april 2015 - mason city chamber of commerce · 2014-04-09 · april 2015 the mission of the mason...

April 2015The mission of the Mason City Area Chamber of Commerce is to promote progressive

community and economic development to benefit Chamber members and the North Iowa region.

Phone 641.423.5724 www.masoncityia.com [email protected] Fax 641.423.5725

Vision. Leadership. Advocacy.

Time: 7-9AM

Date: Tuesday, April 21

Location: Holiday Inn Express

3041 4th St SW Mason City, IA 50401

Sponsored By:

Chamber Golf Outing - Save the Date- June 22

Getting to “Very Satisfied”Recently, management consultants Cindy Lewis and Marian Brzykcy conducted a three-month study of more than 500 companies and came to the sad conclusion that SERVICE IS LACKING IN MOST BUSINESSES.

Only 3% of the businesses they visited left them “very satisfied.” For the most part, the remaining 97% missed the mark on the BASICS:

On Wednesday, April 8, the Mason City Chamber of Commerce and Bill Drury Workshops are presenting:

A Passion for Service®This nationally-acclaimed workshop will help you take your business to the next level of service excellence. It will refresh, remind, and renew a solid understanding of the BASICS of dazzling customers. DON’T MISS IT!

SEATING IS LIMITED AND TIME IS RUNNING OUT – PLEASE REGISTER TODAY!

Your investment is only: One attendee Five or more Chamber Member Registration (after April 1) $99.00 each $89.00 eachNon-Member Registration $199.00 each

Register by calling 641-423-5724 or emailing Tanner at [email protected]

North Iowa Green Expo

Time: 4-7PM

Date: Thursday, April 16

Location: Surf Ballroom

460 N Shore Drive Clear Lake, IA 50428

Find out the latest of what is in our own “backyard” for healthier food, homes and lifestyles for our families!

The Chamber Golf Outing will be Monday, June 22nd, so it’s time to clean up those clubs and start putting together a team! Please be sure to complete the enclosed registration to reserve a spot for the morning or afternoon tournament. Registrations will be taken on a first-come basis and will include green fees, a meal, and two carts per team of four. If you are interested in sponsoring a hole or donating a door prize for this event, please indicate your choice on the registration form or contact Tanner for more information. This event fills up quickly, so don’t wait to register!

• Closest to the pin sponsor ($600 sole sponsor or two $300 sponsors)• Hole sponsor: $300 (all day)• Marketing sponsor: $100

Bill Drury

“A Passion for Service” | Presented by Bill Drury8:30AM-12PM | Wednesday, April 8, 2015

Event Room – Commerce Center | 9 N Federal, Mason City

• Lack of courtesy• Skimpy product knowledge• Not listening

• No respect• Negative attitudes

Thank you to our sponsors:

The Next Big ThingBy Bob Klocke, Chairman of the Board

Community development doesn’t just happen. It is the charge of business and community leaders to continuously look for opportunities and potential threats to economic growth. The most significant challenges to Mason City and the North Iowa region stem from our shrinking population. Skilled workforce shortages and the realities of our demographic trends affect existing business, schools, communities, and prospects for new employers moving to our area. Quality of life is the key factor to retaining our youth and attracting new employers.

Last summer, the Mason City Chamber of Commerce board brainstormed these questions:

• How do we make sure North Iowa is the kind of place people want to live? • What do we need to do to make the Money magazine list of “America’s Best Places to Live”?• Downtown Mason City is transformed…but is it finished? How can we make Downtown more

“party-ready” to better accommodate entertainment and festivals?• The Performing Arts Pavilion Committee (which operates under the umbrella of the NI Band

Festival Foundation) has raised funds to build a venue for the municipal band. They are interested in a downtown site…thoughts??

• Southbridge Mall has been limping along in receivership. If JC Penney closed nationally (as rumored), could our mall survive? How can this community asset be re-purposed?

• The North Iowa Arena is in dire need of replacing its sheet of ice. Dr. Jay Lala, a downtown business owner and developer, has proposed a plan to build an ice arena/event center in the JC Penney footprint. How do we help to move this idea forward?

