Collective Impact Winter 2014 by Greater Green Bay Chamber

WINTER 2014

Economic development leads the way

G R E E N B AY A R E A C H A M B E R O F C O M M E R C E

OUR LEGACY, YOUR FUTURE. For more than 80 years, we’ve given our team members the freedom to create and contribute, providing each person with the opportunity to truly impact our business. We offer unlimited ways for your ideas to take shape and take action.

Visit our career page at: www.ariensco.com

You were made to lead. No matter which career path you are pursuing, we believe that your ideas and ambition have the potential to make you a leader here at Ariens Company.

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TITLETOWN.ORG

Contents. WINTER 2014 | ISSUE #4

PRESIDENT Laurie Radke EDITOR Lori Kaye Lodes GRAPHIC DESIGNER Dana Jacobson Collective Impact is published quarterly by the Green Bay Area Chamber of Commerce, 300 N. Broadway, Ste. 3A, Green Bay WI 54305. Collective Impact is supported by advertising revenue from member companies of the Green Bay Area Chamber of commerce. For information about the advertising rates and deadlines, contact sales at 920.593.3404. Collective Impact (USPS 10-206) is published quarterly for $18 a year by the Green Bay Area Chamber of Commerce, 300 N. Broadway, Ste. 3A, Green Bay WI 54305. Periodicals postage paid at Green Bay, WI. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Collective Impact, 300 N. Broadway, Ste. 3A, Green Bay WI 54305. PH: 920.593.3423. COMMERCIAL LITHOGRAPHY

feature... 09 Economic Development

in every issue... 02

FROM THE PRESIDENT

EMERGING TRENDS

WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

21 Pioneer Credit Union 45 YMC A

COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT

29 Amer ican Tr ansmission Company

MEMBER ANNIVERSARIES

CHAMBER SNAPSHOTS

ADVERTISERS 07 Sar a Investment Real Estate LLC . 25 Valley Insur ance Associates Inc .

29 Ray & Joan KROC Cor ps Community

Center 3 5 Common Ground Healthcare Cooper ative 3 5 Recoveron 41 KI 21 National Railroad Museum 20 SCORE 2 7 Element 4 4 Prevea360 32 NWTC Cor por ate Tr aining & Economic Development 27 Element 14 Fir st Mer it Bank 4 5 Fi r st Business IN SID E F R O NT Ar iens Company BACK COV E R Cellcom

from the president

We’ve all heard the message that small business is instrumental to the economic lifeblood of a community. But did you know that without small businesses, Brown County would have 1,000-plus fewer companies, 10,000-plus fewer jobs, 100,000-plus fewer options to buy and $100-plus million lost in economic impact?* Economic development and growth is definitely front of mind with community members. The Bay Area Community Council’s 20/20 Summit in February 2012 reiterated that economic development is top of mind with Brown County residents.The summit’s outgrowth report noted that, by 2020, our vision is that, “We consistently seek, promote and create a sustainable economy and livable community — financially, physically, socially and environmentally.” That included five subsets, including having that stable economic base with a solid core of sustainable opportunities for employment, wealth creation and reinvestment. In addition, another outgrowth was that, by 2020, to be “a magnet for economic development, attracting young professionals, families, entrepreneurs, innovators, corporate offices and investors who fuel growth and renewal of an evolving economy.” More details on the summit’s outgrowths is available at BayAreaCommunityCouncil.org. At its most fundamental, economic development refers to concerted and sustained actions taken to promote the standard of living and economic health of a specific area. Translation: It’s a long list of activities, many of which are undertaken by the Green Bay Area Chamber of Commerce (including many by Advance, the economic development arm of the Chamber) to attract business to the Greater Green Bay area, keep business here and help business grow. Much of this focus, Chamberwide, is geared to small- and medium-sized businesses. That’s not surprising given the important place these segments of the business community have on the future of our community’s economy. Small firms (fewer than 50 employees) in Wisconsin amount to about 150,000 companies. They’re powerhouses; small business employs 28 percent of all workers in the state.There are 9,300 medium-size firms (50 to 250 employees) in the state, and those businesses employ another 23 percent of the state’s workforce.** By the Small Business Administration’s (SBA) definition, small businesses are those with 500 or fewer employees. The SBA credits small businesses with creating up to 80 percent of the job growth coming out of a recession. Of our 1,277 Chamber member businesses, 1,019 employ fewer than 50 employees and 192 fit the description of medium-size firms. And these sized businesses are a priority for the job creation needed to propel our economy forward. We, as a Chamber, support that growth and retention a number of ways: ADVANCE MICROLOAN PROGRAM. This progressive microloan program is specifically geared to entrepreneurs, new businesses and small businesses looking to create, improve or expand their business opportunities. These tend to be businesses that might not be eligible for more traditional means of financing.To date, the program has 24 active loans representing active loans of approximately $736,000, making a significant impact on the small business recipients. More details at www.titletown.org/microloan.

*Source: Small Business Administration **Source: U.S. Census Bureau, June 2013 2

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ADVANCE BUSINESS & MANUFACTURING CENTER. The Advance Business & Manufacturing Center offers an incubator program that offers much more than office space or shop/manufacturing space, but a collaborative environment for affordably starting/growing a small business. To date, more than 245 businesses have graduated from the program, which has an 87 percent success rate. More info at www.advanceincubator.org. Advance is also a partner in the Brown County Culinary Kitchen, which provides a fully equipped, commercially licensed, shared-use kitchen to entrepreneurs; more info at www.bcculinarykitchen.org. ADVOCACY/SERVING AS THE VOICE OF BUSINESS. Our intent as a Chamber is to influence issues of public policy that are crucial to building a prosperous business environment. Government affairs are an important responsibility for every business, whether you have a local zoning issue, are struggling with a state regulation or attempting to comply with the federal healthcare law. Unfortunately, many small- to medium-sized companies may not have the resources needed to effectively manage these efforts. This is where the Chamber’s government affairs program can fill in the gaps. In addition, every two years the Chamber publishes a legislative agenda that outlines the priorities of the business community: to reduce the cost for businesses so they can grow jobs and increase our quality of life. We work with our members and other partners to devise a strategy to implement changes that will enrich our businesses and communities. We act as the voice of business so they can do what they do best: grow the economy and employ people. Learn more at www.titletown.org/ governmentaffairs. CURRENT YOUNG PROFESSIONALS NETWORK. Current is tasked with recruiting, engaging, developing and retaining talent in the Greater Green Bay area. It does this through a variety of means including professional development events, leadership development activities and social networking opportunities. Currently, it has more than 80 corporate members and 1,275-plus individual members on its roster. Learn more at GreenBayCurrent.org. SEMINAR SERIES. Seminar series such as “CONNECT! Local resources for starting and growing your business” and “Let’s Wrap” cater to these businesses. The three-part CONNECT! series in 2014 (the first of which begins Jan. 21) will feature insights on the financials of business — when/why to hire an accountant and other monetary-based topics. Let’s Wrap provides quarterly lunch sessions on topics ranging from marketing and PR for the small business, to saving money on your business’s tax bill, to finding and hiring the right fit. More info available on events.titletown.org. In all these instances — and many more — the baseline of what we’re striving to deliver to businesses of all sizes — but especially the small- and medium-sized ones — is the access, connectivity, resources and solutions they need to achieve their goals. We always welcome feedback on our programming and services; you can reach me at lradke@titletown.org.

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emerging trends

A LEADERSHIP CHALLENGE: BALANCING HOME LIFE, WORK LIFE AND PERSONAL TIME As leaders we wear a lot of life-hats. What does it mean to achieve work-life balance, especially in a life that includes being spouse, parent, child, boss, employer, friend or employee? Many of us struggle, not only to understand what this concept means, but also to apply it to our busy lives. * Lee Bouche, president and founder, ERC – specializing in leadership and organizational development and Employee Assistance Programs, lbouche@erc-eap.com

What is it we are actually trying to balance? Meaningful accomplishments, physical and mental health, satisfying relationships, financial security and peace of mind. On average, each of us has 112 hours per week in which to achieve all of our responsibilities. How do you divide that time so that you feel a sense of balance?

need our time and attention and provide us a feeling of accomplishment. We often forget we also need time to focus on ourselves. It is imperative that we make time for relaxation and introspection. It is through these periods of self-reflection that we recharge our batteries, reaffirm our priorities and refocus our energy. Next time you are struggling with work-life balance, remember to start by scheduling an appointment with yourself.

As leaders we often focus on the struggle to balance our work life and home life, both of which

When you grow as a person, you grow as a leader.

We all can use a little help defining what balance looks and feels like in our lives. It will be different than your parents’, your friends’ and peers’, or your significant other’s. What is important is that you find a balance that allows you to feel both a sense of satisfaction and enjoyment at the end of each day.

DON’T BE MYTHED - SHREDDING IS

CONFIDENTIAL

Virtually any type of document HERE ARE SOME COMMON containing sensitive information SHREDDING MYTHS: can be shredded, including ✔ NOT ALL BUSINESSES HAVE TO SHRED. financial, account, tax and pay- A number of data protection laws have been to protect consumers’ privacy and combat roll records, blueprints and passed identity theft. These laws require businesses magnetic media. But sensitive to maintain information and then, after the retention period, properly destroy it. information often still ends up appropriate There are not only state laws that require proper in the trash instead of being destruction of information but also federal laws including HIPAA and FACTA. securely destroyed. ✔

NO ONE WILL LOOK THROUGH THE TRASH. Even if no one goes dumpster diving for 4

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EMPLOYING INDIVIDUALS with disabilities

My friend and colleague, “Brian,” wants to work for your company. He’s loyal, motivated and dependable. You can count on him to show up every day and do his level best to live out your company’s mission and values. Brian also has a disability. Like all good employees, people with disabilities want to contribute to the success of their employer. They welcome challenges, and they appreciate constructive supervision. Brian’s no different. And there are plenty of people with disabilities just like him who could fill important roles at your company. We know businesses that are able to attract and retain quality employees have an advantage over the competition. Experience shows businesses can effectively address their current and long-range employee recruitment needs by understanding that people with disabilities are capable of filling a wide variety of roles.

* Lisa Steffen, OTR, CBIS, director of employment and training for N.E.W. Curative Rehabilitation Inc., lsteffen@newcurative.org

There’s a large pool of such employees to choose from. More than 19 million adults — one-eighth of the adult workforce — have a disability. While they are twice as likely as the general population to be unemployed, they do represent a significant talent pool from which to recruit.

Besides the benefits of increasing your company’s diversity by hiring someone with a disability, businesses also may qualify for financial incentives and tax deductions. Moreover, employees with disabilities are loyal and productive, as those who already employ or work with someone with a disability can attest. While hiring someone with a disability may present challenges, businesses can find ways to overcome them, either on their own or with the help of individuals and organizations who specialize in employing people with disabilities. What’s stopping you from considering hiring a person with a disability? Give them an opportunity if you haven’t already. And if you do employ someone with a disability, why not hire another?

