Business Notes for Nov. 27, 2022

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

Jennifer Banta has been named as president and CEO of United Way of Johnson and Washington Counties.

Promotions

Skywalk Group promoted Ashley Ernst Grimm to client development vice president and Loni Lerum to sourcing supervisor.

Kudos

The Cedar Rapids Area Association of Realtors named Jill Hartke of Skogman Realty as Realtor of the Year for her volunteerism and leadership in the local and state Realtor associations.

The President’s Award was awarded to Jill Monnahan, Skogman Realty, for her mentorship and leadership of the association through the pandemic.

The Lifetime Achievement Award was presented to Lana Baldus, Skogman Realty, for her lifetime of commendable service to our members, the real estate industry and our communities.

Dawn Bowlus, director of the University of Iowa Jacobson Institute for Youth Entrepreneurship, was one of three Tom Cilek Sizzle awardees recognized Nov. 10 at the Terry Trueblood Recreation Area in Iowa City.

Byrider, one of America’s largest buy-here-pay-here used car dealerships and franchise systems, presented Franchise of the Year in the four-locations-or-more category to Byrider Cedar Rapids for 2022. The Cedar Rapids dealership also earned a President's Award.

Appointments

The Cedar Rapids Area Association of Realtors elected Raymond Siddell, Keller Williams Legacy Group, as president of the board of directors. Annie Kaestner, also of Skogman Realty, was named president-elect, and Adam Gibbs, GLD Commercial Real Estate Advisors, as treasurer.

Jenny Abernathy has been named CRST’s chief people officer. The new role will support CRST’s focus on providing career paths and development opportunities for its employees.

Insights and sessions

The Q4 Hiawatha Business Summit will be held 4 to 6 p.m., Dec. 6, at Stillwater Coffee, 1275 N. Center Point Rd., Hiawatha. There is no cost to attend, but registration is requested.

Sober CR, a community of adult nondrinkers, will hold a session on alcohol-free “Mocktail” options, aligning with many New Year's resolutions of living a healthier lifestyle, 6 to 9 p.m., Tuesday, Dec. 13, at Old Neighborhood Pub, 608 16th St. NE, Cedar Rapids.

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.