fox cities chamber
Energizing & Empowering Enterprise
Fall 2017 Volume 18 Issue 3
RETOOLING
For the NEW Workforce NEW
Manufacturing Alliance
Partnerships
Connecting local education with tomorrow’s workforce
The Changing Approach to Attracting Talent Manufacturers Bring New Money into the Fox Cities Welcome Leadership Fox Cities Class of 2017-2018
(920) 734-4786 www.tundraland.com
InThis
ISSUE 2 The President’s Perspective Views from the Chamber President 4 Retooling for the NEW Workforce
15 New Approaches to Attracting Talent 16 Q&A with the Professionals
The NEW Manufacturing Alliance addresses workforce challenges in our area.
17 Welcome New Members
7 Upcoming Chamber Events 8 Leadership Fox Cities
A Jewelers Mutual perspective
Welcomes the class of 2017-2018
9 Community Spotlight
Fleet Feet Sports Fox Valley
10 PULSE Young Professionals Network Menasha’s turn for Bazaar After Dark
11 Smartphones and Managing Contacts 12 Manufacturers Bring New Money Manufacturing and wealth creation in the Fox Cities
22 Volunteer Programs Attract Talent 24 Talent Collaborative
Connecting local education with tomorrow’s workforce
26 Happenings 28 Your Voice
An interview with Congressman Reid Ribble
29 Guest Column
Interview Feedback, by: Michael Henckel
30 Member Spotlight
Story Correction: In the Summer 2017 issue of the Fox Cities Chamber Business magazine, we published an error in the Q&A with the Professionals feature. We said that Sharon Hulce is President of Employee Resource Group and the correct information is that Sharon Hulce is President of Employment Resource Group, Inc. The Fox Cities Chamber would like to apologize for this error in the Summer 2017 publication.
Publisher Bob Mundt Editor Emily Feagles Design Weidert Creative Photography BConnected LLC Graham Washatka
On The Cover Retooling for the NEW Workforce Fox Cites Chamber Business (v259180). Published quarterly by the Fox Cities Chamber of Commerce and Industry, 125 N. Superior Street, Appleton, WI 54911. PH 920-734-7101. WEB www.foxcitieschamber.com. Periodical postage paid at Appleton, WI. Annual subscription fee to members for Fox Cities Chamber Business is $9 and is included in dues. Postmaster: Send address changes to: Fox Cities Chamber Business, 125 N. Superior Street, Appleton, WI 54911.
Printing JP Graphics
Fox Cities Business Fall 2017
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The President’s PERSPECTIVE “The Fox Cities Chamber and the Fox Cities Regional Partnership will continue to work to find innovative solutions to assist our employers with their challenges.” Dear Chamber Members, Investors and Partners: In the short time that I’ve been at the Fox Cities Chamber, I have truly come to realize the impact of manufacturing in the Fox Cities Region. This area provides an environment to help businesses flourish through a high-quality of life, attractive business environment and people willing to do what it takes to be successful. Ranking well above average in economic growth rates, we’re one of the top manufacturing centers in the country. In fact, the manufacturing industry employs more than 20 percent of the workforce in Northeast Wisconsin, and thousands more jobs are expected to be added in this area over the next decade. The Chamber and the Fox Cities Regional Partnership (FCRP), our economic development division, are positioned to assist Fox Cities manufacturers with expansion plans by working with multiple regional partners in addressing growth challenges. The FCRP works with the business community as a catalyst to identify growth opportunities and assists with identifying resources and programs that can help grow their business. Through the Business Retention and Expansion Program and Chamber member retention calls, our staff calls on over 400 businesses each year to stay connected to opportunities and threats affecting our local manufacturers. Today, Fox Cities businesses and manufacturers are expanding due to increasing market demand and product innovation. Manufacturers are working to fill positions as the demographics of the workforce change and boomers begin to retire from the workforce. The next generation of workers promises to be much more diverse and skills must be modified to adapt to jobs needed by manufacturers. Recognizing these trends, the Chamber and the FCRP have developed innovative programs like Talent Upload to assist businesses in filling these new skill demands. Our PULSE Young Professionals Network is a program that inspires young professionals to thrive, expand networks, form new friendships, and brainstorm ideas via continuing education, business development skills and other forward-thinking activities. The Chamber’s Talent Collaborative also looks for ways to align resources and develop partnerships with local employers, development groups, school districts, and other entities to increase the region’s ability to respond to workforce needs. The online platform, Your Future Fox Cities, helps to connect Fox Cities businesses with students and educators. It provides connections for students to find career development opportunities like job shadows, internships and apprenticeships. Branding and visibility is critical in advancing our manufacturing and commercial base. Marketing our assets to graduating college students, young professionals, outside talent pools, local high schools, and parents will help us attract and retain the talent necessary to fill new jobs of the future. Working to build a recognizable brand for the Chamber, the FCRP, and the Fox Cities in general will help build the reputation of the area, instill confidence among our current residents and brand us as a place to consider for new business expansions and future workforce. Manufacturing is a vibrant and viable business sector in the Fox Cities Region. It provides the basis for other commercial and retail development by creating primary jobs and spendable income for our residents. The Fox Cities Chamber and the Fox Cities Regional Partnership will continue to work to find innovative solutions to assist our employers with their challenges. We appreciate their support of our efforts. We are ready to help take your business vision to the next level.
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Gratefully, Bob Mundt, President/CEO
Board of Directors 2017-18 Chairman of the Board Bruce Zak JPMorgan Chase, N.A. Chairman-Elect Kathi Seifert Katapult, LLC Past Chairman Daniel P. Ferris SECURA Insurance Companies Secretary/Treasurer Travis Froze BMO Harris Bank Board of Directors Kimberly Barrett Lawrence University Jen Bauer Miron Construction Co., Inc. Lisa Cruz Red Shoes PR, Inc. John Dennis Gardan Inc. Curt Detjen Community Foundation Brian Giroux Kimberly Clark Corporation DeDe Heid Heid Music Jason Henderson newVoices Choir Chris Hess ThedaCare Jim Johnson Pierce Manufacturing Dean Kaufert City of Neenah Chris Matheny Fox Valley Technical College Rick Parks Modern Woodmen of America Todd Romenesko Calumet County Mark Scheffler Appleton Group Wealth Management Heather Schimmers St. Elizabeth Hospital/Ministry Healthcare Denise Starcher Menasha Corporation Scott Teerlinck Werner Electric Supply John Trottier AZCO, Inc. Gary Vaughan Guident Business Solutions Abe Weber Appleton International Airport Bob Zemple Baker Tilly Virchow Krause, LLP Ex-Officio Kevin Eismann Epiphany Law, LLC Sharon Hulce Employment Resource Group, Inc.
Get to Know your Fox Cities Chamber of Commerce Staff The Chamber is a dynamic group of dedicated professionals who provide resources and solutions to businesses of all sizes within the Fox Cities Region. The Chamber acts as an access point for solving business challenges, establishing and growing professional and social networks and providing assistance for business leaders to achieve their goals.
Operations 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8.
Bob Mundt President/CEO bmundt@foxcitieschamber.com Linda Myers Executive Assistant to the President lmyers@foxcitieschamber.com Nora Langolf Vice President, Finance & Administration nlangolf@foxcitieschamber.com Emily Feagles Director, Marketing & Communications efeagles@foxcitieschamber.com Karla Tierney Graphic Designer ktierney@foxcitieschamber.comer.com Kristen Greiner Events Manager kgreiner@foxcitieschamber.com Connie Barlow Receptionist receptionist@foxcitieschamber.com Pam Schweitzer Receptionist receptionist@foxcitieschamber.com
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Beth Pritzl Director, Research & Technology beth@foxcitiesregion.com Rob Peterson Director, Existing Industry Services rob@foxcitiesregion.com
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MiKayla Kunde Member Engagement Coordinator mkunde@foxcitieschamber.com Beth Haase Director, Membership bhaase@foxcitieschamber.com
Public Policy 13.
