Elevate everydaythe
Building Design+Construction, Architecture Giant CSI National Firm Award for Environmental Stewardship Great Place to Work-Certified™ | 100% Employee-Owned ESOP jlgarchitects.com St. Cloud’s Bremer Bank is “branching” out to a new home at the heart of the city in the Highbanks Plaza development. This two-story project reactivates the site of the former St. Cloud City Hall with a collaborative effort by developers, Frauenshuh, Inc. and Inventure Properties, with RJM Construction, interior design by RSP Architecture, and exterior design by JLG Architects. With an outdoor patio and ideal downtown location near St. Cloud State University and the entertainment district, the possibilities are worth the investment. Bremer’s new branch will inspire a welcoming atmosphere through fresh design that fuses glass and traditional brick with St. Cloud granite and landscape boulders that embrace the region’s character. Banking on modern forms that visually connect to the historic neighborhood, Bremer is elevating the everyday to cultivate a thriving community.
SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2022: 4 President’s Letter / 6 Editor’s Note / 16 Network Central CONTENTS GROW | NETWORK | PROFIT EXPLORING CENTRAL MINNESOTA’S BUSINESSES. © Copyright 2022 Business Central, LLC. Business Central is published six times a year by the St. Cloud Area Chamber of Commerce, 1411 West St. Germain Street, Suite 101, P.O. Box 487, St. Cloud, MN 56302-0487. Phone (320) 251-2940 / Fax (320) 251-0081. Subscription rate: $18 for 1 year. PROFIT CULTIVATING34 CULTURE How you promote and live your company culture can make a big difference in employee recruitment and retention. YOUNG38 PROFESSIONALS ECONOMIC40 DRIVERS Who has our back? These industries are driving economic growth in Central Minnesota. 202246 CENTRAL MINN. GROWTH GUIDE MAGAZINE.COMBUSINESSCENTRAL • 5 Benefits of Chat Bots • CommunicationChannelsatWork • Journaling Your Way to Success • Preserving the Culture of a Growing Family BusinessUPFRONT8 Valuable anddesignedinformationtoguideeducate BUSINESS18 TOOLS Useful tips intelligenceandon how to continue to grow your business SPOTLIGHTBUSINESS50 Bill ChamberlainChamberlain,Oil NETWORK GROW ONLY ONLINECover Story 28 HARD WORK & DETERMINATION When Pete Rengel, Rengel Printing, bought the family business in 2004 he turned a near-crisis into an industry leader.
Main Phone: 320-251-4170
CONVENTION & VISITORS BUREAU STAFF
All our advocacy programs are highly valued — from the Chamber’s Convention and Visitors Bureau to Legislative Updates to our monthly Government Affairs meetings.
Director of Programs & Events: Laura Wagner, ext. 131 Membership Specialist: Antoinette Valenzuela, ext. 134 Administrative Assistant: Vicki Lenneman, ext. 122 Administrative Assistant: Shelly Imdieke, ext. 100
There are not many good things that came out of the COVID-19 pandemic. But if it taught us to be better listeners, well, I'd call that a win. Call me with your thoughts and questions. My door is always open.
It's not every day that you ask someone how they are doing and they answer, "Brilliantly!" But that was essentially the message we received from our members who completed our recent membership satisfaction survey. We had 426 completed surveys, which is more than we received the last time and is considered a representative sample of the membership.
More members than in previous years report that their ideas are used and that they are encouraged to talk to staff. Overall satisfaction was very strong. Nearly 8 out of 10 members agreed or strongly agreed that they were satisfied with the Chamber and that membership is good for their business or organization.
JuliePresidentLunning
Executive Director: Rachel Thompson, ext. 128
A Good Report Card
Main Phone: 320-251-2940 Automated Reservation Line: 320-656-3826 Program Hotline: information@StCloudAreaChamber.com320-656-3825
A few of the highlights:
You also like our educational programming with more than 80 percent saying we provide quality training at an affordable price. We took advantage of the survey to ask for your feedback on some possible new initiatives for the Chamber, primarily dealing with diversity, equity and inclusion. Results indicate that about two-thirds of members support these efforts.
Approximately 50 percent of respondents strongly support attracting minority-owned businesses and employees of color; approximately 40 percent strongly support the Chamber coordinating with other local DEI efforts and providing DEI educational programming. You'll be hearing more about these and other ideas in the coming months. This survey was conducted on our behalf by St. Cloud State University Survey Center. The Chamber worked on the questions, but the SCSU faculty and students sent out the survey, collected the data, and presented us with their findings. I think it's particularly worth mentioning that our experts called out the work the Chamber did during the pandemic. They wrote: It is worth noting that data for this study was collected in early 2022, nearing the two-year mark of the Covid-19 pandemic and associated social and organizational disruptions. These disruptions have no doubt had an impact on many of the Chamber’s programs and member experiences, as has occurred for other community organizations. However, despite pandemic-related disruptions and uncertainty, results from this year’s member value survey were comparable to previous surveys.
In their presentation to the Chamber's Board of Directors, they suggested that perhaps the reason more members felt that their ideas are used and that they feel encouraged to talk to staff, was because of our response during the pandemic.
LETTERPRESIDENT’S
Director of Sales: Nikki Fisher, ext. 112 Sales Manager: Craig Besco, ext. 111 Marketing Manager: Lynn Hubbard, ext. 129 Sports and Special Events Manager: Mike Johnson, ext. 110
President: Julie Lunning, ext. 104 Director of Marketing & Communications: Emily Bertram, ext. 109
I'm happy to report that our networking programs received a solid thumbs up with 89 percent of the respondents telling us we are doing well providing networking, advertising, and visibility programs.
We're doing well advocating for businesses in Central Minnesota, promoting a pro-business legislative agenda, and helping build the regional economy.
ST. CLOUD AREA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE STAFF
StCloudAreaChamber.com
Don't miss your chance to collaborate, strategize and discuss the future of technology with regional and national experts. Register today for nVision2022! REGISTER NOW: netcenter.net/nvision2022 11.08.22 #nVision2022
It’s About Family
Today I thought I’d talk about family.
And now, to my new family. My Chamber family! Some of you may remember me from back in the 2015ish time frame when I rarely missed a Chamber Connection, NEXT-Chamber’s Emerging Leaders meeting, or Business After Hours. As life goes with young kids, I have not been as active for the last few years, but I am once again excited to be part of this amazing group of people and looking forward to serving you.
If you were cracking open this issue of Business Central hoping to find the entertaining, eloquent words of Gail in the Editor’s Note, here’s hoping you’re not too disappointed.
Fast Forward … I grew up in Avon, Minnesota, and spent many days shopping at Crossroads Center, strolling Munsinger Clemens Gardens, and frequenting the bumpety bump slide park (Eastman Park), so I almost consider myself a St. Cloud native. I attended St. Cloud State University for marketing, and worked for NativeX (aka W3i) and HatlingFlint before being referred to the St. Cloud Area Convention and Visitors Bureau in 2016 by none other than Gail Ivers.
NOTEEDITOR’S
H i there. I’m Emily Bertram. Who am I? Where else to start but at the beginning, I suppose. It was a perfect autumn day, October 14th to be exact, when my mom… wait, just kidding. That’s a little extreme.
6 BusinessCentral Magazine.com // SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2022
(Far left) Editor Emily Bertram with her husband, Kyle, and daughters, Audrey (5) and Chloe (2), along with golden retriever, Lucky. Editor Emily Bertram at the St. Cloud Area Chamber of Commerce office.
In the end, the families we have and the families we choose to surround ourselves with are vital to our success and happiness, both professionally and personally. As you’ll see in Pete Rengel’s case, (see the story on page 28) family was the choice he made in 2004, and he hasn’t looked back. To his credit, it seems to be working out pretty well.
If you were cracking open this issue of Business Central hoping to find the entertaining, eloquent words of Gail in the Editor’s Note, here’s hoping you’re not too disappointed. Gail started this magazine from nothing, has been at the Chamber for 34 years, and has left a legacy that, admittedly, is a little intimidating. But thanks to the support of my families, I have a feeling we will do herSo,proud.there you go. I am Emily Bertram, the new director of marketing and communications at the St. Cloud Area Chamber of Commerce, and your editor of Business Central Magazine. It’s an honor to be part of the family.
Until next time, Emily Bertram, Editor
First of all, my family. I live in Rockville with my husband, Kyle, and daughters, Audrey (5) and Chloe (2). We collectively have a hard time sitting still. You can usually find us camping, fishing, hiking, exploring the outdoors, and playing with our golden retriever, Lucky. These crazy folks are my life — from toddler tantrums to Just for Kix registration to ice fishing trips — they keep me busy, but are always supportive and generous with hugs and encouragement. Then there are the people who have been my second family for the last six years. The most incredible group of hard working, talented, creative people in the tourism industry. The staff at Visit Greater St. Cloud, the convention and tourism division of the Chamber of Commerce, has evolved over the years, but the one constant has been that it’s always been comprised of the brightest and most dedicated minds. The amazing things this organization does for the community often go unmentioned, but rest assured, you see the fruits of their labor every day without even realizing it. Tourism will forever hold a special place in my heart.
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SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2022 // BusinessCentralMagazine.com 7
CONTRIBUTING
WRITERS
Media ART Design
Circulation
Lisa Bershok, MSW, LICSW, CentraCare Emily Bertram, St. Cloud Area Chamber of AllisonCommerceBilyand Lynn MacDonald, St. Cloud State University Alicia BluebirdChapman,Creative, LLC Mike Grage, Schlenner Wenner CPAs Dr. Fred E. Hill, St. Cloud State University Gail Ivers, Founding Editor, Business Central Magazine Mike BerganKDVStevefreelanceKilleen,writerLeen, Ryan GreatMcCormick,RiverRegional Library Jeanine HistoryStevefreelanceNistler,writerPenick,StearnsMuseum Melinda Vonderahe & Yola Hartmann, Hazel Tree & Yola Hartmann, Hazel Tree Media Cover Story Photography Joel Butkowski, BDI Photography WEBSITE Vicki Lenneman Publisher Julie Lunning // Editor Emily Bertram Managing Editor Gail Ivers ST CLOUD AREA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE 2022-23 BOARD MEMBERS
1411 West St. Germain Street, Suite 101,P.O. Box 487, St. Cloud, MN 56302-0487 Phone (320) 251-2940 Fax (320) 251-0081
Production
Marilyn Birkland, SCTimes/LocaliQ Ron Brandenburg, Quinlivan & Hughes Doug Cook, Headwaters Strategic Succession Consulting LLC. Tanja Goering, Board Vice Chair Joe Hellie, CentraCare Ray Herrington, Pioneer Place on Fifth Patrick Hollermann, InteleCONNECT Hudda Ibrahim, Filsan Talent Partners Kevin Johnson, K. Johnson Construction, Board Chair Matt Laubach, West Bank Bernie Perryman, Batteries Plus Bulbs, Past Board Chair Laurie Putnam, St. Cloud School District 742 Paul Radeke, BerganKDV Brenda Sickler, Theisen Dental Donella Westphal, Jules’ Bistro Dr. Jason Woods, St. Cloud State University Colleen Zoffka, Park Industries
canEditorial(320)contactForMagazine.comBusinessCentraladvertisinginformationMelindaVonderahe,656-3808suggestionsbemadeinwritingto: Editor, Business Central, P.O. Box 487, St. Cloud, MN 56302-0487. Submission of materials does not guarantee publication. Unsolicited materials will not be returned unless accompanied by a stamped, self-addressed envelope.
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GROW | NETWORK | PROFIT NEWS & PEOPLE THAT MAKE UP THE CHAMBER NETWORK BOOK REVIEW
8 BusinessCentral Magazine.com // SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2022 NEWS REEL INSIDE THIS ISSUE: People to Know / New at the Top / Digging History / The Trouble with Business Goelz completes CPA exam
Preferred recognizedCredit
Tony partscompleted&SchlennerGoelz,WennerCo.recentlyalloftheCPA exam. Goelz has a bachelor's degree in accounting from the University of MinnesotaDuluth and works in Schlenner Wenner’s St. Cloud office.
Week 1: The first step on the listening path is to listen to what we may be in the habit of tuning out – the world around us. This week you will be asked to tune into your environment. Week 2: This week you will build on the habit of listening to your environment and begin to consciously develop the habit of listening to others. Week 3: So far, we have consciously listened to our environment, and we have added to that consciously listening to those around us. In week three we add another level of listening … listening to our higher selves. Sometimes we know what is right for us or strongly feel what is not.
FRONT
Learning to listen at deeper levels will enrich not just your creativity, but your entire life.
