July 2013 - Owatonna Chamber of Commerce and Tourism

MOWATONNA AREA CHAMBER ME
area chamber of commerce & tourism
MEMBER
Owatonna
BER•WWW.OWATONNA.ORG•
MN
President/CEO
what’s
Inside:
MN Senior
Games
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business brief
owatonna area chamber of commerce & tourism
Flower Basket
Help Needed
Thanks to
Members
Expert
‘Engagement’
Advice
Downtown
Dedication
Member News
5 Days of Fun
Dedicated to the prosperity of our member
businesses and the vitality of the area.
network
Join us august 1st
Calling all Serious Fun-Seekers!
Sign up now to make some great connections on the golf
course--even if you’re not a golfer!
Form a foursome of
old friends,
invite a new contact
you’ve made
or we can put you on
a team--don’t miss
out!.
Join us and over 40
sponsors on Thursday, August 1st at the Owatonna
Country Club for great prizes, games, food and new
connections! Check out the registration form in this
month’s Chamber Pack for more details or to get involved
or go to Owatonna.org to register
as well.
Title Sponsor:
Every golfer receives a goody
bag for participating!
promote
Staffing Services
connect
Jennifer Libby leads OACCT
Starting July 8
The OACCT has named Jennifer Libby as the
organization’s President/CEO begining July 8.
Libby has lived in Owatonna since 1999 and
still resides in Owatonna with her husband and
four children. Jennifer and has been involved
in many volunteering opportunities in the community.
“We’re very fortunate to have found Jennifer,”
said Scott Kubicek, owner of Advantage Cabinets
and Chair of the OACCT. “Her intelligence
and maturity will make her a great spokesperson
for the business community.”
Jennifer’s background includes human resources,
media relations and company spokesperson,
and most recently as a human capital
partner for United Health Group. Prior to United
Health Group, Libby worked at Cybex International,
Inc. for more than 11 years. She also
served on the Chamber’s Board of Directors
from 2000-2006, including Board Chair in 2003.
“I love this community, and it’s a wonderful
place to raise a family,” said Jennifer. “Owatonna
has a strong industrial manufacturing base.
I want to be a part of that and keep the proud
tradition of the business community going.”
“Her familiarity with the Chamber and the
Owatonna community impressed us,” said
Search Committee Chair Mike Milstead, who
is also Past Chair of the Chamber and owner
of Ag Power Enterprises. “Her enthusiasm
showed throughout the process, and will serve
her well as Chamber President.”
Jennifer can be reached at jlibby@owatonna.org.
get
online
2013
J u l y 2 0 1 3

oard of Directors
2013
directors
Scott Kubicek, Chair
Advantage Cabinets
Jennifer Menzner. Vice Chair
TPS Insurance Agency
Mike Milstead, Past Chair
Ag Power Enterprises
Brad Breyer, Treasurer
United Prairie Bank
Laura Brady, At-Large
Haute Tanning
Dr. Brian Burmeister, At-Large
Main Street Dental
Jennifer Martin
AmericInn Hotel & Suites
Owatonna- Convention Conference Center
Center Glen Meger
Glen Brick Meger Funeral Home
Brick-Meger Dave Hietala Funeral Home
Riverland Dave Hietala Community College
Riverland Barb Heerema Community College
Barb Community HeeremaBank Owatonna
Community Cindy RossowBank Owatonna
Cindy Cedar Rossow Gallery
Cedar Dr. Michael Gallery Peterson
Dr. McGregor Michael Chiropractic
Peterson
McGregor Vicki Lysne Chiropractic
Vicki Comfort Lysne Inn
Comfort Julie Rethemeier Inn
Julie Federated Rethemeier Insurance
Federated Company Insurance
Company Shirley Schultz
Shirley Costas’ Schultz Candies &
Costas’ Restaurant Candies &
Restaurant
Wayne Starman
Wayne Cash Wise Starman Foods
Cash Wise Foods
Board of Directors
Owatonna Crosses the Finish Line with the Conclusion of the 2013 MN Senior Games!
