Portfolio Category: Success Stories

The NIACC John Pappajohn Entrepreneurial Center and North Iowa Area SBDC are proud to recognize Spencer Stensrude of Ag Ventures Alliance in Mason City, IA as the March 2021 Entrepreneur of the Month. Spencer Stensrude is the CEO of Ag Venture Alliance, a seed stage venture capital fund run by farmers, based in Mason City,…

David Steffens, Jr. - January 2021 Entrepreneur of the Month The NIACC John Pappajohn Entrepreneurial Center and North Iowa Area SBDC are proud to recognize David Steffens, Jr. of Norseman Trucking Co. in Lake Mills, IA as the January 2021 Entrepreneur of the Month. Norsemen Trucking was founded by David Steffens Sr. after retiring from…

Matt Curtis - March 2020 Entrepreneur of the Month The NIACC John Pappajohn Entrepreneurial Center and North Iowa Area SBDC are pleased to announce Matt Curtis of Wayne’s Ski & Cycle in Mason City as the March 2020 Entrepreneur of the Month. Matt Curtis purchased Wayne’s Ski & Cycle in 2004. Matt had never thought…

Jessica and Derek Balsley - June 2019 Entrepreneurs of the Month The Art of Education University, founded by Jessica and Derek Balsley in 2011, is a local Iowa success story of building a global company in a rural community. Osage, Iowa is a small town in North Iowa with a population of around 3,600. It’s…