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Tanner Montague came to town from Seattle having never owned his own music venue before. He’s a musician himself, so he has a pretty good sense of good music, but he also wandered into a crowded music scene filled with concert venues large and small.But the owner of Green Room thinks he found a void in the market. It’s lacking, he says, in places serving between 200 and 500 people, a sweet spot he thinks could be a draw for both some national acts not quite big enough yet for arena gigs and local acts looking for a launching pad.“I felt that size would do well in the city to offer more options,” he says. “My goal was to A, bring another option for national acts but then, B, have a great spot for local bands to start.”Right or wrong, something seems to be working, he says. He’s got a full calendar of concerts booked out several months. How did he, as a newcomer to the market in an industry filled with competition, get the attention of the local concertgoer?

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by Beth Ewen
October 2008

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2-minute meeting

SALO co-founder cites women forebears when accepting NAWBO award

by Beth Ewen

We are standing on the shoulders of so many women, including Barb King, who carved such a generous path for us. We have a responsibility to carry that forward.
So went the gracious acceptance speech by Amy Langer, co-founder of SALO LLC in Minneapolis, named the NAWBO Woman Business Owner of the Year this spring.

She was referring to Barb King, the founder of Landscape Structures in Delano who died in March, and who received a tribute at the annual awards gala from Dee Thibodeau, co-CEO of 105, 105, 105)” />
SALO started in 2002, and Langer and Co. have now started two affiliates, Oberon and NumberWorks, all professional staffing firms that provide specialized finance/accounting and human resources support.

Langer’s lesson learned: Hiring the right people, creating a culture that allows them to thrive, but if you have the wrong person on your team, do not take too long to get rid of them.

Langer was honored along with Elise Hernandez, Ideal System Solutions Inc., the NAWBO Emerging Woman Business Owner of the Year, and Mary Marso, Jeane Thorne Inc., who received the Lifetime Achievement Award.

Marso’s lesson learned: I have learned that it is important to trust your gut. 99.8 percent of the time it will keep you on the right track.

Bragging rights: Upsize was proud to be named Media Advocate of the Year by the Minnesota chapter of NAWBO, which stands for National Association of Women Business Owners.

Try to make it to: The Minnesota chapter of NAWBO holds many events to help women business owners. NAWBO Connection is Oct. 15, 4:30-7 p.m. at the Metropolitan Ballroom in Golden Valley: 952.929.7921 info@nawbo-mn.orgwww.nawbo-mn.org

Upsize names finalists in six categories for Business Builder confab

After poring over mounds of nominations in late summer, and convening a selection panel in late August, Upsize named the finalists for this year?s Upsize Business Builder Awards. The 2008 finalists are:

Best practices in Finance &amp Operations: AirCorps LLC Big Ink Display Graphics

Northern Oil &amp Gas Risdall Marketing Group Talon Performance Group.

Best practices in Community Impact: Avant Energy Magnetic Products &amp Services

Pinnacle Services Reiling Construction Vision Remodeling.

Best practices in Communications & Marketing: BPK & Chocolat Celeste

College Nannies &amp Tutors Davenport Group Icon Services.

Best practices in Customer Relations: Intertech Latitude Group Paragon Solutions

Spray Control Systems Trissential.

Best practices in People &amp Workplace: Beehive PR CotterWeb Enterprises Oberon Orion Corp. of Minnesota Triad.

Best practices in Technology &amp Innovation: Amcom Software Creative Water Solutions

ID Insight PlasticPrinters UnityWorks Media.

Try really hard to make it to: The Upsize Business Builder Awards &amp Seminar is Oct. 29, 7:30 a.m.-1 p.m., and it’s a must for mingling with and learning from fellow business owners and topic experts: Contact event manager The Sage Group: 612.321.9897 scothran@sagegrp.com or register online at dev.divistack.com

Winthrop &amp Weinstine hosts local scribes to build media relationThree local journalists  from the Star Tribune, Finance &amp Commerce and yours truly from Upsize magazine were the guests of Winthrop & Weinstine this summer, the Minneapolis law firm that hosted a lunch and learn session on how to deal with the media

About 15 attorneys gathered to hear what the reporters are looking for, and heard that it always varies by individual reporter and by publication.That in fact is this reporter?s No. 1 tip: Read, watch and listen to those publications and programs where you want to appear, becait’s the best way to learn what kinds of stories appeal. (You?d be surprised how few people actually do that, including public relations people. Those that do stand out.)

