MN Manufacturing Online Resource Available: Made in Minnesota

MN Manufacturing Industry – An Online Resource is Available!

MN Manufacturing Made in MN LogoMN Manufacturing Industry…there is an online resource available to you, and you may not be aware of this opportunity! APPRO Development and CERRON Commercial Properties are fortunate to work a lot with the manufacturing industry. So, when we come across relevant topics, we are eager to share.

Last Fall 2013, the Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED) for the State of Minnesota created and released a database specific to the manufacturing industry: Made in Minnesota. There is no cost for participation in this database. It is simple, easy to use, and only takes a couple of minutes to enter your information – HERE. When you sign up, you will be joining 823 other companies (and growing) already registered in the database, according to the Small Business 101 blog post, “A Holiday Gift for Manufacturers that’s Made in Minnesota”. We were impressed by the information found here and the possible opportunities which could result from MN manufacturers working together.

On a local level, we attend the Manufacturers Appreciation Event, hosted by the City of Lakeville every fall, in our own backyard, occurring during our Minnesota statewide Manufacturers Week. Over the years, we have found that neighboring businesses had no idea what the other manufactured until being introduced to one another at this event. As a result, neighboring businesses were able to work with one another, resulting in benefits for each company.

By having this same information available on a large scale, and with the ease of an electronic database, Minnesota companies have a fantastic opportunity to work with one another, and to keep our manufacturing dollars close to home.

Just thought our friends in the manufacturing industry might want to know!

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Exceptional Business Woman Dakota County Award 2014

Exceptional Business Woman Dakota County Award 2014 – Awarded to Roz Peterson

Roz Peterson, CERRON Commercial Properties

Roz Peterson, CERRON Commercial Properties Roz Peterson, CERRON Commercial Properties

Roz Peterson has been awarded an Exceptional Business Woman Dakota County Award and the entire team at CERRON Commercial Properties and APPRO Development couldn’t be more proud!

Roz is a passionate and talented sales and leasing agent for CERRON, with a focus on office and retail properties, in the South of the River region of Minnesota. Roz has a knack for building strong relationships with clients and delivering superior service that not only meets, but exceeds clients’ expectations. In addition to her success in commercial real estate and business ownership, Roz has also devoted herself to her community. She has been involved in many local organizations – the Dakota County Regional Chamber of Commerce, the Lakeville Foundation and the Lakeville School Board, just to name a few.

We are very proud of Roz and her accomplishments and thrilled for her, as she is such a valued part of our team.

The 5th Annual Exceptional Businesswomen Recognition Banquet

Exceptional Business Woman Dakota County 2014Roz and nine (9) additional Exceptional Businesswomen received recognition at a Banquet at the Lost Spur Golf & Event Center in Eagan, on the morning of Tuesday, February 25th. In addition to a breakfast reception, each recipient received a plaque, and were part of a panel discussion, moderated by Catherine Byers Breet, owner of ARBEZ (an online job hunt coaching system).

Among our favorite words of wisdom, were the following quotes and comments from the some of the award recipients:

  • It is important to love what you do. I am surrounded by a great team and enjoy the people I work with. -Karen DeVaughn, Life Wellness Center, Lakeville & Eagan
  • Having cheerleaders and strong supporters in your career can make a world of difference. -Audrey Aronson Johnson, Johnson Companies, Lakeville
  • I am able to help people every day. I only wish that one day there wasn’t a need for what I do; when there is no need to fundraise for cancer because a cure has been found. -Kari Mitchell, Charity Events of Minnesota, Rosemount
  • Three things are necessary to be successful in life: 1. Order: bring order to your life, outsource/delegate so that you can focus on what matters; 2. Organize: surround yourself with the right people; having a great team around you can make all the difference; and, 3. Prioritize: make decisions on the actions you take, based on your values. -Roz Peterson, CERRON Commercial Properties, Lakeville
  • “Google me!” (her reputation speaks for itself, as she received countless unsolicited reviews, increasing her client base) and to have a positive attitude, work hard, and send thank you’s, regardless of the outcome. -Linda Radue, Burnsville Volkswagen, Burnsville
  • Have a vision statement upon which your team can rally around. Be proactive in looking for solutions in your business. “What is your paper?” (as a reduction in paper sales impacted many other product lines in their industry, they have found it necessary to create new opportunities in their industry). -Jennifer Smith, Innovative Office Solutions, Burnsville
  • Assess your interests and talents and then go put them to use. Get involved – If you see something needs to be done, go do it! -Karen Wentworth, HOBO Inc., Lakeville

The event was organized by ECM Publishers and the Dakota County Tribune and Sun Thisweek who did a great job, as well as the many event sponsors who helped to make the morning a great event!

If you would like to learn more about Roz Peterson from our team, you may visit her campaign website, or view her commercial property listings page HERE.

Again, from all of us at APPRO and CERRON – Congratulations Roz and All of the 2014 Exceptional Businesswomen Award Recipients!

Kris with Bag from Lillian's CERRON’s Kris Bockelman with handbag awarded by Lillian’s of Lakeville

Roz-Jack-Bruce-Exc-Biz-Wmn-Awd-2014 L to R: Jack Matasosky, Roz Peterson, & Bruce Rydeen

Panel of Women at Award Breakfast 02252014 Award Recipient Panel Assembled

Lakeville Women - Exc Biz Wmn Awards--2014 Lakeville Award Recipients

APPRO & CERRON: A Time to Count Blessings

A Time to Count Blessings – At Thanksgiving and Every Day

With Thanksgiving just one week away, it’s that time of year when we count blessings (the many blessings!) in our lives. You and I may have some of the same items on our “list of things to be thankful”: family, friends, jobs, pets, travel, food on our tables and a warm place to sleep – but let me offer a few new ideas.

This Thanksgiving…

  • Be thankful for the people in our lives who give us the support and love we need to make a difference.
  • Be thankful for the opportunity to build something bigger than ourselves.
  • Be thankful for those people who rekindle the inner spirit.
  • Be thankful that we live in a country packed with freedoms and opportunities so many only dream of.
  • Be thankful for the hard times, the mistakes and the pain, for they make us stronger and smarter.
  • Be thankful for the unique privilege of being YOU!
  • Be thankful that every single day is a fresh, new start.
  • Be thankful for the joy of laughter.

A Little Thanksgiving Trivia

The pilgrim leader, Governor William Bradford, had organized the first Thanksgiving feast in 1621. He invited the neighboring Wampanoag Indians to the feast and thanksgiving. The celebration lasted for three days. Lobster, rabbit, chicken, fish, squashes, beans, chestnuts, hickory nuts, onions, leeks, dried fruits, maple syrup, radishes, cabbage, carrots, eggs and goat cheese are thought to have made up the first Thanksgiving feast.

Lakeville-based APPRO Development and CERRON Commercial Properties wish you a Happy Thanksgiving and remind you to be thankful for all the blessings in your lives!