2009 Sloan Award Recognition Breakfast Photo Gallery

Congratulations to the 2009 Sloan Award winners and honorable mention! These organizations are nation-wide leaders in using workplace flexibility as a core business strategy to increase workplace effectiveness and yield positive business results. For more information about the Sloan Awards (photo gallery available below), click here.

Winners:

• Cardinal of Minnesota, Ltd.
• Custom Alarm/Custom Communications, Inc.
• First Alliance Credit Union
• Rochester Area Family YMCA
• Rochester Community & Technical College
• Senior Citizens Services, Inc.
• Southern Minnesota Municipal Power Agency
• United Way of Olmsted County
• Venture Computer Systems

Honorable Mention:

• Express Employment Professionals

Cruising with Local Leaders Photo Gallery & Recap

Thank you to everyone who made the trip up to Red Wing last week for the Chamber's annual Cruising with Local Leaders event. We couldn't have asked for better weather as more than 100 people joined Rochester business leaders and community members at Treasure Island Resort & Casino. The day was capped off with a cruise onboard The Spirit on the Water down the Mississippi River.

In addition to the photos below, courtesy of Mike Pruett at MLT Group, a pair of recap articles from the Post-Bulletin can be found below. Also, a huge thank you to our sponsors: Treasure Island Resort & Casino, HGA, Home Federal, Boldt Construction, Rochester City Lines and People's Cooperative Services.

• Cruising with Local Leaders - Smooth Sailing (Kiger's Blog/Post-Bulletin)
• Federal process threatens 65th Street N.W. interchage
  
  
  

STEM Summit Photos

On election day, the Chamber and Workforce 2020 held it's annual Greater Rochester STEM Summit at the RCTC Field House in Rochester. More than 700 kids were in attendance to enjoy exhibits related to STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) careers. More than 70 area businesses and educational institutions were on-hand to give the students a first-hand, interactive look at how STEM is an important field to study. A huge thank you to our sponsors as well - RCTC, WSU Rochester, Crenlo, McNeilus, La Quinta Inn & Suites, Southeast Service Cooperative and Workforce 2020.

Photo Gallery: 2008 Annual Member Celebration

Again, thank you to all who supported the Chamber's Annual Member Celebration last night - both attendees and our many gracious sponsors. We at the Chamber had a great time putting this event on for our members and hope everyone had a wonderful time as well. A huge thank you to Howard Lower of Lower Photography & Studio for volunteering his time to take photos at the event.

Business After Hours photo gallery - Oct. 2008 (hosted by Charter Business)

Thank you to everyone who made it out to the Ramada Hotel & Conference Center last night for the Chamber's Business After Hours networking event hosted this month by Charter Business. It was a great crowd and we couldn't put on events such as this without the support of our wonderful members and sponsors. Thank you again!

Ribbon Cuttings: Wal-Mart North, Interiors by Decorating Den, Custom Alarm and Nietz Electric

The past week or so has been another busy one at the Chamber, with several ribbon cuttings and events taking place. Recently, the Chamber Ambassadors held ribbon cuttings for the re-grand opening at Wal-Mart North, Interiors by Decorating Den, Custom Alarm's 40th anniversary and Nietz Electric's new building and 72nd anniversary!

Thank you all for your support and have a great weekend!

Annual Golf Outing Tournament Winners

Last week we posted photos from the Chamber's Annual Golf Outing presented by Associated Bank and Express Employment Professionals. Today, we are announcing the day's contest winners, which included a hole in one and a very entertaining hole sponsor!

A.M. Overall Winner: With a score of 49 - Ben Grant, Mickey Rowland, Jason Kranz, Dave Pederson and Charles Smith
P.M. Overall Winner: With a score of 49 - Will Lancaster, Dave Olson, Paul Peterman, Larry Ritten and Scott Thurnayu
Closest to Pin - Men: John Eischen
Closest to Pin - Women: Alex Dearborn (you had to be there!)
Longest Putt - Men: Don Williams
Longest Putt - Women: Teri Stoltenberg
Longest Drive - Men: Al Barker
Longest Drive - Women: Trina Thompson
Shoot Out Winner: With a HOLE IN ONE on #15 - Ken Kremers
Best Hole Sponsor: mark it! advertising (below are photos of the best hole sponsor - mark it! advertising). The title of their hole was "Winner, Winner Chicken Dinner." It featured a chicken theme with an obstacle course with four games: Dizzy Chicken, Wet "t" Shirt Contest, 2 Bit Chicken and Ballin' Cup. The winner of the obstacle course won a 400 yard tee off shot from our golf ball canon. They also handed out chicken necklaces and had six chicken labeled refreshments listed on their drink menu, but all the drinks were actually the same.

Business After Hours photos - Venture Computer Systems

More than 200 people were on hand last night to shake hands and network at the Chamber's monthly Business After Hours (BAH) event. This month's event was hosted by Venture Computer Systems. The Chamber thanks Jon Eckhoff and his team for a wonderful time. Thank you!

