Dec. 2009 by TwinWest Chamber of Commerce

December 2009

www.twinwest.com

Setting the Standard. Leading the Way. â&#x201E;˘

Kindergarten Ready!: Tools for Business Page 12

Betsy Hearn, Liberty Diversified International, and her kids celebrate the first day of school thanks to good parenting and workplace programs focused on early childhood education.

Introducing mymn.org

page 8

Save the date for TwinWestâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s 25th Annual Gala Page 16 Call for 2010 Entrepreneur Award Nominations Page 18

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table of contents Setting the Standard. Leading the Way.™ 10700 Old County Road 15, Suite 170 Plymouth, MN 55441 Phone: (763) 450-2220 • Fax: (763) 450-2221 www.twinwest.com TwinWest Directions (USPS 060870) is published 10 times per year by the TwinWest Chamber of Commerce, 10700 Old County Road 15, Suite 170, Plymouth, MN 55441. Phone: (763) 450-2220. Periodicals Postage Paid, Hopkins, MN. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to TwinWest Directions, 10700 Old County Road 15, Suite 170, Plymouth, MN 55441. Annual subscription rate of $40 is included in membership investment. The TwinWest Chamber of Commerce serves the communities of: Brooklyn Park, Brooklyn Center, Crystal, Golden Valley, Hopkins, Medicine Lake, Minnetonka, New Hope, Plymouth, St. Louis Park, and the surrounding region.

TwinWest Board of Directors EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE Steve Wise, Cass Screw Machine Products, Chair of the Board Mark Carlson, Minnesota Mailing Solutions, Past Chair of the Board Dannette Coleman, Medica, Chair-elect of the Board Sarah Toepke, Treasurer Bruce Nustad, TwinWest Chamber of Commerce, President

DIRECTORS Gary Aiken, Investors Capital Corporation Jerry Archambeau, Grand Casino Mille Lacs & Hinckley Jeff Arnold, TCF Financial Corporation Becky Bakken, Citizens Independent Bank Daniel Duffy, Daniel K. Duffy Architects, Inc. Tom Harmening, City of St. Louis Park Annette Hruby, Costco - St. Louis Park Rick Kaufman, Cox Insurance Associates Greg Korstad, Larkin Hoffman Attorneys Michael Lehmann, Ferguson Enterprises, Inc. Pamela Muldoon, Next Stage Business Tim Raymond, Voyager Bank – Minnetonka Jim Snoxell, Henningson & Snoxell, Ltd. Mike Sowada, VISI Incorporated Jon Thompson, Opportunity Partners

Pearle Vison - A member in the news

F ROM THE PRESIDENT’S DESK

MEMBER PROFILE

Introducing mymn.org

9 P ROFILES

INDERGARTEN 12 KREADY!: TOOLS FOR BUSINESS

Cover photo: Betsy Hearn celebrates the first day of school with her 5 and 7 year olds. Betsy works at Liberty Diversified International, an early childhood education advocate.

Senator Terri Bonoff

11 GROW TWINWEST

Thank you Seiler and Associates and New Business Minnesota for introducing TwinWest

VENT & 15 EPROGRAM DETAILS Make plans to attend TwinWest’s

events in December, including: Member Orientation; Meet & Greet Breakfast; Xtreme Technology Makover Reception; Business Showcase; Member Talk: For Members, By Members; and the Legislative Breakfast.

16 FEATURED EVENT

Save the date for TwinWest’s 25th Annual Gala!

TwinWest Staff Bruce Nustad, President Judy Johnson, Director of Community Relations Jacqui Sauter, Regional Sales Director Sara Hopkins, Office Manager Tabatha Rol, Manpower, Administrative Assistant Loretta Kenney-Lillejord, Owl Bookkeeping & CFO Services, Accounting Victoria Marley, Signature Events Representative Stacy Slygh, C.E.L., Communications

feature story

UCCESS TWINWEST $ COLUMN

19 C OMMUNITY

Meet & Greet with Hennepin County Sheriff Rich Stanek TwinWest Foundation high school scholarships available

EMBERS – 20 MNEW & RENEWING

TwinWest encourages all of our members to conduct business with one another

The mandate to restate your company retirement plan

22 LAST GLANCE

18 CHAMBER NEWS

TwinWest event and program photos

Call for 2010 Entrepreneur Award Nominations

ECM Publishers, Inc. 12180 County Road 11 Burnsville, MN 55337 Phone: (952) 846-2040 Fax: (952) 846-2044

Take part in the January 26, 2010 STEM Summit!

Ginny Lee, Project Manager & Advertising Director Jeff Remme, Director of Production & Graphic Design Mariah Hendrickson, Advertising Sales

December 2009

member profile

Pearle Vision – A member in the news Member name: Mike Arends Business name: Pearle Vision In business since: 1991 TwinWest member since: 1991 Number of employees: 75 across Minnesota and South Dakota Location: Headquartered in Minnetonka What is your main service/product? We are a retail outlet providing full service eye care and eyewear. From exams to selecting glasses to manufacturing the glasses, we do it all. We have the ability to process the glasses in one hour, right on sight…pun intended! I own seven Pearle Vision stores across Minnesota and South Dakota, with our headquarters in Minnetonka.

What makes you stand out from your competition? I combine the proven Pearle Vision business systems from around the country with independent ownership and business practices and that is a win-win situation for our customers. I’m very involved in the community and the TwinWest Chamber. Over the past 18 years, I’ve participated in every TwinWest program and built incredible relationships. What’s your company’s most significant recent accomplishment? A nurse from the Orono school district called me to see if I could help a young student who needed glasses, but couldn’t afford them. My staff worked together to provide the eye exam and glasses at no cost and it really touched our hearts. Doing a good job everyday, so everyday can be a significant accomplishment is what motivates me. I was also very honored to be selected as Entrepreneur of the Year by TwinWest in 2001.

Why does your business belong to the TwinWest Chamber? When I first joined the Chamber, I was starting my business and thought it would help me attract customers. It did, but I also met so many talented business owners who shared ideas and advice with me and I benefited greatly from it. Now these Chamber friends are my partners for insurance, banking and more.

