November 2015 - Vol. 46, Issue 11
THANK YOU 2015 Annual Sponsors! PLATINUM Sponsor Eden Prairie Village
ng i n i a Rem
Breakfast: Oh the Places You’ll Go - In Business
When we’re young, our imagination helps us see the world as a place of endless opportunity. We dream big, aspire to do great things and believe that anything is possible. Yet as we grow older, theses abilities tend to get lost. Andy Zarras, Vice President Airport Operations for Delta Air Lines, Inc., will explore why we lose this childhood excitement, and how we can learn to dream big again and apply it to our businesses.
GOLD Sponsor
SILVER Sponsors
BRONZE Sponsors
Events in 2015
DATE: Wednesday, November 4, 8 - 10 AM LOCATION: Doubletree by Hilton, 800 Normandale Boulevard, Bloomington COST: $25 for members, $50 for non-members
Don’t miss the first B.E.E.R.S. (Bloomington, Eden Prairie, Edina, Richfield and SouthWest Metro Chambers) program: Beers with B.E.E.R.S.! Network and create connections with members from five chambers while you sample micro-brewed beers from local breweries.
Beers with DATE: Thursday, December 3, 4:30 - 6:30 PM LOCATION: Brunswick Zone XL 12200 Singletree Lane, Eden Prairie COST: $20 for members, $30 for non-members
Breweries include 612Brew, Brau Brothers, Lift Bridge Brewery, Mankato Brewery, Badger Hill Brewing, Summit Brewing Company, and Parley Lake Winery
Thank you to our B.E.E.R. sponsors:
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LEADERSHIP
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Message from the Chair Leadership By Carrie Dolinar, Chair Talencio
simple, right?
A wise person in my network once told me to “lead with a purpose”. For the past several months, I have not been able to get this phrase out of my head. Lead with a purpose. That’s
According to Erik Therwanger, military veteran – speaker – coach - author, “Every organization, whether big or small, strives for the same thing – to achieve greater results. In today’s unpredictable business environment, companies face new challenges and the need for strong leaders, has never been greater. Leaders who can deliver consistent results are the greatest asset to any business.” I had the pleasure of listening to one of Erik’s presentations as well as spend some 1:1 time with him and had many great take away’s. • You can always control your thoughts and actions • #1 thing you can do as a leader – know that there isn’t any ONE thing • Create voluntary accountability • Goals create accountability • Don’t chase perfection, chase progress Everyone in a company is a leader in some way, shape, or form. You might be managing people, you might be managing your projects – maybe both. Your work has a purpose – work like you own it. Are you leading a group of people or just one person? Do you know what means the most to your team or that one person? Often times, leaders have a difficult time answering this question. Personal goals. Everyone has their own personal goals. Is it to have the highest possible salary or to have the best work/life balance as possible? Maybe, it’s somewhere in between. Maybe both. Knowing what your own goals are and what your employee’s personal goals are will allow you to develop a relationship that will be paramount to your/their success. In recent years, I have had some great success as a leader but have had my fair share of challenges. After spending some time with Erik and reading his book, The Leadership Connection, it has made me pause and reflect back on what has gone well and what I could improve upon. What’s the difference between a leader and a manager? Erik will tell you, “Manage the work flow – Lead the people”. Lead with a purpose. Have passion.
Did you hear the news?
Business@Breakfast has a new home!
