Chamber Events at a Glance…  July Events Mon. 4:  Independence Day – Office Closed Wed. 6:  Member Orientation 8:30 AM Thurs. 7:  CNG Thursday 12:00 Noon Tues. 12:  BEPC 8:00 AM Wed. 13:  Ambassador Committee 12:00 PM Thurs. 14:  LeaderShip Forum Picnic in the Park, 11:30 AM   Maple Grove Days  Fri. 15:  Maple Grove Days Sat. 16:  Maple Grove Days Wed. 20:  Executive Committee 9:00 AM   Government Affairs Committee 12:00 Noon Thurs. 21:  CNG Thursday 12:00 Noon Fri. 22:  CHOICE, INC., Ribbon Cutting 12:00 PM Tues. 26:  Board of Directors 8:00 AM                       

August  Events  Wed. 3:  Member Orientation 8:30 AM Thurs.4:  CNG Thursday 12:00 Noon Tues. 9:    BEPC 8:00 AM Wed. 10:  Ambassador Committee 12:00 Noon Thurs. 11:  LeaderShip Forum ESOP 11:30 AM Wed. 17:  Executive Committee 9:00 AM  Thurs. 18:  CNG Thursday 12:00 Noon Tues. 23:  Board of Directors 8:00 AM    New Teacher Welcome     September Events Thurs. 1:   CNG Thursday 12:00 Noon Mon. 5:  Labor Day, Office Closed Wed. 7:  Member Orientation 8:30 AM Thurs. 8:    Annual Membership Luncheon 11:30 AM Tues. 13:  BEPC 8:00 AM Wed. 14:  Ambassador Committee 12:00 PM Thurs. 15: CNG Thursday 12:00 Noon Wed. 21:  Executive Committee Meeting Tues. 27:  Board of Directors 8:00 AM Wed. 28:   Candidate Forums Brooklyn Park Thurs. 29:  Candidate Forums ISD 279   

 

It was a terrific day out at The Refuge and  

We send many THANKS to all who participated! 

Photos courtesy of Justin Cox Photography 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

North Hennepin Area Chamber of Commerce229 First Avenue NEOsseo, Minnesota 55369Phone: 763-424-6744 Fax: 763-424-6927

Chamber Events at a Glance...Please check our website for details at NHACHAMBER.com

In this issue: Page

Golf 1

One In The Chamber 2

Golf 3

City News 4

Committee News 6

Members in the News 9

State News 13

Welcome New Members 14

Chamber Events at a Glance 16

NORTH HENNEPIN AREACHAMBER OF COMMERCEPromoting Success... Serving Members

116

STANDARD MAILU.S. PoSTAge PAID

MAPLe gRoVe, MN 55311PeRMIT # 12

Summer 2016

It’s The Return of More Fun Than You Can Shake A Stick At!

June 7, 2016 at The Refuge, Oak Grove MN

Noon Shotgun Start/Best Ball Scramble

Save that date? No, more than that. You must guard it fiercely and plan to attend with all due vigor. It’s the North Hennepin Area Chamber’s Annual Golf Classic, your time to be treated to a thumping great experience with your friends, colleagues and prospects! Ah, the rewards of unmatched relationships, the occasionally memorable shot and the ever-so-slightly embellished story. Fabulous golf course. Great company. A powerful cause. Ringers and duffers welcome. No increase in price from last year, either. This is a perfect opportunity to build your brand with the customers you want and help your Chamber. Get your sticks ready and put your sponsor hat on. But first, see the signup sheet inside or give us a call (763-424-6744) and get your foursome signed up. Then, join Chair Frank Miske III today (612-414-0967) and help spread the news - lead the finest golf committee ever to build a successful tournament!

Chamber Events at a Glance…  July Events Mon. 4:  Independence Day – Office Closed Wed. 6:  Member Orientation 8:30 AM Thurs. 7:  CNG Thursday 12:00 Noon Tues. 12:  BEPC 8:00 AM Wed. 13:  Ambassador Committee 12:00 PM Thurs. 14:  LeaderShip Forum Picnic in the Park, 11:30 AM   Maple Grove Days  Fri. 15:  Maple Grove Days Sat. 16:  Maple Grove Days Wed. 20:  Executive Committee 9:00 AM   Government Affairs Committee 12:00 Noon Thurs. 21:  CNG Thursday 12:00 Noon Fri. 22:  CHOICE, INC., Ribbon Cutting 12:00 PM Tues. 26:  Board of Directors 8:00 AM                       

August  Events  Wed. 3:  Member Orientation 8:30 AM Thurs.4:  CNG Thursday 12:00 Noon Tues. 9:    BEPC 8:00 AM Wed. 10:  Ambassador Committee 12:00 Noon Thurs. 11:  LeaderShip Forum ESOP 11:30 AM Wed. 17:  Executive Committee 9:00 AM  Thurs. 18:  CNG Thursday 12:00 Noon Tues. 23:  Board of Directors 8:00 AM    New Teacher Welcome     September Events Thurs. 1:   CNG Thursday 12:00 Noon Mon. 5:  Labor Day, Office Closed Wed. 7:  Member Orientation 8:30 AM Thurs. 8:    Annual Membership Luncheon 11:30 AM Tues. 13:  BEPC 8:00 AM Wed. 14:  Ambassador Committee 12:00 PM Thurs. 15: CNG Thursday 12:00 Noon Wed. 21:  Executive Committee Meeting Tues. 27:  Board of Directors 8:00 AM Wed. 28:   Candidate Forums Brooklyn Park Thurs. 29:  Candidate Forums ISD 279   

One in the Chamber Steve Erickson, Executive Director We’ve been very busy over the past quarter and having a great time doing it. A few highlights: We re-elected 2 Directors to our Board and 4 new ones to replace those who are retiring after 6 years of service (that’s the maximum) and one who transferred to another city. All current and newly-elected Directors will formally take office July 1, 2016. Re-Elected Directors:

Barb Whelan, Branch Manager, KleinBank/Maple Grove.

