July 2011
Inside this issue: • Cultivating a Culture of Innovation
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Table of Contents Article.................................................................. Page Featured Member of the Month...................................4 ImpactCR.....................................................................5 Leadership of Five Seasons.........................................5 Golf Outing..................................................................6 Calendar of Events.......................................................6 Sustainability Alliance Group......................................7 Cultivating a Culture of Innovation......................... 8-9 Grassroots Meeting....................................................10 Priority One................................................................11 EDC............................................................................12 Business Success Initiative........................................13 International Business Bureau...................................13 New Members............................................................14 April PM Exchange Recap........................................15 PM Exchange.............................................................15
July 2011 Volume 80 No 11 (USPS558-200) Chamber Report (ISSN 108-50775) is published monthly by the Cedar Rapids Area Chamber of Commerce, 424 First Avenue NE, Cedar Rapids, IA 52401. Subscription price of $35 per year is included in an annual chamber membership. Periodicals postage paid at Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Postmaster: Send changes to: Chamber Report Cedar Rapids Area Chamber of Commerce 424 First Ave. NE Cedar Rapids, IA 52401-1196 Chair: Chuck Peters Interim President: Dee Baird Editor: Kari Stillman Contact the Cedar Rapids Area Chamber of Commerce at 319-398-5317 for reprint permission. ©2011 Cedar Rapids Area Chamber of Commerce
2010-2011 Board of Directors Officers
Chuck Peters, SourceMedia Group, Chair Nancy Kasparek, U.S. Bank NA, Chair Elect Brad Hart, Bradley & Riley PC, Immediate Past Chair Rob Frederick, The AEGON Companies, Secretary William Vincent, Clifton Gunderson LLP, Treasurer
Board of Directors
Jill Ackerman, Marion Chamber of Commerce, Honorary Director Dawn Ainger, Genova Technologies, Director Thomas Anderson, Merrill Lynch, Director Dee Baird, Priority One, President Priority One Todd Barker, NAI Iowa Realty Commercial, Director David Benson, Cedar Rapids Community School District, Director Barry Boyer, Van Meter Industrial, Inc., Chair Priority One Scott Byers, NAI Iowa Realty Commercial, Director Lijun Chadima, Thorland Company, Director Ron Corbett, Mayor, City of Cedar Rapids, Honorary Director Jeff Elgin, J & T Elgin, LLC, Director James Ernst, Four Oaks Inc. of Iowa, Director Gary Ficken, Bimm Ridder Sportswear, Director Ronald Fielder, Grant Wood Area Education Agency, Director Kristie Fisher, Kirkwood Community College, Director Don Garland, Chair Marion Chamber, Honorary Director Scott Gasway, J.P. Gasway Company, Inc., Director Vern Gebhart, Alliant Energy – Interstate Power & Light Co., Director Bernard Gill, Ascott Transcription Services, Director Shannon Hanson, ImpactCR, Honorary Director Tom Hobson, Rockwell Collins, Inc., At Large Director Tim Kintner, Bankers Trust Company, Director Christine Landa, Junior Achievement of Eastern Iowa, Inc., Director Robb Loftsgard, Wells Fargo Bank, Director Curt Nelson, Entrepreneurial Development Center Inc., Honorary Director Doug Neumann, Cedar Rapids Downtown District, Honorary Director Ron Olson, Paulson Electric Company, Director Hazel Pegues, Diversity Focus, Honorary Director John Sheehan, St. Luke’s Hospital, Director Tim Spain, United Fire Group, Director Vernon Squires, Leadership for Five Seasons, Honorary Director Michael Sundall, Physicians’ Clinic of Iowa, P.C., Director Monica Vernon, Cedar Rapids City Council, Honorary Director William Vernon, Simmons Perrine Moyer Bergman PLC, Director Brandt Worley, Worley Warehousing, Inc., Director
July 2011__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ 3
