Helping Your Business Grow
14800 Galaxie Ave, Suite 101 Apple Valley, MN 55124 952-432-8422 www.applevalleychamber.com
President Edward Kearney Chamber of Commerce
Vice Chairman Bethany Marquette BMO Harris Bank
Past Chairman Scott Kadrlik Meuwissen, Flygare, Kadrlik & Assoc.
Secretary Misty Scholler Bell State Bank & Trust
Treasurer Cynthia Heim Smith Wings Financial
Nick Martinez Nerium Independent Brand Partner
Peggy Johnson Dakota Electric Association
Membership is a benefit, involvement is an advantage! Below are a few ways to get involved and make the most out of your Apple Valley Chamber membership. If you’re interested in learning more about these committees, please contact Kristy with the Chamber at (952) 432-8422 or kristy@applevalleychamber.com.
Chamber Ambassadors
Next Leaders
Apple Valley Chamber Young Professionals
Mike Foley Apple Valley Medical Center
John Wortman American Legion
Fundraiser Committees
Golf Classic & Annual Gala Chamber Staff Kristy Cleveland Business Manager
February 2014
From the desk of Jodi Kurtz, Chamber Chair BBBBBBBBBBBBBBBrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr Can we be done with winter yet? I may be a NORTHERN girl, but I hate the cold so much that I thought by moving down SOUTH to Apple Valley would be warmer? Guess not! Hopefully Valentine’s Day will warm your heart and will allow you to forget about the cold for awhile or maybe a warm vacation is in your plans? As my Mother says, “This too shall pass! “ The Board of Directors met this week at Warners’ Stellian’s headquarters. We were given a tour by Robert Warner, Director of Operations and Carla Warner, Director of Sales. The tour was followed by presentations by Matt Kramer, President/CEO St. Paul Chamber, and Kathy Schaff from the Minnesota Chamber. Both gave us great insight and pointed out the need for volunteerism, especially at the committee level. VOLUNTEERING IS LEADERSHIP With that, I would also like to extend my invitation to ALL of you, to join us in bettering our business community. Just a little effort from everyone makes it so no one has to give much in valuable time or effort. You’ll be surprised that by giving an hour or two a month, you can affect change, accomplish amazing results, make new friendships/customers and have fun. Give us 1-hour and we will give you a leadership platform. Your ideas matter. Let either of us know if you’re interested in volunteering. Kristy@applevalleychamber.com or JDKurtz@warnersstellian.com We had a nice attendance for the 2nd “WHAT IF” with Mayor Mary. We are hoping to have another towards the end of the year. Many great ideas were brought forth. Those ideas along with our Board annual retreat ideas, were presented last week by myself and Chamber President Ed in a long meeting with the Mayor, City Administrator and Planning Director about our wishes and ideas to improve business. Old Chicago will be hosting the BUSINESS AFTER HOURS on Thursday, February 20th 4:30-6:30 p.m. HOME INSTEAD senior care (with our Past Chairman Eric Iverson) will be hosting COFFEE CONNECTION on Tuesday February 4, 2014 from 7:30 – 9:00 a.m. I said in my January Apple Seeds that I wanted to get to know more of you. I hope to see some new faces at the February events listed above. Thank you ~ Jodi Kurtz, Store Manager, Warners’ Stellian • “THE GREATEST LEADERSHIP SKILL, IS LEADING BY EXAMPLE” ~ So join us! Your Chamber Board of Directors had their annual strategic planning session at the headquarters of Warners’ Stellian in St. Paul. In photo (far center) is Matt Kramer, President/ CEO of St. Paul Chamber giving our board his insight. Matt was previously Governor Pawlenty’s Chief of Staff for seven years as well as the head of DEED.
February
Apple Valley Chamber
Business After Hours
James Barton Design~Build
Coffee Connetion Tuesday, February 4, 2014 7:30 - 9:00 a.m.
Enjoy FREE coffee & pasteries while connecting with Chamber members!
Thursday, January 23rd, 2014
1601 Hwy 13 E Suite 108
The beautiful design studio at James Barton Design~Build kept guests warm from the sub zero temperatures outside. Mother nature can’t stop these members from enjoying a great party!
Burnsville, MN 55337
Chamber Luncheon
Wednesday, February 19th, 2014 11:30 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.
Calendar of Events
Business After Hours
Thursday, February 20th, 2014 4:30 - 6:30 p.m. 14998 Glazier Ave Apple Valley
Enjoy FREE appetizers and drinks while hanging out with Chamber members. Guests are welcome! Please bring your business cards for the prize drawning. See you there!
