LETTER FROM THE PRESIDENT
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Last Thursday was our annual
Best in Business Awards luncheon, where we recognized a number of outstanding local businesses. The Greater Twin Cities United Way received the Best in Business Award, WCCO News Radio 830 received the Quality of Life Award, the St. Paul Saints received the Small Business of the Year Award, Girls on the Run received the Non-Profit of the Year Award and the Break-Out Business of the Year Award went to Field Nation.
We congratulate all of these businesses on the well-deserved recognition and want to offer special thanks to our Master of Ceremonies, Frank Vascellaro from WCCO-TV, the members of the Best in Business Awards Committee and our event sponsors; Xcel Energy, RBC Wealth Management, Comcast, Bremer Bank, Associated Bank, PSAV and the Loews Hotel.
Our next major event will be the Minnesota Twins Welcome Home Luncheon on Friday, April 15th, from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at the Target Field Carew Atrium. We hope to see you there.
Click here to register today.
Your chamber is tracking a number of public policy matters of interest to chamber members, including the sick leave discussion in the City of Minneapolis. An appointed Workplace Regulations Working Group has been meeting over the past several months to explore policy options and receive public input and recently reported its findings and recommendations to a Minneapolis City Council committee. The Minneapolis City Council directed the City Coordinator and the City Attorney to review and respond to the Working Group recommendations and report back to the City Council on May 5th. The City Coordinator will then develop a recommendation for Council consideration by May 25th.
We have serious concerns with some of the proposed findings and recommendations and their impact on businesses. We met this week with other members of the
Workplace Fairness Coalition we created to discuss those concerns and how to constructively present them to city officials. Look for a communication soon on the recommendations and what you can do to let your voice be heard as this discussion moves forward.
Your chamber also remains active on the state public policy front, continuing to lobby for increased funding for the state's roads and bridges and transit systems, including reconstruction of the 35W/I 494 interchange. Even though he moved one step closer to retirement on April 1st, Todd Klingel continues to assist our advocacy on transportation and transit issues at the Capitol.
Speaking of Todd, I would like to add my voice to the long list praising Todd for his work over 13 years at the Chamber. I had the honor of serving on the Minneapolis Regional Chamber Board, including a term as Board Chair, with Todd in the President and CEO role and like you I am grateful for Todd's tireless efforts to build a stronger chamber and a stronger community. I look forward to moving this important work forward as your Interim President and CEO.
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John Stanoch
Interim President & CEO
Minneapolis Regional Chamber of Commerce
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WELCOME TO OUR NEWEST MEMBERS
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Kraus-Anderson (KA) has received approval from the City of Minneapolis to build a new five-story, 100,000-square-foot headquarters at 8th St. and 5th Ave. in downtown Minneapolis. Groundbreaking ceremonies will take place at 2:30 p.m., Thursday, April 28, 2016 at 525 S. 8th Street, Minneapolis. KA has been headquartered in downtown Minneapolis since 1897. During new construction, KA staff will be moving into a temporary facility located at 3433 Broadway St. NE and will occupy the new building in late 2017. The new headquarters will house approximately 300 employees, doubling the current downtown staff with room for future expansion on the site. Consolidation will combine employees from the Kraus-Anderson Construction office in Circle Pines, and Kraus-Anderson Realty Company and Kraus-Anderson Development offices in Bloomington. The new building also will house Kraus-Anderson Mortgage, as well as the parent corporation, Kraus-Anderson Companies. Kraus-Anderson Insurance, one of the region's largest privately held independent insurance and risk management firms, will continue to operate from its offices in Burnsville.
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 Featured Job Opportunities!
- Carhartt - Mall of America | Retail Sales Associate | Apply
- Century Link | Sr. Enterprise Inside Sales - B2B | Apply
- Marco | Cisco Data Engineer and/or Cisco Voice Engineer with Data Experience | Apply
- Marco | Network Specialist | Apply
To learn more about these positions, please visit the
Employment Opportunities section on the Chamber's website.
