September Success
The Business Law Center at Olympic Place OffiCenter is the definition of success. That is why we are featuring its founders, Steve Ness & Peter Brehm as this month’s Client Success Story. Steve and Peter have over 40 years of combined experience giving advice to business owners on commercial litigation, tax planning and disputes, buying and selling a business, contract negotiation, intellectual property and licensing, franchise agreements, unfair competition, human resources, estate planning, probate and real estate/construction. Read on to get to know them!
1) Who are you and what do you do? Steve Ness and Peter Brehm; Business Law Center. Business Law Center provides legal services to business owners and provides estate planning solutions.
2) Which OffiCenters location does your business call ‘home-base’? Olympic Place in Eden Prairie
3) How long have you been an OffiCenters client? Steve – Almost ten years. Peter – 5+ years.
4) What is your ‘elevator speech’? Steve – If you own a business or know someone who does and that business experiences occasional transitions, we would welcome the opportunity to assist. Peter – I generally don’t talk to people in elevators, but I help small business owners avoid disputes, resolve disputes, and help them plan and operate their business to meet their short and long term goals.
5) Where did you get the idea for your business? Steve – Entrepreneurs have always excited me; often creative, energetic people with clear objectives in need of direction. Successful entrepreneurs become owners of strong companies with regular need for professional services that I offer and enjoy providing. Peter – TV Infomercial.
6) What makes your business unique? Steve – Objective based and strategically implemented services. Peter – I provide legal and tax services for a particular type of client (small business entrepreneurs), rather than practicing a particular type of law.
7) What are the keys to your success? Steve – I am a good listener. Peter – I never said that I was successful.
8) How has officing with OffiCenters changed your business? Steve – OffiCenter has provided class A surroundings that I have enjoyed and my clients have come to expect from Business Law Center. Peter – It allows me more time to focus on providing services of value to my clients, and less time on HR, technology and operational issues.
9) What would you like people to know about you? Steve – I think “people” know plenty. Peter – I didn’t really decide to practice because of a TV infomercial.
10) Do you use social media to attract clients? If so, which services do you use? Steve – LinkedIn and Facebook. Peter – Yes: LinkedIn, Facebook.
11) What is one of your favorite quotes? Steve – “Any 25 year-old who isn’t liberal, has no heart; any 40 year-old who isn’t conservative has no brain.” – Winston Churchill. Peter – “Never stir up litigation. A worse man can scarcely be found than one who does this. Who can be more nearly a fiend than he who habitually overhauls the register of deeds in search of defects in titles, whereon to stir up strife, and put money in his pocket?” – Abraham Lincoln.
12) Who has been an inspiration in your life, and how? Steve – My parents, who are both gone, were always an inspiration. Both public school teachers, they modeled a strong marriage, family values, hard work, and an overall enjoyment of life. If your parents are still alive spend time with them when you can. Peter – My wife Rene – she’s a fighter.
13) When you have 30 minutes of free time, how do you use it? Steve – Give me an hour and I would have the choice of getting some exercise, listening to music or meditating. Peter – I worry about why I have an extra 30 minutes.
14) If you could be any fictional character, whom would you choose and why? Steve – I prefer non-fiction. Peter – Roy Hobbs.
15) If you could be any animal, what would you be and why? Steve – I’m going to stick with Homo sapiens.
16) What is your favorite restaurant in Minnesota? Steve – Hazelwood. Peter – Baker’s Ribs.
17) What is your favorite place to visit in Minnesota? Steve – Any well groomed cross country ski trail. Peter – The North Shore.
18) What songs are included on the soundtrack to your life? Steve – Too many to mention and still in production. Peter – Blood on the Tracks – Bob Dylan.
19) If you could paint a picture of any scenery you’ve ever seen before, what would you paint and why? Steve – I prefer to just enjoy the scenery and let someone else paint it. Peter – The construction that has been going on outside my office – because it reminds me of what I am currently looking at.
20) What is your favorite part of being with OffiCenters? Steve – Consistency of service and the professional atmosphere. Peter – The free rent, answering questionnaires, and the small celebration that occurs each day I come in to work.