Karen Moore, Travel Consultant, Acendas Travel/Vacation Division.

Four New Directors:

Brandi Barthel, Executive Director, St. Therese at Oxbow Lake in Brooklyn Park

Mitchell DeJong, Vice President of Technology, Design Ready Controls, Brooklyn Park.

Teresa Swenson, Owner, Device Pitstop in Maple Grove.

Paul Yahnke, Owner, 12 Stone Homes/Keller-Williams, Maple Grove.

Retiring Directors:

Craig Freeman, Freeman Law Joe Piket, Owner, Primrose Schools of

Maple Grove and Champlin Park Naomi Mogard, Campus Director,

Rasmussen College We are deeply grateful to all NHACC Directors past and present for their commitment of valuable time, leadership and imagination to the continuation of the Chamber’s dynamic growth. We are graced by their skills, experience and insight every step of the way on our path to help create the singular business, economic development, community and education advancement resource in the Northwest Twin Cities.

LeaderShip Forums: Jan Callison, Chair of the Hennepin County Board of Commissioners, MNSCU Chair Michael Vekich and the DFL/GOP party leaders (Ken Martin – DFL Chair and Deputy Chair Chris Fields – GOP) continued to prove that these aren’t just lunches, they’re important and rare events. High Noon in June Golf: Our annual golf fundraiser at The Refuge June 7 delivered the best results in many years, even better than last year’s performance, and we were once again blessed with perfect weather. We are deeply grateful to Committee Chair Frank Miske III, Committee members Teddy Ann Morse, Karen Moore, Pam Holien, Mike Wiley and Bonny McIntyre as well as a marvelous group of volunteers for all they did to make it a smash, and our sponsors were simply off the charts in support! School Initiatives: We completed a truly exciting round of 5 CareerPilots presentations by our team area member high schools. Our team was comprised of Marty Wojciechowski, Director of Marketing and Meg Miller from Luther Automotive, Bob Hoenie from DEED (Minnesota Dept. of Employment and Economic Development), Priscilla Roberts of Hennepin County Workforce, Corey Young from Hennepin Technical College, Jenny Sekula from Herzing University, Kou Voue from North Hennepin Community College and me. Our purpose was to profoundly stimulate awareness of career and educational alternatives available right now for students. It was universally well-received at all schools and we will be back. There are hundreds of rewarding jobs open right now in Hennepin County alone that require less than a 4-year degree, pay exceedingly well and I can guarantee that most were total surprises to the students. This Chamber has served as an important partner to its members schools through many activities including mock interviews, Star Student Awards, Annual Scholarships (over $50,000 awarded to students to date) and much, much more. It’s simply good business. We will be introducing our Reality Store financial awareness event during the upcoming school year, and we will be launching a repeat of our highly successful CareerNow! youth oriented job fair, both in concert with Hennepin County Workforce. We’re doing a lot more along these lines, in service to our member schools, community and our members. 2

One in the Chamber

15

One in the Chamber Steve Erickson, Executive Director We’ve been very busy over the past quarter and having a great time doing it. A few highlights: We re-elected 2 Directors to our Board and 4 new ones to replace those who are retiring after 6 years of service (that’s the maximum) and one who transferred to another city. All current and newly-elected Directors will formally take office July 1, 2016. Re-Elected Directors:

Barb Whelan, Branch Manager, KleinBank/Maple Grove.

Karen Moore, Travel Consultant, Acendas Travel/Vacation Division.

Four New Directors:

Brandi Barthel, Executive Director, St. Therese at Oxbow Lake in Brooklyn Park

Mitchell DeJong, Vice President of Technology, Design Ready Controls, Brooklyn Park.

Teresa Swenson, Owner, Device Pitstop in Maple Grove.

Paul Yahnke, Owner, 12 Stone Homes/Keller-Williams, Maple Grove.

Retiring Directors:

Craig Freeman, Freeman Law Joe Piket, Owner, Primrose Schools of

Maple Grove and Champlin Park Naomi Mogard, Campus Director,

Rasmussen College We are deeply grateful to all NHACC Directors past and present for their commitment of valuable time, leadership and imagination to the continuation of the Chamber’s dynamic growth. We are graced by their skills, experience and insight every step of the way on our path to help create the singular business, economic development, community and education advancement resource in the Northwest Twin Cities.

LeaderShip Forums: Jan Callison, Chair of the Hennepin County Board of Commissioners, MNSCU Chair Michael Vekich and the DFL/GOP party leaders (Ken Martin – DFL Chair and Deputy Chair Chris Fields – GOP) continued to prove that these aren’t just lunches, they’re important and rare events. High Noon in June Golf: Our annual golf fundraiser at The Refuge June 7 delivered the best results in many years, even better than last year’s performance, and we were once again blessed with perfect weather. We are deeply grateful to Committee Chair Frank Miske III, Committee members Teddy Ann Morse, Karen Moore, Pam Holien, Mike Wiley and Bonny McIntyre as well as a marvelous group of volunteers for all they did to make it a smash, and our sponsors were simply off the charts in support! School Initiatives: We completed a truly exciting round of 5 CareerPilots presentations by our team area member high schools. Our team was comprised of Marty Wojciechowski, Director of Marketing and Meg Miller from Luther Automotive, Bob Hoenie from DEED (Minnesota Dept. of Employment and Economic Development), Priscilla Roberts of Hennepin County Workforce, Corey Young from Hennepin Technical College, Jenny Sekula from Herzing University, Kou Voue from North Hennepin Community College and me. Our purpose was to profoundly stimulate awareness of career and educational alternatives available right now for students. It was universally well-received at all schools and we will be back. There are hundreds of rewarding jobs open right now in Hennepin County alone that require less than a 4-year degree, pay exceedingly well and I can guarantee that most were total surprises to the students. This Chamber has served as an important partner to its members schools through many activities including mock interviews, Star Student Awards, Annual Scholarships (over $50,000 awarded to students to date) and much, much more. It’s simply good business. We will be introducing our Reality Store financial awareness event during the upcoming school year, and we will be launching a repeat of our highly successful CareerNow! youth oriented job fair, both in concert with Hennepin County Workforce. We’re doing a lot more along these lines, in service to our member schools, community and our members.

