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Success Stories Blog
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Small Business Starts with Motivation
Lisa Behrends LLC
Great Des Moines Area, Iowa
Lisa is a Speaker, Executive Coach, and Founder of Intentional Connections, a networking event for women to make business and leadership connections. Lisa came to The Iowa Center for Business Coaching support in order to launch her speaking and coaching business. The Iowa Center helped her develop a business plan with a structure for services that will generate long-term revenue.
Small Business Cares for Pets
Wags and Whiskers Veterinary Clinic
Oelwein, Iowa
Dr. Ann Eike, a veterinarian with 16 years’ experience, saw a need for small animal veterinary services in the area surrounding rural Oelwein, Iowa. She received Business Coaching and a small business loan from The Iowa Center, and opened her practice in Fall 2024. Eike and her team, which includes a three-legged office cat named Bumper, are delivering high quality service that prioritizes the patient-client-vet relationship.
Small Business is Designed for Parents by Parents
Playgrounds Cafe for Littles
Waukee, Iowa
As working parents with two active kids, Natalie and Shane envisioned an indoor play space with a full-service cafe and family centered amenities. The Iowa Center provided Business Coaching and access to capital through The Iowa Center Loan Fund. Natalie and Shane cut the ribbon on Playgrounds Cafe in April 2024, providing a place for parents with young kids to enjoy a cup of coffee while their children play.
Small Business Starts from the Roots
Roots Rehab
Ankeny, Iowa
Dr. Kayla was a college athlete running track and cross country at Wichita State. Through her athletic career, she dealt with injuries of her own and was inspired to launch a physical therapy practice to help Iowans improve health and well-being. With a loan through The Iowa Center, Kayla was able to make improvements to her facilities in Ankeny and purchase new equipment. Roots Rehab specializes in one-on-one treatment tailored to patients’ specific care needs.
Small Business Helps You Succeed
One Above HR
Cedar Rapids, Iowa
Sarah knows that Iowa businesses need customized HR solutions and wanted to use her twenty-seven years of recruiting, human resources and leadership to help businesses achieve their goals. Sarah came to The Iowa Center for help creating her business plan and attended classes to build her knowledge and skillset as she planned to launch her new company. She founded One Above HR in December 2023 to help Iowa businesses optimize recruiting strategies and create thriving cultures. Sarah has deployed her unique approach too small to medium-sized business throughout Iowa in order to help them develop high-performing, effective teams.
Small Business is Full of Surprises.
A Glimpse Within
Ankeny, Iowa
Natasha is a licensed nurse who wanted expectant parents to be captivated by the images and live movements that she experienced in a 3D/4D ultrasound session during her own pregnancy. She came to The Iowa Center seeking a loan for ultrasound equipment. In 1:1 business coaching sessions, Natasha modified her business plan to secure equipment without incurring debt. Today, Natasha is providing expectant parents with 3D/4D ultrasound services to relieve anxieties, check on baby for fun, and celebrate gender reveals.
Small Business Builds a Brand
Cocoa Creative
Des Moines, Iowa
Terrence was working part time and going to school while supporting his family. He came to The Iowa Center for assistance launching his business and has returned for coaching over the years to expand his business through marketing; navigate COVID19, and secure access to capital. Today, Terrence and his team at Cocoa Creative are providing graphic design, video production and photography services to clients locally, regionally, and nationally.
Small Business Creates Jobs and Opportunity
Zamorins Solutions
Des Moines, Iowa
Zamorins Solutions Inc. supplies government agencies and company with Information Technology Enabled Services (ITES). Their services include the well-known ParkZapp that optimizes safety and compliance for park inspections across 28 states that supplies government agencies. Despite the company’s success, Latha faced challenges accessing capital as she struggles to meet the staffing demands of her growing business. Latha came to The Iowa Center for capital and business support. She has now created new Sales and Business Analyst roles which will be critical in helping Latha manage and seek out new contract opportunities for the business.
Small Business Tells our Stories.
Studio Process
West Des Moines, Iowa
Laura is a creative video storyteller who has edited commercial work in Dallas’ bustling ad industry and directed marketing for a cultural museum in Eastern Iowa. Passionate about creating meaningful work, she founded Studio Process to create quality work for organizations that are doing good in the world. Laura came to The Iowa Center for Business Coaching to design her business plan and attended classes to build knowledge, skills and confidence in her small business journey. Laura is offered turnkey video production, including shooting, edition and motion graphics that are telling Iowa stories, and brining her mission and vision to every project she works on.
Small Business Cares for the Community
Vibrant Home Care
West Des Moines, Iowa
Kit and Amanda worked together at a home care services agency. They came to The Iowa Center for a loan and business support to launch and grow their own agency in order to protect access to high quality care for seniors and individuals with disabilities and special needs. The Iowa Center supported Kit and Amanda again when they spun off services into a second company to focus a dedicated care team on patients with brain injury and intellectual disability waivers. Today, Vibrant Homecare and Vibrant SCL are approved to provide services in all 99 counties in Iowa.
