March/April 2011

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President’s Letter Editor’s Note Top Hats Network Central

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10 News ReelWhat’s happening and who’s moving. Business news from around Central Minnesota.

10 Book ReviewThe Law of the Garbage Truck: How to Respond to People Who Dump on You, and How to Stop Dumping on Others by David J. Pollay

12 Your Voice In GovernmentA Spring of ProgrammingThere are many opportunities this spring for business leaders to influence decisions regarding business policy.

13 People to Know

16 Regional Round-UpWaite ParkThe Waite Park Chamber meetings offer participants a variety of ways to network and build their businesses.

UpfrontNEtWorK

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20 Working WellFalling on Deaf Ears

22 TechStrategiesReady…Set…Action!

23 Tech News

24 Management Tool KitMake ‘em Laugh

25 Going GreenBy the Numbers

26 Economic ReviewKnowledge Economy

Special Section40 Commercial Construction

BusinessTools

•• Best industries for starting a business

•• Low-cost marketing ideas

•• Multitasking is destroying your brain

•• In defense of multitasking

ONLY ONLINE

www.BusinessCentralMagazine.com

Profit

34 FeatureUnprecedented GrowthInfrastructure is the focus of Sartell officials as they work to accommodate the needs of new commercial and residential development.

40 Special FocusLocation, Location, Location The ideal location for your business depends on a number of factors, including where the competition is located.

46 Business SpotlightMike Fanslau, Image Builders

This Issue

28 COVER STORYETERNaL OPTIMISTDuring his 36 year tenure at St. Cloud Industrial Products, Don Schiffler has honed many skills, not the least of which is to glory in the strengths of others.

28

34

IN EVERY ISSUE

20

http://blogs.hbr.org/bregman/2010/05/how-and-why-to-stop-multitaski.html

http://www.entrepreneur.com/article/217565

http://blogs.hbr.org/silverman/2010/06/in-defense-of-multitasking.html

http://www.BusinessCentralMagazine.com

http://www.rnoon.com

6 B u s i n e s s C e n t r a l M a g a z i n e • • M A R C H / A P R I L 2 0 1 1

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NETWORK

Teresa BohnenPresident

Most of our loyal Business Central

readers are aware how much I

love working for our Chamber.

It allows me to draw on my skills, past

education and experiences, while giving

me outlets for the little eccentricities in

my personality.

For example, I love celebrity. I read

People Magazine. I follow Matchbox 20 lead

singer Rob Thomas on Twitter. I applied

for the TV show Survivor – video and

all. Celebrity excites me – there’s just

something about being in the presence

of stardom.

In my job, I get to do fun things that

put me in the midst of celebrity. Many

times, it’s political celebrity. While I have

become somewhat less enthralled with

political celebrities as they have become

more accessible to me, I still always ask

for a photo. I really don’t care what they

think of me, because often I won’t be

seeing them again. But, I’ll always have

the photo to prove I was once in their

presence.

At the annual Minnesota Chamber

Session Priorities Reception, political

celebrity abounds. I try to squelch my

natural tendency to ask for photos, but

this year was an exception.

As I stood in the overflowing

reception corridor of RiverCentre in

downtown St. Paul, my eyes landed on a

handsome face that looked very familiar,

but I couldn’t quite place it in context

with the political crowd. I smiled, and

he smiled back. As we completed our

silent greeting, a voice said in my ear:

“Teresa, have you met our coach?” The

voice belonged to Vikings’ Vice President

Lester Bagley. I extended my hand

and said, “I knew you looked familiar.

Congratulations, Coach,” addressing

Leslie Frazier.

We talked, uninterrupted, for five

minutes. He is a very gracious man; calm

and self-assured. When we were parting

I asked if I could have a photo with him.

He looked at me as if thinking, “Now,

why in the world would you want a

photo with me?” You never know,

maybe his future greatness will rub off

on me.

Go Vikes!

You Never Know Who You’ll Meet

Meeting Senator Ted Kennedy

Main Phone | 320-251-2940

Automated Reservation Line | 320-251-2940, ext. 126

Program Hotline | 320-251-2940, ext. 125

www.StCloudAreaChamber.com

email: [email protected]

ST. CLOUD AREA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE STAFF

President | Teresa Bohnen, ext. 104

Vice President | Gail Ivers, ext. 109

Director of Administration | Judy Zetterlund, ext. 106

Special Events Coordinator | Virginia Kroll, ext. 105

Communications & Workforce Development

Coordinator | Jill Copeland, ext. 130

Membership Sales Specialist | Wendy Franzwa, ext. 134

Administrative Assistant | Vicki Lenneman, ext. 122

Administrative Assistant | Cindy Swarthout , ext. 100

Administrative Assistant | Sharon Henry, ext. 124

CONVENTION & VISITORS BUREAU STAFF

Executive Director | Julie Lunning, ext. 111

Sales Manager | Lori Cates, ext. 113

Director of Sales & Marketing | Judy Okerstrom, ext. 112

Director of Sports & Special Events | Kelly Sayre, ext. 128

Director of Visitor Services | Jean Robbins , ext. 129

Receptionist | Nikki Fisher, ext. 100

2010-11 BOARD MEMBERS

Jim Beck | Minnesota School of Business

Craig Broman | St. Cloud Hospital/CentraCare Health System

Brenda Eisenschenk | InteleCONNECT, Inc.

Linda Feuling | Westside Liquor

Todd Fritz | InteleCONNECT, Inc.

Jayne Greeney Schill | St. Cloud Area School District #742

Steve Hahn | HahnMark, LLC

John Herges | Falcon National Bank

Joy Hornung | LarsonAllen LLP

Dolora Musech | Batteries Plus

Kris Nelson | Custom Accents, Inc.

Bernadette Perryman | C & L Distributing, Board Chair

Rick Poganski | Principal Financial Group

Dr. Earl Potter, III | St. Cloud State University

Dr. Mark Roerick | Advantage Chiropractic

Melinda Sanders | Quinlivan & Hughes, P.A., Past Board Chair

Jodi Speicher | The Good Shepherd Community

Bill Winter | St. Cloud Federal Credit Union,Board Vice Chair

Winkelman Building Green.indd 1 2/10/11 2:02:23 PM

http://www.winkbuild.com


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Don Schiffler chuckled at my

surprise. He was telling me

about St. Cloud Industrial

Products which, it turns out, has

very little to do with industrial

products and a whole lot to do

with school buses. Selling them

and driving them. (See the story

on page 28)

Our conversation caused me

to reflect on my days of riding the

school bus.

We could see the bus arrive in

the neighborhood from my parents’

bedroom window upstairs. On cold

or rainy days, we would wait for it

to round a particular corner then

run as fast as we could down the

stairs, out the door, and down the

driveway to beat it to the bus stop.

Since both Mom and Dad worked

and were gone by the time the bus

arrived, missing the bus was not an

option. Timing the race to the bus

was critical.

At least twice I remember racing

down the driveway only to wipe out

on an icy patch, books, lunch box

and dignity flying in all directions.

Lesson 1: Don’t wait until the

last minute. (I’m still working on

this one.)

By the time we got on the

bus in the morning all of the

older boys had already found

their seats in the back. I sat in the

front with the girls, but my brother

had to make his way to the back

to find a seat with the boys. They

would slide to the edge of their seats

so he couldn’t sit down. They would

laugh at him and make him sit with

the girls. They called him names.

Then one day, as the boys started

this horrible ritual, one of the older

boys said, “Wayne, you can sit with

me.” And with that simple act, the

teasing stopped.

Lesson 2: One person really can

make a difference.

One of the people who drove

the bus on special trips

was an older gentleman

who I particularly liked. He and

his bus met us at the airport late

one evening as we returned from

a school trip. I was tired and

homesick. He greeted me with a

hug. I don’t imagine bus drivers hug

children anymore, which is too bad,

because sometimes a child needs a

hug. When I graduated from high

school I tracked him down and

asked him to come to my reception.

When he arrived, I greeted him with

a hug, because sometimes guests

need to know they’re special.

Lesson 3: Friendship is ageless

Until next issue,

NETWORK

I don’t imagine bus drivers hug children anymore, which is too bad, because

sometimes a child needs a hug.

Lessons from the School Bus

In the Driver’s Seat: Business Central Editor

Gail Ivers checks out

the view from the front

of a St. Cloud Industrial

Products bus.

Pho

to b

y Jo

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Gail IversVice President

Editor

Publisher Teresa Bohnen

Managing Editor Gail Ivers

Associate Editor Dawn Zimmerman

CONTRIBUTING WRITERSJill Copeland

St. Cloud Area Chamber of Commerce

Mary EdwardsSt. Cloud State University

Fred HillSt. Cloud State University

Gail IversSt. Cloud Area Chamber of Commerce

Tracy KnoflaHigh Impact Training

Chelsey LarsonSt. Cloud Area Chamber of Commerce

Dawn ZimmermanThe Write Advantage

ADVERTISINGAssociate Publisher/Sales

Wendy Hendricks, Hendricks Marketing

Ad Traffic & Circulation Yola Hartmann, Hazel Tree Media

ARTDesign & Production

Yola Hartmann, Hazel Tree Media

Cover Photo Joel Butkowski, BDI Photography

ACCOUNTINGAccountant Judy Zetterlund

110 Sixth Avenue South

P.O. Box 487, St. Cloud, MN 56302-0487

Phone (320) 251-2940 • Fax (320) 251-0081


For advertising information contact Wendy Hendricks,

(320) 656-3808, 110 S. 6th Ave.,

P.O. Box 487, St. Cloud, MN 56302-0487.

Editorial suggestions can be made in writing to:

Editor, Business Central,

P.O. Box 487, St. Cloud, MN 56302-0487.

Submission of materials does not guarantee

publication. Unsolicited materials will not be

returned unless accompanied by a stamped,

self-addressed envelope.

© Copyright 2011 Business Central LLC

Business Central is published six times a year by

the St. Cloud Area Chamber of Commerce,

110 Sixth Avenue South

P.O. Box 487, St. Cloud, MN 56302-0487

Phone (320) 251-2940 • Fax (320) 251-0081

Subscription rate: $18 for 1 year.

Downtown St. Cloud 251-3300 West St. Cloud 656-3300 • Sauk Rapids 252-1938 Sartell 255-7121 • Rice 393-2600 Call 1-800-908-BANK or visit Bremer.com.

Member FDIC. ©2011 Bremer Financial Corporation. All rights reserved.

Let’s meet. Then let’s get to work. At Bremer Bank,

it starts with getting to know you and your

business. Finding opportunities that fit. Putting

them together into a solid plan. Let’s take action.

Your business. Our bank.

Let’s build a relationship, and your business.


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Civility Under FireJust because people try to dump their garbage on you doesn’t mean you have to accept it. Reviewed by Fred E. Hill

BooK REVIEW

In The Law of the Garbage Truck,

David J. Pollay shows us that

by refusing to let others dump

their ‘garbage’ (negativity,

anger, resentment) on us – and

letting it pass by instead – we

become happier and more

successful, both personally and

professionally. And, when we

stop dumping garbage on others,

we improve our relationships,

strengthen our businesses, and

bring our communities together.

Pollay is attempting to reach

an audience that includes

everyone. When given the

suggestion to narrow his

audience to one group, he states

that he has – he’s narrowed it to

the World! He says many people

are like garbage trucks. They

are full of negative energy and

looking for places to dump it.

Don’t let them! cautions Pollay.

