TwinWest Directions Magazine March 2009 by TwinWest Chamber of Commerce

March 2009

www.twinwest.com

Setting the Standard. Leading the Way. â&#x201E;˘

24th Annual Gala

Feature story page 12

Is deficit spending a solution? page 10 See you at the 24th Annual Gala! page 17 Ranking of #1 Best Place to Live in America energizes Plymouth page 19

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table of contents Setting the Standard. Leading the Way.™ 10700 Old County Road 15, Suite 170 Plymouth, MN 55441 Phone: (763) 450-2220 • Fax: (763) 450-2221 www.twinwest.com TwinWest Directions (USPS 060870) is published 10 times per year by the TwinWest Chamber of Commerce, 10700 Old County Road 15, Suite 170, Plymouth, MN 55441. Phone: (763) 450-2220. Periodicals Postage Paid, Hopkins, MN. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to TwinWest Directions, 10700 Old County Road 15, Suite 170, Plymouth, MN 55441. Annual subscription rate of $40 is included in membership investment. The TwinWest Chamber of Commerce serves the communities of: Brooklyn Park, Brooklyn Center, Crystal, Golden Valley, Hopkins, Medicine Lake, Minnetonka, New Hope, Plymouth, St. Louis Park, and the surrounding region.

TwinWest Board of Directors EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE Mark Carlson, Minnesota Mailing Solutions, Chair of the Board Steve Wise, Cass Screw Machine Products, Chair-elect of the Board Sarah Toepke, Treasurer Tess Hohman, General Mills, Past Chair of the Board Bruce Nustad, TwinWest Chamber of Commerce, President

DIRECTORS Gary Aiken, Investors Capital Corporation Jennifer Albrecht, HTG Architects Jerry Archambeau, Grand Casino Mille Lacs & Hinckley Jeff Arnold, TCF Financial Corporation Becky Bakken, Citizens Independent Bank Dannette Coleman, Medica Daniel Duffy, Perkins+Will Annette Hruby, Costco Karen Jothen, Qwest Communications Rick Kaufman, Cox Insurance Greg Korstad, Larkin Hoffman Attorneys Michael Lehmann, Ferguson Enterprises, Inc. Pamela Muldoon, Next Stage Business Tim Raymond, Voyager Bank – Minnetonka Mike Sowada, VISI Incorporated Jon Thompson, Opportunity Partners

TwinWest Staff Bruce Nustad, President Judy Johnson, Director of Community Relations Bryan Lake, Director of Government Affairs Victoria Marley, Director of Events and Programs Jacqui Sauter, Regional Sales Director Sara Hopkins, Office Manager Jenna Reno, Administrative Assistant Loretta Kenney-Lillejord, Owl Bookkeeping & CFO Services, Accounting Stacy Slygh, C.E.L., Communications

MEMBER PROFILE

Comcast Spotlight – more than a decade of dedication to TwinWest

F ROM THE PRESIDENT’S DESK Unlock the secret of the Business Education Partnership

8 ISSUE BRIEFING

Don’t let budget shortfall distract from important policy work

feature story

nlock the 12 UMystery of

Monaco at the Annual Gala!

The TwinWest Gala is a celebration of our members and their dedication to the Chamber. Dine, dance and network with other members, while raising funds for the TwinWest Foundation Scholarship Program.

OVERNMENT 10 GAFFAIRS

Is deficit spending a solution?

VENT & 16 EPROGRAM DETAILS

Make plans to attend TwinWest’s events in March, including the 24th Annual Gala; Member Orientation; State of the City; Member Talk: For Members By Members; and the Business Showcase.

17 FEATURED EVENT

See you at our 24th Annual Gala!

UCCESS TWINWEST $ COLUMN

“Cloud Computing – big benefits for small and mid-sized business” – Guest article from TwinWest member Joe Nemastil, The NT Group, LLC

OMMUNITY 19 CBRIEFINGS

20 C HAMBER NEWS

Volunteer profile: Matt Schadow, AmeriStar Agency: Winner of the January 2009 TwinWest Superstar Award Business Day at the Capitol Save the Date for the Small Business Awards Luncheon!

– 22 MEMBERS NEW & RENEWING

TwinWest encourages all of our members to conduct business with one another

24 LAST GLANCE

TwinWest event and program photos Not a member? Join the chamber!

Ranking of #1 Best Place to Live in America energizes Plymouth

ECM Publishers, Inc. 12190 County Road 11 Burnsville, MN 55337 Phone: (952) 846-2040 Fax: (952) 846-2044 Ginny Lee, Project Manager & Advertising Director Jeff Remme, Director of Production & Graphic Design Linda Clayton, Graphic Designer Mariah Hendrickson, Advertising Sales

ON THE COVER: TwinWest board members Jennifer & Mark and gala committee co-chairs KT & Chris preview the Mystery of Monaco - the 24th Annual Gala. From left to right: Jennifer Albrecht, HTG Architects - TwinWest Foundation Board of Directors Chair; Mark Carlson, Minnesota Mailing Solutions - TwinWest Board of Directors Chair; KT Jonas, Dale Carnegie Training - Gala Committee Co-Chair; Chris Hasling, Northwestern Mutual - Gala Committee Co-Chair

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member profile

Comcast Spotlight – more than a decade of dedication to TwinWest In business since: 1963 TwinWest member since: Over 10 years Number of employees: 62 in the Twin Cities Location: Minnetonka, MN What is your main service/product? The core product we sell is thirty-second commercial time to local businesses on cable networks such as CNN, ESPN, Nickelodeon, and over 40 other networks. We also offer numerous advanced media products including Comcast.Net, Search Engine Marketing, Vehix and VLAN (automotive website) as well as Video on Demand. These products have shown explosive growth with hundreds of clients taking advantage of these advertising opportunities. What makes you stand out from your competition? Comcast Spotlight has the ability to target both geographically and demographically. For example, a business can run commercials just in the northwest suburbs, or they can choose any

combination of our other 10 zones, which blanket the Twin Cites Metro area. Also, no one covers sports like Comcast Spotlight. Businesses can advertise during the Twins, Wild, Timberwolves games and all of the Gopher Sports which air on Fox Sports North and the Big Ten Network.

What is your company’s most significant recent accomplishment?

Ryan Wolff Director of Local Sales

We continue to increase our market share despite this tough economic period. Business owners are extremely conscious of where every dollar is being spent. We are an attractive advertising medium for affordable and effective advertising campaigns.

