2015 Greater Mankato Growth, Inc. Annual Report

Annual Report 2015

3

Dear Business Colleagues: 2015 was another fantastic year for Greater Mankato Growth, Visit Mankato, City Center Partnership and the Greater Mankato regional marketplace. Our organization is fortunate to have the drive and talent to continue to not only deliver, but expand on our goals every year. We are proud to share these vast successes in this year’s annual report. It is once again designed to be very visual and therefore communicate what we do easier and faster, as well as better showcase how and why we do what we do.

While our organization makes an impact on the overall economic vitality of the marketplace, we do not do it alone. Countless individuals, organizations and businesses work together to make Greater Mankato a thriving regional marketplace.

The Executive Summary and At a Glance on pages 6-7 offer a consolidated look at the achievements and deliverables in 2015. This year’s annual report once again highlights important information on why your membership matters; and helps businesses better understand how membership with Greater Mankato Growth impacts ones bottom line. On page 12 is compelling evidence illustrating businesses that belong to GMG are generally more successful.

Our Greater Mankato business community is a key driver of this marketplace’s success and the accomplishments of Greater Mankato Growth, Inc. Because of our members, marketplace, integrated organization, staff and volunteers, the future holds much promise of more success in Advancing Business for a Stronger Community.

With Appreciation,

Todd Loosbrock Chair, Board of Directors

Jonathan G. Zierdt President & CEO

Contents Letter to the Members

3

Our Mission, Our Values

4

Purpose & Structure

5

Executive Summary

6

The Economic Landscape

8

Financial Strength

10

Membership

11

Why Membership Matters

12

Events

13

Business Growth, Retention & Attraction

20

Talent Growth, Retention & Attraction

22

Regional Livability

24

Advocacy of the Marketplace

26

Members & Investors

30

Boards & Staff

35

Volunteers

36

4

Our Mission, Our Values Greater Mankato Growth, Inc. exists to support and promote the economic growth and vitality of our members and the regional marketplace.

CORE VALUES The needs of the members are best met by growing the regional marketplace. We accomplish this by being: Catalysts - initiating action for economic growth beneficial to our members and congruent with our regional desire and culture.

Stewards - using our resources efficiently and effectively and wisely leveraging our strengths.

Collaborative & Inclusive cultivating and sustaining relationships, while encouraging the mobilization of our marketplace assets to enhance growth.

Approachable - being visible and accessible and creating a friendly, vibrant and respectful environment.

Innovative - embracing change and promoting progressive solutions.

Ethical - communicating openly and honestly and taking responsibility for our actions in all our business practices.

5

Purpose & Structure STRATEGIC DIRECTION & FOCUS: Greater Mankato Growth, Inc. exists to intentionally develop the regional center by promoting, supporting and serving as a catalyst for economic development through: business growth, retention and attraction; talent growth, retention and attraction; regional livability and advocacy of the marketplace.

Business Growth, Retention and Attraction (of all economies and business sectors) To identify & implement strategies and tactics to sustain as well as further enhance the Greater Mankato region’s economic diversity and vitality.

Goals: 1. Provide critical business “intelligence” 2. Initiate business development opportunities 3. Enhance our “doing business” experiences and interactions

Talent Growth, Retention and Attraction (of all economies and business sectors) To support the growth, retention and attraction of a skilled/ talented workforce to meet the workforce needs of an ever changing and growing economy.

Goals: 1. Create a unique and compelling message and tools to sell the “why Greater Mankato” story 2. Invest more heavily in promotion and marketing of quality of life, place and work 3. Facilitate connections across educational institutions, workforce training systems and the business sectors to foster/develop collaborations and partnerships to meet workforce needs Regional Livability To work in concert to advocate for and promote the livability features of the region.

Goals: 1. Advocate for the development of assets and amenities that could contribute to our region’s livability (e.g. recreational facilities, arts, regional transportation, agritourism, etc) 2. Support and promote the assets that contribute significantly to our region’s livability 3. Enhance our “doing business” experiences and interactions

Advocacy of the Marketplace (both internal and external) To cohesively advocate for the businesses and residents of Greater Mankato.

Goals: 1. Advocate for policies and programs that create an atmosphere in which businesses thrive and residents flourish 2. Create compelling media that “sells” Greater Mankato’s attraction to those within and outside the community 3. Engage businesses and residents in planning and communications processes

6

Executive Summary This year was a record setting, initiative launching year. All three organizations experienced milestone moments while also diving into trend-setting endeavors.

Advancing Business for a Stronger Community

By Jonathan G. Zierdt, President & CEO

G

reater Mankato Growth, Inc.’s vitality and growth have run parallel with the success of our regional marketplace. We remain deliberate in our collective pursuit to advance the region, evidenced through successes such as the Project Ag Business EpiCenter (ABE) initiative, Nicollet County joining the Regional Economic Development Alliance (REDA), Mankato Sports Commission and the regional recreation facilities drive, along with music, events and artistic beautification in the City Center enhancing our region’s livability. We also continued to diversify and extend our public affairs work and influence, and positioned the intelligence and resources of GMG to an expanded audience.

Membership in GMG has grown steadily

at 5% a year since the launch of the tiered dues membership model four years ago; closing the year with another record high of 960 member listings. And the “membership matters” analytics we introduced last year provide evidence GMG members generally do better with double the survivability, two times the customer satisfaction and fans, and expand at four times the rate of non-members.

As a region Greater Mankato continued to experience unprecedented economic development success, amassing a three year high of nearly $600m dollars in commercial and industrial development and recording the highest employment numbers ever. Business’s vitality was apparent from the urban core to the breadth of the region.

It was a year in which we saw the contributions and profile of the Greater Mankato region rise becoming a more included and critical part of the narrative across the state. This is something in which we ought to have a tremendous sense of collective pride, for it is the people, businesses, organizations and our regional community responsible for such. That pride, rather than being something on which we simply rest and accept adoration, will instead be the catalyst that drives us to do more. Let it ignite our collective sense of responsibility to embrace the opportunities our region faces; and when responded to will not only embolden what our region is capable of, but will position us as a destination community resulting in benefit to our region, state and upper Midwest.

7

2015 At a Glance BUSINESS GROWTH, RETENTION AND ATTRACTION Led the state in Business Retention & Expansion with 115 Grow Minnesota! visits, up from 72 in 2014 109 commercial and industrial building projects totalling $429 million in 2015 swelling our 3 year total to $581 million; 64% of which are done by GMG members

Hired the first Director of Project ABE and established key committees and goals Fulfilled 86 (7+ a month) requests for critical business information, and presented 24 (2 a month) new business development requests for proposals.

Nicollet County joined the Regional Economic Development Alliance (REDA)

Provided tours of the MSA and marketplace information to 8 site selectors, and shared the same information with 70 others

$8.5 million estimated economic impact from conventions and events with which Visit Mankato assisted

38 conventions and events assisted or confirmed by Visit Mankato

The first City Center Guide was published in April

An estimated total of 20,285 hotel rooms booked

30 City Center businesses participated in Shop Small in the City Center on Small Business Saturday

TALENT GROWTH, RETENTION AND ATTRACTION Leadership Institute graduated its 32nd class, and now boasts more than 790 alumni 40 students participated in the 2014-2015 Greater Mankato Leadership Institute and 45 are enrolled in the 2015-16 program

Young Professionals program increased its return on value with 2 cohorts of the Mentor program that included participation from 64 YPs and 8 local business executives

220 Young Professionals, representing 80 different businesses were enrolled in the Greater Mankato Young Professionals program

34 Greater Mankato Young Professionals events were held

Mankato Sports Commission and GMG staff launched an initiative to provide support for regional recreation facilities and the extension of the local option sales tax as a “last dollar in” funding mechanism to support the expansion of existing and development of new facilities

Visit Mankato launched a new program in April called iKNOW Mankato, a front-line hospitality staff training program

Hockey Night in the City Center rallied a record 2,500+ fans

The recruitment toolbox webpage increased views by 137%

REGIONAL LIVABILITY Songs on the Lawn and Alive After 5 continued to see record crowds drawing a total of 5,000+ Facilitated the Envision 2020 Phase II initiative, and released report in the spring Mankato Marathon celebrated it’s 6th anniversary

In 5 years, CityArt’s Walking Sculpture Tour has accounted for the display of $1.5 million in public art and the permanent installation of 16 new pieces

18 traffic signal cabinets have been decorated as a result of CityArt’s On the Go initiative Pageviews of greatermankatoevents.com have increased by 79%, to more than 502,500

ADVOCACY OF THE MARKETPLACE PUBLIC AFFAIRS Hosted 5 key public leader forum series events

Advocated on behalf of Highway 14 resulting in expanded construction

Voter resources pages on greatermankato.com received 4,578 pageviews

Held the inaugural Journeys of Leadership event featuring John Jimenez

Engaged in the development and advocacy of the .5% sales tax extension

Anna Thill was appointed to the Explore Minnesota Tourism Council

Hosted 110+ business and civic leaders for Greater Mankato at the Capitol

COMMUNITY MARKETING Redesigned greatermankato. com and launched new site in August Launched the Greater Mankato Growth Blog in August

Cost of Living Index, accessed more than 1,123 times Updated the Way to Grow Video, received 12,000+ views 157 news articles featuring Greater Mankato Growth ran in local and state media

8

The Economic Landscape In 2015, the region continued to experience steady growth that is at the forefront of leading state and national economic indicators. The Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA) gained visibility not just from record setting economic growth, but also from multiple high rankings and ratings from national organizations.

9

Most Affordable College Town in Minnesota

19.2%

Per Capita Personal Income Growth Rate - from 2010-14, BEA Data

109 New Building & Renovation Projects

$429+ million in total project investments

55,657 jobs

Highest annual average job figure ever for the marketplace

LOW COST OF DOING BUSINESS 11% below the national average

Job numbers surpassed all records for the MSA and outpaced both the state of MN and U.S. growth rates

+380

new jobs in the MSA from 2014-2015

Level 1 Primary Retail Trade Center

8

th

in the nation for work life balance

#2

GDP growth rate in the state of MN

5th

Lowest Cost of Doing Business in the upper mid-west

39

th

in the nation on Forbes 2015 Best Small Places for Business and Careers list

3rd in the nation for affordable health care *For source information, please visit greatermankato.com.

10

Financial Strength

A SSETS/LIABILITIES Greater Mankato Growth

Greater Mankato Growth’s funding comes from business members (81%) and community partners (19%). Visit Mankato is funded primarily through lodging taxes levied by the City of Mankato. The City Center Partnership receives funding from the cities of Mankato and North Mankato and Greater Mankato Growth, Inc. as well as GMG members. Each organization may receive additional funding through sponsorships and advertising. All three of our organizations take seriously their responsibility to serve as stewards of the funds entrusted to us.

2012

2013

2014

2015*

Assets

$ 1,485,724

$ 1,550,986

$ 1,529,699

$ 1,450,472

Liabilities

$

$

$ 439,595

$ 443,070

2013

2014

2015*

354,935

407,984

Visit Mankato, LLC 2012 Assets

$ 320,990

$ 403,349

$ 345,189

$ 352,394

Liabilities

$

$

$

$

24,842

118,936

25,783

14,886

City Center Partnership, LLC

RE VENUE SOURCES Greater Mankato Growth, Inc. total revenue, which includes all three business units was $2,325,154 in 2015 and sources included:

2012

2013

2014

2015*

Assets

$ 126,912

$ 117,349

$ 127,036

$

86,566

Liabilities

$

$

$

$

16,672

68,455

62,784

79,943

*Unaudited

Membership

28%

Events & Programs Lodging Tax Municipal Service Agreements Other

34% 22% 13% 3%

E XPENSES Greater Mankato Growth, Inc. total expenses, which includes all three business units was $2,387,541 in 2015. Expenses were greater than revenue due to strategic commitments paid for by board designated reserve funds.

