Duluth – The Duluth Area Chamber of Commerce will host its 138th Annual Meeting and Dinner Celebration on Thursday, October 16 at the Duluth Entertainment Convention Center.

The Annual Dinner is the premier business gathering in the Duluth area, attracting over 1175 business leaders and community professionals. The evening will begin with a pre-dinner reception, Fresh Beer, Fresh Duluth, from 4:00pm to 5:00pm at the Duluth Omnimax Theatre. Registration for the Meeting and Dinner Celebration begins immediately after the reception at 5:00pm at the DECC.

Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty will deliver the keynote address. Governor Pawlenty will articulate his enthusiasm for Duluth and Northeastern Minnesota.

Governor Pawlenty will be available for media interviews at 5:45pm. Interviews will take place in the Lake Superior Ball Room. The Governor’s address is at 6:45pm.

According to David Ross, Duluth Area Chamber of Commerce President & CEO, “The strong attendance at this gathering is indicative of the area’s strong commitment to fostering a healthy business climate where all businesses - small and large alike – can grow and thrive in a competitive market. This year’s Annual Meeting & Celebration has attracted record-breaking attendance.”

Highlights of the night include a musical procession from the Scottish Heritage Bagpipers, Governor Pawlenty’s address, and the naming of the Chamber’s Volunteer and Fuse Duluth Person of the Year.

The Chamber will also welcome new leadership to its board of directors at the Annual Meeting. Patrick M. Spott, attorney for Orman Nord Spott & Hurd, will end his year as board chair, and the 2008–2009 board will serve under the direction of its new Chair, Dave Holappa, president of Holappa Commercial Real Estate.

Members of the 2008-2009 executive committee include:

Executive Committee

Dave Holappa, Chair

David Jensch, Chair-Elect

Patrick M. Spott, Past-Chair

David Ross, President & CEO

Jennifer Ryan, Treasurer

Margaret Hodnik, Vice Chair At-Large

Dave Orman, Vice Chair Professional Development

Keith Johnson, Vice Chair Membership Development

Jo Ann Hoag, Vice Chair Public Policy

Lisa Heyesen, Vice Chair Member Resources & Retention

Jesse Frye, Vice Chair Fuse Duluth

Board members serve a three-year term. New board members were selected through an inclusive nomination process available to the Chamber’s 1200 members. This year, the Chamber received a record number of nominations, from which the following were elected:

Dennis Dassenko, SMDC Health System

Mark Erickson, CN Worldwide – North America

Lisa Heyesen, APEX

Steve McLister, Duluth News Tribune

Laura Sieger, WestmorelandFlint

Andy Weyrauch, ShipRock Management

Amber Wick, Cold Fusion

The following individuals will continue to serve on the board of directors in 2009:

Beth Adams, Lake Superior College

Jack Bowman, UMD School of Fine Arts

Dean Casperson, Service Printers

Jesse Frye, Eagle Accounting Services, Inc.

Margaret Hodnik, Minnesota Power – An ALLETE Company

Jo Ann Hoag, St. Luke’s

Dave Holappa, Holappa Commercial Real Estate

David Jensch, Northland’s NewsCenter

Keith Johnson, CW Technology

Dave Orman, Raven & Associates

Pascha Parks, The JPG Group

Jennifer Ryan, U S Bank

Patrick M. Spott, Orman, Nord, Spott & Hurd

Chelly Townsend, DECC

Greg Wegler, Kraus-Anderson Construction Company

Finally, the Chamber thanks the following individuals, who have completed their board terms:

David Bue, Pheasants Forever/Bue Leadership Consulting

Rick Heimbach, Bagley & Company Jewelers China & Gifts

Jim Landwher, CFI: Computer Forensic Investigations, Inc.

Dale Lewis, Park State Bank

Darlene Marshall, Marshall Hardware

Seth Oliver, Oliver Companies, Inc.

John Smylie, SMDC / St. Mary's Duluth Clinic Health System

Pete Weidman, Ayres Associates

The Duluth Area Chamber of Commerce serves as an advocate for area business. The Chamber brings value to its members by enhancing the business climate through quality leadership, resources and programs that foster a successful environment.

• Lakeview design prevents infections from spreading , 8/10/2010
• Five artists honored at festival , 8/9/2010
• St. Mary's, Miller-Dwan Auxiliaries Award Scholarships , 8/6/2010
• Hayward Nursery to Continue Production This Year , 8/6/2010
• President Obama congratulates UMD math student UMD, 8/3/2010