Business Profiles 2013

Central Minnesota & Surrounding Area

Business Profiles

Showcasing Area Businesses and the Services They Provide

Their history. Their story.

Their business.

A Special Supplement to the

March 2013

Also read it online at www.dairylandpeach.com

Peach Business Profile 2013, Page 2

Central Minnesota & Surrounding Area

Business Profiles

Showcasing Area Businesses and the Services They Provide

March 2013

Directory Their history. Their story. Their business.

Ace Hardware .......................................9 Albany Area Hospital & Medical Center ..............................14 Albany Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram......20 AMPS, Inc. ..........................................15 Benusa Appliances, Sales & Service ...12 Bueckers City Sanitation .....................19 Channel Marine & Sports, Inc. .............3 Dairyland Peach ..................................16 ECM Publishers, Inc. ...........................18

Freeport State Bank ............................11 Gilleland Chevrolet .............................13 MBC Drainage, LLC ............................10 Midsota Manufacturing.........................4 Midwest Hotel Furniture Liquidators LLC .................17 Pride of Main Street Dairy ....................6 Sauk Centre Country Store ...................7 Stoen’s Hydrostatic Service, Inc. ..........8 Towmaster .............................................5

Peach Business Profile 2013, Page 3

Channel Marine & Sports is the ideal place to go for outstanding products and exceptional service

By BoB Hare Peach Contributor Channel Marine & Sports is aptly named and ideally located on a channel of the Sauk River Chain of Lakes. They even have their own marina on the channel so that you can either drive your car, or your boat, when you need service.

Channel Marine offers new and used boats and pontoons, as well as Hewitt lifts and docks. They sell boats for all price ranges, from a Jon boat up to topline pontoons such as a G3 Elite Suncatcher.

“The pontoon is your #1 selling boat,” says owner John Arndt, “more popular than the deck boat.”

John has lived on the Sauk River Chain of Lakes since 1973, and has been in business with Channel Marine & Sports, formerly Richmond Marine & Sports, for over 30 years.

One reason for the rising popularity of the pontoon is the addition of the three tube “tritoon” to the market. A top of the line tritoon with a 150 hp motor can go up to 36 mph and turn more like a boat than a traditional two tube pontoon.

Channel Marine & Sports also offers sporting goods, bait and tackle, fishing equipment, ammo, archery equipment, and year-round boat storage. In addition, they accept trade-ins and will sell boats, lifts and docks on consignment.

A major part of their business is service. Their certified technicians service all makes and models of boat motors

and ice augers in their shop. In summer, Channel employees will come to you to install and work on docks and lifts.

Also, until the end of March, there is a 15 percent discount on repairs. Moreover, they offer indoor archery and host an after-school junior league.

Another feature is Channel Rental, a separate business owned by Josh and Sabrina Kraemer. Channel Rental offers rental boats, wet jets and pontoons. It is an ideal service for those who wish to tour the chain of lakes.

However, for those looking to own their own boat, or trade up to a better one, there is no time like the present. Channel Marine’s Annual In-House Boat Show is set for March 16-17 and March 23-24.

They will be open from 9-5 on Saturdays, and 12-5 on Sundays.

There will be refreshments and door prizes, and no need to worry about the weather during the sale, as there is an indoor showroom. So if you wish to purchase a new boat, check prices, or just browse through the new G3 and Weeres models, come on out!

John enjoys working with his staff and customers. “It’s a lifestyle,” says John.

Another major benefit is the opportunity to spend time with his son, Jon Jr. “He has been involved in the business since he was 12 years old,” said John.

So whether you wish to buy or rent a boat, pick up bait and tackle, need service on your boat, motor, lift or dock, or need to buy fishing or archery equipment, Channel Marine can help you.

Pictured (from left) are: Frank, Brian, Marty, Jeff, amanda, Jon, John and Casey.

2 Weekends Only!

Annual In-House

BoAt SHow March 16-17 & March 23-24

Open 9-5 on Saturdays & 12-5 on Sundays for this huge event!

• Register for Door Prizes •

•New & Used Sales •Service •Shrink-Wrapping •Winterizing •Storage •In/Out Service •Archery •Bait & Tackle

Hwy. 23, Richmond, MN • 320-597-5975 www.channelmarineandsports.com

Peach Business Profile 2013, Page 4

INNOVATIVE • DURABLE • PERFORMANCE “A Quality Team Selling Quality Equipment”

Your team (from left): Brad Rodenwald, Tim Burg, Craig Dold, Dale Hamann, Joel Bauer, Skylar Uphoff

Spring is Here!

Stop in for all your trailer & skidsteer attachment needs!

Go to www.midsotamfg.com to see the Midsota round bale processor and brush mower in action

Standing By Our Service & Serving Central MN for Over 35 Years 404 County Road 50 • Avon, Minnesota 56310 • South Side of I-94

877-356-2407 • www.midsotamfg.com

“Remember, if you’re going to be HAULIN you need to be CALLIN Midsota Manufacturing in Avon!”

Peach Business Profile 2013, Page 5

Towmaster uses technology, thicker steel to lead the trailer industry

by KERRY DRAGER Peach Contributor Trailer owners understand the importance of their hauling tool. A trailer is required to be dependable and strong so that it may help get the job done. Towmaster ensures that their trailers are trustworthy and surpass expectations with unprecedented quality and durability.

Towmaster has been building trailers since the 1970s. The business was started by Harlan Palm and the manufacturing took place on Palm’s farm.

In 1994, the growing business moved to a manufacturing plant in Litchfield. In 1998, Towmaster became an employee-owned business. They continue to grow with building expansions, new product lines, a parts and accessory store that is open to the public and even a truck division that started in 2008.

The truck division has seen exceptional success, and no wonder with their experienced staff and the same high quality standards that go into building their trailers. They carry a line of truck bodies that go onto snow movers, dump bodies and small utility trucks.

“Our trucks are successful.

We sell about 150 trucks a year.

It has grown tremendously fast.

As a whole, our company has been successful,” said Towmaster’s Marketing Manager, Shane Zeppelin.

Much goes into their superior product. Towmaster trailers are digitally designed using the latest SolidWorks 3D CAD software with FEA tools, which are

used in testing for stress spots.

Steel is added and blueprints are changed to reinforce those stress spots. Towmaster utilizes thicker steel in their trailer, making for a heavier, more durable product.

To make a Towmaster trailer even more useful and convenient, there are hundreds of options to choose from. One option is galvanized steel as an alternative to paint. Galvanizing makes a solid trailer even stronger. It protects your investment from damage due to rust and daily use.

“Our galvanizing company has dipped a lot of different products, and we’ve been told that our trailers go in and come out nice and straight. That there is enough engineering and steel in our trailers that they don’t need to be braced,” said Zeppelin.

Utilizing technology and thriving to be an environmentally conscious company has prompted some important, exciting changes. Their manufacturing procedure allows for less waste, creating their new smartphone application means less paper waste by digitalizing their brochures, and they were one of the first companies to bring iPads to their sales department.

“Towmaster has always been ahead of the curve in technology. We utilize our website often.

We were one of the first trailer manufacturing places to use social media. We are using efficient welders that use less energy. We recycle many of our products, like our steel. We capture our paint, and we recycle this as well.

We are as clean and efficient as we can be in manufacturing. We

even have an air filtration system. Plus, we build our trailers to last. The longer the trailer lasts people, the better we’re being on the environment. We do our best to cut down on the energy we use,” said Zeppelin.

Locally built, Towmaster has its community in mind. They employ over 140 experienced employees. To keep their manufacturing local, they use a Minnesota-based company to do their galvanizing, and they play a role in supporting their dealers and the community they call home.

“Towmaster is loyal to their dealers. We have a huge dealer network across the U.S. and Canada. We will not undercut or under sell a trailer. Even to local buyers, we have to send them to the dealer, but we have a database to help buyers find the right dealer,” said Zeppelin.

They also play a role in keeping their community content and healthy. They donate to the Pink Ribbon Riders, a fundraiser designed to help ease the financial strain experienced by breast cancer patients. Participation in local school and city events is important to Towmaster as it will often donate its trailers for the use of floats in parades.

