Hutchinson Chamber is fully staffed!
In August, Jill Barrall (Middle) joined the chamber as the new Membership Coordinator. Jill was previously the Legal Advocate at McLeod Alliance for Victims of Domestic Violence. She is excited for this new venture at the Chamber.
On Sept. 9, Cegi Wassman (Left( joins the Chamber as the new Communications Coordinator. Cegi, pronounced CeeGee, comes to the Chamber after working at 3M in Hutchinson.
Chamber President Mary Hodson(Right) is excited to have both women join the Chamber team and looks forward to a full staff in the office!
Annual Banquet – Save the Date!
45th Annual Arts & Crafts Festival – THANK YOU!
On September 13 & 14, we held our 45th Annual Arts & Crafts Festival and Taste of Hutchinson. We had a spectacular weekend! Once again the Festival was a huge success, but would not have been possible without the help of some incredible volunteers and workers.
Thank you to the MANY businesses that make adjustments to allow the Festival to bring 12,000 people to our community. 12,000 people shopping at the event (tax revenue), shopping/eating/staying/playing at local businesses (wages, tax base revenue) and TOURISM!
Did you know many people share with us that they come back to Hutchinson because they feel endeared to our community? They enjoy our shops, restaurants, trails and parks, friendly services and kindness. What a great legacy to have in the state of Minnesota!
We would like to thank the following businesses for their support at the Arts & Crafts Festival:
- SPONSORS: Animal Medical Center on Crow River, Ashley Furniture Homestore, CenBank, Crow River Winery, Customer Elation, Goebel Fixture Company, Harmony River Living Center, Heartland Ag Systems, Main Street Sports Bar, McCormick’s Family Restaurant, Piehl Hanson Beckman, PA, Rahk Studios, Stamp-N-Storage, TDK/Hutchinson Technology, Walmart SuperCenter & Winn Exteriors
- CHAMPION SPONSORS: MidCountry Bank, SouthPoint Financial Credit Union & Uponor
- VISIONARY SPONSOR: Citizen’s Bank and Trust Co
We would also like to put a spotlight on the backstage people of Arts & Crafts. Thank you for your support, as well as a special THANK YOU to Hutchinson Police Services for keeping this event safe and for all the hard work they do during this busy weekend.
- Cash Wise Foods, City of Hutchinson, Hutchinson Park & Rec, Hutchinson Police Services, Kwik Trip, & West Central Sanitation
Again, THANK YOU to everyone that helped out with this event. We hope to see everyone again next year!
*Important notes about the 2020 Arts and Crafts Festival. During our usual timeline for Arts & Crafts Festival Main Street, also known as State Highway 15, will be under significant construction. The Arts & Crafts Festival will move to the McLeod County Fairgrounds for 2020.
Taste of Hutchinson– THANK YOU!
The Hutchinson Ambassadors hosted the Taste of Hutchinson on September 13 & 14 along side the Arts & Crafts Festival. Yet again, The Taste of Hutchinson did an amazing job of organizing a wonderful variety of food options at the Arts and Craft Festival on Sept, 13th and 14th. In addition to the tasty food, the Ambassadors added a music feature that was enjoyed by many. This years music was provided by Mona Hjerpe & Friends, Sawyer’s Dream, Taylor Jordan, and Off Duty. Thank you for sharing your talents with our community!
Taste of the Holidays- 2019
The Hutchinson Ambassadors will be hosting the Taste of the Holidays on Thursday, November 21st, 2019 from 5:00PM – 8:00PM at the Crow River Winery. Advance Tickets are $15 and go on sale Tuesday, October 15th. Tickets can be purchased from a Hutchinson Ambassadors or at the Chamber office. There are limited tickets each year and this event has sold out several years.
For 2019, the Ambassadors will have Josie Sanken providing live entertainment/music during the event. Door prizes will be awarded, but you must be present to win! The Hutchinson Photography club will be in attendance taking photos throughout the event. As a result, make sure to get your tickets early! For more information, visit the Hutchinson Ambassadors Facebook Page.
Business Connection – November 1
Thank you to everyone that registered for October’s Business Connection scheduled for Friday, October 4, hosted by
Adult Training and Habilitation Center. It was great to learn how Adult Training and Habilitation Center assists people with developmental disabilities on the job to become independent, productive and self-reliant community members.
