THANK YOU | 2022 SLA SPONSORS

Knotty Oar Marina is the only full service marina on the water of Minnesota's favorite recreational lake: Prior Lake! 

We are centrally located in a protected bay between Upper and Lower Prior Lake. We are a full-service, certified clean marina. Our friendly, highly trained marine store staff and mechanics are ready to serve you. When you visit you'll see that the Knotty Oar Marina was built by Thane Tande to deliver a premiere experience and serve as a landmark gathering spot for the community. 

Everything we do is designed around you having a great day on the water!  Your safety is a priority. To ensure protection of your watercraft we provide a secure environment including security cameras, donation of slips to the Scott County Sheriff's Water Patrol Unit, and monitor your mooring lines and fenders (bumpers) to optimize the protection of your watercraft. Let our staff take care of the details. We will bilge pump your covers after rain, adjust the height of your lift cover and maintain a clean environment.

We are your authorized Crest Pontoon and Mercury Outboard dealership!  

The best pontoons with the best power plants - backed by the professionals at Knotty Oar Marina!  We also sell Pontoon & Boat trailers from Tebben and Mid-America manufacturing.

COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT & RECOGNITION 

We proudly support, donate money, donate services and collaborate with these community organizations:   

Prior Lake Rotary, Lakefront music fest, St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital, Chase’s Warrior Foundation, Better Business Bureau, JP4 Foundation, St Michael's Catholic Church, & School, Prior Lake Lakers, ROCK, Prior Lake Association, Capable Partners, Bowl Hole, Prior Lake Chamber of Commerce, Clean Up Clean Out, Shockwaves, Scott County Sherriff Office as well as Spring Lake Association.

Knotty Oar Marina was awarded the 2019 Outstanding Sales Performance Award at the Crest Pontoon convention. What an honor!

DNR CERTIFIED - Knotty Oar Marina is a State of Minnesota Department of Natural Resources Permitted Lake Service Provider.Certified Clean-In-Clean-Out Marina and Aquatic Invasive Species Certified.

Mercury Marine has presented Knotty Oar Marina, its prestigious Service Customer Satisfaction Index (CSI) Award for 2020.  

Who we are... Kevin Vrieze (the Boat Doctor) started in the marine industry in 1995 after graduating from Faribault Technical College in marine repair. Kevin worked at marine dealerships in the twin cities area for a total of 9 years before deciding to start his own marine repair and storage business. Boat Doctor Marine was incorporated in 2004 in Montgomery, MN. 

Kevin and Kathie (his wife) thought about how they could expand the business. They agreed that selling new pontoons and deck boats would be a great compliment to Boat Doctor's current services. Kathie started with the company in 2011 after 15 years in corporate America as a sales manager. She loves connecting with customers and the flexibility it provides as a mom to 3 children, Jace, Blayke, and Shaye. 

We love traveling together! Our favorite destinations are Fort Myers, Grand Marais camping, and really anywhere that has a beautiful beach and good food. As with most families though, traveling is a bit harder these days with 3 kids in various sporting activities. These are the moments we cherish the most though! 

What we do... What started as a small marine business with a 1 acre lot and 4 stall shop has grown into a 20 acre lot with indoor storage, showroom, detailing and staging area, office, and 10 stall shop. We are very grateful for all of our customers, and their loyalty. Our goal is to make boat ownership EASY. 

We are a full-service, year-round boat and marine service facility, providing an all-inclusive range of marine services to accommodate Minnesota's various seasons. These include: Professional winterization, shrink-wrapping, winter storage, transportation packages (some customers choose to not own a trailer), engine repairs and maintenance, electrical work, floor repair, gelcoat repair, trailer repair, addition of accessories, etc. We work on inboards, outboards, and stern drives. We sell Sylvan and Sunchaser pontoons and tritoons, Starcraft deckboats, and Starweld by Starcraft fishing boats. We love the fact that we can be a customer's one-stop-shop for all of their boating needs from the purchase to service and storage throughout the years. We truly love what we do and the customers and friends we have met along the way are such a bonus.  

    Al & Michelle Imholte moved into Spring Lake Township, near Spring Lake in 2002, with their daughters - Kathryn, Samantha, & Rachel. 

Prior Lake ACE Hardware is the second ACE owned and operated by the Imholte's starting in 2014. Prior Lake ACE Hardware and its employees are passionate about helping the local community with their needs in completing homeowner projects and servicing and selling Small Engines, with a full-time mechanic. Our favorite part of the business is hearing back on how helpful we were in servicing our customers and how satisfied they were to get service with a smile. 

We strive to help our community and sponsor the Spring Lake Association as a local community member. 

