In this Rayser's Buzz Bites - Community Corner episode, Emily Burds interviews Alejandro Pino from the Young Parents Network (YPN) and Kala Liebe from Rayser's Support Services team, who is currently a member of the YPN Board of Directors. They discuss the mission and programs of YPN, which aims to support and stabilize young families, educate them, and empower them to thrive. YPN offers group programming and home visitation programs and runs the Eastern Iowa Diaper Bank. They emphasize the importance of community involvement and invite listeners to volunteer, donate, and participate in YPN's upcoming events, including a Rayser Diaper Drive happening in March! If you'd like to learn more about YPN, visit their website at ypniowa.org. And if you're involved in an area community organization that you'd like to have highlighted in the Community Corner, please don't hesitate to reach out to Emily! This episode is a part of Rayser's "Buzz Bites" podcast, hosted by Rayser Holdings' marketing coordinator, Emily Burds. Questions or feedback for the podcast can be sent to eburds@rayserholdings.com. Buzz Bites can be found on Anchor, Spotify, Google Podcasts, YouTube, iHeartRadio, and Amazon Music.

In this episode of Rayser's Buzz Bites Community Corner miniseries, host Emily Burds interviews Emily Zimmon from Big Brothers Big Sisters of Cedar Rapids in Eastern Iowa. Rayser's own COO, Angie Hoover, joins the discussion as well. They discuss the organization's mission and programs, the process of becoming a Big Brother or Big Sister, upcoming fundraising events, and the importance of community engagement. They also highlight the opportunities for Rayser employee-owners to get involved and support Big Brothers Big Sisters. This episode is a part of Rayser's "Buzz Bites" podcast, hosted by Rayser Holdings' marketing coordinator, Emily Burds. Questions or feedback for the podcast can be sent to eburds@rayserholdings.com. Buzz Bites can be found on Anchor, Spotify, Google Podcasts, YouTube, iHeartRadio, and Amazon Music.

In this episode of Rayser's Buzz Bites Community Corner miniseries, host Emily Burds interviews Melissa Wall from Horizons - Meals on Wheels, along with CarePro's executive director Danielle Schwiebert, who currently sits on the Horizons Board of Directors. They discuss the Meals on Wheels program, volunteer opportunities, and the importance of good nutrition. They dive into the shared client demographics and challenges between Horizons and CarePro and their longstanding relationship. They highlight Horizons' funding and contribution model, the impact of volunteers on clients, fundraising campaigns, future plans, the importance of community involvement, and the opportunities Rayser offers for employee participation and charitable donations. This episode is a part of Rayser's "Buzz Bites" podcast, hosted by Rayser Holdings' marketing coordinator, Emily Burds. Questions or feedback for the podcast can be sent to eburds@rayserholdings.com. Buzz Bites can be found on Anchor, Spotify, Google Podcasts, YouTube, iHeartRadio, and Amazon Music.

In this episode of Rayser's Buzz Bites Community Corner highlight, host Emily Burds interviews Jess Netolicky and Charity Tyler from the Cedar Rapids Library Foundation, along with Rayser's own Sean Williams, who is involved in the organization. They discuss the foundation's role in funding innovative programs and services of the Cedar Rapids Public Library. Jess Netolicky explains her role as a development associate and the annual fundraising efforts to support programming such as preschool outreach and Dolly Parton's Imagination Library. Sean shares his journey of getting involved with the foundation as a board member and his love for libraries. The conversation also covers upcoming campaigns and fundraisers, the importance of community involvement, and how individuals can support the foundation. This episode is a part of Rayser's "Buzz Bites" podcast, hosted by Rayser Holdings' marketing coordinator, Emily Burds. Questions or feedback for the podcast can be sent to eburds@rayserholdings.com. Buzz Bites can be found on Anchor, Spotify, Google Podcasts, YouTube, iHeartRadio, and Amazon Music.

