Author: jmearp

Revolutionizing Custom Quartz Designs with CIRAS Expertise

David and Aaron Bush wanted to take their custom quartz countertop designs to the next level, but as Aaron noted, “We didn’t even know what questions to ask to get started.” The father-son duo, along with founder Pat Malloy, own Quartz Impressions, an Iowa-based company that stands out as a leading source in the country … Continue reading Revolutionizing Custom Quartz Designs with CIRAS Expertise

APEX: Your First Call for Government Contracting Support

The general manager of an Iowa cleaning company was ready to throw in the towel on government work until someone suggested connecting with CIRAS. “I was passed from person to person and organization to organization until someone finally mentioned CIRAS,” said Brent Hugen of Absolute Cleaning Systems. “I decided I’d make one more call, and … Continue reading APEX: Your First Call for Government Contracting Support

How the CIRAS-Ivy Partnership Impacts Iowa Companies

CIRAS routinely connects Iowa companies with technical and business capabilities at Iowa State University, including faculty, research laboratories, and students. One example is the highly collaborative relationship between CIRAS and Debbie and Jerry Ivy College of Business. Both focus on similar business interests, including business analytics, entrepreneurship, supply chain management, human resources, marketing, and international … Continue reading How the CIRAS-Ivy Partnership Impacts Iowa Companies

Manufacturing 4.0 Funding: New Opportunity for Iowa Companies

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

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

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

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

Senator Ernst’s Entrepreneur Expo: A Gathering For Growth In Ames

This August, Ames will host the second Senator Ernst’s Entrepreneur Expo, an event for Iowa’s small business community. Supported by CIRAS APEX, America’s SBDC, and Senator Joni Ernst, the expo aims to connect Iowa small businesses and local entrepreneurs with government contracting opportunities and insights into federal innovation programs. Following the success of last year’s … Continue reading Senator Ernst’s Entrepreneur Expo: A Gathering For Growth In Ames