WCT

2
Business
Business

January 2015

5 Under 40
By Dan Burdett - dburdett@wctrib.com

e have many distinguished, longtime business leaders among

us who have made the
Willmar area what it is today. But
in looking forward, its important to
acknowledge the future leaders we
have here as well. Thats why we
decided to start an annual 5 Under
40 issue, of which this is our second.
We asked businesses and community members to nominate young

professionals who deserved to

be recognized in this issue. The
response was once again beyond
expectations. Every person nominated would have been worthy of
being selected, but since we could
only choose five, we had to narrow it
down to the top choices. Every one
of the five selected received multiple
nods.
The five featured in this issue represent a wide range of ages and

B2B photos by Gary Miller/Photo illustration by Kenzie Blom

Nate Hultgren, from left,

Jeff Madsen, Matt Stark,
Carnie Allex
and Jeanne Ashburn

professional fields. Some were born

and raised in the Willmar area, while
others found themselves here by
coincidence. But all of them have
one important thing in common:
They represent the next generation
of leaders in the Willmar area.
We hope you enjoy reading their
stories as much as we have enjoyed
working on this issue.
(Stories begin on Page 2.)

January 2015

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Carnie Allex

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life at work and home

is as good as it gets

Hard work reaps rewards, benefits

arnie Allex is exactly where she wants to be in life.

Shes the director of the pharmacy department at Rice
Memorial Hospital in Willmar. Its a job she loves.
Shes a member of the Renville County West School Board,
intent to change the district for the better.
Shes active in her church, Zion Lutheran, engaged in fundraisers and other events to give a little back to Danube, the close-knit
community 26 miles south of Willmar she and husband, Gene, call
home.
And shes a mother of three: two daughters, ages 12 and 6, and
a 10-year-old son.
Im very content with my life, Carnie, 39, said during an interview in her second-floor office at the city-owned hospital.
Carnie was raised in the flats of Hamlin County, a few miles
south of Watertown, South Dakota, on a farmstead home to her
fathers hog, cattle and crop operation.
At a young age, she showed proficiency in chemistry that led
to her studies at South Dakota State Universitys College of
Pharmacy in Brookings.
Upon graduation in 1999, she moved to the Willmar area and
began work at an independent retail pharmacy in Olivia. She
joined Rice, a place she interned for a summer while at university,
in 2001 as the pharmacy clinic coordinator, working her way up to
pharmacy director within five years.
Today, Carnie directs a staff of 18: nine pharmacists and nine
pharmacy technicians, and is responsible for overseeing the delivery of medications for patients at Rice Memorial Hospital, Rice
Care Center and Willmar Regional Cancer Center. This includes
working alongside physicians and staff to develop safe practices
that keep Rice compliant with all state and federal regulations.
She has also been instrumental in implementing enhanced
safety mechanisms at the hospital, including automated dispensing systems, safety software for IV pumps, and 24/7 pharmacist
review of all medication orders.
In 2011, she was one of 31 pharmacists selected from a nationwide pool to participate in the Pharmacy Leadership Institute,
sponsored by the American Society of Health-System
Pharmacists Research and Education Foundation.
The ASHP Foundation, headquartered in Bethesda,

Maryland, was created in 1968, according to its website, with the

goal of creating an organization to provide for and engage in scientific research, professional study and the advancement of the
science of hospital and institutional pharmacy.
Additionally, she has trained several teams on performance
improvement initiatives and has been active with budgetary and
cost analysis committees.
Its a great job to be in, Carnie said. Granted, there are a variety of challenges when youre
dealing with peoples
medications; youre
not in a position
to have a bad
day. But I work
in a supportive system.
I feel
empowered at
work, and
I think that
speaks for
the culture
the hospital has in
place. Im
lucky that I
have great
administrative
support and
a great
staff.

A season of reflection. A time for thanks.

Reflection. Looking back. Looking ahead. Assessing what
matters most. At Bremer Bank, were grateful for the chance
to serve you, and for the opportunities ahead to build closer
relationships, stronger businesses and a healthier community.
We realize that sometimes, the most important thing we can
do is to simply say . . . thank you.

Willmar 235-1111
800-908-BANK (2265)
Bremer.com
Member FDIC.
2014 Bremer Financial Corporation. All rights reserved.

BusinessToBusiness1114.indd 1

Monthly publication of the West Central Tribune

11/14/14 4:04 PM

Staff

Advertising

Administration

Sharon Bomstad, B2B editor

Dan Burdett, B2B writer/social media

Kevin Smith, Director

Steven Ammermann, Publisher

Kelly Boldan, Editor
Timothy Bailey, Business Manager

Volume 2, Number 12

Copyright 2014 West Central Tribune

Business2Business
All rights reserved. Although some parts of this
publication may be reproduced and reprinted,
we require that prior permission be obtained.

