CONNECTIONS A PUBLICATION BY THE EDEN PRAIRIE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
Vol. 47, Issue 7 | July 2016
THANK YOU 2016 Annual Sponsors!
The Chamber’s annual Gala presented by the Minnesota Vikings is headed to the recently completed U.S. Bank Stadium on Saturday, October 15, 2016.
SILVER SPONSOR
The evening will celebrate all that makes Minnesota great. Mingle with Minnesota Legends, bid on one-of-a-kind silent and live auction items including Vikings Presented by the tickets and various experience packages, enjoy a plated meal and a private performance by the Purple Xperience, a Prince cover band led by Dr. Fink, one of the original members of Prince and The Revolution. All of this will be enjoyed beside a view of the brand new field in the Hyundai Club at U.S. Bank Stadium.
BRONZE SPONSORS
Want an exclusive opportunity to see behind-the-scenes spots of the stadium? Specific sponsorship levels will get the opportunity to take a 90-minute tour of the stadium two weeks prior to the event. Discover all of the inner workings of the new home of the Vikings incuding VIP-accessible only clubs and suites, the press box, the art collection, team locker room, stadium floor, and so much more. You’ll get to take in all of the details of the grandeur of the new stadium, but still enjoy a full evening of fun at the Gala just two weeks later.
Ticket prices increase on Friday, August 5! Don’t miss the early bird pricing. Find the sponsorship and ticket form at epchamber.org. GENERAL SPONSOR
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Join our Linkedin group “Eden Prairie Chamber of Commerce”
YOUR CONNECTION TO THE BUSINESS & COMMUNITY SINCE 1969
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 I hope many of you are enjoying the amazing summer we have already had— maybe it was boating with your friends on a local lake, taking your family on a picnic to a park, or sitting on a patio with co-workers. We at the Chamber hope that you have done all of these and have plans for more fun, the summer is still young! It is proven that people who take time away from the day to day grind are more productive, so if you don’t have some time away from the desk planned yet, think about it. We want to thank those of you who participated in the annual Golf Tournament at Bearpath Golf & Country Club. The day was beautiful and the course was full. We had an outstanding group of golfers and raised some dollars for the Chamber as well. We appreciate your support and hope you will mark your calendar for our next big event, Purple Reign, our gala at U.S. Bank Stadium on October 15th. The night will celebrate all that makes Minnesota great and we hope you are there to celebrate with us. We promise you will not forget this night! If you are not heading out of town in July and are looking for Chamber events that can help you meet people, grow your business, and save you money, look no further than the EPC Event Calendar. This month is packed with a Women’s Networking After Hours at Champps on July 14, or attend a Lunch and Learn that can help you learn how to maximize your membership and save money on office supplies on July 19. If you have benefited from your membership, we encourage you to consider bringing a friend or neighbor to Guest Day at Business@Breakfast at Hellmuth & Johnson on July 27. Guests and Chamber members enjoy a discounted rate for Guest Day and it is always well-attended. Whether on the golf course, lake, boat, backyard patio, the Eden Prairie Chamber Board of Directors and Staff wish you a wonderful July! Enjoy the sunshine!
