Business Leader Winter 2017 by Leader Telegram

WINTER FALL 2017 2016

With a workforce generation retiring...

Who will fill their shoes?

Plus: Selling ice cream in the winter ■ Feed processing coming to Chippewa Falls ■ Tourism & lodging ■

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2 | BUSINESS LEADER ♦ January 30, 2017

➤ Guest Columns �� Pages 7, 19

COVER STORY

WINTER 2017

Filling jobs will become harder as working-age population declines.

➤ Crossword �� Page 16 ➤ Book Review �� Page 18 ➤ Calendar �� Page 20

FEATURE STORY

➤ By The Numbers �� Page 21 ➤ Business Directory �� Page 21

Ice cream businesses give tips for selling frozen treats year-round.

Catie.Carlson@ecpc.com

Editor:

Andrew.Dowd@ecpc.com

715-833-9204, @ADowd_LT

Feed processor chooses Chippewa Falls for new plant.

Hearing about a labor shortage in high-demand trades in the Chippewa Valley had been a song I’d gotten used to for several years. Careers in health care, advanced manufacturing and other fields with frequent openings were touted in talks when politicians, higher education officials and business experts in Eau Claire. But last year the tune changed. Instead of specific labor shortages, a need for more workers became a refrain among employers in multiple sectors. Help wanted signs seemed to multiply locally in storefronts, eateries and other businesses. Frankly, after years of elevated unemployment, it was a relief seeing there are more jobs out there for people to choose from. But the downside is empty positions can hamstring growth in

New Menomonie tourism director starts job.

COMMUNITY PROFILES

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businesses. Adding another production line or shift to fill new orders isn’t possible without the workers to staff them. If you want to really see how the demographic challenge facing Wisconsin is expected to impact the ability to fill jobs in the future, take a look at this issue’s cover story. But if you’d rather start with something sweeter, consider first reading another article that answers a question on my mind: “How does one succeed in the frozen treat industry in a wintery place like Wisconsin?” Other stories explain how a new livestock feed operation is expected to aid the Chippewa Falls economy, and how a new tourism director in Menomonie plans to promote that city’s growing leisure industry. In addition to that, there’s the usual array of upcoming events, business advice, a book review and a crossword puzzle to enjoy.

2017 ♦ 800-236-7077. BUSINESSleadertelegram.com LEADER | 3 Published four times per year by the Leader-Telegram advertising department. Copyright 2017 Eau Claire Press Co., 701 S. Farwell St., Eau Claire, January WI 54701. All30, rights reserved.

COVER STORY

We need more people Scott Hodek, regional labor economist with the state Department of Workforce Development, explains the demographic challenge facing employers in Wisconsin and nationwide. In a recent DWD survey of Chippewa Valley employers, 85 percent of respondents indicated they are having difficulty filling positions. Staff photo by Marisa Wojcik

Employers find it tougher to fill jobs as working population shrinks By Eric Lindquist, Leader-Telegram staff

“Now hiring.” “Help wanted.” “Join our team.” The signs seeking workers that increasingly dot Chippewa Valley businesses today may become downright ubiquitous in the coming decades as more baby boomers retire every year and not enough younger people are available to replace them. “We saw this all coming, and now it’s here,” said Scott Hodek, regional labor market economist for the state Department of Workforce Development. “It’s a big issue for the whole nation going forward.” A DWD survey last year showed that the impending labor shortage is weighing heavily on the minds of employers in the Chippewa Valley. Of the 78 employers with 24,300 workers who responded to the survey, 85 percent indicated their organization is having difficulty finding people to fill positions and 77 percent said the retirement plans of existing employees represent a moderate to urgent concern, Hodek said. Obviously, it’s becoming a challenge to find 4 | BUSINESS LEADER ♦ January 30, 2017

workers,” said Bob McCoy, president of the Eau Claire Area Chamber of Commerce, adding that he isn’t aware of local companies that are in panic mode about it. McCoy expects the issue to lead to salary increases as employers compete for the dwindling supply of workers. Businesses also will seek ways to expand automation — such as self-checkout lanes at grocery stores and self-ordering at restaurants — to limit their demand for workers. Ensuring an adequate supply of labor is undoubtedly a top concern among area businesses, said Patti Matthews, Eau Claire branch manager for the staffing and human resource consulting firm Manpower. “We hear about companies that see the tightening labor market all the time, and we see it as well,” Matthews said, adding that many employers have employment agencies screen job candidates to limit turnover by helping to identify workers likely to stay on the job once they are hired. Already, she said, there are probably about five jobs for every one person seeking industrial

positions, and she has heard of local companies turning down contracts because they can’t find enough people to fulfill orders. Even local staffing firms, which once kept a roster of folks ready to fill positions whenever employers called, are constantly recruiting workers in the current climate. “Individuals who want to work usually find a job pretty quickly,” Matthews said, noting that candidates who meet pre-employment qualifications usually are placed in a position the first day. For those who can’t find a position they want in Eau Claire and are open to working in Menomonie or Chippewa Falls, Manpower will refer them to its branches in those cities, “where they often are offered a job within an hour,” Matthews said. “It’s really an employees’ market right now, and candidates can really pick what job they want,” she said. “It’s not nice for the companies, but it’s kind of nice for the individuals.” A national survey by Manpower this year showed that 46 percent of employers are having difficulty filling jobs and that, for the seventh consecutive year, skilled trades vacancies are the hardest to fill in the U.S.

