Professional & Leadership Development

Lunchtime Learning

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 2023 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! Click on the titles of each event to register.

September 13: Mental Health in Manufacturing: Embracing Best Practices for Sustainable Success

Sponsor:

Mental health in the workplace is an important topic that has seen a lot of attention the last few years as the subject loses its sense of being taboo. However, in the manufacturing industry specifically, it can be difficult to know the best ways to help employees through their mental health journeys. During this session, HR professionals, managers, supervisors and employees will hear firsthand how mental health can be made a priority, answering questions like how to avoid burnout, how to build a healthy workplace culture, and what does a mental health crisis look like. The panel of experts will also discuss resources for mental health, how to approach employees who need help, and how mental health could impact manufacturing in the future.

Speakers:

Allison Waggoner, DCI
Allison Waggoner is the Director of Human Resources & Safety at DCI, Inc. where she has worked for the past 21 years. Her job encompasses a wide range of employment topics from union negotiations, employee relations, benefits, recruiting, communications, safety, etc. She has spent the past 35 years working in Human Resources and Employment Law. She is also active in the community serving on the Chamber Board of Directors, the SCTCC Foundation Board of Directors, and planning groups for EPIC and the Tour of Manufacturing.

Lynn Seagraves, Park Industries
Lynn Seagraves is an experienced Human Resource Generalist with a history of working in the manufacturing industry. Skilled in customer service, team building, organization skills, management skills, interpersonal skills, she has been with Park Industries since 2021.

JaDee Kubesh, New Flyer
JaDee Kubesh grew up in the St. Cloud area and has a Master’s in counseling from Mankato State University. Kubesh has been working in the manufacturing world for the past 22 years in both operations management and human resources. He has worked at Amazon.com, Kraft, Land O’ Lakes, Wabash National, and most recently New Flyer. Kubesh enjoys the human element in business and is interested in employee engagement and trying to make the workplace a better place to work.

October 4: Strategies for Attracting Top Talent

Sponsor:

If you are looking for unique ways to find and retain talent then this class is for you! Let’s get together to talk through options and ideas that have been tried and worked / haven’t worked. We will also be discussing what the market is looking for in a job. 

Take aways will include:

1. Using a variety of media sources in recruiting
2. Using internal strategies for referrals
3. Keeping your internal team happy

Speaker: Kelly Walz, Bernick’s

Kelly is the vice president of human resources for Bernick’s, where she manages the overall provision of human resources services, policies, organizational development and programs for the company. She analyzes and creates organization training, communications, benefits and recruiting strategies. She has previously worked for Manpower and St. Cloud Wireless Holdings.

November 1: Work/Life Balance and Its Impact on Employee Retention

Sponsor:

Many individuals struggle to maintain a healthy balance between their professional and personal lives, leading to burnout, stress, and decreased well-being. Addressing this issue is crucial for employees and their organizations, as it directly impacts productivity, satisfaction, and retention. This session will talk about workplace wellbeing including having a supportive environment and better communication. Participants will learn tips for taking care of themselves and their employees, and how that will affect outcomes. This session is great for executives, managers, human resources professionals, individuals responsible for shaping organizational culture and employee experiences, and anyone who seeks personal growth and better work/life balance.

Speakers:

Brad Hoelscher, Gallagher

Brad Hoelscher is a St. Cloud State University graduate with a degree in communications studies. Now he is an insurance advisor at Gallagher, providing customers with insurance solutions to fit their needs. A lover of acting and performing, Hoelscher has acted with GREAT Theater Company and is currently the coach of the competitive speech team at St. Cloud Technical High School.

Casey Gordon, College of St. Benedict

Casey Gordon has a Doctor of Philosophy degree in Educational Administration from the University of Nebraska – Lincoln (2015) and a Master of Education degree from the University of Minnesota Duluth (2006). She has previously held positions at the University of Minnesota and St. Cloud State University, and currently serves at the Chief Information Officer at the College of St. Benedict and St. John’s University. She utilizes her extensive management and technical skills to champion all aspects of technology at the College of Saint Benedict and Saint John’s University.

December 6: Everyone’s A Critic: Giving & Managing Online Reviews

Sponsor:

Don’t let the fear of being critiqued keep you from engaging online! Reviews – especially negative review – can be scary territory. This session will teach you how to deal with the negatives and the positives, from responding to capturing and using to your advantage. Plus, it will also cover how to get your customers to leave you reviews online, as well as the pitfalls of faking or “gaming” reviews. This session is great for business owners, operations managers, marketing and services teams.

Speaker: Michelle Henderson, BadCat

Michelle started BadCat Digital to help small business owners navigate the digital marketing space. With a team that is experienced, creative, and growing, BadCat helps clients discover innovative ways to communicate their brands online with transparency and integrity. The BadCat Digital team has enjoyed tremendous growth over the past 7 years and is now loving their new home in the historic Hunstiger building, downtown St. Cloud. 

January 3: Lessons in Leadership: Growing Through Conflict

Sponsor:

Unresolved Conflict is costing you and your team time, resources, productivity, energy, and morale. Did you know that the average employee spends 3.8 hours/week due to conflict, tension, and miscommunication? Unless we learn to deal with the underlying issues, our stress grows while morale and productivity plummet. Join us for this workshop where we’ll explore “points of natural tension” on every team, common causes of conflict, and strategies for how to handle conflict when it arises. You’ll walk away with tangible ways to reduce tension and improve interpersonal dynamics. This session is perfect for leaders interested in growing their businesses, retaining top talent and building thriving teams

Speaker: Tara Gronhovd, Align

Tara Gronhovd is a leadership and team coach, with proven experience in business operations and growth strategy. As a Gallup Certified Strengths Coach, she helps businesses leverage the power of their strengths to thrive. Tara has over 17 years in business operations, marketing, change management, and leadership development experience. Tara is a Change Agent who applies her talents to every aspect of working with clients. When leaders are seen, heard, valued, and connected, it influences the entire organization. When teams learn how to see, hear and value each other, talent is multiplied, along with productivity and success.

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 $25 for members and $35 for the general public, which includes lunch.

NEW THIS YEAR: Purchase a SEASON PASS for $100 and get in to all 5 sessions – a savings of $25! 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

• Print a Fall 2023 Poster for your office!
• Sponsor a Lunchtime Learning class
• Speak at a Lunchtime Learning class

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