connecting with the business community to identify challenges, explore opportunities and create innovative solutions

Chair’s ColumnLaura Barrett, Barrett Lawn Care •2014 Chamber Chairperson

NEWS6601 Lyndale Avenue South • Suite 106 • Richfield, MN 55423 • www.richfieldchamber.org • 612-866-5100

Visit www.richfieldchamber.org for all upcoming community and Chamber event details

UPCOMING EVENTS

Connecting Business for a Prosperous Community

October7 Business Owners Roundtable 14 RPW Car care Tips for Women 15 Board of Directors Meeting 17 Ribbon Cutting: Savers 22 New Member Social 23 Ribbon Cutting: Posters on Board23 Monthly Member Meeting: CJ Coolidge 29 Ribbon Cutting: Four Points by Sheraton

November4th Business Owners Roundtable 13 Ribbon Cutting: Maser, Amundson, Boggio, & Hendricks Grand Opening 19 Board of Directors Meeting 20 BEER Luncheon hosted by Eden Prairie with Randy Shaver

December2 Business Owners Roundtable 4 Beer with BEER11 Annual Holiday Party/ Member Recognition Event 17 Board of Directors Meeting

The Board of Directors is behind the scenes at many organizations and the Richfield Chamber’s board is no different. Board members are unpaid volunteers tasked with legal obligations of serving as fiduciaries to ensure that the Chamber’s

assets serve our members. Board members also serve the role of visionaries, community leaders, cheerleaders for the Chamber’s mission, and ambassadors to the community.

We meet as a whole every month for discussion, planning around critical topics, and making decisions that will benefit our members. During our annual retreat in June, the board reviewed our strategic plan and determined that one of our biggest priorities for the upcoming year is the organization’s governance. Although board governance isn’t a very “sexy” topic, board governance is the foundation of any organization and a solid foundation is a critical step in taking the Chamber to the next level.

As a board, we have built and approved an organizational chart which outlines each of the committees on which two board members will co-chair: Community Engagement, Member Engagement, Governance, Economic Development, Finance and Programming. Our Executive Committee also serves as our Nomination Committee.

The Governance Committee will be working on a revision to our bylaws (the rules of the organization). As an organization grows and changes, it is important to make sure that your bylaws accurately reflect the manner in which the organization operates; another critical step for our chamber to grow. The Governance Committee has begun reviewing and making recommendations as part of this plan; in addition they will also seek outside professional assistance to ensure the review process is handled properly.

The programming committee is looking for participation from our members. Specifically – planning the content for our 2015 monthly member meetings, our 60th Anniversary Celebration (Q4) and our Business Expo (Q1). They will be reaching out and asking for your participation – but, you don’t have to wait for a phone call! If you’re interested in getting more out of your membership and elevating your profile in the community, get involved in a committee today!

There are so many exciting things happening within the Richfield Chamber of Commerce. We continue to see an increase in membership; we are hosting stimulating programs, and are increasing networking opportunities, just to name a few. Thank you for the opportunity to serve this dynamic, innovative and engaging organization! I am honored to part of it and am very excited to for the future!

PAGE 2

connecting businesses with one another by hosting networking events in both large and small group settings

MEMBERSHIP UPDATE

We finished the second trimester of 2014 with ten new members through August 31, 2014. We thank you, new members, for supporting the work of the Chamber and helping us continue our mission of Connecting Businesses for a Prosperous Community. Veteran members please take note of the new members listed and reach out to welcome them to the Richfield Chamber – watch for their yellow “new member” ribbons at events and make an effort to ensure that they feel welcome.

New members are even as compared to last year at this time – hopes are high that we will increase membership in the third trimester after hosting another “Rise and Shine Richfield” event in November which will be hosted and sponsored by the “New” Old Country Buffet.

