MONDAY, JUNE 11, 2018  |  IN THIS ISSUE  
Bywater named first third-generation ABI chair
 
David Bywater
David Bywater,  of Bankers Advertising Co./Tru Art in Iowa City, has been named chair of Iowa Association of Business and Industry, marking the first time a third-generation family member will chair the organization.
 
ABI, the state's largest business networking organization,  which bills itself as the "Voice of Iowa Business since 1903," named Mr. Bywater to the post at its 115th annual convention at the Coralville Marriott last week. 
 
Mr. Bywater is a longtime ABI board member and a well-known Iowa business leader. He is president of Bankers Advertising and Tru Art, a company founded 122 years ago as Economy Advertising Company. 
 
Mr. Bywater's great great grandfather, Samuel Wakefield Mercer, served as chair of the organization - then known as the Iowa Manufacturer's Association - in 1907. His father, Bill Bywater, also of Bankers Advertising/Tru Art, served as chair in 1995.   
 
David Hildahl, ABI c ommunications coordinator, said in an email that Mr. Bywater would formally take up his post July 1 when the organization begins its new fiscal year. In remarks at the conference, Mr. Bywater said he would be actively "building on the best" during his tenure.
 
Other new officers elected at last week's convention included Vice Chair John Krogman, of Connect-A-Dock in Atlantic; Treasurer  Steven Bradford of HNI Corporation in Muscatine; and Secretary  Michael Sadler of CenturyLink in Des Moines.
 
In a letter to members, ABI President Mike Ralston said he looked forward to working with the team of new officers and directors, and praised last week's "record-setting, fabulous crowd, local hospitality, exciting venues, nationally-known speakers and terrific events." Look for a recap of the convention's two Wednesday keynotes in this week's edition of the CBJ. 
Story2CBS2/FOX 28's Sanborn announces retirement on air
 
CBS2/FOX 28 anchor Scott Sanborn gave his final news broadcast last Thursday. Watch the video here 
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Scott Sanborn, a 30-year broadcasting veteran who served as anchor at KGAN CBS 2 and KFXA FOX 28 for six years, signed off for the final time on June 7. 

Mr. Sanborn announced his retirement on air late last week, saying he'd been thinking about the decision for "quite a while."

"There comes a time, as they say, to fish or cut bait," he told viewers in his final broadcast. "It's that time and I know it's the right time."

Mr. Sanborn said he was proud of his body of work, but felt certain the young, talented staff at the station would continue to maintain the station's standard of excellence. Calling it "a cliche" that nevertheless was true, he said he planned to spend time with family, travel and "contemplate the emerging opportunities that will write my next chapter."

According to his LinkedIn page, Mr. Sanborn began his career at WTVX-TV in West Palm Beach before moving on to KPLR in St. Louis. His career in the Corridor began at KCRG in 1992, where he served as anchor/reporter and managing editor of the morning news until 2008. He held several other positions, including director of community development for the city of Tipton, before joining CBS2/FOX 28 in 2012.

CBS2/FOX 28 News Director Becky Lutgen Gardner said Mr. Sanborn has left large shoes to fill. While the station has not yet determined who will replace Mr. Sanborn, she said the search is on as of this morning.
 
"We're going to be working hard to find the best fit for the station," she said. "We want to make sure that we find the person who understands  our audience and understands everything Eastern Iowa has to offer."
 
Watch Mr. Sanborn's final "Created in the Corridor" segment on  Curt Nelson, f ounder and president of the Entrepreneurial Development Center, here.
STORY3IC airport adds viewing area to mark its 100th birthday 
 
The Iowa City Municipal Airport spent the weekend celebrating its 100th birthday with three days of history, flights and entertainment - and the addition of a new viewing area for families to enjoy a better view of the planes.

For many of the guests celebrating at the airport, CBS2/FOX 28 reported, it wasn't their first trip to airfield. Some told the station about fond childhood memories of spending days out by the airport, watching planes come and go. It's those memories the staff at the airport are hoping to recapture as they prepare to unveil their gift to the community.

"It's going to be a little park shelter area. It will have some playground equipment and a raised platform where folks can see out into the airfield," said Mike Tharp, airport operations specialist for the Iowa City Municipal Airport.

The facility used to see a lot of spectators when it first opened, but it soon transitioned from a commercial airport to a general aviation airport in 1972. It now generates $11.2 million a year.
 
"We're being used by business leaders, owners, folks coming in and out," explained Mr. Tharp.

Read the full story and watch the video here.
Story4ISU's Linn County Extension reaches out to farmland leasers

With recent Iowa State University survey results suggesting that 55 percent of Iowa's farmland is rented, mostly by cash rent arrangement, the Linn County Extension office will host an informational meeting aimed at helping tenant operators remain profitable in uncertain times.
 
The meeting, set for Aug. 22 at the Linn County Extension office at 383 Collins Road NE in Cedar Rapids, will be facilitated by Ryan Drollette, farm and agriculture business management specialist with ISU Extension and Outreach.
 
According to extension officials, the average 2018 cash rental rates have stabilized at $222 per tillable acre after a decline of nearly 19 percent from the 2013 peak. They say determining a fair cash rental rate for 2019 could prove challenging as tenant operators face uncertain farm profitability. 
 
Emphasis will be placed on the results of recent surveys on Iowa farmland ownership and tenure, 2018 Iowa cash rental rates, land values, implementing cover crops in lease agreements and legal aspects affecting farmland leasing and ownership. 
 