Join us every Wednesday from 7:30 - 8:30 AM at Tavern 4&5 in Eden Prairie for good food and great networking. Come prepared with a stack of business cards and a 60-second infomercial about your unique products or services. Register by noon on Tuesday! “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
epchamber.org
LEADERSHIP Message from the President
Empowering our Future By Pat MulQueeny Chamber President
Chamber Helps Connect Businesses to Students With low unemployment rates and numerous industries facing worker and skills shortages, the Eden Prairie Chamber held its 2nd annual Career Fair at the high school. This event helped 45 area businesses connect with over 400 high school students to help them with their career paths after graduation. Many of the businesses involved offer job shadows, internships and opportunities to learn more about the possible careers within those industries. The Chamber’s goal is to not only help students learn about future career opportunities, but for the businesses that participate that they can help fill future voids in employees and at the same time give back. Additionally, the Chamber kicked-off its 2015-16 Student Membership program. We have 20 high school seniors from Eden Prairie High School that will be learning business skills through our programs, mentorship with our members and staff and utilizing the Chamber to find job shadow opportunities. If you are at one of our programs and meet one of the student members, please ask them how you can help them both utilize the Chamber and achieve their goals! Now Hiring Many area businesses have the “Now Hiring” signs up to help them find employees to fill their vacancies. As a Chamber member, you can post your job openings free of charge on the Chamber’s website. For more information on this opportunity, please send an e-mail to sarah.ober@epchamber.org. Congratulations and Thank You The Chamber wants to again congratulate Sarah Kinkeade of Anchor Bank our 2015 ATHENA Award recipient, and thank her for the tremendous work she does for the Chamber and our community! Additional
thank you’s to Suburban Chevrolet and John Peifer for their more than 20 years of support for this award program! City/Business Town Hall Meeting The Chamber is co-hosting a town hall meeting with the Eden Prairie City Council, staff and area businesses to hear the results of the city’s business survey and to discuss local issues. We invite you to attend this free after hours event on December 10 at 4:30 at the City Offices Heritage Rooms. A reception with appetizers and cash bar will follow. To register and for additional details, please go to epchamber.org. Made in Eden Prairie and Chamber’s Annual Meeting Don’t miss the Thursday, December 17, 11 a.m. - 1 p.m. luncheon themed “Made in Eden Praire.” We will be recognizing businesses that have been in Eden Prairie for decades! In addition, the chamber will be AUGUST 4 • 4:30 presenting its three-year strategic plan and our featured speaker is Minnesota DEED Commissioner, Katie Clark Sieben. Register now for this final luncheon of the year being held at Bearpath Golf and Country Club!
Congratulations to REGISTER: epchamber.org Ambassador of the Month! Aaron Nicklay
Nicklay Agency - Farmers Insurance
LEADERSHIP
www.epchamber.org
Message from the President of the Minnesota Chamber State, local chambers work in tandem to strengthen economy By Doug Loon, President Minnesota Chamber of Commerce One of the key criteria established by the board of the Minnesota Chamber in its search for a new president was the ability to develop and build relationships with local chambers of commerce across the state. The importance of these relationships in the search process demonstrates the commitment that the Minnesota Chamber places on building a partnership with local chambers. From my perspective, after working at the national level with the U.S. Chamber of Commerce for 20 years, this level of commitment does not exist elsewhere in the country. It is a relationship distinctive to Minnesota, and one that I am fully committed to enhancing in the coming months and years. At least three key partnerships with local chambers make Minnesota unique, and makes our business community stronger – professional support through the Minnesota Chamber of Commerce Executives (MCCE); business retention and job growth through Grow Minnesota!; and member advocacy to improve and protect our state’s business climate. MCCE is the professional association for local chambers of commerce. Its goal is to strengthen staff leadership as well as the organizational foundation of local chambers across Minnesota – from the smallest, part-time chambers to the large regional centers. The Minnesota Chamber will continue to lead and manage MCCE with the goal of increasing engagement. MCCE offers training and development opportunities for chamber staff that cannot be found elsewhere in your community. The local chambers involved in MCCE represent the bestin-class in Minnesota with their members as the ultimate beneficiaries. Successful local chambers, plus a strong state chamber, result in a vibrant Minnesota business community. More than 60 local chambers of commerce lead business retention efforts as partners in Grow Minnesota!. This program started when many of our business leaders commented that they were being recruited by neighboring states, yet not once had a Minnesota leader contacted them. Grow Minnesota! is about building relationships, solving problems, and ultimately keeping and growing companies in Minnesota. The relationship is critical, and is most valuable when it is developed among local private-sector leaders. Last year alone, Grow Minnesota! saved nearly 2,600 jobs. Finally, advocacy – the Minnesota Chamber’s greatest value proposition. Advocacy can be a local chambers’ greatest value proposition as well. After all, what other organization in your community is going represent your members on issues that impact their everyday livelihood – whether it is a sign ordinance, or a tax increase? Local chambers are proud advocates for their members and the free enterprise system. Advocacy is critically important, and it does not have to be adversarial – we collectively represent our members with facts, research and good manners. Last year, more than 40 local chambers united with the Chamber Federation to speak with one voice on the business community’s top five priorities at the Legislature. We look forward to uniting local chambers again this year, and encourage your local chamber to be a part of the Chamber Federation in 2016. My commitment to supporting and advancing the effectiveness of local chambers is not only professional, but personal. It is also one that is shared by the Minnesota Chamber Board leadership and the staff. I welcome your comments and suggestions as we continue to work together to provide an environment where our members can continue to grow, provide opportunity for our citizens, and strengthen our economy.
www.epchamber.org
epchamber.org Visit our website for full details and to register for these great networking events!
