GCP010 - Andy Interviews Joy Jensen of Gateway Realty Group in Clinton, IA

Gabriella "Gabi" Torres has an inspiring story jam-packed with public art and community placemaking. As an artist, she has sold paintings across the globe, building a solid following in the local art scene. She is passionate about transforming the existing canvasses scattered throughout town into jaw-dropping displays of creativity. 

Most notably, her Paint it Back project in partnership with Chris Shannon took a former auto sales building in the north end of Clinton and converted the dilapidated facade into a web of visual awesomeness! As a result of adjusting the blighted presence of an old building into a piece of art, the city has noticed a reduction in crime due to increased foot traffic. 

Gabi is an expert in placemaking and will share her desire to further impact the lives of community members and visitors by turning the ordinary into extraordinary. 

Thank you to Gabi for allowing us to interview her, share her successes, and learn some tips and tactics that can be leveraged to transform any community!

Gabi can be reached at gabibirdartist@gmail.com.

www.growclinton.com - In this episode of the Grow Clinton Podcast, Andy & Jenny interview LaRee Mangler of Clinton National Bank. LaRee shares some of the great history of the bank, which has played a vital role in the Clinton Region. Clinton National Bank has a strong history of supporting business growth and economic success! 

LaRee also shares tips and tactics for elevating your business. 

- Have a plan

- Establish goals

- Stick with the plan and adjust your sails accordingly 

- Look for and surround yourself with people who inspire you

- Ask for advice

- Tell your story!

"If you do what you love, you'll never work a day in your life!"

Thank you to LaRee for joining the podcast, and we thank Clinton National Bank for their continued investment and support of the region.

Please visit https://www.clintonnational.com/. 

www.growclinton.com - In this episode of the Grow Clinton Podcast, Andy & Jenny interview Karrie Kenney of the Fulton, IL, Fun Crew, and the Fulton Retail Development Group. Karrie shares information regarding the outdoor live music concert series, a new bandshell, and how the Fulton Retail Development Group has changed the dynamic of the beautiful Fulton Downtown District. 

Karrie also shares her passion for the Fulton Kiwanis Club. She reveals the success of their Queen of Hearts initiative, raising money to support the needs of the Fulton and surrounding youth communities. 

Grow Clinton is a 501(c)6 non-profit community, economic development, and tourism organization based in Clinton, IA. 

www.GrowClinton.com - In this episode, Andy & Jenny interview Todd Noack of Life Connections Peer Recover Services. Life Connections Peer Recovery Services is a non-for-profit organization that operates a Peer Recovery Center and Iowa’s first Peer Run Respite House.

Life Connections Peer Recovery Services supports individuals wanting to begin or continue their journey by connecting them with services and resources that can guide them in living their best life.

With funding from the state and the region anyone can now get services at our respite.

For more information, please visit Life Connections at www.lifeconnectionsrecovery.org. 

Grow Clinton is a 501(c)6 non-profit community, economic development, and tourism organization based in Clinton, IA. 

www.growclinton.com - In this episode of the Grow Clinton Podcast, Andy and Jenny interview Brandon Rumler, the Executive Director of Skyline Center Inc. in Clinton, Iowa.

Brandon shares information regarding the Skyline Center's mission, including the organization's positive impact on individuals with intellectual and physical disabilities.

Skyline Center also provides residential services to support people living in their own community-based homes, employment services for those who want a meaningful job, day habilitation for those who want to socialize and learn additional skills and home health services for those with short- or long-term physical health care needs in their homes. 

Additionally, employment opportunities are available for many of them through a Production Facility, which is fully integrated with people with disabilities and those without a diagnosed disability.

For more information on the Skyline Center, please visit www.skylinecenter.ord or call 563-243-4065.

Click HERE to learn about Skyline's strategic goals. 

www.growclinton.com - Lou Ray owns and operates Deja Vu Furniture & Accessories in Clinton, IA. Not only does Lou run a fantastic consignment operation, but she also volunteers time in the community and serves as a Grow Clinton Board of Directors member. 

During the interview, Lou shares her passion for shopping small and supporting locally-owned businesses, stretching your dollar as far as possible. Lou has owned her shop at 101 5th Ave S for nearly two decades and understands what it takes to manage a successful business. From attending conferences to promoting her store via social media, she shares tips and insights with our listeners. 

"There needs to be regular conversations about small business mom-and-pop stores and what they do for the community." ~Lou Ray

 Deja Vu Furniture & Accessories' hand-selected inventory consists of only clean, gently used clothing, accessories, decor, and furniture. Since 2009, we’ve served and satisfied all bargain hunters throughout Clinton, Iowa, and surrounding areas. 

For more information on Grow Clinton membership, contact the Grow Clinton office at 563.242.5702 or visit us online at www.GrowClinton.com. 

The mission of Grow Clinton is to promote business growth, build community, and advocate for the sustainable economic success of the Greater Clinton Region.

www.growclinton.com - In this episode, Andy Sokolovich, President & CEO at Grow Clinton, interviews Joy Jensen, managing broker at Gateway Realty Group. Joy shares her transition from higher education to real estate and how she worked to start up her brokerage firm. 

Joy is an enthusiastic member of the Clinton Region and supports the community through volunteering and offering prospective home buyers a tremendous house-hunting experience. 

"We live in such a fabulous and active community, and I love being part of it!" - Joy Jensen 

For more information regarding Joy's services, please reach out via email at joyjensenrealtor@gmail.com or call 563.212.4747

www.growclinton.com - In this episode, Andy and Jenny speak with Sue Watkins, representing the Symphony of Lights. The Symphony of Lights is a must-see holiday lighting display in Eagle Point Park - Clinton, IA. The over 1-mile journey will please viewers with hundreds of exhibits reflecting the holiday cheer we crave! From the little ones to seasoned visitors, the display will surely make you smile. 

For more information and to view the full event schedule, please visit https://www.symphonyoflights.org/. 

The Symphony of Lights was brought to Clinton, Iowa, in November 1996 by two non-profit organizations, the Clinton Jaycee Foundation and the Clinton Symphony Orchestra. These organizations founded the event as a fundraiser but quickly learned it was much more. The Symphony of Lights brought a sense of pride to the community that had been lacking for a long time. It awakened volunteerism in all ages. Since its inception, the number of volunteers has grown tremendously. It is estimated that the numbers involved reach around 400.

www.growclinton.com - Since 1952, Economy Systems Inc. has been supporting the growth of the Greater Clinton Region.

For more information, please visit https://economysystems.info/.

Thank you to Amy Pepper for joining us on this episode to share her story and information on Economy Systems Inc.

Economy Coating Systems Inc. is a full-service railcar repair shop offering cleaning, lining, repair, and mobile running repairs. We also provide large-scale warehousing and transportation services. We are located in Camanche, IA, are served by the UP, and have operated since 1952.