2023 September 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

We’re in this Together!

Learn strategies for mental wellbeing as we build a community of support.

Dr. Will Miller

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 13

SERVING BEGINS: 11:15 AM

PRESENTATION: 11:45 AM -1 PM

CROOKED WILLOW WEDDINGS & EVENTS 11181 County Rd. 82 SE, Osakis

Presented by...

Organizational culture and mental wellbeing must be priority focus areas for all organizations in today’s hectic world. Dr. Miller uses science and experience to offer strategies that provide relief from depression and anxiety and bring mental and physical calm. All attendees will gain valuable takeaways, while business leaders will gain insight into building a culture of support and wellbeing.

EVERYONE WELCOME!

Tickets: $25. Purchase at AlexandriaMN.org by 4 pm Tuesday, September 5. Call 320-763-3161 for more information.

DOUGLAS COUNTY CAREGIVERS ARE FREE!

(Law, fire, EMS, health care...)

Thanks to support from We Got Your Back USA!

Pre-registration required at AlexandriaMN.org or 320-763-3161.

Funding support provided by the Blandin Foundation.

Upcoming Chamber Events

Wake Up Alexandria!

Friday, September 1 from 7:30-8:30 am Runestone Museum Foundation

206 Broadway St.

Nonprofit of the Day: Alexandria Covenant Church

Hello Neighbor Fall Event (details on pg. 2)

Co-hosted by Alexandria Area Economic Development Commission and Alexandria Lakes Area Chamber of Commerce

Tuesday, September 12 from 4-7 pm Lake Brophy County Park 2175 Brophy Landing NW

Chamber Fall Luncheon

Featuring Dr. Will Miller - We’re in this Together! (details to left)

Wednesday, September 13

Serving: 11:15 am

Program: 11:45 am - 1 pm

Crooked Willow Weddings & Events

11181 County Rd. 82 SE, Osakis

Visit www.AlexandriaMN.org to register

Dr. Will Miller is a therapist, certified PTS clinician, Purdue University faculty member, police trauma specialist, former comedian, and leading authority on stress reduction, life balance, interpersonal relationships, organizational health, workplace culture, and wellness.

Generously sponsored by...

Wake Up Alexandria!

Friday, September 15 from 7:30-8:30 am KXRA-KX92-Z99 Radio & VoiceOfAlexandria.com

1312 Broadway St.

Nonprofit of the Day: Vikingland Band Festival

Off the Clock

Thursday, September 28 from 4-5 pm

Alexandria Area Young Professionals

Hosted at Broadway Ballroom Event Center 115 30th Ave. E

Nonprofit of the Day: Kiwanis of Alexandria

Alexandria Lakes Area Chamber of Commerce

Get your BIAD tickets!

Tickets to the 2023 Business & Industrial Appreciation Day (BIAD) luncheon honoring Pike & Pint Grill as the BIAD award recipient are $30 per person or $350 for a reserved table of 10 and may be purchased at alexandriamn.org/businessandindustrialappreciationday.

Monday, October 9 from 11:30 am to 1 pm Arrowwood Resort and Conference Center

Learn to optimize your membership at Chamber 101 Session

Join us for a Virtual Chamber 101 on Tuesday, October 3 from 7:30-8:30 am to learn more about Chamber programs, events, and membership benefits. Hear from fellow members as they share their experiences of being involved with the Chamber. Visit alexandriamn.org to register. For more information, call the Chamber at 320-7633161 or email info@alexandriamn.org.

Stay in the know!

Stay up-to-date on news and events by subscribing to Chamber email communications. Whether you want to receive all communications or just specific types, we’ll get you set up! Contact Macy at 320335-2869 or membership@alexandriamn.org for assistance.

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.

August Hosts

AFLAC (Anderson) | August 4

700 Cedar St., Ste. 185

Nonprofit of the Day: Runestone Off-Road ATV Riders

Aflac (American Family Life Assurance Company) is the largest provider of supplemental insurance in the U.S. It offers a wide range of insurance policies to help clients feel confident about their coverage, including accident, cancer, critical illness, life, short-term disability, hospital, dental and vision.

Pot of Gold Winner

Vikingland Band Festival won the Pot of Gold valued at an all time high of $7,450 at Wake Up Alexandria hosted by AFLAC (Anderson) on August 4! Donations include discounted services, gift certificates, and promotional items. Donors are promoted through Chamber email blasts, at the event, and on the Chamber website. Jeff Meland, Committee Member with Vikingland Band Festival, accepted the Pot of Gold prizes at the August 4 Wake Up Alexandria. The pot was valued at an all time high of $7,450.

Did you know?

Minnesota Market (The Dashery & Yesterday’s)

August 18

517 Broadway St.

Nonprofit of the Day: Ecumen Bethel Manor & Winona Shores Apartments

Minnesota Market encompasses two local businesses – The Dashery and Yesterday’s. The Dashery offers wedding tuxedo rental and men’s and women’s clothing. Yesterdays is a two-level upscale antique shop that specializes in antique furniture, glassware, pottery, and collectibles.

Caring for you

No matter your health needs, at Sanford Health we’re committed to providing you with the care you deserve. We offer a full range of services right here in Alexandria.

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

The Chamber offers relocation packets to new and potential residents. The packets include maps, the Alexandria Visitor Guide, an economic development profile, law enforcement, recreational information, and information on how to connect with Chamber mem-ber businesses for a multitude of services. We encourage Chamber members to use these FREE packets as recruitment tools during the hiring process or to give new hires to help them settle into the community. To order packets or for more information, contact us at 320-7631489 or info@alexandriamn.org.

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.

