October2014(webversion)

October 2014 - Vol. 45, Issue 10 IN THIS ISSUE...

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

Networking P5- Article By Stevie Ray P6- Chamber News P7- Women’s Golf Tournament

ATHENA Luncheon October 9th - 11:30AM-1PM The Leader in You: Carrying Out Your Passion - Who better to address our audience on leadership and living out your passion than former Head Coach of Women’s Gopher Basketball, Pam Borton? Are you motivated to reach your goals? Do you love giving back to your community and others in need? If you’re not…you will be when you leave this lunch!

Pam Borton, Co-founder and President of TeamWomen Minnesota & former Head Coach of the University of Minnesota Women’s Basketball program truly leads by example when it comes to living passionately, generously volunteering and purposefully spending her time and energy in productive ways. You won’t want to miss out…so register today!

The ATHENA Award will also be presented to a woman or man who is recognized for professional excellence, community service and for actively assisting women in their attainment of professional excellence and leadership skills. The ATHENA Award highlights what recipients have accomplished in addition to paving a path for future successes.

Follow us on Social Media!

LOCATION: Sheraton Bloomington Hotel, 5601 West 78th Street COST: $25 for Chamber Members; $40 for non-Chamber members SPONSORED BY: Suburban Chevrolet

Eden Prairie Gala epchamber2 Follow us on Twitter!

Look for us on Facebook “Eden Prairie Chamber” Look for us on LinkedIn “Eden Prairie Chamber” Visit our YouTube Channel “EPChamber2” Visit our Discussions Blog epchamber2.blogspot.com

October 25, 2014

The Eden Prairie Chamber of Commerce Annual Gala Event is the Chamber’s biggest fundraiser of the year. With a silent auction, live auction, live entertainment, dinner and over 250 attendees; this is a great opportunity for your company to get involved and support the Chamber! Revenue generated will go towards the Chamber’s operating funds and its programs including the Chamber’s Education Scholarship Fund. We’ve given out over $75,000 to date in scholarships thanks to the support of our sponsors over the years.

COST: Check out the insert!

LOCATION: Sheraton Bloomington Hotel, 5601 West 78th Street, Bloomington, MN Dress Code: “Black tie admired - not required.” The gala is a formal event. Ladies wear dresses or other appropriate items and some men will be in tuxedos, some in suits – either is appropriate.

THANK YOU to our 2014 Annual Sponsors!

Gold Sponsor

Silver Sponsor’s

Silver Sponsor’s

Bronze Sponsor

Bronze Sponsor

Leadership Your Chamber Network By: Pat MulQueeny, President Eden Prairie Chamber of Commerce

As a member of the Eden Prairie Chamber of Commerce, you have countless opportunities to promote, network and build relationships with the over 500 member businesses. In addition, our Chamber has opened the doors to other powerful opportunities and programs.

Partnerships with other Chambers give you the chance to meet business people from other communities for commerce and other opportunities. We have long partnered with the Edina Chamber and in the past years have formalized the BEER – Bloomington, Edina, Eden Prairie and Richfield partnership with quarterly programs each year. In addition, we have reached out to other Chambers and offered expos and business information opportunities with the Shakopee, Southwest, Waconia, and TwinWest Chambers. With our fall schedule busier than ever, we are very pleased to have upcoming programs with the SouthWest Chamber and TwinWest that you should not miss! In addition, we are hosting the first BEER with Beer program on December 4th at Brunswick in Eden Prairie.

The fall is always a busy time with a full schedule of programs and our Fire and Ice Gala, but it has been even busier with the Chamber saying good-bye to two of our staff members Amy Sinclair and Brianna Cattrysse.

Both Amy and Brianna did great work on behalf of the Chamber in support of our member businesses and we wish them well in their new positions and hope to see them in the future. In the meantime, the Chamber has been in search of our next two stars to be on staff and serve our member organizations – so please look for those announcements and introductions coming soon!

To wrap up our partnerships and other ways the Chamber looks to help its members; we have just finished a partnership agreement with LifeLock on their services of protecting people’s identities. We have all seen the news stories of security breaches happening and more and more people are looking for the best ways to protect their employees and themselves. LifeLock’s service is a great tool in doing just that. Our members will receive a significant discount on their services just by being a Chamber member. More details to come – but if you want to learn more about this service immediately, please send an e-mail to pat.mulqueeny@ epchamber.org.

As always – we look forward to seeing you at one of the many programs on our schedule!

September General Membership Luncheon with Stratasys

At the September General Membership Luncheon, with co-founder of Stratasys Lisa Crump (pictured left), the Chamber had more than 90 attendees. Stratasys brought one of their 3D printers for members to take a look at. Pictured right: David Anderson welcomes new Member .