Mark Rahmlow Vice President, Public Policy mrahmlow@foxcitieschamber.com
Talent 14. 15. 16. 17.
Patty Milka Vice President, Talent & Education pmilka@foxcitieschamber.com Nikki Hessel Director, PULSE Young Professionals Network nhessel@foxcitieschamber.com Amy Schanke Director, Leadership Fox Cities aschanke@foxcitieschamber.com Vaya Kiel Program Coordinator, Talent & Education vkiel@foxcitieschamber.com
Loaned Executive 18.
Beth Davis Director, Special Initiatives bdavis@foxcitieschamber.com
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RETOOLING
for the NEW Workforce
Manufacturing is critically important to Northeast Wisconsin. According to the NEW Manufacturing Alliance, a manufacturer-led organization working to promote manufacturing in the Northeast Wisconsin Region, 23% of people employed are working in the manufacturing sector within our Region, compared to a state average of 16%. (The U.S. national statistic is 9% of the workforce.) “On average, the manufacturing sector has the highest wages per any other private sector industry,” shared Ann Franz, Director of the NEW Manufacturing Alliance. “The economic impact from manufacturing is significant. For every one dollar spent in manufacturing, another $1.81 is added back to the economy.” Wisconsin has a longstanding manufacturing history of making things including paper, plastics, machine builders, food and shipbuilding. Since manufacturing has been fundamental to the strength of the overall economy, it is critical to build and support a future workforce to keep the industry strong and provide viable opportunities for job seekers. October has been proclaimed as Manufacturing Month by the Governor due to the industry’s impact in our state.
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The aging workforce is an issue not only for manufacturers but across all industry sectors. Baby Boomers are starting to retire in more significant numbers than ever before. The Shift Commission on Work, Workers and Technology reported that by 2024, nearly one-quarter of the workforce is projected to be 55 or older, which is more than double the share than in 1994.1 The NEW Manufacturing Alliance surveyed its members in Spring 2017 to understand the impact of the aging workforce throughout the Region. Franz shared that their Retired Worker Survey reported that 85% of companies surveyed are concerned with the aging workforce, but only 35% have any type of strategy to address the issue. To tackle the issue of losing Baby Boomers, and their industry knowledge due to retirement, many organizations have implemented key best practices to address knowledge loss and fill vacant positions. These best practices include: part-time or flexible schedule for older employers to stay on the job; cross-training; documentation and development of standard operating procedures; internships, co-ops and youth apprenticeships; registered apprenticeships and succession planning. The Retired Worker Survey by the Alliance provided findings that have been, and will be, used to connect and communicate with K-12 and higher education audiences about the demand in key occupations due to the large number of retirees in Northeast Wisconsin. Demonstrated by the average tenure of more than nine years, the careers in manufacturing in Northeast Wisconsin are indeed rewarding. To meet the workforce demands, it is critical that the public understand the variety of high-wage and high-demand occupations that are available. In order to address the skills shortage, multiple strategies must be developed to make an impact on the industry in the Region. The NEW Manufacturing Alliance has created several taskforces focused on many issues and challenges. Continued on next page...
Specific initiatives have been created from the Alliance to address the challenges identified within the manufacturing sector in our area. Get Real Math! videos were created to address the issue that math teachers frequently face when students ask when they’ll utilize various math skills in the real world. The goal is to create a video focused on every fifth through ninth grade math skill in order for students to learn more about the correlation to manufacturing careers. Currently, there are 23 videos produced relating to specific topics. 12 new videos are being debuted at the Get Real Math Video Premier in October. Internship Draft Day, held in November at Lambeau Field, is a college job fair with a twist. Students from area technical colleges are invited to attend and, unlike other college career fairs, attendees have the opportunity to participate in 15-minute interviews for paid internships while at the event. All-Star Program, is an initiative of the Alliance that features ten select manufacturing employees, between the ages of 18 – 36, from area manufacturers who encourage students to consider manufacturing careers in a comprehensive magazine and online videos. The Alliance values collaboration with other organizations, including the Fox Cities Chamber, in order to increase awareness of manufacturing careers for the future generation. Review upcoming events and programs at www.newmfgalliance.org to learn more about the initiatives being implemented to support the vital sector of manufacturing in Northeast Wisconsin. Fox Cities Business Fall 2017
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The 2017 Retired Worker Survey from the NEW Manufacturing Alliance found the following occupations having more than 30% of their workforce being 56 or older:
37% Maintenance Mechanic/Millwrights 35% Electricians 33% Service Technicians 33% Electro-Mechs 33% Machinists 38% Research & Development Engineers 34% Sales Reps 32% Electrical Engineers 32% Mechanical Engineer Techs 31% Electrical Engineer Techs Specifically related to the issue of the retiring workforce, a taskforce on finding best practices and strategies to address the issue has been created and a Retired Worker Symposium is being planned for Spring 2018 in the Fox Cities. It is important for manufacturers to speak in a unified voice to communicate to the public about the rewarding and lucrative careers available in manufacturing. Northeast Wisconsin two-year and four-year colleges are addressing the issue by providing new engineering and engineering technology degree programs. Over the last 11 years, by working together with the task forces, the Alliance has seen a significant increase in enrollment in Machining and Welding types of programs in area technical colleges. For example, in 2005 there were 193 students enrolled in Welding programs and by 2015, that number increased to 835 and continues to increase. Franz shared that another focus of the Alliance is measuring the improved perception of manufacturing in the Region by surveying parents of students who will become the future workforce. Last Fall, almost 900 people completed the Alliance’s survey on perceptions of manufacturing careers. Based on a similar national SME survey, a key finding showed that 72% of local parents agreed to the statement that manufacturing is an ‘exciting and engaging profession,’ whereas only 50% agreed in the national survey. Manufacturing is vital in our communities and parents are seeing it as a viable career path for the future generation. Franz shared that the Alliance will administer the survey every two years to determine if the perceptions of parents have improved. There is still work to do to improve the overall perception of the manufacturing sector. However, through initiatives of the NEW Manufacturing Alliance and their partners, the future generation is being exposed to the viable career opportunities in the industry of manufacturing while strategies and best practices are being implemented to harness the knowledge of the retiring generation.
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Who is the NEW Manufacturing Alliance? The NEW Manufacturing Alliance is a manufacturer-led organization that began in 2006 with 12 members. Today, the Alliance has over 200 members, mostly made up of manufacturers, across 18 counties in Northeast Wisconsin. By working closely with other organizations, including the Fox Cities Chamber of Commerce, they work to promote manufacturing across the Northeast Wisconsin Region. Their vision is that every Northeast Wisconsin manufacturer will find the talent it needs. In June 2017, the Alliance was recognized by Frost & Sullivan’s Manufacturing Leadership Council with the Talent Management Leadership Award alongside major manufacturers such as Dow Chemical and Oracle. The award provides validation to the impact of the work being done to enhance the manufacturing sector in our Region.
Citation: 1 – Eisenberg, Richard. The Future of Work for People 50+ Will Surprise You. Forbes, 22 May 2017, https://www. forbes.com/sites/nextavenue/2017/05/22/the-future-ofwork-for-people-50-will-surprise-you/#1e8112a372e7.
Upcoming Chamber
EVENTS
All of the Fox Cities Chamber events and details can be found online at: foxcitieschamber.com.
OCTOBER
NOVEMBER CONTINUED...