Programs/Services General Management

92% 8%

As submitted per IRS form 990.

STR ATEGIC RESERVE FUND INVESTMENTS According to the current utilization of the Strategic Program Investments budgeted, by 2020 we will underspend that aggregate budget by $145,757.

$1,207,111 - Opening Balance 1,200,000 1,000,000

800,000

600,000

75,065 - Public Affairs 197,980 - City Center Partnership

241,960 - Project ABE

897,472 Balance

50,000 - Marketplace Positioning 21,464 - Conference Marketing 2,700 - Sports Commission

3 month “reserve” threshold

21,207 - Staff Capacity

400,000

200,000

0 2012

2013

2014

2015

2016

2017

2018

2019

2020

11

Membership For the fourth year in a row, Greater Mankato Growth saw the highest 960 members at year end 2015, GMG experienced an increase of 43 members.

TOTAL MEMBERS 2015..........

2014..........

2013..........

2012..........

2011..........

960 917 868 834 790

2010..........

791

2009..........

729

2008..........

759

2007..........

734

960 MEMBER S YE AR END 2015

membership numbers ever. With

C AVALIER VISITS M ADE TO NE W GMG MEMBER S

48

MEMBERSHIP GROW TH R ATE

5.0% TIERED DUES MODEL

Average growth per year in membership since the implementation of the tiered dues model in 2012.

vs

1.8% PRE TIERED DUES MODEL

Average yearly membership growth rate prior to the new tiered dues membership model.

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Why Membership Matters It can be a challenge to convey the direct impact that your membership investment has on your bottom line. Each member of Greater Mankato Growth knows their investment in the organization means positive things for the marketplace and their business. We have identified a set of interesting data points or “associated impact” to convey that message… that those who choose to belong to GMG are generally more successful.

1

Those businesses GMG interacts with have a survival rate nearly 2 times the national standard.

In 2015, our Ambassadors visited 65 businesses and of those ALL are still in business today. Looking back over the last three years, of the 180 businesses the Ambassadors visited, 170 (94%) are still in operation today.

2

GMG members are recognized and experience greater success.

Out of the more than 300 Mankato Magazine’s Reader’s Choice Best of Awards given out over the past three years, 61% of the award winners were members of Greater Mankato Growth. While 35% of Greater Mankato businesses are members of GMG, our members took home 2/3 of the awards!

3

GMG members tend to expand and invest in their businesses at a rate 4 times that of non-members.

Of the nearly $581 million in capital investment projects in the marketplace over the last three years, 64% of these business improvements and expansions came from GMG member businesses.

13

EVENTS

All Greater Mankato Growth, Inc. events contribute to one or more of our four areas of focus. From networking to golf, from business education to marketing opportunities, we strive to offer opportunities that enhance the region’s professionals, businesses and the livability of the marketplace.

GREATER MANKATO AT THE CAPITOL

01//20

More than 110 business and civic leaders promoted our region with key state leaders and legislators during the 2015 Greater Mankato at the Capitol event.

ANNUAL MEETING

3//12

Successes of 2014 and goals for 2015 for Greater Mankato Growth, Visit Mankato and City Center Partnership were shared at the Annual Meeting.

The event was held at Minnesota State University, Mankato - Centennial Student Union and had 391 members in attendance, up from 320 in attendance in 2014. The theme was “Power your Success”.

BUSINESS SHOWCASE

4//28

A total of 100 (up from 88 in 2014) member businesses had booths, and more than 700 business professionals attended the event. The event was held in the arena of the Verizon Wireless Center.

TOURISM WEEK Visit Mankato celebrated National Travel & Tourism Week by recognizing community members who have gone above and beyond for visitors. Category winners included, Hotel: Linda Osborne, Country Inn & Suites; Attraction: Eric Jones, Verizon Wireless Center; Retail: Heather Fisher, Salvage Sisters; Restaurant: John & Najwa Massad, Olives, Massads and Najwa’s Catering.

5//2-10

14

EVENTS 5//16

CITYART INSTALLATION On May 16, City Center Partnership staff and CityArt volunteers installed 31 sculptures in the core blocks of City Center Mankato and North Mankato for the tour’s fifth installation of rotating public art. The unveiling was followed by a special “Meet and Greet on the Street” with the artists.

6//4 6//17 6//23 7//9

7//13

SONGS ON THE LAWN More than 3,000 individuals gathered at Jackson Park to enjoy Songs on the Lawn. This popular annual event is held over lunch every Thursday in June.

GREATER MANKATO ON THE GREEN A total of 156 golfers participated in the annual golf tournament, Greater Mankato on the Green which was held at the Mankato Golf Club. An all new closest to the target game was added with 168 individual shots sold.

7//31

VIKINGS TASTING Visit Mankato collaborated with Minnesota State University, Mankato, Radio Mankato, Blue Earth County Historical Society and the Minnesota Vikings to shut down Front Street for the first Vikings Tasting event to celebrate the 50th Anniversary of Vikings Training Camp. The successful event hosted seven vendors, 10 Vikings alumni and 280 attendees on Front Street.

15

BUSINESS RECEPTION WITH THE MN VIKINGS

7//29

More than 250 member businesses attended this year’s business reception. The event is designed to help welcome the Minnesota Vikings to Greater Mankato by the business community while giving members a chance to network in a unique setting.

This year’s event sold out in just two days.

ALIVE AFTER 5 More than 2,000 people attended this free annual event hosted by the City Center Partnership that is held Thursdays in August as well as the first Thursday in September in the City Center at Jackson Park.

TOUR OF MANUFACTURING

8//13 8//20 8//27 9//3

10//3

The fifth annual event coordinated by the South Central Tour of Manufacturing Partnership was a great success. Eleven manufacturers provided tours and information about their businesses, industry and career opportunities to the general public.

More than 1,300 attended the tour.

HOCKEY NIGHT IN THE CITY CENTER City Center Partnership and MSU Intercollegiate Athletics Department hosted a pre-game celebration to kick off Maverick hockey season. Now in its fourth year, the event continues to grow each year with record attendance in 2015 of more than 2,000 fans (double that of 2014 attendance).

10//10

16

EVENTS 10//18

MANKATO MARATHON Visit Mankato hosted the sixth Mankato Marathon in partnership with Final Stretch. 4,309 runners participated between all of the races including the Diaper Dash, Toddler Trot, Kids K, 5K, 10K, Half Marathon, Relay Marathon and Full Marathon.

10//20

JOURNEYS OF LEADERSHIP

John Jimenez, a top executive with British Petroleum (BP), Mankato area native and alumnus of Loyola Catholic School, was the featured guest speaker at our inaugural Journeys of Leadership.

75 individuals attended this dinner event, which spotlights leading business executives on the national and international stage.

11//8-11

ICLV - COLUMBIA, MO A total of 78 delegates traveled to Columbia, Missouri for the fourth InterCity Leadership Visit. Key focus areas and opportunities for the trip were identified as part of the Envision 2020 Phase 2 initiative and included: economic development strategies and partnerships; talent development, attraction and retention initiatives; health care; downtown development and cultural affairs; agriculture and education and sports facilities.

11//17

BUSINESS AWARDS & HALL OF FAME Continued to honor businesses and individuals at the annual Greater Mankato Business Awards & Hall of Fame. Tailwind Group and Community Bank were this year’s Business Hall of Fame inductees. In attendance were a record 506 business professionals.

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REOCCURRING EVENTS

BUSINESS AFTER HOURS Business After Hours gives professionals an opportunity to discuss and share ideas in a relaxed, social setting while learning about other member businesses. Events are held monthly in the evening with a total of 12 held this year. The series was attended by approximately 1,555 professionals in 2015.

BUSINESS BEFORE HOURS

A complimentary event to Business After Hours, this event also gives members an opportunity to gather with one another to exchange ideas and promote their business in the morning hours. Events are held monthly with a total of 12 per a year. The series was attended by approximately 1,166 professionals in 2015.

FOR THE FORUM SERIES

SEE PAGE 26

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Temply Annual Report 2015

Designed By Temply

Temply Annual Report 2015

Designed By Temply

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Areas of Focus

Greater Mankato Growth exists to intentionally develop the regional center by promoting, supporting and serving as a catalyst for economic development through business growth, retention and attraction, talent growth retention and attraction, regional livability and advocacy of the marketplace.

20

BUSINESS Growth, Retention & Attraction Greater Mankato Growth, Visit Mankato and City Center Partnership all work as catalysts to encourage business growth, retention and attraction within the regional marketplace.

Regional business development work is conducted under the organizational structure of the Regional Economic Development Alliance (REDA). REDA works to sell, promote and raise awareness across the global marketplace of the strategic business advantages available here. Partners include the cities of: Eagle Lake, Lake Crystal, Le Sueur, Madison Lake, Mankato, North Mankato, Saint Peter, Blue Earth County and Nicollet County.

•

FIRST in the state for number of Grow Minnesota! visits. There were 115 business retention and expansion visits made to area businesses as part of the state-wide Grow Minnesota! program. Eleven business development opportunities came to fruition, which were advanced with assistance from GMG.

• 109 commercial and industrial existing business construction projects totaling $429 million (new build, remodel or expansion) were started or completed in the Greater Mankato marketplace.

• 20 new business building projects were started or completed in the Greater Mankato regional marketplace totaling $86 million.

• Initiated work to capitalize on the talent surplus (resulting from our higher education community) as a critical resource for attracting and expanding businesses.

• Online resources continually enhanced to provide information to site selectors and businesses looking at site options for building or expanding across the region.

• Nicollet county officially joined REDA on January 1, 2016.

• The Pipeline Report was updated monthly to benchmark and track business expansion activity in the regional marketplace.

The webpage containing the report had 1,150 visits.

• Hosted and presented information to eight site selectors including a member of the National Site Selectors Guild. MSA tours and information were also provided to 70+ Twin Cities based site selectors.

• Hosted first-ever Greater Mankato seminar for state realtors, developers and site selectors in Golden Valley with the Minnesota Real Estate Journal to share local successes and opportunities that exist in the area.

• GMG represented the area in the newly formed Minnesota Medical Manufacturing Partnership which allows greater access to federal grants and awards targeted at medical manufacturing and supply chain business growth.

• Partnered with Small Business Development Center (SBDC) on a meeting of area representatives in regards to the governor’s Minnesota trade visit to Mexico.

• Held a VIP Social for FITASC on July 22. The world clay shooting championship was held in Le Sueur and GMG hosted a social for FITASC leadership.

86

requests for critical business information compiled requiring research and summation. Business information compiled on the subjects of: GDP, labor shed, per capita income, cost of doing business, retail potential and demographic projections.

70+

Hosted and presented information to 70+ site selectors across the marketplace this year.

24

24 new business development prospects/ RFPs were responded to and provided with information about our marketplace by Greater Mankato Growth.

21

PROJECT ABE • Visit Mankato coordinated with Verizon Wireless Center, City Center Hotel and Hilton Garden Inn representatives to create a strategic plan to drive convention, sports and leisure business to the City Center Campus. This coalition meets monthly and focuses on a promotional campaign regarding the civic center expansion. Since its inception this year, they have booked 13 campus-wide events for 2016 and beyond.

• 21 conventions confirmed for conferences held in 2015 or future years.

• 17 conventions held in Mankato in 2015 received assistance from Visit Mankato, bringing in an estimated 4,425 hotel rooms booked, representing $2.1 million in economic impact.

