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People like Mary Sellers, Teresa Wahlert and the late Mo Dana are the reason I enjoy covering business.
All are, or were, exceptional chief executives who, in addition to having great ideas, were successful communicators …
When I was a recent college graduate, I got a job leading a nonprofit organization and started managing a team of employees and volunteers. I quickly made numerous rookie errors, one of which was hiring …
When I was younger, I assumed that leaders knew what they were doing. I worked at various companies where strategy or plans were not obvious or not communicated well, and I was annoyed when my …
My first job out of high school and during college was working as a secretary in a social services agency. I punched a clock and was expected to be physically present at my desk during …
Dave Elbert is on assignment and will take a brief hiatus on his weekly column. The Elbert Files will resume in a few weeks.
City council and school board races in Iowa are traditionally nonpartisan. …
When Don Smithey retired as director of Omaha’s Eppley Airfield in 2009 at age 68, Des Moines seemed like a good place to live – midway between Wisconsin, eastern Iowa and Missouri, where Smithey’s relatives …
This column is part of a series on family-owned business issues.
Earlier in my career, I worked in wealth management and advised many clients who owned multi-generational family businesses. One story stands out – a …
I’m a sucker for roadside attractions.
When I saw the new book “Secret Iowa: A Guide to the Weird, Wonderful and Obscure” ($27, published by St. Louis-based Reedy Press), I had to have it. The …
This column is the third in a series on family-owned business issues.
While clear communications are critical in any business, family-owned companies often face unique challenges when talking about the enterprise. Family issues and feelings …
In 1941, when members of the Des Moines Chamber of Commerce landed a U.S. Army National Guard base at the Des Moines Airport, they secured the airfield’s future for the …
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