Business Notes for Jan. 29, 2023

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 to Business Notes by email to businessnotes@thegazette.com, or on our site at thegazette.com/businessnotes.

Promotions

Adam Calcara was recently promoted to first vice president, mortgage lender, at Hills Bank’s office in Marion.

Dawn Reimers was recently promoted to vice president, branch manager, at Hills Bank’s office in Iowa City.

Allison Bates was recently promoted to vice president, branch manager at Hills Bank’s office in North Liberty.

Appointments

Ron Detweiler, CPA, CSA was recently appointed president of Basepoint Tax & Accounting.

Boards

The following have been elected to the 2023 board of directors for the Eastern Iowa Chapter of Project Management Institute: Bob Sanders, president; Margo Ballou, secretary; Brian Tompkins, vice president of finance; Jenn Lohrer, vice president of communications and publicity; Stephanie Estrada, vice president of education; Brian Thorn, vice president of operations; and Nadya Garay-Thompson, vice president of outreach.

Kudos

Christine Conover of Simmons Perrine Moyer Bergman has been recognized by Best Lawyers as 2023 “Lawyer of the Year” for litigation-health care.

Trėa Champagne of the Champagne Academy of Irish Dance is one of 20 teachers in the world receiving the 2022 Excellence in Teaching Award from Irish Dancing Magazine.

Insights and sessions

The Gazette Business Breakfast panel’s third-quarter discussion, “A Small Business’ Tool Kit for 2023: Lessons we’ve learned and challenges — and opportunities — for which we can be prepared,” now is online at https://bit.ly/3eD04Wv. Panelists are Paul Andreasen, founder and owner, Saucy Focaccia; Sydney Rieckhoff, CEO, Almost Famous Popcorn; and Kymberly Stevenson, Targeted Small Business Development Program manager, Iowa Economic Development Authority. The discussion series was sponsored by BerganKDV.

The final 2022 installment of the “Gazette Spotlight on …” series of recorded interviews also is available to view at business.thegazette.com. This group recognizes businesses and organizations for their focus on growth. Interviewed are Luke Bishop of BAE Systems; Matt Swift of Big Grove; Sarah Nelson of Comm-Unity Crisis Service; and Drew Martel of Foundation 2. Also, the Better Business Bureau Cedar Rapids office joined The Gazette in speaking with Marc Meyer of Inteconnex. The series was sponsored by TrueNorth Cos.