Business Record Daily PM 2.13.24

BPC announces new racial equity advisory board members
In its third year, the initiative will expand to advise dsm magazine products

By Business Publications Corp. Staff

The Business Record launched its racial equity advisory board in 2020 as an initiative of the newsroom to regularly hear feedback about how coverage could be more representative and what stories related to racial equity we should be covering.

Numerous story ideas and connections from the board have led to more diversity in our news products, awards and events.

In 2024, we are broadening the board’s focus to all the stories we create company-wide at BPC, including the Business Record and dsm magazine. As a media company, we believe our products should mirror our community, both in the ways we celebrate diversity and facilitate meaningful conversations about equity.

We are pleased to announce nine new members who will join these current members: Dwana Bradley, Bridget Cravens-Neely, Brian Dennis, Tej Dhawan, Renee Hardman, Christine Her, Prakash Kopparapu, Tar Macias and Claudia Schabel.

Get to know our newest members.

Marcela Hermosillo-Tarin is division human resources director at Arvum, an operating company of Discovery Senior Living and an entrepreneur. She is a passionate advocate for creating inclusive and supportive environments where individuals feel respected and valued. She also holds a deep interest in integrated education and training programs, particularly apprenticeships, which provide opportunities to individuals who may otherwise lack access. Additionally, she co-founded Serenity by Design, a construction and staging business aimed at helping families create spaces that embody creativity and positive energy. Hermosillo-Tarin serves on the board of Avenue Scholars and recently fulfilled her term as the president of the Association for Talent Development - Central Iowa Chapter.

Antonio Kioko is a software engineering manager at John Deere with over 20 years of experience. He leads teams responsible for cloud enablement and document digitization. Kioko is a mentor with the Lead DSM Community Connect program and a co-founder of Tech Journey, a tech nonprofit whose vision is to motivate and empower youths with limited access to resources and who are underrepresented in information technology to take an interest in technology. He holds a bachelor’s degree in management information systems from the University of Northern Iowa and is currently pursuing a master’s degree at Iowa State University.

Corey Lewis is a clinical health coach at Broadlawns Medical Center, a safety net hospital in Des Moines. He is dedicated to aiding patients in achieving their health goals and managing chronic diseases. Driven by personal experiences and working with underserved populations in the health care system, Lewis established the Healthy Project, focusing on creating health equity content, including the Healthy Project podcast and the mental health series "Coffee Can’t Fix Everything." He also initiated My City My Health, a conference series dedicated to fostering global discussions on health equity.

Jerrica Marshall is the executive director of the Directors Council and is a passionate advocate for the advancement and equitable future of the Des Moines community. Marshall has taken the lead in creating and implementing community events, programs and initiatives. Her efforts are focused on providing valuable opportunities for minority communities, thereby contributing significantly to the overall well-being and prosperity of Des Moines. Through her strategic vision and dedication, Marshall continues to make a positive impact on the social fabric of the community she serves.

Amner Martinez is the founder and CEO of Infinite Resources, a local recruiting firm, and AmplifiedDsm, a local podcaster production company and platform. Martinez’s mission is to bridge the cultural gap in the workplace and community.

Julian Neely is an emerging community leader focused on supporting diverse community programs and strategies. Neely’s commitment extends to his civic involvement, where he serves on boards, committees and collectives focused on uplifting the equitable practices and amplifying the voices of underrepresented communities. He serves as the director of advancement and community investment at Polk County Housing Trust Fund, president of the Zeta Kappa Lambda chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. and a board member of the Supply Hive.

Manisha Paudel is the chief equity officer for the city of Des Moines. She has served in three other municipalities in a similar role. Her global experience working in multiple countries in southeast Asia and northeast Africa has shaped her worldview and passion for eliminating inequities and barriers so that everyone can achieve their full potential. Paudel has degrees from Drake University and DePaul University, and currently serves on multiple boards locally and nationally. Originally from Nepal with her teenage years spent in western Canada, she enjoys the outdoors and traveling.

Kourtney Perry is the CEO of Privacy LLC, an event planning and brand management company, and Ladie Lex Scented Candles, a candle manufacturing and retail company. She has a mission to provide peace in the light of bringing your vision to a reality and producing a product that helps combat mental health issues. She is a board member of the West Des Moines Chamber of Commerce and Taste of the Junction. Perry is passionate about racial equity toward small businesses and inclusive strategies within the community.

Madison Sconiers has 20-plus years of hands-on community outreach and engagement experience and a passion to close socioeconomic gaps to enrich all Black, Indigenous and people of color (BIPOC) communities of Iowa. After graduating from Iowa State University, Sconiers joined the corporate workforce, spending more than eight years with Wells Fargo as a loan originator, implementation consultant and DEI champion. After leaving Wells Fargo, she shifted to the nonprofit sector as a contracted consultant for various nonprofit organizations. Sconiers now serves as the training specialist for the Polk County Treasurer’s Office.

Have questions? Reach out to Business Record Associate Editor Mike Mendenhall (mikemendenhall@bpcdm.com) and dsm magazine Editor in Chief Michael Morain (michaelmorain@bpcdm.com).

