All Stars 2019

Meet Sandra Hawes 

and other ALL STARS 

who are making an 

impact in the region’s 

business sectors.

CONTENTS 

A Message from the President 

ALL STAR SECTORS 

ACE (ARCHITECTURE, 

CONSTRUCTION ENGINEERING) 

4 Matt Doubet 

6 Duncan MacDougall 

ADVANCED MANUFACTURING 

8 Sandra Hawes 

10 Katie Wagner 

FINANCIAL SERVICES 

12 Kayla Crawford 

14 Kyla Pfeiler 

HEALTHCARE 

22 Jared Murphy 

24 Teresa Young 

INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY 

26 Alex McCaslin 

28 Randall Pugh 

TRANSPORTATION, LOGISTICS 

30 Nick Fisher 

32 Lewis Minehart 

FEATURES 

AND RESOURCES 

The Iowa City Cedar Rapids Region 

(ICR) of Benton, Cedar, Iowa, Johnson, 

Jones, Linn and Washington 

counties is a land 

of opportunity. 

Across our great 

seven-county 

area, employers 

are looking to fill 

in-demand job 

openings with 

Lori Sundberg 

qualified, hardworking 

employees. 

Our local 

economy is definitely strong, but it 

could be even stronger. The key to 

reaching our full potential is to help 

our workforce thrive by making sure 

that the future leaders of the ICR receive 

the education and training they 

need to make an immediate impact. 

At Kirkwood Community College, 

the faculty and staff pride themselves 

on knowing that everything they do 

serves the greater good of the ICR 

community — even for those that 

never step foot on our campus. That’s 

because we work with industry sector 

boards to promote careers and 

develop the curriculum necessary to 

educate and train the leaders of tomorrow 

in vital industries. Kirkwood 

graduates fill positions that are crucial 

to the success of our area employers. 

Businesses flourish with the right employees, 

which leads to a strong economy. 

When that happens, everyone in 

our region benefits. 

Take a look at the people featured 

in this magazine. I encourage you to 

read their stories so you can understand 

how they became so successful. 

These ICR All Stars are leaders in their 

fields and are shining examples of the 

opportunities that are out there in our 

region. You, or someone you know, 

could follow in their footsteps. A future 

in a great career is within reach. 

However, deciding on a career 

pathway or even changing from one 

career to another can be an intimidating 

problem. It doesn’t have to be. 

The solution is literally in your 

hands. 

In the middle of this publication, 

you’ll find all the information you 

need to start down the path to success. 

Regardless of what stage you’re 

at in life, it’s never too early or too 

late to find the career of your dreams. 

Great-paying careers are available 

right now in very important industries 

here in eastern Iowa. No matter 

if you’re still in high school or need 

to go back to get your diploma, need 

short-term training or are ready to 

start a two-year degree — Kirkwood 

can help you find your future. 

You could start on your path to be 

the next All Star that inspires the next 

generation of our workforce. But as 

with all journeys, it takes the first step. 

Lori Sundberg 

President 

Kirkwood Community College 

16 All Stars Honorable Mentions 

17 Pathway to an All Stars Career 

34 Jr. All Stars: Student Project 

35 Jr. All Stars: Elisha Sir-Louis 

Main Campus, 6301 Kirkwood Boulevard 

Southwest, Cedar Rapids, IA 52404 

(319) 398-5411 • www.kirkwood.edu 

A print product of the 

Corridor Business Journal 

corridorbusiness.com 

2 2019 ALL STARS of ICR

WHO ARE THE ALL STARS? 

All Stars represent outstanding employees who are between the ages of 18-35 

and have great stories to tell about their achievements. All Star and Honorable 

Mention winners represent careers within one of these industries: 

• Architecture, Construction and Engineering (ACE) 

• Advanced Manufacturing 

• Financial Services 

• Healthcare 

• Information Technologies 

• Transportation, Logistics 

Architecture, Construction 

& Engineering (ACE) 

and 

Advanced Manufacturing 

Sector Boards 

have created a resource for educators, 

students and job seekers 

to generate awareness about their 

industry and careers. 

• Using an Interest Profiler on the portal, students identify their 

personality traits and interests and match them to careers for which they 

have an aptitude. 

CHECK OUT THESE RESOURCES: 

www.explore-ace.org 

explore-manufacturing.org 

• Students/job seekers can learn about the industry from photos and 

videos of businesses, local statistics on job outlook and salary ranges. 

• Opportunities for job seekers and students are listed on the portal. 

2019 ALL STARS of ICR 3

ARCHITECTURE, CONSTRUCTION, ENGINEERING (ACE) SECTOR 

Matt Doubet 

Project Superintendent 

Woodruff Construction 

Tiffin, Iowa 

Watch Matt’s story 

youtu.be/o5pp6iNQbYY 

What do you do as a project superintendent? 

I oversee Woodruff’s field personnel as well as any subcontractors 

at a construction site. I supervise the planning and 

scheduling of projects and work with the owner representatives, 

architects and engineers. I also really enjoy teaching 

our employees carpentry skills every opportunity I get: framing, 

hanging drywall, setting doorframes/windows, siding, 

setting cabinets. 

What has been your career pathway to your current job? 

I started at Woodruff part-time as an intern while I was enrolled 

in the carpentry program at Kirkwood. I really enjoyed 

Kirkwood because they have a very good program. I graduated 

in May 2011 and then started full-time as a carpenter 

at Woodruff. After a year, I had worked my way up to a 

carpentry crew lead/foreman. In early 2017, I was promoted 

to project superintendent after completing a few in-house 

trainings with Woodruff as well as some Master Builders of 

Iowa classes. I am very passionate about my work and the 

construction industry. I try to come up with better processes 

and try to always keep improving. 

What gets you excited to go to work each day? 

I really enjoy that every day I can see what I’ve accomplished, 

and I have the ability to work on all sorts of projects. 

I also enjoy that every project, such as the Stead Family 

Children’s Hospital at the University of Iowa, has its own 

unique aspects and challenges. This was a fun and challenging 

project because Woodruff had the finish package for the 

majority of the building. I was in charge of a crew that was 

installing Fiber Reinforced Laminate wall panels on every 

floor of the building. Since we were installing finish product, 

our work was to be done on the tail end and with a short 

time constraint, which made it challenging trying to coordinate 

with all the different contractors on-site. I helped come 

up with a building process that allowed us to keep up with 

the demands of the schedule for our work. 

How did you get into the construction field? 

I grew up around construction: My dad is a local contractor 

who specializes in sound and video solutions in residential and 

commercial projects. I also have to give credit to my building 

trades program at Marion High School. I was fortunate to have 

a great instructor and a program that taught me so much and 

helped me realize I had a passion for construction. 

What do you do in your job that you find especially cool? 

The coolest thing is that I get to be a part of building something 

from start to finish. I have been fortunate to be able to 

work on schools, churches and hospitals in my community 

and see how my work helps them grow. 

Has there been anything in your work that has surprised 

you? 

One thing is the need for good communication skills. Typically, 

when you think about construction, that’s not something you 

think about as a high-priority skill to have. It makes a huge difference 

in our industry to be able to communicate well. 

If someone isn’t sure if construction is the right field for 

them, what should they do to check it out? 

Take any shop, drafting, CAD or home-improvement classes 

you can. If you’re 18, get on with a company for a summer 

and see how you like it. At least give construction a try. At 

the very least you’ll learn some skills that you can use the 

rest of your life. 


