BRAINERD LAKES AREA
re ss Edition g o r P B R A I N E R D
www.brainerddispatch.com
D I S P A T C H
L A B O R
D A Y
SERVING THE BRAINERD LAKES AREA AND CENTRAL MINNESOTA SINCE 1881
S P E C I A L
September 3, 2015 • September 7, 2015
FEELING FIT in a fresh space
Anytime Fitness-Brainerd owner Jeremy Pollock takes a break from giving a tour of the new gym’s location recently.
Jeremy Pollock is a believer in the benefits of
fitness, so it seemed like a good industry to get into. “Back when (Jay) Leno was on TV and everyone, they fitness because he sees them outside his ofof unfortunate all joke about how fat America is getting, unfortunately,” Pollock said. “Everyone needs it, fice window every day. whether they know it or not.” Pollock owns the two local Anytime He first got into the gym business By SPENSER BICKETT Fitness franchises, the location in BaxBax Staff Writer because a friend wanted to open a ter and the other, newer location in gym in St. Paul. Together, they opened Brainerd across the parking lot from a gym near the Xcel Energy Center in Cub Foods. September of 2007, but he wanted to be in Brainerd. Pollock’s office in the Brainerd location looks out at “I wanted to kind of be where I lived, it was kind of the gym, and with a slight swivel of his office chair, he far away,” Pollock said. can see people of all shapes, sizes and ages sweating Pollock grew up in St. Cloud, but also spent many of and working at bettering themselves. his summers here at a cabin, before moving to the area He sees people everyday who are excited to go to the in 2002. He doesn’t hunt or fish, but he loves boating gym, instead of dreading it. They like to come to the gym and pulling his two kids on tubes or skis. because of the “clean, exciting, feel-good” environment “That’s kind of what I grew up doing,” Pollock said. Anytime Fitness provides, Pollock said. “The rest of my family is up here, too.” “It’s not easy and it’s not fun, but you’ll never be disappointed after you do it,” Pollock said. Corporate Anytime Fitness had opened the Brainerd gym at its former location and when Pollock asked them about it, “one thing led to another,” and he ended up buying it in November of 2007. Shortly after acquiring the Brainerd location, he opened the Baxter gym in January of 2008. Pollock said he saw his purchase as a business opportunity. He was coming from the declining mortgage business and was looking to diversify. He’s an active person who likes health and
The new location of the Anytime Fitness-BrainFitness-Brain erd location sits across the parking lot from Cub Foods at the East Brainerd Mall.
Photos by Steve Kohls • steve.kohls@brainerddispatch.com
BUILDING ON A FRESH IDEA
The new location for the Brainerd gym came about because Pollock’s lease was nearing the end at his old
location. Anytime Fitness’s corporate parent requires a reinvention every six years, Pollock said. He would have had to repaint, recarpet, add bathrooms and remodel the old space. “I just leased it, so I wasn’t really excited about sticking a whole bunch of money into something I was leasing,” Pollock said. “I was kind of motivated to try to own my own real estate instead of paying a lease to somebody.” Pollock met with Clint Nelson, the building’s owner, to discuss leasing the space the gym now occupies. Nelson instead brought up the idea of creating a commercial condo association for the building, with Pollock buying a section. With expensive lease costs and low
See ANYTIME FITNESS Page S26
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September 3, 2015 • September 7, 2015
HEALTH
& FITNESS
www.brainerddispatch.com
ANYTIME FITNESS, From Page S25 interest rates, the condo idea worked well. “I knew what I could afford … it just kind of all made sense,” Pollock said. “Being young as well, I liked to own and have an asset.” Nelson owned the building for eight to nine years, he said, and it sat vacant for 12-18 months before Anytime Fitness moved into the space. “We were frustrated finding a large enough user to utilize the building,” Nelson said. The situation with Pollock worked out well and both sides
were able to find a solution that worked for them both, Nelson said. “It made a lot of sense for him to buy,” Nelson said. “And that’s what he wanted to do.” Breaking the larger building into smaller spaces makes it more affordable to buyers, Nelson said. It also has plenty of parking space available, as well as the advantage of locking up a low interest rate. The remaining space could attract “any type of businesses that are out at the mall and a plethora of other ones,” Nelson said.
NEW OPPORTUNITIES
The highlight of the new gym is the group fitness room, which allows Pollock to offer complimentary fitness classes to members at the Brainerd location, which he couldn’t do at the old space, such as Zumba, yoga, kickboxing, basic training and Insanity classes. Pollock said he’s yet to try the classes, but is doubtful he’ll give Zumba a shot. The same goes for the yoga class, which
See ANYTIME FITNESS Page S27
Anytime Fitness-Brainerd manager Rick Bartkowitz (right) encourages Braden Kramer during a training session at the gym.
Advertorial
Sister companies LINDAR Corporation and Avantech will soon be in the same Baxter neighborhood By JODIE TWEED
LINDAR’s customer base spans across many applications and industries, including recreational vehicles, construction and industrial equipment and medical components. LINDAR has been in business in Minnesota for 22 years and has been experiencing tremendous sales growth in recent years, said John Chaussee, LINDAR plant manager. “I’ve been here for over seven years and we’ve had double digit growth every year,” Chaussee said. LINDAR underwent a building expansion project about 18 months ago, and added another 30,000 feet. The company recently purchased extrusion equipment that allows LINDAR to produce some of its own raw materials for the paint liner and packaging side of their business, as well as new markets they will be entering with the new patented technology extrusion system. The equipment is nearly fully assembled and in place to begin producing product in the next couple of months, Chaussee said. Like Avantech, LINDAR will be hiring more staff, from packaging operations, machine operations to machine set up. The company has 15 openings currently. Chaussee attributes LINDAR’s sales growth to company employees and the people that support them, including family and friends. “That type of sales growth is not possible without the support of everyone in the building,” Chaussee said. “The bottom line doesn’t grow unless everyone is pitching in.” Avantech is also expanding in its global reach. They make parts for customers all over the world and have seen growth in their Central and South American markets, including Mexico. Avantech also has many job opportunities for skilled craftspeople. “Once they start working here, they really see that each tool produced is different from the previous, requiring creativity and critical thinking to generate a great product” Lackner said, of Avantech.
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Two Brainerd-based sister companies will become neighbors when ground is soon broken for a new manufacturing facility in the Baxter Industrial Park. Three years ago Lakeland Mold Company was purchased by Tom and Ellen Haglin. The company’s name was changed and rebranded less than a year ago to “Avantech” to better reflect the company’s larger focus of developing a growing line of tool-building services internationally, as well as diversification into other tool building processes such as thermoform tools. Avantech engineers and manufactures both cast and CNC aluminum molds for the rotational molding industry for U.S. and international markets. Avantech manufactured molds are then used to produce plastic parts for many companies such as John Deere, Old Town canoes and kayaks, Toro, as well as many other companies. Steve Lackner, human resources manager for Avantech, said the company is ready to break ground in the Baxter Industrial Park within the next two months. The new manufacturing building will be larger and laid out more efficiently, and offer room for expansion. Avantech will be hiring over the next few years to accommodate the expected growth, Lackner said. LINDAR Corporation designs, engineers, and thermoforms several hundreds of plastic parts servicing three major business sectors for the Paint Sundry, Food Packaging, and OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturer) industries. You can see many of their products in grocery stores across the country with their packaging in the bakery, deli and produce sections. You will also see their products in the paint sections of many large box stores, including Sherwin Williams. Their engineered component parts are found on tractor hoods and cabs for Toro and other tractor cab manufactures, electric golf cars for Polaris, and filtering systems for Donaldson to name a few.
To the teams of LINDAR Corporation and Avantech Thank you for your commitment, your talent, and your hard work! Your companies are leaders in their industries because of your daily profound contribution. On Labor Day we celebrate opportunities and achievements. We celebrate you! Thank you!
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HEALTH
www.brainerddispatch.com
& FITNESS
September 3, 2015 • September 7, 2015
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We’re a for-profit business, but we do change lives. It is cool to be able to see that. JEREMY POLLOCK, OWNER, ANYTIME FITNESS-BRAINERD
F Y
Anytime FitnessBrainerd trainer Mark Fussy (left) leads Brooke Silvernail through a workout.
OR
OUR
I
NFO
Anytime Fitness-Brainerd • Location: 302 Fifth Ave. NE, Brainerd. • Owner: Jeremy Pollock. • Employees: Two employees at the Brainerd gym. • By the numbers: • 6,400 square feet. • Seven treadmills. • Five elliptical machines. • One cross training machine. • Two stationary bikes. • One rowing machine. • More than 2,000 pounds of free weights. • New classes: • Zumba, yoga, kickboxing, basic training, and Insanity.
ANYTIME FITNESS, From Page S26
Anytime Fitness is a great option for fitness fans because of its 24-hour availability and 2,600 worldwide gyms a member can access, Pollock said. They’re also clean and secure, with a friendly staff who greet members by name. “I’m not here every day so I don’t necessarily know everyone by name,” Pollock said. “But I know the people that generally come in when I’m here.” Members enjoy the clean, reliable facilities, as well as the ability to come at any time, Pollock said. “Get in, get out and get on with your day,” Pollock said. “It’s not a long process.” Some members work at resorts and don’t get off work until 2-3 a.m., Pollock said. Still energetic following their shift, they’ll come work out before going home to go to bed. Other more body-conscious members may want to come at off-peak hours when there are less people at the gym. Working with Anytime Fitness as a corporate parent has “definitely been a
about “fitting in” at a gym, or looking like they belong there, Pollock said. It’s still hard for people to take that first step and “walk through the door.” “Our number one way to get people through the door is our members, word of mouth and referrals,” Pollock said. “Once they come through the
door, that’s the hardest part for a lot of people.” People can still be concerned about not fitting into a gym atmosphere or feeling judged for not appearing fit, Pollock said. “That’s more of the stigma that I would like to see changed,” Pollock said. “Being healthy isn’t about how
you look.” Fitness goals don’t have to be about looks, it’s about becoming healthier on the inside and outside, Pollock said. Buying two Anytime Fitness locations may have started as a business opportunity, but Pollock’s approach to it has changed over the years.
“We’re a for-profit business, but we do change lives,” Pollock said. “It is cool to be able to see that.” SPENSER BICKETT may be reached at 218-855-5859 or spenser.bickett@ brainerddispatch.com. Follow on Twitter at www. twitter.com/spenserbickett.
