CONNECTIONS NOVEMBER 2012 - Vol. 43, Issue 11
IN THIS ISSUE...
Not Your Average Joe’s - General Membership Lunch
Leadership
Thursday, November 1st from 11:30 AM - 1:00 PM at Olympic Hills Golf Club
P2- Article by Glenn Schwartz P3- Ambassador Updates P3- Ambassador of the Month
O
ur luncheons continue to focus on sharing business stories that can help others learn from those that have worked hard and succeeded. This is a great program focused on two of our long time Chamber members, Joe Stoebner (Chairman and Founder of AVI Systems ) and Joe Reilly (CEO of Payroll Control Systems).
Public Policy
Joe Stoebner is the Chairman and Founder of AVI Systems and some of his many responsibilities include acquisitions and long range planning. Joe Stoebner started AVI Systems in Bismarck, ND in 1974 as an audio visual equipment supplier. To this day, he continues to build the reputation of AVI Systems as a premier systems integrator of audio, video, broadcast, presentation and video conferencing systems regionally and nationally. AVI has over 300 employees and over $110 million in revenue.
P4- Article by Erik Paulsen P4- Sponsorship Corner
Community Building P5- Eden Prairie Schools Update P6- Artible by PROP P6- Tips from Xcel Energy
Networking P7- Article by Pat MulQueeny P7- Leinenkugel Experience P8- November 2012 Calendar
Joe Reilly is the CEO of Payroll Control Systems. He founded PCS in 1995 because he recognized that the market for outsourcing payroll and related services in the 1990’s was suffering from a lack of service, despite growing demand. He currently has 5 offices with over 40 employees, with over 1300 clients in all 50 states.
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This program will give attendees insight into how these two CEO’s have operated their companies in good times and bad – but in the end have succeeded. Both have amazing stories of managing growth, struggles with the economy and what has made them successful. Bring your questions and a notepad to learn from these “Not Your Average Joe’s!”
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Leadership Support Your Local Technology Expert By Glenn Schwartz, 2012 Chamber Board Chair Glenn J. Schwartz, Attorney at Law
I am convinced that it is no longer possible to operate a successful business in 2012 without the use of available technology. I am equally convinced that no business is able to “keep up” with the latest technology, but all of us in business must use our best efforts to try. The Chamber is fortunate to have a number of members who have substantial expertise in most areas of technology. If your business does not currently have an established relationship with a technology expert in all areas, take one of your fellow Chamber member technology experts to lunch. Do it today. The pace of technological advances during my professional career had been astounding and it is increasing consistently at an alarming rate. My first legal secretary had been one of the last court room reporters to record all testimony in court room trials by shorthand writing on a stenographic tablet. She could accurately record all of my legal dictation without blinking an eye. A law partner of mine purchased some new fangled dictation equipment that could record his dictation while his secretary was working on other matters at the same time. This was quite an innovation at the time and initially the law firm balked at the purchase of similar equipment for all lawyers.
When flash drives came out, I was truly amazed that I could carry all of my legal documents and files with me on a tiny electronic device. Today, even these are becoming outdated as this information can be accessed in the “cloud,” whatever that is. This month compact disks turned 30 years old and they are rapidly disappearing (like cassettes and 8 track players). Your business simply must utilize the technology available and the Internet to survive and prosper. This requires constant attention to evolving technology that will make business operations quick and much more efficient. Please support your local technology geek. Your business will benefit immeasurably. I conclude with a true short tale. Recently, I was exploring the Snyder Building at the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum with my granddaughters. We walked into classrooms located in this original building and one of my granddaughters asked me “What are those strange rectangular shaped structures hanging on the walls of the classroom?” I replied, “Those, my dear, are blackboards and the round white objects in the tray below is chalk.”
Glenn Schwartz is the 2012 Board Chair for the Eden Prairie Chamber of Commerce. If you would like to contact Glenn regarding the Eden Prairie Chamber, he can be reached at 952-9433955.
When I began practicing law, “carbon copies” were actually carbon paper duplicates of original documents and IBM scientific typewriters were the latest word processing innovation. Has any one seen a typewriter lately? Several years into my practice, a new maEveryone’s got an answer... chine that could duplicate and print legal forms called the “Mag Card” was invented and we were thrilled! When facsimile machines were developed, we lawyers were ecstatic! Forms and signed documents could be sent by phone instantaneously. Today these machines, which are still everywhere, are becoming dinosaurs and email may soon become outdated!
BusinessConnection Your connection to business answers.
...ours will GROW your business. We know times aren’t easy for Minnesota businesses these days. You need a resource that provides direct and immediate help for all of your important business questions. BusinessConnection is your free, go-to service in Minnesota for any and all business questions. Its purpose is to help Minnesota businesses grow by breaking down barriers, opening doors and answering questions – so you can get back to business.