KEY TO BUSINESS SUCCESS your information right on-site, there is no guarantee your information will stay in the bag while it’s at the landfill. Or just because you’ve recycled your documents doesn’t mean you’ve properly destroyed the information. Once vital information is in the trash or recyclables it’s available for all to see. ✔ IT’S BETTER TO SAVE RECORDS, “JUST IN CASE.” Businesses are required by law to maintain a variety of records. These may be needed for a range of reasons beyond tax purposes. However, there is also a risk of keeping records past their retention periods. Never assume it’s better to be safe than sorry because federal law says auditors can go through all records on hand.

✔ BUSINESSES MUST SHRED THEIR OWN RECORDS TO REMAIN COMPLIANT. It’s true businesses must destroy confidential documents, but it’s to your benefit to avoid the opportunity for any employee to negatively impact confidential business information. By seeking a certified thirdparty firm to destroy your documents, you will be provided with a third-party audit trail and will receive a certificate of destruction. Knowing the facts about confidential destruction will not only simplify things at your business, it will also help protect you and your business.

* Eric Haas, president - A.R.M.S. (Automated Records Management Systems), ehaas@arms4rim.com

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emerging trends

CREATING BRAND AWARENESS WITH

DISPLAY ADVERTISING

Consumers are spending more than 80 percent of their media time surfing the web for popular news, entertainment and lifestyle sites. Display advertising will expose your products and services to 98 percent of Internet users. Display advertising is a digital marketing solution that builds brand awareness where consumers are most likely to see it: on the Internet. Using advanced targeting techniques, you can put your message in front of local consumers surfing popular websites. And when used in tandem with Search Advertising (payper click), it can lift your company’s search results by up to 22 percent over search advertising alone. That means more consumers will remember you when they are ready to buy.

Turn your smartphone into a personal assistant Smartphones are designed to help you be smart, organized and efficient. If you’re just using the basic calendar on your device, it’s time to harness the power of personal assistant features and apps to become more organized.

* Chris Lukes, sales manager, Cellcom, 920.619.8800, Chris.lukes@cellcom.com

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When Siri launched on the iPhone in 2011, “she” upped the game for organizational technology. The feature listens to your commands and can understand complex sentences. You can tell your device to reschedule an appointment or set up reminders in your calendar or task list. From there, apps and features have become more proactive. Apple included another personal assistant feature on iOS 7 called Today, which gives you a text snapshot of your day including the weather, how long it will take you drive to your next destination and what’s next up on your

calendar. You can access it at any time by swiping down on any screen.

“Donna” (http://don.na) is an iPhone app similar to the Today feature but takes it a step further by giving you the option for push notifications. It can alert you the night before what your next day looks like or when you have to leave for your next meeting. Other proactive calendar apps worth checking out are “Sunrise” (www.sunrise.im) and “UpTo” (http://upto.com).

BUILD YOUR BRAND Display advertising can increase your brand awareness when you choose the right mix of online media for your business objectives. TARGET YOUR ADS Your display advertising campaign can include geographic targeting, premium site targeting, behavioral targeting and others. You can also “retarget” ads to reach people who have searched for keywords related to your business or previously visited your website, keeping your brand top of mind. PLACE MEMORABLE ADS Achieve maximum returns by placing creative, memorable display ads. Your message will break through and have higher recall with target audiences. TRACK AND OPTIMIZE With the right display advertising platform, you can track your campaign and produce reports that detail impressions, website visits, telephone calls and more. You can then optimize your campaign by dynamically steering your budget to sites that are most cost-effective in bringing people to your business.

* John J. McGraw, AIMC, director of digital marketing, Arketype, john@arketypeinc.com

Display advertising is ideal if you want to: ✔ Cost-effectively increase brand awareness where consumers are spending most of their time. ✔ Ensure your products and services are top-of-mind with consumers. ✔ Create consumer affinity for your brand over time.

The next wave of personal assistant features will require you to input even less information into your device. “Google Now” (http://www.google.com/landing/now) aims to give you the right information at the right time, proactively checking traffic and weather and giving you directions to your next appointment. Over time, the app learns your habits and predicts what you may search for at a given location, meeting, etc. and will have it waiting on a “card” before you type anything. “Mynd” (http://myndcalendar.com) is a similar contextually aware app. Ultimately, it’s about efficiency. Using any of these apps or features can turn your phone into a personal assistant and ultimately make your smartphone a more powerful tool. www.titletown.org/Cellcom

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FOR MORE INFORMATION: (608) 852-8777 | WWW.SARAINVEST.COM | 6264 NESBITT RD, MADISON, WI JANUARY 14

| collective impact

tech watch | * Al Pahl

APPLE ACQUISITIONS LEAD TO MORE APPLE OFFERINGS Largely unnoticed in the aftermath of the fingerprintscanner rollout is the fact Apple bought PrimeSense, the Israeli company that provided the technology for the first Kinect sensors.

PrimeSense makes 3-D sensors that have a range of up to 3.5 meters (that’s about how far most people sit from their TVs – probably NOT coincidental). The original Kinect could detect faces, movements and people and map them all in 3-D space. Apple doesn’t currently make a TV set, but rumors of it invading that market have been around for years. This acquisition brings to Apple technology that can sense gestures or identify people. All of which makes sense in your living room, if paired with the existing Apple TV set-top box. History says this purchase will lead to something new in your hands. Apple bought a company named AuthenTec, which does fingerprints. Within 15 months, the iPhone sported fingerprint recognition. It bought Anobit, the Israeli maker of flash memory, which is now in almost every Apple product. The company bought C3 Technologies in 2011 and was soon using that technology in Apple’s Maps. Stay tuned.

YOU MAY NOW USE YOUR ELECTRONIC DEVICE… By the time you read this, it’s possible you will be doing so on an electronic device, aboard an aircraft, below 10,000 feet. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) in November issued guidelines allowing domestic carriers to allow us to use our portable electronic devices (PED) during all phases of flight. The change allows the use of smartphones, e-readers, games, most DVD players and most tablets while the plane is taxiing, taking off or landing. Laptops might still have to be stowed during takeoff and landing, because of their size, which

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some claim may hamper an emergency evacuation. Internet connections remain prohibited under 10,000 feet. Voice cellular calls are banned during the entire flight, under a Federal Communications Commission rule, but the FCC voted, 3-2, in mid-December to consider lifting that. Most reported consumer reaction has been negative.

Fingerprint sensor is not foolproof Whether Apple’s fingerprintscanning hardware security introduced on the iPhone 5 will revolutionize the tech world depends upon with whom you talk. One thing is certain, it is interesting. The iPhone 5 has a fingerprint sensor on its home button. The phone unlocks when it recognizes one of the five fingerprints stored onboard. TouchId also allows users to perform certain iPhone functions by simply placing their thumb or finger on the home button. Third-party app developers don’t currently have access to TouchID. So, for now, users will only see compatible apps from Apple. Apple says it doesn’t actually store fingerprints. TouchID takes a high-resolution image of fingerprints and only stores “fingerprint data,” encrypted, on the iPhone processor. This data is in a “secure enclave,” Apple says, and will never be stored in the cloud. Some analysts believe that even if someone steals your iPhone, they likely wouldn’t be able to reverseengineer your fingerprint. Only your mandatory passcode (not a fingerprint) can unlock the phone if the phone has been rebooted or hasn’t been unlocked for 48 hours.

Economic development leads the way There’s a reason economic development is listed first in the Chamber’s pillars of focus, which also include workforce development and community development. Economic development is the driver of a community’s growth – beginning with business and impacting and affecting both workforce development and the community in which we live.

Please turn the page to read about some fellow Chamber members who are innovating, growing, re-creating, redefining, developing, moving and finding other ways to bolster growth, remain competitive and in turn, create a viable Greater Green Bay community.

TEXT LEE MARIE REINSCH

FOTH PHOTOGRAPHY GARY D. PARKER

Foth’s growth steers it to De Pere e’ve all heard the old chestnut that a rolling stone gathers no moss. Judging from Foth’s blueprint, the 75-yearold, employee-owned engineering and science firm has found a way to make that rolling stone grow.

“Our business practice is to lease office space,” says Randy Homel, CEO of Foth. “We use our capital to invest in our business; we don’t want it tied up in buildings.”

Foth recently moved its headquarters into a custom-built site just off Highway 41 at 2121 Innovation Ct. in De Pere, a move that makes it the largest Wisconsin-headquartered engineering firm in the nation. With $130 million in annual revenue, it’s also been ranked in the Engineering News Record’s Top 100 largest design firms in the United States for the last two years.

The new building in De Pere is designed for sustainability and member wellness, as well as future expansion on the new property, according to Homel. The location shortens the commute for 35 percent of Foth’s workforce that lives in the Fox Cities area.

It hasn’t always been this way. When Herb Foth founded the company in Green Bay in 1938, it had just four employees. Now, seven moves later, Foth has 600 employee “members” nationwide, with 300 here in the Greater Green Bay area. Having outgrown its most recent site on South Ridge Road in Ashwaubenon, where it had been since 1992, Foth demonstrates that keeping the stone rolling is part of its master plan for success and growth.

That philosophy has enabled Foth to expand to 18 office locations throughout the U.S. and Canada – all of which are leased.

With 100,000 square feet, the new site is similar in size to its former site but is much more tailored to Foth’s needs, says Homel. “We’ve been growing for many years at a long-term rate of 10 percent a year in revenues and in people,” Homel says. “We weren’t bursting at the seams in our (former) building, but the facility needed a lot of renovation and investment.The lease was up, and we were looking for a more high-tech environment. We were able to build that into this facility.”

All the spaces in the new building are designed for member collaboration and project work. “Our project teams are working together all the time, not just in this facility,” Homel says. “With technology (i.e., Skype, conference calling, etc.) our members easily collaborate with each other across our locations and with our clients who are geographically dispersed.” Does the move mean they’ll be adding members? It does if you rephrase the question: Will they be growing? “The answer is yes, but it’s a continuous thing,” Homel says. “It’s not like the new building is going to cause us to hire X number more – it’s a continuum.” Foth generally adds about 20 to 30 new members locally and around 60 members nationwide each year, according to Homel. “Foth is a healthy and growing, memberowned company,” he says. “With that growth, Foth’s needs are constantly changing and evolving.”

“We've been growing for many years at a long-term rate of 10 percent a year.” — Randy Homel, Foth 10

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TEXT JENNIFER HOGELAND

Growth by managing energy

reakthrough®Fuel is a thriving business that manages the energy companies use to move products to market. “I describe it as we sit at the intersection between the supply chain market and the energy market,” says Craig Dickman, CEO/chief innovation officer at Breakthrough®Fuel.

