Our Blog
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...
Preparing Students for What’s Next: Key Insights from a Recent JA Alumni Survey
Blog from JA USA
By Elizabeth Stepanek
Corporate Responsibility
Our recent survey of Gen Z and Millennial JA alumni demonstrate and reflects the tangible ways JA is helping students prepare...
Rachel Waters: Helping Students Discover What’s Possible
By Cathy Essick
Community Involvement
Rachel Waters, board member and volunteer with Junior Achievement of Eastern Iowa, shares why giving back, financial literacy, and career exploration matter — and how JA helps students gain the confidence and real-world skills they need for future...
Education for What’s Next: Powering Economic Mobility
Blog from JA USA
By Elizabeth Stepanek
Corporate Responsibility
What’s next? It’s the question on everyone’s mind. Technologies we’ve never seen before are reshaping the world in ways we never imagined. Jobs people rely on today may not exist...
Volunteer Spotlight: Zach Schmit
By Cathy Essick
Community Involvement
Zach Schmit, volunteer and Junior Achievement Corridor Community Impact Board Member, brings his entrepreneurial mindset and real-world experience into classrooms across Eastern Iowa. Since 2018, Zach has helped students connect the dots between money, careers, and opportunity—while serving on the Community Impact Board to help guide JA’s mission and long-term impact. His passion for storytelling,...
