Four businesses receive Bravo awards

CEDAR RAPIDS — Four businesses receiving Bravo awards Tuesday at the annual Good Morning Cedar Rapids breakfast credited their employees and technology for their success.

Dental Prosthetic Services, Fleck Sales Co., Lattice Communications and Shive-Hattery Inc. were recognized as successful homegrown businesses in the Cedar Rapids metropolitan area during the event at the Cedar Rapids Marriott.

Dental Prosthetic Services of Cedar Rapids, founded in 1972, creates crowns, bridges, retainers for children, dentures and partials. The company employs more than 70 people from part-time delivery drivers to full-time dental technicians and primarily serves clients in Iowa and southern Minnesota.

Kristine Van Cleve, president of DPS, said computers play a major role in the dental prosthetic development process. Becker said the company's technicians are artists who create custom products for each client to enhance their appearance.

Van Cleve, who along with two partners purchased DPS from her parents in 1994, said the company also makes appliances to treat sleep apnea, which can affect the overall health of an individual.

Dudley Fleck, president of Fleck Sales in Cedar Rapids, said technology enables the company to provide more than 1,000 products in the proper quantity on a timely basis to its retail customers.

Fleck Sales, founded in 1954 by Keith Fleck, employs more than 100. The company, with $50 million in annual sales, is expanding its facility at 1125 High Life Ct. SW to accommodate future sales and product growth.

Bruce Leventhal, owner and president of Lattice Communications in Fairfax, said the company has grown from a handful of employees in his basement to about 70 people. He credited the 'family environment' that the company has embraced and the skills of his employees for its rapid growth and success.

Lattice is a dealer of new and refurbished telecommunications shelters, cabinets and power equipment.

James Lee, president of Shive-Hattery in Cedar Rapids, said the employee-owned architecture and engineering firm has been successful by empowering talented people and using technology to provide customized solutions for clients. The company, which employs 375, serves clients in a four-state region from nine locations.

Lee said Shive-Hattery handles about 1,800 projects annually and is working on the design for west side flood protection in Cedar Rapids.

Past Bravo winners

Bravo awards have been presented to Cedar Rapids area and Eastern Iowa businesses by the Cedar Rapids Metro Economic Alliance for more than 20 years at the Good Morning Cedar Rapids breakfast gathering. Past recipients include:

• 2013: BHFO, Ginsberg Jewelers, Tallgrass Business Resources
• 2012: HR Green, Nelson Electric and Russell's Guides
• 2011: Cedar Memorial Park Cemetery and Funeral Home, ImOn Communications, Phelans Interiors and Primus Construction
• 2010: Bimm Ridder Sportswear, Ovation Networks and White Glove Movers
• 2009: CRST International, Informatics and Van Meter Industrial
• 2008: Gazette Communications, RuffaloCODY and Sadler Machine
• 2007: King's Material, The Second Act and Metro Studios
• 2006: Ascott Transcription Service, ESP and Peck's Green Thumb Nursery
• 2005: Zio Johno's Spaghetti House, Centro and KZIA Z102.9 Radio
• 2004: Smulekoff's, West Side Sewing and Amana Society
• 2003: City Carton Recycling, Ilten's and Raining Rose
• 2002: Lil' Drug Store Products, Midamar and Carlson College of Massage Therapy
• 2001: Frontier Natural Products, J.P. Gasway and Crystal Group
• 2000: Pratt Audio-Visual & Video, Vector Corp. and Yeoman & Co.
• 1999: Divine Engineering, CEI Pacer Equipment and Frank N. Magid Associates
• 1998: Feiereisen, Souvenir Group and Tucker Manufacturing
• 1997: Apache, Highway Equipment and Stamats Communications
• 1996: Cedar Rapids Tent & Awning, Grissel Co. and Nordstrom Oil/HandiMart Food Stores
• 1995: Abild Construction, Klinger Paint and Dwight Hughes Nursery
• 1994: Carma Lou's House of Music, Diamond V Mills and Lattner Boiler Manufacturing
• 1993: H.S. Industries, MSI Mold Builders and Marion Mixers
• 1992: Adtrack, Dostal Catering Service, Duffy's Collectible Cars and Worley Warehousing

Source: Gazette archives, Cedar Rapids Metro Economic Alliance