From the Chairman’s Desk: As we described nearly a year ago, your Chamber’s Prosperity Agenda includes several key components, including helping to cultivate a culture of innovation. Making new things actually happen (innovation) is hard to do in general, and even harder here in the Midwest, where we have been very successful with our traditional agriculture and industry, living off many ideas that are 150 years old. Actively participating in the innovative and creative global networked economy is an acquired skill, one that does not come naturally to our Midwestern roots. So strong doses of encouragement and experience are necessary, as well as networking with others trying to create new tools and learn new skills. For example, Omaha seems like a larger and more prosperous Cedar Rapids, but both are not well known for innovation or creativity, and have had difficulty making new things happen. Two young entrepreneurs in Omaha, Jeff Slobotski and Dusty Davidson of Silicon Prairie News, decided to encourage innovation and entrepreneurship by bringing the world to Omaha. Initially on their own, and then supported by institutions like the Chamber of Commerce and several larger companies, they have curated an inspiring experience called Big Omaha, which I reviewed at http://bit.ly/BigOmahaGaz. Andy Stoll, an Omaha native, and Amanda Styron, both recent residents of Cedar Rapids, encouraged over 15 Eastern Iowans to attend this year’s Big Omaha event. The group was greeted warmly and escorted well by Tom Chapman, the Director of Entrepreneurship and Innovation for the Greater Omaha Chamber of Commerce. Tom has great insights into supporting a culture of innovation, and will be speaking at several events in Cedar Rapids and Iowa City on July 13 (www.seedhere.org). Please plan to participate at least in the luncheon event on July 13th. We have much to learn from Tom, and Omaha. While we continue to gain insights from others, we are also planning the appropriate space for an innovation center, and are partnering with the Pacific Institute to provide the most powerful insights on how to make new things happen, in groups large and small. There is much more on the Pacific Institute in this issue. Please find a place to connect and participate as we continue this journey on our Prosperity Agenda.
Chuck Peters chairman, board of directors
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MISSION: - Disease Prevention - Health Protection - Health Promotion VISION: “Building a healthier community.”
Back row from Left to Right: Shane Dodge, Jim Hodina, Dave Koch, Kyle Lundberg, Jill Roeder, Stephanie Neff, Curtis Dickson Front row from Left to Right: Heidi Peck, Kim Honn, Barbara Chadwick, Larry Hlavacek, Ruby Perin
Administration Services Division: Curtis W. Dickson, Director; Stephanie Neff, Deputy Director; Larry Hlavacek, Administrator Services Director; Kim Honn, Administrative Assistant The Administrative Services Division of LCPH consists of the Offices of the Health Director and Deputy Director, Budget and Financial monitoring functions of the agency, Human Resources coordination (in conjunction with Linn County Human Resources Department), and Information Technology support.
Community Health Services Division: Jill Roeder, Healthy Behaviors Branch Manager; Dave Koch, Healthy Linn Care Network Branch Manager Community Health Services Division consists of two branches focusing on identification of community health needs, and the growing need of implementing policy and systems change in Linn County in relation to healthy behaviors; obesity, personal injury, sexual behaviors, and substance abuse. Personal Health Services Division: Barbara Chadwick, Division Director Public Health’s Personal Health Services Division currently consists of two operating branches: Communicable Disease Services and the Office of Chronic Disease, which will be responsible for coordinating and administering programs that address the complex chronic conditions that account for 75 percent of health care spending nationwide. Environmental Services Division: Jim Hodina, Environmental Services Division Director; Shane Dodge, Air Quality Branch Manager; Heidi Peck, Environmental Health Branch Manager; Ruby Perin, Healthy Homes Branch Manager; The Environmental Services Division of LCPH consists of three service branches, Environmental Health, Air Quality, and Healthy Homes, that are concerned with all aspects of the natural and built environment that may affect human health. Laboratory Services Division: Kyle Lundberg, Division Director The Linn County Public Health Laboratory Services Division provides analytical and public health laboratory informational support to branches within Linn County Public Health, other governmental and non-profit agencies, as well as private citizens of Linn County. www.facebook.com/LCPublicHealth
July 2011__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ 5
Why join? Why not join?! Whether you are new to the area or a lifelong resident, joining ImpactCR is a great idea. Not only does it help plug you into the community and current events, it also allows you a chance to network with your peers and community leaders.