The Listening Path; The Creative Art of AttentionA 6-week Artist’s Way Program; Julia Cameron; 2021, St. Martin’s Essentials, New York, ISBN 9781250768582
J ulia Cameron’s The Listening Path is a major work for readers seriously seeking to become more creative. I know what I’m talking about – Cameron has published at least 11 books in her The Artist’s Way series, and I now own three! Her Listening Path Program consists of an introduction and instruction over the six weeks. They are: Week 1: Listening to Our Environment Week 2: Listening to Others Week 3: Listening to Our Higher Self Week 4: Listening Beyond the Veil Week 5: Listening to Our Heroes Week 6: Listening to Silence
WACOSA names new executive director Nancy Betts is the new executive director of WACOSA. Betts has been vice president of WACOSA since 2018 and took over the role of executive director on July 1. Betts has worked with people with disabilities for over 25 years at WACOSA in a variety of roles including direct support professional, client manager, and program director. Read more about Betts on page 9.
Reviewed by Dr. Fred Hill UP
The Better Business Bureau recently awarded Preferred Credit with a “Torch Award for Ethics.” The BBB Torch Awards for Ethics, presented through the BBB foundation, recognizes marketplace role models that demonstrate an outstanding commitment to ethics and integrity in all aspects of their operation in Minnesota and North Dakota.
To be included in the News Reel, please send your submissions to Emily Bertram at StCloudAreaChamber.comEbertram@
Julia Cameron brought a new approach to creativity to the world with her extraordinary book, The Artist’s Way. Now, in The Listening Path, she takes us into a completely different dimension of creativity: the ability to listen at deeper and deeper levels. As a lifelong student of the art of listening, I can tell you there is nothing quite like this book. I encourage you to read The Listening Path and make use of its life-changing gifts. — Gay Hendricks, psychologist, writer, teacher Julia Cameron invented the way people renovate the creative soul. — The New York Times
To give you an idea of what’s ahead, here are some pieces of her Listening Path.
Seeking Creativity
Week 4: This week we will listen deeper yet, and we will reach to connect to those who have passed on. Week 5: We all have heroes, and with a little openness and imagination, we may be able to connect with these heroes more easily than we might expect. Week 6: In the final week, we consciously seek out silence. We will listen to quiet. We will create not isolation, but I’mconnection.excitedfor you to give this a try. The other two that I can recommend from personal experience are The Artist’s Way and the Artist’s Way Creativity Kit. Dr. Fred E. Hill is an emeritus professor at St. Cloud State University.
RECLAIMGAME YOUR
Previous position: Vice President of Quality WACOSA
Assurance,
I believe people with disabilities have so much to offer to our community. I look forward to fostering more collaborations with area employers and organizations so the people WACOSA serves can thrive at what they want to do and create more opportunities for everyone. Where did you grow up? I grew up on a farm north of Dickinson, North Dakota, where my parents reside today. What are your hobbies? My husband and I enjoy exploring the food world, trying new ingredients to cook with, and patronizing our local restaurants. I also try to grow some of our own produce, but nothing like the scale of when I lived on our family farm. IN THE NEWS Fun fact For the life of me I cannot whistle –many have tried to teach me and all have failed. It is a skill I was not meant to have.
South
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NEW
Nancy Betts, 60 Executive Director, WACOSA AT THE
TOP
When did you start at WACOSA? I started at WACOSA in 1991 as a direct support professional supporting people with disabilities working and living in their communities. When did you start in your current position? July 1, 2022 Briefly, what did you do in your previous position and what will you miss most? In my previous role my dedicated team and I developed and administered programs designed to help connect the people we serve with employment and community activities. I will miss the hands-on day-to-day with all the staff and clients. What are you looking forward to the most in your new position?
Ask for #LiveBetter RECLAIM
Meyer joins AIS Planning Sydney Meyer joined AIS Planning as an associated advisor. Prior to her role with AIS Planning, she spent seven years in client service and support roles. Games are all about precision, and so are we. That’s why at St. Cloud Orthopedics, our specialty surgeons are able to use innovative robotic-assisted technology to ensure you get the best outcome possible. All to get you back to doing what you love. Your care is your choice— ask for St. Cloud Orthopedics. 320-259-4100 #LiveBetter St. Cloud & Sartell
StCloudOrthopedics.com
Dietman’s Grocery Store reached well beyond its neighborhood customers.
NEWS REEL NETWORK UP FRONT DIGGING HISTORY
10 BusinessCentral Magazine.com // SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2022
Dietman's Grocery Store, 520 8th Ave. S, St. Cloud, ca 1939 MuseumHistoryStearnstheofCourtesy
A partnership between St. Cloud Technical & Community College (SCTCC) and GREAT (Great River Educational Arts Theatre), will allow students to engage in a new pathway to a two-year AA degree in Technical Theatre starting Fall semester 2022. The program is designed to provide students a practicum-based, hands-on, real-world learning opportunity. Students will complete the Minnesota Transfer Curriculum in-classroom at SCTCC as well as build a foundation in technical theatre through practicum experiences with GREAT. This collaborative model between institutions of higher education and community theatre is the only of its kind in Minnesota and one of a handful of programs nationwide.
joinsCampionGSDC Tammy therecentlyCampionjoinedGreater St. Cloud Development Corp. as communications and program specialist. She worked in the planning office for the City of St. Cloud, the last 16 years as senior planner and economic development specialist. Waite Park receives “City of Excellence” award Waite Park earned one of four 2022 “City of Excellence Awards” at the League of Minnesota Cities annual conference earlier this summer. The city was recognized for its innovative project to transform an abandoned quarry into a 5,000-seat open-air amphitheater now called The Ledge. The amphitheater preserves the natural beauty of the quarry and showcases the granite in the area. It is estimated to bring upward of $8 million to Central Minnesota each year.
By Steve Penick “Well, now how do the small grocers survive along with the big ones? I don’t know. It never bothered me. I have been here for over 44 years. I have increased my business for 44 years.”
Every Customer Counts
SCTCC, GREAT launch unique partnership
—Victor Dietman, Stearns History Museum Oral History interview with Mildred Dumonceaux, St. Cloud, 1978 V ictor Dietman was a Rockville native, who grew up on a farm in the early 20th century and attended St. Cloud Tech high school. While in town, he worked at his uncle’s grocery store after classes and on some weekends, learning the trade over a three-year period. The time spent at the store inspired him to think about his future. Victor blended this and his farm experiences together, shaping a career path influenced by family members and friends. Before his ambitions got too far along, the pull of domestic life attracted him to Laura Stang, a nearby Luxemburg resident. They married in 1926 and eventually had 11 children – six boys and five girls. In 1934, the couple purchased a small grocery store on 8th Avenue South for $1,000. Growing up, the children had a hand in building the business, either by stocking shelves, making sausage, or processing customer orders. Later on, store ownership passed to them as well.Neighborhood grocery stores catered to a specific audience. Victor and Laura Dietman’s business philosophy stemmed from a simple motto – every customer counts. Nearby residents shopped for necessities, meats, and fresh fruit. Many customers visited the store daily, developing a relationship with the Dietmans. College students frequented the store as the residential area was close to St. Cloud State. The store’s reach, however, went beyond these loyal regulars. The Dietmans had their own meat market, which attracted customers from all parts of the city. Homemade specialty products such as sausage, liver pâté, and smoked meats were consumer favorites. “Oh ya. Made a lot more work,” said Victor. “But is handier. When you ran out you cut your stuff. When you wanted a roast, you got it there to cut. You didn’t have to run after Customersit.”appreciated the personalized service and the Dietmans capitalized on this strategy, adding other amenities to reach a larger market share. “We started delivering too right away,” recalled Victor. “We delivered to whole of St. Cloud, and they have been begging all over for deliveries, but too far out we can’t go. We go as far as Sauk Rapids.”
newSalesMonumentalhasGM Angela Mortezaee has been hired as the new general manager of Monumental Sales, a division of St. Cloud Industrial Products (SCIPI). Mortezaee was most recently human resources director for MonumentalSCIPI.Sales is a 75-person company that designs, manufactures, and installs custom cemetery memorials, granite countertops, and limestone products through its subsidiaries.retail
SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2022 // BusinessCentralMagazine.com 11
ORTHOPEDICS TO THE EXTREME. YOUR EXTREME. We’ve teamed up to bring you expert orthopedic services right in St. Cloud. We’ll help you reach your personal extreme. To schedule an appointment, call 320-253-2663. CentraCare.com/ortho deliver. Many individual orders exceeded $70 by the late 1970s, making it a profitable venture. Business was as good as ever, even with competition from larger, high volume grocery stores around them. In the 1980s the Dietmans decided to sell the business to their children. “I am getting to the age when I’ll have to get out,” Victor said. “I am going on 74.” Interviewer Mildred Dumonceaux asked, “What would you do if you got out of the business?” Victor replied, “Just take it easy. I could do anything.” Sons Victor R. “Junie” and Robert assumed control of the store, and in late 1994 the business closed its doors for the last time.
Steve Penick is the head archivist at the Stearns History Museum in St. Cloud
Dietman’s Grocery served all St. Cloud public and parochial schools, including St. Joseph, Clearwater, and Waite Park. “Some delivery orders are from shoppers who have never been in the store,” Victor said. During the peak years, it took four employees to prepare orders and one to An ad for Dietman’s Grocery Store in the St.Cloud Times, April 16, 1962 IN THE NEWS
NETWORK UP FRONT
Workforce development is a key membership benefit that incoming Chamber Board Chair Kevin Johnson hopes to focus on.
NEWS REEL
“I can’t tell you how many employees we’ve gotten over the years because of our involvement with the Chamber.”
The Next Challenge
12 BusinessCentral Magazine.com // SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER
Stearns Financial Services Inc. sold Stearns Bank Holdingford (SBH) to VersaHoldings US Corp. for an estimated $13.5 million. Upon closing, SBH will be renamed VersaBank USA. Stearns Financial Services will continue to operate Stearns Bank NA and Stearns Bank Upsala NA. Bechtold receives ATHENA award Geri Bechtold, vice president of operations for the Boys & Girls Clubs of Central Minnesota, was selected as the 2022 ATHENA recipient. Bechtold has been with Boys & Girls club for over 30 years in a variety of positions. During the COVID-19 pandemic, she was instrumental in keeping programs safe and accessible for youth. She helped establish a childcare program for frontline workers and launch virtual programming that included video messages and weekly Zoom meetings, and created a Virtual Club on the organization’s website.
Local businesses in “Top 200 Workplaces” Blattner, Brenny Transportation, and Microbiologics were all included in the Star Tribune’s “2022 Top 200 Workplaces in Minnesota.” Blattner was ranked in the top 10 in the large company category. The rankings are based on survey information collected by Energage, an independent company specializing in employee engagement and retention. Stearns HoldingfordBankacquired
PEOPLE TO KNOW A s an entrepreneur and the owner of several businesses, Kevin Johnson is always looking forward to the next challenge. About a year after taking home the Chamber’s Small Business of the Year award in 2017 for K. Johnson Construction, Johnson received a call from Teresa Bohnen, then Chamber president, asking if he would be interested in joining the Chamber’s Board of Directors.“Youcan be as involved or uninvolved as you want to be,” Johnson says of his decision to join the Chamber board. “It has been a very good experience for me.” In 2021, incoming Board Chair Bernie Perryman asked Johnson to fill the vice chair role. “I know there’s a big commitment to that, but I was confident that I could fulfill the duties.” K. Johnson Construction has been a member of the St. Cloud Area Chamber of Commerce for over 20 years. Johnson sees a great value in a Chamber membership for many reasons, especially for employee recruitment. “I can’t tell you how many employees we’ve gotten over the years because of our involvement with the Chamber,” he said. He has been involved in the Business Education Network committee in the past and hopes to continue the Chamber’s goals of workforce development and recruitment.“Idefinitely want to continue the get“Asinofownerchallenges.onSt.forarethatmakechair,businessgoaltheirtothatthathighlighthere.”notmovingbrainwhatopportunitieslot“EvenasJohnsondevelopmentworkforceprogram,”saidofhisprioritiestheChamberBoardChair.thoughwe’vegotaofgreathighereducationinthearea,wedon’twantisthedrain–graduatesonbecausethere’senoughopportunityHealsohopestotheopportunitiestradejobsprovide,notingstudentsdon’tneedtogocollegetobesuccessfulinfield.Itisalsoanimportanttokeepworkingfortheowner.AsboardJohnsonaimstohelpsurethatthepoliciesarebeingsetinSt.PaulgoingtherightdirectionthebusinessownersofCloud.Aswithanything,takinganewrolecomeswithEverybusinessisawareoftheeffectsinflationandrecessionthebusinesscommunity.expensesgoup,budgetstighter.It’sgoingtobe our goal to keep businesses involved in the Chamber community,” Johnson said. “Being on the Chamber board, it’s not a job I take lightly,” Johnson said. “There’s a lot of responsibility that comes with it, and honestly I didn’t realize how big of a position it really was until I agreed to it. I certainly take it to heart now.” He is also excited to continue to partner with Chamber members for growth.“ We’ve got some great people on the board and some new members that I’m really looking forward to working with. I think it’s going to be a great year for us.” 2022
T here are only so many hours in a week, and we all strive for a healthy worklife balance. Here are some tips to gain a few precious hours back during the work week.
