May/June 2014 by St. Cloud Area Chamber of Commerce

Health – It’s Our Focus

Grace L. & family - Eagle Bend

Jenny’s shopping habits are better now that she uses NuVal® scores. CentraCare Health Foundation’s BLEND (Better Living: Exercise & Nutrition Daily) partnered with Coborn’s to introduce the NuVal® nutritional scoring system to grocery stores. Jenny is more aware of what she is buying and her family is eating healthier.

CentraCare Health — a sharper focus on your health.

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GENERAL CONTRACTING

S APP

IN EVERY ISSUE 24

Business Calendar

Top Hats Network Central

R END

CONTENTS

Editor’s Note

GROW • NETWORK • PROFIT

6 President’s Letter

S APP

May/june 2014

G RO W

P ROFIT

Business Tools

26 Entrepreneurism

This Issue 44 Feature

Substantial Liability

Beware the Details It’s often the mundane concerns that catch the new business owner unaware.

Make no mistake: A lack of creativity and innovation in your business will negatively impact your bottom line.

28 TechStrategies

48 Special Focus

Twitter vs. Facebook

Lifetime Learners

Many employees find value in education and training.

54 Business Spotlight

Profit

These two forms of social media have completely different value propositions. If you’re treating them the same, you’re wasting your time.

A Gentle Spirit

29 Tech News 30 Management Tool Kit

38 Cover Story Jim Kruse likes people and likes unique jewelry. Both interests came together in a store he never expected to own.

Tricks of the Trade…Show

Tradeshows are still a good venue for finding prospects.

32 Entrepreneurism Fear Not

Success in sales means redefining your “R” and “I.”

N E T WOR K

Upfront 10 Book Review

Is Work Killing You? A Doctor’s Prescription for Treating Workplace Stress by David Posen, MD

10 News Reel

What’s happening and who’s moving.Business news from

around Central Minnesota.

11 New at the Top

Patti Gartland, Greater St. Cloud Development Corp.

12 Your Voice In Government

34 Economy Central

presented by Falcon Bank

Minnesota’s new Job Creation Fund encourages local business expansion.

16 People to Know 18 Getting Going Fun or Profit?

Learning to strike a balance with time is one of the keys to success.

20 Regional Round-Up Waite Park

Bonnie Goff, Bonnie’s Printing

Special Section 49

Education, Training & Consultants

ONLY ONLINE •• Going mobile at work •• Stamp out office bullying

•• Maximize online marketing •• Create engaging presentations

www.BusinessCentralMagazine.com

EmployEE HEaltH for a HEaltHiEr BusinEss

Worksite Health and Wellness Well-Being Seminars

Promote healthy living in your workplace. By improving the health of your employees, you’ll increase productivity and reduce overall medical benefit costs.

Call M ay d u r i n g o and r June r e ce Wel two -for- ive l- Be ing S one e min A sk a r s! us a

HealthPartners Certified Wellness Coaches will conduct educational seminars at your location. Choose from a variety of topics to raise awareness about important health issues and encourage overall health and well being.

Seminar topics focus on: • Healthy eating and nutrition management • Stress awareness and reduction • Physical activity and exercise

BEnEfits includE •

Help reduce overall corporate medical expenditures

•

Build health awareness Give employees the tools for healthy living

•

to inquirE aBout wEll-BEing topics and for morE information, contact Greg Bockrath

320-203-2405 worksitehealth@hpcmc.com | hpcmc.com

These services are available to all companies and can be customized for your needs. You don’t need to have HealthPartners insurance as part of your medical benefits plan.

d eta b o ut il s .

PRESIDENT’S LETTER NETWORK

My Kind of Town . . . Chicago Is . . .

weet success! Daily air service

If you are planning a trip, check the flights through Chicago. The rates are competitive, even when traveling beyond Chicago.

from St. Cloud Regional Airport to Chicago O’Hare! And, at

convenient, reasonable, sensible times! (With FREE PARKING, I might add.) On May 6, United Express will begin running two daily round trips from St. Cloud to Chicago at 6:30 a.m. and 1:54 p.m. The last flight leaves Chicago at 8:30 p.m., landing in St. Cloud before

A big community “Thank You” to Al

10 p.m. The service can readily

and Jami for their unceasing contributions

accommodate a day business traveler.

to obtaining the service. The GSDC has

I have worked on the air service

a big win under their belt for economic

initiative since I came to the Chamber 16

development in our community.

years ago. We attempted to expand our

Congratulations to them all, but most of all

Minneapolis service. Then weathered a

to our entire community. This is a big deal.

complete halt to Mesaba Airlines service. With the creation of the Greater

Now we need to USE THE SERVICE!!!! If you are planning a trip, check the

St. Cloud Development Corporation, there

flights through Chicago. The rates are

was renewed vigor toward obtaining air

competitive, even when traveling beyond

service. Retired DeZURIK CEO Al Kremers

Chicago. Make it a priority for your

accepted the role as chair of the Air Service

employees to use the service, too. We

Corp. Seasoned consultant Jami Bestgen

are definitely in a “Use it or lose it” trial

signed on to assist Al with his efforts. Jami

phase. However, United is so pleased with

had been involved in our local air service

utilization of Duluth to Chicago service the

strategy for more than a decade.

company added a third daily flight.

What followed were dozens of trips to visit airline executives and trade shows.

I cannot believe Duluth can accomplish anything St. Cloud cannot do better.

Countless hours promoting and obtaining

On May 6, many of us who have been

pledges for future air service use that

involved in obtaining air service are going

could be sold back to the airlines. And

along on the first flight, just to have dinner

an inability to admit defeat.

in Chicago and come home. Mayor Dave

First, Allegiant Airlines saw our

Kleis is leading the contingent, and Al

promise, beginning service to Phoenix.

and Jami will be on board, too. It will be a

Then they added Orlando. Allegiant

sweet celebration of success!

was extremely happy with the ridership

Until next time,

numbers. The TSA was back at our airport and in place for United to come in. The rest is history. Teresa Bohnen President

B u s i n e s s C e n t r a l M a g a z i n e • • M a Y / JUNE 2 0 1 4

Main Phone 320-251-2940 Automated Reservation Line 320-251-2940, ext. 126 Program Hotline 320-251-2940, ext. 125 email: information@StCloudAreaChamber.com www.StCloudAreaChamber.com ST. CLOUD AREA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE STAFF President | Teresa Bohnen, ext. 104 Vice President | Gail Ivers, ext. 109 Director of Administration Judy Zetterlund, ext. 106 Special Events Coordinator Virginia Kroll, ext. 105 Communications & Workforce Development Coordinator Whitney Bina, ext.130 Membership Sales Specialist Jaime Buley, ext. 134 Administrative Assistant Vicki Lenneman, ext. 122 Administrative Assistant Cindy Swarthout , ext. 100 Administrative Assistant Sharon Henry, ext. 124 CONVENTION & VISITORS BUREAU STAFF Main Phone: 320-251-4170 Executive Director Julie Lunning, ext. 111 Director of Convention Sales Lori Cates, ext. 113 Director of Sales & Marketing Judy Okerstrom, ext. 112 Director of Sports & Special Events Kelly Sayre, ext. 128 Director of Visitor Services Jean Robbins , ext. 129 Sales & Marketing Coordinator Nikki Fisher, ext. 110 2013-14 BOARD MEMBERS Jim Beck Minnesota School of Business Gary Berg G.L. Berg Entertainment, Performing Artists & Speakers Jason Bernick Bernick’s - Beverages & Vending Craig Broman St. Cloud Hospital/CentraCare Health, Past Board Chair Neil Franz Franz Hultgren Evenson, P.A. Jayne Greeney Schill St. Cloud Area School District #742 Jim Gruenke Mark J. Traut Wells John Herges Falcon National Bank, Board Chair Diane Mendel Playhouse Child Care Kris Nelson Custom Accents, Inc., Board Vice Chair Mark Osendorf Xcel Energy Dr. Earl Potter, III St. Cloud State University Roger Schleper Premier Real Estate Services Jodi Speicher The Good Shepherd Community Bea Winkler Pine Cone Pet Hospital Chriss Wohlleber Le St. Germain Suite Hotel

Together, we’ll build a financial plan for your business. Business success isn’t something you just hope for. You build it with a solid financial plan. Start with a Northwestern Mutual Financial Representative. Together, we’ll design a personalized plan to help your business achieve its full potential, including risk management and business succession. Who’s helping you build your financial future?

Josh Longnecker Managing Director Saint Cloud (320) 223-6639 joshualongnecker.com

05-3077 © 2014 Northwestern Mutual is the marketing name for The Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance Company, Milwaukee, WI (NM) (life and disability insurance, annuities) and its subsidiaries. Northwestern Mutual Investment Services, LLC (NMIS) (securities), a subsidiary of NM, broker-dealer, registered investment adviser, and member of FINRA and SIPC. Joshua Alan Longnecker, District Agent(s) of NM. Managing Directors are not in legal partnership with each other, NM or its affiliates. Joshua Alan Longnecker, Registered Representative(s) of NMIS.

EDITOR’S NOTE NETWORK

Memory Markers

Editor Gail Ivers with her mother, checking out the Jeep trails in Ouray, Colorado.

n 2009 my mom and I toured Colorado riding the state’s narrow gauge railroad system. It’s not that either of us has a particular fascination with trains. But watching the Colorado countryside drift by from the comfort of a dining car appealed to us. And it gave us a chance to go up Pike’s Peak on the cog railway, something we both wanted to do. The Pike’s Peak Cog Railway is almost 9 miles long and the round trip takes a little over 3 hours. At 14,115 feet, it’s the world’s highest cog train. At first, quite steep, it ran along a river. Then it leveled out and you saw trees and a rare glimpse of wildlife and birds. Then it got steep again — stay-in-yourseats steep. We gradually rose above the tree line and saw — framed in a spectacular blue sky — Pike’s Peak. Twenty minutes at the top, then back on the train before highaltitude sickness could set in. Another of our train rides took us to Ouray, high in the Rocky

B u s i n e ss C e n t ra l M a g a z i n e • • M ay / J u n e 2 0 1 4

Mountains. Set at the head of a valley at about 7,800 feet, walking in Ouray was steeply uphill – both ways. This tiny town is a Mecca for artists and athletes. Known for their excellent ice climbing, the day we were there they were the host site of a 10K run. We passed. Ouray is also home to hundreds of miles of Jeep trails. This we had to try. On another sparkling blue-sky day, we bundled into Jeeps, fastened our seat belts, and held on. As the mountains sang to us in a chorus of oranges, yellows and reds the Jeep flew up, up, up the Rocky Mountains, climbing at what felt like 90 degree angles. Two women in our party, sitting behind us, were chatting about how much more adventurous they were than their parents. “My mom would never have done something like this,” one said. “My mom would!” I replied, with both pride and glee. One of the things Jim Kruse and Melissa Kelley, owners of J. F. Kruse

Jewelers, particularly like about their work is helping their customers mark important moments through jewelry. (See the story on page 38.) I understand that. While waiting for dinner in Ouray, I stopped in an antique shop that had a number of particularly nice pieces of jewelry. Caught up in the thrill of the day, the grandeur of the mountains, and the memories of our train travel, I purchased a ring. Such impulse purchases usually turn out badly for me, but not this time. When I look at my Ouray ring I am reminded of trains, Pike’s Peak, and my mom, who, at 80 years old, went off-roading in the mountains of Colorado. Until next issue,

Gail Ivers

Vice President

Editor

Publisher Teresa Bohnen

Tracy Knofla High Impact Training

Managing Editor Gail Ivers

Mary MacDonell Belisle WordingForYou.com

Associate Editor Dawn Zimmerman

Lawrence Schumacher Wordbender Communications, LLC

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Whitney Bina St. Cloud Area Chamber of Commerce Teresa Bohnen St. Cloud Area Chamber of Commerce

Greg Vandal Vox Liberi Dawn Zimmerman The Write Advantage ADVERTISING

Brian Hart Sandler Training

Associate Publisher/Sales Wendy Hendricks, Hendricks Marketing

Sharon Henry St. Cloud Area Chamber of Commerce

Ad Traffic & Circulation Yola Hartmann, Hazel Tree Media

ART Design & Production Yola Hartmann, Hazel Tree Media

110 Sixth Avenue South

Sarah Sucansky

P.O. Box 487, St. Cloud, MN 56302-0487

Cover Photo Joel Butkowski, BDI Photography

Phone (320) 251-2940 • Fax (320) 251-0081

ACCOUNTING Judy Zetterlund

Wendy Hendricks, (320) 656-3808, 110 S. 6th Ave.,

WEBSITE Vicki Lenneman

Editorial suggestions can be made in writing to:

CORPORATE SPONSOR

56302-0487. Submission of materials does not guarantee

Dr. Fred E. Hill St. Cloud State University Gail Ivers St. Cloud Area Chamber of Commerce

www.BusinessCentralMagazine.com For advertising information contact P.O. Box 487, St. Cloud, MN 56302-0487.

Editor, Business Central, P.O. Box 487, St. Cloud, MN publication. Unsolicited materials will not be returned unless accompanied by a stamped, self-addressed envelope. © Copyright 2014 Business Central LLC Business Central is published six times a year by the St. Cloud Area Chamber of Commerce, 110 Sixth Avenue South; P.O. Box 487, St. Cloud, MN 56302-0487 • Phone (320) 251-2940 • Fax (320) 251-0081 Subscription rate: $18 for 1 year.

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Stephanie Lindemann, Service Delivery Manager; Eric Casteel, Director of Strategic Accounts; Steve Gau, Regional Sales Director

We’ll keep an eye out for solutions and processes that could save you precious time and money. And, we’ll help you avoid the ones that won’t. We’re big enough to offer you premium quality and selection. And we’re small enough to give you personalized service grounded in Midwestern values.

Connect with Marco — your trusted technology advisor.

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marconet.com M a y / j u n E 2 0 1 4 • • w w w. B u s i n e s s C e n t r a l M a g a z i n e . c o m

Book Review

Your Voice in Government

It Happened When?

Business Calendar

People to Know

Getting Going

UPFRONT

Regional Roundup R END

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G R O W N E T W OR K P R O F I T

S APP

News & people that make up the chamber network

N E WS R EE L

BOOK REVIEW

Stressed Out! The pace of work is faster than ever...and the demands may be killing us. Reviewed by Fred E. Hill

Is Work Killing You? A Doctor’s Prescription for Treating Workplace Stress by David Posen, MD, House of Anansi Press Inc., 2013 ISBN 978-1-77089-275-0

s Work Killing You? touches on everything from meetings to tweeting, deadlines to dead tired, fake work to face time, the overworked to the underemployed, and more. Author David Posen, MD, gives us tools to stop harming our most valuable resource – ourselves. Posen’s book is based on four premises from observations he has made over many of his professional years. They are:

1 Workplaces are making people sick. 2 Not enough people are talking about it, and when they do, nobody’s listening. 3 Much of the time and effort put in by stressed-out workers is unproductive. 4 Many of the solutions aren’t complicated. This book has an introduction, three sections, and a conclusion. The introduction sets the context of workplace stress – what it is, how do you know if you have it, and stress sources. The conclusion deals with prevention – what companies can do to decrease stress, how managers and leaders can be involved, and moving forward from it. The three sections consist of 25 chapters. Section 1, Volume – the factors that contribute to overload and what can be done about it. Section 2. Velocity – how to navigate the world of work when the pace is faster than ever. Section 3. Abuse – what to do when the people you work with are your biggest source of stress.

B u s i n e s s C e n t r a l M a g a z i n e • • M a Y / JUNE 2 0 1 4

Volume: The sheer volume of work, meetings, emails, and other electronic messages – not to mention voice mail – has employees reeling. Workload also includes long hours, face time, unnecessary work, downsizing, and income disparity. Velocity: Computers, email, texting, instant messaging, demanding clients, impatient bosses, relentless deadlines, and pressure to keep up can be dizzying and exhausting. Today’s world of work is now faster than ever. We are asked to speed up – but, how fast can we go and how much can we do? Abuse: There are differences of opinion, personality styles, competition, playing favorites, gossip, pettiness, harassment, intimidation, bullying, and more. Read this book and find out how the “prescriptions” in the 25 chapters can help treat workplace stress. BC Dr. Fred E. Hill is an emeritus professor of Learning Resources and Services, at St. Cloud State University.

Bauer

Coleman Offenhauser

Gray Plant Mooty elects new shareholders Four Gray Plant Mooty attorneys have been elected as shareholders: Jeff Bauer, Al Coleman, Julia Offenhauser, and Andrew Steil. Steil

Goskowicz elected to board Brad Goskowicz, CEO of Microbiologics, Inc., was elected to the American Association for Laboratory Accreditation (A2LA) Board of Directors. AL2A is a nonprofit membership society that provides world-class accreditation services.

