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CHAMBER TO HOLD COUNTY
COMMISSIONER CANDIDATE FORUM
The SouthWest Metro Chamber of
Commerce is pleased to
announce that they will hold a candidate forum for District 1 and
District 3
County Commissioner Candidates on July 28, 2010 from 11:30 a.m. to 1:00
p.m. at the University
of Minnesota Landscape Arboretum
in the MacMillan Auditorium. Seating is limited and reservations are
required. This event will take place during the SouthWest Metro Chamber
of Commerce monthly member luncheon and Chamber members will be given
priority. Chamber members may attend the event for $20; others will be
charged $25 per person. The primary vote will be held on August 10th.
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Welcome to our new members!
Accolent Mediation
Workplace Mediation 208 North
Broadway Carver, MN 55315 952-368-4452 AT Business Consulting
Business
Consultants
3492 Westridge Drive Shakopee, MN 55379 952-594-1184
Artistry Dance Productions Dance Schools & Studios 550 Market Street Chanhassen, MN 55317 952-270-5917 Carpet Specialists
Flooring P.O. Box 84 Victoria, MN 55386 612-799-4969 Custom Intercept Solutions Information
Technologies
10 Second Street
NE Minneapolis, MN 55413 612-836-4865
Excel Auto & Tire Automobile Repair & Service 60 Lake Drive East Chanhassen, MN 55317
952-358-3535 Gildor Consulting, LLC Business Consultants 1990 Siefert Street Chaska, MN 55318 952-934-6065 Kylemore Consulting Accounting & Tax Services 1797 Park Ridge Drive Chaska, MN 55318 612-554-9637
Minnesota School of Business 1200 Shakopee Town Square Shakopee, MN 55379 952-345-1200
Profile Properties Commercial & Residential Real Estate 14175 122nd Street Norwood/Young America, MN
55368 612-804-2218
Wells Fargo
Investments Financial Advisors & Investments 90 South 7th Street
Minneapolis, MN 55402
612-316-1148
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River City Days
Business
& Health Expo
Saturday, July 24th, 10am-3pm
City Square Park,
Chaska
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Congratulations to Brad!
Brad Gruhot in Membership Development at the SouthWest Metro Chamber has won the Minnesota Chamber of Commerce Executives (MCCE) Sales Excellence Award for top individual sales in the chamber budget category for the year! Winning the award is a great accomplishment. It is a testament to Brad's hard work and dedication here at the chamber. Congratulations Brad!
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2010 Golf Classic
The 2010 SouthWest Metro Chamber of Commerce Golf
Classic was held last week at Deer Run in Victoria. The event was a great
success and we look forward to hosting it again next year. A special thanks to
our golfers and our sponsors. See below for a few of the
pictures.
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Chaska
Lakes Chiropractic & Rehab Ribbon-Cutting
The
Southwest Metro Chamber of Commerce and its ambassadors helped Chaska Lakes
Chiropractic & Rehab open its doors on June 1st.
Drs. Kyle Traynor and Charley Hausman both come from a Midwest
background, and have a sincere appreciation for the people and families who
reside here. "Dr. Charley and I are excited about meeting and
serving this community and the communities of southwest Minnesota, while working
with them to ensure their present and future health." stated Traynor. Traynor
went on to say that while chiropractic care is the foundation of their practice,
they will also be providing other services such as massage therapy, nutrition,
wellness care, sports care, auto injury care, work comp, and rehabilitation. Call
Chaska Lakes Chiropractic & Rehab today at (952) 479-7297 to schedule an
appointment, or you can check them out on their website at: www.chaskalakeschiro.com.
Identities
of individuals on picture reading left to right: Terry
Traynor, Phyllis Bostrom, Linda Traynor, Gino Businaro-Chaska City Council,
Charley Hausman-owner, Dr. Kyle Traynor-owner, Robin Fink-Security Bank-Chaska,
Morgan Traynor, Matt Podhrodsky-Chaska City Administrator, Kristin Symes,
(Carter Symes and Elle Symes - in front), Melissa Carlson- Community
Bank-Chaska, Bart Fischer-Chaska Assistant City Administrator, Dee
Moore-Advanced Advisor Group.
