Just who is Color-ize? What's with the hyphen in the middle of the name?
The WHO: We're a graphic and web design company located in Storm Lake, Iowa. This is just our physical location. Our digital location is, as is the case with the web...everywhere! We strive to be the innovative partner to our clients and customers who need to get fresh perspective on their business. We listen to their ideas and use this to help them attain new objectives. We use practical advice, timely service, and provide an excellent product - no matter what.
The HYPHEN: You know you've always wondered what is with this being hyphenated. The thought process may range from: "It's so hard to remember, colorize is one word, not two so why hyphenate?" to maybe "That's so confusing!" Well, here's the response I got when posing this question to founder and President Lona.
It all went together with the thought process. The objective is to create something beautiful and creative. A lot of the beautiful and creative require a splash of color to enhance them and make them truly stand out. This color thought process led me to wanting not just a color product, but a Color-ized product! It's your product...we add the statement! The hyphen is our twist to the imagination.
Still curious who we are? Well, you can see what we look like below, or you can even read a bit about us. (We don't mind people stalking us, go ahead - indulge; we won't consider you a creeper).
Lona Munger is the President and Founder of Color-ize, Inc. It all started in 1994 with her being the only graphic designer for the business, the only print production person, and the sole member of this soon to grow family. Long hours, dedication, and just plain stubbornness grew the business into what it is today.
Most of the time you'll find Lona in the office. However, if she isn't in the office, you'll find her visiting with her family and grand babies (which if you stop in ask about her grand babies you will make her day just letting her show off their cuteness). She loves to dance with her husband, and enjoys getting out to dances and just enjoy herself. Family stops in regularly to check in on her, and she always likes to take time out of her busy day to talk to them.
Shirley Hogrefe has been working at Color-ize as the Administrative Assistant since 2005. She is one of the most astute and organized woman on the team, reminding us all of events that we have to attend, take care of, or just be aware of.
While in the office she maintains the book work for Color-ize, organizes the files for the office, and maintains tabs on everyone's lives and how they are doing. A grandmother first, she loves to hear about any happenings going on in others lives involving family and if you talk to Shirley for any length you'll know she is going to ask you about 20 questions before you're done with the conversation. Also, you'll learn quickly about her three grandsons. You'll always hear about them by name, and she loves having them up for supper or just talking to them on the phone. Occasionally her husband stops in to check up on us and have lunch with Shirley; which is always a welcome change to the day.
When Shirley isn't at Color-ize, she still isn't slowing down. She also is one of those pesky phone fund raisers. Don't worry though, she's the nicest one you'll ever talk to. She also enjoys cooking, and is known to spend a whole day just baking.
Angela is one of our graphic designers and has been working at Color-ize since 2002. With a bachelors degree from UNI in graphic design, she brings a powerful set of design skills to the table. Most of the portfolios displaying the printed designs are developed somewhere in this girl's head and designed with her Illustrator/Photoshop skill set.
When Angela isn't in the office making beautiful designs, she's making other things look elegant and decorative. She loves to do interior design, and coordinate things into beautiful master pieces. Her photography skills are nothing to sneeze at either. She has the perspective eye (just like in design, imagine that!).
Some of her other hobbies include hanging out with her husband Ryan, going to Europe, and doing impersonations of famous people. She also has a minor in German and if prompted will speak a little in German.
Cara Kreman is a Graphic Designer and the newest member to our team. She recently graduated from BVU with a bachelors degree in communication and graphic design. She has a very attentive eye to detail and loves typography and layout design.
When Cara isn't at the office, she loves playing volleyball (we bet she's pretty good too - she's been playing it her entire college career!) or lounging around with her enormous cat, Patches. She said she can be very gullible at times (which is why she thinks PC's Rule?...All we know is April fools isn't going to come fast enough this year!).
She brings a new unique perspective to our design table. We are thrilled to have her as a part of our team and equally excited to let her work shine for our clients!
Seth Miller is our web developer and has been developing at Color-ize since 2007. With an Associate in Applied Sciences from Iowa Central in Web Technology, he has a firm grasp on what it takes to develop user friendly, content rich dynamic websites and applications. Code is his friend, and he loves to dig into it and figure out why it is misbehaving and whip it into shape!
When Seth isn't in the office surrounded by the ladies, he likes to be doing things outdoors. Recreational activities like snow boarding, skiing (for the winter), and swimming, tennis, and running/biking during the summer months keep him pretty preoccupied. Occasionally he will escape to visit his parents in Colorado and enjoys mountain hiking and horseback riding.
You can ask him about T. V. shows - but most likely you'll get this blank smile because he has no idea what you're talking about. However, talk nerdy to him - he will light right up!
Don Munger is our "second shift - production". That may seem like our company is huge. However, this second shift is more Don's date nights with his wife. He comes in and helps her crack out production in the office. Getting the projects finalized so they always are meeting the deadlines required of us.
When he's not at Color-ize, he is working for a company delivering oxygen. He also enjoys greatly talking to his family, dancing with his wife, or going on social outings.
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