Women of Achievement: Lisa Rhatigan cherishes community connections

Lisa Rhatigan is a transplant to Cedar Rapids from the West Coast, but she could not have been more excited about immersing herself in the community she has called home since the early 1990s.

“We moved to Cedar Rapids from Southern California in 1993 because my husband was from here originally and we thought it would be a good place to raise our two sons — now 33 and 28 — and this community did not disappoint,” Rhatigan said.

“From the very beginning, we’ve been so happy with the schools, the activities, how safe and accepted we’ve always felt here, and the way this community’s values have influenced the way our sons grew up.

“So when they got to the age where I felt I could spare some time to give back to the community, that’s what I wanted to do.”

Among many ways she’s volunteered her time in the community, Rhatigan has served as chairwoman of the Jane Boyd Community House Board and was a founding board member for NewBo City Market, playing a fairly large role in helping to get the market opened. She currently serves as vice chairwoman of the Orchestra Iowa Association Board, on the Art Museum board and as a member of Downtown Rotary.

Rhatigan has worked as the vice president of marketing for Cedar Rapids-based ImOn Communications since 2018. There she manages the team that works to generate new customer leads, engage and retain current customers, build and maintain the ImOn brand, and develop and manage the ImOn product line.

There’s not much that doesn’t seem to excite Rhatigan about her day-to-day duties.

“I have a big passion for helping companies grow, and of course that’s what I get to do at ImOn. But honestly from my own personal standpoint, I enjoy the connections I get to make with community organizations to help support them,” she said.

Rhatigan grew up and went to school in Southern California. She attended the University of Southern California for her undergraduate degree in business, and then went on to the University of California in Irvine where she earned her MBA.

“I’ve been working a long time, holding a number of marketing leadership roles in companies that market both to businesses and consumers, both of which I now target while working here at ImOn,” she said.

“But before ImOn, I never had the pleasure of working for a company with such strong local roots that plays such an important role in this great community.”

Business 380 spotlights some of HER Magazine’s Women of Achievement, published by The Gazette. The awards were sponsored by Farmers State Bank.