Jen Anderson is the owner of LOTUS Wellness for Women in Spirit Lake.

Local woman entrepreneur enhances lives for other women

SPIRIT LAKE - "Massage is not just a spa treatment, and yoga is not just a workout," is the motto of Jen Anderson of Spirit Lake, owner of LOTUS Wellness for Women. "Massage therapy and yoga have many benefits that are the catalyst for positive change; mentally, physically and emotionally," said Anderson. She specializes in massage, bodywork, Reiki and yoga for every woman at every stage of life. These treatments have deep health benefits that can change lives. This is known all too well for Anderson.

For three years, Anderson and her husband tried to get pregnant. They underwent extensive infertility treatments, but to no avail. After two years, Anderson thought, "I can't do this to my body anymore!" So she stopped taking the treatments and began researching alternative methods. She went to Reiki Master Melanie Williams in Mankato, Minn., where she began Reiki treatments. Reiki is a non-invasive approach to working with the body's energy. It involves light touches such as acupressure, and balances the energy in the body, putting the person in a deeply relaxed state.  

Soon enough, Anderson was pregnant, without fertility medications. A few months into her pregnancy, she was put on bed rest. During this time she did self-Reiki, and now has five-month-old "miracle baby" Eve.  

Massage, yoga and Reiki "absolutely changed my life," said Anderson. "I want to help women with their wellness goals." Anderson is the only person in the State of Iowa certified in MotherMassage®. This involves the care of a woman starting with her first trimester through labor and postpartum recovery. Due to her personal experience with pregnancy, Anderson has even developed a special in-home treatment that is safe and appropriate for pregnant women on bed rest. She also does infant massage that helps with the baby's growth, coordination and circulation. Parents learn techniques to do the massages at home. The massage becomes a bonding tool to use between baby and parent.  

Anderson operates LOTUS Wellness for Women out of her home in Spirit Lake, and is available Tuesdays and Thursdays, and one Saturday a month. "I love what I do, and it fits in well with being a Mommy," said Anderson. She also teaches Goddess Yoga at Yoga Okoboji on Sundays.  

Anderson has launched her brand new Web site, www.lotuswellnessforwomen.com. Visit the Web site for more information and to contact Anderson. She can also be contacted at lotuswellness@live.com and at 712-330-3472.  

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The Iowa Lakes Corridor is proud to announce the launch of the Women in Business Club. Qualifications for joining are that you are a woman who owns her own business and that you want to meet with other women in business to share ideas, challenges, successes and grow professional relationships.

Those interested in joining should contact Pat McGill, at 712-332-2965, patmcgill@mchsi.com or Jean Tennant at 712-490-5165. Women from throughout the Corridor region are encouraged to attend these meetings.

Report based on 252 business responses in Corridor region

SPENCER - The Iowa Lakes Corridor has recently released a Fringe Benefit Profile that was compiled by the Regional Research and Analysis Bureau, a division of Iowa Workforce Development. IWD worked with the Employers' Council of Iowa to contact a random sample of employers in all industries and employment ranges throughout the Iowa Lakes Corridor region; 485 businesses were contacted, and 252 responses were provided.  

Fringe benefit surveys are commonly used as an economic development tool. The Corridor believes the information obtained from the survey is vital to existing and potential business. The results from the survey will help existing businesses as they plan to adjust their benefit packages. It is a good resource that shows common trends among similar-sized businesses. The survey is also used as a tool for business attraction. Potential businesses use the information to figure what benefits to include in a package as well as amount to pay.  

The results of the survey are detailed by four benefit categories: insurance, paid leave, retirement and additional benefit offerings. Highlights from the study include 63.5 percent of employers in the Corridor region offer a fringe benefit package in addition to wage compensation and 8.4 percent of employers offering a benefits package are union negotiated. The average hours worked to be considered full-time is 38 hours per week.  

Health/medical insurance is a key part of fringe benefit packages and more than 50 percent of the employers offer a plan to their employees, nearly 100 percent of them to their full-time employees and over 15 percent offer to their part-time employees. These statistics are higher than those reported in the 2006 fringe benefit profile, where 77 percent provided health/medical insurance to their full-time employees and only 9.5 percent offered to their part-time employees.  Another significant difference between the 2006 and 2010 profiles is the percent of total payroll applied toward health/medical insurance - the average is now 18.9 percent compared to 9.9 percent in 2006.   

 "This is likely due to the increased cost of health insurance, as many have experienced rises in premium costs over the past few years, as well as the percentage of the premium employers are paying," said Kathy Evert, president and CEO of the Iowa Lakes Corridor Development Corporation. "The good news is that employers are providing insurance and other offerings in their fringe benefits packages which will retain and attract employees to the region."

The digital version of the Fringe Benefit Profile can be downloaded here. Hard copies can be obtained at the Corridor's office, 1900 Grand Ave. N, Ste E12, Spencer.

STORM LAKE - Have you ever thought of starting a food business? Do you have a favorite family recipe you would like to bring to the marketplace? Are you a producer considering adding value to an agricultural product? Maybe you are a restaurateur or chef exploring the marketing of a house specialty. Or perhaps you've been selling your product at farmers markets and want to expand your market.

According to Jill Gifford, manager of the University of Nebraska Food Processing Center Food Entrepreneur Assistance Program, this is a description of many of the individuals that participate in the program. "Since 1989 the Food Entrepreneur Assistance Program has helped hundreds of entrepreneurs throughout the United States investigate and realize their dream of starting a food business," explained Gifford. The Iowa Lakes Corridor has contracted with the University of Nebraska to bring this program to entrepreneurs in Iowa for the third time.    

"The program was designed specifically to assist food manufacturing entrepreneurs," said Kathy Evert, President and CEO of the Iowa Lakes Corridor. "It begins with a one-day 'From Recipe to Reality' seminar that provides entrepreneurs with an understanding of the key factors that need to be considered when starting a food manufacturing business. In one day, entrepreneurs will gain valuable insight on the basics of starting a food business that could take them months or even years to research on their own. We are very excited to be able to provide this valuable seminar to entrepreneurs in Iowa."    

Mike and Tammi Heuck of Everly have taken the Food Seminar Course. They took Tammi's family recipe for glazed pickles and created TAMS Glazed Bites. "As first time Food Entrepreneurs, my husband and I did not have a clear plan as to what direction to go in to bring our product to reality," said Tammi. "But thanks to the Iowa Lakes Corridor for holding a Food Entrepreneur Seminar with the University of Nebraska, we came home from the seminar with a clear idea on what we needed to do to move forward. The whole experience we've gone through with both the University and the Iowa Lakes Corridor could not have gone any better. They've made our journey one that has gone very smoothly and has been enjoyable too. With their professional insight and assistance, we credit them for where we are today."  

"From Recipe to Reality" will be offered in Storm Lake on Saturday, March 5, 8 a.m.-5 p.m., at King's Pointe Resort. Early registration is encouraged due to limited space. The Food Entrepreneur Assistance Program information packet and registration form can be downloaded here. For more information, contact Holly at the Corridor via email or at 712-264-3474.

Each student accepted will receive a Business Horizons scholarship (valued at $750) provided by an Iowa business, organization, or individual to pay for most of the cost of delivering the Business Horizons program. Students pay only $275 (if received by April 22), which covers all meals, housing, conference materials and activities.  After April 22, the registration fee is $350 and after July 1, the registration fee is $1,000. If a student is an excellent candidate but unable to pay the registration fee, please contact us.

The deadline for applications is April 22 for priority consideration. Students will be accepted after this date if space is available. More information can be found on the Business Horizons Web site.