Membership benefits include, but aren’t limited to the following: ❖❖ Discount on all fee based events. ❖❖ Lead volunteer positions within organization including project management and board eligibility. ❖❖ Reminders about upcoming programs and events. ❖❖ Statement of ImpactCR Membership for professional portfolio. ❖❖ Resource for talent attraction and retention.
RENEW OR JOIN NOW AND SAVE $15! That’s less than a night out on the town – how can you not join?
Family Membership: $35
Individual Membership: $20
Membership valid until 12-31-11 Corporate memberships are also available. Contact Kelly Slaughter for more information.
The Leadership for Five Seasons program consists of 10 class sessions and a two-day mandatory retreat in the fall. Sessions are generally held monthly on Fridays, September through May. The day-long sessions provide participants with a first-hand look at the Cedar Rapids area. Topics include: Area History, Human Services, Education, Communications, Health Care, Government & Judicial, Business & Economy, Quality of Life & Future Growth. Each session consists of lectures, panel discussions, small study groups, tours, and skills building classes.
Welcome the 2012 Leadership for Five Seasons Class Carla Andorf Kirkwood Community College Abby Ballain Iowa Cultural Corridor Alliance Christopher Banse McGladrey & Pullen Karin Beal Waypoint Neil Boudreaux Neil Boudreaux Salon Gustavo Caro Genencor
Jennifer Carroll TrueNorth Companies
Katie Dostal CarePro Health Services
Sarah Jencks Aegon
Heather McDonald Van Meter Industrial
Buzzy Castonguay Color Web Printers
Jonathan Fitch Shive-Hattery, Inc.
TJ Meiners Nelson Electric
Angela Corcoran Yellowbook
Brian Gradoville Linn County Treasurer
Donald Johnson Shuttleworth & Ingersoll, PLC
Monica Davis OPN Architects
Wesley Hilleshiem BankIowa
Jennifer Decker Hogan-Hansen, PC
Margaret Horsfield Rockwell Collins
Jessica Doro Bradley & Riley
Kimberly Ivester St. Luke’s Hospital
ENSURE A BRIGHTER FUTURE CEDAR RAPIDS METRO YMCA www.crmetroymca.org
Stephen Kane SourceMedia Group Jeffery Lara US Bank
Alicia Murphy Van Meter Industrial Amber O’Connor Options of Linn County
Susan Lloyd Cedar Rapids Area CVB
Vanessa Rogers Junior League of Cedar Rapids/Downtown District
Josh Lockhart ImOn Communications
Erick Skogman Skogman Realty
Aaron-Marie Thoms Millhiser Smith Agency, Inc. Kristen Trovas Merrill Lynch Jennifer Welton Bankers Trust Sue Wilber Cedar Rapids Community School District Kristen Wilcox US Bank
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Events Calendar July ❖❖ Wednesday, July 6 ImpactCR Siren Wednesday
5:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m. Cocktails & Company 1625 Blairs Ferry Rd, Marion Siren Wednesday provides a casual atmosphere for ImpactCR members and friends to network and meet new people. Complimentary
❖❖ July 11–July 12 Investing in Leadership Workshop – Phase I
Grant Wood AEA 4401 6th St SW, Cedar Rapids Consider taking part in this community transformational process by participating in Phase I Workshop conducted by Inside Results, an affiliate of Pacific Institute. (1 full day and 2 ½ days) Details on page 8. $350/person includes all materials, training and meals
❖❖ Friday, July 15 Leadership for Five Seasons: Uptown Friday Nights Alumni Pour 4:45 p.m. – 6:30 p.m. Greene Square Park Join other LFS Alumni as guest pourers at Uptown Friday Nights. All volunteers will receive a LFS t-shirt, entry and more.
