Donors

R. J. “Mac” McElroy enriched the lives of thousands of people in northeast Iowa as a pioneering radio broadcaster and as founder of the Black Hawk Broadcasting Company. McElroy’s final gift to the community was the establishment of the R. J. McElroy Trust, a charitable foundation designed to benefit deserving young people. Since 1965, the McElroy Trust has helped thousands of children and youth through grants and scholarships in northeast Iowa. 

Contributions from the R. J. McElroy Trust provide students with 24/7 access to physical incubator space upon admittance to the R. J. McElroy Student Business Incubator (SBI) program. Visit the R. J. McElroy Trust website for more information.

T. Wayne Davis, founder of Control-o-fax Corporation and developer of the Control-o-fax system, was inducted posthumously into the Iowa Business Hall of Fame. Davis was also an active proponent of his community, tirelessly contributing his time, energy, and money to numerous causes, both in the community at large and at the University of Northern Iowa. A $1 million gift was contributed in his memory for the Gallagher Bluedorn Performing Arts Center and for an academic program in entrepreneurship at UNI.

Therese Stevens, a 2012 UNI alumna, began her time at UNI with plans for a career in public relations and Spanish, but an opportunity in the R.J. McElroy Student Business Incubator at JPEC helped lead her in an unexpected entrepreneurial direction. As a student, Therese worked for a fellow incubator entrepreneur alongside Greg Jass, another UNI alum and longtime JPEC supporter. When that company was acquired, Therese and Greg took what they had learned and launched SEO Solutions together. The company later merged with another startup and was acquired by Mudd Advertising.

Therese continued building a career helping businesses grow, eventually serving as COO of BraceAbility and most recently as CEO of JW Home Improvement. She has remained rooted in the Cedar Valley and closely connected to JPEC through mentoring, guest speaking, advisory board service and ongoing support of student entrepreneurs.

Today, Therese and her family continue that commitment by sponsoring Suite 13H in the R.J. McElroy Student Business Incubator. Their support helps provide student entrepreneurs with dedicated workspace, resources and connections to develop their ideas.

Gary Roling, a 1976 UNI Accounting alumna, steered his career journey towards entrepreneurship by establishing and managing J-Tec Associates in Cedar Rapids, a venture he nurtured until its sale in 2021. Through this endeavor, he cultivated a passion for fostering startup enterprises. Evidenced by his unwavering commitment, Gary recently made a generous $50,000 contribution across multiple sectors within the university: JPEC, College of Business Dean’s Fund, Accounting Alumni Campaign Fund, and the Annual Fund. This remarkable gift, his largest to date, aligns with his 41-year tradition of supporting UNI.

With an enduring legacy of supporting student entrepreneurship, Gary’s contributions echo throughout the university. In recognition of his gesture, Suite 13CC in the Student Business Incubator will be named in the honor of Gary and Patsy Roling. 
 

The Curbtender was the first commercially produced ASL in the US Waste Industry. Developed in the early 1970’s, it quickly became the benchmark for performance. Its 2,000 pound lift arm capacity and 1,000 pound per cubic yard compaction rating set itself above the rest. In 2017, the company renamed this flagship product the PowerPak. The PowerPak is now equipped with an industry-best 5 year standard warranty.

In 2017, the company purchased the assets of Wayne Industrial Holdings LLC and named Kevin Watje as the Chief Executive Officer of Curbtender Inc. 

Laurie Watje, wife of Kevin Watje, served as the Director of UNI JPEC for 17 years prior to her retirement in early 2024. The Laurie Watje incubator suite is named in her honor. 

Nick Cash began his entrepreneurial journey at UNI as an active member of the UNI Entrepreneurs Club and a student business owner working out of the R.J. McElroy Student Business Incubator at JPEC. In 2009, Nick recognized the opportunities emerging in digital publishing and launched Book Hatchery, a platform designed to help authors and small publishers distribute and sell their books digitally.

Book Hatchery entered the Student Business Incubator in 2010 and quickly gained attention beyond UNI. Nick won a $5,000 Pappajohn New Venture Business Plan Competition award, was named a finalist for Entrepreneur Magazine’s College Entrepreneur of the Year, and Book Hatchery was recognized by Inc. Magazine as one of America’s Coolest College Start-Ups of 2011.

In 2011, Nick left UNI to pursue Book Hatchery full-time. The experience helped launch a career centered on technology, innovation and entrepreneurship. Today, Nick remains in the Cedar Valley and serves as Senior Vice President of Engineering and Head of Technology at Jam City, a global mobile entertainment company.

Nick continues to give back to the place that supported his early entrepreneurial efforts. In 2024, he sponsored Suite 13J in the R.J. McElroy Student Business Incubator, helping provide today’s student entrepreneurs with a place to learn through experience.

Greg Jass, a 2011 UNI alumnus, began his entrepreneurial journey in the R.J. McElroy Student Business Incubator at JPEC. As a freshman, Greg worked for a fellow incubator student alongside Therese Stevens, who would also go on to become a longtime JPEC supporter. When that student’s company was acquired, Greg and Therese took what they had learned and launched SEO Solutions together. The company later merged with another firm and was acquired by Mudd Advertising.

Greg continued building on that entrepreneurial foundation by founding Red Lab Technologies, a digital marketing firm that was later acquired by Vested, a global financial communications and public relations agency. While building his career in the Cedar Valley, Greg has remained connected to JPEC, including serving on its advisory board and supporting the next generation of UNI entrepreneurs.

Today, Greg and his family continue that commitment by sponsoring Suite 13G in the R.J. McElroy Student Business Incubator. Their support helps provide student entrepreneurs with opportunities to build businesses much like the environment that helped launch Greg’s own entrepreneurial journey.

Bill Berger began as a student at UNI in the fall of 1981, and suffered a life-changing accident over Labor Day weekend of that same year. The accident resulted in Bill being a T12 paraplegic, and required extensive rehab and recovery. However, Bill didn't let that stop him from graduating from UNI in 1986 with an accounting degree, passing the CPA exam, and going on to lead an extremely successful career of 35+ years with Aegon/Transamerica. 

Throughout his life, Bill has always put an emphasis on giving back, especially to children who have been disabled at a young age. Bill has been one of UNI's most generous supporters, with his name etched on the Wilson College of Business donor wall in the Curris Business Building. In recognition of Bill's extreme generosity and support of UNI students, Suite 13B in the Student Business Incubator will be named in honor of Bill Berger.