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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 Prior Lake, MN - POSTMASTER: Send address changes to “Connections,” 11455 Viking Dr. #270, Eden Prairie, MN 55344

Leadership Sponsorships & Marketing By: Jeff Holds Phoenix Technology Solutions, LLC Many of us see and appreciate the larger sponsorships some of our other chamber members are able to provide. These invaluable sponsorships allow the chamber to offer great events for the membership to enjoy throughout the year. Many of us small business owners wish we could provide a huge sponsorship to some of these events but it just isn’t realistic. But, there are many smaller sponsorships opportunities throughout the year that many of us can partake in. I personally enjoy sponsorships at events I will typically attend. This allows me to see the results firsthand and can also answer questions. If you have an interest in providing a sponsorship to an event and could use some marketing exposure in the process, contact the chamber staff for more information.

Another great offering the chamber has pulled together is the ability to make one payment for the entire year. Yes, one check, not just our annual membership fee but lunches and sponsorships can be paid all at one time for the whole year. The chamber staff has pulled together several packages where members can purchase packages that best fit their individual needs. The nice part is, by purchasing these sponsorship packages in advance, it allows chamber members to receive a better deal on the value and stretch their chamber dollars while marketing and networking. If you haven’t looked into this, I would highly recommend contacting the chamber staff and ask for the 2015 Annual Sponsorship packet.

Lastly, there are also many low cost electronic, print, or hosting opportunities our members can take advantage of and raise their visibility. I have always believed a good marketing program requires consistency and time. Using some of these methods throughout the year can greatly help improve anyone’s marketing in the chamber. Here are a few of the ways to promote your business outside of our important sponsorships: • Banner Ads on Chamber Website • Newsletter Ads or Inserts •Premier Directory Listings • Mailing Labels • E-Blast Advertisements • Host an After Hours Event • Press Releases • Host a Noon time or Breakfast Event Whether we are sponsoring a large event or using some smaller affordable methods, the bottom line is our company, products, and services are being seen by over 500 member businesses in the metro. Take a few minutes and review these offerings to see if there is a fit with your sales and marketing plans. Most importantly, a big thank you to our sponsors! They truly help drive this chamber.

Eden Prairie Business Resource Center Are you interested in sharing your business knowledge with other Chamber Members and the business community? We already have more than 30 business articles posted online. This is a free benefit for members to share their knowledge. It is also a great opportunity for the public to gain some knowledge on your topics of expertise! These articles have already generated leads for many of the members writing articles.

Check out the Business Resource Center and submit or read your first article at epchamber.org/Resources/ 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.

Site Visits in September ARK International Charitable Foundation

Nkem Chirpich (651) 398-5148 nkemakonam209@gmail.com www.arkicf.org

DSW Shoe Warehouse

8251 Flying Cloud Drive Eden Prairie, MN carriemokros@dswinc.com

Kataku Technology

Adam Kobler (612) 643-1011 8590 Magnolia Trail Eden Prairie, MN adamk@katakucomputersupport.com katakucomputersupport.com

Body Brite

Teresa Borjesson (952) 943-1000 8345 Crystal View Rd. #204 Eden Prairie, MN www.bodybriteusa.com

Ambassador of the Month - Steve Bowman

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

Networking Improvising Business - How to Trim an Alpaca’s Tooth

by Stevie Ray I have some old friends, Dave and Joan, who live in Northern Minnesota. For years they have raised sheep and goats because, hey, they live in Northern Minnesota. What else do you do there? On a recent visit they were excited to show off the newest member of the flock, an alpaca. If you are unfamiliar, an alpaca looks like a small llama. Alpaca wool would add a unique offering to the sheep wool they sold from their farm. There was only one problem. The rancher who sold them the alpaca had not taken great care of the animal. Apparently, alpacas do not have upper teeth. They have lower teeth that constantly grow throughout the animal's lifetime. The lower teeth grind against a very hard upper palate, which keeps them at the proper length for eating, biting, and whistling at pretty female alpacas.

This particular alpaca's lower teeth had, at one point, shifted. The two front teeth lost contact with the hard upper palate, so they kept growing and growing. By the time my friends got the animal, the two front teeth were so long they looked like a horn growing out of the animal's mouth. The teeth curved from the lower jaw all the way to the alpaca's forehead. The alpaca was able to eat, with some difficulty, by biting off grass and hay with the side of its mouth and chewing with its molars. This of course, wasn't ideal, and made for an uncomfortable animal (not to mention all the other animals not letting him play in any alpaca games).

They chose the weekend of my visit to try to fix the problem. I was glad for this because I was afraid we were just going to sit around and, you know, talk. The big question was, how do you trim an alpaca's teeth? I forgot my Camelid Dentistry book at home, which was a good thing because I didn't need the embarrassment of having to admit I didn't know if their alpaca was a Suri or Huacaya breed.

We did what all modern humans do in situations of crisis, turn to YouTube. A search for Trimming Alpaca Teeth actually turned up three, count 'em, three videos on the subject. One video showed an Australian alpaca rancher using a device specifically manufactured for trimming alpaca's teeth. Apparently, alpaca tooth misalignment wasn't that rare. (A common result of domesticating animals is that they lose the ability to live without ongoing intervention, which is why my dog will eat Jell-O Pudding unless instructed otherwise.)