epchamber.org
LEADERSHIP
A Message from the President By: Pat MulQueeny, IOM President, Eden Prairie Chamber of Commerce Will There Be or Won’t There Be? The Legislature adjourned with much discussion on what was completed, what wasn’t accomplished, who was to blame and if there will be a special session. The Eden Prairie Chamber advocated on numerous issues important to our area businesses (see June’s newsletter) and saw some success on unemployment insurance reductions, ADA lawsuit changes and business property tax reductions. Some of that, however, was eliminated with the Governor’s veto of the tax bill. In June, our Public Policy Committee hosted Representative Jenifer Loon to hear first-hand how the session discussions and committee meetings went, ended and where things stand today. So what is next? The discussion goes on about whether a special session will happen or not. Current indicators are not favorable which is disappointing, to say the least. The tax bill was passed with overwhelming support and all sides know that a bonding bill and transportation package would benefit our businesses and all Minnesotans. Our hope is that the divide gets resolved and a special session happens. Summer and fall are high campaign seasons as it is an election year. It is a big year with all state Senators and House of Representatives up for election. The Chamber will be hosting numerous programs to help our businesses/individual voters identify the candidates they want to support. We will be partnering on a 3rd District US Congressional debate between Congressman Erik Paulsen and state Senator Terri Bonoff in August. This will be a very popular program to attend so we encourage members to register early. The tentative date is Wednesday, August 24th at 7:30 a.m.—keep an eye on our online calendar for more details and to register. We are also looking to have candidates for State Senate District 48 and House seats for 48A and 48B participate in a candidates’ forum. The Chamber’s Public Policy Committee is playing a key role in organizing these two programs and we encourage those interested in joining the committee to call the Chamber offices at (952) 944-2830. Finally, the next B.E.E.R. (Bloomington, Eden Prairie, Edina and Richfield Chambers) program is hosted by the Eden Prairie Chamber on Wednesday, August 31st at Olympic Hills Golf Club. Our speaker is Erik Therwanger, former U.S. Marine and Founder of Think GREAT. Erik will be speaking about his book, “The Leadership Connection: Make the Link between Leading and Succeeding.” From the pages of The Leadership Connection, Erik teaches audiences the Elite Purposes of being a leader. You will learn how to clearly define leadership, develop a unifying culture, raise expectations, increase accountability and delegation, and how to become a visionary leader. B.E.E.R. programs are an excellent tool to grow your larger network—don’t miss it! “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
NETWORKING
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WHAT’S HAPPENING IN JULY? To register for these events and more, log on to epchamber.org/events.asp
Women’s Networking After Hours Join our Women’s Networking group for our annual After Hours event sponsored by WELLS FARGO - Eden Prairie Village. Come enjoy complimentary appetizers, a cash bar and time to network and unwind on the beautiful patio at Champps in Eden Prairie. This is a great opportunity to mingle with other business women in the community and build new relationships! As always, this event is open to all—men are encouraged and appreciated! DATE: Thursday, July 14, 3:30 - 5 PM LOCATION: Champps, 8010 Glen Lane, Eden Prairie COST: $10 for members and non-members
Chamber 202: Maximize your Membership Join us for an informational meeting to learn how to Maximize your Chamber membership! Whether you are new to the Chamber or just haven’t engaged in your membership recently, come hear about all of the benefits and opportunities that are open to you, your company and your employees. We will offer you step-by-step instructions of how to get involved, define the programs and benefits, and show you how to navigate our website. Coffee and light snacks will be served. DATE: Tuesday, July 19, 8 - 9 AM LOCATION: The Chamber office, 11455 Viking Dr, #270, Eden Prairie COST: FREE for members