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Expand your Market - Export!
If
you have a website, you business could be global! Did you know many businesses get inquiries
from businesses or people outside the United States and don't follow up on the
request because they just aren't sure how to ship their product or how to get
paid for it once it was shipped? Here
are a couple of statistics from the U. S. Chamber to consider:
- 95% of the
world's consumers are outside of the United States
- 30% of
exports are services-legal, engineering, architectural and financial to
name just a few.
- 42% of all
businesses that export have 19 or fewer employees
- Only 1% of
small businesses are currently exporting
- American
products are still in great demand
- Exporting
provides thousands of good American jobs
Can
your business expand through exporting goods or services? It may very well be worth a look. If you are thinking about exploring the
global market, here are some resources available through the Minnesota Trade
Office to help you get started.
Ed
Dieter, Executive Director of the Minnesota Trade Office recently addressed a
group of business leaders and provided some strategies for getting started.
The Minnesota Trade office has a library
that contains information and statistics designed to aid you in your research
to determine if your business can benefit from exporting.
The Minnesota Trade office has nine
International Trade Representatives who understand, in depth, how to do
business in various countries and will provide counseling and technical
assistance.
The Trade office hosts a class, Export Essentials, which provides
basic exporting information. This class
will provide guidance on whether your product or service is exportable, if you
need a distributor, how to get your product shipped and how to get paid.
US Chamber of Commerce www.uschamber.com/trade
Canadian Consulate
www.canadainternational.gc.ca/minneapolis
Minnesota
Trade Office
www.exportminnesota.com
651-259-7498
SouthWest Metro Chamber
www.swmetrochamber.com 952-448-5000
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Business Highlights
June
Ambassadors
Bob Mechtal, Promolink
Melissa Carlson, Community Bank-Chaska
Susan Duchon, Minnesota
Publishing
Robin Fink, Security Bank-Chaska
Jerry Little, PostNet
Gwen Jansen -
Carver County Workforce
Nancy Madsen - Klein Bank
Kyle Traynor - Chaska
Lakes Chiropractic and Rehab.
Craig Ramsey, Financial Resources
Dee
Moore, Advanced Advisor Group
Sean Van Pelt, First Payment
Systems
The SouthWest Metro Chamber of
Commerce Ambassadors met the following businesses:
Victoria Mental Health
1600
Arboretum Blvd., Suite 211 Victoria, MN 55386 952-443-3970
Greg Walsh - Owner
Private practice mental
health counseling and performance enhancement. Greg works with children ages 4
and up, adolescents and adults. Greg provides individual, couples and family
counseling and has 19 years of experience in providing mental health
services.
Mr. Handyman of the SouthWest Metro
1600 Arboretum Blvd., Suite 203
P.O. Box 072
Victoria, MN 55386
952-679-3170
Gary
Alick - Owner
Professional repair and maintenance services for
your home or business; licensed residential contractor with State of Minnesota;
accredited business with BBB; fully insured. Registered Minnesota Healthcare
Programs Provider (MHCP).
Cabin Fever
1550 Arboretum Blvd.
P.O. Box 70
Victoria, MN 55386
952-443-2022
Jeff Byrne -
Owner
www.cabinfevermn.com
Full service sporting goods store featuring live bait,
tackle, new, used and consignment firearms, archery department with indoor
shooting lanes with bow techs on hand.
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State college system makes advances in serving customers
By David C.
Olson
Today's economy has placed unprecedented pressures on
Minnesota businesses. Companies of all sizes and types are forced to become
more efficient and innovative in delivering their products and services.
Their employees must excel in a global marketplace.
Similar challenges
confront the public sector, especially in the state's
higher ed systems. I
witnessed those firsthand during my service on the Minnesota State Colleges
and Universities Board of Trustees, including the past three years as board
chair. As I leave the board, I'm pleased to report that the system is
increasingly responsive to the changing needs of its customers - students and
businesses alike. Strengthening the link between higher education and
businesses was at the forefront of my initiatives.
