Eden Valley Chamber Business Showcase: Anne Fischhaber – September 2022

It is true, you do not have to be a business owner or manager to be a member of the Eden Valley Area Chamber. We have eight independent members, four of whom are executive board members. In May 2022, the board decided to “Showcase” an independent member for the first time. During the board meeting held June 14, we drew a name from an envelope for our first Independent Showcase – that person being Anne Fischhaber. Anne was recently appointed to Vice President to the Chamber, when Ernie Junker retired and moved out of the area.

This is a different process for me than writing the “Business Showcase” stories. I gave questions to Anne and had her run with it, giving her free rein to tell her story. She is a pro when it comes to writing, as she teaches Rhetorical and Analytical Writing at St. Cloud State. We are pleased to share Anne’s story with you. Enjoy the read.

Can you please tell us briefly about yourself?

Growing up, I had the opportunity to travel to several countries and to explore different cultures. I lived for some time in Germany and Belgium, where I was involved in conferences known as North-South Cultures for a couple of years. The conferences brought together people from different countries and cultural backgrounds and discussed collaboration on projects that would benefit rural populations in different countries. This was my first lesson in seeking to understand other humans who have different experiences and backgrounds than me, and creating opportunities that benefit everyone in a community.

I therefore learned early in life to adapt to different situations, including learning different languages to better understand the communities where I lived and studied. This also helped shape my approach to life – that humans value similar things in life, even if they express these differently. I enjoy working with people from all walks of life because such opportunities allow me to learn and to grow in wisdom and understanding. Moving to the United States from Europe and becoming a naturalized citizen was a big step and a big change, but it has been a rewarding, adventurous journey that eventually brought me to Eden Valley.

I teach part-time as an Adjunct at St. Cloud State University, and I am also part-time minister at the Eden Valley Church of God. Both responsibilities are about service, care, nurturing, mentoring, coaching, support, and encouragement. I like to see progress, and believe that every person has potential for greatness. My roles demand that I nurture and encourage others to achieve their potential for their own good as well as for the benefit of the communities where they work and/or live.

What brought you to Eden Valley?

Adventure! I moved to Eden Valley in June 2013 with my late husband Tom who had accepted a minister’s position at the Eden Valley Church of God. Although I always joked with Tom that I only moved to Eden Valley with him because I did not have enough time to find a new husband, the wanderer in me was curious, and I felt a certain sense of adventure at the move. I moved here to support Tom’s desire to provide “spiritual survival instruction,” as he often referred to his pastoral ministry with the church, after he retired from the Air Force where he had worked as a “physical survival instructor.”

At the time we moved to Eden Valley, I had just completed a Master of Business Administration degree and was ready to look for a new job in Minnesota. I was ready for new opportunities. I must confess I was taken aback when I first saw the city – when Tom gave me the “grand tour.” My surprise was rooted in my experience living in big, loud cities. I lived in Atlanta before moving to Upstate New York, so Eden Valley was a bit of a culture shock at first. After a couple of years in Eden Valley, I decided to pursue a doctoral degree in Education so I could continue to teach, coach, and mentor students to become responsible, productive, and effective citizens in the communities where they live and work.

What made you decide to stay in Eden Valley after your husband passed away?

When Tom passed away in April 2015, I was faced with a decision whether to stay in Eden Valley or go back to New York. At first, I stayed to take time to figure out what my next move would be, and to be close to the people that Tom and I had come to know and love in our community. After a time, I came to realize that I really liked this small town and wanted to continue living here and being part of the community. Besides, there was a sense of home in this small city, and I had just started to build relationships in the community. I was not certain that I could start over, and the city of Eden Valley had “adopted” Marley (my Mastiff/Great Dane mix) and me. We had a sense of belonging. My neighbors and the residents I came to know treated us with respect and made us feel at home here.

The American Legion Post in Eden Valley was supportive and gave Tom the respect he deserved in death that he had earned in life, and I could not have asked for more from his comrades. Where else can anyone get that kind of support, especially a newly widowed, new resident in a small rural community? It just felt right to stay then, and I am so glad I not only stayed in Eden Valley, but that I have been involved in the community, and will continue to be engaged in this city that I call home.