 THANK YOU TO OUR GOLF ATTENDEES, DONORS AND SPONSORS!

3 Squares 12 Stone Homes Acendas Travel Ace Solid Waste ActionCOACH Benihana BioLife Plasma BizzyWeb Blueplate Restaurants Bob & Carl's Auto Body BOSCH Packaging Tech. Boulay, P.L.L.P. Broadway Awards Broadway Equipment Rental Broadway Party & Tent Rental Brookland Golf Course Brooklyn Bridge Alliance Brook West Family Dentistry CenterPoint Energy CHOICE, Inc. Christy’s Auto Service City of Brooklyn Park City of Osseo Claddagh Irish Pub Columbia Golf Course Comcast Business Service CorTrust Bank Country Inn & Suites Crow River Winery Culligan Bottled Water

Custom Business Forms Dave & Buster’s Design Ready Controls Device Pitstop Dick’s Bar & Grill Diversified Plastics, Inc. DOJO Karate Edina Realty - Jarrod Peterson FastSigns Brooklyn Center Fazendin REALTORS Flat Earth Brewing Co. Frankie's Pizza Freeman Law PLLC Global Vision, Inc. Grand Casino Mille Lacs/Hinckley Granite City Maple Grove GuaranteedRate-Mortgage Hand & Stone Massage Hennepin Tech. College Henningson & Snoxell Herzing University Hoffmann & Swintek, LLC., CPAs Hollydale Golf Course Home Depot - Maple Grove Home Depot - Brooklyn Park Jake’s City Grille Justin Cox Photography KleinBank Maple Grove Let’s Dish LITIN Paper

The Lookout Bar & Grill Love that Olive Lucky’s 13 Pub Plymouth Luther Auto Luther Collision & Glass Mad Jack’s Majestic Oaks Golf Club Maple Grove Hospital Maple Grove SMILES Dentistry Medina Golf Club Meineke Brooklyn Park METRO Sales, Inc Midwest Amber Alert Milton’s Restaurant Miracle Ear Maple Grove NOLA Bistro N. Hennepin Comm. College Olive Garden Osseo Gun Club Paradise Car Wash Paramount Insurance Park Dental Pearle Vision - Maple Grove Pilgrim Dry Cleaners Pittsburgh Blue Premier Bank - Osseo PRIME Advertising & Design Primrose Schools Maple Grove /Champlin Park Princeton's Liquors

Rasmussen College Redstone American Grill Reflections Dental Refuge Golf Club REGUS Office Resource Realty Rita’s Italian Ice Rock Elm Restaurant Rum River Golf Club Running Aces Rush Creek Golf Club St. Therese at Oxbow Lake St. Vincent de Paul Cath. Church Sam's Club Maple Grove Schwickert’s Simonson's Salon & Spa Trader Joe’s Maple Grove LYNX/Timberwolves TopLine Federal Credit Union Total Wine & More Town Planner TWINS Baseball Club Viking Trophies Wal-Mart Brooklyn Park Wine Republic, Excelsior Warners’ Stellian Waste Not Want Not Wells Fargo Business Banking Wiley Properties Xcel Energy THANK YOU!

314

New Members

WELCOME!

210 Edge Place N.E. • Minneapolis, MN 55418-1153612-789-0002 • www.cbfnet.com

Graphic Design• Logos, Illustrations• Custom designed forms

• Letterheads, Envelopes• Annual Reports, Postcards

Electronic Prepress• Typesetting • Service bureau

Web Printing• Continuous, Snap-Apart forms• Laser sheets• Manuals, Catalogs

• Brochures, Booklets• Checks, Newsletters• Security documents

Sheetfed Printing• Single sheet & NCR Forms• Up to 4 color printing• Business cards

• Envelopes• Labels

Mailing• Personalization• IMB Bar coding• Ink jet, Label addressing

• Laser printing• Inserting, CASS Certification

610 West Apartments fazendin REALTORS iVUE‐NW Jeffrey Drayton‐Thrivent Financial JenEmBeaute 1, Inc Land Home Financial Services Lawn Doctor PLB Business Consulting PrarieCare‐Brooklyn Park Rita’s Italian Ice of Maple Grove ServiceMaster by Hedden Summit Grounds Management  

 

From the Office of Steve Simon, Minnesota Secretary of State

CONTACT: Ryan Furlong ryan.furlong@state.mn.us First Quarter Regional Economic Reports Indicate Summer of Economic Growth Leading economic indicators increased throughout the state during the first quarter SAINT PAUL — Secretary of State Steve Simon released the 2016 first quarter Minnesota Regional Economic and Business Conditions Reports, which predict the state will see an increased pace of economic activity throughout the summer.