2014 BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Laura Barrett Board Chair 2014

Angie Schaefbauer President

Lin Shurtleff Treasurer

Brad Beard952.924.8348

Fairview Southdale Hospital

Jennifer Bornholdt612.866.7700Hub Jewelers

Gordy Ecklund612.866.8832

RB Honda

Mike Elliot612.866.0016

LaMettry’s Collision

Debra Hampton952.830.0214

American Dairy Queen Corp (IDQ)

Laurel Hansen952.915.3654

The Arc Greater Twin Cities

Nicole Krolikowski612.798.3844

BML Harris Bank

Pablo Murillo612.840.3497

Global Mercantile

Debi Neitzel-Waitkus952.925.4147

Maser Amundson, P.A.

Anne Schultz952.451.8088

Linden Hill Florist

Gordon Vizecky612.291.7414

Best Buy

NEWAnniken Creative, Inc.Gepner, DavidJockey Person to Person- Suzanne BensonLyndale Plaza ApartmentsMutual of Omaha Financial Advisors

Planned Parenthood MN, ND, SDRichfield DentistryRichfield Health CenterUdofot Enterprises, Inc.Von Hansons Meats

RENEWEDA World of FishAida Mediterranean CuisineBarrett Lawn Care, Inc.Bernie’s Montessori & Child CareComplete Chiropractic and Wellness, P.A.Egan Chiropractic & Acupuncture Ltd.Flick Business CentersFred Babcock VFW Post #5555Insurance Brokers of MN - Jay Petersen AgencyLaFayette, Melssen & Plath, Ltd.Lakewinds Natural Foods LaMettry’s CollisionLinden Hills FloristMaenke Bros. Outdoor, Inc.

Mainstreet Village of RichfieldMetro DentalcareMetro SalesMidwest Podiatry CentersMinnesota MagiciansNational Cremation SocietyNoodles and Company - Cedar PointNoodles and Company - LyndaleThe Pines Senior Living CommunityPizza LuceSandahl & Associates Law OfficesShapiro & Zielke, LLPTonsager Tax & Accounting ServicesZerorez

THANK YOU TO NEW AND RENEWING MEMBERS

PAGE 3

connecting businesses to resources that spur their development and enhance their bottom line

THANK YOU TO NEW AND RENEWING MEMBERS

Proud Members of the Richfield Chamber

of Commerce

400 West 78th Street Richfield, MN 55423

877.808.5931RBHonda.com

401 West 77th Street Richfield, MN 55423

877.858.6443RBMitsu.com

Richfield Bloomington Honda & Mitsubishi

Now together on one campus!NOW OPEN!

OPENS AUGUST 2015

Current store open during construction

PAGE 4

connecting the business community to city staff, local government and schools - creating a collaborative business environment

RICHFIELD PROFESSIONAL WOMEN AT ASSISTANCE LEAGUE OF MPLS/ST. PAUL AND MN LIFE COLLEGE

RISE AND SHINE RICHFIELD AT OLD COUNTRY BUFFET

RIBBON CUTTING AT EDDIE’Z

BOARD RETREAT AT INTERNATIONAL DAIRY QUEENRIBBON CUTTING AT

RICHFIELD DENTISTRY

RIBBON CUTTING AT RICHFIELD BLOOMINGTON MITSUBISHI

MAY BEER EVENT WITH OLYMPIAN JESSICA SCHULTZ

PAGE 5

connecting Richfield with the world and promoting local business by maintaining a robust website and mobile app

BUSINESS AFTER HOURS - “WET YOUR WHISTLE” AT CHAMPPS AMERICANA

AUGUST 2014 MEMBER MEETING AT LAKEWIND FOODS CO-OP

AUGUST BEER EVENT - MN SUPER BOWL BID COMMITTEETHANK YOU SPONSORSWe are very thankful for our second trimester sponsors – without their support events and special incentives would not be possible: Assistance League, Bachman’s, Champps Americana, International Dairy Queen, Lakewinds Natural Foods, Old Country Buffet, Patrick’s Bakery, RB Honda, RBCU and Wellington Management.