Thank You…
To our dedicated staff and caring community. Without your support, we wouldn’t be able to do what we do. Dollars raised in our Thrift Store go to help those in need in the Brainerd/Baxter Lakes Community! Auction items posted weekly on our Facebook page: www.facebook.com/Brainerdsalthriftstore Accepting Donations, Call For Information
Store Hours: M-F 9am to 5pm, Saturdays 9am to 3pm, Sundays Closed 001296236r1
218-822-3559
609 Norwood Street • Brainerd, MN
Celebrating
50 Years of Busine ss!
A PINE -
FAMILY RESTAURANT
218-568-8353 Hours 6:30am-10:00pm
A
BIG THANKS to our dedicated employees & customers throughout these 50 years!
A PINE Expre ss --
218-568-8323
Free Air • Clean Restrooms • Friendly Convenience Center
BREAKFAST • LUNCH • DINNER
All your traveling needs
Highway 371 & County Road 16 in Jenkins — 2 miles North of Pequot Lakes
218-534-3115
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WHY IT WORKS
positive thing,” Pollock said. Having the name and support makes looking for new equipment easier, as they’ve already set up pricing with certain vendors. “You don’t have to wonder if this vendor is good or not,” Pollock said. “They’ve already done the work, they’ve already negotiated pricing.” Remodels also become easier, as they’ve picked out certain design elements and make sure an owner doesn’t miss anything in the process, Pollock said. “They have lots of support behind you,” Pollock said. Anytime Fitness co-founder Chuck Runyon has worked to make memberships tax deductible, Pollock said. “They really are trying to do a good job of focusing on making America and the world healthier,” Pollock said. Insurance companies wouldn’t offer a fitness center credit if it would cost them money in the long run, Pollock said. “If people work out, they’re going to be healthier,” Pollock said. “(The insurance companies) have said, it’s a proven fact that if you work out, you’re going to be healthy and you’re not going to go to the hospital as much.” Gyms wouldn’t be in business if members didn’t see benefits, Pollock said. He has an uncle who’s a testament to the progress someone can see from a regular workout schedule. Pollock’s uncle went from not working out to now going to the gym six days a week. He’s 68 years old and recently went through treatment for prostate cancer. “He says, ‘Life’s too short, I need to be healthy,’” Pollock said. “And he’s loving it.” People can be worried
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meets at 5 a.m. “I don’t know that I’ll make the yoga class,” Pollock said with a laugh. “But definitely would take the Insanity or (kickboxing).” Pollock is looking into offering a class tailored for older clients to supplement the current personal training sessions for older members. Those offerings are vital in an area with an aging population, Pollock said. The Baxter gym offers virtual fitness classes, where someone can select a class and go through it in a room with a screen and speakers, projecting the class in fullsize in front of the client. “It’s a really nice option for people that have more of a tight schedule,” Pollock said. “That’s the hardest thing with live classes, is finding the right time that works for the majority of people.” Construction on the new gym started in March and was done about June 25, Pollock said. One construction goal was to add as few walls as possible, which makes the gym more open. A large front window combined with high ceilings give the gym an open, bright feeling. “Members definitely appreciate that, all the openness and not walled off and separate rooms,” Pollock said.
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September 3, 2015 • September 7, 2015
www.brainerddispatch.com Advertorial
Exit Lakes Realty Premier expands into new office in Baxter By JODIE TWEED
Less than two years after Realtor Chad Schwendeman started his own company, Exit Lakes Realty Premier, in the Brainerd lakes area, the housing market is strong and so is the future of the company. Schwendeman started with only four employees. The realty office has now grown to include 33 realtors and ten full-time support staff. They outgrew their offices at the Johnson Centre in Baxter, and Schwendeman is now building a new 10,000-squarefoot office complex just south of Home Depot in Baxter. There will be four other spots that will be leased out within the building. Tenants include a property management company, a title company, a mortgage company and an insurance company. Schwendeman said they hope to move into their new offices by Dec. 1. Exit Lakes Realty Premier also has an office in Crosby and is looking at opening a new office in Pequot Lakes, a move that could occur as early as this fall. Schwendeman said real estate sales for Exit Lakes Realty Premier are up more than 80 percent from last year at this time in Crow Wing and Cass counties. Last year Exit Lakes Realty Premier was the top-selling real estate office in the marketplace, he said. This year, business is even better. “We sold more homes than anybody and this year we’re up 80 percent from last year,” Schwendeman said. Schwendeman credits the company’s aggressive marketing for their success, as well as his staff’s non-stop work ethic. “This isn’t a 9 to 5 job for me or a lot of agents in this office,” Schwendeman explained. “We really work hard, and when you do a good job for people, word gets out. Referrals and repeat customers are a big part of our business.” Tara Casper, bookkeeper and marketing coordinator at Exit Lakes Realty Premier, has been with the company from the beginning, moving to the new agency with Schwendeman. She is in the process of earning her real estate license, something that Schwendeman has encouraged all his administrative staff to do so they can better serve their clients. Casper has been going through training and she recently passed her state and national exams. “It’s been fun to watch us grow,” Casper said. “We really are a family here. It’s fun to come to work. Chad is a phenomenal agent, and it’s been great to work for him. It’s a fast-paced office but I enjoy the business and the people.” With 15 years in Real Estate, Schwendeman also has experience not only in the industry but the local marketplace. Exit Realty is a franchise, established in 1997. They currently have 30,000 agents across North America. Schwendeman was drawn to Exit Realty because of its reputation for providing its staff and realtors with quality training and coaching to help them find success in the business. “We offer training, culture and a good work environment for both veteran and new agents,” Schwendeman said. “Great agents aren’t born, they’re trained. Most of our Exit Realty coaches who provide the training have earned over a $1 million a year selling homes. They walk the walk and talk the talk.” Schwendeman said the company’s goal is to ultimately have 60 top-producing agents, and they have plans to hire more agents. “Realtors want to go where they feel they’re going to have their best chance for
success. For us to have the market share that we have, they don’t have to go out and sell the company because we’re selling a lot of homes,” Schwendeman said. “We’ve sold 2-1/2-times more homes than our closest competitor in Crow Wing and Cass counties so far this year. It makes their job a lot easier.” Schwendeman has lived in the Brainerd lakes area for more than 36 years. He purchased Tower Real Estate in December 1999. Throughout his career he has developed real estate partnerships in other firms, and he has been ecstatic with the growth of Exit Realty, both locally and on a national level. Exit Lakes Realty hired Bill Brekken as the new office manager about four months ago. “We feel fortunate to have Bill on board.” Schwendeman said, of Brekken. “He brings years of business experience to our company.” Brekken, who has had his real estate license for 12 years, also provides agent development for the company’s many real estate agents. Brekken said when he learned about the way Exit Realty takes care of its agents and its staff, this was a job he just couldn’t pass up. “What really drew me to Exit was its unique business model,” Brekken explained. “They really work with, develop and train their agents to help them become successful. Exit also offers an incredible sponsorship program for its staff, providing agents with another revenue stream other than selling homes. When they sponsor an agent who joins an Exit Realty team, they earn a 10 percent residual from the corporation. When they retire, they continue to receive 7 percent and after they pass away, their family receives a 5 percent beneficiary. It’s a program you just don’t see in the private sector. It’s a game changer for people.” Brekken said one agent was able to make
“We really have the most dedicated employees and agents that an owner could ask for... We consider it an honor when someone calls us and wants us to list their home or have us represent them in their purchase.” Chad Schwendeman, Broker/Owner, Exit Lakes Realty Premier
her house payments for the last five months using the extra revenue she has received from the sponsorship program through Exit Realty. Schwendeman said he appreciates the hard work and often long hours that his staff put in each day. “We really have the most dedicated employees and agents that an owner could ask
for,” he said. “They take this as more than just a job. They know that when working with our buyers and sellers, this is a person’s largest investment. We consider it an honor when someone calls us and wants us to list their home or have us represent them in their purchase.”
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September 3, 2015 • September 7, 2015
www.brainerddispatch.com
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Brainerd Office
14275 Golf Course Drive, Suite 210 • Baxter, MN 56425
Crosby Office
17 West Main Street Crosby, MN 56441
218-454-EXIT (3948) • www.ExitLakesRealty.com
JOIN A WINNING OFFICE CHAD SCHWENDEMAN
ADAM KALENBERG
AMANDA REICHENBACH BUYER'S AGENT
BUYER'S AGENT
BUYER'S AGENT
LICENSED ASSISTANT
218-831-4663
218-330-9066
218-330-4151
218-330-2882
218-866-0611
218-454-0948
BROKER/OWNER
MATT PELPHREY
BROKER
SARA KLOMP
TAMARA MALAN
JOEL HARTMAN
RANDA HAUG
KATHY HARTMAN
LANCE NELSON
GAGE HARTMAN
LANDY DEROSIER
TRENT BAUMANN
DAVID MERNIN
PAUL HEINLEN
ASSOCIATE BROKER
SALES ASSOCIATE
SALES ASSOCIATE
SALES ASSOCIATE
218-821-0513
CLIENT SPECIALIST FOR THE HARTMANS
ASSOCIATE BROKER
218-838-3881
CLIENT SPECIALIST FOR THE PELPHREY GROUP
BUYER’S AGENT FOR THE HARTMANS
218-838-1660
218-821-0998
218-838-1534
218-820-4668
218-838-7415
JERRY MOORE
SUE MOORE
CHAD MOORE
NIKKI HIRSCHEY
IVY KUKOWSKI
AUSTIN REDEMSKE
WARREN LAWRENCE
MIKE STEVENS
ANGELA SHERACK
SALES ASSOCIATE
SALES ASSOCIATE
SALES ASSOCIATE
SALES ASSOCIATE
SALES ASSOCIATE
SALES ASSOCIATE
SALES ASSOCIATE
SALES ASSOCIATE
SALES ASSOCIATE
SALES ASSOCIATE
218-330-3334
952-484-1672
218-838-8248
218-296-0441
218-260-0559
218-296-2138
218-232-4847
320-492-7408
218-838-4494
SHAWNA TONN
KARI CRIMMINS
PRESTON PETERS
JIM SULLIVAN
STEVE LEARY
KASSIE BOHEMAN
TYLER HENDRICKSON SALES ASSOCIATE
SALES ASSOCIATE
SALES ASSOCIATE
SALES ASSOCIATE
SALES ASSOCIATE
BUYER’S AGENT FOR PRESTON PETERS TEAM
SALES ASSOCIATE
218-316-2132
218-546-3162
218-820-1601
218-820-2863
218-232-2237
218-232-2713
218-820-5024
218-821-5655
BILL BREKKEN
CHRISTY POTOCKI
JAMIE ZAPATA
JESSY STREGE
TESSA HALL
APRIL BURNARD
RACHEL WICKHAM
TARA CASPER
SALES ASSOCIATE
BUSINESS MANAGER
ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT
MAKENZIE ADAMS
LISTING COORDINATOR
LISTING COORDINATOR
CLOSING COORDINATOR
CLOSING COORDINATOR
PHOTOGRAPHER
MARKETING COORDINATOR/ BOOKKEEPING
218-232-0257
LIST WITH A WINNING OFFICE Market Share Totals
432
82.9% Increase 300over 2014 200-
169 154
150
138
100-
0-
EXIT #1
EXIT Lakes Realty Premier
Company #2 in Sales
Company #3 in Sales
Company #4 in Sales
Company #5 in Sales
113
Company #6 in Sales
96
Company #7 in Sales
83
Company #8 in Sales
71
Company #9 in Sales
70
Company #10 in Sales
Information was taken from the NorthStar MLS through Broker Metrics for number of homes sold in Cass and Crow Wing County from 1/1/2015 through 8/22/2015.
