Member Brief Bytes
The Buffalo Area Chamber of Commerce and Tourism Bureau serves our business members, promotes our local assets, and shapes the future of our community.
Sponsor Spotlight
MidCountry Bank has some great rates on Home Equity Lines of Credit. Go to www.MidCountry.Bank/HomeEquity for more information.
COVID/VACCINE UPDATE

Minnesota is 4th in the nation with the daily vaccine rate and 12th in the nation with people completing the full series - about 41%.
Over 4.2 million doses have been given in the state with 2.5 million people with at least one dose.

Governor Walz is to announce some sort of change in the restrictions tomorrow so stay tuned! The MN Chamber of Commerce is pushing for a July 1 fully open date.
NEW MEMBERS 2021
HEGLE DOOR SALES, INC
375 Spruce Ave N
Maple Lake, MN 55358
320-963-3934

Hegle Door Sales is a family owned business the started in 1990! If you are ever in need of a new garage door or need repair to your coils, cables, opener, weather stripping - they are the people to call. They can also replace sections of your garage door for when your teenage driver makes a little dent!

They serve Maple Lake, Annandale, Buffalo and central Minnesota with both residential and commercial doors and openers. They have quality product, experienced staff, trained, honest installers, and give free estimates. They are also super responsive. I know we have used them at least once in each of the three homes we have owned in Buffalo! My son just called and asked "who was that garage door company you and Dad have used" and I was proud to say they are now Chamber members!

Son, Aaron Hegle, lives and coaches at BHS in Buffalo and wants to be more involved in the community. Mom, Lorie has already gotten involved - it's been fun to get to know her! Welcome to our Chamber family!
Chamber Events
GOOD AFTERNOON BUFFALO

What a great turnout - I think the biggest ever! Thank you Tricia for treating us to some tasty appetizers and refreshing beverages as we enjoyed the sunshine!
FEEDBACC TRAINING
We make it easy to learn!

Trainings sessions in person or via Zoom
11:30-1:00 - ONE LEFT

In person - meet at Bison Creek from 11:30-1:00
Zoom link will be sent later to those registered to attend via Zoom.

  • Each class will be $25 and includes lunch. Zooming will be $10. Link will be emailed.
  • Bring your laptop or your phone so you can be working with your own digital presence.

Tuesday, May 18th:
Power Tool - Your Data
Instead of just hoping you are reaching your demographic audience learn how to hone your marketing based on data from your own business and from the internet to find the customer most likely to use your business. Bring your access information for Google Analytics, reports from your email list, and data from your Google Ads if you have them. If not - we will show you how and where to start collecting this data. Why? Because, then you will know who/how to target your highest potential customers.

Below is our group from yesterday's training that learned about Google My Business and Next Door and are going to rock promoting our businesses with some new tools! There's Kelly Baltzell - presenter from Positive Based Marketing, myself, Missy Meidinger from Wright County Economic Development Partnership, Suzanne, Steve Novacek
from Wright Lumber and Tim Haas from Today's Driving School.
GOLF TOURNAMENT - FILLING FAST BUT STILL ROOM!

If you plan on golfing at our Scholarship Golf Tournament - give us a holler! We are working to beat last year's number of 107 golfers. We have about 20 more to go!

Also we are looking for small donations for raffle prizes or any larger donation for a live auction. Give Suzanne and I a shout if you have something in mind - we will gladly come pick it up. Just a small $5 or $10 item or gift card is good for raffles!

We are one month out - the weather will be grand! We are actually interviewing the high school seniors next week - that are eligible for last year's $4000 raised from this event. Thank you so much for your generosity!
Ambassadors on the Move
PAUMEN COMPUTERS
612-463-5856

Paumen Computers has been in business for 25 years and has been a longstanding Chamber member. In the beginning is was just Gordy Paumen and his wife Jan. They have now grown to 5-6 techs that have 150 combined years of experience. They primarily serve businesses in Wright County and the west metro area. They tend to be the IT department for companies without one - whether an employer of 1 or 100. They virtually have to know everything!

Paumen Computers is also a reseller of DELL products - from desktops, laptops, servers - all commercial grade equipment - as they serve businesses vs residential clients. They encourage their clients to have scheduled preventative maintenance of their systems.

When asked the question about what makes Paumen Computers unique, Steve Willems, COO, had this to say: "There are no contracts or monthly fees - they do everything on a time and material basis and they have good responsive service - they actually answer the phone!" Steve also informed the Ambassador group that cyber security is a big challenge right now. They are doing much to educated their customers on having a layered approach to security - firewalls, updates, strong passwords etc...

Thanks for sharing with us. If your business needs some IT help - give Paumen Computers a call!

Below see Ambassador Chanda Knoof from Havenwood, myself, Ambassador Val Megaw from Centra Sota, Steve, and Ambassadors Cheree's Hoese of CRS and Rob Stark of Edward Jones.
COMMUNITY HAPPENINGS
ONE DIVISION ART IS HOSTING THE FIRST SHOW OF THE YEAR!

Showing some of member and owner, Christopher Hoffman's own work.
Thursday and Friday 6-9 p.m. and Saturday 11-9 p.m.
CHECK OUT THE CLASSIC CAR CRUISE IN SCHEDULE AT THE LEGION!
The Chamber is sponsoring the drive in movie - CARS - on June 15th!
KEEPING YOU IN THE KNOW

Quick-link to the recent City of Buffalo public meetings:
How do you know bees are happy? Because they hum while they work!
Be sure you follow us on Facebook and Twitter!
Buffalo Area Chamber of Commerce
763-682-4902
STAY CONNECTED