Showing posts with label Photo Courtesy of Sandpoint Magazine. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Photo Courtesy of Sandpoint Magazine. Show all posts

Tuesday, January 24, 2012

Chamber Welcomes Ron Wisman- Hard Times Can Present Opportunity


The Greater Sandpoint Chamber of Commerce welcomes Ron Wisman. He asks, “How’s business?” He’s asked many businesspersons and individuals this question recently. Most all shook their heads and said; “you shouldn’t ask such a thing of a person right now.”

“Times are getting tougher,” Wisman explains. “Still, I’m inclined to look for silver linings in the storm clouds.”

Ron Wisman, a local business consultant and counselor, has some unique thoughts on the economy and he’d like to share them with you.

“The economy is used to justify failure. It gives people an out a lot of times. The whole fact is there’s just as much money made on a down market as an up market. Other avenues of opportunity do open up but fear comes in and people are afraid to use the new thinking required. Look at it this way, just about everyone qualifies as a businessperson. Your personal finances are a business, too.”

Wisman has degrees in Business Administration, Finance and Accounting. He has studied at six different universities, been licensed with the Midwest Stock Exchange, National Association of Security Dealers and others. He’s been involved in almost every level and every facet of business from General Motors to owning his own furniture store in Phoenix, plus as a public accountant.

As a Sandpoint Business Consultant, located in the “Old Power House” building. Wisman offers complete counseling on money problems, debt, risks, success, failure, and also new ventures. Wisman was a Sandpoint resident for many years up until 2005 when he decided to travel by RV around the West Coast, down to Phoenix, and then all the way out to Wisconsin visiting family. After spending last winter ice fishing, he felt he should not have left Sandpoint so he migrated back. His greatest sense of accomplishment is working with large and complex problems; he loves a challenge.

“When the economy tanks, like it is now, the fears that creep in can be devastating. It paralyzes sound judgments. We start making emotional decisions. People have the fears of a lost or losing job, house, car, etc. What we need to realize is the positive side. The painful experiences can get you pushed into a new venture. It can be a positive thing.”

“It seems, “we all have a life’s plan. If we don’t move with it, then we get pushed.” Worthiness is a self-image. If you put yourself there, that’s where you are. We set our own limitations by our thinking and perhaps will not have to “pull up short” or those ideas we thought were impossible.”

“Many of my clients experience limited capital for event he basics. Most everyone, when tested, could make a sacrifice. I call this “seed money” for a new life’s adventure in the business world.”

“We’ve painted a picture of the businessman that he or she has all their stuff together. The appearance is that he’s very successful and making money. When he’s put on that pedestal, he’s isolated. He needs counseling more than any other.”

“Why people get into trouble is because they’re tuning into their feelings instead of their intuition. Feelings are tied into the emotional structure that runs hot and cold, day and night. Intuition is tied into the individuals own life plan. Hunches can be valuable when they come from the right source. “

“I’m not sure what value the intellect has in business. Business is a relationship. We all have an outstanding gift for some specialized activity, it’s in there somewhere.”

Please join the Greater Sandpoint Chamber of Commerce in wishing the Ron Wisman great success and welcoming him back into our community. For more information, please give him a call at 208-255-7426.

In Photo: Chamber Ambassador Carol Warren welcomes Sandpoint Business Consultant Ron Wisman

Tuesday, August 9, 2011

Chamber Welcomes Sweet Magnolia Bed & Breakfast


The Greater Sandpoint Chamber of Commerce welcomes Sweet Magnolia Bed and Breakfast to the community. Sitting on the corner of North 4th Avenue and Alder Street, the old grand house, formerly known as the Coit House, is 104 years old. Calvin and Jill Ogle recently purchased the home and opened for business on July 1, 2011. The business had been closed for 2 years.

Calvin got his Innkeeper's roots early, in a small family motel business in the resort town of Gatlinburg, Tennessee. He worked for his aunt during the summers in his younger years and eventually managed the summer seasons.