Real Estate Reinvented
To learn more about a career in real estate, call Bill Brekken at 218-454-0949
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# Units Sold
400-
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September 3, 2015 • September 7, 2015
RESTAURANT TRADITION
www.brainerddispatch.com
Celebrates 50 years By JODIE TWEED Contributing Writer
Back in 1965, Mick and Rose Bilyard opened a seasonal drive-in restaurant, recognizable with its A-frame roof, along Highway 371 at the County Road 16 intersection in Jenkins. While the concept of drive-in restaurants fell out of favor in the 1970s, that iconic A-frame restaurant still flourishes as the A-Pine Restaurant 50 years later. Rick and Leah Beyer purchased the restaurant 30 years ago. The Bilyard family had owned the restaurant for a few years and after Mick Bilyard passed away, his wife and children continued to operate it. The A-Pine was closed for a number of years before it was purchased by Rodney and Karen Anderson, who added on a seating area in 1977, Rick Beyer said. The restaurant was purchased in 1982 by a dentist, Byron Hoffman from International Falls, and his son ran it for a year before the Beyers purchased it in 1984.
See A-PINE Page S31 Photos by Jodie Tweed
A-Pine owner Rick Beyer said his restaurant’s success can be attributed to the people who work there. Beyer has several longtime employees, including cook Ginny Waldron (left) who has been an A-Pine employee for 18 years, and Judy Pitschka, who has been a server for more than 23 years.
Advertorial
PEQUOT TOOL & MANUFACTURING
Pequot Tool and Manufacturing Provides Innovative Solutions To Customers’ Diverse Needs
Precision Machining • Fabrication • Assembly
By JODIE TWEED
their customers. They work with many material types including steel, aluminum, stainless steel (300 & 400 series, 17-4, 15-5), brass, Inconel, titanium, hastelloy, and plastics. CNC Fabrication and Assembly Capabilities The Metal Fabrication Department at Pequot Tool and Manufacturing produces everything from component parts to complete assemblies, from prototype through production. They proudly offer world-class manufacturing and quality products based on their 34 years of industry experience in tool and fixture design, stampings, CNC punching and forming, laser processing of sheet, plate and tubing, welding, and assembly. They work closely with their quality-approved vendors to provide outside services, such as painting, powder coating, plating, heat treating and silk screening. They deliver value to their customers by offering design assistance and, in many cases, providing total project management including assembly, mechanical testing and warehousing for just-in-time deliveries. They work with many material types, including steel, aluminum, stainless steel, copper, brass and plastics. Employment Opportunities Pequot Tool and Manufacturing offers dream-come-true careers for skilled, experienced CNC machinists or & fabricators who have advanced skills in programming, setup and trouble shooting. If you enjoy a fast-paced production environment and want to produce intricate, close-tolerance parts on exotic and standard materials, then contact Pequot Tool and Manufacturing. Other opportunities can include CNC fabricators, welders, stamping and assembly, material handling, metal finishing and deburring, quality control, packaging, engineering, purchasing, inventory control and administrative careers in management and accounting. For more information on careers, visit their employment page at www.pequottool.com.
Pequot Tool extends a heart-felt Thank You to all of our employees For their service and dedication. We wish you and your family a Relaxing Labor Day Holiday! 001292060r1
Located in the heart of the Brainerd Lakes area in Pequot Lakes, Pequot Tool and Manufacturing has established itself as a machining and fabrication leader in the state. The locally owned and operated company provides innovative solutions to their customers’ diverse needs by producing high-quality component parts and complete assemblies. The company was founded in 1981 by Josef and Agnes Goerges. Thirty-four years later, the business has experienced steady growth with 95,000 square feet spread through several buildings in Jenkins. The business also grew from three employees to 155 employees today. Karlo Goerges, the Goerges’ eldest son, serves as chief executive officer, while his brothers, Joe, Mike, Brian and Gary also work in the family business. Their sister, Angela, also worked for the business for many years and although not active in the daily operations, serves on the Board of Directors and is a stockholder. There are seven siblings in the family, and all have at one time or another worked there. Customer Successes Pequot Tool has earned their significant repeat business from their valued customers in industries including aircraft, firearm components, medical, computing, printing, electrical equipment, industrial equipment, hydraulics and more. Most of their business comes through referrals from satisfied customers. At Pequot Tool and Manufacturing, they don’t just meet expectations – they exceed them. Precision Machining Capabilities Pequot Tool and Manufacturing provides a wide range of precision-machined component parts, from concept to full production, from basic to complex. Their experienced and continually trained workforce uses a full complement of state-of-the-art CNC milling centers, including both horizontal and vertical capabilities. They also feature Swiss turning and CNC multi-task turning to ensure customers’ satisfaction. The Engineering Department at Pequot Tool and Manufacturing uses the latest CAD/ CAM technology to develop the CNC programs and download them directly to the appropriate machines. This same technology is transferable to their Quality Assurance Department for part verification with their cutting-edge inspection equipment. The Quality Assurance Department also maintains their functional-gauge calibration lab. To uphold their standards of excellence through every part of every job, they coordinate quality-approved outside services, such as heat treating, plating, anodizing, and painting for
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P.O. Box 580, Pequot Lakes, MN 56472 • 218-568-8069 • pequottool.com
RESTAURANT TRADITION
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September 3, 2015 • September 7, 2015
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A-PINE, From Page S30 Rick Beyer’s grandfather bought a hotel and grocery store in New Ulm in 1911, a family business that his father also took over and ran until 1972. Beyer was too young to work in the family business, but he also found his interests and talents elsewhere. He got his first job at age 15 cooking at a Country Kitchen, a job he held for five years. After he and his wife were married, he opened a Perkins restaurant in New Ulm and served as a restaurant manager at 21. He worked at the Perkins corporate office in Burnsville for seven months, but felt the desire to run his own restaurant. Beyer’s father-in-law saw an ad in a Twin Cities newspaper about a restaurant for rent in the Jenkins area, and they drove north to check it out. “I was 24 years old, had no money and a baby, and we came up here,” Beyer recalled with a smile. “We liked the area and decided to take a chance.” On Sept. 1, 1984, they officially rented the A-Pine Restaurant and hoped to one day own the place. Those first few years were tough, he said. They both worked long hours at the restaurant and lived in a mobile home behind the restaurant. Soon, they not only had a son, Andy, but also a daughter, Katie. The restaurant hours were expanded to include breakfast, open from 6:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. every day, except for Christmas and Thanksgiving. Breakfast can be a busy time of day, but they also get a lot of carryout orders for dinner. They used to do more catering, including pig roasts and dinners in the 1980s and 1990s on the former Clamshell Queen riverboat on the Whitefish Chain. Back in the early days, traffic along Highway 371 would slow down considerably between Labor Day and Memorial Day. People would often drive their snowmobiles right down the highway during the winter, Beyer said. The railroad tracks have long been removed and replaced by the Paul Bunyan State Trail, but long ago when the trains would travel along this route, they would often stop on Sunday nights right across Highway 371 from the A-Pine. The train engineer and employees would walk over for dinner. Beyer and his son would then hop aboard and ride the train to Pine River where his wife would pick them up. Railroad customers have been replaced by customers who now bicycle to the restaurant on the trail. In 1997, Beyer built the gas station next door. In 2008, he commissioned the large Paul Bunyan statue, created by Josh Porter, which greets motorists along Highway 371. When people stop for gas or to eat, they often walk over and take a photo with Paul before they go, he said. The restaurant has gone through several upgrades throughout the past 30 years. They’ve added new windows, new equipment and four years ago upgraded to all new electrical wiring and lighting, including new dining room décor. The restaurant seats 90 guests. Many families who stop in at the A-Pine for breakfast, lunch or dinner each summer while vacationing in the Brain-
erd lakes area look forward to the annual tradition of visiting the restaurant that doesn’t look exactly like the chain restaurant they may visit back home. “Tradition is very important to me,” Beyer said. “I often hear things like, ‘My grandpa used to bring me here.’ When people come up here, in a sense, they want time to stand still.” Beyer credits his staff for the longevity of his restaurant. He has many longtime employees, including server Judy Pitschka, who has been with the restaurant for nearly 24 years. His cook, Ginny Waldron, has been with the restaurant for 18 years. “The success of this business is the people working here and their commitment to their job,” Beyer said. “Any business is only as good as the people who work there.” Breakfasts are popular. The A-Pine has become wellknown for its blueberry pancakes that were highlighted in the Mpls. St. Paul Magazine last April. “We’ve become known for our blueberry pancakes and we bill them as our Famous Blueberry Pancakes,” Beyer said. There are many other items on the menu as well. The restaurant mixes its own spices and coatings for its fried chicken and cooks its own roast beef in-house. Their hot beef sandwiches, homemade cinnamon rolls and buttermilk pancakes are also guest favorites. Diners may notice several bird feeders outside. One of Beyer’s favorite and loyal customers, the late Millie Nelson, once told Beyer he needed some bird feeders. She would keep track of how many times she and her husband, Bob, would eat at the A-Pine; one year they logged in 271 meals. She bought him a bird feeder and seed. Soon, other people started bringing in more feeders. The A-Pine now has nine bird feeders outside its windows, and many customers enjoy eating while watching their fine-feathered friends do the same. Many items on display throughout the restaurant have a story. Beyer found a 6-foot wooden Paul Bunyan silhouette at a garage sale in Nisswa years ago. The owner wouldn’t sell it to him — unless he bought up and hauled away everything else at his garage sale. Beyer took him up on his offer. A fish mounted on the wall was caught by his father, Huckyl, who passed away in 1998.
A large oil painting of a lake scene in the back dining room, painted in the 1950s, was purchased at an auction 20 years ago. The couple pictured in the boat had been A-Pine customers. When the husband later walked into the restaurant and saw the painting of him and his late wife on the wall, he cried. It was the perfect spot for that painting, the man told Beyer. “This business is a lifestyle,” said Beyer. “I love the people.” JODIE TWEED, special correspondent, is a former Dispatch staff writer and now freelance writer who resides with her family in Pequot Lakes.
