Pearl City ProgressNewsletter for the Greater Muscatine Chamber of Commerce & Industry

Volume 20 Number 12 December 2011

GMCCI works to improve the business climate and community quality of life by taking a leadership role in the areas of business growth, recruitment, information, advocacy, community marketing, improvement initiatives, leadership

development, and visitor services.

The Greater Muscatine Chamber of Commerce & Industry (GMCCI) has been involved with many projects during the last five years. What follows is an overview of our accomplishments.

Much of our work has been tending to the retention and expansion of the strong businesses that call Muscatine home. Efforts to retain and grow existing industries generally provide approximately 75% to 85% of a community’s growth and Muscatine is not an exception to this rule.

During this period, even with a struggling economy, Muscatine has kept pace with significant projects that GMCCI has been proud to support.

These projects amounted to capital • expenditures of approximately $37 million and impacted through growth or retention of 371 jobs. Much of our support for these local • businesses stems from our ongoing scheduled visits which provide opportunities to understand the business communities needs while also learning ways to serve them through these types of projects. GMCCI made 150 existing industry visits during this period.

Muscatine has a business climate that is conducive to success. The public-private partnerships that have been fostered over time are worth maintaining and

strengthening. GMCCI’s role in these efforts has taken clear form and will continue to be seen as a key part of what we do to support business.

Our participation at the State level • with the Iowa Chamber Alliance to provide the voice of Muscatine business to one of the most influential entities in the state. This has positioned GMCCI to assist our legislators to understand those issues that impact Muscatine’s businesses and our community. Our efforts locally to shepherd the • Refuse Flow Control Committee to aid businesses and the city to come to a plan that all parties can work within is a great example of GMCCI’s efforts to work on the behalf of business for the good of the city. We work hard to maintain an open and beneficial relationship in the public sector at all levels of government and recognize the strength and value of the

relationships we have with both the city and county officials.

Last, but certainly not least is our recognition and understanding of the need for GMCCI to support the efforts to strengthen and build the workforce of Muscatine.

We continue to support Muscatine’s • Young Professional’s Network. Our local YPN has been one of the fastest growing in the state, and continues to provide opportunities for the YPNs to network with others and to value our community.The longstanding program of • Leadership Muscatine continues to provide opportunities for those individuals identified as future leaders of the community to gain a better understanding of their community and how they might be more engaged.

GMCCI’s Economic Development Efforts

GMCCI Board of Directors2010-2011

OfficersChair of the BoardDavid Penn, MonsantoChair ElectCara Fuller, Bridgestone BandagImmediate Past ChairScott Ingstad, First National BankTreasurer & Chair-FinanceRick Smith, Stanley ConsultantsChair – MembershipLynn Allison, Ruhl & RuhlChair – Community DevelopmentPam Collins, Musser Public LibraryChair - Economic DevelopmentDoug Krieger, Krieger Motor CompanyChair - Public PolicyCara Fuller, Bridgestone Bandag Chair - Tourism and HospitalityTom Hendricks, Taco John’s of Muscatine

DirectorsLynn Allison, Ruhl & RuhlBob Allbee, Muscatine Community CollegeDoug Buster, Fabricators PlusGary Carlson, HNI CorporationPam Collins, Musser Public LibraryBill Decker, Muscatine Community School DistrictCara Fuller, Bridgestone Bandag, LLCBrenda Garcia-Van Auken, State Farm InsuranceNick Gow, Young Professionals NetworkTom Green, H.J. Heinz, L.P.Kevin Harle, SSABJames Hayes, Trinity MuscatineTom Hendricks, Taco John’s of MuscatineStan Howe, Member EmeritusScott Ingstad, First National BankSteve Jameson, Muscatine JournalGreg Kistler, Central State BankPaul Kraushaar, Muscatine Physical TherapyDoug Krieger, Krieger Motor CompanyJohn Kuhl, Muscatine Foods CorporationSal LoBianco, Muscatine Power & WaterGregg Mandsager, City of MuscatineJay McKee, McKee Button CompanyAnn Meeker, Pearl PlazaDave Mohr, Eastern Iowa Light & PowerBrett Nelson, Musco Lighting, LLCKasey O’Kelly, Hy-Vee DrugstoreDan Paca, Kent FeedsDavid Penn, MonsantoJim Reynolds, Reynolds EngineeringGary Slight, Community BankRick Smith, Stanley ConsultantsNancy Snaadt, Alliant EnergyDave Watkins, Muscatine County

Renewed MembersCongratulations to the following members, who celebrate their GMCCI membership anniversary in December!