CONTACT INFORMATION: Mike Arends mapearle@aol.com 12577 Wayzata Boulevard Minnetonka, MN 55305 (952) 546-4414 www.pearlevision.com Each month TwinWest profiles a long standing member and recognizes their sustained commitment to our region’s business climate. We greatly value their ongoing presence in our membership.

51 years of service architecture interior design master planning general contracting design-build construction management real estate development real estate acquisition VANMAN ARCHITECTS AND BUILDERS INC.

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toll free 888.327.2817 10/27/09 9:30:20 PM

from the president’s desk

Introducing mymn.org Frequently in this section of Directions, I take the opportunity to tell you about things uniquely TwinWest that highlight the strengths and opportunities we have in the western Twin Cities. This month, I reach a little further across Minnesota to invite you to explore a statewide conversation to build a united, positive, forward-looking vision for Minnesota. In late October, several leading business groups including the Minnesota Chamber of Commerce and the Minnesota Business Partnership launched mymn.org as a nonpartisan effort to unite Minnesotans around the shared goal of strengthening our economy and maintaining our quality of life. mymn is an active, always developing conversation among Minnesotans about what is important to us. The conversation that occurs online will be digested into a “People’s Report.” The People’s Report is periodically delivered directly to community leaders and policy makers. The mymn collective voice will begin to shape discussions across the state about how to build a stronger, more secure future for Minnesota. There is no script for the conversation. The dialogue generated by mymn is based on stories and observations that you and your employees log at mymn.org. Behind mymn is a fundamental belief that Minnesotans and business leaders agree on the issues - they just don’t know it. Sometimes we use different language to describe Minnesota concepts around growth, jobs, culture, and quality of life. I believe mymn will help break down the differences in communication. The success of mymn will depend largely on you, me and employers across the state. There are no big-dollar advertising plans today for a media push to generate attention and drive traffic to www.mymn.org. The marketing strategy is simply to create a dynamic, engaging online conversation that generates its own following. I think this has a chance at succeeding because good people care about the issues being discussed today and will find the conversation valuable and maybe even entertaining. mymn was developed with a fairly straightforward approach to: - Facilitate robust and candid conversations; - Celebrate what works in Minnesota and what we love; - Shape the agenda through a development of the collective voice; and - Improve Minnesota’s economy through the development of fresh ideas. I encourage you to take a look at www.mymn.org and if you see value in it, share it with your colleagues and employees. If you want to share your thoughts or know how you can further support the effort, feel free to contact me.

Sincerely,

Bruce Nustad President, TwinWest Chamber of Commerce

December 2009

Experience St. Louis Park Public Schools! St. Louis Park Public Schools offers a world of opportunity to all students.

St. Louis Park Offers: • Excellent teachers and staff. • 98% of district parents feel their children are taught by highly trained teachers who care about them. • A commitment to ensure that all students have access to equal, high-quality educational opportunities. • A wide array of educational programs and services under an international umbrella aimed at providing students with learning experiences that will enable them to succeed in a global marketplace. • Small, neighborhood schools with individual attention. • The International Baccalaureate (IB) program for students from pre-school through high school. IB is an internationally recognized method for teaching that uses inquiry, local and international focus and collaboration throughout the school day and includes weekly world language instruction for all students. • The Park Spanish Immersion (PSI) School, a K-6 elementary program provides students a high-quality, full Spanish immersion education with an international focus and global perspective. There is an application and lottery process to attend PSI.

Experience what sets the St. Louis Park Schools apart from the rest! For more information about what our schools have to offer, visit us at

www.slpschools.org

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Anderson Builders Your Total Solutions Provider… Design Build General Contracting Construction Management Real Estate Development Services FOR: • Corporate • Industrial • Healthcare/Medical • Retail and Mixed-Use • Private Education and Worship • New Construction, Renovations & Interiors

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10/27/09 9:00:20 PM

profiles

Senator Terri Bonoff Last month TwinWest caught up with Senator Terri Bonoff, a Democrat who represents parts of Minnetonka, Medicine Lake, and Plymouth. We would like to share that conversation with you.

is unacceptable from a moral perspective and from an economic perspective. Our economic strength is correlated to the quality of our future workforce.

TW: Why is the business community important to you?

Demographer Tom Gillespie has indicated that minority students will be the fastest growing segment of our population. He has also indicated we will have a workforce shortage in the next ten years. If we cannot educate our diverse students to attain academic excellence, we will lose our competitive advantage with our future workforce. As we hope to attract and retain businesses, eliminating the achievement gap is and should be a top priority. It is proven that the surest way to do that is to invest in early childhood education.

The economic strength of Minnesota is correlated to the strength of our business community. We depend on the leadership of our business community to provide a strategic direction for our state. The district I represent, as well as surrounding districts, are home to many of our state’s leading companies, both small business and Fortune 500s. As a legislator, I must make certain we have a business climate that supports this community and lays the foundation for growth.

TW: You’ve been active in early childhood education, an issue that TwinWest has championed. Why is it important to you and to the state?

Although we lead the nation in academic achievement based on our test scores, we fall to the very bottom when it comes to the achievement gap, students of color having the greatest differential between white students. This

Children who come to school ready to learn have a much greater degree of success throughout their educational career. We know this intellectually, and yet we have not yet made the corresponding policy decisions. This failure of leadership puts our economic viability at risk. See Bonoff, page 10

We Go The Extra Mile Over 60 years of precision machined parts and service. Whether it’s an auger rod for a snow-blower or a spindle for a disk drive, Cass has the tools to manufacture the parts you need. Screw Machining • Six- and eight-spindle New Britain automatic screw machines • Single-spindle Brown & Sharpe automatics CNC Machining • 8-Axis Mazaks for simultaneous operations • Complete line of CNC pallet changers, mills and lathes

Grinding • Our in-house grinding department eliminates the need to send parts out for secondary operations - saves you time, money, & assures quality. • We offer a full spectrum of grinding services - CNC cylindrical grinders, centerless grinders and O.D. grinders. The on-shore advantage. Let others buy inferior parts from abroad. When you need just-intime delivery of high-quality parts, come to Cass.

