GREENLINE MARKETING EARNS 4 AD INDUSTRY AWARDS FOR GSDC’S ST. CLOUD SHINES CAMPAIGN
St. Cloud Shines, the GSDC’s extensive marketing campaign to highlight our region’s many advantages to employees, entrepreneurs, young families and others, has made more than 170 million impressions since launching in 2020. A few of those recent impressions were made on advertising judges!
During the 2023 American Advertising Federation Central Minnesota celebration on February 25, Greenline Marketing was recognized for its excellence regarding four of its St. Cloud Shines efforts. Judges from outside our area presented Greenline with three Gold Awards, for investor video series, stories series, and digital housing guide, and a Silver Award for the spotlight blog series.
Congratulations to Greenline Marketing for its great work in producing these award-winning materials for the GSDC.
PUT OUR MARKETING EFFORTS TO WORK FOR YOUR COMPANY
Speaking of St. Cloud Shines, we just completed a brief video that highlights all the good happening in our region every day — the people, places, and events that make living in Central Minnesota special. We encourage businesses to use this tool in your employee retention and attraction initiatives. Take two-and-a-half-minutes right now and see for yourself.
SCSU WORKFORCE HOUSING SUMMIT IS MARCH 23
With Central Minnesota having a shortage of workforce/affordable housing for employees earning $15-$30 per hour, many of our local businesses are concerned. To help address this issue, St. Cloud State University’s School of Public Affairs is co-presenting a summit titled, “Workforce Housing: Experiences, Needs and Opportunities in Central Minnesota.”
The event runs from 8:00 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Thursday, March 23, at SCSU’s Atwood Memorial Center. Registration is free, but space is limited.
REGISTER NOW FOR 10TH ANNUAL DIVERSITY CONFERENCE ON APRIL 11
Those interested in growing a diverse and inclusive workplace while improving experiences for customers, patients and clients – in other words, all of us – are invited to attend the 10th Annual Diversity Conference on Thursday, April 11, from 7:30 a.m. – 12 p.m.in the CentraCare South Point – Todd Steinke Auditorium.
Sponsored by CentraCare, the GSDC and St. Cloud Area Chamber of Commerce, the conference theme is, “Including Diversity & Equity: From Talk to Collective Action.” The morning’s activities will include a panel discussion, awards and keynote speaker Tawanna Black, the renowned founder and CEO of the Center for Economic Inclusion. CentraCare President/CEO Kenneth Holmen and GSDC President Patti Gartland will provide welcoming remarks.
Register here by April 6.
HAS YOUR COMPANY REGISTERED FOR THE TEAM WELLNESS CHALLENGE?
Has your organization signed up for the Team Wellness Challenge? This local initiative, led by St. Cloud-based nonprofit Active Central MN, celebrates employers who promote healthy, active living.
One local employer that has accepted “the challenge” is CentraCare. The integrated community healthcare system promotes the health and wellbeing of team members and their families. CentraCare is also a strong supporter of Active Central MN and an important contributor to the premier recreational fitness event in Central Minnesota, the CentraCare Earth Day Run. Held in St. Cloud in April, the event features a half marathon, half marathon relay, 5K run/walk, 5K corporate challenge, virtual run options, 1K kids’ run, and expo. The courses feature great views of the gorgeous Mississippi River, rustic trails, and a celebratory finish line atmosphere in downtown St. Cloud on historic St. Germain Street. Earth Day Run sponsors include: Bernick’s, Capital One, CentraCare, Central McGowan, Coborn’s, Granite Partners, Greater St. Cloud Development Corporation, and Mahowald.
In Central Minnesota, individuals are making a commitment to health and fitness, and employers — including the event sponsors listed above — are actively supporting the wellbeing of their team members. The Team Wellness Challenge is one of the ways Active Central MN is recognizing employers who support this shift toward thinking more broadly about employee wellbeing. The GSDC is pleased to be one of the Challenge sponsors.
“We are proud of the local leaders and organizations who are advancing health and wellbeing within the workplace and across our community,” said Rick Bauerly, founder and CEO of Granite Partners and volunteer board chair for Active Central MN. “Advocating and enabling team members’ active lifestyles is valuable and should be recognized.”
Celebrating the seasons and scenery of Minnesota, Active Central MN engages community stakeholders and hosts local events centered around physical activity and wellbeing. Registration for all 2023 events is underway, and many participants are already signed up and preparing for Earth Day Run and Active Central MN’s multi-sport events, including Apple Duathlon, and a series of three Graniteman Triathlons in Buffalo, Clearwater, and Big Lake. Multi-sport event sponsors include: DeZURIK, Rollga, Sentry Bank, Sherburne State Bank, Viking Coca-Cola, and Williams Integracare Clinic.
Employers who take part in the Team Wellness Challenge encourage employees and their families to participate in active lifestyle and fitness events, and most have committed to funding 50% or more of registration fees for Active Central MN events for their team members.
Those organizations taking part in the challenge receive benefits, including being recognized as a local employer committed to wellbeing; being promoted through Active Central MN’s website, email, and social media reach; and being equipped with tools to help describe and promote this “employer-of-choice” team member wellness commitment to current and prospective employees and other stakeholders.
Leaders interested in participating in the Team Wellness Challenge to demonstrate their commitment to team member wellbeing, should reach out to Heather Rothfork or Heather Corcoran, Active Central MN’s Earth Day race director and multi-sport race director respectively, at heather.rothfork@activecentralmn.org and heather.corcoran@activecentralmn.org.
Follow Active Central MN on Facebook and LinkedIn for organization and event updates, and visit the nonprofit’s new website at activecentralmn.org to sign up for events and learn more about their mission to promote wellbeing through community-wide support of healthy, active lives.
REMINDER OF GSDC CEO & PRESIDENT SEARCH AND OPPORTUNITY
As you know by now, the GSDC board has retained Minneapolis-based CohenTaylor Executive Search Services to lead the process of identifying a successor to GSDC President Patti Gartland, who is retiring on May 31.
If you or someone you know has interest in the position, here is the profile link with complete details, as well as contact information for CohenTaylor. All inquiries remain confidential.
UPCOMING REMINDERS
- Central Minnesota Difference Maker Grant Round is open. Application deadline is April 30 at 11:59 p.m. Apply here.
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Contact Our Staff Team
Patti Gartland, President
pgartland@greaterstcloud.com | 320.260.2442
Leslie Dingmann, Business Development Director
ldingmann@greaterstcloud.com | 320.493.9003
Gail Cruikshank, Talent Director
gcruikshank@greaterstcloud.com | 320.260.6775
Tammy Campion, Communications & Program Specialist
tcampion@greaterstcloud.com | 320.252.5185
Michelo Muleya, EPIC Coordinator
mmuleya@greaterstcloud.com I 320.252.5203