CHAMBERNews
Life with a river view
Volume 27 I August 2014 I
Number 8
CLINTON AREA
CHAMBEROF COMMERCE
CLINTON
CAMANCHE
FULTON
The Clinton Area Chamber of Commerce (CACC),
Clinton Regional Development Corporation (CRDC),
and DeWitt Chamber & Development Company (DCDC)
In this issue...
Greetings . . . . . . . . . . . . .2
Member Spotlight . . . .3
Renewing Members . . .4
represent the business and professional community in Clinton County.
All three organizations are non-partisan and committed to fostering the growth of our members,
investors, and communities throughout Clinton County and our region.
Our organizations believe strongly in the need for public participation in the electoral process leading up to the
general election scheduled on November 4, 2014. As a courtesy to our members, investors, and communities,
the three organizations are organizing a series of candidate forums which will raise issues and concerns
central to the economic and community vitality of Clinton County.
Chamber Calendar . . . .5
New Members . . . . . . . .6
The following are important dates in the public discourse during the process to select our
elected officials and beyond:
Biz Bits . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9
CVB . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .11
County Candidate Forum #1
Event Wrap-Up . . . . . .12
Thursday, September 18, 2014 • 6:00 pm to 8:30 pm
City of Clinton City Hall - 611 S. 3rd Street, Clinton, IA 52732
State Candidate Forum #1
Thursday, September 25, 2014 • 6:00 pm to 8:30 pm
City of Clinton City Hall - 611 S. 3rd Street, Clinton, IA 52732
County Candidate Forum #2
Thursday, October 16, 2014 • 6:00 pm to 8:30 pm
DeWitt Community Center - 512 10th Street, DeWitt, Iowa
State Candidate Forum #2
ACCREDITATION
UNITED STATES CHAMBER
OF
COMMERCE
Thursday, October 23, 2014 • 6:00 pm to 8:30 pm
DeWitt Community Center - 512 10th Street, DeWitt, Iowa
General Election Day
Tuesday, November 4, 2014
For More Information Contact: Clinton County Auditor &
Commissioner of Elections,
Eric Van Lancker at www.clintoncounty-ia.gov.
Clinton County Day in Des Moines
Thursday, February 5, 2015 • All Day
Iowa Capitol Building - Des Moines, Iowa
CHAMBER STAFF
A Message from the President...
By Nathan Sondgeroth, Chamber President
Nathan Sondgeroth
President
Over the summer, both Joni Krogman (our Director of Chamber
Operations) and Carrie Donaire (our CVB Director) received special recognitions in their industries. I wanted to take a moment to congratulate (and
brag on) Joni and Carrie.
Joni Krogman
Director, Chamber Operations
In June of 2014, Joni attended her 2nd Year of Chamber Institute from the
United States Chamber of Commerce. The training occurred in Athens,
Georgia the last week of June. Joni won a full tuition scholarship from the
Iowa Chamber of Commerce Executives (ICCE) organization, our statewide
Chamber organization.
Karen Friis
Administrative Services Coordinator
Jennifer Rogers
Business Manager
Carrie Donaire
Director, Convention & Visitors Bureau
Karolyn Kruse
CVB Assistant
We all find our way into Chamber work differently and often times after a career in a non-Chamber related industry. The educational foundation of Chamber work comes through the Institute. Joni came back
from this experience full of cutting edge Chamber ideas to serve our members here in the Clinton Area.
She is half way done with the Institute's four year program. Great job Joni!
Also in June, our CVB Director, Carrie Donaire, was named a director at large for the Eastern Iowa Tourism
Association (EITA). EITA is a trade association of CVB and tourism related organizations throughout eastern Iowa. As an EITA director, Carrie will help influence tourism policy for our entire region and the State
of Iowa. Congratulations Carrie!
Both Joni and Carrie prove that service to the Chamber and CVB industries in general also help bring
new and fresh ideas home to serve our area and members. Along with Karen Friis and Jennifer Rogers,
you have a team of professionals at the Chamber and CVB dedicated to helping this region grow and
prosper.
We are here to help you. As always, if you are interested in me visiting your business, please never hesitate to email me at [email protected]
Until next time, I'm at your service,
Nathan
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CHAMBERNews
www.clintonia.com
August 2014
Member Spotlight
New Member Spotlight
Adcraft Printwear
Patricia Fuller, Dale Carnegie Training
In 1974, Terry and Barb Sullivan set up shop in the Lyons district, 40 years later, the
Sullivans' are keeping it all in the family. In its 40th Anniversary year, Dan and Colin
Sullivan have big plans for the home grown company. Taking what was originally a
sign shop, into a nationally recognized screen printing and embroidery “One Stop
Shop”.
