Business Showcase April-June 2012

MORRIS SUN TRIBUNE

Showcase

If you are interested in participating in our next showcase, please call Heather Storck or Linda Cook at 320-589-2525

Office number: 320-589-7421

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Morris, Minnesota 562672 - Saturday, April 7, 2012

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412 Atlantic Ave.Morris

320.589.2270

103 East 5th Street, Starbuck320.239.2136

Store Hours: Mon-Fri 9-5 Sat 9-1

Floor Covering• carpet • laminate • tile • Hunter Douglas blinds

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FREE measurementsand estimates!

Celebrating Over

40 Years!

BasementsDemolition

Site PreparationGround Clearing

Screened Black DirtRock, Sand & Gravel

WWee aarree CCeelleebbrraattiinngg

110000 YYeeaarrss!!

Mark your calendars and

come help celebrate on

Friday, July 13in Donnelly!

BusinesS~ Featuring a different business every week ~

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~Bringing the latest in communicationstechnologies to rural Morris and rural Appleton

In 2010, the Federal Government announcedthat Federated Telephone was awarded twoloan/grant packages as part of the 2009American Recovery and Reinvestment Act tobuild out broadband access in two areas in WestCentral Minnesota – rural Morris and ruralAppleton.

However, a natural disaster on the other sideof the world last year delayed construction ofthe two projects. Federated Telephone's RuralMorris and Rural Appleton projects are nowback on track and moving forward to providerural customers with an option for qualityInternet services.

“Individuals who live in this area were previ-ously without an option for quality Internetservices,” said Federated Telephone Marketing/Customer Service Manager Donna Eul. “Their choices wereeither dialup or wireless connections. Through this fiber connection, customers are able to obtain a high qual-ity Internet connection that is dedicated to their home or business.”

The Rural Morris project will construct a fiber optic network to areas outside the city limits of Morris with-in the 589 exchange, covering 136 square miles with 217 miles of fiber optic cable, connecting over 400 ruraltelephone customers. The project is one of just 18 in the state of Minnesota designed to bring high speedInternet to rural areas.

Rural Morris began last spring, but the project faced some unexpected delays. First, the sheer number ofstimulus projects related to rural broadband access across the nation put a limit on how much fiber optic cablewas initially available. Then, the 2011 earthquake and tsunami that decimated Northern Japan augmented theshortage.

Fiber optic cable consists of strands of glass the thickness of a human hair, where light pulses are sent viathe cable to transmit data. Because fiber is made out of strands of glass, most of the manufacturing is done inJapan where the sand used to produce the glass fibers is available. Cable production ceased after the earth-quake and has been slow to restart.

Federated Telephone is working with two contractors to work through the steps necessary to lay the cableand get customers connected. Ripley's Inc. from Erhard, Minn., has been working since last summer to lay thefiber optic cable in the ground.

“We have had great success in working with Ripley's Inc. on other projects in the past,” said Eul. “They arean excellent contractor. We're very confident in their ability and very excited that we could secure them forour projects again this year.”

A second contractor, J. Carlson Services (JCS) of Shevlin, Minn., has beenhired to splice the fiber optic cable and install electronics necessary for connect-ing the fiber network back to the Federated switch.

As fibers are spliced and equipment is installed and tested, Federated willnotify potential customers by mail when their location is ready to receive serv-ices from Federated over the new fiber network. The mailing will include aninformation packet with pricing as well as an application form. If you have notyet received this information in the mail, your location is not quite ready forservice.

Interested customers should complete the application and return it to theFederated office located at 508 Atlantic Avenue in Morris. Once customers havesigned up for services, technicians for JCS will complete the installation of com-munication services at the customer's home or business. (See photos of JCSTechnicians).

As of last week, 46 new customers were connected in the system and convert-ed to the fiber optic connection. Ripley’s Inc. anticipates completing the burialof the fiber optic cable by the end of April.

Ripley's Inc. is scheduled to begin the Rural Appleton construction April 9th– weather permitting. Once completed, the Rural Appleton project will cover 77square miles with 115 miles of fiber optic cable connecting over 180 locations.

Part of the project required landowners to grant Federated permission toinstall the cable on their property, but it doesn't require them to pay for the con-struction or purchase the service, Eul said.

Upon completion of the construction process, Ripley’s Inc. will come backthrough the construction areas to lay black dirt and reseed any grass areaswhere applicable. Landowners are also encouraged to contact Federated at 585-4875 if there is unfinished work or cleanup left by the contractors. Eul saidFederated would keep a list of concerns to ensure all issues are resolved.

FEDERATED TELEPHONE – LOCAL COMMITMENT. GLOBAL SOLU-TIONS.

Andy Schoumaker

Chad Sutherland

Roy Schwartz

Hours: Monday - Thursday: 8:00 - 7:00

Friday 8:00 - 6:00 Saturday 8:00 - 4:00

320.589.4622www.morrisautoplaza.com

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RentzAgencyAuto, Home,

Business, Travel,Life and Property

Insurance

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320.589.2442

Make your travel arrangements with Anita.

Doug, Robin and Mary Jo

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Morris, Minnesota 56267Page 12 - Saturday, April 14, 2012

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~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~Stevens County Ambulance enrichescommunity emergency education

Every community needs people who are readyfor anything. All of us at some point will need thehelp of an emergency professional or volunteer.To anyone facing fire, an accident or serious ill-ness, the sound of a siren is the sound of rescue.

Stevens County Ambulance and EMSEducation (SCEMS) has for decades employedemergency medical technicians and paramedicswho provide advanced life support (ALS) ambu-lance service to Stevens County and the sur-rounding area. SCEMS has three overarchingmissions: first, to serve the community withpride, professionalism and respect both on thejob and in personal life; second, to provide thehighest-quality medical care to patients and theirfamilies; and finally, to provide comprehensiveeducational programs ranging from elementaryschool students learning about first aid to safetytraining for business and industry, and advancedlevel EMT and paramedic training.

