MONDAY, MARCH 52, 2018  |  IN THIS ISSUE  

Deere & Co. has agreed to buy King Agro, a privately held manufacturer of carbon fiber technology products headquartered in Spain.

"This transaction provides John Deere customers the chance to benefit further from King Agro's unique knowledge, designs, and expertise in carbon fiber technology," John May, Deere's president of agricultural solutions and chief information officer, in a release.

In 2015, John Deere and King Agro agreed to develop and distribute carbon fiber booms for John Deere application equipment in agriculture, offering growers the advantages of carbon fiber's versatility, strength and durability in self-propelled spraying equipment.

May said the transaction announced today will provide benefits in sharing best practices in product development, manufacturing, technology, as well as in scale.

King Agro is based in Valencia, Spain, and operates  a production facility in Campana, Argentina. A family-owned business with approximately 180 employees, it has been developing carbon fiber products for 30 years. In agriculture, the company has targeted innovative designs to improve productivity and lower costs. King Agro will retain its brand name, trademark and commercial relationships.

The monthly survey of supply managers found new orders at 61.5, production or sales at 63.8, delivery lead time at 56.4, employment at 59.1 and inventories at 56.1. Any reading above 50 indicates growth.

"Nondurable manufacturing in the state is growing at a very strong pace, and Iowa durable goods producers continue to expand at an equally healthy rate," said Ernie Goss, director of Creighton University's Economic Forecasting Group, discussing survey highlights.

Pay was less exciting despite low unemployment:  "Average hourly earnings for Iowa private-sector workers expanded by a tepid 1.2 percent over the past 12 months," Goss said.

The Creighton University Mid-America Business Conditions Index is a leading economic indicator for a nine-state region stretching from Arkansas to North Dakota. Overall, the index for the region moved above growth neutral for the 15th straight month, pointing to healthy growth in the near term. Highlights of the February regional report included:
  • The employment index advanced to a very healthy level. Over the last 12 months, regional manufacturing has expanded by 2.3 percent compared to a 1.5 percent for U.S.
  • Inflation gauge indicated elevated wholesale inflation. Fed rate hikes ahead.
  • Approximately 60 percent of firms expect to add workers over the next six months.
  • Exports and imports rose sharply.
Story4Eastern Iowa Health Center announces new officers
 
Elly Steffens 
Cedar Rapids-based Eastern Iowa Health Center (EIHC), a comprehensive  primary and oral health care se rvice provider, has announced the appointment of Elly Steffen as chief operations officer and Erin Byers Langdon as chief development officer.

"Elly and Erin are standout individuals and professionals in their fields," EIHC President and CEO Joe Lock said in a statement. "I have had the opportunity to collaborate with them over the past few years and am thrilled that they are joining us at EIHC. Their talents will foster the continued growth and expansion at EIHC to serve the healthcare needs of our community." 
 
Ms. Steffen was most recently senior project manager at UnityPoint Health - St. Luke's Hospi tal where role she led a team to revamp the 
Erin Byers Langdon 
Physician Residency Program, collaboratin g with the Cedar Rapids Medical Education Foundation, EIHC, Mercy Medical Center and UnityPoint Health. She previously served as the CEO of UnityPoint Health Continuing Ca re Hospital at St. Luke's, where  she directed the startup of the new hospital and development of a long-term acute care service line.
 
Ms. Langdon previously owned and operated Grants for Good, LLC, a full-service grant writing firm. She successfully secured funding on behalf of several local organizations including EIHC, Young Parents Network, Children and Families of Iowa and Community Health Free Clinic. Prior to owning Grants for Good, Byers Langdon served as the Development Director at Community Health Free Clinic.
 
Steffen and Langdon both began their roles in January. 
 
The city of North Liberty will host a public open house from 4:30-6 p.m. March 7 discuss major improvements planned in 2018 to key infrastructure, including Ranshaw Way.

The open house from 4:30-6 p.m. March 7 at the North Liberty Community Library will enable residents to visit with project engineers and city staff about the infrastructure updates. In addition to North Liberty-led projects, representatives of the city of Coralville and Iowa Department of Transportation will be available to discuss their projects that will affect North Liberty. 

The highlighted projects include:
  • Ranshaw Way (Highway 965): Improvements include widening to five lanes, the addition of an eight-foot trail and a sidewalk, as well as traffic signal and storm water management upgrades from Penn Street to Zeller Street.
  • Kansas Avenue: Improvements from St. Andrews Drive to Forevergreen Road including paving, installing a roundabout at the intersection with St. Andrews Drive, improved storm water management and a sidewalk.
  • Front Street: Improvements from Cherry Street to Zeller Street include reconstructing the rural roadway to an urban roadway that matches Front Street to the south, new sidewalks and underground utilities, including power lines. This is the first project paid for by the state Road Use Tax increase, which the city will reinvest in older streets in North Liberty.
  • Paved Trail Network: In addition to adding a trail segment along Ranshaw Way, three other priority paved trail segments will be added to our network this summer: a critical connection along Penn Street from Kansas Avenue to the existing trail at Alexander Way, a connection along Alexander Way, and a segment along Scales Bend Road.
In addition, staff will highlight early designs for the city's new police station and improvements to Coral Ridge Avenue, Forevergreen Road and Interstate 380
Story5Patterson to lead full-service retirement business at Principal
 
Jerry Patterson 
Jerry Patterson will become the Principal Financial Group's next senior vice president leading the full service retirement and individual investor businesses for Retirement and Income Solutions (RIS), the Des Moines Business Record reports.
 
