Catalyst The

Issue 391 | June 2017

Wednesday, May 31st 12:00-1:00 p.m. Northwestern Mutual Lemonade Stand Thursday, June 8th 4:00-6:00 p.m. United Way Duck Ticket Sales Kickoff Pinnacle Bank & Slumberland Parking Lots Wednesday, June 14th 11:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m. Barbara Jeans

SUMMER SERIES EVENTS ARE A HIT!

thecolumbuspage.com 753 33rd Avenue

Columbus, Nebraska (402) 564-2769

Friday, June 16th 12:00-1:00 p.m. Columbus Hospital South Building Tuesday, June 20th 4:00-6:00 p.m. Columbus Physical Therapy Wednesday, June 28th 12:00-1:00 p.m. Westgate Center

Thank you to our branding sponsors for making the Summer Series and other projects possible!

To help spread the word about our branding project and all of the GOOD things happening in Columbus, the Chamber is hosting a series of pop-up events this summer. So far we’ve hosted five events and had great attendance! We invite you to attend our upcoming events. Each time you enter, another dollar is added to the grand prize, and you’ll have another chance to win! To learn more and get details about the events, visit SomethingGoodColumbus.com.

Monday, July 3rd 12:00-1:00 p.m. Lakeview Volleyball Fireworks Stand Hy-Vee Parking Lot Wednesday, July 12th 12:00-1:00 p.m. Ramada Wednesday, July 19th 12:00-1:00 p.m. Overhead Door Company of Columbus

Thursday, July 27th 12:00-1:00 p.m. Dynamic Life Therapy & Wellness P.C. Friday, August 4th 11:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. NE 150 Train Whistle Stop Behind First National Bank, Downtown

Thank you Diamond Level Sponsors!

June Business After Hours

Hosted by:

Monday, June 26th 5:00-6:30 p.m. 3010 23rd St.

All employees of any Chamber

member are welcome!

Enjoy free hors d'oeuvres,

drinks and networking.

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Columbus Area Chamber of Commerce Staff Kara Asmus Workforce Coordinator K.C. Belitz President Bonnie Esslinger Office Manager Sandie Fischer Events Planner, Entrepreneur/Membership Developer Deb Loseke Director, Convention & Visitors Bureau Sharyle Sands Vice President

2017-2018 Board of Directors Steve Line, Chairman of

the Board Dennis Grennan, Chair-

Elect Vanessa Oceguera,

Promotions Division Chair

Lisa Kaslon, Community Development Division Chair

Chris Langan, Business Development Division Chair

Kurt Shevlin, Treasurer Bill Flint, Past Chair Russ Freeman Ben Hellbusch Chad VanCleave Sharee Jedlicka Lisa Kaslon Ken Curry Dr. Randy Hinze Dr. Luke Lemke Sarah Pillen Ex-Officio Members Mayor Jim Bulkley, City of Columbus Jerry Engdahl, Platte

County Supervisor Jessica Kuehler,

Commodores Bernie Hansen, NE Dept.

of Labor Our Mission: Enhancing the economic well-being and quality of life in the Columbus Area. This publication is distributed to stakeholders. Dues include $2 per year subscription for your Catalyst.

A delegation representing our Chamber of Commerce, City of Columbus, Platte County, and Loup Public Power met in Washington, D.C. for two days in April. Their trip included meetings with the Nebraska Congressional delegation to bring Columbus issues to their attention. The trip was taken in conjunction with the Nebraska Chamber. The group attended briefings with the U.S. Chamber and a luncheon with the Nebraska congressional delegation.

THE CHAMBER GOES TO WASHINGTON

June Hospitality Sponsor

Cammy Otten

Hospitality sponsors provide beverages

for meetings held in the Chamber

conference room and also have a table

to showcase their business!

@ColNEChamber

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August 17th through 20th

COLUMBUS DAYS 2017

Columbus Days will be August 17-20 and in keeping with Nebraska’s 150th Anniversary, it’ll have a “Wild Wild West” theme! This year’s festivities will include: cowboys, a bank robbery, a beard contest and of course annual favorites: the Columbus Barbeque Classic, live music, inflatables, kids’ activities, plenty of food, and great entertainment! Rounding out the weekend celebration will be the Columbus Days Parade on Sunday, August 20th at 3:00 p.m. The parade route begins at NPPD and runs through downtown. Invite your family and friends to spend the weekend in Columbus. There is something for everyone. We look forward to seeing you at Columbus Days!

Monday, July 3rd

RED WHITE KABOOM!

