November 2015 - Mason City Chamber of Commerce

November 2015
Vision. Leadership. Advocacy.
The 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.
Get Your Tickets for Farm-City Week
The 2015 Farm-City Week Event featuring keynote
speaker Aaron Thomas promises to be an educational and
inspiring night. Farm-City Week is a nationally observed
time set aside to celebrate the important connections
between rural industries and urban lives.
Time:
4:30-6:30PM
Date:
Thursday, November 12
Location: Buena Vista University
Graduate & Professional
Studies
500 College Drive
Mason City
Sponsored
By:
FARM-CITY WEEK EVENT
Time: 6-8PM
6PM Ag Expo
7PM Aaron Thomas
Attendees will learn more about agriculture-related
projects and businesses in North Iowa at our Ag Expo,
which runs from 6-7PM. Ag Processing, Inc, Ag Ventures
Alliance, Bauer Built Tires, the Cerro Gordo County Farm
Bureau, Digity, Fertile Valley Gardens, NIACC, Opportunity
Village, REG Mason City, LLC, and Stellar Truck & Trailer are
included in the showcase.
Motivational speaker and educator Aaron Thomas will
speak at 7PM. Aaron has a passion for impacting lives
through teaching, coaching, and public speaking. His
father, Coach Ed Thomas, was a beloved high school
football coach who was fatally shot by a former player
who suffered from mental health issues. Following his
father’s passing, Aaron returned home to resume his dad’s
responsibilities as athletic director and legacy as a school
leader and positive example in the community. Those who
have heard Aaron speak highly recommend him.
Date: Wednesday, Nov. 18
Location: NIACC Auditorium
Tickets: $20 Chamber members
$30 non-members
$10 students
Thank You to Our Gold Sponsors!
To purchase tickets, contact Colleen Frein at the Chamber
by calling 641.423.5724. Tickets are also available online at
www.masoncityia.com.
Last Call for Peru Trip
Remember to VOTE!
Join us on an 8-day Global Familiarization Tour to Peru, March 30-April 6, 2016! Visit Lima, the
capital city of Peru. Tour Cuzco, the sacred city of the Incas, and see some of the fascinating ruins,
including the legendary Sacsayhuaman Fortress. Choose among several optional tours including
visiting the Pisac Market and the Ollantaytambo Ruins. To finish off the trip, ride the Vistadome train
to the incredible Inca site of Machu Picchu.
PERU Express
•
•
•
•
•
Election Day is November 3rd!
8 Days leaving March 30, 2016 | $2,990 Double Occupancy
Includes round- trip airfare from Minneapolis (MSP)
Includes transfers and hotel accommodations
Meals: 7 Breakfasts, 3 Dinners
Optional 2-night extension to Puno/Lake Titicaca
($750 double occupancy)
Space is limited - register today! Final registration deadline is November 30, 2015.
Phone [email protected] 641.423.5725
New Members
NORSEMEN TRUCKING, INC
David Steffens - President
106 East Main St.
Lake Mills, IA 50450
641-592-5060
www.norsemen.com
The trucking division of Norsemen
hires Company Drivers and handles
dry van freight.
NORSEMEN TRANSPORTATION
The Transportation Division works
with Owner Operators and specializes
in Flatbed freight.
T
Welcome New Board Members
he Chamber of Commerce is governed by a board of directors, charged with setting
the direction for the organization, oversight of operations, and establishing the annual
program of work. The following members began their board terms on October 1, 2015:
Dr. Kyle Burgmeier
Burgmeier Dentistry
Ina Cavin
Hy-Vee West
David Mayberry
Globe Gazette
Jamie Nelson
98.7 Kiss Country / 103.7 The
Fox / KIOW 107.3 / KCHA 95.9
NORSEMEN OUTDOORS INC.
David Steffens – President
24592 State Hwy 105
Lake Mills, IA 50450
641-592-6160
www.norsemenoutdoors.com
Norsemen Outdoors is dedicated to
providing the highest quality, most
innovative products to the fishing
industry.
MAIN EVENT
Tim Latham
112 2nd St SE
Mason City, IA 50401
641-425-0363
Event center located across from the
Decker House. Capacity of 135 with
stage and galley kitchen for food
plating. Great facility for any special
event.
