Commercial Project Updates: Lakeville, MN

Commercial Project Updates by APPRO Development, Inc. – Lakeville, MN

APPRO Development, Inc. has launched a variety of new projects in Lakeville, MN over the past month. Two projects I am currently managing, include: Recycle Minnesota (a subsidiary of Dick’s Sanitation) and ProRail AMVAC II.

Recycle Minnesota (an expansion project for Dick’s Sanitation): The project consists of a 34,170 SF renovation of an existing office warehouse building into a recycle facility. The scope of this project will include new dock and doors and conveyor pits. Additional components of this project to include: excavation, sawcutting, HVAC, and sprinkler systems. Dick’s Sanitation and its new Recycling Center are located in Lakeville’s Airlake Industrial Park. This is one of the largest industrial parks in the state of Minnesota. You may see details and follow the progress of this project HERE.

 

 

ProRail AMVAC II: This project consists of remodel and expansion work to increase the existing 8 – 10,000 gallon tanks by adding another 8 tanks for a total of 16 tanks on this site. Additional work on this site to include: concrete, process piping, caulking and electrical among others. You may learn more about this project or see more details HERE.

If you have a question about the maintenance of your existing building, or are considering a building project and need a quote, please consider calling or emailing us. We are happy to help you with your building needs!

Real Estate Options for Entrepreneurs: South Metro, MN

CERRON Discusses Real Estate Options for Entrepreneurs with Jessie Mommsen, Owner of Threads and Inks

Real estate options for entrepreneurs was a recent discussion point which came up during a conversation with local entrepreneur, client, and vendor, Jessie Mommsen, owner of Threads and Inks, located in Lakeville, MN. We followed up with Mommsen to find out how business is going since the move into their new building.

Here are a few excerpts from our discussion…

 

Q. Can you tell our readers a little about what prompted you to contact CERRON Commercial Properties?

A. We were (and continue to be) in a growth phase, and purchasing real estate [verses leasing] made sense as a financial component of our overall business plan at the time. We also only had 600 SF of retail space at the time and were in a location that didn’t allow us the type of exposure we needed to reach our target audience.

Q. Why did you choose to work with Bruce Rydeen?

A. This was actually the second time we worked with Bruce. The first time, he helped us to lease office/warehouse space in the Hebert Buildings in the Airlake Industrial Park in Lakeville. At that time, as I started my business, Bruce, and the building owner, Mark Hebert, respected me as a young business owner (I was 23 when I first started out), and that meant a lot to me. When we were ready to move our business, I chose to contact Bruce because of that previous experience; he is a trusted resource. When working with him to purchase our current building, Bruce was considerate of our budget, our timing, and our overall needs.

Q. How has your new space benefited your business?

A. As they say when considering real estate, “location, location, location!” Our new location attracts many more visitors than our previous location. We tripled our retail showroom space, so we are able to show off a lot more of our available products. Our new building has so much natural sunlight, it not only makes it happy in our space, but it allows our clients to see our products under optimal lighting conditions in an upscale environment as compared to our previous location which lent to more of an industrial focus.

Q. What would you tell other entrepreneurs when considering their real estate options?

A. Don’t be afraid to get creative when you consider a new space. Paint and carpet can be changed. Sometimes, walls can be moved. Landscaping can be updated. We had an electrician add power to our building to accommodate our machinery. Also, be sure to complete your homework [or due diligence] when buying a building. Whether we had our own experts, or needed some recommendations, Bruce helped us to navigate the process from showing to purchase agreement to inspections to title work to closing. For young entrepreneurs, don’t think that you are too young to own a building – you need to do what is right for you and your business, and I also recommend that you work with a broker you trust and who will listen to your needs.

 

About Threads & Inks: Threads and Inks specializes in custom-decorated clothing. Services include embroidery, printed apparel, letter jackets and patches, and more for students, schools, teams, businesses, organizations and individuals.

Location: 20137 Icenic Trail, Lakeville, MN 55044 (This is the north-west corner of Dodd Blvd and Hwy 50, just north of Kwik Trip and McDonalds.)

Building: 5,716 SF on three levels with production and retail on the main level, office on the upper level and additional storage and specialty retail on the lower level

Website: Threads&Inks

Store Hours: Monday – Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Threads and Inks Quote: “We have worked with the team at CERRON both times we needed a new space. Bruce took the time to listen to our space & budget requirements and helped to identify the ideal property. He helped us navigate the process and made sure we had everything we needed to get the deal done, and now…we LOVE our new location!” Jessie Mommsen, Owner of Threads & Inks, Lakeville, MN

Our entire team appreciates the opportunity to work with each of our clients and we love to hear how the space is working out for them. If you have a space APPRO and/or CERRON has helped you with, please let us know how it is working for you. If you haven’t worked with us, but would like to learn more about how to start, please feel free to email us or call our office. Our knowledgeable & friendly team is available to answer any question(s) you may have (big or small).

