Catalyst The

www.thecolumbuspage.com 753 33rd Avenue

Columbus, Nebraska (402) 564-2769

Issue 389 | March 2017

The Chamber Agribusiness Committee is set to host the 2017 Rural Recognition Banquet, which will honor these outstanding ag professionals: Agribusiness Pioneer:

Preferred Genetics (Phil Buhman)

Outstanding Senior Farmer: Jerry Gleeson

Outstanding Woman in Agriculture: Tracey Hagerbaumer

Outstanding Area Farmer: Terry Beller

Also at the banquet, Platte County 4-H will honor their outstanding volunteers and youth participants. You won’t want to miss this great evening of celebrating the impact our region makes in helping to feed the world! Get your tickets now. Sponsored by:

RURAL RECOGNITION BANQUET APPROACHING Recognizing Today and Tomorrow’s Ag Leaders

Tuesday, March 14th

Ag Park, 822 15th Street Social: 6:00 p.m. Dinner and program: 6:30 p.m.

$20 general public, free for all ag producers.

Tickets are available at the Chamber office, 753 33

rd Ave.

Or call 564-2769 or visit thecolumbuspage.com to reserve.

@ColNEChamber

Thank you Diamond Level Sponsors!

Business After Hours

NE Department of Labor Monday, March 27th

5:00- 6:30 p.m. 3100 23rd St #22

All employees of any Chamber

member are welcome!

Enjoy hors d'oeuvres 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 Amanda Polacek Marketing Director Sharyle Sands Vice President

2016-2017 Board of Directors Bill Flint, Chairman of the

Board Steve Line, Chair-Elect Chris Langan, Community

Development Division Chairman Chad Dyhrkopp, Business

Development Division Chairman Pat Pope, Internal Affairs

Division Chairman Dianne Wall, Treasurer Joe Steffensmeier, Past

Chairperson Russ Freeman Dennis Grennan Ben Hellbusch Sharee Jedlicka Lisa Kaslon Vanessa Oceguera Kurt Shevlin Chad VanCleave Ex-Officio Members Mayor Jim Bulkley, City of Columbus Jerry Engdahl, Platte

County Brent Bond, 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.

New Office Manager Joins Chamber Staff

The Columbus Area Chamber of Commerce is proud to announce the hiring of Bonnie Esslinger as Officer Manager. Bonnie is a native of Leigh, and has lived in Columbus for 11 years. She is a graduate of Mt. Marty College from Yankton, SD. Bonnie began her position on February 20th. Please make sure to introduce yourself to Bonnie next time you’re around!

WELCOME BONNIE!

March Hospitality Sponsor

Hospitality sponsors provide beverages

for meetings held in the Chamber

conference room and also have a table

to showcase their business!

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March 14th, Ag Park Club Room 4:30 p.m. cocktails and appetizers 5:00 p.m. discussion and Q&A Prior to the Rural Recognition Banquet, Northwestern Mutual Financial Advisors Nathan Karges and David Darlington will outline important information about taxes and timing for those planning a transition of the family farm. Nathan and David's combined 25+ years of generational planning experience will provide

important information on how to successfully plan a transition of the family farm. Who should attend? All generations of the family farm. Learn how to position yourself for success. Call 564-2769, or email chamber@megavision.com to register.

FARM TRANSITION PLANNING WORKSHOP What Every Ag Family Needs to Know About Taxes, Transition and Timing

Wednesday, March 22nd 12-1 p.m. at the Chamber, $5 for lunch. Learn the basics of selling your products or services online—from setting up a simple website, to starting a full-blown business selling on Amazon!

Featuring Clark Swihart, Author, Inventor, CEO and Founder of CAS Enterprises, Inc. Call 564-2769, or email chamber@megavision.com to register.

Learn How to Sell Your Products or Services Online

HOW TO SET UP AN ONLINE SHOP

Tuesday, March 7th, Lincoln Educational sessions begin at 3:00 p.m. Meet the new and incumbent Nebraska Senators at a series of educational sessions, and enjoy an evening reception. Call 564-2769, or email chamber@megavision.com to register.

