Heart of the Valley Chamber of Commerce Newsletter
November 2015
November is here already!
“The Heart of the Valley Chamber of Commerce has
We made through the crazy month of October and celebrated National Business Women’s Week and our Annual Taste From the Heart event. A huge thank you to everyone that helped make it a success.
been an excellent resource for our business, Keller, Inc. The Chamber provides multiple channels for
We are back to our regular monthly programs.
business awareness, networking opportunities
We offer Business Before, Between and After Hours, as well as our Business Card Exchange every month. Check our website for an updated calendar of events and email Jamie at: jamie@heartofthevalleychamber.com to sign up for any events.
and helpful educational programs. Being an involved member of the Chamber has
Don’t forget….
really made a difference in helping expand our business
We offer a monthly Non-Profit Roundtable Group if you are involved with any non-profit, we would love to hear what works for your non-profit and how others can benefit. The group is looking to put together a large event in early spring to showcase non-profits in the area and host educational seminars. If you would be interested in sitting on the planning committee, email Kelli at kclussman@heartofthevalleychamber.com.
visibility, growth and development in the Heart of the Valley."
- Lindsay Wiese,
Our Annual Dinner will be coming up in February of 2016! If you would be interested in helping plan the event, email Kelli at kclussman@heartofthevalleychamber.com.
Co-Owner KELLER, INC.
Member Spotlight:
In This Issue
Taste From the Heart
Fox Communities Share the Love
How to Be a Better Leader in Business
Good News Is Worth Repeating
Upcoming Events Name: Business After Hours: Midwest Restoration Date: November 12, 2015 Time: 5:00 PM - 7:00 PM Name: Government Relations Roundtable Group Date: November 13, 2015 Time: 8:00 AM - 9:00 AM Name: Business Between Hours: Developing a Marketing Strategy on Any Budget - Presented by Greg Howat, SCM Marketing Solutions Date: November 18, 2015 Time: 11:00 AM - 12:00 PM Name: Business Card Exchange Date: November 19, 2015 Time: 11:00 AM - 12:00 PM Name: Non-Profit Roundtable Group Date: November 24, 2015 Time: 9:00 AM - 10:00 AM
To register for an event, go to www.heartofthevalleychamber.com call (920) 766-1616 or email jamie@heartofthevalleychamber.com.
How to Be a Better Leader in Business Communicate All that You Know The best place to start is “communicate all that you know.” In my lifetime I have seen two types of leaders; one keeps all his knowledge to himself, and in turn doesn’t want the team to leave him, and doesn’t encourage them to go to the next level. The second, and I hope I was this type of leader, communicates all he knows. The biggest thrill in my life was to see people get promoted. I am happy to say that many assistant managers on my Wal-Mart team went on to become store managers. At the chamber the same thing has happened, many of our folks have gone on to great jobs, and although I really wanted them to stay, I was very proud that they were taking the next step to a better career.
Love Your Work If you love your work, you’ll be out there every day trying to do it the best you possibly can, and pretty soon everybody around will catch the passion from you – like a fever. I have been so fortunate in my work career. The chamber is my third career, and like my career as a retailer, a store manager, and now an executive director, I can honestly say I loved all three jobs. Some had more stress then others, but I live for the challenge and all three gave me plenty of challenges. Business owners are fortunate because these entrepreneurs have created something they love and it feels less like work. Pass that passiononto your employees and your business will thrive.
Speak to People Speak to people coming towards you before they speak to you. I always look ahead and speak to the person coming toward me. If I knew them I would call them by name, but even if I didn’t I would still speak to them. I was at St. Vincent’s Hospital a couple of weeks ago walking down a hallway, and a gentlemen was walking towards me. I didn’t know him, but I said, “Good morning.” He returned the sentiment and then asked, “Are you lost?” I was. We both laughed and I said, “Yes I am looking for the elevator.” He showed me the directions to the elevator and we then struck up a conversation about Erie which led to Bradford, and I found out he was doctor at St. Vincent’s. I felt really good after our talk and went on my way. Try it on Monday morning, and let me know how it goes. If you adopt the idea of never meeting a stranger and you greet everyone with a warm reception, you might be pleasantly surprised by the opportunities that open to you.
4 Connecting People – Promoting Business
Annual Taste From the Heart Thanks to High Cliff Restaurant and to every vendor, volunteer and person that attended to make this such a great event!
6 Connecting People – Promoting Business
Our very own Kelli Clussman was featured on the front of The Times Villager explaining her new role as Executive Director. We couldn’t be more proud of her and all the work she puts into the Heart of the Valley Chamber and into the community. Call or email her today to either join or get more involved! 766.1616 or kclussman@heartofthevalleychamber.com.
WELCOME NEW MEMBER Wisconsin Distributors 3010 N. Zuehlke Dr. Appleton, WI 54911 (920) 733-7414 www.wisconsindistributors.com
Wisconsin Distributors is a beverage distributor located in Appleton servicing more than 1200 on and off premise retail accounts in Outagamie, Winnebago and Waupaca counties. Wisconsin Distributors sells and markets brands from numerous breweries including Anheuser-Busch Inbev, New Belgium Brewery, Wisconsin Brewing Company, Kona Brewing Company, Redhook Brewery and North American Breweries. As a distributor of domestic, craft and import beers some of their most well-known brands include :Budweiser, Bud Light, Busch Light, Stella Artois, Fat Tire, Widmer, Labatt Blue and Goose Island. Wisconsin Distributors also sells Monster energy drinks and is headquartered in Sun Prairie, Wis.
8 Connecting People – Promoting Business
Adopt-A-Highway Sign
- Dining Guide - Our annual guide listing restaurants in the Fox Cities distributed during select months and through the Fox Cities Covention & Visitors Bureau. - OVATION - We are proud to partner with the Fox Cities Performing Arts Center to create their playbill for all Broadway shows and Arts Alive! series performances.
