Fox Cities Chamber
Energizing & Empowering Enterprise
Cover Story TAX REFORM
Spring 2018 I Volume 19 I Issue 1
Workforce Trends 2018
Meet the 2018 Future 15
ADVERTISING PHOTOGRAPHY • CORPORATE & BROADCAST VIDEO PRODUCTIONS • INTEGRATED CGI IMAGESTUDIOS.COM • 877-738-4080
InThis 2
The President’s Perspective
14 Community Spotlight
4
Tax Reform
15 Happenings
Cover Story
16 Member Spotlights
6
In Search of Skilled Workers
18 What is LIFE All About?
8
2018 Fox Cities Future 15
Pulse Young Professionals Network
Workforce & Talent
Public Policy
11
Alzheimer’s Association
Public Policy
19 Welcome New Members
10 An Interview with Appleton Mayor Tim Hanna
Fox Cities LIFE Study
20 Giving Back In Your Community
Editorial Resource
21 Upcoming Chamber Events 22 Diamond Members
12 Is E-Commerce Your Business’s Next Step? Editorial Resource
24 2018 Economic Outlook Survey Results
Fox Cities Regional Partnership
13 Q&A with the Professionals
On The Cover
Cover Story: TAX REFORM Photo illustration by Bob Cashman Image Studios 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.
Publisher Bob Mundt Editor Emily Feagles Design/Production Weidert Creative Photography BConnected, LLC Crimson Creative Printing N.E.W. Printing
SHARE Your Story. Lend Your VOICE. ADVERTISE Your Business. Utilize the promotional power of your member-exclusive marketing opportunities. Call us today to reserve your space or contribute a story to BUSiNESS magazine.
Contact Emily Feagles, Director of Marketing & Communications: efeagles@foxcitieschamber.com • (920) 734-7101.
Board of Directors 2017-18
The President’s PERSPECTIVE “Continuous change is the new norm and our businesses will adapt. As these trends affect us, the Chamber is here to assist with helping your business.”
Change and Adapt Over the past several months we have seen tremendous changes in our operating environment here in the Fox Cities and beyond. This issue highlights some of those changes including the long-awaited overhaul of the tax laws. While many of these changes will be felt immediately, some may take years to show themselves and we, as a business community, need to be as proactive as possible in recognizing those changes and adapting to them. We also discuss workforce trends to look for in 2018 and review the recent Economic Outlook Survey results. While our economy is strong and resilient, we are not without our challenges. Recent announcements show first-hand the changes in the paper industry that continue to evolve and transform. Other manufacturers are experiencing competition, change and challenges in finding trained workers and are adopting new, creative ways to be competitive. The retail market is also transforming as more people move to online shopping and consumer purchasing challenges retailers to become more innovative and technology-based. Looking forward, the Fox Cities Chamber and the Fox Cities Regional Partnership are well positioned to assist our members and investors through: • Business Growth & Prosperity – Growing our economy with business retention, expansion and new attraction activities and programs to expand the employment, tax base and market base of the community. • Workforce & Talent Development – Ensuring a strong talent pipeline by creating solutionsbased strategies to address talent needs allowing our businesses to attract, develop and retain essential employees. • Member & Small Business Development – Connecting to resources and programs to ensure growth and development of our small business members to create relevance of Chamber membership and its role in helping businesses grow and prosper. • Public Policy - Influencing bi-partisan pro-business, pro-growth policies locally and statewide. Coordinating community information regarding relevant policy topics for the benefit of membership, investors and the community. • Visibility & Marketing – Creating and promoting the positive image of our members and the Fox Cities community through effective marketing and communications strategies that benefit our stakeholders. Continuous change is the new norm and our businesses will adapt. As these trends affect us, the Chamber is here to assist with helping your business. Please let us know how we can help your business succeed.
Gratefully,
Bob Mundt, President/CEO
2 Fox Cities BUSiNESS Spring 2018 I President’s Perspective
Chairman of the Board Bruce Zak Johnson Bank 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 DeDe Heid Heid Music Jason Henderson newVoices Choir Chris Hess Goodwill NCW 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 Ascension St. Elizabeth Hospital 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.
FULL-SERVICE SOLUTIONS
The Chamber Welcomes Peter Thillman as Vice President of Economic Development
The Fox Cities Chamber welcomed Peter Thillman as its Vice President of Economic Development for the Fox Cities Regional Partnership (FCRP) in January. Thillman joined the organization with 25 years of economic development experience. He was previously employed at Lakeshore Technical College as Vice President of Workforce and Economic Development. In his role, Thillman will be leading the FCRP to maintain a full-scope, strategic economic development program. He will concentrate efforts to attract and retain talent and will leverage community resources with a focus on retaining and assisting existing industries with their growth.
PROSPECT AVE / JACKMAN ST OVERHEAD BRIDGE - APPLETON
Thillman looks forward to meeting new people and embracing the energy of the Fox Cities. Near-term efforts include getting the internal team solidified, ramping up retention efforts and developing a comprehensive workforce development strategy. A few things to expect in the coming year include: better communications of Partnership activities, more business retention and expansion visits and expanded outreach to developers.
920 751 4200 MCMGRP.COM
Thillman and his wife, Jean, have four children. His passion for his family reflects in his community involvement.
VALUES • CULTURE R E L AT I O N S H I P S
Special thanks to Sharon Hulce, President of Employment Resource Group, Inc., who led the search.
• FOR OVER 100 YEARS •
NEENAH WISCONSIN • MACHESNEY PARK ILLINOIS • VALPARAISO INDIANA
Peter can be contacted by phone at: (920) 831 - 4905 or by email at: peter@foxcitiesregion.com. Fox Cities BUSiNESS Spring 2018 3
TAX REFORM The tax reform bill has been signed into law. What should you know? Here are the top ten changes that may have a favorable impact on your income taxes and the bottom ten items that may have a negative impact. In December of 2017, tax reform known as “Tax Cuts and Jobs Act” or “the Act” was signed into law, setting into motion the largest change to the tax code we have seen in more than 30 years. Unless otherwise noted, any discussion in this article relates to tax years beginning after December 31, 2017 and is based on guidance available at this time.
4 Fox Cities BUSiNESS I Spring 2018 I Cover Story
Daniel Ehr is a certified public accountant and business advisor specializing in income taxation, credits and incentives, planning and structuring for businesses primarily in the manufacturing/distribution industries. Daniel is a senior tax manager with Baker Tilly Virchow Krause, LLP.
The top ten changes that may benefit taxpayers
The top ten changes that may negatively impact taxpayers
1. Tax rates have been reduced and thresholds expanded. As a result, more income will be taxed at a lower rate. For example, the old 15% tax bracket taxed married filers on income from $18,651 to $75,900. The Act lowers the rate to 12% and taxes married filers on income from $19,051 to $77,400.
