Tag Archives: Cedar Falls Iowa

Alliance & Chamber Partners with Iowa Workforce

CEDAR FALLS/WATERLOO, IA – The Greater Cedar Valley Alliance & Chamber is partnering with Iowa Workforce Development and Iowa Economic Development Authority to complete a Laborshed employment study for the Cedar Falls/Waterloo area. This study is being conducted because talent availability is a main concern for Cedar Valley and Iowa businesses. The study will geographically define which communities contribute to Cedar Falls/Waterloo’s workforce. This defined area is called a Laborshed area and is based upon commuting patterns. The results from this support the Greater Cedar Valley Alliance & Chamber’s talent development efforts.

For the success of this study, Iowa Workforce Development will be sending letters to employers in Cedar Falls/Waterloo starting Monday, October 22, asking that they provide them with aggregate counts of their employees’ residential ZIP codes. This will allow them to determine what the scope and scale of Cedar Falls/Waterloo’s Laborshed area is and better understand where Cedar Falls/Waterloo’s workforce resides.

Once that Laborshed area is determined, a confidential residential telephone survey will be conducted to collect workforce characteristic information specific to the area. The survey call originates out of eastern IA, therefore, the incoming number will have the 319 area code. It is possible that you may receive a text message from their 888 number as well, alerting you to expect a call from them to take the survey. Survey questions will cover topics such as: employment status, current and desired wages, current and desired benefits, education level, and type of occupation among other things. However, Iowa Workforce Development will not be asking survey takers identifiable information such as: name, social security number, or date of birth.

Every year Iowa Workforce Development conducts Laborshed studies across the State. The results of each analysis are publicly available online at www.iowalmi.gov/laborshed. If you have any questions about the Laborshed project, please contact Katie Lippold, Iowa Workforce Development Project Manager, at 515-281-3035 or Cassie Grimsman, Alliance & Chamber Director of Talent Development, at cgrimsman@cedarvalleyalliance.com.

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Making the Cedar Valley one of the Best Job Markets in the U.S.

Waterloo, Iowa – Sept. 28, 2018—Joel Robinson can still remember his first day at Advanced Heat Treat (AHT). “I was the 50^th employee hired in 1999.” Fast forward 19 years, and Robinson is now the continuous improvement manager at one of the best heat-treating companies in the country, and he couldn’t imagine working anywhere else. Robinson says the people and culture at AHT are what make coming to work every day, “We have a lot of external people that come in and visit, and they frequently comment about our people and the services that we provide.”

Galya Hoppenworth has worked at AHT for 15 years, and says the people in the Cedar Valley are the key to the company’s success, “Our CEO, Gary Sharp, chose to have the business here (Waterloo) and continues to keep it here. I think that says a lot about the Cedar Valley and the people that we have working for us.”

In a recent national survey done by Zippia, a San Mateo, Calif.–based job search site, the Cedar Falls-Waterloo area was ranked ninth in the country for job markets in the U.S. The site used data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics to rank the top job markets in the U.S. based on how much local wages rose, unemployment dipped and the current jobless rate. While the national unemployment rate is 3.8 percent (May 2018), the Cedar Falls-Waterloo metro stands at 2.7 percent.

One important aspect of business in the Cedar Valley that stands out from the rest of the state is the company culture and people here.

“Our mission really is one reason why I love what I do; creating those fulfilling lifestyles,” explained Amanda Lynch. Lynch is a Cedar Valley native and has been the wellness coordinator at Western Home Communities for the past six years. “It’s not just for our residents, but it is also for our employees and their families. We have flexible schedules. I have an amazing boss who, if I have something come up or have a sick kid, they understand that, they make it work, they work around that, and not every boss is like that.”

Having a company that understands the realities of life and having a true work-life balance is exactly why Therese Stevens was drawn to a career at BraceAbility, now serving as the chief operations officer/COO.

“I was definitely in a higher pressure, high stress, high expectation, fast-paced position previously, taken its toll on me,” says Stevens. “I think our culture, attitude and whole approach is genuine, honest and adult. We have realized that we live and work in a 24/7 world, so no one here is really worried about which hours you choose to work, it’s more about getting the work done, and that’s a breath of fresh air to know when you show up every day.”

