I want to talk again this week about George Latimer. His funeral was Monday; more than 500 people attended, and another Mayor – Chris Coleman – offered the eulogy for his very good friend. Coming to the city as I did, after Latimer’s terms in office, I never knew him well. And I clearly underestimated his impact – and who he was. Lest others of you share my misapprehension, I wanted to tell you what I heard yesterday. It moved me deeply.

I listened to people’s conversations throughout the visitation, I spoke to friends who knew him. Every story was about his nature: big, ebullient, unapologetic, collaborative, wildly human, a great listener, deeply caring for people, “unconfined by misplaced pride”: “He had an unsurpassed love for the city he served”; “Once you worked for him, any future bosses paled in comparison”; “He created a feeling in that city… everyone wanted to work on whatever HE wanted to work on. Because he cared so deeply”; “No one wondered if the City cared, because HE did.”  

Latimer had big ideas, took risks. And he always saw possibility - “he made no small plans for they have no ability to stir the imagination”: among them being District Energy, preservation of Landmark Center, Galtier Tower, Town Square, World Trade Center, Hubert Humphrey Job Corps Center. And then he always soldiered on, even when some of them didn’t work out as expected.

Coleman spoke so eloquently about his friend. “He was a man without an ounce of meanness… he would rather walk with those who had no shoes than ride with those who had no souls….” He shared the lessons he took from watching Latimer: march forward with joy, dream big, act wholeheartedly, don’t be afraid to make mistakes, don’t take yourself too seriously.”

Certainly many things have changed since Latimer’s retirement. But not the important things. Leadership still is the conscience of the people. We can’t live alone, isolated, only for ourselves. We must live for the benefit of others.

Read more in my blog, It's Our Business. Each week I post thoughts and a quick read on things I think you should know.

See you in the trenches.

B

B Kyle

President & CEO

St. Paul Area Chamber

Lunch with Leaders

Join us for our September Lunch with Leaders which will focus on small businesses and entrepreneurship. Before lunch, we will host an hour of speed networking where small businesses, entrepreneurs and others can connect! During our lunch program, we will hear from Dr. Paul Campbell about the NASA Inclusive Innovation Mashup Lab. We will also introduce the MSP Start Up Guide, in collaboration with Full Stack St. Paul.

Come celebrate our award winners! The winner of the Celebrate Business Success Award is Stonebridge Capital Advisors and the winner of the Celebrate Service Award is Open Arms of Minnesota.

Chamber Connect: Allianz Field

This month we will be partnering with MN United Football Club at Allianz Field. Join us to sample appetizers from their catering partner Delaware North, hear MNUFC team updates from Chief Soccer Officer & Sporting Director, Khaled El-Ahmad, and Head Coach, Eric Ramsay, and learn about the event spaces offered at Allianz Field! 

Career Connect:

Sponsor/Exhibitor Registration

Career Connect Day is your opportunity to give back, and to inspire the next generation to join your field! Career Connect Day offers 2,000 high school students the chance to interact with local organizations and businesses. For 90 minutes, students will meet and talk with a wide array of organizations and businesses to find out what it takes to move toward their dream job. Businesses have the opportunity to interact with young people, learn about their interests, and inspire them to become future leaders and team members. Join us!

The St. Paul Area Chamber is proud to partner with Ramsey County as an Inclusive Employer Champion. As part of this partnership, each month we share helpful employer and workforce resources provided by Ramsey County.

• MN Skills-Based Hiring Accelerator: The Twin Cities Metro Workforce Development Boards are establishing a new partnership with Goodwill Easter Seals, the Urban League, the Saint Paul Area Chamber and the Minneapolis Regional Chamber for the MN Skills-Based Hiring Accelerator program. MN Skills-Based Hiring Accelerator half day workshops are designed to help your company build a plan that will attract, hire and retain the best talent. Attend a monthly session!

• Find new information for recruitment and hiring practices in our Inclusive Employer Toolkit.

• Read this month's article from the series Top 10 Trends to Watch in Ramsey County's Workforce Landscape.

• CareerForceMN is a resource for job seekers and employers in Minnesota. Learn how to write a resume, interview and search for jobs, or hire employees.

• The Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED) Employer Reasonable Accommodation Fund (ERAF) creates a central fund where small to mid-sized Minnesota employers can request reimbursement for expenses related to providing reasonable accommodations for job applicants and employees with disabilities. The ERAF's purpose is to encourage employment of people with disabilities by reducing any perceived or real financial barriers.

MN Skills-Based Hiring Accelerator Workshop

Tuesday, Sept 10 | 9:00 AM - 1:00 PM

MN Skills-Based Hiring Accelerator Workshop

Tuesday, Sept 24 | 9:00 AM - 1:00 PM

Young Professionals: Executive Roundtable

Tuesday, Oct 22 | 4:00 PM - 6:00 PM

View more Chamber & community events!

It’s time to get your flapper on and raise critical funds for Saint Paul Parks at Scott and Zelda’s Bad Luck Ball, Friday, Sept 13 at The Commodore. VIPS (Very Important Park Supporters) will enjoy a complimentary pre-game cocktail party in the courtyard with delights provided by Marc Heu Patisserie Paris and champagne, All proceeds raised create good luck for Saint Paul Parks, funding park improvements and piloting new community programs. Register now!

Forecast Public Art announced the launch of Midwest Memory, an initiative to fund new monuments that celebrate and preserve diverse stories and prioritize the inclusion of voices and experiences of BIPOC communities in the rural Midwest. The program will select eight communities with monument or memorial projects needing support, providing them with funding and a collaborative cohort experience. Learn more.

BrightSide Produce Distribution has received a grant from the American Heart Association’s Social Impact Funds. The grant will support their work with local corner stores, which is a foundational program for BrightSide. Celebrate the work of BridghtSide at their anniversary party on October 5th!

The Airport Foundation MSP invites you to attend State of the Airport Annual Luncheon on Thursday, September 26 at the Hyatt Regency Minneapolis Hotel. The Twin Cities business luncheon brings together more than 600 local business and civic leaders to gain insights on the national air travel industry and the latest developments at Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport (MSP), one of the most influential drivers of the local economy.  Register now.

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