April 2010 Newsletter

Thank you new and renewing members

Carter Avenue Frame Shop
www.carteravenueframeshop.com

Community Shares of MN
www.communitysharesmn.org 

Davis Law Office
www.davismeansbusiness.com

deZinnia, Inc.
www.dezinnia.com

Higher Standards
www.merchantaccountstandard.com

Image Spigot
www.imagespigot.com

Izzy’s Ice Cream
www.izzysicecream.com

Key’s Café
www.keyscafe.com

Liquor Barrel
www.mahtomediliquorbarrel.com

Metro Payroll
www.metropayroll.com

Flor de Lis Cupcakes
www.flordeliscupcakes.com

Park Midway Bank
www.parkmidwaybank.com

Press Gold Group
www.pressgoldgroup.com

Trotter’s Café
www.trotterscafe.com

Yarn Garage
www.yarngarage.com

May 4 Networking Event

Our next host will be The Sisters of St. Joseph Foundation at the beautiful and historic Carondelet Center on the campus of St. Catherine. The Foundation supports eight free health care clinics throughout the Twin Cities and would like to invite its fellow MetroIBA members to its annual gala on April 30.

Please join us for an elegant wine and cheese networking event from 4:30-6:30 p.m. on Tuesday, May 4.

New Board Officers

The following new executive committee members were elected at April's board meeting:

President Jeff Warner, Warners' Stellian
Vice Presidents Jesse Mortenson, Supermega Design & Scott Hamilton, Vuelta Management
Treasurer Andy Gesell, BankCherokee
Secretary Jane Prince, Weinblatt & Gaylord

Letter from the President

We live and work in a wonderful community that provides countless exciting opportunities. I’m honored to be a part of MetroIBA’s leadership team.

Your board of directors will focus on work toward membership growth and retention over the next year by developing four committees: marketing, public policy, outreach and education.

I agreed to chair the marketing committee and members of your board will serve as chairs for the other three, but we need passionate representatives from our membership to step up and contribute.

What are you passionate about? Are you ready to make a difference? I’d love to hear from you.

Jeff Warner, Warners' Stellian
jdwarner@warnersstellian.com
651-726-1622

Spotlight on a Business - Press Gold Group

Press Gold Group, headed up by MetroIBA board member Carl Pressman, is a payroll and business services firm headquartered in the Minnetonka. The company serves Minnesota companies and nonprofit organizations with payroll, time & labor, human resource and benefit solutions.

Press Gold Group is Minnesota’s fastest growing payroll services provider offering hands-on, accountable customer service and outstanding value.

Press Gold Group’s staff have the knowledge and ability to help you save money and time. Clients who move from the national processors, typically save 20-30% and find their service superior! 

Press Gold Group was recently featured in the Star Tribune Business section: http://bit.ly/dfmNU5
To learn more, visit www.PressGoldGroup.com or call (952)926-8463.

Members in the News

KFAI did a story about MetroIBA using audio from the February Networking Event: http://bit.ly/cNSS6j

Eagan Dermatologist and Twin Cities’ "Top Doc" Dr. Charles Crutchfield was featured in a Q & A in the March edition of Minnesota Health Care News. To see the article online, go to http://bit.ly/8YXGVN

Minneapolis Attorney Karen Lundquist, of Lundquist and Lange, offers expert advice on employment law in a recent MinnPost article http://bit.ly/cbOYet

Warners’ Stellian was profiled, with a focus on its ability to outlast big box pressure, on the front page of the Star Tribune Buiness section: http://bit.ly/beINs4

Advocacy

In March, MetroIBA signed on to the MN Universal Healthcare Coalition’s letter to our congressional representatives, asking for removal of barriers to state single-payer healthcare.

On April 20, Executive Director, Mary Hamel will speak to the MN Women’s Business Association on the effect of health care reform for small businesses.

MetroIBA challenged the Environmental Defense Fund in a letter from the executive director for glorifying WalMart's "green" efforts. As Stacy Mitchell points out in her succinct article, "it is imperative to consider the context before spotlighting the retail giant as a beacon of environmental leadership."

AMIBA Conference

American Independent Business Alliance leaders from around the country April 8-11 gathered in Tampa, Fla. for the third annual AMIBA sponsored conference. Held at the locally owned Quorum Hotel and catered by local food and beverage vendors, the conference addressed:

•    Leadership and how to build a successful alliance
•    The use of social media and other PR strategies
•    Leveraging local institutions and partnering with public officials  

Thanks to frequent flyer miles donated by board members, Mary Hamel was able to represent MetroIBA this year for the first time!