Sunday, December 29, 2019 | 1
SUNDAY, DECEMBER 29, 2019
a collection of Cedar Valley Business stories
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AAA EVOLVES
TO MEET EVER-CHANGING NEEDS
W
ith so many new services, downloadable apps, meaningful benefits, and cost-saving rewards and discounts, the biggest challenge for AAA Members is staying abreast of the latest innovative offerings and rewards. Enhancements to the benefits include: AAA Bicycle Service – AAA members can enjoy the same peace of mind riding their bicycles as they do driving their cars. This new service offers roadside assistance if their bike becomes disabled. AAA Mobile Applications – AAA. com/Mobile will provide easy aroundthe-clock access to AAA’s legendary roadside assistance, trip-planning resources, more than 110,000 places offering discounts, fuel prices, and accident assistance. On October 1, 2019, a new Cellphone
Protection Benefit was added that provides reimbursement for damage or theft of an eligible cellphone. For all the details pertaining to this new offer, visit your local AAA office. ProtectMyID – a free service for AAA Members that provides daily monitoring of the Members’ credit report and sends email alerts notifying them of key activities. The basic coverage includes identity theft insurance, fraud resolution and lost wallet assistance. AAA Mobile Battery Service – to get Members back on the road, this convenient service is available in major markets across the U.S. and includes battery testing, delivery and installation. Auto insurance, home, renters, and life – everyone needs insurance protection and with money-saving discounts, there are numerous ways Members save with AAA. Ask for the 3-step review. WeatherFX Alert – the most advanced
weather alert service available, Members may sign up for free notifications via text, email or both monitoring a single or multiple locations. Travel Services – The best vacation and travel adventures begin at AAA Travel. As the largest leisure travel organization in North America – serving both members and the public – AAA Travel can help you plan an exciting getaway, a romantic holiday, or a fun family adventure that everyone will cherish for a lifetime. And, with AAA’s national purchasing power, special perks and value added benefits may be available to you. Professional travel agents, unlimited destination options, special savings, perks and benefits…it all adds up to a better vacation experience. You can’t do better than all A’s. Automobile Repair – Members may get their vehicle serviced for a discounted price from a shop they can trust
at AAA Approved Auto Repair facilities. AAA Members receive 10% off labor (up to $50), a free 24-point inspection and a 24-month/24,000 mile warranty on all repairs. Shops are featured at AAA. com/AutoRepair. There are multiple ways Members may earn or receive a free AAA Membership renewal. To learn more, contact AAA and ask about the new offering from Sprint, the Free Teen Membership, the AAA Credit Card rewards program, the Member referral program, and the AAA Dollars program. For more than a century, AAA has adapted to their Members’ ever-changing needs and they remain committed to exploring new ways to serve them in the future. For more information, visit AAA at 3366 Kimball Ave. – Waterloo, IA, log on to AAA.com, or call 319-236-3620. Sixty million motorists can’t be wrong; it pays to belong to AAA.
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*The AAA Gift Membership program is available to active AAA Members and new w members residing r in TThe Auto Club Group territory where AAA Dollars are offered.The gift membership purchaser earns 20 AAA Dollars for each new AAA Gift Membership purchased (Primary member only) and the gift recipient (Primary member only) also receives r es AAA Dollars. Dollars Earned AAA Dollars are applied tow ward next AAA Membership renewal dues balance. Allow 4 days for AAA Dollars earned through gift membership to be applied. AAA Gift Membership program, offer and availability are ar subject to o change hange without notice at any an time.Visit AA.com/Gift for full terms and conditions. 18-MS-2857B
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ELLSWORTH COMMUNITY COLLEGE KARRIS GOLDEN
By the numbers
For the Courier
I OWA FALLS —- When it comes to academic programs, labels only begin to tell the story, said Robin Anctil, director of marketing for the Iowa Valley Community College District. “You may hear the title of a degree program and believe you know what it is,” she explained. “The truth is that the title doesn’t tell you all the opportunities that will be afforded by that course of study.” For example, prospective students find they can choose multiple directions when they begin perusing potential majors on the Ellsworth Community College website. The variety of opportunities, facilities and other resources enhance the course offerings, Anctil added. Ellsworth’s 40-acre campus is part of the Iowa Valley Community College system. It was initially established as a private college in 1890, making it Iowa’s oldest community college, said Anctil. The private college transitioned to Iowa’s community college system in the mid-1960s. Today, the college boasts the nation’s No. 2 equine science program (HorseSchool.com) and also ranks No. 3 in the nation for agricultural science education. In Iowa, Ellsworth house’s the state’s No. 2 licensed practical nursing program. “Ellsworth is one of the smallest community colleges in Iowa in terms of student body size, so we see a lot of what we call ‘reverse transfers.’ These are students who go from small high schools to large universities and then transfer to Ellsworth,” said Anctil. For these students and others, Ellsworth can offer a close-knit family environment that acclimates them to college life, Anctil explained. “Students know we care about them personally; we know them,” said Anctil.
