For more than 30 years, Country Maid has embodied Iowa’s entrepreneurial spirit, from Ken and Marlene Banwart’s family basement operation in West Bend, IA to a modern facility with 125 employees distributing frozen pastries and cake rolls nationwide, the company has remained grounded in its mission: Helping Others Help Each Other.
When production efficiency began to decline, Country Maid leadership took the same proactive, people-first approach of communication, alignment, and leadership structure that had fueled their success from the start.
“We knew something needed to change in our production process, but we needed an outside perspective to really understand what was happening,” said Darin Massner, CEO of Country Maid. “CIRAS was the right partner to help us identify the root causes and develop a clear path forward.”
Assessing the Challenge
Massner connected with CIRAS Strategic Advisor Derek Thompson to take a fresh look at Country Maid’s operations. The CIRAS team observed production lines, reviewed metrics, and interviewed staff across departments to pinpoint where breakdowns were occurring—not just in the process, but across leadership and communication systems.
To support implementation, Joy Donald connected Country Maid with Scott Post Consulting, a longtime leadership development partner to define the root causes of inefficiencies and create a tailored improvement plan. The collaboration provided targeted expertise that allowed Country Maid to accelerate improvements and strengthen team alignment.
Creating a Roadmap for Sustainable Improvement
The result: a clear, phased roadmap to improve leadership alignment, streamline communication, and boost production flow; without overwhelming the organization.
“CIRAS helped us to lead better and work smarter,” Massner said. “They gave us a roadmap that connected leadership strategy with operational performance.”
The roadmap’s multi-phase structure helped the company prioritize its most urgent needs first, while laying the groundwork for long-term results.
A Partnership Built on Practical Problem-Solving
“When we address leadership and operations together, companies can get to the real root of a problem,” said Joy Donald. “In this case, the production issues weren’t just about equipment or throughput, they also involved leadership structure, communication, and clarity. When we address all those elements together, companies can achieve lasting results.”
This project builds on a long relationship between Country Maid and CIRAS. Over the years, the company has collaborated with CIRAS on supply chain mapping, process improvement, leadership development initiatives, and peer learning programs through the Iowa Lean Consortium (ILC) and the Manufacturing HR Collaboration Cohort.
Each engagement reinforces the company’s core belief: investing in people drives improvement at every level.
This broad, system-level approach reflects the CIRAS value proposition: helping Iowa businesses solve complex problems and stay one step ahead by providing expertise, connections, and the confidence to move forward.
Strengthening the Legacy of Helping Others
Since 1991, Country Maid’s story is one of innovation, adaptability, and community impact. What started as a family recipe for braided pastries has grown into a nationally recognized brand producing pastries, cake rolls, and cookie dough. Country Maid has helped fundraising groups across the 45 states raise more than $360 million.
Even with this growth, Country Maid remains deeply connected to investing in its own people.
“Our success has always come from the dedication of our employees,” he said. “Working with CIRAS is part of that commitment, giving our teams the tools and leadership support they need to keep improving every day.”
A Model for Continuous Growth
Country Maid is now using its roadmap to implement new leadership systems, improve performance metrics, and strengthen workforce development. The changes are not just solving problems; they are setting the stage for future growth with continued support.
Contact Joy Donald at jdonald@iastate.edu to learn more.