n 1999, 23-year-old Chad Lyons thought he had his life all planned out. The Fairmont native was married with a young son, was working as a manager at a hog farm in Truman and was also serving in the Minnesota National Guard. He planned on going the full 20 years so he could earn a complete retirement package from the military.
After 17 years in the sales industry, Megan Kaduce decided she’d had enough of the long drives and late nights. Instead, she and her husband, Larry, decided to start their own business in St. Peter.
When one thinks of wine, a few locations come to mind: France with its champagnes, Italy with its Sangiovese, California with its Cabernet Sauvignon. In other words, one does not usually think of Minnesota. Yet, hidden in an unassuming southeast corner of a state better known for hot dishes and lutefisk, the Chankaska Creek Ranch and Winery has started making quite a name of itself in the world of wine.
Growing up, Brandon Olson always wanted to start his own business—but running a daycare center was never on top of his list.
Jayne Jensen has always had a knack for organizing. When other kids her age were coming home from school to watch cartoons, she would head to her bedroom with a duster and plan ways to reorganize her space.
For nearly 70 years, the Ankeny family business has served the Blue Earth community in the same building, located at 230 Main Street. Started by Clayton Ankeny in 1946, it was passed on to Wayne Ankeny and eventually Bruce Ankeny, who still runs it today.
When Sung Woo “Matt” Hu was growing up in South Korea, he would watch American crime dramas and dream of working in a U.S. law office himself one day. Now, three decades later, he’s made that dream come true.
The Verizon Wireless Center, located in the heart of downtown Mankato, is a thing of multi-faceted beauty. Built in 1995 for $23 million, it has blossomed into one of the very anchors of the city itself, more than repaying its initial costs thanks to the roughly $47 million in economic activity it generates each year.
When Mark Beito decided to open his own funeral supply business—Mark Thomas Co.—in 1990, he had no idea it would spring to life as quickly as it did. In fact, by 1993, he had outgrown his rented quarters in the back of the local bank and needed to expand—fast.
