Acumen names CEO, president

NEW HIRES

The Marion Chamber of Commerce board of directors has hired Nick Glew (see photo) as director of its new Main Street Marion program.

GreatAmerica Financial Services hired Maheaba Baloch (see photo), previously with Clipper Windpower, as account support adviser, and Clinton Aldeman (see photo), formerly with Bank of the West, as funding specialist.

Jim Mann (see photo) has joined Hills Bank and Trust Co. as a real estate loan officer in the Cedar Rapids southwest branch.

Stamats Communications hired Orofenere “Louis” Ukiri (see photo), formerly with Rockwell Collins, as web developer.

Andrew Morf (see photo), with 15 years experience, was named chief executive officer, and Kirby Moss (see photo), 18 years experience, became president of Acumen, an employee benefits company in Cedar Rapids.

AW Welt Ambrisco Insurance Inc. hired Michael Sabers (see photo) as life insurance specialist.

Matt Hacker (see photo) has joined Geonetric as a client analytic strategist.

Cornell College hired Colleen Murphy as vice president for enrollment and dean of admission. Murphy comes from Greensboro College.

PROMOTIONS

Colin Mahoney, Rockwell Collins chairman and CEO, was named senior vice president, International and Service Solutions, effective immediately, with the upcoming retirement of Greg Churchill, executive vice president.

Stamats Communications promoted Phoebe Simon (see photo), formerly digital marketing strategist, to manager, digital services.

Mike Eversmeyer (see photo) has become president of Kent Pet Group Inc., a subsidiary of Kent Corp. in Muscatine. Eversmeyer had been vice president controller and treasurer.

Bridge Community Bank promoted DeAnna Taylor (see photo) to personal banking officer and Lisa Weiland (see photo) to mortgage loan officer. Both have been with the bank since 2004.

BOARD MEMBERS

Iowa City Hospice elected Todd Means (see photo) of MidWestOne Bank to its board of directors. Officers for 2013 are Mary Adamek, University of Iowa, as chairwoman; Elizabeth Coulter, Iowa City Hospice volunteer, chairwoman-elect; Eli Wynes, University of Iowa Community Credit Union, secretary; Mike Messier, Messier Group, treasurer; and Cindy Penney, Mercy Iowa City, past-chairwoman.

NEW LOCATION

CornerHouse Gallery and Frame has moved to Kenwood Plaza, 3318 First Ave. NE, Cedar Rapids. A grand opening is planned for April.

AWARDS

Dave Schutt (see photo), an Iowa City Realtor with Coldwell Banker Real Estate Professionals, has been awarded the Certified Residential Specialist designation by the Council of Residential Specialists.

John Westfall, an Edward Jones financial adviser in Marion, has been named to Barron's magazine list of the Top 1,000 Financial Advisors in the United States, ranked at No. 5.

Midamar Corp. has received the 2013 Gulfood Award for Best New Frozen or Chilled Product for its turkey deli meats line. The company also was recognized for second place entries in the Best New Fast Food Product or Innovation, Best New Halal Food Award and Best New Foodservice Innovation Award. At this year's event held in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, Midamar co-owner Jalel Aossey spoke at a food franchising workshop.

Heartland Express has been recognized as one of Walmart's Carriers of the Year in transportation for 2012.

St. Luke's Hospital, St. Luke's, Mercy Medical Center and Allen Hosptial were  named Top 100 Hospitals by Truven Health Analytics.

SEMINARS

The Manchester Area Chamber of Commerce will host its annual Ag Luncheon March 21, starting at 10 a.m., Delaware County Fairgrounds Pavilion. David Kohl (see photo), Virginia Tech professor emeritus, will speak on “Optimistic About Agriculture and Success Tips.” The Friend of Ag Awards will be presented. Tickets are $12.50 and are available from most of the luncheon sponsors or from the Chamber of Commerce at (563) 927-4141.

“GetSAVVY Mini Session: Leadership Gold” will be held 8 to 9:30 a.m., at the Business Exchange Center, 305 Second Ave. SE, Cedar Rapids. Cost is $10 per session, and proceeds will be donated to a local not-for-profit.

MEETINGS

The Society for Technical Communication's Eastern Iowa chapter will meet at 5:30 p.m., March 12, at New Bo Books in Cedar Rapids. Store owner Mary Ann Peters will talk about becoming a “rebel bookseller” in this electronic age. Dinner will follow at 6:30 p.m. at Bata's Restaurant. RSVP to (319) 321-8683 or ben.leu@pearson.com by Friday, March 8. Go to www.stc-easterniowa.org.

WORKSHOPS

SCORE East Central Iowa will sponsor a workshop on “Creating a Winning Website” from 6:30 to 8 p.m., Thursday, at the Marion Public Library. call (319) 431-4574.

NETWORKING

Impact CR Siren Wednesday will be from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m., Wednesday, at White Star Ale House, 305 Second Ave. SE. It is sponsored by the University of Iowa MBA Program for Professionals and Managers. No registration required.

Starting Wednesday, the

Iowa City Area Development Group and the University of Iowa Alumni Association will host a series of four webinars for UIAA-member job seekers and those seeking to update their resumes and social-media profiles. Also, ICAD Group will host a series of networking events open to the public to better engage local work force in the community. The first event, April 8, at the IC CoLab, 316 E. Court, Iowa City, will feature Dan Reed, University of Iowa vice president for research and economic development, and David Hensley, University of Iowa interim associate vice president for economic development, discussing the future of business and entrepreneurship in Iowa's Creative Corridor. Call 1-800-IOWALUM to register.