More than 375 athletes from 15 different States partook in over 500 athletic
events in Owatonna, MN for the 2013 MN Senior Games!
All of Owatonna was showcased well to the Minnesota Senior Game athletes
with daily check-in for athletes taking place at the Four Seasons Centre, sporting
events taking place at our local
schools, parks, golf course.
Athletes also had the chance to
take in the sights and attractions
of Owatonna while here for the Games.
Together with SeniorPlace Inc., the Owatonna Tourism
Department, Owatonna Parks & Recreation and an energetic
group of local volunteers, Owatonna hosted a phenomenal
MN Senior Games! Thank you to all of the sponsors of the
Minnesota Senior Games, your support was invaluable in
bringing the Minnesota Senior Games to Owatonna this
summer!
Jennifer Libby
Rhonda Guthier
Operations Director
rguthier@owatonna.org
AREA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE & TOURISM
Lisa Havelka
Tourism Director
lhavelka@owatonna.org
2 | july 2013 Business Brief Owatonna Area Chamber of Commerce & Tourism
Make the most of your membership!
Call 507.451.7970
Email oacct@owatonna.org
Fax 507.451.7972
Web www.owatonna.org
Hours M-F: 8am-5pm
oacct staff – we are here to serve you!
President/CEO
jlibby@owatonna.org
Allison Abrahams
Office Support Manager
aabrahams@owatonna.org
Stacy Kubat
Office Support Manager
skubat@owatonna.org
Katie Nelson
Marketing Director
knelson@owatonna.org
Anne Peterson
320 Hoffman Drive
Owatonna, MN 55060
Follow us on
Group Tour Coordinator
apeterson@owatonna.org
Melanie Sunnarborg
MainStreet Director
msunnarborg@owatonna.org

flower basket
Keep the baskets beautiful
Help Needed
appreciation
If you enjoy the flower baskets, please consider donating to
the program! We need your help! Donations are tax deductible.
The program is in need of funds for watering and maintenance.
As it stands, the
funds for the program will
be depleted mid- July. If
this happens it will unfortunately
cease all opera-
Melanie Sunnarborg
tions and care of the flow-
MainStreet Director
er baskets.
Each basket costs approximately $85 each season
to plant, water and maintain. We have raised
$8,500 but are still $5,000 short of what is needed.
The program must raise the adequate funds
annually to keep the program in existence.
This effort is supported solely by community
donations. The Chamber Foundation/MainStreet
Program coordinates and pays for the baskets,
watering and maintenance during the season.
The program is appreciative to the more than
100 individuals, service clubs and businesses
that have donated to our program this year. Thank you for your continued support!
workforce appreciation Event
We Appreciate YOU!
With nearly 600 members
of the Owatonna Area
Chamber of Commerce
& Tourism collectively do
what no single business
can do alone. Members
continue to play a vital role
in the quality and growth
of the Owatonna area. It
takes teamwork – and we
are glad that you are on the
team!
All Around
Rhonda Guthier
Interim President/CEO
Your membership is valued and critical to the success
of the Chamber. We at the Chamber sincerely
value your input. Thank you for your continued
involvement!
If you have any questions about your membership,
how to get involved, advocacy, economic
development, sponsorship, or events; please
contact the Chamber office at 451-7970 anytime
M – F; 8 AM– 5 PM or at oacct@owatonna.org.
We are your business resource center!
Any and all donations are appreciated!
Please contact Melanie at
msunnarborg@owatonna.org if you
have any questions or would like to
help!
3rd
Thursday Networking
six ways we serve you!
Membership Strengthen membership
to represent the significant majority of
business in Steele County and meet
members’ needs and expectations.
Economic Development Maintain
a strong economic development
environment for the community.
Advocacy Create a public policy
agenda that will reflect business
priorities, enhancing the climate for
growing businesses.
Tourism development Maximize the
viability of the Owatonna area as a
travel destination.
Community Serve as a resource center
for the community by providing
information and personal service to
inquirers and visitors.
Model Chamber To be recognized as
the premier business resource center
for economic growth, education and
relationship building.
