February 2020 - Issue #90
Top Chamber Supporters
Please support our Chamber Member Businesses!
Bridgefest Seeks Vendors
Welcome New Members
Please support our Chamber Member Businesses!
Please help us welcome not only a NEW Chamber Member but a NEW business located in Houghton!

Anne Cooke, DPT, WCS  owner of Inner Strength Physical Therapy and Wellness.
"Inner Strength Physical Therapy and Wellness is a unique clinic that cares about the patient and treats injury and dysfunction at its root, so you can get your life back. By being a stand-alone clinic, things are simpler. No long holds. No long lines. No shuffle. And no-nonsense. We offer personalized care at your convenience."

903 Razorback Dr. Suite 3b
Houghton, MI 49931
T: 906.370.9646
F: 616.333.4925
Thank you for RENEWING your membership
Please support our Chamber Member Businesses!
41 Lumber - Houghton
AAA Copper Country Insurance Agency
AirMedCare Network Valley Med Flight
Ambassador Restaurant
Associate - Steve Karpiak
Bonfire Steakhouse Bar & Grill
Bucko's Party Store
Calumet Theatre
Canal Run
Center Ice Skate & Sport, Inc.
Champion Welding Alloys
Charter Township of Calumet
Chassell Township
Copper Country Ford
Copper Country Habitat for Humanity Re-Store
Copper Country Veterinary Clinic
Copper Harbor Trails Club
Credit Services, Inc.
Cross Country Sports
D & L Janitorial Services, Inc.
D P Construction, Inc.
Dapple Gray Bed & Breakfast and Antiques
Dial Help, Inc.
Dollar Bay Linoleum & Tile Company
Family Chiropractic Center
Farmer's & Merchants Mutual Fire Insurance
Ferrellgas
Flowers by Sleeman
Frank A. Douglass Agency
Gartner's Gallery
Great Lakes Mineral Works
Houghton Community Broadcasting
Hyrkas Plumbing & Heating
InSight EyeCare
Isle Royale National Park Service
J & A Penegor, Inc.
Keweenaw Co-op Market & Deli
Keweenaw County
Keweenaw Gem & Gift, Inc.
Kirkish Furniture
Leveque Agency, Inc.
Little Brothers Friends of the Elderly
Magnuson Hotel Franklin Square Inn
McGann Building Supply
Mercy EMS, Inc.
Michigan Tech Employees Federal Credit Union
Mike Lahti State Farm Insurance
Miller's Recreation, Inc.
New Power Tour, Inc.
North Star bp - Calumet
Northern Light Cottages
Northern Lights Clubhouse
Northern Mutual Insurance
Osceola Township
Pat's Foods and Festival Foods
Pepsi Cola Bottling Company of Houghton, Inc.
Peterlin Distributing
Pettibone, LLC
Portage Health Foundation 
Portage Lake District Library
Portage Quilt House, LLC
Protea Floral Design
R Crew, LLC dba The Tire Shop
Real People Media
Steve Zutter, Financial Advisor, Edward Jones - Hancock
Subway - Houghton
Suomi Restaurant
Superior Graphics
Superior National Bank & Trust
Superior Screed Service
Superior Tax and Accounting Services
Surplus Outlet
U.P. Engineers & Architects, Inc.
U.P. Kids
Up and Running Technology Solutions
UPWARD Talent Council
Vollwerth & Baroni Companies
WalMart #2192
Waste Management, Inc.
Wells Fargo Home Mortgage
Western U.P. Planning & Development Region
WLUC TV 6 and Fox UP - Gray Television
NEW CHAMBER BENEFITS
We're happy to announce a new partnership with the Small Business Association of Michigan (SBAM). Current Keweenaw Chamber of Commerce members are eligible to these benefits below under this partnership agreement.

We encourage you to reach out and take advantage of these great benefits, or let us know if you have any questions, call 482-5240 or email  info@keweenaw.org
Like us on Facebook
We like to share news, updates, and events of our membership on Facebook. If you have a post that you would like us to share please share it with us and we would love to help spread the word!
Event Recaps
Human & Leadership Motivation | Lunch & Learn
Matt Throop with MDT Consulting

Sponsored by Keweenaw Co-op
Our First Leadership Keweenaw 2020 session at a GLANCE! Leadership Keweenaw has 22 participants from local, area businesses and organizations. This is a group that will participate in SIX sessions in the Keweenaw to focus on leadership skills, strengths, skills and expertise in the workforce.

