Information Specialist: Maddy Lindholm, 320-251-4170
Nathan Goebel (L), Jason Hallonquist, Cathy Julifs and Sarah Noble of AIS Planning with Business Central Magazine Editor Emily Bertram
Cold Cuts and Camaraderie
I’m a huge sandwich lover. A cold cut combo is my “final meal” food. I love loaded subs, simple whole-grain creations, BLTs, Reubens — you name it. If its ingredients are some combination of meat/cheese/spread/bread, I’m in.
Like many pre-teens, sandwiches were one of the first things I learned how to make (along with ramen soup). As soon as we got home from school, my brother and I would slather Hellman’s on some good old white bread, top it with a Kraft cheese single and Oscar Mayer bologna, and totally ruin our suppers with those babies. A bologna and cheese sandwich still screams happy childhood to me to this day — a craving that, yes, I have passed along to my kids.
In high school, several of my close friends worked at Subway. What’s a bored teen in a small town to do while her friends are at work? Why, order a sandwich and join them, of course. Six-inch wheat bread, ham, turkey and American cheese, all the toppings (except banana peppers) and extra mayo — never toasted. My order has not changed to this day, and every bite brings back those moments of carefree teenage joy.
When I moved to St. Cloud to attend St. Cloud State, I discovered the luxury of dorm room delivery, and my physique has never been the same. Sure, we ordered out for pizza a lot, but the go-to food was Jimmy John’s subs — a number 14 with onions, to be exact. This delicacy would often accompany comfy clothes and a movie after an evening out with friends.
Sandwiches are still at least a weekly occurrence in our house. Often, they are part of an activity — a picnic at the park,
a dinner-on-the-go as we run to activities, a quick bite as we head out on a weekend trip. Sandwiches, at least for me, mean happiness.
You may be wondering, “Emily, what does a sandwich have to do with AIS Planning?” During the photo shoot we took a few candid shots of Jason, Cathy, Sarah and Nathan chatting around a conference room table. Our photographer Guy told them to talk about whatever they wanted. They almost instantly began discussing how to make the ultimate grilled cheese sandwich. This spirited conversation included many emotions — primarily laughter and curiosity.
Of course, the topic was random and inconsequential. But what we witnessed in this moment was the true and absolute bond these four have with each other. In fact, all throughout the shoot they were making jokes, saying kind things, and hyping each other up to the point that it was infectious. AIS Planning walks the walk when it comes to supporting each other and operating as a team, and you can see it for yourself on page 28.
What’s that? You want to know the verdict on the ultimate grilled cheese recipe? According to this foursome, the secret lies in having good bread (sourdough was a favorite), melty cheese, Irish butter and — a bit of mayonnaise. But perhaps, it’s who you share it with that really matters.
Until next time,
Emily Bertram, Editor
Sponsoring Success
When it was founded, Business Central Magazine was made possible by six local businesses. The original sponsors were Cellular 2000 (which sold to Verizon Wireless); The Initiative Foundation; Northern States Power (which merged with Xcel Energy); St. Cloud Hospital — CentraCare; Stearns Bank; and Strack Construction. Of these six, CentraCare and Stearns Bank remain engaged advertisers today, 25 years later. We are so grateful for these organizations and for all of the support that Business Central has received over the years!
Publisher Julie Lunning
Editor Emily Bertram
Founding Editor Gail Ivers
CONTRIBUTING WRITERS
Emily Bertram, St. Cloud Area Chamber of Commerce
Alli Bily, St. Cloud State University
Kelly Cane, Moxie Creative
Amy Degerstrom, Stearns History Museum
Dave Jacobs, Jacobs Financial
Randy Krebs, freelance writer
Lynn MacDonald, St. Cloud State University
Jeanine Nistler, freelance writer
Karen Pundsack, Great River Regional Library
Tauna Quimby, City of St. Cloud
Nate Van Heuveln, Criterion Counseling and Consulting
For advertising information, contact Melinda Vonderahe (320) 656-3808
1411 West St. Germain Street, Suite 101, St. Cloud, MN 56301 / Phone: (320) 251-2940 / Fax: (320) 251-0081
BusinessCentralMagazine.com
ADVERTISING
Associate Publisher/Sales
Melinda Vonderahe, Marketing Consultant
Ad Traffic & Circulation
Yola Hartmann, Hazel Tree Media
ART
Design & Production
Yola Hartmann, Hazel Tree Media
Cover Story Photography
Guytano Magno, Switchboard
WEBSITE
Vicki Lenneman, St. Cloud Area Chamber of Commerce
Editorial suggestions can be made in writing to: Editor, Business Central, 1411 West St. Germain Street, Suite 101, St. Cloud, MN 56301 or emailed to ebertram@stcloudareachamber.com. Submission of materials does not guarantee publication.
Ray Herrington, Pioneer Place on Fifth Hudda Ibrahim, OneCommunity Alliance, Vice Chair of the Board
Dave Kleis, Central Minnesota Driving Academy
Matt Laubach, West Bank
Laurie Putnam, St. Cloud School District 742
Paul Radeke, Creative Planning, Board Chair
Alex Schoephoester, Spencer Fane
Brenda Sickler, Theisen Dental
Amy Sip, ASip Consulting
Melinda Tamm, Ms. Melinda’s Dance Studio
Melody Vachal, Arise Cares
Donella Westphal, Jules’ Bistro
Dr. Jason Woods, St. Cloud State University
UP FRONT
GROW | NETWORK | PROFIT NEWS & PEOPLE THAT MAKE UP THE CHAMBER NETWORK
INSIDE THIS ISSUE: Digging History / New at the Top / Your Voice in Government / The Trouble with Business
BOOK REVIEW
Live, Laugh, Learn About the Constitution
An entertaining crash course in democracy, told with satire, scholarship, and fig cake.
By Karen Pundsack
If you want to learn more about the U.S. Constitution and our democratic government, The Year of Living Constitutionally is a great read. In an approachable, jovial way, this easy to read book tackles the history of tough topics, from freedom of speech to the right to bear arms. Journalist A.J. Jacobs dives into his storytelling with great gusto and democratic spirit.
Jacobs takes each article and amendment of the Constitution, researches the history, and then attempts to live it out in literal practice. He takes time to consult experts from a variety of political experiences to dig deep into each topic. His experiences and the reactions of family and friends to his efforts make the journey through a historical document both laughable and educational. Some of his foibles include an attempt to bring back a tradition of election cakes (baked with figs) and training ChatGPT to answer constitutional questions in the voice of James Madison. He also leans into the full 18th century
experience by writing most of his communications all year with a quill pen by candlelight and wearing a tricorne hat everywhere he goes.
While he is not shy about sharing his personal political leanings, he works to add a balance of voices on each issue.
trying to revive the tradition of election cakes or creating a “Robo-Madison” chatbot, while others dive into heavier issues such as race and constitutional amendments. The mix of lighthearted experiments and thoughtful commentary keeps the pace engaging without
QUOTABLE
“There is nothing natural about democracy. It is not subject to any immutable laws. It’s fragile. We created it, and if we’re not careful, we can destroy it.”
In “Article XV: A Complete Listing of All Arguments For and Against Originalism That Everyone Will Agree is Absolutely Definitive and Error-Free,” Jacobs provides perspectives from both an originalist perspective and its counterpoint.
The book begins with a preamble and 21 subsequent “articles,” each one focused on a different constitutional theme.
Jacobs explores topics such as voting practices, freedom of speech, women’s rights, and the right to bear arms, weaving in both history and humor. Some chapters are more playful, like
feeling like a civics lecture. Jacobs narrates the audio version himself, which adds an extra layer of humor to the storytelling. His other works include Drop Dead Healthy and The Year of Living Biblically, which are told in the same satirical style.
NEWS REEL
Trobec’s Bus under new ownership Sisters
Bethany Bertram and Becca Atkinson purchased Trobec’s Bus Service from their father, Tim Schubert. As second-generation owners, they grew up in the business and have a deep-rooted passion for the industry. They have each held various roles in the company, with experience in operations, customer service and leadership.
Anna Marie’s Alliance receives donation
CHECK IT OUT!
Karen Pundsack is the executive director at Great River Regional Library.
The book and e-audiobook are available for checkout at the public library. Reserve your copy at griver.org.
Gate City Bank and the Federal Home Loan Bank (FHLB) of Des Moines contributed a combined $40,000 to St. Cloud's Anna Marie's Alliance, with Gate City Bank providing $10,000 and FHLB Des Moines matching it with $30,000. The grant will help offset gaps in state and federal funding and support the shelter’s broad range of programs.
Braithwaite joins Stearns Bank
Stearns Bank has appointed Heather Braithwaite as VP, director of sustainable energy. Bringing nearly 20 years of experience in both energy and finance, she will oversee lending solutions such as bridge loans, lines of credit, and working capital to support renewable energy projects. The role aligns with the bank’s focus on serving a rapidly expanding clean energy market.
POINT OF VIEW
Business Central asked:
How do you hope your colleagues or business partners describe you?
Jay Kedrowski, Deerwood Bank
Dependable, creative and thoughtful
Heidi Chandler, Tractor Supply Company
Always willing to help when people have things going on — and always the first one to volunteer to make lunch for the staff!
Hardworking, collaborative and open to new ideas
Tina Johanning, Anna Marie’s Alliance
Fun, happy, and ready to get things done
Abbey Graves, Abbey Graves Productions
Helpful. The best compliment I can receive is that I helped someone achieve a goal.
Mike Forsberg, Forsberg Investments & Insurance
Trustworthy and funny
Emily Davis, Exploring Potential Interests and Careers (EPIC)
Stearns Electric promotes safety, gives back
In June, eight Stearns Electric Cooperative employees discussed energy safety at the Stearns County Sheriff’s Department Youth Safety Camps in Albany and Clearwater. The cooperative employees spent time with a group of 20 students ages 4-7. Through its My Co-op Cares program, the Stearns Electric employees also volunteered with Get Outdoors Minnesota, mentoring young children on nature walks and art projects, helping make the outdoors more accessible and engaging.
Stearns Electric’s Operation Round Up® (ORU) Program contributed $39,000 to 44 area organizations in July 2025. Through this program, Stearns Electric Association memberconsumers give back to area communities by rounding up their electric bill to the nearest dollar. Since the program’s inception in 1993, ORU has awarded nearly $3.4 million to over 5,800 local non-profit organizations and community service programs.
Churchill named Chief of Staff
Dr. Christopher H. Churchill was appointed chief of staff for the St. Cloud VA Health Care System in July 2025. With extensive experience in internal medicine, hospice care, and VA leadership, Dr. Churchill most recently served as acting chief of staff and has been with the St. Cloud VA since 2015.
DIGGING HISTORY
Downtown’s Oldest Saloon
Established during Prohibition, Frank A. Beaudreau’s “soft drink parlor” is still operating today.
