Business Notes for March 5, 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.

New hires

Giulia Bella recently joined Hills Bank as AML BSA operations officer in the Hills office.

Promotions

OPN Architects has announced the following promotions: Alec Burk to emerging professional 2; Brady Dorman to architect 2; and Nick DeCarlo to architect 2.

Appointments

Simmons Perrine Moyer Bergman attorney Carrie Thompson has accepted an invitation to join the Iowa Academy of Trial Lawyers.

Insights and sessions

The next Business Breakfast is May 9, entitled “Regional Collaboration Strategies.” Registration will be available at thegazette.com/special-events.

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,” is now 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.