Business Notes for Jan. 25, 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

GreatAmerica Financial Services has announced the following new team members: Allison Pillers, marketing intern; Stephanie Martinez, documentation specialist; Bri Brouwer, portfolio manager; Morgan Daniels, accountant II; Sara Hamm, executive administrative assistant; Kay Carlson, administrative assistant; Mark Corley, sales tax specialist; and Zachery Arey, portfolio manager.

Promotions

At Hills Bank, Alexis Lugo was promoted to first vice president, credit underwriting, in the Hills office; and Tucker Collins was promoted to talent acquisition and development officer in the Coralville office.

Appointments

The Greater Cedar Rapids Community Foundation has welcomed four new members to its board of directors: Ben Isaacson, Amanda Lane, Alejandro Pino and Kristen Wilcox.

Other news

Small Business of the Week: U.S. Sen. Joni Ernst, R-Iowa, has announced LeRette Funeral Chapel of Montgomery County in southwest Iowa as her small business of the week. Founded in 1914, LeRette Funeral Chapel has long been a dependable resource for families in the region. Today, under the ownership of Brian and Dawn LeRette, the funeral chapel continues its legacy of compassion and service. In 2023, a fire forced the LeRettes to rebuild. With support from the Red Oak community, they reopened at a new location in 2025. 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.