CIRAS and the Iowa Economic Development Authority (IEDA), in partnership with the 4.0 Manufacturing Group and Northeast Iowa Community College (NICC), recently hosted a webinar led by Amy Lask, vice president of Business and Community Solutions at NICC. The webinar highlighted the upcoming Manufacturing 4.0 funding set to open in early 2025. The grant will … Continue reading Manufacturing 4.0 Funding: New Opportunity for Iowa Companies
Year: 2024
CIRAS Staff News: Meet Heath Reimers
Heath brings over 20 years of industry experience across several sectors, including specialty steel and off-road equipment manufacturing. His areas of expertise include design, process specification control, CAD/CAM design, and prototyping. Heath is also skilled in implementing process improvements, optimizing tooling, and adopting digital solutions to enhance production efficiency. Heath joins CIRAS from John Deere, … Continue reading CIRAS Staff News: Meet Heath Reimers
CIRAS Staff News: Meet Jordan Joynt
Jordan Joynt joined CIRAS as a Marketing Project Manager with the Business Team. Jordan brings a robust skill set to CIRAS, with expertise in digital marketing, marketing strategy, content development, and print marketing. His experience includes creating and executing effective marketing plans, enhancing brand visibility through targeted campaigns, and crafting compelling content across various platforms. … Continue reading CIRAS Staff News: Meet Jordan Joynt
Emily Betz Takes on Expanded Role with the Iowa Lean Consortium (ILC)
We are excited to announce that Emily Betz has been appointed Assistant Director of the Iowa Lean Consortium (ILC) and Process Improvement Project Manager. In this role, she will assume expanded leadership responsibilities, guiding the strategic direction of the ILC. Tracy Schuster, Executive Director of the ILC, shared, “Emily’s new role accurately reflects her leadership … Continue reading Emily Betz Takes on Expanded Role with the Iowa Lean Consortium (ILC)
Q & A with Jake Behrens
Q & A with Jake Behrens Role: Engineering Team Lead and Project Manager Q: Tell me about your job and how it contributes to the overall goals of CIRAS to help companies prosper. I have two roles within CIRAS: Engineering Team Lead and Project Manager. Our team is fantastic and I’m lucky to have them and … Continue reading Q & A with Jake Behrens
Recap: Mentor-Protégé Summit 2024
CIRAS APEX Accelerator Government Contracting Specialists participated in the Mentor-Protégé Summit 2024 in Detroit. The event highlighted the immense value of the Mentor-Protégé Program for companies aiming to excel in government contracting. Key Takeaways: Focus on Collaboration: The summit emphasized the power of collaboration between established companies and emerging businesses. The structured mentor-protégé relationships were … Continue reading Recap: Mentor-Protégé Summit 2024
Using AI to Transform Data into Action
Harnessing the Power of Artificial Intelligence for Strategic Decisions Artificial Intelligence (AI) is changing the way companies manage and use their data. By analyzing vast amounts of information, AI helps predict trends and make smarter decisions, turning data into a valuable resource. One key area where AI is making a difference is in maintenance and … Continue reading Using AI to Transform Data into Action
Empowering Leadership in Manufacturing: An Insightful Q&A with Mike Wagner of White Rabbit Group
Leadership is a critical component of success in the manufacturing industry. In this Q&A, we speak with Mike Wagner of the White Rabbit Group, an expert in leadership development, who shares practical insights and strategies to help companies cultivate effective leaders and improve their overall performance. Q: Can you tell me about your background and … Continue reading Empowering Leadership in Manufacturing: An Insightful Q&A with Mike Wagner of White Rabbit Group
Q & A with John Roberts
Q & A with John Roberts Role: Industry Extension Specialist IV Q: Tell me about your job and how it contributes to the overall goals of CIRAS to help companies prosper. My CIRAS job has evolved over the past 27 years. Working initially as a student doing AutoCAD to my current position of providing direct … Continue reading Q & A with John Roberts
Elevating Company Success through Cultural Transformation
The term “culture” is often used differently and invokes various interpretations. When it comes to a business and its workforce, though, we prefer describing culture as the personality of a company. Just like people, those personalities have benefits and challenges. Companies prioritizing innovation and action can align effectively with employees who share similar values, though … Continue reading Elevating Company Success through Cultural Transformation