The gals are back from Vegas and ready to chat about their "high-rolling" days in Sin City at the TEA EO23 Conference! In this recap, Buzz Bites host, Emily Burds and Rayser's COO Angie Hoover discuss their experience at the Employee Owned 23 conference. They cover various topics, including keynote speeches on safety, engaging the multi-generational workforce, and the future of AI and technology. They also talk about the AACE awards and their own participation as finalists. Other sessions they attended focused on communication committee best practices, mergers and acquisitions, transaction structure, valuation calendar, and financial reviews. They reflect on the networking opportunities and recruitment efforts at the conference. Overall, they had a positive experience and are excited for future conferences. Questions about The ESOP Association or the conference? Reach out to us! We'd love to answer them! This episode is a part of Rayser's "Buzz Bites" podcast, hosted by Rayser Holdings' marketing coordinator, Emily Burds. Questions or feedback for the podcast can be sent to eburds@rayserholdings.com. Buzz Bites can be found on Anchor, Spotify, Google Podcasts, YouTube, iHeartRadio, and Amazon Music.

We're back! After an unexpected hiatus, we are up and running again and launching a brand new series! Welcome to the Community Corner! Throughout the next several months, we will highlight various community organizations that our employee-owners are involved in to share the great work these charities do in the community and how YOU could get involved. To kick us off, we are thrilled to be featuring Waypoint Services! Waypoint is one of the oldest charitable organizations in Cedar Rapids and serves thousands of Eastern Iowans every year. Waypoint's Chief Development and Marketing Officer, Autumn Paine, joins Buzz Bites host Emily Burds and Rayser's President and CEO Michelle Jensen to discuss Waypoint and its impact on the community. Michelle, who currently sits as the chair of Waypoint's Board of Directors, shares how she first got involved and why giving back is so important to her. To learn more about Waypoint and how you can donate or volunteer, head to waypointservices.org to see their upcoming events and fundraising campaigns, like their current Waypoint Wonderland holiday gift drive! If you are involved in an organization that would like to be featured on the podcast, don't hesitate to get in touch with Emily! We'd love to showcase the fantastic work these groups are doing for our community and what our employee-owners care about! This episode is a part of Rayser's "Buzz Bites" podcast, hosted by Rayser Holdings' marketing coordinator, Emily Burds. Questions or feedback for the podcast can be sent to eburds@rayserholdings.com. Buzz Bites can be found on Anchor, Spotify, Google Podcasts, YouTube, iHeartRadio, and Amazon Music.

The IA/NE Chapter Chat is taking over again to chat about the 2023 Midwest Regional Conference! Chapter Chat host Emily Burds (Rayser Holdings) is joined by Brian Crotty (HDH Advisors), Bob Theisen (DISTek), and Cathy Maddox (Commonwealth Electric) to chat about their experience at the 2023 Midwest Regional Conference, held in Minneapolis, MN Septemeber 20-22! The group chats about what it was like being a part of record-breaking attendance at the conference (over 800 attendees!) and how impactful it was to bring the Midwest together for a jam-packed few days of sessions and events. They each share their favorite sessions they attended and their biggest takeaways. They also dive into why conferences like these are important and why more ESOPs and employee owners should attend and get involved in the Association. Those interested in getting involved in the Iowa/Nebraska chapter can reach out to any of these panel members to learn more and get started! This episode is a part of Rayser's "Buzz Bites" podcast, hosted by Rayser Holdings' marketing coordinator, Emily Burds. Questions or feedback for the podcast can be sent to eburds@rayserholdings.com. Buzz Bites can be found on Anchor, Spotify, Google Podcasts, YouTube, iHeartRadio, and Amazon Music.

We're bringing back our "Voices of Leadership" miniseries to introduce you to Dave Rice, the new General Manager of J-TEC! Rayser's Buzz Bites host Emily Burds sits down with Dave to find out about his backstory, his approach to leadership, and why he is excited about employee ownership. They chat about J-TEC's potential for expansion and some of Dave's favorite things and places to be. Welcome to the Rayser Community, Dave! We are so glad to have you onboard! This episode is a part of Rayser's "Buzz Bites" podcast, hosted by Rayser Holdings' marketing coordinator, Emily Burds. Questions or feedback for the podcast can be sent to eburds@rayserholdings.com. Buzz Bites can be found on Anchor, Spotify, Google Podcasts, YouTube, iHeartRadio, and Amazon Music.

