Business Record - Iowa Biz

LOCAL FEATURE: Proof, not just a restaurant

 

- Amy Nebons owns event management company Blink Events LLC. 

COOL VENUE ALERT!  First, if you haven’t been to Proof yet, you need to get there! Proof, located at 1301 Locust St. in downtown Des Moines, is a restaurant that prides itself on delivering “good cocktails. Good wine. Good food. Good atmosphere. [and] Good service.”  The menu is influenced by the flavors of the Mediterranean and Northern Africa, and strives to blend “the old world with the new by using local ingredients in all of its dishes.”  But what makes Proof even cooler is that you can rent it for your own very special events!

WHAT SORTS OF EVENTS ARE BEST FOR THIS LOCATION?

Cocktail hours:  Treat your high-end clients, show some appreciation for your employees or celebrate a milestone, all while sampling some delicious cuisine and sipping on some specialty cocktails. 

Mid-day gatherings: Whether it be a fancy lunch, or a bridal/baby shower, this is the perfect spot to create a memorable afternoon event.

Special dinners:  Perfect spot to wine & dine clients, have an intimate rehearsal dinner or celebrate a something special with close friends.

Other smaller gatherings: Looking for a unique experience event that pampers your attendees? This is sure to impress.

HOW MANY PEOPLE DOES THE SPACE ACCOMMODATE?

Seated dinner: up to 60 people

Cocktail party: 80-90 people

Open house style: 120 people

WHAT DOES THIS VENUE OFFER?

Location location location!  Experience the invigorating energy that surrounds downtown Des Moines from this centrally located spot. This area offers a plethora of activities to enjoy both before and after your event at Proof.  Stroll the Pappajohn Sculpture Park, visit the Science Center or enjoy some post event cocktails on Court Avenue!  There is something that is sure to please everyone. Build your event into a complete experience by taking full advantage of the fun things Des Moines has to offer.

Extraordinary hospitality & knowledgeable staff: Don’t know what you want to eat or drink? Allow the staff at Proof to assist with this task. This high-caliber group is sure to exceed your expectations and impress even your stuffiest event attendees. You can ensure a creative and stress-free experience by leaving the details up to these fine folks.

Versatile aesthetic with options for customizable décor: This blank canvas space has the versatility to transform into even the wackiest of themes.  Work with the Proof staff to bring in outside décor, or simply do it yourself. You are welcome to bring in live music as well, just coordinate A/V with the staff.

Flexibility on vendors:  Trying to appeal to a more casual crowd? Want to keep the food and drinks simple? You can pay a small room rental fee and coordinate outside food/drink options yourself on Sundays and Mondays only.

WHAT WILL THIS COST ME?

Tuesday-Thursday: $4,500 Food and beverage minimum (plus 6 percent sales tax and 18 percent gratuity). Required: 100 percent deposit required to secure booking.

Friday & Saturday: $5,500 Food and beverage minimum (plus 6 percent sales tax and 18 percent gratuity). Required: 100 percent deposit required to secure booking.

Sunday & Monday: $1,000 Food and beverage minimum (plus 6% sales tax & 18% gratuity). Required: $300 space rental fee required at booking

Just want to rent the space and coordinate the rest yourself?  You can book your event on Sunday or Monday.  Expect a minimum $500 space rental fee (note: this option does not include any food or wait service).

Cancellation Policy:

Notice over 14 days prior to event: full refund of deposit

Notice 7 to 14 days prior to event: 50 percent refund of deposit

Notice 7 days or less prior to event: no refund of deposit

TO SUM UP:

Proof as a venue is sure to make the right event very special. It's definitely a destination for your higher-end events where you want to pamper your attendees and show them some love. The friendly and knowledgeable staff will make you look cool without you even trying. I highly recommend keeping this location on your radar when planning your future events.

Contact me by phone: 617-840-5073 or email at anebons@blinkevents.net. Find me on LinkedIn , Facebook or at my website www.blinkevents.net.  

Can taxpayers ever get a break?

- Gretchen Tegeler is president of the Taxpayers Association of Central Iowa

As the public pension crisis unfolded, the entity that sets accounting standards for governments decided that more disclosure of unfunded pension liabilities was needed. These are huge numbers (almost $6 billion in in Iowa), and, for the most part, have been flying under the radar in government financial reports.

Now, every government that is a member of a state retirement system (including state government and almost all local governments) must reflect its share of the state’s total unfunded pension liability on the face of its financial statements, rather than as a footnote as was past practice. There is no change in the actual liability, nor any change in the way it is being paid off, but the disclosure is different.

For taxpayers, this should be a good thing, right? It should help the public better see the true cost of these plans, which guarantee benefits to retirees at the expense of taxpayers when the stock market tanks. Right now (and for the next 20 to 30 years) taxpayers are making payments of $400 million per year to retire the shortfall arising from the last collapse. The new reporting doesn’t change that; it just makes it more transparent.

Alas, even the best-intentioned measures can be twisted into an argument to compound the taxpayer burden.

