Business Notes for September 25, 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.

YPN has hired Kim Hanna as director of advancement and Taylor Mather and Kelsey Connick as parent educators.

Shelli Brady has joined Hills Bank as vice president, marketing director, in its Hills office.

Margaret Horsfield is now with ImOn Communications as strategy and transformation officer.

Promotions

Andy Besser has been named director of operations for American Prosthetics and Orthotics, which has facilities in Iowa City, among other locations.

Euphrasie Lukama was promoted to African Community Program specialist at YPN.

Curran Putney now is first vice president, lending compliance, at Hills Bank at its Hills office.

Elisabeth Kissling has been named executive director of the Marion Independent School Foundation and Alumni Association.

Kudos

Nyemaster Goode Stephanie Techau has been named 2023 Lawyer of the Year for Workers' Compensation Law in Cedar Rapids by the Best Lawyers in America.

Thompson Truck and Trailer diesel technician Matt Mullis has been recognized as the 2022 Maintenance Professional of the Year by the Iowa Motor Truck Association.

Appointments

Ellie Evans and Diana Rodriguez have been named to the YPN board of directors.

Insights and sessions

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,” will be online at 9 a.m. Tuesday, at https://bit.ly/3eD04Wv. Panelists will be 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. Registration is free but required. The discussion series is sponsored by BerganKDV.

The next installment of the “Gazette Spotlight on …” series of recorded interviews will be available at business.thegazette.com also this Tuesday. This group will recognize businesses and organizations for their focus on growth. Interviewed will be 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 will join The Gazette in speaking with Marc Meyer of Inteconnex. The series is sponsored by TrueNorth Cos.

Monthly in-person networking and informative breakfasts sponsored by SCORE are held at Scott's Family Restaurant. The next breakfast will be 7:30 to 9 a.m., Oct. 27. Go to scorecr.org for more information.