 2018
Mark Kittrell
The Courier
Developer, managing partner of Eagle View Partners LC are interesting things going on. We have a great, casual lifestyle and we just don’t do enough to tell that story. It’s well known here and we all appreciate it, but what we have here is not that common anymore that there are simple, safe, ideal places where you’d like to spend your time. We have the makings of a lot of that. I moved away and spent years in other places. That’s what brought me back.
META HEMENWAY-FORBES
meta.hemenway-forbes @wcfcourier.com
What drives you?
I
’ve been really blessed in my career and I’m getting to a point in my life where what I find interesting is working with, mentoring young people. I’m really focusing on helping build the community bench of up-and-coming folks. These are things I can feel proud of and make a lasting impression on the community.
What’s a lesson you’ve learned in your journey?
What’s your biggest accomplishment in 2017? We’ve been working downtown here since 2011. In 2017 we really focused on getting people working in downtown (Cedar Falls). Our strategy has been live, work and play in downtown — our urban ethos. We have a vibrant and growing community of young people; they needed a really great place to work, so we really focused on the Mill Race project to accomplish that.
BRANDON POLLOCK, COURIER STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
Mark Kittrell stands on a balcony in the Mill Race building, overlooking Cedar Falls.
ing. We are just in the process of completing the transaction of taking over Blackhawk Hotel. It’s a historic landmark in downtown (Cedar Falls). It has taken a year What are your goals for for us to put this whole deal together, so this year we’re going to 2018? focus on making that hotel great in 2018 is going to be interest- downtown. We really are focusing
on regional tourism in the Cedar the land) on that. Valley. We want people to see us as a place for vacationing and spend- What makes the Cedar ing weekend getaways. That’s a big Valley a great place for issue for us. And there’s another 130 rooms coming to downtown business? with the (proposed) Hampton Inn. It’s always been about the peoWe are very pleased to work with ple. If you look around the Cedar the Western Home (which owns Valley, people are nice and there
This is the one I get on a soapbox about. There is a general sentiment that Iowans are not very good at change. I don’t think that’s quite correct. It’s not the most natural thing for us to think about doing something, but once we spend time talking and coming to consensus about things, we are very, very good at rallying around one another, putting our differences aside and volunteering and investing of ourselves. As a community, we do a really good job of that. We change and work as a community. There is so much national disunity; our unity as a community holds us up. That is our strength.
Pam Delagardelle CEO, president, UnityPoint Health
2018?
META HEMENWAY-FORBES
meta.hemenway-forbes @wcfcourier.com
The goal is to continue moving forward with more accessible locations and continue to be a more What drives you? affordable solution for health care. t is a deep passion for creating We’re going to have a year of staaccess to health care. It’s the bilization to optimize the work we legacy I want to leave — bet- are doing. ter access, more affordable care. I started out as a nurse. I was born What makes the Cedar to be in health care. But I never ex- Valley a great place for pected or wanted to be CEO. But it’s about creating a culture in this business? organization that builds relationIt’s the people. We rarely have ships with patients, where lead- trouble recruiting caregivers to ers lead to improve health in the come here. When people come community. here they see our great schools, neighborhoods, theaters, muWhat’s your biggest sic, trails. We’re small enough accomplishment in 2017? to be friendly and large enough to have plenty of things and acI believe we have done a lot to tivities to enjoy. And we can be improve access to care. Our new where we need to be in 10 to 15 urgent care centers (Prairie Park- minutes. way in Cedar Falls and San Marnan Drive location in Waterloo) What’s a lesson you’ve are solving access issues. Sav- learned in your journey? ing Marshalltown Hospital from bankruptcy and preventing interAt this point in my career it’s to ruption of care is another. (Unity- create an environment for people Point acquired UnityPoint Health to develop. I feel a responsibility — Marshalltown, which includes a in my role to give opportunities hospital, outpatient medical park for growth and development. I and four primary care clinics.) want to model that. I owe it to the community to give back my talWhat are your goals for ents and time. Pam Delagardelle is president and CEO of UnityPoint Health-Waterloo.
I
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MATTHEW PUTNEY, COURIER PHOTO EDITOR
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Wednesday, February 21, 2018 | D5
The Courier
JOIN US FOR THE PUBLIC
WATERLOO CELEBRATION Fri., June 15 3:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. Sat., June 16 10:00 a.m. - 8:00 p.m. Waterloo Convention Center and John Deere Tractor & Engine Museum
EVENTS INCLUDE
Live Entertainment Inflatable Fun for All Ages Kid Games & Activities Special Exhibits
Free admission. Food and beverages available for purchase. Trolleys available for easy transportation.
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www.VisitJohnDeere.com
PROGRESS 2018
D6 | Wednesday, February 21, 2018
The Courier
Allen and Wendell Speller Father and son owners of Spellers True Value META HEMENWAY-FORBES
meta.hemenway-forbes @wcfcourier.com
W hat drives you?
Wendell: Online is something we’re really pushing. People can buy online and get it shipped to the store.
A
llen Speller: The ulti- What makes the Cedar mate goal is to build up Valley a great place to the whole area (north of do business? the Cedar River.) Wendell Speller: I’ve been Allen: The support of the (in Waterloo) since ’59 or ’60, community. Growing up here and when the opportunity came you tend to know everybody. to open this business, it was People want you to succeed. never a question of where. Wendell: The customer base is just unbelievable. They are What was your biggest down to earth and very supportive. At the beginning we accomplishment in could tell it was going to be 2017? more than a hardware store. Wendell: Surviving the sum- It’s a building block for the mer. They tore up East Fourth community. Street on us. But people were still coming. They had to drive What’s one piece of through alleys to get here. We’re advice you’d give to getting back on track now and others? ready for spring. Allen: Rally up. Get other What are your goals for people involved. Ask a ton of questions. We talked to other 2018? business owners and the mayor. Allen: We are hoping for a In our first meeting with (Mayor stronger spring and summer. Quentin Hart) I didn’t shut up Our customers told us they for 20 minutes. MATTHEW PUTNEY, COURIER PHOTO EDITOR Wendell: Don’t be shy. Step wanted an outdoor area, so we’ll be working on that, getting gar- up and go for it. You didn’t Allen Speller, left, and his father, Wendell Speller, are owners of Spellers True Value on East Fourth Street in den supplies and flowers. know how to walk once, either. Waterloo.
Stan Poe Owner, Standard Distribution Co. new projects, which potentially will increase our overall business diversification.
PAT KINNEY
pat.kinney@wcfcourier.com
What drives you?
M
What makes the Cedar Valley a great place for business?
y brother David and myself represent the third generation in our family business. My grandfather Stan Seroke started our business in 1936 so my personal drive is to keep the business moving forward, especially since we now have fourth-generation family involved. Statistically, secondand third-generation family owners do not have good track records; I don’t care to join that group.
The Cedar Valley provides a centralized Midwest location for logistical applications and has a diverse business base that affords opportunities for companies such as warehousing. Also, as most of us recognize, the Cedar Valley is comprised of people who understand the value of hard work; many locations can not duplicate this vital asset.
What’s your biggest accomplishment in 2017? In August 2017, we began a project to add 53,000 square feet of warehousing space to our Savannah Park facility, which will provide us with needed capacity to improve operational efficiencies. In addition, we spent a great deal of time
What’s one piece of advice you’d give others? MATTHEW PUTNEY, COURIER PHOTO EDITOR
Stan Poe of Standard Distribution stands in of his warehouse in the Cedar Falls Industrial Park. planning a potential project that could provide us with new capabilities to attract a diverse set of clienteles.
What are your goals for 2018?
rate our expansion at Savannah Park Road into our existing facility and reorganize the 330,000In early 2018, we will incorpo- sq. ft. facility. We also plan on
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PROGRESS 2018
The Courier
Wednesday, February 21, 2018 | D7
MATTHEW PUTNEY, COURIER PHOTO EDITOR
Kris Hansen, CEO of the Western Home.
Kris Hansen META HEMENWAY-FORBES,
meta.hemenway-forbes @wcfcourier.com
What drives you?
I
think innovation and really trying to change the way things go, if they need changed. How do we always try to continue to improve quality of life? How can we keep moving so that folks enjoy a life as fulfilled as long as they can, not only for our residents but for our employees and family members. How can we, as stakeholders in our community, develop an intergenerational component so there’s no isolation or segregation (as people age). We want to create a collaborative atmosphere for the greater good for all.
What was your biggest accomplishment in 2017? Getting Prairie Winds (in Cedar Falls) open and also getting a lot of (progress made) on Jorgensen Plaza.
What are your goals for 2018? Jorgensen Plaza (in Cedar Falls). It really is about holistic wellness. We certainly will have our inpatient and outpatient therapy programs to rehabilitate people and restore them to get back out into the community. But we’re also taking a very proactive approach with medically based wellness — resistance training, fall prevention, programs like tai chi and yoga. We really are trying to go after this in a very holistic way, spiritual care included. We’re also working on Salon Iris, an Aveda salon, that will be open to the public. ... We’re not trying to compete with salons in our community; we’re just trying to do things in a different way. Get grandma, mother and granddaughter to have a relaxed spa day together. There’ll also be an aquatic center with a four-lane Olympic-sized pool and an aquatic walking track. On top of that we’ll have three dining venues (including)
Caraway cafe, a fast casual you’ve learned along experience, (and) Table your journey? 1912, which is fine dining. This is certainly a team All of these are open to the effort. If I didn’t have a public as well. It really is great team around me and about bringing people in a great board of directors, I from the community to have a nice place to dine on the south side of Cedar Falls.
What makes the Cedar Valley a great place for business?
What’s a lesson
Since 1903 We’ve been keeping you comfortable for four generations!
The Young Heating Company was started in 1943 by Dick H. Young and his brother, Bob Young, as an off-shoot of The Young Coal Company. The original business was selling and servicing oil burners. In the late 1940’s, natural gas was introduced into the Waterloo/Cedar Falls area and the company expanded to sell, install and service natural gas burners and furnaces. They later added plumbing to better serve the home builders and home owners with a total mechanical system. With the introduction of affordable residential and commercial air conditioning in the mid 1950’s, the company became a dealer and installer of York water cooled air conditioners.
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Today, Young Plumbing & Heating Co. is locally owned by the Young, Becker and Tink families with Mark Tink currently serving as President and Travis Young currently serving as Vice President
your partner in
Choosing the Community Foundation of Northeast Iowa to assist you in reaching your charitable goals benefits the causes you care about, your community, and you.
Anyone can make a difference in the community they love and we can show you where to start.
In 1968 the company was changed from a partnership into a corporation and became the Young Plumbing and Heating Co. as it is known today. Also at that time, Arnold Becker, who joined the company in 1953, participated in the ownership and management of the company and served as President of the company from 1975 until his retirement in 1994.
As it is known today…
the wait staff, CNAs, nurses, the people who are hands on with our residents and impacting their lives are the ones who make this organization what it is.
Since 1956, we’ve been helping people turn their charitable dreams into a legacy of good for their community. Thanks to the incredible generosity of visionary people, we have granted over $85 million to nonprofits across our region.
Since the 1880’s when The Young Coal Company started selling coal and 1903 when they harvested and sold ice from the Cedar River, Young’s have been keeping the people of Iowa’s Cedar Valley comfortable all along.
From that point on, the company was the mechanical contractor on a large number of projects within a 50 mile radius of Waterloo, with some projects as far away as Iowa State University in Ames and The University of Iowa in Iowa City. Now approximately 80% of Young’s business is in the commercial, institutional and industrial market covering most of Northeast Iowa.
just couldn’t do everything I do on a national and state stage. The least important job in this organization is mine. My team, from our environmental services,
The Cedar Valley is just a great community. There’s a lot of educational opportunities, and the athletics of (University of Northern Iowa) and the performing arts — we are the biggest small town that offers all of the things that a wonderful community could offer. We have a lot of talent, dedication, work ethic and innovation. The energy, the pride of who we are as a community really shows. ... This community is phenomenal (with) retail, dining, housing, a great qualify of life and quality leaders who care.
YOUNG PLUMBING & HEATING CO.
Through these years the company’s clientele were predominately single family residential, retail and office buildings. In 1956, Young Heating Company diversified into the commercial, institutional and industrial plumbing and HVAC business by being the successful bidder for the new Waterloo West High School.
CEO, Western Home Communities
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319-287-9106
Confirmed in Compliance with National Standards for U.S. Community Foundations.
D8 | Wednesday, February 21, 2018
The Courier
Quality Service and Integrity Huff Contracting utilizes a proven quality assurance process to ensure every build meets or exceeds our rigorous quality requirements.Your HCI consultant will meet with you and the architect to define the scope and goal of your project. Our estimating team will evaluate the plan to ensure every aspect is clearly specified and properly budgeted.
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Thanks to these local employers for suppor ting Waterloo Schools as Waterloo Career Center sponsors!
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Progress 2018: Cedar Valley by the Numbers
Things to watch for
COMMUNITY GROWTH Wednesday, February 21, 2018 | wcfcourier.com | SECTION E
Breaking barriers Omega Cabinets innovative in finding, keeping workers KRISTIN GUESS
kristin.guess@wcfcourier.com
W
ATERLOO — What began as a cold, hard business strategy has turned into a warm welcome to work for some Cedar Valley residents. Kyle Roed, recently departed human resources manager with MasterBrand Cabinets Inc., a parent company of Omega Cabinets, was facing a serious shortage of workers more than a year ago. “The participation rate (of employment) in the WaterlooCedar Falls area is lower than the state average,” Roed said. “We were around 67 percent, state of Iowa is around 70 percent,” he said, and that equates to roughly 3,500 that “hypothetically should be working, but aren’t.” After implementing an inclusion strategy, there is now a waiting list for employment at Omega Cabinets. “The response has been great. It’s made people proud to work here, it’s made me proud to work here,” he said. Roed tasked himself with finding what was causing the shortage of willing and able workers. Based on his findings, he developed an inclusion strategy that has not only made a positive impact on Omega Cabinets, but has potential to be a model for other companies as well. “Now, it’s just a very personal passion, and I just want to go out and keep doing this stuff because I’m seeing the impact on the community,” he said.
MATTHEW PUTNEY, COURIER PHOTO EDITOR
Po Du, a team leader in the hand-sanding division of Omega Cabinets works on a cabinet front panel Feb. 5 in Waterloo. Roed began by partnering with several community organizations with deep roots in the community, including Ethnic Minorities of Burma Advocacy and Resource Center of Waterloo, Hawkeye Community College and Inclusion Connection. “I realized that if you look at that data set but then you also look at the unemployment numbers specifically in minority pop-
ulations, they’re extremely high compared to what we consider non-diverse populations,” he said. Roed was determined to find the discrepancies, and he did.
translating program with the help of Hawkeye Community College. The English Language Learning classes allow those who don’t speak English to learn the language, acquire communication skills and be paid at the same time. English Language “We’ve found a lot of people are very motivated to work, but if Learning they can’t continue to grow those Beginning in February, Omega English skills, they’re going to be Cabinets launched an onsite underemployed,” Roed said.