Did you know: Now it can be confirmed. When lawyers talk to reporters, they cannot bill their clients for the time. (In other words, fellow reporters, if a lawyer doesn’t call you back it may not be personal, just business.)

Winthrop & Weinstine attorneys said they often have to say no comment because they or their clients insist on that stance, and wondered whether reporters take offense. The consensus, voiced by David Phelps of the Star Tribune: No, but of course only those who comment get quoted.

Heurged attorneys to not jargon such as off the record or background only when talking with reporters, because each reporter and source may interpret those words in different ways. Rather, he recommended spelling out, always before the conversation, exactly how something can or cannot be used. Be sure to get agreement from the reporter before proceeding.

Attorneys asked what to do if a reporter misquotes them or otherwise gets something wrong. My advice: Call up the reporter and discuss what went wrong. Most reporters are well-meaning and will want to make it right becatheir reputation depends on it.

Try to make it to: Deb Cochran, marketing director at Winthrop & Weinstine, followed up the session with a directory to firm attorneys including their specialty areas: 612.604.6400 dcochran@winthrop.comwww.winthrop.com.

How to hire rock-star 
generation is NAWBO
keynote speaker subject

Singingher own words to that hit song ?Take A Chance On Me? (?Take a chance onXYZ?), Sarah Sladek exhorted the crowd at the NAWBO spring awards galato engage young employees.

?Heyboomers,? she said. ?Are you listening to what your younger employeesare saying? Or are you tuning them out? Did you know two employees willbe leaving the work force while just one is entering? It is imperativethat we recruit and retain younger workers.?

Sladekis president and CEO of Limelight Generations, a marketing companyspecializing in generations X, Y and Z. She gave the keynote address atthe National Association of Women Business Owners Minnesota chapterannual awards gala.

?TheBeatles changed rock-and-roll the way generations X and Y are changingwork. How? Salary is not our primary motivator. We will ask morequestions in an interview than the interviewer asks. We don?t want towork 9 to 5.?

Shesaid some baby boomers, who are often in the hiring chair, disrespectthe younger generations and hence will never hire them effectively.?When I meet with corporate exceuctives they say, When will Gen Xersgrow up? Well, the oldest are in the young 40s, so I think they havegrown up.?

Nice touch: Sladek even donned Elvis sunglasses and sang along to one of his classic tunes.

Try to make it to: The Minnesota chapter of NAWBO hosts its annual Holiday Luncheon and Silent Auction Dec. 16: 952.929.7921 info@nawbo-mn.orgwww.nawbo-mn.org.

The Hotel Minneapolis
marks opening with
?The Time? reunion concert

Marketingveep Valerie Doleman was busy in early September inviting guests andspreading news about Hempel Properties, developer of The HotelMinneapolis at 215 4th Street S. and a number of other propertiesaround town.

Thehotel hosted ?The Heart of the City Celebration? Sept. 12 for its grandopening, and&nbsp presented Jimmy Jam, Terry Lewis and the rest of theoriginal seven members of The Time, the band founded by Prince.

Guestsenjoyed the nostalgic vibe outdoors, and the hotel enjoyed a lot ofpress as scribes reviewed the concert and interviewed the band members.The hotel offered a special&nbsp rate that night, with a portion of ticketsales supporting the Adopt A Room Foundation, www.adoptaroom.org.

Earlierin September Hempel announced it purchased the Rand Tower in downtownMinneapolis, where it will also move its corporate headquarters.President Jon Hempel told Upsize that the move was intended to keep himcloser to his newest high-profile project, The Hotel Minneapolis.

Try to make it to: The Hotel Minneapolis also features restaurant Max: 612.340.2000 thehotelminneapolis.com