In this episode, Business Record reporter Lisa Rossi and Knock and Drop Iowa founder Zuli Garcia discuss the new multicultural pantry joining the DMARC Food Pantry Network in partnership with Polk County Global Neighbors. The pantry features culturally relevant food options on a rotating basis to help meet the unique needs of immigrant and refugee households in central Iowa.

This episode of Made in Iowa dives into one of the most fascinating intersections in business today: skilled trades, technology, and human resilience. Leisa Fox sits down with Riana LeJeune, who never expected her path would lead from the police academy to becoming an award-winning upholstery innovator, apprenticeship advocate, and technology founder. After an injury forced a major life pivot at age 24, she found purpose in a trade that quickly became an obsession in the best possible way. What followed was the creation of businesses designed not only to preserve craftsmanship, but to modernize and future-proof an overlooked industry through AI, visualization technology, and workforce development.

The conversation moves beyond business strategy into leadership, family, and identity. She shares how being AuDHD has shaped the way she approaches innovation, problem-solving, and entrepreneurship, while also opening up about co-parenting and running a business alongside her former spouse—who also happens to be her first apprentice and master craftsman. From launching Iowa’s only Registered Apprenticeship program in upholstery to challenging the culture of “fast furniture” and advocating for a circular furniture economy, this episode is packed with insight about reinvention, unconventional leadership, and why the skilled trades may be one of the biggest opportunities of the next decade. The Made in Iowa podcast, a Des Moines Business Record product presented by Wellmark Blue Cross and Blue Shield, from the Iowa Everywhere studio.

Presenting sponsor: Wellmark Blue Cross Blue Shield https://wellmark.com/MadeinIowa

BPC President Chris Conetzkey hosts the weekly recap of statewide news you may have missed in the last week. Stories shared were first reported between April 29-May 5.

Explore the Emerging Leader MBA Scholarship — a full-ride designed to develop Iowa’s next generation of business leaders.

Full ride. Full potential. Learn more and apply here: https://www.ivybusiness.iastate.edu/life-at-ivy/academic-services/graduate-student-services/graduate-funding-opportunities/emerging-leader-mba-scholarship/

Not all economic issues are fast-moving, market-shifting events — some, like health care, can take years or longer for implications to materialize but then deliver a broader impact. On this episode of the Iowa Economy Podcast, public health economists and leaders join host Chris Conetzkey to share one issue or trend related to health that is affecting the state’s economy followed by discussion of contributing factors, downstream effects and what data is, or is not, available to better understand the economic implications of health on our business community.

In this episode:

• The unquantified role health plays in workers’ productivity and shaping the needs of the multi-generational workforce

• How disparities in access to care disproportionately affect health outcomes and costs in rural areas

• The factors leading to nursing home and hospital closures in Iowa and the effect on care and communities

• Iowa’s cigarette smoking rate and its economic effects

Guests:

• Andrea Harding, vice president of population health, MercyOne

• Jason Semprini, assistant professor, department of public health, Des Moines University Medicine and Health Sciences, Ph.D.

• Hari Sharma, associate professor, University of Iowa Department of Public Health, Ph.D.

On this episode of the Made in Iowa Podcast, a Des Moines Business Record product presented by Wellmark Blue Cross and Blue Shield from the Iowa Everywhere Studio, Patrick Klemm and Ryan McIntosh share how ALMACO’s deep roots in agriculture have evolved into a forward-looking, globally respected manufacturing operation. Grounded in legacy but driven by innovation, they discuss how the company continues to adapt alongside the ever-changing ag economy—diversifying its capabilities while staying true to the specialized needs of its customers. From advanced technology integration to strategic growth, ALMACO is positioning itself not just as an equipment provider, but as a long-term partner in agricultural progress.