With the use of thicker steel, many useful options, precise and research fabrication and efficient, green technology, Towmaster trailers are superior to their competitors’ products.

Proudly made in America right here in Minnesota and with their community in mind, they are the standard in trailer quality and design.

Towmaster Trailers and Trucks are Minnesota built. They currently employ over 140 highly qualified Minnesota employees.

The new Towmaster App is available for their dealers.

It works on both iOS and Android smartphones and tablets.

Towmaster employees proudly put the finishing touches on a high quality trailer.

A walk-in parts store supplies the public and their dealerships with genuine Towmaster parts.

Towmaster truck bodies are manufactured with carbon steel, stainless steel or aluminum.

Hours: Monday - Friday 7 AM - 5 PM; Saturday & Sunday Closed

West of Litchfield on Highway 12

61381 US Hwy. 12 Litchfield, MN 55355

www.towmaster.com

Peach Business Profile 2013, Page 6

Pride of Main Street’s plant produces and offers high quality dairy products to area consumers

By KERRY DRAGER Peach Contributor

A travel down Main Street in Sauk Centre will take you past an old brick building that has stood proud since the early 1920s. Pride of Main Street Dairy has a long history in that building and it continues to play an important part in the community.

Pride of Main Street Dairy has been known by many names throughout the years. They have been the Blue Valley Creamery, Sauk Lake Co-op, Sauk Centre Creamery and the Central Minnesota Co-op.

As the names came and went, so did the products that they processed and bottled. Initially a butter-churning factory, the facility now handles fluids and semifluids like milk, tea and sour cream.

The products that Pride of Main Street Dairy produces are simple and simply good for you. Their milk comes from local dairy farms and they offer an artificial hormone free line of milk products. They are a

“We sent out consumer kits and have recipes,” said Sharon Quistorff, plant manager.

Aside from handling Helios products, Pride of Main Street Dairy also does co-packing for other companies. They have the facility to manufacture many types of dairy products and are always looking for new partnerships.

“We’ve always done co-packing and we’re always looking for more of them. Companies who have a product but not a plant, we can make and package it here,” said Quistorff.

For consumers interested in their dairy products, Pride of Main Street Dairy offers a small retail store on location. They carry everything the plant produces and even some things that it doesn’t, including skim to whole milk, chocolate milk, sour cream, Argo Tea, many flavors of Kefir and even butter from a neighboring Minnesota business.

Argo Tea, based in Chicago, Ill., is their latest copacking customer. They brew tea from leaves and fruit, flavor, and fill eight kinds of tea in single serve glass bottles. They range from no caffeine to high caffeine and are sold locally to internationally. The four most popular flavors, Carolina Honey, Hibiscus Tea Sangria, Green Tea Ginger Twist, and PomegranaTea are sold at the retail store.

Co-packing is an important aspect to Pride of Main Street Dairy. They have recently begun production of tea products.

Kosher and organic certified plant.

Their milk is processed using cold bowl separation.

Before the milk is pasteurized, skim and cream are separated. It is brought back together to make the desired fat percentage of the milk and then is heated.

This process allows for less heating of the milk and a higher quality cream, which is then used for their cream based mixes and sour cream products.

Pride of Main Street Dairy also offers a super food known as Kefir, a cultured beverage of drinkable consistency. It contains many different strains of beneficial bacteria that are added to make the Kefir good for the body’s immunity and digestion to name two.

Office Manager, Joan Beilke, has been with the company since 1991. She works hard to promote understanding of the products that the facility produces.

“When we started doing Helios Kefir, we didn’t know much about the product. We educated ourselves so we can educate everyone. We teach people how drinking it helps your body.”

214 Main Street South, Sauk Centre

Plant Manager Sharon Quistorff and Office Manager Joan Beilke, are proud to offer their products to the public at their on-site retail store.

“Buying our product here saves you money. You don’t have to leave to buy quality artificial free hormone products. They are right here. Plus, because we are producing and selling it in the same location we can pass those savings on to you,” said Beilke.

Sauk Centre has been a home to Pride of Main Street Dairy since the city was young. This is the dairy company that created citywide events like Pancake Days and offered free Dixie cups filled with high quality ice cream during the carnival. Today, it employs 23 employees and donates to local benefit dinners and school events. It is a Sauk Centre original company and is an important element in the history and future of the city.

“We are here in your town and neighborhood,” said Beilke. “We are producing high quality dairy products that we are proud of. Community support is so important. We urge more people to buy local. This will keep our community strong.”

320-351-8300

Pride of Main Street’s Retail Outlet Store is open Monday through Thursday from 8 a.m to 4:30 p.m. and Friday 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

In an economy struggling to offer employment in small communities, Pride of Main Street Dairy provides Sauk Centre a good place to work.

Peach Business Profile 2013, Page 7

The Sauk Centre Country Store provides a personal touch for every customer

by KERRY DRAGER Peach Contributor

able to expand on companion animal goods, like pet food and toys. We have more animal health supplies available, and a big warehouse allows us Sauk Centre Country Store understands that to keep more product and selection on hand. It running a farm is stressful and hard work, but improved the way we do business,” said Assistant obtaining the goods you need to maintain your Store Manager Kate Stalboerger.

Being a small town store that works closely assets shouldn’t be. It strives to make your shopping experience as comfortable and easy as pos- with their farmers allows them to become an active part of their community. The Sauk Centre sible.

The humble Country Store has always called Country Store understands the importance of Sauk Centre home. The business opened in 1996 involvement with their individual customers and but has made some changes over the years. In keeping their community healthy and strong.

The business regularly donates to the Isaac’s October 2010, it became a part of the Centra Sota family. It is one of 13 company locations Foundation, Holy Family Shelter, Pheasants throughout Minnesota, making it a part of a Forever and Sauk River Phantom Bucks. In honor of their agricultural roots, the business has strong cooperation.

As business in Sauk Centre grew, a need for played an active part in cattle seminars and 4-H a warehouse and a larger store became a real- programs. Last year, it purchased a sheep from ity. They moved to their current location in 2006. a youth in the Stearns County 4-H program for The original Sauk Centre Country Store directed $1,400, making for one happy future rancher.

“What I really like is that I get to know my cusmost of its business to the local dairy farmers.

Today, the new space has allowed the company tomers by name. These customers have turned into my friends,” said Stalboerger. to cater to a wide array of customers.

Such a tight knit community has allowed the “Since we’ve moved to this location, we’ve been Sauk Centre Country Store to develop superior customer service. They are laidback, friendly, knowledgeable and hands-on. Their produce is high quality, fresh and varied.

“Our staff is trained on the product, not just trained to sell it. If we don’t have the answer, we have a large network of people that can be called to answer any question you may have. You can’t get customer service like that anywhere else,” said Stalboerger.

Where can a novice go to discover that her The Sauk Centre Country Store located at 1320 Sinclair Lewis six-month-old calf should no longer be on milk Avenue, has a wide selection of companion pet foods and toys, replacer?

Sauk Centre Country Store has nutriwild bird seed and accessories and carries all your livestock nutrition and health needs. tionists on hand to assist even the most inexperi-

enced with their livestock needs.

“We have a wide range of nutritionists. We are successful because of them,” said Stalboerger.

Having such great service and product, while providing the personal touch for every customer, allows this little business to keep growing even when times are tough in the agriculture business.

It says a lot about a company when they not only care about their personal profits, but the profits and success of their customers and the community that they call home.

The Sauk Centre Country Store has helpful, friendly staff to help with all your livestock and companion pet needs.

Front Row (from left): Greg Klasen and Kate Stalboerger Back Row: Arlan Schroeder and Mike Denny

1320 Sinclair Lewis Ave., Sauk Centre, MN

320.351.2227

HOURS: Mon-Fri 8 am - 5 pm; Sat 9 am - Noon LIVESTOCK EQUIPMENT & FEED •PET SUPPLIES •WILD BIRD SUPPLIES •AND MORE

Peach Business Profile 2013, Page 8

No job is too big or too small at Stoen’s Hydrostatic Service The company is known nationwide for hydraulic and hydrostatic repair

Stoen’s Hydrostatic Service began in 1991 at the home shop. Jeff Stoen worked out of the small shop for 10 years, establishing a reputation for repairing anything fluid power driven. The business quickly outgrew the limited space.

