AUG 28, 2012 ROTARY IN REVIEW:
Paul Lapadat, President, Flagstone Foods

Jim Kosmo, subbing for president Dan Mckeown, who had a family medical emergency, called the meeting to order. Jerry Faletti led Rotarians in the singing of God Bless America with Bob Jones on the piano. Carol Bufton gave the invocation and Nancy McKillips introduced visiting Rotarians and guests. There were an unusual number of guests attending to hear the speaker.

Jim Kosmo reported that Jill Petsel was our greeter. Next week’s program is Jon O’Malley from YouProfit Business Coaching. Jim also noted that on September 11, we will have a club assembly where club committees will report on their activities and accomplishments. Don’t miss it.

Jim also introduced a new member, Bill Collins, owner of Actor’s Theatre of Minnesota. A graduate of St. Thomas University, Bill has built his career as an actor, film artist, advertising spokesperson, small business owner and entrepreneur. He is currently owner of Actor’s Theatre of Minnesota and Camp Bar on Robert Street. He noted that his career has taken him all over the country, but he is looking forward to contributing locally as a Rotary member. Welcome Bill.

Dion Powers introduced Abbie Speller who is our Rotary Exchange student to give a report on her year in Gras, Austria, a city about the size of Saint Paul. Abbie showed pictures of her host families, scenes of Gras and her 21 day trip around Europe. She emotionally thanked Rotarians for the opportunity to be part of the exchange program. She received a rare standing ovation. She is currently a senior at Tartan high School.  Pictured at left:  Dion Powers, Abbie Speller, Abbie's mother, Taichi Mizuno (youth exchange student from Nagasaki) and Linda Mulhern (Taichi's Rotarian host mother).

Jim Miller introduced the speaker, Paul Lapadat, CEO of Flagstone Foods. While he and many of his staff are not new to Saint Paul, the company has recently relocated 45 staff members to downtown in Lawson Commons.  Paul was educated at Mounds View High School and the University of St. Thomas. A veteran of the food business, previous to coming to Flagstone, he was president of ConAgra Foods Snack Foods Division.

The speaker said that the company has 1,300 employees and could have located anywhere, but they were persuaded by the vibrant downtown business community and the leadership of Mayor Coleman and the Saint Paul Chamber. The company occupies a niche in the food business providing retail healthy snack foods under retail brand names and private label for national retailers including Target, Sams Club, Walgreens, SuperValue, Safeway, Publinx and others. It is a privately held, growth-orientated company. Current sales are $580 million with the short-term goal of reaching 1-billion in sales. That will have to be accomplished through acquisition, bringing more jobs to Saint Paul. Other than acquisition, the primary driver for growth is innovation. Since the company supplies to many of the top retailers, many want some of their products to be proprietary and unique.

Paul reiterated how much the company looks forward to being and growing in Saint Paul. He answered many Rotarian questions before concluding. He also offered Rotarians a sample of one of their trail mix products. Jim Kosmo adjourned the meeting at 1:30.

Jay Pfaender, Scribe