Ellsworth Community College
COURTESY PHOTO
Ellsworth College students “They find themselves in a small community that is very supportive. We’re really invested in their success.” Despite the small size, Ellsworth provides students with opportunities to participate in collegiate athletics, co-curricular and extracurricular organizations and experiential learning projects. Overall, Ellsworth offers liberal arts and science degree programs, which culminate in Associate of Arts and Associate of Applied Science degrees, respectively. Students enrolled in such programs comprise 80 percent of the college’s enrollment. Ellsworth also offers career and technical degree programs, one-year diploma programs and one semester certificate programs. Each academic program offers some variety in terms of ways students can tailor an experience that suits their needs, said Anctil. For example, the discipline of accounting includes certificate, diploma, and two-year degree programs. One unique program is through “Bachelor’s Academy Saxony,” which is open to all Ellsworth agricultural program students. B.A. Saxony is located in the German free state of Saxony, roughly 120 miles south of Berlin. It is a student exchange
program, taking Ellsworth students to Germany and bringing German college students to central Iowa. Through B.A. Saxon, Ellsworth students also have opportunities for internships and can even transfer to B.A. Saxony for the cost of living there, said Anctil. “Students rave about the experience over there,” said Anctil. “It’s a completely different view of farming. They’ll come back and talk about how German farmers are growing 25 different crops on one small farm, which is rare or even unheard of here.” Ellsworth’s degree programs with the highest student enrollment include nursing, criminal justice and athletic training. Agriculture also boasts a large enrollment. Students studying farm management work on the college’s 133-acre farm to gain experience. There, they get hands-on experience using new agricultural equipment, some of which is valued at $250,000 per machine. Farm management majors can become certified in pesticide application. They also can take advantage of co-op jobs, which frequently result in offers of longer-term off-campus employment. Such programs demonstrate Ellsworth’s
ELLSWORTH Community College, Iowa Falls
You’re going to love it here!
Ph: 800-322-9235 • E: eccinfo@iavalley.edu • W: ecc.iavalley.edu
Main campus: 1100 College Ave., Iowa Falls Established: 1890 Website: ECC.IAValley.edu Degree programs: 55+ LPN Nursing School: No. 2 in Iowa Equine programs: Ranked No. 2 in the nation Precision Ag programs: No. 3 in the nation commitment to providing experiential learning, said Anctil. “The facilities are second to none, and students are blown away when they visit the campus,” she added. Ellsworth has dual enrollment agreements with Iowa’s Regent universities. As a result, students have access to the Regents institution’s academic advising, athletics and library resources and other amenities. All credits earned at ECC transfer to Regent universities and most Iowa private colleges. Upon graduation from Ellsworth, some students elect to enter the workforce directly. Of those who earn degrees, more than 70 percent transfer to four-year colleges and universities to complete bachelor’s degrees. Ellsworth holds the distinction of having the No. 1 transfer rate of any community college in Iowa. All degree credits earned at Ellsworth are transferrable to Iowa Regents institutions. Many students transfer to the University of Northern Iowa in Cedar Falls. Those graduating with degrees in agricultural sciences and related disciplines often move on to Iowa State University in Ames.
