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
Ambassador’s Corner
Ambassador Chair Lisa Anderson Lisa owns Dunn Bros Apple Valley and has been an active Chamber member since 2009
As ambassadors we are here to help you utilize your Chamber membership to benefit your business. So find one of us if you: • Have questions or concerns that we can help you with • Want to meet others at any of the Chamber events • Know someone who would like to be a part of the Chamber and has questions • Want a reminder about Chamber events or simply want someone to go to a Chamber event with you • You want to join the Fun and Exciting Ambassador Team! Don’t forget that the Chamber is “The Voice of Business,” so let us help you make the most of that (we can also act as a big mouth for you :))
Peggy Johnson Dakota Electric Association
WELCOME New Chamber Members I-State Truck Center Fiesta Mexican Cuisine ProTect Painters The Roof Guys OrangeTheory Fitness ORB Management Corporation ChangeWorks Hypnosis Center Ryan Real Estate Park Dental in Apple Valley Your Home Improvement Company
Mike Foley Apple Valley Medical Center
John Wortman American Legion
Chamber Staff Kristy Cleveland Business Manager
March 2014
From the desk of Jodi Kurtz, Chamber Chair You’re only as good as the people you hire. Powerful statement! Your business depends on great employees but better yet, how do you find them?
What makes a great employee?
I as a manager have seen many levels of greatness as well as incompetence. Some come with degrees and some are high school graduates. Honestly, I look for work ethics; hard working individuals with the desire to succeed. I also believe that if an employee loves what they do and are happy where they work, they will produce for your company. I quote my late Dad because I had the utmost respect for him and he was a respectful businessman. His words will always be embedded in my head, stating: • Find your passion. Therefore you will look forward to going to your job and you will be great at what you do. • Work hard and be responsible. • Never be too proud to get your hands dirty. Simple words by a great man who worked hard at achieving his dreams. We sometimes overlook talented individuals because they didn’t fit our criteria. Maybe they came with no experience or lacked that Bachelor’s Degree. A person with good work ethics is eager to learn and eager to succeed. Maybe they just need that chance. At our February Chamber luncheon, we listened to words by Dr. Rich Wagner, President of Dunwoody College. The Chamber invited him to speak after our Chamber conducted a joint Apple Valley & Minnesota Chamber visit with Uponor where we learned they have had great luck with Dunwoody grads. It was fascinating to hear Dr. Wagner mention that 50% of students go to college but only 25% of them finish. What happens to the other 75%? Hopefully they go on to a technical college, community college or attain a certificate for a skill. We need to capture these people in the workforce also. Your business may be their passion for excellence and that is what you are looking for the most. It is a paradox but also a reality that many of these “skilled” workers very often make more income than many with higher degrees. Two days after our luncheon, Dunwoody President Wagner, our Chamber President Ed and Mayor Mary (with city staff), joined Uponor senior management on a detailed tour of Uponor’s operation, demonstrating the job skills required vs. applicant skills gaps. Follow up meetings are being planned with our school Superintendent Jane Berenz to explore better integration of our STEM graduates (science, technology, engineering and math), into exposing students to the many high tech opportunities in businesses and manufacturing. That is where the jobs really are. My company is also now exploring partnering with Dunwoody. As Chamber Chair, I am thrilled our Chamber took the lead in inviting Dr. Wagner and introducing him to our area, our city leaders and our top employers. Everyone involved is united in Dr. Wagner’s vision of finding strategies that better match academic programs with “real business needs” with “real jobs.” You can’t teach passion but you can teach those with passion. Hire those who share your passion. Where there’s passion, growth happens. To be successful, the first thing to do is fall in love with your work.– Sister Mary Lauretta
Apple Valley Chamber
March
Coffee Connetion
Tuesday, March 4, 2014 7:30 - 9:00 a.m.
15225 Galaxie Ave
Apple Valley MN 55124 Enjoy FREE coffee & pasteries while connecting with Chamber members!
