Pictured (L-R): Mike Franey, Terry Axman, and Josh Axman. Not Pictured: Fred Dolezal
The Heritage Business Award is one of the highest honors given out each year at the Carroll Chamber of Commerce’s annual banquet, and two long-standing local businesses were named as recipients during last week’s program, Mid-Iowa Insurance and Real Estate being one of them. John Ryan, the evening’s emcee, describes what it means to be a Heritage Business.
Chamber and Carroll County Growth Partnership (CCGP) Executive Director Kimberly Tiefenthaler introduced the Mid-Iowa team as this year’s winner, noting that few companies have had such a lasting and meaningful impact on Carroll as Mid-Iowa.
The story of Mid-Iowa Insurance and Real Estate began nearly a century ago when Bob Dolezal founded the Dolezal Insurance Agency. The company expanded with the addition of Fred Dolezal and changed its name to Mid-Iowa Insurance when Terry Axman joined the team in 1995. They added real estate listings to the company’s offerings in 2004 with the addition of Mike Franey, who also serves as CCGP’s president. Dolezel was unable to attend Thursday’s banquet, but Axman did have a written message to share.
Axman’s son, Josh, returned to Carroll about a decade ago to join the Mid-Iowa team, and combined with Franey, the business is poised to continue its tradition of local ownership and commitment to Carroll and Carroll County well into the future. The three men thanked their families, their staff, and their past, current, and future customers for their long-standing support. Mid-Iowa joined Performance Tire & Service in being named a Heritage Business Award recipient at this year’s banquet.