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HAWKEYE COMMUNITY COLLEGE KARRIS GOLDEN
By the numbers
For the Courier
WATERLOO—Each year, nearly 5,500 new students enroll at Hawkeye Community College. The college offers many elements of a traditional campus experience, from musical events, intercollegiate athletics and bonding activities, note past and present students. Hawkeye also offers more than 50 programs for those seeking anything from career development to a college degree. Students in degree programs can choose from programs like sociology, graphic communications, hospitality management and much more. Enrollment is high in agricultural and natural science majors. These programs include experiential learning partnerships, a thriving internship program and facilities that provide students with additional hands-on experiences. Hawkeye’s Global Agricultural Learning Center joins students with agricultural professionals, educators and industry leaders from around the world. The center emphasizes analysis, sharing, technology and state of the industry innovation through faceto-face and online interactions, travel courses and other experience and training. The college’s 225-care “Farm Lab” on the west edge of its main campus is another prominent feature of the program. There, students use current technology, facilities and equipment to
Hawkeye Community College Main campus: 1501 E. Orange Road, Waterloo Total locations: 8 Established: 1966 Main phone: (319) 296-4295 Website: www.HawkeyeCommunityCollege.edu FILE PHOTO
A view of Hawkeye Community College’s Van G. Miller Adult Learning Center, which opened in early 2019. actively manage the facilities and raise crops and livestock. Internships require students to document their experiences and learnings through a final report. Across the college, students find internships mainly in Iowa, though some opt for internships elsewhere. Credits earned at Hawkeye transfer to most four-year institutions, and the college offers advisers for navigating that process. In addition, students with enough credits can transfer to Iowa Regents Universities with junior status. There are several similarities between Hawkeye’s for-credit and career advancement programs, including small class sizes, individual attention and hands-on experiences, said Srdjan Golub, director of Hawkeye community education and workforce solutions. “We have a broad range of
programs,” Golub explained. “We provide career programs for health, industrial maintenance and machining, railroad, information technology and more.” Non-credit programs primarily target adult learners. However, Golub has developed relationships with new and recent high school graduates through the Waterloo Career Center. “There’s a large demand; all the industries we work with need skilled tradespeople,” said Golub. “People who are unemployed or underemployed can find a lot of opportunities because of the ability to earn while learning.” Overall, these opportunities appeal to individuals who seek career advancement and improvement, he explained. Individuals can study for certification in their existing field and take certification exams at Hawkeye and learn new skills. In addition, individuals can
Diplomas/degrees-annually: 1,500 Students who remain in Iowa: 94 perecent train for a new career through Hawkeye’s Short-Term Training offerings and enter the workforce in a year or less. These are offered for a variety of fields, from healthcare to railroad professions. Training and certification programs draw on the teaching from subject matter experts, Golub explained. “We have city inspectors teach in their respective disciplines. They know the codes; they know how things are done and how they’re supposed to be done,” he said. “We also have people teaching who retired from industrial maintenance —- guys who were at Deere’s for 35 years and have taught others their whole career.” Hawkeye’s apprenticeship programs are open to students workers who are sponsored or
employed by area businesses before enrolling, said Golub. Apprenticeships include related technical instruction (RTI) and are available for heating, ventilation and air conditioning; carpentry; electrician; plumbing; certified nursing assistant; and commercial driver’s license. In addition, Hawkeye’s shortterm training opportunities extend to certification and testing in several careers in healthcare, manufacturing and maintenance and transportation. Disciplines range from overhead door installation, welding and industrial tools, maintenance and manufacturing. These shorter-term workplace certification programs can take from eight weeks to one year, depending on the individual’s goal, said Golub. “The goal can be anything from advancement in a current job to a whole new career,” he added. “We don’t just offer the instruction and preparation; we provide the testing, too.” This includes state certification for pharmacy technicians and nursing assistants. Hawkeye also is a third party commercial driver’s license facility, so students can complete skills and range testing on-site. Thus, the CDL program and other courses take place at Hawkeye locations. The college also works with companies to tailor courses specific to their industries and employees. These classes can be offered at specific places of business.
