Tamara Ackerman is the stylist turned entrepreneur behind Avalon Salon in downtown Elk River. Through her business, she empowers other cosmetologists and gives back to the community.

Ackerman attended the Aveda Institute for Cosmetology and is an industry veteran of 25 years. “I’m very passionate about being the artist behind the chair. I really like that piece of it,” she says.

Ackerman worked in a salon in Golden Valley and helped run a staff education program there for a decade before starting her own business. She recently renovated Avalon Salon. It offers a full slate of services for hair, nails and skin as well as massage therapy.

The salon has 15 stylists, including Ackerman, 14 of those stylists rent booths from her, following a recent trend in the salon industry. “More technicians are wanting to be their own boss and have the flexibility of making their own hours. As booth renters they have that opportunity,” she says.

Ackerman points out this model is mutually beneficial because staff members who rent chairs are often more professional. They’re less likely to call in sick or not show up at work because they’re running their own business too.

Two nail technicians also rent stations and Avalon Salon has an aesthetician and massage therapist on staff as well.

The salon has been well received by the community. It was voted “Best Spa” by readers of the Star News. When asked what separates Avalon from other salons in area, Ackerman points to its commitment to customer service, community involvement and emphasis on education for its technicians.

A passion for helping others drives Ackerman. In addition to encouraging her team and making clients look and feel their best, she likes to give back to the community. The salon has provided haircuts for those who are temporarily homeless and at the local women’s shelter. It has raised money for causes such as breast cancer research and youth services too.

Ackerman says she strives to cultivate a workplace culture where people can grow and learn so they can be successful and happy. “I want to help others grow and succeed in a culture that is positive and uplifting.”

The industry standard is that stylists are required to take a laws and rules class when they renew their licenses. This is an 8-hour training each year, with no additional requirements for continuing education. Ackerman makes it a point to do more.

As an owner and with my team we collaboratively decided on a policy where stylists participate in two educational events each year,” she says. “We want to be able to stay on top of the trends and the technology that’s changing all the time and be able to deliver that within our services to clients.”

Restaurants are an integral part of our communities. They serve as important community gathering places and they also contribute to the economy. Every dollar spent in restaurants generates $2 in sales for other industries, according to the National Restaurant Association.

In October, Marco Serrano celebrated his Elk River restaurant’s one-year anniversary. Chow Mixed Grill and BBQ is a family-owned restaurant offering an elevated version of comfort food, made from scratch with locally sourced ingredients.

Serrano’s wife is from Elk River. He’s a transplant from the Detroit area with Italian and Polish heritage. He grew up working in his family’s restaurants and developed a love for the business.

In 2011, he opened Serrano Brothers Catering. Initially, he was cooking out of his home. He found great success with the business and was soon catering for crowds of up to 600 people.

Even with large crowds, quality is always a priority, according to Serrano. “The sauces are all made from scratch. We feed you like family,” he says.

The company offers a range of services, including corporate catering as well as catering for weddings, funerals and private occasions large and small. It offers specialty buffets such as Italian, Polish, Mexican and American BBQ.

Serrano Brothers has received the Star News Readers’ Choice award several times. The popularity of the catering business helped Serrano envision a restaurant. “A lot of people asked me to build a restaurant, they wanted a chance to have the food regularly,” he says.

Serrano spoke to an investor and decided to go for it. In 2017, the 10,000-square-foot restaurant was completed. The custom 3,000-square-foot kitchen serves a dual purpose — accommodating both the restaurant service and catering business.

Restaurant veteran Michael DeMarco was brought in to help with Chow Mixed Grill. The eatery offers up a high quality mix of cuisine, according to Serrano, from Italian classics like Tagliatelle Bolognese (his family recipe) to grilled steaks, house-cut fries and smoked brisket.

The Chow Mixed Grill menu has seasonal variation and has been adjusted for customer preferences. “Like anything that you want to be successful, you listen to people around you and make changes here and there as you go,” says Serrano. “That’s the beauty of a family-owned restaurant, you don’t have to jump through corporate hoops to change things.”

Serrano notes that he’s grateful for the community encouragement and opportunity to be a business owner. “Elk River has been very supportive of me, especially when I just got into town and I didn’t know anybody,” he says. “They helped me get going, from the chamber to the fire marshal and building inspector. Everyone has been great, it’s been a great experience.”

More than a decade ago, Sportech CEO Chris Carlson and fellow area businessman, Todd Plaisted, bought 12 acres off Highway 169, just north of Elk River. Their kids were racing snowmobiles at the time, but didn’t have adequate practice space.

