Austin women build handmade businesses Friends behind ‘A Handmade Christmas’ announce new venture
Lisa Deyo and her Sweet Reads books store is one of the new businesses to find a home on Main Street. Her set-up across from the Spam Museum allows for the potential of many more shoppers.
By Christopher Baldus chris.baldus@austindailyherald.com
So what is the Grey Minnow Market? First of all, it has nothing to do with fish, necessarily. A fish could show up in a piece of original art or a hand-crafted candle, although the creators of the market have not indicated that is coming. The Grey Minnow Market is something being formed by two Austin women who each own their own artisan business. It has sprouted from the popular two-day Austin art and craft show, “A Handmade Christmas,” Stromlund according to Kristy Rooney, who established the show five years ago. Artist Katie Stromlund, who has helped with the show from the beginning is a co-founder of the Grey Minnow Market. “It’s not just a market, but a vehicle for a lot of different things,” said Rooney in a Facebook video announcing its creation. “All kinds of good things,” co-founder Katie added. Those good things will roam as the market is not of the storefront variety. It’s presence will be felt in the network of art and craft shows throughout the state and it will have its own shows. The first event announced for the business was a “pop-up” market in Rooney’s backyard in September with a handful of craft vendors selling wares such as knit hats, custom aprons, cloth gnome figures, candles, original paintings and hand-stitched pillows. They were happy with how it turned out. Rooney called it a great showing.
See MINNOW, Page 4
Eric Johnson/photodesk@austindailyherald.com
Deyo: A different vision for Main Street By Deb Nicklay
deb.nicklay@austindailyherald.com
Kristy Rooney, who has organized A Handmade Christmas for five years now, and has a growing business — Zarooka Candle Co., says a new venture, Grey Minnow Market, has its roots in the popular arts and craft show. Eric Johnson/photodesk@austindailyherald.com
Pictured are examples of crafts sold at Grey Minnow Market’s first popup show in September at Rooney’s home. Photo provided
Pictured are examples of Grey Minnow Market co-founder Katie Stomlund’s paintings. Photo provided
A relative newcomer to the downtown business community says her yearold business has been sustained by community support, “a creative husband,” and location. But others will tell you that her weekly offerings of author talks and activities, and numerous children’s events have bolstered her success. “It is such a wonderful place,” said Austin author Virginia Larsen, “and Lisa is so good to us.” “Lisa” is Lisa Deyo, the owner of Sweet Reads and Candy Shop, at 407 N. Main St., right across the street from the Spam Museum. Her energy and smile are both infectious. And, she needs that energy — her “regular” job is teaching fourth grade full-time at Southgate Elementary School. After she is done teaching for the day, she starts working at her new business. Her husband, John — another small business owner, who has ViDeyo Arts Video Production Studio two blocks south, also on Main Street — thought a bookstore “was a terrible idea,” given the overwhelming attraction of internet giants like Amazon. But when a storefront opened up right across from the Spam Museum, those feelings changed. “Now, you have a potential of 100,000 visitors a year, right across the street,” he said, and the bookstore was a go.
See DEYO, Page 4
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WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 25, 2017
2017 AWARDS &
ACHIEVEMENTS
Women in Business
ARRIVED: Dr. Paris, emergency specialist, joins Mayo Clinic in Austin and Albert Lea
Dr. Patti Paris
HONORED: Jessica Cabeen is Minnesota’s 2017 National Distinguished Principal In October, Woodson Kindergarten Center Principal Jessica Cabeen traveled to Washington, D.C., where she accepted her Minnesota’s 2017 National Distinguished Principal award. The award was announced in May by the sponsoring organizations, the Minnesota Elementary School Principals’ Association and the National Association of Elementary School Principals. She joined her fellow state award winners at the NAESP event in the nation’s capital. Cabeen was one of three state finalists for the award, established in 1984 to recognize and celebrate elementary and middle-level principals who set high standards for instruction, student achievement, character and climate for students, families and staffs in their learning communities. Cabeen served as assistant principal at Ellis Middle School prior to being named to the Woodson post in 2012.
