Business Resiliency Coach Rina Jensen will offer coaching and peer group support to area entrepreneurs.
Eastern Iowa's business community isn't always
prepared for the emotional and psychological side of starting and running a business.
That's why Corridor-area entrepreneurial support organizations NewBoCo and MERGE are partnering with Rina Jensen, a business resiliency coach, to offer coaching and peer group support for area entrepreneurs.
Ms. Jensen will facilitate peer groups and individualized coaching, allowing business owners to connect with one another and talk through the challenges and stresses inherent in growing and running a business.
The services are available to any business owner or founder in Eastern Iowa, although NewBoCo and MERGE are subsidizing a portion of the cost of the program for their members.
"We expect business owners to bring incredible new ideas to life, to lead amazing organizations, to find the brilliant insight that the market needs - all while balancing financial, family, and other commitments," NewBoCo Executive Director Eric Engelmann said in a release "Our startup community has grown tremendously; investing in the emotional health of our founders is an important investment in our region's future."
"Entrepreneurship isn't easy," agreed Kate Moreland, Iowa City Area Development Group interim president. "The highs and the lows can put an immense amount of stress on founders. We want to support entrepreneurs in all aspects of their journey and feel that this service will help them make the time and space to focus on their emotional health."
The programs were created based on Ms. Jensen's certifications in Neuro-Linguistic Programming, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, and Mindfulness, as well as her own experiences as a business founder and member of the startup community.
"We can do more as a region to support entrepreneurs and small business owners," said Ms. Jensen. "This is a step in the right direction."
After an eighth-month closure, Villa's Patio in Marion will celebrate its re-opening with a ribbon cutting ceremony at 10 a.m. tomorrow.
Last June, firefighters responded to a fire at the restaurant located at 433 Seventh Ave. The fire was contained in the kitchen, but smoke caused damage to the entire building. Owner Andres Torres said the rebuild includes a more functional kitchen, interior remodel and improvements to the exterior of the building.
"We were able to expand the dining room and patio room, customers will notice a more modern, cleaner look to the interior," Mr. Torres said in a release. "It's the same great menu with a few new food and drink items."
Villa's Patio officially opened for business last week. In addition to the ribbon cutting, a grand opening celebration will be held on March 1.
KCRG: Coronavirus hits North Liberty bridal boutique
News partner KCRG-TV9 reports that the global coronavirus outbreak is hitting small businesses like North Liberty's Heart to Heart bridal boutique. The shop is struggling with supply chain issues, particularly on its prom dresses, which are mostly manufactured in China. Read the full story and watch the video here.
Study: Small business owner confidence at 15-month high
Small business owners are getting more optimistic about the economy,
according to the most recent survey from executive coaching organization Vistage in partnership with the Wall Street Journal.
The survey of 668 small business CEOs conducted Feb. 3-10 reflects the highest level of confidence among small businesses in the last 15 months, the second month in a row that number has jumped.
The CEO Confidence Index reached 105.7 in February, an 18% gain from the low point recorded in October 2019, when the index measured 89.9. All six of the factors that comprise the WSJ/Vistage Small Business CEO Confidence Index improved in February, including sentiment about the economy compared to last year, projections for economic conditions over the next 12 months, projections for revenue and profitability, as well as plans for workforce expansion and fixed investments.
"The overall intentions of small businesses point toward the continuation of the longest expansion on record," said University of Michigan researcher Richard Curtin, who analyzed the results, in a release.
In addition to the notable improvements in expectations about the economy, the February survey also recorded the most optimistic projections for sales revenues and profits since the middle of 2018.
This expansion is not without hurdles, however. Nearly two-thirds of small business CEOs said they were challenged by the labor market's impact on hiring and retention. Mr. Curtin said some small business owners are also struggling with uncertainty.
"Uncertainty is now driven by pending changes in tax and spending programs based on the outcome of the elections," he said. "The ultimate impact from the coronavirus on the global economy is as yet unknown. Despite these uncertainties, small businesses will remain a positive force for job growth and the overall economy."
In this week's consulting spotlight, Betsy McCloskey of Plaid Swan Inc. discusses how to market your business online
Traditionally, manufacturing marketing is focused on sales. While business development is the number one concern for most industries, in a world where Google is the first source of information, things have changed. A manufacturing business that wants to grow and thrive must take a different approach to marketing its product lines.
Start by asking these tough questions.
Who are we trying to reach?
What problem does our product solve?
Who is the end user of these products?
How do we exceed their expectations on every purchase?
How can we create brand loyalty?
Know who you are
One part of this is defining your brand visually, with logo, colors and fonts, but it also means defining who you are and what you stand for, including your mission, values and point of difference from your competitors.