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Renewed MembersFareway Stores-MuscatineGenerations Area Agency on AgingThe HallTree BoutiqueRSC Equipment RentalComprehensive Rehab IncKaplan UniversityPizza RanchAngell Investments IncRoush Painting LLCCrawford CompanySunnyBrook of Muscatine

Years1110887654333

New MembersSendOutCardsKristine Haskell(319) 400-7334www.SendOutCards.com/41577

SendOutCards is a greeting card service that allows you to go online and create real, personalized greeting cards. You can write them in your own handwriting, use your signature and add photos and gifts if you like. We print them, address them, stamp them and mail them for you. With SendOutCards you can send 5 or 500 greeting cards in less than 5 min.

The Elms Supper Club & Lounge563-263-8123www.facebook.com\theelmsmuscatinetheelmsmuscatine@gmail.com

Please come make yourself at home at The Elms Supper Club & Lounge, Muscatine’s oldest NEW hotspot! Enjoy top quality food at honest prices in a comfortable, retro-eclectic atmosphere where they are always happy to serve you. Open for lunch & dinner, come enjoy a variety of menu items, select from their extensive beer collection or fully-stocked bar while seeing people who appreciate seeing you! Located on Grandview just off of the bypass. We aren’t out of the way, just out of the ordinary!!

December 8New Member Orientation

8:00 – 9:15 a.m.GMCCI Office

December 8Business After Hours5:00 – 7:00 p.m.

Conn Communications

December 8YPN’s Third Thursday

5:30 – 7:30 p.m.Plamor Lanes

December 13Learn Over Lunch: “Good Sugars, Bad Sugars, Who’s Who and What’s What?”Presented by: Dr. Angie Wathan, D.C.

and Jessie WathanNoon to 1:30 p.m.

Button Factory Wood Fire Grille

Upcoming GMCCI Events

GMCCI members enjoyed a fun-filled evening of social networking at Business After Hours on Thursday, November 10, at the Crystal Team Room, Muscatine Mall. The evening’s event was co-hosted by The Crystal Tea Room, Nepple Law, Pearce Virtual Solutions and Salvatore’s Ristorante.

Members took in a new level of elegance with the tea room dressed in fitting fall flair for the night’s event. Each sponsor had the chance to mingle with members

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Co-Hosts Displayed Spectacular Business After Hours at Crystal Tea Room

and provide information regarding their business and services. Salvatore’s Ristorante provided an array of Italian entrees, with the Crystal Team Room showcasing their fabulous desserts.

Each sponsor donated gift items for door prizes, the winners were as follows. Frannie Schmidt, Central State Bank, Holiday Arrangement from Pearce Virtual Solutions; Toni Klaren, Muscatine Mall, Ioway Printing Gift Certificate from Salvatore’s; Tracy McGinnis, Central

State Bank, $25 Chamber Dollar$ from Nepple Law and Hazel Green, Crystal Tea Room, $25 Chamber Dollar$ from Nepple Law. Members from Real Estate Resource Associates were chosen to be featured as December’s Member Spotlight. Please read more about Real Estate Resource Associates on page 5.

This month’s Business After Hours will be held on Thursday, December 8, 5 to 7 p.m., hosted by Conn Communications, 2923 Cedar Street #1, Muscatine.

Aaron Eversmeyer, River Rehab and Jean and James Nepple, Nepple Law, enjoy an evening of food and drink at Business After Hours, held at The Crystal Tea Room.

Melissa Shore, Enterprise Rent-A-Car, and Warren Schwandke, Muscatine Journal, take part in speed networking during Business After Hours, held at The Crystal Tea Room.

Full Service Graphic Design & Printing Company

216 Sycamore Street, Suite 103Muscatine, Iowa563.264.6501

Visit www.sycamoreink.com for the latest specials.

Grow Your Business with GMCCI and SCORE

Popular SCORE Online Workshops When Social Goes Local Listen anytime! Using Social Media to Grow Your Business with SCORE and HP Listen anytime! Savvy Social Media with Jeanne Rossomme Listen anytime!

Robbin Block has been evangelizing the benefits of marketing strategy for over 25 years. Part geek, part creative, she’s brought her in-depth knowledge of the Web and its strategic application to business to companies of all sizes and to thousands of readers via her book, Social Persuasion: Making Sense of Social Media for Small Business. This month, Robbin discusses some of social media’s many implications on the crafting and execution of winning small business marketing plans.