We headed "Up North" to talk ESOP! Rayser Buzz Bites Host Emily Burds sits down with Rayser's CEO Michelle Jensen, and COO Angie Hoover, to discuss their experience in Minneapolis at the 2023 ESOP Association's Midwest Regional Conference. The gals break down their week of educational sessions and roundtables and share their favorite sessions and biggest takeaways! They highlight the awesome networking that was happening at this record-breaking event that brought over 800 members of the Midwest ESOP community together. Want to learn more about how to get involved in The ESOP Association? Reach out to any of these ladies! They will be happy to chat about how you can engage more in the ESOP community! This episode is a part of Rayser's "Buzz Bites" podcast, hosted by Rayser Holdings' marketing coordinator, Emily Burds. Questions or feedback for the podcast can be sent to eburds@rayserholdings.com. Buzz Bites can be found on Anchor, Spotify, Google Podcasts, YouTube, iHeartRadio, and Amazon Music.

Please welcome our newest board member, Trevor Monnig, to the Buzz Bites Podcast! Trevor joined the Rayser Board of Directors this past summer and has hit the ground running, learning all he can about Rayser and its subsidiaries. Buzz Bites host, Emily Burds, sits down with Trevor to get to know him a bit better. He elaborates on his background and what inspired him to want to join the Rayser community in this way. He shares his deep passion for employee ownership and why he thinks it's important to be engaged as an employee-owner. Welcome Trevor! We are so glad to have you with us! This episode is a part of Rayser's "Buzz Bites" podcast, hosted by Rayser Holdings' marketing coordinator, Emily Burds. Questions or feedback for the podcast can be sent to eburds@rayserholdings.com. Buzz Bites can be found on Anchor, Spotify, Google Podcasts, YouTube, iHeartRadio, and Amazon Music.

Have you ever wanted to learn more about another area ESOP? Here is your perfect opportunity with our latest TEA Chapter Chat Takeover! The TEA Chapter Chat "Member Spotlight" series kicked off with our friends at The Stark Group!   Spotlight host Bob Theisen (DISTek Integration) sits down with Bob Gaffney, CFO of The Stark Group, to chat about how their organization promotes employee ownership within and outside their walls. They discuss the long history of The Stark Group and its deep community roots and how they balance being employee-owned while managing a union field workforce.   The Bobs also dive into their mutual passion for ESOP education and the benefits of being an employee-owner beyond just the financial. Thank you to Bob Gaffney and the Stark Group for being members of the Iowa/Nebraska chapter! We are proud to have you! This episode is a part of Rayser's "Buzz Bites" podcast, hosted by Rayser Holdings' marketing coordinator, Emily Burds. Questions or feedback for the podcast can be sent to eburds@rayserholdings.com. Buzz Bites can be found on Anchor, Spotify, Google Podcasts, YouTube, iHeartRadio, and Amazon Music.

We're back with another TEA Chapter Chat Takeover!   It's a party for our second TEA IA/NE Chapter Chat episode!   Host Emily Burds (Rayser Holdings) brings together some chapter friends to discuss their experience at the 2023 ESOP Association National Conference in Washington, D.C., back in May.   Joining Emily for this discussion are Chris Paxson (LBS), current VP of Programming for the Chapter, Sam Mintle (Wright Service Corp.) current VP of Membership for the chapter, Jamie Hein (Engineered Seal Products) our 2023 Chapter Employee of the Year, and Scot Storjohann (GreatBanc Trust), current Past President of the chapter.   The group, a mix of first-timers and seasoned conference veterans, talks about their time in D.C., with several participating in the Advocacy Academy and Hill visits. They highlight the legislators they got to speak with and how Iowa and Nebraska were represented on the national stage during their meetings.   They share their biggest takeaways, their favorite sessions, and their thoughts on why attending conferences like this is important for them as individuals, for their companies, and for the chapter as a whole.   They also take a moment to celebrate the wins shared at the conference, including Jamie's recognition is a finalist for the National Employee Owner of the Year. Overall, this is a great discussion you won't want to miss!   The TEA IA/NE Chapter Chat is an ongoing platform for the chapter to share ideas, news, and updates. Be sure to go and follow our brand new LinkedIn page to see all the latest!   This episode is a part of Rayser's "Buzz Bites" podcast, hosted by Rayser Holdings' marketing coordinator, Emily Burds. Questions or feedback for the podcast can be sent to eburds@rayserholdings.com. Buzz Bites can be found on Anchor, Spotify, Sticher, Google Podcasts, YouTube, iHeartRadio, and Amazon Music.