The reports show all six planning areas (metro, central, northeast, northwest, southeast, and southwest) enjoying improved economic growth in the coming months. Across the state there was growth in payrolls and higher earnings per hour in the private sector over the last year. Initial claims of unemployment insurance also fell throughout the state over the last year

“These reports can help Minnesota’s small business owners better understand their region’s economic outlook,” said Secretary Simon. “When I travel the state, whether it’s to meet with local chambers of commerce or entrepreneurs looking to expand their businesses, my number one goal is to help them succeed in any way I can. These regional reports provide the data, trends, and insight to help make that success possible.

“The beginning of 2016 shows promise for good economic growth through the summer,” said King Banaian, report co-author and dean of the School of Public Affairs at St. Cloud State University. “All six leading indicators were positive for the quarter, and three are now positive for a full year. New filings of incorporation and limited liability company were up for four of the six regions in the last year, with Northeast and Southwest planning areas showing decline. Initial claims of unemployment insurance fell in all six planning areas, and household employment was up in all but the Northeast planning area.”

Twin Cities business conditions are expected to improve over the next several months, according to a variety of economic indicators. The Twin Cities Index of Leading Economic Indicators (LEI) rose by 11.19 points in this year’s first quarter, as all five index components increased, and is now 9.5 percent higher than its level one year ago.

There were 11,215 new business filings with the Office of the Minnesota Secretary of State in the seven-county metro area in the first quarter of 2016 — representing a 6.9 percent increase from one year ago. Employment increased by 2.7 percent over the year ending March 2016; the regional unemployment rate was 3.7 percent.

Resilient Communities Project A Partnership with the University of

Minnesota

Brooklyn Park has been selected as a 2016-2017 Resilient Communities Project (RCP) partner community. RCP is a year-long partnership with the University of Minnesota to research 24 community-identified projects during the Fall 2016 and Spring 2017 semesters. The estimated value of this partnership is $250,000 in the shape of analysis by faculty experts, innovative approaches, outreach support, publicity, and the development of new Brooklyn Park ambassadors. Help us kick off this exciting partnership at a community celebration on September 19, from 5 to 7 p.m. at the City Council Chambers in City Hall. Learn more about RCP and ways to get involved in the 24 projects proposed for our community by contacting Angelica Klebsch at angelica.klebsch@brooklynpark.org or (763) 493-8089.

University of Minnesota RCP staff & Councilmember Rich Gates  Mary Tan Communications Coordinator  Administration Department Direct: 763-493-8003 Cell: 763-238-5216 mary.tan@brooklynpark.org  

Brooklyn Center Centennial Civic &

Veterans Memorial Amphitheater 6301 Shingle Creek Parkway

Your ticket to FREE!

Tuesday, July 5: JajaBand Tuesday, July 12: Brooklyn Community Band

Tuesday, July 19: The High 48s Bluegrass Band Tuesday, July 26: Brian Boru Irish Pipe Band

Tuesday, August 9: Emerson Avenue Tuesday, August 16: Splatter Sisters

Tuesday, August 23: Brooklyn Big Band

Movies in the Park Friday, July 29: Minions

Friday, August 5: Inside Out Friday, August 12: Hotel Transylvania

Brooklyn Center Rec On The Go Mobile Rec Van Come early, grab your spot on the lawn, and join us for family games, contests and more as our rec staff leads

youth in “Pre-Movie” fun activities! Each week new activities.

Brooklyn Center Lioness Club to provide free popcorn. Bring your blankets, lawn chairs & beverages

Events start at 7:00 PM.

Bring a lawn chair or blanket for the events. Please NOTE: Schedule subject to change. Brooklyn Center Lions Club will be selling concessions, including hot dogs and beverages. In case of inclement weather, program will be indoors at the community center.

(763) 569-3400 www.cityofbrooklyncenter.org

4 13

City News

HENNINGSON  &  SNOXELL  EXPANDS  BUSINESS DEPARTMENT  MAPLE GROVE, MN (June, 2016) – Maple Grove law firm Henningson & Snoxell, Ltd. is pleased to announce that attorney Debra S. Nelson has joined the firm as a member of the Business Department. Nelson will practice in the areas of Corporate Law, Employment Law and Real Estate.  

 Debra S. Nelson, Henningson & Snoxell  “We  are  extremely  pleased  that Debra  has  joined  our  firm bringing  more  than  23  years  of  experience  assisting businesses  achieve  their  goals,”  said  L.  David  Henningson, President of Henningson &  Snoxell.   “She  joins our  talented group of professionals  in providing a full range of services to business clients in corporate law, real estate and employment law.”   Nelson represents businesses ranging from start‐up ventures to multimillion dollar companies in business and corporate matters.  She also represents employers and individuals in employment matters including non‐compete agreements, employment agreements, employee handbooks, severance agreements, and general employee issues. In real estate, Nelson represents organizations and individuals in commercial and residential real estate transactions including acquisitions, sales, development agreements, leases and easements.    She received her B.S. in Business Administration from the University of Nebraska and her J.D. from the University of Nebraska College of Law. Nelson is admitted to practice law in Minnesota state courts, the United States Federal District Court of Minnesota, and the United States Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit.   Contact: L. David Henningson, Esq. Henningson & Snoxell, Ltd. 6900 Wedgwood Road, Suite 200 Maple Grove, MN 55311‐3541 Phone: 763‐560‐5700 Email:  dhenningson@hennsnoxlaw.com Web:    www.hennsnoxlaw.com   

Brooklyn Center Centennial Civic &

Veterans Memorial Amphitheater 6301 Shingle Creek Parkway

Your ticket to FREE!

