Mnvb mag april2016

Also in this issue• Amboy Cottage Café

• Calling all Paws

• Oswald Brewing Co.

Justin and Jenna Rinehart own Nicollet Bike Shop in Old Town Mankato. Photo by Pat Christman

The Free PressMEDIA

More diversity in entrepreneur pool

Entrepreneurial spirits

MNVB April p01.indd 1 3/21/2016 11:54:13 AM

GOLFERS FROM AROUND THE WORLD COME TO CHALLENGE THE JUDGE and the two other golf courses in Prattville at RTJ Capitol Hill. Bring your clubs

and come take on Judge hole number 1, voted the favorite hole on the Trail. Complete your day in luxury at the Marriott and enjoy dining, fi repits and

guest rooms overlooking the Senator golf course. With the Marriott’s 20,000 square feet of meeting space, 96 guest rooms and luxurious Presidential

Cottage combined with three world-class golf courses, business and pleasure can defi nitely interact in Prattville.

THE ROBERT TRENT JONES GOLF TRAIL AT CAPITOL HILL is home of the Yokohama Tire LPGA Classic on the Senator Course

September 18 to 24, 2014. The Marriott Prattville is part of the Resort Collection on Alabama’s Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail.

Visit www.rtjgolf.com or call 800.949.4444 to learn more.

for Yourself.» COME JUDGE for Yourself.

RTJ746JudgePRATT_CNHIMags.indd 1 3/28/14 12:17 PMMNVB April p01.indd 2 3/21/2016 11:54:15 AM

GOLFERS FROM AROUND THE WORLD COME TO CHALLENGE THE JUDGE and the two other golf courses in Prattville at RTJ Capitol Hill. Bring your clubs

and come take on Judge hole number 1, voted the favorite hole on the Trail. Complete your day in luxury at the Marriott and enjoy dining, fi repits and

guest rooms overlooking the Senator golf course. With the Marriott’s 20,000 square feet of meeting space, 96 guest rooms and luxurious Presidential

Cottage combined with three world-class golf courses, business and pleasure can defi nitely interact in Prattville.

THE ROBERT TRENT JONES GOLF TRAIL AT CAPITOL HILL is home of the Yokohama Tire LPGA Classic on the Senator Course

September 18 to 24, 2014. The Marriott Prattville is part of the Resort Collection on Alabama’s Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail.

Visit www.rtjgolf.com or call 800.949.4444 to learn more.

for Yourself.» COME JUDGE for Yourself.

RTJ746JudgePRATT_CNHIMags.indd 1 3/28/14 12:17 PM MNVB April p01.indd 1 3/21/2016 11:54:16 AM

Mayo Clinic Health System is committed to delivering expert,

whole-person care to our community by putting the needs of our

patients first. We are also dedicated to being good community

members.

As part of our service to our communities, in 2015 we committed

over $260,000 to local non-profit organizations that benefit our

region. In addition, many of our 3,831 employees are dedicated

volunteers in the communities in which they live and work.

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MN Valley Business • April 2016 • 3

Mayo Clinic Health System is committed to delivering expert,

whole-person care to our community by putting the needs of our

patients first. We are also dedicated to being good community

members.

As part of our service to our communities, in 2015 we committed

over $260,000 to local non-profit organizations that benefit our

region. In addition, many of our 3,831 employees are dedicated

volunteers in the communities in which they live and work.

4.95”x4.95” MN Valley Business Journal April 2016

mayoclinichealthsystem.org

Bringing Mayo Clinic to our communities

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F E A T U R E SApril 2016 • Volume 8, Issue 7

John and Tami Oswald weren’t sure how a brewery would go over in an old bank building on Blue Earth’s Main Street, but Oswald Brewing

has quickly gained fans.

22Lisa Lindberg saved an old building

in Amboy from demolition and through hard work and a dedication

to local sourcing has made the Cottage Café a big success.

18At Jillian Cousins new Calling All

Paws the atmosphere is more like a beauty parlor than pet grooming business and pets get plenty of

pampering and care.

26

The entrepreneurial spirit remains strong and for those who want to start

or grow a business there is guidance and support available from the

SBDC and RCEF.

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PUBLISHER

EXECUTIVE EDITOR

ASSOCIATE EDITOR

CONTRIBUTINGWRITERS

PHOTOGRAPHERS

COVER PHOTO

PAGE DESIGNER

ADVERTISINGMANAGER

ADVERTISING SALES

ADVERTISINGASSISTANT

ADVERTISINGDESIGNERS

CIRCULATIONDIRECTOR

John Elchert

Joe Spear

Tim Krohn

Tim KrohnKent ThiesseHeidi SampsonNell MusolfCristen MantheJulie Leiferman

Pat ChristmanDarren Gibbins

Pat Christman

Christina Sankey

Phil Seibel

Jen WanderscheidTheresa Haefner

Barb Wass

Sue HammarChristina Sankey

Denise Zernechel

April 2016 • VOlUME 8, iSSUE 7

MN Valley Business is published by The Free Press Media monthly at

418 South 2nd Street., Mankato MN 56001.

For editorial inquiries, call Tim Krohn at 507-344-6383.

For advertising,call 344-6336, or e-mail

[email protected].

Job connections get boost

It’s a good problem to have: employers and employees disconnected on what jobs are available. It’s good that there

are jobs -- good jobs, career jobs -- available in the Mankato area.

And a new collaborative group of employers, educational institutions and human resource professionals has formed in Mankato to address that challenge. The Employment Outreach group has introduced itself in this month’s Minnesota Valley Business on page 24.

Their mission, they say is “to connect employers and employment seekers by developing tools, resources and leadership to educate and promote working in the Greater Mankato area.”

This comes at a time that Greater Mankato Growth, the region’s economic development agency, has put “talent retention” as one of its top goals for growing the local economy.

Businesses are having trouble finding qualified employees and it appears potential employees are having trouble finding what career opportunities might be available in Mankato. The outreach group is planning to bridge that gap with communication, including regular updates in this magazine, and materials sent to schools and employers to help make these important workforce connections.

The group is also using GMG’s recent Talent Supply and Demand report to guide them in their outreach. In addition, the group plans to provide schools with materials that will point to opportunities in the Mankato area as well as provide some basic how-to information on interviewing and basics qualities that employers seek.

These materials will go to colleges in the area but also high schools. It’s important to reach the Millennials early in their employment search before they graduate from college or high school.

The Outreach group includes John Elchert, publisher of The Free Press and this magazine, because as a leading provider of business information in the region, we believe we can help employee and employers make this vital connection.

We’ve long aimed to make Minnesota Valley Business Magazine an “in the know” publication that not only provides 25 plus local business indicators each

month, but also regular features on local companies and their leaders and market position. All of that, we feel, will be crucial to providing employees information on the best places to work.

The new group offers perspective on two key employment topics: What areas have jobs available, and where can people get training for those jobs.

The GMG Talent Supply and Demand report noted there were talent shortages in production occupations, truck and equipment drivers, diesel mechanics, automotive engineering, manufacturing engineering and home health aids and personal care aids.

The group also plans to share employment information annually for career counselors to “ensure that students and job seekers are aware of the job market when choosing education/training programs.”

The group will also draw from its diverse membership to provide employers helpful information on getting the best employees and retaining them.

In this month’s column, the group notes Millennials are sometimes motivated by more than the right job at the right salary.

For Millennials, the group notes: “mattering is essential to their employment-fit. It is important for them to feel connected to their organization, to have access to mentors, and to have opportunities to see how their individual contribution relates to greater goals and objectives of the organization.”

But employees also want to know that they’re taking employment in a city that is a great place to live. Increasingly, Mankato is doing a good job promoting itself in this respect. Employers would find help in promoting their city by linking the GMG website to their employment website. https://greatermankato.com/

Creating momentum for connecting job seekers with employers in this deliberate way is a good start to creating the synergy that is evolving in Mankato as a great place to live and a great place to work. MVJoe Spear is executive editor of Minnesota Valley Business. Contact him at [email protected] or 344-6382. Follow him on Twitter @jfspear.

■ local Business memos/ Company news ..................................7

■ Business and industry trends ...........9

■ Minnesota Business updates ..........10

■ Business Commentary ....................12

■ Construction, real estate trends .....29

■ Agriculture Outlook .........................30

■ Agribusiness trends. .......................31

■ Job trends ........................................32

■ retail trends ....................................33

■ Greater Mankato Growth .................34

■ Greater Mankato Growth Member Activities ..........................36

■ From the editorBy Joe Spear

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Lumiere Group in new locationLumiere is at a new location at 500 South Broad Street

in Mankato.The real estate company is owned by Deb Atwood and

Jen Schmidt.

■ ■ ■

Bethany VP gets business awardDaniel Mundahl, vice president of finance and

administration at Bethany Lutheran College, was selected 2015 CFO of the Year – Minnesota by Acquisition International.

Since 2010, Acquisition International Magazine’s annual awards have been highlighting the work done by those firms and individuals who demonstrate dedication to innovation, customer care, and the continued growth and improvement of their businesses.

■ ■ ■

Area banks honored The Minnesota Bankers Association recognized 21

banks for their community involvement.Local banks honored include: United Prairie Bank in

Mankato, First National Bank Minnesota in St. Peter and Citizens Bank Minnesota in New Ulm.

Many of the banks reported that more than 50 percent of their employees volunteered at charities on behalf of their bank.

■ ■ ■

Cousins gains designationChristopher Cousins with Connect Real Estate Group in

Mankato completied the Graduate of the Realtor Institute Designation.

■ ■ ■

Title Resources acquires LammTitle Resources, a title company owned by Gislason &

Hunter, acquired Lamm, Nelson & Cich. The operations of Lamm, Nelson & Cich has been merged into Title Resources with Dick Nelson and Joel Cich also joining Gislason & Hunter LLP as of counsel attorneys focusing on real estate issues.

Lamm, Nelson & Cich historically has closed hundreds of real estate transactions every year.

■ ■ ■

Pathstone wins service awardPinnacle Quality Insight, a nationally recognized

customer satisfaction firm has determined Ecumen Pathstone Living has qualified for the Customer Experience Award in the following areas by placing in the top 15 percent nationally: Overall satisfaction, nursing care, dignity and respect, recommend to others, response to problems, quality of food, cleanliness, individual needs, activities, communication from facility, professional therapy services, safety and security.

Consolidated employees honordConsolidated Communications announced that two

employees in Mankato were recently honored with the company’s top awards.

Julie Foster received the company’s highest honor, the chairman award, at the company’s annual employee meeting. The award is presented to a few employees who demonstrate extraordinary performance on a project or who continually exceed expectations.