What brought you to your first Chamber meeting?

When I decided to make Eden Valley my home, I wanted to be involved in the community. As a part-time minister at the Church of God, I was part of the team that decided to have the old building that housed the food shelf demolished and a new, better one built to take care of those who need support in a clean, safe environment. I was already thinking of other ways to support initiatives in the community. I met Nancy McNab when her employer, Casey’s General Stores, donated shelving to the newly built Eden Valley Community Food Shelf, and we chatted about the city, and I thanked her for her support of the food shelf. Nancy mentioned at the time that she was considering joining a proposed Eden Valley/Watkins project whose goal was to raise funds for community projects through a combined Endowment Fund. I attended two meetings, but the project did not work out, and it was clear we needed to go a different direction.

The Eden Valley residents who had attended the Eden Valley/Watkins meetings were members of the Eden Valley Chamber. I decided to join the Chamber then to be a part of this team that would pursue business development initiatives for our city, and for the Eden Valley area. I am also a member of EVC4P (Eden Valley Citizens 4 Progress) whose mission it is to partner with community members to promote advanced education, public facilities, and community programming. In addition, I have recently joined the Eden Valley Area Historical Society and am working with a team to create a museum in Eden Valley.

What is your view on the business climate in Eden Valley?

Eden Valley has an exciting potential for businesses to grow and thrive. I use the term exciting because we have room to do so much more. There are needs in the city that are not currently being met, and there is interest from residents in more options being made available to them than is currently the case. Over the years, I have spoken with residents in the community about their views, wishes and concerns, and there is some consensus that Eden Valley would benefit by continuing to attract more businesses to the area to provide goods, services, and additional jobs, which would support the economy of the area. People who love Eden Valley want to see everyone – young and grown – stay in the area and contribute to the development of the community. Unfortunately, this cannot happen if not enough opportunities exist to engage every age group in the area.

I would say that Eden Valley is a safe place to live and do business. There is a deep sense of community, and residents are known to come together to support local businesses and projects. Eden Valley area residents exemplified this spirit especially during the pandemic, and they continue to support local businesses to-date. There is potential to attract workers from around the area. For example, high school graduates and younger families would stay in the area if they know that there will be good jobs available for them right here. Eden Valley can also attract people who prefer small, vibrant towns that have options for everyone to engage meaningfully in the community.

Part of the Eden Valley business environment is linked to both our civic and our social responsibilities. I think, for example, that we could have more seniors/retirees deciding to stay in the area if we had more housing (medium and high-end), work/engagement, and entertainment options available. Some of the seniors, especially our farmers who are downsizing, have had to move to other cities because they have few or no options in the Eden Valley area. We cannot afford to lose this demographic to other cities if we want to thrive as a wholesome community. I would challenge anyone in real estate business to consider investing in this fantastic opportunity because it is a worthy cause, and the return on their investment will be more than worth it.

If convincing someone to move to Eden Valley, what would you tell them?

The truth – that Eden Valley is a great community to live in and that, while higher-paying jobs are a bit limited locally, it is located within reasonable distance to other cities for those who may want the big-city connection, but it is removed enough from the big cities to provide the intimate, small-town feel. I would be cautious that I do not oversell the city because I would rather it grows economically without becoming too big and losing its quaintness and special characteristics. But I am aware that we have room for more since we can always expand to meet the demand. If the persons intending to move have families with children in grades K-12, there is the added benefit of a great school district with dedicated and amazing educators. The city is not lacking in places of worship and options for spiritual nourishment, as we have a variety of options.

One thing I find valuable is the ability for Eden Valley community to find common grounds when it matters most, regardless of residents’ backgrounds, or spiritual leanings. There is mutual respect and understanding of what it means to be a community of people with various views and differences, and that we come together when we need to do so for the good of the community. I would be remiss if I did not acknowledge the precious history and heritage of the Eden Valley area – including the early Native American populations in this area. As a small town, we too can preserve this heritage so that our children and generations following will have an appreciation of the full and complete history of Eden Valley, even as we expand and grow socially and economically.

Over the years, I have been a recipient of kindness, respect, and support from various members of the community. I believe I have played my part, but I know I could do more to support our quaint city, hence my involvement in the community.