Talent Upload
Business Connection
Thursday, Oct. 12 – Saturday, Oct. 14, 2017 Lodging at Radisson Paper Valley Hotel; Event locations vary
Business Breakfast Bytes
Topic: “Change Management” Tuesday, October 17, 2017 Comfort Suites 3809 W. Wisconsin Avenue, Appleton 7:30 – 9:00 AM
Marketing Made Lean
Wednesday, November 15, 2017 Pullman’s at Trolley Square 619 S. Olde Oneida Street, Appleton 5:00 – 7:00 PM
Business Breakfast Bytes
Tuesday, November 21, 2017 Spectrum (formerly Time Warner Cable) 3520 Destination Drive, Appleton 7:30 – 9:00 AM
DECEMBER
(Four-part Series with FVTC) October 17, 19, 24, 26 Fox Valley Technical College D.J. Bordini Center 5 N. Systems Drive, Appleton 2:00 – 5:00 PM
Member Orientation
NOVEMBER
Business Connection
Public Policy Lunch ‘n Learn
Topic: “Innovation that Matters – Does your community have what it takes?” Wednesday, November 8, 2017 Liberty Hall 800 Eisenhower Drive, Kimberly 11:30 AM – 1:00 PM
The EVENT: Celebrating Business Thursday, November 9, 2017 Fox Cities Performing Arts Center 400 W. College Avenue, Appleton 5:30 – 8:00 PM
Friday, December 1, 2017 Fox Cities Chamber 125 N. Superior Street, Appleton 11:30 AM – 1:30 PM
Tuesday, December 12, 2017 AbbyBank 1500 Olde Casaloma Drive, #103, Appleton 5:00 – 7:00 PM
Business Breakfast Bytes
Tuesday, December 19, 2017 McMAHON 1445 McMahon Drive, Neenah 7:30 – 9:00 AM
JANUARY Report to the Community
Thursday, January 18, 2018 Bridgewood Resort Hotel & Conference Center 1000 Cameron Way, Neenah 7:00 – 9:00 AM
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Leadership Fox Cities Readies its New Class “On behalf of the Leadership Fox Cities Steering Committee, allow me to extend an enthusiastic CONGRATULATIONS to the new 2017-18 LFC Class Members. We are excited to meet you and for you to embark on a truly unforgettable experience. Get ready for an incredible year ahead!” Preston Kendall — Chairman, Leadership Fox Cities Steering Committee
This year’s class of forty professionals will gather in monthly sessions for nine consecutive months. During each session, these community-minded leaders will learn about the Fox Cities’ accolades and challenges. They will also participate in sustainable small group projects designed to inspire our area.
“Community leadership is the courage, creativity and capacity to inspire participation, development and sustainability for strong communities.” — Gustav Nossal
LEADERSHIP FOX CITIES
Welcome Class of 2017 - 2018 Martha Baldwin Fox Valley Lutheran High School Ryan Batley Best Western Premier Bridgewood Sam Benjamin SECURA Insurance Susan Boettcher Tidi Products, Inc. Matthew Brehmer Remley & Sensenbrenner, S.C. Kristin Cates Volunteer Center of East Central WI John Cook Goodwill Industries, Inc. Donna Evers Thrivent Financial Sara Folk J. J. Keller & Associates, Inc. Dan Gerken American Digital Cartography, Inc. 8
Fox Cities Business Fall 2017
Craig Gloudemans Community First Credit Union Allie Gonnering Thrivent Financial Scott Jensen Appleton Ice, Inc. Rebecca Kellner Associated Financial Group, LLC Laura Kemps The Boys’ & Girls’ Brigade Kelcie Kleuskens Appvion Travis Korth TECC Security Alex Kreul Newmark Grubb Pfefferle Tera Larson UW Oshkosh Tina Lechnir Ascension/St. Elizabeth Hospital Ryan McMurtie United Financial Group, Inc.
Jane Metko Primary Care Associates of Appleton Kristopher Monty WE Energies Tim Murphy Oshkosh Corp. Aaron Olson Neenah Police Department Nathan Paul Appvion Jennifer Peeters Women’s Fund for the Fox Valley Region Andy Poquette American National Bank Fox Cities Adam Pritzl Roberts, Ritschke, Tyczkowski, LTD Brian Rammer YMCA of Fox Cities, Neenah-Menasha Joy Sams SECURA Insurance
Michael Schmid Miron Construction Co., Inc. Shana Shallue Lawrence University Michael Slowinski Appleton Area School District, East High School Alison Suski Image Studios, Inc. Cara Techlin Network Health Jacquelyn Warnecke Moraine Park Technical College Laura Waurio Fox Valley Technical College Paris Wicker Lawrence University Ryan Wirth RBC Wealth Management
COMMUNITY
Spotlight
Supporting charitable programs within our community is vital to their mission.
Putting their Best Foot Forward The focus at Fleet Feet Sports Fox Valley is beyond the four walls of their business and out into the Fox Cities communities. They live out their business mission every day: education, empowerment, and igniting motivation in their customers and the community. They see what they do positively impacting people’s lives every day by reducing aches and pains accumulated through work or past injuries. At first glance, Fleet Feet is a brick and mortar retail store, but in reality, they are so much more than just a running store. Education is important to the team at Fleet Feet. Most of their conversations on the fit stool or in their training programs are centered around injury prevention, problem-solving or removing a barrier that has limited progress towards individuals’ goals. They offer free educational seminars for organizations at no cost. Connecting with a group or organization, be it five or fifty people, allows their team to reach an audience with the message of wellness. Their team shares information regarding improvements to personal wellness and reducing workplace injuries through on-site visits in their corporate wellness and Workplace FIT programs. Supporting charitable programs within the community is vital to the mission of Fleet Feet. They support races and events within the area, making sure organizations have the tools they need for race day and leverage their own communication vehicles to help promote local events and information. They have a number of charitable programs within their own organization, including Best Feet Forward. The program allows them to make shoes available to members of our community that do not otherwise have access to them. It’s that simple. Best Feet Forward allows them to donate nearly new shoes, and sometimes other items, to individuals or groups. The program grew out of a need to take care of those that cannot afford good footwear in our community. Over the last five years, Fleet Feet has distributed hundreds of shoes annually to those in need. Last Fall, they were able to access more than $85,000 in apparel from a vendor exiting the running industry. They distributed boxes of running gear to school and
teen running groups throughout the area. “It’s just what we do,” shared Leah Schapiro, co-owner at Fleet Feet Sports Fox Valley. “How can we not find ways to take care of our own?” Beyond our local community, Fleet Feet has more recently worked in a coordinated relief effort with all stores across the country to provide new or gently-used shoes and new sock donations for their stores in Texas to provide people and organizations in need from the aftermath of Hurricane Harvey. Fleet Feet is the largest and strongest brand in their specialty running channel. The Fox Valley location was the third of now four stores in Wisconsin, with more than 160 nationally. “There is strength in our brand, and with that, the ability to leverage resources. We turn those resources towards the community whenever we can,” says Schapiro. The team at Fleet Feet wants to be part of your fitness journey. If an organization is interested in working with them for their wellness programming, they can visit their website or contact Leah Schapiro directly at leah@fleetfeetfoxvalley.com or 920.830.7867. “We are blessed every day to cheer and support our customers forward, in whatever direction they choose,” shared Schapiro.
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PULSE young professionals network
A PROGRAM OF
Photos compliments of Graham Washatka
Bazaar After Dark Lights Up Downtown Menasha In its third incredibly successful iteration, Bazaar After Dark descended upon picturesque and amenity-rich downtown Menasha with its signature weird and wonderful marketplace. In collaboration with local storefronts, sponsors, and support from the City of Menasha, the traveling Fox Cities night market was able to positively impact the community with a shared experience that highlighted local business, art, music and food. “Events like these provide a quality of life benefit that is difficult to measure but is valued by people who live and work in a community. Bringing people together to celebrate art, culture and volunteerism not only builds stronger communities, it builds a sense of pride and camaraderie. Faith Technologies is committed to being a good corporate citizen. As a national leader in electrical planning, engineering, design and installation, we thought it was appropriate for Faith to support an event that literally “lights up the street” to draw visitors to growing central business districts,” shared Renee Torzala, Community Relations Manager at Faith Technologies.
