June 2024 Chamber Horizons Newsletter

Lead, connect, and collaborate for a thriving community.

CHAMBER HORIZONS

Official Newsletter of the Alexandria Lakes Area Chamber of Commerce

JUNE 2024 | VOLUME 117 | ISSUE 6

Upcoming Chamber Events

Duffers Delight Golf Tournament

Monday, June 3

Sponsor Check In: 10 am | Golfer Check In: 11 am

Putting Contest: 11 am - 4 pm

Welcome/Shotgun Start: 11:45 am

Alexandria Golf Club | 2300 N Nokomis St. NE

Groundbreaking: Runestone Community Center

In partnership with Alexandria Area Economic Development Commission

Tuesday, June 4 at 12 pm

Runestone Community Center | 802 3rd Ave. W

Wake Up Alexandria!

Hosted by the Douglas County Fair Board (DCAA) Friday, June 7 from 7:30-8:30 am

Douglas County Fairgrounds |300 Fairgrounds Rd.

Nonprofit of the Day: Alexandria Senior Center

Hello Neighbor: Community Connections

Tuesday, June 11 from 5-7 pm

Lake Brophy County Park | 2175 Brophy Landing NW

Ribbon Cutting: Rock N’ Willow Ranch

Thursday, June 20 at 3 pm

Rock N’ Willow Ranch

3725 County Rd. 36 NE, Parkers Prairie

Wake Up Alexandria!

Friday, June 21 from 7:30-8:30 am

Alexandria Golf Club | 2300 N Nokomis St. NE

Nonprofit of the Day: Alexandria Area Hockey Assn.

Ribbon Cutting: LA 2023 Class Sculpture Project

Saturday, June 22 at 10 am

Big Ole Park | 200 Broadway St.

Listen & Learn: Voter 101 (details on page 2)

Thursday, June 27 at 1 pm

Alexandria Chamber | Virtual Event

Visit AlexandriaMN.org to register

Free Community Naloxone Training

In partnership with Alomere Health and Holiday Inn

Tuesday, June 25 from 10:30-11:30 am

Optional hands-on session from 11:30 am - 12 pm

Holiday Inn of Alexandria | 5637 State Hwy. 29 S

Visit AlexandriaMN.org to register

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 | AlexandriaMN.org

Ribbon Cutting

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

The Bark Barn celebrated the grand opening of its new location with a ribbon cutting ceremony and open house on Saturday, May 4. It is now located at 2801 Aga Dr., Ste. 106. Services at The Bark Barn include daycare, boarding, and grooming for dogs. Pictured are Austin Flom, Manager; and Cassie and Jackie Corson, Co-Owners.

Chamber Board nominations sought

The Chamber is accepting nominations for 2025 Board of Director positions. Any member in good standing may be nominated or self-nominate. Members may serve 2 terms; terms are 3 years. A nominating committee will review all nominations and create a slate of officers, which will be published in the September newsletter and presented to the Board for approval. Email nominations by July 31 to tbitzan@alexandriamn.org.

Check out the Chamber Jobs Board!

The Chamber website offers an online job board! Chamber members can post to this job board at no charge, or upgrade to a featured listing, which will pin their job to the top of the page, highlight it and publish it to the Google Jobs Network. Once jobs are posted, employers can view, change or edit their listing, see the number of views received, review applicants, and renew or upgrade the post. Log in to your online member portal and click “Submit a Job Opening” to get started. For assistance, call the Chamber at 320-763-3161 or info@alexandriamn.org.

Listen & Learn

Listen & Learn is a one-hour virtual event 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 the event and it is open to the public.

Voter 101

THURSDAY, JUNE 27 FROM 1-2 PM Virtual event: Register at AlexandriaMN.org.

How do I register to vote? Where do I vote? What if I can’t get to the polls on election day? Why should I vote in the primary election? What new laws impact voting? The Office of the Secretary of State will share a comprehensive summary of voter information and resources and answer any voting questions you may have in this virtual Listen & Learn.