Dickman began putting the pieces of his business together in 2004. In 2006, he entered the market, and Breakthrough®Fuel has been growing ever since. The company has seen growth of 25-50 percent each year; 2013 was also within that range. “We always try to find a good balance to make sure that as we grow we still do an exceptional job of providing service to our clients,” adds Dickman. He attributes his success to several factors, including being a recognized innovator in the industry. His company upholds its innovative status by introducing new products to the market at least once a year. Dickman says another factor is the growing awareness of how managing energy relates to effectively moving product. “There is more discussion and recognition that the energy market is fundamentally changing from the way it has operated the last 20, 30 or 40 years. With that change, people are now saying, ‘Wow, maybe I need to take a fresh look at this,’ ” adds Dickman. And many companies throughout North America have realized the benefits of managing energy. Breakthrough®Fuel is approaching eight billion miles of freight movements under management, and it’s been able to save customers collectively more than $400 million in energy costs. Dickman reveals staying on top of what’s happening in the energy industry is one of Breakthrough®Fuel’s greatest challenges, and greatest opportunities. Companies are recognizing the competitive advantage in managing their energy costs — the cost to move products is lower, consumption is better and emissions are reduced — but most don’t have the resources to pay attention to market changes.

“We've been able to create value nationally and bring those resources to Green Bay.” — Craig Dickman, Breakthrough®Fuel

“We are paying attention to the market all day, every day. On one hand it is difficult, on the other hand that creates opportunity for us,” Dickman adds. When asked about Breakthrough®Fuel’s impact on the area’s economic development, Dickman shares less than 5 percent of its revenue comes from within a 100-mile radius of Green Bay. “We’ve been able to create value nationally and bring those resources to Green Bay — invest in our people, invest in our facility, invest in technology and invest in innovation and bring that money back to Northeast Wisconsin,” he says. From a business standpoint, Breakthrough®Fuel could be anywhere, but Dickman explains he’s proud to make a positive economic impact on the community. “It’s important to invest in our communities and to generate new money coming into this marketplace for it to grow,” he says. JANUARY 14

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TEXT JENNIFER HOGELAND

SRC Technologies relies on expertise and applies a thoughtful growth strategy n the early years, a company expects — or at least hopes — growth to be substantial. SRC Technologies has had double-digit growth since its inception in 2008.

“This year we’ll see 20 to 25 percent growth; last year we were a little over 20,” says B.J. Havlik, president and CEO of SRC Technologies in De Pere. “We expect to see that growth continue because the model we use to deliver our services, which is a little different from our competition, and because we have little to no market penetration in this area.” SRC Technologies designs, builds and manages IT infrastructure. It started with

eight employees and zero revenue, has grown to 20 employees and is now in a position to explore ways to support continued growth. “You get to a certain point where you can still survive and have moderate growth without restructuring,” he adds. “But, at some point, if you want significant growth every year, you have to make changes.” Havlik reveals SRC Technologies has enlisted an outside strategy and business process company to help it through the change. The intent is to understand and put specific numbers around where they’d like their growth to be and the capabilities needed to achieve those goals. When asked the key to the company’s success, Havlik says many of its employees, from the leadership team to the technicians,

have spent the majority of their career on the other side of the desk. “Most of our management teams’ and engineers’ experience comes from the large enterprise space, so we are bringing that class of managing IT to companies — most wouldn’t expect that level of quality at a price point that works for them,” says Havlik. SRC Technologies had a significant impact on the area’s economic development. Havlik estimates 80 percent of SRC Technologies’ revenue comes from outside the area. Its model enables SRC Technologies to increase employment and opportunities here by selling outside the area. “Some of our biggest clients are in Chicago and Philadelphia, so as we grow and push out into those markets we bring dollars into this market,” says Havlik. “When new employees are added, they are being supported by a new client outside the state and money comes into Northeast Wisconsin.”

“At some point, if you want significant growth every year, you have to make changes.” — B.J. Havlik, SRC Technologies

SRC TECHNOLOGIES IS A PROUD GRADUATE OF THE ADVANCE BUSINESS & MANUFACTURING CENTER INCUBATOR. 12

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TEXT JENNIFER HOGELAND

Innovations and awareness require Nature’s Way to evolve and grow ature’s Way, formerly Schwabe North America, is part of the exploding natural health industry. In the early years, the company focused on specialty health food stores, but in the early 2000s, thanks to the growing interest of consumers, it entered the food, drug and mass markets.

“The industry is transforming as the consumer base grows,” says Mike Winkler, CFO of Nature’s Way. “The Internet has helped as consumers are able to selfeducate on the products and become more aware of how these products can help.” Nature’s Way also has a broad reach. It works with large retail chain stores and large health food chains as well as small specialty retail shops specific to a city or neighborhood and physicians who incorporate alternative medicines into their practices.

Winkler explains Nature’s Way has seen a 15 to 20 percent growth the last few years because it continues to grow the number of markets it is in and consumer awareness is on the rise. New technologies play a significant role in the industry, both in terms of ingredients and product forms. Winkler says, “As you look at the product forms people have taken historically, the industry has been based on capsules and tablets, but there are many other forms, such as a gummies or ready-to-drink products.Technology plays a large part in not only the form but also the new ingredients that come onto the market.” Nature’s Way continues to invest in research and development to come up with the next health product to appeal to consumers. Winkler explains strong development teams manage the complexity that comes with the industry and contribute to the company’s success.

“We have many different customers, consumers and products so allocating resources can be challenging in a growth environment — everyone has great ideas. Our challenge is managing the ideas to make sure we are able to execute these plans effectively and efficiently,” says Winkler. He believes Nature’s Way has a very bright future. As more people take ownership of their health, Winkler suspects they will look for cost-effective solutions to provide a long-term benefit — he believes their products will fit that demand. Winkler says, “Northeast Wisconsin benefits economically as awareness of our product grows and as we support that growth. Green Bay is our corporate headquarters where that happens.”

“Northeast Wisconsin benefits economically as awareness of our product grows.” — Mike Winkler, Nature’s Way JANUARY 14

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TEXT LEE MARIE REINSCH

Green Bay Packaging adds some breathing room “Number one for us is to continue to grow and keep our lead times where they need to be.” — Marty Olson, Green Bay Packaging

ometimes it’s all about keeping up with the Joneses. And other times, it’s all about catching up to the Joneses.

Green Bay Packaging’s 300,000-squarefoot addition to its coated products division will double the space of the site at 3250 S. Ridge Road in Ashwaubenon and will give the operation some breathing room to move forward.

But Senior Vice President for Coated Products Marty Olson calls the $95 million addition a “catch-up move.” “Our ‘newest’ piece of equipment is 16 years old,” Olson says. “We’ve become pretty capacityrestrained; we need to catch up to the capacity needs of our customers and also catch up technologically.” The coated products division of Green Bay Packaging makes pressure-sensitive label stock for the label industry – stock that eventually ends up on things like deli food containers, plastic bakery cupcake boxes, prescription bottles and even kids’ stickers.

The expansion isn’t about new product lines; it’s more about keeping up with current demand, Olson says. “Number one for us is to continue to grow and keep our lead times where they need to be with our customers,” Olson says. “We aren’t doing a big market-share grab; we’re going to shut down some older assets and replace them with newer assets, so we’ll have improved quality, a little better changeover time, and it will be an opportunity to broaden our product portfolio.” There’s that tech component, too. “We also realize that in the last 16 years, technology has changed, and to continue to meet our customers’ needs as far as quality, ontime delivery and service and all those things, we need to up the ante as far as the equipment that we have,” Olson says. As with any corporate expansion, people want to know: Will they hire? “We’re billing it as a job protector rather than a job creator,” Olson says. “There’s an amount of automation that comes along with it, so we don’t anticipate any hiring.There may be some short-term hiring to meet short-term needs, but overall it’s not a job creator.” Earlier in 2013, the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation (WEDC) awarded Green Bay Packaging almost $2 million in tax credits.

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Wisconsin Film and Bag thrives on innovation

isconsin Film and Bag has seen the manufacturing industry change dramatically over its 40-year history. It’s also evolved over time through innovation. “An organization depends on innovation to drive the company forward,” says Jim Feeney, president of Wisconsin Film and Bag in Shawano. “It’s important for small- and medium-sized businesses to take risks if they want to grow and be a vigorous part of the economy.”

The Shawano business began by making simple trash bags and has advanced to manufacture more sophisticated applications in food and industry. Feeney explains recycling is now a significant part of Wisconsin Film and Bag. It developed a process for recycling post-consumer plastic film, which was recently awarded a patent. “That innovative process has become the central element of our business,” says Feeney. He believes manufacturers are often called upon to be pioneers, and efficiency is the natural progression of manufacturing. Wisconsin Film and Bag continue to be more productive, building more products and developing services in new industries. “Manufacturers are constantly working to improve not only their processes but the products they bring to their customers,” says Feeney. “It is the lifeblood of manufacturing.” In 1980, 19 million people were engaged in manufacturing, and today that number is approximately 11 million but output has nearly tripled. “That is through efforts in innovation,” Feeney adds. A manufacturer’s vitality impacts local and state economies. “I see manufacturing as a primary economic contributor to a community,” says Feeney. “As an organization, we make products and sell them worldwide, bringing revenue from other parts of the globe into Northeast Wisconsin.”

“It’s important for small- and medium-sized businesses to take risks if they want to be a vigorous part of the economy.” — Jim Feeney, Wisconsin Film and Bag

JANUARY 14

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TEXT LEE MARIE REINSCH

AK Pizza Crust grabs bigger slice of the market hen it’s in a hot oven, livedough pizza crust rises and gets bigger. AK Alive & Kickin’ Pizza Crust, as a company, is on the rise and getting bigger, too.

oven rising, it kicks, Charles says. Hence the “Kickin’” in its name.

Just take its latest project in the Interstate 43 Business Center – AK is building a little over an acre of square footage onto its existing facility.

Self-rising is just “freezer to oven,” Charles says. “We blast-freeze it, and after it’s been topped, it will rise and bake for the first time in your home oven. Par-baked is traditional thin crispy crust, baked once by us and the second time in your home oven.”

“We’re adding about 50,000 square feet and two production lines,” says AK President Randy Charles. “One (line) to make a baked crust, and the other to make a self-rising crust.” And AK Alive & Kickin’s got two more facilities in Green Bay – the main plant at 1326 Cornell Rd. in the Howard Industrial Park, and another at 606 S. Fisk St. – that each does lines of parbaked and self-rising crusts. In 1989, the company started as a full-line bakery called Port City Bakery. In the 1990s, it branched into pizza crusts, especially risingcrust pizza crusts when companies like the Chicago-based DiGiorno started a craze among frozen-pizza lovers for the soft and chewy “live crust” that rises in your oven. “By 2001, we were full-time pizza crusts, and stopped making all of the other bakery items,” Charles says. Demand for pizza crust by restaurants, vendors, topping companies and other end users went through the roof. “DiGiorno isn’t one of ours (clients), but they created interest in the private-label arena where we live,” Charles says. Yeast plays an important role in rising-crust pizza, and yeast is a live product – hence the “Alive” part of its moniker. When it’s in the

In the world of AK Alive & Kickin’ Pizza Crust, crust comes in two main styles – self-rising and partially baked, or par-baked.