Jill has always dreamed of living in an old house! The rest is history:

They met while in college at Clemson University and were married in 1984. They spent the first 20 years of their marriage in the Atlanta, GA area raising their 3 children Emily, Eddie, and Madelynn. Then in 2003, after a family vacation in 2002 to the beautiful Northwest, they decided to change things up and make the move to Sandpoint, Idaho. Some called it a midlife crisis...but they did it as a family! After turning 50 and too many years as a traveling sales engineer, Calvin recently turned it all in to become the full time Innkeeper of the Sweet Magnolia. Jill works part-time as a Medical Technologist at Bonner General Hospital (just next door to the Sweet Magnolia) and part-time as the Innkeeper's helper.

In addition to lodging, the Sweet Magnolia offers a beautiful venue for catered holiday parties, wedding or baby showers, tea parties, and receptions.

The Sweet Magnolia boasts "Southern Hospitality in the Heart of Sandpoint" as their motto. The porch is always open to the community for a shady rest along the way, and the Ogles are happy to give tours to passersby.

The Greater Sandpoint Chamber of Commerce wishes Sweet Magnolia Bed and Breakfast success and is pleased they have joined our community. For more information and to inquire about vacancies, you can reach the Ogles by phone at 208-263-2425 or visit their website at www.sweetmagnoliabandb.com.

Rooms are still available for this weekend! Call now and enjoy southern hospitality in the heart of Sandpoint, Idaho this weekend while the Festival is happening.

From left: Chamber Ambassador Carol Warren, Chamber Member Ken Wood, Joanie Hamelmann, Calvin Ogle, Ambassador Clem Hackworthy, Madelynn Ogle, Jill Ogle, Kelsey Kittleson, Violet Plummer, Eddie Ogle, Lisa Van Deusen (Daily Bee), Leanna Paulsen Kittleson (Seven Sisters Catering Co.), Ambassador Colleen Spickelmire, Idaho Representative George Eskridge, Ambassador Peggy Shadel, & Chamber Chairman of the Board Cliff Warren.

Friday, July 22, 2011

Sandpoint, Idaho - Most Beautiful Small Town in the USA


The Greater Sandpoint Chamber of Commerce is happy to announce that Sandpoint, Idaho has been named the Most Beautiful Small Town in the USA by Rand McNally and USA Today. This honor comes to Sandpoint after weeks of travel by a lucky couple, Dan and JoAnne Schaub, who won the chance to go on the Best of the Road Rally. Last week they arrived in Los Angeles for the finale and celebration of the rally and on Thursday, July 21, the winning towns were announced at the Destination Marketing Association International’s Annual Convention being held in New Orleans, Louisiana.

There, the Shaub’s displayed their “traveler’s journal” to a group of judges and discussed each town’s individual beauty. It is tough to say how much the Schaub’s influenced the judges but, based on the tears that were exchanged on their departure of Sandpoint, it is easy to believe they were in Sandpoint’s corner. However, it was up to the judges and the competition was stiff with Baker City, Oregon, Coral Gables, Florida, Franklin, Tennessee, Marcos Island, Florida, and Pacifica, California all being contenders for the title.

Sandpoint was by far the smallest of the towns in the Most Beautiful category. What won the judges over? It could have been the serene landscape, the genuine small town feel, or the population of typical Americans living a dream life they have all chosen with humility. That is certainly what wins over every person who travels through, stops and strikes up a conversation with a local.

Citizens of Sandpoint embrace life with a large passion for the outdoors, a slow pace, and a friendly neighbor feel. It was not solely Sandpoint’s beauty that won the award because the town offers so much more than what is on the surface. Once you visit Sandpoint, you will fall in love with it. The best part about the Schaub’s visit is you can have the exact same experience as the Schaub’s. Sandpoint is a real small town, with genuine people who love living here, enjoying every day to the fullest. Art fills the shops, music floods the air, and bikes swamp the roads. A true destination unlike anywhere else.

A big thanks goes out to Dan and JoAnne Schaub for their participation in the Best of the Road Rally showing the world how great of a place we are, and to Rand McNally and USA Today Travel for sponsoring the rally. Most of all, an even larger thanks to all our local citizens and business owners who made this happen. Without you, the fabric of our community would not be the same.

For more information on Sandpoint, Idaho please contact the Visitor Center at 1-800-800-2106 or go to www.visitsandpoint.org. Please help us celebrate this summer by visiting and experiencing what we have to offer.