Nearly 100 people gathered for the Quarterly Coffee, sponsored by Clear Lake Bank & Trust, on June 21 at the Ventura Community Center
Clear Lake Area Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Stacy Doughan; Clear Lake Community School District Outgoing Athletic Director Troy Tysdahl & Ben Klapperich, Incoming Activities Director; Clear Lake Mayor Nelson Crabb; and Clear Lake Bank & Trust CEO/Chairman Mark Hewitt provided updates on their respective organizations
Plus, new employees and new members were introduced, upcoming events were shared and business accomplishments and updates were celebrated
Miss the event? Find the full video online here, and mark your calendars for our next one on Sept 20, 2024!
Upcoming Chamber Events
Thursday, June 27 | 6-9 PM
Thursdays on Main
Downtown Clear Lake
A fun, family-friendly weekly festival featuring live music, food and retail vendors and more on Main Avenue For additional dates and the entertainment schedule, click here
Wednesday, July 3-Sunday, July 7
July 4th Celebration
Downtown Clear Lake Find the full schedule here
Fridays, July 12, Aug. 2 & Sept. 6 | 9-10 AM
Social Media Power Hour
Chamber, 205 Main Ave
Join Marketing & Communications Specialist
Maddie Anderly and Tourism Director Libbey Hohn for this opportunity to take your social media game to the next level and unlock new opportunities for your business! Limited spots available, so RSVP to manderly@northiowacorridor com
Thursdays, July 11, 18 and 25 | 6-9 PM Thursdays on Main Downtown Clear Lake
Fridays, July 12, Aug. 9 and Sept. 13 | 10 AM
Monthly Senior Chamber Coffee Chamber, 205 Main Ave
Tuesday, July 16 | 4:30-6 PM
Business After Hours
Athletico Physical Therapy, 7 S 8th St Suite C
Discover the services offered at Athletico, take a tour of the facility, and enjoy refreshments while building valuable connections with other Chamber members
Friday, July 19 | 11:30 AM-5 PM
Golf FUNdraiser
Veterans Memorial Golf Club
This 4-person, 9-hole best shot golf tournament benefits the Clear Lake Area Chamber of Commerce Event Schedule:
11:30 AM Registration, Happy Hour, and Lunch
12:15 PM Rules Meeting
12:30 PM Shotgun Start
4 PM Member Social (Cash bar and heavy appetizers – all members are welcome!)
Cost: $65 each/$260 per 4-person team To participate, register here
Wednesday, July 24 | 9-10 AM
Quarterly Retail Meeting Chamber, 205 Main Ave
Join us and meet with other member retailers to create a more coordinated marketing effort around special dates, events, and more
Friday, July 26 | 10-11 AM
Membership 101 Chamber, 205 Main Ave
Learn how to maximize your member benefits, optimize your business directory listing, and more RSVP to stacy@clearlakeiowa com
Thursdays, Aug. 1, 8 and 15 | 6-9 PM
Thursdays on Main
Downtown Clear Lake
Friday, Sept. 20 | 7:30-9 AM
Quarterly Coffee
Surf Lounge, 460 N Shore Dr New hire, promotion, award, recognition or event you'd like to share? Email ashley@clearlakeiowa com to get on the agenda Sponsored by Pritchard Companies
3 Must-Read Blog Posts
Clear Lake‘s Exciting Summer Dining Highlights
From new dining destinations to local favorites celebrating milestones, there’s something to tempt every taste bud this summer season
Boost Your Project: Apply for the Clear Lake Tourism Marketing Grant
Clear Lake Tourism’s grant program offers financial assistance to projects aimed at attracting visitors from outside North Iowa Learn more in this blog Clear Lake Chamber Sponsorship Opportunities
There is still time to support one of the Chamber’s award-winning community or business events Read how in this blog.
Get Weiss: Making the Most of Your Chamber Benefits
By Ashley Weiss
One of my favorite parts about being the Chamber’s Membership Engagement Director is engaging with members, whether it be during an in-person visit, a phone call or an event, like our quarterly Membership 101 Coffee.
Membership 101 Coffee is an event designed for both our current members and those considering joining our community
During the one-hour session, our President and CEO Stacy Doughan and myself dive into all the benefits that come with membership and show you how to enhance your online business directory listing for greater visibility It's also a perfect chance for us to hear from you what you need and how we can support you.
We’ve also found it’s a great opportunity for our members, or prospective members, to network with others in a more intimate, informal setting Plus, there are treats and coffee to enjoy!