Instead, be happy, and don’t

pass on any garbage – your own

or that of others.

This book is best read as

a type of journal. There are

quizzes, evaluations, and spaces

for introspection scattered

throughout. The author provides

an abundance of resources.

They include a DVD, audio

book, the licensing of his Law

of the Garbage Truck program

for organizational use, website

support including purchasable

products, newsletter, and blog

and social networking sites.

His book has been translated

into 48 languages and is in 100

countries.

Pollay says that it is not our

duty to absorb the frustrations,

anxieties, and disappointments

of other people. We were not

put on earth to carry other

people’s negative energy, nor

were we created to burden

others with ours. The Garbage

Truck can pass us by…and, we

don’t have to be the driver.

There are 35 chapters

organized in Eight Commit-

ments. Here are five of the

Commitments: Do Let Garbage

Trucks Pass You By, Do Avoid

Becoming Someone Else’s

Garbage Truck, Do Honor Your

No Garbage Trucks! Pledge, Do

Declare Your Life a No Garbage

Trucks! Zone, and Do Declare

Your Work a No Garbage

Trucks! Zone.

Pollay preaches “civility

under fire.” Incivility is a burden

for everyone and improvement

requires that we start with

ourselves. BC

Dr. Fred E. Hill is a professor of

Learning Resources and Technology

Services at St. Cloud State university.

The Law of the Garbage Truck: How to Respond to People Who Dump on You, and How to Stop Dumping on Othersby David J. Pollay, Sterling Publishing Company New York, 2010 ISBN 978-1-4027-7664-9

First State Bank of St. Joe changes nameEffective January 1, 2011, the First State Bank of St. Joseph has changed its name to Sentry Bank. The bank has expanded with branch office locations in St. Cloud and St. Stephen.

St. Cloud VA awarded accreditation, appoints nurse managersThe St. Cloud VA Health Care System has earned The Joint Commission’s Gold Seal of Approval for accreditation by demonstrating compliance with The Joint Commission’s national standards for health care quality and safety in four accreditation programs.

Lori Mader and Laura kunstleben, are new nurse managers for the Community Living Center at the St. Cloud VA Health Care System.

Agency 128 adds staffAgency 128 hired Nathan Van Vooren as copywriter/designer.

Best Buy wins AwardThe u.S. Chamber Business Civic Leadership Center recognized Best Buy with the Corporate Citizenship Award for its overall culture, operational practices, and for creating shared value benefiting both the company and society.

Koskela joins HatlingFlintJessica koskela joins Hatling Flint as an account manager in the St. Cloud office.

NEWSREEL

Van Vooren

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This book is best read as a type of journal. There are quizzes, evaluations, and spaces for

introspection scattered throughout.

11 12 13 14 15 16

It’s Made Where? Your Voice in Government People to know Business Calendar Point of View Regional Roundup

M A R C H / A P R I L 2 0 1 1 • • w w w. B u s i n e s s C e n t r a l M a g a z i n e . c o m 11

it’S MadE WHERE?

St. Cloud, Minn.

New Flyer is the leading manufacturer of heavy-duty transit buses in the United States and Canada. Established in 1930, New Flyer has over 2200 employees across 10 locations. It is a technology leader, offering the broadest product line in the industry, including the following propulsion systems:

NEW FLYER USA6200 Glenn Carlson DriveSt. Cloud, MN 56301(320) 203-0576www.newflyer.com

•• Clean diesel

•• Natural gas

•• Hybrid-electric

•• Fuel cell

•• Electric trolley

New Flyer’s most recent product launch, Xcelsior, is a next-generation, best-in-class transit bus, and offers

many industry firsts, including LED headlights, electronic instrument panel, lowest step height and the highest

ever recorded MPG of all 40-foot heavy-duty buses with 2007 or later conventional engines.

BusinessConnectionYour connection to business answers.

...ours will GROW your business.We know times aren’t easy for Minnesota businesses these days. You need a resource that provides direct and immediate help for all of your important business questions. BusinessConnection is your free, go-to service in Minnesota for any and all business questions. Its purpose is to help Minnesota businesses grow by breaking down barriers, opening doors and answering questions – so you can get back to business.

Connect anytime: www.mnbizconnect.comCall toll-free: 1-888-MINN-BIZ / 1-888-646-6249Personal assistance is available 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Mon.-Fri.

BusinessConnection is a service of Grow Minnesota! and sponsored by the Minnesota Chamber of Commerce, its local chamber partners and the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development.

Connect online: www.mnbizconnect.com

Everyone’s got an answer...

BC_Ad7.5x4.875_020110.indd 1 2/1/2010 12:53:32 PM


YoUr VoiCE IN GOVERNMENT

Rice Building receives Pyramid AwardRice Building Systems received the Pyramid Award from the Associated Builders and Contractors Excellence in Construction Awards Competition for the work done on the Coborn’s Grocery Store in St. Joseph, Minn. The grocery store was recognized in the Commercial Construction Category $1-5 Million.

Mather joins Bremer Todd Mather has joined Bremer Bank in St. Cloud as a senior vice

president and business banking credit manager. He will manage the overall business credit portfolio for the St. Cloud charter.

Jacobs awarded accreditationDavid Jacobs, Jacobs Financial, was awarded the AIF (Accredited Investment Fiduciary) designation from Fi360. The AIF designation signifies training in fiduciary responsibility.

Motes joins St. Ben’s The College of Saint Benedict recently named kimberly Ferlaak

Motes vice president of Institutional Advancement. She will be responsible for all aspects of fundraising for the college and overseeing Alumnae Relations, Fine Arts Programming, and the Literary Arts Institute.

Hughes Mathews adds attorneyJohn F. Mathews joined the Hughes Mathews law firm

as a third-generation attorney in the law practice established by his grandfather, Fred Hughes, in 1934.

NEWSREEL

a Spring of ProgrammingThere are many opportunities this spring for business leaders to meet our elected officials and influence decisions regarding business policy. By Teresa Bohnen

there is no better time to get involved with your government than right now. So much is

happening at local, state and federal levels that it’s easy to be active. You can take your

pick from a wide variety of activities and events offered through the St. Cloud Area Chamber

of Commerce, including those shown below, and add your voice to those of business leaders

making a difference across Central Minnesota.

MONtHLY EDUCAtIONAL MEEtINGSThe Chamber’s Government Affairs Committee meets the second Friday of each month from 7:30 to 9 a.m. in the Chamber’s main conference room. Programs cover a wide variety of legislative information, helping keep Chamber members up-to-date and in-the-know. Local legislators attend the monthly meetings as their schedules permit, providing convenient access for our members.

LEGISLAtIVE SESSION CONFERENCE CALLSMinnesota Chamber of Commerce lobbying staff provide up-to-the-minute reports of activities at the state Capitol. The St. Cloud Area Chamber connects to calls from 7:30 - 8 a.m. on the dates listed here. You are welcome to join in on any date that works with your schedule and hear answers to questions.March 4 March 18 May 6 May 14May 20 April 1April 15

St. CLOUD EVENING At tHE CAPItOLtuesday, March 15, 20115 – 7 p.m. • St. Paul Hotel, St. Paul, MinnesotaThe St. Cloud Area Chamber of Commerce showcases St. Cloud, Sauk Rapids, Sartell, Waite Park, St. Joseph and St. Augusta for all Minnesota legislators. Chamber members are invited to participate in a reception at the St. Paul Hotel for an evening of networking, business and fun. (Reservations are required.)

MINNESOtA BUSINESS DAY At tHE CAPItOLWednesday, March 16, 2011Crown Plaza, St. Paul, MinnesotaThis annual statewide event unites local chambers across Minnesota to learn about business issues and advocate for job-friendly legislation. You can join hundreds of business leaders and speak out on issues critical to Minnesota’s competitive business environment. This is an excellent event for people interested in learning more about how to engage with government.

St. CLOUD AREA CHAMBER GOES tO WASHINGtON, D.C.April 11 – 14, 2011Each spring Chamber members travel to Washington, D.C., to meet with members of Minnesota’s congressional delegation in their D.C. offices. The u.S. Chamber of Commerce provides a briefing session to educate participants on up-to-the-minute issues and policy. A bonus of this trip is the camaraderie and relationships that are built among attendees.

U.S. CHAMBER SMALL BUSINESS SUMMItMay 23-25, 2011The St. Cloud area also participates with the u.S. Chamber’s Small Business Summit in Washington, D.C. This annual event unites hundreds of business leaders from across the nation to advocate for important business issues and policies. National speakers share their insights on the federal governmental and the event culminates with visits to our Minnesota congressional leaders.

Mather

Motes

Matthews

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NETWORK

NEED tO KNOW MORE? For more information and pricing for these events, please contact Sharon Henry at (320) 251-2940, extension 124, or email [email protected] .


PEoPLE to kNOW

Jackie Bauer St. Cloud technical & Community College Phone: (320) 308-5000E-mail: [email protected]

Erica RademacherSt. John’s UniversityPhone: (320) 363-2036Email: [email protected]: Work-based Learning

Connecting businesses to schools and schools to businesses is the goal of Work-based Learning. Committee members coordinate the Chamber’s unite For Success high school scholarship program, arrange Business-Education Partnerships, and organize the College to Career Connection.

Sam StoneSt. Cloud Hospital/CentraCare Health System Phone: (320) 251-2700E-mail: [email protected]: St. Cloud Area Leadership

This nine-month adult leadership program is designed to help current and emerging leaders understand the dynamics of the community and the role leadership shares in building healthy communities.

Jayme Woehl Array Services Group Phone: (320) 253-0800E-mail: [email protected]: Next-St. Cloud

Designed for the “Next” generation of Central Minnesota business leaders, Next-St. Cloud members meet monthly for personal and professional development, training and networking opportunities.

Chris PanekChristine R. Panek, CPAPhone: (320) 260-6491Email: [email protected] Hatters

The Top Hatters are the Chamber’s ambassadors, welcoming new members, congratulating members who have expanded or relocated, and serving as greeters and hosts at Chamber events.

Melanie Hirsch GrandStay Residential Suites HotelsPhone: (320) 251-5400Email: [email protected]: Business Development Council

The purpose of the Business Development Council is to provide training and education for Chamber members and their employees to help their businesses survive and thrive. Programs include Executive Dialogue Groups and a variety of seminars, webinars, workshops, and certificate programs.

WORKING WITH PEOPLE,NOT JUST NUMB3RS

MIKE WENNER, Partner, C.P.A. and SHELLEY GAETZ, C.P.A.with Jeff and Barb Larson of Guardian School Bus

“Working with Schlenner Wenner & Co. has been a long-term commitment for us. For the past 20 years, Mike, Shelley, and their team have made us feel comfortable and always put things in terms we can understand. In this complicated world, it’s nice to have a relationship that is easy.” -Barb & Jeff Larson

www.swcocpas.com

St. Cloud630 Roosevelt Rd. Ste. 201P.O. Box 1496St. Cloud, MN 56302320.251.0286

An Independently Owned Member, McGladrey Alliance

http://www.swcocpas.com


BUSiNESS CALENDAR

Mathew Hall wins state, national awardsMathew Hall Lumber was named the Minnesota 2011 Lumber and Building Materials Retailer of the Year by Northwestern Lumber Assoc. Criteria include being well-respected by dealers and suppliers, active in the industry, active in the community, ethical business practices, and successful business with respect to store design and yard layout.