In 2001, Stoen’s Hydrostatic built the present shop “on top of the hill.” Located in Glenwood, Minn., the business is known nationwide for hydraulic and hydrostatic repair. In 2010, they expanded the shop, making the facility over 10,000 square feet.

The shop houses five rebuilding stations, test stand, machining and welding area, and hose making section.

“Repairing pumps for water well drilling as far away as Haiti is one of the many requests we have served over the years.

Whether we are designing hydraulic systems to operate weed choppers used in the Everglades or repairing skid loaders for our local dairies to designing and installing wet kits on water trucks used in North Dakota oil fields — every customer is important to us,” says Stoen.

The mainstay of the business is rebuilding hydrostatic transmissions, drive motors, and hydraulic pumps and motors.

They rebuild hydraulic cylinders from the smallest application to telescopic cylinders for trucks and construction equipment.

No job is too big or too small for their technicians. Rebuilt units are available to exchange for many applications, keeping costly down time to a minimum.

“We strive to provide quality service as quickly and cost efficiently as possible,” says Stoen.

Hoses, from 1/4-inch to 2-inches in standard and metric, are a big part of their business. They carry hose and ends for

most applications, including high temp and high pressure. Stoen’s has one of the largest fitting inventories in the Midwest. They also have assorted belts, bearings, pulleys and sprockets for your convenience. Next day delivery is available for most parts if they do not have it in stock.

“In the last few years, we have begun handling attachments for skid loaders, including the quick attach plate, snowblowers, buckets, pallet forks, post hole auger, and wood splitters,” says Stoen. “Attachments are for sale or rent, along with assorted skid loaders and excavators for your do-it-yourself projects.”

Stoen’s Hydrostatic employs three certified technicians: Jeremy Moen, Garrett Steiner and Jason Plotz. Derek Klimek works part-time around his school schedule. Jeff Stoen, owner, and Iris Scott, office manager, round out the team. With over 50 years combined experience, they are ready to serve your needs. “Your Problem is No Problem” at Stoen’s Hydrostatic.

“Your Problem is No Problem” at Stoen’s Hydrostatic

Front Row (from left): Derek Klimek, Jeff Stoen, Garrett Steiner & Iris Scott. Back Row: Jeremy Moen, Jason Plotz

16084 State Hwy 29, Glenwood, MN

320-634-4360 • www.stoens.com

Ace Hardware receives best of service rating for customer service

Peach Business Profile 2013, Page 9

It’s the ideal place to go for outstanding products and exceptional service For the past six years, Ace Hardware has received the best of service rating from J.D. Powers and Associates, a company which rates major hardware stores for customer service.

The Sauk Centre store opened in January 2009 and has always strived for customer service. It is one of two Ace Hardware stores owned by Coborn’s.

“We pride ourselves with being knowledgeable with almost everything we carry. If not, we will find the answer,” said General Manager Dave Sobotka.

From “A” to “Z”, Ace Hardware in Sauk Centre is a fully stocked hardware store and carries appliances, lawn and garden supplies and has brands such as Craftsman, Stihl, Speed Queen and Daewoo. Also under consideration is an expansion in the line of appliances.

The location offers in-house repairs on small engines, factory warranty work on Craftsman and Stihl products, and window and screen repair. It has key duplication abilities and sharpens knives, scissors, lawn mower blades and chainsaw chains. The store also delivers larger items (such as appliances, snow blowers, etc.) without a charge and takes away the old items for free.

Ace Hardware participates in a Mystery Shopper program. Twice a month an unknown shopper comes into the store and grades them on 25 different items such as cleanliness, service, friendliness, etc. They are the only Ace Hardware in the state to achieve a 100 percent rating nine times. Their average is 97 percent.

These numbers indicate the caliber of employees Ace has.

Sharpening chainsaw chains are one of Ace Service Representative Derek Uhlenkamp’s duties.

Ace Hardware is not a franchise but instead it is considered a co-op. There are 4,400 Ace Hardware stores nationwide, and each store is independently owned.

Assistant Manager Marilyn Schroeder with The store has nine employees. General Manager Clark & Kensington Paint Associate “Leon”.

Dave Sobotka said, “One of our best selling products Several times a year Clark & Kensington offers is our paint. Clark & Kensington paint is top quality, a FREE 1 quart paint promotion. and our customers just love it.”

Clark & Kensington is rated #1 in a leading The facility is 10,000 square feet and includes sevconsumer magazine. eral specialty sections.

The Battery Place carries batteries for just about anything: from cars, motorcycles, cell phones, watchHost® Dry Cleaning Service es, hearing aids to specialty items.

•All Natural •Safe for People & Pets It has a large variety of bird supplies including specialty feeds, houses, feeders and baths. They also carry lawn and garden ornaments.

A large rental department is on site. Rented by the hour or day are summer items for the yard, a brush cutter, power rakes, power edgers, cement mixer, various sanders, one-man post hole digger, floor shampooer, Host® Dry carpet cleaning system and more.

Sobotka, who attends the Faith Baptist Church in Long Prairie, is a pulpit supply speaker for other churches and a support member of the 5th Marine Regiment in Dana Point, Calif., said, “We offer an extensive line for the fisherman, both for summer and the winter. We also carry parts and supplies for RVs.” The wide variety of paint serves as a background to Ace Service Representative Gary Schultz.

Sobotka also has a son-in-law, Jeremy Martinez, a 15-year Marine, who has returned from Afghanistan and will be a recruiter for the U.S. Marines in Fuller- Jackie Middendorf ton, Calif. with the “Since the store opened, we have adjusted our in- Big Green Egg ventory to suit the needs of the people in Sauk Centre and the surrounding community. We are proud to Smoker & Grill. serve the Sauk Centre community and take pride in Starting At our employees’ knowledge and dedication to our cus$ tomers,” said Sobotka.

299.95 Mini The store is located at 226 12th Street, right to next to Coborn’s Superstore. Its hours are Mon- $999.00 X-Large day through Friday 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., Saturday 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Sunday 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

We carry Big Green Egg Discontinued, natural lump Damaged, Overstock Inventory charcoal & At Reduced Prices. accessories.

NEW INVENTORY ADDED WEEKLY!

226 12th Street ~ Next to Coborn’s

SAUK CENTRE • 320-352-0309 The helpful place.

Get In, Get Help, And Get On With Your Life!

Peach Business Profile 2013, Page 10

Photo by Randy Larson, www.candadcamera.com

Photo by Randy Larson, www.candadcamera.com

MBC

DRAINAGE, LLC

Over 100 years of experience assures you of a quality job every time!

job. Next, an owner-operated tile drainage plow, The pictures tell the story of MBC Drainage LLC. which they refer to as the heart and soul of the busiOverhead shots of a rectangular manure lagoon. A ness, lays down rows of flexible perforated tile three feedlot with a runoff pad which filters out all the feet underground, 40 to 60 feet apart. These are all sediment from the water before it runs into a ditch tracked with a GPS system and surrounding fields. A “We are in the land improvement and marked on a map so that big tile drainage plow laying they can be found if more tile down tile to drain a wet field. business. We do farm drainage, ag waste A deteriorating dam near systems, site work for farm buildings, silage is needed later.

“This dries out the ground Grove Lake replaced and a pads, as well as miscellaneous work. and gives a little longer growparking lot for boat owners We also do county, township, watershed ing season,” Howard said. installed. and soil conservation work.”

“The perfect growing condi“We are in the drainage -Dave Bailey, Co-Owner tions are one-third air, waand land improvement busiof MBC Drainage, Sauk Centre ter, and soil. When you have ness,” explains Dave Bailey, wet ground you don’t grow a co-owner of MBC Drainage, healthy plant.” located in Sauk Centre. The other owners are brothJason explains how the company filtered a feed lot ers Jason and Howard Marthaler and Karl Larson. by removing trees, leveling a 1000-foot area leading Each partner has his specialty. One or more of the from the feedlot, and creating a row of dams out of owners is on the work site nearly all the time. small rocks, similar to landscaping rock. “It dams A job such as draining a wet field begins by surup the water so the sediment has no choice but to veying the land with a laser, which is usually Dave’s settle out,” he says. “The water runs through all six dams. When it’s done, this area will have foot-tall grass.”