Our next Membership 101 Coffee will take place from 10-11 a.m. on Friday, July 26, at the Chamber Office. Please RSVP to Stacy Doughan at 641-357-2159 or stacy@clearlakeiowa com
If you have questions about our your membership benefits, please don’t hesitate to reach out to the Chamber team at 641-357-2159 or ashley@clearlakeiowa com
Have a new hire, promotion or recent departure or retirement? As a member of the Clear Lake Area Chamber of Commerce, don’t forget to update your employee information by logging into the Member Information Center If you haven’t logged in before, simply click “No login created? Sign up now ” Enter the email you provided to the Chamber, and you should receive an email with setup instructions within a few minutes Keeping your employee information up to date ensures the people who need to receive Chamber communications are on our list.
Volunteers Needed
Bingo | July 3 - 7
If you love to play BINGO, please consider volunteering to make sure BINGO happens every day during our five-day July 4th Celebration! It’s a great fundraiser for the Chamber Grab a cooler, some friends and sign up It’s fun! Sign up to volunteer here
Fireworks | Thursday, July 4
Our famous fireworks don’t happen without the help of volunteers The fireworks crew could use a few additional members on the Fourth of July. If you’re interested in helping, please reach out to Trish at 641-357-2159 or trish@clearlakeiowa com
Harvest Festival | Saturday, Oct. 5
Harvest Festival is returning to downtown Clear Lake, and we’ve added more tasting locations in addition to all your returning favorites That means we need more volunteers to help with pouring tasting splashes Sign up to volunteer here
Educators Appreciation Breakfast
Membership Engagement Director
Crisis Intervention Service | Tuesday, April 16
Surf Galley | Tuesday, April 9
LUSH Lashes, Brows, Beautiful | Thursday, April 11
Absolute Waste Recycling Center | Wednesday April 24
Trim & Co. | Tuesday, April 30
Stonebrook Condominiums Groundbreaking | Friday, May 10
Ribbon Cuttings + Groundbreakings
News + Updates
Welcome Avah Hogg
We are delighted to introduce Avah Hogg as our newest summer intern at the Clear Lake Area Chamber of Commerce Avah has grown up in Clear Lake and is now going into her sophomore year at the University of Iowa, where she is pursuing a degree in business. Avah is ready to bring her enthusiasm and passion for her community to our team
Avah is a true Clear Lake native, having called this community home her entire life Since returning for her first college summer break, she has wasted no time taking advantage of all a summer in Clear Lake has to offer. You can often find her on the lake, or taking her dog, Griffin, on walks around town
She is looking forward to this opportunity to learn more about our community and the dynamics of working in an office in preparation for her future academic and career goals She is excited to embark on this journey of showcasing Clear Lake and its abundance of incredible opportunities.
Join us in welcoming Avah to the team as we look forward to her fresh perspective and unwavering commitment to the success of North Iowa!
Congratulations, Lake Leadership Class of 2024!
The Clear Lake Area Chamber of Commerce graduated its 11th Lake Leadership Class, comprising 22 individuals representing businesses from North Iowa, in May
Lake Leadership is the Chamber’s flagship program meeting once a month from September through May on the third Wednesday The program is designed to educate civic-minded individuals by using our community as a classroom Lake Leadership takes participants behind the scenes in the Clear Lake area, providing them the opportunity to network with their peers and learn more about our community and area businesses
Interested in joining the Lake Leadership Class of 2025? Please email Stacy Doughan at stacy@clearlakeiowa com for more information or to request the Lake Leadership application We will be accepting applications through Aug. 31 or until the class is full. The first day of class will be a luncheon on Wednesday, Sept 18
Back Row on Stairs (From Left to Right): Shelby Smith (Laird Law Firm), Kacie Royster (Pritchard Companies), Joshua Hawley (Kingland), Ryan Van Ostrand (Clear Lake Bank & Trust), Terry McCarl (Harvest Bible Chapel North Iowa), Jenna Haugen (First Citizens Bank), and Chelsi Ciavarelli (One Vision)
Middle Row on Stairs (From Left to Right): Abby Cunningham (Clear Lake Bank & Trust), Amelia Jondle (Hall Realty), Aaron Ruggles (Clear Lake Public Library), Missy Voigts (United Beverage), Gayla Toebe (Pritchard Companies), Christina Perkins (CharcuteMe/Lake Lemonade), Amanda Kaufman (U S Bank), Carrie Shannon (Hall Realty), and Paige VanDusseldorp (First Citizens Bank) Front Row (From Left to Right): Cody Martin (First Citizens Bank), Lisa Prochaska (Farmers State Bank), Cameron Beminio (First Gabrielson Agency), Tyler Havens (Stellar Industries), and Jay Langenbau (Lake Antique Warehouse)
Chamber Rolls Out New Email Segmentation to Optimize Member Engagement
After reviewing the 2024 Membership Survey results, the Clear Lake Area Chamber of Commerce announced it would break up its email lists so our members receive the communication that means the most to them.
