May2014

MAY 2014 - Vol. 45, Issue 5 IN THIS ISSUE...

Congressional Luncheon with Erik Paulsen May 14, 2014 11:30 AM - 1:00 PM

Leadership

The Eden Prairie Chamber is pleased to have US Congressman Erik Paulsen present at a special luncheon on May 14th from 11:30 – 1:00.

Congressman Paulsen will be giving us updates on key legislative items and will be taking questions. Special thank you to C.H. Robinson for sponsoring this luncheon. RSVP’s are required!

P2- Article by Pat MulQueeny P3 - Article By Jeff Holds P4 - Ambassador Updates

Community Building P5- Normandale Community College P6- EP School District

Networking P7- Networking

Cost: $25 for Members & $40 for Non-Members Location: Hilton Garden Inn, 6330 Point Chase, Eden Prairie, MN, 55344 Sponsored By: C.H. Robinson

Women's Networking Luncheon: Organized Living May 8, 2014 11:30 AM - 1:00 PM Join us for the May luncheon where you will learn how to simplify your work and personal routine and get organized at work and home. We will be having a panel discussion with 3 experts who have a lot of knowledge on work/life balance, organized living and motivation.

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Look for us on Facebook “Eden Prairie Chamber” Look for us on LinkedIn “Eden Prairie Chamber” Visit our YouTube Channel “EPChamber2”

Speakers for this event are as follows: *Heidi Pederson- Work/life balance *Andrea Hayft- Organized living *Michelle Stimpson- Work/life balance Sponsored By: Comcast Business Class Location: Olympic Hills Golf Club, 10625 Mount Curve Road, Eden Prairie, MN Cost: $25 for Members & $40 for Non-Members

B.E.E.R. Event May 19, 2014 - 11:00 AM - 1:00 PM Join us for our upcoming B.E.E.R. luncheon as we hear from Jessica Schultz - a member of the 2014 US Olympic Curlrling Team and Richfield Resident. Schultz will be sharing her experiences at the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi.

Visit our Discussions Blog epchamber2.blogspot.com

Cost: $30 for Chamber Members & $50 for Non-Members Location: Bachman’s, 6010 Lyndale Ave., S., Minneapolis

THANK YOU to our 2014 Annual Sponsors!

Gold Sponsor

Silver Sponsor’s

Silver Sponsor’s

Bronze Sponsor

Bronze Sponsor

Leadership Connecting Businesses By: Pat MulQueeny, President Eden Prairie Chamber of Commerce With over 500 businesses as Chamber members, one of the organizations strengths is helping businesses connect with other businesses and community leaders. In the past few weeks we have held numerous programs that have brought business professionals together to network and learn from one another. We have been averaging over 200 people in these weeks participating!

Business Resource Center is Available NOW! Make no mistake about it – business people are very busy and as many program offerings the Chamber has, some of our members cannot attend a program. The need for these members is to access information at any given time – specifically on their schedule – and be able to use the Chamber as a resource. This is why we built the Business Resource Center – to help businesses gain valuable information and also promote their business.

How does the Business Resource Center Work?

Go to the Chamber website, click on the “Resource Center” tab, and then click “Business Resources”. What you will find is on the left hand side of the page is the categories that we have for business articles. These articles have been shared by our members who have expertise in these topics. You can read about Marketing, Branding and Advertising, or if you need additional ideas for your Social Media, check out the articles we have available. If you have additional questions on any topic, the author’s contact information is listed for you to make it as easy as possible to help you.

Do you have expertise in an area and want to share your knowledge? Than submit an article for us to post – the directions are on the website and we are quickly gathering and adding articles every week! We are looking for articles in all business categories and others as well – personal finance, health and wellness and more!

One final item – we want to say a big THANK YOU to Mic Klaith who was honored with our Charles DeBono Volunteer of the Year Award at the Chamber’s luncheon that featured an amazing presentation from Buffalo Wild Wings. It is with the help of great volunteers like Mic Klaith and the commitment of our great staff that our organization continues to grow and add additional opportunities. We look for an amazing 2014!

EP Chamber Board Chair Jeff Holds, Volunteer of the Year: Mic Klaith (Beacon Bank) & Recognition Committee Chair Glenn Schwartz

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Mic Klaith (Beacon Bank), Buffalo Wild Wings EVP Judy Shoulak & EP Chamber President Pat MulQueeny

“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 Leadership Conference – LEADERCAST 2014 - May 9th By: Jeff Holds Phoenix Technology Solutions, LLC Mark your calendars for one of the most exciting events to hit Eden Prairie regarding leadership.

