The new unemployed: Downturn leaving veteran workers jobless longer

Iowans who seemed to be in some of the safest jobs before the recession are now facing some of the longest waits in limbo to find new employment. Veteran workers who once held midlevel and management jobs constitute what some are calling “the new unemployed.”

E-manners: Be polite when using your smartphone at work

You have a shiny new BlackBerry, iPhone or other smartphone. But the thing you bought to keep you connected could end up separating you from your co-workers.

Getting in the bike habit

Whether it’s for their health, the environment or just because it’s fun, more Eastern Iowans are biking to work, especially during Bike to Work Week.

Mercy pharmacy reopens with robotic system

Mercy Medical Center now features a new, fully automated, 7,500-square-foot pharmacy that features a robotic medication system, fully integrated with a drug storage carousel, high speed packager and special software, that is central to the operation.

Furniture store closes family tradition

“Sold” signs hang on sofas and chairs at Horbach Furniture, signifying more than one or two pieces moving out the door. This is a “Going Out of Business” sale, one that brings an end to the store that has served the Tama-Toledo area for 43 years.

It ended with an auction last weekend to liquidate all inventory.

“I’m ready for a change,” says owner Larry Horbach, 45, as he rests for a moment on an unsold sofa. “I want to provide a different service to this community.”

Justice system relies on interpreters

Most people would assume court interpreters fluent in Spanish are in high demand. But who would have thought such a demand for Kirundi would exist in Linn County district courtrooms? Kirundi is a Bantu language spoken in Burundi, Africa, and Samuel Nzoikorera is the go-to guy when someone from that area is accused of a crime in Linn County. Statewide, the demand is greatest for Spanish interpreters, followed by Bosnian, Croatian, Arabic and Vietnamese. The state has 249 certified and non-certified interpreters. The roster lists no Kirundi speakers.

Biz orgs, internships, mentoring help future entrepreneurs

Parker Valdez always wanted to be an entrepreneur, and he started early.

Valdez, a senior at Linn-Mar High School, started his first business with his brother, Preston, when he was 9 years old. The brothers handed out fliers in their neighborhood offering to mow lawns. They have been encouraged by their father, Perry, who owns his own business, Ultimate Touch Detail Center in Cedar Rapids.

Valdez says the experience of running his own business has been invaluable.

Sustainable building practices hot

Flooding may have damaged Stamats’ 75-year-old headquarters last June, but the company knew it would rebuild and, in doing so, would embrace the green trend.
“It was time to practice what we preach,” said Guy Wendler, president and CEO of Stamats.

Stamats was familiar with green building practices from its business-to-business publications, Buildings, Interiors & Sources and Archi-Tech.

Employees were in favor of the idea and “it just made economical sense,” Wendler said.

Recession isn’t stopping entrepreneurs

When Susan Donohoe started plans to open her own physical therapy business two years ago, the economy was still solid. Since that time, however, things began changing quickly. “We didn’t know this was going to happen when we started plans. In August, I had two banks vying for my business,” she said. Today the country is in a full blown recession, credit is tight and people are trying to save as much as they can. That includes co-pays. But Donohoe refuses to be discouraged.

Framing a Dream

Sometimes, if you’re fortunate, your passion becomes your profession.

Ron Mason, owner of Gallery One, 705 Highway 1 West in Iowa City, initially taught biology at a high school near Independence, Mo. Observing unsatisfactory changes in secondary education, Mason moved to Iowa City to attend graduate school at the University of Iowa with a major in botany.