Alumni Spotlight: Doug Alberhasky

Author: Cathy Essick
Community Involvement
Published: Wednesday, 07 Jan 2026

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Image caption: Entrepreneurship is about effort, attitude, and community—and Doug Alberhasky lives that every day.

For Doug Alberhasky, entrepreneurship isn’t just a career path—it’s a mindset shaped early, strengthened through experience, and sustained by community.

Doug’s journey began long before he owned or managed multiple businesses in Iowa City. As a high school student, he immersed himself in Junior Achievement’s (JA) after-school programming, never missing a meeting during all four years. He took on leadership roles early—Vice President of Production as a sophomore, President during his junior and senior years—and was ultimately recognized as President of the Year in the Cedar Rapids/Iowa City region. By 1987, Doug was competing at the national level, earning finalist honors for Salesperson of the Year.

Those experiences didn’t just spark an interest in business—they laid a foundation for everything that followed.

“There wasn’t a single class I took in high school that taught me more than JA did,” Doug shared. Through Junior Achievement, he learned how to identify unmet needs, build and lead teams, communicate effectively, and navigate the inevitable roadblocks that come with any venture. Lessons in leadership, collaboration, and resilience became tools he would use again and again—whether taking over the family business, launching new enterprises, coaching youth, serving as a Scoutmaster, or most recently, leading more than 200 people through the complex process of producing a feature film.

Today, Doug is the force behind several businesses, including John’s Grocery, DASH Properties, Alberhasky Snow Removal, and Beer Money LLC. Despite his diverse ventures, his philosophy remains grounded and consistent.

“The only things you can control are your effort and your attitude,” Doug says. “You’re the one who makes your optimism come true.” He believes success comes from showing up every day, giving maximum effort, and doing it with a positive attitude—because people remember how you work and how you treat them.

Doug is also candid about mistakes. They’re inevitable, he says—but dwelling on them can be costly. Learn the lesson, commit to doing better, and move forward. That forward momentum is strengthened by organization, another principle Doug emphasizes often. Whether it’s inventory, invoices, tools, or customer names, being able to put your hands on what you need—when you need it—saves time, money, and energy.

Just as important as organization is community. Doug encourages aspiring entrepreneurs to get involved locally, noting that new customers often come not from where you expect, but through relationships and connections you’ve built along the way.

Doug’s connection to Junior Achievement has spanned more than four decades—first as a student, then as an advisor when the program needed volunteers, and later as a volunteer teacher helping his own children and their classmates learn skills not always taught in traditional classrooms. In his view, JA’s relevance has never been greater.

“Business basics and fiscal education are critical,” Doug says. “Our youth need to know how to make sound financial decisions. JA helps fill a gap that exists in our education system.”

After more than 40 years of involvement, Doug Alberhasky’s story is a powerful reminder that early exposure, strong mentorship, and a commitment to giving back can shape not only successful entrepreneurs—but engaged leaders and community builders for life.