Business Notes: July 3, 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

Skywalk Group in Cedar Rapids hired Kara Harris as recruiting specialist.

Greg Angus has been named equipment manager and Eric Michaud coordinator of video and team services at the Iowa Heartlanders.

Will Angstman joined GreatAmerica as portfolio manager.

Tom Barton now is with The Gazette as deputy bureau chief and politics reporter. He previously was with the Quad-City Times. Brittney J. Miller is now Report for America reporter at the newspaper covering energy and environment.

Promotions

Hills Bank promoted Renee Harned to first vice president, mortgage operation manager; Shelby Mrgich, talent acquisition officer; Emily Miller, employee benefits officer, all in the Coralville office; and Julie Burton, vice president, trust accounting officer, and Julie Sparks, vice president, trust office, both in the North Liberty office.

Promoted at UFG Insurance were Erica Bergfeld-Reed to assistant vice president, corporate strategy office; Tim Borst, assistant vice president, corporate development; Allison Slager, assistant vice president, vendor management department; Leah Olson, assistant vice president, underwriting; Tyler Probasco, assistant vice president, underwriting; Bradley Hance, assistant vice president, surety division; and Eric Martin, senior vice president, corporate finance.

Board members

Jessica Kelly, vice president of operations at Tanager Place, was appointed to the Coalition for Family and Children's Services in Iowa board of directors.

Kudos

The Iowa Travel Industry Partners Foundation presented Carrie Koelker, executive director of the Eastern Iowa Tourism Association, the Joe Taylor Vision Award.

Riverside Casino and Golf Resort in Riverside was a winner of the Give Back Iowa Challenge from Volunteer Iowa.

Insights

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.