2022 December 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

Let’s continue to...

Just like that, another year has come and gone! It’s hard to believe 2023 is on the horizon.

“Catch the Passion” was the Chamber’s 2022 theme, cho sen by Board President Matt Gilbertson of Viking Bank. He chose this theme because of the passion he has witnessed among local businesses and residents for this community. In his words, “That passion that we all bring to our businesses, family, friends, and non-profits is what keeps our communi ty growing and thriving, even through some difficult times… It keeps the lights shining brightly on what we have here and continues to attract new people from all over that want a piece of what we have to offer.”

Perhaps its because we had it top of mind due to this theme, but the Chamber witnessed countless examples of passionate people serving this community in a variety of ways. That’s truly what makes the Alexandria Lakes Area “the ultimate destination to live, work, play and prosper.”

Thank you for being passionate about your work, your vol unteer efforts, your passtimes, and your community. Please continue to share that passion, and help others ‘Catch the Passion!’

Thanks for sharing your ornaments!

The 23 businesses that brought in ornaments for our Christmas tree were placed in a draw ing for a free Chamber email blast. The most creative/unique orna ment, which was award ed a free blast, went to Echo Press Newspaper. The random drawing winners included Avon Independent Rep. - Mary Becker and Neighborhood Nation al Bank. The tree was part of the parade of trees presented by the Runestone Museum and Legacy of the Lakes Museum.

Upcoming Chamber Events

Wake Up Alexandria!

Friday, December 2 from 7:30-8:30 am

Productive Alternatives | 603 22nd Ave. W Nonprofit of the Day: Lakeland Mental Health Center

Wake Up Alexandria!

Friday, December 16 from 7:30-8:30 am

Living Word Lutheran Church | 1722 16th Ave. E Nonprofit of the Day: Church for the Harvest

Chamber Open House

Thursday, January 5 from 10 am - 2 pm

Alexandria Chamber of Commerce | 206 Broadway St. Stop in and pick up your 2023 Member materials!

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

~ Tara Bitzan, Director, Alexandria Chamber of Commerce

Ribbon Cuttings

Ribbon Cuttings and Groundbreakings are a service offered by the Alexandria Lakes Area Chamber of Commerce. To learn more, email info@alexandriamn.org or call 320-763-3161.

Off the Clock

Off the Clocks are available upon request. They are structured similar to Wake Up Alexandria events but are held in the afternoon from 4 to 5 pm. A dollar gets you in the door and all dollars raised are donated to a 501(c)3 nonprofit Chamber member chosen by the host.

October Host

Discovery Middle School held a ribbon cutting ceremony on Tues day, November 15 to celebrate the dedication to the new addition which features a two-station gym and a dedicated gymnastics center. Discovery Middle School is located at 510 McKay Ave. N.

Anderson Funeral Home & Crematory | October 27 659 Voyager Dr. NW

Nonprofit of the Day: Veterans Memorial Park

Anderson Funeral Home & Crematory dates back to 1872. It offers a variety of services when dealing with a loss from planning services and receptions, to choosing the right mon uments and memorializations.

Big Ole Coloring Contest Winners!

Give the gift of Chamber Bucks!

Consider giving Chamber Bucks for gifts or employee rewards this holiday season. Anybody can purchase Chamber Bucks and they can be spent at hundreds of participating Chamber member businesses!

Chamber Bucks are available in increments of $5 and are val id for 12 months. There are no fees involved - if you purchase $20 in Chamber Bucks, you pay $20! Best of all, Chamber Bucks keep dollars local. In 2021, $173,157 in Chamber Bucks were purchased. Visit www.alexandriamn.org to order!

In October, the Chamber conducted a Halloween coloring contest featur ing a picture of Big Ole dressed up as a football player for Halloween. The contest was for anyone ages 1-12. The Chamber received 80+ entries. All participants were entered into a drawing and 3 winners were pulled at random to receive a free Big Ole plush doll. This year’s winners includ ed Charlie Thimmesh, Greta Haffner and Mara Fischer (not pictured).

Watch to see what Big Ole will dress up as for next year’s Halloween con test!

Specialized hospice care with loved ones and their families at heart.

- Connie Spanswick, daughter of former Knute Nelson Hospice patient

knutenelson.org/hospice.