Tami Enfield with Brand Yourself, LLC
shared great insights with members
at the June networking event hosted
at Famous Dave’s BBQ. She also gave participants
a Top 10 Tips sheet for their use and
reference.
Join us on July 18 for the next structured networking
event! We’ll be at Koda Living Community,
2255 30th Street NW from Noon-1PM.
Grow your business!
Owatonna Area Chamber of Commerce & Tourism www.owatonna.org | 3

expert Advice
Customer Engagement
Holly Sobrack
Westbrack Marketing
Engaging your customers is
key in today’s marketplace.
Whether it is on social media,
online or in your store,
how you connect with your
customer is as important as
the products and services
you offer. Here are some
tips to keep you on track:
•ABBA – You may think of
the singing group, but here,
I am referring to Always Be Building Audiences.
Once a week, ask yourself what strategies you
have created to help you build your audience.
Did you post online Have you asked customers
for referrals Were print and radio ads including
a call to action Try each week to target your audience
using traditional or social media and then
put a plan in place. Remember, when online, be
authentic.
•Call me Maybe. If you are like me, I now have
you humming that song. We could learn something
- the girl gives her number and says, “call
me, maybe.” Are you asking your fans, followers
and customers to share, like, call, email
Do your print materials have your phone, email,
social media contacts, website address
•Thank you still matters. Whether you are online,
in an email or in a store, a simple thank you
to your customer still goes a long way. If you
are online, how about showcasing customers as
fans If in an email, attach a coupon for a future
purchase. If in the store, share a heartfelt thank
you.
•KISS – Keep It Super Simple. If you have a promotion,
run the same thing in all of your media
choices. Make promotions easy to use, easy
to redeem and versatile in a variety of media.
We’ve all heard the “Big sale today” followed
by “excludes….”. Adding a bunch of limits and
rules to your sales only confuses your customer
and your staff. Customers today are bombarded
with a variety of messages and places to spend
their money. Make your marketing stand out
and be easy to understand.
Submit your “Expert Advice” by the 15th of
each month. Check out Owatonna.org/membership-promote.php
for article guidelines.
owatonna Tourism
Workin’ 9 to 5 for Meetings and Events
Members of the Tourism Advisory Committee recently attended
the 2013 Midwest Society of Association Executives
Annual Meeting & Expo. “Lights, Camera, Interaction!” was
the Expo theme, bringing together Hollywood themed actors
and actresses to the St. Paul Rivercentre!
Owatonna Tourism themed their booth with the popular
1980’s office classic “9 to 5” movie starring: Dolly Parton (Lisa
Havelka), Lily Tomlin (Jennifer Martin), and Jane Fonda (Kelly
Boomgarden).
Owatonna Tourism resumes focusing on lodging, meeting
space, attractions and hosting experience were passed out to
attendees at the Expo. Owatonna Tourism took 2nd place this
year for the Best Booth Award, losing only by 9 votes to Visit
Duluth.
Mystery Tour Mum’s the Word
Lisa Havelka
Tourism Director
Owatonna Tourism still
stood out amongst the
Kardashians who made an
appearance at the expo,
Willy Wonka and his Oompa-
Loompa’s, and the Star Wars
Stormtrooper’s that attended
the expo!
Midwest Association Executives
and Meeting Planners
are sure to remember the
Owatonna girls “Workin’ 9
to 5” for their Meetings and
Events!
Would you ever consider hopping on a bus for a four-day trip
without knowing your destination
An adventurous group of seniors from Rockford, Illinois,
signed up for a “mystery” tour that included Owatonna as one
of the stops on June 11. Owatonna Tourism worked with a
group tour operator to help plan the Owatonna leg of this trip,
which included lunch at Cabela’s, a presentation by Harvey
Ronglien at the Orphanage Museum, a trip to Mineral Springs
Park, and a tour of the Farmers’ National Bank.
Anne Peterson Thank
Group Tour Coordinator you
to group
tour volunteers Kim Wilder,
Kaye Fransen, and Kay
Oberle for helping make our
visitors welcome and sharing
some of the sights with
them!
