Sales objections are a normal (and valuable) part of the sales process. They show that your customer is still engaged. Instead of trying to “overcome” objections, focus on working through them to build a stronger relationship with your prospective clients. Follow this five-step approach: Listen fully without interrupting. Acknowledge the concern genuinely. Ask clarifying questions … Continue reading Handling Sales Objections: A Smarter Approach
Year: 2025
Q&A with Heath Reimers
Heath Reimers Engineering Services Project Manager Q: Tell me about your job and how it contributes to the overall goals of CIRAS to help companies prosper. I’m part of the CIRAS Engineering team, with a focus on Non-Destructive Evaluation (NDE). I help companies understand and apply NDE techniques and technologies to address their challenges—whether through … Continue reading Q&A with Heath Reimers
Stay Ahead of Tariff Changes in Your Supply Chain – May 16 Update
Tariff developments continue to affect Iowa companies, and staying informed is key to protecting your operations. CIRAS is here to help you understand the latest shifts and make proactive decisions. In our May 16 morning update, Marc Schneider, CIRAS Supply Chain Lead, shared the following insights: Steel and aluminum tariffs are in effect as of … Continue reading Stay Ahead of Tariff Changes in Your Supply Chain – May 16 Update
Understanding the SBA’s Two-Year Joint Venture Restriction
Joint ventures are an increasingly popular form of business for companies pursuing government contracts. But contractors pursuing small business set-aside contracts and/or socioeconomic set-aside and sole-source contracts (such as 8(a) contracts) must strictly adhere to the rules of the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA). One of the most important SBA joint venture rules–and one that … Continue reading Understanding the SBA’s Two-Year Joint Venture Restriction
GSA MAS Contract Holders: Time May Be Running Short to Get Your House in Order
GSA MAS Contract Holders: Time May Be Running Short to Get Your House in Order The U.S. General Services Administration (GSA) recently announced a new initiative that “put its Multiple Award Schedule (MAS) contractors on notice that it is making ‘major changes’ to ‘improve the effectiveness of the MAS Program’ by allowing contracts that fail … Continue reading GSA MAS Contract Holders: Time May Be Running Short to Get Your House in Order
CIRAS Staff News: Meet Edward Fitzsimons
Edward Fitzsimons joins CIRAS as a Digital Lab Engineer. Edward Fitzsimons brings a unique combination of military precision, technical expertise, and hands-on industry experience to his new role at the CIRAS Digital Manufacturing Lab, powered by Alliant Energy. Edward served for five years in the United States Marine Corps as a C-130 aircraft engine mechanic, … Continue reading CIRAS Staff News: Meet Edward Fitzsimons
CIRAS Staff News: Meet Tim Weiss
Tim Weiss joins CIRAS as a Strategic Advisor for Northeastern Iowa. Tim Weiss brings extensive experience in manufacturing leadership to his new role supporting companies in Dubuque, Cedar Rapids, Cedar Falls, Waterloo, and the surrounding region. Most recently, he served as Vice President of M&M Sales Enterprises, where he focused on operational efficiency, engineering solutions, … Continue reading CIRAS Staff News: Meet Tim Weiss
A trusted partner helping meat processors grow, provide quality products
HOLSTEIN, Iowa – Jordan Bremer flips through pages of hand-written notes documenting the many flavor combinations she’s tested over the years at Tiefenthaler Quality Meats, pausing on a page of one of her award-winning creations. “This one, I did a nacho patty, and it was my grand champion innovative beef in 2018,” she said. “That … Continue reading A trusted partner helping meat processors grow, provide quality products
Important Updates on CIRAS Funding
Update: On April 15, CIRAS was notified by NIST that they would receive six months of funding while NIST and the Department of Commerce review and evaluate next steps for the program. Original post April 8, 2025: I’m writing to you today to provide you with an important update that impacts how CIRAS serves … Continue reading Important Updates on CIRAS Funding
Avoiding Common Misconceptions About Calculating Small Business Status
Qualifying as a small business for purposes of federal government contracting requires a contractor to compare its average annual receipts or average employee count to the size standard associated with a particular North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code. For contractors in the construction and service industries, which generally use receipts-based size standards, there are … Continue reading Avoiding Common Misconceptions About Calculating Small Business Status