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Look for the Lakeville Chamber now on
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join us for these
Upcoming
Special Events!
FALL GALA
November 1
6:00 pm
Bracketts Crossing Country Club
MIDNIGHT IN PARIS
Sponsorships still available.
Silent auction items needed.
Watch for your invitation in the US Mail and plan to attend!
COUNTY-WIDE CHAMBER BUSINESS AFTER HOURS SPEED NETWORKING
November 14
5:00-7:00 pm
Mendakota Country Club
Co-hosted by Lakeville, Apple Valley, Burnsville, Dakota County Regional, Hastings, and River Heights Chambers
Look for the Lakeville Chamber now on
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Stay tuned and check your email
for exciting new information on
YEA!
Thanks to our premier sponsors:
and program sponsors: RATZLAFF HOMES INC.
DAKOTA ELECTRIC
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Halo Branded Solutions
20338 Jupiter Way
Lakeville, Mn 55044
952-469-2520
American Family Insurance/ Larry Engstrom
7303 161st Street West
Rosemount, MN 55068
952-431-6390
Dressing Room Dojo
17729 Kenwood Trail
Lakeville, MN 55044
952-380-8012
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HAPPY ONE YEAR ANNIVERSARY
Genpak LLC
Thrivent Financial for Lutherans
USA Lamp & Ballast Recycling, Inc.
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LAKEVILLE AREA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE AND CONVENTION & VISITORS BUREAU
19950 Dodd Blvd. Suite 101 Lakeville, MN 55044 952.469.2020 FAX: 952.469.2028 |
2013 Board of Directors Chair Sheila Longie Shred Right Vice Chair Bob Curtis Farmers Insurance Second Vice Chair Glenn Starfield Express Employment Professionals Past Chair
Karen Wentworth
Hobo, Inc./Chemquist Secretary Kristina Murto Ensemble Creative & Marketing Officers Dick Dahl, MOM Brands Kristina Murto, Ensemble Creative & Marketing Jamie Dahlen, Holiday Inn Hotel & Suites Mike Puppe, Lakeview Bank Darrell Mullenbach, CliftonLarsonAllen Emily Fox Williams, Dougherty, Molenda, Solfest, Hills & Bauer Mike Bischel, Bischel Builidng Jamie Belzer, Jeff Belzer Chevrolet Dodge Kia Ex-officio Steve Mielke, City of Lakeville Dr. Lisa Snyder, Lakeville ISD 194 Chamber Staff Todd Bornhauser President Jeanne Marie Hutter Director of Marketing,Tourism & Communications Linda Rynda Director of Members Services Michele Shea Accountant, Office Administrator
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FROM THE PRESIDENTS DESK
By Todd Bornhauser, President Lakeville Chamber of Commerce
 Lakeville Cheers YEA! For Entrepreneurship
You may think I'm just excited, which I am, but so much more. Lakeville ISD194 Middle Schools and All Saints Catholic School are partnering with the Lakeville Area Chamber of Commerce to welcome Young Entrepreneurs Academy into the Lakeville community! The Young Entrepreneurs Academy, or YEA!, is an innovative program that guides students through the process of starting their own real business. While the program is currently in 50 different communities nationwide, Lakeville is excited to announce the start of their program which is the first of its kind in Minnesota.
The Lakeville program is designed for area middle school students and will be held at McGuire Middle School beginning in October 2013 through May 2014. In that time the kids brainstorm and form enterprises, make pitches to potential investors, obtain funding, register their companies with governmental agencies, and actually launch their own company or social movement! Business mentors, graphic designers, and local entrepreneurs support the students throughout the program and all of the learning is real and experiential. By the end of the class, students own and operate fully-formed and functioning businesses, which may be carried after their graduation from the program. YEA! aims at teaching students at an early age how to make a job, not just take a job. YEA! is the only pre-college program developed by an entrepreneur, at a university, with support from a major entrepreneurial foundation, the Kauffman Foundation and the United States Chamber of Commerce.
