The mission of the Mason City Area Chamber of Commerce is to promote progressive community and economic development to benefit the North Iowa region.

Global Familiarization Tours

O

ur chamber views our Global Familiarization Trips as a way to assist in our transition to a global economy. For the most part, our destinations are important U.S. trading partners that people may not feel comfortable traveling to on their own. The vendors we select to provide these trips have expertise designing itineraries that appeal to chamber members.

Time:

4:30-6:30PM

Date:

Thursday, June 19

Location:

King Construction 101 N 8th Street Clear Lake

“Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry, and narrowmindedness, and many of our people need it sorely for these accounts. Broad, wholesome, charitable views of men and things cannot be acquired by vegetating in one little corner of the earth all one’s lifetime.”

- Mark Twain For more information on our trips planned to China, Dubai, and Australia/New Zealand, contact the chamber office.

Explore China October 18 - 26, 2014 Option 1 : $2,499 per person, double occupancy

Visit the cities of Beijing, Suzhou, Hangzhou, and Shanghai.

Sponsored By:

Option 2 : $2,999 per person, double occupancy Tour Beijing, Hangzhou, and Shanghai, in addition to a visit to Xi’an—home of the famous Terra Cotta Warriors.

Wonders of Dubai October 25 - November 2, 2014 $3,199 per person, double occupancy Travel to one of the fastest growing cities on earth! Tour Dubai and Abu Dhabi as well as embark on a desert safari and an evening cruise.

Join us as we team up with the Clear Lake Chamber members for Business After Hours at King Construction & Overhead Door, Inc. Enjoy the warm June weather with refreshments, appetizers, and a tour of the King Construction Facility. Visit and get to know the King Construction Staff!

Upcoming Opportunities:

Explore China April 11-19, 2015 Australia/New Zealand April 2015 TBA Thailand/Hong Kong Fall 2015 TBA Peru Spring 2016 TBA

Phone 641.423.5724

www.masoncityia.com

[email protected]

New Members Hoover's Hatchery Tony Halsted 205 Chickasaw St PO Box 200 Rudd, IA 50471 641-395-2730 www.hoovershatchery.com 70 Years of the Best Poultry! Tradition of giving you the best poultry in the industry, taking special care to manage our own breeding stock with high standards - Red Ranger, Rainbow, Isa Brown and more.

From the President -

A

rts are Alive and Well in Downtown Mason City

Thank you to my board colleagues on the Chamber Foundation (Robin Edgar, Tom Douglas, Ken Bales, and Marti Rodamaker) for adding to the permanent collection of the River City Sculptures on Parade program. In recognition of the leadership role the Chamber and Chamber Foundation played in the Vision Iowa projects, they purchased “American Architect” by Martha Pettigrew of Kearney, NE for permanent display in Central Park. Robin Anderson

accomplishments of this year’s YIELD

Mason City Evening Lions Club

students. Their “Tunes for the Town” project was completed in May

Mark Napoletano 2 Circle Terrace Mason City, IA 50401 641-423-0866 [email protected] www.iowalions.org/masoncityeveninglions Service organization with the mission of serving the community through hearing aid programs; eye screening for children; help to sponsor the Iowa Lead Dog program; collect and distribute used eye glasses to people around the world.

Angela Archer Photography LLC Angela Archer Bruns 1131 14th St SE Mason City, IA 50401 507-380-3022 [email protected] www.angelaarcherphotography.com Professional portrait studio specialized in weddings, high school seniors, families and children's portraits.

President & CEO

We’re also touting the

with the installation of four public pianos Downtown. Public art—in a variety of forms--is a sure sign of a vibrant community. Next time you’re Downtown, I hope you enjoy the sights and sounds!

“American Architect” located in Central Park.

North Iowa Band Festival 2014 The 2014 North Iowa Band Festival was another success! From all of us here at the Mason City Chamber of Commerce, thank you to all of our volunteers, sponsors, participating schools, entertainment, vendors, and so many more. This event would not have been possible without your help!

Grand Marshal Governor Terry Branstad waves to the crowd of thousands along the parade route.

Ag Ventures Alliance Cooperative Jude Conway 2023 S Federal Ave Mason City, IA 50401 641-494-2368 [email protected] www.agventuresalliance.com Business development cooperative for value added agricultural ventures.

Brian Randall Realty Brian Randall 222 1st St NW Mason City, IA 50401 641-583-0234 [email protected] www.BrianRandallRealty.com Providing comprehensive real estate services to home buyers and sellers.

The trombone section of the Mason City High School Marching Band pays homage to this year’s theme: “76 Trombones” Phone 641.423.5724

www.masoncityia.com

[email protected]

Last Call for Chamber Golf Outing

Y

ou won’t want to miss this opportunity to enjoy a day on the golf course with more than 200 business leaders and potential new clients on June 23rd!