Community Involvement Programs
Community Involvement Programs (CIP) - which provides services to people with developmental disabilities - announced the promotion of Jolene Thibedeau Boyd as chief service officer. Thibedeau Boyd will oversee CIP's continued emphasis on quality and innovation and will maintain excellence in services while strengthening ties to partner organizations and community partners. Thibedeau Boyd has led CIP's Employment Services and will now direct all of CIP's Community Services, including supportive housing, independent living services, case management and fiscal support entity services.
Xcel Energy
For more than 30 years, Xcel Energy has been a supporter of the business and financial literacy programs for Minnesota students offered by BestPrep, a statewide nonprofit organization with a mission to prepare students with business, career and financial literacy skills through hands-on experiences that inspire success in work and life. This year Xcel Energy was recognized with the 2016 Humanitarian Award for long-term support through grants, sponsorships, employee volunteers and board member leadership.
Marco
Marco Inc. received the 2016 BOLD Award in the Middle Market Category, presented by the Minnesota Chapter of the Association for Corporate Growth® (ACG). The program celebrates the corporate leaders and teams that are behind successful mergers and acquisitions, financing and extraordinary strategies that led to sustainability, remarkable performance and/or accelerated growth in 2015. The company is also the recipient of the 2016 Community Impact Award in the category of Long-Term Achievement, presented by Minnesota Business magazine. The Long-Term Achievement Award recognizes a Minnesota-based company for demonstrating a long-term commitment (at least ten years) to positively impacting the state's community of nonprofits or other worthy causes. Marco's CEO Jeff Gau was also named a finalist for the 2016 Community Impact Award Paragon of Leadership.
RBC Wealth Management
RBC Wealth Management announced the appointment of Tom Sagissor to serve as its president effective April 1. In this newly created position, Sagissor will lead the day-to-day operations of the firm's private client group, which is comprised of nearly 1,900 advisors in 41 states across the United States Sagissor previously managed RBC Wealth Management's north central region.
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RECENT RIBBON CUTTINGS & GRAND OPENINGS
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Junior Achievement of the Upper Midwest
 1800 White Bear Avenue North
Maplewood MN, 55109
www.jaum.org
Junior Achievement President Gina Blayney is all smiles as leaders from Synchrony Financial cut the ribbon for JA BizTown's Business Center.
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UPCOMING RIBBON CUTTINGS & GRAND OPENINGS
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Downtown Ribbon Cutting:
North Memorial, Walgreens, Orthology
Thursday, May 5, 2016 | 11 a.m.
Gaviidae Skyway in front of North Memorial, Orthology, and Walgreens
651 Nicollet Mall
Minneapolis, MN 55402
Please RSVP to Brent at
[email protected] if you plan to attend.
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 The Social Lights
Thursday, May 5, 2016 | 4 p.m.
610 9th St., SE, Ste. 101
Minneapolis, MN 55414
www.thesocial-lights.com
Please RSVP to Brent at
[email protected] if you plan to attend.
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American Cancer Society Relay for Life of Downtown Minneapolis Skyway
Mark your Calendar: Thursday, April 28
Each luminaria is personalized with a name, photo, message, or drawing in memory or in support of a friend or loved one who has been affected by cancer. These bags will be illuminated and displayed during the Happy Hour For Hope ceremony on April 28th.
Click here to visit the
Team Page or contact Cheri Gengler at
[email protected].
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 Join the fight against cancer at the second annual Downtown Minneapolis Relay For Life in the skyway on Thursday, April 28, 2016. You can support the fight against cancer by creating a team or being an individual participant in relay. This is a great opportunity to do some team-building while fundraising for the American Cancer Society's lifesaving mission.