Thank you to Devin Leonarduzzi | SmartCreative and Amanda Jackson | MTU for PRESENTING on the session topic of Emotional Intelligence. Also, both are Alumni of the program.
Canal Run | Business After Hours
Mark Your Calendars!
Upcoming Chamber Events
Submit Your Nominations:
2020 Keweenaw Community Spark Plug Awards

NOMINATIONS
Have you experienced exceptional customer service at a local business? What about a great project that made a significant impact in the community? Do you know a young professional in the community that has made a difference?

Submit your nominations today! Deadline for nominations is February 7th. See the nomination form for category descriptions. 


AWARD CATEGORIES
  • Growth
  • Customer Service
  • Innovation / Transformation
  • Project of the Year
  • Young Professional of the Year
  • Community Contributor of the Year

KEYNOTE SPEAKER:
David Manson & Andy Langlois
Co-Founders, Blackrocks Brewery
Marquette, MI

AWARDS DINNER
Will be held on March 5th, 2020 at the Bonfire Steakhouse in Houghton. Networking and a cash bar begin at 5:30 pm. The dinner starts at 6:00 pm with the keynote speaker and awards ceremony to follow. Everyone in the community is encouraged to attend. Please get your tickets by February 28th.

Tickets ($40 or a reserved table of 8 $320) can be purchased by calling the Keweenaw Chamber of Commerce office 906-482-5240 or email info@keweenaw.org
Member Spotlight:
Center Ice Skate & Sport
Q: Give us some background on yourself/your business.
A: Center Ice Skate and Sport was founded in 1993 by brothers Sean and Shane Jacques to offer skate sharpening, skates laces and hockey tape. Over the next 26 years, Center Ice has grown to multiple locations serving skaters in the Copper Country and throughout North America with expanding product offerings and lasting relationships. The company diversified in 2017 with a business focused on summer recreation. Portage Paddle Sports now operates from two locations along the Portage Canal, renting stand-up paddle boards, kayaks, bikes, float tubes and serving dozens of flavors of Jilberts hand dipped ice cream along with other concession items.

Q: How many years have you been in business?
A: Center Ice Skate and Sport, Inc. is rounding out its 26 th year serving local hockey players. Portage Paddle Sports is gearing up for its fourth season with locations at Hancock Beach and Kestner Waterfront Park (Chutes and Ladders) in Houghton.

Q: What’s an interesting fact about your business most people don’t know?
A: Long before the existence of the composite hockey stick, Center Ice operated under the name “The Lumberyard Hockey Pro Shop” because of the hundreds of wooden hockey sticks to select from. Center Ice launched a skate sharpening by mail service in 2018 and now sharpens steel runners for skaters from coast to coast via hockeyguys.com

Q: What is one thing in your business you are looking forward to?
A: I am looking forward to bringing our twist of an Ultimate Grilled Cheese sandwich to Portage Paddle Sports this summer.

Q: Do you have any advice for new business owners?
A: Consult with the many resources available locally to assist businesses including the Chamber of Commerce, MI SBDC, KEDA and others. Know your numbers and your customers, take calculated risks and Innovate.

Q: What are your business's goals?
A: Innovate and diversify in meeting the community needs for another 26 years! Continue to focus on meeting the hockey community’s needs, so they can “Skate with Confidence”. Expand on our summer destination locations where local and visiting families can find affordable recreational fun and enjoy summer by visiting Portage Paddle Sports.

Q: How can people keep up to date on what's happening at your organization?

Q: Anything else you want the community to know about your business?
A: We offer all kinds of apparel including team jerseys, t-shirts, sweatshirts and custom print these in house including embroidery. We are your one-stop shop for team or business apparel. We are offering $50 in additional product or services to our customers for every $100 they spend on printing or embroidery thru the end of April.