What started as an oversized playground for their kids evolved into a wonderful community asset. The Elk River Extreme (ERX) Motor Park is now well known by enthusiasts across the country. It features 400 acres of trails and tracks for both amateur and professional motorsports racing.

“The facility brings millions of dollars and thousands of people to the community,” says Carlson’s daughter, Taylor Carlson Schroer. “It has grown from a family hobby to a national event center.”

ERX maintains their mission of “building champions.” Novice snocross riders have the option to learn one-on-one from top competitors such as Kyle Pallin, Kody Kamm and Andrew Carlson with the FXR Learn-To-Ride clinic, which takes place every winter.

In addition to snocross, ERX has off-road truck, UTV, quad and Beater-X race tracks and practice facilities. The family-friendly facility is a boon for the community, attracting about 30,000 fans and racers each year.

“The facility brings millions of dollars and thousands of people to the community,” says Carlson’s daughter, Taylor Carlson Schroer. “It has grown from a family hobby to a national event center.”

Carlson Schroer is Sportech’s marketing manager. She also spends half of her time working for ERX. Although the park was formed as a distinct entity from Sportech, she notes that ERX benefits the company and their customers — the top OEMs in the powersports industry. ERX has been used for photo shoots, sales meetings, national dealer shows and other corporate events.

ERX continues to add concerts and events that align with its focus on the outdoors and motorsports industries. The inaugural ERX Extreme 5K happened in May. The park hosted Bulls and Barrels, its first professional bull riding and barrel racing event, in early June.

Carlson Schroer notes that ERX is “passionate about giving back to the community we live, work and play in.” The annual Day of the Dozers gives kids the thrill of operating construction equipment and raises money for Children’s Hospitals and Clinics of Minnesota. The Get Busy Livin’ Music Festival is a new charitable event for 2018 that aims to raise awareness about mental health and suicide prevention. Both of these take place in September.

“It’s exciting to see how ERX has evolved over the past 10 years,” says Carlson Schroer. “We’re proud to be bringing a variety of new events to the community this summer, including charitable events that we know will make a big impact.”

The park is gearing up for a full slate of summer events. The ERX Off-Road National, a professional off-road truck race, takes place July 13-14. Find details on this and other upcoming events on the ERX Motor Park calendar.

The United States is experiencing a “skills gap”—or shortage of skilled workers for specialized jobs. It’s a growing problem nationwide, particularly in rural areas.

Some companies are choosing to proactively address this issue through employee development. With a focus on growth and sustainability, companies such as the locally owned Sportech are providing incentives such as better wages, training and benefits.

Sportech designs, develops and produces products and accessories for the powersports industry, such as enclosures, windshields and body panels. As the company celebrates its 25th year, it’s poised for a record year of growth.

“We want to be an employer of choice — that’s very important to us,” says Sheila Swancutt, director of human resources. Swancutt notes the company had been struggling to find skilled workers but the wage increase has helped boost recruitment efforts.

The company is already a major employer in Elk River, with over 250 employees. In an effort to attract and retain the best workers, Sportech announced it was increasing its starting wage to $15 an hour for all basic assembly and manufacturing positions last year.

“We want to be an employer of choice — that’s very important to us,” says Sheila Swancutt, director of human resources. Swancutt notes the company had been struggling to find skilled workers but the wage increase has helped boost recruitment efforts.

Many of Sportech’s employees begin as temporary employees. The company has 100 temporary associates through Atlas Staffing on site daily. “It’s important for people who have never worked in manufacturing to try it out,” explains Swancutt. “Often employees start as temp workers. If they like it and fit into the culture, after a few months they’re typically hired on with full benefits, including paid time off.”

A lot of Sportech’s training happens on the job. It’s a place where people who have never held a power tool can learn from the ground up. Ambitious, dedicated workers have opportunities for advancement.

Sportech invests heavily in employee education and training. One prime example of this is the Sportech Leadership Academy. Twelve employees are selected each year through an internal application process to participate in an intensive, year-long leadership development program that includes monthly training sessions, a mentor and a coach.  

Participants run the gamut, from floor employees to managers. They collaborate and learn practical skills such as conflict resolution and time management. Rather than a top down approach to management, the company teaches “servant leadership,” a model that deemphasizes hierarchy and aims to work collectively toward a common vision for the good of the community.

Sportech’s definition of success also includes making a difference in the larger community. It supports local organizations through charitable giving. In addition, each employee is encouraged to take one paid day off a year to volunteer for a nonprofit of their choice.

“We want to make an impact in the community,” says Swancutt. “We’re looking for people that want to join us in that while growing with the company.”