As of May 3, members unless they opted in to other distribution lists are only receiving emails about Chamber-related things, like this quarterly newsletter, relevant updates and Chamber event reminders.
If you want to continue receiving emails about all Clear Lake events, news updates, specials, and deals after this week, you need to subscribe here.
Our WEEKLY EVENTS update is delivered every Thursday morning (Wednesday mornings in the summer) to help plan your weekend
The DISCOVER CLEAR LAKE DEALS emails include news, specials & deals from Chamber member businesses!
The EXPLORE CLEAR LAKE NEWSLETTER is a monthly email with fun activities and updates about what is new at the lake
To Chamber Member Kirk Kraft for completing the 2024 Membership Survey and being selected as the recipient of $100 in Chamber Bucks! We appreciate your feedback Thank you to all our members who took the time to fill out the survey Stay tuned for future announcements based on the information you provided.
Clear Lake History Ride Unveiled in Celebration of National Travel & Tourism Week
Clear Lake Tourism launched its new Clear Lake History Ride, inviting locals and visitors to embark on an interactive journey, during National Travel and Tourism Week, May 19-25
Spanning 14 miles around the lake, this experience promises to be enjoyable for history enthusiasts or those simply eager to soak in the beauty of Clear Lake
From well-known landmarks to quirky sites, three national historic places, one National Historic Landmark, and gorgeous landscapes, the adventure begins at Clear Lake City Park, where riders will set out on tour of discovery, using the history ride mobilefriendly website as their guide.
“We’re excited to introduce the Clear Lake History Ride as a tribute to National Travel and Tourism Week,” said Libbey Hohn, Director of Clear Lake Tourism. “Our previous history tours have been immensely popular, and this entertaining lake lap has something to see and learn at each location. I want to encourage people to get out and explore Clear Lake in a new and engaging way with fun stops around the lake ”
Participants can access the Clear Lake History Ride tour on their mobile devices by visiting clearlakeiowa com/clear-lake-history-ride or scanning QR codes conveniently placed on posters throughout the town. With the freedom to explore at one’s own pace, the History Ride promises an unforgettable adventure for history and outdoor enthusiasts alike Hop on your bike or start your engines and head out on an epic lake lap!
Established in 1983, National Travel and Tourism Week is an annual tradition to celebrate the U.S. travel
community and travel’s essential role in stimulating economic growth, cultivating vibrant communities, creating quality job opportunities, inspiring new businesses, and elevating the quality of life for Americans every day
Celebrating Nature: Clear Lake Earth Day
The weeklong April celebration of Earth Day brought the community together for a variety of activities The revamped Green Expo and Market was a big hit Healthy Harvest of North Iowa & Clear Lake Farmers Market came alongside our Clear Lake Earth Day committee to make this year's event better than ever
Event highlights included the Night Wonder Walk, Nature Photo Show, Sandhill Cranes Program, Book Chats, Landfill Bus Tours, a David Attenbourough film, and OutdoorFest (moved indoors due to cold & wind).
The event also introduced the new Grow Clear Lake retail promotion, which saw Marge Hunt winning the grand prize valued at $260, $20 from each location
The Clear Lake Earth Day Youth Mile, 5K, and 10K Races saw impressive participation Congratulations to all runners, especially the overall first placers: Youth Mile: Maxton Doughan (6:15)
5K/Male: Ezra Thompson (20:32)
5K/Female: Jess Jefson (24:45)
10K/Male: Knute Rogne (37:46)
10K/Female: Kelsey Barhite (52:47)
We extend our heartfelt thanks to everyone who participated and contributed to the success of this year's Clear Lake Earth Day events Your support and enthusiasm helped make this celebration memorable and impactful Here's to a greener future!
