Business Notes for June 8, 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/

Appointments

ImOn Communications has announced the appointment of Rob Houlihan as divisional vice president, where he will play a key role in advancing the company’s growth and innovation initiatives.

Kirkwood Community College has announced the appointment of Jasmine Almoayyed to the role of Vice President of Government and Community Relations. Kirkwood also announced the appointment of Cheri Kampman to Vice President of Continuing Eduction and Training Services.

Elections

The Camp Courageous board of directors announced the election of the following officers and members for the 2025-2026 term. The chair of the board is Mary Van Houten, The Hotel at Kirkwood Center. Chair-elect is Randy Faulkner, GTG Peterbilt and Hawkeye Dry Ice. Secretary is Mary Johnson, Rockwell Collins (retired). Treasurer is Diane Pitlik, former nonprofit director and special-needs advocate. In addition, the following have been reelected to three-year terms on the board: Jim Foels, Sheri Grawe, Greg Greco, Trish Recker and Amanda Schlemme.

Other news

Business Hall of Fame: Junior Achievement of Eastern Iowa has announced the 2025 Corridor Business Hall of Fame honorees. Honored as laureates are John Balmer of PSC Distribution, Inc.; Chris and Suzy DeWolf of Lil’ Drug Store Products; and Pat McGrath of McGrath Auto. Honored as entrepreneur is Brandon Pratt of Lion Development Group. They were nominated by community members and selected by an independent committee, and will be honored on Sept. 18 at the DoubleTree by Hilton in Cedar Rapids. Tickets are limited and available on a first-come, first-served basis. For more information or to reserve a seat, please contact Junior Achievement at (319) 862-1100 or email Emma Disterhoft at edisterhoft@jaeasterniowa.org.

Small Business of the Week: U.S. Sen. Joni Ernst, R-Iowa, has announced B&B Gates & Supply of Lyon County in northwest Iowa as her small business of the week. In 1996, hog and cattle farmers Barry and Patty Pollema started B&B Gates & Supply on their family farm. The business steadily grew from a part-time operation into a full-service livestock gates manufacturer, eventually moving into a 50,000-square-foot facility in 2021. That same year, they built a retail store that served as a one-stop shop for agricultural necessities. Today, the family business has grown to employ more than 34 people, with several of Barry and Patty’s children taking on key business roles. This year, B&B Gates & Supply will celebrate its 29th anniversary. 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.