A program from the University of Northern Iowa’s College of Business Administration was one of only 25 programs nationwide to receive the AASCB Innovations That Inspire award, which recognizes institutions from around the world that serve as champions of change in the business education landscape.
Robert Sales arrived at UNI knowing he wanted to be an entrepreneur.
The Pella native’s business instincts had been apparent since he was a first-grader who won a contract mowing vacant lots in his neighborhood. At UNI, Sales focused on the food industry, launching a food truck business and then, with help from professors and mentors, narrowed his focus to selling mini doughnuts.
Food waste is a big problem throughout the world, and the United States is one of the biggest offenders. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, food waste is estimated at between 30-40% of the total United States food supply. That equals about 133 billion pounds and $161 billion worth of food.
Not only is wasting food an ethical or moral issue, it’s a business and economic one. That’s literally billions of dollars being thrown away, directly affecting revenue, profits and economic vitality. Luckily, food waste is starting to get attention in business circles.
UNI alumnus and entrepreneur Russell Karim's newest venture seeks to boost profitability and workers' salaries in apparel companies in his home country of Bangladesh.
It’s taken years for the Vermeer family to find their secret sauce. As owners of one the most well-known family businesses in Iowa — Vermeer Corp. in Pella — the Vermeer family has seen three generations come through the business. Jason Andringa, the grandson of Gary Vermeer, who founded the business in 1948, is president and CEO.
The UNI Iowa Waste Reduction Center’s (IWRC) painter training program has evolved to serve needs.
In 1994, the IWRC launched a research project looking at two local Cedar Valley body and collision shops. They were similar in size, but one was producing twice as much waste as the other. The IWRC staff quickly found the excess waste was coming from inefficient paint application by the in-house staff.
