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Monday, May 17
The Saint Paul Area Chamber of Commerce is committed to
celebrating small business success. That is why this week is
designated "Small Business Week" by your Chamber and our
federal partner, the Small Business Administration.
Throughout the week your Chamber will honor the nominees and
winners of the annual Small Business Awards of Excellence.
Given out every year at the Small Business Awards of
Excellence Luncheon, the Deubener Award recognizes five
outstanding businesses for their growth, excellence, risk,
diversity, and innovation. Now in its 23rd year, the Small
Business Awards of Excellence Luncheon is the premier venue
for recognizing and thanking small business for all they do
that contributes to the world's greatest economy.
Congratulations to the 2004 Small Business Awards of
Excellence recipients! These businesses demonstrate growth,
excellence, risk, diversity and innovation of the same
caliber as Walter and Lydia Deubener did a century ago.
These five businesses will be celebrated for their business
success at Thursday's 23rd Annual Small Business Awards of
Excellence Luncheon presented by Minnesota Wire & Cable Co.
Left to right:
Pablo Bonilla, Chair, Small Business Week Task Force, Vencio,
Inc.; Mark Stutrud, President and Founder, Summit Brewing
Company; Pam Wheelock, Executive Vice President and CFO,
Minnesota Sports and Entertainment and Minnesota Wild; Karl
Benson, General Manager, Cooks of Crocus Hill; Patti Sinykin,
Board of Directors, Resources for Child Caring; Sid Larson,
President, Five Star Food Base Company
Cooks of Crocus Hill - Service category
Cooks of Crocus Hill is a locally owned, brand
driven, independent, specialty retailer. They have two
cooking schools and three retails stores. The stores sell
culinary equipment, small wares, books and packaged food. In
the schools they offer more than 400 educational classes
each year and interactive, corporate, team-building cooking
events for companies of all sizes. Cooks' belief is that
Life Happens in the Kitchen and their brand expresses a
passion for life where food and food experiences are
essential lifestyle elements.
In the beginning, there was a mere four employees and 250
items. Thirty years later, Cooks of Crocus Hill has three
stores encompassing 10,000+ square feet of retail with an
inventory of more than 15,000 items. In addition, their
recent partnership with Marshall Fields will add an
additional cooking school and 15 shops. For more than 30
years Cooks of Crocus Hill has been a proud member of the
Saint Paul business community.
Five Star Food Base Company - Family Owned category
Five Star Food Base Company has created and
currently manufactures well over 100 "value added" food
ingredients. Five Star products are offered to foodservice
industry, food manufacturers and to finer retailers with its
"Chef Sid's Innovative Cuisine" brand. The company is family
owned and operated having employed family members over its
past 14 years in business.
Five Star is proud to be a family business. Owner Sid
Larson's wife Mary is vice president and manages human
resources. Mary's parents Gloria and James Thornton have
been an important resource and inspiration in the
organization of the company. Many family members including
Larson's brother Stephen and children Sid and Briana have
and continue to be involved. Larson attributes the company's
success, and the capability to produce service and product
that is beyond expectation, to the familial attitude
maintained by the entire organization.
Minnesota Sports & Entertainment and Minnesota Wild -
Emerging Business category
Minnesota Sports & Entertainment (MSE) consists of
the Minnesota Wild National Hockey League team, the American
Hockey League's Houston Aeros, and Saint Paul Arena Company,
which operates the Saint Paul RiverCentre and Xcel Energy
Center. MSE also has a majority stake in Wildside Caterers
and owns and operates 317 on Rice Park, the historic former
Minnesota Club, for receptions, business meetings and
weddings.
The Minnesota Wild is the centerpiece of the business
enterprise and is completing its fourth year of operations.
The Wild are committed to building a close relationship with
the community and is contributing to the rich heritage of
hockey history in Minnesota. Through the Minnesota Wild
10,000 Rinks Foundation, MSE supports amateur hockey groups
and certain health care providers for kids throughout the
"State of Hockey." Xcel Energy Center has showcased the
world's greatest hockey players as well as premier concerts,
family shows, and college and high school athletic
tournaments. Saint Paul 's RiverCentre has been the venue of
choice for major business, trade and civic gatherings, which
have included appearances by President George W. Bush and
Rudolph Giuliani.
Resources for Child Caring - Nonprofit category
Resources for Child Caring has advanced quality
care and education of children in their crucial early years
for more than three decades. They provide education and
training to providers and parents; publish books for the
early childhood field; and respond to community needs for
child care with solutions that improve care for children.
Resources for Child Caring focuses on community development
by assuring a strong start for young children. From helping
immigrant communities to working with families on specific
concerns relating to child care, their focus is on young
children. One of the most critical needs families have is
care for their children while they work. Resources for Child
Caring helps families understand their child care options so
they can make the best choice for their children.
Resources for Child Caring relied on solid business
practices to achieve surplus growth in 2003 of 33 percent in
the midst of an economic downturn. The agency prides itself
on its family-friendly work environment, and has a
long-standing employee Diversity Advisory Council,
championing an inclusive environment for clients and
staff. The agency was also recently awarded a Consumer
Quality Assurance Seal by NACCRRA for work with families in
child care referral.
Summit Brewing Company - Manufacturing category
To see Summit Brewing Company's modern brewery
overlooking the banks of the Mississippi River is to
understand the brand. A proud tribute to the prairies of the
Midwest, the brewery is also reflective of sophisticated
modern brewing technology. It is this respect for tradition
balanced with thoughtful innovation that consistently
describes Summit, an 18 year member of the Minnesota
business community. Founder and CEO Mark Stutrud is a native
of the Midwest . His goal for Summit, currently Minnesota's
best selling craft beer, is to become the craft beer of
choice for the entire Midwest. From the time Summit produced
their first keg of beer to the present time, in which they
operate out of the newest and most modern brewery in
Minnesota, they have held a consistent set of values and
operating practices. Summit cares about their employees,
their distributors, their communities - and they know how to
make an exceptional, world class beer.
An active member of the Twin Cities and Minnesota business
community and involved corporate citizen, Stutrud also
encourages employees to identify local causes that they
passionately support. The brewery supports numerous local
community events and festivals. It is this community
outreach, as well as Stutrud's goal of creating a legacy
that upholds the grand tradition of brewing and community
interaction, that best reflects the ways in which Summit
gives back to the Midwest.
Minnesota is one of the best places in the
country for businesses. The Minnesota Department of Trade
and Economic Development (DTED) states that more than 90
percent of the primary U.S. industries are present in
Minnesota.
Did you know?
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The Small Business Administration (SBA) says there are
nearly 373,500 small businesses in Minnesota.
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A DTED 2000 Issue Brief on Start-ups and Expansions shows
that Minnesota ranked 9th highest in the overall rate of
business expansions, and 7th highest among large sectors -
manufacturing, retail trade and services.
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DTED also states that small businesses accounted for
two-thirds of all expansions.
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A September 2001 DTED report shows that more than 12,100
new businesses were started in 2000.
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The SBA reports that 97% of exporters are small
businesses.
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According to the Office of Advocacy, small business
creates between 60% and 80% of our country's net new jobs,
every year.
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Small businesses pay more than 44% of the nation's private
payroll, says the SBA.
The Deubener Award will be presented at the 23rd Annual
Small Business Awards of Excellence Luncheon on May 20. For
more information about the Luncheon call 651.223.5000 or go
here.
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