Dean headed to Asia Mall in Eden Prairie for a shift On the Job at the Asia Market Grocery Store. There, alongside an extraordinary team, Dean stocked snacks, fried mochi donuts, butchered meats, chopped produce, and greeted customers - including Second Gentleman Doug Emhoff - at the check-out line! It was as a memorable visit – and as always, an opportunity to learn more about both the challenges and joys of operating a small business in our community. 

During his shift with CertaPro Painters, Dean spent his time prepping, sanding, painting, and more. Their remarkable crews are 1st, 2nd, and 3rd generation Americans, and they run their business model off the core values of respect, pride, quality, and continuous improvement through each job - values we can all get behind!

Hammer Residences is a wonderful organization that supports people with disabilities to help them live their lives to the fullest. Between preparing food and serving it to their residents, during his shift On the Job, Dean learned more about the amazing services Hammer provides for more than 300 individuals in our community and left inspired by the work they do every day. 

During his shift On the Job at Mercy Hospital, Dean pitched in with essential workers on their Environmental Services team, cleaning and disinfecting medical equipment, patient rooms, and more. Nurses and other care providers are heroes and play an integral role in our healthcare system, but too many are leaving the profession due to burnout brought on by being overworked and undercompensated, leading to staffing shortages that challenge our healthcare systems and further burden those still in the profession. Safe staffing levels save lives and protect our nurses, and Dean will continue to find ways to advocate for competitive pay and nurses' rights.

Dean picked up a shift at the Clothes Doctor in Brooklyn Park. Between tagging clothes, loading machines, steam pressing, and stain removal, he learned about the hard work that goes into running a dry cleaning business - and left feeling inspired by the Clothes Doctor's history, hardworking team, and commitment to customer satisfaction.  

U.S. Small Business Administrator Isabella Guzman joined Dean for his shift On the Job at Tierra Encantada, a Spanish-immersion early learning center in Minnetonka. Between circle time and crafts, they talked with the Tierra Encantada team about how they utilized SBA loans to keep their business running during the pandemic and enabled them to provide a comprehensive benefits package for their 175 employees!

Minnesota is home to more than 100,000 incredible women-owned businesses, and Dean was thrilled to go On the Job at one of them! Founded in 1995, Avant Garden is a family owned coffeehouse located in Anoka that has evolved into a community staple. Dean spent his shift taking orders, pulling espresso shots, and grinding coffee beans alongside their talented team. While he hasn't yet mastered latte art, he left feeling inspired by their impressive mission, hardworking team, and how they have grown their business in the face of challenges.
Photo by Daniel Kruger, Auden Photography

Between art projects and science experiments at his shift On the Job at Yellow Brick Road Childcare, Dean got a firsthand look at the essential work providers do every day. Grossly underpaid and often underappreciated, our child care workers deserve better. Investing in equitable, quality care for our kids not only benefits children and those who care for them – it helps ensure their parents can enter or reenter the workforce. 

Birch's on the Lake is a Midwest-style supper club and brewery situated on the beautiful shores of Long Lake. After trying his hand at making beer and labeling crowlers, Dean talked with Brewmaster Brennan Greene about the challenges and opportunities that come with running a successful, and highly regulated, business over a sampling of beer, of course! 

Founded in 1979, Heidi's GrowHaus is is a greenhouse and landscaping business located in Corcoran that values sustainable gardening and proudly employs a team that is nearly 80% female. Dean helped usher in the holiday season during his shift, working alongside their talented team to flock spruce tips, shrink out summer annuals, and create winter arrangements. He left feeling inspired by their impressive mission, hardworking team, and commitment to environmental sustainability.

The Fair on 4 is a new restaurant and entertainment concept on the Mall of America’s fourth floor. Owned by the same team that operates the Victoria Burrow, the Fair on 4 has one of the only two story go-kart tracks in the country, along with axe throwing, games, and more. After welcoming customers, tending bar, and making pizza from scratch, Dean talked with their hardworking team about how federal relief allowed them to keep employees on payroll throughout the pandemic – and about their mission to bring people together (which Dean shares)! 