FINANCESOverall, membership dues revenue is down 6% as compared to the first eight months of 2013; income is up, but so are expenses. A new member advertising opportunity in trimester 3 this year should help bolster our revenue stream and we anticipate finishing the year on a positive note.

RICHFIELD VIDEO TOUR IS LIVE!Last fall, the Chamber entered into a partnership with CGI Communications to produce a series of short videos highlighting aspects of Richfield; the videos are available on the Chamber website, and on www.relocate.org. We are pleased to announce that the videos are LIVE; please take a look on the Chamber’s home page!

PAGE 6

connecting business to affordable marketing and advertising opportunities via print, email and website

OUTREACHGROW MN VISITS!Special thanks to Rich Thompson (Owner, Fireside Pizza) and John Gainor (President/CEO, International Dairy Queen) for participating in our Grow MN visits in July/August. The Minnesota Chamber’s Grow Minnesota! program harnesses public and private resources to keep Minnesota companies strong and competitive in today’s global economy. The program launched 11 years ago with 27 partners; today the partnership includes over 70 local chambers of commerce statewide. Partners have visited and revisited with more than 8,200 Minnesota companies, to thank them for their investments in their communities and this state. As a result of visits, partners have provided assistance to over 1,200 companies, protecting over 16,000 Minnesota jobs.

RICHFIELD BUSINESS COUNCILThe Richfield Business Council (RBC) is a collaborative effort spearheaded by the Richfield Chamber of Commerce. The purpose of the RBC is to bring together all the people, public institutions, businesses and community organizations with interests in the local economy. We meet periodically to review economic development opportunities in Richfield and most recent collaborative efforts include the 77th Street Underpass.The Council is comprised of city staff, city government officials, Richfield Public Schools, and Chamber staff and members; it serves the unique needs of its area members; potential outcomes could be strategic planning, programs and economic development initiatives. RBC meetings are an opportunity for the group to prioritize and bring focus to business and community needs in Richfield; increasing awareness provides for a stronger, united voice.The Chamber encourages a collaborative business climate and one of the ways we deliver is by pulling together stakeholders for an open and engaging conversation which results in action. A collaborative business climate is vital to the RCOC, strengthens Richfield, and is the foundation for a successful future.

CHAMBER PRESIDENT SPEAKS AT ROTARYChamber President Angie Schaefbauer presented to the Richfield Rotary Club in August. The group was very eager to learn all about everything we’ve been up to lately! In her presentation “Chamber 101″ Angie introduced Rotary to the board of directors, what we do, how we do it, gave many examples of all the different ways the Chamber impacts the community and discussed why Chamber membership is important to businesses. The presentation went VERY well – look for it to become a program in the near future for new and prospective members!

SPECIAL INVITATION - LUNCH WITH IDQ & US CHAMBERThe Richfield and Edina Chambers of Commerce were invited to a special lunch with International Dairy Queen President & CEO, John Gainor and VP Corporate Relations for the US Chamber of Commerce, Ron Blum. Attendees noshed on new

lunch menu offerings and delighted in sampling new dessert items as well. The conversation was very informative and included topics such as immigration reform, the workforce skills gap and minimum wage. There was a lengthy discussion about California’s SB 610 Bill - which pits industry bodies like the International Franchise Association (IFA) and the California Chamber of Commerce against small businesses as well as labor unions like the Service Employees International Union (SEIU). We also learned about the national resources available to local chambers as well.

WELCOME NEW TEACHERS 2014!Richfield Public Schools held their opening workshop for 37 teachers new to Richfield. School staff from all schools, community representatives including the Mayor and Chamber President and the School Board were present to welcome all the new teachers.