New Members Schwan's Home Service

Please note that the $360 registration fee for a team of four includes two carts, four green fees, and four banquet meals. Don’t have a team put together? Call our office and we’ll add your name to a list of individuals waiting to be put on a team. We welcome everyone to participate in this popular annual event!

Paul Speer 819 S Washington Ave Mason City, IA 50401 641-424-3100 [email protected] www.schwans.com Delivering delicious, easy-to-prepare meals and friendly personalized service. Every two weeks we'll stop by with your choice of over 350 restaurant-quality products.

For those listed as a team captain for registered teams, please look for detailed, need-to-know information sent via email a couple of weeks before the outing.

AdvoCare Distributor Troy Westendrof

We still have a few spots left for the morning and afternoon tournaments, so call or email Tanner at the Chamber soon. If you aren’t available to play golf that day, we’re still accepting hole sponsors, golf sponsors, and door prizes too.

*The cancellation deadline for this event is Monday, June 9th. Any cancellations on or past this deadline will forfeit their registration fee.

Thank You to Our Sponsors!

121 11th St NE Mason City, IA 50401 641-430-1416 [email protected] www.advocare.com/11091573 Since 1993, AdvoCare has been a worldclass nutrition company specializing in health & wellness, weight management, vibrant energy and sports performance.

Membership Renewals Congratulations to the following members who are celebrating their membership anniversaries in June. Fifty Plus Years Decker Sporting Goods (58) Birdsall’s Ice Cream (53) Forty Plus Years North Iowa Area Community College (47) Zilge’s Appliance Center (44) Thirty Plus Years Hardee’s Restaurant (37) Godfather’s Pizza (35) Yaggy Colby Associates (35) Southbridge Mall (30) Twenty Plus Years Hosmer Toyota (28) Stadheim Jewelers (26) Ziegler Inc. (26)

Phone 641.423.5724

www.masoncityia.com

[email protected]

Fax 641.423.5725

Visit Mason City attends Midwest Marketplace Circle Wisconsin, an organization dedicated to promoting destinations within the state of Wisconsin to the group travel industry, recently hosted their Premier Midwest Marketplace. The tradeshow was held May 4th-6th in Middleton, WI. Over 30 group tour operators and more than 75 representatives of attractions, lodging facilities, restaurants, and destination marketing organizations from Wisconsin, Illinois, Michigan, Minnesota, North Dakota, and Iowa were in attendance. Visit Mason City’s Lindsey James was present and had a great time showcasing Mason City. The tour planners were very excited to have the opportunity to learn about Mason City as a destination. Most of them have not yet brought groups to our community, but stated great interest in doing so in the near future. Many of the planners are working to wrap up their 2015 schedules and beginning to look at trips for 2016. Those that have visited in the past, seemed excited to return. Visit Mason City will follow-up with those that expressed

Tourism Month Open House Visit Mason City celebrated National Tourism Month with an Open House on Thursday, May 8th. Tourism partners and members of the community joined VMC staff and Board Members in looking back at FY2012-13 highlights and looking forward to the 2014 tourism season. "The community has created a very attractive place to visit. It’s a self-perpetuating attractor. You get the people here, they see the town, they want to come back, they want to bring their friends and their family. Visit Mason City is marketing and promoting the area to attract, retain and grow visitor spending in the community,” said Nancy Carroll, Visit Mason City Board President. Sue Armour, Ernest “The Cat Miller” and Sonny Onoo stop for Executive Director of Visit Mason City, added, "Visit Mason City is a photo with Nancy Carroll, VMC Board President absolutely optimistic about the future of tourism in the community during the Visit Mason City Open House. and the North Iowa area, especially with the several upcoming large events and new tourism related developments." During FY 2012-2013, Visit Mason City executed numerous multi-media campaigns to position Mason City and North Iowa as an ideal travel destination. Campaigns targeted mothers with children under the age of 13 and women 55 and older. Advertising in specific travel-focused publications, tradeshows, web sites (both mobile and traditional) reached key decision makers in Iowa and surrounding states. Earned media efforts including social / digital media and public relation opportunities were also realized. Plus, numerous sales calls were made resulting in attraction, retention and expansion of tourism in the community. The results of these initiatives included over 43,000 travel guides distributed to visitors, nearly 25,000 unique users at VisitMasonCityIowa.com and over an estimated $16.8 million of direct visitor spending influenced by Visit Mason City. Armour added, "Visitors ate at area restaurants, shopped in stores, filled their gas tanks, camped at parks and slept in local hotels. They made jobs for area residents. Long after these travelers returned home, our community benefited from the impact of their visit."