For Waterloo-based VGM Group, highlighting a unique company culture, non-traditional benefits and workplace amenities are key factors in employee recruitment and retention efforts. Along with being employee-owned, offering a free health clinic for employees and their families and other work perks, VGM’s recent expansions in the Cedar Valley have included distinct amenities to enhance the work environment for its employees.

Renovations to its annex building located at 4024 Alexandria Drive in Waterloo included redesign of 8,200 square feet of workspace to accommodate VGM’s programmers. The new Tech Center includes collaboration rooms, treadmill desks, a Lego wall, custom built bar and a four-player video game console with more than 2,000 games. The break area offers strength and fitness equipment, golf simulator, ping-pong, pool table and a lactation room.

“We’ve made substantial investments in our business to position us for future success,” said Mike Mallaro, CEO of VGM Group, Inc. “The Tech Center serves as a central hub for all things related to data and programming for VGM’s companies. The new workspace creates an environment that fosters idea creation and promotes collaboration for our programmers – all in a non-traditional, comfortable space designed to serve any generation of worker.”

As businesses in the Cedar Valley compete for new talent, it’s no secret that catering to today’s workforce is key in drawing new recruits through the front doors. Today’s employee looks for flexibility, a relaxed work environment and opportunities to connect with the community they call home. With Zippia’s ranking of Waterloo-Cedar Falls as #9 on its Top Job Markets list, coupled with Iowa ranked best state by U.S. News & World Report, the opportunity to recruit talent to the Cedar Valley has never been more attractive.

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Greater Cedar Valley Alliance & Chamber Names Cary Darrah CEO

WATERLOO, Iowa—The Greater Cedar Valley Alliance & Chamber’s (GCVAC) board of directors names Cary Darrah CEO after she led the organization as interim CEO the past seven months.

“Cary is a very well-liked, qualified and tenured economic development professional who has done an excellent job in re-energizing the nearly 15-year-old organization as the interim CEO,” said GCVAC Board Chairman Eric Johnson of Beecher Law Firm. “As we went through the research and goal-setting process, we received positive feedback from investors, community leaders and staff of Cary’s collaborative approach and visionary leadership. In a short timeframe, she has made changes to stabilize, strengthen and position the Alliance & Chamber to grow in the right direction. It became very apparent to the board that Cary is the right fit at the right time to lead GCVAC through the next phase and accomplish our 2020 vision and goals.”

The board of directors named Darrah interim director in February after the departure of Steve Dust, who was CEO since the Alliance was founded in 2004. According to Johnson, the board sought proposals from companies to conduct a national executive search for the CEO position. After seeing research results and Darrah’s accomplishments as interim CEO, the board unanimously decided it was not necessary to conduct a search.

“Cary was the best candidate for the job, and we’re very pleased to drop the interim from her CEO title,” said Johnson. “Not only is she qualified, she’s a bridge-building collaborator. Cary knows the Cedar Valley and has relationships with many of the players in local, state and national economic development and government. Considering diversity and inclusion are important factors in building the best workforce, it’s an added benefit to have a female CEO leading our economic and workforce development initiatives.”

Darrah is the first woman to head the Alliance or any of its predecessor organizations since Kristi Ray headed the Cedar Falls Chamber of Commerce from 1997 to 2002.

Darrah was named general manager of Techworks, an Alliance subsidiary, in 2007. She was then promoted to GCVAC executive vice president of community development in 2012 and TechWorks president in 2016. Prior to joining the Alliance & Chamber, Darrah was director of Cedar Falls Community Main Street from 1997 to 2007.

“I am honored to be named CEO of the Alliance & Chamber and ready to share our story of why the Cedar Valley is the best place to run a business, raise a family, live a fun and enriching life, and retire,” said Darrah. “I commend the board for pushing the pause button to conduct research before hitting the reset button to develop a new mission, vision and three-year plan. It was very important to be introspective, take the time to really listen to our chamber and alliance investors, and realign our focus to meet our investors’ and community’s greatest needs.”

For a concentrated focus on economic and talent development with limited resources, Darrah said the Alliance may need to revisit some of its programs and subsidiaries to determine which have been “properly incubated and ready to be spun off” into their own entities.

