Premier Partners
You won’t get far if you never step out of your comfort zone. Business owners know this. They know the importance of weighing risks with possibilities, of balancing security and innovation. No matter the situation, rarely will a business evolve without first stepping out of that comfort zone.
For Renata Konopka, the path that led her to opening a restaurant in Sleepy Eye was a long and twisting one. Konopka grew up in Krakow, Poland. She lived with her mother, while her father, a U.S. citizen, lived in America.
For Dave Franklin, starting an archery shop wasn’t about making big bucks. It was about creating a place where his kids could practice their sport. “The kids needed a place to shoot,” he said.
In 1984, Ken Wilmes was at a crossroads. At the time, the 30-year-old Mankato native was working at JMF Manufacturing, a manufacturing business formerly located in Lake Crystal. There, he was a project manager, overseeing work on everything from feed mills to grain elevators. While he was successful in his work, the overall business was not, shutting its doors that year.
St. Peter artist and business owner Bob Vogel travels the world to find inspiration for his unique artwork. “Just show up.” That’s Bob Vogel’s philosophy for reaching a goal. “To start anything, you first have to show up, and good things will usually follow.”
Across southern Minnesota, employers are facing a workforce shortage as they try to fill positions within their businesses—especially in the technical fields of science, engineering, technology and manufacturing. While there are several factors at play, one of the biggest is the way we look at the next generation of workers.
Minnesota was ranked the Top State for Business in 2015 in June by CNBC, scoring 1,584 out of a possible
Minnesota was ranked the Top State for Business in 2015 in June by CNBC, scoring 1,584 out of a possible
A June survey by the community group Neighborhood Organizations for Change asked more than 500 Minneapolis workers about workforce issues,