By Amy Degerstrom
The first saloon license in the City of St. Cloud was issued to Frank Amos Beaudreau in 1880.
Now the oldest drinking establishment downtown, Beaudreau’s has been a gathering place for St. Cloud residents and visitors for more than 100 years.
Beaudreau’s was originally located at 418 E St. Germain Street. Following Frank’s death, his son Walter moved the bar next door to 414 E St. Germain Street, its current location. After Walter’s death in 1949, the Beaudreau family sold the bar, but new proprietors have chosen to retain the name.
Frank A. Beaudreau was born on June 15, 1861,
in a log cabin on the west banks of the Mississippi River in Le Sauk Township, Stearns County. He was the son of Frank Sr. and Mary Beaudreau. Frank Sr. immigrated from Canada in 1849 to what would be Minnesota, while Mary arrived in the region at the age of thirteen from France. Frank A. attended a oneroom school in the region, as well as the Sauk Centre Business College.
After graduation, Frank A. worked for the N.P. Clark lumber yard, was a clerk for the Little Falls Hotel, and then returned to St. Cloud to establish a lunch and refreshment stand on 8th Ave. and 3rd St. North near the Great Northern Depot.
He operated this business for three years and then set up shop at 418 E. St. Germain in what was formerly the Radamaker & Kilain meat market. Frank A. married Flora M. Hansen on February 14, 1884, and they made their home at 23 Wilson Ave. where they had eight children. He operated his business until his death on July 8, 1935.
Like many saloon owners during the prohibition era, Frank A. listed his occupation as proprietor of a soft drink parlor in the 1920 city directory and the 1930 census. He was known in business circles to run an “orderly and law-abiding place of
The sign for Beaudreau's Bar, photo courtesy of WJON
This 1880 plat map of St. Cloud shows Frank A. Beaudreau's birthplace on the Mississippi River
business,” according to the July 11, 1935 St. Cloud Sentinel. Frank A.’s brother, Alfred Beaudreau, also had a saloon, lunch, and soft drink business in the neighborhood, now the location of the Iron Street Distillery. Frank A.’s son Walter was known to sell moonshine and was eventually convicted in 1929 of bootlegging. His sentence was a $400 fine.
After Frank A.’s passing in 1935, the
business went through a variety of owners and operators including Walter and Minnie Beaudreau, Herbert Nelson, Perry Ahlstrand, Earl Verkinnes, and James and Wanda Warrick. The bar is currently owned by Orson and Justin Chmielewski.
IN THE NEWS
Spee-Dee launches shipit
Amy Degerstrom is the executive director of the Stearns History Museum.
We’re proud to be 70-years strong in serving Central Minnesota with top orthopedic care. We believe in your right to choose where you get your care, instead of settling for a major system that doesn’t have your best interest at heart. Be treated by our A-level specialists, with quality care, and at a fair cost—right here at St. Cloud Orthopedics. & proudly independent.
Spee-Dee Delivery launched a new Transportation Management System (TMS) called Spee-Dee shipit, allowing the company to enhance the customer experience through features such as real-time tracking of shipments, online shipper portals, detailed order reporting, flex capacity, and secure cloud-based access. Founded in 1978 as an on-call delivery service with one pickup truck, Spee-Dee Delivery has grown into a regional company providing service throughout 10
St. Cloud Hospital recognized St. Cloud Hospital has been ranked the number two hospital in Minnesota in the 2025 - 2026 U.S. News & World Report Best Hospitals rankings, up from number three last year. The annual rankings are based on an evaluation of over 4,400 hospitals nationwide measuring patient survival and safety, nurse staffing, use of advanced technologies, patient experience, and discharge-tohome rates. St. Cloud Hospital was also recognized as high performing in four adult specialties and 19 procedures and conditions.
Schlenner Wenner announces promotions
Several staff members at accounting firm Schlenner Wenner & Co. received promotions and new designations.
Ashley Meagher promoted to senior manager at the St. Cloud office; Alicia Noakes promoted to manager at the Little Falls office; Abby Christen, Zach Scegura and Alex Hokanson promoted to supervisor at the St. Cloud office; Brandon Behsman, Kasey Brinker, Cameron Lemke and Olivia Mernaugh promoted to senior associate at the St. Cloud office; Gary Saiko passed the CPA exam and promoted to senior associate at the St. Cloud office
Former St. Cloud Mayor receives award
Dave Kleis received a Hubert H. Humphrey Leadership Award, presented by the University of Minnesota Humphrey School of Public Affairs, The award, honors people, organizations, and corporations that have contributed to the common good through leadership and service. Kleis served as mayor of St. Cloud from 2005–2025.
NEW AT THE TOP
Emily Coborn Wright
President, Coborn’s Inc.
Age: 39
When did you start at Coborn’s?
I started working as a cashier at Coborn’s in Sauk Rapids when I turned 16 to earn money for gas.
What was your previous position/work history: I’ve worked in a variety of roles throughout my time at Coborn’s in order to learn the business:
• Communications Manager
• Director of Topco Programs (overseeing our private brand initiatives)
• District Manager
• Vice President of Fresh Merchandising
• Vice President of Operations
• Senior Vice President of Growth Initiatives (this included overseeing our e-commerce, liquor, franchise, fuel and pharmacy businesses)
What is something that you really enjoyed in your previous positions?
I have been fortunate during my time at Coborn’s to be able to work in roles in many
FUN FACT ABOUT EMILY
different departments. I rotated throughout nearly every department within our organization. Those experiences have given me a strong understanding of how our company operates and how each department contributes to the whole. I’m certainly not an expert in each area, but I have gained enough knowledge to know which questions to ask and which metrics to monitor. Of all my roles, the ones working in operations have been my favorite. As a retail company, we are in the “people business.” Operations roles are ones that provide the most opportunity to work closely with our store teams and be in closest contact with our guests in our stores.
What are you looking forward to the most in your new position?
It is an honor to step into this new leadership role and carry forward our 104-year legacy. As the fifth generation of our family leadership, I am committed to remaining a locally-owned and engaged organization that cares for our guests and gives back to our local communities. The grocery retail industry today faces
DURING HER TIME AT ST. BEN’S, SHE STUDIED ABROAD FOR A SEMESTER IN SEGOVIA, SPAIN.
a challenging business environment, where we need to continue to differentiate in our fresh departments and with service-orientation. I look forward to working with our nearly 10,000 employees throughout the organization to meet these challenges head-on and seize new opportunities.
Where did you grow up?
I grew up in St. Cloud. I attended Cathedral High School and then College of Saint Benedict for my undergraduate. I doublemajored in Communications and Spanish. My first job was with SuperValu, which is now
UNFI. I worked in a variety of roles there, including working for Cub Foods, which is one of the retail chains UNFI still owns.
What are your hobbies?
I enjoy running, golfing, cooking, and traveling. My husband and I don’t have a ton of time for these hobbies right now because most of our free time is spent keeping up with our toddler daughter, who we love and adore. Our favorite activities with her are long games of tag and hide and seek.
CentraCare Foundation honors supporters
CentraCare Foundation’s 2025 La Gratitude Award ceremony included a special tribute to three long-time supporters who passed away in 2024: Doug Bischoff, Design Electric; Roger Duininck, Royal Tire; and Al Kremers, DeZURIK. The program also honored the Foundation’s 2025 award winners:
Rising Star
Janet & Chuck Andres, MD
Corporate Partner of the Year
K. Johnson Construction, Inc.
Service to the Foundation
Duane & Kim Koepp
Lifetime Achievement
John & Cherie McDowall
DESIGN | BUILD | MAINTAIN
The La Gratitude event serves as a tribute to those whose generosity and dedication continue to shape the future of health care for patients and families across the region.
BUILDING PROJECTS + PARTNERSHIPS
As a true single-source construction firm, Rice Companies helps clients achieve success every step of the way. We promise to listen, communicate, advise, and, most of all, be a true partner.
NETWORK UP FRONT
NEWS REEL
Catholic Charities names CFO, honors Good Samaritans
Andrew Johannes is the new chief financial officer at Catholic Charities of the Diocese of St. Cloud. He will lead the finance department in financial planning, strategic growth initiatives, and operations. Johannes was previously the president/CEO at C4 Welding in Sauk Rapids.
Jane Marrin and Janelle Kendall received the 2025 Good Samaritan Award from Catholic Charities of the Diocese of St. Cloud. Marrin and her husband used Catholic Charities’ services when adopting their first two children. She has also served the organization in several key roles, including director of social concerns and member of the board of directors.
Kendall is a 32+ year supporter of Catholic Charities, serving as a volunteer and sponsor, performing free benefit concerts with her band The Perfect Storm, and in her role as the Stearns County attorney.
Motor Works expands in Waite Park
Motor Works Auto Repair opened a new fleet shop at 820 Sundial Drive in Waite Park, expanding its commercial repair and maintenance services across Central Minnesota. The facility features advanced equipment and ASE-certified technicians to serve fleets of all sizes with faster turnaround and greater efficiency.
YOUR VOICE IN GOVERNMENT
The Tax Tango
What
passed, what changed, and what it means for
Central Minnesota businesses.
By David Jacobs
In July, H.R.1 — also known as the One Big Beautiful Bill Act — was approved and signed into law by the 119th United States Congress, meaning that there are many new tax changes going into effect in 2025 and 2026. The 1,000+ page bill introduces broad and sweeping changes for tax law, including modifications to tax rates, standard deductions, State And Local Tax deductions (SALT), and more.
Tax rates: The new legislation extends current tax rates of 12 percent, 22 percent, 24 percent, 32 percent, and 37 percent. Had the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act expired, the rates were scheduled to revert to 15, 25, 28, 33, and 39.6 percent.
Standard deductions: For 2025, an increase to $15,750 was made for single filers, while the standard deduction for those filing jointly was raised to $31,500, both slight increases from the previous rate.
SALT: The act made significant changes to the SALT deduction for those who itemize, marking an increase in the deduction cap to $40,000 in 2025 and a 1 percent increase annually until 2030, when the SALT will revert back to $10,000. For 2025, the income threshold at which the SALT deduction begins to phase out is $500,000 in modified adjusted gross income.
Bonus deduction: A bonus deduction of $60,000 was added for filers 65 and older. This deduction will
end after 2028. Additionally, this deduction phases out for individuals with incomes starting at $75,000 and joint filers starting at $150,000. At $175,000, individual filers are phased out completely, and joint filers are completely phased out at $250,000.
Some of these changes will impact American business owners. Of these changes, one extends an already existing tax law, one restores a provision, and one eliminates a current requirement.
Extension: The small business deduction law permanently establishes a tax deduction of up to 20 percent of qualified business income for sole proprietorships, partnerships, and S-corporations.
Restoration: H.R.1 restores the provision allowing business owners to expense
100 percent of their capital and factory investments made on or after January 19, 2025. Some limits may still apply, so refer to a tax specialist for specific information.
