Community Connections March 2024
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Mission Statement: The Fairmont Area Chamber of Commerce is an advocate for promoting a healthy business clim<br />
Board of Directors Officers:<br />
Chair<br />
Aaron Speltz<br />
Hy-Vee<br />
Vice Chair<br />
Vonnie Cone<br />
ReMax Total<br />
Realty<br />
Board of Directors:<br />
Rick Ash<br />
United Hospital<br />
District<br />
Kermit Brown<br />
Kinship of Martin<br />
County<br />
John Christ<br />
Kahler Automation<br />
Mike Christians<br />
Green Mill<br />
Brooke Wohlrabe<br />
Sentinel<br />
Staff:<br />
Past Chair<br />
Joe Evans<br />
Mayo Clinic Health<br />
Systems<br />
Treasurer<br />
Joe Loughmiller<br />
Phileo by Lesaffre<br />
Zak Clemetson<br />
Mayo Clinic Health<br />
Systems<br />
Jeff Militello<br />
Militello Motors<br />
Miranda Tulowetzke<br />
Sweet Financial<br />
Partners<br />
Brittany Hartman<br />
Visit Fairmont<br />
Kandi Menne<br />
President<br />
president@fairmontchamber.org<br />
Kandi Menne<br />
Fairmont Area Chamber of Commerce President<br />
Chamber News<br />
Last week we held the Chamber’s<br />
annual banquet. It was an honor<br />
to spend the evening with so many<br />
of our Chamber members and their guests. The<br />
Fairmont Area Chamber of Commerce past and<br />
present board of directors were recognized, as<br />
were Sydney and Rachel the “Chamber girls” that<br />
keep things on track daily.<br />
There were fifteen Business of the<br />
Year nominees. We thank each of them for<br />
the continued investment and high standards<br />
of business practice! Congratulations to the<br />
recipients of 2023 Business of the Year: Large<br />
Business of the Year Winner Sterling Pharmacy,<br />
Small Business of the Year Bowlmor Lanes,<br />
New Business of the Year, Janzen's Greenhouse,<br />
Non-Profit Business of the Year Martin County<br />
Toys for Tots.<br />
Encouragement: Mid-February I attended the<br />
Minnesota Chamber of Commerce Executive<br />
(MCCE) Annual meeting in Hastings. We were<br />
fortunate Bob Harris, who is well known<br />
and highly respected by Chamber executives<br />
everywhere spoke to us on building a great<br />
Board, strategic planning and organizational<br />
excellence. Representatives from the Minnesota<br />
Chamber presented on what to expect at the<br />
<strong>2024</strong> Legislative Session in an election year<br />
this was such an important and informative<br />
session I invited a representative of the<br />
Minnesota Chamber to speak at our April Bureau<br />
14 meeting. We will learn more about the<br />
importance of the business votes! There were<br />
numerous breakout sessions always leaving me<br />
enthusiastic and energized! I again left feeling<br />
2<br />
Rachel Manwarren<br />
Finance Director<br />
finance@fairmontchamber.org<br />
Sydney Andrews<br />
Office Manager<br />
info@fairmontchamber.org<br />
Contact Information:<br />
Fairmont Area Chamber of Commerce<br />
323 East Blue Earth Avenue<br />
P.O. Box 826<br />
Fairmont, MN 56031<br />
Phone: 507-235-5547<br />
www.FairmontChamber.org<br />
2023-<strong>2024</strong> Martin County Leadership - Quality of Life Day at the Martin County Historical Society<br />
The Martin County Leadership group<br />
meets one day a month September thru May. Each<br />
month provides a different learning experience.<br />
They've toured the water treatment plant, held<br />
a mock city council meeting in Council Chambers,<br />
toured the high school, visited the county jail,<br />
library and Lakeview Methodist for Healthcare<br />
Day. April is Ag Day and they will be visiting a<br />
variety of different Ag related venues a panel of<br />
experts. This is a great learning experience for<br />
new or long-term members of our community.<br />
Give us a call or email if you would like to get<br />
on the list for the 2025/2026 Martin County<br />
Leadership Program.
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