Then there’s the matter of custom crusts, which Charles says is pretty common. “Nearly everything we make is custom made; nearly every one of our crusts has been a request from a customer,” Charles says. “We’ll fine-tune it in our R&D lab, and once we get it to the customer’s satisfaction, then we will roll it out to the production lines.” So what is it about our culture or economy that’s driving us to eat more pizza? “Pizza is a value meal. It’s convenience, and people like the taste of it. That’s what it comes down to,” Charles says. “It’s quick, easy and kind of fun.” The company has never been tempted to make complete pizzas. In fact, that’s pretty much a no-no in its position.

“We’re adding about 50,000 square feet and two production lines.” — Randy Charles, AK Alive & Kickin’ Pizza Crust

“A lot of our customers are toppers, so it would be instant competition,” Charles says. “There are just a ton of different pizza styles out there that need different crust styles, so there is plenty to keep us busy.” Without knowing it, many pizza lovers throughout the United States, Canada and Mexico have eaten Alive & Kickin’s crust, as that’s where it’s distributed. MAIN CASINO - SPORTS BAR INTERIOR

collective impact | JANUARY 14

TEXT LEE MARIE REINSCH

Costco enters the Green Bay market

hat does the Greater Green Bay area have in common with Pewaukee, Middleton, Sun Prairie and Grafton?

If you said “Costco,” you’re right. Bellevue’s Costco is the fifth in the state and the first to be built in the northern half of Wisconsin. “A lot of factors go into finding a good spot in a good community, where we feel like we can be really successful,” says Jeremy Deshazer, general manager of Costco Store No. 1161, located at 2355 Costco Way, which is off Monroe Road in Bellevue near Brown County Road GV. “This was a great location for us.”

Deshazer says Costco also looks for the population a store can draw when choosing to locate there. He held those details close to his vest, citing proprietorial information, but says, “There are a lot of people who drive down from the U.P. and up north to shop, and we (hope to) become one of their shopping destinations when they come down.”

a Costco. For nine years prior to that, he worked at a Costco next to the retailer’s headquarters in Issaquah, Wash.

All five of the Wisconsin stores have gas stations, food courts, pharmacies, tire centers, hearing aid and optical centers. The Bellevue store is 149,000 square feet, which to put into context is a little more than 2 ½ NFL football fields. It’s slightly larger than the average Costco store, which is 143,000 square feet.

“We call them warehouses rather than stores because it is more of a warehouse than it is a retail store,” he says. “Everything comes in pallets and gets placed onto the floor on pallets. And we have steel racking where we store all of our overstock.”

Of the 170 people who work at the newest Costco, 140 are new hires, according to Deshazer, with the remaining 30 coming from other Costcos. Deshazer comes from Salem, Oregon, where he spent the last six years managing

“I started out pushing carts and worked my way up,” he says. Just one small detail: The stores aren’t actually called stores. They’re “warehouses.”

Plus, the store carries just 4,000 items.That’s compared to the 142,000 items found in a typical Walmart Supercenter. Costco is a membership club, which means shoppers pay a membership fee in order to shop there. As of October, Costco had 641 stores in the United States, Puerto Rico, Mexico, Canada, the United Kingdom, Australia, Taiwan, Japan and Korea.

“A lot of factors go into finding a good spot in a good community.” — Jeremy Deshazer, Costco

JANUARY 14

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Advocates for Healthy Transitional Living benefits from Microloan program dvocates for Healthy Transitional Living LLC in De Pere is one of the Advance Microloan’s success stories. Three year ago, Dan Holstead was inspired to service at-risk youth and their families in a different way and to collaborate with organizations that operate within the same system.

“I have a social worker brain — my mind sees the need out there — but I needed to sit down with an accountant and start playing with the numbers to see if it was a possibility,” says Holstead. The accountant provided a healthy projected budget but warned the startup process was going to be challenging. Holstead explains without deep pockets, he needed financial support. “One day, by chance, I was reading the newspaper and saw an article about the Chamber of Commerce and the Microloan program,” says Holstead. “I called to ask about the program and was interviewed. They believed my organization fit the criteria for the microloan program.”

So, after 20 years as a social worker, he became an entrepreneur and opened Advocates for Healthy Transitional Living LLC, a Level 3/Level 4 treatment foster care facility. Holstead initially received a $25,000 line of credit. Startup costs were covered, but he soon struggled with managing his payroll and accounts receivable process. “I went back to the [Microloan program], and they extended my line of credit to $75,000 so I could hit my payroll each month without having to worry about when the checks would come in,” he adds. “The microloan program helped me in two ways — it got me off the ground, and it created a nice cushion for the monthly ebb and flow.” Business has since stabilized so Holstead doesn’t need to rely on the line of credit. Since establishing in 2011, Advocates for Healthy Transitional Living has evolved. Holstead explains whenever you work

with at-risk youth, you see more needs. He adds, “We started with the Level 3/Level 4 foster care, but soon we began working with the school district. Also, over the years we established a good working relationship with Brown County Department of Human Services so we’ve received a few contracts to work with at-risk youth and their families so our offerings are mushrooming.” As one of the 23 million small businesses in the U.S., Holstead feels the stability of the economy sits heavily on the shoulders of small business. “Having support systems in place will help create stability for small business — that is where I see the Microloan program,” he says. “It is like fertilizer in a garden that helps grow things that are planted, and even things that weren’t planted — interesting things can come out of a simple support system.”

“Having support systems in place will help create stability for small business.” — Dan Holstead, Advocates for Healthy Transitional Living LLC

collective impact | JANUARY 14

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Microloans offer entrepreneurs a rare opportunity “We start businesses, and as the company grows we feed them into the banking system.” — Fred Monique, Advance, Green Bay Area Chamber of Commerce

ccess to capital is often the one thing standing between an entrepreneur’s dream and business ownership. The bank crisis in 2007 has made it more difficult for small businesses to obtain credit.

A large part of what Advance economic development of the Green Bay Area Chamber of Commerce is designed to do is incubate new entrepreneurs and startup companies. Fred Monique, vice president of economic development for Advance, recognized there was a tightening of credit, which would have a negative impact on new companies. He began looking for alternatives to find capital and to invest in startup businesses. “I came up with the idea of a microloan program because many entrepreneurs did not have sufficient operational time to demonstrate profitability or their company

might have been underfinanced or under collateralized and they had no place to go,” says Monique. Advance created an alternative structure in March 2011. Monique went to 12 area banks and borrowed a total of $525,000 to establish the Microloan program. He adds, “I got the money on attractive terms from the banks and lent it at higher rates because the applications for the microloans are a significantly higher risk.” Monique reveals banks were interested in participating in the program for two reasons. First, the size of the microloans are between $5,000 and $100,000. He suggests the loans are not profitable for banks within their existing expense structure because of the size. Second, banks are federally regulated, and in their audits they are measured by their support of the community. “Each of the banks are able to get credit for investing in the community,” says Monique. Laura Gille, director of the Advance Microloan program, says, “We don’t

compete with financial institutions — we actually complement what they do. Typically when borrowers come to us is when they don’t qualify for traditional financing.” One year after borrowing from the 12 financial institutions, the Microloan program was eligible to apply for Small Business Administration (SBA) money. As a cer tified SBA small business microlender, the program was able to borrow $500,000. According to Gille, the Microloan program has approved 27 loans to date; it has a current total loan balance of approximately $615,000. Monique explains the benefit to Brown County is there are businesses in the community that wouldn’t exist if it weren’t for the Microloan program. He adds, “Each applicant had been turned down by one or more banks. They had no other way to get the capital they needed for their startup.” Three microloan borrowers have paid their loan back in full, and they are now bankable. Monique explains that is the mission and measure of their success.“We start businesses, and as the company grows we feed them into the banking system,” says Monique. JANUARY 14

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NationJob expands company reach

ix years ago, the Green Bay Area Chamber of Commerce joined a coalition of other chambers in the state to partner with NationJob. Their goal: to offer chamber members the opportunity to economically promote their area jobs on a local, regional and national scale.

NationJob.com uses a national network of sites and services to promote job listings online. The program expands a company’s recruitment reach and cuts recruitment costs. Chamber members are invited to take advantage of the recruitment tool at a discounted rate — up to 90 percent off NationJob’s standard annual job listings package. The member company’s investment in this Community Sponsorship Program is based on its number of employees. Lisa Harmann, associate vice president for Advance economic development, explains if the Green Bay Area Chamber of Commerce meets a particular threshold by finding larger organizations to join NationJob, they it is able to offer the program free to small chamber members — those with fewer than 35 employees.

“Finding that right one or two people to fill their positions could make or break business.” — Lisa Harmann, Advance, Green Bay Area Chamber of Commerce

“They don’t get all the bells and whistles that larger chamber members do, but it is still a huge opportunity for them to use the same recruitment tool as the big organizations do,” says Harmann. “They may post just a few jobs each year, but finding that right one or two people to fill their positions could make or break their business.” NationJob.com expands a company’s reach; the site receives more than 60 million “hits” per month from active job seekers. While Harmann says NationJob plays a role in workforce development, it is able to make an impact on the local economy by filling specialized jobs. She adds, “Many times companies tell us they are having a hard time filling positions, which is crazy to think about when many people are unemployed, but they are looking for a particular skill set. NationJob feeds into developing our workforce, which has an impact on the economic development of our area.”

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NationJob assists with area recruiting efforts

hen searching for the ideal candidate to fill an open position, the broader the reach, the better the results will likely be. Green Bay Area Chamber of Commerce members are taking advantage of the discount to join NationJob, an employment and online job search engine.

Both Nature’s Way Brands and Fox Valley Metal-Tech Inc. have been using NationJob for approximately two years. They use the site to post open positions in hopes of finding the ideal candidate. As a member of the Chamber, they pay a reduced fee based on their employee population. Cecelia Parrish, HR generalist/ recruiter for Nature’s Way Brands, says they currently have about 530 employees. She estimates they post between 40 and 50 positions each year. Megan Crary, HR manager at Fox Valley Metal-Tech, which employs about 120 employees, posts a varying number of jobs. One year it may be 10 — the next 20.

NationJob makes job posting simple. Because Fox Valley MetalTech is looking to hire skilled workers, NationJob’s broad reach is important. “It pulls information from our website daily, and I don’t have to do anything extra to post it,” says Crary. “It meets affirmative action guidelines and goes out to our targeted populations. It is a very focused search tool for job seekers, and it gives us a lot of exposure.” Parrish explains they track where potential hires learn of an open position, and she says a decent amount come from NationJob. She raves that not only does NationJob bring top-notch candidates to the company, the organization’s flexibility aids in its unique application requirements. Parrish says, “I get a quick response when I ask NationJob to implement changes or add items to fit our needs. We needed a survey to go along with the application, and they were very accommodating.”

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Manufacturing Awards honor industry and companies ew think about the magnitude and the impact manufacturing has on Northeast Wisconsin. Advance economic development of the Green Bay Area Chamber of Commerce created the Manufacturing Awards of Distinction in 1999 to not only acknowledge that manufacturing is a huge industry, but also to honor those excelling at what they do.