August Visits

Adorable Chaos Children’s Boutique, owned and operated by Nicole Carlson, is located at 516 Broadway St. in downtown Alexandria. The store offers newborn sizes through size 16 as well as Mommy & Me matching options.

Adorable

Blind Squirrel Pickleball Club is located at 2310 Hwy. 29 S. Membership is $25 per year and lessons are available upon request. The club is available for team building events and can provide balls and rackets.

Blind Squirrel Pickleball Club

Heike Fischer, Owner; Brock Smith, Owner

Minnesota Canoes is located at 3015 State Hwy. 29, Ste. 4040 inside the Viking Plaza Mall. The business offers both online and in-person sales of canoes, kayaks, paddle boards, life jackets, and more.

Sunny Acres Fish Farm Guided Fishing is located at 12238 Sunny Acres Rd. NE in Nelson. No fishing license is required and all ages are welcome. Walleye, sunfish, perch, and bass fishing are available at this fish farm.

Sunny Acres Fish Farm Guided Fishing

Mike Cook, Owner

september 15-17

Minnesota Canoes

Keith Martinson, Owner

Chaos Children’s Boutique

Nicole Carlson, 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.

August Visits

Ace Hardware in Alexandria is under new ownership with Shaynen Schmidt. It has a variety of departments to fit your every need from grills and outdoor living to cleaning and building supplies and everything in between.

Cenex in Alexandria recently constructed a new building that includes additional fuel pumps, a larger convenience store and local business partnerships from clothing and freeze-dried candy to fresh Roer’s Bakery donuts.

Stuart Rubner is the owner of Summit Chiropractic Care located at 324 Broadway St., Ste. 218. Stuart is a Doctor of Chiropractic, does acupuncture, and is able to perform DOT Exams.

Sheyenne Ritter is the owner of Wind Down Massage, a massage therapy business now open at 624 Broadway St., St. 103. She specializes in migraine treatments and recovery massages, but offers a variety of services.

BUSINESS.

Cenex Midtown Express - New Building

Alison Beving, General Manager; Shanna Johnson, C-Store Manager

Summit Chiropractic Care - New Business

Stuart Rubner, D.C., Owner

Wind Down Massage - New Business

Sheyenne Ritter, Owner

Ace Hardware - New Ownership

Shaynen Schmidt, Owner

Business Buzz

The Title Team (formerly Alexandria Title Company) announced additions to its staff. Shelley Gilbertson joined the Alexandria team after being a member of the Detroit Lakes team since 2013. She will assist in all areas from order entry through post-closing and business development. Brigitta Serrin comes to the office with experience working in title exam in the Twin Cities area. She will initially work in order entry and processing.

Terry Anderson and the AFLAC (Anderson) team, also known as the Lakes Aflac District Team, were the Iowa Minnesota Express June Power Weeks Belt Champions. This award goes to a team that achieves the highest percentage of sales quota during the final weeks in the 2nd quarter.

Ida Graves Distillery is now open to the public. The tasting room is currently open Fridays and Sundays from noon to 5 pm and Saturdays from noon to 6 pm. Once the cocktail room is open, the hours will differ.

Minnesota Bride Magazine recently held its annual “Best of” awards ceremony in Minneapolis hosting the top wedding vendors from across the state. The Grand Hall at Bold North Cellars took home a “Best of” venue award for the fourth year in a row, being named the top wedding venue in the lakes regions of Alexandria and Detroit Lakes.

Just for Kix was voted Best Dance Studio for 2023 by Minnesota’s Star Tribune ‘Best of Minnesota’. Just for Kix is headquartered in Brainerd, with 200 locations nationwide including Alexandria. In Alexandria, kick, jazz, hip hop, and pom classes are offered.

Bethany on the Lake, a member of Monarch Healthcare Management, won the gold for 2023 Minnesota’s Best: Nursing Home, Assisted Living, Memory Care, and Senior Customer Service.

Alomere Health recently received national recognition. It was recognized in Becker’s Hospital Review’s ‘Great Community Hospitals’ list, and was again awarded the ‘5star rating’ from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services for overall hospital quality.

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

Welcome! August new members

CoMitted 365 Roofing & Exteriors

Gary Swenson

320-828-7244

225 34th Ave. S, Waite Park gary@comitted365mn.com Committed365-RoofingAnd Exteriors.com

E-Junk Specialized

Greg Brede

320-766-3263

13212 County Rd. SE, Osakis gdbrede@embarqmail.com

Holy Divers Aquatic Weed Removal

Dominic “Dom” Tappella 612-293-6056 dom@holydiversmn.com HolyDiversMN.com

Hometown Community Bank

Jacob Hintermeister 320-763-7400

10635 Toby’s Ave. SE jacob.intermeister @hcbmn.com Secure.HCBMN.com/ Pages/Default

Life Link III

Kaitlyn Roach

612-554-1292

2610 Aga Dr. kbroach@lifelinkiii.com LifeLinkiii.com

Protein Allience, Powered by Trade Cafe USA, Inc.

Carl Wittenburg

320-346-4033

4277 Dakota St., Ste. C carl@proteinalliance.com ProteinAlliance.com

SolarGen of Minnesota

Carmine Iadarola

303-437-4063

45 Mule Deer Trail, Littleton, CO carmine@solargenus.com SolarGenus.com

Strong Insurance of Alexandria

Starr Marshall

320-391-5175

700 Cedar St., Ste. 231 starr@strongins.com AlexandriaInsurance.com

Sullivan, Ltd

Kevin Sullivan

612-384-8243 PO Box 231 kevinsullivancpa@ sullivan-ltd.com

Sullivan-Ltd.com

Woodland Dentistry

Tyler Geyen

320-762-0279

403 3rd Ave. E, Ste. 1 WoodlandDentistryAlex.com

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