Des Moines Register Staff Blogs » Central Iowa Networking

Broker Bob Stewart moving to Knapp Properties

Lynn Hicks — Wed, 22 May 2013 19:26:37 +0000

Veteran commercial real estate broker Bob Stewart has moved to from CBRE/Hubbell Commercial to Knapp Properties. Stewart, 61, has worked at Hubbell since 2005. He said he had worked on a straight commission-only basis for 25 years, and after the commercial market collapsed in the recession, he sought the stability of an employed position. [...]

People on the Move

Christopher Pratt — Tue, 21 May 2013 16:53:08 +0000

NEW JOBS The Federal Home Loan Bank of Des Moines has hired Bill Bemis as vice president/treasurer. Regions Bank has hired William Kurtz as city president in the Iowa area. Deere Employees Credit Union has hired Aaron Moberg as an investment and retirement services licensed financial adviser. Trilix, a Johnston-based marketing and advertising agency, has [...]

Minority, women-owned business workshop Friday in Des Moines

Christopher Pratt — Wed, 15 May 2013 17:02:15 +0000

The Women’s Business Center will host the Minority-and Women-Owned Supplier Biz Camp 101 Friday at the United Way Human Services Campus, Conference Room E, 1111 Ninth St., Des Moines. The event is scheduled from 8:30 a.m.- 12:45 p.m. Beverly Browning, author of “A Guide to Sustainability of Small Business,” will be guest speaker at the [...]

People on the Move

Christopher Pratt — Tue, 14 May 2013 16:48:23 +0000

NEW JOBS LeadingAge Iowa has hired Shannon Strickler as president and CEO. The association of nonprofit organizations that works with seniors was formerly known as the Iowa Association of Homes and Services for the Aging. AKC Marketing in Johnston has hired Katie Andrew as a copywriter/editor. PROMOTION Marketlink has promoted Amy MacGregor to human resource [...]

People on the Move

Christopher Pratt — Tue, 07 May 2013 16:48:17 +0000

NEW JOBS Laser Resources has hired Dave Trembly as an account executive. McKee, Voorhees & Sease has hired attorney Alexandria Christian. BNIM Architects of Des Moines has hired Paul A. Kempton and Levi Robb. Ruan Securities has hired Michael Maloney Jr. and Nathan Summers, as vice presidents and public finance bankers. Ruan Securities is a [...]

People on the Move

Christopher Pratt — Tue, 30 Apr 2013 16:48:06 +0000

NEW JOBS Dice Holdings Inc., a job search engine provider in Urbandale, has hired the following people: Anitha Nair as a quality engineer. Deb Freund as a customer support administrative assistant. Sharon Vance as an installed sales associate. PROMOTIONS West Bank has promoted the following people: Claudia Miranda to vice president/trust officer. Sue Ann Niehaus [...]

People on the Move

Christopher Pratt — Tue, 23 Apr 2013 16:48:38 +0000

NEW JOBS Iowa Realty Co. has hired the following people as new agents: Aaron Jones, Jenna Thomas, Becky Knight, Julie Egli, Maria Moffatt, Michelle Cook, Nikol Rounds, Tim Gillen, Brandi Vennink, Steve Ferguson, Marilyn Cline, Deb Stokka, Catherine Arroyo, Rick Pitt and Jim Waters New employee spotlight Ryan Crane has been hired as development director [...]

Aviva wins United Way award

Lynn Hicks — Tue, 02 Apr 2013 18:22:04 +0000

Aviva USA received the Spirit of Central Iowa award at today’s United Way of Central Iowa Live United luncheon. The award is the local United Way’s highest honor, presented to one organization each year for excellence in giving, advocating and volunteering. West Des Moines-based Aviva USA employs 1,400 people locally, who have waited with uncertainty [...]

Downtown Des Moines chamber celebration postponed

Christopher Pratt — Wed, 20 Feb 2013 21:39:03 +0000

Due to the inclement weather, the Des Moines Downtown Chamber of Commerce’s member celebration scheduled for the Science Center Thursday, has been postponed to Wednesday, Feb. 27. Wednesday’s event will still take place at the Science Center, from 5 to 7:30 p.m., according to a statement from the chamber’s executive director Jennifer Chittenden. The celebration [...]

