Architecture

Sequel Architecture in The Small Business Spotlight

We love telling the stories of entrepreneurs and when they launch a new business in the middle of a pandemic...it really becomes special. Meet Steve Wilke-Shapiro who recently launched Sequel Architecture a full service design firm doing business across Iowa. Listen to the thoughtful way Steve approaches each project, some tips on hiring an architect, the story of a 173 year-old building and more.  Meet Steve...in our Small Business Spotlight: 

Stuff to DO with Cityview and Jeff Pitts

Forgive us we spent some time talking about pizza for breakfast. You do...do that...right? We'll chat about a number of fun stuff like pickled herring and nope, Jeff has never had.  Here, once again is Jeff Pitts the managing editor of Cityview Magazine with "Stuff to DO" in the Des Moines, Iowa Metro". Things like MMA fights, the Downtown Des Moines Walking Tour, the drive-in from the Des Moines Playhouse, Max Wellman is opening up Noce (YAY!) and on his birthday yet.  There is a comic book convention coming to town and a home show in Ankeny. And coming up the Cityview Summer Stir...oh yeah.  And lots of stuff in between.  Have some fun already, you've earned it.
The award winning Insight on Business the News Hour with Michael Libbie is the only weekday business podcast in the Midwest. The national, regional and local business news along with long-form business interviews can be heard Monday - Friday. You can subscribe on Google Play, PlayerFM, Podbean, iTunes, Spotify, Stitcher or TuneIn Radio. And you can catch The Business News Hour Week in Review each Sunday Noon on News/Talk 1540 KXEL. The Business News Hour is a production of Insight Advertising, Marketing & Communications. You can follow us on Twitter @IoB_NewsHour. 
Our Sponsors
AARP-Iowa
National Tractor Parts Dealer Association
Oasis - A Paychex Company
Tero International

The Interesting World of The Fat Plant Society meet Kasey Riley

Wait until you hear this story proving people can create whatever they are passionate about. Kasey Riley is part of the duo behind the very successful Fat Plant Society (go ahead and check the photos but...come back!). She and her designer husband Morton Klinte have created something remarkable in the Kansas City area.  They are called "Moss Walls" and here you will learn more about this amazing business and the real benefits of putting a moss wall i your home or business. Enjoy! 
The award winning Insight on Business the News Hour with Michael Libbie is the only weekday business podcast in the Midwest. The national, regional and local business news along with long-form business interviews can be heard Monday - Friday. You can subscribe on Google Play, PlayerFM, Podbean, iTunes, Spotify, Stitcher or TuneIn Radio. And you can catch The Business News Hour Week in Review each Sunday Noon on News/Talk 1540 KXEL. The Business News Hour is a production of Insight Advertising, Marketing & Communications. You can follow us on Twitter @IoB_NewsHour. 
Our Sponsors
AARP-Iowa
National Tractor Parts Dealer Association
Oasis - A Paychex Company
Tero International

The Business News Headlines 15 January 2020

It's true, the business news headlines are coming to you this week from Arizona where it's brown...not white like back home in Iowa.  In the news today:
The new trade deal and agriculture...what if?
No joy in "Toyland" says Target;
GM and temporary workers;
Tesla may win with the new trade deal but not for cars;
The Wall Street Report;
Workers and Weight an issue nobody wants to discuss.
Those stories and we'll talk construction with Creighton Cox, a return visitor to the News Hour, and this time is's about the construction industry both on a local and national level. Creighton recently became the Business Development Manager for Turner Construction an international company. The fact that Creighton is in this position tells us that the company is planning some serious work in the Hawkeye State...yes? You can listen here.
 

Construction Outlook with Creighton Cox of Turner Construction

It's always great to sit down and talk business with Creighton Cox who is the Business Development Manager with international construction company Turner Construction. Here we talk about the micro and the macro of construction going from some hyper-local conversation to a more global look at the construction industry. Creighton has just "retired" from a long stint as a City Councilman for the City of Urbandale and, yes, that too factored into our conversation. 
The award winning Insight on Business the News Hour with Michael Libbie is the only weekday, hour-long business podcast in the Midwest. The national, regional and local business news along with long-form business interviews can be heard Monday - Friday. You can subscribe on Google Play, PlayerFM, Podbean, iTunes, Spotify, Stitcher or TuneIn Radio. And you can catch The Business News Hour Week in Review each Sunday at 2pm on News/Talk 1540 KXEL. The Business News Hour is a production of Insight Advertising, Marketing & Communications. You can follow us on Twitter @IoB_NewsHour. 
Our Sponsors
AARP-Iowa
National Tractor Parts Dealer Association
Oasis - A Paychex Company
Tero International

The Business News & More 30 October 2019

The Fed cut interest rates by a quarter of a percent and at first the markets went..."Meh..." That story and more today:
What caused the "Meh" early today;
What's in a name? Ask Molson Coors;
What health care has to do with lagging wages;
Some new GDP concerns;
So those rising steel prices?  Not so fast;
Beggars Night explained;
Twitter says "NO!" to political advertising.
Those stories and a conversation with Dr. Tom Ahart the Superintendent of the Des Moines Public Schools about a vote coming up on Tuesday of next week that will have a major impact on students and facilities. We'll explain how an increase in the tax levy for physical plant won't increase property taxes. THe vote is on the Physical Plant and Equipment Levy or PPEL. Take a few minutes to learn more. You can hear that conversation here. 
Thanks for listening! 

