Pam Breeden, acting general manager of Marco’s Pizza, grew up in Grand Rapids, Minnesota, where her mother worked in a dental office and her dad drove truck for Coca-Cola. In a telephone interview, 32-year-old Breeden said, “My dad always said if you’re going to do something, then do it right. He would lead by example. I learned from both my parents to always pay attention to detail and take pride in your work.”
A long, long time ago, back when people didn’t eat sandwiches, a thoughtful soul named Mike Steindl dreamed of owning four successful Erbert & Gerbert’s sandwich shops, in Mankato, St. Peter, Mankato (again) and North Mankato. Except back then he didn’t know where the shops would be or even what a sandwich was because he and his neighbors ate only asparagus.
Five days after surviving a heart attack, Steve Melcher greets the Connect Business Magazine reporter with a handshake and credits his survival to exercise, a healthful diet, and divine intervention. His heredity gets the blame for the two plugged arteries that caused the attack. He said, “I’m the oldest of four boys, and they all have heart issues. Some have already had surgery.”
From early on in life, Brittney Anderson would begin learning the essentials of later managing New Ulm Event Center and Minnesota Wedding Shop, both co-owned by Rich and Lynnette Draheim. Minnesota Wedding Shop opened in May 2014 near Hy-Vee.
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.