DuPont Pioneer wins partnership’s diversity award

Lynn Hicks — Wed, 16 Jan 2013 00:00:43 +0000

DuPont Pioneer received the Greater Des Moines Partnership’s Diversity Award at the group’s annual dinner tonight. The partnership’s diversity council selected the Johnston seed company for its extensive efforts to create a diverse workforce. The partnership said Pioneer has Rosetta Stone CDs their employees can check out to learn foreign languages, and it has five diverse employee resource groups [...]

Lincoln historian Kearns Goodwin to speak at D.M. partnership dinner

Lynn Hicks — Thu, 29 Nov 2012 22:37:57 +0000

Pulitzer Prize-winning author and historian Doris Kearns Goodwin will speak at the Greater Des Moines Partnership’s annual dinner Jan. 15. Stephen Spielberg’s film “Lincoln” is based in part on Goodwin’s bestselling book, “Team of Rivals: The Political Genius of Abraham Lincoln.” She won the Pulitzer Prize for “No Ordinary Time: Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt: The Home Front in [...]

Four Iowa firms land on Inc. Magazine’s list of 500 fastest-growing companies in U.S.

Marco Santana — Tue, 21 Aug 2012 21:25:02 +0000

More than three dozen Iowa companies made Inc. Magazine’s annual list of the country’s 5,000 fastest-growing companies, with four of them joining the magazine’s high-profile top 500 list. Tailgate Clothing in Ankeny, TMG Financial Services in Des Moines, Renewable Energy Group in Ames and Waterloo’s Visual Logic Group ranked in the Top 500 and will [...]

Eight Iowa hospitals honored for use of technology

Marco Santana — Wed, 11 Jul 2012 21:10:35 +0000

The national publication of the American Hospital Association included eight Iowa hospitals in its annual rundown of the hospitals that leverage technology the best. Among those included in 2012’s Hospitals & Health Networks Most Wired Survey were two Des Moines hospitals, Iowa Health System and Broadlawns Medical Center, and Mary Greeley Medical Center in Ames. [...]

Principal Financial gave $634,500 in Central Iowa grants in 1st qtr

Victor Epstein — Wed, 27 Jun 2012 15:35:28 +0000

The Principal Financial Group and Principal Financial Group Foundation awarded grants totaling $634,500 to 82 organizations in Central Iowa during the first quarter of 2012, according to the Des Moines-based company. The funds were focused on community groups engaged in health and human services. “It’s important to support the communities our employees call home,” Mary [...]

Kurns named editor of Successful Farming

Lynn Hicks — Wed, 27 Jun 2012 14:43:18 +0000

Meredith Corp. has named David Kurns as the new top editor at Successful Farming. He will replace Loren Kruse, who is retiring in September after 36 years with Meredith. Kurns, 51, whose title will be editorial content director, will move over from company’s business-to-business marketing services agency, Meredith Xcelerated Marketing. He was responsible for creating [...]

Shelby County offers $30K in competition for best startup/expansion ideas

Marco Santana — Fri, 01 Jun 2012 19:35:00 +0000

A firm created by Shelby County‘s economic development entity has offered $30,000 to the best business idea within the county’s borders. New Enterprises, which was created by Shelby County DevelopSource in 2011, announced the competition Friday, June 1, 2012. In a release, Shelby County officials opened the competition to all start-up or expansion businesses in [...]

Veel Hoeden wins $25K office makeover in national contest

Marco Santana — Wed, 23 May 2012 16:00:35 +0000

A Pella-based co-working space outlasted more than 150 small businesses nationwide and will receive a $25,000 office makeover, according to officials representing the company sponsoring the contest. Veel Hoeden, based in the Dutch community about 45 miles southeast of Des Moines, placed in the Top 5 of an online vote for the prize. The five [...]

CDS Global celebrates 40 years in Des Moines

Marco Santana — Wed, 02 May 2012 18:44:06 +0000

Employees and company officials at CDS Global, a Des Moines-based subsidiary of Hearst Corporation, kicked off a year-long celebration of its 40th anniversary last week. The event held at its corporate headquarters, 1901 Bell Ave. in Des Moines, included several dignitaries, including company founder Donald Ross, Hearst’s John Loughlin and Debra Robinson, and Des Moines [...]

Pella’s Veel Hoeden finalist in national competition, needs your votes

Marco Santana — Tue, 01 May 2012 18:24:41 +0000

A Pella-based co-working space wants your help in a national competition that could result in a $25,000 makeover. Joel Bennett of the small business incubator Veel Hoeden said the facility is one of 25 across the country named a finalist in Turnstone Furniture’s competition, which asked entrants to submit a video making their case. The [...]

