Staying Connected: June's Developing News is Here!

This month, we’re covering:

• Nominate/Apply for GSDC's Innovation and Employer of Choice Awards

• Congratulations Donella Westphal - 2024 Women-Owned Small Business of the Year Winner!

• Elevate Your Workplace Webinar Series Wrap Up
• Coming Soon - DistruptHR St. Cloud
• Welcome to Our Newest Investor - St. Cloud County Club

We are accepting nominations and applications for our 2025 Innovation Awards and Employer of Choice Award.  These awards recognize outstanding innovation and exemplary workplace culture among for-profit and non-profit organizations across Benton, Sherburne, and Stearns counties.

Over the past 13 years, 66 organizations have been honored with GSDC Innovation Awards for their impactful and creative contributions—locally and globally. The Innovation Awards celebrate the successful implementation of new products, services, practices, technologies, or business models that offer fresh solutions to challenges and deliver measurable value to stakeholders.

Launched in 2023, the Employer of Choice Award honors organizations that are highly sought-after places to work and that actively foster employee well-being and engagement. This award recognizes employers that excel in attracting and retaining top talent by cultivating a thriving work culture.

Application deadline is July 25.

Nominate/apply for awards

Left to right: NeTia Bauman (GSDC), Donella Westphal (Jules Bistro), and Brian McDonald (SBA)

Congratulations Jules' Bistro, and owner Donella Westphal, on being named the "2024 Minnesota Woman-Owned Small Business of the Year" by the U.S. Small Business Administration!

Donella is a visionary entrepreneur, passionate community advocate, and a true champion of creativity and connection. We’ve had the pleasure of partnering with her and her team many times through their spectacular catering services, and we couldn't be more thrilled to see Jules' recognized.

In May, we concluded the 5-part Elevate Your Workplace Webinar Series: 

Mastering What Truly Drives Best-in-Class Workforce —a transformative lunchtime learning experience designed to equip organizations with essential tools, tips, and best practices to optimize performance and address evolving workforce needs.

Thank you to the 153 registrants who attended one or more of the five webinars. Each session was packed with practical, ready-to-implement insights applicable across a wide range of workplace settings.

This valuable series was created and led by members of our GSDC HR Affinity Group, representing a powerhouse lineup of regional employers and consultants:

• Microbiologics

• PCI – Preferred Credit Inc.

• Park Industries

• Stearns Bank

• Coborn’s

• Strategic People Consulting

• Career Solutions

Their collective expertise and passion for strengthening our local workforce is a vital part of what makes our region a great place to live, work, and engage.

All webinar recordings and supporting materials are available on our website.

Are you ready to shake up the way we think about work, leadership, and people?

DisruptHR St. Cloud will be an information exchange designed to energize, inform and empower people in the HR field.  It will be held on September 23 from 4-7 PM at Harvester Square.  Each speaker gets 5 minutes and 20 slides (which auto-advance every 15 seconds) to share a fresh, disruptive idea related to HR, talent, workplace culture, or leadership.

We’re looking for bold, passionate speakers to take the stage with:

• Game-changing ideas
• Unfiltered insights
• Real stories with big impact
• Topics that challenge the status quo

Learn more/apply to speak by July 1

We're excited to welcome the St Cloud Country Club as our newest advocate-level investor!  The St. Cloud Country Club was founded in 1920 along the Mississippi River, and is a private club offering an 18-hole championship golf course—the only private course in the area.  Members enjoy top-tier amenities including dining at The View restaurant, a swimming pool, six pickleball courts, and newly renovated event spaces. The club hosts weddings, corporate events, and social gatherings for up to 200 guests.  Recent $3.6M renovations added a golf simulator, updated locker rooms, and expanded facilities.

• Downtown St. Cloud Main Street Economic Revitalization Grant Program I  Application Deadline - June 17 I Details and application link