Popp joins Coldwell Banker Commercial Bill Popp joined Colwell Banker Commercial Orion Real Estate as a sales associate and will head up the ag division at Orion. Popp will find and secure farm properties for clients around the United States. He has over 12 years of experience in agricultural real estate. Popp

Hou

Spoden

Regional Diagnostic Radiology adds doctors Doctors Andrew Hou and Darrin Spoden recently joined Regional Diagnostic Radiology.

new AT the top

Patti Gartland

President of the Greater St. Cloud Development Corporation

basis with a team of incredibly talented, fun loving and devoted co-workers.

and community prosperity. Ultimately the goal is to improve the quality of life for everyone.

IN THE NEWS

BC: When did you start in your current position? June 1, 2013

BC: What are your hobbies? Spending as much time as possible with family (especially our 3 exceptionally adorable grandchildren) and friends; golf – it’s such a humbling sport; and cabin time.

appointed by Minnesota Governor Mark

Fun fact about yourself: My husband and I head to our ‘sugar bush’ in Cass County on spring weekends to tap and produce maple syrup. 2013 was our largest production yet. We bottled seven gallons of ‘liquid gold.’ BC

Cities metro area. The MAC chairman

BC: Where did you grow up? St. Cloud, MN!

Age: 55 Previous position: Sartell City Administrator BC:What will you miss most about your previous position? Working on a day-to-day

BC: What are you looking forward to the most in your new position? Working with our region’s most talented, successful and inspiring business executives and community leaders. Together we’re developing strategies that position the greater St. Cloud region to make tremendous gains in economic

Lisa Koster

Patti Gartland, president of the Greater St. Cloud Development Corp., has been Dayton to the Metropolitan Airports Commission (MAC). The MAC owns and operates the Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport (MSP) and six smaller general aviation airports within the Twin and 14 commissioners meet monthly to represent the interests of the community in decisions related to these airports. Gartland will represent Congressional District 6.

Ashley Ohlemann

Joy Schafer Elizabeth Statsick

Linda DooleyBauer

Melissa Theisen

Rich Remer, President

Tammy Reis, Vice President, Lending Simply Free Business Checking Call us today for a consultation. (320) 253-0142 · 800-821-6326 · anbmn.com 3210 W Division St · St. Cloud

A strong team for business. Bank on it. AMERICANNATIONALBANK OF MINNESOTA

MEMBER FDIC | EQUAL HOUSING LENDER

Where it pays to bank.

M a y / j u n E 2 0 1 4 • • w w w. B u s i n e s s C e n t r a l M a g a z i n e . c o m

UPFRONT NETWORK

YOUR VOICe IN GOVERNMENT

N E WS R EE L

Job Creation

Minnesota’s new Job Creation Fund encourages local business expansion.

Goedderz

Kiley

Konczak

Initiative Foundation hires, announces new McClintick Board members

The Initiative Foundation hired the following people: • Andrea Goedderz, organizational development specialist • Michelle Kiley, community and economic development specialist • Terri Konczak, early childhood dental network specialist • Bob McClintick, marketing and communications manager

Babcock

Bauerly

Shurts

The Initiative Foundation also added three new members to its Board of Trustees: John J. Babcock, Rick Bauerly, and Steve Shurts.

Blommel

Row

he Job Creation Fund is a financial incentive to new and expanding businesses that meet certain job creation and capital investment targets. It was created by the 2013 Minnesota legislature and is administered through the Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED). Companies deemed eligible to participate may receive up to $1 million for creating or retaining high-paying jobs and for constructing or renovating facilities or making other property improvements. In some cases, companies may receive awards of up to $2 million. Eligibility and Requirements The program is available to businesses engaged in manufacturing, warehousing, distribution, technology-

•• Obtain local government support for the project via council resolution •• Invest at least $500,000 in property improvements within one year of designation •• Create at least 10 new fulltime permanent jobs within two years of designation, while maintaining existing employment numbers •• Pay at least $12.45 an hour in wages and benefits in 2014, adjusted annually •• Have other location options outside of Minnesota

•• Cause no undue harm to Minnesota competitors •• Certify that the project would not occur without Job Creation

Fund assistance Projects that begin prior to becoming designated by DEED are not eligible for the Job Creation Fund. Available Benefits Companies must sign an agreement with DEED that they meet the requirements. Substantial benefits may be available once a business meets the conditions of its agreement and provides proof of performance. BC To Learn more For more information, contact Emily Johnson at DEED at emily.a.johnson@ state.mn.us, toll free at 800-657-3858 or visit www. BusinessCentralMagazine.com

Maciej

WSB hires WSB & Associates hired Jason Blommel, Jeff Row, and Michelle Maciej. Blommel is a professional land surveyor with over seven years of land surveying and construction experience. Row is a project engineer with ten years of experience in municipal engineering. Maciej is a civic engineer with experience in municipal and water resources.

POINT OF View

“

Business Central asked readers: What is one thing you do to stay organized?

Alf joins The Ad Company Eric Alf joined The AD Company as business development executive. He is charged with developing the company’s portfolio of digital marketing clients.

related industries and other eligible activities. Companies must work with the local government where the project is located, applying to DEED to receive designation as a Job Creation Fund business. To be designated as a Job Creation Fund business, a company must meet minimum established criteria, including:

B u s i n e s s C e n t r a l M a g a z i n e • • M a Y / JUNE 2 0 1 4

“ “ “

I use my Outlook calendar and send the emails I don’t want into my spam folder.”

—Theresa Doll, Reach-Up Inc. (Head Start)

Barb Feia Precise Heating A/C Plumbing and Refrigeration

I have my orange priority folder.” —Terri Heinen, The Village Family Service Center

I talk to my wife. She helps me stay organized.”—Eric Heipel, Fresh Coat Painters

Eric Alf The Ad Company

We have lots of policies, procedures and checklists.”

“

I stay organized with my Google calendar on my tablet.”

IT HAPPENED WHEN?

July 1972

The New Downtown Mall Downtown visitors brave construction to visit local businesses.

Construction workers are back to work on July 11, 1972 – the day the strike ended.

n July 1972, St. Cloud built the downtown mall. Located north of Herberger’s, the mall provided an outdoor area complete with trees, benches and grassy areas

to gather with friends or rest while shopping. The construction process took time, especially due to a contractors’ strike in the middle of the project. Without

The St. Cloud Downtown Mall

sidewalks and roads, traveling in downtown St. Cloud by both foot and vehicle proved difficult in the summer of 1972. As you can see from the photos, downtown visitors

didn’t let construction stop them from patronizing their favorite businesses. The contractors’ strike ended on July 11, 1972 and the construction company quickly got back to work on the mall. Although the city eventually replaced the mall with West St. Germain Street, downtown visitors can still see parts of the original mall on the north side of Herberger’s. BC

Faster Response RIGHT HERE Accidents happen. Most happen close to home. In fact, nearly 70% of car accidents occur within 10 miles from home. Which is why our board certified orthopedic specialists are on call 24/7 at the level 2 trauma facility in the St. Cloud Hospital. So whenever traumatic injuries happen (on or off the road), you have a local orthopedic specialist ready at a moment’s notice.

StCloudOrthopedics.com 320.259.4100 1901 Connecticut Ave S, Sartell

Knee & Shoulder • Joint Replacement • Sports Medicine • Hand Center • Trauma • Spine Center • Foot & Ankle • Physical & Occupational Therapy BCfasterResponse7.5x4.875.indd 1

M a y / j u n E 2 0 1 4 • • w w w. B u s i n e s s C e n t r a l M a g a z i n e . c o m 13 3/25/14 11:41 AM

UPFRONT NETWORK

N E WS R EE L Lund joins Rice Building Systems Travis Lund joined Rice Building Lund Systems, Inc. as project manager. He has over 20 years of experience in the commercial construction industry and 12 years of experience as a project manager.

BUSINESS CALENDAR MAY/JUNE 2014 •• Visit events.StCloudAreaChamber.com for a detailed calendar.

Can’t-miss opportunities to influence, promote and learn June 5: hosted by Falcon National Bank, 1010 W. St. Germain St., St. Cloud

Foundation exceeds goal CentraCare Health Foundation’s 2013 Community Campaign raised $200,880 between October and December 2013. Over 1,200 gifts were received and El-Jay Plumbing matched up to $100,000 to benefit the Coborn Cancer Center.

Anjum receives excellence award Dr. Shakeel Anjum, a nephrologist at Anjum CentraCare Clinic – River Campus, received the St. Cloud Hospital Physician of Excellence award. The award was created for physicians, nurses and other staff to recognize a St. Cloud Hospital medical staff member who has an exemplary work ethic and lives the healing mission of the St. Cloud Hospital, providing ‘Care Above All.’ •• CentraCare Bariatric Center received three-year reaccreditation as a Bariatric Surgery Center of Excellence by the American Society of Metabolic & Bariatric Surgery.

Waite Park Chamber For businesses interested in Waite Park issues. Lunch is provided by the host when you register at least two days in advance. 11:30 a.m. – 1 p.m.

Business Awards Luncheon Annual luncheon honoring the St. Cloud Area business awards recipients: J. F. Kruse Jewelers, the Small Business of the Year, owners Jim Kruse and Melissa Kelley; Royal Tire, the Family Owned Business of the Year, owners Pat and Paul Duininck; and Midwest Machinery, the Business Central Mark of Excellence - Emerging Entrepreneurs, owners Ben and Andrew Swenson, Brian, Corey and Adam Weber, and Paul Seipel. May 1: Hosted by the St. Cloud Area Chamber of Commerce at the Holiday Inn & Suites, 75 37th Ave. S, St. Cloud. Registration required: $19 for Chamber members; $29 for the general public.

May 21: Business showcase featuring 11 Waite Park businesses, at the Waite Park Pavilion, 151 13th Ave. N. June 18: Hosted by Big Brothers Big Sisters with a presentation by Chamber volunteer committee chairs on “How to Get Involved at the Chamber.” Location TBD.

May 22 & June 26 May 7 & June 4

May 9 & June 13

Lunchtime Learning

Government Affairs

Educational networking events that give busy professionals a chance to stay on the cutting edge. Meets the first Wednesday of the month, noon - 1 p.m. at the Chamber office, 110 6th Ave. S. Registration is required: $15 for Chamber members, $22 for the general public.

A discussion of local government issues on the second Friday of the month, 7:30 - 9 a.m. at the Chamber office, 110 6th Ave. S.

Quinlivan & Hughes announces Board

May 7: Sponsored by Falcon National Bank, with Steve Joul, Central MN Community Foundation, presenting “The Benefits of Building Social Capital”

Quinlivan & Hughes elected Luke Seifert as secretary of the board. Seifert joins returning board members Ronald Brandenburg, chief financial officer, and Steven Schwegman, chief executive officer.

June 4: Sponsored by riteSOFT, with Dawn Zimmerman, The Write Advantage, presenting “So You Have a LinkedIn Profile. Now What?”

Seifert Brandenburg Schwegman

May 21 & June 18

B u s i n e s s C e n t r a l M a g a z i n e • • M a Y / JUNE 2 0 1 4

May 9: Legislative emerging topics June 13: Legislative wrap-up with state legislators

May 15 & June 5

Business After Hours A complimentary open house for Chamber members and guests. Bring lots of business cards and prepare to grow your network! 4:30 - 6:30 p.m. May 15: hosted by Holiday Inn & Suites, 17 37th Ave. S, St. Cloud

Sauk Rapids Chamber For businesses interested in Sauk Rapids issues. Lunch is provided by the host when you register at least two days in advance. 11:30 a.m. - 1 p.m. May 22: Hosted by Pinecone Vision Center at Sauk Rapids Park Pavilion, 1001 River Ave. N, Sauk Rapids. Includes a presentation on “The Affordable Care Act – Where are We Today?” by Bridget Faber, Mahowald Insurance. June 26: Hosted by Falcon National Bank at the Sauk Rapids Park Pavilion, 1001 River Ave. N, Sauk Rapids. Includes a presentation on the Greater St. Cloud Development Corporation by Patti Gartland. For information on these or other business events, call 320-251-2940.

new AT the top

CSB announces new president

ary Hinton has been selected as the 15th president of the College of Saint Benedict. Hinton, who currently serves as the vice

president for academic affairs at Mount Saint Mary College in Newburgh, NY, will take office on June 15, 2014. The appointment was made after a unanimous vote by the College of Saint Benedict Board of Trustees and was announced by Lynn Newman, chair of the CSB Board of Trustees and a co-chair of the CSB Presidential Search Committee. “The CSB Board of Trustees was impressed with Dr. Hinton’s breadth and depth of experience as a scholar and senior-level administrator in higher

education,” Newman said. “Her commitment to residential, liberal arts education is evident, and her passion for the advancement of women and her belief in our Benedictine values align well with the CSB mission. We are confident that she will be an outstanding president of CSB.” At Mount Saint Mary College, a Dominican college, Hinton provides senior administrative leadership for academic affairs, enrollment management, planning, assessment and institutional research, and student affairs, among other areas. BC

N E WS R EE L Meester joins Bremer Aaron Meester recently joined the Meester business banking team at Bremer St. Cloud. Meester most recently worked in business banking at Bremer in Marshall where he was a vice president and business banking team lead.

ProcessPro adds staff ProcessPro has hired Cameron Christianson Christianson as a client support specialist. Christianson obtained a Bachelor’s of Applied Science degree in Information Technology and most recently worked as a specialty machine operator for Woodcraft Industries.

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UPFRONT NETWORK

N E WS R EE L GATR receives Dealer of the Year award GATR Truck Center was named the Volvo Parts Dealer of the Year for 2013. This award is based on customer service and growth. GATR, a full service truck dealer, has locations in Sauk Rapids, and Cedar Rapids and Des Moines, IA.

Miller joins PineCone Vision Dr. Danise Miller, OD joins PineCone Vision Center as Miller director of vision therapy services. Miller is an as adjunct professor of optometry and has advanced training in vision therapy.

Mathew Hall receives national recognition Mathew Hall Lumber received the 2013 Excellence Award for Marketing from ProSales, a bi-monthly, national magazine. LBM Journal featured Loren, John and Dan Hall on the cover of the November/December issue. Mathew Hall celebrates 125 years in business this year.

St. Benedict’s earns five-star rating St. Benedict’s Senior Community earned a fivestar rating by the Center for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). The CMS Five-Star Quality Rating System rates the nation’s nursing facilities on a one- to five-star scale, with five being the highest. Facilities are rated on health care inspections, quality measures, and staffing.

PEOPLE to KNOW

St. Cloud Area Leadership Graduates Congratulations to the following people who graduated from the St. Cloud Area Chamber Leadership program in May. If you are looking for volunteers to serve on boards and committees, these individuals are a good place to start. Sarah Barthel Bremer

Jared Henriksen Strack Companies

Tom Martin KDV, Ltd.

Monica Segura-Schwartz Catholic Charities

Kathy Boeckman Rasmussen College

Casey Howell Goodwill Easter Seals

Brian Mehr Park Industries

Stacey Seviola Conway, Deuth & Schmiesing, PLLP

Shawn Brannan All Elements, Inc.

Dan Jacobs Viking Coca-Cola Bottling Company

Sharon Meschke St. Cloud VA Health Care System

Adam Smith Stearns History Museum

Don Christenson Great River Federal Credit Union

Nancy Kircher Stearns-Benton Employment & Training Council

Tom Monson Minnwest Bank M.V.

Jim Staska Executive Express

April Diederich Proviant Group

Lynn Knopp Park Industries

Kim Nowack Netgain

Katie Trosdahl GNP Company

Heidi Everett St. Cloud Technical & Community College

Margaret Kotula Home Instead Senior Care

Shawn Oglesby St. Cloud VA Health Care System

Lisa Vollbrecht City of St. Cloud

Dan Folsom Design Tree Engineering

Brandon Lotz Freightliner of St. Cloud

Florence Orionzi

Mark Wolvert W. Gohman Construction Co.

Wendy Gilk GNP Company

Blair LyerlySamuelson St. Cloud Area School District #742-Community Ed.

Beth Putz Custom Accents, Inc.

Meer awarded scholarship Dan Meer, owner of CW Outfitting, received the “Power and Potential” Scholarship for veterans from Brian Hart, Sandler Training. Meer was awarded one year of membership in Sandler Training’s President’s Club. Barry Kirchoff, St. Cloud Small Business Development Compiled by Whitney Bina. For consideration in News Council, nominated MeerReel for sendscholarship. your news release to givers@ the

LEARNING TO BECOME A BETTER LEADER St. Cloud Area Leadership: •• Grooms leaders who will contribute to your company •• Provides professional networking opportunities and enhanced community connections

BusinessCentralMagazine.com

B u s i n e s s C e n t r a l M a g a z i n e • • M a Y / JUNE 2 0 1 4

•• Helps employees develop greater personal vision and confidence •• Reinforces skills and imparts new knowledge to employees

•• Provides greater understanding and a broader perspective of key issues in Central Minnesota •• Encourages networking among emerging and established leaders

PEOPLE to KNOW

NOW ONLINE

APPLY TODAY

Roxanne Ryan, WACOSA Chair, St. Cloud Area Chamber Leadership Program (320) 251-0087, ext. 223 rryan@wacosa.org

Applications for the Leadership program are available online at www.StCloudAreaChamber.com, select “Programs” then “Leadership.”

