Berthel Fisher adds staffers

New employees

MercyCare Community Physicians hired Katie Wilcox (see photo) as a family nurse practitioner for MercyCare North in Cedar Rapids. She most recently served as an urgent care and express care nurse practitioner for the Mayo Clinic Health System in Albert Lea, Minn.

City Workplace Uniforms and Mats in Oelwein hired Jenn Drewelow (see photo) for its sales team as image apparel specialist.

Dr. Amanda Sommerfeldt (see photo) was hired by Mercy Medical Center as medical director of Hospice of Mercy. Sommerfeldt more recently served as assistant medical director at Unity Hospice in De Pere, Wisc.

Farmers State Bank welcomed Patrick St. John (see photo) to the FSB Mortgage Center as a mortgage specialist. He had been a mortgage loan originator with the University of Iowa Community Credit Union.

Veridian Credit Union announced Srinivasa Siravuri (see photo) has been hired as vice president of information technology. Siravuri was previously senior manager at Rockwell Collins.

Rodney Spencer joined Psychiatric Associates of Iowa City as part of its clinical staff. Spencer had been a consulting therapist for the U.S. Department of Defense.

The Skywalk Group hired Janet Van Hoeck, previously with TMNG Global of Overland Park, Kan., as senior recruiter, and Leah Durst, formerly with Allegis Group Services at Rockwell Collins, as search consultant.

Corinne Ramler (see photo) joined Greater Cedar Rapids Community Foundation as director of marketing and communications. Ramler had worked for Henry Russell Bruce.

Berthel Fisher & Co. announced several staff additions: Dana Hansen (see photo) joined as insurance specialist, Beth Ehlinger (see photo) as administrators assistant, Sandy Christensen (see photo) as technology solutions specialist, Jill Crosby (see photo) as business integration specialist, and Josh Stoos (see photo) as technology support specialist.

Molly Brown (see photo) recently joined Hills Bank and Trust Co. as commercial banking officer in the Coralville branch.

Scott Wadding (see photo) joined Shuttleworth & Ingersoll in Cedar Rapids as associate attorney. Before joining the firm, Wadding clerked for Justice Brent Appel of the Iowa Supreme Court.

Promotions

Susan Marshall (see photo) was promoted to relationship coordinator with Berthel Fisher & Co. Marshall has been with Berthel Fisher 14 years in various capacities.

Hills Bank and Trust Co. announced the following promotions: Jace Bailey (see photo) to first vice president, commercial banking in the Iowa City South Gilbert office; Gloria Hochstedler (see photo) to vice president, branch manager in the Kalona office; and Todd Shaull (see photo) to vice president, branch manager in the Cedar Rapids Southwest office.

Patrick Tierney (see photo) was promoted to managing director of consulting services with MediRevv in Coralville.

Board members

Big Brothers Big Sisters of Cedar Rapids & East Central Iowa named Erin Meis (see photo) of General Mills to its board of directors.

The board of directors of the Community Foundation of Johnson County elected officers and appointed new board members: Mary Westbrook, president; John Schneider, ACT, vice president; Steve Atkins, secretary; and Dean Price, McGladrey, treasurer. Elected to serve new, three-year terms are Nancy Richardson (see photo), Steve Weeber (see photo) and Anne Vandenberg (see photo).

Certification

Emily Logan (see photo), Kirkwood Community College Human Services faculty member, passed the national exam for her Certified Alcohol and Drug Counseling certification.

Damon Walker, investment adviser representative with Premier Investments of Iowa Inc., participated in Dave Ramsey's EntreLeadership Performance Series in Nashville, Tenn. Walker is currently one of three Endorsed Local Providers for Dave Ramsey in Iowa.

Awards

Michele Brock (see photo), regional fundraising adviser of ME&V in Cedar Rapids, authored a white paper, “Why Your Nonprofit Should Work with a Media Placement Specialist,” that was published by the Association of Fundraising Professionals.

Dee VandeVenter, partner of ME&V, will be speaking at the annual conference for the Colorado Center for Hospice and Palliative Care on Thursday in Englewood, Colo. Her speech will be “Developing Sustainable Philanthropic Resources by Engaging Leadership.”