❖❖ Saturday, July 16 Signs of Progress Tour
9:00 a.m. - Noon Throughout Flooded Areas Cedar Rapids $25/person Travel by air conditioned coach bus throughout flooded areas and learn about
August the extensive rebuilding projects and signs of progress all around. Tour includes scheduled stops at Czech Village, Theatre Cedar Rapids, CSPS and more. Contact Woosley Tours at 319-393-1742 for tickets.
❖❖ Tuesday, July 12 Chamber Academy: Seven Steps to a Powerful Sales & Marketing Funnel
Presented by Jim Thebeau, CEO of Henry Russell Bruce Choose the breakfast or lunch session. 7:30 a.m. – 9:00 a.m. $10 members/$25 Future members; tax included, light breakfast provided 11:30 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. $25 members/$40 Future members; tax included, lunch provided Hiawatha City Hall 101 Emmons St, Hiawatha Sales and marketing should work together to generate prospects and customers for your businesses. If you’ve ever wondered how you can reach more prospects and get them into your pipeline, following these 7 steps can help. We’ll address these topics and more in this fast-moving marketing presentation. Sponsored by
❖❖ Thursday, July 21 PM Exchange
5:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. Summer Fiesta Block Party 700 Block 11th St, Marion Enjoy the south of the border-themed PM exchange, complete with food from Carlos O’Kellys, salsa music and more. Member Event, Complimentary
❖❖ Saturday, August 6 Signs of Progress Tour
9:00 a.m. - Noon Throughout Flooded Areas Cedar Rapids $25/person Travel by air conditioned coach bus throughout flooded areas and learn about the extensive rebuilding projects and signs of progress all around. Tour includes scheduled stops at Czech Village, Theatre Cedar Rapids, CSPS and more. Contact Woosley Tours at 319-393-1742 for tickets.
❖❖ Monday, August 22 13th Annual Golf Outing
Noon – 6:00 p.m. Elmcrest Country Club, 1 Zach Johnson Dr NE, Cedar Rapids The tradition continues at this fantastic 4-person best shot. Registration and driving range open at 11:00 a.m. with a shotgun start at Noon. This event sells out every year, so register early! $150 per person, $600 for foursome Hole Sponsorships: $400 Price includes greens fees, cart, tax and dinner following the event. For the latest listing of events or to register and pay on-line please visit www.cedarrapids.org As a Chamber member, businesses can login at www.cedarrapids.org and submit their own event. Visit www.cedarrapids.org/events to view the numerous events being held by Chamber members throughout the community.
Elmcrest country club
Presented by:
Outing
The 4-person best shot event sells out each year. Contact Jeff Schamberger at 319.730.1402 or jschamberger@cedarrapids.org for more information. Register online at www.cedarrapids.org
July 2011__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ 7 Chamber’s New Sustainability Alliance Group Receives $28,000 Grant
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In March, The Chamber held an inaugural meeting of business members to discuss the potential interest in forming a Sustainability Alliance Group with a goal of becoming a zero landfill community. Since March, the 20 member group has doubled in size and recently received a $28,000 grant from the Iowa Energy Office. The grant will be used for outreach, education and resources that will assist in the group’s mission to become a community with zero landfill. Organizations contributing to the grant’s necessary match are: Allegra, City Carton, Coe College, DC Taylor, HR Green, JP Gasway, PepsiCo, Rockwell Collins, Stamats Communications, The University of Iowa, Van Meter Industrial, Whirlpool, Yellowbook and The Chamber. The matching dollars include both donations and in-kind services for an approximate total of $40,000. Next steps for the alliance involve creating a mission statement and goals in order to successfully utilize the grant from the State. Along with sharing ideas, the group will help initiate and educate the community on sustainability practices. For more information on how to get involved, contact Julie Stow at 319-730-1409. Join the discussion at Find us as The Sustainability Alliance Group in LinkedIn
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101
PLANNING PLANNING SUCCESS SUCCESS
11-12
101
11-12
As the Chamber works to unite businesses, amplify the voice of our members and ignite opportunities that power a thriving community, a number of initiatives have begun in our community to create an innovative culture that will drive measureable results. Stemmed from the three-year strategic plan launched last fall, the Chamber has played a distinctive role in the economic vitality of our region, requiring innovation inorganizational structure, partnerships and programming. In February, The Chamber hosted award-winning speaker, Sarah Miller Caldicott, to share with the community the details from her years of research and her book Innovate Like Edison: The Success System of America’s Greatest Inventor. Sarah offered step-by-step guidance on how to harness ones own innovation potential. A great grandniece of Thomas Edison and his second wife Mina Miller Edison, Sarah