1. Itemized deductions lose some value. Individuals will see an increase in the standard deduction. As a result, fewer individuals will itemize their deductions and there wil be less direct benefit from charitable contributions, home mortgage interest and state taxes. 2. The personal and dependent exemptions which were expected to be $4,150 per person in 2018 have been repealed. 3. The state and local tax deduction is limited to $10,000. This limit applies to the itemized deduction for state and local property, income, and sales taxes that can be included on schedule A. 4. Deductions for entertainment, amusement, or recreation, and membership dues for a club organized for business, pleasure, recreation or other social purposes are generally no longer allowed. 5. All miscellaneous itemized deductions are suspended, including unreimbursed employee business expenses, investment advisor fees and tax preparation fees. 6. Businesses with average annual gross receipts in excess of $25 million will be required to limit net interest expense to 30% of adjusted taxable income. Many exceptions apply, including exceptions for real estate. 7. Net operating loss deductions are limited to 80% of income and may no longer be carried back. 8. Like-kind exchanges will now only be available for exchanges of real property. Like-kind exchanges of personal property are no longer allowed. 9. Net business losses of a taxpayer (other than a C corporation) in excess of $500,000 (married filing a joint return), $250,000 (single filers) are considered excess business losses and disallowed in the current year. The excess is carried forward. 10. Deductible mortgage indebtedness on new home purchases is now limited to interest on the first $750,000. Interest paid on a home equity loan is no longer deductible.
2. The increased standard deduction was nearly doubled to the following amounts: $24,000 (married filing jointly); $18,000 (unmarried with at least one qualifying child); $12,000 (single filers). 3. For families with qualified children, the child tax credit has doubled from $1,000 per child to $2,000. In addition, the refundable amount grows to $1,400 and the income phase-out threshold is increased from $110,000 (married filing jointly) to $400,000. 4. There is a new business deduction equal to 20% of “qualified business income.� Calculating the qualified business income will be a bit complex; however, it is generally the ordinary (noninvestment) income of the business. Numerous limitations and exclusions apply. 5. After September 27, 2017 full expensing (100% bonus depreciation) is allowed for certain property placed in service through December 31, 2022. New and used property may qualify. 6. The Act increases the amount of section 179 property that may be expensed each year to $1 million and increases the phase-out threshold to $2.5 million. 7. The use of the cash method of accounting has been expanded to taxpayers with average gross receipts of $25 million or less (prior three-year average), regardless of entity structure or industry. 8. Taxpayers subject to the alternative minimum tax will receive an increased exemption from $84,500 to $109,400 (married filing jointly) and from $54,300 to $70,300 (single filers). 9. The UNICAP inventory capitalization requirement no longer applies to taxpayers with average gross receipts of $25 million or less (prior three-year average) regardless of entity structure or industry. 10. Eligible employers may now claim a credit for paid family leave on wages paid to qualifying employees on family and medical leave.
Our bonus change is the new 21% corporate rate. The reduction in the corporate rate to a flat 21% may be the most dramatic change under the Act and could have been a top 10 or a bottom 10. On one hand, a 21% rate allows more earnings to be reinvested into the business and is a permanent change under the Act. On the other hand, it increases the federal deficit and offsets require many of the above top 10 benefits to be temporary provisions.
Fox Cities BUSiNESS I Spring 2018 I Cover Story
5
In Search of SKILLED WORKERS
Contributed by Anthony E. Snyder, Chief Executive Officer, Fox Valley Workforce Development Board, Inc.
Job Openings Per Industry Sector
What will the workforce be facing in 2018? The Fox Valley Workforce Development Board gained a strong reputation of serving the chronically unemployed and recently laid off workers during the height of the Great Recession. As the economy boomed and unemployment fell into the basement, the Board of Directors and its CEO of nearly two years are charting a new course to focus on the significant shortage of skilled workers in the six counties it serves (Calumet, Fond du Lac, Green Lake, Waupaca, Waushara and Winnebago).
Record Unemployment Means Most Jobs Go Unfilled
Unemployment in the region continues to drop to rates that don’t even seem possible. With some of our counties at 3% or less, that means Calumet County, with a population of about 50,000 and an unemployment rate of 2.4%, has about 1,200 people unemployed. When adding up the unemployed from all six of the counties the Board serves, we’re looking at about 9,299 individuals currently without employment. Of these, you’ll always have those lacking basic skills, lacking a desire to work or having some other barrier to employment. Let’s assume that half of these individuals – 4,650 – have both the skills and the desire to work. They don’t even begin to fill the increasing number of annual openings for employees we see in our region, which now totals 6,829.
Record Unemployment Used to be a Good Thing
With employers unable to find workers, we have local businesses not adding shifts or passing on projects because they don’t have the workers to fill the orders. This also makes it more and more challenging to entice new businesses to move here. For the Board itself, our finding from the Department of Labor and Department of Workforce Development is based on a formula of population and unemployment. We’ve seen our funding cut by over 30% in adult and youth programming since 2013. We’re running the risk of seeing workforce board cutting to the bone until the next inevitable recession arrives.
6 Fox Cities BUSiNESS I Spring 2018 I Workforce & Talent
• Management - 545 • Business/Financial Operations - 238 • Computer/Mathematical - 63 • Architectural/Engineering – 119 • Life, Physical and Social Science - 64 • Community and Social Services – 63 • Legal – 14 • Education, Training and Library – 530 • Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports and Media – 86 • Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Support – 289 • Protective Service – 116 • Food Preparation and Serving Related – 693 • Building and Grounds Cleaning and Maintenance – 197 • Personal Care and Service – 324 • Sales and Related – 619 • Office and Administrative Support – 697 • Farming, Fishing and Forestry – 231 • Construction and Extraction – 206 • Installation, Maintenance and Repair – 246 • Production – 780 • Transportation and Material Moving - 516 Source: Office of Economic Advisors, Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development, November 2016
Shifting from Training the Unemployed to Upskilling those in Entry Level Roles When unemployment was high, nearly all of our resources were directed toward training and other services designed to get the recently unemployed back to work. In this economy with its far different needs, we’re looking at shifting our limited resources – and seeking other sources of funding, like Fast Forward Grants – to help employers train current employers and moving them up, while creating openings for low-skilled, entry level workers.
As Our Region Ages
Right now, 15.9% of our population is at retirement age or above (65-74+). This is going to continue to create stress on employers who will be racing to backfill with younger workers who can learn from these seasoned employees before they get their gold watch. One of the things we’ve been telling our employers, look for creative ways to hold your older workers in their jobs as long as you can. If they’ve grown weary of a 40+ hour work week, can an employer shift their model to create two or three part-time workers to fill one FTE? An employee may be willing to stick around an extra one or two years to help train new workers if the employer can be more flexible in hours worked. The State of Wisconsin recently embarked on an advertising campaign in Chicago to show Millennials that Wisconsin has a better quality of life, lower cost of living and lower commute times in an attempt to convince them to relocate here. While it’s too early to see, such an effort should be applauded. Whether you wish Wisconsin was permanently red or permanently blue, and all that entails politically, immigration is a critical issue for us. This is especially important in the rural agricultural counties that rely on labor that typically wasn’t born here. Unless every Wisconsite is prepared to upend two generations of birth rates and have 5-10 kids per family again, we can’t grow our workforce without an influx from somewhere else, and immigrants from other countries should be convincing us not to see blue or red, but green – as in a healthy economy.