Why does your business belong to the TwinWest Chamber? Comcast Spotlight strives to be involved and informed in the communities where we live, work, and raise our families. This helps us build better and longer-lasting relationships with the businesses we service.

CONTACT INFORMATION: Ryan Wolff ryan_wolff@cable.comcast.com 9705 Data Park Drive Minnetonka, MN 55343 952-238-8915 www.comcastspotlight.com

Each month TwinWest profiles a long standing member and recognizes their sustained commitment to our region’s business climate. We greatly value their ongoing presence in our membership.

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TwinWest Directions

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from the president’s desk

Unlock the secret of the Business Education Partnership Since its inception TwinWest’s Business Education Partnership (BEP) initiative has been one of our best-kept secrets. TwinWest’s BEP initiative was originated to connect business and education in a long-term effort to align today’s education programs with tomorrow’s workforce needs. On a recent Friday afternoon, I was chatting with a long-time member about Robbinsdale’s successful levy referendum. During the course of the conversation, the member mentioned that TwinWest could bring even more value to his business by connecting him with local schools, teachers, and leaders in education. I was pleased to respond with news of our BEP and I’m pleased to take this opportunity to share it with you! TwinWest’s 2008-2009 Business Education Partnership Taskforce, under the leadership of Karen Jothen, Qwest Communications, and with support from TwinWest Board Chair Mark Carlson, Minnesota Mailing Solutions, just wrapped up annual meetings with each of our five BEP school districts. Those meetings between business leaders, superintendents, school board members and other school leaders ignited discussion of the connection between the business and education communities. Along with other TwinWest staff members, I participated in each of the meetings and was amazed at the dedication of both education and business in working together for the benefit of tomorrow’s workforce. Hopkins, Minnetonka, Robbinsdale, St. Louis Park, and Wayzata school districts participated in this year’s BEP meetings. As a key part of this initiative, TwinWest provides business members with effective, rewarding ways to interact with our schools. Here is a digest of several of the opportunities available to you as a business leader.

Ethics in the Workplace On May 19, TwinWest will host the fourth annual Ethics in the Workplace event for high school juniors from five area school districts. Ethics in the Workplace is a professionally facilitated daylong event that teaches students about ethical decision making models for use in the workplace. Concordia University-St. Paul professors Tom Hanson and Jean Rock will collaborate with business leaders to deliver the curriculum based on real life case studies. Your BEP opportunity: Be one of 15 business leaders mentoring a small group of students on ethical decision making. STEM Summit Pilot April 23 marks the date for TwinWest to pilot a science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) event with the St. Louis Park school district. 150 ninth graders will participate in the program, modeled after one done by the Rochester Chamber of Commerce and Minnesota High Tech Association for the past few years. Participating students are exposed to interactive STEM exhibits. The goal of the summit is to help students understand the importance—and coolness—of technical careers, inspiring them to enroll in STEM classes at their school. Your BEP opportunity: Construct an interactive display that teaches students the merits of learning about science, technology, engineering and math. Business Leader Early Childhood Investment Summit Targeted for October 22, TwinWest area businesses, and local public and private schools are holding a summit on one of TwinWest’s favorite education policy initiatives—early childhood education. With the help of an anticipated Partnership for America’s Economic Success grant, the partners will present the benefits for investing in early childhood education. Your BEP opportunity: Attend to learn about the return on investment associated with early childhood education, or share the early childhood education model already in place at your business. In addition to the initiatives above, TwinWest’s BEP offers: •School leader for a day programs •Student memberships •Scholarships for high school students through the TwinWest Foundation •Connections between manufacturers and schools through our Workforce Ready! Program •Mentorship and internships There are many opportunities for business leaders to improve the future workforce through participation in BEP. If you are interested in any of these initiatives or have other ideas, contact BEP chair Karen Jothen (tel. (612) 633-7911, e-mail karen.jothen@qwest.com) or TwinWest’s Sara Hopkins (tel. (763) 450-2220, e-mail sara@twinwest.com). Thank you for making sure TwinWest’s BEP program is no longer our best-kept secret. Sincerely,

Bruce Nustad President of the TwinWest Chamber of Commerce March 2009

issue briefing

Don’t let budget shortfall distract from important policy work By David C. Olson The projected shortfall in the state’s general fund promises to dominate debate at the 2009 Legislature. Balancing the budget without raising the Minnesota Chamber cost of doing business President David Olson in Minnesota is the top priority of the Minnesota Chamber of Commerce’s agenda as well. This is absolutely the wrong time to raise taxes on Minnesotans as we strive to keep the state an attractive place to create and retain jobs. At the same time, legislators must not miss an opportunity to address policy that is necessary to keep this state’s economy strong. Workforce, transportation, climate change, energy and health care will also demand the attention of the Minnesota Chamber and chambers across the state. • Workforce – Businesses need an adequate supply of skilled workers to compete in today’s

global economy. We will advance reforms in the K-12 public education system that focus on three areas – closing the achievement gap, global competition and fiscal accountability. • Transportation efficiency – Taxpayers deserve the greatest value for every dollar spent on the state’s infrastructure. We support greater flexibility in mandates enacted in the 2008 transportation funding bill and will promote more balanced investment of new revenues. We continue our work with the Strategic Management and Operations Task Force to ensure that both current and new transportation dollars are spent efficiently. • Climate change – Lawmakers should not pass any state or regional cap-and-trade policy. Emissions from Minnesota contribute only 0.37 percent of manmade global greenhouse gas emissions. If Minnesota “goes alone” on adopting restrictions, it does so at great risk of losing jobs and an extremely high probability that we’ll not make a dent in this global problem.

additional generation of nuclear power. We must change the existing state law so we have a base-load for our homes and businesses. • Health care – The Legislature took the first steps toward significant health care reform in 2008. We must make sure these initiatives are implemented and produce measurable improvements in controlling costs and improving quality of care. We look forward once again to protecting your interests in St. Paul, especially during these tough economic times. The Minnesota Chamber is your full-time government affairs team. Finally, the Minnesota Chamber is working to help policy-makers identify potential budget reductions or restructure programs to resolve the deficit. Send your ideas to Tom Hesse at thesse@mnchamber.com. David Olson is president of the Minnesota Chamber of Commerce. For more information, visit the web at www.mnchamber.com.