Elimination: The act puts into effect a new 1099-K law that sets reporting limits at $20,000 and 200 transactions on cash apps, like Venmo and PayPal.
This rule starts in 2025, rolling back the tiered system that was set to phase in a much lower $600 threshold over several years that was previously set under the American rescue plan.
Business owners are not the only group of Americans who should pay attention to the new tax legislation. Families, vehicle owners, those currently planning their estates, and workers of all kinds will be affected by these significant changes.
The full list of legislation is dense and extremely extensive. If you are unsure of what the new bill means for your taxes and your wallet, reach out to a tax professional who can provide accurate and concise information, as you may need to make adjustments for both your 2025 and 2026 tax returns.
DOING GOOD
Contributor
David Jacobs is an owner of Jacobs Financial in St. Cloud, Minn.
David Jacobs is an owner and Financial Advisor of Jacobs Financial. Securities offered through Cetera Wealth Services, LLC, member FINRA/SIPC. Advisory Services offered through Cetera Investment Advisers LLC, a registered investment adviser. Cetera is under separate ownership from any other named entity. 1407 33RD STREET SOUTH, ST CLOUD, MN 56301. 320-217-6006. Cetera Wealth Services, LLC exclusively provides investment products and services through its representatives. Although Cetera does not provide tax or legal advice, or supervise tax, accounting or legal services, Cetera representatives may offer these services through their independent outside business. This information is not intended as tax or legal advice.
Over $200,000 raised Crew Carwash raised $215,793 in support of Big Brothers Big Sisters at its 16th annual Crew for Kids fundraiser, held across all 54 Crew locations in Indiana and Minnesota. As part of the event, 50 percent of all proceeds from the Ultimate Wash were donated directly to Big Brothers Big Sisters. These funds support mentorship programs that ignite the power and potential of youth.
NEWS REEL
AMAX named WomenOwned Business
AMAX Manufacturing Inc. has been certified by the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) as a Women-Owned Small Business. Candice Kantor owns AMAX with her husband Adam, providing plastic injection molding and 3D printing capabilities in Foley, Minn.
Quinlivan & Hughes attorneys recognized Minnesota
Lawyer named attorney Dyan J. Ebert, Quinlivan & Hughes, to its Power 30 list for Employment Lawyers, a distinction for attorneys whose work has shaped the practice, outcomes, and understanding of employment law in Minnesota. Ebert has served as president of the Minnesota State Bar Association, the Minnesota Defense Lawyers Association and the Association of Defense Trial Attorneys.
Four Quinlivan & Hughes attorneys were named 2025 Super Lawyers, a distinction recognizing the top 5 percent of attorneys in Minnesota. Jessie Becker-Sogge, Dyan Ebert, Steven Schwegman, and Cally Kjellberg-Nelson were selected based on peer nominations, professional achievement, and independent evaluation. Super Lawyers is a rating service of outstanding lawyers from more than 70 practice areas who have attained a high degree of peer recognition and professional achievement.
Got News?
Send news releases, announcements, or anything you think is newsworthy to Emily, ebertram@ stcloudareachamber.com, and we will try to include it.
TOP HATS: NEW LOCATIONS, OWNERSHIP AND EXPANSIONS
NAME CHANGE
DSC Communications
(formerly Granite Electronics), telecommunications equipment, 535 31st Ave. N, St. Cloud.
Pictured: Lowell Ness, Dan McCoy, John Brinkman, Sara Moulzolf, Rachael Sogge.
TOP HATS: MILESTONES
50 YEARS IN BUSINESS
Tri-County Humane Society, nonprofit animal shelter, 735 8th Street NE, St. Cloud. Pictured: Chris Jacques, Marit Ortega, Emily Prodinsky, Rory Cruser.
EXPANSION
ABRA Auto Body & Glass, auto body, glass and paintless dent repair, 41 Division Street, Waite Park. Pictured: Mike Brower, Todd Johnson, Scot Johnson, Louann Johnson, Kedrick Johnson, Danyell Wendland, Mike Pap, Brady DeGagne.
60 YEARS IN BUSINESS
Tri-CAP, community action program for Benton, Sherburne and Stearns counties, 1210 23rd Ave. S, Waite Park. Pictured: Brian Jarl, Brittany Hoversten, Colleen Orne, Michelle Peterson, Mike Brower.
TOP HATS: NEW MEMBERS
Architecture Advantage, architecture and interior design services, 375 Jackson Street, Ste. 420E, St. Paul. Pictured: Top Hatters Patrick Hollermann (L) and Rory Cruser with the team.
Avivo, homelessness, mental health and employment services, 110 2nd Street S, Ste. 124, Waite Park. Pictured: Top Hatters Jenna Binsfeld and Jason Miller with Avivo staff.
Better Days Psychiatry, mental health services, 4180 Thielman Lane, Ste. 100, St. Cloud. Pictured: Rachael Sogge, Tai Oguntade, Kelly Doss.
NEW LOCATION
WELL & Company Direct
Primary and Urgent Care Clinic and Medical Aesthetic Spa, healthcare services, 106 2nd Ave. NW, Ste. 2, St. Joseph. Pictured: Rachael Sogge, Maraya Robbins, Molly Olson, Donna Roerick.
30 YEARS IN BUSINESS
AMG Promotions & Apparel, promotional products, 2229 26th Street S, St. Cloud. Pictured: Dave VanderLinden, Brooke VanderLinden, April Good, LeAnn Orth, Tauna Quimby.
Hospitality Inc. DBA Copper Kitchen, restaurant and catering, 15 Hwy 10 S, St. Cloud. Pictured: Kristin Hannon, Maddie Waseka, Rachael Sogge.
Augusta Garage Door, overhead garage door sales and services, 24663 County Road 7, St. Augusta. Pictured: Dustin Voigt, Brenda Eisenschenk.
Waseka
FIVE GENERATIONS STRONG: How Landwehr Construction Built a Legacy of Growth and Renewal
From humble beginnings to a multi-industry presence, Landwehr Construction has evolved for 130 years while holding tight to its family-first culture.
In 1895, when William-Henry Landwehr started a dray line in central Minnesota, he likely never imagined the business would still be thriving more than a century later. Back then, the company’s job was simple yet vital: hauling goods from the railroad to local businesses using horse-drawn wagons. Today, Landwehr Construction has grown into a versatile turnkey site contractor equipped to handle complex, large-scale projects. While the company has expanded its reach and capabilities, the values at the heart of the business — family, community, and hard work — remain constant.
Over the decades, each generation has adapted to new demands and left its mark on the company’s direction. In the 1930s, the primary focus shifted to moving houses. By the 1950s, Landwehr’s cranes were helping creameries install massive equipment. As Minnesota communities grew, so did the company — adding excavation and site work to support schools, highways, and shopping centers. Projects like the Sartell paper mill expansion in the 1980s pulled every employee into the effort, proving that Landwehr’s strength came not just from its equipment, but from its people.
That philosophy carried forward into the 21st century. Under the leadership of the fourth and fifth generations, Landwehr broadened its services into demolition, water and sewer, and bridge construction. More recently, the company has become a critical player in renewable energy. Crews prepare sites for solar fields,
drive piles for panel installation, perform wind turbine maintenance with specialized cranes, and operate wind laydown yards that support large-scale projects across the United States. With ISO certifications in quality management systems and occupational health and safety, the company has positioned itself as a trusted partner for the growing renewable sector while continuing to deliver on traditional services like sitework & utilities, demolition, heavy highway, and environmental remediation.
“Reaching this milestone (130 years) is a testament to our employees — we couldn’t have gotten here without them,” says Nate Landwehr, the fifthgeneration leader now steering the business. “They make it happen every day, and they remain our greatest asset as we invest in our people, evolve with the industry, and build a future that serves both our company and our community.” His father, Dan, who led the company through the recession and supported the growth of both services and crews, still stops by the office, keeping the generational link alive.
Despite its rapid growth — completing its first acquisition in 2024 with Jerke Construction in South Dakota and surpassing 300 employees in 2025 — Landwehr has preserved its family-first culture — a continuity that is rare in the construction world. Many firms lose their identity as they expand, but Landwehr has used its roots as a compass, balancing modernization with tradition. Safety remains a cornerstone, with employees watching out for one another on job sites as if they were family.
Looking ahead, Landwehr Construction is building a legacy that proves adaptability and strong values can go hand in hand. From a small dray line on St. Cloud’s main streets to a multi-state operation, the company’s story is a reminder that with the right foundation, growth is not only possible, but sustainable. •
Landwehr Truck with St. Cloud Times paper rolls, St. Cloud, Minn., ca 1924
Nate Landwehr
Dan Landwehr
NETWORK UP FRONT
THE TROUBLE WITH BUSINESS
Track That
Analyzing your marketing efforts helps determine what’s resonating with your audience and what is missing the mark.
By Kelly Cane
If you don’t know which of your marketing efforts are working for you, chances are it’s because:
1 You’re not tracking the results.
2 You don’t understand the metrics.
3 You’re just too darn busy doing your job to review the analytics.
Sound familiar?
Tracking the effectiveness of
Contributor
your advertising is crucial. Without clear data, you’re essentially guessing what’s working and what’s wasting your budget.
What’s Trackable?
Tracking results from traditional advertising (TV, print, radio) has always been a challenge. We have to rely on indirect clues, like a spike in phone calls after a radio campaign or
Kelly Cane is principal and director of marketing at Moxie Creative, a St. Cloud-based marketing agency.
customers mentioning they saw your ad in a local magazine. These indicators help, but they’re rarely precise.
Digital advertising, however, offers much more detailed and immediate feedback. Digital platforms, like Google, Facebook, Instagram, and Mailchimp, provide tools and metrics that let you see exactly what’s happening — who's clicking, who’s buying, and where you may be losing people along the way.
Key Metrics
Measuring advertising effectiveness provides vital insights that can inform campaign adjustments, future advertising spends and help us understand the strengths and weaknesses of any campaign. Let’s be honest: Analytics reporting can be overwhelming. Here are some key metrics to watch:
Engagement Rate
Impressions — or how many times your ad is shown — are great, but only if people are engaging with your ad. The higher the engagement rate, the better.
Time-on-Site
The amount of time a visitor is spending on your website.
If they are engaged and stay a while, you know your content is relevant.
Open Rate
The percentage of people who
Tracking Tools
Even if you're not a marketing pro, you can still get valuable insights using the following tracking tools.
Website Performance/ SEO: Google Analytics
Helps track website traffic, user behavior, and where your visitors are coming from. Set up conversion tracking to monitor leads and sales.
Facebook/Instagram
Ads: Meta Ads Manager Provides detailed reports on ad performance, including demographics, location, and behavior of your audience. Other social platforms, like SnapChat, TikTok, YouTube, and LinkedIn also have built in analytics and reporting.