Stevens County EMS responds to about 900 calls for service per year, including stand-by events, 911 emer-gency response in and around Stevens County and inter-facility transfer services for several area hospitals.SCEMS also offers a wide range of educational opportunities, which have helped to create and maintain abroad emergency response network for the local community.

“We try to educate as many people as we can about emergency response, CPR and first aid,” said SCEMSdirector Josh Fischer, “And as a result of those efforts we’re able to ‘strengthen the chain of survival’ by cre-ating a network of people who can respond and assist in emergency situations.”

Over the last 35 years, the programs offered through SCEMS have allowed for the creation of volunteer first-responder teams in several area cities. When an emergency call goes out, these volunteers are the first on thescene and help to take care of patients in the time the ambu-lance takes to get on site.

“We depend heavily on the support of community memberseducated through our programs,” Fischer said. “When an emer-gency happens in one of the surrounding towns, our first-responder teams are ready to handle the situation. To continueto successfully accomplish this, we need the involvement ofindividuals interested in stepping up and helping to serve theircommunities.”

In the effort to provide deeper and broader educational expe-riences and services, SCEMS recently hired 25-year EMS veter-an Bob Griffith as the new education coordinator to oversee allof SCEMS’ education programs. Griffith’s extensive experiencein EMS and his years working as a safety director for a localmanufacturing company lend him unique qualifications andleadership skills.

One of the new programs Griffith has helped develop focuseson emergency response in the workplace. He works with compa-nies on various aspects of emergency response, including CPR,First Aid, heavy equipment safety, OSHA compliance and more.These course offerings serve to assist businesses in creating a safer work environment for their employees andcustomers, particularly businesses that may not be able to hire a full time safety director.

“Prevention should always be the first step, such as heart-healthy lifestyles and safety training,” Griffithsaid. “But beyond prevention and recognizing dangerous situations, learning how to respond in an emergencyhelps everyone be safer and get the care they need. It's a privilege for us to be able to provide that service tothe Morris community through our education programs, and as an ambulance service."

Fisher added that educating the general public about emergency services and procedures helps improve theoverall emergency readiness of the entire area. “When any ambulance service gets called to a business orother public location, it’s very helpful if that business has an emergency response plan in place and thatthey’ve practiced it and know it well,” Fischer said. “Bob's talent for educating people, his passion for helpingpeople and his experience in the local manufacturing industry, helps us further develop the emergency readi-ness of businesses across Minnesota and the Dakotas.”

Classes at SCEMS are available to anyone in the community, and long-standing partnerships with theUniversity of Minnesota, Morris and local high schools have provided opportunities for young people to

expand their knowledge of thehealth care field and help thempursue careers such as paramedic,nurse or doctor.

“It’s so important to the ongo-ing success of the EMS system inWest Central Minnesota that weare able to educate people to dothis work," Fischer said. "Youdon’t have to become a profession-al paramedic—anyone can save alife if they are prepared. We tryhard to provide flexible classesthat work with individual’s sched-ules. SCEMS education programsoffer something for everyone.Funding assistance is available, aswell. Take a class, join our efforts,and learn 'How To Save a Life'!”


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Classes offered by SCEMS includeEmergency Medical Responder ('EMR' - for-merly first-responder) and EMT initial andrefresher courses; American HeartAssociation classes in CPR and First Aid;advanced level classes such as ACLS andPALS; as well as safety training for busi-nesses, customized education and more.

The first Aid and CPR class is offered ona monthly basis or by request, the next EMTcourse will begin on August 28, 2012 andan initial EMR (First Responder) course willbe offered beginning November 5, 2012.

Interested individuals are encouraged tocontact SCEMS for more information or toregister by calling 320-589-7421 or visitingstevensems.com.

SCEMS instructor Jess Velde assists a staff member fromGrant-Roberts ambulance service in Sisseton with 'delivering' ababy. Photo courtesy Stevens County EMS.

EMT students from Ortonville, Morris and MAHS participate in the SCEMS heartand lung lab. Photo courtesy Stevens County EMS.

Need Curb Appeal?

We offer full-serviceconstruction of everything fromwater features and retaining walls torocks and plantings.

585-6888

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~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~Northern Impressions grows fromnursery to full-service floral shop

When Brent and Darcy Fuhrman openedNorthern Impressions in 2010, they hoped thesmall nursery would be able to grow and fill aniche in the local floral market.

In the last two years, Northern Impressionshas expanded from a single nursery into a multi-pronged business that offers fresh flowers, trees,and shrubs; floral arrangements; weddingrentals; home décor and local art; and landscap-ing with free landscape design services.

This summer, they'll grow even further, addinga custom cake design business to provide a fullarray of coordinated services for customers inthe Morris area.

The Fuhrmans first began contemplating pur-chasing the nursery when Brent was deployed tothe Middle East with the 1-151 Field ArtilleryCharlie Battery. He was a full-time employee atthe Morris Armory, but was nearing the end ofhis years of service when the company wasdeployed and beginning to contemplate what hewould do after retirement from the NationalGuard.

The nursery became available while Fuhrmanwas overseas, and, after some deliberation, thefamily decided to go ahead with the investment.

“My parents had a flower shop when I wasgrowing up in Graceville, so I grew up knowing the flower shop,” said Fuhrman. “My hobby has always beenplants, trees, landscaping, working outside.”

Fuhrman returned from working convoy security in Kuwait and Iraq with Charlie Battery in April 2010 andopened the nursery just in time for Mother's Day. Since Northern Impressions opened, the company hasexpanded into both landscaping and custom floral services, keeping Fuhrman and his staff busy throughoutthe year.

Part of the company's success, said Fuhrman, has been appealing to customers across the Morris commu-nity. Many of Northern Impressions' frequent customers are college students and young, working profession-als in the Morris area.

Florist Sandy Thorstad has more than 20 years of experience in flower design, and regularly designs sym-pathy arrangements and wedding flowers, along with special arrangements for major holidays and events likeprom and graduation.

