TUESDAY, JAN. 17, 2017  |  IN THIS ISSUE 

 
Head5MCI acquires political marketing, polling assets from Gravis 
 
Marlowe Companies Inc. (MCI) yesterday announced its acquisition of political marketing and polling software and other assets from Florida-based Gravis Marketing.

MCI is owned by entrepreneur Anthony Marlowe, and the parent company of Iowa City-based Mass Markets, a business process outsourcing (CPO) call center and teleservices firm. Mr. Marlowe co-founded TMone in 2002, sold it in 2013, and repurchased and rebranded it Mass Markets in 2015.

MCI has acquired Gravis' hosted predictive dialer, interactive voice response (IVR), native software, software-as-a-service (SaaS), automated market research software, intellectual property, database management and processing toolbox, and third-party verification (TPV) assets.

The terms of MCI's acquisition were not disclosed, but as part of the deal, the application and software will be renamed ' Gravis Apps,' to represent the expansion of their capabilities from the political vertical to the greater commercial marketplace.

Gravis Marketing's polling and other services will be powered by Gravis Apps, while the firm will retain its existing customer relationships. Chad Miller, of Gravis Marketing, will join Gravis Apps as chief software development officer.

"Gravis Apps' largest customer, a domestic call center business process company, already leveraged the software to make 79 million advanced IVR calls for a successful candidate in the national election," Mr. Marlowe said in a press release.

MCI acquired Gravis' assets after a search for the top political telemarketing software developer in North America, the company said in a statement. The goal of Gravis Apps is to "revolutionize the cloud contact center as service status quo" as clients demand new efficiencies and smarter solutions. Mr. Marlowe said.

"The bottom line is that we can help clients move faster, grow larger and solve more problems with greater efficiency using the Gravis Apps platform," he added.
Story2U.S. Trade Commission upholds tariffs against Samsung, LG

The U.S. International Trade Commission last week ruled that Samsung and LG Electronics hurt the U.S. appliance industry by selling China-produced washing machines in the country for less than they cost to make, marking the final step in an investigation launched in December 2015.

Samsung and LG now must pay antidumping duties at rates previously set by the U.S. Department of Commerce - margins of 52.51 percent for Samsung and 32.12 percent for LG.
 
The decision locks the duties in place for five years, Reuters reports, but South Korean-based Samsung and LG have largely shifted production for the U.S. market away from China to Thailand and Vietnam.
 
The case was filed by Michigan-based Whirlpool, which is currently the world's No. 1 major appliance manufacturer. The company employs 25,000 people in the United States, including more than 2,000 at its Amana plant, which produces French door refrigerators and icemakers.
 
"This is a gratifying win for American manufacturing, particularly our more than 3,000 employees at our factory in Clyde, Ohio, who make clothes washers for American consumers," Jeff Fettig, chairman and CEO of Whirlpool Corp., said in a press release. 
 
This ruling comes just four years after the government found Samsung and LG guilty of dumping washers from factories in Korea and Mexico. Following that 2013 ruling, the companies moved their washer production to China in an effort to circumvent the orders.
 
Satellite TV provider Dish Network has indicated plans to stop carrying Cedar Rapids-based KCRG-TV9 at 8 p.m. today in a dispute over retransmission payments.
 
The blackout is due to the expiration of a retransmission agreement between KCRG-TV9 owner Gray Television and Dish Network, which is expiring without a replacement, Gray said in a press release. It urged viewers to seek other programming providers to substitute for Dish, because it does not expect the retransmission dispute to end soon.
 
"Despite the obvious popularity of Gray's stations, Dish has refused after many months to even begin negotiating carriage terms that are consistent with those that Dish has provided to other broadcasters and cable channels," the company said. It noted that Dish declined its offer to extend the current retransmission agreement in order to give the process more time.
 
Dish carries 99 program streams under a carriage agreement with Atlanta-based Gray Television. Under retransmission agreements, broadcast television stations such as KCRG-TV9 are reimbursed for allowing satellite and cable TV providers to carry their programming.
 
Dish Network released a statement saying that it has successfully negotiated retransmission agreements covering hundreds of stations and that Gray is trying to use consumers as "pawns" to gain leverage for its own economic benefit.
 
KCRG-TV9 was sold to Gray by Gazette Communications in October 2015 for $100 million.
Story4Marsh & McLennan subsidiary acquires J. Smith Lanier 
 
Marsh & McLennan Agency LLC, a middle market agency subsidiary of Marsh, has acquired J. Smith Lanier & Co. (JSL), one of the nation's largest, privately held insurance brokerage firms.

Terms of the transaction were not disclosed. The deal is expected to close in the first quarter of 2017, pending customary approvals.

Upon completion of the transaction, JSL will operate as MMA's Southeast regional hub under the leadership of JSL's CEO, D. Gaines Lanier. All of JSL's employees will join MMA.

Founded in 1868, JSL is a provider of insurance, risk management and employee benefits solutions to businesses and individuals throughout the U.S. Based in West Point, Georgia, JSL has annual revenue of approximately $130 million and 600 employees in 21 offices across Georgia, Alabama, Kentucky, Tennessee and Florida.

