Business Notes for April 13, 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

Carmen McCoy has been promoted to mortgage loan originator at Veridian Credit Union.

Scott Geistkemper has been promoted to senior vice president, operations, at GreatAmerica Financial Services.

Kudos

Angie Wild, MD, University of Iowa Department of Emergency Medicine, Iowa City, has been honored by The Iowa Medical Society as part of its newly created “Five Iowa Physicians to Watch” award for 2025. Wild’s fellowship research focus was health care disparities in incarcerated Iowans. The U of I sees a large volume of incarcerated patients, but training was not provided on the rights of those in the prison system, especially in emergency situations. Wild worked with the prison system, University of Iowa Health Care security, residents, and faculty to improve the care of this at-risk population. Wild continues to advocate for other at-risk populations including non-English speaking, women, and minorities. Wild and the other ward recipients will be recognized May 2 at Hancher Auditorium as part of the society’s 175th anniversary celebration and president’s dinner.

Other news

Small Business of the Week: U.S. Sen. Joni Ernst, R-Iowa, has announced The Great Hall of Royal, in Clay County in northwest Iowa, as her small business of the week. In 2018, Sara and Matt Ricke acquired the St. Louis Catholic Church in Royal with a vision to preserve the religious landmark while creating a modern event space. The couple dedicated their weekends to renovating the space and transformed The Great Hall of Royal to a beloved destination to host intimate private parties and weddings. The Ricke family and their team will be celebrating The Great Hall of Royal’s fifth 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.