Ambassador Meeting
Thursday, February 20th, 2014 3:30 p.m. Chamber Office 14800 Galaxie Ave, Suite 101, Apple Valley
Guests Speaker: Rich Wagner, President Dunnwoody College of Technology Dunnwoody College started in 1914 in Minneapolis. Our largest Apple Valley employer, Uponor, hires many of Dunnwoody’s graduates due to their high level of skill, workethic and professionalism. Dr. Wagner’s spent10 years as an electrical supervisor on a nuclear submarine, spent time teaching electrical tand know is President of Dunwoody and VP of the American Technical Education Association, he is sure to have stories and insight about our future workforce. Come help us show off Apple Valley’s commitment to education and help us set the table for future partnerships. $15.00 for Members * LaGrand Conference Center
Next Leaders A day at the Capitol
Thursday, February 27th, 2014 2:00 p.m. Tour of Capitol & State Office Building 3:00 p.m. Watch House Floor Session 4:00 p.m. Happy Hour at St. Paul Pub Join our State Representative, Anna Wills, as she gives us a tour of the Capitol and invites us into a session for first hand education on the legislative process. Contact the Chamber for more information or email Robert Braun at rbrann@wradvisors.com.
Above is Mayor Mary and Jay Feichtinger from Jay F. Jewler catching up by the fire.
Mary Jo Madesn, Ed Kearney, Steve Tasler and Scott Kadrlik are pictured above.
Eric Iverson entertained Next Leaders Robert Braun & Troy Taffe with stories of his past.
Coffee Connection Augustana Apple Valley Villas
President’s Perspective By: Edward Kearney
Tuesday, January 7, 2014
Jean Andries with Augustana AV Villas hosted a fabulous coffee connection.
Now that the below zero weather has made you question your Grandparents thinking in settling in the great Canadian border state of Minnesota, your wondering if a vacation to warmth will feel great or will that just make it feel even colder when you return? You can count on your Chamber of Commerce to find good in “Chamber of Commerce Days” as sports announcers like to say? I’ll do my best but I left my laptop in my car so I have to thaw it out first.
Left: Eric Iverson and Jean Andries, past and present marketing directors at Augustana
Next Leaders Robert Braun, Troy Taffe & Kassandra Fries joined Ambassador Dave Bartle for egg bake and coffee.
Above is Chamber Chair, Jodi Kurtz, picking a prize winner and chatting with Coffee Connection guests.
Mayor Mary enjoyed the view of Apple Valley.
BENEFITS OF MINUS-ZERO DAYS • We make National news (but reports say even we think this is ridiculous.) • Today’s headline in Star Tribune reads “Governor Kicks Off Campaign to land 2018 Super Bowl” Next to the article it reads, “Minus -15/Feels like -40” If under the “old way” of calculating wind-chill, it would be -72 • Same paper, same day: Front page Twin Cities Section—Headline read :If Keys Are In Ignition, You Need to be IN the Car.” What month was that p assed in and where was their Chamber of Commerce? • It seems for awhile, we’ve solved our Panhandler problem in Apple Valley. • You’re less likely to get a speeding ticket in -40 windchill. • The City can creatively fill those potholes with water. • Meet Minneapolis (Their Visitor’s Bureau) finally abandoned their slogan, “The Coolest Place on Earth.” What were they thinking? • We’re seeing all those “indoor” animals at the zoo that no one noticed before. • Home offices are all being cleaned today. • If power goes off, just open the freezer and your food will be fine. • Mosquitos are also wondering why they live here. (Will this kill a few?) • Invasive species (Zebra Muscles) are trying to cling to ice-cutters out of here. • Ice fishing is easier when flying carp jump out of the ice-hole on their own. • Lawyers are keeping their hands in their own pockets in this minus zero. • Those ugly but warm Cliff Claven hats (Cheers) don’t look so bad this week. • Weekend “partiers” won’t pee in business alleys this month after seeing TV’s Belinda Jensen throw hot water in the air and they see it explode! • Winter-Rules are in effect so please don’t hold any door open for anyone. • Now I know why Minnesotans don’t finish sentences, “Come with…” • No one is protesting outside the Capitol right now. • Robert Frost’s famous poem “Fire & Ice” asks if when the world ends, “Will it be by fire or ice?” Well with a name like Frost, of course he would pick ice. I’m kind of holding out for fire now. Not quite a Chamber of Commerce Day Today?
The TV Show “Southpark Song” says, “BlameCanada!”
Chamber Chair, Jodi Kurtz, assisted in drawing names for prizes.
Above are photos from the James Barton Design~Build event.
Chamber Luncheon
Wednesday, January 15th, 2014
“What If...Session” with Mayor Mary
Left: Saint
Apple Valley Medical Mary’s Center
University Cheryl Cox. Right: School District 196 Superintendent Jane Berenz
Kay Shimek & the late Dan Shimek Enjoy!
Let’s Get Better Together!
David Hurley - The Strategic Financial Alliance
Francois Paradeise, Bill Tshohl & the Rotary Club Thank youpresented PlatinumMayor Golf Classic Sponsors Mary with flowers & a signed card celebrating 15 years as Mayor.
Chris Ellickson Ellickson Photography
Right: City officials Tom ABRA Auto Body & Glass
The crowd listened intently as Mayor Mary addressed suggestions and questions on the future of Apple Valley that came from luncheon guests.
Left: State Rep. Anna Wills signed a card for Mayor Mary as new board member, Cynthia Smith chatted with Kristy at the check in.
Apple Valley Medical Center
Lawell and Ron BMO Harris Hedberg, Fire Bank Chief Nealon Thompson and Police Chief Jon Rechtzigel sat to the right of Mayor Mary to help answer questions.
Sterling State Bank
Valley Buick GMC