There are now 10 translators that are considered team leaders who help their co-workers communicate on the job. “Now that we’ve started to do this, we’ve seen more and more diversity within the languages that are needed,” Roed said. Translators at Omega speak Marshallese, also known as Ebon, Please see OMEGA, Page E7
Downtown, everything old is new again Downtown
AMIE STEFFEN
amie.steffen@wcfcourier.com
W
ATERLOO — Take a walk around downtown Waterloo today, and you’d likely find a lot more to interest you than you would have just a decade ago. Historic buildings on both sides of the Cedar River have been saved from the wrecking ball and redeveloped into thriving storefronts, restaurants, bars and loft apartments. Other spaces have been turned into more or less public spaces for the community, like the RiverLoop Amphitheatre, Expo Plaza and dek hockey rink. Perhaps no downtown project more exemplifies the initial resistance, community support and ultimately successful revitalization better than SingleSpeed Brewing Co., which transformed the old Hostess bakery on Commercial Street. While the multi-million-dollar historic and LEED-certified renovation of a former industrial bakery into a 500-capacity brewpub and beer distributor seems a foregone conclusion now that it’s been thriving for more than a year, it wasn’t always that way. “You have to think about how much of a battle it was,” said Jeff
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By the numbers 12: Attractions in downtown Waterloo open to the public, including museums, recreation centers and sports facilities. 16: Bars and night-life establishments in downtown Waterloo. 17: Retail establishments in downtown Waterloo. 18: The number of restaurants and eateries in downtown Waterloo. MATTHEW PUTNEY, COURIER PHOTO EDITOR
A look inside a 2,000-square-foot suite in the new Courtyard by Marriott downtown in Waterloo. Kurtz, the executive director of Main Street Waterloo from 2010 until 2015. “I think a lot of people forget that a lot of the city leaders had a bull’s-eye on that building: They wanted to tear it down. They wanted to make it a parking lot.” Kurtz, the Main Street Waterloo board and a community-supported Friends of Wonder Bread activist group saw the building as a good candidate for reuse. John Molseed, a former Courier reporter who began volunteering with Main Street in 2012 and is
now president of its board of directors, said Main Street worked to convince SingleSpeed owner Dave Morgan to locate his planned distribution center there, then educated the community and Waterloo City Council on the benefits of saving the building. “One of the top things in the last decade would be this Wonder Bread project,” Molseed said, noting it succeeded because it had grassroots community support. “It shows what a repurposed historic building can do, it shows its poten-
8: The number of Main Street Waterloo-branded events held each year, like Taste of ’Loo, My Waterloo Days and BBQ’Loo and Blues Too. tial, and I don’t think it’s something city leaders thought of at the time.” It’s still a battle Main Street Waterloo wages with city leaders and some community members: saving historic buildings instead of tearing them down. But it’s gotten a bit easier as projects like SingleSpeed, as well as the Walton block, the dilapidated John Deere manufacturing buildings and the Fourth Street Bridge walkway, prove to be successful. “We live in a throwaway time,”
said Tavis Hall, who was Main Street’s executive director from 2015 until 2017 and is now executive director of the Waterloo Convention and Visitors Bureau. “It’s hard to realize we can look at something old and see it with a new purpose.” But he sees a shift in that mindset nonetheless — Hall points to antique event Funky Junkaloo and pop-up thrift shop Epic Finds as two examples of how people in this area are valuing old and historic items. “Nobody looks at Jameson’s now and says, ‘They should have torn that down,’ or goes into SingleSpeed and thinks it should have been a parking lot,” he said. “It takes people with vision to step up and be part of the process, instead of sitting back and complaining that things are being destroyed in front of our eyes.” Hall points to the fact that he can walk into Basal Pizza and grab his favorite pizza, and remember when his senior photos were developed in that same storefront years ago at Walden Photo. “Everywhere we look there continues to be progress, and in every story of progress it dips its toe into historic preservation,” he said.
Highly effective
Jack of all Trades
Waste not
Leader Valley program shaping tomorrow’s leaders today E2
Ann Seggerman a driving force in downtown Waverly E10
Iowa Waste Reduction Center increasing efficiency nationwide F6
PROGRESS 2018
E2 | Wednesday, February 21, 2018
The Courier
Leader Valley: Creating tomorrow’s leaders today HOLLY HUDSON
Leader Valley
holly.hudson@wcfcourier.com‌
‌W
ATERLOO — Melissa Reade is passionate about creating leaders, and in her role as director of Leader Valley, that is exactly what she helps to do. Under the auspices of the Greater Cedar Valley Alliance & Chamber, Leader Valley is a talent development initiative that “prepares pre-K-12 students for success by providing them with the essential soft skills needed for a life of effectiveness and competitive advantage in the workforce,� according to the Alliance’s website, cedarvalleyalliance.com. Leader Valley’s priority is implementing the Leader in Me program in Cedar Valley schools. North Cedar Elementary in Cedar Falls and Dr. Walter Cunningham School for Excellence in Waterloo were the first area schools to implement the program in 2010. To date, 23 Cedar Valley schools are on board. Created by Utah-based FranklinCovey, Leader in Me introduces students and teachers to the principles of Stephen Covey’s “The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People� and helps to put them into practice. “The big picture,� Reade said, “is we want to implement Leader in Me in all Cedar Valley schools. We are in schools in Waterloo, Cedar Falls and Cedar Valley Catholic Schools. We want to expand to the greater Cedar Valley and into the rural schools. Next will be Waverly-Shell Rock and Janesville.� An impact study done by the University of Northern Iowa on Leader in Me schools shows increased student confidence. “They are more empowered, they are risk takers, they are more engaged in school, Reade said. “The students and staff feel safer, more cared about, more respected,� she said. “There is less bullying and teasing.� Reade said educators are seeing a big paradigm shift. “Their role is changing as their
By the numbers $7 million: Current campaign to bring Leader in Me to all Cedar Valley schools. $2.35 million: Raised to date. 23: Leader in Me schools (2017-2018). 9,887: Students served to date. 1,278: Educators served to date. Fun facts „„ Leader Valley is piloting the
MATTHEW PUTNEY, COURIER PHOTO EDITOR‌
Second-grader Anders Stowe leads his classmates in an after-lunch prayer at St. Patrick Catholic School on Feb. 7 in Cedar Falls. capacity to see students as leaders changes. Their efforts are more student-centered and less teacher-directed. Students have input. Students have belief in the capacity of other students. “Everybody has gifts and talents, and they need to be nurtured,� Reade said. “Some students are natural leaders. This is an opportunity for the next level. Some students don’t see themselves as leaders. We shift how they see themselves.� The local Leader in Me effort is unique for a few reasons. “We are the only multi-district region in the world,� Reade said. Additionally, Reade and Teri Trask, Leader Valley facilitator and coach, are piloting the district model with FranklinCovey for onsite certified facilitators. “We are the only two,� Reade said. “We are building it with them. We are on the front end of innovation.� As Leader Valley director, Reade spends about half of her time in the schools. “I see kids taking more risks, trying more things,� she said. “They have more pride in themselves, they feel ownership, they have pride in their school, they feel
like they can contribute, like their voice matters.� A $7 million capital campaign, Create Great, kicked off in 2016, with half of the funds earmarked for implementing Leader in Me in schools and the other half going to establish an endowment to ensure future funding for the program. So far, the effort has raised $2.3 million. Tom Penaluna, chairman of CBE Companies Inc., past president of the Alliance and co-chair of the Create Great campaign, was the first to suggest implementing Leader in Me in Cedar Valley schools after seeing the impact it had on a district in Raleigh, N.C., the first to incorporate Covey’s seven habits into the classroom. “When I was in business, one of the things that really concerned me was the job candidates we were getting were not prepared to go to work. Out of 100 applicants, there were only about 20 that we would consider offering a job. That means 80 percent of the job candidates we did not feel were adequate to receive a job offer or be a potential good employee.� Penaluna said it was not just a local issue; people he talked to all over the state were having diffi-
“district coaching modelâ€? with FranklinCovey. It is the only entity in the world doing this and is on the cutting edge of providing Leader in Me implementation support to schools. „„ Leader Valley is the only multi-district region with a focus on bringing Leader in Me to all metro schools and eventually to outlying rural schools. „„ Leader Valley provides “7 Habits Cedar Valleyâ€? for local businesses. The next session is April 19 and 20. Register by calling 232-1156 or learn more at http:// greatercedarvalleyalliance.chambermaster.com/events/ culty getting good job applicants. “Prospective employees were technically prepared, but we weren’t seeing the soft skills, the employability skills. ‌ I said ‘We need to figure something out.’â€? The soft skills Penaluna is talking about include problem solving, collaboration, leadership and management skills, analytical skills and basic communication skills. “The big ones,â€? he said. Penaluna said Leader in Me is introduced in the elementary schools first, where it really has an impact. “That is a time in a student’s life when they are starting to implant things that are going to carry them on for the rest of their life,â€? he said. “From ages 6 to 10 they are learning who they are going to be, basically, and it is so important to get the right skills at the younger ages.â€? In referring to the UNI study, Penaluna said, “In almost every
Area housing market stays hot JIM OFFNER
Special to The Courier‌
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ATERLOO — Home, at least the sales thereof, is where the heat is, according to real estate dealers in the area. Single-family detached home sales in Waterloo increased by 80 units in 2017, for a total of 953 — 9.06 percent higher than a year earlier, according to Dick Robert, a broker with Cedar Falls Real Estate Co. In Cedar Falls, the increase was “larger than expected,� Robert said, going up by 59, for a total of 561 in 2017. That was an 11.75 percent increase. The average sale price in Waterloo fell 4.8 percent, from $121,269 to $115,445, Robert said, although, the Northeast Iowa Regional Board of Realtors had the figure at $114,000. In Cedar Falls, Robert said, the average sales price increased only .05 percent, from
MATTHEW PUTNEY, COURIER PHOTO EDITOR‌
New homes on the 900 block of Lafayette Street in Waterloo built by John Rooff. $271,393 in 2016 to $219,263. The Board of Realtors tabbed the average price there at $219,499. It has been a hot market for some time, with average prices in Waterloo having increased by 212 percent since 1980 and 356
percent in Cedar Falls, said Mary Shileny, Board of Realtors’ executive director. “Cedar Falls has been on a wild ride in a seller’s market for most of 2017,� Shileny said. “Waterloo started off the year with a surplus
of homes — a buyer’s market — and took a couple of drops and hikes to end the second half of the year at a steady market for sellers and buyers.� Shileny said the trend should hold through 2018. “The experts predict that the housing market will remain very strong, driven by the increase in households and household incomes,� she said. “The market restriction that may affect the 2018 market is low inventory. Overall, you can expect a small increase in number of sales and home prices.� Steve Knapp, managing broker with Cedar Falls-based Lockard Cos., said he projects “a good, strong� 2018 for housing sales in the area. “I expect to do 5 to 6 percent (increase in sales) are my internal projections for residential,� he Please see HOUSING, Page E8
area they have seen improvements in Leader in Me schools as opposed to regular schools — in independence, risk taking and more. ‌ It is absolutely true that a Leader in Me school is impacting students in a more positive way than a normal school. “The culture in a (Leader in Me) school is significantly different. If you walk around their halls and meet some of the children, how they converse with you ‌ is significantly different than just an average school.â€? Each school district handles Leader in Me implementation differently. In Cedar Falls, the individual schools decide if they want to be involved. “There are some schools — and they are good schools — that don’t necessarily want to get involved in Leader in Me,â€? he said. “Someone once told me, ‘Good is the enemy of great.’ ‘Good’ holds those people back ‌ and they could be a great school. “This program serves every student, no matter race, religion, socio-economic level. It touches everyone and can have an impact and change lives no matter who they are.â€? Penaluna said schools all over the state are showing interest in Leader in Me. “It doesn’t just help business,â€? he said. “It also helps secondary education — colleges and tech schools. They are getting students who are more open to learn. We are just starting to see some of those people move on, they are just starting to hit the job market.â€? In the future, Penaluna said, he would like to see UNI get more involved, not just in monitoring the program’s progress but in enhancing the training of the teachers, principals and administrators. “I think sometimes we just need to sit back and imagine what it will be like once we have all the schools up,â€? he said. “I think it will enhance the community as a whole. It will be very exciting to watch and see what happens. It is the possibilities that drive me.â€?
Housing By the numbers 212: Percent increase in average home price in Waterloo from 1980 ($36,700) to 2017 ($114,000). 356: Percent increase in average home price in Cedar Falls from 1980 ($48,000) to 2017 ($219,499). 31: The average home in Cedar Falls sold for 31 percent more than a comparable home in Waterloo in 1980. In 2017, the difference was 92 percent. Source: Northeast Iowa Regional Board of Realtors Fun facts „„ In 2017, 945 homes sold in Waterloo, compared to 564 in Cedar Falls, according to Dick Robert, Cedar Falls Real Estate Co. „„ Former Waterloo Mayor John Rooff estimates the number of “affordable housing� units his company has built in the last 10 years at 115-120. „„ Downtown residential space has grown with the Grand Crossing Condominiums in Waterloo and River Place in Cedar Falls.
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Wednesday, February 21, 2018 | E3
The Courier
Worship with these Cedar Valley Churches Brethren
Baptist
Prairie lakes Church
1604 Hammond Avenue,
Central Christian Church 3475 Kimball Avenue, Waterloo
1907 Viking Rd.
Waterloo
319-234-6231
Cedar Falls, IA
319-234-4094
www.centralchristianwaterloo.org
266.2655
HammondAvenueBrethren.com
prairielakeschurch.org
Every Sunday: 10:30 a.m.
We worship on Sunday mornings at 9:30am
hospitality hour following.
Senior Pastor, John Fuller
We Welcome Pastor Dane
Cedar Falls Campus
Mauslein as our
Pastor Chip Uhrmacher
new Pastor.
Worship and and Spiritual Worship Spiitual Leader leader Lawrence J.D. lawrence A. a. Stumme Stumme Jr., Jr., B.D., b.d, J.d. Services: youth Sunday School 9:00am Sunday School 10:10 a.m. Sunday Worship 10:45 a.m. adult Sunday School 9:45am Quilting each Tuesday Sunday Worship 10:30am 9:00 am-12:00 pm Quilting each tuesday Bible9:00am Study Wednesday 5:00pm - 12:00pm bible Study Wednesday 5:00pm Special services for Lent and
Advent. Third breakfast Sunday each month retiree’s 2nd 6:00 p.m.-Dialogue & Dessert. thursday each month at Wednesday’s 9:00am Men’s Bible Study-5:00 p.m.
Lutheran-Missouri Synod
Grace Lutheran Church 1024 West 8th St., Waterloo www.gracewaterloo.org 319-235-6705 Justin D. Kane, Pastor Sunday Worship: 9:00 a.m. Sunday School/Bible Hour: 10:30 a.m. Motivated by Christ’s commission to reach out to all
Presbyterian (USA)
First Presbyterian Church
505 Franklin St., Waterloo 319-233-6145 1stpresby.org Rev. Amy Wiles, pastor Sunday Worship: 10:00 am Adult Education-Sun. 8:45 a.m. Youth Group: Sun. 4:00 p.m. Sunday School for all ages Sunday supper (free community meal), every Sunday 5:00 pm Bell Choir: Wed. 6:00 p.m. Sanctuary Choir: Wed. 7:30 p.m. Children Ed: Thurs. 4:00 p.m.
Cedar Valley Community Church 3520 Ansborough Ave., Waterloo 319-235-6781 cvcc.net
8:00 a.m. Sunday Prayer 9:15 a.m. Sunday School Hour 10:30 a.m. Sunday Morning Worship
Faith Formation activities and Group Wednesday evening 5:45-7. birth through high School Group F.r.o.G, pad
WORSHIP Sat. 5:30 p.m. Sun. 7:30, 8:30 & 11 a.m. 8:30 a.m. worship is broadcast live on KWAY 99.3 FM and kwayradio.com
PRESCHOOL & K-6 EDUCATION stpaulswaverly.org/register
riversedgecc.church
Coffee Cafe 10:00 a.m.
10:00 a.m. Choral Evcharist in the Church
Christian Science Reading Room Open to Public Tuesday, Friday and Saturday 11:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m.
Faith Lutheran Church 1555 W Rideway Ave. 319-236-1771 faithupontherock.com
Service times:
Sundays: Bible Study 9:15 a.m.
8:00 a.m. Holy Evcharist in the Chapel
10:00 a.m. Sunday School is
Lutheran Church Missouri Synod
Independent
1247 Cedar Bend St., Waterloo 319-233-0055
CHILDREN’S MINISTRIES
Worship 10:30 a.m. Sundays
Sunday 9:00 a.m.
Pentecostal Church
Celebrations First Assembly Church:
Celebration First Assembly of God 745 April St., Waterloo, IA 319-235-7729 Celebrationfirst.com Sunday Services: 9 am-breakfast, Service begins-9:30 am Wednesday Nights: 7 pm, adult classes, youth group, kids and nursery. Upcoming Events: You won’t want to miss our upcoming Easter Production RISE: Palm Sunday and Easter Sunday 9:30 am.