Roger Schleper, Premier Real Estate Services Vice Chair, St. Cloud Area Chamber Leadership Program (320) 259-4554 Roger@PremierHomeSearch.com

Applications must be submitted by May 31 to the St. Cloud Area Chamber of Commerce, PO Box 487, St. Cloud, MN 56302. Individuals who represent an ethnic/minority community perspective are encouraged to apply. For more information about participating in the 2014-15 St. Cloud Area Leadership program, call Gail Ivers at 320-251-2940, ext. 109 or

St. Cloud Area Leadership is designed to help current and emerging leaders understand the dynamics of the community and the role leadership shares in building healthy communities. This program brings together men and women of diverse backgrounds who share a common commitment to the future of the St. Cloud area.

givers@StCloudAreaChamber.com.

Caring for Generations People of all ages are important to us. Since 1928, our team of compassionate healthcare professionals has provided exceptional care for families across central Minnesota—like Rose’s family. For four generations, they’ve chosen St. Cloud Medical Group for every stage of their family’s health. For every stage of life, we provide the same genuine care and respect for patients we had when we started 86 years ago. South Campus

Northwest Campus

Clearwater Clinic

Cold Spring Clinic

320-251-8181

320-202-8949

320-558-2293

320-685-8641

Family Medicine + OB/GYN + Pediatrics + Express Care + Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation + Occupational Medicine + Surgery

StCloudMedical.com

SCMG Business Central.indd 1

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UPFRONT NETWORK

N E WS R EE L

Getting GOing

Fun or Profit?

HatlingFlint adds staff Emily Bertram joins HatlingFlint, as an Bertram account manager. Bertram is a graduate from St. Cloud State University’s Herberger Business School. She earned a bachelor’s degree in marketing and has previous experience in account management.

Learning to strike a balance with time is one of the keys to success.

s this for fun or profit?” The phrase is one I’ve grown accustomed to using over the past few years. It wasn’t a part of my vernacular when I served in a public sector role since, back then, my time was “owned” by a school district. Today, I have come to better understand what business owners have always known: “Time is money.” In fact, time – supported by any expertise I might hold – is the only real commodity I have for sale.

G.L. Berg receives top award G.L. Berg Entertainment, Performing Artists & Speakers won the “Best Of” Award as the top entertainment provider for the fifth time in the past eight years. The award is determined by a reader poll in Minnesota Meetings & Events magazine.

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Many of my clients come from the public sector, and some are used to that other time model. I was asked, in the first year of consultancy, to book a daylong engagement hundreds of miles away from home. There began a dutiful preparation and, when I finally inquired to whom I should send a bill, the long pause signaled that our expectations weren’t mutually held. One side thought the work was for free and the other for fee…

“So, am I going to get paid for this?” seemed too crude an approach. “Is this for fun or profit?” quickly became the preferred inquiry. It offers the suggestion that I might be open to a pro bono arrangement, but it makes clear that the engagement under discussion is still a business transaction. Interestingly, this has seldom been a point of confusion with private sector clients who seem to have an

People helping people. It’s a simple concept that over 50,000 of your friends and neighbors in Central Minnesota have already discovered. We invite you to see how we can make a difference with your personal or business finances. Ryan Davidson Branch Lender

1300 Elm Street East, St. Joseph 888.330.8482 | myCMCU.org facebook.com/myCMCU Federally Insured by NCUA

B u s i n e s s C e n t r a l M a g a z i n e • • M a Y / JUNE 2 0 1 4

N E WS R EE L implicit understanding that some type of “consideration” is fundamental to most any exchange. Someone “gives” you something and you “give” that entity something tangible in return. This is not always the case with nonprofit and public sector work. Some potential clients seem far more used to operating on a kind of organizational barter system, a virtual quid pro quo. One school district might send a trainer to another knowing that the favor will someday be returned. Sometimes, the organization asking for a service has a sense that, since it is in the nonprofit sector, the time it is requesting should come at no or low cost, too, no matter who is providing it. Besides, schools and nonprofits count on having volunteers in their midst to make their own business plans work. Of course, a project that is truly rewarding has elements of both fun and profit. As a sole proprietor, I have the luxury of finding my own way with each opportunity. Some of the most genuinely profitable work secured in recent years has started because I first went in it for fun. There is great value in growing connections and in establishing bona fides through the strategic gift of time. But, it ultimately takes a tangible reward to pay the bills. As in most things in life, finding the best balance with time is one key to (business) success. BC

About the writer Greg Vandal is the sole proprietor of Vox Liberi, a consulting business that delivers planning and project management services to clients in the public, private, and nonprofit sectors. He is also a partner in PEER* Solutions, a business that delivers Professional Educator Evaluation Resources in the public school sector. Greg can be reached at greg.vandal@ voxliberi.com or through www.peersolutions-usa.com.

Bateman

Laraway

Wayne

Laraway earns industry distinction; adds staff Steve Laraway, president and CEO of Laraway Financial Advisors, recently earned the Chartered Financial Consultant (ChFC) designation from the American College of Financial Services. •• Bill Bateman and Chris Wayne joined Laraway Financial as investment representatives. Bateman has over 40 years of investment, annuity and life insurance experience. Wayne has 12 years of experience in retirement and estate planning for individuals, families and small businesses.

Marco promotes; McCann receives award Marco promoted the following employees: • Todd Barnes, director of client onboarding • James Holweger, director of internal systems • Brian Jaenisch, vCIO & network administration manager • Leah Johnson, service delivery manager • Amber Schoenherr, vendor relations manager • Wanda Schroeder, director of client services • Christy Wells, purchasing manager ImageSource Magazine awarded Ann McCann, IT/ Voice sales manager at Marco, with the McCann 2014 Outstanding Trailblazer In The Channel Award. McCann was voted highest by her peers surveyed in the office channel for her exceptional leadership that has led to exemplary business results within office technology and services in the imaging channel. Compiled by Whitney Bina. For consideration in News Reel send your news release to givers@ BusinessCentralMagazine.com

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UPFRONT NETWORK

REGIONAL ROUNDUP

Waite Park Chamber Leadership NETWORK! The Waite Park Chamber hosts Waite Park After Hours twice

a year for all Chamber members and their guests.

Tim Schmidt Rejuv Medical, volunteer chair

Andrea Lodermeier Minnwest Bank, volunteer vice chair

Grow! Expanding the public safety staff. Training firefighters. Building a new library. These are just a few of the goals addressed during the 2014 Waite Park State of the City address, hosted by the Waite Park Chamber and Falcon National Bank in February. Though it is one of the smallest communities in the St. Cloud metro area, Waite Park faces significant public safety challenges as they deal with transient crime passing through their community. Police Chief Dave Bentrude

Gloria Vande Brake, Minuteman Press and Jim Gruenke, Mark J. Traut Wells

Kristen Berreau and Roger Bechtold, St. Cloud Overhead Door

praised the cooperation from area law enforcement, but pointed out that even though serious crime has increased in the city by 45 percent since 2003, the public safety staff has seen almost no change. He discussed the possibility of alternative funding sources, such as a public safety sales tax, that could be used to help offset expenses to city residents for crimes caused by nonresidents. Even as he suggested the possibility he admitted that such a novel approach would be an uphill battle, requiring legislative approval.

Dee Rengel, Rengel Printing (L) and Kim Orn, American Cancer Society

Curt Rock, principal of Discovery School, hosts the Waite Park Chamber

The Fire Department enjoyed a number of successes in 2013, including the creation of a capital improvement plan and recommendations for moving forward with their standard operating guidelines, according to Fire Chief Jim Aleshire. Retirements are a challenge for the department, which plans to add three new firefighters in 2014. A big focus for the department is training their new and existing firefighters. Parks and trails take center stage for 2014 public works projects, according to director

Melinda Tamm, Ms. Melinda’s Dance Studio (L) and Jessica Lewis, Anna Marie’s Alliance

Dickey’s BBQ provides food at the Waite Park Chamber After Hours hosted by St. Cloud Overhead Door

Bill Schluenz. The department is hoping to secure additional funding for the Lake Wobegon Trail, Schluenz said, as well as construct the new Library Park and identify future parkland.

Profit! Business growth and development continues in Waite Park with the construction and expansion of several companies, including: ••BioLife Plasma •• Rejuv Medical ••Willow Park Senior Living •• Tactical Advantage

Did you knoW? Of the criminal cases sent to the Stearns County Attorney’s office by Stearns

County municipalities, Waite Park is third, behind only St. Cloud and Stearns County.

B u s i n e s s C e n t r a l M a g a z i n e • • M a Y / JUNE 2 0 1 4

$$ $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ $$$$$ $$$$$$$ $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ $ Advance $$$$$$To $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ Your Business. $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $$$$$$ $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ $$$$$ $$$$$$$ $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ $$ $$Providing $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ $$$$loans... $$$$$business customized $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ Woodworking Restaurant Counseling Retail Franchise $$$$$ $607,500 $4,725,000 $150,000 $298,000 $762,300

Fast Financing

NETWORK! The Waite Park Chamber meets on the third Wednesday of the month from 11:30 a.m. - 1 p.m. at various locations. For a complete schedule visit WaiteParkChamber.com. To host a Waite Park Chamber meeting contact Tim Schmidt, tim@rejuvmedical. com or Andrea Lodermeier, andreal@ minnwestbankgroup.com. BC

St. Cloud

Sartell

St. Cloud

Rogers

Let us get the job done for you!

Call 320.253.6607

By The Numbers

Public safety staffing then and now.

2014

Police chief

Deputy chief

2 detective & SRO

3 sergeants

2 sergeants

7 patrol officers

10 patrol officers

1 part time patrol officer

2 part time patrol officers

1 administrative assistant

1 police secretary

1 community service officer

1 temporary secretary

2 part time police secretaries

6,953

the number of serious (part 1) crimes committed in Waite Park in 2003

PROUD OF

YEARS

FOCUSED ONTHE FUTURE

RiveR’s edge convention centeR | St. Cloud, MN

2005

10,068

the number of serious crimes committed in Waite Park in 2012

62% the percentage of crimes cleared by

Waite Park Police Department in 2012. Source: Waite Park Police Dept.

RiveR’s edge convention centeR | St. Cloud, MN

COMMERCIAL CONSTRUCTION PROJECT MANAGEMENT REAL ESTATE SERVICES 320.251.5933 | 888.678.7225 | StrackCompanies.com

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TOP HATS | Milestones

TOP HATS | New Locations, Ownership & Expansions 25 year Chamber member Hess Partners Insurance Agency, 31 33rd Ave. N, St. Cloud. Pictured: Diane Ohmann, Bob Hess, Lisa Stoermann, Jeff Hess, Roger Hess and Bob Lien.

Advantage I Insurance, 3801 3rd St. N, St. Cloud. Pictured: Dave Borgert, Ted Plombon and Shannon Templin.

25 year Chamber member HMA Architects, Ltd., 501 St. Germain, St. Cloud. Pictured: Jill Magelssen, Murray Mack and Shannon Templin.

J. F. Kruse Jewelers, 110 Waite Ave. S, St. Cloud. Pictured: Diane Ohmann, Jim Kruse, Melissa Kelley and Brian Jarl.

25 year Chamber member Schoenberg Construction, Inc., custom home builder, home additions and remodeling, general contractor, 3040 36th Ave.SE, St. Cloud. Pictured: Tauna Quimby, Craig Schoenberg and Bob Lien.

College of Saint Scholastica, 137 23rd St. S, Sartell. Pictured: Sheila Tepley, Rick Butte and Dave Borgert.

25 year Chamber member Stearns History Museum, 235 33 Ave. S, St. Cloud. Pictured: Bob Lien, Tim Hoheisel and Diane Ohmann.

Unique Portrait Design, 48 3rd St. NE, Waite Park. Pictured: Inese Mehr, David and Amber Gardinar, and Diane Ohmann.

Cartridge World, refilled and recycled ink and toner cartridges for less, 3411 Division St., St. Cloud. Pictured: Shannon Templin, Abby Ebner, Mike Gunderson and Brian Jarl.

Continuing to Make a Difference!

Ciatti’s at work.

Celebrating 42 Years of Excellence in Caring for You!

Full-menu delivery and catering! You don’t have to leave the office to enjoy Ciatti’s. We deliver just about everything on the menu, including a special catering menu for meetings and parties. Visit CiattisRistorante.com for info. 2635 West Division Street Saint Cloud 320-257-7900 CiattisRistorante.com Delivery by

RE/MAX Results, real estate, 3950 3rd St. N, St. Cloud. Pictured: Greg Theis, Don Porter, Nick Novak, Lisa Barnier, Gary Barnier, Kris Hellickson and Inese Mehr.

Accredited by Accreditation Association for Ambulatory Health Care, Inc.

St. Cloud Surgical Center 1526 Northway Drive • St. Cloud • 251-8385 • 800-349-7272 www.stcsurgicalcenter.com

RISTORANTE

22 B u s i n e s s C e n t r a l M a g a z i n e • • M a Y / JUNE 2 0 1 4 ciattis_bus_cen_ad.indd 3

3/28/14 3:58 PM

TOP HATS | New Members

TOP HATS | New Businesses Lily’s Wings & Things, LLC, chicken wing restaurant with dine-in, take-out, delivery, and catering, 2106 Veterans Drive, St. Cloud. Pictured: Diane Ohmann, Steve Ehlen, Kelli Ehlen and Inese Mehr.

Innovative HR Solutions, 60181 320th Street, Wadena. Pictured: Brenda Eisenschenk, Lisa Reddick, Janice Price and Dave Borgert.

Fabulous Armadillos, Central Minnesota’s largest drawing band, 110 10th Ave. S, St. Cloud. Pictured: Diane Ohmann, Gregory Armstrong and Inese Mehr.

Accurate Home Care, LLC, home health care, 300 E St. Germain St., St. Cloud. Pictured: Diane Ohmann, Hailey Fischer, Linda Fiecke, Sheili Hrubetz, and Holly Greenside.

Summit Companies, a full service provider of Life Safety fire protection services, 418 Great Oak Drive, Waite Park. Pictured: Brian Jarl, John O’Donoghue, Ryan Edwards, Jeff Jacobson, and Dave Borgert.

5 Star Brand Imaging, provides branding solutions to small and mid-size businesses, 1717 Grizzly Lane, Sartell. Pictured: Dave Borgert, John Martin and Tauna Quimby.

Granite Community Bank, 202 2nd Ave. S, Cold Spring. Pictured: Inese Mehr, Rollo Campe, Bob Lewellyn, Gerald Reiter, Jim Eiynck and Diane Ohmann.

Ground (FX) Media, unique advertising options that get you noticed, 1201 Cottonwood Rd, St. Cloud. Pictured: Chris Panek, Kipp Hardison and Jayne Greeney Schill.

Krillan, Inc., screen printing, embroidery and private labels with a focus on the artistry of apparel design, 616 21st Ave. N, St. Cloud. Pictured: Luke Cesnik, Trent Swanson, Tron Swanson and Dave Borgert. Frozen Yogurt Creations, with 21 rotating flavors and over 90 toppings including fresh baked cookies and waffle wedges made in house. 326 3rd St. NE, Waite Park. Pictured: Sheila Tepley, Ruth Francour, Isaac Francour and Diane Ohmann

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UPFRONT NETWORK

Network Central

Profıt!

The annual Central Minnesota Farm Show attracted over 3,500 visitors to the River’s Edge Convention Center in February. The show features almost 300 vendors displaying farm equipment, supplies, and services. This year attendees also had the opportunity to participate in two free educational seminars. The Farm Show is sponsored by the St. Cloud Area Chamber of Commerce. Farm show photos by Amber Gardiner, Unique Portrait Design

B u s i n e s s C e n t r a l M a g a z i n e • • M a Y / JUNE 2 0 1 4

Network Central

Grow!

The Chamber’s winter Lunchtime Learning series covered everything from prospecting for sales to motivating employees.

Brenda Eisenschenk, InteleCONNECT, Inc.