 

 

APPRO and CERRON Team Seeks “Sole-Mates”

APPRO and CERRON Team Currently Seeking Sole-Mates!

APPRO and CERRON offer site for Soles4Souls Kris Bockelman showing collection bin & Farmington newspaper article at APPRO and CERRON offices in Lakeville

APPRO and CERRON team members are excited to support a local Farmington High School student and her partnership with a non-profit group, Soles4Souls. Sydney Bockelman, along with her classmates, is part of Youth Development, a student organization, who in 2013 sought to collect 500 pairs of shoes, then more than exceeded their goal by collecting 900 pairs!

This year, in 2014, the Farmington Youth Development group’s goal is to collect 1,000 pairs of shoes for the nonprofit whose mission is “to fight the devastating impact and perpetuation of poverty… by collecting new and used shoes and clothes from individuals, schools, faith-based institutions, civic organizations and corporate partners, then distributing those shoes and clothes both via direct donations to people in need and by provisioning qualified micro-enterprise programs designed to create jobs in poor and disadvantaged communities. The term “micro-enterprise” describes an approach toward helping the poor and their communities by providing sustainable jobs to impoverished people through the creation of ultra-small (micro) businesses. This might mean, for example, a single table selling used shoes in an open marketplace. Or a street vendor with an inventory of used jeans spread out on a blanket.”

According to the Soles4 Souls website, “The difference we make in Haiti and other countries is in the opportunity for people to support themselves. The concept itself is simple, an embodiment of the old saying, ‘Give a man a fish, he will eat for day; give him a way to fish, and he will eat for a lifetime.'”

The entire APPRO & CERRON team is pleased to help support this effort by hosting a collection site for new or used shoes (with or without “sole-mates”) at our Lakeville office located at 21476 Grenada Avenue, Lakeville, MN. You will find a collection bin inside the front entryway of our building (stop in to say, “hello”, and get your donation sticker). We will be collecting until Friday, April 4th at 3:30 p.m. Our office hours are 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. You may also leave donations outside our front door, if you arrive before or after our regular office hours.

Thank you for helping the team at APPRO & CERRON find our Sole-Mates!

 

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

US Contractors Predict Stability & Growth

US Contractors – 2014 Update

US Contractors predict stability and growth, according to Daily Commercial News, on January 27, 2014, “Contractors are more optimistic about 2014 than they have been in a long time,” said Stephen E. Sandherr, the association’s chief executive officer.

“Many firms in the United States plan to start hiring again and most contractors predict demand will either grow or remain stable in virtually every market segment this year, according to survey results released by the Associated General Contractors of America.”

Read the full article here…

APPRO Development is a proud US contractor based in Lakeville, MN, serving the midwest since 1987. As an experienced general contractor, our team is ready to assist you with your 2014 construction needs.

Manufacturing Trends to be Thankful For in MN

Manufacturing Trends

2014 Predictions in the Manufacturing Industry

Manufacturing Trends to be Thankful For is an article we read this morning in the online publication of Industry Week. All of us, in MN or the Midwest for that matter, who are either in the manufacturing industry or have close ties to the manufacturing industry, are eager to see what the days of 2014 will bring. According to this article, “Favorable Forecast: Five Manufacturing Trends to Be Thankful For” by John Mills as published in Industry Week (online), 2014 might just prove to be year for which to be thankful!

According to the article, the following are the top five trends to watch this year:

  1. Improvements in 3-D printers
  2. Business returning from China
  3. More ‘real-time’ enterprises
  4. The rise of the project economy
  5. More access to data

As Mills states, “no one has perfect foresight” and it certainly would be nice if we did! However, in the meantime, by measuring trends and current data available, we are optimistic for our colleagues in the manufacturing industry. We hope 2014 results in the optimistic forecast, as it benefits not only MN, ND, WI, IA, SD, MT in the Midwest, but our great nation as well!

APPRO Development is a general contractor specializing in property solutions for manufacturers across the Midwest for more than 27 years. APPRO assists business owners find optimal property solutions that may result in renovations, expansions, additions or new commercial buildings to meet the ever changing needs of the manufacturing industry in Lakeville (55044), Apple Valley(55124), Burnsville(55337), Eagan(55123), Hastings(55033), and all of Dakota, Scott, Rice, Carver, Ramsey and Hennepin counties as well as Mankato and surrounding communities of Blue Earth in Minnesota. If your commercial or industrial space needs are changing as the result of a great 2014, contact our team today to help you minimize impacts to your manufacturing schedule, meet your budget requirements, and assist you in making 2014 a great year!