Please specify if you would like transportation to Lincoln. Hosted by the Blair, Columbus, Fremont, Norfolk, O’Neill, South Sioux City, Wayne & West Point Chambers of Commerce. Sponsored by Loup Public Power.

NORTHEAST NEBRASKA DAY AT THE CAPITOL Last Chance to Attend!

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Holiday Basketball Committee Co-Chair Todd Halligan had the opportunity to distribute checks last month to schools that participated in the Chamber’s annual tournament.

The tournament generates retail revenue for the community, and event proceeds are always distributed back to the participating teams.

This year’s participants, pictured below: Lakeview – Kurt Frenzen Scotus – Merlin Lahm Schuyler – Dr. Dan Hoesing Twin River- Tod Heier Thank you to the committee for making this event another success this year!

Supporting Our Area Schools

HOLIDAY BASKETBALL GIVES BACK

Thank you to this year’s Drive for Five Workforce Initiative sponsors. Through the support of these sponsors, Drive for Five is able to continue the important work of recruiting, retaining and developing skilled employees in the Columbus area, and training students to be workforce-ready. To become a part of this very important program or for more information on the Drive for Five, contact Kara Asmus. drive45@megavision.com.

Preparing Tomorrow’s Future Leaders

THANK YOU DRIVE FOR FIVE SPONSORS!

Partner:

Columbus Public Schools

Lakeview Community Schools

ADM

Behlen Mfg. Co.

BD Medical Systems

BD Pharmaceutical Systems

Cargill Meat Solutions

Cargill Value-Added Meats

Loup Power District

Pillen Family Farms

Platte County Board

Contributor:

Preferred Sands of Genoa

Pinnacle Bank

City of Columbus

Columbus Hydraulics

Columbus Community Hospital

Aegis Therapies/AseraCare

Valmont

Supporter:

ARL Credit Services

Associated Staffing

Black Hills Energy

Central Confinement Service,

Ltd.

Columbus United Federal Credit

Union

Cornhusker Public Power District

Duo-Lift Manufacturing Company

FLEXcon Company

HOME Real Estate

John Crane Orion

Samson, LLC - Ramada

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In 2008, the City of Columbus conducted a study to identify improvements to keep the community flourishing. Among the recommendations was the construction of a new: YMCA, library, health department, and high school/middle school. Fast forward nine years, and all four of these projects are in process—totaling roughly $94 million in capital investments from public and private dollars. How was this possible in a community of 25,000? Collaboration. Rather than pursing options on their own, members of these groups formed a committee through the Chamber to share project and fundraising updates with one another regularly. By working together in this manner, the projects attracted a catalytic $2.3 million challenge grant from The Sherwood Foundation and two local donors in 2015. The grant, administered by the Columbus Area Community Foundation Fund, offers a

dollar-for-dollar match proportional to the amount of fundraising left for each project at the time of the grant. To date, three of the four partners have met their fundraising goal. If the challenge grant is met by December 31st, all partners will also receive part of a $500,000 ‘bonus’ from the funders.

If you would like to give toward the final project, the Library/Cultural Arts Center, and receive a dollar-for-dollar match, please contact Drew Brookhart at 402-564-7116. The committee thanks everyone who has supported all four projects that will benefit the community for many generations to come.

Collaboration is the Key

COMPLETING THE QUALITY OF LIFE PROJECTS

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The Goodwill Arm of the Chamber

Columbus Arts Council, Member Visit, Commodore Lynda Lempke & Rodney Magg

FEBRUARY COMMODORE CALLS

JC Penney Company, New Member, Jeff Winkelbauer and Skipper Brent Bond

Sip Espresso Bar, Member Visit, Commodore Tonya Wemhoff and Sam McBride

Thank you to everyone who made a

referral and/or contact during our

membership drive last month.

We added 17 new members in

February & hope to add many more

before the fiscal year ends.

The following slate of Chamber Board officers was confirmed at the February Board meeting. They will take office April 1st with the start of the new fiscal year. Chair: Steve Line Chair-Elect: Dennis Grennan Promotions Division Chair: Vanessa

Oceguera

Community Development Division Chair: Lisa Kaslon

Business Development Division Chair: Chris Langan

Internal Affairs Division Chair: Ben Hellbusch Treasurer: Kurt Shevlin Past-Chair: Bill Flint Congratulations to all and thank you for serving!