Prior Lake Ace Hardware is Platinum Performance retailer award winner the last 2 years with ACE. 

In our spare time, we enjoy pontooning on the local lakes, fishing, hunting, and cruising in the 1963 Ford Galaxie during the summer. 

A look at Ace/Carlson Ace Hardware Community Service... 

Memorial Day is a time to honor U.S. Military Personnel who served their country. For the people of Prior Lake, Minnesota, it is also a chance to pay tribute to veterans with a special mural at the local Ace Hardware

.   

Ace Hardware co-owners Al Imholte and Michelle Carlson Imholte donated the mural to the community. A local artist who went to school with Al, Greg Preslicka, was contracted to paint the mural. Al suggested using Aura paint, which was provided for the project by Benjamin Moore. "I thought it’d be something cool for the town. And something neat to bring the community," said Michelle.  We hope you enjoy the video “Flags Flying Honoring Veterans” 

WHO WE ARE 

Here at Referral Collision, we are professionals, we are passionate, we care about quality and getting the job done right. We take pride in the work that we perform. We are part of the local community. Whether it’s a minor fender bender, a major collision, hail damage, or a worn out paint job, you can count on the Referral Collision team to get your vehicle done safe and back on the road ASAP. 

JESSE - OWNER

· EXPERIENCE: 21 years Commercial, Automotive, Collision and Restoration  

· HOBBIES: Volunteer fire fighter, camping and traveling with the family  

· CANDY BAR: Snickers Almond  

· DREAM CAR: 71 International Travelall 

CATHY - OWNER 

· EXPERIENCE: 20 years in Automotive Collision Management 

· HOBBIES: Wake surf, boating, horseback riding, volunteering and relaxing with my family 

· CANDY BAR: I’m an ice cream girl! 

· DREAM CAR: BMW 7 series 

BUZZ - SHOP MASCOT/CUTE DOG 

· EXPERIENCE: Years and Years! 

· HOBBIES: Playing fetch and riding in cars 

· CANDY BAR: Whatever falls on the floor 

· DREAM CAR: One with a Window   

John Parish and his wife Wendy have been married for 36 years. They have one son named Ryan.  

John has been at the store for 27 years and has owned it for the last 8 years. The store was in existence for many years before I started there. Wendy and Ryan both work with John at the store. 

We are invested in this community!  John has been a Prior Lake Rotary member for 20 years and am a member of the Prior Lake Chamber of Commerce. Our service, price and selection set us apart from other stores and we want to operate a store that Prior Lake and the surrounding area can be proud of.   

A reliable service record is what has kept The Buckingham Companies in business and growing in the communities it serves. 

Tom Buckingham started his disposal business when he was a senior at Burnsville High School. During the afternoons and on weekends he picked up trash in his hometown, emptying fifty-five gallon burner barrels from customers back yards (as was the custom in those days). He said his father was the person who provided the inspiration and encouragement to build his company to what it is today. Elmer and Rose Buckingham assisted with their son’s business into the late 1990’s.
 

Buckingham Disposal provides a variety of services to customers in Savage, Prior Lake, Burnsville, Elko/New Market, rural Shakopee, rural Jordan, and some parts of Lakeville.
 

Buckingham Trucking, Inc. provides roll-off container box rental. The five trucks that deliver and pick up the roll-off construction boxes are the latest technology, featuring a special system known as “The Hook”. This new system allows faster loading and off loading of the boxes than traditional industry systems. Additionally, all drivers are equipped with cell phones for quick dispatch service to customers.
 

Since adding roll-off box services, Tom has noted that there has been continuous commercial demand for them, but there are also individual residents who rent them when they are doing a clean-up project or remodeling their homes.
 

Tom Buckingham states, “There have been numerous changes in the solid waste disposal business since I started over 49 years ago. It is an industry that is constantly changing and new plans for disposing of solid waste will affect our customers and us. We are a very service oriented and reliable company. We may sound like a big company because we provide service to a lot of people, but we employ less than 50 employees.
 

We are a growing company with numerous recycling programs and office space all located at 5980 Credit River Rd SE (county road #21) in Prior Lake, MN. The center offers Buckingham customers some very special incentives. Buckingham customers may obtain a membership card for hard to recycle items. 

Adding new service areas has enhanced the company’s commitment to achieve a fairer system of pricing known as volume based rates, where you only pay for what you throw away.

Community Action | Over any given year, Buckingham Companies donates tens of thousands of dollars in cash and services towards charity and community events all around our service area. A few of the events that we contribute to are Prior Lake Fire Department, Ice Golf, Prior Lake Soccer Club, Winterfest, St John’s Western Palooza, Music Fest, American Cancer Society Relay for Life, P.L.A.Y Lacrosse Tournament, Dan Patch Days and Lakefront Days, among many others.