On May 9th come to Grace Church for a day of leadership, this will not be an event you want to miss. “We exist to change the way the world thinks about leadership by building leaders worth following.” LeaderCast 2014.

Theme: Beyond You ….”Leadership is beyond the daily confines of our daily tasks. Beyond the borders of our roles and responsibilities. Leadership asks us to look beyond the everyday and consider the larger community around us.”… As Individuals looking to continually grow both personally and professionally, we look to those that have excelled in their respective fields as industry experts and leaders. These leaders studied other great leaders and applied their principals and developed new ideas to continually grow and share their success with others.

These leaders will be sharing their experiences with millions on May 9th in a simulcast from Atlanta to Grace Church. As local business owners, we will listen to these leaders thoughtfully taking away key elements from their presentations so we can in-turn feed these concepts back into our communities and businesses.

Lineup of Speakers: Laura Bush , First Lady of the United States (2001-2009) Andy Stanley, Leadership Author and Communicator Desmond Tutu, Nobel laureate & human rights activist Laura Schroff, Former advertising sales executive and New York Times and best-selling author Malcolm Gladwell, Award-winning journalist and best-selling author Randall Wallace, Screenwriter, director, producer and songwriter Dr. Henry Cloud, Clinical psychologist and leadership consultant Bill McDermott, CEO of SAP AG Simon Sinek, Leadership expert and best-selling author Many of our top local businesses are sponsoring this event to help share the message of great leadership to Eden Prairie businesses and our surrounding communities. We are fortunate we have such a large facility in our own backyard that is willing to open their doors and allow this leadership conference so close to our homes. Thank you to Bobby and Steve’s Auto World for their continued heart and giving by stepping up to be the presenting sponsor of this event. We are fortunate to have such great chamber members as part of the Eden Prairie Chamber with membership of over 8 years. Congratulations to Steve Williams with Bobby and Steve’s in winning the “Mightiest of the Mighty” award for their giving.

Take a few minutes and look at the Leadercast website regarding this event. You will find some great information about the event, the speakers, the schedule, and the sponsors. Plan to bring a stack of business cards for networking with other chamber members as well as with many other metro businesses. Projected attendance will be over 600 people from all over the area. www.leadercastnorthland.com The Eden Prairie Chamber has stepped up to help sponsor this event and we will have a booth for other business owners to learn more about our outstanding chamber. Let’s show our community how great our chamber is by helping to spread the word and attend this fantastic event.

I hope to see you at Leadercast on May 9th at Grace Church!

11455 Viking Dr. #270, Eden Prairie, MN 55344 • Ph: 952-944-2830 • Fax: 952-944-0229 • www.epchamber.org

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Leadership AMBASSADOR UPDATES The Eden Prairie Chamber Ambassadors serve as goodwill representatives in our business community. They learn about member businesses and encourage membership retention through mentorships, personal phone calls and much more. Below are some of the places that our very busy Ambassadors visited during April of 2014!

AMBASSADOR OF THE MONTH: MARCH 2014: STEVE BOWMAN This month’s “Ambassador of the Month” is Steve Bowman, with Tiger Plumbing, Heating & Air! They are an Eden Prairie based full service plumbing, heating and air conditioning company, serving the Southwest Metro area for 14 years. Because of their continued growth, Tiger moved to a new location at 7216 Washington Avenue South earlier this year. Steve has been an active member of the Chamber and a member of the Ambassador Committee for several years. Steve likes how well organized, friendly and supportive the Chamber is. He enjoys networking with and building continuing relationships with other Chamber members. As an Ambassador, he looks forward to getting to know the new members, showing them the ropes and helping them get the full advantage of their Chamber of Commerce membership.

ServSafe Training & Certification Lesley Fahey 763-843-2326 lfahey@live.com

Pieper, Whitaker & Bjork, LLC Bryan Ekern 763-550-1100 3140 Harbor Lane N. #100 Plymouth, MN, 55346 bryan.ekern@pwbcpas.com

ServSafe Training & Certification

Pieper Whitaker & Bjor k, LLC

Paramount Real Estate Corporation Paramount Real Estate Corporation Jeffrey Swanson 952-854-7485 3601 Minnesota Drive #925 Bloomington, MN, 55435 Jswanson@paramountre.com

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11455 Viking Dr. #270, Eden Prairie, MN 55344 • Ph: 952-944-2830 • Fax: 952-944-0229 • www.epchamber.org

Community Building Normandale Community College

By Joe Opatz, President, Normandale Community College Thank you for the opportunity to share information about Normandale Community College in this month’s chamber newsletter. We take a great deal of pride in our role of providing a quality and affordable education to our surrounding communities, and are excited to share with the Eden Prairie community some of the wonderful things that are happening on our campus.

