Tag Archives: Sue Armbrecht

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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Alliance & Chamber Announces 2018 Annual Award Winners

Individual and Business Award Winners Honored March 27

WATERLOO, IOWA (March 27, 2018) – Individuals and businesses were honored for their ongoing commitment to making the Cedar Valley a better place to work, do business, and live on March 27 at the Greater Cedar Valley Alliance & Chamber Annual Celebration.

More than 500 registered for the night of celebration and recognition held at the Waterloo Convention Center, downtown Waterloo.

The 2018 award winners are as follows:

Legacy Award: Tom Penaluna, Chairman of CBE Companies, Inc.

Tom Penaluna

This ward honors an individual for their continued leadership and noteworthy contributions to the Cedar Valley through philanthropy and volunteerism; working to create a positive environment for business expansion; and community growth and enhancing the quality of life for talent recruitment and retention.

Fulfilling the Vision of One Award: Sue Armbrecht, North Iowa Regional President, MidWestOne Bank

Sue Armbrecht

This award recognizes tan outstanding contribution by an individual in the private sector for leadership in creating and strengthening regional collaboration and cooperation for economic and community development.

Business of the Year (full-time equivalent employees 1-50): Bloom Manufacturing, Inc.

Business of the Year (full-time equivalent employees 51 or greater): Omega Cabinetry/MasterBrand Cabinets

These awards recognize the efforts of Greater Cedar Valley Alliance & Chamber investors in promoting the quality of life and offering leadership within the Cedar Valley, achieving a major business accomplishment, or making an outstanding contribution to the Cedar Valley community, economy, and residents.

John Deere Treating Capital Well Award: KWWL Television, Inc.

To recognize the efforts of a private sector firm for a significant investment in the Cedar Valley that most emphasize the attributes of the Cedar Valley.

Harold Brock Innovation Award: Talk to Me Technologies, LLC

This award recognizes the efforts of a private sector firm for innovation in technology, advanced manufacturing, or talent development.

Cedar Valley Partner Award: University of Northern Iowa Business & Community Services

This award recognizes the efforts of an educational institution, non-profit organization, service club or human service agency – must be a Greater Cedar Valley Alliance & Chamber investor – in promoting economic growth, employment, and quality of life and offering leadership or making an outstanding contribution to the Cedar Valley and its residents on a continuing basis or with a specific project.

Economic Inclusion Award: UnityPoint Health – Allen Hospital

This award honors employers in the Cedar Valley that have made significant achievements in championing economic inclusion and diversity in their businesses and organizations.

For more detail about and videos of the award winners, visit the Alliance & Chamber website at https://www.cedarvalleyalliance.com/cms/390/2018-Annual-Award-Winners

Nominations for 2019 awards will be accepted in early 2019. For a listing of past award winners, visit https://www.cedarvalleyalliance.com/cms/381/Annual-Awards

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Greater Cedar Valley Alliance & Chamber Elects Leadership

The CEO of one of the largest locally owned firms was elected to lead the Greater Cedar Valley Alliance & Chamber during its annual meeting held July 16 at the Park Place Event Center.

Tom Penaluna, CEO of The CBE Companies will chair the regional economic and community development organization through its 2014 fiscal year. Penaluna has been a board member of the Alliance & Chamber since 2008, and also was a board member of its predecessor organizations. He completed a term as chair of the affiliated Waterloo Industrial Development Association, and most recently served as vice chair of the Alliance & Chamber. Tom has asserted his leadership in the critical business – education transformation discussion by championing the Leader Valley and Leader in Me initiatives of the Alliance & Chamber. Penaluna also serves on the board of the Iowa Partnership for Economic Progress.

Other officers elected to leading the organization with Penaluna are: Vice Chair -Steve Tscherter, CEO, Lincoln Savings Bank; Treasurer-David Braton, Publisher, The Courier; and Past Chair, Kris Hansen, CEO, Western Home Communities. Steve Dust is president & CEO of the Alliance & Chamber.

The officers are joined by Rich Czarnecki, John Deere Global Director – Large Tractors; TechWorks Campus chair and former mayor Tim Hurley; and Chamber Council Chair Stacy Bentley, President – Community National Bank to form the Alliance & Chamber’s Executive Committee.

Kate Washut, partner, Far Reach, and Steen Hansen, CEO, Bossard North America were elected to the group which represents a broad spectrum of region-wide business, institutional, and local government interests. Sue Armbrecht, President – MidWestOne Bank Cedar Valley, and Chris Fereday, President – PDCM Insurance were re-elected to the board.

Washut and Hansen take the seats formerly occupied by retiring board members Dee Vandeventer, ME&V, and local attorney Hugh Field, partner in the Beecher Law Firm. “Dee and Hugh have been a part of the Alliance &Chamber leadership since its creation. The progress we’ve made in creating and delivering on the vision of a more vital, Cedar Valley economy is due in large part to the persistence and vision of business and civic leaders like Dee and Hugh,” said Dust.

Dust continues, ”Steen and Kate join others on our board who represent yet the next generation of leadership in our economy – businesses that located or started – but intending to grow – in the Cedar Valley of Iowa. They are the voices who need to chart the path for our economy moving forward,” concludes Dust.

Individual and Business Award Winners Honored March 27

Grow Cedar Valley