The Ames Chamber of Commerce is pleased to announce the Grand Opening of the recently renovated Laughlin Level space.

Located in the lower level of the Ames Chamber office at 304 Main Street, the space officially opened on Wednesday, September 22 during a Business After Hours Event. Chamber members were invited to join in the celebration with tours, refreshments and networking with others in the community.

The Ames Chamber of Commerce chooses to celebrate Julia Laughlin, Ames Train Depot Station Master from 1917 to 1924. She was the only woman station master in the nation. When the Chicago-Northwestern Transportation Company attempted to cancel her contract, the Ames Chamber of Commerce stepped in and renegotiated on her behalf. We are proud to recognize Laughlin's tenacity and her connection with the Chamber as the namesake for the new space.

“We are thrilled to open the Laughlin Level on behalf of our members,” says Dan Culhane, CEO and President of the Ames Chamber of Commerce. “With this new space, we are furthering our mission to enhance our community, promote networking and collaboration as well as help meet the need for conference space in the area.”

A piece of Ames’s history is brought to life within the Laughlin Level as the space celebrates the historic nature of the building and marries it with a modern design and color scheme. The space offers three different sized rooms, state-of-the-art technology, and a kitchen to meet the needs of each group who utilizes it. Furthermore, the level is completely accessible thanks to the newly installed elevator. With amply parking and prime communal resources, the Laughlin Level positions the Ames Chamber and Downtown Ames as a forward-thinking community asset.

For more information on booking your event in the Laughlin Level, contact us at laughlin@ameschamber.com or call 515-232-2310.

SOLAR FX Corporation, a turnkey company in the solar industry, is pleased to announce their move to Boone, Iowa, where they recently purchased the former Dodi Plaza at 1316 S Marshall Street.

Gary Lass, Founder, launched SOLAR FX in 2008 by installing small solar powered attic fans and solar arrays on homes. Today, SOLAR FX is a turnkey company that specializes in solar energy design, engineering, sales and installation of solar photovoltaic (PV) arrays on large agricultural sites, commercial sites and industrial sites. The purpose of the PV array is to reduce the cost of electricity and dependence on the utility grid for the owner.

The company has seen considerable growth and the search for a larger facility has been underway for the past 24 months. During the search for a new location, Lass also has been in the process of transitioning the day-to-day operations of the company to his son, Jeremy Lass, who will serve as Chief Executive Officer, and daughter, Charise Bailey, who will lead the company in the role of Chief Financial Officer.

“I am eager for my son and daughter to take the reins of the company and build upon the strong foundation that has been created. I will still be engaged with the company, but the overall management and operation of the company will be placed upon Jeremy and Charise, which is what I’ve worked for,” says Lass.

According to Bailey, “We offer the best pricing available because we buy directly from the importer of record, manufacturers, and suppliers across the USA. Every solar array is custom designed to that particular site using the best solar panels, inverters, and racking for that installation. All of our installations are done with in-house staff and our own equipment which allows us to provide a consistent level of professional quality for our customers. The move to the larger facility in Boone will help us grow our business and our team while we continue to build our customer base, which is really exciting.”

“We are excited to move to Boone. We have enjoyed working with Bill Skare, Boone City Administrator, and Dan Culhane, President and CEO, Ames Economic Development Commission, and look forward to growing our business in the community,” says Bailey.

The company is currently working through the process of applying for local financial assistance from the City of Boone and expects to upgrade the exterior of the building once all necessary approvals are in place.

The Ames Chamber of Commerce is pleased to announce that Terry Rich will be the keynote speaker at its Get CHARGED Capstone Event. The event will be held on October 3 and is part of the Ames Chamber of Commerce 2019 CHARGE Leadership Series.

“We are so excited to bring Terry Rich to Ames for this event,” said Dan Culhane, President and CEO of the Ames Chamber of Commerce. “His message of encouraging innovation within organizations will be of great value to our members. He is an energetic and passionate speaker who will inspire the audience to think creatively and challenge the status quo. This is a great message as we think ahead to 2020 and beyond.”

Terry Rich is the retired President and CEO of the Iowa Lottery, former CEO of the Blank Park Zoo, President and CEO of Rich Heritage Inc., President of the North American Lottery Association and author of the book “Dare to Dream, Dare to Act.”

Under his leadership at the Iowa Lottery, he increased sales by over $1 billion and the Iowa Lottery cracked the nation’s largest lottery fraud. For those efforts, he received the prestigious International Gambling Compliance Outstanding Achievement Award. Rich has won numerous entrepreneurial and leadership awards in television production and marketing.
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The Ames Chamber of Commerce Get CHARGED Capstone Event will be held on Thursday, October 3 from 4:30 - 6:30 p.m at Hilton Garden Inn in Ames. Registration for the event is $35 per person for Ames Chamber members and $45 for the public. To register of for more information call (515) 232-2310 or visit www.AmesChamber.com.

The Ames Chamber of Commerce is pleased to celebrate the completion of the Lincoln Way median beautification project. 

With tremendous financial support from Kingland Systems Corporation, this summer project has completely transformed the Lincoln Way Corridor through the Campustown neighborhood. Their $50,000 donation demonstrates the impact community investments create for our residents and visitors.

“We are extremely thankful for the support from Kingland Systems Corporation and the hard work of Dan’s Custom Landscaping during this project,” says Dan Culhane, President and CEO of the Ames Chamber of Commerce. “Beautification projects represent our community's commitment to create a welcoming environment for our residents, students, visitors and those considering relocating to Ames.”

Additional financial support was provided by the Ames Chamber of Commerce, The Ames Foundation and Campustown Action Association. From mid-July to mid-August, Dan’s Custom Landscaping provided Lincoln Way with the transformative beautification that it truly needed. The project affected medians between Beach Avenue and Sheldon Avenue.

The Ames Chamber of Commerce and Economic Development Commission is excited to introduce Steven Lawrence as the new Marketing Coordinator.

Lawrence recently graduated from Wartburg College with a degree in Business Administration. After working in the field of marketing and media industries, Lawrence has returned to Ames for this new position.

“After growing up in Ames and living here the majority of my life, I have always taken pride in calling this community my home,” states Lawrence. “I am extremely grateful for this opportunity and am excited to do my part in making Ames a better place to live, work, and grow local business. I can’t wait to work alongside this great team as I begin my professional career.”

As the new Marketing Coordinator, Lawrence will support the Ames Chamber of Commerce and its affiliate organizations’ marketing efforts. Among other duties, this position includes website and database management, content development, and digital media analysis.

“We are very excited to have Steven on our team,” says Dan Culhane, President and CEO of the Ames Chamber of Commerce. “As the perfect fit for our team, Steven’s efforts will ensure the Chamber a future of success in its marketing efforts.”

Lawrence began working in his new position on August 30, and may be contacted at steven@ameschamber.com.