ProSales Magazine has awarded the Industry Excellence Award to Mathew Hall Lumber for their website. They were chosen because their interactive website gives their customers a sense of the deep roots that Mathew Hall has in the community, while also offering state-of-the-art technology and services.

Quinlivan & Hughes announces Super Lawyers, state appointmentQuinlivan & Hughes, P.A. attorneys Michael J. Ford and Steve R. Schwegman were selected “Minnesota Super Lawyers” by Thomson Reuters. Ford was selected as a Personal Injury Defense: General Super Lawyer and Schwegman was selected as a Personal Injury Defense: Medical Malpractice Super Lawyer.

Dyan J. Ebert has been appointed by the Minnesota Supreme Court to serve

as the Minnesota State Bar Association (MSBA) representative on the Civil Justice Reform Task Force. Ebert is also a member of the MSBA Assembly and currently chairs the Elections and Appointments Committee.Compiled by Chelsey Larson

NEWSREEL

Schwegman

Ebert

Ford

Lunchtime LearningA combination of lunch, networking, and education. Noon – 1 p.m. at the Chamber office, 110 S 6th Ave.March 2: “Creative Financing for Businesses” •• A discussion on how to solve financing challenges without personal guarantees or extensive time in business. Sponsored by Synergy Chiropractic & Wellness Clinic.April 6: “Marketing & Sales: What’s the Difference?” •• Leave with new ways to brand yourself, your company and the products you offer. Sponsored by Liquid Assets. •• Registration required: $15 for Chamber members, $22 for the general public. Call 320-251-2940 for details.

Business After Hours – Extra!The biggest Business After Hours of the year with games, prizes, food, and of course, networking! 4:30-7 p.m.April 12, 2011: Best Western Kelly Inn, 100 4th Ave. S, St. Cloud. Sponsored by Grand Casino Mille Lacs and TDS. No registration is required

Sauk Rapids Chamber For businesses interested in doing business in Sauk Rapids. Lunch is provided by the host when you register at least two days in advance. Call 320-251-2940 for details.11:30 a.m.-1 p.m. March 24: hosted by PineCone Vision Center at C&L Distributing, 1020 Industrial Dr. S, Sauk Rapids

49th Annual Winter Economic InstituteThis Business & Economic Leadership Summit features forecasts from three world-renowned economists on the changing face of the workforce. Luncheon speaker Chris Farrell, Minnesota Public Radio; and a panel of local business leaders who will share their creative solutions to workforce challenges. March 3: Sessions run all day. prices vary depending on the programs and meals you attend. For details, visit www.stcloudstate.edu/winterinstitute. Sponsored by the St. Cloud Area Chamber, St. Cloud State University, the Initiative Foundation, and Times Media. All events are at the SCSU campus.

Business After HoursA complimentary open house for Chamber members and guests. Bring lots of business cards and prepare to grow your network! 4:30 – 6:30 p.m. •• April 28: Waite Park Chamber After Hours at LaCasita, 314 Division St., Waite Park, open to all Chamber members

Evening at the CapitolMeet your legislators in a comfortable, relaxed setting. Refreshments included. •• 5-7 p.m. March 15: St. Paul

Hotel. Registration is $50

per person. For details

call (320) 251-2940.

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NETWORK

Can’t-miss opportunities to influence, promote, and learn MARCH - APRIL 2011

Visit events.StCloudAreaChamber.com for a detailed calendar.


PoiNt OF VIEW

Business Central asked readers: “How do you stay

informed?”

“My homepage is set to MSN, and I read the St. Cloud Times and the Star Tribune daily.”

“I read and watch CNN for most news. My homepage is set to Google if I need to find something fast.”

“Yahoo is my homepage and I read the St. Cloud Times online. Of course, I read Business Central Magazine!”

“It’s WCCO for news and weather. I listen to KFAN and read Time Magazine.”

“I read Minneapolis/St. Paul Business Journal, Twin Cities Business, and a lot of blogs. I also use Twitter and LinkedIn – to hear about job changes and other updates.”

Kyle Seamans Brenny

Transportation, Inc.

Kelly WalzBernick’s Beverages

& Vending

tim MagnusonServicemaster Professional

Services

Angela Alwin Gray Plant Mooty

Mooty & Bennett, P.A.

Greg Engdahl City of St. Cloud

Craig Schiffler, owner of Melrose Bowl, needed more space due to the popularity of his $5.00 lunch special. Central Minnesota Credit Union assisted by financing the expansion. “Everything went smoothly—there were no glitches”, said Schiffler.

After adding Schif’s Bar and Grill, Craig has seen a significant increase in business during lunch as well as dinner.

–Craig Shiffler, Melrose Bowl

Talk to one of our business experts about your ideas today!Craig Schiffler with Dennis Waldvogel of CMCU

If so, JDB can help!Call today for al l your IT needs:

• Custom Applications Development• Dashboards and Reporting• Project Management• Network Design and Support• Web Site Design and Development• Content Management Systems (CMS)• Search Engine Optimization (SEO)• E-commerce

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866.374.9066www.jdb.com


rEGioNaL ROuNDuP

Business- to-BusinessThe Waite Park Chamber meetings offer participants a variety of ways to network and build their businesses.

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NETWORK

PEoPLE to kNOW

Julie Forsberg Forsberg Investments & Insurance, LLC Waite Park Chamber Chair(320) [email protected]

Della Ludwig Schlenner Wenner & Co.Waite Park Chamber Vice Chair (320) [email protected]

Sheri Moran Spirit 92.9Special Events Chair(320) [email protected]

tim Schmidt Rejuv Medical Greeter(320) [email protected]

Andrea Lodermeier Minnwest Bank M.V.Special Events Vice Chair(320) [email protected]

Brian Jarl Stearns Insurance ServicesGreeter(320) [email protected]

Cyndi Prather Member at Large(320) [email protected]

Waite Park Chamber Planning Committee

It was hat day at the Waite Park Chamber meeting in October, hosted by Bremer. From Left: Brian Jarl, Stearns Insurance Services; Allen Faber, Great River Federal Credit Union; Tim Schmidt, Rejuv Medical.

Dara Westra, Performance Design Training Center

At the September Waite Park Chamber meeting, FBI Special Agent Sean Boylan discussed how citizens can participate in homeland security.

Jeff Manthe, Compound Profit

State Rep. Steve Gottwalt (L), Coborn’s Inc., and John Herges, Falcon National Bank, exchange information during a networking activity.

Waite Park Chamber Meeting ScheduleMarch 16 Host: Minnesota School of BusinessLocation: on-site, 1201 2nd St. S, Waite ParkProgram: Stearns County Sheriff John Sanneraddresses “Gangs in Central Minnesota”

April 20Program: Granite City Gearheads talk about District 742’s Robotics Program

April 28Waite Park Chamber After HoursHost: LaCasita, 314 Division St., Waite ParkTime: 4:30 – 6:30 p.m.A complimentary networking event open to all Chamber members and guests. No registration required.


McKay’s Chrysler/Jeep/Dodge/Mitsubishi, 2020 Division St., Waite Park. Pictured: Diane Ohmann, Travis Benoit and Bob Lien.

McCann’s Food & Brew, 3320 3rd St. N, St. Cloud. Pictured: Shannon Templin, Matt Indieke and Dolora Musech.

Rejuv Medical, 210 3rd St N, Waite Park. Pictured: Bob Lien, Dr. Joel Baumgartner, Tim Schmidt, J. R. Burgess and Kris Hellickson.

Luther Honda of St. Cloud, 1805 Highway 23 E, St. Cloud. Pictured: Dolora Musech, Carlos Garcia and Owen Peterson.

Great Steps Orthotic & Prosthetic Solutions, 154 19th St. S, Sartell. Pictured: Bob Lien, John Held and Dolora Musech.

Meshbesher & Spence, Ltd., law firm, 111 Waite Ave. N, Waite Park. Pictured: Tauna Quimby, Jeff Oistad, Tina Mork, Jen Bauer and Bob Lien.

Central Minnesota Wedding Association, PO Box 55, Delano. Pictured: Shannon Templin, Adam Welz and Jayne Greeney Schill.

Custom Accents, promotions, apparel, advertising, screen printing and embroidery, 734 1st St. S, Waite Park. Pictured: Tauna Quimby, Beth Putz, Kris Nelson, Amanda Holthaus and Diane Ohmann.

Cru Wine On Line, a subscription driven, web-based, wine entertainment company, 824 W Saint Germain St., St. Cloud. Pictured: Jill Magelssen, J. C. Turner, Andy Barth, Nick Barth and Dolora Musech.

toP HATS | New Locations, New Ownerships & Expansions

toP HATS | New Members

toP HATS | No photos

Lyon Contracting & Development, Inc., design/build, general contracting, construction management, 3601 18th St. S, Suite 103, St. Cloud.

Twin Pines Catering, catering, wedding banquets, reunions, family gatherings, PO Box 602, Albany.

Fair Hills Resort & Wildflower Golf Course, 24270 County Highway 20, Detroit Lakes.

We’ll make sure your meeting hits the jackpot.

Let us make your next meeting, banquet, or special event truly memorable. With two spacious casino

hotels, 24-hour gaming action and award-winning dining, we offer the perfect setting for your guests.

Grand Casino Mille Lacs Events & Convention Center

For more details, call800-626-5825, ext. 8515

Grand Casino Hinckley Events & Convention Center

For more details, call877-447-2631

grandcasinomn.com

4191 2nd St SSt. Cloud, MN(320) 253-6607www.stearnsbank.com Member FDIC.

Customized Banking Solutions.Employee Owned. We get the job done!Stearns Bank was established in 1912, under current ownership of Norm

Skalicky since 1964. We are a local, employee-owned bank with more than$1.3 billion in assets. We are proud to support the commuities we serve

through contributions made by the Norman C. Skalicky Foundation.


Class members practice greeting each other in Chinese

Leadership Education Day Superintendent Panel: Bruce Watkins, St. Cloud, (L), Bruce Novak, Cambridge, and Dan Bittman, Sauk Rapids

Helping plan the education portion of the day: Paula Foley, St. Cloud School District (L) and Kathy Johnson, St. Cloud State University

Glenda Burgeson, College of St. Benedict/St. John’s University

Xian “Melody” He, one of District 742’s Chinese Immersion Program instructors

GROW

Leadership participants enjoy hands-on experiences during Education and Arts Day.

NETWORK

NEXT- St. Cloud offers skills and networking to the NEXT generation of business leaders.

Amanda Henry High Impact Training (L) and Eric Reisinger, U.S. Bank participate in a roundtable discussion.

Kim Noetzel, Charter Communications (L); Melissa Scapanski, MediBill Professionals and Autumn Gould, formerly Pennington Lies & Cherne, discuss servant leadership.

Melanie Hartman, High Impact Training, provides training on servant leadership for NEXT-St. Cloud.

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NETWORK CENTRAL


Shannon Templin, Minnesota School of Business, volunteer Chamber Top Hatter

Melanie Hirsch, GrandStay Residential Suites

Kerry Peterson, Premier Real Estate (L) and Frank Imholte, Black Diamond Auctions

Lee Meyer, Vision Ease (L); Renae Sternke, Catholic Charities; Christine Tollefson, Tully Tube Network

Larry Logeman, Executive Express and Ann Feldhege, ETC Enterprises

Steven Ehni, Saint Augusta Bank Office - State Bank of Kimball (L); Jason Hallonquist, AIS Planning; Jay Johnston and Chris Schuver, American Heritage National Bank

Rod Lindquist, GrandStay Residential Suites

NETWORK

Business After Hours hosted by GrandStay Residential Suites

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By age 25, the average carpenter has

the same hearing as someone who

is 50 years old.