Another project lined a gully with nylon fabric and turned cement blocks on end in a bed of sand to produce a runoff chute to slow down erosion.

“Everything you see upstream drains through a 60 foot wide waterway,” Jason says.

“The blocks will eventually fill with sediment and grow up with grass and that in turn will Pictured on left: This drainage ditch is one slow the water down. In the old days, the gully would have been filled with rocks.” of the many projects MBC Drainage has worked “It’s all about clean water,” says Dave, who on over the past 35 years. started on his own over 35 years ago. He and Pictured on right: MBC Drainage uses an ownerfour other farmers incorporated as MBC operated tile plow to lay down drainage tile.

Drainage, Inc. in 1975, and a year later Karl

Karl Larson, Howard Marthaler, Jason Marthaler, and Dave Bailey of MBC Drainage have a combined work experience of over 100 years. became an employee. Howard and Jason joined in the 1990’s. The four became partners in 2004 when the company became MBC Drainage, LLC. “The group of us has a combined work experience of over 100 years,” Dave says proudly. They plan on being in business for a long time, as more pollution control regulations go into effect and the public becomes increasingly aware of water quality problems. Dave says, “With over 2,500 feed lots in Stearns County, there will be many more ag-waste systems installed in the future.”

MBC DRAINAGE, LLC

43965 450th Street, Sauk Centre

Dave 320-352-6961 Jason 320-249-6062 Howard 320-250-2984 Karl 320-808-8012

Peach Business Profile 2013, Page 11

Freeport State Bank is Celebrating Its 105th Anniversary For 105 Years They Have Served Their Customers With Sound, Trusted Banking Services In 1901, 10 years after Freeport’s founding, George Uhlenkott — grain shipper, land owner and highly esteemed farmer — founded a private bank. His son Herman took it over in 1908 and along with brother Simon, incorporated as the Uhlenkott State Bank.

New owners in 1912 changed the name to Freeport State Bank. They built a new building in 1922, still the bank’s headquarters today.

In December 1926, rival Farmer’s State Bank merged with Freeport State Bank to form one solid and sole financial resource for the community.

In 1959, Virgil (VJ) Hemker, who had joined the bank as a bookkeeper 18 years earlier, bought controlling interest in the bank. In 1978, a branch opened in New Munich. VJ’s son Jim purchased the bank in 1983 when his father retired and today serves as its president. Another branch opened in Melrose in 1999 and most recently a branch was established in Greenwald.

Since it was founded 105 years ago, Freeport State Bank has been committed to personal service and community involvement. In addition to the traditional banking services provided throughout the years, Freeport State Bank has supported the community with donations to the area churches, parochial and public schools and civic organizations.

Local towns have been part of Freeport State Bank’s Community Partnership Program with donations towards the Senior Center, City Hall, High School Musicals, School Papers, Scholarships, Community Center, Tornado Siren, Fire Departments, Healthcare, Town Message Centers, Scoreboards, Black Sox Park, and the Message Center at Melrose Area Public Schools.

Freeport State Bank also gets involved by sponsoring recreational teams such as softball, baseball,

volleyball and bowling for youth and adults.

Services provided by Freeport State Bank include debit and credit cards, ATMs in seven locations, Internet banking, QWIK ACCESS, direct deposit, bank by mail, cashier’s checks, telephone and wire transfer, notary service, night depository, and much more.

Freeport State Bank works to meet the needs of everyone in the community, and the “Young at Heart Club” gives customers age 55 and older opportunities to save and socialize with monthly meetings and out-of-town trips. Children are recognized as important customers at Freeport State Bank. Through the bank’s “Smart Saver’s Club” children up to age 16 can start their own special account. They earn a great rate, monthly incentives to save, a birthday treat and an annual movie outing. The “Christmas Savers Club” is a year-long savings plan for Christmas that you can start anytime. Every October, you will receive a check for the full amount you have saved, plus interest — just in time to buy those Christmas gifts.

While others speak of strength and stability, Freeport State Bank lives them. For 105 years, it has been serving the people of Freeport and the surrounding communities with sound, trusted banking services.

Freeport State Bank offers a variety of loans such as real estate loans, home equity loans, agricultural loans (FSA), business loans (SBA), new and used car loans, recreational loans and any other types of personal loans. No matter what your need, their local and personal staff will provide quality services and the respect and attention their customers deserve.

To celebrate Freeport State Bank’s 105th Anniversary, join them on Friday, March 22, 2013, for coffee and cookies at all locations.

4 Locations To Serve All Your Financial Needs!

Freeport State Bank 111 Main Street East

New Munich Branch 601 Main Street

Melrose Branch 219 East Main Street

“Customer Service Is Our Priority” Greenwald Branch 450 1st Ave North

Freeport • New Munich • Melrose • Greenwald Freeport New Munich Melrose Greenwald Member

(320) 836-2126 • (800) 252-9856 (320) 837-5297 • (320) 256-7342 (320) 256-7208 • (800) 337-0292 (320) 987-2265 • (800) 337-0292

www. freeportstatebank.com

105

Anniversary Customer Celebration Join Us For COFFEE & COOKIES Friday, March 22, 2013 At All Locations

th

Peach Business Profile 2013, Page 12

Benusa Appliance offers variety, prompt service and knowledgeable staff at new Sauk Centre location Expansion of new stores allows Benusa to provide faster delivery and service

By BOB HARE Peach Contributor

Benusa Appliances, already a well-known business in St. Cloud, is making a name for itself in the Sauk Centre area as well. Benusa opened its new store at 711 Beltline Drive in southwest Sauk Centre in May 2012.

“The larger portion of our business has always been contract sales, or project sales,” says Jeff Seifert, part owner and general manager for Benusa Appliances. Now with new stores having recently opened in Paynesville and Bemidji, as well as Sauk Centre, they are looking more to the retail market.

At Benusa, they feel that with their prompt service, knowledgeable staff, customer relations, and factory direct pricing, they can compare favorably with the big box stores.

With Benusa you don’t call an 800 number for servicing or wait a week or two until a technician is in your area.

“We answer your call and we get there the next day, within two days for sure,” Jeff said.

“Most of our business is sales,” Jeff said, “but sales complement service and service complements sales.” Jeff said, “It is easy to sell product when you have [a] service department to back up your sales.”

One part of moving to the Sauk Centre store that has made expansion easier and less costly is that it can use the St. Cloud store as a hub. Delivery, service and warehouse storage is handled at the main location, helping keep overhead down at the new store.

Furthermore, “we like to package together popular appliances,” Jeff said, “so that we can offer you a better price.”

Benusa, due to its purchasing power, is able to keep costs down, and offers a wide range of appliances including over 16 major brands, such as Whirlpool, Maytag, Amana, and Kitchen Aid. In addition, they travel over a wide area for in-home service, as far out as the Alexandria lakes, Longville, Browerville, Willmar and Brooten.

They also welcome phone calls from customers looking for advice or tips on how to repair their appliances, and they sell parts for repairs. Jeff did note that people should turn off the power to any appliance they are working on, and appliances, such as a microwave that retain power when turned off, should be left to professionals.

Benusa will be holding a parking lot sale at the St. Cloud store at the end of April, and should be grilling on its 1500 btu Holland gas grill and its Green Egg smoker/grill. The green egg is a Japanese Kamado grill that has a 3/4-inch thick ceramic covering that you can grill on, or slow cook on for 8-10 hours.

“It’s a ceramic grill that keeps moisture in food,” Jeff says. “If you’ve never had food off a green egg you need to come in and sample some when we’re grilling.”

Also, Terri Ritter, who is just starting as the new store manager in Sauk Centre, will have a booth at Sauk Centre Ladies Night Out, so drop by and welcome Terri to Sauk Centre.

BENUSA APPLIANCES SALES SERVICE 711 Beltline Road, Sauk Centre

Locations also at 707 Hwy. 55 East in Paynesville •& 2525 Co. Rd. 74 in St. Cloud

Jeff Seifert, part owner and general manager for Benusa Appliances, finds it easier to sell their products because they have a service department to back up their sales.

