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March 15, 2000
Artstoneexecutivenamed SmallBusiness Personof the YearBy GUY PRIEL Journal Staff Writer NEW ULM -- Nancy Fogelberg, president of American Artstone in New Ulm, was recently selected as the Minnesota Small Business Person of the Year by the Small Business Administration. "I am still in a fog as to exactly what it all means, and it is overwhelming to realize that I represent all Minnesota small businesses," Fogelberg said. "The award is for the company. It was a group effort, and we all worked hard for it." Fogelberg will receive the state award at a luncheon on May 19 in Minneapolis. She will then travel to Washington, D.C. to receive another award during a national ceremony. "I am told I will get to meet the president, but I'll have to see about that," Fogelberg said. "I am told I will be wined and dined, which is fine with me." The award ceremony will be held in conjunction with National Small Business Week. Artstone custom makes poured stone panels or columns, arches or lintels, stairways and balustrades. The products have been used in such structures as the stairway at the Como Park Conservatory and O'Shaughnessy Science Complex at the University of St. Thomas in St. Paul. The company, which has been in operation more than 85 years, relocated to a new facility in New Ulm in January 1998. The move that resulted in increased production capabilities and orders. "I'm still trying to figure out what it all means," Fogelberg said, referring to the award. "Apparently it's a big deal to get this award. I'm thrilled and excited about it all." She received a phone call about three weeks ago informing her that nothing was official, but that she might be the official nominee. Because she got no additional information, she really didn't get her hopes up too high. "Then I received an e-mail informing me that there was still nothing official, but an announcement would be forthcoming," she said. "It was all really confusing to me, so I wasn't really sure how to react at the time." When Fogelberg was brought into Artstone seven years ago, she was told her main task was to market the company in preparation for moving to a new location. "We have good people who had lots of talent, but we had no building," she said. "And later, I found out we also had no land for a building. There was no doubt we needed a building, though." Fogelberg, who admits she learned her management skills while teaching fifth grade for 11 years, wears many hats in the daily operation of the Artstone. Sometimes, she even works in the production plant. "I was asked by a reporter this morning to describe my typical day," she said. "The difficult thing about that is there is no such thing as a typical day around here." She attributes Artstone's success and growth to its employees as well as the assistance of State Bank &Trust, New Ulm Economic Development Corporation and the City of New Ulm, who helped with land and financing for the new $2-million building on North Broadway. There are currently 50 employees at the plant. "In looking at our history over the past seven or eight years, it is obvious that we have come a long way," Fogelberg said. "It has been a battle to get here, and things are looking bright for the future." Because of the newer, modern facilities, Artstone has taken on more customers and diversified into a wider range of products. "This award will help us get recognition and further increase our customer base," Fogelberg said. The criteria for selection include growth in sales or unit volume; increase in the number of employees; financial strength; innovativeness of products or services; and evidence of contributions to community-oriented projects. Fogelberg, who lives in Shakopee to be closer to her customer base, serves on the Rotary Club of New Ulm, has worked with the Ronald McDonald House of Minneapolis, has been a committee member of the International Special Olympics, and has served on the board of Excellence in Education.
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