ARCHITECTURE, CONSTRUCTION AND ENGINEERING (ACE) 

Growth 2019-2023 

Surveyors +7% 

Drafters +5% 

Environmental Engineering Technicians +10% 

Construction/Laborer +5% 

Pipelayers +9% 

Median Hourly Earnings 

$24.44 

The source of the information above is provided by: Emsi occupation employment data are based on final Emsi industry data and final Emsi staffing patterns. Wage estimates are based on Occupational 

Employment Statistics (QCEW and Non-QCEW Employees classes of worker) and the American Community Survey (Self-Employed and Extended Proprietors). Occupational wage estimates also affected 

by county-level Emsi earnings by industry. 

WOODRUFF CONSTRUCTION, LLC 


ARCHITECTURE, CONSTRUCTION, ENGINEERING (ACE) SECTOR 

Duncan 

MacDougall 

Apprentice Electrician 

Price Electric 

Robins, Iowa 

Watch Duncan’s story 

youtu.be/vJ0R3B17qBY 

What do you do as an apprentice electrician? 

By preplanning and prebuilding, or “prefabbing,” as much 

as possible in a very controlled environment, with bigger 

and better tools, and with more access to hardware and 

support, we can save an uncountable number of hours in 

fieldwork, minimizing risk and making buildings go up faster. 

That is my job. This includes small things – like wiring outlets 

and switches, precutting wire, and landing wire into residential 

panels – all the way to building pipe racks for an entire 

building, temporary power stations and even complete 

traffic intersections. If we thought that it would save time, we 

would do it. 

Why did you choose the architecture, construction and 

engineering (ACE) field? 

My entire life I knew I would need a career that allowed me 

to do work with my hands. I couldn’t sit at a desk all day. 

When I was offered an internship, later a job, with Price, I 

knew I couldn’t turn it down. My workplace learning experience 

is the absolute best thing about my job. There 

are constant classes to learn about any aspect of being an 

electrician. And Price is very good about having the more 

experienced teach anyone who asks about anything. I 

recently learned about wiring controls, something I’ve been 

interested in since I first saw a diagram for them. 


My career started when I was 15 and was offered an internship 

with Price, and it started in an unconventional way – by 

sweeping floors, cleaning, filling the gas in trucks and taking 

out the trash. It was not enjoyable in the slightest way for a 

15-year-old, but I stuck with it and ended up enjoying my 

job far more than I ever thought. I took a few classes at Kirkwood 

while I was in high school, mainly because I wanted 

to take advantage of all the opportunities for learning that I 

could get. And Kirkwood has some of the best ACE programs 

around, is very affordable and is well-respected. 

What are some of the challenges you experience on 

the job? 

There are more challenges than I can count, and that’s an 

aspect of my job I really like. You wake up before dawn, go 

to work eight to 10 hours a day, five to six days a week, and 

every hour you face a new problem. Where is my pipe going 

to go? How am I going to fit everything I need into this tiny 

space? Why is this plumber in my way? And it’s more than 

mental challenges. There is an amazing amount of physical 

challenges too: the long hours, heavy lifting, standing/walking 

all day long, etc. But the worst is the weather. I’ve gone 

to work in -20 weather, in 100+ weather, in rain, snow and 

storms. But those challenges have made me who I am, and I 

cannot imagine my job without them. 

What does it take to be successful in your line of work? 

Ask for help and work hard. And remember: Your attitude 

matters. I had a 110-pound vegetarian woman outwork a 

220-pound guy who was built like a linebacker because 

she had a better attitude. Most of the time there will be 

on-the-job training, which means you’ll be paid to struggle 

through hard and annoying work. If you don’t have an 

attitude that allows you to fail, you will not learn from the 

inevitable failures. 

If someone isn’t sure if the ACE sector is the right fit, 

what should they do to check it out? 

Do internships. Talk to people in the trade. Ask all the questions 

you can think of. Most people love to talk about what 

they do and will gladly offer advice. 


BUILDING OUR COMMUNITY 

Join our team and make a difference 

WHY ACE? 

Architecture • Construction • Engineering 

Changing lives. 

HBA & Habitat for 

Humanity 

Building something 

out of nothing. 

HBA & Kirkwood 

partnership 

We’re mentoring, training and hiring. 

Parade of Homes $1million house 

Making dreams come true. 

Contact Melissa Olson at your LOCAL 

Cedar Rapids Housing & Building Association 

eo@crhba.org or 319.395.0778 

Building Futures • Building Community 

ACE median hourly earnings $25.18 

In Iowa, construction occupations are projected to grow by 24% from 2015-2025 (EMSI) 

EMSI occupation employment data are based on final EMSI industry data and final EMSI staffing patterns. Wages estimates are based on Occupational Employment Statistics (QCEW and Non-QCEW 

Employees classes of worker) and the American Community Survey (Self-Employed and Extended Projections). Occupational wage estimates also affected by county-level EMSI earnings by industry. 


ADVANCED MANUFACTURING SECTOR 

pabilities we could bring to the department. We have 

found our niche to be making more customized products 

for our customers. Our sales department works 

closely with the customer to get an idea of exactly 

what the customer wants, and from there it’s manufacturing’s 

job to figure out how to make it happen. 

What gets you excited to go to work each day? 

The chance to work with a variety of people who have 

different skills and strengths. It’s incredible to watch 

everyone’s different strengths come together to make 

things run smoothly. 

Sandra Hawes 

Second Shift 

Manufacturing Manager 

Clickstop 

Urbana, Iowa 

Watch Sandra’s story 

youtu.be/gFypQ28D6PE 

What do you do as a manufacturing manager? 

I manage all of our part-time manufacturing associates. More specifically, 

I work within my teams’ strengths and skills to get product 

to our customers as safely and efficiently as possible while having 

a lot of fun along the way. 

“Advanced Manufacturing” is the category in which you’ve 

been honored as an All Star. What is meant by that term? 

Advanced manufacturing is all about continuous improvement. 

Companies that are considered “advanced manufacturing” are 

focused on improving the way a product is made, whether it’s 

through changing their processes or through investing in newer 

technology and/or equipment. When I started at Clickstop, we 

manufactured tie downs and cargo nets and have since added 

tarps and chain slings. We continue to look at new products or ca- 

What has been your career pathway to your current 

job? 

My dad was a production manager at a Marion 

business that makes electrical harnessing for power 

machinery. I started working there in college because I 

needed a part-time job, and it really opened my eyes 

to how much I enjoyed the work. I wasn’t enjoying my 

college nursing program, so I decided to learn a little 

bit more about manufacturing. I followed my family to 

Michigan, where I’m originally from, and started working 

for an automotive company as a quality rework 

technician. I learned a lot about the quality processes 

in manufacturing and traveled to a few states, working 

on different projects for the company. In 2016 I moved 

back to Iowa and started at Clickstop. I started out on 

the sewing line making tie downs and was presented 

with the second-shift manufacturing manager position 

a few months after that. 

Why did you choose the manufacturing field? 

I love knowing that the work I do every day plays a 

part in getting a customer what they need. I never 

leave work feeling like I haven’t accomplished something. 

What advice do you have for people who might 

want to work in manufacturing? 

Research the different opportunities within the industry 

and take advantage of tours that are offered at local 

manufacturing facilities, which will familiarize you with 

the work environment. 

Why is manufacturing a great field to get into? 