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NORTH IOWA AREA COMMUNITY COLLEGE KARRIS GOLDEN
By the numbers
For the Courier
MASON CITY — From academics to culture, North Iowa Area Community College is a shining light in the region, said Rachel McGuire, director of enrollment services. That’s because the college has managed to provide students a focused educational environment while serving the community as a hub for enrichment and entertainment. Thus, the city’s residents feel welcomed on campus, thanks to programming and events designed to include them. Meanwhile, the 500-acre residential campus and academic and cocurricular offerings give students a full college experience. “There is not a city center that contains NIACC,” said McGuire. “We’re on the edge of town on a self-contained campus. The experience is very much like a fouryear college at a two-year cost, as our students say.” NIACC’s facilities have broad appeal, too, said McGuire. These include a performance auditorium that seats nearly 1,200, athletic venues and conference and event spaces. “NIACC is really a cultural center for northern Iowa and southern Minnesota,” said McGuire. This includes the college’s Performing Arts and Leadership Series, which offers Broadway shows, musicians and noted speakers. The college strives to maximize community and student attendance and sometimes coordinates special viewings for
North Iowa Area Community College Campus: 500 College Drive, Mason City Established: 1918 Main Phone: 888-466-4222 Website: www.NIACC.edu Enrollment: 3,000 NIACC PHOTO
Full-Time employees: 239
NIACC area high-schoolers. Community members often take continuing education and enrichment, non-credit classes. When they do, they’re treated as any student, regardless of age. This includes participants in the Lifelong Learning Institute, who are aged 55 and older. The student body also brings representation for 50 countries across the globe. “It’s a small campus where everybody knows each other,” said McGuire. “Everybody cares about our students. … We’re all a part of the fabric of the campus.” For many years, the Aspen Institute has named NIACC as a top 150 U.S. Community College. Business, healthcare, industrial mechanics and technology programs are among the for-credit programs that draw NIACC’s highest enrollment, said McGuire. Across the board, NIACC strives to offer students cutting-edge equipment and facilities. “NIACC is the only community
college in Iowa with a Papajohn Center,” said McGuire. “It allows students to essentially start their business plan before they even graduate.” This includes the Small Business Development Center (SBDC) and a startup incubator to aid entrepreneurs. “The incubator is open to students as well as members of the community,” said McGuire. “Someone may be running a startup from their basement or garage. They can rent space in the incubator and use those services to grow their business.” NIACC also offers entrepreneurial activities and events that are free and open to the community. For example, Papajohn Center and SBCD will offer a “Start Smart” workshop for anyone interested in starting a business. The session includes information on creating business plans, filing legal documents and performing market research. NIACC also boasts a new Science, Technology, Engineering
and Math or STEM Center, complete with collaborative and connected learning spaces. Another feature is the Health Care Simulation Center, which provides students with high-tech, hands-on opportunities. This includes an Anatomage. “This device allows our students to learn about the human body without the use of a cadaver,” said McGuire. An Anatomage is a 3D anatomy visualization system, adopted by many of the world’s leading medical schools and institutions. NIACC was the first Iowa institution to get an Anatomage. It combines radiology software with an operating table-style user interface and is the most technologically advanced device of its kind. “Our students are using the Anatomage to get real world experience. They can see the muscular system, what it’s connected to, turn it on its side —- do everything they would with the real thing,” she explained. Technology is a key feature of
NIACC’s Simulation Lab, too. For one thing, the facility looks is “identical” to the local hospital, said McGuire. For another, the lab comes with patients —- mannequins that move, blink and cough. As students work with their simulated patients, the mannequins record students’ actions and communication. Through remote control, programming communication devices, professors can move the mannequins and speak as if they’re real patients, said McGuire. The same attention to detail went into certificate and continuing education programs. Programs in agriculture and industrial machinery and manufacturing benefit from state of the art equipment and educational spaces. “Manufacturing programs are on the cutting edge and offer the latest tools in clean, brightly lit facilities,” said McGuire. “Our students learn the basics and then move on to (computer numerical control machining tools), computer controls, robotics and more.” Agriculture courses provide NIACC students with land to farm, she added. They get the full experience — planning, management, raising livestock and planting and harvesting. “A lot of our ag students don’t come from farms; they get into agriculture because it’s a big industry, with great opportunities,” said McGuire. “So this is the place where some of our students get some of their first direct experiences working a full-service farm.”