Tuesday, July 5: JajaBand Tuesday, July 12: Brooklyn Community Band

Tuesday, July 19: The High 48s Bluegrass Band Tuesday, July 26: Brian Boru Irish Pipe Band

Tuesday, August 9: Emerson Avenue Tuesday, August 16: Splatter Sisters

Tuesday, August 23: Brooklyn Big Band

Movies in the Park Friday, July 29: Minions

Friday, August 5: Inside Out Friday, August 12: Hotel Transylvania

Brooklyn Center Rec On The Go Mobile Rec Van Come early, grab your spot on the lawn, and join us for family games, contests and more as our rec staff leads

youth in “Pre-Movie” fun activities! Each week new activities.

Brooklyn Center Lioness Club to provide free popcorn. Bring your blankets, lawn chairs & beverages

Events start at 7:00 PM.

Bring a lawn chair or blanket for the events. Please NOTE: Schedule subject to change. Brooklyn Center Lions Club will be selling concessions, including hot dogs and beverages. In case of inclement weather, program will be indoors at the community center.

(763) 569-3400 www.cityofbrooklyncenter.org

Members in the News... State News

TitleSmart, Inc. President, Cindy Koebele, Honored As Executive of the

Year in 2016 American Business AwardsSM

Title insurance company executive recognized for company’s sustained financial growth and

commitment to community

Maplewood, MN – May 4, 2016 – TitleSmart, Inc., a leading full-service title insurance company, today announced that Cindy Koebele, president of TitleSmart, Inc., has been named the winner of a Silver Stevie® Award in the Executive of the Year – Financial Services and Insurance category in The 14th Annual American Business Awards.

Koebele was recognized for her accomplishments in building TitleSmart, Inc. and achieving a high level of financial growth and long-term employee growth for the company while also establishing a culture of personal engagement and a strong record of giving back to the community.

“I am honored and want to thank the American Business Awards and the program judges for this recognition,” said Koebele. "TitleSmart’s success is due, in large part, to our talented and dedicated team who is committed to delivering consistent, world-class service to make every TitleSmart closing a positive and memorable experience for our customers.”

Koebele, who started TitleSmart in 2007, was also named EY Entrepreneur of the Year in the Upper Midwest Insurance Services category in 2015.

More than 3,400 nominations from organizations of all sizes and in virtually every industry were submitted this year for consideration in a wide range of categories.

“The judges were extremely impressed with the quality of entries we received this year. The competition was intense and every organization that has won should be proud,” said Michael Gallagher, president and founder of the Stevie Awards.

Details about The American Business Awards and the list of 2016 Stevie winners are available at www.StevieAwards.com/ABA.

About TitleSmart, Inc.

TitleSmart, Inc. is a full-service title insurance company dedicated to providing clients with exceptional title, escrow, and real estate closing solutions. From investing in the best systems to adding extra touches like warm cookies, gourmet coffee and branded trinkets to each closing, TitleSmart embraces the mentality that closing on your house should be a positive, fun and upbeat experience. A certified Women’s Business Enterprise, TitleSmart was named one of the Inc. 5000 Fastest Growing Private Companies in America in 2014 and 2015 and one of the Minneapolis/St. Paul Business Journal’s Best Places to Work in 2015. For more information visit http://www.title-smart.com.

About the Stevie Awards Stevie Awards are conferred in seven programs: the Asia-Pacific Stevie Awards, the German Stevie Awards, The American Business Awards, The International Business Awards, the Stevie Awards for Women in Business, the Stevie Awards for Great Employers, and the Stevie Awards for Sales & Customer Service. Stevie Awards competitions receive more than 10,000 entries each year from organizations in more than 60 nations. Honoring organizations of all types and sizes and the people behind them, the Stevies recognize outstanding performances in the workplace worldwide. Learn more about the Stevie Awards at http://www.StevieAwards.com.

Contact: Bridget Burnham bridget@burnbrightcom.com Ph: 651-307-6861

TitleSmart, Inc. President, Cindy Koebele, Honored As Executive of the

Year in 2016 American Business AwardsSM

Title insurance company executive recognized for company’s sustained financial growth and

commitment to community

Maplewood, MN – May 4, 2016 – TitleSmart, Inc., a leading full-service title insurance company, today announced that Cindy Koebele, president of TitleSmart, Inc., has been named the winner of a Silver Stevie® Award in the Executive of the Year – Financial Services and Insurance category in The 14th Annual American Business Awards.

Koebele was recognized for her accomplishments in building TitleSmart, Inc. and achieving a high level of financial growth and long-term employee growth for the company while also establishing a culture of personal engagement and a strong record of giving back to the community.

“I am honored and want to thank the American Business Awards and the program judges for this recognition,” said Koebele. "TitleSmart’s success is due, in large part, to our talented and dedicated team who is committed to delivering consistent, world-class service to make every TitleSmart closing a positive and memorable experience for our customers.”

Koebele, who started TitleSmart in 2007, was also named EY Entrepreneur of the Year in the Upper Midwest Insurance Services category in 2015.

More than 3,400 nominations from organizations of all sizes and in virtually every industry were submitted this year for consideration in a wide range of categories.

“The judges were extremely impressed with the quality of entries we received this year. The competition was intense and every organization that has won should be proud,” said Michael Gallagher, president and founder of the Stevie Awards.

Details about The American Business Awards and the list of 2016 Stevie winners are available at www.StevieAwards.com/ABA.

About TitleSmart, Inc.

TitleSmart, Inc. is a full-service title insurance company dedicated to providing clients with exceptional title, escrow, and real estate closing solutions. From investing in the best systems to adding extra touches like warm cookies, gourmet coffee and branded trinkets to each closing, TitleSmart embraces the mentality that closing on your house should be a positive, fun and upbeat experience. A certified Women’s Business Enterprise, TitleSmart was named one of the Inc. 5000 Fastest Growing Private Companies in America in 2014 and 2015 and one of the Minneapolis/St. Paul Business Journal’s Best Places to Work in 2015. For more information visit http://www.title-smart.com.