Foster is a senior communications specialist based in Mankato and has been with the company for 15 years.

Greg Hasse was recognized with the community service award, which is presented to employees who are making a difference in the community.

Hasse, senior product specialist in Mankato, volunteers much of his time with the Boy Scouts of America.

Consolidated Communications will make a $500 contribution to the Twin Valley Council – Boy Scouts of America on Hasse’s behalf.

■ ■ ■

Manske hired at FrandsenJoslyn Manske has been named

mortgage banker Frandsen Bank & Trust. Manske held various roles over the past 13 years at State Farm Insurance, including the financial services arena and State Farm Bank.

She will focus on the continued development and expansion of the mortgage loan portfolio in North Mankato, Mankato, and the surrounding communities.

Manske (Hornung), a Nicollet native, has a Bachelor’s Degree from the University of Wisconsin – River Falls with a double major in Business Administration and Marketing Communications.

■ ■ ■

Dalluge earns certificationJosh Dalluge, newly hired systems

support technician at Thriveon, has attained Microsoft Technology Associate certification. Dalluge chose to undergo the MTA training and examination to increase his knowledge in the area of IT infrastructure.

The staff at New Ulm-based Thriveon has grown from 14 to 21 full-time employees in the past year.

■ ■ ■

Atwood Realty honoredCentury 21 Atwood Realty received the Gold Medallion

Award from the Century 21 Real Estate Corp. based on their level of production. The office also received the Quality Service Pinnacle Award, which indicates earning this award 2 or more consecutive years.

■ Local Business People/Company News

Josh Dalluge

Joslyn Manske

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Trent VanOrt earned the System’s Masters Ruby Award for sales success and also the Quality Service Pinnacle Producer Award.

Dan Baker, Dan Thielges, Ellen Gruhot, Michelle Harmon and Peg Ganey have been honored with the Multi-Million Dollar Producer Award.

Peg Ganey, Ellen Gruhot & Trent VanOrt have earned the Quality Service Pinnacle Producer Award. Jeff Kaul, Dan Thielges, Cheryl Lustig, Michael Atwood, Dan Baker, Cindy Florine & Michelle Harmon earned the Quality Service Producer Award.

Call [email protected]

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EconomyGDP up 1 percent

The Bureau of Economic Analysis reported that real GDP increased at an annual rate of 1 percent in the fourth quarter of 2015. The increase in real GDP in the fourth quarter reflected positive contributions from personal consumption expenditures, residential fixed investment, and federal government spending.

Forecast real GDP growth is 2.2 percent in 2016 and 2.8 percent in 2017. Real disposable income grows by 3 percent in both years.

Industrial production fallsTotal industrial production is expected to fall by 0.8

percent in 2016, but rises by 2.8 percent in 2017. Projected growth in nonfarm employment averages 1.6 percent in 2016 and 1 percent in 2017.

Investments growingForecast private real fixed investment growth averages

3.8 percent and 5.6 percent in 2016 and 2017, respectively. Real consumption expenditures grow faster than real GDP in 2016, at 2.7 percent, and at 3 percent in 2017. Durable goods expenditures drive consumption spending in both years. Export growth is 1.9 percent and 5.3 percent over the same two years, while import growth is 3.1 percent in 2016 and 6.4 percent in 2017. Total government expenditures rise 2.1 percent in 2016 and 0.4 percent in 2017.

EnergyNatural gas shoves past coal

For decades, coal has been the dominant energy source for generating electricity in the United States. But the federal Energy Information Administration is now forecasting that 2016 will be the first year that natural gas-fired generation exceeds coal generation in the United States on an annual basis.

Natural gas generation first surpassed coal generation on a monthly basis in April 2015 and the generation shares for coal and natural gas were nearly identical in 2015, each providing about one-third of all electricity generation.

The mix of fuels used for electricity generation has

■ Business and Industry Trendsevolved over time. The recent decline in the generation share of coal, and the concurrent rise in the share of natural gas, was mainly a market-driven response to lower natural gas prices that have made natural gas generation more economically attractive.

Environmental regulations affecting power plants have played a secondary role in driving coal’s declining generation share over the past decade, although plant owners in some states have made investments to shift generation toward natural gas at least partly for environmental reasons. Looking forward, environmental regulations may play a larger role in conjunction with market forces. Owners of some coal plants will face decisions to either retire units or reduce their utilization rate to comply with requirements to reduce carbon dioxide emissions from existing fossil fuel-fired power plants under the Clean Power Plan, which is scheduled to take effect in 2022 but has recently been stayed by the Supreme Court pending the outcome of ongoing litigation.

Renewable power increasesTotal renewables used in the electric power sector should

increase by 8.7 percent in 2016 and by 6.5 percent in 2017. Forecast hydropower generation in the electric power sector increases by 5.4 percent in 2016 and by 2.8 percent in 2017.

Renewables other than hydropower are projected to grow by 11.5 percent in 2016 and by 9.5 percent in 2017. Utility-scale solar photovoltaic power capacity is expected to grow by more than 9 gigawatts (GW) in 2016, after growing by 3 GW in 2015. PV capacity is forecast to increase from 10 GW in 2014 to 27 GW in 2017.

Ethanol output up slightlyEthanol production averaged an estimated 966,000 barrels

per day in 2015, and is forecast to average slightly more than that level in both 2016 and 2017. Ethanol consumption averaged about 910,000 barrels per day in 2015, and is forecast to average more than 920,000 in both 2016 and 2017. This level of consumption results in the ethanol share of the total gasoline pool averaging 10 percent in both 2016 and 2017. There is not expected to be significant increases in E15 or E85 consumption over the forecast period.

Carbon emissions down slightlyThe emissions of carbon dioxide decreased by 2.4 percent

in 2015. Emissions are forecast to decrease by 0.3 percent in 2016, then increase by 0.4 percent in 2017.

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■ General Mills backs Good CultureGeneral Mills’ venture capital

arm is one of two lead investors in a $2.1 million financing round for cottage cheese maker Good Culture.

The investment comes from General Mills’ 301 Inc., a business development arm of the packaged food giant that provides capital and expertise to fledgling food companies. The other lead investor is CAVU Venture Partners, according to the Star Tribune.

Good Culture, which is based in Irvine, Calif., makes a line of organic, high-protein and low-sugar cottage cheese.

“Their mission and vision, coupled with General Mills’ extensive resources, will give Good Culture tremendous opportunity to grow this remarkable, on-trend offering,” John Haugen, head of 301, said in a press statement.

301 also has invested in Rhythm Superfoods, a Texas maker of kale chips and other natural and organic snacks, as well as in Beyond Meat, a southern California firm that makes burgers and “chicken” strips from soy and pea protein.

■ Target tackles stock problemsTarget is considering options that

will help it tackle the problem of running out of stock.

The company said the problem has affected all its 1,800 stores, and its merchants are joining efforts to determine the number of different

products that should be placed on shelves. The efforts will cater to a wide range of products from deodorants to water bottles.

The company is also thinking of expanding its shelf space so that it can stock more products as well as teaming up with the suppliers to support enough shipping that matches the capacity of the shelves.

The firm said that will reduce the products in the storage.

Target’s chief executive, Brian Cornell, stated that the process will be very vigorous and transformative.

Running out of stock is a common occurrence in retail stores. It often occurs due to the complex nature of the supply chains of major retail companies especially those operating on a national scale.

Target believes that lessening the variety of sizes, brands and flavors on the shelves will help simplify operations.

■ Cirrus grows in Duluth To keep up with growing customer demand for its series

of airplanes, Cirrus Aircraft will build a $16 million facility in the Duluth Airport Industrial Park.

The Duluth-based manufacturer’s expansion is expected to create 150 new jobs, pushing its employee roster to 825 workers. Cirrus said the new manufacturing jobs would pay up to $14 an hour with benefits.

The company’s 68,000-square-foot facility will be dedicated to painting and finishing Cirrus’ airplanes, including its Vision SF50 jet, which sells for $2 million. Cirrus said orders for the single-engine personal jet have already topped 550.

The facility is due to be operational in October.To ensure Cirrus continued its operations in Duluth, the

city will be contributing nearly $8 million in infrastructure and construction financing for the new complex. The Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development is providing a $4 million loan.

■ 3M opens new facility3M chemist Andy Ouderkirk

and his team are famed for their inventions, which they will now create in a new $150 million facility.

Ouderkirk and hundreds of fellow 3M scientists packed up their prototypes, optical films, computer models, physics projects and thousands of patent certificates and moved to 3M’s new $150-million, 400,000-square-foot research-and-development building in Maplewood, according to the Star Tribune.

The move brings together up to 700 3M scientists across several divisions now scattered across locations. The new lab building also will serve as a magnet for commercial customers looking for 3M’s help to improve products or launch new ones.

“Collaboration is what this building is all about,” said.

■ Archer Daniels faces headwindsOne key analyst says Archer Daniels

Midland will continue to face headwinds for the coming quarters.

Merrill Lynch downgraded ADM to a Neutral rating from Buy.

ADM continues to be affected by a strong U.S. dollar, which has hurt its

U.S. export business. Ethanol industry margins currently are around breakeven, and crush margins are well below year ago levels. Based on Merrill Lynch’s industry work, as well its Global Research currency forecasts, the firm does not see any of these headwinds improving markedly in the near term.

■ Minnesota Business Updates

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Recently we sat down at Madison East Center with Sen. Kathy Sheran, Rep. Jack Considine and Rep. Clark Johnson to share our story about the positive

economic impact of energy conservation in our businesses.

In 2007, Minnesota’s Next Generation Energy Act established energy-saving goals through the Conservation Improvement Program (CIP) for electric and gas utilities, overseen by the Department of Commerce. Driven by utility company rebates and incentives that pay for themselves, CIP encourages utilities to promote energy efficiency technologies, help homes and businesses cut energy costs, and reduce harmful emissions while conserving resources.

Almost 10 years later, we’re spreading the word about CIP because we’ve seen its value firsthand, through the One-Stop Efficiency Shop — one of Minnesota’s many CIP-related programs. “One-Stop” is a full-service lighting program that partners with energy contractors like Schwickert’s Tecta America, a local roofing and mechanical contractor, to help small businesses throughout Xcel Energy’s Minnesota service territory with lighting needs assessments, efficiency recommendations, financing, and guidance toward making improvements.

Thanks to CIP rebates and incentives through the One-Stop program since 2001, Minnesota’s Senate District 19 alone has invested about $1.7 million in energy efficiency projects. The region’s One-Stop business clients have received more than $700,000 in one-time rebates plus $450,000 in annual cost savings. Local energy contractors like Schwickert’s have earned over 750 related workdays. And, while saving energy we didn’t need to generate, we also cut 3,865 megatons of carbon annually — akin to pulling 644 cars off our roads.