The Chamber invited Dr. Wagner, President of Dunwoody after learning that Uponor has had great success with the grads. In front is Bill Gray, President of Uponor North America.
Chamber Luncheon
Wednesday, March 19th, 2014 11:30 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.
DEED Commissioner Katie Clark Sieben
Calendar of Events Business After Hours
Thursday, March 13th, 2014 5:00 - 7:00 p.m.
15751 Emperor Ave Apple Valley, MN 55124 A St. Patrick’s Day Celebration! Enjoy green beer, traditional Irish food and fun give-a-ways. Guests are welcome!
Ambassador Meeting
Thursday, March 13th, 2014 3:30 p.m. Chamber Office 14800 Galaxie Ave, Suite 101, Apple Valley
Ribbon Cutting
Friday, March 14th, 2014, 10:00 a.m. 15624 Pilot Knob Road Apple Valley, MN 55124
(Dept. of Employment & Economic Development) Returning to us after a few years, Katie spoke to our Chamber when she was Executive Director of the MN Trade Office. Today, Katie heads up one of the largest and most important Departments in government. Her message of Minnesota’s success in job creation as well as attracting new companies to Minnesota. It is a message on why Minnesota has better job creation than almost any State in the US. She also wants to hear from you on ways they can help your business. She was one of four names which the Governor was floating a few weeks ago about being his running mate and she is in the news almost daily.
Pictured above (L to R) is Chamber President Ed Kearner, Uponor’s President Bill Gray, Dunwoody College President Rich Wagner, Chamber Chair Jodi Kurtz and Uponor’s VP of Human Resources Jon Mendel.
Below is Karla Warner (from commercials) who attended to support our Chair Jodi Kurtz and to better partner with Dunwoody also.
$15.00 for Members * Crystal Lake Golf Course Please RSVP to 16725 Innsbrook Drive (952) 432-8422 Lakeville, MN 55044
NEXT Leaders Happy Hour at Bograts
Thursday, February 27th, 2014 5:00 p.m. Join the NEXT Leaders for happy hour and networking at Bograts. We’ll have a few lanes set aside for bowling afterwards!
Pictured left is NEXT Leaders Chair, Robert Braun with Waddle & Reed Financial Advisors. Robert’s dedication and creativity has helped grow this group tremendously in the past few months! If you are a young professional and are looking for ways to get involved in the AV Chamber, give back to the community and network with others in your age group; contact Robert at rbraun@wradvisors.com.
Chamber Luncheon Wednesday, February 19, 2014
Guest Speaker: Rich Wager President of Dunwoody College
President’s Perspective By: Edward Kearney
Do You Think…”THEY” Just Will Do What They Want To Do? “They” might if you don’t speak up.
This past month, the Mayor and I hosted a “What If…Session,” our second in a year and it was a success, especially the 1st one. But those just started the conversation. You might ask yourself sometimes, “I can’t change things because “THEY” will just do what they want to do.” It might be in Washington, in St. Paul at the Capitol or in City Hall. The Chamber doesn’t think that way. Recent ideas we pushed hard on. • Changed speed limits on new roads we thought were too low • Ushered through electronic message signs which were illegal before • Initiated discussions with colleges to enhance offerings in Apple Valley • Improved transparency of the City’s Economic Development Agency (EDA) • Succeeded in having a business owner as a EDA commissioner representing you • Identified and solved transit parking issues at 147th affecting businesses And that is just recently. We truly are “The Voice of Business.” OUR VOICE IS REALLY ECHOING YOUR VOICE We don’t just make up issues and often go months without addressing “new” issues. We are “watchdogs” for sure but often only react only after you say it affects your business.
The Chamber invited Dr. Rich Wagner, President of Dunwoody College to speak about the education gap between higher education and industry and did he ever deliver. Coming from the Philadelphia area originally, he spoke of 100 year anniversary of Dunwoody, a private not-for-profit college. William Dunwoody started the college in 1914 but also helped create Gold Medal Flour, Abbot Hospital, MN Institute of Art, WCCO and other endeavors. His trade school was dedicated “For the Better Performance of Life’s Duties.” Graduates such as Mr. Mortenson of the famed construction company who helped build the Twin Cities, Twins Stadium and other legacy projects demonstrates their success.
