Business & Career

Maharishi Vedic City and Fairfield are proud of their entrepreneurial spirit. Former Iowa Governor Branstad declared Fairfield the “entrepreneurial capital of Iowa.” The community is home to dozens of successful businesses such as:

  • Cambridge Investment Research – leading independent securities regional broker dealer in the U.S., manages $9 billion
  • Chappell Studios/Marathon Fotos – the nation’s largest direct mail and web-based photography specializing in graduation images, and marathon running and bike races, largest in US in these two markets
  • Copperfield Chimney – the nation’s largest wholesale supplier of chimney equipment
  • Creative Edge – decorative stone and tile using water jet technology, pieces include designs for NASA and Chicago airport terminal
  • Danaher Oil – leading broker of refined oil products in the Midwest
  • Everest Asset Management – a sponsor for investment funds for high networth individuals since 1987
  • Hawthorne Direct — the recognized leader in serving Fortune 500 companies with long-form television advertising
  • Human Factors — the world’s leading computer ergonomics consultant firm
  • Polar Dreams – gift-manufacturing company, wholesale products to national retail chains
  • The Raj — a health spa and organic vegetarian restaurant whose clinic has been featured in health magazines around the country

The community’s businesses offer a high level of technology, creativity, and dynamism. Several businesses are spin-offs from Maharishi University of Management graduates and faculty. Some of these include:

  • SmasHits.com — Web site featuring Indian music, from pop to patriotic, Hindi to regional dialects. The site has expanded to include video, Bollywood, news, radio, greeting cards, and inexpensive phone rates to India.
  • Amrita — a nationwide distributor of essential aroma oils
  • Art Select — an online retailer of fine art and posters
  • Books Are Fun — one of the world’s leading distributors of books, founded by a graduate of Maharishi University of Management and now owned by Readers Digest
  • Conference Calls International — an international calling center firm
  • Natural Selections – certified organic fiber clothing and bedding, retail and mail order
  • Thaddeus Computing – publishers of Pocket PC Magazine
  • Vision Improvement Technologies — producer and distributor of a vision improvement product nationwide
  • Vital Images — software producer for visualization of medical and geophysical scientific data

“For nearly 30 years Maharishi University of Management has excelled in preparing students for successful careers in business, science, and the arts. The University’s unique approach to promoting the wholeness of knowledge has helped students achieve their full potential.”

Governor Tom Vilsack

— The Honorable Thomas J. Vilsack, Governor of the State of Iowa

“Fairfield is also the best place for an Ayurvedic restaurant. It is very satisfying to see the physiology of our clientele responding to our food. One has to learn how to transcend and open one’s awareness. We can practice Vedic knowledge as part of our profession here.”

— Deepak Bakshi, restaurant owner

“Practicing Transcendental Meditation has made me strong, and now I know I won’t miss the target if I take the correct angle. It might take time, but with Nature’s support, success is unavoidable. If you remain focused, the sky is the limit.”

— Abhesh Verma, Maharishi University of Management graduate, founder of the top-rated website, SmasHits.com, the largest site for Indian music