Connect anytime: www.mnbizconnect.com Call toll-free: 1-888-MINN-BIZ / 1-888-646-6249 Personal assistance is available 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Mon.-Fri. BusinessConnection is a service of Grow Minnesota! and sponsored by the Minnesota Chamber of Commerce, its local chamber partners and the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development.
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“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 Hopkins, MN - POSTMASTER: Send address changes to “Connections,” 11455 Viking Dr. #270, Eden Prairie, MN 55344
Leadership Ambassador of the Month- September: Steve Bowman, Tiger Plumbing, Heating & Air!!!
S
teve has been an Ambassador for some time now. Recently, he and his co-workers at Tiger Plumbing, Heating & Air volunteered their time for a program called Heat Up Minnesota. They installed a furnace donated by Lennox for no charge to a homeowner who has been diagnosed with a rare form of Lymphoma and due to downsizing, lost her job and disability insurance. She was unable to afford to upgrade her aging heating system, which had multiple cracks in the heat exchanger. Pictured is Steve with the grateful homeowner. Thanks to Steve and Tiger, the homeowner is now safe and warm!
Ambassador Updates from the Month of October! 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 October of 2012! Best Buy Mike Ersfeld, General Manager 11600 Leona Road Eden Prairie, MN 55344 952-941-5149 www.BestBuy.com
Nerium Terri Rea, Sr. Brand Partner 4400 Dunham Drive Edina, MN 55435 612-382-8148 www.TRea.Nerium.com
Patch.com Cathy Deering, Advertising Manager 7920 Union avenue Mayer, MN 55360 612-516-7539 www.EdenPrairie.Patch.com
Best Buy (Eden Prairie)
Thumb Friendly
Thumb Friendly Mike Quinn, RVP Business Development 8900 Flesher Circle Eden Prairie, MN 55347 612-202-8160 www.ThumbFriendly.com
11455 Viking Dr. #270, Eden Prairie, MN 55344 • Ph: 952-944-2830 • Fax: 952-944-0229 • www.epchamber.org
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Public Policy An Update from Congressman Erik Paulsen By Congressman Erik Paulsen
Small businesses are the heart of job creation and the lifeblood of our local economy. Here’s a quick update on some recent Congressional initiatives that impact small businesses. Our state continues to be the epicenter for innovation in the medical device industry. Minnesota is home to nearly 400 medical device companies, many of which are small businesses employing fewer than 50 workers. These innovators provide 35,000 jobs for our neighbors, friends, and family members, and our medical technology community has truly become an American success story. Yet, a tax included in the new healthcare law threatens that success. Starting on January 1st, a new $30 billion excise tax will be levied on medical devices, increasing the cost of health care and pushing this important industry overseas - taking with it vital American jobs. In fact, in anticipation of this illconceived tax we’ve already seen layoffs and lost jobs. To protect these jobs and our leadership in this dynamic industry, I authored and passed legislation in the House to repeal the new medical device tax with bipartisan support. Every member of the Minnesota delegation voted for my bill. Now we need the Senate to act as well before it’s too late. Another important issue is expanding exports and opening foreign markets to Minnesota-made goods and services. Trade continues to be an essential factor for continued economic growth and job creation in our state and country. Minnesota businesses export more than $18 billion dollars in goods around the globe, sustaining nearly 60,000 jobs right here at home. As a member of the Ways and Means Committee, I worked to pass new free trade agreements with Colombia, Panama, and South Korea, and am working on a new Trans-Pacific Partnership agreement so Minnesota businesses – large and small – have a level playing field when competing in the growing global marketplace. Finally, the prospect of higher taxes and an outdated tax code have forced many of our businesses to wait on the sidelines rather than invest in new people and equipment because of the uncertainty coming from Washington. That’s why I support stopping the looming year-end tax hikes, and reforming our tax code to make it simpler, fairer, and more competitive. You can be sure of my continued support for pro-growth policies that help small businesses and job creation in Minnesota. Please keep in touch!
