CONNECTIONS A PUBLICATION BY THE EDEN PRAIRIE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
THANK YOU 2017 ANNUAL SPONSORS! BUSINESS INVESTOR
Vol. 48, Issue 1 | January 2017
STATE OF THE CITY LUNCHEON The annual State of the City luncheon is back for 2017! Start your new year with updates from all aspects of Eden Prairie.
GOLD SPONSOR
City Manager Rick Getschow
SILVER SPONSORS
Superintendent Curt Tryggestad
Connect with the Chamber
And as always, enjoy plenty of time for networking with your fellow members to start 2017 with new leads and new connections. DATE: Thursday, January 19, 11 AM - 1 PM
BRONZE SPONSOR
Zane Birky
Join us to hear from Eden Prairie Chamber President, Pat MulQueeny, with an update of the state of the Eden Prairie business community; Superintendent of Eden Prairie Schools, Dr. Curt Tryggestad, on what issues the schools will face in 2017; and Rick Getschow, City Manager of the City of Eden Prairie, on the progress made in 2016 as well as the projections and expectations for 2017 for the city of Eden Prairie.
Chamber President Pat MulQueeny
“Eden Prairie Chamber of Commerce”
LOCATION: Minneapolis Marriott Southwest (5801 Opus Pkwy, Minnetonka) COST: $30 for members, $60 for non-members
@EPChamber
“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: Alan Wallner Vice President Marketing, Health e(fx) It is my honor and privilege to act as the Chairman of the Board as we enter 2017, a year that is sure to be full of anticipation, changes and opportunities. And it is with gratitude that I first mention the Chamber’s 2016 Board of Directors and Staff. They did an amazing job engaging the Chamber’s strategic plan and setting new standards that raised the value of what the Chamber does for businesses and the community. This year, we will continue on this journey of meeting new challenges, recognizing new opportunities and leveraging new insights to make the Eden Prairie Chamber of Commerce a leader for community prosperity and one of the best advocates for business in the western suburbs and Minnesota. As a member, there are many great programs and initiatives you can be a part of to get the most out of your membership. The beginning of a new year is a great time to get involved and stay engaged with an organization that leverages change and creates opportunities. In my experiences and involvement with the Chamber, I have found that the time I put into volunteering, the exposure to all the great experiences the Chamber has to offer and the friendships I have gained have far exceeded my expectations. From the Home and Garden show to the Eden Prairie Chamber Gala, Business @ Breakfast to After Hours events, luncheons to golf tournaments, legislative breakfasts to the annual meeting, the Chamber is a thriving organization that starts with you. The vision of the Chamber is “To ensure prosperity in our community by promoting commerce, and by enhancing our members’ business success through leadership, advocacy and growth opportunities.” I want to thank last year’s Board Chair Katie Misukanis for her unwavering leadership in 2016 to lay a solid foundation for future initiatives and accomplishments! I want to thank Pat MulQueeny for his dedication and commitment to the strategic plan and continued forward motion. Thank you to Audrianna Schenck, Sarah Ober and Lori Brown for their support and hard work to help make our Chamber what it is today. Lastly, I want to thank you, our members, for your support and participation. We will continue to rely on you for your commitment, participation and leadership as we strive to attain the Chamber’s vision. As always, we welcome your insights and feedback; feel free to reach out to me, a member on the Board of Directors or a Chamber staff member and let us know how we are doing. Take some time and get familiar with the Chamber’s strategic plan, I think you’ll like what you see. We have a few exciting initiatives kicking off this year and some that we will revitalize and take to a new level of participation and value. So check out the calendar of events, attend, get involved, share ideas, build relationships and watch change turn into opportunities. To help start the new year and put it in a forward motion, I’ll share one of my favorite quotes:
“You never change things by fighting the existing reality. To change something, build a new model that makes the existing model obsolete.” - R. Buckminster Fuller
LEADERSHIP
epchamber.org