MEMBER NEWSLYNDALE STATION NEARING CAPACITYReplacing the now demolished Kmart on the corner of Lyndale and 66th Street, the Lyndale Station development opened with LA Fitness as an anchor tenant in the fall of 2012 before Lyndale Station’s 19,000-square-foot “Phase II” portion took shape, with three tenants arriving in recent months. Firehouse Subs opened late last year, followed by Salon Concepts in early spring, Von Hanson’s Meats last month and Planned Parenthood opened at the end of June. Phase III will feature a Caribou coffee with drive-thru, MyBurger and 1-2 other yet to be named businesses. The entire development is managed by Wellington Management based in St. Paul.

NEW VALUE VILLAGE STORE ANNOUNCED!It was announced that a fifth Arc’s Value Village Thrift Store & Donation Center, is set to open in November at 10546 France Ave. S., Bloomington. The new store will occupy 20,000 sq. ft, with a sales floor of nearly 14,000 sq. ft., similar in size to the Richfield and New Hope Stores. Arc’s Value Village Bloomington will employ more than 40 people in management, sales associate, merchandise production, maintenance, donation receiving and general labor positions. Volunteers will play a key role too, by unpacking, tagging and stocking merchandise every day. Look for information about employment and volunteer opportunities to be posted at www.arcsvaluevillage.org.In the coming months, more will be learned about grand opening plans that include donation drives, volunteer rallies, employment hiring fairs, community promotions, all culminating in the grand opening celebration. Proceeds from the new site, as with existing stores, will benefit The Arc Greater Twin Cities’ services for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities and their families.The store was made possible by the generous donors to The Arc’s successful $3.5 million capital campaign, which also funded the opening of the St. Paul store and renovations at Richfield, New Hope and Brooklyn Center!

MINNESOTA LIFE COLLEGE“BIGGEST YEAR EVER”The campus is buzzing with activity as the staff of Minnesota Life College (MNL) prepare for their 18th program year. They are especially delighted to announce that this year they are welcoming the largest student body to date, with a total enrollment of 42 undergraduates!

PROGRAMMINGRISE & SHINE TREMENDOUS SUCCESS!We held a great breakfast meeting at the “new” Old Country Buffet in May. Close to 30 attended breakfast which is a FREE networking that brings new and prospective members together to learn about the Chamber, meet our staff and network with current members. Look for the next “Rise & Shine” breakfast in November.

BEER EVENTS CONTINUESUCCESSFUL RUN!The Bloomington, Edina, Eden Prairie and Richfield multi-chamber events continue to produce great networking opportunities across multiple chambers. In May the Richfield Chamber welcomed Jessica Schultz, Richfield resident and 2014 Sochi Olympic Curling team member. In August, the Bloomington Chamber hosted the 2018 Super Bowl committee. Watch for two more events in 2014, November Eden Prairie will host Randy Shaver (Channel 11 newscaster) and in December we will have an actual Beer with BEER event at Brunzwick Lanes in Eden Prairie!

MEMBERSHIPCOMING SOON “MEMBER PLUS” APPWe will be rolling out a new member feature - “MemberPlus” is an app for your mobile device that will allow RCOC members to receive push notifications from the Chamber, participate in a community feed to foster social interaction and community support between members, you can directly link to the Member Information Center to update your online directory profile, auto login to to the RCOC website, check-in at events, post news releases and job postings and mark your favorite RCOC members for easy tracking - basically your RCOC membership in the palm of your hand!

MEMBER MAILING LABELSOne of the main reasons for joining a Chamber is to grow your network. Members are strongly encouraged to reach out and introduce/promote themselves to other Chamber members via postal mail. The Chamber will prepare for you Avery mailing labels in a .pdf format and deliver them to you via email when you join the Chamber and each year you renew. This is a great way to market your business directly to decision makers and company owners – be sure to take advantage of this great member benefit!