Hearing loss most often strikes in

workplaces such as manufacturing,

transportation, public utilities, and

public administration. Unfortunately, most employees don’t ‘tune in’ to this message until it is too late. Hearing

loss is preventable and ears are not

replaceable.

For the average person, hearing loss

does not begin until age 60, according to

the National Institute for Occupational

Safety and Health. The Institute judges

hazardous noise levels in two ways:

•• First, if you have to raise your

voice to talk to someone who is an

arm’s length away

•• Second, if your ears are ringing

or sounds seem dull or flat after

leaving a noisy place

Prevention measures can and should be taken. Earplugs are distributed by many employers to safeguard their employees’ hearing. But some employees

leave their ears unprotected due to lack

of knowledge or concern about hearing

issues. For instance, some fear that using

earplugs will cause an infection or that

they can get lost in the ear. Both are

false. The path from the opening of the

ear canal to the eardrum is curved, not

straight as many people believe. Consider

it nature’s way of protecting the eardrum

from poking objects.

Warning sounds are loud enough to

surpass many ear protectors. There are

hearing protectors that can provide flat

attenuation, so everything is quieter but

still audible. There are also noise-activated

hearing protectors that allow normal

sounds to pass through the ear and activate

when the noise reaches hazardous levels.

The amount or dose of exposure to

noise is calculated using 8 hour shifts for

a total of 40-hours in one week. The

allowable amount of noise exposure is

a level of 90dB (decibel) for 8 hours.

Hearing conservation programs should

begin at 85 dBs.

Have your hearing checked regularly by

a trained professional and take prevention

measures. If you already have hearing loss,

it’s important to protect the hearing that you

have left. Loud noises can further damage

your hearing, making it even more difficult

to communicate with coworkers, family

and friends. Heed the warning the first

time, or you may be asking others to repeat

themselves for the rest of your life.

Compiled by Jill Copeland

WorKiNG WELL

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Working Well Tech Strategies Tech News Management Tool kit Going Green Economic Review

20 22 23 24 25 26

Falling on Deaf EarsFor those employed in hazardous noise work environments, hearing problems can present themselves slowly and may even go unnoticed for a period of time.

did YoU kNOW? The allowable amount of noise exposure is

a level of 90dB (decibel) for 8 hours.


Do you need to turn up the volume on the television?

Do you frequently have to ask others to repeat themselves?

Do you have difficulty understanding what is said when in groups or in noisy situations?

Do you have to sit up front in meetings or in church in order to understand?

Do you have difficulty hearing higher pitches, such as women or children?

Do you have trouble knowing where sounds are coming from?

Are you able to understand when someone talks to you from another room?

Have others told you that you don’t seem to be listening?

Do you avoid social situations because you cannot understand what is said?

Do you have ringing or other noises in your ears?

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YES NO

ChECK LIST

Hard of hearing?The Hearing Loss association of america offers the following questions to those who think they may have hearing loss. If you answer yes to three or more questions, you may have a hearing problem.

102-111 dBJackhammer

101 dBStud welder

99-102 dBConcrete joint cutter

93-96 dBBulldozer

90-96 dBCrane

88-102 dBSkilsaw

84-93 dBBackhoe

80 dBGarbage disposal

70 dBVacuum cleaner

SoUNd CHECKThe estimated decibel (dB) of common workplace environments:

www.scsutraining.com

CORPORATE EDUCATION & OUTREACH the training you need for the job you do.

C E OCorporate Education & Outreach

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Soft Skills • Hard Skills • Technical SkillsWorkshops • Seminars • Conference PlanningTopics developed to specifically fit your needs

Contact Gail or Tammy today!

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Celebrating 39 Years of Excellence

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When social

media started

boasting some

significant opportunities for

businesses, many dove in

without a tactical response.

The availability and perceived

no cost of social media makes

it easy to forego the traditional

planning and decision making processes.

But behind any successful marketing

move is a plan.

In its simplest form, a social media

action plan should answer why your

organization is using social media, what

you want to accomplish through it and

what needs to happen to achieve that.

Here are five common mistakes and ways

you can avoid them when creating a social

media action plan for your business:

Not specific enough. The social media

planning process in businesses often is

limited to choosing a tool – likely because

‘everyone else is doing it’- and starting to

use it. Then, they find

that the details matter.

Organizations can jumpstart

a plan by first identifying:

• Focus: Why are you

using it?

• Goals: How will this

tool help achieve your

business goals?

• Audience: Who do you hope to reach?

• Content: What are the key messages and

the focus of the content?

• Usage guidelines: What are the specific

steps you take to effectively use the tool?

Then, dig in deeper by outlining:

• Promotions: What are some possible

opportunities?

• Integration: How does this fit into your

broader marketing strategy?

• Metrics: How will you know you are

reaching your goals?

• Accountability: Who’s responsible for

carrying out the plan?

too many tools, not enough time. Organizations try to tackle too many tools

at once and soon find that they cannot

effectively manage them all. This is why

focus is essential. Whether its LinkedIn,

Facebook or Twitter, organizations that set

a strategy for using one tool often see more

significant benefits from social media than

those that embrace several tools all at once.

Failure to use best practices or provide clear direction on usage. Social media

is a new tool and few organizations find

someone in their organization who knows

how to use it for business. Employees

need a roadmap. Leaders need to set

clear expectations on usage and outline

best practices already established in the

marketplace.

A lack of accountability. This is one of

the main reasons social media efforts

lose steam. Successful implementation

requires someone to take the lead and be

responsible for results outlined in the plan.

This person does not need to do every

action step, but should provide regular

updates and reports to the leadership team

on activity and results.

Failure to monitor, measure and make changes. Social media requires attention.

It is not like other marketing tools that can

be created and not updated for extended

periods of time. Monitoring activity and

leverage the metrics social media tools like

Facebook offer can help organizations see

their progress and more importantly, adapt

to ensure it continues to provide value for

the business.

A social media action plan does not

need to be formal. But it does need to be

executable. Take some time to set a strategy

and outline the details. Not only will you

more effectively leverage social media,

you’ll see how it is – and is not – helping

you achieve results. BC

tECh STRATEGIES

Ready…Set…Action!

About the writerDawn Zimmerman is owner of The Write Advantage in St. Cloud and a

regular contributor to Business Central.

Behind any successful marketing move is a plan, and social media is no exception. By Dawn Zimmerman


hoUSiNG DEMAND

COLLECT aS YOU GOWish you could collect as soon as the contract is signed? Now you can. The Square is a credit card-reader that plugs into the headphone jack of your mobile device, allowing you to accept credit card payments anywhere, anytime. All you do is swipe, tap, and you’ve got payment. The Square has the added benefit that it’s free — you only pay a per-transaction fee.

For many, the Web isn’t a place to look for information, it’s the only place.

75the percent of owners of small and medium-sized businesses that use search engines to find suppliers

60 the percent of those same people who click through to a company’s website after finding it online

44 the percent of small and medium-sized business owners who turn to video sites like YouTube when searching for how-to information

13 the percent of small business owners who have a blog

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tECh NEWS

Bright SpotOver the long term, there will be continuing demand from the health care sector for new or remodeled properties as the percentage of americans over age 65 continues to grow, increasing demand for medical care. Source: Plunkett Research Ltd.

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COMING MAY 2011

42 B u s i n e s s C e n t r a l M a g a z i n e •• M AY / J U N E 2 0 1 0

Caleb is a 31 year old accountant.

Caleb is a “young professional” who

stimulates the local economy as

he lives here, works here, spends

here, socializes here, and grows here. He

is eager to support the community, but

feels underutilized. Businesses, schools and

organizations are trying to learn about Caleb

and his peers in order to attract and retain this

younger demographic.

A young professional is typically a

graduate of a professional school serving in a

professional, white-collar career. This is the

definition used by Ryan Kohnen, author of

Young Professional’s Guide to Success. He

says they are strongly attached to technology

and media, and can be energetic with a strong

desire to shape communities and politics.

Raleigh-based Fountainworks recently

organized a focus group for the city to

understand what young professionals value

in terms of amenities, and to help businesses

market themselves to this demographic. The

focus areas were:

•• Earning/Employment: Many young

professionals move where higher-earning

opportunities are available.

•• Social Capital/Diversity: Young professionals

want to feel comfortable and connected.

•• Around Town: Is public transportation

available? Are there traffic issues?

•• Cost of Living: Is housing available that

matches salary levels?

•• Vitality/Recreation: Not only are amenities

available, but do those who live and work in the

city know about them?

•• After Hours: Examples are coffee houses,

sports bars, ethnic restaurants and dance clubs.

Walkability is important.

•• Housing: Young professionals frequently

want to live near schools because they are

interested in continuing education or have

started families.

The study found a pronounced need for

young professionals to connect with each

other, often through social media and other

community networks. Employers can provide

employees an opportunity to get involved in

community organizations and connect with

peers inside and outside of the office.

The focus group also found young

professionals embrace cultural diversity and

support diverse restaurants, diverse retailers

and farmers’ markets. Big hits with young

professionals are gyms, coffee shops and

internet cafes, kid-friendly establishments

such as community centers, and after-hours

outdoor music.

Young professionals soak up most of

their information online. This generation is

more likely to use expanded business hours

and make store purchases during off-peak

hours, probably because they are used to the

freedom of purchasing items online anytime.

Many of today’s young professionals have

an entrepreneurial spirit and would benefit

from start-up business assistance. They have a

strong willingness to give back by serving on

a board of directors or commission, or helping

boost a campaign.

Businesses can benefit from young

professional traffic by keeping these

characteristics in mind when selling products

and services. Engage and use the next

generation by encouraging leadership and

continual learning, remembering Caleb and

his desire to contribute. BC

Jill Copeland is the Communication & Workforce

Development Coordinator at the St. Cloud Area

Chamber of Commerce.

Who am I?Much is written about young professionals, but who are they exactly, and what do they want? BY JILL COPELAND

NEXT-St. Cloud is a networking and professional development group serving Central Minnesota’s next generation of business leaders. Group members benefit from a year of peer dialogues, networking, promotional opportunities, and professional development, and are the first to hear insider news and information. This is your chance to meet like-minded individuals working to advance their careers. Join a group of highly motivated businesspeople and start building your connections today! Contact Jill Copeland at [email protected]

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BC_MJ10_FINAL.indd 42 4/10/10 2:36 PM

Trailblazer:

Isaac FlennerCommercial Lender • Stearns Bank

behind The professional:Age: 28Education: St. John’s University Hobbies: Spending time at the family cabin, golfing, hunting, and fishing.Best Advice: Be able to admit when you don’t know something, then find the answer.

Isaac Flenner knows a

little something about

being affiliated with strong

organizations.

He attended college at

St. John’s University in

Collegeville and played football

under the school’s legendary

coach. “Playing at St. John’s –

and for John Gagliardi – was a

great experience,” says Isaac.

“During my time at school and

on the team, I really learned

what it was like to be part of a

community.”

Now, as a commercial

lender with one of the most

well-known local banks, he

gets to experience that sense

of community every day. Isaac

joined Stearns Bank five years

ago and says he’s fortunate

to work for such a strong

institution led by Norm Skalicky.

Stearns Bank has earned

national recognition for being

a top performer in the banking

industry. While it’s impressive

both in asset size and reputation,

it still operates like a small-town,

local bank. “When clients call

to reach me, they use my direct

phone number,” Isaac says. “If

I’m not in, they’re directed to a

live person who will help them.