Roman Catholic
Waterloo Catholic Parishes Blessed Sacrament Queen of Peace Sacred Heart St. Edward Information • Worship Schedules • Parish Links www.waterloocatholics.org
10:00 a.m. Sunday School
Lent Soup Suppers 5:30 p.m. Services 7:00 p.m.
“Meeting Jesus in the Gospel of John” The Rev. Stephanie Moncrieff, Priest in Charge The Rev. Chuck Lane, Deacon
Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod
IMMANUEL LUTHERAN 4820 Oster Parkway Cedar Falls, IA
Church: 319-260-2000 Preschool: 319-260-2005 www.ilcv.org Sunday Worship: 8:30 am and 11:00 am Wednesday: 5:30 pm
Bible Study and Sunday
Senior Pastor:
School 10:15-11:30 a.m.
Rev. Dr. Gerald Kapanka
Clergy: Rev. David Menet
Adult Bible Study: 10:00 am
Tim Platt, Minister Jessica Hinton,Youth Minister
Facebook-@TrinityEpiscopal Waterloo
Sunday Morning Service
Wednesdays:
Sunday School: 9:30 a.m.
Christian Church
4535 Kimball Avenue Waterloo, Iowa 319-232-4714 www.trinityepiscopalwaterloo.org
February 21-March 21;
Sun, 9:00 & 11:00 a.m.
2812 Willow Lane Cedar Falls, IA 319-266-4183 stpaulcf@q.com stpaulcf2017@gmail.com
701 W 6th Street Cedar Falls, IA 319-268-1240 www.cedarnet.org/cschurch
Trinity Episcopal Parish
Wednesday evening at 7:30 p.m.
early elementary ages
River’s Edge
First Church of Christ, Scientist
Episcopal/Anglican
from 9:00 a.m.-9:45 a.m.
Fellowship: 9:00 a.m.
St., Paul ev., lutheran Church
Christian Science
Wiggly Worship for preschool and
Sat, 5:30 p.m.
Evangelical Lutheran
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HAMMOND AVENUE BRETHREN CHURCH
Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)
Sunday School: 9:45 am, STPAULSWAVERLY.ORG
Presbyterian
Sunday Worship at 9 & 11 am
Westminster presbyterian Church
1301 Kimball Ave., Waterloo 319-234-5501 www.wpcw.org Sunday Services: 9:00 am Traditional 11:15 am Contemporary Sunday School for all ages: 10:10 am Wednesday Night Discovery Night Ages 3 through Adult Dr. Tricia Jacobs, Senior Pastor, Rev. Dan Voigt, Assoc. Pastor With Christ our Cornerstone We Believe. Become. Belong. Build.
Unity Presbyterian Church 1149 Hammond Ave., Waterloo 319-234-4291 unitypresbyterianwaterloo.org
Find us at the corner of Rainbow and Rownd 2015 Rainbow Drive Cedar Falls @CedarHeightsPres on and @CedarHeightsCPC on
www.CedarHeightsPres.org
Unitarian Universalist
United Methodist
Cedar Valley Unitarian Universalists
Kimball Avenue United Methodist Church
3912 Cedar Heights Drive, Cedar Falls, IA 319-266-5640 www.cedarvalleyuu.org Rev. Eva Cameron Sunday: 10:00 am Thursday: 7:00 pm Buddhist Path Progressive Parenting Program Nature’s Lovers Group
Presbyterian Church (U.S.A)
1207 Kimball Avenue, Waterloo, IA 319-232-4103 www.kimballaveumc.com Sunday Worship: 9:30 am Christian Education for all Ages: 10:45 am Youth Group: Sundays at Noon Rev. Karen M Larson
11:00 Children’s Sunday School during Worship. Rev. Christine Kaplunas Bell Choir: Tues 6:05 pm Choir: Tues 7:05 pm Prayer Time: Mon 12 pm-1 pm PW Womens Group: Ruth Circle: Thurs 1 pm Seekers: Wed 9:30 am
United Methodist
St. Timothys United Methodist 3220 Terrace Drive, Cedar Falls, IA 319-266-0464 www.sttims-umc.org
9:00 a.m.Sunday School 10:15 a.m.Worship Service Rev. Wendi Gillan
Join us for one of these church services.
E4 | Wednesday, February 21, 2018
The Courier
LOVE THE WAY YOU Live. Your community. Your lifestyle. Your home. Your way.
deannakwheeler.com 319.230.0409 mobile
RE/MAX HOME GROUP
4800 University Avenue, Cedar Falls; 319.266.7100 office
Each office independently owned and operated.
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Wednesday, February 21, 2018 | E5
The Courier
Real Estate Agents to know
STEVE S. CONRAD, Lockard Realty
“Commercial or Residential”
“Steve was great to work with. He took time to get to know our business and what our wants and needs were. With his knowledge of the market he was able to find us our ideal location within budget.”
319-415-4345 Steve S. Conrad
conrad.const@cfu.net
4501 Prairie Parkway, Cedar Falls 50613
Steve has been ln the Waterloo-Cedar Falls area for over 50 years. With an extensive background In construction, development and commercial real estate he has helped several businesses find the perfect location for their business.
STEVE KNAPP, Lockard Realty Steve isisaalifelong resident of the Steve lifelong resident of the Waterloo-Cedar Falls Waterloo-Cedar Falls areaarea andand has has been active locally as a real estate been real estate broker and manager broker and professional manager since 1973. serving the the since 1973.He Heenjoys enjoys serving residents Waterloo-Cedar residents ofofWaterloo-Cedar FallsFalls and and assisting their real assisting them inthem theirinreal estate estate transactions whenever they transactions whenever call upon call upon him for his they expertise in residential homes, with commercial him for his expertise homes, and investment properties, commercial and investment properties, development, or property development, or property management. management. WO-012912065
Steve is is thethe managing broker of of Steve managing broker the leading residential Lockard Realtyfull-service and has consistently andacommercial firm in been leading buyerbrokerage and seller agent the area. Steve has consistently inbeen the area. He hasbuyer also served on a leading and seller agentlocal in the area of and has served several Boards Directors over onlast several localand Boards of as an the 25 years. has acted Directors over the last 25 years. officer and director of the In addition he has also been an officer andFalls director Waterloo-Cedar Boardof the Falls Board of ofWaterloo-Cedar Realtors. Realtors.
sknapp@lockardrealty.com sknapp@lockardonline.com
“Producing Successful Results” “Steve would call with regular updates and would return our calls quickly. We called him because our son was so happy with him when he bought his home years ago. He’s the best!” - C.D.
493-4000 Steve Knapp Managing Broker
Specialist (CRS) and Certified Residential Broker (CRB) designations, indicating the highest level of education and experience available. He also holds the Seniors Real Estate Specialist (SRES) designation, obtained by education classes focusing on the special needs of the mature client. “After many years in the real estate business I still enjoy working one on one with people to help them buy or sell that special home”.
E-mail: ron@garrisrobert.com
“Mike was great to work with. He understood our business and found a great option for us. When we outgrow our space we will definitely be giving Mike another call.”
319-239-3659 Mike Taylor
MJT1825@AOL.COM
4501 Prairie Parkway, Cedar Falls 50613
4501 Prairie Parkway, Cedar Falls 50613
“We love our new house. Without Ron it wouldn’t have been possible. He is the greatest.”
Ronald E. Garris, Garris Robert Realtors A lifelong resident of Waterloo, Ron has been in the Real Estate business since 1976. He and his wife Sharon have been married since 1965. Their two sons Tim and Jeff worked for many years in property management, real estate listings and sales. Ron is a multiple winner of the Diamond Award, The Iowa Association of Realtors top award for Real Estate Production. He was also chosen as the 2000 Realtor of the Year by the Waterloo -Cedar Falls Board of Realtors. Ron holds the Certified Residential
Steve will use his extensive background in the industry to take the time to find what you need most from him and get you the best deal. He is not all business all the time though, he will make time to make you feel comfortable and laugh throughout the process.
J&R
Ronald E. Garris CRB CRS
Mobile: (319)231-2100 Office: (319)234-1001 www.GarrisRobert.com
Mike Taylor, lockard realty Mike is a professional in the real estate industry and prides himself on delivering and exceptional experience for his clients. Mike has been a certified agent since 1998 and has been with Lockard for 3 years.
As a certified real estate negotiator and investment specialist Mike is able to help his clients find what they are looking for whether it be their dream home or business dream.
My name is Kara Bartels. I am a real estate professional/broker associate and a top producing agent in the Cedar Valley. I have lived in Iowa my entire life... a place that I am happy to call home! I enjoy the people, culture and many outdoor activities available. In my practice of real estate I am well known for great customer service, consistent communication, strong attention to detail and ensuring a positive experience for all parties in a transaction; buyers, sellers, and cooperating agents. My approach to any transaction is this -
“it is about the people, not the agent. I’m not number one,YOU are!”
Let Me Take KARA-U! Kara Bartels, Broker Associate RE/MAX Alliance
300 S. State St, PO Box 495, Denver, IA 50622 319.984.5600 Office
319.939.1611 Mobile • bartelsk@hotmail.com Licensed in the State of Iowa
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PROGRESS 2018
E6 | Wednesday, February 21, 2018
The Courier
Career education a growing emphasis in Cedar Valley Education
ANDREW WIND
andrew.wind@wcfcourier.com
W
ATERLOO — Early on, students in Aaisha Flint’s introduction to nurse aide class learned how to properly wash their hands and put on gloves. “You’re going to be hand washing all the time,” said Flint, who demonstrated turning off the faucet with a dry towel after scrubbing their hands. “You’ll get used to doing this and you’ll find yourself doing this all the time.” The class is part of the nursing program at the Waterloo Career Center, which opened at the north end of Central Middle School in the fall of 2016. The nursing lab is filled with hospital beds where students hone their bedside technique on mannequins and each other. It’s one of the five career and technical education pathways currently offered by the center, with more planned in coming years. There’s a growing emphasis on career education at other Cedar Valley educational institutions, as well. Programs are designed to teach students more about career areas and help them develop skills for a job or further education in a field. Cedar Falls High Schools’ Center for Advanced Professional Studies is in its second year. With three programs based at workplaces in Cedar Falls, students choose projects and work with professionals in a field of their interest. Hawkeye Community College’s Adult Learning Center is under construction in downtown Waterloo to replace its Metro and Martin Luther King Jr. centers. The college’s noncredit adult programs will move there, as will expanded credit classes aimed at nontraditional students. Waterloo Community Schools is in the midst of renovations at the career center to expand its footprint to 80,000 square feet so as many as 17 pathways can be offered. Others that have already started are digital graphics, advanced manufacturing, information technology-networking and early childhood education. The education pathway started at the Elk Run Preschool, and officials have now decided to make that its permanent home. A total of 153 students from East, West, Expo and Cedar Falls high schools are taking 85-minute block classes in the five programs this semester. The nurse aide students can sit for a test to become a certified nursing assistant after finishing their classes. For many, though, that would only be the start in a planned medical career. “I want to go into cardiology, so I thought this was the perfect first step for me,” said Ariela Sakanovic, a West junior. “I want to become a nurse anesthetist,” added West senior Leila Masinovic, noting the program has been a good experience. “I like it a lot.”
Growing program
Down the hall from the nursing lab, students are working on computers to design a machine component as part of a class
By the numbers 2,000: Adult education students currently served at the Metro and Martin Luther King Jr. centers. 153: Students currently served at the Waterloo Career Center. 40: Students currently served through Cedar Falls CAPS program. 80,000: Square feet on two levels have been or will be renovated at Central Middle School for the Waterloo Career Center. 45,000: Square feet is the total size on three levels of the Adult Learning Center Hawkeye Community College is building in downtown Waterloo. Fun facts The Waterloo Community
MATTHEW PUTNEY, COURIER PHOTO EDITOR
Ariela Sakanovic, left, and Tamara Carter, right, practice the proper way to put on gloves in the nursing aide class at the Waterloo Career Center on Jan. 24 in Waterloo. in the advanced manufacturing program. The large room is outfitted with numerous pieces of manufacturing equipment: mills, lathes, welding stations, computer numerical control machines, a plasma cutter, a surface grinder and others. Its equipment students will learn how to use them during the course of classes in the program. “It’s better than classes at West, because it’s job specific,” said Admir Music, a senior in the basic design and modeling class. Junior Hunter Pierce said the advanced manufacturing pathway appealed to him after taking industrial arts classes at West. “If your thing is you’re all about trying to solve problems, thinking outside of the box, this class is for you,” he said. Along with earning a CNA in nursing, information technology students can earn certifications in A+ and Cisco computer service and networking. Jeff Frost, the district’s executive director of professional technical education, said the education pathway will eventually include an early childhood certification that would allow students to work for licensed day care programs. More certifications that can either qualify or help better prepare students for a job are planned. Among the programs to start next fall is sustainable construction and design, which is expected to offer certifications in OSHA safety and concrete, for example. “We would love to have all of our programs have some certifications tied to them,” noted Frost, as well as internships or apprenticeships. Other pathways starting next year are digital interactive media, marketing management, and web programming and development. Additional programs expected to be rolled out in the following three years have not yet been determined. Those are decided with input and the ongoing sup-
port of related businesses across the community along with other data. “We get job reports in the Cedar Valley, we look at state and local information,” said Frost. “We make sure that there’s a pretty strong need for that occupation field” before adding a program. There is an agreement between the Waterloo and Cedar Falls districts allowing students in each to take the others’ career classes in an effort to offer the most choices. Frost said other reciprocal agreements could eventually be developed with more surrounding districts.
ing on projects in their area of interest that were proposed by partnering businesses and organizations. The class lasts just over two hours most days. “They learn a lot about individual careers in the Cedar Valley,” said Wiechmann, noting “we’ve got to be closing in on 100 partners that we’ve worked with.” Students need to meet the requirements of the clients, but creativity and collaboration are important to that process. “There’s no right answer and that’s one thing I want them to realize,” he added. Just like the design sprint, students will make presentations to the clients when Partner businesses projects are complete. Waterloo students also are en“One of the big takeaways is rolled in Cedar Falls’ Center for confidence,” said Wiechmann. Advanced Professional Studies program, or CAPS. Its three Learning skills strands and their locations are Hawkeye’s three-story technology and engineering at 45,000-square-foot Adult Viking Pump, communication Learning Center under construcand design at Mill Race and edu- tion downtown north of U.S. cation at the University of North- Highway 218 along U.S. Highern Iowa. Next fall, the program way 63 is on pace to open in the will add a medical and health ser- fall. Adult basic education, high vices strand that will be based at school diploma completion and Allen College. English language learner classes In January, as second semester will be offered there as well as was getting started, the 40 stu- credit programs in nursing and dents from all the programs gath- CNC machining. ered at Mill Race, a co-working Along with offering classes, space, for a videoconferencing the center will provide services session with an entrepreneur for students like a clinic and who wanted to market a prod- child care, offer a coffee shop and uct she had created. During cafe, and include space for a stuthe three-day “design sprint,” dent art gallery and community groups of students collaborated events. The cafe and child care to create a logo and a tagline for will double as lab opportunities the product. Each group worked for students studying in applicaon a concept and then presented ble areas. it to the client, again through vidCurrently, Hawkeye’s Metro eoconferencing. and King center programs serve “Have fun with this, this is a 2,000 students, but the new great opportunity,” Ethan Wiech- building will have space for at mann, CAPS lead instructor, told least twice as many. students in one of the sessions. “We built this building an“You want to think more of ticipating growth,” said Linda ‘Shark Tank,’ less of school” in Allen, the college’s president. “Students are going to come to pitching the idea. After finishing that initial ef- us in this new facility in greater fort, students began collaborat- numbers.”