ARE YOU A CHAMBER CHEERLEADER?2-4-6-8 Who do we appreciate?! Richfield Chamber members, of course! Congratulations to all the businesses who believe that investing

PAGE 7

connecting with the business community to identify challenges, explore opportunities and create innovative solutions

in the Richfield Chamber is an investment in their business! Membership inquiries to the RCOC are coming in quite regularly – hopes are high that we’ll continue to see membership growth throughout 2014 – and the more the merrier! We could use your help to spread the word about the Richfield Chamber – if you refer a business to the RCOC and they become a member, your company will receive a FREE month of membership! Contact the Chamber for details.

BUSINESS CONNECTIONS EMAILOne of the Richfield Chamber’s commitments to our members is to offer non-traditional forms of networking. Each week we create a theme-based email called “Business Connections” which is delivered to over 800 inboxes each Wednesday. We work to develop themes that vary and will work to feature all of our members at least once per year. Topics have ranged from Valentine’s Day to Graduation Parties to pizza and include links to our members who offer services to support the theme. Think your business directory category should be included in our weekly business connections email? Let us know!

HOW WELL DO YOU KNOW THE CHAMBER?The Richfield Chamber is the leading business organization in Richfield because we demonstrate bold leadership on business issues, serve members through innovative programs -AND- are the go-to resource for business in the area. We have created a list of “Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)” to help the community better understand what the RCOC is all about. Checkout the RCOC FAQ http://richfieldmnchamber.org/faqs/; if you think a topic should be listed, please let us know!

TOP 10 TIPS TO MAXIMIZECHAMBER MEMBERSHIPWhether you are new to the Chamber or you’ve been a member for years, it’s always helpful to understand how to get the most out of membership. Here are the Top 10 Tips to Maximize Chamber Membership:

• Verify and complete your online directory profile• Take advantage of all of the RCOC website features• Visit the Chamber website and review the Calendar• Register for events• Wear your name tag• Introduce yourself• Sponsor an event or advertise on our website• Stay “plugged in”• Use Good Networking Etiquette• Spread the word about the Chamber

Don’t forget – when looking for activities to do or places to go, try to buy local and use fellow RCOC members whenever possible. Supporting other members (and let them know you’re an RCOC member, too) extends the goodwill of membership and helps you build relationships and grow your network.

A NEW, INEXPENSIVE WAY TO REACH EVERYONE IN RICHFIELDThe Richfield Chamber is very excited to be launching a new, inexpensive advertising opportunity! If you’re interested in reaching every resident and business in Richfield for under $750 per year (that’s close to 16,000 recipients)! Slots are sure to fill quickly – don’t miss this great opportunity!

THE RCOC FINDS SOLUTIONSWhether you are working to expand your business, open a business or want to keep your business competitive, the Chamber should be your first step in developing a plan. Hitting a roadblock? Can’t find the right person to solve your problem? The adage, “it’s not what you know, but who you know” is true! The Chamber is “in the know” and has worked with countless businesses just like yours troubleshooting and putting plans into action. Don’t waste valuable time – let the Chamber help you today!

As a member-driven, member-supported organization, the Richfield Chamber brings together diverse interests to foster positive action on issues of common concern to the business community. It is our mission to build community and economic prosperity in Richfield by promoting and representing business – and we do this by demonstrating bold leadership on business issues, serve members through innovative programs -AND- are the go-to resource for business in the area.

“MEMBER OF THE MONTH” COMING SOON!Watch for an exciting new promotional tool for Richfield Chamber members – “Member of the Month” will be featured in a weekly update email and on the RCOC website. The RCOC will select a member to be featured each month and they will be briefly interviewed over the phone. The feature will include the member’s photo or other supporting media; in addition the interview will be posted on the RCOC’s blog and utilized in our social media streams as well. If you would like to be featured as a “Member of the Month”, please contact the Chamber.

