The Business Quiz: Dawn Ainger

DAWN AINGER

PRESIDENT AND CEO

GENOVA TECHNOLOGIES

CEDAR RAPIDS

Did you have a job while you were in school?

I had two jobs during my graduate schooling - mom and teaching assistant. As a mom - before the age of PCs - if I had to finish my homework back on campus at the computing center, I'd pick my babies up from the sitter, feed them, play with them, bathe them, put them in their extra-long-footed sleepers … then I'd take them down to the computing center, put one foot on each sleeper while my hands were on the keyboard.

This way the boys could play with their toys, but I could keep them corralled while I finished my homework. The good news: There were no long term side effects to this action. They are both mentally stable, healthy young adults.

What was the last book you read?

“Good to Great” (by Jim Collins). It discusses how to take a really good company and make it a great company.

I liked it because it gives clear, concise advice on how to make your company or group thrive past your own career.

Where is your favorite place to get away?

Arizona in the winter. I can play golf with my husband and my snowbird parents in 70 degrees, sun and no humidity.

Do you have a professional mentor?

Wayne Schellhammer has successfully run several large businesses and is helping Genova as it goes through its growth cycles. He has run companies for (business philanthropist) John Pappajohn and for large health systems.

Mentors who have helped a business grow and have seen the ups and downs are very important.

What do you always have close at hand at your desk?

Chocolate.

What did you think you'd be doing when you “grew up”?

I thought I'd be an architect, but when I landed in Iowa City and they did not have an architecture school, I thought to myself, ‘Hmmm, this “computer stuff” seems like it may be a good career path. Maybe I'll give that a try.' This was before there was such a thing as a PC or a Mac.

How did you happen to come to work in Eastern Iowa?

I got my undergraduate and graduate degrees from the University of Iowa, and I was raised in northwest Iowa. Cedar Rapids had a large technical community that still allowed me do my job and be close to my family.