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Schools’ Board of Education has approved three construction contracts totaling $14.25 million for renovation and expansion of the Waterloo Career Center. Physical plant and equipment levy and 1 percent sales tax funds are being used to pay for the improvements. Hawkeye Community College’s Board of Trustees approved a $12.96 million contract for construction of the Adult Learning Center. Voter-approved bonds to be repaid with property tax funds will cover $8 million of the cost. Hawkeye is seeking grants and donations to cover the remaining expense and has raised about $2 million so far. Cedar Falls Community Schools’ Board of Education has approved no construction contracts related to the Center for Advanced Professional Studies. Partnering businesses and agencies where the three programs are located have donated the needed space. A pilot program that allows students to begin learning a job skill as they earn a diploma or hone English-speaking skills will help with that growth. Integrated Basic Education and Skills Training focuses on such “contextualized learning” to address a skilled worker shortage by training people faster. Participating students can earn their CNA or complete the computer numerical control machining program. “The reality is many students find it difficult to make the transition from the metro out to main campus,” said Allen. “Now, because we’ll have the capacity, we can actually offer full-blown credit offerings and some noncredit (courses).” Nearly 75 students enrolled in I-BEST during 2017. Allen said 86 percent successfully completed their program, 27 percent continued at Hawkeye’s main campus and 35 percent were able to get a new job. Additionally, 79 percent of the nursing students passed the CNA. “We will continue to add programs, but at this time we feel very good about using CNC and CNA,” said Allen. “That’s where we see a skills gap and a work force need. “What we’re really trying to do is to help people get those middle skills jobs and grow our communities,” she added.
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PROGRESS 2018
The Courier
Wednesday, February 21, 2018 | E7
Omega From E1
is a Micronesian language spoken in the Marshall Islands, Vietnamese, Spanish, French, and several dialects of Burmese and Bosnian. EMBARC assisted with involving the area’s Burmese community, including Po Du, who speaks Karenni, one of the Burmese dialects, as well as English. Du was the first full-time trainer and translator at Omega. He’s now been with the company for a year and a half, has referred 18 other workers and is a team leader. “I took a chance on Po about a year ago ... he started off very timid and now his confidence has continued to grow. ... And now he’s really seeing this as a career for him and an opportunity for his community,” Roed said. “Talk about a return in investment; just having employees like that makes it all worth it. He’s done a great job.” The group Du works with has a record of zero turnovers so far. “Before, I was just cycling through people. I was basically rehiring that entire department every year,” Roed said of the second shift, “which is historically a very difficult shift to staff.”
Getting to work
Roed also found many who wanted to work but did not have reliable transportation, and the city bus stops do not reach Airline Highway where Omega is located, according to Roed. “This one was pretty eye-opening for me, but it makes sense as I’ve learned more about it,” he said. Roed partnered with The Loop, a taxi service out of Waterloo, to give passes to employees for their first two weeks of work until they can collect a paycheck. “It’s a little bit of an investment, but if I can get somebody to work, and keep them, it’s worth it, and that’s been the viewpoint with all of these initiatives,” he said. “It pays off if somebody’s engaged and stays at work.”
Child care shortage
With Roed’s studies, he also found many people have to make a choice to stay at home with their children or go to work and pay for
MATTHEW PUTNEY, COURIER PHOTO EDITOR
Burmese employees hand sand front panels for cabinets at Omega Cabinets in Waterloo.
Child care: a barrier to employment By the numbers 17,915: The number of parents in Iowa who quit a job, did not take a job or greatly changed their job because of child care problems in 2016. $9,967: Cost of child care in Iowa for a year for one infant/toddler at a full-time center-based program, which is higher than the cost of in-state public college tuition. 77.6: Percent of women in Iowa age 16 and older with children younger than 6 were in the labor force in 2015, compared to 29.9 percent in 1970.
12,773: Iowa women reported they were not working full time due to child care problems in July 2017. 63: Percent of parents nationwide say child care costs influence their careers, with a majority of working parents (85 percent) saying they wish their employer offered child care benefits. $4.4 billion: The average amount of money U.S. businesses lose each year due to employee absenteeism as the result of child care breakdowns.
*Stats are based of a report released in 2018 by Early Childhood Iowa, Iowa Women’s Foundation and Iowa Child Care Resource & Referral. daycare. Roed added a part-time model for employees with children and for those who want to go back to school. Omega also offers tuition reimbursement. He also worked with the Inclusion Connection, an organization
that helps place individuals who have mental or physical barriers into the workforce. Roed found that alternating work schedules, workplace setups and rearranging job duties allowed for a more diversified workforce. “We have seen a decline of 39
percent from 2011-2016 in programs listed with the state, and we have seen total spaces for children in Iowa decline by 10 percent, but we’ve seen population growth increase,” Roed said, referring to statistics from the Child Care Resource & Referral
of NE Iowa. “I’m still seeing four to five people a month that can’t continue to work because they have daycare issues,” he said. Roed hopes to eventually have a collaboration with other businesses and the state of Iowa to have a daycare center for the employees. “That’s the next step, because from my perspective, it’s expensive to have to have people quit because of daycare. The numbers speak for themselves, that’s an issue,” he said. Roed said his journey has been eye-opening. “But at the end of the day, as I talk to other businesses, it’s really not about charity, it’s not about trying to come up with these community initiatives, it’s really just about doing the right thing and then looking at business results that come out of that,” he said.
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PROGRESS 2018
E8 | Wednesday, February 21, 2018
The Courier
Cedar Valley health care systems respond to changing landscape ANDREW WIND
andrew.wind@wcfcourier.com
W
ATERLOO — Health care’s access and affordability have been in the limelight nationally during recent years. And the effects of a changing landscape have been felt in the Cedar Valley’s health care systems. “I’ve been in health care for 35 years,” said Pam Delagardelle, chief executive officer of UnityPoint Health-Waterloo, which includes Allen Hospital. “Without a doubt this is the most challenging time in health care.” Costs are on the rise for organizations as they serve a growing number of aging baby boomers. She cited concerns with the level of reimbursements for government insurance programs and the larger work force needed to treat those patients. “What we’re ultimately trying to do is as simple as two words: helping others,” said Jack Dusenbery, CEO of Wheaton Franciscan Healthcare-Iowa, which includes Covenant Medical Center and Sartori Memorial Hospital. He noted increases in reimbursement rates for Medicare, Medicaid and private insurance are flat to very low while all other expenses a hospital deals with grow at a much faster pace.
Housing From E2
said. “We’ve obviously got a good strong local economy. I think a lot of people are looking at potential interest rate increase through ’18 for at least a small amount, but they know it’s a good time to buy. I think people anticipating buying in the next couple of years have an incentive to buy more quickly and lock in that low interest rate.” Robert offered a different view. “For 2018, I am going to forecast a decrease in sales in Waterloo of 5 percent and, in Cedar Falls, a decrease of 8 percent,” Robert said. He noted the average sale price in Waterloo likely will increase 2 to 4 percent, while, in Cedar Falls, the number will shrink by 3 percent, “primarily due to rising in-
Among those are complex technology information systems used to improve care. “The financial pressures continue to mount,” he said. “I think that pushes many health systems to consolidate.” Such pressures are “probably going to hit the traditional hospital price the hardest,” said Gil Irey, CEO of Cedar Valley Medical SpecialDelagardelle ists, whose clinics are located across the Cedar Valley and the surrounding area. “That’s all good for the consumers of health care.” He suggested it would Dusenbery instill a new level of competition, which clinic settings are well positioned for. “I think what drove it all was the unintended consequences of the Affordable Care Act,” said Irey, of the health care legislation signed by former President Obama. A direct result of that, he said, is rising insurance co-pays and deductibles as well as Iowa moving to privately
managed Medicaid. Patients are going to demand price transparency and lower costs while providers “still maintain the high quality that they’re used to.” It is key for health systems to provide the “highest quality care at the lowest price,” said Irey. “That’s what we have always done at Cedar Valley Medical Specialists.” Delagardelle is already thinking about some of those issues, particularly regarding changes in employer benefits that are increasing costs for consumers. “What we’ll be focusing on here is how do we become a more affordable system,” she said, including Allen’s approach to patients’ care. “We need to stop acting like a sick-care system and start acting like a health care system. Everything that you’re going to see us working on is to build the infrastructure to keep people healthy.” More services are being pushed to clinics offsite from the hospital, which is working with partner physicians to decrease the cost of surgical procedures. Those and many other changes are needed, she said, “to really surround” people with health care options. “We get this figured out, I think it’s going to be a better solution for everybody.”
Clinics are an important part of Wheaton’s strategy, as well. Dusenbery said “we continue to look at the footprint of Northeast Iowa” when it comes to locating those facilities. He added that it’s a “valid goal” to lower costs for patients, and efficiencies are an important part of that. Dusenbery hopes to continue finding those “now that we’ve fully integrated ourselves into a system with many other hospitals in Iowa.” Nearly two years ago, Wheaton became part of the Mercy Health Network, which includes a number of hospitals across the state. “I look forward to working with those hospitals in ways that we can improve care,” he said. “So, that’s exciting for us. I think there’s a lot of good things that we can do.” The organizations’ hospitals and clinics are facing challenges as their work force ages and recruitment into the medical fields remains difficult. “We’re fortunate here with Allen College of Nursing and (the nursing program at) Hawkeye Community College,” said Dusenbery, noting major staffing problems across the country. “Throughout the nation, there’s states much worse off than Iowa, in terms of particular shortages.”
UnityPoint is “pouring a lot of resources into Allen College,” said Delegardelle. The school has more than 620 students, a record enrollment. She noted they are looking at “where are the gaps that we’re going to have in services.” Her organization is addressing those concerns through its support of medical programs for high school students. That includes the Waterloo Career Center currently plus Cedar Falls’ Center for Advanced Professional Studies starting next fall. “That’s going to go a long way to solve those work force needs,” said Delegardelle. “Those kinds of partnerships are key for us. We’re going to put a lot of emphasis on partnering with the community to improve health.” UnityPoint also is getting into the health insurance business “in order to create the most affordable solution for employees and consumers,” she said. Health Partners will work with insurance carriers and local employers to create the product. “I think we’re offering a more affordable solution,” said Delegardelle. “It reduces unnecessary tests, unnecessary duplication. There’s better coordination when we’re all working together on the same health care team.”
terest rates.” As long as interest rates remain low, sales will stay high, said Kara Bartels, an agent with Re/Max Alliance in Denver. “The interest rates are still at an all-time low; prices are up and were up last year,” she said. “It’s still a seller’s market. ... We expect it to be good, the same as last year. The last two years have been good.” Housing starts are flourishing, Bartels said. “I live in Denver and, in the last year, there’s been a huge influx of people building again,” she said. “It’s expensive to build, but we’re seeing it.” Activity is brisk across the Cedar Valley for Skogman Homes, said Kevin Fittro, vice president of Skogman Homes in Cedar Falls. “Four to five starts a month is an
average; we’re looking at Evansdale, Elk Run, Grundy, over at Denver a bit,” he said. Waterloo and Cedar Falls continue to be “strong” for housing starts, Fittro said. “Cedar Falls permits were right on par with what they were last year,” he said, noting that Waterloo had fewer, “but that wasn’t a weakness; they were only five to six single-family permits off.” Skogman has more developed lots in the Cedar Valley than ever, Fittro said. “Typically, we hold about 60; we’re double that,” he said. “Now, between Waterloo and Cedar Falls only, we have 130 buildable lots. So, our vision is that the Cedar Valley is going to be as strong as it has always been, a great place to live and work, the epitome of community. It really is where peo-
ple want to call home and we’re happy to be a part of it.” Things look promising for outlying communities, too, Fittro said, pointing to building activity in Denver, Hudson and Grundy Center. “I think that’s the positive — when you have calls from all these surrounding communities, that’s just one more way you’re confident that growth can happen,” he said. Downtown neighborhoods in Waterloo and Cedar Falls are becoming residential magnets, brokers say. Bartels noted that the Grand Crossing Condominiums, adjacent to the TechWorks campus, serve as an apt sign of growth in the downtown housing market. “It’s been good,” she said of the growth in housing opportunities
in or near downtown Waterloo. Waterloo-based developer Vern Nelson of Nelson Properties says people are seeing value to downtown living and responding. “In my view, anyway, it’s looking pretty good,” he said. “We just signed up two more clients in our apartments in the Black’s building. One came from Mississippi and the other from out of town, too.” Lofts are selling briskly, Nelson said. “I had one come in yesterday afternoon,” he said. “They had a house that they’re selling and are moving into an apartment. That’s looking pretty good.” Walkability and access to services are chief assets to downtown living, Nelson said. “More and more people moving in,” he said.