Lt. Gov. Reynolds backs StartupIowa’s OpenIowa competition

Marco Santana — Mon, 16 Apr 2012 17:55:14 +0000

The momentum continues to build for StartupIowa’s upcoming three-day hack-a-thon OpenIowa, a coding competition aimed at using available public data to create mobile or web applications in a weekend. Lt. Gov. Kim Reynolds formally announced the competition at the administration’s weekly press conference this morning and said the State of Iowa would partner with StartupIowa [...]

West Des Moines incubator welcomes five new companies

Marco Santana — Fri, 23 Mar 2012 15:58:28 +0000

Five new companies have taken up residence at the West Des Moines Business Incubator. The additions double the number of residents at the low-rent office space at 2829 Westown Parkway, Suite 220. Good Nutrient Company: This company markets everyday vitamins, over-the-counter drugs, and other specialty products. BLACK IOPS: The private cloud-based IT storage startup was [...]

Startup Weekend ideas unveiled

Marco Santana — Sat, 03 Mar 2012 18:55:53 +0000

The Startup Weekend teams are off and running. After a late night that saw at least four teams work nearly through the night, 14 teams, including two that formed after voting produced the top 12 ideas, are back at it. If all ideas morph into businesses after the weekend, break dancers, cyclists and cloud watchers [...]

A brief recap of Iowa’s first creativity summit

Marco Santana — Fri, 02 Mar 2012 16:45:45 +0000

As the first of its kind in Des Moines, the only thing that could be certain about Thursday’s creativity summit at Drake University was that hardly anyone in attendance really knew what to expect. It’s a good thing they were open-minded. At the urging of Los Angeles-based creativity expert Matt May, more than 140 people [...]

Startup Weekend is here; bring your ideas!

Marco Santana — Thu, 01 Mar 2012 21:03:32 +0000

Jake Kerber arrived at Startup Weekend Des Moines last year with an idea. By the time he left the 54-hour marathon startup event, he had a second business. Since being introduced at last year’s three-day event, Kerber’s local music streaming site Locusic has grown to include around 90 central Iowa bands and 500 songs. Kerber [...]

Tikly is throwing a launch party

Marco Santana — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 17:37:36 +0000

A Des Moines-based ticketing firm is throwing a party and you’re invited. Tikly.co, which has its offices at StartupCity Des Moines downtown, will roll out a new product tonight at a free event that starts at 5:30 p.m. at Vaudeville Mews, 212 4th St. As you might expect from a ticketing firm that deals mostly [...]

Chinese dignitaries, wrestlers to fill up the downtown Marriott

Lynn Hicks — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 19:07:53 +0000

The next leader of China and his delegation will take over about half the downtown Marriott Hotel next month. The group wanted the whole hotel, but instead they’ll have to share with high school wrestlers and fans. Vice President Xi Jinping, who is expected to be China’s next president, will visit Iowa Feb. 15 and [...]

Tiffany Tauscheck is Juice Young Professional of the Year

Tim Paluch — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 00:38:20 +0000

Tiffany Tauscheck, the vice president of marketing for the Greater Des Moines Convention and Visitors Bureau, is the 2011 Juice Young Professional of the Year.

Barcamp takes over library this weekend

Marco Santana — Thu, 01 Dec 2011 19:54:09 +0000

Don’t call it a conference. In fact, semi-organizers for Des Moines Barcamp have billed it as an “unconference.” No scheduled list of speakers. No agenda or plan of action. The only requirement is that presentations stick to roughly 25 minutes and they at least loosely fall along one of three tracks: technology, creativity/design or entrepreneurship. [...]

Verizon unveils faster service Thursday

Lynn Hicks — Wed, 16 Nov 2011 18:34:27 +0000

Verizon Wireless will unveil its 4G LTE network in Des Moines on Thursday. The first 100 visitors to its company store on 9901 University Ave. will receive a chocolate bar. Four of the bars will have a golden ticket inside, good for a Droid Charge smartphone by Samsung. Verizon said consumers with 4G-supported cellphones, tablets [...]

‘Silicon Sixth’ hosts job crawl

Lynn Hicks — Mon, 31 Oct 2011 19:15:39 +0000

Students and recent graduates can see whether they want to work in Des Moines’ high-tech hot spot, Silicon Sixth. Never heard of Silicon Sixth? See our coverage in Sunday’s Register about the mini-cluster of high-tech businesses that have emerged on Sixth Avenue in Des Moines. The firms are small but growing, with some ready to [...]