Leading the Way

BOARD COMMITTEE CHAIRS NAMED

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JANUARY INVESTMENTS Thank You For Your Membership Investment!

A Wireless - Verizon Wireless Retailer, Brandon Cepel

Affirmation Chain Jewelry by Rosetta, Rosetta Jantzen

Affordable Overhead Door, Bob Lewis

Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology Associate, James Friedlander

Amigo's, Doug Samuelson Becher Place Properties, LLC,

John Curry Behlen Mfg. Co., Philip

Raimondo BMC Transportation, Shandy

Hand Bob's U-Save Pharmacy, Bob

Ellsworth Bo's West, Brad & Rod Baker Camp Luther, Bruce Wall Capstone Realty, Steve Miller Centro Hispano Comunitario

De Nebraska, Karina Perez CharterWest National Bank,

Nick Brion C-K-C, Inc., Roberta Saalfeld Columbus Christian School,

Dave Mitchell Columbus Metal Industries,

Brian Dolesh

Columbus Morning Rotary Club, Prent Roth

Columbus Noon Lions Club, Jean Karnik

Columbus Women's Healthcare, Amy Wemhoff

E. I. P., Inc., Charles & Douglas Ewert

Earley Real Estate, Bob Earley Edward Jones, Tom Kratochvil

Financial Advisor Fast Mart, Mike Gokie First Impressions, Dave

Harrington Huskerland Communications,

Matt Sandoz Iron Steel Co. Inc., Cesar

Garcia Jensen, Neil Jones Insurance Agency, Inc.,

Michael Jones JP Trucking, Darrell & Pat

Janssen Kirkham Michael, Roger

Helgoth Leffers Electric and

Telephones, Eric Hollatz Mueller Sprinklers, Mark

Hanson

Nebraska Vault Co., J.D. Scow Norfolk Ear, Nose & Throat,

P.C., Brenda Rueb North Central Radiology, John

Beauvais Office Systems Company, John

Boyd Paraclipse Systems, LLC, Brad

Harse Platte Valley Playhouse, Suzi

Zwick Schumacher, Paul Sew What Needle Arts &

Quilting, Jo Johansen State Farm Insurance, Shelley

Stempek Sweet Harvest Popcorn

Shoppe, Dale & Patty Dolezal

Ten Minute Oil Change Center, Chad Arens

Tracy's Sport Line Auto Sales, Tracy Willard

Union Pacific Railroad, Kelli O'Brien

Wayne State College, Marysz Rames

White, Robert

Spectrum Business Enterprise Solutions Richard Laswell 809 Central Ave. Kearney NE, 68847 (308) 233-7618 Telecommunications Service & Equipment Sponsor: Sandie Fischer

NEW MEMBER Say Hello!

March 2017 Calendar of Events

02 Commodore Call Columbus Telegram 10:00 a.m.

07 BIE Chamber 7:00 a.m.

07 Northeast Nebraska Day at the Capitol Lincoln 3:00 p.m.

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

08 Entrepreneurship Chamber 9:00 a.m.

09 Commodore Call City Hall 10:00 a.m.

09 Legislative Chamber 2:00 p.m.

14 The Family Farm Transition Workshop Ag Park 4:30 p.m.

14 Rural Recognition Banquet Ag Park 6:00 p.m.

15 Transportation Ramada 12:00 p.m.

16 Chamber Planning Session Chamber 8:00 a.m.

21 Finance Chamber 7:00 a.m.

21 Admirals Picket Fence 7:30 a.m.

23 Commodore Call Papa Murphy’s 10:00 a.m.

23 Legislative Chamber 2:00 p.m.

27 Engaging Immigrants Chamber 10:00 a.m.

27 Activities & Entertainment Chamber 11:30 a.m.

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

27 Streetscaping Chamber 1:30 p.m.

27 Business After Hours NE Dept. of Labor 5:00 p.m.

28 Housing Chamber 10:00 a.m.

28 Columbus Days Committee Chamber 10:30 a.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

The Catalyst

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PRSRT STD PO

PAID COLUMBUS, NE

PERMIT #500