Why Women in Business Should Play Golf

As a trustee and co-chief executive officer of Otto Bremer Trust, Charlotte Johnson plays an important role in managing the trust's grant-making projects. When not busy with her responsibilities at Otto Bremer, Charlotte Johnson enjoys playing golf.

The statistic that only 20 percent of women play golf has remained unchanged for decades. Pam Swensen, chief executive officer of the Executive Women’s Golf Association, argues that it's important for more women to play golf, especially those who are involved in business.

Golf has long been considered the sport of business, as it provides valuable networking time for prospective clients and careers, thus leading to key business opportunities. Swensen notes that by not playing golf, women may not gain access to these same opportunities. In fact, a study by Catalyst found that being excluded from informal networks such as those formed while playing golf significantly impedes women’s career development. Swensen hopes that in the future, more women will develop the confidence to spend time outside of office hours on the golf course, thus benefiting from the unique business advantages that the sport can offer.

Otto Bremer Trust Funds Scholarships for The Retreat

 

Charlotte Johnson is the Co-CEO of the Otto Bremer Trust. As the manager of the Otto Bremer Trust, Charlotte Johnson oversees the Otto Bremer Trust's responsibilities as a grant-making foundation. The Otto Bremer Trust was formed in 1944 and supports the Bremer Bank communities in the Midwest.

The Otto Bremer Trust has awarded a grant to The Retreat, a residential recovery treatment center located in Wayzata, Minnesota, for those wanting help with drug and alcohol dependency. The grants will fund scholarships for those needing financial assistance to attend. Residents of the Bremer Bank communities in Minnesota will receive scholarships in 2016, and individuals from Bremer Bank communities in North Dakota and western Wisconsin will be awarded scholarship funding for 2017. The grant total is $500,000.

The Retreat has been helping people for more than 17 years and has 30-60-90-day residential programs, non-residential programs, family and senior adult programs. The Retreat believes that its program, based on the education, support, and the spiritual principles of Alcoholics Anonymous, will enable individuals to lead sober and productive lives.

Otto Bremer & the Salvation Army: Taking Care of Minnesota’s Families

It’s no secret that the Salvation Army is one of the oldest surviving charities in modern Western history. So when Charlotte Johnson and her fellow staff at Otto Bremer Trust discovered the needs facing several Salvation Army chapters in Minnesota, it only made sense for a partnership to form. Under the leadership of Charlotte Johnson and her staff, Otto Bremer Trust generously granted $362,000 for support programs and other community outreaches hosted by the Salvation Army Northern Division.

The grant will be spread out across 10 different Salvation Army locations in Minnesota, such as St. Cloud, Rochester, Brainerd, Austin, and Fergus Falls. The grant will cover expenses for a variety of community awareness and mentorship programs and local needs, including hiring supplemental staff to ensure the success of growing programs within each chapter and providing financial support for families in need.


The Otto Bremer Trust was founded in 1944 by Otto Bremer, a Midwestern banker and community leader who believed in the power of helping those in need.                            

Otto Bremer Trust Supports Alcohol Recovery Center in Minnesota

Based in St. Paul, Minnesota, Charlotte Johnson of the Otto Bremer Trust is in charge of overseeing the trust's investment in the Bremer Financial Corporation. Charlotte Johnson’s trusteeship of the Otto Bremer Trust emphasizes strong community support.

On a mission to improve the quality of life for families and communities affected by alcohol and drugs, the Otto Bremer Trust recently granted $250,000 to The Retreat in Wayzata, Minnesota. Based on the 12 principles of Alcoholics Anonymous, The Retreat was established more than 17 years ago to offer affordable educational services for people addicted to alcohol or drugs. The Retreat offers a residential recovery continuum with 30-, 60-, and 90-day programs alongside nonresidential family and seniors programs.

As the cost of health care continues to rise, access to alcohol and drug dependency programs in Minnesota is limited. From 2009 to 2013, recovery centers in the state provided alcohol abuse treatment to an estimated 20,000 people per year, making up 6.25% of the total alcohol dependents in the state. In the same period, these centers provided illicit drug use treatment to an estimated 17,000 people per year, making up about 13.7% of the total drug dependents in the state.

Otto Bremer Trust Grants $250,000 to Support St. Paul Police

Serving on the board of directors of the Bremer Financial Corporation, Charlotte Johnson, Otto Bremer Trust co-CEO, manages the corporation's investments in Bremer Bank. As part of the Otto Bremer Trust’s ongoing community outreach projects, they recently announced a $250,000 grant to the Saint Paul Police Foundation.

A non-profit supporting community projects that create partnerships, leverage technology to fight and solve crime, and enhance the preparedness of the Saint Paul Police Department, the Saint Paul Police Foundation is the bridge between the police and members of the community.

Some of the programs supported by the foundation include: Saint Paul Police Athletic League (PAL) which brings together the city’s police and the youth through recreational activities, the YWCA/Saint Paul Junior Police Academy which exposes youth to the operations of the police department so as to build trust, and the Advanced Via Individual Determination Program which prepares students for college success.

The foundation will use the grant to expand existing outreach programs. The Otto Bremer Trust also pledged $250,000 to support the police foundation’s programs in 2017.

Minnesota Produce during the Fall Season

 

Otto Bremer Trust co-CEO and trustee Charlotte Johnson plays a key role in the funding of organizations that create brighter futures for communities. When not working at Otto Bremer, Charlotte Johnson enjoys cooking dishes that feature seasonal ingredients.

Using seasonal ingredients in your cooking can provide benefits ranging from better flavors to lower costs. In addition, eating these fruits and vegetables during their prime seasons ensures that you have excellent variety throughout the year. Like most US states, Minnesota farmers grow a wide array of produce that come into season throughout the year, but the fall season boasts a particularly impressive harvest.

As temperatures cool, vegetables such as carrots, apples, and brussels sprouts reach their peak season. Much of Minnesota’s fall produce is available through at least mid-November, but look for items like sweet corn and radishes before then. Dark green vegetables are also abundant throughout fall but will be out of season beginning in the winter. Fall is also the best time to purchase onions, which will be at their best throughout the entire season.

Ways to Increase Results With a Nonprofit Organization

Charlotte Johnson is co-CEO of Otto Bremer Trust, based in St. Paul, Minnesota. Outside of her duties at Otto Bremer, Charlotte Johnson has served on the board of directors for multiple nonprofits and is experienced with charitable organizations.

Profit may seem like a topic you shouldn’t be discussing when it comes to charitable activities. However, in order to increase a nonprofit organization’s revenue, it’s crucial to learn how best to maximize fundraising proceeds.

The first goal should be decreasing costs. Look at the organization’s budget and see where you can either negotiate with vendors or just take a chunk directly out of your budget. Try looking for volunteer workers, for example, to cut down on labor costs.

The next step is to maximize revenue. If you already have a fundraising plan, look it over and check each strategy. See how you can increase the revenue by 5 percent at each fundraiser, sponsorship, or other events involved in your current plan. Once you start testing out new and different strategies, you are likely to gain a clearer sense of what works best for your organization.