Small Business Employees: We Want to Learn More About You

Fill out our form and we will run a profile on Patch so residents can learn more about you and the business where you work.

  If you are an employee of a local small business, Patch wants to learn more about you. We want to know more about the people who work in our town. What's the best advice you've ever received? What are your Pet Peeves? What's your dream vacation? Fill out this "Employee Spotlight" form, upload a photo and we will post a profile about you on Patch. Have fun with it. Use the right scroll bar to see all the questions. Please fill out the form and click the "Submit" button before you upload a photo. Click on the white and green "Upload Photos and Videos" button to the right. You should see a thumbnail of your photo after you upload it. Include your name in the photo caption. If you have any questions about the form, email Kevira.Voegele@patch…

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We Want to Feature Your Business on Patch

Don't wait for us to come to you. We'll give a shout out to local small businesses who fill out the form below and upload a picture.

  If you own or manage a local small business, Patch wants to hear from you. Fill out this "Business Spotlight" form and we will feature your company on Patch. Use the right scroll bar to see all the questions. Please fill out the form and click the "Submit" button before you upload a photo. Click on the white and green "Upload Photos and Videos" button above. You should see a thumbnail of your photo after you upload it. Include the business name in the photo caption. If you have any questions about the form, email Kevira.Voegele@patch.com.

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Board Ousts Platinum Bank Co-Founder From CEO Role

David Rom, co-founder of Oakdale's Platinum Bank, has been removed as CEO by the bank's board. Former COO Tom Jacobson has been promoted to fill the CEO role.

David Rom, co-founder of Oakdale's Platinum Bank, has been removed as CEO by the bank's board, according to a Minneapolis-St. Paul Business Journal article. From the article: The Oakdale business bank just came off a record year but needed a change in the corner office, new CEO Tom Jacobson said in an interview Tuesday. Jacobson was chief operating officer and business development officer before his April 1 promotion. Rom wanted to continue the bank's aggressive growth with new market expansion, but the board "wasn't quite on the same page," Jacobson said. READ THE BUSINESS JOURNAL ARTICLE 

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Imation Buys Storage Company for $120 Million

Imation Corp. purchased a company based in California.

Imation Corp. announced Wednesday that it has entered a deal to buy Nexsan for $120 million, according to Yahoo! News. Imation purchased Nexsan, a privately owned company that provides disk-based and solid-state storage systems, for $105 million in cash, plus $15 million worth of stock, according to Yahoo! News. Nexsan is based in Thousand Oaks, Calif. Approximately 200 employees based in the U.S., U.K. and Canada, will be joining Imation's ranks.  Nexsan will continue to operate out of Thousand Oaks under existing management. The move is expected to accelerate Imation's growth, according to the press release posted on Yahoo! News.    Like us on Facebook | Follow us on Twitter | Sign up for our newsletter

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Oakdale Company Honored as One of State's 'Best and Brightest'

Fifteen businesses across the state were honored at the Tekne Awards ceremony.

Imation of Oakdale was one of 15 companies honored as an innovator and technology leader in Minnesota during the 2012 Tekne Awards ceremony on Nov. 1. The Tekne Awards — which was hosted by the Minnesota High Tech Association (MHTA) — honor companies, innovations and individuals with technological breakthroughs that positively impact the lives and futures of people living in Minnesota and all over the world. “The 2012 recipients epitomize technology and innovation leadership,” said Margaret Anderson Kelliher, president of MHTA. “Over the last 13 years, the Tekne Awards have truly highlighted Minnesota as an emerging technology powerhouse and increased awareness for the innovators and technological front-runners throughout the state.” Tekne…

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Brief: Tartan Students' Business Takes Off

The DECA students at Tartan High School sold all of their shares and will begin the next phase in their business.

Tartan High School students who have launched their own business this fall are now moving into the next stage. Students in Tartan's marketing class have started a business venture where they will be selling D Spot wings on a pre-order basis at school. Students have been selling shares of their company's stock to raise money for their start-up costs.  Now, in just over a week, they have sold all of their shares. The students' goal was to sell 550 shares to raise the $1,100 they needed for start-up supplies, including an oven to keep the wings warm after they are delivered to the school.  Students have ordered the oven and will begin selling the chicken wings next week, said Marketing Teacher Craig Spreiter who is overseeing the co-…

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Have You Claimed Your Free Patch Business Listing Yet?

Claim your local business listing on Oakdale Patch.

Ask the Patch Pro: Abby Jimenez of Nadia Cakes

Nadia Cakes owner Abby Jimenez, who has been on TLC's "Fabulous Cakes" and won Food Network’s “Cupcake Wars”, will soon be opening Nadia Cakes in the Twin Cities. She joins us as this week’s Patch Pro for some cupcake and custom cake conversation.

If you've already heard of Nadia Cakes, a cupcake shop and custom cake studio, you're not alone. The founder of the California-based business, CEO/Executive Chef Abby Jimenez, has appeared on TLC's Fabulous Cakes and appeared on and won the Food Network's Cupcake Wars earlier this year. Jimenez, this week’s Patch Pro, moved to Minnesota earlier this year for the upcoming opening of Nadia Cakes in Maple Grove. The grand opening is reportedly scheduled for July 26. As a Patch Pro, she will answering your questions about cupcakes, custom cakes, winning the Cupcake Wars, appearing on television, her new shop in Maple Grove and just about any other bakery-related questions you can throw her way. Just enter your questions in comments below! …

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Natural Wellness Spa Opens in Oakdale

Oakdale resident Tammy Fischer owns and operates the spa.

Peaceful Waters Wellness Spa opened this month at 7300 Hudson Blvd., Suite 220. Here’s a little information about the new business: What they offer: The center offers colon hydrotherapy, raindrop therapy, ion cleanse therapy and steam therapy. (Descriptions available on the spa’s website.) “All the therapies that I do are about cleansing and helping rid the body of toxins so that the body can heal itself more naturally,” said owner Tammy Fischer. Who owns it: Oakdale resident Tammy Fischer, owns and operates the business. How it got started: Fischer had been going to another business that offers the same type of services for several years, when the owner asked her if she’d like to become a therapist. “It wasn’t something I was seeking out…

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Next Generation Taking Over at Oakdale Collision Center

The mild winter allowed Michelle and Don Juen Jr. to ease into ownership of the auto body shop, after taking over in October.

Don Juen Jr. and Michelle Juen took ownership of Oakdale Collision Center in October from Don’s parents, who established the auto body shop about 12 years ago in the former emissions testing building. Now, Don runs the shop and Michelle runs the office. Both are Tartan High School graduates who grew up in Oakdale. We asked them about the business, and what kinds of changes they’re making as new owners. Oakdale Patch: Before your parents opened the shop 12 years ago, had they been in this kind of a business? Don Juen Jr.: Yeah, my dad did about 10 years prior. He owned a couple body shops with a partner. He worked at a dealership prior to that. He’s been in the body business for almost his whole life Oakdale Patch: So did you grow up around…

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