Advance economic development hosts an annual awards program in November, singling out companies that have achieved excellence in manufacturing. The program is open to manufacturers in Brown, Door, Kewaunee, Marinette, Oconto and Shawano counties. Lisa Harmann, associate vice president for

Advance economic development, explains they open the program for nominations in the summer, and the submission due date is early October. Companies can self-nominate or may be nominated by an individual that feels they are a well-deserved manufacturer. Those that accept the nomination are asked to fill out an application. Nominees are asked to provide a company profile and share information related to their product, leadership, financial stability and more. Hartmann explains they receive between eight and 14 nominations each year. A panel of judges, with manufacturing experience or exposure to the industry, is chosen to review the nominations. Awards are given out based on company size — small, companies with 99 or fewer employees; medium, 100-299 employees;

and large, those with more than 300 employees. “There are typically one or two additional awards given out each year. These awards vary. This year we included awards for workforce development and environmental sustainability,” says Harmann. Companies are able to receive an award more than once, although not in the same category for three years. While the winners always appreciate the honor, Harmann shares many manufacturers hesitate to be in the spotlight. “What’s interesting is a majority of manufacturers are so good at what they do, but they aren’t looking for recognition, although many will accept, thinking about their employees and how they deserve to be recognized,” adds Harmann. Harmann shares this awards program is important because it brings attention to the critical role manufacturing has on the area’s economy. “Manufacturing has always been important to Wisconsin — the number of jobs it has created and the innovations manufacturing has brought to Northeast Wisconsin has had a significant impact.”

Velocity Machine embraces growth in manufacturing elocity Machine Inc. in Green Bay is part of the dynamic manufacturing industry. The precision machine shop sees opportunities to grow and to evolve along with the rest of the industry.

While many of Velocity Machine’s products support the agricultural industry, it has embraced the chance to get involved in fabrication. Kevin Shaver, vice president of operations at Velocity Machine, explains

it started a fabrication shop last year, Dynamic Metal Technologies Inc., employing 22 people. He says, “There is a lot of opportunity in fabrication, which is more cutting, forming, bending and welding. We’ve seen growth in this area.” Because of Velocity Machine’s commitment to growth, and willingness to expand its manufacturing offerings, it received

the 2012 Judge’s Choice honor by the Manufacturing Awards of Distinction. “The recognition brings a sense of pride,” says Shaver. “It is an honor we can show current and potential customers, and it reveals we are recognized as a good business to work with.”

“We’ve seen growth in this area.” — Kevin Shaver, Velocity Machine Inc.

collective impact | JANUARY 14

2013 MANUFACTURING AWARDS OF DISTINCTION WINNERS ARE: Precision Machine Inc., Small Company Award NEW Plastics Corp, Medium Company Award The Solberg Company, Environmental Sustainability Award Ariens Company, Large Company Award Lindquist Machine Corporation, Workforce Development Award

Winsert believes modern day manufacturing means opportunity for NEW ricia Lemery, president and CEO of Winsert, has been with her family business for more than 20 years. She recalls when manufacturing was a more commonplace dialogue around the dinner table. Lemery fears the current generation doesn’t understand working in the manufacturing industry is a rewarding career.

“When you are running a piece of equipment today it isn’t just plug and play,” she says. “Skilled workers are needed to run a piece of equipment, and the job can be very fulfilling.” Winsert offers tours of its plant to youth to reveal manufacturing is no longer a blue-collar job. When walking the floor, visitors see blueprints, gauges and complex components. “For those that like to tinker and create something, manufacturing is a great opportunity for someone to start a career and move up the ladder,” says Lemery. “We have to continue educating youth on the importance of manufacturing.”

TEXT JENNIFER HOGELAND

The industry contributes to the economy by not only adding jobs but also by improving the community. Lemery adds, “Once jobs are added, you are generating more income for the community, more tax dollars and attracting more businesses to the area.” Winsert has two components of its business. One is its R&D center of excellence, which is a state-of-the-art facility that develops high temperature, wear-resistant alloys for different applications. The second is its manufacturing facility. Lemery explains, “Once we have been awarded the business, we are able to make our customer’s product.” Clients from around the globe benefit from Winsert’s in-house expertise. Winsert won the expor ter of the year at the 2012 Manufacturing Awards of Distinction, sponsored by Advance economic development. Lemery reveals approximately 65 percent of Winsert’s products are manufactured for customers outside the U.S. She adds, “It has been nice to bring more dollars into our area.” The award not only validates the hard work of Winsert’s employees, but it also makes a statement to its customers. “We are just shy of 200 employees so we are able to demonstrate that even as a small company we are able to be efficient and profitable — that is definitely competitive advantage,” says Lemery.

“We have to continue educating youth on the importance of manufacturing.” — Tricia Lemery, Winsert JANUARY 14

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workforce development

WAT GRANTS WILL FUND TRAINING FOR

1,300 BAY AREA WORKERS More than 1,300 Northeast Wisconsin employees are receiving specialized training at work through a state grant designed to keep the region competitive. At least a dozen area employers are receiving employee training from Northeast Wisconsin Technical College through WTCS Workforce Advancement Training (WAT) grants. WAT grants fund customized training to upgrade the skills of existing workers. This year’s WAT grants will benefit at least 15 facilities, and more companies can apply this spring. One of the newest recipients is Nicolet Plastics. NWTC and Northcentral Technical College (NTC) will provide nearly 300 hours of instruction to 57 employees in technical, workplace and leadership skills. Human Resource Manager Ann Kroll says the training will offer some employees their first college credit.

* Dean Stewart, dean of corporate training & economic development at Northeast Wisconsin Technical College, Dean.Stewart@NWTC.edu

“The course we’re doing is a certificate course that our team members will even be able to use on their own resumes,” Kroll says. “Many haven’t had a chance to do any higher education, and this allows them to have that feather in their hats.” She adds, “As a small employer we’re very fortunate to have the technical colleges to provide opportunities that many people would never have otherwise. It was NWTC and NTC working together on this grant. That says a lot for our colleges, that they’re really willing to work with small employers.” For information about applying for a WAT grant or other customized training, please contact NWTC Corporate Training & Economic Development: corporatetraining@nwtc.edu or call 920.498.6907.

NWTC WILL PROVIDE TRAINING FOR SEVERAL OTHER WAT GRANT PROJECTS THIS YEAR: The “Advancing Global Northeast Wisconsin Employers” project will benefit KS Kolbenschmidt US (KSKUS) Inc. and KI. With competitors and international sister locations advancing in quality, cost and lead-time advantages, the local companies will get training in job-specific skills (to grow talent from within), leadership and Lean. Plans are to train more than 400 employees. The “Lean Advanced Manufacturing Consortium” project will serve four manufacturers: Aarrowcast, Inc., Shawano; Bay Tek Games, Inc., Pulaski; Hattiesburg Paper Company LLC, Green Bay; and N.E.W. Industries Inc., Sturgeon Bay. While they project rising demand in coming years, these companies will work to increase productivity and efficiencies with training for several hundred people in four communities. The “Critical Core Skills Consortium” project will train employees from MCL Industries, Pulaski; Paper Transport Inc., Green Bay; RGL Holdings, Green Bay and Neenah; Nature's Way, Green Bay; and Wisconsin Plastics Inc., Green Bay. All five employers are challenged with growing talent quickly. NWTC will offer customized courses in soft “core” skills to enhance teamwork with some “hard” technical skills training to boost efficiency, training more than 500 people at six facilities. 24

collective impact | JANUARY 14

GENERATION I-Ped FIRST-TIME GRANDPARENTS DO INTERESTING THINGS.

One of the first things my wife did was haul her sewing machine out of the cobwebs (it cost me $135 for a tuneup) and make a peapod costume for our little Suvi (see at left). But it got grandpa to thinking about what the workforce will be like in 2035. I do a presentation on generational differences in the workplace: veterans, baby boomers, Gen X, millennials. I think there is yet a new generational group born since 1998. I call them the “I-Peds.” They will never be unconnected.

October was Manufacturing Month in Wisconsin, and the NEW Manufacturing Alliance sponsored more than 600 middle and high school student tours of area manufacturing companies during the month.That’s a good start at putting down some roots in Northeast Wisconsin. I think we need more of that kind of education. * Jim Golembeski, executive director, Bay Area Workforce Development Board, jgolembeski@bayareawdb.org

The leading edge of that group, which will include my new granddaughter, is already hitting middle school. They will be in the workforce before we know it! Who are they? Their world has been more chaotic than that of the millennials. Their country has been at war their entire lives in a post-9/11 world. They have already lived through two economic recessions — one of them the worst in a century. “Climate change” has always been in their vocabulary. The New Deal social safety net is fraying.

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At the same time, technology just keeps coming at them: iPods (2001) iTunes (2001) 3G network (2001) Skype (2003) Facebook (2004) YouTube (2005)

Twitter (2006) Mobile apps (2007) iPhones (2007) 4G network (2008) iPads (2010) Cloud computing (2011)

They will an interesting addition to our workforce. Let me offer one key insight. In 1959 when I was six years old, we got our first television. My world was a couple of square blocks and my church. I was strongly rooted there. The purpose of K-12 education was to open up the world to me and expand my very narrow universe. Today that role has to be reversed. With the world at our fingertips and impacting us 24/7/365 with news, information and connectivity, perhaps K-12 education needs to serve the role of rooting us back into our community.

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Green Bay | collective impact

workforce development

ADDRESSING THE NEED

for healthcare professionals of the future The employment of radiologic technicians is expected to grow 28 percent from 2010 to 2020, faster than the average rate for all other occupations. The Bureau of Labor Statistics also projects a 26 percent increase from 2010 to 2020 in the employment of registered nurses. The American Nurses Association states that approximately 6080 percent of primary and preventive care can be performed by nurse practitioners. With all this opportunity for employment, Bellin College is positioned to be a leader in the region for the education and training of future nurses, advanced practice nurses and radiologic technologists. Bellin College has a vision to be the best health science college in Wisconsin. Every day, we strive to achieve this vision through the education and training we provide to our students on our state-ofthe-art campus. We provide simulation laboratories equipped with low- and highfidelity mannequins, hospital-grade patient monitoring equipment and advanced medical imaging equipment. Students are exposed to healthcare professionals and learn how they are implementing change within the healthcare setting. They ask questions, discover what is working

collective impact | JANUARY 14

and see how they can improve patient care outcomes. Leadership theory and best business practices are threaded throughout our curricula, and students are provided additional learning opportunities in clinical settings. We use core concepts such as patient-centered care, quality improvement, evidence-based practice and teamwork to prepare students to be equipped and competent healthcare providers upon graduation. The past year has seen rapid restructuring of healthcare across the nation. The restructuring is directly related to the objectives set forth by the Affordable Care Act and what health providers call the Triple Aim: improving the patient experience, improving the health of individuals and populations and reducing the per capita cost of healthcare.The Triple Aim is motivating healthcare organizations to think and respond differently to how they deliver patient care, along with challenging educational organizations, such as Bellin College, to do the same. Through our innovative teaching strategies and unique community partnerships we are positioned to be a leader in the restructuring of healthcare.

