Business Notes for Oct. 6, 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 emailed to businessnotes@thegazette.com.

New hires

Brian Shust joined Nyemaster Goode as an attorney in the law firm’s Cedar Rapids office, focusing on government contracting law, litigation and investigation.

Caleb Knutson has been named executive director of The Downtown District in Cedar Rapids, effective Oct. 14.

Appointments

Elias Randel has been named vice president of Premier Investments & Wealth Management in Cedar Rapids.

Kudos

Steve Brady, CEO of Community Savings Bank in Eastern Iowa, recently was honored by the Iowa Bankers Association for more than 50 years of service in the industry. The award was presented to Brady during the association’s annual convention Sept. 16 in Des Moines. Brady was one of 19 individuals recognized for reaching the 50-year milestone.

GreenState Credit Union Board Chair Fred Mims recently was awarded the Cooperative Spirit Volunteer Award by the Iowa Credit Union League. The annual award acknowledges individuals who have made significant contributions to the Iowa credit union movement. Mims is a former associate director of athletics with the University of Iowa Department of Intercollegiate Athletics.

Other news

YMCA groundbreaking: The groundbreaking for the Prairie Summit YMCA will be 5 p.m. Oct. 29 on land adjacent to Prairie Heights Elementary, 190 76th Ave. SW, Cedar Rapids. The project is a collaborative effort of the College Community School District, YMCA of the Cedar Rapids Metro Area, Conlon Construction, OPN Architects and the city of Cedar Rapids.

The new Y will have competition and recreation pools, which will serve as the home venue for Prairie swim teams, locker rooms, two competition wood courts, a turf area, a walking track, cardio and fitness space, two fitness classrooms and a small cafe. Site work has begun, and construction is expected to begin in early 2025, with completion projected for the spring of 2026.

Marquette casino moves to solid ground: After 30 years docked off the shores of Marquette in northeast Iowa, the Casino Queen Marquette broke ground Tuesday for a new building on the shore. The 17,000-square-foot gambling floor, with more 400 gaming machines and two blackjack tables, will be moved to land, with another 12,000 square feet added to the current dockside building. The move will eliminate the 440-yard walk on the bridge to enter the riverboat casino. Robin Corbeil is the casino’s general manager.

Acquisition: Innovative Ag Services of Monticello has reached an agreement with Nexus Cooperative of Charles City to acquire the Aplington grain assets from Nexus. Given the harvest time frame, operations will be immediately transitioned to minimize disruption. IAS will honor Nexus' grain contracts and obligations at the Aplington location.

Small business of the week: U.S. Sen. Joni Ernst, R-Iowa, last week named Lichtsinn RV of Winnebago County as her small business of the week.

Ron Lichtsinn Sr. founded Lichtsinn Motor in 1976 in Forest City, primarily selling American-made vehicles. Three years later, he partnered with the founder of Winnebago and expanded the company to sell recreational vehicles and motor homes.

He ran the business for 25 years before selling it to his son and daughter-in-law, Ron and Hope Lichtsinn, in 2001. In 2015, Lichtsinn Motors rebranded as Lichtsinn RV and was recognized as the top Winnebago motor home dealer in North America.

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.