Business Notes: July 10, 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

Ram Niwas joined Mercy Medical Center in Cedar Rapids as a neonatologist. He previously was at the University of Iowa Stead Family Children’s Hospital.

Carson Hayden now is with Mercy Memory Clinic with the hospital. She had been a staff nurse at University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics.

Stephanie Mueller Winnike was hired as an audiologist by the Mercy Ear, Nose and Throat Clinic at Mercy Medical Center.

Jamie Henley has joined Mercy Medical Center as director of Volunteer Services.

Promotions

Ohnward Bank and Trust promoted Cindy Corkhill to private banking assistant.

Hills Bank promoted Lexi Mendoza to associate wealth management officer and Nick Mirabito to associate wealth management officer in the North Liberty office; Katie Ronnfeldt to mortgage closing manager and officer in Coralville office; and Mary Hatfield to budget and operations analyst and officer in the Hills office.

Acquisitions

FibreCycle, a subsidiary of Muscatine-based Kent Pet Group pet food manufacturer, purchased Our Bird, an Australian bird seed and cat litter maker.

Insights and sessions

Cedar Rapids Metro Economic Alliance will host “A Recipe for Successful Communications” with Alliant Energy’s Melissa McCarville and Raining Rose’s Ellen Bardsley, 4 to 5:30 p.m. Thursday at Edison Pub and Eatery, 475 Northland Ave. NE, Cedar Rapids. Register for the free event at https://bit.ly/3uvZcIl.

The Gazette Business Breakfast panel’s second quarter discussion, “What’s Next: The Future of Downtown Cedar Rapids,” is ready for viewing at thegazette.com/business-breakfast. Participants are Darryl High of High Properties, Cedar Rapids Mayor Tiffany O’Donnell, Cobble Hill and Caucho restaurants co-owner Andy Schumacher, and Cedar Rapids Metro Economic Alliance’s Jesse Thoeming. It was sponsored by BerganKDV.

The next installment of the “Gazette Spotlight on …” series of video interviews also is ready to watch, at https://business.thegazette.com. They will recognize businesses and organizations for their focus on community commitment. Interviewed are Lori Sundberg, president of Kirkwood Community College, for the school’s administering of Last-Dollar Scholarship funds for almost 500 students; James Klein, Cedar Rapids Bank and Trust president, for its extensive community involvement; and Angelica Vannatta, senior manager of Workplace Volunteer Council of United Way, for its work in volunteerism and forging business relationships. The series is sponsored by TrueNorth Cos.