Madison East has its own happy tale to tell. The center’s energy-efficient lighting upgrades were implemented by Schwickert’s and subsidized through CIP-related rebates and incentives. Because of new efficiencies put in place, the center now saves more than $40,000 in energy spending every year. And boosted by rebates from Xcel Energy amounting to nearly $55,000, our savings covered the cost of upgrades in about two years.

Businesses work hard to invest wisely because every penny has to count. And when you invest in saving energy, you earn much more than a one-time return on your investment. Through the hard work and expertise of Minnesota’s energy contractors, businesses save tens of thousands of dollars every year after they improve their energy use — money they can reinvest in staffing,

customer engagement, and services, much smarter channels for limited resources.

For many reasons, investing in energy efficiency is an easy choice to make:

• It’s a major electric system resource, providing about 14% of the state’s energy system resources.

• It’s cost-effective, with minimal expense to implement and quick paybacks, saving Minnesota households more than $6 billion dollars since 1995.

• It employs nearly 10,000 Minnesotans at about 450 businesses like Schwickert’s throughout the state.

• It cuts carbon while preserving productivity. Through energy efficiency measures implemented because of CIP, the state’s utility customers will avoid almost 100 million tons of carbon dioxide emissions.

The math isn’t hard. As the state’s energy needs grow, we can either buy more (8 cents per kilowatt-hour), or save more (1.5 cents per kilowatt-hour). Plus the latest data indicate CIP generates about four dollars in benefits for every dollar invested. CIP opens doors to new technologies in lighting, appliances, heating, ventilation, insulation, architecture, and other strategies to help businesses save energy and money. And while strengthening our economy, it also serves as a powerful mechanism to improve our public health and environment.

Energy waste is like a leaky pipe — fix more leaks, stop more waste. District 19’s successes through the One-Stop program represent one local chapter in a statewide story of CIP in action. Savings and wages earned by energy contractors like the team at Schwickert’s offer local proof of CIP’s successes. And the pathways to achieve such successes would disappear without the rebates and incentives enabled through CIP.

So we offer our personal experiences to help legislators better understand how CIP benefits local energy consumers and contractors, as well as electric utilities and our economy. Businesses statewide would do well to join us and inform your own district’s policymakers about the valuable role the Conservation Improvement Program plays in your own lives and livelihoods. MV

Cristen Manthe is director of marketing for Coldwell Banker Commercial Fisher Group, which manages Madison East Center. Julie Leiferman is head of business development for Schwickert’s Tecta America.

Mankato businesses cut waste and save money

■ Business CommentaryBy Cristen Manthe and Julie Leiferman

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507.625.1121St. Peter

507.931.4000Gaylord

507.237.5521

Craig Bode, Vice President

Ag Lending

Visit landtoairexpress.com or call 507-625-3977

In addition to theMSP Airport, Land toAir Express now offers multiple daily tripsfromMankato to Rochester and Southern MNdestinations in between. Convenient Mankatoshuttles are still available every day to and fromthe Minneapolis International Airport.

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Audio, Video,Automation SystemsControl your:• TVs• Movies• HVAC• Locks• Shades

• Music• Lighting• Security• Garage Doors• More

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xxxxxxxxxx

We always put you FIRST!

Financing Rural Ag Operations since 1857!

Member FDIC

Visit us online at www.fnbmn.comMankato

507.625.1121St. Peter

507.931.4000Gaylord

507.237.5521

Craig Bode, Vice President

Ag Lending

Visit landtoairexpress.com or call 507-625-3977

In addition to theMSP Airport, Land toAir Express now offers multiple daily tripsfromMankato to Rochester and Southern MNdestinations in between. Convenient Mankatoshuttles are still available every day to and fromthe Minneapolis International Airport.

INTRODUCES YOUR

Audio, Video,Automation SystemsControl your:• TVs• Movies• HVAC• Locks• Shades

• Music• Lighting• Security• Garage Doors• More

Call us and let usshow you how it works

Mention code MVB2015 for 10% Discount

by smartphone or tablet

388-3271YOUR WIRING PROS

www.ecsmankato.com



By Tim KrohnPhotos by Pat Christman

Chasing the

dreamEntrepreneur pool

more diverse

Newly minted entrepreneurs J.R. Schulte and Tyler Baka are working through the challenges most do when starting up a new business. They’re working hard to make their

landscaping service known more widely, struggling to get a strong website set up, figuring out how to do their bookkeeping and looking for some financing to buy some more equipment. And they’re doing it while working other full-time jobs.

More seasoned entrepreneurs Justin and Jenna Rinehart are enjoying their fifth year in business in Old Town, running their Nicollet Bike Shop. With long experience in the bike industry and because they bought an established business, they were able to more easily move through some of the learning curves and name recognition that new business owners face. Still, they face ongoing challenges of integrating new systems from various vendors into their business and deal with the other challenges of a young, growing business.

Those who give mentoring and training to entrepreneurs say the owners of the two businesses fit the profile of the two types of clients they are seeing these days. It’s a different clientele than they saw during the recession years.

“During the recession, we saw people who were trying to replace an income they had lost because of a layoff,” said Bryan Stading, executive director of the Regional Center for Entrepreneurial Facilitation.

Julie Nelson, associate regional director of the Small Business Development Center, said they saw the same trend a few years ago. But that has changed.

“Now we see more people who are in business coming in for help to expand or ramping up their marketing. Now it’s for more positive reasons, not because they need income,”

she said.Stading said they are seeing more

clients who have established full-time jobs but want to pursue their dream

of owning their own business. “They have a drive to do something different, but there’s not the urgency of replacing an income before your unemployment benefits run out.”

New face of entrepreneurshipStading’s group provides services across the nine-county

region of south-central Minnesota with an overarching mission of economic development in rural areas. In many cases in small-town Minnesota that means entrepreneurs starting and running their own businesses.

With their Mankato office on the Bethany Lutheran College campus, the RCEF also has regional offices. Across the region, Stading said, he’s seen a new demographic profile of entrepreneurs – reflecting the more diverse makeup of the region from immigrants and refugees.

“The spirit of entrepreneurship will never change, but the nature of it, the face of it is different now. It’s much more diverse.” To that end the RCEF recently hired someone, based in Fairmont, who speaks English and Spanish.

“The landscape is changing. You have to be proactive.”The RCEF is also working with the Center for Business

& Industry, housed at South Central College, to help Muslim women. The center is developing a class to teach

Cover Story

Julie Nelson, SBDC



the women to sew and to get certification that they can sew OSHA-approved work clothes for Muslim women. Traditional Muslim dress, particularly for women, sometimes clashes with workplace and OSHA safety rules. “It’s the first of its kind,” Stading said of the sewing program.

Beyond the goal of creating a work clothing line for women, the program envisions a clothing line for Muslim girls. “Little girls have trouble playing sports because of their clothing, so they’re trying to develop a clothing line for girls so they can play in sports more easily,” Stading said.

Beyond more diverse clients, Stading said they’ve seen more college students coming in with business ideas. The students sometimes have just graduated and are finding the job market not what they expected or the pay not adequate to pay off student loans.

“A lot of them lean toward tech ideas. A lot are working on apps. It’s a different world trying to create a business plan for an app,” Stading said.

“There’s some fascinating things they are working on. One student has a cellphone charger that fits in your wallet and plugs into the wall. He already has angel investors,” he said. “We love working with students. At the end of the day we want to keep them in the area.”

While there are new approaches to meet a more diverse population, much of what the RCEF and the SBDC does stays constant.

The SBDC, housed at Minnesota State University, contracts with 14 consultants who do one-on-one work with clients. “They all have different backgrounds and expertise,” Nelson said. “Some are very specialized, like financing and helping clients find capital. We don’t have funds to loan out directly, but we help them find what they’re eligible for, get all their financial background together for the bank, hold their hands through the process.”

Other consultants have expertise in social media and search engine optimization while others have expertise in QuickBooks, the go-to computer program for small business bookkeeping and inventory control. “It’s really important for people to get their accounts and things set up properly from the start so you don’t run into trouble.”

The SBDC sees 400 to 450 clients each year and gives about 4,000 hours of consulting time. Funding comes from the U.S. Small Business Administration and some from the state and partners in the region, including banks, cities and counties and chambers.

“That’s why we can do it for people for free. Sometimes there may be a small fee for workshops but otherwise there is no cost to clients,” she said.

Nelson and Stading said the top needs for clients they see are securing financing, marketing and developing a business plan. They said a common mistake people make is not doing enough homework before launching a business.

“We can help them with that research,” Nelson said. “We have nice industry profiles on trends in the area you’re looking at, who your competition is, average financial snapshots in that industry. Most people just don’t know where to find that stuff.”

While they can provide many of the tools entrepreneurs need before getting started and after their startup, Nelson said that sometimes clients get a needed reality check when they come in.

“Some just have a general idea of what they want to do.

Some don’t know the amount of time and work and effort that will be needed. An amazing number of people want to start a restaurant, but they’re not realistic about the amount of time and money that takes. And that it takes away from your home life if they’re working 20 hours a day.”

Nelson and Stading said they don’t ever crush anyone’s dreams, but give them information that allows them to come to their own decision about whether entrepreneurship or a specific business idea is for them.

Stading said that the improved economy has made it a bit easier for people to secure financing. “Money has gotten a little looser so that definitely helps.”

With a focus on rural economic development and jobs, Stading’s group often works not only with new entrepreneurs but with long-established business owners in hopes of growing and retaining the business long term.

“We still struggle with succession planning on rural Main Street. A business owner with a hardware store that’s making $30,000 or $40,000 a year may be satisfied with that, but he’s going to have a hard time selling the business when he retires,” Stading said. Longtime business owners often have their building paid for, but someone buying the business would have a building loan to pay off, eroding much or all of the profit the old owner was able to bring home each year.

“We try to manage the expectations of the seller and the buyer.”

The RCEF also sends out countywide electronic newsletters alerting business owners to upcoming seminars and workshops that they or their employees might want to attend,or to alert them to new IRS rules or other regulations. “The business owners have said they really appreciate those newsletters.”

Bryan Stading, RCEF



■ Why am I starting a business?

■ What kind of business do I want?

■ Who is my ideal customer?

■ What products or services will my business provide?

■ Am I prepared to spend the time and money needed to get my business started?

■ What differentiates my business idea and the products or services I will provide from others in the market?

■ Where will my business be located?

■ How many employees will I need?