This Valentine's Day, Northern Impressions sold more than 1,100 roses. Over Christmas, Thorstad is keptbusy designing home décor, ornaments and silk flower arrangements for holiday decorating.

“Sandy is renowned for her ability to do silk arrangements, customized for each home,” said Fuhrman.Northern Impressions offers consultations with each customer to work within a budget and be sure that

each arrangement expresses what the family would like to say, whether the event is somber or joyous.“For families that need to order sympathy flowers for their own families, we offer the ability to sit down in

a comfortable setting and work through what it is they would like to do to honor their loved ones,” saidFuhrman. “It's a hard time, but you talk through it and try to get what it is they want to do to honor their lovedone with flowers.”

Having a nursery and flower shop in the same location also allows families to choose trees or shrubs to givein honor of their loved ones. Just last weekend, Northern Impressions provided a blooming plum tree for amemorial service.

During wedding consultations, Northern Impressions' staff works to help brides hone their vision for flow-ers within their budget and theme.

“We understand that flowers are just a small part of a wedding budget, so we want to help brides get themost for what they have,” said Fuhrman. “It's fun for us if somebody comes in and gives us a challenge ortheme.”

This summer, Northern Impressions hopes to expand on its reputation as a single source for wedding plan-ning by adding custom cake design with “It's a Piece of Cake!” The company, run by Fuhrman's mother-in-law,

Bernie Krosch, will offercustom cake designs forall occasions and operatein a renovated kitchen atthe store.

“Brides-to-be can sitdown and talk about flow-ers and the rentals fordecorating, and thencake,” said Fuhrman.“Then everything is coor-dinated with the samefolks so you don't have toworry. … We want to takea little of the stress off,too. It's a stressful time,but if you can do more ofit in one shop, for less,why wouldn't you?”


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Florist Sandy Thorstad has more than 20 years of experience inflower design and is renowned for her talent with silk arrange-ments.

Northern Impressions’ floral business offers sympathy arrangements and wedding flow-ers, as well as special holiday and event arrangements.


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320.585.68888 Hwy 28 - East • Morris

landscaping • floral arrangements • nursery •

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~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~Knute Nelson offers around-the-clock care, newtechnology to help patients stay home safely

In the last 30 years, the number of peoplewho receive home care services has grownfrom about 1.2 million to more than 12 mil-lion people. Research suggests that patientsrecover more quickly when they are able tostay at home, and that home care is oftenless expensive than extensive stays in thehospital.

In west central Minnesota, Knute NelsonHome Care offers personalized, around-the-clock home care services provided by ateam of local nurses and home health aids.Knute Nelson's goal through home careservices is to help people stay in theirhomes as long as they can safely live there.

“Home care is getting bigger becausepeople want to stay home, they don't want tobe in assisted living or nursing homes,” saidBonnie Bartell, RN and branch manager ofKnute Nelson's Morris office.

Knute Nelson has skilled nurses who canvisit clients’ homes to take basic measurements like blood pressure and vital signs, administer and discussmedications, provide wound care or IV therapy, or help manage chronic illnesses like diabetes or cancer.

Home health aids can help with bathing, dressing and other home-making services like housecleaningand meal preparation. Knute Nelson also offers a variety of therapy options including physical, occupa-tional and speech therapists.

The Morris office, located at 514 Atlantic Ave., has a staff of three nurses, three home health aids, onepersonal care attendant, one physical therapist and one occupational therapist serving about 40 clients inthe area. The staff also works at local assisted living and adult foster care facilities for Medicare-certifiedpatients.

Knute Nelson Home Care has seven offices in the region – Morris, Alexandria, Elbow Lake, Little Falls,Long Prairie, Olivia and Osakis – and serves clients located within 55 miles of Alexandria and in a 35-mileradius around the Morris and Elbow Lake branch offices.

One characteristic the company prides itself on is being available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, saidBartell. The Morris and Elbow Lake offices partner to make sure there is at least one staff member on-callover the weekend and on holidays, and work together to make sure client needs are covered.

“If a client comes home from the hospital at four o'clock in the afternoon, we usually try to get out therethe same day to see them to make sure everything they need is there when they get home,” said Bartell.

In the last year, the company has embraced new technologies to help offer better home care for clientsbetween visits.

Telehealth monitors – machines that are able to take basic measurements like weight and blood pres-sure – can be used to help monitor patients remotely. Information is collected and transmitted to the KnuteNelson staff to help make care decisions if the measurements change fluctuate unexpectedly.

“If they're sick enough that we want to keep track of their weights everyday or we're managing theirblood pressure medications and we want to keep closer tabs on them, they can do that in their home with-out us coming out every day,” said Bartell.

The monitors can also offer a feeling of security for families who many not live close but feel more com-fortable knowing their loved one is being checked-in on, said Bartell.

Another service available for patients is an automated medication dispenser – a lockbox with alarmsthat can be set to alert patients when they need to take medication. The device dispenses the medication,then resets after each use.

The device is particularly useful for patients that may have memory issues that keep them from consis-tently taking their medication, said Bartell. Knowing that the medications being prescribed are beingtaken correctly also helps physicians and family members feel more confident about patient care.

When clients approach Knute Nelson or arereferred for care, staff members arrange to meetthe patient and, hopefully, another family mem-ber to walk through how the care will be paid forand what types of services are needed, discussadvanced directives and other concerns, andmake a head-to-toe assessment with vital signs.Staff will also just come visit and talk withprospective clients about home care services tohelp try and alleviate concerns and answer ques-tions before an agreement may be signed.

“The admission process is really pretty pain-less for the patient,” said Bartell. “It gets to bekind of a long day if they're coming from thehospital then have to sit with us, so we try not tooverwhelm them at the beginning.”

Payment for the services that Knute Nelsonoffers may be covered by Medicare, Medicaidand most insurance plans or waiver services.Care can also be paid for privately. In whateversituation, Knute Nelson staff will work withpotential clients to find out what services can becovered and how they will be paid for.