“Our staff is made up of a fantastic team of experts who are laser-focused on recruiting and retaining talent for area businesses and implementing the community and economic development initiatives that contribute the greatest value to the Cedar Valley’s economic health,” said Darrah. “You’ll see us out in the community celebrating our businesses at ribbon cuttings, working alongside government officials and community leaders as trusted partners on important issues, and being the loudest cheerleaders and strongest advocates for the Cedar Valley in Des Moines and Washington.”

Darrah will be the first to tell you she strongly believes in collaboration, building long-term relationships and trust, and that the best successes are credited to a meaningful mission and team efforts. She is particularly fond of the Alliance’s new mission to: “Elevate the economic vitality of our businesses and communities.”

“In order to elevate, positive changes need to be made to raise our community up to the next level,” said Darrah, “And, we need to breathe new life into our organization for the economic vitality of our businesses and communities. Our board and staff are all really engaged in this revisioning, cultural realignment and brand repositioning process. It’s such an exciting time to be the CEO of the Alliance & Chamber, and I look forward to working with all our partners to ultimately help create a shared vision for the Cedar Valley. We are ready to get to work to make the greater Cedar Valley even greater.”

About the Greater Cedar Valley Alliance & Chamber

The Greater Cedar Valley Alliance & Chamber is a private, not-for-profit corporation working to elevate the economic vitality of our businesses and communities through collaborative economic and community development. Learn more at www.cedarvalleyalliance.com

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ALLIANCE & CHAMBER TO HOST INVESTOR LEGISLATIVE FORUM SEPTEMBER 13

WATERLOO, IOWA (September 4, 2018) – The Greater Cedar Valley Alliance & Chamber will host an Investor Legislative Forum to gain input from investors (members) on legislative issues important to Cedar Valley businesses.

The Investor Legislative Forum will be held from 7:30 a.m. to 9:00 a.m. on Thursday, September 13, 2018, at Community Foundation of Northeast Iowa, 3117 Greenhill Circle, Cedar Falls.

Investors in the Alliance & Chamber are invited and encouraged to help shape the Cedar Valley Legislative Agenda for Economic Progress by participating in this event.

Before the start of each Iowa legislative session, the Alliance & Chamber establishes the agenda which actions that will improve the Cedar Valley business climate and quality of life, and address specific issues for business. Then, throughout the year, the Alliance & Chamber tracks and brings it to the attention of its investors issues that have an impact on their bottom line.

The Alliance & Chamber advocates for economic growth policies and business climate improvement at the local, state, and federal levels.

There is no cost to attend the forum. Investors may RSVP by September 6 by contacting Bette Wubbena at bwubbena@cedarvalleyalliance.com or by calling 319-232-1156.

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TEAMING UP FOR 2018 ECONOMIC INCLUSION CONFERENCE

CEDAR FALLS, Iowa – The University of Northern Iowa, the Greater Cedar Valley Alliance & Chamber and several area agencies will present “Engage, Empower, Act: A Cedar Valley Conference on Economic Inclusion” from 7:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., Friday, October 12, 2018, at the Diamond Event Center in Cedar Falls.

“Engage, Empower, Act” will foster a day of crucial conversations on creating an inclusive community in the Cedar Valley. The conference will focus on best inclusion practices in business, community, and K-12 and higher education. Featured are a keynote speaker and several breakout sessions. For the past several years, the Greater Cedar Valley Alliance & Chamber has hosted an annual Economic Inclusion Summit. Last year, UNI hosted its first Engage, Empower, Act Diversity Conference. However, this year, the two organizations are partnering to host one conference focused on economic inclusion both in education and industry.

“Economic Inclusion includes everyone. That’s why we are leading a collaborative to host a Cedar Valley Conference on Economic Inclusion that welcomes attendees from education, business and the community. Everyone is welcome,” explains Jean Trainor, chair of the Alliance & Chamber’s Economic Inclusion Council.

“Last year, we saw people coming in with a thirst for more information about putting diversity and inclusion’s best practices into play within their organizations. It was so gratifying for all of us to be able to share knowledge and work on real-time workplace situations,” said Gwenne Berry of UNI’s 2017 conference. Berry is assistant to the president and chief diversity officer at UNI. “We are truly looking forward to bringing together our efforts with GCVA and serving our community in this crucially important area.”