There are a lot of different aspects to manufacturing 

that make it a great career for anyone who enjoys 

working in a fast-paced environment. There are manufacturing 

associates who enjoy working to build the 

product, schedulers who are good at prioritizing and 

building the schedule for manufacturing, quality assurance 

employees who have a high attention to detail to 

ensure we’re building the products to industry standards, 

and many others. A hunger for learning about 

new areas or different aspects of the business is really 

what drives your advancement within the industry. Really 

think about the things you enjoy doing, and utilize 

your strengths. 


ADVANCED MANUFACTURING 


Machinists $20.16 

Maintenance Workers Machinery $15.96 

Sheet Metal Workers $21.24 

Millwrights $26.37 

Welders $17.17 

CNC Operators $28.00 

Industrial Machinery Mechanics $28.21 




Congratulations to 

Sandra Hawes 

on your 

All-Star Recognition! 

Sandra is a tenacious worker with a 

dedication to her values and to quality 

in manufacturing. Her commitment to 

hold her team equally accountable to 

the work that they do and to how they 

do it has helped our manufacturing 

team reach new heights of production. 

Well done, Sandra! 


ADVANCED MANUFACTURING SECTOR 

Katie Wagner 

Regional Business 

Development Manager 

World Class Industries 

Hiawatha, Iowa 

Watch Katie’s story 

youtu.be/spumoM9ltO0 

What do you do as a business development 

manager? 

I’m responsible for enterprise-level management of 

our largest original equipment manufacturer (OEM) 

customer account. This means closely collaborating 

with our customer units on new strategic projects 

allowing for continued growth while also working 

to help ensure we meet and exceed our customer’s 

expectations on existing business. 

What gets you excited to head to work each day? 

I work with a lot of incredibly talented and intelligent 

people, so it’s always fun to head to work when 

you’re surrounded by great people. I also love that 

I get to interact with our customers on a daily basis, 

hear what their challenges are, then come back to 

our team to collaborate and identify a solution that 

we can present to resolve our customers’ constraints. 


job? 

I started with WCI right out of college as a supply 

chain specialist working with suppliers to procure 

parts. I then transitioned to quote specialist where 

I began doing the pricing and setup of parts. After 

that I moved to Germany for two years in a bit of 

a hybrid role. I was the only WCI employee and 

only U.S.-origin employee at our facility. We were 

just launching the facility and beginning the direct 

relationship with our European customers (previously 

we supplied them via their U.S. factories), so I spent 

time either being responsible for or helping train in 


the following areas: quote, product realization, supply 

chain, quality and operations. I then returned to the 

United States as the operations supervisor overseeing 

our Hiawatha production team, then spent two 

years as our strategic quote supervisor. I have been 

in my current role for just over two years. The ability 

to continuously learn and develop new skills through 

different roles has been one of the most rewarding 

aspects of working at WCI. 

What has been the most challenging part of your 

career? 

My initial assimilation into Germany. I was 25 and 

had moved to a foreign country by myself with very 

limited understanding of the language and culture. I 

quickly learned a young American female from an organization 

rooted in innovation, agility and adaptability 

was not the norm in our location or with our European 

customers and suppliers. Fortunately, I was able 

to develop good relationships with colleagues and 

friends in Germany who helped educate me on best 

practices so that after a few trial-and-error learnings, I 

was able to better assimilate and provide value. 

What is especially rewarding about your job? 

I get to hear from our customers about their biggest 

headaches and constraints and then come back and 

share that feedback with some extremely intelligent 

and highly capable co-workers who come up with innovative 

ideas that I then get the privilege of presenting 

to our customers as easy-to-implement solutions 

for them. Knowing you get to be a part of improving 

the day-to-day operations of a well-respected OEM is 

a rewarding feeling. 

If someone isn’t sure if manufacturing is the right 

fit, what can they do to check it out? 

Ask questions. Do research. Engage with local programs, 

such as at Kirkwood, where you’re provided 

opportunities to tour facilities and see things up-close 

and personal. Advanced manufacturing is an exciting 

field because there’s constantly new and different 

technologies, capabilities and methods that are being 

developed and implemented to ultimately do things 

better. This results in many new opportunities for folks 

in the field, which allows for a long-term career with 

lots of diversity for those excited to explore it. 

The world is at your fingertips. 

Let World Class Industries help you get there. We have exciting opportunities 

areas like engineering, operations, assembly, and supply chain integration. 

At WCI you’ll find: 

• Comprehensive competitive benefits 

• Vertical advancement opportunities 

• Complete industry-specific training 

• Prospects domestically and abroad 

A world of opportunities and possibilities abounds at World 

Class Industries. Contact us today! 

(319) 378-1766 • careers@worldclassind.com 

WorldClassInd.com 

Corporate Headquarters 

World Class Industries, Inc. 

925 North 15th Avenue 

Hiawatha, IA 52233 

LOCATIONS 

CRYSTAL LAKE (IL) 

EAST MOLINE (IL) 

CEDAR FALLS (IA) 

DES MOINES (IA) 

HIAWATHA (IA) 

AUGUSTA (GA) 

KAISERSLAUTERN (GERMANY) 


FINANCIAL SERVICES SECTOR 

Kayla Crawford, 

CPCU, AU, AINS 

Senior Supervising 

Underwriter 

UFG Insurance 

Cedar Rapids, Iowa 

Watch Kayla’s story 

youtu.be/Kn_edKeP5Ng 

What do you do as a senior supervising underwriter? 

I spend a majority of my time coaching/mentoring the support 

professionals whom I supervise. I also spend a portion of 

my time underwriting, which includes reviewing new business 

applications, making changes to existing policies and 

reviewing renewal business. I also get to be involved in many 

projects to help continue to move our company forward. 

Why did you choose the financial services industry? 

I knew I wanted to pursue a business degree, and after taking 

a Principles of Insurance class in college, I knew that was 

the more specific path I would take. Insurance is such a vital 

part of society, and its use to help businesses manage the 

risks to their business is really what led me to this career. 

Did you go to college for this kind of work? 

Yes. I received my bachelor’s in finance with a certificate in 

risk management and insurance. Continuing education is 

also very important to me as well as to UFG. I received my 

insurance license as part of my position in our service center; 

I was working directly with our policyholders, which required 

the license. My designations are something I wanted to 

obtain to always be improving myself and to have more 

knowledge to better serve our customers. 

Speaking of customers, how do you define excellent 

customer service? 

It means doing everything you can to help your customer. 

It has always been important to me that I actively listen to 

my customer to understand the situation, do my research to 

make sure I have the most accurate answer and make sure 

they fully understand the answer. Whether the answer is 

what a customer wants, they should always walk away knowing 

I did all I could for them and that they understand why 

the answer is what it is. 


I began working at UFG Insurance as a rater associate after 

graduating from college. After a year, I transitioned to our service 

center, and after two-and-a-half years as service center account 

specialist, I transitioned into underwriting. In 2016, I was 

hired into my current role as a senior supervising underwriter. 

What do you find especially rewarding about your job? 

Helping people. That can be anything from helping 

agents get their customers the policies they need to cover 

their business to coaching staff to help them advance in 

their careers. 

Has anything in your work surprised you? 

Yes. The opportunity to travel and build even stronger relationships 

with our agencies. My region works with agencies 

in Iowa, Missouri, Arkansas, North Dakota, South Dakota and 

Ohio. I’ve gotten to travel to most of these states, which has 

been an amazing opportunity to see the areas that I am writing 

insurance for. 