Lisa Selk
INDUCTED: Dana Matthews joins AHS Athletic Hall of Fame In January, the selection committee inducted Dana Matthews, class of 1992, into the Austin High School Athletic Hall of Fame. Matthews played hockey before a school-sponsored program existed in Austin. She played on boys’ teams up through Peewees. She is best known for her exceptional pitching talent. During her four-year softball career, she won more than 40 games for the Packers. Matthews was named to the Big 9 All-Conference Team three times and the All-Region Team two times. After AHS, Matthews worked for Weyerhaeuser and later for Hormel Foods Corporation. Matthews’s life was cut short in an accident in 2012.
In August, Hormel Foods Corp. introduced Lisa Selk as the new chief executive officer of CytoSport, Inc., a sports nutrition company and maker of Muscle Milk protein products. Selk has more than 20 years of experience building consumer packaged food brands such as Skippy peanut butter, among others. Selk joined Hormel Foods in 1998 as a food scientist in the research and development department. She held management and leadership roles in the specialty products division and the meat products division. She went on to lead numerous companywide innovation projects, including new product launches. Selk is a graduate of North Dakota State University where she received a bachelor’s degree in food science and a master’s degree in cereal science. Selk also graduated from the University of St. Thomas where she secured her master’s in business administration, and most recently attended the Kellogg School of Management’s Executive Development Program.
HONORED: Nancy Schnable wins S. Minn. Tourism association’s President’s Award Esther Mitchell Morse
Nancy Schnable
In September, Nancy Schnable, executive director of Discover Austin, the community’s Convention and Visitor’s Bureau, was awarded the 2017 President’s Award by the Southern Minnesota Tourism Association. The award was presented to Schnable, who serves as treasurer of the group, at the annual meeting of the organization Sept. 13 and 14 in Wabasha. The association represents 36 counties in southern Minnesota. “It was totally unexpected, but pretty exciting,” said Schnable. Nancy Schnable, executive director of Discover Austin The award is given annually by the president of the association whose goal is to draw tourism regionally.
PROMOTED: Helen Jahr hired as Riverland Community College women’s athletic director In July, Riverland Community College announced that Helen Jahr was tapped to serve as the women’s athletic director on the Austin campus. The move came as a result of the June retirement of Dave Lillemon, who held the athletic director post and several coaching roles since 1987 at RCC. Jahr had led the Riverland volleyball program for 18 seasons, mentoring dozens of award-winning athletes along the way. Jahr coached Sara Lindeman, a Riverland product who went on to serve on the coaching staff at NCAA Division I Butler University.
HONORED: Marie Fryer given small business award In February, Belles & Beaus Bridal & Formal Wear owner Marie Fryer accepted the award for Small Business of the Year at Austin Area Chamber of Commerce annual banquet. “I am truly just blown away,” she said. “Many thanks to the community for supporting our little store,” she added.
Dr. Patti Paris recently joined the Emergency Medicine Department at Mayo Clinic Health System in Albert Lea and Austin. Paris earned her emergency medicine degree from the University of Vermont College of Medicine in Burlington, Vermont, and completed her residency at Maine Medical Center in Portland, Maine. She is a board-certified physician and has special interests in disaster medicine and quality improvement. She joins Mayo Clinic Health System after 18 years of practicing with the
PROMOTED: Lisa Selk leading the maker of Muscle Milk as its chief executive officer
IMMORTALIZED: Esther Morse named a Pillar of the City
In July, the city announced Esther Mitchell Morse as a Pillar of the City. Morse (June 3, 1822 – Sept. 30, 1910) was born in Norway, Maine, and came to Austin in 1864. She was a writer, poet, educator, seminarian and the driving force behind the formation of the Austin Ladies Floral Club in 1869. Under her leadership, the Floral Club raised the funds to purchase the books that formed the genesis of the Austin Public Library. Her legacy continues through the Floral Club’s literary and social programs and on-going financial support of the library. Pillars of the City plaques are displayed on Austin’s floodwall.
A special supplement to the AUSTIN DAILY HERALD
MORE ACHIEVEMENTS Jessica Cabeen
Marie Fryer
Dana Matthews
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The Austin Daily Herald wants to announce to the community, if not the world, the good news happening in Mower County. We want to publish work promotions and awards as well as achievements from community organizations. Send announcements to newsroom@austindaillyherald.com or call Managing Editor Christopher Baldus at 507-434-2235.
