The Iowa Self-Employment Program provides the second largest placement category for job candidates at Iowa Vocational Rehabilitation Services. In Program Year 2022 (July 1, 2021 through June 30, 2022) 59 Iowans with disabilities started or expanded their own businesses with assistance from the Iowa Self-Employment Team.

Iowa Vocational Rehabilitation Services (IVRS) has helped many people create their own new businesses, Holistic Hippie is one of them. 

Danielle Schares’ journey first started February 2020, when she was working with IVRS and VA services to get her substitute teaching degree, which she still does alongside running her business. 

Holistic Hippie is a wellness center that offers yoga, spin classes, hiit classes, reiki energy work and meditation. Her business is currently located in Jesup, Iowa. 

“I got the inspiration after practicing yoga for 2 years in the Air Force, discharging and coming home and continuing my practice for my mental health, stress, and physical fitness and after being encouraged to teach for a small group out of a local church,” Schares said. “This quickly turned into a bigger ‘thing’."  I had more and more people joining us for yoga classes and I eventually started charging a small fee to donate back to the church. The stars aligned and a space came available to rent and here we are.” 

Danielle was able to get help from her counselor, Diana Mount and Kochell Weber-Ricklefs, business development specialist. Diana and Kochell were able to help Danielle with creating her business plan and collaborating to help answer any questions that may come up during the process. 

“My favorite part of running my own business is the connections that I have made with so many amazing people. We don’t just coach others through a class, but teach them how to make and maintain lifestyle changes and create friendships,” Schares said. 

Danielle’s advice for up-and-coming business owners is to keep following your goals and don’t ever give up on yourself, even if it scares you, it is time to jump.

Bumgarner Receives APSE Award

JD Bumgarner was recognized with a Personal Achievement Award at the 2022 APSE Conference in October.

JD’s Creations is a business that grew with help from the Iowa Self-Employment Program.

JD said, “I started to weld as part of the 4-H Bucket of Junk Challenge a few years ago. My parents were in awe of what I created out of a bucket of junk. My parents bought me a welder and welding equipment for Christmas 2019, which I started to use right away. Once Covid 19 hit and schools were cancelled, I started welding even more. I took one of my first pieces, the Iron Indian, to the high school art show at Arts on Grand and it won the “Curator’s Choice Award” and was the first piece of art that I sold. I am blessed to have supportive parents who encourage and help me use my creativity.”

From there JD went on to create a business selling his creations online. To see his work and learn more about his business see the website: https://jdsmetalart.com.

Iowa Self-Employment Program New Business Development Specialist

The Iowa Self-Employment (ISE) Program, operated by Iowa Vocational Rehabilitation Services (IVRS), is pleased to announce the addition of Yvette Clausen as a Business Development Specialist to the Self-Employment team. She will work with job candidates in the Des Moines, Ames, Ottumwa, Council Bluffs, Sioux City and Central Iowa area. She joins Kochell Weber-Ricklefs who has been a Business Development Specialist with the ISE Program since 2008. Kochell works with job candidates in Waterloo, Cedar Rapids, Dubuque, Davenport, Iowa City, Burlington and Mason City.

Clausen has been employed with IVRS since 2018, where she has served as a purchasing agent and clerk specialist. She graduated from Drake University with an MBA with Business Analytics Specialization in 2022 and earned a Bachelor of Liberal Studies degree from Iowa State University in 2009. Yvette serves on the IowaCASA Board of Directors and is Membership Committee Chair for the Iowa Public Procurement Association.

Clausen said she looks forward to joining the self-employment team to help with new business start-ups in Iowa.

“I am thrilled to join a team that supports job candidates in exercising informed choice to achieve individualized, self-supporting and highly creative self-employment goals. As purchasing agent, I had the opportunity to serve at the periphery of a diverse range of ISE start-ups for everything from barber shops and food trucks to pet grooming and landscaping operations. Serving at all stages of the ISE program promises to be even more rewarding.”

Rounding out the team is Linda Vongxay, Rehabilitation Assistant, who can provide guidance to those working with ISE.

To learn more about the Self-Employment Program, visit our website at https://ivrs.iowa.gov/agency-services/self-employment-program and see stories about the endeavors of our ISE job candidates.