Contributors
Ken Warner, Willmar Lakes Area Chamber
Manon Claux , NeXt
Cameron Macht, DEED

To advertise,
call 320-214-4317,
fax 320-235-6769
email ksmith@wctrib.com or contact
your assigned marketing consultant.

P.O. Box 839 / 2208 W. Trott Ave.

Willmar MN 56201
wctrib.com / 320-235-1150

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Jeanne Ashburn

January 2015

a successful career goes

back to lessons of youth

Success in a male-dominated world

eanne Ashburn is in a good place, navigating an absorbing and successful career as a financial adviser at Edward
Jones.
Away from the office, she aids her husband, Mitch, a full-time
HVAC specialist at Kerkhoven-based Freetly Electric, with promoting and advancing BBQ JEMZ, a catering business he runs
on the side from the familys home north of Pennock.
And when the Ashburns arent immersed in work, theyre humming between the numerous after-school endeavors of their two
children: Zac, 15, and Emily, 13, and volunteering as youth leaders at Redeemer Lutheran Church in Willmar, where Jeanne also
lends her voice to the choir.
While the flurry of exertions may seem like a bottomless grind,
Jeanne wouldnt have it any other
way.
Im a doer, Jeanne,
34, said recently during
an interview from
her office in the
strip mall directly
east of Grizzlys
on First Street
South in
Willmar. Ive
always found
the busier I am,
the more I get
done. I dont
really know
what to do with
myself if Im
not

busy. It goes back to my childhood.

Jeanne was born at Royal Air Force Lakenheath, a military
station in the English county of Suffolk that hosts United States
Air Force personnel. Her father, Doug Kveene, was a career
military officer, eventually retiring as a lieutenant colonel after a
27-year career, the last decade of which he spent in the Air Force
Reserve.
As a military kid, you quickly learn to be focused and driven, to
fend for yourself and work hard, Jeanne said.
Married at 18, Jeanne spent a number of years as a daycare
mom.
In her mid-20s, disenchanted and looking for a change, she
enrolled at the University of Phoenix, completing her accounting
degree at night through online classes.
After entering the Reserve, Doug was hired at Edward Jones.
Jeanne made the most of the connection to get her foot in the
door.
Shes never looked back.
She spent a year working under her father, knocking on doors
and building an extensive portfolio of clients through her involvement with the Willmar Lakes Area Chamber of Commerce
which she vice chairs and BNI, the largest business networking
organization in the world. She helped establish the second of
the organizations three Willmar chapters in the early part of the
decade.
Shes also an active member of Polka Dot Powerhouse, a business and networking company that caters to women, and was
recently awarded the companys award for extraordinary business
woman of the year, for 2014.
Jeanne says the key to her success in a male-dominated
industry less than one-third of all financial advisers in the U.S.
are women, according to Forbes, and only 23 percent of those
women hold the lauded gold standard Certified Financial Planner
designation is her ability to see through her clients eyes.
I listen, she says. I have to convince my clients I know what
Im doing. I cant do that if I dont listen. I put them first. I want my
clients to know they have someone looking out for them, that Im
never too busy. If theyre worried about their money and they cant
sleep at 2 a.m., I want them to know they can call me, that they
have someone working for them. Make that call.
Profiles by Dan Burdett

January 2015

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Nate Hultgren

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driven to continue the

legacy of his family farm

A love of the farm leads to a success

s far back as he can remember Nate Hultgren wanted to

farm.
He grew up on an expansive farmstead a stones throw
north of Raymond, roaming and tinkering on land cultivated by
three generations of Hultgren men before him.
Today, that land is home to Hultgren Farms, a diverse operation that specializes in the production of corn, soybeans, kidney
beans, sugar beets, wheat and alfalfa.
Nate, 37, is the CEO, working alongside his father, Dwane, 62,
and brother, Noah, 34, an agronomy manager, and is also managing partner of Hultgren Holdings LLC, which owns agricultural
real estate. The Hultgrens additionally maintain a 25-head stock
cow herd on ranch property in Colfax Township, north of Norway
Lake.
In the 15 years since he came on
board, Nate has witnessed the family operation double in size, with
greater expansion on the horizon.
Nate aspires to duplicate
the total acreage of the
operation in the next
decade: the
family
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rently sustains a little more than 5,000 acres.

