Business Notes for Oct. 1, 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

Carolyn Burger joined Hills Bank as first vice president, financial reporting officer, in the Hills office.

Promotions

Greg DeWolf has been promoted to the role of senior vice president of operations at Mercy Medical Center in Cedar Rapids.

Advanced Therapy Specialists has promoted M. Tory Haefner to director of lymphatic therapy.

Skywalk Group in Cedar Rapids has promoted Trisha Metz to sourcing specialist II.

Appointments

Claire Tupper has been elected president of the Kiwanis Club of Cedar Rapids for the 2023-24 service year. The new vice president is Megan Lebeda, with Rebecca Nims as second vice president.

Dave Nicholson has been named vice president, finance; and chief financial officer of Central Iowa Power Cooperative.

Other news

MIDWESTONE OFFICE OPENS: MidwestOne Bank held a ribbon-cutting Wednesday for its new office at 3600 First Ave. NE in Cedar Rapids. Blake Wilkinson, first vice president of the bank, the largest headquartered in Iowa, said the public has responded well to the new location.

EXCEL LEARNING CENTER: ExCel Learning Center Daycare held its grand opening Thursday at 143 29th Ave. SW in Cedar Rapids. Owner Darcel Pledge, a former elementary teacher, has said she wants to ensure children have basic reading skills when they enter school.

HUMPAL CHIROPRACTIC: Humpal Chiropractic is holding a 4:30 p.m. Tuesday ribbon-cutting at its updated North Liberty clinic, at 1210 Jordan St., Suite 2A. The clinic said the new space will have more providers and expanded hours.

WESTDALE HOME2 SUITES: Home2 Suites Cedar Rapids Westdale, 4000 Westdale Pkwy. SW, is having its grand opening from 4 to 6 p.m. Thursday, with a ribbon-cutting at 4:15 p.m., snacks, hotel tours and door prizes.

ANNUAL RUG EVENT: Ten Thousand Villages, a nonprofit in downtown Iowa City, is hosting its seventh annual Fair Trade Rug Event on Oct. 11 to 15 at the Hyatt Regency Hotel and Conference Center at the Iowa River Landing, 300 E. Ninth St., Coralville. Approximately 300 rugs, handmade in Pakistani homes by “fairly paid adult artisans,” will be available for purchase. Last year’s event raised $50,000 for Pakistani women.