Des Moines Public Schools Need Your Vote

When it a tax...not really a tax? We'll answer that question today with our guest Dr. Tom Ahart the Superintendent of Schools for the Des Moines Public Schools. Here is the quick story. On Tuesday 5 November voters in Des Moines will be asked to approve the Physical Plant and Equipment Levy (PPEL) which will allow the school district to have the necessary dollars for critical maintenance to the 71 buildings in the district plus be able to support new technology for students. All without raising property taxes. Listen in as Dr. Ahart and I discuss and then, I'd urge you to vote YES for PPEL on Tuesday. To learn more here is a link to the website about PPEL. 
The award winning Insight on Business the News Hour with Michael Libbie is the only weekday, hour-long business podcast in the Midwest. The national, regional and local business news along with long-form business interviews can be heard Monday - Friday. You can subscribe on Google Play, PlayerFM, Podbean, iTunes, Spotify, Stitcher or TuneIn Radio. And you can catch The Business News Hour Week in Review each Sunday at 2pm on News/Talk 1540 KXEL. The Business News Hour is a production of Insight Advertising, Marketing & Communications. You can follow us on Twitter @IoB_NewsHour. 
Our Sponsors
AARP-Iowa
National Tractor Parts Dealer Association
Oasis - A Paychex Company
Tero International

Repurposing a Vacant Mall - Immigrants Welcome

Usually Laura Kinnard joins me each week to talk about business events happening in the Greater Des Moines Metro. This week we're changing things up to talk about creating an Iowa Immigrant Welcome Center that would be housed at the, now near empty, Southridge Mall location on the near southside of Des Moines. It's a project from Curated Growth a company started by Laura. Here with her is Patricia Grote from the Iowa International Center. Lots of reasons to like all of this. 
The award winning Insight on Business the News Hour with Michael Libbie is the only weekday, hour-long business podcast in the Midwest. The national, regional and local business news along with long-form business interviews can be heard Monday - Friday. You can subscribe on Google Play, PlayerFM, Podbean, iTunes, Spotify, Stitcher or TuneIn Radio. And you can catch The Business News Hour Week in Review each Sunday at 2pm on News/Talk 1540 KXEL. The Business News Hour is a production of Insight Advertising, Marketing & Communications. You can follow us on Twitter @IoB_NewsHour. 
Our Sponsors
AARP-Iowa
National Tractor Parts Dealer Association
Oasis - A Paychex Company
Tero International

Our Small Business Spotlight - A New Look Exteriors

We all know that it is the small business that is the back-bone of our local, regional and national economy. On a regular basis we offer up a Small Business Spotlight to share the stories of these entrepreneurs. Today our guest is Justin Williams who, with his wife, founded A New Look Exteriors in October of 2018 and has seen incredible business growth. Recently named the Small Business of the Year by his local chamber Justin talks about the "secret sauce" that spells growth for his new company. We think you'll enjoy this...
The award winning Insight on Business the News Hour with Michael Libbie is the only weekday, hour-long business podcast in the Midwest. The national, regional and local business news along with long-form business interviews can be heard Monday - Friday. You can subscribe on Google Play, PlayerFM, Podbean, iTunes, Stitcher or TuneIn Radio. And you can catch The Business News Hour Week in Review each Sunday at 2pm on News/Talk 1540 KXEL. The Business News Hour is a production of Insight Advertising, Marketing & Communications. You can follow us on Twitter @IoB_NewsHour. 
Our Sponsors
AARP-Iowa
National Tractor Parts Dealer Association
Oasis - A Paychex Company
Tero International

The Business News Headlines 27 February 2019

For the second day in a row the Dow lost ground. Why? Oh, my a host of things that are going on and we've got the details. In other business news:
It's a branding mess that cost Oprah about $58 million;
J.C. Penny to pull the plug on yet another idea that was to have been a winner;
Big changes coming to downtown Des Moines soon as the wrecking ball comes back;
We'll check on what happened on Wall Street and why.
Plus we're talking honey, bees and economics with folks from the Iowa Honey Producers Association that were at the Statehouse today. State Apiarist Andrew Joseph is joined by Kari Kenoyer a hobbyist and Phil Ebert a commercial honey producer at Ebert Honey. 
Also today members of the Des Moines Public School (DMPS) Community Legislative Action Team were at the Statehouse on a "Day of Action". I spent some time with DMPS Board of Education Chair Cindy Elsbernd and activist, mom and IT professional Claudia Brown talking about language and how, if we do things right, we've got multi-language workers right here who can make a difference for businesses seeking these types of workers. To hear that conversation click here.