Concerned by what he considers a paradigm shift in how the
industry is viewed due to over governance, Nate worries those
with an interest in farming will be driven away by fears its simply
unsustainable. So, he wants to build a network so smaller farms
can be part of a conglomerate, where each operation has ownership but receives the benefits of a larger entity.
If I have a vision, its that, he said recently during an interview
at the farm. So many of these smaller farms, I call them tweener farms, just dont have the resources. You see a lot of guys
working another job in town to make ends meet. The farming
ultimately becomes secondary.
The Hultgrens are also shareholders in Meadow Star Dairy,
owned by Riverview LLP based in Morris. Meadow Star was
recently granted a conditional use permit by St. Johns Township
to begin construction next spring on an 8,800-animal-unit dairy
operation a mile north of the Hultgren farm.
The operation, which will employ more than 50 people, will
include about 6,000 milking cows. The remaining livestock will
be comprised of dry cows and heifers about to calf.
Our growth is a testament to the work done by my father
before, Nate recounted. This operation is a representation
of our familys culture. We want an operation that is sustainable so if our children choose to come back, theyll have
the opportunity to come back to a place where they can
contribute and be successful.
Nate and his wife, Jaime, have five children between the
ages of 3 and 9.
They met when Nate was studying finance at the University of
Minnesota Duluth, and married upon graduation. Soon thereafter, Nate joined the family operation and Jaime worked for a
time as a nurse at Rice Memorial Hospital in Willmar. She now
stays home with their children.
The reality is I couldnt do what I do without an
extremely understanding wife, Nate said. I love what
I do. You cant farm if you dont love it. But it also
requires a tremendous commitment.
There are times when our children want to be
around their dad, and Im working. Thats hard, and
they might not always understand that. But to have
their mom there is so important. Were lucky to have
that opportunity, and to be able to raise our family the
way we want to.

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B2B

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Jeff Madsen

January 2015

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driven to put would-be business

owners on the right track

Helping others build their business

or Jeff Madsen, the best thing about being a consultant is

that no two days are ever the same.
It certainly keeps me on my toes, but I love it, he said.
Theres nothing better than seeing people succeed in some way
because you were able to help them. I feel like I can make a difference in their lives. Its a good feeling.
Owner of Logan Business Consulting Group in Willmar, Jeff
focuses on assisting business owners, executives and corporations increase profitability. He also consults with start-ups, providing a comprehensive plan on how to build and market a business
from the ground up.
Its a service he wishes hed sought out when he became a
small business owner a decade past, after graduating from
Southwest Minnesota State University in Marshall with a masters
in business administration.
Im in a position where I can help people avoid some of the little
mistakes I made, Jeff said.
Jeffs clients, sprinkled across a swath of central Minnesota that
runs from Willmar through Hutchinson and the outlying metro
area, range from one- and two-person operations, to mid-size
operations, to large construction companies.
I provide a broad spectrum of services, he said. But Im basically here to sit down with people, get to know their goals and
what they hope to achieve, and guide them from point A to point Z
of their business venture.
He is currently involved in the implementation of phase II of the
Food HUB in downtown Willmar. Plans for the project would see
five tenants operating out of The HUB, located in the Historic 313
Building near The Barn Theatre on Fourth Street. This includes a
USDA kitchen where area farmers can preserve food and prepare
it for consumers using the latest technology.
Three greenhouses would further support farmers, allowing for a
year-long growing season to improve the availability of fresh produce to consumers. Other new businesses housed in The HUB
include a craft brewhouse and restaurant.
More than two dozen jobs are expected to be created by The
HUB project. The Foxhole Brewhouse is scheduled to be the first
of the five businesses to open. Thats expected to occur sometime in the early part of the new year.
Weve had some donations and were looking at grants, but
The HUB is moving along, Jeff said during an interview at The
Goodness Coffee House, a half-block from where The HUB will
be located. There are some huge misconceptions and bad information out there about downtown Willmar, and Im really excited

to see this project become a reality. I think its going to be great

for the area.
Away from work, Jeff, 37, is a single father to a 6-year-old son,
Logan, and a 3-year-old daughter, Brooke.
They sure do keep me busy, he said through a smile. But its
good. Theyre my life.
Jeff is also the running backs coach for the Ridgewater College
Warriors football team. With practice, film study and away travel,
its a time-consuming venture: the closest away game during the
2014 season was at St. Johns
University, an hour-plus
northeast of Willmar.
Logan is also
active with the
team, acting as the
ball boy and water
boy.
Man, he enjoys
riding that bus
with the players, bouncing
around, Jeff
said. He just
loves it. Hes
my little bud.
Its great to
see that kind of
excitement for
him to be a part
of something.