Paul Bunyan stands tall outside the A-Pine Restaurant on Highway 371 in Jenkins. A-Pine owner Rick Beyer commissioned the statue in 2008 by local sculptor Josh Porter to greet passers-by along the highway. Many people stop and take a photo with Paul.
Advertorial
Wilderness Land Clearing offers timberland clearing for trails, deer plots and more
A Local Company You Can Rely On & Trust!
By JODIE TWEED
IMPROVE YOUR HUNTING PROPERTY
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The company also performs Buckthorn removal. Buckthorn is a noxious weed that can take over in the woods, crowding out other vegetation that benefits wildlife habitat. They can also create shooting lanes for hunters. “We have the best, most efficient equipment to get the job done,” said Nelson. “Why not utilize your property? Imagine what it could look like when you’re done.” If your property was affected by the July 12 storm, Fall is a good time to clear up the downed trees and brush in your wooded areas. Wilderness Land Clearing can quickly and safely clean up downed trees and other debris left by the storm so your woods are safe to walk in, offer better access and are less susceptible to forest fires in the future. Using their machinery, Nelson and his employees can mulch up the debris, providing nutrients into the soil for the growth of new tree seedlings to take the place of downed trees. To learn more about how Wilderness Land Clearing and Mulching can benefit your property, visit its website at wildernesslandimprovement.com.
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Deer hunting season is right around the corner, and now is the perfect time to improve your hunting property. Joe Nelson, co-owner of Wilderness Land Clearing, started cutting wood and clearing land for customers when he was only 16 as a way to make some extra money. Today his feet remain firmly planted in the wood business through his company, Wilderness Land Clearing and Mulching. The Fort Ripley company not only clears wooded lots and removes brush for commercial and residential properties, but his company also specializes in creating trails and turkey and deer food plots, as well as wildlife habitat restoration for people who would like to enhance their wooded property. Nelson and his two full-time employees work throughout the state helping homeowners to clear their land. He uses unique machinery, a Gyro Track GT13, and other similar equipment, that will take down trees that are 20 inches in diameter or more, as well as grind up brush. The machinery efficiently shaves off stumps at the ground level. Nelson said the process is eco-friendly. The wood mulch is churned back onto the ground, eventually decomposes and improves the forest soil. His machinery doesn’t destroy the topsoil, but instead, improves it. Nelson and his crew can construct 1.5 miles of trail a day or clear up to four-acre food plots. If you have always wanted your own trail system through your property, Wilderness Land Clearing has the equipment, knowledge and experience to help map it out for you. Food plots are areas that are planted with vegetation, such as naturally growing grasses and plants that provide a rich food source for wildlife.
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September 3, 2015 • September 7, 2015
www.brainerddispatch.com Advertorial
Cuyuna Regional Medical Center expands to better serve its patients By JODIE TWEED
other smaller projects being completed on the patient.” during the next 18 months, said Amy Hart, In addition to the physical changes at chief operating officer at CRMC. CMRC, the staff implemented a new digital The facility’s renovations are allowing record system May 1 with an upgrade in more room for its family medicine doctors, July. along with “I don’t other changes think there as staff is was one relocated person throughout the who wasn’t building. The touched by hospital has at least one had more than major change 100 different in the last five local contracmonths,” said tors working Hart. “You within the couldn’t ask facility. CMRC for a bethas a couple ter group of more propeople.” posed projects The remodyet to be aneling projects nounced that Procedure Room of new Multi-Specialty Clinic under construction are key for could begin during the next year, as well. streamlining services, but also as more Hart said the construction process has physicians and support staff are added at been challenging, but overall employees both CRMC in Crosby and at its Baxter are excited about the changes. clinic. Hart said CRMC is actively recruiting “The staff has been terrific,” said Hart. four primary care physicians. “Some have been displaced, they’ve been In addition, within the past 22 months put in smaller locations and temporary they’ve added 22 providers, although not spots, and they’ve taken that with a can-do all of them are on campus yet. In a year spirit. They’re doing well and still focusing they will have two more orthopeadic sur-
geons on staff and add new hand surgery and pain management services. These are specialty areas that no other health facility within 100 miles offers, Hart said. When new doctors are added to the staff, it means the hospital will be hiring additional support staff. “This is why our operating room had to expand,” Hart explained, of the new physicians added to the staff. “We have a lot to offer and people are realizing that, so we are lucky in that regard, but it is a very competitive field to attract new doctors. When you add physicians, you often add a whole new team, too. And when we’ve added additional square footage, we have to add more support staff. So there is definitely a trickle-down effect. We’ve seen that in the expansion and the need for more employees. We have a lot of jobs for people who have skills or those who would like to learn and develop because we have a lot of opportunities.” While it may have been difficult to work in a construction zone, the end result is going to allow CRMC to offer more services for patients. “There are a lot of new services that we are on the tip of announcing, and we’re excited,” Hart said. “A lot of hospitals are surprised to see what we’re doing in the small setting we are in. We couldn’t do it without the staff, that’s for sure.”
Some of the specialists who will be practicing in CRMC’s new Multi-Specialty Clinic (left to right): Surgeons Tim LeMieur, M.D., and Shawn Roberts, M.D.; Obstetrician/Gynecologists Christina Kramer, M.D., Leigh Bauer, D.O., and Michael Cady, M.D.
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CROSBY – Cuyuna Regional Medical Center is undergoing a $14 million remodeling project that will, in the end, create a better hospital and clinic experience for patients, as well as providing more space and a better work flow for staff. Cuyuna Regional Medical Center’s new multi-specialty clinic is expected to open Monday, Sept. 14, providing patients with one location to go for appointments with specialists. Previously, all specialty clinics were floated between other departments. Behind the multi-specialty clinic, a new orthopedics clinic is now located at the west entrance, allowing physical therapy and orthopeadics patients to park in the adjacent parking lot and enter through the separate entrance. They won’t have to walk very far to their appointments. A new digital radiology unit is now housed in this wing, so doctors will have X-rays right away. A newly added 2,000-square-foot laboratory also improves efficiencies and gives the staff the ability to get results out to physicians and their patients faster. The Surgery Center was expanded and remodeled as part of phase 1 of its current reconstruction project. It was completed in March. While the majority of renovations will be completed by September, patients and staff will still see construction workers and
BRAINERD LAKES AREA
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September 3, 2015 • September 7, 2015
Zach Kasper (left) talks to Travis Decent as he works on his bike at a bike tuneup station at the Pennington access in the Cuyuna Country State Recreation Area.
BIKE TRAILS
bring boon to businesses The red earth of the mountain bike trails at the Cuyuna Country State Recreation Area has surrounding businesses seeing more green in their tills and black on their balance sheets. The 25 miles of mountain bike trails crisscross the recreation area, abandoned more than 30 years ago by mining companies. The trails follow the contours of the rugged terrain, as well as some of the old mining paths. If it wasn’t for the 2011 grand opening of the trails, Jenny Smith, owner of Cycle Path and Paddle in nearby Crosby, might be out of business. She opened the recreation equipment shop in 2005 but because of the Great Recession, was considering shutting down in 2009. But she had been working with the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources on the trail proposal, so she knew a boost was coming after the trails were built in 2010. “I thought, OK, I’m going to hang in there a couple more years and see what happens,” Smith said. “We have seen growth every year since the trails opened.” From 2012-2014, the growth was gradual, but this past year, “it has just taken off, it’s been amazing.” Smith’s shop sells, rents and services a wide variety of recreation equipment, including mountain and road bikes, kayaks, standup paddleboards, canoes and boats. She also offers transportation to the nearby mine pits. In the past, business would slow down on Mondays and Tuesdays following the weekends, Smith said. But this year, “every day we are having large numbers of people come in, a lot of rentals.” Because of the trail’s increasing popularity, Smith is selling more bikes than she had in the past, and fat tire bikes have “become extremely popular.” It’s not all bikes, though, as increased traffic overall has brought an increase in kayak, canoe and standup paddleboard rentals. The Minnesota Mountain Bike Race this year brought one of its series races to the Cuyuna lakes for the first time this June. The Cuyuna Lakes Crusher, from June 2728, featured riders in multiple classes participating in time trial and short track events, as well as a post-race happy hour. Event weekends bring dedicated racers with their own bikes and equipment, Smith said. On those weekends, she sees an increase in sales of bike tubes, tires, derailleur hangers and other parts. Racers bring their families with them, who end up renting other equipment like road bikes, kayaks and standup paddleboards. “We see that crossover with those big groups coming in as well,” Smith said. Smith has had to adapt her business to meet different, increased demands, but is limited somewhat by the physical space available. She used to carry more road bikes prior to the trails opening. Now, 80 percent of her bike rentals are mountain bike and fat tire bike rentals, she said. “That is definitely our bread and butter right now,” Smith said. To make sure incoming bikers know about her business, Smith advertises in publications like “Minnesota Monthly” and “Explore Minnesota Tourism.” But, at this point, the best advertising Smith gets is via word of
mouth. People who came up for a day right after the trails opened now stay for an entire weekend. “We get huge numbers coming down from Canada, Manitoba, Winnipeg-area, Thunder Bay,” Smith said. Smith also sees a fair amount of business from families of skaters in the Heartland Hockey Camp in Deerwood. Families drop their kids off at hockey camp and “then they are coming over here to rent the mountain bikes or the kayaks and the standup paddleboards.” Area resorts also bring groups and promote the trails to guests. So far, Smith has rented equipment to everyone “from Maine to California,” she said. The map hanging in the store “is fairly well-covered, including Alaska and Hawaii.” Smith plans to stay in the loop regarding developments with the mountain bike trails moving forward, mostly by staying in touch with area legislators and the DNR and serving on a statewide DNR committee. “I will definitely remain involved with promoting not just the biking in the area, but the whole outdoor adventure package,” Smith said. “There are so many opportunities for things to do here.” Cycle Path and Paddle isn’t the only area business benefiting from the mountain bike trails; local lodgers are seeing an increase in customers rolling into their parking lots with bikes strapped to car racks. Dan Brown, owner of Country Inn in Deerwood, said his hotel is full every weekend in the summer without the mountain bike trails. But the noticeable impact comes early in the season in April and May and late in the season in September and October. The Country Inn is a member of the International Mountain Bicycling Association, Brown said, which means other IMBA members get a discount when they
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Cuyuna Country State Recreation Area • Location: Ironton. • By the numbers: • 4,626 acres. • 25 miles of mountain bike trails. • 118,484 annual visits. • 26,000 riders on the trails last year. • Six natural lakes, 15 deep lakes from former mine pits. • Lakes feature trout, northern, bass, crappies, sunfish and walleyes. • Activities include mountain biking, hiking, birding, fishing, canoeing, kayaking, swimming, standup paddleboarding and scuba diving.