Apprenticeships and Internships Kids Today Locally, our high schools are seeing some of the smallest graduating classes in recent memory – a result of Gen Xers having smaller families than their parents did. And in some of our largest high schools, at least 50% of the graduating seniors are not going on to college, technical schools or the military. We know this because a final transcript is not being released. Those graduating seniors are simply disappearing – either into a job somewhere, moving away or couch surfing with friends. The Board, working with our Chamber of Commerce partners and technical colleges, is trying to connect with students before they graduate to help guide them into some short or longer term training to fill our most needed roles. After two generations of pushing kids into a four-year degree, some schools are finally realizing that a certificate or diploma from a technical school is a better fit, a smaller investment of time and tuition and can pay just as well as students graduating from a four-year college.
Here’s A Grad Rate Chart Highest Educational Level (25+)
U.S.
Wisc.
Fox Valley W. D. A.*
Less than High School Graduate
13.3%
8.9%
8.8%
High School Graduate/GED
27.8%
32.0%
37.3%
Some College, no degree
21.1% 21.1%
20.4%
Associate Degree
8.1% 10.1%
10.4%
Bachelor’s Degree
18.5% 18.4%
16.3%
Graduate/Professional Degree
11.2% 9.4%
6.8%
*Fox Valley Workforce Development Area Source: U.S. Census, 2011-2015 American Community Survey
One of the ways to keep our young people here is to start them down a workforce path early. Chambers, employers and the Board have had success in establishing Youth Apprenticeships in some key work areas while students are in high school, then moving them into a Registered Apprenticeship, which means keeping a student on a long-term training plan where they earn a wage with training typically paid completely, or at least partially, by the employer. If you are a college graduate and you are working at a paid internship, studies have shown 60% of the time that internship will turn into a job offer. The key here is PAID. Unpaid internships may be a good experience, but the hiring rate is far lower.
Formerly Incarcerated
The Fox Valley Workforce Development Board has been working with incarcerated males in Oshkosh and Redgranite Correctional Institutions to help these individuals with a job search strategy and resume building exercise even before they are released. Once they return home, our staff works with them to find housing, transportation and their first job, along with ongoing career planning assistance for approximately 12 months beyond release. The ultimate goal is to help them avoid recidivism – or going back to prison. Our Board has a success rate of 77% meaning that three-quarters of the individuals we work with do not re-offend. At least 95% of those incarcerated will eventually be released. With the average cost of incarceration costing taxpayers $30,000 - $40,000 per inmate, per year, that makes this program a huge financial savings for Wisconsin residents.
Next Steps
As the demand for skilled workers grows, the Fox Valley Workforce Development Board, along with other organizations such as the Fox Cities Chamber, will continue to promote, innovate and implement new workforce solutions to serve the needs of our region. Fox Cities BUSiNESS I Spring 2018 I Workforce & Talent
7
2018
Each year the Fox Cities Future 15 event provides a celebration bringing together the outstanding young professionals being recognized and also announces the YP of the Year. The YP of the Year honoree is a past Future 15 award recipient who is selected by committee based upon their continued growth and development in the areas of professional achievement, volunteer involvement, community impact, leadership and character in an effort to make the Fox Cities a place where young professionals want to live, work and play. The 2018 YP of the Year was presented to Brad Cebulski, President of BConnected, LLC. Cebulski not only operates BConnected, LLC, a social media agency in Appleton, he has played an integral part in numerous projects throughout the Fox Cities. A 2011 UW Eau Claire graduate, Brad has built BConnected with the mission of helping companies manage their social media efforts. The business continues to flourish today, significantly with a recent announcement of expansion in the Milwaukee market. Some of his recent accomplishments include co-founder of Fox Cities Restaurant Week, co-founder of The Alley Project in Downtown Appleton, and most recently, co-founder of Blank Slate Collective, a coworking creative studio in Appleton.
Ryan Batley Food & Beverage Director, Best Western Premier Bridgewood Resort Hotel
Chris Burns Director of Business Development, BConnected, LLC
Katie Chicquette Adams High School At-risk Educator, Appleton Area School District
Tara Hawley Business Systems Analyst Consultant, Thrivent Financial
Katie Heim AVP Treasury Management Relationship Manager, Johnson Bank
Jamin Homan Director of Patient Care Services, Ascension St. Elizabeth Hospital
Dustin Kraft Customer Replenishment Specialist, Kimberly-Clark Corporation
Adriana McCleer Community Partnerships Supervisor, Appleton Public Library
Martin O’Donnell Band Instructor, Kimberly Area School District
Nicholas Reising Director of Development, Fox Cities Performing Arts Center
Ryan Roth Community Development Manager, Greater Fox Cities Area Habitat for Humanity
Kayla Rouse Lead Process Engineer, Kimberly-Clark Corporation
Alex Tyink Director of Programs, Feeding America Eastern Wisconsin
Trenten Woelfel Acting Treasurer, Outagamie County
Jake Woodford Assistant to the President and Secretary to the Board of Trustees, Lawrence University
PULSE young professionals network
A PROGRAM OF
8 Fox Cities BUSiNESS I Spring 2018 I Pulse Young Professionals Network
Thank You To Our Sponsorss Presenting Sponsor
Supporting Sponsors
Multi-Media Sponsors
Contributing Sponsor
URBAN
EVOLUTIONS Made in America. Again.â„¢
Fox Cities BUSiNESS I Spring 2018 I Pulse Young Professionals Network
9
An Interview With Appleton Mayor Tim Hanna By: Mark Rahmlow, Vice President, Public Policy, Fox Cities Chamber 1. Rahmlow: Are there any city projects that you’re personally excited about in 2018?
Mayor Hanna: I’m excited for the completion of Jones Park because it will make the Fox Cities Exhibition Center feel complete and it will create a stronger connection between downtown and the developments on the river.
2. Rahmlow: You are currently the Board President for the League of Wisconsin Municipalities. What is the biggest (or most common) issue facing municipalities across the State? Mayor Tim Hanna
Mayor Hanna: The most common issue facing municipalities is trying to figure out how to maintain services when costs are increasing and revenue is not. The property tax which funds municipal government is, rightfully, limited in its growth by the State. However, unlike many other states, Wisconsin municipalities have no other discretionary source of revenue to help pay for services. According to the Wisconsin Taxpayers Alliance, over the past five years state tax collections have risen 10.1% while local collections rose just 4.0%. Finding a way to give municipalities more flexibility in terms of revenue is a priority of the League. (Continued below)
4. Rahmlow: Could you provide readers with an update on the U.S. Venture project?
Mayor Hanna: We are excited to welcome U.S. Venture’s new corporate headquarters to downtown Appleton! We are currently working to finalize the design of the parking facility associated with the project as U.S. Venture is working on the final design of their building. Our hope is to break ground on this exciting project later in 2018.
5. Rahmlow: The Fox Cities has seen some wonderful growth the last few years. What do cities need to do to keep that momentum going?