Brought To You By
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Fox Cities Business Fall 2017
Mural Courtesy Of
Using Your Smartphone to Manage your Professional Contacts Contributed by: Tammy Vandenbusch, Media Relations/ Communications Specialist, Nsight/Cellcom
Smartphones help you keep in close contact with your personal and professional networks. While the tool is the same, staying in touch with your business contacts or customers requires more formality, attention and finesse to do it well. Consider these apps to streamline and improve your communication with your professional network while saving time doing it. CircleBack is a socially integrated address book app that helps you keep your contacts up-to-date. The app monitors connection details through email and social networks and notifies you to changes in title, email address and phone numbers. You can quickly accept or reject updates to your important contacts and use these as a reminder to reconnect with someone. Cloze is an all-in-one contact, social network and email command center. It pulls from various apps to create one view of every contact and logs all of your emails, calls, meetings, notes, files and messages to each other. Cloze will remind you of when you were going to get back to someone or when you were anticipating hearing back from someone. It has a powerful email feature with templates, link analytics, scheduling and more. Share your communication with members of your team and assign responsibilities and next steps right in the app. Heymarket is an app focused on text messaging for businesses. You can share a phone number between multiple people and view incoming messages and replies on a single dashboard. With calendar integration you can set up meetings via a text or set reminders to follow-up. Build templates from common messages and schedule messages or campaigns to stay in touch with customers or people you meet.
Beyond the more simplistic apps, many customer relationship management (CRM) platforms offer some type of mobile app with tools to manage your contacts and build relationships. If your company is leveraging an enterprise-level tool, it’s a great idea to look into their smartphone offerings to see how you can better manage your network. As with any app-based solution, there is no one-fits-all. Whether you’re looking for a free entry level app or a paid solution to share with your team, be sure to look at what an app offers and try them out before deciding which solution may work for you. Search your app store to discover recommended or related apps that could meet your needs.
Cellcom is an innovative wireless company that provides nationwide service for its customer base throughout Wisconsin and Michigan, with more than 50 retail and agent locations. Cellcom is respected for its long-standing reputation of delivering extraordinary customer care, being a strong community partner, and for its renowned network, which is customized to its rural markets. As a subsidiary of Nsight, Cellcom is part of a family of companies offering complete telecommunications services.
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Story by: Beth Pritzl, Director, Research & Technology, Fox Cities Regional Partnership, (the Economic Development Division of the Fox Cities Chamber)
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Fox FoxCities CitiesBusiness BusinessSpring Fall 2017 2017
Manufacturers
Bring New Money into the Fox Cities The term “primary employer” refers to firms that produce more goods and services than can be consumed by the local economy, and therefore export a significant portion of them. A major benefit of having primary employers in a community is that external funds are infused into the local economy. Economic development is the process of wealth creation as a result of the introduction of new money into an economy. Fox Cities Regional Partnership, the economic development division of the Fox Cities Chamber, focuses its efforts on helping primary employers grow and remain here in the Fox Cities, encouraging that infusion of new funds to grow with every new job added. A common primary employer is a manufacturing company. A manufacturer builds its products here in the Fox Cities and employs residents of the Fox Cities to produce a product and run operations. As the goods are sold to customers outside of the Fox Cities, new money comes into that organization and is distributed to employees in the form of wages, salaries and benefits. These employees spend that money on goods and services locally, such as new cars, healthcare, retail and restaurants, charitable giving, and of course, local taxes. Organizations who receive this money are able to increase the quality and capacity of services offered, increasing the quality of life in the Fox Cities. The Fox Cities has a very high proportion of manufacturing activity. In fact, the industry sector makes up one-fifth of all jobs in Calumet, Outagamie and Winnebago counties. Those jobs make up about one-fourth of all wages distributed here as well. The health of our manufacturers is crucial to the health of the Fox Cities Region, as most of the money brought in and then paid out to Fox Cities employees is from outside of our region—providing that infusion of new money with every paycheck.
Fox Fox Cities Cities Fox Cities Business Business Business December December Fall 2017 2015 2015
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Join us on Thursday, November 9, 2017 Fox Cities Performing Arts Center in Appleton to honor this year’s Award Recipients. Awards include the: ATHENA® Leadership Entrepreneur of the Year Business Hall of Fame Gus A. Zuehlke Distinguished Service Champion of the Chamber Joyce Bytof Exceptional Mentor
hi Young Professional of the Year
5:30 PM - 8:00 PM Social — Awards Presentation — Reception — Raffle To register, click on the Calendar at foxcitieschamber.com
Presenting Sponsor 14
Execcutive Sponsor
Fox Cities Business Fall 2017
Athena® Sponsor
Contributing Sponsor
Raffle Sponsor
The Changing Approach to Attracting Talent Sharon Hulce, President, Employment Resource Group, Inc. I know everyone who is reading this will agree on one simple fact. The ability to recruit and retain great people is becoming more of a challenge than ever before. Every industry sector is impacted by this, but since this issue is dedicated to manufacturing, let’s focus on some of the unique challenges our Wisconsin manufacturers are facing. The challenge can be summed up pretty quickly while the solutions are very diverse. Bottom line – Baby Boomers think differently than Millennials. Neither is right nor wrong. What is important to each age group varies. Let’s break apart the biggest challenges we see:
1. Millennials want to work for a company with a purpose – and they want to know the “why” behind what they do and how it matters. When I talk to manufacturing leaders about why people would want to work at their facilities, invariably they tell me about how clean their plants are and how the perception of it being a “dirty” job is not true anymore. They point out that these young kids can make a good living. Oh, and we’re family friendly – we have a company picnic every year for the family.
2. Baby Boomers are hesitant to transfer their institutional knowledge. Baby Boomers are struggling to transfer their institutional knowledge for a couple of reasons. First, let’s face it – if you are the only one that knows your job, it’s job security for you. Remember, this is the group that just went through the recent recession and either watched their friends get laid off or they themselves experienced this. Solely knowing their job, in their mind, is a good thing. Also, they are aware of the normal tenure of Millennials, whose average job tenure is 18 months to three years. Baby Boomers are frustrated and believe that they are wasting their time training someone who is just going to leave anyway. From the Millennials viewpoint, they are frustrated with how “set in their ways” the Baby Boomers are and how unwilling they are to listen to ideas on how to be more efficient or effective at a proven task.
Well, Mr. or Ms. Baby Boomer, did you know that making good money is not high on the list of what attracts a Millennial? Neither is attending the company picnic. This generation wants to live and work for a place where they feel their work matters and makes a difference. They want to know that what it is you produce helps someone in some way – which quite frankly, all of you do. Your new messaging has to be very different than your old messaging. When I started in this business, what was said early was the usual; great place to live and raise a family, safe, great schools and great health care - and all were significant on the Baby Boomers list. Today, it’s not about that, it’s about the changing landscape your business provides to the world. Sound tough to do? My friends at Oshkosh Corporation have figured it out. Let’s be honest, they make very big trucks - fire trucks, military trucks, construction trucks and sanitation trucks. Excited yet? Well, they have figured out their messaging, and instead of talking about the clean plants and quality of life in the Fox Cities, they talk about how their impact keeps people alive and safe and their neighborhoods clean. Their YouTube channel features an impactful recruiting video for their Defense Division called, “We are Honored.” The video begins with pictures of their vehicles in tough terrain. It then cuts to the people of Oshkosh Corp. – and the messaging changes to how their people are honored to be able to bring their loved ones home safe. You see people holding photos of their sons and daughters, fathers and mothers and service buddies. The video shows that what this company builds is no longer about the vehicle, it’s about taking care of their own. The talent pool has increased significantly for them when we share this video with potential candidates – especially Millennials. Baby Boomers are retiring at a rate of 10,000 per day nationwide. Within the next three to five years, the largest concentration of that group will be in the state of Wisconsin. If this doesn’t alarm you, it should. Our talent shortage is only going to get worse, not better!