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PROGRESS 2018
The Courier
Wednesday, February 21, 2018 | E9
Mixed-use development is the trend Multi-use buildings
JEFF REINITZ
jeff.reinitz@wcfcourier.com
W
ATERLOO — Downtown areas in Waterloo and Cedar Falls are experiencing a renaissance, in both businesses and residential. Over the past decade or so, developers have added apartments in long-dormant spaces above downtown storefronts. And several projects under construction or on the drawing board call for the same formula — businesses on the ground floor with living quarters overhead. “Consumers are used to having a lot of choices, and housing options are no different. If our community is going to be complete, we need to have a lot of housing options, and the suburban ranchstyle house isn’t right for everybody,” said David Deeds of JSA Development. His company has reworked 18
By the numbers 18: Buildings in downtown Waterloo the company has reworked. $4.5 million: Multi-story, mixeduse building coming to downtown Waterloo. $3.5 million: Mixed-use structure for the second phase of Grand Crossing underway at Highway 63/ Mullan Avenue. 7,600: Square feet of commercial space, with about 50 residential units, underway at the former Iowa Sports Supply location. BRANDON POLLOCK, COURIER STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
Mixed-use River Place buildings house businesses on the ground floor and loft residences above. buildings in downtown Waterloo — like the 115-year-old Steely Block building — mostly two- and three-story structures around the
“They have been pretty well received and well occupied,” Deeds Fourth Street corridor. In doing said. so, the group has created about Real estate agent Jim Sulentic, 50 market-rate apartments in the who is working on a project in upper floors. Cedar Falls, said attractions in the
downtown areas draw in younger residents. “The draw is downtown Cedar Falls. Young people like to be around where everything is at, and the apartments are highly desirable near downtown Cedar Falls,” Sulentic said. Deeds said a lot of the tenants are younger than 35 or older than 55, mainly people who don’t have children yet or whose children are now grown and out of the nest. Professional people relocating to the Cedar Valley from other communities also account for a fair number of the tenants, he said. Downstairs, the businesses are usually locally and regionally based companies, Deeds said. Food and beverage operations are popular, as are professional offices like lawyers and architectural firms. Please see DEVELOPMENT, Page E10
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PROGRESS 2018
E10 | Wednesday, February 21, 2018
The Courier
Seggerman a driving force in Waverly Anne Seggerman
KARRIS GOLDEN
newsroom@wcfcourier.com
W
AVERLY — Growing up in Waverly, Ann Bonzer Seggerman got a broad and diverse education. This blend of mentoring, experiential learning and formal instruction helped her become a business leader with a varied portfolio. “My parents were small business owners. My mom managed a hotel, and my dad ran a gas station and can redemption center,” she recalled. “Growing up, I did it all — sorting smelly cans and cleaning hotel rooms.” Like her parents, Seggerman felt drawn to entrepreneurism. However, she initially took a traditional career path, working as an underwriter at CUNA Mutual Group. She also “dabbled” in reselling high quality items, using eBay as a primary outlet. Eventually, her mentor, Ron Matthias, asked if the skills she learned from her hobby might help him. “He and his wife traveled and collected many fine things,” Seggerman explained. “When Ron decided to sell some of his collection, he came to me. He knew I sold some things on eBay and wanted me to do the same for him. It was intimidating. He told me he knew I could do it and that he’d be happy with whatever I was able to get.” Matthias’ confidence bolstered Seggerman. Her success paring down his collection led Seggerman to launch The Trading Assistant in 1999. The consignment business specialized in estate liquidation. There was high demand for her services. However, eBay and Paypal eventually raised fees significantly. These changes and others raised sellers’ costs, making the method of ecommerce relatively cost-prohibitive for novices. Flooding in June 2008 drove a surge in Segger-
Development From E9
“The real key for these projects to be very successful was for us to find operators of businesses for those first-floor spaces, like the Rockets Bakery that just opened,” Deeds said. Upcoming mixed-use developments coming to the area include a projected $4.5 million multi-story building adjacent to the RiverLoop Amphitheater. Undertaken by Grand Developments LLC, the project will have parking on the ground level with office and retail space at the same altitude as the elevated plaza
By the numbers 1999: Year she started The Trading Assistant, utilizing eBay. 2: Businesses Seggerman owns (Renewed Purpose and Ann’s Liquidation Service LLC). 7: Number of apartments Seggerman owns in downtown Waverly. 12 (at least): Local entrepreneurs and artists with goods available at Renewed Purpose. 33,615: Members of Facebook group Seggerman founded (Waverly for Sale KARRIS GOLDEN, FOR THE COURIER Group). Anne Bonzer Seggerman has found her niche as entrepreneur. Her Waverly-based businesses The group was among the include Ann’s Liquidation Service and Renewed Purpose Vintage Store at 104 E. Bremer Ave. first of its kind in the Cedar man’s business. As home- into property management. “The idea of it was a little Valley and grew rapidly. owners cleaned up, they Seggerman wanted to scary, but I thought it was Today, the group’s memrediscovered salable items. move her business office something I could do.” bership numbers more than Many sought Seggerman’s outside her home and esToday, 104 E. Bremer Ave. 30,000, exceeding three assistance in clearing items tablish dedicated spaces for is home to Renewed Pur- times the population of its from their homes. storage and shipping. The pose, Seggerman’s retail namesake city. “The phone was ringing basement of 118 E. Bremer store that features vintage A few years ago, Seggeroff the hook,” she recalled. Ave. suited those needs, so items and locally produced man relinquished precious “I had a six-month waiting she purchased the three- goods, such as two Iowa storage space in the back list.” story downtown property. wine brands, O’Brien’s room of Renewed Purpose Seggerman re-evaluated Today, she rents the main Granola and Henning’s to accommodate memand reinvented her business level of the historic build- Popcorn. The building also bers’ desire for a safe space model, and Ann’s Liquida- ing to Waverly Chamber houses storage for Ann’s for pickup and drop-off of tion Service LLC was born. of Commerce. The second Liquidation Service and items. Her business now focuses floor houses three apart- two more apartments. Today, a group of 10 on buying and clearing out ments. The third floor was A sideline arose from volunteers manages most a client’s home — “the good, once the Masonic meeting Seggerman’s desire to re- daily operations of the the bad and the ugly,” she area. In recent years, Seg- duce her own “personal busy group. However, the explained. german and her husband, collection of stuff” after an most significant changes to “We go in and haul it all Rich, renovated that space, acquaintance mentioned the way the group operates were dictated by Facebook, away so the family can re- converting it to two apart- Facebook seller groups. ally just deal with selling ments. “They were of inter- Seggerman said. the house,” she said. “There The need for storage in- est because the Facebook “It can be frustrating, are dealers who will come creased with Seggerman’s groups provided ways to because of the changes in and pick out the highly business interests. keep things civil and clean Facebook imposes,” she valuable items for resale. We “I was out walking on and avoid scams,” she ex- said. “Facebook was never designed for buying and will clear out everything, so Mother’s Day, and I saw plained. it really is more of a service. a for sale sign in front of Seggerman launched selling groups, so it seems There’s nobody else around (104 E. Bremer Ave.),” she Waverly for Sale Group in like they’re still figuring out said. “That was 2011. The about 2011. The group was how to do it.” here who does this.” If Seggerman’s entrepre- basement had never been closed, and individuals had Meanwhile, Seggerman neurial spirit was spurred cleaned out since the flood. to request membership. by her parents’ example, her I knew that once that space Through member feedback, businesses grew because of was cleaned out, it would be trial and error, Seggerman developed guidelines that The Trading Assistant and perfect for my inventory.” The building also offered fit Facebook’s restrictions. later, Ann’s Liquidation Service. another appealing possibil- These covered everything “It all began in a com- ity: retail space. from how sale posts should pletely organic way,” she “I wanted to try running be written to forbidden recalled of her evolution a store,” Seggerman said. items and practices.
and some 40 apartments above that. At U.S. Highway 63/ Mullan Avenue and Jefferson Street, construction is well underway for the second phase of Grand Crossing, which will be a $3.5 million mixed-use structure. In Cedar Falls, Sulentic and developer Brent Dahlstrom are working on a commercial-residential project on the site of the former Iowa Sports Supply. Initial plans call for 7,600 square feet of commercial space on the ground floor with some 50 residential units on the second and third floors. “The Cedar Valley is
UTILIZING OUR RESOURCES BUILDING OUR RELATIONSHIPS
booming, and interest rates are still relatively low, and there is a lot of excitement in building in Cedar Falls and Waterloo. We are just glad to be a part of it,” Sulentic said. Deeds, who has been involved with restoring existing properties, sees the popularity of the formula as a throwback to the community’s earlier days when the downtown was the focus of city life. “In some respects, this is just putting these buildings back into good use, to a similar use to what they were originally,” he said. Most upper floors were used when they were first built, either as professional
focuses on Ann’s Liquidation Service and Renewed Purpose. She continues to rely on word-of-mouth referrals from attorneys and previous customers. “I want to remain small so I can continue to do this myself. I enjoy being hands on,” she explained. She also strives to encourage and support other downtown business owners. “My favorite part of going into retail has been the thriving downtown community,” said Seggerman. Several with local businesses have struggled during the past year due to construction that blocked businesses and closed sections along Waverly’s thoroughfare, Bremer Avenue. Another round of construction is scheduled for March. Seggerman sees many positive effects of downtown construction and hopes the community can support businesses through the rough times. “I know it’s convenient and easy to go on Amazon and buy things, and I certainly do,” said Seggerman. “There are businesses that are struggling, and they need our support. There’s something to be said for going and picking out your purchase and giving that extra, personal touch.” Ultimately, Waverly will persevere, she added. Though her hometown is small, she believes it has consistently produced “amazing talent” and will continue to do so. “I never considered myself a leader,” Seggerman said. “I am a really strong cheerleader, and I am happy to support those leaders we have.”
offices or living space. Post World War II, a lot of the overhead space fell into disuse. “Some was storage for the business below. Some might have been used at a relatively low level of use. … Going back to the Steely Block, the third floor where the ballroom was at, I would venture to say it had probably been at least 50 to 60 years since that third floor had been used,” Deeds said. He said that began to change in the early 2000s. “In other cities, you later on tend to see new construction follow along. And to some extent that’s starting to happen in downtown Waterloo,” Deeds said.
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vi·sion·ar·y 1. (especially of a person) thinking about or planning the future with or wisdom.”a visionary leader”
imagination
synonyms: inspired, imaginative, creative, inventive, ingenious, enterprising, innovative; 2. relating to or able to see visions in a dream or trance, or as a supernatural apparition.”a visionary experience”
2018 • GROWTH • MOTIVATION • INNOVATION • TEAM • VISION
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E12 | Wednesday, February 21, 2018
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#CVUNITES
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94%
of graduates reside in Iowa
MORE THAN 50,000 GRADUATES since 1966
COMMUNITY IMPACT:
$618 MILLION 11,296 JOBS CREATED
EARN A 12.3%
RETURN ON INVESTMENT
SERVING MORE THAN 25,000 INDIVIDUALS
HELP US SELECT 8 SENIOR RESIDENTS WHO ARE OVER 80 YEARS OLD. NOmINATE SOmEONE YOU fEEL mEETS THE fOLLOWINg CRITERIA:
SUBmIT YOUR ENTRY BY mAIL, fAX OR ONLINE:
Demonstrates leadership.
MAIL: 8 over 80, P.O. Box 540, Waterloo, IA 50704 • FAX: Attn: 8 over 80, (319)-234-3297
Contributes now and in the past to the betterment of the community, often behind the scenes.
ONLINE: www.WCfCourier.com/8over80
NOmINATIONS DUE: FRIDAY, MARCH 23, 2018
Continues to be a success in their vocation. Has been a role model/mentor for others.
8 OVER 80 NOMINATION FORM
One nominee per form. Please attach a short description of why your nomination meets the criteria above. Please be sure to include your address and phone number in the event further information is required.
Nominee:
Age:
Occupation/retired from:
EvEnt sponsorEd by
Phone: Address: City:
State:
Zip:
Submitted by: Phone: Address: City:
State:
Zip:
Winners will be selected by a committee and featured in the July issue of Cedar Valley Business Monthly. A special reception will be held honoring the 8 selected leaders.
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POWER
Leading the CHARGE SPARKING ideas
of CEDAR VALLEY 168 YEARS 117 YEARS P & J Equipment Grain Handling Specialists LaPorte City 342-3542 8 mi. S. of W’loo on Dysart Rd.
166 YEARS
Kaiser Corson Funeral Home Denver, Readlyn, Shell Rock, Waverly 319-352-1187 www.kaisercorson.com
3366 Kimball Ave Waterloo, IA 50702 319-236-3620 www.mn-ia-aaa.com
164 YEARS 113 YEARS Black Hawk Hotel
Spahn & Rose
115 Main St Cedar Falls 319-277-1161 www.theblackhawkhotel.com
850 6th St., Jesup 319-827-1448 www.spahnandrose.com
157 YEARS The Courier WATERLOO CEDAR FALLS 319-291-1497 100 E. 4th www.wcfcourier.com
Northeast Iowa’s largest supplier of small quantity metals 217 Rath St, Waterloo 319-234-5428 www.generalsheetmetaliowa.com
116 YEARS 102 YEARS AAA Insurance and Travel
Waverly, IA 1-800-772-2085
103 Years
General Sheet Metal Works Inc
112 YEARS Iowa Securities Investment Corp
Serving Iowans w/com’l real estate loans/investments since 1906. 3346 Kimball Ave., W’loo 236-3334
3022 Airport BLVD, Waterloo, IA 50703 234-8888 www.pdcm.com
157 YEARS 112 YEARS FOUNDED IN 1862
Richardson Funeral Home 615 Main St., C.F. 266-3525 Noble-Brown-Jung-KunzNelson-Richardson
Universal Industries, Inc. Gentle Handling Specialists Dean A. Bierschenk, Owner 5800 Nordic Dr., C.F. 319-277-7501 1-800-553-4446
154 YEARS 111 YEARS First National Bank Cedar Falls, Plainfield, Waverly 319-352-1340 www.myfnbbank.com
Levi Bros. Jewelers “JEWELERS SINCE 1908” 306 E. 4th, Waterloo 233-6951
150 YEARS 110 YEARS Matt Parrott
A Storey Kenworthy Co.
Northland Products, Co.
agvantagefs.com 1-800-346-0058
511 E. 5th St., Ste. 300 233-3318 www.carneycpa.com
& Co., L.L.P., CPAs
84 YEARS Petersen & Tietz
83 YEARS Stoner Radiator
234-6615
98 YEARS
83 YEARS
WATERLOO, IA
The Rasmusson Co. Towing and Recovery Service
146 YEARS Black Hawk Mutual Insurance Association
Providing Farm and Home Insurance for Black Hawk and surrounding counties. 353 E. Eldora Road Hudson 988-4101
109 YEARS
1010 BROADWAY 233-8411, 268-9110
146 YEARS 108 YEARS
Black Hawk County Abstract Your Trusted Partner Since 1871, 614 Sycamore St, Waterloo. 291-4000.
www.blackhawkabstract.com
Bloom Mfg., Inc. Hydraulic Cable Winches. Visit our website: www.bloommfg.com 1443 220th St., Independence 319-827-1139
146 YEARS 107 YEARS Cedar Valley Catholic Schools
YWCA of Black Hawk County
Providing Catholic Education in the Cedar Valley. 3231 W. 9th St. Waterloo, IA 50702 319-232-1422 cvcatholic.org
425 Lafayette St. Waterloo, IA 50703 319-234-7589 www.ywcabhc.org
82 YEARS
72 YEARS
95 YEARS The Sinnott Agency, Inc. Steve, Tom and Dan Sinnott Insurance and Financial Services. 622 West 4th St., 233-6103
95 YEARS Meyers Nursery
We are a Family Business Serving the Cedar Valley for 95 years. 1685 Independence Ave. Waterloo, IA
Moeller & Walter 101 Blackhawk St, Reinbeck, IA 50669 319-788-6459
Your Complete Newsstand Featuring quality pipes,cigars, tobaccos, and liquor
www.moellerandwalter.com
617 SYCAMORE, W’LOO 234-5958
Lazer Cutting & CNC Machining General Machine Work 206 Edwards, Waterloo 233-3918
2050 Mitchell Ave., Waterloo 234-7756 800-772-2045
91 YEARS
Varsity Cleaners
since 1905 1615 Jefferson St, Waterloo 319-233-3387 www.blackhawkelectrical.com
Full shirt laundry service Dry Cleaning Shirt Laundry Alterations Drapes and More 216 W. 11th, Waterloo 233-3571 www.varsitycleaners.com
79 YEARS Waterloo Lions Club We Serve Geoff Grimes 319-240-3260
78 YEARS Martin Bros. Distributing Co., Inc.
“Legendary Customer Service” 406 Viking Rd., Cedar Falls www.martinbros.com
201 E 22nd St, Cedar Falls, IA 319-266-5438 www.stickfortelectric.com
61 YEARS Iowa Wall Systems, Inc.
Overhead Door Company of Waterloo
Huff Contracting, Inc.
Lebeda Mattress Factory
116 E 4th St, Cedar Falls, IA 50613 319-277-9748
520 Mulberry St., W’loo 319-234-2416
402 Viking Plaza Dr. Cedar Falls 319-277-3033 www.scheels.com
58 YEARS
51 YEARS
Wayne Claassen
Proshield Fire & Security
Engineering
319-235-6294
1118 La Porte Road, Waterloo, IA 50702 319-233-3439 www.proshieldfireandsecurity.com
58 YEARS
50 YEARS
AND SURVEYING, INC. 2705 University Ave., W’lo
Financial Decisions Group 3013 Greyhound Dr. Waterloo, IA 50701 319-233-8476 www.FDG.net
58 YEARS
50 YEARS
Trust, Dependability, Experience
Goodwill Industries of Northeast Iowa “Our business works so people can.” 2640 Falls Ave. Waterloo 234-4626
56 YEARS
4537 Texas St, Waterloo, IA 319-296-1363 www.sbsales.com
67 YEARS
60 YEARS
Pawsitive Pet Care
Hawkeye Alarm and Signal Co.
Rapids Reproductions, Holmes Weldingand Inc. Fabrication Ltd. 66 Years of Delivering Innovation to Design Professionals 6201 Chancellor Dr., C.F. 319-277-5538 www.rapidsrepro.com
66 YEARS
D&K Hickory House Family Owned Since 1952 “Best Darned Ribs in Town” 315 Park Rd., Waterloo 233-9111
Ray Mount Wrecker Service 829 Sycamore Street, Waterloo
4501 Prairie Pkwy Cedar Falls, IA 50613 319-277-8000
NewAldaya Lifescapes
7511 University Avenue Cedar Falls, IA 50613 319-268-0401 www.newaldaya.org
50 YEARS
Electrical Contractors 1915 Jefferson St., W’loo 233-3543
50 YEARS
Town & Country Home Improvement
Ready Rooms
4920 Dubuque Rd Storage Co. Waterloo, IA 50703 319-235-9565 Independence 334-2868 www.TCHomeImprovement.com La Porte City 342-2207
56 YEARS
50 YEARS
Over 55 years’ experience! 1127 Jefferson St, Waterloo 1-800-728-6665 www.communitybuildersia.com
Ford, Kia, VW, & Chevy 20833 La Porte Rd. 234-4200 2728 Main St. C.F. 277-8123 www.withamauto.com
55 YEARS
50 Years
Has Been Here Community Builders FordServing You Supply Co. Witham Auto Centers
Cedar Falls Mobile Home Village
55 YEARS
Sandee’s Custom engravers
Stamp-Signs-Seals Stencils-Promo Products 1111 South St., W’LOO 235-1681
232-4444
60 YEARS
Imports, Front Wheel Drives, Domestics 500 Ansborough, Waterloo 232-9991
Paulson Electric Co. Of Waterloo
“Knowledge and experience Quiet Park-New/Used Sales make the difference.” 1 mile W. of the UNI-DOME Hudson 319-988-3727 266-6093 www.holmeswelding.com www.cedarvillagecommunity.com
60 YEARS
K&S Wheel Alignment Service
Cedar Falls Construction Co.