Kristen Berreau, St. Cloud Overhead Door

Mardi Noyes, Catholic Charities

Dr. John Eller, St. Cloud State University

Dr. Bruce Miles, Big River Group

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Entrepreneurism

Working Well

28 Tech Strategies

Management Toolkit

Entrepreneurism

Economy Central

BUSINESS TOOLS

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RESOURCES THAT HELP YOUR BUSINESS GROW

Entrepreneurism

Beware the Details

TECH NEWS

It’s often the mundane concerns that catch the new business owner unaware. Here is a ten-point checklist from the U.S. Small Business Administration to help you get your new business started. l Obtain a merchant account From mobile credit card readers to virtual terminals, a merchant account is what is used to accept credit cards, get cash and make money as a company. l Get a business credit card For real personal and business separation, a business owner needs a credit card exclusively for business purchases. l Choose an entity structure (For more on this topic see “Creating Structure” by Betsey Lund, Franz Hultgren Evenson, P.A. in the March 2014 issue of Business Central.) l Obtain a Business Tax Identification Number Also known as a Federal Tax Identification Number or EIN, it’s the corporate equivalent to a social security number but used for businesses. This nine-digit number is assigned by the IRS to business entities operating in the U.S. l Choose a business address A virtual business address or commercial location is ideal for small businesses.

l Set up a business phone number Dedicate a phone number exclusively for business that can also be listed in major directories. l Establish a web presence A company web site and social media presence is just as important today as having a business phone number or email address. l Open a business bank account A small business bank account will be your most important tool for managing your company’s finances. This will also allow you to completely separate your personal banking activities from your company’s.

B u s i n e s s C e n t r a l M a g a z i n e • • M a Y / JUNE 2 0 1 4

l Get a business debit card A useful and convenient tool as opposed to writing business checks. Make sure you add overdraft protection to your small business bank account to avoid any potential overdrafts. l Plan a business funding strategy Many businesses fail due to lack of funding. Source: U.S. Small Business Administration

Online now For more information visit www.BusinessCentral Magazine.com

Levitation

NeuroSky’s Puzzlebox Orbit

is a helicopter you fly with your mind. The gadget includes an EEG headset worn by users that reads their brainwaves. While wearing the headset, the user sets a target to concentrate on, and when they achieve a certain level of focused concentration, the helicopter lifts off. Now if they can just get it to work with the coffee machine.... Source: Tech News Daily

Mobile Marketing’s Future?

Thanks to Sonic Notify technology, companies can trigger mobile notifications within apps at precise times or specific locations. Imagine walking into a coffee shop and receiving a personalized drink deal on your smartphone upon entry. Or, receiving an automated mobile thank-you note for watching a film, exactly an hour after leaving the theater. Sonic technology can be integrated into in-store radio broadcasts, TV shows, movies, sporting events or live concerts. Source: Mashable

Working WELL

Top 10 from the health care law’s new insurance marketplaces. T

People in much of Minnesota are getting the best bargains

he cheapest cost regions tend to have robust competition between hospitals and doctors, allowing insurers to wangle lower rates. Many doctors work on salary in these regions rather than being paid by procedure, weakening the financial incentive to perform

more procedures. The lowest monthly silver premium in the country is offered in the MinneapolisSt. Paul region, where a 40-yearold will pay $154 a month for a PreferredOne plan. Just across the Wisconsin border, that same level plan — but with

a different insurer and other doctors and hospitals — costs nearly three times as much. Insurers were able to negotiate low rates with hospitals and doctors in the Twin Cities because they could choose among four major health care systems.

Most counties in central and northern Minnesota also have premiums that are among the lowest in the nation. For the complete story, plus links to the Top Ten Lowest Premium Regions and Top Ten Highest Premium Regions visit www.BusinessCentralMagazine.com

Here’s how most of Minnesota stacks up:

$154

$164

Minneapolis-St. Paul. Anoka, Carver, Dakota, Hennepin, Ramsey, Scott, Sherburne and Washington counties.

Pittsburgh and Northwestern Pennsylvania. Allegheny, Armstrong, Beaver, Butler, Crawford, Erie, Fayette, Greene, Indiana, Lawrence, McKean, Mercer, Warren, Washington and Westmoreland counties.

$166

$171

Middle Minnesota. Benton, Stearns and Wright counties.

Northwestern Minnesota. Clearwater, Kittson, Mahnomen, Marshall, Norman, Pennington, Polk and Red Lake counties.

$167 Tucson, Ariz. Pima County.

Source: Kaiser Health News (KHN) and National Public Radio (NPR)

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MIN NE S

BUSINESS TOOLS G R OW

tech Strategies

Twitter vs. Facebook These two forms of social media have completely different business models with very different value propositions. If you’re treating them the same, you’re wasting your time. By Dawn Zimmerman

hat’s the difference between Facebook and Twitter? Almost everything. Here’s a look at a few of the core differences:

The People (your audience) Twitter is more of a business medium than a mass medium, which Facebook has become. Facebook continues to engage more women and an older audience looking to connect

with family and old friends while Twitter has a stronger base of young professionals. Twitter’s main focus is leaders or people in the public eye. In a recent S-1 IPO filing, Twitter describes its users as “people who want to follow the news” and specifically calls out world leaders, government officials, celebrities, athletes, journalists, sports teams, media outlets, and brands.

Information (what you share – and see) Twitter tends to be more about news – especially breaking news with quick facts or insider information, while Facebook is more relational. Name a major news story in the last two or three years and it’s likely it broke on Twitter first. It used to be by average Twitter users reporting what they saw. Now organizations and high-profile individuals are using it to release their news, too. With only 144 characters, Twitter challenges businesses to really know what they want to convey. It’s more about one liners that drive followers to the company’s website or another source for more information. Words matter most. Twitter is far less visual than Facebook. Twitter helps organizations push out information while Facebook focuses on pulling in and responding. Viral Nature (where your message goes) The information shared on Twitter can spread far more quickly than anything posted on Facebook, no matter how many followers you have. Studies show that 50 percent of people learn about breaking news on Twitter –

About the writer Dawn Zimmerman is CEO of The Write Advantage, a St. Cloud-based communications company that specializes in social media.

B u s i n e s s C e n t r a l M a g a z i n e • • M a Y / JUNE 2 0 1 4

and it’s not because they are all on Twitter. Twitter is built for trends and hot topics and attracts people interested in knowing – and sharing – news. So, a welltimed tweet can go viral.

Relationships (how you connect) Both Facebook and Twitter help users build relationships. Facebook is more personal and focused on deeper – and longer – engagement. Twitter opens doors. It’s common to connect with people after hearing them speak at an event, meeting them for the first time or without ever meeting them at all. Users can follow their favorite authors, industry experts or public figures, then connect with them by retweeting or tagging them in posts. Simplicity (how to use it) Twitter is a no frills social platform. Users do not need to tweet daily, weekly, or even at all. This allows businesses – or leaders – to tweet as much as they want when they have something to say and then not at all. It’s focused on real-time information. To be visible in the newsfeed on Facebook, on the other hand, businesses need to post almost every day. This is the year of Twitter. Have you tried it? Start by following news sources or organizations you like. When you’re ready, you can retweet (AKA share it) or quote tweet (add a comment with it). Interaction on Twitter is optional – for now. BC

tech NEWS

On-the-Go Charging

Tired of carrying an extra battery pack or scrambling to find an outlet when your low battery warning flashes? Such problems may be a thing of the past with clothes that double as mobile charging solutions. The choices are limited at the moment, but they do include Orange Power Wellies (rain boots seen in picture on left); t-shirts that use noise-responsive technology; intelligent textiles used for military uniforms; and running shoes that generate electricity from pressure. Source: Mashable To see the entire list, visit www.BusinessCentralMagazine.com.

Passé Passwords Authentication technologies may soon replace the password. This process has already started with fingerprint authentication capabilities included on a number of new mobile devices. Biometric technology and other new approaches to identity security are on the horizon — all aimed specifically at eliminating passwords as the primary way that people prove who they are in the online world. Source: Wired

DID YOU KNOW? Konica Minolta Business Solutions U.S.A. presented Marco with the 2014 Pro-Tech Service Excellence Award. The award recognizes those Konica Minolta dealerships that demonstrate the highest commitment to customer support and satisfaction.

www.bdiphoto.com • 1-320-253-9493

Still and moving images for business communication.

M a y / j u n E 2 0 1 4 • • w w w. B u s i n e s s C e n t r a l M a g a z i n e . c o m

BUSINESS TOOLS G R OW

Management TOOLKIT

Tricks of the Trade…Show Tradeshows are still a good venue for finding prospects. By mary macdonell belisle – wording for you

rade shows are alive and well! This is the 11th straight year of consecutive trade show growth for the U.S., according to the Center for Exhibition Industry Research. Companies still have the energy (and the smarts) to prospect for new business at industry venues. Here are a few “tricks” of the show trade. 1 Articulate goals. Stephanie Kadlec, marketing director for Park Industries, a Waite Park stone fabricator and manufacturer, explained her

company appears at three national shows for stone dealers, countertop fabricators, and quarriers. Park Industries stages new product rollouts, education, and targets three prospects for a future Digital Stoneworking Expo, a fullday demonstration event at a prospective buyer’s location. St. Cloud Overhead Door staff attend 14 tradeshows yearly, according to Marketing Director Kristen Berreau. These include farm, home, lumberyard shows, and the Minnesota Association of School Maintenance Supervisors

About the writer Mary MacDonell Belisle is a St. Cloud freelance writer Visit her website at: www.wordingforyou.com.

B u s i n e s s C e n t r a l M a g a z i n e • • M a Y / JUNE 2 0 1 4

Video and music, highlighting products on big screens, can bring visitors to the booth says Stephanie Kadlec, Park Industries conference. The goal? Distribute information and secure leads. 2 Staff your booth effectively. If your team is huddled around the candy bowl, shame on you. Five to15 individuals staff Park Industry’s 50’x20’ booth, Kadlec said. All wear color-coded logo t-shirts and understand their roles. Some greet, some prospect, and some handle technical questions. All help visitors feel comfortable. 3 Position yourself. Roger Taylor, of A&N Convention Services, said it’s important to

position your booth near an activity-generating effort––food stand, lounge, coffee station, or stage. Being the first stall in a row of booths is also effective. However, if your exhibit is the first one visitors encounter when entering the hall, traffic congestion could be a problem. People will rush by you to avoid the crush around the entrance. 4 Visually attract. Berreau advised using bright colors, simple messages, and the company’s logo in an impressive way, such as a large banner. Kadlec agreed, saying her

employer has used a 12 foot long helium blimp to attract attention. Hiring a professional designer to handle the details, said Berreau, can also be worthwhile. 5 Engage visitors. Berreau touted the use of prize drawings. Twins’ tickets, VISA gift cards, gas cards, and discounts toward the purchase of a garage door are incentives that work for St. Cloud Overhead Door. Drawings aren’t effective for Park Industries’ big-ticket items, said Kadlec. Instead, they use video and music on three large screens to highlight products and bring visitors to the booth. Staff scan name badges, explaining that company representatives will follow-up. Salespeople should ask questions to determine who gets their time and energy, said Brian Hart, Sandler Training. Look for a decision, even if it’s a “NO.” Sift good prospects from “suspects,” he said, because sometimes it’s worse to have too many leads rather than too few. 6 Anticipate trouble. Bring tools, dolly, cart, and a ladder if you’re moving the booth yourself, advised A&N’s Taylor. Don’t rely on the venue. If you’re using a freight company, pay those extra dollars to ensure your booth reaches the destination well before you do. BC

MORE businEss. When it comes to money and management you will find more bright ideas and St. Cloud area business here. More entrepreneurial spirit, more professionals, more trends, innovators and more jobs. And with more national coverage from USA TODAY, you’ll gain an edge that can’t be found anywhere else. If it matters to you, you’ll find the whole story here.

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BUSINESS TOOLS G R OW

Entrepreneurism

Fear Not

Success in sales means redefining your “R” and “I.” By Brian Hart

ou’d probably be surprised if you were watching “Dangerous Jobs” on television and the featured occupation was Professional Salesperson, right? Compared to being a bomb defuser, tornado chaser or smoke jumper, selling doesn’t sound that scary. Nevertheless, it is my experience that fear is a significant factor that, unchecked, can prevent attaining sales success. There is a wide spectrum of things to be afraid of. Sales people are sometimes afraid they won’t make quota this month, that the prospect they are cold calling will yell at them and then hang up, or that the proposal they’ve been asked to create is merely a “we need three quotes” formality - the business is going to the buyer’s sister-in-law. But by far the biggest hobgoblin is a fear of rejection. In sales, we hear “No” a lot more than we hear “Yes.” The timid salesperson takes “No” personally. The professional salesperson understands that “What you R is not who you I.” Huh?

Each of us is made up of two entities, our Identity and our Roles. Our Identity consists of our self-concept and self-worth. Our Roles include all of the parts we play in our lives - as husband, wife, father, mother, golfer, cook, salesperson, etc. The problem is that most of us do not know how to separate our identity from our roles. We were taught that success is measured externally, by what others think of us, not internally, by how we feel about ourselves. Think back to school. When we were successful in class we got good grades and were made to feel that our worth increased. When we failed, we got the message that we were “worth” less— not as a role player, but as a human being. As we grew and this pattern repeated, we mistakenly equated role failure with identity failure. But role failure, or role success for that matter, should have no effect on our self-image. It is merely a measure of how well we are doing in our acquired roles. Role performance in no way measures worth as a human being. If you understand the difference between who you

We were taught that success is measured externally, by what others think of us, not internally, by how we feel about ourselves. “I” and what you “R,” you will be able to break out of your comfort zone and act with courage. Instead of fearing a “No,” you can actually work hard to get a “No” in place of a noncommittal “I need to think it over.” Sure, a “Yes” is great, but if our prospect can’t say “Yes” for whatever reason, it is better to get a “No” sooner rather than later. Then we can move on to identify our next

opportunity instead of wasting time chasing someone who will never be our customer. Using time wisely is critical to sales success. There will always be “No’s” in sales. They’re part of the job. Don’t fear them, use them to your advantage. They can hasten your success. Remember: “What you R is not who you I.” BC

About the writer Brian Hart is the owner and president of Sandler Training in St. Cloud, specializing in sales, management, and leadership training and development. He can be reached at brain.hart@sandler.com

B u s i n e s s C e n t r a l M a g a z i n e • • M a Y / JUNE 2 0 1 4

Going GREEN

Reconsider Tap Water

f your company purchases bottled water for its employees, consider purchasing a filter and using tap water. You’ll not only decrease the number of plastic bottles that end up as landfill, but also save money. The Environmental Working Group, an environmental health research and advocacy organization, reports that bottled water costs up to 1,900 times more than tap water. The St. Cloud Area Chamber of Commerce made the switch in 2008. After determining that they

were spending over $800 a year in bottled water, they invested in a water filter, nice glasses and pitchers, and still came out ahead in year one. Five years later the savings are over $3,500. The Chamber still purchases bottled water for off-site events, citing convenience for volunteers and staff. Even with these purchases and the filter changes, annual costs now average $70, well below the $800 that used to be spent. BC Sources: Intuit Small Business Blog; St. Cloud Area Chamber of Commerce

M a y / j u n E 2 0 1 4 • • w w w. B u s i n e s s C e n t r a l M a g a z i n e . c o m

ECONOMY CENTRAL PRESENTED BY FALCON BANK

Modest Optimism

Economists predict 2014 will bring another year of modest recovery. By Whitney Bina

52nd Annual Winter Institute Economic Panel (from left): David Jeppson, U.S. Bank, Mark Partridge, Ohio State University, Matt Schoeppner, MN Finance Department, Joe Kucan, SCSU Graduate Assistant, and Rich MacDonald, SCSU

low economic recovery appears to be a recurring theme - in St. Cloud and elsewhere. National, state and local economic leaders shared their predictions for 2014 at the Economic Outlook Panel, part of the 52nd Annual St. Cloud State University Winter Economic Institute. Panel members were David Jeppson, U.S. Bank; Mark Partridge, Ohio State University; Matt Schoeppner, Minnesota Finance Department; and Rich MacDonald, St. Cloud State University. David Jeppson, U.S. Bank Focus: National economy Slow unemployment recovery

remains an issue in 2014. “Employment is improving, but not fast enough,” Jeppson said. “The percentage of long-term unemployed is outstanding.” Besides unemployment, 2014 looks promising for our economy. Large U.S. companies are back on top dominating the world and the outlook for the stock market is positive. “We are finally, finally seeing credit growth,” Jeppson said. “I predict the U.S. economy will continue to modestly expand in 2014.” Mark Partridge, Ohio State University Focus: National economy “In 2014, a lot of headwinds against the U.S. economy are

pulling up, but I don’t see any rapid growth,” Partridge said. “I predict the U.S. economy will modestly recover.” As the year continues, slow job growth becomes the new normal and remains that way until innovation opportunities increase. Causes for concern include: low productivity growth, income inequality, collapse of fiscal discipline, and a slow rise in educational attainment. Matt Schoeppner, Minn. Finance Department Focus: State economy “I’m pretty optimistic moving forward, but we have to get through a few things first,” Schoeppner said. Challenges in 2014 include

the Affordable Care Act, the Dodd Frank Act, and the national unemployment rate. The state’s recovery, however, appears positive. “Minnesota’s economy continues to make solid gains,” Schoeppner said. “Unemployment throughout the state is two percent lower than the nation.” Minnesota also gained back all 150,000 jobs lost in the recession. “Job growth will be modest early in 2014, but picks up at the end of the year,” he said. Overall, Minnesota recovery persists on an encouraging path. Rich MacDonald, St. Cloud State University Focus: Local economy The local economy will slowly recover in 2014, but not without challenges. Construction faces slower growth this year and worker shortages, especially in the manufacturing sectors, will impact Central Minnesota. The St. Cloud area continues to have difficulty finding quality workers. Despite the challenges, optimism remains. “Growth will be faster in 2014 than 2013,” MacDonald said. “St. Cloud doesn’t feel as far away from longrun equilibrium as we are nationally.” BC

About the writer Whitney Bina is the communications and workforce development coordinator at the St. Cloud Area Chamber of Commerce.