The appointment will be effective early in the second quarter. Mr Patterson will succeed Senior Vice President Greg Burrows, who announced his intent to retire at the end of July.
 
Mr. Burrows, who joined Principal in 1986, worked in several of the company's U.S. offices as well as in Japan and Argentina to help design and implement retirement plans.
 
Mr. Patterson is currently the senior vice president of RIS and has responsibility over individual investor, retail annuity, bank and full service payout. In his new position, he'll continue to report to Nora Everett, president of RIS.
 
"Jerry's strong business acumen, innovative thinking and passion for helping people save and have enough in retirement makes him a natural successor," Ms. Everett said in a release. Mr. Patterson joined Principal in 2001 as chief marketing officer for its life and health businesses. An internal and external search is underway to find his successor for the retail annuity, bank and full service payout businesses.
EventHeadlinesShort-Term Event Planner

Feb. 6
Employer Panels, by ICAD Group, 9-10:30 a.m., Kirkwood Regional Center at University of Iowa, 2301 Oakdale Blvd., Coralville. Hear directly from local experts on how to make your job search more successful. Free. RSVP to [email protected].

Iowa City Roundtable, by Iowa City Area Chamber of Commerce, noon-1 p.m., Buffalo Wild Wings, 201 S. Clinton St., Iowa City. Roundtables are social lunches over the noon hour. All are invited to network and keep up-to-date with chamber and community events. Free for members. Call the chamber at (319) 337-9637 if interested and not a member.

Venture School Application Deadline, by UI John Pappajohn Entrepreneurial Center. Venture School is accepting applications for its spring 2018 program, which emphasizes real-world entrepreneurship and innovation. The spring program will be offered in Iowa City, Des Moines, Dubuque, Sioux City and the Quad Cities, along with an online version for those who cannot attend an in-person session. Cost: $299 for the first team member, $99 for each additional team member. For more information or to register, visit venture-school.com.

Feb. 7
1 Million Cups, by 1 Million Cups, 9-10 a.m., Geonetric, 415 12th Ave. SE, Cedar Rapids. Join for community connections, startup pitches and free coffee. Free. For more information, visit facebook.com/1MCICR.

Cedar Rapids Metro Economic Alliance Annual Meeting, 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m., DoubleTree by Hilton, 350 First Ave. NE, Cedar Rapids. The Economic Alliance's annual meeting is the organization's signature event where nearly 1,100 business members learn about the organization's goals for the year ahead. Cost: $50, $500 for table of 10. To register, visit bit.ly/2BhuDfa.

Siren Wednesday, by ImpactCR, 5-7 p.m., Della Viti, 203 First Ave. SE, Cedar Rapids. Siren Wednesdays are after work social at Cedar Rapids Metro Economic Alliance member bars and restaurants. They occur on the first Wednesday of each month and serve as a way for young professionals to network in a unique environment. Free.
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Headlines from CBS2/FOX 28
These news items are provided by CBS2/FOX 28  
 
The people of Springville are more than just neighbors. They're more than just friends. They're a family and that's just what showed when a few of their own lost everything. "We came back and won by 14 points I think. It was just an amazing feeling," said Kelly Kirchmann, a sophomore basketball player at Springville High School. This feeling should've lasted for Ms. Kirchmann and the Springville Orioles Girls basketball team Saturday night after winning their state championship game, but it didn't. "My coach pulled me out. When she told me about it I just kind of broke down because I honestly didn't expect anything like that to happen," said Ms. Kirchmann, who learned her house caught fire and completely burned down. She didn't know what to expect when coming home, but it certainly wasn't the entire town coming together. "The second we heard it wasn't even a thought. It was 'We're family. What are we going to do to take care of our family?'" explained Dee Wagaman, one of the player's moms. What should've just been a celebration for the team's win became a celebration overwhelmed by acts of compassion that started with the team. Read the rest of the story here.

Tim Schuett never expected to emerge as a local entrepreneur, but now he's operating his own business, taking his skills in carpentry, combined with a lot of electricity, to make Fractal Art. Fractal burning creates a "struck by lightning" effect by running a strong current of electricity through dampened wood. Mr. Schuett uses a high voltage transformer carrying about 2,500 volts. It's dangerous work, but he simply says he's always extremely cautious. The results are both unique and rewarding, " Working with wood has always been a passion of mine. At the end of the day, to just be able to stand back and say I did that and now it's more of an artsy form where I can put part of myself into it." Mr. Schuett's woodworking art ranges from large furniture pieces to small coasters. To look at more of his creations click  here.

T hese news items are provided by CBS2/FOX 28 
CBS2 Chief Meteorologist Terry Swails' Weather First Forecast

A strong storm is moving through the area today. One round of rain and a wintry mix moved through the area this morning. There will be a little break, but there will be another round on the way. Rain along with sleet and snow mixed in will move into the area late this morning and through the evening. Additionally winds will be cranking around 20 to 30 mph. Wet, sloppy snow will begin to accumulate, especially near and northeast of Waterloo. Down to the southwest there will be the potential for some accumulation, but it will be lighter. If surface temperatures can cool enough accumulation may be higher. In the far northeast, three to six inches will be possible, between Chickasaw County to Dubuque County down to the southwest to Waterloo/Cedar Rapids, 1 to 3 inches. Cedar Rapids to Waterloo will be close to an inch of accumulation with lower amounts to the southwest. There will be a break in the snow tonight then another round of light snow will move through on Tuesday. Accumulation will be near an inch area wide with temperatures in the low 30s.