 |
| |
WEDNESDAY, DEC. 7, 2016 | IN THIS ISSUE
|
|
|
 Beranek named CBJ's Entrepreneur of the Year
 |
|
|
Gerald Beranek of BeraTek Industries receives the 2016 Entrepreneur of the Year award from CBJ Publisher John Lohman.
|
Gerald Beranek, founder and CEO of BeraTek Industries, was named the CBJ's Entrepreneur of the Year for both growing his business and helping other entrepreneurs take their products to market.
Located in Cedar Rapids' New Bohemia district, BeraTek offers product design, tool design, molded part manufacturing and order-filling services. The company has launched several of its own products, including the Hold & Go Slow Cooker and the Cafe Wall Caddy, many of which can now be found at major national retailers. The firm has also helped other local entrepreneurs design and launch products, including the Repour wine stopper, introduced this fall.
"My first plan when I opened the doors of BeraTek was to manufacture and sell my own products. However, when talking to other local entrepreneurs, I quickly recognized there is a great need for our services," Mr. Beranek said in a release for Repour. "Our focus is on reducing the time needed to get products to market and at a lower cost than outsourcing overseas."
Mr. Beranek grew up in Anamosa and graduated from the University of Iowa in 2010 with a bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering, with a focus on product design. He worked at CIVCO, a Coralville-based producer of medical devices, and Schneider Electric in Cedar Rapids before starting BeraTek in 2014.
In his last two years at CIVCO, Mr. Beranek bought his own 3-D printer and installed a CNC milling machine in his garage in North Liberty. Those devices allowed him to start designing products for himself and other people.
"I kept reading books and reading articles, and over the years, I realized I could do this," Mr. Beranek told the CBJ in 2015.
Mr. Beranek is the eighth winner of the annual entrepreneur award. Past winners include Joe Ahmann, of Ahmann Companies; Steve Shriver, of EcoLips; Dawn Ainger, of Genova Technologies; Bruce Lehrman, of Involta; and Tim Guenther, of Clickstop.
Look for more on Mr. Beranek and a recap of An Entrepreneurial Forum in the Dec. 12 edition of the Corridor Business Journal.
|
|
|
|
Demand grows for Corridor apprenticeship programs
|
|
|
Apprentice Chris Nicholson practices welding at the Joint Apprenticeship Training Center in Cedar Rapids. Photo credit: Dave DeWitte
|
Strong training demand for union building trades reflects the Corridor's robust construction market, and is offering up promising career opportunities for new graduates and mid-life career changers.
Cedar Rapids is home to at least five major trade union training programs, operated by the United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners of America (UBC), the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW), and international associations representing ironworkers, plumbers and pipefitters, and sheet metal workers.
The programs train apprentices to become journeymen over the course of one to six years, depending on the program. Apprentices typically are required to perform a specific amount of classroom and shop training every month or quarter. They earn a lower wage than journeymen, but typically receive union benefits and pay only a small hourly wage deduction for training.
The number of apprentices accepted each year is often dictated by contractors' demand for workers, and limited by a required ratio of apprentices to journeymen. The number of apprentices accepted annually remains a relatively good indicator of how busy construction and maintenance contractors are.
"We usually have 40-50 apprenticeships going through our four-year program, but we're up to 180 right now, and we have a waiting list of candidates," said Patrick Loeffler, president of the Cedar Rapids/Iowa City Building Trades Council.
Sheet Metal Workers Local 263 has 75-80 apprentices in its five-year training program, up from about 50 three years ago, according to Training Coordinator Mike McCullough.
"It's a sign of a healthy construction economy," he said.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Mark Nook |
The Iowa Board of Regents on Tuesday selected Mark Nook, the chancellor at Montana State University Billings, to serve as the next president of the University of Northern Iowa.
Mr. Nook will become the 11th president of the Cedar Falls-based university when he officially takes the reins next year following the departure of William Ruud, who announced in May his plans to leave in order to preside over Marietta College in Ohio.
Mr. Nook became chancellor of MSU Billings in 2014 after serving as senior vice president for academic and student affairs for the University of Wisconsin system. Between 1990-2007, he also worked at St. Cloud State University in Minnesota.
Last week, UNI representatives met with two other finalists for the position, including Neil Theobald, who was president at Temple University in New York before being asked to step-down, according to Inside Higher Ed. The second finalist, A. James Wohlpart, is serving as the interim president at UNI, which he joined last year as provost and executive vice president for academic affairs after 21 years at Florida Gulf Coast University.
Mr. Nook holds a bachelor's degree in physics and mathematics from Southwest Minnesota State University, a master's in astrophysics from Iowa State University and a doctorate in astronomy from UW-Madison.