We suggest getting this group together to collaborate and build a bond away from the normal work duties. We have been facilitating “Innovation Summits”, where we bring together the high potential and high performers from each group (the people you want to retain). We give this mixed group problem solving and critical thinking exercises, allowing the two generations to work side-by-side and form a collective bond over solving issues that have challenged the business. Some of the best business ideas and strategies have come from this group. The Millennials love being asked for input on market trends, new product development, new channels in which to sell and quite frankly, tend to be more up-to-date on the technologies of the future. Everyone walks away with their eyes open and sees each other through a new lens. Generational differences can benefit your business. Collaborating together is what makes it work, not discounting each other because we are different.
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“What keeps your organization relevant in today’s world of manufacturing?” with the PROFESSIONALS The new face of manufacturing requires capital investments that promote more than efficiency and adequate space. Manufacturers now must accommodate robotics and high-tech equipment. They want clean and modern facilities as they wage a battle against stereotypes and competition to attract top talent. Our strategic alignment with Wisconsin Manufacturing Extension Partnership (WMEP) allows us to work intimately with manufacturers to integrate streamlined processes with facility expansions in a holistic manner. We provide guidance on creating distinctive and energizing work environments, and show manufacturers how to utilize their facility as an asset in attracting talented workers.
While we may not be selling our manufacturing equipment directly online, we’ve had to embrace the growing use of ecommerce. Our customers use our machines to package foam, mattresses and bedding products in ways that are easier and cheaper to ship. When you purchase a bed from an online retailer, it’s likely it’s coming compressed, folded and rolled into a box or bag by our equipment. Because of this, being aware of online buying and package shipment trends is critical when we go to design a machine. When the design does happen, we have a diverse team of junior and senior-level staff attacking the problem. This inclusion has helped us maintain a fresh perspective and culture.
As industry leaders, we speak at manufacturing conferences to educate the market on the latest technologies for facility improvements.
Mark Schwei, Executive Vice President, Consolidated Construction
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Courtney Cerniglia, Business Development, C3 Corporation
IVI was founded on the belief that to be the best U.S. industrial ventilation contractor, we would focus on helping manufacturers comply with EPA, DNR and OSHA air quality regulations. To accomplish this, we custom design, build and install ventilation systems that remove dust, noxious fumes, carbon monoxide and silica, meeting indoor air quality exposure limits. These systems draw contaminated air from its source through cleaning agents called collectors, remove the offending particles and disperse clean air outside. We meet regulations related to permissible levels of containments exhausted into the atmosphere. These regulations constantly change and are becoming more stringent. To ensure our customers remain compliant, IVI stays up to date with software and computer technology; changes in indoor and outdoor regulatory permissible levels; and industrial technology, equipment and engineering.
Gerald Auler, CEO, IVI Incorporated
WELCOME New Members
May-July 2017
The Fox Cities Chamber relies on members to continue its work in promoting business interests in the Fox Cities Region. Without these committed members, the Chamber would not be able to provide the high quality services it is known for.
Altius Building Company
Fox River Capital
Sprint by Wireless Express
14170 W. Greenfield Avenue Brookfield, WI 53005-7006 262-641-8811 http://www.altiusbuildingco.com GENERAL CONTRACTOR
103 W. College Avenue, Suite 412 Appleton, WI 54911-5744 920-659-0324 http://www.foxrivercapital.com INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT
833 N. Casaloma Drive Appleton, WI 54913-8606 920-993-5322 http://dealer.sprint.com/wirelessexpress/ RETAIL SALES
Alzheimer’s Association Greater Wisconsin Chapter
Green Bay Botanical Garden
Unison Credit Union
2600 Larsen Road Green Bay, WI 54303-4841 920-490-9457 http://www.gbbg.org NON-PROFIT AGENCY
750 W. Evergreen Drive Appleton, WI 54913-8767 920-380-6000 http://www.unisoncu.org CREDIT UNIONS
3313 S. Packerland Drive, Suite E De Pere, WI 54115-6811 920-469-2110 http://www.alz.org/gwwi NON-PROFIT AGENCY
Anduzzi’s Sports Club 800 S. Washington Street Kimberly, WI 54136-2053 920-423-3886 http://www.anduzzis.com SPORTS BAR/DINING/BANQUET FACILITY
Bob’s Discount Furniture
Pisco Mar, LLC 528 W. College Avenue Appleton, WI 54911-5802 920-221-3346 http://www.piscomarappleton.com RESTAURANTS
Pizza Ranch N139 Eisenhower Drive Appleton, WI 54915-6288 920-734-8800 http://www.pizzaranch.com RESTAURANTS
690 N. Casaloma Drive Appleton, WI 54913-8554 920-659-5721 http://www.mybobs.com RETAIL SALES
Courtyard by Marriott Appleton 101 S. Riverheath Way Appleton, WI 54915-8401 920-903-9256 http://Marriott.com/atwcy HOTELS/MOTELS
Debbie Daanen Photography 310 W. Northland Avenue Appleton, WI 54911-2019 920-739-3249 http://www.debbiedaanen.com PHOTOGRAPHY
Primrose Retirement Community 5715 N. Meade Street Appleton, WI 54913-8381 608-260-0550 http://www.primroseretirement.com ASSISTED LIVING
Wisconsin Herd 549 High Avenue Oshkosh, WI 54901-4710 920-233-HERD (4373) http://www.wisconsinherd.com SPORTS & GAMES
WOW - We Care Charity P.O. Box 7412 Appleton, WI 54912-7412 920-257-8036 http://wowlogistics.com/philanthropy.aspx NON-PROFIT AGENCY
YP Marketing Solutions 424 Kraft Street Neenah, WI 54956-4996 920-738-6584 http://corporate.yp.com/ ADVERTISING
Segway the Fox Tours-Fox Valley 506 W. College Avenue Appleton, WI 54911-5802 920-376-0256 http://www.glidenew.com TRAVEL AGENCIES - FULL SERVICE
Anakh Leadership Coaching LLC Providing one-on-one coaching for business leaders and professionals who are experiencing: • Increased ineffectiveness • Ongoing struggles with emotional self-control • Recent demotion or job loss
• Personal or professional crisis • Dissatisfaction with goal achievement • Feeling frustrated and perpetually unfulfilled
Save the Date!
Change your experience today! Invest in your future success. Cindy M. Nelson M.B.A., C.S.L.C.
Call 920-372-3990 to schedule an initial consultation. E-mail: cindy@aleadershipcoach.com • www.aleadershipcoach.com/contact
Report to the Community
Save the Date! January 18, 2018
Bridgewood Resort Hotel & Conference Center 1000 Cameron Way, Neenah
Learn more at foxcitieschamber.com Fox Cities Business Fall 2017
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Services for Business & Industry
Customized. Innovative. Solutions.
To stay competitive, you need to find, select and train new and existing employees. Let Fox Valley Technical College help you: • Find new employees • Evaluate with employee assessments • Enhance employee skills with seminars and customized training
Contact our industry experts today!
www.fvtc.edu/EmployerResources • 920-735-2525
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DIAMOND MEMBER
Honor Roll July - September
Diamond Members are companies that have supported the Chamber and community for more than 40 years. We’d like to express our gratitude to the following Diamond Member businesses for their membership and support to the Fox Cities Chamber of Commerce.
MEMBER
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Company Name
Join Date
Appleton Awning Shop Inc.
7/1/1960
Appleton Lathing Corporation
9/1/1973
Femal’s Auto Body
9/1/1976
Great Northern Corporation
9/1/1961
Manpower, Inc.
9/1/1965
Modern Business Machines
9/1/1965
PDI Financial Group
9/1/1975
Silton Seifert Carlson, S.C.