This defines your reason for being and helps perfect your elevator speech so it can be crafted into copy for the website, printed collateral and internal training materials. Consistency is key when it comes to building a strong brand.
Know your customer
Look at your customer base and determine who your ideal/most profitable customer really is. What are the types of companies you are selling to? What do your customers have in common?
Forward the FREE, weekly CBJ on Small Business newsletter to your friends and colleagues, and share the feeling of being informed! Use our fast, one-minute subscription to the CBJ's newsletters
here, or check out our other subscription options
here.
See something we missed? Send tips, leads, corrections, etc. to [email protected].
Corridor Stocks
Short-Term Event Planner
Feb. 28
Villa's Patio & Mexican Restaurant Ribbon Cutting, by Marion Chamber of Commerce, 10-10:30 a.m., Villa's Patio, 433 Seventh Ave., Marion. Celebrate Villa's re-opening after a June 2019 fire that damaged the building. Free. For more information, visit
bit.ly/37B6Qmf.
March 4
1 Million Cups, by 1MC Cedar Rapids, 8:15-9:15 a.m., Geonetric, 415 12th Ave. SE, Cedar Rapids. Join for community connections, free coffee and presentations by entrepreneurs, established companies, experts and more. Free. For more information, visit
facebook.com/1MCICR.
1 Million Cups, by 1MC Iowa City, 9-10 a.m., MERGE, 136 S. Dubuque St., Iowa City. Join for community connections, free coffee and presentations by entrepreneurs, established companies, experts and more. Free. For more information, visit
facebook.com/1MillionCupsIC/.
2020 Ag Lookout, by Hills Bank, 10 a.m.-3:30 p.m., Riverside Casino & Golf Resort, 3184 Highway 22. Speakers will include Dr. Matt Darr, of Iowa State University; Dr. Kay Stefanik, of the Iowa Nutrient Research Center at ISU; Todd Hultman, DTN; and Howard Hagen and David
Repp, of Dickinson Law. Registration is required by Feb. 26. Free. To register, visit
conta.cc/2OtRHwA.
March 5
Wake Up Marion, by Marion Chamber of Commerce, 8-9 a.m., Travel and Transport Vacations, 1317 Seventh Ave., Ste. 210, Marion. Get to know the Travel and Transport team while enjoying conversation with other Marion Chamber members. Free. To register, visit
bit.ly/3bdfJ8P.
Commercial Real Estate Luncheon, by Corridor Business Journal, 11:30 a.m.-1:15 p.m., DoubleTree by Hilton, 350 First Ave. NE, Cedar Rapids. This is the CBJ's annual look into the commercial real estate market. Network with local business professionals and real estate experts. Cost: $65; $585 for table of 10. For more information, contact Ashley Moore at
[email protected] or call (319) 665-6397, ext. 311.
Youth Job Fair, by city of Iowa City, IowaWorks and Vocational Rehabilitation Services, 4-6 p.m., Robert A. Lee Community Recreation Center, 220 S. Gilbert, Iowa City. This job fair is geared toward individuals ages 16-21. There is a $10 registration fee for employers. For more information, call (319) 356-5022 or email
[email protected].
Headlines from KCRG-TV9
These news items are provided by KCRG-TV9
Retiring Johnson County Sheriff Lonny Pulkrabek announced today what he plans to do next -- run for office.
He's running for Iowa House District 73, which includes Cedar and Johnson counties. Pulkrabek has been sheriff since 2005 and has worked in law enforcement for 35 years. In a release, he says he's learned how policies made in Des Moines impact local communities, and that it's time for new leadership. Republican Bobby Kaufmann of Wilton has held the seat since 2013.
A trial has been rescheduled for an Iowa City man accused of killing his wife in April 2019.
Prosecutors have charged 67-year-old Roy Browning Junior with first-degree murder. Authorities say he stabbed his wife JoEllen Browning to death in April in their home. They say she was in the process of discovering that he hid financial transactions and she had a substantial life insurance policy. Roy's trial was initially set to begin on March 10. It's now rescheduled to start on Oct. 13 at 9 a.m. The Brownings were married for 42 years.
These news items are provided by KCRG-TV9
Your KCRG-TV9 First Alert Forecast
The last couple days of the work week will end with weather that's typical of late February. A mostly sunny sky is in place this afternoon with highs generally in the lower to middle 30s. Clouds pick up again tonight and may bring a handful of flurries late. Friday starts with clouds, but those should gradually decrease in the afternoon as highs again reach the lower 30s. The weekend looks phenomenal. Highs reach the lower 50s Saturday and around 60 Sunday, although snow-covered areas in northern Iowa are going to be a bit cooler. We're back in the 40s next week.
Business groups invest in emotional support for entrepreneurs