And don't forget to SAVE THE DATE for next month's BAH, which will be held Thursday, Sept. 18th at Custom Alarm/Custom Communications, Inc.

Annual Golf Outing Photos (The Chamber Games)

Thank you all who made the Rochester Area Chamber of Commerce's Annual Golf Outing presented by Associated Bank and Express Employment Professionals a tremendous success! We had more than 350 golfers enjoy the beautiful weather and take part in the event. Also, a huge thank you to all area businesses who sponsored the event. This couldn't have happened without your kind sponsorship and continuous support of the Chamber. Thanks and see you on the links next year!

And for those of you who are looking for yet another golf tournament this summer, check out the Hospitality 1st! Golf Classic which is coming up quickly - Aug. 27th to be exact!

2008 Sloan Award Winner Breakfast Photos & Recap

Yesterday at the Chamber's Sloan Award Winner Breakfast, 16 area employers were recognized for their exemplary workplace flexibility and effectiveness practices in front of more than 200 individuals at the Rochester International Event Center. These organizations have distinguished themselves as leading practitioners of workplace flexibility in Rochester and across the nation. Local winners and honorable mentions of the 2008 Alfred P. Sloan Awards for Business Excellence in Workplace Flexibility include:

- Cardinal of Minnesota, LTD.
- Custom Alarm/Custom Communications, Inc.
- First Alliance Credit Union
- IBM
- RSM McGladrey, Inc. and McGladrey & Pullen, LLP
- Southeast Service Cooperative
- Stanley Jones & Associates, Inc.
- Venture Computer Systems
- Winona State University – Rochester

Honorable Mentions: Dunlap & Seeger, P.A., Home Federal Bank, Kwik Trip, Rochester Community & Technical College, Rochester Golf & Country Club, United Way of Olmsted County and Wells Fargo Bank.

Click here for full story

Congressman Tim Walz Luncheon - Photos

More than 75 business men and women attended this afternoon's Congressman Tim Walz Luncheon at the Rochester Golf & Country Club. Below are some photos. More information about this luncheon, including media stories, to follow next week! Have a great weekend!

BAH EXTRA! Photos

Thank you for everyone who attended last night's Business After Hours EXTRA! at the Ramada Hotel & Conference Center last night. The event went on without a hitch and was a tremendous success. All 52 booth spaces were filled with Chamber member businesses and we had approximately 500 total in attendance throughout the evening. For your enjoyment, we have made a short slideshow highlighting some of the booths at the EXTRA!

Business After Hours EXTRA!

Business After Hours EXTRA! is right around the corner, so make sure to reserve your booth today! The EXTRA! offers businesses the opportunity to showcase their company in a relaxed atmosphere, allowing for not only great networking opportunities, but promotional opportunities as well!

As you can tell by the photos below taken at last year's EXTRA!, the crew has a good time and the event is a step up from our traditional Business After Hours. For more information about booth investment or to reserve your booth today, click here.

Regardless if you have a booth or not, mark your calendars! This year's EXTRA! is Thursday, March 6, 2008; 4-7 p.m. at the Ramada Hotel & Conference Center. We hope to see you there!

Here are some BAH EXTRA! photos from last year:

This Morning's Legislative Session Preview Breakfast - Photos & More!

What a great turnout at this morning's 2008 Legislative Session Preview Breakfast held at the Radisson. More than 150 area business men and women discussed this year's business agenda with area elected officials and House and Senate Legislative Leadership. Attendees included House Majority Leader Tony Sertich, House Minority Leader Representative Marty Seifert, Senate Minority Leader Senator Dave Senjem, Senator Ann Lynch, Representative Randy Demmer, Representative Kim Norton, Majority Leader Tina Liebling and Representative Andy Welti.


Floating around in the audience was past Chamber Board Chair Jon Eckhoff, current Chamber Board Chair Audrey Groteboer, State Senator Dick Day, School District Superintendent Dr. Romain Dallemand, Olmsted County Sheriff Steve Borchardt, Mayor Ardell Brede, City Council President Denny Hanson, and many more! The list could go on and on! KTTC was also there and we hope to get a link up on the blog as soon as the story goes live. Also look for an article in the Post-Bulletin today or tomorrow!

Power Network Lunch + Photo Gallery

Good morning! Here at the Chamber we are going to try a little bit harder to take our digital camera to some more of our events and then post them on the blog. Although busy networking at yesterday's Power Network session, we did manage to snap a 1/2 dozen photos. This is sort of a test entry to see how the gallery works, and it seems to be looking like it's working fine.

Anyways, yesterday's Power Network session was great. More than 80 members attended the luncheon which was held at the Rochester Golf & Country Club. General Manager Eric Dietz and his staff did a wonderful job hosting this event - especially being it was their first time. Again, thank you too all of our sponsors and members who made this event possible - and a special thank you to Chamber Office Manager Becky Gehling for all of her hard work putting this event on. Note: next Power Network will be Wednesday, March 19 - same place and same time (Rochester Golf & Country Club; 11:30-1:30). Be sure to register at www.rochestermnchamber.com.