By SPENSER BICKETT Staff Writer
stay at his hotel. He’s also been the treasurer of the Cuyuna Lakes Mountain Bike Crew for four years, and rides regularly as well.
AN ‘AHA’ MOMENT
Many of the incoming mountain bikers prefer to camp at the recreation area instead of getting a hotel room. This has created a demand on the available sites and spurred the idea for True North Basecamp, opening this month. The campsite is the brainchild of Dan Jurek and Jeff Bajek, two Twin Cities residents who came to ride the trails with their sons in September of 2013. They set up camp and rain came through, wreaking havoc on their campsite. “That really was the ‘aha’ moment,” Jurek said. “Realizing there was really nowhere else nearby to stay.” Jurek and Brown did their homework when it came to researching the need for lodging in the area, Jurek said. The site will fill the current demand and be able to grow as the trails become more popular. When they got home, they started looking at nearby land to open a private campsite. Working with local real estate agent Joel Hartman, as well as the Mountain Bike Crew, they were able to find a parcel of land adjacent to the trails. The land is connected to the trail system, as well as being close to downtown Crosby. “We will offer bike-in and bike-out access right to the trails,” Jurek said. “Guests will be able to walk or bike into town for eating and shopping.” What sets True North Basecamp apart from existing campsites is the ability to make online reservations, Jurek said. Guests coming from places like Nebraska, Canada and Colorado like the security of knowing they have a place to stay when they get to the trails. “No one really wants to take a chance of going up to Cuyuna and not having a place to stay,” Jurek said. The campsites will also boast Wi-Fi access, as well as six camping cabins with heat and air conditioning and USB charging ports for electronic devices, Jurek said. “We really want to accommodate people that want to get away from it all,” Jurek said. “But still have enough technology and access to technology that they still can keep connected to work and life.” True North Basecamp won’t just be for mountain bikers, Jurek said. Its location also makes it prime lodging for kayakers and standup paddleboarders. “I almost feel there’s greater opportunity there than there is in mountain biking,” Jurek said. “Because the waterways there are just so gorgeous, so clear.” Jurek said he isn’t concerned about opening the site in September near the end of the peak season, as fat tire biking and winter biking are “one of the fastest growing segments of biking.” They’ve also got partnerships with Twin Cities-based bike organizations like Framed Bike Crew, 45NRTH apparel and Twin Six apparel to hold winter events at the trails. “We’re really excited about the potential of the winter months,” Jurek said.
See BIKE TRAILS Page S34 Photos by Kelly Humphrey • kelly.humphrey@brainerddispatch.com
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September 3, 2015 • September 7, 2015
RECREATION
www.brainerddispatch.com Winston Tacheny rides along one of the mountain biking trails starting at the Pennington access in the Cuyuna Country State Recreation Area.
BIKE TRAILS, From Page S33 YURTS AT YAWKEY
The recreation area is also home to a DNR pilot program, offering campers to stay in structures with a long, rich history: yurts. Yurt lodging is also available at Afton State Park and Glendalough State Park. A traditional yurt is a portable, round tent covered with skins or felt, and were popular dwellings for nomads in central Asia, according to yurtinfo.org. The state park yurts are insulated, canvas-covered tents with wood floors and wood stoves, available year-round. They also feature operable windows, a domed roof with a skylight, bunkbeds and a table and chairs or stools. The yurts in Cuyuna opened in March, and Cuyuna Country State Recreation Area Manager Steve Weber said they’ve been a hit since they’ve opened. “It went very well, attendance was quite high and people have been really enjoying it,” Weber said. The three yurts along the west side of Yawkey Mine Lake have been mostly booked up this summer, Weber said. There have been a few openings during the week, but the weekends have been full. “It’s hard to get a reservation right now,” Weber said. The DNR issues a survey to everyone who stays in the yurts, in order to get a better idea of what brought them to the area, Weber said. The activities most cited by visitors include: • Relaxing, 73 percent. • Mountain biking, 68 percent. • Swimming, 43 percent. • Photography, 37 percent.
The same survey revealed 97 percent of visitors rated the yurts as “very good or good,” Weber said. In addition, 94.5 percent of visitors said they’d recommend the yurts to friends and family. Since the yurts opened, they have had 230 nights rented, Weber said. A little more than 1,000 people have stayed in the yurts, with an average party size of 4.4. The capacity for the yurts is seven people. The Cuyuna Lakes Crusher, sponsored by the Cuyuna Lakes Chamber of Commerce, brought 418 registered riders for the Sunday race, Jessica Holmvig, chamber executive director, said. The event was so successful the Minnesota Mountain Bike Series has already confirmed it will bring another series race to Cuyuna in 2016. Holmvig spoke with many first-time visitors to Cuyuna during the event, and she said many were already planning a return trip to the trails. “That in all was a big win for us,” Holmvig said. “Having people experience the trails here that haven’t experienced them before.” Crosby Mayor Joanna Lattery said the event went “really well,” and is only going to become more and more popular in the future. “I just think it’s going to be a tremendous boost to the area,” Lattery said. Aaron Hautala, president of the Cuyuna Lakes Mountain Bike Crew, said he thought the event was a “tremendous success, in terms of the number of people that came to town.” Hautala said he was surprised to learn it was many racers’ first time in Cuyuna, since the trails have been open for five years. “Once they raced it and rode it, they were screaming fans of Cuyuna,” Hautala said. “There’s still a lot of people that
can come here, which is great news for all of us.” The mountain bike series has a dedicated group of followers, Holmvig said, so promoters knew the event would bring around 200-300 racers. Exceeding those expectations was a good sign for the future, she said. “Four hundred racers, that’s a good day,” Holmvig said. The event turnout was better than what Lattery thought it would be and she “was very pleased with it.” The goal with hosting a race for the first time is to deliver excellence, Hautala said, and the Cuyuna lakes trails delivered excellence. It also brought first-time visitors to Cuyuna, and there’s a benefit to “bringing a family up that never would have been to Cuyuna otherwise.” Those visitors then make return visits and bring more and more friends with them. “That’s how you have that compounding interest of economics, which is what we’re after,” Hautala said. One concern that arose from the event was a shortage of lodging, Holmvig said, a concern that will be addressed in time forthe 2016 event by the opening of new campgrounds like True North Basecamp. Another concern was parking availability, which prompted discussions about including shuttles for spectators next year. “Just little things like that, that we need to tweak and figure out for next year,” Holmvig said. “All in all, it was run like a fine-oiled machine.” Lattery said the newness of the event meant there were a few hiccups, but “it’s new, and we’d love to do it again.” The first five years of the trails have been marked by a lack of lodging options, Hautala said. The majority of cyclists prefer to camp, and the city of Crosby and Cuyuna Lakes Campground provided about 60 sites. The majority of bicyclists will travel to the area without knowing they have a place to stay, he said. “Take your family for a four-hour drive, and you may or may not be able to stay there,” Hautala said. “That’s not great.” True North Basecamp will be able to fill that need when it opens in September, Hautala said. Local restaurants also seem to be “incredibly busy,” he said, “and I think that’s great.” “I go to breakfast in the morning during the event, and there’s nowhere to sit,” Hautala said. “There’s nowhere to sit, and I think that’s great.” The year-round bicycling season also means there’s a more stable, consistent demand for restaurants, Hautala said, instead of spiking in the summer months, which “creates that stable, year-round economy.”
ECONOMIC IMPACT
In order to accurately gauge the economic impact of the event, promoters organized a survey run by the Minnesota Department of Transportation and the University of Minnesota’s Tourism Center, Holmvig said. The results of the survey were unavailable as of press time, but an observation of the surrounding area reveals the impact the trails have had on local businesses.
See BIKE TRAIL Page S35
Advertorial
Better Living Concepts finds high demand for home remodeling projects By JODIE TWEED
Kletscher said they’ve seen growth this year in people interested in adding sunrooms, but every aspect of their business is growing. Because Andersen makes quality windows, installing the Renewal by Andersen windows has been the bulk of their work. Customers know the brand well, which offers beautiful windows that are also energy efficient. They also offer retractable patio awnings, as well as Gazebos by Daystar, which are made of western red cedar and are known for their beauty and durability. The company has eight employees and will soon hire one additional staff member, possibly two, based on their growth projections. One employee solely stains and prefinishes windows or trim on the many jobs they have, and then the finished work is installed by their installation team. “You really never know they’re there because the home is usually cleaner when they leave,” Kletscher said. Kletscher said it’s been chaotic in the past couple of years due to rapid growth, but she appreciates the hard work and attention to detail of her employees. “We’ve been asking for them to come in and put in as many hours as they can to keep customers happy, and for us, that’s what it’s all about,” Kletscher said. “They’re not just employees, they’re part of our company family, and I do appreciate that very much.”
Thank you to our employees and customers!
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Have a Safe and Happy Labor Day!
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When homeowners want new windows or doors installed as part of a remodeling project, or they’ve decided to finally build that sunroom they’ve always wanted, they turn to Better Living Concepts, a Brainerd home improvement company. For 20 years, Better Living Concepts has developed a reputation of trust and reliability among its many customers. Their lead installers receive bonuses based on customer satisfaction. They install the popular Renewal by Andersen line of windows, and Andersen Windows gives them an incentive to maintain a high customer satisfaction rating. Only about five dealers in the nation achieve this level of success, and Better Living Concepts is very close to achieving the green diamond award this year, said Julie Kletscher, who along with her husband Dan co-own the business. If you need new windows and doors, Better Living Concepts are there from startto-finish. “We do everything from measuring, installation and finishing all of the trim work within the house,” Kletscher explained. “We have some unique products that we try to keep very low maintenance for the homeowner because that’s what they are looking for.” Last year Better Living Concepts experienced a 30 percent increase in sales, and the company is already outpacing sales from last year, even though the year is far from over.
