August 2022 Chamber Horizons Newsletter

CHAMBER HORIZONS

Promoting the Alexandria Lakes Area as the ultimate destination to live, work, play and prosper.

Official Newsletter of the Alexandria Lakes Area Chamber of Commerce AUGUST 2022 | VOLUME 115 | ISSUE 8

Introducing the 30th Leadership Alexandria Class!

The Alexandria Chamber of Commerce has trained existing or emerging leaders through the Leadership Alexandria program for the past 29 years. This nine-month program provides an opportunity for participants to develop leadership skills and learn more about the community they live and/or work in. We are pleased to introduce this year’s class!

Cally Endres

Vista Prairie at Windmill Ponds

Cyndi Magnuson Knute Nelson

Nolan Steidl Hilltop Lumber

Jay Fiskness

Glenwood State Bank

PJ Malin

First Lutheran Church

Jeff Walsh

3M Abrasive Systems Division Plant

Gabbrielle Giannonatti Geneva Capital

Kelli Minnerath

Alexandria Education and Cardinal Athletic Foundations

Sophia Watt Horizon Public Health

Ryan Blakesley

Jon Botz

Lukas Gotto

Andrew Holte

Viking Bank

Alexandria Public Schools

Kasey Morris

Widseth

Rebecca Brinkman Alomere Health

Joe Korkowski

ITW Heartland

Tonia Kvale

Bell Bank

Explore Alexandria Tourism

Kvale Real Estate

Julie Rambow

Bold North Cellars

Pope Douglas Solid Waste Management

Stanley Nelson

Brandon Plotz

Sam Williams

Kari Ziesemer

John Zipoy

Alexandria Covenant Church

Jason Crannell

McCarten Design

Edward Jones

Brenton

Alexandria Lakes Area Chamber of Commerce Chamber Horizons, USPS 330070, is published monthly by the Alexandria Lakes Area Chamber of Commerce.

Periodicals postage paid at Alexandria, MN 56308. Postmaster: Send address changes to

Alexandria Lakes Area Chamber of Commerce | 206 Broadway St, Alexandria, MN 56308 info@alexandriamn.org | 320-763-3161 | www.alexandriamn.org

Randy Fischer Real Estate

Darcie Zirbes

Alexandria Police Department

Listen & Learn Listen & Learns are one-hour virtual events hosted by the Chamber. It offers information, education, and resources on topics that impact the community. Call 320-763-3161 or email info@alexandriamn.org for details. There is no charge for these events and are open to the public.

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 31 AT 12 PM

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 17 AT 11 AM

Virtual event: Register at www.alexandriamn.org.

Virtual event: Register at www.alexandriamn.org.

State of the School District

Welcoming & Inclusive Community Assessment Results

What’s new in the Alexandria Public School system for the upcoming school year? Find out in a one-hour, informative, virtual Listen & Learn event on Wednesday, August 17 from 11 am - 12 pm.

Superintendent Rick Sansted will shared details regarding the state of the school district including facility progress updates, safety and security, and the excitement surrounding the upcoming school year.

Welcome!

Rick Sansted, Alexandria Public Schools Superintendent

The University of Minnesota Extension team will present the findings of the Welcoming and Inclusive Communities Assessment that was put on by The City of Alexandria’s Cultural and Inclusiveness Committee. The assessment was developed to better understand the challenges and successes of both organizational and community-led efforts to be inclusive of all residents.

Scott Chazdon, Evaluation & Research Specialist

July new members

Scooter’s Coffee Sally Janssen | 603 N Nokomis St. sjanssen@pinecreek.us | scooterscoffee.com

Jennifer Aranda, Educator

Get your BIAD tickets!

Wildfire Sauna Tom Tardif | 320-808-9323 | 124 7th Ave. W, Ste. 2 info@wildfiresauna.com | wildfiresauna.com

Tickets to the 2022 Business & Industrial Appreciation Day (BIAD) luncheon honoring Ollie’s Service as the BIAD award recipient are $30 per person or $300 per table of 10 and may be purchased at livingalexarea. ticketleap.com/biad22/.

