Tuesday, December 30, 2025

Thank you to our Chairman's Circle investors:

Embrace Change | Drive Momentum | Champion Growth

The Chamber office is closed for the holidays through January 1st.

The Business Education Network and Willmar High School welcomed Bethesda and Ridgewater College to Zero Hour on December 3rd. Students learned about Ridgewater College and job opportunities at Bethesda.

Zero Hour takes place during the first hour on Wednesdays at the Willmar Senior High. It’s a designated time for students to catch up on tests or missing work. Students who are all caught up gather in the commons until classes begin which provides a great opportunity to showcase businesses in the Willmar Lakes Area.

If you’d like to engage with students and share what your organization offers, please contact Jennifer Lindquist at BENCoordinator@willmarareachamber.com. Let’s inspire the next generation—one Zero Hour at a time!

In November, the Business Education Network presented Classroom to Career to students at the Area Learning Center.

Classroom to Career gives business professionals the chance to connect with students, discuss local career paths in the Willmar Lakes Area, and highlight how the choices they make in high school can shape their future opportunities. The program empowers students to see that their future educational goals are within their control through the decisions they make today.

Thank you to ALC for welcoming the Willmar Lakes Area Chamber BEN program to present to your students. Special thanks to Kathryn Haase (Willmar Public Schools), Jessica Hanson (Willmar Hypnosis), Stephanie Jensen (Central MN Jobs and Training Services), and Adrian Salinas (Universal Kutz Barbershop) for presenting.

Exciting changes are on the horizon — the Willmar Lakes Area Chamber and Explore Willmar Lakes Area are moving to MinnWest Technology Campus! Our new home will be a modern hub designed for collaboration, training, and community connection. The expanded space will feature enhanced technology and larger meeting areas, allowing us to better serve local businesses, partners, and visitors in fresh and innovative ways. To bring this vision to life, we’ve launched a $100,000 capital campaign to support the build-out of the new space. If you’d like to be part of this exciting next chapter, we’d love to connect with you.

New Address: 1700 Technology Drive NE, Suite 124, Willmar, MN 56201

Hiring? Make sure to log in to ChamberMaster to post your positions on the Chamber Job Board. Job postings are shared in the weekly e-newsletter that reaches over 1,600 people as well as on the Chamber website, and occasionally on social media. This is a complimentary service offered exclusively to Chamber members.

Dooley's Petroleum - Bulk Fuel & Propane Driver, Field Service Technician, Fuel Transport Driver

Employment Plus - Poultry Farm Laborer

ESS - Substitute Teacher, Substitute SpEd Paraprofessional, Food and Nutrition Service

Haug Implement - Service Technician, Professional Truck Driver, Cleaning and Customer Service Assistant, Parts Counter Professional, Ag Equipment Sales

Life-Science Innovations - Chief Financial Officer

Minnesota Direct Care and Treatment - Advance Dental Therapist, Special Care Dentist, Child & Adolescent Psychiatrist

Ridgewater College - Accounting Officer

The Crossings - Director of Health Services RN, Sales and Marketing Director

January 27 - Business After Hours at Glacial Ridge Curling

January 29 - KCEO Gala at Willmar Conference Center

February 3 - New Year, New Challenges: Navigating Workforce Shifts and Paid Leave

February 12 - Community Leadership Celebration at Willmar Conference Center

February 26 - Partners in Ag Innovation Conference at MinnWest Technology Campus

April 23 - Student Job Fair & Career Expo at the Willmar High School

April 28 - Business After Hours at Quist Wealth Management

May 14 - Business After Hours at Max's on the Green hosted by SDN Communications

June 22 - Aggie Open at Island Pine Golf Club

July 25 - Rock the Dock at Zorbaz on Green Lake

August 3 - Golf Classic at Eagle Creek Golf Club