■ What types of suppliers do I need?

■ How much money do I need to get started?

■ Will I need to get a loan?

■ How soon will it take before my products or services are available?

■ How long do I have until I start making a profit?

■ Who is my competition?

■ How will I price my product compared to my competition?

■ How will I set up the legal structure of my business?

■ What taxes do I need to pay?

■ What kind of insurance do I need?

■ How will I manage my business?

■ How will I advertise my business?

Questions before

starting

The WoodfellasSchulte and Baka are close

friends who work full time at Dotson Iron Castings, work out together and compete in Tough Mudder events. “We’re pretty much together all the time so going into business together was easy,” Schulte said.

The two started Woodfellas landscaping and lawn care a year ago.

“Tyler is a jack of all trades. He’s very efficient on skid loader and building. I’ve been working off and on for landscaping and lawn businesses for 10 years and I’ve always been artistic. So we cover all the bases,” Schulte said. “We both work very hard, sunup to sundown.”

“The Small Business Development Center was a big help,” Schulte said. “I’ve been talking to people there a lot about writing a business plan and marketing campaigns and launching a website. Now we’re in the process of a business loan. We’ve been using personal vehicles and equipment and renting things we need. If we had our own skid loader and dump trailer, we could bid jobs more efficiently.”

The two have done jobs for the city, including a new retaining wall by the farm playground at Sibley Park, and have accounts for lawn and landscaping services with businesses and some residential properties.“We brought in $15,000 for the two of us last year. It’s not a huge amount but it’s a start. This year we’re getting more aggressive with marketing.”“We both have great jobs at Dotson and the benefits and 401(k). We want to keep growing and make our business a full-time venture, maybe in five years. There is a fear of leaving (our full-time jobs someday) and the unknowns.”

J.R. Schulte and Tyler Baka, top, started Woodfellas, doing landscaping work such as the retaining wall, right, by the Sibley Park playground.



Peddling strongThe Rineharts bought the Nicollet

South Bike shop when it was south of Nicollet on the property of the then owner. In 2011 they moved it to Mankato.

“I started working at the bike shop at 15. It was my first job beyond delivering The Free Press and mowing lawns,” Justin said. “I worked part time there through college and full time for three years after college before buying it.”

He said being so familiar with the business made the transition to ownership much easier than it might be for someone else. “I knew all about the shop, but we started from scratch on some of the behind-the-scenes business stuff, getting different sales systems and things like that,” he said.

His degree in finance from MSU and his wife’s degree in human resources from MSU also served them well as they bought and moved the business.

They knew they would move the business to Mankato at some point, but the move came sooner than expected after they found a building for lease in Old Town. “Moving wasn’t as scary as many people might think. We needed more space and being in Old Town is fabulous.”

Financing for inventory hasn’t been a big problem for them. “The bike industry is good about financing. Because it’s such a seasonal business, they have extended financing. A lot of businesses might have 30-day term financing, but we’ll get upward of six months. They know if you order big orders in the winter you’re not going

to be able to sell much of it until the next season.”

And buying an established business with a loyal following has made marketing easier than it would be for a brand-new business, he said.

They have three full-time employees, besides themselves, and up to seven part-timers in the summer months.

MV

Step 1: Write a Business PlanUse these tools and resources to create a business plan. This written guide will help you map out how you will start and run your business successfully.

Step 2: Get Business Assistance and Training Take advantage of free training and counseling services, from preparing a business plan and securing financing, to expanding or relocating a business.

Step 3: Choose a Business Location Get advice on how to select a customer-friendly location and comply with zoning laws.

Step 4: Finance Your BusinessFind government backed loans, venture capital and research grants to help you get started.

Step 5: Determine the Legal Structure of Your BusinessDecide which form of ownership is best for you: sole proprietorship, partnership, Limited Liability Company (LLC), corporation, S corporation, nonprofit or cooperative.

Step 6: Register a Business Name (Doing Business As”Register your business name with your state government.Learn which tax identification number you’ll need to obtain from the IRS and your state revenue agency.

Step 7: Register for State and Local TaxesRegister with your state to obtain a tax identification number, workers’ compensation, unemployment and disability insurance.

Step 8: Obtain Business Licenses and PermitsGet a list of federal, state and local licenses and permits required for your business.

Step 9: Understand Employer ResponsibilitiesLearn the legal steps you need to take to hire employees.

Steps to start a

business

Justin and Jenna Rinehart, top, have found success at their Nicollet Bike Shop in Old Town. Greg Lessard, above, works on a bike at the shop.



Lisa Lindberg offers local, organic foods and credits a strong local following for the success of her Cottage Café in Amboy.

By Heidi SampsonPhotos by Pat Christman

Unintended entrepreneurLindberg built big success with tiny cafe

Lisa Lindberg, owner of the Cottage Café, stood watching the demolition of Amboy’s old post office from across the

road with a group of friends. Discussion quickly changed to dismay when the group realized the old cottage-style gas station was also slated for destruction.

During the 1920s, the cottage-style station evolved out of a desire to create a family

friendly environment. Amboy’s station featured the peaked roof and small space characteristics of the cottage style.

That day, Lindberg’s friends nominated her to go across the street to inquire about the building. When Doug

Schiefelbein, co-owner of D & K Tire and also the owner of the small gas station asked, “Do you want it?” Lindberg recalls saying, “I

Cover Spotlight



guess,” rather hesitantly, as her intent hadn’t been to own the old gas station herself.

For the next eight months, the building resided on stilts about a block away from its current location, while Lindberg began to work out a business plan with the Small Business Development Center (SBDC).

“It was one-to-one consulting with the SBDC to develop our business plan,” said Lindberg. “I remember we had reviewed the plan after three years of business operation. I was pleasantly surprised to see that we had followed the plan fairly well during our startup. So, it was very beneficial.”

Once the Cottage Café was finally situated on its two lots, construction began as the interior was gutted and a kitchen was added to the rear of the building. When it came to the shingles, Lindberg had the carpenters show her how to shingle the roof. For the next three weeks, she would shingle the roof herself.

During the time Lindberg spent shingling, she had also started a fundraiser selling handmade pottery coffee mugs – in which no two coffee mugs are the same — as a way of determining interest and support for her future business. At that time, the coffee mug cost $100, with a lifetime guarantee of free coffee and/or tea at the business. Each cup was engraved with the donor’s name. Lindberg remembers being on the roof shingling when an elderly gentlemen’s head popped over the lip of the roof, holding out a $100 bill. When Lindberg asked what he was doing, he’d replied, “If any woman is going to work this hard, she has my support.”

“I almost fell of my own roof,” said Lindberg. “I couldn’t believe he’d crawled up the ladder to offer me a $100 for his coffee mug. Today, we have a breakfast named after that gentleman. We call it Emil’s Habit, it includes two

eggs, bacon and toast.”By the end of the fundraiser, Lindberg had sold roughly

120 coffee mugs. Today, a business lifetime coffee mug costs $125. If the coffee mug owner passes away, the mug is sent as part of a floral arrangement to the family of its owner.

Organic & LocalSelecting and sourcing foods that are wholesome, and

are produced in ways that are earth friendly, is an ongoing process for the Cottage Café. Many of their items are purchased locally. Summer brings an additional benefit as they grow and use their own vegetables, herbs and fruit from the Café’s own garden. Free-range eggs are obtained for breakfast. Organic multigrain pancakes, wheat flour, beans and seeds come from Whole Grain Milling of Welcome. In fact, the Minnesota Farmers Union produced a 2016 calendar in which, they featured Whole Grain Milling and the Amboy Cottage Café for the month of May. The Minnesota Farmers Union started the calendar as a way to support the local food movement, which seeks to promote family farms working with small businesses, as a way of connecting consumers to the source of their food while supporting farm-to-fork restaurants such as the Cottage Café.

“It’s an honor to be featured in the calendar,” said Lindberg. “Especially alongside Whole Grain Milling. They have been our main source milling since we started.”

A few years back, Lindberg placed the European Style’ Eatery sign out front to enhance and clarify her cafés perception.

“Our style is European. We have white walls, big windows, and small space. People sometimes have to sit with a person they don’t know but that’s also European

The European style cafe is cozy, with guests often sitting at tables with someone they don’t know.



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We love dreams. But we

love action even more.

style seating,” said Lindberg. “We offer a full menu but it is based on meat and potatoes. I’ve placed a strong emphasis on buying local, organic or using foods fresh from the garden, wherever and whenever I can.”

The Cottage Café also offers a green menu which allows customers to make choices that fit their dietary needs as menu items can also be adapted to fit many lifestyles, as well as vegetarian or vegan.

“I think of this café as a different kind of health care,” said Lindberg. “I start at the top end by creating good wholesome foods for our customers.”

Tiny WeddingsDuring the month of February, the Cottage Café hosted

their first wedding, in which the couple was married and held their reception inside the Café. Afterward, a homemade meal was served for 25 guests.

Lindberg said the small wedding reminds her of the “Tiny House” trend, a social movement where people are choosing to downsize their homes as a way of reclaiming their lives. The most popular reasons for building a tiny house includes environmental concerns, financial concerns, and the desire for more time and freedom. Typically, the average American home is around 2,600 square feet, whereas the typical tiny house is between 100 and 400 square feet. However, the tiny house enables simpler living in a smaller, more efficient

Lindberg wasn’t planning to buy the cottage style building, but after getting it she renovated it and set out to build a business.



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Our business banking experts can help take your

business dreams and make them an effective reality,

helping prepare you for what’s ahead.

Bremer.com800-908-BANK (2265)

Member FDIC. ©2016 Bremer Financial Corporation. All rights reserved.

We love dreams. But we

love action even more.

space much the same, as the Cottage Café is able to offer its wedding participants.

“Maybe we can start a new trend,” said Lindberg, “The Tiny Wedding. Who knows? But, I can say this, I am so very grateful to the surrounding communities. If it weren’t for their support, we wouldn’t be here. Those who invested and have continued to invest in our coffee mugs have made a heck of a return on 15 years’ worth of free coffee and/or tea. That wouldn’t be possible without everyone’s support.” MV

Food Styles: American (New),

American (Traditional), Breakfast, Brunch, Burgers,

French, German, Indian/Pakistani, Irish, Italian, Russian, Sandwiches,

Vegan and Vegetarian.

Hours:Tue - Thu: 6 a.m. - 8 p.m.Fri - Sat: 6 a.m. - 9 p.m.

Sun: 9 a.m. - 1 p.m.



At the end of last October, John and Tami Oswald had a trial run of their new Oswald Brewing Company in Blue Earth to see if the idea would fly

with local residents.By the end of the next month they

had their answer after selling 150 gallons of brew.