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January 2015

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B2B

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Matt Stark

What started in his bedroom, is

now a booming design business

Building a business from the ground up

hen you enter Pro Color Graphics, its evident Matt Stark
isnt short of work.
He operates the business from a dense 800-squarefoot space located at 523 Litchfield Avenue Southeast, each nook
crammed with walloping industrial printers spewing out massive
sheets of vinyl and gloss paper lined with graphics and logos.
While the confines are chockablock, theyre a far cry from the
business humble beginnings, when Stark would spend his spare
time between a job at a local sign shop and homework, designing
and trimming decals on an oversized vinyl cutting machine set up
in his bedroom at his parents Willmar home.
The funny thing is and most people think Im nuts but
I didnt have room for the machine and my bed, Matt recalled
during a recent interview. So I got rid of the bed.
It may have been the chief decision of his life.
In a little more than a decade, Matt has grown his business into
a regional leader in the field.
Today, Pro Color Graphics is a full-service design studio, specializing in signage, flyers, catalogs, banners, labels, logos, fabric
textiles and photography.
He has also produced decals and graphics for Onyx Racing
Products, a manufacturer of hubs the gear ratio changing
system on BMX bicycles and a division of Blomkest-based
Christianson Systems, Inc.
He secures clients through his involvement in the Willmar Lakes
Area Chamber of Commerce and BNI, the largest business networking organization in the world. BNI, which has three chapters
in Willmar, last year generated 5.4 million referrals worldwide,
resulting in $6.5 billion in business for its members, its website
states.
Its remarkable, because the growth has pretty much been
through word of mouth and referrals, Matt said of the more than
50 clients he does business with. And the work keeps coming.
An amiable sort with a big smile and goosey laugh, the 32-yearold Matt moved with his family from Nebraska to Willmar when
he was a fourth-grader. He got into design as a teen and eyed
a career in custom car painting when he graduated Ridgewater
College in Willmar, where he studied computer arts and completed the Auto Body Program.
I realized there really wasnt a huge market for it though, Matt
said. So I went back to what I knew.
He purchased a vinyl printer seven years ago after securing a
loan from his mother and has seen his business and inventory
grow each year since.

FOR ALL YOUR

Matt is presently in the stages of expanding Pro Color Graphics

into the vacant lot next door, adding some 4,000 square feet to
the operation. He currently employs one part-timer, but hopes to
hire a number of ad designers and a sales person in the next 12
months.
Were just so busy, said Matt, who unfailingly works 60- and
70-hour weeks, but expanding the business is a pretty exciting
process.
Away from work, Matt and his wife, Beth, are parents to a
10-week-old daughter.
Beth, a nurse by trade, helped
Matt build the business,
and was a fixture in
the office before the
couple learned they
were expecting.
The Starks
are also active
in the community, particularly with
First Covenant
Church, where
they volunteer as
youth leaders for
students in kindergarten through fifth
grade.
Yeah, there really
is no time now for
hobbies, Matt
says with a
chuckle.

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B2B

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January 2015

Highly educated and hard working

O

f the more than 5.3 million residents in the state

of Minnesota, just over half are under age 40.
This includes about 1.3 million children under the
age of 18, many of whom are in school from kindergarten through 12th grade. These students are training to
become the workforce of the future.
Minnesota also has about 1.5 million people aged 18
to 39, many of whom are also enrolled in school or are
already in the workforce. This group of entry-level and
mid-career workers make a huge
contribution to the states economy,
comprising the largest, most well-educated and hardest-working segment of Minnesotas workforce.
For starters, people in the 25- to
44-year-old age group have the
highest educational attainment in
the state which has among the
highest educational attainment rates
Cameron
in the nation with more than 93
Macht
percent being high school graduates
Department of
and almost 75 percent having some
Employment
college experience, including nearly
40 percent who have earned a bachand Economic
elors degree or higher.
Development
The states 18- to 24-year-olds
are on the same path, with 43.5 percent having some college experience, and 17.5 percent
already earning a college degree. (See Figure 1.)
The 25- to 44-year-old age group also has the highest
labor force participation rates in the state, with about 88
percent of people currently in the labor force.

This rate has held steady over time,

while labor force participation rates
have been declining for teens and
increasing for older workers.
However, the size of the Baby Boom
generation is changing the composition of the states labor force. As that
group has aged over the last decade,
the percentage of the workforce in
the 45- to 64-year-old age group has
increased from 32.5 percent in the first
quarter of 2004 to 37.7 percent in the first
quarter of 2014, according to data from
DEEDs Quarterly Workforce Indicators.
In contrast, the state saw a decline in
the number and percentage of workers in
both the 18- to 24-year-old and the 35- to
44-year-old age groups. But the number
and percentage of workers in the 25- to
34-year-old age group increased steadily
over the last decade. These highly educated, hard-working residents will continue to
strengthen Minnesotas economy. (See
Figure 2.)
For more information about Minnesotas
workforce and demographics, go to http://
mn.gov/deed/data/.

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Nate Larson Electric, LLC 320-214-0272

L to R: Ryan DeGree, Kristi DeGree, Nate Larson
(Owner/Electrician), Laura Larson (Marketing Manager), Eric Spencer, Mike Negen, Kelly
Gardner and Leo Martinez.

Sleep Center of Willmar, LLC 320-441-2104

L to R: Dawn Stahl, Mitch Neal, Jim Rudnick, Dr.
Marty Janning (MD, DABSM, Sleep Specialist),
Jarad Ripperger (RPSGT, RST, Director), Lynn
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Willmar Regional Cancer Center - Teresa Behm

301 Becker Ave. SE, Willmar 320-231-4570
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Corneil Elkj
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L to R: Brad H
Board Chair
(2014 WLAC
Chrisanson
Nissen, Sa
Chrisanso
(WLA

Aldi - 320-235-2496

Pictured: WLACC Ambassadors, Willmar City Officials

and staff celebrated Aldis Grand Opening on December 11th, 2014..

