MARCH 2016 · VOLUME 109 , ISSUE 3

“YOUNG PROFESSIONALS” LUNCHEONThursday, April 7th, 12:00 to 1:00 pm

Grand Arbor, 4403 Pioneer Rd SE$12 per person RSVP to the Chamber

SIGN MAX4560 Hwy 29 North

Friday, April 1st7:30 to 8:30 am

Non-Profit: TBD

LOVE INC44 Glenn Rd NW

Friday, March 18th7:30 to 8:30 am

Non-Profit: Douglas County Car Care

CHAMBER EVENTS

HorizonsHorizonsNewsletter

ALEXANDRIA LAKES AREA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

206 BROADWAY STREET ALEXANDRIA, MN 56308

(320) 763-3161

s.

Relocation Packets - Your Opportunity to Introduce YOUR

Business to New Residents• Limited to the first 35 members who register

• Relocation packets are distributed via email requests, phone inquiries, walk-in visitors and provided to local businesses to help recruit new residents and employees

• More than 335 packets were distributed via mail in 2015

• Advertisers receive monthly lead lists

• The Chamber assembles, inventories your collateral piece, and pays all postage of the mailings.

• Cost is $250 annually for a one page flyer or brochure

• New relocation packet sponsorships begin April 1, 2016 and end March 31, 2017

Call the Chamber for more information or email Kayla Wacholz at info@alexandriamn.org

Duffer’sDelight golftournament

2016 Duffers Delight

Save the Date!

Monday, June 6th - Shotgun start at 12:00 pm

Alexandria Golf Club - Host facility

Here are some ways that you can benefit from this premiere casual event:

• Network with 132+ business leaders on the course

• Sponsor a tee or green to help share your business with others

• Team and hole sponsorships include all fees, carts, snacks, and evening meal.

Flagship Sponsor - Innovative Companies

Watch for Early Bird Registration Discounts from March 1st to May 1st.

2 Lakes Area Chamber of Commerce • www.alexandriamn.org

2016 Annual Event Recap

We Recognize and Thank our Retired Chamber Board MembersTodd Emmons, Innovative Builders, Inc.; and Duane Rostad

Celebrating our Chamber Members of 50-74 yearsAce Hardware Perry’s Furniture Viking Office SupplyBon Jos Women’s Apparel & Tanning Rudy’s Electric Ollie’s Service Clifton Larson Allen (FNA Ness Waller Pearson) Alexandria Public Schools VFW Post 936Mills Fleet Farm McCarten Law Firm Nodland Construction Swenson, Lervick, Syverson, Trosvig, Jacobson, Schultz, Cass PA

Celebrating our Chamber Members of 75+ yearsAlexandria Veterinary Clinic Bremer Bank Garden CenterAlexon & Belmont Apartments Cowing Robards, Inc Bernick’sAnderson Funeral Home Thornton, Reif, Dolan, Bowen & Klecker P.A.

Lynette Kluver and Tom Jacobson

Coni McKay, Bruce McKirdy, and Mickey Larson

Mickey and Stephanie Larson

Mickey Larson and Coni McKayMickey Larson, Todd Emmons,

and Bruce McKirdy

Chamber Horizons Newsletter • March 2016 3

Executive Director“Alexandria Area Young Professionals - Excellence in Action”

The Alexandria Area Young Professionals (AAYP), a committee of the Chamber of Commerce, have been in existence since 2009. While the original 15 founding members may or may not still be a part of this rapidly growing Chamber group today with over 65 members, the goals and intentions of the committee are still as relevant today as they were 7 years ago. Founded as a chartered committee of the Chamber of Commerce, the committee provides monthly networking

and educational opportunities to professionals in their 20’s and 30’s. There is a steering committee that consists of 5 young professionals plus a Chamber staff liaison and they meet monthly to recap their activities and to plan for new programming for their members. The business community has really stepped forward to embrace this Young Professionals Committee, and they are individually and collectively excelling. When I think about my training in organizational development, I am reminded of what the stages of group dynamics actually looks like in real practice. If you recall, all groups go through the same steps – which looks like this Tuckman diagram:

While some groups never get to the “performing” stage, the AAYP group is repeatedly storming, norming and performing – a perfect example of group dynamics.