“At that point we started brewing constantly,” John said. “We knew that part of those first few days would be spent determining if our product was something the market wants. We wanted to make sure we had a saleable item and our main line up worked for us. I only changed

one of the beers after that initial trial run.”John brew up in Frost and he and his wife were living in

Colorado in 2012 when they began looking at venues that might hold their business. But in Colorado, one could throw a beer can with a fairly good chance of hitting a brewery. In the town where he lived,

there was three breweries alone and if they’d opened their business, they would have been the town’s fourth.

“Denver is called the Napa Valley of beer,” he said. “A lot of craft and home brewing is going on out there. It’s kind of a culture thing, but it’s what got me excited about

Profile

By Heidi Sampson | Photos by Darrin Gibbins

Banking on beer

Oswald Brewing opens in Blue Earth

Oswald and his wife Tami opened the brewery late last year.



brewing. I went from hobby to obsession to profession.”As it turns out, John and Tami came to Minnesota

because John’s brother was about to receive his first grandson. While they were here, they noticed the old bank building on 110 South Main Street. Immediately, John and Tami called a Realtor to ask about looking at the building. After their initial walk-through, the two knew exactly where they wanted their brewery located.

“The building was built in 1930. It still has the original sandstone and marble elements on the front of the building. The interior has terrazzo flooring, a plaster laurel relief surrounding the main hall, and an ornate molding on the ceiling. We felt the building added a unique element to our business, a kind of eclectic feel.”

In July of 2013, John and Tami purchased the old bank and began renovations, as well as starting the permitting process for their brewery, all of which took roughly two years to complete.

Brewing BeerOswald Brewing Company is the only brewery in

Faribault County. They offer six different beers. Typically, the brewing process takes three weeks to complete. As a result, John is constantly thinking about where his business needs to be in three weeks. So far Oswald Brewing is a one-man operation with his wife and family helping out.

“All we serve is the beer that we brew,” said John. “No other beer company is available on my tap. We don’t have kitchen or food, but we do invite people to bring food in. One element that is specific to us, we have off-sale growlers, which is a half-gallon of beer — or 64 ounces — available for purchase.”

The six craft beers available in growlers and on tap are Berserker NPA (Norwegian Pale Ale), Erik the Red (Adventurous amber ale), Fjord Farm Ale (Nordic interpretation of a Belgium Saison), Magnus Milk Stout

(A balance of Coffee & Chocolate Malt infused with Lactose), Thor’s Thirst (California style with a little attitude) and Valkyrie Wheat (Promise of paradise).

To accompany their hand crafted beer options, John built their own shuffleboard table. In fact, they also feature a bumper pool table, dartboard, foosball, giant Jenga, and card games for patrons who visit their establishment. In fact, all of the furniture, as well as the bar, were handmade by John.

“Oswald Brewing Company is a little different than that of a regular bar in terms of atmosphere,” he said. “People come up here to have a couple of pints and relax. We’ve had a lot of couples come up here and spend some time just talking to one another. I think our customers will find our atmosphere to be more like a common house, such as what one would find in Europe.”

In the coming year, John and Tami hope to see their potential become more solid as they get their hands wrapped around what the market looks like for their business. In time they’d like to expand and increase their capacity for beer creation. Eventually, they also hope to begin distributing outside of their location.

“For us, this first year is really about getting a good feel for the market,” John said. “As well as to continue to come up with new recipes. We’ve been very pleased with the support we’ve received this far, and can’t wait to see what the year brings.” MV

Hours of Operation:Thursday 1–7 p.m. Friday 1–10 p.m.

Saturday 1–10 p.m. Sunday 1– 7 p.m.

The brewery currently offers six different beers.



A KEY TO YOUR TREASURE A key to your new home awaits, and we can help you get there. Finance and insure your home with experts you can trust.

Mary RettmerNMLS# 476964 Mortgage [email protected]

Kristin Bauer Insurance [email protected]

Collaboration working to connect employers with new talentEmployment Outreach’s Mission is to connect

employers and employment seekers by developing tools, resources, and leadership to educate and

promote working in the Greater Mankato Area.

As business in the Mankato area continued to grow, many area businesses and employment seekers found themselves in a difficult position. Businesses are having a hard time finding qualified candidates to fill their open positions and seekers are having difficulties finding a job within their qualifications.

In November, a collaboration team formed to work to find solutions to employment and unemployment concerns in the Mankato Area. Participants of this group include: The Free Press, Minnesota State University, South Central Workforce Council, Workforce Centers and the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development, Adult Basic Education-Mankato Area Public School, Gustavus Adolphus College, Rasmussen College, South Central Technical College, Southern Minnesota Area Human Resources Association, and Bethany College.

This same team in 2014, provided information to Greater Mankato Growth which later published the 2014 Talent Supply and Demand Report, which is providing guidance to our group.

The 2014 Talent Supply and Demand Report indicated the following opportunities for Education and Workforce Organizations:

1. Explore options for addressing the projected talent shortages in: Production occupations, truck and equipment drivers, diesel mechanics and automotive engineering, manufacturing engineering and home health aides and personal care aids

2. Share employment information with career counselors annually to ensure that students and job seekers are aware of the job market when choosing education/ training programs.

3. Other important attributes that business executives are seeking in graduates include strong communication and interpersonal skills, problem solving skills, and adaptability.

At the first meeting the group also formed a list of additional employment barriers including: a lack of transportation, affordable housing and childcare, non-competitive wages, lack of employer resources for small and medium size businesses, unprepared workforce, lack of career counseling, and lack of tools and resources available for the underserved populations in the Greater Mankato Area.

It is the goal of the group to find solutions to both the concerns from the Talent Supply and Demand Report and help address the employment barriers the team discovered.

To get started, Employment Outreach will provide articles to the MN Valley Business magazine. Topics will include insight, leadership, and best

practices to educate and provide leadership to connect businesses and employment seekers.

We will create a free employment resource guide for both employers and seekers, giving employers and seekers in-hand resources for the Mankato area job market. Additionally, we will create a student guide that will be distributed to local high schools and colleges. This student guide will convey the different secondary education possibilities in the Mankato area, basic employee behaviors employers expect, and discuss local projected employment shortages in the Mankato Area Market for the next 5-10 years.

Beyond these things, Employment Outreach Collaboration will continue to look for resolutions to employment barriers our community is facing. If you are interested in getting involved, we are an open group and always welcome new members. For more information, please contact Connie Van Raalte at [email protected].

Current team membersConnie Van Raalte, a human resources manager for Hiniker Company.John Elchert, publisher The Free Press.Diane Halvorson, executive director, represents the South Central WorkForce Council on the Employment Outreach Collaboration.Randy Long, locally appointed DEED representative.Reggie Worlds, field operations regional manager through area Workforce Centers and DEED.Angie Blackstad, diploma program supervisor at Mankato Adult Basic Education. Candy Laven, South Central College’s placement coordinator.Amy Ites, an experienced career counselor.Karina Clennon, assistant director and employer relations and Brenda Garbers, recruitment coordinator, represent Minnesota State University.Cynthia Favre has been helping Gustavus students to name their gifts and talents and find places to use them. MV

New Talent Link



A KEY TO YOUR TREASURE A key to your new home awaits, and we can help you get there. Finance and insure your home with experts you can trust.

Mary RettmerNMLS# 476964 Mortgage [email protected]

Kristin Bauer Insurance [email protected]

Ways employers can attract, retain new talentSouthern Minnesota is an excellent place for new

talent to seek employment. As an employer you already know that recruiting new talent, whether

recent high school or college graduates or young professionals, to fit your organization starts with a well-written employment advertisement that aims to attract new talent from the start. You also know that traditionally a competitive salary will attract new talent, but what you might not know is the needs of new talent in 2016 may be more complex than just the right salary for the right position.

New Talent in 2016 are looking for:

A Great Place to Live. What makes your town, city, region special, attractive, and alluring? This is very important to new talent. A link to your region’s tourism page or other tools your community has already put together on your organization’s employment page can help new talent “see themselves” living and working in your community. An excellent example for the Greater Mankato Area is adding a link to the Greater Mankato Growth Page: https://greatermankato.com/

A Competitive and Understandable Job Offer. Seasoned professionals are able to read between the lines of a job offer and make a distinction of starting salary, benefits, 401K and other incentives, however, new talent may not have the experience or skills to understand that a starting salary of $30,000 including a comprehensive benefits package may actually be a far better offer than a starting salary of $40,000. Creating an easy to interpret employment offer one-sheet can help new talent consider your job offer and make an informed decision.

Performance-Based Incentives. Gone are the days of signing bonuses. What attracts and better yet keeps new talent at your organization are performance incentives and employee recognition. Explaining to new talent what they can look forward to at their first, third, and or fifth

employment anniversary as early as the interview or job offer stage communicates your organization’s mission and pride in investing in its employees. Attractive incentives include employer contribution to educational and professional growth opportunities, performance based incentives, and healthy team-building competitions.

Clear Communication… on Their Timeline. Keep in mind, many new high school or spring college graduates will not start their job search process until May or June. Similarly young professionals may also still be operating on an academic timeline. HR and talent acquisition departments should be prepared for an influx in emails, applications and phone calls during this time. Having a system for processing and acknowledging these applications is a lot of work, but very important. A simple automated “your application has been received message” can go a long way. A follow up message, explaining where the candidate is in the process can help to keep New Talent engaged.

An Opportunity Where Their Contribution Matters! New talent, specifically candidates between 18 years and 25 years, fall into Millennial Generation. For Millennials, mattering is essential to their employment-fit. It is important for them to feel connected to their organization, to have access mentors, and to have opportunities to see how their individual contribution relates to greater goals and objectives of the organization. It can be helpful to include your organization’s young professionals in on the interview process. Additionally it can be helpful to allow new talent employment candidates to connect one on one with young professionals to talk about their experience in the organization thus far. This type of informal mentoring can assist both current young professionals and new talent with the opportunity to connect and engage and may assist with both retention and securing new talent.



Jillian Cousins pampers one of her client’s pets at her Calling All Paws business in Mankato.

By Nell MusolfPhotos by Pat Christman

The Spaw TreatmentGroomer pampers the pets

Stepping inside Calling All Paws, 402 Hope Street, can be a little disconcerting. Not only is the air freshly scented, the

bright spacious area looks and feels more like a beauty parlor for pampered matrons than a pet grooming parlor, where such things as melon cucumber shampoo and rows of brightly colored nail polish are on display to be used on man’s best friends. Nail polish?

