The

CataCatalystlyst Issue 373

www.thecolumbuspage.com November 2015

News of the Columbus Area Chamber of CommerceNews of the Columbus Area Chamber of Commerce

Business Hall of Fame December 1st

Ramada-Columbus 5:30-Social

6:30– Dinner and Program

Henry Gass, Sr., came to Platte County in 1870 and soon began making coffins and branched out into a furniture store and funeral home. This was the first funeral home in Columbus and continues today as the Gass-Haney Funeral Home.

Minnie Jackson founded “Jackson Pantorium” in 1924 and worked out of her home. 1n 1926 she outgrew her home and opened the first building. She ran the business until her death in 1957. The company, now known as Jackson Services, Inc., is headed by the third generation of the family.

The Columbus Area Chamber of Commerce will also present its annual awards that night. The Charles Farnham Volunteer of the Year for 2015 is given by First Nebraska Bank. Ernst Auto Center/Ernst Toyota presents the 2015 Ovation Award to the outstanding businesswoman. The 2015 Archway Award for outstanding businessman is presented by Columbus Tire & Service Center. Contact the Chamber office (564-2769) for information or register on-line at www.thecolumbuspage.com/events

Born in Germany, Theodore Friedhof worked for Lord & Taylor in New York City in 1867 and moved to Columbus in 1875. He operated dry good stores in Columbus. He was a founder of the German National Bank, and was also one of the founders of the Evans Hotel Company. He, along with Mrs. Albert Gehner, gifted the Platte County Fairgrounds and donated the material for the famous Columbus arches.

Tickets $35 ~ticket

$300 ~Reserved Table of 8

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In This Issue… Business Hall of Fame 1 Modern Mentorship 2 Business After Hours 2 Commodore Calls 3 1st Impression Awards 4 Taste of Columbus 4 September Investments 5 Manufacturing Day 5 Holiday Basketball 6 Holiday Giveaway 6 Agribusiness Invite 7 NDOR Taskforce 7 Holiday Columbus Bucks 7 Small Business Saturday 7 Calendar 8

This publication is distributed monthly to Columbus Area Chamber of Commerce Members and Stakeholders Published monthly by the Columbus Area Chamber of Commerce. Dues include $2 per year subscription for your Catalyst

Chamber Staff K.C. Belitz President Kara Asmus Workforce Coordinator Sandie Fischer Events Planner, Entrepreneur/Membership Developer Cassie Jeffryes Office Manager Deb Loseke Director, Convention & Visitors Bureau Sharyle Sands Vice President

Catalyst Join us for

Hors d’oeuvres and beverages.

Co-hosted by: Buresh Catering & Bakery

Please join us in recognizing the 2016 Philanthropist of the Year winner

Roberta Saalfeld and Legacy Award Winner Marie Froemel

Business After Hours A strictly social Chamber event

Monday, November 23

5pm-6:30pm

At the new

YMCA Located at

3912 38th Street

Modern Mentorship Event Thursday, Nov. 12

Henry on 11th Building 1:00-4:30pm

Building multi-generational mentoring in today’s workplace takes a deliberate effort. The current workforce is expected to retire three employees for every one person entering, contributing to a massive transfer of leadership. The modern mentorship workshop is designed for young professionals, teaching them the value of having a mentor and ways to build those relationships. Register to attend on the Connecting Young Nebraskans website at cyn.nebraska.edu. Dr. Lindsay Hastings is a Clifton Professor in Mentoring Research and Director, Nebraska Human Resources Institute (NHRI) The event will be held Thursday, November 12 from 1:00 to 4:30 at the Henry on 11th Building, 2523 11th Street Columbus, NE. Cost is $10 and includes a happy hour following the seminar. Drive for Five members can attend free.

