Business Notes for Aug. 14, 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

Barbara Peterson has joined the Hall-Perrine Cancer Center at Mercy Cedar Rapids as a high-risk genetics counselor.

GreatAmerica Financial Services hired Cuyler Walter as service desk triage specialist; Donny Wachendorf, sales support specialist; Eva Hill, sales and operations support specialist; Laura Hosch, sales support specialist; Austin Springsteen, finance and operations analyst; Adam Dozier, director, documentation; Jason Craig, cash applications specialist; Thelonious Jones, financial reporting leader; John Schroeder, director, IT operations; Aly Maloney, human resources administrative coordinator; and Jennifer Greve, documentation specialist.

Erin Kunkel is now with Hills Bank as first vice president, asset quality, and David Kapler as vice president, risk and compliance. Both are in the Hills office.

Promotions

Todd Joslin was promoted to first vice president, wealth management officer, in the Cedar Rapids office of Hills Bank. Shelly Freemole moved up to vice president, retirement plan officer, in the North Liberty office.

Vicki Comer was promoted to program administrator at the Community Health Free Clinic.

Board members

Matthew G. Whitaker has joined Berthel Fisher Cos.’ board of directors.

Amy Vaske, Nic Olberding and Ethan Benton now are members of the Community Health Free Clinic board of directors.

Business expansions

Per Mar Security Services, the Cedar Rapids-headquartered security company, acquired Dream System’s security division, expanding its customer base in northern Wisconsin.

Insights and sessions

The Q3 Hiawatha Business Summit will be held at Roasters Coffee House, 1059 N. Center Point Rd., 8 to 9 a.m., Tuesday, Sept. 6. Stuart Anderson, Iowa Department of Transportation development division director; Catherine Cutler, IDOT transportation planner; and Sally Stutsman, IDOT transportation commissioner, will discuss infrastructure advancements. Register at https://bit.ly/3SEEOiH.

The Gazette Business Breakfast panel’s third quarter discussion, “A Small Business’ Tool Kit for 2023: Lessons we’ve learned and challenges — and opportunities — for which we can be prepared,” will be online at thegazette.com/business-breakfast at 9 a.m., Sept. 27. Panelists will be Paul Andreasen, founder and owner, Saucy Focaccia; Sydney Rieckhoff, CEO, Almost Famous Popcorn; Kymberly Stevenson, Targeted Small Business Development Program manager, Iowa Economic Development Authority; and Robin Walenta, CEO, West Music. The discussion series is sponsored by BerganKDV.

The most recent installment of the “Gazette Spotlight on …” series of video interviews is ready to watch, at https://business.thegazette.com. Interviewed are 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.