Although this was an exercise in “What if…” it generated some great ideas and enthusiasm. As plans for a new downtown hotel progressed, it became apparent it was time for Mason City to get in line with a serious proposal for the Iowa Reinvestment Act. This legislation is the product of an Iowa Chamber Alliance proposal to enable communities to move ahead with ambitious projects that generate new sales and lodging taxes. Des Moines, Waterloo, and Muscatine were successful applicants last year.

When the JC Penney store announced it would be closing, it was extremely beneficial to have a plan of action already in place. Kudos to the city council and staff, mall ownership, Dr. Lala, the Performing Arts Pavilion Committee, the county supervisors, Chamber staff, and the Mason City Youth Hockey Association for translating these plans into a solid application.

Clearly, the hard work is still ahead. As with the Vision Iowa Project, this proposal will no doubt confront challenges and obstacles that must be overcome by working together. Mason City has emerged as one of Iowa’s “can do” communities. The proposed hotel, new retail space, parking ramp, and re-purposed space within Southbridge Mall will generate sales tax, lodging tax, and increase property values. In addition, this proposal will fill clearly articulated community needs:

• additional downtown hotel rooms• additional parking• performance venue for the municipal band• permanent “rain site” for downtown entertainment• redesign of the mall’s Plaza entrance more in keeping with our brand as an architectural

destination• new arena to accommodate ice sports for a longer season that will also convert to a venue for

sports tournaments, trade shows, concerts, etc.

Early on in the Vision Iowa project, I participated in a number of meetings with bankers regarding financing for the Historic Park Inn. When I was asked to weigh in about moving forward, I borrowed a quote from my favorite movie, The Shawshank Redemption, that applies to this proposal. When Andy Dufresne (Tim Robbins) answered a question from Red (Morgan Freeman): “Life, I guess, comes down to a simple choice, really. Get busy living or get busy dying”. As a community, Mason City “Got Busy Living” over the past few years, and we are beginning to reap those benefits. Now is the time to stay the course and “Keep Busy Living.”


New MembersEdward JonesMarty Walsh, Financial Advisor956 E State StMason City, IA 50401641-424-6811marty.walsh@edwardjones.comwww.edwardjones.comInvestment firm that can develop a strategy to help you achieve your long-term financial goals. You can expect personalized service and long-term strategies in planning for retirement, saving for college, reducing your tax bills and helping to ensure that you have income to cover your expenses.

Hart Brothers South, LLCKemlin Hart153 19th St SWMason City, IA [email protected] Brothers Weaponry has the largest selection of firearms in the area, as well as a full line of accessories to include holsters, reloading supplies, ammunition, rifle cases, flashlights, optic and more!

Butcher’s SteakhouseLaurie Buchanan1451 N FederalMason City, IA [email protected] on Mason City’s north side, this popular local steakhouse serves up tantalizing steaks, tenderloins, ribs and great burgers. Catering is available for all size groups with a varied menu.

Pancheros Mexican GrillJay Jay Goodwin2261 4th St SWMason City, IA [email protected] restaurant, home of the Better Built Burrito, always serves up tasty food made fresh with the finest ingredients on the finest tortilla made and pressed fresh on the spot.

From Our Board Chairman

Bob KlockeBoard Chairman

DC Trip UpdateBoard Chairman Bob Klocke and Vice President-Government Affairs Steve Noto led a delegation from North Iowa to our nation’s capital. Our group of business leaders and local government officials met with Senator Grassley, Senator Ernst, and Congressman King to discuss issues of importance to our local economy. In addition, we met with staff members at the FAA and congressional staffers about specific funding needs. We also had the opportunity to meet with USDA officials to find out more about new programs that could benefit our region.

We attended a Bloomberg Business Conference on the Export-Import Bank to learn the importance of its reauthorization prior to June 30 to protect opportunities in international trade. We also had the opportunity to attend an Issues Briefing at the US Chamber of Commerce.

Finally, we received warm receptions at individual meetings with Senator Rand Paul and Senator Lindsey Graham. They were eager to discuss their ideas on renewable fuels and energy independence with us.

Your chamber has organized these annual visits since 2003 and each year I am amazed at the results. Sitting down one-on-one with our senators and congressmen makes a significant impact. They truly want to hear from us. The relationships we have built with staff members and agency representatives help us to navigate federal programs, and have resulted in federal funds to assist with local projects.