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WALDORF UNIVERSITY KARRIS GOLDEN
By the numbers
For the Courier
Waldorf University FOREST CITY — Beneath the Waldorf University’s somewhat small exterior is a stereotype-shattering leader in high education, said alumna Audrey Sparks. “Waldorf is doing big things and offering students opportunities they can’t get anywhere else,” explained Sparks, who now serves as the university’s marketing manager. “This is a really interesting, vibrant rural community that’s thriving.” Students are drawn to the campus because of the university’s affordability and 11 to 1 student-professor ratio, she added. The smaller student population of 600 residential students also means means they can get involved in a broader range of activities, such as theater, athletics, radio and more. “From the first day on campus, people know you,” she added said. “People know your name, and they’re invested in you as an individual.” In recent years, Waldorf has emerged as an innovator in regional and national athletics. The university already offers some relatively non-traditional fare, said Sparks. This includes officially recognized bass-fishing, roller derby and archery teams. However, it’s even rarer for a university — especially one of Waldorf’s size —- to support a
Waldorf University Main campus: 106 S. Sixth St., Forest City Established: 1903 Main phone: (641) 585-2450 Website: Waldorf.edu Enrollment: 4,000 (600 residential; 3,400 online) COURTESY PHOTO
women’s wrestling team. Female wrestlers are a growing demographic, but only 18 high school athletic associations — excluding Iowa — have officially sanctioned a scholastic state championship for girls wrestling. According to College Wrestling Recruiting, there are 48 collegiate women’s programs in 22 states. Until 2018, Waldorf was the only Iowa university with a women’s program. In fall 2020, Waldorf will officially add Electronic Sports (eSports) to the its athletics program, said Sparks. Electronic sports refers to the practice of competitive video game-playing. Teams participate in tournaments that offer multiplayer online battle arena, traditional sports and real-time strategy gaming events. The sport is sanctioned by the National Association of Colle-
giate ESports, which was formed in 2016. Waldorf will join nearly 150 other colleges and universities that belong to NACE. Waldorf’s team is currently training for competition in “Madden” and “League of Legends,” said Sparks. The university also is in search of a coach. “This sport breaks the stereotype of what a gamer is,” said Sparks. “These are wickedly bright young people with a strong ability to problem-solve. This holds them to a certain level of accountability; they have to be dedicated enough to maintain their GPA while participating on this team.” The team was developed from a gaming club Waldorf sponsored. The students approached the university about supporting the team. Tournament play takes place remotely. The team will compete at Waldorf’s new, state-of-the-
art gaming arena and practice facility, said Sparks. The arena will be housed in the Campus Information Center. It will include a limited access competition area as well as viewing areas for spectators. “This group of students really disproves the idea that gamers are closed off, on their phones and don’t interact with others,” said Sparks. “They get together and they communicate with each other. They have a strong connection. “I have asked them, ‘What’s your goal?’ They will dream about being super-gamers,” she continues. “They’re also focused on getting their degrees. The members of the team are majoring in things like business, computer programming and communication. They talk about how this team can influence those careers.” Waldorf was founded in 1903 as a Lutheran-affiliated college in a single building on South
Sixth Street. In 2010, acquisition by a large online university system helped Waldorf shift from college to university. This change also added online degrees, expanding the student to 4,000. The addition of a physical campus, athletic teams to cheer and other elements of traditional university life appeal to online students, said Sparks. Meanwhile, residential students get the experience of attending a small private college. “Waldorf is very much a part of the community,” Sparks explained. “Our events, like the Distinguished Artist Series, the Christmas Open House, the Festival of Trees, they’re very well attended by people from the area.” The community also has shown strong support for the university’s international students, which comprise 14 percent of Waldorf’s residential student body. “We host an event called Taste of Forest City, where international students and others share food from their cultures,” said Sparks. “That’s always really popular and well-attended.” Community residents are ardent supporters of Waldorf athletic teams, too. “We recently added a tailgating area, and that’s really starting to pop,” said Sparks. “There’s a Community Night, which is a thank-you to everyone for being part of what we do.”
