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TUESDAY, JAN. 15, 2019 | IN THIS ISSUE
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Mercy Iowa City's affiliation partner, Mercy Health Network (MHN), announced on Monday that it will become MercyOne on Feb. 1.
The system will unify its statewide footprint by implementing a strategic brand initiative to connect its many points of care across the state and surrounding regions, which in turn should help consumers navigate its network of services. Currently, MHN's system of hospitals and facilities are represented by dozens of different brand names, logos and messages.
"Over the past 20 years, Mercy Health Network has grown significantly, expanding our network of locations, clinical capabilities, services and geographic reach," Bob Ritz, MHN president and CEO, said in a release. "This is a key step in progressing from an individual location to a more visible, integrated health system working together to provide statewide access and expertise."
The new name, MercyOne, was selected after a 18-month external review and selection process. It "acknolwedges our history and carries on our legacy, which is grounded in faith," Mr. Ritz added.
The Mercy Iowa City name will not change as a result of the system's rebranding. However, MHN's wholly owned hospitals and care sites will adopt the MercyOne name, logo and brand identity, which will be formally unveiled on Feb. 1.
"We are pleased by the steps Mercy Health Network is taking to unify its approach to promoting its services," said Sean Williams, president and CEO of Mercy Iowa City. "While there will be no major changes to Mercy Iowa City, we look forward to the many benefits and resources available through our continued partnership with this unified Mercy health system in Iowa, with the shared values and mission for caring for patients in southeast Iowa and across the state."
The MHN system consists of more than 43 owned, joint venture and affiliated medical centers and hospital campuses, along with more than 230 primary care clinics and other health facilities, generating more than $3 billion in revenue and employing more than 20,000 people.
Mr. Williams will be one of several hospital CEOs participating in the CBJ's Health Care Summit, set for Feb. 8. Learn more and register here.
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Corridor tax professionals are growing more worried by the day that the ongoing government shutdown will hamper their ability to best apply last year's tax code changes for business owners.
The federal government traditionally halts processing returns in shutdown periods, and has had to delay refunds during previous closures, most recently in 2013. But on Jan. 7, White House officials told reporters the Internal Revenue Service will recall some of its near 70,000 workers to
process returns starting Jan. 28, despite a top House Democrat calling that move illegal.
The shutdown, now the longest in American history, has yet to show any signs of ending due to a political stalemate between President Donald Trump and Congressional Democrats over Mr. Trump's demand for $5 billion to build a wall on the U.S.-Mexico border. Mr. Trump reportedly
walked out of a meeting with congressional leaders on Jan. 9 after Democrats refused to negotiate, later tweeting later tweeting that the meeting was a
"total waste of time."
Tax professionals contacted by the CBJ believe most people will be able to file simple individual returns, like the Form 1040, without much issue on Jan. 28. However, they fear this year's tax season will cause more headaches than usual for businesses, due to key changes made by the sweeping federal tax law enacted last December.
Kim Vine, a partner with accounting firm Terry, Lockridge & Dunn in Cedar Rapids, said she wasn't expecting to receive much direct guidance from the IRS in how to apply the new tax law, and that she was planning to make interpretations from formal rule proposals made by the agency in December.
Because IRS employees tasked with writing those rules aren't working right now, accountants won't receive guidance until later than they planned.
One of those rules includes a clarification on how to calculate depreciation for updates to commercial or rental properties, which could dramatically affect the owner's tax bill.
"Those were some of the biggest items that accountants were waiting for ... that we were hoping to get in December, but they're not writing regs right now," Ms. Vine said.
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 Vinton hospital to affiliate with UnityPoint Health - Cedar Rapids
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From left: Ted Townsend, retired president and CEO, UnityPoint Health - Cedar Rapids; Michelle Niermann, president and CEO, UnityPoint Health - Cedar Rapids; Bill Prowell, board chair, UnityPoint Health - Cedar Rapids; Mark Mossman, Virginia Gay Hospital board chair; Michelle Schoonover, incoming CEO; and Mike Riege, CEO Virginia Gay Hospital. PHOTO UNITYPOINT HEALTH
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Virginia Gay Hospital in Vinton will join UnityPoint Health - Cedar Rapids as an affiliate effective May 1.
After months of evaluation, the Virginia Gay Hospital board and senior staff elected to end its affiliation with University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics and selected UnityPoint Health - Cedar Rapids as its new affiliation partner, officials said in a release.
Critical access hospitals like Virginia Gay are required to maintain an affiliation with a larger health system that can provide enhanced access to expertise and medical specialists.
The formal affiliation between both entities does not involve any sale or exchange of assets, and will allow both organizations to maintain local governance through a local board of directors.
"We are committed to providing the best health care possible for all of our patients," Mike Riege, Virginia Gay Hospital administrator, said in a release. "As the health care industry has evolved and changed, so has the need for a tighter affiliation with a well-respected health system. This new affiliation agreement with UnityPoint Health - Cedar Rapids allows us to be better prepared to meet the challenges of the future and will strengthen our position as a community hospital. We look forward to working closely together."
