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Your weekly roundup of news and views impacting small businesses around the Corridor for Thursday, April 21, 2016.
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North Liberty first in line as Vito's expands
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Co-owners Brian Winders and Jordan Caviness
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Vito's on 42nd, the popular Italian-American cafe located in northeast Cedar Rapids for more than 25 years, will be coming to North Liberty this summer with Vito's on 965.
A renovation project for the restaurant will begin soon at 1295 Jordan St., the former location of Bobby's Live on 965. Business partners Brian Winders, Jordan Caviness and Doug Banowetz recently acquired the property for the first of what they hope to make a chain of Vito's cafes across Eastern Iowa.
"We hope to bring a quality option to an area of North Liberty that doesn't have a lot of dining options," Mr. Winders said.
The flagship Vito's at 4100 River Ridge Drive NE is known for having dishes in just about every category. The menu covers nearly 60 Italian and American items, including sandwiches, salads, pastas, burgers, pizzas, steaks, seafood, calzones and appetizers.
Vito's on 965 in North Liberty is likely to become a popular after-golf option, being a short distance from Quail Creek Golf Course. It will have a somewhat darker and more intimate feel than Vito's on 42nd, Mr. Winders said, with charcoal-colored walls, wood flooring, and brick and stone accents.
"It was okay as it was, but we wanted to rebrand it and make it our own," Mr. Caviness added.
Between 40-50 people will be hired for the Vito's on 965, which could open as early as June.
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MainStay Hotel & Suites unveils new brand in Coralville
A Minnesota hospitality company has opened the doors on its newly rebranded MainStay Hotel & Suites in Coralville.
The hotel, located at 2491 Holiday Road and formerly branded as the Suburban Extended Stay Hotel, began converting to a MainStay property last fall. Both flags are owned by Choice Hotels.
The property has been managed by LHR Hospitality Management of St. Paul, Minnesota since 2011, and won a Choice Hotels Gold Award in 2013 and 2014.
"We look forward to offering our guests an enhanced stay experience with a new look and continued exceptional levels of customer service," Doug Rohde, president and CEO of LHR Hospitality Management, stated in a press release. "LHR is excited to continue in the Coralville market with a fresh new look and outlook."
Amenities in the newly renovated hotel include suites with separate working and living areas, a fully equipped kitchen, an onsite laundry room, a marketplace and free high-speed Internet.
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First Iowa chapter of Pipeline Angels forming in Corridor
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Natalia Oberti Noguera
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The Iowa Startup Accelerator and Iowa Women Lead Change (IWLC) are teaming up to form a female investor group in conjunction with Pipeline Angels founder Natalia Oberti Noguera.
During her April 26 visit to Cedar Rapids for the IWLC Women's Leadership Conference at the DoubleTree by Hilton Cedar Rapids Convention Center, Ms. Oberti Noguera will meet with accredited female investors to launch the Pipeline Angels program in Cedar Rapids. This will be the first Pipeline Angels chapter in Iowa.
Pipeline Angels is a network of new and seasoned women investors that is creating capital for women social entrepreneurs. It holds a signature bootcamp for new investors and a pitch summit for startups seeking funding.
More than 180 women have graduated from its investing bootcamp and more than 20 companies have secured Pipeline Angels funding. More than $1.7 million has been invested in women-led, for-profit social ventures via its pitch summit process.
The Iowa Startup Accelerator and IWLC have partnered on initiatives focused on engaging and encouraging female entrepreneurs in Iowa, and share a goal of having a thriving and active investor network interested in women-led companies. Their other efforts include formation of the Women's Entrepreneurship (WE) Collaboration Council, a coalition of organizations meeting quarterly to promote and create resources for Iowa's female entrepreneurs.
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Free business startup session offered May 3 in Coralville
Nate Kaeding, local entrepreneur and retail development director with the Iowa City Downtown District, will lead a free 'Business Startup 101' session on May 3 in Coralville.
The two-hour event will include a discussion on insurance, startup finances and 'the future of accounting.' Lunch will be served from 11-11:30 a.m., with the formal program beginning at 11:30 and lasting until 1 p.m.
The session is free and open to the public, but registration is requested at the event website. It will be held May 3 at the Kirkwood Center for the Advancement of Laboratory Science (CALS), located at the State Hygienic Lab at 2490 Crosspark Road, Coralville.
The Business Startup 101 series is presented by AW Welt Ambrisco Insurance, MidWestOne Bank and RSM.
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Uptown Marion offers business sign, awning grant program
Uptown Marion Main Street is sponsoring a new business signage and awning grant program intended to stimulate improvements to buildings in the Uptown Marion District.
Owners and tenants of existing commercial buildings within the district are eligible for up to $1,000 in funds, which require a 1:1 match. One grant will be awarded per business, and will be distributed to recipients on a reimbursement basis. Funding is limited, and will be granted on a first-come, first-serve basis.
Businesses interested in applying are strongly encouraged to contact Uptown Marion Main Street prior to beginning any work to make sure funds are still available.
Full details and application guidelines are available at the Uptown Marion website. For more information, contact Ashley Zierath at (319) 743-4726 or [email protected].
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Consulting: Finding your voice will make a difference in outcomes
In this week's consulting spotlight, CBJ columnist Gale Mote explains how developing a personal message and outlook can make a difference in your business:
Over the years, I believe I have found my voice. Not a singing voice (which I only do in the shower) but a message others respect, value and want to hear.
To be engaged in your work, it is important to be an active participant, to believe you are making a contribution and that your work matters. Your voice plays an important role in the process. Building commitment requires that people's opinions and ideas are heard, considered and understood.
While it is important to be professional, confident, organized and thoughtful when you speak, I would like to share what I believe has been instrumental for me in developing my voice.
