GreatAmerica Financial Services has announced two exciting positions to lead company's 750-plus team into the future.

Jennie Fisher, MBA, of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, elevates her previous position of senior vice president and general manager of the Office Equipment Group to group president, office equipment. A veteran of the office technology industry, Fisher won the most recent Best Female Executive from The Cannata Report and has led the division for 16 years, growing the business unit to $2 billion in earning assets.

"Jennie was employee number three at GreatAmerica, joining when we started in 1992," said Martin Golobic, CEO, GreatAmerica. "She is a trusted, respected and pivotal member of the office equipment community. We're excited to offer her this new role and are certain our customers will only benefit from her expertise."

Brian Bjella of Marshall, Minnesota, now serves as group president of specialty markets. He and his company, Grandview Financial, was acquired by GreatAmerica in 2010. Since then, Bjella has helped build the business unit from the ground up, into five divisions today: Automotive, Construction & Industrial, Healthcare, Franchise and Direct Programs Financing. He was previously the senior vice president and general manager of the specialty markets group.

"We're so excited to have Brian take on this new position as we see Specialty Markets Group growing," Golobic said. "He's a talented leader with a keen eye for developing talent and relationships within the various industries we now serve.

"Jennie and Brian will join the GreatAmerica senior leadership team to help shape the company's strategic direction with a focus on the continued success of our customer and employees," Golobic continued.  

In other news, GreatAmerica Financial Services has announced that applications from area nonprofits for its Employee Advised Fund will be accepted from March 1-29, 2024, 4:30 p.m. (CST). The Employee Advised Fund, launched in 2022, is in addition to the GreatAmerica Donor Advised Fund, established in 2001. The combined funds provide more than $1 million to projects in the Cedar Rapids/Iowa City Corridor each year. Both funds are managed by the Greater Cedar Rapids Community Foundation.

"The Employee Advised Fund brings increased awareness of the nonprofit community to GreatAmericans who wish to learn more about and participate in community betterment efforts," Golobic said. "It's also an opportunity to understand their perspectives based on their personal beliefs, values and experiences."

The Employee Advised Fund focuses on four areas: Health and Human Services, Arts and Culture, Environment and Public Projects. Applications are presented to and voted on by all employees, and then funded with the objective of exhausting the $500,000 fund each year. Nonprofits applying for funding must have a connection with a GreatAmerica employee and be a registered 501(c)(3) organization, among other eligibility requirements.

Additional information and applications for this funding cycle will be accepted at https://www.greatamerica.com/giving between March 1-29, 2024. Another funding cycle will be available in the latter half of the year.