Business Notes for April 6, 2025

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 at https://www.thegazette.com/business-notes/submit/

Certifications

Tyler Eads of Deery Brothers Ford in Iowa City completed Ford Motor Company’s Dealer Executive Conference, a four-day seminar for new dealers in Dearborn, Mich. Eads and other dealers met with Ford executive managers and leaned a variety of programs that Ford provides to support dealership actions. Eads has been the used car manager at Deery Brothers Ford since January 2021. He and his father Patrick Eads are the owners of Deery Brothers Ford. Patrick Eads has operated the business since 2010.

Kudos

Barbra Solberg, public policy strategist of the Cedar Rapids Metro Economic Alliance, has been selected by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation to participate in the eleventh cohort of its premiere business leadership program. The Business Leads Fellowship Program trains and equips leaders from state and local chambers of commerce, economic development agencies, and trade associations with resources, access to experts, and a network of peers to build their capacity to address the most pressing education and workforce challenges. Following a competitive application and selection process, Solberg was selected along with 34 other state and local chamber executives, economic development professionals, and association leaders to participate in the eleventh class of this program. The eight-month program, consisting of both in-person and virtual meetings, will cover the entire talent pipeline, including early childhood education, K-12, postsecondary education, and workforce development. Upon completion, Business Leads Fellows will join the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation’s network of over 350 chambers of commerce and statewide associations from around the nation who regularly engage on education and workforce initiatives.

ImOn Communications has earned the prestigious 2025 USA TODAY Top Workplaces award, which honors organizations with 150 or more employees that have created exceptional, people-first cultures. This year, more than 42,000 organizations were invited to participate. The winners are recognized for their commitment to fostering a workplace environment that values employee listening and engagement. USA TODAY showcased the winners online and at the National Awards Summit in Las Vegas. The winners are determined by authentic employee feedback captured through a confidential survey conducted by Energage, the HR research and technology company behind the Top Workplaces program since 2006. The results are calculated based on employee responses to statements about Workplace Experience Themes, which are proven indicators of high performance.

Strategic Financial Solutions has been named to the prestigious National Association of Plan Advisors’ (NAPA) list of the nation’s top defined contribution (DC) Advisor Teams with assets under advisement of at least $100 million.

The Eastern Iowa chapter of SCORE recently was recognized as the chapter of the year in the state of Iowa. The chapter also received recognition for being the most improved one in a seven-state area. The chapter credits its volunteers’ commitment to helping small business owners throughout Eastern Iowa and beyond. If you are a business owner and would like some free assistance, please contact mark.hermann@scorevolunteer.org

Other news

World Food Prize Foundation updates: The World Food Prize Foundation has announced a realignment of its council of advisers and the addition of a new member to its board of directors. CEO Thomas Vilsack will now also serve as chair of the council of advisers, replacing Paul E. Schickler, who has led both the foundation’s board of directors and its council of advisers since the passing of Chairman John Ruan III in 2011. Schickler will continue as board chair. Also, ambassador Terry Branstad, former foundation president and Iowa governor, will transition to a member of the board of directors. The foundation’s council of advisers is comprised of distinguished leaders and experts providing the foundation board and staff with valuable perspectives and recommendations. Each council member brings with them their own expertise and experience. Past members include former U.S. Presidents George H.W. Bush and Jimmy Carter, World Food Prize Laureates, university presidents, international dignitaries, world-renowned scientists and various industry leaders. The foundation board of directors assures the financial integrity of the foundation by adopting the budget and assuring that the foundation's activities conform to that budget. The board also selects foundation officers — who serve on the Board — and the members of the council of advisers.

Cookie partnership for charity: GreenState Credit Union and Cookies & Dreams are teaming up this month for a special initiative to support Variety — The Children’s Charity. Throughout April, 100% of proceeds from sales of the Millionaire Bar Cookie at Cookies & Dreams locations or ordered online will go directly to the Iowa Chapter of Variety — The Children’s Charity, an organization dedicated to helping children reach their full potential by providing essential medical equipment, programs, and services. For more information or to order cookies, visit https://idreamaboutcookies.com

Small Business of the Week: U.S. Sen. Joni Ernst, R-Iowa, has announced J&S Farm Supply of Iowa County in Williamsburg as her small business of the week. In 1955, Leighton Jones founded Jones Fertilizer to support local growers through various farming services. By 1972, Dick Schaefer joined the business, and J&S Farm Supply was born. After managing the business for nearly 50 years, Jones died in 2004 and his son, Tim Jones, took full ownership. Today, Tim Jones and his son, Tim Jones Jr., have grown the family business into a full-service agriculture hub with the turf and fabrication divisions headed by his sons-in-law, Ryan Sauser and Luke Williams, respectively. Later this year, J&S Farm Supply will celebrate its 70th anniversary in Iowa. Ernst, chair of the Senate’s Small Business Committee, is naming one exceptional small business of the week in each of Iowa’s counties during this congressional session.