Dale Carnegie Training, a worldwide
leader in professional development, currently partners with business leaders in
more than 80 countries. Here in Iowa,
Dale Carnegie Training professionals
focus on Leadership Development,
Employee Engagement and Succession
Planning. Specifically, Dale Carnegie helps
organizations overcome challenges associated with Change Readiness, Partnering
in a Matrix, Virtual Teaming, NonTraditional Selling, Mid-Level Leading,
Sales Force Transformation, and
Dealer/Distributor Effectiveness. Team
members are coached to improve communication, presentation, human relations
and process management skills.
Adcraft is a design, embroidery, and screen printing company; that is driven by the
desire to exceed customer expectations. Specializing in hitting those impossible
deadlines, all while providing “best in class” service. Servicing clients in corporate
work wear, event shirts, team uniforms, organization fundraisers, and logo
design…the Adcraft family takes great pride in making sure the experience and final
product is the best in the industry!
With plans for a new production facility, diversifying their sales channels, and adding
an additional market entity, a large expansion is in the works. Plans for a fall completion date will allow for growth in the art, sales, and production arenas, in an effort to
meet the demands of the high volume/quick turnaround requests. In addition to the
physical expansion, Adcraft has made its presence in the cyber world, owning and
operating over 10 t-shirt and apparel sites. Working with big name clients, such as
the New York Yankees, Iowa Hawkeyes, and obtaining licensing for Iowa State, UNI,
and Drake; Adcraft hopes to take their business to the next level.
As a Client Development Associate, I am a member of the Norman and Associates
consulting team which offers Dale Carnegie Training in Iowa and Minnesota. The
Norman franchise was recently recognized for being the top producing Dale
Carnegie Training franchise in North America five straight years.
In 2013, Dan and Colin Sullivan purchased the company from their parents, Barb &
Terry; whom remain active on the Board of Directors. Although a far cry from the
small shop up on Main Avenue, the roots, ideas, and concept seem to have come full
circle for the Sullivan Family. Adcraft would like to thank the Clinton community for
all of the support and encouragement throughout the years…Stay tuned!
It's a privilege to be able to work with organizations in the Clinton area, as well as
De Witt, Maquoketa, and the Quad Cities. Building leadership, people, and communication skills, along with increased self-confidence and the ability to manage
stress and worry allow people to meet challenges and create opportunities for
themselves and their organizations that drive measurable results.
www.adcraftusa.com
To reach me and the Dale Carnegie Training team, call 563.249.5364, or email
[email protected], or visit our website www.iowa.dalecarnegie.com We
look forward to partnering with the community!
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Clapper Award
Congratulations to Matt Marburger of Pizza
Ranch who was the recipient of the Clinton
Area Chamber of Commerce CLAPPER AWARD
for Excellence in Customer Service.
Matt was nominated by Jim Clark who
said,“Matt is a 2013 Clinton HS graduate and
has been employed at the Clinton Pizza Ranch
for several years. He is a great worker, interacts
with all the guests and one of Matt’s neatest
qualities is he always has a joke to brighten
up your day. He is a table busser but has the
ability to see what job needs to be done and
takes the initiative to do it. He is a young
man that should serve as a model for
employees in every restaurant.”
Thank you to Yellow Book for being the
sponsor of this award.
Pictured: Matt Marburger holding the
plaque and his manager holding the balloons.
Also pictured the Chamber Clapper committee,
Pizza Ranch employees and friends and
family of Matt.
MEMBERSHIP RENEWALS
The Chamber would like to thank the following members for renewing their
memberships during the month of July 2014.
60+ years
McEleney Chevrolet-Buick-GMC-Toyota
Pinney Printing Co.
63
63
59
57
40+ years
Service Oil Company
The Insurance Group
Abstract & Title Guaranty Company
Pauls Discount Store
Guzzardo's Hallmark
Mercy Medical Center - Clinton
The Oaks Golf Club
Clinton Community School District
2JR Pizza Ebnterprises, LLC (Pizza Hut)
Clinton Community College
Lectronics Inc.
Ashford University
Domestic Plumbing Co.
49
49
48
48
47
47
46
45
44
44
43
40
40
30+ years
Do you know of an employee at an area business who goes
above and beyond in the area of customer service?
Nominate that person for the Clapper Award by
contacting The Clinton Area Chamber of Commerce
at (563)242-5702 or [email protected].
Sarah Harding
Sethness Products Company
Skyline Center, Inc.
Clinton Engineering Co., Inc.