What’s the biggest misperception about social media’s role in marketing, and what should entrepreneurs really be doing as they map out a new small business?

Social media can’t solve all your marketing problems. For a business, it needs to be thought of like any other communication tool. You need to understand the fundamentals of marketing — who’s your target audience, where do they get their information, what do they care about, etc.— to find the right media mix that makes sense for you.

What is the most underutilized non-social media marketing method today?

By far, it’s public relations. Many people are afraid of it, or don’t know what it is. Instead they’ll spend money on poorly placed ads that will almost always fail.

What are two or three go-to resources for finding data about your market?

The U.S. Census. A lot of valuable information from the latest census is now being released. Industry associations. Industry trade publications and consumer magazines. Their media kits have great

information about their readers’ demographics and interests.

And many more resources are available at my website, www.blockbeta.com.

Coupons are gaining popularity as a means for luring potential customers. If this option appears right for a small business, what is needed to help turn coupon users into regular customers?

Understand what attracted them in the first place. People who just want a deal are tough to convert. But many customers use coupons to “sample the goods.” To get them to come back and pay full price, use strategic messaging at each touchpoint to help push them down the purchase path. This messaging can be done verbally, through printed materials, online, and even reinforced with “gifts”.

Can you provide an example of how this works?

A Pilates studio I work with has used social coupons to bring in new customers, offering a 7-week program at a discounted rate. Each week, the studio reinforces the benefits of membership and the results the customer would get if they continue taking their classes. Communications include a comprehensive orientation, an introductory gift of a branded water bottle, follow-on emails, etc. It’s a planned program designed to positively reinforce the customer experience. This in combination with excellent service may be enough to convince the customer to continue at full price.

Expert Tips: Beyond Social Media

with Robbin Block: Owner, Blockbeta Marketing

Robbin Block Seattle, WA www.blockbeta.com robbin@blockbeta.com

Why should entrepreneurs work with a SCORE small business mentor to develop and monitor their marketing plans?

Marketing needs to be flexible, because the environment within which a business operates is always changing. And the business itself is evolving as new opportunities or threats come to light. A SCORE mentor can help filter the information and focus the entrepreneur on what’s important.

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Muscatine, Iowa563.263.1695

The MOST is The Least We Can DoCall It What You Will... New Construction >> Phase Inspections >> FHA / VA Inspections

Warranty Inspections >> Pre-listing Inspections >> Investment Inspections

Ken Rogers, OwnerCertified by National Environmental Health Association (N.E.H.A.) for Healthy Homes InspectionsEmail: krogers@homeinspectionplus.biz

A.S.H.I. Associate* Dustin RogersLicensed / Certified InspectorEmail: drogers@homeinspectionplus.biz

A.S.H.I. Associate*

>> Roof>> Plumbing>> Lead Paint

>> Structure>> H.V.A.C.>> Asbestos

>> Foundation>> Grounds>> Mold

>> Interior>> Appliances>> Sand Filter

>> Exterior>> Fireplace>> Septic System

>> Electrical>> Termite>> Radon Testing

...and we are licensed and certified for it ALL!

We Call It A Complete Home Inspection.

www.homeinspectionplus.bizIOWA DNRLicensed for

Septic SystemInspections &Sand FilterSampling

Muscatine Chapter of SCORE Begins New Fiscal Year with New Local Leader

Congratulations to Jerry Johnson, who became the latest SCORE Chapter 662 Chair effective October 2011.

Jerry began his two year term after several years of counseling experience. The cabinet members

for the Muscatine Chapter of SCORE are: Gary Meerdink, Vice Chair; Jane Daufeldt, Past Chair and current Secretary; and Mel McMains, Treasurer.

In November, Jerry attended the National Leadership conference in Las Vegas, where he became acquainted with 364 other Chapter Chairs and the headquarters staff of SCORE Association. The thrust of SCORE’s strategic plan is to grow the number of entrepreneurs nationally. With the hope of growing SCORE’s counselor base from 20,833 to 50,000 by 2017 entrepreneurs will have support and guidance from an increased base of mentors.

Headquarters is in the process of developing a marketing strategy around the SCORE brand to help publicize the many services offered via face-to-face, website, email, and telephone counseling.

SCORE wants to ensure the diversity of our clients by recruiting counselor volunteers in each chapter that reflect the pool of existing and emerging local entrepreneurs, while increasing the efficiency of technology and one–to-many counseling, a strategy that can be served by providing workshops. By staying engaged with clients throughout the life of the business, we can expect continuous improvement in the success rates of burgeoning businesses.