About the Stevie Awards Stevie Awards are conferred in seven programs: the Asia-Pacific Stevie Awards, the German Stevie Awards, The American Business Awards, The International Business Awards, the Stevie Awards for Women in Business, the Stevie Awards for Great Employers, and the Stevie Awards for Sales & Customer Service. Stevie Awards competitions receive more than 10,000 entries each year from organizations in more than 60 nations. Honoring organizations of all types and sizes and the people behind them, the Stevies recognize outstanding performances in the workplace worldwide. Learn more about the Stevie Awards at http://www.StevieAwards.com.

Contact: Bridget Burnham bridget@burnbrightcom.com Ph: 651-307-6861

MAPLE GROVE DAYS JULY 13-17, 2016

Wednesday, July 13 ● EltonSongs, Town Green, 7:00 Thursday, July 14 ● Choo Choo Bob’s Engineer Paul and Friends, Town Green, 11:00 am ● Duplicate Bridge Tournament, MG Community Center, 12:00-4:00 pm ● Farmers Market, Maple Grove Community Center, 3:00-7:00 pm ● Pierre Bottineau Parade, 89th Avenue, 6:30 pm Friday, July 15 ● Teen 3 on 3 basketball tournament, Central Park ● Children’s Parade and activities, Central Park ● Tennis Tournament, MGSH tennis courts ● Capture the Flag, Weaver Lake Park ● Maple Grove Ambassador Coronation, MGSH ● Gala in the Grove, Osseo American Legion Saturday, July 16 ● Lions Corn Roast & other Fair Foods, MG Community Center ● Free kids events, MG Community Center ● Pony rides, petting zoo and inflatable rides, MG Community Center ● Classic Car Show/Big Truck Show ● Bingo & more, MG Community Center ● Jim Deane Memorial Rice Lake Run, ● Fishing Clinic, Weaver Lake ● Art Fair, Main Street ● Geocaching, Weaver Lake Nature Center Sunday, July 17 ● MRPA Volleyball Tournament ● Art Fair, Main Street ● MG Historical Society Museum Open House *Events subject to change. Visit maplegrovedays.org for more details.

Osseo’s Boerboom Park is booming! 

 

As Mayor Duane Poppe says, “Look for the water tower and you’ll know where the park is!” What the water tower won’t tell you is how much happens at the park. 

You can find fresh choices at the Osseo Farmers Market, where farmers, food vendors, and crafters sell their own products directly to the public. The Market emphasizes diversity, quality, and freshness. Stop by for a wide selection of delicious, healthy produce and other beautiful goodies. More vendors have signed up this year and that means more choices for you! 

Join us Tuesday afternoons from 3:00 pm to 7:00 pm during the summer beginning July 12 and ending September 27. Meet the vendors and visit with your neighbors on 5th Street NE, on the north side of Boerboom Park in downtown Osseo.  More Fun: 

Osseo’s free Tuesday night Music and Movies in Boerboom Park is a great line up of events for everyone to enjoy! Crowd‐ and kid‐favorite the Teddy Bear Band kicks off the 2016 season on June 21, followed by the Classic Big Band on June 28. On July 12, The Zingrays take the stage with their 50s and 60s style, and a high‐flying double feature comes to town on July 26 with the Minnesota Raptor Center at 7:00 and the film E.T. The Extra‐Terrestrial at dusk. August features acclaimed kids’ film Inside Out on August 9 and the classic Wizard of Oz features on August 16 (costumes are encouraged)! The season wraps up on August 23 with bluegrass and roots band The Barley Jacks. All concerts start at 7:00 pm and movies begin at around 8:30 pm.  

Visit www.discoverosseo.com for the latest information.  

512

City NewsMembers in the News...

By Denice Wojack, BEPC Chair, Caterpillar Paving Products Greetings from the Business-Education Partnership committee. With the end of the school year, the Business Education Partnership Committee can reflect upon the accomplishments of the 2015-2016 year, while looking forward to the opportunities for the Fall.

On December 9, the Chamber recognized 41 Star Students from our member schools at a morning breakfast and award ceremony held at Hennepin Technical College. Many thanks to all our sponsors who made it possible to recognize the students in our community for their achievements in career advancement, employment skills and volunteerism.

Each year, the Chamber awards a $500 scholarship to one student each from member High Schools, as well as to one continuing education student from a Chamber Member post-secondary school. This year we awarded students from Brooklyn Center, Maple Grove, Osseo and Park Center High Schools at the April 14 Chamber Luncheon. Our guest speaker, Mr. Michael Vekich provided his own words of wisdom for the students’ futures.

Thanks to the vision of Steve Erickson, the chamber introduced “Career Pilots” at several of the member high schools successfully. Our educators expressed their thanks and were excited about the response from the students.

New Teacher Welcome, another of Steve's initiatives, is an event to welcome new teachers and educators in the community. Plans are underway for the first New Teacher Welcome to be held on August 23.

The committee continues to meet over the summer, and by August, we’ll be preparing for Star Student. Members are welcome to visit the committee meetings the second Tuesday of each month at the Chamber office, 8:00 a.m. – 9:00 a.m.

By Joseph Lang, Ambassador Chair

As we kick off summer 2016, we are blessed to have such a wonderful group of businesses representing the Ambassadors committee! More of our active chamber members are taking part in Ambassador events and interest continues to grow amongst our new members. We are seeing continued success in attending new member orientation on the first Wednesday of each month. We have seen positive results in being able to explain the benefits of being active in the Ambassadors. As always, we are searching for more local businesses to represent the ambassadors committee.