RECREATION
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September 3, 2015 • September 7, 2015
S35
Businesses are growing, we
Greg Tacheny heads toward the mountain bike trails starting
have new businesses coming
at the Pennington access in
in, tourism is up. It’s a really exciting
the Cuyuna Country State
time to live in the Cuyuna lakes region
Recreation Area.
and it’s only going to get better. JESSICA HOMVIG, CUYUNA LAKES CHAMBER OF COMMERCE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
BIKE TRAILS, From Page S34 “Businesses are growing, we have new businesses coming in, tourism is up,” Holmvig said. “It’s a really exciting time to live in the Cuyuna lakes region and it’s only going to get better.” Joining forces with Andrew T. Hook, a retired economist with a doctorate living in Riverton, the mountain bike crew designed an online survey to gauge economic impact, Hautala said. The survey launched last fall on social media and generated 700 responses in two months, “which is an incredibly good return on investment for an online survey.” Hook crunched the numbers and determined the trails had an impact of $2 million on the surrounding area, Hautala said. If the plans to expand the trails come to fruition, Hook conservatively forecasted a $21 million annual economic impact. Interest in cycling is booming right now, Hautala said, but it also serves as the bait drawing other industries to the area. “There will be businesses that will relocate to the area to be close to it,” Hautala said. “Manufacturing companies will show up because of it.” Between the Cuyuna Chamber and the mountain bike crew, the Cuyuna lakes trails are able to host regular events like the Cuyuna Lakes Klunker in August and the Salsa Oremageddon in October, Holmvig said. Part of the what draws mountain bikers to the Cuyuna lakes trails is the unique terrain, Holmvig said. Bike trails built on the old mine tailings mean “the terrain is a little different than anything out there,” she said. Tailings are the materials left over after the valuable part of an ore is separated from the useless portion, according to the Pembina Institute. Lattery works as a real estate agent in the area, and many of her clients “comment on the trails and how great they are.” They also comment on the need for more lodging in the area, and Lattery is working with different organizations and investors to make that happen. “We’re listening to what they’re saying, and we’re planning,” Lattery said. “We’re listening very closely and try to meet some of their needs.” Destination travelers love how the trails are set in the middle of different towns, and different amenities are all close by, Hautala said. It feels like a getaway, while never being too far from civilization, he said. “It’s that whole, adventuring without being so far out there that you’re really at risk,” Hautala said.
Riders also love how the trails offer segments that vary in skill level, Hautala said, from beginner to expert. Not all riders in a group are in the same skill set, he said, so “they can all ride the same trail, they’re just all going to ride at a different speed and a different line.”
MOUNTAIN BIKING DESTINATION
The Cuyuna lakes trails are starting to get national and international attention as a mountain biking destination, Holmvig said. The International Mountain Bicycling Association has given the trails a Ride Center silver designation, an upgrade from the previous bronze level. Cuyuna is the only IMBA Ride Center in Minnesota and one of 27 ride centers in North America. “It’s pretty amazing to see the community come together and volunteer and all the work that was put in,” Holmvig said. “It’s pretty amazing to see where it is now.” The recognition is important for residents in the area, Lattery said. As the trails grow, Crosby will grow as a destination with it, she said. “We just have to be mindful of all that, and try to grow Crosby in the right direction,” Lattery said. “But not go too fast that we don’t do it right.” Crosby was also recently recognized as a bike-friendly city by the League of American Bicyclists, Lattery said. “That was quite an honor to be chosen for that,” Lattery said. “I think it’s a great sport, it’s a family sport, and it’s a fun sport.”
EXPANSION FUNDING
In June, the Minnesota State Parks and Trails announced the DNR would use $600,000 to expand the trail system in the Cuyuna lakes. Hautala said because the money is tied to the state government, it’s hard to predict the timetable for the improvements. This fall, groups will look at the current trail maps and determine where the new trails will go. “What it’ll do is create a one-way trail system,” Hautala said. There are a few two-way trails in the system, which can be dangerous when riders meet from opposite directions, Hautala said. Removing the two-way trails increases safety and makes it a more desirable trail system. “We want to be able to put tons of people into those trails without having to worry about people meeting head-on,” Hautala said.
Once those changes are made, the trail system will be a giant, one-way, 30-mile loop, Hautala said. Many two-way rider interactions “aren’t a big deal,” he said, “but it’s not worth the risk.” Expanding the trails means visiting riders likely won’t be able to ride the whole system and go home without spending any money in the surrounding area, Holmvig said. The goal is to expand the trails and “have people bike the trails longer and spend more money at our businesses and communities.” The trails feature segments for all skill levels and the whole family, Holmvig said, which is how they’re marketing it. There’s also a push to connect paved area trails to the mountain bike trails, in order to make the whole area more bike friendly, Lattery said. They’re also not ignoring those who come to the area to fish or camp, she said, as bikers like to camp when they visit as well. Potential businesses are also paying close attention to the booming bike trails, Lattery said. Two hotels considering moving into the Crosby area have included in their plans bike workshops and places to store bikes, she said. “This is slowly going to grow Crosby,” Lattery said. The long-term vision for the trails is based upon three days of riding, Hautala said. Meaning, an average rider could ride the trails for three days without repeating the same thing. “The point behind all of that is so you can retain someone in your town or region,” Hautala said. Bicycling is growing in popularity because it appeals to many different generations and skill levels, Hautala said. It provides a high-quality outdoor experience for everyone looking “for a different kind of outdoor recreation that’s a little more interactive,” he said. Hautala was one of those looking for a different kind of outdoor experience when the trails opened in 2011. He accepted a friend’s invitation to try the trails shortly after they opened, “and I could not believe what I was riding,” he said. It was a similar experience to his beloved downhill skiing, which he did in Colorado, Hautala said. He loved the flow and momentum of the experience, and “now it was in my backyard.” “It only took one ride, if not 15 minutes,” Hautala said. “Forget about it, I’m going for this.” SPENSER BICKETT may be reached at 218-855-5859 or spenser. bickett@brainerddispatch.com. Follow on Twitter at www.twitter. com/spenserbickett.
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www.brainerddispatch.com
NP EVENT SPACE—Moving FULL STEAM AHEAD
Aimee Jobe
shows off many of the improvements she’s made to the NP Center Event Space while she’s been running it.
ton, the idea could work. “From the wedding photographer perspective, I was man in show business. kind of tired of the same old, same old,” Jobe said. Aimee Jobe could be called the hardest-working She was enthusiastic about the idea, but her lack of woman in the wedding business. renovation experience showed in her initial renovation Jobe runs the operations of the NP Event proposal, which had a budget of $10,000. Space, an 8,000 square-foot event space “I thought all we had to do was clean By SPENSER BICKETT located in the old Northern Pacific Center, Staff Writer the bathrooms and add a couple emergenemergen but she wears a variety of different hats. cy lights and it would be done,” Jobe said. She’s a photographer, an event planner, “Obviously that was not the case.” facility manager and caretaker for the event space. She proj Jobe and Hutton went back and forth about the projalso built the space’s website and oversees many of the ect multiple times, with Hutton canceling it a few times renovations in the massive former railroad hub. To top it as the expenses kept growing. Then one day, when Jobe all off, she and her husband Preston recently acquired a was working in the Twin Cities, Hutton called her and section of old Minneapolis skyway they’re repurposing as told her the project was a go. a living space at their home on North Long Lake. “From the day he called me to the day we had our first “I’m too passionate about too many things that it’s re- wedding in here was 26 days,” Jobe said. ally hard to cut back,” Jobe said. Needless to say, those 26 days were busy, as a new floor had to be poured, water run to the space as well SPACE HISTORY as electrical work. Thankfully, the people involved were Jobe’s passion is evident when she discusses the NP supportive and believed in the idea, Jobe said. Event Space, which opened in June 2014 after she convinced the Northern Pacific Center’s owner, Dave HutSee EVENT SPACE Page S37 James Brown was called the hardest-working
An old NPCenter railroad sign adorns the wall of the NP Event Space.
Photos by Kelly Humphrey • kelly.humphrey@brainerddispatch.com
Advertorial
Christ Evangelical Lutheran Church: Sharing the Warmth of the Gospel in the Brainerd Lakes Area By JODIE TWEED
needs ministry, offering a one night a month sensory-sensitive Bible class and fellowship for children and adults with special needs. For those interested in this ministry, contact the church office for more information. Sunday school for children in preschool through eighth grade starts at 10:15 a.m. Sunday, Sept. 13, for the upcoming school year, and an adult Bible class is also offered at that time. Worship services are at 9 a.m. each Sunday. Confirmation classes for seventh- and eighth-grade students starts Wednesday, Sept. 9. In August Christ Lutheran Church had a booth at the Crow Wing County Fair, and they also offered a week-long Vacation Bible School for students. With a new pastor and a long-range planning process, the church is looking toward the future, yet remains dedicated to sharing God’s Word. They are part of the Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod, or WELS. “We’re really centered on Jesus and the Bible, and the hope that He offers,” Werth said. “We preach all of God’s Word, in its truth and purity.” Christ Evangelical Lutheran Church is located at 13815 Cherrywood Drive, on the corner of Cherrywood and Inglewood Drive, just north of Highway 210 in Baxter. For more information, visit their website at www.christbaxter.com or call the church office at 829-4105.
Sharing the Warmth of the Gospel in the Brainerd Lakes Area
Photos of Vacation Bible School Fun! Sunday Services at 9am Sunday School at 10:15 — Please Join Us — 001292796r1
With a new pastor and the start of a new long-range planning process to help plan for their congregation’s needs in the years ahead, Christ Lutheran Evangelical Church is making changes, but remaining centered in their mission. “Our mission is sharing the warmth of the Gospel in the Brainerd lakes area,” explained Pastor Bill Werth, who joined the church April 26. “What we’d like to get out there is hope. There is a lot of hopelessness in the world, a lot of people living without hope. We want to give them hope, hope that is centered in Jesus.” Werth, originally from St. Peter, has been in the ministry for 25 years, serving congregations in Texas and Tennessee. He said it’s been nice to return to his home state, and he’s received a warm welcome from the community and his congregation. “Our members are very friendly people, people who like their church. They are members involved with many things,” Werth said. “I’m excited to get to know members, getting to know where they are at. That’s what I want to focus on. I’m excited about our long-range planning. What can we do that we’re not doing?” Werth said the congregation wants to reach out to and grow its membership, especially attracting younger families. The planning process will help the church, among other things, develop a plan on reaching out to families. This fall the church is starting a special
13815 Cherrywood Drive, Baxter, MN www.ChristBaxter.com 001292793r1
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September 3, 2015 • September 7, 2015
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If you’re working for something that you love, and toward other things, I love it. I would not trade this place for anything. AIMEE JOBE, NP EVENT SPACE
EVENT SPACE, From Page S36 Hutton and Jobe have a unique relationship in that they’re technically partners, Jobe said, but she still feels like she works for him. She has a voice in every decision at the space and her opinion matters. “If you always have someone that you don’t want to disappoint, besides yourself, that’s a good thing,” Jobe said. In 2015, the space will bring through 15,000 people via events hosted there, Jobe said, and 85 percent of those people aren’t from the area. The event space is starting to pull in brides from Minneapolis who have connections to the area because of family cabins. “They come in and they’re like, ‘Where should we eat today, where should we go stay, what should we do?’” Jobe said. The 29-year-old Jobe worked in the vending industry for 14 years for her parents’ company in the Twin Cities. It gave her a good background in all the different aspects of making a business run, which has helped her manage the NP Event Space. “It’s the same aspect of making a small business run,” Jobe said. If the NP Event Space was in the Twin Cities, it would just be one of many similar spaces, Jobe said. But being in Brainerd allows the space and the people involved to stand out. “Up here I have the opportunity to show our character and that we can be awesome,” Jobe said. Jobe hopes the renovations going on at the Northern Pacific Center might spur renovations of Brainerd’s other historical buildings. She’d like to take care of those too, but has limited time and money. “Renovate all those buildings back to their
glory, it would be so beautiful,” Jobe said. But renovating an old building up to code takes a lot of money, Jobe said. And those with money don’t want to spend it on renovating old buildings. “It’s a great way to lose a lot of money,” Jobe said with a laugh.
