Editors note: The CBJ offices will be closed from Dec. 24 to Jan. 1, and there will be no CBJ on Small Business newsletter next week. It will resume Jan. 3. Have a safe and happy holiday.
Though she began her career working in hospital operating rooms, it was non-traditional medicine that ultimately helped Dusty Swehla battle her way out of addiction. Now, with the motto "living the life you love, naturally," the Cedar Rapids native has opened a business devoted to holistic, natural healing remedies.
"Even 10 years ago, if you'd talked to me about this, I would have said, 'I don't know about all of that,'" said Ms. Swehla, who opened
Panda Marie at 1200 N. Center Point Road in Hiawatha just after Thanksgiving. "But it has worked for me. When I was trying to get clean, I went to the doctor who prescribed Antabuse and other meds to quit drinking, but nothing worked. I needed therapy to chisel away at the layers and get to the actual problem - and I found a different outlet to help myself and others get better."
Panda Marie - a name made up of the name Ms. Swehla's parents almost chose and her middle name - offers yoga, reiki and craniosacral therapy as well as aromatherapy, ear candling, life coaching and acupressure. In addition to addiction, she said, natural therapies can help with depression, trauma, migraines, PTSD, addiction, neck and back pain, anxiety and insomnia.
Business so far, "has been super good. People been super receptive and curious," Ms. Swehla said, adding that, inspired by Tony Robbins, her marketing secret is "to be completely passionate about what I'm offering."
After a 12-year-career in the operating room at Mercy Hospital, Ms. Swehla's first foray outside traditional medicine came as director of Ideal Protein at Innovative Aesthetics where she helped clients adopt a healthy lifestyle and lose weight. But during that time, she writes on her web page, she was living a double life, encouraging her clients to make responsible, healthy choices while drinking at home.
It was while attending Alcoholic Anonymous meetings in 2014 that she was introduced to yoga and meditation - and took the first step in a life-changing trek: "I began to consider how wonderful it would be to use my journey to help others who are dealing with addiction, trauma, anxiety and depression to help them move out of the dark place they may be living in and awaken to see the beautiful life that is at our fingertips."
Today, in addition to teaching yoga classes, offering one-on-one treatment sessions and selling
essential oils, organic teas, yoga items accessories and other items from 10 a.m. to noon daily, Ms. Swehla pays it forward teaching Yoga of 12 Step Recovery classes - a program combining the wisdom of yoga with traditional 12-step programs - to kids aged 13-17 struggling with addictions of their own.
"It's about connecting, taking time to pause, breathe and think about what you're going to be doing," she said. "Pausing to breathe and holding the poses. Surrendering. Knowing when to say no. The changes I've seen in past four-and-a-half months with these kids is just incredible."
Melk offers all-day breakfast - and, eventually late night comfort
Offering up dozens of cereal brands, shakes and all-day breakfast, downtown Iowa City's newest restaurant entrant promises to be open early, late and "
whenever you're feelin' it."
Melk Diner & Cereal Bar officially opened at 116 E. Washington St. last Friday following a soft opening earlier in the week featuring breakfast favorites from chicken and waffles to egg "Melkmuffins," sandwiches, burgers and a rotating variety of breakfast cereals served in either a bowl or mixed into a shake.
Though Melk is now open from 1-9 p.m., owners have said they plan to become a late night destination for hungry students in search of comfort food in the wee hours. The restaurant is located in the former Food Republic space on what they call "dead center of the hottest block downtown."
"Started by a few close friends, Melk is a sleek, fresh expression of personality," the restaurant promises on its web page, adding the cafe offers "an unconventional atmosphere, food that straight slaps, and a staff you'll wanna DM."
In the CBJ: The mega-mall grapples with middle age
On July 29, 1998, Coral Ridge Mall, the 1.2-million-square-foot self-proclaimed "shopping playground in the Heartland," opened just off Interstate 80.
It wasn't the intent of its owners, but over its two decades, the mall has become a mirror reflecting the technological, economic and social forces disrupting the retail industry. The changes have claimed two of Coral Ridge's anchor stores, and even its owner.