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10/27/09 8:52:19 December 2009PM9

profiles Bonoff, from page 9

TW: You have been a supporter of another signature TwinWest issue: the Southwest Transitway. You’ve also been a prominent advocate for the proposed Little Crow Transitway, a train line that would run from Minneapolis to Willmar. What is your vision for this line? I envision a commuter train that runs during peak times between the new transit hub at the Twins stadium and the Wayzata depot with a few stops in between. I also envision that on a less frequent basis this train would also continue to and from Willmar. If we are to meet the objectives of eliminating our dependence on oil, restoring our environment, and reducing congestion, having a multi-modal transportation system is a key element. In addition, congestion mitigation is also a business imperative as it relates to all facets of productivity.

at every municipal level. Businesses all over the world are facing these challenges and are using researched based best practices, to make that happen. All assumptions must be challenged so that we emerge from this financial downturn strong, healthy and poised for the future. • L astly, we must enact true tax reform. We must take the advice given by the Governorappointed commission and enact much of it to provide sustainable revenue for our future. This includes placing less emphasis on the corporate and individual income tax and expanding the base for the sales tax. This should be done now.

TW: What do you hope to accomplish during the 2010 legislative session? Well TwinWest, once again you are setting the standard and leading the way. The questions you’ve asked and the answers I’ve given are the blueprint for what I hope to accomplish this session. • We must enact policies that jump start the economic engine for Minnesota and put people back to work.

B u s i n e s s B a llot In an effort to gage the views of business leaders, TwinWest produces a monthly business ballot on various issues. Results below are from our Legislative Breakfast on October 16, 2009, featuring feature Professor Stephen Parente of the University of Minnesota, Beth McMullen, Health Policy Director at the Minnesota Business Partnership, and Dr. Charles Fazio, Chief Medical Officer at Medica. The panel discussed why health care policy is a top priority for the business community, what types of reform Congress should support, and how we can try to control the skyrocketing health care costs that are hurting businesses’ bottom lines.

Would you support expanding the sales tax to clothing purchases if the revenue is used to reduce business taxes?

Yes: 41% No: 59%

• It is imperative that we stop merely talking about the importance of early childhood education and instead provide a structural framework to ensure that every Minnesota child comes to kindergarten ready to learn. • Through a combination of cost cutting, visionbased priority setting, and transforming our business practices we set forward a strategic plan that restores the financial health and wellbeing of Minnesota.

TW: What do you think the state needs to do to address its structural budget deficit? We must be creative as we attempt to solve this problem. We must think long term and not use band-aid solutions that exacerbate our problems in the future. I think this requires a combination approach: • W e must use zero-based budgeting to ensure we spend only what’s essential. • W e must tackle our organizations in a systematic way, so that we re-engineer our structures to maximize efficiency and leverage what new technology can provide. It is time to revisit our decades-old processes and structures for delivering government services

TwinWest Directions

There is one initiative that I am hard at work on that falls outside of these questions. Currently we are in the process of applying for the “Race To The Top” grant funds. U. S. Secretary of Education, Arne Duncan, has set forward an ambitious agenda to transform public education in America. The focus is on providing a world class education for all students so that academic excellence is attained by each and every child regardless of ethnic and economic circumstance. 4.3 billion dollars will be awarded to 10-15 states. The application calls for bold and innovative reform. Being able to cite our business community as strong proponents of this effort will enhance the probability of our success. Contact me at (651) 296-4314 or sen.terri.bonoff@senate.mn for more information or to be part of this effort.

Members listen to the discussion on health care policy at the October 16 Legislative Breakfast.

Panelists from left to right: Dr. Charles Fazio, Beth McMullen, and Professor Stephen Parente.

grow TwinWest

Thank you Seiler and JOIN Associates and New Business THE CHAMBER! Minnesota for introducing TwinWest In late October, Seiler and Associates, New Business Minnesota, and Jake’s City Grille in Plymouth organized a “Meet TwinWest” event. Over 20 members and prospective members attended to learn about how to enhance their business relationships via TwinWest. TwinWest appreciates Seiler and Associates, New Business Minnesota, Jake’s City Grille,

and all members efforts to build the organization and increase the value of membership. We know our top strength is our members as they drive the success of the business community. If you know someone interested in learning about TwinWest and his or her participation options, contact Jacqui Sauter at (763) 450-2228.

If you’re not a TwinWest Chamber member, you can learn more about our organization at www.twinwest.com, or contact our regional sales director: Jacqui Sauter, (763) 450-2228/ jacqui@twinwest.com. We will be happy to help you explore how you can use the chamber to accomplish your professional goals!

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December 2009

feature story

Kindergarten Ready!: Tools for Businesses For years, the TwinWest Chamber of Commerce has realized the economic and societal benefits of Minnesota’s children getting on the bus the first day of kindergarten prepared to learn. In fact, within our Business Agenda, TwinWest has laid out the business community public policy supporting our future workforce through engagement and investment in early childhood education. Through research conducted by the State of Minnesota’s School Readiness Program, we know that approximately 50 percent of Minnesota’s kids are not adequately prepared to learn on their first day of school. This startling statistic has a dramatic impact on the workplace. In today’s workplace, we see less productive employees because their lives are complicated with childcare and school readiness issues surrounding their children. Yet, if they don’t spend adequate time focusing on those issues, the long-term quality of the workforce is compromised. For general society, studies show that a lack of preparedness for kindergarten leads to heightened school drop out rates, a higher demand for costly remedial education, and increased prison needs. TwinWest recently launched an initiative designed to respond to the statistic that

Fred Senn, Fallon Worldwide, discusses the benefits of early childhood education.

approximately one out of two children who enter kindergarten are not fully prepared to learn. It’s called Kindergarten Ready! and as a result, TwinWest is uniquely positioned to explore a previously unconsidered path to reaching children - through their parents’ place of employment. On October 21, TwinWest hosted a Kindergarten Ready! symposium featuring keynote speakers

Program ideas recommended within the Kindergarten Ready! toolkit include: • Offering a series of parenting seminars relating to the importance of early learning and kindergarten preparedness. • Making meeting rooms available during or after working hours for parent, grandparent, or caregiver education classes.