The conference keynote is Dr. Nika White, author of “The Intentional Inclusionist,” a book inspired by philosophies of leadership and inclusion, containing principles to help individuals become more intentional in how diversity and inclusion is understood and practiced at the individual level.

Dr. White serves as the senior advisor to the Greenville, South Carolina, Chamber’s Diversity and Inclusion initiatives and is responsible for creating and collaboratively implementing an overarching diversity strategy for the Greenville Chamber as an extension of the executive team. Since taking on the position, Dr. White has helped the Greenville Chamber gain the recognition of the Organization of the Year from the Minority of Economic Development Institute, 2014 Excellence in Diversity Award Recipient presented by Greenville Society of Human Resources Management (GSHRM) and a national platform as a leader in the space of diversity inclusion recognized by the Association of Chamber of Commerce Executives. Dr. White is a graduate of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation’s Institute of Organization Management (IOM), is a certified trainer with National Coalition Building Institute (NCBI) and is a Certified Diversity Executive (CDE) through the Institute for Diversity Certification (IDC).

The conference is open to community leaders, human resources professionals, recruiters, educators and those interested in developing inclusion strategies for the Cedar Valley. This event will foster the exchange of new ideas and approaches for meaningful and impactful diversity and inclusion.

Companies sponsoring the conference include University of Iowa Community Credit Union as the Premier Sponsor; Diamond Event Center, Table 1912, and Veridian Credit Union as Platinum Sponsors; Cedar Valley Nonprofit Association, Courier Communications, Covenant Medical Center, CUNA Mutual and KWWL as Gold Sponsors; and the Cedar Falls Human Rights Commission, Community Bank & Trust, SHRM and Viking Pump as Inclusion Partners. Sponsorship opportunities are still available.

The following organizations are collaborating to plan the conference: the Cedar Falls Human Rights Commission, Greater Cedar Valley Alliance & Chamber, IowaWORKS of Waterloo, Infiniti Enterprises, Legacy Branding and Events, University of Northern Iowa, UNI Center for Violence Prevention and the Waterloo Commission on Human Rights.

Registration for the conference opens mid-August via the UNI Diversity Matters website at diversity.uni.edu/diversity-conference and is free to the public. Organizations and individuals that cannot attend are encouraged to download information from the conference tool kit, available October 10, 2018. For more information, call 319-883-0219 or visit diversity.uni.edu/diversity-conference.

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ALLIANCE & CHAMBER ADVANCES CEDAR VALLEY ECONOMY WITH NEW STAFF & ROLES

(WATERLOO,IA) – The Greater Cedar Valley Alliance & Chamber is excited to announce the addition of two new individuals, as well as new roles for several existing staff. Over the past six months, the Executive Committee of the Greater Cedar Valley Alliance & Chamber has gathered feedback from community members and stakeholders on the organization’s future strategic goals. That input has resulted in placing high priority on talent and workforce initiatives, economic development (business recruitment and existing business expansion), and organization communications. Based on that feedback, the Alliance & Chamber has added two new staff members and adjusted existing roles to align with those goals.

Aubree Taylor started her role as Communications Assistant on May 1. Her responsibilities include graphic design, social media and website management, event promotion, and electronic and print communications. Aubree graduated in May 2018 from Wartburg College with a B.A. in Journalism and Communication and minor in Business Marketing and Leadership.

Aaron Jarnagin began as the Talent Solutions Marketing Intern on May 23. He assists with digital media, social media, and research for initiatives related to workforce recruitment and retention. Aaron works specifically on content for the Live the Valley website and social media platforms. His internship also includes economic-related data research and support for business recruitment and retention projects and publications. Aaron plans to graduate from the University of Northern Iowa in December 2018 with a degree in Marketing: Advertising and Digital Media.

Cassie Grimsman was promoted to the role of Director of Talent Development effective July 1. Cassie began at the Alliance & Chamber in May 2017 as the Business Services Coordinator after graduating from the University of Northern Iowa with a degree in Financial Management and Organizational Leadership. In her new role, Cassie will advocate for Cedar Valley employer’s interests in relation to workforce and education, as well as helping to support and coordinate regional strategy to address both present and future workforce needs.

Johanna Kneedler was promoted to the role of Office Coordinator starting May 1. Johanna began at the Alliance & Chamber in 2016 as Administrative Assistant – Receptionist and has since assumed more responsibilities in overall office coordination to ensure efficient day-to-day work flow.

