Professional & Leadership Development
Lunchtime Learning
NETWORK
Networking At Noon
The St. Cloud Area Chamber’s Business Development Council brings important and useful information to business people over the lunch hour through a series of lunchtime lectures. Take part in this educational networking event which includes audience introductions, lunch, a presentation, time for questions, networking, and a business card exchange.
FALL 2022 Classes
Save your seat today! All classes will be held in-person at the Chamber office. No refunds will be offered for cancellations made within 48 hours of the event. Please register at least two days before class so we can include you in the lunch count!
September 7: Developing an Enforceable Social Media Policy
Sponsored by: 
It’s hard for an employer to know how much control they’re allowed to exercise over an employee’s actions on social media. What if an employee’s social media statements don’t match the values of the employer? Does an employer have any legal abilities to restrict employee posts? This session will provide an overview of employee “free speech,” laws relating to employers’ social media policies, address specific concerns of employers, and provide tips for what to do if an employees social media actions are deemed discriminatory.
Speaker: Betsey Lund Ross, Lund Ross P.A.
About Betsey: Attorney Betsy Lund Ross is the founder of Lund Ross P.A. She practices employment and business law and estate planning, and has helped employers with discrimination and wrongful termination claims, FMLA and ADA disputes, and much more.
October 5: Lessons in Leadership – Being a Leader Worth Following
Sponsored by: 
Leadership comes in many shapes and forms, and what works best for you and your organization might not be the same for a different organization. This session will take a deeper look at different leadership styles, things you can do as a leader to recruit and retain the talent your company needs to succeed, and highlight the three things successful leaders focus on. It will also touch on the traps, pitfalls, and opportunities of your humanity as well as recognizing the importance of self awareness and acknowledging emotions.
Speaker: Bob White
About Bob: Retired former CEO of the Financial Services Unit of Wolters Kluwer, Bob White has spent his career serving the St. Cloud business community in a number of ways including involvement with Granite Equity Partners, Vector Windows, Mircobiologics and GeoComm as well as the YMCA, SCSU foundation, Boy Scouts, and numerous other nonprofit organizations.
November 2: Onboarding for Employee Retention
Sponsored by: 
In today’s job market, it’s important to have an excellent onboarding experience that encourages retention. For example, if a new hire asked the same question to five different people in your organization, would they get the same answer? This session will dive into “intentional” onboarding practices, including the 30, 60, 90 onboarding process, “truth in driving” onboarding consistency, and really understanding the why of employee turnover, as well as measuring what is helping with retention. This session is perfect for anyone who has interaction with a new hire within their first 30 days of employment, from HR to direct supervisors and anyone who has a high level of interaction.
Speaker: Joe Goering
About Joe: Joe has been the VP of Driver Recruiting at Anderson Trucking Services since 2013. Previously, he spent 22 years as the VP and General Manager of ATS International. He also served in the US Army as a Station Commander of the US Army Recruiting Command.
December 7: Marketing on a Budget – Setting Yourself Up for Success in 2023
Sponsored by: 
No matter what kind of budget your company is working with, you can develop a winning social media and marketing strategy to fit your needs. This session will dive into how to setup a budget and why having a budget is important. It will also take a look at setting up a successful strategy for marketing that works within the budget, and understanding why marketing is essential for your business no matter what your budget is. This session will be beneficial for small business owners, marketing managers and specialists, office personnel, and anyone else who has a hand in managing their organization’s marketing strategy as well as budgets.
Speaker: Hailey Gruenke
About Hailey: Hailey Gruenke is the owner of Media H, a social media marketing company. She has over 5 years of experience managing professional social media accounts, and is constantly staying up to date with new trends and statistics to provide better service to her clients.
January 4, 2023: Business Succession & Continuity Planning – What Owners and Managers Need to Know
Sponsored by: 
Business transition is inevitable. At some point, either a business will close or be put up for sale due to its owner no longer wanting to or being able to continue – and 80% of those businesses do not end up selling. Creating a viable continuity plan is critical to support owners and their families, employees, and to continue serving the needs our community. This session will cover the four components that drive business valuation from a buyers perspective, five steps to structuring a succession plan, and how managers can quickly demonstrate their value to new ownership. Attendees will leave with a clear understanding of how to start and form a succession plan that drives values for all stakeholders.
Speaker: Doug Cook
About Doug: Doug Cook is a Certified Exit Planning Advisor and the founder of Headwaters Strategic Consulting LLC. Since 1988, he has directed multiple teams within the areas of sales, marketing and management who have delivered dramatic business improvements and financial results.
Attend A Class!
Join us the first Wednesday of **every month in the Coldspring Conference Room, 1411 W. St. Germain Street, Suite 101, from 12 – 1 p.m. for lunch and a business presentation. The cost is $20 for members and $30 for the general public, which includes lunch.
NEW THIS YEAR: Purchase a SEASON PASS for $80 and get in to all 5 sessions – a savings of $20! This is available to members only.
Because we order lunch for all attendees, cancellations must be received at least 48 hours prior to the session or payment will be expected.
**Spring programs run February – June; the fall programs run September – January. There are no Lunchtime Learning classes in July and August.
HOW TO REGISTER AND SPONSOR:
To register, call 656-3826 or email Registrations@StCloudAreaChamber.com. The Lunchtime Learning Program is supported monthly by Chamber member businesses. If you are interested in sponsoring a Lunchtime Learning Program call 320-656-3800 for details.
PAST BUSINESS TRAINING PROGRAMS INCLUDE:
- Social Media Game-Changers
- Developing a Culture of Innovation and Employee Engagement
- Everything You Want To Know About Somalis, But Are Afraid To Ask
- Effectively Managing Today’s Cross-Generational Workforce
- Perfectionism and Productivity
QUESTIONS?
Contact the Chamber’s front office by calling 320-251-2940. To register, please use the registrations email above, to avoid your email accidentally going to the junk/spam folder. Thank you for attending!
RESOURCES
Contact
Chair
Kris Nelson
Business Development Council
Premier Real Estate Services
Chamber Staff
Laura Wagner
Business Development Council
320.656.3831