B u s i n e s s C e n t r a l M a g a z i n e • • M a Y / JUNE 2 0 1 4

Economy Central presented by

$46,200

Economic Indicators Trends Sartell St. & Cloud

No. of 33 47 44 57 65permits 49 50

91 45

141 143 170 181 167 140 69 7 8 7 13

$0 J

permits 12 No. 16 of150 19 13 57

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49 10

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Compiled by Sharon Henry, data Sauk current as of 4/12/14 Waite Park Rapids

RESIDENTIAL BUILDING RESIDENTIAL PERMITS BUILDING PERMITS

$2M

$250K

$1.5M

$2M

$200K $1.5M

St. CloudWaite Park Sauk Rapids

Sartell

Sartell Sauk Rapids

No. of permits 4

Commercial Building Permits

$2M

$2,119,248

$2,622,023

$2,287,838

$2,704,237

$2,054,485

$3,325,100

$2,750,900

$1.5M

$2,021,194

$1.5M

$2,359,750

$2,284,500

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SM OA NM DJ

RESIDENTIAL BUILDING RESIDENTIAL PERMITS BUILDING PERMITS

Residential Building Permits

Sartell

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RESIDENTIAL BUILDING RESIDENTIAL PERMITS BUILDING PERMITS $2M

No. of permits 13

$4,080,908

$234,300

$3,325,100

141 143 170 181 167 140 69

$2,750,900

A 91

$2,021,194

$2,359,750

$2,284,500 $4,080,908

No. of permits 33 44

$46,200

$16,000

Sartell St. Augusta Waite P Sauk Rapids

COMMERCIAL BUILDING PERMITS, CONSOLIDATED COMMERCIAL BUILDING PERMITS, CONSOLIDA COMMERCIAL BUILDING PERMITS,RESIDENTIAL CONSOLIDATED COMMERCIAL BUILDING PERMITS, RESIDENTIAL CONSOLIDATED COMMERCIAL BUILDING PERMITS, CONSOLIDATED RESIDENTIAL RESIDENTIAL BUILDING PERMITS RESIDENTIAL RESIDENTIA RESIDENTIAL BUILDING PERMITS BUILDING PERMITS BUILDING PERMITS BUILDING PERMITS BUILDING PERMITS RESIDENTIAL BUILDING PERMIT $150K

SM OA NM DJ

No. of 33 47 44 57 65permits 49 50

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141 143 170 181 167 30 1403569 4023 3920 2827 38 7 8 No. 7 of permits 13 $200K $200K

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SM OA NM DJ JJ FA $400K 15 12 11 16 150 7 319 157 140

St. Joe

$200k

$1,000

$600K $0 J AF

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RESIDENTIAL BUILDING PERMITS BUILDING PERMITS RESIDENTIAL $1,000 $500K

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$4,080,908

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$0 SM OA NM DFJ

$12,840,741

$8,241,705

$19,854,821

$17,172,684

$8,024,900

$3,325,100

No. permits 16 of150 19 13 57 $2M

RESIDENTIAL BUILDING PERMITS BUILDING PERMITS RESIDENTIAL

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permits 35 41 21 11 30 150 3 7 of7permits 630 No. 0 of 40 2permits 639 4128 2238 7122 No. 7 10of11 permits 4 57 49of permits 50 47 13 5 4 15 12 16 11 1418 13 52 48 65 27 No.10 11 8 1 45 3 7 6 8 No. 929 of735 8 565 7 319No. 157of permits 140 52 3 48 1 27 No. $800K $400K $800K $400K

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M A

St. CloudWaite Park Sauk Rapids

Sartell

$2,750,900

$2,021,194

$2,359,750

M 12

St. Augusta St. Augusta

$46,200

$16,000

No. of permits 4 $.5M

$.5M

J 20

$800K

$16,000

$231,218

D 23

$600k $0

$250K

$1.5M $.5M

$10,496

$901,692

$800k $50K

$1M

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$8,241,705

$19,854,821

$17,172,684

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141 7 8 143 7170 13 181 167 140 69

$1M

$100K

$405,010

$4,080,908

No. of 57 65permits 49 50 33 47 44 45 91

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$4,080,908

of permits 13

Waite Park Waite Park

$46,200

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$150K

$1.5M

$924,028

$.5M

$2,119,248

No. of permits 13 $2M

$3M $0 J F J

$200K

$4M $46,200

$16,000

$10,496

$.5M

$2M $1M

$1M

$2M

$250K

$5M

$1.5M $.5M

$1M

$1M O N

$234,300

J 20

$1M $0 J A F SM OA NM D J

$231,218

$1.5M

$234,300

D 23

$901,692

167 140 69

$2,622,023

$2,287,838

$2,704,237

$2,054,485

$3M $0 F

$1.5M

$.5M

$4M $46,200

$1M

$1M O N

$.5M

$6M $1M

$2M $1M

$2M

$1M

$5M

$3,325,100

$2,750,900

$1.5M

$2,021,194

$2,359,750

$2,284,500

$231,218

$1.5M

$6M $1M

$2M

St. Joe Waite Park Sauk Rapids

St. Augu

$150K $600K $300K BUILDING PERMITS BUILDING PERMITS BUILDING PERMITS RESIDENTIAL BUILDING PERMITS BUILDING PERMITS RESIDENTIAL BUILDING PERMITS TS,RESIDENTIAL CONSOLIDATED COMMERCIAL BUILDING COMMERCIAL PERMITS, RESIDENTIAL CONSOLIDATED BUILDING PERMITS, CONSOLIDATED COMMERCIAL BUILDING COMMERCIAL BUILDING CONSOLIDATED PERMITS, CONSOLIDATED COMMERCIAL BUILDING COMMERCIAL PERMITS, CONSOLIDATED BUILDING PERMITS, CONSOLID $150K $600K PERMITS, $300K RESIDENTIAL BUILDING PERMITS RESIDENTIAL RESIDENTIAL RESIDENTIAL

$10,496

$.5M

150

$16,000

$200K

$1M $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 N D J F J OA F NM DJ JJ FA A F SM OA NM DFJ JMJ FAA MS JO JN AD J F SM S FO MN AD MJ J F F J J A S FO MN AD MJ J F J $400k 4 permits 48 65 27 No. 10 11 8 41 45 3 7 6 8 No. 929 of735 841 5465 15 7 319No. 157of permits 140 52 3 48 1 27 No. permits 3 7 of7permits 630 No. 35 0 of 40 2 639 4128 2238 7122 No. 21 11 30 150 7 10of11 permits 57 49of permits 50 47 13 5 12 16 11 1418 13

$0 M A JF A S M O N $400k No. 31 of61permits 32 127

$600k

$0 S FM OJ NJ DFA $400k 16 016 No. 0 1 of permits 29 621 418

JM D

A JA

305

S JM

O FA

N M

$400k 11 No. of permits $120k

1 94 2215 718

SM OA NM DJ

$.5M

$200k

O JA

N FM

15 03

18 0 1

41 16

$10,496

$.5M 8

M 1

$0 J

$400K

$500k F M

A O

01 06 $400k

M N

J$500k A

J D

S F OM N A DM J J F J $0 F M

No. of permits 7

$400k

$300k BUILDING PERMITS, CONSOLIDATED $300k COMMERCIAL BUILDING PERMITS, CONSOLIDATED $300K $150k

N D $0 J AF

0.0

$0 $8,000 -0.4

F -0.6M

J F

A M

S A

O M

N J

D J

J A

7 of11 141 413 No. permits

F S O -0.8 10 2

-1.0

$21,733

ST. CLOUD $600k $150k

$600k

200

$0 J

100

$400k

Food & 4.1% ST. CLOUD

0.8 $100k 0.6

$0 $0 $0 J A F SF AO MNF JDM JJ A AF MS JO JN F A D M JS AFO M N J D J$60k 3 $400k 82 No.40 of permits 32 84 7No. 8 of 317 of 0 permits 11 310 11 83 5 8No. 1 8 $400k 17 11 of 9 1012 11 4 7$120k 8 8 416 7 permits 1611 10 10 1111 3 5 10 3 1712 1No. 17permits 150

1.0

150

$100k $10,404 $90k

$100K ST. CLOUD $10,404

2.5%

0 10

0.0

S F OM N A DM J J F J $0 $60k F M

N D $0 J AF

No. of permits 7

4 of 3permits 8 No. 38

7 1

8 7

J $30k A

$3,269,962

1 NM

0 M

$800k

ST. CLOUD

$300k

$600k $150k

XXXX JD

5$120k 0$400k 0

2.4%

JF -0.6 JM AA

16 11 10 141 33

$0 $8,000 -0.4

1.1%

F -0.8 1

SM OJ NJ $0

$60k

DA F

No. of permits 0

-1.0 J F 3rd Quarter

1st Quarter

2nd Quarter

M A M 4th Quarter

M $60k J

2.5%

0.0

-0.2

1.1% F

N M

1.1%

$0 1

2.4%

1st Quarter

-1.0 J F 3rd Quarter

$100k

JJ FA -0.6 2

-0.8

$90k 4 $100k

MINNESOTA

No. of permits 1

$200k J

$150k

15 -1.0 J $30k F M A M 3rd Quarter 4th Quarter

19 of 1permits 8 No. 15 J

J $30k A

6 10 O

6 N

-0.5%

4% N M

2.5% 8 19

FA5

$0 M1 J

J N/A

S M

Minnesota United States

N M

2.0

2.5%

$200k $100k

20 $0

$60k

$200k $90k

4 $100k

2.4%

$150k

-2.5% 1 0

0-3.0%

S O 20 $60k

$100k

3rd F Quarter

4th Quarter 0.8

0 J

F A

$2,135,900

No. 0 of permits 2 1 73

$500k

M $60k J

$0 J

$30k

2.5% 17

N M

JJ 5AF

$100k

1.1% JJ

$200k 8

6 6 $120k

2.4%

M N $0

N/A

$100k

$90k

$60k M J

N D $0 J FA M

No. 6% of permits 1

6 No. 19of permits 1 8 05 0

F 3

XXXX

8%$200k

$0 J

$300k

$150k

$400k AO MN

6 No. 19of permits 1 8 1 5 106 6 $300k 6 198

ST. CLOUD

$500k

10%

$30k Minnesota Nonfarm Jobs Minnesota Nonfarm Jobs

J 1st AQuarter S O 2nd N Quarter D J

3rd F Quarter

4th Quarter

N/A

2.0 FA

2.0

$200k 1.0

30 1.0

XXXX XXXX X XXX XXX 2.0

A O

M N

J D

1.0

-1.5

0.5

-2.0 M

A F

SSt. CloudO

J N N/A

$200k

0.8

$150k

0.0

J F AM SA OM NJ

M S

MINNESOTA BENTON AND STEARNS COUNTY -

15 -1.0

10%

Median Local Nonfarm JobsHo 1.5

St. Cloud -1.5 Paul Minneapolis/St. Minnesota United$50k States -2.0

J F AM S A OM N J D J 0.6

-0.5

0.4 -1.0

M S

M N

St. Cloud Minneapolis/St. P 6% Rochester $100k

-1.5 Minneapolis/St. Paul 0.2 Minnesota Benton & Stearns Counties United States $50k4% Minnesota -2.0 S

St. Cloud Minneapolis/St. Paul Rochester O

MINNESOTA - MONTHLY % CHANGE COUNTRY WIDE

0.0

$100k-1.0

Minnesota Unemploy Nonfarm J

$150k 0.0

STEARNS COUNTY

MINNESOTA

J F M A M J J A Sheriff ’s Foreclosure Auctions Median Housing Prices 1.5 1.5

Source: www.positivelyminnesota.com $50k 4% $0 5

D J F $0 J FA

$600k

No. of permits 1

O A

MINNESOTA - MONTHLY % CHANGE - MONTHLY % CHANGE MINNESOTA

COUNTRY WIDE

15 F Quarter 3rd $30k 4th Quarter

N M

Food & Be Unemployment Rates 4.1%

J 1stAQuarter S O 2nd N Quarter D J

O A

$800k

$21,733

St. Cloud Minneapolis/St. Paul $90k 25 Minnesota United States

JS M

COMMERCIAL BUILDING PERMIT COMMERCIA

2.4%

DA F

No. of permits 0

$400k

$30k

NJ $0

$600k

$90k 25

BENTON AND STEARNS COUNTY MONTHLY %COUNTY CHANGE - MONTHLY % CHANGE BENTON AND- STEARNS

J 1st AQuarter S O 2nd N Quarter D J

2.0

$200k

4% 1.1% M1-2.0% J J J F AM SA OM NJ D J

Minnesota Nonfarm JobsNonfarm Jobs Minnesota F

SM OJ

$500k

STEARNS COUNTY $120k

MINNESOTA

J F M A Local Nonfarm Jobs Local Nonfarm Jobs

$700k 0 1

$600k

1.1% Minneapolis/St. Paul

Sheriff ’s Foreclosure Auctions -0.5 Median Housing Prices -0.5

2-1.0%

-1.5%

MINNESOTA - MONTHLYMINNESOTA % CHANGE - MONTHLY % CHANGE0.8 $150k

3 6%

St. Cloud

MINNESOTA

$200k

M A M 4th Quarter

0.0%

4.1%

N/A

AO MN JD JJ A S O N D J $0 $0 F M A M $60k J J AF SM OA

20 $60k

COUNTRY WIDE 10%

$90k 25

$200k

N/A

Median Housing Prices Median Housing Prices

J F -0.6 JM AA SM OJ NJ

2nd Quarter

$200k

2nd Quarter

employment Rates Unemployment Rates

NTRY WIDE

Source: www.positivelyminnesota.com 0

-0.8

1st Quarter

XXXX

REAL GDP STEARNS COUNTY2013 QUARTERLY % CHANGE IN6% $300k $120k $300k $120k 5 30 2.4% 15

-0.4

-0.2

XXXX

1 uctions oreclosure Auctions J

$30k

0.6

100 AO MN JD JJ A S O 0.4 N D J $0 $0 $60k F M A M J J AF SM OA 0.2 3 permits 0 0 0 No. 0 of 2permits 1 3 5 0 0 0

0.0

$400k

Lodging Dollars Food & Beverage Tax Tax Collections St. Joe St. Augu ST. CLOUD ST. CLOUD

XXXX XXXX XXXX $0

4.1%

A $30k

$30k 2

0.8 $100k

0.2

2.5%

$26,995

1.0

$400k

0 M $800k JF JM AA

Unemployment Rates Food & Beverage Tax Collections 0.5 0.5

UNITED STATES % CHANGE IN REAL GDP - MONTHLY3% CHANGE $200k 6%

11 16

AM D

10 30

STEARNS COUNTY2013 QUARTERLY % CHANGE IN REAL GDP $700k $300k $300k $120k $120k 5 30 $400k

D J F $0 J S FA M

J $30k A

$200k

$100k

$8,000

$400k

Sheriff ’s Foreclosure Gross Domestic Auctions Product

Gross Domestic Product Sheriff ’s Foreclosure Auctions $3,745

Jobs$60k oss Domestic United ProductStates Nonfarm $60k

0.4

$600k

Gross Domestic Product Sheriff ’s Foreclosure Auctions

0 of permits 2 1 73 No.

