Tag Archives: University of Northern Iowa

Encouraging Young Professionals to Work the Valley

As part of an overall strategy to develop, recruit, and retain talented people in the Cedar Valley economic area, the Greater Cedar Valley Alliance & Chamber is launching Work the Valley, a talent retention program targeting college students and young professionals (YPs). Work the Valley encourages YPs to stay in the Cedar Valley by showcasing appealing work places, careers, great company cultures and local life style amenities attractive to their demographic.

Work the Valley engages students and YPs with tours of Cedar Valley employers, business districts and cultural & entertainment venues, discussions & informative presentations, and specialty job fairs.

GCVAC Director of Business Services, Brittany Jungck says that when YPs experience firsthand all that the Cedar Valley offers they will be more likely to stay to build a career. “We want to show them that the Cedar Valley really can provide opportunities in line with their career goals yet with a much lower cost of living than bigger metros they may be attracted to.’’

The initial Work the Valley Bus Tour is November 1st in partnership with the UNI Career Center. Forty UNI students will visit four businesses and cultural venues and have opportunity to speak with 10 companies about current job openings and future employment outlooks.

GREATER CEDAR VALLEY ALLIANCE & CHAMBER and the CEDAR VALLEY REGIONAL PARTNERSHIP ANNOUNCE DREAM BIG GROW HERE CEDAR VALLEY $5,000 WINNER

Cedar Valley of Iowa -The 2nd Annual Dream Big Grow Here Cedar Valley contest concluded on the evening of October 18th, 2012 with a “pitch-off” by five finalist of the online popular vote portion of the $5,000 grant contest.

The winner of the pitch-off, Lizzy Mae’s Cupcakes & Sweets – pitched by Dawn Pursell of Waverly, was chosen by a panel of business entrepreneurs and experts from the fields of law, technology, finance and entertainment. Twenty-one start-ups and small businesses participated in the popular online voting generating over 9,300 votes, from 44 states and 16 countries.

The Dream Big Grow Here Cedar Valley competition provides early stage and emerging small business an additional financial boost to accelerate the growth of their business. The contest was open to start-up and small businesses in the Cedar Valley Economic Area comprised of Butler, Bremer, Buchanan, Black Hawk, Chickasaw, Grundy, and Tama counties.

“This year we saw more businesses competing in the contest take advantage of the free business services available through the University of Northern Iowa, MyEntrenet and the Small Business Development Center” commented Steve Dust, CEO, Greater Cedar Valley Alliance and Chamber.

“This is the whole point of the contest…helping these individuals take their business idea to the next level.” added Nate Clayberg, Chair, Cedar Valley Marketing Partnership.

Both the Greater Cedar Valley Alliance and Chamber and the Cedar Valley Regional Partnership were regional sponsors of the statewide contest. Lizzy Mae’s Cupcakes & Sweets will compete March 7, 2013 for a chance to win $10,000 at the statewide pitch off sponsored by MyEntre.net during their annual conference. Pursell plans to use the prize money to expand her baking operation and open a store front in Waverly.

Other event sponsors for the Dream Big Grow Here Cedar Valley Pitch-Off event included, MyEntre.net, UNI’s Business Incubator, Point Builders and PDCM Insurance.

Other finalist included:

Computer Troubleshooters Computer Service and Sales(Cory Vieth) – Waterloo, Eat Cakes Cakery (Elizabeth Wilson)– Hudson , Watapri (Jane Zehr)– Waverly, and Recycle Rite Inc. (Brian Hoyer)- Cedar Falls.

Kate Washut of Far Reach Technologies moderated the Pitch-off. The judges panel included; Wade Arnold CEO of Banno; Darin Beck CEO of Barmuda MMC; Eric Johnson of Beecher, Field, Walker, Morris, Hoffman & Johnson, P.C.; Mark Stewart of Prime Logic Partners and Nick Evens of The Veridian Group.

Returning to the Dream Big Grow Here Cedar Valley Pitch-Off event and delivering the keynote was author Sarah Miller Caldicott, great grand niece of Thomas Edison. Caldicott’s presentation How Collaboration Drives Innovation: A Midnight Lunch with Thomas Edison, was based on a soon to be released book. Co – author of the book Innovate Like Edison, Caldicott has recently released an e-book titled Inventing the Future: What Would Thomas Edison be Doing Today.

