Biz beat: Fitness training business opens in Lakeville

Mi5 Fitness and CrossFit, a new fitness training facility, recently opened in Lakeville off Interstate 35W at 16320 Kenrick Loop.

Mi5's training system provides users with customized programs for cardiovascular and resistance training activities that they can do in personal training, semi-private training and group classes. "Even in a group class, people will work at different levels, depending on how in or out-of-shape they are," said Chris Giesking, one of five partners in the business.

In addition to workout plans, the individualized programs provide nutritional counseling and fitness goals. The facility also has open gym hours for people who want to drop in and work on their customized training programs.

Giesking and Steve Jones, another partner in the business, said the facility is the first of its kind, but they hope it could be a model for a franchise operation in the future. Giesking, who worked for Lifetime Fitness and the Life Wellness Center in Lakeville, is one of two trainers at the facility.

Several different membership options are available, including a basic monthly membership for group classes and access to the gym during non-class times. The facility also is marketing a pass good for 10 visits and two-week trial membership packages.

Green companies honored

The Dakota County Regional Chamber of Commerce last week honored nine area businesses for their commitment to environmental safety, conservation and sustainability.

The awards went to AAA Auto Salvage and SKB Environmental Inc. of Rosemount, CNH Architects of Apple Valley, Materials Processing Corp. of Mendota Heights, Rapid Refill Ink of West St. Paul and Eagan-based Coca-Cola Refreshments, International Office Technologies Inc., Sprint by ASW and Superior Service.

California investor enters Eagan market

Orchard Partners LLC of Mountain View, Calif., recently made its first real estate investments in Minnesota, acquiring two industrial buildings, one in Eagan.

A purchase price for the 48,000-square-foot property at 1090 Gemini Road was not disclosed. The total purchase price for a building and another property in Plymouth was $9.4 million.

Most of Orchard's commercial real estate holdings are in the San Francisco and Los Angeles areas and in Seattle. The firm recently entered the Midwest property market.

The Wallace Group, a marketing and public relations firm based in Eagan, has been honored with a national Communicator Award for its production of a publication that goes to employees of Luther Automotive Group's dealerships and affiliates. Called "The Luther News," the quarterly has been published for the past nine years.

The Communicator Awards is sponsored and judged by the International Academy of Visual Arts, an invitation-only body consisting of media and creative services professionals. The annual competition regularly attracts more than 6,000 entries.