If you’re trying to squeeze in one more thing, try these tips for gaining back a few hours in your week.
2 Deep Workdays: Schedule one day a week where you don’t schedule any meetings or accept any calls, and allow yourself to focus solely on your to-do list. Communicate clearly with your team that this is your deep workday – questions can wait, or better yet, be solved without you.
NOW Do
DO IT You Have a Minute?
4 Get Out of the Office: Office time is great for collaboration and teamwork. But when you need to home in and focus on a big project, the office can also mean a lot of distractions, from fielding questions to a growing to-do list. Occasionally plan a day to work offsite at a coffee shop or coworking space so you can really devote all of your attention to a single task without interruptions.
1 One Minute Rule: Look at your to-do list and determine which tasks could be done in about one minute. Tackle those first – either by yourself or by delegation – so you can file them away and focus on the big things.
SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2022 // BusinessCentralMagazine.com 13
5 Bulk Tasks: Whenever you have several similar tasks to complete, try to do them all in succession during an established block of time. For example, set aside one hour every morning from 9 a.m. to 10 a.m. to focus solely on responding to emails. Scheduling a time to complete bulk tasks helps you plan your day, plus it lets your coworkers get a better feel for your availability throughout the day for questions and collaboration. A Final Note Ultimately, managing your time during the workweek comes down to a few basic principles: mitigate distractions, plan your day, and reprioritize your to-do list regularly. There will be days that are full of meetings and times when your flow gets interrupted, but in general the key points described here can help you add hours back into your work-life balance.
Because friendly still counts. We won’t tell you how to run your business, but we will provide you with just the right financing options. Whether your goal is to grow or sustain the success of your company, our commercial lending experts at Farmers & Merchants State Bank will stand by you every step of the way. FMPierz.com You know business. We know banking.
3 Reduce Distractions: Distractions are everywhere in the workplace, from email notifications to text messages. Work to eliminate distractions. Put your phone out of sight and log out of social media platforms. You will be more productive with the hours you have.
Is it Deductible?
Coldspring is Manufacturer“2021ofthe Year” The Central inhelpcontributionsinvestmentstheCentralexcellencetheas(CMMA)ManufacturersMinnesotaAssociationselectedColdspringthe2021ManufacturerofYear.TheawardcelebratesinmanufacturinginMinnesotaandrecognizescompany’sexcellenceandinservicesandtoCMMAtoadvancemanufacturingtheregion.
A business can deduct expenses that are ordinary and necessary.
Michael Grage, CPA, MBT is an accountant with Schlenner Wenner & Co., CPAs Contributor
By Michael Grage, CPA, MBT WITH BUSINESS
Whether you call them write-offs, deductions or expenses, here’s a brief guide to deductible costs for a small business.
Duke certificationreceives Chris advisorassociatedDuke,atAIS Planning, recently attained his Certified Financial Planner (CFP) designation. CFP professionals are required to meet the CFP Board's high standards for education, examination, experience, and ethics.
NETWORK UP FRONT 14 BusinessCentral Magazine.com // SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2022
THE TROUBLE
NEWS REEL
ConnectAbility opens Duluth office ConnectAbility of MN, a nonprofit that coordinates services and community investment programs for people with disabilities, opened an office in Duluth in July. The organization partners with St. Louis County to provide services, and expects to hire two-three new people as part of the expansion.
Ordinary expenses are those common and accepted in your industry, and necessary expenses are those that are helpful and appropriate for your business. Some obvious expenses that are deductible include: the cost of products sold, employee wages, payroll taxes, employee benefits, retirement professionaladvertising,contributions,insurance,fees,rent, utilities, and charitable donations. But what about some other expenditures you may incur? Meals A meal is deductible when you are traveling for business, at a business conference, or entertaining a current or potential customer, client, consultant, or similar business contact. The meal cannot be extravagant, and the general rule is that you can only deduct 50 percent if you keep your receipts and documentation, or 50 percent of the standard meal allowance if you keep records of the time, place, and business purpose of your travel, but not your actual meal receipts. However, certain types of meals, such as a meal provided at an office party, are 100 percent deductible. Additionally, for 2021 and 2022, all meals provided by a restaurant are 100 percent deductible. Travel The actual costs of travel (e.g., plane fare, airport cabs, parking, tolls, etc.) are deductible for out-oftown business trips. You're also allowed to deduct the cost of meals (limits apply) and lodging. Personal entertainment costs on the trip are not deductible; and the rules on deducting the costs for a spouse who accompanies you on a trip are very restrictive. No deduction is allowed unless the spouse is an employee and the spouse's travel is also for a business purpose. Some allocations may be required if the trip is a combined business/pleasure trip. For example, if you fly to a location for five days of business meetings and stay on for an additional period of vacation, then only the cost of meals, lodging, etc., incurred for the business days are deductible – not those incurred for the personal vacation days. If the trip is primarily personal, none of the travel costs are deductible.
College of Saint Pieper-OlsonpromotesBenedict Heather PieperOlson was recently named vice president of institutional advancement at the College of Saint Benedict in St. Joseph. Pieper-Olson joined the Institutional Advancement team at Saint Ben’s in 2008 and has served in everincreasing leadership roles. Since 2010, when she was named director, annual giving revenue has increased by a remarkable 43 percent.
In addition, if your home office is your “principal place of business” under the strict rules, the costs of traveling between your home office and other work locations in that business are deductible transportation expenses, rather than nondeductible commuting costs. There are limitations on home office deductions and some portion of the gain on sale of your home may be taxable. Please consult your trusted tax adviser for the optimum tax treatment for your office at home expenses. Personal entertainment costs on the trip are not deductible; and the rules on deducting the costs for a spouse who accompanies you on a trip are very restrictive.
When you use your car for business, your expenses for those trips are tax-deductible. Make sure to keep excellent records of the date, mileage, and purpose for each trip, and don’t try to claim personal car trips as business car trips. Commuting from home to the office and back home is always personal. You can calculate your deduction using either the standard mileage rate or your actual expenses.
For example, the allocable share of utilities, depreciation, insurance, etc., for your home, as well as an allocable share of mortgage interest, and real estate taxes are deductible.
There is also a simplified option of calculating $5 per square foot, with a maximum of 300 square feet (or $1,500).
Health Insurance
SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2022 // BusinessCentralMagazine.com 15
Home Office Deduction
A self-employed taxpayer can deduct 100 percent of the health insurance costs for the taxpayer, spouse, and dependents, and for any child of the self-employed taxpayer who is under age 27 as of the end of the tax year.
If you're self-employed and work out of an office in your home, and if you satisfy the strict rules (the principal place of business test [used exclusively and on a regular basis]; the place for meeting patients, clients, or customers test; or the separate structure test) you will be entitled to favorable “home office” deductions for direct expenses and indirect expenses of maintaining the home office.
Vehicle Expenses
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16 BusinessCentral Magazine.com // SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2022 MORE ON EVENTS: For information on these or other business events, call 320-251-2940 or visit StCloudAreaChamber.com and click on “Calendar.” NETWORK CENTRAL GROW | NETWORK | PROFIT EVENTS AROUND THE ST. CLOUD AREA
Carl Newbanks, Initiative Foundation, and Rachael Sogge, Eyecon Graphics
Sauk Rapids Chamber meetings give business representatives the opportunity to learn about the community and expand their network.
Stacy Kouril, Gabriel Media, and Marc Van Herr, the Beautiful Mind Project
Kevin Johnson, K. Johnson Construction, and Jodi Danielson, The Good CommunityShepherd Brenda Sickler, Theisen Dental (L); Julie Braun, SOSSmart andYoungBrinkman,Solutions;OrganizingandAllenForeverTwoWellnessSkincare
Countywide broadband, business retention and expansion, a housing study, and the Main Street Revitalization Grant Program for East St. Cloud were some of the projects discussed by meeting host Amanda Othoudt, Benton Economic Partnership.
Wendy Haus, Catholic Charities, (L); Catherine Brattensborg-Brown, Playhouse Child Care; and Jeanne Blonigen, ConnectAbility of MN Grow!
Meeting hosts Jordan Dombrovski (R), Mike Haehn, and Sam Lieser, Purpose Driven Realty, introduce their new company and entertain the audience with real estate trivia.
SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2022 // BusinessCentralMagazine.com 17 The CompetitorsBags and Brew at Beaver ChiropracticAdvantageDonnaInspections,StatewideScottBrewingIslandinJuneAnderson,PropertyandRoerick, Rachel Abstract,Tri-CountyTemplin,shows off her cornhole tournament style BadCatHenderson,MichelleBartenderCelebrityDigital Network! Teams raised money for the St. Cloud Area Chamber Foundation during the Bags and Brew Cornhole tournament at Beaver Island Brewery. Thankforyou50years Thank you to our current and former patients, surgeons, employees, and team of outstanding health care professionals for making St. Cloud Surgical Center one of the leading and most trusted ambulatory surgery centers in Minnesota. the greatest oak was once a little nut who held its ground In Honor of Joseph Belshe, MD – St. Cloud Surgical Center Founder
Celebrity Bartender, Julie Lunning, Chamber president (R)
3 Invoicing. A typical challenge for businesses with fewer than five employees is staying on top of their invoices to ensure they are getting paid. For example, picture a two-person roofing operation. The roofers only earn money when working, but if they are so busy on the job that they don’t have time to submit their invoices to get paid, their other bills – such as materials and supplies – may stack up. 4 Understanding cash flow. If you ask a seasoned business owner, one of the biggest accounting aspects that got them through a slowdown was understanding cash flow.
Number
2 The Wayfair Ruling.
/ Economy
S mall business owners are responsible for multiple areas of their business and typically do most work themselves. One critical role many owners take on is being their own accountant. Between ensuring your financial processes are compliant, keeping up with ever-changing regulations, and tracking your numbers to confirm you are hitting your business goals, it can be overwhelming to maintain effective accounting practices at a small business. To assist with this, I’ve outlined a few common accounting challenges to help small business owners manage their finances with confidence and clarity. 1 Doing your own accounting. Most owners attempt to manage their accounting needs shortly after launching their business. At that point they are rarely trained to do so properly. Fortunately, tools like QuickBooks can get inexperienced owners in touch with accounting experts from the start to help alleviate future balance book headaches.
BUSINESS TOOLS RESOURCES THAT
INSIDE Toolkit Well Central by Falcon Bank
THIS ISSUE: Management
By Steve Leen
Contributor Steve Leen, CPA, CGMA, is a tax shareholder at BerganKDV. He works with clients on their tax, accounting and consulting needs, with a particular focus on manufacturing, construction, real estate, dealerships, agribusiness and estate planning.
5 Regularly reviewing financial performance. Many owners analyze how they performed financially at the Crunching Staying on top of these common accounting challenges can help small business owners manage their finances with confidence.
GROW | NETWORK | PROFIT
18 BusinessCentral Magazine.com // SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2022
A recent challenge that shook up the accounting processes of many small businesses was the Wayfair Ruling. This decision caused many states to change what it means to have their nexus triggered, or the requirement for companies doing business in a particular state to pay tax in that state. As a result, more businesses were required to begin filing sales taxes in additional states. Many states now use 200 transactions or $100,000 in revenue as the threshold, but there are varying rules. If you sell products outside of Minnesota, look into the sales tax requirements.
/ Working
Owners should routinely monitor cash flow for at least 30 days out, ideally longer if possible. Without understanding cash flow, it’s difficult to predict how much funding is available for capital expenditures, additional hiring, seasonal needs, inflation adjustments, etc. I worked with someone whose business’s tagline was “Happiness Is Positive Cash Flow.” Without it, a company will cease to exist.
HELP YOUR BUSINESS GROW ENTREPRENEURISM
TakingBagDigitalTagsFlight
SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2022 // BusinessCentralMagazine.com 19
end of the year, but the best ones know how their finances will end up beforehand because they are tracking and being proactive with their data. By reviewing key performance indicators, and your financials, on a monthly or even daily basis, you can use your data to make proactive adjustments and
Alaska Airlines will be the first airline in the U.S. to try new bag tag technology. Frequent fliers will soon be able to secure digital bag tags to their luggage, which will cut down on flight check in time at the airport by an estimated 40 percent! Travelers will set up their digital bag tag when they check in on the mobile app, and then use a self-service bag drop when they get to the airport without having to print off a paper bag tag. The tags will be available for free to 2,500 of Alaska Airlines frequent fliers later in 2022, then available to purchase by Mileage Plan members next year. Source: The Verge
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Robbins contends that we can break this habit [worrying], shift our mindset from worry to gratefulness, and regain control.
MANAGEMENT Ryan McCormick is patron services supervisor at the Great River Regional Library; griver.org
TOOLKIT Contributor
GROW BUSINESS TOOLS
Many of the barriers that prevent us from reaching our fullest potential are habits that we have the power to break.