As the bus left Owatonna,
they were off to their next
destination…unknown!
4 | july 2013 Business Brief Owatonna Area Chamber of Commerce & Tourism

The Sixteenth annual recipient of the Ted G. Ringhofer Memorial is Monica Hanson.
Monica is the daughter of Jon and
Peggy Hanson and is planning
on attending Loyola University
Chicago and majoring in Human
Resource Management.
Monica will be awarded the $1,000
scholarship given by TPS Insurance
Agency and the Owatonna Area
Chamber of Commerce & Tourism
Ambassadors at the Fine Arts
Awards Reception in May.
Federated Mutual Insurance Company
Federated Service Insurance Company* • Federated Life Insurance Company
Owatonna, Minnesota 55060 | Phone 507.455.5200 | www.federatedinsurance.com
Ed. 6/13 *Not licensed in the states of NH, NJ, RI, and VT. © 2013 Federated Mutual Insurance Company
Done right,on time, as promised.
• High Quality Printing
• Digital Printing
• Wide Format Printing
• Complete Mailing Service
• Bindery Services
• Marketing Solutions
• Web to Print
• Quick Turn
Ringhofer Scholarship
Business BReak Member Announcements 507.455.5880 or 800.247.5039
Owatonna Area Chamber of Commerce & Tourism www.owatonna.org | 5
Owatonna, MN • Phone: 507.446.5300
Manke’s Outdoor Equipment & Appliances has earned the prestigious
Summit Club award for 2012 from The Toro Company. This annual award
is presented to qualifying Toro dealers In Recognition of Outstanding
Sales of Residential Lawn Equipment.
Cole Johnson is the new owner of Haute Tanning.
submit by 15th monthly
Heather Ribbe is the new manager at Buffalo Wild Wings.
Michael Meger has returned home and joined the staff of the Brick – Meger
Funeral Home. He assumed his duties effective June 1.
EO Johnson Office Technologies has been recognized by the Photizo Group
as a leader in Managed Print Services (MPS). EO Johnson Office
Technologies was one of 11 independent providers that Photizo Group
selected to participate in the 2013 MPS Leaders Index for channel
providers, based on demonstrated leadership in MPS.
Owatonna College & University Center
965 Alexander Drive SW
www.riverland.edu
www.riverland.edu
Steele- Waseca
Cooperative
Electric
2411 West Bridge Street, Owatonna MN 55060
507.451.7340 • fax: 507.446.4242
swce@swce.coop • www.swce.coop
Pat Heydon is the new Executive for Habitat For Humanity.
2013-2014 Owatonna Business Women Executive Board: President:
Karen Legault, Thrivent Financial ; 1st Vice President: Dori Prochniak,
Ameriprise Financial; 2nd Vice President: Kerri Lynch, Tri M Graphics;
3rd Vice President: Kristin Haberman, Einhaus, Mattison, Carver and
Haberman, P.A.; Secretary: Melinda Skalicky, Steele County ; Treasurer:
Sara Pichner, Bosch Automotive; Woman of Achievement: Brooke
Schroht, B.Schroht Designs; Public Affair Awareness: Beth Gilthvedt,
Horizon Eye Care; Historian: Laura Seid, Chiropractic Care of Owatonna.
Everyone’s got
an answer...
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BusinessConnection is a service of Grow Minnesota! and sponsored by the Minnesota Chamber
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Connect online: www.mnbizconnect.com

area chamber of commerce & tourism
MEMBER
Owatonna
BER•WWW.OWATONNA.ORG•
MN
July events
Promotions Committee
July 11
Plan Retail Events
The Kitchen, 329 Cedar Ave. N
7:30 AM
3rd Thursday Networking
July 18
Koda Living Community,
2255 30th Street NW; 11:57 AM
Sponsor: Koda Living Community
Business After Hours
July 23
Thrivent Financial/Terry Evans &
Associates/Family Vision Care
in the parking lot of businesses
5:30 PM
Chamber Pack Insert
Supply the OACCT with 600 copies
of your promotional insert by July
25 for August’s mailing; cost is
$125
All OACCT event participants are subject
to photography/videography exposure.
