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.
30 finalists showcase their
best ways to build a businessby Beth Ewen
WHEN UPSIZE BEGAN its fourth annual search in the spring to find the smartest ways to build a business, we went to the best source: the owners of growing companies. In the pages that follow, we report their 30 best practices and tips for applying those ideas to your own enterprises.
We asked for best practices in six areas crucial to operating a business. Our judges considered the flood of nominees, and chose in August five finalists in each category based primarily on the impact of the best practice on company performance.
On October 29, those CEOs, presidents, directors and managers gathered for an energetic and informative day: the fourth Upsize Business Builder Awards & Seminar, presented by Winthrop & Weinstine.
In each of six panel discussions throughout the morning, five finalists detailed what works for them and answered questions about how to make it work for others. A sixth panelist, an expert on the topic, helped attendees apply the best practices to their own firms.
The day wrapped up with an awards luncheon, in which a winner in each category was announced. They are: Best Practices in Finance & Operations: Big Ink Display Graphics. Best Practices in Customer Relations: Paragon Solutions. Best Practices in Technology & Innovation: Creative Water Solutions. Best Practices in Community Impact: Pinnacle Services. Best Practices in People & Workplace: Beehive PR. Best Practices in Communications & Marketing: Chocolat Celeste.
Finally, we named the Upsize Business Builder of the Year, based on revenue increases over three years and overall approach to driving healthy growth. CotterWeb Enterprises Inc. is this award winner, and CEO Daren Cotter details his strategy in our cover story inside.
Sponsors of the event and invited guests provided expert panelists and moderators throughout the morning, as well as judges for the selection committee this summer: Steve Baird and Mark Gleeman of Winthrop & Weinstine, the Minneapolis law firm; Tom Moe of Daily Printing; Kim Brown of JNBA Financial Advisors, the Bloomington wealth management firm; and Elin Raymond of The Sage Group, the Minneapolis marketing and communications firm.
Also serving as judges were Mike Ryan of the Small Business Development Center, University of St. Thomas; Kathy Moriarty of the Neighborhood Development Center, the St. Paul resource organization for entrepreneurs; and Diane Paterson of WomenVenture, the St. Paul-based organization to help women achieve economic independence.
Joe duBord and Brian Hagen of Meditech Communications Inc. and ThisClicks Interactive produced the video presentation of all finalists, sponsors and award winners.
Complete coverage follows of 30 best practices, six experts’ advice, six winners’ philosophies, plus detailed advice and “lessons I learned” from the Upsize Business Builder of the Year.
Cannabis-based products have been increasingly available in Minnesota over the last six years. The opportunities in that space became even more prominent last year when the state legislature voted to become the 23rd state to legalize adult recreational use of marijuana for Minnesotans over 21.
When Super Bowl LII was played at U.S. Bank Stadium in February 2018, Alex Tittle didn’t play a down on the field, but he had more than three-years of impact on the experience.
Unemployment in Minnesota sits below 3 percent. Labor market participation is high. Airport traffic counts across the country are approaching and even surpassing pre-pandemic levels, so consumers are still spending money. Consumer confidence, reportedly spurred by the strong labor market, also seems at least cautiously on the rise.
