Lead, connect, and collaborate for a thriving community.
CHAMBER HORIZONS
Official Newsletter of the Alexandria Lakes Area Chamber of Commerce
2024 | VOLUME 117 | ISSUE 10
AI IN ACTION Business Workshop
Known for her dynamic and engaging style, Princess Paula will show you how Generative AI is transforming the business landscape, and more importantly, how you can harness its power for your own success. The world of technology is growing and evolving quickly and whether you’re a small business owner or leading a growing enterprise, this session will provide the insights and tools you need to embrace AI and enhance your operations. With Paula’s engaging and hands-on approach, you’ll leave equipped and confident to put AI to work for you right away!
3 locations to choose
Wednesday, October 9 AT 10 am
Holiday Inn of Alexandria 5637 State Hwy. 29 S, Alexandria
Wednesday, October 9 AT 2 pm
Glenwood Lakes Area Chamber of Commerce & Welcome Center 7 1st St. NW, Glenwood
thursday, October 10 AT 8 am
MN National BankUpstairs Business Center 131 12th St. S, Sauk Centre
Event in partnership with...
Paula Skoviera, CEO/Owner, Princess Paula Consulting
Visit AlexandriaMN.org for registration options. Register by Friday, October 4, 2024. Spots are limited!
Upcoming Chamber Events
Wake Up Alexandria!
Friday, October 4 from 7:30-8:30 am
Runestone Electric Association 6839 Power Ln. SW
Nonprofit of the Day: West Central MN Communities Action
Groundbreaking: Solutions Behavioral Healthcare Professionals
Friday, October 4 at 12 pm
Solutions Behavioral Healthcare Professionals 2145 Nokomis St. - enter property from 22nd Ave. E
AI in Action: Business Workshop (Details on Page 1)
Wednesday, October 9 at 10 am
Holiday Inn of Alexandria | 5637 State Hwy. 29 S Wednesday, October 9 at 2 pm
Glenwood Chamber of Commerce 7 1st St. NW, Glenwood
Thursday, October 10 at 8 am
MN National Bank | 131 12th St. S, Sauk Centre Register at AlexandriaMN.org by Fri. Oct. 4.
Wake Up Alexandria!
Hosted by Mid-Minnesota EMS Education
Friday, October 18 from 7:30-8:30 am
Alexandria Fire Department | 302 Fillmore St. Nonprofit of the Day: Community AED Project
Business & Industrial Appreciation Day (BIAD) (Details on page 5)
Wednesday, October 23 from 11:30 am - 1 pm
Arrowwood Resort & Conference Center 2100 Arrowwood Ln.
Visit AlexandriaMN.org to register.
Alexandria Lakes Area Chamber of Commerce
Chamber News
Thank
you for attending our Fall
Luncheon - Culture Catalyst!
USPS
The Chamber of Commerce held its fall luncheon on Wednesday, September 11 at the Broadway Ballroom Event Center. More than 130 people attended the event. Mike Henke, a national speaker and workplace training specialist, shared ways to create an ideal workplace by building an organizational culture people want to be part of.
Thanks to our event sponsor:
You belong with us!
The Alexandria Lakes Area Chamber of Commerce is hiring! If you are committed to excellence and enjoy serving others, you belong with us! Assist with a variety of Chamber events, programs, and initiatives that support our 660+ members and our community. If you excel in customer service, multi-tasking, and attention to detail and enjoy an upbeat team environment, send your resume to tbitzan@ alexandriamn.org.
Join us in leading, connecting, and collaborating for a thriving community!
Statement of Ownership, Management and Circulation
Mike Henke, 2024 Chamber Fall Luncheon Speaker
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.
September Hosts
The Spice & Tea Exchange | September 6 604 Broadway St.
Nonprofit of the Day: KT Humble Hearts
The Spice & Tea Exchange features more than 80 custom blends, salts, sugars, and teas that are hand-mixed on site! More than 70 loose leaf teas are available to be prepared hot or cold from the on-site to-go Tea Bar. The local, female-owned store is part of a franchise that originated in Florida.
Echo Press Newspaper | September 20 1920 Turning Leaf Ln.
Nonprofit of the Day: Jingle Bells Foundation
The Echo Press Newspaper got its start in 1891. The newspaper offers 24/7 online news, a daily e-paper and a printed edition every Wednesday and Friday. Additional services include print, digital and multimedia marketing, broadcast, video production, recruitment marketing, and commercial printing.
Important Election Notice!
Following is the proposed slate of candidates for the 2025 Chamber Board of Directors. The proposed slate was recommended by the Chamber Nominating Committee and approved by the Chamber Board of Directors.
Any member may request to be added to the ballot by filing a petition at the Chamber office bearing the signatures of ten (10) other members in good standing on or before October 10. At that time, nominations shall cease and the proposed slate will become the nominating slate.
Proposed Slate:
Lynn Arnquist, Alexandria Technical & Community College
Representing Education Term #2 effective 1/1/25 thru 12/31/27
Sharlo Meyer, Aagard
Representing Manufacturing/Wholesale/Distributors Term #1 effective 1/1/25 thru 12/31/27
Kent Kopp, Pike & Pint Grill
Representing Lodging/Tourism/Hospitality Term #1 effective 1/1/25 thru 12/31/27
When you support local it...
BUILDS COMMUNITY
Expanding the economic tax base, supplying volunteers, and supporting local nonprofits is something businesses can’t do if they don’t have local support from people like you!
do business local! Visit www.prideofthelakes.com to take the pledge!
With 16,000 square feet of space specially designed for therapy, Alomere offers you the region’s most comprehensive rehab services right here at home.
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.