G. Baker Distributing, Inc.
Kelly Heating & Oil Company, Inc.
Petersen Hagge Furniture
Cedar Heights, Inc.
Clinton LumberKings
Leslie Electric Services, Inc.
Medical Associates
Ruhl & Ruhl REALTORS
Frey, Haufe & Current, PLC
United Way of Clinton County, Iowa
Bridgeview Community Menal Health Center
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35
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Aegis Credit Union
Camanche Chiropractic Center
Chemical Credit Union
Custom-Pak, Inc.
Great River Threshers
RK Dixon
ARC Appraisals
Clinton Decoy Co., Ltd.
Country Inn & Suites
Clinton Builders Club
Wolfe Beverage Company, Inc.
Iowa State University Extension and Outreach
Cornerstone Wellness Center
East Central Intergovernmental Association
(ECIA)
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1+ years
Estes Construction
Krumpets
Mar-Gee Plastics & Trophies
Genesis Health Group, DeWitt
Genesis Medical Center, DeWitt
Genesis Occupational Health
Cutting Edge Lawn & Landscape Maintenance
Candlelight Inn
Lighthouse Travel
Petersen Sanitary Cleaning
McDonalds - Lincolnway
Virdi Eye Clinic of Iowa
Hawkeye Steam Cleaning
Sue Raaymakers
D's Smokin BBQ & Catering
Elaine Barreca Communications
20+ years
1st Gateway Credit Union
Voss Brothers Plumbing and Heating, Inc.
Burkert Chiropractic Center
Carpetland USA of Clinton, Inc.
D & D Auto Service LLC
NelsonCorp Wealth Management
Data Dimensions Corporation
J.T. Cullen Co., Inc.
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10+ years
50+ years
Turner Electric Co.
Clausen Supply Trucking & Warehousing
Maloney Equipment, Inc.
Van Scoy & Kross, PC
Lloyd's Plan Inc.
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25
25
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www.clintonia.com
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hank you!
August 2014
August Chamber Calendar
2014 - 2015
Executive Committee
1
CVB Technology Committee, 9:00 a.m., Chamber of Commerce.
Golf Playday, 11:00 a.m.; lunch & registration at The Oaks.
Dr. Karen Vickers
Clinton Community College
Chairperson
2&3
Iowa Tax Free Weekend.
5
Women in Business Committee, 8:00 a.m., Chamber of Commerce.
Leadership Committee, 12:00 Noon, Chamber of Commerce.
American Red Cross, 6:00 p.m., Chamber of Commerce.
Nate Kreinbrink
NelsonCorp Wealth Management
1st Vice Chair
6
CRDC Workshop “An Introduction to Workplace Organization”, 8:00 a.m., Chamber of Commerce.
(reservations with CRDC at 563-242-4536)
Jennifer Boysen
Clinton National Bank
Treasurer
7
Ribbon Cutting, 10:30 a.m., for Pampered Chef Consultant Shannon McManus, Chamber of Commerce.
Dr. Mark Schroeder
Iowa State University Extension
Past Chairperson
7 - 10
Camanche Days Bingo Tent, Platt Park in Camanche.
11
Miss Clinton County Board, 6:00 p.m., Chamber of Commerce
Shane Buer
Mercy Medical Center
13
Local & Government Affairs Committee, 12:00 Noon, Chamber of Commerce.
Parkland Facilities Committee, 4:00 p.m., Chamber of Commerce.
Comprehensive Rehab, 6:00 p.m., Chamber of Commerce.
Dean Brainerd
ADM Corn Processing
14
Business Park Corporation, 10:00 a.m., Chamber of Commerce.
Events Committee, 12:00 Noon, Chamber of Commerce.
Gerry Freudenberg
Iowa-American Water Co.
19
Tri-City Building & Construction Trades Council, 9:30 a.m., Chamber of Commerce
Clapper Committee, 12:00 Noon, location to be determined
Executive Committee, 12:00 Noon, Chamber of Commerce.
Young Living Essential Oils, 6:00 p.m., Chamber of Commerce.
Tom Moser
Medical Associates
2nd Vice Chair
Board of Directors
Diane Christensen
The Insurance Group
Lori Freudenberg
Sisters of St. Francis
Eric Helding
Nestle Purina PetCare Co.
Daniel Housenga
LyondellBasell
20
Clinton County Development Association, 7:30 a.m., Wild Rose Casino.
Gateway Area Foundation, 12:00 Noon, Chamber of Commerce.
21
CVB Board, 12:00 Noon, Chamber of commerce.
Rich Phelan
Management Consultant
22
Budget & Finance Committee, 12:00 Noon, Chamber of Commerce.