Thank You Travel Guide Advertisers The 2014 Travel Guide project has been completed and Visit Mason City has already sent out 3000 copies since the beginning of April. Nearly 100 users have downloaded the guide from the Visit Mason City

 Charles City Chamber of Com-

merce  Clarion Inn  Clear Lake Area Chamber of Commerce  Country Inn & Suites—Mason City  The Decker House Bed & Breakfast

641.422-1663 / 800.423.5724

 Diamond Jo Casino—Worth  Fort Custer Maze  Greater Franklin County Chamber of Commerce

 Highland Park Golf Course & MacNider Campground

 Historic Park Inn Hotel  Lady of the Lake  Mason City Airport

www.VisitMasonCityIowa.com

 McDonald’s Restaurant  Moorman Clothiers  NIACC  North Iowa Events Center  Osage Chamber of Commerce  Southbridge Mall  Walmart  Winn-Worth BETCO [email protected]

Membership Renewals (Cont.) Twenty Plus Years (Cont.) Iowa Works (25) Jon L. Hardinger, DDS (25) Marilyn’s Hallmark (25) NSB Bank (23) Reflections (23) Perkins Restaurant (22) Daniel Burgmeier DDS (21) Kinney Pioneer Museum (21) Printing Services, Inc. (21) Fifteen Plus Years Mason City Super 8 (16) Iowa State University Extension (15) Mason City Monument Company (15) Northern Lights Alliance for the Homeless (15) Ten Plus Years Hahn Roofing (12) Mills Fleet Farm-Mason City (12) Papa Murphy’s Take N Bake Pizza (11) Shorr Packaging Corporation (11)

Community Guide: 100th Anniversary Edition

H

ave you reserved ad space in the Chamber's upcoming community guide? Join the 100+ members who are showcasing their products and services in this popular publication, commemorating the Chamber's 100-year anniversary!

The upcoming Business Resource Guide will act as an exceptional Chamber membership recruitment tool, ideal community reference guide, and relocation publication. This customized piece will highlight the history of local business and industry to commemorate the Chamber’s upcoming centennial milestone. The multi-platform advertising bundle goes beyond the traditional print

Michael Holmes Village Profile

publication to include: a community website and downloadable NewView eBook®, which converts the publication’s editorial, pictures, and design elements into a digital format; on-the-go wireless access via various web-enabled devices; and the searchable vpMobile.us® Business Directory Portal, featuring the Chamber’s entire membership directory, available wirelessly, 24/7. For publication and advertising information or to reserve ad space now, contact the Mason City Chamber of Commerce at 641-423-5724 or Sales Representative Michael Holmes at 815-871-2631.

Ribbon Cuttings

Five Plus Years Chris Connolly – Certified Financial Planner (8) Cutting Edge Tree Services (8) North Iowa Transition Center (8) Unique Boutique (8) Bauer Built Tire (7) Redline Concrete (7) The Quarry Restaurant (7) Martin-Brower (6) Whiskey Creek Wood Fire Grill (6) Fencig Enterprises, Inc. (5) Johnson Heating & Air Conditioning (5) North Iowa Laser Skin Solutions (5) POET Biorefining – Hanlontown (5) Zgrafix Design (5)

NEW MEMBER Shelter Insurance Kimberly Boyd, Agent 210 Hwy 18W #B Clear Lake, IA

NEW OPENING Salvation Army Family Store 3551 4th St SW

One Year Plus Mediacom Business (3) Rieman Music, Inc (3) Bodensteiner Investment Advisors (2) New Tech Advertising (2) Relic Hunting Auction Services & Appraisals (1)

SECOND LOCATION Graham Tire Co. 1501 S Taft

Phone 641.423.5724

www.masoncityia.com

[email protected]

Fax 641.423.5725

Blue Zones Project®

NEW LOCATION

Congratulations Blue Zones Worksites®! According to the Gallup Healthways Wellbeing Index®, the Mason City work environment well-being has improved its score from 39.7% at the beginning of the project to 53.4% an increase of 13.7 percentage points over the past two years. Currently 36 employers have been designated Blue Zones Worksites.

KCMR-FM Inspiration 97.9FM 316 N Federal Ave

NEW MEMBER Friends of the 457 Celebration of the "Cannonball" Restoration

Allyson Krull Joins Chamber Staff Allyson Krull has joined the chamber team as Marketing & Leadership Development Director. Originally from Northwood, Iowa, Allyson spent five years in Des Moines working for the Iowa State Fair Blue Ribbon Foundation before moving back to the area. Most recently, Allyson worked as Marketing Specialist for WCTA in Lake Mills. At the Chamber, Allyson directs the Leadership North Iowa, YIELD and Ambassador programs. She also conducts marketing for the Chamber and assists with the Global Familiarization Tours. Allyson and her husband, Chad, have a 18-month old daughter, Kendall, and currently reside in Northwood.