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TwinWest Directions

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government affairs

Welcome new Board Directors Jon Thompson, President and CEO, Opportunity Partners

Is deficit spending a solution? As we face a gigantic budget deficit, people will wonder if Minnesota should follow the federal government’s lead and borrow money to shore up the budget and stimulate the economy. It is an intriguing idea, but one that is extremely unlikely to happen.

State and Federal Budgets Every state except Vermont has a statutory or constitutional requirement to balance its budget, but not all balanced budget requirements are the same. They vary among the states and can be divided into three types: • The governor’s proposed budget must be balanced. • The enacted budget must be balanced. • The budget must be balanced at the end of a fiscal year or biennium (i.e., no deficit can be carried forward). Some states have one or two of those requirements. Others—like Minnesota—have all three, but it is somewhat misleading to say that Minnesota’s budget is always balanced. That requirement only applies to the state’s general fund, to which most revenue flows and from which most expenditures are drawn. Minnesota and many other states do not apply balanced budget principles when borrowing for capital expenditures (e.g., building roads). Nevertheless, the Minnesota Constitution places tight restrictions on state borrowing. Originally, the state could borrow only to repel invasions or suppress insurrections. Other purposes were added later, including developing agricultural resources, increasing forestation and abating

TwinWest Directions

forest fires, maintaining and establishing highways, and bettering public lands and buildings. The federal government is not subject to such restrictions; it is free to borrow for virtually any purpose. The U.S. Constitution grants Congress the power “to borrow money on the credit of the United States” and the 14th Amendment gives further support by providing that “the public debt of the United States . . . shall not be questioned.”

The Keynesian Approach The federal government has been in debt since its inception— except for a brief period when Andrew Jackson was in the Oval Office—and the national debt has increased every year since 1957. This does not alarm followers of economist John Maynard Keynes, who argues that governments should run budget deficits during recessions to stimulate the economy. Minnesota’s government could try this tactic, but deficit spending makes more sense at the federal level. First, the federal government is responsible for the national defense, and must be able to borrow in the event of war. Second, our state government would struggle to keep the effects of economic incentives from spilling beyond our borders in today’s interconnected economy. Third, lenders fully trust that the U.S. will repay its debts; they would not have the same confidence in a state government. Finally, many citizens would not trust the state government to rein in spending without a constitutional constraint. For these reasons, it is very unlikely that the state will ever adopt a Keynesian economic philosophy.

Jon Thompson became Opportunity Partners’ chief executive officer/president in November of 1998, after seven years as the chief executive officer of Hammer Residences in Wayzata. Jon has extensive experience in health care management, including nursing homes, retirement projects, mental health, and support for persons with developmental disabilities. He holds an MBA, a master’s degree in special education, a bachelor’s degree in art, and a bachelor’s degree in accounting from the University of St. Thomas. He is a licensed and Certified Public Accountant and certified administrator. As CEO/president, Jon directs an executive team of dedicated professionals and an annual organizational budget of $27 million. Jon is the former president of the Wayzata Rotary Club, and an active member of the Association of Residential Resources in Minnesota and the Minnesota Association of Community Rehabilitation Organizations. Jon also serves on the Program Committee of the Minneapolis Club. In 2006, he was appointed to the Governor’s Workforce Development Council. Annette Hruby, Corporate Sales and Public Relations, Costco

Annette Hruby’s business roots were forged at young age in her family business, a large truck stop on 35W & Highway 19 near Northfield, MN, where she learned about customer service and hard work. Annette’s knowledge, expertise and strong work ethic have brought many recruiters to her door, including Costco, who recently named her marketing director. She enjoys managing her 20 employees team at Costco and working with members. Prior to Costco, she served as executive accounts/fleet director for Morries Automotive Group, in spite of the fact that she knew next to nothing about selling cars – much less upscale autos. Annette has experience as a business owner and her diverse career crosses many industries from hospitality to retail. Hruby holds a degree in Sociology from the College of St. Benedict and she is a past board member of the North Hennepin Area Chamber of Commerce.

something for everyone

Join us March 17th for an authentic St. Pat’s Day Celebration!

March 13th & 14th Live Music and $5 Irish Trinity Specials

March 17th St. Pat’s Celebration

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feature story

Unlock the Mystery of Monaco at the 24th Annual Gala! Dine, dance and network with other members, while raising funds for the TwinWest Chamber of Commerce and the TwinWest Foundation Scholarship Program. The TwinWest Gala is a celebration of our members and their dedication to the Chamber. Once again, our hard-working planning committee has set the stage for a fabulous event! The décor will transport guests to Monaco where good times await. The silent auction, sponsorships, marketing, restaurants and caterers, and raffle would not be possible if it weren’t for our extensive and knowledgeable planning committee that makes it all happen. The Gala is the largest annual fundraiser for TwinWest and the Foundation. Not only does TwinWest and the Foundation benefit from participating members, but so do the members! One of the best ways to maximize your membership is to get involved on a committee. Participating on a committee allows you to make new business contacts, gain leadership skills, impact your local community, promote you and your business, build your resume and career, and have fun. As expressed below, these volunteers have found their experience on the Gala committee rewarding and beneficial to their careers. Lisa McDaniel Voyager Bank “I have benefited from my volunteering experience with TwinWest in many ways. I enjoy meeting other members of the community and setting up possible networking referrals. Also, it is a great way to donate my time to the communities that Voyager Bank serves. I have volunteered my

The Gala Committee is just one of many opportunities at TwinWest. We invite you to determine which area interests you most, whether it is in events and programs, economic development, public policy or community development and then take the next step. Get involved with a TwinWest committee and start growing your business today!

TwinWest Directions

time on both the golf committee and gala committee over the last 12 months because of the TwinWest Foundation. Both of these events give proceeds back to the Foundation. It is so wonderful to know that my time helps raise money for students in our area to help with the financial burden of college expenses.” KT Jonas Dale Carnegie Training “In the four years I have participated on the Gala committee, I am amazed at the dedication of the TwinWest volunteers. Everyone comes out in full force–silent and live auction donations, company sponsorship, ticket sales, jewelry raffle, donations, restaurants and caterers, and all the committees working to make this TwinWest’s largest fund-raiser! I am honored to be co-chairing the event this year.” Bev Russell Independent Member “The Gala committee was the first committee I joined after becoming a member eight years ago, and I have been on it ever since! While being on the committee and chairing it for three years, I gained leadership skills and I enjoy the relationships I have developed. I especially enjoy seeing the event’s details come together that night after six months of planning.” Amy Larson Kern, DeWenter, Viere, Ltd. “I have been involved with the Gala planning committee for a number of years, and enjoy the relationships I have built over the years. This year, I decided to take on a leadership role on the committee as the co-chair of the silent auction contributions. As a new member of the Foundation Board, my involvement on the Gala committee directly relates to the mission of the foundation. Funds generated from the Gala support the Foundation’s goal of awarding scholarships to TwinWest area high school students.”