A major focus of the conversation is ALMACO’s newest custom contract manufacturing initiative—an expansion that reflects both market demand and internal expertise. Klemm and McIntosh emphasize that while innovation fuels their growth, it’s their culture that sustains it. With a strong commitment to people, precision, and problem-solving, ALMACO has built relationships that span generations, driving customer retention and reinforcing its reputation as a global leader in its “field.” It’s a candid look at how values, vision, and versatility come together to create lasting impact in Iowa and beyond.

Presenting sponsor: Wellmark Blue Cross Blue Shield https://wellmark.com/MadeinIowa

BPC President Chris Conetzkey and Business Record Editor Sarah Diehn host the weekly recap of statewide news you may have missed in the last week. Stories shared were first reported between April 22-28.

Explore the Emerging Leader MBA Scholarship — a full-ride designed to develop Iowa’s next generation of business leaders.

Full ride. Full potential. Learn more and apply here.

Jim Hall built Systems Management & Balancing (SMB) into a quiet powerhouse in a niche most people never think about - but rely on every day. What started in 1967 as a small Des Moines operation grew into a multi-state firm focused on testing, adjusting, and balancing (TAB) HVAC systems to ensure buildings actually perform the way they were designed. Jim shares the bet he made when he acquired the company in 2002, leaning into independence and precision as their differentiator. In an industry where comfort, safety, and efficiency are on the line - especially in hospitals, schools, and complex facilities - SMB has become the “truth-teller,” identifying problems others miss and ensuring systems function as intended.

Joined by consultant Erin Rollenhagen, the conversation shifts to what it takes to evolve and scale a highly specialized business. Erin brings a strategic lens to leadership, growth, and positioning, highlighting the opportunities - and risks - that come with complexity in today’s built environments. Together, they reflect on Jim’s succession plan, the importance of developing talent in a technical field, and why this behind-the-scenes work offers meaningful, high-impact careers. It’s a conversation about legacy, precision, and the kind of Iowa-built business that quietly keeps the world running.

Presenting sponsor: Wellmark Blue Cross Blue Shield https://wellmark.com/MadeinIowa

BPC President Chris Conetzkey and Business Record Editor Sarah Diehn host the weekly recap of statewide news you may have missed in the last week. Stories shared were first reported between April 15-21.

Explore the Emerging Leader MBA Scholarship — a full-ride designed to develop Iowa’s next generation of business leaders.

Full ride. Full potential. Learn more and apply here.

On this episode, Ellen Hines, Director of Workplace Experience, and Justin Woods, Chief Manufacturing Officer at ALMACO, share a candid look into the company’s evolving safety journey. In an environment where no two projects are the same, ALMACO has made a deliberate decision to embed safety into every layer of its operations. They discuss how variability in manufacturing demands a proactive mindset—one where processes, communication, and accountability are continuously refined to protect their team.

A cornerstone of that culture is empowerment. Hines and Woods emphasize the importance of creating an environment where every employee feels responsible—and safe—to speak up: “If you see something, you say something.” That mindset has helped ALMACO earn recognition as one of only five companies in Iowa to achieve OSHA SHARP (Safety & Health Achievement Recognition Program) certification, a distinction that reflects not just compliance, but excellence. For ALMACO, safety isn’t a box to check—it’s a strategic advantage and a key driver of long-term success.

In this month’s episode of the dsm Wealth Podcast, “Giving While Living: Making an Impact With Your Money Today,” we explore philanthropy through a more immediate and personal lens. We’ll explore how to think of estate planning and giving not as something reserved for the future but as a powerful tool for creating meaningful change right now, while strengthening the legacy we leave behind. The episode examines how intentional, values-driven giving can enrich both the giver and the community. Joining the discussion are experts Kristi Knous, president of the Community Foundation of Greater Des Moines; Mike Deege, a partner at Wilson Deege Despotovich Riemenschneider and Rittgers; and Carla Hughes, vice president and senior fiduciary trust officer at Bankers Trust. Join us to learn how giving while living can help you create impact, meaning and lasting change starting today.