Our goal is to represent the interests of our members, because our local economy depends upon you!


College Connections

Be Our Guestune in Friday mornings to the Chamber “Be Our Guest” program at 8:40AM on KRIB 1490 AM. Digity

Communications provides this benefit to Chamber members free of charge. If you would like to schedule a guest spot on the show, please contact the Chamber. Listen in for April’s guests!

April 3 Boy Scouts of America Keely Kangas

April 10 Friends of the 457 Dennis Wilson

April 17 Goodwill of the Great Plains Natasha Oelkers

April 24 North Iowa Events Center Julie Lonning

T

Does Your Business Employ a College Intern?

Chamber members are encouraged to involve summer interns and new hires in a FREE program designed to connect young workers to our community and to each other. College Connections will be facilitated by Marketing & Leadership Development Director, Allyson Krull.

College Connections will provide a series of social and educational activities on a once-a-week schedule throughout the summer. Chamber staff and volunteers will recruit Chamber members to serve as “Lunch & Learn” speakers, as well as seek contributions of refreshments, entry fees/tickets, etc. for program participants.

Please contact Allyson Krull for more information at [email protected].

From the President

Robin AndersonPresident & CEO

Chad Schreck, Tim Coffey, Robin Anderson, Steve Noto and Bob Klocke with Senator Joni Ernst.

Ribbon Cuttings

NEW MEMBERPastime Gardens404 S Madison

NEW LOCATION & RENOVATIONYoung Construction of North Iowa 1539 N Federal Ave

CUBA - November 10-16, 2015The Discover Cuba program features Old Havana, the Cathedral de la Havana, Pinar Del Rio/Vinales, the Franciso Donatien Cigar Factory, Hemingway’s Farm, Vinales Valley, Tobacco Farm/Family Farmhouse visit, and much more!

$3,599 per person (double occupancy)• Round Trip Airfare from Miami (MIA) & First Class Accommodations• 13 Meals - (5B, 5L, 3D) and daily bottled water

PERU - March 30-April 7, 2016Visit Lima, the capital city of Peru. Tour Cuzco, the sacred city of the Incas, and see some of the facsinating ruins, including the legendary Sacsayhuaman Fortress. Ride the Vistadome train to the incredible Inca site of Machu Picchu. You can also take an optional tour to the Pisac Market and the Ollantaytambo Ruins.

$2,990 per person (double occupancy)• Round Trip Airfare from Minneapolis (MSP) & First Class Accommodations• Daily breakfast and 3 dinners

Please contact Allyson or Robin at the Chamber (641.423.5724) if you’re interested in our Global Familiarization Tours.


Membership Renewals

Congratulations to the following members who are celebrating their membership anniversaries in April. They display a continued commitment to our community through their investment in the Mason City Chamber of Commerce.

Fifty Plus Years Fred T. Fenchel Entertainment Agency (55)Blazek Electric Inc. (50)

Forty Plus YearsCasey’s General Store (41)

Twenty Plus YearsCommunity Motors of Mason City (29)CL TEL (28)Fullerton Funeral Home (28)North Iowa Community Credit Union (28)Heritage Care & Rehabilitation Center (24)Theiss Shirts, Inc. (24)Heartland Asphalt (23)Brick Furniture (22)Moorman Clothiers (22)Child & Adult Care Food Program (20)D & D Printing & Custom Signs (20)Mason City All-Risk Insurance (20)

Fifteen Plus YearsGreen Canopy, Inc. (19)Slumberland Furniture (19)Basic Birder (18)Es-Marc Investments (17)Point Builders North, Inc. (16)

Ten Plus YearsWorld Wide College of Auctioneering (13)Comprehensive Systems (12)Main Street Mason City (12)Pritchard Family Auto Store (10)

Five Plus YearsPoland Photography (9)Audibel Hearing Center of North Iowa (7)Kellar Construction (5)Absolute Waste (5)Thirty One - Kaci Harper (5)Little Caesar’s (5)

One Year PlusBisbee Income Tax & Accounting (4)Turning Leaf Counseling (4)True Travels, LLC (3)Masterson Staffing Solutions (3)Sweet Tooth (2)Manufacturers Bank & Trust (1)Hoover’s Hatchery (1)Angela Archer Photography (1)Ag Ventures Alliance Cooperative (1)

Travel with the Chamber!

