Staci Ackerson awarded for efforts to renovate old train depot

By Kelly Terpstra, kterpstra@charlescitypress.com

Distressed and blighted — that was the condition of the Charley Western Railroad depot a few years back.

Then Staci Ackerson and her husband came up with a plan to bring life back into the building.

“It was in bad shape. To be honest, we thought if we can’t make it work, at least it’s a nice lot and we’ll figure something out. We’ll do something, because it was such an eyesore,” said Ackerson.

The effort to reinvigorate and restructure the 117-year old depot earned her the 2019 Neal Smith Entrepreneur of the Year Award this past February. She was officially honored with that distinction on Friday.

“It’s just amazing how it’s affected the community and everybody that is driving by this building or has pride in Charles City and has pride in Iowa. It was a big deal. I was happy that fate had it for us,” said Ackerson.

The award covers the entire state. It is presented annually to a successful Iowa businessperson in order to encourage Iowa’s entrepreneurs.

Winners must have been in business a minimum of three years and have to have been significantly assisted by an Iowa Small Business Development Center (SBDC). The award was established to honor long-time former Iowa Congressman Neal Smith for his years of service to Iowa’s small businesses, and to recognize entrepreneurs.

Sixteen applicants statewide are nominated for the recognition each year, and the winner is chosen from those. The NIACC John Pappajohn Entrepreneurial Center named Staci as the Entrepreneur of the Month for September 2018.

Boarded-up windows and overgrown weeds were all that passersbys could see when they strolled past the depot before the renovation project started. Now the revamped structure houses Ackerson’s business, Shankland Insurance.

“We weren’t sure how it was going to go. It was really kind of a hoarders situation in here. It was tough,” said Ackerson. “You couldn’t even walk in here. It was just filth.”

In October 2015 she won the $55,000 Main Street Iowa Challenge, and received another local $10,000 grant, to restore the building.

Ackerson said writing the application for the Main Street grant was extremely stressful.

“I had to throw out a May Day call to Mark Wicks and Brooke Boehmler. So we got together and had a round table and they helped me get over that. They talked me off the ledge,” Ackerson said.

Ackerson said the encouragment of people — some she didn’t even know — letting her know how thankful they were for her decision to give the depot a makeover was what helped her and her husband, Stacy, strive toward the finish line to complete the undertaking.

“This is utilizing all of the resources that this state and these communities work so hard to give business owners so that we can continue to enjoy these old structures well into the future — to continue to make these small towns attractive to new families and for the population to stay,” said Ackerson.

Lisa Shimkat, SBDC state director, and North Iowa Area SBDC Regional Director Brook Boehmler gave the award to Staci and her husband. Steven Schulz, president of NIACC, also was part of the award presentation.