Mike Rastrelli
Rastrelli's Restaurant
26
LEAD, 11:30 a.m., CCC Tech Center.
Essentials4u, 6:00 p.m. Chamber of Commerce.
Kevin Steines
Honkamp & Krueger & Co., P.C.
27
CRDC Board of Directors, 11:30 a.m., Rastrelli's Avanti Room.
28
Chamber Board of Directors, 7:30 a.m., Chamber of Commerce
Clinton Landlord's Association, 6:30 p.m., Chamber of Commerce.
29
Medical Associates, 8:00 a.m., Chamber of Commerce.
Ambassadors, 12:00 Noon, location TBD.
Sara Misiewicz
Clinton National Bank
Breton Williams
First Wealth Financial Group
Meetings are subject to change. Watch your mail for details or check with Karen at (563) 242-5702 before attending
any regularly scheduled Chamber event. Reservations are required for most noon meetings held at the Chamber office.
CHAMBERNews
www.clintonia.com
August 2014
5
elcome
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Chamber Website
Information
Did you know that your
membership includes
the following:
Job Postings
Hot Deals
News Releases
Call for more information
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look for Clinton Area
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CHAMBERNews is published by the
Clinton Area Chamber of Commerce, a
not-for-profit corporation, serving the
business communities of Clinton and
Camanche, Iowa and Fulton, Illinois.
Phone: 563-242-5702
Fax: 563-242-5803
E-Mail:
[email protected]
Web Address:
www.clintonia.com
6
New Members
Brad Florence
Brad has joined the Chamber as an individual member.
Brian McKenrick
Brian has joined the Chamber as an individual member. He plans to be involved in the Chamber's
Leadership Institute Committee.
Nora's Café
Join us for breakfast or lunch at Nora's Café Monday through Sunday 6am - 3pm. We are a family-owned
and operated business. We enjoy serving our community and look forward to seeing you at 212 South 2nd
Street. 563-243-1009.
Rejuvenation Station Day Spa
Professional massage therapy & spa services. Come relax, renew and rejuvenate. Massage, facials, waxing
and more. Available 7 days a week by appointment only. Contact Tricia Petersen, L.M.T. at 563-219-0369 or
www.triciapetersen.com. Conveniently located inside the YWCA, 317 7th Avenue South.
CHAMBERNews
www.clintonia.com
August 2014
Ribbon Cuttings
Clinton Community School District Education
Foundation – Celebrating with a ribbon cutting
1st Gateway Credit Union – Celebrating with a ribbon
cutting for their new expansion – Looks great!
NelsonCorp – Celebrating with a ribbon cutting for
their new expansion – Looks great!
Ascentra Credit Union – Celebrating
with a ribbon cutting for their new
retirement and investment programs
and representative.
City of Clinton Riverview Bandshell –
Celebrating with a ribbon cutting for
their new remodel – Nice touch!
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Mark Your
Calendars!
Chamber Trends with Joni
Joni Krogman, Director, Chamber Operations
August 1
Golf Outing
Institute for Organization Management Update
I recently attended my second year of Institute for Organization
Management certification program at the University of Georgia, in
Athens. This is a four-year nonprofit leadership training program for professional development by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation.
I attended required courses and electives throughout the week in areas
such as membership, leadership, advocacy, marketing and finance.
October 2
Girls’Night Out
November 13
Biz After Hours Expo
Why is Institute Important?
• We explore cutting-edge ideas and best practices through practical and academic instruction to
help strengthen our organization
• Discover if we are doing the right things to take our Chamber to the next level
• It provides an opportunity to benchmark our Chamber operations against industry standards
• And establishes a nationwide network of peers who can provide ideas, answers and feedback
Key Insights for our Chamber
The Chamber industry continues to be at a crossroads. Chambers of Commerce must continue to
modernize to survive. Below are some key areas I learned about that our Chamber must consider:
• Building Organizational Excellence
- An example is completing a self-analysis of how we are doing in the Chamber industry.
• Using Data to Grow and Sustain Our Organization
- For example, each month when renewal letters are sent to our members include member
statistics that comes from our member system. The stats provide valuable information for
our members. (We started this the week I returned.)
• Continually improve customer service to our members
- An example is one of our strategic goals for FY 14 - 15 ties in with industry best practices.
I look forward to telling you more next month.
