TUESDAY, NOV. 13, 2018  |  IN THIS ISSUE  
 
The Roy J. Carver Charitable Trust has committed $12 million to fund "life changing research and discoveries" in the UI Department of Biomedical Engineering. CREDIT COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING
In what University of Iowa officials are calling a "transformational" grant, the Roy J. Carver Charitable Trust has committed $12 million to fund research and discoveries in the Department of Biomedical Engineering at the University of Iowa College of Engineering. 

UI officials said the grant will enable the department to build on its contributions to the field of pulmonary and respiratory biomedicine, finding solutions for the growing issues of lung disease and respiratory system disorders.

In honor of the grant and the Carver Charitable Trust's $15 million in total giving to the department - and pending approval from the Iowa Board of Regents - the department will be renamed the Roy J. Carver Department of Biomedical Engineering.

"The Carver Charitable Trust has demonstrated its unwavering commitment to elevating research that addresses the most pressing human health issues," UI President J. Bruce Harreld said in a release. "The Carver Charitable Trust's unequaled support of the University of Iowa furthers our leadership role in biomedical discovery. We are incredibly thankful for our partnership."

Troy Ross, executive administrator of the Carver Charitable Trust, said he was "confident that this gift will serve to accelerate ongoing research and graduate training, as well as attract new faculty investigators, all of which should lead to enhanced scientific understanding and effective care for those living with conditions affecting the airway."

According to the American Lung Association, lung disease is the third leading cause of death in the United States. Respiratory system disorders, which also pose a significant threat to human health, include asthma, bronchitis, cystic fibrosis, emphysema, lung cancer, idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, interstitial lung disease and pneumonia.

The state's Board of Regents is expected to vote on the renaming of the department at its Nov. 15 meeting. The UI Department of Biomedical Engineering currently has 618 enrolled students in undergraduate and graduate programs.

They take point on complex projects, delicate tasks and strategic initiatives, all the while building strong teams, volunteering in the community and serving as role models.
 
Those were some of the common bonds among the five honorees of the CBJ's C-Suite Awards, who were recognized at a Nov. 7 luncheon at the Cedar Rapids Marriott, presented by UFG Insurance with support from Marco and The Overture Group.
 
The event was a celebration of leadership, as each of the five winners discussed the strong team members who back them up, the family and friends who guided them, and advice that has shaped their careers.
 
Shari DeMaris, senior vice president and chief financial officer of Hills Bank & Trust, was honored for her leadership on projects big and small, from implementing a new Enterprise Risk Management System to straightening out customer service wrinkles in a new shareholder dividend reinvestment plan. She said having a strong, supportive team made her achievements possible.
 
"Any success I have is due to their hard work and dedication," Ms. DeMaris said in her acceptance remarks.
 
Ken Kremer, chief operating officer of Involta, has led his company's expansion into eight cities in five different states, overseeing site preparation and development of five data centers. He also spearheaded the company's emergency response to save its first data center from the Iowa floods of 2008, and guided the company's expansion into new areas, such as managed and cybersecurity services.
 
One of the first lessons Mr. Kremer learned in business was to find the smart people who knew what he didn't.
 
Read the full column and meet all five of this year's C-Suite Award winners in this week's print or digital editions of the CBJ.
 
Prospect Meadows Sports Complex is unveiling a new logo and donor wall as it prepares for  thousands of youth baseball and softball players to visit Linn County to participate in tournaments beginning next summer. 
 
Construction of the new complex at the intersection of Highway 13 and County Home Road in Marion is proceeding as scheduled and Prospect Meadows anticipates hosting the first tournament in the late spring or early summer of 2019.
 
"We are excited to roll out a new logo and a new look to signify that phase one of the project is rounding third and headed home," said Jack Roeder, general manager of Prospect Meadows, in a release. "We have immense community support and partnerships to thank for making our vision a reality."

While funds have been raised to assure the opening of Prospect Meadows in 2019, fundraising continues in order to complete amenities that will make the complex a one-of-a-kind experience in the Midwest. 

A donor wall, planned in partnership with Cedar Rapids Metro Area Rotary Clubs, will offer a unique opportunity for those interested in supporting Prospect Meadows. For $500, donors will receive an inscribed baseball placed on the large wall which is shaped in the state of Iowa and colored to match the American flag. This donor wall will be the first thing visitors see when entering the complex and serve as a signature photo opportunity.
For the complete list of this week's Movers & Shakers, see the Nov. 12 edition of the CBJ.
PCPCI Medical Pavilion II expansion project on schedule
 
A rendering shows the PCI Medical Pavillion II as it will look from Second Avenue SE. CREDIT PCI 
Physicians' Clinic of Iowa's Medical Pavilion II project, which will add a 100,000-square-foot medical complex and a second 400-space parking structure to PCI's Cedar Rapids campus along 10th Street SE, is on track to open on schedule, the organization said this week. 
 
The parking structure will open in December, while the medical building is slated for late 2019.

"Even with this summer's wet weather, our crews were able to stay on schedule and keep the building plans moving forward," Michael Sundall, CEO at PCI, stated in a press release. "Our second parking structure is very close to completion and will be ready to open this December, adding hundreds of new covered parking spaces for our staff and patients. Sheltered parking is important in the winter months for our patients with mobility challenges, and we're thankful we will be able to offer a better parking solution for them."

