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The Weekly Update
Good Morning From The Dakota County Regional Chamber of Commerce!

 

Greetings!

Keep up-to-date with all the happenings at the DCR Chamber and in your community by reading the Weekly Update every Monday!  Have some great business news that you would like to announce?  Let us know so we can spread the news to the rest of our members!
 
DCR Chamber Events Calendar 
Wednesday, June 12th at 7:30am
DCR Chamber
1121 Town Centre Drive, Suite 102, Eagan
  
Wednesday, June 12th at Noon
Associated Bank
1270 Yankee Doodle Road, Eagan
  
Thursday, June 13th at 8:00am
JBL Companies
3440 Federal Drive, Suite 250, Eagan
  
Thursday, June 13th at 4:30pm
Enjoy! Restaurant
15435 Founders Lane, Apple Valley
  
Monday, June 17th at 10:00am
Mendakota Country Club
2075 Mendakota Drive, Mendota Heights
  
Tuesday, June 18th at Noon
DCR Chamber
1121 Town Centre Drive, Suite 102, Eagan
  
Wednesday, June 19th at 7:30am
DCR Chamber
1121 Town Centre Drive, Suite 102, Eagan
  
Thursday, June 20th at 7:30am
DCR Chamber
1121 Town Centre Drive, Suite 102, Eagan
  
Wednesday, June 26th at 7:30am
DCR Chamber
1121 Town Centre Drive, Suite 102, Eagan
  
Wednesday, June 26th at Noon
DCR Chamber
1121 Town Centre Drive, Suite 102, Eagan
  
Thursday, June 27th at Noon
Fireside
3410 Lower 150th Street West, Rosemount
Ribbon Cuttings
Opening a new business or remodeling your current business?  Let us know and we can schedule a ribbon cutting!  It is a great way to advertise your new store and meet a few DCR Chamber members!  
 
ProSign Branding Solutions, Eagan
Upcoming Ribbon Cuttings
We invite you to attend these ribbon cuttings to support
your fellow Chamber members!
  
  
Friday, June 14th at 2:00pm
White Pine Senior Living
745 South Plaza Drive, Mendota Heights
  
  
Call Jessy at 651.288.9202 to schedule yours today!

Advertise In The Weekly Update        

    

Advertising Options

New Member Ad - New members can run an advertisement at a discounted rate of 50% off. This advertisement should be business card size. This is a great way for new members to introduce their company to other members of the chamber.  $50 per ad, per week

 

Basic Ad - 545(w) x 245(h) pixel area to advertise your news, event, sale, etc. displayed on weekly update. This ad is typically placed in the middle of the weekly update.  $100 per ad, per week

 

Weekly Update Sponsorship - 545(w) x 245(h) pixel area to advertise your news, event, sale, etc. displayed on weekly update. This ad is typically placed in the middle of the weekly update. Additionally, your company logo and web address will be displayed in the top left corner of the weekly update for quicker access to your website and company information, as well as being noticed instantly by all viewers.  $150 per ad, per week


 

Contact Jessy at [email protected] or 651.288.9202

to reserve your space.

 
Action Central 
This section contains items that may require YOU to take action, such as RSVP'ing for an event!         
  
2013 DCR Chamber Golf Classic - Register Today!
Join the DCR Chamber and it's members for a great day of golf with friends and associates at the 2013 DCR Chamber Golf Classic on Monday, June 17th at Mendakota Country Club, one of the premier, private clubs in our area.  Contact Jessy at 651.288.9202 or [email protected] or fill out this form and return it to the Chamber to sign up today!  Sponsorship opportunities available, click here for more information.
  
  
  

Help us Grow the South Metro Young Professionals- Get Involved!

Are you looking to connect with other young professionals like yourself in the metro area? Or are you a business owner who would like to help your Young Professionals expand their network and develop new business relationships?  If so, join the South Metro Young Professionals group!  The South Metro Young Professionals Group (SMYP) is for dedicated, enthusiastic, and talented Young Professionals in their 20s, 30s, and 40s and/or those that are "young" in experience within their current industry. The mission of the South Metro Young Professionals Group is personal and professional development as well as a way to interact socially, exchange ideas, share common interests, learn about the area's business environment, and engage in the community's future. SMYPG currently consists of the Dakota County Regional Chamber members but hope to grow and include members from throughout the South Metro Area. You do NOT need to be a member of the DCR Chamber to participate in this group.  Connect with SMYP on Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn to keep updated on upcoming news and events!  Contact Jessy Annoni at 651.288.9202 or [email protected] for more information on how you can get involved!  