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CHAMBERNews
www.clintonia.com
August 2014
Biz Bits
LOCAL BUSINESSMAN CHALLENGES BUSINESS OWNERS
TO UNLEASH STRENGTHS
Local businessman Andy Sokolovich recently completed the Accelerated
Strengths Coaching course through Gallup. Now, he plans to bring that
knowledge home to Clinton through his new strengths training organization, UnleashStrengths. UnleashStrengths will teach participants to reach
their personal and professional potential by developing strengths and talents rather than focusing on weaknesses. Sokolovich plans to help local
business owners, employees and individuals discover the power of strengths
training, thereby achieving greater levels of success and personal satisfaction in their work and every day activities. Call Andy at 815-441-2219 or
check out www.unleashstrengths.com
GRANTS AWARDED TO FULTON ORGANIZATIONS
FACE (Fulton Association for Community Enrichment) awarded grants to
local organizations on Tuesday, July 1, 2014. A total of $10,000 was granted
to local organizations by FACE and the D.S. Flikkema Foundation.
Representatives from each organization attended the ceremony to accept
the grant checks. Those organizations awarded 2014 grants are as follows:
• Andresen Nature Center received $600 from FACE for the "Observation
Beehive" program.
• Big Brothers/Big Sisters received $400 from FACE for the Fulton community
mentoring program.
• Miller Club/Volunteer Millers received $250 from FACE to sponsor a presentation by Olympic speed skater Emery Lehman on August 4.
• Schmaling Memorial Library received $750 from FACE for the "State of the
States" program.
• The Volunteer Educators received a FACE grant for $500 for the Wild Winter
Wednesday at the Windmill Cultural Center (WWW@WCC) programs.
• The Fulton High School science department was awarded $750 from FACE
and $3250 from the D.S. Flikkema Foundation for the implementation of the
AP Chemistry program.
• Fulton Kiwanis Club received $750 from FACE and $250 from the D.S.
Flikkema Foundation for the Needy Children at Christmas program.
• River Bend Elementary School was awarded $1000 from the D.S. Flikkema
Foundation for library books about individual states in the United States.
• River Bend Middle School received $1000 to implement Legos in the
Classroom.
• EASY (Extracurricular Activity Support for Youth) received $500 from the
D.S. Flikkema Foundation for helping children participate in extracurricular
activities at Fulton's schools.
FACE would like to thank all of the organizations who applied for grants
in 2014. FACE is an affiliate of the Community Foundation of the Great River
Bend. For more information about FACE and local charitable giving, please
contact Connie Koehn at (815) 589-2646.
which is working to develop a national online technology platform, creating
a national service certification system and trying to increase the number of
one-year national service opportunities in the country.
CLEMENTS ATTENDS IOWA SCHOOL OF BANKING
Steve Clements, Loan Officer, of Citizens First Bank, Clinton recently attended
the 2014 Iowa School of Banking at the Courtyard by Marriott in Ankeny.
The one-week, two-year school, offered by the Iowa Bankers Association,
provides a challenging, educational experience in addition to peer networking. The challenging, interactive curriculum addresses the functions of banking departments and financial management and the business of banking.
Practical experience is gained through the use of a computer simulation, lectures, case studies and discussion. The school faculty includes active bankers,
consultants and academicians, all recognized experts in their fields.
Steve is an area native and joined Citizens First Bank in November of
2011. Steve also has several years of experience as a Credit Analyst and
Lender. He is a MBA graduate of the University of Dubuque.
HABITAT FOR HUMANITY SEEKS VOLUNTEERS
Habitat for Humanity has been active in the county for the past 12 years,
overseeing the construction of eight new homes for families in need.
Habitat for Humanity of Clinton County is in need of volunteers to serve
on committees to help in the areas of construction, family selection,
fundraising, and public relations. Also needed is a volunteer to coordinate
the development and updating of their website. The organization is also
seeking county residents to serve on its board of directors. The time you
commit to Habitat will help to make a home for a deserving family in Clinton
County.
Habitat for Humanity is a nonprofit, nondenominational Christian housing ministry that seeks to eliminate substandard housing from the face of
the earth. Habitat welcomes all people regardless of race, religion, ethnicity
or any other difference to build and repair simple, decent, affordable houses
with those who lack adequate shelter.
The Habitat organization works locally to select and support homeowners, organize volunteers and coordinate house building and repair.
Homeowners are selected based on their need for housing, their ability to
repay a mortgage and their willingness to work in partnership with Habitat.
Homeowners and volunteers build or repair under trained supervision.
Habitat is able to make housing affordable to low-income families because:
• Houses are sold through a no-profit mortgage.
• Individuals, corporations, faith groups and others provide vital financial
support.
• Since its founding in 1976, Habitat for Humanity has helped build or repair
over 500,000 houses and served over 2 million people around the world.
For more information on Habitat for Humanity, call 563-242-4494 or email
to [email protected].