Tony Trout Edina Realty “This is my third year as a member of the gala committee. I work with the silent auction committee and we call on prior sponsors and seek new opportunities with local businesses in our efforts to support the annual fundraiser for TwinWest. It has been a great way to get involved with TwinWest and establish more relationships with members of the chapter. On top of that, it is very rewarding when we find new sponsor opportunities to help the Chamber maintain their budget and provide new opportunities to the cities the Chamber supports.” Chris Hasling Northwestern Mutual “The TwinWest Gala represents the most elegant evening of professional networking. Social networking has contributed greatly to the success of my business, and I have seen others achieve great things through relationships that were started at the Chamber. I feel great about having a small impact on so many people’s business. Education is one of my key values, and the TwinWest Foundation supports education in our community. I feel that the Gala allows me to contribute financially to high school and adult learners in a way that I could never do on my own. Thank you to our committee, member sponsors, and the wonderful Chamber Staff who make the annual Gala a great success!”

Getting Involved with TwinWest Your chamber of commerce offers several straightforward ways to get involved in the business community. Here are a few options for efficiently digesting your TwinWest opportunities: • Contact our lead ambassador, Pamela Muldoon, Next Stage Business. In addition to running TwinWest’s 55-member strong ambassadors group, Pamela sits on the Chamber’s Board of Directors. Pamela Muldoon: tel. (763) 670-7238, e-mail pam@nextstagebusiness.com. •C all TwinWest at (763) 450-2220 and ask to talk directly with one of our staff members. We enjoy helping you chart your path within TwinWest.

• Request a copy of TwinWest’s Member Engagement Guide via e-mail at info@twinwest. com, tel. (763) 450-2220, or get a copy online at http://www.twinwest.com/benefit.html. The guide lists every event and activity available to you at TwinWest. • Attend a TwinWest event. We host nearly a dozen no cost networking events every month. View the calendar in the center section of Directions or visit the online calendar at www.twinwest.com/calendar.html. Member Orientation and Member Talk are both great events for getting to know your Chamber and fellow members.

2009 Gala Volunteer Event Committee

Ms. Robbie L. Douglas Arby’s Catering - St. Louis Park Ms. Jackie Darsow Brunswick Zone Ms. Sarah Wells Citizens Independent Bank - St. Louis Park Mr. Rick Kaufman Cox Insurance Ms. KT Jonas Dale Carnegie Training Mr. Tony Trout Edina Realty Ms. Vanessa Witte FedEx Office - Plymouth Mr. Chris Tahti Freestyle Productions, Inc. Ms. Sherryln Thompson General Mills Mr. Bill Mathes Graham Jewelers Mr. Chris Hasling Northwestern Mutual

Members bid at the 2008 silent auction.

Ms. Sonia Huber Huber Universal Services Mr. Michael Erkes Imprint Gallery Ms. Amy Larson Kern, DeWenter, Viere, Ltd.

celebration! 2008 Gala is a cause for

Ms. Lisa Wilkie LarsonAllen LLP Ms. Cassie Wieberdink Minnesota Twins Ms. Heather Morel Paeonia Floral

Enjoy sw eet and savory se restaurant lections s and cate from loca rers. l

Ms. Bev Russell Independent Member Ms. Tracy Hover Shred Right, a Rohn Industries Company Mr. Ron Curme Sterling Payment Technologies Ms. Karin Khuhro Strategy E-ssentials Ms. Julie Hoff The Whole Learning School Mr. Daniel P. Goldman Twin Realty Investment Co. Ms. Lisa McDaniel Voyager Bank - Minnetonka March 2009

Hopkins State of the City 5:00 – 7:00 p.m. Hopkins Center for the Arts

Monday

March

TwinWest calendar

Tuesday

Crystal/New Hope Business Council 11:45 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. Liberty Diversified Industries

Business Day at the Capitol 8:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. Liberty Diversified Industries

Government Affairs Committee 7:30 – 9:00 a.m. Twin West Chamber office

Plymouth State of the City 7:30 – 9:00 a.m. Plymouth City Hall

Gala Meeting 11:30 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. TwinWest Chamber office

Member Orientation 8:00 – 9:00 a.m. Hampton Inn - Minnetonka

Series Sponsor

Wednesday

St. Louis Park State of the City 7:30 – 9:00 a.m. AAA-St. Louis Park

Thursday

Golden Valley State of the City 7:30 – 9:00 a.m. Golden Valley City Hall

24th Annual Gala 7:00 p.m. – 12:00 a.m. The Northland Inn

Series Sponsor

Emerging Leaders Pre-Gala Networking 5:00 – 7:00 p.m. The Northland Inn

Legislative Breakfast 7:30 – 9:00 a.m. Doubletree Park Place Hotel

Friday

TwinWest calendar proudly brought to you by:

Series Sponsor

1 St. Louis Park Business Council 7:30 – 9:00 a.m. Wolfe Lake Professional Center

Legislative Breakfast 7:30 – 9:00 a.m. Doubletree Park Place Hotel

www.mintahoe.com . 612.253.0255 . events@mintahoe.com

Award-winning custom catering, event planning and memorable, spaces for every occasion!

Apples Catering . Perfect Host Catering . Mintáhoe Beverage Services Picnics Plus . Professional Foodservice . Twin City Casino Nicollet Island Pavilion . Minneapolis Central Library . Minnesota Boat Club . Padelford Riverboats Château at Medicine Lake . Plymouth Creek Center

Member Orientation 8:00 – 9:00 a.m. Hampton Inn - Minnetonka

April

Business Showcase 11:30 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. PostNet Plymouth

event & program details Connect with success at TwinWest’s events and programs—your links to influential people, innovative ideas, and exclusive opportunities.

MARCH tue.

Member Orientation 8:00 – 9:00 a.m.

fri.