Why is this important to you? As business leaders (many are boomers) step away from their leadership role in their business and in this community, it is important that the Chamber continues to promote the AAYP group and support their activities and mission. To that end, I have long been interested in a North Dakota business publication that annually prints their list of “40 Under 40”. I feel that Alexandria has just as dynamic of a young professionals group as in Fargo Moorhead and began discussing the idea with the Chamber Team liaison to the YP’s, Marie Vatsndal. Marie took the concept to the AAYP steering committee, and they also loved the idea of recognizing those fast growing young professionals in our business community. That concept came to fruition this winter – we asked businesses to nominate young professionals to be recognized in a publication called “20 Under 40”. The Echo Press is our publishing partner and you can expect to see that publication in late April. There was a selection committee of 7 volunteers formed to review the submissions; it was a very difficult task to review 52 nominations and select just 20! The results are amazing and I want to thank those of you who nominated a candidate – they were all so worthy! We anticipate this being an annual project of the Chamber Young Professionals and we know that the group of candidates will continue to be large. I applaud all of the nominations and I know you will all want to support the AAYP group – they are truly “Excellence in Action”!

A message from the

Coni McKayExecutive Director

Viking Savings Bank, has received an A+ national financial health rating from DepositAccounts.com, which places it in the highest tier (top 10%) of the approximately 13,000 federally insured banks and credit unions nationwide, in terms of financial health.

Marco has announced the addition of a new Enterprise Network Team focused exclusively on providing business enablement technology solutions to enterprise businesses.

4 Lakes Area Chamber of Commerce • www.alexandriamn.org

Business Buzz

Our Mission Statement: “We will promote the Alexandria Lakes Area as the ultimate destination to live, work, play and prosper through public promotion and member and information services.”

Chamber Horizons, USPS 330070, is published monthly by the Alexandria Lakes Area Chamber of Commerce, 206 Broadway, Alexandria, MN 56308; (320) 763-3161; Fax (320) 763-6857.

Subscription rate: $15.00 of your membership dues pays for your newsletter subscription. Periodicals postage paid at Alexandria, MN 565308.

Postmaster: Send address changes to Chamber Horizons, 206 Broadway, Alexandria, MN 56308

January Membership Renewals Include:Ace HardwareAdvantage Rehab, Inc.Alex Rubbish & Recycling, Inc.Alexandria Aviation, Inc.Alexandria Brokers RealtyAlexandria Clinic, a Service of Douglas County HospitalAlexandria ElectricAlexandria Natural Health CenterAlexandria Public SchoolsAlexandria Senior CenterAlexandria Smiles by Erick W. Nolting, DDSAlexandria Technical & Community CollegeAlexandria Veterinary ClinicAlexson & Belmont ApartmentsAmerican Solutions - Phil StumpfAmericInn Lodge & Suites Sauk Centre, MNAnderson Funeral HomeArrowwood Resort and Conference CenterBell State Bank & TrustBernick’sBillmark’s Lakes Area Insurance, Inc.Bon Jos Women’s Apparel & TanningBremer BankBrenton, LLCBursch TravelButtweilers Do All, Inc.CENTURY 21 First Realty, Inc.Charter Communications (Equipment & Payment Drop Off)CliftonLarsonAllen LLPColdwell Banker/Crown RealtorsMichael H. Collins DDS, PACONTECH Bridge SolutionsCountry Inn & SuitesCowing Robards, Inc.

