MPTIowa Continued from Page 1

Oskaloosa Area Chamber & Development Group
Communicator
27-YEAR IOWA MAIN STREET COMMUNITY
August Calendar
1st-........................................Sweet Corn Serenade
5th-...............................................Diplomats, Noon
13th-.......................Business Improvement, 8 AM
14th-........................................Organization, Noon
19th-............................................Commerce, Noon
19th..................................OACDG Meeting, Noon
21st-....................................................Design, 8 AM
22nd-.......Business After Hours, MHP, 4:30-6:30
23rd-...............................Main Street Board, Noon
Business After Hours:
Mahaska Health
Partnership
August 22, 2013
4:30 - 6:30 PM
Sweet Corn Serenade
Thursday, August 1, 2013
Come and enjoy burgers by the Mahaska County
Cattlemen’s (4 PM - until we run out!) and craft
vendors (Noon - 9 PM)! Kid’s activities begin at 4
PM and music by KASSIE starts at 5:30 PM! There
will also be the pie baking contest and Hawkeye
Pedal Pull.
Don’t miss this
great annual
event!
Volume 38, Number 8
August 2013
Van Zante Photography
Local Photographer Brings Fresh
Approach to Senior Pictures
Now seniors have a creative option when it comes to their
senior portraits. Van Zante Photography offers indoor or
outdoor shoots that aim to reflect the senior’s interests and
personality through high-quality, innovative photos and
unique digital processing. Memorable past pictures feature
props like musical instruments, tractors and vintage cars.
Other shots involve clever digital enhancements to show
athletes in motion. Seniors and their families can review
proofs online and choose from several packages for high-quality prints.
Paul Van Zante, owner of Van Zante Photography, received his first camera as a gift at age 11. After studying
graphic design and photography in college, he was encouraged to follow his passion and open his own studio.
Van Zante Photography Continued on Page 2
MPTIowa got its start as many small
businesses do, in a basement office back
in June of 2006. Jake Barnes started
Mindpower Technologies as a sole
proprietor providing on-site business
support, IT consulting and occasionally
PC repair for employees of his existing
business clients. Within two months the
business was in full swing and as it grew
roots and customer demand continued upward, a decision had to be made whether or not to expand
the business.
Discussions with longtime friend and Oskaloosa native Ryan Septer began and after a month or two of
planning, Ryan decided to come on board for a trial period to see what life was like outside the corporate world. They moved into an office with FTE Genetics and business grew rapidly. So rapidly in fact,
that sharing an office was no longer an option and Ryan was no longer on a trial run but was working
full time.
Jake purchased the former FS Building in August of 2011 which provided an excellent location for a
new office so they started demo work and remodeling the space. After 6 months of working full time
IT by day and demolition/construction by night, the space was move-in ready and the articles of incorporation had been signed. MPTIowa was officially incorporated as of February 2012.
MPTIowa Continued on Page 3
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Communicator August 2013
Van Zante Photography Continued from Page 1
In 2009, Paul converted his living
room into a fully operational studio
with professional-grade equipment
and digital processing. Today he offers his clients a professional photo
session with attention to detail,
creativity, and customer service. He
brings an artistic edge to every sitting.
Van Zante Photography is a member of the Oskaloosa Chamber of
Commerce as well as the Professional Photographers of America.
Committed to learning new techniques and staying current with technology, Paul attends annual photography conferences and constantly
networks with other industry pros. When he’s not in the studio, you
might see him shooting still life pictures around town or feeling the
breeze behind the wheel of his Jeep Wrangler.
If you would like to schedule a sitting for your senior, contact Paul Van
Zante toll-free at 855-295-7500 or paul@vanzantephoto.com. Sittings
for 2014 graduates are already underway. Limited time slots are available, so call soon to get your desired time. Need some ideas? Paul can
help you prepare for your shoot by offering suggestions on locations,
props, and clothing. To learn more about Van Zante Photography’s full
range of offerings and to view samples of Paul’s work, visit
www.vanzantephoto.com.
Volunteer of the Month:
Marsha Riordan
This month’s volunteer of the month is Marsha
Riordan. Marsha is involved in every aspect of the
community in Oskaloosa.
She is a tremendous asset to the Chamber of Commerce and to William Penn University, spending
coutless hours in these businesses. Riordan served
as a co-executive of the Oskaloosa 2013 RAGBRAI
events. In addition to her sense of community, Marsha has been on the OACDG Board for a number of
years. We are pleased to have her as the new OACDG
Chamber President for 2013-2014.
We thank Marsha Riordan for her dedication to the
community and look forward to working with her at
the Oskaloosa Chamber of Commerce.