TwinWest Chamber of Commerce 24th Annual Gala 7:00 p.m. – 12:00 a.m. The Northland Inn 7025 Northland Drive Brooklyn Park, MN 55428 (763) 536-8300

Hampton Inn - Minnetonka 10420 Wayzata Boulevard Minnetonka, MN 55305 (952) 541-1094

ROI: Dance, sample great food, find fabulous items to bid on in the auction and raise funds for the TwinWest Foundation

Members at a recent orientation

ROI: Learn how to make the most of your investment and get a jump start on networking. To register: No cost to attend. Visit www. twinwest.com or call (763) 450-2220 to register. To get there: From 394, exit on Hopkins Crossroad and go north. Take an immediate right (east) on Wayzata Boulevard (north frontage road) and drive about half a mile. Turn left into the Hampton Inn parking lot. Series sponsor:

To register: Tickets cost $75 plus tax. Purchase ten tickets and receive two free! Purchase tickets online at www.twinwest.com or call (763) 450-2220. To get there: Travel north on Highway 169 to I-694. Go east on I-694 to the Boone Avenue exit. Take a right onto Boone Avenue and another left onto Northland Drive.

fri.

Legislative Breakfast 7:30 – 9:00 a.m.

Plymouth State of the City 7:30 – 9:00 a.m. Plymouth City Hall 3400 Plymouth Blvd. Plymouth, MN 55447

ROI: Hear the latest state of affairs, connect with neighboring businesses, and talk with city leaders. To register: No cost to attend. Visit www. twinwest.com or call (763) 450-2220 to register. To get there: From 494, take highway 55 west. Turn right on Plymouth Blvd. City Hall is on the right.

TwinWest Directions

St. Louis Park State of the City 7:30 – 9:00 a.m. AAA 5400 Auto Club Way St. Louis Park, MN 55416

ROI: Hear the latest state of affairs, connect with neighboring businesses, and talk with city leaders. To register: No cost to attend. Visit www. twinwest.com or call (763) 450-2220 to register. To get there: From highway 100 take Minnetonka Blvd. east. Turn right on Raleigh Avenue.

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Golden Valley State of the City 7:30 – 9:00 a.m. Golden Valley City Hall 7800 Golden Valley Road Golden Valley, MN 55427

Doubletree Park Place Hotel 1500 Park Place Blvd St. Louis Park, MN (952) 542-8600

ROI: Hear the latest state of affairs, connect with neighboring businesses, and talk with city leaders.

ROI: Hear the latest on a timely topic; connect with public officials and regional business leaders

To register: No cost to attend. Visit www. twinwest.com or call (763) 450-2220 to register. To get there: From 169 take highway 55 east. Turn left at Winnetka Avenue. Turn right at Golden Valley Road. City Hall is on the left.

To register: Visit www.twinwest.com or call (763) 450-2220. Member: $30, nonmembers: $40. To get there: From I-394, take the Park Place/Xenia exit. Travel south on Park Place Boulevard and turn right on 16th Street.

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Series sponsor:

mon.

Hopkins State of the City 5:00 – 7:00 p.m.

wed.

PostNet Business Showcase 11:30 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. 3505 Vicksburg Lane N, Suite 900 Plymouth, MN 55447 (763) 559-2700

Hopkins Center for the Arts 1111 Main Street Hopkins, MN 55343 ROI: Hear the latest state of affairs, connect with neighboring businesses, and talk with city leaders. To register: No cost to attend. Visit www. twinwest.com or call (763) 450-2220 to register. To get there: From 169, take Excelsior Blvd. west. Turn right on 11th Avenue south. City Hall is on the corner of 11th Avenue and 1st Street.

ROI: Keep your business efficient and strong by networking at PostNet To register: This is a free event with no need to register; just bring your business cards. To get there: Travel west on Highway 55 to Vicksburg Lane. Take a right onto Vicksburg Lane and a left into the shopping mall parking lot. PostNet is between Old Chicago and Buffalo Wild Wings.

featured event

See You at our 24th Annual Gala! You’re invited to our 24th Annual Gala on Friday, March 13! (See full event details on page 16.) This fun, upscale occasion is TwinWest’s largest social and fundraising event of the year. We encourage all members to attend – and bring your friends, co-workers, neighbors and loved ones. The more, the merrier! Everyone will find something to enjoy during the evening. You can sample sweet and savory selections from some of the finest restaurants and caterers in the west metro area, bid on items that catch your attention in our live and silent auctions, meet and talk with other businesspeople and guests, and dance the night away to the live band, R-Factor, which we’ve brought back by popular demand. Aside from the fun of attending, there are other great reasons and ways to be involved with this event. Funds generated by the Gala will support the next generation of business and community leaders; a portion of the event’s proceeds benefits the TwinWest Foundation, which provides scholarships to local high school and adult students. You also can build your company’s visibility and brand recognition by donating an item for the Gala silent auction. Donating an interesting, unusual or highly valuable item is a good way to get your business noticed, and it may earn you a spot in the evening’s live auction. Here are a few premier live auction items we’ve lined up so far: • 47” LCD, FHD Television and Wii Sport donated by Voyager Bank • Over 100-bottle Wall of Wine donated by the TwinWest Foundation

Thanks To Our Sponsors Platinum

Silver

Bronze

Décor

Design

Farewell

Floral

Host

Ice Sculpture

Lighting

Music

Items can be donated through March 2. Call Victoria Marley, director of events and programs, at (763) 450-2227 for information. Print & Signage

Raffle

Raffle Favor

Gala Restaurants/Caterers

You can purchase a raffle ticket for a chance to win a men’s Tissot T-Touch watch or a women’s custom designed white gold and half carat diamond necklace from Graham Jewelers. Tickets are $10 each, and can be purchased at the Gala or in advance. To purchase raffle tickets now, call the TwinWest office at (763) 450-2220. Reserve the evening of March 13 to join us! See page 16 for details on purchasing your tickets, and visit www.twinwest.com/gala.html for photos from last year and more information.

Arby’s Market Fresh Catering Brunswick Zone Buffalo Wild Wings Chuckwagon Catering Coffee Mill, Inc. Costco Erbert & Gerbert’s Subs Famous Dave’s BBQ, Plymouth Forestedge Winery Girvan Grille at Edinburgh USA Joe Senser’s Sports Theater

Kip’s Irish Pub (Marriott Minneapolis West)

Peg’s Countryside Cafe & Catering Pittsburgh Blue Qdoba Mexican Grill Taher Catering The Northland Inn Town & Country Caterers @ The Reserve

March 2009

$uccess TwinWest column

Cloud Computing – big benefits for small and mid-sized business data, and help desk support. A one-time start up fee per user of about $250/user gets the service running.

