Each year, the Blue Earth Chamber of Commerce takes a beat to recognize local residents and businesses with a few well-deserved awards.

This year’s recipients of the Business of the Year Award are financial advisors Chase Brandt and David Roper, representatives of the financial services company Edward Jones Investments.

Brandt and Roper will receive their awards at the Blue Earth Chamber of Commerce’s Annual Meeting and Awards Gala, which will take place at 10 Talents Art Center.

A social hour will begin at 6 p.m., and the meeting and awards presentation will take place at 7 p.m.

Chamber of Commerce director Shellie Poetter notes, “They (Brandt and Roper) are committed to the area. I think they are very young and energetic and have a lot of great ideas. They are very positive and optimistic.” 

“We were informed we were selected between New Years and Christmas,” Roper remembers. “Shellie Poetter dropped by a letter and a poinsettia.”

“We were hoping for the Rising Star Award for a few years, so this one was a pleasant surprise,” Brandt says. “We have a lot of great businesses in the area.” 

“I was a little more surprised, because I thought we had missed the application deadline,” Roper laughs.

Brandt and Roper’s Edward Jones firms are both relatively new additions to Blue Earth’s Main Street.

Brandt shares he arrived in Blue Earth in 2017, after having done tax work for the previous three years. Roper, meanwhile, set up his firm in 2019.

Though they both operate under the Edward Jones umbrella, Brandt and Roper clarify they do operate separately.

“We both work individually through Edward Jones,” Roper explains. “We have our own practices. It allows us to be accountable for ourselves.” 

Both saw the benefit of setting up their practices within the same building, however.

“For convenience sake, we can say we have an Edward Jones location,” Brandt says.

Roper also enjoys the opportunities afforded by their proximity in both location and goals.

“We see each other everywhere,” Roper notes. “Within the community is when we really work together.” 

“They have a deep commitment to the community,” Poetter says of Brandt and Roper.

Roper shares he is a board member on the Faribault County Economic Development Authority (EDA).

Brandt is also a member of several local organizations, including the Kiwanis Club, the Blue Earth Area Foundation Board, the Lions Club, and the United Hospital District board.

Both financial advisors also devote much of their time to the local sports scene.

Brandt, who coaches local youth sports, says, “I love sports.” He lists golf, basketball and football as some of his favorites.

Roper also donates his time to coaching efforts. “There’s a need for more coaches,” he notes. He currently works with area baseball, wrestling, and soccer teams.

Brandt and Roper view maintaining participation and pride in their community as a vital service to future generations.

Roper and his wife, Jade Roper, try to involve their three children, Charlie, McKenna, and Ben, in as many community happenings as they can.

“We want to be there in the community, getting our kids to feel the pride of living in a small town,” Roper says.

Brandt adds, “This community is a great place to raise a family. I like to do what I can to keep that sense of service going.”

Brandt himself has three children with his wife, Tomarah Brandt: Kyannah, Karsyn, and Kyser.

Brandt and Roper tie their ability to connect to their work as financial advisors.

Brandt, who received a degree in accounting from Rasmussen University, turned from a career in accounting to a career in financial advising partially because he sought greater connection and rapport with clients.

“In accounting, you see a hint of what has happened in the past (with finances),” Brandt explains. “I wanted to become involved in the whole process.” 

“As financial advisors, we’re in a position where we can make a significant contribution to the community,” he adds, noting he felt it was harder to catch financial issues in their early stages as an accountant.

“It’s an opportunity to really get to know people and help them,” Brandt says. “You don’t get to make the financial decisions, but you get to watch them grow.”

Roper shifted his career path to financial advising for similar reasons. “I like building relationships,” he explains.

In fact, Roper says relationships are his favorite part about his job.

“I like meeting new people, as well as people I’ve known through growing up in Blue Earth,” Roper says. “I like making them feel comfortable with their financial health and helping them with financial decisions.”

After receiving a degree in business management from Hamline University in Saint Paul, Roper started his career as a personal banker, and then as a sales manager for financial advisors.

Roper worked as a private banker at Wells Fargo in Eagan for several years before deciding he was ready for a career shift which would bring more opportunities for client interaction.

Roper also anticipated a return to small-town living after his time in the Twin Cities.

Though Roper began his career and received his education in the Twin Cities area, he began his life in Blue Earth.

“I’m very happy I made the move back,” Roper says. “Lots of friends and family thought I would never move back to a small town.”

Roper has nothing but positive things to say about Blue Earth, however. “It’s a nice small town,” he says. “People have pride in the community.” 

Brandt, though he is not from Blue Earth originally, agrees that it is a special community.

“It’s generally a pretty supportive community,” he says.

Brandt grew up in Ledyard, Iowa, but he and his wife chose Blue Earth as the place to raise their family in 2017.

“It’s close to where I grew up,” Brandt says. “And, it has everything we need. We figured, ‘Why leave?'” 

Brandt and Roper hope to make Blue Earth a better place by continuing to provide financial services to its residents.

“I do this because it’s the right thing to do,” Roper explains. “I don’t feel like I’m doing anything amazing. I’m just doing my part and giving back to the community.”