When complete, Medical Pavilion II will house PCI Primary Care, Internal Medicine, Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Podiatry, Vascular Surgery and other complementary tenants. Diagnostic laboratory and imaging services will be offered at both medical pavilions.

Currently, underground work on Medical Pavilion II is nearing completion. By February 2019, walls and exterior structures will be visible. Work on the building's interior is slated to begin in summer 2019, as well as construction of a planned skywalk spanning Second Avenue SE.
 
 
Who was the Corridor's Most Influential business leader in 2018? 
 
Before you return to work - we've opened voting for our annual Most Influential award, and we want your vote. You can select up to five people, including one write-in name, from the Corridor area as part of this year's voting. We will tally the results, publish the final list and profile the winner in the Dec. 24 edition of the Corridor Business Journal. Polls close next Wednesday at 5 p.m., so don't delay. 
 
Nov. 14
Into the Breach: Responding to a Cybersecurity Incident, by Holmes Murphy, 8 a.m.-noon, online. Join panelists from Holmes Murphy, SBS Cybersecurity and Dickinson Law as they walk through a real data breach example over a live video webcast. Free. For more information, visit bit.ly/2RoG6h8 .
 
Financial Management for the Closely Held Business , by Hills Bank & Trust, 8 a.m.-5 p.m., 590 W. Forevergreen Road, North Liberty. Learn how to control the finances of your company and maximize profits through more informed decision-making. Cost: $100/person, includes text, workbook, continental breakfast and lunch. To register, visit conta.cc/2PdLAdR.
 
1 Million Cups , by 1MC, 9-10 a.m., Geonetric, 415 12th Ave. SE, Cedar Rapids and MERGE, 136 S. Dubuque St., Iowa City. Join for community connections, startup pitches and free coffee. The November theme for Cedar Rapids' meeting is nonprofits. Free. For more information, visit facebook.com/1MCICR.
 
New Member Speed Networking, by Iowa City Chamber of Commerce, 4-5 p.m., Celebration Farm, 2710 N. Dodge St., Ste. 5, Iowa City. This twice-yearly event introduces new chamber members to all the different ways to get involved. Representatives from the chamber's various committees and programs will be available to answer questions. Free. For more information, visit bit.ly/2Ep3cmt .
 
Nov. 15
BizMix , by Cedar Rapids Metro Economic Alliance and Marion Chamber of Commerce, 4-6 p.m., Legacy Manufacturing, 6509 Partners Ave., Marion. BizMix brings together area professionals for an evening of casual networking over complimentary hors d'oeuvres and cocktails, and is hosted by a different member business each month. Free. For more information visit bit.ly/2AAg1GA .
 
North Liberty Business & Barbeque, by Iowa City Chamber of Commerce, 5-6:30 p.m., Mosley's BBQ and Provisions, 125 E. Zeller St., North Liberty. Celebrate North Liberty's growing business community with this special event, including a social hour, complementary drinks and appetizers and a brief program. Free. For more information, visit bit.ly/2PhGPTT .
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Headlines from CBS2/FOX 28
These news items are provided by CBS2/FOX 28  
 
One week after her election to Congress, Democrat Abby Finkenauer will fly to Washington, D.C., to begin her orientation to Capitol Hill. The congresswoman-elect will join freshmen members from both sides of the aisle as they prepare to appoint chiefs of staff and other positions in their new offices, both in Washington and back here at home. Ms. Finkenauer said she hasn't spoken to Rep. Rod Blum, who she defeated last week, since election night. She said Mr. Blum told her to take pride in the public service she will now do for her fellow Iowans. As for her preparation to take office, a bipartisan commission will work with all incoming members of Congress over the coming weeks to help them learn what to expect in their new roles. Ms. Finkenauer says she hopes it will give her the chance to meet fellow freshman from the other side of the aisle in an effort to build bipartisan relationships. As for working with President Donald Trump and a Republican-controlled Senate, she said improving the nation's infrastructure is a no-brainer. As for the growing calls for investigation by the soon-to-be Democrat-led House, she said she's not concerned about talk of impeachment or new investigations, but she did say that if Congress does not pass a bill before she arrives in January protecting Special Counsel Robert Mueller, she will push for that to happen when she takes over.

On Monday, superhero fans around the world and in the Corridor mourned the loss of the king of comics. Stanley Martin Lieber, better known as Stan Lee and the co-creator of Marvel Comics, died at 95 years old. He was the son of Romanian-born Jewish immigrants, and at a young age began working on his writing craft. "You never outgrow your love for things that are that colorful or much bigger than life," Mr. Lee said. Zach Power, the owner of Daydreams Comics in Iowa City, said Mr. Lee's legacy in the business extends as far back as the 1940s. "He's very creative on a lot of levels, to where he was able to one work in different genres before the superhero thing reinvented itself in the 60s," he said. "This was seen as the real innovation. They have superpowers, but they have to deal with day to day, ordinary things," said University of Iowa Film Studies Professor Corey Creekmur. He said no other superhero could relate to people like the characters in Mr. Lee's comics.

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

Winter has its grip on Eastern Iowa today but it will get a little warmer toward the end of the week.  High pressure will build in today and lead to sunshine. However, the sun won't really help and it will stay very cold this afternoon. Temperatures will be in the mid to upper 20s. With clear skies tonight temperatures will drop back down into the teens by Wednesday morning. The rest of the week will continue to be dry with some slightly warmer temperatures. There will be sunshine Wednesday and Thursday with temperatures in the 40s both days. Clouds start to build in on Friday as out next storm system approaches.