If someone isn’t sure if financial services is the right fit, 


Talk to individuals currently working in the industry to see 

what exactly they do and what their favorite part is. Reach 

out to companies to see if there are any opportunities to do 

a job shadow to learn more about the company/industry. If 

insurance is an area of interest, look at colleges that have 

insurance-specific classes, certificates or degrees. Look 

into internships with insurance companies and/or agencies 

in your area. Insurance is more than sales. There are many 

careers within the industry: underwriting, accounting, IT, 

project management, human resources, investments, etc. 

There truly is a wide array of paths you can take. 


Jim, Information Services 

Quinson, Surety 

Jenna, Underwriting 

Corey, Claims 

Alissa, Corporate Marketing 

Seth, Information Services 

Shawn, Risk Control 

Tara, Service Center 

YOU? 

Cora, Claims 

Ryan, Underwriting 

Usha, Project Management 

Daniel, Claims 

Bedora, Corporate Underwriting 

Kyanna, Surety 

We’ve We’ve found found our our place place at at UFG. Will you? 

Visit ufginsurance.com/careers to see our current openings. 

UFG Insurance | 118 Second Avenue SE, Cedar Rapids, Iowa 52401 | www.ufginsurance.com | 800-332-7977 

© 2019 United Fire & Casualty Company. All rights reserved.

FINANCIAL SERVICES SECTOR 

What do you do as a GIS technician? 

My main responsibility is to keep all of our utility infrastructure, 

address and parcel layers up to date with the latest information. 

I use all of this information to create maps for employees, 

contractors or residents if they are wanting to know where 

the water or sanitary sewer comes into a property. In order to 

make this all happen, I do fieldwork to collect the required 

data using a GPS device at various construction sites. Once 

I’ve completed my data collection, I compare it to construction 

plans in the office to make sure everything is installed correctly. 

Along with GIS work, I help out in the Water Department and 

assist customers when they call or stop in to City Hall. 


Knowing each day is going to be different than the previous 

one; I never know what the day has in store. I enjoy getting 

new projects assigned to me and being able to see the 

finished product. Someone might come visit me about a new 

project they need me to work on, a certain layer of our system 

needs to be updated or they simply need me to create maps 

of the city with various features on it. I like being able to assist 

the citizens and contractors when they stop in. 

Did you go to school for this kind of work? 

Yes. I attended Kirkwood, graduating in fall 2015 with my A.A.S. 

in geographic information systems (GIS) and A.A. in liberal arts. 

During my time at the City of Hiawatha, I’ve made multiple 

layered maps, helped many different departments with mapping, 

and proposed and bought a new GPS system – all things I was exposed 

to at Kirkwood. During the summer of 2015, I interned with 

the City of Hiawatha, and with my class schedule the way it was, I 

had the flexibility to continue working here while earning my B.S. 

from UNI in geographic information science: planning and policy. 

Kyla Pfeiler 

GIS Technician 

City of Hiawatha 

Hiawatha, Iowa 

Watch Kyla’s story 

youtu.be/ESyiIN_THVQ 

What do you find especially rewarding about your job? 

Having the ability to go out in the field and give a precise 

location of where a missing manhole, curb stop or water valve 

might be. Or even simply printing off a map or being able to 

give distances from our GIS system to a particular feature for 

either myself, a co-worker or a contractor to use when locating 

it. It’s a wonderful feeling knowing my job is important for others 

to be able to do their jobs. 

Has anything surprised you throughout your career? 

While going through college and working in the field, I found 

out there aren’t many women in this field. I encourage women 

to look into a degree that is nontraditional for women. And the 

same for men. It’s easy to write off a degree because you think 

it’s gender-based, but give it a chance. It may be just what 

you’re looking for. 

What advice do you have for people interested in your line 

of work? 

If you’re in high school and you’re given the opportunity to 

do job shadows, do as many as you can. This can give really 

good insight about the job or degree you’re looking into. And 

attend as many program conferences as needed, or reach out 

to a teacher in the program for more information. Never close 

your mind off to new opportunities. 


FINANCIAL SERVICES Growth 2019-2023 

Credit Analysts +8% 

Medical Secretary +9% 

Loan Officers +5% 

Credit Counselors +5% 

Median Income 

Loan Officer $29.41 

Customer Service Representatives $16.06 

Insurance Sales Agent $22.68 

Financial Examiner $31.12 




We Believe in Making 

a Difference 

If you’re ready for more than a job, you’re 

ready to join our team. Hiawatha grows 

and supports positive work environments, 

professional-personal growth and giving back 

to community! 

We make a difference in people’s lives! 

www.hiawatha-iowa.com 

Kyla Pfeiler is one 

of those individuals 

making a difference. 

Congratulations 

Kyla on your All-Star 

Recognition. We are 

proud of you! 

OPERATION OPENINGS 

IN NORTH LIBERTY AND NORWAY 

Interested in a steady income that is 

more than a job? Want to join a company 

that will invest in your well-being and 

development? 

Locally rooted and growing, Frontier Co-Op is seeking 

new individuals to join our Operations team! Our 

openings are located just outside of Cedar Rapids in 

Norway and North Liberty on all three shifts. 

Explore and apply on our website 

www.frontiercoop.com 

Frontier is an equal opportunity employer. 


HONORABLE 

MENTION 

The following individuals are All Star Honorable 

Mentions and are to be commended for the 

contributions they make to their industry: 

Brian Banowetz 

Primus Companies, Project Manager 

Lucas Claussen 

Raining Rose, Quality Chemist 

Lee Coblentz 

CRST Expedited, Director of Load Planning 

Jeff Crew 

LL Pelling CO, Foreman 

Sarah Dale 

International Paper, Continuous Improvement Manager 

Ryan Dalziel 

Worley Warehousing Inc, Shift Lead 

Hector Fernandez 

Frontier Co-Op, Master Sanitation Lead 

Jake Galloway 

Thompson Truck & Trailer Truck, Sales Representative 

Matt Hoffman 

CRST Lincoln Sales, Asset Coordinator 

Aaron House 

Van Meter, Automation Product Specialist 

Sam Kott 

JM Swank, LLC, Transportation Analyst 

Brenton Rice 

Stutsman Logistics, Logistics Specialist 

Matthew Russell 

Raining Rose, Packaging Floor Supervisor 

Jacob Schwind 

CRST International, Assistant Corporate Controller 

Mike Scroggs 

Think Safe, Developer 

Tyler Simoens 

ADM, Shift Supervisor 

Kurt Winnike 

CIVCO Medical Solutions, Planning & Material 

Logistics Manager 

DeLandis Wright 

Centro, Inc., Business Process Support 

Congratulations, 

DeLandis Wright! 

ICR All Star Honorable Mention, 

Advanced Manufacturing Sector 

No matter what career you are seeking, Centro’s 

desire for continuous improvement, supports 

a culture that empowers everyone with 

opportunities to make a difference. DeLandis is a shining 

example of seizing that opportunity and committing 

to growth as a valued Associate and leader within the 

organization. Centro is growing and promotes from 

within. Visit the website to learn more. 

For additional information on careers, visit 

Centroinc.com/career 

950 North Bend Drive 

North Liberty, IA 52317 

(319)626-3200 





Challenge Yourself. Change Lives. 