In May, Julie Clinefelter, 44, began her duties as the Austin Public Library as its director. She supervises 16 full- and part-time staff members. She first worked for the Austin library part-time shortly after her family’s move here in 2003. ••• Austin Toastmaster Club member Ann Maxfield won the Area 55 Humorous Speech Contest in Owatonna on Sept. 12. With her speech “Tractor,” she advanced to the next competition in Pine Island, Minnesota. There she placed second in the Southern Minnesota Division F Toastmaster Humorous Speech Competition.7. ••• In March, The Zonta Club of Austin awarded Mower County Woman of Achievement awards. They went to Sheila Berger for the Back Pack Project at Austin Public Schools and Carol Brown for her work with Real Hope for the Hungry. ••• In June, the Austin Rotary Club presented
Lisa Kocer with a Government Service Award and named Lori Henry Educator of the Year. ••• Austin High School 1973 graduate, Brenda Ehrhardt of Marysville, Washington, was honored in December 2016 when she was recognized in the national School Band and Orchestra Magazine as one of the “50 Music Directors Who Make A Difference.” Ehrhardt teaches both a vocal choir and an instrumental choir at Sunnyside Elementary School in Marysville. ••• On June 5, April Johnson began her duties as the new Mower County Extension 4-H program coordinator. Her sister, Chelsey Asche, is also a 4-H program coordinator, but in Rock County. ••• In October, Holly Johnson celebrated her five-year anniversary as director of the Hormel Historic Home. ••• In September, Janna Akkerman and Katy
McGrane began their new duties at I.J. Holton as first-year English as a second language teachers.
A special supplement to the AUSTIN DAILY HERALD
Women in Business
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 25, 2017
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Courtesy of the Minnesota Vikings
Kleine, Doepner bring female perspective to Vikings NFL teams see a whole new talent pool opening By Jon Krawczynski Associated Press
EDEN PRAIRIE, Minn. — The Minnesota Vikings’ new college scouting director still occasionally catches scouts, executives and coaches apologizing for swearing in a meeting. “I have to swear back and say I swear the same as you,” she said. That’s right. She. Kelly Kleine is in her first season in that job for the Vikings and her responsibilities are many. She coordinates travel for scouts and visits for draft prospects. She organizes reports from those in the field. She has even started evaluating players on video and working with the special teams and defensive line. And she’s not alone as a woman in the football operations department for the Vikings. Anne Doepner, the team’s director of football administration, has risen up the ranks over the last 11 years and is now negotiating rookie contracts for the Vikings.
Increased female presence in the league
The two of them have given the Vikings something that the male-dominated NFL, a league that has long been criticized for how women are viewed and treated, is trying to emphasize: an increased female presence. There are 32 women across the league that work in team football operations departments, which includes front office, coaches, scouts and football administration. Three of Minnesota’s nine vice presidents are women, and Kleine and Doepner have both advanced after joining the team with entry-level positions. “It starts with the fact of the importance of women in the workforce, but also the importance of women within our organization,” COO Kevin Warren told The Associated Press. “One thing that is consistent is the more diverse environment you can create from a business standpoint, it really is important.”
Vikings are deliberate about empowerment
The Vikings also hold quarterly meetings with women inside the organization and the spouses of male employees to foster camaraderie. They have
also assembled a panel of prominent women in the Twin Cities, including Lynx star Lindsay Whalen, to work on improving the female fan experience and empowering women. “Organizations that are truly high-performing in every area, they get to that place because they’re making decisions and getting different perspectives so they can look at things in the right way and get the right result,” said Karin Nelsen, Vikings vice president of legal affairs and human resources. “If you have too much of narrow perspective, you’re not going to get to the right place.”
Promotions go to deserving employees GM Rick Spielman and executive vice president of football operations Rob Brzezinski say there is nothing particularly noble about their hiring practices. They have simply promoted the employees who have earned it. “It wasn’t that we’ve got to push this because they’re women,” Spielman said. “We pushed them and developed them because of their abilities.” Kleine had no background in football and needed a ride to team headquarters from her college roommate five years ago so she could interview a public relations representative for a school paper. She got her start as a PR intern and moved to the scouting side when another intern abruptly quick not long before the draft. “I really didn’t even know what a personnel department was all about,” Kleine said. “I knew you had scouts and GMs and things like that. But I had no idea you had so many pieces that were behind an actual team. And I guess I never realized females weren’t really in those positions because no one sees it.” Now Kleine is learning how to break down film with assistant coaches and sitting in on positional meetings. “At first it was really
hard for me,” she said. “It was like, ‘What am I watching?’ ... But now that stuff is starting to click, it makes it a lot more interesting to watch and fun.” Doepner’s only football experience amounted to gathering around the television on Saturdays and Sundays to watch the games with her father and brother. She was a French major at a small liberal arts college in central Minnesota and worked at a travel company right out of school before joining the PGA as a catering coordinator. That sports experience opened the door for her with the Vikings as an administrative assistant, and Doepner figured there may be more planned for the position when she was given a football quiz during her interview. “The only question I got wrong was, ‘Who does Eddie Kennison play for?’” she said, still shaking her head. “He was with the Chiefs at the time and I play fantasy football so I should’ve known that.”