Feel free to stop by one of our Ambassador Group meetings. We meet on the second Wednesday of every month from 12:00 to 1:00 pm. This meeting is followed by “Pop-Ins”, in which we visit some of our active Chamber members at their places of business. Also, check the North Hennepin Area Chamber of Commerce website at http://www.nhachamber.com for dates and times of events such as open houses and ribbon cuttings. These events are a great opportunity to welcome new businesses to the area as well as make your own organization better known to new chamber members.

If you have any questions about the Ambassador group, feel free to reach out anytime.

All the best, Joseph D. Lang, CFP Chair of Ambassadors Committee 763-316-2034 Joseph.lang@thrivent.com

 

BioLife Plasma Services Ribbon Cutting 

 

Design Ready Controls Ribbon Cutting 

 

Family Fitness Expo Ribbon Cutting 

 

Nothing Bundt Cakes Maple Grove Open House 

 

Rita’s Italian Ice Maple Grove Ribbon Cutting 

 

Sue’s Country Cottage Ribbon Cutting 

 

Scholarship Award Recipients & Mike Vekich, MNSCU 

 

2016 Golf Classic at The Refuge 

AMBASSADOR COMMITTEE

Committee Articles

6

Business EducationPartnership Committee

11

By Joseph Lang, Chair By Denice Wojak, Chair

CNG Thursday 

By Kristy Bican, CNG Chair, Keller Williams Realty Elite 

Want to see your business grow with the power of referrals?  

The Chamber Networking Group (CNG) meets at 12 pm on the 1st and 3rd Thursday of the month at the Chamber office. Our committee members consist of a diverse group of business professionals (not industry‐exclusive) who support and increase each other’s business by exchanging referrals and testimonials. During the meeting, members and guests give a 60‐second commercial, then 1 or 2 members present for 10 minutes about their business or related topic. We also dedicate time to networking tips, sharing our best practices and advice.  Members are encouraged to meet one‐on‐one for more in‐depth conversations. 

In addition to regular meetings, our committee hosts a Business Card Exchange (BCE) in the spring and helps coordinate the Chamber’s Frosty Affair Holiday Social in December.   We are in the business to build each of our businesses as well as making the Chamber the place to be! 

We welcome all Chamber members to participate at CNG, and non‐members to join us as a guest at one of our Thursday meetings. You’ll see why we are one of the fastest growing Chamber committees. 

Save These Dates: 7/7, 7/21, 8/4, 8/18 (potluck – bring a dish), 9/1, 9/15, 10/6, 10/20 

 

Biaggi’s Ristorante VIP Pop Ins Visit 

 

Dental Specialists VIP Pop Ins Visit 

 

Eye Care Center  VIP Pop Ins Visit 

 

Kwik Trip VIP Pop Ins Visit 

 

CorTrust Bank  VIP Pop Ins Visit 

 

Diversified Plastics, Inc  VIP Pop Ins Visit 

 

Famous Dave’s BBQ  VIP Pop Ins Visit 

 

Primrose School Champlin Park  VIP Pop Ins Visit 

Committee Articles

Thursday Chamber Networking Group (CNG)

By Kristy Bican, Chair

Extended Value OffersCommittee

By Bryan Wernimont, Co-Chair

710

By Bryan Wernimont, EVO! Chair, GuaranteedRate Mortgage  North Hennepin Chamber of Commerce offers all of its Members a fabulous free program called EVO (Extended Value Offers).  You may have seen an email or notification of this from the Chamber, but one thing most people don’t realize is that these discounts can be used by ALL employees of a member.  So because your company is a Chamber Member, ALL of your employees can get these great discounts.  There are several ways you can help this program grow. 

1) Help us out to get the word out to all of your employees.  We will work with you on ways to do this.  Every Company is different and we can work with you to find the best way.   

2) Offer a discount for the EVO program.  If you desire to offer a discount to other Chamber Members, contact us.  We know not every company can do this, but it gives you exposure to all North Hennepin Chamber Members and their employees, and there’s no cost! 

3) Suggestions – we are always open for suggestions that can help the program be better and have more people be aware of the discounts. 

 You can contact one of the Co‐Chairs to find more on the EVO! program and discuss ways we can help get the word to your employees or how you can get your business listed with a discount offer for other Chamber members.  Bryan Wernimont‐ Guaranteed Rate Mortgage – 612‐213‐0006 Lenny Frolov – Resource Realty Group – 612‐242‐9073   

CNg Chair, Kristy Bican, Keller Williams elite952-250-0333 / kristy.bican@kw.comCNg Co-Chair Joelene Calvert, FastSigns763-503-1503 / joelene.calvert@fastsigns.com

Contact one of the eVo Co-Chairs with any questions.

Bryan Wernimont - 612-213-0006brian.wernimont@guaranteedrate.com

Lenny Frolov - 612-242-9073homes@lennyfrolov.com

The Villa at Osseo Earns 2016 Bronze National Quality Award The Villa at Osseo has been recognized as a 2016 recipient of the Bronze – Commitment to Quality Award for its dedication to improving the lives of residents through quality care. The award is the first of three distinctions possible through the National Quality Award Program, presented by the American Health Care Association and National Center for Assisted Living (AHCA/NCAL), the leading association for long term and post-acute care. The program honors providers across the nation that have demonstrated their commitment to improving quality of care for seniors and persons with disabilities.

