Business Notes for July 14, 2024

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.

New hires

Lynch Dallas has announced that Mohammad H. Sheronick has joined the firm. Sheronick was an assistant Cedar Rapids city attorney for 29 years before retiring. He will practice in the areas of municipal law, employment law and litigation.

The law firm Pugh Hagan Prahm in Coralville has announced that Catherine C. Grenko and Benjamin G. Nielson have joined its team of attorneys.

Lynch Dallas has hired Andrew J. Hamilton, from the University of Iowa College of Law, as a summer law clerk.

Olivia Brown recently joined Hills Bank as first vice president, branch manager, in the Cedar Rapids office.

GreatAmerica Financial Services has announced the following hires: Connor Williams, tax accountant; Andrew Klees, portfolio manager intern; Adam Klees, portfolio manager intern; Matthew Tvedt, documentation specialist; Rachel Meyer, funding specialist; Sarah Cohn, operations support, development; Branden Knight, documentation specialist; Bryce Cox, portfolio manager.

Promotions

Innovative Ag Services has promoted Adam Rollinger to vice president of business operations.

Other news

Musical instruments now being rented: Music151 in Fairfax is now offering a full-service instrument rental program. Rental agreements can be completed online, with instruments mailed to customers. The shop offers repairs, exchanges, returns and free shipping.

Chocolate shop opens: The Marion Chocolate Shop at 1060 Seventh Ave. in Marion held its grand reopening and ribbon-cutting Thursday after owners Ben and Katy Davis renovated the historical place. The shop offers handcrafted chocolates, truffles and specialty treats.

Socially responsible hospital: UnityPoint Health-St. Luke’s Hospital is the most socially responsible hospital in Iowa, according to the annual Lown Institute Hospitals Honor Roll Index for Social Responsibility. Lown, a nonpartisan health care think tank, evaluates hospitals nationwide on more than 50 metrics, including equity, inclusion, care value and patient outcomes.

Small business of the week: U.S. Sen. Joni Ernst, R-Iowa, last week named Black Black Sheep Coffee Baa of Butler County as her small business of the week. Throughout this Congress, Ranking Member Ernst plans to recognize a small business in every one of Iowa’s 99 counties.

Connie Debner opened Black Sheep Coffee Baa in Greene in north-central Iowa in 2015 featuring artisan coffee made from locally roasted coffee beans. The business partners with Clayton’s Bakery to serve pizza, scones and pies.

Ernst, the ranking member on 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.