Business Notes for March 2, 2025

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 at https://www.thegazette.com/business-notes/submit/

New hires

Alexandra N. Doner has joined Simmons Perrine Moyer Bergman PLC a family law attorney.

Promotions

Legat Architects, of Iowa City, has appointed a new leadership team: Jeff Sandberg, president and CEO (formerly chief operating officer); Zach Wiese, chief operating officer (formerly director of operations); Kathleen Conneely, chief financial officer (formerly controller); Adam Quigley, corporate secretary; Evan Menk, chief design director; and Jody Boyce, chief marketing director.

Hills Bank has promoted Maddy Myers to mortgage lending officer in its Kalona office.

Elections

Dupaco Community Credit Union has announced its updated board of directors: Ellen Goodmann Miller, chair; Randy Skemp, vice chair; Andy Schroeder, secretary; Renee Poppe, treasurer; and Joe Hearn, president/CEO.

Kudos

Gene Neighbor and Steve Neighbor of Farmers State Bank (FSB) have been recognized as two of Iowa’s most influential business leaders in Corridor Media Group’s IOWA 500 magazine, which highlights 500 of the top business leaders from across the state. Gene Neighbor served as president and CEO of FSB for 10 years. On Jan. 1, he transitioned to chief wealth officer. Having been with FSB for 51 years, Gene has held various roles, including executive vice president and chief credit officer. Steve Neighbor currently serves as president and CEO at FSB. His transition to CEO in January marks the third generation of the Neighbor family leading the bank. Steve has been with FSB for 39 years, holding various leadership roles, including executive vice president. This list of the most influential business leaders was compiled by the Corridor Business Journal (CBJ) and the Quad Cities Regional Business Journal (QCBJ). These individuals were selected for holding top executive-level positions across 14 business sectors in the state.

Other news

Expansion: True North Restoration, established in January 2024 in Cedar Falls to provide water, fire, mold, and structural drying services after home disasters, is now also operating in Cedar Rapids. Within its first year, True North Restoration of Cedar Valley exceeded its franchise first-year revenue goal by 170%. It also quickly became one of the top True North Restoration franchises in the nation. With family ties in the Cedar Rapids area, expanding to provide services there was a logical next step. More information is available at Iowa.GoTrueNorth.com or (319) 220-3228.

Small Business of the Week: U.S. Sen. Joni Ernst, R-Iowa, has announced Edgewood Locker of Clayton County in northeast Iowa as her small business of the week. In 1966, Tom and Joan Kerns founded Edgewood Locker in a rented building in downtown Edgewood. Their sons, Terry and Jim, later joined the business. By 1980, the Kerns established a family partnership that has grown to provide custom meat processing while serving meat sticks, sausage, rib-eye steaks, jerky, and much more in their retail store. Today, Terry and Jim run the business with the family’s third generation, Luke, Katie, Baili, and Payson. Edgewood Locker will celebrate its 58th anniversary in Iowa later this year. Ernst, chair of the Senate’s Small Business Committee, is naming one exceptional small business of the week in each of Iowa’s counties during this congressional session.