Ambassador Lunch Sponsor (All Year)
7922 Mitchell Road, Eden Prairie 952-374-6464 www.goumbria.com
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SPONSORSHIP CORNER ~ OCTOBER ~
ATHENA LUNCHEON
12475 Plaza Drive, Eden Prairie 952-944-2438 www.suburbanchev.com
11455 Viking Dr. #270, Eden Prairie, MN 55344 • Ph: 952-944-2830 • Fax: 952-944-0229 • www.epchamber.org
Community Building Eden Prairie Schools ~ November Update By Eden Prairie Schools
Fall is always a busy time in Eden Prairie Schools. There are many things happening throughout the district. Here are some of the highlights: •
Eden Prairie Schools is beginning the process of developing a strategic plan and is seeking parents, staff members, community members and students to assist in the process. The strategic plan will provide a road map for the future of the district, ErictoNelson (center) @ his AfterofHours event and will serve as a framework for the next several years. In order for the plan best refl ect the vision the community, the district is inviting parents, staff members, community members and students to serve on the planning teams. There are three types of teams, which are part of the strategic planning process. The teams are listed below: 1. Core planning team – This team will develop the draft strategic plan and finalize the plan and other documents to be presented to the school board. 2. Action teams – There will be an action team for each strategy developed as part of the strategic plan (likely to have three to five strategies). These teams will develop specific action steps to implement each strategy. 3. Measurement team – This team will develop the tools to measure and assess the implementation progress of the strategic plan. If you are interested in serving on one of the planning teams, go to the district’s website to find the nomination form. If you have questions about the teams or planning process, contact Bob Noyed, executive director of communication and community relations, and internal coordinator for the planning process, 952-975-7151 or bnoyed@edenpr.org.
•
As Eden Prairie Schools continues to seek ways to bring greater personalization to student learning, it has unveiled a new initiative called i-Learn@EP. This initiative is focused on transforming how students learn and teachers teach by creating an individualized and engaging digital learning environment. The district has been conducting several engagement sessions to solicit input from parents about the initiative. The input will be used by the district administration to develop a recommendation for implementation, which will be presented to the board in late November.
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In September, the Eden Prairie School Board approved a resolution authorizing for the sale of general obligation bonds to be used to refinance bonds that were issued in 2005. This refinancing is anticipated to reduce school district property taxes over the next two years by more than $700,000, which could reduce the amount of school property taxes paid by property owners in the district. The refinancing of bonds is similar to a refinancing of a home loan. The current interest rate on the 2005 bonds is 4.25 percent. The district’s financial consultants anticipate that the new interest rate will be about three percent.
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The Eden Prairie School board approved the preliminary levy for the taxes payable in 2013, which provides a portion of the district’s funding for the 2013-2014 school year. Each year, the school board approves a preliminary levy in September. The Minnesota Department of Education and Hennepin County then verify the district’s proposed levy and information is sent to district property owners in December. The district is proposing a preliminary levy of approximately $40.3 million, which includes the general fund, capital expenditures fund, community education fund, and debt service fund. The proposed levy is estimated at about $17,000 or .04 percent more than the 2012-2013 levy. Current estimates indicate that the school portion of the property taxes may increase a small amount, about $10 per year, for the median-priced home in Eden Prairie.
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 Consider Helping Your Neighbors in Need This Season By: PROP - People Reaching Out to Outher People
As
we are preparing for the holiday season ,many of us are making plans with family and friends. We will likely gather with others and celebrate the season enjoying bountiful meals and exchanging holiday gifts. As we enjoy our time in abundance, lets take a few moments to think about those who are less fortunate and struggling due to scarce resources this upcoming season. Lets consider the needs of those who are hoping for a warm home during the winter, or those who are anxious that the snowy weather that will impact their ability to get to work, or those who have limited resources to provide a holiday gift for their child or children. This November, please consider helping out our neighbors in need by supporting PROP as we prepare for the upcoming holidays. We welcome participation from all members of the community including: individuals, families, businesses, neighborhoods, civic groups, faith-based groups, schools
and clubs. Some of the ways in which you can help are by organizing a donation drive for food and/or funds, encouraging your employer to offer matching funds to PROP this holiday season, transporting food donations, or participating in PROP’s Holiday Program by purchasing gifts for a family, child, and/or senior or volunteering at PROP during the holiday program. If you are interested in contributing on a larger scale and/or on a more continual basis as a PROP Partner, please contact a PROP Representative or visit our website at www.propfood.org. For more information on how you can help out a neighbor in need by supporting or contributing to PROP contact Anne Harnack, PROP’s Executive Director at anneh@propfood.org or visit our web site at www.propfood. org. Thank you and blessings to all for a happy and safe holiday season!
Turn Key Services: Get a Jump-start on Your Stalled Efficiency Project By: Xcel Energy
with good intentions isn’t always enough. That’s why Xcel Energy offers Turn Key Services. It’s a full service program designed to help get energy efficiency projects implemented. The program helps overcome the hurdles that happen along the way, offering solutions to get started saving energy and money sooner. This is how it works:
Coordination of implementation and pre-metering Verifying installation of equipment and post metering Completing and gathering paperwork necessary for rebate 2. Xcel Energy utilizes a third party for the consulting work to help you move projects to implementation. 3. Xcel Energy will fund 85% of the scoping service, which is dependent on the project size.