"The acquisition of J. Smith Lanier, one of the country's preeminent middle market insurance agencies, is a terrific addition to MMA's capabilities and geographic footprint," Peter Zaffino, CEO of Marsh, said in a press release.

Marsh is a wholly owned subsidiary of Marsh & McLennan Companies (MMC), a global professional services firm offering advice and solutions in the areas of risk, strategy and people. MMC is also the parent company of Mercer, a talent, health and retirement consulting firm with offices in Cedar Rapids, Iowa City, Davenport, Des Moines and Dubuque. 
Story1Coe, Willis Dady to offer Veteran and Homeless Resource Fair
 
The Coe College Office of Community Engagement, in partnership with the Willis Dady Emergency Shelter, will host a Veteran and Homeless Resource Fair on Jan. 23 in downtown Cedar Rapids.

The organizations will be providing various services for veterans, including courses on mental health/self-care, financial literacy and resume building/job skills. There will also be an organization fair during the provided lunch, and a room for networking between veterans over coffee. Each veteran will receive three gift bags for attending the event with various items that support the needs of veterans or the homeless.

The event will be held from 9:30 a.m.-4 p.m. at the Cedar Rapids Public Library. During the opening ceremony, Coe student Briana Gipson will speak to the legacy of Martin Luther King, Jr., and why it leads us to serve veterans in his honor.  

The Veteran and Homeless Resource Fair is made possible in part through a $2,000 grant awarded to Coe College to fund an MLK Day of Service Community Partnership Project. More than 60 institutions applied for the grants, which were awarded by Iowa Campus Compact (IACC). The MLK Day of Service Community Partnership Project provides funding for service projects that help alleviate hunger and support veterans.
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EventHeadlinesShort-Term Event Planner

Jan. 17
Ribbon Cutting - Travel & Transport, Inc., by the Marion Chamber, 4 p.m., 1317 Seventh Ave., Ste. 210, Marion. Join Chamber Ambassadors for a ribbon cutting to celebrate the grand opening of Travel & Transport's new location in the Philip Center. Free. For more information, call the chamber at (319) 377-6316.
 
Jan. 18
Economic Forecast Luncheon , by the Corridor Business Journal, 11:30 a.m.-1:15 p.m., DoubleTree by Hilton Cedar Rapids Convention Complex, 350 First Ave. NE, Cedar Rapids. A panel of business leaders and a speaker will provide insight into where the economy is heading and the biggest opportunities and challenges they see facing the Corridor. Cost: $70. For more information, contact Ashley at [email protected] or (319) 665-6397 ext. 311. Register online at conta.cc/2gc0Vtf.
 
BizMix, by Cedar Rapids Metro Economic Alliance and Marion Chamber, 4-6 p.m., NewBoCo, 415 12th Ave. SE, Cedar Rapids. BizMix is an evening opportunity to get to know the business community while enjoying complimentary hors d'oeuvres and cocktails. Free. For more information, call (319) 377-6316.
 
Goal Setting and Career Planning, by ImpactCR, 5:30-7 p.m., Cedar Rapids Metro Economic Alliance, 501 First St. SE, Cedar Rapids. Leighton Smith of BerganKDV and Nate Klein from Mount Mercy University will talk about goal setting and career planning in an interactive discussion. Free. Register online at bit.ly/2j0I6ef.
Headlines from CBS2/FOX 28
These news items are provided by CBS2/FOX 28  
 
Iowa City Police are looking for the suspect of an armed robbery just blocks from the University of Iowa campus. At 8 p.m. on Monday night, a woman had a handgun pointed at her in the back packing lot of 404 S. Governor St. and was told by the suspect to fork over cash. The victim didn't have any money at the time, leading the suspect to flee on foot. Iowa City Police searched the area but didn't find the person responsible. The woman was not injured during the armed robbery. Police describe the suspect as a black male, 6' tall with a medium build, and wearing a black jacket that was unzipped in the front. CrimeStoppers is offering a $1,000 dollar reward for any information leading to an arrest of this suspect. You can reach them at 319-358-TIPS (8477).
 
Cubs fans in Eastern Iowa now know when they'll get the chance to see the Cubs' World Series trophy up close and personal. The Commissioner's Trophy will make stops at the University of Iowa Student Union Building on Jan. 30 from 5-6:30 p.m., and the Cedar Rapids Ice Arena on Jan. 31 from 8-9:30 a.m. After that, the trophy will make a stop at the Cedar Valley SportsPlex from 12:30-2:30 p.m. You can find complete tour dates on the Cubs website here. The Cubs ended a 108-year title drought with a thrilling Game 7 World Series victory over the Cleveland Indians.
 
T hese news items are provided by CBS2/FOX 28 
CBS2 Chief Meteorologist Terry Swails'  Weather First Forecast
 
Although we're cloudy with a light rain/snow mix in northeast Iowa this morning, the temperatures are on the way up the rest of the week. Look for partially clearing skies this evening with lows in the mid 20s. Wednesday we finally see more sun and temperatures climb to the 40s. It will be even warmer Thursday which will be the day the entire area will have the best chance of hitting at least 40.