A Message from the Chamber President By: Pat MulQueeny President, Eden Prairie Chamber of Commerce New Year, New Opportunities, Changes As we begin a New Year, the Chamber is continuing its focus on achieving the aggressive goals of our strategic plan—Lead. Advocate. Prosper. We have many changes in the works and our biggest opportunity is our membership event—“Go all in with the Chamber”. This membership event will be like nothing else we have done or seen. In its simplest description, we will have over 100 businesses join as new members in a two-day period! But this event is so much more than that. It will highlight the importance of the work, services and resources the Chamber brings to the business community, and the overall community. It will showcase the strength of our organization and our members in a way that has not been done before. We will engage with over 100 volunteers in this event, and at the end of it, celebrate the success and efforts of our local businesses and bring new resources and opportunities to our membership. Other changes We know that change is always happening and that if you read articles or books on change, people react differently to change—some positive and some more reserved. Our goal with the changes we are making is to provide the best value and opportunities for our members. We will continue to evaluate our programs and look to provide the best return on investment for our members and the broader business community. We are changing our primary networking program, Business@Breakfast, to increase the networking opportunities, lead exchanges and training that will be offered in 2017. The program will be held the 2nd and 4th Wednesday of the month at Hellmuth and Johnson’s conference room. Opportunities will include speakers who will provide information and business tips on key tools like LinkedIn, social media channels, sales techniques and building your business network. Members will have the chance to give 15-20 minute presentations on their business and share their keys to success so others can learn from them. I invite all of our members who are looking to build their business networks, learn new skills and who want to proactively find new business and clients, to join us on Wednesday, January 11th at 7:30 a.m. to hear from Dominic DesMarais, Branch Manager for Fairway Independent Mortgage. Dominic focuses on communication with his clients and business partners and will share his business insight and expertise. With any of our changes, new programs or initiatives, we welcome your input. Please either e-mail me at pat.mulqueeny@epchamber.org or call our offices at 952-944-2830 to share your thoughts or suggestions.
DON’T MISS OUT!
Ready to make an impact in the Chamber in 2017? Annual Sponsorships are still available. Get your business in front of the entire membership in a big way. Contact Audrianna at audrianna.schenck or (952) 944-2830 to find the one that best fits your goals.
“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
LEADERSHIP
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A Message from the Department of Employment and Economic Development
Explore PIPELINE Project for Training Workers Is your company seeking an innovative and cost-effective way to enhance workers’ skills or impact the education of future workers? The Private Investment, Public Education, Labor and Industry Experience (PIPELINE) Project helps employers develop and expand training through dual-training grants. “It’s a great way for businesses to explore options for addressing the lack of applicants for job openings,” said Beth Jameston, business services representative of the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED). “And this is an apprenticeship program welcomed by employers as part of the solution.” Employers have recognized the need for dual-training, partly because of education statistics like this: Just 18 of 100 Minnesota ninth graders who begin high school and follow the traditional high school to four-year college path are employed by the second year after college graduation. Leaders from PIPELINE industries -- Advanced Manufacturing, Agriculture, Health Care Services and Information Technology -- inform and direct the PIPELINE Project. More than 400 industry leaders are engaged in the PIPELINE Project and have been awarded dual-training grants totaling more than $2 million serving 300-plus dual-trainees. Eligible employers can use dual-training grant awards to train employees in an occupation for which a competency standard has been identified in one of the PIPELINE industries. Twenty-two occupations are included with at least five occupations for each industry. Subject matter experts define and validate specific competencies for PIPELINE occupations. “It’s exciting that apprenticeships are being used in new industries and for such a wide range of occupations,” Jameston added. Participating employers receive support to develop and expand dual-training through tools and technical support. Dual-training grants, administered by the Minnesota Office of Higher Education (OHE), provide funding for employers to create new programs. Read stories about businesses finding success with the PIPELINE Project at http://www.dli.mn.gov/PDF/ PIPELINE/WhatIsPIPELINE.pdf For more information about the PIPELINE Project, contact Jameston at Beth.Jameston@state.mn.us or Heather McGannon, special projects unit manager, Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry at Heather. Mcgannon@state.mn.us The Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry collaborate with the Minnesota Office of Higher Education on PIPELINE, and DEED is a project partner.
