June/July 2018 - Issue #72
Dear Friends,

The ‘Father’s Day Flood’ left a big impact on our community, well beyond the physical damage. It will take time for all of the pieces to be put back together, but Yoopers are uniquely equipped to face down adversity. Thanks to the gritty determination of volunteers, the generous offerings of donors, and the support from all our friends and neighbors, we are well on our way. Our resilience was tested, and we rose to the occasion. 

The carnage and pain of the flood has been well documented, in the news and on social media. The shocking photos and videos have made some people question plans to visit the Keweenaw. Our economy relies on our ability to attract people to the area to enjoy a piece of life not available anywhere else. From sightseers and thrill seekers to international students and professionals, we have a reputation of delivering a unique experience to those seeking contact with nature, adventure, and seclusion while still being close to comfortable lodging, great restaurants, and world class education.

All of those components that have always attracted people to our area are still in place. Our infrastructure is being repaired at mind boggling speed. Our businesses are open and ready to serve. While some of our trails and waterways are not yet available, we have always enjoyed an abundance of options in that area. People don’t need to cancel their visit, we just need to let them know. 

If you love the Keweenaw, tell the whole story. Tell the story of the flood, but also tell the story of the recovery. Make sure that everyone knows that while the Copper Country took a big hit, we are Still Strong, and we are Still Open. 

Thank you for your support,

Brian Donnelly
President
Keweenaw Chamber of Commerce
Top Chamber Supporters
Welcome New Chamber Members
Please support our Chamber Member Businesses!
Thank you for renewing your membership
Ace Hardware of Calumet, Inc.
Aire Care
American Forest Management, Inc.
AmericInn of Calumet
AmericInn of Silver City
Associate - Dana Johnson
Bukema Trucking
Calumet Electronics Corporation
Chassell Carpentry & Woodwork, Inc.
Copper Country Veterinary Clinic
Crampton Surveying, Inc.
Cross Country Sports
Crown Cleaners
Culver's
D&L Janitorial, Inc.
Downtowner, Inc.
Edochi, LLC  
Freshwater Vacation Rentals, LLC
Gardenview Assisted Living & Memory Care
Gogebic Community College
Gogebic Lodge
Great Lakes Accounting, PC
Hannula Agency
Holiday Inn Express
Holombo Masonry
Houghton Rotary Club
InSight EyeCare
John Nelson, Financial Advisor, Edward Jones - Houghton
Keweenaw Brewing Company
Keweenaw Community Foundation
Keweenaw Co-op Market & Deli
Keweenaw Gem & Gift, Inc.
Keweenaw Overhead Door, Inc. Keweenaw Petroleum Services
Koppers, Inc
Lake Superior Magazine
Mattila Rock and Dock, LLC
New Beginnings Angel Mission
Northern Heating and Plumbing, Inc. Northern Light Cottages
Northern Michigan Land Brokers Northwinds Adventures
Northwoods Resort and Apartments Omega House
Pat's Motor Sports, Inc.
Peterson's Fish Market
Pilgrim River Steakhouse
Portage Dental Health
Quincy Mine Hoist Assn.
Ramada Waterfront
River Valley Bank
Sherwin Williams Company
Shopko Hometown
Suomi Restaurant
Superior Screed Service
Superior Service Towing
Surplus Outlet
The Calumet Theatre
Torch Lake Area Sewage Authority
U.P. Engineers & Architects, Inc.
Upper Great Lakes Family Health Center VAST
World of Wood
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Mark Your Calendars!
Upcoming Chamber Events
Event Recaps:
Still Strong Bluegrass Benefit Concert
June 28, 2018
A huge thank you to everyone for supporting the concert!
The concert raised a total of $14,149 for the  Portage Health Foundation 's fund for flood relief.
A huge thank you to  Keweenaw Chevrolet  for being the exclusive sponsor. And of course the bands,  Keweenaw Brewgrass Chasin' Steel , and especially  The Paul Family Bluegrass Band  who helped put this all together.
Thank you so much for supporting our community! A special thanks to  Bonfire Steakhouse  for making sure the bands had something to eat, and  Coca-Cola of Hancock  and  Keweenaw Petroleum Services  for donating beverages.
Business After Hours
June 20, 2018
Business After Hours
June 6, 2018
Ribbon Cutting
June 1, 2018
Ribbon Cutting
May 30, 2018
Business After Hours
May 16, 2018
Lunch and Learn - Bitcoin
May 15, 2018
Presenter Andre Laplume spoke to attendees about Initial Coin Offerings & Bitcoin Entrepreneurship.
Sponsored by the Keweenaw Co-op,
Lunch & Learns are offered monthly.
Member Spotlight:
Give us some background on yourself/your business.

Hi, I'm Lynn! I'm a tech grad and a digital marketing professional with over 12 years of experience in websites, social media, and digital advertising. I'm a business development director for a location independent collective of digital media professionals called Apiary Digital . When I moved back to the Keweenaw in August of 2017, I found myself quickly going stir crazy working out of my home office (the deer don't talk much).
I met Jake Northey, co-founder of 101 Quincy Coworking, in March of 2018 and realized we had a similar vision for a shared workspace. Since then, we planned and updated the second floor of 101 Quincy (formerly the Wisti Law Office) to be a coworking space that launched on May 30 as 101 Quincy Coworking .

How many years have you been in business?

A little over one month!
 
What’s an interesting fact about your business most people don’t know?

The concept of coworking is hard for some to imagine when they haven't experienced it themselves. Marketing agencies, in particular, have moved toward open concept workspaces to share ideas, inspire different thinking, and randomly help people meet each other. In addition to shared work spaces, we also have a rentable conference room.
 
Do you have any advice for new business owners?

Be open to feedback and seek input from supporters but don't get stuck in analysis paralysis -- which is easy with the overwhelming number of decisions needed to launch a new business. Be willing to try something that might fail--you'll learn something either way!  

What brought you to the area?

Initially Michigan Tech. After college I lived in the area for 6 years. Most recently I moved back to get out of traffic, rebuild a personal community, and for my husband to accept his dream job with Orbion Space Technology.

What keeps you here?

The people, the outdoors, and the energy for new ideas! 

What are your business's goals?

We hope to have 12 members by May 2019. 

How does being in this community affect your business?

The local community is the reason we launched the business--to grow, thrive, and build a shared workspace together. Coworking spaces aren't new. My hope is that the first members will help us engage more people in the community who are more remote workers, solopreneurs, and creatives who need a shared workspace and want to give coworking a try. 
Your Opportunity to Learn More
Contact the Chamber for free access to Skillshare
Member Announcements
Board of Directors
Brian Donnelly, President
Financial Services Representative
Superior National Bank

Mary Myers - Vice President
Account Executive
WLUC TV6

Matthew Maise - Treasurer

Karin Van Dyke, Secretary
Vice President for University Relations
Finlandia University

Matt Thyer
Owner
Up and Running Technology Solutions

Morgan Impola
Regional Engineer
UPPCO
Carrie Richards
Partner Engagement Program Manager
Michigan Technological University

Angela Luskin
Health and Fitness Manager
UP Health System-Portage

Jan Cole
Managing Partner
Edochi, LLC

Marilyn Clark
CEO
MTEC SmartZone

James Desrochers
Associate Director, Industry Relations
Michigan Technological University



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. 
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( 800-562-7680 )
24-Hour Electric Emergencies/Outages
1-800-562-7809
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@UPPCOstorm
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With Public Recreational Opportunities
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Learn more at
Keweenaw Chamber of Commerce
902 College Ave, Houghton, MI 49931