SCORE keeps regular hours on Thursday afternoons with appointments at 1:30 p.m. and 2:30 p.m. To make an appointment with SCORE, call GMCCI at 563-263-8895.

YPN’s Third Thursday, Plus Chance to Win iPad 2!Please join YPN Muscatine on December 8th at Plamor Lanes from 5:30 – 7:30 pm for the last Third

Thursday event of 2011! Enjoy a relaxed atmosphere, pizza and bowling, and an ugly sweater contest.

Be sure to sign up for 2012 membership on or prior to January’s Third Thursday event on January 19th . All signed up for membership will be entered into a drawing for an iPad 2.

For information about YPN, please contact Andrea Scott at ascott@fnbmusc.com or Sarah Bann at sbann@muscatine.com.

YPN Members posing for an Ugly Sweater Christmas photo at last year’s Third Thursday.

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Staff

Bill PhelanPresident & CEObphelan@muscatine.com

Jane DaufeldtVice President, Community Developmentjdaufeldt@muscatine.com

Greg JenkinsVice President, Economic Developmentgjenkins@muscatine.com

Ally BillhornMarketing & Communications Coordinatorabillhorn@muscatine.com

Heather ShoppaCVB Managerheathershoppa@muscatine.com

Sarah BannEvent Coordinatorsbann@muscatine.com

Shea EitmanOffice Coordinatorseitman@muscatine.com

Bill Phelan President & CEO bphelan@muscatine.com

Kerri McKim Marketing & Communications Coordinator kmckim@muscatine.com

Greg Jenkins Economic Development gjenkins@muscatine.com

Jane Daufeldt Executive Director jdaufeldt@muscatine.com

Heather Shoppa CVB Manager heathershoppa@muscatine.com

Bill Phelan President & CEO bphelan@muscatine.com

Kerri McKim Marketing & Communications Coordinator kmckim@muscatine.com

Greg Jenkins Economic Development gjenkins@muscatine.com

Jane Daufeldt Executive Director jdaufeldt@muscatine.com

Heather Shoppa CVB Manager heathershoppa@muscatine.com

LYNN ALLISON 563.260.4520

LynnAllison@RuhlHomes.com www.LynnAllison.RuhlHomes.com

M U S C AT I N EF O O D S C O R P O R AT I O N

High quality, research tested, food ingredients, ethyl alcohol, packaged goods, pet products and animal feed.

www.muscatinefoods.com

Who: Real Estate Resource AssociatesWhat: Real Estate Resource Associates provides residential and commercial real estate, along with property management services.Where: 2016 Cedar Plaza Ste. 1Member Since: September 23, 2011

Established in 2008, Real Estate Resource Associates is licensed to sell residential and commercial real estate and also provides property management services. They are members of the Iowa Association of Realtors and the National Association of Realtors.

“RRA is different from other real estate companies in that we want to not just be another real estate office. We want to offer more, much more. In 2010 we added a mortgage broker to our office. It is our goal to add other aspects of the real estate industry as a whole and eliminate the distance between the components in a single real estate transaction,” says Lisa Heckman, Broker/Owner.

Real Estate Resource Associates have been able to impact the community positively since their opening in 2008. Expansion in those 3 years shows with their blue signs popping up in yards and fields around the Muscatine area, what they feel they are becoming known for. With experienced and reputable agents they feel they will only continue to grow.

As a fairly new GMCCI member, RRA feels they have only just begun their venture in the Muscatine community.

“We are happy to partner up with the members of GMCCI and contribute to the success of our community and be recognized as a valuable member. We are very excited about being a part of this reputable organization,” says Heckman.

Please extend a big thank you to Real Estate Resource Associates for continuing to serve the Muscatine community and for being a proud GMCCI member. Want your chance in the spotlight? Be sure to attend our next Business After Hours, hosted by Conn Communications, 2923 Cedar Street, on December 8, from 5-7 p.m.

Member Spotlight: Real Estate Resource Associates

Lisa HeckmanBroker/Owner

Jerry RossBroker/Owner

Fontelle RhodesBroker Associates

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Trinity Launches Free Heart Disease Assessment One in four Muscatine area residents are at risk for heart disease- a diagnosis shared by millions of Americans. According to the American Heart Association, about 50 percent of men and 64 percent of women who died suddenly of heart disease had no previous symptoms of this disease. Although heart disease is the number one cause of death in Iowa, it can be predicted and prevented.