LEADERSHIP
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A Message from the MN Chamber President By: Doug Loon President, Minnesota Chamber of Commerce Let’s make Minnesota ready to compete Minnesota’s future success depends on a vital statewide business community. We must build on our strengths and minimize our weaknesses so all businesses can compete in today’s global economy. We look with optimism to make Minnesota ready for the future– ready for change and ready to grow. The new political landscape presents opportunity to advance initiatives at the 2017 Legislature and work with Governor Dayton to create economic growth for all Minnesotans. The Minnesota Chamber is your full-time government affairs team– playing “offense” and “defense” on range of issues to help build the bottom lines of all Minnesota businesses no matter the company’s size, location or industry. Taxes, transportation, health care, and workplace mandates top our legislative agenda. Enact tax relief: We will seek to reduce uncompetitive taxes to encourage investment, innovation and growth among all businesses. We will renew our efforts to enact meaningful business property tax relief with primary focus on eliminating the automatic inflator in the statewide business property tax. Also on our radar: Reduce income-tax burdens impeding investment in Minnesota businesses and jobs; enhance the researchand-development tax credit; conform Minnesota’s estate tax to the federal threshold. Pass long-term transportation: Political gridlock has blocked transportation funding in recent years. We will seek to pass strategic and sustained funding of roads, bridges and transit. We support generating new funding through efficiencies in operations, bonding and use of transportation-related revenues from the general fund. Lawmakers should also identify metro funding opportunities for the build-out of Twin Cities transit. Those who benefit directly and distinctively from transportation projects should pay for a share of the costs. Expand health care options: Health insurance costs are skyrocketing for individuals and small businesses. It’s critical that we ensure access to affordable, quality health care for employers and their employees. We
will seek to make it easier for small employers to self-insure while opposing new mandates and taxes that increase employer and employee costs. We must reform and stabilize the individual market, which supports the self-employed and those with defined-contribution arrangements. We also must strengthen our public health care programs. Employers have a keen interest insuring that publicsector programs are financially sustainable for the state and taxpayers, and that they prepare participants for eventual transition to coverage in the private sector. Minimize workplace mandates: We will seek legislation to make explicit the fact that state law preempts municipal regulation of wages and benefits. Minnesota is best served with consistent, statewide laws rather than letting local governments create a patchwork of employer mandates. We will advance legislation to strengthen the law enacted by the 2016 Legislature that prevents abusive lawsuits under the Americans with Disabilities Act and Minnesota Human Rights Act. Also on our agenda is to remove the automatic inflator in the state’s minimum wage. As we oppose one-sizefits-all mandates, we will work to share employers’ best practices so all businesses in the state are aware of nonregulatory approaches to workplace rules and employee relations that will help them compete for and retain the best employees in a competitive marketplace. Minnesota has much to be proud of as underscored in our annual Minnesota Business Benchmarks, key economic indicators that measure Minnesota’s competitiveness and the health of the state’s economy compared with the rest of the country. The benchmarks show stress signals, too. Produced by the Minnesota Chamber and our local Chamber Federation partners, the Business Benchmarks provides an excellent springboard for our legislative agenda. Minnesota cannot afford to rest on our past successes. We must continue to adapt to changing competitive pressures. Our work at the Minnesota Chamber is to make Minnesota ready for the future – ready for change and ready to grow.
MEMBERSHIP
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Go All In with the Chamber Membership Event 2017 Over 100 members in 2 days. Are you up for the challenge? With the new year, comes new opportunities for the Chamber. The Chamber is excited to announce a brand-new program for 2017: Go All in with the Chamber! Go All In with the Chamber is a community-wide membership event focused on growing the impact and influence of the Chamber and our membership. We are hoping to recruit as many new members to the Chamber as possible in just TWO days! Our volunteers will utilize their network of business connections to help grow the influence and impact of the Chamber. With new members comes new opportunities for networking for our current members, and new resources for the Chamber to better serve you. This will be a large-scale event with lofty goals and a whole lot of enthusiasm. We are setting our sights high—with a goal of 100 new members in just two days! How can you help? Start the buzz. Talk to your clients and colleagues who are not already members of the Chamber about why you joined the Chamber and how it has served you and your business. Tell them that this event is coming up and that it is a GREAT time to join! Volunteer. Many of our volunteers will be contacted directly. If you haven’t been contacted yet but still want to be a part of this event, please call the Chamber at (952) 944-2830 and we will find a spot that best fits your strengths and interests. Donate. Would you like to get your product in front of our dozens of volunteers? Donate or sponsor refreshments or snacks for our generous volunteers as they work. We are very excited for this brand-new and very promising event. It is going to significantly enhance the Chamber’s resources to be able to better serve you. If you have any questions about Go All In with the Chamber, please call the Chamber office at (952) 944-2830.