Lunch & Learn: Office Depot Join us for a Lunch & Learn event to learn more about the Chamber’s Office Depot program that can save you up to 80% on your printing and general office costs. This event will be led by Andrea Carver, Account Manager for Office Depot. Lunch & Learn events are an opportunity to learn something new that will benefit you and your business over the lunch hour. Learn from your fellow members as you enjoy your lunch out of the office. Bring business cards because there’s always time for networking. You bring your lunch, we’ll provide beverages. DATE: Tuesday, July 19, 11:45 AM - 1 PM LOCATION: Chamber office, 11455 Viking Dr, #270, Eden Prairie COST: FREE for members, $15 for non-members
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NETWORKING After Hours: CellOnly - Verizon Wireless
Join the CellOnly team in Eden Prairie for an exclusive After Hours event showcasing the smartest devices and accessories they have to offer. The evening will feature complimentary appetizers, hands on device demos, and the chance to win a Marley Get Together Bluetooth speaker! Whether it’s tablets, smartphones, or accessories, CellOnly offers the best selection and the best customer experience. Stop by and see why CellOnly is the number one Verizon Wireless retailer in Eden Prairie with an After Hours networking event! DATE: Tuesday, July 26, 4:30 - 6 PM LOCATION: CellOnly - Verizon Wireless, 16376 Wagner Way, Eden Prairie COST: FREE for members, $15 for non-members
Guest Day at Business@Breakfast Business@Breakfast (B@B) is the chamber’s only weekly networking group. It is a great opportunity for businesses that depend on referrals and one-on-one interaction. Every participant has the opportunity to do a 60-second commercial about their business. Guest Day at Business@Breakfast invites all members and non-members to attend Business@Breakfast at a discounted rate. If you are a regular B@B attendee, it is a great opportunity to share the success you’ve found with this event with a colleague, client or friend who is a non-member. If you’ve never attended, Guest Day is a great day to start. Come see why B@B continues to be a consistently beneficial event for our members. Attendees should come prepared with a stack of 35 business cards and a 60-second commercial about their business. DATE: Wednesday, July 27, 7:30 - 8:30 AM LOCATION: Hellmuth & Johnson, PLLC, 8050 West 78th Street, Edina, MN 55439 COST: $10 for members
SAVE THE DATE: EVENTS IN AUGUST August 16: Lunch & Learn: Healthy Habits 11:45 AM - 1 PM, Chamber office Join us for a Lunch & Learn event to learn about healthy habits of the mind and body. This Lunch & Learn will be led by Matt Swenson of Metamorfos and Lesley Fahey of Rain International. August 23: Breakfast Networking 7:30 - 8:30 AM, Office Depot, Eden Prairie Start your morning by joining us at Office Depot for breakfast and conversation to learn more about Office Depot products and services. August 31: B.E.E.R. Luncheon: Leadership 11 AM - 1 PM, Olympic Hills Golf Club
Learn about making the link between leading and succeeding from Erik Therwanger, founder of Think GREAT and former U.S. Marine.
GOLF TOURNAMENT 2016
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EDEN PRAIRIE CHAMBER GOLF TOURNAMENT 2016 We enjoyed a beautiful day on the course for the Eden Prairie Chamber’s annual Golf Tournament on Monday, June 6 at Bearpath Golf & Country Club. The day included a full 18-round game of golf, lunch, activities with our Green and Tee sponsors, a silent and live auction and a buffet dinner. Thank you to all of our sponsors who made this great day possible!
TOURNAMENT SPONSOR
CLUB SPONSORS
TEE AND GREEN SPONSORS Above All Hardwood Flooring & Carpet ABRA Autobody & Glass Aerotek Anchor Bank Buyers Support Group C.H. Robinson Center Point Energy Comcast Business Device Pitstop ECM - Sun Media Emerson Excelsior Brewing Froehling Anderson, LTD. HealthSource Chiropractic Hellmuth & Johnson, PLLC Insperity Metro Sales Oak Ridge Hotel & Conference Center Pinstripes Promotion Select Republic Services Sanctuary Salonspa Unity Bank Washburn-McReavy Funeral Chapels Wings Financial Credit Union Xcel Energy
BEVERAGE HOLE SPONSOR Above All Hardood Flooring & Carpet
LUNCH SPONSOR CellOnly - Verizon Wireless
REGISTRATION TABLE SPONSOR W Creative
GOLF BALL SPONSORS Buyers Support Group ServPro
GOLF CART SPONSOR AVI Systems
PUTTING GREEN SPONSOR Element Technologies
DRIVING RANGE SPONSOR Signature Bank
BALL MARKER SPONSOR Alerus Bank
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GOLF TOURNAMENT 2016
ANNOUNCEMENTS Special announcement
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Meet Flat Pat!
