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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 Seeking Membership Services Director

The DCR Chamber is currently looking to hire a Membership Services Director. The Membership Services Director is responsible for the sales of new memberships within the DCR Chamber as well as retention of existing members. This position implements strategic direction for the organization's growth within the membership area. The Membership Services Director will develop and direct the annual planning within the department relating to membership growth, membership retention and expansion of the Chamber's BundleUp!. The position reports directly to the Chamber's president.  For more information on this position, click here. 

DCR Chamber Events Calendar    
Thursday, August 1st at 7:30am
DARTS
1645 Marthaler Lane, West Saint Paul
 
Thursday, August 8th at 8:00am
Lost Spur Golf and Event Center
2750 Sibley Memorial Highway, Eagan
  
Thursday, August 8th at Noon
Skyline Exhibits
3355 Discovery Road, Eagan
 
Tuesday, August 13th at 8:00am
Rosemount Community Center - Banquet Hall
13885 South Robert Trail, Rosemount
  
Wednesday, August 14th at 8:00am
DCR Chamber
1121 Town Centre Drive, Suite 102, Eagan
  
Wednesday, August 14th at Noon
Associated Bank
1270 Yankee Doodle Road, Eagan
  
Thursday, August 15th at 7:30am
Dakota County Library - Wescott Branch
1340 Wescott Road, Eagan
  
Wednesday, August 21st at 7:30am
DCR Chamber
1121 Town Centre Drive, Suite 102, Eagan
  
Wednesday, August 21st at Noon
DCR Chamber
1121 Town Centre Drive, Suite 102, Eagan
  
Wednesday, August 28th at 8:00am
DCR Chamber
1121 Town Centre Drive, Suite 102, Eagan
  
Wednesday, August 28th at Noon
DCR Chamber
1121 Town Centre Drive, Suite 102, Eagan
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!    
White Pines Senior Living, Mendota Heights
  
Staybridge Suites, Eagan
  
Upcoming Ribbon Cuttings
We invite you to attend these ribbon cuttings to support
your fellow Chamber members!
  
Wednesday, July 31st at 11:00am
Affinity Plus Federal Credit Union
1642 Diffley Road, Eagan
  
Thursday, August 1st at 3:00pm
Ultimate Fleet Repair
920 Aldrin Drive, Eagan
  
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!         
  
Register for the 2013 Member and Volunteer Celebration: Barnyard Bash
Join the Dakota County Regional Chamber and its members at the 2013 Member and Volunteer Celebration: Barnyard Bash on Friday, September 20th from 7:00pm - 10:00pm at the Dodge Nature Center (1701 Charlton Street, West Saint Paul) as we gather to celebrate our volunteers and members who have so kindly donated their time, effort, and monetary support to the Chamber on a daily basis. This will be a FUN evening including games, live band, food and beverages, a bonfire, wagon rides and much more! So giddy up and kick up your heels at the Barnyard Bash.

 

This guarantees to be a fun and affordable night out for just $40 per person (Early Bird Rate - By August 31, 2013) or $50 per person (Regular Rate - Starting September 1, 2013)! This includes dinner, beverages and entertainment. This is a 21+ event and you are welcome to bring non-chamber member guests. Click here to register online or return this form to Jessy at [email protected] or fax it to 651.452.8978.

Interested in sponsoring this event? A sponsorship is a perfect opportunity for you to get your company in front of these business professionals and create additional traffic to your business. Participants will remember those that generously sponsored, long after the event ends. Click here to view sponsorship opportunities.

  
  

Opportunities to Promote Your Business

The DCR Chamber is looking for member's to host future networking events. Hosting an event like "Why Not Wednesday" Business After Hours, Coffee Break, Farmington Brew HaHa, and The Rosemount Connection are a great way to bring customers into your business. Limited availability. 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].