“It’s an honor to be recognized for the hard work and quality of care our team provides every day,” said Kristi Umberger, Administrator of The Villa at Osseo. “We are committed to providing high-quality, person-centered care to our residents and their families. We will never stop improving.” Implemented by AHCA/NCAL in 1996, the National Quality Award Program is centered on the core values and criteria of the Baldrige Performance Excellence Program, which is the foundation of the metric-based AHCA/NCAL Quality Initiative. The program assists providers of long term and post-acute care services in achieving their performance excellence goals. “I applaud the women and men of The Villa at Osseo for their commitment to improve quality care,” said the AHCA/NCAL National Quality Award Board of Overseers Chair Christine Boldt. “This award is the first step in a program that serves as an essential guide to performance excellence. I encourage Villa Healthcare to continue their quality journey.” The awards will be presented during AHCA/NCAL’s 67th Annual Convention and Exposition in Nashville, Tennessee, October 16-19, 2016. Local Contact: Alicia Miller 763-424-7361

RUSH CREEK GOLF CLUB

CELEBRATES 20 YEARS!

On Friday, June 10th, Rush Creek Golf Club celebrated 20 years of operation. Our founder, Duncan MacMillan, had a spectacular vision of turning an old golf course and farm into a first class facility that is open to everyone. Through the years we've seen the LPGA, USGA and many local events stop by. Rush Creek added an elegant banquet facility where over a thousand couples have been married. We've watched the Maple Grove community around Rush Creek grow and thrive. Families have turned to Rush Creek as their kids take up the game of golf. The restaurant and terrace is a neighborhood favorite. And, many of their staff members have been here from the start. 20 years later, we are happy that Rush Creek still carries out Duncan’s dream. Rush Creek Memories . . . The folks at Rush Creek would love to hear some of your favorite Rush Creek memories. Please share them with us at https://www.facebook.com/rushcreekgolfclub/?fref=ts. Use #Top10oftheLast20 or #rushcreekgolf club. So whether you're joining the fun at Rush Creek for live music, a round of golf, or simply meeting someone, cheers to all of you who've made Rush Creek the success that it is and part of who they are. On behalf of Rush Creek: “Thank you for your patronage and we look forward to what the future holds!”

Congratulations RUSH CREEK GOLF CLUB!

Rush Creek Golf Club 7801 County Road 101 Maple Grove, MN 55311 763-494-0400

 By Joe Piket, Chair The North Hennepin Area Chamber has been the chief partner to the League of Women Voters for creating and operating all Candidate Forums throughout Brooklyn Center, Brooklyn Park, Maple Grove and Osseo for decades. This year, the majority of regional and local offices are open for election and we are once again proud to be a part of these important proceedings. Here’s the working schedule we have set up so far, so please make a note of them and watch for any updates from the Chamber – all events will be held in the respective City’s Council Chambers: September 27 - Brooklyn Center City Council & legislative 6:30-9:45 October 11 - Osseo City Council/Mayor 6:30-8:00 Sept. 28 - Brooklyn Park City Council and State Legislators 6:30-8:00 & 8:15-9:45 October 5 - Brooklyn Park - Hennepin County Commissioner 6:30-8:00 Sept. 29 – Maple Grove - Osseo Area School Board 6:30-8:00 October 13 – Maple Grove - Hennepin Co. Commissioner/state Legislators 6:30-8:00 & 8:15 - 9:45 October 20 – Maple Grove City Council 6:30-8:00 A great deal has been going on at the State Legislature level, but unfortunately much of the activity has been unproductive. The Minnesota State Chamber maintains a staff that works daily with the legislature and has provided this excellent summary: Some progress on tax relief, workplace regulations; transportation unresolved The Minnesota Legislature wrapped up official business Sunday night, concluding a short and challenging session framed by divided government and the November elections. Tax and spending bills were approved, but transportation, bonding and REAL ID bills were left unresolved. The Minnesota Chamber’s top priorities this year were meaningful business tax relief, comprehensive transportation funding and no additional workplace mandates. While we made good, incremental progress on two fronts, there were some disappointments. We remain hopeful that a special session will be convened to attempt to resolve outstanding issues.

Here’s our scorecard, to date: TAX RELIEF - Accomplishments The first $100,000 of market value will be exempted from the statewide business property tax, providing the greatest relief to small businesses that are in lower market value properties – many of which are located in Greater Minnesota. The overall statewide levy was reduced, too, to prevent tax shifting to higher-valued properties. The automatic tax inflator on cigarettes was removed, which will help retailers especially in bordering communities. Residency factors were modified so individuals moving out of state can continue to hire Minnesota businesses. The Department of Revenue will not be able to consider the location of individual’s attorney, CPA, financial adviser or financial institution in determining residency. Sales and use tax collection requirements for marketplace providers were expanded with a delayed effective date of 2019.  Work to do The statewide property tax inflator was unfortunately not repealed. Other early agenda items for the 2017 Legislature are conforming the state estate tax to the federal threshold, federal conformity with Section 179 provisions and enhancing the research-and-development tax credit. TRANSPORTATION - Stay tuned Lawmakers adjourned with roughly $700M in funding for transportation in limbo. We remain committed to a comprehensive package that provides sustained and strategic funding of roads, bridges and transit, and are hopeful that transportation funding will be on the docket of any special session. The bonding bill, which failed to pass, contained about $700 million in bonding and one-time money for transportation – a reflection of our efforts to broaden the base of transportation investment through the general fund. Government Affairs Committee meets quarterly, on the 3rd Wednesday of the month. Contact Chair: Joe Piket, Owner, Primrose Schools of Champlin Park and Maple Grove jpiket@primrosechamplinpark.com Phone: 763-494-5500  

8 9

Members in the News...Government Affairs Committee