GROWING OUR WORKFORCE ONE AT A TIME!

It’s almost time for the area’s biggest firework show! Organized by the Chamber, Red White KaBoom will take place at Ag Park at dusk on Monday, July 3rd. Fun events and live music will start at 7:30 p.m. The Chamber is still seeking sponsors to help pay for the fireworks. If you are interested in being a sponsor, please contact Sandie at the Chamber!

The Drive for Five (Workforce Development) team has been extra busy lately working with students to get them workforce ready, and recruiting people to live and work in Columbus. Here’s just a snapshot of what’s been done in just the last month by our team, headed by Chamber employee Kara Asmus: About 70 ninth graders at Lakeview participated in “Reality 101.” Each student drew a career card and then had to make choices such as what home to live in, car to drive, and how to afford things like groceries, utilities, insurance and other necessary items. The goal is to help students come away knowing they need to budget and plan, as well as have an understanding of where the income from their chosen career path will lead them. 200 job seekers attended a job fair held by Drive for Five and the Department of Labor on May 17th. Twenty eight employers were on-hand to offer open jobs to potential employees. The Columbus Area Human Resources Association offered assistance with resume and other job-seeking advice. If you are seeking a job and you were unable to attend, simply upload your resume to workincolumbus.com and it will be forwarded to the employers from the job fair.

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Ace Hardware & Garden Center, 25 Year Member, Ed Hopen and Skipper Jessica Kuehler

MAY COMMODORE COFFEE CALLS

Black Hills Energy, Member Visit, Carrie Mausbach, Skipper Jessica Kuehler and Danny Willets

CASA Connection, Member Visit, Skipper Jessica Kuehler, Susie Jarecki, Samantha Schreiber, Robbin Cutsor and Shelley Stempek

Eagle Communications, New Member, Travis Kassing, Dan Staack and Skipper Jessica Kuehler

Sylvan Learning Center, Member Visit, Skipper Jessica Kuehler and Heather Giffrow

Sunbelt Rentals, New Member, Darci Betzen, Skipper Jessica Kuehler, Shayne Garretson, Matt Bahr, Corey Roberts, Kris Martin, Matt Wurdeman, Kenny Korth, and Kayla Connelly

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OFF Campus: Craig Foreman, John Obrist, Crystal Hamling, Ben Foreman, and the Commodores

GOODBYE/HELLO

Our Marketing Director, Amanda Polacek will sadly be leaving the Chamber in June as she and her husband and one-year-old daughter will be moving to Kearney to be closer to family. Amanda will still be involved with the Branding Committee and helping promote our Chamber events. Amanda has started her own business: Amanda Polacek Communications Strategy, and is available to help our members as a consultant. Visit amandapolacek.co to connect with Amanda and learn about her services. Eve Ortmeier is our intern this summer and will be helping us out with many projects including the Summer Series, and organizing events for other interns. If you know of interns working in Columbus through the summer, please send their contact to Kara Asmus at drive45@megavision.com. Fun activities planned for area interns this summer will take place on Monday, June 5; Monday, July 3; and Monday, July 17. Participants will be treated to an evening of entertainment and networking with other young people experiencing Columbus for the summer.

Business owners and leaders face many challenges in our economy. One challenge remains consistent regardless of economic conditions, human capital. This session will focus on how to grow talent internally for a long-term approach to assure the right talent is in place for the future. We will also cover how to unleash an employees’ desire for personal and professional growth by creating a hard-to-leave workplace. Presenter: Elizabeth Smith, Leadership Development Trainer & Coordinator at Central Community College. Please RSVP no later than June 12th to Michelle Meyer – mmmeyer@columbushosp.org Lunch provided. Cost: $10 CAHRA members, $20 non-members, Drive 4 Five members free Sponsored by the Columbus Area Chamber of Commerce, CAHRA, and Advance Services Inc.

Thursday, June 15th 11:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at CCC West Education Building Room 209

LEARN HOW TO KEEP YOUR BEST EMPLOYEES

RIBBON CUTTING

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APRIL INVESTMENTS Thank You For Your Membership Investment!

