INSIDE BIZ General 952-894-1111 Distribution 952-846-2070 Advertising 952-846-2011 DERRICK WILLIAMS T.W. BUDIG JESSICA HARPER Talking politics with business leaders 2A Franken attempts Wall Street reform 10A Local man brokers high-priced art 48A FORUM FORUM BUSINESS 101 BEST PRACTICES PHIL KRINKIE The 2010 legislative session became a grudge match between Democrats and GOP Gov. Tim Pawlenty. 4A Minnesota deserves a candidate for governor who represents the best interests of the middle class. 4A Entrepreneurs cannot failure- proof their businesses, but they can take simple steps to become and remain successful. 6A Customer feedback is critical to a healthy business, and there are six simple ways companies can obtain it. 6A SHAR KNUTSON BOB VOSS KEVIN STIRTZ Dakota County Tribune Since 1884 BUSINESS weekly JUNE 10, 2010 dakotacountytribune.biz VOLUME 31, NUMBER 15 6/10•2220266R•DCT GREAT SPACE FOR LEASE IN BURNSVILLE GREAT SPACE FOR LEASE IN BURNSVILLE Call our office at 651-292-9844 or Text Burns to 58447 DEVELOPMENT, LEASING AND PROPERTY MANAGEMENT www.wellingtonmgt.com by Jessica Harper DAKOTA COUNTY TRIBUNE In times of pay freezes and budget cuts, em- ployers often struggle with morale. However, one local bank has found a way to boost employee satisfaction despite the hard times. Citizens Bank Minnesota, which has a branch in Lakeville, has managed to create a fun yet professional work environment through various policies and team-building exercises. And it’s paid off, said Jean Geistfeld, mar- keting director for Citizens Bank. “When employees are happy, customers are happy,” Geistfeld said. “Focusing on the people who work for you is the most important thing.” The policies Citizens Bank adopted in 2002 focus on positive feedback, team building and community activism. “Our goal is to create a family here,” Geist- feld said. Supervisors make a point to celebrate suc- cesses with recognition and occasional high fives. A Focus Committee was formed to develop fun events and activities for employees to par- ticipate in such as chocolate chip cookie day and bubble day. The committee also adopted “Red-shirt Fri- days” in which employees wear red shirts with yellow ribbons on the sleeves to show their support for U.S. troops fighting overseas. In addition to wearing supportive shirts, employees adopted 18 soldiers to whom they send care packages every month. “We’ve gotten lots of letters of thanks from them,” Geistfeld said. Employees also support local high school sports teams by wearing team colors during homecoming and attending games. While the bank encourages positive atti- tudes, it has put the kibosh on negativity. Two major policies are no whining and no gossiping. If someone is dissatisfied with someone or something, he or she is encouraged to address it head-on rather than whine or gossip, Geist- feld said. The bank also recently began requiring em- ployees to read “Thank God it’s Monday,” by Photo by Jessica Harper Pam Comfort, administrative assistant at Citizens Bank Minnesota in Lakeville, greets customers as they enter or call the bank. Having someone designated to greet customers is one way Citizens works to en- hance its customer service, representatives say. Bank strives for high morale even in tough economic times Photo by Jessica Harper Joe Gisch, vice president and branch manag- er of Citizens Bank Minnesota in Lakeville, describes the bank’s atmosphere as “progres- sive” and “warm.” Citizens Bank Minnesota, which has a branch in Lakeville, puts focus on employee satisfaction See Citizens, Page 47A
Transcript
INSIDE BIZ
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General 952-894-1111Distribution 952-846-2070Advertising 952-846-2011
DERRICK WILLIAMS
T.W. BUDIG
JESSICA HARPER
Talking politics with business leaders 2AFranken attempts Wall Street reform 10ALocal man brokers high-priced art 48A
FORUM
FORUM
BUSINESS 101
BEST PRACTICES
PHILKRINKIE
The 2010 legislative session became a grudge match between Democrats and GOP Gov. Tim Pawlenty.
4A
Minnesota deserves a candidate for governor who represents the best interests of the middle class.
4A
Entrepreneurs cannot failure-proof their businesses, but they can take simple steps to become and remain successful.
6A
Customer feedback is critical to a healthy business, and there are six simple ways companies can obtain it.
