Ridgewater Announces Tyler Hebrink as New Athletic Coordinator
WILLMAR and HUTCHINSON, MN – Ridgewater College is pleased to announce the appointment of Tyler Hebrink as Athletic Coordinator for Warrior Athletics. Hebrink succeeds longtime Athletic Coordinator and former coach Todd Thorstad, who will continue to serve Ridgewater College as a faculty member in the Physical Education and Geography departments. Hebrink brings seven years of experience at Ridgewater College, serving as the head baseball coach for the past five seasons. He also supports operations within
Chief Trevor Berger Memorial Scholarship Established at the Ridgewater College Foundation
WILLMAR and HUTCHINSON, MN – The Legion of St. Michael Law Enforcement Motorcycle Club (LEMC) – Lakes Area Chapter has established a $10,000 endowed scholarship at the Ridgewater College Foundation to honor the late Atwater Police Chief Trevor Berger. Funded by the Schmidt-Berger Memorial Ride, the scholarship supports future law enforcement students in memory of Berger, who passed away in 2022. Members of Trevor Berger’s family presented the check to Ridgewater College President, Dr. Cheryl Norman and
A Small Business Guide to Visual Content with Adobe Firefly
What Is Adobe Firefly? What is Adobe Firefly?Adobe Firefly is a generative artificial intelligence application focused on creating images, text effects, and video elements from plain text descriptions. It works by interpreting typed prompts and translating them into visual assets using machine learning models trained on licensed content. The final outputs are delivered in standard file formats like JPEG, PNG, or MP4, and all features out of beta are fully cleared for commercial use. Small business owners
Tax Season Without the Scramble: A Filing Guide for Willmar Small Business Owners
One in three small business owners makes an error on their taxes — either overpaying or underpaying what they owe. 34% of small business owners have made errors when filing business taxes, highlighting how costly poor preparation can be. For businesses across Meeker County, the fix isn't a last-minute rush in April — it's building habits that make filing straightforward year-round.Know Your Tax Obligations Before the Year Ends Taxes aren't a once-a-year task. According to the U.S. Small Business
Smoother Starts: Streamlining Client Onboarding for Service Businesses
Onboarding new clients efficiently is a decisive factor in building strong, long-lasting relationships while reducing administrative friction. Service-based businesses often struggle with cumbersome intake processes that delay project initiation, create confusion, or even cause early client churn. A deliberate, structured approach to onboarding can enhance client satisfaction and empower your team to deliver consistently from day one.Key Takeaways Centralize client information in a single, secure system
Your Brand Might Be Costing You Customers — Here's How to Fix It
A brand refresh — updating core elements of your business identity without changing what you fundamentally do — is one of the most effective tools for re-engaging customers and staying competitive. Research finds that 60% of consumers skip businesses with an outdated or unattractive logo, even when the reviews are strong. For businesses in the Litchfield area, where Meeker County's tight-knit market means reputation travels fast, that first impression carries real weight. Most businesses benefit from a
Creating Onboarding Packets That Help New Hires Thrive From Day One
Employers across the Litchfield Chamber of Commerce want new hires to feel informed, confident, and genuinely welcomed. A well-designed onboarding packet does more than hand over documents—it sets expectations, reinforces culture, and reduces early-stage uncertainty. Learn below about: Essential components of an onboarding packet Delivery tips for remote and in-office teams How pacing and design influence clarity, culture alignment, and ramp-up speedWhy Strong Onboarding Materials Matter When someone
Local Signals, Strategic Moves: Building Business Strategy from the Ground Up
Understanding your local market isn’t just about knowing who your customers are—it’s about translating real-world signals into moves that actually grow your business. When done right, localized insights can shape pricing, products, and even partnerships that give you a durable advantage.Key Takeaways Local insights become strategic leverage when they inform pricing, positioning, and partnerships. Real customer patterns—foot traffic, search trends, or survey data—reveal unmet demand faster than national
Protecting Your Small Business from Fraud and Data Breaches: A Practical Guide
Running a small business today means more than just managing cash flow and customer relationships — it also means protecting your company from an invisible but very real threat: cybercrime. Fraud and data breaches can devastate a business, causing financial losses, reputational damage, and regulatory penalties. The good news is that with a few smart, consistent practices, you can prevent most attacks and recover faster if one occurs.Quick Takeaways Fraud and data breaches can happen to businesses of any
The Back-Office Mistakes That Can Sink a Small Business (and How to Prevent Them)
Running a small business often feels like sprinting a marathon — you’re juggling sales, operations, customer service, and growth all at once. But it’s not the obvious hurdles that tend to trip owners up. It’s the invisible, back-office missteps quietly eroding cash flow, compliance, and confidence. With all of this in mind, here’s what you need to look for before these silent errors threaten your company’s survival.What You’ll Learn Here The hidden operational mistakes that compound over time How
