Mike Mendenhall

Entrepreneur Robert Abbott built a career founding and establishing digital strategy and design companies primarily in the city of Columbus, Ohio, 523 miles from his hometown of Maquoketa, Iowa.  His decision in 2021 to form the nonprofit innovation, entrepreneurship and coworking center Innovate 120 and house it in a historic bank building on the town’s…

Harry Smith’s 40-year career in journalism, the majority serving as an anchor and reporter for NBC News and CBS News, took him around the world.  He’s interviewed U.S. presidents, global political figures and celebrities and told the stories of unseen and everyday people.  In March, when Smith announced his retirement on NBC’s “Today” show following…

There was one recurring theme throughout the Business Record’s recent survey which asked Central Iowa marketing industry experts about the most significant industry trends changing or advancing their industry the year ahead: artificial intelligence.  Marketing professionals are using AI to analyze audience data and better target the people their clients want to reach at a…

In order for leaders to position Iowa’s organizations for success in a post-pandemic environment, we need a strong and solid infrastructure to support a healthy business climate. In the third and final virtual Envision Iowa Think Tank of 2024, we explored infrastructure needs, including energy, transportation, broadband, housing, child care, health care and more. In…

The future of the 8,000-square-foot space on Court Avenue that housed Spaghetti Works for 45 years until the restaurant’s closure in March 2023 will remain uncertain until at least Oct. 23. Larry Smithson, a prospective tenant of the space at 310 Count Ave. and a local bar operator, was granted a continuance Sept. 25 by the Des…

Concerns related to an unfavorable domestic economy topped the list of challenges facing Iowa businesses in the results of the Iowa Business Council’s latest six-month Economic Outlook Survey released today. Iowa business leaders who responded to the third-quarter survey say their overall sentiment for the state’s economy is still positive. “An unfavorable business climate –…

As part of Business Publications Corp.’s Envision Iowa think tank series, we spoke Aug. 22 with three experts who work with Iowa manufacturers, entrepreneurs and business owners about business opportunities and innovation in the state. The panel discussion, focused on what industries are poised for growth, included Mike Ralston, president of the Iowa Association of…

Iowa’s craft beer industry generated a total economic impact of $1.25 billion from brewery operations, trade and tourism in 2022 and is projected to continue to grow over the next five years, according to a report released in July by the Iowa Brewers Guild and commissioned by the Iowa Economic Development Authority. The study, conducted…

After a decade of rapid growth, Noreen Otto, executive director of the Iowa Brewers Guild, sees the state’s relatively young craft beer industry reaching maturity.   Otto has led the not-for-profit industry group, which represents more than 100 members from Iowa’s professional breweries and cideries, since August 2021.  The organization recently partnered with the Iowa…

Two manufacturers with footprints in the agriculture sector are moving forward with expansion projects at facilities in Western Iowa totaling $28.5 million. Cargill Inc., a global food, agricultural, financial and industrial products provider based in Minneapolis, is working on a $26 million project to add rail spurs and rail cars and build a redundant boiler…