These things are important and

necessary when you’re working

on building relationships and

helping clients do business.”

Additionally, Stearns Bank’s

financial strength enables it

to make loans that perhaps

some other institutions would

be unable to make. For Isaac,

having the resources to help

more borrowers is one aspect

of his job he finds especially

gratifying.

For a self-described

“outgoing guy,” Isaac has

a career that fits him well.

“I get to spend time learning

about my clients and helping

them achieve the goals of

their business,” he says.

“Building and nurturing these

relationships is my primary

focus. When you have good

relationships with people, and

they know you’re committed

to meeting their needs, they

pay the ultimate compliment

and refer their friends and

colleagues to you. It’s a

rewarding process.”

— Kara Tomazin

M AY / J U N E 2 0 1 0 •• w w w. B u s i n e s s C e n t r a l M a g a z i n e . c o m 43

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SPONSORED PROFILE

BC_MJ10_FINAL.indd 43 4/10/10 2:36 PM

Trailblazers: Young Professionals

Each profile will showcase one of the top young professionals in Central Minnesota.

Act fast, limited space available. Deadline is March 21st.

http://www.jenningsins.com


By Tracy knofla

if asked to describe today’s workplace

in one word, most people would say

BUSY. Just look around and you’ll see

people checking their overflowing e-mail,

attending meeting after meeting, and trying

to complete a jam-packed to-do list. What

you might not see them doing much is

laughing. However, laughter is as essential

to any business environment as a fast

computer or properly working machinery.

The benefits of laughter to the human

body are well documented. When the body

laughs, your circulation increases, your

respiratory system gets more oxygen, and

you release hormones and antibodies that

help keep the body healthy. Laughing is

really good for you.

Laughter is also good for the

environment in your workplace. When

employees are encouraged to incorporate

humor and laughter in their work life they

experience important physical benefits,

which can decrease sick days (and mental

health days!) and reduce stress.

A workplace that promotes the use of

humor will see an increase in camaraderie

among employees. They will be more

at ease with each other, better able to

communicate effectively with one another,

and more willing to take risks. Laughter

and fun in the workplace opens doors to

greater understanding among people.

When your workplace commits to

humor and laughter you must also create

“social norms” for the type of humor

that will be encouraged. As we know,

not everyone finds the same thing funny.

Employees should be sensitive to the

reactions of others and should be able

to honestly challenge jokes or cartoons

that are not in keeping with agreed upon

standards. At no time should the humor

be directed with malicious intent at co-

workers or customers or contain racist,

sexist, sarcastic, or other demeaning

elements.

The best way to have laughter in

your workplace is to allow those folks that

are naturally funny and fun-loving to be

themselves. Some workplaces frown on

fun and laughter. They give subtle or overt

messages to enthusiastic employees that

they are a distraction and not a valued

addition. Allow those employees who

love to laugh and are barrels of fun to

help create a healthy and productive work

environment. You will all be better for it! BC

Make ‘em LaughManageMent TOOLKIT

Creating a humor-friendly workplace can result in decreased absenteeism and increased morale.


About the writertracy Knofla is the co-owner and featured consultant of High Impact Training. She has been presenting to audiences

across the country for more than 25 years.

LAUGH TRACk

Ways to encourage humor in the workplace include: •• Starting out meetings with jokes or humorous situations that occurred during the past week

•• Devoting time to talk about funny work situations

•• Organizing office Olympics or other fun activities during lunch or break times

•• Creating a special file or bulletin board for new and funny cartoons


GoiNG GREEN

25 billion the number of cartons manufactured in the U.S. that are used just once

55 % the amount of water saved by producing recycled paper as compared to virgin paper 120 tons the amount of steel that would be saved if every office worker in the United Kingdom used one less staple per day

If you think it, your phone can record it4 apps that will keep you on the fast track.

1 Never lose another great idea with Evernote. This app captures your best ideas before they slip your mind and documents them as text, photos, or audio recordings, all while auto-synchronizing the content to the desktop. 2 Prefer to talk it out? Try Vlingo’s voice interface technology.

3 If you need a task master, try Inertrak which not only tracks how you spend your day, but will calculate hourly client billings as well.

4 Not so important in Central Minn., but cool all the same, taxi Magic connects you directly with local cab dispatch systems. With just a few taps you can request a cab (no call necessary), track its arrival, and charge it to your credit card.

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Wouldn’t it be nice to have someone to share yourtechnology problems with? Someone who listens long

enough to really understand your business issues?

With Marco, the conversation isn’t about us.It’s about you and how you do business.

We help you connect the right technology tothe right business objective.

We believe that listening is one of the most importantservices we can provide. If you’re having

technology issues, we’re all ears.

marconet.com

Find out how Marco has helped other organizations apply technology to improve howthey do business. Read their stories at www.marconet.com/ListenLouder


Every region dreams of hosting its

own Silicon Valley. Areas based on

knowledge economies have various

names: technopoles (growth centers based

on technology and innovation), innovative

milieu, or science parks. These areas acquire

and generate knowledge to improve or cre-

ate goods and services. Most importantly,

these regions disseminate their discoveries

worldwide. Successful knowledge econo-

mies create well-paying jobs and increase

the local standard of living. Association with

an established technopole brings worldwide

prestige to a firm.

What essential elements make up a technopole? A knowledge economy requires first, an

industrial culture that promotes collective

learning for all, regardless of industry. It

benefits from the Co-opetition concepts of

Barry Nalebuff and Adam Brandenburger:

Cooperate to create knowledge, but com-

pete for market share. In conjunction with

the collective learning and discovery, cre-

ative forgetting of outdated methods allows

technical change to proceed. “That’s the

way it always has been done so that’s how

we will continue to do it” stymies growth

and creates economic stagnation. Finally,

the industrial culture must tolerate risk,

rewarding those who try, but have to learn

from their mistakes, as well as those who

succeed. Without such an industrial culture,

an innovative milieu will fail.

The cornerstone of knowledge econo-

mies combines proximity to 1 high-tech

industries, 2 research universities, and 3 public or private research centers.

Along with this “Golden Triangle” is access

to educated labor. Cities grow more quickly

if the area firms hire skilled workers who,

because of their training, can easily acquire

and advance production techniques. Star

scientists hired by the university or research

centers act like antennae. Not only do they

collaborate in producing basic research,

they are active within their own interna-

tional scientific communities, returning

home with the latest ideas from researchers

worldwide.

Finally, a knowledge economy needs

amenities and high quality schools. Not

only will these attract researchers and their

families, good schools prepare the future

workforce, and the amenities stem a poten-

tial brain drain. Informal activities create so-

cial capital that facilitates information flows

between scientists and creative professionals

in various disciplines and industries.

How does St. Cloud compare? Researchers at Indiana University created an

index to measure the innovation potential

of any county or groups of counties in the

nation. The Innovation Index for the U.S.

is standardized at 100. The 2011 figures set

Minnesota at 103.7; Benton County, 81.7

and Stearns County, 84.7. These figures are

down from the 2010 index of 108.6, 87.7,

and 84.9 respectively. It’s possible that

Benton and Stearns Counties rank below

Minnesota’s index primarily because of the

lack of a local research university, but there

is more to it.

The three counties consistently at the

top of Minnesota’s index were Henne-

pin (120.7), Carver (118.3), and Ramsey

(108.1). The three Minnesota counties with

the lowest innovation potential according to

this index are Traverse and Kanabec (70.8),

and Watonwan (70.3). Although Stea-

rns and Benton Counties provide a more

dynamic environment for innovation than

these rural counties, the St. Cloud area is

not what one could consider a strong local

technopole.

Figure 1 shows the 2001 Innovation

Index for the counties which host the six

four-year Minn. state universities. Stearns is

second only to Winona’s index of 92.8, and

pretty much even with Blue Earth (83.2)

MSU-Mankato.

What will it take for Stearns County to be

more of a player in the knowledge econo-

my? We explore that topic next time. BC

Mary E. Edwards, Ph.D., is a professor of

economics at St. Cloud State university.

ECONOMIC REVIEW

Knowledge EconomySuccessful knowledge economies create well-paying jobs and increase the local standard of living. By Mary E. Edwards, Ph.D


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EternalOptimistDuring his 36 year tenure at St. Cloud Industrial Products, Don Schiffler has honed many skills, not the least of which is to glory in the strengths of othersBy Gail ivers // Photos By Joel Butkowski

Just off Clearwater Road sits one of St. Cloud’s best-kept business secrets.

Situated in a small commercial

development in an unassuming building

is the headquarters for St. Cloud

Industrial Products, Inc. (SCIPI).

You won’t notice it if you drive by – the sign

says North Central Truck Equipment.

You won’t notice it if you step inside – the front

office is a retail store for truck accessories.

You may not even notice it if you receive a tour

– the garage hums with the activity of truck, bus

and hydraulic lift repair.

But sit down for a cup of coffee with the

leadership team and you begin to realize that this

is no ordinary truck equipment company. Or parts

company. Or hydraulic repair company.

SCIPI is unique.

In 1974 SCIPI (pronounced skippy) was a

very different company. Don Schiffler was an

assistant project engineer at Electric Machinery

& Turbodyne (Brown-Boveri) in St. Cloud. He

wanted out. He didn’t like the corporate structure

and the way the company treated people.

“Everyone was a number,” Don said. “I wanted to

get into a small business. My father said it was a

foolish mistake, but I did it anyway.”

The eleventh employee to join the company, he

no more than walked in the door when one of the

owners, Irv Lund, decided to retire. Don and the

remaining partner, Ken Gross, read an article in a

trade magazine about a little-used finance tool that

could be employed to buy out an existing owner.

It was called an Employee Stock Ownership Plan

St. Cloud Industrial Products Inc.

2629 Clearwater RoadPO Box 1084St. Cloud, MN 56302-1084Phone: (320) 251-7252Fax: (320) [email protected]

Business Description: Sales and service of school and commercial buses, light/medium-duty truck equipment, and mobility/special needs equipment; school bus private operator; sales and manufacturer of granite products, including cemetery, lawn ornaments, and granite countertops; automotive parts, accessories, and shop supplies.

Ownership: 79% Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP); 21% divided between Jim Schiffler and Mike Braulick

Leadership: President Jim Schiffler, Vice President Mike Braulick, recently retired CEO Don Schiffler

Number of employees: 156

Divisions: Monumental Sales, Inc.; North Central Bus Sales, Truck Equipment & Mobility; Sunburst Transit; Parts Midwest, Inc.

2010 sales: $40 million

>>>> business profile



(ESOP). The two went about establishing

Minnesota’s first ESOP, not because they

thought it was good for the employees,

Don said, but because “we thought it made

good economic sense. It was basically a tax

deductible way of selling a company and

buying out an existing owner.”

Today, Don is an evangelist for the ESOP.

It permeates the corporate culture and helps

drive decisions. “I look at SCIPI as a vehicle

to get a lot of people to a lot of places that

they couldn’t get to otherwise,” Don said.

“We’re not a one-business company. We’re

more like a mutual fund. This way we’re not

dependent on just one industry to succeed.

That’s important because for most of our

employees the ESOP is a large part of their

retirement.”

Diversification

In 1959 when Ken Gross and Earl

Buttweiler started Earl’s Welding Supply,

it didn’t take them long to expand their

holdings. Within two years they bought

the Blue Bird Bus Co. By the time the ESOP

was established, these two companies were

still the foundation of the company.