Paul Young grew up in North Dakota as the youngest of five children where he learned small-town values and work ethic. Paul leveraged that spirit into a successful practice with 15 years of industry experience in helping clients reach their goals. Paul is happy to say that his business is more than just a job - it's an opportunity to make a difference in the lives of families and businesses in our community.
 

Paul wants to understand what's most important to you so that we can use an established process to create a personalized strategy to reach your goals. Paul’s branch office administrator, Lynn Gilligan, and Paul want to partner with you throughout your life to help keep you on track. Let us worry about your financial matters so you can be stress-free. We work with individuals, families, successful professionals, business owners and people with complex needs.
 

Paul graduated from the University of North Dakota with a BS in business and public administration. Paul has continued to learn and grow and have earned the CRPC®, AAMS® and CFP® professional designations.
 

When not at work, Paul enjoys spending time with his family and a multitude of outdoor activities. Our two children are extremely active in hockey, dance and baseball. These activities keep my wife, Kirsti, and I constantly on the go, and we wouldn't have it any other way!
 

Paul would love the opportunity to invest some time to find out what's most important to you and how he can help you reach your goals and fulfill your hopes and dreams.

Prior Lake Rental began as A to Z Rental in Burnsville, operated by Matt’s parents Bob and Susan in 1979. They opened in Prior Lake in 1987 as a small rental store and lawn and garden retailer. Wedding rentals followed, and the company now has more than 150 tent rentals per year as well as tables, chairs and even moving trailers. Prior Lake Savage Rental has been in business for 35 years. 

In 2015, Chamber Director Sandi Fleck said Prior Lake Rental is “a huge part” of the Chamber’s many events, including Lakefront Days, Fall Community Fest, Downtown Dazzle and others. In 2015 Prior Lake Savage Rental was named Business of the Year! Matt Underferth accepted the award. Prior Lake Savage Rental also hands out the Dick Underferth Humanitarian scholarship award each year. Matt and sister Debbie operate the business with nine full-time employees and four part-time employees.

  Denise and Mark Gjerde are long-time residents of Spring Lake, and love what the Association does for the community. Denise grew up in their current home. They two grown children and two grandchildren. Denise is also a Spring Lake volunteer helping with our social events.

Denise & Mark stated their business, Solar Shield in 1989. They are very passionate about educating their customers about window film and the benefits. “We love to help our great and loyal customers save money, protection from interior sun damage and stay cool”, said Denise. We’ve worked hard to build our reputation over thirty years, offering our customers the highest standard of film and installation in the industry.

We love being an established small business in the community, the bridges we’ve built with and the great loyal customers we have. We are also very proud of what our customers say about us on reviews. Solar Shield was awarded the Eastman's prestigious "SelectPro", among others. It sets us apart as we’re able to carry select exclusive films. 

For over 30 years, Minnesota Inboard Water Sports has been owned by ONE FAMILY, carried ONE BRAND and had ONE MISSION. 

The mission of Minnesota Inboard Water Sports has always been to offer quality products backed by superior service, while always striving to provide complete customer satisfaction. 

Founded by Joe and Pam Mueller in Excelsior in 1992, second generation owners, Matt and Michelle Mueller continue to carry on and build on the excellence Minnesota Inboard offers boaters across this great state. The exclusive Malibu and Axis dealer for the state of MN, Minnesota Inboard has been a Malibu top ten dealer in national sales for 23 straight years and has taken home awards for exceptional customer service for the past 19 years. 

Minnesota Inboard has dealership locations in Excelsior and the Brainerd Lakes area, as well as service centers in New Germany and Brainerd. State of the art Service Departments offer a wide array of services from Winter Storage to Fiberglass and Prop Repair. Minnesota Inboard’s Pro Shops supply the industry’s finest and latest water sports equipment. Our Pro Shops carry a complete selection of wake surf boards, skis, wakeboards, inflatable water toys, vests, tow ropes, wet suits and dry suits, as well as branded Malibu and Axis Boat gear.

Start the summer off right by stopping in at Minnesota Inboard to find the perfect boat for you and your family! While we specialize in Malibu and Axis boats, we also offer a wide selection of pre-owned boats.

After practicing optometry since 1993, Dr. Steve Reinders and his wife Jennifer founded Complete Family Eyecare in 2010.  Dr. Steve, Jennifer, and their entertaining staff provide a state of the art, personalized eyecare experience at their family owned and operated clinic in Prior Lake. Dr. Steve has been a Prior Lake resident since 1998. He and Jennifer were married in 2003 at Shephard of the Lake and they currently have two children in the Prior Lake school system. Dr. Steve served as Prior Lake Association President from 2017 to 2020 and still remains an active board member. 