• 32 events received assistance from Visit Mankato, with 15,860 booked hotel rooms, representing $6.4 million in economic impact.

(Ag Business Epicenter) VISION The Southern Minnesota Agricultural Region (SMAR) will build on existing ag business prominence and maximize a growing economic marketplace in order to be the premier ag business epicenter in the United States – the most diverse, balanced and sustainable.

MISSION Project ABE (Ag Business EpiCenter) organizes and aligns the collective work of SMAR stakeholders to promote investment in ag business and contribute to the shared vision.

EARLY INDICATORS OF SUCCESS

$8.5

million

in estimated economic impact seen through conventions and sporting events Visit Mankato assisted with in 2015.

• Continued to meet with ag related businesses to listen to their needs and opportunities as well as sharing the Project ABE story and raising their excitement about the vision. Met with 46 businesses, 14 education institutes, 30 non-profit and government originations and 5 legislators or staffers.

• Media coverage in two TV news pieces, one TV noon program, two radio shows, one magazine cover story, four newspaper stories.

• Have 30 active volunteers with a growing reserve list of individuals waiting.

• The first City Center Guide was published in June, providing a resource for visitors and residents to learn about hospitality, shopping and businesses in the City Center.

• 30 City Center businesses participated in Shop Small in the City Center, with a unique passport and thousands of dollars in raffle prizes drawing hundreds of shoppers to City Center businesses for Small Business Saturday.

• Served as a panellist on a major event organized by South Central College with 150 in attendance • Built and organized three teams: education, promotion and business development.

22

TALENT Growth, Retention & Attraction We are deeply committed to working to retain and attract a talented workforce to the region. From talent development programs such as the Greater Mankato Young Professionals and the long running Greater Mankato Leadership Institute to online, web-based information and marketing and recruitment we work hard to give employees the opportunities they need to feel comfortable and be successful while being proud of the community in which they live, work and play.

2014-15 Leadership Class

During their first session in September 2014 .

40

Professionals participated in the 2014-15 session of the and 45 are participating in the 2015-2016 session, a nine month community focused leadership training program.

Greater Mankato Leadership Institute

32

The Greater Mankato Leadership Institute graduated its 32nd class this year, bringing the alumni total to more than 790.

772 Page views on the

Recruitment Toolbox webpage

(a 137% increase). The employee recruitment toolbox webpage provides a variety of information that showcases top awards and accolades while showcasing the area through video.

23

220 INDIVIDUAL S

participated in the program from 80 different member businesses up from 172 YPs in 2014

GREATER MANKATO YOUNG PROFESSIONALS

BY THE NUMBERS

32

MENTOR LUNCHES WERE HELD, WHERE:

64

YOUNG PROFESSIONAL S MET WITH:

8

LOC AL BUSINESS MENTORS

SCHEDULED E VENTS HELD

34

12 Professional development 12 social 10 YP Wednesdays (NEW event) up from 24 events in 2014 *number doesn’t include Mentor Lunch sessions

NEW WORKSHOP Held a new nonprofit workshop to inform young professionals about the leadership opportunities available in our community. The workshop also talked about requirements and commitments for different positions and what to think about when committing to volunteer.

SOCIAL MEDIA

422/12

FACEBOOK LIKES/YP ENEWS EDITIONS SENT Facebook likes up from 245 in 2014

24

REGIONAL Livability We strive to engage businesses in community visioning and implementation activities by serving in various capacities from coordinating efforts and events to disseminating information to the business community.

GRE ATER M ANK ATO GROW TH • Recognized Imperial Plastics with the Business Pathfinder award and assisted with the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. celebration event.

• Facilitated and concluded the Envision 2020 Phase II initiative, produced a report released in the spring of findings.

• GMG staff served on more than 50 community boards, committees and civic clubs.

VISIT M ANK ATO • Mankato Marathon celebrated its 6th Anniversary and was named by RootsRated Stories as one of the “Fourteen MN Marathons to look forward to” in 2015.

CIT Y CENTER PARTNERSHIP • $1.5 million in public art was displayed and 16 new public sculptures have been retained after just five years of CityArt’s Walking Sculpture Tour.

• 18 traffic signal cabinets decorated through CityArt’s On the Go initiative beautifying the downtown area, increasing pedestrian traffic and extending public art to more areas of the City Center.

• In early spring, Mankato Sports Commission and GMG, Inc. staff launched an initiative to provide support for regional recreation facilities and the extension of the local option sales tax. This initiative is linked to a strategy of competitively positioning the region to increase its attractiveness to individuals, families or businesses looking to locate or remain in the area. Community members were recruited to serve on two teams, the Technical Advisory Team (TAT) comprised of staff leadership who manage large recreational facilities and the Steering Committee comprised of sports commissioners, elected officials and community leaders. The Mankato Sports Commission will work with them to develop a plan for 1) facility enhancements/ developments, 2) provide support for the extension of the local option sales tax and 3) gain support of the local electorate for the sales tax extension.

• Visit Mankato launched a new program in April called iKNOW Mankato. Since front-line staff are often times the first contact for visitors and receive the most visitor questions, it is vital to provide them with the education, experiences and tools they need so that they can accurately and enthusiastically respond to visitor questions. iKNOW Mankato engaged 45 front-line hospitality staff in a fun, experiential education about the destination.

25

E VENTS Many events were held to help support the vibrancy of the region by all business units.

For a list of all events and details refer to the events section of this report on pages 13-17.

26

ADVOCACY of the Marketplace The business units of Greater Mankato Growth, Inc. work tirelessly to both advocate for the marketplace and raise the visibility and the brand of the region at a local, state, national and international stage. Work in advocacy has two focuses, public affairs and community marketing.

Public Affairs Achievements • Stepped up our efforts to position GMG as a serious player and trusted resource for policy makers from the local, state and national levels by having a consistent presence at the Capitol and interacting with key public leaders at dozens of events. Key examples of this work paying off include Transportation Commissioner Zelle contacting GMG directly to seek advice on transportation legislation and Congressman Walz’s Deputy Chief of Staff contacting GMG to consult on proposed cuts to the crop insurance.

• Advocated on behalf of Highway 14 completion by coordinating a media event in Mankato with Governor Dayton where GMG representatives spoke, testifying at the legislature and partnering with the Chambers of Commerce in Minneapolis, St. Paul, Duluth, New Ulm and Marshall to support comprehensive transportation finance legislation. In 2015, Highway 14 saw construction expand the highway east of Owatonna and west of North Mankato to Nicollet.

• Extensively engaged in the development and advocacy of the proposed .5% sales tax extension by Mankato and North Mankato at the Legislature and, in partnership with Visit Mankato, supported the accompanying regional recreation facilities development process.

• Integrated Public Affairs updates into GMG’s new blog. This will become GMG’s primary tool for informing our members on key public affairs issues, offering a robust and timely way to share a variety of content designed to provide factual, non-biased information on active issues that have broad-based impacts on businesses or our region and will allow our members to be their own best advocate. Authored and published 10 public affairs blog posts in 2015.

• Actively engaged on Blue Earth County’s new sales tax for transportation providing extensive information to members, coordinating meetings with business leaders and county officials and conducting a member survey.

• Led the way in ensuring that our members and the general public had the information they needed to cast an informed ballot during the election by publishing online candidate profiles and questionnaires from candidates running for Mankato Area Public School Board.

• Voter resources webpages on greatermankato.com received a total of 4,578 pageviews.

• Anna Thill, President of Visit Mankato, was appointed to represent the Southern Tourism Region on the Explore Minnesota Tourism Council.

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PUBLIC AFFAIRS E VENTS Hosted several events providing opportunities for members to learn about issues impacting their business and engage with key public leaders including forums with:

CONGRESSM AN TIM WAL Z MINNE APOLIS FEDER AL RESERVE PRESIDENT NAR AYANA KOCHERL AKOTA MINNESOTA RE VENUE COMMISSIONER C YNTHIA BAUERLY

Inaugural

JOURNEYS OF LEADERSHIP event featuring John Jimenez was held at The Woods on October 20 with 75 in attendance.

110+

More than 110 business and civic leaders promoted our region with key state leaders and legislators during the 2015 Greater Mankato at the Capitol event.

MINNESOTA STATE DEMOGR APHER SUSAN BROWER MINNESOTA STATE ECONOMIST L AUR A K AL A MBOKIDIS

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CIT Y CENTER PARTNER SHIP WEBSITE SE SSIONS UP

+238% over 2014 sessions, 29,561 vs 12,376.

Also, thousands of City Center guides, flyers, advertisements, and other collateral were used to enhance the visibility of City Center Mankato.

GRE ATER M ANK ATO GROW TH WEB STATS:

325,015 PAGE VIEWS UP 31% FROM 2014

Community Marketing Our region has a great story to tell and Greater Mankato Growth, Inc. is committed to continually positioning it as a place people want to live, visit, work and businesses want to locate.

GRE ATER M ANK ATOE VENTS.COM PAGE VIE WS

502,549 Up 79% from 2014, for the online community events calendar, greatermankatoevents.com, a collaboration between Greater Mankato Growth, Visit Mankato, Twin Rivers Council for the Arts, The Free Press and VoyageurWeb.

TOTAL VIE WS

7,877 The total number of views the Greater Mankato Growth YouTube page received this year.

143,647 SESSIONS DOWN 25% FROM 2014

88,902 USERS UP 22% FROM 2014

VISIT M ANK ATO WEBSITE PAGE VIEWS

259,215 UP 43% OVER 2014

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Up-to-date and current information for businesses provided through 52 editions of eNews, 12 issues of Minnesota Valley Business and greatermankato.com.

157 news articles featuring information/ interviews from Greater Mankato Growth ran in local and state media.

Many print and digital marketing pieces promoting the regions assets were published or updated this year.

Launched the Greater Mankato Growth Blog in accordance with website upgrade.

The blog received 2,249 views and had 1,416 visitors (August-December).

Updated and released the community positioning video, Greater Mankato: The Way to Grow in March and also updated the complementary booklet with the same name in January.

Social media activity increased, with 3,948 total “likes” for all Greater Mankato Growth’s Facebook pages, which include Greater Mankato Growth, Greater Mankato Young Professionals and Greater Mankato Events. Up from 2,799 in 2014.

Old Site

New Site

Greatermankato.com was overhauled and upgraded in accordance with the established three year life cycle of the website. Goals of the project included: refreshed design, emphasized imagery and experience of being in the region (show off livability), simplify copy heavy pages to drive home key messages, slim down number of pages, reorganization of main navigation links to be more user friendly, responsive/mobile friendly, to serve different audiences easily and quickly and to highlight and show the GMG Inc. family integration.

Combined number of followers on Twitter for both the Greater Mankato Growth and Jonathan Zierdt accounts totaling 2,677. Up from 1,685 in 2014.

Resident and relocation information provided in the community area of our website and in a relocation packet that included the “2015 Guide to Visiting & Living in Greater Mankato” produced by Visit Mankato with content from GMG. The online Cost of Living Index, a tool on greatermankato.com which lets those thinking of moving to the area know about Greater Mankato’s affordability, received a total of 1,123 page visits this year.

Assets of Greater Mankato promoted in online ads both on google ads and on websites for national business publications, as well as regional print ads in Site Selection Magazine and Global Trade Magazine.

The Guide to Visiting & Living in Greater Mankato got a new look this year. 45,000 were printed and distributed.

Greater Mankato: The Way to Grow, a business, economic and livability piece was updated this year and was released at Greater Mankato at the Capitol.

The marketplace positioning video, Way to Grow, was updated and released at the Annual Meeting. The video had 1,539 views on YouTube and 10,517 views on Facebook.