Welcome to the launch of our new miniseries "A Day In the Life" where we chat with employee owners from around Rayser about what they do in their roles. We're kicking things off by highlighting KELTEK Sales and chatting with Andrew Ketcham about how he enjoys being a part of the sales team that works with KELTEK's customers across Iowa. Andrew shares his insights into the public safety sector and all that he's learned thus far as the newest member of the sales crew. *Please note this interview was recorded before July 2023 as part of an Employee Owner Spotlight for KELTEK's marketing campaigns. This episode is a part of Rayser's "Buzz Bites" podcast, hosted by Rayser Holdings' marketing coordinator, Emily Burds. Questions or feedback for the podcast can be sent to eburds@rayserholdings.com. Buzz Bites can be found on Anchor, Spotify, Sticher, Google Podcasts, YouTube, iHeartRadio, and Amazon Music.

We're talking about the Coolest Places to Work in this week's Buzz Bites episode! Host Emily Burds catches up with Rayser's HR manager, Kala Liebe, to chat about the Coolest Places to Work Survey that is currently available for employee owners to participate in. The gals discuss what the survey is all about, what the feedback tells leadership, and the major changes and additions that have been made because of the feedback received in this survey. This is an annual survey hosted by the CBJ and Skywalk group. It is completely anonymous and open to all employee owners. Deadline is July 21st so don't miss your chance to have your voice heard! Visit this link to complete the survey: Coolest Places Survey 2023 Questions about the survey can be directed to Kala at kliebe@rayserholdings.com. This episode is a part of Rayser's "Buzz Bites" podcast, hosted by Rayser Holdings' marketing coordinator, Emily Burds. Questions or feedback for the podcast can be sent to eburds@rayserholdings.com. Buzz Bites can be found on Anchor, Spotify, Sticher, Google Podcasts, YouTube, iHeartRadio, and Amazon Music.

Who's ready for the 2023 Employee Owner Event this Friday?! The EAC is so excited to bring together the Rayser community for this annual celebration of ownership. EAC Chair Deanna Jackman-Steggall, Vice-Chair Amy Lewey, and Advisor Angie Hoover chat with Buzz Bite's host Emily Burds, about what employee-owners can expect from this year's event!   They break down the agenda for the evening and all the fun that attendees can expect, from exciting new prizes to a competitive ice-breaker and so much more!   The EAC looks forward to seeing folks at the Coralville Regency Hyatt this Friday, June 30th! Don't forget to wear your new green Rayser shirt! This episode is a part of Rayser's "Buzz Bites" podcast, hosted by Rayser Holdings' marketing coordinator, Emily Burds. Questions or feedback for the podcast can be sent to eburds@rayserholdings.com. Buzz Bites can be found on Anchor, Spotify, Sticher, Google Podcasts, YouTube, iHeartRadio, and Amazon Music.

And we're back with part two of our 2023 National Conference Recap!   Emily Burds, Amy Lewey, Angie Hoover, and Deanna Jackman-Steggall gather again to chat about their experience in Washington, D.C., back in May, where they attended the TEA National Conference!   In part two, the gals talk about their experience during the conference portion of their trip to D.C. The four chose to divide and conquer to not miss any of the great topics being presented. They share their biggest takeaways from the educational sessions they attended, the nuggets of wisdom they wanted to bring back, and the impact their time in D.C. had on them.   If you haven't already, check out Part One of our 2023 TEA National Conference Recap!   This episode is a part of Rayser's "Buzz Bites" podcast, hosted by Rayser Holdings' marketing coordinator, Emily Burds. Questions or feedback for the podcast can be sent to eburds@rayserholdings.com. Buzz Bites can be found on Anchor, Spotify, Sticher, Google Podcasts, YouTube, iHeartRadio, and Amazon Music.

