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Local experts have differing views of Iowa’s job market

Since August 2024, Iowa’s total nonfarm employment has shrunk by 2,300 workers and its unemployment rate has seen a slight increase. And while some sectors are laying off workers, others can’t find enough to fill open positions. The conflicting characteristics of Iowa’s job market may make navigating it difficult. For help, the Business Record has…

By Kathy A. Bolten | Oct 10, 2025

Six leadership lessons from Iowa State coach Otzelberger

T.J. Otzelberger is both a disruptor and a creature of habit. Juxtaposed, those two qualities have become central to his leadership philosophy, a key theme of the Business Record’s Business of Sports conversation on Tuesday in Des Moines. The conversation, featuring Otzelberger and Cyclone Fanatic founder Chris Williams, author of the new book “Fanatic: Stories…

By Kyle Heim | Oct 10, 2025

Iowa Motor Truck Association elects 2026 board chairman

Jeff Arens, vice president of Schuster Co. in Le Mars, has been elected chairman of the board for the Iowa Motor Truck Association for 2026. He was sworn in during the association’s Annual Management Conference in Des Moines. With more than two decades in the trucking industry, Arens said his priorities will include strengthening the…

By Business Record Staff | Oct 10, 2025

Hall, Millang honored with Tocqueville Society Award

The United Way of Central Iowa announced Glen Hall (posthumously) and Todd Millang as the recipients of the 2025 Tocqueville Society Award, the organization’s highest honor recognizing individuals whose sustained leadership, service and philanthropic commitment have created lasting impact across Central Iowa. United Way presents the Tocqueville Society Award to members who “demonstrate exceptional service to United Way…

By Business Record Staff | Oct 10, 2025

Iowa’s ag manufacturers balance trade uncertainty with innovation, long-term planning

Editor’s note: This is part two of a three-part series about the state of Iowa’s manufacturing sector, covering the strong ties between manufacturing and agriculture. Part three, publishing Oct. 17, will cover what the state and its communities need to do to attract new companies to Iowa and keep its existing manufacturers. Read part one…

By Gigi Wood | Oct 10, 2025

Meet Samantha Mosser, Bankers Trust president

Samantha Mosser was in her final semester at Nebraska Wesleyan University when she made a decision that altered the course of her professional life. Mosser had been taking business and science classes to prepare for attending dental school. She had been a dental assistant one summer and had talked with professors at the dental…

By Kathy A. Bolten | Oct 10, 2025

‘Silver tsunami’ of upcoming small business retirements has advocates paying attention to succession planning

Olivia Randall and her husband, Josh Randall, are already preparing their children for potential business ownership as they look to the future of their Mount Vernon clothing business, Bauman’s They plan to position the more than century-old business so one or more of their four children – who are 7, 5, 3 and a newborn…

By Lisa Rossi | Oct 10, 2025

On Leadership: Leading through change: Why success depends on the ‘how,’ not just the ‘what’

Everyone said they wanted change. Our outdated CRM had been the office punchline for years. It took 12 clicks to do what should have taken one. So when, as managing director of the private client group at a Wall Street firm, I was asked to lead an enterprise-wide project to replace it, I figured this…

By Suzanna de Baca | Oct 10, 2025

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