56 YEARS
Waterloo, Iowa 63 Years in Business Concrete, paving brick, block. 233-0168
Modern Builders, Inc. Specializing in Pre-Engineered Buildings and Standing Seam Metal Roofs 202 Main Street Janesville, IA 50647
60 YEARS School Bus Sales
Flowerama
Full-Service Florist 2220 Kimball Ave, Waterloo 320 W 1st St., Cedar Falls Flowerama.com
51 YEARS
Morg’s Diner
67 YEARS
Bowers Masonry, Inc.
51 YEARS
58 YEARS
800 Commercial Street 319-233-0471 www.ohdcwaterloo.com
60 YEARS
Since 1946
55 YEARS
Montessori System Preschool
3220 Terrace Drive Cedar Falls montessori@cfu.net montessorisystemschool.org
527 Park Lane, Waterloo 319-233-8911 www.clarkpo.com
49 YEARS HyPro Inc. Precision Machined Components From Concept to Completion 711 Enterprise Drive Cedar Falls, IA www.hypro.com
49 YEARS Murphy’s Auto Service, L.L.C. Since 1969 414 East 7th Street Waterloo 319-234-9752
www.LockardRealty.com
71 YEARS
Blue Line Moving & Craft-Cochran, Inc Storage, Inc. Screenprint and
79 YEARS
Stickfort Electric Co
66 YEARS
Formally Simpson Furniture
Family Owned and Operated Since 1960 Fred J. Harris Brian - Tim - Ronda Waterloo, IA 235-6647
3533 W. Airline Hwy. Waterloo, IA 50703 Family Owned Highway Construction Business 319-235-6746
Lockard Realty
AGENT: United Van Lines 5614 Nordic Dr., Cedar Falls 266-3591 www.bluelinemoving.com
61 YEARS
Iowa’s Oldest UL Listed Burglar Alarm Company 16 W. Commercial, W’loo 232-0490
319-266-3535
Harris Cleaning Service
SINCE 1950. REAL ESTATE OUR ONLY BUSINESS www.schuckrealtyco.com PARKERSBURG 346-1364 319-404-1502
Maid-Rite
80 YEARS
3506 Lafayette Rd., Evansdale 233-3395
61 YEARS
66 YEARS
“1937-2017” Your one source for successful business facilities. www.kirkgross.com 4015 Alexandra Dr., W’loo 234-6641
“For all your healthcare needs.”
68 YEARS
71 YEARS
Kirk Gross Co.
62 YEARS
Evansdale Pharmacy
Com’l, Ind’l, Res’l Mark Gardner-owner 315 LaPorte Rd., Waterloo 234-0272
Schuck Realty Co.
58 YEARS
319-287-9106 www.CFNEIA.org
Rely on us for all Drywall, Painting and Insulation needs. 4601 Crestwood Dr, Waterloo. 296-1663. www.iowawallsystems.com
81 YEARS
7th and Commercial, W’loo 232-6861
88 YEARS
Don Gardner Construction, Company
CF.Kaplan.edu
420 E. 11th St. Cedar Falls 277-2141
Black Hawk Electrical Co
68 YEARS
5713 University Avenue Cedar Falls, IA 50613 319-277-6278 www.lebeda.com/cedar-falls
319-277-0220 7009 Nordic Dr, Cedar Falls
Fullfilling Lifestyles for Seniors
123 YEARS 103 YEARS
Waterloo 319-235-6741
Here for good.
Dr. Bradley Kneeland
72 YEARS
Since 1939 Shop: 232-5927, Yard: 232-1747
Fred Rewoldt and Martha Bockholt Rewoldt started the bank in Feb., 1926 FDIC. No Service Charge www.frederikabank.com Frederika, IA 319-275-4301
New and Used Forklifts, Parts, Service All Brands, Rentals 2950 West Airline Hwy.,
Community Foundation of Northeast Iowa
Taking care of your furry friends for 67 years. 1799 Ansborough, W’loo 234-7511
81 YEARS
Serving the community and industry for 87 years
103 years of family auctioneering. “Since 1914” www.hilpipre.com Cedar Falls 235-6007
Big River Equipment Co., Inc.
62 YEARS
2300 Main St., Cedar Falls
1310 Grandview Avenue Waterloo, IA 50703 319-233-9000 www.huffcontractinginc.com
Kaplan University Real Iowans. Real Results.
Woodruff Construction, LLC
ART VAN Furniture
The Cedar Valley’s leading Low-Slope Commercial Roofing Contractor 319-232-4535 www.serviceroofing.net
Wilber Auto Body & Salvage
Farmers Savings Bank
Locally Owned
72 YEARS
Superior Welding Supply Co.
91 YEARS
Higby Co Family run
82 YEARS
Western Home Communities
Michael Painting and Decorating Co. Painting and Decorating Quality Since 1895 1008 JEFFERSON 232-3755 00 1
29 S Frederick Oelwein, IA 319-283-1655
94 YEARS
Hilpipre Auction Co.
Schuerman Auto Repair
96 YEARS
Waterloo Mills Co.
Iowa Custom Machine
73 YEARS
3315 W 1st St, Cedar Falls 319-266-0720
107 YEARS
123+ YEARS 104 YEARS
Wood, Metal and Plastic Patterns Full CAD/CAM Services 84 W. 11th St., W’loo 319-232-7993
Complete Insurance Since 1920 www.tjernagelins.com 2920 Falls Ave.W’loo, IA 50701 319-235-6719
National Cigar Store
Where it is our mission to do what’s right, put our clients first, and provide financial security. 319-233-8441 waterloo.nm.com
73 YEARS
Midwest Pattern Co.
73 YEARS
142 YEARS
Northwestern Mutual
69 YEARS
BDI 1826 Black Hawk St, Waterloo 319-234-6845 www.bdiusa.com
319-232-3954
124+ YEARS 106 YEARS
73 YEARS
Locke Funeral Home
82 YEARS
Service Roofing Company
Warren Transport, Inc.
Waterloo Warren Transport’s Home 210 Beck Ave., W’loo 233-6113
Tjernagel Insurance
95 YEARS
69 YEARS
Est. 1944 Your full service feed, egronomy, and grain cooperative business. Dunkerton, 822-4291
98 YEARS
Fereday Heating and Air Conditioning Always Dependable, Honest Service & Fair Prices
74 YEARS
Dunkerton Co-op
2000 Heritage Way Waverly, IA 50677 www.cunamutual.com
Sales/Service Freight, “Electronic Parts Serving the America’s with passenger and home elevators Distributors” Premium Quality Motor Oils and Printing & Mailing One Schumacher Way, Denver Office Supplies & Furniture Industrial Lubricants Since 1908! 807 East 18th St., Cedar Falls 800-779-5438, 984-5676 234-6681 Promo & Corporate Apparel 1000 Rainbow Dr., W’loo FarnsworthElectronics.com schumacherelevator.com 319-234-5585 Waterloo: 319-234-4621
69 YEARS
Family Owned and Operated Tom Petersen, Owner 520 Main St. 988-3231
www.youngphc.com
62 YEARS
Family Owned Locations in Ames, Fort Dodge, Iowa City, Bob Frickson, owner and Waterloo Specializing in sewers, waters, 319-233-3349 basements, and demolition. www.woodruffcompanies.com 319-235-0080
“Your Choice for Comfort”
9716 University Ave. Cedar Falls, IA 277-3802
Schumacher Elevator
Frickson Bros. Excavating
Young Plumbing & Heating Co.
Formerly Schuerman’s Phillips 66 Serving Automotive Needs Since 1945 1505 West 1st, C.F. 277-5343
Farnsworth Electronics
70 YEARS
Petersen Hudson Hdwe. Plumbing & Heating
Florists & Greenhouses Where your wishes Deeply Rooted in have governed for four the Cedar Valley generations. 2275 Independence, W’loo www.lockefuneralhome.com 319-234-6883 1519 West 4th, W’loo Family owned and operated 233-6138 www.petersenandtietz.com
New radiators - heaters fuel tanks Air conditioning sales and service USED CAR SALES 724 Jefferson 235-9529
HWY. 63 SOUTH
Plant
74 YEARS
Est. March 1918.
319-234-1766 www.Beecherlaw.com 620 Lafayette St, Waterloo
Waterloo Container
86 YEARS
86 YEARS
Beecher, Field, Walker, Morris, Hoffman & Johnson, P.C.
International Paper
800 W. Parker 234-1753
Carney, Alexander, Marold
100 YEARS
77 YEARS
RothJewelers.com
John Deere Waterloo Operations
Schoitz Engineering, Inc.
Mark Nielsen, President 300 10th St. N.E. Independence 334-7193
229 E. 5th Street, Downtown Waterloo Since 1931
100 YEARS
First Maxfield Mutual Insurance
Since 1906...Looking forward to another 100 years.
Diamonds • Pandora • Swarovski
PDCM Insurance
99 YEARS
801 S. State St., Denver, IA 50622 319-984-5255 www.firstmaxfield.com
Roth Jewelers
Locally Owned Since 1916
157 YEARS 112 YEARS Wapsie Valley Creamery, INC.
87 YEARS
ENERGIZING lives
64 YEARS Craig Fairbanks
Embroidery
Wausau Homes
5714 Nordic Dr Suite 100, Cedar Falls 319-277-1026 www.craftcochran.com
64 years, 3 generations www.wausauhomes.com
71 YEARS
64 YEARS
KBBG - FM 88.1 918 Newell Street, Waterloo, Iowa 50703 319-235-1515
319-553-1457
Art Carter and Son Electric Residential and Commercial Wiring
www.kbbgfm.org
725 Adams St., W’loo 319-232-9808
70 YEARS
64 YEARS
Benton’s
Ready Mixed Concrete, Inc. Serving the Metro Area for 70 Years 725 Center, C. F. 266-2641
70 YEARS
Peoples Appliance
Don’s TV & Maximum Sight and Sound
www.maximumsightandsound.com 4017 UNIVERSITY 234-0344 Terry Root - owner
63 YEARS
59 YEARS Elliott-Hartman Agency
Kramer Sausage Co.
49 YEARS RC Systems
A radio communications Property and Liability Insurance company. Wholesale-Retail for Businesses and Individuals - Video Surveillance Custom Processing - Access Controls 322 Main St., La Porte City 611 Ansborough Ave. We Service All Major Brands 342-2693 Waterloo, IA 50701 www.KramerSausage.com 1657 Falls Ave. 234-3511 319-233-8459
59 YEARS Narey’s 19th Hole, 2073 Logan Ave, Waterloo 319-234-9739 Family owned since 1959
59 YEARS
Dalton Plumbing Heating & Cooling 5536 Nordic Dr, Cedar Falls 319-266-3513
53 YEARS
TrueNorth-Kimble Insurance Group
48 YEARS Toby’s Tax
226 Main St., Cedar Falls 319-268-2034
110 Clay St, Cedar Falls
www.truenorthcompanies.com
319-277-2528
52 YEARS
46 YEARS
LaPorte City Specialty Care
Action Garage Builders
www.daltonphc.com
For All of Life’s Health Transitions 319-342-2125
“If You Need a Garage You Want ACTION!!” Free Estimate 232-1477 or 1-877-488-1477
59 YEARS
51 YEARS
46 YEARS
Goos Implement Ltd
B&B Farm Store, Inc.
Amana, Maytag, Kitchenaide Speed Queen, Frigidaire Adam Morris Your Premier Staffing Agency 1333 IA-96, Gladbrook, 451 LaPorte Rd., W’loo Located In The Cedar Valley! IA 50635 232-0140 221 E. 4th Street Waterloo 641-473-2403 319-232-6641 www.goosimplement.com
More Years In Business on next page.
54 YEARS
1134 220th St. Jesup 319-827-1463
Europa Cycle & Ski
Headquarters for Your Bicycling and Crosscountry Skiing Needs 4302 University Ave.,C.F 277-0734 www.europacycle.com
F2 | Wednesday, February 21, 2018
The Courier
POWER
Leading the CHARGE SPARKING ideas
of CEDAR VALLEY 46 YEARS John Deery Motors Nissan Lincoln Mitsubishi www.deery.com 6823 University, Cedar Falls 277-6200
46 YEARS
41 YEARS Omega Cabinetry 1205 Peters Dr, Waterloo 319-235-5700 www.omegacabinetry.com
38 YEARS Kryton Engineered Metals
36 YEARS
Northeast Iowa Food Bank Fighting Hunger in Northeast Iowa
33 YEARS Craig Holdiman REAL ESTATE APPRAISER
ENERGIZING lives
25 YEARS
22 YEARS
Peppercorn Pantry
Curran Plumbing, Inc.
Mary Mayer Rod Curran, Owner Since 1996 Specializing in Residential 911 Parriott St., Aplington 1605 Lafayette St. “The Plumber Your Friends Real Estate Appraisals 319-347-2797 Waterloo, IA 50703 Call” 7314 Chancellor Dr., C.F. 526 Midlothian, 236-2942 233-0353 www.northeastiowafoodbank.org www.holdimanappraisals.com peppercornpantry.com 266-1771 Metal Spinning for the Industry
41 YEARS
38 YEARS
36 YEARS
32 YEARS
25 YEARS
22 YEARS
Rainsoft
Quail’s Auto Salvage
Service Signing LC
“Try TnK for a Healthier Way” 1023 Peoples Square, Waterloo 319-235-0246 www.tnkhealth.net
We’re proud to be part of the community.
Potter’s Hearing Aid Services
Sweerin Brothers
Pest Control & Radon Testing 6607 Hammond Ave Waterloo, IA 50702 319-296-3227
Masonry
319-233-2038 3130 Marnie Ave. Waterloo
Complete line of traffic control devices for sale or rental.
202 Glendale St., W’loo
46 YEARS
41 YEARS
38 YEARS
36 YEARS
Cedar Falls Brown Bottle
All Car Transmission
Italian dining
Quality and Service You Can Depend On All Work Guaranteed 407 E. Mullan, W’loo 235-6300
TnK Health Food Store
1111 Center Street, C.F. 319-266-2616 www.thebrownbottle.com
45 YEARS Aspro, Inc.
Ryan Exterminating, Inc.
41 YEARS
Automotive Service Solutions
“Why Buy New When Used Will Do” 234-7715
Schaefer Tree
Sales and Repair of Concrete and Masonry All Major Brands 319-235-9698 1416 W. 4th St., Waterloo 232-7113 sweerinbrothersmasonry.com
32 YEARS
AND STUMP REMOVAL D&W Floor Covering • Land clearing for We carry carpet, vinyl, new construction wood, ceramic, laminate we also remove hedges and Corporate Wearables Sales & Installation shrubs. Any stump, any size, any And Work Wear place. Our smaller stump grinder Established 1986 www.coverallembroidery.com fits thru a 3’ gate, call anytime. 3400 S. Hudson Rd. 1808 East. St., Cedar Falls 236-1956 Cedar Falls 988-3587 269-1544 277-2385
Cover-All Embroidery, INC.
