Leading-Edge Web Design
Turn your website into a cash machineTM
Attract Visitors & Convert Leads into Clients
Captivate your ideal client with websites, videos, photographs that are visually stunning and optimized through paid and organic techniques. Our creative process builds your website and brand through a strategic four-step plan that brings everything together for the next stage of growth.
Creative Services
Web Development
Turn Your Website
into a Cash Machine
Search Engine Optimization
Optimized on
All Fronts
Social Media Marketing
Connect & Engage Your Customers
Digital Marketing
Attract Clients to Create Massive Value
Visual Solutions
Professional Video, Photography & Graphic Design
Business Consulting
Set & Achieve Goals With a Trusted Partner
Vortex's 4 Steps to Website Success
Discovery and Strategic Planning
Every business has unique needs, and the first step to creating any website involves discovering what those needs are and how to achieve them.
- Who is your ideal client?
- What sets your business apart?
- What are you really selling to your clients?
- What do your clients get?
Design / UX / Wireframing
Crafting an engaging user experience makes the difference between a client bouncing off your site and becoming a lifetime client.
Our expert design team will ensure that your website is ergonomic, easy to use, and maintains a consistent brand with your business.
The Build
Our local programming engineers will build your website based on best practices, craft keyword-rich SEO, and ultimately bring your vision to life.
We work with you every step of the way to ensure your total satisfaction. Oh, and no outsourcing. Ever.
Marketing
Once the website is launched, the real work begins.
What good is a website if no one knows it exists?
Using Google AdWords, Facebook Advertising, Social Media Marketing, Email Marketing, Search Engine Optimization, Direct Mail, and more. We will make sure your ideal clients find your website.
Featured Works
CEO
As the principal of Vortex Business Solutions, a full service business acceleration consultancy, web development and visual communications company, Jonathan consults with startups, entrepreneurs, and mature companies interested in increasing their client base and advancing their business.
Jonathan believes that everyone has a passion that drives their vision, yet few businesses have the entire team needed to become successful. Vortex Business Solutions emerged with the sole purpose of helping businesses make their vision possible. Drive More Business to your Business!
Jonathan first began building computers as a teenager in 1968 utilizing old IBM 960’s, and the journey has never ended. In 1996, he launched his first business eCommerce website. From System Administration to Web Dev. and Internet Marketing, he has logged 35,000+ hours in computer and web development and 60,000+ hours in the business world having made over 1,050 bi-weekly payrolls.
Jonathan has had business ownership in everything from jewelry and colored stone retailing to restaurant partnerships, to a design and photographic studio, to PR and advertising in NYC. He received his Bachelor of Science degree from the Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT) in 1978 and worked in industrial/commercial photography throughout North America for decades. Vortex Business Solutions represents the culmination of 45 years of business experience.
"At Vortex Business Solutions, we take your Passion and Vision and apply it Strategically to the Market place."
Art Director
Molly Cook is a Professional Art Director and Graphic Designer at Vortex Business Solutions.
Molly’s expertise has culminated in 35 years of experience and includes skills such as developing creative identities, graphic and marketing solutions, and meeting individual clients’ needs. She is passionate about providing her clients with the tools to promote their products or services.
As an art director for Vortex, Molly is able to look at the entire brand identity, across the board, in all venues from print to social media. With the extensive hands-on graphic design experience she understands not only the visual aspect but also the technical side, optimizing the clients’ overall experience.
When Molly is not working, she enjoys a variety of wellness activities such as yoga, running, hiking and spending time with her family and friends. Her home is her sanctuary. She loves to entertain, especially on the deck — when the weather is cool and the fire is roaring! This scene is complete when her daughters and their families are there to share time.
What Molly loves most about working at VBS is being a part of a team with a vision and working on projects that are truly cutting edge.
“At Vortex I am (willingly) challenged to push my talents, learn new methods and stay current for complete client satisfaction!”
Development Engineer
Justin Sines is a Web Developer at Vortex Business Solutions. His job skills include HTML, CSS, PHP, Javascript, WordPress, Drupal, Joomla, Business Catalyst, DotNetNuke, Photoshop, and MS Office.
Justin is most passionate about sports and technology, and when he is not working, he enjoys being at home, hanging out with friends and family, attending or watching sporting events, and playing video games.
Justin loves working at VBS because the team members are awesome!
“As a web developer, I use a variety of web technologies and content management systems to create, develop, and maintain clients’ websites to provide the best possible online experiences for clients and their audiences.”
Development Engineer
Cody Bontrager is a Web Developer at Vortex Business Solutions. His job skills include HTML, CSS, PHP, Javascript, and Photoshop.
Cody is most passionate about sports, technology, music, and the Green Bay Packers. When he’s not working at Vortex, he enlists his free time outdoors with camping and being active. He also enjoys spending time with friends and family and watching sporting events.
