Global Spectrum, operator of the Iowa Events Center, has named Ryan Ziegler as director of events and Joshua Ingle as director of operations for the Des Moines facility. Ziegler most recently served as director of operations and replaces Danny Wheeler, who was named assistant general manager at Global Spectrum-managed St. Charles Convention Center in Missouri. Ziegler started his position on Dec. 29. Ingle replaces Ziegler. He most recently served as director of building services at Global Spectrum-managed Nationals Park in Washington, D.C.

General Growth Properties Inc. has agreed to pay $48 million to settle a 2004 lawsuit related to a California mall joint venture, the Associated Press reported. The owner of Jordan Creek Town Center is facing possible bankruptcy as it struggles to pay off or refinance its debt. General Growth will cover the settlement with Caruso Affiliated Holdings LLC and related costs with cash collateral being held as security for the appeal, the company said. The settlement also will cause certain expenses General Growth previously recorded to be reversed, which will boost its fourth-quarter funds from operations by about 16 cents per share and its profits by about 19 cents per share.

U.S. District Judge Charles Wolle has certified a class-action lawsuit brought against Deere & Co. by a group of company retirees, the Quad-City Times reported. The suit filed by Flex Retirees Organization last fall in the U.S. District Court in Davenport alleges that Deere’s changes to its benefits plan reduce benefits for 5,000 of Deere’s flex retirees, mostly salaried employees, and seeks to restore the benefits as they existed in 2007. Deere claims the changes allow retirees to be more involved in their health-care decisions and that the plan takes into account changes made in federal laws. The trial has been set for Sept. 21.

Variable annuity sales in the third quarter of 2008 fell to $37.8 billion, 18.1 percent lower than in the same period in 2007, according to a report from NAVA, the Association for Insured Retirement Solutions, and Morningstar Inc. Sales may have fallen to $30 billion in the fourth quarter, the lowest level since third-quarter 2002, according to Frank O’Connor, director of insurance solutions for Morningstar. ING Groep NV, with annuity operations in Des Moines, came in fourth for variable annuity sales through the first nine months of 2008, with sales of $10 billion.

Wells Fargo & Co. has purchased about $730 million in loan and lease receivables from GE Healthcare Financial Services, a unit of GE Capital, MarketWatch reported. Most of the receivables are related to financing of dental and eye-care practices and equipment. Wells Fargo Financial’s Matsco unit will manage the receivables.

Tourism and travel declined at an annual rate of 8.1 percent in the third quarter, the largest decrease since 2001, according to the U.S. Department of Commerce Bureau of Economic Analysis, the Pacific Business News reported. Air transportation fell more than 20 percent in the quarter, while spending on accommodations decreased 3 percent.

Venture-capital-backed initial public offerings totaled six in 2008, the lowest level in 30 years, according to a report by Thomson Reuters and the National Venture Capital Association (NVCA), the Pittsburgh Business Times reported. Venture-backed company exits through acquisitions totaled 260; the last time there were fewer than 300 was in 2003. As a result of the slowdown, “new investments and fund raising will slow considerably in 2009 until the exit markets reopen and the pipeline is cleared,” NVCA President Mark Heesen said in a statement.

The Salvation Army’s Red Kettle campaign in Des Moines has beat its fund-raising goal with a total yesterday of $620,159. The campaign was running behind schedule when bell ringing ended on Christmas Eve, but since then, the organization received many year-end gifts before Jan. 1 and surpassed its $600,000 benchmark. Last year’s total was $681,000. The campaign will continue to collect donations until Jan. 15.

Dowling Catholic High School continues its largest construction project since 1984. This week, the school opened its new science wing after opening a newly renovated media center and consolidated student services area this fall. Students also have moved into temporary classrooms while Dowling undergoes renovation of its west academic wing, which will open for classes next fall, and the east wing, which will be completed by the end of 2009. Dowling will hold public receptions on Jan. 12 and Jan. 28 at 5 p.m. to review the We Believe campaign progress and tour the new construction. Register by calling 222-1044.

The Iowa Career Expo will be held on Thursday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Hy-Vee Hall and will include free resume critique sessions, a chance to meet with employers and presentations on various business topics. For more information, go to ci.shrm.org.