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WESTERN HOME COMMUNITIES KARRIS GOLDEN
By the numbers
For the Courier
CEDAR FALLS — Western Home Communities has done big things in the past few years. This includes establishing facilities on the city’s southern edge and the addition of Jorgensen Plaza and Diamond Events Center. These changes have been part of the organization’s goal to broaden the understanding of the process of aging and leading a fulfilling life, said CEO Kris Hansen. “Our real goal with everything we’ve done the past several years is not to to close ourselves off as a quasi-gated community or a place for ‘just’ retired people to go,” he explained. “Retired people are part of our community — essential to it — not separate from it.” This means ensuring facilities and spaces welcome the community — and not just to visit loved ones. “A good example is Salon Iris, which is fully open to the community,” said Hansen, referring to the Aveda Salon Spa housed at Jorgensen Plaza. “When we designed it, we asked ourselves how can grandma and mom and granddaughter have a spa day together? How can they have that day of beauty while holding onto internal beauty?” Such aementies emphasize that aging is about helping individuals maintain lifestyles and interests on their own terms,
Western Home Communities Downtown campus: 420 E. 11th St., Cedar Falls South campus: 5307 Caraway Lane, Cedar Falls Established: 1912 Total locations: 10 Main phone: (319) 277-2141 COURIER FILE PHOTO
Kris Hansen,CEO of the Western Home, in front of the Western Home Jorgensen Plazz Hansen added. As a result, Western Home Communities strive to meet varied and diverse needs of people as they age and ensure it’s on their own terms. This includes encouraging people to plan for their futures earlier, before there’s a need or health event to drive decision-making, Hansen advised. To that end, Western Home works with individuals aged 55 and older to explore options that allow them to stay in their homes as long as possible. For those who seek independent living options, Western Home Communities offers apartments and detached housing units. There also are community residences, assisted living, skilled nursing or more specialized care options. This varied approach springs from the mission to be a “charitable Christian service organi-
zation that assertively creates fulfilling lifestyles for those we serve, their families and our employees.” In 1912, the organization that would later become Western Home Communities was established in its original building in downtown Cedar Falls. That site housed the organization for 75 years, eventually expanding through five addition projects. Over time, it became one of Iowa’s first retirement communities and eventually added its 150-acre south campus. “Both campuses are very intentionally nestled in established, thriving centers of social activity, commerce and residential neighborhoods,” said Hansen. The downtown “legacy campus,” with original facilities, includes offices of atHome and
Website: www.WesternHome Communities.org Western Home, as well as other senior care services, independent living and assisted living facilities. The south campus launched in 2015, between South Main Street and Prairie Parkway. It includes Jorgensen Plaza, Diamond Event Center and 208 villas and townhomes. In addition, the location offers the independent living communities of Prairie Wind, Windgrace, Windermere, Windcove and Windridge; Windhaven Assisted Living; Thalman Square Memory Support Assisted Living; nursing home services at The Cottages; and The Deery Suites skilled care. Jorgensen Plaza boasts a wellness center and swimming pool, outpatient therapy and 60 private suites for restorative, rehab-to-home skilled care. It also hosts businesses, organizations and events at its conference facilities. Members of the commu-
nity regularly visit its two restaurants —- Table 1912 and Caraway Cafe — as well as Gilmore’s Pub. It is perhaps the most visible example of the desire to bring in the community, said Hansen. He believes everyone, from residents to the community, have gotten the message. This can be seen in Fresh Wind Worship. These weekly services are led by Tim Boettger, director of spiritual care, at Diamond Event Center. Fresh Wind Worship is open to the community and was intended to serve as an option for residents and their visitors, said Hansen. The services have been more popular than anticipated, initially drawing up to 200 worshippers each week. Today, attendance hovers between 300 and 350. “We’re not trying to drive membership; we want people to enjoy their places of worship,” said Hansen. “The goal was never to compete with local congregations or that Western Home is forming its own church.” Instead, the intention is to provide residents with a venue for religious programming and activities. While Hansen appreciates that residents and the community have embraced the rapid changes and growth, he also looks forward to what’s next. “A lot of communities see what has happened here, and it’s exciting,” he said. “We’re working on some big things that we’ll be able to announce very soon.”
“Having caregivers come into Mom’s house enables her to stay in her own home.” “Mom trusts them and looks forward to their visits. It offers so much relief to my brothers, sisters and me that someone has ‘eyes’ on Mom every day. We couldn’t be more pleased!”
Call Melissa to see how atHome can help you or your parents. (319) 277-7779