Business Notes for May 11, 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/

Promotions

At the Greater Cedar Rapids Community Foundation, Paula Lange, CPA, has been promoted to chief financial officer; and Shirley Amthauer has been promoted to controller.

Appointments

Lisa Feuerbach, executive director of the Common Sense Institute (Iowa chapter), and Nathan Seyfer, senior vice president of mortgage lending at GreenState Credit Union, have joined Tanager’s operating board. Also, Will Schwickerath, trust officer at Hills Bank, has joined Tanager’s foundation board.

Vic Israni, president and CEO of GreenState Credit Union, has joined the Greater Iowa City, Inc. board of directors, executive council.

Kudos

Experience Wealth, a private wealth advisory practice with Ameriprise Financial in Iowa City, was named to the list of "Best-in-State Wealth Management Teams" published by Forbes. The list recognizes financial advisers and their teams who have demonstrated high levels of ethical standards, professionalism, and success in the business. The rankings are based on data provided by thousands of the nation's most productive advisers and their teams. Experience Wealth was chosen based on assets under management, industry experience, compliance record and best practices in their practice and approach to working with clients.

Other news

Freedom Festival heroes: The Cedar Rapids Freedom Festival has announced the community members selected to be honored at this year’s Tribute to Heroes Breakfast and Flag Raising Ceremony. The honorees are Anne Dugger, executive director, Catherine McAuley Center; Brian Eschen, president, Freedom Foundation; John Thompson, president and founder, Salute to the Fallen; and, posthumously, Matt Kunkle, captain, Cedar Rapids Fire Department. They will be honored during the Tribute to Heroes Breakfast on July 1 at the Veterans Memorial Building, 50 Second Ave. Bridge. Doors will open at 7:30 a.m. with breakfast and the recognition ceremony beginning promptly at 8 a.m., followed by the flag raising ceremony on May's Island at 9:15 a.m. Tickets to the breakfast are required and available now at www.freedomfestival.com/tribute. The flag raising ceremony is free and open to the public. Honorees also will serve as Grand Marshals of the 2025 Freedom Festival Parade on June 28.

Venture School awards: The University of Iowa John Pappajohn Entrepreneurial Center concluded its statewide spring Venture School program the week of April 21 by awarding $16,500 in prize money during final pitches. Placing first at the centers were HitchHub (Jake Johnson) from Des Moines, Receivos (Adan Ortiz) from Iowa City/Cedar Rapids, Georgette (Hallie Erdahl) from Mason City, and ReZonance AI (Padmini Soni) from the Quad Cities. HitchHub improves outdoor adventures with a system of vehicle accessories made for 2-inch vehicle hitches. Receivos is a receipt management application that automatically stores and organizes every receipt with a simple upload. Georgette is a bridal and formalwear boutique that offers an affordable shopping experience. ReZonance AI is an artificial intelligence consulting firm that specializes in AI strategy development, custom AI solutions, and ethical AI governance for small and medium-sized businesses. The seven-week Venture School is sponsored by the University of Iowa John Pappajohn Entrepreneurial Center and includes hub locations in Des Moines, Dubuque, Iowa City, Mason City, Sioux City, and the Quad Cities. The statewide Venture School training program focuses on real-world experimentation, customer discovery, and Lean LaunchPad methodologies.

Annual meeting: Greater Iowa City, Inc. has announced that its annual meeting will be held Nov. 20 at the Hyatt Regency Hotel, Coralville. The meeting will bring together business leaders, investors, and community champions to celebrate the work of 2025 and preview what’s next in 2026. Tickets for the event go on sale July 10.

Small Business of the Week: U.S. Sen. Joni Ernst, R-Iowa, has announced Bloomsbury Farm of Benton County as her small business of the week. In 1995, Karen and Dave Petersen opened Bloomsbury Farm on their 2,000 acres, primarily farming soybeans and corn and selling floral arrangements. When their daughter Sammy’s first-grade class visited the farm on a field trip, the couple was inspired to transform the farm into an agritourism destination. After a devastating tornado in 2004, the Petersens pivoted and renovated the farm to become a family-centered destination dedicated to agriculture, fun, and education. Today, Bloomsbury Farm welcomes over 75,000 people annually to experience their seasonal events. The second generation of Petersens became partners in January 2024. This year, Bloomsbury Farm will celebrate its 30th anniversary in Iowa. 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.