All Fur Dogs Established: 2018 Owner: Andy Gray Number of employees: 6 Community service: We work closely with the Mower County Humane Society, training their dogs for adoption. During the Christmas season, we organized and promoted our business as a donation collection site for items the Humane Society could use, which was very successful. We have also sponsored the Austin Police Department K-9 fundraiser for the past two years. In regards to the Austin Police Department, we also board their K-9 Officers when needed, as well as opening up our building for them to train when needed.
Asa Auto Plaza Established: 2017 Owners/Manager: Todd and Tanner Asa Number of employees: 20 Community service: Our business has been a large sponsor of Austin’s Mower County CEO program, not only through donation of money but also through the mentoring program. I was selected as a mentor for one of the students and have helped guide him through many of the challenges of starting/owning your own business. Our business has also been a Mower County Fair sponsor for the last two years.
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AUSTIN DAILY HERALD ďšş BUSINESS OF THE YEAR NOMINEES
Not Your Mama’s Photography Established: 2016 Owners: Lora and Isaac Skelton Number of employees: 2 Community service: A young woman was involved in a horrible accident in Brownsdale, losing one eye and needing many reconstructive surgeries. We hosted an entire day of photo shoots at Todd Park and donated 100 percent of that day’s profits to her to help with medical bills. A total of $2,300 was donated.
Huffman Flooring Design Center Established: 1993 Owner: Joe Huffman Number of employees: 4 Community service: Austin Youth Baseball, Austin Youth Hockey, Austin Packer basketball, Pacelli School, Christmas in the City, Austin amatuer baseball, Lyle Area Cancer Auction, Marcusen Park Association. We are now able to be even more involved throughout the community with our new additions of Jen and Ellie. Community and supporting shopping local are very high on our priorities.
AUSTIN DAILY HERALD BUSINESS OF THE YEAR NOMINEES
Great Clips Established: NA Owners/Managers: Carry Langanfranchise owner, Kenna Zvorakmanager, Stephanie Rodriguezassistant manager Number of employees: 9 Community service: Austin Bruins chuck-a-puck sponsorship, Fourth of July parade, Paint the Town Pink, hosted a table at Ladies Night Out, Austin Packer Sports and Lyle Athletics, multiple personal donations and silent auctions.
Gerard Academy provides specialized mental health services for children, teens, adults and families. Many of the people we serve have traumatic pasts, complex mental health issues and social/ emotional behavioral problems. Gerard Academy youth and staff participate in a wide variety of community service/community involvement throughout the year. We volunteer at the Mower County Humane Society, Sacred Heart Nursing Home, Hormel Historic Home, Rachel’s Hope, United Way Day of Caring, United Way Community Connect Event, and Feed Our Starving Children. In addition, we sponsor two American Red Cross Blood Drives annually and provide scholarships to Riverland Community and Technical College students. Our staff are active members of the Rotary Club of Austin. We added an Outpatient Program in response to the growing need for mental health services in our community.
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Potach & Mitchell Dental Established: 1967 Owner: Kurt Potach DDS and Richard Mitchell DDS Number of employees: 19 Community service: Dr. Potach is a Lions member. Numerous annual monetary contributions to over 30 community organizations including the Karl Potach Golf Tournament, which has raised $1.1 million for CCR, Hormel Institute and Mayo Clinic. They are also involved in American Legion poppies, Chamber Access scholarships, Austin Area Commission for the Arts, Austin Packer Hockey Blue Line Club, Austin Bruins, Austin Noon Kiwanis, Austin Packer Booster Club, Austin High School Project Graduation, Austin Bike Club, City of Austin flower baskets, Darren Dash, Faith Church, Forte Milers Barbershop Chorus, Jay C. Hormel Nature Center, The Hormel Institute, Karl Potach Golf Tournament, Mower County Fair, Northwestern Singers, Pacelli Prom, Christian Dental Society, Riverland Community College, Salvation Army, Shriners Circus, Southland Post Prom, University of Minnesota Hormel Institute, Wagon Warriors and Noon Lions.
Sellers Lock & Key Established: 2008 Owner: Jeff Sellers Number of employees: 3 Community service: Donate to the Northwestern Singers, River Rats Car Club, the Mower County Humane Society, the Salvation Army, American Red Cross, American Cancer Society, St. Augustine’s and St. Edwards churches, Toys for Tots and Plunging for Pink. Sellers is most proud of the support and donations to the American Legion and to individual veterans.
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Mower County Historical Society Established: 1947 Manager: Randal J. Forster Number of employees: 3 Community service: History Happy Hour with the Hormel Historic Home and Friends of the Library, support the Pillars of the City program with the city, partner with Discover Austin to promote tourism, partnered with the Matchbox Children’s Theatre last year to produce the play “Our Town” in the Pioneer Building, partnered with Beyond the Yellow Ribbon last year with the Vietnam Wall Exhibit, new Vietnam display, Southgate fourthgraders come every year for a whole day. AUSTIN DAILY HERALD BUSINESS OF THE YEAR NOMINEES
Gerard Academy
D&G Ace Hardware
Established: 1969 Executive director: Karen Wolf Number of employees: NA Community service: Gerard Academy youth and staff participate in a wide variety of community service/community involvement throughout the year. We volunteer at the Mower County Humane Society, Sacred Heart Nursing Home, Hormel Historic Home, Rachel’s Hope, United Way Day of Caring, United Way Community Connect Event, and Feed Our Starving Children. In addition, we sponsor two American Red Cross Blood Drives annually and provide scholarships to Riverland Community and Technical College students. Our staff are active members of the Rotary Club of Austin. We added an Outpatient Program in response to the growing need for mental health services in our community.