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Knute Nelson staff (L to R) Kathy Riley, Tanya Freske, DenaCarbert, Bonnie Bartell; (not pictured) Tracy Gahm, Alllie Welter,physical therapist Deb Hagel and occupational therapist LisaNewbauer

Knute Nelson office is located at 515 Atlantic Avenue,Suite #102, Morris


Emergency Dial

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Morris, Minnesota 56267Page 14 - Saturday, May 5, 2012

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WWee ooffffeerrffuullll--sseerrvviiccee

ccoonnssttrruuccttiioonn ooffeevveerryytthhiinngg ffrroommwwaatteerr ffeeaattuurreessaanndd rreettaaiinniinnggwwaallllss ttoo rroocckkssaanndd ppllaannttiinnggss..

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DJsReceptions

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Comedians


320.589.2270




AFFORDABLE


Celebrating Over

40 Years!

BasementsDemolition




110000 YYeeaarrss!!





~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~Rentz Agency offers insurance andtravel planning under new ownership

Rentz Agency is now operating under new, but familiar,ownership.

Doug Wartner purchased the insurance and travelagency divisions of the company, which has been operatingin Morris since 1954, effective January 1, 2012. For Doug,who has been with the company since 1991 and a co-ownersince 1995, the timing was right to purchase the business.

“There were things going on in the insurance industryand in our personal lives; it was time to make a change,” hesaid. “Rentz Agency has been here for more than 50 yearsand plans to be around for another 50 years.”

Three other familiar faces – licensed insurance agentsRobin Smith and Mary Jo Wohlwend and travel consultantAnita Longnecker – are still with the company, offeringexperienced, personal service for customers in the area.

Rentz Agency offers a full line of insurance coverages forboth personal and commercial needs. They offer completepackages for all your exposures. All staff members empha-size personal service and working with customers locally.

“Our motto is 'First in service,'” said Doug. “When youcall us, your call is personally answered.”

As an independent insurance agency, Rentz Agency repre-sents several different insurance companies.

“That means when we do a quote, we're quoting to get youthe best product at the best price,” said Doug.

The locally-owned company also prides itself on offeringindividualized, personal attention for customers.

“We like to sit down with our customers and truly findout what their needs are to design a plan that fits them,” saidDoug. “We know we are dealing with our friends and neigh-bors and strive to provide quality insurance at an affordableprice.”

Anita Longnecker represents the full-service travelagency side of the business, with more than 24 years of per-sonal and professional travel experience. When customerswork with Anita, she can accommodate all travel needsincluding airlines, hotels, car rentals, cruises, motor coach-es and vacation packages.

Working with a travel agent provides some assurances ifproblems arise before or during a planned vacation and canoften be more cost-effective than booking online becausetravel agents are able to make arrangements as part of apackaged deal, Anita said.

Recently, a Rentz Agency client was in a weekend accidentjust days before he was scheduled to take a vacation, keepinghim from leaving when planned. Rentz Agency took care ofcanceling the reservation and was even able to get credit andmoney back on the vacation package.

“If you would have done that online, you're sunk,” said Anita. “There's nobody to talk to, norecourse.”

Popular travel destinations for clients in the Morris area include Mexico, Hawaii, the Caribbean,Florida and California.

Customers interested in working with Rentz Agency on insurance or travel can visit their website,www.rentzagency.com or e-mail [email protected].


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Doug Wartner, who has worked for RentzAgency since 1991 with 28 years experi-ence, specializes in business and farminsurance.

Travel consultant Anita Longnecker hasbeen with Rentz Agency since 1996 andhas more than 24 years of travel experi-ence.

Mary Jo Wohlwend has been with RentzAgency since 2007 and concentrates onbusiness and farm insurance.

Robin Smith, who has been with RentzAgency since 2004 and has over 32 yearsof experience, specializes in personallines.


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If you are interested in participating in our next showcase, please call Linda Cook or Cheryl Busch at 320-589-2525.

Morris, Minnesota 56267Page 12 - Saturday, June 16, 2012

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We offerfull-service

construction of everything from

water features andretaining walls to

rocks and plantings.

FoodDrinks

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Flat ScreensBuffets

Comedians


320.589.2270




AFFORDABLE


Celebrating Over

40 Years!

BasementsDemolition


Screened Black DirtRock, Sand & Gravel WWee aarree CCeelleebbrraattiinngg

110000 YYeeaarrss!!





~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~Skyview and West Wind Village offercontinuum of care for residents

As seniors age, they and their families are faced with anarray of choices for how to live comfortably while stillreceiving the health care services they may need.

In the Morris area, senior living facilities SkyviewPlaza, Skyview Court and West Wind Village offer a contin-uum of care that allows seniors to transition and increasetheir care through personalized services designed to meeteach person's individual needs.

Assisted living apartments at Skyview Court andSkyview Plaza offer one and two bedroom apartmentsdesigned for seniors who are still healthy, but hoping todownsize or move to safer housing to provide peace ofmind for their families.

Both apartment complexes have spacious indoor atri-ums for residents to walk in and have a pleasant space tocongregate or visit with their families. Skyview offersthree meals every day, as well as scheduled activities.

As residents age, they have the opportunity to increaseservices from registered nurses to help them live morecomfortably and independently at Skyview. Optional serv-ices include medication reminders, blood sugar checks,housekeeping, laundry, coordinating for appointments andtransportation and more. Residents can also add more exten-sive nursing and aid services as needed.

Skyview Court also includes a secure memory care wingwith staff who specialize in working with residents sufferingfrom memory loss or early dementia. Skyview Court's careteam has been specially trained in dementia care. Six tenantsshare a home with a care team supervised by a registerednurse. The six apartments each include a “harmless kitchen”and surround a common dining and social area.

If residents begin to suffer from more severe health careissues or worsening dementia, they have the opportunity tomove along the continuum of care to West Wind Village onthe west side of Morris. Because doctors and nursing staffare connected between facilities, the transition from onefacility to the other can be managed more efficiently forresidents.

