Iowa Business Report

On this edition of the Iowa Business Report: The Iowa Association of Business and Industry member survey suggests optimism as 2021 begins. Both the annual Iowa Land Value Survey and monthly Rural Mainstreet Index show positive indicators for Iowa's economy. In this week's "Business Profile", we talk with Dr. Jeff Kaplan of LIFT Innovate, based in Waterloo. For more, go to total...

 The Iowa Association of Business and Industry surveys its members each quarter about anticipated sales, hiring levels, and issues facing business. The results of the survey for the first quarter of 2021 is the topic for this conversation between Iowa ABI president Mike Ralston and Jeff Stein of the Iowa Business Report. The conversation took place via ZOOM on December 18, 2020. 

Each week, the Iowa Business Report radio program features a Business Profile segment, introducing listeners to an Iowa-based company or business.    In this extended IBR Business Profile, we meet Dr. Jeff Kaplan, co-founder of LIFT Innovate , based in Waterloo, on line at liftinnovate.com. He spoke with Jeff Stein for Iowa Business Report program number 20-52 via Zoom on December 18, 2020; this p...

On this edition of the Iowa Business Report: The 2021 Iowa General Assembly gavels into session on January 11; the public policy team at the Iowa Association of Business and Industry gives us a preview of key issues to be addressed. The federal Equal Employment Opportunity Commission issued new guidelines regarding making COVID vaccines mandatory in the workplace. In this week's "Busines...

The role of public policy professionals during a state legislative session is discussed in this podcast from the Iowa Business Report radio program. Jeff Stein talks with two members of the Iowa Association of Business and Industry team who work daily on public policy issues: J.D. Davis, vice president for public policy, and Brad Hartkopf, director of public policy. The conversation took place via...

Each week, the Iowa Business Report radio program features a Business Profile segment, introducing listeners to an Iowa-based company or business.    In this extended IBR Business Profile, we meet Coridan McGinley, president of Inland Coatings , based in Adel, on line at inlandcoatings.com. He spoke with Jeff Stein for Iowa Business Report program number 20-51 via Zoom on December 15, 2020; this p...

On this edition of the Iowa Business Report: The Urbandale-based ATW Training Solutions annually conducts the "Iowa Trends in Talent Development Survey"; company founder and president Todd McDonald talks about the findings. Mason City native Tanna Frederick returned to her home state to make her latest movie, and compares the process in Iowa with that on the West Coast. In this week&apos...

Each year, ATW Training Solutions of Urbandale conducts the Iowa Trends in Talent Development Survey. Todd McDonald is founder and president of ATW Training Solutions, and shared the current findings with Jeff Stein of the Iowa Business Report via ZOOM on December 3, 2020.   

Each week, the Iowa Business Report radio program features a Business Profile segment, introducing listeners to an Iowa-based company or business.    In this extended IBR Business Profile, we meet Brian Brown, founder of Iowa Business Advisers, LLC , based in Cedar Rapids. Follow them on Twitter: @iowabusiness . He spoke with Jeff Stein for Iowa Business Report program number 20-50 via Zoom on Dec...

On this edition of the Iowa Business Report: Can your employer require you to get a COVID-19 vaccination? That's just one of the many legal issues tied to the pandemic. We talk with employment attorney Bridget Penick about them. A survey shows a majority of Americans say 2020 has been their worst year ever for sleep. In this week's "Business Profile", we talk with Benjamin Lefe...

A number of legal issues surrounding COVID-19 affect employers and employees...and as new developments such as vaccines arise, the issues may be identified differently. Bridget Penick is an employment attorney with Fredrikson & Byron P.A., based in Des Moines; Penick spoke with Jeff Stein of the Iowa Business Report via ZOOM on November 23, 2020.  

Each week, the Iowa Business Report radio program features a Business Profile segment, introducing listeners to an Iowa-based company or business.    In this extended IBR Business Profile, we meet Benjamin Lefever, founder and CEO of Certintell . The company is the first solo, black-owned, telehealth company in the U.S., and it's based in Des Moines. He spoke with Jeff Stein for Iowa Business...