Established: NA Owner: NA Number of employees: 13 Community service: We donate throughout the year to many events. We donate to fundraisers to some families who have been devastated with cancer or other diagnoses, Fishing for a Cure, and to schools on occasion along with many other donations. We donate paint and many other supplies for the Pay-It-Forward project and also donate time to help with the project while it is going on. We participate in Winter Readiness with Austin Utilities, where we show how to winterize windows, and discuss how we can help the customers get ready for winter. This past year we also gave out bags for free that contained a windshield scraper, a beginner window film kit and gloves. We have cookouts in the summer where we show off our Weber & Traeger grills and smokers and grill burgers and hot dogs, with chips and water for our customers. We also sponsor the Bruins hockey “chuck-a-puck” and also sponsor a Bruins player.
Last year’s winners
Chamber Business of the Year Cedars of Austin
Project of the Year Hy-Vee
Small Business of the Year Medicap Pharmacy
Chamber Ambassador of the Year Lisa Rees
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The Style Lounge Established: 2010 Owner: Lindsey Haney Number of employees: 15 Community service: In 2018, The Style Lounge ran a campaign to raise money for Warrior Wagons. They raised awareness and $1,266 for the cause. Style Lounge has donated over $6,000 towards local charities and programs including The United Way of Mower County, “A Night for Care,” Plunging for Pink, Ladies Night Out and Freedom Fest. This also includes several benefits and fundraisers for local individuals. The Style Lounge Salon is also an investor of the Mower County CEO program. Lindsey hosted a business visit at the salon and she also mentors a CEO program student. The Style Lounge staff was interested in how they could better serve our guests who are autistic. They completed Autism Awareness training. They invited a guest’s autistic son to come in and help us create a video for future guests coming into the salon. You can find the video at http://youtu.be/Mj7kTo3X8RO
First Farmers & Merchants Bank Established: 1993 (current ownership) President: Doug Nuckolls Number of employees: 19 Community Service: First Farmers & Merchants Banks serves Vision 2020, Development Corp of Austin-two staff members, Creating Entrepreneurial Opportunities, Austin Area Minority Business Project, Community Pride and Spirit Committee, Support Group of Small Business Development Center, SBCD Finance Committee, Riverland Technical College Business Development Advisory Board, Austin Noon Lions Club, Austin Morning Lions Club, Kiwanis Early Morning Risers-past president, Austin Noon Kiwanis-past president, now treasurer, Austin FFA Alumni-treasurer, Rotary Club, Habitat for Humanity, Traveling Vietnam Memorial Wall Volunteer-three staff members, Austin Public Schools-Fastbreak Committee, swim, softball, trapshooting volunteer, host family for the Austin Bruins, active members of various local churches. Raised monetary donations for the following: Stuff the Bus Campaign, Paint the Town Pink, Potach Foundation, Rachels Hope Outside of organizations listed above First Farmers & Merchants financially supported: Austin Area Chamber Ag Cookout, Austin Area Chamber Ladies Night Out, Austin Community Charitable Fund, Austin Area Chamber Access Scholarship, Austin Education Packer Classic, Austin Artworks Festival, Austin Artist Series, Paramount Theatre, Pacelli and Austin High Schools, Banfield Elementary School, Riverland College Foundation, Austin Area Foundation, Gerard Academy, The Arc Mower County, Austin Symphony Orchestra, Amigo Days, Austin Bruins
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AUSTIN DAILY HERALD BUSINESS OF THE YEAR NOMINEES
CliftonLarsonAllen CLA Established: 1953 Number of employees: 30 Community service: Our employees support the Mower County United Way - both financially and through volunteerism for its United Day of Caring. We encourage our employees to be active citizens in the communities where they reside. Tanya Medgaarden is the coordinator for the Vision 2020 Rec Center Committee. Some of the other community activities our employee participate in include Community Clean-up Day in the spring, the Morning Lions, Rotary, the finance committee for the Mower County Humane Society and serving as treasurers for a number of religious and parent-teacher organizations.
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Real Deals Established: 2018 Owners: Kim Underdahl and Kim Stiernagle Number of employees: 3 Community service: Made donations to different groups that have asked. Try to make downtown committee meetings and stay involved with what’s going on.
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Better Business, Better Loans The pace of business is faster than ever. That’s why when you need a business loan, you want a bank that can act fast. Not only do you get fast answers, you get the financial advice you need to keep growing your business. It’s a better way to borrow. A better way to bank. Let’s talk. Stop in and talk to Faye, Doug or Steve in Austin, or drop in and talk to Dale in Brownsdale.
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AUSTIN DAILY HERALD BUSINESS OF THE YEAR NOMINEES