Each year, the Corridor Business Journal shines a spotlight on young professionals who have made a meaningful impact on the region early in their careers. We are proud to introduce you to the 20th class of Forty Under 40 honorees, chosen by a committee of past honorees. Bob Gaffney President | Rinderknecht Age: 39 Family: […]
Want to Read More?
Get immediate, unlimited access to all subscriber content and much more.
Learn more in our subscriber FAQ.
Bob Gaffney
President | Rinderknecht
Age: 39
Family: Wife, Katie; sons, Peter and Andrew
Residence: Marion, Iowa
Hometown: Ryan, Iowa
Education: St. Ambrose University — Bachelor of Arts in Accounting, Master's degree in Accounting
Best advice you ever received? Pigs get fat, hogs get slaughtered.
What do you consider your "big break" in your career, so far? The big break in my career was finding Rinderknecht Associates. They were looking to replace their longtime CFO and I was looking to relocate to the Cedar Rapids area. At the time I was at another employee-owned company and had made the decision with my wife to relocate to Cedar Rapids to be closer to family and raise our kids. I never imagined that I would find another ESOP to work at.
What would most people be surprised to learn about you? People may be surprised to learn that I own cows with my brother and love to farm as a side gig. I grew up at the farm with my dad and uncle and it instilled in me a passion for the lifestyle. I loved going to the farm as a kid, and still do as an adult with my family — there is nothing as satisfying as a full day of hard work at the farm and completing a necessary project (of which there is no shortage).
What’s something people should know about your generation in the workplace? We put high value on flexibility and the ability to make an impact in an organization. Understanding why we are doing something is as important as understanding what we are doing.
If you had $1 million to give, what causes would you support? Two organizations I would choose to support would be No Foot Too Small (NFTS) and Construction Angels. Both organizations step in and help families in the worst possible scenarios. NFTS helps support families by raising awareness for pregnancy loss and infant mortality through support groups and advocacy events, as well as funding the construction of several bereavement suites in hospitals. Construction Angels steps in with financial assistance and grief counseling for children and families in the event of a construction related workplace fatality.