Mayor Hanna: You asked earlier about workforce shortage. In today’s economy, talent attraction is paramount. If as a region we are going to compete, cities need to continue to invest in the kinds of quality of life initiatives that will attract the talent pool we are looking for. Finding ways to be more pedestrian-friendly and bike-friendly
Morning Appleton: Photo courtesy of Hongwu Zhao- flickr.com/people/hongwuphoto
3. Rahmlow: The private and public sectors are both noticing the effects of the workforce shortage. How does your city recruit talent, and how do you approach employee retention?
Mayor Hanna: The City of Appleton recently adopted an updated pay plan based on market rates to keep us competitive in the job market. We also offer competitive benefits and are revising our work policies to offer more flexibility in the workplace. We have conducted “stay” interviews, as opposed to “exit” interviews, so that we may be more responsive to the wants and needs of our valued employees.
10 Fox Cities BUSiNESS I Spring 2018 I Public Policy
are important as well as making sure we remain a safe community that values civic engagement and is transparent in all of our dealings. Tim Hanna has served as Mayor of Appleton since 1996. Tim is a founding member of the Local Government Institute of Wisconsin and is the Past President of the Wisconsin Alliance of Cities. He currently serves on the Board of Directors of the League of Wisconsin Municipalities and the Executive Committee of the Urban Alliance.
A Valuable Resource for Wisconsinites Impacted by the Disease
The Alzheimer’s Association Greater Wisconsin Chapter serves the 52 northern counties of Wisconsin and is the leading voluntary health organization in Alzheimer’s care, support and research. The chapter’s home office is located in De Pere. The Association provides care and support services for the 110,000 Laurie Schill people in Wisconsin living with Alzheimer’s and their 193,000 caregivers, including free family education classes, support groups and a 24/7 helpline (800-272-3900) staffed by Master’s-level care clinicians. The Association collaborates with several community partners to facilitate their care and support services.
The Alzheimer’s Association’s educational classes focus on topics including understanding the first signs of Alzheimer’s, how to effectively communicate to people with Alzheimer’s and how to plan for the legal, financial and long-term care aspects of the disease. The Association offers in-person and teleconference support groups for caregivers and family members of a person with the disease. All family education classes and support groups are updated frequently and listed on the Association’s website: alz.org/gwwi. The Alzheimer’s Association also encourages people to follow their Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn pages, as well as their weekly e-newsletter, for updates on community care and support services, local events, the latest news in research and education on living with or caring for someone with Alzheimer’s or dementia.
The Alzheimer’s Association’s support services and research efforts are funded in part by donations and fundraising events, including the annual Walk to End Alzheimer’s®, which takes place in September in 18 cities across the Greater Wisconsin Chapter. Registration for the Walk is now open. Other upcoming events, include State Advocacy Day in Madison in February, RivALZ- Blondes vs. Brunettes Flag Football in Green Bay in May, the Purple Gala in Appleton in May, The Longest Day (chapter and nation-wide) in June and the Round to Remember Golf Outing in Green Bay in June. Visit their website for all event details and registration information. As a volunteer health organization, the Alzheimer’s Association relies on volunteers for office support, event planning and day-of coordination and advocacy efforts. Volunteers make it possible to offer services and host fundraising events, and they have a huge impact on the lives of people affected by the disease. If you or your organization would like to learn more and to sign up to volunteer, please visit their website and click on the “volunteer” tab. The Association also encourages third-party fundraisers. If your organization is looking for a way to give back and encourage employees to get involved in the community, the Alzheimer’s Association is happy to help discuss third-party fundraising ideas and opportunities. Reach out to Abbe Klein, Marketing Manager, at alklein@alz.org or (920) 260-4682 for more information. Laurie Schill, Executive Director, Alzheimer’s Association Greater Wisconsin Chapter Fox Cities BUSiNESS I Spring 2018 I Public Policy
11
Is E-commerce Your Business’s Next Step? E-commerce is very popular with many small business owners today. Taking your business to the next step of being an e-commerce business could be a great move, but it takes work and preparation. Here are some things to remember: • E-commerce is not a “when I build it they will come and buy” proposition. • You must still know your customers or who/what they are. • It is not as simple as creating a website on your own. • It is not “hands-free” or client interaction free.
• SEO will not by itself make your e-commerce site successful.
• The popularity of your website will not drive sales sufficient enough to cover the cost of SEO, YOU MUST DO MORE!
The transition to e-commerce begins with writing all of your processes and procedures. This includes everything from what you will sell, how you will receive product orders, how you will fulfill those orders and how you will ship those orders. You will need to write down how you will manage customer service, refunds, returns or what merchant card service you will use for credit card transactions and more. It is from this documentation that your e-commerce website is designed and developed. Your website is an extremely important part of e-commerce. It must be sharp, attractive, easy to navigate and functional. It must inform and educate without bombarding the visitor with “BUY NOW” messages. My personal advice is, if at all possible, avoid free website production. Hire or barter with a professional web designer if you need to but have a professional website. You will still need to advertise traditionally. Pay ads, pay-per-click ads, purchased ads on popular sites targeting your audience, even print ads will still need to be considered. When you transition your business to e-commerce you have to make a decision. Do you drive your business strictly through e-commerce and close your traditional bricks and mortar business or do you operate both? Some people operate both quite successfully. Others can’t focus on both, resulting in bad outcomes for their business. It is as much about who your business is as it is who you are.
12 Fox Cities BUSiNESS I Spring 2018 I Editorial Resource
“E-commerce is fun and profitable. Do it right and your business will benefit from it. The key is to understand your business, understand your customers and know what you personally can or cannot do.” Don Herrmann is President of Herrmann Advantage Consulting, a business advising and consulting practice in Appleton.
with the PROFESSIONALS
“If you could improve one thing to ensure success in 2018 for your business, what would it be and why?”
To continue to improve the retention and personal growth of our team members through our culture of service program. In the hospitality business, our team is vital to our success.
As a wine bar, most of the keys to our success are impeccable service, a selection of interesting, diverse wines, and a comfortable environment people enjoy spending time in.
They are the face of our business and our brand ambassadors. We are fortunate to have a staff full of great people that are dedicated to each other first and dedicated to our guests second. Our team leads with our mission which is “to provide a superior experience for our guests while being good corporate citizens”. We understand this isn’t a lifelong profession for all that work with us, but we want to make sure they learn skills and lessons that can be used in their personal life and future jobs. If we continue to invest in our people and support their growth, we in turn are going to be rewarded with positive role models and team members who enjoy coming to work and giving back to others.
However, the nature of our business falls into the category of something people want rather than something people need. Because of that, it’s important to our success, as well as any business that is part of the service industry, that people have a comfortable amount of disposable income. While the economy and consumer confidence are doing well right now, I would hope that this year brings even more improvement. The more comfortable our customers are financially, the more likely they will be to frequent our establishment.