brought to the forefront a term that has been used in multiple conversations since: “dense networks.” Dense networks are crucial for driving change, virtually any kind of change. Thomas Edison used dense networks extensively to drive innovation during the Industrial Revolution. Dense networks can be leveraged today to bring about change in a company or community. As a next step, The Chamber implemented a series of workshops for individuals interested in creating positive change in our community by attending leadership workshops facilitated by The Pacific Institute. Individuals committed to participating in both session 1 and session 2 of the designed workshops, create a dense network in our community, which result in faster and more effective change accomplishing our community’s vision plan. To-date, nearly 70 people have participated in the training opportunity; attendees not only improve their own area of personal effectiveness in such areas as leadership effectiveness but understand how they can build effective and positive cultures in their organization and their community. In June, nearly 20 individuals attended facilitator training offered by Pacific Institute; another step towards creating an adaptive culture for our community. By building our own community facilitators, we have the ability to expand our dense networks into the necessary segments that will assist in creating positive change and economic vitality in our community. The reason for this extensive training is to change the culture in our community. Culture drives performance not only within a company but also in a community. As our region has researched other successful innovative regions around the nation it has been apparent that the successful community has an adaptive culture. “An adaptive culture entails a risk-taking, trusting and pro-active approach to organizational as well as individual life. Members actively support one another’s efforts to identify all problems and implement workable solutions. There is a shared feeling of confidence: the members believe, without doubt, that they can manage whatever new problems and opportunities will come their way. There is widespread enthusiasm, a spirit of doing whatever it takes to achieve organizational success within the limits of their agreed values and what is collectively agreed to be ethical behavior. The members are receptive to change and innovation.” Professor John P Kotter and Dr Jame L Heskett Corporate Culture and Performance Free Press 1992
July 2011__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ 9 Success is not a concept. Success is the result of knowing where you want to go, and the changes you need to make to get there. The road to success becomes a lot smoother when you have the tools to develop the attitude of success.
PLANNING
101
What can you expect?
SUCCESS
11-12
After participating in the program individuals have greater expectations of success, more self-belief and more selfesteem; they are more willing to challenge the status quo, and to provide inspiring and inclusive leadership. This new sense of confidence has a direct correlation to the desire to also impact a positive change in our community. After completing the workshop individuals will have: ❖❖ Higher levels of motivation ❖❖ Improved problem solving and innovative thinking ❖❖ More commitment to organizational/community goals ❖❖ Measurable improvements against targets ❖❖ Increased accountability at all levels ❖❖ Transform downward spirals into springboards for success ❖❖ Better team functioning ❖❖ Attain goals that were once out of reach This curriculum affects not only the individual, but the family, workplace, community and much more. Progress is already being made in our community and the desire to shift our community’s culture is taking hold. This initiative looks to create the following: ❖❖ A constructive culture will dramatically outperform defensive cultures ❖❖ Strategy needs the support of culture ❖❖ Leaders create culture The Chamber will continue its initiative to drive an innovative culture in order ignite opportunities and power a thriving a community. By implementing the sound principals for success with leaders throughout the community the result will translate into results including the implementation of our community’s vision.
Investing in Leadership Workshop - Phase I July 11-13 Grant Wood Area Education Agency 4401 6th Street SW, Cedar Rapids
Success is not just a concept. Success is the end result of knowing where you want to go and the changes you need to make to get there. The road to success becomes a lot smoother when you have the tools to develop the attitude of success. This workshop is the first half of Pacific Institute’s Investing In Leadership workshop where we will learn about shifting our mindset and community culture and create a vision and active plans for our community. Monday: 1:30 p.m. - 5:00 p.m., July 11th Tuesday: 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m., July 12th Wednesday: 8:00 a.m. - Noon, July 13th Cost is $350 and includes materials, training and meals. More information and registration information can be found online at www.cedarrapids.org/events.
