John Landsteiner is only 21, and as a Fairmont native before age 18 attended two different high schools in Wisconsin, and two colleges, Presentation College and Minnesota West. He technically began his business two years ago, but didn’t have a storefront until recently.
The upper management team, which includes Chief Executive Officer Randy Farrow and Chief Medical Officer and Psychiatrist Dr. Julie Gerndt, began charting about six years ago a much more bottom-up, egalitarian course involving patients and providers rather than one top-down, do-as-you’re-told. Also, The Mankato Clinic Foundation, which receives funding mostly from its owner/physicians, has caringly and quietly donated more than $1 million over the last five years to regional causes.
Three people influenced Dr. Zephanie Skow’s interest in chiropractic. Growing up the daughter of a Fairmont veterinarian, Skow was involved with 4H and FFA, and showed poultry, beef cows, and horses.
Andrew Wherley of Shoe-In Pro Finish enjoyed motocross racing while growing up in Chaska. “It controlled most of my youth,” said 33-year-old Wherley in a telephone interview. “I would work in the concrete industry to pay to race on the weekends. I started racing soon as I had my driver’s licence.”
When a knitting machine breaks in Oregon, Mexico City, Quebec, Canada, or even Sweden, there’s a good likelihood it will be repaired in St. Peter. A little shop nestled in St. Peter’s historic district, Knit & Sew World, occupies the storefront at 119 South Minnesota Avenue.
“I was always involved in sports and physical fitness,” said 31-year-old Jason Tompkins of Ignition Fitness & Sports, which opened this year. “I started playing soccer at age five and began strength training and fitness in seventh grade. I’ve always liked competition, physically challenging activities, and being on a team.”
Most Connect Business Magazine readers don’t realize New Ulm Telecom is a publicly traded company (NULM) that formerly owned 10 percent of Mankato-based Midwest Wireless, which sold in 2005-06 for more than $1 billion. Most don’t realize $40 million (2014 estimated gross revenue) New Ulm Telecom has an ownership footprint in 23 Minnesota and Iowa communities, including Sioux City, Hutchinson, Sleepy Eye, Springfield, and New Ulm.
In September 1982, the late Dean C. Seaver, founder of Le Sueur-based Seaver Company, was driving home with a friend from a golf tournament in the Twin Cities. That friend, Frank, was the golf pro at the Le Sueur country club where Seaver was president. They had just won the golf tournament.
Mark Peterson of rural Lake Crystal opened Old World Meats within the last year. The start of this boutique pork and beef business had as much to do with Peterson’s varied life experiences as his personal tastes in meat.