Ryan Batley Food & Beverage Director Best Western Premier Bridgewood Resort Hotel & Conference Center
David Oliver Proprietor Mondo! Wine Bar & Retail
I would improve the awareness of the impact of blood donation on our community. Every blood donation provides a lifetime of possibilities for our family members, neighbors and friends being treated in local hospitals. Because there is no substitute for blood, generous blood donors are needed every day. While the impact is great, blood donation and making an appointment are easier than many think. Appointments are made by calling (800) 280-410 or online at www. communityblood.org. It only takes about an hour. Donors can conveniently donate with The Community Blood Center at one of our four donor centers or at a blood drive in your community, place of worship or business. Donate today and you’ll save lives tomorrow!
Kristine Belanger, MBA, MT(ASCP) Vice President, Donor Services The Community Blood Center
Fox Cities BUSiNESS I Spring 2018 I Q&A with the Professionals
13
COMMUNITY Spotlight Celebrating 50-years of transforming lives through affordable housing and inspiring self-sufficiency!
As the largest provider of affordable housing in the Fox Valley area, the Appleton Housing Authority (AHA) is working hard to create a better future for low-income families, veterans, seniors, disabled individuals and those who are homeless in our community. Since opening its doors five decades ago, the mission of the AHA has been to consistently ensure that all who live in our community have an affordable, sanitary and safe place to call home. As the AHA celebrates its 50th anniversary year, the agency is proud to fulfill its mission by serving more than 1,000 families each month through its vital programs, as well as the supportive services it provides to other organizations on the local housing continuum. Key AHA programs include: Housing Choice Voucher rental assistance; Public Housing Scattered Site; HUD-VASH (Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing); Family Self-Sufficiency (FSS); First-time Affordable Homebuyer; TBRA (Tenant-Based Rental Assistance), a homeless program; Summit Street Home Partnership for those with special needs; Project-Based Voucher Program; Service Coordinator at Oneida Heights; and the Outagamie County Aging & Disability Resource Center’s congregate meal site at the AHA’s Oneida Heights complex. The AHA’s affordable housing complexes include: Oneida Heights, Appleton’s first high-rise apartment complex - home to 159 low-income seniors and disabled individuals; Riverwalk Place, a 70-unit affordable senior living community; and Grand View Townhomes, featuring 40 one, two and three bedroom townhomes in an economically and socially mixed neighborhood to meet a variety of housing needs. Ten of the 40 units are designated as homes for homeless and near homeless families with a family member that has a physical or developmental disability. To assist with community fundraising and donations for programs that are not funded by any governmental sources,
14 Fox Cities BUSiNESS I Spring 2018 I Community Spotlight
Appleton Housing Authority is committed to pursuing innovative financing for the construction of energy-efficient affordable housing, like its new Grand View Townhomes complex, pictured below, which formally opened with a ribbon cutting and grand opening celebration in October 2017.
the AHA established its companion nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization, Neighborhood Housing, Inc. (NHI) in 2006. Ongoing monetary donations and fundraising support through NHI is essential for the creation of affordable housing, as well as the continuation of the Family Self-Sufficiency program and the Senior Basic Needs Fund. As part of the agency’s 50th Anniversary celebration, the AHA will present: The Faces of Affordable Housing: A 50th Anniversary Celebration of Hope & Home A special exhibition in collaboration with
The Trout Museum of Art
in downtown Appleton. Regional Artist Gallery, June 2018
Photography by Jeff Lendrum • Hair & Make-up courtesy of The Salon Professional Academy
Throughout the month of June, the public is invited to experience the personal stories of AHA families and the many ways the agency has inspired hope and empowerment in their journey to an affordable place to call home in our community! For more information about the AHA, please visit: www.appletonhousing.org
1.
2.
3.
5.
4.
8.
9.
1. Our annual Economic Outlook Lunch was held in February which provided attendees with a macro and micro presentation on the economic insights of local, national and global trends that could impact the Fox Cities’ economy. This year’s keynote speaker was nationally-acclaimed economic expert, Elliot Eisenberg, Ph.D., often called the “Stand-up Economist”. 2. Be. // Center for Holistic Mental Health and Healing invited the Fox Cities Chamber to participate in a ribbon cutting event to celebrate their grand opening in Appleton. Their business uses a strengths-focused holistic approach to help your soul BE. 3. Fox Cities Chamber members attended WMC’s Business Day and had the chance to meet Governor Scott Walker’s staff. 4. The Chamber was recently invited to a groundbreaking for the new Cobblestone Hotel and Wissota Chophouse located in the Village of Fox Crossing. 5. Thank you to BMO Harris Bank for hosting our January Business Connection. These monthly events provide members with the opportunity to build relationships and meet fellow professionals. 6. FC Media Agency and La Vida Hispana provide resources in support of the Hispanic and Latino community in the Fox Cities. They welcomed the Chamber and community for a ribbon cutting of their facility in Appleton in February.
6.
7.
10.
7. Our February Business Connection was generously hosted by Patrick Minskey of Edward Jones and Number One Marketing. The informal after-hours event was held at the Fox Cities Exhibition Center. Guests were able to connect with one another in the brand new facility. 8. The Chamber was proud to welcome Mondo! Wine Bar & Retail with a ribbon cutting for their new business in downtown Appleton. Mondo provides a retail wine shop and relaxed wine bar environment. 9. CR Structures Group, Inc. and Trigger Action Sports invited the Chamber, in collaboration with the Heart of the Valley Chamber, to the groundbreaking celebration of their new facility in Little Chute. The 33,000 squarefoot multi-tenant building is projected to open to the public at the end of summer 2018. 10. During Arts & Culture day in March, the Leadership Fox Cities class members took some time to learn about Long Cheng, the biggest Hmong city in Laos, and hidden military base of General Vang Pao and the CIA until 1975. Local teacher and creator of the mural, Ger Vang, explained the history and symbolic nature of the general and the city for the Hmong people.
Fox Cities BUSiNESS I Spring 2018 I Happenings
15
MEMBER The American Cancer Society is on a mission to save lives, celebrate lives, and lead the fight for a world without cancer. Our unique, comprehensive cancer-fighting approach covers the entire spectrum – from research, education and prevention to treatment, recovery and support for patients, caregivers and long-term survivors, we’re here to help everyone impacted by cancer. We also rally communities to join us by participating in our fundraising events. American Cancer Society events such as Making Strides Against Breast Cancer, Relay For Life and Sole Burner 5K Walk/Run, bring communities together by embracing their collective power to free the world from the pain and suffering of cancer. Becoming an American Cancer Society supporter provides an unparalleled opportunity to engage your customers, employees, and communities in saving lives and celebrating life – every single day. We have multiple events in the Fox Valley which can be supported through corporate partnerships/sponsorships, team participation and/or fundraising and volunteerism. For more information, contact Heather Van Vonderen at heather.vanvonderen@cancer.org or 920-321-1362. Learn more at www.cancer.org.
FC Media Agency & La Vida Hispana, LLC is a Hispanic marketing and Latino resource center for Northeast Wisconsin. La Vida Hispana is a media company that creates, distributes and produces SpanishLanguage local content across different platforms including the La Vida Hispana Latino newspaper with a circulation of 10,000 copies distributed in the Fox Cities and Green Bay and the La Vida Hispana website which has captured approximately 35,000 page views per month. FC Media Agency is a digital agency that helps businesses with their marketing needs such as social media management, content creation, Facebook and Google campaigns. Coming Soon! The Hispanic Center of the Fox Valley, a resource center for the Hispanic community, will also be opening soon at our location. This resource center is focused on educating, empowering and supporting the Hispanic and Latino community in the Fox Cities through supportive services, referrals and educational workshops and events. For more information, visit www.lavidahispana.com.