Melanie Hazelip, Voter Outreach Director, Office of the Secretary of State

Welcome! May new members

2SledsAndATrailer.com

Steve Thill Grey Eagle, MN 320-200-0300

rentsleds@yahoo.com

2SledsAndATrailer.com

Classic Rock Stoneworks

Michael Elliott Brandon, MN 320-766-4483

classicrockstoneworks@gmail.com ClassicRockStoneworks.com

Lakes Catering

Stacy Gerdes Glenwood, MN 320-815-0440 stacy@lakescatering.com LakesCatering.com

St. Croix Hospice Alana Friehl 3315 Roosevelt Rd., Ste. 400 St. Cloud, MN 320-201-5930

afriehl2@stcroixhospice.com StCroixHospice.com

TLC Home Watch MN Michelle Lenertz Alexandria, MN 320-760-6733

info@tlchomewatchmn.com TLCHomeWatchMN.com

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

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.

May Hosts

Vital Fit Club and JIVE Hair Studio | May 3

Vital Fit Club - 112 6th Ave. E

Nonprofit of the Day: PBS Television

Vital Fit Club is a 24-hour access fitness facility that offers training, studio and specialty group classes, racquetball, yoga, Pilates, cycling, sports massage and Thai yoga therapy. Jill Swanstrom, owner of JIVE Hair Studio, has been a stylist since 2009, focusing on coloring and extension services.

Alexandria Motor Company | May 17 3710 Hwy. 29 S

Nonprofit of the Day: Let’s Go Fishing Alexandria Lakes Area

Alexandria Motors provides a large volume of new Chevrolet, Cadillac, and Mazda vehicles and numerous pre-owned vehicles. The company also has a comprehensive service operation and full-service body shop.

nursing.

FREE Community Naloxone Training offered in Alexandria!

A free community naloxone training event will be held on Tuesday, June 25 from 10:30 to 11:30 am with an optional hands-on session from 11:30 am to 12 pm at the Holiday Inn of Alexandria located at 5637 State Hwy. 29 S.

Attendees will learn how to recognize an opioid overdose, about naloxone (NARCAN), and about Steve’s Law (MN’s Good Samaritan and Naloxone Legislation). There will also be a demonstration of naloxone administration. Attendees will be given a free naloxone kit and 1 hour of CE credit.

The event is free; however, advance registration is required. The event is limited to the first 50 registrants. Register and learn more at AlexandriaMN. org or call 320-763-3161.

Did you know?

Consumers who are told a business is a Chamber member are 51% more likely to be highly aware of the business and 57% more likely to think positively of its reputation. Let them know you’re a member by adding the member logo to your website. A link to download the image can be found on the online member portal at alexandriamn. org. For assistance, contact the Chamber at info@ alexandriamn.org or 320-763-3161.

Healthcare is more than medicine and technology. Nurses make it personal. And this National Certified Nursing Assistants Week, we celebrate the hard-working caregivers that helped Alomere Health to achieve the Top 20 Rural Hospital in the Nation recognition from the National Rural Health Association. National CNA Week is June 13-19!

ALEXANDRIA

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.

May Visits

Pinecasa Rentals

Kari Ziesemer and Courtney Childers, Owners

Kathy Ziegler, Assembler; Anita Wittmer, Owner; Gary Ziegler, Framer

Pinecasa Rentals is owned by Courtney Childers and Kari Ziesemer and features The Starling House located at 519 6th Ave W. The Starling House is a historic home built in 1909 on the shores of Lake Winona.

The Spice & Tea Exchange of Alexandria, located at 604 Broadway St., is owned by Dionne Peterson. The store offers a variety of fine spices, handcrafted seasonings, looseleaf teas, salts, sugars, gifts, and more.

Studio 7 Custom Framing, located at 522 Broadway St., is owned by Anita Wittmer. The business specializes in custom framing of artwork, photos, prints, memorabilia, jerseys, mirrors, and more.

Summit Chiropractic Care is owned by Stuart Rubner and is located at 324 Broadway St., Ste. 218. Services include chiropractic adjustments, DOT examinations, acupuncture, manual therapy, and more.

Is hospice right for your loved one?

Hospice care with a compassionate touch that feels like family.

“The care team becomes your second family.”

-

Joyce Malmgren, Spouse of Former Hospice Patient

The Spice & Tea Exchange

Dionne Peterson, Owner

Studio 7 Custom Framing

Summit Chiropractic Care

Stuart Rubner, Owner

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.

