Ashley Prince always had a love for art and design and so went to Iowa State University and graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in Graphic Design. She is a painter, designer, creator, and teacher who wanted to share her passion for art with others. After some deliberation, Ashley started her own art business, Pickled Palette, …
In the tiny town of Jewell, Iowa, Dan and Meryl Scarrow discovered a business opportunity. Though Dan was still in dental school, the Scarrows knew they wanted to move to a small town and start their own practice one day. The moment arose when they spotted Jewell listed as “a community in need of a …
Theo and Bonnie Ramsey purchased a historic local grocery store in Lenox, Iowa on April 1, 2015 and turned it into Ramsey’s Market, an “Iowa-based neighborhood grocery, incorporating the culture and style of rural America into our modern attitude”. Formerly, the store was Cheese’s Food Center, run by the Cheese Family since 1895. The previous …
Kelsey Hipnar dreamed of developing a creative outlet for her local community in Crawford, Iowa. In 2009, she took the first steps to make her dream a reality by starting Kelsey’s Art Space for Kids summer camps (KASK Camps). Over the next few years, Hipnar expanded the workshops to include individuals of all ages and …
While walking through a lavender field at a lavender festival in Washington State, Mary Hamer realized she “had to do this back home.” At that moment, the idea of Loess Hills Lavender Farms was born. Tim and Mary Hamer have been in the lavender business since 2009 and have continued to work full-time on their …
John Chadima was determined to be a business owner and was searching for the right venture to invest in when a friend suggested Firehouse Subs, a fast casual restaurant chain with a passion for hearty and flavorful food, heartfelt service, and public safety. The franchise’s history and practices were enticing to John who really believed …
C.A.P Recycling is a female owned family business located in Sioux City, Iowa. Cora Parr independently owns the business and her husband Amos is one of five full-time employees. Prior to opening the business, Amos had over 20 years of experience in the aggregate recycling industry and even won recycler of the year. His experience, …
With only two similar businesses in all of Iowa, David and Julie Betz knew they found a niche market with escape rooms. The couple opened Escape Cedar Valley in the heart of Cedar Falls in mid-November of 2015. The idea came from trips to similar business in 2013. They explored the idea of opening the …
Have you ever had a vision that you felt so passionate about and made it a reality? Well Bailey Kloft did just that as she watched her lifelong dream of fashion and styling come to life. After obtaining her Master’s degree in Business Analytics, she wanted to use her strengths in business and add a creative …
How different would this world be if girls, from a young age, channeled their energy, passion, and enthusiasm into creative projects that built up the community around them? What if these girls were encouraged to be individuals with valid ideas, rather than discouraged by peers and social norms? What if girls truly believed that they …