These photos/videos may be reproduced in
publications or promotional items developed by
the OACCT. All photos and videos are property
of the OACCT.
MOWATONNA AREA CHAMBER ME
OACCT events
Don’t miss out!
August events
Promotions Committee
August 1
Plan Retail Events
The Kitchen, 329 Cedar Ave. N; 7:30 AM
Golf Event
August 1
Sponsor: Spherion Staffing Services
Owatonna Country Club
1991 Lemond Rd.; 11 AM
3rd Thursday Networking
August 15
Spare Time Entertainment/Southside,
333 18TH St. SE.; 11:57 AM
Sponsor: Spare Time Entertainment/
Southside
Business After Hours
August 9
SCFF/Prudential Realty/Block
Plumbing/Retrofit Companies at the
SCFF Beer Garden; 5:30 AM
Business After Hours
August 27
V.F.W./Cash Wise Liquor/Cash Wise
Foods at V.F.W., 135 W Oakdale St.
5:30 AM
Chamber Pack Insert
Supply the OACCT with 600 copies of
your promotional insert by August 29 for
September’s mailing; cost is $125
save
the Date
Join us for 5 Days of Fun
July 24-28
The OACCT Promotions Committee,
along with the Owatonna Arts Center,
coordinate the many festivities taking
place including sidewalk sales, music,
food vendors, children’s games, a hog
roast, street dance and Festival of the
Arts.
We encourage our membership to participate
in 5 Days of Fun.
If you are a business owner anywhere
in Owatonna, use this opportunity to
Melanie Sunnarborg
MainStreet Director
promote your business and entice customers with sale
stickers or promotions. If you are a customer, take advantage
of the discounted prices, participate in the many activities
and support your local businesses.
5 Days of Fun remains a mainstay within the community
while driving dollars into many participating businesses.
Wednesday, July 24: Crazy Days kicks off with the annual
antique and classic car show in the 100 and 200 blocks of
Cedar Street as well as frozen custard in Central Park sponsored
by Culver’s and the Vinyl King sponsored by KOWZ
and KORN Country 92.1.
Thursday, July 25 through Saturday, July 27: The sales
begin on Thursday and run through Saturday. Thursday is
devoted to kids with a children’s parade and games in the
park. Thursday night at 7 pm, the Owatonna Community
Band will perform for the 11 @ 7 concert series.
Friday, July 26: The BBQ supper featuring Famous Dave’s
pulled pork or chicken sandwiches and a street dance including
live entertainment of TOMCAT. Entertainment for
the evening is sponsored by: Gillespie Beauty Salon, Profinium
Financial, St. Clair’s for Men and U.S. Bank.
Saturday and Sunday, July 27-28: Artists will unite for the
annual Festival of the Arts.
If you would like to participate, volunteer or have any questions
please contact Melanie at msunnarborg@owatonna.
org or 507-451-7970. We’ll see you at Crazy Days!
Chamber golf event
Sign up to golf!
August 1
registraiton form in
Chamber Pack
Title Sponsor:
disaster planning
Disaster can strike anytime!
Spring is a good time for business to review
your disaster plans! The Chamber still has a
supply of Disaster Recovery Guide for Business
manuals provided by the Steele County
Community Awareness & Emergency
Response (CAER).
Contact Rhonda Guthier, operations director
at rguthier@owatonna.org or call the
chamber office at 451-7970 for your FREE
copy today!
Owatonna Chamber
MEMBERS
Chamber member
businesses are encouraged
to display the “Member”
Chamber logo on their
website, marketing material,
and business window/door.
The Chamber is happy to
supply our logo to members
in an electronic file format
by contacting Katie
Nelson at 507-451-7970 or
knelson@owatonna.org.
Business Brief is published by the Owatonna Area Chamber of Commerce & Tourism at 320 Hoffman Drive,
Owatonna, Minnesota 55060 | Phone: 507-451-7970 | 800-423-6466 | www.owatonna.org