Office Closures
Please note: The Chamber office will be closed February 13-16 and from 12-5 PM on Friday, February 17 for Go All In with the Chamber. We apologize for any inconvenience.
www.epchamber.org
EVENTS IN JANUARY Join us to kick off the new year with some great programs!
Public Policy Committee Meeting Thursday, January 5, 7:30 - 9 AM This committee will work to develop the Chamber’s multi-tiered plan of advocacy for its positions to support our businesses on policy issues at the local, state and federal levels. No need to register for this meeting. Business@Breakfast Wednesday, January 11, 7:30 - 8:30 AM Hellmuth & Johnson, PLLC Wednesday, January 25, 7:30 - 8:30 AM Hellmuth & Johnson, PLLC Join us for the first Business@Breakfast programs of 2017 to generate new leads in the new year! Come prepared with a stack of business cards and a 30-45 second commercial about your business. TCYP Board of Directors Tuesday, January 17, 11:30 AM - 1 PM Location TBD Workforce Development Committee Thursday, January 19, 8 - 9 AM Chamber office The Workforce Development Committee focuses on talent attraction, partnerships with K-12 and higher education initiatives, and connecting businesses with students and the future workforce. No need to register for this meeting. Golf Committee Meeting Tuesday, January 31, 11:30 AM - 1 PM Chamber office The Golf Committee assists the Chamber staff in the planning and execution of the annual Chamber Golf Tournament. Please email Lori at lori.brown@epchamber.org to RSVP for this meeting.
MEMBERSHIP NEW MEMBERS Welcome to the Chamber! Twin City Group 4500 Park Glen Road, #400 Minneapolis, MN 55416 (952) 924-6922 www.twincitygroup.com Cadence Chiropractic 6409 City West Parkway, #105 Eden Prairie, MN 55344 (952) 855-7656 www.cadencechiromn.com Kona Grill 11997 Singletree Lane Eden Prairie, MN 55344 (952) 941-3262 www.konagrill.com LeaderOne Financial Corporation 10400 Viking Drive, #100 Eden Prairie, MN 55344 (612) 315-2831 www.brianpotratz.com Weichert Realtors 9820 Sky Lane Eden Prairie, MN 55347 (952) 484-4759 www.wradvantage.com Smart Choice MRI 13000 Technology Drive Eden Prairie, MN 55344 (877) 862-9801 www.smartchoicemri.com
Ambassador of the Month
Sarah Cheesman Foundation for Eden Prairie Schools Our Ambassador Committee is a group of volunteers who serve as mentors to new members and act as good-will ambassadors on behalf of the Chamber.
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
JANUARY 2017 - Calendar of Events Monday 2
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Public Policy Committee Meeting 7:30 - 9 AM
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Ambassador Committee Meeting 10 AM - 1 PM
Business@Breakfast 7:30 - 8:30 AM Hellmuth & Johnson
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Workforce Development Committee Mtg 8 -9 AM State of the City Luncheon 11 AM -1 PM Minneapolis Marriott SW
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Public Policy Committee Meeting 7:30 - 9 AM
Legislative Luncheon 11:30 AM - 1 PM Hilton Garden Inn
Business@Breakfast 7:30 - 8:30 AM Hellmuth & Johnson Ambassador Mtg 1:30-2:45 PM
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31 Golf Committee Meeting 11:30 AM - 1:00 PM Chamber office
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PLEASE RSVP/Cancel FOR ALL EVENTS BY 12 PM THE DAY PRIOR! Visit epchamber.org to view details, pricing or to RSVP today!