Why now? Cloud computing is the result of the increasing availability of broadband Internet access, the advent of software, declining cost of data storage and the abundance of managed service providers with commercial data center facilities. Downside of changing There is user training associated with the change to cloud computing, but due to the similarity with a user’s current desktop, training is shortlived. Another downside of changing is that the end user’s desktop background may not be customizable. Frequently asked questions pertain to Internet connections, DSL and data security. It’s been my experience that a service provider can typically protect data better than SMB customers themselves.

What’s the Buzz About? Using PCs and PC Servers for personal and business productivity is nothing new. What is changing is how small and mid-sized businesses (SMBs) are saving money by using those machines differently. Total cost of ownership (TCO) for PCs and PC servers is comprised of: - Hardware/Software Purchase - On Site Support - Hardware/Software Deployment - Software Upgrades - User Training - Software Patch Deployment - Warranty - Disposal Costs - Help Desk Support - Lost Productivity From Downtime Experts say that TCO for HP, IBM, or Sun servers is at least $8,000 per month, with the majority of costs in lost productivity from server downtime. My own research in the SMB market reveals similar findings. TCO for a single PC is between $2,000 and up to $8,000 per year, with lost revenue and productivity associated with down time ranking high on the list of costs. The

TwinWest Directions

range in costs is attributable to the complexity of software applications, whether data is regularly backed up, how often anti-virus and software gets updated, support and the level of training in place for end users and support personnel. These estimates don’t include the risk associated with lost data. As mobility of PC users increases, risk of lost/stolen data rises. Enter cloud computing. The concept is simple: instead of building infrastructure with servers and PCs and software on those machines, you pay for the applications you need as a “service” on a per user basis. Connection to the service generally is through a secure broadband Internet connection. With cloud computing, a service provider owns the servers, data storage equipment and software applications and rents or owns commercial data center space to house it all. The PC connecting to the service needs only an operating system and the Internet connection is secured with encryption and user name and password authentication. Service providers charge a flat monthly fee for applications, storage and protection (backup) of

Benefits of changing The benefits of cloud computing architecture vs. building internal infrastructure include: •Predictable IT Budget •Decreased capital expense •Decreased ongoing expense •Decreased risk •Improved mobility •Improved productivity Joe Nemastil is a principal with The NT Group, LLC. The NT Group, LLC performs IT consulting for small and mid-sided firms and is a manufacturer’s representative for a variety of IT and communications technologies. Joe can be reached at 612-2792160 www.thentgroup. com.

Share your expertise and receive free business exposure! TwinWest members are invited to submit articles for this column to stacy@celpr. com. Articles should provide concrete business advice; target length is 650-750 words. Call Stacy Slygh at (763) 559-6058 with questions.

community briefings

Ranking of #1 Best Place to Live in America energizes Plymouth What happens after Money Magazine ranks your city as the top place to live in America? According to Plymouth City Manager Laurie Ahrens, “you enhance the recognized attributes!” In some ways, being recognized as the best place to live doesn’t change what the City of Plymouth has been doing all along: careful planning; collaboration and partnerships; open and responsive government; thoughtful and visionary planning for park, trail and open spaces; a focus on public safety, community building and respect for the environment. In many ways, the Plymouth employees’ values statement sums it up: “Striving for excellence in leadership and teamwork through: quality, collaboration, integrity, growth and service.” Laurie Ahrens says, “Focusing on these values is what made Plymouth a #1 City and will help it continue to improve.” Money Magazine noted that the Plymouth community has great jobs, schools, recreation and a variety of housing stock in many price ranges. This shows that there are many organizations that make the city a winner: the school districts, the

businesses, Three Rivers Park District, community service organizations and Hennepin County are all important to the quality of life there. Neighboring cities and other partners in community-building have generously praised and congratulated Plymouth for receiving this honor. Citizens have been outspoken on their opinions on why the city is number one: “The parks, the lakes, the people…it’s second to none.” Jared Justensen, 9-year resident “My husband and I have been here a long time and we love the way the city has grown and matured.” Heidi Fokken, 17-year resident If you’re driving through Plymouth, you’ve seen #1 Best Place to Live banners hanging throughout the city. Businesses are proudly displaying Best Place to Live window clings distributed by the Mayor and City Council members. Mayor Kelli Slavik is thrilled with the award and the excitement it has generated throughout the community. “Plymouth did not seek this award,” she said. “The people in this community have simply focused their efforts on building a place that families and businesses want to call home. The City Council

and City staff members are delighted to see those widespread, ongoing community efforts recognized nationally.” Where does Plymouth go from here? According to City Manager Ahrens, Plymouth will continue to strive to be a community with the best quality of life, whether they’re recognized for it again or not. She says, “There is always room for improvement.” For more information, visit www.ci.plymouth. mn.us.

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March 2009

Chamber news

Congratulations to Matt Schadow, AmeriStar Agency winner of the January 2009 TwinWest Superstar Award Matt has been such an influential TwinWest member. He is one of the founding members of the Emerging Leaders Council and also chaired the committee in 2006 and 2007. With his leadership and direction, the Emerging Leaders program has grown to become the prominent program it is today.

Currently, Matt serves on the TwinWest Foundation Board of Directors and on its Finance Sub-committee. He is a valued leader of the Foundation in its mission to raise funds and grant scholarship awards to graduating high school seniors and working adults within the TwinWest region.

Matt also served on the Small Business Awards Luncheon committee for three years, again taking a leadership role as committee chair in 2006 and 2007. Matt’s ability to focus on the details while keeping the big picture in mind was key to the success of the event.

We are so thankful Matt has chosen to share his time and talents with us. Thank you, Matt, for all your hard work and dedication to TwinWest!

Whenever something needs to be done, Matt is one of the first ones to step forward and volunteer to do it. He is well respected by his peers and is a great asset to TwinWest.

Business Day at the Capitol On Wednesday, March 18, you can connect with more than 800 business leaders from across the state at the Minnesota Chamber’s Business Day at the Capitol. It’s the largest business lobbying day in Minnesota. Business leaders from across the state congregate in St. Paul to show grass roots support and commitment to issues affecting their businesses’ economic security.

economy. Your participation as a TwinWest member is important to this work.

