The Gazette’s Business Notes is a compendium of the week’s promotions, new hires, certifications, added businesses, and business events in Cedar Rapids, Iowa City and the rest of the Corridor, among other things.
Information and photos can be sent to Business Notes by email to [email protected] or by visiting our website at thegazette.com/businessnotes.
New employees
The North Liberty-based Iowa Donor Network has hired Betsy Robertson as director of its Maximize the Gift program and Matthew Murphy as chief financial officer.
The Lynch Dallas law firm of Cedar Rapids has hired Matthew G. McQuillen as Attorney/Shareholder and Georgi R. Donovan as Director of Talent and Strategy.
Skywalk Group’s recruitment agency in Cedar Rapids has hired Dylan Draeger as a Sourcing Specialist II.
Promotions
Kylee Stock has been promoted to Director of Events at Think Iowa City and will also direct events for the Iowa City Area Sports Commission.
Dan Kalan has been named the Eastern Iowa Fellowship of Christian Athletes Area Chair effective May 1. He currently supports FCA huddles at Center Point-Urbana, Linn-Mar and Prairie High Schools.
meeting
The Lynch Dallas law firm of Cedar Rapids has named Wilford H. Stone as President and Steve C. Leidinger as Vice President of its Board of Directors for 2023. \
Insights and Sessions
PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT: Kirkwood Community College is offering a new series of professional development courses called “Growing Your Mind” starting Tuesday at Kirkwood’s Linn County Regional Center in Hiawatha. The two-hour courses, held every few weeks, are aimed at local professionals looking to improve their “soft” professional skills. Visit kirkwood.edu/throatingyourmind for more information and the schedule.
events
RAISING CANE’S OPENING: Raising Cane’s is opening a restaurant in Cedar Rapids at 230 Collins Rd. NE, adjacent to Lindale Mall, Tuesday.
People can enter a Lucky 20 drawing from 8am to 9am, where 20 winners will receive free chicken fingers for a year; Winners must be present to win. At 9:30 a.m. the ribbon is cut and T-shirts go to the first 100 customers.
Cane’s, which operates 700 restaurants in the US and Guam and plans to open another 100 this year. The restaurant is open daily from 10:00 a.m. to midnight.
WATTS GROUP OPENING: Watts Group will host a grand opening of its office at Cedar Rapids, 1202 Third St. SE, Suite 100 Wednesday at 3:00 p.m. The company provides real estate services and professional property management.
AG CELEBRATION: The 35th Annual Celebration of Farming will be held March 27 at the DoubleTree by Hilton Convention Center in downtown Cedar Rapids. To purchase tickets and register, go to cedarrapids.org/economic-alliance-events/celebration-of-agriculture/.
SCORE WORKSHOPS: SCORE in-person networking and business skills workshops will be held Thursday in Cedar Rapids. The workshop will be held from 7:30am to 9:00am at Scott’s Family Restaurant, 1906 Blairs Ferry Rd. NE and from 11:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at the Chrome Horse, 1201 Third St. SE. For more information, email [email protected]
May 9 Business breakfast
Registration for the next Gazette Business Breakfast on May 9th with a planned panel discussion on “Regional Cooperation Strategies” is now possible.
Johnson County agencies worked together to address quality of life issues and work on economic development during the pandemic. The north end of the corridor also has a developing cooperation. How can we work towards economic growth as a region while also responding to individual needs?
Panelists are Cady Gerlach, Executive Director of Better Together 2030; Tiffany O’Donnell, Mayor of Cedar Rapids; Doug Neumann, executive director of the Cedar Rapids Metro Economic Alliance; and Ryan Waller, Marion City Manager. Gazette Editor-in-Chief Zack Kucharski will moderate the panel.
The breakfast and networking opportunity will be held May 9 from 7:30 a.m. to 9:00 a.m. at Geonetric, 415 12th Ave. SE, Cedar Rapids. To register and purchase a $5 ticket, go to thegazette.com/special-events.
The Cedar Rapids Metro Economic Alliance is the presenting sponsor of The Gazette breakfast series with community partner NewBoCo.