Becky Roloff, YWCA of Minneapolis, and Fred Senn, Fallon Worldwide. Over 150 business leaders and early childhood advocates gathered to get insight from Larry Brauch, formerly of Liberty Diversified International, Jerald Stiele, Hopkins Auto Body, and Sandy Haddad, General Mills. These innovative leaders shared strategies for implementing programs within organizations to support the pre-kindergarten development of employees’ children. The panel also featured Misty Gozola, a Best Buy employee, to round out the discussion with a parent’s perspective. A business leader toolkit was distributed at the event, containing resources for businesses including: how to create a family friendly workplace; parenting information and resources for employees and caregivers; and ways to support early childhood education in our community.

• Allowing employees time to use their work computer for non-work activities related to supporting their child’s kindergarten readiness. • Instituting a pre-tax flex spending account for dependent care as a benefit for employees, allowing them to get up to 5,000 a year of what they spend on childcare, taken out in pretax dollars. • Offering scholarships for employees with children preparing for kindergarten, so they can afford a quality education program. • Allowing employees flexible schedules so they can enroll their children in preschool programs based on quality instead of location. • Organizing a parenting mentorship program among your employees (like a Circle of Parents); if you are a small company, coordinate with another small company. • Designating a space for a parenting resource library, which would include books and DVDs about parenting and early childhood education. • Collecting and donating supplies to your local preschool or child care organizations.

TwinWest Directions

Lisa Riskedahl, Liberty Diversified International, pictured with her children.

Lisa Riskedahl and her children are already benefiting from programs offered at Liberty Diversified International. Riskedahl attended a series of on-site classes where she gathered tips to further enhance her parenting skills. She said her two sons, ages three and four are the prime age for preparing for kindergarten and it was wonderful to have time during her workday to focus on how to help them do that. “As a parent, I learn as I go and it was not only great to learn from the experts in the sessions, but also to learn and network with other parents.” Riskedahl said she also walked away from the seven sessions she attended with some valuable safety tips for protecting her children. Betsy Hearn has five and seven year old children and she took time over her lunch breaks at

Liberty Diversified International to gather some tangible parenting strategies. She believes on-site classes not only help her connect better with her kids, but also provides her with the tools to give them more confidence for going out into the world. She said, “Now, when they want my attention and I can’t give it to them at that moment, I tell them that I would rather play with them, but I have to finish what I’m doing. I reinforce that they come first, while teaching them that sometimes other things have to be done.” For a complete look at the Kindergarten Ready! toolkit, or to offer additional ideas for the toolkit, visit www.twinwest.com/kready or contact TwinWest at (763) 450-2220. TW

TwinWest would like to thank the October 21 Kindergarten Ready! event sponsor, the Qwest Foundation, and these table sponsors: Caring for Kids Initiative; Hopkins Public Schools; the Jewish Family and Childrens Service of Minneapolis; New Horizon Academy; Reources for Childcaring; Liberty Diversified International; St. David’s Center for Child & Family Development; and Wayzata Public Schools. This event was the result of a collaboration of the following organizations: All Saints Preschool Caring for Kids Initiative Dancercise Kids Dan O’Mara Architects Fallon Worldwide Hopkins Public Schools Jewish Family and Children’s Services of Minneapolis KMAS Consulting LLC Liberty Diversified Industries MnBEL New Horizon Academy Oxygen Plus, Inc. Qwest Communications Robbinsdale Area Public Schools Ready4K Resources for Child Caring, Inc. St. David’s Center for Child & Family Development United Way Twin Cities Vanman Architects and Builders, Inc. Wayzata Public Schools Working Family Resource Center

About TwinWest’s Business-Education Partnership Initiative TwinWest’s Business-Education Partnership (BEP) initiative is a long-standing effort to align today’s education programs with tomorrow’s workforce needs. We provide our business members with effective, rewarding ways to provide their time and resources to our school partners. TwinWest’s BEP programs include: • Annual School Leader for a Day program • Annual Ethics in the Workplace workshop • Student membership program • Workplace tours and classroom speakers • Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) Summit • Kindergarten Ready! early childhood education initiative To learn more about TwinWest BEP opportunities, contact Sara Hopkins at (763) 450-2224, or via e-mail at sara@twinwest.com. December 2009

TwinWest calendar

December Tuesday

Monday

Wednesday

Thursday

Member Orientation 8:00 – 9:00 a.m. Hampton Inn - Minnetonka

Friday

3 St. Louis Park Business Council 7:30 – 9:00 a.m. Wolfe Lake Professional Center -St. Louis Park

4 Meet & Greet with Hennepin County Sheriff Rich Stanek 7:30 – 9:00 a.m. Sunsets Restaurant - Wayzata

Xtreme Technology Makeover Reception 5:00 – 8:00 p.m. Crowne Plaza Minneapolis North Brooklyn Center

Legislative Breakfast 7:30 – 9:00 a.m. Doubletree Hotel Minneapolis Park Place – St. Louis Park

Business Showcase 11:30 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. First National Bank - Plymouth Member Talk: For Members, By Members 3:30 - 4:30 p.m. TwinWest Chamber office Plymouth

16 Government Affairs Committee Meeting 7:30 – 9:00 a.m. TwinWest Chamber office – Plymouth

Crystal/New Hope Business Council 8:00 -9:00 a.m. Liberty Diversified International – New Hope

Prospective Member Forum 3:30 - 4:30 p.m. TwinWest Chamber office – Plymouth

TwinWest Directions

event & program details Connect with success at TwinWest’s events and programs—your links to influential people, innovative ideas, and exclusive opportunities.

December wed.