Hosted By:

The Goodwill Arm of the Chamber

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CHAMBER COMMODORES

Heritage Furniture

Refinishing, New Member, Tony and .Beverly Prothman, and Captain Cristal Menke

Canine Clipping Creations, Ribbon Cutting, Christina & Richard Leffers, Randy Miller, Patrick Miller and the Chamber Commodores

Frankie’s House, Member Visit, Dawn Meister, Skipper Tonya Wemhoff, Shirley Thiele, and Paula Barcel

St. Bonaventure Church & School, New Member, Skipper Tonya Wemhoff, Father Swanton and Father Keating

Valencia Salon, Ribbon Cutting, Theresa Dietrich, Kimberly Taake, Collette Bargen, Tina Schumacher, La Nae Drozd, Amy Williams, and Janice Janssen

Buresh Catering, Scott & Mary Buresh & Captain Cristal Menke

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The Streetscaping Board of the Chamber recognizes

businesses who have improved their appearance or have

made an impact with how well it’s maintained.

Recently this group of volunteers presented 1st

Impression Awards to the businesses pictured. When you

visit, let them know you noticed and that their efforts are

much appreciated.

Pictured clockwise from top —Tessendorf & Tessendorf P.C.,

Columbus Physical Therapy P.C. , and Cruise & Associates

1st Impression Awards

Thanks to everyone who donated, attended, helped, or supported another spectacular “Taste

of Columbus” this year.

Thank you to these participating food vendors:

Applebee's; Buresh Catering; Columbus Community Hospital; El Tapatio;

Fair Park Grille; HyVee; Pizza Ranch; Ramada-Columbus; Shadows Restaurant and Pub;

Subway; Traditions Inn; Uptown Brewery; Wal-Mart; and Wunderlich's Catering.

The "Taste of Columbus" benefited the Columbus Public Library Foundation and Columbus

Area Chamber of Commerce. Both organizations are very grateful for the support shown by

those who donated and those who attended the event.

Congratulations to Rhonda Kush, winner of the diamond pendant that was donated to the

raffle by McChristy Jewelers.

The Chamber thanks the Library Foundation for their partnership! The committee, led by

Doug & Ramona Kluth and Kurt & Kim Shevlin, was a dedicated group and their effort is

appreciated!

Mark your calendar for Taste of Columbus 2016 on October 10th, benefiting the Columbus

Public Schools Foundation and Columbus Area Chamber of Commerce.

Another Wonderful

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Anderson, Pat Big O's Party Bus,

Todd Oborny Canine Clipping Creations,

Christina Leffers Casa Connection, Susie Jarecki

Central Insulation & Roofing Inc. Kevin & Randy Moore

Columbus Noon Rotary Club, Rob Cruise Columbus Rescue Mission, Ted Pearson Connect Columbus, Tammy Bichlmeier

Eagles Aerie #1834, Dennis Micek Family 1st Dental, Kendra Pavlik Foreman Lumber & Construction,

Craig Foreman Heartland Communications, LLC,

Steve Rerucha Husker Bar, Todd Oborny

Mancuso, Dr. Stephen Performance Printing,

Mark & Theresa Ingram

Platte County Farm Bureau, Stan Rosendahl

Platte Valley Pest Control, Terry Bloom Schaben Partners / Reliv,

Jim & Sandy Schaben SCORE Chapter 162, Bob White Simon House, Lucy Lutjelusche

Subway, Marv Rosberg Traditions Inn Restaurant,

Pat and Scott Mueller Zach, Larry & Jane

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September Investments We thank our members for their membership investment.

245 area students from Columbus, Schuyler, Clarkson, Polk, Albion, Petersburg, Genoa, Silver Creek, Humphrey and Monroe toured area businesses on national MFG Day. Employees in the field talked to the students about their career and relayed the opportunities available to the upcoming workforce. MFG Day is a celebration of modern manufacturing meant to inspire the next generation of employees and business owners. It addresses common misperceptions about manufacturing by opening up doors and

showing what manufacturing looks like today. By working together, leaders will begin to address the skilled labor shortage we face, connect with future workers, change the public image of manufacturing, and ensure ongoing prosperity.