To educate the Muscatine community about the risk, Trinity has launched HealthAware, a new 7-minute online assessment, on its web site, www.trinitymuscatine.com/healthaware. The assessment allows users to log on from any computer and assesses a person’s risk for heart disease, stroke and vascular disease with a series of questions. Depending on the participant’s responses, the HeartAware evaluation will determine if the survey taker has no risk factors, one risk factor or two or more risk factors. Those with one risk factor can opt-in to receive regular information on heart-healthy things one can do to lessen future risk. Those with two or more risk factors can choose to receive a free screening by a clinician and referrals to cardiac care if needed. They will also receive information on heart-healthy things to

do to reduce heart, stroke and vascular disease risk.

In addition to the heart assessment, users can check on their risks factors for diabetes, and sleep disorders. Like HeartAware, the other assessments allow users to log on from any computer, answer a few health questions, and get a score for their likelihood of having or developing any of these diseases. High-risk individuals may qualify for a consultation with a health professional to

discuss strategies to effectively treat their condition.

“Many of these diseases are controllable or preventable,” said Vicki Doner, RN, Trinity’s Wellness Coordinator. “Simple changes in lifestyle, including eating, exercise and smoking habits, can have an impact on one’s overall risk for these conditions later on in life.”

The DiabetesAware module asks questions about family history, blood sugar and cholesterol levels as well as blood

pressure, if known. Diabetes is the fastest growing risk factor for cardiovascular disease. The number of people -- which has tripled over the last three decades -- is equal to 7 percent of the American population. More concerning is that one-third of diabetics are unaware they have the disease -- a disease which leads to cardiac conditions, stroke, blindness, loss of limbs, and impotence for men.

The SleepAware module asks about obesity, diabetes, neck size, loud snoring,

high blood pressure, smoking and sleepiness during the day. Approximately 12 million Americans have obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), and 10 million are under diagnosed.

Persons with OSA are 30 percent more likely to have a heart attack or die as a result of the condition.

“Monitoring your risk factors on an annual basis is a good first stop toward prevention,” Doner said. “It’s a lot easier, as well as less expensive, to do something about them if you catch them early.”

All individual survey results are confidential. For more information, go to www.trinitymuscatine.com/healthaware to begin taking the tests.

GMCCI Announcing Techno Tuesdays for 2012The Greater Muscatine Chamber of Commerce & Industry is always looking for new and exciting programs for our members.

We are happy to announce a new program, Techno Tuesdays, starting in early 2012.

Techno Tuesdays will focus on a different side of technology each month. If you have ever wanted to take advantage of new technology but unsure of how to get started, this is your chance! Experts will

lead each monthly session, hands on and you will have the opportunity to learn and ask questions.

The first session will be held Tuesday, January 24, 2012, 8:00 – 9:30 a.m. in the GMCCI Board Room, 102 Walnut Street. Brad Buhmeyer, Conn Communications, will be presenting: Smart Phones for Smart Businesses.

Buhmeyer will explain how Smartphones and tablets can contribute to your company’s portability, productivity and profitability. Give your business the edge with ideas to perk up cash flow, organize time, manage employees, boost productivity, improve communication, cut expenses, reduce paperwork, and more all in the palm of your hand.

Expanding capabilities of wireless communications will also be discussed along with how Smartphones, their accessories, peripherals, and applications can help improve your organization’s bottom line in ways you never thought possible.

Reservations can be made by contacting Shea Eitman at 263-8895 or by emailing to seitman@muscatine.com, GMCCI Members $10, not-yet Members $25. Reservations made less than 48 hours prior to event will be automatically charged an additional $5. Reservations not kept will be billed. Pre-payment is highly encouraged and appreciated.

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Applications Being Accepted for STEP GrantsThe Iowa Economic Development Authority is pleased to announce the receipt of a State Trade and Export Promotion (STEP) grant from the U.S. Small Business Administration. The STEP Pilot Grant Initiative provides grants to states for small business exporting assistance programs. The aim of the STEP Initiative is to increase the number of small businesses that are exporting and increase the value of exports for those small businesses that are currently exporting.

The Iowa Economic Development Authority will disburse grant funds via the following programs to help eligible Iowa companies develop or expand their export markets:

Technical Trade Assistance Program (TTAP) - Iowa Economic Development Authority's International Trade Office will

provide an assessment of a company's export needs, provide consultation and referral(s) to a variety of export resources at the local, state and federal levels.