For more than 35 years, CIVCO Medical 

Solutions has been committed to bringing 

cutting-edge technology to medical 

professionals around the world. 

With offices in Kalona and Coralville, 

CIVCO designs and manufactures products 

for use in ultrasound-guided diagnostic and 

therapeutic procedures. 

CIVCO’s history of success is built by people 

who are passionate about creating innovative, 

life-enhancing solutions. 

To learn more, visit CIVCO.com/careers 

102 First Street South | Kalona, IA 52247 | 800.445.6741 

COPYRIGHT © 2019. CIVCO IS A REGISTERED TRADEMARK OF CIVCO MEDICAL SOLUTIONS. ALL 

OTHER TRADEMARKS ARE THE PROPERTY OF THEIR RESPECTIVE OWNERS. 2018A-3094 REV 2 

Congratulations Kurt Winnike, 

CIVCO Planning & Materials Logistics Manager 

2019 Creative Corridor 

All Stars Honorable Mention 

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HEALTHCARE 

Jared Murphy 

Clinical Data Advisor 

UnityPoint Health – St. Luke’s Hospital 


Watch Jared’s story 

youtu.be/xjOLMPzD3Jo 

What do you do as a clinical data advisor? 

I’m part of our performance improvement team. I get to 

work with doctors, nurses and other health care professionals 

across the care continuum to collect, interpret and analyze 

data to help make decisions and improve the quality of 

care. I create reports, presentations, graphs and other visualizations 

to help share this information. Some of the areas I 

get involved with include readmission work, patient satisfaction, 

infection prevention and chronic disease management. 


This role brings together two of my passions – numbers and 

health care – and I get to spend time doing what I love every 

day. I get excited knowing the work I’m doing is helping 

patients get better. I don’t ever speak with or touch a patient. 

Most of my work goes on in the background, but that 

doesn’t mean it isn’t helping improve the care given. There 

is also just an energy working in a hospital. Babies are being 

born here, patients are undergoing surgery, people are healing, 

and I ultimately get to play a small role in all of that. 

What did you study in college? 

I have my bachelor’s degree in mathematics and am pursuing 

my MBA with an emphasis in health care management. 

Why did you choose healthcare as a career? 

I spent a lot of time in hospitals as a kid. Some of the scariest 

and hardest moments of my life happened in a hospital. 

But during that time, I was cared for by some great doctors 

and nurses. They helped me get through the tough parts, 

and it really stuck with me. I knew I wanted to work in health 

care so I could also help people. 


I always knew healthcare was the field for me, but I had a 

hard time figuring out where I fit in. I graduated from high 

school thinking I wanted to be a retail pharmacist. I started 

working as a pharmacy tech while in school, but I felt the job 

was a little too repetitive for me. I then considered actuarial 

science and wanted to work for a health insurance company. 

That also didn’t feel like the right fit. I wanted to help 

people. Then I read a job posting for a data analyst at UnityPoint. 

Something just clicked. I knew this was the right fit 

and UnityPoint was the place to be. I took a pharmacy tech 

job within UnityPoint while finishing school, and I used this 

time to network, do some job shadowing and build relationships. 

After graduating, I accepted my current role and have 

loved every minute of it. 

Why is healthcare a great career field? 

There are so many areas for people with all types of backgrounds. 

Outside of the more well-known areas (nursing, 

physical therapy, surgery, etc.), there’s dietary services, environmental 

services, finance/business, quality and regulatory, 

to name a few, which all play crucial roles in how hospitals 

operate and affect how patients are treated. It’s truly a team 

effort to ensure the best possible care for patients. It is very 

rewarding to know the work you do is helping make someone 

else’s life better, even if you never meet, see or touch 

that person. 


ADVERTISEMENT 

Why choose a career with 

UnityPoint Health - Cedar Rapids? 

As a team member, regardless of your position, 

you will have the opportunity to 

change lives on a daily basis, delivering on 

our vision of Best Outcome for Every Patient 

Every Time. That privilege drives employees’ 

passion for making a difference in the lives 

of our patients, helping them create healthier, 

more rewarding lives. UnityPoint Health 

sets high expectations for team members in 

order to establish a trusted team capable of 

taking on the toughest of challenges. 

Our team members strive to work as one 

through four key values: 

1. Foster Unity 

– We use the skills and abilities of each 

person to enable great teams. 

– We collaborate across departments, 

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– We seek to understand and are open to 

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– We connect with each person treating 

them with courtesy, compassion, 

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– We enthusiastically engage in our work. 

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– We take responsibility for solving 

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4. Seize Opportunity 

– We embrace and promote innovation 

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UnityPoint Health team members come for a job, but stay for a career. 

When will you begin yours? 

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job, stay for 

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unitypoint.org/career 


HEALTH CARE 

Teresa Young 

Health Psychologist 

UnityPoint Health 


Watch Teresa’s story 

youtu.be/njIdiHOsw88 

What do you do as a health 

psychologist? 

My primary role is to see patients who 

are struggling with adjustment to a 

disability or major traumatic accident. 

Other aspects of my work include 

running a caregiver support group, cofacilitating 

a program for patients with 

chronic pain, developing and supervising 

a peer support program and seeing 

patients before elective surgeries 

to maximize a good outcome from the 

procedure. The remainder of my time 

is spent consulting with our medical 

team and serving on hospital-wide 

committees to enhance the services 

we provide. I love working in a hospital 

setting and absorbing the input folks 

from different fields contribute. 

What gets you excited to go to work 

each day? 

I feel a strong sense of purpose when 

I sit with people during their most difficult 

times in life. I get to guide them 

toward healthy activities and people. 

I derive a lot of meaning and joy from 

seeing my patients take action outside 

of my office as they adjust to the world 

around them and accept themselves 

compassionately. 

Why did you choose to get into 

healthcare? 

I think I have a talent for being able to 

connect with people when they are at 

their most vulnerable. There is such a 

high need for mental health providers 

and accessible services, and I want to 

be part of what meets that need and 

advocate for even more. 

What did you study in college? 

I graduated with a B.A. in psychology 

and a minor in Spanish from 

Illinois State University, and I stayed 

there to complete my M.S. in clinicalcounseling 

psychology. After working 

in the field for a year, I got my Ph.D. in 

counseling psychology from Tennessee 

State University. 

What has been your career pathway 

to your current job? 

When I was a senior in college, I received 

a lot of support from a mentor 

of mine to pursue graduate training. 

She encouraged me to consider working 

in a clinical field with patients. 

After earning my M.S., I worked as a 

crisis intervention specialist, evaluating 

folks who were suicidal, homicidal 

or with chronic mental illness in the 

community. During my doctoral training, 

I chose a variety of experiences to 

find the right fit. I worked at university 

counseling centers, conducted 

evaluations for children and counseled 

veterans of varying age groups and 

circumstances. 

Some people hear the term “health 

care” and think “physician” or 

“nurse.” What do you want people 

to know to help broaden their outlook 

on the field? 

Physicians and nurses are, of course, 

an integral part of healthcare. But 

there is a reason why healthcare has 

expanded to include psychologists, 

specialists, physical therapists, occupational 

therapists, speech pathologists, 

social workers, etc. We see better 

outcomes when you get all those services 

in one place! There are also many 

people working “behind the scenes” 

in administration, IT, the cafeteria and 

gift shop, for example, who keep the 

hospital running and going forward. 

We need them all. 

If someone isn’t sure if healthcare is 

the right fit for them, what should 

they do to check it out? 

