MONDAY, DEC. 30, 2019 | IN THIS ISSUE

• Duane Smith voted 2019 Most Influential Leader
• Shive-Hattery acquires Indiana-based Epoch
• CID breaks passenger record in 2019
• Truck freight slowdown reported in November
• MediRevv helps school lunch programs fill gap
In the CBJ: TrueNorth's Duane Smith Most Influential
Duane Smith speaks with the authority of a business professor about concepts like structured entrepreneurialism, building a legacy company and the entrepreneurial ladder.

Yet, the CEO of TrueNorth Companies, voted this year’s Most Influential Leader, is at his best when he talks about developing the people around him.

“What gets me up before the alarm clock is to really help people embrace their vision, and then instill confidence in them to succeed,” the veteran insurance executive and entrepreneur says. “So, as long as I’m doing that, I’m energized, everybody around me is energized, and I’m making a difference and have a well-defined purpose.”

At his quarterly meetings with new employees, Mr. Smith hands out copies of a five-year personal and career planning guide. He expects every one of them to fill it out, because he believes everyone needs a goal and a plan.

TrueNorth’s corporate success is a reflection of those deeply held beliefs. The business was formed in 2001 in a merger of three local insurance agencies. Since then, it has grown from $9 million in revenue to about $86 million, and is closing in on a $1 billion sales goal.

That’s astonishing, partly because independent insurance agencies tend to be transient entities, rising on the talent of one or a handful of sales managers and agents, and just as often dissolving when the majority owner retires and sells their account books.

“Duane has had great vision, growing the agency and planning for smooth succession in an age when many don’t, and have to sell out to larger out-of-town agencies,” said longtime friend Randy Ramlo, president and CEO of UFG Insurance. “Duane has also spearheaded many acquisitions around the country, expanding the TrueNorth footprint.”

Loren Coppock was one of TrueNorth’s founders who helped pick Mr. Smith for the leadership post.

“We agreed on some common principles,” recalled Mr. Coppock, TrueNorth chairman. “Among the first of the decisions was that we thought a successful firm needed professional management, not just the part-time leadership our sales leaders could provide in their spare time.”

Mr. Smith was the easy choice for the job, having shown “uncommon insights on what it takes to build a successful company,” Mr. Coppock said. He gave up his own book of accounts, and, although the youngest of the owners, dug in for the job of creating a “legacy company” that would endure beyond the retirement of its founders.

“From the beginning, Duane’s sense of vision has been incredible,” Mr. Coppock said.

Read the full story at corridorbusiness.com.
Shive-Hattery acquires Indiana architecture firm
Kyle Copelin
Epoch, an 11-person architecture design firm located in South Bend, Indiana, has been acquired by Shive-Hattery.

In a news release, the companies said their integration will complement the design capabilities of both firms. Operating as Epoch, a Division of Shive-Hattery, the Indiana office will be able to provide a full suite of in-house design services including architecture, engineering, interior design and landscape architecture.
 
“Both of our organizations value being a trusted part of our communities and have an unwavering focus on earning and keeping long-term relationships with clients,” said Jim Lee, Shive-Hattery president, in a news release. “Epoch joining Shive-Hattery is an intentional step towards sustainable growth and demonstrates our commitment to providing comprehensive design solutions with the best talent.”
 
Epoch’s leadership and staff will continue with the firm for a seamless transition with no disruption to client relationships or projects, an important consideration for Epoch founder, Kyle Copelin.
 
“Creating the right client experience depends on having the right people in place. We have a solid foundation built upon our cultural fit with Shive-Hattery,” Mr. Copelin said in the release. “We can now expand our reach to better serve clients and create new opportunities for our designers.”

The acquisition will also expand the Indiana presence of Shive-Hattery, which has an office in Valparaiso. Earlier this year, Lincoln, Nebraska-based studio951 also joined with Shive-Hattery.
 
Shive-Hattery is a 425-person architecture and engineering firm with offices in Iowa, Illinois, Indiana and Nebraska. For more information, visit www.shive-hattery.com .

PHOTO KYLE COPELIN CREDIT SHIVE-HATTERY
CID breaks passenger record for third consecutive year
The Eastern Iowa Airport (CID) broke its annual passenger record for the third consecutive year in 2019.
 
The total passenger number in 2018 was 1.2 million. November set another monthly record, with 109,446 total passengers flying CID. That total is 8.2 percent higher than the number of passengers who used CID in November 2018. From January through November, CID’s passenger totals are up 11.0 percent over the same time period last year.
 