Dwight Kaiser, salesman at the Sauk Centre Benusa Appliance location, welcomes phone calls from customers looking for advice or tips on how to repair their appliances. They also have parts available in stock for repairs.

Sauk Centre 320.351.5000 St. Cloud 320.252.2314 • Paynesville 320.243.4706

Toll Free 800.275.2314 Open Monday 8am-8pm, Tuesday thru Friday 8am-5pm & Saturday 9am-2pm

Peach Business Profile 2013, Page 13

Gilleland attains GM Business Elite status, caters to both commercial and personal customers

By BOB HARE Peach Contributor Gilleland Chevrolet has been a fixture in Central Minnesota for 26 years. Now it has become one of the few (8 at last count) dealerships in Minnesota to have attained GM Business Elite status.

“Gilleland has always had a fleet/commercial department,” says Dawn Gustin, the commercial fleet manager. Now, however, as new car manager Michelle Widman adds, “Dealers have to meet certain requirements to be a Business Elite dealer.”

“Dawn has to be certified and go through training,” Michelle said. “Our managers and sales reps are required to go to certain training.”

In addition, Dawn said, “We have Business Elite certified Dawn Gustin, technicians.”

Commercial These are but a few of the reFleet Manager quirements Gilleland has had to at Gilleland meet to have its commercial fleet Chevrolet become a part of GM Business Elite. It also has to provide business customers with round-the-clock towing, have reliable loaner cars available, meet business financing standards, has to have certain vehicles available for commercial fleets and provide priority service.

In a nutshell, it has to provide a reliable commitment to business financing, quality and service to its business customers, beyond what is expected from most other dealers.

They will work with farmers, contractors, police and fire, as well as any professional service needing from one to 300 vehicles.

Dawn and Michelle provide helpful and friendly assistance to both commercial and personal customers. They point out that the new 2014 Silverados and Impalas will be out this June.

Furthermore, one doesn’t have to negotiate a price at Gilleland. “We’re a one price store,” says Michelle.

Instead, they provide their best price upfront, “Our pricing is very aggressive,” said Dawn. They also offer coupons on occasion, such as the one included here.

They also have a consistent policy on trade-ins. No matter what car you are looking at, they will give you the actual cash value of your trade-in, even if you choose not to buy a car from them.

In fact, Michelle and Dawn related the story of one lady who had her car towed there to trade it in, and, after they looked at it, they accepted it in trade. Dawn and Michelle laughed as they related this story, exemplifying one of the best reasons to shop at Gilleland Chevrolet: the relaxed friendly atmosphere.

So whether you are looking for a new or used vehicle, Gilleland employees are going to work with you to find a car that is right for you. You do not stay in business for as long as they have without having developed a good reputation and loyal customers.

Moreover, Gilleland has a staff of certified technicians, a good service reputation and an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau. It is now also one of only a few dealerships to have earned GM Business Elite status.

Shopping for a car can be stressful, so if you are looking for a more positive experience, whether you

Gilleland Chevrolet has attained GM Business Elite status and has one of the largest selection of work-ready vehicles in the area. Providing a reliable commitment to business financing, quality and service to their business customers, Gilleland works above and beyond what is expected from most other dealers. are looking for a new car or a new fleet, come see Michelle and Dawn at Gilleland Chevrolet conveniently located at 3019 Division Street in St. Cloud. They will be happy to serve you.

COUPON

500 OFF

$

The Purchase Of A New Vehicle!

Hurry In! Coupon expires May 31, 2013.

Not compatible with any other special offers.

www.gillelandchevrolet.com

3019 Division Street, St. Cloud 320.251.4943 • 800.635.6983 www.gillelandchevrolet.com

3019 Division Street, St. Cloud • 320.251.4943 • 800.635.6983

Peach Business Profile 2013, Page 14

Albany Area Hospital & Medical Center is committed to providing quality rural health care Albany Area Hospital & Medical Center (AAHMC) delivers quality health care services to the people of Albany, Avon, Holdingford, Freeport and the surrounding areas. The organization includes the hospital, a medical center in Albany, and a satellite clinic in Avon. AAHMC is one of the largest employers in Albany with 92 employees and is part of Unity Family Healthcare in Little Falls, Minn. Unity Family Healthcare is owned by Catholic Health Initiatives (CHI). CHI is a national non-profit health organization with headquarters in Englewood, Colo. The faith-based system operates in 17 states and includes 78 hospitals; 40 long-term care, and residential-living facilities; two community healthservices organizations; two accredited nursing colleges; and home health agencies. CHI facilities are located in both rural and urban communities and each year provides millions of dollars in charity care and community benefit, including services for the poor, free clinics, education and research. With approximately 83,000 employees, CHI ranks as the nation’s second-largest faith-based health system and has a deeprooted commitment to rural health care.

MEDICAL STAFF AAHMC offers a host of primary care, urgent care and emergency care services through its medical staff.

•Dr. Daron Gersch, board-certified in Family Medicine •Dr. Nathan Brever, board-certified in Family Medicine •Dr. Libby Brever, board-certified in Family Medicine •Charlene Gerner, RN, PA-C, special interests: family medicine and women’s health •Teresa Hamiel, PA-C, special interest: family medicine •Eric Fly, PA-C, emergency medicine and urgent care •Esther Doele, CFNP, emergency medicine and urgent care •Dan Rickard, PA-C, emergency medicine and urgent care •Josh Arickx, PA-C, emergency medicine and urgent care URGENT CARE AAHMC provides extended hours for acute illnesses and injuries to better serve our patients. The urgent care service is available from 12 to 8 p.m. Monday through Thursday, and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Friday. Urgent care allows increased access to our providers for annual physicals, well-baby and well-child check-ups, and the time needed to manage the care of each patient as well as to establish new patients.

Urgent care provides immediate care for acute, non-life threatening illness and injury and is a critical component of our health system. Some symptoms appropriate for urgent care include: upper respiratory infections, urinary tract infections, minor burns, vomiting, diarrhea, dehydration, acute sprains and strains. Cooperation between patients, their primary care providers, our emergency department and our urgent care team creates a network of care options that puts the patient in the right hands for the right level of care at the right time.

COUMADIN CLINIC The Coumadin Clinic helps patients monitor and manage the medication they take to prevent blood clots. Clinic hours

are Monday through Thursday mornings. Providers have established guidelines for a registered nurse to check patients’ blood and adjust their dose of warfarin (Coumadin), as well as other medications patients may be taking or need (such as heparin shots or vitamin K, the antidote to Coumadin).

DIABETES HEALTH COACH The Diabetes Health Coach method is a person-centered approach to wellness, not just disease management. When you visit the health coach, the certified diabetes educator will get to know you as a person and work with you to create a personalized wellness plan that educates, motivates and empowers you. It is designed to help you find the tools within yourself to make positive changes in your behavior and lifestyles. Coaching appointments are Monday through Thursday afternoons.

FOUNDATION The mission of Albany Area Healthcare’s Foundation is to raise funds needed for the continued improvement of the services and facilities in order to serve the needs of patients in our service area. Through donations from families, individuals and organizations, the foundation builds partnerships between the area communities and AAHMC to improve area health. Currently the foundation is working on raising funds for a digital mammography unit.

SWING BED PROGRAM Albany Area Hospital also offers a swing bed program.

The transition to swing bed is after a three-day hospital stay and includes skilled nursing, physical or occupational therapy, medication administration, as well as a weekly visit by the patient’s attending provider. Patients in the swing bed program can be transitioned to AAHMC from any health care facility. A requirement is that the patient is actively participating in making progress towards established goals. The swing bed program allows our area residents to be close to home while patients maintain or return to their highest level of independence.

The swing bed program offers rehab services to allow patients to “come back home” near their family and friends while they recover from major illness or surgery. By receiving services locally, patients can maintain ongoing contact with their friends and loves ones. The low staff-to-patient ratio provides for more personal contact during the recovery process. Our therapy staff is highly qualified and has a great reputation for delivering rehab services in a positive caring

manner, focused solely on making patients well.