 

 

DCR Chamber Internship Opportunity
Do you know anyone who would be interested in interning at the DCR Chamber this summer?  We are looking for someone with experience in customer service.  For more information, contact Vicki Stute at 651.288.9201 or [email protected]
 
 
Looking for a Lead/Referral Networking Group?  Join ChamberNet Two! 
The ChamberNet Two group operates as a lead/referral networking group that utilizes a non-competing core of business people to build relationships and generate additional business leads for one another.  Currently, the ChamberNet Two group, which meets on the 2nd and 4th Wednesday of the month from 7:30am - 8:45am, is seeking more active members to join the group.  For more information, contact Jason Madson at 651.405.2000 or [email protected].  
   

 

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! 

 News You Should Know

 

Join With us to Repeal B2B Taxes 

By David C. Olson, Minnesota Chamber

Minnesotans, prepare to dig deeper into our pocketbooks courtesy of the 2013 Legislature. Companies are being asked to pay a premium for the privilege of doing business in Minnesota. The sales tax is being extended to two broad categories of business-to-business (B2B) services, effective July 1, and a third category next April 1. The pyramid effect of the higher cost is certain to be felt across the state.

 

The Minnesota Chamber of Commerce and our federation of local chamber partners succeeded in defeating Gov. Mark Dayton's broad-based sales tax on B2B transactions in the legislative session. But the final budget still enacted sales tax on three types of services:

 

  • Labor service charges for repair and maintenance of business equipment and machines, effective July 1.
  •  Purchases of telecommunications equipment by telecommunications providers, effective July 1.
  •  Storage and warehousing services of business-related goods, effective April 1, 2014.

Minnesota businesses will pay the 6.875% state sales tax, plus any local sales tax, on these services. Consider the impact on your bottom line.

 

Do you have farm machinery, capital equipment, computers, industrial equipment, or, for that matter, any other piece of business equipment, in need of repairs?

 

Do you pay or provide warehouse and storage services in Minnesota?

 

If you have an employee or own an affiliated company that can provide these services, you're in luck - the new tax will not apply. But for the majority of companies, especially small and midsize businesses that have to hire the work out, you'll be paying the tax.

 

These are investments that often are part and parcel of growing businesses and creating jobs. These are decisions that may have been automatic in the past but now will likely prompt businesses to pause.

 

Minnesota is among the few states that taxes these B2Bservices. The impact, without a doubt, will be significant as affected companies will be placed at an extreme disadvantage with their peers in other states and nations. Consumers will pay the price through higher costs for goods and services; employees will feel the impact through lower wages and lost jobs. These taxes will harm Minnesota businesses and Minnesota's economy.

 

The Minnesota Chamber is mounting an aggressive campaign to repeal these taxes. Please join our effort by contacting Jennifer Byers, vice president of grassroots and chamber relations, at 651.292.4673 or [email protected]. It's critical to strengthening the business environment and improving the lives of all Minnesotans.

 

David C. Olson is president of the Minnesota Chamber of Commerce - www.mnchamber.com.

 

  

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!   
 
Rasmussen College would like to invite you to join them on August 12th or August 20th  from 6:30pm - 9:00pm for an open house to learn about the Business Mastery Program that they will be hosting.  Click here to learn more information.
  
  

Fred Astaire Dance Studios - SouthMetro invites you to attend their Grand Opening! This will be a high energy fun event on August 11th from 1:00pm - 6:00pm.  The studio is located at 1975 Seneca Road, Suite 700, Eagan, MN 55122.  They will be featuring free 20 minute group lessons at the beginning of each hour; in addition to door prizes being given away throughout the day, professional demonstrations and free food and drinks catered by local vendors.  After a lesson at the studio, you won't be able to stop yourself from dancing out!  Dance is a great way to build fitness, inspire confidence, and simply have a blast with others.  Register today to be a part of this wonderful dance opportunity! To learn more about this event, go to www.fredastairemn.com/grandopening.asp.

