Business Notes: June 19, 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 Trisha Metz as sourcing specialist.

Jessica Torre joined Hills Bank as trust compliance officer in the North Liberty.

Casey Baustian started with the Greater Cedar Rapids Community Foundation as program officer.

Danielle Davis joined KCRG TV as co-anchor for morning news. Davis most recently was an anchor in Peoria, Ill.

Skogman Realty hired Susie Cooper as Realtor.

Dr. Padget Skogman joined Mercy’s Pediatric Inpatient Center as a pediatric hospitalist. Skogman previously was a pediatrician at Mercy Pediatric Clinic in Cedar Rapids.

Promotions

The Linn County Sheriff’s Office promoted Kent Steenblock to the rank of captain. He will be serving as the next assistant jail administrator in the Linn County Correctional Center. Matt Sandvick was appointed to the rank of second deputy-major and will be serving as the next jail administrator in the Linn County Correctional Center.

Board members

Ryan Shellady, Simmons Perrine Moyer Bergman, joined the Orchestra Iowa board of directors.

Cedar Rapids Museum of Art new board members for fiscal year beginning July 1 will be Jack Gonder, Bankers Trust; Sam Jones, Shuttleworth and Ingersoll; Joana Karl, Cedar Rapids Bank and Trust; Megan Moran, Hillcrest Holdings; Jennifer Rogers, Coe College; and Brett Seelman, S.LA/Seelman Landscape Architecture

Kudos

Per Mar Security Services is ranked 16th in SDM’s 2022 Top 100 list. This is the 32nd consecutive year Per Mar has ranked in the SDM 100 Report.

More

The Women Lead Change class of 25 for the 2022 Elevate Leadership Program are Kelly Barr, Lucy Sanchez, Emily Upah and Jess Niemann and Shelby Pickering of Alliant Energy; Nicole Barth, UFG Insurance; Jessica Bauman and Julie Bennis, TrueNorth Cos.; Lanette Boots and Brandy Feldman, Collins Aerospace; Heather Butterfield, Iowa Donor Network; Hilary Copeland-Marvin and Courtney Crowdes, Transamerica; Mackenzie DeRoo, University of Iowa, Tippie College; Lori Garin, Ingredion; Claire Lux, Merrill Lynch; Katie Machovsky, University of Iowa, College of Nursing; Hannah McGrath, HNI Corporation; Liz Myres, CRBT; Jessie Owens, McGrath Auto; Jessica Pira, McGrath Ford Hyundai Kia; Lacy Scarborough, CBE Cos.; Kylie Tichy, Lucky's on 16th; Vanessa Weisskopf, University of Iowa; and Darby Winger, Rinderknecht Associates.

Build-out assistance

Applications are open for Race for the Space, a program that gives businesses the chance to win $20,000 toward rent and build-out at a selected property in downtown Cedar Rapids. Selected business also will receive a $7,500 credit for architectural design services with Form Function Studio and a course to build more business provided by BerganKDV. Applications are available at raceforthespacecr.org and will close June 30. For more information, email jthoeming@cedarrapids.org or nwilcox@cedarrapids.org.

Insights

The next Gazette Business Breakfast panel discussion is set for 9 a.m. Tuesday. “What’s Next: The Future of Downtown Cedar Rapids” panelists will talk about lessons learned over the past two years, what’s in the works for downtown and development as inflation and the economy continue to throw curves. Participants will be 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. Viewers can submit questions and comment during the live discussion. The event will be free, but you must register at thegazette.com/business-breakfast. It will be sponsored by BerganKDV.

The next installment of the “Gazette Spotlight on …” series of video interviews will debut on The Gazette site, https://business.thegazette.com, also this Tuesday. They will recognize businesses and organizations for their focus on community commitment. Interviewed will 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.