 

 

Did you know?

As a member of the DCR Chamber, you have access to many things on our website.  You can post events, job openings, hot deals, and register online for events that the chamber is hosting.  An online directory of our members is also available for your access.  All you need to do is go to the DCR Chamber Website, click "members only" on the left side, and log in with your company's login information.  If you don't have this information, Jessy can provide it to you, call 651.288.9202 or email [email protected].  This is a great resource for our members to use! 

 

 

Opportunities to Promote Your Business 

The DCR Chamber is looking for member's to host future networking events.  Being a speaker at The Buzz would be a great opportunity for you to share your company's expertise to other members of the community and chamber.  "Why Not Wednesday" Business After Hours, Coffee Break, Farmington Brew HaHa, and The Rosemount Connection are events that would bring customers into your business.  If you are interested in hosting one of these events or would like more information, please contact Jessy at 651.288.9202 or [email protected].

 News You Should Know

 

Department of Revenue to Roll Out 2013 Tax Law Changes

The Minnesota Department of Revenue is reviewing the tax changes recently signed into law.  The Deparment of Revenue understands the changes may require some taxpayers to do things differently and they are working to provide guidance and instruction.

 

To ensure those affected by the tax law changes have information they need, the Department of Revenue will provide weekly updates, based on when the changes take effect. 

 

Starting June 6, the Department of Revenue will release new information every Thursday, as detailed below:

  • 9:00am - Post new or updated law change information and guidance on website:  www.revenue.state.mn.us/pages/law_changes.aspx
  • 1:00 - 2:00pm - Conference call with media to review new information and "topic of the week"
  • 2:30 - 3:30pm - Conference call with tax professionals to review new information and "topic of the week"

For the latest information, including conference call details, sign up for email alerts on all tax law changes

 

 

Frontier Communications Will be First Provider on AccessEagan

Frontier Communications will be the first provider on AccessEagan, the city's new, 16.2-mile high-performance fiber optic network, thanks to an agreement recently forged between the company and city officials.  Read more on Star Tribune.

 

 

2013 Legislative Session Results:

What does it mean for you and your business?

The Minnesota Legislature adjourned last week resulting in a mix of emotions certain to impact all businesses and all Minnesotans. Governor Dayton and legislative leadership chose a singular path of doing business and lost an opportunity to prioritize, reform and redesign operations and services. The result is more government at higher cost.

 

Why did the Legislature raise permanent taxes by more than $2 billion to resolve a $627 million short-term deficit? They could have adopted a balanced approach by going through the budget line by line, eliminating unnecessary and wasteful spending.

 

Why do Minnesota's highest wage-earners have to pay one of the highest income-tax rates in the nation? The top tier is now 9.85 percent, a 25-percent increase from the existing 7.85 percent and fourth highest in the nation. The higher tax will impact more than 20,000 small businesses whose owners run their income through personal income-tax returns. They pay taxes on this income even if they leave some of it in the business to finance growth. The higher tax also hinders the ability to recruit top-level talent to Minnesota jobs and business growth.

 

Why shouldn't K-12 teachers have to pass a basic skills test before they enter a classroom? All students merit having the most effective teachers.

 

Why did we need to raise solar energy standards and increase electricity costs for businesses and residences? Minnesota already has among the most aggressive renewable energy mandates in the nation.

 

Why are Minnesota students no longer required to pass a high school graduation exam? Our kids deserve a solid foundation for lifelong success, and Minnesota employers deserve a skilled workforce.

 

Why did we need to create another state agency with nearly 100 full-time employees to manage the new health insurance exchange - at a cost of $60 million that will be financed entirely by a tax on small businesses and individuals' health care premiums? An exchange operated by the private sector could have achieved the same goals at far lower cost.

 

Why did the Legislature halt progress on streamlining and efficiencies in the permitting process in Minnesota? What takes weeks in other states can take months, or even years, in our state.

 

The Legislature didn't have to go down this path. Unfortunately for whatever good may have been done for Minnesotan's will be overshadowed. Yes. We should celebrate and thank our legislators for supporting issues and making investments in our state that encourage future economic growth such as Mayo Clinic; or acknowledge their efforts to ensure a level playing field for our brick and mortar retailers in relation to collecting online sales tax.

 

 

And for some legislators that crossed caucus lines in many of their votes, we say thank you for avoiding "group think" in order to represent your constituents and making the right choice for business. But we still have a long way to go.  

 

From session start to session end, the MN Chamber, our federation partners, staff, volunteers, and members worked with elected officials to focus on issues that strengthen our economy to improve the lives of all Minnesotans. We thank you for the important work you did.