HOSPITAL & CLINIC SERVICES The hospital and emergency department are open 24 hours a day. The emergency room is staffed with an on-call provider and trained registered nurses. Licensed practical nurses, nursing assistants, imaging and lab technologists and technicians are also available 24 hours, 7 days a week.

In keeping with the commitment to provide exceptional and up-to-date patient care, Albany Area Hospital installed a bone density machine. A bone density (DEXA) exam is the most accurate way to test for bone loss, which can lead to osteoporosis.

In addition to inpatient medical and surgical services, AAHMC continues to expand its surgery and outreach specialty services. Surgeries are performed on both outpatient and inpatient basis. General, orthopedic, ophthalmology, and urology surgeries are performed by surgeons from Little Falls and St. Cloud. Outreach specialty services include orthopedics, cardiology, stress testing, podiatry, urology, internal medicine, gastroenterology, MRI, mammography, and nuclear medicine. Physical, occupational and speech therapies are performed by the AAHMC staff.

COMMUNITY HEALTH The staff is active in sharing information on health care careers through high school students. Tours are given to kindergarten students and human anatomy classes as well as education presentations to students in the area schools.

AAHMC has also collaborated with Dr. David Kroska to offer the LIFE (Lifestyle, Food & Exercise) program. LIFE program participants learn how many chronic diseases, including heart disease and cancer, are frequently associated with unhealthy food choices and a lack of physical activity.

The eight-week educational program consists of two-hour seminars each week. Sessions provide extensive education on diet, exercise and nutrition, as well as practical and behavioral aspects of healthy living. The final session covers menu planning and food preparation tips. These sessions are held twice a year.

The administration and the Advisory Board of Directors of the Albany Area Hospital and Medical Center are continuously developing strategies and looking for opportunities to enhance the services offered locally. For more information about any of the programs or services provided by the Albany Area Hospital & Medical Center, visit our website at www.albanyareahospital.com or call (320) 845-2121.

Albany Area Hospital

300 Third Ave., Albany • 320-845-2121

Albany Medical Center

320 Third Ave., Albany • 320-845-2157

www.albanyareahospital.com

Avon Medical Clinic

108 Stratford St. W., Avon • 320-356-7602

Peach Business Profile 2013, Page 15

AMPS Inc. continues providing superior customer service along with quality products at its new location

By BOB HARE Peach Contributor Jim Mergen and Dave Mareck founded AMPS Inc. in 1991 with one goal in mind. “When Dave and I took over in 91, that’s the one thing that we said,” Jim said, “that we want service to come first.”

Today service is still the backbone of their business.

“What’s driving the appliance sales is the service that we have,” Jims says. Indeed, most of their business comes from word of mouth, referrals and repeat business.

Most of their motor work comes from the farming community. “We work on electric motors, battery chargers, electric fencers. Pretty much anything with an electric motor in it, I’ve worked on already,” says Jim. Although normally the motors are brought to the shop, sometimes they go to the motors. In January, Jim climbed a silo to work on a motor there.

Although he descended safely, he then slipped on a patch of ice and broke his ankle. He hopes to be back to climbing silos again as soon as he is able.

AMPS stands for Appliances, Motors, Parts and Service. Jim and Dave, though, do more than just

AMPS Inc. moved to their new location off County Road 10 in Albany on March 1. Their new showroom is more spacious and their shop area is now all on one level, making it more convenient to provide superior sales and service.

work with appliances and motors. They also sell and service generators, install and service Dish Satellite Network and Direct TV, and are an authorized Radio Shack dealer.

“We do sell all the Radio Shack products from your car stereos, speakers, home theatre systems, TVs, your connectors for all those things, computers, computer networking components,” Jim said, “pretty much a full Radio Shack store.”

AMPS used to be located on Railroad Avenue in downtown Albany; however, they have just moved on March 1 to the south side of the freeway, to 105 County Road 10, just after the road turns past NAPA. “We were looking for some place with a bigger showroom, more convenient shop area .... something on one level,” Jim said.

In their new, more spacious showroom there is a large variety of appliances. Whirlpool, Maytag, Kitchen Aid, Frigidaire, Crosley and Danby are among the more common brands. They also can provide authorized warranty service on all the appliances they sell.

Besides new sales, they offer quality used sales. “We do take trade-ins ... have used machines, used motors, (when available),” says Jim. They will only sell used appliances and motors, however, when they are in reliable condition. “I don’t want it to come back in a month or two,” said Jim, “I want it to last.”

In addition, they have a full-time technician to provide on-site repair and service for appliances, and they are willing to help people who call with questions. “If you can give us a call, we will help ... get their products in working order,” Jim offers.

Jim and Dave are always willing to go that extra mile to provide better service. Dave tells the story of a customer who wanted his freezer in the basement even if it meant removing the door frame.

Dave, with the customers help, removed the door frame, took the lid off the freezer, and finally, they were able to squeeze it through the opening. Dave and the customer were pleased; however, Dave muses, “the next guy that’s got to take it out is probably going to be upset!”

AMPS Inc. is a little harder to find now that they are no longer on the main drag, yet they have shown

When Jim Mergen (left) and Dave Mareck founded AMPS in 1991, they wanted service to be the backbone of their business. Years later, their Appliances, Motors, Parts and Service business is still going strong.

Jim Mergen stands in the shop area at AMPS where they repair appliances, electric motors and more. Although most items are brought into the shop, they do go on service calls to their customer’s home or business. for the last 22 years that, if you want superior service, they are worth looking for. So, come and check them out at their new location. Jim and Dave and their staff will be happy to serve you.

AMPS, INC.

DEALER

360 RR Avenue, Albany, MN • 320-845-4690 • www.ampsrs.com

Peach Business Profile 2013, Page 16

Where BUYERS and SELLERS Meet...

The Award Winning The Dairyland Peach, owned by ECM Publishers, Inc., is one of Minnesota’s earliest shoppers.

Started in 1967 by Dennis McCoy and his brother Joe, it was originally printed on peach colored paper and served the heart of Minnesota’s dairyland; hence, the name Dairyland Peach.

In 1969, Dennis and Joe McCoy’s brother, Brian, joined the business. The Dairyland Peach moved to its current location in the Oak Street Mini Mall in 1980. The brothers also sold the business that year to Mark and Jeanette Anderson, who successfully ran it for 14 years. The Andersons sold the business in 1994 to its current owner, ECM Publishers, Inc. Brian McCoy served as general manager until 2010 when he semi-retired. He continues to work in sales. Tom West, an ECM regional manager, now oversees the Dairyland Peach.

The Dairyland Peach is published every Monday with complete coverage of approximately 27,000 homes and businesses. Thousands of readers have found that the Dairyland Peach is the most dependable weekly advertising source for high quality products and low prices, including groceries, merchandise, vehicles, real estate, equipment, electronics and more. It is also the go-to source for auctions, employment opportunities, sales and services.

Over the past year, the Peach has added news about your friends and neighbors, including obituaries, features on farm families and stories about interesting people in your community. A weekly recipe column was also added to provide timely ideas for cooking at home or entertaining.

To go along with the changes in the print edition of the Dairyland Peach, the Web site (www. dairylandpeach.com) was also expanded and a Facebook page created. Readers can now go online, read the Peach and articles, and share with their family and friends via social media the same interesting news, recipes, opinions and feature stories printed in the paper. The Peach also publishes obituaries daily on the Web site, which are then printed at no charge in the print edition of the Peach.

The Dairyland Peach offers a full line of services from display ads to inserts that are available in black and white, spot color or full color. Its trained, experienced and talented staff designs the ads in the paper along with offering graphic design and typesetting services for inserts, brochures,

The Dairyland Peach Staff, Front Row (from left): Beth Claussen, Sharon Arnzen, Sherry Olson, Annette Gruber, Karen Banal and Lynnette Ostendorf. Back Row: Ruth Bertram, Mary Jungers, Linda Kraemer, Brian McCoy, Tom West, Joe McCoy, Delores Jenc and Laura Bromenshenkel posters, business forms, letterheads and more.