WELCOME: New OACDG Members
QQGIS Consulting
Brian Knudtson, Don Hubbard, Debbie Stevens
1101 N 3rd St.
Oskaloosa, IA 52577
PH: 641-295-3034
Email: info@qqgis.com
Our mission is to deliver high quality cartographic products and services.
Services include, but are not limited to GIS consulting, GIS training, GIS
technical support and Cartography. We help you find affordable and easyto-use mapping solutions you can use within your organization.
August 2013
MPTIowa Continued from Page 1
Since then MPTIowa has continued to grow. In May 2012, MPTIowa reached an agreement to acquire the IT services division of ArrowQuick Solutions and invested to create
an in-house, hosted backup solution with a redundant backup site. In February 2013 Ashley Sickels joined as a receptionist/office manager and Zach Stout joined in April as a full
time PC Repair Technician. MPTIowa has become a Dell Premiere Reseller offering PC’s,
Servers, Networking Equipment, SAN solutions, SonicWall Firewalls and much more for
your business or home.
As MPTIowa grows, Barnes and Septer strive to keep their business offerings fresh and
service at the high level their clients depend on. Whether you are a small business with
only a few PC’s or a medium sized business with an existing IT staff, MPTIowa can help
you get the most out of your technology, saving you time and money.
“We are a SOLUTIONS based company.” Jake Barnes, President of MPTIowa added. “That
means we’ll help you find the perfect blend of products and solutions to meet your needs.
MPTIowa values the time and effort you put into your business. That’s why we take the
time to learn how your business operates in order to help you make it run as efficiently
as possible through the use of technology. If we don’t have the answer, chances are we’ve
made an alliance with someone who does. We’ve spent a lot of time building relationships
with various vendors and solution providers to make sure you have an answer at the end
of the day.”
Continuing this trend, MPTIowa plans to offer a full range of professional graphic design
and printing services to our clients including business cards, logo design, letterhead, invitations, general printing and copying as well as company branding and marketing strategy.
“These are two services that have always blended well together and we’re very excited to
bring this service to our existing client base and the surrounding communities.” said Jake.
If you’d like more information about MPTIowa or would like to schedule a free consultation for your business, call 641-676-4335 or stop in the office at 110 North E Street in
Oskaloosa. They are also on the web: www.mptiowa.com or facebook.com/MPTIowa
DATE
Sat., Aug. 3
Sat., Aug. 17
Thurs., Aug. 22
Sat., Sept. 21 Sat., Sept. 21
Sat., Oct. 5
Sat., Oct. 12
Thurs., Oct. 17
Sat., Nov. 30 ACTIVITY
Communicator
WELLNESS
ACTIVITIES IN
MAHASKA
COUNTY
3
MHP Foundation Run in the Sun
Canoe & Kayak Float
Barn Dance at Nelson Pioneer Farm
Scavenger Hunt, Russell Wildlife, 10 am
Fall Festival at Nelson Pioneer Farm
Autumn’s Adventures – closing day at
Pioneer Farm
Kidtoberfest, “Get Up and Move, Family Fun”
Barn Dance at Nelson Pioneer Farm
Christmas Walk (shop/walk)
For information on any of these activities, or to add to the list
contact the OACDG at 641.672.2591.
Farewell Open House for Jon Sullivan
Friday, August 9, 2013
11 AM - 1 PM
Oskaloosa Chamber of Commerce
Stop in to thank Jon for his service!
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Communicator August 2013
Moments
Main Street
OACDG Diplomats encourage you
to attend the next Business After
Hours to be held at Mahaska Health
Partnership on Thursday, August
22, from 4:30 – 6:30 pm. See you
there!
RIDICULOUS
DAYS
Tutu Contest
Activities in July
MCARD
trivia wheel at
the Southern
Iowa Fair
LOLLIPOP LOLLIPOP!
If you’ve been around downtown
Oskaloosa, chances are you’ve seen
the giant planter baskets featuring
the beautiful Peppy Purple Petunia!
This species of petunia resemble the
favorite childhood candy, a spiraled
lollipop. During the summer, you can
hear the hit 1958 song by the same
name played at noon everyday from
the bandstand.
To learn more about the other flowers in the planters,
pick up a pink flier in a downtown store!
Diplomats serving at the Buyers Breakfast
at the Southern Iowa Fair
4H FFA
BBQ at
Southern
Iowa Fair
August 2013
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Good-bye from OACDG Director, Jon Sullivan
Thank you for the opportunity to be the Chamber Director and the Main Street program Director for the
past eight years. I have enjoyed working with such enthusiastic people in our community. I feel we have accomplished a lot and I am sure many good things that benefit the community will continue.
I have had the best staff that anyone could want to work with. They are all true professionals that the entire
city can be very proud of for all they do.
It is time for me to slow down and enjoy my family more. Again, thank you all and God bless. – Jon Sullivan
THANK YOU JON! YOU WILL BE MISSED!