7/1/1973
Thrivent Financial
7/1/1960
Van Eperen Painting
8/1/1967
We are proud to sponsor Fox Cities Chamber of Commerce’s License to Cruise & Octoberfest – A Mile of Fun. © 2017 JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. Member FDIC. “Chase” is a marketing name for certain businesses of JPMorgan Chase & Co. and its subsidiaries (collectively, “JPMC”). 373231
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Corporate-Sponsored Volunteer Programs Help Attract and Retain Valuable Talent As the business landscape in the U.S. continues to change and the “war on talent” rages, employers must offer an increasing number of incentives to current and potential employees, especially millennials. What are employees searching for? There’s a definite shift from the traditional plan (offer employees higher pay and more vacation) to empowering employees looking to become part of something. Not just their company, but their community. Not just a career, but a purpose. More and more, employees blend their work life and home life, fitting their job into their lifestyle. Corporate-sponsored volunteer programs make an enormous impact on talent attraction, engagement, and retention. Giving back to the communities in which employees live and work helps give those employees the much-desired purpose they are seeking. At Jewelers Mutual, we support the critical needs of the community through financial gifts and offering paid hours to employees each year through our Volunteer Incentive Program. Our company’s goal is to support what’s important to our employees (local schools, nursing homes, Junior Achievement, dog rescue, etc.) while achieving a lasting and positive impact on the Fox Valley and surrounding area. One example is Habitat for Humanity’s Rock the Block initiative, which helps homeowners who have neither the ability nor the funds to complete needed home repairs. Jewelers Mutual volunteer team members sign up for what interests them, from tree trimming to repaving walkways to painting and even home rebuilding.
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Not only do these opportunities improve individual morale and loyalty, at the same time they build team spirit. Plus, the teambuilding extends to other companies in the community, fostering good will and attracting potential employees. Companies can raise employee engagement even higher by involving them in deciding which nonprofit, 501c3 organizations receive donations. In addition, the Jewelers Mutual Charitable Giving Gift Match program matches employees’ charitable donations: a 50% gift match on donations of $50+.
Volunteering and community engagement also helps drive customer satisfaction on a daily basis. After all, happy employees make happy customers. Although initiating a corporate-sponsored volunteer program may initially seem daunting, all the longterm benefits make it a smart investment for the company and the community. Contributed by Vicki Lindamood, Chief Human Resources Officer at Jewelers Mutual Insurance Company
TALENT
COLLABORATIVE
PARTNERSHIPS Connecting local education with tomorrow’s workforce
Faith Technologies Supports Ground Up Growth It’s the perfect storm - a retiring workforce, coupled with an expanding labor shortage, plus millions of graduating seniors being told a fouryear degree is their only path to success. While some organizations in the trades are being forced to contract and reduce their backlog, Faith Technologies has built a layered strategy around recruiting the innovators, developing them with best-in-class training, and retaining them through a structured career path and mentorship program. “From leadership mentoring to skills training, the sky is truly the limit at Faith Technologies. Their in-house training programs have equipped me with many opportunities to both advance my skills and grow my career,” says Ryan Nacius, Project Manager. Ryan has been promoted six times since 1999 moving from Helper to Project Manager. As Faith Technologies continues our path of sourcing brilliant game changers like Ryan, we are changing the way we partner and are looking to educate students, starting in eighth grade, on career opportunities in the trades. Through relationships with the Fox Cities Chamber of Commerce and their introductions to key educators, we are studied and ready to show students what the “Electrician of the Future” looks like. Through job shadow events, youth apprenticeships, formal apprenticeship training programs, mentorships and training, we are evolving into career consultants for educators and students. Why? To help support the backbone of our country’s infrastructure—the trades.
® On-Site Job Shadow Experience 2017: October 27 | December 1 2018: January 26 | March 9 | April 20 All times: 8:00 AM – 3:00 PM CST Faith Technologies, Inc. NEW Innovation Center One Menasha Center, 201 Main Street, Menasha, WI 54952 Not sure what your career looks like? Explore your options at one of our upcoming full day job shadow events! Learn more at faithtechnologies.com
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School and Business Partnerships are Evolving for the Better By Chris VanderHeyden Superintendent, Menasha Joint School District Often when we consider school and business partnerships we think of a model that features a local business donating equipment or supplies that would otherwise be out of reach of public school budgets. School and business partnerships are evolving for the better, as students benefit by having the opportunity to work with up-to-date materials and the business benefits by being seen as a supporter of public schools. This is certainly a worthy model that can be seen across the State in many forms. Given the current issues regarding the availability of employees with the necessary skillsets, these partnerships are evolving to create another benefit to businesses: prospective employees. In the Menasha Joint School District (MJSD) we work with many local businesses to create new, effective partnerships on behalf of our students. These partnerships consist of some of the elements mentioned above but also include opportunities for employers to come in and speak to small or large groups of students. These sessions often allow employers to share the vast array of employment opportunities available in their companies, the skills (soft and hard) needed to do those jobs and the education level necessary for students to gain employment. This is accomplished through small group meetings, mock group interviews and entire grade level presentations.
Some examples of current, successful partnerships at MJSD are: Consolidated Construction: Consolidated has come to speak with our entire 9th and 10th grade classes to discuss job opportunities within the field of construction. We hope to start an apprenticeship program with them as well. They have also come and participated in our group interviews. Sure Dry Basement Systems: Sure Dry contacted us as they looked to expand their business and were in need of employees. They hired at least one of our students for full-time employment recently. The folks from Sure Dry have offered to come into our Tech-Ed classes and participate in our interviews. Central Temperature: Central Temp has had a few of our students as Youth Apprenticeships. They hired two of them as full-time employees after graduation. They look to continue this partnership. We have similar relationships with Miron Construction and AZCO and look forward to continued relationships with these businesses, and many more, as we work to help our students succeed after high school and our local companies work to maintain a viable workforce in our region.
21st Century Learning Takes Hold in New Neenah High School Class A class at Neenah High School will look a bit like the ABC television show, “Shark Tank,” as Neenah students become the first in the state to participate in the INCubatoredu program. INCubatoredu offers students an authentic entrepreneurship experience. In the year-long course, students have the opportunity to create and fully develop their own product or service. Real entrepreneurs and business experts from the community serve as volunteer coaches and mentors. Student teams work through the processes of developing hypotheses about a business concept, testing those hypotheses, adapting and continually learning and improving. This cycle of experimentation is combined with foundational business content such as marketing and finance.
INCubatoredu offers students an authentic entrepreneurship experience. “This program is 21st century learning at its best,” said Neenah High School Principal, Brian Wunderlich. “It’s all about problem solving, creativity and adaptability. We are so excited to bring the INCubatoredu to Neenah.” Students demonstrate their learning through explanation, interpretation and application of content to their team’s real business idea. The class is full for the 2017-18 school year and will conclude with students pitching their ideas to the community.
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1. The Chamber was proud to assist Appleton Housing Authority with a ribbon cutting and open house for their School Youth Build Program with the Appleton Area School District. The program brings construction students together from Appleton East, North and West High Schools to build a home to help a local family in need. 2. June’s Business Connection was held at the Radisson Paper Valley Hotel in the Clubhouse. Business Connections are an informal after-hours event where attendees have a chance to meet fellow professionals. 10.
3. In June, the Chamber welcomed HR Consultant Rebecca Kellner (JD, SPHR) from Associated Benefits and Risk Consulting for a lunch ‘n learn event on emerging issues for human resources in 2017. 4. It was a great day for our annual golf outing held this year at Butte des Morts Country Club in Appleton. Thank you to all of our sponsors and golfers for making this event possible! 5. Rear Admiral Bruce Gillingham addressed Chamber members at Pullman’s at Trolley Square as part of Navy Week in Northeast Wisconsin in July. 6. STL Staffing hosted a ribbon cutting event for their new office location in Appleton and we were thrilled to be part of this celebration. STL is a staffing agency specializing in light industrial as well as clerical/administration, IT and skilled labor.
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7. Whistler’s Knoll Vineyard was host to our July Business Connection. Guests enjoyed a beautiful setting on a summer evening to network with others. 8. The Chamber joined ATI Physical Therapy for their ribbon cutting and grand opening in June. ATI offers patient-centered care in physical therapy, sports medicine and workers’ compensation services. 9. Lakeland University Fox Cities Center held a ribbon cutting and open house in July. The Fox Cities Center is a satellite location offering evening and online courses for returning adult students. 10. Signarama of Appleton shared their re-grand opening event with the Chamber and community in June. They are locally owned and operated, and have provided high-quality, affordable sign and graphic solutions since 1998.
