Leadership Unplugged!

This week, we’re thrilled to welcome Brook Fitzgerald of The Restoration Project to the podcast! Brook shares her incredible journey—from corporate banking to opening a downtown Cedar Rapids coffee shop (even though she didn’t drink coffee!) to co-founding a life and leadership coaching practice that’s all about helping people lead from alignment and intention. She gets real about entrepreneurship...

Listen in to Ray Brown, CEO of ESCO Group, as he discusses his journey from accountant to CEO of a 100% employee-owned company. Ray dives into pivotal leadership moments, the mentors who shaped his approach, and the early challenges that drove his growth. Discover how Ray leads ESCO Group—a leader in electrical construction, automation, and safety consulting—through change, innovation, and communi...

Listen in as Tom Pientok shares about leadership and what it means to him. You may be surprised as to what his super power would be!

In this episode of Leadership Unplugged, we sit down with Marion’s City Manager, Ryan Waller, and Deputy City Manager, Kim Downs, to discuss their journey in public service and their roles in driving positive change in Marion. Ryan, who became Marion’s 10th City Manager in 2021, brings over 20 years of experience from various Illinois communities and Indianola, Iowa. Kim, who joined the City of Ma...

Today, we have a very special guest: Mayor Nick AbouAssaly. His dedication to public service is unparalleled, as evidenced by his long list of accomplishments. From his early days on the City Council to his numerous community involvements and accolades, including being named Mayor of the Year, Nick's impact on Marion is undeniable. Join us as we delve into his journey and explore what it mean...

Tune in for an engaging conversation with two distinguished educators, Superintendent Amy Kortemeyer of Linn-Mar and Superintendent Janelle Brouwer of Marion Independent, as they delve into their profound perspectives on leadership. Join us as they discuss the essence of leadership, drawing from their wealth of experience and dedication to shaping the future of education.

Join us as we chat with the team at Marion Chamber of Commerce and Uptown Marion Mainstreet as they share how they're leading and making a difference in our community. You might even get to know what they wish their super powers were if given a choice!

Rapids Wholesale Foodservice Equipment & Supplies is your "one stop shop" for all things food related. If you serve food - they've got you! From their full lineup of commercial cooking equipment and refrigeration products to the plates and tables you serve your culinary masterpieces on, they've got it! Listen in as the Rapids team shares their story, where they've been...

MEDCO’s Startup Spotlight hosted a conversation with Lesley Vossenkemper of Scale-Up Strategies. Lesley is the first woman in the Cedar Rapids, Marion, and Iowa City area to earn the Certified Exit Planning Advisor (CEPA) designation. An individual who earns the CEPA credential assists business owners with the development of a strategy and plan for business succession.  In a release from the CBJ i...

The Marion Independent School Board candidates are uncontested. This portion of the recording was an open house where candidates shared their thoughts and plans for the coming term. Candidates include Denise Allison (Incumbent), Jon Fitch (Incumbent), Carl Lantermans (Incumbent), and Michelle Rains. Please remember to vote in the upcoming election on Tuesday, November 7th and enjoy listening to th...

Listen to the live recording of the 2023 City Council and Mayoral Forum.  The Marion City Council and Mayoral races are uncontested. This portion of the event featured an open house where candidates shared their thoughts and plans for the coming term and answer questions from residents and business leaders. Candidates running for reelection are: Mayor, Nicolas AbouAssaly; At Large, Steve Jensen; W...

This forum featured Linn-Mar School Board candidates. Candidates include Barry Buchholz (Incumbent), Justin Foss, Katie Lowe Lancaster, Tom Law, Brittania Morey (Incumbent), Kevin Slaman, Laura Steffeck, and Jodi Treharne. This forum followed a question and answer format of predetermined questions. Please remember to vote in the upcoming election on Tuesday, November 7th and enjoy listening to the...

Listen in on our conversation with Lee Ulrich, the owner and operator of Iowa Coffee Roasters located on the east side of Marion. Lee has been roasting coffee for almost 20 years now and has grown a following of customers who he loves to share his passion and his coffee with. Lee shares his entrepreneurial journey as well as his lessons of small business ownership.

Listen to the live recording of The Story of Farmers State Bank featuring  FSB’s President and CEO Gene Neighbor, current FSB Chairman Kent Neighbor, current FSB Vice Chairman Doug Neighbor, and current Executive Vice President Steve Neighbor as they recount the family history of the bank.

Listen in to a live recording of our quarterly Startup Spotlight featuring Ben Davis. Together with his wife Katy, Ben owns the Marion Chocolate Shop in Marion, IA. He purchased the business two years ago after a twenty-year career in the National Guard. Ben shares his entrepreneurial journey and keys to his small business success.

In 1985, David Martin, started a small architecture firm in Uptown Marion known as Martin Design Consultants. Dave and his team provided design services for a significant number of retail, religious, residential, and commercial structures throughout the United States. In 2006, David’s son Kyle Martin joined the company as an Intern Architect and in 2010 the company acquired Gardner Architecture an...

Startup Spotlight is part of Marion Economic Development's commitment to supporting new businesses and entrepreneurs seeking to scale and gain awareness in the Marion community and the ICR region. Recently we welcomed Taylor Matteson, founder of Tay's Hemp to the Startup Spotlight stage at Cowork 1107. Founded in late-2021, Tay's Hemp is an e-commerce retailer and wholesale distribu...

The City of Marion continues to be a statewide leader in new housing construction and overall community growth. But how do we best understand the current and long term housing needs of our community? How many new single family homes, multi-family units, income qualified properties, or senior living options are in demand over the next five years? How might this demand influence public policy needed...

In 1964, Wayne and Shirley Engle, started a small electrical contracting business in their Marion home. By the 1970s, ESCO had grown into one of the most successful electrical companies in the Midwest, working on both residential and commercial projects. Through multiple generations of family leadership, the ESCO Group has now grown to serve industrial markets across the United States including a...

Hey Marion! Get ready to meet Cowork 1107, the newest coworking space opening November 1 in Uptown Marion. Check us out at www.cowork1107.org

Marion Economic Development Corporation recently launched a new series titled "The Story of."  It's a platform to share the success stories of entrepreneurs in our community with those who aspire to do the same. This month we feature “The Story of Bob Sternowski.” Bob is the owner of Marion based Softronics, a company he grew from a hobby to a successful company working with global...

Would you consider your organization healthy? Maybe not in the physical sense, but do your team members understand their unique gifts, know how to apply them as part of your team, and then work cohesively to achieve true organizational health? Chad Greenlee with BerganKDV joins us to preview a cutting edge training series that launches April 14th powered by Marion Economic Development Corporation...

Hosted 10/20/21 by Marion Economic Development Corporation & the Marion Chamber of Commerce.

Hosted 10/20/21 by Marion Economic Development Corporation and Marion Chamber of Commerce.

Hosted 10/20/21 by Marion Economic Development Corporation and the Marion Chamber of Commerce.