“Knute Nelson hospice really provided the care that we all needed

Connie pictured with her mother Sandy

Cenex Midtown Express of Alexandria held a ribbon cutting cere mony on Wednesday, November 16 to celebrate the grand opening of its newly rebuilt store located at 1705 Broadway St.

Charlie Thimmesh, age 9

Greta Haffner. age 8

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.

November Hosts

Pot of Gold Winner

Legal Services of Northwest Minnesota won the Pot of Gold valued at $5,282 at Wake Up Alexandria hosted by Habitat for Humanity of Douglas County ReStore on November 18! Donations include discounted services, gift certificates, and promotional items. Donors are promoted through Chamber email blasts, at the event, and on the Chamber website.

Hampton Inn & Suites by Hilton and Broadway Ballroom | November 4

Broadway Ballroom - 115 30th Ave. E

Nonprofit of the Day: NorthStar Christian Academy

Broadway Ballroom Event Center offers versatile space for groups of 20 to 500. Next door, the Hampton Inn & Suites fea tures 80 guest suites, an indoor pool, fitness center, business center, meeting rooms, complimentary breakfast, and Wi-Fi.

Habitat for Humanity of Douglas County ReStore

November 18 | 1211 N Nokomis NE

Nonprofit of the Day: West Central Initiative

The Habitat for Humanity ReStore is a nonprofit home im provement store/donation center that sells new and gently used building materials, furniture, and appliances. Profits sup port the construction of affordable housing in Douglas County.

Kelly Wencl of Legal Services of North west Minnesota accepted the Pot of Gold prizes on behalf of the organization at the November 18 Wake Up Alexandria. The pot was valued at $5,282!

Welcome! November new members

Adorable Chaos Children’s Boutique

Nicole Carlson | adorablechaoscb@gmail.com 3015 Hwy. 29 S, Ste. 145, Viking Plaza Mall www.adorablechaoscb.square.site

Cenex Midtown Express of Alexandria Alison Beving | 320-763-6557 alison@alexcenex.com | 1705 Broadway St.

Glacial Lakes Radon Kevin Boike | 320-262-9014 glaciallakesradon@gmail.com | www.glaciallakesradon.com

Just for Kix

Crystal Hoepner | 320-491-6996 alexandria_mn@justforkix.com 503 Hawthorne St. | www.justforkix.com

K-Lakes Country/KLKX-FM Connie Lee | 320-766-5573 | connielee@klkxfm.com

Primerica Robert Pachan | 320-491-3098 | rpachan@primerica.com

Please consider these new members for your personal and professional needs, and welcome them to our network!

Membership Team

November Visits

Lakes Area Portables, started in 2011 by Sue Hawkinson and Mark Scheller, offers restroom and hand washing station rentals. All units are supplied with hand sanitiz ers, toilet paper, and deodorizer. Affordable Septic Service, estab lished in 2013, offers residential and commercial septic pumping.

Scooter’s Coffee, located at 55 Carlos Ave. in Alexandria, is known for its fast drive-thru, specialty coffee, and baked-fromscratch pastries. It has been serv ing coffee for more than 20 years and has more than 450 locations in 26 states across the nation.

Viking Sportsmen was formed in 1945 to support and improve the conserva tion of wildlife and its hab itat. The organization does this by establishing pro grams and practices. Viking Sportsmen organizes many youth activities in the area.

Alexandria Area Youth for Christ serves teens ages 1119 from all religious back grounds. The group meets formally on Thursdays from 3:15 to 5:15 pm at 124 7th Ave. W, Ste. 15, and has other group options as well.

fordable Septic Service is owned by Mark Scheller and Sue Hawkinson. Lakes Area Portables has restrooms and hand washing station rentals. All units are supplied with hand

odorizer. Affordable Septic Service offers septic pumping for residential and commercial

Lakes Area Portables and Affordable Septic Service

Sue Hawkinson, Co-Owner; Not Pictured: Mark Scheller, Co-Owner

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.

Scooter’s Coffee

Mike Barry, COO; Ashley Fossen, Store Manager

Viking Sportsmen

Jim Stratton, Treasurer; Greg Donahue and Dean Krebs, Board Members; Chris Kleine, President; Lukas Gotto, Board Member; Dave Hochhalter, Secretary; Greg Eigen, Board Member

Alexandria Area Youth for Christ Tom Burton, Development Director/Juvenile Justice Ministry Director; Nick Jorgenson, Area Director

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.