First, there is passion. Authenticity comes from the heart - when you speak in a way that aligns with what matters most - it can't help but be influential and inspiring. For example, I believe that teamwork is foundational for all business success. High performance organizations create cultures of collaboration, inclusiveness, diversity and camaraderie to create and sustain positive results.
Next is competence. We have too many people these days spouting off about things they really don't know anything about. I spend a lot of my time with front-line manufacturing management. Prior to starting my own training business, I spent a number of years on the shop floor as a team member and a leader. Not only can I relate to what happens daily in their worlds, I have experience about what works and what doesn't. Your voice will resonate when people feel the connection and know you truly care about their needs and concerns.
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From around the web:
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Entrepreneur counts down the six best advertising strategies for small businesses.
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- A new study suggests that the end of tipping could actually hurt servers, Eater reports.
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Corridor Stocks
| NAME |
SYM |
PRICE |
CHG |
%CHG |
| AEGON |
AEG |
6.05 |
0.13 |
2.20% |
| Alliant Energy |
LNT |
68.78 |
-2.12 |
-2.99% |
| Deere & Company |
DE |
82.80 |
-1.46 |
-1.73% |
| Dow Jones |
^DJI |
17,982.52 |
-113.75 |
-0.63% |
| General Mills |
GIS |
60.12 |
-1.52 |
-2.47% |
| GoDaddy Inc. |
GDDY |
30.21 |
-0.79 |
-2.55% |
| Great Western Bank |
GWB |
29.42 |
-0.32 |
-1.08% |
| Heartland Express |
HTLD |
17.22 |
-0.60 |
-3.37% |
| ITC Holdings |
ITC |
42.71 |
-0.49 |
-1.13% |
| KemPharm |
KMPH |
18.53 |
0.54 |
3.00% |
| Marsh & McLennan |
MMC |
62.25 |
-0.72 |
-1.14% |
| MidWestOne |
MOFG |
26.92 |
-0.08 |
-0.30% |
| Pearson |
PSO |
11.88 |
-0.18 |
-1.49% |
| Pepsico |
PEP |
100.99 |
-1.45 |
-1.42% |
| Principal Financial |
PFG |
43.30 |
-0.02 |
-0.05% |
| QCR Holdings |
QCRH |
24.98 |
0.46 |
1.88% |
| Rockwell Collins |
COL |
89.12 |
-4.87 |
-5.18% |
| S&P 500 |
^GSPC |
2,091.48 |
-10.92 |
-0.52% |
| Tanger Factory |
SKT |
35.82 |
-1.17 |
-3.16% |
| Procter & Gamble |
PG |
80.80 |
-0.75 |
-0.92% |
| United Fire Group |
UFCS |
44.58 |
-0.66 |
-1.46% |
| U.S. Bank |
USB |
42.56 |
-0.17 |
-0.40% |
| Wells Fargo |
WFC |
50.05 |
-0.40 |
-0.79% |
| West Bank |
WTBA |
18.44 |
-0.01 |
-0.05% |
| Whirlpool |
WHR |
187.45 |
-1.01 |
-0.54% |
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Short-Term Event Planner
April 21
BizMix - Giving Tree Theater, by the Cedar Rapids Metro Economic Alliance, 4-6 p.m., Giving Tree Theater, 752 10th St., Marion. BizMix is an evening opportunity to get to know the business community while enjoying complementary hors d'oeuvres and cocktails. No reservations required. For more information, call (319) 398-5317 or email
[email protected].
Spring Corridor Career Fair, by CorridorCareers.com, 4-7 p.m., Cedar Rapids Marriott, 1200 Collins Rd. NE, Cedar Rapids. The career fair presents the chance for job seekers to speak with employers throughout Eastern Iowa in a face-to-face environment. Free for attendees. To register as an individual, visit
bit.ly/1Q3rGdI. Employers interested in having representation at the event should email
[email protected].
April 23
Hardacre Century Celebration, by the Hardacre Theater Preservation Association, 7 p.m., Matthews Building at the Cedar County Fairgrounds, 1195 220th St., Tipton. The Hardacre Century Celebration will commemorate the theater's centennial with dueling pianos, heavy hors d'oeuvres, a silent auction, trivia, contests and door prizes. Tickets are $30 for standard seating and $40 for deluxe reserved seating. Tickets at the door will be $50, if available. Purchase tickets at
bit.ly/1qjPKUx, or by contacting the Hardacre Theater Preservation Association at (319) 325-3974.
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Headlines from CBS 2/FOX 28
T
hese news items are provided by CBS 2/FOX 28
A forensic psychiatrist called by the defense as an expert says that Alexander Kozak has multiple mental disorders that affected his decision making when he shot and killed Andrea Farrington. Dr. William Logan says that Alexander Kozak has borderline personality disorder, and intermittent explosive disorder, or IED. He says people with IED can take small events and blow them out of proportion.
In an interview with the DCI just hours after the shooting, Mr. Kozak told a special agent that a text from Ms. Farrington that said "fine, bye" set him off. Dr. Logan testified that IED can affect how someone views people, especially love interests or friendships. He called the relationship between Mr. Kozak and Ms. Farrington "casual," and said that the texts between the two didn't reflect reality, which in turn caused Mr. Kozak to snap.
T
hese news items are provided by CBS 2/FOX 28
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CBS 2 Chief Meteorologist Terry Swails'
Weather First Forecast
Our WeatherFIRST Forecast brings another cloudy day with a few scattered showers possible throughout. Clouds will keep temperatures in the low to mid-60s in the afternoon. Cloudy skies remain in the forecast tonight, with showers ending by the mid to late-evening. Lows tonight will dip to the mid- and upper 40s. Skies will clear by Friday and Saturday, and temperatures will climb to near and above 70.
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