Many resources are available to learn more about this complex and significant topic. LinkedIn Learning, the online video platform, offers a number of courses on habits. You can learn how to use habits to change your mindset, stay focused, stop apologizing, eat better, and much more. The courses range in length, but can be bookmarked and restarted later. Of course, numerous books discuss habits as well. In The 5 Second Rule: Transform Your Life, Work, and Confidence with Everyday Courage, author Mel Robbins explains her “Rule” and how it can be used to improve our personal and professional lives. Robbins maintains that many of the barriers that prevent us from reaching our fullest potential, such as doubt and procrastination, are habits that we have the power to break. For example, many of us spend a lot of time worrying, and have been taught to do so from a young age. Robbins contends that we can break this habit, shift our mindset from worry to gratefulness, and regain control. Robbins also discusses how to create positive habits, like courage. By developing everyday courage, we can stop overthinking and get moving. We can break the habit of sitting quietly in meetings, and replace it with the courage to speak up. Robbins also maintains an active online presence. Her book features social media posts from people who have tried her methods, and her TED Talk has been viewed nearly 30 million times.
Making and Breaking Habits
N early 100 years ago, the writer Will Durant claimed that, “We are what we repeatedly do.” In many ways, the choices that we make each day are ultimately what define our lives. However, how many of these choices do we make without even thinking about them? How many things do we do, without any further consideration, simply because we always have? We become our routines. That’s the impact of habit and it can be a great help, or a great hindrance, to our daily lives.
By Ryan McCormick
The Power of Habit: Why We Do What We Do in Life and Business by Charles Duhigg takes a more academic, but still readable, approach to the study of habits. Duhigg notes that by changing our habits, we can change our brains. He discusses a research study that focused on participants who dropped bad habits, and developed positive ones. Brain scans of these individuals showed how old neurological patterns (habits, in other words) can be overridden and crowded out by new ones. Duhigg then goes on to discuss how we develop habits in our personal lives, and how companies can change their habits to improve their processes, communications, and customer relations. He concludes his book with an examination of the habits of societies, and an ethical discussion of free will. Duhigg’s book also cites a study that found over 40 percent of our daily actions are not actual decisions, but rather habits. If we are going to spend that much of our lives in routine, it might be worth giving our habits some meaningful thought. Small things can have a big impact over time. To learn more, check out LinkedIn Learning and your local library, or griver.org, for the books mentioned here.
20 BusinessCentral Magazine.com // SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2022
SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2022 // BusinessCentralMagazine.com 21
NEWS
SolutionMammoth
Climate change is an everpresent concern for individuals as well as businesses when it comes to sustainability practices, energy costs, and more. Startup company Colossal has a plan to combat it using a woolly mammoth. Woolly mammoths are believed to have been engineers of their ecosystems, according to Colossal. They destroyed moss and downed trees, which kept the grasslands they roamed well-maintained. Colossal intends to genetically resurrect this hairy beast and introduce it to the Siberian tundra to unleash their environmental engineering prowess on the ecosystem there. The company has received over $60 million, with the main investment motivation not necessarily for the mammoth, but for the technology that will be developed along the way.
Source: Future Today Institute
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If you or someone you know is having thoughts of suicide, please contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 800-273-8255.
22 BusinessCentral Magazine.com // SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2022 WORKING WELL
We’ve heard a lot about the negative effects that the pandemic has had on our mental health. But what exactly is mental health?
It’s OK to Talk
M ental health includes our psychologicalemotional,andsocial wellbeing. Mental health problems are common. In the United States, they affect about onefourth of adults in any given year and nearly half of adults at some time during their lives. According to the World Health Organization, mental illnesses account for more disability in developed countries than any other group of illnesses. Anxiety and mood disorders, such as depression and bipolar disorder, are the most common mental health problems. Researchers are investigating complementary and integrative health approaches for a variety of mental health problems, including anxiety, depression, and seasonal affective disorder (SAD). Taking care of our mental health is important because it affects how we think, feel, and act as we cope with life. Good mental health can help you: Cope with the stresses of life Be physically healthy Have beincludebutfocusimpactingbeingstress,theiraboutofstudyMentalaccessduetreatmentillness,struggleworkplace.ofimportant,onanddecreasedincreasedandhaveHealth,theRealizeWorkMakerelationshipsmeaningfulpositivecontributionstoyourcommunityproductivelyyourfullpotentialAccordingtoareportfromNationalInstitutesofmentalhealthproblemsanimpactonemployersbusinessesdirectlythroughabsenteeism,andproductivity,profits,employeemorale.WhileindividualfocusmentalhealthisvitallysoisthepromotionmentalhealthintheWhenpeoplewithamentalmanydonotgetthetheyneed–oftentostigma,costandlackoftoresources.ArecentHealthAssociationfoundthat70percentemployeeswereconcernedpsychologicalhealthinworkplacewithworkplacedepressionandanxietyreportedasleadingissuesthem.Manycompaniesonlyonphysicalwellness,expandingprogramstomentalwellnesscaneasy.Companiescanlaunch anti-stigma campaigns in the workplace by using resources like MakeItOk.org materials. They can make it easy to access mental health resources through their Employee Assistance Programs and by making local, state and national resources easily available in breakrooms and through Human Resources. Research has found that by investing in mental health wellness in the workplace, you can reduce overall health care costs, absenteeism and turnover. For more resources, visit workplacementalhealth.org. It’s also important to recognize when you need help. Anxiety, depression, insomnia, and other mental health conditions are treatable today. They can affect anyone, including children and adolescents. Most conditions can be treated effectively with medication, therapy, diet, exercise and support. Recovery is possible.Ifyouare experiencing any mental health symptoms that feel overwhelming, make you miserable or cause enough problems in your daily life that you find it hard to carry out normal responsibilities, it’s time to ask for help. Contact your primary care provider to discuss therapy and/or medication.
By Lisa Bershok, MSW, LICSW, Contributor Lisa Bershok, MSW, LICSW, is the CentraCare Suicide Prevention Program Manager
GROW BUSINESS TOOLS
Businesses that make structural adaptations or other accommodations for employees or customers with disabilities may be eligible for tax credits and deductions.
TAX CREDITS
The disabled access credit is a nonrefundable credit for small businesses that have expenses for providing access to persons with disabilities. An eligible small business is one that earned $1 million or less or had no more than 30 full-time employees in the previous year. The business can claim the credit each year they incur access expenditures. Barrier removal tax deduction
ere’s an overview of the tax incentives designed to encourage employers to hire qualified people with disabilities and to offset some of the costs of providing accommodations. Disabled access credit
H
SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2022 // BusinessCentralMagazine.com 23
The architectural barrier removal tax deduction encourages businesses of any size to remove architectural and transportation barriers to the mobility of people with disabilities and the elderly. Businesses may claim a deduction of up to $15,000 a year for qualified expenses on items that normally must be capitalized.Businesses claim this deduction by listing it as a separate expense on their income tax return. Also, businesses may use the disabled tax credit and the architectural/transportation tax deduction together in the same tax year if the expenses meet the requirements of both sections. To use both, the deduction is equal to the difference between the total expenses and the amount of the credit claimed.
The work opportunity tax credit is available to employers for hiring individuals from certain target groups who have consistently faced significant barriers to employment. This includes people with disabilities and veterans. Source: IRS.gov
Adaptations and Accommodations
Work opportunity tax credit
Contributors Allison Bily, M.S., is a 2019 St. Cloud State University graduate in economics; Lynn MacDonald, Ph.D., is an associate professor of economics at SCSU.
24 BusinessCentral Magazine.com // SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2022 Economy Central presented by ECONOMY CENTRAL
Remote Workers Is working from home affecting our productivity?
GROW BUSINESS TOOLS
For the references used in this story, visit BusinessCentralMagazine.com
I n a tight labor market with employers clamoring to find workers and workers wanting greater flexibility, it seems likely remote/hybrid options will continue. The 2021 Business Response Survey reinforces this belief as 60 percent of private sector employers (covering about 38 million workers) who had expanded remote work during the pandemic indicate they expect to continue to offer telework options once the pandemic is over. With this dynamic workplace landscape, we need to understand how remote work affects productivity. Researchers have been trying to figure this issue out and their results have pointed to some interesting, and perhaps unexpected, findings. From 2010-2011, a team of researchers led by Nicolas Bloom, conducted an experiment to assess if there were productivity differences between remote workers and in-person workers who worked at a travel agency in China. These workers were all originally hired to work in-person in a call center and then, as part of the experiment, some were randomly assigned to work from home, but only if they volunteered to work remotely. The analysis found that remote workers had a 13 percent higher productivity rate than in-person andEconomistsworkers.NataliaEmanuelEmmaHarringtonsimilarly found that remote work improved call center productivity during the COVID-19 pandemic. However, they point out that prior to COVID-19, those who worked remotely were 12 percent less productive than those who worked on-site. Prior to the pandemic, remote workers answered fewer calls than their on-site counterparts. The economists suggest the discrepancy in productivity for remote workers pre-pandemic versus during the pandemic could be because those who were attracted to remote work prior to the pandemic tended to be less productive workers in the first place. Workers who were attracted to in-person work may tend to be more ambitious and engaged. Interestingly, both research projects also found that remote workers were less likely to be promoted to senior positions. In March 2021, Microsoft asked its U.S.-based software engineers and program managers if their productivity had changed while working remotely. Thirty-four percent of respondents reported an increase in productivity and 34 percent reported a decrease in productivity. Although changes in productivity were ambiguous, the survey did reveal some interesting patterns. Employees were more likely to report a decrease in productivity if they had little prior experience with remote work, a shorter tenure at the company, or fewer pre-pandemic collaborations.Thereisalack of consensus among economists whether the increase in remote work will be good for long-term economic productivity. Those who are optimistic have pointed to overall increases in labor productivity. According to data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, labor productivity increased 1.8 percent between the second quarter of 2020 and the second quarter of 2021. This compares favorably to an average annual increase of 1.4 percent from 2005 to 2019. Recent research indicates that these productivity gains are partly attributable to savings in commutingHowever,time.others are more skeptical. Economists Edward Glaeser and David Cutler point out that some of the largest increases in productivity can be attributed to highly capital-intensive industries where workers have largely remained in-person. Moreover, they indicate that the benefit of saved commuting time is outweighed by the cost of losing face-to-face contact. They point to the importance of the collaborative, innovative, learning environment that is more easily fostered with face-toface interaction. They question that in-person learning can be fully duplicated remotely, and they highlight the importance of the joy that comes from working around people. It seems some degree of working from home is here to stay. Businesses will have to continue assessing and adapting their strategies toward remote and faceto-face work as they learn more about their productivity effects.
