December 2016 Newsletter - Large companies

CONNECTIONS A PUBLICATION BY THE EDEN PRAIRIE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

Vol. 47, Issue 12 | December 2016

THANK YOU 2016 ANNUAL SPONSORS!

ANNUAL MEETING 2016

SILVER SPONSOR

Join us for the 2016 Annual Meeting to review the Chamber’s accomplishments and strides in 2016, and look forward to our goals and strategies for growth in 2017.

BRONZE SPONSORS

We will also hear from Doug Loon, President of the Minnesota Chamber of Commerce. Doug will discuss the upcoming legislative session that will begin the first week of January and the important aspects of the agenda for businesses. The conversation will also feature the survey work being done on issues facing our businesses in Minnesota. You can read more from Doug’s perspective on pertinent issues facing local businesses on page 3.

This program will feature extended opportunities for networking—be sure to arrive at 11:30 AM to enjoy a full hour of networking with your fellow members.

11:30 AM - 12:30 PM: Networking 12:30 PM: Seated for lunch 12:45 PM: Message from Doug Loon, MN Chamber of Commerce 1:30 PM: Conclusion

GENERAL SPONSOR

Connect with the Chamber

DATE: Thursday, December 15, 11:30 AM - 1:30 PM LOCATION: Bearpath Golf & Country Club (18100 Bearpath Trail, Eden Prairie) COST: $30 for members, $60 for non-members

“Eden Prairie Chamber of Commerce”

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“Eden Prairie Chamber of Commerce”

YOUR CONNECTION TO THE BUSINESS & COMMUNITY SINCE 1969

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LEADERSHIP

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A Message from the Chair of the Board of Directors By: Katie Misukanis, M.P.A. Government Relations Director, Rasmussen College As I reflect back to the phone call I received from Pat asking me to Chair the Board in 2016, I can’t help but think of all the changes that have happened since that call.

I had just had my oldest son and my world had a new energy and sense of what could happen. Since then, I welcomed two more sons (yes, they are twins) into the world, lived through the most interesting election cycle I have ever seen (and hope to ever see) and the Chamber embarked down a strategic path like never before. While I do not need to relive most of the last two years, I do have pride in being a part of an organization that took feedback from its most important assets—you, its members, and invested time, talent, and treasure into meeting the needs of you and our community. We have a strong staff working hard on the operations of the Chamber, we are looking to continue to improve our communications to our members, we have become more active in public policy by updating you, the members and being more visible at the Capitol, we grew the Career Fair at the High School, and the list could go on. The work is not done, but I could not be more excited to see what Alan Wallner, Vice President of Marketing for Health e(fx) and the 2017 Board of Directors, will do.

As the country we live in has a much different leader than before, I encourage all of us to take stock in what the State of Minnesota, and specifically Eden Prairie and its community of people, can do to thrive. Please stay involved, join a committee, attend an event, refer a new member.

It has been my honor and pleasure to serve as the Chair of the Eden Prairie Chamber Board of Directors. I want to thank Pat, Audri, Sarah, and Lori for being so dedicated to the members. I want to thank my fellow Board members for embracing new ideas and the members for your engagement. I hope you all have a wonderful holiday and great 2017!

ATHENA International Leadership Award 2016 The Eden Prairie Chamber of Commerce celebrated the 24th annual presentation of the ATHENA International Leadership Award sponsored by Suburban Chevrolet. The award honors business people in the Eden Prairie community who have demonstrated exceptional professional excellence, community service and who have actively assisted women in their attainment of professional excellence and leadership skills.

This year, the ATHENA Award was presented to Tina Outlaw, Manager of Research, Development and Engineering at Anagram International, a successful mainstay business in Eden Prairie and members of the Chamber for nearly 25 years. Although Tina works in the engineering field that is primarily dominated by male leaders, she works to bring more women into the field and support them along the way.

Her nominator said: “I get numerous requests from Tina asking if it is okay for young women to shadow her for the day or to speak at the University of Minnesota Chemical Engineering Department’s Women’s Forum about career mapping, to sit on a panel to talk about how to get more girls interested in STEM programs early in their schooling, to be a judge at a science fair and more. These requests are often on her personal time...She also provides mentorship to other professional women.”

Congratulations, Tina and thank you to Suburban Chevrolet for their continued support of this great program.