6A
SHARKNUTSON
BOBVOSS
KEVINSTIRTZ
Dakota County TribuneDATE ##, 2009 VOLUME 30, NUMBER #
Since 1884
dakotacountytribune.biz
B U S I N E S S w e e k l y
JUNE 10, 2010 dakotacountytribune.biz VOLUME 31, NUMBER 15
6/10•2220266R•DCT
GREAT SPACE FOR LEASE IN BURNSVILLEGREAT SPACE FOR LEASE IN BURNSVILLECall our offi ce at 651-292-9844 or Text Burns to 58447
DEVELOPMENT, LEASING AND
PROPERTY MANAGEMENTwww.wellingtonmgt.com
by Jessica HarperDAKOTA COUNTY TRIBUNE
In times of pay freezes and budget cuts, em-ployers often struggle with morale. However, one local bank has found a way to boost employee satisfaction despite the hard times. Citizens Bank Minnesota, which has a branch in Lakeville, has managed to create a fun yet professional work environment through various policies and team-building exercises. And it’s paid off, said Jean Geistfeld, mar-keting director for Citizens Bank. “When employees are happy, customers are happy,” Geistfeld said. “Focusing on the people who work for you is the most important thing.” The policies Citizens Bank adopted in 2002 focus on positive feedback, team building and community activism. “Our goal is to create a family here,” Geist-feld said. Supervisors make a point to celebrate suc-cesses with recognition and occasional high fives. A Focus Committee was formed to develop fun events and activities for employees to par-
ticipate in such
as chocolate chip cookie day and bubble day. The committee also adopted “Red-shirt Fri-days” in which employees wear red shirts with yellow ribbons on the sleeves to show their support for U.S. troops fighting overseas. In addition to wearing supportive shirts, employees adopted 18 soldiers to whom they send care packages every month. “We’ve gotten lots of letters of thanks from them,” Geistfeld said. Employees also support local high school sports teams by wearing team colors during homecoming and attending games. While the bank encourages positive atti-tudes, it has put the kibosh on negativity. Two major policies are no whining and no gossiping. If someone is dissatisfied with someone or something, he or she is encouraged to address
it head-on rather than whine or gossip, Geist-feld said. The bank also recently began requiring em-ployees to read “Thank God it’s Monday,” by
Photo by Jessica Harper
Pam Comfort, administrative assistant at Citizens Bank Minnesota in Lakeville, greets customers as they enter or call the bank. Having someone designated to greet customers is one way Citizens works to en-hance its customer service, representatives say.
Bank strives for high moraleeven in tough economic times
Photo by Jessica Harper
Joe Gisch, vice president and branch manag-er of Citizens Bank Minnesota in Lakeville, describes the bank’s atmosphere as “progres-sive” and “warm.”
Citizens Bank Minnesota, which
has a branch in Lakeville, puts
focus on employee satisfaction
See Citizens, Page 47A
DAKOTA COUNTY TRIBUNE BUSINESS WEEKLY June 10, 2010 3A
Buzz
People, places and pursuits creating buzz in Dakota County business
this week as submitted by the local business community
Submissions to Buzz: www.DakotaCountyTribune.biz
Moving Up
Business Briefs Business BriefsAccolades
Submission to Buzz The Dakota County Tribune Business Weekly includes promotions, new hires, retirements, awards and other such business news on the Buzz page. If you have an announcement you would like included in this part of the newspaper, send submis-sions by e-mail to [email protected], fax to (952) 846-2010 or mail it to the Burnsville office at 12190 County Road 11, Burnsville, MN 55337. When sending a photo by e-mail be sure that it is 200 dpi or greater. Include a daytime phone number if someone from the newsroom needs to contact the business for additional information. Deadline is 5 p.m. Friday prior to Thursday edition. Submission of information does not guarantee publication. All items are subject to editing. Tips on what to include in the submission are: names, titles, dates, business name, brief description of the news taking place, brief description of the business, contact names and numbers.
BERRY PLASTICS PLANS TO CLOSE LAKEVILLE PLANT
Berry Plastics plans to close its Lakeville plant by mid-August, accord-ing to a notice sent from the company’s corporate office to the city of Lakeville. The plant is located in Airlake Indus-trial Park at 8235 220th St. The decision was a result of Berry Plastics acquiring another company that manufactures the same type of plastic film produced at the Lakeville facility but with newer production equipment. There are approximately 95 employees at Berry Plastics’ Lakeville plant.
DCR LEADERSHIP ACADEMYPARTICIPANTS HONORED
Thirteen Dakota County Leadership Academy participants were honored last week at Eagan’s Green Mill restaurant. The emerging leaders completed a
Burnsville-based Rixmann Compa-nies, with holdings that include Pawn America, Payday America, and CashPass Network, recently appointed Chuck Armstrong to community affairs special-ist. Armstrong will provide expertise and leadership in working with elected officials and staff in the more than 20 communities where Pawn America is located. He will work to enhance busi-ness operations and initiate regulatory equality. Armstrong is also responsible for building and maintaining strong and effective working relationships with local chambers of commerce and other relevant business and community-related organizations and groups. Previously, Armstrong served as vice president of business operations at Cooperative Communities, a property developer. He was also vice president of administration at the Saint Paul Area Chamber of Commerce and deputy chief of staff for former St. Paul Mayor Norm Coleman. Armstrong lives in Oakdale with his wife and two daughters.