By Allison Bily and Lynn MacDonald
202020212022 Commercial Building Permits 6 COMMUNITIES - ST. CLOUD, SAUK RAPIDS, SARTELL, WAITE PARK, ST. AUGUSTA, ST. JOSEPH TOTAL: $88,202,416 TOTAL: $78,621,465 TOTAL: $153,245,951 TOTAL: TOTAL:$110,242,189*$137,532,948TOTAL:$45,613,354*$0M $20M $40M $60M $80M $100M JanuaryFebruaryMarchAprilMayJuneJulyAugustSeptemberOctoberNovember202020212022 Residential Building Permits 6 COMMUNITIES - ST. CLOUD, SAUK RAPIDS, SARTELL, WAITE PARK, ST. AUGUSTA, ST. JOSEPH $0 $300k $600k 202020212022 Food and Beverage ST. CLOUD 0 500 1000 202020212022 Home Sales Closed ST. CLOUD $0M $50M $100M $150M $200M
SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2022 // BusinessCentralMagazine.com 25 $0M $20M $40M $60M $80M $100M JanuaryFebruaryMarchAprilMayJuneJulyAugustSeptemberOctoberNovemberDecember202020212022 Residential Building Permits 6 COMMUNITIES - ST. CLOUD, SAUK RAPIDS, SARTELL, WAITE PARK, ST. AUGUSTA, ST. JOSEPH $0 $300k $600k 202020212022 Food and Beverage ST. CLOUD 0 500 1000 202020212022 Home Sales Closed ST. CLOUD $0M $50M $100M $150M $200M
JanFebMarAprMayJuneJulyAugustSeptemberOctoberNovemberDecember
JanFebMarAprMayJuneJulyAugustSeptemberOctoberNovemberDecemberSartell 309 158 37 $15,070,149 $18,230,359 $3,500,685 Sauk Rapids 8 56 38 $30,482,808 $12,310,906 $6,603,189 Waite Park 35 122 75 $5,556,423 $11,691,421 $13,580,081 St. Augusta 11 12 6 $9,754,200 $2,774,220 $237,150 St. Joseph 51 44 45 $7,919,703 $3,001,040 $2,252,698
202020212022 Commercial Building Permits 6 COMMUNITIES - ST. CLOUD, SAUK RAPIDS, SARTELL, WAITE PARK, ST. AUGUSTA, ST. JOSEPH TOTAL: $88,202,416 TOTAL: $78,621,465 TOTAL: $153,245,951 TOTAL: TOTAL:$110,242,189*$137,532,948TOTAL:$45,613,354* St. Cloud, MN MetroSA UnitedMinnesotaStates -0.5%-2.0%-1.5%-1.0%0.0%0.5%1.0%1.5%2.0% JMAMFJDNOSAJJM Non-Farm Jobs 2021-22 -% CHANGE St. Minneapolis/St.Cloud Paul UnitedMinnesotaStates Unemployment Rates 2021-2022 4%2%1%3%5%6%7%8% JMAMFJDNOSAJJM Source: positivelyminnesota.comSource: positivelyminnesota.com Sources: Building departments for the following cities: St. Cloud, Sauk Rapids, Sartell, Waite Park, St. Augusta, and St. Joseph. BUILDING PERMITS BY COMMUNITY Commercial 2020 2021 2022* #/$ #/$ #/$ St. Cloud 246 282 147 $68,749,665 $105,238,005 $84,068,386
BUILDING PERMITS BY COMMUNITY Residential 2020 2021 2022* #/$ #/$ #/$ St. Cloud 765 777 204 $38,601,654 $31,498,210 $9,267,109 Sartell 560 477 106 $16,235,353 $28,930,350 $6,830,795 Sauk Rapids 236 252 676 $7,739,324 $9,116,510 $13,458,809 Waite Park 49 54 17 $2,336,431 $2,766,805 $666,404 St. Augusta 95 113 61 $10,023,126
$11,360,899 $6,766,461 St. Joseph 22 162 98 3,685,577 $4,529,642 $8,623,776 $80M DecemberNovemberOctoberSeptemberAugustJulyJuneMayAprilMarchFebruaryJanuary PARK,WAITE $2000000$1500000$1000000$500000$0 DecemberNovemberOctoberSeptemberAugustJulyJuneMayAprilMarchFebruaryJanuary 202120202019 CollectionTaxBeverageandFoodCLOUDST. 2000150010005000 DecemberNovemberOctoberSeptemberAugustJulyJuneMayAprilMarchFebruaryJanuary 202120202019 AreaCloudSt.inClosedSalesHomePARK,WAITESARTELL,RAPIDS,SAUKCLOUD,ST.-COMMUNITIES6JOSEPHST.AUGUSTA,ST. $200M DecemberNovemberOctoberSeptemberAugustJulyJuneMayAprMarFebJan PARK,WAITE $78,621,465$63,885,721$137,532,948 $12,581,424*$178,724,272 1868TOTAL: 182*TOTAL:1823TOTAL:$1,287,691TOTAL: printoftimeatreleasednotData$1,604,677TOTAL: $3,716,523* Jan Feb Mar Apr May June July Aug Sept Oct Nov Dec COLOR KEY: Economy Central presented by ECONOMIC INDICATORS & TRENDS Compiled by Shelly Imdieke. Totals represent data reported as of 8/1/2022.
1.1 workersmillion
The number of workers aged 55 and older who exited the workforce between August 2020 and January 2021. 96% The percentage of over-65 workers who reported that an enjoyable job is essential or important to living a fulfilling life. 54% The percentage of the same age group who feel their job is part of their identity. 49% The percentage of seniors who say their work provides a great deal of meaning and fulfillment. 20% The percentage of young adults who say their job provides their life with a great deal of meaning. 65% The percentage of Americans who work part-time and consider their situation ideal.
26 BusinessCentral Magazine.com // SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2022 GROW BUSINESS TOOLS BY THE NUMBERS Retirees and the Gig Economy As many as 20 percent of retired Americans are not fully retired. Instead, they are opting to extend their careers through gig economy jobs. $60M $80M $100M January $0 $300k $600k $900k $1.2M $1.5M 202020212022 Food and Beverage Tax Collection ST. CLOUD 0 500 1000 1500 2000 2500 $100M $150M $200M JanFebMarAprMayJuneJulyAugustSeptemberOctoberNovemberDecemberBuilding Permits CLOUD, SAUK RAPIDS, SARTELL, WAITE PARK, TOTAL: $153,245,951 TOTAL: TOTAL:$110,242,189*$137,532,948 TOTAL: $1,420,811 TOTAL: $483,205* TOTAL: $1,287,691 $0 $300k $600k $900k $1.2M $1.5M JanuaryFebruaryMarchAprilMayJuneJulyAugustSeptemberOctoberNovemberDecember202020212022 Food and Beverage Tax Collection ST. CLOUD 0 500 1000 1500 2000 2500 JanuaryFebruaryMarchAprilMayJuneJulyAugustSeptemberOctoberNovemberDecember202020212022 Home Sales Closed in St. Cloud ST. CLOUD TOTAL: TOTAL:TOTAL:TOTAL:TOTAL:2010737*1868$1,420,811$483,205*TOTAL:$1,287,691Housing/Real Estate sources: St. Cloud Area Association of Realtors, http://stcloudrealtors.com/pages/statistics. Lodging Tax Dollars ST. CLOUD $0 $200k $400k $600k $800k $1M $1.2M 202020212022 TOTAL:TOTAL:$1,142,027$422,179*TOTAL:$749,418 Source: Tax Collections – City of St. Cloud Source: Tax Collections – City of St. Cloud Sheri ’s Foreclosure Auctions STEARNS AND BENTON COUNTIES 0 10 20 30 40 50 202020212022 TOTAL: 31 TOTAL:TOTAL:32*42 SHERIFF’S FORECLOSURE AUCTIONS Residential 2019 2020 2021 Stearns Co. 34 17 27 Benton Co. 8 14 5 Benton County Sheriff’s Civil Process; Stearns County Sheriff’s Office ECONOMIC INDICATORS & TRENDS $80M DecemberNovemberOctoberSeptemberAugustJulyJuneMayAprilMarchFebruaryJanuary PARK,WAITE $2000000$1500000$1000000$500000$0 DecemberNovemberOctoberSeptemberAugustJulyJuneMayAprilMarchFebruaryJanuary 202120202019 CollectionTaxBeverageandFoodCLOUDST. 2000150010005000 DecemberNovemberOctoberSeptemberAugustJulyJuneMayAprilMarchFebruaryJanuary 202120202019 AreaCloudSt.inClosedSalesHomePARK,WAITESARTELL,RAPIDS,SAUKCLOUD,ST.-COMMUNITIES6JOSEPHST.AUGUSTA,ST. $200M DecemberNovemberOctoberSeptemberAugustJulyJuneMayAprMarFebJan PARK,WAITE $78,621,465$63,885,721$137,532,948 $12,581,424*$178,724,272 1868TOTAL: 182*TOTAL:1823TOTAL:$1,287,691TOTAL: printoftimeatreleasednotData$1,604,677TOTAL: $3,716,523* Jan Feb Mar Apr May June July Aug Sept Oct Nov Dec
Source: AEI: American Enterprise Institute
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ome children dream of taking over the family business when they grow up. Pete Rengel was not one of those kids. He didn’t enjoy sweeping the shop floors on Sundays or making Rengel Printing Company deliveries once he was old enough to drive. He didn’t care for the bindery or any other aspect of the business. Instead, Rengel took a far different career path, traveling the world as a mechanic for Snocross snowmobile competitions. But when his father called in 2004, saying, “Hey, we need to chat,” the then-24-year-old returned to St. Cloud to see what his dad had to say.
HARD WORK & DETERMINATIONWHENPETERENGEL,RENGELPRINTING,BOUGHTTHEFAMILYBUSINESSIN2004,HETURNEDANEAR-CRISISINTOANINDUSTRYLEADER.BYJEANINENISTLERPHOTOSBYBDIPHOTOGRAPHY
Pete LeRaeandRengel
2005 LeRae Rengel joins the company, working in bindery, shipping, and mailing. “I was gone, so I wasn’t in the loop,” Pete Rengel said about the status of the company that his grandfather, John “Jack” Rengel, started with a partner in 1921. He quickly learned “there were some struggles within the institution, I’m not gonna lie.” He also quickly concluded that he needed to leave the Snocross life behind and take ownership of Rengel Printing Company. “It was a rapid-fire deal,” Rengel said. “Next thing you know, we’re meeting, we’re talking about what can be done, and I’m thinking where should I start?”
Although Rengel had been a business management student at St. Cloud State University after graduating from high school, he said, “school was not my forte.”
1926 The company moves again, this time to 11th Avenue South. 1950 Goedert-Rengel moves to 13 Eighth Avenue South.
He does recall thinking, “Here’s an opportunity. Let’s see what we can make of it.” But there were days that he asked himself, “What did I do this for?” Even on those days, though, “you just get up and put on your shoes and go to work,” he said. “That’s what you do.”
1981 Rengel buys a Heidelberg Kord one-color press.
1951 Jack Rengel buys out Goedert and becomes sole owner.
2004 Pete Rengel buys the business from his father, becoming the third-generation owner.
GETTING A HANDLE ON TGETTING A HANDLE ON THINGS H H e decided to start in the back of the shop and come “through shipping and work my way through bindery and onto the press floor,” he said. “It took almost a year and a half for me to come all the way through that and understand what was going on.”
So, where did he get the chops to run a business? He said he had a mentor in the Snocross world – and he learned a lot from the Rengel team. Employees, he said, were willing to teach him what they knew. Did he consider saying “no” when his dad asked him to return to the family shop? No, he did not. “There was no saying no,” Rengel said. “At that point, what are you going to do? The guy raised you. He took care of you. We had a good upbringing. At some point in life, you’ve got to return that favor. That’s how I looked at it.”
Rengel saw two possible ways to approach the staff that now reported to him. “You come in and you tell people what they need to do and how to do it. Or you come in and you put your boots on and you work side-by-side with those people and you push strong, and you ask them to stay late and you buy them pizza and you develop that culture where you’re going to be with them the whole time and you’re never going to give up on them. They believe in you a lot faster than if you come in and say, ‘Do this now.’ ”
1924 The company relocates to the current D.B. Searle building.
1956 Rengel Printing relocates to 1206 St. Germain.
COVER STORY 30 BusinessCentral Magazine.com // SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2022
RENGEL'S TIMELINE
1996 The company adds a Heidelberg four-color press.
1988 Rengel buys a Heidelberg two-color press.
1979 Dee Rengel joins the company, which relocates to 1922 Seventh Street North.
February 10, 1921 John “Jack” Rengel and Andrew Goedert open Goedert-Rengel Printing Company on the second floor of the Journal-Press building on Fifth Avenue South.
1975 John Rengel purchases the business from his father.
F rom the start, Rengel’s highest priority was to keep the company operating until it reached its 100th year. His first step toward achieving that goal: Cut costs. His first step to cut costs: He let 11 people go within his first several weeks of ownership. It was heart-wrenching, Rengel recalled. “You never want to let anyone go,” he said. “How do you decide who to let go?” He wrestled with the decision, called his mentor for advice, then did what he had to do because the company’s revenue could not justify the size of the Thoughstaff.they had reduced the size of the staff, work still had to get out.
Pete Rengel was honored at a luncheon in May, along with Small Business Owner of the Year Tom Frericks, Ultimate Sports Bar; and Emerging Entrepreneur of the Year Michelle Henderson, BadCat Digital.
intohelpedandSt.Hemadeturnaround,slowbutunderRengel’sleadershipthefamily-ownedbusinesshasacomeback.purchasedCloudStampSign,whichitbranchadditional services, and St. Cloud-based Continental Press, expanding its customer base. He upgraded technology. In the last five years the company has grown to about 45 employees with four satellite offices across the state. And there are additional expansion plans in the works that will add another office and 14 more employees. “I always said I’d never come back to print,” Rengel said, “but now we’re having fun.” Today this 100-year-old company remains family owned and is on a growth trajectory. In an old industry, Rengel Printing is constantly finding ways to reinvent itself and grow under the leadership of the family’s third generation. For these reasons, Rengel Printing was selected as the 2022 St. Cloud Area FamilyOwned Business of the Year by the St. Cloud Area Chamber of Commerce.
100 YEARS STRONG WHEN PETE RENGEL TOOK OVER THE FAMILY BUSINESS IN 2004, EXPANSION WAS THE LAST THING ON HIS MIND. TODAY HE’S ALL ABOUT GROWTH.
