Iowa

EntreFEST 2021 with Jill and Jourdan

Coming up in June is EntreFEST 2021 a multi day event held in Cedar Rapids, Iowa that focusses on building understanding, community and providing resources for entrepreneurs from across the county. Here Jill Wilkins, COO for NEWBOco and Jourdan McChesney the EntreFEST Event Coordinator visit with me about what it is, who should go, how to get there and if you want to do the event virtually you can join from wherever you are on the planet.  And, if you sign up feel free to use the Promo Code LIBBIE to get 20% off your registration fee.  Nice....
Thanks for listening! 
The award winning Insight on Business the News Hour with Michael Libbie is the only weekday business news podcast in the Midwest. The national, regional and some local business news along with long-form business interviews can be heard Monday - Friday. You can subscribe on 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.

The Business News Headlines 20 April 2021

Investors on Wall Street were, today, more concerned with COVID19 then they were with some good earnings and that's where we'll start and stay with us for our conversation with entrepreneur and author Ben McDougal. But, first the news:
Investors are worried;
A big move in Philadelphia for business;
Imagine Regional Economic Collapse;
Prices on many household items going up;
The Wall Street Report;
People NOT fleeing like we thought.
For the interview you'll meet Ben McDougal a professional connector, entrepreneur and now an author of the book, "You Don't Need This Book".  We take a walk down the path of the entrepreneurial eco system.  To listen just click here! 
Thanks for listening! 
The award winning Insight on Business the News Hour with Michael Libbie is the only weekday business news podcast in the Midwest. The national, regional and some local business news along with long-form business interviews can be heard Monday - Friday. You can subscribe on 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.

The Entrepreneurial Eco System with Ben McDougal

Join me as I reconnect with serial entrepreneur Ben McDougal who has been busy with a host of projects that are all centered on the Entrepreneurial Eco System. We dive into his work as a regional manager of One Million Cups, his continued work about connecting people with projects and his new book, "You Don't Need This Book"...but we think you do. Let's talk business with Ben McDougal.
Thanks for listening! 
The award winning Insight on Business the News Hour with Michael Libbie is the only weekday business news podcast in the Midwest. The national, regional and some local business news along with long-form business interviews can be heard Monday - Friday. You can subscribe on 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.

The Business News Headlines 7 April 2021

Mid-Week and thanks for being here. Today was one of those odd days on Wall Street and we'll share details plus for the interview a massive transformation of a shopping mall in Des Moines, Iowa caught our attention.  But first, the news:
Stop working and go for a walk...no, really;
Amazon does not want to talk about this;
The My Pillow guy is getting hit again;
He said "tax breaks have got to go". Stunning;
T-Mobile has a new promotion and it's big;
Janet Yellen and more tax news;
The Wall Street Report;
It seems Ketchup just can't...catch up.
Plus for the interview the stunning story about how one mall owner is totally transforming one of her properties. Our guest is Liz Holland the CEO of Merle Hay Investors. She'll share a story about the difference between shopping centers in Europe and the U.S. as well as the retail reality that has brought down so many malls. Then we'll get into the amazing transformation of a property in Des Moines, Iowa.  It is...groundbreaking. To listen to that conversation, click here. 

Transforming A Shopping Mall & What A Story!

If you've spent any time listening to our daily newscast you know that we've reported many times about the hollowing out of our nation's shopping malls. As ecommerce shook the bones of retail we watched as department stores, often shopping mall anchors, entering bankruptcy and leaving gaping holes. Then COVID19 came and, for many, finished the job. Some malls have sold out to Amazon to be used as fulfillment centers. Other mall owners are working new tenet arrangements hoping to salvage their business. Some mall owners are totally reimagining their centers and changing everything. Meet Liz Holland the CEO of Merle Hay Investors and the remarkable story behind their goal to totally restructure their business. It's a stunning departure and, perhaps, one of the first in the nation as the Merle Hay Mall becomes..."Hockey Town".
Thanks for listening!
The award winning Insight on Business the News Hour with Michael Libbie is the only weekday business news podcast in the Midwest. The national, regional and some local business news along with long-form business interviews can be heard Monday - Friday. You can subscribe on 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.
 