First, search healthcare jobs through 

a website called O*Net. Once your 

options narrow down, contact someone 

in that position to connect with 

through email or job shadowing. 

Health care can be something that 

takes getting used to, so volunteering 

at a hospital or nursing facility can be a 

way to see what one might encounter. 

Any other thoughts? 

Just that Iowa needs psychologists! 


HEALTHCARE 


$21.16 

Growth 2019-2023 

Home Health Aides +22% 

Nurse Practitioners +12% 

Personal Care Aides +12% 

Registered Nurses +5% 

Physician Assistants +10% 

Health Educators +7% 




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EOE 

Pre-employment physical and drug screen required 


INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY SECTOR 

Alex McCaslin 

Controller 

ProCircular 

Coralville, Iowa 

Watch Alex’s story 

youtu.be/e9fxofYNcmE 

What do you do as a controller? 

The primary functions of the job are to oversee the day-today 

accounting functions, month-end reporting, delivery of 

accurate financial information to the appropriate parties, 

budgeting, maintaining the 260e/260f programs and the 

research and preparation of requests for proposals (RFPs). As 

a small and growing business, we wear many hats and much 

of my job can also fall under the “other duties as assigned.” 

I have the opportunity to have my hand in sales, operations, 

project management and facilities management. 


With the variety of the work that needs to be done, no day 

is ever the same. Accounting often gets stereotyped as 

uneventful or boring, and this led me to look at how I could 

help other areas of the business, which has enabled me to 

streamline processes and contribute in several different areas. 

How did you choose your line of work? 

I love working with numbers. I have an analytical personality 

and thought process. I took accounting classes starting 

in high school when I was trying to figure out what I 

wanted to do with my life. I loved the ability to see how the 

information came together to tell the story of a business. 

Accounting isn’t just crunching numbers – it’s telling a story 

of a business. 

Where did you go to college? 

I have an A.A. from Kirkwood and a bachelor’s in accounting 

from Kaplan University. 

Is there a challenge you’ve overcome at work that you’re 

especially proud of? 

The biggest challenge has been starting many things from 

scratch. ProCircular was a new company when I joined in 

2016, and we’ve had to continuously make improvements. 

Everyone’s ability to “learn on the fly” is something I’m 

proud of, and we have the growth results to show for it. 

Is there something in your work that has surprised you? 

A controller or accountant is not always associated with 

helping generate revenue for a company. ProCircular knew 

that government contracting was an area that could be 

crucial for the success of the business. I had never worked 

on government contracting and bids/RFPs, and it’s not 

generally something you’d find a controller doing. I love 

the ability to contribute to the growth of the company, and 

this is a way to do so. There’s no greater feeling than when 

you win a government bid. 

What does it take to be successful in your role? 

A person can be successful if they come in with subjectmatter 

expertise or industry knowledge. However, what truly 

stands out is the ability to adapt to change, foster new experiences 

and expand their horizons professionally. I feel that 

I’ve succeeded because I’ve worked hard and always sought 

out new opportunities to learn all aspects of whatever position 

I was in. It was more than just coming in and crunching 

numbers; it was a hunger that I wanted to learn more so I 

could help the business succeed. 

If someone isn’t sure if a finance-related career is right for 

them, what should they do to check it out? 

The first step is determining if you’re passionate about this 

area. If you’re not passionate about it, it becomes much harder 

to succeed and stand out. If you’re truly interested in the 

field, there are a number of college/university organizations 

or clubs that you can get involved in. It also helps to talk to 

an adviser who can offer guidance and to speak with several 

people within the field about what they enjoy and what they 

don’t. Keep in mind that you don’t have to rush and make a 

decision. Take your time to think things through. 


INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY 


Software Developers, Applications $41.63 

Web Developer $25.60 

Database Administrators $37.98 

Computer Programmer $34.72 

Network and Computer Systems $35.17 

Administrators 




AT MERIT CONSTRUCTION, 

our employees recognize 

the importance of community 

involvement. 

Together, we build stronger 

communities. 

Kris Ehlinger, 

Superintendent 

meritconst.com 


INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY SECTOR 

Randall Pugh 

Service Desk User 

Support Specialist 

Collabrance LLC 


Watch Randall’s story 

youtu.be/C3Q-M05VDh8 

What do you do as a service desk user support specialist? 

I spend roughly 40 percent of my time on inbound calls and chat requests and another 40 

percent working on user-submitted and alert tickets. I’m a subject-matter expert for our 

image-based backup solution, so a good portion of my tickets are making sure those devices 

are functioning properly. The rest of my time is spent writing PowerShell scripts for 

task automation projects, assisting other team members with tickets, learning new things 

through trainings or self-study and training our new service desk intern. 

What does it take to be successful in your role? 

Technical expertise and exceptional customer service skills are important, and you need a 

little bit of both to be successful because they feed off each other. You also have to be a 

good listener. In a way, you need to be a good “translator” of the user’s words to technical 

terms and vice versa. Being able to give easy-to-follow steps that don’t use jargon makes 

the customer experience a whole lot better. And having a passion to learn is a plus because I 

always feel like I’m learning something new. 



I enjoy the challenge of solving difficult problems and 

the satisfaction of finding the solution. I like talking 

with our customers. It’s pretty easy to strike up a 

conversation while working, and you meet all sorts 

of people. I also enjoy the task automation projects I 

work on. I started with no PowerShell experience before 

Collabrance, took it on as a hobby and then was 

able to make it into a part of my career. It’s cool that 

I can create something that can be impactful to our 

organization and it doesn’t even feel like work to me. 

Why did you choose the IT field? 

Ever since I was little, I have had a passion for computers. 

I took Visual Basic and Java programming classes 

in high school and built my own computer, picking 

each part individually for my build. I was feeling pretty 

knowledgeable about computers at that point and 

started fixing them for people in my hometown. After 

high school, I enrolled at Kirkwood to study computer 

science. 

Has there been something in your work that has 

surprised you? 

I never imagined I would have become a subjectmatter 

expert for the image-based backup solution we 

offer: Datto. Datto offers two certifications – Technical 

Specialist I and Technical Specialist II. I completed 

both certifications and became the first person from 

Collabrance to earn the Tier II certification, leading the 

way for others on my team to earn the certification. 

Looking back at where I started, it’s wild to reflect on 

how much my technical knowledge has grown. 

If someone isn’t sure if IT is the right fit for them, 


If programming classes are an option, take them. 

Whether you find programming interesting or not, 

understanding programming concepts is extremely 

helpful for troubleshooting issues. Also, if you have the 

ability to build your own computer, you should give it a 

try. I built my first computer after reading some guides 

on the internet and used the manuals that came with 

the parts to put it together. Not only is it rewarding 

to do something that seems so complex, but you are 

building something you can use for several years with 

occasional upgrades. Overall, the IT sector is a great 

career to join at any age. It’s a growing field with endless 

opportunities for specialization. 

AARON HOUSE 

Automation Product Specialist 

CONGRATULATIONS 

AARON HOUSE 

ON RECEIVING HONORABLE MENTION AS AN ALL STAR OF ICR! 

vanmeterinc.com 1-800-247-1410 

Everything you need to succeed. 


TRANSPORTATION, LOGISTICS SECTOR 


job? 