Women breaking into most macho sport
Slowly but surely, women are starting to crack perhaps the most macho sport in America. The Jets had a coaching intern and three scouting interns in training camp who were women. Jen Welter became the league’s first female position coach as an intern with the Cardinals two years ago. Kathryn Smith was hired as the NFL’s first full-time assistant with the Buffalo Bills last
year and women have held prominent positions in the front office for the Oakland Raiders, Cincinnati Bengals, San Diego Chargers, Miami Dolphins and San Francisco 49ers. After getting excoriated for bungling the Ray Rice domestic violence case, among others, the NFL hired Sam Rapaport last year as director of football development to try and build a network of female candidates for football jobs for a league that saw nearly 52 million women tune in for the Super Bowl last year. The league also hired or elevated a number of women at its office in New York. “When I came in I don’t think that there were that many women doing this,” Doepner said, mentioning Katie Blackburn with the Bengals and former Raiders executive Amy Trask as a few. “So there wasn’t really anyone I could look to and I think that that matters. I’m happy to be in a position where other women are seeing, she’s done it, she’s succeeding, that means I can, too.”
Running into problems
It hasn’t always been easy. Kleine recalled a recent trip to watch a college player workout for scouts ahead of last spring’s draft. After the workout, the player came over and shook every man’s hand on the side-
line and thanked them for attending. The player ignored her. “I could not believe it,” she said. “I have never been more disrespected in my life. The scouts noticed it, too, and they could not believe it. I let it go, but I came back here and told them about it (as part of the evaluation). That’s going to get back.” Kleine is still very young in her career and there are limits to what she can do . Male interns will take a visiting draft prospect or player through the locker room for a tour, weigh and measure them and get them outfitted with gear. Kleine does not go into the locker room, but stressed that she feels she has been fully accepted by her male co-workers. “There will always be that gap, which is understandable,” she said. “It’s a male team. That’s the hardest part for me. I
know I fit in with everyone, but there will always be certain things that you want that you miss out on.”
Where will this take Kleine, Doepner? Kleine is not sure where this job will take her. Doepner is not ruling out being a lead contract negotiator or more down the road. “This is what’s really exciting about the doors these women are opening,” Brzezinski said. “I’m hoping it opens a whole new talent pool. I know there’s all kinds of women out there who would love to work in this business. Now seeing them doing it, they’re realizing this is a possibility where maybe they didn’t before.” If that happens, Kleine is told, there is a chance she and Doepner will have played a big role in it. “That,” Kleine said, “kind of gives me the chills.”
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Women in Business
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 25, 2017
Heather Ryks Brenda Landherr
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Marketing Consultant
Jana Gray
Deb Nicklay
Publisher
Reporter
A special supplement to the AUSTIN DAILY HERALD
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Home Delivery Manager
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Carlson writes about on how to confront, report and end sexual harassment By Tom Weber and Tracy Mumford MPR News Staff
For Anoka, Minnesota’s Gretchen Carlson, now 51, September 1988 when she was crowned Miss America, it was just beginning of her life on television. It was also the beginning of an endless stream of criticism. “I have very thick skin,” she told MPR News host Tom Weber. “I learned that when I became Miss America.” “People just hated me,
and my resume fell off the face of the earth. Suddenly, I didn’t go to Stanford or Oxford or play the violin.” Suddenly, she was just what people saw on TV, instead of the high school valedictorian and musical prodigy. She went on to a career broadcast journalism.In the mid-2000s, she moved over to Fox News, where she was sexually harassed by Roger Ailes, the CEO of Fox News. It would eventually be his downfall after Carlson filed a lawsuit. More women came forward
with similar stories. He was forced to resign. Carlson didn’t know what would happen to her career or her reputation — and she didn’t know that she would start to receive thousands and thousands of emails. Women began writing to Carlson about their experiences of harassment and assault. Her inbox was flooded: “They started sharing with me their own personal stories of pain and shame.” “I started to print off these stories in my home of-
fice, and there were stacks of them,” Carlson remembers. “My good Minnesota upbringing said to me: I need to do something with this. “I felt a sense of duty to have these voices heard, these women who have been silenced for far too long. And so I started reaching out to them, and I wrote back to every single one.” “I said: Would you let me share your story if I write a book?” Their response overwhelmed Carlson, again.
