2015
Saturday, March 7, 2015
Pride Business & Industry
Family business Second generation taking part of operation started in 1976 page 3
A STAR-HERALD PUBLICATION
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Trees to power poles
Celebrating 10 years
Nemnich Automotive
Company expands into state
Allo expanding, but keeping local philosophies
Tuning up the valley one customer at a time
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Super star SHS marketing instructor constantly rewarded through business education efforts page 9
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Keeping valley rolling Fremont Motors general manager helps dealership become top seller
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Coffee is life for Scottsbluff entrepreneur By IRENE NORTH Staff Reporter
Angela Kembel breathes coffee. Walk into Cappuccino and Company any time of the day and you’ll see staff busy helping customers. Owner Angela Kembel is usually among them helping serve up gelato, scones, lattes and a variety of drinks and food. She finds it hard to sit for an entire interview, popping up several times to make lattes or give hugs to customers. She is at home among the myriad choices her business offers to customers. Her love of coffee expands to every aspect of her life. She spends hours each day reading about coffee preparations and techniques. She has traveled from Colorado to Connecticut to learn what the coffee market is doing and for inspiration. Kembel has two inspirations, Corvus Coffee in Denver and Two Rivers Coffee in Arvada, Colorado. She visits them whenever she can. “I’ve also attended Barista Nation and learned to network and ask all kinds of questions,” she said. Most coffee shops specialize in either serving hot coffees or syrups. “I’m bridging the gap,” she said. Those who serve syrups typically have a few offerings. “Eighty syrup flavors is unusual,” she said. Kembel recently purchased a new espresso machine to make her coffee better. She had a trainer teach her staff how to make the perfect cup. “She’s very innovative and always looking for ways to improve things,” said Janie Scanlan, co-owner of Cappuccino and Company and Kembel’s mother. Care and concern is put into each espresso.
“It matters to me to have the best cup in the Panhandle,” she said. “Prep is important and we follow a very strict recipe.” Kembel’s first experience working at Cappuccino and Company was in high school working with original owner Jeff Ross. She came to business by herself, but draws on grandparents, uncles and her mother who have all run their own businesses. She’s a third-generation American, with grandparents who arrived at Ellis Island from Croatia. “I have their entrepreneurial spirit,” she said. When the opportunity to purchase Cappuccino and Company arose, she took it. “I had this feeling that this should not go away,” she said. “Since day one, my objective was to change the face of the business.” The churning blender competes with the chatter of customers who come to visit, study and people watch. Kembel thrives in the busy atmosphere of a coffeehouse. She cares about quality and her hard-working employees that support her, her work and keeping the business from getting stagnant. In return for that dedication, she has worked hard to adjust business costs to give them as many hours of work as possible. “I like to keep the girls at a high level and as close to 40 hours a week,” she said. “They have families to take care of, too.” Being self-employed is something Kembel and her husband, Jared, who owns MBKem Enterprises, are used to. Kembel said it has brought great rewards. “I feel we can do the most good by steering our own ship,” she said. “From my point of view, an opportunity is what you make it.” Kembel enjoys being involved in the community. She’s a board member of the Scottsbluff Business Improvement District. “It fits perfectly with what I’m interested
Courtesy photo
Angela with her miniature Yorkie Mya.