While I was working on my degree in diesel truck technology 

at Kirkwood, I worked as a detailer, cleaning the 

inside and outside of trucks. Once I earned my degree, 

I started as a diesel technician. While that is still my official 

title, I’ve been able to progress in my career. I’m 

continually learning and improving the more I experience 

in my job. I’m also required to complete ongoing 

training through our original equipment manufacturer 

(OEM), which is International and Isuzu. The more training 

I complete, the more money I’m able to earn because I can 

work on more difficult repairs. Currently, I’m the lead on second 

shift. If another diesel technician doesn’t know how to complete 

a repair, they come to me and I’m able to help them diagnose it 

accurately. 

Nick Fisher 

Diesel Technician 

Thompson Truck and Trailer 


Watch Nick’s story 

youtu.be/G8wbfHBkcDQ 

Why Kirkwood? 

The diesel truck technology program is short (18 months), so I 

could learn what I needed quickly and then get back to working. 

And as a student, I had access to tools at 50 percent off because 

Kirkwood partners with tool retailers to provide students a discount 

to get started. 

What kind of advancement opportunities are there within 

the industry? 

As a diesel technician, you can get certified in many different 

brands of trucks, different engines, transmissions, etc. The more 

you know, the more opportunities you have. There are a lot of 

other jobs you can transition to as well. You’ll still utilize the 

knowledge gained as a diesel technician, but you’ll be 

doing different things with it: shift manager, truck sales, 

parts specialist, warranty, truck leasing, service writer, 

fleet manager. You can even open and run your own 

repair shop. 

Speaking of different brands, how do you keep current 

on what’s new within the industry? 

Training is a continual process. There are hours of 

videos to watch, followed by quizzes. Our OEMs are always 

updating their truck models and correcting issues, 

so new information and training is constantly posted. I 

always try to stay up to date on my training because it 

ultimately helps me be successful in my job. 

What do you find especially rewarding about your 

job? 

The problem-solving is rewarding. I often see trucks 

I’ve worked on driving down the road. 

What do you do as a diesel technician? 

I diagnose and repair trucks. We generally only work 

on the cab of a semi where the mechanical, electrical, 

steering and suspension work is located. 


I’m excited to see what’s in the shop that needs repaired. 

I don’t know what I’ll be working on until I get 

there, so it’s always something new. 

Has anything in your work surprised you? 

Knowing how to program, reprogram and update different computers 

in the truck. You usually think of a mechanic job as dirty 

and manual labor only, but there is so much technology involved 

in semis now, and we’re the ones required to know how to use it 

and program it. 

What personal and professional skills are needed to be successful 

in this industry? 

Problem-solving, hand-eye coordination, communication and 

patience. Also, you need to know how to use a computer well, 

including how to research and find the information needed to 

then go fix a truck. 

If someone isn’t sure if the transportation industry is the right 

fit, what should they do to check it out? 

There are a ton of videos online you can watch to get a sense of 

what the job requires and what the environment of a shop is like. 

The state of Iowa is known for the number of trucking companies located 

here. There’s always a transportation company hiring for roles 

such as mine or others in this field. 


TRANSPORTATION 

Transportation Workers, 9% growth from 

2019-2023 

Industrial Truck and Tractor Operators, 6% 

growth from 2019-2023 

In 2019, there are 16,053 jobs in the ICR 

Region, 37% above the national average 


$18.14 




QUESTIONS? 

If you are interested in learning more about the ICR 

Sector Boards, or want to become an employer 

board member, please contact: 

Architecture Construction and Engineering (ACE) 

Kylie.Gudenkauf@Kirkwood.edu 

Advanced Manufacturing 

Barbara.Rawson@Kirkwood.edu 

Financial Services 

Judy.Stoffel@Kirkwood.edu 

Healthcare 

Judy.Stoffel@Kirkwood.edu 

Information Technologies 

Gary.Vogt@Kirkwood.edu 

people 

Our 

make us 

better! 

Ryan Dalziel was named 

Honorable Mention from the 

Transportation and Logistics 

sector board. 

Congratulations Ryan! 

Transportation, Logistics 

Ashley.Grimm@Kirkwood.edu 


TRANSPORTATION, LOGISTICS SECTOR 

Lewis Minehart 

ICON Program: 

Independent Contractor 

Don Hummer Trucking 


Watch Lewis’ story 

youtu.be/9TJyy0MJTYo 

What do you do as an independent contractor? 

I really have two jobs. First, as a truck driver, I regularly inspect 

my truck and trailer to ensure all the equipment can be 

operated safely. The other important part of being a driver is 

to safely arrive at my appointments in a timely manner with 

everything intact. Of course, there is a lot more involved 

when it comes to safely operating an 80,000-pound vehicle, 

but at the end of the day, it really is that simple. The second 

part of my job is managing my truck, which includes things 

like scheduling maintenance, ensuring compliance, monitoring 

costs and revenue. This involves all the details on the 

business side of trucking that keep you running profitably. 

Why did you choose to get into the trucking industry? 

After serving eight years in the Marine Corps, I was honorably 

discharged in 2011. I had saved up some money while 

in the service but didn’t really have a plan for my future. I 

spent the next few years contemplating what I should do 

next. I did some construction work, some welding, attended 

college for a couple years and tried working security, but 

nothing ever felt right. In the back of my mind I was always 

curious about truck driving. I had no driving experience, but 

my dad was a truck driver in the ’80s and always told my 

younger brother and me interesting stories from his time on 

the road. I decided to look into becoming a truck driver and 

went to Kirkwood to obtain my commercial driver’s license 

(CDL). I thought I’d give it a shot and if nothing else, I’d at 

least end up with a few good stories of my own, but I ended 

up falling in love with it. 

What has been your career path after receiving your CDL? 

I graduated from Kirkwood’s professional driving program 

in 2016. One of my Kirkwood instructors helped me get my 

first job in Cedar Rapids. At the time I had a dog at home 

and couldn’t do “over the road,” so I drove a dump truck 

for about a year in order to be home daily. It was a blessing 

and a curse; I was home every night, but I also worked 18- 

hour days. After my dog passed away, I figured it was time 

to use my license for the reason I got it: to drive big trucks. 

I applied with Hummer because of the reputation they have 

for being committed to their drivers. For the next year I 

scrimped and saved every penny, and by the end of my first 

year with Hummer, I had saved enough money to buy my 

own truck. I decided to lease that truck on with Hummer. 

The company really went out of their way to help me get 

into the industry, actually negotiating with third parties at 

times on my behalf. I’ve been operating my own truck for 

the last year and have no regrets. 

What advice would you give to people who want to get 

into the transportation industry? 

There is no other career which costs so little to get into that 

will have you making this much money in a short period of 

time without incurring debt. When you’re just starting out, 

pick a company that will treat you right. Talk to other drivers 

to get a feel for a company’s atmosphere. The state of Iowa 

subsidizes a training course through Kirkwood for certain 

circumstances, and military veterans can apply their benefits 

toward driving programs. Research as many of these options 

as you can to see what’s right for you. The great thing about 

trucking is that you decide how much or how little you work: 

work more, get paid more; work less, get paid less. You 

decide the level of your success. All it takes is a little bit of 

effort and some serious determination. 


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Reach For Potential House Project 

JUNIOR ALL STARS 

WINNERS 

In June 2018, five Kirkwood Community College 

and high school students embarked on the Greater 

Iowa City Home Builders Association’s initial 

summer Vocational Training Program. Through the 

program, the students constructed a 2,339-squarefoot 

house in Iowa City. 

