Tuesday, December 16, 2025

Thank you to our Chairman's Circle investors:

Embrace Change | Drive Momentum | Champion Growth

Join the Willmar Lakes Area Chamber for networking, prize drawings, and all the latest news and announcements from the local business community. The event will take place on Friday, December 19th 7:30-8:30am at Heritage Bank (310 1st St S, Willmar). Don't forget to bring your business card for a chance at door prizes. $1 will be collected from each attendee to benefit our Nonprofit of the Month: Salvation Army.

Congratulations to Paul Barbaro and Angie Peterson of Slumberland Furniture on 30 years of membership and support of the Willmar Lakes Area Chamber!

Since opening its first store in 1967, Slumberland Furniture has expanded to more than 120 locations across 12 states, primarily in the Midwest. The company offers budget-friendly, stylish furniture and mattresses for every room, while supporting local communities through efforts like the 40 Winks Foundation. This year alone, its Home for the Holidays event donated 130 beds with help from 15 agencies and schools. Slumberland also provides in-store discounts for veterans and stands behind purchases with a 30-day Low Price Guarantee.

Representing the Chamber: Jessica Hanson (Willmar Hypnosis), Lexi Kopacek (Christianson CPAs and Consultants), Jeff Martinka (United Prairie), Jon Schmidt (DATASuccess), Jayme Sczublewski (New London Real Estate), Shelly Bormann (Goodwill Easter-Seals), Terri Wood (Woody's Trucking), Jon Rambow (Rambow), Suzanne Hass (Allstate Insurance), and President/CEO James Miller.

Exciting changes are on the horizon — the Willmar Lakes Area Chamber and Explore Willmar Lakes Area are relocating to the 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.

The Business Education Network and the Willmar High School recently welcomed KCEO and Healthy Fusion to Zero Hour. Students had the chance to ask questions and meet the young entrepreneurs of the KCEO program while enjoying samples from Healthy Fusion.

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 the amazing businesses in the Willmar Lakes Area.

If you’d like to engage with Willmar High School students and share what your organization offers, please contact Jennifer Lindquist, BEN Program Coordinator, at BENCoordinator@willmarareachamber.com to reserve your spot for upcoming openings in January and February with a few additional dates. Let’s inspire the next generation—one Zero Hour at a time!

Thursday mornings on Open Mic, Chamber President James Miller hosts Chamber Chat. Last week, James was joined in studio by Sponsorship Associate Mikiaela Meyer and President & General Manager Shari Lamke from Pioneer PBS.

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.

Central Minnesota Christian School - Director of Finance and Human Resources

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

Employment Plus - Part-Time Delivery Driver, Poultry Farm Laborer, Bank Teller

ESS - Substitute Teacher, Substitute SpEd Paraprofessional

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

Lake Region Bank - Full-Time Teller

Life-Science Innovations - Chief Financial Officer

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

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

December 17 at 9:00am - Business Education Network Advisory Board Meeting

December 18 at 10:00am - Chamber Chat on KWLM

December 18 at 11:00am - First Dollar at Timshel Counseling

December 18 at 12:00pm - Ambassador Meeting at West Central Steel

December 18 at 5:00pm - Ribbon Cutting at Edina Realty - Spicer

December 19 at 7:30am - Chamber Connection at Heritage Bank Plaza

December 23 at 7:00am - Executive Committee Meeting at the Chamber

December 24 at 12:00pm - January 1 - Chamber Office Closed

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

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