in,” she said. “I’m happy to be involved.” She likes relaxation and incorporates a relaxing environment to all aspects of her life. “I grew up loving moments where you can breathe deeply,” she said. “Breathe deeply at Cappuccino and Company, and you’ll find it’s fabulous smelling.” Kembel was home schooled, but doesn’t feel like she missed out on anything. When she was a teenager, her mother asked her if she wanted to attend regular school. She declined and graduated in three years
Mini golf course sprouts from greenhouse operation
instead of four. “I wasn’t suffering from any kind of socialization issues,” she said. She is always looking for new ways to learn and grow, no matter the topic. “She loves feedback from her customers on ways to improve,” Scanlan said. “She’s always looking at ways to improve herself and her business and takes that feedback to heart.” KEMBEL, page 2
TCD helps valley cope with job growth, recruitment and housing challenges By STEVE FREDERICK Editor
T OR R INGT ON, Wyo ming — The Wollert family had no plans to open a mini golf course when they arrived in Goshen County 21 years ago. They came to farm and ranch and raise their children on a place northeast of Lingle. However, Gretchen, a teacher by trade, was also interested in gardening. It wasn’t like she wasn’t busy anyway, helping husband Mike, and home schooling four daughters. But, when the opportunity came to work in a local greenhouse, she began another career. She didn’t know it at first, but af ter a few seasons there, another door opened. With her interest and experience in greenhouse plants and skills, Wollert took an opportunity eight years ago to open Pleasant Valley Greenhouse one and-a-half miles west of the port of entry on U.S. Highway 26/85 west of Torrington. The business had been in operation for decades under previous owners, but the Wollerts added their own touches. T hey upgraded some of the greenhouses, made changes to the sales areas and enlarged the parking area. Business was good, but again, a new idea began to grow in the back her of mind. “We didn’t have anything around here for kids,” Wollert explained while busily transplanting tiny petunia seedlings into four-packs. “No bowling or skating, and you don’t swim around here in the winter. We had extra space here, and I was tired of pulling weeds to keep it looking nice. That’s when
At one time, economic development focused on blockbuster deals — attracting large, well-paying employers that offered good benefits, opportunities for future growth and didn’t degrade the local environment or threaten the quality of life. Twin Cities Development Corporation has chased a few of them over the past decade, but with the economy reeling and every community grabbing for the same golden ring, it’s gradually changed its focus, said Director Rawnda Pierce. “We used to look at anything that would look at us,” she said. “Now we look at what’s good for the community.” O ver t he ye a r s , T CD has helped employers such as Progress Rail, Alliance Data and Aulick Industries ex p a nd . It s e eks g r a nt funding through the state to help large companies grow or move into new facilities and has helped numerous small businesses apply for local economic development funding. It’s helped to fill or re-purpose vacant buildings. It’s even received funding to tear down some derelict buildings to open up property for potential development. Scottsbluff’s economy has grown by more than 1,000 jobs through TCD’s efforts to help companies qualify for locally generated LB 840 sales tax funding, while Gering has seen about 175 new jobs, Pierce said. “We have made a difference in the community,” she said. “When you look at all the things together, it’s quite a bit.” TCD is a private, nonprofit corporation founded in the 1980s as a payroll development fund, providing assis-
Ag Editor
Pride 3-7-15 1
Photo by Sandra Hansen
Gretchen Wollert, right, and a seasonal assistant, Bernadine Lewis, transplant petunias at Pleasant Valley Greenhouse in preparation for the 2015 gardening season.
we began talking about miniature golf.” According to Wollert, planning began in August 2 01 3 , a nd t he 10 - hol e course opened Apr il 1, 2014. Open seven days a week, its main theme is the West, with other whimsical touches. There is the ghost town, the Oregon Trail, cowboys, and a few pirates
and treasure chests. This year will find more addit ions. A f ter t r y ing the business last year, the family decided to expand in 2015. It is now an 18-hole course, with new features, including two rivers, two waterfalls, an abandoned mine, Devil’s Tower, and a Swiss Family Robinson tree house. Visitors will find
other surprises after the weather warms up. “It would be hard to just open a mini golf course and have it available on a regular schedule,” Wollert said as she sprinkled water on a flat of petunia trays. “But with us here most of the time in spring and early WOLLERT, page 4
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We used to look at anything that would look at us. Now we look at what’s good for the community.
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By SANDRA HANSEN
— Rawnda Pierce
tance to workers who had been laid off and working on job growth projects. It’s governed by a nine-member board, representing economic sectors such as transportation, manufacturing, agriculture, medicine, education, legal, retail and technology. It’s one of many economic development organizations around Nebraska. There’s no single model for economic development. Some communities have stand-alone agencies; others work through city government or through chambers of commerce. “Each community does what it feels is best,” Pierce said. “It really depends on the community. We’re one of the few that have more than one staff member. Most of them are a one-person show.” TCD operates with a director, an employee recruitment manager, an administrative assistant and a part-time project manager. Although it still pursues TCD, page 6
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