Pete Rengel and his future wife, LeRae, worked management during the day and bindery at night so clients’ orders could go out in the morning. LeRae Rengel, now the company’s vice president and chief financial officer, shares her husband’s passion for hard work. They sometimes would work until 4:30 a.m., go home to sleep a couple of hours and be back by 7:30 – day after day after day. “I had somebody who wanted to work 16 hours a day with me,” Rengel said. “In the trying times, you knew that every penny counted. You stayed ’til the work got done. … We had to do it. When you’re up against the fence, you just do what you have to do. If you put a pile of work in front of us, we’re not going to stop until that pile is done. “When there’s only one way out, and the one way out is hard work and determination, that’s what you do, right?” As the new owner, he had free rein to run the show – after establishing boundaries with his father, John. “I kindly told him, ‘I’m the one working 16 hours a day. Just let me try to figure this out.’ He really backed off after that day. Now he’s appreciative of what was done,” RengelRengelsaid.increased automation and streamlined processes. “The first piece of equipment I bought took a 45-minute job to 4 minutes,” he recalled. He bought Rengel Printing was started 100 years ago by John M. “Jack” Rengel and his partner,businessAndrew H. Goedert. Goedert died in 1950, paving the way for Jack Rengel to purchase his shares in 1951. Jack’s son, John, purchased the business from his father in 1975 and John’s wife, Dee, joined the company in 1979. Today the business is owned by Jack Rengel’s grandson, Pete. Pete Rengel had no intention of buying Rengel Printing. After growing up in the business, he was interested in going in a different direction. He had tinkered with snowmobiles since he was 16 and eventually found himself at the X-Games. “We have three X-Games golds,” Rengel said. “We started with one 53-foot trailer and ended up with eight.” Then he received the phone call from his father saying he was going to sell the business unless Pete wanted to come home and buy it. So Pete went home. “I did it for my parents and my family,” Pete Rengel said. “The first 10-12 years were not fun. I did it because I had to do it, but I didn’t enjoy it.”
SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2022 // BusinessCentralMagazine.com 31
SETTING SIGHTS ON A MILESTONE
During those first years Rengel made the hard decisions to reorganize, cut staff, and eliminate expenses. He took the company from 23 employees down to 12. He parted company with family members who had been in the business. He worked 20-hour days learning every aspect of the business and looking for new products and services to offer. It was a
2022 Rengel Printing Company receives the St. Cloud Area Chamber of Commerce Family-Owned Business of the Year award. RengelRengel,Printing
COVER STORY RENGEL'S TIMELINE
2019 Rengel acquires Continental Press, another local, family-owned printing company.
32 BusinessCentral Magazine.com // SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2022 Dee
2009 Rengel converts to direct-to-plate, which saves time and reduces waste.
2021 Rengel Printing celebrates its 100th anniversary.
TIMES CHANGEDHAVE Now, 18 years after leaving the Snocross circuit, he enjoys running the family business he once wanted nothing to do with. “Some days I can’t believe we’re even here,” Rengel said. “We just kept trudging and trudging and pushing and pushing. You’d find those little wins along the way and then you’d be like, ‘There’s a little bit so let’s keep pushing for it until we find another win.’ You just keep doing it.”
2017 The company debuts a new logo and adds the Heidelberg Speedmaster SM 52, increasing output by 2.5 times.
When his father was at the helm, Rengel said, “they were doing their best with what they had. What we’ve done in 18 years is that we are on that cutting edge now. We feel confident in the products we can provide and the services we can provide.”
state-of-the-art presses. In the early 2000s, the company could run 5,000 sheets of paper per hour on a press. Today, they run 15,000 sheets an hour. Rengel says he really did not enjoy the first 10 to 12 years of owning the printing company. “I only did it because I had to do it,” he said. “I didn’t do it for me. I did it for Mom and Dad.”
Rengel Printing is long past the struggleto-survive stage. It has been growing, acquiring five printing companies in the past six years. One of those acquisitions came in 2018 with the purchase of Continental Press, another St. Cloud-area family-owned company. In announcing the purchase on its website, Rengel said that having 169 years of combined experience under one roof would strengthen all aspects of theOthercompany.printing companies have taken notice of Rengel’s acquisitions and successes and have reached out to explore the possibility of being acquired by the growing operation. In other instances, Rengel has approached companies about coming on board. Rengel says he looked at 28 printers last year, but he’s not trying to grow an empire. He believes it’s important to keep the companies they acquire operating right where they are and as part of those communities. He doesn’t want Rengel to be seen as a big St. Cloud company coming in and sucking revenue out of those towns. “We’ve grown so fast because we’re efficient. We aren’t stopping. We have found a unique sauce that works well,” Rengel said.
2013 The company expands across the street, to 601 20th Avenue North, which houses the sales and marketing team.
2020 The company adds the Heidelberg Versafire with capabilities for neon, white and clear printing.
Family: Wife, LeRae; children, Bentley (10) and Jackson (8); two dogs, Buddy, and George Hobbies: Work, hunting, fishing, golfing, spending time with family Best advice you’ve ever received: “Pete, it’s not a race; it’s marathon.”a
Oh, and that goal of getting the company to its 100th anniversary? Mission accomplished in 2021.
“Pete, I think, was born to be there,” she said, “because he has come up with ideas and innovations that really, really have transformed us into a better and more complete printing place.”
PERSONAL PROFILE
SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2022 // BusinessCentralMagazine.com 33
PETE RENGEL, 43 Hometown: St. Cloud Education: Attended St. Cloud State University for three years Work history: Helped with family business from an early age through college before ven turing into snowmobile industry, returning to family business in 2004
EASING UP –A LITTLE BIT
happen.”goodrespectTreatgoodyourself“Surroundwithpeople.themwithandthingswill
Rengel Printing now produces in-house work they used to pay others to create for their customers. The company jumped into doing advertising work for major national clients and added a mailing department rather than continuing to outsource much of its mail work. Banners, decals, stickers, and foam core pieces are printed in Rengel’s new wide-format facility. Rengel is the only St. Cloud printer that can produce embossed materials, pieces that feel like a tire tread or lizard skin or whatever “feel” the client requests.
Jeanine Nistler is a communications professional who lives and works in St. Cloud.
O nly recently did Rengel commit to working less (about 10 hours a day) to allow for more family time. “Some days we just have to shut it off and say, ‘No, that can wait until tomorrow.’ ” There will be plenty of time to work more when the couple’s two young sons grow up, he said. “We’ve realized that in the end, the money really doesn’t mean anything. If you don’t have a relationship with your kids and your family, what do you have?”
RENGEL PRINTING COMPANY 1922 Seventh Street North St. Cloud, MN 56303 320-251-5951 Numberrengelprinting.comofemployees: 40 BUSINESS PROFILEOtherlocations:
“Dee works 9 to 2 every day and she doesn’t want to quit. … It’s a place for her to be and she loves every minute of it.” Bemidji, Elk River, Marshall, Monticello, Willmar Company description: Services include digital and sheetfed printing, design and layout, direct mail, finishing and large-format production.
– Mike Wenner, accountant with Schlenner Wenner & Co.
Pete Rengel is quick to credit staff with the company’s turnaround and growth. “I can’t pin this all on Pete,” he said. “I’m only an OK leader. If I didn’t have that support behind me, I would have nothing. These guys are rock stars. If we didn’t have any of these people, we would have nothing.”
Rengel’s dad still comes around from time to time, such as when a big new press was being installed in June. Rengel’s mom, 80-year-old Dee, “works 9 to 2 every day and she doesn’t want to quit. … It’s a place for her to be and she loves every minute of it,” Rengel said, adding that Dee asks, “ ‘Are you going to kick me out of here?’ I tell her, ‘I’ll never kick you out.’ ” Dee Rengel has a unique perspective on the printing company and the son who for so long steered clear of the family business.
Pete Rengel’s advice to other business owners:
34 BusinessCentral Magazine.com // SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2022
By Alicia Chapman FEATURE W hen Jill ownerbecameMagelssenafranchiseofExpress
How you promote and live your company culture can make a big difference in employee recruitment and retention.
CULTURECULTIVATING
Contributor Alicia Chapman is a freelance writer and owner of Bluebird Creative LLC, a content writing business specializing in helping small businesses share their stories.
Employment Professionals, she was excited to create an environment where people would enjoy working. As someone who had built a career finding the right candidate for a job opening, Magelssen knew the importance culture could play in a workplace. This is why she was quick to act when she realized the culture at her company was not where she wanted it to be. “I came into my office one day, and I just didn’t like how it felt,” Magelssen said. “So I started to interact with different members of my team and get their input. And there were some things that weren’t right, so I decided I needed to back up the bus and add a little more fun into my workplace because it had become very structured, very routine.”
Fun is now incorporated into the company culture at Express Employment. After talking to her staff, they decided to incorporate random acts of kindness into the day and created a team that plans fun events. Magelssen believes when you bring your team together, and they’re all working happily, you get more productivity and provide better customer service. The culture at Express Employment is now front and center and referenced at their weekly meetings.
FOCUS CULTUREON
One of the first things Myers did when he started working with DAYTA was to assess its culture. “Most people want worklife balance,” Myers said. “They want to work with a company where they feel they make a difference – that the company is making a difference. Paycheck is never the No. 1 motivator. It’s always other things like the work environment and how they get treated. Do they feel appreciated? Those are really important things, and while a paycheck is important, it’s not the only thing. And again, that whole sense of purpose is a huge one as it relates to employee satisfaction.” When Magelssen’s team works with job applicants, it’s fairly common for the applicant to describe the culture at the previous employer as one of the reasons for seeking a new job. “It doesn’t mean one culture is better than another,” Magelssen said. “It just means that within every workplace, culture is a little different. And how management may promote culture and then live the culture they promote, can make a big difference in recruiting and retention.” Company culture is built off the company’s mission,
Keeping the company culture front and center is the key to sustaining it. Know the mission, vision, values, and goals Hire the right people Take the time to onboard Keep culture top of mind
Celebrate employees modeling good culture Talk to employees who are struggling with culture Listen to employees Cultures can shift –determine if it’s positive or negative and adjust if Useneededexit interviews to learn why people are leaving www.WhiteBox.Marketing | 320.270.0722
edge.competitive Let’s shine your vye.agency
SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2022 // BusinessCentralMagazine.com 35
Creating Culture “Everybody’s got a culture,” according to Brian Myers, one of the owners and an advisor at DAYTA Marketing, and CEO of Myers Consulting. “Some are stronger than others. But every organization has a culture, whether good, neutral or bad. And I think the key today is having an intentional culture versus an unintended culture. If you don’t pay attention to culture, you can have this unintentional culture which is not reinforced, and I think the key is when you reinforce a positive culture, it sustains itself.”
Good stewardship & making an impact are big parts of our overall mission here at WhiteBox Marketing. We often discuss our passion for inclusivity & communicators.honestOverall, we like to say that we are good people doing good things, going beyond to reach a positive goal. For us, all of this culminates into one phrase: Do Good Together.
One way to get everyone rowing in the same direction is to ensure you have the right people in the boat and the company culture is part of the daily discussion.
One way to get everyone rowing in the same direction is to ensure you have the right people in the boat and the company culture is part of the daily discussion. Just like Magelssen’s team discusses culture daily, Myers and Primus stress the importance of infusing culture into day-to-day work life. Businesses need to hold their employees accountable to the culture. Find ways to applaud when someone lives out the culture and take the time to talk to someone who isn’t living the culture, and take positive action to address“Companyit. culture is everything,” Myers said. “I think, especially in today’s world where we have such a shortage of workforce, people want to work at a company where it has a greatWhileculture.”itmay feel hard to focus on culture amid a labor shortage where many businesses are working with a less-than-full workforce, it is a critical time to work on company culture. Many businesses can’t afford to lose employees, let alone good ones. And a bad culture can cause good employees to look elsewhere, especially when so many companies are hiring.
36 BusinessCentral Magazine.com // SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2022
FEATURE
I am happiest when I am helping others succeed. Proud to serve the businesses that advertise in Business Central ADVERTISE TODAY! Contact Melinda Vonderahe Associate Publisher, MelindaV@BusinessCentralMagazine.com320.656.3808
vision, and values. It becomes the brand, but it’s more than just having these in place. It’s how the company lives these values day-to-day. It’s how the employees feel about going to work.“Ifyou walk into a restaurant or a retail store or hospital, wherever it is, you kind of get a feeling of what it’s like,” said Michelle Primus, leadership development consultant at Momentum Partners. “Are people happy? You can tell when people are being authentic or inauthentic. The culture is how it feels around the business. And whether you have officially written your mission, vision, values, or whatever or not, people can tell you what the culture is like wherever they work. And sometimes that’s what’s written on the wall, and sometimes it’s not.” Primus works with businesses on developing their teams and culture. In past roles, she was vice president of culture development, where she managed the culture through human resources practices and built peer teams to enhance the culture in their functional areas. Having good communication and being transparent about your goals can help build a strong company culture that cultivates productivity and profitability in a workplace. “That’s when everything happens,” said Primus. “Basically, you have everyone rowing their oars in the same direction because you’ve said here’s who we want to be. Here’s the goals we have. Sometimes you have organizations where everyone’s rowing, they’re in the boat, everyone’s rowing really hard, just not in the same direction.”
“When you are not paying attention to culture, the worst
For Magelssen, onboarding is essential, and her team signs a cultural commitment statement when they start at Express Employment. It lays out the groundwork for what the culture is and what the expectations are in the workplace. The steps she has put in place have helped the internal culture at her business and keep it top of mind for existing and new employees. “The people that come in from the outside either adopt the culture, or they’re not comfortable with it and they choose to leave,” said Myers. “Versus if you have a weak culture, or one that’s not reinforced, if somebody comes in from another culture, then your culture starts to morph and change. And it may be for the better, or it may be for the worse. But a strong corporate culture that’s been reinforced, whether through good times or bad, through leadership changes, staff changes, whatever, that positive culture will remain.”
