2006 Business of the Year

The Midway Chamber of Commerce Business of the Year Award was created to recognize an organization that has demonstrated business success; innovation; commitment to the Midway business community and demonstrated leadership in the Midway business community. Last year's winner was long-time member Rock-Tenn.

As we continue to celebrate our success as an organization, the board of directors decided to honor a business that has been a true partner for the chamber while being an innovative contributor to Minnesota charitable organizations that benefit the Midway area and beyond. A high percentage of our chamber members are very generous with their time and resources, but the board felt TDS Metrocom should be recognized, in particular, for their efforts to unite 75 families with their loved ones stationed in Iraq through Operation America Cares.

Founded in 1969, TDS Metrocom is a national leader in the telecommunications industry. The TDS family of companies provide a full-range of voice and data services for both office and home. TDS has over 5.6 million satisfied customers across 36 states and employs over 10,000 people nationwide.

Here in MN TDS Metrocom provides the T-1 connection for Operation America Cares. This donated service has connected 75 U.S. military personnel in Iraq with their families in Minnesota. TDS also worked with St Paul public schools to connect over 100 - 11th and 12th graders to ask questions directly to the troops, giving them a unique, first-hand account of what it is like in Iraq. It also provided the soldiers a much-needed connection to home.

To help with morale, TDS Metrocom also connected soldiers with the Minnesota Vikings, Minnesota Twins, Saint Paul Saints and the University of Minnesota.

Other organizations that have benefited from the generosity of TDS Metrocom include:

• The Saint Paul City Ballet - Working to send inner-city school children to the Annual Ballet performances where over 1,500 students have participated.
• The Ronald McDonald House - 'Cooking for Kids' Three times per year TDS Metrocom employees help prepare meals for Ronald McDonald House families
• TDS has sponsored or participated in many events to benefit causes including:
• The Kelsey Classic Golf Tournament and Benefit
• The Minnesota Stroke Association
• Breast Cancer Awareness Walk / Women's Ovarian Cancer Walk / Muscular Dystrophy Association
  and St. Judes

Finally, TDS supports the Twin Cities' business community through their participation in 12 Chambers of Commerce! Their support has been instrumental in the financial success of many of our events.

Congratulations to TDS Metrocom the 2006 Midway Chamber of Commerce Business of the Year!

2006 Business Person of the Year

It is through the direction of our business owners and leaders, not the business entity itself, that partnerships are formed that benefit the greater community. One such Midway leader is John Mohr, President and CEO of Lifetrack Resources, where he has served in that capacity since 1985.

Lifetrack Resources is a nonprofit, community-based organization that last year helped over 12,000 people across the metropolitan area build better lives through employment, rehabilitation therapy and early childhood and family services. Lifetrack Resources is the recipient of the Minnesota Nonprofit Excellence Award, awarded by the Minnesota Council of Nonprofits. Prior to joining Lifetrack Resources, John was Vice President for Institutional Advancement and Enrollment Management at Metropolitan State University.

Many chamber members have had the opportunity to get to know John through his 6 years of service on the Midway Chamber Board of Directors, including chairing the board in 2001 and serving three years as chair of the Chamber's Workforce Development Committee.

We deeply appreciate John's contributions to the chamber, but the board of directors chose to honor him for his tireless commitment to serve the greater community through his work at Lifetrack Resources. John has been a tremendous leader for an effective organization that provides services to those in need, much right from the Midway area. Many chamber businesses have successfully partnered with Lifetrack Resources over the years and will continue to do so, but most definitely those relationships were developed and nurtured through John efforts to connect with business leaders.

John has also served on an number of other boards including:

• Workforce Investment Board in Ramsey County
• Advisory Board of the University of St. Thomas Center for Nonprofit Management
• Ramsey County Community Employment Partnership
• Minnesota Landmarks
• St. Paul United Way Council of Agency Executives
• And has been active with many other nonprofit organizations

On behalf of the members of the Midway Chamber of Commerce thank you to John Mohr for his dedication and efforts that will benefit citizens of St. Paul for decades to come, congratulations John Mohr as our 2006 Business Person of the Year!