Q: How does being in this community affect your business?
A: It’s great! We are so grateful to be a part of the strong hockey tradition in the Copper Country. Our community is small, but full of caring and hardworking people that are very supportive of our endeavors. The Keweenaw Chamber of Commerce, local hockey associations, schools and local municipalities have been exceptional partners in allowing us to thrive.
Is your business/organization interested in being in our member spotlight? Contact us for more details!
Accident Fund Insurance Discount Program
Upcoming Events

Starting on February 19th, the City of Houghton will have a luge open on Isle Royale street, from Shelden Avenue to Lakeshore Drive. This year there will be open sledding instead of the traditional cardboard sled contest. Please come and enjoy the luge responsibly.
Small Biz Speed Dating
March 6, 2020 | 1-5 PM
1Q1 Quincy | Hancock

This event provides potential entrepreneurs and small business owners an opportunity to 1) get questions answered, 2) receive critical resources and 3) provide a growth framework for your business. This is a networking event in a speed dating style where you will meet other local entrepreneurs and receive advice and inspiration from local business leaders--we are not intentionally setting anyone up on a date.

More information, the schedule, as well as an application to attend will be available by the end of January.

Cost to attend: $25/person.

For more information, click here.
Is your business or organization having an upcoming event? Send us your flyer and we will include it in our newsletter - Email: info@keweenaw.org . Also - be sure to post your events on our community calendar!
Keweenaw Cash
The Keweenaw Chamber of Commerce is pleased to offer Keweenaw Cash: a gift certificate program that can be used at more than 300 Chamber member businesses. Since its launch, the Keweenaw Chamber of Commerce has issued over $341,000 worth of Keweenaw Cash. That money goes right back into local businesses!

Keweenaw Cash can be purchased in any denomination, allowing the recipient more flexibility and enabling them to use the certificates at numerous businesses.

In addition to making great gifts, businesses can purchase Keweenaw Cash as bonuses, prizes, at fundraising events, as employee incentives or awards, retirement gifts, to mark a milestone, or as part of a welcome package for new hires.

Certificates come with an envelope and a list of all the participating businesses.
Please note we require at least a 24 hour notice when placing orders. We are not responsible for any lost or stolen certificates.

If you are a business and would be interested in being able to redeem Keweenaw Cash, please look into a   becoming a member   with the Keweenaw Chamber of Commerce.

For additional information about Keweenaw Cash, to purchase certificates, or how you can accept Keweenaw Cash, call  906-482-5240  or email  info@keweenaw.org
We need your Business Cards/Brochures
Board of Directors
Mary Myers, President
Account Executive
WLUC TV6 & FoxUP

Jan Cole - Vice President
Managing Partner
Edochi, LLC

James Desrochers - Treasurer
Director of Advancement
Michigan Technological University

Angela Luskin, Secretary
Health and Fitness Manager
UP Health System-Portage

Morgan Impola
Regional Engineer
UPPCO

Jennifer Jenich-Laplander
Regional Communication and Engagement
Aspirus Keweenaw Hospital
Penny Milkey
Owner
Northern Specialty Health

Todd Gast
Marketing Manager
Keweenaw Co-op

Carrie Richards
Partner Engagement Program Manager
Michigan Technological University

Mariah Summers
Events Manager
Keweenaw Mountain Lodge

Monica Freeman
Coordinator of External Relations
Finlandia University

Mary Sears, KEDA Representative
Brad Barnett, CVB Representative
Karin Van Dyke , Past President
Your Lansing Contacts
Do you have questions, comments, or concerns? Contact your legislators! 
 
Governor 
 
U.S. Senators
 
U.S. Representative
 
State Senate District: 38
 
House of Representative District: 110 
Our roots run deep in the Keweenaw
Upper Peninsula Power Company was created in 1947 through a merger of three utilities. One of them, the Houghton County Electric Light Company, earlier acquired the interests of Peninsula Electric Light and Power, which began operating in the Keweenaw in 1884 – just five years after Edison invented the light bulb.
From the Edison bulb to high-tech electronics of today, you might say UPPCO has been providing “ U.P. Power ” for more than 130 years. 
Customer Service
( 800-562-7680 )
24-Hour Electric Emergencies/Outages
1-800-562-7809
Outage Updates
@UPPCOstorm
News @uppcopower
Safe & Reliable Service
Renewable Hydroelectric Generation
With Public Recreational Opportunities
Proud Community Supporter



Learn more at
Keweenaw Chamber of Commerce
902 College Ave, Houghton, MI 49931