This summer “10 Reasons Greater Mankato is the Way to Grow” and “Awards & Accolades” were updated.

Produced and designed the first REDA Annual Review on July 1.

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2015 Greater Mankato Growth Members & Investors Together our member businesses accomplish what no one business could do alone by creating a powerful pool of intellectual and financial resources. By working together to advance business we strive to create a stronger community. And when the community is stronger, business thrives creating a never ending circle of success. Members of Greater Mankato Growth are vital participants in our business economy. And as a member, the knowledge you gain, relationships you build and opportunities you have, pay dividends today and in the future.

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DIAMOND INVESTORS

Mayo Clinic Health System Le Sueur Mayo Clinic Health System Mankato - Eastridge Mayo Clinic Health System Mankato - Northridge Mayo Clinic Health System Mankato - Specialty Clinic Mayo Clinic Health System Montgomery

Mayo Clinic Health System New Prague Mayo Clinic Health System Springfield Mayo Clinic Health System Springfield - Dental Clinic Mayo Clinic Health System Springfield - Lamberton Clinic Mayo Clinic Health System St. James

Mayo Clinic Health System St. James - Trimont Clinic Mayo Clinic Health System St. Peter Mayo Clinic Health System Waseca Mayo Clinic Health System Waseca Janesville Clinic Mayo Clinic Health System Waseca Waterville Clinic

PLATINUM INVESTORS

Mankato Clinic @ Lake Crystal Family Practice Mankato Clinic @ Madison East Dept of Psychiatry and Psychology Mankato Clinic @ Madison East Dermatology Mankato Clinic @ Main Street Mankato Clinic @ Mapleton Family Practice Mankato Clinic @ North Mankato

Family Practice Mankato Clinic @ Wickersham Health Campus Mankato Clinic Administration Office Mankato Clinic Endoscopy Center Mankato Clinic Express Mankato Clinic Urgent Care and Occupational Medicine National Recognition Products Navitor Folders

Navitor Midwest Stationery Navitor Specialty Products Pear Tree Greetings Precision Press Skin Essentials @ Mankato Clinic Taylor Corporation Thayer Publishing, Inc. The Occasions Group

GOLD INVESTORS

KMSU Minnesota State University, Mankato - Academic Affairs/ Extended Learning Minnesota State University, Mankato - Alumni Foundation Center Minnesota State University, Mankato - Career Development Center Minnesota State University, Mankato - Centennial Student Union Minnesota State University, Mankato - College of Business Minnesota State University, Mankato - Finance & Administration Minnesota State University, Mankato - Intercollegiate Athletics

Minnesota State University, Mankato - Strategic Partnerships Minnesota State University, Mankato - Theatre & Dance MTU Onsite Energy Ninja Circuits Small Business Development Center Spectrum Spectrum Business Spectrum Reach U.S. Bank - City Center U.S. Bank - Commercial Banking U.S. Bank - Fairmont U.S. Bank - Owatonna U.S. Bank - Private Client Group U.S. Bank - Raintree

Walmart Distribution Center DC7079 Wells Fargo Advisors Wells Fargo Bank - Main Wells Fargo Bank - Mankato East Wells Fargo Bank - Mankato North Wells Fargo Bank - MSU Wells Fargo Bank - New Ulm Wells Fargo Bank - Owatonna Wells Fargo Bank - Waseca Wells Fargo Bank, NA - Business Banking Wells Fargo Home Mortgage

SILVER INVESTORS

CENTURY 21 Atwood Realty, Inc. Davis Family Dairies Davis Family Holdings Frandsen Bank & Trust - Madison Avenue Frandsen Bank & Trust - North Mankato

Frandsen Bank & Trust - Northridge Branch Jaguar Communications South Central College South Central College - Faribault Campus South Central College Foundation

Southern Minnesota Center of Agriculture Sun Country Airlines The Orthopaedic & Fracture Clinic, P.A. Wells Concrete

BRONZE INVESTORS

College Station College Town Community Bank - Amboy Community Bank - Madison Ave. Community Bank - Vernon Center Community Bank Mankato Community Insurance - Mankato Coughlan Companies Crystal Seasons Living Community Eide Bailly First National Bank Minnesota Gaylord First National Bank Minnesota Mankato First National Bank Minnesota Saint Peter Free Press Fun.com Gustavus Adolphus College Hillcrest Health Care Center Hy-Vee - Downtown Hy-Vee - Hilltop Hy-Vee Gas Hy-Vee Pharmacy Downtown Hy-Vee Pharmacy Hilltop Hy-Vee Wine & Spirits

Johnson Outdoors - Marine Electronics Inc. Jordan Sands, LLC KTV Laurels Edge Assisted Living Laurels Peak Rehabilitation Center Lime Valley Advertising, Inc. Lofts @ 1633 MinnStar Bank - Mankato MinnStar Bank NA - Lake Crystal Monarch Healthcare Management Oaklawn Health Care Center Pioneer Bank - Elmore Pioneer Bank - Madelia Pioneer Bank - Mankato Pioneer Bank - Mapleton Pioneer Bank - North Mankato Pioneer Bank - St. James Rasmussen College Rasmussen College Career Center Rasmussen College School of Business Rasmussen College School of Nursing Rasmussen College Student Life RentMSU, Inc.

Sam’s Club Schwickert’s Tecta America Schwickert’s Tecta America of Mankato Snell Auto Wash Snell Motors Snell Powersports & Equipment Snell Tire & Lube Southern MN Construction Co. Stone Path Studios Tailwind Group The Land Unimin Corporation United Prairie Bank United Prairie Bank - City Center United Prairie Bank - New Ulm United Prairie Bank - Waseca United Prairie Financial Network United Prairie Insurance Agency Mankato Verizon Wireless Verizon Wireless - Madison Avenue Verizon Wireless - River Hills Mall Vetter Stone Walmart Xcel Energy

PREMIER MEMBERS

Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. Baxter’s Hair Shop BEST WESTERN Hotel & Restaurant Blue Earth County Employment

Services Bremer Bank Buffalo Wild Wings- Hilltop CenterPoint Energy

CHS Oilseed Processing Computer Technology Solutions, Inc. Courtyard by Marriott Hotel & Event

Fountain Centers Mayo Clinic Health System Mayo Clinic Health System Mankato Health Care Foundation Mayo Clinic Health System Belle Plaine Mayo Clinic Health System Lake Crystal

Carlson Craft Corporate Graphics Commercial Corporate Graphics International Fine Impressions & Catalog Labelworks Mankato Clinic @ Daniels Health Center Mankato Clinic @ J. Scott Sanders Center for Sleep Medicine Consolidated Communications EI Microcircuits - Pohl Road EI Microcircuits - Power Drive EI Microcircuits - Saint Peter EI Sales Holmgren Associates ISG - Algona ISG - Des Moines ISG - Faribault ISG - La Crosse ISG - Minneapolis/St. Paul ISG - Storm Lake ISG Kato Cable Kato Engineering Inc. Atwood Property Management Inc. Cambria Cambria Mortgage and Title Cambria Surfaces - Mankato Center for Business and Industry, A Division of South Central College Abdo, Eick & Meyers, LLP Abdo, Eick & Meyers, LLP - Edina AgStar Financial Services, ACA Alabama Stone Company - A Division of Vetter Stone Anchor Bank BENCO Electric Cooperative Bethany Lutheran College Bethany Lutheran CollegeBookstore Blethen, Gage & Krause, PLLP Bolton & Menk, Inc. Bolton & Menk, Inc. - Burnsville Bolton & Menk, Inc. - Chaska Bolton & Menk, Inc. - Fairmont Bolton & Menk, Inc. - Rochester Bolton & Menk, Inc. - Sleepy Eye Calpine - Mankato Energy Center, LLC Capstone CliftonLarsonAllen LLP CliftonLarsonAllen LLP - Austin CliftonLarsonAllen LLP - New Ulm CliftonLarsonAllen LLP - Owatonna CliftonLarsonAllen LLP - Rochester AmericInn Hotel & Conference Center AmeriStar Manufacturing

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Center Crown Beverage Packaging Culver’s Frozen Custard - North Mankato Culver’s Frozen Custard- Mankato Dino’s Gourmet Pizzeria Dotson Iron Castings Drummer Companies Drummers Garden Center & Floral Ecumen Pathstone Living Emergent Networks LLC - Edina Emergent Networks LLC - Mankato Exclusively Diamonds - Jewelry | Diamonds | Jewelry Repair | Designers Express Employment Professionals Farrish Johnson Law Office, CHTD. Heartland Homes Hilton Garden Inn Holiday Inn Express & Suites

HotelsMankato.com Jack Link’s Beef Jerky Jack Link’s Beef Jerky - Minneapolis Jones and Magnus, Attorneys at Law Jones Metal, Inc. KEYC News 12 and FOX 12 Mankato Kibble Equipment Lake Crystal Mortuary Lindsay Windows Lloyd Commercial Services Lloyd Management Inc. Mankato City Center Hotel Mankato Mortuary Massad’s Mediterranean Grille Campus Massad’s McDonald’s Restaurant - Adams St. McDonald’s Restaurant - Madison Ave. McDonald’s Restaurant - W. Lind Ct.

Minnesota Valley Federal Credit Union Minnesota Valley Federal Credit Union - Uptown Office MRCI - East Park MRCI Thrift Shop MRCI WorkSource Najwa’s, Inc. Neighbor’s Italian Bistro Northview Funeral & Cremation Service Number 4 American Bar & Kitchen Olives Pathstone Adult Day Program Pathstone at Home Pathstone Cafe & Catering People Driven Performance Pepsi-Cola of Mankato Inc. Profinium, Inc. - Fairmont Profinium, Inc. - Mankato

Profinium, Inc. - Owatonna Profinium, Inc. - Truman Quality Products Ridley Inc. RSM US LLP Scheels All Sports Stifel Tavern on the Avenue TownePlace Suites by Marriott - Mall of America University Square Mall & Village Apartments Volk Investment CO, LLC Volk Transfer, Inc. Wells Federal Bank - Mankato Wells Federal Bank - Owatonna Wells Federal Bank - St. Peter Wells Federal Bank - Wells Wis-Pak of Mankato, Inc.

ENGAGED MEMBERS

BMO Harris Bank Bonfire Boulder Tap House Bounce Town, LLC Bradley’s on Stadium Braun Intertec Corporation Braun Intertec Corporation Bloomington Brennan Construction - Contractor, Design/Build, Construction Management Brennan Properties - Development, Real Estate Development, Construction Brett’s Building Brock White Company Brock White Company - Rochester Brown & Brown of MN Brunton Architects & Engineers Brunton Architects & Engineers Minnetonka CAB Construction Co. Caribou Gun Club/ Caribou Banquet Hall Carlson-Tillisch Eye Clinic CCF Bank CCF Bank - Faribault Chankaska Creek Ranch & Winery Cherry Creek Cabinetworks Inc. Children’s Museum of Southern Minnesota Coldwell Banker Commercial Fisher Group Coldwell Banker Welcome Home Realty - Karla Malone Coldwell Banker Welcome Home Realty - Mary Weller Coloplast Manufacturing US, LLC Concept & Design Inc. Condux International Inc Connect Business Magazine Connect Real Estate Group Corporate 4 Insurance / Steve Meyer Insurance Services Country Inn & Suites Hotel & Conference Center By Carlson Crystal Valley Cooperative Janesville Crystal Valley Cooperative - Lake Crystal Dairy Queen West Deichman Construction Devin Krienke Agency, American Family Insurance

Diana Gabriel Certified Professional Coach Dickey’s Barbecue Pit Digity Radio: KEEZ, KYSM, KRBI, KMKO Discipline Advisors, Inc. Discover Chiropractic Discover Chiropractic - Nicollet Diversified Financial Services, Inc. Doherty Staffing Solutions Mankato Doherty Staffing Solutions Owatonna Door Engineering Drs. Kanyusik, Wiemers, Swanson, & Vaubel Earl Johnson Furniture Eatery Tap ECS - Your Wiring Pros Edward Jones Edward Jones - Chris Hoffman Elder Care Services, Inc Envision Lab Erbert & Gerbert’s Sandwich Shop Madison Ave Erbert & Gerbert’s Sandwich Shop - S. Front Evan Taylor Studios Evolve Consulting, LLC Exposure Creative Flexion Inc. Flying Buttress Media FPX, LLC Freedom Home Care, LLC Freyberg Petroleum Sales Friesen’s Family Bakery and Bistro G & K Rental - Mankato G & K Rental - New Prague Garlick’s Water Conditioning / Kinetico - Blue Earth Garlick’s Water Conditioning/ Kinetico - Faribault Gemstone Homes, Inc. Gillette Children’s Specialty Healthcare Ginkgo & Loon LLC Gislason & Hunter LLP Gold Cross Ambulance Gosewisch Construction, Inc. Granite Equity Partners Gravie Greater Mankato Area United Way Greater Mankato Diversity Council Gretchen Rehm Agency, Inc.