UnityPoint Health - Cedar Rapids is a regional, integrated health care system serving Eastern Iowa. It is an affiliate of UnityPoint Health, which is the 13th largest nonprofit health system and the fourth largest nondenominational health system in America.
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The Corridor Business Journal (CBJ) is taking nominations for its 2019 class of Women of Influence. Honorees will be recognized at an April 4 awards banquet and profiled in the April 8 issue of the weekly CBJ.
Each year, 10 women are recognized for making a difference in the Corridor as role models and leaders in their fields and communities. Any woman living or working in the Corridor is eligible. Honorees are selected by the previous year's Women of Influence, including:
- Kim Bergen-Jackson, administrator of Oaknoll Retirement Residence
- Angie Charipar, assistant to the city manager of City of Cedar Rapids
- Kim Downs, city administrator of City of Hiawatha
- Mary Ferentz, volunteer and philanthropist
- Brooke Fitzgerald, owner of The Early Bird Coffee Shop
- Janet Godwin, chief operating officer of ACT Inc.
- Lena Hill, former associate professor of English and African American studies and senior associate to the president of the University of Iowa
- Mary Ann Osborn, chief nurse executive of UnityPoint Health
- Jenny Schulz, attorney and executive director of Kids First Law Center
- Phoebe Trepp, executive director of Willis Dady Emergency Shelter
The 15th-annual Women of Influence awards banquet will be held from 5-8 p.m. April 4 at the DoubleTree by Hilton Cedar Rapids Convention Complex. Honorees will have the opportunity to share their stories at the event.
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John Hall will succeed Mr. Klein as executive vice president and chief lending officer, effective Jan. 28. He is rejoining CRBT after serving as CFO for Hawkeye Hotels, based in Corallvile.
"Today's organizational announcement is a natural progression in CRBT's growth," Mr. Helling said in a release. "We have a strong leadership team in place ready to support James through this transition. His ability to connect vision, people and ideas to drive results makes us confident that James is the right person to build upon CRBT's strong position."
Mr. Klein, a native of Cedar Rapids, has been with CRBT for 14 years. He was previously executive vice president and chief lending officer of commercial banking, and has held several other key leadership roles throughout his 25-year banking career. Mr. Klein will further concentrate on CRBT's business development goals and assume daily operational duties in his role as president.
Mr. Klein currently serves as board chair for the United Way of East Central Iowa, and is a board member with Theatre Cedar Rapids, Kid's First Iowa, Daybreak Rotary and Czech Village-New Bohemia Main Street. He is also a member of the Cedar Rapids Metro Economic Alliance Community Development Council and the Capacity Committee of the Greater Cedar Rapids Community Foundation. He received his bachelor's and MBA from the University of Iowa.
Mr. Helling will continue to work closely with Mr. Klein on longer-term strategic initiatives for CRBT in his role as CEO. Mr. Helling has served as president and CEO since co-founding the company in 2001 with three other local bankers.
As CFO for Hawkeye Hotels, Mr. Hall led the company's national acquisition and disposition strategy and managed its loan portfolio. Prior to that, Mr. Hall was at CRBT for nine years, where he moved up the ranks to manage a large portion of the bank's middle-market commercial portfolio. A native of Charles City, Mr. Hall received his bachelor's degree in finance from Central College.
"John brings a wealth of experience, which uniquely qualifies him to lead the CRBT lending team," Mr. Klein said in a release. "We are excited to welcome him back into the CRBT family, and look forward to the next chapter as we strive to increase value for our employees, clients, shareholders and community."
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Jan. 15
New Member Mixer, by Cedar Rapids Metro Economic Alliance, 4-5:30 p.m., WineStyles Tasting Station, 4201 42nd St. NE, Ste. 170, Cedar Rapids. Meet and mingle with new members of the Economic Alliance in a casual environment. Free. For more information visit bit.ly/2BOwMyo.
Jan. 16
1 Million Cups, by 1 Million Cups Cedar Rapids, 8:15-9:15 a.m., Geonetric, 415 12th Ave. SE, Cedar Rapids. Join for community connections, free coffee, and presentations by entrepreneurs, established companies, experts and more. The featured presenter will be Britton Langdon, president of FabPro. Free. For more information, visit
facebook.com/1MCICR.
1 Million Cups, by 1 Million Cups Iowa City, 9-10 a.m., MERGE, 136 S. Dubuque St., Iowa City. Join for community connections, free coffee, and presentations by entrepreneurs, established companies, experts and more. Free. For more information, visit
1millioncups.com/iowacity.