Behlen Mfg. Co., ADM-Columbus, BD Medical, CAMACO, Duo Lift Manufacturing, John Crane – Orion, Central Community College, and Loup Public Power District allowed students from area schools to tour their facilities with the hope of inspiring the next generation of skilled workers. MFG Day is a nationwide event sponsored by manufacturers and manufacturing trade groups across the country. In Nebraska, it’s also supported by the Dream It, Do It initiative and Nebraska Advanced

Manufacturing Coalition.

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Columbus Holiday Giveaway The Columbus Area Chamber of Commerce is ready to kick off the 11th annual “Columbus Holiday Giveaway!” This promotion will encourage people to shop locally by promoting Columbus Bucks. Starting Nov. 28th the Chamber will give away FREE MONEY in Columbus Bucks - for every $50 purchased an additional $5 in Columbus Bucks are given FREE. For just $50 your business can be one of the sponsors of the Columbus Holiday Giveaway Free Money! Your $50 means another $500 in Columbus Bucks is added to the promotion – adding more “Bang to the Bucks!” Your sponsorship will help us promote the importance of shopping locally and the promotion will encourage shoppers to visit your store to spend their “bonus” Columbus Bucks! Fill out and return this form or contact Sandie Fischer at the Chamber.

------------------------------------------------------------------------- Yes, I will participate in the Columbus Holiday

Giveaway Promotion

_____Payment enclosed ($50) _____Please invoice me

Business Name___________________________________________________________

Contact Name____________________________________________________________

Address_________________________________________________________________

Phone ________________

Please indicate your interest by responding to the Chamber by Friday, November 13th Return a copy of this form to Sandie Fischer Columbus Area Chamber,

753 33rd Ave., Columbus NE 68601 Fax: 564-2026

Help Holiday Basketball 2015 Holiday Basketball Tournament

The Columbus Area Chamber of Commerce will coordinate the 34th Annual Columbus Holiday Basketball Tournament on December 29th and 30th at Scotus. Co-chairmen for this year's event are Don Mroczek & Todd Halligan. Again this year, Varsity-Junior Varsity boys & girls teams compete from Columbus Scotus, Columbus Lakeview, Schuyler, and Twin River high schools. This tournament is an excellent way to bring people to our community, support our youth and provide extra funding for the schools' athletic programs. The Holiday Basketball Tournament is supported by corporate sponsorship, program advertising and teams’ sponsorship with net proceeds to the host school. Without this support, this tournament would not be possible. There are limited spaces available for each level of sponsorship. If you would like to help support this great holiday tradition, contact Sandie Fischer or Deb Loseke at the Chamber office at 564-2769.

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Columbus & Holiday Bucks Don’t forget to use Columbus Bucks during the Holiday season. Gift givers can purchase them at the Chamber of Commerce. Chamber member businesses simply accept them in payment, endorse them and deposit them like a check. It couldn’t be easier. For more information contact Sharyle Sands at 564-2769.

Through the Holiday Loan program at Columbus Bank, you can borrow $500-$5,000 in Columbus Bucks for up to two years. Contact Tim Tarnick at Columbus Bank at (564-1234) for details.

Small Business Saturday This year, the Columbus Telegram, Digity radio stations, Columbus News Team and the Columbus Area Chamber are kicking off the Holiday Giveaway with a special promotion for national Small Business Saturday, Nov. 28th. The Chamber and our local media partners will promote shopping in small local businesses that day. That morning, shoppers get 10% more when they buy Columbus Bucks in the Holiday Giveaway. We will promote all small businesses that agree to offer a 10% discount that day to shoppers who use Columbus Bucks…so on Small Business Saturday, shoppers get 20% more when they shop local and shop small business. Small businesses – sign up with Sandie Fischer at the Chamber with your commitment to offer a 10% dis-count for Columbus Bucks purchases on Nov. 28th only. You’ll be listed in the media promotion and get a poster to display in your store.