Dean joined the team from New Spaces Design Build for demo day at one of their latest projects. Founded in 1981, New Spaces is a residential remodeling business with in-house designers, master carpenters, and production teams. Helping their talented team rip up old flooring, cut pipes, and make way for a new doorway was as memorable as it was messy!  

Dean isn't licensed to cut hair (nor would anyone want him to try!), but between greeting customers and cleaning up after cuts, he talked with owner Deb Brandt about the challenges she faced running three Sport Clips franchises during the pandemic – and how policymakers at the federal level can better support small business like hers. As for many, federal relief was a lifeline for Deb’s business, but even after receiving support, they’re still grappling with the lasting effects of this once-in-a-generation crisis. Dean left the memorable visit feeling inspired by their work ethic – and a little lighter thanks to a haircut from a talented stylist!

Samaritan Tire is a family-owned tire service shop with locations in Minnetonka and Edina. In between tire repairs and service, Dean talked with owner Chris Mortensen about the challenges of running a small business in the middle of a global pandemic. As was the case for many small businesses in our area, federal relief was vital to keeping his doors open and staff on payroll – but their team’s work ethic, high standards, and innovative business practices is what will contribute most to their long-term success.

With a mission of giving back to our community by donating a portion of their profits and a commitment to protecting the environment by using only compostable products in all their stores, the Pizza Karma team is making an impact. From preparing naan crusts in their tandoori ovens to ringing up customers and delivering food, Dean had a memorable visit – and as always, learned more about both the challenges and joys of operating a small business in our community.

While handing out backpacks and school supplies as part of WeCAN's Ready to Learn Program, Dean learned more about the organization's wrap-around services for families in our community. From food support to job coaching to emergency assistance - and even making sure every kid gets the chance to pick out a birthday gift - WeCAN's comprehensive supports (and amazing team!) help low-income families reach stability and self-sufficiency. 

No person in the United States of America, the most prosperous nation in the world, should have to go hungry. Dean went On the Job with Second Harvest Heartland's Food Rescue Team to learn more about how we can better support our food insecure neighbors, help pick up a donation from a local Cub Foods, and deliver it to Interfaith Outreach & Community Partners in Plymouth. Retail food rescue provides millions of pounds of food to families in our community every year, and the people and organizations who make it possible are heroes.

 Why open a bubble tea franchise at the Mall of America in the middle of a global pandemic? Chen and his family wanted to help stop Asian hate by teaching Minnesotans about Chinese culture - and introduce them to tasty treats in the process! What's your go-to bubble tea order? After a lot of mixing, pouring, and taste-testing, Dean found his during a shift On the Job at Uni Uni Bubble Tea. 

Minnesota is known around the world as an innovator, and much of that groundbreaking work is happening right in our back yard. Dean celebrated with Minnesota business leaders as the bipartisan CHIPS and Science Act was signed into law last week and worked a shift On the Job at SkyWater Technology in Bloomington (the only solely U.S.-owned foundry in the United States!) to learn just how this legislation will advance America’s competitiveness through investments in domestic semiconductor manufacturing.

Dean went On the Job at Missions, Inc., a nonprofit serving victims of domestic abuse and suffering from substance abuse issues. From reading to children, playing lawn games with residents, cleaning up the shared kitchen, weeding the garden, and learning a lot from residents and staff alike, it was an eye opening experience. Dean is beyond grateful for everything the Missions, Inc. team does for our community.

Dean worked a memorable shift at Maud Borup’s candy manufacturing facility in Le Center, Minnesota. Founded in St. Paul in 1907 by its namesake, Dean remembers searching through his great-grandparents’ cabinets looking for Maud Borup chocolates – which made a visit to this women-veteran-owned candy business extra special. From making Halloween "witch fingers" to decorating cocoa bombs to spending time with a wonderfully diverse group of hardworking “candy hustlers”, it was a visit he will not soon forget.

Before sweating it out in a Yoga Burn class, Dean learned how Ashok and the YogaFit team took advantage of federal support so they could keep fitness classes accessible to aspiring yogis during the pandemic. 

From protecting our urban and suburban forests from invasive species to building efficient, empowered businesses through employee-ownership, Dean learned a lot from the outstanding team at Rainbow Treecare during his shift On the Job.

