Author Archive

Thomas Ritchie
25 Posts

Spotlight on Entrepreneurship: Vanessa Wodtke and Windy Acres

Today we begin a week of profiles of local entrepreneurs who have started businesses in Siouxland. Some are small – with only one or two employees – while others have grown through the years to many employees. But all of them have started businesses here and this week will share some feedback on what it means to start and grow

Honoring startups and entrepreneurs during Global Entrepreneurship Week

Sioux City will celebrate local entrepreneurs and startups during Global Entrepreneurship Week, an international initiative from Nov. 18-24. Global Entrepreneurship Week aims to inspire people everywhere to get involved in activities that embrace innovation, imagination and creativity. Sioux City will participate by encouraging people to make connections and explore their own entrepreneurial ideas, and by recognizing the innovators who launch

BCU speaker: Using financial literacy to combat poverty

There is a great opportunity tonight for young professionals, students, non-profits and small business entrepreneurs to see a speaker in Sioux City who delivers down-to-earth talks about entrepreneurship, financial literacy and careers. Adam Carroll, a self-proclaimed financial literacy junkie,  is co-author of “Winning the Money Game,” and is an entrepreneur, investor, entertainer and more. In 2004, he founded National Financial Educators with

Innovation Market winners receive awards

Sioux City Growth Organization (SCGO) recently announced the two 2013 Innovation Market winners. This is the first year Innovation Market has had two winners. The first place cash prize went to Chelsea and Nathan Schultz with Eat Sioux City, an online restaurant directory exclusive to Siouxland restaurants. The two will use the latest technologies to make each listing appear on

Sioux City tops community banking list

Local Sioux City banks scores a win this week when the web site Nerd Wallet named the metro area the No. 1 Community in the nation for Community Banking. The ranking is in part based on the banks’ support of small businesses, namely in how often they make loans to small companies. In other words, small businesses are likely to

Join us for the first Biz Brew networking event

You like beer. Check. You are creative, care about innovation, entrepreneurship and starting or growing a business? Check. Then you’re invited to Biz Brew, a new networking event, on April 18. The event is aimed at bringing together smart people interested in the community, in innovation and in fostering a culture for startup and emerging businesses in Siouxland. Here’s the cool part:

Photos: 2013 Small Business Expo

More than 150 attendees got a chance to talk with Siouxland small business owners at the first Siouxland Chamber Small Business Expo. The event, held March 21 at the Sioux City Country Club, featured more than 30 area businesses. From technology to pet services and fashion, many different companies took part in the event, which also served as a Business

Silicon Prairie Co-founder: Surround yourself with great people

On Tuesday, Feb. 26, the Sioux City Growth Organization will hold it’s annual Innovation Market, dedicated to promoting innovation and creativity in Sioux City. This year’s keynote speaker is Dusty Davidson, co-founder of Silicon Prairie News and Flywheel in Omaha. We couldn’t catch up with him in person, but were able to ask him via e-mail 5 questions about entrepreneurship, innovation

Siouxland Social Media conference set for Feb. 21

SIOUX CITY — “No Excuses.” That’s the theme of the second annual Siouxland Social Media Conference, set for Thursday, Feb. 21. Speakers and panelists will help local businesses overcome obstacles to the digital world of Facebook, Twitter and other social media participation. Set at the Marina Inn in South Sioux City, this day-long event will feature local, regional and national

Innovation Market set, Dusty Davidson is keynote speaker

The Sioux City Growth Organization, a young professionals group, recently announced its 2013 Innovation Market, including its keynote speaker, Dusty Davidson, a co-founder of Silicon Prairie News, among other startups. The event, scheduled for Feb. 26, is aimed at promoting entrepreneurship and innovation in Sioux City. This is the third year the organization has hosted the event, which attracts dozens of entrepreneurs