United Fire hires six

NEW HIRES

Converge Consulting hired Allison Motel (see photo) as a digital marketing strategist.

Loraine Kelty (see photo), previously with United Fire & Casualty in Cedar Rapids, started with Urbana-based Clickstop as a marketing specialist in the US Cargo Control division. Also hired were Matt Mitchell (see photo), category manager, also in US Cargo Control; Christian Garloff (photo), Ian Storey (see photo), Wendi Kafer (see photo) and Joey Dighton (see photo), all part-timers in the sewing and assembly department.

Orchestra Iowa hired Curtis Brown (see photo) as patron services manager, Devin Van Holsteijn (see photo) as institutional relations manager, Jade Burgess (see photo) as marketing manager and Alexis Kenleigh (see photo) as chief marketing officer.

Kelly Teeselink (see photo) now works as community relations specialist with Tanager Place. She was previously with the University of Iowa's Hawk Shop, University Bookstore and Tech Connection.

Tom Brown (see photo) has joined ImOn Communications as director of sales.

Steven McGinty (see photo) has joined the staff at Petersen Pet Hospital, 420 Colton Circle NE, Cedar Rapids.

Overland Park, Kan.-based Lawing Financial, with an office in Cedar Rapids, hired John P. Morgan as an investment manager.

PROMOTIONS

Sarah Gilpin (see photo), Orchestra Iowa coordinating educational services, was promoted to community engagement director.

Jeff Janssen (see photo), previously director of sales and marketing with ImOn Communications, has been promoted to vice president of sales and marketing.

CERTIFICATIONS

Scott Schroeder (see photo), Schroeder & Associates, Mechanicsville, has received his Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act certification.

TrueNorth achieved Allied Certification from Allied Insurance.

BOARD MEMBERS

The Linn County Bar Association elected to its 2013-2014 board Steven J. Pace (see photo), Shuttleworth & Ingersoll, as president; Greg Neumeyer (see photo), Bank Iowa, president-elect; Todd Anderson, Elderkin & Pirnie, immediate past president; Megan Dimitt, Lederer Weston Craig, vice president; Caitlin Slessor, Nazette, Marner, Nathanson & Shea, secretary; and Susan Pence, Bankers Trust, treasurer.

The Iowa City Downtown District elected Bill Nusser (see photo), Hands Jewelers, as president for a one-year term. Also elected are George Etre, Formosa and Takanami restaurants, vice president; Karen Kubby, Beadology, past president; Kent Jehle, treasurer; and Patty McCarthy, secretary.

The Iowa Lottery Board has elected Mike Klappholz (see photo), retired Cedar Rapids chief of police, as chairman. Also elected to the board was Mary Junge, a tax and estate-planning lawyer in Cedar Rapids.

Tom Stanczyk (see photo), Rockwell Collins, joined the board of directors of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Cedar Rapids and East Central Iowa.

Linn County Early Childhood Iowa named to its board Jennifer Harp, Bohr, Dahm, Greif & Associates; Diane Seelau, UnityPoint Health-St. Luke's Hospital; and Mary Segriff of Kor.

Jerry Meis, Lenoch & Cilek Ace Hardware in Iowa City, was elected chairman of the North American Retail Hardware Association.

The Cedar Rapids Public Library board of trustees voted to re-elect Susan McDermott as president and Joe Lock as vice president for another year.

KUDOS

Minnesota-based Marco Inc., with offices in Cedar Rapids and Decorah, received the 2013 Break Away Partner of the Year Award from Cisco.

Acme Electric Co. received the 2012 Raving Fan Subcontractor Award from Ryan Companies US.

UnityPoint Health-St. Luke's Hospital in Cedar Rapids was ranked among the nation's Best Regional Hospitals according to U.S. News and World Report - second in Iowa as well as one of America's high-performing hospitals in six specialties. It also was designated a Blue Zones Worksite

Pine Needles Sewing Center in Cedar Rapids is one of the Top 5 sales earners for BERNINA of America in 2012.

Cedar Ridge Vineyards in Swisher was awarded one gold medal, 15 silver medals and six bronze medals in the Seventh Annual Mid-American Wine Competition.

MEETINGS

The Cedar Rapids Charter Chapter of the

American Business Women's Association will meet 5:45 p.m., Aug. 7, at the Longbranch, 90 Twixt Town Rd NE, Cedar Rapids. Wanda Johnson, owner and virtual assistant of At Your Service Corridor Community, will speak on time management. Cost is $15 for members ($5 additional without RSVP), $20 for guests, and includes dinner. RSVPs required by noon, Aug. 2, to hospitality@abwacr.org. Additional details can be found at http://abwacr.org.