January Newsletter
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Official Publication of Grand Forks - East Grand Forks Chamber of Commerce Vol 6 Issue 1 January/February 2010 Page 2 Chamber Update Team GF: Going D1 Page 4 Jan/Feb New Members Page 6 & 7 8th Annual A Month In Pictures Grand Forks State of the Page 8 City Address & Luncheon Business Briefs Page 9 By Mayor Michael R. Brown February Brown Bag Seminar Page 11 February Business After Hours Page 12 Mayor Brown will talk about the past year and the opportunities that ATHENA Nominations 2010 holds for our community to position itself as the best of the best. Wednesday, February 17, 2010 - $15/person (includes lunch) Alerus Center - 11:30am - 1:00pm To register: Contact The Chamber at 772-7271, [email protected] or online at www.gochamber.org Mission Statement Limited seating, sign up soon. Registration deadline is 2/12/10 “The Chamber of Commerce creates an environment Corporate Sponsors that encourages business success while enhancing the quality of life in our region.” 202 N. 3rd Street Grand Forks, ND 58203 PO Box 315 East Grand Forks, MN 56721 (701)772-7271 (701)772-9238 Fax [email protected] www.gochamber.org Business Partners City of Thompson Nodak Electric HB Sound & Light President’s Message Chamber Update NW MN Intergovern- Much of what Congress has done has Officers mental Retreat set for been needed. However, doing too much Chair: Barb Schultz February 12th too fast; like tackling cap and trade, the Ideal Aerosmith, Inc. The Chamber is spon- employee free choice act, an immediate Chair-Elect: Jim Galloway soring an intergovern- additional stimulus package will almost JLG Architects mental retreat on certainly seriously affect fundamental cost th Past Chair: Rick Duquette February 12 aimed at factors and add to uncertainty. Both are City of Grand Forks sharing information bad things for business. Secretary: Chris Semrau between various Ralph Engelstad Arena government and business entities in NW At this point in time it would seem Kent Hanson MN. prudent to take more of a Red River Valley NCTC The event will be held at Shooting Star conservative approach and let some of the Bryan Lee Casino in Mahnomen from 11:30 a.m. to many “fixes” that have been made really Gateway Storage 4:30 p.m. Business people are encouraged take effect before making even more Barry Wilfahrt to attend. changes. Message to Congress is slow The Chamber - GF/EGF down and give business some time to Representatives from Polk County, the adjust. Directors City of East Grand Forks, the EGF School Thane Bergh - American Federal Bank District, EGF EDHA, and The Chamber will MN Business Day at the Capitol March th Andy Byron - United Valley Bank all give reports. Minnesota State Senator 10 Join an East Grand Forks Business Day Torrie Enget - Best Buy LeRoy Stumpf, Representative Bernie Lieder and the Minnesota Congressional delegation in St. Paul on March 10th. Scott Huizenga- City of EGF Delegation have also been invited to Chamber President, Barry Wilfahrt will be Brian Johnson - Choice Financial participate. Leon Heath from the North- leading the East Grand Forks group to St. Phyllis Johnson- UND west Regional Development Commission Paul where they will meet with local will facilitate the event. With so many legislators LeRoy Stump and Bernie Curt Kreun - GF City Council budget issues facing Minnesota we Leider. The group will also participate in a Linda Pierce -Crary Homes & Real Estate expect some very good discussion. business briefing and meet with business Jim Richter - EGF EDHA people from across Minnesota. Contact Please let us know if you are planning to the Chamber office to find out more about Jim Satrom - PS Doors attend. Contact he chamber office at 701- participating. Tim Sayler - Altru Health System 772-7271 or [email protected]. Re- Steve Swanson - AE2S freshments are provided; buffet lunch is Barry Willfahrt Klaus Thiessen - GF Regional EDC on your own. Jeff Westrem - Hugo’s Business Needs Stability to Thrive Chamber Announces 2010 Plan of Jeff Wilson - Vilandre Heating & AC Business tends to thrive in a stable Action Matt Winjum - Rhombus Guys environment. As business people, we are used to dealing with changes in the Chamber Board Chair Barb Schultz market place, competition and traditional Sr. Military Advisor to the Board presented the the 2010 Chamber Colonel Donald Shaffer - GFAFB economic cycles. What is hard to adjust to and even harder to predict, are the Plan of Action at The Chamber’s Staff regulatory changes that have been made Annual Meeting in January. and are on the horizon in Washington. Barry Wilfahrt Connecting with the membership President/CEO In a meeting with Congressman Pomeroy [email protected] through involvement and doing what recently, we talked about how the many is relevant and of value to them will Lisa Swanson pieces of the stimulus package, financial Vice President of Operations be the theme for 2010. Please look [email protected] regulatory changes and the new health care bill will impact what he called the for your copy in the February Jennifer Walsh “fundamental cost factors of doing Chamber Express. Membership Relations Director [email protected] business.” I was impressed that he was very sensitive to this. Each time Congress Corrina Sachno All members are encouraged to take Program Coordinator makes a change these cost factors are a few minutes to see what The [email protected] affected, often times without a clear Chamber is planning for 2010. Carla Younce indication of how dramatic the change will be. The result is business uncertainty. Members are encouraged to contact Finance Director the staff about getting more involved [email protected] Uncertainty leads to caution and risk or with any questions they have Kimberly Strom aversion which tends to slow investment Administrative Assistant and economic growth. about the planned programs for 2010. [email protected] It is going to be a great year! 2 www.gochamber.org 2010 Chamber Leadership 2011 2012 2010 2011 2012 Barb Schultz Jim Galloway Rick Duquette Chris Semrau Bryan Lee Ideal Aerosmith JLG Architects City of GF REA Gateway Storage Chair Chair Elect/Treasurer Past Chair Vice Chair/Secretary Vice Chair 2010 2010 20112010 2010 Kent Hanson Barry Wilfahrt Thane Bergh Andy Byron Torrie Enget NCTC The Chamber - GF/EGF American Federal Bank United Valley Bank Best Buy Vice Chair President/CEO 2010 2012 2011 2010 2011 Scott Huizenga Brian Johnson Phyllis Johnson Curt Kreun Linda Pierce City of EGF Choice Financial UND GF City Council Prudential-Crary Real Estate 2010 2010 2011 2010 2010 Jim Richter Jim Satrom Tim Sayler Steve Swanson Klaus Thiessen EGF Ec. Dev. Housing PS Doors Altru Health System AE2S GF Region EDC Authority * Dates represent board retirement year 2012 2010 2012 Jeff Westrem Jeff Wilson Matt Winjum Col. Donald Shaffer Hugo’s Vilandre Heating & Air Rhombus Guys GFAFB Commander Conditioning Sr. Military Advisor to the Board www.gochamber.org 3 Chamber News Welcome New Members Jeff Jensen National Property Inspections – AT & T Individual Membership Tim Brown 1410 Telford Dr 3589 Norkota Ct Liberty, MO 64068 Davis Landscaping LLC Grand Forks, ND 58201 816-781-9955 Chris Davis 218-791-7150 [email protected] 5515 University Ave [email protected] www.att.com Grand Forks, ND 58203 www.npiweb.com/tbrown AT&T is a premier communications 701-741-6484 National Property Inspections will company offering the world’s most [email protected] provide you with a thorough unbiased, advanced IP-based business commu- www.davislandscapellc.com detailed, confidential and professional nications services; the nation’s fastest Davis Landscaping is a full service inspection of your property, weather wireless 3G network and leading high landscape construction and mainte- that is your home or a commercial speed Internet access and voice nance company. 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