Thank you to our sponsor:

952-474-3233

Our Board of Directors

The SouthWest Metro Chamber Board of Directors is committed to serving the Chamber and its members.

Mike Phelps

Chair

Vice President of Diversified Affairs at Ridgeview Clinics

Michael Phelps has been with Ridgeview Medical Center in Waconia, MN for six years and currently is serving as Vice President of Diversified Services. Ridgeview is the heart of a regional health care network that includes 1,500 employees, a 109-bed hospital, an ambulatory surgery center, 10 primary care and specialty clinic locations, home care, DME, hospice and ambulance services. Mr. Phelps is accountable for and leads a wide range of operations, financial, and support areas including Ridgeview Clinics, community relations & marketing, patient financial services, health information management and physician relations areas. Mike also serves as Ridgeview’s Corporate Compliance Officer.

Mr. Phelps holds an Associate’s degree in Physical Therapy, Bachelors in Business Management and a Masters in Business Administration from The University of St. Thomas, St. Paul, Minnesota.

Phone: 952-442-2191, ext. 5549
Fax: 952-442-6543
E-Mail: mike.phelps@ridgeviewmedical.org

Mark Fleischhacker

Vice Chair

President/COO at Lake Region Medical

Mark has responsibility for Manufacturing and engineering activity within Lake Region both in the United States and Ireland where our three manufacturing sites are located. This activity supports a manufacturing capability using a work force of around 1550 employees. We manufacture implantable medical devises to serve countless life saving medical procedures. We market our products and services in 46 countries. We pride ourselves in the fact that we will supply solutions to the medical industry to reduce the complication rate from diagnostic and therapeutic procedures minimizing the stress and strain on the patient. We also strive to be good citizens in each community where we reside partnering with local government, industry, hospitals and schools to continuously improve the quality of life.

Phone: 952-448-5111
E-Mail: mgfleischhacker@lakergn.com

Mark Halla

Past Chair

Steward at The Mustard Seed & Garden Center

The Mustard Seed is rooted in integrity and founded on faith in Christ. We combine ideas, products and services, expertly crafted, into unique landscapes that grow and enhance your lifestyle and property! Mark has been active in the Chamber of Commerce for over a decade and is currently serving as Board Chair.

Phone: 952.361.9954
Fax: 952.361.9950
E-Mail: info@themustardseedinc.com

Lon Hand

Treasurer

President at Community Bank Chaska

Lon Hand, President of Community Bank Chaska has more than 27 years of banking experience. Lon holds a Bachelor of Business Administration degree in Accounting from Iowa State University, certificates from the College of Financial Planning in Denver, CO, and the Graduate School of Banking in Madison, WI.

He is a resident of Chaska and very active in the community. He is involved youth sports, Chaska Rotary, Christmas in May, and serving on several area boards. He also is a founding member of the Chaska High School Annual Gala. Currently, Lon serves as a Board Member and Treasurer of the Southwest Metro Chamber of Commerce and was the past President of the Chaska Chamber.

E-Mail: lhand@cbchaska.com

Carl Blanz

Board Member

Owner at Mobius Team

Advisor & Facilitator - Leadership > Culture > Collaboration

Engage your team in a dynamic team building event designed to create and sustain a performance breakthrough!

Experiential Learning- The event models a process which is intuitive, insightful and repeatable.

Real Time- The team uses today’s topics and challenges, those that are important to them.

Real Data- The team uses data they have generated about themselves.

The Mobius Teams Process is flexible and extremely powerful in front of a strategic planning session, team retreat or other team building activities.

Phone: 952-221-7814
E-Mail: carl@mobiusteams.com

Gunnar Carlson

Board Member

General Manager at Center Drug, Inc.

Gunnar has been working at Center Drug since he was 18 years old. He has done everything from delivering to clerking to managing the point of sale system. In the past couple of years Gunnar implemented a loyalty program. Gunnar's goals are to grow his business by increasing front end sales, improve customer satisfaction and retention through loyalty programs along with specific direct mail marketing.

Phone: 952-938-2719
E-Mail: gcarlson@centerdrug.com

Steve Hansen

Board Member

Owner at Hansen Hometech

Hansen Hometech is a General Contracting Construction Company Mn. License # 1261. For over 25 years we have Built our company on Integrity, Creative Designs & Superior Craftsmanship. I have been a member of the Chanhassen Chamber since 1986 and am encouraged with the direction of the Regional Chamber. I was one of the originators of the Home Landscape & Lifestyle Expo and I am the current chair of that event in Feb. I look for a challenge and get great satisfaction helping solve them. I also work to be able to play and enjoy down hill Skiing.

