Suburban Northwest Builders Associaton forging ahead

I attended the April 8th membership meeting of the Suburban Northwest Builders Association, and left with a sense of renewed optimism.  Over the last few months the SNBA hit a “speed bump” when the housing market slowed.  However, if this meeting is any indication of the near future, there will be many positive things happening from the SNBA to promote building, remodeling, and real estate in Sherburne and Wright Counties.

Over 60 members in attendance at the Elk River Country Club listened to SNBA President Gene Eckstein from Eagle Builders outline the SNBA’s strategic plan for 2008.  Included in the plan was a detail of the SNBA’s goals and activities.  Eckstein shared plans for a Fall New Home and Remodeling Tour, a Spring 2009 Home Tour and Home and Remodeling Show, and a renewed emphasis on member events that will make the most of member’s time and networking advantages.

Eckstein said that SNBA membership meetings would focus on education and builder issues, and also introduced the following new board members:

Dan Scherer – Bakken Building

Jason Heinen – Heinen Homes

Brad Kadlec – Kadlec Construction

Ken Geroux – Ken Geroux Construction Corporation

Chris Butala – Legend Homes

Brad Fitch – Monarch Homes

The next membership meeting for the SNBA is scheduled for May 27th.

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Chris Mitchell is the President and Founder of 25-8 Marketing, Inc, a full service advertising agency in Elk River, Minnesota. He plans and implements marketing programs for small to medium-sized businesses. Mitchell is a consultant, speaker and author and has worked with hundreds of companies. He has over 20 years of real-world advertising experience, and understands the marketing challenges of the small business owner.

Good turnout at the Elk River Business Expo

Close to 180 booths filled the Elk River High School today at the Elk River Chamber of Commerce hosted their annual Business Expo. When I arrived at 10:30am, the foyer and gym was filling with attendees.

In the foyer, I browsed the water fountains, talking to Glenn Koppin from Aqua Par Lifestyles. I chatted with Molly Nadeau-Peterson when I went over to the Town Mortgage booth. I picked up some information from Elk River Parks and Recreation, because I was interested in their summer music series. Plus I spent a little time talking to David Long and Dan Scherer from Bakken Building and Remodeling.

Heading into the gymnasium, the aisles were filling quickly. I chatted with Marcy VanValenburg, the owner of Elk River Travel.  It was fun talking to my friends… Clayton from Clayton’s Appliance Repair and Wendy from the Elk River Arts Alliance.

I grabbed a slice of Sarpino’s pizza (my favorite local pizza) and headed out, just as the masses started arriving. Another successful expo…hats off to the Elk River Chamber for organizing a good event.

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Chris Mitchell is the President and Founder of 25-8 Marketing, Inc, a full service advertising agency in Elk River, Minnesota. He plans and implements marketing programs for small to medium-sized businesses. Mitchell is a consultant, speaker and author and has worked with hundreds of companies. He has over 20 years of real-world advertising experience, and understands the marketing challenges of the small business owner.

The cure for a snowy Elk River Tuesday

If people in Minnesota couldn’t talk about the weather, we’d have nothing to talk about. Well, not entirely true, but when I woke up to 2 inches of new snow in Elk River, my mind started churning.

By 2pm, I had my plan. A short shopping stop to catch a sign of spring at 101 Market in Otsego. I was invited to mom’s house for Easter Sunday. Mom likes flowers. And she doesn’t read this blog.

101 Market is a great place. The Nathe’s have turned this place into the premiere gardening and flower shop in the Elk River area. And their fresh produce in the summer is terrific.

As I walked in the door, I spied the Easter lillies. Three colors to choose from. The traditional white, and then some orange and pink. “Go traditional, she always likes white,” I thought. And at $9.99 for a plant, I would be a hero at Easter dinner for a very small price.

As I was checking out, I was reminded by 101 Market of this tip:

After the flowers stop blooming, cut off the stem to the soil line and put the potted bulb in a cool place. Then, later in spring, plant the bulb in a sunny location.

If the bulb received enough cooling days, it could bloom again this summer. Otherwise, next year when it will bloom in either June or July.

Those folks at 101 Market are pretty smart.

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Chris Mitchell is the President and Founder of 25-8 Marketing, Inc, a full service advertising agency in Elk River, Minnesota. He plans and implements marketing programs for small to medium-sized businesses. Mitchell is a consultant, speaker and author and has worked with hundreds of companies. He has over 20 years of real-world advertising experience, and understands the marketing challenges of the small business owner.

Comedian Mordal returns to Elk River

I had the opportunity to see some great comedy acts on Saturday night at Elk River High School Auditorium. The Elk River wrestling team had a fundraiser, with comedy night featuring Scott Hansen and Elk River’s own Dave Mordal.

Hansen was excellent. I’ve seen him perform three times, and if you like Lutheran hotdish jokes, and Minnesotan humor, he’s your guy. What a riot. But what I was really looking forward to was Dave Mordal, who is best known for being one of the finalists on “Last Comic Standing.”

I saw the chain-smoking Mordal outside, prior to his performance. Was he nervous to return to the high school he attended, but quit three months before graduation? He didn’t act nervous on-stage.

The sold-out crowd of nearly 800 laughed and laughed, as Mordal entertained with anecdotes about his life, his cars, his drinking, and his memories (or self-admitted lack of) growing up in Elk River. This guy is the only one on the comedy circuit that knows Lake Orono has an average depth of five feet.

California doesn’t get the Foley, Minnesota jokes. We did.

I completely enjoyed it. Hats off to Elk River Wrestling for bringing great comedy, and a very, very funny hometowner back for everyone to appreciate.

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Chris Mitchell is the President and Founder of 25-8 Marketing, Inc, a full service advertising agency in Elk River, Minnesota. He plans and implements marketing programs for small to medium-sized businesses. Mitchell is a consultant, speaker and author and has worked with hundreds of companies. He has over 20 years of real-world advertising experience, and understands the marketing challenges of the small business owner.