03-03-11 - Dakota County Tribune Business Weekly

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TAD JOHNSON ERIN JOHNSON AARON VEHLING

Burnsville CEO picked by president 2A Longtime Eagan florist closes doors 2A Lakeville senior housing plans advance 2A

dakotacountytribune.biz dakotacountytribune.biz

DATE ##, MARCH 3, 2009 2011

VOLUME 32, 30, NUMBER NUMBER 1 # VOLUME

'DNRWD &RXQW\ 7ULEXQH Since 1884

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Cornerstone of the community

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Copy center finds success by participating and investing in local groups and events

Webster’s Dictionary defines the word “cornerstone� as something that is essential, indispensable and basic. By this standard, the printing company Ron and Joyce Lund started 30 years ago has certainly lived up to its name. Since 1981, Cornerstone Copy Center has become an essential and often indispensable supplier for many people and businesses south of the river. On the other hand, if they ever decided to change their name, there’s another one that might be even more fitting: Community. From its early days to the present, commitment to their community seems to be a defining trait of this local success story.

In Brief

Photo by Rick Orndorf

The crew of Cornerstone Copy Center of Burnsville have the tools and experience to fulfill printing and publishing needs for its business and individual customers.

INSIDE BIZ FORUM

by Kevin Stirtz

Back in 1981 some people wondered why a suc-

Vice president creative/owner Warren Mosier (left) and president Daniel Mahowald relax in the lobby of Cornerstone Copy Center in Burnsville.

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DAKOTA COUNTY TRIBUNE

The past: ‘ You’re doing what?’

Photo by Rick Orndorf

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Cornerstone Copy Center is at 13775 Frontier Court, Burnsville, and in Heritage Commons shopping center in Lakeville. It’s on the web at www.cornerstonecopy.com

cessful guy would quit a perfectly good job to start a business making copies. As the company notes on its website: “People in the industry were skeptical, ‘Who would want to buy copies?’ they said. ‘It will never work!’ � But in the 30 years since, it has worked very well. Ron and Joyce Lund started this family business on Burnsville’s main street, Nicollet Avenue, in a 500-square-foot space. By way of comparison, that’s about the size of an average Minnesota living room. Eventually, that space expanded to 3,700 square feet and many more copiers, printers and other tools of the trade. As the company grew, it needed more hands than the family could provide. One of those sets of hands would eventually buy the company from the Lunds. Daniel Mahowald, a current co-owner, began his career at Cornerstone as a copier assistant in 1987. What began as a family business has grown into an enterprise that employs 17 people in two locations – Burnsville and Lakeville – and serves a local, regional and even national customer base. The See Cornerstone, Page 44A

TAD JOHNSON

Government should live within its means just like taxpayers do? Be careful what you wish for. 4A

BUSINESS 101

The best education on starting a business is free: Talk to business owners about their experiences. 5A

BOB VOSS

FINANCIAL SENSE

PETER MCCLELLAN

Two wise investors and one self-saboteur provide insights into market behavior. 5A

CAPITOL COMMERCE

CHRIS GERLACH

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Sen. Chris Gerlach of Apple Valley relishes his new role as Senate Commerce Committee chair. 8A

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General 952-894-1111 Distribution 952-846-2070 Advertising 952-846-2011


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