GreatAmerica Financial hires six

NEW HIRES

Dr. Sajida Ahad (see photo) has joined Mercy Medical Center's General Surgery Clinic in Cedar Rapids. Ahad previously served at Southern Illinois University School of Medicine and St. John's Hospital Center of Metabolic and Weight Loss Surgery, both in Springfield, Ill.

Matt Messenger (see photo) has been named general manager and director of golf at the Amana Colonies Golf Club and Event Center. Messenger previously was PGA golf professional at the Mason City Country Club.

Dr. Casey Boyles, (see photo) has joined the medical team at MercyCare Johnson Avenue in Cedar Rapids as a family physician. Boyles previously was with UnityPoint-St. Luke's.

The Greater Cedar Rapids Area Home Builders Association, Hiawatha, has hired Mellissa Olson (see photo) as its executive officer. Olson previously was with The Cedar Rapids Area Association of Realtors.

The Cedar House Shelter has hired Liz Wardzinski (see photo) as director of operations.

Ohnward Bank & Trust, with offices in Cedar Rapids, Marion and Monticello, has hired Eric Heims (see photo) as senior vice president of agricultural and commercial loans. Heims previously was with NXT Bank.

AXA Advisors LLC, based in Omaha, has hired Steve Bernhardt (see photo) of Marion, previously with Principal Financial Group, and Andrew Petersen of Cedar Rapids as financial professionals in its Cedar Rapids branch office, 200 First St. SW.

Teal Jennings (see photo) has joined KWWL as part of its Today in Iowa newscast and anchoring duties for News at Noon. Jennings previously worked with Bloomberg Television in Chicago.

Hames-The Homes People has hired Curtis Hames IV (see photo) as sales and marketing specialist.

GreatAmerica Financial Services of Cedar Rapids has hired Jayna Shetterly, previously with Linn-Mar Community School District, and Robert Mochal, previously with U.S. Cellular, as account support advisors; Elizabeth White, previously with Linn Area Credit Union, as a documentation specialist; Christin Schmidt, previously with University of Iowa Community Credit Union, as cash application specialist; Tyler Brott, previously with ImOn Communications, as systems support administrator, and Kristy Dempsey, previously with Cox Tractor Co., as accounts payable specialist.

The Watts Group of Iowa City has hired Adam Hahn (see photo) as general manager of commercial construction.

PROMOTIONS

The Western Fraternal Life Association, Cedar Rapids, has promoted Rudy Pino (see photo) from field consultant to assistant sales manager.

IAHomesRealty has promoted JJ Johannes (see photo) to broker for its full service real estate division at 6105 Rockwell Dr. NE, Cedar Rapids.

BOARD MEMBERS

Jeff Cannon (see photo), president and CEO of Diamond V, Cedar Rapids, has joined the board of directors of Bankers Trust.

Ann Feldmann, Sarah Fisher Gardial, Tom Lepic, Marc Moen and Mark Moser were elected to the University of Iowa Community Credit Union board of directors. Board officers elected were Karin Franklin, chairwoman; Jeff Disterhoft, president; Mark Moser, vice chairman; Dean Borg, chief financial officer, and Laurel Day, secretary.

Shareholders of First Community Trust, Dubuque, elected directors Barry Stump of Cedar Rapids and Dean Borg of Mount Vernon to serve for the ensuing year. Officers serving in the Corridor are FCT Senior Vice President Kathleen Donnelly (see photo), Collins Community Credit Union, 42nd Street NE, Cedar Rapids, and FCT Vice President Ann McCrea (see photo), Collins Community Credit Union in North Liberty.

NEW BUSINESS

Harvest Oil & Vinegar, a tasting room and specialty shop, opened March 9 at City Center Square, 1150 Fifth St., Suite 150, Coralville. For more information, call (319) 338-2339 or go to the website, www.HarvestOilAndVinegar.com.

FORUMS AND WORKSHOPS

Christophe Trappe, a career storyteller and digital branding specialist, will speak on 'Content Strategy and Your Next Project” at a joint meeting of the Project Management Institute and Society for Technical Communication Thursday. The meeting will be held at Shores Event Center, 700 16th St. NW, Cedar Rapids, from 7:30 to 9 a.m. Please RSVP by today at http://smgs.us/3jh1.

Part II of a three-part Create Speakers series focusing on leadership empowerment in business will be offered from 11:15 a.m. to 1 p.m. Monday, May 19, at The Kirkwood Center in Cedar Rapids. Former NFL player and Air Force pilot Chad Hennings will give insight for achieving excellence. For additional information, call (319) 398-1022.

SEMINARS AND CONFERENCES

Reality television star, motivational speaker and entrepreneur Tana Goertz (see photo) will be the luncheon keynote speaker at the Next Gen. Summit Oct. 1 in downtown Cedar Rapids. The conference will be held at the DoubleTree by Hilton Cedar Rapids Convention Complex. Registration is now open. For more information: www.nextgensummiticc.org.

KUDOS

Luana Savings Bank, Luana, was named No. 17 in the Top 25 and the Top 100 best performing community banks for 2013 by SNL Financial. The bank was ranked No. 30 in 2012.

Brian Berg (see photo), an agent with Farm Bureau Financial Services in Hiawatha, received the 2014 All American Award.

The Johnson County Board of Supervisors recognized the Iowa City Federation of Labor and its president, Patrick Hughes, for the Johnson County license plate recycling program. The program has resulted in about $30,000 in scrap metal proceeds donated to local charities.

The Hotel at Kirkwood Center has been named Employer of the Year by Goodwill of the Heartland and will receive an 'Edgar” achievement award at a May awards ceremony.

Best Western Plus Longbranch in Cedar Rapids has received the Best Western Chairman's Award, the hotel chain's highest honor for outstanding quality standards.

Geoffrey Lauer (see photo) of Iowa City, executive director of the Brain Injury Alliance of Iowa, was presented the annual Public Policy and Advocacy Award from The North American Brain Injury Society.

Rapids Reproductions, located at 6015 Huntington Ct. NE, Cedar Rapids, is now a Designated Blue Zones Worksite. A ribbon cutting will be Thursday at 9 a.m. For more information, contact (319) 364-2473.