Central Ebikes Dan Tilberg | 320-762-8811 | 403 Broadway St. centralebikes@outlook.com Alexandria Covenant Church Sam Williams | 320-763-5659 | 4005 Dakota St. ecc@alexandriacovenant.org | alexandriacovenant.org Please consider these new members for your personal and professional needs, and welcome them to our network!

Wednesday, October 25 from 11:30 am to 1 pm Arrowwood Resort and Conference Center.

Everything is provided here and it’s such a blessing to me. Now I have time to socialize with other people and have fun, and join in on the activities here. It’s a wonderful life.

- Carol, Senior Living Resident

Everything you need under one roof.

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Learn more at knutenelson.org or 320.208.9683

Wake Up Alexandria Wake Up Alexandria is a networking event held the first and third Friday of each month from 7:30 to 8:30 am at a Chamber member location. A dollar gets you in the door, with all proceeds donated to a 501(c)3 nonprofit Chamber member.

July Hosts Unity Recovery | July 1

503 Hawthorne Ste., Ste. 55 Nonprofit of the Day: UCAN (United Communities Advocating Non-Violence, Inc.) Unity Recovery recently opened in Alexandria. The director, Doug Paulson, provides substance use disorder treatment and education in a group setting of up to 12 individuals per session. Assessments, individual counseling, and DWI education classes are also offered.

Alexandria Technical & Community College Foundation | July 15 318 17th Ave. E Nonprofit of the Day: Alexandria Rotary Club

The Alexandria Technical & Community College Foundation (ATCCF) was established in 1971 as the fundraising arm of the college. Over the years, thousands of students have benefited from ATCCF scholarships as well as from in-kind donations of equipment. The foundation also offers students on-campus housing at Foundation Hall.

8-11 am | $45/ticket Use code Alexandria Chamber to register.

Learn more and purchase tickets at fmwfchamber.com/events/details/midwestcybersecurity-and-technology-summit

August 2022 | Chamber Horizons 3

Membership Team Volunteers on the Membership Team visit new member businesses to welcome them to the Chamber. They also serve as liaisons, supporting new members with introductions, information, and education on membership benefits.

July Visits Dunn Brothers Coffee offers a wide variety of coffee and non-coffee beverages and food. Dunn Brothers Coffee beans are roasted on site for freshness.

Dunn Brothers Coffee

Marcus Construction is a construction management and general contracting company that focuses on agricultural and commercial construction.

The company is expanding back into the Alexandria area after 20 years.

Marcus Construction

Courtney Keller, Owner, and son Kyson Donlea

Dan Kacobs, Business Development; Sara Goebel, Marketing Director

Master Networks is a national networking group that offers weekly meetings, training, and development, industry exclusivity and more. When you join, you have the ability to connect with other chapters across the nation.

Master Networks - Alexandria Chapter Ruth Molloy, Local Organizer; Darla Hacker, Member

Miracle-Ear works with customers to find comfortable, discreet hearing solutions.

Miracle-Ear also offers lifetime service and a Miracle-Ear Foundation for those needing financial assistance.

Miracle-Ear

Britt Duchene, Front End Office Associate; Kate VanderWeyst, HIS

Caring

FOR YOU IN ALEXANDRIA AND PARKERS PRAIRIE

Call (320) 762-0399 to make an appointment today.

511-669-173 5/22

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Suja Roberts, MD OB/GYN

Anne Gilbertson, CNM Midwifery

Annie Liljegren, CNM Midwifery

Ambassadors The Ambassadors are volunteers who extend the public relations arm of the Chamber. They attend business open houses, groundbreakings and ribbon cuttings; welcome new businesses to the area; and commemorate relocations and major remodels. They are out making business visits the second Wednesday of every month.

July Visits Diamond Waves & Wags is a new business in Alexandria offering car and dog washes.

The car wash side has various packages to keep your car clean inside and out. The dog wash is self-serve and includes shampoo, conditioner, and more.

Productive Alternatives offers a variety of social programs at many locations in Minnesota.

The Alexandria location recently moved into a new building at 603 22nd Ave. W, which offers more space, separate rooms for different programing, and more.

Diamond Waves & Wags New Business CJ Nagel, General Manager

Productive Alternatives New Location

Chelci Gira, Program Manager of Alexandria and Hoffman Day Services Locations

The Wellness PT is a new business owned by physical therapist Dr. Hillary O’Connor.

