Tesimonials
In Iowa, She's Found the Ingredients for the Good Life.
Zoraida DeFreitas grew up in Caracas, Venezuela, and she continues to travel abroad for Kemin Industries. YET, SHE HASN'T FOUND A PLACE THAT BRINGS EVERYTHING TOGETHER LIKE IOWA, especially in terms of the numerous accessible cultural and recreational activities available in the state. "Here there are so many things to do that are difficult to do in places with huge populations and traffic congestion. My husband and I have enjoyed seeing the Broadway touring series and big concerts like the Rolling Stones."
Zoraida and her husband also enjoy biking among Iowa's many beautiful bike trails. "On weekends we often ride the Neal Smith Trail from Saylorville into Des Moines to shop at the Farmers Market. Its a beautiful ride." Like others who have moved to Iowa, Zoraida DeFreitas has found that recreational opportunities, cultural amenities and rewarding careers are all part of Iowa's formula for balance.
Zoraida DeFreitas, Kemin Industries
They've left the Rockies for a Higher Standard of Living.
MICAH MOORE LOVES THE OUTDOORS. SO HOW COULD HE LEAVE DENVER AND HIS HOME IN THE FOOTHILLS? “We were starting a family, and even though I’m a Colorado native, I knew from my wife’s experience growing up near Harlan that Iowa was a great place to raise kids."
The Moores were drawn by Iowa’s good schools, lack of traffic congestion and affordable cost of living — particularly its affordable housing. “We sold our suburban home in Denver on a very small lot, and for close to the same price, we could buy our dream home on five acres here in Iowa.” Micah Moore is one of the growing number of new Iowans who are moving to Iowa and moving up.
Micah Moore, Wells Fargo
My husband and I want to thank you and your entire organization for assisting in our return to Iowa. You have always been eager and helpful! I believe your service is important because a career search from 2000 miles away is not an easy task - your insight into Iowa companies gave us an "inside track" to the right people. I believe your influence gave our resumes an advantage over a "dry" submittal via the mail. I believe your organization will be very busy, anyone who has lived in Iowa knows the quality of life! I really missed it living on the West Coast.
Linda Raid, Rockwell Collins
After growing up in Iowa and graduating from college, my wife and I moved to South Dakota and then Colorado. Several times per year, however, we return to Iowa for various family events, as well as to participate in RAGBRAI. While riding through Clear Lake this last summer I was drawn to an event at the Surf Ballroom. I met with and spoke to the staff of the Iowa Human Resource Recruitment Consortium and became convinced that now was the perfect time to pursue career opportunities back here in my home state. After a very brief search I was able to find an excellent job in my chosen profession. My wife and I were happy we got the chance to move our family back to the great state of Iowa.
Brian Heithoff, Marshall Rural Electric Cooperative
My wife and I were both raised and educated in Iowa. After moving out of state for three years, we decided to return ‘home’ to be near our families and to raise our children.
I was very surprised at the job market in Iowa. Low-unemployment and solid business growth proved to be definitely in favor of a person looking for employment. We found great career positions, not only for myself, but my wife also with Allsteel Inc. in Muscatine.
Todd C. Heisterkamp, Allsteel, Inc.
Recently, I left Minneapolis and moved back to my home state of Iowa to work for an Advertising/Public Relations company in Ames, Iowa. My move has been a very successful one in work and personal aspects. I appreciate your organization going the extra distance…
Chris Eggert, Innova Ideas & Services
Deanna and I had been discussing upgrading from our small condominium in Huntington Beach, California but weren't looking forward to the payment on a house in the area. We were also ready for new challenge in our careers. During this period we received a postcard from the Iowa Human Resource Recruitment Consortium asking us to consider the opportunities in our home state of Iowa. This was followed shortly by an invitation to an Iowa alumni reception in Los Angeles hosted by Governor and Mrs. Vilsack. A search of the HRRC Web site convinced us there were good possibilities for me as a systems engineer with Rockwell Collins and that the growing biotechnology industry held good possibilities for Deanna.
We are enjoying the proximity to family and friends, the good people we live and work with, the uncongested roadways, and four real seasons. We are very happy with our decision.
Bernie Lettington, Rockwell Collins
I am originally from Chicago and moved out to the Philadelphia area as a result of a promotion and stayed in Philly for 14 years. My husband and daughter are pure Pennsylvanians and thoughts to move to the Midwest were remote from our thinking.
Once we moved to Iowa, I was concerned that my family would have a difficult time adjusting but that wasn't the case at all. The environment is clean, the countryside is beautiful, and there are all the conveniences of a big city without the hassle of the crowds, noise and traffic. We love that aspect of Des Moines.
Julie Caspar, GuideOne Insurance
Smartcareermove.com is an excellent service. I was on all the other on-line job posting sites, monster.com, hotjobs.com, etc. and they did not produce anything. I met an HRRC representative at the NAIA women's national tournament and he encouraged me to post my resume on the site and told me that he would personally take my resume to employers. Joel also e-mailed me to see how my search was going. It is that kind of personal service that makes this a great effort. I had many calls about employment and within two weeks I had a job. The position is a great opportunity for me and I owe all of it to smartcareermove.com.
Kevin Suhr, Kingland Systems
I have recently moved back to Iowa from California. After four years there, my wife and I decided we wanted to move back to be closer to friends and family. I had my fears about being able to find a job that would be both satisfying and pay on a comparable scale that I was used to. Being so far removed from Iowa, my only resource was the Internet. The SmartCareer Move Web site was an incredibly useful tool. It was because of this Web site I was able to land the job I currently hold. I am grateful to have found a position that I enjoy so much. I believe that without this Web site, I would not have been able to find out about this position.
Shawn Eyestone, Integrated DNA Technologies
Thank you for this Website. My husband was born and raised in Hartley, Iowa and has spent the last 18.5 years in the Army. I visited Iowa for the first time this summer and really loved it. We read about this Web site in the USA Today and are seriously contemplating a move back to Iowa upon his retirement. This Web site is extremely helpful. We really did not know there were such good jobs there.
Tracy Eilers, Sierra Vista, Arizona
The SmartCareer Move™ Web site made my job hunt from out-of-state a great success. I'm tempted to say that I couldn't have done it without you.
I lived in Chicago for 4 years, got married and moved out to Denver, CO. But after having our first child, we decided Iowa was the place we wanted to be. We realized living in Iowa would allow us to (among many other things): be close to our families, give our daughter a better education, and buy our first house. As it turns out, moving to Iowa has been a 'smart move' for both of our careers! I was fortunate to find a great job in under a month, thanks solely through your web site. I'm working with a cutting edge firm, learning new technologies, and yes, working for higher pay.
My husband and I have only been back for a few months and we can already see our money going further. I feel I am giving my family the quality of life they deserve.
Theresa Sawyer, E-Markets, Inc.