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Thursday, January 19, 2017
Letter from the President
Wow! What a whirlwind of a year 2016 was. It's funny how much can change in 12 months. During that time period we saw people come and go. We lost a dear friend, Todd Klingel, in November of 2016. Todd was not only part of the foundation of the Minneapolis Regional Chamber of Commerce, he was an integral part of the Minneapolis business community. Todd's legacy will continue to serve as an inspiration to all of us.

We also met a new face. Jonathan Weinhagen started as President of MRCC in October. We are so thankful to have him as our new leader. Jonathan previously served as the Vice President of the Saint Paul Area Chamber where he cultivated a record of growing membership and non-dues revenue, increasing membership value, and demonstrated a commitment to diversity and equality.  Jonathan brings with him an irrepressible spirit and a dedication to reinvigorating the Chamber. I firmly believe that he will do great things here. 
 
Looking forward into 2017, the Chamber has retooled our Strategic Plan and our Business Plan. We are looking to increase membership value by organizing a focus group series with the intent of learning the concerns and thoughts of our members. These focus groups will give us a better understanding of how the Chamber can best serve our members. Communication between our organization and our members is vital to the success of all parties, and so, in addition to the focus group, the Chamber hopes to establish a Communications Committee dedicated to educating our staff and overhauling the way we communicate with members.
 
I want to thank you for your continued support of this valued document. As the days get shorter and the weather gets colder, the Chamber will continue to offer its comprehensive programming and event schedule while providing our members with numerous benefits.
 
Thank you again for your support of the Bloomington Chamber Commerce, the Voice of Business!


Maureen Scallen Failor
President
Bloomington Chamber of Commerce
Strategic Vision

To ensure that the Bloomington Chamber's vision continues to move forward, the Bloomington Chamber Board reviewed and redefined our Strategic Plan in the fall of 2015. Four Strategic Goals were developed and we want to provide our members with a deeper understanding about each of these goals. The fourth and final goal we will look at is:

1. Achieve efficiency and strengthen the Bloomington Chamber of Commerce to ensure organizational advancement.
2. Serve as the voice of the business community.
3. Establish criteria and develop benchmarks to increase member involvement and ensure the membership experience is meaningful, memorable, and measurable.
4. Be a resource and connector for the business community and other interests.

How do we plan to achieve this goal? 
It has been a longstanding goal of the Chamber to empower members to connect with success by operating as the link to people, programs and resources necessary to grow their business. While being the voice of business and speaking on behalf of the business community is also an important role, the Chamber strives to serve as a liaison between that community and the City, County, State Chamber and Small Business Association.
 
A successful Chamber operates with its member interests at heart. In order to better analyze how the Chamber can best serve these interests, the Chamber will organize a focus group series in 2017. These focus groups will assess member concerns and thoughts about the current marketplace, ideas for new programming, and ultimately increase the value of Chamber membership.
 
We would not be the organization we are today without our members, and so we strive to continue to offer you tools and opportunities to be as successful as possible in your field. These tools include a listing in our Membership Directory, which is issued to hundreds of area businesses. The Directory is a great way for your businesses to connect and collaborate with others in Bloomington and the south metro area.

The Chamber also hopes to educate members on strategies to cultivate a more productive and efficient work environment. We will look at educating students on nontraditional schooling options. Bloomington is consistently ranked as one of the top cities for education in the state, and the Chamber wants to continue that tradition. We will also consider offering programming centered on workforce development and diversity in the workplace.

2017 Bloomington Chamber Public Policy Priorities

The Bloomington Chamber supports legislation that will promote, support and enhance business prosperity, civic vitality and the quality of life for businesses and the community in the Bloomington area. For a complete outline of the Chamber's priorities, click here.

Business Tax Relief
Minnesota businesses pay some of the highest taxes in the nation. The Bloomington Chamber supports reducing uncompetitive business taxes and working to encourage investment and economic growth.

Transportation
The Bloomington Chamber supports a safe and efficient multi-modal transportation system that provides for the effective movement of people and goods.

Education and Workforce
The Bloomington Chamber supports a well-educated, world class workforce which requires effective investment from early childhood through to various forms of higher education.

Labor
A well-educated and qualified workforce helps provide a competitive advantage for Minnesota businesses. The Bloomington Chamber opposes labor policies that make Minnesota an uncompetitive market for either business or worker.

Healthcare
The Bloomington Chamber supports ensuring that residents and employers have access to high quality, affordable health insurance.
Milestone Anniversaries
Congratulations to our Bloomington Chamber members celebrating milestone anniversaries during the first quarter of 2017! We appreciate their ongoing commitment to the Bloomington community and their continued investment and support of the Chamber.

45 years
DoubleTree by Hilton Bloomington Minneapolis South

40 years
Williams & Associates, Inc.

35 years
HealthPartners

25 years
Bloomington Convention & Visitors Bureau

10 years
Culver's

5 years
Bloomington Security Solutions
Lucky Dog Pet Lodge
Massage Envy Spa
Seven Hills Preparatory Academy
Community News
Be sure to send us your business news to be included in the section in the future!