American Heart Association, Liz Zillig

American Heartland Insurance Agency, Dan Neville

Amigo's, Doug Samuelson Applebee's Neighborhood Grill &

Bar Arbonne International, Marie

Kapels Avenue Chiropractic & Wellness

Clinic, Dr. Bruce Crabtree B & W Manufacturing Company,

Mike Wurdeman Bailey, D.L., P.C., Dana Bailey B-D Construction, Inc., Darrell

Burrows Bellum, Fred Big Red Sanitation, Inc., Gary

Schlesinger Black Hills Energy, Danny

Willets BT's Bar & Billiards, Bob &

Theresa Hiner Burrito King, Aurelio Valdez Cargill Meat Solutions, Brett

Walters Casey's General Store, Kristie

Mehaffey CED/Enterprise Electric, Nathan

Holtzen Central Sand and Gravel, Mel

Kucera Century 21 Realty Team,

Kimberly Hoefer Choppers Computers, Donald

Sieh City Directory, Inc., Tom

Donahue Columbus Area United Way, Pat

Heimes Columbus Arts Council, Rodney

Magg Columbus Bank & Trust

Company, Jeff Johnson Columbus Community Hospital,

Mike Hansen

Columbus Friends of Music, Sharon Brown

Columbus Medical Center, P.C., Luke Lemke

Columbus Music Company, Mike Moser

Columbus Orthopedic & Sports Medicine Clinic, Lindsey Liebig

Columbus Tire & Service Center, Inc., Bob Stachura

Cornhusker Public Power District, Clay Gibbs

Cruise & Associates, Robert Cruise

Dale Employees Credit Union, Connie Perry

Days Inn & Suites, Tim Criss Dickie Doodle's, Chris Dreifurst DNA Genetics, Brett Bonwell Doozy's, Jackie Hake Duo-Lift Manufacturing

Company, Jim Hellbusch Ecowater Systems, Brenda

Brabec El Mezcal, Arturo De La Paz Ernst Auto Center & Ernst

Toyota, John Ernst Eye Physicians, P.C., Marcia

Muhle Eyecare Associates of

Columbus, P.C., Dr. Dan Mickey

Farm Credit Services of America, Cody Heule

Fas-break Auto Glass Services, Ryan Harder

Fehringer & Mielak, L.L.P., James Fehringer

Fifth Season, Ted Schafersman First National Bank, William Flint Fremont Area Chamber of

Commerce, Tara Lea Gdowski, Dick Gehring Construction & Ready

Mix Co, Merlin Gehring

Gerhold Concrete Company Inc., Jake Hopkins

Gilmore & Associates, Inc., David Gilmore

Ginger Moon & Assoc. Insurance Agency, Ginger Moon

Girl Scouts Spirit of Nebraska, Vicki Hanus

Goc's Photography and Framing, Tom Goc

Godfather's Pizza, Bob Kuta Goodwill Industries, Lori

Kirkpatrick Great Plains Financial Services,

Gary Wieseler Great Plains State Bank, Rick

Chochon Great Western Bank, Frank

Steffensmeier H & R Block, Larry Kemling Habitat for Humanity of

Columbus, NE, Jamie Snyder Hadley-Braithwait Co., Jon Kiser Heartland Fire Protection, James

Clough Henry on 11th, Jeff Gokie HOME Real Estate, Don

Dreesen Husker Steel, Mike Rowe Inpatient Physicians Associates

Hospitalist, Brian Bossard Insurance Services of Columbus,

Al Niedbalski Jackson Services, Inc., Jay

Jackson John Crane - Orion, Casey

Scholl K-C Auto Supply, Inc., Chad

Abbott Kent Nutrition Group, Dan Clarey Lakeview Community Schools,

Aaron Plas Loup Power District, Neal Suess Luckey, Bill M & O Metals/Overhead Door