Agribusiness Committee Community Invite

December 7th

12:00pm—Chamber of Commerce

Join the Agribusiness Committee on December 7th for a meeting

with guest speaker; Al Dutcher. As a State Climatologist Al specializes

in climate data analysis, soil moisture analysis, weather forecasting,

crop/weather relationships, and drought monitoring. A member of

NU's School of Natural Resource Sciences, Al has been with the

University of Nebraska since 1989. He holds a B.S. in Meteorology

and an M.S. in Climatology, both degrees earned at Iowa State

University.

Dutcher is a past president and current member

of the American Association of State

Climatologists. He serves on the Governor's

Climate Assessment Response Committee and

chairs the state's Water Availability Outlook

Committee. He's also a contributing editor/writer

for Cropwatch.

Please RSVP to the Chamber at 402-564-2769,

lunch will be provided for those who attend.

Columbus on NDOR Task Force

Nebraska Department of Roads Director Kyle Schneweis announced the Columbus Area Chamber will be represented on the newly formed “Innovation Task Force for Transportation.” The task force will focus on transportation issues in Nebraska and how those issues can be brought together for the benefit of the Nebraska economy. The task force will focus on ways that the public and private sectors can work together, provide opportunities to use new technologies and discuss how transportation investments can help grow Nebraska. The task force will identify ways to achieve Governor Ricketts’ and Schneweis’ goals to modernize NDOR’s business practices, increase transparency, encourage stakeholder engagement, and empower NDOR employees to make decisions to increase efficiency. Chamber President K.C. Belitz will represent the Chamber on the Task Force.

PRSRT STD

POSTAGE

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COLUMBUS, NE

PERMIT #500

Columbus Area Chamber of Commerce 753 33rd Ave.

Columbus, NE 68601-6427 402.564.2769 Fax: 402.564.2026

chamber@megavision.com www.thecolumbuspage.com

Calendar of Events… November 2015 2015-2016 Board of Directors

Joe Steffensmeier

Chairman of the Board Bill Flint

Chair-Elect Dianne Wall Promotions

Division Chairman Steve Line

Community Development Division Chairman

Chad Dyhrkopp Business Development

Division Chairman Jaci Tessendorf

Internal Affairs Division Chairman

Bill Flint Treasurer

Mark Mercer Past Chairperson

Travis Bock Dennis Grennan

Pat Pope Russ Freeman

John DiMambro Ben Hellbusch Chris Langan

Ex-Officio Members Mayor Mike Moser City of Columbus Jerry Engdahl Platte County Tonya Wemhoff Commodores Bernie Hansen NE Dept of Labor

Mission Statement The Columbus Area Chamber of Commerce: Enhancing the economic well-being and quality of life in the Columbus Area.

The Catalyst

03 BIE Chamber 7:00am

03 Branding Chamber Noon

04 Childcare Committee Chamber 10:30am

05 Commodores Taco John’s 10:00am

10 Commodores Columbus Neighbors 10:00am

11 E-Ship Chamber 9:00am

12 Modern Mentorship Seminar Henry on 11th 1:00pm

17 Finance Committee Chamber 7:00am

17 Admirals Picket Fence 7:30am

18 Transportation Ramada-Columbus 12:00pm

23 Quality of Life Centers Chamber 10:00am

23 Board of Directors Chamber 12:00pm

23 Business After Hours: at the

Columbus Wellness Center

Columbus Philanthropy

Council & Co-hosted with

Buresh Catering &Bakery

5:00-

6:30pm

26 Thanksgiving Holiday Chamber Closed All Day

27 Thanksgiving Holiday Chamber Closed All Day

28 Santa’s Arrival Downtown 1:00pm

28 Small Business Saturday Columbus All Day