The Taxpayers Association of Central Iowa has been working with Broadlawns Medical Center to reduce its property tax asking in view of the impact of the Affordable Care Act in reducing its charity care burden.

Broadlawns, to its great credit, is reducing its rate; but we had urged more. Here’s the great irony. In defending the need to hang on to so much property tax revenue when it appears to no longer be needed, the board chair cited Broadlawns’ new pension reporting requirements

So think about it. Taxpayers are already making the necessary $400 million annual payments to erase the shortfall in pension funding, but now are being asked to pay again because of a change in how it's reported.  Somehow I don't think this is what the Government Accounting Standards Board had in mind. In fact it's almost scary to think what would happen if every public entity were to demonstrate similar confusion.

It’s especially ironic for Polk County taxpayers who, in this instance, are being quadruple-charged:

• Once to pay for the actual pension shortfall;
• Again because of new reporting of the pension shortfall;
• Once via property tax to cover the cost of care for patients at Broadlawns who were formerly “charity care” (non-paying) patients; and
• Again via state and federal taxes for the same patients who are now covered through expansions of the (taxpayer-funded) Medicaid safety net program.

Can taxpayers ever get a break? This is the kind of thing that can cause voters to become desperate.  

ciWeek: 13 speakers, 5 days, 3 takeaways

Dr. Anthony Paustian is the provost for Des Moines Area Community College in West Des Moines and the author of "Imagine" and "Beware the Purple People Eaters."

Our annual Celebrate! Innovation Week (ciWeek 7) recently concluded at the Des Moines Area Community College West Des Moines Campus. Over the course of four days, 13 unique individuals descended upon the campus to share their personal stories and put their unique talents on full display. The theme for this year’s event was “Free to Dream.”

Whether it’s debunking myths, advancing digital music, chasing tornados, turning actors into our favorite monsters, writing best-selling novels, creating high-tech art, building confidence, advancing travel in space or in our own world, helping people fulfill their dreams, or just being “Iowa Nice,” the abilities of these people ran the gamut.

However, as I sat through all of the presentations, I couldn’t help but notice a few common threads that ran through all of them despite the wide variety of people and topics: identifying your passion, asking for help, and laser-like focus.

At the age of 13, Howard Berger knew he wanted to do make-up and visual effects for movies. So, he knocked on the door of the great Stan Winston and told him he would work for free just for the opportunity to learn. When Howard began in the field, there were 55 shops in Hollywood doing what he was learning to do. After years of intense focus, mastering his craft, and winning some hardware (two Emmys and an Oscar), there are now only four shops and his is considered one of, if not “the,” best.

Fresh out of college, Kari Byron knew what she wanted and she knocked at the door of Jamie Hyneman at his M5 Industries, begging for the opportunity to work as a free intern. After some persistence (and maybe even a little stalking), she prevailed. Her first day turned out to be the beginning of Mythbusters and ultimately a career in television. Kari spent a decade on the show and has turned that success into starring roles in other shows, such as Head Rush on the Science Channel and Thrill Factor on the Travel Channel.

Homer Hickam grew up in a coal-mining town in West Virginia where every male ultimately became a coal miner after high school (unless they happen to be a star athlete and received a college scholarship). As a high school kid, Homer knew what he wanted the minute he saw Sputnik fly over his house in 1957. After Homer nagged a few men who worked in the mine’s machine shop to teach him to weld and work with metals, he and some of his friends began building rockets that continued to improve after repeated attempts. Homer’s efforts ultimately won the National Science Fair, winning he, and all three of his friends, college scholarships. Homer went on to work as an engineer for NASA and write numerous NY Times #1 bestsellers. His memoir, Rocket Boys, became the basis for the movie October Sky, starring a young Jake Gyllenhaal as Homer.

Dr. Reed Timmer always knew he loved weather. He was actually quite obsessed with it, and as a young child he chased storms on his bicycle. He loved science and math while in high school and became fascinated with the science of storms. Once he received his driver’s license, and with the support of his parents, he purchased cheap, beat-up vehicles so he could more effectively chase storms. Over time and with the help and support of others who shared his passion, those beater vehicles turned into what are now known as the Dominators, a line of armor-plated, tornado-resistant research vehicles. His passion ultimately placed him in the path of over 250 tornados and in the starring role of Discovery Channel’s Storm Chasers.

Although I could continue to show this pattern with most every one of our presenters, I believe that the takeaways for all who listened to them are clear (regardless of age or one’s position in life):

1. Dream and figure out what you want to do in life (determine where your passion lies).
2. Seek out people who are doing what you want to do and ask them for help. Most people are usually more than willing to help others achieve their dreams.
3. With laser-like focus, learn, practice, improve, and master your craft.

Through these three basic steps, you can achieve your dreams. However, basic doesn’t mean simple. It won’t be easy, but nothing great in life ever is. And who knows, perhaps in some future ciWeek you could be telling your story and helping others achieve their dreams.

©2016  Anthony D. Paustian

For more information about Dr. Anthony Paustian, provost for Des Moines Area Community College in West Des Moines, please visit his website at www.adpaustian.com