Company, Dan Fuchs

Matheson Linweld, Turrwan Kilgore

McChristy Jewelers, Charles McChristy

Mead Lumber Company, Craig Bradshaw

Mid American Research Chemical Corp, Jeff Fremarek

Midwest Glass, Dan Nebuda Mory's Haven, Terri

Groteluschen Mueller & Schoepf Drywall, Inc.,

Ronnie Mueller Murphy, Roxanne Nebraska Irrigation, Inc., Roger

Bettenhausen Nebraska Public Power District,

Pat Pope North Star Services, Casey

Stuhr Office Net, Joan Hollatz Optometric Center of Columbus,

P.C., K.M. Hobbs Overturf Electric Motor Serv.,

Inc., Gene Overturf Pacific Window Tint, Carlos

Velazquez Paige Electric, Bob Niedbalski Party Palace - Easy Screen

Printing, Greg and Cindy Gasper

Peace Lutheran Church - Missouri Synod, Pastor Michael Klatt

Performance Paint & Body, Patrick L. Adamy

Pizza Ranch, Margie Siegel Platinum Services, Inc., Don

Mroczek Preferred Plumbing, Steve &

Janet Sueper Ramada-Columbus, Joyce

Napier Rambour Insurance Agency,

George Rambour

ResCare Workforce Services, Brenda Weiland

Sapp Brothers Columbus, Roy Kranz

Schmeits,Mueller & Martinsen, P.C., Jan Schmeits

Scotus Central Catholic High School, Jeff Ohnoutka

Shadows, Tammy Lyon & Maralee O'Neill

Sipple/Hansen/Emerson/Schumacher & Klutman, Mark Sipple

Sleep Inn & Suites Hotel, Lori Murray

StaffCo Employment Services, Tonya Wemhoff

State Farm Insurance, Annette Alt

Stuthman, Arnie Super Saver Taco John's, Jeff Bremer The Tanning Place, LLC, Linda

Yrkoski Title Services of the Plains,

Tracy Kucera Tran-Tec Corporation, Chris

Dwyer Tri-County Title & Escrow

Company, Patricia Beckner U&I Sanitation, Tim Cech Union Bank & Trust Loan

Production Office, Nathan Jantzi

Waddell & Reed Financial Services, Robert Irby

Weber Insurance Agency, Inc., Jeff Schneider

Wendy's, Ashley Nichels Westside Industrial Corporation,

Dale Plugge & Cliff Schroeder

Wilke Landscape Center, Evan Wilke

Wunderlich's Catering, Fred Wunderlich

YMCA, Corey Briggs

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NEW

MEMBERS Kula's Exhaust & Repair Dwayne Kula 2064 44th Ave. Columbus (402) 563-3876 Automotive Repairs/Parts & Supplies Sponsor: Nathan Jantzi Precast, LLC Terry Evans 3154 50th Ave. Columbus 402-562-5900 Manufacturers & Processors Sponsor: Sandie Fischer Merry Maids Ruth Hespen Fremont, NE (402) 719-3389 Cleaning Services Sponsor: Kurt Shevlin H2 Equipment, LLC Eric Husmann 2069 E 12th Ave. Columbus (402) 562-4009 Automotive Repairs/Parts & Supplies Sponsor: Nathan Jantzi Stealth Broadband Klint Arnold 439 E. Grant Blair, NE (402) 426-2101 Computer/Internet/Website Services Sponsor: Staff

APRIL INVESTMENTS Thank You For Your Membership Investment!

June 2017 Calendar of Events

01 Commodore Call J Patrick’s Formal Wear 10:00 a.m.

05 Red, White, KaBoom Meeting Ag Park 4:00 p.m.

06 BIE Chamber 7:00 a.m.

06 Commodore Call Little Messengers 10:00 a.m.

07 Quality of Life Centers Chamber 8:00 a.m.

08 Summer Series Pop-Up Event United Way @ Pinnacle Bank E. & Slumberland 4:00 p.m.

08 Columbus/Platte County CVB Chamber 8:00 a.m.

14 Entrepreneurship Chamber 9:00 a.m.

14 Summer Series Pop-Up Event Barbara Jeans 11:00 a.m.

15 Commodore Call Great Plains Communication 10:00 a.m.

15 Create a Hard-To-Leave Workplace Central Community College 11:30 a.m.

16 Summer Series Pop-Up Event Columbus Community Hospital 12:00 p.m.

19 Branding Stakeholders Chamber 1:00 p.m.

19 Mentoring Chamber 3:00 p.m.

20 Finance Chamber 7:00 a.m.

20 Admirals Picket Fence 7:30 a.m.

20 Columbus Days Chamber 10:30 a.m.

20 Taste of Columbus Chamber 12:00 p.m.

20 Summer Series Pop-Up Event Columbus Physical Therapy 4:00 p.m.

21 Transportation Ramada 12:00 p.m.

23 Agribusiness Stack ‘N Steak 7:00 a.m.

26 Engaging Diversity Chamber 10:00 a.m.

26 Board of Directors Chamber 12:00 p.m.

26 Streetscaping Chamber 1:30 p.m.

26 Business After Hours Hy-Vee 5:00 p.m.

28 Summer Series Pop-Up Event Westgate Center 12:00 p.m.

The Catalyst The Catalyst

Columbus Area Chamber of Commerce 753 33rd Ave.

Columbus, NE 68601-6427 402.564.2769 Fax: 402.564.2026

chamber@megavision.com www.thecolumbuspage.com

PRSRT STD PO

PAID COLUMBUS, NE

PERMIT #500

The Catalyst

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Call us at 402-564-2769.