Who are the Boathouse Brothers?  Emmett Swartout and Kevin Lethert grew up spending their summer weekends at the family cabin in Northern Minnesota.  In April of 2018, they started Boathouse Brothers Brewing in downtown Prior Lake.  

“Our two favorite things in this world are Great Beer and Lake Life.  Whether it's an Ale out on the water, a Lager by the beach, a Stout by the campfire or an IPA out on the ice, our goal is to make every beer we brew a thoughtfully crafted reflection of what makes Lake Life here in Minnesota.  

Stop and have a beer or take home a growler. If you’re in a rush, we brew in small batches so every pint we pour is crafted for your enjoyment.”  

Trevor Pope is the President & Founder of Great Outdoors Services, LLC. Trevor got his start in the lakefront business in the Spring of 2000. He has extensive experience in all aspects of the lakefront equipment business, and has a long list of many long-term happy clients, and continues to grow the business every year.

When he is not on the water working, he enjoys spending time with his wife Kim, and sons Parker & Brooks. Trevor also enjoys water skiing, down hill skiing, snowmobiling out west, golfing, hunting, watching sports, riding his Harley, and many other outdoor activities. Trevor is currently the Vice President of the Prior Lake Association. 

Trevor looks forward to seeing you soon on the water, and thanks each and every one of his customers on his long list of happy lakefront clients. He is very grateful for all of you and your continued patronage. 

Jim is also a past Board of Directors member of the SLA!

In 1999 Jim Gilbertson moved to Spring Lake and began his career in real estate. Jim currently is a realtor for Edina Realty working out of the Prior Lake office. Jim says he “likes helping people find a lake home” and he is most proud of the fact he has 55 real estate transactions on Spring Lake alone!

Jim has been a recipient of Edina Realty’s President’s Club Award the past five years.

Jim has been a member of the Prior Lake Rotary Club the past ten years. Jim especially cherishes the memories of his Rotary sponsored trip to India to help with the distribution of the polio vaccine to children. Jim is also Treasurer of the Southern Valley Alliance. 

Jim has two adult sons Sam (student at University of North Dakota in Grand Forks) & Cal (lives in Denver working on HVAC). Jim currently lives on Prior Lake, but his dream is to get back on Spring Lake! Jim says he chose to be an SLA Sponsor because he “really enjoys working with people on Spring Lake” as he finds residents to be personable and down-to-earth. 

 Lauren participates as a sponsor as a way to give back to the SLA community, helping to drive change in lake safety, clean water and lake enjoyment for all!  Additionally, Lauren is our current SLA Treasurer and sponsors both our Memorial Day and Labor Day “Pick your Paddle” events.  He kicks off each event with beverages and pastries!  

Lauren has been with RE/MAX for 13 years and works out of the Prior Lake office.  Lauren’s mission is to “develop a trusting relationship by providing professional guidance to make your real estate experience a success from beginning to end. Together, we will have an enjoyable real estate experience!” Lauren has been a recipient of 9 awards in the past 9 years and was awarded the “RE/MAX Hall of Fame” and “Platinum” awards in 2022.

Lauren and his wife Stacy have lived on Spring Lake since 1998.  Lauren takes pride in helping families with their home ownership dreams. Stacy is a Pilates instructor and a residential real estate appraiser. They have 2 grown sons and a dog named Wilson. They are both active members and volunteers at St. Michael's Church in Prior Lake. They both love to travel; Sedona is a favorite and a trip to the Holy Land the most memorable. Most summer evenings you will find Lauren, Stacy and Wilson enjoying the lake on their pontoon!

Sailer’s Greenhouse is a first-generation family business that has been in business for over 30 years. The greenhouse is currently run by Mark and Peggy Sailer, along with their daughter Nikki. They are Spring Lake residents and have a son and two grandchildren. 

Mark and Peggy’s favorite part of their business is the fact that they are growers and retailers. 

The passion behind growing quality plants is what has made the business successful. Giving people the opportunity to purchase directly from the grower is what sets them apart from other garden centers. As a business their goals have never been to be the biggest but rather the best. Last year they were honored to win the Star Tribune’s Best of the Best Garden Center.

They also have the best greenhouse greeters! They have a Labrador greeting crew that no other greenhouse can compete with. The dogs meet people at their car and walk them to the door and demand attention the entire time. They might actually be more known for their dogs than plants. Jake, Murphy, Sully, Duke and Gus. Izzy the black cat keeps the rodent population down in the neighborhood. 

They sponsor the Spring Lake Association not only to help give back to the people that support them as a business, but also because they live in the community and want it to be the best it can be.