Please join us for November’s Business Connection hosted by Ecumen Oaks and Pines on Friday, November 1 
from 7:00 AM to 8:00 AM at 1015 Century Ave. SW, Hutchinson. Come and learn how Adult Training and Habilitation Center assists people with developmental disabilities on the job to become independent, productive and self-reliant community members.
Business Connection is a morning networking event that takes place at a Chamber business on the first Friday of each month from 7:00 AM to 8:00 AM. Chamber members are invited to gather, enjoy coffee and a light breakfast, share a quick update or information on their business/organization. We will always have a Chamber update for you as well.
Door prizes will be given out, so make sure you bring your business card to be entered into the drawing. The new networking opportunity is a great way to know people in the community and keep in touch with Hutch!
We are currently working to fill our 2020 Business Connection calendar, so if your Chamber business would like to learn more about becoming a Business Connection host, contact Jill.
Business After Hours
After a couple months on hiatus, it’s back! The Hutchinson Ambassadors are ready to welcome you at the Oct. 10 Business After Hours from 4 p.m to 6 p.m. at Slumberland Furniture. Come learn about this local business and it’s history in Hutchinson. There will be refreshments and networking in the comfortable showroom. There will also be a chance to enter to with a $25 Slumberland Gift Card.
Business After Hours is a great way to learn about businesses in Hutchinson and network with fellow Chamber members. This is a way to get behind the scenes at our local businesses… to see what they make, do or provide. This monthly event is by Chamber invitation only and is open to all Chamber member business employees. Businesses interested in hosting a Business After Hours event or would like more information should email the Ambassadors.
If you are the only primary representative with your business receiving emails from the Chamber, please invite all your employees to join us! Preregistration is strongly encouraged, so our business hosts may plan accordingly.
Maximize Your Membership!
Here at the Chamber we use Email marketing efforts to reach our membership. As a Chamber member, you, too, can make the most of your membership through Email Blasts!
There are two types of Email Blasts that can benefit your business and raise your Chamber profile with the membership.
A Spotlight Message is a 1-point option that would include a message in one of our monthly Chamber emails, such as the digital newsletter email or one of our other mid-month email updates. Your business name would be in the email’s subject line and your company’s message is a main bullet point in the email.
A Custom Email is a 2-point option that features an email we send to all of the Chamber members whenever you choose. This email contains your message highlighting whatever you wish to share with Chamber members and includes an image we can include in the email.
Email Blasts can help get your message out to other Chamber members and connect you to other businesses. Are you ready to reach out with an Email Blast? Contact Jill at the Chamber office or email her with questions or to work with her to raise your community profile for your business and maximize your membership.
Renewing Members
We would like to thank the following members for renewing their partnership with the Hutchinson Area Chamber of Commerce and Tourism!
- AMS Coating Systems Inc.
- Branded Solutions/ The Tiger Pro Shop
- Compass Occasions
- Crow River Nutrition
- HealthSource of Hutchinson
- Home State Bank
- Hutchinson Housing & Redevelopment Authority
- Innovation Foam Inc.
- Jimmy’s Pizza
- Joanie’s Catering LLC
- Quilt Haven on Main
- Sonora’s Mexican Restaurant
- St. Anastasia Catholic Community
- Terning & Company Inc.
- Thrivent Financial
- Wild Olive Tree
Professionals Under 40 Leading Socializing and Educating
PULSE, a committee of the Hutchinson Chamber, is a group of Professionals Under the age of 40 who asked themselves that same question and then created the answer. Our goal is to help young people in the Hutchinson area become better Leaders, create a concrete Social network with professional value, and continue to Educate themselves on important life and business topics.
PULSE meets for Lunch & Learn events on the second Wednesday of each month from 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM at Squeaky’s Grill and Bar. The events are free to attend, a $10 lunch option is available.
The group also gets together at quarterly social events (green dates listed in calendar below). Like the PULSE Facebook page to get the latest event information and registration links. Register for the October 9 Lunch & Learn by Friday, October 2 to be entered into a $25 gift card drawing! October 9 Lunch & Learn Registration
Yes, every day is a good day to start something new
Something from Mary! … Why wait for New Year’s? If you started today acting on resolutions you are going to make on Jan. 1, think about how much progress you will have made by the start of 2020! Learn more in Mary’s blog!