Reich lecture available via livestream

Lynn Hicks — Wed, 07 Sep 2011 20:15:59 +0000

Drake University will make Thursday’s speech by former labor secretary and political economist Robert Reich available live on the web. Access the livestream at http://www.ustream.tv/channel/drake-u-events. Reich will present “The Next Economy and America’s Future” at 7 p.m. in Sheslow Auditorium in Old Main, 2507 University Ave. The speech, which will include a question-and-answer session, is [...]

Local executives named to national board

Regina Zilbermints — Wed, 27 Jul 2011 15:45:44 +0000

Two Des Moines-area business executives have been elected to national leadership positions with the Muscular Dystrophy Association. Robert Myers, president and CEO of Casey’s General Stores, and Fred Greiner, president and COO of Fareway Stores, were elected to one-year terms as national vice presidents at the group’s annual meeting in Los Angeles July 15. National [...]

Get to know: Michelle DeClerck, President and owner, Conference Event Management, Clive

Regina Zilbermints — Wed, 06 Jul 2011 17:21:16 +0000

Business Description: Conference Event Management partners with companies to help reduce their risk and increase sales and productivity with enhanced return on investment through meetings, special events, incentive travel, and other reward strategies and travel services. While many of our local clients have experienced meeting planners in-house, we often handle their hotel or cruise negotiations [...]

Get to know: Caroline Jones, social media associate, Meredith Corp., Des Moines

Regina Zilbermints — Mon, 27 Jun 2011 15:56:38 +0000

Job description: I work with the Better Homes and Gardens digital marketing and magazine teams to extend the brand presence through social media networks, primarily Facebook and Twitter. I also often work with the Parents and Fitness brands in addition to other online Meredith titles helping support their digital marketing initiatives. Background: I was born [...]

Get to know: Amy Allen, professional photographer, Amy Allen Co., Des Moines

Kayla Craig — Mon, 20 Jun 2011 15:46:12 +0000

Job description: I specialize in weddings, portraiture, events, plus lifestyle and art photography. Background: I have 13 years in business, with studios in Minnesota and the historic East Village here in Des Moines, and on location in Arizona. I have a degree in psychology and love being around people. I always thought I would be [...]

Event with Wittmack, climbers postponed

Lynn Hicks — Wed, 01 Jun 2011 17:03:38 +0000

UPDATE: A public event scheduled Thursday has been postponed due to a sponsor’s conflict. A new time is forthcoming. Charlie Wittmack spent the last 10 months completing the World Triathlon. Now he has returned to Des Moines. What’s next? “That’s the million dollar question,” he said. Wittmack plans to spend the summer writing a book [...]

WOI names new general manager

Lynn Hicks — Thu, 26 May 2011 21:15:05 +0000

Des Moines television station WOI has named Russ Hamilton as vice president and general manager. Hamilton succeeds Ray Cole, president and chief operating officer of station owner Citadel Communications, who had also been serving as general manager of the station. Cole said the ABC affiliate needed a full-time general manager after Citadel purchased a station [...]

Get to know: Drew Harden, managing partner, Blue Compass Interactive, Des Moines

Kayla Craig — Mon, 23 May 2011 16:46:25 +0000

Business description: Blue Compass Interactive is a Web design, development and marketing company. We are Web experts, and provide custom websites, mobile websites and online marketing such as search engine optimization and marketing and social media consultation. We provide detailed return on investment reports that accurately track the online effectiveness of nearly any type of [...]

IBM’s Jeopardy-winning Watson computer system is headed to Iowa

Kayla Craig — Fri, 13 May 2011 18:25:05 +0000

Watson, the IBM computing system known for its recent “Jeopardy!” success, is coming to Iowa. The one-of-a-kind system built to mimic human thinking is making an appearance at the Technology Association of Iowa’s Heartland GreenUp Symposium and Expo. IBM is a principal sponsor of the event. “The technology that powers this super-computer could soon power [...]

Late May opening announced for Americana Restaurant & Lounge

Joanne Boeckman — Fri, 13 May 2011 16:27:27 +0000

Americana Restaurant & Lounge owners Scott Carlson and Mike Utley announced today the restaurant will open May 27 at 1312 Locust St., across from the Pappajohn Sculpture Park. Americana will be a full service restaurant and lounge with two levels of dining space. Americana will offer lunch, dinner, late night dining, weekend brunches and catering. [...]