September Visits
D. Mike’s Resort Bar & Grill is a restaurant owned by Kellie and Mike Daniels at 3015 Hwy. 29, Ste. 120 in the Viking Plaza Mall. It is open 11 am to 10 pm Monday through Saturday and 11 am to 9 pm on Sunday.
Home Instead serves the Alexandria area, providing support and assistance to ensure seniors can live comfortably and safely in their homes. Services include assisting with shopping, errands, providing supportive companionship, and more.
HOOK and Slice, 2921 Hwy. 29 S, is a golf simulator experience with a full menu and bar open to the public. Rental opportunities include corporate events, birthday parties, bachelor/bachelorette parties, and more.
The Arts Collaborative exists to help promote different ways that the arts can foster community engagement, increase community pride, and spur creativity among people of all ages in the Alexandria area.
Thank you for voting us Minnesota’s Best!
We are honored to be named Minnesota’s Best in the Star Tribune Reader’s Choice program.
Home Instead
Josh Ice, Owner
HOOK and Slice
Shawnda & Matt Geiselhart, Owners
The Arts Collaborative Sandy Susag, Board Member; Olivia Maday, Communications Manager; Chuck Wencl, Board Member
D. Mike’s Resort Bar & Grill Mike & Kellie Daniels, Owners
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.
September Visits
Crossing Life’s Bridges in Carlos is owned and operated by Dr. Myra Heckenlaible-Gotto. She is a Certified Equine Gestalt Practitioner and GiANT Worldwide Leadership Coach. She offers a variety of personal and professional development programs with the option to add horses to sessions.
Rolling Acres Retrievers & Pet Boarding is owned by Cory and Janelle Negen. It is a family-owned pet care facility offering dog boarding, doggie daycare, basic pet grooming, and obedience training.
Sacred Journey Academy is a discipleship school offering K-10 with the commitment to add one grade per year until it is a full K-12 academy. The school serves Christian families from the Mount Carmel Ministries campus. All academic areas are taught using biblically integrated and proven curriculum.
Rolling Acres Retrievers & Pet Boarding - New Business Cory & Janelle Negen, Owners
Tickets to the 2024 Business & Industrial Appreciation Day (BIAD) luncheon honoring Alex Rubbish & Recycling are $30 per person or $350 for a reserved table of 10. A publication focusing on the accomplishments of Alex Rubbish & Recycling will be distributed through the Echo Press prior to the event. To purchase tickets to the event, visit EventCreate.com/e/BIAD. Ticket sales end Friday, October 4. Get your BIAD tickets!
Wednesday, October 23 11:30 am to 1 pm Arrowwood Resort and Conference Center
Sacred Journey Academy - New School
Angie Heidelberger, Head of School/ Secondary History & Literature Teacher
Crossing Life’s Bridges - New Businesses
Dr. Myra Heckenlaible-Gotto, EdD
Legislative Corner
How do I vote?
Voting for the November 5, 2024 General Election started in Minnesota on September 20, 2024. To be eligible to vote, a person must be 18 or older by Election Day, a U.S. Citizen, a resident of Minnesota for at least 20 days, not currently incarcerated for a felony conviction, and not under a court order that revokes your right to vote. If you are eligible to vote, you can register to vote at mnvotes.gov/register.
There are three ways to vote:
1. By Mail: Minnesotans can vote by mail by requesting a ballot at mnvotes.gov/absentee starting September 20. About 150,000 Minnesotans live in mail ballot precincts and will be mailed a ballot automatically if they are registered to vote. Ballots must be received by local election offices by 8 p.m. on Election Day to be counted. You can track your ballot at mnvotes. gov/trackmyballot.
2. Early In-Person: Minnesotans can vote absentee in person at their local election office during business hours between September 20 and November 5. There are also special early voting hours during the 2024 General Election: Saturday, October 25 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Tuesday, October 29 open until 7 p.m. Saturday, November 2 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday, November 3 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday, November 4 open until 5 p.m.
3. In-Person on Election Day: Minnesotans can vote in-person at their local polling place on Tuesday, November 5. Find your polling place at mnvotes.gov/pollfinder. Check your registration online at mnvotes.gov/register. All polling places are open until 8 p.m. As long as you are in line to vote by 8 p.m. you can vote. In Minnesota, people can register to vote on election day. Learn more at https://www.sos.state.mn.us/ elections-voting/get-involved/here-we-vote/.
Welcome! September new members
Destination Beauty by Carrie Carrie Fernow 320-492-2329 destinationbeautyby carrie@gmail.com DestinationBeautyBy Carrie.com
Interstate Engineering Kris Klemenhagen 509 22nd Ave. E, Ste. 102 320-763-5784 kris.klemenhagen@ interstateeng.com InterstateEng.com
Ribbon Cutting
Minnesota Adult & Teen Challenge Sam Anderson 525 Willow Dr. 320-373-3366 alexandria@mntc.org MNTC.org
Nutrition Services, Inc. (Meals on Wheels) Janet Baker 414 Hawthorne St. 320-762-4280 jb4057wam@ gmail.com
Periwinkle
Stephanie Ellingson 1001 State Hwy. 29 N 320-460-9559
stephanie@periwin klemarketplace.com
PeriwinkleMarket place.com
Please consider these new members for your personal and professional needs, and welcome them to our network!
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.
Alexandria Community Christian School held a ribbon cutting ceremony in September to celebrate the grand opening of its interim secondary campus. This secondary campus is part of a seven-year strategic plan and will accommodate the space needed for growing enrollment. The interim campus will house grades 7-12 and provide them with access to nearby sporting facilities. Learn more about the project at ACCSMN.org.