BRANSTAD APPOINTS ASHFORD UNIVERSITY'S
MINNICK TO IOWA VOLUNTEER SERVICE COMMISSION
HONKAMP KRUEGER'S CLIENT PATRONAGE APP CONNECTS EMPLOYEES WITH CLIENTS
Dr. Charlie Minnick, vice president/campus director of Ashford University, has
been appointed by Iowa Governor Terry Branstad to the Iowa Commission
on Volunteer Service. Minnick's appointment was effective July 1, 2014, and
is not subject to Iowa Senate confirmation.
In February, Branstad created the Governor's Council on National Service
in Iowa. Being led by the Iowa Commission on Volunteer Service, the Council
includes leaders from state agencies, higher education, and the private sector and will make recommendations on how to expand national service for
Iowans.
“I am both humbled and honored to be appointed by Governor Branstad
to the Volunteer Service Commission,” Minnick said.“I applaud Governor
Branstad for creating this first in the nation Governor's Council and am excited to contribute however I can to engage a new generation of Iowans in
making a positive difference in the lives of other human beings.”
According to Brandstad's office, the Governor's Council on National
Service in Iowa will complement the national initiative, the Franklin Project,
Businesses are always seeking ways to improve their relationships with
clients, but Honkamp Krueger & Co., P.C.(HK) is taking a new approach. This
spring, HK launched its Client Patronage App, compatible with Android and
Apple products. When asked what the Client Patronage App has done for his
business, client Drew Siegert of Betty Jane Candies said,“It's been great.
More and more people walk into the shop and say they're from HK. We've
already seen an increase in sales.”
What exactly does this app do? It allows employees to search for client
stores based on category, keyword or location. It then gives them immediate
directions to the client's business. Finally, employees submit their spending
and take pictures of receipts to earn prizes from HK.
The app is just the latest innovation to HK's long-standing Client
Patronage Program in which firm partners reward employees for shopping
at client stores. When the program began in 2010, HK used an internal directory to advertise firm clients, and receipts were submitted via an Excel
spreadsheet. In the first three and a half years, over $6 million dollars in
spending was recorded from almost 25,000 receipts.
Since the app was released five months ago, reported 2014 spending was
already at $1 million dollars with a 43% increase in monthly receipts. Greg
Burbach, managing partner of the firm, stated,“Since day one, we have
always encouraged our employees to shop with our clients. Now we've
brought this program into the mobile age. We are excited to offer this platform to our employees and are thrilled with the vast increase in shopping at
our clients.”
For more information about HK's Client Patronage App, contact Nicole
Gantz, marketing manager, at [email protected], 563.556.0123 or
@HonkampKrueger.
RED CROSS: STAY SAFE WHEN THE TEMPERATURES
SOAR
The American Red Cross reminds every one of the steps they should take to
stay safe when the temperatures rise.
“In recent years there have been more deaths related to the heat than to
all other weather events,” said Betsy Pratt, Regional Chief Executive Officer.
“There are steps people can take to stay safe and beat the heat.”
HEAT SAFETY
• Never leave children or pets alone in enclosed vehicles.
• Slow down, stay indoors and avoid strenuous exercise during the hottest
part of the day.
• Take frequent breaks if working outdoors.
• Use a buddy system when working in excessive heat.
• Check on family, friends and neighbors who do not have air conditioning,
who spend much of their time alone or who are more likely to be affected
by the heat.
• Check on animals frequently to ensure that they are not suffering from the
heat. Ensure they have water and a shady place to rest.
• Eat small meals and eat more often.
• Avoid extreme temperature changes.
• Wear loose-fitting, lightweight, light-colored clothing.
HEAT CAN BE DANGEROUS Excessive heat can lead to sunburn, heat
cramps, heat exhaustion and heat stroke. To help avoid problems, stay
hydrated by drinking plenty of fluids and limit drinks with caffeine or alcohol.
If someone is experiencing heat cramps in the legs or abdomen, get
them to a cooler place, have them rest, lightly stretch the affected muscle
and replenish their fluids with a half a glass (about 4 ounces) of cool water
every 15 minutes.
If a person is exhibiting signs of heat exhaustion (cool, moist, pale or
flushed skin, heavy sweating, headache, nausea, dizziness, weakness exhaustion), move them to a cooler place, remove or loosen tight clothing and
spray the person with water or apply cool, wet cloths or towels to the skin.
Fan the person. If they are conscious, give small amounts of cool water to
drink. Make sure the person drinks slowly. Watch for changes in condition. If
the person refuses water, vomits or begins to lose consciousness, call 9-1-1
or the local emergency number.