In July 2015, Bellin College, in conjunction with the Medical College of Wisconsin, will embark on a new journey to enhance inter-professional education. Medical students will share lab space and work with our nursing and radiology students. This opportunity to work together is a key component of what the Triple Aim is working to accomplish. We believe this collaboration will bring forth a new generation of highly trained and teamoriented healthcare professionals in Northeast Wisconsin.

* Connie J. Boerst, EdD, RN, president/CEO, Bellin College, connie.boerst@bellincollege.edu, 920.433.6665

workforce development

QUANTITY CHALLENGE

We’re no one-trick pony.

necessitates quality success In my last piece, I described the quantity challenge facing Wisconsin’s workforce. Finding a sufficient number of workers is a human resources and production manager issue. However, one of the potential ramifications of a zero-growth workforce is very macroeconomic and rests on workforce quality. The Wisconsin and U.S. economies are very consumption oriented. Roughly 70 percent of U.S. gross domestic product is consumption based. Moreover, an increasing population requires a growing economy if economic well-being is to be enhanced or even maintained. Macroeconomics is all based on feedback loops that cause upward or downward spirals of growth. A potential spiral of a stagnant workforce goes as follows. If we have a zero-growth workforce and we don’t sufficiently increase productivity, we can’t pay the workers more. If the workers don’t earn more, they can’t spend (consume) more. If they can’t spend more, businesses can’t produce more and will limit or cut hiring. Then a secondary employment spiral kicks in and jobs continue to fall and economic growth falters further. Introducing new technology and management practices can and usually do raise productivity. New technology and operating processes can also ameliorate the challenge of a tight labor market. Generally speaking, new technology requires more highly trained (if fewer) operators, necessitating a focus on developing or attracting talent. Obtaining higher skilled workers incurs investment outlays for training or talent premiums.

Nothing against ponies. They’re … cute. But,

In order to avoid economic stagnation, productivity increases must be sufficiently large to cover new technology and talent spending, and yield a competitive return on those investments. The less talent available, the more costly it will be.

a one-trick pony has … oh yeah, one trick. And, to get results for your business, you need an integrated approach. A true fullservice partner who will take the reins and deliver real horsepower. Saddle up.

goelement.com/getreal

Wisconsin simply must develop its human resources to remain globally competitive. * Dennis Winters, chief, Office of Economic Advisors, Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development, 608.267.3262, Dennis.Winters@DWD.Wisconsin.gov

Advertising

Marketing

Strategy

Interactive

JANUARY 14

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Publicity

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workforce development

From Phuture Phoenix to future grads, community development is what we do There are many ways UW-Green Bay contributes to the state’s workforce and economic development. As just one example, I’ll cite the awardwinning Phuture Phoenix program and the thousand or so fifth-graders who descend on campus each October. From the opening assembly at the Weidner Center to the closing snack with me at the University Union, children explore campus in small groups led by current UW-Green Bay students. They delight in the view from the Cofrin Library’s eighth floor, shoot baskets at the Kress Center and pop in on classrooms and labs where faculty members welcome them with creative experiments and activities. Laughter, smiles and even cheers are commonplace. It’s great fun, but with a serious purpose. The children are urged to study hard, learn their lessons and graduate from high school. They’re introduced to the idea that college is possible. As a Chamber member and chief executive officer of a regional public university, I have seen firsthand that economic, workforce and community development are interconnected. We need every citizen to maximize his or her talents. Educational attainment correlates strongly with regional prosperity, and our community (at about 20 percent) trails state

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and national averages in the percentage of adults with four-year degrees. UW-Green Bay graduates 1,200 students annually, and it’s arguably not enough. We have worked to close the gap by partnering with NWTC and others to make it easier for working adults to turn two-year associate degrees into bachelor’s degrees. Our Adult Degree Program and related online offerings promote career advancement. A collaboration with UW-Oshkosh will soon attract new students in the high-demand field of engineering technology. The economic return is substantial. Most UW-Green Bay students come from the local area and stay here after graduation. About 33 percent of alumni live and work in Brown County, 70 percent in Northeast Wisconsin.

neither parent has had college experience. Higher education isn’t naturally on their radar screens. By reaching these children (more than 12,000 to date) as early as age 10, when study habits and attitudes toward education are formed, and extending Phuture Phoenix to include ongoing tutoring and mentoring work in middle and high schools, we’re finding success. UW-Green Bay graduates are numerous among this region’s business, industry and governmental leaders, teachers, nurses, social workers, planners, scientists and citizen leaders. We’re proud to be continuing that trend with the next generation.

More than 20 percent of our graduates complete degrees in science, technology, mathematics or health fields. Nearly that many major in business administration or accounting. All our students, regardless of major, benefit from an interdisciplinary, problem-focused, liberal arts approach — we call it 360° of Learning — that prepares them to think creatively. With Phuture Phoenix we are addressing a long-range challenge. Many of today’s K-12 schoolchildren come from households of modest or very limited means, where

* Tom Harden, chancellor, University of Wisconsin-Green Bay, HardenT@uwgb.edu, 920.465.2207

PowerForward Moving energy into the future. You count on reliable, affordable electricity at home and work. American Transmission Co. is preparing today for a brighter tomorrow by pursuing electric grid improvements that power local businesses and communities.

w w w. a t c l l c . c o m

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economic development

TITLETOWN ENTERING A NEW URBAN ERA In 2014, construction cranes will become a regular fixture in Downtown Green Bay as the city prepares for a slate of new projects that will transform the city’s riverfront along with its housing and hospitality markets. Four major redevelopment projects totaling almost $75 million will soon be underway including an expansion to the KI Convention Center, the Hotel Northland and two mid-rise apartment blocks, CityDeck Commons and Metreau (76 units and 94 units, respectively). Other projects in the pipeline include the planned expansion of Titletown Brewing Company at the former Larsen Canning Company property; the Platten Building, a 23-unit apartment renovation on Broadway; and major improvements at the landmark Downtown YMCA. These new developments come on the heels of other recent market-making projects including Schreiber Foods, Associated Bank, the Children’s Museum of Green Bay, the new Packers Heritage Trail monument and the completion of CityDeck – the

city’s artful (and art-filled) riverfront boardwalk — that have cast downtown in a whole new light. The city has also been very deliberate and aggressive in its pursuit of new urban housing developments. New housing formats being planned include new mid-rise, residential conversions of historic properties and new urban townhouses. In all, more than 250 new market-rate housing units are expected to be available to own or rent downtown within the next two years. Also helping fuel downtown’s roll has been an ever-expanding calendar of programmed events hosted by the city’s downtown development organizations: Downtown Green Bay Inc., Old Main Street Inc. and On Broadway Inc. Based on a recent survey, 35 percent of respondents said their next home purchase would not be a traditional single-family home. Another 25 percent would strongly consider downtown

FUTURIST REBECCA RYAN ENCOURAGES A GREATER GREEN BAY Northeast Wisconsin residents got a glimpse of the future this October when speaker Rebecca Ryan appeared at St. Norbert College. Greater Green Bay: Better by the Bay sponsored Ryan’s appearance in October to unify the area’s efforts to attract and retain talent. A dynamic workforce, Ryan claims, is key to community success. Although Ryan described the nation’s economic situation in terms of the seasons, saying we were entrenched in “winter,” she explained how our area could defrost. 30

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In fact, Ryan said we could even foment our own early spring. We are faced with a choice, Ryan said: We can get by on what we’ve already done, or we can “double down,” so when our national “spring” comes, we’ll be ahead of the curve. Our community is poised to attract more talent and has the advantage of being

living. This data aligns with similar trends nationwide showing a strong return-to-thecity movement across various strata of society. Clearly many people, including young professionals and empty nesters, are yearning for a different and more exciting lifestyle than what the suburbs can offer, and they like what’s happening in Downtown Green Bay. Moving forward, the city also hopes to increasingly make downtown living an attractive option for young families. To this end, the city is working with the Green Bay Area Public School District to acquire the former St. Francis Xavier School on Monroe Street and convert it into a new school for the gifted and talented. This project is expected to spur improvements in the Navarino Neighborhood on the near east side, as well as enhance downtown’s attractiveness for new business startups and relocations. Also on the horizon is the recruitment of additional retail businesses that will likely be attracted to, and supported by, downtown’s already large employment base as well as its growing residential population. All these efforts and more are currently being codified in a new downtown master plan that will be completed by early spring. The master plan is directed at returning Downtown Green Bay to its rightful place as a classic waterfront city with a mix of new and old buildings, various employment and living options, and a diversity of people and activities. Great things are coming.

nationally recognized, thanks to our biggest brand, the Green Bay Packers. Ryan said that with a unified message, our community could leverage our resources to regrow, replenish and re-imagine itself as an even more prosperous place to live and work. It is an idea that is near and dear to the minds behind A Greater Green Bay: Better by the Bay. “Rebecca’s message is one we’re happy to help spread,” says Jim Rivett, president of Arketype and co-chair of Greater Green Bay: Better by the Bay. “I’m excited so many of our community and business leaders are as passionate as I am about attracting and

* Greg Flisram, economic development director, city of Green Bay, 920.448.3395, Gregfl@greenbaywi.gov

retaining talent so that we can compete in a global economy.” “As a community, we all benefit when we showcase and promote the momentum happening in the Greater Green Bay area,” says Bridget Krage O’Connor, owner of O’Connor Connective and co-chair of Greater Green Bay: Better by the Bay. “Why not share our collective assets to ensure we are successful in recruiting (and keeping) top talent?” To hear more from Rebecca Ryan, view November’s “Conversations from St. Norbert College” where Rebecca is interviewed by Tom Kunkel, president of St. Norbert College at snc.edu/conversations.

* Elizabeth Paulson, copywriter, Arketype Inc., 920.437.3700, liz@arketypeinc.com

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economic development

PORT PREPARED FOR THE Nearly two million metric tons of materials are transported to 14 manufacturers along the Port of Green Bay each year, creating a positive economic impact of more than $83 million. As with many businesses, the port has weathered the ups and downs of the recent economy and is seeing signs of positive growth. To capitalize on this growth and prepare for 2014, the port has researched initiatives that will keep it a viable economic contributor for years to come. These include strengthening the economy while protecting the environment. Maintaining the port navigational channel is vital to the success of the port. If channel depths are too shallow, a vessel cannot carry its full capacity, meaning materials and money are lost. Relocating clean dredge materials can be a challenge. The Port of Green Bay is addressing this in two ways:

collective impact | JANUARY 14

NEW YEAR The Cat Island Chain Restoration Project. Over time, the islands will be reconstructed using clean dredged materials, creating an important wildlife and waterfowl refuge while maintaining appropriate channel depth for vessels to navigate through the port.

Repurposing materials. Repurposing dredged materials for use in other ways such as road construction and landscaping projects can help with storage issues while meeting a market demand.

Identify areas of growth. Today’s manufacturers are looking for efficient ways to import and export goods. Taking steps to promote the port’s building and land opportunities identified in our Business Opportunities Study, along with the cost savings of waterborne transportation, positions the port to help meet the demands of these businesses. That can be an enticement to companies looking to build or relocate. The Port of Green Bay ventures into 2014 ready to take action. Continued port growth and success means job creation, a robust economic impact, further business development and a strong NortheastWisconsin.