“Yes, nail polish,” said Calling All Paws owner, Jillian Cousins. “Generally the smaller dogs get nail polish but you could use a clear

polish on a larger dog to protect his nails although we have had larger dogs get colored nail polish too.”

Clearly the pets who visit Calling All Paws have owners who like to treat their fur babies well.

“Pet parents do dote on their pets,” Cousins agreed. “Pets are like part of the family and the pet parents we see want to make sure their children are well taken care of.”

Taking very good care of those pets is the goal of Calling All Paws. The company’s mission statement states in part “Our mission

Feature



is to provide high quality full service baths, pet trims and breed specific trims for your furry family member.”

Cousins opened her grooming salon in February of this year. “We had a soft opening in October and our grand opening was February 15,” Cousins said.

Cousins, who grew up in Mankato, has worked in the pet grooming field for more than 15 years, starting when she helped groom Arabian horses for her family. That early experience eventually led to a position at the Minnesota Valley Pet Hospital where Cousins worked as a bather and groomer. Cousins then groomed pets out of her home which at that time was near Rapidan.

When her family moved into Mankato, Cousins was hired by Petco as the grooming salon manager, a position she held for eight years. During that time, Cousins received her certification as

a Nationally Certified Master Groomer.

Nationally Certified Groomers meet high standards of grooming excellence by passing a series of tests that evaluate their grooming skills. To obtain her certification Cousins attended seminars in the Cities and in Iowa.

“I was tested on four different breeds and had to groom each dog in front of renowned groomers in a set amount of time,” Cousins said. “Passing the examinations gave me confidence in my own skills as a groomer.”

The tests were nerve wracking but Cousins said one of the more challenging aspects of the testing procedure was finding dogs she could borrow to take with her for each exam.

“It was a little hard to find people who were willing to give up their pet for an entire weekend,” Cousins said.

“I was able to borrow my uncle’s dog so that helped.”

Nationally Certified Master Groomers must also agree to follow a strict code of ethics governing business, customer relations and advertising practices. Cousins believes that she is the only Nationally Certified Master Groomer in the region. After achieving her certification, she decided that the time had come for her to open her own business.

“I was ready,” Cousins said. Cousins found the space she

wanted to rent and with the help of her husband, children and other family members went to work renovating.

“We did everything,” Cousins said. “We built walls, did a complete redo of the tub room, put down new floors, painted. My whole family chipped in and helped get it done.”

Calling All Paws is divided into three distinct spaces: an open area where pets are groomed in the front of the store and a tub room and a drying room in the back.

“I wanted to have the grooming area in the front and the tub and drying rooms separate,” Cousins said. “I want the atmosphere to be as calm as possible since pets can be nervous when they come in to get groomed and it helps to have them in different rooms.”

In an effort to combat those nerves Cousins suggests a “meet and greet” for first time customers where pet parents bring Fido or Fluffy in to meet Cousins or one of the other groomers, have a treat and get a good whiff of the place.

“It’s important for pets to smell a new place,” Cousins said. “If we have a meet and greet, they are generally less stressed when they come in for their grooming appointment.”

Also working at Calling All Paws are Jen Krosschell and Alyssa Mechura.

“Jen and Alyssa are independent pet stylists,” Cousins said. “It’s like a beauty salon. We each have our own clients.”

Among the amenities at Calling All Paws are stainless steel tubs in the bathing room equipped with doors that open to help pets walk in and that rise to a height where the groomer can bathe the pet comfortably.

“The tubs go up and down and so do the grooming tables,” Cousins

Cousins opened her own business after working for many years in the grooming business and gaining national certification.



xxxxxxxx

said. “That’s a big help for older dogs and also for us since it’s easier on our backs.”

Cousins uses many pet grooming products made in Minnesota including a shampoo called Masculine Mutt for males and Canine Cutie for females made by Wet Dog. She also uses a Wet Dog product to give pups facials.

“Dogs need extra attention on their faces to get rid of eye gunk and also because they spend so much of their time smelling all kinds of things,” Cousins noted. “Their faces can get kind of smelly.”

Bath services include a hydro therapy massage treatment, a brush out, nail trim, ear cleaning and glands check. Cousins said that in addition to making dogs look and smell better, groomers often catch health issues that might otherwise go unnoticed.

“We are handling and feeling pets all over their bodies so it’s easier for us to find things that might not feel quite right to us. We tell the pet’s owner and might suggest a follow up with their vet. We’ve been told that we’ve caught a few illnesses over the years such as tumors and other abnormal growths,” Cousins said.

After a refreshing scrub, dogs, as well as the occasional cat, are escorted to the drying room where they rest in a kennel while their fur is gently dried. The entire process can take several hours since the groomers do not use hot air to drive the pets and don’t want to rush the animals.

“We want the pets to feel calm and comfortable, not hurried,” Cousins said.

Calling All Paws also offers “spaw” treatments that include teeth brushing, nail grinding and a paw pad moisturizing treatment. Dental services include basic brushing a treatment that helps eliminate plaque and freshens breath. Another popular treatment is de-skunking.

Calling All Paws is open by appointment, 507-388-PAWS.

“We call ourselves Mankato’s finest grooming salon,” Cousins said. “My vision is to help dogs feel comfortable and safe in a calm environment. I really look out for the pets and I’m excited to come to work every day. When an owner returns to pick up a pet and says, ‘Oh my gosh, he’s so cute!’ that’s the best feeling.” MV





energy efficiency.




Construction/Real Estate

C. Sankey

3.0

3.5

4.0

4.5

5.0

5.5

DNOSAJJMAMFJ

0

2000

4000

6000

8000

10000

12000

DNOSAJJMAMFJ 0

1000

2000

3000

4000

DNOSAJJMAMFJ

0

55

110

165

220

275

DNOSAJJMAMFJ 0

10

20

30

40

DNOSAJJMAMFJ

0

1000

2000

3000

4000

DNOSAJJMAMFJ0

4500

9000

13500

18000

DNOSAJJMAMFJ

Source: City of Mankato

Residential building permits Mankato (in thousands)

- 2015 - 2016

Source: City of North Mankato

Residential building permits North Mankato(in thousands)- 2015 - 2016

Source: Realtors Association of Southern Minnesota

Existing home sales: Mankato regionInformation based on Multiple Listing Service and may not refl ect all sales- 2015 - 2016

Source: Cities of Mankato/North Mankato

Housing starts: Mankato/North Mankato- 2015 - 2016


Commercial building permits Mankato (in thousands)

- 2015 - 2016

Source: City of North Mankato

Commercial building permits North Mankato(in thousands)- 2015 - 2016

Source: Freddie Mac

Interest Rates: 30-year fi xed-rate mortgage— 2015 — 2016

Includes single family homes attached and detached, and town homes and condos

Source: Minnesota Foreclosure Partners Council

Foreclosures: 2014 Year End

1011927702543393624

72212147282422277

-29%+11%-22%-33%+12%-44%-44%-25%-71%

Blue EarthBrownFaribaultLe SueurMartinNicolletSibleyWasecaWatonwan

County 2013 2014 Percent change

$778

$755$1,533

$417

80

73

1

17

$2,738

$367$2,378

$367

3.6%

3.8%





energy efficiency.




In mid-March we celebrated “National Ag Week” all across the United States, as well as in Minnesota. This provides a good opportunity to reflect on all the

traditions and advancements that help make the Minnesota agriculture industry truly remarkable. Since early statehood, the agriculture industry has been one of the cornerstones of Minnesota’s economy and lifestyle.

Snapshot of ag industryn Minnesota currently has a total of 74,800 farms, which

compares to 80,992 farms in 2007. Minnesota ranked ninth in total farm numbers in 2012, with the top five states being Texas, Missouri, Iowa, Oklahoma, and California.

n 88 percent of Minnesota’s farms are family or individually owned, 6 percent are partnerships, 4 percent are corporations, and 2 percent are under some other structure.

n There are more than 26 million acres of land in production in Minnesota, with more than 6,200 farms being above 1,000 acres. The average farm size in Minnesota is about 350 acres.

n The Minnesota agriculture industry had total receipts of more than $22 billion in 2013, which ranked fifth in the U.S., trailing only California, Iowa, Texas, and Nebraska. Minnesota ranked fourth in crop sales behind California, Iowa, and Illinois, and ranked seventh in livestock sales, with Texas, Iowa, and California being the leading states.

n Minnesota ranks first nationally in sugar beet, sweet corn, and green pea production, and usually ranks third or fourth in corn, soybean, and spring wheat production.

n Minnesota ranks first in the U.S. in turkey production, usually ranks second or third in hog production, sixth in overall red meat production, and eighth in milk production.

n In 2014, the state’s hog production totaled $2.85 billion in cash receipts, which was an increase of 24 percent from the 2010 level. Minnesota had about 465,000 dairy cows in 2013, which generated approximately $1.84 billion in cash receipts. In 2013, the state’s beef industry generated $1.67 billion in cash receipts, while the poultry industry provided about $1.21 billion.

n Minnesota is also the home to several major pork, dairy, and poultry processing plants, as well as major soybean, sugar beet, and other agriculture processing industries.

n Minnesota’s ag exports were valued at more than $8 billion in 2013, which grew by 18 percent from 2011. Minnesota ranked third nationally in the value of agricultural exports, trailing only California and Iowa. Top ag export products from Minnesota are soybeans, corn, feed, and pork, with exports of wheat, dairy products, and beef growing rapidly. About one-fourth of the state’s ag exports are shipped to China.

n Minnesota ranks fifth in the U.S. in ethanol production,

with 21 ethanol plants producing more than 1.1 billion gallons of ethanol per year, which includes several ethanol plants in south central Minnesota. The state also has three biodiesel plants producing more than 63 million gallons per year of renewable energy.

A record crop yearThe USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service

(NASS) released the 2015 estimated average county yields for corn, soybeans, and other crops in late February. The NASS yields reveal just how remarkable the 2015 crop year was across Minnesota. 2015 featured record state yields for both corn and soybeans, as well as the highest ever crop yields in many counties. The 2015 county yields are available on the NASS web site at: www.nass.usda.gov

NASS is estimating the 2015 corn yield in Minnesota at the record level of 188 bushels per acre, which was six percent above the previous state record corn yield of 177 bushels per acre in 2010. Other recent statewide corn yields were 156 bushels per acre in 2014, 159 bushels per acre in 2013, 165 bushels per acre in 2012, and 155 bushels per acre in 2011.

The 2015 average soybean yield in Minnesota is also estimated to be at a record level of 50 bushels per acre, which significantly exceeded the previous state record soybean yield of 45 bushels per acre in 2010. The statewide soybean yields in other recent years were 41.5 bushels per acre in 2014, 42 bushels per acre in 2013, 43.5 bushels per acre in 2012, and 39 bushels per acre in 2011.

