2013 Annual Report
www.twincitiesnorth.org
Incoming & Outgoing Leadership Thank you to our outgoing Board Members Sarah Anderson, Marnie Ochs-Raleigh and Lori Wightman Sarah Anderson Marriott Hotels
Lori Wightman Unity Hospital
Marnie Ochs-Raleigh Evolve Systems
The 2013/2014 Board of Directors & incoming Chair Steve McAlpin welcomes Mark Sommerfeld to the Board.
Eric Olson Speed Pro Imaging
Steve McAlpin McAlpin Agency
Mark Sommerfeld Computer Revolution
Thank you Past Chair Eric Olson for your year of tremendous leadership!
New Achievements
The Twin Cities North Chamber connected with Grow Minnesota!, the Minnesota Chamber's business assistance program, and started a committee that meets the 1st Tuesday of each month. Grow Minnesota! excels at solving the daily obstacles to growing your business. We conduct face-to-face conversations with more than 50 companies each year – thanking you for investment in your community and our state, and asking what we can do to help you stay and grow in Minnesota. We also link you with the necessary resources – whether a person, an agency or another company – to help solve specific issues. Your comments are kept confidential and help bolster our arguments at the Capitol.
The Twin Cities North Chamber Toastmasters Club officially chartered in June with 22 members. Toastmasters International is a world leader in communication and leadership development. A Toastmasters meeting is a learn-by-doing workshop in which participants hone their speaking and leadership skills in a nopressure atmosphere. There is no instructor in a Toastmasters meeting. Instead, members evaluate one another’s presentations. This feedback process is a key part of the program’s success. Meeting participants also give impromptu talks on assigned topics, conduct meetings and develop skills related to timekeeping, grammar and parliamentary procedure. The Chamber Toastmasters Club meets every Wednesday morning at 7:30 a.m. in New Brighton City Hall.
The Twin Cities North Chamber of Commerce unveiled a refreshed website (www.twincitiesnorth.org) with desires of making it easier for members to identify the information they need. “Thanks to Risdall Marketing Group our website once again is up to current industry standards.” said Chamber CEO Tim Roche. “Analytics showed that the number 1 reasons members came to our website was to find both Chamber events and other member events. Risdall Marketing Group made the whole process easy and really made my time requirements to keep it updated at a minimum by automating data within out systems.”
Membership Survey In November 2012, the Twin Cities North Chamber Board of Directors sent out a survey to the membership. The results were fascinating. With over 100 responses, and some great feedback, the series of questions around ranking the value of the Chamber Benefits led the Chamber Board and Staff to come to one conclusion: Every Member is a Member for different reasons. By looking at the survey below, you can see a simple bar chart that took the average ranking and concludes that the greatest value is building partnerships, and the least greatest value is educational events. Not that simple. There just isn’t a big enough gap in the average rankings. 2.50
Average Ranking of Benefits
2.15 1.95
2.00
1.85
1.48
1.50 1.30
The follow up work, thoughts and discussions from surveys, and ways we can improve will never be complete, but the Board and Staff are very confident in the array of benefits we provide and the values of being a business organization improving the economy of our business community.
1.00
0.50
0.00 Build strong partnerships with members of my community.
The chart on the right shows the number of rankings each benefit received within the scale. Every benefit was some members number 1 value for being a member. While the #1 values match up with the chart on the left, the benefit of “fun events� came in 4th on the avg. ranking but actually received the most #2 rankings.
Enhance my business Benefit from an Attend fun, targeted development efforts by organization that events where I'd meeting new clients would advocate for my network with other and referral sources. business interests. chamber members.
Participate in educational events to enhance the skills of my employees and myself.
Sidebar: The Board then did a follow up survey as to which partnerships to build, and that survey only strengthened our original conclusion. Some great info was pulled from that survey though and is worked into this years strategic plan.
30 Build strong partnerships with members of my community.
# of received rank
25 20 15 10 5 0
Members were asked to rank the 5 benefits (1 = highest) of Chamber membership in regards to value to them. This chart shows the number of rankings each benefit received in each of 1-5.
