News
Introducing our NEW Advance Peer Groups for C-Suite Executives.
Advantages of Peer Groups Build leadership skills Broaden perspectives Increase accountability Gain confidence Challenge assumptions Establish a trusted network of support in a confidential environment Which Advance Peer Group is right for you? Advance CEO Peer Group Advance CxO Peer Group Advance ESOP Peer Group Advance IT Peer Group Advance Finance Peer Group Advance Women-Owned Peer Group
Reserve a SPOT... Read More
In preparation for upcoming workshops, including our FOUNDRY 4.0 Evolution Workshop in Huntsville, Alabama, we are sending out this survey to assess the metal casting industry to understand their current capabilities, needs, and pain points.
This survey and the entire assessment process are intended to gather information about current and planned Added Manufacturing (AM) capabilities, while respecting confidential and proprietary information.
It takes less than 10 minutes to fill out the Foundry 4.0 Survey...We look forward to your responses and thank you in advance for your participation and support.
Use the convenient QR-Code
or... Read More
Join us for the Foundry 4.0 Evolution Workshop, a 1-day event where participants will explore business tools and methods, and technological possibilities for strategic Industry 4.0 implementation, leading to long-term business profitability and success.
Event Details!Wednesday, April 19, 2023 Meet & greet & networking Starting at 6:00 p.m.
Thursday, April 20, 2023 Foundry 4.0 Evolution Workshop Begins at 8:00 a.m. until 5:30 p.m.
Event Location!... Read MoreApply Today! 10,000 Small Businesses program
As a valued ADVANCE IOWA partner, the 10,000 Small Businesses program is a great opportunity you may not want to miss! This program allows you to work on your business in a way you never have had before and it's absolutely free. What is the program about... The Goldman Sachs Foundation, along with all of Iowa’s community colleges, is excited to offer the 9th cohort of the 10,000 Small Businesses program in Iowa this spring. Fact is...
Listen and watch what program alumni, Jenny Steffensmeier of Steffensmeier Weld... Read More
What WE do!
We provide targeted solutions, guiding small and mid-size enterprises as they thrive, grow and succeed. ADVANCE IOWA assists in overcoming obstacles and identifying new opportunities. Our TEAM leads businesses successfully through transitions, shifting mindsets towards GROWTH & INNOVATION!Have a look at the opportunities available!
Sales & Marketing Assistant We are seeking a student assistant to support the sales and marketing work, as part of our team. We are loo... Read MoreA new partnership among the University of Northern Iowa (UNI), Youngstown State University (YSU) and the National Center for Defense Manufacturing and Machining (NCDMM) will leverage $10 million in first-year federal funding to increase the number of small-to-midsize enterprises using advanced technologies, bolster critical areas of the Department of Defense manufacturing supply chain and create jobs.
On Tuesday, April 19, project leads from each partner organization met to review goals and launch project initiatives. Following the meeting, a media event welcomed the Cedar Valley community to learn more, meet the leads and tour the TechWorks Campus, wh... Read More
Time is the one consistent element that affects all business planning. It’s also something that business owners can harness with proper planning. When harnessed properly, time can be your best planning friend. When ignored, it can turn the best intentions into a planning nightmare. Let’s look at how time— and how each owner used it—affected the futures of two separate business owners in different ways.
Hurry Up and Wait vs. Wait and Hurry Up
If it weren’t for their last names, you’d never know that Tim and Jim Slim were brothers. They had both built extremely successful last-mile delivery services, well-known for their exceptional service in their highly competitive region... Read More
Preparing your business for a successful future often goes hand in hand with preparing your business for a successful sale. No matter whom you sell to—and even if you believe you’ll never sell your business—you should focus on catching Deal Killers. Deal Killers are things that can affect your business’ value and future. Let’s look at an example of the difference between addressing Deal Killers early and ignoring them until it’s too late.
Bud and Bess Bush always had a sibling rivalry. Bud’s manufacturing business had grown and provided for his family for 35 years. Bess’s data analytics firm had done similarly well over the last 28 years. Though they never worked together, Bud and... Read More
Setting goals is a catalyst for success, especially if you’re planning for the future of your ownership and the success of your business. The strongest goals tend to have five aspects that help you guide the process for achieving them. In other words, when you set goals, you want to set SMART goals:
Specific Measurable Accurate Realistic Time-limited
Let’s look at how each of these aspects can help you create goals that let you plan for the future of your ownership more successfully.
Specific Goals Inspire ActionThough it can be challenging, setting specific goals allows you to act on them. Consider the difference between a vague goal and a specific goal.... Read More