It offers one-to-one sessions with hands-on postural assessments, personal corrected exercise plans, and more.

The Wellness PT - New Business

Dr. Hillary O’Connor, Physical Therapist/Owner

Creations Event Studio was recently purchased by Karla Brutlag and merged with her existing business to become Creations by ‘Sota Weddings & Events. It is a one-stop shop for wedding and event needs.

Creations by ‘Sota Weddings & Events Business Merger Karla Brutlag, Owner

Buying or Selling a Home?

Sheryle Steinbring (320) 760-6747 Tasha West (320) 491-5472 SteinbringGroup.results.net Each Office Independently Owned & Operated | Licensed in MN | 217 N Nokomis, Alexandria, MN 56308

August 2022 | Chamber Horizons 5

Upcoming Chamber Events Midwest Cybersecurity & Technology Summit (Details on page 3) Co-hosted with Fargo Moorhead West Fargo Chamber of Commerce and 24 other Chambers from the Midwest Tuesday, August 2 from 8-11 am Delta by Marriott Fargo | 1635 42nd St. S, Fargo, ND OR Livestream Option Use code “Alexandria Chamber” to register Wake Up Alexandria!

Friday, August 5 from 7:30-8:30 am Affinity Plus Federal Credit Union | 418 3rd Ave. E, Ste. 108 Nonprofit of the Day: Vikingland Community Support Program Listen & Learn: (Details on Page 2) State of the School District Featuring Alexandria Schools Superintendent Rick Sansted Wednesday, August 17 from 11 am - 12 pm Alexandria Chamber of Commerce | Virtual Event Register at www.alexandriamn.org Wake Up Alexandria!

Friday, August 19 from 7:30-8:30 am CM - Woodworks | 7300 39th Ave. NE, Nelson Nonprofit of the Day: Gabriel Media/K-yes Radio & Spirit 92.9 Listen & Learn: (Details on Page 2) Welcoming & Inclusive Community Assessment Results Featuring Scott Chazdon and Jennifer Aranda with University of Minnesota Extension Wednesday, August 31 from 12-1 pm Alexandria Chamber of Commerce | Virtual Event Register at www.alexandriamn.org

Visitor & Resource Center Did you know that all members of the Alexandria Lakes Area Chamber of Commerce receive a spot in the Chamber’s Visitor & Resource Center at 206 Broadway? This is a great way to market your business or organization! The Visitor & Resource Center offers a variety of information for tourists and residents including area maps; Minnesota publications and visitor guides; dining, entertainment, and shopping brochures; and information on a variety of local services, from senior and health care to education, construction, and more. Add your materials to the Visitor & Resource Center for more visibility! Call Katie at 320763-3161 or email membership@alexandriamn.org for more information.

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Business Buzz SERVPRO of Douglas & Otter Tail Counties received the FOUNDER’S Platinum award at the 53rd annual convention held in Dallas, TX July 5-9.

Alexandria City Mayor and ALP Utlities Board Member, Bobbie Osterberg, recently received the Missouri River Energy Services (MRES) Community Leader Award. MRES serves 61 member communities and annually recognizes two individuals from their member cities for their dedication and years of service to their communities, locally owned utilities, MRES, and public power.

Alexandria Police Officer Carter Lentsch received a hockey puck award for his recent “hat trick”. In June, Lentsch had three DWI arrests - called a hat trick - in the first 6 hours of his 12-hour shift.

The term “hat trick” is used in the sport of hockey to note the rare feat of scoring three goals in one game.

Bold North Cellars was recently named Central Minnesota’s Best Venue and The Dashery was named Best Formalwear by the Minnesota Bride Best of Awards.

Bell Bank was named one of the Top 50 of the Fortune Best Workplaces for Millennials of 2022 coming in at #26.

Elaine Thoennes of Billmark’s Lakes Area Insurance and Alex Assisted Living and Dennis Bitzan of Bitzan Ohren Masonry were inducted into the Viking Speedway Hall of Fame and will be honored during the races on July 30. Thoennes is a long-time speedway employee and the first female in the Viking Hall of Fame. Bitzan is a long-time driver and car owner at the speedway.

To include your business news in the Chamber Horizon Newsletter, email information to Lauren at marketing@alexandriamn.org.