Minnesota's economy is
at a crossroads. The pool of workers is shrinking as the state's population
ages. At the same time, students of color and low-income students - an
important source of workers - are challenged to pursue higher
education.
The state's colleges and universities have stepped to the
plate in three
avenues - accessibility, affordability and accountability. Our
initiatives
are essential ingredients to Minnesota's economic
livelihood.
Accessibility - In 2007, three college access and
opportunity
centers were established, aimed at improving high school
graduation and college participation among students of color and other
underrepresented groups. In 2009, the system recognized six college and
university programs for exceptional accomplishment in diversity leadership,
programming and services - the first time these awards had been presented.
Also in 2009, the system's materials and websites became available in English
and eight other languages. The result: In fall 2009, enrollment of new
students from groups traditionally underrepresented in higher ed increased by
22 percent.
Affordability - For the 2008-09 academic year, the
board held
tuition increases to 2 percent at community and technical colleges
and 3 percent at universities - sending a powerful message to students its
concern about the cost of education. In 2008, pilot projects at six schools
sought to find ways to lower textbook costs for students. In 2009, the
board redirected funds to buy down the 2009 tuition increase, minimizing
the impact on students.
Accountability - Employers and
prospective students now have the
ability to view the ratings and compare the
performance of schools in the system following the 2008 launch of the Board
of Trustees Accountability Dashboard. Also in 2008, the system achieved all
five performance goals set by the Governor and Legislature including
increasing enrollment of students taking college courses in science,
technology and math. The board, for the first time, implemented a performance
pay model for college and university presidents and vice chancellors. Lastly,
during six months in 2008-09, presidents and system leaders visited more than
350 businesses to further a goal of enhancing the state's economic
competitiveness. Despite the economic
downturn, business leaders
overwhelmingly identified an insufficient supply of education and skilled
workers as the primary barrier to companies' long-term growth.
These
initiatives, and many more, have made their mark as witnessed by steady
increases in enrollment. More students attended classes in fall 2009 than
ever before, resulting in the largest increase in students since the system
began. Overall enrollment now approaches 200,000, up nearly 7 percent from
the previous year. It was the fourth consecutive year that fall enrollment
set a record high.
Online learning has increased as well to accommodate
the schedules and needs of students. Approximately 66,000 students, or 26
percent of all credit system students, are enrolled in at least one online
course. The system, in conjunction with Gov. Tim Pawlenty, announced in 2008
a goal to have 25 percent of all system credits earned through online courses
by 2015, up from 9..2 percent in the 2007-08 academic years.
Our work
is not done. The Minnesota Chamber of Commerce, the state's largest and most
effective business advocacy organization, seeks to maximize the state's
investment in higher education to educate and prepare the workforce to meet
the new economy.
Minnesota must strategically invest in "the public"
rather than "public
institutions." More money should be targeted to those
programs that
distribute resources directly to the consumers to give them
access to the higher ed opportunity that best fits their
needs.
Funding must be more transparent. The Legislature should
separate
appropriations for student subsidies, institutional support and
research.
Minnesota has a rich history of supporting research through
state
appropriations, and that's important. However, given the limited
resources, citizens should have the ability to see where the money goes to
evaluate the state's postsecondary priorities.
The higher ed system
must join the effort to make our K-12 public schools more effective.
Resources, already scare within the system and among customers, are stretched
even further due to the demands of remedial learning. The system should join
businesses and communities of color in their fight to close the achievement
gap and reduce the need for remedial education.
Building a quality
workforce is essential to a vibrant economy, and our
state's colleges and
universities play a vital role in that effort. The
Minnesota Chamber is
committed to strengthening that partnership as we all work together to create
and keep jobs in Minnesota. To that end, the state college system is well
positioned to continue working closely with the business community. My
successor as board chair is Scott Thiss of Edina. He also served as chair of
the Minnesota Chamber Board of Directors from 2003-04.
Businesses
continually look for improvements and increased efficiencies as a part of
improving customer service and remaining competitive. It's gratifying to see
the state's colleges and universities embracing a
similar mind-set.
David Olson is president of the Minnesota Chamber of
Commerce. For more information, visit the Web at www.mnchamber.com.
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