Iowa Ledger (2019) - Tippie College of Business
Iowa Ledger is an annual publication for alumni and friends of the Department of Accounting, Tippie College of Business, University of Iowa.
Iowa Ledger is an annual publication for alumni and friends of the Department of Accounting, Tippie College of Business, University of Iowa.
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family<br />
Hometown Hawkeye<br />
Eric Gantz, co-founder <strong>of</strong> Verena Street C<strong>of</strong>fee<br />
WRITTEN BY • REBEKAH TILLEY<br />
Eric Gantz (BBA04) had an idyllic <strong>Iowa</strong> childhood. He grew up in<br />
Dubuque surrounded by his large extended family on Verena Street.<br />
Today, you can go to any Hy-Vee and see a childhood snapshot<br />
<strong>of</strong> Eric and his cousin Michael riding their pint-sized bicycles on the<br />
side <strong>of</strong> a bag <strong>of</strong> Verena Street C<strong>of</strong>fee.<br />
“When Michael and I launched Verena Street, we were<br />
trying to capture that feeling, that experience <strong>of</strong> growing<br />
up in a small <strong>Iowa</strong> town,” said Gantz.<br />
Starting at age 12, the pair became the fourth generation<br />
working in the family Pepsi franchise business. During his<br />
formative years, Gantz attended the school <strong>of</strong> hard work<br />
and hustle, and that experience led him to choose accounting<br />
when he entered the University <strong>of</strong> <strong>Iowa</strong>.<br />
“I chose to pursue a degree in accounting because it’s the<br />
backbone <strong>of</strong> any business,” said Gantz. “I approached it from<br />
the perspective <strong>of</strong> ‘What is my career path and what do I<br />
need to do to get there?’ Accounting teaches you to see things<br />
in the numbers before business challenges become evident.”<br />
Eric put his head down and worked hard through college,<br />
including summers driving a delivery truck for the family<br />
business. After graduating from <strong>Iowa</strong> in 2004, Eric returned<br />
to Dubuque and, in 2010, he and Michael launched Verena<br />
Street C<strong>of</strong>fee Co. to diversify the family business and as<br />
a celebration <strong>of</strong> Dubuque pride. The c<strong>of</strong>fee company’s<br />
foundational blends, including Mississippi Grogg, Nine<br />
Mile Sunset, and Lock & Dam 11, are inspired by Dubuque<br />
landmarks. They recently launched the fair trade and<br />
organic- certified “<strong>Iowa</strong> Native by Verena Street” line<br />
<strong>of</strong> c<strong>of</strong>fee blends including Bonfire Espresso, Farmhouse<br />
Breakfast, and Branding Iron dark roast.<br />
“When I was growing up, young people wanted to get out<br />
<strong>of</strong> Dubuque. We wanted to build this company in a way that<br />
encouraged people to be proud <strong>of</strong> this place and its heritage.<br />
We started seeing big-city brands creeping into <strong>Iowa</strong>.<br />
We want an <strong>Iowa</strong> brand to start creeping into the big cities.”<br />
•<br />
24 IOWA LEDGER <strong>2019</strong>
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