Brian Finley and Vaccine Alerts

"I just wanted to do something that helped people..." Those are the words of Brian Finley of Iowa City, Iowa the creator of several Twitter streams that advise people where they can go to get their COVID19 vaccine.  He started with @IAVaccineAlerts and now also works with @MNVaccineAlerts, NEVaccineAlerts, MOVaccineAlerts and ILVaccineAlerts. And, it's just him. We talk about his motivation, how it all works the contributions he's received that he has turned over to charity and more. It's a fascinating story.  Meet Brian Finley. 
Thanks for listening!
The award winning Insight on Business the News Hour with Michael Libbie is the only weekday business news podcast in the Midwest. The national, regional and some local business news along with long-form business interviews can be heard Monday - Friday. You can subscribe on 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.

The Business News Headlines 24 March 2021

Midweek already and welcome to the business news headlines. Can you tell it's tax time? Several of our stories today center on that so let's go!
Today $81 billion to schools to reopen;
Stimulus checks and Social Security;
Did you get your IRS letter?
The back-log on paper tax returns is...huge;
Why you may not want to extend your tax deadline;
Amazon is Big Brother say workers;
The Wall Street Report;
How about a "Work-Cation"?
Those stories and you'll meet entrepreneur Gale McKinney from Twin Rivers Media as we talk about the publishing business and how his very niche magazines work during a time when others are floundering. You can hear that conversation here. 

Meet Entrepreneur and Publisher Gale McKinney

I have had the pleasure of knowing Gale McKinney for decades and why this is the first time he's graced our microphones is amazing (and I'm a bit embarrassed). Gale is the founder of Twin Rivers Media the publisher of American Cattlemen, American Dairymen and The Iowa Sportsman. In addition, Gale and his family own a retail sporting goods store and a hardware store. Here we talk about the magazine business, the niche markets he serves and the boom in Iowa outdoor activity. Meet Gale: 
Thanks for listening!
The award winning Insight on Business the News Hour with Michael Libbie is the only weekday business news podcast in the Midwest. The national, regional and some local business news along with long-form business interviews can be heard Monday - Friday. You can subscribe on 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.

The Multi-National Cemen Tech with CEO Conner Deering

It's amazing what we sometimes stumble on. About two weeks ago we received a press release about an acquisition in the UK by a company based in Central Iowa. That got us to digging a bit and we came face to face with Cemen Tech a manufacturing company that makes something called Volumetric Concrete Trucks. Intrigued we invited CEO Connor Deering in for a conversation. And...wow. Forget about the old style cement trucks you're familiar with...this is something drastically different. And the ecological impact is also a big deal. Meet Connor Deering.  
Thanks for listening! 
The award winning Insight on Business the News Hour with Michael Libbie is the only weekday business news podcast in the Midwest. The national, regional and some local business news along with long-form business interviews can be heard Monday - Friday. You can subscribe on 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.

The Business News Headlines 3 March 2021

The Mid-Week edition and welcome to Wednesday. It was another down day on Wall Street and we'll share why. Plus, for the interview, former Des Moines Register journalist Kyle Munson will be in to talk about the newly minted Western Iowa Journalism Foundation. But, first the news:
More changes to the COVID19 Relief Bill;
Americans are rushing to file their tax returns;
How the "Death Tax" became a big worry;
U.S. wages are up but...there is a but;
Job cuts and Exxon and morale;
The Wall Street Report;
Masks? We don't need no stinkin' masks!
Then, as we said, Kyle Munson is in for the interview. Having spent 24 years with the Des Moines Register Kyle is now with Principal Financial but...his love of journalism has led him to become the president of the Western Iowa Journalism Foundation. Why does it exist and will he be going on RAGBRAI this year...to listen click here. 
Thanks for coming by!