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11. In honor of their 40th anniversary, the Chamber helped celebrate Camera Case Wireless’ milestone this summer. Contact them for repair on your phones and tablets along with their 40 years of service. 12. In celebration of their expansion and remodel, Gunderson Cleaners invited the Chamber to participate in their ribbon cutting event in July. They operate eight stores in the Fox Valley with services including dry cleaning, wash and fold, pick-up and delivery, alterations and now shoe repair. 13. Wireless Express, an authorized Sprint retailer, held a ribbon cutting this summer to recognize their new office in Bellevue. Their locations offer top-notch customer service and well-trained service technicians.
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YOURVOICE Advocating for pro-business policy in the Fox Cities
The Peaks and Valleys of Roofing and Congress:
An Interview with Reid Ribble By: Mark Rahmlow, Vice President, Public Policy, Fox Cities Chamber
Reid Ribble is currently the CEO of the National Roofing Contractors Association (NRCA). He recently served three terms as a Member of Congress representing Wisconsin’s 8th Congressional District. Prior to that, he owned and operated Security-Luebke Roofing in Kaukauna. Ribble talked to the Fox Cities Chamber’s Vice President of Public Policy, Mark Rahmlow, about his new role at NRCA and reflected on his time in Washington. Rahmlow: As a former staffer in your office, I still get asked by business owners, “Does Ribble still wish he was in Washington?” Ribble: I don’t miss being in Washington at all. I was at total peace about my decision to impose my own term limit. I wanted to spend more time with my family and this year so far has been terrific in that regard. It was also no secret that I was frustrated by the slow pace of work in DC as far as getting things done. We all worked frenetically but we never took on the big issues of the day. Congress has a severely broken budget process. I offered legislation to fix it and convinced 60% of the congress to support it. Yet, that piece of legislation never received a vote - even with broad bipartisan support. I heard repeatedly that the sooner we addressed the shortfall in Social Security, the less it would cost. So, I offered the only bipartisan legislation in my time on Congress and it went nowhere. I was constantly told it took the House, Senate and White House to be held by one party and these things could be fixed. Big problems need, and more importantly deserve, broad bipartisan support so that the legislative fix does not become a lightning rod with the American people. It seems like they will never learn. Rahmlow: What has been your main focus since you accepted the CEO role at the National Roofing Contractors Association (NRCA)? Ribble: The construction industry has a severe worker shortage. It is the roofing industry’s number one issue. I have been working on the development of a worker certification program and engaging industry stakeholders in an effort to improve the industry’s image. Rahmlow: Nearly every occupation right now – from health care to IT to the construction trades – is facing a shortage of skilled workers. What steps is NRCA taking to encourage students to consider a career in roofing? Ribble: We believe that we must continually work on career path development, worker training and education, image improvement, and technology to increase productivity.
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Rahmlow: Has President Trump managed to surprise you at all during his first few months in office? Ribble: In more ways than you can imagine. I have been struck by the disconnect between his campaign rhetoric and his day-to-day approach to governing. I understood the appeal of having an outsider. Yet, he has been in part unwilling to bring policy experts around him on his senior staff and he seems uninterested in policy. He has stumbled many times with working with Congress. Congress needs clearly defined objectives and policy input. President Trump seems to be all over the map on policy. One day he cheers the House health care reform and then a week later he calls it mean. This happens too often and so Congress gets frozen in place. He campaigned on his deal making, his management skills, that he knew more than the generals, that Mexico would pay for the wall, etc. I am surprised by how much he is struggling. Rahmlow: Do you have any advice for our members in the construction industry as we close out the final months of 2017 and look ahead to 2018? Ribble: Sure. Put some of your earnings aside for the coming lean times. The economy has been growing for a very long time. It cannot last forever and each downturn hurts construction in the competition for labor. Secondarily, I would encourage more involvement in working with Congress. They need to hear loud and clear that tax and regulatory reform is essential and to not let the distractions at 1600 Pennsylvania prevent them from moving important pro-growth policy.
Why Employers Should – and Shouldn’t
Provide Interview Feedback By Michael Henckel
Candidates who are passed over for a job sometimes ask for the reasons surrounding their rejection. Employers are not required to provide such feedback, but many choose to provide more than just generic reasons for their decisions (in the vein of “a more qualified candidate was selected”). Employers cite a number of reasons for refraining from outlining their reasons for rejection, but there may also be benefits in taking the time to give the feedback.
Pro: Open doors and build trust It’s human nature to want feedback, and considering the time and emotional energy invested in a job search, it’s no surprise that job applicants want feedback. In fact, the more rejection emails they face and the longer candidates search for a job, the more desperate they become to find answers as to what they might be doing wrong. While you are not obligated to do so, there may be several reasons why it may be good for your company to provide feedback to candidates. Keeps the lines of communication open. A rejected candidate might still be a good fit for your company down the road. Providing those candidates with feedback after an interview may keep them actively interested in your company’s job offerings. Promotes transparency. Providing feedback to candidates shows a willingness to be transparent with your company’s hiring practices. Applicants may get a sense that your hiring process is more fair if you can articulate your reasons for going with another candidate. Strengthens your company reputation. Candidates actively vet companies through web searches and social media. Having a reputation of treating candidates well may make the difference between applicants choosing your company over another one that they feel will treat them better.
Con: Heed the cautionary tale Providing feedback does come with drawbacks and can create risk for your company. Some employers have made the decision not to provide feedback to candidates, perhaps rightfully so. A survey by CareerXroads cited three core hurdles to providing candidate feedback.
Not enough time. Providing feedback takes time, and falls more into the category of job coaching. Recruiters often may not have the time available to coach employment candidates. Candidates argue about the feedback. When recruiters do decide to offer advice or provide feedback, candidates often argue or engage in a debate. Since providing the feedback is not an obligation in the first place, many recruiters would rather not subject themselves to these interactions. Legal won’t allow it. Employment law attorneys will often advise employers to be wary of or refrain from offering feedback or reasons for rejecting a job candidate. Discrimination lawsuit risks are real, and corporate legal teams don’t want to provide an opportunity for candidates to file suit. Unfortunately, the more information candidates receive, the more ammunition they may have to do so. About the author: Michael Henckel is an associate editor at J. J. Keller & Associates, a nationally recognized compliance resource company that offers products and services to address the range of responsibilities held by human resources and corporate professionals. Henckel specializes in topics such as the Fair Labor Standards Act, employee classification, and compensation. He is the author of J. J. Keller’s FSLA Essentials guidance manual. For more information, visit: www.jjkeller.com/hr & www.jjkellerlibrary.com.
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MEMBERSpotlight Spotlight MEMBER
Member Spotlights are included in your membership package at the Grow ($700) or above level. Contact MiKayla Kunde for more information by email mkunde@foxcitieschamber.com or call (920) 734-7101.