Ribbon
Cutting

Memb
Inform
Cen

To join the Cha

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award.

jer Insurance Agency

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amber go to
areachamber.com
undle-Up plan.

Networking

West Central Tribune

50+ Years
Chamber leadership presents
West Central Tribune sta with their
Membership Milestones recognion
award.

January 2015

**Reminder**
No Connecons in January.
Happy Holidays and see you again
in February!
A full schedule of all Chamber Connecons,
complete with addresses can be found at
www.willmarareachamber.com

KICK OFF

January 15th, 2015

FRE
E
D
oor Food!
5 7 p.m.
Priz
es!
Willmar Conference Center

t on:
iss ou
m
t

n
Do
up
signmes
Ga member rships
e
w
Ne w memb
ne
Re orking
tw
Ne

Stay for the bean bag

tournament afterwards!

RSVP to 320.235.0300 or
next@willmarareachamber.com

Prize dra
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January 2015

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Get involved

10

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B2BB

Make the most of your Chamber in 2015

n these ever-changing times with the economy, some members might look
out at an uncertain future and mistakenly make a decision that they cant
afford their Chamber membership. The tough business, as well as the
opportunistic ones looking for more business, more network support and more
advocacy on their behalf, know their Chamber membership is critical. When
times are tough, the tough get going to their Chamber of Commerce.
You may ask, how do I know whats going on?
Call our Chamber staff. We are available to answer questions, direct you
to community resources and receive your feedback. Dont miss
weekly updates with the Chamber e-News and read the Chamber
newsletter in this Business 2 Business publication, published
the second to the last Wednesday of every month to keep you
informed; or visit our website at
www.willmarareachamber.com.
Members Supporting Members. Utilize the Chambers Online
Membership Directory and do business with other Chamber
members. It helps to do business locally and support your fellow
business people. With more than 575 other Willmar Lakes Area
businesses involved in the Chamber, we can help find those who
Ken
can fill your needs. See the information below on our accomplishWarner
ments in 2014.
Willmar Lakes
Show up. In addition to supporting fellow members, another
Area Chamber
first step is to get involved and show up at Chamber activities
of Commerce
President
and events of your choice. Choose a legislative forum, a Chamber
Connection, or any other special event, just to name a few. Our
events strive to provide great information, as well as networking
opportunities.
Volunteer. All members are encouraged to serve on one of the Chambers
committees or task forces. Some meet monthly year-round, while others only
meet on an as-needed basis to plan and execute events and special projects.
There are also opportunities throughout the year to assist with a task for a specific event. Please say yes when you are asked to participate as a volunteer.
Share your thoughts. You can also become involved by sharing your
thoughts on various projects the Chamber undertakes and on issues important
to your business. Your input is important to improving the Willmar Lakes Area

We service what
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Chamber of Commerce and the annual business plan.

No time for personal involvement? We realize many of you are incredibly
busy with your own businesses. When youre minding the store, the Willmar
Lakes Area Chamber of Commerce is working on your behalf to keep you
informed about whats happening at the state Capitol and city hall to make the
business climate stronger. We provide up-to-date information, business news
and opportunities to promote your business.
Make the Willmar Lakes Area Chamber of Commerce a priority. Take a look
at your business priorities be sure that your Willmar Lakes Area Chamber
membership is among them. You will get out of your membership many times
over what you put into it.
To learn more about networking opportunities, ways to get involved and the
various committees of the Willmar Lakes Area Chamber contact the Chamber
at 235-0300. We invite you to make 2015 your year to get involved!
Just a reminder of what we accomplished in 2014:
* More than 575 members (90 new members in the last two years and a
membership retention rate of 92.50 percent)
* Continuing education of ChamberMaster. We are seeing more and more
businesses utilizing Hot Deals, the Community Calendar, Job Openings and
more. Through 2014 we averaged 2,400 visits per month and nearly 8,600
page views per month.
* Continued popular networking events like Chamber Connections (39 hosted), Business After Hours (8 hosted), Golf Classic (more than 140 golfers),
Aggie Open (more than 135 golfers) and a sold out crowd of 420 people attended the fifth annual Red Carpet Event featuring The Little River Band.
* We dove into local issues our forte making our members aware of
issues and actively represented our members interest in the political, social
and economic development environment.
* Continued to add and expand our list of committees and educational
opportunities including ACA Heath Education Series,,Microsoft Community
Connections, participation with the Vision 2040 Steering Committee and the
CEO Program.
* Collaborated with local partners and organizations on programs and events
like Walk the Corridor, the Highway 12 Initiative, Vision 2040 and the BR&E
survey.

