Minnesota Film Premiere
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
When it comes to lending money, there’s no economic slowdown for us. At Associated Bank, 2011 is just another year of providing our clients with high-quality, professional commercial real estate fi nancing programs. Our construction and term loan services include origination, underwriting, closing and servicing of projects and commercial mortgages. All of which sounds impressive, but none of which would happen without a solid relationship with our commercial real estate professionals. Get to know us better. Call one of our Commercial Real Estate professionals today. Eric Rogers, Senior Vice President, Market Manager – 612-359-4411 Scott Fedie, Senior Vice President, Relationship Manager – 612-359-4432 Karen Martin, Vice President, Relationship Manager – 612-359-4405 Derek Naill, Vice President, Relationship Manager – 612-359-4443 Jim Vitt, Vice President, Relationship Manager – 612-359-4407 associatedbank.com Commercial Real Estate Treasury Management Capital Markets Commercial Insurance* *Insurance products are offered by licensed agents of Associated Financial Group, LLC (“AFG”). Insurance products offered are NOT deposits or obligations of, insured or guaranteed by Associated Banc-Corp (“AB-C”) or any bank or affi liate and are NOT insured by the FDIC or any agency of the United States. AFG is an affi liate of AB-C. Deposit and loan products are offered by Associated Bank, N.A. (“AB”), Member FDIC and Associated Banc-Corp (“AB-C”). Loans subject to credit approval. Equal Opportunity Lender. C2.indd 1 11/8/11 3:09:01 PM ©2011 LarsonAllen LLP | Illustration by Alan Pranke t� "�CVTJOFTT�XJUI�B�TUSPOH�WJTJPO�GPS�UIF�GVUVSF t� /BUJPOBM�SFTPVSDFT�BOE�MPDBM�FYQFSJFODF t� 1SPGFTTJPOBM�TLFQUJDJTN��TPMJE�JOUFHSJUZ��� BOE�B�UPVDI�PG�JEFBMJTN LarsonAllen is building relationships with privately held businesses all over the map. Audit | Tax | Outsourced accounting | Financial services* | Transaction support *Offered by LarsonAllen Financial, LLC, member FINRA & SIPC Noticeably Different. pg 1.indd 1 11/8/11 3:11:08 PM December 2011 Contents COVER There are the usual “people to know.” Then there are those (like Michele Tafoya) who are, in many ways, more active in shaping our communities, our social fabric, our state’s economy, and our sense of identity. (Cover photograph by Travis Anderson) FEATURES 18 200 Minnesotans You Should Know By Jake Anderson, MINNESOTA Nataleeya Boss, Ingrid Case, FEATURES C U P 2 011 Mary Connor, Suzy Frisch, Dan Heilman, Fran Howard, After page 48 Game-Changers Dale Kurschner, Christa Meland, of Tomorrow John Palm, Gene Rebeck, The annual Minnesota Cup and Tad Simons competition attracted more From rising stars and agents than 1,000 entrepreneurs and their companies. This FEATURES of change to industry titans, year’s grand prize winner is creative geniuses, sports leaders, AUM Cardiovascular, which and celebrities (including has developed a device that can detect clogged arteries Michele Tafoya), meet the in less than 20 seconds. Meet people to know about—and, the innovators (and their innovations) behind AUM if possible, get to know. Cardiovascular and fi ve other industry-division winners. 2 TWIN CITIES BUSINESS tcbmag.com DECEMBER 2011 pg 2-4.indd 1 11/10/11 1:33:59 PM pg 3.indd 1 11/8/11 3:13:10 PM 8 Editor’s Note 10 Starters s Grow Minnesota: “The eyes and ears for the state’s economic development efforts.” s Building a better crutch. s Missoni’s Minneapolis magicians. s W.lab: a space to innovate. 14 Plugged In By Anna Befort The can’t-miss events, people, and places to check out in December. LAW 64 Top 10 Business Lawsuits of the Year By Steve Kaplan We recount the accusations of debt dodging, product failure, bad management, and mutant sugar beets that brought SPECIAL FOCUS SPECIAL Minnesota business into court in 2011. DEPARTMENTS 16 Concierge By Melinda Nelson Where to celebrate (or escape) the season with your VIP clients. SPECIAL FOCUS SPECIAL COMMERCIAL REAL ESTATE 72 The Stable Market Segment By Jamie Swedberg Industrial real estate shows signs of life. 9 Guest Commentary INTERACTIVE MARKETING By William Cooper Remembering Ken Dahlberg, an American 75 The Video Game hero. By Dan Haugen Minnesota companies are fi nding that videos are a crucial element of promoting their brands on line. 94 Playbook By Lee Schafer Local nonprofi ts are paying more attention to cost rationalization and effi ciencies. SOURCES OF FINANCING SPECIAL FOCUS SPECIAL 79 Capital Resources 95 Corner Offi ce Compiled by Mary Connor The Twin Cities Business essential By Mark Sheffert Why is it that nobody likes butt-kissers, yet there guide for companies in search of capital. COLUMNS are so many of them? 96 Open Letter SUPER REAL ESTATE AGENTS By Vance Opperman A former U.S. comptroller general sounds the 86 Listings of the top real estate agents in Minnesota. alarm about the federal budget. Corrections The coverage of the Minnesota Family Business Awards in our November TWIN CITIES BUSINESS, Vol. 19, No. 4. © 2011 MSP Communications. The opinions of colum- nists are their own. Unsolicited