"We specifically chose the Lakeville Area Public Schools to be one of our partners because of its reputation for academic excellence," said Gayle Jagel, the CEO and founder of the Young Entrepreneurs Academy. "The entire community is really on board with school's plans to pilot the program in the fall," adds Jagel, "We are urging all local business leaders to become involved with the program and act as mentors to the budding entrepreneurs." By partnering with YEA!, both large and small businesses volunteer their time and services acting as business mentors, field trip hosts, guest lecturers, graphic designers, web developers, attorneys, etc. Community support strengthens the program, and the academy strengthens the community.
"We are so excited to be a partner with the Lakeville Area Chamber. Our goal is to eventually provide a unique and challenging experience for all students interested in participating," said ISD194 Superintendent Dr. Lisa Snyder. One of the most interesting components of the program is the actual behind the scenes knowledge the students are given from local business leaders, who were at one time, standing in their shoes! The experience is something they will be able to apply to whatever field they choose to enter, thereby giving them the necessary skills to become future leaders of industry. For more information or to volunteer for this dynamic opportunity, please contact Todd Bornhauser at 952-469-2020, or www.yealakeville.com
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MARKETING ADVISORY COMMITTEE
By Karen Wentworth, Past Chair, HOBO Inc./Chemquest Inc.
IMPORTANCE OF SPONSORSHIP
As past Board Chair, I can't begin to thank all the member businesses who have stepped up and been sponsors to our events. Whether it is the Home Expo, the Golf Tournament, Fall Gala, luncheons, newsletters, morning brews or after hours, the Chamber Board of Directors thanks and appreciates your participation. Providing our members with sponsorship opportunities is an essential way to give our members exposure and leadership opportunities. Getting member feedback on these opportunities and events is a way for the Chamber to continually improve the membership experience.
Sponsorship is vitally important because it helps subsidize the cost of a membership keeping it affordable for all businesses. While membership dues cover approximately half of the operating costs, we rely on sponsorships of major events to support our budget, continue to supply high quality services and events, and expand the varied programs and benefits we provide our members. From networking and marketing opportunities, to education and professional development, there is a benefit for every business.
One major area that my company located in the Airlake Industrial Park has found beneficial is the advocacy and connections we have made with government officials (city, regional, state and school district). Getting to know and network with other community business owners and leaders has helped us gain the knowledge that has allowed us to continue to grow.
This leads me back to the subject of sponsorships. Why do our member businesses sponsor events? I interviewed several business owners and leaders to inquire why they sponsor Chamber events and what we, the Chamber, could do to improve the process.
The majority of the businesses use sponsorships as a way to advertise to other Chamber members. Utilizing an after hours, morning brew or luncheon sponsorship gives members an opportunity to tell others about their businesses and themselves. It is about making those individual connections. Several businesses love sponsoring the Home Expo each March because they can get in front of and talk to hundreds of Lakeville area residents - potential customers. Sponsoring the Golf Tournament or the Fall Gala gives several businesses the opportunity to treat employees or key customers to a "fun" event away from the office. Another reason given is that sponsoring is just a good way to promote good citizenship in the business community and the Lakeville community in general.
Most interviewed said they understand the benefits and opportunities offered by the Chamber. Some felt that the Chamber needed to do a better job of promoting all that it has to offer. Another common request was improving the Chamber's method of requesting sponsorships. Several businesses suggested developing a sponsorship "menu" offered at the end of the year or at the very beginning of the year. The businesses could then sign up for the sponsorships and events they wanted to participate in once, instead of being asked multiple times.
The Chamber's Marketing Advisory Committee will be taking these suggestions and developing recommendations for the Board of Directors to review and potentially implement. The committee needs your feedback. If you have additional suggestions on sponsorships for the Chamber, whether it be opportunities, level options or other suggestions, please feel free to contact myself at kjwentworth@hoboinc.com or Steve Volavka, Marketing Committee Chair at steve@ensemblecreative.com or the Chamber office.
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BUSINESS ADVOCACY GROUP UPDAT E
By Sheila Longie, Shred Right Inc.
INVITATION TO JOIN US
Please join us on the Business Advocacy Group which meets in the Chamber Conference Room on the 3rd Friday of every month at 7:30 am.
For those of you who have been attending, now that summer is behind us, the Committee chaired by Pat Arling of Provincial Bank is returning to its former time slot - 7:30 am.
Why join the Business Advocacy Group?