Kraus-Anderson Companies
  • Kraus-Anderson will build The Elliot, a new 8-story luxury hotel located at 5th Avenue at 9th Street in downtown Minneapolis. The Elliot, planned to be a 165-unit Autograph Collection® hotel by Marriott®, is part of the new comprehensive, mixed-use block development that will also feature Kraus-Anderson's new home office, a 17-story H.Q. residential tower and Finnegan's microbrewery. Located in Elliot Park, the new hotel is designed to fit into the fabric of the existing historic neighborhood. An attractive brick exterior will include metal clad bays and large windows, a transparent first floor, and a new streetscape with high-quality landscaping and large canopy trees that will be inviting to guests, visitors and pedestrians
  • Kraus-Anderson Development has promoted Jack Appert to director of development in the company's Bloomington, Minn. office In his new position as director of development, Appert will be responsible for the real estate development process, providing design and due diligence expertise throughout the development of various projects and sectors, including healthcare, office, retail, senior and multi-family housing.
City Council Vacancy
  •  The Bloomington City Council is accepting applications for the position of City Councilmember representing District II. The term of this appointment is until the next regular municipal election on November 7, 2017. Applications will be accepted at the Office of the City Clerk, Bloomington Civic Plaza, until 4 PM Tuesday, January 24. For more information, click here.
New Board Members & Officers for 2017
The Bloomington Chamber of Commerce is pleased to announce its new board members and officers for the 2017 board of directors.

Dr. Chris Cassirer Northwestern Health Sciences University
Branden Happel
Toro Company
Bryan Huntington
Larkin Hoffman
Robert Murphy
HealthPartners
Christine O'Hotto
TRIA Orthopaedic Center
Juan Ramirez
Marcelita's Cookies
Darlene Spiegelberg
Fairview Southdale
Sarah Townes
Mall of America
Ken Vinje
2017 Chair-elect
Orinthia Montague
2017 Chair
Michelle Swanson
2017 Past-chair
Scott Taylor
2017 Treasurer
Letter from the Board Chair
A letter from the Chair of the Bloomington Chamber Board of Directors, Dr. Orinthia Montague

Education & Normandale Community College

On behalf of the Bloomington Chamber Board of Directors, I would like to thank you for your membership with the Bloomington Chamber of Commerce. This organization has long prided itself on being a pillar of the community, striving every day to make Bloomington a better place.  Your support of the Chamber makes those efforts possible. As a member of the Chamber you are given access to a wide variety of networking and programming events, including two signature events: the Annual Golf Classic, which takes place in June, and the Annual Gala, coming up in a few short weeks.  

The Chamber has spent years developing crucial partnerships with business and community organizations.   We also collaborate with the City of Bloomington and the Bloomington School District to ensure openness within the city. Bloomington residents and business owners alike value these relationships, as shown in the 2016 National Business Survey conducted by the City. The results of the survey were revealed at the second annual Business Day at City Hall and were shown to be very positive.

The Chamber recently refocused its strategic plan for 2017. Looking ahead, we want to increase the frequency of communication with members using every channel available to us. The Chamber hopes to learn from its member's new ways in which we can provide value. We hope to continue and expand our successful programs, such as our B.E.E.R. series.

The Chamber's staff is equally important to its success. The president, Maureen Scallen Failor, and her staff do a terrific job of providing members with valuable programs and events. They are always looking for new ways to add value to your membership. We are fortunate to have the staff that we do at the Chamber!

In closing, I would like to thank our Chamber members, Board members, and the many volunteers for their efforts in serving the Chamber of Commerce in 2016 and in the year ahead. Without your time, support, and talent, we would not be the highly successful organization that we are today. I am honored to lead the Board of Directors in 2017 and look forward to seeing you soon!
 
Orinthia Montague, Ph.D
Vice President, Student Affairs, Normandale Community College
Board Chair, Bloomington Chamber of Commerce

Member Testimonial

"The Bloomington Chamber of Commerce's Business Matters/Safety Matters program has been an invaluable resource for Donaldson Company. Our participation in this program -- and the Chamber in general -- helps us forge and maintain valuable connections with other local businesses and the city's individual departments. The program speakers are knowledgeable professionals who have alerted us to issues and opportunities relevant to the safety, well-being and success of our employees and our organization."

Becky Cahn
Corporate Communications Director, Donaldson Company
Featured Events

Annual Gala: BCC Corral

This is not your first rodeo. You know the kind of parties we throw. So when we say we're fixing on a night as crazy as popcorn on a hot stove, you know we're not just swallowin' nails and spittin' out corkscrews.  Join our herd Saturday, Jan. 28  as the Bloomington Chamber pays tribute to the larger-than-life styles of the old west, colorfully recreated at the Radisson Blu Mall of America, where pony meets posh. 

Annual Membership Meeting

On February 10 the Annual Meeting will highlight the successes of the Bloomington Chamber in 2016 and look forward to what is in store for 2017. This event highlights the Chamber's programming and signature events, membership development, and volunteer engagement while featuring a notable keynote speaker.


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