Faribault Area Chamber of Commerce & Tourism

This is the 27^th Annual Business Awards recognition.  The Faribault Area Chamber of Commerce is proud of its tradition on honoring outstanding businesses. Businesses are nominated by any Chamber member and selected based on the impact they have on the local economy, the community and their employees.

Honorees for 2012 are:

Richie Eye Clinic– Business of the Year

Dr. Michael Richie 

In 2001 Dr. Mike Richie had a vision for his own clinic – He and his only employee Karen DeLuca opened The Eye Clinic of Faribault in leased space in Johnston Hall.  The business was associated with Allina Eye Center. In 2003 Dr. Murray Hanson and Dr. Bruce Gustafson joined Mike and the Eye Clinic had grown from 2 to 16 employees in only two years. In 2006 the clinic moved into the impressive Crossroads Professional Building and changed the name to Richie Eye Clinic.  The move increased exam rooms from 5 to 16.  The Crossroads building made further growth possible, adding the Crossroads Surgery Center, Crossroads Skin Care and in 2009 Jayne Bongers joined the group with the Hearing Center.   Dr. Misty Purfeerst joined the team in 2010 followed by Dr. David Malmanger in 2011.

Richie Eye Clinic staff are active in many community organizations. Dr. Richie is involved with the Lions club.  Dr. Hanson is current president of the Faribault Rotary club. Dr. Gustafson is involved with the Noon Exchange club.   Dr. Purfeerst is involved with Y-PRO and Health Finders Board.  Dr. Malmanger is involved with Sertoma.  Gail Kaderlik the Clinic Administrator is the past president and board member of United Way of Faribault.   Misty Purfeerst, Angie Steinberg and Gail Kaderlik are all alumni of Faribault’s Future Leadership program.  Gail is also a recent alum of the Blandin Community Leadership program.  Richie Eye Clinic reaches out to the community by doing Meals on Wheels, and generously supports many events with cash donations or silent auction items.

Wieber Physical Therapy – Small Business of the Year

Dave and Michelle Wieber

In 1996, Dr. Mary Navarro called Dave, who was working for the Center for Sports Medicine in Northfield and urged him to open his own practice in Faribault. Mary saw many of the same patients as Dave, and was impressed with his work. After doing their research, they opened a small clinic with one exam room in 1997.  Dave and Michelle have a mission to offer leading edge patient rehab services.  Their philosophy is to get people back to their active lives by bringing their bodies back into balance using a hands on approach to healing.  They concentrate on four main area from the broad spectrum on physical therapy based on their own interests and the interests of their staff.  Orthopedic, (neck back jaw and joints) Women’s health, (pelvic pain, osteoporosis, incontinence) Neurologic, (balance issues, Parkinson’s disease,) and Work related injuries.  They provide work place assessments and injury prevention strategies for Jennie O Turkey store on a regular basis and have recently taken on a new program called WORK STEPS, which offers employers an assessment of an employee’s fitness to perform physical duties.

Their mission also includes a commitment to community wellness.  Because of that interest they support March of Dimes, provide classes for seniors on Aging in Place, work with Early Childhood Family Education Mom and Me classes to help new mom’s understand their baby’s development.  They work with elementary schools on proper posture and backpack fitting, with local hockey, basketball and hockey teams on injury prevention exercise programs.  Dave and Michelle are committed to their employees, providing continuing education, and a family friendly work environment.  They attribute their success to their team, which even includes their three children who are the office cleaning crew.  They believe that “everything matters” in creating not only positive outcomes in patient care – but a completely positive patient experience.

Flair Furniture and Gift Gallery – New Business Spotlight

Dave and Renee Thiele

A true family business, Flair Furniture and Gift Gallery jumped right into action when opening their business in 2011. Dave and Renee along with their son Chuck and daughter Alison became active in the downtown Main Street program as soon as they opened in Central Ave. They all helped with the Market study and promotions committee. They launched the Faribault Cruise night downtown, got active in the Paradise Center for the Arts, including the Blue Collar BBQ Committee. They have been involved in Business Before Hours, the Y-Pro Committee and the I GET IT in Faribault Shop Local activities. Flair Furniture and Gift Gallery has been a generous contributor to Boy Scouts, Ruth’s House, Big Brothers and Big Sisters, Red Cross, Bethlehem Academy and Faribault High School sports teams and more.

Chamber Volunteer of the year:

2012 Co-recipients

Bruce Burkhartzmeyer  – Burkhartzmeyer Shoes

Peggy Keilen – Faribo Air Conditioning & Heating, Inc. 

Bruce and Peggy were selected as the Chamber Volunteer of the year based on their significant involvement in the Main Street Program.  In just over a year, thanks to the leadership of Bruce and Peggy the Main Street Program has become an officially designated Main Street Community, completed a rigorous Main Street study, hired the first Main Street coordinator and organized the official Main Street structure in Faribault.

Business Gives Honorees: