Hudson, WI.- Chamber of Commerce- AM Leads Group

12/16/2020

This week our speaker was Kevin Busse – Tradition Mortgage.

Kevin talked about credit. He shared how it works and the factors that go into a credit score. He also discussed 12 ways to establish credit, 5 habits to get a 800 + score, and ways to improve one’s credit score.

Kevin emphasized the importance of checking ones’ credit it at least once a year to avoid identity theft and to ensure its’ accuracy Thanks Kevin!

For more information please contact Kevin at 952.290.3922 or [email protected]

Thank you Kevin!

12/11/2020

This week our speaker was Diane Bosworth - Engraved Connections.

Diane shared the ways that they are embracing technology during the pandemic, including Zoom meetings, website development and promotion, social media, and Google ads and reviews. Led to group discussion of what works and ways to improve online presence.

Thank you everyone!

Please be sure to visit the new website at

Engraved Connections was established in 2012 as a full service job shop specializing in high quality custom laser engraving services. Having been in the business since the early 1980’s, our staff are engraving experts. We also provide superior sublimation and quality embroidery services.

11/05/2020

This week our speaker was Jesse Stickler from BRIDGE For Community Life.

Jesse spoke about how Covid19 has affected Bridge and it’s varied programs.
While they continue to provide community employment services, their day program is shut down. Instead, they are offering virtual alternatives, which works well for some of their clients.

Additionally, they are offering the work based program out of River Falls hospital, providing internships for young adults, who have aged out of Special Education classes. Upon Completion, Bridge will work with these clients to provide employment.

Bridge is also offering respite care, which is largely staffed by their day care employees.

For more information please call 715.386.8670 or email [email protected]

Thank you Jesse!

10/21/2020

This week our speaker was Kris Jensen Larson - Keller Williams.

Kris shared how the local real estate has changed over the last year. She also talked about current economic conditions that will affect real estate in the future, including the increase in numbers of homeowners falling behind on their mortgages. Additionally, she shared the different options that these homeowners may have.

For more information please contact Kris at [email protected] or 651.491.3030

Thank you Kris!

08/28/2020

This week our speaker was Linda La Kosky Eng Minuteman Press - Hudson

Linda talked about the history of Minuteman Press, sharing that the company, a family owned and operated business, started in New York in 1973. The intitial focus was to provide affordable high quality printing for small and medium sized businesses. Currently there are over a thousand franchise locations worldwide.

Minuteman Press has been rated the #1 Printing Franchise by Entrepreneurial Magazine for 27 years!

Pete Keskey began operating the Hudson Minuteman Press in 2006, expanded into Oakdale and then bought a store in Mendota Heights.

In addition to expert design and printing/marketing services, Minuteman Press offers promotional products and sublimation services.

For more information, please visit www.iloveminuteman.com ,
call
715.377.7795 or email Linda at [email protected].

Thank you Linda!

08/19/2020

This week our featured speaker was Kerry Larson; Fresh and Natural Foods.

Kerry spoke of being an essential business during the pandemic. Early on, business jumped dramatically with people hoarding essentials. This greatly affected the supply chain, making it difficult to find certain products. This is slowly changing as the supply chains are catching up.

Kerry also shared that they had to make operational changes in both of their stores, including providing plexiglass shields, offering curbside pickup options, and requiring masks, which at times was met with resistance.

Through it all, Kerry has put safety first and complied with CDC, WHO and local health department recommendations. He also shared that he has seen changes in buying habits, resulting in what he feels will be permanent changes.

For more information please visit Fresh and Natural Foods in Hudson, call 651.308.2931 or email [email protected]

Thank you Kerry!

08/13/2020

This week our featured speaker was Cindy Jahnke; Spectrum Insurance Group

Cindy shared that their office is planning to open again in August. She can meet person to person at Dunn Brothers coffee but typically communicates virtually.

Cindy discussed trends that she is seeing in insurance. Many people are buying recreational vehicles and cabins, and also investing in repairs resulting in new or revised policies. Since so many of us are working from home we are able to change our auto policies to reflect the decline in mileage traveled.

Cindy shared an interesting fact that life insurance policies have added questions about Covid 19 to their application process.

For more information please contact Cindy at [email protected] or call 715.386.5825

Thank you Cindy!

07/24/2020

This week our speaker was Mary Claire Olson Potter, President of the Hudson Area Chamber of Commerce & Tourism Bureau.

We are now meeting via Zoom to be safe.

Mary Claire shared information on how the Hudson WI Area Chamber of Commerce & Tourism Bureau is adjusting due to the pandemic. Their primary focus is supporting local businesses. This includes a COVID resource page on the chamber website, transitioning to Zoom events, member surveys, providing essential products like hand sanitizer, masks, disinfecting wipes, and cones for area restaurants offering take out, grant and loan support, and communicating with other chambers about what is working elsewhere.

Mary Claire discussed the We Heart Hudson campaign that in coordination with Christiansen Creative has been launched to provide positive messaging to the community.

For more information please visit the website www.hudsonwi.org or call the office at 715.386.8411

Thank you Mary Claire Potter

03/13/2020

This week our speaker was Jodi Gibson; Bridge Investment Group.

Bridge Investment Group offers financial products and services tailored to your individual needs. Bridge Investment Group is committed to you for the long term.

Jodi shared that her father, Duane Swanson, started in the financial business at IDS. After working there, he decided he wanted to provide independent financial services so that he could offer his clients more diverse products.

Bridge Investments provides a range of financial services including retirement planning, estate planning, risk management/insurance planning, investment/wealth planning, business planning, and education funding. They also use outside advisors, as needed, to provide even more services for their clients.

For more information please contact Jodi at [email protected] or call 715.386.5588

Thank you Jodi!

02/27/2020

This week our Guest Speakers were Heath Ehrnreiter, Jeff Bobula and Desiree Vitzthum from Cardinal Health.

Heath, Jeff, and Desiree spoke about Generation RX, a program run by Cardinal Health that educates the public about medication safety. The Generation RX program has been presented to schools, businesses, law enforcement, realtors and community based programs.

The goal is to create awareness about the appropriate handling of medication.
This includes medical safety, how to store medicine, how to use prescriptions responsibly, legal issues, using medication disposal programs, and an opioid checklist.

For more information and free resources please visit www.GenerationRX.org

Thank you Heath, Jeff, and Desiree!

02/12/2020

This week our speakers were Teresa Dresser and Penny Hietala from Associated Bank. Teresa and Penny spoke about the personal and business services that they provide.

Personal services include checking accounts, credit cards, refer a friend program, bank at work program, and money market accounts. The bank offers multiple options and incentives.

Business services include checking accounts, credit cards, merchant accounts, payroll services, and business money market accounts. Again, there are a variety of options and incentives.

In Addition to all of this, the bank provides education on a variety of financial topics.

For more information or to schedule an educational session please contact Teresa at [email protected] or call 715.381.5005.

Thank you Teresa and Penny!

01/28/2020

This week our speaker was Diane Bosworth from Engravers Connection.

Diane thanked group for their ongoing business and support. She also shared what imprinting capabilities that they employ and also spoke about specific materials and products that they can get. Diane also reminded group that they can donate products for charitable events.

For more product ideas please visit their website at www.engraversconnection.com.

Thank you Diane!