TRI Clear Lake: A Celebration of Community & Athleticism
On Saturday, May 25, we welcomed 6,700 people to downtown Clear Lake on TRI Clear Lake race day, with the peak finish line party drawing in 1,700 excited supporters between 10 am and 11 am 521 registered athletes took on the challenge, from 17 different states joined us, with Seattle, WA marking the furthest distance traveled Impressively, 458 athletes traveled more than 60 miles to be part of this extraordinary event
Thank you to our presenting sponsor Athletico Physical Therapy; our title sponsors Curries-ASSA ABLOY and Skip’s Kicks; our gold sponsors CL Tel, Fareway and McKesson; our silver sponsors Cookies, etc , Kingland, Lashier Graphics & Signs, American Solutions for Business, Rookies Rockin’ Sports Bar, Sevens Restaurant & Steakhouse, and TAP’d; our bronze sponsors Dean Snyder Construction, Heartland Asphalt, Inc., and Johnson Fitness & Wellness; our beverage sponsor United Beverage LLC; and our mile marker sponsors Farmers State Bank, Cabin Coffee Company, Clear Lake Family Dentistry, MBT Bank, Rachel Smith Books, Surf Ballroom, Moni Jo’s Olive Oil Co & More, Fareway, 173° Craft Distillery, Clear Lake Rotary, Harrison Ford, City of Clear Lake, Mags & Lu, and Yohn Co
Thank you also to our 212 amazing volunteers, without you we wouldn’t be able to host such an incredible event
The 2nd Annual Youth Splash & Dash saw 55 enthusiastic young athletes participate in a swim and run the evening before TRI Clear Lake
Thursdays on Main kicks off downtown for the summer
The Clear Lake Area Chamber of Commerce First Mates celebrated the start of the 2024 Thursdays on Main season with a ribbon cutting on Thursday, May 30, at the intersection of North 3rd Street and Main Avenue
The 2024 season consists of 11 Thursdays on Main from May 30 through Aug. 15, excluding July 4.
Thursdays on Main is a family-friendly weekly festival featuring live music, food and retail vendors and more that draws thousands from near and far to downtown Clear Lake
Our new Chamber Baby is a BOY!
Our Membership Engagement Director Ashley Weiss and her husband, Ethan, welcomed their second child, Henry Russell Wayne Weiss, on Tuesday, May 28
Everyone, including big brothers August and Domino, are already so in love.
Please join us in congratulating Ashley and her family, and be sure to keep your eyes out for them this summer in Clear Lake!
Ashley is on maternity leave until August, but if you have questions about membership, don’t hesitate to reach out to our team in her absence.
CL Tel honored as Clear Lake’s July 4th Parade Grand Marshal
Clear Lake’s July 4th Parade is taking on a special significance this year as CL Tel steps into the spotlight as the Grand Marshal. The theme for the parade, “Waves of Freedom,” captures the deep-rooted community involvement that our local telecommunications company has fostered for generations
“There are so many other candidates for this, and sincerely we’re really lucky in Clear Lake to have all kinds of individuals, all kinds of companies who contribute in the community regularly, so we’re humbled and surprised and bashful, but we deeply appreciate it,” said Jan Lovell, President of CL Tel
Community Involvement
With 34 full-time and five part-time employees, CL Tel has always emphasized community involvement This spirit of giving back is deeply ingrained in Lovell’s family history After exploring other parts of the country, Jan and Tom returned to Clear Lake and became active in community service
“My grandparents and parents always said it’s so important to give back to the community,” Lovell shared
As the company evolved throughout the decades, so has its workforce “We have hired a lot of additional people in different skill sets,” Lovell said, emphasizing their commitment to advancing local infrastructure, with Clear Lake and Ventura now enjoying 100 percent fiber connectivity in business and residential areas
Volunteerism
CL Tel’s involvement doesn’t stop at providing telecommunications services; they are deeply embedded in the fabric of the community As the longtime sponsor of Family Fun Day, their volunteer efforts and sponsorship support extend throughout the region “I think it’s really important for companies to step up and contribute back and we’ve also through the years volunteered a ton,” Lovell affirmed “That’s one thing that we love to encourage, all the
team members to participate and to volunteer for community groups, for events, for activities!”
Led by the Lovell family, CL Tel isn’t just a telecommunications company; they are a cornerstone of the community, bringing top-notch internet and telecom services while fostering a strong sense of civic duty The Lovells’ commitment to keeping kids safe online, fighting against trafficking, and promoting effective online time management highlights their use of technology for the greater good Their team is actively involved in various local initiatives, including Chamber committees and Earth Day activities, underscoring their dedication to preserving Clear Lake’s natural beauty
Waves of Freedom
As Clear Lake gears up for this year’s festivities, the presence of CL Tel as Grand Marshal is a testament to the company’s enduring dedication to community service and its pivotal role in the town’s history and future The “Waves of Freedom” parade will not only celebrate the nation’s independence but also honor the community spirit that makes Clear Lake a truly special place.