CASTLE FINANCIAL
Mike Castle
1825 4th St SW
Mason City, IA 50401
641-512-4158
[email protected]
www.castle.financial
Castle Financial provides
comprehensive financial planning
and wealth management.
Jeff Nichols
Opportunity Village
Dr. Steve Schulz
NIACC
Crystal Shellhart
Holiday Inn Express &
Suites - Mason City
Meet Our Intern
The Chamber is excited to welcome back David Johnson as our Digital
Content Intern. David returned home to Bloomington, MN for the
summer, and is back in Mason City for a second season with the North
Iowa Bulls hockey team, where he plays as one of the team’s goaltenders.
At the Chamber, David manages our social media content and website
analytics, schedules email blasts, and assists with a number of other
Chamber programs such as YIELD, Leadership North Iowa and
Operation Thank You.
During the hockey season, David lives in Mason City with his billet family, the Diazs. When home
in Bloomington, he lives with his parents Steve, Stephanie, and his younger brother Christian.
YIELD Students Meet with Congressman
BROADVIEW RESOURCES
Tara Anderson – President
1305 19th St SW
Mason City, IA 50401
631-423-0391
[email protected]
www.broadviewresources.com
Broadview Resources is a short term/
long-term warehousing option with
multi-industry experience in logistics,
storage, and packaging solutions.
Students from the 20152016 YIELD (Youth Investing
Energy in Leadership
Development) class met
United States Congressman
Steve King and learned
about leadership as an
elected official.
Phone [email protected] 641.423.5725
Leadership North Iowa Registration
T
he Leadership North Iowa (LNI) program is beginning its 33rd year and is designed
to identify and develop future leaders in our community. Good leaders know the
importance of lifelong learning and networking - LNI provides both by connecting
you with emerging and established leaders. Participants will learn leadership skills and
complete a service project for community betterment. Employers will receive employees who
are more engaged in their community, have a greater appreciation of North Iowa, and are more
committed to staying in North Iowa. The program also benefits those residents who are new to
the area.
TUITION
Tuition for LNI is $375 for Chamber members or $500 for non-members, and includes a one-year
membership to the Mason City Jaycees, instruction fees, study materials, refreshment breaks, and
graduation. Tuition may be paid by the employer, sponsoring organizations, or by the participant.
TIME COMMITMENT
Each participant is expected to attend class sessions held every Tuesday from January 5 - March
22, with a graduation ceremony on March 29. Class times vary; most sessions will be 2-3 hours
during the workday.
REGISTRATION
Due to limited enrollment, applicants are encouraged to register soon to ensure acceptance into
the program. Registrations can be completed online at masoncityia.com or contact Allyson Krull
at the chamber at [email protected] or 641.423.5724.
SPONSORS
A special thank you to our
Leadership North Iowa
Sponsors:
New Members
(cont.)
GARY & SHARON LINDGREN
Community Supporters
22 Asbury Place
Mason City, IA 50401
641-424-5799
[email protected]
NEXT LEVEL EXTREME FITNESS
Nikki Carney
935 15th St. SW
Mason City, IA 50401
602-541-9222
[email protected]
www.nlxfmc.com
Next Level Extreme Fitness is a 10week program incorporating cardio
kickboxing and boot camp style
classes.
Membership
Renewals
Congratulations to the following
members who are celebrating
membership anniversaries in October
and November.
One Hundred Plus Years
United Sugars Corporation (107)
Eighty Plus Years
Globe Gazette (81)
Chamber Bucks Reminders
The Chamber Bucks program is designed to support our local economy and members.
Individuals and organizations may purchase Chamber Bucks to be spent only at member
businesses (check our Chamber directory online for the most updated listing of members).
Chamber Bucks are perfect for employee incentives, gifts for friends, corporate Christmas
gifts, and birthday gifts.
Buying Chamber Bucks: Purchase from one of these local banks: Bank of America, Clear
Lake Bank & Trust, First Citizens National Bank, or NSB Bank. Minimum Denomination=$5,
Maximum=$100.
Redeeming Chamber Bucks: When a customer presents a Chamber Bucks certificate for
payment, simply redeem it for face value as you would a check. You may issue change to the
customer since you will receive the full check amount.