MICHAELWESTLINGAwardNewman Long Term CareEagan
Michael Westling, a long term care insurance specialist with Newman Long Term Care in Richfield, is the recipi-ent of a 2010 Long-Term Care Sales Achievement Award. The Eagan professional was recog-nized as one of the leading professionals in Minnesota by the American Associa-tion for Long-Term Care Insurance, a national trade organization. Westling says his passion for the need for long-term care insurance comes from personal experience. In 2004, his parents were involved in a serious auto accident. His stepmother spent four years in a nursing home and his father currently lives in an assisted living community. Westling has watched his father spend more than $250,000 on long-term care. Westling said his personal and professional experiences with extended care reinforce his belief that long-term care insurance is the best way to protect a retirement portfolio from the expense of extended care. Westling attended the University of Minnesota where he pursued a degree in business administration.
five-month curriculum that is designed to build leadership capacity in Dakota County Regional Chamber of Com-merce’s member businesses and pro-motes the concept of civic responsibility. The course study was developed by the DCR along with Inver Hills Com-munity College, creating a 10-session course that explores various aspects of the regional environment that affects business. The course also includes soft skills that will develop a more confident employee. Graduates of this program include: Amy Domeier, Rosemount city clerk; Diane Lind, director of operations at the Dakota Communications Center; Debbie Stirtz, sales assistant and travel counselor at the Eagan Convention and Visitors Bureau; Jake Sedlacek, Mendota Heights assistant city administrator; James Robertson of Minnwest Bank; and Randy Petrofske, liquor operations manager for the city of Farmington.
Otten named to bar association’s Ethics CommitteeBuzz Spotlight
by Jessica HarperDAKOTA COUNTY TRIBUNE
Personal injury attorney Paul Otten was recently named to the Ethics Committee of the Bar Association of Minnesota’s First Judicial District, which covers Dakota and Goodhue counties. “It is a real privilege to serve in this capacity,” Otten said. The ethics committee provides guid-ance for attorneys on proper profession-al standards of integrity and investigates complaints against attorneys concern-ing actions deemed to fall short of the ethical behavior expected from those who are members of the bar. Otten’s role on the committee will be to investigate complaints and make recommendations on those cases. Otten, who leads the Burnsville-
based Otten & Associates firm, has practiced personal injury law for more than 20 years. He received his Bachelor of Science degree from the Univer-sity of Minnesota-Duluth and his Doctor of Jurisprudence de-gree from the William Mitchell College of Law in St. Paul. Otten said the most rewarding
aspect of being a personal injury attor-ney is the ability to help people in crisis. “I am able to represent the happy area of law,” he said. “There’s usually a good outcome and good feelings at the end unlike criminal or divorce cases.” Otten is a frequent speaker on legal issues and was selected by his peers as a Leading American Attorney. He has also been named an arbitrator for the American Arbitration Association and
the Minnesota Supreme Court. Otten is a member of various legal organizations such as the American Association for Justice, the Minnesota Association for Justice, the Minnesota State Bar Association, the First Judicial District Bar Association and the Dako-ta County Bar Association. He is also a former a member of the Board of Gov-ernors for the Minnesota Association of Justice. Otten is active in his community as well. He was chair of the Commu-nity Action Council Board of Directors (now 360 Communities), and was pre-viously involved in his local rotary. He is also active in local chambers of com-merce.
He is a member of the National Association of Insurance and Financial Advisors where he serves as treasurer of the St. Paul Chapter. He serves on the Board of the Financial Planning Association of Minnesota as its director of public relations. Specializing solely in long-term care insurance, Westling has earned the Certified in Long-Term Care profes-sional designation. He lives with his wife and two teen-age children in Eagan.
BLYTHECO RECOGNIZEDBY EVERYTHING CHANNEL
Blytheco, a business management software and consulting services com-pany which has a division in Mendota Heights, has been recognized by Everything Channel as one of North America’s top technology integrators. Blytheco provides business man-agement technology and consulting to more than 4,000 customers nation-wide. BlythecoDev, the company’s development arm, also creates innova-tive solutions to complement Sage products, such as bly|Mobile, the web-enabled version of Sage MAS 90 ERP. The 16th annual ranking VAR 500 list details the leading producers among technology integrators and technology solution provider organi-zations in North America based on gross worldwide revenue of hardware and software sales, as well as earnings from professional and managed IT services.