He will officially assume the role on Feb. 1, beginning a three-year contract with an annual salary of $357,110. He's expected to be formally introduced to the UNI community next week.
|
|
|
|
The Technology Association of Iowa (TAI) has announced the nomination period is now open through Jan. 17 for the Prometheus awards. The awards celebrate technology achievements and innovators in the fields of technology, business, education and government.
"The Prometheus Awards is the most prestigious event for recognition of technology excellence in Iowa, as demonstrated by last year's record attendance," Brian Waller, president of TAI, stated in a press release. "These awards are one of the best opportunities to deliver on our key priority of 'Connecting Leaders.'"
Award categories include:
- Software Company of the Year
- Mobile App of the Year (Internal/Corporate Application)
- Mobile App of the Year (Stand-alone/Consumer Application)
- IT Service Provider of the Year
- Top Growth Company of the Year
- Best User of Technology
- CIO/CTO/CSO of the Year
- CEO of the Year
- Student Innovation of the Year
- Outstanding Startup Company of the Year
- Life Sciences Company of the Year
- Ag Technology Company of the Year
- Technology Community of the Year
- Technology Company of the Year (Small/Medium)
- Technology Company of the Year (Large/Enterprise)
Award nominations may be submitted in more than one award category, and companies do not have to be a member of TAI to apply or win. Companies are encouraged to self-nominate. To submit a nomination or for more information, visit www.technologyiowa.org.
The award ceremony will take place on April 20 at the Community Choice Credit Union Convention Center in Des Moines. At the event, finalists will be recognized and winners will be announced.
|
|
|
|
Ely hires new city administrator
|
|
|
Denise Hoy |
The city of Ely has hired Denise Hoy as city administrator. The position was previously held by Aaron Anderson, who accepted a job out-of-state in September.
Ms. Hoy will begin her work as city administrator on Jan. 1. Since 1995, she has worked as the city administrator and clerk for the city of Conrad.
"We are very excited to welcome Denise and her family to Ely," said Mayor Eldy Miller. "Her background, skills and passion for local government will help us continue to grow as a community and achieve the goals set forth by the city council."
Ms. Hoy has more than 29 years of experience in local government. She has served as president of the Iowa Municipal Finance Officers Association (IMFOA) and has served as a member of the executive board for the Iowa League of Cities. She currently serves on the governor-appointed State City Finances Committee.
|
|
|
|
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.
|
|
|
Short-Term Event Planner
Dec. 8
What the Healthcare Law Means for Your Small Business,
by the Iowa Small Business Development Center, 1-2 p.m., online, bit.ly/2gPhPCM. Find out how to navigate the opportunities in health care through the Affordable Care Act 101 webinar series. Free. Registration required at bit.ly/2gPhPCM.
Ribbon Cutting - OPN Architects,
by the Iowa City Area Chamber of Commerce, 4 p.m., 24 1/2 S. Clinton St., Iowa City. All are welcome to help celebrate. Free. For more information, call (319) 337-9637.
EPIC Pub Club
, by EPIC, 5-7 p.m., Vitos on 965, 1295 Jordan St., North Liberty. Enjoy a drink while networking with other professionals during after-work hours. Free. For more information, visit bit.ly/2fKb16B.
Dec. 9
Ribbon Cutting - Summit Pointe Senior Living,
by the Marion Chamber, 2 p.m., 3505 English Glen Ave., Marion. Join Chamber Ambassadors as they celebrate the 10-year anniversary of Summit Pointe Senior Living. Free. For more information, call (319) 377-6316.
|
|
|
Headlines from CBS2/FOX 28
These news items are provided by CBS2/FOX 28
In a town full stop signs, the City of Solon is finally getting a traffic light. The city's Director of Public Works Scott Kleppe oversaw the traffic light project. According to the city, about 8,000 cars drive through Solon a day. "We're hoping to relieve some traffic congestion for those that are trying to exit out onto Highway One from Main Street." said Mr. Kleppe. This project has been in the works since 2015 when the Iowa Department of Transportation approved it. "It's going to be a learning curve we're all going to need to be patient for a few weeks while we all get used to it and how it changes the current flows and norms for the area but everyone is excited. We're all happy it's a great day for Solon," said the City Administrator Cami Rasmussen. The city is looking to possibly add another traffic light on 5th street and Market Street but that will not be determined until the Iowa DOT conducts a traffic study.
T
hese news items are provided by CBS2/FOX 28
|
|
|
CBS2 Chief Meteorologist Terry Swails' Weather First Forecast
An arctic air mass continues to build into the Midwest as temperatures will be the coldest since February. It will be cloudy
this morning with a few flurries possible. Expect a mix of sun and clouds late morning with readings in the low to mid-20s and wind chills likely in the single digits.
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
