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Greater Iowa Credit Union (GICU) is a member-owned financial cooperative established in June 1932 by a group of Iowa State University employees. It has grown to serve over 36,000 members across a 33-county area in Central and Western Iowa, managing assets between $624 million and $667 million. GICU is federally insured and state-chartered, emphasizing its commitment to the financial well-being of its members and the communities it serves. GICU offers a range of financial services typical of credit unions, including banking services like checking and savings accounts, loans for personal, auto, and business needs, and possibly investment services. The credit union operates nine branch locations in cities such as Ames, Ankeny, and Des Moines, providing localized service. GICU is also dedicated to community engagement, having received recognition as the Best Credit Union in Crawford County and Story County multiple times.
We serve as part-time or full-time interim CFOs, or work on a project basis to find solutions during periods of transition or critical need. Clients are typically closely held and/or managed, with our direction received from the CEO, owners, or the Board of Directors. We often work closely with executive managers to identify and resolve key issues and develop financial strategies supporting long term objectives.
Ascend empowers entrepreneurial CPAs to reach their goals with an innovative growth model that brings their firms into the new age. Backed by private equity from people-focused Alpine Investors, Ascend is building a modern platform for regional accounting firms that enables them to stay independent while accessing the resources of a large CPA firm to help them grow. Ascend provides access to growth capital, robust talent acquisition, best-of-breed technology, a catalytic leadership system, shared back-office services, and modernized equity incentives so that firms can surmount todays industry challenges and reach their full potential. Founded in January 2023, the company attained revenues sufficient to qualify it as a Top 100 U.S. accounting firm within six months of operation.
Elementary is a company specializing in advanced machine vision inspection, utilizing AI and automation to enhance manufacturing processes. Founded in mid-2017 by experienced professionals from various sectors, the company aims to develop a new generation of manufacturing products that rely on computer vision and AI. Their platform automates traceability scans and integrates AI, machine vision, and automation into production lines. This approach focuses on improving quality, traceability, and root cause analyses, making manufacturing processes more efficient. Elementary emphasizes a human-in-the-loop strategy, enhancing collaboration between humans and machines to optimize working conditions and outcomes. Based in Los Angeles, California, Elementarys team includes roboticists, computer scientists, designers, and engineers. The company has attracted significant funding, including a $30 million Series B round led by Tiger Global, to support its innovative solutions in manufacturing. Their technology is utilized by notable clients across various industries, including Toyota in the automotive sector.