Digital Advertising: UTM Codes
This simple tracking tag, added to your URLs, helps you see where traffic is coming from in Google Analytics.
Digital or
Traditional Advertising: Call Tracking Software
Assign unique phone numbers to different campaigns to see which ones are driving calls.
Digital Advertising: CRM (Customer Relationship Management) or Point-of-Sale Integrations If connected to your digital ad platforms, these can help track offline conversions like in-store purchases or service bookings.
Email Marketing
Email marketing software, such as Mailchimp or Active Campaign, has tracking built in, informing you on how your emails are performing — tracking open rates, link clicks, unsubscribes, and emails not delivered (bounced).
Overall Campaign
Management All-in-one platforms like Hubspot provide tools to monitor key performance indicators (KPIs) across all campaigns, analyze campaign data, and optimize performance across various channels.
opened an email after it was successfully delivered to their inbox.
Click-Through Rate (CTR)
The percentage of people who clicked on your ad or email after seeing it. A low CTR might mean your message isn’t resonating.
Conversion Rate
How many people took a desired action (purchase, form submission, etc.) after clicking. This tells you whether your ad and landing page are working together effectively.
Cost Per Click (CPC)
What you’re paying each time
someone clicks. Useful for understanding the efficiency of your budget.
Return on Ad Spend (ROAS)
How much revenue you’re generating for every dollar you spend on ads. This is perhaps the most important metric.
PRO TIP: Know your industry’s benchmarks for each tactic you’re using. What’s considered a successful campaign can vary by industry.
Now What?
Advertising should never be “set it and forget it.” Make time to review results regularly and
adjust based on what’s working. Remember, tracking is only useful if you act on what you learn. For example, if a campaign has a high click-through rate but low conversions, your landing page may need improvement. If impressions are high but engagement is low, your ad appearance may be the issue.
Tracking your advertising ensures your dollars are working as hard as you are. With even a few simple tools and a regular review process, you’ll make smarter decisions, see better returns, and feel more confident in every marketing move you make.
Scipi Companies is a 100% employee-owned holding company based in St. Cloud, MN, with a growing network of companies across Minnesota, the Upper Midwest, and into Canada. We support and manage a family of businesses serving the transportation, memorial, and parts distribution industries. Since 1959, we’ve grown through a people-first approach that puts mission and culture at the heart of everything we do.
MORE ON EVENTS: For information on these or other business events, call 320-251-2940 or visit StCloudAreaChamber.com and click on “Calendar.”
The St. Cloud Area Chamber of Commerce hosted the 79th annual Chamber Open at Territory Golf Club in July 2025.
Brandon Voit, Falcon National Bank and Chelsea Lee, Leighton Broadcasting
Front: Carmen Hernandez, Advantage Chiropractic and Brad Hoelscher, St. Cloud Area Chamber; Back: Doug Cook, Headwaters Strategic Succession Consulting; Brittney Liberty, Central Minn. Mental Health Center; and Julie Lunning, St. Cloud Area Chamber
Mary Hagen, West Central Technology (L); Brittney Goebel, North Creative; Brandon Zilka, Catholic Charities
Brandi Caldeen (L), Nick Caldeen, Alex Babcock and Anna Babcock, Advantage Chiropractic
Mark Osendorf (L) with Kevin Johnson of K. Johnson Construction
Nancy Berg (L), Maddie Berg, and Tori Visker, White Wolf Custom Apparel
Kim Cumming (L) and Avery Hanson, Red's Transfer & Storage
Katie Jo Anderson, Infinite Eyecare; Emily and Jeremy Salzbrun, H & S Heating; and Matt Saiers, Jacobs Financial
The Bradbury Stamm team of Ben Schuman (L); Bruce Arnold, retired; Chris Koepp; and Mike Schoenecker, retired
Caitlin Heglund (L) and Carmen Lendt, Kyle Hedke State Farm
Ellie Rensenbrink (L) and Taylor Ruprecht, St. Cloud Financial Credit Union
Kalli Poster (L) and Jenna Binsfeld, St. Cloud Orthopedics
Darin Carlson (L) and Trevor Olson, Viking Coca-Cola
BUSINESS TOOLS
GROW | NETWORK | PROFIT
RESOURCES THAT HELP YOUR BUSINESS GROW
GOOD
Give a Little, Get a Lot
Volunteering isn't just good for the community, it's also good for your people and your bottom line.
By Tauna Quimby DOING
As an employer, you want engaged, productive, and loyal employees. One powerful, yet often overlooked way to foster that is to encourage and support volunteer service.
Support Healthier, Happier Employees
When people volunteer, their brains release dopamine, serotonin, and endorphins. These neurochemicals are linked to happiness and emotional well-being. Volunteering
Contributor
also promotes a sense of accomplishment and purpose, which can reduce stress and burnout in your workforce.
Enable Professional Growth and Skill Building
Volunteer roles often provide opportunities for employees to strengthen soft skills like leadership, communication, and teamwork. Volunteers can also develop hard skills like event planning, budgeting, and even technical expertise. For
younger employees or those seeking to expand their skill sets, volunteer experiences can be a meaningful part of their professional development.
Retain Talent and Foster Purpose
Many employees, especially those approaching retirement or who are at a career crossroads, seek more than just a paycheck — they want purpose. Supporting volunteerism helps meet that need, improving retention and deepening employee satisfaction.
For example, at St. Cloud’s AmeriCorps Seniors RSVP, individuals often express feeling unneeded after big life changes: an empty nest or a shift in family dynamics. Volunteering reconnects them with their sense of value and community, often translating to higher retention rates, improved reputation, and a positive workplace culture for the employer who supports volunteering.
Combat Social Isolation
Social isolation doesn’t only affect seniors. Even your highperforming employees can feel disconnected. Volunteering encourages social connection,
Getting Started Is Easy
In the St. Cloud area, the Chamber’s member directory lists 69 nonprofit organizations looking for volunteers. Some Chamber members offer support helping you connect with our community’s needs.
For people aged 55+, AmeriCorps Seniors RSVP sponsored by the City of St. Cloud offers a no-cost volunteer placement service tailored to their interests and skills.
United Way of Central Minnesota Volunteer United promotes local nonprofit volunteer opportunities through a searchable database online. It connects companies, individuals, families, and groups with meaningful ways to give back. Volunteer United is an excellent resource to help your company create positive change in your community.
INSIDE THIS ISSUE: Doing Good / Working Well / Economy Central by Falcon Bank
Tauna Quimby is the Stearns and Benton County program coordinator with AmeriCorps Seniors RSVP sponsored by the City of St. Cloud.
which supports mental and physical well-being and improves workplace morale.
A Smart Business Strategy Companies that support employee volunteerism report improved morale, stronger team cohesion, and enhanced brand reputation. Volunteer support signals to customers, clients, and potential hires that your organization values people and community. Plus, a culture
of giving can boost productivity and employee loyalty.
Bottom Line
Supporting employee volunteerism is more than corporate goodwill, it's a strategic advantage. Healthier employees, stronger teams, a better reputation, and a more engaged workforce are all part of the return on investment. When your people give, they grow — and so does your business.
Turn the Page
DFor more information on volunteer resources, visit BusinessCentralMagazine.com
igitizing rare books has been a time-consuming and delicate task, until now. Built in Austria, the Treventus ScanRobot 2.0 can digitize up to 2,500 books per hour without sacrificing the safety of the materials. Using a robotic wedge-shaped camera and airflow, it can scan an entire book on its own, with librarian supervision. At the University of Tulsa’s McFarlin Library, the staff is using the robot to digitize over 64,000 books in its collection that are out of copyright, with more entering the public domain each year. Source: Popular Science
BUSINESS TOOLS
WORKING WELL
The PTO Disconnect
Faulty assumptions about time off are expensive for everyone.
By Nate Van Heuveln
Paid time off (PTO), such as vacation and sick leave, is a work-life necessity. It is often marketed by employers to attract top employees, according to an article shared by Kathryn Mayer, Society of Human Resource Management (SHRM) specialist. However, if PTO is central to employment, why are so many Americans leaving much of it unused?
Let’s start with the employee perspective. PTO is a
Contributor
necessity, not just another perk.
The American Psychological Association found that in a two-year period, two-thirds of Americans have reported at least one stressful life event, such as divorce or childbirth. Another study published on Cornell University’s Tech site arxiv.org revealed that, on average, individuals experience five significant stressors each day, with the most frequent cited as work-stress. Alarmingly, a SHRM published review of 228 studies showed that “Workplace stress contributes to at least 120,000
deaths” annually. Unmanaged stress leads to burnout, mental health challenges, and even physical illness.
Use It or Lose It
Nonetheless, Americans leave PTO on the table. One-third of respondents in a SHRM survey reported not taking a vacation in the past year and 48 percent of U.S. workers say they do not expect to take all of their allotted vacation. Another Harris Poll survey of over 1,000 employees revealed a staggering 78 percent of employees did not use all of their PTO.
Unused PTO is also a loss for employers. Psychology professor Seth Kaplan and his team from George Mason University highlighted the startling costs on organizational outcomes, including reduced productivity and increased turnover. One of the many costs is due to presenteeism, which is showing up for work despite being sick or impaired. Presenteeism decreases productivity and safety while driving up healthcare program costs, making it substantially more expensive than absenteeism, according to Kaplan, “with estimates that between 18 percent and 61 percent of employer total health care costs are due to presenteeism.”
Shifting Mindsets
What’s the disconnect? If optimizing PTO is a universal win, and failing to use it is a loss, what’s getting in the
way? It’s partially due to what The Harris Poll revealed as a mix of workplace cultural and self-imposed pressure, ranging from feeling guilty or fear of missing out or looking lazy, and a lack of employer encouragement. Nearly half of survey respondents reported getting nervous when asking for PTO, while 76 percent wished their employer would urge PTO use.
Solutions to this problem start with challenging one’s own internal barriers.
What SHRM's Mayer calls self-imposed pressures, Dr. Judith Beck also refers to as maladaptive thoughts. These can include: “I’ll look lazy.” “I’ll fall behind.” “Taking PTO will just hurt my prospects.” It’s essential to challenge such beliefs with a more rational perspective: “Am I jumping to conclusions?’ “Am I predicting the worst?” “Is this a habit of thinking?” Challenging such beliefs inspires rational decision-making around PTO. Problem-solving is also an organizational responsibility. Employers are encouraged to actively promote PTO use, train managers to support it, and communicate its value. Ignoring the problem of unused PTO is simply too expensive for everyone.
For a full list of research referenced here, visit Business CentralMagazine.com
Nate Van Heuveln is the owner of Criterion Counseling and Consulting (criterioncounselingandconsulting.com) and contracts with Fuller Living and Associates in St. Cloud, Minnesota as a supervised pre-licensed counselor to provide mental health counseling, career and leadership coaching, and workforce consulting.