Grizzly’s Woodfire Grill & Steaks Guaranteed Electric Service, Inc. Guentzel Family Farms Habitat For Humanity South Central - ReStore Habitat For Humanity South Central MN Happy Chef Restaurant Hardee’s Hardee’s - Hilltop Harry Meyering Center Inc. Hatanpa Insurance Agency - State Farm Hedgehog Advertising Heintz Collision Center Heintz Toyota Scion of Mankato Herdstar LLC Hilltop Florist & Greenhouse Hire Image History Writers Holiday Station Store - Adams Street Holiday Station Store - North Riverfront Home Depot Home Magazine Homestead Realty LLC - Mankato Homestead Realty LLC - Mapleton House of Hope Hydro-Klean - Mankato Hydro-Klean - Sioux Falls Ideal Weigh to B Health and Weight Loss Clinic, Inc. - Blue Earth Ideal Weigh to B Health and Weight Loss Clinic, Inc. - Mankato Indulge Salon & Tanning Insperity Investment Management & Associates J. Longs for Men Jake’s Stadium Pizza - Mankato Jake’s Stadium Pizza - Saint Peter JBeal Commercial Group JBeal Real Estate Group J-C Press Jeane Thorne Inc. Jerry’s Tile Service Inc. Jersey Mike’s Subs - Riverfront Jersey Mike’s Subs - Hilltop John Fritz Construction, LLC Junior Achievement of Greater Mankato Kato Insurance Agency Kato Public Charter School

504 Corporation A&E Construction Supply A. B. Systems, Inc. A. H. Hermel Foodservice AAA Membership Travel Insurance Advanced Pain Management Advantage Chiropractic AEP Industries Inc. Affinity Plus Federal Credit Union Aflac - Megan Lange Again Thrift & More AHI Property Services, Inc. All American Foods, Inc. Alliance Contracting, Inc. Alliance Insurance Agency Alliance Pipeline Alter Metal Recycling - Mankato Amber Pietan Travel Agency, LLC American Campus Community - The Summit and Jacob Heights American Engineering Testing American Way Realty Ameriprise Financial Services Mankato Ameriprise Financial Services - New Ulm Andrews Family Chiropractic Angie’s Popcorn Applebee’s Neighborhood Grill & Bar Archer Daniels Midland Company Ardent Mills, LLC Associated Finishing, Inc. Associates in Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery AT&T August Schell Brewing Aurora Chiropractic, LLC B & B Krohn Farms BankVista BARK.L Consulting Engineers BELFOR Property Restoration Bennett Coaching and Consulting Bent River Outfitter Better Business Bureau of MN & ND Between the Bridges Healing Center BioLife Plasma Services BK DJ BLK Electric Inc. Blue Cross and Blue Shield of MN - Eagan Blue Cross and Blue Shield of MN Mankato

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Kato Roofing, Inc. - Burnsville Kato Roofing, Inc. - Mankato Kaye Corporation Keepers RV Center Ltd Key City Ventures Keystone Senior Living New Perspective Kia of Mankato Kitchenmaster, Klooster & Begalka, CPAs Knutson+Casey - Madelia Knutson+Casey, PLLP Land to Air Express, Inc. LEEP Lidstrom Commercial Realtors LifePlan Financial, LLC Lifeworks Services Lil Bee’s Learning Center Lime Valley Chiropractic Lisa Tscherter’s Kitchen & Catering LIV Aveda Salon & Spa LivingLinks LJP Enterprises Waste & Recycling Loonatic Promotions Lowe’s Home Improvement Loyola Catholic School Lumiere Real Estate Group Luther Mankato Honda M & M Signs M2 Lofts Malterer Mechanical Inc. Mankato Brewery Mankato Coffeehouse, LLC Mankato Crank & Chrome Auto Repair Mankato Fairfield Inn Mankato Family YMCA Mankato Ford Mankato Golf Club Mankato Harley Davidson Mankato MoonDogs Mankato Motor Co. Mankato Packaging Mankato Place Mankato WorkForce Center Manpower, Inc. Marco, Inc. MAS Communications Maschka, Riedy & Ries Law Firm Master Electric Masterson Staffing Solutions Mankato Masterson Staffing Solutions Owatonna Mathiowetz Construction Company McGough Construction McGowan Water Conditioning MD CPA’s & Advisors MD Payroll Advisors MEI MET-CON Construction, Inc. Faribault MET-CON Construction, Inc. Mankato

Meyer & Norland Financial Group MGM Liquor Warehouse - North Mankato MGM Wine & Spirits - Mankato Midwest Dental Midwest Realty & Mortgage Miller Motors Mills Fleet Farm Mills Fleet Farm Gas Station & Wash Minnesota Deptartment of Employment and Economic Development Minneopa Golf Club Minnesota Chamber of Commerce Minnesota Council of Churches, Refugee Services Minnesota Pork Producers Association Minnesota Soybean Growers Association Minnesota Valley Action Council Minnesota Vikings Minnesota Waste Processing Company Modern Woodmen Fraternal Financial Morken, Eckberg & Co., Chtd.

Mount Kato Ski Area Murphy Business of Minnesota Net Medix, Inc. Neutral Path Communications New Ulm Wholesale New York Life Insurance Company Judy Ringler Mountain New York Life Insurance Company Ronald Meyer & Dick Hamer NextFire Technology Consulting, LLC Nifty Home Products Nortech Systems Inc. North Central International, Inc. North Star Aviation, Inc. Northern Comfort, Inc. Northwestern Mutual Financial Network Oak Terrace Senior Communities Office Space Design Old Country Buffet Old Main Village Oleson+Hobbie Architects LLC Open Door Health Center Paape Distributing Co. & Energy Services Pagliai’s Pizza Pantheon Computers - Mankato Pantheon Computers - Waseca Paragon Printing, Mailing & Specialties Partners for Affordable Housing Pawn America Pediatric Therapy Services, Inc. PEM Corporation Peoples State Bank of Eagle Lake Peoples State Bank of Madison Lake Pieology Pizzeria

Pier Pleasure & Wilson Trailer Sales of MN Pioneer Hi-Bred, Northern Business Unit Planet Fitness Prange’s Heating & Air Conditioning Inc Pratt, Kutzke & Associates, LLP PresenceMaker, Inc. Primrose Retirement Community Profile by Sanford ProGrowth Bank ProGrowth Bank - Nicollet Prosthetic Laboratories of Mankato Pub 500 Quality 1 HR. Foto Quest Marketing Quick Lane Tire & Auto Radio Mankato RE/MAX Dynamic Agents RE/MAX Dynamic Agents - St. Peter Realty Executives Associates - Real Estate Team Angie Jenkins & Emily Swalve Rehm Insurance & Financial Services RENT Mankato Rignell Family Chiropractic River Bend Business Products River Hills Hotel River Hills Mall River Valley Truck Rental & Leasing River Valley Woman Robert W. Carlstrom Co., Inc. Schmidt Siding & Window Co. School Sisters of Notre Dame Central Pacific Province SeeMe Productions LLC ServiceMaster of Mankato/Waseca Shell on 3rd Ave Short Elliott Hendrickson, Inc. (SEH) Short Elliott Hendrickson, Inc. (SEH) - St. Paul Sign Pro Silhouette Shoppe SMILES Center for Independent Living Sodexo/University Dining Services South Central WorkForce Council Southern Minn Digital Southern Minn Digital / St. Peter Herald Southern Minnesota Inspection Southern Minnesota Orthodontics PA Southern MN Area HR Assoc.

(SMAHRA) SouthPoint Financial Credit Union St. Peter Special Olympics Minnesota Spherion Staffing & Recruiting Mankato Spherion Staffing & Recruiting Owatonna Sport Pix SportClips Haircuts St. Croix Hospice

Stadium Centre Lofts State Farm - Mayberry Insurance Agency Stinson Leonard Street LLP Subway Restaurant - Sibley Parkway Subway Restaurants Super 8 Hotel Swanson Hinsch & Co. CPA’s Tandem Bagels TBEI TCF Bank Cub East TCF National Bank Team Personnel Staffing Teneca Terri Prange - Independent Sales Director Terry Guentzel Farms The Loose Moose Saloon & Conference Center The Music Mart The Pita Pit The True Team Re/Max Dynamic Agents Think! Toner & Ink/ T - Mobile Thomas Tree & Landscape Thrivent Financial - Broad Street Thrivent Financial - St. Andrews Thriveon Tire Associates Tire Associates - Alexandria Title Resources, LLC Toppers Plus Town and Country Interiors True Facade Pictures True Real Estate TurningPoint Management, Inc. Mankato TurningPoint Management, Inc. Owatonna Twin Rivers Council for the Arts Twin Valley Council - Boy Scouts Ummies Bar & Grill Unique Speciality & Classics Valuation Specialists Vanderberg Clean Verizon Wireless Center Viking Electric Vintage Fine Homes, Inc. Visiting Angels Vista Prairie at Monarch Meadows VoyageurWeb V-TEK, Inc. Water’s Edge Weichert Realtors, Community Group Weilage Advisory Group Westman Freightliner Wilcon Construction, Inc. Willard & Williams Insurance Agency Wow! Zone Young Life YWCA Mankato

BASIC MEMBERS

All American Towing AllOver Media AMDS/Glowing Hearth & Home American Cancer Society American Heart Association American Red Cross Serving Southwest Minnesota Americare Mobility Van AmeriPride Linen and Apparel

Services Arctic Ice Arnold Storage Arrow Ace Hardware Artisans Ashley Furniture Home Store Autumn Grace Avery Outdoor B. Stark & Co.