Mondo! Wine Bar & Retail is where wine is fun, not complicated. The only wine bar in downtown Appleton, we feature a wide variety of wines by the glass, craft beers and bar snacks. We also offer a unique selection of retail wine, many found nowhere else in the area. We taste through hundreds of wines every year to find high-quality wines we can offer at a fair price. Wine can be an intimidating subject for many people. This can result in people not drinking it at all or only drinking a few types they are familiar with. We opened Mondo! to share our passion for wine in a comfortable, non-judgmental environment. Our knowledgeable and friendly staff can help guests discover new wines they will love. We host a variety of events that provide opportunities to learn even more about wine while having fun. Enjoy your new favorite wine or craft beer while relaxing with friends in swanky, mid-century inspired surroundings where you can unwind, celebrate, or simply catch up with friends. No shouting required and no wine snobbery allowed. For more information, visit www.mondowinebar.com.
16 Fox Cities BUSiNESS I Spring 2018 I Member Spotlights
Spotlights Schroeder Moving Systems is a full-service moving company with transportation for household goods in the corporate market as well as the residential market. We also provide clients with transportation of special commodities, electronics and high value shipments. As a full-service mover, we can orchestrate your move from start to finish. Our customers include corporations that relocate current employees as well as new hires, companies that manufacture and ship items requiring pad wrap service and special handling, and local residents moving both locally and long distance. As of the Fall of 2017, we acquired Suddath Moving and Storage in Milwaukee, which has nearly quadrupled our overall size and capacity. We are affiliated with United Van Lines, the nation’s largest household goods mover, and we have been an agent with them for more than 70 years. We have the experience, resources, and expertise required to care for a variety of moving needs. For more information, visit www.schroedermoving.com.
Founded in 1946, Somerville is one of Wisconsin’s largest employee-owned architecture, engineering and interior design firms. It is our belief that our role is to realize and enhance the vision you have for your building. We are best known for providing innovative, sustainable and value-added solutions serving a broad range of industries, including healthcare, education, corporate, retail and government. Headquartered in Green Bay, Wisconsin, Somerville is dedicated to our clients’ success, utilizing the latest technology in our profession, and is devoted to the stewardship of our community and natural environment. In our experience, we’ve learned that one of the most important services we can offer our clients is to remain their trusted advocate throughout the building process. At every step, we put our clients’ interests first, maintaining the integrity of the original design vision. Because design matters, so does everything that goes into it. For more information, visit www.somervilleinc.com.
World HeadQuarters, LLC was founded to solve five main problems: creating access to office, meeting & event spaces at a low cost, creating shared resources to allow businesses to do more with less, creating a collaborative environment for promoting local businesses, supporting parents with drop in, commitment-free child care and generating additional funding for ideas, art, startups or nonprofits making a difference in our community. We work with business-minded individuals who are looking for opportunities to promote their work, ideas, business or mission while supporting other locally-owned businesses. Our ideal customer is someone who wants to collaborate with others, wants to be actively involved in something new and is looking for ways to give back. We can also support growing business through our ability to offer contracted, short-term administrative help. Launched in January 2017 with our opening in August 2017, we work to provide an innovative meeting and event space supporting parents, entrepreneurs, artists and anyone with a dream to chase. In Spring 2018, we will be offering a membership level that includes 24-7 access. For more information, visit www.whqwi.com.
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 (920) 734-7101. Fox Cities BUSiNESS I Spring 2018 I Member Spotlights
17
What Is
LIFE All About?
The Fox Cities Leading Indicators for Excellence (LIFE) Study is a community needs assessment that provides a snapshot of socio-economic conditions in the Fox Cities. The LIFE Study is an evolving resource that is designed to spark data-driven conversations within all areas of the community, leading to action and transformative change. Previous LIFE Studies have heightened awareness of important issues that led to initiatives like the Tri-County Dental Clinic, Catalpa, United Way’s PATH for Students to address youth mental health and the Community Early Learning Center. This data-focused look at the quality of life in the Fox Cities area is available on an interactive, easy-to-use website, FoxCitiesLifeStudy.org. Data is updated on the website on an ongoing basis as important new data becomes available.
More than 200 indicators related to demographic, economic, social, and health aspects of community life in the Fox Cities are presented, including benchmarking against select counties, Wisconsin, and the nation with trending information.
When the latest version of the LIFE Study was released in 2016, data was used to determine priorities for community action. These priorities were determined by a cross-section of more than 200 members of the Fox Cities’ community who gathered to hear about the key themes that emerged from the data, and weigh-in on choosing top community priorities for change. The four community priorities that were chosen are: Poverty, Youth Health, Student Performance and Youth Safety. 18 Fox Cities BUSiNESS I Spring 2018 I Fox Cities LIFE Study
In August of 2017, the Fox Cities LIFE Study was updated to include 10 new data charts incorporating race, ethnicity, sexual orientation and age for some data indicator pages, and two additional themes covering workforce participation as well as diversity and inclusion. The 10 new data charts are related to community priorities of youth health, student performance and youth safety. The new charts reflect a theme of diversity and inclusion to help people gain a deeper understanding of the data. Stay tuned! We will be sharing more LIFE Study news in future issues. LIFE Study Partners:
Special thanks to East Central Wisconsin Regional Planning Commission.
WELCOME New Members November 2017 – January 2018
Alo Health
Harrison Printing & Promotions
652 W. Ridgeview Drive Appleton, WI 54911-1254 (920) 221-3444 alohealthllc.com Health & Wellness
558 Eisenhower Drive, Suite H Kimberly, WI 54136-2145 (920) 997-9940 Commercial Printers
Assist 2 Sell
W3124 Van Roy Road Appleton, WI 54915-3982 (920) 882-4000 higginschiro.com Chiropractor
180 Main Street Menasha, WI 54952-3377 (920) 740-7641 findvalleyhomes.com Real Estate Company
Be. // Center for Holistic Mental Health and Healing 1309 S. Oneida Street Appleton , WI 54915-1351 (920) 903-8841 beholisticcenter.com Psychologist
Care Partners Assisted Living & Memory Care 112 Harris Way Hortonville, WI 54944-9423 (920) 779-3221 carepartners-countryterrace.com Assisted Living
Clearwater Paper 249 North Lake Street Neenah, WI 54956-2015 (920) 727-3926 clearwaterpaper.com Paper Converter
Eagle Point Senior Living 955 E. John Street Appleton, WI 54911 (920) 843-9499 eaglepointseniorliving.com Retirement Community
Express Employment Professionals 3303 W. College Avenue, Suite B Appleton, WI 54914-3904 (920) 624-6100 expresspros.com Staffing Services
FC Media Agency & La Vida Hispana 621 W. Lawrence Street Appleton, WI 54911-5834 (920) 903-6250 lavidahispana.com Newspaper
Higgins Chiropractic
Hope Clinic and Care Center Inc. 2693 W. Grand Chute Blvd. Appleton, WI 54913-9617 (920) 931-1150 hopeclinic.care Health Care Support
Innovative Services, Inc. 808 W. Wisconsin Avenue Appleton, WI 54914-3565 (920) 830-2995 isiinc.org Non-Profit Agency
J.A. Johnson Health Insurance 500 E. Eagle Flats Pkwy, #104 Appleton, WI 54915-9202 (920) 284-6067 jajohnsonhealthinsurance.com Insurance Company
Menlo Park Co-Working Space 181 S. RiverHeath Way, Suite 1200 Appleton, WI 54915-8402 (920) 209-5051 mpcowork.com Business Services
Mondo! Wine Bar & Retail 220 W. College Avenue Appleton, WI 54911-5827 (920) 903-1787 mondowinebar.com Wine Bar & Shop
Ogden & Company, Inc. 911 N. Lynndale Drive, Suite 1B Appleton, WI 54914-3086 (920) 840-6366 ogdenre.com Real Estate Company
Organix Business Solutions, LLC P.O. Box 1952 Appleton, WI 54912-1952 (920) 204-1841 mydmaic.com Business Services
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.