Nursing staff at West Wind Village work to create asense of community for the center's 125 residents – almostall who come from Morris or the close surrounding area.

West Wind Village offers two specialized care centers –the Rossberg Center, which focuses on care for patients suf-fering from Alzheimer's and dementia, and the recently-opened Loher Lane Rehab Suites.

The Loher Lane Rehab Suites, which are named afterformer West Wind Village Board Member Jerry Loher,offer comprehensive rehabilitation services including physical,occupational and speech therapies provided by Big StoneTherapies. After each rehab session, residents can return totheir own private rooms.

Both Skyview and West Wind Village are operated by St.Francis Health Services and sponsored by the Catholic Dioceseof St. Cloud. When residents are admitted to either facility, theyare assessed for their spiritual needs. West Wind Willage andSkyview work with many churches in the community to offerweekly services, communion, Bible study, memorial servicesand grief counseling.

Both Skyview and West Wind Village are committed to sup-porting the local community and promoting economic stability in the region. West Wind Village employsaround 135 employees – more than 100 from in and around the Morris area – and pays around $2.6 million eachyear in wages and benefits. Skyview employs 35 people and pays $540,000 each year.

Both facilities also work to purchase from local businesses, investing about $1.8 million dollars locally in the2010 – 2011 fiscal year.

To continue to train and support staff members, the organization offers scholarship opportunities for staffto increase their training and become more specialized. Last year, staff received around $12,000 in scholarshipsfor training and educational opportunities.


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~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~Family-owned excavators Jim Riley & Sonsstays small to remain comfortable andresponsive to customers

For many business owners, the goal is to continually grow bigger.But for Kirk and Kevin Riley, owners of Jim Riley & Sons Construction, expanding their small, fam-

ily-owned general excavating company didn't allow them to remain comfortable and customer friendly.Instead, the brothers have worked to build a strong reputation in the community while staying heavilyinvolved in every project they take on.

Father Jim Riley started the company in 1971 with just two pieces of equipment – a small backhoeand a gravel truck. Sons Kirk and Kevin worked for the family business when they were kids, and bothbegan working full-time for their dad after their high school graduation. Kirk and Kevin bought thecompany from Jim in 1993.

Since its humble beginnings, Jim Riley & Sons has expandedto include six full-time employees, four part-time workers and afleet of equipment that rivals a much larger operation: threeexcavators, five dump trucks, three payloaders, a rubber-tiredbackhoe, two track skid-loaders, and three bulldozers.

The company also has its own gravel pit to supply andprocess gravel and screen black dirt, which helps make themself-sufficient.

“We're a small company, yet we have a large fleet of equip-ment – we've got more equipment than guys,” said Kirk. “We cando jobs big and small; we can do about anything.”

Projects include basement work, land clearing, sand andgravel hauling, all types of site work, demolition and farmdrainage. Jim Riley & Sons is also state certified for on-sitesewer installation.

For Kirk, part of the appeal of continuing his father's busi-ness is the variety of work he does each day and the sense ofaccomplishment he gets at the end of the day.

“You can start a job and it's a complete disaster and it doesn'tlook like anything, but eventually it just starts to take shape andyou end up with a finished project, which is really satisfying,”he said.

Although many owners would work to keep expanding their business, Kirk and Kevin have deliber-ately kept Jim Riley & Sons small.

About 10 years ago, the company had grown to 17 employees who worked as part of three differentconstruction crews. But the administration for an operation that size became too much, so they'vedeliberately pulled back, said Kirk.

“We tried to go a little bit bigger, but found it more comfortable and more customer-friendly to be asmall, hands-on company,” said Kirk. “Kevin or I have contact with every one of our customers – wetalk to them and we know them.”

Over the 41 years Jim Riley & Sons has been in business, the company has been involved in a num-ber of projects along Morris' main street. This spring, the company helped tear down the old MorrisCo-op Elevator at the New Horizons site in downtown Morris.

Jim Riley & Sons also does regular work for Stevens County, the City of Morris and the Universityof Minnesota, Morris.

Kirk estimates that more than 80 percent of thework Jim Riley & Sons takes on comes from repeatcustomers or word-of-mouth recommendationsbased on the company's long-term reputation inthe area.

“We've got a lot of loyal customers – when theyhave something to do they get us, which I thinkspeaks volumes for the type of work we do too,”said Kirk.

“We're a big enough company to handle justabout anything, but we're small enough to care,”he continued. “We're not a big enough company, wedon't have the klout, to bully our way throughsomething. We have to do a good job and the cus-tomer has to be satisfied. Our reputation is every-thing to us.”


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~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~Old #1 continues to give

customers what they wantIn June 1997, the local VFW Post 5039 turned

over the keys of its clubhouse to new owners,Donny Wohlers and Brian Solvie. The Old No.1 Bar and Grill was born. John "Thirsty"Thorstad still stood behind the bar, ready togreet old and new faces, and Barb Riley tookcontrol of the new, small kitchen. With theopening of the bar, Donny, sought the advice ofparents. His father, Mel, who has since passedway, told him "Give the customers what theywant." Donny has kept that advice in mind andas a result, a lot has changed over the years.

In 2008, Donny bought out Brian and pur-chased the next-door bar (formerly Grady'sand B Roberts). He gutted the inside, addeddoorways into the Old No. 1, and reopened thebuilding as a banquet facility under the name"Southside." After additional remodeling, thefacility now seats up to 350, but can also be

divided into two separate rooms, with the small-er room comfortably hosting smaller meetings.

The banquet facility is frequently booked throughout the year with reunions, birthday parties, anniver-saries, weddings and business meetings. Two large screen TVs, wireless internet, and full electronic hook-ups allow guests to watch PowerPoint presentations, slide shows and videos. A newly remodeled conferenceroom in the lower level (the VFW room) seats 100 guests and provides the same amenities as the Southside.Customers renting the Southside or VFW room have the option, at no cost, to use the Old No. 1 Bus. The lim-ousine-style bus seats 22 and can be used to pick-up and drop off guests, or to transport the entire weddingparty throughout the day.