Phase 1: Project Identification 1. Complete a Turn Key Assessment to identify multiple opportunities. 2. Xcel Energy helps guide you through an implementation plan.
Phase 3: Implementation 1. You implement your project(s). 2. The cost of Phase 2 is deducted from the applicable rebate. 3. You receive the difference as a final rebate.
Sometimes project hurdles are hard to overcome. A great start
Phase 2: Project Scoping and Management 1. A menu of options helps you overcome hurdles including: • Involvement in onsite customer meetings • Assistance with the bidding and selection process
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• • •
For more information on the Turnkey Services program, please visit www.responsiblebynature.com.
11455 Viking Dr. #270, Eden Prairie, MN 55344 • Ph: 952-944-2830 • Fax: 952-944-0229 • www.epchamber.org
Networking Luncheon Features Amazing Business By Pat MulQueeny, IOM, President Eden Prairie Chamber of Commerce
The October ATHENA award that was sponsored by Suburban Chev highlighted the success story of Angie’s Kettle Corn. The company was started out of the garage of Dan Bastian, a school teacher, and his wife Angie, a nurse. They financed their company originally with zero percent credit cards. They started with promoting their kettle corn at the Vikings training camp, and it became a big hit. In 2002, the Vikings offered them a sponsorship opportunity to set-up outside the Metrodome. They learned many things as they grew including how important marketing is – they showed a picture of their kettle corn on the cover of a newspaper – but the bag had no label on it. In 2003, Lund’s Byerly’s gave them an opportunity – they would
make the kettle corn at night, label them and Dan would drive at 3:00 a.m. to deliver to the stores in the metro. In January of 2011, they were featured on Martha Stewart. Through it all they knew it was important to not lose sight of why they did this – their kids. They talked about how they still focus on spending time with their children, attending their sporting events etc. They also discussed their growth – their products are in all 50 states and they have great support from SUPERVALU, Costco, Target and others. They have grown from their startup to over 150 employees – at one point hiring 101 employees in a 60 day period. Pictured from left to right: Pat MulQueeny (EP Chamber), John Peifer (Suburban Chevrolet), Cheryl Eastbourne ATHENA Recipient (Edina Realty), Angie Bastian & Dan Bastian (Angie’s Kettle Corn).
The Leinenkugel Experience @ Brunswick Zone Wednesday, November 28th from 4:30 - 6:00 PM
The brewery’s beginning was a humble one. In the early days Jacob Leinenkugel and business partner, John Miller, were the only employees. Jacob brewed the beer, 400 barrels in the first year, and John delivered it using a small cart and a horse named Kate. The partnership flourished for seventeen years until 1884 when John sold his share of the company to Jacob. For five generations Leinie’s has been brewing America’s friendliest craft beer. Under the guidance of Jake, Dick and John Leinenkugel the brewery continues to thrive, keeping true to the history and heritage established by their great-great grandfather more than 145 years ago.
Join us to learn more about this legendary company, meet John Leinenkugel and learn how they continue to market and compete with bigger breweries, AND sample some of their latest brews! Cost is $15 and includes appetizers, program and beer sampling! Check out the Chamber website to register – www.epchamber.org.
11455 Viking Dr. #270, Eden Prairie, MN 55344 • Ph: 952-944-2830 • Fax: 952-944-0229 • www.epchamber.org
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This is a publication of: Eden Prairie Chamber of Commerce
11455 Viking Drive, Suite 270 Eden Prairie, MN 55344
Ph: 952.944.2830 Fax: 952.944.0229
www.epchamber.org
NOVEMBER 2012 - EPC Calendar of Events Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
Thursday 1
Friday 2
7:30 AM - Business Development Meeting @ EPC 11:30 AM - 1:00 PM- GML- Not Your Average Joe’s @ Olympic Hills
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7:30- 8:30 AM, Business@ Breakfast at The Colony
7:30 AM - Board Meeting @ EPC
11:30 AM- Ambassador Committee Mtg. @ EPC Office
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11:00 AM - 1:00 PM- Women’s Networking Lunch - Women in Business Panel @ Redstone
* Newsletter ads due to EPC by 4 PM
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7:30- 8:30 AM, Business@ Breakfast at The Colony 11:30 AM - 1:00 PM- Fusion Meeting- Social Media @ STAR BANK *Newsletter inserts due to EPC
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7:30 AM- Government Committee Meeting @ EPC
NO B@B!
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EPC OFFICE CLOSED
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EPC OFFICE CLOSED
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7:30- 8:30 AM, Business@ Breakfast at The Colony
4:30 - 6:00 PM- Leinenkugel Experience @ Brunswick Zone
PLEASE RSVP FOR ALL EVENTS BY 12 PM THE DAY PRIOR! Visit epchamber.org to view details, pricing or to RSVP today!