In Minnesota, we know how the saying goes; If it's not winter, it's road construction season! What's better than filling potholes with molten tar on a humid July day? Teaming up with city leaders to bring our federal tax dollars back home to Minnesota for community projects, of course. Dean did both during his shift On the Job with a hardworking crew from the Plymouth Public Works Department. 

After a busy Fourth of July Weekend, Dean joined the Hennepin County Sheriff's Water Patrol on duty on Lake Minnetonka. These hardworking officers keep boaters on all of Hennepin County's waters safe, and help train teams in other counties to do the same, so say thanks next time you're out on the lake (or ice)!  

Dean led activities and explored Minnesota-themed imaginative playscapes with summer campers - and poured "tired parent" sized lattes for their grown-ups - during his shift at MiniSota Play Cafe in Maple Grove. Along the way, he learned how this mom-owned business navigated a volatile first four years, and how Congress can support entrepreneurs and their families.

Ultra Green makes sustainably-produced packaging for the food you get at some of your favorite grocery stores and cafes, but like many small businesses, they’ve been hit hard by tariffs, supply chain issues, and workforce shortages. Dean discussed all of this while working on the assembly line making recycled plastic lids – and then recycling the leftover plastic to close the supply loop.

Located along the Dakota Trail, Dakota Junction is a not-so-hidden gem in Mound. Dean spent his shift taking orders, delivering food, busing tables, and chatting with the restaurant’s owners about what it has been like to operate during the COVID-19 pandemic – and what federal relief has meant for them and others in their industry

Mt. Olivet provides care for individuals with a wide range of physical and mental disabilities. In between taking residents for walks and serving food at snack time, Dean heard from dedicated employees – many who have been there for decades – about the challenges of providing care in an industry where pay is often too low and the physical and emotional toll is high.

Rep. Phillips didn't talk about Bruno on the job at New Horizon Academy, but between dance parties and drawing in the preschool room, he did talk about what's driving high child care costs, fair wages for early childhood providers, early learning standards, and making care more affordable for working families. 

Rep. Phillips helped clean kennels, clip nails, administer vaccines, draw labs, remove sutures, serve treats, and learned how the Northwest Animal Hospital team uses technology - and a whole lot of compassion - to serve MN-03's cutest residents.

From the host stand to the bar, and the kitchen to the dish pit, Rep. Phillips packed a lot in during his shift at Rock Elm Tavern - but not as much as the restaurant packed into two years of pandemic pivots. Rep. Phillips heard how Rock Elm utilized federal support, innovative takeout programs, and a lot of grit, to stay open and preserve jobs during the pandemic. 

Rep. Phillips manned the phones, took custom orders, wrapped arrangements, washed buckets, made deliveries, and heard about how the Paycheck Protection Program Flexibility Act helped Lilia Flower Boutique keep their doors open during the pandemic.  

At Orangetheory Minnetonka, Rep. Phillips checked members in for morning classes, mopped floors, sanitized equipment, and got into the Orange Zone on a rowing machine. He spoke with Orangetheory franchise owners about the investments they've made in state-of-the-art cleaning and filtration systems to keep Minnesotans safe, how gyms are still struggling to recoup the losses they endured during the pandemic, and how Congress can support their recovery. 

When the pandemic hit, 90% of live events shut town almost overnight. At STAR, Rep. Phillips helped build, ship - and clean up after - elaborate trade show sets for clients all over the world, and learned more about how federal relief programs helped businesses that depend on people gathering stay in business during the pandemic.  

There's a lot more to owning a brewery than pouring the perfect pint, so between turns at the tap, Rep. Phillips talked with the Luce Line Brewing team about what it's like to open a business that depends on people gathering in the middle of a global pandemic, and how small business support kept their industry afloat. 

At Smith Coffee and Café, Rep. Phillips took orders, pulled espresso shots, bussed tables, and heard how global policies are impacting small businesses in Minnesota. From pandemic relief to health insurance to supply chains, Rep. Phillips will take what he learned at Smith  back to the House Small Business Subcommittee on Oversight. He's still working on his latte art.