Economic Forecast Luncheon, by the Corridor Business Journal, 11:30 a.m.-1:15 p.m., DoubleTree by Hilton Cedar Rapids Convention Complex, 350 First Ave. NE, Cedar Rapids. Don't miss the Midwest's largest economic forecast luncheon, featuring a keynote by David Berson, senior vice president and chief economist of Nationwide. Following Mr. Berson's keynote, Jack Evans, chairman of the Hall-Perrine Foundation, will moderate a panel of regional business leaders on the biggest opportunities and challenges they see facing the Corridor. Tickets: $70. For more information or to register, visit
corridorbusiness.com/events.
U.S. International Tax: Structuring Opportunities and Pitfalls, by International Traders of Iowa, 11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m., Cedar Rapids Metro Economic Alliance, 501 First St. SE, Cedar Rapids. James Loizeaux of CliftonLarsonAllen LLP will discuss key U.S. international tax and planning impacts of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act legislation. Cost: Free for members, $12 for nonmembers, $5 for students. To register, visit bit.ly/2QFOKvZ.
North Liberty Roundtable, by Iowa City Area Chamber of Commerce, noon-1 p.m., Rocky O'Brien's Public House, 720 Pacha Parkway, Ste. 8, North Liberty. Roundtables are social lunches over the noon hour. All are invited to network, keep up-to-date with chamber and community events and frequent a member restaurant or business. Free. Contact Emily at (319) 337-9637 or
[email protected] with questions.
Jan. 17
Creating Accountability and Productivity in the Workplace, by Cedar Rapids Metro Economic Alliance, 8-9:15 a.m., Economic Alliance, 501 First St. SE, Cedar Rapids. Shannon Beck of Endless Ocean Coaching will discuss unproductive leadership patterns, and how responsibility, empowerment and new emotional responses can positively impact the workplace. Free. To register, visit bit.ly/2SX6RtP.
Loft Startup Exchange Meetup, by MEDCO, 8:30-9:30 a.m., Loft Coworking, 700 11th St., Ste. 201, Marion. Meet with other entrepreneurs and innovators in the Marion community. Free.
Tax Law Changes for Small Business, by SCORE of East Central Iowa, 6:30-8 p.m., Linn Area Credit Union, 3375 Seventh Ave., Marion. Learn about small business tax breaks, deductions and how they can help your small business. Free. To register, visit scorecr.org.
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Headlines from CBS2/FOX 28
These news items are provided by CBS2/FOX 28
Cities across the Corridor are cracking down on illegal massage businesses to try and weed out human trafficking within the parlors. Iowa City's new ordinance, enacted fall 2018, is already being put to work. Investigators in the city worked to create a list of seven massage parlors that either received complaints or were featured on an elicit massage parlor review website. Last month, city staff stopped at those locations, requiring them to fill a business information form, asking for employee names and proof of licensed massage therapists. Four of those businesses failed to comply, receiving violation notices. They have until Jan. 24 to respond, and it will be up to the city to decide what happens to these businesses. "If they had suspicion of criminal activity, they'd make a referral to the police department, then we'd open an investigation," said Police Sergeant Jorey Bailey. The city attorney told CBS2 the city does not have a definitive answer as to what will happen next. She said it depends on how much information they receive from these businesses.
New benches in the Iowa City Pedestrian Mall are raising concerns from more than people battling homelessness, like Peggy Aguilar.
"I would've very easily been a person that would've been on the benches and would've been homeless," said Ms. Aguilar, who was
one of the dozens who protested on Monday, advocating for replacing the new benches. She says the old benches provided a sense of stability for not only the homeless, but for people who suffer from health conditions like she does after having a stroke several years ago.
"I was able to lay down there for about 20 minutes and get my bearing again," she said.
Ms. Aguilar says she and others now have limited options. The middle arm rests make it hard for people to lay down on the benches. It's an issue Iowa City Catholic Worker House members say they believe was planned by city leaders, citing a
comment
from then-city council member Jim Throgmorton at a work session in 2013, suggesting the idea of adding a middle rail to "deal with the sleeping on benches challenge." Mr.
Throgmorton says the comment is being taken out of context.
"That was a work session discussion that occurred on Aug. 20, 2013. It was about a proposed ordinance that had to do with behaviors in the Ped Mall in a certain context. Context matters," said the mayor, who spoke with some people at the protest on Monday. He
tells CBS2/FOX28 News city leaders should be receiving estimates on how much it would cost if they decided to replace or change some of the benches. He expects to have those numbers by next Tuesday's council meeting.
T
hese news items are provided by CBS2/FOX 28
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CBS2 Chief Meteorologist Terry Swails' Weather First Forecast
After a chance for freezing drizzle this morning, near-normal temperatures will continue through the week. A active weather pattern continues with a chance for snow Thursday and a more potent snow system targeting the area this weekend. Skie
s will remain mostly cloudy on Wednesday and Thursday with high temperatures in the 20s. A weak system could produce a light snow showers early Thursday morning, however confidence on where this system tracks is sub-par. There could be light accumulations, especially south of Highway 20, that could create a few slick spots for the Thursday morning commute.
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