Welcome to the 2023 ESOP Association National Conference Recap! There is so much good stuff to cover that we are splitting this recap into two parts, breaking down all the action! Emily Burds, Amy Lewey, Angie Hoover, and Deanna Jackman-Steggall sit down to chat about their experience in Washington, D.C., back in May, where they attended the TEA National Conference! In part one, the gals dive into the first part of their week, which was spent taking part in the Advocacy Academy and Capitol Hill visits. They discuss their experiences as first-time attendees and veterans and what they learned about advocating for employee ownership on behalf of Rayser and the entire state of Iowa. They recap all their meetings and which Senators and Representatives they interacted with. Stay tuned for part 2 of the 2023 TEA National Conference Recap! This episode is a part of Rayser's "Buzz Bites" podcast, hosted by Rayser Holdings' marketing coordinator, Emily Burds. Questions or feedback for the podcast can be sent to eburds@rayserholdings.com. Buzz Bites can be found on Anchor, Spotify, Sticher, Google Podcasts, YouTube, iHeartRadio, and Amazon Music.

It's a Chapter Chat takeover! We're sharing the first episode of the TEA IA/NE Chapter Chat podcast featuring a great discussion about the TEA Annual Awards for Communications Excellence - aka AACE! Join host Buzz Bites host Emily Burds, who is a member of the Communications Subcommittee for the IA/NE Chapter, as she chats with Cathy Maddox from Commonwealth Electric about the ins and outs of submitting and winning an AACE award. Cathy is both a former AACE winner and a judge, and she shares her insights into what it takes to win and why it is worth the time for your ESOP to assemble a submission. She passes along her best advice and reminisces on the experience of making it onto the stage in Vegas as a winner. Submissions for the 2023 AACE Awards are open now until June 1st. To learn more about them and apply visit https://www.esopassociation.org/awards/the-aace-awards. This episode is a part of Rayser's "Buzz Bites" podcast, hosted by Rayser Holdings' marketing coordinator, Emily Burds. Questions or feedback for the podcast can be sent to eburds@rayserholdings.com. Buzz Bites can be found on Anchor, Spotify, Sticher, Google Podcasts, YouTube, iHeartRadio, and Amazon Music.

We wrap up our Committee Highlights series as Buzz Bites host Emily Burds, dives into all things EAC (ESOP Advisory Committee) with EAC Chair Deanna Jackman-Steggall! The gals chat about their work with the EAC, including the four main areas that the EAC is responsible for and the current roster of representatives that help cover every location of Rayser to help keep all employee owners informed. They talk about their biggest upcoming event, the annual Rayser Employee Owner Event happening on June 30th, and all the ways you can get involved leading up to it, including RSVPing, submitting a nomination for our first-ever Rayser Rockstar award, and taking part in the "Guess The Share Price" campaign. The gals also highlight the committee's role in connecting Rayser with The National ESOP Association and the outside ESOP community and the impact of being able to bring back what they learn to share with the Rayser community. If you have any questions or ideas regarding the EAC, please get in touch with your EAC rep, Emily or Deanna! This episode is a part of Rayser's "Buzz Bites" podcast, hosted by Rayser Holdings' marketing coordinator, Emily Burds. Questions or feedback for the podcast can be sent to eburds@rayserholdings.com. Buzz Bites can be found on Anchor, Spotify, Sticher, Google Podcasts, YouTube, iHeartRadio, and Amazon Music.

Our Committee Highlights series continues as Buzz Bites host Emily Burds, chats about Community Service with Lorene Buerger and Alexis Videgar! The gals share the impact of the community service committee's work across all locations and their opportunities to get involved. They talk about the upcoming events employee owners can look forward to and why community service is one of our core values here at Rayser. The gals also highlight the individual actions that are available to Rayser employee-owners to make a difference in their community, including Rayser's annual charitable donation option and community service hours. If you have any questions or ideas regarding community service, don't hesitate to contact Lorene, Alexis, or Michelle Jensen! This episode is a part of Rayser's "Buzz Bites" podcast, hosted by Rayser Holdings' marketing coordinator, Emily Burds. Questions or feedback for the podcast can be sent to eburds@rayserholdings.com. Buzz Bites can be found on Anchor, Spotify, Sticher, Google Podcasts, YouTube, iHeartRadio, and Amazon Music.