What better way to stimulate our local economy than keeping the money where it belongs—in
the community in which we live!
Please see the enclosed insert for more details on the Chamber Bucks program.
Seventy Plus Years
Northwestern Mutual Financial Network
(75)
Fifty Plus Years
Blackmore Nursery, Inc. (58)
Metalcraft, Inc. (57)
Hogan-Bremer-Moore Colonial Chapel
(55)
Holtz Realty (55)
Forty Plus Years
Hy-Vee Drugstore (46)
Good Shepherd Health Center (45)
Budweiser of Mason City (45)
Iowa Heartland Credit Union (43)
Farm Credit Services of America (41)
Thirty Plus Years
Croell Redi-Mix, Inc. (36)
Dental Health of North Iowa (35)
KCMR-FM Inspiration 97.9FM (35)
North Iowa Events Center (35)
Hawkeye Auto Body (33)
Phone [email protected] 641.423.5725
Visit Mason City announces 2015-16 Board
New officers have been elected to the Visit Mason City board of directors. They include:
 Board President – T.J. Just, Southbridge Mall
 Vice President – Crystal Shellhart, Holiday Inn Express
 Secretary – Janet Solberg, City Liaison
 Treasurer – Heidi Kuhl
New board members include David Vikturek, Mason City Foundation; Mellisa Leach,
Historic Park Inn; and Laurie Buchanan, Butcher’s Steakhouse.
Continuing on the board are Jon Danielson, LifeServe Blood Center; Brittney Jost, NIACC;
Brett Schoneman, Schoneman Realtors; Olivia Stalker, Globe Gazette; and Marty Walsh,
Edward Jones.
Visit Mason City’s mission is to enhance the economy of Mason City and the North Iowa
area through the promotion of the area as a destination for overnight visitors.
Grant funds available
for tourism marketing
Visit Mason City (VMC) sets aside funds each year
for the support of events, attractions and other
initiatives that exhibit positive tourism potential.
These funds are allocated to marketing projects that
directly increase visitor spending in the community
and help build a positive image of the North Iowa
area. The target market of projects funded by this
grant program must be visitors from outside a
90-mile radius of the community with a cash match required by the applicant.
The Round 2 application deadline for marketing projects completed Feb. 1, 2015 – Oct. 1, 2015
is 4 pm on Feb. 2, 2016.
Visit Mason City is delighted to offer this grant program, using funds directly from the VMC budget
received from city lodging tax revenues. Applications are available on Visit Mason City’s web page
located at http://www.visitmasoncityiowa.com/index.php/tourism-marketing-grant.
If applicants would like assistance in completing an application, appointments can be made with Visit
Mason City staff. Appointments will be scheduled during Visit Mason City office hours, Monday through
Friday 8 am to 4:30 pm. Appointments must occur three business days before the application deadline.
Priority is given to projects that focus on attracting visitors to the City versus projects that focus on
visitors once they have already arrived. Other evaluation criteria includes the number of visitors
attracted, number of lodging rooms generated, distribution plan, projects held
during the "off season" and during the weekday.
Submit Your Event Information
Visit Mason City is in the process of updating our Calendar of Events, located
at www.VisitMasonCityIowa.com.
Nearly 3,500 travelers access the Visit Mason City website each month… The Calendar of
Events is the most viewed page on the site!
All tourism-focused events in Cerro Gordo County that are open to the general public will be
considered for placement on the web site but priority will be given to those in Mason City. The
event should be unique to the community and of interest to travelers outside the community.
To have your event considered for listing on the web, please complete the online submission form
available at:
http://www.visitmasoncityiowa.com/index.php/events-calendar/submit-a-visit-mason-city-event
641.422-1663 / 800.423.5724
www.VisitMasonCityIowa.com
[email protected]
www.VisitMasonCityIowa.com
[email protected]
Main Street Minute
noveMber 2015
Meet Your Neighbor - Jitters Coffee
The CulTure & CharaCTer
Of Our COmmuniTy
IS OUR DOWNTOWN!
Our mission is to
enhance, promote
and preserve
downtown Mason
City as a diverse
business, cultural
and residential
destination, for
the benefit of the
entire community.
