News from Your Chamber

Tuesday, December 19, 2023

This e-newsletter is brought to you by Chairman's Circle member:

*This e-newsletter ad is sponsored by Healthy Fusion.

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One top banner ad is available every week in the Chamber e-newsletter. Reach 1,500 people for just $125! Ads are on a first come, first served basis, and are also available in the body of the e-news for $100. Partner level members and up receive one complimentary e-news insert per year.

Please email jtanner@willmarareachamber.com to reserve your space.

Chamber Connections Resume in February

Thank you to the businesses that sponsored Chamber Connections this year. Special thanks to Employment Plus for managing registration, and to emcees Aaron Buttenhoff (Willmar WarHawks), Jon Schmidt (DataSuccess), Dawn Lippert (Mainstream Boutique), and Nichole Bredeson (Ridgewater College) for making sure each event went smoothly.

Blomkest 7-71 Celebrates First Dollar

Congratulations to Mausam Regmi, Debra Lippert, Chamkar Singh, and Gagan Singh of Blomkest 7-71 on their First Dollar! Blomkest 7-71 is a new Marathon gas station, convenience and liquor store located south of Willmar near the intersection of 7-71 not far from Blomkest. Stop in for lunch and try the Hangar 54 pizza or Champ's Chicken. Watch for more to come such as bait later this month and additional truck parking! Ambassadors pictured: Dawn Lippert (Mainstream Boutique), Julie Anderson (Kensington Insurance Agency / Nesbit Agencies), Doug Kuehnast (United Prairie), Michelle Marotzke (Mid-Minnesota Development Commission), Mitch Ashburn (Century 21 First Realty, Inc.), and Kris Gulbrandsen.

*This e-newsletter ad is sponsored by Glacial Ridge Curling.

Southwest Initiative Foundation Celebrates 20 Years

Congratulations and thank you to Scott Marquardt and Meghan Laffen of Southwest Initiative Foundation for 20 years of membership and for their continuous investment in our business community and region! For nearly 40 years, Southwest Initiative Foundation has been a trusted partner and a regional leader in making southwest Minnesota stronger through giving, economic development and community impact. SWIF invests in dreamers - families, entrepreneurs, community organizers, businesses, and nonprofit organizations to build communities and a vibrant region where everyone feels like they belong. Also pictured are Chamber Board members and/or Diplomats Lexi Kopacek (Christianson PLLP), Carla Kahle-Miller (Design West Ltd), Suzanne Hass (Allstate Insurance), Jon Rambow (Rambow), Andrew Kveene (Edward Jones), Terri Wood (Woody's Trucking Inc.), Tracy Lundy (Lake Region Bank), and Jessica Hanson (Willmar Hypnosis).

Southwest Initiative Foundation

Chamber Agri-Business & Board Visit New Hatchery

Willmar, MN is the worldwide leader of the turkey industry, in many ways. Willmar Poultry Company, and now Life-Science Innovations have been pioneers for the industry and the local community for over 75 years. Now, they are launching two new Willmar companies, Headstart Hatching and Next Nest Hatching.

Next Nest Hatching will be an equipment sales and marketing company for specialty equipment for the turkey industry. They specialize in partnering with companies who are focused on automation and tech solutions for the chicken industry and helping them adapt their products to work with turkeys (which is surprisingly difficult). The first product coming to market is the turkey version of the HatchCare machine (created by the Dutch company HatchTech), which will hatch turkeys and provide them with immediate access to feed, fresh water, fresh air and light. This is a first for the turkey industry; dramatically enhancing production performance and animal welfare.

Headstart Hatching will be a separate company, operating the most technically advanced turkey hatchery in the world. This building or “Nest One” will be the showcase for the equipment that Next Nest Hatching will market/sell to the rest of the turkey industry. This is their way to show potential customers that they’re investing before they ask them to do the same. Nest One will hatch 42-45 million turkey eggs every year.

DREAM Technical Academy Celebrates 10 Years

Congratulations and thank you to Alicya Perez-Wertz, Tori Hagen, Zeke Sombke, Tammie Knick, Kevin Tetzloff, Marcella Hernandez, and Diego Alvarado of DREAM Technical Academy for 10 years of membership! DREAM Technical Academy is a free, public charter school for grades 7-12 that focuses on 21st Century skills as part of career and college preparedness. DREAM uses a project-based learning curriculum that is entirely student-driven. The encouragement of critical thinking, exploration, and collaboration fosters a lifelong love of learning that will follow our students on whatever path they choose next. Also pictured are Chamber Board members and/or Diplomats Jessica Hanson (Willmar Hypnosis), Jon Rambow (Rambow), Jon Schmidt (DATASuccess, Inc), Andrew Kveene (Edward Jones), Suzanne Hass (Allstate), and Terri Wood (Woody's Trucking Inc.).

DREAM Technical Academy

Chamber Community Job Board

Hiring? Don't forget to login to ChamberMaster to post your openings on the Chamber Job Board! Job postings will be shared weekly in the e-newsletter that reaches 1,500 people as well as on the Chamber website. Please contact the Chamber if you have any questions.