LEADERSHIP

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A Message from the President of the MN Chamber By: Doug Loon President, Minnesota Chamber of Commerce Change swept the nation in this year’s elections as America woke up to a President Donald Trump in his upset victory over Hillary Clinton. Change propelled the shakeup in Minnesota’s political landscape, too, as Minnesotans affirmed their support for divided government. The Legislature is now firmly Republican. The executive branch remains Democrat under Governor Mark Dayton.

Voters were also crystal clear about their expectations that the governor and Legislature will govern—that they will work together to develop, debate and pass solutions to our state’s most pressing problems. No stalemates. No stagnation. Our policymakers must use the experience of the last two years to build a record of progress that all Minnesotans will be proud of. The Minnesota Chamber and our local partners are ready to do our part.

The election offers some key takeaways: • Personal economics were on Minnesotans minds—especially health care, but also economic growth and wage growth. Everyone wants to be a part of a growing economy.

• Good candidates and hard work produce solid results.

• The House and Senate are mirroring each other in the state’s political landscape. Democrats are being elected primarily in the urban core and are increasingly liberal; Republicans hail in primarily the outer ring suburbs and regional centers.

• Republicans are making substantive gains in the suburbs that we have not seen for years.

The Senate now stands at 34 Republicans and 33 Democrats, according to unofficial results. Two races are within the vote totals that trigger automatic recounts. Margins in the House are larger with 76 Republicans and 57 Democrats elected. In addition, one House seat remains unresolved; a special election is scheduled for February 14 for District 32B.

The Minnesota Chamber and our partners are ready to present, discuss and help pass solutions that will accelerate the development and growth of our statewide economy. Our annual Minnesota Business Benchmarks provides an excellent springboard for our legislative agenda. Our top priorities for 2017 are: • Reduce business taxes that undermine growth, entrepreneurship and expansion of Minnesota businesses • Pass long-term, comprehensive transportation package that increases investment in the state’s multimodal infrastructure.

• Allow flexibility in workplace regulations and oppose one-size-fits-all mandates; pass statewide pre-emption of local labor mandates.

• Provide employers with more options and greater flexibility in providing health care coverage for employees.

The election provides the political landscape for the 2017 Legislature. The budget forecast will set the financial parameters. The 2016 Legislature adjourned with a $729 million surplus for FY 2016/17 which will likely change in the December 2 report.

We are most effective at the Capitol when we build relationships and elect legislators who understand business issues. That’s why the Minnesota Chamber works year-round to recruit and elect pro-business leaders regardless of political affiliation. We’re pleased with our results. Our Leadership Fund PAC was victorious in 70 of 77 House contests and 32 of 39 in Senate contests.

The 2017 Legislature convenes January 4, and our work has already begun. The election results are shaping our 2017 proposals. Now, policymakers and business leaders must work collectively to adopt them. That way we will be ready for the future— ready for change and ready to grow.

“Connections” (USPS 729770) is published 12 times per calendar year by the Eden Prairie Chamber of Commerce, 11455 Viking Dr. #270, Eden Prairie, MN 55344 Periodicals postage paid at Prior Lake, MN - POSTMASTER: Send address changes to “Connections,” 11455 Viking Dr. #270, Eden Prairie, MN 55344

MESSAGE FROM MN CHAMBER

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Executive summary.

October 2016

Minnesota must be ready to compete. Ready for the future. Ready for change. Ready to grow. Our goal is for Minnesota to be among the top 10 states for economic growth—ahead of the national average for GDP growth, job creation and personal income growth. A strong business climate is a critical ingredient in the recipe for achieving that goal. Our 2,300 members representing 500,000 employees tell us this requires a balanced approach of a strong workforce, good infrastructure and a competitive cost of doing business. Minnesota’s success will be achieved by building on our strengths and minimizing our weaknesses.

The Minnesota Chamber of Commerce is pleased to present our 2nd annual Minnesota Business Benchmarks, which tracks a collection of key economic indicators to measure our competitiveness, the health of our economy, and Minnesota’s performance compared to other states. The report uses comprehensive, objective data to help the public and policymakers identify statewide actions that will strengthen Minnesota’s position in the global economy.