The options for catered meals in the Southside are varied. While buffet-style service is available, the staffboasts on its ability to serve a 300-person sit down meal within 15 minutes. Some of the meal choices include:orange-glazed chicken breast, bourbon pork tenderloins, garlic and herb mashed potatoes, buttered baby redpotatoes, and even a children's meal option.

In addition to on-site catering, the Old No. 1 offers off-site catering with optional bar set-up. The food choic-es for off-site catering are as varied as those for on-site catering. The catering service can be as extensive asproviding place settings, full table set-up and food service, or as simple as putting together a meal for a grad-uation party.

In the main restaurant area, Old No. 1 offers a weekday noon buffet with different selections every dayranging from spaghetti and soups, to Barb's famous meatloaf. The food menu has one of the area's largestselections, and includes burgers, pastas, salads, appetizers, chicken, steak, Mexican-American food and sand-wiches. Old No. 1 is currently in the process of adding handmade, freshly-baked pizza selections to the menu.On Friday nights, the Old No. 1 serves an all-you-can-eat seafood buffet with crab legs, fish and shrimp. Thebuffets, along with the regular menu, include special senior-citizen prices.

While a lot has changed in the 15 years since Old No. 1 opened, some things have remained constant. TheOld No. 1 has always considered itself family-friendly. Donny has four children under the age of 15, the man-ager, Matt Lhotka, has four children under the age of eight, and several proud parents work at Old No. 1. Theselection of video games, darts and pool tables provide ample entertainment for kids during the dinnerhours, and the kid's menu offers a variety of foodoptions. Soft-serve ice cream was recently added.Flavors such as cotton candy, butter pecan, andstrawberry can be served as cones, sundaes orshakes.

Of course the Old No. 1 is also a full-service bar.It carries one of the largest wine selections in thearea, and has 10 varieties of beer on tap. An assort-ment of blended drinks and liquors round out thelist. The Old No. 1 hosts softball teams in the sum-mer, and pool and dart leagues in the winter. Arecently installed online dart board, complete withlive video, will allow customers to play darts withfriends in other similarly set-up locations.

Throughout the years, numerous constructionprojects have resulted in the expansion of thekitchen and increased seating capacity. A new exte-rior has improved the rear entrance, and a face-liftin 2010 resulted in the addition of a deck on thefront of the building. The layoutinside has changed significantlyover the years, but the front ele-vator is still available to assistcustomers with limited mobility.

And even though the VFWsold its clubhouse, it has alwaysremained an active presence onsite. The Old No. 1 is proud toserve as the home of the VFWPost. Donny appreciates the sup-port he has received from theVFW members, and from thecommunity at-large, and encour-ages anyone who has never beento the Old No. 1 to stop in andcheck it out.


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Customers renting the Southside or VFW room have the option,at no cost, to use the Old No. 1 Bus which seats 22.

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~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~Image Xperts works to keep pace

with customer demandsIn the 15 years that Image Xperts has been in busi-

ness in the Morris area, many changes have takenplace and more are yet to come. The company's store-front in downtown Morris will be getting anotherupgrade soon, allowing for the recently vacatedspace from Meadowland Market to be used more effi-ciently. The former Meadowland Market storefrontwill house Image Xperts' expanded showroom, withmore space to highlight the projects each employeeworks on. Image Xperts’ current office will be reno-vated to serve as the sign shop, which will bring allproduction into one building.

The business began in 1997, primarily as a signshop – KTM Signs and Graphics – based out of amachine shed just south of Hancock. The companymoved to a “home office” in 2006 and then to 5thStreet in Morris in 2009 when employees were addedas well. Owner Terry Timmerman purchased thebuilding where it is currently located, corner of 7thStreet and Pacific Avenue, in 2010.

The company formally changed the name toImage Xperts in 2009 when the Timmermans pur-chased the business in which Terry was a sales rep-resentative. While the ink was drying on that pur-chase another was being put together. LakesideEmbroidery (formerly located in Starbuck) was pur-chased and moved to Morris. Image Xperts now hadembroidery and screen printing along with signagebeing done under one roof in one great location to better service our local community.

“We brought all aspects of the business together and we were doing everything, forthe most part, in-house,” said Timmerman. Because we sell promotional productswhich includes a variety of widgets, thing-a-ma-jigs, and doohickeys we use vendorsthroughout the United States to source those product lines.

In addition to Timmerman, Image Xperts has four employees – graphic designerLeah Zierke, screen printer Suzanna Fitzgerald, office manager Whitney Riley andembroidery expert Shirley Razink.

Heather Storck was recently added as a sales representative and will be helpingTerry maintain and service accounts throughout the area. “We are excited to haveHeather on board as she is very talented in sales and design and knows the area and peo-ple therein very well,” Terry explains.

Graphic designer Leah Zierke, who has worked at Image Xperts since 2009, is trainedin web design with an emphasis in graphic design. Zierke said she loves working on bill-boards, although she also enjoys the other graphic projects like decals, brochures, busi-ness cards and t-shirts.

Zierke also does some billboard and project sales in Morris, Hancock and Benson.“I really enjoy the variety – I'm in the office a lot, but it's fun to get out-and-about deal-

ing directly with the customers when I'm doing sales, getting to know them more per-sonally that way,” said Zierke.

Screen printer Suzanna Fitzgerald was trained in-house, and works on all of ImageXperts t-shirt and printing projects. Image Xperts is responsible for the shirts used atmany local events and by local clubs. Fitzgerald also helps do some selling as well assign work. She has been very helpful stepping in for Whitney for a couple of monthswhile she is out.

Whitney Riley started with Image Xperts literally the day after graduating college.She has learned the business well and certainly is responsible for many of the compa-ny's success. Whitney is currently on maternity leave, which has left a short-term voidin the office, but we hope she is enjoying the time with her precious daughter.

