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Customer Service Is Topic For Next EShip Series |
Good customer service is the lifeblood of any business. You can bring in as many new customers as you want, but unless you can get some of those customers to come back, your business won't be profitable for long. HCED's first monthly entrepreneurship series for 2012 is Customer Service.
Pam Winer, manager of the Sandhills Guest House and president of the Atkinson Chamber of Commerce, will have some tips for how to deliver great customer service. If you have a small business and depend on customers, you won't want to miss it on Friday, January 27th from 8:15-9:15 AM at the Northeast Community College Education Center in O'Neill.
There is no cost to attend to these monthly workshops that are designed to help small businesses in the Holt County area. | |
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February HYP Event Focusing On Entrepreneurship |
The Holt County Young Professionals will be getting together for an evening social event on Friday, February 3rd at the Atkinson-Stuart Country Club.
Those in attendance will hear from local entrepreneurs who have embarked on an entrepreneurial journey. Hear there inspiring stories. | |
A meal will be served and drinks will also be available.
The doors will open up at 5 PM with a happy hour, with meal and panel to follow. |
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Deadline Nearing For Leadership Institute |
January 30th is the deadline to apply to be a part of Class VIII of Holt County's Leadership Institute.
The Institute is a nine month program that meets one full day a month and covers topics such as economic development, policy-making, agriculture, education, healthcare, and other topics important to Holt County's future.
An application and schedule can be picked up at the HCED Offices or downloaded at www.holtcountynebraska.com.
The program, which began in 2005, has had 111 participants complete the program. The Leadership Institute is a series of classes designed to help educate, inspire, and connect residents to opportunities in their own communities. | |
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Incentives To Move To Rural Nebraska? |
Nebraska lawmakers have introduced a bill to provide an incetive to move to rural Nebraska.
The bill currently proposes a tax credit for individuals who have lived outside of Nebraska for five years and moves into a county that has see a population loss.
A hearing for the bill will be held January 27th at 1:30 PM in room 1524 in the State Capitol. If you are in support of this important legislation, offer your support for places like Holt County and testify. | |
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Important Community Meetings | |
The City of Chambers will be holding a Town Hall Meeting on Sunday, January 22nd at 3 PM at the Chambers Community Center. The theme is "The Future Of The Chambers Area Depends On All Of Its Citizens". Residents are encouraged to view the results of the recent area survey, and get the latest information on area businesses and organizations. Refreshments will be served, and door prizes will also be given.
In O'Neill, a second public meeting will be held over lunch on Monday, January 23rd from 12-1:30 PM at the O'Neill Community Center to gather input, ideas and feedback on an economic development plan for O'Neill. | |
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Great Crowd On Hand For Annual HCED Dinner & Inspiring Message | |
Holt County Economic Development's annual dinner was held last Sunday with a great crowd on hand. One hundred thirty people were on hand to hear the successes from Holt County's communities over the last 12 months and to also hear from motivational speaker Aaron Davis.
Davis gave an inspiring message on how there are no benchwarmers in championship communities and encouraged everyone to get involved in their community and county organizations and activities.
Other highlights of the program included new comer and alumni introductions and the HomeTown Leadership Institute Class VII graduation, video contest winner and community and business developments.
Barb Beckwith and Chrisy Yates were the winners of the video contest. The winning video can be viewed here: http://bit.ly/zfeKrm
Graduating from the Class VII HomeTown Leadership Institute were Janet Butterfield, Atkinson; Nicky Cadwallader, Atkinson, Tom Davis, O'Neill; Delight Hull, O'Neill; Rachel Kohlman, O'Neill; Lee Richardson, Atkinson; Chelsey Riha, Stuart, Merri Schneider, O'Neill, Marvin Scholz, Stuart; and Chrisy Yates, O'Neill.
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Bricks 4 Kidz, Atkinson | |
A franchise of Bricks 4 Kidz® has come to Holt County. It is owned by Brent and Kami Hooey and opened June 28th, 2011. Brent found the franchise on franchiseopprotunity.com. He has always wanted to own and operate his own business. He chose the franchise route because it provided the guidance and support needed to be successful. With all the young people in Holt County, Brent and Kami thoughtBricks 4 Kidz® would be a good fit.
Brent Hooey grew up in Valley City, North Dakota.He went on to play college baseball at Jamestown College before finishing his degree in Business Administration/Management at Valley City State University.Kami (Olberding) Hooey grew up in Stuart. She graduated from Stuart Public High School in 1991.She then went on to Lincoln School of Commerce and earned an Associate's Degree in Court Reporting in 1995.They now have 4 children, Lana (7), Zachary (5), Hannah (2), and Zane (1).
The purpose and vision of Bricks 4 Kidz® is to teach principals and methods of engineering to children, ages 3-13, using LEGO bricks.The curriculum allows children to take on a creative and fun activity and then explore the implications of math, science, and art as related to the activity.While using their fine motor skills, kids learn problem solving, learn initiative, learn teamwork, and with a finished model, build self-esteem.
Bricks 4 Kidz® offers after school programs, birthday parties, field trips to schools and youth groups.Recently, they have taken Bricks 4 Kidz® to a church group, Cub Scouts, and a home school group.They are also working on providing Corporate Retreat Programs for businesses. Bricks 4 Kidz® currently employs 5 part-time employees.
Bricks 4 Kidz® currently serves Atkinson and O'Neill.In Atkinson, they have a Creativity Center where they offer after school programs, camps, and open play.In O'Neill they offer camps and are working on starting an after school program.They are working on adding new locations in Ainsworth, Stuart, Grand Island, Sioux City, and Norfolk.
Brent feels that the company's greatest achievement is putting a smile on a child's face! At the end of the day, if they can achieve that, they feel they have been successful.They are overwhelmed by the support they have gotten from Holt County.Many individuals have approached them and told them what a wonderful opportunity they are providing to young people.What a humbling feeling! | |
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