PROGRESS 2011Sunday, February 27, 2011• THE CHIPPEWA HERALDC4

County’s EDC laysgroundwork for

businesses to thriveAs Rolly Enderes has aged, his entre-

preneurial instincts have changed a bit.The 33-year-old businessman based

in Chippewa Falls remembers a timewhen he was only thinking about howmuch money he could make. Hethought he wanted to be a big-city boywith pockets filled of green.

But years after graduating from col-lege, Enderes realized that ChippewaFalls truly was home, and his goal wasto build a profitable company that wasable to employ people in the ChippewaValley.

Since 2002, Enderes has done justthat. As ChemCeed vice president, hedescribed his entrepreneurial spirit,the business and his goals.

John Celikoski, owner of ChippewaFamily Restaurant also watched hisdreams come to fruition.

Celikoski, originally from the Repub-lic of Macedonia, lived in Chicago formuch of his life. He owned a restaurant.But his family moved north.

These two men took different paths toreach the same goal — flourishing busi-nesses and dreams for the future.

From the beginningJust as Celikoski emigrated from the

Republic of Macedonia, Enderes alsofound himself in a new land. He was 4years old.

His family emigrated from the Philip-pines. He doesn’t remember much ofthe country as a young boy. He saidgrowing up as a minority in ChippewaFalls never hindered him. It’s possiblethat any chiding he received only madehim stronger.

After achieving a degree in chemistryfrom the University of Minnesota, En-deres moved to New York.

“I thought I was going to go there andbe a big city boy,” he said. “I quicklylearned to appreciate Chippewa Falls.

“When I was there I really was anopen book — kind of observing the waythey are. Being a chameleon helps inthis business. You have to do as theydo.”

Enderes said the business world isdifferent out east. People in the Mid-west are friendly and gain a rapportwith their clients. Out east, peopledon’t want to chit chat. They want thebottom line. Learning the differencebetween the two styles of businesshelped Enderes when it came time tostart his own business.

Celikoski was established in Chicagowith a family-style restaurant until2006 when he was ready for a change.

His nephew started the business at1701 Kennedy Road, and then Celikoskijoined his nephew.

It wasn’t difficult for Celikoski tomove here, or to run a business likeChippewa Family Restaurant. It alsowas even less difficult for the 48-year-old to cultivate a loyal crowd.

“We were used to working in this typeof a restaurant,” he said.

SuccessCelikoski knew what it would take to

make the diner successful. Simply put,it’s good service and good food, he said.

“When you go to a restaurant youwant to eat and have extra,” he said.

Roy and Irene Foster of Bloomer areloyal customers who say they can’t helpbut love Celikoski. Ever since their firstvisit to the restaurant in 2006, they’vebeen coming back for more.

“He’s got a heart as big as gold,” IreneFoster said during a recent outing to therestaurant. “He’s got good waiters and

waitresses — and the food is excellent.”Vicki Christenson of Colfax was one

of Celikoski’s first employees.“I really like it here,” she said. “(Ce-

likoski) is great. Financially he would

help any of us out.”But Celikoski is too modest. He shies

when asked how his restaurant becameso popular. He gives a nervous smilewhen Christenson boasts of his good-

doings within earshot.Enderes had a different start. His

business was born in the basement ofhis mother and aunt’s house on GrandAvenue in Chippewa Falls.

“Basically it was me running theshow. It was a learning experience,” hesaid.

In 2002, Enderes started the businessEnderes LLC. The company was ownedby someone else who fronted the mon-ey, but it was run by Enderes and hiswife Marimel. His goal, aside from be-ing profitable, was to provide jobs andopportunities for people in theChippewa Valley.

“Our perspectives have changed alot,” he said. “Making money now is notso much for myself. Hopefully we’recreating more jobs.”

Three years ago Enderes and his wifestarted ChemCeed. It is a worldwidechemical distributor.

“Everything that we have is made ofchemicals,” he said. “It’s the raw mate-rials of plastics, paint, cosmetics andpersonal care items (to name a few).”

ChemCeed has numerous stockinglocations throughout the UnitedStates, which allows the company tostock chemicals in locations that areconvenient for its customers. But theEnderes’ aren’t stopping there.

Enderes said he would like to diversi-fy in lubricants and grease.

“Our future is to strengthen our di-versities,” he said. “I don’t see us hav-ing any boundaries for growth.”

The entrepreneurCharlie Walker, president and CEO of

Chippewa County Economic Develop-ment Corporation, said ChippewaCounty has great entrepreneurs, in-cluding Enderes and Celikoski.

But Walker noticedimmediately the differ-ences in entrepreneursfrom Texas comparedwith those from theMidwest. Walkermoved here five yearsago from Austin, Texas.

“It’s just a differentattitude,” he said. “I’ve heard that Min-nesota nice rules, and I don’t knowwhat that means.”

On the other hand, he’s seen peoplepull together in Wisconsin to make abusiness work.

“We’re proud of folks that do well,” hesaid.

Enderes said there is a specific way ofthinking for an entrepreneur.

“I’ve always had a business mentalityto me,” he said. “I didn’t always knowwhat I was going to do, but I truly feelthat I’ve found my calling.

“Most entrepreneurs think, ’I want toget this done. I’m going to get thisdone.’ It’s the unknown that scarespeople.”

It’s also important for people who seethemselves as entrepreneurs to seek amentor and eventually be a mentor.

“Do what is your passion, but makesure your passion is profitable,” En-deres said, recalling what he heard at arecent seminar.

Chemistry is his passion, but he alsohad to find a way to make money. Hedidn’t know while attending collegethat he’d also be good at customerservice and marketing. That camealong as he honed his skills.

“I found an opportunity and I took it,”he said. “It’s taken me this long to learnwhat I’m good at.”

Entrepreneurial spirit alive and wellADVERTISEMENT

John Celikoski, owner and manager of Chippewa Family Restaurant, has maintained his clientele despite the down economy. Hesaid the secret to his success isn’t really a secret at all. He treats his customers well, he has a great wait staff and the food is good andplentiful.

Rolly Enderes, vice president of chemical distribution company ChemCeed based inChippewa Falls, said he once was the type of entrepreneur who was mostly interested inmoney. Now he wants, and helps manage, a successful business that benefits the com-munity. For more information about ChemCeed, visit www.chemceed.com.

John Celikoski jokes with regular customers Irene and Roy Foster from Bloomer at his restaurant in Chippewa Falls.

Walker