Mood Scrolling
Most of the rhetoric we hear around social media is negative, from claims of misinformation to mental health problems. But is there an upside? According to Washington University PhD student Alison Tuck and professor Renee Thompson, when used carefully and mindfully, social media can boost mood and emotional well-being. Sharing positive posts and engaging with uplifting content on social media can improve your mood and make the experience fun and healthy. While social media shouldn’t act as a replacement for spending time with friends, getting outside, or other mood-boosting activities, watching a funny cat video, reposting an inspirational quote or sharing a food picture can help along the way. Source: WashU.edu
Granite Partners is a private investment and long-term holding company founded in 2002 in St. Cloud, Minnesota, with a mission to grow companies and create value for all stakeholders. We advance a culture of trust, innovation, and excellence as essential to 100-year sustainability, and we aspire to world-class wellbeing for everyone in the Granite community.
Pause the Prompt
Generative AI is transforming industries, but at a steep environmental cost. MIT researchers report that training and running large models like GPT-4 require huge amounts of power and water. A ChatGPT query uses about five times more electricity than a web search, and each kilowatt hour at data centers needs roughly two liters of cooling water. In 2022, data centers consumed 460 terawatt-hours — enough to power nations — and demand could more than double by 2026. Researchers warn the industry is on an unsustainable path unless developers account for AI’s full footprint, from energy to hardware.
Source: MIT.edu
Data-Driven Decisions
Understanding and using economic data is crucial for smart business decisions.
By Alli Bily and Lynn MacDonald
Data is everywhere and so are the tools to help us make sense of it. Data science and machine learning are seamlessly woven into the way businesses and governments operate. Companies can now leverage massive streams of detailed information to help inform their business strategy. Similarly, policymakers rely on data to inform economic policy. Having consistent and reliable data, along with the proper tools and knowledge to make sense of it, is vital for making sound business, policy, and even individual decisions.
While many private companies collect and maintain large amounts of their own
data, they often supplement their internal information with government data. Government datasets offer comprehensive coverage across the U.S., providing additional context that guide better informed decisions.
The National Association for Business Economics conducted a survey in April 2018 in hopes of helping us better understand the use of government data within the private sector. Respondents from a variety of industries answered questions about their use of government data. Ninetyfive percent of respondents reported that government data was important for analyses and forecasting that is directly used to drive business decisions.
Contributors
Alli Bily, economist (SCSU ’19, University of Illinois ’20), and Lynn MacDonald, Ph.D., associate professor of economics and co-director of the Center for Economic Education at St. Cloud State University. For a list of sources visit BusinessCentralMagazine.com
Approximately 50 percent of respondents indicated that government data was critical to decision-making at their business with respect to a host of decisions such as capital spending, pricing, cost of living adjustments for workers, and borrowing/lending decisions.
For many years, the U.S. (and other countries) have engaged in practices that make more data publicly available. The increasing accessibility of public data has further expanded opportunities for analysis and innovation. The McKinsey Global Institute published a report that estimates the value of open data across a variety of business sectors. They find open data contributes between $300 to $350 billion value added in healthcare and $210 to $280 billion in consumer finance.
Economists Abhishek Nagaraj and Matteo Trachero set out to study the connection between data availability and economic research. Their research evaluates the impact of the opening of thirty-one Federal Statistical Research Data Centers between 1994 and 2019. These federal statistical research data centers make confidential, personlevel data available to support high-quality research. Nagaraj and Trachero’s study compared economists with and without local access to these centers and found that those with access produced 18 percent more publications in topranked journals. Additionally, their research was cited more frequently in policy documents demonstrating that access to comprehensive data
enables researchers to produce findings that are both scientifically rigorous and relevant to real-world policy discussions.
One compelling example of how economic data can inform policy comes from a study conducted in 2014 by economist Raj Chetty and team. The study looked at teacher quality using a “value-added” measure, which tracks teachers’ impact on student test scores. They linked student test scores to income data later in life to see how teacher quality affected future earnings. Chetty’s analysis found that replacing a teacher in the bottom five percent with an average performing teacher was associated with a $250,000 increase in a student’s lifetime earnings. This research illustrates the potential for data-driven insights to inform policies that produce societal benefits. As Chetty and team note, “The most important lesson of this study is that improving the quality of teaching — whether via the use of value-added metrics or other policy levers — is likely to have substantial economic and social benefits.”
These examples illustrate the importance and power of data. From government datasets informing business decisions to open data generating billions of dollars in economic value, the impact of information is clear: data is vital. When paired with the right analytical tools, detailed data allows businesses, researchers and policymakers to uncover insights that create both economic value and broader societal benefits.
Residential Building Permits
ECONOMIC INDICATORS & TRENDS
Compiled by Shelly Imdieke, St. Cloud Area Chamber of Commerce
Totals represent data reported as of 10/2/2025
Residential Building Permits
6
Commercial Building Permits 6
Commercial Building Permits
6
Sources: Building departments for the following cities: St. Cloud, Sauk Rapids,
m Jobs
BUSINESS TOOLS
St. Cloud Area Association of Realtors, http://stcloudrealtors.com/pages/statistics.
Despite headlines touting a return to office movement across the country, the share of hybrid work has hardly changed since 2022. According to a September 2025 Gallup article:
51
51 percent of U.S. workers are hybrid, 28 percent are fully remote, and 21 percent are fully on-site.
2.3 days
Hybrid employees average 2.3 days in office each week, which has not changed since 2023.
45 vs 28
47 percent of the tech sector is fully remote, 45 percent hybrid and 9 percent fully on-site, compared to federal jobs at 28 percent hybrid after a 2025 policy change.
Trust is key
The key to a successful hybrid work policy lies in trust, with only 54 percent of managers saying they strongly trust remote worker productivity, and 57 percent of employees feeling trusted when working remotely. That trust, though, rises 30 or more percentage points with strong communication, team community, accountability and equal development opportunities.
Source: Gallup
FALCON · GIVES · BACK
COVER STORY
Fiercely
INDEPENDENT
WITH LEADERSHIP THAT PRIORITIZES ITS PEOPLE AND A STRATEGIC AND INTENTIONAL SUCCESSION PLAN, AIS PLANNING HAS SOWN SUCCESS FOR OVER 25 YEARS.
STORY BY EMILY BERTRAM • PHOTOS BY SWITCHBOARD
The term independence, at its core, is about being on your own — free from oversight or outside directives. It’s the power to make your own decisions, travel your own path and be free from needing others.
It’s fighting to buy back your company after a sale leaves you feeling controlled and silenced.
It’s offering your employees a salary instead of commissions, so that they have the financial freedom to advise instead of sell.
It’s increasing your internal capabilities to serve clients’ needs faster and more effectively.
It’s empowering staff and clients to give back to the community in ways that they are passionate about.
For Cathy Julifs and Jason Hallonquist, principal owners of AIS Planning, it’s a term that defines the core values at AIS, along with serving others and doing the right thing. It’s also how the future of AIS Planning will be charted.
STARTING SMALL
With a degree in accounting, Julifs has spent her whole career working in financial services of some kind. It was during her time servicing 401K accounts at Bankers Systems that she received a call from Mike Sipe. A departing employee had given Sipe her name and he asked Julifs to work for him at PrimeVest. “I helped advisors across
the country build 401K plans for their clients,” Julifs said, referring to her work at PrimeVest.
Sensing some rumblings behind the scenes at PrimeVest, Sipe initiated a change with Julifs in mind. “Mike came to me one day and said, ‘Would you consider starting a new firm with me? This is what I want to do,’ ” Julifs said. “So we left and started AIS Planning to be an independent financial planning and wealth management firm that could not be controlled by the big mothership of anybody and try to stay as independent as possible.” AIS (Accredited Investment Services) opened its doors in March 1999, later adding the term Planning to its name to better reflect their services.
Hallonquist also worked for PrimeVest, though he and Julifs did not work together directly. In 1998, after holding roles in marketing and technology for the organization, his daughter was born and his priorities changed. “I didn’t enjoy all the travel,” Hallonquist said. He became a financial representative for the organization, working with over 2,000 clients across the U.S.
It didn’t take long for him to realize that he didn’t belong in sales. He remembers a client who had about $40,000 in a savings account and $25,000 in credit card debt and was looking for advice. Despite knowing that he wouldn’t get a commission off this advice, Hallonquist
recommended paying the debt off first. “I did not feed my family with that advice, but it was absolutely the right thing to do,” Hallonquist said. “I cannot do something that I feel conflicts with what is right by my family and what is right by the client, so that was the moment I said, ‘I can’t do this.’ ” Hallonquist got into financial planning instead, joining AIS in 2001.
FIGHTING FOR FREEDOM
Initially Sipe owned 100 percent of the business, eventually selling Julifs and Hallonquist each 20 percent by 2008. As Sipe began planning his own retirement strategy, he discussed selling the business to Julifs and Hallonquist, but the timing was wrong. In 2009 he sold the business to Winona National Bank.
“For Mike it was, I can sell it and be fully bought out in four years,” Hallonquist said. “For us, it would have been more of a 15-year journey. He knew he’d get more money faster if he sold it somewhere else.” Sipe retired from AIS in 2013.
Shortly after the sale, the economy was hit with a financial crisis, and the bank bore the brunt of the impact. “So there became a divergence in priorities in how you serve clients and how you serve employees,” Julifs said. It was then that Julifs and Hallonquist began talking about how to get out.
622 Roosevelt Rd, Suite 160, St. Cloud, MN 56301
320-252-6552 • Fax: 320-252-6534
PERSONAL PROFILES
CATHY JULIFS
Hometown: San Jose, Calif.
Education: B.S. in financial planning, masters in psychology
Work history: Home Savings & Loan, CA.; T&L Credit Union; PrimeVest; AIS Planning
Family: Husband Darren; children David, Amber and Brittany
Hobbies: Paper crafting (card making, scrapbooking), adventure travel and kayaking on Lake Louisa
JASON HALLONQUIST
Hometown: Eden Prairie, Minn.
Education: B.S. in finance and international business
Work history: 10 years at PrimeVest (now Cetera) and 24 years at AIS Planning
Family: Wife Ann; children Ally, Cameron and Ryan
Hobbies: Anything that involves being outdoors and in/with nature , spending time with family and friends at the cabin, fishing, hunting, hiking, golf.
“We’ve always described ourselves as being fiercely independent,” Hallonquist said. “We kept asking if we could just buy ourselves back, and they kept saying, ‘No, we’re good.’ ” It was after rounds of begging that they realized they’d need a more aggressive strategy. In August 2015, Hallonquist and Julifs decided it was time to take over. Essentially, they had to be willing to bring down the company to gain independence.
“Either let us buy it back or one of us is going to leave,” Hallonquist said.