Participants are invited to join the Kickoff Breakfast hosted by Thrivent Financial at Windows on Minnesota, followed by the Executive leadership lap. Teams and participants are then encouraged to take laps throughout the day at their convenience. After the event, join fellow participants for a drink and appetizer during a Happy Hour For Hope at Cambria Gallery.
To register as a participant or create a team please visit relayforlife.org/downtownminneapolismn. If you have any questions please contact Jessica Hoffman at [email protected]
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 Leadership Twin Cities now accepting applications for 2016-2017 Class
Leadership Twin Cities is a nine-month series that informs people about the critical issues facing our community. Its focus is to inform and inspire future leaders - and challenge them to make a difference.
Participants in Leadership Twin Cities
- Get behind the scenes access to museums, hospitals and government agencies.
- Create new business connections from a cross-section of the community.
- Hear from renowned speakers and community leaders, such as mayors, policy-makers and CEOs.
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Minnesota Twins Welcome Home Luncheon
Target Field/Carew Atrium
1 Twins Way
Minneapolis, MN 55403 |
View Map
Celebrate the start of a new season of baseball at Target Field! The Minnesota Twins Welcome Home luncheon presented by U.S. Bank is a long standing Chamber tradition and we invite you to join us. This fun event, emceed by Dick Bremer, includes player introductions, remarks by Minnesota Twins President, Dave St. Peter, an interview with Manager Paul Molitor, comments from a few roster stars, an appearance by TC Bear, a silent auction and much more. A portion of the proceeds from this event will benefit the Twins Community Fund.
Thank you to our presenting sponsor:
U.S. Bank
Thank you to our sponsors:
Bryant Graphics,
Mortenson,
Pioneer Press,
Mall of America,
University of St. Thomas and
Xcel Energy
Cancellations must be received 3 business days prior to the event for a refund. All no shows will be billed. Substitutes are accepted.
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Want to start saving on business supplies with your chamber membership?
 As a chamber member, your company is eligible for special savings, aggressive pricing and other great benefits from Office Depot, including the special offer below.
This month we're highlighting the spring cleaning items you get the deepest discounts on for being a member of our program. Click here for a cleaning checklist and take advantage of special savings.
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Chamber Referral Program
Do you know of a business that would benefit from membership?
Click on the link below and provide the business name and contact. When your referral joins the Chamber you will receive a $50 gift certificate to the member restaurant of your choice.
*There is no limit to the number of referrals you can submit. The more referrals you provide, the more gift certificates you receive!
Here is how it works:
- Contact the business you are referring and let them know that you have submitted them as a potential new member
- Complete the online referral form
- Chamber staff will contact your referral about membership and mention your name
Sharing how your Minneapolis Regional Chamber membership has helped your business can make a big difference!
Contact Rhonda Bernard at (612) 370-9121 today!
Enhanced Listing Opportunity
Click here for details.
Did you know that over 31,000 people visit the Chamber's website every month? And that for as a little as $150 you can show off your company to thousands of potential clients? The Chamber now offers Enhanced Listings in our Online Membership Directory. Your company is immediately bumped to the top of your category in search results and includes a YouTube video, a photo gallery, 1,600 character description, 20 additional keywords and much more!
You can check out the Minneapolis Regional Chamber's Enhanced Listing by clicking here and compare it with your listing in our online directory.
Contact Rhonda Bernard at (612) 370-9121 today!
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Meet the Chamber! Bloomington
 Tuesday, April 12
7:45 to 9 a.m. / Bloomington Chamber of Commerce
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DRIVE Roundtable:
Presidential Swing States and 10/10/270 - Why Ten Only Matter
Friday, April 15
7:30 to 9 a.m. / the Local
Thank you to our series sponsors: Cara Irish Pubs, Wells Fargo and Xcel Energy
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Happy Hour Networking at Crowne Plaza Aire MSP Airport - Mall of America
Thursday, April 21
4:30 to 6:30 p.m. / Crowne Plaza Aire MSP Airport - Mall of America
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