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENTMN CHAMBERSTATEWIDE POLICY TOUR 2014 In May, the Minnesota Chamber hosted a Statewide Policy tour in Burnsville. Chamber President, Angie Schaefbauer attended along with several other members of the MN Chamber. Bill Blazar, Senior Vice President, Public Affairs and Business Development presented a wrap up of the 2014 Legislative Session. It was a great opportunity to network with peers, learn about obstacles companies face when growing jobs in Minnesota and learn what’s at stake in the November 2014 elections.In addition, we were able to tour the Business Card Service, Inc. plant where they provide business cards, letterhead, and other personalized products for about 18% of the Fortune 500 companies. We even got to see how they pioneered online ordering back in the early 1980s! It is a very impressive operation AND originally a Richfield-based business. How’s THAT for a small world?! CHAMBER EXEC SELECTED FOR PRESTIGIOUS PROGRAMRCOC President Angie Schaefbauer has been accepted into the MN Chamber’s Leadership Minnesota Program for 2014-2015. This is an elite honor granted to one MN Chamber Exec per year; there are 34 other classmates from all facets of business across MN!!! This is a tremendous professional opportunity for Angie AND an exceptional opportunity to increase Richfield’s visibility in the state. Participation in this program would be in direct support of the RCOC’s strategic plan goals 1 and 3:

• Goal 1: Grow the influence and reputation of the Richfield Chamber of Commerce AND• Goal 3: Demonstrate bold leadership to the Richfield business community

Watch for session summaries after each session which will include information about how session learnings will apply to the Richfield community. The summaries will be shared with local news media and RCOC membership via email, blog and print newsletter; this will be yet another way the RCOC is bringing the world to Richfield.

RCOC PRESIDENT ATTENDS 2014MINI INSTITUTERCOC President, Angie Schaefbauer, attended the Minnesota Chamber of Commerce Executives (MCCE) Mini Institute in June. It is MCCE’s most highly attended conference, and was hosted at the Le St-Germain Suite Hotel in St. Cloud. Mini Institute offers participants the chance to share ideas, network with their peers across Minnesota, and learn from the highly regarded speakers and the Minnesota Chamber’s executives and staff. The featured speaker was Patrick H. McGaughey, CPF, IOM – an international business speaker with a background of professional success in broadcasting and business association management. He is recognized as “America’s Chamber Mentor” by chamber professionals coast to coast helping hundreds create new income and membership success.

INTERNATIONAL DAIRY QUEEN HOSTS 2014 BOARD RETREATThank you to International Dairy Queen and board member Debra Hampton for hosting the 2014 Board Retreat! RCOC Board members were invited to tour the R&D lab as well as the newly remodeled first floor which features a new workout area and meeting space! The meeting was facilitated by Regina Barr, founder and CEO of Red Ladder, Inc. The Richfield Chamber’s Executive Committee has been working hard to build a solid foundation for the Chamber moving into 2015! Outcomes from the June Board retreat indicated a need for the board to focus efforts on a bylaws revision, updated organizational structure and committee development.

METROPOLITAN AIRPORTS COMMISSION BRIEFING/TOUR The Minnesota Chamber hosted an event at the Metropolitan Airports Commission during which a special briefing on current issues and future developments with the airport featured Jeff Hamiel, CEO/Executive Director of the Metropolitan Airports Commission.

David C. Olson 1956-2014We are deeply saddened to report that our leader and friend, Minnesota Chamber President David C. Olson, passed away July 16.

RCOC AMBASSADORS UPDATEThe Richfield Chamber Ambassadors (not to be confused with the Richfield 4th of July Ambassadors) is a great organization for the RCOC. They are a group of volunteers who serve as a liaison between members and Chamber Staff – they are public relations representatives of the Chamber.The RCOC Ambassadors have been busy welcoming new members in writing, visiting local businesses for lunch, reaching out to potential new members to solicit membership and attending ribbon cutting ceremonies.

connecting businesses with one another by hosting networking events in both large and small group settings

Connecting Business for a Prosperous Community

Find us on LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter! Join in our conversations and tell others about us as well.