Merchandise for Sale!
The Oskaloosa Area Chamber & Development Group has new merchandise for sale. The Mahaska County Postcard Collection features
beautiful pictures taken by local
photographers. Each picture is
unique to the Mahaska County
area and shows of the beauty of our
great county! These postcard books
are available at the Oskaloosa Area
Chamber of Commerce for $22 (includes tax). Pick yours up today!
Another item for sale are flower planters. These planters make a great gift
for the home or business. There are
two sizes of flower planters which are
black and feature musical instruments.
The Oskaloosa Area Chamber has one
large and one small planter currently
available for cash and carry. Otherwise,
these planters can be ordered by calling
the Oskaloosa Chamber of Commerce
at 641-672-2591.
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Communicator August 2013
Most Helpful Salesperson
Cindy Harrison
Family Medical Center Integrates
With Mahaska Health Partnership
This month’s most helpful salesperson is
Cindy Harrison. Cindy was nominated by
Norma Heweitt who said Cindy is friendly
and helpful. Cindy has worked at Walmart
for 17 years and works in the automotive
department. Cindy said, “I enjoy the new
adventures, every day is different.” Thank
you, Cindy, for your hard work in the community!
With the ultimate goal of creating a stronger healthcare system in Mahaska County, Family Medical Center officially integrated with Mahaska
Health Partnership on July 1, 2013.
According to MHP CEO Jay Christensen, the health system has always
considered FMC an integral partner in the delivery of high quality health
services. This integration just formalizes that partnership because providers and staff at FMC are now employed by MHP.
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“FMC and MHP Specialty Services are now one united medical practice,
which has many benefits for our patients,” Christensen explained. “You
can expect coordinated scheduling for appointments, as well as expanded
hours of provider availability. We will have one-stop access to primary
and specialty care appointments on our campus.”
Christensen said that by combining the best pieces of each medical practice, everyone involved in the integration believes it will provide a better
patient experience. “While we will be transforming the way we coordinate
care, our focus remains on the health and well-being of you and your family,” Christensen stressed.
A major benefit for patients will be the ability of the combined clinic to
accept a larger number of insurance carriers as well as centralized scheduling. Christensen said MHP will continue to create a cohesive medical
practice that improves patient flows and access to primary care when you
and your family need it most.
August 2013
58th Annual 4-H/FFA BBQ
The 58th Annual 4-H/FFA BBQ held on July 18th at this year’s Southern Iowa Fair is over and the weather seemed to be a repeat of last year
– HOT! Many 4H or FFA members, parents, volunteers, or committee personnel attended the BBQ this year. This event is hosted by the
Oskaloosa Area Chamber and Development Group, Mahaska County
Farm Bureau, and Mahaska County Agricultural and Rural Development Group who provided a complimentary meal to the 4-H and FFA
members and their leaders in appreciation for their efforts in making
the Southern Iowa Fair a success. The Mahaska County ISU Extension,
Leighton Processed Meats, Hy-Vee, Mahaska Bottling, Farm Bureau,
and the Southern Iowa Fair Board all donated time and products to this
event.
Over 20 volunteers helped set up, serve, and tear down this event. The
menu consisted of beef and pork burgers, macaroni and cheese, chips,
ice cream sandwich, and Pepsi drinks. Mike VanderMolen, Mark Doland, Supervisors of Mahaska County, and Betty Barnard from the Farm
Bureau board were the ticket takers for the event. Mark Doland, this
year’s MCARD Vice President along with being a county Supervisor,
served as the Master of Ceremonies.
New last year, gift bags were made up and given to 4H and FFA members. We had 12 gift bags to give out this year. Winners of the gift
baskets this year included: Brooke Criswell, Jessi Vos, Cara Roquet,
Erika Walston, Jamie Stewart, Molley Hayes, Bradley Vander Wilt, Ryan
Van Gilst, Seth Edmundson, Devin Jager, Zachery Edgren, and Graham
Van Donselaar. Thanks to State Bank of Bussey, Farm Credit Services of
America, US Bank of New Sharon, MidWestOne Bank, Leighton State
Bank, Bank Iowa, TruBank, Community 1st Credit Union, Valley Bank,
and Titan Machinery.
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I would like to thank everyone who helped make this event a success.
Without everyone there to help set up, serve and tear down this event
would not be possible. Next time you see any of the sponsors listed
above, please give them a big “thank you” as this event would not take
place without their generous donations. Thanks again.
Left: One young man excited
to receive a prize!
Right: Mark Doland, Master
of Ceremonies
Bottom: Thank you to the
Mahaska County Farm Bureau for serving the meal!
Deann De Groot
Director of Mahaska County Ag and Rural Dev.
124 N Market St, Oskaloosa, IA 52577
mcard@mahaskacounty.org