Altius Building Company Working with a high level of transparency and trust from pre-construction to completion, we provide excellent project and quality management, budget estimates, contract administration and safety management. Each project phase is crucial to achieving our client’s vision- translating to efficiency, multi-disciplinary involvement and, most importantly, superior results. Our area of expertise at Altius Building Company includes multi-family, senior living, municipal, commercial, and student housing. Our target customers are developers, end users, or property owners with construction needs, new or existing. We are thrilled to be working alongside the Village of Howard, Alliance Management, and AG Architecture on Howard Commons Luxury Apartments. These luxury apartments will offer residents unsurpassed interior comforts parallel to custom homes and community amenities, plus add exceptional value to the village. We are an award-winning firm and our dynamic mix of industry experts provides a distinctly different, service-oriented, personal approach to the construction delivery process. Our long-standing relationships with every subcontractor and vendor we use, ensure superior craftsmanship, quality and integrity. For more information, visit altiusbuildingco.com
Bank First Bank First is an independent, relationship-based community bank focused on providing innovative products and services that are value driven. At Bank First, we recognize the importance of family, community, and financial growth and strive to deliver a superior banking experience by providing personalized customer service and beneficial financial solutions. Bank First is headquartered in Manitowoc, Wisconsin. Through a combination of acquisitions and de novo offices, our Bank has expanded to serve the community banking needs of those throughout northeastern Wisconsin, including Sheboygan, Manitowoc, Green Bay and the Fox Valley. Our growth has been achieved through our relationship-based model of banking. We take pride in knowing our customers on a personal level and working together to create value for themselves, their families and the communities in which we live. Bank First welcomes you to visit our location in Appleton! Located at 4201 W. Wisconsin Avenue, you will have the opportunity to meet our team of knowledgeable, experienced bankers and learn how our services can meet your present and future banking needs. Stop in today and let us help make your dreams a reality! For more information, visit bankfirstnational.com
Best Western Premier Bridgewood Resort Hotel The Best Western Premier Bridgewood Resort Hotel & Conference Center in Neenah is an ideal venue for business and leisure. The hotel features 95 guest rooms including 39 uniquely designed suites, many with whirlpools and fireplaces. Guests will enjoy the Aquatic Fun Center with four pools, Bridgewood Golf Course, platform tennis, mini-golf, and the popular Ground Round Grill & Bar. The hotel and conference center offer first-class service and beautiful amenities overlooking Bridgewood Golf Course. The conference center welcomes groups of up to 500 guests. Weddings, conferences, meetings and social events are accommodated by the experienced catering team. The Bridgewood Premier Catering staff will be happy to assist with off-site events. Attention pet lovers - the hotel is now pet-friendly. Pets are also welcome at the Ground Round patio. Also new this year, complimentary bicycles are available to guests during their stay at the hotel. The award-winning hotel and conference center is the perfect choice for business and leisure travelers. The professional staff is ready to assist with both on-site and off-site event planning. Welcome to the Premier Life! For more information, visit bwneenah.com
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Brookdale Appleton At Brookdale Appleton, we offer apartment-like accommodations with a higher level of care services available, allowing our residents to age in place. When it comes to senior living, your options are many. Our Brookdale Appleton community is Assisted Living and Memory Care CBRF. Brookdale Appleton welcomes anyone age 65 or older that may need help with their activities of daily living; laundry, housekeeping and three meals per day. We encourage that our residents live an optimum life by focusing on the six dimensions of well-being: physical, emotional, purposeful, social, intellectual and spiritual. Because Brookdale Appleton is pet-friendly, we collaborate with the Fox Cities Humane Society with monthly visits to our Brookdale Community. We encourage our residents to move-in with their four-legged family members. When it comes to Senior Living your options are many. We believe that with all Brookdale offers seniors and their loved ones, there is no comparison. For more information, visit brookdale.com/communities
Canteen At Canteen, we provide work place refreshment solutions. The services are Avenue C micro markets, coffee service, vending, pantry service, food service and catering. We’re always working on new ways to tailor our services and products to meet the needs of our customers. Our targeted customers are workplaces with 50 or more people, depending on the service needed. We now have secure micro markets called Smart Markets for public locations. Smart Markets are an innovative, self-checkout retail spot designed to be simple, safe and secure, providing an effective solution for hospitals, universities, hotel lobbies or more. They are designed using the most cutting-edge technology, equipped with thumbprint and infrared devices. Smart Markets have the ability to control access to products while allowing shoppers to make selections with ease. For more information, visit canteen.com
Dental Haven
Dr. Gonzalo Hernandez Dr. Alexandra Hernandez
Children Adults
At Dental Haven, bright, healthy smiles for the whole family are our top priority. We believe that everyone deserves a comfortable and safe dental experience. We are here to meet all of your dental needs, from calming anxieties to teaching good habits, from regular checkups to sophisticated dental surgeries. Dr. Gonzo is excited to announce that Dental Haven is now accepting new patients of all ages! Dr. Gonzo, a pediatric dentist, is very excited to announce that his daughter Dr. Alexandra, a general dentist, is also working at Dental Haven. Let our family serve yours! For more information, visit dentalhavenwi.com
Schenck SC Schenck SC provides accounting, tax and business consulting services with an integrated, full-service approach that consistently generates real results for our clients. We’re your go-to team of advisors with dedicated, sophisticated support to help your business grow. Schenck serves middle-market clients throughout Wisconsin and the Midwest. Our industry-focused teams know your world, and we leverage the talent of specialists across our firm to help you navigate it. With more than 600 team members in eight Wisconsin locations, you get the support you need to solve challenges beyond tax and accounting, including operations, people and technology issues. To help you find savings, stay in compliance or take advantage of new opportunities, Schenck provides articles, white papers and regular workshops and educational events to provide guidance and best practices. Our newsletters and other email alerts keep you updated on the latest industry, tax and business news. Visit schencksc.com/ subscribe to sign-up. For more information, visit www.schencksc.com Fox Cities Business Fall 2017
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MEMBERSpotlight Spotlight MEMBER
Member Spotlights are included in your membership package at the Grow ($700) or above level. Contact MiKayla Kunde for more information by email mkunde@foxcitieschamber.com or call (920) 734-7101.
UnitedHealthcare UnitedHealthcare is dedicated to helping people nationwide live healthier lives by simplifying the health care experience, meeting consumer health and wellness needs and sustaining trusted relationships with care providers. The company offers the full spectrum of health benefit programs for individuals, employers, military service members, retirees and their families, and Medicare and Medicaid beneficiaries. We contract directly with more than 1 million physicians and care professionals as well as 6,000 hospitals and other care facilities nationwide. UnitedHealthcare is one of the businesses of UnitedHealth Group (NYSE: UNH), a diversified Fortune 50 health and well-being company. For more information, visit uhc.com or follow @myUHC on Twitter
WOW - We Care Charity WOW – We Care Charity is a 501c3 non-profit organization that works to benefit the communities where WOW Logistics Company does business. The charity provides the company and its employees with a way to give back to their communities through direct interpersonal involvement and financial support of other philanthropic organizations that reflect the core values of WOW Logistics Company. In the past, WOW - We Care Charity has supported organizations like Harbor House, Special Olympics, National Multiple Sclerosis Society, Friends of Autism, Big Brothers Big Sisters, and most recently, Rise Together. WOW – We Care Charity hosted its second annual Barnyard BBQ Bash fundraiser on October 6, 2017 at Tryba’s Simply Country Barn in Freedom, WI. This year’s fundraiser benefited Rise Together. For more information, visit wow-wecarecharity.org
THE 2018 ANNUAL
2017 PAYROLL FORUM
Building confidence while navigating the payroll maze
ECONOMIC OUTLOOK LUNCH
TRENDS IN THE LOCAL AND GLOBAL ECONOMIES
2.14.18
RADISSON APPLETON, WI
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 16 | 8 – 11:30 A.M. BRIDGEWOOD RESORT HOTEL & CONFERENCE CENTER, NEENAH Payroll regulations are complex, and you need to be able to navigate the intricacies of payroll processing, compliance and reporting with certainty. Join Schenck’s payroll and human resources professionals for a complete overview of the most recent payroll changes and filing requirements. Our experienced specialists will help you understand how to answer frequent payroll questions and manage compliance effectively. Visit schencksc.com/events for more information and to register.
800-236-2246 schencksc.com
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FOXCITIESREGION.COM/EOL
WHERE WISCONSIN SAVES ON GROCERIES.
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Fox Cities Business Fall 2017
33
fox cities chamber
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POSTMASTER: Send address changes to: Fox Cities Chamber Business C/o Fox Cities Chamber of Commerce & Industry, Inc. 125 N. Superior Street Appleton, WI 54911
AT APPLETON, WI
Your Place on the Water
Can Y You See the Possi Possibilities... Signs
JP Graphics Inc. 3001 East Venture Drive Appleton, WI 54911 Phone 920-733-4483 www.jpinc.com
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