Connect Business Magazine

Since 1994: The Magazine for Growing Businesses in Southern Minnesota

Author Archive

United Commercial Upholstery

Mar 2010 • Category: Feature Story

It looked like Chris Vorwerk was reeling from a Caribbean voodoo curse in 2000-01. She had started United Commercial Upholstery in her New Ulm garage at 409 North Broadway on a shoestring budget. During her first year in business, an ex-convict crow-barred his brawn inside to sneakily steal her expensive sewing machines and colorful upholstery fabric.



Floyd D. Palmer

Mar 2010 • Category: Cover Story

He was on the precipice. It was December 2004. The antagonistic managers of his ten bus companies had just attempted a bloodless coup d’etat. Their set of demands included having Floyd Palmer relinquish control over the day-to-day management of the school bus company he had owned and managed since 1974.



Off-The-Cuff

Mar 2010 • Category: Off-The-Cuff

March marks the beginning of March Madness. As always, the Editor has completely unrealistic aspirations for his Dayton Flyers. My best goes out to your favorite team—unless that team plays UD, of course. Buckle your seatbelts and away we go…



Critical Fuel Technology, Mankato Clinic Infusion Center, North Central International

Mar 2010 • Category: Hot Startz!

Madison Lake: Critical Fuel Technoly – When leaving in 2008 as vice president of manufacturing, Terry Treanor had 14 years in at Winland Electronics in Mankato.

Mankato: Mankato Clinic Infusion Center – On April 20, 2009, Mankato Clinic’s Oncology, Hematology, and Infusion Center opened in the lower level of Mankato Clinic at 1230 Main Street in Mankato.

New Ulm: North Central International – At one time, Tom and Dave Fox were the sole owners of Fox Brothers of Sanborn, retailing and servicing medium and heavy trucks in Sanborn, Minnesota.



Pamela J. Year

Jan 2010 • Category: Cover Story

Business Person of the Year 2010

Pamela J. Year verbally chisels out one point crystal clear: Mankato-based MRCI WorkSource is a $46 million private nonprofit business. It has never been nor will ever be a government agency. MRCI WorkSource’s 335 paid staff members create innovative employment programs for more than four thousand people with disabilities.



Railway Bar & Grill, The Splendid Nest, European Antiques

Jan 2010 • Category: Hot Startz!

Sleepy Eye: Railway Bar & Grill – Dan and Sue Helget had their open house for Railway Bar & Grill at 300 First Avenue North about a year ago.

New Ulm: The Splendid Nest – Kathleen Connell recently opened The Splendid Nest at 210 North Minnesota in the former Grand Hotel.

New Ulm: European Antiques – Aini Isaksson was born in Hosko, Finland, and early on with her parents moved to Sweden. In time, she owned a cleaning business there.