$30k Unemployment Rates Unemployment Non Farm JobsRates

Food & Beverage Tax Tax Collections Lodging Dollars

$3,745

$3,397,262

$3,269,962

odging TaxHome Dollars Sales Closed - Total

$100k $90k

JJ FA $700k 141 10 33 31

Lodging Dollars Beverage Tax Tax Collections

$150k

0.4 $0 J J J F FA MS AO MN 0.2 $200k 012 No. 011 2 9 1120 3 0$120k 5 0 0 00 of permits

M O

$30k

100 S O

$800k

$200K $10,404

$0 $0 $0 JF J AF SM OA NM F DJ M JJ AFA MS JO JNF $400k $200k of permits 1 2 1712 8 3 No. 41 of 3permits 38No. 17 78 16 1111 10 14111 33 5 No. 31 17 of1permits 1 8

St. Joe

$2,475,200

$21,733 $100K

Gross Domestic United ProductStates Nonfarm Jobs

$3,397,262

arm Jobs

$1M

COUNTRY WIDE COUNTRY WIDE 2013-2014 % CHANGE OMMERCIAL BUILDING PERMITS, CONSOLIDATED COMMERCIAL BUILDING PERMITS, CONSOLIDATED COMMERCIAL BUILDING $150k PERMITS, CONSOLIDATED COMMERCIAL BUILDING PERMITS, CONSOLIDATED 10% $150k 10% 0 0 $0 0 $0 $0 $500k $800k A S O N D J F O N D J F F M A M J 10% J$500k A S F OM N A DM J J F J J F M A M $800k JF JM AA SM OJ NJ DA JS J F M A M J JJ 2.5% NGE 2013 QUARTERLY % CHANGE UNITED IN REAL STATES GDP - MONTHLY % CHANGE STEARNS COUNTY2013 QUARTERLY % CHANGE IN REAL GDP $700k $700k $120k 2.0% $120k 5 5 1.0 30 $400k $400k 1.5% $600k $600k 8% 8% 0.8 4.1% 4.1% 8% $90k . CLOUD ST. CLOUD $90k ST. CLOUD ST. CLOUD ST. CLOUD 1.0% COUNTRY WIDE 25 $500k $500k 4 4 0.6 $300k $300k $150k $150k 10% $150k 200 $150k 0.5%

150

$3,269,962

$120k

$800k

$0 S FO MN AD MJ

$0 $800kJ M N

UNITED STATES 2013 QUARTERLY % CHANGE IN REAL GDP - MONTHLY % CHANGE $200k $200k

$200K

$300k

$500k COMMERCIAL BUILDING PERMITS, BUILDING CONSOLIDATED COMMERCIAL PERMITS, CONSOLIDATED $150k $150k

200

Sales Closed - Total Lodging TaxHome Dollars

F OA

Gross Domestic United ProductStates Nonfarm Jobs

Food & Beverage Collections ax Dollars Food Tax & Beverage Tax Collections St. Augusta Unemployment St. Joe CLOUD ST. CLOUD St. Augusta ST.Rates St. Joe 2013-2014

QUARTERLY $200k $120k

J SM

No. 4 of 3permits 8 38

$500k

$1M

XXXX

Employment

F A

J N

2 -0.2 2 Sartell, Waite Park, St. -0.2 Building departments $200kfollowing cities: St. $100k $21,733 Sources: for the Cloud, Sauk Rapids, Augusta, and St. Joseph. $90k$200k $200k $90k $90k

N $0

0.4 $0 S FO M N 0.2 permits 29 No. 021 of 2 8 15 718 44

= exceeds chart scale

No. of permits 3

M O

$3,397,262

0.6

100 S O

A S

910 1211$400K 10 12

$0 COMMERCIAL BUILDING PERMITS,BUILDING CONSOLIDATED COMMERCIAL PERMITS, CONSOLIDA

$26,995

SM D

150 $200k

No. permits 7 of11 141 13

$800k

$200k

100

$1M $0 FN M J AF M JD JAJ M AF SJ O N 10 $400k 1 7 2 11 2 1 141 0 3 130 No. 16 21 1permits 11 of 19permits 2 218

M A

$26,995

$8,024,900

0.8 $200k

$0 AO

$26,995

1.0

150

$200K BENTON COUNTY $0 $0 $8,000 $0 $8,000

$600k

200

$500K $0 M J

UNITED STATES - MONTHLY $400k $200K $400k10% CHANGE

$2,135,900

CLOUD

United States Nonfarm Jobs

$1.5M

COMMERCIAL $300K

Sheriff ’s Foreclosure Auctions ome Sales Closed - Total $200K

$1M

$400K

$800k

No. of permits 3 $400K

$800k

200

$2M

$400K

$1,000 100

St. Joe

Home Sales Closed Sheriff - Total ’s Foreclosure Auctions Lodging TaxHome Dollars Sales Closed - Total Waite Park Sauk Rapids ST. CLOUD St. Augusta Waite Park ST. CLOUD BENTON COUNTY ST. CLOUD

$600k CONSOLIDATED BUILDING CONSOLIDATED $600k COMMERCIAL BUILDING PERMITS, $600K PERMITS,

$1M

N $0

$200k $21,733$100K

72 No.80of permits 52 15 711 4 7

$21,733

$3,269,962

$500K S O

$3,397,262

$3,269,962

122 29 $800k

$1M J J

$405,010

128 238

$3,397,262

639

M O

$2,475,200

COMMERCIAL $600K

40 2

$405,010

$800K

DJ 1117

50 2

$0 $8,000

$2,135,900

No. 3 of7permits 5 630 35 0

e Auctions Sauk Rapids Sartell

$2,475,200

$1M

$0 J AF

$2,475,200

$2,135,900

$800K

AM SA OM NJ $200K 5 No.17 1 $400k 1711 1011 115 1017 121 of permits 150 $400k

$200k $0$90k

JJ$60kAF

$1M

$500k

$0 J JF

$30k

St. Augusta St. Augusta

St. Joe

$200k

$924,028

of permits 1

$924,028

Waite Park Waite Park St. Joe

$1M F

$234,300

TS, CONSOLIDATED COMMERCIAL BUILDING PERMITS, CONSOLIDATED COMMERCIAL BUILDING PERMITS,BUILDING CONSOLIDATED ESIDENTIAL BUILDING PERMITS RESIDENTIAL BUILDING PERMITS BUILDING PERMITS AL BUILDING PERMITS, CONSOLIDATED COMMERCIAL BUILDING PERMITS, CONSOLIDATED COMMERCIAL PERMITS, CONSOLIDATED RESIDENTIAL BUILDING PERMITS RESIDENTIAL $1M $0

$2,475,200

$924,028

$50K

$0 $8,000

$600k

$800k

$1,000 100

$100K 18 4

82 15

$.5M 8 $200k

COMMERCIA COMMERCIAL BUILDING PERMIT $300K $600K

$150k

$1M AF

$3,269,962

$400k2 No. of permits

COMMERCIAL BUILDING PERMITS, CONSOLIDATED COMMERCIAL BUILDING PERMITS, CONSOLIDATED $600K $600k $600k $150K 200

$3,397,262

$600k

$8,024,900

$2,135,900

$4,080,908

$234,300

$8,241,705

$12,840,741

O M

St. Augusta St. Augusta apids $1M

$800K

$10,404

$26,995

52 4

$1M $1M $0 J J FA MS AO MN JD JJ 10 $400K 1 No. 16of permits 9 21 2 8 015 118 164 92 210

$100K $10,404

S A

40 18

$400K

$800k

$100K

$3,745

A M

$3,745

$3M $0 J J F

51 15

$800k

$1M

$200K

$3,745

A F

M J

$901,692

F D

$1.5M $.5M

$1M $0 O N

$50K

$1M

No. permits 16 19 13 57 29 of 35 41 465 12 21 No. 30 of150 permits $2M

$200K

$2,135,900

$.5M 8

$200K

$2,475,200

$4M $46,200

$800K

$1.5M

200

$2M $1M N D

$1M MS

$10,496

$.5M $16,000

$200K

$1,000BUILDING $1,000 COMMERCIAL BUILDING PERMITS, COMMERCIAL PERMITS, CONSOLIDATED $150K $600kCONSOLIDATED

$3M $0 J FA

AO MN JD $100K 7 No.9 of permits 7 8 4 5 215 711 9 7 73 $2M $800k

$800k

$500K

$1M

Sheriff ’s Foreclosure Auctions Sales Closed - Total Home Sales Closed - Total Lodging TaxHome Dollars BENTON COUNTY ST. CLOUD ST. CLOUD Waite Park Sauk Rapids ST. CLOUD St. Augusta Waite P

10 No. of permits 4

$1M

$250K

$400K

$10,496

$400K

$8,024,900

$901,692

$1M $0

$1.5M

$12,840,741

$1.5M $.5M

48 27 $5M

$8,241,705

27 19 10 57 11 408 52 1252 1648 150

$19,854,821

$6M $1M O N

$10,496

$17,172,684

$19,854,821

$50K $4M

$2,135,900

$50K

$8,024,900

$2M$1M AO MN

$17,172,684

$1.5M

COMMERCIAL BUILDING PERMITS, CONSOLIDATED COMMERCIAL BUILDING PERMITS, CONSOLIDATED

$200K

$8,024,900

$3,325,100

$5M

Sheriff ’s Foreclosure Auctions Sartell BENTON COUNTY Sauk Rapids

$1M

$2M

$1M

$2M

$100K

$2,750,900

$2,021,194

St. Cloud

Sartell

$2,359,750

$1.5M

$250K

$6M

$100K

$2,284,500 $4,080,908

$12,840,741

$1.5M

$2M

$8,241,705

$19,854,821

$2M

United States

0.0

-0.2

M a y / j u n E 2 0 1 4 • • w w w. B u s i n e s s C e n t r a l M a g a z i n e . c o m

M FJ MJ A

18$30k 4

57 65

45 7 8 $0 F M $60k $0 F3 No. of permits 1

XXXX

8% $200k

No. of permits 3 M J J A

1 S

11 141 3 N D J

No. of permits 7 M J J A

4 S

8 O

4 N

3 D

8 J

Housing/Real Estate J

J A FS M O

No. of permits 0

J F-1.0 J A

St. Cloud Minneapolis/St. Paul Minnesota United States

N/A

A3 7 O

$1,000

$30k Economic Indicators & Trends A

1.0

$200k

$16,000 0.0

-0.5

$300k

$100k $200k $0 $0 F F M A M J J A S $0 F M A M J FJ MA AS MO JN JD AJ SF O N D -1.0 4 12 16 150 19 57$100k No. of permits 13 40 52 permits No. of50 permits 4 12 No. 16of 150 19 2 57 0 40 1 52 1648 927 21 10 811 158 18 4 St. Cloud $0 J J A Minneapolis/St. S O N D Paul J F F -1.5 $0 J3 J8 A8 Minnesota S7 O8 N No. of permits 0F 16 D 10 J3 F3 2

$21,733

United States 5 0 0 0

-2.0

No. of permits 1 A M J J

-1.5

Gross Domestic Product

XXX $400k $200k

$.5M $200K

$16,000

100

$500k

0.5

$.5M

$200k

No. of permits 33 44

A M BY J JFALCON A S O N BANK D PRESENTED M 6

1.5

$400k

$46,200

$50K

$46,200

1.0

$400K

150

0.5 $0 $06% $0 $8,000 $0 $0 F M A M J J $200k A S O N D J F F M A M J J A S O N D J $0 $100k $21,733 O N D J F O N D J F A M $8,000 J J F A M S A O MN J D J J A F S F M 4A M J J F A MS AO MN J D J J A F S $0 No. of permits 33 44 91 141 143 170 181 167 140 69 23 20 27 No. of permits 13 18 4 57 65 49 50 47 45 7 8 7 of permits of permits 8 7 3 1 1 No. of permits 13 18 4 No.57 91 No. 141 143 1704$30k 181121671614015069 1923 5720 4027 52 48 27 10 11 65 49 4 50 2 47 7 45 9 7 7 8 8 7 5 13 15 11 0.0 $0 $0 N/A J F F M A M F M A M J J A S O N 2D J F $0 $0 -0.5 A M D2 J1 F No. of permits No. of permits 7F M 4 8 4 6% F3 M1 A7 M11 J141 J 3 A 1 S 1 O 2 N1 D 3 J 0 F 1

$90k $200k

XXXX XXXX

$.5M

$.5M 6

$60k

ECONOMY CENTRAL S

$400k $400k

$300k2.0

$3,745

$231,218

$16,000

$10,496

$.5M

$60k

$90k $.5M

$.5M

$120k $400k

$100K

$231,218

$26,995

$90k

10% $600k

$150k $600k $1M

-2.0

St.Rapids Cloud Sartell Sauk Rapids Waite Park St. Augusta St. Cloud Sauk Sartell Sauk Rapids COMMERCIAL BUILDING PERMITS, CONSOLIDATED COMMERCIAL BUILDING PERMITS, CONSOLIDATED COMMERCIAL BUILDING PERMITS, United States Nonfarm Jobs Gross Domestic Product Product Creation AL BUILDING PERMITS, CONSOLIDATED COMMERCIAL PERMITS, CONSOLIDATED COMMERCIAL BUILDING PERMITS, CONSOLIDATED COMMERCIAL BUILDING PERMITS, CONSOL COMMERCIAL BUILDING PERMITS,BUILDING CONSOLIDATED COMMERCIAL BUILDING PERMITS, CONSOLIDATED COMMERCIAL BUILDING PERMITS, CONSOLIDATED heriff ’s Foreclosure Auctions Median Housing Prices Local Nonfarm Jobs Home Sales Closed Total Lodging Tax Dollars Unemplo Food & Beverage Tax Collections UNITED STATES 2013 QUARTERLY % CHANGE IN REAL GDP BUSINESSES CREATING IN LAST YEAR TEARNS COUNTY ST.Lodging MINNESOTA BENTON NEW ANDPRODUCTS STEARNS COUNTY - MONTHLY % CHANGE CLOUD ST. CLOUD COUNTRY WIDE ST. CLOUD Tax Dollars Unemployment Rates Minneso Food & Beverage Tax Collections 5 0.8%

M 3

A 0 6

-0.2

$.5M

$200k

6% $30k

0.0

1 $200k

$3,269,962 $2,135,900

$3,397,262

$2,135,900

$8,024,900

$2,475,200

$21,733

2.4%

0.5

$400k

$200k

1.1%

0.2

1.5

8%1.0

$200k

$100k

0.0 6% -0.5

$0 $8,000

-1.0

N/A

$0 St. Cloud $0 0 $0 $0 3rd Quarter F 4th J NA DS O N D J F M Quarter A M J J A S $0 Quarter M ACentral M F MN J M J A A M S J O Minnesota 1st 2nd Quarter Paul O N D J F A M J J F A MS AO MN J D J J A F S F M A M Minneapolis/St. J FJ MA AS M O JN JD AJ S-1.5 F O N D No. of permits -0.2 No. of permits 3 1 3 6 3 7 5 $06 0 2 6 1 2 1 1 7 11 141 Minnesota 4%3 1 1 J F M A M J J A S O N D No. of permits No. of permits 7 4 8 4 3 8 8 7 8 16 10 3 3 No. of permits 6 3 7 5 6 0 2 6 1 2 1 3 1 7 11 141 0 3 0 1 0 1 0 2 21 13 30 5 1 0J 0F D J J F M A M J J A S O N D J United States

N3 N

2.5%

2 $400k

$60k = exceeds chart scale

MINNESOTA 10% 2.0

4.1% $800k

$600k $300k = exceeds chart scale

$90k 8%

St. Cloud -0.8 Minneapolis/St. Paul -1.0 N/A 0.0% Rochester $0 J F

$400k

3 $600k

0.4

0.1%

Minneapolis/St. Paul Rochester

0.6

$400k

0.2%

-0.6

F M A M J J A 0.2 S O N D J F M J J A S O N D J F O N D J F F M A M J J F A M S A O MN J D J J A F S F 0% 30 35 40 39 28 38 22 29 35 41 65 21 30 No. of permits 0 $0 F 3 M 7 A 5 M 6 J 0 $50k J 2F A 6M S 1A O 2M N 1J D J J A F No. M1141A14165 M 3 21J 1 30 J 1 A J2 S F1 OM3 NA0 DM1 J J FNo. of permits 28 38 3 22 1 29F 7 35 J ofA permits S O1 S ofOpermits N D30 J35 F40 No.39 $0 $0 St. Cloud J F M A M J J A S O N D J J 0.0F M A M J J A S O $0

$8,024,900

$8,241,705

$0 $8,000

$30k

$12,840,741

$.5M

$30k

0.3%

-0.4

0.4

$120k

$1M

0.4%

0.0

XXXX

0.6

$800k

$1M

$26,995

$60k

0.8

$901,692

$1M

$60k

$30k

0.5% $600k

-0.2

$1.5M

$500k

XXXX XXXX XXXX

0.4

0.8

$200k $50k $1M

$1M

$2M

$800k

$0$10,496

$60k 50$100k

$400k

$901,692

$2M 10

$90k

$100k

0.6

0.2

$3M

$3M $90k 100$150k

0.7%

$1M

COUNTRY WIDE $150k .79% 10%

.71%

$1.5M - MONTHLY % CHANGE BENTON AND STEARNS COUNTY 0.6%

$120k

$10,496

$600k

0.8

Local Nonfarm Jobs $19,854,821

$4M $150k

$17,172,684

$4M

$19,854,821

MINNESOTA 150 $120k $200k

MONTHLY % CHANGE $2M

1.0

$150k

$800k

$8,241,705 $2,135,900 $12,840,741

$5M

$17,172,684

$8,024,900

$5M

Median Housing Prices

$1M

$2M

ST.$150k CLOUD

$200k

$150k 25

$6M

$1M

$6M

ST.200CLOUD

Sources: Minnesota Compass led4% by Wilder Research; Bureau of Economic Analysis - www.BEA .gov.

