People in business

Veridian Credit Union has hired Sara Kies to serve as vice president of marketing.

Kies brings over 20 years of strategic marketing leadership, including 12 years in the financial industry, most recently serving the University of Northern Iowa as assistant director of marketing and brand strategy.

She received a bachelor’s degree in communications and electronic media from the UNI and master’s degree in management information systems and digital marketing from Temple University in Philadelphia.

Originally from Independence, Kies is now a resident of Cedar Falls and an active volunteer throughout the Cedar Valley.

PDCM names new chief operating officer Brandon Christopher has been named chief operating officer at PDCM Insurance.

He joins PDCM after an impressive career in the U.S. Marines and 23 years with Farmers Insurance, most recently as territory leader in their Mid-Atlantic region.

In his role as COO, Christopher will implement and drive the strategic initiatives of PDCM. He will oversee the business operations and play a critical role in decision making for the organization.

Cedar Valley Hospice adds employees

WATERLOO — Cedar Valley Hospice has expanded their team and added nine new employees. This growth reflects the high number of patients Cedar Valley Hospice has continued to serve in 2024.

Calla McCumber, RN, is a hospice nurse based out of Waterloo. She brings over 14 years of nursing experience to Cedar Valley Hospice, and has worked in long-term care, post-acute rehab, family medicine and behavioral health.

Danejia Lobdell, MSW, is the Eucalyptus Tree Coordinator. Lobdell provides grief counseling for youth, educates families on grief and death, supports area schools and leads Cedar Valley Hospice’s annual Youth Grief Camp.

Wendy Runkle, LPN, is a hospice nurse out of Waterloo. She received her LPN from Hawkeye Community College and comes to Cedar Valley Hospice from the Cedar Falls school system.

Allison Capper, LMSW, joined Cedar Valley Hospice as a PRN grief counselor. Previously, Capper worked as an on-call sexual assault advocate at the Riverview Center before becoming a mental health therapist.

Tim Hardin is a PRN spiritual care counselor. He has 10 years of experience as an ordained minister and will provide spiritual care to patients across our 15-county service area.

Amy Deterding, LPN, is a hospice nurse in the Waverly office. She was previously an LPN at Hillcrest Living in Sumner.

Taryn Willbee, RN, is a hospice nurse. She will serve patients in all 15 counties Cedar Valley Hospice serves.

Angie Brincks, RN, is a nurse at the Cedar Valley Hospice Home. She received her ADN from Hawkeye Community College and was most recently employed at Harmony House in Waterloo.

Taryn Willbee, RN, is a hospice nurse. She will serve patients in all 15 counties Cedar Valley Hospice serves.

Lilly Usher, RN, is a PRN hospice nurse. She will take care of patients and families on the weekends, which allows Cedar Valley Hospice care for our patients 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Bertch employee recognized

WATERLOO — Woodworking Network has announced the honorees of its 40 Under 40 Class of 2024. This year marks the ninth annual awarding of the 40 Under 40, which celebrates the next generation of industry professionals who are making an impact on North American wood products manufacturing, design, sales, services and education.

Among this year’s honorees is Bertch’s Senior Human Resource Manager, Ashley Stanley. Ashley’s well-rounded knowledge of cabinet manufacturing processes, teambuilding and ability to find creative solutions when challenges arise has helped continue to grow Bertch’s team of expert cabinet makers and helped Bertch keep up with the continued growth and expansion.

Those selected have been recognized by their peers for their achievements and innovations in the categories of: productivity, profitability, social good, ingenuity, peer inspiration, product development, organizational leadership, or another area.

Scholarship award announced

The Mary Iber Spring Conference Scholarship has been awarded to Kay (Katie) Hansen.

Hansen is a graduate assistant and MLIS student with the University of Iowa School of Library and Information Science. After graduating from Iowa State University in 2014, Hansen worked as a digital marketer in the finance industry before transitioning to library sciences in 2023. In their MLIS studies, Hansen is specializing in public libraries with a focus on trauma-informed librarianship and the interconnectivity between public and academic libraries.

Currently, Hansen also works as a circulation clerk at the Waverly Public Library and begins practicum work with Wartburg College’s Vogel Library this fall, before graduating in May 2025.

This conference scholarship award helps fund attendance at the ILA/ACRL and IPAL Spring Conference.

UNI names new marketing assistant

CEDAR FALLS — The University of Northern Iowa has named Jamie Jones as assistant director of marketing in the Office of University Relations. Jones will be responsible for developing and coordinating marketing campaigns to increase awareness of the university and strengthen the overall UNI brand to enhance student recruitment efforts.

The Dike native comes to UNI from the Gundersen Health System, now Emplify Health. She has worked at University of Iowa and Mount Mercy University in Iowa, and at Knox College in Galesburg, Ill.

She earned her bachelor’s degree in sports marketing and public relations from Wartburg College in Waverly, and earned a master of strategic leadership degree from Mount Mercy University.