Ask yourself today, “IF I COULD ONLY CHANGE___x__.” Let us help you do just that. During our “What If…Session,” the Chamber brought up the concept of taking on One Block at a Time. Mayor Mary loved that idea. Tell us your ideas and issues.
He spoke at length about with 50% of high school students going to college and only half finish, what happens to the 75% without higher education? Yet with 99% placement of grads in manufacturing and the trades, a great number average higher pay than bachelor degrees with their high demand for “skilled workers.” He sees the solution being in k-12 exposure to the crafts and trades available to students with a passion to build things with the right skills now! Teachers, parents and counselors need to see their sons and daughters have high paying technical options that are in high demand as an option with over 98% of their grads beginning with $40,000 plus jobs upon entry into the workforce. There isn’t a job shortage. There is a skills shortage and Dunwoody is doing their best to fill our industrial needs. His presentation was inspiring and presented a solution to Minnesota’s future growth.
NEXT Leaders Luncheon
Guest Speaker: Jay Feichtinger Jay Feichtinger, owner of Jay F. Jeweler, spoke on the ups and downs of owning your own business. His honesty and good humor was well received by the crowd!
A FEW TOPICS TO CONSIDER (How Would You Improve Apple Valley?) • One Block at a Time—What would you want us to change on your block? • Taxes—Are they reasonable with the City, County, State? • Broadband—Would you operate better if 10X faster and would new companies come? • Transit—Do you like it, not like it, indifferent or build more? • Crime—Do you notice an uptick in theft, drug use etc. or are things better? • Money—Do you have good access to financing, expansion, cashflow? • Location—Are your location options limited? Would you rather see more neighborhood business options or keep it downtown as it is now? • Higher Buildings—Do we need a stronger sense of Downtown? • Closer to Street Building—Edina is building up to sidewalks. Should we? • Downtown Housing—More high-rise, market vs. affordable, senior housing? • Mixed Use--Do you see a need for mixed use (i.e. live above businesses, mixed zoning etc.)? • Workforce—Are you finding good applicants or are their skills lacking? • Education—Would more local college options benefit you or your workers? • Chamber—Do we need to be more aggressive in driving business issues, filling dark space etc.? • Moving—Considering moving your business out of town? Can we help you stay? • Permitting—Are permits slow, just right, expensive, cumbersome? • Parking—Is parking helping or hurting your business?
• •
Pedestrian—Is access on foot or bike easy to your business?
Citizen—Do you work in Apple Valley but live elsewhere so really not concerned?
We need you honest concerns, issues and opinions to best represent you. No matter how small the issue, let us see if we can help your business. It’s what we do! Take advantage of our influence, access and solution process. Be heard! We’re listening!
Chamber Business After Hours Thursday, February 20, 2014
A good mix of old and new Chamber members mingled with each other throughout the night, creating a warm and inviting atmosphere.
Old Chicago offered FREE beer from any of their 30 taps to Business After Hour guests along with amazing tavern pizza and appetizers. Members got comfortable at the back bar high tops and enjoyed a fun nighth of networking.
Pictured left with Ed is Old Chicago’s event and sales manager Carrie Herbeck. Thanks Carrie for your hard work on this event and at many of our luncheons!
Chamber Coffee Connection Home Instead Senior Care
Pictured above is past Chamber Chair and longtime member, Eric Iverson. Close to 50 Guests spread out to see Home Insteads new office space.
Pictured left is owner and executive director, Vitaly Salo. Vitaly has been a business leader with Home Instead for the past 7 years. We are excited to have them as part of the Chamber!
Chamber President Ed Kearney, past Chair Scott Kadrlik and Terry Merritt enjoyed Dunn Bros coffee together.