B2B

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Translation please?
Using translation services in Willmar
I

n our city, the need for translation services has grown since Willmar has
seen increasing population diversity during recent decades. Also, local
companies dealing with foreign markets such as Relco or Nova-Tech
Engineering are in need of these kinds of services in order to reach out to
their clientele.
It is crucial for Willmar that everyone can communicate with each other,
interact and learn from different cultures in order to bring the community together and build a more unified future for our town.
Translation services in Willmar range from text translation, interpretation and cultural learning.
Text translation is the translation of written words, from advertising to legal documents.
Interpretation, on the other hand, is the translation of spoken
words, and is usually done face-to-face. It can be used in business meetings, schools, employee conferences or others.
Both require highly skilled people, usually native speakers, and
Manon
sometimes
a good translator isnt necessarily a good interpreter
Claux
as the latter requires excellent communication skills.
Local companies in Willmar who deal with clients from various
NeXt
countries, such as Nova-Tech Engineering, have used translation
Marketing
from their own employees speaking fluently a second language,
Committee
or freelance translators, often primarily used in the country needed for interpretation, and then for translating documents.
You can also find a few businesses in our city that provide those
services. I interviewed Abdirizak Zack Mahboub, who moved to the
United States in 1981, and in 2012 he and his wife, Sahra Gure, founded
West Central Interpreting Services (WCIS), LLC in Willmar.

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The company offers translation and interpreting in multiple languages such

as Arabic, Somali, Swahili (spoken in Kenya), Italian and more. Mahboub
says his translation business includes many services such as political ads
and processing legal documents for the hospital.
West Central Interpreting also works with Kandiyohi County, education,
hospitals, housing HRA or lawyers for interpreting.
In addition, WCIS provides a course called Cultural Competency
Training, which is a half-day training aimed to businesses which desire to
bridge the gap between modern societies (occidental cultures) and traditional communities (Asian, South American Hispanic and African cultures). It
covers topics such as cultural norms and religion, immigrants/refugee settlements in the United States, economic push-pull factors and family structures.
Mahboub and Gure hope to bridge the gap between newer immigrants
communities with local population in Willmar in order to help the whole community function better, creating opportunities to learn from one another and
enrich our lives now and for future generations.
Mahboub is also part of the Willmar Vision 2040 group.

January 2015

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B2B

Business Calendar
Chamber Connections

7:30 8:30 a.m.

January
No Chamber Connections in January

Government meetings
Kandiyohi County Board
of Commissioners
Jan. 6: 9 a.m., Health and Human Services
Building, 2200 23rd St. N.W., Willmar; note time
change.
Jan. 20: 10 a.m., Health and Human Services
Building, 2200 23rd St. N.W., Willmar
Feb. 3: 10 a.m., Health and Human Services
Building, 2200 23rd St. N.W., Willmar
Feb. 17: 10 a.m., Health and Human Services
Building, 2200 23rd St. N.W., Willmar
Rice Memorial Hospital
Board of Directors
Dec. 17: 5:30 p.m., hospital board room, 301
Becker Ave. S.W., Willmar
Jan. 21: 5:30 p.m., hospital board room, 301
Becker Ave. S.W., Willmar
Feb. 18: 5:30 p.m., hospital board room, 301
Becker Ave. S.W., Willmar
Kandiyohi County and City of Willmar
Economic Development Commission
Joint Operating Board
Jan. 8: 11 a.m., EDC board room, 333 Litchfield
Ave. S.W., Suite 100, Willmar
Feb. 12: 11 a.m., EDC board room, 333
Litchfield Ave. S.W., Suite 100, Willmar
Kandiyohi County and City of Willmar
Economic Development Commission
Joint Powers Board
Jan. 22: 11:30 a.m., EDC board room, 333
Litchfield Ave. S.W., Suite 100, Willmar
Willmar City Council
Jan. 12: 7 p.m., Council Chambers, MUC, 700
Litchfield Ave S.W., Willmar
Jan. 20: 7 p.m., Council Chambers, MUC, 700
Litchfield Ave S.W., Willmar
Feb. 2: : 7 p.m., Council Chambers, MUC, 700
Litchfield Ave S.W., Willmar
Feb. 17: 7 p.m., Council Chambers, MUC, 700
Litchfield Ave S.W., Willmar
Willmar School Board
Jan.12: 4:30 p.m., WEAC Board Room, 611
Fifth St. S.W., Willmar