38 YEARS
Regal Plastic Supply Company
25 YEARS
22 YEARS
19 YEARS
12 YEARS
Breakenridge Memorials
319-352-1108
319-287-5915
21 YEARS
18 YEARS
12 YEARS
Waterloo, IA 50702
24 YEARS
Youngblut Motors
Deery Brothers Collision Center
quality tires from Goodyear, 117 Industrial Dr. Evansdale, IA Kelly, Dunlop and other David Beaty Dave, Tadley and Howard 201 E Seerley Blvd, top tire brands as well 319-232-8757 Specializing in Retirement Income as automotive repair and www.regalplastic.com and Estate Planning Cedar Falls services to the Waterloo area 120 Vinton The Midwest’s Leader in the Thunder Ridge Court 515 W 5th St, Waterloo 319-266-9900 Waterloo • 232-6849 Distribution of Plastic Sheet, Rod, 2302 W. 1st St., Ste. 120, C.F. 319-234-6871 319-277-1059 www.deerycollision.com www.fifthstreettire.com Tube, Film, and Fabricated Parts.
37 YEARS
36 YEARS
Dennis Eslick Eslick Financial Group
Mudd Advertising
VJ Engineering
We love it when you succeed!
999 Home Plaza, Suite 201 319-833-5555 www.eslickfinancial.com
915 Technology Parkway Cedar Falls, IA 50613 877-321-4992
Civil/Structural Engineering and Surveying
45 YEARS
40 YEARS
37 YEARS
Black Hawk Gymnastics
Dierks Tree Transplant, INC.
C & C Welding and Sandblasting
950 Sheerer Ave. Waterloo, IA 50701 319-233-2533 www.blackhawkgymnastics.com
Specializing in large tree transplanting. Nursery stock available. Cedar Falls 277-7173
Business and Personal Printing Embroidery
Mike and Derrick Reedy We Tote the Note Used cars of all types 232-4667 2009 Commercial St. Waterloo
Plumbing, Heating Sheet Metal Fabrication Commercial, Residential 3261 W. Airline Hwy., W’loo 223-5616
30 YEARS
24 YEARS
21 YEARS
Chain of Lakes Marine Inc.
Selesky Manufacturing
45 YEARS Ridgeway True Value Hardware
40 YEARS
Pat’s Auto Salvage
I Care Certified Environmentally Friendly We sell Quality used 2130 Kimball Ave parts and buy wrecked or Waterloo, IA 50702 unwanted cars. 319-234-0383 945 Lowell Ave., 232-0704 www.truevalue.net/ridgewaytv
43 YEARS Blackhawk Automatic Sprinklers, Inc.
40 YEARS Waterloo Oil Co., Inc.
37 YEARS
7735 Ansborough Ave.
111 West 4th, C.F.
Waterloo, IA 50701
266-0105
(319)296-2994
37 YEARS
35 YEARS
37 YEARS
Automatic Amusements, Inc.
Raynor quality garage Providing the Cedar Valley doors/openers. with Internet Juke Boxes, Service/parts for all brands. Locally Owned/Operated Pool Tables and Dart Leagues 1905 State St, CF 232-1371 266-1627 Milton Horak, President
43 YEARS
NORTH STAR COMMUNITY SERVICES
39 YEARS Cedar Valley Hospice
Plumb Tech
All Makes of Vacuums
39 YEARS
Office Concepts, Ltd.
Manchester Livestock Auction, Inc.
37 YEARS
35 YEARS
Aable Pest Control
Compressed Air and Equipment
42 YEARS Helland Engineering & Surveying LTD
38 YEARS B&R Quality Meats, Inc.
38 YEARS
Hoffman & Hoffman Diamond Body Shop Trenching, Inc. SPECIALIZING IN
ABC Embroider and Screen Printing
5743 Westminster Drive Cedar Falls, IA 50613 319-266-1134 www.cedarvalleyelctric.com
105 Industrial Drive Evansdale 319-232-0094 800-500-0199
24 Hour Casino, Hotel & 3 Restaurants 777 Isle of Capri Blvd. Waterloo, IA 877-ISLE-WIN www.islewaterloo.com
10 YEARS
Isle Casino Hotel Waterloo
Inc. The Purse Store & More!! 2 locations to serve you 210 E Main Street 601 17th Street S.E. LaPorte City Fairbank, Iowa 50629 319-342-4550 Independence, IA 50644 319-231-9856 Mason City 319-334-2552 Find us on Facebook!! 641-201-8884 www.eastiowaplastics.com Like us on FaceBook
20 YEARS
15 YEARS
Heartland Walk-In-Tubs
Pump Haus Pub & Grill
9 YEARS TNT
28 YEARS
23 YEARS
19 YEARS
15 YEARS
9 YEARS
Enriching lives 4 paws at a time. 319-232-5292 www.denherdervet.com
Furniture Showcase
A-1 “Jim’s” Appliance Service
9 20th St SE Over 40 years experience Oelwein, IA 50662 in the Waterloo, 319-283-2393 Cedar Falls area 233-4157 www.FurnitureShowcaseInc.com
Bill Colwell Ford
Brothers Construction, Inc.
Computer Reboot
Hwy. 63, Hudson 988-4153 www.billcolwellford.com
Remodeling New Construction
2806 Falls Avenue 319-233-9580 www.creboot.com
319-342-3534
34 YEARS Beal’s Sheet Metal
7744 Ansborough Ave, Waterloo, IA 50701 (319) 233-8224 www.bealssheetmetal.com
34 YEARS Farris Stereo
38 YEARS
36 YEARS
34 YEARS
Koch Construction
Ebert Chiropractic Clinic
WATERLOO 233-7649
10 YEARS
34 YEARS
Warehousing
42 YEARS
Since 1980 215 E. Main St., C.F. 319-266-0807
16 YEARS
Cedar Valley Electric
324 Duryea St. 236-0467
Clearly A Better Place
Dr. Robert Ebert, D.C. Dr. Steve W. Hanus, D.C. 1445 Ansborough Ave., W’loo 319-232-9436
20 YEARS
P.O. Box 561 Cedar Falls, IA 50613 319-277-7000
215 W. 9th St. Cedar Falls, IA 50613 277-8121 Serving Families For 36 Years
2125 FALLS AVENUE
Harting & Henninger Electric Hunemuller Serving La Porte City, CONTRACTORS, L.C. Waterloo and Cedar Falls
Providing Fire and Water Damage Restoration, Carpet and Upholstery Cleaning, Mold Remediation and Custodial Services
Casa Montessori School
www.benjamineedwards.com
319-277-9400
311 Main Street Downtown Cedar Falls, IA 50613 319-277-8111 www.thepumphaus.com
COLLISION REPAIR “Quality Is Never An Accident” 3419 Lafayette, Evansdale 235-0479
Satisfaction.... Today and Tomorrow
23 YEARS
23 YEARS
36 YEARS
www.wapsiepines.com
Since 2013 116 East 4th Street Waterloo, IA 500703 319-233-3297
Cedar Falls , IA 50613
2320 University Ave. Waterloo 319-287-3175 www.mywalkintubs.com
Underground Utililty and Directional Boring contractors 3822 W. Airline 232-4807
Rebuilders, Inc.
29 YEARS
28 YEARS
36 YEARS
5708 W. Cedar-Wapsi Rd.
areas for all your electrical contracting needs 2021 Howard Ave., Ste. A, W’loo 319-232-6373
Remote car starters car video - car stereo - car alarms Professional Installation 4007 University Ave, W’loo 232-0119
Transmission
Safeco - Travelers 24 Hrs Service 7 days a week Progressive - State Auto Family owned and operated 3826 Cedar Heights Dr. 3488 Wagner Rd. Cedar Falls, IA 50613 Waterloo, IA 50703 319-277-2320 www.dtrunnellinsurance.com 234-9114
34 YEARS
Supplying Crushed Stone, Sand and Gravel in Retail & Wholesale Waterloo-Cedar Falls and the A Special Thanks to All surrounding Cedar Valley area. Our Customers. 1107 Technology Parkway 101 BMC Dr., Elk Run Heights, IA 50707 200 Park Rd., W’loo. Cedar Falls, IA 50613 www.bmcaggregates.com 232-MEAT(6328) 266-0161 319-235-6583 www.b-rqualitymeats.com
42 YEARS
Douglas Trunnell Insurance Agency
36 YEARS
BMC Aggregates LC
Machining Welding - Fabrication 339 Rath St., Waterloo 234-1388
Complete service from Design to Finish. 516 Bluff, Cedar Falls 277-0627
Midwest Boat Sales Den Herder & Repair Veterinary Hospital
432 Locust St, Waterloo 319-291-3391 www.smbyharris.com
10 YEARS
15 YEARS
Power Engineering Manufacturing LTD
277-3001
16 YEARS
Wapsie Pine Lawn Benjamin F. Edwards Care & Landscaping Open Locally
Brainard Hollow Double Lung Archery
36 YEARS
1025 Center St. Cedar Falls
2398 Midway Ave Denver, IA 50622 319-238-3467
20 YEARS
39 YEARS
Construction
Fast professional service on all major brands. 319-232-5228 2509 Valley Park Dr., C.F. www.chapmanelectricinc.com 266-1437 or 231-0765
Dolphin Gymnastics LLC
East Iowa Plastics, Inc.
43 YEARS
Live a Healthy Life 3731 Kimball Ave., W’loo 319-232-1143
Chapman Electric, Inc.
10 YEARS
Emerson Crane Rental
319-291-7200 1800 Commercial St. Waterloo
Cunningham
Gulbranson’s Appliance Service
23 YEARS
Ready and “Aable” to serve you!
Vanderloo Chiropractic Clinic
Enviro-Pest
Integration• Solutions Mon.-Fri. 10-7; Sat. 10-5 Microprocessor 2109 Falls Ave. • Based Control Systems 5911 University Ave. • Circuit Board Design Waterloo • Mechanical Engineering Cedar Falls & Design 319-232-2915 • Controller Manufacturing 319-277-8863 EnviroPestSolutions.com Cedar Falls 290-3910
29 YEARS
Tim & Mike’s Auto Repair 216 7th St., Janesville 319-987-2271 Tim Ward, Mike Paul 319-231-4459
Servicemaster by Harris
11 YEARS
35 YEARS
Waterloo • Grundy Center Independence • Waverly 319-272-2002 800-617-1972 www.cvhospice.org
39 YEARS
Byrnes & Rupkey, Inc.
23 YEARS
TRINKETS & TOGS THRIFT STORE
www.aireserv.com/cedar-valley
manchesterauction.com Since 1983 Manchester, Iowa 563-927-2540
Supported Living & Day Programs for adults with disabilities. 319-236-0901 www.northstarcs.org
43 YEARS
30 YEARS
2213 La Porte Road Waterloo, IA 50702 319-229-7420
“Enriching Lives, Enriching the Community” 114 10th St SW Waverly (319) 352-8029 www.larrabeecenter.org
Waterloo’s Leader in Office Supplies, Furniture and Printing 319 Broadway, W’loo, IA 234-1221 Fax 234-6506
707 Hwy. 218 N. 6818 Streeter Rd, La Porte City 342-2440 Cedar Falls, IA 1-800-727-7908 319-232-1268 24 hr. Answering Service www.compress-air.com www.midwestboatrepair.com
Modular Homes New/Used Manufactured Homes Dennis Payne 2909 Airport Blvd., 3766 W Airline Hwy, Waterloo Waterloo, 50703 319-233-1000 319-234-8610 www.coachlighthomes.com www.chainoflakesmarineinc.com
Aire Serve
CAREER SOLUTIONS 3356 Kimball Ave., Suite 1000 319-234-6201 800-283-2756 www.byrnesandrupkey.com
Waterloo Warehousing & Service Co., Inc.
www.pemltd.com 2635 W.C.F.& N. Dr. Waterloo, IA 50703 e-mail sales@pemltd.com 319-232-2311
17 YEARS
24 YEARS
European Car Specialist
43 YEARS
21 YEARS
31 YEARS
Lichty Auto Repair
525 E. 18th St. Cedar Falls 266-7721
Bob’s Guitars
Reedy’s Auto Sales
SALES AND SERVICE
Design/Build Industrial, Commercial, Residential 1705 Waterloo Rd., C.F. mageeconstruction.com 319-277-0100
K Properties 721 Timber Oak Rd. Evansdale, IA 319-231-6795
35 YEARS
Coachlight Homes
17 YEARS
Cetek, Inc. Industrial Controls
Karen’s Print Rite
35 YEARS
Casey McLaughlin, Registered PrinicipalSince 1984- full service brokerage. 621 Grant Ave, Waterloo, IA 50702 287-5080
21 YEARS
Real Estate Leasing Self Storage
Craig’s Vac Shop
Magee Construction
319-233-9911
McLaughlin INVESTMENT SERVICES
24 YEARS
www.rileysfloors.com
Owners: Jeff and Bryant Cizek Drawtite hitches Western & Boss snow plows Blue Ox Towing Equipment 2515 Falls Ave., Waterloo 1714 River St. 232-4741 235-6085
Where customer and quality comes first offering custom blended renewable fuels. 319-234-4693
Christie Door Company
1501 Technology Parkway Cedar Falls 266-5829
B&B Lock Key
2200 Falls Ave. Waterloo, IA 50701 319-234-5397 After Hours: 319-232-1973
Heartland Financial Services Ltd
Waterloo, IA 50701
New York Life Jeff Fitzpatrick
3835 West 9th St
40 YEARS
sknapp@lockardrealty.com
Advanced Automotive
3533 W. Airline Hwy 235-9356
45 YEARS REALTOR
12 YEARS
“A Better Locksmith”
31 YEARS
Rileys Floors
“Outdoor Living at it’s Best!” Over 25 years experience. 319-240-9565
John Fitzpatrick and
Fifth Street Tire Co
3230 Marnie Ave
19 YEARS
Aspire Therapeutic Horseback Riding
Fleming’s Landscaping and More
202 W. Gilbert Dr. Evansdale IA. 50707 319-232-7658 www.aas202.com
3613 TEXAS ST. WATERLOO, IOWA 319-232-6537
Stephen D. Knapp
Farms, Residential and Acreages David J. Wrage, Broker 315 Main St., Dysart 319-476-7070 Cell: 319-640-8388
13 YEARS
“Let us show you the difference” 319-988-4051 Family Owned and Operated Joe and Dawn www.breakenridgememorials.com
36 YEARS
31 YEARS
Wrage Realty
ASPIRE Therapeutic Riding Program enriches the lives of individuals, volunteers, and families by forging bonds between humans, animals and nature. 8100 Kimball Ave. 296-0964 www.aspiretrp.org
dba Automotive Electric Serving N.E. I.A. automotiveelectric.com Gary Gilbert, owner Dennis Rogers, svc advisor 500 W. 5th, W’loo 233-4466
Asphalt Paving Contractors
19 YEARS
Gray Transportation, Inc.
Let Us - Help You Save Transportation Dollars! Waterloo, Iowa 1-800-234-3930
27 YEARS
23 YEARS
Express Employment Professionals
American Pattern & CNC Works, Inc.
Freed Construction, Inc. 319-239-0514
Turnkey Associates 3015 Greyhound Dr. Waterloo, IA 50701 (319) 232-4242
19 YEARS Glass Tech AUTO GLASS
Repair & Replacement Professional Work Quality-Convenient service Locally-Veteran owned 510 State St., Cedar Falls 319-268-9850
19 YEARS King Automotive AND
15 YEARS K9 Playhouse
Where K9 kids come to play 5222 Weiden Rd., Waterloo 319-296-2553
Protective Matting Systems Dura Deck
Sales-Rentals Temporary FloorPortable Access Roads 319-987-2070 bwcontractorsinc.@aol.com
8 YEARS
Nelson Electric of Black Hawk County Electrical Contractor 809 Ansborough Waterloo 235-2445
www.K9Playhouse.com
www.nelsonelectric.biz
14 YEARS
7 YEARS Corky’s Car Care
RE/MAX Alliance
Helping People Succeed 3014 Rownd St. Cedar Falls 277-6603 www.expresspros.com/cedarfallsia
5540 Westminster Dr. Cedar Falls, IA 268-2233 www.americanpattern.com
425 LaPorte Rd., Waterloo 319-234-8822
300 S. State St, Denver, IA 50622 319-939-1611 bartelsk@hotmail.com Licensed in the State of Iowa
27 YEARS
22 YEARS
19 YEARS
13 YEARS
6 YEARS Budget Blinds
“Complete Auto and Truck Repair”
Kvale Insurance
Cedar Valley Mobility
Montage
1425 West 5th Street
3804 Hammond Ave,
Make Your Mouth Dance!