-2.0

Commerce/Services

Gross Domestic Product Sheriff ’s Foreclosure Auctions Median Housing Prices Local No QUARTERLY % CHANGE IN REALAuctions GDP STEARNS COUNTY MINNESOTA BENTON AND ’s Foreclosure Median Housing Local Nonfarm Jobs Sheriff ’s Foreclosure AuctionsPrices Home Sales Closed - Total Lodging TaxRates Dollars les Closed 2013 - Sheriff Total Lodging Tax Dollars Unemployment Food & Beverage Tax Collections Sheriff ’s Foreclosure Auctions Home Sales Closed Total Lodging Tax Dollars STEARNS COUNTY MINNESOTA BENTON AND STEARNS COUNTY MONTHLY % CHANGE BENTON COUNTY ST. CLOUD ST. CLOUD 5 $200k ST. CLOUD BENTON COUNTY

4.1%

2.5%

0 0 J

1st Quarter F M D J

2nd Quarter A F

3rd Quarter A

150

$50k

D J F M

$0 M JJ

0 JF

0% F SA

M A OM NJ

M DJ

J JA

J FS

FA O

M S N

A O D

M N J

By the numbers United States SheriffNonfarm ’s Foreclosure Auctions Jobs United States Jobs Nonfarm

S 0 O

N F

D D

J A

4.1%

0.2 0.0

-0.2

1.0

0.6

F M A M J J -0.2 0 F M A M J J A S OJ N F D M J A F M J A F S MO AN MD J J J F A S O N D J

XXXX XXXX

St. Cloud $30k Minneapolis/St. Paul Rochester

$30k

N/A A

O J $0A

N J

D S

J O

-0.2

F N

0.0

D 4% M

J F M A M J J AM SA OM N J D J J A

F S

Sources: Tax Collections – City of St. Cloud Incorporations - MN Secretary of State, Graph courtesy of SCSU

Sheriff ’s Foreclosure Auc Local Nonfarm Jobs Sheriff ’s Foreclosure Auctions STEARNS COUNTY

STEARNS COUNTY BENTON AND STEARNS COUNTY - MONTHLY % C 30

4.1%

0.8

$150k

0.4

0.2 0.0

-0.2

-0.4

-0.4 -0.6

-0.6

3rd Quarter

77 4th Quarter

-0.8 -1.0

Percent who expect economic growth in the year ahead

-1.0 0 J F M A M J O N A F M M J A J M A J SJ OA NS D

Percent who expect home values to rise

1.1%

$50k

-0.8

J D

A J

S F

0.6

0.4

0.2

XXXX

Here’s a snapshot of some percentages:

2nd Quarter

0.2

$60k

American workers are feeling better about the economy. That’s the over-riding message from the 2013 Mercer Workplace Survey. 3 3 2.5% 2.4% 2.5% playing out 2.4% 2.4% in the nightly news. The optimism is driven primarily by recovering housing values and optimism $100k 0.4

2.5%

0.8

0.8 0.6

0.0

0.4

2013 QUARTERLY %MINNESOTA CHANGE IN REAL GDP 5 5 $200k

OPTimistic outlook 30

Minneapolis/St. Paul Rochester

$90k

$60k

Gross Domestic Product Median Housing Prices Gross Domestic Product 2013 QUARTERLY % CHANGE IN REAL GDP

UNITED STATES - MONTHLY % CHANGE STEARNS COUNTY UNITED STATES - MONTHLY % CHANGE 1.0

0.2

$30k St. Cloud

Housing/Real Estate sources: St. Cloud Area Association of Realtors, http://stcloudrealtors.com/pages/statistics; Benton County Sheriff’s Civil Process; Stearn’s County Sheriff’s Office; http://thething.mplsrealtor.com/

mestic Product

$50k 50

2 0

F A

XXXX XXXX X 0.6

= exceeds chart scale

$90k

0.4

$60k

$30k

$100k 100

100

$120k

$90k

$100k

4th Quarter N 0

0.8

150 0.6

$90k

0.8

$120k

2.4%

LY % CHANGE IN REAL GDP

$150k

$60k

1.1%

$150k

10%

$150k

$120k

COUNTRY WIDE

ST. CLOUD

200

$150k

200

ST. CLOUD

3 20

$200k

$150k

1st Quarter

2nd QuarterF

1.1%

1st Quarter 2nd Quarter M A M J 4th JQuarter A S 3rd Quarter

Percent of retirement plan participants who expect an employer contribution to their 401(k) plans in 2014

St. Cloud 5 Minneapolis/St. Paul Rochester

3rd Quarter 4th Quarter O N D J F

Percent who say saving for health care expenses in retirement is a major objective

0.0

66.4 M

-0.2 J

SURVEY SAYS When asked recently what employees are most thankful for in their jobs, aside from a paycheck, nearly one-quarter (24 percent) of office professionals said friendly coworkers. One in five (20 percent) respondents most appreciate a good benefits program. Data from OfficeTeam, a Robert Half Company

B u s i n e s s C e n t r a l M a g a z i n e • • M a Y / JUNE 2 0 1 4

M M D

J JJ

J FJ

Average age at which workers expect to retire

Source: Mercer Workplace Survey 2013; You can view an infographic of the key survey findings at www.BusinessCentralMagazine.com

F M A FS MO A N

Economy Central presented by

A A

S S

O N O

Caryn Stadther

Marketing Director and Vice President

John Herges President and CEO

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AGentle Spirit

Jim Kruse likes helping people and likes unique jewelry. Both interests came together in a store he never expected to own. by larry schumacher // Photos by Joel Butkowski, Butkowski Digital Imaging

If you ask

Jim Kruse how he ended up here, he’ll tell you it was divine guidance. The co-owner of J.F. Kruse Jewelers said he certainly never intended to end up with his own jewelry store, and never would have suspected he’d receive the St. Cloud Area Chamber of Commerce’s 2014 Small Business of the Year award. “I never made a business plan. I’ve never taken any business classes in my life,” Kruse said. “I do have a gentle spirit, I’m interested in people and I care what their needs are. Maybe that helped.” Despite his lack of business training, Kruse knew jewelry – having worked in the industry locally for more

B u s i n e s s C e n t r a l M a g a z i n e • • M AY / JUNE 2 0 1 4

than 20 years before starting J. F. Kruse in 2000 – and he knew how to treat customers. Kruse started making custom jewelry and taking it to art fairs and trade shows to make ends meet, but starting his own store wasn’t the original plan. “I had my two daughters with me, and I’d lost most of my income,” he said. “We traveled the country doing those shows. I really now believe God was preparing me for something bigger.” Customer service and the dedication to custom jewelry are the two things that stand out about J. F. Kruse and made it a top contender for the Chamber’s award, said Ron Brandenberg, an attorney with Quinlivan & Hughes

Melissa Kelley and Jim Kruse. This father-daughter team owns and operates J. F. Kruse Jewelers.

M AY / JUNE 2 0 1 4 • • w w w. B u s i n e s s C e n t r a l M a g a z i n e . c o m

www.jfkruse.com

and a member of the award committee. “It’s amazing how much Jim looks at the business as an extension of himself and his values,” Brandenberg said. “He describes it as his ministry in the community, more than his business.” It’s a ministry that has been handed down to the next generation. His daughter, Melissa Kelley, 28, started cleaning the toilets at the store while she was still in junior high school. Today she has a degree in business, is a graduate gemologist, and co-owner and day-to-day manager of the store. “He’d be sleeping on a cot in the back of the store some nights, and I knew he was doing it for us, to give us a roof over our heads and something to eat, so I just started helping out,” she said. “We were a family, a team, and my sister was going off to college, so I wanted to help any way I could.”

Year company was established: 2000

Learning to sell

Business Profile J. F. Kruse Jewelers

110 Waite Ave. S, St. Cloud, MN, 56301 320.253.4755 320.259.0609 info@jfkrusejewelers.com

Ownership: Jim Kruse and Melissa Kelley Business Description: Full-service retail jeweler specializing in custom jewelry design, repair, and appraisal – all the work is done in-store. Total number of employees: 18 2013 sales: $2.5 million 2014 projected sales: $2.8 million Fun fact: Every summer the company hosts a community event called “Kruse’n for Diamonds.” Teams of two compete on a treasure hunt throughout downtown St. Cloud; the fastest team wins a $10,000 diamond ring.

ruse discovered his talent for sales at an early age, while potting plants at a greenhouse in St. Paul as a teenager. “A couple elderly ladies motioned me over and asked me to help them, and then they must’ve said something to my supervisor about being helpful because I ended up in sales soon after,” he said. In 1979, he was hired at D.J. Bitzan Jewelers as a bench jeweler and trained as a diamond setter, but soon found himself in sales there, too. While his knowledge of the jewelry industry grew, his home life disintegrated, Kruse said. Family troubles at home made it hard to focus at work, and Kruse decided to change careers. He found the construction job he took “healing” during tumultuous times for his family, until a workplace injury resulted in cracked ribs and the need to find another way to make a living. At about the same time, his marriage ended and he received custody of his daughters. Kruse came back to jewelry as a diamond setter, but began making his own creations and selling them on the side. “Traveling the country, doing those fairs, it was the excitement in people’s voices when

B u s i n e s s C e n t r a l M a g a z i n e • • M AY / JUNE 2 0 1 4

they’d come to the booth and see something that was artistic and extraordinary,” he said. “It gave me the courage to say ‘If someone else can do this, I can do it.’”

A fresh start ruse opened his store in the Copper Corte shopping mall in 2000. He firmly believes that he would not have succeeded without many seemingly chance elements falling into place. For one, his sister, Judi, moved to Minnesota from Missouri to take care of the books and business side of the equation in the store’s first years, he said. In preparation for his opening, he called around to companies looking for unsold and unusual jewelry to stock the store. “A young salesman called on me, told me

J. F. Kruse Jewelers is known for their custom jewelry.

Business Timeline October 1, 2000 Jim Kruse opens J. F. Kruse Jewelers with three employees

2003 The company has seven employees; Melissa Kruse Kelley begins working part time after school

2005 The company experiences significant growth reaching 12 employees; Kelley joins the business full-time

2007 J. F. Kruse Jewelers expands at their original Copper Corte location from 1,200 square feet to 1,744 square feet; they have 14 employees

2008 Kelley becomes general manager

2011 J. F. Kruse adds another bench jeweler, bringing the total to three full-time goldsmiths

2013 J. F. Kruse moves from their Copper Corte location to a newly built 4,473 square foot building on Waite Ave. S in St. Cloud; they have 18 employees

2014 J. F. Kruse Jewelers is selected as the 2014 St. Cloud Area Small Business of the Year

December 31, 2009 Kelley buys into the business

M AY / JUNE 2 0 1 4 • • w w w. B u s i n e s s C e n t r a l M a g a z i n e . c o m

Personal Profiles

Melissa Kelley Jim Kruse President and visionary, J. F. Kruse Jewelers AGe: 59 Hometown: St. Paul, MN Education: BA, St. John’s University Collegeville, MN ; Certified Gemologist, GIA Work History: Bench jeweler and jewelry sales/ management 1979-2000. Business owner 2000 present. Family: Two daughters, Jennifer and Melissa. Both married with families and careers. Hobbies: Biking, travel, music, bible study, motorcycling, camping, model railroading, reading Advice to a would-be entrepreneur: Anticipate an incredible amount of work and effort, believe in your dream, put yourself last and your customer first. Best advice you’ve received and who gave it to you: Treat each person as Christ, and believe in the power of prayer. Learned over a lifetime.

Co-Owner/General Manager, J. F. Kruse Jewelers AGe: 28 Hometown: St. Cloud, MN Education: Graduated from Apollo High School in 2005; graduated from Rasmussen College with an A.A.S. degree in 2006, ma jor in Business Management, minor in Sales and Marketing; graduated from the Gemological Institute of America with a Graduate Gemologist degree in 2013 Work History: Started at J. F. Kruse Jewelers in 2003; prior to that was a hostess atGranite City, the assistant manager at a local tanning salon, and a sales associate at J. C. Penney in St. Cloud Family: Husband Mike Kelley (they met in high school); Sister: Jennifer MacDonald (currently in her residency to be a doctor in California), her husband, Al, and their 3-month-old son, Rhodes; Dad: Jim Kruse Hobbies: Athletics: basketball, tennis, golf, running, black belt in

B u s i n e s s C e n t r a l M a g a z i n e • • M AY / JUNE 2 0 1 4

Integrated Martial Arts; Music: play piano, flute, and drums; currently sings on the Worship Team at Westwood Church in St. Cloud; “I LOVE to read! I read everything I can get my hands on.” Advice to a would be entrepreneur: NEVER stop learning! And be especially intentional about learning from those around you. No matter what the circumstances, you can always learn from the people you meet, even if it is what not to do. Best advice you’ve received and who gave it to you: My dad told me the following quote when I was 16 years old, and it is still what I live by each and every day: “In order to be successful, you must do two things. First, you must be the best at your craft. Be unique; be special. Second, you must always put people first. No one gets there by themselves; you need the help of others to reach your goals. The true joy of success is the opportunity to serve others.”

he was ending his season and left his entire collection of colored gemstones with me because he didn’t need it,” Kruse said. “I sold most of it.” Kruse called on another jewelry maker early on who specialized in unusual items that didn’t sell high volumes to see if he could afford anything. “She asked me if I was a Christian. I hadn’t expected that, but I am, so I answered yes,” he said. “She said, ‘Well, we’re a Christian business, and you have an account with us now.” The store did $200,000 in sales in its first quarter, and grew from two fulltime employees (Kruse and his sister) and two part-time staff to more than a dozen employees over 12 years in its original Waite Park location.

Customization and customer service y 2013, J. F. Kruse was outgrowing that location and found a spot to build a new store on Waite Avenue next to ShopKo. At more than twice the size of the previous location, Kruse said the new store – opened last fall – gives the business more room to focus on what sets it apart from the rest of the jewelry stores in town. “We’re the only custom jewelry store that can create a piece in-house from start to finish and sell it retail in Central Minnesota,” he said. “People can come in and talk to us about what they like, and we can create the design, create a wax carving of it, make the piece, and adjust it until they love it.” To take fear out of the equation, the store does not charge buyers for the jewelry until they are 100 percent satisfied with the end result, Kelley said. “We get to control every part of the process, so we can keep at it until customers get what they want.” The store’s brand is three words: “Spirit, Story, Sparkle,” according to Kelley.

“Spirit” is the integrity and Christian principles upon which the store was founded and to which every employee must adhere, she said. “Story” is what staff learns from each potential customer that helps them find the right fit for their needs. And “Sparkle” is the element of fun that J. F. Kruse tries to bring to each interaction with customers, no matter how brief.

Contributing to community

nother element that distinguished J.F. Kruse is its support for charitable causes, according to selection committee member Brandenburg. The store often donates

jewelry and gift certificates to raffles aimed at raising money for sick individuals and families hit by disaster, he said. One third of the profits from a special line of jewelry, known as the “Becoming” series, is donated to a revolving list of charities that help deal with crisis pregnancies, said Tara Gronhovd, the jewelry’s designer. “In 2010, I chose to be baptized in my church and I decided to design a piece of jewelry for myself to commemorate it,” she said. “After a while, I felt God was saying ‘You could do more with this,’ so the idea came to me to do it as a line of jewelry and donate some of the proceeds.” Gronhovd and Kelley worked out an exclusive contract for J. F. Kruse to produce

the jewelry, which consists of a pendant, charm and a men’s tie pin with the same design of a Christian cross inside an everexpanding circle. Gronhovd previously worked as a consultant with J.F. Kruse on branding and marketing, and said the store’s commitment to the community emerges from who they are. “Everyone who comes into their store feels their values,” she said. BC Larry Schumacher is the creator and owner of Wordbender Communications, LLC, a communications consulting and freelance writing firm. He lives in St. Cloud with his wife and two children.