As a Web Developer at Vortex, Cody helps create and modify websites with different web technologies. With an innovative mind and programming experience, he’ll work until the client’s goals are met.
“With content management systems and web technologies I produce a creative and user friendly site to fit each client and their business needs.”
Web Design Engineer
Will Aden is a content writer and web programmer at Vortex Business Solutions. His skills include HTML, CSS, WordPress, Microsoft Office, Final Cut Pro, Adobe Photoshop and Premiere, Audacity and Python.
At Vortex, Will makes sure that all of the websites are up-to-date and working correctly. He also writes SEO for sites, creates content, and codes wherever it’s needed. He enjoys the wide range of projects and tasks he gets to work on everyday. He sees new obstacles as exciting challenges to overcome.
In his free time, Will enjoys performing music, playing video games, reading, going to local concerts, and watching TV shows and movies. He also writes for blogs about various video games and TV shows. No matter what he’s doing, he’s probably thinking about what article he’s going to write next.
“Through coding and writing, I hope to help our clients get their message across as effectively as possible.”
Project Manager, Social Media Engineer
Katie Wolfe is a Project Manager and the Social Media Engineer at Vortex. She is responsible for updating and managing all social media sites for Vortex and it’s clients.
Katie loves the team atmosphere and fast pace work environment at Vortex and how involved everyone is in every project at Vortex.
When not at work she spends all the time she can outdoors. Katie likes to experiment with Photography whenever she can, to capture the best Instagram post.
“I enjoy working at Vortex because I get to be creative every day and work with a very talented team”
Project Manager, Photographic Assistant
Lizzie is a project manager and photographic assistant at Vortex Business Solutions. She is responsible for managing the communication between client and developers, and assists with pre and post production camera work.
Her background is in journalism, which she studied at the University of Iowa. Her skill set lies in communication, content writing and digital photography.
In her free time, Lizzie enjoys thrift shopping, collecting vintage clothing, and trying out local diners.
“I love being up-to-date on local news and events. Working at Vortex connects me with the movers and shakers of the community, leaving me feeling inspired daily.”
Marketing
Tessa Merkel is a marketing intern at Vortex Business Solutions. She is responsible for writing blogs and video scripts, as well as developing marketing campaigns.
Tessa loves the culture at Vortex and how well all the team members work together.
In her free time, Tessa enjoys traveling, reading, watching Hawkeye football, and spending time with friends.
“Vortex has given me the opportunity to gain valuable experience in marketing, while being surrounded by a great team.”
Development Engineer
Michael Thompson is a web developer at Vortex Business Solutions. His skills include HTML, CSS, JavaScript and WordPress.
Michael is passionate about technology and his dogs, Macy and Toby. When he's not working at Vortex he enjoys spending time with family, petting dogs and eating the best food he can find.
As a web developer at Vortex, Michael helps the team in developing and designing websites that best fit the needs of clients to give them and their future customers the best possible experience.
"Being able to work with various web technologies and the team at Vortex I am able to develop websites that help give the client the precise experience that they want in their website."
Graphic Artist, Photographic Intern
Cole Folken is the photo intern at Vortex Business Solutions. His background is in journalism and art, which he studies at the University of Iowa. His skill sets lie in photography (film and digital), the Adobe Suite, Audacity, social media marketing, Facebook/Instagram ad campaigns, content creation, and brand discovery/development.
He is responsible for organizing Jonathan’s collection of photograhy into a workable portfolio. Additionally, he assists with the the design process on current projects at Vortex.
In his free time, Cole doesn’t stop listening to music and tries to attend (and photograph) as many live shows as he can. Additionally, he travels as far and wide as possible and hopes to keep making it further.
“During my time as an intern at Vortex Business Solutions, I’ve been constantly surrounded by creative individuals who use their unique skillsets to collaborate with one-another and satisfy the client they agreed to help.”
Spirit Leader, Head of Security
Buddy is the Spirit Leader and Head of Security at Vortex Business Solutions. His skills include begging for food, being adorable and soft to touch, and lightening everyone’s day with his doggy nuzzles. Buddy’s loving and curious personality helps bring laughter and happiness into the office environment and keeps stress levels at a minimum during intense deadlines.
Buddy was rescued by Jonathan and Pamela Sabin after the 2008 flood that devastated Iowa City and Cedar Rapids.
Vortex Business Solutions, Inc. is a full service, customer-focused, web design, marketing, SEO, visual communications and business acceleration firm. Since the launch of our first website in 1996, Vortex has applied the principles of business, advertising and marketing accumulated over 40 years to tell the stories of hundreds of businesses, help those businesses attract more clients, and ultimately become more successful.
Tell your story, and turn your website into a cash machine™. Call us today at 319.354.0019.