The Dairyland Peach is unique from other shoppers in that it offers free want ads. An individual can place one free four line personal want ad per week, as long as it meets the Dairyland Peach guidelines.

In addition to the weekly shopper, the Dairyland Peach also publishes the free monthly “Buyers’ Choice Real Estate Guide”. The Buyers’ Choice Real Estate Guide is a great source for buying, building or remodeling a home. Approximately 29,500 copies are published on the first Monday of each month (February through November) and delivered along with the paper to every home in the Dairyland Peach coverage area. Additional copies are available at many retail outlets, real estate offices and at the Dairyland Peach office.

Both the Dairyland Peach and Buyers’ Choice Real Estate Guide are award winning publications.

The Dairyland Peach is a member of the Minnesota Free Papers Association (MFPA), an organization of approximately 60 free circulation publications.

The Peach also has a Community Affairs Council (CAC) that raises money with various fundraising activities. $2,042 was raised in 2011 to help local families or organizations and $1,749 in 2012.

Through ECM’s grant program where a portion of the company’s earnings at the end of the year are given back to the communities they serve, the Dairyland Peach was able to distribute $4,274 to local organizations in 2011 and $4,657 in 2012.

For more information about the Dairyland Peach, contact our office or one of our sales consultants — Brian McCoy, Joe McCoy, Sherry Olson or Lynnette Ostendorf — and put our award winning design team to work for you.

320-352-6569

www.dairylandpeach.com Email: print.saukcentre@ecm-inc.com

Oak Street Mini Mall 601 Sinclair Lewis Ave., Sauk Centre

Hours: Monday thru Friday 8:00 am - 5:00 pm

Peach Business Profile 2013, Page 17

Alexandria’s best kept secret

to last at a fraction of the cost if purchased new.

Midwest Hotel Furniture Liquidators purchases furniture from across the country through their business partnerships created over the last several years. They are currently liquidating over 500 Midwest Hotel Furniture Liquidators sells new and used furniture to rooms worth of product the public from their Alexandria store location. Delivery and shipping in 3 states. Most of that is available. furniture is sold to local motels and resorts in those states while some is brought to their Alexandria warehouse to sell to the public out of their Hwy. 29 North store.

“Over the past five years we have sold or liquidated product from almost every state. We have accomplished this with the website my husband designed and maintains: www.hotelfurnitureguy.com,” says Gotvaslee.

Although they have a national business reach, Midwest Hotel Furniture Liquidators is still a small town, local business. Unlike large corporations, they are willing to negotiate their prices. They listen to the needs of their customers and are flexible and willing to seal a deal.

“We have been surprised how much furniture Friendly faces: Cindy Holder (store sales), Einar we have sold to families and cabin owners that live Gudjonsson and Robyn Gotvaslee (co-owners) around the lakes,” remarks are available to help with your furniture needs.

Klinkhammer. “They appre- Call, email or stop in! ciate the stronger upholstery on the chairs and couches from their warehouse to motel customers as far and how solid and heavy the away as Florida, Texas and along the east coast.

Midwest Hotel Furniture Liquidators is currently nightstands, desks, dressers running a special that will run until August 2013 and tables are.”

“Our reputation of being to support the Hartford Breast Cancer Ride. Gotable to actually deliver the vaslee will be biking approximately 50 miles a day quality used hotel furniture in the two day event and is donating 20 percent of that motel and resort cus- her profits from the sofa sleepers and lounge chairs tomers require brings us re- in the store to help benefit cancer research. A pink peat business. We have had ribbon is placed on select items to help raise the customers drive to our store money.

John, Einar and Robyn are enjoying their advenfrom as far away as South ture together. Midwest Hotel Furniture LiquidaDakota, North Dakota, tors looks forward to continued growth nationally Wisconsin, Iowa, and even and locally as they keep building relationships and A large selection of quality used and new furniture in the showroom across the border from Can- maintain their reputation of offering quality furniada,” Gotvaslee comments. is just a sampling of what Midwest Hotel Furniture Liquidators stores They have shipped furniture ture at affordable prices. in their warehouse.

Minnesota has some of the best tourist destinations in the country with its beautiful north woods and endless lakes. Known for its top notch family resorts, it is the lakes and resorts that reel in the tourists to Central Minnesota. The hospitality industry needs to provide a comfortable place for the Minnesota vacationer to rest, but furnishing the guest rooms with quality furniture can become expensive for the small and independent business. To meet this need, a local family with a combined 35 years experience in the hospitality industry created Midwest Hotel Furniture Liquidators located in Alexandria, Minn. John Klinkhammer has been in the hotel industry most of his career as a hotel developer and owner. His granddaughter, Robyn Gotvaslee and her husband, Einar Gudjonsson, co-own the business with John. They have been offering new and used hotel furniture to the public since 2009.

Upscale hotels that belong to large franchises with brands such as Marriott, Sheraton and Holiday Inn amongst others, are required by company rules to remodel and purchase new furnishings regularly.

The existing furnishings and appliances are often times only a few years old. Midwest Hotel Furniture Liquidators assesses the value and wear of the product before liquidating the hotels by arranging for the trucking and labor to move the goods. This provides smaller hospitality companies and the public a means of obtaining furniture that is built

Alexandria’s Best Kept Secret!

915 Hwy. 29 North Alexandria

320-763-5361

•Used & New •Decor Quality •Appliances Furniture •Furniture •Mattresses •Bedding Open Monday-Friday 10AM-5PM, Saturday 10AM-4PM

Peach Business Profile 2013, Page 18

ECM Publishers serves over 650,000 homes Anoka County Shopper

The Pioneer

Weekly, free-distribution Wednesday publication.

Weekly newspaper delivered free via carrier each Saturday.

Anoka County Union

Press & News

Paid-circulation newspaper published Fridays.

Free distribution community newspaper published Fridays.

Made up of four community newspapers: Osseo Maple Grove Press, Champlin Dayton Press, North Crow River News and South Crow River News plus two weekend editions.

Caledonia Argus

Princeton Union-Eagle

Blaine-Spring Lake Park Life

PUBLISHING • PRINTING DISTRIBUTION ECM Publishers, Inc. is a publishing, printing, digital media and distribution company that operates in Minnesota and western Wisconsin. ECM started in 1976 as the vision of founder Elmer L. Andersen, with the acquisition and consolidation of two competing newspapers in Princeton. The company has grown from one paid circulation weekly newspaper and shopper to its current operations which include 51 publications.

In December 2011, ECM Publishers, Inc. acquired the Sun Newspapers from American Community Newspapers II, combining two large Minnesota newspaper groups.

“The merger of the Sun Group into ECM Publishers continues the growth of ECM, combining two strong, well-managed Minnesota media organizations,” said ECM Chief Executive Officer Julian Andersen at the time. “This combination creates opportunity and capability to enhance services provided to both the readers and advertisers, to be active partners in an extended group of Minnesota communities, and to provide many associates the chance to step up to bigger responsibilities.”

Most of these newspapers are printed at the company’s Princeton web printing plant. The market includes more than 650,000 homes.

Business and individuals wanting to advertise in any of these publications may do so by contacting their Dairyland Peach sales representative.

ECM Publishers and ECM-Sun Group LLC employ more than 480 full and part-time associates in four product lines: publications, printing, digital media and distribution.

ECM Publishers, Inc. exists to serve and benefit our customers, associates, shareholders and communities by: •Gathering and communicating information.

•Providing superior products and services.

•Promoting and maintaining excellence throughout our operations.

•Operating honestly, ethically and with respect for all with whom we deal.

•Participating actively in community betterment.

•Contributing to individual freedom, peace and justice in the world.

Paid weekly subscription newspaper published Wednesdays.

Carver County News Weekly community newspaper delivered via mail to paid subscribers every Thursday.

Coon Rapids Herald Weekly, paid-circulation community newspaper published on Fridays.

Dairyland Peach The Dairyland Peach is a weekly free-distribution advertising publication that covers three overlapping zones.

Distribution area includes the towns of Sauk Centre, Long Prairie, Browerville, Melrose, Albany and Paynesville, as well as the surrounding region.

Dakota County Tribune Weekly business publication mailed free to requesting businesses in Dakota County every Thursday.