manuscripts or artwork will not be returned unless accompanied by contained errors that bear correcting: a self-addressed, stamped envelope. Telephone 612-339-7571. Fax 612-339-5806. E-mail: edit@ tcbmag.com. TWIN CITIES BUSINESS (ISSN 1072-673X) is published monthly, except semi-monthly s 7INNING COMPANY *ONES -ETAL 0RODUCTS� #%/ AND PRESIDENT in December, by MSP Communications, 220 S. Sixth St., Suite 500, Minneapolis, MN 55402-4507. IS 0ETE *ONES� NOT 3TEVE *ONES� Subscriptions available for $24.95 per year; foreign subscriptions, $169.00 per year; back issues, $8.00. To subscribe or change address, visit tcbmag.com/subscriptions.aspx. For back issue requests, s 7E DESCRIBED lNALIST COMPANY 3PARBOE &ARMS PRESIDENT contact [email protected] or 612-339-7571. Periodicals postage paid at St. Paul, MN, and at additional mailing offices. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to TWIN CITIES BUSINESS, Subscrip- AND OWNER "ETH 3PARBOE 3CHNELL AS FOUNDER 2OBERT 3PARBOE�S tion Processing, P. O. Box 5846, Harlan, IA 51593. granddaughter. In fact, she is his daughter. 4 TWIN CITIES BUSINESS tcbmag.com DECEMBER 2011 pg 2-4.indd 2 11/10/11 1:34:11 PM ÇÆÉÄÆ ÈÆÃÈÁÅÃÆ ÇÁ Æ ÆÆ ÈÃÁÃÅà ÃÆ ÇÆÆ ÄÆÆ ���������������������������������!�������������������������������� �����������������������#����������������������!�����������������"� ������������������������������!����������!���������!����������� �����������������������������������������������������!������������� ����!���� ����������������!�������!�����������������!�������������� ������ÄÆÉÅÈ Ä ÁÂÅ ÄÃ È ÆÇÁÃÈÆ��������������� Ä"ÁÅ $ÁÈÁÄ"ÁÇ$ÁÁÆ !ÈÁ ÁÈÁ#!Á!ÁÉ ÁÁ!ÁÄ"ÁÅ ÁÈÁÄ"ÁÇÁà ÉÈ! pg 5.indd 1 11/8/11 3:14:44 PM Get more from Twin Cities Business at tcbmag.com. Twin Cities Business is a publication of MSP Communications 220 S. 6th St., Suite 500, Minneapolis, MN 55402-4507 612-339-7571, fax 612-336-9220 Editor In Chief Dale Kurschner Publisher Shelly Elmore [email protected] [email protected] 612- 336 -9299 612-336 -9212 Senior Editor Gene Rebeck [email protected] who to CONTACT 612- 336 -9298 “Spotlight,” “Starters,” features To subscribe Special-Sections Editor Mary Connor tcbmag.com/subscribe [email protected] [email protected], 612-339-7571 612- 336 -9293 Special focuses To change an address or renew tcbmag.com/myaccount Research Director Christa Meland [email protected], 612-339-7571 [email protected] 612-313-1783 For back issues or missing issues B.I.G. Book: Business Information Guide [email protected], 612-339-7571 Assistant Editor, Web Jake Anderson [email protected] For reprints, PDFs 612- 373 -9576 [email protected], 612-336-9288 tcbmag.com, Briefcase e-newsletter For permission to copy Research Assistant Nataleeya Boss [email protected], 612-336-9299 [email protected] 612-373-9544 To make event reservations [email protected], 612-336-9288 Design Director Chris Winn To advertise [email protected] See account executive listings or Art Director Scott Buchschacher contact [email protected], [email protected] 612- 336 -9288 To submit a press release Senior Acct. Executive Connie Van Housen Send to [email protected] [email protected] 612- 336 -9214 To pitch a story See editorial staff listings or contact Senior Acct. Executive Stephanie Coogan [email protected], 612-336-9299 [email protected] 612- 336 -9215 Marketing, Events Mgr. Kristie Altstatt [email protected] 612- 336 -9288 Contributing Writers Anna Befort, Ingrid Case, Tricia Marketing, Events Intern Dina Elrashidy Cornell, Suzy Frisch, Dan Haugen, Dan Heilman, Fran Howard, Steve Kaplan, Camille LeFevre, Melinda Nelson, John Palm, John Rash, Lee Schafer, Mark Sheffert, Tad Simons, { Jamie Swedberg, Megan Wiley } 6 TWIN CITIES BUSINESS tcbmag.com DECEMBER 2011 pg 6-7.indd 1 11/8/11 3:17:13 PM MSP COMMUNICATIONS Chairman FAST INTERNET MAKES OUR Dwight D. Opperman CEO & General Counsel Vance K. Opperman BUSINESS FASTER CFO Charles F. Thell COO Catch us if you can Nathaniel Opperman President Gary Johnson VP, Publishing Deborah Hopp VP, Production & Design Mary K. Authier VP, Editorial Jayne Haugen Olson VP, Digital Media Kevin Dunn Director, Finance & Admin. John Bienias Credit Manager Dave Gschlecht Office Manager Jessica Congdon Staff Accountant Anne McPhillips Corporate Circulation Director Bea Jaeger Director, Circulation Marketing Colleen Puent Circulation Fulfillment Manager Rebecca Bogema Circulation Coordinator Carin Russell Circulation Assistant Jessie Conley Web Developer Jay Nelson Web Developer/Database Mgr. David Waters Videographer/Asst. Tech. Prod. Kyong Ham E-Marketing Specialist Bryan Roberts Digital Imaging Technician Robb Mitchell Digital Prepress Group Steve Mathewson, Bill Sympson Network Administrator With Comcast Business Class, we get reliable Internet that’s up to 2 times faster than DSL Steve Swanson and a T1 line. We have phone service that’s the best in call clarity and our own dedicated local Asst. Network Administrator account team that provides support 24/7. Now we’re not a small business, we’re a fast business. Shawn Little Marketing Creative Manager 877-757-3019 | business.comcast.com Heather Longmore Advertising Production Mgr.