Navigating Construction Industry Training (CIT) Funding Reimbursement: A Step-by-Step Guide

• gmallen

The construction industry and the Iowa Department of Transportation (DOT) understand the importance of maintaining qualified employees in the construction workforce. Better trained and more qualified workers produce a higher quality product. Experienced workers retire and skilled people to replace them are difficult to find. As a result, training employees working on Iowa DOT let … Continue reading Navigating Construction Industry Training (CIT) Funding Reimbursement: A Step-by-Step Guide

Gratitude in the Workplace

• jmearp

One of the biggest questions that companies and organizations face is how to show more appreciation for employees. Most companies and organizations recognize the many benefits. Appreciation and gratitude have been associated with: Increased work engagement and better performance (Lee, Bradburn, Johnson, Lin, & Chang, 2019). Improved team creativity (Pillay, Park, Kim, & Lee, 2020). … Continue reading Gratitude in the Workplace

Selected Small Business Mentor Protégé Programs 

• gmallen

Mentor-protégé programs offer numerous benefits to both mentors and protégés. These programs are designed to foster the development of small businesses by pairing them with experienced mentors who can provide guidance, support, and valuable resources. For protégés, the benefits include increased access to government contracting opportunities, enhanced business development, and improved technical and management skills. … Continue reading Selected Small Business Mentor Protégé Programs 

Q&A with Chris Thach

• jmearp

Q&A with Chris Thach Role: Information Technology Q: Tell me about your job and how it contributes to the overall goals of CIRAS to help companies prosper. I help everyone who interacts with companies be more efficient and accurate when accomplishing the tasks they need to do.  Q: What skills or experiences have prepared you … Continue reading Q&A with Chris Thach

Important Capabilities Statement Updates and Trends

• jmearp

It’s everyone’s favorite time of the year again…the time of year to start thinking about refreshing your capabilities statement, of course! A capabilities statement is a one-page document that is completely focused on marketing your business to a government agency as a potential client. It neatly summarizes who you are, what products and/or services you … Continue reading Important Capabilities Statement Updates and Trends

Q&A with John Michel

• jmearp

Q&A with John Michel Role: Government Contracting Specialist Q: Tell me about your job and how it contributes to the overall goals of CIRAS to help companies prosper. I am referred to as a Government Contract Specialist, however, I feel counselor is more appropriate for what we do on the APEX Accelerator team. The reason … Continue reading Q&A with John Michel

Iowa OSHA On-Site Consultation Program

• gmallen

The Iowa OSHA Consultation Program offers small – and medium-sized businesses top priority to use this no cost consultation service. The OSHA consultants can help employers reduce their injury and illness rates and help lower the workers’ compensation rates by assisting employers improve their safety and health management system. Most importantly though, Consultation can help … Continue reading Iowa OSHA On-Site Consultation Program

Celebrating Mike Ralston’s Service to CIRAS

• jmearp

This month, CIRAS celebrated Mike Ralston, President of the Iowa Association of Business and Industry (ABI) and long-standing member of the CIRAS Advisory Board, for his many years of dedicated service. Ralston’s leadership, commitment, and deep understanding of Iowa’s business landscape have played a pivotal role in ensuring that business leaders have the climate, connections, … Continue reading Celebrating Mike Ralston’s Service to CIRAS

CIRAS Staff News: Meet Dawn Ealy

• jmearp

Dawn Ealy joins CIRAS as the new Workforce Services Director. For the past 13 years, Dawn has worked in consulting, with the last four years dedicated to running her own consulting business. Within this practice, she specialized in systems design, process improvement, strategic planning facilitation, and delivering training in project management, process improvement, meeting facilitation, … Continue reading CIRAS Staff News: Meet Dawn Ealy

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