Jay Sachetti joined Jeff O’Brien, partner at Husch Blackwell and Dyanne Ross-Hanson, president of Exit Planning Strategies talked about the market for mergers and acquisitions, exit planning opportunities for companies that don’t end up for sale and how companies can maximize their eventual sale price during an early October panel at the first Upsize on Tap event at Summit Brewing Co. in St. Paul.
When the state Legislature passed a law requiring employers to provide paid leave and safe time for employees, Justin Bieganek started hearing differing details from friends, colleagues and peers.
gr****@********ub.org; www.womansclub.org
Crown Bank, formerly with one location in Edina, rushed to open its downtown Minneapolis branch Dec. 31 so it could take advantage of bonus tax incentives that ended in 2004. By the first week of March, the new office was ready for a party.
John Crinklaw, president of the downtown branch, hosted two events that drew about 80 people each. Everything was in place except for a rug that was being made.
What did the guests think of the office? “Oh, they just think it’s wonderful, but what else would they say?” Crinklaw said when reached after the fact by phone. “We’re quite proud of it.”
He said business is brisk, and better than he expected. He’s not fazed by Excel Bank, a competing bank formerly in Edina that moved its headquarters downtown about a year ago. It just opened a private banking branch on the skyway system.
“They’re a good competitor. We have a lot of joint customers and we share a little bit of the same philosophy,” Crinklaw said, noting both smaller banks’ entrepreneurial spirit.
Try to make it to: You can check out Crown Bank’s new office at 601 Marquette Ave., Ste. 125. John Crinklaw: 612.746.5050; cr******@********nk.com; www.crown-bank.com
Ed Legge of Xcel Energy was there, telling The Informer about a little-known program for small-business owners that offers rebates for energy savings.
Tony Carideo of The Carideo Group in Minneapolis was there, too, along with Albert Maruggi of Provident Partners in St. Paul and many others. All were guests and some were clients of PR Newswire, the news distribution company based in Richfield. They had gathered this winter to hear all about The Informer’s favorite subject: Upsize Minnesota magazine.
Mark Allardyce, media relations representative for PR Newswire, said he organizes the media meet-and-greets many times throughout the year, on an irregular schedule. He may invite people from publications that are new, or that are changing, either in the focus of what they cover or in their personnel.
“It gives a chance for the journalists to bring their message,” Allardyce says, about what they cover and how best to reach them. Attendees, who include people from ad agencies, PR agencies, and internal corporate marketing, “can learn what the journalist is looking for.”
He invites journalists based on inquiries he gets from attendees and clients, and on his knowledge of changes at media outlets. He’s open to a publication contacting him, and he’d review its content. Allardyce marveled at the large number of publications, both general interest and trade, and broadcasts that cover business news in the Twin Cities.
Try to make it to: PR Newswire holds media meet-and-greets several times each year. Contact Mark Allardyce: 612.331.7800, ext. 1022; ma************@********re.com; www.prnewswire.com
When most associations host an event, they market it themselves and draw perhaps 50 attendees.
When the Joint Dinner of Women’s Professional Associations comes around, more than 14 organizations join forces to get the word out and invite attendees. The annual event, this year on March 10 and drawing about 350 people, shows the power of geometric progression.
A few keys to building attendance, gleaned from the organizers:
• The groups a few years ago chose a single beneficiary, the Women’s Foundation of Minnesota, to receive proceeds. This creates a focal point for a diverse group of participants.
• They host a media lunch a couple of months before the event, this year inviting journalists to Dorsey & Whitney offices in downtown Minneapolis, to learn about it and write about it.
• They feature newsworthy women, in this case Mary Brainerd, CEO of HealthPartners, and Jan Malcolm, newly named CEO of Courage Center in Golden Valley.
• They include 14 associations to coordinate the Joint Dinner, representing several thousand members. Among them: Association of Women in Communications, Minnesota Business & Professional Women, and Minnesota Women Lawyers.
Colleen Davis is founder of AIM to Succeed, a networking group for women in business and is one of the supporting associations this year. “It was great networking,” Davis said.
She promoted the event in AIM’s newsletter, which goes out to about 1,000 people each time.
Try to make it to: Invitations for next year’s Joint Dinner of Women’s Professional Associations will be mailed in February. To get on the list, contact Erin Ceynar, Women’s Foundation of Minnesota: 612.337.5010, ext. 11; er**@**mn.org; www.wfmn.org