NEWS BRIEFS

$3.4 million in biofuels grants awarded to 74 projects
The Iowa Renewable Fuels Infrastructure Program (RFIP) board approved 74 project applications totaling more than $3.4 million in cost-share funding for Iowa fuel retailers during its quarterly board meeting last week, a record amount awarded in a single quarter. According to a news release, 73 ethanol cost-share projects were awarded to install new ethanol infrastructure to support E15 expansion in 38 counties, as well as one biodiesel terminal project. The RFIP offers financial incentives to retailers for the installation, replacement and conversion of ethanol and biodiesel dispensing and storage infrastructure. This fiscal year, nearly $5.5 million has been awarded to 119 biofuels infrastructure projects. Since its inception, the program has awarded $80 million in grants, and private industry has invested over $240 million. To learn more, visit the program’s webpage.

Iowa schools invited to apply for national STEM education scholarship program
The National Lieutenant Governors Association has opened the application period for the annual Lt. Governors’ STEM Scholarship Program. The program awards up to $1,000 to 12 schools across the country to support STEM-related activities for youth. Funding can be used for programming, curriculum and equipment in the summer 2024 session. All public, private and tribal schools in the United States can apply here until March 15.

Builder, developer luncheon speakers announced
Speakers for the 17th annual Builder and Developer Luncheon, sponsored by Diligent Development and Peoples Company, include:

Adam Farver, board chairman of Pella Corp.
Selma Hepp, chief economist at CoreLogic.
Tiffany Tauscheck, president and CEO of Greater Des Moines Partnership.
Kalen Ludwig, a Realtor with Peoples Company.

The luncheon, which provides information about the Greater Des Moines area’s residential construction market, will be from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on March 5 at the Sheraton West Des Moines Hotel, 1800 50th St., West Des Moines. For more information or to get tickets, click here.

Driving along rural roads in north central Iowa on a glorious sunny summer day, you see what you likely expect: lush fields of corn and soybeans, classic red barns, massive silver maples. But then you come across something more improbable: a mural of cheery pink tulips on a traditional two-story white farmhouse. Looking closer, you see additional murals — a colorful bull, fluttering butterflies, frolicking rabbits — adorning the livestock building, grain bins and garage, plus sculptures dotting the property.

Welcome to Art Farm Iowa, a new 10-acre attraction in Worth County located two miles outside Northwood, a town of 2,100 near the Minnesota border. Situated on a 173-acre working farm, Art Farm opened on Labor Day weekend 2023, but it’s still a work in progress, scheduled for completion in 2025. Read more

MORE INSIDER CONTENT: See all Business Record Insider content and become an Insider.

NEWS BRIEFS

Governor’s over-the-counter birth control bill advances
Iowa Capital Dispatch: Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds’ proposal allowing over-the-counter birth control advanced through subcommittee Monday despite pushback from some conservative advocates. The three-member legislative panel unanimously voted to move forward with House Study Bill 642. The bill would authorize the state medical director to establish a standing order, allowing pharmacists to distribute self-administered hormonal contraceptives without a prescription. The order would cover oral birth control, vaginal rings and patches, but would not include drugs intended to induce abortion.

Lawmakers advance bill for Iowa school districts to arm trained staff
Cedar Rapids Gazette: Iowa House Republican lawmakers advanced a bill through a subcommittee Monday to create a pathway for Iowa school districts to arm trained staff. The legislation would also require Iowa’s 11 largest school districts to have at least one private security guard or school resource officer in each district high school. House Study Bill 675, titled the "Students First Safety Act," would create a new permit that allows employees at Iowa’s public and private schools and colleges to carry a firearm. Employees would be required to undergo a one-time "in-person legal training, including training on qualified immunity, annual emergency medical training, and annual communication training" approved by the Iowa Department of Public Safety.

Paramount lays off hundreds of workers
New York Times: Paramount, the owner of TV networks like Nickelodeon, MTV and Comedy Central, is laying off hundreds of employees, cutting costs as it continues its painful transition away from traditional television. About 3% of the company’s roughly 24,500 employees will be affected by the layoffs, according to a person familiar with the cuts, who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive corporate information. Bob Bakish, Paramount’s chief executive, said in a memo to employees that the cuts were part of a bid to "return the company to earnings growth."

ONE GOOD READ
Flight attendants don't earn their hourly pay until aircraft doors close. Here's why.

NPR: If air travel feels unusually taxing to you these days, you have company. Flight attendants are exasperated with fuller flights and leaner staffing. They say managing passengers' safety and onboard experience is more stressful than ever. Now, flight attendants hope airlines will step up with a major change to how they're paid. Even frequent travelers may not realize that at most airlines, flight attendants are not clocking paid time until you hear the words "The aircraft doors are now closed." It's a longstanding practice that flight attendants want changed. On Tuesday, with contract negotiations ongoing at a number of airlines, flight attendants will be picketing at dozens of airports across the U.S. to bring attention to that demand and others.

KCCI TOP STORIES

Teachers, staff jobs could be a part of a $3 million budget cut for West Des Moines schools
More than a dozen teaching positions are in jeopardy in the West Des Moines school district. The district faces a budget cut of $3 million. It was a packed audience at the West Des Moines school board Monday night. Parents, students and teachers are worried about the cuts — $2 million would come from cutting back on the use of outside vendors for many district services. The final $1 million would cut about 15 teachers and other staff positions. West Des Moines said the reason is simple. The number of students in West Moines is decreasing, with 375 fewer students this year than in 2019. West Des Moines and many other school districts are also getting less money from the state. Read more

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