New Creation Salon
Waterloo
Waterloo, IA 50702
319-833-9428
319-291-7210
222 Main Street, C.F. 319-268-7222 www.montage-cf.com
140 Brookeridge Waterloo, IA 50702 319-234-8644
26 YEARS
22 YEARS
19 YEARS
13 YEARS
LJ’s Welding & Fabrication
Professional Carpet and Upholstery Cleaning, Inc.
Advanced Diagnostic Imaging
BW Contractors, Inc. Industrial Machinery Moving and Rigging Heated Storage Shrink Wrap Services 26 Years of Excellence Family Owned 987-2070
141 Center St Waterloo, IA 50703 319-236-2844
The Solution to Your Cleaning Needs 319-266-6947 www.procleaninginc.com
4006 Johnathan Street Waterloo, IA 50701 319.236.2700 www.adiofiowa.com
319-232-0450 corkyscarcare.com
604 Clay St. Cedar Falls, IA 50613 319-242-7088 www.budgetBlinds.com/ Waterloo, IA
6 YEARS Can-Am Automotive & Towing
100 Commercial
Street Waterloo, IA 319-232-2015 00 1
PROGRESS 2018
The Courier
4017 University Ave | Waterloo IA | 319.234.0344 Maxsightandsound@gmail.com | www.Maximumsightandsound.com
Wednesday, February 21, 2018 | F3
Everything For Your Home
A/V For Commercial Systems
Home Theater Whole House Audio Surveillance Cameras Alarms Central Vac Satellite Phone Systems Intercom Lighting Control
Meeting Rooms Offices Retail Restaurants Bars Theme Parks Churches Computer & Phone Wiring
Iowa die casting company regains growth JEFF MONTGOMERY
Telegraph Herald
F
ARLEY (AP) — At Lund Manufacturing, employees routinely carry out the critical and complex tasks that make it possible for clients to create their end products. Vice President Jamie Lund said such a role is common for companies that specialize in die casting. “Die casting is a specialized industry,” he said. “The equipment is specialized, the tooling is specialized and the knowledge is specialized. Because of that, it is something a lot of people opt to farm out rather than do on their own.” The die-casting process involves high pressures and temperatures. At Lund Manufacturing, aluminum is heated to 1,200 degrees in a furnace before it is injected into a mold. The hot aluminum rapidly takes shapes within the mold, before the die is opened and the “shot” — the metal product — is removed. The shot then is refined through steps known as trimming and vibratory deburring. At Lund Manufacturing, some products then go through other processes like CNC machining and powder-coating. The business creates parts that contribute to stationary bikes, theater lighting and engines. Employees at Lund Manufacturing also create trowel handles that are sold in hardware stores and the cups that go inside golf holes. Recently, demand for the company’s services is on the rise. And as Lund Manufacturing begins 2018, expectations are as high as
NICKI KOHL PHOTOS, TELEGRAPH HERALD VIA AP
Oralia Aranda works at a vibratory deburring machine Jan. 25 at Lund Manufacturing in Farley. they have been in a decade. “It is an exciting time here,” Lund said. “We are on the path to growth. And with the people and equipment we intend to add, we feel like we are going to get there.” Randy Lund opened Lund Manufacturing in 1995. Randy Lund, who is Jamie’s father, remains the owner today. The business began with just three employees, including Randy Lund, and initially operated out of a 10,000-square-foot facility. Lund Manufacturing always has been located at 1000 Ninth Ave. N.W. in Farley’s industrial park. However, in the years since it opened, the company’s surroundings have changed significantly. Behnke Enterprises, Precision Wire, Rauen Precision Machining and Triton Manufacturing are among more than a half-dozen manufacturers that now call the
Golf cups are manufactured by Lund Manufacturing in Farley. park home. Bill Schueller, director of Farley Development Corp., credits Lund Manufacturing with breathing life into the park and aiding the growth of other local manufacturers. “They were the original business out there and served as the anchor tenant, so to speak,” Schueller recalled. “I think they really got things started and spurred the other development
that has happened out there.” Jamie Lund joined the company about 15 years ago. During the start of his time with Lund Manufacturing, the company was experiencing steady growth. Jamie Lund said the business employed nearly 120 workers at its peak. But the company was hit hard by the recession and has slowly been shedding jobs ever since. That trend, however, is poised to turn around in 2018. Lund said he expects “8 percent growth in the year ahead” and emphasized that the company is making changes to meet those projections. This includes a recent promise to increase wages. General laborers, who previously earned $10 per hour, now will start at $12 per hour. The hourly wage for a worker specializing in die-casting will be bumped from $12 to $14. “We are hoping that will make us more competitive and, for people that might not have thought about working in this industry, it might make them think about it,” Lund said. The company also plans to invest about $2 million in equipment, an expenditure that will include upgrading existing machinery and purchasing new items. Schueller said he is happy to see multiple Farley companies dig their way out of the recession. “There are a lot of businesses that got hit hard by the recession,” Schueller said. “It is good to see a lot of companies, including Lund Manufacturing, come back strong.” Jamie Lund said the majority
of the business’ recent success comes from within. But he also noted that some of Lund Manufacturing’s recent growth can be attributed to more businesses working with American companies rather than businesses in China. This has not been fueled by political changes or new laws. Rather, many manufacturers have come to the realization that staying in the U.S. gives them timelier and better customer service, Lund said. He explained that if there is a problem with a product coming from China, it could take a month or more to rectify. Companies working with Lund Manufacturing, on the other hand, usually are just a day trip away. “I think a lot of manufacturers have realized they want to get a product they can count on a little better and is a little more aesthetically pleasing,” he said. “It really gives them more control over the process.” Lund Manufacturing does some business with large-scale manufacturers, but the majority of clients are mid-sized companies. Lund added that “about 80 percent” of companies reside within a 250-mile radius of Farley. The company works with clients in a wide range of industries, including agriculture, sporting goods, heating and air conditioning and hardware. “Our industries are very diverse and because of that our demand ends up being pretty level,” Lund said. “If one of the industries we work with suffers, our business is usually buoyed by another industry.”
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F4 | Wednesday, February 21, 2018
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We love what we do. And we love where we do it. We’re proud to have been a part of the Cedar Valley since 1977. Thank you to our loyal customers, dealers, and associates for being a part of our journey.
WATERLOO • JESUP • OELWEIN www.bertch.com 00 1
Wednesday, February 21, 2018 | F5
The Courier
Judi Halbmaier, WasHburn The winner of our Logo Contest and the recipient of a year’s subscription to the Waterloo Courier. The following businesses participated in our contest in December. How many were you able to identify?
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PROGRESS 2018
F6 | Wednesday, February 21, 2018
The Courier
Iowa Waste Reduction Center increasing efficiency nationwide KRISTIN GUESS
kristin.guess@wcfcourier.com
C
EDAR FALLS — The Iowa Waste Reduction Center is headquartered at the University of Northern Iowa, but its reach extends far beyond Cedar Falls. The UNI organization has set several benchmarks on reducing waste, including a standardized painting technique utilized by the U.S. military and an Iowa Green Brewery certification. The IWRC, which sits under the umbrella of the University of Northern Iowa College of Business, and Business and Community Services, was launched 30 years ago after the Iowa Groundwater Protection Act was passed. “In certain circles, we’re known more internationally and nationally than we even are locally,” said Joe Bolick, communications and public relations manager for UNI Business and Community Services.
Painter training
BRANDON POLLOCK PHOTOS, COURIER STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
A research project completed about 20 years ago led the IWRC to compare two similar local body shops on the amount of wasted hazardous paint. It turned out one was producing twice as much waste as the other due to inefficient painting. The curriculum developed by the IWRC eventually evolved into a military certification program. Every person who paints a U.S. military vehicle is certified by the Spray Technique Analysis and Research for Defense, or STAR4D. “We have people from military bases and contractors from all over the country and world, for that matter, come to Cedar Falls to go through training classes,” Bolick said. “You wouldn’t expect a school like UNI to have a 16,000-squarefoot research facility that can do cutting-edge coatings, application and pre-treatment research and testing.” The IWRC has trained military painters from 49 states, Japan and the Virgin Islands. “It’s tough to estimate the dollar amounts of what the small investment in our program has probably saved,” Bolick said.
Classroom area at the Iowa Waste Reduction Center in Cedar Falls.
Iowa Waste Reduction Center By the numbers 40: Percent of all food produced annually in the U.S. ends up in the landfill. 25: Percent of U.S. emissions are caused by food waste. 1: The main component in municipal solid waste in Iowa is food waste. 13.3: Percent of all landfilled waste in Iowa is food waste. tion study to determine what is dumped in Iowa landfills. In 2011, the food waste was at 13 percent, according to Bolick. “In the 2017 study, food waste Instructor Chris Lampe watches as Sheila Kauahi, of Anchorage, Alaska, practices her painting technique on the is up to 20 percent of Iowa’s virtual reality paint simulator at the Iowa Waste Reduction Center on Jan. 25 in Cedar Falls. landfills now,” he said, and seven An Army Depot reported more the IWRC developed a virtual coating operations. percent is packaged food waste. than 17 percent in savings in top- painting center -- that is sold “And then you have the stats of coat application, and an Army worldwide -- to train painters Food recovery how many are hungry in this state National Guard Base reported a without actually using paint. The IWRC also is on a mission and how many children are food 150 percent increase in producPainting trainers from the to tackle the issue of food waste. insecure and it just doesn’t make tion output using the IWRC tech- IWRC also work across the state About every five years, the Iowa sense.” and locally with private industry Department of Natural Resources niques. As part of the painter training, and businesses for painting and conducts a waste characterizaPlease see WASTE, Page F7
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PROGRESS 2018
The Courier
Waste From F6
To combat the issue, the organization has developed educational materials dispersed at rural schools as well as a first-of-itskind in the Midwest Food Recovery Summit held in Des Moines. Last year was the first conference and included attendees from 18 U.S. states and Canada. The event is two and a half days of collabo-
Wednesday, February 21, 2018 | F7
up across Iowa in the last decade, the IWRC partnered with about 15 breweries in the Iowa Brewer’s Guild to develop the Iowa Green Brewery certification. So far, seven breweries in Iowa have been certified, including SingleSpeed Brewing Co. in Waterloo, which recently expanded into the historic Wonder Bread building in downtown Waterloo. “(Brewing) is a very resource Green breweries intensive process, and it’s a proAs breweries began popping cess that we’re not necessarily ratively determining what can be done to divert food waste from the landfill. The event also included high schools competing in a cooking challenge using food left over from the conference and another event held that weekend. “There’s a million reasons why we don’t want food waste going in the landfills, and it is, and at an alarming rate,” Bolick said.
unfamiliar with because it’s very similar to an ethanol plant,” Bolick said, noting the IWRC has worked with regulatory processes in ethanol plants in the past. “That’s a place that churns out a lot of food and a lot of potential waste. You’d be shocked how little actually goes into the garbage,” Bolick said. All food waste is composted, all spent grains are sent off to a mushroom grower or farmers for cow feed, and anything that can
be recycled is sorted. “There’s actually little garbage that goes out of that place,” he said. Other states with similar organizations or state agencies have contacted the IWRC to use what they’ve developed for something in their own states to benchmark how they’re doing sustainability-wise. “People are wasteful, and we’ve got to figure out how to minimize that, and I think we do a pretty good job at that,” Bolick said.
Automotive salespeople to know
Al Shepard has been a Sales Representative with Bill Colwell Ford for over 30 years and has received many awards and honorable mentions during his time at the dealership. Prior to joining the sales staff, Al was a Sargent in the U.S. Marine Corp for 7 years. Amongst his many loyal customers, Al, AKA “Shep,” is known for his good humor. But besides a good laugh, Al is also known for his commitment to customer service, which has resulted in an ever-growing customer base that admire his knack for a fun, yet professional buying experience.
When not at work, Al enjoys spending time with his wife of 19 years, Terri. They reside in Holland where they ride bikes, play racquetball, and go golfing. They will again join RAGBRAI this year, making it their 15th time. Due to his energetic personality and courteous professionalism, it is easy to see why Al is so popular amongst his customers. When you are in the market, stop into Bill Colwell Ford, talk to Al, and see why he is a salesperson to know.
“We’ve had another great experience & we are looking forward to our next purchase. Al, thank you so much for your time and honest dealings.” –Tom & Pattie W.
SALESPERSON OF THE YEAR, ERNIE DOEDEN Ernie Doeden has been a Bill Colwell Ford Sales Representative for 16 years and part of the Colwell organization for 23. During his time at the dealership, Ernie has been Salesperson of the Year 10 times, including this past year, which is no surprise to his customers. Ernie’s commitment to customer service and going above and beyond make him an industry leader. Customers often have “Ernie stories” where he stood in the rain to lend a hand or even ran to the rescue when a customer’s keys were locked in their car.
238 Waterloo Road - Hudson
www.BillColwellFord.com
Ernie’s generosity doesn’t stop at work. He is also a dedicated husband and father of three. When not working, you can often find Ernie at St. Luke’s Episcopal Church where he is a member and volunteer. Due to his outstanding character and professionalism, Ernie has developed a tremendous following of both repeat and referral business. When you are in the market, stop at Bill Colwell Ford and let Ernie help you find the perfect vehicle in a relaxed and fun buying experience.
“Ernie always searches until he finds us the right truck. He goes out of his way to make sure we are satisfied.” – Kim & Brian M.
www.BillColwellFord.com
238 Waterloo Road - Hudson
Restaurant guide “Three Generations of Italian Cuisine” “Excellent food served in a friendly atmosphere” Family Recipes • Family owned since 1922 www.leositaliandining.com 29 South Frederick, Oelwein 319-283-1655
Where Friends Gather
Whether it’s as a couple, as a family or with friends, and no matter what day of the week it is. Visit one these restaraunts for a great dining experience. Serving You for over 55 Years
Tea Room • Gift Shop • Catering
“New Cookbook Available Soon” Hours: Tuesday-Saturday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. 911 Parriott St. Aplington • 319-347-2797 peppercornpantry.com
Drink SpecialS
Monday – all Beers Buy 1 Get 1 Free Taco Tuesday Wednesday – Buy House Margarita 1 Get 1 Free Thursday – pitcher Margaritas $14.95, 1.75 ltr.
Daily Specials Open Monday-Friday 6am - 2pm; Saturday and Sunday 6am-1pm 520 Mulberry St., Waterloo (319) 234-2416 1111 Center St., Cedar Falls, IA (319) 266-2616 Monday-Saturday – 4:30-10 PM Sunday – 4-9 PM
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Groups, Wedding & Baby Showers, Graduation, Rehearsal Dinners, Small Company, Family Meals & Frozen Meals Find us on
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26004 225th St • Grundy Center
F8 | Wednesday, February 21, 2018
The Courier
Children’s Activities Directory Where Iowa’s 21st Century Leadership Begins
RT A T S D ge A E H Y of a T s N r a U O 4 ye C o I t l R T ata Pren 3
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Childcare Scholarship funds and Scholarship funds and State Voluntary Pre-School available State Voluntary Pre-School available Childcare Scholarship funds and
rating 4Pre-School out of 5 stars StateQRS Voluntary available
• Preparing children • Ongoing for school assessments • Health and nutrition • Income-based eligibility • Family services • Positive outcomes • Children with special needs welcome
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Child Care
The Only Olympic Style raining Gymnastics Training Facility in Bremer emer County! Recreational to Competitive
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North Iowa Community Action Organization
Clarksville Head Start
Now taking applications for fall preschool classes for children 3 or 4 by September 15. Head Start provides FREE quality comprehensive preschool services for qualifying families. Meals and health screenings are included. Classes are Monday - Friday from 8:30 - 1:30.
For More Information or to complete an application call the Head Start Office at
641-494-1891
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