Member Orientation 8:00 - 9:00 a.m. Hampton Inn - Minnetonka 10420 Wayzata Boulevard Minnetonka, MN 55305 (952) 541-1094

ROI: Learn how to make the most of your investment and get a jump start on networking. To register: No cost to attend. Visit www.twinwest. com or call (763) 450-2220 to register. To get there: From 394, exit on Hopkins Crossroad and go north. Take an immediate right (east) on Wayzata Boulevard (north frontage road) and drive about half a mile. Turn left into the Hampton Inn parking lot.

wed.

Xtreme Technology Makeover Reception 5:00 – 8:00 p.m. Crowne Plaza Minneapolis North 2200 Freeway Boulevard Brooklyn Center, MN 55430 (763) 566-8000

fri.

Meet and Greet with Hennepin County Sheriff Rich Stanek 7:30 - 9:00 a.m. Sunsets Restaurant 700 Lake St E Wayzata, MN 55391 (952) 473-5253

ROI: Come hear from Sheriff Rich Stanek about updates on county public safety initiatives. To register: No cost to attend; no RSVP needed. To get there: Take I-394 west. Take first 101 South exit (cloverleaf exit) and take a right at first stoplight (on to Wayzata Blvd). Stay in righthand lane to the 3rd set of stop lights. Take a left on Broadway. Go down the hill to the stop sign. Sunsets is across the street on the left (clock tower).

thu.

Member Talk: For Members, By Members 3:30 – 4:30 p.m.. TwinWest Chamber office – Plymouth 10700 Old County Road 15, Suite 170 Plymouth, MN 55441 (763) 450 – 2220

ROI: Brainstorm with other Chamber members about any issue affecting your business while you expand your professional network. To register: Members only; there is no cost to attend; due to limited space, you must RSVP. To get there: From Highway 169, exit west on Highway 55. Travel less than a mile and take a left at Revere Lane. Turn right onto the frontage road. Turn right into parking lot.

Sponsored by: TwinWest Chamber of Commerce; Greater Wayzata Area Chamber of Commerce; Wuollet’s Bakery; Allegra Print & Imaging - Pymouth.

wed.

First National Bank - Plymouth Business Showcase 11:30 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. First National Bank - Plymouth 13605 27th Avenue North Plymouth, MN 55441 (763) 550-0500

fri.

Legislative Breakfast 7:30 - 9:00 a.m.

Doubletree Hotel Minneapolis Park Place 1500 Park Place Boulevard St. Louis Park, MN 55416 (952) 542-8600

ROI: Connect with other members and exchange idea, sales leads and build relationships. ROI: Network with TwinWest and attend the no-cost announcement reception for the $100,000 Xtreme Techology Makeover award winner. To register: Visit www.twinwest.com or call (763) 450-2220. This is a no-cost event. To get there: From the south, take Highway 100 north. Take the Humboldt Avenue exit toward I-94 / I-694 West. Turn left on to Freeway Boulevard.

To register: This is a free event with no need to register; just bring our business cards. To get there: Take Highway 55 west from Highway 169. Just before I-494, turn left (south) on Xenium Lane. Turn right on 26th Avenue North, then right on Yucca Lane. Yucca Lane becomes 27th Avenue North.

ROI: Hear the latest on a timely topic; connect with public officials and regional business leaders. To register: Visit www.twinwest.com or call (763) 450-2220. Members $30. Nonmember $40. To get there: From I-394, take Park Place/Xenia exit. Travel south on Park Place Boulevard and turn right on 16th Street.

December 2009

featured event

Save the date for TwinWest’s 25th Annual Gala! Come enjoy a night commemorating the business community and the 25th anniversary of the TwinWest Gala!

25th Annual TwinWest Gala: Ritz & The Revelry Save the date: Friday, March 5, 2010 Doubletree Hotel Minneapolis Park Place St. Louis Park

Early Bird Special!

Purchase your tickets by January 15, 2010 to save $10 each. Tickets are $65 through January 15; $75 beginning January 16. Purchase 10 tickets and receive two free! Visit www.twinwest.com or call (763) 450-2220. Planning for the 25th Annual TwinWest Gala is underway! This year’s event is chaired by Lisa McDaniel of Voyager Bank. The theme will celebrate the Gala’s 25th anniversary as its “25 Years of Service.”

TwinWest’s Annual Gala is our largest social and fund-raising event of the year, including irresistible food from local restaurants and caterers, an extensive silent auction and an exciting live auction. All members, guests, friends, and families are invited and encouraged to attend – everyone will find something to enjoy during the evening. A portion of the Gala’s proceeds benefits the TwinWest Foundation, which provides scholarships to local students of all ages. Mark your calendar now and plan to join us! Be sure to purchase your tickets by January 15 to save $10 per ticket. Gala sponsorship investments range from $500 to $7,500. For more information, contact Victoria Marley at (763) 450-2227 or victoria@ twinwest.com.

24th Annual Gala in March 2009. Photos by Sandy Benson Photography.

Call now to book your event and SAVE on your winter meeting or celebration!

Apples Catering . Perfect Host Catering . Picnics Plus! . Professional Foodservice Mintahoe Beverage Services . Northwinds Aviation Foodservice . Twin City Casinos & Entertainment Château at Medicine Lake . Plymouth Creek Center . Nicollet Island Pavilion . Minneapolis Central Library University of Minnesota Showboat . Padelford Riverboats . Minnesota Boat Club Custom catering, event planning and memorable spaces for every occasion!