Shirley Razink has about 26 years of embroidery experience. Because she owned herown business (Lakeside Embroidery), Shirley understands the effort and concern forthe customer that is essential for allowing a business to succeed. Shirley is a workhorseand can outpace most people half her age with her work ethic.

Image Xperts is also appreciative of all its local customers, especially those who havebeen patient during a period of transition trying to centralize employees and opera-tions in town.

All employees take pride in offering a quick turnaround for projects. Orders forscreen printing and embroidery projects are generally completed within one to twoweeks.

“It has been inter-esting for threeyears, not only try-ing to purchase stuffin town to make thishappen, addingemployees and beingon-the-go trying tofulfill our customersneeds,” saidTimmerman.


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Image Xperts owner Terry Timmerman, his wife Connie,and their three children, Tyler, Courtney and Carissa.

Heather Storck

Leah Zierke

Shirley Razink

One of Image Xperts most recent signs was for Meadowland Market.The staff at Image Xperts wishes Meadowland Market success attheir new location.

Suzanna Fritzgerald

Whitney Riley

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~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~Affordable Floor Covering offers flooringand blinds for local renovation projects

Two years ago, do-it-yourself homeimprovement and renovation projectswere big business for Affordable FloorCovering in downtown Starbuck.

“A lot of people were coming in here,grabbing their tile, borrowing a saw fromme and installing it themselves,” saidowner Terry Jones.

Today, more customers come into thestore looking to take advantage ofAffordable Floor Covering's inexpensiveinstallation and extensive collection offlooring and blinds for their local projects.

Affordable Floor Covering offers alltypes of flooring including carpet, tile,LVT, vinyl, laminate, wood and cork.

“We have every type of flooring and wehave a lot of it in stock if you need some-thing for a weekend project,” said Jones.

“And if we don't have it, we should be able to get it.”The store also offers Hunter Douglas blinds, and does free measurements and free estimates for all cus-

tomers.Although the store does work with homeowners building for the first time, most recent orders have includ-

ed smaller renovations like bedroom or kitchen improvements or finishing basements.“Most of ours are just small, regular projects,” said Jones.Affordable Floor Covering has a large selection of in-stock carpeting, which is one of the store's biggest

selling floor covering options. The store stocks popular carpeting from manufacturers like Mohawk, Shaw,Beaulieu of America, Best Buy and Southwind.

“I buy it by the roll, then we can sell it a little bit cheaper; I don't have to pay freight on every little piecethat comes in, so I can sell it cheaper that way to save customers money,” said Jones.

“We offer better quality than the big box stores, which sell a lot of seconds,” he added. “Plus, it's surpris-ing how well we can compete with them because we don't have the overhead.”

Products from other popular floor covering manufacturers like Nafco, Flexitec, Esquire, Congoleum andBerry are also available.

Jones purchased the store from the previous owner, Rosemary Jansen, in May 2007. Jansen still works atthe store several days a week, keeping her knowledge and expertise in flooring with the business.

“She knows as much, or more, than I do,” joked Jones.Unlike other stores in the area, the installers who work for Affordable Floor Covering are contractors who

are paid directly by customers.Jones schedules installation times with customers at the store, the installers pick up the supplies from the

store, then head out to thehouse for each job.Customers pay the installersdirectly, which helps keepinstallation costs down.

“I don't make a dime onour installations, so theinstallation costs typicallyare cheaper,” said Jones.

And the lead time forinstallations is typicallyquick, within one or twoweeks or purchase. An exten-sive selection of in-stock car-peting and tile helps shortenthe time between purchaseand installation.

Affordable Floor Coveringworks with customers fromaround the area, includingMorris, Glenwood,Alexandria and Benson.

Affordable Floor Coveringis open from 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.Monday through Friday andfrom 9 a.m. – 1 p.m. onSaturday. Jones is also avail-able to meet with customersoutside of business hoursand on weekends by appoint-ment.

For more informationabout Affordable FloorCovering, visit their websiteat www.afcstarbuck.com orcall (320) 239-2136.


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Affordable Floor Covering offers a selection of HunterDouglas blindsand window coverings. Owner Terry Jones does free measurementsand free estimates for every project.

The store includes an extensive array of flooring options that can be special orderedto customer specifications.

Affordable Floor Covering has a selection of in-stock carpeting options, which helpskeep costs down for customers.

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~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~Morris Auto Plaza continues to grow and change

If you’ve driven by Morris Auto Plaza lately you might have noticed some changes underway. Constructionequipment and workers are busy transforming the dealership into a shiny, modern model of a General Motorsdealership.

Earlier this year, General Motors Co. announced that its 4,400 dealerships will be remodeled and updated.The push follows a company-wide initiative to create a more unified brand across the country and an improvedbuying experience for their customers.

Morris Auto Plaza is one of the thousands of GM dealerships currently participating in the major remodel.The changes include updated offices and service center, a new showroom and a new building which will serveas a car-delivery area.

The road has been a long one for Morris Auto Plaza. The dealership was established in 1994 by JoelKrusemark, alongside his brother Tom, selling GMC, Buick, Pontiac and Cadillac brands. The new and usedvehicle dealership began with 11 employees and 35 vehicles on their lot. Since that time, the dealership hasgrown to 22 employees and typically carries between 250 and 300 vehicles, providing a wide selection of newBuick and GMC brands, along with high quality used vehicles to fit any budget or need.

Since the beginning, the dealership has focused on providing a comfortable, straight-forward buying expe-rience for their customers. Their offices provide many amenities, including free wi-fi and a courtesy shuttleservice for patrons. The staff is very experienced, as well. Many employees have worked at the dealership tenyears or more.