Domestic Trade Assistance Program (DTAP) - Provides up to $3,000 assistance per occurrence to participate in an eligible domestic trade show. Eligible shows must include an international buyers program of the U.S. Department of Commerce or the Food Export Association of the Midwest. Eligible companies can receive funding up to two times in the funding period.

Expanded Export Trade Assistance Program (ETAP) - Provides up to $4,000 per occurrence, up to three times in the

funding period, to help defray expenses when participating at a trade show or on a trade mission outside of the U.S.

Product Trade Assistance Program (PTAP) - Provides up to $5,000 per occurrence to assist a company in adjusting product or product certification to expand export opportunities. Eligible companies may receive one grant in the funding period.

Applications are now being accepted online at www.iowagrants.gov. To learn more about the grant programs and how your company can benefit, e-mail: international@iowa.gov or contact Lisa Longman at 515-725-3139.

Week 2 of Two Weeks of Love is Here!From December 5-10, the Hawkeye Hauler will have a donation drop-off for Toy Time at 501 W Bypass 61 collecting toys for needy children within the Muscatine community. All toys will be staying in Muscatine County.

This fundraising effort has collected ten truckloads of toys to include bicycles, dolls, games, sports equipment and much more in the past years, with over 1200 families benefiting from the Two Weeks of Love Campaign each year.

Please find the time to donate to a family in need this winter by bringing a new, unwrapped toy, game or book and help to fill the Hawkeye Hauler with joy. Questions can be directed to Nick Gow, ngow@muscatineiowa.gov.

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Plan Your Next Gathering In MuscatineAre you considering a large family gathering? Planning a wedding? Or is it simply your turn to plan your group’s the next big meeting? Plan it in Muscatine. The Muscatine Convention and Visitor’s Bureau is a great place to start the planning process. The MCVB supplies meeting planners with brochures, maps, welcome bags, and even more importantly - great time saving tips.

Why bring your next event, meeting, or conference home to Muscatine? Because holding a meeting, conference, or large group gathering here makes a big impact on our community’s economy. The dollars meeting planners spend on goods services they purchase for their guests, or the meeting’s participants, create a ripple effect throughout area businesses, and

even impacts city and state government revenues. The latest information available suggests tourists spent $60 million dollars in Muscatine County in the past year.

According to a study published on the Travel Federation of Iowa’s website, the average traveling party spends around $455 per trip while traveling in Iowa.

Those travelers spend money on fuel, lodging, food service, shopping and entertainment, which means they are likely paying fuel tax, sales tax and could possibly be paying hotel/motel sales tax. It was estimated that Muscatine County’s tourism industry generated $720,000 in local tax receipts.

Want more good news? According to a study released by the Iowa Tourism Office, the tourism industry employs more than 660 people, with a combined payroll of $10.3 million dollars, in Muscatine County.

Choose to meet in Muscatine. It is good for area businesses. It is great for the local economy. Let the MCVB help you showcase your terrific community!

Chamber Chat

James Riley, former grocery manager at Fareway handing the keys over to Jim Westphalen. Jim comes to Muscatine from Iowa City.

Have recent company photos to share? Submit to abillhorn@muscatine.com, with the headline Chamber Chat.

Leadership Muscatine class members break into

smaller groups to discuss Myers Briggs types.

Myers Briggs helps these Leadership Muscatine class members learn

about human metrics. The Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI)

assessment is a psychometric questionnaire designed to measure

psychological preferences in how people perceive the world and make

decisions. The Type Indicators are presented to help the class members

recognize and value different styles and preferences. It will also help

them to begin working in groups toward a project.

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Eric Smith Hired As Recycling Facilities ManagerEric Smith, Wapello, Iowa, has been hired as Recycling Facilities Manager of the Mt. Pleasant, Muscatine, and Creston City Carton Recycling Facilities.

Smith oversees all operations of the three facilities. He is responsible for implementing a marketing plan for the plants in order to market products and services offered by City Carton Recycling with goals to maximize customer service, vendor relations, sales, and profits. Smith is also responsible for building needs, equipment needs, and personnel at the recycling locations. He reports to City Carton Recycling Vice President of Operations, Daryl Russ.

Smith, a graduate of Missouri Valley College, Marshall, Missouri, holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Business Management and

Agribusiness. Smith has over 13 years of management experience. Most recently, Smith was responsible for 80 teammates

as the Shopko Stores LLC, Store Manager, in Burlington, Iowa.