The Chamber is excited to introduce the newest addition to our team: Flat Pat! Flat Pat is a cardboard, life-size version of Chamber President Pat MulQueeny courtesy of Walgreens in Eden Prairie, where you can create your own cardboard cutout for a special event, refill a prescription, grab the essentials, get a flu shot and more. Flat Pat will be traveling around to our member businesses to pay a visit, check out their unique products and services and sharing their stories and exclusive deals with Facebook, Twitter and Instagram every Monday. He will also be attending Chamber events to say “Hello!” to our members and give them an opportunity to participate in some fun challenges. Keep an eye out for Flat Pat the next time you attend a Chamber event! If you would like Flat Pat to visit your business to be featured on our social media accounts, please contact Meghan Heitkamp at info@epchamber.org. “I’m so excited to meet Eden Prairie Chamber members! I believe I will bring a new depth to the organization. I don’t say much, but I promise you that you will never see me without a smile on my face! Come give me a high five the next time you see me.” - Flat Pat
Follow along:
Eden Prairie Chamber of Commerce
SAVE THE DATE: LADIES ON THE LINKS The 12th annual Ladies on the Links golf tournament is right around the corner! Get out of the office and make new connections on the course. You will enjoy a 9-hole round of golf at Bent Creek Golf Club, an After Hours with appetizers, exhibitor tables, and more! Find the registration form at epchamber.org/events.asp. Sorry gentlemen, the tournament is for women only. But please join us for the concluding After Hours that is open to the general membership! Register at epchamber.org/ events.asp. There are limited sponsorship and exhibiting spaces available for the tournament and After Hours. Interested in sponsoring a hole or exhibiting at the After Hours? Contact Sarah at sarah.ober@epchamber.org.
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FEATURES
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MEMBER FEATURE: C.H. ROBINSON Get to know one of our Silver Annual Sponsors and Chamber member since 1979, C.H. Robinson. C.H. Robinson, with global headquarters in Eden Prairie, accelerates global trade seamlessly and delivers the products you see every day. As one of the world’s largest third-party logistics providers (3PL), C.H. Robinson offers logistics and supply chain solutions that range from truckload services to fresh produce sourcing to global forwarding and beyond. Today, the company ranks #208 on the Fortune 500 list with nearly $14B in annual revenues. That success has been built on the strengths of its knowledgeable people, proven processes and global technology. Its 13,000 employees worldwide pride themselves on helping customers and contract carriers work smarter, not harder to move the world’s products. C.H. Robinson is recognized widely by both customers and employees – winning numerous awards year after year, including Inbound Logistics Top 3PL of the Year, Fortune’s World’s Most Admired Companies, and regional Best Places to Work. In the first half of 2016, 11 of their customers have publicly recognized C.H. Robinson as a top provider, positively impacting their business. Additionally, C.H. Robinson is dedicated to giving back to the community. The company, the C.H. Robinson Foundation and employees contribute millions of dollars annually to a variety of organizations including Children’s Minnesota, Global Impact, JDRF, the MS Society and Ronald McDonald House Charities, among many others. As an active member of the Eden Prairie Chamber of Commerce, C.H. Robinson has been very involved with our Public Policy Committee, various public policy initiatives, gala and golf sponsorships, Board of Directors participation and luncheon speakers, including CEO John Wiehoff. The company also received the Chamber’s Excellence in Education Award for support of local schools. For more information about C.H. Robinson, visit http://www.chrobinson.com.
COMMITTEE SPOTLIGHT: WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE 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. One of the major initiatives of the Workforce Development Committee is the Career Fair at Eden Prairie High School. Interested in sharing your expertise and inspiring the future leaders of your industry? Join us for this Career Fair and help students find their career path. Find the registration form at epchamber.org/news.asp. Tuesday, October 25 9 - 11 AM (set-up begins at 8 AM) Eden Prairie High School
MEMBERSHIP
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LOOKING BACK: EVENTS IN JUNE LOOKINGBACK: BACK: EVENTS IN LOOKING EVENTS INDECEMBER DECEMBER Missed an event?
You can see all of the pictures and additional information on our Facebook page: Facebook.com/EdenPrairieChamber/
After Hours with Pure Barre and Rain International We enjoyed a great partnership After Hours event hosted by Pure Barre Eden Prairie and Rain International on May 24. This healthy and fun event featured food and beverages from Rain International and the Raining Healthy collection, while members got to see the beautiful space for classes and healthy initatives at Pure Barre in Eden Prairie. Some lucky winners walked away with unlimited month memberships to Pure Barre, Rain International products and a bottle of wine. Thank you to our members Rain International and Pure Barre Eden Prairie for hosting a great event!
