Business Notes: June 12, 2022

The Gazette’s Business Notes is a compendium of the week’s promotions, new hires, certifications, added business lines and business events, among other items, in Cedar Rapids, Iowa City and the rest of the Corridor.

Information and photos can be submitted to Business Notes by email to businessnotes@thegazette.com, or on our site at thegazette.com/businessnotes.

New Hires

Balanced Fitness & Health in Hiawatha and Cedar Rapids hired two new employees: Christine Weidner, physical therapy assistant; Allison Dillenburg, physical therapist and vestibular rehabilitation specialist.

Andrew Nordyke joined Hills Bank as corporate counsel, officer in the Hills office.

Skywalk Group in Cedar Rapids hired Ali Bliss as sourcing specialist.

Board members

Dr. Benjamin Miller, orthopedic surgeon at the University of Iowa Hospitals & Clinics, joined the board of directors for Courage Ride, an organization that sponsors an annual charity bike event to raise funds for sarcoma cancer research.

Julie Gridley of Wilton joined the board of directors of TRAIL of Johnson County, a nonprofit organization that helps senior residents of Johnson County age in place in their own home.

Expansion

The Cedar Rapids Metro Economic Alliance held a ribbon-cutting ceremony for Collins Community Credit Union’s new First Avenue Branch at 1800 First Ave. NE, Cedar Rapids.

Kudos

Safeco Insurance recognized TrueNorth Companies as a Safeco Ignite Elite agency based upon outstanding performance and partnership.

UnityPoint Health – St. Luke’s Hospital in Cedar Rapids received the American College of Cardiology’s NCDR Chest Pain – MI Registry Platinum Performance Achievement Award for 2022. St. Luke’s is one of 240 hospitals nationwide to receive the honor.

Build-out assistance

Applications are open for Race for the Space, a program that gives businesses the chance to win $20,000 toward rent and build-out at a selected property in downtown Cedar Rapids. Selected business also will receive a $7,500 credit for architectural design services with Form Function Studio and a course to build more business provided by BerganKDV. Applications are available at raceforthespacecr.org and will close June 30. For more information, email jthoeming@cedarrapids.org or nwilcox@cedarrapids.org.

Workshop

The next Intentional Insights will be held from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. June 16 at Matthew 25, 201 Third Ave. SW, Cedar Rapids. The quarterly topic will be: “How Am I Getting in my Own Way?” Register at the-restorationproject.com/events.

Insights

The next Gazette Business Breakfast panel discussion is set for 9 a.m. June 21. “What’s Next: The Future of Downtown Cedar Rapids” panelists will talk about lessons learned over the past two years, what’s in the works for downtown and development as inflation and the economy continue to throw curves. Participants will be Darryl High of High Properties, Cedar Rapids Mayor Tiffany O’Donnell, Cobble Hill and Caucho restaurants co-owner Andy Schumacher, and Cedar Rapids Metro Economic Alliance’s Jesse Thoeming. Viewers can submit questions and comment during the live discussion. The event will be free, but you must register at thegazette.com/business-breakfast. It will be sponsored by BerganKDV.

The next installment of the “Gazette Spotlight on …” series of video interviews will debut on The Gazette site, https://business.thegazette.com, also on June 21. They will recognize businesses and organizations for their focus on community commitment. Interviewed will be Lori Sundberg, president of Kirkwood Community College, for the school’s administering of Last-Dollar Scholarship funds for almost 500 students; James Klein, Cedar Rapids Bank and Trust president, for its extensive community involvement; and Angelica Vannatta, senior manager of Workplace Volunteer Council of United Way, for its work in volunteerism and forging business relationships. The series is sponsored by TrueNorth Cos.