On this edition of the Iowa Business Report: Many have started working remotely during the pandemic...we'll hear from one executive whose workers have been remote for decades; he shares tips on how to make it successful. Sharon Koifman is president of DistantJob, and author of the new book, "Surviving Remote Work". Mike Ralston of the Iowa Association of Business and Industry talks...

Each week, the Iowa Business Report radio program features a Business Profile segment, introducing listeners to an Iowa-based company or business.   In this extended IBR Business Profile, we meet Jack Hasken of Jackson Manufacturing , based in Maquoketa. It’s a unique story of business succession and growth. He spoke with Jeff Stein for Iowa Business Report program number 20-42 via ZOOM on October...

“Working Remotely” is something many of us discovered due to the pandemic, but Sharon Koifman has been doing it successfully for two decades. He currently is president of Distant Job, and author of a new book entitled “Surviving Remote Work”. Koifman spoke with Jeff Stein of the Iowa Business Report via ZOOM on November 17, 2020.  

Each week, the Iowa Business Report radio program features a Business Profile segment, introducing listeners to an Iowa-based company or business.    In this extended IBR Business Profile, we meet Gretta Irwin, executive director of the Iowa Turkey Federation . Iowa is the seventh largest turkey producer in the nation and plays a key role in the state’s agribusiness sector. She spoke with Jeff Ste...

One of the unique success stories over the time of the pandemic has been the work done by Iowa’s manufacturers in responding to COVID-19. Mike Ralston, president of the Iowa Association of Business and Industry, outlined seven key steps in that recovery during a conversation with Jeff Stein of the Iowa Business Report via ZOOM on November 17, 2020.  

Each week, the Iowa Business Report radio program features a Business Profile segment, introducing listeners to an Iowa-based company or business.    In this extended IBR Business Profile, we meet Timothy Sullivan of Zeteo Biomedical , based in Austin, Texas, but in partnership with the Nanovaccine Institute at Iowa State University to develop and deliver a nasal COVID-19 vaccine as part of a fast...

The Winneshiek Energy District has compiled an impressive record of development, focused on energy transition, in its first decade of operation. Andy Johnson, founder and director of the Winneshiek Energy District, talked with Jeff Stein of the Iowa Business Report via telephone on October 26, 2020.  

Each week, the Iowa Business Report radio program features a Business Profile segment, introducing listeners to an Iowa-based company or business.    In this extended IBR Business Profile, we meet John Mickelson of Midwest Growth Partners , which works with a variety of Iowa-based businesses that need a financial partner, help in taking a business to the next level, or new ideas and funding in ord...

Iowa has unique business-education partnerships to help build a skilled workforce that fits the changing global economy. U.S. Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos saw two of these projects first hand during a day-long visit to Iowa on October 16, 2020. Secretary DeVos talked with Jeff Stein of the Iowa Business Report via telephone on October 30, 2020.  

Each week, the Iowa Business Report radio program features a Business Profile segment, introducing listeners to an Iowa-based company or business.    In this extended IBR Business Profile, we meet Kevin Kinzler of Kinzler Construction Services , based in Ames. From starting in a garage four decades ago, the business now has six locations in three states. He spoke with Jeff Stein for Iowa Business...

As states continue to certify the results of the 2020 presidential election, one thing is clear—who is in the White House makes a large difference when it comes to U.S. economic policy. Creighton University economics professor Dr. Ernie Goss is the leading expert on the Midwest economy; Goss talked with Jeff Stein of the Iowa Business Report via ZOOM on November 10, 2020.  

Each week, the Iowa Business Report radio program features a Business Profile segment, introducing listeners to an Iowa-based company or business.    In this extended IBR Business Profile, we meet Afton Holt, who along with fiancé Jason Scott, owns and operates Twisted Creek Ranch near Pocahontas, billed as Iowa’s all-inclusive pheasant hunting experience. She spoke with Jeff Stein for Iowa Busine...

Each week, the Iowa Business Report radio program features a Business Profile segment, introducing listeners to an Iowa-based company or business. In this extended IBR Business Profile, we meet Jackson Kimle of Midland Seafood Company , which is launching an innovative land-based shrimp production facility in Story City. He spoke with Jeff Stein for Iowa Business Report program number 20-40 via Zo...