AIRPORT

DIVERSIFICATION Diversification is important for any business, and that’s also true for Austin Straubel International Airport (ASIA). It’s no secret that airlines and the travel industry often go through substantial ups and downs. So, rather than primarily relying on revenue directly related to passenger traffic, ASIA is also working on diversifying its revenue stream to remain self-sustaining. An airport development committee, composed of business, municipal and technical representatives, is in the process of developing a strategic business plan to attract new enterprises to airport property, including retail, commercial, light industrial and the aeronautic sector. These types of businesses could be located on available airport land parcels through long-term leases that would help create a steady airport revenue stream. It would also add to economic development efforts already underway on the west side of Brown County. With the airport owning more than 425 acres of non-aeronautical land, there are many possibilities for growth. For example, there are some airport-owned parcels of land in the vicinity of Highway 172 and Packerland Drive that would be ideally suited for retail development. Other parcels would be suitable for office and professional development, and some would be ideal for light industrial. The next steps are to conduct an environmental assessment and appraisals to determine potential lease rates. While we are excited about the possibilities, it is important that the growth and development fit in with the surrounding area and are appropriate for the location.

* Dean Haen, director of Brown County Port & Resource Recovery Department, 920.492.4950, haen_dr@brown.wi.us

* Tom Miller, airport director, Austin Straubel International Airport, miller_tw@co.brown.wi.us JANUARY 14

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community development

COMMUNITY COLLABORATION FILLS

MORE THAN HEARTS Many families in our community struggle to provide the very basic needs for their children, such as a healthy meal. During the week, these children receive free or subsidized meals; however, some families may not have the resources to provide adequate food over the weekend.Through the power of collaborative recognition and response this need is being met by Blessings in a Backpack at Eisenhower Elementary. * Steve Harty, president/CEO, Greater Green Bay YMCA, steve.harty@greenbayymca.org

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The collective minds and hearts of the Y 21st Century after-school program, Green Bay Area Public School District and Eisenhower Elementary witnessed the struggle facing their families and sought a solution. Due to the generosity of socially responsible athletes, these “blessings” will now be felt by more than 150 families. Randall Cobb’s Helping Hands will carry the initiative into the future from Donald Driver’s initial support of the program. Children receive a backpack full of food each weekend so that they stay happy, healthy and ready to return on Monday to succeed at school. That is impact that is sure to fill the tummy and the heart!

UNITED WAY

welcomes Maass

Following an extensive search, the Brown County United Way board of directors has named Dr. Gregory Maass as the CEO and president of the Brown County United Way. Maass has been a school administrator in three states, in both urban and suburban environments, including serving as superintendent of Green Bay Area Public Schools from 2008 to 2011. In his role as a school leader, he has worked closely with each community served and its institutions, including the United Way. In 1998, he received the “Best Practice” award from the United Way of Waukesha County and has served on the United Way board and executive committee in Fond du Lac and Green Bay. Maass began his duties on Dec. 16.

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Call your broker or call us at 855.494.2667 | CommonGroundHealthcare.org JANUARY 14

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member anniversaries — January

COLORTECH OF WISCONSIN INC. Cindy Neugent, vice president of design Join date: March 31, 1989

YOU’VE BEEN A CHAMBER MEMBER FOR 25 YEARS. WHY? Being a member offers Colortech of Wisconsin many benefits. We’ve used multiple services over the years including mailing lists and wage/benefit studies. We’ve also participated in Chamber events that offered us networking and referral opportunities. The Friday Report newsletter keeps us up to date on what is new and happening in our community. WHAT’S YOUR MOST MEMORABLE EXPERIENCE WITH THE CHAMBER? Serving as a Chamber ambassador. I was proud to represent my company and the Chamber at many events. Through this opportunity, I met a lot of new friends and business contacts. WHAT’S THE BIGGEST BENEFIT YOU RECEIVE BY BEING A CHAMBER MEMBER? The public views businesses that belong to their local chamber as reputable. We gain a good image and the opportunity to get the Colortech name out there. The chamber encourages its members to refer each other for products and services needed. Membership is a fun way to meet potential customers as well as vendors and is an opportunity to gain more business. Having recently become under new ownership, we look forward to using our Chamber membership as an instrument to help us grow.

January 35 YEARS Bellin Health Belson Co. Bank Mutual Georgia-Pacific East

31 YEARS Aramark Uniform Services Inc. Gene’s Deep Rock Management Enterprises Inc. WLUK FOX 11 /WCWF CW14 28 YEARS Ryan Funeral Home & Crematory Edward P. VanBeek DPM Eye Care Professionals Global Recognition Inc. Stellpflug Law S.C. 25 YEARS UnitedHealthcare James G. Fritsche DDS SC 24 YEARS Sam’s Club 36

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22 YEARS Bayland Buildings Inc. Oneida Printing Family & Childcare Resources of N.E.W. Inc. 21 YEARS Menominee Casino Resort Wal-Mart Stores Inc. Associated Banc-Corp. Austin-Straubel International Airport 19 YEARS Fairfield Inn By Marriott

18 YEARS Southside Tire Co. Inc. Woodward Radio Group – 105.7 WAPL, 95.9 KISS FM, Razor 94.7, KZ 104.3 17 YEARS Raymond James Financial Services Inc. 14 YEARS Mau & Associates

13 YEARS HBBA Referral Network Informed Choice LLC 12 YEARS CR Meyer & Sons Company Bonnie M. Lee & Associates Prevea Health Network Pro One Janitorial Inc. 11 YEARS Zepnick Solutions Inc. Compufab LLC Titletown Brewing Company Gerbers Law S.C. Miron Construction Co. Inc. NEW ENT SC Eye Associates of Green Bay SC Margarita’s of Wisconsin Inc. 10 YEARS American Foods Group LLC 9 YEARS Locate Staffing WS Packaging Group Inc.

IEI GENERAL CONTRACTORS Brad Deprez, secretary/treasurer Join date: Feb. 26, 2004

YOU’VE BEEN A CHAMBER MEMBER FOR 10 YEARS. WHY? We appreciate the informative programs, resources and networking opportunities that provide an opportunity for us to “keep in touch” with current issues in the local business environment. The Chamber also provides a means for us to make connections with business leaders and exposure for the services we provide. WHAT’S YOUR MOST MEMORABLE EXPERIENCE WITH THE CHAMBER? My most memorable moment as a Chamber member occurs monthly as a CEO Roundtable group member. Our core group has been together for almost 10 years. The thoughts and opinions of our members are always informative and interesting. My points of view are always respected, and the group has been an important sounding board for issues related to IEI General Contractors. WHAT’S THE BIGGEST BENEFIT YOU RECEIVE BY BEING A CHAMBER MEMBER? Membership forces me to get out of my focus on daily obligations and operations of IEI. I have been able to mature as a business leader, thanks in part to interacting with other business leaders, especially non-construction professionals. I’ve also had the opportunity to interact with others outside the construction industry.

8 YEARS Nicolet National Bank 7 YEARS Olde Main Street Inc. Green Bay Bullfrogs Baseball Club Better Business Bureau of Wisconsin BSI – Building Service Inc. American Metal Roofs of Northern Wisconsin LLC 6 YEARS WebOuts LLC Security Insurance Services Inc. Springhill Suites 5 YEARS Fox River Fiber Co. Jones Sign Co. Warren Risk Consulting LLC Happily Ever After Animal Sanctuary Inc.

4 YEARS Greenwood Fuels WI LLC Laugh Your Way America Dermatology Associates of WI SC The UPS Stores of Green Bay Tailwind Flight Center LLC 3 YEARS Artisan Senior Living Ryan Commercial Photography Manna For Life Pool Works Inc. 2 YEARS Valley Packaging Supply Co. Inc. Wisconsin Manufacturing Extension Partnership Spring-Green Lawn Care Nation Consulting Bring It! Errands & Delivery Pearce Wireless, Verizon Wireless Premium Retailer Valley Apparel & Promotions LLC Tie the Knot Bridal Boutique LLC Access Prosthetics Inc. K&K Benefit Solutions CVS Pharmacy

1 YEARS Planet Fitness Wise Women Gathering Place Scholarships Inc. NPM Credit Union US Tech Force Shutter B Photography Aspen Dental Beatitudes LLC The Main Salon Arthritis Foundation – Green Bay Concordia University – Green Bay Center Max Frost & Co. Inc. Nell’s Wigs & Boutique Petal Pusher Floral Studio Inc. Chateau De Pere & Café Chanson Good Shepherd Services Ltd. Caffe Espresso LLC Debonair LLC Assure Professional LLC SKY Eco-Technologies LLC

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member anniversaries — February

February

40 YEARS Clarion Hotel 33 YEARS The Medalcraft Mint NBC26 and MYNEW32 32 YEARS Schlaefer-Martin Memorials 29 YEARS Baker Tilly LLP 28 YEARS Los Banditos Inc. 27 YEARS Cellcom 26 YEARS Attorney’s Process & Investigation Services Inc. County Rescue Services/Eagle III 25 YEARS American Red Cross of Northeast Wisconsin 24 YEARS Contract Transport Services Inc. Wal-Mart Stores Inc. 23 YEARS Vande Hey Company Inc.

LIZER LANDSCAPING John Calewarts, president Join date: March 21, 2004

YOU’VE BEEN A CHAMBER MEMBER FOR 10 YEARS. WHY? It’s the interaction with people at the events. Businesses that are part of the Chamber tend to be more stable and we deal with those people more often. We always ask customers how they got our name, and more times than not, they say they looked in the Chamber’s [online] directory. WHAT’S YOUR MOST MEMORABLE EXPERIENCE WITH THE CHAMBER? Winning the Business Recognition Luncheon's Business Person of the Year Award in 1994. At the time, I was the youngest person to receive it. It has helped our business, putting credentials behind what we’re doing here. We’ve gotten a lot of people [as customers] over the years who have said that’s the reason they went with [our business.] WHAT’S THE BIGGEST BENEFIT YOU RECEIVE BY BEING A CHAMBER MEMBER? The interaction with other people with the same goal of promoting Greater Green Bay.