Then Don Schiffler joined the team. “We

realized the importance of diversifying SCIPI,”

he said. They changed Earl’s Welding Supply

to Earl’s Welding & Industrial Supply and

added industrial lines to their product mix.

In 1977 Don drew on his knowledge

of the turbine industry and created the

TANI Division. The division manufactured

removable industrial blanketing for turbines

and the power industry. Boosted by new

OSHA laws, the industrial blanket sales

quickly expanded beyond the U.S. to places

like Trinidad, Mexico and Taiwan. “TANI is

close to my heart,” Don says. “It was the first

company I gave birth to. It was under the

SCIPI umbrella and it evolved and changed –

which is good. I’ve dabbled in a lot of things,

but TANI will always be special.”

In 1984 Don found a good home

for TANI when he sold the business to

his brother, Bryan, in Albany. “It’s

much bigger now,” according to Don,

“and an international company with

15 employees.”

TANI was followed by Northwest

Industrial Services. Not one to overlook

opportunity, Don learned about a new piece

of technology that involved high pressure

water blasting. “I partnered with a guy in

Chicago to use the technology to develop

a piece of equipment that could be used

to clean up mineral deposits inside boilers.

Very useful in power plants and refineries,”

he said.

The company did well immediately,

filling a niche with no initial competition.

This company Don sold to his brother,

Loren. “That business still exists, too” Don

said. “They do business in five states and it

continues to be successful.”

North Central Truck Accessories in

St. Joseph was originally a SCIPI company.

From about 1960 to 1990, pickup truck

rear bumpers were an option, Don said.

Already in the industrial supply business it

wasn’t a big leap to add truck accessories

How does a bus company become the largest seller of snowplows in Central Minnesota? Hydraulics. St. Cloud Industrial Products, Inc. (SCIPI) has always been an eclectic business. Starting out as a welding supply company that bought a bus company, SCIPI has moved in and out of a variety of businesses as opportunities present themselves. In some cases those opportunities are part of a natural evolution. Experience in school bus sales made the move into commercial bus sales a logical step. These are small commercial buses often used by companies and

organizations to transport clients and residents around town. As bus use evolved, more and more of them required hydraulic lifts to service their customers. Since sales and service go hand-in-hand, SCIPI’s repair team became adept at maintaining the hydraulic lifts. “Mobility is an important part of our business,” according to Don Schiffler, who recently retired as CEO of SCIPI. “We sell and service lifts and accessories to help people become more mobile so we know how to work with hydraulics. People started bringing in their snowplows to be repaired and serviced. If we’re going to service them, we might as well sell them.”

“If people believe in our culture, work hard, and are patient, we’ll tap them on the shoulder for a leadership role.” —Mike Braulick, Vice President, SCIPI

David Salzer repairs a lift for a bus client. SCIPI’s many business products include service and repair of commercial buses and mobility aids, such as the lift.

It’s all about hydraulics


and start distributing pickup bumpers. “We

were the largest distributor of bumpers and

bed-liners in the country at one time,” Don

said. How does an unassuming company in

St. Cloud, Minn. reach such a milestone?

“We’re pretty good marketers,” he said

modestly. “We started early. We nurtured

the market. We had good penetration.”

In 1992 they became the Ford Motorcraft

parts and accessories distributor in

Minnesota. Though a good business move,

it eventually required a realignment of their

business holdings. Previously Ford had not

been in the accessories business. As the

market grew, Ford moved into it. When

SCIPI became a distributor for them, Ford

said “Either you’re our partner or you’re our

competitor,” according to Don.

He chose to be a partner. In 1999 SCIPI

created a new ESOP for North Central Truck

Accessories, selling the company to the

employees.

Something Significant

In 1990 Don saw a win-win opportunity.

A local granite company was going out

of business. Don’s brother, Jim, was

looking for a new opportunity. Don took

Jim to lunch and suggested this was just

what Jim needed.

Jim didn’t see it that way.

“He said ‘How about getting involved

in a monument company?’” Jim Schiffler

recalled. “I said, what’s a monument

company? He said, ‘Tombstones.’ I said

no thanks.”

Don let it rest for awhile, but he hadn’t

given up. “That monument company

was our first endeavor to do something

significant,” Don said. “We were looking for

a business to buy to diversify what we were

doing. They were going to liquidate that

business and those people were going to be

unemployed.” He called Jim again.

“Don calls me, after I said no, and tells

me that if SCIPI doesn’t buy that company

it’s going to die and 20 good people will lose

their jobs,” Jim said. “That was 1990. Today

we have 60 employees.”

Rebuilding was complicated. The

company was held in a trust, the buildings

1958 Earl Buttweiler and Ken Gross kick in $500 each to start Earl’s Welding Supply in Earl’s basement.

1959 St. Cloud Industrial Products, Inc. (SCIPI) is incorporated

1960 SCIPI forms North Central Coach Co. to distribute Blue Bird school buses

1974 Don Schiffler joins SCIPI as controller; he is the 11th employee and the company has about $1 million in sales

1975 The first Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP) in Minnesota is established to finance the buy-out of Irv Lund’s SCIPI stock following his retirement

1977 The TANI (Temperature/Air/Noise/Industrial equipment) Division is created to design, manufacture and distribute industrial blanket systems for gas and steam turbines

1978 Founder Ken Gross dies unexpectedly. His stock is purchased

by Don Schiffler, Dave Gross, Pat Buttweiler, and Al Illies. Don Schiffler, age 32, is appointed president.

1984 TANI Division is sold to Bryan Schiffler in Albany; Mike Braulick is promoted to parts/shop manager to lead the development of North Central Truck Equipment

1990 SCIPI purchases Monumental Sales, Inc. for $686,000; Jim Schiffler joins the company as general manager of Monumental Sales

1991 1995 SCIPI purchases Mount Hope Monument in Lansing, MI

1992 SCIPI acquires Parts Midwest, Inc. a Ford Motorcraft Distributor in Minneapolis

1993 1995 - SCIPI

acquires Kunz Oil; Threadfast Fasteners, Inc.; and Winona Monument, Inc.,

1996 Don Schiffler’s remaining partner retires; ownership shifts to 75% ESOP, 25% Schiffler

1997 SCIPI purchases DeRienzo Monument

1998 Threadfast Fasteners is sold to Northern States Supply

1999 North Central Truck Accessories is sold to the employees; SCIPI acquires Michelich-Jones Monument Co. & Granite Manufacturer

2000 Earl’s Welding/Industrial Supply is sold to Oxygen Service Inc. of St. Paul

2002 North Central Mobility Group is established as a separate business

2003 Granite Kitchen & Bath/Countertop Manufacturing is established as a separate business

2004 SCIPI acquires Grande American Bus Sales of Anoka

2005 Jim Schiffler becomes president of SCIPI; the company acquires Peninsula Granite in Ironwood, MI

2006 SCIPI opens a new operations facility in Minneapolis

2007 SCIPI acquires Watertown Monument Works, including ten retail stores. Monumental Sales now has 13 retail stores, 250 independent dealers, and services seven states.

2008 Sunburst Transit, LLC, starts; their first contract is for student transportation with the St. Paul, Minn. schools

December 31, 2010 Don Schiffler sells the last of his SCIPI stock; the company has $40 million in sales and 156 employees.

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Top Photo: Earl’s, 1969 Above: SCIPI 1980Left: Don Schiffler. and Pat Buttweiler in 1978

Monumental Sales, 1990



went back to 1917 and were falling apart,

the customer base was slim at best. At one

point Jim was looking for new dealers to

carry their product. He asked one why

the dealer didn’t come up and take a look

at the operation. The dealer told him, “I

was there a week ago and I thought it was

abandoned.”

The employees at the monument

company assumed SCIPI would liquidate

the company. Not so, said Don and Jim. “We

said we’re in the business for the long haul.

Twenty years later some of those employees

are still there…and we are, too,” Don said.

Of course, things have changed.

The buildings have all been remodeled

with an eye toward preserving some of

the architectural features of the office.

Advanced fabrication techniques have been

employed, resulting in major productivity

improvements. But best of all, according

Don and Jim, is what they have been able to

do for the employees.

“One of our employees retired right after

we bought the business,” Jim said. “His son

and some other family members all worked

there. The gentleman who retired left with

his Social Security check as his retirement.

Since we bought the business his son has

been in the ESOP. I can guarantee that he’s

retiring with significantly more than just a

Social Security check. Now that’s making a

difference.”

Seeds of Changehen Don looks back on his

career he sees few challenges.

“I had a few hiccups along

the way, but I don’t really

remember them. I guess I’m an eternal

optimist.”

“I think working around partners

who weren’t overly excited about where

you wanted to go with the company was

your biggest challenge,” Jim told his older

brother. “Motivating people who were older

than you.”

Don pondered that, then nodded his

head. “I got the job of president because no

W

Jim Schiffler, President Age: 51

Hometown: Albany, MN

Education: Bachelor’s degree in management with a minor in traffic safety from St. Cloud State University.

Work History: Eagle F/B Truck Lines, Salt Lake City, UT; Mountain States Trailer, Salt Lake City; Business Records Corp., St. Cloud

Family: Carrie, wife of 30 years; Simon 26, Eric 23, Marina 20,

Hobbies: Family, bicycle riding, basketball, travel

Advice to a would-be entrepreneur: You have to be selling your ideas, philosophies and products continuously.

Best advice you’ve received: From my mother: You are no better than anyone else, which means you have to work harder than everyone else.

Mike Braulick, Vice President Age: 54

Hometown: Sleepy Eye, MN

Education: Alexandria Technical College

Work History: Burlington Northern Railroad 1 year, SCIPI 33 years

Family: Married to my wife Brenda for 34 years; one son, Justin and his wife Candace; daughter Jessica, and two beautiful grandchildren, Ava and Jackson

Hobbies: Spending time at the lake, fishing, motorcycling, and quality time with the grandchildren

Advice to a would-be entrepreneur: Patience, persistence and perspiration are unbeatable combinations for success. Provide meaningful learning and growth opportunities for employees.

Best advice you’ve received: My mom said if you can’t say anything nice about someone, don’t say anything at all.

Don Schiffler, CEO, retired Age: 65

Hometown: Albany, MN

Education: Bachelor’s degree in economics and management from St. Cloud State University

Work History: Turbodyne 1970 -1974, St. Cloud Industrial Products 1974 – present

Family: Wife, Patti; four daughters Nicole, Kate, Kerri, Corinna, and four grandchildren

Hobbies: Gardening, golf, travel, seasonal activities

Advice to a would-be entrepreneur: Believe in yourself.

Best advice you’ve received: “Have a lively intellectual curiosity about everything, because everything is related to everything else.” Harlan Cleveland, American diplomat, educator and author.

Greatest Business Challenge: Managing our ESOP and growing our business simultaneously.

Something you should know about me: I’m a volunteer with the Service Corps of Retired Executives, known as SCORE.

>>>> fun fACT

Don and Jim Schiffler’s father was a farm equipment dealer in Albany, Minn. He had seven boys and one girl, all of whom have been independent business owners at one time.


>>>> personAl profiles


one else wanted the job,” he said. “When

you run a company like this you have to

always think about that next opportunity.

Always be ready to take a risk. You have to

be on the edge all the time. These last few

years I felt the edge wasn’t quite so sharp

anymore, it’s been getting rounder.”