Dust added, “Cedar Valley Innovation Day is one way to celebrate the strength and vitality of the individual entrepreneurial drive in the Cedar Valley economic area, and the improvements it brings our businesses and lives.

The contestants of Dream Big Grow Here-Cedar Valley have taken the first steps to growing the next dominant business with whatever product or service improvement they have put into the marketplace. These aren’t hobbies, or businesses that plan to remain garage-based operations. DBGH-Cedar Valley contestants are in the mold of many, many other Cedar Valley dreamers who started with a vision to help businesses and consumers to do something better – innovating. Their success at innovation has earned them a place among the best in the nation in their industries. Remember, the innovation of John Froelich and his partners in the Waterloo Gasoline Traction Engine Co. – introducing gasoline powered traction – changed agriculture around the globe. It’s that commitment to find new, better ways to produce and provide in America’s Free Enterprise system – innovation – from the Cedar Valley – that is celebrated in this event.

Cedar Valley Innovation Day is a way to inform and demonstrate why it’s critical to create a welcoming place for people to innovate. We need that brainpower – continually striving to find the next better way to do something – create – make – or deliver something – to expand our economy. Encouraging, welcoming and celebrating innovation is still another way to Be Part of Something Greater – the Cedar Valley of Iowa.”

More information about Lizzy Mae’s Cupcakes & Sweets can be found at www.facebook.com/LizzyMaes Cupcakes Sweets.

Plans are already underway for the 2013 Dream Big Grow Here Cedar Valley & Cedar Valley Innovation Day. Businesses and individuals interested in participating or sponsorships should contact the Greater Cedar Valley Alliance and Chamber at 319-232-1156.

UNI Business Incubator Company, TargetClick Purchased by Mudd Advertising

Cedar Falls, Iowa – June 19, 2012 – Mudd Advertising, the nation’s leading full-service automotive advertising agency headquartered in Cedar Falls, Iowa, has acquired TargetClick Marketing Solutions, a strategic innovation-focused online marketing company.

Through this acquisition, Mudd Advertising strengthens its digital offerings with search engine optimization (SEO), search engine marketing (SEM) and reputation management. TargetClick employs a holistic online marketing strategy of organic and paid search drivers that build the foundation needed to turn visitors into leads.

“I have always believed clients deserve to ask for and expect immediate results. It’s a core principle that drives everything we do, and it is exactly why we brought on TargetClick – to ensure our clients can continue to expect immediate, great results across every advertising channel,” Mudd Advertising Founder and Chief Spiritual Officer Jim Mudd Sr. said.

Joining the Mudd Advertising team are Doug Drees, Director of Search Engine Marketing; Greg Jass, Director of Search Engine Optimization; and Therese Kuster, Director of Digital Reputation. Their track record will play a key role in defining Mudd’s ongoing commitment to the integration of both digital and traditional media strategies that produce return on investment.

“There has been a huge shift in how businesses market themselves, and online marketing is at the forefront of that. Online marketing is not an option anymore for businesses – it’s essential,” Drees said.

“TargetClick fits seamlessly into our overall strategy of being a one-stop media integration company. Speed to market is mission critical in the automotive retail world and having all services in-house gives our dealers a distinct marketing advantage. It is essential that Mudd Advertising keeps a strong hold on being the leader in marketing innovation for our dealers. When our dealers win, Mudd wins and in that order,” said Rob Mudd, President – Digital Media.

The TargetClick acquisition was effective June 1, 2012. While TargetClick will maintain all client relationships, they will operate under the name TargetClick – Powered by Mudd Advertising.

University of Northern Iowa Named Northeast Iowa STEM HUB

The new Governor’s STEM Advisory Council, a public-private partnership overarching goal is creating greater student achievement in STEM subjects and a stronger STEM workforce. Six STEM network hubs will work with business, education institutions, nonprofit groups and others in their region in a way that best fits local needs, interests and resources. STEM network hubs will be the driving force offering Iowa students more opportunities to learn about STEM, and better prepare them for STEM careers.

UNI is one of six chosen from a pool of 13 Iowa institutions and organizations who applied. Hubs will physically house the coordinating centers and their network hub managers and will take advantage of local assets such as partner businesses, county extension, formal and informal education organizations, nonprofits and more.

Cedar Valley of Iowa -The 2nd Annual Dream Big Grow Here Cedar Valley contest concluded on the evening of October 18th, 2012 with a “pitch-off” by five finalist of the online popular vote portion of the $5,000 grant contest.

Grow Cedar Valley