B.E.E.R. Luncheon: MN Business Partnership The B.E.E.R. group (Bloomington, Eden Prairie, Edina and Richfield Chambers of Commerce) met on May 25 for a luncheon at Bachman’s Floral, Home & Garden Lyndale location. We heard from Charlie Weaver, Executive Director of the Minnesota Business Partnership, a non-profit, non-partisan public policy organization composed of 115 chief executive officers representing Minnesota’s leading employers. Charlie discussed the 2016 Minnesota legislative session and its impact on business in Minnesota. He also addressed the ongoing challenge of convincing legislators and the public that being pro-business is good.
Legislative Breakfast Thank you to all who joined us for the Legislative Breakfast with the TwinWest Chamber of Commerce on June 10. We enjoyed engaging dialogue with Rachel Stassen-Berger of the Pioneer Press and Mary Lahammer of TPT on behind-the-scenes life at the Capitol during the Legislative Session. We discussed victories, disappointments and the missed opportunities of the 2016 Legislative Session.
After Hours at Rogers Behavioral Health We celebrated an After Hours networking event and ribbon cutting ceremony at Rogers Behavioral Health in Eden Prairie on June 16. We were able to tour their new faciltiies and learn about the many services they offer, including eating disorder, OCD and anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder, depression and mood disorder services. Thank you for hosting a great After Hours event!
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MEMBERSHIP
New Members
Site Visits & Ribbon Cutting Ceremonies
Welcome to the Chamber! Stock and Barrel Gun Club 18832 Lake Drive East Chanhassen, MN 55317 (612) 888-0540 www.stockandbarrel.com Health e(fx) 6121 Baker Road, Suite 104 Minnetonka, MN 55345 (612) 723-1473 www.healthefx.com
Congratulations to these Chamber members who recently celebrated an opening or re-location. Thank you for letting the Chamber be a part of your celebration!
Stock and Barrel Gun Club
YP Marketing Solutions 9800 Shelard Parkway, Suite 340 Plymouth, MN 55441 (952) 656-7704 www.marketingsolutions.yp.com CRAVE Catering 2100 Summer St. NE Minneapolis, MN 55413 (952) 562-5620 www.cravecatering.com Amba Property Management 8995 Preserve Blvd Eden Prairie, MN 55347 (612) 310-1405 www.highshine.com MedExpress Urgent Care 16490 W 78th Street Eden Prairie, MN 55346 (304) 225-2500 www.medexpress.com
Eden Prairie Lifestyles Magazine
Rogers Behavioral Health
Ambassador of the Month 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.
Lesley Fahey
Rain International
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
JULY 2016 - Calendar of Events Monday 27
Tuesday 28
Wednesday 29
Thursday 30
Business@Breakfast 7:30 - 8:30 AM Tavern 4 & 5
4
Friday 1 CHAMBER OFFICE CLOSED
5
6
7
8
12
13
14
15
Business@Breakfast 7:30 - 8:30 AM Tavern 4 & 5
Women’s Networking After Hours 3:30 - 5 PM Champps, Eden Prairie
19
20
21
22
Chamber 202 8 - 9 AM
Business@Breakfast 7:30 - 8:30 AM Tavern 4 & 5
28
29
CHAMBER OFFICE CLOSED
Happy 4th of July!
11
18
Lunch & Learn: Office Depot 11:45 AM - 1 PM
25
26
27
After Hours: Verizon Wireless 4:30 - 6 PM Verizon Wireless, Eden Prairie
GUEST DAY at Business@ Breakfast 7:30 - 8:30 AM Hellmuth & Johnson, PLLC
PLEASE RSVP/Cancel FOR ALL EVENTS BY 12 PM THE DAY PRIOR! Visit epchamber.org to view details, pricing or to RSVP today!