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

CHAMBER BOARD MEMBER SPOTLIGHT

MEET HOLLY GOLYER/OLD NATIONAL BANK - CHAMBER BOARD TREASURER:

What inspired you to serve on the Buffalo Chamber of Commerce Board?

I wanted the opportunity to give back to the community while helping support local businesses.

How has being a part of the Chamber/Chamber Board impacted your business or community connections?

I have been introduced to many local business owners and leaders, and have built meaningful relationships.

What's one goal or priority you're excited about for the Chamber this year?

I enjoy being on the scholarship selection committee and getting to know all the applicants. Such a great end result of our annual golf tournament!

What's one piece of advice you would give to a small business owner in Buffalo?

Get involved in your community and build relationships! Networking and supporting other businesses can create valuable opportunities.

Share a fun fact about yourself or something people may not know about you.

I love to read books and try to read 100 books a year! It is one of my favorite ways to relax!

CHAMBER EVENTS

OUTDO WORK

30 1st Avenue NE

TOMORROW Thursday, May 21st 8:00 a.m.

If you have never been inside the OutDo Work building - now is the time! You will see what a wonderful workspace owners Steven and Amanda have created. It is a great time to support them as construction is right outside their door.

Grab a cup of coffee and a treat and network with other leaders in the community! Park in the big parking lot off of Wide Street- soon to be named the Dudley Lot - and walk on over!

WANT TO SPONSOR ONE OF OUR ROYAL AMBASSADORS THIS YEAR?

We have 6 candidates to represent Buffalo this year, preparing for the week of Buffalo Days where they get to be a part of all the events leading up to coronation. You can be a part of it by sponsoring one of them! If interested let us know!

Erika and Ameira have represented us well this past year! Thank you ladies!

NEW MEMBERS 2026

AMERICAN FAMILY INSURANCE- Farasian (Tim) Jackson

3370 Annapolis Lane N

Plymouth, MN 55447

651-202-4003

fjackson@amfam.com

I always enjoy when someone, though they may office out of town and know there are other agents in town, still wants to be a member to be able to give back to the community that they live in! Tim took over an American Family office in Plymouth last fall - moving from Spicer - to be closer to the office but still close to his family - he is a grandfather of 9!

As an American Family agent he can write all lines of insurance. He enjoys people, loves this community, loves sports (used to own a semi pro football team in Willmar) and loves mentoring. You will get to meet him at our Good Morning Buffalo so welcome him to our membership family!

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LINDALE REAL ESTATE GROUP

Buffalo Edina Realty Office

763-339-7119/763-438-8931

Meet Linda and Ryan from Lindale Real Estate Group. They are a part of the Edina Realty group working out of our downtown Buffalo office. Both of them have recently moved to Buffalo from the Big Lake/Becker and Delano areas and can't say enough about how much they love this community! Being they know the wider area both north and south of us, they have lots of connections and know much about those markets, so they are in a sweet spot to serve you!

Linda has been in the real estate world since 1983 and Ryan has been a realtor for about 7 years. They, along with 3 other team members, make up the Lindale group. They work with the residential buy/sell, land development, investment property, land/farms and some commercial sides of real estate.

Ryan is all about race cars - drove them in the past, loves watching racing and going to car shows and owns a Corvette. Linda, when not in real estate mode, enjoys the outdoors (hiking and biking) and is a passionate foster mom for senior rescue dogs. Be sure to meet and greet them at our Good Morning Buffalo's! Welcome to the Chamber!

AMBASSADORS ON THE MOVE

360 ELECTRIC

952-905-0360

www.360Electricmn.com

The Ambassador crew got to meet with Dana and Jared Geurts, owners of 360 Electric, at the Chamber office. Both Buffalo grads, they wanted to serve the local community! Jared likes to do estimates face to face and work directly with homeowners vs contractors. And guess what, a human actually answers the phone!

Jared is a master electrician and works solo. He enjoys providing the power for lighting, outlets, ceiling fans, decks, sheds, hot tubs, pools, EV chargers, garage heaters, light commercial build outs and so much more! He's that person you call when you need a quick fix!

One thing Jared does when in a residential home doing some work, is point out any safety concerns he sees so the homeowner is aware. He also has the conversation right up front about pricing. Communication is key!

When you need something done around your home or office, give him a call!

Below are Ambassadors Melissa, Cheree Hoese/CRS, Jayme Wickman/MidCountry Bank, Lisa Zwart/Functional Industries and Dana and Jared. Gotta love his jazzy van!

MEMBER HAPPENINGS

GRAND OPENING/RIBBON CUTTING - LAKEVIEW NUTRITION

It's always fun to do a ribbon cutting - even on a windy day!! Below are our Chamber Ambassadors and neighboring retailers (Tracey from JTB Home Furniture + Decor and Jan Parkin from Rustic Arbor) along with owner Taylor Wolfe's father and grandparents officially welcoming her to town!

SAYING GOODBYE TO KRISTI PAUL AT EVELYN'S WINE BAR & BISTRO

Though we want every business owner to be happy, it was a bit melancholy stopping in to have a glass of wine as Kristi winds down her business. These girls felt the same - all sporting their Evelyn's tees! Evelyn's Wine Bar has been a gem in our downtown for several years and has been enjoyed by so many! We wish Kristi the best as she starts a new journey! Stay tuned - you might be hearing about her and her infamous cheesecakes becoming her next venture!

A local young couple and previous employee of Kristi's have purchased the building with the full intent of keeping the concept there. We will wait with anticipation of what it will be but know it will be appreciated as it is such a quaint space perfectly located for those out and about in the downtown.

NE CONSTRUCTION UPDATES

View the construction staging and access map

Week of May 18

Crews will continue installing sanitary sewer and water services to buildings in Phase B.
Storm sewer will be installed through the intersection of 1st Avenue and Division Street on Monday and Tuesday.
The contractor will continue rebuilding the street in Phase A through the intersection of Division St
Crews will grind the existing pavement and remove sidewalks and curb in the following areas:
1^st Ave from 1^st St. NE to 2^nd St. NE
2nd St. from 1^st Ave NE to 2^nd Ave NE
2^nd Ave from Division St to 1^st St. NE
Division St from 2^nd Ave NE to 3^rd Ave NE
These roads will be accessible to thru traffic when pavement grinding and removal work are not in operation.
Street lights on the south side of Division St from Central Ave to 1^st Ave will be out of service

START LOOKING FOR THESE BILLBOARDS OUTSIDE OF ROCKFORD

STARTING IN JUNE. THE CHAMBER IS DOING ALL WE CAN TO SUPPORT OUR SMALL BUSINESSES DURING THIS CONSTRUCTION SEASON! YOU CAN TOO!

DO YOU HAVE A CARD? WE HAVE SOLD 75!

HELP TO SUPPORT THE BUSINESSES MOST EFFECTED BY THE CONSTRUCTION

Come on in to the Chamber office and buy a Buc Bucks card for $5.00 cash. You can use this discount card at the participating businesses from May through September, as you patron them repeatedly during the construction.

Below you can see the owners of two of the businesses on the card - Janine at Buffalo Floral and Taylor at Lakeview Nutrition! You get a discount - they get consistent business - it's a win/win!! Oh yea - a 3rd win? You get your name put in a drawing for a gift card bouquet from all the participants. The dollars used to purchase the card BUC Bucks will buy the gift cards so the businesses aren't out a penny!