Minnesota has much to be proud of with a vibrant business community, talented workforce and a high quality of life complemented with beautiful natural resources. However, we cannot ignore those areas where Minnesota lags behind other states. We cannot rest on past successes. Minnesota must continue to adapt to changing competitive pressures. We are challenged to improve those benchmarks so Minnesota is ready for the future and ready to grow.

Among the key takeaways of this second report: • Minnesota’s workforce remains our key strength—highly educated with a strong work ethic. The state’s persistent achievement gap must be addressed and on-time graduation rate continues to lag the national average.

• Minnesota continues to be a net exporter in domestic migration. Since 2001, more population has moved to other states than we have gained. This trend exacerbates Minnesota’s workforce shortage and is hindering growth opportunities for many companies.

• Minnesota’s overall business and economic climate is mixed. We remain in top rankings for such areas as innovation, but lag the nation in other priorities such as job and personal income growth.

• Taxes and the cost of doing business remain among the highest in the nation. We continue to hear from our members that the high tax burden is undermining growth opportunities.

The Minnesota Chamber and our Chamber Federation partners are committed to strengthening the state’s business environment which improves the lives of all Minnesotans. We are ready to deliver solutions; ready to help Minnesota change and grow.

Doug Loon President, Minnesota Chamber of Commerce

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MESSAGE FROM MN CHAMBER

The most recent available data was used for this report. Some data is more current such as unemployment rates while other data such as workers’ compensation rates is only updated every two years.

For links to the sources used in this report go to Minnesota Chamber of Commerce website at: https://www.mnchamber.com/advocate/2016-business-benchmark-sources You can see the full report with expanded data on the Minnesota Chamber of Commerce website: www.mnchamber.com

MEMBERSHIP Get involved in 2017

www.epchamber.org Joining a Chamber committee is a great way to maximize your membership.

Whether your priority is serving as a voice for your business in public policy issues or you want to help build your brand as an Ambassador, there’s a committee for you.

Ambassador Committee The Ambassador Committee is the face of the Chamber in the community. They welcome and mentor new members to the Chamber, celebrate ribbon cutting ceremonies for new businesses in the community, and actively attend Chamber events. If you are looking to jump in and meet as many new and existing members as possible, this is the committee for you.

Gala Committee The Gala Committee assists the staff in planning and executing the Chamber’s largest annual fundraiser. Members can take on many roles within this committee—from creative brainstorming, decorations, sponsorships, silent and live auction items and more. This committee typically meets as needed, then more frequently leading up to the Gala.

If you have a creative mind or are looking to leverage your connections in and outside of the Eden Prairie business community, this is the committee for you.

Golf Committee The Golf Committee assists the staff in planning and executing the Chamber’s annual Golf Tournament. The committee members can take on various roles including securing sponsorships and auction items, brainstorming fun initiatives and aspects of the day’s agenda, and recruiting golfers. They also assist at the event as needed. If you love golf (player or not!), want to meet fellow members and have a large presence at this annual event, this committee is for you.

Public Policy Committee The Public Policy Committee works to discuss the issues our local businesses are facing and to grow the influence of the Eden Prairie business community through proactive advocacy and thoughtful public policy initiatives. They meet with and influence the people who are forming current policy and future legislation at the local, state and federal levels. If you have a comprehensive sense of the issues local businesses face and are passionate about leading positive change and growth, this is the committee for you.

Recognition Committee The Recognition Committee works to identify exceptional programs and individuals in the educational and business systems for the Chamber’s recognition and scholarship awards. The Chamber grants seven awards and scholarships every year, and this committee helps to select the deserving recipients.This committee mostly meets virutally so it is lower committment. If you are passionate about recogizing excellence in our community, this is the committee for you.

Super Bowl Committee The Super Bowl Committee focuses on Super Bowl LII and how to best leverage Eden Prairie as a destination marketplace for the millions of visitors that will be in the Twin Cities during winter 2018. If you like to think big or want to promote Eden Prairie as destination city, this committee is for you.

Workforce Development Committee The Workforce Development Committee works to identify talent attraction issues and address those issues in innovative, tactful ways. They work with local schools to provide career development programs for the future leaders of the community including the annual Eden Prairie High School Career Fair. If you are passionate about recruiting the best talent to Eden Prairie and collaborating with fellow business leaders on workforce issues, this committee is for you.