Back to Wellness Clinic Becky’s Floral & Gift Shoppe Bemis Healthcare Packaging, Inc. Bid Kato Big Dog Sports Cafe Blue Earth County Historical Society Bobcat of Mankato Border States Electric Brookdale Mankato

10K Lettering A Plus Systems Group/A Plus Security, Inc. A to Z Rental Center Acme Alternate Fuel Systems, Inc. Acorn Custom Cabinetry Affordable Towing of Mankato Inc. Alerus Retirement Solutions

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Brovold & Company, LLC Budget Host Inn Bud’s Nuisance Wildlife Removal, LLC BullChicks C & N Sales C & S Supply Camp Pillsbury Campus Village Apartments Casey’s General Store - Lookout Drive Charley’s Restaurant Charlie’s Appliance Chesley, Harvey & Carpenter Civic Square, LLC Classic Coach, Inc. Cold Stone Creamery Cole Papers, Inc. College Fund Properties Colonial Square Apartments Commercial Janitorial Systems LLC Committee Against Domestic Abuse Inc. Complete Basement Systems Copier Business Solutions Cottage Glenn Association Cottagewood Senior Community Coulter, Schmidt & Klein Private Wealth Advisors Creative Ad Solutions, Inc. Creekside Boutique Custom Craft Cabinets, LLC D&K Powder Coating Dairy Queen Dale Carnegie Training Davis Comfort Systems DCI of MN, Inc. Decadent Desserts DeGroods Electronics & Appliances DenCo Lighting Diamond Vogel Paint Center Dirt Merchant, Inc. Discount Tire Co Dunkin’ Donuts - Corporate Emerald Travel and Cruises Employee Benefits & Insurance Services Agency, Inc. Endres Window Cleaning, Inc. Enterprise Minnesota Express Care Auto Center Express Diagnostics Int’l., Inc. Fairway Outdoor Advertising Farmamerica Flowers by Jeanie Forsythe Appraisals, LLC Frentz & Frentz Law Offices G C Distributing Gag’s Camper Way Gardner Financial Services Shannon Sinning Gene’s Repair Genuine Amish Furniture Goodrich Construction, Inc. Goodwill - Mankato

GOVERNMENT MEMBERS

Blue Earth County Blue Earth County Attorney’s Office Blue Earth County Library System Blue Earth County License Center Blue Earth County Sheriff’s Deptartment City of Eagle Lake City of Lake Crystal City of Le Sueur

GPH Subdivision Homeowner’s Association Graif Clothing Great River Insurance Greater Minnesota Gas, Inc. Green Care Greg’s Champion Auto Ground Works Backhoe Service, LLC H&R Block Heather Lane Townhome Association Hillside Church Hiniker Company Hiniker Homes/Realty Huntington Hills, LLC Imperial Plastics Incorporated India Palace INdiGO Organic, LLC INH Property Management of Mankato James D. Connors, DDS - Total Dental Concepts Javens Mechanical Contracting Jerry’s Body Shop Inc. Josh Kleinschmidt Construction & Concrete, LLC Karl’s TV, Audio, Appliance and Furniture Kato Ballroom Kato Cab, LLC Kato Glass Kato Moving & Storage, Mayflower KingPins Kroubetz Lakeside Campers & Motors Kuch Chiropractic Kwik Trip - Madison Ave Kwik Trip - Mankato La Terraza Mexican Grill and Bar Lacina Siding & Window Inc. Lager’s Chrysler World Lake Crystal Coaches Landing on Madison Like Nu Cleaners Inc. Limb Lab Lloyd Lumber - Just Ask Rental Ludwig Coaching LLC Lutheran Social Service of MN Madison East Center Main Street Dental Clinic of Mankato Mainstream Boutique Malachi Estates Association Mankato Acupuncture Clinic, LLC Mankato Area 77 Lancers Marching Band Mankato Area Council for Quality Mankato Area Foundation Mankato Chiropractic Center Mankato Computer Repair Mankato Downtown Kiwanis Mankato Networks Mankato Symphony Orchestra Mantronics Mailing Systems City of Madison Lake City of Mankato City of North Mankato City of Saint Peter EduCare Mankato Area Public Schools District 77 Nicollet County Region Nine Development Commission

Mazatlan Mexican Restaurant MDC Real Estate Services Mechanical Resources, Inc. Meyer & Sons - TV & Appliance Microtel Inn & Suites by Wyndham Minnesota Assistance Council for Veterans Minnesota Business Center of the Principal Financial Group - St. Peter office Minnesota Financial Services Minnesota Valley Lutheran High School Minnesota Wedding Shop Minuteman Press NAPA Auto Parts of Mankato Nesbit Agency Neubau Holdings New Ulm Furniture Company Nimbus Studios Noodles & Company North Links Golf Course and Banquet Facility NuStar Realty Once Upon a Child One Bright Star Ophthalmology Associates of Mankato Orthodontic Specialists of Southern Minnesota Panera Bread Papa John’s Pappageorge Restaurant & Bar Parties & Weddings Plus Partners Funding, Inc. Patterson’s Diamond Center Pearle Vision Peters Striping Picker-Uppers LLC Piepho Moving & Storage Pietsch Construction Pizza Ranch - Mankato Planned Parenthood POET Biorefining Lake Crystal Prairie River Home Care Inc. Premier Veterinary Center PrimeSource Funding PRO TRAIN Aviation Professional Cleaning Services, Inc. Promotions Powerhouse, LLC Quality Overhead Door of Mankato, Inc. R. Henry Construction Realife Cooperative of Mankato Regional Center for Entrepreneurial Facilitation Rehnelt Excavating LLC Reichel Insulation Rickway Carpet Ringheim Family Limited Partnership River Hills Pet Care Hospital River Valley Dental Riverfront Technology LLC

ASSOSIATE MEMBERS

Douglas W. Johnson Fred Lutz Jerry Crest Kenneth Saffert Norberg Paulsen, Tami Randy Berkland Tom Riley

RiverRidge Chiropractic Robinson Appraisal & Associates Ron’s Auto Repair of Mankato, LLC Rooms and Rest Rounders Sports Bar & Grill SCR - Southern Division SFM SharkTooth Networks Sherwin Group Sherwin Williams Company ShoGun Sushi and Hibachi Shoreland Country Club Shred Right Skogen Mechanical LLC SmartSearch Snap Fitness - North Mankato South Central Minnesota SCORE South Central Service Cooperative Southern Minnesota Endodontics Spinners Bar & Grill Squirrels Nest Resort Association St. Peter Food Co-op & Deli Starbucks Coffee Company Starr Cycle Steffen Electric of Le Center & Mankato, Inc. Sun Tan City Supreme & Lincoln Outdoor Sylvan Benefit Consultants TacAero Taco John’s - Madison Avenue The Coffee Hag The Lighthouse The Salvation Army The Service Rack Inc. The Travel Center The Underground Theuninck Construction LLP Thin Film Technology Thorset Comfort Systems Inc Tidy Clean Timber Lake Sod Tow Distributing Townhomes at Parkside Homeowners’ Association, Inc. Valley News Company Video Services Inc. Viking JR. Motel VINE Faith in Action Vision 4 Less W W Blacktopping, Inc. Wasko/ Liberty Heating, Cooling & Plumbing WEB Construction Company, Inc. Weber’s Custom Catering Weggy’s on Campus Williams Diamond Center Willow Brook Senior Cooperative Womeninc Magazine Woodside Apartments 1, LLC Workforce Resources, Inc. Y Barbers / Onatah On Belgrade Ziegler Farms

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Additional Investors in the City Center Partnership PLATINUM LEVEL PARTNER Mayo Clinic Health System GOLD LEVEL PARTNER Consolidated Communications Gislason & Hunter LLP MinnStar Bank Stifel Tailwind Group SILVER LEVEL PARTNER Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. Atwood Property Management Inc. Blethen, Gage & Krause, PLLP Brennan Construction Coldwell Banker Commercial Fisher Group Hilton Garden Inn ISG Lloyd Management Pub 500 The Loose Moose Saloon & Conference Center U.S. Bank - City Center United Prairie Bank - City Center Visit Mankato BRONZE LEVEL PARTNER Brunton Architects & Engineers CliftonLarsonAllen LLP Coughlan Companies Dino’s Gourmet Pizzeria Dotson Iron Castings Frentz & Company JBeal Real Estate Group John Fritz Construction, LLC Kato Insurance Agency Land to Air Express, Inc. MAS Communications Minnesota Valley Federal Credit Union MinnStar Bank Number 4 American Bar & Kitchen Pagliai’s Pizza PresenceMaker, Inc. Quest Marketing Red Door Creative Schwickert’s Tecta America of Mankato Short Elliott Hendrickson, Inc. (SEH) Stinson Leonard Street LLP Tavern on the Avenue The Free Press The Neighbor’s Italian Bistro The Travel Center Voyager Bank

BASIC LEVEL PARTNERS

A Plus Systems Group/A Plus Security, Inc. Abdo, Eick & Meyers, LLP Antje Meisner Concepts Bent River Outfitter Blue Earth County Historical Society Buffalo Wild Wings Carlson-Tillisch Eye Clinic Children’s Museum of Southern Minnesota Dairy Queen Earl Johnson Furniture Ecumen Pathstone Living Employee Benefits & Insurance Services Agency, Inc. FPX, LLC Fraternal Order of Eagles Gallery 19 - Gregg Andersen Photography Graif Clothing Guenther’s Cafe Hy-Vee - Downtown Kato Cab Inc. Kato Glass Kato Moving & Storage, Mayflower Lime Valley Advertising, Inc. Mankato Area Foundation Mankato City Center Hotel Mankato Place Mankato Symphony Orchestra Mayberry Insurance Agency - State Farm MD Advisors Group Nicollet Bike Shop Radio Mankato Rick & Stacey Straka Ridley Inc. Salvage Sisters SMILES Center for Independent Living Snell Motors Southern Minnesota Orthodontics PA Spinners Bar & Grill Subway Restaurants The Jewelry Bench The Pita Pit The Underground Twin Rivers Council for the Arts VoyageurWeb YWCA Mankato

Boards & Staff

GREATER MANKATO GROWTH BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Todd Loosbrock, U.S. Bank Julia Ketcham Corbett, Blethen, Gage & Krause, PLLP, (Past Chair) Jim Marzolf, CliftonLarsonAllen (Vice Chair) Chad Surprenant, ISG (Secretary/Treasurer) Jim Beal, Chair of Regional Economic Development Alliance (Executive Committee Member) Rob Else, EI Microcircuits (Executive Committee Member) Ron Vetter, Vetter Stone (Executive Committee Member) JO Guck Bailey, Chair of Visit Mankato Stephanie Bottner, Taylor Corporation/Pear Tree Greetings Dr. Richard Davenport, Minnesota State University, Mankato Mike Drummer, Drummers Garden Center & Floral Joe Duncan, Bolton & Menk, Inc. Brian Fowler, Quality 1 HR Foto/Sports Pix Tom Fredrick Jr., City Center Partnership Pat Hentges, City of Mankato Pam Jagdfeld, Nifty Home Products Greg Kutcher, MD., Mayo Clinic Health System (Past Chair) John Kvamme, Vice Chair of Regional Economic Development Alliance Joe Meidl, The Music Mart* Dr. Annette Parker, South Central College Marvin Rhodes, KEYC News 12 - Fox 12 Mankato Jennifer Spaude, Consolidated Communications Tim Tupy, LIV Aveda Salon & Spa/ Mankato Brewery Jay Weir, Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. *Retiring

VISIT MANKATO BOARD OF GOVERNORS

JO Guck Bailey, Radio Mankato (Chair) Jennifer Epper, Buffalo Wild Wings (Vice Chair) Alissa Brekke, Pioneer Bank (Secretary/ Treasurer) Kevin Buisman, Minnesota State University, Mankato Athletics (Executive Committee Member) Gerry Burke, Holiday Inn Express (Executive Committee Member)* Mike Drummer, Drummer Companies (Executive Committee Member) Tanya Ange, City of Mankato Jennifer Heimer, MTU Onsite Energy Dr. Cuong Huynh, Discover Chiropractic Randy Knutson, Knutson+Casey Law/Mud Run Burt Lyman, Verizon Wireless Center Sandra Oachs, Hilton Garden Inn Peter Olson, Children’s Museum of Southern Minnesota Jessica Potter, Blue Earth Historical Society Jay Reasner, Pub 500 Gwenn Wolters, Rasmussen College *Retiring