Meet Jitters Coffee Bar,
in their NEW LOCATION
at 124 4th St SW.
uPCOminG eVenTS:
Nov. 28
hOme fOr
The hOlidayS
feb. 27, 2016
WinTer fundraiSer
President
T.J. Just
Directors
Jitters Coffee has been a long
standing business in the Mason
City community for over 15 years.
Now in their new location for the past 10 months, the coffee bar has
more space and a very welcoming atmosphere. Jitters offers daily
drink and food specials featuring some breakfast and lunch items.
Jitters is owned and managed by Scott and Candy Elsbury. Scott and
Candy typically are working the coffee bar every morning during
the week. They enjoy being a part of Downtown and love seeing the
restorations of Mason City’s historic old buildings.
Southbridge Mall
[email protected]
Steven Van Steenhyuse
Vice President
Cally Peterson
Joy Haave
Fun Fact - Jitters specializes in offering healthy food options and
Candy eats a vegan diet!
Moorman Clothiers
[email protected]
Eric Levenhagen
Be sure you stop by this month, say hello, and grab some delicious
food and a cup of coffee!
Treasurer
Chris Droscha
Hal Berding
Clear Lake Bank & Trust
[email protected]
Secretary
Mindy Klapperich
First Citizens National Bank
[email protected]
Partner Liaison - City of Mason City
Kush Spa & Salon
ProWise Tax & Accounting
CL Tel
Katie Wold
Market 124
Austin Pehl
Waggoner & Wineinger Architects
https://www.facebook.com/jitterscoffee
Get Ready for the Holidays!
Main Street Mason City’s Home for
the Holidays will be held on Saturday,
November 28. Make a trip Downtown
to enjoy over a dozen different holiday
Staff
Tanner O’Brien
activities, visit with Santa, and see the
[email protected]
held from 10AM to 5PM that Saturday. See you then!
lighting of the holiday tree in Central Park! Activities will be
Executive Director
Thank You To Our Investment Partners
Main Street Mason City is a stand alone organization that relies on donations from the community to continue their work to
promote, preserve and grow the downtown district. Thanks to the following investors who have committed to assist in our
mission.
Platinum: First Citizens National Bank
Gold: Mercy Medical Center - North Iowa
Silver:
Metalcraft Inc. | Clear Lake Bank & Trust | Petersen Plaza | North Iowa Oral Surgery | Farmers State Bank | Moorman Clothiers | Central
Park Dentistry | Henkel Construction
Friends of Main Street:
Haines Insurance | Southbridge Mall | Jim & Amanda Ragan | Cerro Gordo Abstract Co. | Alliant Energy | The Historic Park Inn | Tierney Properties
| Reflections Salon | NSB Bank | McGladrey LLP | Edwards Brandt & Associates | Waggoner & Wineinger Architects | Louis Althof - Thrivent |
Veenstra & Kimm | Zilges Appliance Center | Brick Furniture | J & J Welding | Kristy Marquis - State Farm Insurance | Furniture Mattress Outlet | G8
Development Inc./Philip Chodur | Byron & Ann Beasley | Good Shepherd | Ermer Insurance & Financial Services, Inc. | Bergland + Cram Architects |
Jones, Lemon, Meier Partnership | The Holiday Inn Express
9 N Federal Ave | www.mainstreetmasoncity.org | 641.494.0003
Membership
Renewals (cont.)
Thirty Plus Years (cont.)