People problem

Contraction concerns

Prominent state economic voices have shined a spotlight on the problem during recent visits to the the Chippewa Valley. “The biggest problem we have in this state is not job creation. It’s finding people for the jobs we have, with the retiring baby boom generation,” Wisconsin Manufacturers & Commerce President Kurt Bauer told business leaders attending an Eau Claire Chamber presentation in October. With birth rates not at population replacement level, Bauer said more state companies already are delaying expansions and offering incentives such as higher salaries and bonuses, flexible hours, telecommuting and even casual dress codes to attract workers. “If you don’t have people, you don’t have workers, you don’t have consumers and you don’t have tax base, then bad, bad, bad things happen,” Bauer warned. “That’s economic contraction.” A month later, Todd Berry, president of Wisconsin Taxpayers Alliance, reiterated the message to a group of regional business and government leaders in Eau Claire. “We do need bodies. The labor force is fairly flat for the next 20 to 30 years,” Berry said. “I think this is the key fundamental economic issue facing the state.”

The demographic challenge is clear when looking at projections for changes in the total population compared One large Eau Claire employer, Silver Spring Foods, with the working-age population, which economists reported mixed results dealing with the tightening labor define as individuals market. from age 20 through 64. “For the most part, it Wisconsin’s total hasn’t been too bad for population is expected us,” human resources to increase 14.1 percent director Denise Escher As total population rises, number of workers expected to shrink from the 2010 census said. “We just added tally of 5.7 million to 6.5 County Total population Working-age population 50 new positions million in 2040. During and were able to the same period, the 2010 2040 2010 2040 successfully fill them.” working-age population Chippewa 62,415 70,600 37,380 36,910 Escher credited the is projected to decrease company’s reputation by 0.2 percent to 3.4 Dunn 43,857 48,485 26,863 24,400 for treating employees million, according to Eau Claire 98,736 111,610 60,736 59,000 well, along with the state Department of financial incentives, Administration. State 5,686,986 6,491,635 3,407,476 3,399,355 for its ability to find In the Chippewa Valley, Source: Wisconsin Department of Administration Staff graphic enough workers the total population in for the expansion. Chippewa, Dunn and Silver Spring has Eau Claire counties is implemented referral bonuses of $500 for current staff expected to rise 12.5 percent by 2040 while the workingmembers who refer a new employee who gets hired and age population shrinks by 4,669 people, or 3.7 percent. works at the company for at least six months. The new The concern is even greater in some far northern employees also receive $500. Wisconsin counties, where the 65-and-older crowd is “We’ve also had to do some pay adjustments to make projected to reach more than 40 percent of the overall sure we’re keeping up with the market and even ahead population by 2040, Hodek said. of it,” she said. “We’ve always offered good benefits, and The flattening or shrinking labor force raises questions now we’ve had to highlight that even more.” about how it will affect potential expansion plans for Escher acknowledged the labor market is a concern existing employers or the attraction of new businesses to for the future and pointed to a job fair Silver Spring the state, he added.

Mixed results

Demographic challenge

See page 6 January 30, 2017 ♦ BUSINESS LEADER | 5

from Page 5 conducted in July as evidence of the changing conditions. About 80 people showed up last summer, compared with several hundred when the company held a job fair in 2010. Eau Claire-based Silver Spring, which bills itself as the worldâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s largest grower and processor of horseradish, felt the squeeze to a greater extent when trying to fill positions for its seasonal farming operations last summer. The population the company traditionally drew upon for those temporary positions was less available because it was easier for them to find full-time, year-round work, Escher said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We were able to get the harvest done, but some people probably had to work more hours than they wanted,â&#x20AC;? she said.