China Trip - March 2015

The Chamber recently led a group of 12 travelers to China to learn about its history and customs. Tour highlights included The Great Wall and the Terra Cotta Warriors.

The group is pictured in the Forbidden City in Bejing.

If you are interested in a future trip to China, please contact Allyson Krull.

33rd Annual Ag BreakfastThank you to the 2015 Ag Breakfast Sponsors:

Kruger Seed, ITC Midwest, Pritchard’s Family Auto, and Holiday Inn Express!

Agribusiness Committee members cook omelets

for the attendees.

The Chamber Ag Breakfast had another great turnout this year!

Grand Marshal Award – Tim Fleming

The Grand Marshal Award recognizes a person of local or national prominence who have made a significant contribution to the development, history, or success of the festival. The North Iowa Band Festival Committee is pleased to announce local radio celebrity Tim Fleming as the 2015 award recipient.

Tim is North Iowa’s official cheerleader. Many people in the region wake up to Tim’s optimistic voice each morning on KGLO radio, and enjoy his play-by-play coverage of sporting events in the evening.

The Flemings have attended the festival each year since moving to Mason City in 1977, and Tim has handled a myriad of festival duties. From broadcasting the parade, technical set-up for the radio broadcast, decorating floats, participating in the parade, to serving as emcee for the awards program and the concerts, Tim Fleming has played a role in the festival’s success. Tim has even taken a turn as the featured speaker at the luncheon for former Band Festival Queens at The Music Man Square.

A veteran and respected journalist, Tim has a long and distinguished career as a broadcaster. He has won numerous awards from the Iowa Broadcast News Association, Associated Press, and United Press International for news and sports reporting and play-by-play announcing. Most notably, Tim received the IBNA Jack Shelley Award in 2013, and was a Marconi Award Finalist in 2012 for Small Market Personality of the Year.

Tim and his wife, Sue, are parents to three adult children, and grandparents to two. Daughter Amy Fleming Elwood has served on the Band Festival Committee for several years, and is the current committee chairperson.

According to Tim, “Band Festival is a time-honored tradition for the Fleming family. We all love music, and it is fun to see the talented young people featured in the annual parade. I consider it a fantastic honor to be the Grand Marshal for the North Iowa Band Festival.”

Congratulations to Timothy Fleming on this well-deserved recognition.

Klempnauer Award – Karl Nedved

The Klempnauer Award was named for Dan Klempnauer, a long-time volunteer and festival supporter, and is intended to honor an unsung hero who volunteers for the festival. Thank you to Karl Nedved for his years of service. Karl has organized both the Marine Corps League and the local Boy Scouts over the years to take care of all park clean-up. From walking the grounds to changing trash bags, Karl makes sure the parks look great. For the shifts he doesn’t have volunteers, he does the work himself (and often recruits his wife to help).

Karl Nedved has been involved in the North Iowa Band Festival since junior high school. In high school, he played the saxophone in the marching band. As an adult, Karl has served on the Band Festival Committee for years and years.

According to Karl, he stays involved with the festival because of the people. “I love the energy it brings to town, and to be involved in any capacity—as a performer, volunteer, or spectator—makes it even more special. I enjoy working with everyone who works tirelessly behind the scenes to pull this all together.”

Karl loves to see people marking spots along the parade route the night before, and kids jockeying for the best location to snag some candy. “I enjoy seeing the band members put on their game face as they start the parade, and the looks on their faces when they are dismissed at the end of the route—it is truly a ‘Norman Rockwell’ moment.”

Karl and his wife, Kandice, have four adult children and six grandchildren—all of whom live in Iowa.

Blue Zones Project ®

Each month, we showcase the best practices of a Blue Zones Worksite®

The City of Mason City developed a Wellness Committee, consisting of 13 employees from various departments.

In the fall of 2014, a Scrabble Game was played to encourage biometric testing and increase awareness of risk factors. As part of a nutritional series, they offer cooking classes showcasing healthy alternatives to traditional meals. In February, the City kicked off an 8-week fitness challenge with more than 25% employee participation!

