Inver Grove Heights/South St. Paul – The River Heights Chamber of Commerce will be celebrating its 115^th Annual Meeting on Thursday, February 15, 2018, starting at 11:30 a.m. at Mendakota Country Club in Mendota Heights. The luncheon will honor our leaders of 2017, welcome our new Chairman for 2018, and recognize the Chamber’s 2018 Business of the Year, 2017 Forrest Glewwe Visions of Excellence, 2017 Rising Star and 2017 Ambassador of the Year.

Brenda Dietrich, 2018 Chair of the Board, will be honoring the Chamber’s outgoing 2017 Chairman, Jon Erickson, and taking us into our year of celebrating a “115-year solid foundation.” When asked about what she’s excited about being the Chair of the Chamber this year, Brenda shared, “Having the opportunity to get to know more businesses in the Chamber [in more detail], what makes them tick, what are some challenges they face and how the Chamber can help out, that’s what I’m excited to do.  Also, with it being the 115th Anniversary this year, I think it’s a great time to reflect on the benefits of the Chamber. To have a renewed push towards the value of membership and how the Chamber has evolved over the last century to advocate for commerce. I am excited, energetic and committed to working with our members to achieve the goals set before us.”

The River Heights Chamber of Commerce is proudly announcing that Deerwood Bank of Mendota Heights will receive the River Heights Chamber’s 2018 Business of the Year Award on February 15th. Deerwood Bank was established in 1910 in Deerwood, Minnesota. It served the lumber and resort community for 68 years before adding a second branch in nearby Garrison in 1978. In 2015, Deerwood Bank acquired the former American Bank of St. Paul, effectively doubling the size of the Bank and adding locations in the Twin Cities Metro Area.  “At Deerwood Bank, we have helped businesses grow and prosper for over 100 years by providing superior services to our customers and communities we serve. Our goal is to help our customers reach their goals. Our business philosophies are based on the belief that, to be a successful community bank, we must be committed to our communities and have a unique ability to know and serve our markets.” stated Ross Dahlin, Assistant Vice President of Business Banking at Deerwood Bank.

The Chamber is also honored to announce, Rick Hansen as its 2017 Forrest Glewwe Visions of Excellence Award recipient. Rick truly exceeds in all criteria for this award, which encompass a commitment to the betterment of life, business, community and entrepreneurship for the River Heights region.  He has spent much of his life being a champion of the environment. Graduating from the Upper Iowa University and graduated magna cum laude with a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology in 1985. He continued his education and received a Master of Science degree in Soil Management from Iowa State University. In 2004, Rick resigned his positions with MDA and SWCD when he was elected to the Minnesota Legislature where he serves as the Minnesota State Representative for District 52A representing South St Paul, West St. Paul, Mendota Heights, Mendota and Lilydale. Rick is committed to his community, state and family and committed to doing what is right. During his time at the legislature, he has authored and championed a variety of bills, and in our business community Rick has been actively involved in the Chamber’s South St. Paul Local Issues committee and instrumental in many community projects.

The Rising Star will also be awarded at the Annual Meeting on February 15. This award is given to a volunteer who has accelerated in their first few years as a Chamber volunteer by displaying leadership, enthusiasm and passion for the Chamber’s mission.  The Ambassador of the Year Award, that is given to an individual Chamber Ambassador who earns the most points throughout the year for their volunteerism within the Chamber, will be announced then too, so stay tuned!

Special thanks to our current event sponsors Waterous Company and Town Square Television, as well as major sponsor Deerwood Bank. To attend the Annual Meeting or see more details as they arise for the Feb. 15th event, please visit the event page at www.riverheights.com/annualmeeting.

For more details about the Chamber’s award winners, please watch their videos to come to the River Heights Chamber of Commerce’s YouTube channel at YouTube.com/riverheightschamber.