The record was already broken with two weeks remaining in the year. Passenger numbers beyond that date got a boost with two charters taking Iowa Hawkeye fans to the Holiday Bowl in San Diego. Those flights left Dec. 25 and Dec. 26.
 
In a news release, CID Director Marty Lenss said the growth continues to show the strength of the region’s economy.
 
“More people are flying for both business and leisure travel, and that happens when businesses are thriving,” he said, adding there are also more passengers because of the increased investment by CID’s airline partners. Allegiant began seasonal, nonstop service to Nashville (BNA) in May. Originally, scheduled through mid-August, the flight schedule was extended through mid-October based on demand. The Nashville flight returns Feb. 14. On Dec. 19, American Airlines had its inaugural departure out of CID to Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport (PHX). In addition, American added a third daily nonstop flight to Charlotte Douglas International Airport (CLT) on Dec. 18.
 
The other carriers that serve CID: Delta, Frontier and United, have all either extended schedules, added flights, or upgraded aircraft to larger planes. Looking ahead, overall capacity at CID (number of seats in the market) is up 18 percent in January, versus January 2019; and in February, capacity is up 25 percent over February 2019.
 
“Travelers are responding to the air service enhancements being offered at CID, as well as the customer experience services, such as valet and coat check,” Mr. Lenss said. “We’ve also heard many positive comments about the terminal modernization improvements from regional community members and first-time visitors.”
Trucking freight index shows largest drop since February 2017
The index used by the American Trucking Association (ATA) to track truck freight volumes in the United States fell 3.5% in November, its third decrease in four months.

The ATA's advanced seasonally adjusted (SA) For-Hire Truck Tonnage Index equaled 113.5 (2015=100) compared with 117.6 in October. The ATA's tonnage data is dominated by contract freight.

“It’s tough to sugar coat November’s reading,” ATA Chief Economist Bob Costello said in a news release. “It was the third decrease in the last four months and the index is down 7.2% since July. Additionally, November was the first month to see a year-over-year drop in the index since April 2017. While disappointing, it fits with the expected soft gross domestic product reading expected in the fourth quarter and reports of a soft fall freight season.”

Compared with November 2018, the SA index fell 2.1%, the first year-over-year decline since April 2017 and the largest drop since February of that year. The index is up 3.3% year-to-date compared with the same period last year.

The not seasonally adjusted index, which represents the change in tonnage actually hauled by the fleets before any seasonal adjustment, equaled 115 in November, 7.9% below the October level (124.8). In calculating the index, 100 represents 2015.

Trucking serves as a barometer of the U.S. economy, representing 70.2% of tonnage carried by all modes of domestic freight transportation, including manufactured and retail goods. Trucks hauled 10.77 billion tons of freight in 2017. Motor carriers collected $700.1 billion, or 79.3% of total revenue earned by all transport modes.
MediRevv employees step in to help school lunch programs
MediRevv, a national healthcare revenue cycle management headquartered in Coralville, has presented checks to several eastern Iowa schools totaling $6,250 in honor of its employees to cover a portion of outstanding school lunch balances.

Checks were presented in Eastern Iowa to:
  • Oxford Elementary, Clear Creek 
  • Mark Twain Elementary, Iowa City 
  • Mary Welsh Elementary, Williamsburg 
  • Mount Vernon Elementary, Mount Vernon 
  • North Cedar Elementary, Mechanicsville 
  • Olin Elementary, Olin 
  • Starmont Elementary, Arlington 
 
Over the course of a week, gifts totaling $15,000 were presented to different schools at their locations in Iowa City Scottsbluff, Nebraska, and Anaheim and Mission Hills, California. It was the third time MediRevv has sought to pay down lunch balances and is honored to continue the tradition. 
 
“We are passionate about giving to causes near and dear to MediRevver’s hearts,” said Human Resources Director and MediRevv Gives Committee Member Nicki Brick. “We’ve identified a need in our schools and are excited to make a difference.” 
 
These gifts were coordinated through MediRevv Gives which is a committee of passionate employees who together direct corporate giving at the company. They can be reached at  [email protected] . 
Short Term Event Planner
Jan. 8
1 Million Cups , by 1MC 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. Free. For more information, visit facebook.com/1MCICR .

1 Million Cups , by 1MC 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 facebook.com/1MillionCupsIC/ .

Jan. 9
Discover Your Company’s Core Values , by SCORE East Central Iowa, 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m., Hills Bank, 3905 Blairs Ferry Road NE, Cedar Rapids. Learn what a thriving, value-based culture looks like from within, the consequences of an unintentional culture and how culture exists whether you pay attention to it or not. Free. To register, visit conta.cc/35XESRq .