Culture can play a significant role in how employees perceive their jobs, retention, and the success of a business. “People in a healthy, happy, positive culture work harder for you and are more dedicated to you,” Magelssen said. “And the company benefits as much as the individuals wanting to grow and stay within that organization. Turnover is hard on any organization. It’s costly. It’s a fact people do move on. But you can minimize turnover, I think, when a strong culture is in place. Happy workers within an organization help to keep that pipeline of other folks joining – they are recruiting tools for you.”
SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2022 // BusinessCentralMagazine.com 37 part of that turnover piece is you’re going to lose your best people. The people who are your coasters or your C players may stay. And that’s a really high price to pay,” Myers said. Keep culture front of mind when hiring A nd just as important as it is to build a strong company culture, it’s essential to find the right candidates who will fit the culture. “Many times companies are focused so much on the skills the applicant needs, and trying to fill a seat, that they’re happy when they find someone who’s had that experience and they’re not paying attention to the other characteristics,” Primus said. “It’s very hard to develop someone’s characteristics. It’s easier to develop someone’s skill set. I can teach you how to use a cash register. I can’t teach you how to be kind and honest.” When interviewing a candidate, ask questions that assess culture. Businesses shouldn’t be afraid to ask for more details and be upfront about explaining the work environment beyond just the skills needed for the job.
Young professionals are usually well educated, with two-thirds of the young professional workforce holding at least a bachelor’s degree or higher. They make up roughly 28 percent of the entire workforce, and are often found volunteering within their communities.
38 BusinessCentral Magazine.com // SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2022 2022
WHAT DO WE MEAN WHEN WE CALL SOMEONE A YOUNG PROFESSIONAL?
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YOUNG PROFESSIONALS DIRECTORY
GROWING FAST Young professionals are the future of the professional workforce. They work in fast-growing occupations and are often a more diverse group. They can offer organizations fresh perspectives; they are willing to go through training to grow and develop their skills; and they often have advanced technology know-how. Still, some companies are hesitant to hire younger professionals because they may not stay long term or may be perceived as entitled. However, many businesses find that employing young professionals can actually result in attracting younger customers.
Plus, companies that invest in hiring and keeping young professionals happy in their careers have seen less turnover and greater loyalty from their youngerCentralemployees.Minnesota is home to a great young professional population. Impressive, accomplished young people are doing amazing things in the business community each day.
SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2022 // BusinessCentralMagazine.com 39 RISING STAR: LYNDSEY STRAM, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT SPECIALIST
RISING STAR: ANGELA MORTEZAEE, MONUMENTAL SALES, INC.
Lyndsey Stram’s goal in her new role is to make the community better by supporting businesses and residents. While she believes St. Cloud is incredibly strong, she strives to make it stronger.
MEET LYNDSEY STRAM –ST. CLOUD’S ci.stcloud.mn.us 320-255-7200
BUILDING A ROCK-SOLID LEADERSHIP FOUNDATION
SPONSORED PROFILES
NEWEST ECONOMIC EXPERT
Lyndsey is the City of St. Cloud’s Economic Development Specialist, joining the organization earlier this year. Prior to joining the City, she graduated from Sauk Rapids Rice High School and received her Bachelor’s Degree in Statistics from St. Cloud State University. Upon graduation, she ventured west to work for the State of Utah’s Department of Workforce Services as an Economist. After strengthening her skills in translating data into a usable narrative for state leaders, she returned home to share her talents with the City of St. Cloud. In partnership with Cathy Mehelich Economic Development Director Lyndsey is already making inroads by creating an inventory of available spaces and assisting small businesses downtown with new grant programs to help with building improvements.Thepublicsector is where Lyndsey thrives and where she plans to spend her career. She always offers a glimmer of sunshine from her optimistic personality and positive attitude. With a passion for learning, Lyndsey plans to learn as much as she can about the business environment in St. Cloud so she can form relationships with business owners and share the economic information she is garnering. Married with two dogs and an outdoor enthusiast, Lyndsey is excited to be home and rise to her new challenges. •
W hen Angela Mortezaee took the helm of St. Cloud-based natural stone manufacturer Monumental Sales, Inc., she didn’t just learn about the work her 75 team members do. She tapped into the power of the company’s people-first culture and did the work with them. Mortezaee came to the general manager position with nearly four years of experience as the human resources director for Monumental Sales’ parent company, employeeowned St. Cloud Industrial Products, Inc., (SCIPI) plus background in project management and workplace safety. But she hadn’t ever sand blasted stone or drilled holes for a bronze plate
sunburstmemorials.com 320.316.3535 on a granite Mortezaeememorial.spenttwo months immersed in every facet of Monumental Sales’ retail subsidiaries, Sunburst Memorials and Granite Kitchen and Bath and Custom Limestone Products. She built her knowledge and deepened relationships as she worked with everyone from the sales team to the stone cutters.
“It’s rewarding because I know the hard work that goes into a project,” she said. “I got to experience firsthand what people do on a day-to-day basis.”•
By Mike Killeen
40 BusinessCentral Magazine.com // SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2022
T he automobile industry drives the Detroit economy. The Silicon Valley computer industry powers the Bay Area economy. The Las Vegas economy loves the gaming/hospitality industry. But what industries drive Central Minnesota’s economy? The top industries in the region, based on the number of jobs (both full- and part-time positions, but not self-employment) in Minnesota’s 7W region that consists of Stearns, Benton, Sherburne and Wright counties, are: 1 Health care and social assistance, with 28,315 jobs. This
Economic Drivers
SPECIAL FOCUS
Who has our back? These industries are driving economic growth in Central Minnesota.
SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2022 // BusinessCentralMagazine.com 41 includes hospital, ambulatory health care, nursing residential care, child day care, and vocational rehabilitation services.
NAGORSKI, CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER AT ST. CLOUD SURGICAL CENTER INDUSTRY FOCUS BUILDINGABETTERTOMORROW. We power the innovations that create a cleaner, healthier and more vibrant world for all of us. The Blattner Family of Companies includes Blattner Company, Blattner Energy and D.H. Blattner & Sons. BlattnerCompany.com Wind | Solar | Energy Storage
2 Manufacturing, with 24,679 jobs. 3 Retail trade, with 23,296 jobs. There’s a sizeable fall-off to education, the No. 4 industry on the list, with 15,039 jobs. Those top three industries accounted for 44.7 percent of the total of 170,639 jobs in the 7W area (2021 data, the most recent data available), according to Luke Greiner, regional analyst for the central and southwestern regions for the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED). Interestingly, the Central Minnesota big three mirror Minnesota’s top three, GreinerHere’ssaid.alook at the top three industries in Central Minnesota, including the challenges these industries face to remain a driver of the area’s economy. Health Care and Social Assistance Health care is a universal human priority, according to Joe Kalkman, executive vice president, chief administrative officer/chief human rights officer at CentraCare. Pair that with a population that is aging, and there is a strong need for CentraCare’s eight hospitals, 39 clinics and 10 senior nursing facilities in the state. “Here at CentraCare, our purpose statement ends with the phrase, ‘Because health is everything,’ ” Kalkman said. “The first part of our purpose statement says we’re here for your life, from pre-natal to postmortem.”While the scope of CentraCare is huge, its flagship is St. Cloud Hospital. “Our cardiac program is one of the best in the nation,” Kalkman said, adding that the hospital’s stroke program is also strong. “We have the busiest helipad in the state, in terms of trauma care cases flying in here.” Darci Nagorski, chief executive officer at St. Cloud “We have a lot of hospitals, a lot of smaller hospitals. You just don’t see that in other parts of the country. I think we’re just fortunate with what we’ve got here.”
—DARCI
Challenges Call employment a good news-bad news situation for the health care industry. The local four- and two-year colleges –St. Cloud State University; the College of Saint Benedict and Saint John’s University; and St. Cloud Technical and Community College – provide a
42 BusinessCentral Magazine.com // SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2022
SPECIAL FOCUS vye.agency Name your goal. We’ll get you there.
“For people who don’t want to drive to the Twin Cities metro area, getting care in Central Minnesota –for the most part – there’s a lot of access here,” Nagorski said. “There’s definitely some things people have to go to the Twin Cities for, no doubt, or Mayo (in Rochester), where they’re going for a second opinion. But for your day-to-day health care needs, everything is reallyAnotherhere.” factor to that access, Nagorski added, is the availability of hospitals in the area. “We have a lot of hospitals, a lot of smaller hospitals,” she said. “You just don’t see that in other parts of the country. I think we’re just fortunate with what we’ve got here.”Five of CentraCare’s eight hospitals are in the 7W region –Melrose, Monticello, Paynesville, Sauk Centre, and St. Cloud. “The pandemic has taught us how valuable it is to be able to share resources, the ability to move patients to available beds wherever they are and to tap into our expertise,” Kalkman said. “In our example, St. Cloud became a COVID hospital and many of our regional hospitals kept patients in-house that normally would have come here to St. Cloud or been referred to the Twin Cities or Rochester. “The St. Cloud area is the hub for Central Minnesota,” Kalkman said. “There is infrastructure, the public partnerships, the strong educational presence that we have, both K-12 and then the universities and colleges that are part of our community. All that contributes to us having more of an outside economic impact.”
Surgical Center, said that access to health care facilities in Central Minnesota helps the consumer.
INDUSTRY FOCUS
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SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2022 // BusinessCentralMagazine.com 43 yearly supply of nurses and medical technicians. Some of those graduates conducted internships or worked part time while attending college. “It’s a huge pipeline,” Nagorski said. “We like to have some people that have a little bit of experience, but we’ve also learned that we have to be open to train them as well, in case we’re not finding the labor that we need.”CentraCare provides equipment to St. Cloud Technical and Community College for its students to learn on – the same equipment they would be using at St. Cloud Hospital. “It is providing a classroom experience that is as close to life, as real world, as it can and helps improve the quality of their education,” Kalkman said. But staffing remains an issue. “If you look at Central Minnesota, if we could fill all the openings we have, we would instantly be fully recovered back to pre-2019 levels, and we’d have net job growth,” DEED’s Greiner said. “But the problem isn’t that we don’t have opportunities to get there, we just don’t have the people.” The Surgical Center has hired about 40 new employees since May 2020 – a net increase of about 10 employees. “COVID was obviously very hard on the industry,” Nagorski said.
There is some other good news for employees of this industry. “The jobs are better paying in manufacturing, and that helps the economy.”
“The core elements of this eco-system include a talented, hard-working workforce; a combination of high schools, technical and community colleges, and universities that prepare individuals for careers in manufacturing; and the transportation infrastructure to support manufacturing,” Burns wrote in an email.
Another challenge identified by both Nagorski and Kalkman is the need for insurance to keep up with inflation and cover item costs and reimbursements to hospitals and doctors. Manufacturing There is a manufacturing ecosystem in Central Minnesota that benefits all companies in the region, according to Bryan Burns, president and CEO of DeZURIK, which employs about 420 workers at its Sartell location.
—BRYAN BURNS, PRESIDENT AND CEO OF DEZURIK
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There’s another plus to this eco-system, according to Mike Zniewski, president and CEO of Rex Granite Company in St. Cloud. “We compete with Cold Spring Granite,” said Zniewski, whose company has just over 20 employees. “They’re a big manufacturer. But we are also buying things from them. We buy diamond tools from them. … We’re buying all our blades from them, so there’s a carryover like that.” There is some other good news for employees of this industry. “The jobs are better paying in manufacturing, and that helps the economy,” Zniewski said. “You hire one guy, and it keeps the whole area going.” Challenges Even though the unemployment rate in the St. Cloud area reached historic lows (1.8 percent unemployment, according to the most recent St. Cloud Quarterly Business Report, prepared by King Banaian and Mana Komai Molle of St. Cloud State’s School of Public Affairs), finding enough skilled workers will be an ongoing issue for this“Theindustry.recent expansion of our team to keep up with demand, combined with the hot job market,
SPECIAL FOCUS We are committed to providing our customers with quality solutions and services for their roofing, heating, ventilating and air conditioning needs. COMMERCIAL HVAC COMMERCIAL HVAC // COMMERCIAL ROOFING // ARCHITECTURAL SHEETMETAL 1431 Prosper Drive, Waite Park, MN // 320.251.8640 mcdowallco.com
THE IDEAL CHOICE COMMERCIAL GENERAL CONTRACTOR Let us build your needs. TO BUILD EVERY DAY WITH INTEGRITY, DEPENDABILITY, AND DRIVE REFLECTED IN EVERY PROJECT WE CONSTRUCT. THE VILLAGE APARTMENTS- OTSEGO, MN
INDUSTRY FOCUS has put DeZURIK in a similar recruitment position as other local manufacturers,” Burns said. “People are the company’s most valuable resource, and the company is investing heavily in recruiting, training and rewarding our employees.”Another challenge is delays with suppliers and transportation companies. “Because of recent investments in infrastructure, we’ve seen strong demand for our valve products,” Burns said. “However, many of the raw materials and components we use to make our products have experienced long lead times, delays and increased costs. We’re working with suppliers and transportation companies to minimize delays.” Retail Retail is perhaps the biggest winner when it comes to geography. “St. Cloud is a regional hub as Central Minnesota’s largest city, so having a larger population of city and suburban residents living here serves us well in terms of business and industry diversity and growth,” Dennis Host, vice president of marketing at Coborn’s, Inc., wrote in an email. The company employs approximately 2,500 employees in the four-county area. “That is appealing to retail including restaurants and other businesses, who see St. Cloud as an attractive market to do business,” Host continued. “Residents from smaller communities around the region surrounding St. Cloud strengthen the local economy when they come here to work, shop in our stores, use our health care services, dine in our bars or restaurants, or take part in the many entertainment options that are available here.” Scott Schlecht, co-owner of Crafts Direct in Waite Park, agrees www.alliancebuildingcorporation.com Road NE, Sauk Rapids, MN 56379 (320) 253-3524
3709 Quail
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Challenges Like the manufacturing sector, retail faces increasing transportation costs and an uncertain future with its suppliers. Schlecht said suppliers in the crafts sector have decreased since COVID, which is made worse because Crafts Direct is an independent retailer.