NOTABLE WORDS BEST ADVICE YOU’VE EVER RECEIVED AND WHO GAVE IT TO YOU
NATHAN
“If I gave you a ‘safety pill,’ what would that do for you?”
— Jessica Cooper, coach and minister
JASON
“Do good things and good things will happen.”
— Mike Sipe
CATHY
“Don’t talk about it, be about it. Actions carry more weight than words.”
— My father when I was growing up.
In June 2016, they finally gained their independence from Winona National Bank. Brought together by the stress and uncertainty of this transition, they took the early days one day at a time. “Cathy and I are very different people,” Hallonquist said. “Through the buy-out, we grew a lot closer.” They worked hard to use each other’s strengths, recognizing that Hallonquist is more of a visionary, while Julifs is decisive.
SARAH
“To be yourself in a world that is constantly trying to make you something else is the greatest accomplishment.”
— Ralph Waldo Emerson
WALKING THE WALK
With independence as a core value at AIS, they do things a little differently than other financial planning firms. All the financial planners at AIS are salaried, instead of paid on commissions — a standard that dates back to the early days of the business. “I just wanted to be able to help people and not have to worry about feeding my family while doing it,” Hallonquist said. “No one is incentivized to sell anything. Their job is to serve people, and if you serve people well, you’ll do well.”
They also sought independence in terms of firm operations. Early on, they worked with a broker dealer for many of their products. A broker dealer sets the fee schedule for a firm and provides services such as compliance, technology, training and guidance to financial advisors. After a few years, they realized it wasn’t a good fit for them, so they started acting as if they didn’t have one. When that broker dealer eventually went bankrupt in 2015, it didn’t disrupt operations at AIS.
“We control our entire destiny,” Hallonquist said. “That control stays local.” It helps them avoid the need to acquire more clients to
offset fees and requirements.
It also means a bit more leg work for the AIS team. “Not having a broker dealer means the people in these walls have to hold all of those roles,” Julifs said. Though challenging, it also means they’re able to quickly adapt to clients’ needs.
QUOTABLE
“ WHEN CLIENTS COME IN,THEY’RE USUALLY GREETED WITH HUGS RATHER THAN HANDSHAKES. EVERYTHING WE SAY AND DO HERE IS ABOUT BUILDING AND MAINTAINING TRUST. ” —JASON HALLONQUIST
After Sipe’s retirement, Hallonquist and Julifs still worked to maintain his legacy and the lessons he had taught them during his time with AIS. “We never lost a single client when Mike retired,” Hallonquist said. Part of that is because they’ve done a good job handling the continuity of relationships. Every client is assigned a main advisor as well as an associate advisor who is equally updated on the client’s needs and plan. Having the secondary advisors present allows them to learn clients’ full stories. Julifs and Hallonquist know that, if they are gone, their clients will still have the same experience as if they were present.
Julifs and Hallonquist often have the pleasure of working with clients through all stages of life, from college graduation to job changes to marriage and babies, and then many times starting all over again with their children.
“When clients come in, they’re usually greeted with hugs rather than handshakes,” Hallonquist said. “Everything we say and do here is about building and maintaining trust.”
It’s a two-way street. “When we’re interviewing for employees, we will hire and/or fire off of our core values, but also when we’re interviewing clients, we talk about our core values, because we want to make sure there’s a good fit,” Julifs said. “One of our core values is do what’s right.” She illustrated this idea in four areas: Are you doing what’s right by the client, the team, our team members’ families, and the community? Employees are encouraged to ask themselves these questions regularly when making decisions.
GIVING & GROWING
Trust is also built through action at AIS,
which comes in the form of community involvement. “We financially support things that we and our team care about in this community,” Julifs said. The AIS Planning office is closed for four days each year so that team members can give time to local causes they are passionate about. AIS will match staff giving to local charities up to $250 per person.
Julifs and Hallonquist have served on the boards for the Paramount Center for the Arts, Habitat for Humanity, Tri-County Humane Society and St. Cloud Area Chamber of Commerce, to name a few. “There’s a lot of work getting done [in this community] that’s unpaid, and it’s supporting everybody and making the entire community a better place,” Julifs said.
Supporting local businesses and organizations is central to how AIS operates, from its clients to its partners. “If we want to have a successful business, we need a successful community,” Hallonquist said. “I have a plaque on my wall that says, ‘As you sow, so shall you reap.’ ” He believes, if you give your time and talents and invest in the community, good things will come.
Julifs and Hallonquist also believe strongly in the value of mentoring and coaching and invest heavily in the professional development of their team. “We’ve been doing CliftonStrengths for five years, and I can’t see an end to that,” Julifs said. They work with coaching firm Align to determine how to use Strengths to address internal issues.
They also use coaching for individual staff members. If they see that an employee is struggling, they’ll set the employee up with coaching sessions to help them work through issues. “We want to hire people who are going to be here for their entire careers,” Julifs said. “But we also know that it’s not going to be right for everybody. It’s part of our job to help them be better people while they’re here.”
“We all have natural wisdom inside us,” Hallonquist said. “A good coach helps draw that out of you.” Their coaching work has
PERSONAL PROFILES
Hometown: Morris, Minn.
Education: Minnesota State Moorhead — B.S. in business administration; Professional Plan Consultant (PPC)designation
Work History: Admissions counselor at University of Sioux Falls; owner of Definition
Studio Photography; recruiter/ director of operations at a financial services company; advisor/operations manager at AIS Planning
Family: Children Alexandra, Katelyn and William, two dogs Penny and Copper
Hobbies: Public speaking, golf, photography, travel
Hometown: Freeport, Minn.
Education: St. Cloud State University — B.S. in finance; Certified Financial Planner (CFP) designation
Family: Wife Brittney, daughter Emory and dog Auggie
Hobbies: Golfing, running, "wannabe" chef, and fantasy football "manager"
SARAH NOBLE
NATHAN GOEBEL
AIS PLANNING TIMELINE
MARCH 5, 1999
Mike Sipe and Cathy Julifs start Accredited Investment Services (AIS), with Sipe as 100 percent owner
2001 Jason Hallonquist joins AIS
2002 AIS becomes AIS Planning to better describe their services
Julifs purchases 10 percent of AIS Planning from Sipe
2004 Hallonquist purchases 10 percent of AIS Planning from Sipe
2008 Julifs and Hallonquist each purchase another 10 percent of AIS Planning,
2009 Sipe sells AIS to Winona National Bank
2013 Sipe retires from AIS Planning
2015 AIS Planning parts ways with its broker dealer
2016 Julifs and Hallonquist purchase AIS Planning from Winona National Bank
2019 Sarah Noble joins AIS Planning as associate advisor
2020 Nathan Goebel joins AIS Planning as associate advisor
2023 Hallonquist decides to step down as CEO of AIS Planning, remaining an advisor and still providing vision and influence
Noble leaves AIS Planning for another position, returning seven months later.
2024 Goebel purchases 10 percent of AIS Planning
2025 AIS becomes registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC)
Noble purchases 10 percent of AIS Planning, making ownership 40/40/10/10 between Julifs, Hallonquist, Goebel and Noble
helped them avoid becoming siloed, improved conflict management, and even identified the future leaders of AIS Planning.
NEW CHAPTERS
Hallonquist speaks of the four freedoms: freedom of time, money, purpose and relationships. “In that, I started asking myself which one of those I want the most right now, and for me it was relationships and time,” he said. “Trying to have all the decisions of a growing business run through two people all the time was just becoming more and more cumbersome, so I stepped away from being the CEO,” Hallonquist said. In 2023, Julifs took over more of the leadership operations of the firm, giving him the freedom to serve clients while still providing vision and influence.
“The reason we bought the business back from Winona National Bank was because we wanted to maintain independence and local ownership — and that hasn’t changed to this day,” Julifs said. “That’s what we’re trying to pass on with third-generation ownership and wanting to continue to be independent for as long as we can.” They spend a lot of time building a structure for the future and observing who on their team may have an interest — and the right characteristics — to buy into the company.
“We’re looking for people who are acting as if they’re an owner,” Hallonquist said. “If you want to be an owner, then start acting as if you’re an owner.”
THE RIGHT FIT
“I never wanted to be a financial advisor — younger me would laugh,” Sarah Noble said. She moved to St. Cloud in 2011 when she began her career as a recruiter and eventually the director of operations for a financial planning firm. “We would have the opportunity to recruit women, but not retain women,” Noble said, frustrated by this puzzling issue. This led her to question, “Why not me?” She had a supportive village and a strong desire to avoid any feeling of “what if?” So, she began her journey as a financial advisor.
She quickly realized that the role was not a good fit for her in the organization she was in at the time, as it was heavily sales-driven. She began to question if she had made a mis-
take —if she wasn’t in the right field after all. “Right around that time is when I met Cathy Julifs,” Noble said. She soon realized that there was a different option for financial advisors and joined AIS Planning in 2019.
Nathan Goebel earned his degree in finance and began as an intern at the same company that Noble was at previously. He then took a position at an accounting firm as an advisor to help grow the financial planning side of the company. After two years in that role, tired of the pressures to sell, he left for an advisor supervisor position at Cetera — which meant compliance work. “What I learned from that is that I can’t just sit behind a desk all day and not talk to people — or when I do talk to people, it’s always bad news,” Goebel said.
After these experiences, he found himself in a professional funk. “I thought I liked what I was doing, I thought I had figured it out,” Goebel said. He met with a mentor who recommended he connect with Jason Hallonquist. After talking with Hallonquist, meeting the team and learning more about AIS, Goebel and his wife were invited to dinner by Hallonquist and his wife, an unexpected but much appreciated gesture. “It was one of those things that showed me that AIS was different,” Goebel said. He started at AIS in 2020.
In 2023, Noble left AIS for a position at another firm in business development and marketing. “The opportunity for ownership at AIS wasn’t on the table at that point and I thought, I don’t live a life with regret,” Noble said. “I stayed in touch with Cathy and she was always cheering for me from the day I put in my resignation.” Noble was back at AIS about seven months later, after realizing the new position wasn’t a fit. She was nervous about how the team would react to her return, but with honesty and vulnerability, she was welcomed back with open arms. “I feel like I’ve never really left.”
She is sure now that she’s where she belongs. “The depth of the relationships we get in this industry, the opportunity to change generational wealth for people, and the opportunity to come alongside people realizing their goals in real-time — it’s so incredibly rewarding,” Noble said. She’s also passionate about the independence that sets AIS apart. “We want all people to feel they deserve financial advice
that’s in their best interest, whether you have one dollar or one million dollars.”
Goebel loves when clients include him in all aspects of their lives, from expecting a child to preparing for a new career. “People hire us to help them — to be their advocate,” Goebel said. “They trust us with their whole situation.” He feels honored to earn that trust.
Both Noble and Goebel had points in their careers where they questioned if advising was the right path for them. Through working with Julifs and Hallonquist at AIS, they can both say that it has absolutely been the right decision. So much so, in fact, that Goebel became a ten percent owner in January 2024, and Noble in January 2025.