CITY CENTER PARTNERSHIP BOARD OF GOVERNORS Tom Frederick, Jr., Pub 500 (Chair)

Tami Paulsen, ISG (Vice Chair) Steve Olson, MinnStar Bank (Secretary/ Treasurer) Jerry Crest, Retired (Past Chair)* Tanya Ange, City of Mankato Barbara Dorn, YWCA Tony Frentz, Neutral Path Communications* John Harrenstein, City of North Mankato David Jones, Minnesota State University, Mankato Larry Krmpotich, Stifel Sandra Oachs, Hilton Garden Inn Kyle Smith, Tailwind Group Stacey Straka, PresenceMaker Chad Surprenant, ISG Anna Thill, Visit Mankato Kevin Velasquez, Blethun, Gage & Krause, PLLP Jim Whitlock, Brickhouse Graphics/Business on Belgrade Andy Willaert, Gislason & Hunter Randy Zellmer, Stinson Leonard Street LLP Jonathan Zierdt, Greater Mankato Growth, Inc. *Retiring

GREATER MANKATO GROWTH, INC. STAFF Trudie Gustafson, Executive Vice President Jonathan G. Zierdt, President & CEO

GREATER MANKATO GROWTH STAFF Patrick Baker, Director of Government & Institutional Affairs Joelle Baumann, Member Relations Assistant John F. Considine III, Business Development Resource Manager Shannon Gullickson, Talent Programs Director Brittany Junck, Marketing & Communications Assistant Amy Linde, Director of Marketing & Communications Rebecca Rosier, Finance Manager Jim Santori, New Business Development Director Liz Sharp, Special Events Director Karen Toft, Member Relations Director Sharlene Vrtacnik, Administrative Assistant Sam Ziegler, Director of Project ABE Richelle Ballenger, Marketing & Communications Specialist * Tom Riley, New Business Development Director* *On staff for part of 2015

VISIT MANKATO STAFF

Joelle Baumann, Administrative Assistant Danielle Duffey, Convention Sales Director Anna Thill, President Chris Willaert, Sports Commission Director Matt Lee, Sports Commission Coordinator* Larissa Mrozek, Senior Sales Director* Kathryn Reeder, Brand Manager* Paige Schuette, Visitor Engagement Manager* *On staff for part of 2015

CITY CENTER PARTNERSHIP STAFF

Megan Flanagan, Director Eric Harriman, Executive Director* Noelle Lawton, Special Initiatives Coordinator* *On staff for part of 2015

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Volunteers and Committees Art Westphal, Bethany Lutheran College Christi Wilking, Mayo Clinic Health System

GREATER MANKATO GROWTH AMBASSADORS

JO Guck Bailey, Radio Mankato/Sign Pro Rachel Carpenter, Water’s Edge Alan Cole, University Square & Village Apts Marsha Danielson, South Central College Kathy Depuydt, Bradley’s on Stadium Beth Fasnacht, Brunton Architects Laurie Folsom, Spectrum Reach Tom Frederick, Jr., Pub 500 Christina Froehlich, BankVista Amber Goblirsch, Taylor Corp Bruce Gratz, First National Bank Minnesota Erik Hagedorn, Wells Fargo Bank, NABusiness Banking Chris Harstad, Wells Fargo Home Mortgage Amy Ites, Rasmussen College Douglas Johnson, Retired Devin Krienke, Devin Krienke Agency - American Family Insurance Brian Leonhardi, EI Microcircuits Fred Lutz, Retired Karla Haley, Malone Coldwell Banker Welcome Home Realty Karry Meyer, The True Team Re/Max Dynamic Agents Vicky Meyer, U.S. Bank Mark Mitzel, Profinium VictoriaMoorhouse, Hilton Garden Inn Eric Oleson, Oleson+Hobbie Architects LLC Claire Patterson, Mankato Clinic Dennis Paul, Ameriprise Financial Leah Pockrandt, School Sisters of Notre Dame Tami Reuter, South Central College Foundation William Simonette, Diversified Financial Services Ryan Spaude, Eide Bailly Stephanie Stack, Mayo Clinic Health System Billy Steiner, Radio Mankato Tricia Stenberg, Greater Mankato Area United Way Benjamin Suker, Minnesota Valley Federal Credit Union David Sunderman, BENCO Electric Jon Teeslink, Snell Motors Chastity Valvick, Consolidated Communications Jen Wanderscheid, The Free Press Tiffany Ward, Indulge Salon & Tanning Tom Warrant, Tire Associates Greg Weis, Mankato Moondogs Pam Weller, Minnesota State University, Mankato

GREATER MANKATO GROWTH CAVALIERS

Dan Baker, CENTURY 21 Atwood Realty, Inc. Russell Blaschko, First National Bank MN Rick Chandler, R-U Wireless/THINK Toner & Ink Lisa Cownie, KEYC News 12 - Fox 12 Mankato Sheila Daggett, Mayo Clinic Health System John Daley, Valuation Specialists Cate DeBates, Leisure Education for Exceptional People (LEEP) Jenn Faust, Eide Bailly Carrie Flanagan, Thrivent Financial Tessa Flies, Courtyard by Marriott Connie Hanek, Paragon Printing, Mailing & Specialties Rick Harbarth, Agstar Financial Services Briana Hinz, Profile by Sanford Lisa Hoffman Wojcik, Open Door Health Center Trisha Homan, AmericInn Hotel & Conference Center Todd Joyal, Buffalo Wild Wings Joy Kelley, ECS - Your Wiring Pros Mike Kennedy, Alliance Insurace Jake Krier, Bethany Lutheran College Megan Lange, Aflac Julie Leiferman, Schwickert’s Tecta America Kate Loging, Eide Bailly Karla Marshall, Exposure Creative Sandra Oachs, Hilton Garden Inn Duane Olenius, Pioneer Bank Brandon Olson, Lil Bee’s Learning Center Brooke Olson, Water’s Edge Nicole Panko, ISG Amber Pietan, Amber Pietan Travel Agency Amber Power, Minnesota State University, Mankato Lorri Rieff, CENTURY 21 Atwood Realty, Inc. Judy Ringler Mountain, New York Life Insurance Kayla Rossiter, Jersey Mike’s Subs Kathy Sanger, Rasmussen College Kris Simpson, MRCI WorkSource Liz Sparacino, Exclusively Diamonds Liz Thiesse, Subway Restaurants Jamie Wolfe, Digity Radio Christa Wolner, Drummer Companies/Weichert Group

PROJECT ABE STEERING COMMITTEE

Jim Marzolf, CliftonLarsonAllen (Chair) Jim Beal, JBeal Real Estate Group

Travis Brovold, McGladrey Mitch Davis, Davis Family Holdings Brad Freking, New Fashion Pork Meg Freking, New Fashion Pork Jodie Hermer, AgStar Financial Services Steve Kibble, Kibble Equipment Gary Koch, Gislason & Hunter LLP Brian Martensen, Minnesota State University, Mankato Sheryl Meshke, AMPI Brad Schloesser, South Central College Tom Seigfreid, Rembrandt Enterprisies Chad Surprenant, ISG Pat Yockey, DuPont Pioneer BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT Mark Greenwood, AgStar Financial Services Denny Dotson, Dotson Iron Foundry Jerry Kopel, Profinium Inc. Duane Thompson, Eide Bailly Pat Yockey, DuPont Pioneer Mike Humpel, City of Fairmont Mike Nolan, Small Business Development Center Michael Sparby, AURI(Agriculture Utilization Research Institute) Dave Priesler, Minnesota Pork Producers Association PROMOTIONS Jim Marzolf, CliftonLarsonAllen Jodie Hermer, AgStar Financial Services Sheryl Meshke, AMPI Kent Thiesse, MinnStar Bank EDUCATION Brad Schloesser, Southern Minnesota Center of Ag Brian Martensen, Minnesota State University, Mankato Val Johnson, Christensen Farms Wally Thomas, Bremer Bank Paul Peterson, Saint Peter Schools Emily Combs, DuPont Pioneer Mark Jaeger, HerdStar Mark Spence, Davisco Foods

REDA ADVISORY COMMITTEE

Brad Ahrenstorff, City of Lake Crystal Eric Anderson, City of Mankato Jim Beal, City of Eagle Lake Bruce Beatty, Nicollet County Bob Broeder, City of Le Sueur Mark Dehen, City of North Mankato Mike Fischer, City of North Mankato Nicole Griensewic Michelson, Region Nine Development Commission Taylor Gronau, City of Lake Crystal John Harrenstein, City of North

Mankato Pat Hentges, City of Mankato Carolyn Hiniker, City of Madison Lake Ryan Krosch, Nicollet County John Kvamme, City of Saint Peter Bob Meyer, Blue Earth County Mark Piepho, Blue Earth County Brad Potter, City of Eagle Lake Ari Klugman, City of Madison Lake Todd Prafke, City of Saint Peter Kristin Prososki, City of Mankato Janelle Teppen, City of Le Sueur Ed Tschida, Le Sueur Development Paul Vogel, City of Mankato Russ Wille, City of Saint Peter

TALENT PORTAL TEAM

Keith Bauer, Mankato Clinic Ed Clark, Minnesota State University, Mankato Beth Dittbenner, Mayo Clinic Health System Diane Fewer, Taylor Corporation Jessica Gartner, Mayo Clinic Health System Diane Halvorson, South Central WorkForce Council Amy Ites, Rasmussen College Ted Johnson, Minnesota State University, Mankato Mark Murphy, Wells Fargo Tim Pelton, EI Microcircuits Diana Stoll, MTU Onsite Energy Teresa Webster, Kato Engineering Inc./Emerson

ICLV PLANNING COMMITTEE

Anne Frentz, Tandem Bagels Ben Ellingson, Eide Bailly Brian Benshoof, MRCI WorkSource Dan White, Office Space Design Jim Santori, Greater Mankato Growth Jennifer Pfeffer, Ecumen Pathstone Living John Harrenstein, City of North Mankato Liz Sharp, Greater Mankato Growth Peter Olson, Children’s Museum of Southern Minnesota Tanya Ange, City of Mankato Todd Prafke, City of Saint Peter Trudie Gustafson, Greater Mankato Growth, Inc.

