Business Notes for March 1, 2026

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.

New hires

Brittany Leach has joined Inspired Connection Agency of Cedar Rapids as a sales consultant.

Promotions

At Folience, Kelly O’Hara has been promoted to chief operating officer and chief financial officer.

At the Linn County Sheriff's Office, Chad Colston has been promoted to chief deputy — colonel; Casey Meyer was promoted to second deputy — major, serving as the Linn County Correctional Center's jail administrator; Yon Abel was promoted to lieutenant, serving as a commander in the Linn County Correctional Center; and Tim Daubs was promoted to sergeant, serving as a supervisor in the Linn County Correctional Center.

Appointments

First Interstate Bank has restructured its leadership team in Eastern Iowa: Jim Miller, state president, Iowa and Missouri; John Jennett, state president, Iowa and Missouri; Zach Bohannon, commercial market president; and Shannon Weaklen, community banking market leader, Eastern Iowa.

Sarah van Deest and Chris Casey have joined the Tanager Foundation board.

UnityPoint Health-Cedar Rapids President Casey Greene has been appointed to the Iowa Hospital Education and Research Foundation board of directors. The foundation is a charitable nonprofit subsidiary of the Iowa Hospital Association that oversees the statewide Health Care Careers Scholarship Program.

Other news

Small Business of the Week: U.S. Sen. Joni Ernst, R-Iowa, has announced Dayton Meat Products of Poweshiek County in east-central Iowa as her small business of the week. Founded in 1959 by Lawrence Dayton, Dayton Meat Products processes more than 700 hogs and 45,000 pounds of game meat each year and has earned recognition for its award-winning dried beef, bacon, ham and jerky.

In 1994, the family business moved to south Malcolm and built its current facility, which includes a slaughterhouse, garage, smokehouse, cutting rooms, and retail store. Today, the company is led by Lawrence Dayton’s son, Bill, and grandsons Josh and Jake.

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.