Lisa Skubal, Vice President of Economic Development, will assume execution of the business retention and expansion initiatives, previously performed by the Business Services Coordinator. She will continue to lead new business recruitment and prospect identification in collaboration with the Cedar Valley Regional Partnership. Lisa will also be creating and leading an Economic Development Advisory Council with input from regional partners, city officials, and other stakeholders.

Sandi Sommerfelt, Vice President of Operations and General Manager, continues to oversee general operations, while deepening her role in financial management of the organization, as well as oversight of organization communications.

Cary Darrah continues in her role as Acting CEO, which she was named by the Alliance & Chamber’s Executive Committee earlier this year. Part of Cary’s role as Acting CEO includes the reorganization of the Alliance & Chamber to support the strategic goals of the organization. The Executive Committee of the Alliance & Chamber plans to roll out its new strategic plan in the coming months alongside research, messaging and branding efforts.

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ALLIANCE & CHAMBER ANNUAL GOLF CLASSIC

WATERLOO, IOWA – The Greater Cedar Valley Alliance & Chamber is hosting its Annual Golf Classic, a networking event for investors/members, on Tuesday, September 11. The event will be held at Fox Ridge Golf Course, 355 Country Ln., Dike. The outing will kick off with lunch at 11:30 a.m., followed by a shotgun start at 1:00 p.m.

The Golf Classic, which attracts up to 120 golfers, is an excellent opportunity for golfers to network in a relaxed atmosphere with Alliance & Chamber investors, community leaders, and potential clients. This Alliance & Chamber event is open to all investors along with their employees and guest. Cost is $400 per foursome which includes green fees, cart, lunch and social.

Premier Sponsor for the event is Covenant Medical Center. A complete list of sponsors can be found on the Business Events Calendar at www.cedarvalleyalliance.com.

RSVP by September 9, 2018, by emailing Bette Wubbena at bwubbena@cedarvalleyalliance.com or Click Here to register.

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GREATER CEDAR VALLEY ALLIANCE & CHAMBER ELECTS NEW LEADERSHIP

CEDAR FALLS, IOWA – Eric Johnson, Partner at Beecher, Field, Walker, Morris, Hoffman & Johnson, P.C., was elected to lead the Greater Cedar Valley Alliance & Chamber Board of Directors during its annual meeting held July 17 at Courier Communications. Johnson will chair the regional economic and community development organization through its 2019 fiscal year.

Other officers elected to lead the organization with Johnson are: Vice Chair Bryan Earnest, AMPERAGE Marketing & Fundraising; Treasurer Jim McKernan, KWWL; and Past Chair Bob Smith Jr., Lockard Companies. The officers are joined by TechWorks Campus Chair Tim Hurley; Chamber Council Chair Pete Meehan, Financial Decisions Group; Sue Armbrecht, MidWestOne Bank; and Dave DeVault, John Deere Waterloo Works to form the Alliance & Chamber’s Executive Committee.

The newly elected at-large members of the board include: Pam Delagardelle, CEO UnityPoint Health – Allen Hospital; Jim Walsh, JSA Development; Ty Kimble, Community Main Street Board chair; Mike Mallaro, VGM Group, Inc.; and Leslie Prideaux University of Northern Iowa, Cedar Falls Tourism & Visitor’s Center Board member.

Retiring from the board are Steve Brewer, U.S. Bank; Dave Bowling, Hy-Vee Food Stores; Brent Johnson, Bike Tech; Mike Butler, retired; Jack Dusenbery, Covenant Medical Center; and Dharmendra Patel, Days Inn.

Work is already in process for the new organization leaders through extensive strategic planning, research and branding efforts, including a community perception survey.

“The Alliance is energized and excited for the immediate future, telling the story of our great community and the people that live and work here,” said acting CEO Cary Darrah, “As part of our strategic planning process, we are taking a deep look into our messaging and branding, continuing to create ways for the whole Cedar Valley to be part of something greater.”

The complete Alliance & Chamber Board of Directors as well as details about the many programs and initiatives of the Alliance & Chamber can be found on their website at www.cedarvalleyalliance.com or by calling Cary Darrah, Acting CEO at (319) 232-1156.

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Grow Cedar Valley