“We’re scraping our knees, we’re figuring it out,” Noble said. “This isn’t some smooth, beautiful transition.” She acknowledges and respects that this is new for Julifs and Hallonquist, too. For over 20 years they’ve led the firm as a duo, and now there are two more people to consider. But that’s also proving to be a weight lifted.
“Now that there is clarity on the expectations and attributes and there’s a process and more concrete numbers on how this will work, I feel like for Jason and Cathy, there’s also a sense of relief,” Goebel said. Not only because it’s working, but because they don’t have to worry about their clients being taken care of in the future.
THE TEAM OF TOMORROW
Julifs and Hallonquist trust Goebel and Noble to continue with the legacy that they have created. A part of that is how they work together. “Sarah is very strategic, and her communication is incredible,” Goebel said. “I’m very analytical — I want a lot of information.”
“I have a lot of passion for the retirement side of our firm,” Noble said. “Nathan is complementary in that because he’s analytical, he can work with deeply complex, high-networth clients.” The pairing of these different skill sets lends itself again to the continuity of the firm, with Noble and Goebel taking on very similar roles as Julifs and Hallonquist. “Nathan and I have started having vision conversations, and there’s so much alignment,” Noble said.
Buying into a business doesn’t come without stress. “You’re not only committing financially — you’re committing emotionally and with your time and energy to saying, ‘I’m going to be here,’ ” Noble said. On the other hand, she feels pride and relief in being able to say, this is it, this is where I’m going to be. From conversations with employees to small operational decisions, Noble and Goebel now must consider how it will impact the firm and ultimately the future.
Goebel and Noble have dreams of being able to serve more clients, to grow at a pace that is manageable for the team, and to never change the culture of caring deeply for the team and
WOMEN’S CONVERSATION CIRCLES
MONEY ISN’T JUST ABOUT NUMBERS – IT’S ABOUT THE CONVERSATIONS BEHIND THEM.
Itheir clients. They acknowledge how scary this transition must be for Julifs and Hallonquist, but feel strongly that they can take the legacy of AIS Planning and continue to honor and grow it. “Thank you for trusting us,” Goebel said. “I know that was not an easy thing.”
“Thank you for building this beautiful organization with depth and intention and core values that are foundational,” Noble said. “It’s going to be okay — you’ve got us.”
Julifs and Hallonquist have faith in Noble and Goebel, as long as they remember their roots. Julifs’ advice: “Doing what's right by our clients, our team, their family, and the community while having resilience, openness to change, and the ability to pivot is what's most important.”
Hallonquist agrees. “Stay grounded in our values and lead with a servant’s heart,” he said. “In the pursuit of doing the right thing, good decisions and good outcomes will follow.”
Emily Bertram is director of marketing and communications at the St. Cloud Area Chamber of Commerce and editor of Business Central Magazine.
n 2014, Cathy Julifs, AIS Planning, attended a training for female advisors that focused on having deeper conversations with clients. Three years later, she brought the idea to AIS Planning’s 401K clients, launching onsite “women’s conversation circles.” These early gatherings tested the format, with financial topics as the anchor. But the conversations often went much further.
“What I found in that environment was that we talked about a lot of things that, in other group meetings, would never come up,” Julifs said. These groups have grown into a trusted forum where female clients share experiences, ask questions, and learn from one another. “It’s kind of like a book club,” Julifs explained. “We share a topic, then have a deep, small group discussion about it.”
From her start at AIS, Advisor Sarah Noble has also shared the passion for empowering women financially and quickly joined Julifs in leading the groups. Topics have ranged from the power of rest to preparing for widowhood to releasing stress and worry. Only one session each year is directly finance-focused; the rest are chosen through participant surveys. Sessions typically draw 12-20 attendees, with Julifs and Noble facilitating the 90-minute conversations. “We all walk away with great ideas, because we learn from each other,” Julifs said.
Jason Hallonquist, also with AIS, noted that the circles also help bring both spouses into financial discussions. “Men and women think about money differently— they worry about different things,” he said. “If we want to reap a long-term relationship, we have to sow into it.”
FOR BIG ORGANIZATIONS, SUPPLY CHAIN MANAGEMENT IS AN ONGOING PROCESS THAT OFTEN INCLUDES LOCAL CONNECTIONS.
By Jeanine Nistler
“MANY SUPPLY CHAINS ARE PERFECTLY SUITED TO THE NEEDS THAT THE BUSINESS HAD 20 YEARS AGO.”
—Jonathan Byrnes, professor, Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Now there’s a quote that could stop a business leader in their tracks.
Is your business supply chain working in 2025, not stuck in 2005? Are you getting the best value for your supply spend? Are you overstocking or panicking when supplies run short? Are there kinks or tangles in your supply chain that need to be unraveled? Are you planning to launch a new business and aren’t sure where to start with supplies?
Let’s look at the supply chain links outlined by some local business leaders and procurement.com.
CONNECTING LINKS
First, identify your supply needs. Talk with frontline staff — or have their supervisors do that. Define and quantify what’s needed. It is your call whether purchasing is handled centrally or by departments.
At ATS, part of the Anderson family of companies focused on transportation, having multiple departments manage their own purchasing “keeps decisionmaking close to the teams that use the supplies, ensuring our drivers, employees, and customers are always supported
with what they need to succeed,” Crystal Lahr, vice president of corporate sales, said. “Shop teams purchase items like tarps, chains, and repair parts directly. Our equipment department handles semi-tractors and trailers. IT manages computers and technology, and other officerelated purchases are handled separately.”
At CentraCare, nearly everything goes through a centralized system that includes a contracting group, a procurement team, receiving and distribution staffs, and registered nurses who “make sure our products are clinically acceptable,” said Clint Wegner, executive director, supply chain and support services for CentraCare.
Research potential sources. Who is out there who carries what you need? You may be able to get recommendations from industry colleagues, local contacts, or even by doing an online search for suppliers who serve your industry. Assess the suppliers you’ve identified. Can one company supply all your ABCs, and another provide all the XYZs? Or should you diversify your sources for each type of supply?
Negotiate and sign contracts. Make sure you will be getting what you’re paying for — and lock it in with contracts. “The health care industry is incredibly contract-driven, and you have to commit to different buying thresholds to get certain pricing,” Wegner said. “I’ve worked in
government and retail, and this is by far the most complicated, from a contracting standpoint.” Implement and manage. Order the goods. Receive and distribute them to appropriate departments or locations. This includes ensuring that you have an airtight system for tracking supplies — and paying for them. “Our folks will receive it and account for it and then follow the distribution path,” Wegner said, adding that tags on supply bins can be scanned to initiate new orders. “We’ve gotten fairly sophisticated as to how we do this.”
While St. Cloud Sky Central Airport (formerly St. Cloud Regional Airport) does not employ that level of technology
for sourcing and purchasing supplies, Director Bill Towle notes that the internet makes searching easy, and contact with regular suppliers can take place via e-mail and text. Invoicing and payments generally go through a web-based portal. Relationship management is essential, local leaders say. “Strong supplier relations are vital to ATS,” Lahr said. “They allow us to resolve issues quickly, innovate alongside vendors, and even collaborate on designing custom trailers when a customer’s freight requires a unique solution. At the same time, we diversify our supplier base to stay competitive on cost and ensure resiliency.” Balancing different
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types of supplier relationships “helps ATS remain reliable, efficient, and innovative, for our drivers and customers,” she added.
Repeat the management step again and again and again — and reevaluate suppliers from time to time. There’s a reason it’s called “supply chain.” It’s a never-ending chain of steps to keep a business equipped.
LOCAL LINKS
If your business is extremely small, you might be able to purchase all you need at local hardware, office supply and even grocery stores. But most businesses need to look much farther for supplies. And as much as area business leaders strive to support the local economy, those needs often cannot be met in the St. Cloud area.
The airport’s runway lights, for instance, are available only through vendors that have been approved by the Federal Aviation Administration. CentraCare’s complex medical devices are manufactured at and ordered from sites across the country. Yet these and other organizations are committed to buying from area businesses as much as they can. “We purchase locally whenever possible, especially for office supplies, safety gear, and employeerelated items,” said ATS’s Lahr.
“I can’t buy my IV solution locally,” said CentraCare’s Wegner. But he can locally source food and numerous supplies that are not specific to health care. “We try. If we know something is in the community or in the state, we try to prefer those vendors because that’s putting money back into the communities — and from a sustainability perspective, it’s a better footprint. If it’s reasonable to source it locally, that’s a no-brainer.” Of CentraCare’s $230 million annual supply spend,
“We try to buy as much locally as we can. It is important to support the community. It is important to have a vibrant community, that businesses are doing well.”
— BILL TOWLE, DIRECTOR, ST. CLOUD SKY CENTRAL AIRPORT
$1.9 million is local. Of the health system’s $437 million annual spend on purchased services, $162 million is local.
At the airport, it’s common for staff to buzz over to Mimbach Fleet Supply for a couple of bolts or a handful of nuts even though the aviation-specific supplies must come from elsewhere. The airport generally buys cleaning supplies, plumbing and HVAC equipment, and tires from Central Minnesota vendors. Towle estimates that the airport spends 90 percent of its $2 million budget locally.
“We take our time to go out and get quotes and try to get the best price while at the same time keeping things local,” Towle said. “We try to buy as much locally as we can. It is important to support the community. It is important to have a vibrant community, that businesses are doing well.” As a government entity, “when we can’t find it locally, we take advantage of cooperative purchasing through the state of Minnesota,” he said. “They’ve done our homework for us. That’s a good way for us to source.”
Towle and Wegner note that while sourcing industry-specific supplies in Central Minnesota can be challenging or impossible, finding professionals to provide services is not. The airport generally uses local electricians “because they’ve done lots of work here and are familiar with the airport.” He notes that, while it might cost more per hour, familiarity saves time and ultimately money.
A local company completed a $25,000 paving project at the airport. Much of the money being
spent on a significant addition to CentraCare Plaza is going into the local economy. Wegner summarized what likely are the three keys for every business when buying supplies or services: Cost. Quality. Outcomes.
Jeanine Nistler (jeaninenistler@ outlook.com) is a St. Cloud-based freelance writer whose career has included daily newspaper reporting and editing, as well as communications work in health care, higher education, and state government settings.
ASSETS COVER YOUR Q
BUILDING A WINNING GAME PLAN FOR BUSINESS INSURANCE TAKES THE RIGHT MOVES, SOLID DEFENSE, AND SMART STRATEGY.
By Randy Krebs
uick! Name some of the types of insurance that a small business should carry.
Hint: General liability, property, business interruption, cyber, professional (errors and omissions), workers compensation (legally required in Minnesota), product liability, employment practices and inland marine insurance (yes; look it up), to name a few.
Now, name the insurance types that your small business carries.