 

The 2013 Legislature has concluded its work, but our work continues. In the coming weeks, we will provide you detailed information on how our local legislators voted on key issues critical to members of the Dakota County Regional Chamber of Commerce.

 

We invite you to engage in future conversations as we prepare for the 2014 Legislative Session. Until then: Ask them: Why? Tell them: We can do better.

   

  

Hot Deals

Check out the Hot Deals section of the DCR Chamber website for new and exciting specials offered by fellow members. Want to add your own Hot Deal? Login to your "Members Only" section here.

Business Briefing 
News on what's happening with our members or businesses in the community!  
  

A private golf club setting with a challenging 18-hole course is the venue for the annual ProAct Golf Classic, set for Monday, August 19 at Hastings Country Club. The four person scramble style event features golf skill contests, team prizes and group photos.  It begins with registration from 10 to 11:30 a.m., with an early lunch starting at 10:45 a.m. and a shotgun start at 11:45 a.m.  A live auction, raffle and a gourmet dinner will follow the game. The cost is $150 per golfer, which includes lunch and dinner, a golf cart, use of the clubhouse and driving range as well as an offer of one future complimentary round of golf with the purchase of one round at the country club.  A portion of the tournament golf cost is tax-deductible.  A variety of sponsorship opportunities are available.  The price for the dinner only is $35.  To register, go to proactinc.org or contact Sheena Henry at 651-289-3149 or [email protected].

 

  

White Pine Senior Living of Mendota Heights is NOW OPEN! We offer assisted living and memory care in a beautiful setting, providing a private suite to each resident and all-inclusive services at an affordable price. Please join us for a Professional Open House on Friday, June 14th from 2:00pm - 6:00pm. Entertainment, appetizers, and beverages will be provided. We are located at: 745 South Plaza Drive, Mendota Heights, MN 55120. Please call Carrie at 612-598-5034 or email [email protected] if you have questions. Hope to see you there!

 

 
You are invited to attend Cigars and Baseball benefitting the Miracle League on Thursday, June 13th at the Twin's Game at 7:10pm.  Meet before the game at the Minneapolis Farmer's Market Annex where the cigar smoke begins at 4:00pm.  This event is $95 per person and includes: 8 complimentary premium cigars, a sampling of many fine spirits and beers to compliment your cigars, reserved parking in the Minneapolis Farmer's Market Annex (3 blocks from Target Field), a "cigar friendly" private patio for your exclusive use, great food provided by 10 top restaurants, and a Skyline Deck ticket for the Twins vs Phillies game.  Register online at www.cigarsbaseball.com.  Questions?  Please call 612.701.7244 or email [email protected].
 
 
Sovran invites you to attend TechFest 2013 on Thursday, June 20th from 1:00pm - 5:00pm. They will be highlighting the latest in technology including Cloud Computing, Virtualization, Disaster Recovery & Business Continuity, Unified Communications, and much more. Walk through the vendor tradeshow and visit with industry partners and Sovran engineers. See demonstrations on new advancements in computing including: desktops, mobile devices, or phones to data storage and security. Enjoy complimentary food, refreshments, great conversation and a chance to win great gifts! Sovran is located at 2915 Commers Drive, Suite 100, Eagan. Click here to learn more.
  

  

Thrivent Financial representative, David Downing, invites you to join him for an evening of fun and business networking on Tuesday, June 11th at 6:30pm at the Pool and Yacht Club (1600 Lilydale Road, Lilydale).  Bring your business cards, wear your name tags and join us on the banks of the Mississippi River!  Your guests are welcome and we ask that you please RSVP by June 6th for your entire party, as space is limited.  Hord d'oeuvres will be served, cash bar.  The evening will benefit Guild Incorporated, which helps people with mental illness lead quality lives by providing integrated treatment and services.  The first $1,000 in donations will by matched by the Northern Dakota County Chapter of Thrivent Financial for Lutherans.  For more information or to RSVP please contact David Downing at [email protected] or 651.485.1699.

 

 

Mahoney Ulbrich Christiansen Russ PA has been selected as one of the best of the best, and been included in Minnesota Business magazine's second annual 100 Best Companies to Work For awards.  The awards salute Minnesota organizations setting the standard for employee well-being.  The 100 Best are chosen using data gathered from an anonymous employee satisfaction survey administered by an independent research group. Only the top Minnesotan companies, as judged in areas such as work environment, employee benefits, employee happiness, and leadership, are selected for inclusion in the list. All honorees will be recognized at the 100 Best awards event hosted by Minnesota Business on June 6, 2013 at The Depot in Minneapolis. 