Credit Bureau Of AlexandriaDakota Supply GroupDesautels Bartosiewski & Associates CPAs LLCDesign Tree Engineering, Inc.Diekman’s JewelryDilley Zimny InsuranceDouglas County Abstract Co.Douglas County HospitalDoug’s Kettle KornEcho Press NewspaperEdina RealtyExecutive ExpressEye Associates of AlexandriaFlags WestGeyer Rental/Wedding & Party StoreGlenwearH Boyd Nelson, Inc.Hearlife of MN, LLCHeartland Orthopedics SpecialistsHenry’s Foods, Inc.Herby’s Bar, Grill and CafeHighPoint Homes, Inc.Holiday Inn of AlexandriaHolmes City Farmers Mutual Ins.ITW HeartlandJan’s PlaceJerry’s TaxiJuettner MotorsKarrow JewelersKXRA-KX92-Z99 RadioLarson Insurance of AlexandriaLocal Level Marketing, LLCLove In the Name of ChristLutheran Social Service & NuVantageMidsota Plastic Surgeons

Mills Fleet FarmThe Mustard SeedNetworks For H.I.R.E.New York Life Insurance CompanyNodland Construction Co.Ollie’s ServicePerry’s Furniture and CarpetPrecision Auto of Alexandria, Inc.Pro StaffRainbow Rider TransitRandy Fischer Real Estate, Inc.Rauk Family DentistryREMCO IndustriesRon’s WarehouseRudy’s Electric, Inc.Runestone Electric AssociationRural Minnesota CEP, Inc.Scenic Sign Corp.Spectrum Marketing ServicesSteinbring Motorcoach, Inc.Swedberg Wood Products Inc.Swenson Lervick Syverson Trosvig Jacobson Schultz Cass, P.A.The Water Doctor, LLCThompson Heating & Air ConditioningTitus II, Inc.Trumm DrugVan Ahn & Co.Bill VerschaetseViking Savings BankViking Speedway, Inc.Vital Fit ClubWells Fargo Bank, N.A.Widseth Smith Nolting & Assoc., Inc.Zorbaz in Alexandria

Chamber Horizons Newsletter • March 2016 5

Business Buzz

Mike Doyle2016 Chamber Board President

Making a Difference“Wake Up! Alexandria Hosts”

Wake Up! Alexandria is a one-hour social and networking event held the 1st and 3rd Friday of every month. Each event is sponsored by a different Chamber member at their location. A “buck and a business card” gets you in the door, and all members may give a brief announcement about their business or an upcoming event. All dollars collected are donated to a local non-profit.

Recent Wake Up! Alexandria Hosts:

Lind Family Fumeral Home and Cremation Services

Tristate Brain & Spine Institute

ROERS BAKERYPictured: Casey, Quincy, June, and Rory Roers

Katie Anderson was recently promoted to assistant Vice President at Gate City Bank in Alexandria.

Laura Didier has been named a recipient of the Knute Nelson Tree of Excellence award.

The Echo Press receively received 16 awards from the Minnesota Newspaper Association’s Better Newspaper Contest.

Douglas County Hospital was awarded accreditation from the Healthcare Facilities Accreditation Program, an independent accreditation organization recognized by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.

The Douglas Machine Foundation has awarded $20,000 to the Douglas County Car Care Program.

G.G. Freitag, a senior team manager with Tastefully Simple, Inc. was named third in sales in the nation for the month of December.

Alexandria Industries has been named a Progress MN award recipient by Finance and Commerce magazine.

Ambassador Visits

EDDIE’S PET SUPPLYPictured: Haylee Gibson, Owner

ELEMENTAL GAMESPictured: Matt Allen and Anthony Anderson, Owners

ART BAR 39Pictured: LeAnne Larson and Rikii Sneddon, Founders

COLONIAL LIFE INSURANCEPictured: Lorne Sievers, Dan Snyder, Mike Knapp

HORIZON PUBLIC HEALTHPictured: Katie Strickler, Jessica Peterson, Crystal Hoepner, Jane Michaels, Sandra Tubbs, Kathy Werk, and Rebecca Zwonitzer

RAM BUILDINGSPictured: Jeff Dunn, Regional Sales Representative

TOUCH OF FREEDOM CLEANING SERVICE, LLCPictured: Lesley Dahlseng, Owner