About: Joyce Martin

Plas-Tech Tooling was founded in 1993 by Dean and Marcia Sonquist of Garner, Iowa. Dean graduated from the Tool & Die program at the Des Moines Area Community College. After working in a few shops for several years, Dean decided he wanted to build his own business. Plas-Tech Tooling began as a side project located…

In April 2015, Staci Ackerson saw an opportunity to expand and began working with the North Iowa Area SBDC to help make her vision come true. Shankland Insurance was based in downtown Charles City, Iowa, but Staci had her eye on a new location. The Charles City Western Railroad depot was built in 1910, but…

Julia Dannen is an Enrolled Agent who is a federally licensed taxpayer representative admitted to practice before all branches of the IRS and IRS Office of Appeals. She currently works with taxpayers that owe the IRS and state taxing authorities back taxes. “Everything to help troubled taxpayers get a fresh start,” Julia explains. “I’ve been…

When Luis founded Mr. Taco in 2011, it was one of the first food trucks in Mason City, Iowa. The food truck movement has been slow to start and expand in the rural Midwest, but Luis quickly made Mr. Taco a household name by parking outside Mason City Brewing on weekends or in an empty…