 

 

Janet Keyes, the founder of Complete Health, Environmental & Safety Services (CHESS, Inc) was one of three recipients of the 2012 Outstanding Individual Contributor Award, awarded by the American Industrial Hygiene Association, in recognition of her "outstanding contributions to the AIHA Volunteer Groups." The award was presented at the American Industrial Hygiene Conference and Exposition in Montreal this May.  Janet is a Certified Industrial Hygienist. She recently completed four years of service on the American Board of Industrial Hygienists. She has also been recognized as a fellow for AIHA, demonstrating her ongoing commitment to safety in the workplace and the field of industrial hygiene.

 

 

Burville Law Office, P.A. is happy to announce the opening of a satellite office in Shakopee.  The firm's original office opened in Shakopee in 1996 but closed when attorney Mike Burville went on to work for a firm in downtown Minneapolis before re-establishing Burville Law Office, P.A. in Farmington in 2001.  The firm's Farmington office will remain open and legal services will continue to be provided from both locations in the areas of real estate, estate planning (wills, trusts and powers of attorney), probate, business and creditor's remedies.  Further information about the firm and services provided can be obtained from the new website at www.burvillelaw.com.

 

 

Christopher F. Dixon, M.Ed., Founder and CEO at Insider Training, Inc. and Fitness and Sports Training LLC., has been awarded a 2013-2014 Buckman Fellowship for Leadership in Philanthropy. The Buckman Fellowship is a unique opportunity for faculty, staff, graduate students, and alumni of the University of Minnesota to learn about the world of philanthropy. Each fellow attends monthly seminars and puts forth a project for community improvement.  As a Buckman Fellow, Dixon plans to create a non-profit organization helping low-income communities eliminate financial obstacles to achieving and maintaining physically active lifestyles for its residents. In the short-term Dixon seeks to work with city and state government in addition to local community partners to provide access to health & wellness services. In the long-term he hopes to provide a framework for the role of education in health care reform.

 

 

The Wallace Group, an Eagan-based marketing and public relations firm, has been honored with a national Communicator Award for its production of a video encouraging the employment of people with developmental disabilities.  Called "The Jobs Challenge," the video was produced for the Minnesota Governor's Council on Developmental Disabilities.  The production included numerous examples of people with disabilities working effectively in competitive jobs in the community.  "Partnering for People," an informational video on an advocacy training program for people with developmental disabilities and family members, also received a Communicator Award in the 2013 competition.  The Communicator Awards competition regularly attracts more than 6,000 entries.
 

 

Fiber To The Home (FTTH) Communications is teaming with Rosemount High School (RHS) Site Council parents to bridge the missing link between the school and the stadium, as well as creating an "Irish" channel on FTTH's network. The Irish channel will allow, for the first time, stadium games and events, such as graduations, concerts and awards programs, to be broadcast within the community.  FTTH Communications, Rosemount High School and Rosemount School Site Council Parents are launching "Irish Up!"- a fundraising partnership to help pay for the new fiber optic line. The goal is to generate $10,000, which also would create and maintain the RHS channel. Along with stadium events, it would showcase academic and artistic events.  For each new subscriber in FTTH's fiberhoods (Evermoor and Harmony Village), FTTH will donate $50 to the cause. Current subscribers who upgrade their services will earn the project $25. If more than 100 new subscribers sign up, FTTH will increase the bounty to $75, topping out at 200 new subscribers.  The Irish UP! campaign runs between May 20 and Aug. 31. For more information on how to sign up, go to www.rosemountirishup.com or contact Douglas Moran at 651-252-2391 or [email protected]. Read more on the Rosemount Town Pages.

 

 

Flint Hills Resources and The Works Museum brought hands-on engineering activities to students in Apple Valley this past week. Students and families at Apple Valley's Westview Elementary School participated in a variety of hands-on engineering activities during the school's first ever Family Engineering Night, presented by The Works Museum and sponsored by Flint Hills Resources. For the event, STEM educators from The Works Museum brought their programming and expertise inside the halls of Westview Elementary School, where more than 300 people participated in kid-friendly engineering activities. Kids mastered the art - and engineering - of things like building bridges out of candy, constructing mini catapults, and wiring circuits.