HEAT STROKE IS LIFE-THREATENING. Signs include hot, red skin which
may be dry or moist; changes in consciousness; vomiting; and high body
temperature. Call 9-1-1 or the local emergency number immediately if some
shows signs of heat stroke. Move the person to a cooler place. Quickly cool
the person's body by immersing them up to their neck in cold water if possible. Otherwise, douse or spray the person with cold water, or cover the person with cold, wet towels or bags of ice.
The Red Cross also has steps pet owners should take to keep their furry
friends safe during hot weather.
Red Cross training can give someone the skills and confidence to act in
an emergency. For more information visit www.redcross.org.
Do you have a “Biz Bit” to share? Submit your 100-150 word article to Karen Friis at [email protected]
by the 10th of the month for possible inclusion in the following month’s newsletter. We reserve the right to edit for space.
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2014 Officers for the Corporation
News From the CRDC
Steve Howes (Howes & Jefferies), CHAIR
Ron Gutierrez (Clinton Herald), VICE CHAIR
John Eisenman (Abstract & Title Guaranty Co.), VICE CHAIR
Tom Fullerton (Retired), VICE CHAIR
Bruce Christensen (U.S. Bank), OFFICER
Steve Shupp (Alliant Energy), OFFICER
Bob Simpson (Big River Packaging), SECRETARY
Brig Tubbs (Gateway State Bank), TREASURER
Rich Phelan (Management Consultant), PAST CHAIR
The Age of Disruption
Recently, I read an article by Malcolm Netburn, Chairman and CEO of CDS Global, Inc. about the
“Age of Disruption”. If you haven't heard that term before, you're not alone. “It's about the
future,” according to Sridhar Solur, director of mobility and cloud services at Hewlett-Packard.
The convergence of technology, social trends, consumer behavior and an aging population is
driving innovation and change at a pace never seen before in human history. Although the
point of Mr. Netburn's article was how companies can survive the Age of Disruption, there are
lessons to be learned for communities as well.
2014 Board of Directors:
Curt Allen (Clinton County Farm Bureau)
Jeff Beckwith (Beckwith Commercial Roofing)
Christopher Cain (LyondellBasell)
Terry Callahan (Agri-King)
George Chamberlain (Direct Packaging)
Pete Clausen (Clausen Companies)
Mary Connell (Air Control)
Tom Determann (Retired)
Lou Egging (Egging Company)
Gerry Freudenberg (Iowa-American Water Co.)
Rick Gustafson (Leslie Electric)
Bill Hare (Clysar)
Eric Helding (Nestle-Purina)
Thomas Hesselmann (Retired)
Bob Holesinger (Quality Concrete)
Charlie Minnick (Ashford University)
Casey Moore (Union Pacific Railroad)
Tom Moser (Medical Associates)
Eric Rant (Rock-Tenn)
Thomas Soenksen (Citizens First Bank)
Steven Thacker (Clinton National Bank)
Jon Thoms (Honkamp Krueger & Co., P.C.)
Ryan Veenstra (Snell-Zornig Funeral Homes & Crematory)
Dr. Karen Vickers (Clinton Community College)
Sean Williams (Mercy Medical Center)
Jim Woll (ADM Corn Processing)
City of Clinton
City of Camanche
City of Fulton
City of Low Moor
Clinton County
Clinton Community Schools
David Rose (Iowa DOT Commissioner)
Ex-Officio's
City of Low Moor
Camanche Community Schools
Iowa State University Extension
Clinton Area Chamber of Commerce
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An example from the article is a wheel maker two years before the Model T disrupted the
world. If you saw yourself as a wheel maker at that time, you became obsolete; if you saw
yourself as being in the transportation business, you started building rubber tires and thrived.
The nature of business is disruption. And it takes a proactive response to separate successful
companies from the rest of the herd.
According to Netburn,“within five steps, companies in nearly any industry can begin the necessary journey to not only survive, but
to thrive during times of disruption.” The recent announcement that Evergreen Packaging is closing provides us with an opportunity to consider how these steps may apply to helping COMMUNITIES survive the Age of Disruption. With apologies to the author,
here are my thoughts on how each applies to change in communities.
1. Identify what you do great. Don't pigeonhole your community by what's always been done or what companies have “always
been here” (Which reader remembers the Fish Brothers Wagon Factory in Clinton?). More often than not, our capabilities are transferrable and can solve problems for those outside our typical business segments. Step back and determine what we are really great
at and how these areas of strength can benefit types of companies we haven't traditionally focused on.