PERSONAL BACKGROUND From 2004-13, Jobe would split her time between St. Louis Park and Breezy Point. Her husband lived in the area, so she would commute on the weekends. She’d still be happy working in the Twin Cities, but the Aitkin-raised Jobe prefers the Brainerd lakes area.
Because of her love of the vending industry, she still goes back once a week on Tuesdays to work at her parents’ company. “They’re trying not to hire more people, so I’m doing a full-time person’s job in a day instead of them doing it in a week,” Jobe said
See EVENT SPACE Page S38
The current Northern Pacific Center is shown in this photo as viewed from the air.
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Creating EPIC Results for Patients By AMBER HOUSELOG
Henry Ford may have summed it up best: “Coming together is a beginning. Keeping together is progress. Working together is success.” Teamwork is often one of those things that is easier said than done, because as we all know, working together toward a common goal, can at times, prove difficult. But even so, when teamwork is done right, the results can be EPIC. It’s one thing to be able to work within a small team of people who share your job responsibilities, and understand the ins and outs of what you do on a daily basis; it’s quite another to expand that team to include five to ten times as many people, whose jobs and tasks don’t exactly “fit” with yours. Such was the case when Lakewood Health System took on the mission of implementing Epic, a new electronic medical record system (EMR). Almost every department and employee within Lakewood has been, or will be, affected by this implementation at some point. From providers and nursing staff, to reception and billing, to IT and health information, the impact of
a new EMR system is far-reaching. But with the common goal of implementing this new system, to enhance the information, communication and overall efficiency of how we provide care to our patients, the Lakewood team came together to strive for success. Between the planning, training, updating of equipment and software and communicating all of this to employees and patients alike, Lakewood staff have put in thousands of hours over the course of several months. These hours of work were often done before or after putting in a full days work, as well as on weekends. When people were needed in training sessions, their team members stepped up to take on extra hours to help out where they could, to ensure the care of our patients did not suffer. With the expectation that any undertaking of this size would have its issues, staff developed workflows, processes and action plans, anticipating any problem that may arise. A “command center”, made up of Epic analysts, trainers and troubleshooters, was created at
Lakewood for the sole purpose of having 24/7 assistance and on-hand support for the first two weeks after the implementation went “live”. At any given time, 10 to 20 people were in the room, providing online or over-the-phone support, while others were dispersed throughout the system, assisting frontline staff as they worked with patients. At the end of the day, our patients are our top priority. This means that no matter how much extra work is needed to ensure the transition goes well, the whole team is dedicated to making sure our patients still receive the care and service they deserve. There are, and will continue to be, some delays in the process, as new information is gathered and inputted, staff learn and become more comfortable with the system and things begin to slow down. We are grateful for the patience and understanding everyone has shown while our Lakewood team creates a better tomorrow for the people who really matter: our patients. 001290551r2
THANK YOU FOR 79 YEARS O F D E D ICA T ED T E AMWOR K AND C AR E.
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Lakewood Health System understands the value of teamwork, which is why we work together to provide our patients with the care and service they deserve. We want to thank our whole Lakewood team for their great work, and dedication to the patients we serve.
”
—Teresa Fisher, COO/CNO & Dr. John Halfen, CMO
Make an appointment today: 800-525-1033 I 218-894-1515 lakewoodhealthsystem.com
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PHOTOGRAPHY
with a laugh. Jobe dropped out of St. Catherine University in St. Paul after a semester, but spent just enough time at the school to meet her now-husband. Jobe may love living in Brainerd, but she still didn’t see her career working in the wedding industry. Instead, she always thought she’d end up running her parents’ vending company. And when she was little, she wanted to be a math teacher. “I’m very mathematical in the way I think about everything, which everyone always thinks is really weird,” Jobe said. “That I love creative things, but I think they go hand in hand.”
She took photography classes in high school at St. Louis Park from 2000-2004, and maintained an interest in photography, even though she wasn’t taking classes anymore. A friend asked her to shoot his wedding and it snowballed from there. Jobe photographs about 70 percent of the weddings held at the NP Event Space and shoots a few weddings every year that aren’t held in the space. Because of her tight schedule, she’s “very selective” in the weddings she shoots outside of the space. “It has to be something that’s very my style,” Jobe said. She doesn’t push her photography services on clients who tour the space and doesn’t even bring up the fact she’s a photographer. Choosing a wedding photographer is a personal decision and Jobe doesn’t want to force her services on a couple. “My photography is different than most people around here, light and airy and romantic,” Jobe said. “And that’s not for everyone.”
LOCAL INTEREST
Jobe maintains a local business-first attitude when it comes to referring wedding vendors to couples who book the cater NP Event Space. From floral arrangements to design to catering to DJs, she refers local people she knows and works with. “I want to keep every vendor in here possible that’s local,” Jobe said. Using familiar vendors means Jobe doesn’t have to keep explaining the rules and preferences for using the space; they already know because they work together so much. “They come in here, and they know what I like and don’t like,” Jobe said. “So it really works well.” Despite the space’s full bookings and popularity with Twin Cities couples, there’s still some local backlash, Jobe said. “I get told multiple times from people that they can’t believe I think I can charge that much money for a space rent rental,” Jobe said. “I get told that a lot.” Jobe counters those claims by pointing out it “cost a fortune” to renovate the space into what it is now. “Dave (Hutton_ has to get his money back,” Jobe said. “Because then I can keep renovating.” Those buildings still draw plenty of curious residents who want to learn more about what’s going on, Jobe said. Every morning, she said she wipes forehead marks off of the glass doors, from people peering into the space. Two-thirds of the wedding guests show up one to two hours early, just to ex explore the space. “People want to come up and look in and see what it is,” Jobe said. “We get random people all the time that stop in when I’m working.” Prospective clients may balk at the $4,600 rental cost for a Saturday wedding, but for weddings of more than 250 people, the per-person cost is reasonable, Jobe said. To make things work for smaller weddings, she said she helps them
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F Y OR
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Northern Pacific Event Space • Location: Brainerd. • Number of employees: 1. • Square footage: 8,000 square feet. • Cost: $4,600 for a Saturday rental.
out where she can on costs. “What I really try to do with the small weddings is give them certain discounts in areas like the chair rental and things like that,” Jobe said. “Because I already know their per-person head price is a lot more than a bigger wedding.” It’s easier to manage the space because the lack of food service and kitchen makes it easier to handle, Jobe said. There’s more time around the wedding day for prep and setup. “To be able to do a lot of things, say at other venues, when you have to come in two hours before your wedding and everything has to get decorated,” Jobe said. Jobe is upfront about rental costs and lists them on the website. All the money spent at the venue is reinvested into improving the space. “Wedding by wedding is helping the whole site,” Jobe said. “That’s kind of how I look at it.” The space isn’t run as a moneymaking endeavor, Jobe said. She wants to turn a profit, but the profits are in turn put back into renovations. “It’s run to keep it operating in here and alive and up for another 100 years,” Jobe said. “I want these buildings to be here long after I’m dead.” Still, Jobe admits when she got married, the NP Event Space would have been outside her price range. “I could have never afforded to get married here, as someone who lived in the lakes area and didn’t have that kind of budget,” Jobe said. “We’re in the middle. We’re not the high, but we’re also not the low.” Throughout the process, Jobe said there’s been a lack of public confidence that an event space like the NP Event Space can work in the Brainerd lakes area. But her lack of concern
See EVENT SPACE Page S39
Advertorial
Clow Stamping offsets decline in agriculture sales with other business growth By JODIE TWEED
“We’re looking for production staff. They don’t have to have any experience,” Clow said. “I’ll train them.” Clow credits his business success to his employees, especially the 70-80 employees who have been working for him for 20 years or more. “They just do a wonderful job for us,” Clow said of his employees. “They’re highly skilled. We’ve got a great staff and a great workforce.” During the past five years, Clow Stamping has had three building expansion projects, including a 20,000 square-foot addition to its warehouse and a 72,000-square-foot expansion for more production space last year. Clow said he may expand his business in a few years, but right now the facilities are meeting production demands. Clow Stamping was started in St. Louis Park in 1970 by Clow’s late parents, Everett Clow and Gladyce McLeod, who moved the company to Merrifield in 1973. In those early years, the company manufactured parts for Scorpion snowmobiles, which were being built in Crosby. They also made parts for Xerox and Control Data. The company also opened a plant in Monticello, which operated until about 2006, when it was decided to close the facility. Reggie Clow’s sister, Tara Moghadam, serves as co-owner. Their parents both served on the board of directors until their deaths. Everett Clow passed away last March. Clow Stamping fabricates and manufactures primarily steel parts that are used in more than 25 different markets.
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The price of corn is low, and that not only has had a tremendous impact on farmers, but also the businesses that support the agriculture industry, like Clow Stamping in Merrifield. Reggie Clow, president/chief executive officer and co-owner, said agriculture sales are a large part of the business at his metal stamping and fabricating company, and that industry sector has decreased significantly from last year. But the good news is that the company was able to offset the decline with growth in business from other companies and, although revenues were relatively flat, Clow Stamping has still managed to bring in about $60 million in annual sales. “We thought we’d be down 5-10 percent, but now we’re at less than 2 percent of a decline, and looking flat at the end of the year,” Clow said. But Clow Stamping had a remarkable period of growth in the past few years. They experienced revenue growth of 100 percent last year. They nearly couldn’t keep up with demand, and had to add a fourth eight-hour shift so the production line could operate 24 hours, seven days a week. Clow hired 90 temporary workers to work the weekends to keep up, and even began paying employees $100 a week to not take their scheduled vacation. Many of the temporary workers were hired on full-time. The company has about 440 employees, but they’re always looking for new staff, although they currently aren’t hiring temporary workers as they once had.
23103 COUNTY RD 3, MERRIFIELD, MN 218.765.3111 | WWW.CLOWSTAMPING.COM
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EVENT SPACE, From Page S38 about those opinions helped her get to work and not worry about what people think. “Pretty much everyone said that will never work, it’s going to fail,” Jobe said. “But Dave took the risk and it’s working out.”