Phone: 952-934-0854
E-Mail: hansenhometech.com

Tom Hanske

Board Member

Vice President at Beacon Bank

Tom Hanske joined Beacon Bank as Vice President of Business Banking in February 2006. Tom brings over 30 years of experience in lending within the west-metro communities. Prior to Beacon Bank Tom worked for TCF National Bank for 5 years and US Bank for 14 years. Tom’s prior volunteer community service includes:

President - East Side Area Business Association
Broad Member - Phalen Corridor Initiative
Treasurer - Northeast Area Senior Housing Corp.
Board Member - Skyway/East YMCA
Chair - St. Paul Suburban Chamber of Commerce Metro East Chapter and Finance
Committee Member - District One St. Paul Community Council

Phone: 952-401-2283
Fax: 952-974-3842
E-Mail: thanske@beaconbank.com

Beverly A. Lohs

Board Member

VP of Human Resources at IWCO Direct

Beverly A. Lohs has served as Vice President of Human Resources at IWCO Direct since joining the company in August 1999. Prior to joining IWCO Direct, she had an 18-year tenure with GE Capital, where she received a number of awards and recognition. Her specialties include recruitment, building high-performance teams, workforce diversity issues and performance management. Bev is a graduate of the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater and has enjoyed working with all facets of the chamber.

Phone: 952-470-6424
E-Mail: bev.lohs@IWCO.com

Scott W. Manion, CPA, CMA, CFM

Board Member

CPA at Boulay, Heutmaker, Zibell & Co

Scott has over 11 years of experience in accounting and management consulting. He focuses on providing services to small businesses and closely-held companies in a variety of industries.

Scott is a graduate of the University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire. He is a member of the Institute of Management Accountants, the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, the Minnesota Society of Certified Public Accountants and the Minnesota Professional Towing Association. He holds a position on the City of Victoria’s Business Development Committee and is a member of the SouthWest Metro Chamber of Commerce.

Scott lives in Victoria with his wife and daughter. In his free time he enjoys biking, playing broomball and basketball.

Phone: 952-841-3040
E-Mail: smanion@bhz.com

E. P. Van Pelt, Jr.

Board Member

Owner at First Payment Systems Minnesota

Mr. Ed Van Pelt is currently CEO of First Payment Systems, Inc. a service centric organization supporting companies who utilize credit cards. Previously Mr. Van Pelt was CEO Premier Rinks, President of Mon-Ray Inc., co-founded and later sold, MEDPOWER Inc., a health care systems integration business. Mr. Van Pelt has held executive level positions with Carlson Companies, American Express, Rockwell International and Westinghouse.

Mr. Van Pelt has an undergraduate degree in Psychology from St. Mary’s University, San Antonio, Texas with an MBA from New York University. Mr. Van Pelt is active in his church and community, a Trustee of St. John the Baptist Catholic Church in Excelsior from 2002 through 2009 and coach’s his kids (football, basketball and soccer). Mr. Van Pelt and his wife Lisa, have six (6) children reside in Chanhassen, MN.

Phone: 612-860-7010
E-Mail: ed@firstpaymentsystemsmn.com

Dave Pokorney

Board Member

Owner at Community Asset Development

Dave Pokorney is a principal in Community Asset Development Group focusing on real estate development and strategic planning facilitation for governments and non-profits. Previously, Dave served as Chaska City Administrator for 24 years during which time the community was selected as one of the 10 Best Small Towns in the U.S. by Money Magazine and he was recognized by his peers as City Manager of the Year in 2007. He currently serves on the board of directors for the MN Municipal Power Agency and Community Bank of Chaska. Dave has an undergraduate economics degree from the University of St Thomas and a Masters degree in public finance from the University of Pittsburgh.

Phone: 952-448-4444
E-Mail: davepokorney@gmail.com

Peter Theisfeld

Board Member

Owner at Peter Allen Co.

Peter Allen LLC. Is a single source project and home management service that can handle any detail from the smallest item to the thoughtful and disciplined oversight of a large scale renovation.

We achieve success through Planning - Discipline - Planning

Phone: 952-368-7177
E-Mail: peter@peterallenco.com

Mark Tupper

Board Member

Area Operations Manager at Century Link

CenturyLink is the broadband provider of choice for southwest metro Minnesota communities. We offer phone, high-speed internet and DirecTV for consumers, as well as voice and data solutions for businesses. Mark has been living and working in Minnesota for nearly 15 years. He has 35 years of experience in the telecom industry, and he’s been an active member of the Chamber since relocating here in 2009.

Phone: 952-448-8384
Fax: 952-448-5290
E-Mail: mark.tupper@centurylink.com

Steve Wein

Board Member

Distributor at Send Out Cards

Steve enjoys helping other business owners achieve their goals. The Chamber is an important part of that, as it helps individual business people while also contributing to a business-friendly community in the Southwest Metro.

Send Out Cards helps people share heartfelt messages quickly and inexpensively. It is also a simple and effective appreciation marketing tool.

Steve and his family have lived in Dahlgren Township since 1993.

Phone: 952-250-4772
E-Mail: wein@sendoutcards.com

Thank you to our sponsors: