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  • Local business leaders packed the Verizon Wireless Center banquet hall for the annual business awards and hall of fame presentations Tuesday. Pat Christman

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  • Todd Snell of Snell Motors was inducted into the Greater Mankato Growth Business Hall of Fame Tuesday night. Pat Christman

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  • Bryan Paulsen (center) of Paulsen Architects was inducted into the Business Hall of Fame during a banquet at the Verizon Wireless Center Tuesday evening. Pat Christman

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November 15, 2011

Paulsen, Snell inducted into business hall of fame

By Tim Krohn Free Press Staff Writer

MANKATO — A second generation auto dealership and a 16-year-old architectural firm have been inducted into the business hall of fame.

Snell Motors and Paulsen Architects were among several honorees at the Greater Mankato Business Awards & Hall of Fame on Tuesday evening at Verizon Wireless Center.

“I feel a little bit like a rock star up here,” said Bryan Paulsen as he accepted the hall of fame award.

Paulsen grew up in Mankato, where he met and eventually married his high-school sweetheart, Tami Norberg.

“I met her in 1973, as a 16-year-old at Mankato East  ... she is the one who encouraged me to pursue my dream of architecture.”

They married in 1982 and Paulsen began his career, setting out on his own in 1995 and joined in business by Tami three years later. Today the firm has a staff of 18.

Todd Snell’s early childhood was spent living is several cities as his dad moved to work different jobs for General Motors.

His parents decided to settle down in Mankato and became partners in a GM dealership on South Front Street in 1951.

Snell gained his experience in the family’s downtown dealership, but moved the business to rented space in the former Menard’s building on the hilltop after River Hills Mall was built. (Paulsen did the design work on the building when Snell later purchased it.)

“I never imagined when we left downtown with 28 employees we’d now have 125 in Mankato,” Snell said.

Snell, who is involved in many community efforts including hosting the annual March of Dimes Chefs Auction, said he makes sure his employees have the time to do community work.

“I tell my employees they need to get involved.”

Following are the 2011 honorees:



Greater Mankato Growth awards:

  • Business Hall of Fame: Paulsen Architects and Snell Motors;
  • Distinguished Business Award: Mankato MoonDogs;
  • Entrepreneurial Business Award: WOW! Zone;
  • Brian Fazio Business Education Partnership Award: South Central College and Bolton & Menk, Inc.;
  • Hap Halligan Leadership Award: David Wittenberg;
  • Young Professional of the Year Award: Michael Jacobs.

 

Greater Mankato Convention & Visitors Bureau honorees:

  • Hospitality Award: CityArt Walking Sculpture Tour;
  • Bring it Home Award: Tom Engstrom, Mankato River Ramble bike tour organizer.



City Center Partnership CityDesign awards of excellence:

  • Renovation over $3 million: US Bank Center, former HECO Building. (Owner: Neubau Holdings II; Architect: I&S Group);
  • Renovation under $1 million: I&S Group Offices (Owner: Neubau Holdings II; Architect: I&S Group);
  • New construction under $2 million: The Marigold (Owner: Vanyo Moody; Architect: Paulsen Architects);
  • Façade improvements: 327 Riverfront Drive (Owner: RW Carlstrom; Architect: Paulsen Architects);
  • Downtown detail: Neighbor’s Italian Bistro (Owners: Patrick and Christopher Person; Architect: Paulsen Architects).

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