1
2
Rankings
3
4
5
On December 20th, 2012 over 120 Chamber members and friends gathered to celebrate the holiday season by providing toys and non perishable items for the Raph Reeder Food Shelf and the Southern Anoka Community Assistance. Over 500 lbs of food and $800 financial support were given to these amazing groups. At the holiday luncheon we also recognize our Chamber members deserving of the distinguished “Inspiring Business Awards.� Many great companies were nominated, and all were recognized for their accomplishments in 2012. The following companies won the awards for the following categories: New Member of the Year: Paychex Small Business of the Year: Signs Now Business of the Year: Brightondale Senior Campus Leadership Award: Micro Control Companies Ambassador of the Year: Greg McAllister, Residential Reformation
Community Advocate Award: Biolife Plasma Services
Nonprofit of the Year Award: Crest View Senior Communities
On February 22nd, 2013 over 300 attendees met at the Vadnais Heights Commons for the “Take me out to the Ballgame� themed Excellence in Business Awards Gala. Bridge Builder Award: Roseville Adult Learning Center
International Business Achievement Award: AltaMAR Laser and Control
Excellence in People Development Award: Western Bank
Community Advocate Award: Unity Hospital
The event included networking, a plethora of silent auction items, and 9 awards given out. 8 of the awards were awarded after an application process whereas the winners were voted on by 5 Chamber Executives across the country. Look for 2014 applications in Best Sales and November! Marketing Award:
Innovation Through Chamber Presidential Technology Award: Achievement Award: Kathy Klang, Cummings, Keegan & Company Running Aces Harness Park
Kadrie Insurance Agency
The Chamber has made some exciting developments this year! We have had the pleasure of welcoming 78 new businesses to the membership; as well as adding Ashley Melville as the new, full time Director of Membership, to the staff. Thank you so much to Shari Osterude and Ann Aubitz for all of their work with the Chamber as independent sales reps. We are looking forward to another successful and productive year in 2013-2014. A.E. King, Attorney at Law
Flutter Boutique
Minuteman Press
Spinal Motion Chiropractic
Abel Onsite
Gallagher Benefit Services, Inc
N2 Publishing
TCF Bank - Fridley
ADT Security Services
Garry W. Johnson Agency, LLC
North Suburban Access Corporation
TCF Bank - Shoreview
App-Platform.net
Goodwill ~ Fridley
Oakwood Insurance Agency - Andover
The Landmark of Fridley
August Ash
Hartmann - Korby Team
Paychex, Inc.
The Pampered Chef - Gaye Christofersen
Beilby Chiropractic and Wellness Clinic
Homemasters, LLC
Payday America - Fridley
The Pampered Chef - Lisa Wert
Best Light Image
It Works Global
Payday America - Roseville
Toastmasters, District 6
Blakestad-Phenow Insurance
J Hilburn Menswear
Pine Arbor Rambling Townhome Assc
Town Course Cottage Association
Boomerang
Kelly Brothers Investment
Pinnacle Planning Group
Ulteig Engineers, Inc.
Chickadee's House, Inc.
Kitchens Made Simple
Pitrina Park Terrace HOA
Unique Thrift Store
Cleantastic Solutions
Legal Shield
PowerTalk Seminars, LLC
Universal Truck Service, LLC
Compressed Air Concepts
Leggette, Brashears & Graham, Inc.
Press Line Industries
Venture Bank
Craig R Lang CHT, LLC
Liberty Mutual Insurance
Pro Active Tax & Accounting, LLC
Volt Workforce Solutions
Create a New Destiny ''Live Your Dream''
Maguire Agency
ROC Commercial Cleaning
Walgreens - Arden Hills
Destination XL
Manitou Village Home Owners
Savers
Walgreens - Rice St.Roseville
DMG Financial Group
Mark Halstensgard - Thrivent Financial
Send Out Cards
Walgreens - Roseville
Dungeon Strength & Conditioning,
Mary Toske Allstate Insurance
Sleep Number - Roseville
Weikel Law Firm
Eleanor F Anderson, CPA
MN Wellness Educators
Specialists Gen. Surgery
Wise Insurance Agency, Inc. Witzel Electric, LLC.