Farm Fatigue / Bucket of Thanks Event – THANK YOU!
Each Fall the Hutchinson Agri-Business Committee along with the Glencoe Agri-Business Committee gather donations of food, wellness and safety items from Chamber Members. The donated items are packed and hand delivered to the local farmers out in the field during harvest time. These items are sincerely appreciated by the farmers.
Thank you to all the businesses that donated items this year and a special thank you to the Agri-Business Committees for making this event such a huge success!
See below for a full list of all the businesses that graciously donated this year!
Click the image below for a full list of businesses that donated items!
Election of Board of Directors
In accordance with Hutchinson Chamber of Commerce & Tourism By-Laws Article V, Sections 3, 4 and 5, the following candidates have been recommended to serve on the Board of Directors for the indicated terms.
Any question or petitions may be direct to Mary Hodson by phone 320-234-0785 or by email [email protected] and will be presented to the Nominating Committee.
Section 3 – Publicity
5.3.1 Upon receipt of the report of the Nominating Committee, the President shall be instructed to notify the membership of the names of the persons nominated as candidates for directors, the right of persons nominated as candidates for directors and the right of petition as provided in these By-Laws. A list of candidates so nominated shall be kept on file in the Association office.
Section 4 – Petition
5.4.1 Additional names of candidates for directors can be nominated by petition bearing the genuine signatures of at least five (5) qualified members of the Association. Such petition shall be filed with the Nominating Committee withing ten (10) days after notice has been given of the names of those nominated. The determination of the Nominating Committee as to the legality of the petition shall be final.
Section 5 – Determination
5.5.1 If no petition is filed within the designated period, the nomination shall be closed and the nominated slate of five (5) candidates shall be declared elected upon a 2/3 vote approval by the Board of Directors at their regular October Board meeting.
5.5.2 If a legal petition presents additional candidates, the names of all candidates shall be arranged on the ballot in alphabetical order. Instructions will be to select five (5). Identification shall be made on the ballot to identify those candidates nominated by the Nominating Committee. The usual election procedure shall prevail.
Recommended Candidates: We will be accepting nominations for 3 individuals.
Quarter 4 Table Tents are Here!
Are you looking for a way to boost an upcoming Hutchinson event? The Chamber prints and delivers over 900 table tents around the community. Make sure you get your event added to the Chamber’s table tents. The cost is $30/event listing for community members and Chamber Members receive a $10 discount per event listing.
Also, make sure you add your events to the Chamber’s online Community Calendar. The Community Calendar averages about 100 views a day, so don’t forget to utilize it! Submitting an event to the Community Calendar may be done through your Chamber Member Portal or you can go directly to the Community Calendar page!
The deadline for Quarter 1 (January, February & March 2020) is December 1, 2019.
If you want table tents delivered to your business or if you want to submit an event for an upcoming table tent, please email Cegi or call her at 320-234-0786.
Business of the Month
This month’s Business of the Month is Chamber member, Heartland Ag Systems, Inc. This agriculture manufacturing business is an industry leader with a rich history and an exciting future. Learn more about Heartland Ag Systems here.
The Chamber’s Business of the Month program is a free marketing opportunity that is only available to Chamber Members. The featured business is interviewed on KDUZ by Mary, the business logo and company information will be featured on the Chamber’s website for one month, we will put your logo and information in the Chamber’s monthly newsletter, as well as the Chamber highlighting your business in the Hutchinson Leaders’ business section.
If you are interested interested in this opportunity, please email Mary or call Mary at the Chamber.
Save the Date!
- OCTOBER
2 Hutchinson Leadership 2.0 4 Business Connection – Adult Training & Habilitation Center Inc
9 PULSE Lunch & Learn
10 Business After Hours -Slumberland Furniture 16 Hutchinson Leadership Institute - NOVEMBER
1 Business Connection – Ecumen Oaks & Pines
13 PULSE Lunch & Learn
21 Taste of the Holidays
30 Small Business Saturday - DECEMBER
6 Business Connection – Jay Malone Motors 10 Crop Management Input Seminar
12 Holiday Business After Hours
More Information For Your Business To Grow…