Weekly community newspaper published each Wednesday.

Scotsman Covers East Central Minnesota. Published each Sunday from an office in Cambridge. The Scotsman offers zoned coverage that allows advertisers to effectively reach their entire market.

Smart Money Monthly, free-distribution, full color shopping publication published the first Wednesday of each month, distributed with the Anoka County Shopper.

Star News Weekly, free-distribution community newspaper.

St. Croix Valley Peach Free distribution shopping guide published every Sunday.

Stillwater Gazette & Valley Life

Paid circulation newspaper published Wednesdays.

Community newspaper carrier delivered to paid subscribers every Wednesday, Thursday and Friday.

The Valley Life weekend edition is carrier delivered free every Saturday.

Forest Lake Times

Sun Current

ECM Post Review

Weekly free-distribution newspaper published Thursdays.

Gold Miner

Weekly newspaper, delivered free to homes in Edina, Richfield, Bloomington and Eden Prairie each Thursday.

Weekly shopping and entertainment guide delivered free via carrier every Saturday, covering the communities of Chaska, Cologne, Delano, St. Bonifacius, Victoria, Waconia, Watertown and Young America.

Sun Focus

Isanti County News

Sun Post

Weekly, full distribution newspaper published Wednesdays.

The Laker Weekly community newspaper delivered free via carrier each Saturday.

Mille Lacs County Times Weekly newspaper published Wednesdays.

Monticello Times & Great River Weekend Weekly community newspaper delivered via mail each Thursday to paid subscribers. Great River Weekend is delivered free via carrier every weekend.

Morrison County Record The Morrison County Record is a weekly newspaper and is delivered by 9 a.m. Sundays.

Norwood Young America Times Weekly community newspaper delivered via mail to paid subscribers every Thursday,

Weekly newspaper, carrier delivered free to homes Columbia Heights, Mounds View and New Brighton each Thursday.

Weekly newspaper, carrier delivered free to homes in Brooklyn Center, Brooklyn Park, New Hope/Golden Valley and Crystal/Robbinsdale each Thursday.

Sun Sailor Weekly newspaper, carrier delivered free to homes in Excelsior/Shorewood, Wayzata, Plymouth, St. Louis Park, Hopkins and Minnetonka each Thursday.

Sun Thisweek Weekly community newspaper, carrier delivered free to homes in AppleValley/Rosemount, Burnsville/Eagan and Farmington/Lakeville each Friday.

Town & Country Shopper Weekly advertising publication distributed Mondays.

Waconia Patriot Weekly community newspaper delivered via mail to paid subscribers every Thursday.

For more information or to advertise in any of these publications, contact the Dairyland Peach office at 320-352-6569

Peach Business Profile 2013, Page 19

Bueckers City Sanitation remains committed to customer service even as trash removal business changes

By KERRY DRAGER Peach Contributor What began as a young man’s determination to clean up his city has become one of Sauk Centre’s largest recycling and garbage disposal businesses.

Bueckers City Sanitation has its roots in the back of a pickup truck driven by a young Ervin Bueckers. It eventually grew into a thriving Sauk Centre business with nine garbage trucks, a growing recycling department and 24 employees.

As Ervin Bueckers grew his business, he sold the Sauk Centre location to his brother, Gene, in 2003.

In December 2010, the business returned to Ervin after his brother passed away. It was important to Ervin that his business remained family-owned and locally operated.

“Ervin likes to keep his businesses small town and local. He didn’t want a big company to come in and take over,” said Operations Manager Melissa Bueckers.

Bueckers City Sanitation handles local delivery routes of household and business waste and recy-

Company owner Ervin Bueckers passed on a strong work ethic to his children. As seen with his son Brian Bueckers, who is happy to help out in the recycling facility.

cling. They also offer large dumpsters to be delivered to and retrieved directly from the cleanup site.

Their recycling process has changed to make it more convenient for the customers. Commingle recycling allows customers to place all their recyclable waste into the bin without separating by type. Bueckers City Sanitation has a state-of-theart recycling facility that will separate the recyclables and prepare them to be sent out to factories that will make new items out of yesterday’s trash.

Paper, glass, aluminum cans, certain plastics and cardboard can be recycled in their plant.

“When we switched from curb sort to commingle recycling, we hired more people from the community to sort at our facility. With commingle, we’ve gotten a lot more recyclable product as well,” said Bueckers.

Aside from the growth and flexibility in recycling, the company has also taken steps in reducing its own waste. A new furnace that uses recycled motor oil was installed into its recycling plant. Oil is harvested from its equipment and used to heat its facility. This helps the environment by cutting down on the processing needed when handling used motor oil, and it is recycling a fossil fuel. This also saves the business money, which in turn keeps their prices competitive for its customers.

Local clients have always been at the heart of Bueckers City Sanitation’s business motto. It strives to maintain its community with donations to the local food shelves and churches. Aluminum cans are collected and the profits are donated to the Sauk Centre School District. During the holidays, Bueckers City Sanitation will purchase turkeys and hams from local grocers and donate them to area radio stations, that then give them away to the public. They also do most of their business dealings with other Sauk Centre companies.

“We like to keep our money in the local community. Small town businesses need locals to keep them going,” said Bueckers.

Bueckers City Sanitation was one of the first

Bueckers City Sanitation handles local delivery routes for household and business waste and recycling.

Melissa Bueckers, Carrie Wiechmann and Pam Nissen (not pictured) understand that a strong business means a friendly smile in the office.

waste management companies in the area. It has kept its small town, local family name and ways of doing business. It has changed in becoming more convenient for the customer and environmentally conscious, an important move for a trash removal business. They continue to provide the same great customer service, local business support and employment opportunities that Sauk Centre has witnessed since the first Bueckers garbage truck rolled down city streets.

Owned by Ervin & Bertha Bueckers

877-352-2876 Commingle recycling has workers sort recyclables for the customer at the recycling facility in Sauk Centre.

39864 South Hwy. 71 Sauk Centre, MN

www.bcstrash.com

Peach Business Profile 2013, Page 20

Sales Staff

Bryan

Albany Chrysler strives to be the best dealership in the area “We strive to have a good relationship with our customers,” says Bryan Schiffler, dealer principal of Albany Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram. Albany Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram bought out another car dealer in downtown Albany in 1997 and built its present facility in 2001. It has always been a Chrysler/Dodge/Jeep/Ram dealership, selling cars, trucks and vans in all sizes.

“If we don’t have it on the lot, we’ll find it for you,” says Schiffler.

You can find vehicles perched strategically on rock mounds around the area making eye catching advertisements. Their inventory consists of an average of 50 new and 100 pre-owned vehicles for you to choose from

and has over 150,000 parts and accessories on hand. Not to mention an Automated Touchless Car Wash to keep your vehicle looking great!

“We have a lot of rivals not only locally but also outside the area,” says Schiffler. “Car shoppers are willing to travel hundreds of miles to buy a car.

Twenty plus years ago, nobody went to St. Cloud to car shop.

Today, they don’t think twice about it. We’ve sold vehicles in North Dakota, Wisconsin and Canada. It’s amazing how far people will go to buy a car.

We do the best job we can for them.”

Albany Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram provides repairs and service for brakes, cooling systems, transmissions, air condi-

tioning and more.

“Our Service Department is second to none. We service all makes and models,” says Schiffler.

Each of the five technicians has a computer in their service bay along with the latest WiTech adviser to help them with diagnostics.

“Diagnostics today can be very complicated, so our training is very extensive,” says Schiffler. “We send our technicians and service advisers to factory training on average four plus times a year as well as lots of online training. It is not over once they are out of school, because products and technology of these vehicles change so fast.”

Lynn

Jim

Karla

Lisa

Jon

Collin

Daryl

Service Dept.

Bruce

Chad

Amy Sue SERVICE HOURS: Mon.-Fri. 7 AM-6 PM; Sat. 7 AM-1 PM

320-845-2801 • 800-392-3426 Service: 320-845-6723 SALES HOURS: Mon.-Fri. 9 AM-7 PM; Sat. 8 AM-4 PM PARTS HOURS: Mon.-Fri. 8 AM-5 PM

www.AlbanyChrysler.com