Our Blog
Staci Mueller - Rooted in Community, Dedicated to Students
By Cathy Essick
Community Involvement
For nearly 15 years, Staci Mueller has been a consistent and caring presence in Ms. Fowler’s first-grade classroom at Denver Elementary, teaching JA Our Families and introducing students to foundational financial literacy concepts. A lifelong Bremer County resident and Scholarship Program Manager at the Community Foundation of Northeast Iowa, Staci first began volunteering after a teacher...
Educator Spotlight: Jill Koch Inspires Students to Think Strategically Through the JA Stock Market Challenge®
By Cathy Essick
Financial Literacy
Jill Koch, Program for Academic and Creative Talent (PACT) Coordinator at Cedar Rapids Kennedy High School, has seen firsthand how the JA Stock Market Challenge® inspires students to think critically, work strategically, and build confidence in financial decision-making. What began as chaperoning a single team has grown into years of participation, with students returning again and again because...
From the Ballpark to the Classroom: Andrea Brommelkamp’s Commitment to Empowering Students
By Cathy Essick
Corporate Responsibility
Andrea Brommelkamp has been volunteering with Junior Achievement of Eastern Iowa since 2013, teaching elementary students and supporting programs like JA BizTown® Mobile, JA Finance Park® Mobile, and 3DE™ by Junior Achievement. Now serving on the JAEI Corridor Community Impact Board and working in Business Development at Corda Credit Union, Andrea is passionate about helping students explore...
Educator Spotlight: Stephanie Kramer Inspires Students Through Real-World Investing
By Cathy Essick
Financial Literacy
Stephanie Kramer, Business and Computer Science Teacher at Springville High School, has seen firsthand how the JA Stock Market Challenge® transforms classroom learning into real-world experience. For the past five years, she has brought her students to compete in the fast-paced trading simulation, where they apply investing concepts, react to live news, and work together to make strategic...
Meet Josie Bitter: Strengthening the Relationships Behind Student Impact
By Cathy Essick
Financial Literacy
Junior Achievement of Eastern Iowa welcomes Josie Bitter as Stewardship Coordinator. With a background in relationship management and a passion for supporting young people, Josie will help strengthen donor partnerships that make JA’s work possible. A Cedar Valley native and foster mom, she is energized to support JA’s mission and help expand opportunity for students across Eastern...
The Market Is About to Open. Are You In?
By Cathy Essick
Community Involvement
The JA Stock Market Challenge® is almost here—and the energy is unmatched. From flashing stock prices to split-second trading decisions, this fast-paced simulation transforms the room into a high-energy trading floor. With events in Cedar Rapids and Cedar Falls, corporate teams, students, and young professionals have the chance to compete, collaborate, and experience the thrill of the market—all...
JA’s Outcomes-Based Strategic Blueprint
Blog from JA USA
By Elizabeth Stepanek
Corporate Responsibility
At Junior Achievement, we believe every student deserves a future filled with choices and opportunities. That belief is the foundation of JA’s outcomes-based strategic blueprint; a clear, intentional approach to education that starts not with programs, but with the outcomes that matter most for students’ long-term...
Meet JA volunteer and board member Kyle Baker
By Cathy Essick
Community Involvement
Kyle Baker is Vice President and Director of Retail Banking at Community Bank and Trust and has been a Junior Achievement volunteer for 10 years. After starting as a classroom volunteer, he joined the JA board eight years ago to further support financial education for students. Kyle is passionate about helping young people build strong money management skills and understand how financial decisions...
ENTREPRENEUR AND BOARD MEMBER: ERIC POE
By Cathy Essick
Corporate Responsibility
Eric Poe is a second-generation leader at Crystal Cold and a member of the Cedar Valley Community Impact Board for Junior Achievement of Eastern Iowa. Inspired to get involved after his father was honored at the Cedar Valley Business Hall of Fame, Eric is passionate about helping students build real-world skills and leadership abilities for the future...
Supporting Students Through Real-World Learning: UFG Insurance
By Cathy Essick
Corporate Responsibility
UFG Insurance is investing in what’s next through its participation in the JA Stock Market Challenge®. Team members bring strategy, collaboration, and energy to this fast-paced simulation—while helping students gain real-world insight into investing, financial decision-making, and market volatility. UFG’s involvement reflects a strong commitment to community support and hands-on learning...