After viewing the video a few times, we called area Home Depot and Lowe's stores to see if they carried the alpaca tooth trimmer. It became a game to see how long the silence was from the time of our request to them hanging up on us. Stuck with no access to the proper equipment, Dave and Joan took another look at the video. Dave said, "You know, that trimmer looks like nothing more than a Dremel tool." (A DremelTM tool looks like a handheld dentist's drill and can "cut through anything." If you don't have one in your home, seriously think about getting one. I have built an entire treehouse using nothing but a Dremel.)

Being good farmer/ranchers, Dave and Joan had a Dremel in the shop right next to the sickles and chaff cutters. The next thing you know we have the alpaca laying on its stomach, I am sprawled across its back haunches to keep it steady, Dave is sitting on its shoulders so he can hold its mouth open, and Joan is holding a small hose to provide a stream of cold water so the teeth won't overheat. The alpaca was actually quite calm as Dave sawed off and trimmed the two offending teeth. I was less calm; partly because the process created that unmistakable smell you get when the dentist drills a cavity, and partly because I was lying across the haunches of a 180 pound animal that was getting its teeth ground.

Within a few minutes the job was done and the alpaca bounded happily toward the feeding trough. At least, I assume it was happy. It's hard to see an alpaca smile through all that wool. What is the lesson in all of this? One: finding a video on trimming an alpaca's tooth gives me the confidence to claim that YouTube does indeed have a video for everything. If there is something you don't know how to do and you haven't checked YouTube, you have no excuses. The second lesson came from Dave and Joan. If you don't have the tool someone else tells you that you need, go make one. *If you would like to see the video that accompanies this column, go to www.facebook.com/stevierayscorporate Stevie Ray is a nationally recognized corporate speaker and trainer, helping companies improve communication skills, customer service, leadership, and team management. He can be reached at www.stevierays.org or stevie@stevierays.org.

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Networking Breakfast Networking at DSW Shoe Warehouse

Save the date!

Don’t miss out on this year’s Fire and Ice Gala on October 25th at the Sheraton Bloomington Hotel. Check out the insert for more details and to sign up.

It’s Not Goodbye...It’s See You Later!

After two amazing years, I have decided to leave the Chamber for an opportunity at Fairview Health Services. I will be the new Communications Associate at Fairview’s Corporate Office.

The last two years at the Chamber have been an incredible experience and I would like to take a minute to express my sincere gratitude to each and every person I’ve met while working at the Chamber!

I am blessed to have had the privelage to work with some of the best Chamber Staff and best volunteers around.

Thank you all for helping me grow professionally. I am very excited for this new chapter in my life, but it sure is bittersweet leaving such a great Chamber. I hope to attend a few events in the future as a full blown Chamber Member!

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Welcome Alisha Kimberley!

This month we introduce the newest addition to our staff. Her name is Alisha and she will be stepping in as the Marketing & Communications Manger here at the Eden Prairie Chamber.

Alisha holds a Bachelor of Arts in English with an emphasis in Journalism from the University of Missouri, but her professional background boasts a more diverse skill set. In her past positions she has worked in client relations, marketing and sales, website design, program management and even travel.

Alisha is originally from southern Wisconsin. However, she's lived in the Twin Cities for about 12 years now. She enjoys learning new things, seeing new places, and staying active.

She's delighted to be starting her new job with us.

Alisha has said that a good indicator of a company's success is its ability to communicate both internally between team members and externally to those it serves. It's a good thing that Alisha will be in charge of our newsletter and email blasts! Feel free to reach out to her with any questions or suggestions you have to make the Chamber great for us all.

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

Networking 2014 Women’s Golf Tournament Thank you to everyone who participated!

Especially Hole Sponsors & After Hours Exhibitors!

Thank you Sponsors & Exhibitors!

Aerotek Anchor Bank ARK International Charitable Foundation BWS Heating & Air Conditioning Clearpath Financial Partners CLS Consulting Handyman Matters Healthsource Chiropractic I9 Sports It Works!

Law of Life Chiropractic Randy Royse – Personal Sponsorship Sanctuary SalonSpa Stella & Dot

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

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OCTOBER 2014 - EPC Calendar of Events Monday

6

Tuesday

7 9:30-11:30AM - EP Career Fair

13

20

2

NEW LOCATION 7:30- 8:30AM, B@B at Brunswick Zone XL

8:30-9:30AM - Business Development @ Eden Prairie High School.

8

9

NEW LOCATION 7:30- 8:30AM, B@B at Brunswick Zone XL

15

7:30-8:30AM - Government Committee Meeting

NEW LOCATION 7:30- 8:30AM, B@B at Brunswick Zone XL

21

22

28

Thursday

1

14

11:30AM-1PM - Fusion: Personality Training with Laura Meister

27

Wednesday

NEW LOCATION 7:30- 8:30AM, Business@Breakfast at Brunswick Zone XL

3

10

11:30AM-1PM - ATHENA luncheon with Pam Borton

16

17

23

24

NEW LOCATION 7:30- 8:30AM, Business@Breakfast at Brunswick Zone XL

29

Friday

GALA - SATURDAY, OCTOBER 25, 2014

30

31

4:30-6PM - SWEP After Hours Expo

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