Normandale continues to excel as a liberal arts institution, and is the top transfer school for the University of Minnesota, Minnesota State University-Mankato, St. Thomas and many others. We also offer a number of high quality career programs such as dental hygiene and nursing. Many great leadership and extracurricular opportunities are available through our student clubs and organizations, our high-achieving Phi Theta Kappa chapter and our award-winning Center for Experiential Education.

Recently, we have seen a growing demand for bachelor’s and master’s degree opportunities in the surrounding areas. This year, we celebrated partnerships with Metropolitan State University and Minnesota State UniversityMankato to offer four-year degrees on our campus in our new Partnership Center. Students can now get an associate’s degree at Normandale, and finish their bachelor’s degree on campus through Metro State and MSUMankato in a variety of majors. There are currently over 600 students on campus taking bachelor’s and master’s level courses through the Partnership Center.

Normandale also recently became certified as a “Yellow Ribbon” company for its commitment to being a military friendly environment. The college celebrated this status with the 34th Red Bull Infantry (who has held many of their events on Normandale’s campus) and Beyond the Yellow Ribbon members last November. This honor is especially significant because of the fact that Normandale has one of the highest military veteran populations among colleges in the state of Minnesota.

We also realize that despite the fact that Normandale provides one of the most affordable tuitions in the state, it can still be difficult for many students to pay for college. The Normandale Foundation raises hundreds of thousands of scholarship dollars for students. The college has also awarded over $38 million to students through federal and state financial aid programs this year.

Normandale prides itself on holding numerous educational events for the community and our students during the year. The college puts on concerts, theatre performances, art exhibits, colloquiums, a Writing Festival and many other events. This year, we had our fifth annual Success Day on February 11, 2014. During Success Day, Normandale instructors, community members and organizations offer sessions on their areas of their expertise.

Normandale’s Continuing Education program works with industry partners in the community to make an impact.

Through these partnerships, Continuing Education is providing leadership training opportunities to help employees have an easier transition to managerial roles , working through a DEED grant to develop and deliver training to over 300 employees in customer experience courses and continuing to work with many other community and industry partners on impactful projects.

It has been another exciting and fulfilling year at Normandale Community College. In the seven years I have served as president at Normandale, I have truly enjoyed the experience of working with the many great students, faculty and staff members. I will be retiring on August 1, 2014 to pursue new interests and personal growth opportunities. The college will be hiring a new president this summer, and I believe this individual will be getting a great opportunity to work at an excellent institution. I want to thank all of the community members who have and continue to support Normandale Community College.

11455 Viking Dr. #270, Eden Prairie, MN 55344 • Ph: 952-944-2830 • Fax: 952-944-0229 • www.epchamber.org

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Community Building Update from the Eden Prairie School District

By Eden Prairie Schools We appreciate the opportunity to share information about our district in the monthly editions of the chamber newsletter. We give you a glimpse into the district each month, but invite you to visit the district’s website at www.edenpr.org for more information. You can also follow us and like us! The district is using social media as another means to provide updates, information and shout-outs to students and staff who are doing great things. Follow us on Twitter @EPS272 and like us on Facebook at Eden Prairie Schools. Here are a few things happening in your school district: District administration presents options for referendum ballot questions – At a board work session on Wednesday, April 16, Superintendent Tryggestad and district administrators presented referendum proposal options to the board. The options were presented for the board to consider as ballot questions for the November 2014 referendum election. Prior to the presentation of the options, the board heard a presentation from Dr. Bill Morris, consultant with Morris Leatherman Company, on two community surveys recently conducted for the district. Information from the surveys was used to develop the referendum options. Along with the assumption that the board would include the renewal of the district’s existing operating levy on the November 2014 ballot, the administration shared a brief description, pros and cons on the following options: •$250 levy increase – would generate about $2.3 m annually •$500 levy increase – would generate about $4.6 m annually •$750 levy increase – would generate about $7 m annually •$996 levy increase – would generate about $9.1 m annually

been hired as the district’s assistant superintendent. Swanson is currently the executive director of technology for the district, a position he has held since October 2012. Swanson was formerly the director of technology and information systems for the Buffalo-Hanover-Montrose district for five years, and also served as the special education services administrator and as an assistant principal at Buffalo Middle School.