Twenty years ago, online shopping was more of a curious experiment than a reliable source of goods. Roughly a quarter of American households - about 40 million - enjoyed internet access, and Paypal launched in December 1998. Online sales generated about $2.4 billion the previous year, and Amazon, until then strictly a bookseller, announced its plans to expand its inventory. About 69 million Americans owned a mobile phone, used for calls, text messages and little else.
Back then, if you wanted toys or clothes or electronics, you were likely headed to the mall.
Coral Ridge's developers, General Growth Properties - the shopping-center powerhouse started in 1954 when three brothers borrowed $1.2 million to develop Cedar Rapids' Town and Country Shopping Center - decided to go big with its new state-of-the-art shopping center, including not just stores and a food court, but attractions like a skating rink, a carousel, a movie theater and the Iowa Children's Museum.
Amenities and attractions such as the Iowa Children's Museum have helped draw patrons to Coral Ridge Mall in Coralville as large malls continue to struggle.
Small business owners get creative to fill job vacancies
Small business owners are taking increasingly drastic steps to fill open positions, according to a new CNBC/SurveyMonkey report.
Small business owners, desperate to fill open positions, are being forced to get increasingly creative - paying higher wages, relaxing drug policies and considering candidates with criminal pasts -
according to a new CNBC/SurveyMonkey Small Business Survey.
The fourth-quarter survey showed that nearly one in five small business owners have open positions they have been unable to fill for at least three months, ticking up two percentage points from last quarter.
More than half of small-business owners in the survey - 56 percent - say they've offered to pay higher wages in order to attract qualified workers to fill open positions. Another 31 percent say they've offered to pay for training or additional education to help underqualified candidates meet job requirements. Twelve percent have offered to help candidates pay off student loans.
"The shift toward greater worker compensation is more palatable because, by and large, Main Street is still doing steady business," said study authors
Laura Wronski and Jon Cohen, both of SurveyMonkey, in a commentary accompanying the study. "More than half of small-business owners responding to the survey say
current conditions for their businesses are 'good.' Small-business owners who say things are 'good,' 'middling' or 'bad' are nearly equally likely to say they're having trouble hiring workers, indicating that the problem is widespread."
A small, but still substantial, number of small-business owners say they've cut back on some of their hiring standards in order to fill open roles, with 14 percent saying they relaxed their company drug policy and 12 percent saying they considered candidates with criminal records for the first time.
Other small-business owners report making different sorts of compromises. Just over a quarter have offered benefits "beyond what has typically been available to other employees," and another 19 percent wrote in descriptions of the different ways they're trying to attract good workers. A few common themes emerged:
Workplace flexibility. "Flexibility with hours" and "flexible work" emerged as frequent write-in responses. Some small-business owners added that their workers had parenting commitments or schedule needs that they wanted to accommodate. Flexible hours and telecommuting options have grown in popularity, especially as millennials have come to dominate the workforce.
On-the-job skills. Some small-business owners mentioned "mentoring" and "apprenticeship programs" as extra incentives they offer new hires to help get them up to speed.
Miscellaneous. One small-business owner said they secured an H-2B visa for a new hire. Another mentioned reducing the regular workweek to four days to create a three-day weekend.
Consulting: Change your workplace with the power of 'thank you'
In this week's consulting spotlight, Greg Dardis of Dardis Communications outlines the six ways saying thanks can spark meaningful change.
Every day I work with words, helping clients articulate more effective messages. My mission is to help them speak as well as they think. The senior executives, mid-level managers and new college graduates I coach are all smart - they simply need some guidance to demonstrate those smarts.
Choosing words with great care is my business. And over the years, I've come to a conclusion on what may be the most powerful word in the English language: thanks.
Saying thanks immediately makes a person feel seen, appreciated and valued - all incredibly powerful emotions. It can also work in profound ways.
It feels good to be thanked and to express thanks. It slows us down enough to recognize how fortunate we are, to appreciate our lives and the people in it.
This is the season of giving thanks, and the time to make a practice of gratitude.
Fascinating research has uncovered the benefits of gratitude, which improves physical and psychological health.
Grateful people experience fewer aches and pains and report feeling healthier than others, studies find. They're also more likely to take care of their health, which contributes to greater longevity.