Purchase I-35 Land Now: Lee Lake Commercial, Lakeville, MN

Ready to purchase I-35 Land? Lee Lake Commercial Lots are Available in Lakeville, MN

Purchase I-35 Land Now at Lee Lake in Lakeville, MN. These picturesque lots are the ideal location for retail or office with excellent freeway exposure garnering 83,000-103,000 vehicles per day in traffic counts. The site may also be an ideal location for senior housing or a memory care facility, as this property is located in C-3 zoning district (which was recently approved for this type of use by the City of Lakeville – (see Star Tribune article, Nov. 24, 2013). Additional use options may include apartments (re-zone), medical, restaurant or hotel.

Conveniently located on the southwest corner of I-35 and CR-46, this 13.91 (saleable) acre site is divisible to one (1) to two and a half (2.5) acre lots to meet your needs. Water, sewer and electricity are available on this site and multiple site options and configurations are available to review.

Join area businesses which include: Starbucks, Fitness 19, SuperAmerica, KwikTrip, Leo’s South, KFC, McDonald’s, Brunswick Zone, Gander Mountain, Pizza Ranch, HOM Furniture, AmericInn, Cracker Barrel, and Fleet Farm to name a few.

Lakeville is a growing community and is anticipated to be Dakota County’s largest city by 2040 according to a recent Vision Study completed by the City of Lakeville.

Great demographics, great traffic counts, and a great community. Now is the time to purchase a lot at Lee Lake. See our Lee Lake Commercial Lot listing page for additional details and a full brochure.

Call our friendly team today to learn more about this property and to discuss site options at CERRON Commercial Properties, a full service Real Estate brokerage.

Senior Housing – Great News for Lakeville, MN

Senior Housing about to get a boost in Lakeville, MN

Image Source: Simon Quinton via Flickr

Senior housing is about to get a boost in the City of Lakeville as Lakeville’s City Council recently approved a change in the zoning code to allow for more senior housing (assisted living) and memory care facilities in commercial zoning districts which previously did not allow this type of use.

You may read a recent article in the Star Tribune HERE.

If you have been considering building this type of project, please contact our team at APPRO and CERRON. We have CERRON Commercial Properties available in the City of Lakeville and a team with the knowledge, expertise and vast experience to help you navigate the process to bring more senior housing options to the residents of Lakeville, MN.

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!

Lakeville High School Career Jamboree (2013)

Lakeville High School Career Jamboree (2013) – Lakeville Community Event

Casie Radford and Kris Bockelman at the 2013 Lakeville High School Career Jamboree

The 2013 Lakeville High School Career Jamboree was a very exciting and well attended event! Three (3) team members from APPRO and CERRON were able to attend the event held on on Monday, November 4, 2013:

  • Casie Radford, APPRO’s architect
  • Kris Bockelman, CERRON’s Commercial Administration Assistant
  • Andrea Kaderlik, Marketing Coordinator for both APPRO and CERRON

Representing both APPRO and CERRON, these team members spoke to many of the 850 Lakeville High School (North and South) juniors who were invited to this event between 2:30 p.m. until 4:30 p.m. While meeting with the students, we had the opportunity to discuss careers in each of our respective fields of design and architecture, commercial real estate and administration, and sales and marketing.

The students asked many thoughtful questions and hopefully learned about opportunities in the commercial real estate, design, architecture and construction services fields. Many students were surprised to find out the amount of years required to obtain an architectural degree and subsequent license upon visiting with Casie. Students were also curious to find out what a typical day in commercial real estate administration or of a marketer may look like, should they choose to pursue a career in these areas of interest.

Our two sister companies, APPRO and CERRON, were joined by approximately 70 other area businesses including: agriculture, food and natural resources, arts, communication and information systems, business management and administration, engineering, manufacturing and technology, health sciences technology and human services. It was a full house indeed!

The entire team at APPRO Development and CERRON Commercial Properties, is thrilled to be a part of the Lakeville community and to volunteer our time for events like this. We were very encouraged and highly optimistic about the future of our community as a result of conversations with the students with whom we met this week!

Feel free to read more articles about our commitment to and involvement in our local community in the “Community” section of our Blog Page. You may also see the handout we shared with students: 2013 – career jamboree handout-full page. We are grateful to Lakeville (North and South) High School and the Lakeville Area Chamber of Commerce for the opportunity to be a part of this fun day! Thank you!