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22 YEARS Georgia-Pacific EcoSource McDonald Lumber Company Inc. 21 YEARS Employee Resource Center Inc. Mead & Hunt Inc. Oneida Bingo & Casino De Pere Area Chamber of Commerce Graef-USA Inc. Renard’s Country Elegance Inc. VOS Electric Inc. 19 YEARS Consolidated Construction Company Inc. 17 YEARS Citgo Petroleum Corporation 16 YEARS Davis & Kuelthau, s.c. Wisconsin Public Radio (WPNE/WHID) 15 YEARS Downtown Green Bay Incorporated Sammy’s Pizza of Green Bay Inc. Brett Favre Steakhouse

aLOFT HOTEL Stacie Christel, director, sales and marketing Join date: March 13, 2009

YOU’VE BEEN A CHAMBER MEMBER FOR 5 YEARS. WHY? aloft has been a member of the Chamber since opening in 2009, but I was a member through my previous employer since 1999. Through numerous networking opportunities, membership recognition within the community, and countless new relationships I have created because of the Chamber, the value far outweighs the annual monetary investment. WHAT’S YOUR MOST MEMORABLE EXPERIENCE WITH THE CHAMBER? The first time I attended a Power Networking Breakfast. I remember walking in, feeling a bit overwhelmed by the number of people in the room. Yet, within minutes, I was welcomed by so many new friendly faces that it seemed as if I wasn’t the new kid on the block after all. From that initial encounter, I have made it a point to attend every monthly Power Networking Breakfast I can and welcome each “newbie” with the same greeting I received so many years ago. WHAT’S THE BIGGEST BENEFIT YOU RECEIVE BY BEING A CHAMBER MEMBER? The continuous new relationships along with the familiar faces I see at various events. I am a firm believer that you “get what you give.” If you just sit back and do not take advantage of all the opportunities the Chamber presents, you will never fully receive all the benefits offered.

14 YEARS Sleep Inn & Suites 12 YEARS Allcox & Associates S.C.

6 YEARS NEW Zoo DMI Studios Greater Green Bay Lodging Association

11 YEARS BAYCOM, inc. The Business News

5 YEARS Honeybaked Ham Co. and Café SVA Certified Public Accountants SC Marla Vista Manor Assisted Living of Green Bay

10 YEARS St. Brendan’s Inn IEI General Contractors Inc.

3 YEARS Keystone Business Strategies LLC Werner Electric Supply Co.

8 YEARS Heyrman Construction Company Inc. Simon Bay Park Square Mall The Karma Group

2 YEARS ESOP Partners LLC Ross Imaging LLC Newcomer Funeral Home Rummele’s Jewelers Inc. BlingPress Age Well Centre for Life Enrichment

7 YEARS Send Out Cards Regatta 220 Captain’s Walk Winery Ramada Plaza Hotel

1 YEARS American Solutions for Business Vorpahl Fire and Safety Inc. M3 Insurance Analytics LLC Hand of Hope Inc. Definitely De Pere Bonnie Kratz Photography Ltd. The Woods golf Club/Blitz Sports Bar AABC Driving School Blue Harbor Fish & Seafood State Farm Insurance, John C. Allen, Agent American Family Insurance – District 023 Greater Harvest Bread Company Ten-O-One Club Technode 3D LLC Whyte Hirschboeck Dudek SC Thrivent Financial for Lutherans

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member anniversaries — March

NORTHERN ELECTRIC INC (NEI) Tracy Conard, CEO Join date: March 4, 1999

YOU’VE BEEN A CHAMBER MEMBER FOR 15 YEARS. WHY? As owner of NEI, I felt it was essential to join an organization that shared common goals among business leaders within our community. Having the ability to network with Chamber members, share some of the same challenges and be able to help out one another is encouraging and rewarding. WHAT’S YOUR MOST MEMORABLE EXPERIENCE WITH THE CHAMBER? In 2011, the Chamber recognized me as one of the “Top 20 Innovators in Green Bay” in its BBJ magazine. They recognized my role as a woman in the construction industry, and NEI as a (WBE) “Women-owned Business Enterprise,” working within our community to not only meet, but exceed our customers’ goals and expectations. It was truly an honor to be recognized by the Chamber and its members. WHAT’S THE BIGGEST BENEFIT YOU RECEIVE BY BEING A CHAMBER MEMBER? NEI’s biggest benefit is being part of an organization that is working hard at the local and state level; they are looking out for our best interests. Being a member of a larger organization gives NEI access to network within our community, and in turn, the members - not to mention our whole community – benefit. As business owners, we must keep a finger on the pulse. With access through the Chamber to leadership programs, networking events, business information seminars and weekly updates, this is possible and is a real benefit.

39 YEARS University of Wisconsin – Green Bay 35 YEARS Humana, Inc. Goodwill Industries of North Central Wis. Inc. 31 YEARS Hurckman Mechanical Industries Inc. North Shore Bank 33 YEARS Ayres Associates Rock Garden/1951 West/Comfort Suites Hotel Fox World Travel 27 YEARS Fabio Perini North America 26 YEARS Robert J. Crowley DDS

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25 YEARS Disabled American Vets, Dept. of WI Inc. Keller Inc. Bankers Advertising Company Colortech of Wisconsin Inc. 23 YEARS Brander Construction Technology Inc. Associated Financial Group Dean Distributing Inc. 22 YEARS EP-Direct Printing OMNOVA Solutions Inc. 19 YEARS Lamers Bus Lines/Lamers Tour & Travel Verlo Mattress Factory Stores Wisconsin Timber Rattlers

15 YEARS DB Commercial Real Estate Northern Electric Inc. Matthews Tire & Auto Service Centers 14 YEARS Literacy Green Bay 13 YEARS Nsight Telservices UWGB Small Business Development Center 12 YEARS Advanced Physical Therapy and Sports Medicine Maintenance Associates Inc. 11 YEARS Eka Chemicals Inc. Fosber America Inc.

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March 10 YEARS Quality Inn & Suites Lizer Lawn Care Children’s Hospital of WI – Fox Valley

6 YEARS MCL Industries Inc. Community First Credit Union The Children’s Museum of Green Bay

9 YEARS Streu’s Pharmacy Inc/Bay Natural

5 YEARS Financial Information & Service Center Inc. aloft Hotel – Green Bay Taboada & Associates Northern Lights Clinic

8 YEARS Circle Packaging Machinery Inc. Campbell Wrapper Corporation Digital Office Solutions Inc. Kobussen Buses Ltd. Alliance Insurance Centers LLC 7 YEARS Master Fleet LLC Breakthrough®Fuel LLC Heaven’s Touch Inc. Plae Bistro LLC Parallel 44 Vineyard & Winery Security Finance Corporation of WI Asian Food Market LPV Oriental Food Store Hmong Business Association

4 YEARS Volunteer Center of Brown Co. CRM Corporation/Laser Division Bergstrom Cadillac of Green Bay Inc. Expera Specialty Solutions – Nicolet Mill Motel 6 #177 2 YEARS Willems Landscape Service Inc. The iSupply LLC Management Women Inc. JaJora Olive Oil Kwik Trip Inc. Angelus Retirement Village of Hobart LLC

1 YEARS Peters’ Construction LLC ADP E.H. Wolf & Sons Inc. Grace Christian Academy of Pulaski Inc. Play!Photography LLC NEW Manfuacturing Alliance Riverside Place Condominiums ResCare HomeCare The Bottle Room Executive Auto Sales Noodles on Oneida JP Graphics Inc. Delaware North Companies Sportservice Noodles- East Green Bay Massage Envy Spa Lombardi Fitnessology Inc. Curly’s Pub The Four Seasons Island Resort E.L.S. – Escort Limousine Service Inc.

JANUARY 14

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Chamber snapshots

collective impact | JANUARY 14

Who’s who. Leadership Green Bay Class of 2014 participants assemble their model helicopter as part of a team-building exercise at the opening retreat on Sept. 20. Pictured are (from left): Jeff Pierquet, VSI LLC; Mike Schmidt, BayCare Health Systems; Kathy Rohde, Bay Lake United Educators; Scott Schoenemen, NeighborWorks Green Bay; Liz Secor, Ansay & Associates Inc.; and Bev Scow, Wise Women Gathering Place.

Yolanda Hernandez, RR Donnelly, and her husband Kevin Pulley, also from RR Donnelly, enjoy libation and conversation with Kimani Jefferson, owner, JAM Holdings, at the Minority Professional Social at Captain’s Walk Winery in late summer.

Sam’s Club hosted the October Business After Hours. Guests included these ambassadors (left to right): Joleen Allard, Green Bay Area Newcomers & Neighbors; Jacque Wilson, Journeys Unlimited Travel; and Amy Hobbins, Journeys Unlimited Travel.

In September, Advance’s municipal issues committee honored Rep. John Nygren, 89th Assembly District (pictured at right) as the 2013 Henry S. Baird Legislator of the Year. Specifically, the committee commends Nygren on his direct support of a budget provision providing $2 million in funding for the expansion of the KI Convention Center in downtown Green Bay. Andrew Vissers of the village of Howard presented the award.

Leadership Green Bay welcomed the class of 2014 at its opening retreat. Pictured: Riley McDermid, Bellin Health.

Current’s 7th annual Leaders Luncheon on Oct. 22 welcomed Joe Bruette, business manager, Greater Green Bay YMCA (left), and Sara Wall, volunteer development coordinator at the Y. Community leaders are invited and randomly assigned to each table providing the opportunity for emerging leaders to interact with those who have significantly more leadership experience. This year’s speaker was Brown County Executive Troy Streckenbach, one of Current’s founders. Current is celebrating its 10th anniversary this year.

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Health Insurance from Health Experts Coordinated care is your answer to reduced company health plan costs. Developed by Prevea Health right here in Wisconsin, Prevea360 Health Plan connects a strong network of providers, innovative hospitals, one medical record system and comprehensive insurance coverage to make the highest quality care highly affordable.

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GOOD HEALTH IS GOOD BUSINESS WORKPLACE WELLNESS

Workplace Wellness does more than provide membership cards. We create a partnership in well-being and provide a plan that offers a healthier workplace environment. By connecting with the Y, employees receive personalized service supporting them on their journey in getting active as they become engaged in a healthier lifestyle.

ASK HOW THE Y CAN GENERATE A WELLNESS PROGRAM TAILORED TO YOUR COMPANY’S SPECIFIC NEEDS

Increase employee productivity, reduce absenteeism, and help lower insurance claims by designing on-site programming that can include:  Membership

 Employee

 Fitness

Match Incentive Assessments  On-Site Wellness Activities  On-Site Group Fitness Classes

 Personal

Education Training  Wellness Coaching

To ﬁnd out if Workplace Wellness is right for your company, contact Jamie at 920 436 9620 or jamie.hanner@greenbayymca.org

Our people

KNOW BUSINESS. That’s why they’re our people. There’s a difference between bankers who “do” business banking and bankers who know business. At First Business we’ve built a team whose expertise extends to specific types of businesses and the unique challenges they face. We know why businesses succeed — and what makes them fail. What we’ve learned working with hundreds of successful businesses can help your business thrive. Call us today.

(L-R) Mickey Noone, President Tim Beno, Green Bay Market President First Business Bank - Northeast

www.firstbusiness.com Member FDIC

Y O U R S U C C E S S C O M E S F I R S T.

Commercial Lending : Treasury Management : Equipment Finance : Specialized Lending : Trust & Investments : Private Banking

Fox Cities: 920-734-1800 Oshkosh: 920-231-2400 Green Bay: 920-435-5442 JANUARY 14

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Devices & Plans Personalized for the Way You Live.

Green Bay Area Chamber of Commerce P.O. Box 1660 300 N. Broadway, Ste. 3A Green Bay, WI 54305-1660

Remarkable Nationwide Coverage,

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1.800.236.0055

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