Courageous Leadership Club , by Jennifer Zach, 12:15-1:15 p.m., Dash Downtown, 509 Third St. SE, Cedar Rapids. The leadership club will meet from January to March, beginning Jan. 9. Learn how to create greater impact in your organization and enjoy professional fulfillment. Cost: $197. To register, visit bit.ly/2RxuVWV .

Profile by Sanford Ribbon Cutting , by Iowa City Area Chamber of Commerce, 4 p.m., Profile by Sanford, 1301 S. Gilbert St., Iowa City. For more information, call (319) 337-9637.

Jan. 14
Small Business Lunch Roundtable , by SCORE East Central Iowa, noon-1 p.m., Granite City Food & Brewery, 4755 First Ave. SE, Cedar Rapids. This networking opportunity offers a chance to share best practices and get help with business challenges. Free. To register, visit conta.cc/2DXJlHV .

Jan. 16
Learning Begins Development Center Ribbon Cutting , by Iowa City Area Chamber of Commerce, 4 p.m., Learning Begins Development Center, 740 Community Drive, North Liberty. For more information, visit bit.ly/2r0EJ0D .

BizMix , by Cedar Rapids Metro Economic Alliance and Marion Chamber of Commerce, 4-6 p.m., CountryHouse, 5710 Gibson Drive NE, Cedar Rapids. BizMix brings together area professionals for an evening of casual networking. Free. For more information, visit bit.ly/2rUJxFe .
Get in the know
Forward the FREE CBJ Business Daily newsletter to your friends and colleagues, and share the feeling of being informed! Use our fast, one-minute subscription to the CBJ's newsletters  here, or check out our other subscription options  here. 

See something we missed? Send tips, leads, corrections, etc. to  [email protected].
Headlines from CBS2/FOX 28
These news items are provided by CBS2/FOX 28  
 
A Corridor woman wants to start the New Year by helping the homeless population in Cedar Rapids. Her inspiration for this idea started with an unusual friendship earlier this month. Ely resident Desiree Emrich works in downtown Cedar Rapids and for months she would see the same elderly woman walking the streets with plastic bags in her hands. In early December, Ms. Emrich decided she was going to find out more about this woman. Little did she know the conversation between the two of them would inspire her to create the event,  Humanizing the Homeless in 2020. "I was inspired to ask for help for her and that turned into tons of donations," said Ms. Emrich. Within a day, Ms. Emrich received more than $100 in donations for Marie, people also offering coats, gloves and scarves. "She was very excited, very thankful and kept saying 'God Bless You' so it was very special," explained Ms. Emrich. Talking with Marie opened up Emrich's eyes to the stigma surrounding homeless people. Just two weeks before the New Year, Ms. Emrich and her family began pulling together the event, Humanizing the Homeless in 2020. "We are accepting tons of donations trying to get as many people involved, not only to help give back to the homeless but also to speak to them and understand a little bit more about their story and just seeing them as the humans they are rather than the stereotype that many people may have," said Ms. Emrich. The event will take place at 12:30 p.m. Wednesday at Greene Square Park. The Cedar Rapids Police Department will help hand out items. If you would like to make a monetary donation for items to be purchased on your behalf, you can donate through Venmo: @Desiree-Emrich.

A Fayette County man is accused of firing a gun at another person following a bar fight on Sunday. The Fayette County Sheriff's Office says Wyatt Guyer, 25, of Elgin, is facing charges of attempted murder, intimidation with a dangerous weapon with intent, criminal mischief, assault with a firearm, and assault with intent to inflict serious injury. Investigators believe he got into a physical fight early Sunday morning at the Elgin Tap and later fired a gun at someone outside the bar. Sheriff's deputies performed a search warrant and arrest warrant at a home in Elgin. If convicted of all the charges he faces, Mr. Guyer could face up to 49 years in prison. He's being held in Fayette County Jail on $25,000 bond .

These news items are provided by CBS2/FOX 28  
CBS2 Weather First Forecast
Winter returns today and it will be cloudy, windy, cold, and snowy. Temperatures will be in the low to mid 30s. The storm that moved through this weekend is continuing to pull away and will lead to strong winds and snow showers rotating through the area today. Snow will be most likely in the afternoon and evening and may reduce visibility at times, especially when accompanied by the strong winds. Winds may gust as high as 20 to 30 mph. Snowfall accumulation will be greatest in the far northeast, with 2-3" possible, to the south toward Highway 20 around 1-2" of accumulation, and under an inch to the south of Highway 20.