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Shape a Pro Business Agenda for 2012 Attend a Grassroots Meeting Preparations for the 2012 session are already underway. Be part of the grassroots network that shapes the pro business agenda of the Cedar Rapids Area Chamber of Commerce for 2012 by attending one of our planning meetings beginning in August. Your company must be a member of the Cedar Rapids Area Chamber to participate and The Chamber Board will approve and finalize the agenda by December of 2011. To keep conversations on task, we ask that the company you represent works with, or is impacted by, the topic session(s) you attend. Manufacturing and Environmental: Thursday, August 25, 2011
Education: Thursday, September 1, 2011
Small Business: Friday, August 26, 2011 Legal, Tax and Finance:
Technology Companies: Friday, September 2, 2011 Builders, Real Estate and Developers: Thursday, September 8, 2011
Tuesday, August 30, 2011
Legislative Wrap-Up Meeting A Corridor Legislative Wrap-Up is tentatively scheduled for Tuesday, July 19, from 4:005:30 p.m. at the North Liberty Community Center. Special thanks to the legislative wrap-up sponsor: Paulsen Electric. Look for an email from the Chamber announcing this date or contact Sara Mentzer at smentzer@cedarrapids.org or 319-730-1404 with
Healthcare Providers: Wednesday, August 31, 2011
any questions.
All meetings will be held in the Cedar Rapids Area Chamber of Commerce Board Room at noon. RSVP is required (smentzer@cedarrapids.org). Free to attend, refreshments will be provided and attendees are welcome to bring their own lunch.
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July 2011________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ 11 Does your operational software make you feel like you’re always trying to fit a square peg into a round hole? In June, representatives from Kirkwood Community College, Priority One, the Iowa City Area Development (ICAD) Group and local development organizations unveiled the Skills 2014 report, an extensive study of area workforce readiness, skill level factors, and projected workforce demand in Benton, Cedar, Iowa, Johnson, Jones, Linn and Washington counties through 2014. Researchers for the report surveyed employers in a dozen industry sectors, across a range of sizes and locations, in order to provide an equal representation of the region. A total of 241 employers participated in the study. As our region continues to experience economic growth, employers are projecting more than 11,000 new and replacement workers will be needed in the coming years and many of these positions require specific educational backgrounds and skill sets. ICAD Group and Priority One will continue to work with employers and educators to address skill gaps, develop training programs, and recruit workforce. “One of the recommendations presented in the Skills 2014 report is that we need to continue to encourage employer commitment to internships and job shadowing,” said Dee Baird. “We believe continued investment in education and workforce systems that support work-based learning experiences will help our community attract and retain the next generation worker, thus building a pipeline of qualified workers for our region.” The Strategic Skills Alignment report, commissioned by ACT, was released in June as well. The report provides a summary of the current and projected industry and occupation employment mix for the region, as well as skills required for in-demand occupations and training capacity of the region to meet current and prospective employer needs. Combined, these studies represent the future workforce supply and demand in the seven-county area. These reports, in addition to local data collected through existing industry surveys, labor reports, and wage/benefit studies, are excellent tools to measure and accurately report the status and trends of the regional workforce. To view copies of the reports, visit the ‘Workforce Here’ section of the Priority One website – www.priority1.com.