NETWORKING
November 4: B.E.E.R.: Oh, the Places You’ll Go - In Business November 7: Gala 2015: A Magical Night with the Stars November 26-27: Chamber office closed December 3: Beers with B.E.E.R.S. December 8: Wake Up with Women’s Breakfast December 10: City - Chamber After Hours December 17: Made in Eden Prairie Luncheon
NETWORKING
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Great Participation and Attendance at Chamber Events! We heard from Mike O’Neil the “Linkedin Rockstar” about using Linkedin as a sales tool in building relationships
Linkedin Luncheon Sep. 17
Taste the Chamber brought community leaders together to learn about the benefits of a membership with the Eden Prairie Chamber
Taste the Chamber Sep. 22 We gathered at Eric R. Nelson, CPA LLC’s new office in Eden Prairie to celebrate and hear about the services the firm can offer
After Hours at Eric R. Nelson, CPA LLC Sep. 24
ATHENA Luncheon Oct. 8 We presented the 2015 ATHENA Award sponsored by Suburban Chevrolet to Sarah Kinkeade of Anchor Bank and heard from Colleen Needles Steward, founder of Tremendous! Entertainment and former anchor for WCCO-TV
Career Fair Oct. 13
Dozens of community business leaders shared their advice and expertise with EP High School students at the annual Career Fair
MEMBERSHIP
www.epchamber.org
New Members — The EP Chamber welcomes you! Pie Five Pizza 16518 W 78th Street Eden Prairie, MN 55436 (952) 934-6324 www.piefivepizza.com
Marc Ronshaugen Insurance Agency, Inc 966 Prairie Center Drive Eden Prairie, MN 55344 (952) 491-4848 www.farmersagent.com/mronshaugen
Floor Coverings International 11001 Excelsior Blvd Hopkins, MN 55343 (952) 658-6163 www.southwestmetro.floorcoveringsinternational.com
First Community Mortgage 7890 Mitchell Road Eden Prairie, MN 55344 (952) 356-9109 www.kemikmortgageteam.com
The Tomato Vine 7134 Shady Oak Rd Eden Prairie, MN 55344 (612) 968-2791 www.thetomatovine.com
Collette Vacations 4366 Coolidge Avenue St. Louis Park, MN 55424 (866) 513-6521 www.collette.com
ServPro 11503 K-Tel Drive Hopkins, MN 55343 (952) 473-4837 www.servprominnetonka.com
Cruise Planners - Mark & Helen Rigby 10203 Gistmill Ridge Eden Prairie, MN 55347 (952) 452-8944 www.rigbytravel.com
Madison House Interiors 16356 Wagner Way Eden Prairie, MN 55344 (612) 423-1130 http://www.madisonhouseinteriors.com/
Royal Credit Union 4450 W 76th Street Edina, MN 55435 (952) 465-0950 www.rcu.org
Site Visits
Ribbon Cutting Ceremonies FARE Hypnosis
Friends of Adam Seidel
Royal Credit Union
Eat. Play. Grow.
Eric R. Nelson, CPA LLC
Save On Everything
VIKINGS TICKETS! The Chamber has season tickets available for purchase – lower level section 123, Row 31, seats 14-17. To purchase these four tickets for any of the games listed below, please call Lori at the Chamber Offices at 952-944-2830. November 8 – St. Louis Rams December 6 – Seattle Seahawks December 27 – New York Giants
NOVEMBER 2015 - EPC Calendar of Events Monday 2
Tuesday 3
Wednesday 4
Thursday 5
BEER Breakfast 8:00 - 10:00 AM Doubletree by Hilton, Bloomington
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Government Committee Meeting 7:30 - 9 AM Chamber Office
Business@Breakfast by WELLS FARGO 7:30 - 8:30 AM Tavern 4&5
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Friday 6 GALA 2015: A Magical Night with the Stars Metropolitan Club, Target Field
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NO B@B
CHAMBER OFFICE CLOSED
CHAMBER OFFICE CLOSED
Business@Breakfast by WELLS FARGO 7:30 - 8:30 AM Tavern 4&5
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HAPPY THANKSGIVING! 30
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Business@Breakfast by WELLS FARGO 7:30 - 8:30 AM Tavern 4&5
Beers with B.E.E.R.S 4:30 - 6:00 PM Brunswick Zone XL
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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!