612.253.0255 . www.mintahoe.com 16

TwinWest Directions

$uccess TwinWest

The mandate to restate your company retirement plan The mandatory deadline for restating your company 401(k) plan is April 30, 2010 and it is fast approaching. If you are a business with a company qualified retirement plan, are you meeting the compliance guidelines required by law? Are you and your employees getting the most out of your company’s retirement plan? If not, now is the time to review, renew or start anew! About every 5-6 years, the federal government requires businesses to restate their 401(k)/profit sharing plans. During this restatement period, the required updates are based on significant legislative and regulatory changes resulting mostly from The Economic Growth and Tax Reconciliation Act of 2001. There are some additional amendments also required as a result of the Pension Protection Act of 2006 and Heroes Earnings Assistance and Relief Tax Act of 2008. Be sure to review the rules and deadlines with your plan provider so that you can make necessary changes and not face any compliance violations. Technically, if you don’t properly restate your plan, it is not in compliance and therefore fines can be assessed on your business and it can potentially lead to more serious plan and participant tax issues. It’s important to have a plan provider who understands the rules, brings them to your attention and advises you on the best provisions for your objectives. If your provider does not appear knowledgeable on the rules and deadlines for restating, this is a red flag. Beyond making the changes required by law, you can benefit from reviewing and restating your entire plan and it may be more cost effective to do both at the same time. Designate this time to also look at your investment process and the design of your plan. What would you do differently? For example, are you satisfied with your current timeline for admitting employees and allowing them to make adjustments? Some businesses open it up for change annually; others prefer more frequently. It’s up to you, but whatever you decide, you want to make sure you follow it! There are plans our there where the document says one thing and the business does another. Be careful, as often doing so can be a serious violation. The design of your plan is important for employee benefit and your bottom line. It is well worth your while to spend time reviewing all aspects of it, including: •Who is allowed to participate in the plan? • How often can employees enter into the plan (annually, quarterly, monthly)?

• What percent does your company match - does it need to change based on economic times? How often is that match deposited? • What is the length of employment time required to be vested? • What provisions are there for taking distributions? • Do participants have the ability to borrow against the plan? There are many options and your plan provider can help you choose what works best for you and your business. It is an investment of time and money, so you want to be cost effective. One can expect to pay anywhere from $1,000 - $5,000 for the document restatement. Future amendments and changes will costs more, often $200 - $500 each. If there are changes you want to make, doing it within the restatement process can save you from higher costs later. Don’t assume that what you have in your plan now is what you have to have going forward. Look at all of the pieces within your objectives and how the document can create a plan that enhances rather than detracts from those. And any time you are dealing with something so technical, seek assistance from an expert. You may even want a second opinion. A competitive review is a good thing, and, since the law is requiring you go through it anyway, it may well be the perfect time. Sarah Kaelberer is a partner at Business & Estate Advisers with offices in Minnesota and Wisconsin. She is a seasoned and trusted

adviser and author, and has achieved the industry’s highest recognition known as “Top of the Table” for the Million Dollar Round Table – a recognition achieved by less than 2,000 professionals in the world.

Sarah Kaelberer, MBA, CFP®, CLU, ChFC, Business & Estate Advisers, Inc. 282 E. Wayzata Blvd., P.O. Box 679 Wayzata, MN 55391 Phone: (952) 473-0440 Email: sarahk@business-estate.com Website: www.business-estate.com

Share your expertise and receive free business exposure! TwinWest members are invited to submit articles for thisi column to stacy@celpr. com. Articles should provide concrete business advice; target length is 650-750 words. Call Stacy Slygh at (763) 559-6058 with questions.

December 2009

chamber news

Call for Entrepreneurs Award Nominations

Take part in the January 26, 2010 STEM Summit! On January 26, 2010, TwinWest will host a large Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) Summit. This will be an all-day trade show aimed at showing middle school students how the STEM classes they are taking now will translate to engaging and satisfying careers in the future. Students visit each exhibit, learning how science, technology, engineering, and math are used in different industries. They have the opportunity to ask questions and learn from business leaders.

Do you know any innovative, hard-working, TwinWest-member small business entrepreneurs? Now’s the time to turn the spotlight on them! We are currently soliciting nominations for our 2010 Entrepreneur of the Year and Emerging Entrepreneur of the Year awards. These awards give much-deserved attention to those who take the risk of starting and running business enterprises. Candidates for these awards are judged on business strategies, financial success and community involvement. The Small Business Awards Task Force, under the leadership of Scott Plum, New Business Minnesota, and Sarah Kaelberer, Business & Estate Advisers, Inc., and made up of TwinWest members, will select the finalists in March 2010. These finalists will be featured on the cover of Directions magazine, and we’ll announce our winners at our annual Small Business Awards Luncheon on May 20, 2010 at the Doubletree Hotel Minneapolis Park Place in St. Louis Park.

old and more than one year old and displays excellent growth potential.

The STEM Summit on January 26, 2010 will be held at the Hopkins Center for the Arts. If you are interested in spending a day with young students allowing them to experience how science, technology, engineering and math are used in your industry, please call Sara Hopkins at (763) 450-2224 for more details. This event is sponsored by Lake Minnetonka Orthodontics.

All candidates must be TwinWest members for at least one year by the end of May 2010 and the owner or visible leader of a successful small business with $100 million or less in annual revenue. Submit nominations to Judy Johnson at judy@ twinwest.com. For additional details about these awards and who is eligible, please visit www. twinwest.com/awards. Nomination deadline: January 29, 2010.

The two categories are: TwinWest Entrepreneur of the Year A TwinWest member entrepreneur who has established and maintained a successful business with $100 million or less in annual revenue, which is five or more years old. TwinWest Emerging Entrepreneur of the Year A TwinWest member entrepreneur who has established a company with $100 million or less in annual revenue, which is less than five years

TwinWest Directions

The STEM Summit is one of TwinWest’s Business-Education Partnership (BEP) initiatives, a long-standing effort to align today’s education programs with tomorrow’s workforce needs. We provide our business members with effective, rewarding ways to provide their time and resources to our school partners.

community

Meet & Greet Breakfast with Hennepin County Sheriff Rich Stanek

TwinWest Foundation 2010 High School Scholarship applications available

On Friday, December 4, the TwinWest Chamber of Commerce and the Greater Wayzata Area Chamber of Commerce will host a Meet & Greet event with Hennepin County Sheriff Rich Stanek. Come hear from Sheriff Stanek about updates on county public safety initiatives.

Each year TwinWest Foundation scholarships are granted to graduating high school students from TwinWest member school districts and private schools. Students are evaluated based on their academic achievement, extracurricular activities, community service, work history, and financial need. Typical college scholarships range from $500 to $1,500. The Foundation’s Legacy Scholarship, ranging from $5,000 to $7,500, is awarded each year to one outstanding high school senior who exemplifies positive leadership attributes and is awell-rounded student role model.