Jan. 26: 4:30 p.m., WEAC Board Room, 611

Fifth St. S.W., Willmar
Feb. 9: 6 p.m., WEAC Board Room, 611 Fifth
St. S.W., Willmar
Atwater City Council
Jan. 7: 7 p.m., City Hall, 322 Atlantic Ave.,
Atwater
Feb. 4: 7 p.m., City Hall, 322 Atlantic Ave.,
Atwater
New London City Council
Dec. 17: 5:30 p.m., City Hall, 20 First Ave. S.W.,
New London
Jan. 7: 5:30 p.m., City Hall, 20 First Ave. S.W.,
New London
Jan. 21: 5:30 p.m., City Hall, 20 First Ave. S.W.,
New London
Feb. 4: 5:30 p.m., City Hall, 20 First Ave. S.W.,
New London
Feb. 18: 5:30 p.m., City Hall, 20 First Ave. S.W.,
New London
New London
Economic Development Authority
Jan. 14: 4:30 p.m., City Hall, 20 First Ave. S.W.,
New London
Feb. 11: 4:30 p.m., City Hall, 20 First Ave. S.W.,
New London
Spicer City Council
Jan. 6: 5:30 p.m., City Council meeting room,
217 Hillcrest Ave., Spicer
Jan. 20: 5:30 p.m., City Council meeting room,
217 Hillcrest Ave., Spicer
Feb. 3: 5:30 p.m., City Council meeting room,
217 Hillcrest Ave., Spicer
Feb. 17: 5:30 p.m., City Council meeting room,
217 Hillcrest Ave., Spicer
Spicer Economic Development Authority
Jan. 20: 7 a.m., City Council meeting room, 217
Hillcrest Ave., Spicer
Feb. 17: 7 a.m., City Council meeting room,
217 Hillcrest Ave., Spicer

B2B will publish upcoming business-related meetings, classes or seminars monthly. Calendar information
will be listed two months out; email
information to business@wctrib.com;
dates and locations subject to change.

If youre looking for a health plan to fit your changing life, or you just
want to know your options, give me a call. Well review your needs
and the Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota plans available to
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B2B

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January 2015

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Business Buzz
Willmars former tech coordinator
starts his own business
WILLMAR After 14 years with the city of Willmar,
Mark Boeschen decided it was time to try something new.
So he started Firebytes LLC, a computer repair, integration and web development firm that serves business and
residential customers.
Boeschen, 31, started working for the city of Willmar in
2000, when he was still in high school.
He worked there part-time through college and then full-time as a technician.
He was the citys information technology
coordinator from 2006 until 2014.
Being in the same place for 14 years,
you need to decide whether youre going
to stick it out or do something different,
he said. It was not an easy decision.
Boeschen
He gave up the security of steady paychecks and benefits seven months ago
for a chance to do something different.
His family supported me 100 percent in the move from
city hall to a small home office full of computers and monitors. He and his wife, Amy, have three sons.
Boeschen said he has no regrets about his time with the
city, which gave him work while he was in school and a
full-time job straight out of college. He als o has no regrets
with his decision.
If I didnt do it now, I dont know if I would have been
able to do it later, he said.
Boeschens description of what his business can do is
broad everything under the sun. His work with the
city gave him experience with large networks, and he can
provide networking help for businesses that dont have
in-house technology employees. He can help businesses
improve their work flow, too.
Residential customers can turn to him for help with a
household network or any other problems they encounter.
Working with home customers is rewarding, he said. I
like to help them see they can do things they didnt know
they could.
To contact Boeschen, visit www.firebytes.com or call
320-403-2420.

In the two years since the first award, Rice has taken significant steps to improve its performance even further. Net
days in accounts receivable was reduced by 10-plus days,
the most of any organization surveyed last year.
Rice also increased its point of service collections by 0.8
percent of net revenue, also the largest increase among all
organizations that submitted an application. The revenue
that the hospital writes off due to denied claims comprises
less than half of a percent of net revenue, which was also
in the top quartile of organizations surveyed.

NeXt announces 2015 leadership

WILLMAR The Willmar Lakes Area Chamber of
Commerce affiliate neXt announces their 2015 leaderTwo new businesses have opened in Southeast Will- ship team.
They are Jeanne Ashburn, Chamber board liaimar in recent weeks, including this Taco Bell and ALDI.
son, Edward Jones; Jay Halliday, chair, Nova-Tech
Engineering; Jared Voge, chair-elect, Bolton & Menk
GlenOaks names new administrator
Inc.; Melissa Sorenson, social/education committee
NEW LONDON Grace Living Community of Glenchair, Jennie-O Turkey Store; and Sara Goebel, marOaks in New London recently named Jim Ingersoll its
keting committee chair, Marcus Construction.
administrator. Grace Living Community of GlenOaks is a
Social/education committee members are co-chairs
nonprofit organization comprised of a 58-unit nursing home,
Gretchen Otness, CTI Ministries, and Kristen Pierce,
12-unit assisted living and 35 independent living units.
Kandiyohi County Attorneys Office; Travis Steffensen,
Ingersoll graduated from the University of St. Thomas
with a degree in business administration and received licen- Westberg Eischens; Erin Daniels, Snap Fitness; Amy
Mortensen, Heritage Bank; and Debbie Strommer,
sure for nursing home administration from the University of
Bremer Bank.
Minnesota.
Marketing committee members are co-chairs Sam
Ingersoll has more than 20 years of long-term care expeAakre, Heartland Community Action Agency Inc.,
rience in campus settings. He has operated Christian campuses in Starbuck, Austin and Renville and also worked with and Mark Klema, Bolton & Menk, Inc.; Manon Claux,
Nova-Tech Engineering; Andrew Soderlund and Cody
veterans in Minneapolis.
Welsh, both from Christianson & Associates; and
Melissa Straus, Clifford Nystrom and Chris Kveene, all
Rice first U.S. hospital to twice
from Heritage Bank.
B2B photo by Dan Burdett