GREATER MANKATO YOUNG PROFESSIONALS COUNCIL & COMMITTEES

Nathan Hanel, Capstone (Chair) PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE Tonya Hobbie, Taylor Corporation and Elizabeth Harstad, Greater Mankato Area United Way (Chairs) Casey Christensen, Lime Valley Advertising Patrick Baker, Greater Mankato Growth

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Angela Guentzel, Guentzel Family Farms Brian Welch, ISG Kelli Poppitz, ISG Cuong Huynh, Discover Chiropractic Chris Lienemann, Minnesota State University, Mankato Brianna Hoffman, AgStar Financial Services Alec Pfeffer, U.S. Bank SOCIAL COMMITTEE Jason Fisher, Mankato Clinic (Chair) Kelsey Splinter, Pear Tree Greetings Tom Johnson, Lloyd Management Jess Hatanpa, Hatanpa Insurance John Considine, Greater Mankato Growth Shelly Fromm, Pear Tree Greetings MEMBERSHIP COMMITTEE Dianna Lyngholm, Carlson Craft and Jaci Sprague, Junior Achievement of Greater Mankato (Chairs) Carlie Stevens, Swanson Hinsch & Co. Kelsey Splinter, Pear Tree Greetings Chastity Valvick, Consolidated Communications Amber Honsey, Mankato Clinic Brent Krohn, B&B Krohn Farms Paul Lawton, ISG Paul Shneider, Blethen, Gage & Krause, PLLP Seth Ferkenstad, Abdo, Eick & Meyers Andrea Johnson, Pioneer Bank Shelly Fromm, Pear Tree Greetings Nick Burger, Community Insurance Lindsey Walker, Mankato Clinic

GREATER MANKATO LEADERSHIP INSTITUTE STEERING COMMITTEE (2015-16) Chastity Valvick, Consolidated Communications (Chair) John Bulcock, Minnesota State University, Mankato Jennifer Ceminsky, South Central College Adam Fries, Johnson Outdoors Patti Kramlinger, Minnesota State University, Mankato Ben McAninch, Blethen, Gage & Krause PLLP Jennifer Rorick, Mayo Clinic Health System Jaci Sprague, Junior Achievement of Greater Mankato

GREATER MANKATO LEADERSHIP INSTITUTE STEERING COMMITTEE (2014-15) Jaci Sprague, Junior Achievement of Greater Mankato (Chair) Deb Addis, Mankato Clinic Nick Burger, Community Insurance Carrie Flanagan, Thrivent Financial Mary Kaisershot, U.S. Bank Patti Kramlinger, Minnesota State

University, Mankato Tami Reuter, South Central College Foundation Chris Sandquist, Gislason & Hunter LLP

SOUTH CENTRAL TOUR OF MANUFACTURING PARTNERSHIP

Rob Anderson, Brown County Economic Development Partners, Inc. Pat Baker, Eide Bailly John Considine, Greater Mankato Growth Jennifer Faust, Eide Bailly Heather Gleason, South Central WorkForce Council Diane Halvorson, South Central WorkForce Council Randy Long, Department of Employment and Economic Development Lindsey Preuss, City of Fairmont

PUBLIC AFFAIRS STEERING COMMITTEE

Jay Weir, Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. (Chair) Kay Wallerich, Minnesota State University, Mankato (Vice Chair) Tami Paulsen, ISG John Harrenstein, City of North Mankato Randy Berkland, Retired Rich Grace, Mayo Clinic Health System Pat Hentges, City of Mankato Joe Meidl, The Music Mart Ryan Spaude, Eide Bailly Dave Sunderman, BENCO Electric Cooperative Geoff Roise, Lindsay Windows Andy Willaert, Gislason & Hunter David Wittenberg, Stifel HEALTH & HUMAN SERVICE POLICY TEAM Alan Augustin, SMILES Center for Independent Living Ryannon Frederick, Mayo Clinic Health System Linda Leiding, MRCI WorkSource Scott Michaletz, Kato Insurance Agency Jennifer Pfeffer, Ecumen Pathstone Living Steve Schoener, LivingLinks TRANSPORTATION POLICY TEAM Andy Willaert, Gislason & Hunter LLP (Chair) Bonnie Barrier, Pepsi-Cola of Mankato Inc. Chuck Brandel, ISG Chris Cavett, Short Elliott Hendrickson, Inc. (SEH) Jerry Crest, Retired

Mark Dehen, Mayor of North Mankato Jim Pockrandt, MTU Onsite Energy Troy Volk, Volk Transfer ECONOMIC POLICY TEAM Geoff Roise, Lindsay Windows (Chair) Jason Beal, JBeal Real Estate Group Mike Nolan, Small Business Development Center Trisha Rosenfeld, Xcel Energy Anna Thill, Visit Mankato David Wittenberg, Stifel BUSINESS POLICY TEAM Ryan Spaude, Eide Bailly (Chair) Steve Hatkin, Mankato Clinic Michael Jacobs, Stinson Leonard Street LLP Eric Peters, Wells Federal Bank Sarah Richards, Jones Metal Products Paul Wilke, River Hills Mall EDUCATION POLICY TEAM Dave Sunderman, BENCO Electric Cooperative (Chair) Mark Braun, Gustavus Adolphus College Audra Nissen Boyer, Mankato Area Public Schools - District 77 Marilyn Wells, Minnesota State University, Mankato

REGIONAL RECREATION FACILITIES TECHNICAL ADVISORY TEAM MEMBERS Pat Hentges, City of Mankato Paul Vogel, City of Mankato John Harrenstein, City of North Mankato Bob Meyer, Blue Earth County Ryan Krosch, Nicollet County Audra Boyer, Mankato Area Public Schools - District 77 Marsha Danielson, South Central College Jared Larson, All Seasons Arena Kevin Buisman, Minnesota State University, Mankato Athletics Don Westphal, Bethany Lutheran College John Kind, Mankato Family YMCA

LEISURE THINK TANK

Ginny Bergerson, The Free Press Joseph P. Flood, Minnesota State University, Mankato Amy Linde, Greater Mankato Growth Kate Loging, Eide Bailly Peter Olson, Children’s Museum of Southern Minnesota Gwenn Wolters, Rasmussen College

CONVENTION SALES COMMITTEE REGIONAL RECREATION FACILITIES STEERING COMMITTEE MEMBERS Brett Skilbred, Coughlan Companies Julia Corbett, Blethen, Gage & Krause, PLLP Denny Dotson, Dotson Company Larissa Egli, MANTAS Swim Club Dr. Jim Nack, Mankato Clinic Beth Fowler Rohrich, SPX Sports Chad Surprenant, ISG Dave Wittenberg, Stifel Stephanie Loeffler, Mayo Clinic Health System Chris Frederick, City of Mankato Mark Piepho, Blue Earth County Commissioner Jack Kolars, Nicollet County Commissioner Mark Dehen, City of North Mankato Facilitators: Mark Erickson, MN Amatuer Sports Commission; Jonathan Zierdt, Greater Mankato Growth, Inc. Anna Thill, Visit Mankato Chris Willaert, Visit Mankato Patrick Baker, Greater Mankato Growth

Sandra Oachs, Hilton Garden Inn Brian Sather, Verizon Wireless Center Lucas Newbauer, Mankato City Center Hotel Tessa Flies, Courtyard by Marriott Kaaren Grabianowski, Country Inn & Suites Hotel & Conference Center Anna Thill, Visit Mankato Danielle Duffey, Visit Mankato

CITY CENTER COMMITTEE

Tanya Ange, City of Mankato Sandra Oachs, Hilton Garden Inn Steve Tacheny, Hilton Garden Inn Brian Sather, Verizon Wireless Center Eric Jones, Verizon Wireless Center Burt Lyman, Verizon Wireless Center Rick Lecy , Mankato City Center Hotel Anna Thill, Visit Mankato Danielle Duffey, Visit Mankato

iKNOW MANKATO TASKFORCE

Jay Reasner, Pub 500 Jennifer Epper, Buffalo Wild Wings Pam Kirby, Country Inn & Suites Hotel & Conference Center Jessica Potter, Blue Earth County Historical Society

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...Volunteers & Committees Continued

AESTHETICS & LIVABILITY COMMITTEE

Stacey Straka, PresenceMaker (Chair) Landon Bode, City of Mankato Katie Boone, Envision Lab Peg Ganey, Atwood Property Management Mark Konz, City of Mankato Courtney Kramlinger, City of Mankato Noelle Lawton, Twin Rivers Council for the Arts Matthias Leyrer, Taylor Corporation Stacey Lienemann, community member Ben Lundsten, community member Samantha Meyer, student at Minnesota State University, Mankato Tami Paulsen, ISG Jessica Potter, Blue Earth County Historical Society Kayla Rossiter, Jersey Mike’s Subs Kevin Velasquez, Blethen, Gage & Krause PLLP Ann Willaert, South Central College Andy Willaert, Gislason & Hunter LLP BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT & RETENTION COMMITTEE Andy Willaert, Gislason & Hunter LLP (Chair) Gregg Anderson, Gallery 19 – Gregg Andersen Photography Jerry Crest, community member Mike Fischer, City of North Mankato Tony Frentz, Neutral Path Communications Todd Loosbrock, U.S. Bank Bryan Paulsen, ISG Jerry Pietz, Kato Moving & Storage, Mayflower Kristin Prososki, City of Mankato Dan Robinson, Lidstrom Commercial Realtors David Schooff, Coldwell Banker Commercial Fisher Group Stacey Straka, PresenceMaker Jim Whitlock, Brick House Graphics/ Business on Belgrade John Considine, Greater Mankato Growth Megan Flanagan, City Center Partnership CITYART COMMITTEE Dawn Ulrich-Spitzer, Mankato Mental Health Associates (Chair) Shannon Beal, JBeal Real Estate Group

Yvonne Cariveau, VoyageurWeb Jason Femrite, Bolton & Menk, Inc. Michael Fischer, City of North Mankato Jeanne Gallaway, retired Jordan Greer, The Free Press JO Guck Bailey, Radio Mankato Steve Mork, retired Sandra Oachs, Hilton Garden Inn Peter Shophammer, City of Mankato Amy Sinning, artist Stephanie Stoffel, Twin Rivers Council for the Arts Amanda Wirig, artist Noelle Lawton, Twin Rivers Council for the Arts Megan Flanagan, City Center Partnership MARKETING & PROMOTIONS COMMITTEE Randy Zellmer, Stinson Leonard Street LLP (Chair) Shawn Ange, Spinners Bar & Grill Theresa Carlberg, PresenceMaker Barb Dorn, YWCA Mankato Heather Fisher, Salvage Sisters JO Guck Bailey, Radio Mankato Eric Jones, Verizon Wireless Center Noelle Lawton, Twin Rivers Council for the Arts Chelsea Mann, KEYC News 12 - Fox 12 Mankato Betty Ouren, MinnStar Bank Kayla Powers, Profinium Inc. Tricia Stenberg, Greater Mankato Area United Way Stacey Straka, PresenceMaker Ryan Sturgis, True Façade Pictures Jim Whitlock, Brick House Graphics/ Business on Belgrade Megan Flanagan, City Center Partnership Liz Sharp, Greater Mankato Growth SHOP SMALL IN THE CITY CENTER COMMITTEE Danelle Erickson, Blue Earth County Historical Society Heather Fisher, Salvage Sisters Jordan Greer, The Free Press JO Guck Bailey, Radio Mankato Ellen Koenigs, Y Barbers - Onatah on Belgrade Noelle Lawton, Twin Rivers Council for the Arts Brooke Stenzel, White Orchid Boutique Stacey Straka, PresenceMaker Brenda Wilcox, Y Barbers - Onatah on Belgrade Randy Zellmer, Stinson Leonard Street LLP Megan Flanagan, City Center Partnership POST OFFICE REUSE TASK FORCE Jerry Crest, (Chair) Malda Farnham, community

member Tony Filipovitch, community member JO Guck Bailey, Radio Mankato Mike Lagerquist, School Sisters of Notre Dame Central Pacific Province Steve Olson, MinnStar Bank Bryan Paulsen, ISG Liz Perez, Minnesota State University, Mankato Jerry Pietz, Kato Moving and Storage/Mayflower Jessica Potter, Blue Earth County Historical Society Rick Straka, Minnesota State University, Mankato Stacey Straka, PresenceMaker Paul Vogel, City of Mankato Jim Whitlock, Brick House Graphics/ Business on Belgrade Andy Willaert, Gislason & Hunter LLP Jim Santori, Greater Mankato Growth Anna Thill, Visit Mankato Jonathan Zierdt, Greater Mankato Growth, Inc.

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We are ever grateful for our volunteers. Without their endless time, talent and devotion, our organization’s achievements would not be possible.

Thank you.

Greater Mankato Growth, Inc. 1961 Premier Drive, Suite 100 Mankato, MN 56001 507.385.6640 greatermankato.com