From Las Vegas to Minnesota

The Minneapolis-Saint Paul metropolitan area is the 15th-largest agglomeration in the United States, and is home to many corporations, companies, and divisions. The core cities of Minneapolis, Saint Paul and Rochester house many headquarters and I had the opportunity to visit some of them and meet their managers in my special trip from Las Vegas to Minnesota.

The state ranked 13th on the 2006-07 Morgan Quitno Smartest State Award, and is first in the percentage of residents with at least a high school diploma.  In 2007 Minnesota students earned the highest average score in the nation on the ACT exam.

Mayo Clinic, Saint Mary’s Hospital and Rochester Methodist Hospital form the largest integrated medical center in the world, providing comprehensive diagnosis and treatment in virtually all medical and surgical specialties.

More than 350,000 patients from all walks of life seek answers at Mayo Clinic each year.

Doctors from every medical specialty work together to care for patients, joined by common systems and a philosophy of “the needs of the patient come first.” Mayo Clinic is governed by a 33-member Board of Trustees.

The Mayo Clinic has been near the top of the U.S. News & World Report List of “Best Hospitals” for more than 20 years. The practice is distinguished by integrated care. It has been on the list of America’s “100 Best Companies to Work For” published by Fortune Magazine for eight years in a row.

 Mayowood Mansion

Mayowood Mansion is a historic house museum. The mansion has been maintained as it was when last occupied by Doctor and Mrs. Charles W. Mayo and is used to interpret the lives of this famous medical family.

Historic Mayowood Mansion will be undergoing significant renovations as part of an operating agreement with Mayo Clinic. The Mansion and grounds are open to the public during the summer season and other times for group tours and special events.

The Minneapolis Star Tribune is the largest newspaper in the U.S.  A statewide version is also available across Minnesota and parts of Wisconsin, Iowa, South Dakota, and North Dakota.

Sea Life Minnesota Aquarium is located in the Mall of America in Bloomington. The aquarium also claims to have the “world’s largest jellyfish collection” and the “world’s largest underground shark exhibit”.

It is home to more than 10,000 aquatic creatures, including a large collection of sharks, sea turtles, stingrays and freshwater fish.  The 1,200,000-US-gallon aquarium also features sea turtles, octopuses, and lobsters.  Freshwater exhibits include game fish from the northern region of the United States, several giant catfish and a 180-pound alligator gar from the southern United States.

The Mall of America is the biggest mall in the United States.  Opened in 1992, the mall receives 40 million visitors annually. 80 percent of the visitors to the Mall of America come from Minnesota, Wisconsin, Iowa, the Dakotas, Illinois, Ohio, and Canada.

Mall of America is the most visited shopping mall in the world with more visitors annually (or roughly eight times the population of the state of Minnesota). The Mall employs over 12,000 workers.

Ecolab, Inc. headquartered in St. Paul, Minnesota, is a global provider of water, hygiene and energy technologies and services to the food, energy, healthcare, industrial and hospitality markets.

Ecolab delivers comprehensive programs and services that provide and protect clean water, safe food, abundant energy and healthy environments in more than 160 countries.

The 3M Company, is an American multinational conglomerate corporation based in St. Paul.

With $30 billion in sales, 3M employs 88,000 people worldwide and produces more than 55,000 products, including: adhesives, abrasives, laminates, passive fire protection, dental products, electronic materials, medical products, car-care products (sun films, polish, wax, car shampoo, treatment for the exterior, interior and the under chassis rust protection), electronic circuits, and optical films.

3M products are available for purchase through distributors and retailers in more than 196 countries.

 3M Company is pleased to be an active sponsor for the NASCAR

IBM Rochester is the facility of IBM, located in Rochester, MN. These features and the facility’s size has earned it the nickname “The Big Blue Zoo” from employees.

IBM manufactures and markets computer hardware and software, and offers infrastructure, hosting and consulting services in areas ranging from mainframe computers to nanotechnology.

Cargill Headquarters

Cargill is an international producer and marketer of food, agricultural, financial and industrial products and services. Founded in 1865, our privately held company employs 140,000 people in 65 countries. 

While I encourage anyone to take a trip to Minnesota to enjoy all this beautiful state has to offer, I would highly recommend you travel by any airline other than Sun Country.  Rude service and unexpected fees are what awaits their unknowing customers.

At first when I stated my case, I was immediately responded to with what seemed like sincere concern.  Following their advice to voice my concerns through a certain link, I was merely offered a form letter apologizing for the inconvenience in response.  Not settling, I pressed the matter and at least got a personal response, only to find out Jennifer, my rude counter attendant, had lied about our confrontation.  When I mentioned that, I was just brushed off with an explanation that they would “look into it.”

What I suggest you “look into” is another airline to travel on.  Plenty of other airlines are available at discount rates without calling your small purse a “duffel bag” so that they can charge you $25 for it.  Stay classy Sun Country!

But the experience with the airline failed to spoil.

I had a great time in the land of 10,000 lakes!  See you again soon Minnesota.