Northwestern Steak House (33)
Wayne’s Ski & Cycle (32)
Buena Vista University - Professional &
Online Studies (31)
Dr. Robert J. Friedrichs (31)
Office Elements (31)
Twenty Plus Years
Dex Media (29)
Martin Marietta Materials, Inc. (29)
Pioneer Animal Hospital (28)
Pamela Little, Inc. (28)
Smithfield (28)
Mason City Country Club (26)
Mason City Lumber (26)
Mason City Tire Service (26)
Skott & Anderson Architects (26)
Larry Elwood Construction, Inc. (25)
AgriCare Farm Management, Inc. (24)
Landfill of North Iowa (24)
Purina Animal Nutrition (24)
U.S. Cellular (24)
Mason City Glass Service (23)
Opportunity Village (22)
Monroe Storage (21)
Spatial Designs Architects &
Consultants (21)
Woodharbor Custom Cabinetry and
Design Showroom (21)
AmericInn Motel of Clear Lake (20)
Fifteen Plus Years
Accord Architecture (18)
Atlas Mini-Warehouses (18)
Country Meadow Place (18)
Culligan Water Conditioning (18)
Cupola Inn Bed & Breakfast (18)
Goodwill of the Plains (18)
Lorado’s on the Plaza (18)
Mason City Jaycees (18)
Mediacom (18)
Rye Construction, Inc. (18)
Storey Kenworthy (18)
Auto Edge, Inc. (16)
Corporate Resources Service (16)
Schoneman Realtors (16)
Enterprise Rent-A-Car (15)
Mason City Kennel Club, Inc. (15)
Ten Plus Years
Crime Stoppers of North Central Iowa
(14)
Digity- KLSS-KGLO-KIAI-KYTC-KRIB (14)
Martin Brothers Food Market (14)
Victory In Christ, FMC (14)
Pappas Landscaping Service (12)
Pebble Creek Associates (12)
Best Buy (11)
Domino’s Pizza (11)
Brown, Kinsey, Funkhouser & Lander,
PLC (10)
Ribbon Cuttings
NEW LOCATION
iWireless
473 Indianhead Drive
NEW RENOVATION
Hosmer Honda
3825 4th St SW
NEW MEMBER
Community Motors
of Mason City
1780 S Monroe
NEW MEMBER
Kwik Star
3205 Willow Creek Court
GROUND BREAKING
Alliant Energy
1035 43rd Street SW
Phone [email protected] 641.423.5725
T
STEP UP Project
hanks to everyone who voted for our STEP
UP Project to win the Wellmark Foundation
Community Kickstarter Grant! We had a great
response from our community, and are waiting
to hear whether we received the $10,000 grant to help us
purchase Fitbits for employees in our Blue Zones worksites.
The Wellmark Foundation will release its grant recipients on
November 9th.
Chamber Concierge Card
Do you have an employee who is new to Mason City? The Chamber of Commerce has a unique
tool to help connect people with service providers in our area. The Chamber Concierge Card
features dozens of Chamber members, including chiropractors, attorneys, and financial planners,
who are offering a free consultation or visit for card holders. This gives people the opportunity
to find the best fit for them. The card is $100, and can be used at five different businesses on the
Concierge Menu.
Contact Colleen Frein at the Chamber (641.423.5724) to purchase a card, or to learn more about
how the Concierge Card could benefit your business or employees.
Ag Tour 2015
The 2015 Ag Tour was a great
success! Dozens of people
toured REG in Mason City to
learn how the company turns
vegetable oils into approximately
30 million gallons of biodiesel
each year.
Be Our Guest
Tune in Friday mornings to the Chamber “Be Our Guest” program at 8:40AM on KRIB 1490 AM.
Digity provides this benefit to Chamber members free of charge. If you would like to schedule
a spot on the show, please contact the Chamber. Listen in for November’s guests!
November 6
Goodwill of the Great Plains - Natasha Oelkers
November 13 Farm-City Week Event - Colleen Frein
November 20 Opportunity Village - Jennifer Pinske
November 27 Castle Financial - Mike Castle
Membership
Renewals (cont.)
Ten Plus Years (cont.)
EASI - Efficient Antenna Systems, Inc.