Based on the NASS data, the 11 counties in Minnesota’s South Central Crop Reporting District produced more than 321 million bushels of corn in 2015. Minnesota had a total 2015 corn production of nearly 1.43 billion bushels, compared to just below 1.18 billion bushels in 2014. Renville County produced the most corn in 2015 at 51.6 million bushels, followed in top five for corn production by Redwood County at 45.2 million bushels, Martin County at 45.1 million bushels, Faribault County at 43.7 million bushels, and Nobles County at 39.2 million bushels.

Thirteen counties in Minnesota had 2015 average corn yields that exceeded 200 bushels per acre, according to the NASS data. Faribault County had the highest average corn yield at 207.4 bushels per acre, followed in the top five counties by Nicollet County at 206.8 bushels per acre, Watonwan County at 206.1 bushel per acre, Dodge County at 204.0 bushels per acre, and Martin County at 203.4 bushels per acre. Other counties that exceeded 200 bushels per acre were Blue Earth, Carver, Freeborn, Goodhue, Jackson, Le Sueur, Rice, and Steele. Most other counties in the southern one-third of Minnesota, as well as a few counties in Central Minnesota had 2015 corn yields between 185 and 199 bushels per acre. Most counties in the central one-third of the state had corn yields above 170 bushels per acre.

Minnesota produced 377.5 million bushels of soybeans in 2015, compared 301.7 million bushels in 2014. The top five soybean producing counties in 2015 all exceeded a

Minnesota’s robust agriculture industry

n Agricultural OutlookBy Kent Thiesse

frandsenbank.com Member FDIC

507.345.5043

CA000000

LOCAL DECISION MAKERS

BIG LOANS NO PROBLEM

Nick Hinz

President NMLS 769578

Cole NelsonAssistant

Vice President NMLS 815774

Shane Van Engen

Senior Vice PresidentNMLS 1321033

CA011216



50

60

70

80

90

100

DNOSAJJMAMFJ 10

13

16

19

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12

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Agriculture/Agribusiness

Corn and soybean prices are for rail delivery points in Southern Minnesota. Milk prices are for Upper Midwest points. C. Sankey

Corn prices — southern Minnesota

Source: USDA

(dollars per bushel)— 2015 — 2016

Iowa-Minnesota hog prices

Source: USDA

185 pound carcass, negotiated price, weighted average— 2015 — 2016

Milk prices

Source: USDA. Based on federal milk orders.

Minimum prices, class 1 milkDollars per hundredweight

— 2015 — 2016

Soybean prices — southern Minnesota

Source: USDA

(dollars per bushel)— 2015 — 2016

$63.29

$65.27

$3.17

$3.61

$15.44

$18.04

$8.28

$9.35

total production above 10 million bushels, led by Renville County with 11.9 million bushels. Other counties in the top five for soybean production were Redwood at 11.4 million bushels, Faribault at 10.2 million bushels, and both Blue Earth and Polk at 10.1 million bushels.

Fifty five counties in Minnesota had record soybean yields in 2015, with the top five counties all having average yields that exceeded 60 bushels per acre, according to the NASS data. Martin County had the highest average soybean yield at 61.7 bushels per acre, followed by Faribault County at 61.3 bushels per acre, Dodge County at

60.6 bushel per acre, and both Nicollet and Waseca Counties at 60.1 bushels per acre. Other counties with 2015 yields of 58.0 to 59.9 bushels per acre included Blue Earth, Carver, Freeborn, Goodhue, Mower, Rock, Steele, and Watonwan. Most other counties in the southern one-third of Minnesota had 2015 soybean yields above 55 bushels per acre, while most county yields in the central one-third of the state were between 45 and 55 bushels per acre.

Total 2015 spring wheat production in Minnesota was 85.8 million bushels, which was 32 percent above the 2014 total production of 64.9 million bushels. Nearly 80 percent of the

state’s spring wheat production came from the northwest Minnesota Crop Reporting District. However, Pipestone County in Southwest Minnesota had the highest 2015 average wheat yield at 72.2 bushels per acre, followed by Lyon County at 69.4 bushels per acre, and Norman County at 68.4 bushels per acre.

(Data in this article are from USDA NASS and the Minnesota Department of Agriculture.) MV

Kent Thiesse is farm management analyst and vice president, MinnStar Bank, Lake Crystal. 507- 381-7960; [email protected]

frandsenbank.com Member FDIC

507.345.5043

CA000000

LOCAL DECISION MAKERS

BIG LOANS NO PROBLEM

Nick Hinz

President NMLS 769578

Cole NelsonAssistant

Vice President NMLS 815774

Shane Van Engen

Senior Vice PresidentNMLS 1321033

CA011216



Employment/Unemployment

C. Sankey

0

50000

100000

150000

200000

DNOSAJJMAMFJ0

2000

4000

6000

8000

DNOSAJJMAMFJ

0

1000

2000

3000

DNOSAJJMAMFJ100000

111000

122000

133000

DNOSAJJMAMFJ

*Categories don’t equal total because some categories not listed.

Services consist of administration, educational, health care and social assistance, food and other miscellaneous services.

Initial unemployment claimsNine-county Mankato region

28316140

132616

26120063

111635

-7.8%+24.2%+57.5%

-16%+3.1%

ConstructionManufacturingRetailServicesTotal*

Major Industry

February Percent change‘14-’15‘15 ‘16

*Categories don’t equal total because some categories not listed.

Services consist of administration, educational, health care and social assistance, food and other miscellaneous services.

Minnesota initial unemployment claims

5,1022,1601,2214,421

12,904

5,1012,4371,2724,355

13,165

0%+12.8%+4.2%-1.5%+2.0%

ConstructionManufacturingRetailServicesTotal*

Major Industry

February Percent change‘14-’15‘15 ‘16

Local non-farm jobsNine-county Mankato region

- 2015 - 2016 Minnesota Local non-farm jobs(in thousands)

- 2015 - 2016

Local number of unemployedNine-county Mankato region

- 2015 - 2016 Minnesota number of unemployed - 2015 - 2016

Mankato/North Mankato Metropolitanstatistical area

(includes all of Blue Earth and Nicollet Counties)

Unemployment rates Counties, state, nation

Source: Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development

2.6%

57,473

1,541

2.5%

58,179

1,474

Unemployment rate

Number of non-farm jobs

Number of unemployed

January 2015 2016

Blue EarthBrownFaribaultLe SueurMartinNicolletSibleyWasecaWatonwanMinneapolis/St. PaulMinnesotaU.S.

3.6%5.6%5.5%6.6%5.1%3.2%5.4%5.5%5.9%4.1%4.7%6.1%

3.6%5.4%5.0%6.5%4.7%3.1%5.7%5.4%6.1%3.9%4.5%5.3%

County/area January 2015 January 2015

126,658128,664

2,8442,985

6,2326,119

135,981137,233



0

100

200

300

400

500

600

DNOSAJJMAMFJ

0

35000

70000

105000

140000

175000

DNOSAJJMAMFJ0

17500

35000

52500

70000

DNOSAJJMAMFJ

0

200

400

600

800

1000

1200

DNOSAJJMAMFJ

0

1

2

3

4

5

DNOSAJJMAMFJ

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1

2

3

4

5

DNOSAJJMAMFJ

Retail/Consumer Spending

$425

$57,100$55,100

928874

$27,978$24,143

$2.49

$1.95

$2.44

$1.98

(In thousands)

C. Sankey

Vehicle Sales Mankato — Number of vehicles sold

Source: Sales tax fi gures, City of Mankato

- 2014 - 2015

Lodging tax collections Mankato/North Mankato


- 2014 - 2015

Gas prices-Mankato

Source: GasBuddy.com

— 2015 — 2016

Gas prices-Minnesota — 2015 — 2016

Mankato food and beverage tax


- 2014 - 2015

Sales tax collections Mankato

Source: Sales tax fi gures, City of Mankato

- 2014 - 2015

Includes restaurants, bars, telecommunications and general merchandise store sales. Excludes most clothing, grocery store sales.

Archer Daniels

Ameriprise

Best Buy

Crown Cork & Seal

Consolidated Comm.

Fastenal

General Growth

General Mills

Hutchinson Technology

Itron

Johnson Outdoors

3M

Target

U.S. Bancorp

Wells Financial

Winland

Xcel

Stocks oflocal interest March 11Feb. 12

Percent change

+11.6%

+13.3%

+21.3%

+6.7%

+22.5%

+8.6%

+11.9%

+6.9%

-0.5%

+19.4%

+7.6%

+4.8%

+31.6%

+1.7%

0%

-2.8%

+4.3%

$36.26

$90.80

$34.11

$48.05

$23.82

$46.75

$28.60

$60.83

$3.70

$42.40

$22.49

$161.41

$82.09

$39.74

$31.00

$1.73

$40.48

$32.45

$80.15

$28.12

$45.02

$19.44

$43.04

$25.56

$56.89

$3.72

$35.50

$20.90

$153.96

$69.95

$39.09

$31.00

$1.78

$38.81

$437


Gre

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Since 1983 Greater Mankato Leadership Institute has provided the area’s only comprehensive leadership training program that helps

individuals grow personally and professionally, as well as offering an interactive glimpse of the Greater Mankato region.

Sessions included in the nine-month program are based on topics such as ethics, diversity, communication, education, civic engagement and history. In addition, class members build strong interpersonal relationships with their classmates. “It’s rewarding to hear stories from past participants of the lasting friendships they formed as a result of the program,” said Talent Programs Director Shannon Gullickson. “Greater Mankato Leadership Institute is unique in the way that its curriculum incorporates personal and professional development together with community-based topics,” she said.

The program consists of eleven day-long sessions that begin each September and run through May. Up to 45 applicants are accepted

each year and more than 900 people have participated in the program to date. Each year the curriculum is evaluated and updated by the volunteer steering committee to ensure graduates are well

prepared to serve as leaders in their workplace and our community.

A 2015 program graduate, Chris Lienemann of NextFire Technology Consulting, shared his thoughts on his experience, “It was really energizing to be among this group of leaders from Greater Mankato who were all eager to think and share and learn about how to be a better leader for our organizations and our community. The level of positive energy and support within the group is much greater than I was expecting.”

Current class member Lindsay Worden of Jack Link’s Beef Jerky said of her experience “Everyone has a story to tell, and Leadership Institute has been an excellent outlet for me to listen to and get to know a variety of different people from our community.”