If you are not saying anything — or not quite sure what to answer — take comfort in knowing you are not alone.
According to a recent Next Insurance survey reported by Forbes Advisor, 90 percent of small business owners nationwide aren’t confident their companies are
adequately insured. Even more — 96 percent — acknowledged they don’t know the basics about small business insurance.
DEFENSE SETUPS
No matter your level of experience with business insurance, Central Minnesota insurance agents, business leaders and attorneys who know insurance agree it’s critical for business owners to learn about the types and amounts of coverage they need to protect their business.
“We treat insurance as a must-have, not just a nice-to-have,” Bri Bennett, vice president of finance for Nahan, said. Nahan is a full-service marketing solutions company in St. Cloud with about 450 employees. “It’s protecting your investment and the hard work you put into your company, and it’s an
important part of your growth plan.”
Quinlivan & Hughes P.A. Attorney Ron Brandenburg, who has 45 years of experience in business employment and transactional law, echoes the importance of having adequate insurance protections.
“Getting the correct insurance coverage means you have someone behind you to defend you against claims,” Brandenburg said. “Agents need to understand how the insured’s business operates to make sure the coverage provided addresses the standard as well as the sometimes-unique exposures the business is likely to encounter.”
Attorney Sarah Jewell, owner of River Valley Law in Waite Park, agrees. “The cost of defending the business can be very expensive,” she said. “If a business is underinsured, they are paying out of pocket,
“ WE TREAT INSURANCE AS A MUST-HAVE, NOT JUST A NICE-TO-HAVE. IT’S PROTECTING YOUR INVESTMENT AND THE HARD WORK YOU PUT INTO YOUR COMPANY, AND IT’S AN IMPORTANT PART OF YOUR GROWTH PLAN. ”
—BRI BENNETT, VICE PRESIDENT OF FINANCE, NAHAN
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which can be costly. It takes a lot of time, plus there can be costs to a business’s reputation and credit.”
Andy Noble is president of Advantage 1 Insurance in St. Cloud. He believes it’s important to stay on top of insurance issues, especially as a business grows. “I always try to teach my clients that the first five years are about insurance protecting the assets of your business,” he said. “After that, your insurance is about protecting the financial aspects your business has created.”
OPENING STRATEGY
As with so many other aspects of owning a business, finding the right insurance requires some research. “Business insurance is a unique thing,” Kurt Cushman said. Cushman is with Central Insurance
A Strong Relationship You Can Bank On.
Aaron Meester
Curt Gainsforth
Lisa Koster
Elizabeth Statsick
Matt Laubach
“
AGENTS NEED TO UNDERSTAND HOW THE INSURED’S BUSINESS OPERATES TO MAKE SURE THE COVERAGE PROVIDED ADDRESSES THE STANDARD AS WELL AS THE SOMETIMES-UNIQUE EXPOSURES THE BUSINESS IS LIKELY TO ENCOUNTER.
Group, which has been in the industry for 24 years. While insuring a one-person business can be pretty simple, identifying the right kinds of insurance — and the appropriate amounts — varies with the type and classification of each business, according to Cushman.
“We, as agents, need to be thorough with our questions,” Cushman said. He stresses that they will want to know everything about a business to determine what policies and coverages to provide. “Price is the price. As agents, we cannot set the prices or make it cheaper. However, we can quote with multiple
companies to find the best price with the proper coverages.”
Nahan just recently completed a request for proposals from local insurance providers to help make sure its policies and strategies are adequate, Bennet said. The result was a change in insurance brokers. She found the experience insightful. “I’d recommend a business do it every five to seven years,” she said. “We have an insurance broker and a couple of departments managing our insurance. We rely heavily on our broker and their expertise for what is needed.”
SUPPORT SQUARES
Brandenburg of Quinlivan & Hughes suggests finding brokers who know what should be covered in your specific industry. “A general liability policy may not cover what you think it does,” he said. “A business needs to find an agent who specializes in business insurance. It’s not necessarily the same as home and auto coverage. Agents should drill down to specifics for exposure and what needs coverage.”
“It is extremely important for the broker to understand your business so they can
Big Ideas Deserve Big Support
effectively represent you to the market,” Bennett said. For example, because Nahan does a lot of manufacturing, safety for its workers is a top priority, which means a policy for workers’ compensation is not just required, it’s paramount to the company’s culture of safety.
Advantage 1’s Noble reiterated the importance of a business owner being transparent when working with an agent. “Gaps in insurance can arise because an agent does not know about all assets of a business,” Noble said. Cushman agreed, adding that business owners need to inform their insurance agents about any changes in their operations.
Some small business owners might not be aware that once a business has more than 50 full-time-equivalent workers, it must comply with federal laws about
family leave, harassment, discrimination and whistle-blowers, according to River Valley Law Attorney Jewell. That is why, whether it’s acquiring additional property, upgrading equipment or adding staff, it’s critical that the insurance broker or agent be advised of these and any other changes that might impact coverage.
Meeting annually with your agent is a common-sense way to make sure the agent knows the latest developments about the business and can adjust policies and coverages accordingly. “Let the agent do the work,” Noble said. “Be open and honest and work together so there are no surprises if something does happen.”
“Know that the cheapest policy might not be the best,” Nahan’s Bennett added, stressing the importance of knowing and understanding all of the details. “Dig into
“ WHILE THERE ARE LOTS OF NUANCES TO IT, EVERY SMALL BUSINESS SHOULD LOOK FOR AT LEAST MINIMAL [CYBER INSURANCE] COVERAGE, AND THE MORE YOUR BUSINESS IS ONLINE, THE MORE YOU DEFINITELY NEED IT. ”
— ANDY NOBLE, PRESIDENT, ADVANTAGE 1 INSURANCE
the fine print and try to understand or get help from your broker.”
AVOIDING CHECKMATE
Perhaps no other issue better represents the importance of business insurance today than cybersecurity. From storing personnel data internally to conducting business online, cyber liability insurance is a necessity for any small business that uses a computer. “Cyber insurance is a basic now. It’s no longer a high-end product. With the internet, there is too much risk,” Jewell said. Business owners
are responsible for showing that they made a reasonable effort to mitigate that risk. Cyber attacks can often result in extremely expensive class-action lawsuits. When you compare that to the cost of cyber insurance, you see the cost of cyber insurance is minimal, according to Jewell.
“While there are lots of nuances to it, every small business should look for at least minimal [cyber insurance] coverage,” according to Noble. “And the more your business is online, the more you definitely need it.”
Because of its industry, Nahan has had a cyber insurance policy for years, Bennett said. “The change now is customers are requiring higher coverage limits due to the threat of fraud. We work closely with our IT department and our broker to make sure we are covered.”
Randy Krebs is a freelance writer and editor living in Sauk Rapids. He can be reached at randykrebs@charter.net.
MEETING NEEDS
The financial needs of small businesses are vasty different than those of large corporations. Recent data from a Federal Reserve Bank survey indicates that many small businesses are facing significant challenges. Respondents said:
59% are in fair or poor financial condition.
42% are having their financial needs met.
The response to these two questions illustrates an opportunity for financial institutions to offer creative solutions to meet the needs of small businesses. Fortunately, Central Minnesota is home to many innovative and customer-focused providers who are committed to the success of business in our community.
Here's a snapshot.
FINANCIAL & PROFESSIONAL SERVICES GUIDE
Central Minnesota is constantly expanding and changing.
Check out these local businesses for resources to help make change possible.
We live here. We volunteer here. We invest here.
We’re your neighbors (and your bankers)
We’re your neighbors (and your bankers) We live here. We volunteer here. We invest here.
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Remembering ...
... those we've lost whose impact remains
As we wrap up the 25-year celebration of Business Central Magazine, we want to say a heartfelt thank you to the advertisers, the writers, the businesses and the readers who have made this publication possible. Thank you for trusting in the vision of Business Central Magazine, for sharing your lives with us and for continuing to read and support the magazine. Many incredible St. Cloud businesses have graced the cover over the years, but we would like to send a special note of gratitude and remembrance to those who have since passed away. The legacies of these and so many other business leaders in our community will live on for generations. Below are the individuals who have died and the issue in which they appeared on the cover.
INSPIRING WORDS
DAN PEARSON of PleasureLand RV Center (2003) on his passion for eating dinner as a family every night
“I think it’s really important that at least once a day you sit down and talk. Kids need to know you’re listening to them and paying attention to what they say.”
BARB CARLSON of Central Minnesota Community Foundation, Athena award winner and founder of the Women’s Fund
“We need to remember that part of what we experience now is because of the women who came before, and part of our obligation is to keep that momentum going.”
DALE VICTOR of Care Transportation with his take on business
“It’s like the sunset. No matter how many people look at a sunset, there’s always enough for everyone. Whatever it is, there’s always enough.”
FRED BURSCH of Bursch Travel on his commitment to supporting local causes
“That’s one way we can distinguish ourselves from the Internet. The Internet is not contributing to the health and welfare of the communities we serve.”
MAXINE BARNETT
Executive director of Anna Marie’s Alliance in reference to her chosen life of service
“My mother was dedicated to the fact that we all have gifts to give, and we need to share them to benefit others.”
Arland Carlson, C & L Distributing: May/June 2000 • Dick Bernick, Bernick’s: September/October 2000 • Ward Blaschko, EMR Innovations: January/February 2001 • Bob Hennen, Hennen’s Furniture: January/February 2002 & September/October, 2004 • Don Helgeson, Gold’n Plump Poultry: September/October 2002 • Dan Pearson, PleasureLand RV Center: March/April 2003 & September/ October 2018 • Clint Lee and Gordon Brown, Weeres Industries: March/April 2004 • Barb Carlson, Athena Recipient: July/August 2004 • Kevin Borgert and Nadine Olson, Borgert Products: January/February 2005 • Leo Henkemeyer, Central McGowan: March/April 2005 • Dale Victor, Care Transportation: September/October 2005 • Bill Parsons, Wiman Corp: November/December 2005 • Al Leighton, Leighton Broadcasting: March/April 2006 • Patty Yarbrough, McKay’s Family Dodge: September/October 2006 • Bob Fueling, Westside Liquor: September/October 2007 • Dan Coborn, Coborn’s: January/February 2008 • Fred Bursch, Bursch Travel: September/October 2008 • Bishop John Kinney, Diocese of St. Cloud: November/December 2010 • Brownie Williams, Williams Integracare: May/June 2011 • Maxine Barnett, Anna Marie's Alliance: March/April 2013 • James and Marcy Gammell, James M. Gammell Ushers: January/February 2014 • Mike Moores, J. M. Companies: November/December 2015 • Doug Bischoff, Design Electric: September/October 2017
We did our best to compile a comprehensive list of past cover story individuals who have died. If you noticed anyone missing, please send information to Emily, ebertram@stcloudareachamber.com. Thank you.
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