Warzecha is Minnesota’s Top Honors Scott 2014 Entrepreneur of the Year.

cott Warzecha, the 2013 St. Cloud Area Small Business Owner of the Year has been selected as the 2014 Minnesota Entrepreneur of the Year. President and majority owner of Netgain, a technology services company in St. Cloud, Warzecha’s technology roots were planted at Team Electronics. After four years, he joined the staff at Marco where he spent four years as a technologist and nine years in sales. With clients as far away as Brainerd, Warzecha found himself setting up a computer system, then turning around and driving back to the site if the system stopped working. “These were pretty complex systems so the customer either had to hire staff to maintain the system or they had to pay me to drive back and forth,” Warzecha said. Certain there had to be a better way, Warzecha created Netgain, an IT outsourcing company with data centers in St. Cloud and Minneapolis. Originally focused on housing data for any type of company, Warzecha envisioned a “boutique” organization that would have 25 employees and host a wide variety of software for clients in Central Minnesota. Instead, in 2005 Warzecha started focusing on IT services for healthcare providers. With the move to electronic medical records, hospitals and clinics have become dependent on reliable technology – for practical as well as life-safety reasons. Netgain’s specialization has allowed the company to grow to over

100 employees in 2014 with 65 percent of revenue from outside the state of Minnesota. “The goal is to have 80 percent of our revenue from outside Minnesota,” Warzecha said. A good portion of that growth will be the result of acquisitions, including the purchase of Netmark and Solbrekk in Minnesota, and a recent purchase of TechMD, a Chicago firm that complements Netgain’s expansion plans. From a one-person operation with a handful of clients, Netgain has experienced 130 percent growth over the last five years and anticipates $16 million in revenue in 2014. Owning a business isn’t just about growth and revenue, according to Warzecha. It’s also about making a difference. Netgain has been a Keystone company since its inception, donating at least 5 percent of net income to not-for-profit organizations. At trade shows Netgain donates $5 to breast cancer research for each business card collected. Starting in 2013, all employees are expected to take 20 hours of paid time off to do some volunteering. “We need to get people out from behind the computer,” Warzecha said. “Employees want to know they’re part of a greater good.” Warzecha was nominated for the state award by the St. Cloud Area Chamber of Commerce. He will be honored at a luncheon in the Twin Cities and at the National Small Business Awards program in Washington, D.C. in May. — GMI

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PROFIT

Substantial Liability Make no mistake, a lack of creativity and innovation in your business will negatively impact your bottom line. By Tracy Knofla

n 2011Today’s fast-paced workplace provides an unparalled opportunity to serve customer needs. Technological advances have enabled employees to work on-the-go and be productive far beyond the traditional 9-5 workday. A lean workforce has made it possible to do more with less, allowing for greater profit margins. Efficiency, it seems, has taken center stage in the world of business. Yet, there are consequences to a narrow focus on efficiency in the workplace – employee burnout and low morale ranking high among these. However, the direst of these consequences is the toll it takes on creativity and business innovation. Creativity in the workplace is essential in order to help your business stay ahead of the competition, empower employees, develop new products and services, and take risks. Each of these attributes positively impacts the success of your company. The impact of stagnation on your company’s profits is generally not a line-item on the spreadsheet.

B u s i n e s s C e n t r a l M a g a z i n e • • M a Y / JUNE 2 0 1 4

So the question is, can efficiency and creativity both thrive in your business? Are each valued to a high degree? Do you have operational practices in place to encourage and assess the effectiveness of both of these goals?

The Creative Process Creativity is not just for avant-garde artists, famous writers, actors or musicians. Creativity is accessible to everyone. Some people are more adept at accessing their creativity than others, but with practice, everyone can improve their creative thinking and problem solving ability. Simply stated, in order to regularly access your creative mind, you need two things: time and encouragement. Time: New ideas need time to form, percolate, be tested and ultimately created into a workable plan. Frequently the seed of an idea comes in a flash. However, it needs time to produce its ultimate shape. This matter of time is where many businesses fall short. They do not encourage their employees to take time to think things through and in fact, discourage

M a y / j u n E 2 0 1 4 • • w w w. B u s i n e s s C e n t r a l M a g a z i n e . c o m

FEATURE

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PROFIT

A common reason employees don’t share new ideas is that frequently they, alone, are tasked with implementing the idea. The thought of adding yet another item to an already full to-do list is not appealing. activities that are too time-consuming or not directly connected to the bottom line. With management pressure to produce, employees are forced to find the easiest way to solve a problem. This is fine in the short term, but often problematic in the long run. Most obstacles can be resolved in a number of ways, but it takes time to brainstorm alternatives, and patience to evaluate the results. Encouragement: Encouragement might seem an odd requirement for creativity. However, within the word itself is the true key to creativity, that is, courage. It takes great

courage for people to share their thoughts and ideas with others. When you share an idea, you open yourself up to judgment and criticism. When people’s ideas are criticized they become reluctant to share. An eye roll, a sigh, or a slump of the shoulders often acts as effectively as a sharp word to discourage continued creative contributions. Encouraging ideas to flow freely, without judgment, ridicule or undue burden will net interesting and bottom-line-enhancing employee actions. In today’s tough economy, all resources of a company must be used to their

maximum potential. Just as you wouldn’t encourage your full time employees to only report to work 2/3 of the time, don’t encourage your employees to bring less than 100 percent of their brain power. Be intentional in supporting your employees in both efficiency and creativity by valuing and rewarding the contributions both make to your success. BC Tracy Knofla is the co-owner and featured consultant of High Impact Training. She has been presenting to audiences across the country for more than 25 years.

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Formerly St. Cloud Refrigeration CentRal | metRo diViSion St. Cloud 320-251-6861 MetRo 800-827-1642

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SoutHeRn diViSion RoCheSteR 877-399-4546 Mankato 800-447-3259

Coming next issue

Special Sections: Women in Business & Senior Health Care

For more information call Wendy Hendricks at 320.656.3808 or whendricks@BusinessCentral Magazine.com

Deadline: May 23, 2014 www.BusinessCentralMagazine.com

Cultivate an Environment of Creativity

Creating an environment that empowers employees to bring new ideas to light is one of the best ways to encourage creativity in the workplace. There must be an intentional focus on this softer side of the business model as well as support at all levels of the organization. The following tips will help your business cultivate and harness the creative potential within your employees.

> Include a mention of

> Publicly recognize

creativity in the company’s mission and vision statements.

employee ideas regardless of the number of ideas actually implemented.

> Build behavioral

> Encourage employees to

expectations into position descriptions that address creative contributions. Include these in employee performance evaluations.

take their breaks and lunch period. This unstructured time will help their brains cultivate ideas.

> Regularly host think tank/ focus groups on topics important to your business. Include employees from all departments and positions.

> Offer a distraction-free zone for employees working on important projects and creativity zones for those in need of a creative spark.

> Encourage collaboration between departments.

> Require department heads to include creative thinking/ problem solving exercises and discussions during staff meetings.

> Train management staff how to use encouraging language and body gestures during brainstorming sessions and staff meetings.

Inspired Learning around the world

CSB/SJU graduates can be found in businesses throughout our area, our state and around the world, at such Fortune 500 companies as Target, Best Buy, General Mills and United Health.

> Use a variety of methods for obtaining ideas, including anonymous feedback.

> Offer incentives for ideas implemented from employee concepts.

> Put employee names on employee-generated projects or services around the company.

> Encourage/reward employees who are natural idea creators and pair them with more reluctant partners during project assignments.

> Make it an organizational practice that anyone who gives an idea has first right of refusal on implementing the idea.

> Encourage employees to submit suggestions and ideas to a committee within the company.

Inspired Learning. Inspiring Lives.

www.csbsju.edu M a y / j u n E 2 0 1 4 • • w w w. B u s i n e s s C e n t r a l M a g a z i n e . c o m

SPECIAL FOCUS E D U CAT I O N

Lifetime Learners Many employees find value in education and training.

ore and more employees opt to leave their jobs in an improving economy. How can your company stay competitive without offering wage increases? One way is to offer a training benefit. Training leads to a better workforce and helps employees feel valued. “Employee training is definitely a retention method,” according to Katrina Mathews, OfficeTeam. “The more you are able to educate employees, the more it shows your investment to them.” Several local companies already provide training perks for their employees. SCR offers a minimum of two staff trainings per month. “Although the trainings are optional, most of our employees participate in at least one session every month,” said Vicky Welty, SCR office manager. Employees at St. Cloud Hospital thrive on training. “Our employees expect to be

trained and educated and in return, we expect their loyalty and best effort,” according to David Waage, director of employment at St. Cloud Hospital. The leadership team at the St. Cloud Hospital strives to provide convenient learning opportunities for everyone. “Our philosophy is to bring the education home instead of sending one or two employees out of the office,” said Vicki Ruegemer, director of learning and development. “This allows us to educate more people and our employees don’t have to leave their families.” “Our new building, technology and surgical suites have been very beneficial when recruiting and retaining physicians,” Karla Donlin said. Donlin, director of physician recruitment, explained that an on-site simulation lab allows all residents to participate in continued training.

B u s i n e s s C e n t r a l M a g a z i n e • • M a Y / JUNE 2 0 1 4

By Whitney Bina

Some local companies provide opportunities for postsecondary education and tuition reimbursement, another business education perk. In return for employment commitment, the hospital awards $300,000 in tuition reimbursements every year to employees based on greatest need, Ruegemer said. The hospital also partners with area nursing programs offering educational opportunities to students. Over 700 nursing students take advantage of training at the hospital every year. Likewise, SCR partners with St. Cloud Technical and Community College (SCTCC) to offer a unique program for students interested in pursuing refrigeration or HVAC technician careers. SCR selects up to three students annually who receive scholarships. SCR pays $2,000 in tuition per year for each student. In return, students work at SCR for 20 hours a week while in school and full-time in the summer. Upon graduation, recipients are required to work at SCR for at least two years. If they choose to pursue other opportunities, recipients must return 100 percent of the scholarship. The first student to complete the program recently celebrated 20 years of employment at SCR. “If we can get students in the door, we can make them happy and they will stay,” Welty said. Continuing education occurs in other forms as well. For instance, SCR employs a retired

refrigeration and HVAC instructor who conducts most of the company’s on-site trainings. At the hospital, family practice physicians educate residents in the field. “This is a great opportunity for our physicians to feed their soul for education,” Waage said. BC Whitney Bina is the communications and workforce development coordinator at the St. Cloud Area Chamber of Commerce.

Resource List Central Minnesota’s Education, Training & Consultant options Anderson Center...............(320) 251-5420 Big River Group, LLC........(320) 202-1212 College of Saint Benedict/ Saint John’s University.....(320) 363-5060 College of St. Scholastica ..............................................(877) 287-8740 Conflict Resolution Center..................................(701) 290-7078 Dale Carnegie Training....(218) 839-2434 Dennis Smith Training & Development..................(320) 240-0948 Gaslight Creative...............(320) 290-5909 Heartland Organizing.......(320) 558-6688 High Impact Training........(320) 259-8222 Insperity...............................(952) 960-5360 Language-Bank, LLC.......(320) 310-1172 Resource Training and Solutions.....................(320) 255-3236 St. Cloud State University Continuing Education Services...........(320) 308-3081 St. Cloud Technical & Community College..........(800) 222-1009 Saint John’s Prep..............(320) 363-3321 Sandler Training................(320) 224-2121 Stonehouse Resources....(320) 251-6112

Education, Training & Consultants SPECIAL SECTION

The following pages provide

Employee Exodus Workers more willing to leave their jobs in a positive economy. U.S. Employees who voluntarily Month/Year left their jobs (in thousands)

Sept. 2012

1,976

Oct. 2012

2,079

Nov. 2012

2,140

Dec. 2012

2,126

Jan. 2013

2,260

Feb. 2013

2,286

March 2013

2,099

April 2013

2,185

2,233

May 2013

June 2013

2,205

July 2013

2,342

August 2013

2,364

*Data from OfficeTeam, a Robert Half Company

information to help you explore Central Minnesota’s Education, Training & Consultant options.

Matthew Keil, EdD. Academic Dean of Trades and Industry Phone: (320) 308-5353 Email: mkeil@sctcc.edu Website: www.sctcc.edu/ dean-trade

Saint John’s Preparatory School Phone: (320) 363-3321 • www.sjprep.net Email: admissions@sjprep.net

Saint John’s Prep offers rigorous academics, spiritual growth and unique academic environment for students in grades 6-12. Your experience at Saint John’s Prep prepares you for your next step in life. What you learn here applies everywhere you go, and where you go is entirely up to you. We’ll help you get there.

Dr. Keil leads SCTCC’s Trades and Industry Division. This division offers Relevant Experiences for Applied Learning (REAL) through multiple hands-on academic programs in the areas of manufacturing, construction, and transportation. Contact Dr. Keil to learn about SCTCC’s new manufacturing programs in biomedical technology, robotics, rapid prototyping, and reverse engineering. Also consider scheduling a tour, hosting on-campus interviews, or developing customized training for your team.

Rigorous academics. Spiritual growth. Unique academic environment. Your experience at Saint John’s Prep prepares you for your next step in life. What you learn here applies everywhere you go, and where you go is entirely up to you. We’ll help you get there. It’s time to get ready for your future. Apply now for grades 6-12. We’re proud to be an IB World School. Learn more about our IB Diploma Programme at sjprep.net. Innovative school. Motivated students.

320-363-3321 • sjprep.net • admissions@sjprep.net M a y / j u n E 2 0 1 4 • • w w w. B u s i n e s s C e n t r a l M a g a z i n e . c o m

Education, Training & Consultants

Phone: (320) 255-3236

Jennifer Janasie Training & Development Specialist

Email: info@resourcetraining.com

Phone: (320)308-3050

Website: www.resourcetraining.com

Email: Jennifer@ scsutraining.com

facebook.com/ResourceTrainingSolutions

Resource Training & Solutions has a new training facility in Sartell that you can use for meetings, conferences, retreats, training or other gatherings. Room features include: • 90-inch high-definition displays • Built-in multimedia capabilities • FREE high-speed wi-fi • Apple TV • SMART Board • Flip Chart • Microphones • DVD player • Registration Desk • Laptop Labs are available for $50/day Open 8-5 M-F and online 24/7/365!

Customized Training Affordable. Professional. Personalized.

Website: www.scsutraining.com

CORPORATE EDUCATION & OUTREACH…

the training you need for the job you do! We offer a wide variety of affordable training & education options to business, industry, non-profit organizations and individuals. Jennifer is a seasoned professional with extensive experience in professional development training and program coordination, specifically in the creation and execution of: • Conference planning • Communication trainings • Team-building workshops

Inspired Learning. Inspiring Lives.

Corporate Education & Outreach provides customized training tailored to fit your needs. We also offer: Seminars Workshops Conference Planning Services Career Training (online & classroom)

CORPORATE EDUCATION AND OUTREACH

scsutraining.com 50

B u s i n e s s C e n t r a l M a g a z i n e • • M a Y / JUNE 2 0 1 4

Global Business Leadership The global business environment requires a different type of leader. The CSB/SJU major in Global Business Leadership is focused on ensuring that students expand their global business mindset, business knowledge, professional skills and ethical framework. Students have opportunities to develop this mindset through in-depth coursework, study abroad experiences and international internships.

www.csbsju.edu/global Email: smoskowitz@csbsju.edu

Education, Training & Consultants

Upgrade your resume in 16 months.

Tailor your degree with a concentration in healthcare leadership, change leadership, marketing or more.

MBA or Master’s in Management

go.css.edu/businesscentral (877) 287-8740

With accelerated evening classes and no entrance exam requirements, you can earn your MBA or Master’s in Management in as little as 16 months all for less than you’d think.

DULUTH ST. CLOUD

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ROCHESTER

TWIN CITIES

ONLINE

M a y / j u n E 2 0 1 4 • • w w w. B u s i n e s s C e n t r a l M a g a z i n e . c o m

Education, Training & Consultants

Kelly Zaske Marketing Strategist Phone: (320) 290-5909 Email: kelly@ gaslightcreative.com Website: gaslightcreative.com

gaslightcreative.com branding | websites | advertising

Kelly Zaske has been directing the marketing initiatives for Central Minnesota businesses for nearly 20 years. As a principle in Gaslight Creative, she collaborates with businesses to clarify their marketing goals, develop strategies to best meet their needs and implement campaigns to reach these goals – on time and within budget. She and partner Jodie Pundsack assemble their team to bring the full scope of experience and enthusiasm to each project. Gaslight Creative offers an array of services from branding campaigns and public relations to web development and social media.

Brian F. Hart President Phone: (320) 224-2121 Email: brian.hart@ sandler.com Website: www.brianhart. sandler.com

Sandler Training’s Brian Hart helps successful companies improve the performance of their sales, sales management, and customer care teams. He combines 30 years of sales, marketing, and business development experience with proven Sandler processes to deliver practical – and effective – training solutions for your business. “We help business owners and their sales and customer care teams achieve new levels of professional and personal success through ongoing reinforcement training and coaching,” promises Hart.

B u s i n e s s C e n t r a l M a g a z i n e • • M a Y / JUNE 2 0 1 4

SMART BUSINESS: St. Cloud Technical & Community College

Keeping it real… St. Cloud Technical & Community College Serving 6,000+ students each year, with 97% job placement

Keeping it real” “translates into the

creation of relevant curricula and upgraded skills training.

hen we at St. Cloud Technical & Community College (SCTCC) refer to real-ness, we mean something tangible, measurable, and authentic. To deliver education that works for our students–– and for this ever-changing community we serve––“keeping it real” translates into the creation of relevant curricula and upgraded skills training. Our reliance on community advocacy, collaboration with the Stearns-Benton Employment and Training Council, and procurement of development grants ensure our ability to prepare a regional workforce that is well equipped for the 21st century. Advisory Committees. Forty Program Advisory Committees operate at SCTCC, each comprised of community members with expertise in the occupational field the program serves. These individuals advise us and make recommendations for program improvements and expansion that align with industry trends.