(10)
Gildner Properties (10)
Kramer Ace Hardware (10)
LaRue Coffee (10)
Noddle Companies/Plaza West (10)
Salon 220 (10)
Five Plus Years
Coffee Cat (9)
Hank’s Plumbing Inc. (9)
Petersen Plaza (9)
98.7 Kiss Country / 103.7 The Fox /
KIOW 107.3 / KCHA 95.9 (8)
Buffalo Wild Wings (8)
Edward Jones - David Stine (8)
Graham (8)
ServPro (7)
Skat Farm Financial (7)
Sun Tan City (7)
A. H. Hermel Co. (6)
Discount Computer Repair (6)
NTB(6)
Sherwin-Williams (6)
Taco John’s (6)
Webwise Websites, Inc. (6)
Young Construction of North Iowa (6)
Holiday Inn Express - Mason City (5)
LaCoste Accounting (5)
Ruby Tuesday (5)
One Plus Years
Holiday Inn Express & Suites Northwood (4)
MD Products & Solutions Inc. (4)
Praise Community Church (4)
State Street Deli (4)
ITC Midwest (3)
SkyWorks Crane Inc. (3)
Clear Lake Arts Center (3)
ITC Midwest (3)
JoDesign & Marketing (3)
Tobacco Outlet Plus (3)
Tug’s Daycare & Preschool (3)
Aaron’s (2)
Arby DRM Inc. (2)
Crescent Electric Supply Company (2)
REG Mason City, LLC (2)
Gary Wattnem (2)
G8 Development Inc. (2)
Johnson Financial Services, Inc. (2)
North Iowa Collision Center (2)
Wheel Man Auto LLC (2)
1910 Grillé (1)
Collette Travel (1)
First United Methodist Church (1)
Legacy Manor of Mason City (1)
Grace United Methodist Church (1)
The Beehive Body Spa (1)
Wesley United Methodist Church (1)
Phone [email protected] 641.423.5725
Chamber Leadership
Periodical Postage Paid at Mason City, Iowa
(USPS 060-350)
Executive Committee
Steve Noto, Chairman of the Board
Stoney Creek Hospitality Corporation
Bob Klocke, Past Chair and Treasurer
First Citizens National Bank
Dave Bergan, Chair-Elect
Smithfield
Kelly Hansen, Government Affairs
Divison Vice President
POET Biorefining - Hanlontown
Sherry Becker, Community & Membership
Division Vice President
NIVC Services
Dr. Steve Schulz, Workforce & Leadership
Division Vice President
North Iowa Area Community College
Julie Valencia, Business Division Vice President
Kaplan University
Board of Directors
Josh Brueggeman, Accord Architecture
Dr. Kyle Burgmeier, Burgmeier Dentistry
Ina Cavin, Hy-Vee West
Todd Kirkpatrick, Clear Lake Bank & Trust
Jerry Knoll, Hawkeye Auto Body
Garett McKiness, McKiness Excavating, Inc.
Dr. Paul Manternach, Mercy Medical Center
—North Iowa
David Mayberry, Globe Gazette
Jamie Nelson, North Iowa Broadcasting
Jeff Nichols, Opportunity Village
Kirk Paulson, NSB Bank
Crystal Shellhart, Holiday Inn Express & Suites
- Mason City
Staff
Robin Anderson, CCE, IOM
President & Chief Executive Officer
[email protected]
Allyson Krull
Marketing & Leadership Development
Director
[email protected]
Colleen Frein
Program Director
[email protected]
Bob Mason
Membership Development Director
[email protected]
Mikki 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. Postmaster: send address changes to The Chamber, 9 North Federal
Avenue, Mason City, IA 50401-3250.
Upcoming Events
MARK YOUR CALENDAR
Educational Opportunities
Tuesday
Employment Law Conference | 8:30AM-3:15PM
Wednesday
Farm-City Week Event | 6-8PM
November 3
November 18
Knights of Columbus Hall | 551 S Taft Ave
NIACC Auditorium | 500 College Drive
Networking Events
Thursday
November 12
Ribbon Cutting | 3:45-4PM
Otto’s Oasis| 30 East State Street
Business After Hours | 4:30-6PM
Buena Vista University | 500 College Drive
Get Involved/Committee Meetings
Tuesday
Ambassador Meeting | 12-1PM
Wednesday
Business Resource & Ag Business Committee | 7:30AM
November 3
November 4
Third Floor Event Room | Commerce Center | 9 N Federal
Wine Club Room| Hy-Vee West | 2400 4th Street SW
Thursday
Events Committee | 12-1PM
Friday
Band Festival Committee | 12:15-1PM
Wednesday
Chamber Board Meeting | 7-8AM
November 12
November 13
November 18
Thursday
November 19
December 10
Phone 641.423.5724
Farrer Room | Commerce Center | 9 N Federal
Band Festival Room | Commerce Center | 9 N Federal
Board Room | Commerce Center | 9 N Federal
Blue Zones Worksite Committee | 12-1PM
Band Festival Room | Commerce Center | 9 N Federal
Operation Thank You!
www.masoncityia.com
[email protected]