Construction Management Architecture + Engineering General Contractor Field Services Real Estate + Brokerage Maintenance320.252.0404 RICECOMPANIES.COM/
Central Minnesota is ever-expanding. Take a look at snapshots of some of the area businesses and new projects. Read on and learn more on page 48.
that Central Minnesota is a good area for retail. “There are great options, places to go and you can find unique things to buy,” said Schlecht, whose company employs about 80 full- and part-time employees. “The St. Cloud area has more independent retailing that has been added in the last five, six or seven years. My wife and I like to visit all these other stores. I know some of the places actually started by shopping here. We talk to them to get other thoughts and ideas.”
SPECIAL FOCUS
“The suppliers are getting tighter, and we lost a couple during COVID,” Schlecht said. “It’s been a unique challenge for us to find the proper replacements because we used to have so many suppliers. That’s a huge issue
Mike Killeen is a freelance writer living in St. Cloud who has written for a number of newspapers, publications and organizations in his over 40-year career.
Growth Guide
Unstoppable
CONSTRUCTION
“Where we’re seeing good growth – throughout the recession – is construction,” Greiner said. “That growth is huge.” And it’s in all areas of construction: builders, subcontractors, manufacturers, heavy equipment operators, and road and bridgeConstructionconstruction.was also noted in the most recent St. Cloud Quarterly Business Report, prepared by King Banaian and Mana Komai Molle of St. Cloud State University’s School of Public Affairs. Construction employment growth in the past period was higher than elsewhere, at 4.3 percent, according to the report.
more than a school. It’s a
GENERAL CONTRACTOR | CONSTRUCTION MANAGEMENT | DESIGN/BUILD | BUILDING + REMODELING ATWATER COSMOS GROVE CITY SCHOOL 800.772.1758 | www.millerab.com DesignARCHITECTURALANDCONSTRUCTION SERVICES SINCE 1874 SINGLE SOURCE. SUPERIOR SERVICE. REMARKABLE RESULTS.
320.363.7781 wgohman.com
At W. Gohman, we have been creating environments where people work, play, and learn for more than 70 years. From renovation and historic rehabs to large and technically complex projects, our mission is the same: to create beautiful, functional gathering places that bring the community together. Because this isn’t just school. future.
SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2022 // BusinessCentralMagazine.com 47
a
Listed as an “essential industry” during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, the construction industry continues to drive job growth. T he construction industry is the fastest-growing industry in the 7W Region. This area covers Central Minnesota, including Stearns, Benton, Sherburne and Wright counties. Luke Greiner, regional analyst for the central and southwestern regions for the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development, said that 871 jobs have been added in construction since 2019. It has become the fifth-largest industry in that fourcounty area, with 13,775 jobs.
It’s place where students and staff need to feel safe, supported, and inspired.
It’s our
Blattner Company
Meadowview of Clive is a new, three-story assisted living facility consisting of 106 senior housing and memory care units. Amenities include full commercial kitchen, bistro, salon, fitness room, multi-purpose room, multiple fireside lounges, theater, arts and crafts room, two outside patios, two elevators, and heated underground parking.
DaleDaleGruberConstruction.comGruberConstruction
Dale Gruber Construction built the multi-tenant office space for Sarah Dombrovski’s new business, Unique Title & Escrow and Lee Hanson Law in the Falcon Bank building. The project involved creative design and engineering due to the building’s multi-level center staircase. We removed the staircase and railing, filled in the concrete floor and completed the space with new finishes. Our team successfully built the new 7th floor office space to seamlessly blend with the building’s existing architecture.
Architect: HMA Architects Contractor: Greiner Construction
48 BusinessCentral Magazine.com // SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2022 GROWTH GUIDE Alliance Building Corp. Coming Soon! Sleepy Eye Apartment Homes Sleepy Eye, MN alliancebuildingcorporation.com New Letadditions,construction,orremodels.usbuildyourneeds!
About the project:
Blattner Company is a diversified renewable energy contractor specializing in wind, solar and energy storage construction. Providing leading expertise and collaborative construction solutions nationwide, Blattner’s headquarters in Avon, Minnesota, consists of four stories and 150,000 square feet that house the daily operations of its sustainable energy efforts. Since its inception 115 years ago, Blattner has grown to almost 600 employees at its corporate office and warehouse in Avon. Warehouse employees send out tools and equipment to the 4,000-plus employees in the field at renewable projects across the country. Learn more about what powers Blattner at blattnercompany.com.
Building Design+Construction, Architecture Giant CSI National Firm Award for Environmental Stewardship Great Place to Work-Certified™ 100% Employee-Owned ESOP jlgarchitects.com
HMAhma-archs.comArchitects
Blattner Company Headquarters
Sauk Centre, MN
Unique Title & Escrow & Lee Hanson Law St. Cloud, MN
Contractor: Bradbury Stamm Construction
Bradburybradburystamm.comStammConstructionWinkelman,LLC
General Contractor: Dale Gruber Construction
Meadowview of Clive Clive, IA
About the project: HMA is working with CentraCare on a 60-bed renovation and addition to an existing skilled nursing unit. The project consists of 3 households, each with a kitchenette, dining room and living room. Other amenities consist of a chapel, meditation space, activities area, beauty salon and a library/reading nook. Coming Fall of 2023.
Sauk Centre Care Centre
Millermillerab.comArchitects & Builders 800.772.1758 / www.millerab.com Development / Architectural Design / Construction Services Finding innovative solutions to challenges that face
SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2022 // BusinessCentralMagazine.com 49 1431 Prosper Drive, Waite Park, MN 320.251.8640 // mcdowallco.com COMMERCIAL HVAC, ROOFING, ARCHITECTURAL SHEETMETAL We are committed to providing our customers with quality solutions and services for their roofing, heating, ventilating and air conditioning needs. Center for Pain Sartell,ManagementMN General Contractor: Nor-Son Construction Description: Nor-Son Construction received an Excellence in Construction Award last year for the new Center for Pain Management building in Sartell. Strong leadership, effective communication and exceptional teamwork produced an awardwinning project. Center for Pain Management (CFPM) specializes in individualized treatment for acute, chronic and cancer pain. Nor-SonNor-SonConstruction.comConstruction Building Projects + SincePartnerships1953TROBEC’S BUS SERVICE St. Joseph, MN DESIGN/BUILD FIRM Rice Companies, Inc. PROJECT DETAILS New 102,000+ SF facility will include: bus washing stations, parts and service department, nearly 50 bus bays for both coach and school buses, & much more! TO BE COMPLETED SPRING ‘23! 320.252.0404 /RICECOMPANIES.COM Willmar,FedExMN General Contractor: Strack Construction About the project: New 220,000 sf package sorting facility for FedEx Ground & Express. Strackstrackco.comConstruction
River of Life - Phase IV Cold Spring, MN General Contractor: Miller Architects & Builders About the project: Phase IV includes a new 750-seat sanctuary with tiered seating, a new coffee house and lounge, a new adult small group lounge, additional meeting rooms, a serving kitchen, a green room, and restrooms. Renovations include converting the existing sanctuary to a children’s worship space. Completion is scheduled for Spring of 2023. our clients. Gohman Construction Blattner Energy Expansion
SINCE 1874 W
Avon, MN W. Gohman assisted in expanding Blattner Energy’s headquarters building in Avon, Minn. The 72,466 sf new building addition adds 135 new offices and work stations, multiple collaborative group spaces, parking lot expansion, 10 new conference rooms, catering kitchen, work lounge, recreation spaces, A/V labs and a new auditorium. This building addition was safely tied into an existing, fully occupied building with the least amount of disruption to daily operations. In addition, W. Gohman was able to maintain Blattner’s current sustainable energy efforts and fortify their existing and new facilities for future growth. wgohman.com
50 BusinessCentral Magazine.com // SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2022 PROFIT BUSINESS SPOTLIGHT BILL CHAMBERLAIN, CHAMBERLAIN OIL TIMELINE Do What You Like
AT A GLANCE Chamberlain Oil Co. 1200 29th Ave NE Sauk Rapids, MN 56379 320-251-2131320-252-5337
Owners: Siblings John Chamberlain, Bill Chamberlain, and Laura Rentz President: Bill Chamberlain Opened: 1949 in Clontarf, Minn., just a few miles northwest of Benson, Minn. Number of employees in Sauk Rapids: 20 Total number of employees: 45 1949 Ellard Chamberlain Sr. and Ellard Chamberlain Jr. start Chamberlain Oil Co., a bulk jobbership selling gasoline and fuel to farm accounts in the Clontarf, Minn., area. The first bulk plant was in Benson, Minn.
2021 – Chamberlain Oil builds a facility in Dell Rapids, South Dakota, and moves the Sioux Falls operation to the new facility.
Bill Chamberlain joined the family business for one reason: He loves it. By Gail Ivers Business Central: Did you always want to work in the family
OtherChamberlainoil.comlocations: Clontarf, Minn; Dell Rapids, South Dakota Joined the Chamber in 1988 Business Description: Distributor of lubricants; diesel exhaust fluid, accessories, chemicals & other oil-related products. Serving car dealerships, auto repair facilities, heavyduty truck shops, trucking companies, agriculture, and industrial companies.
1982 The company adds bulk motor to its product line.
Hobbies: Golf; “We own a place on the river, I like spending time on the water.” Best advice to an entrepreneur: Do what you like. You have to live it and breath it, so enjoy it. When you put the effort in, you'll be successful.
1953 The Chamberlains build a service station in Clontarf, eventually converting it to their present-day office.
1994 Laura Rentz, Ellard’s daughter, joins the company working out of the Clontarf office. 1998 Chamberlain oil builds an office addition. Between 2001 and 2017, the company does a series of expansions: 2001 - warehouse expansion with new loading docks 2006 – truck shop addition 2009 – office expansion 2010 – warehouse expansion 2015 – warehouse expansion, doubling its space 2017 – new office addition 2018 – Chamberlain Oil opens a new distribution facility in Sioux Falls, South Dakota.
BC: What's been your biggest challenge?
Bill Chamberlain, youngest son of Ellard Chamberlain, joins the business working in the St. Cloud location.
1961 The bulk fuel plant moves to Clontarf. 1972 The company begins transport delivery of wholesale gasoline and fuel to retail gasoline stations and establishes a weekly route for delivery of oil products.
1983 John Chamberlain, son of Ellard Chamberlain Jr., joins the business.
BC: What do you like best about being a business Chamberlain:owner: I just enjoy the work. Every day is a new challenge, new experience. How you start and end the day is rarely how you expect it. We have good people here, good suppliers, good customers. We get to know our suppliers and customers well and that grows friendships.
Chamberlain: Well, I'd say right now that it's the inflationary environment. People consume less when things get expensive. It's concerning because when it goes up fast, it tends to crash fast. I suppose we're lucky because you can cut back on our product, but it's consumed so it has to be purchased again at some point. We also have a pretty diverse customer base. When the pandemic hit our sales to auto dealers stopped. Trucking decreased some, but agriculture stayed the same.
1987 Chamberlain Oil opens a distribution facility in St. Cloud.
Billbusiness?Chamberlain: I did! I grew up working in the business – in the warehouse, running trucks – I always liked it. When I graduated from college I really didn't want to move back to Clontarf. I loved the business, though. Dad said they were open to starting an office in St. Cloud, I helped purchase the property, and we had a second location.
Currently lives in St. Cloud Education: Graduated from St. Cloud State University with a degree in finance Family: Wife, Deb; children, Nate, who works for the company, and Emily who lives in Fargo.
1985 The Chamberlains build an bulk oil warehouse.
PERSONAL PROFILE Bill Chamberlain Hometown: Clontarf, Minn.
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