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ENTREPRENEURS’ CORNER Standing In Your Own Way! Curt Nelson, President & CEO, Entrepreneurial Development Center (EDC) You have a long-time successful business, but new dynamics have presented you with the opportunity to create significant growth. You are excited about the potential and you start to make changes and hire additional employees. If you hire more of the same, you find that the load on you becomes overbearing and growth is diminished. If you hire more skilled people, you feel out of control; you see decisions being made without you, purchases you did not approve, etc. You dive back into the details, request explanations, and reassert your position as chief of all things. And in this process, founders become the roadblock to growth. They hire people that cannot manage growth, or they hire talented people and give them responsibility without authority. They micro manage; inserting themselves and delaying actions to the point of demeaning and demoralizing their team. And while believing every step of the way that they are right, they themselves kill the ability to succeed. The type of leadership and team required to succeed at one level of business is often significantly different than
what is required to profitably scale to a much higher point. To take maximum advantage of new opportunity, old thinking must be examined and modified. The number one killer of business opportunity is the inability of leadership to embrace the change needed in them. They must embrace the hard work needed to change their old ways, or they must get out of the way altogether. Not knowing what you don’t know, and stifling input and action from others that do know, is the surest path to failure – driving many once-successful businesses under. Goals and actions created for growth become the sword by which a business actually meets its demise. A sword at the hands of founders that would not change or get out of the way. These same people believed they were right, and it was the new hires or market dynamics that caused their failure. When, in fact, the reason for their demise was looking at them in the mirror all along. Embrace the hard work needed to change old ways, it may not be easy, but it’s possible.
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July 2011________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ 13
Businesses Beat National Disaster Statistics at Critical Three Year Mark The three year anniversary of the flood of 2008 was a milestone for Cedar Rapids as the business community is beating national disaster statistics. National statistics suggest 55 percent of businesses close within the first three years of a disaster, which would have related to a loss of 5,500 jobs. Of the flood-affected businesses in Cedar Rapids, 132, or 18 percent, have closed and 2,200 jobs have been lost. Based on research conducted by the Chamber’s Business Success Initiative, approximately 250 business owners providing data spent a combined total of $31 million of private funds to keep their operations running. Meanwhile, their debt load increased by 60 percent and revenue dropped by 26 percent. These statistics exclude large corporations in the city. “We beat the odds so far, but business owners are still struggling. Some businesses are operating week to week,” said Bob Harschnek, case management team leader for the Business Success Initiative. Aside from the personal funds business owners used, they were able to receive immediate funding through a collaborative effort by the Chamber, City of Cedar Rapids, and private resources. The Chamber’s Small Business Task Force also worked to expand the use of federal funding for new financial assistance programs to meet business needs. To further meet local needs, federal and state resources have provided case management services through the Business Success Initiative of the Chamber. Harschnek said that progress has been made and he hopes the community does everything possible to make continued advancement. “We are focusing on the future. We’ve proven that we can overcome the odds and CHAMBER 4C AD MASTER PAGE 10/1/09 should continue to focus09:CHAMBER on creatingHALF a community that is 11:02 better AM thanPage ever 9before,” Harschnek said.
In today’s global economy it is important that business strategies in the Cedar Rapids/Iowa City Corridor include international partnerships to stay competitive. Stay connected by joining the International Business Bureau’s LinkedIn group. Connect with other professionals and businesses involved in international trade, follow best practices and share helpful tips and resources.
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at every step of their journey:
Call 319/369-8154 to learn more!
clients. We work this way with every client, whether in the
design, construction, ownership and operation. , Phone 800.728.7805 HRGreen.com Cedar Rapids | Des Moines | Sioux City
stlukescr.org
July 2011________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ 15
June PM Exchange Recap Ohnward Bank & Trust hosted the PM Exchange in June. Ohnward Bank & Trust showcased its newly remodeled location at 655 Marion Blvd in Marion. Attendees enjoyed refreshments, food and networking.
Contact the Chamber and learn more about the numerous opportunities to maximize your marketing dollars. From PM Exchanges, Featured Member of the Month, newsletter, on-line and more; The Chamber can help you gain exposure and positively impact your bottom line. Contact Kari Stillman at kstillman@cedarrapids.org
PERIODICALS POSTAGE PAID AT CEDAR RAPIDS, IA
424 First Avenue NE Cedar Rapids, IA 52401-1196
www.cedarrapids.org
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Cornerstone Press
Central. Distinctive. Cooperative.
Singles to suites & small to large! Premier office space at 305 Second Ave. SE, Cedar Rapids Take a tour! 319-730-7700
www.bizexchangectr.com