This is your chance to discuss your priorities face to face with your local legislators and hear from legislative leaders and Governor Pawlenty. In recent years, the business community has presented a united front on major issues, which has been the key to success in Minnesota’s

Save the date for the Small Business Awards luncheon! Save the Date: May 21 Small Business Awards Luncheon New Venue!: Doubletree Hotel Park Place Join Fox 9 News anchor Jeff Passolt on Thursday, May 21 at one of TwinWest’s most popular annual events! At the 2009 Small Business Awards Luncheon, we’ll announce the 2009 Entrepreneur and Emerging Entrepreneur of the Year award winners and celebrate all of the finalists and their accomplishments. We will hear an inspiring message from our keynote speaker, Bahram Akradi, founder and CEO of LifeTime Fitness, Inc. You’ll also have the chance to meet and mingle with tomorrow’s leaders - local high school seniors receiving college scholarships from the TwinWest Foundation. For sponsorship details and registration information, read upcoming issues of Directions and Snapshot (TwinWest’s weekly e-newsletter) or call TwinWest at (763) 450-2220.

Business Day at the Capitol Wednesday, March 18 8:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. Meet at TwinWest Chamber office at 8:00 a.m. 10700 Old County Road 15, Suite 170 Plymouth, MN 55441

Thank you to Liberty Diversified Industries for being our transportation sponsor. 2008 Small Business Award Luncheon

2008 Small Business Award Luncheon

TwinWest Directions

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new & renewing members NEW MEMBERS Welcome New Members! New members are printed in each issue of Directions. Following is a list of businesses or individuals who have invested in the greater community by joining the TwinWest Chamber of Commerce. Please support these businesses when making purchases and business decisions. Our Membership Directory, listing all Chamber members in alphabetical order, by category, and by individual representatives, is published each year. For the most upto-date information, you can use our searchable online member directory at www.twinwest.com. If you are a current member, you may update your records online. Want to become a member? Call (763) 450-2220.

:coderow COMPUTERS-CONSULTING SERVICES 333 Washington Avenue North Suite 300 Minneapolis, MN 55401 Ms. Kelly Heikkila Aero Systems Engineering, Inc. MANUFACTURERS 13825 Schmidt Lake Road Plymouth, MN 55446 Mr. David Myren Associated Bank - Bloomington BANKS 7760 France Avenue South Suite 125 Bloomington, MN 55435 Ms. Janet Dupre Baza Medical Fitness PHYSICIANS 5270 West 84th Street Suite 500 Bloomington, MN 55437 Dr. Michael Baza, MD Erickson Mediation Institute MEDIATION & DISPUTE RESOLUTION SERVICES 3600 American Boulevard West Suite 105 Minneapolis, MN 55431 Ms. Jill E. Goldstein Liberty Mutual - Belle Plaine INSURANCE 315 North Chestnut Street Belle Plaine, MN 56011 Mr. Edward Conley The Marketing Department MARKETING 186 Westwood Lane South Wayzata, MN 55391 Mr. Paul Norell Rainbow Pest Experts EXTERMINATING & FUMIGATING 11571 K-Tel Drive Minnetonka, MN 55343 Mr. Mike Misk Schinkel, Douglas - Mortgages Unlimited MORTGAGES 9817 Lee Drive Eden Prairie, MN 55347 Mr. Douglas A. Schinkel

TwinWest Directions

Sicora, Inc. REMODELING CONTRACTORS 2840 Ottawa Avenue South St. Louis Park, MN 55416 Mr. Tom Sicora Soulo Communications ADVERTISING 2112 Broadway Street North East Suite 200 Minneapolis, MN 55413 Mr. Thomas Heller VMSC Corporation COMPUTERS-CONSULTING SERVICES 8305 Franklin Avenue St. Louis Park, MN 55426 Mr. Vinay Mehta Wayzata Bar & Grill / Wine & Spirits RESTAURANTS 810 Superior Boulevard Wayzata, MN 55391 Ms. Gina Holman Weber Johnson Public Affairs, LLC PUBLIC RELATIONS 235 East 6th Street Suite 400A St. Paul, MN 55101 Mr. Greg Johnson

6-10 Years Americana Community Bank AmeriPride Services eQuality - Pathways to Potential Health Partners BC Medical Clinic Homeward Bound, Inc. HTG Architects Minnesota Mailing Solutions NOW Care Medical Centers, Inc. Paychex T.G.I. Friday’s TCF Financial Corporation The Tegra Group VISI Incorporated Wessels & Pautsch, P.C.

1-5 Years “STAT” First Aid Alerus Financial American Family Insurance Binary Web Design, LLC Burl Oaks Golf Club, Inc. Choices Psychotherapy, Ltd. Colonial Life - Plymouth ev3, Inc. Geeks on Call - TC West Great River Energy

RENEWING MEMBERS

Congratulations to the following members who have recently celebrated their membership anniversaries. These members are part of a continued commitment to our communities through their investment in the TwinWest Chamber.

25+ Years AAA Minneapolis CenterPoint Energy Coffee Mill, Inc. Minneapolis Mart Xcel Energy

21-24 Years Hopkins, City of Lurie Besikof Lapidus & Company, LLP Toshiba Business Solutions

16-20 Years Benefits Design Group, Inc. Data Recognition Corporation Northwest Community Television

11-15 Years Ace Electrical Contractors Bavender Custom Clothiers Cummings, Keegan & Co., P.L.L.P. Famous Dave’s - Minnetonka The HoneyBaked Ham Company Memorial Blood Centers

TwinWest Champions Thanks to the following people for referring new members to TwinWest. We appreciate their efforts to spread the word to others in their network about the benefits of chamber membership. Kelly Guncheon – Principal Financial Group

If you know of someone whose business might benefit from TwinWest membership, please ask them to contact Jacqui Sauter at (763) 450-2228 or jacqui@twinwest.com, or let us know how we might get in touch with them.

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last glance

Member Event Photos TwinWest members are actively involved in our events and programs. Whether our members are networking, developing plans for TwinWest events, taking charge of their professional development, or new to the Chamber, we are proud to post photos of our members getting a return on their member investment.