• Scrabble Game to Increase Health Awareness

• Nutritional Series• Fitbit Activity Trackers• Employee Fitness Challenge

“We have integrated several healthful activities and educational opportunities to improve the lives of our most valuable asset, our employees!”

Cheri Collins, Wellness Committee Chair


2015 North Iowa Band Festival Honorees

Tim Fleming

Karl Nedved

Chamber Leadership

Executive CommitteeBob Klocke, Chairman of the Board First Citizens National BankKim Pang, Past Chair Diamond Jo Casino Steve Noto, Chair-Elect & Government Affairs Division Vice President Stoney Creek Hospitality Corporation Todd Kirkpatrick, Treasurer Clear Lake Bank & TrustJulie Valencia, Business Division Vice President Kaplan UniversityTraci Rohrer, Community & Membership Division Vice President Wells Fargo BankHolly Eichmann, Workforce & Leadership Division Vice President Express Employment Professionals

Board of DirectorsSherry Becker, NIVC ServicesDave Bergan, Armour-Eckrich MeatsJosh Brueggeman, Accord ArchitectureKelly Hansen, POET Biorefining - HanlontownJerry Knoll, Hawkeye Auto BodyEric Levenhagen, ProWise Tax & AccountingTara McLaughlin, Country Inn & Suites- Worth CountyGarett McKiness, McKiness Excavating, Inc.Dr. Paul Manternach, Mercy Medical Center —North IowaKirk Paulson, NSB BankBill Schickel, Inspiration 97.9! KCMRChad Wickman, Northern Cedar ServiceMike Winblade, Hy-Vee WestJoel Yunek, Yunek Law Firm PLC

StaffRobin Anderson, CCE, IOM President & Chief Executive Officer [email protected] Krull Marketing & Leadership Development Director [email protected] O’Brien Program Director [email protected] Lindgren Membership Development Director [email protected] Lindgren Membership Services Director [email protected] Baker Service & Operations Director [email protected]

This is a Mason City Chamber of Commerce Publication. Mason City, Iowa 50401 641.423.5724

Publications are monthly for $20 per year by the Mason City Chamber of Commerce, 9 North Federal Avenue, Mason City, IA 50401-3250. Second Class postage paid at Mason City, IA. Post-master: send address changes to The Chamber, 9 North Federal Avenue, Mason City, IA 50401-3250.

Phone 641.423.5724 www.masoncityia.com [email protected]

Periodical Postage Paid at Mason City, Iowa(USPS 060-350)

May 7 Business After Hours Mason City Country Club

Upcoming Events MARK YOUR CALENDAR

Business Resource Committee | 7:30-8:30AM Farrer Room | NIRCC | 9 N Federal

Wednesday April 1

TuesdayApril 21

North Iowa Green Expo | 4-7PMSurf Ballroom | 460 N Shore Dr | Clear Lake

Thursday April 16

Band Festival Committee | 12:15-1PMBand Festival Room | NIRCC | 9 N Federal

Ambassador Meeting | 12-1PMEvent Room | NIRCC | 9 N Federal

Tuesday April 7

May 21-25 77th North Iowa Band Festival Downtown, Mason City

Friday April 10

Tuesday April 14

Events Committee Meeting | 12-1PMFarrer Room | NIRCC | 9 N Federal

Blue Zones Project - Wellness Lunch & Learn | 7-9 AMEvent Room | NIRCC | 9 N Federal

Blue Zones Project Worksite Committee | 12-1PM Board Room | NIRCC | 9 N Federal

Bill Drury’s - A Passion for Service | 8:30AM-12PMEvent Room | NIRCC | 9 N Federal

Wednesday April 8

Ag Business Committee | 7:30-8:30AMWine Room | Hy-Vee West | 2400 4th St SW

Thursday April 9

Business Before Hours | 7-9AM Holiday Inn Express | 3041 4th St SW

Ground Breaking | 2-2:30PM Hampton Inn | 2101 4th St SW (Former Clarion Inn location)

Ribbon Cutting | 1:15-1:30PM Butcher’s Steakhouse | 1451 N Federal Ave

april 2015 - mason city chamber of commerce · 2014-04-09 · april 2015 the mission of the mason...

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