Iowa Biotechnology Association awards five Iowa students scholarships

Kayla Craig — Fri, 06 May 2011 17:33:04 +0000

The Iowa Biotechnology Association recently awarded the IBA State Science and Technology Fair Scholarships to five Iowa high school students. The scholarships were awarded for exhibiting the best use of biotechnology at the State Science and Technology Fair of Iowa at Iowa State University in Ames. From left: Chase Gross, a sophomore at Solon High [...]

Get to know: Kristin Mains, assisted living sales counselor, Edgewater Senior Living Community, West Des Moines

Kayla Craig — Thu, 05 May 2011 21:12:49 +0000

Job description: I’m responsible for providing counsel to seniors and their families seeking the support of Edgewater’s full continuum of wellness, which includes Brookside Assisted Living and Beacon Springs Memory Support. I also educate the public about the community and services we offer. Background: I have more than 17 years of experience in developing, maintaining [...]

Get to know: Susan Hanson, owner and operator, Second-hand Rose Antiques, Des Moines

Kayla Craig — Thu, 05 May 2011 20:55:25 +0000

Job description: Many would simply say I’m the owner of an antique and vintage clothing store. But I view it as a much more personal mission. I’m sort of a matchmaker between an antique object that doesn’t have a home right now and someone who will treasure it. Background: I earned a doctorate in French [...]

Get to know: Sara Meiners, Therapist, Young Women’s Resource Center, Des Moines

Kayla Craig — Thu, 05 May 2011 20:44:31 +0000

Background: I have a master’s degree in mental health counseling from the University of Northern Iowa, where I provided counseling services to college students and worked as a support staff for children with disabilities. Notable achievements: I provide individual therapy and crisis intervention for young women ages 10-21. I also co-facilitate support groups for women [...]

Get to know: Janis Robinson, inspirational speaker and teacher, Robinson Equation, West Des Moines

Kayla Craig — Thu, 05 May 2011 20:13:29 +0000

Business description: Robinson Equation is a personal and professional development company that helps businesses and individuals with their optimization, transformation and stabilization tools for the growth of the company or individual. I teach people how to use the power of their minds. Background: I have 10 years of coaching experience in business and relationships along [...]

Get to know: Leilani McDonald, organizer, Order in the Fort, Altoona

Kayla Craig — Thu, 05 May 2011 19:58:12 +0000

Business description: Order in the Fort is a professional organizing service for homes and small businesses. I help people sort through and take control of all the paperwork and things that can clutter our living and working spaces and lead to stress and low productivity. I also assist people in organizing their belongings and space [...]

Restaurant industry leader retiring

Lynn Hicks — Wed, 20 Apr 2011 18:25:43 +0000

The longtime leader of the Iowa Restaurant Association plans to retire in June. Doni DeNucci, president and CEO, has led the group for more than 15 years. The association represents more than 5,500 restaurants and taverns. DeNucci has led the group through such changes as legislation that banned smoking and required bouncer training, as well [...]

Get to know: Donna Loney, director of sales for Freedom Blend Coffee, Freedom for Youth Enterprises, Des Moines

Kayla Craig — Mon, 18 Apr 2011 19:30:50 +0000

Business description: We sell organic fair-trade coffee that comes from the same regions in Africa as many of the youth we serve at Freedom for Youth. We hire young men and women from our transitional housing program to package and label the coffee, providing not only jobs but also hope for their futures. My role [...]

Get to know: Don Brown, interior designer, stager and concierge, Don Brown Designs, Windsor Heights and Pleasant Hill

Kayla Craig — Fri, 15 Apr 2011 22:08:45 +0000

Business description: We stage homes for sale and have a full service crew who can do a complete makeover on a house in around two weeks. We provide rental furniture and accessories and oversee vacant homes for out-of-town owners for their convenience. Don Brown Designs is exclusively affiliated with Re/Max Real Estate Group. Background: I [...]

Get to know: Anna Terry, marketing and volunteer coordinator, Young Women’s Resource Center, Des Moines

Kayla Craig — Fri, 15 Apr 2011 21:59:10 +0000

Job description: I am responsible for implementing marketing strategies and increasing awareness of the Young Women’s Resource Center through social and local media. I am also in charge of recruiting, placing and managing volunteers at the center. Background: I earned my bachelor’s degree in sociology from Wheaton College. I’m working towards my master’s in interdisciplinary [...]