My roommates are convinced our house is haunted…

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If you are planning to come to the Fall Gala and have not sent us your registration, please do so TODAY! You can register HERE, or contact Brenda.

Congratulations to Alisha Perkins on your beautiful new space in downtown! Ladies – Asylum is taking reservations for you or your group! Fine-line tattoos are celebrated for their delicate and precise artwork. They utilize thin, clean lines to create intricate designs that often feature a high level of detail. This style is perfect for subtle, elegant personal symbolism and aesthetic beauty expressions. Experience a personalized and meticulous approach that transforms your vision into a beautifully inked reality.

Free membership for life for anyone who gets a Lakeville Chamber tattoo!...ok maybe not, but we would promote the heck out of you for that commitment!  

What a bright and beautiful place for your furry family members (cats included!) to get a stay-cation while you are away at work or on a trip. Pet Suites can customize your pet’s experience for both daycare and boarding. Their team of Pet Pros delivers personalized service in fun, convenient, and modern spaces.  

The Chamber hosted three candidate forums this week. Thank you to the City of Lakeville for the use of City Hall and for live streaming and recording each forum. You can watch each forum on via the City or Chamber YouTube channels.

The Chambers of Commerce in Congressional District 2 are hosting a debate between the two candidates. It will be moderated by Jon Althoff, President of the Dakota County Regional Chamber of Commerce, and myself. You will be able to watch it live using the link included on the graphic below. It will also be recorded for future viewing. Click image to access link. No Facebook account is required.

Our first month of the 2024-25 cohort is in the books! We want to give a special thank you to Loeffler Construction & Consulting for sponsoring the series. Thank you to Gary’s Supper Club for providing lunch, and some fun surprise gift cards!, for the class. Thank you to Pat Arling, active Rotarian and retired banker (Frandsen Bank), for being our class facilitator each month. Thank you to Tina Goodroad and Kati Bachmayer with the City of Lakeville for helping us plan and execute the entire series. Here is what our class experienced this month:

Leadership Development: The 6 Types of Working Genius with Bill Goodwin. The class took a pre-session assessment to learn their 2 geniuses, 2 competencies, and 2 frustrations. Bill then took us on a deeper dive to learn how we can use this information to make us more successful and satisfied in our work. If you are looking for a new enrichment opportunity for your team, one that will help you all understand each other’s strengths and perspectives, we highly recommend Bill and the Working Genius program.

Thank you to City Administrator, Justin Miller, and Mayor Hellier for stopping by to welcome the class.

Ann Orlofsky, Lakeville City Clerk, gave us a behind the scenes look at the election process from a facilitation perspective.

Mel Simon of Styer Transportation, and our Chamber Foundation President, shared how the Foundation supports workforce development through scholarships and grants.

Tana Wold, Director of Liquor Operations for Lakeville Liquors, gave an overview of the #1 municipal liquor operation in the state (hint: it’s us!) and then she took us on a tour of the Keokuk Liquor Store – which YES – multiple employees talked about their paranormal experiences in the building!

The Dakota-Scott Workforce Development Board is bringing you a series with tips on employee retention, recruitment and building a positive culture. Gerry Hoeffner, Personnel Dynamics, provides the insights based on his years of experience working with companies of all sizes. Come meet Gerry and hear his insights and tips on October 2nd! 

Please pass this along to any students in your life who have expressed interest in law enforcement!

Space is limited, if you are interested, RSVP directly to the county at Nathan.hanson@co.dakota.mn.us.

On Tuesday, Nov. 5, Lakeville Area Schools will ask voters to consider passing an operational levy. The ballot will ask voters to approve $4 million in operational funds annually for 10 years to expand teaching positions and hire additional student support staff.

If approved, the district will use the levy to:

• Increase arts and music teachers to full-time positions at each elementary school. 
• Restore full-time digital media specialists in elementary and middle schools.
• Add 9 counselor/social worker positions at the middle school level, and 2 counselors at the high school level.
• Add 7 behavioral specialists at elementary schools and 1 behavioral specialist to Crystal Lake Education Center.

You can get more information by clicking the graphic below. Interim Superintendent Michael Baumann will also be addressing this with Chamber members at our October Access & Issues meeting (October 11, 8am, Zoom – email me for link) and State of the Schools on October 23.

Attention Lakeville parents (or anyone who has a student in grades 8-12). We are hosting our annual Future 101 night on November 13. This event is a partnership with Lakeville Area Schools and is designed to help families prepare for a successful high school experience and a post high school path that fits their college and/or career interests.

September is Workforce Development Month and is a dedicated time to celebrate and promote initiatives that enhance the skills and employability of individuals in the workforce. Here are some key programs Lakeville Works continues to develop with the partnership of our local business community and schools.

Our 2025 show date is set! This is a great marketing and outreach opportunity for any business that wants to do business with our residents. We have over 100 local exhibitors in every category of business. The registration link, and early bird registration details, will be available in October.

Visit Lakeville attended the Upper Midwest Convention & Visitors Bureaus annual conference held in Rochester, MN. There they met CVB teams from across the midwest states, hearing about tourism successes, and learning about new technology and trends. 

Thank you for your support!