Be Our Guest

T

une in Friday mornings to the Chamber “Be Our Guest” program at 8:40AM on KRIB 1490 AM. Three Eagles Communications provides this benefit to Chamber members free of charge. If you would like to schedule a guest spot on the show, please contact the Chamber. Listen in for June’s guests! June 6 Schwan’s Home Service Paul Speer

June 20 Mason City Evening Lions Dennis Brunsvold

June 13 MacNider Art Museum Edie Blanchard

June 27 AdvoCare Distributor Troy & Brenda Westendorf

Phone 641.423.5724

www.masoncityia.com

Accelerated Rehabilitation Centers Armour-Eckrich Meats LLC Cargill Kitchen Solutions Cerro Gordo County Health Department City of Mason City Community National Bank Culligan Curries Edwards-Brandt & Associates, Inc. First Citizens National Bank Four Oaks/Mason City Harding Elementary Henkel Construction Company Hoover Elementary Hy-Vee Drugstore Hy-Vee East Grocery Store Hy-Vee West Grocery Store Jefferson Elementary John Adams Middle School Kaplan University - Mason City Lincoln Intermediate Mason City Alternative School Mason City Community School Administration Building Mason City Family YMCA Mason City High School Mercy Medical Center - North Iowa Metalcraft, Inc. Midwest Roofing Co./Overhead Door Co. of Mason City NSB BANK EAST NSB Bank North Iowa Area Community College North Iowa Community Credit Union North Iowa Community Credit Union - West Branch Pepsi Beverages Company Principal Financial Group - Mason City Roosevelt Elementary School

Thank you to all our employers who are playing a key role in creating vibrant worksites. For more information about how to become a Blue Zones Worksite, contact Angela Determan at 641-424-7181 [email protected] or visit www.bluezonesproject.com

[email protected]

Fax 641.423.5725

Chamber Leadership

Periodical Postage Paid at Mason City, Iowa (USPS 060-350)

Executive Committee Kim Pang, Chairman of the Board Diamond Jo Casino Bob Klocke, Chair-Elect First Citizens National Bank Todd Kirkpatrick, Treasurer Clear Lake Bank & Trust Gary Hall, Business Division Vice President Iowa State University Extension Traci Rohrer, Community & Events Division Vice President Wells Fargo Bank Holly Eichmann, Workforce & Leadership Division Vice President Express Employment Professionals Steve Noto, Government Affairs Division Vice President Thompson Companies

Board of Directors Stewart Anderson, Wal-Mart SuperCenter Sherry Becker, NIVC Services Dave Bergan, Armour-Eckrich Meats Brian Janssen, Allied Purchasing Pam Klukow, Century 21 Preferred Jerry Knoll, Hawkeye Auto Body Tara McLaughlin, Country Inn & SuitesWorth County Dr. Paul Manternach, Mercy Medical Center —North Iowa Howard Query, Globe Gazette Scott Smith, Mercy Medical Center-North Iowa Julie Valencia, Kaplan University Chad Wickman, Northern Cedar Service Joel Yunek, Yunek Law Firm PLC

Staff Robin Anderson, CCE, IOM President & Chief Executive Officer [email protected] Allyson Krull Marketing & Leadership Development Director [email protected] Tanner O’Brien, Program Director [email protected] Gary Lindgren, Membership Development Director [email protected] Sharon Lindgren, Membership Services Director [email protected] Mikki Baker, Service & Operations Director [email protected] This is a Mason City Chamber of Commerce Publication. Mason City, Iowa 50401 641.423.5724 Publications are monthly for $20 per year by the Mason City Chamber of Commerce, 9 North Federal Avenue, Mason City, IA 50401-3250. Second Class postage paid at Mason City, IA. Postmaster: send address changes to The Chamber, 9 North Federal Avenue, Mason City, IA 50401-3250.

June 2014 Chamber Calendar M onday

Tuesday

2

3

4

Noon: Ambassadors

Noon: Business Information Committee

10

9

16

17

Wednesday

Thursday

Friday

5

6

11

12

13

7:30AM: Agribusiness Committee

Noon: Events Committee

12:15PM: North Iowa Band Festival Committee

18

19

20

4:30-6:30PM

Business After Hours at King Construction

23

24

Chamber Golf Outing

25

26

27

7AM: Chamber Board

Mason City Country Club

30

Upcoming Events... July 10 July 23 July 30

Business After Hours sponsored by North Iowa Youth Center / MC Honda RAGBRAI overnight in Mason City Business After Hours sponsored by Yaggy/SEH

For the most recent updates, go to www.masoncityia.com and click on “Calendar.”

Find us on

Phone 641.423.5724

www.masoncityia.com

[email protected]