Business Notes for Feb. 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

Renae Popelar has joined Horizons as director of community health and nutrition.

Promotions

Simmons Perrine PLC has announced that attorneys Michael J. Neuerburg, Stephen B. Larson and Joseph J. Porter have been invited to join the firm’s partnership as members.

Horizons has announced the promotion of Aaron Tarchinski to vice president of programs.

Kudos

BankIowa has been designated as a Best Place for Working Parents® for 2026. This national recognition honors BankIowa’s commitment to providing family-friendly policies and a supportive workplace culture that empowers employees to thrive both at home and in their careers.

Other news

Acquisition: Skogman Insurance has acquired the Amana Insurance Agency, effective Feb. 1. Located in Amana, the Amana agency provides personal and commercial insurance coverage to Amana-area policyholders through a network of national carriers. Skogman will retain the Amana agency name, agents and the Amana office, ensuring continuity and preserving local relationships with clients. Joining Skogman provides Amana customers with additional carrier choices, expanded resources and added support.

Retirement: BankIowa has announced the retirement of Wade Itzen, Cedar Valley market president, after a 20-year career with the institution. While stepping down from his executive leadership role, Itzen will continue to serve the bank and its stakeholders as a newly appointed member of the BankIowa board of directors. During his two-decade tenure, Itzen played a pivotal role in expanding BankIowa’s footprint across the region, including locations in Cedar Rapids and Marion. For a succession plan, BankIowa has chosen Luke Lesyshen, current vice president of business banking, to step into the role of Cedar Valley market president.

Small Business of the Week: U.S. Sen. Joni Ernst, R-Iowa, has announced Z’s Pizza & Diner of Bremer County in northeast Iowa as her small business of the week. Originally founded in 1972 in Waterloo as Z’s Restaurant and Lounge and reopened by Christopher and Joey Carney as Z’s Pizza & Diner in Waverly, this family-owned restaurant was built on a foundation of commitment to quality service. For over 50 years, Z’s has served the Waverly community as a warm and welcoming gathering place for families, friends and neighbors. Earning a reputation for their hospitality and made-from-scratch food, Z’s is especially known for their handmade pizzas, featuring dough and sauce recipes passed down through generations, including an Iowa staple: taco pizza. Over the years, Z’s has shown how community-oriented leadership and dedication to exceptional customer service can propel an Iowa small business into a small-town staple. 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.