Maria Stevens - Member Spotlight
FOX CITIES MAGAZINE FOX CITIES Magazine puts spotlight on community By Maria Stevens, account executive For more than 30 years, FOX CITIES Magazine has been the resource for art, dining, culture and lifestyle in the Fox Cities and surrounding region. We are known as the go-to destination for where to dine, what to do and where to shop. As an account executive, I develop relationships with business owners to determine how we can best promote their products and services through advertising opportunities in our family of publications including: - FOX CITIES Magazine - Our magazine is distributed throughout the Fox Cities with a reach of 60,000 readers, including several thousand subscribers. We are published 11 times annually and a subscription also includes our annual Worth the Drive travel issue which is delivered in July. - City Guide - Our annual relocation guide for newcomers and residents distributed through corporate human resource departments and realtors.
10 Connecting People – Promoting Business
-FoxCitiesMagazine.com Our stellar website where users can click on tabs such as “Dining” and “Events” for current content, and peruse past issues of FOX CITIES Magazine. Most recently, the big buzz is about our collaboration with celebrity foodie Kyle Cherek and his innovative web series, “Chef Talk with Kyle Cherek” appearing on our website.
Good News is Worth Repeating Alliance Construction & Design, Inc. recently completed a 3,500 sq. ft. store for Lineville Health Mart Pharmacy located at 2673 Lineville Rd., Howard. Last year Fox Communities Credit Union asked our communities to consider donating a coat. Well, you did do that and you did it very well! In 2014 Fox Communities Credit Union branches collected over 1700 coats that were given to less fortunate children. That was a record number for Fox. The coats don’t have to be new, the old coats are cleaned by our local dry cleaners (what nice folks); but they can be new. There are boxes at all 17 Fox Communities Credit Union branches to the collect the coats. Coats for Kids is an annual drive with our local Salvation Army’s. KELLER, Inc., a Design/Build General Contractor with offices in the Fox Cities, Madison, Milwaukee and Wausau announces the promotion of Cole Teafoe to Architectural & Engineering Services Lead. KELLER, Inc. also announces the hiring of Chris Manske as an Architect. They will also will design and renovate the interior and exterior of a 2,000 square foot building for Vanderloop Shoes under the direction of Keller Project Manager, John Elrick and Architect, Steve Klessig. Institute for Organization Management, the professional development program of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation, has appointed Heidi Zich, IOM, Executive Vice President of Home Builders Association of the Fox Cities (Appleton, WI) to the Midwest Board of Regents. DePere Christian Outreach, a community resource since 1992, is celebrating its grand reopening and recent expansion project of the thrift store on Butler Street in DePere on Saturday, October 24th from 9am-5pm.
Contact Us
Volunteers are asked to Give us a call for more serve at least 20 hours information about our services and between Jan. 28 and products Volunteers are asked to serve at least 20 hours Heart of the Valley between Jan. 28 and Chamber of Commerce April 18, and will receive 101 E. Wisconsin Ave. training. VITA is Kaukauna, WI 54130 seeking greeters, basic and advanced tax (920) 766-1616 preparers, screeners info@heartofthevalleychamber.com and quality reviewers. The Fox Cities Financial Visit us on the web at Makeover Challenge www.heartofthevalleychamber.com ( a program of Goodwill Industries of North Central Wisconsin) could be orth four months of your time. The eighth annual Money Smart Week Fox Cities Financial Makeover Challenge will award $3,000 to the family or individual who makes the most progress in increase savings or reducing debt. K.R. West has welcomed Greg Verstegen and Joe Van Stippen to our team. Greg will be taking on the role of account representative to Eastern Wisconsin and Joe is going to be a fluid power application technician. Stellar Blue Technologies, a Fox Valley, Wisconsin based digital marketing firm, Van Stippen launched ten custom websites for companies this September. The websites include UVANTA Healthcare, Greater Fox Cities Area Habitat for Humanity, Human Search Engine, New North Summit, Pacelli Catholic Schools, SPE Inc., Loaves & Fishes of the Fox Valley Inc,. AJ’s Mobile Marine, Laminations and Rollguard.
Marco was named by Great Place to Work as one of the best small and medium workplaces in the United States on their annual 2015 Best Small & Medium Workplaces list, published today in Frontier Builders & Consultants recently announced that it will Fortune magazine. be working on the following projects: Schenck will be hosting a free 90-minute business improvement workshop on Friday, October 30 entitled Doing Business in China: Opportunities and Challenges.
Midwest Properties 12,000 sq. ft. Commercial Building Greenville, WI Estimated completion - End of November, 2015
Schenck M&A Solutions will host a forum in November, “The Merger & Acquisition Playbook for Entrepreneurs.” This complimentary event is geared toward business owners and senior leaders.
Rollmeister, Inc. 13,000 sq. ft. Manufacturing Building Addition 2474 Schultz Road Neenah, WI Estimated completion - End of February, 2016
A choice of three information sessions for persons interested in volunteering for the VITA (Volunteer Income Tax Assistance) program will be offered in the next several weeks.
Weber Project 6,130 sq. ft. Multi-Use Building Kimberly, WI Estimated completion - End of December, 2015
All sessions will be at the Goodwill NCW Community Campus, 1800 Appleton Road, Menasha. The sessions are: Thursday, Oct. 29, 5:30-7:30 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 31, 10 a.m.-noon. Tuesday, Nov. 10, 5:30-7:30 p.m.
101 E. Wisconsin Ave. Kaukauna, WI 54130 920.766.1616. www.heartofthevalleychamber.com