Member Orienataion on January 7, 2009. From left to right: John Francis, PostNet - Plymouth location; Carolyn Ball, LA Fitness International LLC - Hopkins; Mandy Ferris, Caribou Coffee - Highway 6 & 101; Sam Warrick, Comcast Business Services; Nick Herrild, Caribou Coffee - Highway 6 & 101.

Member Orienataion on January 7, 2009. From left to right: Thomas Heller, Soulo Communications; Doug Snyder, Soulo Communications; Lynnsey Jepsen, HealthSource of Plymouth; Courtney Paulsen, HealthSource of Plymouth; Paul Norell, The Marketing Department.

Overtime at Anchor Bank-Wayzata with the Greater Wayzata Area Chamber of Commerce on January 21, 2009.

Member Orienataion on January 7, 2009. From left to right: Adam Cederstrom, Comcast Spotlight Cable Advertising; Heather Hartley, Comcast Spotlight Cable Advertising; Tina Smith, Toll Brothers; Julie Lintvedt, Toll Brothers; Charlie Goldstein, Goldstein Law Office; Brent Elswick, Goldstein Law Office.

Member Orienataion on January 7, 2009. From left to right: SFC Thomas E. Frantz, US Army Career Center - St. Louis Park; Don Crain, Jan-Pro Cleaning Systems - Twin Cities; Jules Inda, Carney Group; Tracy Reidy, Staples - Minnetonka; Kelly Heikkila, :coderow.

Ribbon Cutting at Girvan Grille, Edinburgh USA on January 22, 2009.

JOIN THE CHAMBER!

Leadership TwinWest Media Session at WCCO-TV on January 14, 2009.

TwinWest Directions

Emerging Leaders Speed Networking at Kipâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Irish Pub on January 13, 2009.

If youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re not a TwinWest Chamber member, you can learn more about our organization at www.twinwest.com, or contact our regional sales director: Jacqui Sauter, (763) 450-2228/ jacqui@twinwest.com. We will be happy to help you explore how you can use the chamber to accomplish your professional goals!

We We golf golf at at New New Hope Hope Village Village Golf Golf Course... Course...

Registrations for for new new members members Registrations begins April April 11 in in these these New New Hope Hope begins Village Golf Golf Course Course leagues: leagues: Village

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Why Why not not join join us? us?

New NewHope HopeVillage VillageGolf GolfCourse Course8130 8130Bass BassLake LakeRoad Road763-531-5178 763-531-5178

Fee Fee––  $20 $20league leaguefee fee($40 ($40for forCouples Couples League), League),plus plusweekly weeklygreens greensfees fees

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1256 Hennepin Ave. S, Minneapolis 612-746-5444 www.rapidrefill.com

is pleased to present...

Joey Larson (formerly Schmitt) Branch Manager • Office: 763-557-0700 • 2655 Campus Drive, Plymouth, MN 55441

joey.larson@associatedbank.com

Please call me to schedule an appointment!

Finding knowledgeable advise and personal service is an important part of our banking strategy. Associated Bank is committed to providing you with expertise you can count on through professional financial representatives like Joey Larson with more than 20 years of experience in the banking and investment industries. Joey is available to answer your questions and guide you through your banking and investment choices based on your financial goals and objectives. Associated Bank is one of the Midwest’s Premier (SBA) lenders with over 300 branches. With the personal service of a community bank, Associated is driven by our commitment to meet the needs of our customers by offering a wide array of financial services and products.

• Personal and Business Checking Accounts • Personal and Business Loans and Lines of Credit • Savings and Money Market Accounts and Certificates of Deposit

• IRA - Retirement Accounts & 401K rollover services • HSA - Health Savings Accounts • Investments (Annuities and mutual funds) offered thru Associated Wealth Management

Securities are offered by associated investment services, Inc. (“AIS”), member NASD and SIPC, d/b/a/ Associated Investment Services Group, Inc. in Minnesota.* Insurance products are offered by licensed agents of Associated Financial Group, L.L.C. (“AFG”).*Fiduciary, administrative and planning services are provided by Associated Trust Company, N.A. (“ATC”). Investment management services ares provided to ATC by Associated Investment Management, LLC (“AIM”).*Securities and insurance products offered are NOT deposits or obligations of, insured or guaranteed by Associated Banc-Corp (“AB-C”) or any bank or affiliate, are NOT insured by the FDIC or any agency of the United States, and involve INVESTMENT RISK, including POSSIBLE LOSS OF VALUE. *AIS,AFT, ATC, AND AIM ARE ALL AFFILIATES OF AB-C* Associated Wealth Management is a marketing name AB-C uses for products and services offered by AIS, AFG and ATC Services.

w w w. a s s o c i a t e d b a n k . c o m

We are an HP Business Partner specializing in HP servers, thin clients, and workstations. Other specializations include Microsoft, Linux, Open Source, VMWare,

BUSINESS RESOURCE DIRECTORY Project1 10/14/05 1:31 PM ATTORNEYS

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BANKS

Henningson & Snoxell, Ltd. Attorneys 6900 Wedgwood Road, Suite 200 Maple Grove, MN 55311-3541 (763) 560-5700 Fax: (763) 560-0119 www.hennsnoxlaw.com

Clients come first in our law firm. We are dedicated to understanding the needs and protecting the rights of our clients. We provide high quality legal representation in a professional, yet friendly and compassionate atmosphere. We value our relationships with our clients and the confidence they have in our ability to represent their best interests.

YOUR MARKET Members doing business with members – That’s the TwinWest Way!

YOUR MARKET

Call Mariah Hendrickson at 952-846-2042 to advertise in the next issue of Directions.

YOUR MARKET

COMPUTERSCONSULTING SERVICES

901 N 3rd St Suite 332 Minneapolis, MN 55401

5000 West 36th Street St. Louis Park, MN 55416

At your service.

Since 1950 Citizens Independent Bank has offered a full range of financial products and services for business and personal needs. As our name reflects, we are independently owned, responsive and deeply committed to our customers and the communities we serve.

St. Louis Park • Robbinsdale • Hopkins • Plymouth bankcib.com • 952-926-6561 • Fax: 952-926-0609

PAYROLL SERVICES Payroll Control Systems

Bob Willbanks, Sales and Marketing Manager 6040 Earle Brown Drive, Suite 250 Minneapolis, MN 55430 (763) 513-5951 Fax: (763) 513-5968 Cell: (612) 298-1176 Payroll Control Systems strives to be the provider of choice for businesses and organizations that want quality, value-added solutions for their payroll processing and human resource systems.