City Carton Recycling, headquartered in Iowa City, was founded in 1967. The Company is Iowa’s largest full service Paper Recycling Company and one of the largest full-service recycling companies in the Midwest.

City Carton Recycling sells and services a full range of new and rebuilt recycling and refuse equipment. The Company processes recyclable materials at eight recycling facilities in Iowa: Iowa City, Cedar Falls, Cedar Rapids, Quad Cities, Mount Pleasant, Muscatine, Altoona, and Creston.

Our Holiday Gift to You!The Greater Muscatine Chamber of Commerce & Industry is excited to announce a new program available only

to GMCCI members.

Since the unveiling of the new www.muscatine.com in August we have continued to develop and offer thrilling

opportunities for our members to not only promote their business, but do it in an easy, effective manner.

From now until March 31, 2012, GMCCI will be offering free Hot Deals to all GMCCI members. Hot Deals, give members the opportunity to showcase their upcoming sales, specials, coupons or discounts, for a limited time on www.muscatine.com where everyone can take advantage. Hot Deals allows your “special” to be seen by anyone visiting our homepage, members, non-members and visitors alike.

This free trial of our Hot Deals program will be for a limited time only, at which time it may be necessary for us to charge a small administrative fee for each Hot Deal after March 31, 2012.

If you are interested in taking advantage of this free trial offer, please contact GMCCI at 263-8895 and ask us to email you the procedure for signing up for this exciting free trial offer.

We’ve expanded! Place your advertisement here. Reach

hundreds of Muscatine business professionals for as low as $50 per

month. Call GMCCI, 263-8895, to reserve your spot.

Advertise Here!

Call GMCCItoday at

263-8895!

Hawkeye Hauler keeps truckin’ By: Ben Ross, courtesy The Daily Iowan DI Sports Editor Seth Roberts, contributed to this article

Maybe you have seen it.

On game days, the Black and Gold 18-wheeler can be found nestled near the tailgate lot between Kinnick Stadium and the Bubble. The trailer reads, "It's great to be a Hawkeye," a diesel-chugging celebration of Iowa football past and present. The truck is owned by Lone Tree's Mike Riggan, and it is used to transport Iowa's football equipment to and from away games.

And here's the kicker: Riggan doesn't charge the university a dime. The 60-year-old Vietnam War veteran doesn't even claim his service as a donation to the Athletics Department.

"We do this for the football team," he said. "We bleed the Black and Gold — always have."

Riggan owns and operates TanTara Transportation Corp., a trucking company in Muscatine that transports metal products across the continental United States. He has 50 trucks in his fleet, and for the most part, they all look the same. But Riggan has one truck that stands out from the rest — his pride and joy.

That is the Hawkeye Hauler.

If the Tigerhawk and the Swarm are part of Iowa football, so, too, is the Hauler. Riggan has sunk hundreds of thousands of dollars into it — he said the truck itself cost $200,000, and he spends at least $10,000 a year on fuel and upkeep — all for the pleasure of transporting the football team's equipment.

"It's the memories, the friendships," Mike Riggan said. "I consider Kirk Ferentz and the other coaches personal friends of mine. I can give [Ferentz] a call, and he'll pick the phone up and talk to me. And for an old truck driver from Lone Tree, I'm pretty proud of that."

Hawkeye Hauler history

The Hawkeye Hauler has been around since 1983, when Mike Riggan's friend and fellow trucker Ed Huff offered to haul the program's equipment. Huff became sick two years later and asked Riggan to take over. He soon became obsessed with the truck and its purpose.

Riggan's only compensation comes in the form of football. He gets to be on the sidelines of every Hawkeye football game, home and away, and receives passes that give him and his guests access to the locker room before the game, at halftime, and after the final whistle.

"It's a great benefit to us," the 13th-year coach said. "Those guys take a lot of pride [in the truck]. They drive down to Arizona, Florida for bowl games — they're unbelievable. Mike Riggan is totally out of his mind, in a good way. You could perform surgery in that truck, it's so sterile and clean. He's phenomenal. They don't have to do it; they take a lot of pride … Mike goes above and beyond, [and] he drives that thing hard."

'It's something I associate with Iowa football'

The truck itself is something to behold.