Pallavi Gopalakrishna 

Student, Kirkwood Community College 

Cullen Klebe 

Student, Highland High School, Riverside* 

Jake Nietfeldt 

Student, Durant High School, Durant 

George Marcy 

Student, Solon High School, Solon 

Lia Weiner 

Student, Iowa City West High School, Iowa City 

What did the five of you accomplish? 

JAKE NIETFELDT: A group of us, ranging from a junior in 

high school to a 38-year-old Kirkwood student, built a house 

through the Iowa City Home Builders Association for Reach 

For Your Potential, which houses adults with disabilities that 

need 24/7 care. The house was Americans with Disabilities Act 

(ADA)-approved, making it 100 percent handicap accessible. 

PALLAVI GOPALAKRISHNA: Under the constant support and 

impeccable guidance of Tim Rouse, starting from how the 

building permit was obtained to the housewarming ceremony, 

from digging to building, from using hands to using machines, 

we were laid out the opportunity to learn and build the home. 

A confidence that came from trusting a group of students to 

deliver a live product was a boost to my self-confidence. 

CULLEN KLEBE: Everyone worked on various things. I helped 

put the foam board along the footings and tie rebar together 

for the concrete slab. I helped frame, helped put the roof on, 

helped side the house and all sorts of other fun stuff. Our first 

day working on the site was June 12 and we had the house 

showing on Sept. 1. 

How did you and your team members get connected, 

especially since you’re from different schools? 

Cullen Klebe and Jake Nietfeldt are two of the five Junior All Stars 

winners. 

JAKE: The opportunity was offered to me by my high school 

shop teacher, Mr. Tim Rouse. He was told about it by Joe 

Greathouse, associate professor of construction management 

at Kirkwood. 

PALLAVI: I was also told about the project by Joe Greathouse. 

(I’m an architectural technology student.) Prior to attending 

Kirkwood, I had completed my bachelor’s in architecture studies 

in India before following my husband to the United States. 

CULLEN: I found out about it through my boss at McCreedy- 

Ruth Construction, Tim Ruth. He mentioned that we were 

going to start a new student-built house and that I should take 

part. I signed up for the project, signed up to have it be used 

as my summer internship for Kirkwood and off things went. 

Has Kirkwood been a good choice for you? 

PALLAVI: Yes. I chose Kirkwood because it has the courses I 

was looking for, and when I approached the faculty, they gave 

me all the attention I needed, listened to me and guided me. 

What appealed to you about the housebuilding project? 

JAKE: I have an interest in the trades and this helped me get 

my foot in the door. It also appealed to me because of who 

we were building it for. 

PALLAVI: With great communication from the start of the project 

until the end, every person who contributed had a noble, 

yet humble, thought in their minds, be it the design team, 

various consultants, banks, etc. The one cause in mind was the 

community support and reassurance of faith in humankind. 

CULLEN: I started working for McCreedy-Ruth Construction 

in the summer of 2017, so I wasn’t too experienced when I 

started working on the Reach house. I want to be a framer and 

I saw an opportunity to do that. 


What did you find especially rewarding about the project? 

JAKE: The happiness we gave those four adults who had not 

gotten to experience their own home to have, in a way, their own 

home. (They will always live in a supervised home.) The happiness 

that they expressed at the ribbon-cutting spoke for itself. 

PALLAVI: The smiles of the homeowners on the housewarming 

day! That was a heartwarming reward. 

CULLEN: Seeing the final product. I worked on the house from 

when they poured the foundation until the nail holes were 

filled, so I was fortunate enough to see the project all the way 

through. To see the people’s faces who were going to be living 

in the house was priceless. They thanked us and hugged us, but 

the best part was seeing how happy they were and how great 

the house turned out. 

Did you face challenges while building the house? 

JAKE: For most of us, this was our first time building a house, 

so we didn’t know what to do. My teacher, Mr. Rouse, and Tim 

Ruth from McCreedy-Ruth Construction did a wonderful job 

of helping us and not getting frustrated with us! They were 

wonderful mentors. The other challenge we faced was the 

weather. We had a few rainy days and we had a lot of superhot 

days – we were sheeting the roof on one of the hottest 

days of the summer. 

CULLEN: The biggest challenge we faced had to be our inexperience, 

even my own. We were all learning new things as the 

job went on and we just had to face it. 

If someone isn’t sure if construction is the right fit, what 

should they do to check it out? 

JAKE: Do research on it and look for things such as a studentbuilt 

home in your community or in a community around you. 

Do a job shadow or talk to someone in the trades. Just give it a 

shot. If you don’t like it, then you can back out. 

PALLAVI: Being in the construction field is like a banquet every 

day because there are numerous things going on at one place: 

learning engineering, managing social and economic conditions, 

team and time coordination, planning and much more. 

Having a roof over your head is a satisfying feeling. Being able 

to be in an industry that helps provide one is even better. 

Watch Reach For Your 

Potential House Project story 

youtu.be/wo43fUELVHM 

CULLEN: Talk to a teacher 

or your guidance counselor 

and see if there are job 

shadow opportunities you 

can try. Go out and see if 

you really want to do this, 

and if you don’t, that is perfectly 

fine. This line of work 

is not for everyone, but if you do want to do construction and 

you are sure of it, now is a great time to get into the trade – any 

trade for that matter. Be prepared to work hard, and don’t be 

afraid to get after it. Be a go-getter, be energetic and excited 

to learn and people will want to teach you. Everyone will make 

mistakes, but that’s how you learn. 

*Cullen graduated in 2018 and is now a construction management 

student at Kirkwood. 

JUNIOR ALL STARS 

HONORABLE MENTION 

Elisha Sir-Louis 

Student, Mid-Prairie Home School 

Assistance Program 

Kirkwood Advanced Manufacturing/ 

Engineering Technology & Welding Career 

Academy, Kirkwood Regional Center at the 

University of Iowa 

Why did you choose 

to participate in 

Kirkwood’s advanced 

manufacturing academy 

experience? 

The opportunity to attend 

a college course 

free of charge while still 

in high school and gain 

life experience in a field 

that is in high demand right now was an experience 

I couldn’t pass up. The advanced manufacturing 

and welding classes intrigued me. I realized 

I was gaining an experience few get at my age. 

And it taught me what it means to be in the environment 

of a job mindset. 

Share some details about your academy 

experience. 

I am currently enrolled in Kirkwood’s advanced 

manufacturing program, which is a yearlong commitment. 

We are studying CNC lathe, CNC mill, 

press brake and different forms of welding. Last 

summer I had an internship through Kirkwood’s 

Workplace Learning Connection, which is a program 

for high schoolers to experience on-the-job 

training and explore different job opportunities. 

I did my internship with Open Gates Group, a 

small-town milk and dairy company that had an 

internship for an apprentice welder. That was the 

first encounter I had with a welding job. 

If someone isn’t sure if manufacturing is right 

for them, what should they do to check it out? 

If you’re interested in advanced manufacturing, 

welding, CNC or other machines used in a 

manufacturing setting, there are demo days held 

at the regional center that you can attend to get 

a glimpse into the manufacturing world. You are 

able to use the virtual welders and possibly see 

the machines at work during the demo day. The 

advanced manufacturing curriculum is great for 

those who want to work with their hands and see 

some sparks fly. The classroom and bookwork are 

really easy to understand, along with the lectures.

All Stars 2019

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