Business Notes: July 31, 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

Chris Lauderdale has joined the Acterra Group as an electrical foreman.

Dr. Daniela Abrams now is with the Mercy Neurosurgery Clinic at Mercy Medical Center.

Linn County Veteran Affairs hired Dustin Peterson as director.

Kudos

UnityPoint Health-St. Luke's Hospital team nursing member Cody Mefferd received a scholarship of $3,500 from the Iowa Hospital Education and Research Foundation, supported by the Iowa Hospital Association, to further his health care education.

Kim Casko, Iowa City Area Business Partnership president and CEO, has been elected to the board of directors for ACCE, the Association of Chamber of Commerce Executives.

Insights and sessions

The Empower Her Summit presented by Empower Her Co. will bring together women in business from the Midwest on Aug. 25 at Bella Sala Event Center in Tiffin. This one-day conference will be offer inspiration, motivation, networking, personal and professional development, and community. More information is at info@empowerher.co.

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.