 

 

The MVTA is excited to expand their service offerings to include a special trip on Route 475 from the University of Minnesota and Downtown Minneapolis to the Minnesota Zoo for each of the 29 'SUBWAY Music in the Zoo 2013' concerts.  Route 475 buses will arrive at the Minnesota Zoo at 7:01 p.m. for the 7:30 p.m. concerts at the Weesner Family Amphitheater.  (Concerts are presented rain or shine.)  Southbound departures include Ridder Arena at the University of Minnesota, all "C" stops on Marquette Avenue in downtown Minneapolis, I-35W/Lake Street and the Cedar Grove Transit Station (CGTS). Buses will depart Ridder at 6:06 p.m. on weekdays and at 6 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays. Buses will depart the bus shelter outside the IMAX Theatre at the Zoo at 10:30 p.m. (concerts are slated to end at 10 p.m.), return to CGTS, the Mall of America Transit Station, downtown Minneapolis and terminating at Ridder Arena at 11:30 p.m.  Among the concert performers:  Joan Baez, the BoDeans, Cheap Trick, Dr. John, Brian Wilson, Lyle Lovett, Willie Nelson and Family, Pat Benatar & Neil Giraldo,  and Melissa Etheridge.  A complete listing of concerts is available at http://www.mvta.com/concert_bus_service.html or www.suemclean.comRound trip fare is $5, paid as riders board the bus on their way to the Minnesota Zoo.

Event Pictures 

Farmington Coffee Brew HaHa at Park Dental Farmington

 

June 10, 2013
Weekly Update Sponsor
 
 
In This Issue
Events Calendar
Advertising
Action Central
News You Should Know
Business Briefing
New Members
Advanced Engineering and Environmental Services, Inc.
2600 Eagan Woods Drive, Suite 260, Eagan
701.746.8087
Contact: Andrea Boe
Engineering Firm
 
AdvoCare
1604 Atwater Path, Inver Grove Heights
651.295.6140
Contact: Lindsey Valentini
Heath & Wellness/Fitness
 
Crown Plaza Hotel & Suites Mall of America
3 Appletree Square, Bloomington
952.854.9000
Contact: Beth Stone
Hotel/Events/Meetings
  
Edward Jones

Sherman Court, Eagan

Contact: Stace Johnson

Financial Services 

 

Landberg Law Office

16576 Flagstaff Avenue West, Rosemount

952.891.5751

Contact: Kevin Landberg

Collections/Attorney 

 

Legal Shield

3729 Denmark Court West, Eagan

651.493.9394

Contact: Steve Baker

www.legalshield.com/hub/sb

Employee Benefits Services/Identity Theft Services

 

Liberty Mutual Insurance

14985 Glazier Avenue, Suite 645, Apple Valley

952.891.6363

Contact: Gayle Peter

www.libertymutual.com/gayle-peter

Personal Lines Insurance

 

Media Relations

350 West Burnsville Parkway, Suite 350, Burnsville

612.798.7200

Contact: Robin Kocina

www.publicity.com

Public Relations/Marketing

 

MNet

149 Thompson Avenue East, #150, West Saint Paul

651.645.9254

Contact: Barbara Platten

www.mtm-inc.net

Medical Transportation Management

 

Open Space

1200 Yankee Doodle Road, Eagan

651.565.9700

Contact: Joe Hoovestol

www.openspace4u.com

Office Leasing 

 

Paychex

1210 Northland Drive, Suite 100, Mendota Heights

651.365.5060

Contact: Laura Wall

www.paychex.com

Payroll

 

Senator Dan Hall

12936 Portland Avenue, Burnsville

612.790.2000

Contact:  Senator Dan Hall

Legislator

 

Sovran

2915 Commers Drive, Suite 100, Eagan

651.905.5557

Contact: Natalie LaBarbera

www.sovran.com

IT Services

 

Strategies, Ltd.

8290 135th Street West, Apple Valley

952.891.3423

Contact: Dan Ploenzke

www.strategiesltd.com

Promotional Products

 

ThrivingLives

750 Main Street, Suite 207, Mendota Heights

952.380.7543

Contact: Eila Norberg

www.thrivinglives.com/HBL

Healing & Self Development

 

Valmont/Applied Coating Technology

2411 Pilot Knob Road, Mendota Heights

651.454.7777

Contact: Al Johnson

www.appliedcoating.com

Manufacturing - Coatings

 

White Pine Senior Living of Mendota Heights

745 South Plaza Drive, Mendota Heights

612.598.5034

Contact: Carrie Bawek

www.wpseniorliving.com

Senior Housing

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Jessy Annoni 

Communications and Events Manager

Dakota County Regional Chamber of Commerce
1121 Town Centre Drive, Suite 102, Eagan

[email protected]

651.288.9202