November Visits

Nicole Carlson is the owner of a new children’s boutique in Alexandria called Adorable Chaos Children’s Boutique. It is located at 3015 Hwy. 29 S inside the Viking Plaza Mall. Clothing sizes range from new born up to children’s size 16.

Emily Regnier is the new own er of the recently remodeled Cherry Street Books in down town Alexandria. The store car ries books for all ages as well as games, stationary, toys, and gift items. The remodel consist ed of new paint and flooring, removal of a wall and more.

Ollie Birch Boutique is a new boutique located in down town Alexandria at 614 Broadway St. It is a lifestyle boutique meaning it car ries items for the home and the body. It carries women’s clothing sizes extra small through 3XL.

Realty ONE Group Choice is a nation-wide real estate com pany that recently opened a location in downtown Alexan dria at 316 Broadway St., Ste. 8 inside The Filament.

Realty ONE Group ChoiceNew Business

Cherry Street BooksNew Ownership and Remodel

Angelica Garcia, Employee; Emily Regnier, Owner

Ollie Birch Boutique - New Business

HollieAnn Schnitzler, Social Media Manager; Mariah Lysfjord, Boutique Coordinator; Leah Meyers, Owner

Kim Kettler, Realtor

Adorable Chaos Children’s BoutiqueNew Business

TJ and Nicole Carlson, Owners

Chamber Partners

Platinum

Alomere Health

Arrowwood Resort & Conference Center Bell Bank Bremer Bank

First Western Bank & Trust Glenwood State Bank Holiday Inn of Alexandria Viking Bank Walmart Supercenter

Gold

Alexandria Clinic, A Service of Alomere Health

Douglas Machine

Duininck Concrete

Fairfield Inn & Suites by Marriott Henry’s Foods

Knute Nelson US Bank

Silver

3M Abrasive Systems Division Plant

A’BriTin Catering Aagard Group, The Alexandria Industries

AmericInn Lodge & Suites Alexandria AmericInn by Wyndham Sauk Centre Brenton

Brother’s Market

Canary Beach Resort Elden’s Fresh Foods and Downtown Floral Ellingson Plumbing, Heating, A/C & Electrical Garden Center, Inc.

Hampton Inn & Suites by Hilton Heartland Orthopedic Specialists

Hilltop Lumber Horizon Public Health Massman

Neighborhood National Bank Sanford Health SunOpta Super 8 of Alexandria Tastefully Simple Widseth Winning Edge

Business Buzz

Ellingson Plumbing, Heating, A/C & Electrical has acquired Gree ley Plumbing, Heating & A/C. The acquisition allows Ellingsons to strengthen its presence in local service areas and continue to pro vide Greeley customers with plumbing and HVAC services while introducing them to additional offerings like electrical, building automation, fabrication, and fireplace products and services.

The Minnesota State Bar Association announced the certifica tion of Michael Cass of The Law Firm of Swenson Lervick as a MSBA Board Certified Real Property Law Specialist. Certification is earned by fewer than 3% of all licensed Minnesota attorneys.

The Law Firm of Swenson Lervick announced the addition of Gregory Donahue as a partner and shareholder. Donahue started at the firm eight years ago after clerking for Judge Ann Carrott. Outside of work Donahue serves as a board member for Viking Sportsmen, concertmaster for the Central Lakes Symphony Or chestra, and is an active member of the Alexandria Rotary Club

Donna Ryan joined Glenwood State Bank as a personal banker at the Alexandria branch. Her experience includes more than 30 years in banking.

Jeff Bertram of Paynesville was elected to the District 3 Commis sioner Seat in Stearns County. Bertram has been involved with var ious government positions and is the Administrative Sales Manag er for West Central Sanitation, which he will continue. Bertram will take office on January 3, 2023.

Tailin Tommerdahl joined Zimny Insurance Agency as the Risk Ser vices Advisor in September of 2022. She is a designated Graduate Safety Practitioner by the Board of Certified Safety Professionals and a graduate of Waldorf University with a Bachelor’s Degree in Occupational Safety and Health.

alexandriamn.org.

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