In a world where businesses often focus solely on the bottom line, CL Tel stands out for their genuine love for the community and their people This heart, coupled with their innovative approach to technology and community involvement, makes them an exemplary model of corporate responsibility and a deserving Grand Marshal for this year’s parade
Educational Opportunities
TechTalk sponsored by Stellar Industries
Tuesday, July 23 | 5-7 PM | Lake Time Brewery
TechTalk is a community-organized event that meets monthly. It creates a space for sparking new ideas and conversations between innovators, entrepreneurs, investors, educators, technologists, community members, and community partners. TechTalk’s goal is to engage, encourage, and elevate technology in North Iowa by creating the opportunity for meaningful interactions. As always, your first drink is free!
To register, click here
Fall 2024 - Venture School
Mastering E-Commerce: Shopify Essentials
Wednesday, June 26 | 1 PM | Online via Zoom
Your small business can master e-commerce with this free workshop where you'll learn the essentials of Shopify Discover how to implement Shopify to expand your business and take advantage of the evergrowing e-commerce market This workshop will be led by Jennifer Gilbert, Owner and Marketing Strategist, Remio Group.
To register, click here
Maximizing Marketing Potential with Facebook Ads
Wednesday, July 24 | 1 PM | Online via
Zoom
Unlock social success by maximizing your Facebook and Instagram ads! Discover how to maximize the impact of targeted ads in this free online workshop Demystify the process and take your social media marketing to the next level This workshop will be led by Jennifer Gilbert, Owner and Marketing Strategist, Remio Group.
To register, click here
Orientation (in-person) Sept 19 Classes (virtual) Thursdays, Sept 26- Nov 7 Final Presentations (in-person) Nov 14
The NIACC John Pappajohn Entrepreneurial Center has partnered with the University of Iowa to bring Venture School to Mason City, Iowa Venture School is the state of Iowa’s premiere entrepreneurial training program Established in 2013, the eight-week Venture School program is built from a streamlined curriculum developed by the National Science Foundation I-Corps at Stanford University and the University of California, Berkeley. Participants will gain marketing and make valuable connections to help them take their innovative idea to the next level Venture School is currently looking for hardworking teams and individuals throughout North Iowa to join the upcoming fall program The cost to participate is $299 per team
In Venture School, you will:
Gain focus and clarity for your business idea and build your foundational business model
Test and prove your business idea through guided customer discovery interviews to find product-market fit
Learn from experienced entrepreneurs, coaches, and instructions
Make valuable connections with local communities and other external groups that can help you define your key activities and get the resources you need to start and grow your business
Create a business model that becomes the core foundation of how you provide and deliver value to your customers and clients
Avoid wasting the time, energy, and money and create a sustainable business model that will deliver your customers what they need, want and are willing to pay for
Venture School Fall 2024 Applications Now Open: https://www pappajohncenter com/ventureschool/ Would you like more information about joining the next Venture School class? Request more information
Cerro Gordo Clean Energy District
Board of Directors 2024
Sarah Nielsen, Chair First Citizens Bank
Kent Thoe, Past Chair MBT Bank
Mark Dodd, Chair Elect One Vision
Josh Thompson, Treasurer Clear Lake Bank & Trust
Robert Barber, Vice Chair, Tourism and Marketing Cabin Coffee Company
Amanda Kasten, Vice Chair, Marketing Kingland
Kent Beatty CL Tel
Aaron Donaldson Lake Theatre
Denni Sue Erickson Ward-Van Slyke Colonial Chapel
Chris Fischer Athletico Physical Therapy
Candi Karsjens NIACC John Pappajohn Entrepreneurial Center
Liz LeFevre First Gabrielson Agency
Kristi Miles Pritchard Family Auto Stores - Lake Chevrolet
Austin Pehl ATURA Architecture
Brad Peterson 173° Craft Distillery
Carrie Shannon Hall Realty
Krystal Thoe Oakwood Care Center
The Schoolhouse 201 N 5th St Clear Lake, IA 50428 641-425-3700
M & R Rentals Multiple Properties Clear Lake, IA 50428 641-529-2476
Fertilizer Equipment Specialists 10510B 265th St Clear Lake, IA 50428 641-243-7896
Mort’s Water Company 1410 Gull Ave Latimer, IA 50452 641-579-6500
The Cozy Cottage 207 6th Ave. S. Clear Lake, IA 50428 515-291-7902