win revenue cycle award

WILLMAR Rice Memorial Hospital has received a

Revenue Cycle Performance Award from Health Business
Insights, citing the hospital for excellence and ongoing
improvement in its revenue cycle. It was the second time
Rice has been honored by Health Business Insights for
its revenue cycle performance and the first time a health
organization in the U.S. has received the award twice. Rice
first earned the award in 2012.

B2B publishes news about businesses in the region

and their employees monthly.
Topics such as the launch of a new business, a change
in ownership or management, a new location or a significant expansion are welcome, as well as announcements about employees who have earned significant
promotions. Photos may be submitted as well. Email
information and photos to business@wctrib.com.

www.MarcusConstruction.com

sburg

CMCS - Prin

Rice Home Medical - Redwood Falls

United FCS - Willmar

Superior Industries - Morris

Your trusted local General Contractor for:

Commercial Educational & Worship Financial Health Care Industrial

January 2015

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The wimp at work is alive and well

Research conducted by The CEO Project

suggests the individuals who lead companies should spend their time differently
than how most are currently spending it.
If you want to understand why
your business is not as successful as you would like it to
be, or want to know why you
struggle, consider this: few
owners know what specific
actions are required for their
company to grow.
Many owners become trapped by the
seeming mirage of growing revenue; or deal constantly with poor cash flow, struggle to maintain or increase
profits or, build a business around the idea of just paying minimal taxes.
For the sake of argument let me define success as
building a more valuable company.
Successful owners dont spend their time growing
revenue, minimizing taxes or improving cash flow.
What they do is focus on one thing to increase the
value of the company: picking the right business and
profit model.
The marketplace decides the costly lessons about
who will win and who will not, but some influence is
possible by designing (or redesigning) a business correctly and modifying it as conditions change.

What are the elements

of a great business?

The first is that demand exists or can be created. The demand must consistently exceed supply.
Without a steady stream of customers, the enterprise
will likely fail.
Second, it helps to sell something that customers
love.
Third, the business needs to have recurring rev-

B2B

By Ken Keller

enue and fourth,

that it is a non discretionary
service.
It is possible to have a successful business that does not
rely on always chasing new customers to grow revenue, but instead
by focusing on turning a transaction into
a relationship (or a customer into a client)
that provides recurring revenue is more appealing
because this improves cash flow and provides business stability.
Fifth, the business must develop a sustainable competitive advantage that is difficult to duplicate. This is
a basic of marketing that many owners have never
learned. Not understanding this essential item is the
root cause of many unstable businesses.

Sixth, the economic characteristics of the business

have to be right; positive cash flow; products priced
profitably and a favorable return on investment.
The common element through these six items is
that the owner is required to work on, and not in, their
business.
But rather than focus on these critical issues that
will help the business succeed, how do some owners
chose to spend their time and energy?
You might think that owners who dont work on their
business would rather work in their business, but you
might be wrong.
Most owners avoid the tough things in their own
businesses until they are forced to take action. Even
then, some keep their heads stuck in the sand.
Instead they choose to deal with the mundane, the
trivial, those things of little or no consequence.
The decisions that are made are the easy ones,
rather than the hard ones that really need to be made
for the continued success of the company.
In December 2014, the Wimp at Work is alive and
doing well. The business they own, maybe not.
Ken Keller is a syndicated business columnist focused on the
leadership needs of small and midsize closely held companies.
Contact him at KenKeller@SBCglobal.net. Kellers column reflects
his own views and not necessarily those of this publication.

Business

January 2015

2
Business

If you have business-related information you would

like to see in this new
business-to-business
publication, please
let us know. Email us
at business@wctrib.
com or give us a call
at 320-214-4336.

Story
ideas?

Business2Business
this month is once
again featuring five
young professionals
under the age of 40.
All five have impressive resumes, as did
all of the other nominees. We started this
issue last year, and
as always its a joy to
see who the featured
young professionals
are among us.
They are all deserving of special recognition and have a lot
to off the businesses
and communities they
serve.
Congratulations!
And, from all of the
staff here involved with
Business2Business,
we wish your all a very
Merry Christmas and a
Happy New Year!

Welcome
to B2B

WCT