Pre-registration is required at least two days before the meeting and a $25 per individual fee is payable at the door. Participants will receive a booklet and meeting handouts designed to assist landowners, tenants and other agri-business professionals with issues related to farmland ownership, management and leasing arrangements.
 
Contact the Linn County Extension office at (319) 377-9839 with questions or to pre-register.
Story5IWD honored for research on college student retention
 
 
The division will receive the Applied Research Award from the  Council  for its report,  Retaining Iowa's Talent: Post-Graduation Location & Employment Plans , published in the fall of 2017. IWD was the only organization recognized in this category. 
 
"The Labor Market Information Bureau of Iowa Workforce Development is second to none and has been working very hard the past few years to provide timely, accurate and meaningful information in support of our partners including the Iowa Economic Development Authority, Department of Education and Future Ready Iowa," IWD Director Beth Townsend said in a statement.

"We are appreciative of the recognition from C2ER because the staff of the bureau are certainly deserving of such public recognition for their superior work. The Labor Market Information Bureau is committed to providing quality, data-driven analysis and information that assists business and industry and economic developers around the state continue to grow Iowa's economy growth."  
 
Labor Market Economists Katie Lippold and Dana Barrer were lead researchers on the report,  based on online surveys distributed to college students across the state. More than 8,600 students responded to the survey, representing 35 community colleges, state universities, private institutions and career/technical schools across the state. 
 
Forty-six percent of the students who responded said they are likely to stay in Iowa following graduation or upon program completion. Of those who are planning to remain an Iowan, 47.7 percent expect a starting wage of $22.75 per hour, or $47,320 per year or higher.
 
More than one-fourth, or 26.7 percent, of students report they are likely to leave Iowa following graduation or upon program completion; slightly over 50 percent of those students are from Iowa. 
 
June 11
Iowa Inventors Group Meeting, by IIG, 7 p.m., Community Savings Bank, 101 Robins Square Court, Robins. Brian Fried, president of Inventor Smart, will share his experiences bringing his inventions to retail. Free. For more information, visit iowainvestorsgroup.org

June 12
Don't Ask About This!, by Eastern Iowa Human Research Association, 7:30-9 a.m., The Hotel at Kirkwood Center, 7725 Kirkwood Blvd. SW, Cedar Rapids. This membership meeting will feature Amy Reasoner of Lynch Dallas. Free for members, $15 for non-members. For more information, visit bit.ly/2kn1oNK.

TechBrew AM, by Technology Association of Iowa and Cedar Rapids Metro Economic Alliance, 8-9 a.m., Economic Alliance, 501 First St. SE, Cedar Rapids. TAI President Brian Waller will conduct a casual interview with a local executive as part of this informal networking event. Free. Register at technologyiowa.org/events.

It's More Than the Money, by Association of Fundraising Professionals Eastern Iowa Chapter, 1 p.m., Hills Bank & Trust, 590 W. Forevergreen Road, North Liberty. Developing successful, long-term relationships in fundraising requires more than just a financial gift. Chuck Swanson, executive director of Hancher Auditorium, will share stories on the facility's design and reopening, and his strategies for the future. Free for members, $25 for non-members. Register at conta.cc/2J1iVpk.

Ribbon Cutting: Iowa Recovery Room, by Iowa City Area Chamber of Commerce, 4 p.m., 1509 Mall Drive, Ste. 1, Iowa City. Help welcome Iowa Recovery Room to the Iowa City business community. Free. For more information, visit bit.ly/2JlSiyS.
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Headlines from CBS2/FOX 28
These news items are provided by CBS2/FOX 28  
 
There are now just under seven weeks until the great bicycle ride across the Iowa. This week, 60 riders, including RAGBRAI organizers and city officials, are testing every mile of the road in preparation of the big day. On Friday, those riders made their way to the overnight town of Iowa City, which has not been an overnight stop in 42 years. As the wheels turned, riders thought about how they could ensure the big ride will be a smooth one for every biker. "The number one goal is to keep people safe," said RAGBRAI Director TJ Juskiewicz. "We're just looking for some hazards riders might encounter." Mr. Juskiewicz said navigating the trail to the overnight stop in Iowa City should not be a big challenge. Yet, testing the route this week was also an opportunity to put each city's security and layout to the test. "Iowa City has been a pass-through town, but never an overnight town in the time that I've worked with Iowa City, so the dynamics, the logistic from an operations point are a little bit different," said Iowa City Police Captain Troy Kelsay.
 
A tour this Saturday around downtown Cedar Rapids will offer a rare look inside historical buildings and sites in Cedar Rapids that have made remarkable comebacks after the 2008 flood. To mark the 10th anniversary of the epic flood, Save CR Heritage, in partnership with the city of Cedar Rapids and the Czech Village/New Bohemia Main Street District, is hosting CR Resurgence, a free tour of seven sites, followed by a social hour at an eighth location. The tour will highlight sites that not only survived the flood, but thrived, with some completely repurposed. The event will be held from 2-5:30 p.m., starting at the Mott Lofts. 

T hese news items are provided by CBS2/FOX 28 
CBS2 Chief Meteorologist Terry Swails' Weather First Forecast

Clouds from thunderstorms to the west will stick around for a good portion of Monday. There may be a few breaks in the clouds in the afternoon, and temperatures will be kept near normal today.  Tonight, a broken line of showers and storms will approach from the west mainly after 9 p.m. The severe threat with this activity is low, if not zero. By the time storms reach eastern Iowa they will be in a decaying state. Calm weather returns Tuesday and Wednesday with highs near normal in the low 80s.