Friday, December 4 7:30 a.m. - 9:00 a.m. Sunsets Restaurant 700 East Lake Wayzata, MN 55391 No cost to attend; no rsvp needed.

Applications are avalable to download now. Scholarship awards are announced in April each year. Go online to www.twinwest.com/foundation to download an application. The deadline is Friday, January 29, 2010. All scholarship applications must be received at TwinWest by this deadline.

Sponsors: TwinWest Chamber of Commerce; Greater Wayzata Area Chamber of Commerce; Wuollet’s Bakery; Allegra Print & Imaging Plymouth.

Not All Businesses Are The Same We know exactly how your business is different, and we tailor your insurance to fit perfectly.

At Vaaler, we’re known for the creativity we bring to commercial insurance. First we learn your business step by step. Then we use our independent insurance know-how to create a custom plan that features the right coverage at the right price. We’re experienced. We’re committed to VIP service. We’re the perfect fit for you and your business.

www.vaaler.com 763-599-1683

Providing VIP Service Since 1947

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new & renewing members NEW MEMBERS Welcome New Members!

New members are printed in each issue of Directions. Following is a list of businesses or individuals who have invested in the greater community by joining the TwinWest Chamber of Commerce. Please support these businesses when making purchases and business decisions. Our Membership Directory, listing all Chamber members in alphabetical order, by category, and by individual representatives, is published each year. For the most up-to-date information, you can use our searchable online member directory at www.twinwest. com. If you are a current member, you may update your records online. Want to become a member? Call (763) 450-2220.

Al’s Coffee

COFFEE-SALES & SERVICES 820 Decatur Avenue Golden Valley, MN 55427 Mr. Craig Nelson

Antenna Inc.

EXECUTIVE SEARCH SERVICES 100 South Fifth Street Minneapolis, MN 55402 Mr. Derick White

Astute Transformations, LLC REAL ESTATE-RESIDENTIAL 4230 Raleigh Avenue South St. Louis Park, MN 55416 Ms. Emilie C. George

Beta Partners, LLC

MANAGEMENT CONSULTANTS P.O. Box 1-c Minnetonka, MN 55345 Mr. David Cousins

Blossom Behavioral Health, PLLC MENTAL HEALTH & COUNSELING 11900 Wayzata Boulevard Minnetonka, MN 55305 Ms. Gretchen Lewis-Snyder

Check Engine Express

AUTOMOBILE REPAIRS, SERVICE & PARTS 15031 Minnetonka Industrial Road Minnetonka, MN 55345 Ms. Ann Sangpan

City Marketing Solutions, Inc. MARKETING 601 Carlson Parkway Suite 1050 Minnetonka, MN 55305 Mr. Haitham Bassiouny

Designs by Lisa of Elk River, Inc. WEDDING SUPPLIES & SERVICES 19431 Lowell Street Northwest Elk River, MN 55330 Ms. Lisa Ratke

TwinWest Directions

Fredrikson & Byron, P.A. GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS 200 South Sixth Street Suite 4000 Minneapolis, MN 55402 Ms. Leia Christoffer

FRSecure LLC

INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY 3992 Spruce Road Minnetrista, MN 55375 Mr. Evan Francen

The Goddard School

SCHOOLS & COLLEGES 16755 County Road 24 Plymouth, MN 55447 Ms. Lisa Amic

Minnesota Cause Connection Inc. MARKETING 7128 Valley View Road Edina, MN 55439 Ms. LuAnne Speeter

Nemer Fieger

ADVERTISING 6250 Excelsior Boulevard Suite 203 Minneapolis, MN 55416 Mr. David Fieger

Panera Bread, Panera Catering CATERERS 5219 99th Circle North Brooklyn Park, MN 55443 Ms. Tamara Morin

Practical Management

MANAGEMENT CONSULTANTS 5910 Magnolia Lane North Plymouth, MN 55442 Mr. Kent Dunham

Renters Warehouse

PROPERTY MANAGEMENT 715 Florida Avenue South Golden Valley, MN 55345 Mr. Brenton Hayden

RiteMade Paper Converters OFFICE SUPPLIES 9030 Jewel Lane Maple Grove, MN 55311 Mr. Robert Hay

Sheraton Bloomington Minneapolis South Hotel HOTELS & MOTELS 7800 Normandale Boulevard Bloomington, MN 55439 Mr. Michael Murphy

SilverCrest Properties

MANAGEMENT CONSULTANTS 3601 Park Center Boulevard Suite 120 St. Louis Park, MN 55416 Mr. John P. Cushen

Smashburger - Golden Valley RESTAURANTS 509 Winnetka Avenue Golden Valley, MN 55427 Mr. Brian Beers

Smashburger - Plymouth RESTAURANTS 3225 Vicksburg Lane North Plymouth, MN 55447 Mr. Brian Beers

The Shops at West End RETAIL STORE 1621 West End Boulevard Minneapolis, MN 55416 Mr. Michael Landstad

RENEWING MEMBERS

Congratulations to the following members who have recently celebrated their membership anniversaries. These members are part of a continued commitment to our communities through their investment in the TwinWest Chamber.

25+ Anchor Bank, National Association Berg Law Offices, P.A. Blanski Peter Kronlage & Zoch, P.A. CPAs Bonestroo CB Richard Ellis Doubletree Hotel Minneapolis Park Place First Minnetonka City Bank Hopkins Pet Hospital Kaisershot, Medard B. Kern, DeWenter, Viere, Ltd. Larkin Hoffman Attorneys Minnesota Masonic Home North Ridge Plus Relocation Services, Inc. Plymouth, City of Swanson & Youngdale, Inc. Sylvan Learning Center Washburn-McReavy Funeral Chapels & Cremation Services

21-24 Toshiba Business Solutions

16-20 Central Bank Coldwell Banker Burnet-Plymouth J & F Reddy Rents, Inc. Nannies From The Heartland Northwest Community Television Oliver Financial Paradise Charter Cruises Lake Minnetonka & Mississippi River Public Affairs Consulting LLC

11-15 ARAMARK Refreshment Services Bodywise Therapeutic Massage Marriott Minneapolis West Sales By Phone, Inc.