The Arc of East Central Iowa recognized Mount Mercy University's Master of Business Administration program as the winner of the Business Supporter of the Year for 2012.

Cedar Rapids lawyer William Nicholson was selected for inclusion in the 19th edition of Best Lawyers in United States in the practice area of personal injury litigation-plaintiffs. Nicholson also was named the Best Lawyers' 2013 Cedar Rapids personal injury litigation-plaintiffs Lawyer of the Year.

Heartland Express Inc. in North Liberty received a SmartWay Excellence Award from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency as an industry leader in freight supply chain environmental performance and energy efficiency.

Kirkwood Community College Automotive Technology Instructor Brian Brownfield earned recognition as being the top automotive educator in the country, in the first Top Automotive Educator Challenge from Pearson.

Joel Kasparek, vice president-private banking with U.S. Bank in Cedar Rapids, has won U.S. Bank's Pinnacle Award, the company's highest employee achievement honor.

Ryan Companies US Inc. has been selected by MidAmerican Energy to receive a 2012 Excellence in Energy Efficient Design Award for the Van Meter Inc. Industrial Office and Warehouse in Iowa City.

Iowa City's Devotay Restaurant and its Benefit Sunday Program were selected the 2012 Iowa Restaurant Association Restaurant Neighbor Award winner and national award nominee in the small business category.

Certification

Van Meter Inc. in Cedar Rapids became the first business in CedarRapids certified as a Blue Zones Worksite by the Linn County Board of Health.

Seminars

The Cedar Rapids Metro Economic Alliance, Kirkwood Community College and the United Way of East Central Iowa will host a session on best practices and idea generation to build a strong future work force, 7:30 to 9 a.m., Oct. 31, at the Hotel at Kirkwood, 76th Avenue and Kirkwood Boulevard SW, Cedar Rapids. Register at http://smgs.us/2rbz here.

Iowa State University Extension's 2012 Pro-Ag Outlook workshop will begin at 3:45 p.m., Nov. 14, at the Amana Colonies Clarion Hotel, Interstate 80, exit 225. The workshop will prepare participants to make important production decisions this winter. Register by calling (319) 385-8126. Registration includes workshop materials and a meal.

The Cedar Rapids Metro Economic Alliance will honor HR Green Inc., Nelson Election Co. and Russell's Guides Inc. with a 2012 BRAVO award at Good Morning Cedar Rapids 7:15 to 8:45 a.m., Nov. 14, at the Cedar Rapids Marriott. Also, NewBo City Market, MOvMNT Dance Co. and Hwy 10 Project will be highlighted with the Community Spotlight. Register at www.cedararpids.org.

Expansion

RDS Print-Promo Solutions has opened its new sales office in Hiawatha at the Eastern Iowa Sports Complex. RDS is a promotional products, direct mail and logo apparel distributor with its main offices in New Berlin, Wisc.

Networking

Marketing Roundtable 2012/13 will be held from noon to 1:30 p.m., Wednesday, at the Cedar Rapids Metro Economic Alliance, 501 First St. SE, Cedar Rapids. Register at http://smgs.us/2rh6.

The Creative Corridor Fall Welcome Reception will be held 5:30 to 7:30 p.m., Oct. 30, at the Ferguson Center, ACT Campus, 200 ACT Dr., Iowa City. Register at www.icadgroup.com/welcome.

Meetings

The Cedar Rapids charter chapter of the American Business Women's Association will meet 5:45 to 8 p.m., Nov. 7, at the Longbranch, 90 Twixt Town Rd. NE, Cedar Rapids. Kristin Flood, CEO of Kristin Flood Inspired, will present “Be Wise: Organize and Prioritize.” Cost will be $15 for members, $20 for members without RSVP and guests. Cost includes dinner and the program. RSVPs required by noon, Nov. 2, at hospitality@abwacr.org.

Editor's note: Please email new hires, promotions, meetings and seminars to whosnews@sourcemedia.net.