Torin Akey Minnesota State, Mankato - Residential LifeCrystal Anderson All American Foods, Inc.Lindsey Bibbs-Anderson MN Valley Federal Credit UnionMichelle Biedscheid Capstone/Coughlan CompaniesJames Bobholz MTU Onsite EnergyVickie Bushman ProGrowth BankNicole Carlson Consolidated CommunicationsPratibha Dhamala Small Business Development CenterBrooke Forstner Eide Bailly, LLPJeff Grace Blethen, Gage & Krause, PLLPCasey Hardy Blue Earth CountyDan Hart Mankato ClinicAaron Hatanpa Hatanpa Insurance AgencyDiron Jacobsen Wal-Mart Distribution CenterKatie Johnson City of North MankatoJosh Kutil Kato EngineeringElisabeth Moat AmericInn Hotel & Conference CenterShawn Morgan North Mankato Police DepartmentKim Mueller Mankato Area Public Schools - ISD 77Robyn Naumann Mankato ClinicJessica O’Brien MN Council of ChurchesAmal Osman City of Mankato

Darci Pratt Pratt, Kutzke & Associates, LLPTyler Scholl Kato EngineeringJoe Smentek Minnesota SoybeanKelly Sonnek Jack Link’s Beef JerkyKim Spears City of North MankatoTricia Stenberg Bolton & Menk, Inc.Stephanie Stewart Mayo Clinic Health SystemConnie Stokman All American Foods, Inc.Joe Thom All American Foods, Inc.Shelby Thorne Abdo, Eick & Meyers, LLPJacob Thunander Region Nine Development CommissionSteven Toedter MTU Onsite EnergyDan Tomhave Bethany Lutheran CollegeWade Volk Volk TransferSara Will Mankato ClinicChris Willaert Visit MankatoSteve Winkler Jones & MagnusKaren Wolters Mankato Area Public Schools - ISD 77Lindsey Worden Jack Link’s Beef JerkyKristy Ziegler Carlson CraftThomas Zimmerman Consolidated Communications

Thank you to our 2015-16 SponsorDiana Gabriel, Certified Professional Coach

Participants form new, personal and professional relationships

while exploring relevant business, social and community topics.

Applications are being accepted for the 2016-17 class until June 1. Copper through Diamond Level members of Greater Mankato Growth

also receive a credit toward tuition costs. For more information, a list of past participants

and an application visit: greatermankato.com/leadership

Personal

CommunityProfessional

Leadership

2015-16 Greater Mankato Leadership Institute Class

Building Strong Leaders, Lasting Relationships

Class members partner with an 8th grade student to create a presentation during February’s “Educating our Future Leaders” session at Dakota Meadows Middle School.


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Grab a colleague and join us for the 2016 Greater Mankato Business Showcase. This free event is an opportunity to network with more than 500 individuals from regional businesses and learn about their products and services.

Tuesday, April 264 - 7 pm

Verizon Wireless Center

Booths are still available. First come, First Serve.Get Registered NOW!

greatermankato.com/business-showcase

KEYC NEWS 12 WILL BE THERE LIVE!

Register at the KEYC News 12 - Fox 12 Mankato booth to WIN one of two SONY 43” 4K Ultra HDTVs provided by:

This monthly forum series brings together compelling speakers and business leaders to discuss timely and relevant political and policy issues over breakfast or lunch. Events are open to the public.

Public SafetyFriday, April 22, 7:30 – 9:00 amSpeakers:• Patrick McDermott, Blue Earth County Attorney• Todd Miller, Mankato Director of Public Safety• Michelle Zehnder Fischer, Nicollet County Attorney• Chris Boyer, Chief, North Mankato Police Department

The State of our WorkforceTuesday, May 17, 11:30 am – 1:00 pmSpeaker: Steve Hine, Director, Labor Market Information Office, Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development

For more information and to register, please visit:greatermankato.com/public-affairs-forum-series

More upcoming Forum Series events will be posted soon!

Greater Mankato Growth, Visit Mankato and City Center Partnership would like to thank everyone for joining us for an entertaining Annual Meeting on March 10. Our collective energy is truly visible at events like this and it couldn’t happen without all the support and hard work of our volunteers, members, staff and the entire community. For photos and a re-cap go to:g rea te rmanka to . com/annua l -meet i ng .

THANK YOU!

F rumgreater mankato

series

Presented By:

Class members partner with an 8th grade student to create a presentation during February’s “Educating our Future Leaders” session at Dakota Meadows Middle School.

ANNual meeting

making headlines


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GRAND OPENING

Gallery 512 Boutique611 North Riverfront DriveMankato

NEW LOCATION

NEW BUSINESS

Growth in Greater Mankato

GRAND OPENING

Polito’s Pizza505 South Front StreetMankato

GRAND OPENING

Semblance611 North Riverfront DriveMankato

Blinds & More424 Belgrade Avenue, Suite 105North Mankato

New Bohemia Wurst + Bierhaus12 Civic Center Plaza #1715AMankato

GRAND OPENING

Hardee’s101 West Lind CourtMankato

CavaliersStarr Cycle200 Pierce Avenue, North Mankato starr-cycle.com

Gene’s Repair100 Industrial DriveEagle Lake

NextFire Technology Consulting, LLC127 Lincoln Street, Mankatonextfiretech.com

Truck Bodies & Equipment International (TBEI)52182 Ember Road, Lake Crystal tbei.com

River Valley Dental124 East Walnut Street, Suite 300Mankatorvdofmankato.com

Greater Mankato Growth MembersCavalier Calls on the Newest


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Business After and Business Before Hours gives representatives from GMG member businesses at the Engaged Level or higher an opportunity to get together with one another to exchange ideas and learn about each other’s businesses. For more information on these and other member events, visit greatermankato.com/events.

February Business After Hours hosted by Pantheon Computers at the Mankato Brewery

February Business Before Hours hosted by Minnesota Valley Action Council

April 20 MRCI - East ParkMay 18 Mankato ClinicJune 15 Realtor Association of Southern MN July 20 City of Madison Lake August 17 Ridley, An Alltech CompanySeptember 21 Walmart Distribution CenterOctober 19 Emergent NetworksNovember 9 Mayo Clinic Health SystemDecember 21 School Sisters of Notre Dame Central PacificProvince

2016 Business After Hours Sponsored by:

2016 Business Before Hours Sponsored by:

7:30 - 9:00 am5:00 - 7:00 pmApril 5 The Loose Moose Saloon & Conference Center May 3 CCF Bank June 7 Chankaska Creek Ranch & WineryJuly 5 August Schell Brewing at Pub 500August 2 MinnStar BankSeptember 6 Verizon Wireless Event CenterOctober 4 Toppers PlusNovember 1 BankVistaDecember 6 Eide Bailly


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CrossFit Craze Hitting Mankato

On May 21 and 22 Mankato-based GameDay Competitions will host its GameDay Classic at

Minnesota State University, Mankato in the Myers Field House. Athletes will compete individually and as teams

across six CrossFit-based workouts for top times and also be measured against their recent event held in Eau Claire in February. But what is CrossFit and who is GameDay?

CrossFit has been called “the fasted growing fitness movement on the planet” by the Business News Network. It all started in the 1970’s when a teenage gymnast, Greg Glassman, came up with an idea of introducing a completely different, but challenging, fitness program that he

started in his garage in Santa Cruz, California. Like other athletes he wanted to get stronger and found that with the use of dumbbells and a barbell he could make himself stronger than his competitors. Over the course of the next 30 years, Glassman expanded his fitness movement and in 1995 opened a gym in California with CrossFit as a company officially being born in 2000. By 2005 he had 13 affiliates which grew to 3,400 by 2012 and more than 5,000 today. There are two CrossFit gyms in Mankato.

CrossFit workouts are typically short in time but high in intensity with activities that include weightlifting, running, rowing and much more. These workouts are ideal for maximizing the amount of work done in the shortest amount of time. No matter your level of athleticism these workouts are designed for any committed individual regardless of experience. That is why this fitness program has grown in popularity from the everyday person to the most elite of athletes.

Taking advantage of this momentum, GameDay Competitions started in 2014 by local co-founders Ben Janike, Joe Krause and Dallas Clarksean. Their idea was to create an event

24-34Average Age

59%have children

By: Chris Willaert, Sports Commission Director

GameDay Staff


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that didn’t require the competitors to be an experienced CrossFit athlete but still have the elite level experience. Their first ever event was held in May of 2014 with 70 CrossFit and competitive athletes. In 2015 they more than tripled that number and are now looking at hosting a sold out event in 2016 with 300 athletes and another 200+ currently on the waiting list. Not only is there a tremendous growth in participants for this upcoming event, but two professional CrossFit athletes will be in attendance to add to the overall experience. GameDay Competitions has also teamed up with The Next Objective, a veteran-run non-profit organization, for the 2016 competition and will be donating a portion of the proceeds to them. “GameDay Classic” officially kicked off in Eau Claire earlier this year and records are sure to be set and broken at the next “Classic” event in Mankato. The GameDay Competition co-founders’ vision is to make this competition an annual event in Mankato where it will continue to grow in size and popularity in the CrossFit realm. These competitions are open to the public and are very popular with spectators. For more information go to visitmankatomn.com under “What’s Hot”.

By: Chris Willaert, Sports Commission Director

Data from Quantcast Analytics of CrossFit.com

50% men50% women

Demographics

40% have post-graduate

degrees

More than half earn $150,000+

Annual Household Income

Above: Teammates cheer on weightlifter at a GameDay competition.Right: Wounded veteran, Derek Weida, competing.

Competitors lined up for one of the workouts at GameDay.



AMAZED

Call [email protected]

LEARN WHAT’S IMPACTING YOUR BUSINESS TODAY

SO YOU CAN MAKE TOMORROW’S DECISIONS

WITH CONFIDENCE

www.eidebai l l y.com507.387.6031

The 3rd Annual Southern Minnesota Business SummitEide Bailly and Gislason & Hunter are teaming up again to provide current financial and legal updates in the ever-evolving landscape of business. You’ll hear up-to-date information on the issues most relevant to your business and have the opportunity to network with other business professionals.



LEARN WHAT’S IMPACTING YOUR BUSINESS TODAY

SO YOU CAN MAKE TOMORROW’S DECISIONS

WITH CONFIDENCE

www.eidebai l l y.com507.387.6031

The 3rd Annual Southern Minnesota Business SummitEide Bailly and Gislason & Hunter are teaming up again to provide current financial and legal updates in the ever-evolving landscape of business. You’ll hear up-to-date information on the issues most relevant to your business and have the opportunity to network with other business professionals.

Thank You Mankato. Proud to Serve You.

www.cbfg.net



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