“About 90 percent of them said: Would you?” Those stories are woven through Carlson’s new book, “Be Fierce: Stop Harassment and Take Your Power Back.” Because of the terms of her settlement with Fox, Carlson can’t write or talk freely about what she experienced there. Her book, however, takes a brutally practical look at what can be done about sexual harassment. It asks: Why do so many women remain silent? And what needs to
change to end that silence? She hopes these conversations help other women gain the courage to speak up. “Building courage is a process,” Carlson said. “Courage is not a light switch that you can just switch on one day ... It’s a process.” “And I think now that we’ve heard from so many women coming forward, that process can move more swiftly for others. I hope that it does. But it’s a monumental decision.”
Minnow: Market aims to mentor craft makers From Page 1 Rooney, who works a full-time job with Austin Adult Learning, became a vendor herself making candles after she began organizing Austin’s “A Handmade Christmas” show. Stromlund has helped her over the show’s five-year tenure.
Another part of the Grey Minnow Market will be built on sharing their experiences. “That kind of came out of A Handmade Christmas,too,” Rooney said in an interview with the Daily Herald. “Now we’re really going to try to build up another company where we are taking
our knowledge and experience and helping others with that.” Their focus will be mentoring makers when it comes to the business of doing shows and also of bringing makers in contact with a larger community of makers. “We’re going to do podcasts. We’re going to
do some online classes,” Rooney said. “Our focus really is other makers; kind of to go beside them for education but also build community. Stromland already had her art business when “A Handmade Christmas” began, and her paintings are popular, Rooney said. Rooney joined the
ranks of makers when she diceded to show her crafts at the Austin show. It went so well that this year she has shown at more than a dozen shows, primarily in the Twin Cities. “The neatest thing even for me personally is now I have a candle company out of (‘A Handmade
Christmas’),” she said. “Now we have another company where we’re going to do podcasts and classes to help other makers out.” And what about the name? It’s a nonsensical name that we just came up with. Rooney said. It doesn’t have any hidden meaning.
Deyo: Human element key to downtown success From Page 1 Lisa said what she offers is more than books, and knew she could not compete with the Amazons and Barnes and Nobles. So, she did not try. “My business is a discovery zone,” said Lisa. She has worked from the beginning in June 2016 “to create experiences” for customers — with “meet and greets” fea-
AVC
turing local and Minnesota authors; kids’ nights in costumes, with the help of Matchbox Children’s Theatre, and other events. A Sherlock Holmes night — with customers solving a mystery — was held just this week. The store is more than “kid-friendly,” with creations inside to entertain children — a giant train, a homey sitting area with a fireplace —
prompt young ones to stretch out and pick up a book. In the back of the store, she offers a large Berenstain Bears exhibit courtesy of former Austin High School band director Bradley Mariska, an avid collector. While she did not compete with the big box stores, she and John often travel to investigate the “small boxes” — stores in the small towns, such as Lanesboro, or
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Decorah, Iowa. There, they get ideas and inspiration. One thing that is universal to all successful downtowns, is the human element. “We make connections here,” she said. “People love sitting in here, catching up.” There are probably few Minnesota authors who do not know of Sweet Reads, a welcoming and friendly haven for new
and working authors. Many have praised Deyo’s willingness to provide the time and space for book signings and talks. Owatonna author Chris Norbury, one of nine authors whose talks were a feature of the annual Austin ArtWorks Festival, in August, praised Deyo for having “one of the funkiest bookstores I’ve ever been in,” but better yet, one
that promotes and features Minnesota authors whenever possible. “This is a wonderful place,” he said. “It’s passion for people,” Deyo said in a Herald article shortly after she opened. “It’s passion for books; the literary world is so amazing. It’s passion for adventure … How can you not absorb that passion and make it happen here — and it makes me cry.”