Another compelling finding relates to mental health. Gratitude reduces toxic emotions - from envy to resentment to regret - and can even ease depression. It activates your brain in significant and lasting ways, resulting in greater sensitivity in the medial prefrontal cortex, the region associated with decision-making and memory.
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Corridor Stocks
Short-Term Event Planner
Jan. 3
Ribbon Cutting: Kwik Star, by Marion Chamber of Commerce, 11 a.m., 1700 Banner Drive, Marion. Help celebrate the opening of Kwik Star's new location at Squaw Creek Crossing. Free.
Jan. 7
Coralville Roundtable, by Iowa City Area Chamber of Commerce, noon-1 p.m., Wig & Pen Pizza Pub, 1220 Highway 6 W., Iowa City. Roundtables are social lunches over the noon hour. All are invited to network, keep up-to-date with chamber and community events and frequent a member restaurant or business. Free. Questions can be directed to Emily at (319) 337-9637 or
[email protected].
J
an. 8
TechBrew AM, by Technology Association of Iowa, 8-9 a.m., Cedar Rapids Metro Economic Alliance, 501 First St. SE, Cedar Rapids. TechBrew AM is an informal networking event for entrepreneurs, technologists, businesspeople and funders. Free. For more information visit
bit.ly/2Udt34l.
Monthly Roundtable, by SCORE of East Central Iowa, noon-1 p.m., Granite City Food & Brewery, 4755 First Ave. SE, Cedar Rapids. A business topic will be discussed, along with
networking among participants. Entrepreneurs and those thinking about starting a business are invited. Free. For more information or to pre-register, visit
scorecr.org.
Jan. 9
1 Million Cups, by 1MC, 9-10 a.m., Geonetric, 415 12th Ave. SE, Cedar Rapids and MERGE, 136 S. Dubuque St., Iowa City. Join for community connections, startup pitches and free coffee. Free. For more information, visit
facebook.com/1MCICR.
Headlines from CBS2/FOX 28
These news items are provided by CBS2/FOX 28
With just days left in 2018, Cedar Rapids Police are reporting a decrease in violent crimes. However, a shooting early Wednesday morning highlights another type of call that's on the rise. The latest numbers from CRPD on reports of shots fired show 111 reports in 2018. That includes seven incidents in December, including the shooting Wednesday. Police were called around 3 a.m. Wednesday for a report of a woman with gunshot injuries at 1640 Miami Drive NE. The 19-year-old woman reportedly rang the doorbell to the home to ask for help. Police then found another gunshot victim, a 27-year-old man, at 1623 Park Towne Court NE, just down the street from the first call. That man was seriously injured, and both victims were taken to the hospital. Police say they don't believe the shooting was random and ask anyone with information to call them at (319) 286-5491.
The Salvation Army of Cedar Rapids is looking for a big push in its Red Kettle fundraising campaign as Christmas growers nearer.
A press release says the organization only has about 40 percent of its $763,000 goal raised with only a few ringing days left. "It is vital for our organization to make our goal of $763,000. Without these funds we will not be able to provide the type of assistance we are used to for those in need in our community" said Shalla Ashworth, Director of Development and Communications. "The next six days are crucial to our fundraising campaign, with Christmas Eve being one of the largest giving days bringing in an average $17,000. " The bells stop ringing at 4 p.m. on Christmas Eve. If you'd like to volunteer to ring bells, you can still sign up by calling (319) 354-9131. You can also sign up to volunteer or donate money at www.sacedarrapids.org. Donations by check are also welcome and can be mailed to 1000 C Ave NW, Cedar Rapids, IA 52405.
These news items are provided by CBS2/FOX 28
CBS2 Chief Meteorologist Terry Swails' Weather First Forecast
We're in for a bit of a reality check as colder air moves in for the rest of the week.
If cold air moves in before the rain moves out, some wet snowflakes may mix in. Otherwise it will be cloudy, cooler, and windy. Skies will clear some tonight and temperatures will drop into the 20s by morning. With strong winds, wind chills will be near 10 Friday morning. The weather will be cool and calm through the weekend. There will be a mix of sun and clouds with temperatures in the low to mid-30s in the afternoons. Nights will be cold with temperatures near 20.
Panda Marie owner aims to share her journey to natural health 