SKYWAY Jobe’s penchant for doing things differently led her to enter a contest to win a piece of the old Minneapolis skyway. She submitted a request for proposal for the skyway after seeing a post on Facebook and didn’t think much of it. The first quote she received to move the skyway piece was $55,000, which led her to think it probably wouldn’t happen. Two weeks later she got a more realistic quote from a mover, which made her re-evaluate her proposal. “I thought, ‘Holy cow, I need to put in a more serious proposal,’” Jobe said. Her follow-up proposal focused on her family and her work with her husband and son at the event space “because it shows well.” After some waiting, she got a voicemail informing her the University of Minnesota had a few more questions for her. She called them back, “and they didn’t even say hi, they just said ‘Do you want this thing?’” Jobe said. Two architects had purchased the skyway piece from the University of Minnesota nine years ago, and since then, it had sat unused on the campus. “Very used by college students, graffiti and broken windows and beer bottles everywhere,” Jobe said. It was “broken and ruined,” but it looked a lot like the buildings at the Northern Pacific Center did before renovations began. The skyway piece will be attached to Jobe’s home on North Long Lake and will be completed in November. When it’s finished, it will have a rooftop deck overlooking the lake. “It’s so wonderful, I don’t think I could ask for anything more,” Jobe said. Her home sits on 16 acres of wetland on the lake, which complicates things when it comes to building, but also provides a scenic backdrop for photography, Jobe said. She hopes to take more clients among the boardwalks, forests and beach for a variety of shots.
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September 3, 2015 • September 7, 2015
“How incredibly fortunate we are to be able to work and live here,” Jobe said. “To be able to make a living and support our family and live in such a beautiful place.” Still, it’s a daily struggle to stay on top of things and keep from being overwhelmed, Jobe said. Things go well during the day, but at night she finds herself thinking of the things she didn’t accomplish during the day that still need to get done. In the wedding industry, immediate responses to emails and calls are expected, so if an email gets to the bottom of an inbox, it can be forgotten. “I know eventually I have to hire someone to do emails and phone calls and that kind of stuff,” Jobe said. Jobe loves the NP Event Space, so she likes to “overdeliver in here, so sometimes I take on too many things, too, but it always ends well.” Juggling a lot of responsibilities means learning how to say no, which can be difficult, Jobe said. “If you can do it, why should you say no?” Jobe said. “That’s my struggle right now.” Jobe’s passion for what she does is evident, but it’s often the same passion that creates anxiety and stress.
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It’s hard work and long hours, but it doesn’t feel like work, Jobe said, because she loves to do it. “If you’re working for something that you love, and toward other things, I love it,” Jobe said. “I would not trade this place for anything.” She adapts by having her husband and son around when she’s setting up, so it feels like family time and less like work time. “It’s weird, but I always say the site has a soul,” Jobe said. “Because no matter what kind of mood I’m in, I’m always happy when I’m out here.” It hasn’t been all roses, though, Jobe said. There have been tough times when she’s felt exhausted or burned out. But she loves where she works and that critical fact relieves a lot of the stress. “Every morning I get to wake up and know I get to come here, which is pretty awesome,” Jobe said. SPENSER BICKETT may be reached at 218-855-5859 or spenser. bickett@brainerddispatch.com. Follow on Twitter at www.twitter. com/spenserbickett.
HARD WORK, LONG HOURS The long hours and and hard work involved in running the space can create stress, Jobe said. But that stress is easily relieved by the scenic Brainerd lakes area.
Aimee Jobe shows off some of the wedding dresses she’s acquired in her studio space at the Northern Pacific Center.
Advertorial
Country Kitchen would like to say THANK YOU! to all our dedicated customers and staff members!
Country Kitchen serves up hot meals and community support By JODIE TWEED
A focus on community and the customers they serve is what sets apart Country Kitchen. The restaurant was opened in May 1973 in Baxter and is the oldest business in Baxter that is still in business at its original location, Stumpf said. He purchased the restaurant in March 1994. Kevin and Marilyn Stumpf, owners of Country Kitchen, understand what it’s like to send a child off to college. An avid supporter of Brainerd High School and Central Lakes College sports, he makes an effort to introduce himself to the parents of CLC football players and gives them his business card. If their student athlete has a problem, he tells parents he’d be happy to help. Many of the football players who attend CLC live thousands of miles away. Stumpf believes it’s just one more way to extend hospitality to student athletes and support the local sports teams. “I would want someone to have done that with my children,” Stumpf explained. Even during busy times, Kevin and Marilyn try to go out and physically touch each table, connecting with restaurant customers, asking how their day is going, if they enjoyed their meal and if they need anything. “I enjoy going out and asking people how everything is,” Kevin said. “We try to give that personal hospitality that you would give to people in your own home.” Country Kitchen employees have a long tenure. There are many employees who have been there for 10-16 years.
“The average tenure at our restaurant is over six years, which is completely out of the norm for our industry,” said Stumpf. “We treat them like family because we are like family. Most of them grew up with our children and their children grew up with our children. We expect a lot from them, but I don’t expect anything more from them than I expect from myself, and they know that, too.” Country Kitchen is open at 6 a.m. every morning and closes at 7 p.m. each night, except Sundays, when it closes at 3 p.m. Breakfast and lunch are their busiest times in the restaurant, but customers can order anything off the menu, even dinners, at any time they are open. New this year, Country Kitchen had made the shift from using frozen hamburgers patties to using fresh patties for all of their burgers. “We really wanted to get away from frozen burgers that everybody else has,” Stumpf said. Country Kitchen supports several organizations within the community, including Sertoma, Brainerd Lakes Chamber, Crisis Line and Sports Boosters. “We try to treat everybody like it’s a place like home,” Stumpf said. Country Kitchen is located at 7788 Fairview Road in Baxter.
“We try to give that personal hospitality that you would give to people in your own home.”
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We wish everyone a Safe & Fun Labor Day Celebration! Don’t forget to stop in your locally owned Country Kitchen EASY PEASY MAC & CHEESY BURGER
A handcrafted, pub-style burger topped with Swiss cheese, our Wisconsin four-cheese blend, cherrywood-smoked bacon and three crispy Mac and Cheese Wedges.
SUPPER CLUB BURGER
A handcrafted, pub-style burger topped with Swiss cheese, shaved corned beef, coleslaw, 1000 Island dressing and fried pickle chips.
7788 Fairview Rd, Baxter
218-829-1739
Kevin Stumpf, Owner
www.BAXTERcountrykitchen.com 001295935r1
001295931r1
S40
September 3, 2015 • September 7, 2015
www.brainerddispatch.com Advertorial
Edina Realty celebrates 60 years in business Edina Realty is celebrating its 60th year of helping real estate clients sell their homes or achieve their dreams of home ownership. The Minnesota-based company, headquartered in Edina, was started by Emma Rovick in 1955. It is one of the country’s largest real estate companies with more than 60 real estate offices throughout Minnesota and western Wisconsin. Edina Realty is a subsidiary of HomeServices of America, a Berkshire Hathaway Affiliate, which is owned by philanthropist Warren Buffett. Jim Eisler, Managing Broker at Edina Realty, opened the Baxter office in 1994. Today, Edina Realty has four offices in the Brainerd lakes area under his wing, including Brainerd/Baxter, Hackensack, Garrison and Crosslake. Eisler has 65 real estate agents working in those four offices who cover a wide area, about 10,000 square miles. Eisler said what sets Edina Realty apart from other real estate companies is its size, tools, technology and great agents, which provides clients with many opportunities. Edina Realty has 30 sister companies under its HomeServices of America brand. These services include home insurance, in-house warranty, mortgage and title services. They can help clients get the financial assistance and services they need when purchasing a home. What attracts clients is that we’re a one-stop experience, Eisler said. “We have the strength of an extremely large organization, and we have the moxy of a 60-yearold company that knows the market and has the flexibility to deal within our existing market,” Eisler explained. “Our office focuses on what this area needs, and we can be ahead of market trends.” As a managing broker, Eisler doesn’t have to go out and sell homes. He doesn’t compete with his agents, he said. Instead, he focuses solely on helping his agents become successful themselves.
“I’ve got the best trained, best performing agents on the street,” Eisler said. “We train a lot. I focus on what the market is doing and how I can get my agents successful in the market. I collaborate with my agents, I don’t compete with my agents, and I’m always available. When they call, I answer it. I love being part of our agents’ success. I don’t take credit for their wins, but I want to be part of their successes. It fires me up.” Eisler said Edina Realty is a progressive company with three core values: honesty, integrity and commitment. Edina Realty as a company will perform about 36,000 real estate transactions this year, with 24,000 transactions closed by its title companies. At the four Edina Realty offices in the Brainerd lakes area, they will likely perform more than 1,000 real estate transactions this year. “It’s been a good year. Interest rates are favorable and inventory is still good,” Eisler said. Eisler said as long as people continue to transition through life, there will always a market for buying and selling homes. Life moves on, the market moves on, too. Repeat referral business has always been the key to Edina Realty’s success, in addition to growing and finding new clients into their real estate family. Eisler said buying and selling a home is never simple. He recommends that people stop in and visit with a member of his team and talk about what they’re looking for and what their goals are. Edina Realty agents understand the local real estate market and can help you figure out what your next step will be, and how to successfully end up at your destination! Visit edinarealty.com to learn more about the company or view current listings.
“We have the strength of an extremely large organization, and we have the moxy of a 60-year-old company that knows the market and has the flexibility to deal within our existing market” Jim Eisler, Managing Broker
— Our Mission — To support and improve the lives of the homeless in the communities we serve
Building a better tomorrow
Edina Realty is a full service real estate company. For us, that means we have a mortgage company, title company, insurance company,relocation company and offer home warranty solutions. For you, that means your real estate transaction moves more quickly, more smoothly and with less stress. Manager, Jim Eisler, is proud of the Edina Realty agents. “These are great agents who benefit from the best training. They’re experts in the field.” Edina Realty has enjoyed 60 years in business and has been a Minnesota/Brainerd market leader for 15 years. Brainerd/Baxter 15354 Dellwood Dr, Ste 100 Baxter, MN 56425 218-828-7000
Crosslake 35586 Co Rd 66 Crosslake, MN 56442 218-692-5200
Hackensack 405 South St. Hwy 371 Hackensack, MN 56452 218-675-7575
Shouldn’t everyone have a place to call home? That’s what Edina Realty agents and employees thought when they helped establish the Edina Realty Foundation. The Foundation offers financial support to non-profit organizations that provide food, emergency shelter, medical care, job readiness training and more to the homeless in the communities we serve across Minnesota and western Wisconsin. Between 1996 and 2015, the Foundation donated $7.7 million. In 2013, the Edina Realty Foundation awarded 237 grants totaling
$341,880
Garrison 9523 Madison Garrison, MN 56450 866-574-2900 001295197r1
001295202r1
By JODIE TWEED