  
  
Brian MacKenzie, owner of FASTSIGNS� of Inver Grove Heights, is proud to welcome Jim Probst to the FASTSIGNS team as a sales representative. Probst brings over 20 years of outside sales experience with a strong background in signs and graphics, including ADA signage, wayfinding, large scale graphics and printing. He has held sales positions at Designer Sign Systems, Miratec Solutions, and, most recently, he owned the local ink and toner supplier, Rapid Refill Ink. Some of the solutions that Probst will help provide include exterior signs, exhibits and displays, directional signage, safety signs, digital signs and mobile marketing, just to name a few. A lifelong resident of West St. Paul, Minn., Probst also stays active in the community. He currently serves as president of the West St. Paul Kiwanis Club, and is a member of the South Robert St. Business Association, The St. Paul Club and Heartland Referrals. 
 

 

Xcel Energy is warning customers of increased incidences of scams targeting residential and business customers. Since January, more than 120 scams have been reported in the utility's Upper Midwest territory. The scams typically involve attempts to illegally obtain payments for fictitious utility bills. Individual impersonating Xcel Energy employees or collection agency personnel are using a variety of techniques to gain access to customers' funds, usually by indicating a customer has an outstanding debt and is about to lose service. Xcel Energy reminds customers to only use authorized methods to pay their bills. Credit card numbers and any personal information should not be provided to suspicious callers. Affected customers should call Xcel Energy customer services at 1-800-895-4999 and report any scamming incident to their local police departments. For more information, click here.

 

 

Office Depot would like to invite you to their Open House and Customer Appreciation event on Thursday, August 1st from 10:30am - 1:00pm at Office Depot (1105 Xenium Lane North, Suite 100, Plymouth).  Enjoy lunch provided by Famous Daves and opportunity to win prizes.  Additionaly, there will be educational seminars on "How to Save Money While Reducing Your Environmental Footprint" and "Pricing Levers: How to Get The Most Out of Your Supply Partners" and a vendor showcase including HP, Sanford, Avery, 3M, Hon, Smead, Keurig, and many more.  Register at http://officedepot.eventbrite.com or contact Andrea Carver at [email protected] or 763.513.4058.

 

 

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].

July 29, 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
 
Affinity Plus Federal Credit Union
1642 Diffley Road, Eagan
651.312.9769
Contact:  Natalie Okonek
Bank
 
Ayars & Ayars, Inc.
21900 Kenrick Avenue, Lakeville
952.469.0929
Contact: Mark Mueller
Design Build General Contractor
 
Comcast Business
9705 Data Park, Minnetonka
1.800.391.3000
Contact:  Chris Leaf
Telecommunications/Internet Provider
 
Crown Plaza Hotel & Suites Mall of America
3 Appletree Square, Bloomington
952.854.9000
Contact: Beth Stone
Hotel/Events/Meetings

 

Fred Astaire Dance Studio

1975 Seneca Road, Suite 700, Eagan

651.451.6300

Contact: Chad Lessard

www.fredastairemn.com

Dance Studio

 

Hooker and Company

165 Western Avenue North, Suite 12, Saint Paul

651.659.9648

Contact:  Dan Foote

www.hookerandcompany.com

Marketing/Advertising

 

Jeannine Marie Photography

275 East 4th Street, Suite 100, Saint Paul

651.434.1578

Contact: Jeannine Pohl

www.jeanninemarie.com

Photography

 

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

 

MNet

149 Thompson Avenue East, #150, West Saint Paul

651.645.9254

Contact: Barbara Platten

www.mtm-inc.net

Medical Transportation Management

 

Senator Dan Hall

12936 Portland Avenue, Burnsville

612.790.2000

Contact:  Senator Dan Hall

Legislator

 

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

 

Ultimate Fleet Repair

920 Aldrin Drive, Eagan

651.454.8775

Contact: Kim Zarbo

www.ultimatefleetrepair.com

Automobile Repair

 

White Pine Senior Living of Mendota Heights

745 South Plaza Drive, Mendota Heights

612.598.5034

Contact: Carrie Bawek

www.wpseniorliving.com

Senior Housing

 

Winters Pediatric Dentistry

3410 151st Street West, Rosemount

651.322.5788

Contact:  Kerry Winters, DDS

www.winterspd.com

Pediatric Dentistry

 

 

 

 

 

 

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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