Partnership Community Health Center 5337 W. Grande Market Drive Appleton, WI 54913-8442 (920) 731-7445 partnershipchc.org Non-Profit Agency
Pearl Engineering Corporation 5740 Grande Market Drive, Suite A Appleton, WI 54913-8477 (715) 424-4008 pearlengineering.com Engineering & Consulting
Provisions Wealth Planners 100 W. Lawrence Street, Suite 304 Appleton, WI 54911-5754 (920) 731-9293 provisionswealthplanners.com Financial Services
Quality Assured Office Machines 1375 North Road Green Bay, WI 54313-5723 (920) 499-0058 qaom.com Office Equipment & Supplies
Ray’s Sanitation LLC 4879 County Road A Oshkosh, WI 54901-9618 (920) 203-2485 rayssanitation.com Business Services
RiverHeath, LLC 181 S. RiverHeath Way, Suite 1200 Appleton, WI 54915-8402 (920) 209-5051 riverheath.com Rental Service
Roots of Healing, LLC 130 Main Street, Suite 200 Menasha, WI 54952-3181 (920) 471-1988 rootsofhealing.org Behavioral Healthcare
Sexual Assault Crisis Center 17 Park Place, Suite 400 Appleton, WI 54914-8271 (920) 733-8119 sacc-foxcities.org Non-Profit Agency
Shifting Tides Chiropractic 1403 Appleton Road Menasha, WI 54952-1101 (920) 722-5454 shiftingtideschiropractic.com Chiropractor
Somerville Architects and Engineers 2100 Riverside Drive, Suite 300 Green Bay, WI 54301-2390 (920) 437-8136 somervilleinc.com Architects & Engineers
Thrive, LLC P.O. Box 11204 Green Bay, WI 54307-1204 (920) 639-9090 thrivecultureandengagement.com Business Organization/Development
TopLine Results 2316 N. Rankin Street Appleton, WI 54911-3067 (800) 880-1960 toplineresults.com Computer Software Development & Support
UA Local 400 Pipe Trades 2700 Northridge Drive Kaukauna, WI 54130-0530 (920) 462-0400 http://www.ua400.org Labor Organization
Wells Fargo Bank N.A. 931 S. Green Bay Road Neenah, WI 54956-3631 (920) 720-2200 wellsfargo.com Bank
World HeadQuarters LLC 620 E. Longview Drive Appleton, WI 54911-2149 (920) 570-6565 whqwi.com Business Organization/Development
Worthington Industries 300 E. Breed Street Chilton, WI 53014-1033 (920) 849-1740 worthingtonindustries.com Manufacturing & Services
Fox Cities BUSiNESS I Spring 2018 I New Members
19
Giving Back in Your Community Satisfying an Urgent Need with Skills-Based Volunteering Nonprofit organizations are stretched thin when it comes to resources and while the need for their programs and resources is at an all-time high, they are continually faced with a decline in funding and financing for these efforts. One way in which our business community can rally together to help is to recognize and act on skills-based volunteering (SBV) efforts. The ability to find and retain skilled pro-bono volunteers can mean everything when it comes to the sustainability of a nonprofit. If you would like to jump on board in building capacity at a local nonprofit that you’re passionate about, consider skills-based volunteering. The Volunteer Center of East Central Wisconsin is proud to provide an outlet in which to connect business professionals and nonprofits in need.
Here are some current opportunities in which you could use your skills to give back. Contact us at 920-832-9360 or email info@volunteercenter.net to respond to any of these opportunities.
Marketing, Public Relations, Design: Raise and promote public awareness of NAMI Fox Valley services and classes through marketing activities and media contacts. Help is also needed with design of advertisements and posters. Marketing, Graphic Design: Community Benefit Tree, a medical crisis support agency, is looking for someone experienced in Marketing and Graphic Design. Website support and design experience is also valuable.
Janie Stevenson is a valuable skillsbased volunteer at LEAVEN where she interviews clients and also assists in the records department.
20 Fox Cities BUSiNESS I Spring 2018 I Editorial Resource
Video Production: Do you have experience in video and editing? Can you take raw footage and turn it into a moving tribute, motivating others to become involved in a very effective community program? Best Friends NeenahMenasha has some amazing stories to tell! Using the power of video is a very effective way to showcase the special bond between friends. Accounting, Record Keeping: Clarity Care needs volunteers for data entry, financial and statistical analysis, reconciling accounts, budgeting, and general accounting duties. IT, Communications: Would you enjoy using your IT/communication skills to support business startups? Help the SCORE Fox Cities organization with various tasks such as modifying a newsletter template to include seminars/events, posting events on their website, uploading software for both seminars and chapter meetings, and more. Landscaping, Maintenance: Help Brewster Village with lawn/landscaping tasks and indoor/ outdoor maintenance. Brewster Village is a county-operated facility providing short and long-term nursing home services to create person-centered, residential experiences that are designed to meet individuals’ social and medical needs. Community Organizing, Research, Project Management: Volunteer Center of East Central WI seeks volunteer project leaders for development of a senior chores program in Outagamie County. The project leaders will attend training through the Greater Wisconsin Agency on Aging Resources, Inc. in order to lead a self-directed volunteer team. For access to more than 400 other opportunities, visit the Volunteer Center’s online volunteer matching database, Get Connected: getconnected.volunteercenter.net. If you’re looking to serve on a board of directors or committee with a local nonprofit, find these opportunities on Board Connect: vcboardconnect.volunteercenter.net.