As an example, Don pointed to SCIPI’s

newest business venture – transportation. “If

it had been up to me we wouldn’t be in the

transportation business,” Don said. “I fought

it. But it was a smart move.”

Their entrance into transportation came

in the form of Sunburst Transit, a company

that provides school bus transportation for

students in the St. Paul School District. The

idea was born of necessity, according to Jim.

“We had a problem. We had a facility in

Minneapolis that had more expenses than

revenues. About half the building was used

to distribute parts. The rest was for servicing

buses. The shop was under-utilized. So we

decided to create a customer that would buy

everything from us.”

That meant a transportation company

that could buy buses, service, and parts

from various SCIPI companies. Reluctant

to compete against any existing or potential

customers, their research showed that

the St. Paul school district was using an

international transportation provider that

bought buses directly from the manufacturer.

The contract was up for renewal, Jim

pursued it, and Sunburst Transit was born.

To manage the transit company, Jim

tapped an employee from the granite

company. “He’s hardworking and

understands the culture and philosophy of

SCIPI,” Jim said.

Promoting from within is a hallmark

of the SCIPI culture. “We move people

from division to division,” Don said. “Our

leadership group is made up of people who

are philosophically on the same page, which

is important since SCIPI has 17 locations in

five states.”

Mike Braulick is the poster boy for the

company’s leadership strategy. Mike went

to the Alexandria Vo-Tech to be a welder.

He started at SCIPI right out of school. “In

1978 I worked in the shop. I worked my

way up through the ranks. I was willing to

learn new things, take some risks. I went to

night school to learn new skills. Don was

always encouraging me to learn new things.”

Today Mike is vice president of SCIPI. “Don

created an environment for me to grow. He

challenges us to go to the next level. He’s

always raising the bar.”

“The granite company has always

operated independently of SCIPI,” Jim said.

“Don let me learn and make mistakes. He’s

given us the opportunity to think bigger and

do more than we ever thought possible.”

Transition

“I think Don saw that when people

got to a certain age they are more

likely to fear risk. He saw that

coming in his own life and decided

there needed to be a transition,” Jim said.

Such self-awareness led Don, Jim, and

Mike to develop a transition plan that was

completed on Dec. 31, 2010 when Don sold

the last of his shares in SCIPI. Currently the

ESOP owns 79 percent of the business and

Jim and Mike own 21 percent.

By all accounts it has been an orderly

transition. “It’s a process to go from being

involved in everything to not being

involved,” Don said. “It’s ok. I’m ok with it.

I have a lot of confidence in these two guys.”

“Jim and I see eye to eye on running this

business,” Mike said. “Don’s philosophical

views were drilled into us, and it all makes

sense. The ESOP, fiscal responsibility,

engaging employees, profit, positive attitude.

We want to see SCIPI continue to grow. He’s

been a good mentor to us.” BC

Gail Ivers is vice president of the St. Cloud Area

Chamber of Commerce and managing editor of

Business Central Magazine.

“Don’s done a good job of finding people to do what he doesn’t want to do. ‘I’m bored. Here take this.’ The next thing you know, you’re in charge.” —Jim Schiffler, president, SCIPI

On a wintry day in January Ken Krych examines a snowplow. SCIPI is the largest distributor of snowplows in Central Minnesota.


Over the last ten years we invested

in the community through

infrastructure,” said Anita

Rasmussen, Sartell’s planning and

community development director. The last

five year’s growth was unprecedented, and

the utilities and roadways were the first

step to embracing that growth.

The Highway 15 corridor near Sam’s

Club and Walmart will be the downtown

hub for Sartell. Businesses are exploring

facility options near the two new

shopping centers. PineCone Road has

fielded increased traffic and holds many

opportunities for future growth, according

to Rasmussen. “We had a market study

recently that suggested we focus on

commercial nodes that meet neighborhood

needs – those are areas that have to grow.”

The median household income for

Sartell is $52,531, higher than any

other local community. Affluence draws

businesses that hope those higher-income

dollars will be spent close to home.

Walmart and Sam’s Club completed

extensive market research before choosing

their locations at County Road 120. Along

with the two retailers, five new medical

offices were announced in 2009. Near

those retail spaces are new restaurants

Taco John’s and Hardee’s, both open for

business, and Frugal Burger, which broke

ground in late February.

While there are new houses,

apartments and town homes located on

the PineCone thoroughfare, there is still

land to be sold and building permits to

issue. “Single family residential building

has slowed down considerably, but this is

the third year in a row we have increased

building permits,” said Rasmussen. “Our

inventory is starting to diminish to a

healthy balance.”

No longer just spec homes for sale, in the

last few years 160 empty Sartell lots have

been transformed into homes. She says

growth in the housing sector is cyclical.

Unprecedented GrowthInfrastructure is the focus of Sartell officials as they work to accommodate the needs of new commercial and residential development. By Jill Copeland

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“

5,338 Total family households

30.9 median age

$52,531 median household income

BY thE NuMBERS

24 number of parks


The years of high growth in single family

homes have passed, while growth continues

in multiple family housing and senior

housing. “Our niche is senior housing,”

confirms Rasmussen. “It is always interesting

to talk to the owners of those buildings.”

Unique features of the city include

plentiful senior housing in proximity to

medical complexes and the emerging

Pinecone Park. Housing complexes cater

to grandparents and

seniors who like to

be near family in the

area, but do not like to

worry about property

maintenance. Pinecone

Park is an athletic

complex that will take the place of the old

Sartell golf course.

Roadways will continue to cater to

commercial growth and changing traffic

needs. A significant upcoming project re-

aligns 50th Avenue at County Road 120,

near Gold’s Gym and Perkins Restaurant.

“Right now it is a dangerous intersection

and we will make it a four-way,” said

Rasmussen. Currently there is a dead-end.

The city required an easement and a church

was removed to make way for re-alignment.

It will be a controlled intersection, with

stoplights, to ease the congestion and

protect drivers. The move will provide

more connection with businesses along the

medical complex and should prevent future

accidents.

A 17 million dollar project will begin in

2012 to change the grade of County Road

120 and Highway 15. Eventually Highway

15 will go underneath, and County Road

120 will be at grade. “The interchange will

not build up,” Rasmussen said, “some of

which has to do with space limitations,

and for us it maintains a consistent level of

visibility for businesses in the area.” BC

5,354 population in 1990



GroWth SPuRT



Capacity issues are a reality for

the Sartell, Minn. school district.

As the community continues

to grow, capped enrollment means

parents make sacrifices to move into

the district. “Pine Meadow Elementary

School is beyond capacity,” says Dr.

Joseph Hill, superintendent of the

Sartell School District. Sartell Middle

School is reaching capacity, but the

high school was built with growth in

mind and is functioning well.

One option to address growth is

reconfiguring the grades to fit within

the school buildings. Currently grades

are set up kindergarten-4, 5-8, 9-12.

“The quality of the team in place is of

primary importance, the configuration

is secondary,” Hill said.

Hill, an Alexandria, Minn. native,

is dedicated to ensuring student

achievement in this growing

community. In his first year at Sartell

he has focused on optimizing every

dollar that comes into the system. It

is a sobering reality that resources are

drying up at the same time that schools

are pressured to reevaluate workforce

needs, post-secondary learning, and

state standards. “In the end, we have

two work groups,” according to Hill.

“Lots of great teachers, and everyone

Ensuring Student AchievementStudent success is broadly impacted by partnering with faith communities, youth agencies and parents.

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who supports them.” One of his priorities is funding

professional development for staff. “Staff learning and

growing is as important as developing the students – the

core of who we are is outstanding instructors.”

Hill sat down with twelve high school students and

listened to how they struggle to “power-down” at school

when they have so much technology at home. The

school district has researched technological changes

at other schools and interviewed model districts. With

careful planning and input from staff and students, the

way students receive instruction might change, said

Hill. “In the end, technology accelerates good teaching,

but does not replace it.” The future may hold electronic

books in place of print books, or other learning resource

modules, but for now the district is still providing the

same services it always has.

Teachers are facing new models for learning as

technology puts the medium in the hands of the student.

“The old model was that the educator was the holder

of all information. Today teachers are the facilitators of

Features include:•• seven baseball/softball fields•• eight to twelve soccer and football fields •• concession/restroom facilities •• picnic shelter •• walking/running/ski trails •• ice rink/warming house •• splash pad and pool •• horseshoe pit •• playground areas•• skating park •• sand volleyball courts •• field house

PaRK aND RECPinecone Park in Sartell is an athletic complex that will take the place of the old Sartell golf course.

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learning – information is ubiquitous,”

according to Hill. A recent assessment

helped the district identify new means

of learning and development. “I am not

really into gadgets, but I do embrace tools

that open the world interactively to kids.”

However, their success will not be

dependent on technology, says Hill.

Student success is broadly impacted by

partnering with faith communities, youth

agencies and parents. “High achieving kids

are supported at home.” BC Jill Copeland is the communications and workforce development coordinator at the St. Cloud Area Chamber.

SaRTELL COMMUNITYResource guide of area businesses

rESoUrCE GUidE

Bremer BankBremer Bank provides a wide range of banking, investment, trust and insurance solutions. Bremer has five convenient locations in the St. Cloud area.

520 1st Street NE

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Center for Diagnostic Imaging (CDI) Powerful insight at the right price. Ask for CDI. Offering: MRI, CT, ultrasound, Mammography, X-ray and Pain Management Injections.

166 19th Street South, Suite 100

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Central Lakes Oral and Facial SurgeryOral and maxillofacial surgical services including extractions, wisdom teeth removal, dental implants, biopsies, and reconstructive procedures.

2380 Troop Drive, Suite 202

Sartell, MN 56377

(320) 257-9555

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Conway, Deuth & Schmiesing, PLLPConway, Deuth & Schmiesing, PLLP is a certified public accounting firm. We offer a full range of tax, accounting, auditing and consulting services.

2351 Connecticut Avenue, Suite 110

Sartell, MN 56377 • http://www.cdscpa.com/

(320) 252-7565 | Toll-free (800) 862-1337

Interventional Pain and Physical Medicine Clinic IPPMC is a multidisciplinary clinic providing interventional pain techniques, physical therapy, massage therapy and behavioral health.

2301 Connecticut Ave South

Sartell, MN 56377

(320) 229-1500 • www.ippmc.com

St. Cloud OrthopedicsWe specialize in complete musculoskeletal health care. It’s our goal to improve the quality, cost, and access of care for our patients and their families.

1901 Connecticut Ave. S., Sartell

www.StCloudOrthopedics.com

(320) 259-4100

U.S. Banku.S. Bank is 5th largest Commercial Bank in the country. We have a strong balance sheet & our strength enables us to provide customers with comprehensive banking solutions.

800 Nicollet Mall

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the Vein CenterThe Vein Center, physicians with Regional Diagnostic Radiology, provideminimally invasive and non-surgical laser treatments for varicose veins. No surgery, no down-time. Information online at beautifulresults.com.

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W hether you’re just starting

out in business or you’re

thinking about relocating,

the most important thing to consider

when deciding on a location is the kind

of business you’re running. Before you

begin looking, consider the following

points that can help you select just the

right spot for your business.

Determine Your Business Activity• Do your customers come to you?

• Do you have to go to your customers?

• Do you have employees?

• Do you manufacture products for

distribution?

• If your type of business depends

heavily on pedestrian or drive-by traffic,

such as a florist, gift shop, or clothing

boutique, you’ll want to seek popular

retail locations, such as a downtown area

or a mall, which can help attract passing

customers.