The side of the trailer is splashed with the Hawkeye logo, and a cartoon Herky wearing Nile Kinnick's retired No. 24 jersey strikes the Heisman pose nearby. Another tribute to Iowa's only Heisman Trophy winner is more subtle; the outline of an F4F Wildcat airplane — the plane Kinnick was flying when he crashed at sea during World War II — is hidden between Herky and the Tigerhawk.

A scene of a packed Kinnick Stadium at night is depicted on the back of the tractor. Cheerleaders circle the field holding I-O-W-A banners, followed by Herky waving the Tigerhawk flag. The officiating crew is gathered at the 50-yard line, waiting for the Black and Gold as they swarm out of the tunnel.

A hawk watches from high above the stadium, accompanied by ghostly outlines of Nile Kinnick and Sharon Huff, Ed Huff's wife, who passed away in 2004 after battling cancer. Riggan said he decided to include the ghosts of the two people because of their affiliation with Iowa.

"Sharon was a very, very close friend of the family," he said. "Nile Kinnick was the greatest Hawkeye ever, and Sharon was the greatest Hawkeye fan ever. She went to every sporting event — football, basketball, baseball, you name it."

Below the Tigerhawk on the side of the truck sits the phrase, "It's great to be a

Hawkeye," followed by the America Needs Farmers logo and logos from every bowl game in which the Hawkeyes have appeared since 2001. Riggan plans on adding every Iowa bowl symbol before the end of the truck's lifespan, and he said he takes extra pride in his emblems because they aren't decals. Everything that appears on the Hauler was painted by Jim Hetzler and his wife, Chris.

Hetzler, who is from Muscatine, has made a name for himself in the world of custom paint jobs. He received the 2011 Prestigious Painter Award by House of Kolor, a paint company owned by Valspar. He has worked on all of the previous versions of the Hauler; he said he thinks this one is the best.

Hetzler's work through the years has paid off. Quarterback James Vandenberg said people such as Riggan and Hetzler play a large role in Iowa's identity, and the truck has become synonymous with the Black and Gold.

"I remember seeing the truck growing up," said Vandenberg, a Keokuk native. "It's something that I and a lot of fans definitely associate with Iowa football. It's awesome we have people who support us like that; to drive to the places they drive, through the nights, shows how closely knit our community is with this team. [Getting off the plane and seeing the truck] is awesome. It says that it's time to go, that we've moved our home base down to wherever we may be.

"That's definitely one of the things we all notice first, is that truck."

Mike “Riggo” Riggan and his son Jeff “Riggo 2” pose in front of the Hawkeye Hauler semi truck on Oct. 22 before Iowa’s football game

against Indiana. The hauler has been parked in the northwest corner of Kinnick Stadium for 28 years. (The Daily Iowan/Anthony Bauer)

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Chamber Dollar Ideal for Holiday Stocking Stuffers

‘Tis the season for holiday gift giving! What better gift to give than one that can be used at any Chamber business? Chamber Dollar$ are a great gift to give to locals during the holiday season, as they can be redeemed at any current Chamber member business.

Chamber Dollar$ FAQ’s

How does a business process this check?

The business receives it exactly like a check good for its total face value. It works just like a gift certificate, if the total is $27 and they hold a $25 Chamber Dollar$ check, the business receives the check as primary payment and the customer pays the difference. If their

total is $23 and they hold a $25 check, the business gives them change for the difference. It is good for its face value to the business at the time of deposit.

What exactly is this document?

This is a check distributed by GMCCI and works just like a gift certificate, but it is an actual check given to the buyer. Chamber Dollar$ are issued in the amounts of $5, $10, $15, $20 or $25.

Who can purchase Chamber Dollar$?

Anyone can purchase these checks from GMCCI and use them for a variety of reasons: company gifts, personal gifts, incentives, etc. Chamber Dollar$ are a great way to encourage people to shop locally and support Muscatine businesses.

Where can Chamber Dollar$ be used?

Any business that is a Chamber member accepts Chamber Dollar$. When purchasing Chamber Dollar$, the buyer will be given a list of GMCCI members.

What is the benefit of accepting Chamber Dollar$ in my business?

By accepting Chamber Dollar$ as payment, you will be listed as a participating business for all community members to see. They encourage citizens to spend their dollars locally, which in turn helps to strengthen the economy.

If you have any questions regarding Chamber Dollar$, please call GMCCI at 263-8895.

Hawkeye Hauler keeps truckin’ By: Ben Ross, courtesy The Daily Iowan DI Sports Editor Seth Roberts, contributed to this article

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The Pearl City Progress (USPS391-430) is published monthly by the:

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