Upcoming Chamber
EVENTS APRIL
Thanks
Business Breakfast Bytes (Topic: “Sustainability in the Workplace”) Tuesday, April 17, 2018 Pullman’s at Trolley Square 619 S. Olde Oneida Street, Appleton 7:30 – 9:00 AM Business Connection Thursday, April 19, 2018 The Community Blood Center 4406 W. Spencer Street, Appleton 5:00 - 7:00 PM Lunch ‘n Learn (Topic: “What College Football Can Teach Business About Healthy Employees”) Wednesday, April 25, 2018 Radisson Paper Valley Hotel 333 W. College Avenue, Appleton 11:30 AM – 1:00 PM YPWeek April 20 – 28, 2018 Please visit pulsefoxcities.com to learn more. Bazaar After Dark Saturday, April 28, 2018 Downtown Little Chute 5:00 – 10:00 PM
for helping the Fox Cities region and Fox Cities Chamber build world class teams.
MAY
Business Breakfast Bytes (Topic: “Data Mining & Analytics”) Tuesday, May 15, 2018 Courtyard by Marriott Appleton 101 S. Riverheath Way, Appleton 7:30 – 9:00 AM 2018 Business Awards Luncheon Tuesday, May 15, 2018 Radisson Paper Valley Hotel 333 W. College Avenue, Appleton 11:30 AM – 1:30 PM Business Connection Tuesday, May 22, 2018 The Fox Club at Neuroscience Group Field, home of the Timber Rattlers 2400 N. Casaloma Drive, Appleton 5:00 – 7:00 PM
JUNE
Member Orientation Friday, June 1, 2018 Fox Cities Chamber 125 N. Superior Street, Appleton 11:30 AM – 1:30 PM Business Connection Tuesday, June 12, 2018 Pieper Electric 2400 Industrial Drive, Neenah 5:00 – 7:00 PM 2018 Chamber Golf Outing Thursday, June 28, 2018 Ridgeway Country Club 2913 County Road II, Neenah 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM
All of the Fox Cities Chamber events and details can be found online at: foxcitieschamber.com.
Insist
on the best
As a business owner, you want the best for your company. The best opportunities. The best employees. The best facilities. Hoffman can help you create the ideal workspace for your company to grow and thrive. Your business deserves first-rate facilities. You deserve a partner ready to make that happen. Visit us at hoffman.net.
Fox Cities BUSiNESS I Spring 2018 I Upcoming Events Hoffman FC Chamber Bus ad_3.625x4.875_Feb2018.indd 1
21
1/15/2018 11:48:03 AM
Diamond Member Honor Roll
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.
Company
Appleton Area School District AT&T Bassett Mechanical Bemis Company, Inc. BMO Harris Bank Coldwell Banker The Real Estate Group, Inc. Crane Engineering Sales, Inc. Erickson & Associates, S.C. Faith Technologies, Inc. First American, Evans Title Division Fox Communities Credit Union Fox Valley Technical College Harris & Associates, Inc. HCR ManorCare Health Services #447 Herrling Clark Law Firm, LTD. Mechanical Contractors Association of North Central WI Memorial Florists & Greenhouses, Inc. Miron Construction Co., Inc. OMNNI Associates Pierce Manufacturing, Inc. Radiology Associates of Appleton, S.C. Schroeder Moving Systems, Inc. SECURA Insurance Spectrum The Boldt Company The Post-Crescent Thiel Insurance Group, LLC University of Wisconsin-Fox Valley Valley Management, Inc. (McDonald’s) VF Corporation Water-Right, Inc. Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. Woodward Radio Group Ziegler Wealth Management
22 Fox Cities BUSiNESS I Spring 2018 I Diamond Members
Date Joined 2/1/1961 3/1/1929 2/1/1947 2/1/1969 3/1/1967 3/1/1960 3/1/1956 2/1/1964 3/1/1977 1/1/1970 2/1/1976 2/1/1976 3/1/1970 1/1/1975 2/1/1977 3/1/1969 3/1/1971 3/1/1956 3/1/1969 3/1/1948 3/1/1973 3/1/1966 1/1/1976 1/1/1973 3/1/1956 3/1/1929 3/1/1973 3/1/1976 1/1/1977 1/1/1976 1/1/1970 3/1/1956 1/1/1940 3/1/1956
We’re here to help!
Community Foundation for the Fox Valley Region (920) 830-1290 www.cffoxvalley.org info@cffoxvalley.org
United Way Fox Cities (920) 954-7210 www.unitedwayfoxcities.org info@unitedwayfoxcities.org
THANK YOU to the people, businesses and organizations that continue to selflessly and generously give to make a difference in our Fox Valley area communities.
Giving matters!
UW-CFFV Mag Ad.indd 1
2/13/18 3:22 PM
Golf courses are a great place to conduct business, let Reid be your business recreation solution today!
Business Annual Pass at Reid Golf Course includes 18-hole foursome with 2 carts daily
Endless Outing options can accommodate up to 144 players and be tailored to your exact needs
For details contact jeff.plasschaert@appleton.org
“A Great Place in Your Community to Golf!” Reid Golf Course
1100 East Fremont St. Appleton, WI 54915 (920) 832-5926 | www.reidgolfcourse.org
2018
ECONOMIC OUTLOOK SURVEY RESULTS Overall good news, but workforce remains a challenge for Fox Cities Employers While most Fox Cities employers reported that they expect another great year for business, it is clear that the “talent crisis” is as worrisome here as anywhere in the US. Each January, the Fox Cities Regional Partnership (the economic development division of the Fox Cities Chamber) conducts a survey asking Fox Cities employers what their business experienced in the prior year and what they anticipate in the coming calendar year. The results are then shared at an annual Economic Outlook event in February, along with a keynote speaker that speaks to the national and global economic trends for the future. This year’s survey showed that most business leaders in the Fox Cities were optimistic about 2018, which aligned with national trends by leading economists, including this year’s keynote speaker Elliot Eisenberg.
“The next 18 months look like an investors paradise... the driving factors of strong economic growth look healthy.”
-Elliot Eisenberg Graphs and Laughs , llc.
24 Fox Cities BUSiNESS I Spring 2018 I Fox Cities Regional Partnership
Presenting sponsor of Fox Cities Economic Outlook Lunch & Survey Results:
“We are having a hard time hiring candidates that will show up.”
Industry Composition of Respondents: 35% 30%
“We have over thirty positions open that we just can’t fill. ”
25% 20% 15% 10% 5% 0% MFG
F.I.R.E.
2014
TRADE
2015
SERVICE
2016
2017
OTHER
2018
Anticipate Sales in New Year to: 80%
“Retirements are impacting opportunities for growth.” -2018 Fox Cities Economic Outlook Survey Respondents
70% 60% 50% 40% 30% 20% 10% 0% Increase
2014
Remain
2015
Decrease
2016
NA
2017
2018
Anticipate Employment in New Year to:
2014
60% 50%
2015
40% 30% 20% 10% 0% Increase
2014
Remain
2015
Decrease
2016
NA
2017
2018
2016
Projected Salary Increase in Next Year:
60.0%
2017
50.0% 40.0% 30.0% 20.0%
2018
10.0% 0.0% < 3%
2014
3-4%
2015
5-6%
2016
> 6%
2017
NA/Commission
2018
Fox Cities BUSiNESS I Spring 2018 I Fox Cities Regional Partnership
25
fox cities chamber
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