• If customers typically seek out your type

of business, such as a child care service,

beauty salon, or fitness center, you’ll

want to find space that is easily accessible

from population centers, major roads and

public transportation.

• If your customers do not typically

come to you, other location factors

may be more important than physical

Location, Location, LocationThe ideal location for your business depends on a number of factors, including where the competition is located.

Sour

ce: u

.S. S

mal

l Bus

ines

s A

dmin

istr

atio

n

Cyber-BusinessIf your customers do not

typically come to you,

other location factors may

be more important than

physical proximity to your

customers. For example, if

you conduct much of your

business online, establishing

a home-based business

might be more desirable

and economical than

leasing commercial office

space. If you manufacture

products for distribution, an

ideal location might be an

industrial park near major

transportation ports.


proximity to your customers. For example, if you

conduct much of your business online, establishing

a home-based business might be more desirable and

economical than leasing commercial office space. If

you manufacture products for distribution, an ideal

location might be an industrial park near major

transportation ports.

Proximity to Your CompetitorsWhile it may seem counter-intuitive, operating a

business close to your competitors is often beneficial.

This is especially true if you have a retail business

that relies heavily on foot traffic. Shopping malls

are a good example of why proximity to your

competitors can be helpful. Most major pedestrian

Non-residential construction

put in place in the u.S.

reached $357 billion in 2007

and $410 billion in 2008.

Despite the slowing economy,

strong growth was seen in

construction in the hotel/motel

sector, higher education,

health care, and office

facilities. On a seasonally-

adjusted annual basis, as of February 2010, the number had dropped to $302.7 billion.Source: u.S. Census Bureau

Commercial construction spending has seen better days.

BY thE NuMBERS


malls are full of clothing shops, and

cost of retail space is often very high.

The reason for this is that the number

of potential customers increases

exponentially on a per-store basis

around a concentration of similar

businesses. For example, while one

store might attract 50 customers, two

stores might attract 200 customers,

and three stores might attract 1,000

customers.

Zoning and SignsBefore setting up shop, check

with local zoning authorities to

make sure you will not break any

city ordinance or zoning policies

in your preferred location. Also

consider your sign requirements and

compare them to sign regulations

set by the local government. Many

communities set restrictions on the

size and appearance of signs. BC

CoMMErCiaL CONSTRuCTION

For help finding, building or remodeling that perfect location, contact the businesses on the following pages.

COMMERCIAL CONSTRUCTION

Hagemeister Mack ArchitectsCentral Minnesota Federal Credit Union - Melrose, MN

Location:Main Street, Melrose, MN 56352

General Contractor: Breitbach Construction

Architect: Hagemeister Mack Architects

www.hmarch.com

The project includes 3 floorsof offices and customer service areas

featuring a 2-story atrium.

RE/MAX Realty Source aquires Meyer Commercial In 2010 the acquisition of one of N.W.

Minnesota’s most reputable commercial brokerage firms creates one of Greater

St. Cloud’s largest, most knowlegable and experienced team the area has to offer. The RE/MAX network has thousands

of commercial and investment practioners who provide commercial real estate services

to the global market. Providing the service and expertise you have every right to expect.

405 North 33rd AvenueSt. Cloud MN 56303

(320)-251-2200 www.RealtySourceCommercial.com

Your vision Our passion

Allen Bright, J.D., BrokerNancy Doran, CCIM, BrokerDon Weisman, REALTOR*

Bill Molitor, REALTOR*Craig Hiltner, REALTOR*

RE/MAX. Commercial. Real Estate.


A Tradition of Building Successfor More Than 50 Years

Building Relationships Since 1953 www.ricebuildingsystems.com

1019 Industrial Drive SouthSauk Rapids, MN 56379

320.252.0404

BUILDING SYSTEMS, INC.

We invite you to experience the Rice di�erence.

Our unique in-house capabilities, knowledge of municipal processes, time-tested subcontractors and expansive client list prove Rice Building Systems to be the leader in design/build construction.

You can depend on Rice Building Systems to handle everything from concept and design through to the completion of your project.

Single source.Superior service.

Remarkable results.

BC MarApr Ad_Layout 1 1/26/11 4:04 PM Page 1

Rice Building Systems, Inc.Holiday Stationstore

Coborn’s, Inc.328 - 5th Street South, St. Cloud, MN 56301

General Contractor: Rice Building Systems, Inc.

Architect: Hagemeister/Mack Architects

Completion Date: November 11, 2010

www.ricebuildingsystems.com

Remodeling of an existing 4,000 SF store and exterior improvements.

Miller Architects & BuildersGood Shepherd Households -Good Shepherd Community

Location:Sauk Rapids, MN

General Contractor: Strack Companies

Architect: Miller Architects & Builders

Completion Date: March 2011www.millerab.com

New: 59,397 sf.; existing remodel: 67,008 sf. Created 8 new “households”

ranging in size from 16-23 beds. 154 private rooms were created

to serve market demand.


http://www.millerab.com


W Gohman Construction CoCub World Medieval Castle

Central Minnesota Council of the Boy Scouts of America - Nisswa MN

General Contractor: W Gohman Construction Co

Architect: SJA Architects

Cost: 1.7 Million

Completion Date: February 9, 2009Email: [email protected]

www.wgohman.com

Winner of the NAHB’s National Commercial Builder Council

“2010 Awards of Excellence”

Strack CompaniesSt. Cloud Civic Center

Expansion - City of St. Cloud Location:

Downtown St. Cloud

General Manager: Strack Companies

Architect: Hagemeister & Mack Architects

Cost: $22 Million

Completion Date: December 2011www.strackcompanies.com

80,000 square foot expansion to the existing St. Cloud Civic Center to include new entrance, pre-function

area and exhibit halls.


http://www.strackcompanies.com


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ADVERtISER INDEX

aDVERTISER

Bernick’s - Beverages & Vending............................... 45Bremer ..............................................................................9Center for Diagnostic Imaging .................................... 37Central Lakes Oral & Facial Surgery, P. A. ............... 35Central Minnesota Federal Credit Union ................... 15Charter Communications ...............................................2Coldwell Banker Commercial - Orion ....................... 23Conway, Deuth & Schmiesing ..................................... 38Falcon National Bank ................................................... 48Grand Casino Mille Lacs .............................................. 17Hagemeister & Mack Architects, Inc. ........................ 42Hardees .......................................................................... 39Interventional Pain and Physical Medicine Clinic ..... 27JDB Associates ............................................................ 15Jennings Insurance ...................................................... 23LarsonAllen LLP ........................................................... 25Marco, Inc. ..................................................................... 25Miller Architects & Builders, Inc ................................ 43Minnesota Chamber of Commerce ............................ 11

PineCone Pet Hospital ................................................. 39PineCone Vision Center ............................................... 39RE/MAX Realty Source - Gary/Lisa Barnier .............. 41Regional Diagnostic Radiology & The Vein Center ... 38Rice Building Systems, Inc. ......................................... 43Rinke Noonan ...................................................................5Schlenner Wenner & Co., CPA’s ................................ 13Short Stop Custom Catering ....................................... 45St. Cloud Hospital/CentraCare Health System ............3St. Cloud Orthopedic Associates, Ltd. ........................ 36St. Cloud State University ............................................ 21St. Cloud Surgical Center ............................................ 21Stearns Bank ................................................................. 17Strack Construction Co. Inc......................................... 44Tri-County Abstract & Title Guaranty, Inc. ................ 13US Bank ......................................................................... 47W. Gohman Construction Co. ...................................... 44Westside Liquor ............................................................ 45Winkelman Building Corporation .................................7

SaRTELL RESOURCE GUIDEBremer ........................................................................... 38Center for Diagnostic Imaging .................................... 38Central Lakes Oral & Facial Surgery ......................... 39Conway, Deuth & Schmiesing ..................................... 39Interventional Pain and Physical Medicine Clinic ..... 39Regional Diagnostic Radiology & The Vein Center ... 39St. Cloud Orthopedic Associates, Ltd. ........................ 39US Bank ......................................................................... 39

COMMERCIaL CONSTRUCTIONHagemeister & Mack Architects, Inc. ........................ 42Miller Architects & Builders, Inc ................................ 43RE/MAX Realty Source - Gary/Lisa Barnier .............. 42Rice Building Systems, Inc. ......................................... 43Strack Construction Co. Inc......................................... 44W. Gohman Construction Co. ...................................... 44Winkelman Building Corporation .................................7

http://www.bernicks.com


After 25 years in the promotional products business, Mike Fanslau still enjoys helping clients achieve their goals. By Gail Ivers

Business Central: How did you go from selling farm equipment to selling promotional products?Mike Fanslau: My wife at the

time, Barb Anderson, was in

charge of purchasing promotional

and logo items for Anderson

Trucking. She suggested that

if I sold logo-wear at the same

price that she could get it from

the company they were using,

that she would buy it from me.

I looked at buying a company,

but it fell through, so I started my

own. We were Image Builders

Sportswear and Apparel initially.

We didn’t start doing promotional

items until about two years later.

BC: How did you happen to join the Chamber?Fanslau: I’m a biology major.

I didn’t know squat about running

a business except that what’s

right is right and what’s wrong is

wrong. I talked to [my father-in-

law] Harold Anderson, and asked

what I should do. He said “You

have to join the Chamber.”

BC: Did the economic downturn impact you?Fanslau: The economy shrank and

I had to shrink my art department

as a result. We’ve had a full time

art department for 18-20 years,

but I had to stop the bleeding

and the numbers pointed to the

art department. He’d been here

10 years. I hated that…that was

really tough.

BC: What has been the biggest change you’ve seen?Fanslau: The economy getting

tighter and everything that has

gone with that. I used to be pretty

accurate at predicting three to five

years down the road. Now I can’t

even see around the curve and the

curve is only six-twelve months

out there. That’s kind of scary.

BC: What do you like best about your work? Fanslau: I like solving

challenges. I like working with

clients who know their goals

and objectives. I have clients

that say ‘I want 150 t-shirts.’ My

tendency is to say ‘Why?’ We do

a better job when we know what

the client’s goals are. The client

doesn’t know what trade show

I’ve just been to where I’ve found

something that could be perfect

to help reach a particular goal.

When we can talk about their

goals, odds are they’ll be happier

with the end result.BC

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Image BuildersMike Fanslau, owner PO Box 1453 2907 Clearwater Road St. Cloud, MN 56302-1453 Phone: (320) 259-1311 Fax: (320) 259-1368 www.imagebuild.com

Date established: 1985

Moved to current location: 2004-05

Number of employees: 8 FTE

Business Description: Promotional advertising products, screen printed and embroidered clothing, incentives

Chamber member since 1986

at a GLANCE

Image Builder

PErSoNaL PROFILE

Mike Fanslau, 52

Education: Graduate of Carthage College in kenosha, Wisc., majored in biology, conservation and natural resources, with a minor in geography; played football

Work history: painted houses in the summer; sold farm equipment for two companies, including four years with Wollak Hardware in Rice (now part of Arnzen Construction in Freeport); sales for G&k Services

Family: two sons ages 20 and 23

Hobbies: Bow hunting trophy bucks, creating wildlife habitat on 80 acres of hunting property in North Dakota, fishing, woodworking: “My chainsaw is my friend.”

Mike Fanslau, Image Builders

fUN FACT

About 50 percent of Image Builders’ clients

are not-for-profit organizations

http://www.usbank.com

http://www.falconnational.com

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March/April 2011

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