It is an opportunity to meet with fellow business people who have a vested interest in policy decisions at a local, county and state level.
To have great dialog with school, city and state officials who are also regular attendees at this meeting.
The MN Chamber hosts conference calls that take place during the legislative session bringing the members up to date on what is happening at the Capital.
With the city and school levies on the horizon, this is a great opportunity for Chamber members to have a voice.
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Congratulations to Shanen Lee who has taken a Branch Manager position with Affinity Plus Federal Credit Union. Thanks Shanen for bringing them into the Lakeville Chamber family!
Threads & Inks has moved their location to 20137 Icenic Trail. On your way to the Chamber office, check out their new digs!
Minnesota School of Beauty is very excited to announce new educational partnerships with Aquage Salon Products and Goldwell Color. The education provided from these two companies will bring excitement and longevity to their elite training facility here in Lakeville.
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MINNESOTA CHAMBER
Help wanted:
Throw your hat in ring for 2014 elections
The Minnesota Chamber of Commerce is recruiting candidates now to seek a legislative seat in the November 2014 elections. Please step forward, and we'll guide and support you through the election process.
Our pitch is sincere and straightforward. It's more important than ever that we send men and women, Democrats and Republicans, to the Capitol who understand what it takes to run a business in today's dynamic economy.
Why the urgency?
Witness the legacy of the 2013 Legislature. The session kicked off with a common theme of jobs. Yet the gavel closed one of the most bruising and challenging sessions for Minnesota employers and their employees.
We ask you to join the Minnesota Chamber and our statewide network of local chambers to place a priority on electing pro-business individuals to the Minnesota House in 2014. We're working on many fronts to build relationships with existing legislators as well as to identify pro-business candidates.
Here are a few ways you can help.
-Offer personal tours of your business: Think about leaders in your community who understand what it's like to operate a business, and encourage them to run for the Legislature.
-Invite candidates and legislators to your facility, whether you are a large manufacturer or have three employees. Seeing your business and your employees in action is a great way to educate policy-makers on the issues you face and your value to your community and Minnesota.
-Communicate with your workers: Communicate with employees about the key issues that face your company and their paychecks. Do what works best for you, whether it's including information in newsletters or conducting an information session over lunch hour.
-Then encourage and allow individuals to run for office if you can make it work for your businesses.
-Support pro-business candidates: Seeking elective office can be a daunting task, especially for political newcomers. You can support candidate efforts in a variety of ways from knocking on doors or writing a letter to the local newspaper to introducing them to other key business leaders or writing a check to their campaigns.
The Minnesota Chamber has a skilled team that works diligently at managing the risks that legislative decisions pose to you. Our ultimate success, however, depends on the individuals who cast the "yes" and "no" votes.
Our work for the 2014 elections begins with targeting individuals who can bring their business acumen to St. Paul. There's no better place to identify candidates than within our working ranks. While we acknowledge the challenge for employers and employees alike with the time demands of today's Legislature, we must make electing pro-business candidates a higher priority. The results of the 2013 session speak for themselves. Minnesota cannot afford more sessions like the one we just had.
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FALL GALA EXCITEMENT
By Beth Kohlnhoffer, Fall Gala Chair, Kohlnhoffer Insurance
Happy Fall to all my Fellow Chamber  Members!
Please mark your calendars for November 1st as it is the BIG Fall Gala fundraiser at Brackets Crossing Country Club! Your invitation should be in your mailbox already!
This year the theme is Midnight in Paris! and we are filling up fast. It will be a fantastic night as Treasure Island Casino is hosting our Moulin Rouge casino night for us and Teddy Holidays is scheduled for entertainment. And don't forget the French meal specially prepared by Chef Bryan and served in our Paris Bistro.
Why should I attend?
First off, the fundraiser supports our Chamber programs, services and objectives that in turn support business through education, advocacy, and legislative support.
Secondly, it is just plain FUN!!!
Third, there is a Wall of Wine for some lucky winner!
And finally, we have GREAT auction items both silent and live!!!
Come prepared to bid on our live auction items such as a Chef Prepared Dinner for Eight in your home by Copper River; and a grand Las Vegas trip including airfare, three night stay at The Paris Casino, and lots of extras!
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Please join us...Chamber Fall Gala
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