He has also worked as an interim associate principal, interim dean of students and athletic director at West Middle School for Wayzata Public Schools; physical education teacher at Wayzata West and Central middle schools; and project manager at the Merrill Corporation. The assistant superintendent position replaces the executive director of educational services position formerly held by Dr. Stephen West, who has been named superintendent for the Winona school district.

EPHS Ranked as One of ‘America’s Most Challenging High Schools’ – The Washington Post has ranked EPHS as the #7 most challenging public high school in Minnesota, putting it in the top nine percent of America’s high schools. The rankings are based on the number of Advanced Placement, International Baccalaureate and Advanced International Certificate of Education tests given at a school each year, divided by the number of seniors who graduated that year.

Eden Prairie’s “Challenge Index” score went up from 2.569 in 2013 to 2.720 in 2014. The increase from the #11 ranking last year to #7 this year is in part due to the increased number of students taking the AP exams.

Community survey shows reasons behind failed November 2013 operating levy – Following the November 2013 referendum election, Eden Prairie Schools contracted with In addition to the amounts of the operating levy increase, an independent firm to conduct a community survey to the administration also shared a brief description, pros and determine the reasons behind the failed operating levy refcons on the following ballot structure options: erendum. There were two questions on the November 2013 ballot including the operating levy that was not approved •One ballot question – levy renewal and levy increase in and a renewal of the technology levy that was approved. same ballot question The survey results were split into the following random •Two ballot questions – question #1, levy renewal and ques- sample groups: tion #2, levy increase •Three ballot questions – question #1, levy renewal; ques•Parents who voted in the November 2013 election tion #2, levy increase; and question #3, additional levy •Non-parents (residents who currently do not have children increase enrolled in an Eden Prairie Schools) who voted in the November 2013 election The board will consider the referendum options for the next •Parents who did not vote in the November 2013 election several weeks and is expected to make a decision on the ref- The random sample groups were created from the voter list erendum proposals at the June 10 board meeting. The board provided to the district by the Minnesota Secretary of State’s presentation can be viewed on the district website at www. office, and then combined with the district’s parent list to edenpr.org. identify the two parent groups. More detailed results are included on the district’s website at www.edenpr.org.

District hires assistant superintendent – Josh Swanson has

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11455 Viking Dr. #270, Eden Prairie, MN 55344 • Ph: 952-944-2830 • Fax: 952-944-0229 • www.epchamber.org

Networking

MN Twins President Dave St. Peter Speaks at Fusion Luncheon (Brianna Cattrysse, Dave St. Peter & Chamber President Pat MulQueeny)

MN Twins President Dave St. Peter Signs Hilton Garden Inn “Wall of Fame”

After Hours @ Silver Lining Care Homes, LLC

After Hours Expo @ Bent Creek Golf Club Women’s Networking Luncheon

Meet the Chamber Staff!

Pat MulQueeny President

Brianna Cattrysse Marketing & Communications Manager

Amy Sinclair Membership & Event Coordinator

Lori Brown Administrative Assistant Accounts/Receivable

Please contact Lori at Lori.Brown@epchamber.org for invoicing, receipts and account questions. Thank you!

11455 Viking Dr. #270, Eden Prairie, MN 55344 • Ph: 952-944-2830 • Fax: 952-944-0229 • www.epchamber.org

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MAY 2014 - EPC Calendar of Events Monday

Tuesday

Wednesday

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7:30- 8:30 AM, Business@Break- 8:30-9:30AM - Business Developfast at Bent Creek Golf Club ment Committee Meeting 4:30-6PM - After Hours @ Wings of the North/ Fast Signs EP

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7:30- 8:30 AM, Business@Break- 7:30AM - Board Meeting fast at Bent Creek Golf Club 11:30AM - 1PM - Women’s Networking Luncheon @ Olympic Hills Golf Club

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7:30-8:30AM :Government Committee Meeting 11:30-1PM- Fusion: Speed Networking @ Hellmuth & Johnson with Edina

7:30- 8:30 AM, Business@Breakfast at Bent Creek Golf Club 11:30-1PM - BEER Luncheon @ Bachman’s in Richfield 11:30-1PM- Congressional Lunch @ Hilton Garden Inn

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7:30- 8:30 AM, Business@Break- 4-6PM - After Hours @ Hilton fast at Bent Creek Golf Club Garden Inn

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7:30- 8:30 AM, Business@Breakfast at Bent Creek Golf Club

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