Young Professionals Summit Board The Twin Cities Young Professionals Board assists the staff in the brainstorming, planning and execution of the annual Twin Cities Young Professionals Summit. The board also contributes to the development of the theme each year and possible speakers for the event. If you are a young professional looking to get more involved and grow your leadership skills, this board is for you. If you’d like to nominate a young professional for this board, please contact Audrianna at audrianna.schenck@epchamber.org.

Ready to increase your influence and maximize your membership with the Chamber? Let us know on our Committee Interest form found at epchamber.org/join.asp.

MESSAGE FROM DEED

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A Message from the Department of Employment and Economic Development

Make Better Decisions with TalentNeuron Recruit Looking for a tool to help you better identify what your hiring needs are and how to satisfy them? TalentNeuron Recruit (formerly Wanted Analytics) provides a great way to research the labor market and ultimately identify requirements for job openings. This robust labor market information tool is produced by RealTime Talent.

“Our organization is committed to supporting a growing demand for research designed to meet regional or targeted needs of collaborative efforts in education, workforce, and economic development ecosystems,” said Jess Niebuhr, executive director of RealTime Talent. “We especially focus on alleviating workforce shortages and engaging employers in curriculum and education initiatives.”

Business service representatives at local WorkForce Centers including Linda Tabor, Anoka County WorkForce Center; Beth Jameston, Hennepin South WorkForce Center in Bloomington: and Joe Klein, Hennepin North WorkForce Center in Brooklyn Park; help employers effectively use TalentNeuron Recruit.

They help employers: • Improve job posting effectiveness • Present appropriate salary data and industry skills • Find education requirements • Explore labor market information, including occupations and fields that are in demand • Identify potential recruitment regions • Find potential workers who are college and university graduates RealTime Talent trained more than 900 people to use TalentNeuron Recruit and presented to more than 1,500 people about applications of new data sources in labor market research, planning and development last year. In addition, RealTime Talent provided hundreds of practitioners across Minnesota with access to the tool.

The company has an initiative to enhance the tool in 2017.

“TalentNeuron Recruit will provide greater access to increasingly current information and will support more informed and market-oriented decisions,” said Niebuhr. “Greater access will lead to better workforce alignment and economic growth for individuals, employers and communities.”

The initiative includes: • Accessible web interface for up-to-the-minute labor market information.

• Aggregation of information from millions of electronic job postings into data fields that describe labor market demand for towns, cities, counties, regions, Minnesota and border states.

• Continuous review of new information and tools.

If you’re interested in using TalentNeuron Recruit, contact Jameston, at Beth.Jameston@state.mn.us; Tabor at Linda.Tabor@state.mn.us; or Klein at Joe.Klein@state.mn.us. To learn more about RealTime Talent, visit www. realtimetalent.org.

SAVE THE DATE 2017

Thursday, January 19: State of the City Luncheon Saturday, March 18: Home, Landscape & Garden Expo Friday, May 19: Twin Cities Young Professionals Summit Monday, June 5: Golf Tournament Saturday, October 15: Gala 2017 Interested in playing a significant role in the Chamber in 2017? Contact Audrianna at audrianna.schenck@epchamber.org to customize the package that works best for you.

This is a publication of the Eden Prairie Chamber of Commerce

11455 Viking Dr, #270 Eden Prairie, MN 55344

P: (952) 944-2830 F: (952) 944-0229

www.epchamber.org

PERIODICALS US POSTAGE PAID PRIOR LAKE, MN USPS#729770

DECEMBER 2016 - Calendar of Events Monday 28

Tuesday 29

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Business@Breakfast: Cultivating Connections Series 7:30 - 8:30 AM Tavern 4 & 5

Beers with B.E.E.R.S. 4:30 - 6:30 PM Brunswick Zone XL

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Women’s Networking Chop & Business@Breakfast Sip After Hours 7:30 - 8:30 AM 3:30 - 5 PM Tavern 4 & 5 Martin Blu

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Friday 2

9 Chamber 202: Maximize your Membership 8 - 9 AM Chamber office

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Business@Breakfast: Cultivating Connections Series 7:30 - 8:30 AM Tavern 4 & 5

Annual Meeting 11:30 AM - 1:30 PM Bearpath Golf & Country Club

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CHAMBER OFFICE CLOSED

PLEASE RSVP/Cancel FOR ALL EVENTS BY 12 PM THE DAY PRIOR! Visit epchamber.org to view details, pricing or to RSVP today!