“Our buying experience is very relaxed. Many of our customers leave laughing and smiling. We always standbehind what we sell and that integrity I think is vital to our success,” Krusemark said. “Nothing is hidden,everything we do is priced immediately. All of our used vehicles are thoroughly inspected and are priced com-petitively. We shop nationwide to find vehicles that are competitively priced and top quality. That’s a big chal-lenge, but it pays off in the quality of our vehicles.”

After the changes are complete, the new car deliveryarea will provide space for employees to present the cus-tomer’s new vehicle and give an extensive presentationof the car, which is necessary for explaining the manyfeatures on today’s vehicles. It also will allow customersto receive their new vehicle in doors, as though it justrolled off the showroom floor. The Service Center willnow feature a climate controlled area where customerswill be able to drive into the center and be greeted by aservice consultant without having to endure the outdoorheat and cold.

“By the time the renovations are complete, our storewill look identical to any other Buick GMC dealership,”Krusemark said. “We’ll be able to give a much improvedbuying experience, which we’re very excited about.”

Completion of the remodeled offices is slated for the end ofJuly, including the new car delivery building. The updatedshowroom and service reception area are scheduled to becompleted by November.

“This re-model is one of our ways of investing into thecommunity,” he said. “It’s a large undertaking but we feelthat it will enrich the buying experience for our customersand give them comfort whether they’re buying a vehicle orhaving it serviced.”

Morris Auto Plaza realizes that their growth and successwouldn’t be possible without the support from the Morris andsurrounding communities. Because of this support, the deal-ership has always put community involvement and investment at the forefront of their business practices.

“For me, coming into work is a joy,” Krusmark said. “We’re passionate about helping people have an experi-ence that isn’t just professional and easy, but also fun.”

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Morris Auto Plaza grounds in 1994

New look for Morris Auto Plaza is underway

Remodelprojectbegins

April2012

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~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

United Farmers & Mechants State BankAn independently owned, community bank

Farmers & Merchants State Bank of Donnelly opened for business in Donnelly on July 1, 1912. Sincethen, Farmers & Merchants State Bank has been committed to remaining independent and locally owned.To celebrate 100 years as Stevens County's only locally-owned and independent bank, United Farmers &Merchants State Bank is planning a community celebration on Friday, July 13 in Donnelly.

“We have a longevity in the industry,” says President Paul Ersted. “Not every bank remains independ-ent. Not every bank remains locally-owned.”

“There's a continuity that goes along with local ownership,” he continues. “We still have customers thatwere customers when my grandfather was cashier and president of the bank. That continuity is important.Banking is a people business, so there is a lot of knowledge to be gained through our history.”

When Farmers & Merchants State Bank was founded in 1912, Charles B. Koos was appointed as the firstpresident, and Christian C. (C.C.) Ersted was appointed cashier. There were 27 initial investors from theDonnelly and Herman areas who purchased 150 shares of common stock at a price of $100 per share.

C.C. arrived in the Donnelly area around 1910. He tried his hand at farming, but when the local towns-people began talking about starting a bank he became a leader of the process and was an original majori-ty stockholder. In 1946, C.C. was appointed president and served until his son, Paul, was appointed presi-dent in April 1958.

During his time as president, C.C. worked quietly and earnestly for the betterment of he community, giv-ing sound counsel and friendly service to all as a business and civic leader in Donnelly. C.C. gave generous-ly of his time and means to his home community and county, and helped in large measure in the develop-ment this area.

Paul joined the staff of the bank in January 1941 as the assistant cashier. He was appointed cashier in1944 and elected executive vice president in 1950 before being appointed president in 1958. Paul worked hardfor the Donnelly community, serving on the church council and as a member of the Masons. He enjoyedhunting, fishing and playing golf.

The bank remained under the leadership of Paul Ersted and H.W. McRoberts until 1965 when Erstedbecame ill. McRoberts was named CEO and ran the bank until he retired. Around this time, David (Bill)Underwood joined his wife, Evelyn, as an employee of the bank. Bill began with general banking work, soldinsurance and assisted McRoberts.

In 1976, third-generation banker Paul Ersted Jr. joined Farmers & Merchants State Bank permanently.In 1981, Paul Jr. followed in his father's and grandfather's footsteps and became president of the bank. BillUnderwood retired as vice president in 1986.

In 1992 the Board of Directors decided to expand the bank's service area in order to improve services tosurrounding communities. The First State Bank in Chokio was purchased in September 1992. The twobanks continued to operate as separate entities until September 1993 when they merged. The resulting bankwas named Farmers & Merchants State Bank.

The new bank operated its two branches in Donnelly and Chokio until February 1994 when the bank relo-cated its charter from Donnelly to Morris. In addition to moving the charter, the bank changed its name toUnited Farmers & Merchants State Bank.

“Obviously, we've been a staple in our communities and that's a good thing,” says Ersted. “But we've con-tinually been progressive. We have not remained stagnant and old-fashioned. We are a community bank; weare independent and we know our customers and our customers know us. We strive to provide our cus-tomers with the latest in banking technology, combined with good old fashioned customer service.”

The community celebration to honor 100 years in the area on Friday, July 13 will begin at 1 p.m. with anice cream social, tours of the Donnelly bank, and games and activities for kids and adults including a beanbag toss, a putting contest, a frisbee toss, a money machine and rides with a horse and buggy.

There is a meal planned for 5 p.m., a dance starting at 8 p.m., and fireworks scheduled for dusk. The fire-works are being presented by RES Specialty Pyrotechnics from Belle Plaine, Minn. RES recently took firstplace in the Thailand International Fireworks Contest, a two-year competition that brought together teamsfrom Thailand, Australia, China, Denmark, Italy, Japan, UAE and the United States.

“I think the longevity of reaching the milestone of 100 years of remaining in business is pretty impor-tant,” says Ersted. “I think it's noteworthy that there aren't many third or fourth generation 'family banks.'The bank has been through some major events, and we've persevered through all of them.”


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Current employees of the United Farmers & Merchants State Bank, located in Donnelly, Morris and Chokio

Business Showcase April-June 2012

Documents

Transcript of Business Showcase April-June 2012