May

Visits

Complete Ground Control, owned by Luke Buggert, recently moved to a new location at 1123 3rd Ave. E. It is a full-service pest control company providing protection to health and property while respecting the environment.

iTry Studios, owned and operated by husband-wife duo Kyle Anderson and Deb Kerr, moved to a new location at 522 Broadway St. The business offers a variety of classes and supplies from wine-making to quilting to jewelry, It specializes in beads and yarn.

Simply Rooted, owned by Meg Jacobson in Alexandria, is a personal concierge service for those visiting or planning a gathering within the Alexandria area.

True North Management is owned and operated by Andrew Kromrey and Carter Thiel. The company offers a full suite of property management tools to investors, homeowners, and landlords.

iTry Studios - New Location Kyle Anderson & Deb Kerr, Owners

Simply Rooted - New Business

Meg Jacobson, Founder/Owner

True North Management - New Business

Andrew Kromrey and Carter Thiel, Co-Owners/Property Managers

Complete Ground Control - New Location

Ashley Rambow, Office Manager; Luke Buggert, Owner; Josh Dale, Technician

New Government Affairs Program created for Alexandria Chamber

The David C. Olson Endowed Scholarship provides the opportunity for a Minnesota Chamber Federation partner to host an MBA level intern for a special project. This high-level internship allows a local chamber to explore a project or program to advance the chamber’s objectives. In return, the experience provides the MBA student the opportunity to learn about the leadership role of chambers of commerce and the importance of business leadership in civic activities.

The Alexandria Chamber applied for and was granted this opportunity and MBA student Britney Marr, a student at Minnesota State University - Mankato, was the scholarship recipient.

Marr was tasked with creating a new Government Affairs Program for the Alexandria Chamber during spring semester, January through May, 2024. She spent time researching programs conducted by other Chambers, held input sessions for Alexandria Chamber and community leaders, and – based off the information obtained through that research – created the framework for a program that will kick off in the fall of 2024.

Marr, along with Tara Bitzan, director of the Alexandria Chamber, presented the project at the Minnesota Chamber of Commerce Executives (MCCE) conference on May 23 in Brooklyn Park.

David C. Olson served as the president of the Minnesota Chamber of Commerce for 23 years before he passed in 2014.

Business Buzz

TLC Home Watch MN, owned and operated by Michelle Lenertz of The Lenertz Company, officially launched its services in May. It is a home watch service dedicated to watching after homes, lake cabins, and vacation properties for owners while they are away from the Alexandria lakes area. The company is fully accredited by the National Home Watch Association.

Burr Vineyards is officially under new ownership as of January 2024. New owners are Katie Ledermann, granddaughter of vineyard founder Florian Ledermann, and her husband Peter Kvale. Along with the change in ownership came an expansion with a new production facility that allows bottling of more than 10,000 bottles of wine compared to 4,000 bottles in its previous space.

Mark Watkins, owner of Geneva Capital LLC, was named an EY Entrepreneur Of The Year 2024 Heartland Award finalist. This award honors many different types of business leaders for their ingenuity, courage, and entrepreneurial spirit.

Jason Schmit, OD, joined the team of providers at Vance Thompson Vision - Alexandria. Dr. Schmit will work alongside providers Deborah Ristvedt, DO; Brent Kramer, MD; and Mathew Walker, OD of Vance Thompson Vision.

Senator Jordan Rasmusson (R) District 9 (651) 296-4875 sen.jordan.rasmusson@senate.mn

Senator Torrey Westrom (R) District 12 (651) 296-3826 sen.torrey.westrom@senate.mn

Representative Mary Franson (R) District 12B (651) 296-3201 rep.mary.franson@house.mn

Representative Tom Murphy (R) District 9B (651-296-4946 rep.tom.murphy@house.mn

The Boy Scouts of America - Northern Lights Council is celebrating its 50th anniversary in 2024. The council was incorporated in 1974 following a merger of four Boy Scout Councils in North Dakota and northwestern Minnesota. Northern Lights Council covers the entire state of North Dakota, 18 counties in northwest Minnesota, and two counties each in Montana and South Dakota. The organization is also celebrating the 5th anniversary of welcoming girls to the program and the 6th anniversary of girls joining its Cub Scout program.

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