2. Truly understand your best asset: your people. Even more important than the community or the companies located here
are the people who live here and make the community work. Knowledgeable, flexible, engaged community members and community leaders are what make communities great. Recognize that the power of a community to be great is vested in its people.
Encourage them to care about their community, engage in their community and have pride in their community. Visitors and neighboring communities will notice.
3. We are ALL in the media business. In an age of immediate and expansive communication, everyone has the potential to be a
member of the media. Are you skeptical about this concept? Think about the impact that a comment on FaceBook, Twitter or
Pinterest - or a video on YouTube - can have. What and how we communicate about our community as a place to live and work is as
important as public infrastructure or community improvement initiatives. Share your expertise to help positively promote the
Clinton Region through all types of content and across all communication channels. The future of our Region depends on each of
us taking an active role in responding to and countering negative perceptions, thoughts and statements about the place we call
home.
4. Culture trumps strategy. In today's disrupted, consumer-driven world, who you are is more important than what you do. What
we make or do for a living in our community may change, but if we have an open, inquisitive, urgent, responsive, and honest culture,
we can conquer any disruption.
5. Optimism and a can-do spirit is oxygen - indispensable. To survive and thrive in the Age of Disruption, we MUST look forward, recognizing that there is no staying the same. Without exception, all communities are moving backwards or moving forwards.
Those places in which community leaders and residents have embraced change with optimism and confidence have taken the
wheel to drive their future. Those which have not are just along for the ride, and like a boat without a rudder will arrive at whichever destination the currents take them.
May we all have the courage, vision and commitment to not only survive, but thrive in the Age of Disruption!
Mike Kirchhoff, CEcD
President & CEO
CHAMBERNews
www.clintonia.com
August 2014
News From the Convention & Visitors Bureau
Carrie Donaire, CVB Director
The CVB Welcomes Karolyn Kruse!
The Clinton Convention & Visitors Bureau is proud to announce that we have hired a permanent part-time Assistant to the
Director. Karolyn Kruse, a DeWitt native and recent graduate of the University of Northern Iowa, joined our staff on Monday, July
14, 2014.
About Karolyn
Karolyn brings with her a degree in public relations, experience with digital media and communications, and a robust writing portfolio to her new post at
the CVB. She has a well-rounded extra-curricular resume as well, having been involved with 4-H, the Public Relations Student Society of America, FFA, and
other volunteer and club experience.
Karolyn will be creating and curating content for the CVB's integrated marketing plan across media. Specifically, she will help manage website content,
social media, and print media for a variety of websites and publications. As the CVB expands its marketing plan, Karolyn will orchestrate deadlines and
details, as well as monitor existing content to maximize our investment to market the Clinton area.
Our Marketing Approach
To give a little more background on the marketing approach, the Clinton Convention & Visitors Bureau works as many destination marketing organizations
do, by:
• Promoting our location through multi-media marketing solutions. Many of you who read this article in the Chamber newsletter have been familiar over
the years with our local print marketing campaigns. But naturally, you would not see the bulk of the CVB's work, which is published outside of the
Clinton area.
• Running advertising campaigns that are far enough away, that those who are inspired by the ads and come to visit, are visitors who come for an
overnight stay and eventually spend more time and money in our community.
• Improving our presence across digital media, including social media, search engine optimization (SEO) and search engine marketing (SEM).
A Digital Environment
In travel and tourism research, it has been shown repeatedly that today's traveler makes his or her decisions (whether mode of transportation, destination,
itinerary or which hotel to book) by perusing digital media. Depending on the traveler, they may be inspired by a friend's photos on Facebook, or reading
a blog about a destination off the beaten path, or looking at restaurant reviews on Trip Advisor, but they are gathering information online about where
they want to go and what they'll do when they get there.
So, from the perspective of the CVB, our investment in digital media is more important than ever. Monitoring what we publish online becomes critical for
our mission to attract visitors to the area, and as we really extend our reach to new markets, the CVB intends to keep our campaigns fresh and up-to-date.
And we will keep Karolyn on her toes with all there is to do! Please help the CVB welcome Karolyn to our team and introduce yourself when you see her
at the Chamber/ CVB office.
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CHAMBERNews
Building our community through membership.
P.O. Box 1024, Clinton, IA 52733-1024
CHANGE SERVICE REQUESTED
Chamber Night at the Ballpark
What a great crowd at our 1st Annual Chamber Night at the
Ballpark and Welcome New Families event. Thank you to all
who made this a huge success. A big thank you to all our
sponsors! The winner of the trip for two to Rivera Maya
Mexico was Tim Starr, provided by Mac 94.7 and Lighthouse
Travel.
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