6-10 ABRA Auto Body & Glass - New Hope Comfort Inn Coordinated Business Systems Gleason Printing Herzing University MN Insurance Group, Inc. New Horizon Academy Minnetonka Owl Bookkeeping and CFO Services PRISM Shred-it/MN Shredding LLC Solbrekk, Inc. TDS Metrocom Wizardly Teleproduction, Inc.

1-5 494 Commuter Services Actuarial Advisors, Inc. Best Wishes Floral Carlson Real Estate Company Children First Corporate Technologies LLC Dancing Flame Artwork and Design Edina Realty Give My Regards To Glass Doctor Golden Living Center - Hopkins Golden Valley Supply Co. Hispanic Chamber of Commerce iVision Human Resources Japs-Olson Company Jim Lupient Infiniti of Golden Valley The Kuhn Law Firm, PLLC Lake Minnetonka Orthodontics: Specialists in Orthodontics. Drs. Jolstad, Nelson, Tiziani & Bohlig Majesty Companies Manpower Minnwest Bank Money Mailer Minneapolis West Nextera Communications NovaCare Rehabilitation Q - Consulting Group Snap Fitness - Plymouth Starlites Electrical Co. Inc. - Energy Efficient Lighting Retrofitting Stone Creek Apartments Sydax Corporation Taiyo Toepke, Sarah E. Toll Brothers

5465 Highway 169 N Plymouth, MN 55442 Telephone: 763-694-8800 Toll Free: 1-866-770-1298 Fax: 763-694-8888 www.aceelectrical.net

We provide a complete line of electrical services. Including: •

Electrical Design Build Construction

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51 years of service architecture interior design master planning general contracting design-build construction management real estate development real estate acquisition

VANMAN ARCHITECTS AND BUILDERS INC.

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local 763.541.9552

toll free 888.327.2817 10/27/09 9:30:20 December 2009 PM 21

last glance

Member Event Photos

TwinWest members are actively involved in our events and programs. Whether our members are networking, developing plans for TwinWest events, taking charge of their professional development, or new to the chamber, we are proud to post photos of our members getting a return on their member investment.

Member Orientation on October 7, 2009. Left to Right: David Cousins, Beta Partners, LLC; Beth Rodich, Minnesota Chiropractic & Rehabilitation; Brian Olenius, Coborns Delivers; Patricia Trumbull, Mary Kay Cosmetics; and Joe Rasmusson, Coborns Delivers.

Member Orientation on October 7, 2009. Left to Right: Shane Burgeson, Check Engine Express; Ann Sangpan, Check Engine Express; Latisha Gray, North Hennepin Community College; Lisa Ratke, Designs by Lisa of Elk River, Inc.; and Brock Ray, Brock Ray Creative.

Member Orientation on October 7, 2009. Left to Right: Eric Hawkinson, BPK&Z Financial Services LLP; Chuck Kugler, Village Hair Center; Caroline Emswiler, WEALTH Financial Consultants, Inc.; LuAnne Speeter, Minnesota Cause Connection, Inc.; Jerry Ferris, Dignity In-Home Care; and Robert Boettcher, North Hennepin Community College.

Business Showcse at Sylvan Learning Center on TwinWest members take a tour of McQuay International October 28, 2009.SBA.qxp 1/5/2009 3:55 PM onPage October DEC Nicer 1 1, 2009.

Manufacturing Week Tour at Accellent in Brooklyn Park on October 26, 2009.

At Anchor Bank, we go beyond your request and work with you to develop creative solutions to meet your businesses needs. And as a SBA Preferred Lender we reduce the SBA application time to weeks rather than months. Because we are locally owned and independent, we have the agility to be flexible and move quickly. Looking into an SBA loan? Look into Anchor Bank today.

www.anchorlink.com

Blaine 763-795-8400 • Eden Prairie 952-942-7522 • Plymouth 763-559-9336 • Wayzata 952-473-4606

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Business banking. Now in a convenient, easy to use package. The Associated Bank Business Banking Package is the single source for all your business banking needs. From Business Choice Checking Account options to Secured Lines of Credit, we make business banking easy. Visit the Associated Bank nearest you or call the Business Customer Care Center at 1-800-728-3501.

Plymouth 2655 Campus Dr. (763) 694-2812 Plymouth 4305 Peony Lane N. (763) 694-2852 New Hope 7001 Bass Lake Rd. (651) 554-8730 St. Louis Park 5353 Wayzata Blvd. (952) 591-2865

associatedbank.com Equal Opportunity Lender. Member FDIC and Associated Banc-Corp. (2/09) 4863

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Last chance to advertise in the 2010 Membership Directory

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Call Mariah Hendrickson at 952-846-2042 or email mariah.hendrickson@ecm-inc.com

Member Event Photos TwinWest members are actively involved in our events and programs. Whether our members are networking, developing plans for TwinWest events, taking charge of their professional development, or new to the Chamber, we are proud to post photos of our members getting a return on their member investment.

JOIN THE TWINWEST CHAMBER! We hope you’ve enjoyed this issue of Directions magazine. If you’re not a member, consider joining TwinWest to begin your experience with the most involved, influential, and innovative regional chamber in the state. As a member, you will have access to: • Over 100 events and meetings each year to help you cultivate meaningful business relationships. • Numerous legislative and community involvement opportunities to give your business a voice. • Highly regarded professional development and training programs for you and your employees. • Countless ways to increase your visibility and brand recognition in 10 communities and the surrounding region. If you’re not a TwinWest Chamber member, you can learn more about our organization at www.twinwest.com, or contact our regional sales director: Jacqui Sauter, (763) 450-2228/ jacqui@twinwest.com. We will be happy to help you explore how you can use the chamber to accomplish your professional goals! Payroll_DIR0_MH.indd 1

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