Reaching out

Looking ahead, Hodek said the main ways for the Chippewa Valley and the state to tackle the labor shortage issue are to slow the brain drain by getting more college and university students to stay after graduation and to attract more new workers to the state. The latter, in particular, can be a challenge, Hodek said, although the Chippewa Valley has a natural advantage over many areas in weathering the demographic storm because of its large student population. â&#x20AC;&#x153;As a state we have an attraction problem,â&#x20AC;? Hodek said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;When people around the country think of Wisconsin,

they think beer, cheese, cold weather and Packers, and that can make it difficult to attract people to the workforce.â&#x20AC;? Still, he said, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s possible for the Chippewa Valley to change perceptions by highlighting the areaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s cuttingedge employers and quality of life. Initial efforts to build the workforce already are underway, Hodek said, noting that UW-Eau Claire is reaching out to alumni living in the Twin Cities to make them aware of positive changes in the area, more companies are offering internships that can help students feel stronger ties to the community and organizations are promoting other opportunities for students and young people to get involved in the community. â&#x20AC;&#x153;That way they can help shape the community into one theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d like to live in,â&#x20AC;? he said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;When you feel ownership, youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re more likely to stay.â&#x20AC;? Contact: 715-833-9209, eric.lindquist@ecpc.com, @ealscoop on Twitter

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6 | BUSINESS LEADER â&#x2122;Ś January 30, 2017

CEO SPEAK

One last present:

Happiness

Positive mindset is crucial for success in life, business

Jeff West is the owner of Bear Down (beardowninc.com), an executive and executive team coaching company based in Eau Claire. He was a founder and CEO of Silicon Logic Engineering. He also currently chairs the local chapter of TEC (The Executive Committee) and Business Partners, a forum for small business leaders. West can be reached at: 715-559-2195 or jeffatbeardown@gmail.com.

“Being successful doesn’t automatically make you happier. But being happier, being more positive makes you more successful.” SHAWN ACHOR, essayist, poet By Jeff West Since we’ve just gone through the holiday season I’d like to share one last present with you. Today’s beginning quote may seem like a paradox. However, mountains of research support the fact that just being successful won’t guarantee your being happy. Focusing on being happier and more positive turns out to be a huge predictor of whether you will be a success at whatever you put your mind to. Happiness fuels success, not the other way around. When we’re positive, our brains become more engaged, creative, motivated, energetic, resilient and productive. Research has repeatedly shown that positive brains have a biological advantage over neutral or negative brains. This isn’t “touchy-feely” thinking. We’re physically wired this way. Students who were told to think about the happiest day of their lives right before taking a standardized math test outperformed their peers. People who expressed more positive emotions while negotiating business deals did so more efficiently and successfully than those who were more neutral or negative. Research shows even the smallest shots of positivity can give someone a serious competitive advantage. ••• So you’re thinking, it’s easy for me to say, “Just be happy! Happy! Happy! Happy!” If I only knew all the tough, difficult, negative things you’re going through I’d understand all this “Kum Ba Yah” stuff is nonsense. Well then think about this: Our brain has only a finite amount of resources to work with. We can use those limited resources to worry about things going on in our life, raising our stress levels and seeing the negative in the things around us if we choose to. But ask yourself this, when is the last time you had a creative thought, felt energized, fired up and excited when you were in the above state of mind? Can you begin to see why even a little positivity can make a big difference? If we look at things through a lens of gratitude, hope and optimism we begin to change how we react to every situation we’re facing, thus changing our world. The mental construction we create of our daily activities, more than the activity itself, defines our reality. ••• It’s so easy to get stuck in negative behavior. For example, we’re bombarded daily with breaking news stories that are typically anything but positive. When we begin to filter everything through a negative lens we set ourselves up for outcomes we’re usually less than satisfied with. By focusing on the positive aspects of situations, multiple favorable things begin to happen. First, our overall happiness increases. The happier we are the better we feel right? Next, when we’re more positive in our outlook we also become more grateful. Psychologist Robert Emmons’ research has found that few things in life are as integral to our well-being as being grateful. Researchers have picked random people and trained them to be more grateful over a period of a few weeks. What did they find? They became happier, more optimistic, feel more socially connected, sleep better and have fewer headaches than the control groups. The last positive outcome is our optimism rises. Optimism feeds on itself. The more optimistic we become, the more we see things in a positive light, which makes us more optimistic, and so forth. And optimism is a tremendously

powerful predictor of performance at work, researchers have found. ••• We have the ability, in any situation, to react in three ways. One, we can stay in the state of mind we’re in – whether good or bad. Two, we can head in a more negative direction and make a tough situation even worse than it actually is. The third choice is usually the most challenging. It’s the reaction that we can look at a setback or failure from the perspective that it’s going to make us stronger and more capable than we were before. It’s often difficult to see the positive side in a crisis. A tough economy, an aggressive competitor, onerous regulations, etc. In these situations we often have trouble seeing the most positive, productive path. We fall back on our incomplete mental maps with a feeling of helplessness. Our hopelessness can get so bad that we stop believing that a positive path exists, so we don’t even bother to look for it. But the positive path is the one we need to set off on. It’s the path that is the difference between those who are crippled by failure and those who rise above it. Jim Collins, author of “Good to Great,” tells us; “We are not imprisoned by our circumstances, our setbacks, our history, our mistakes or even staggering defeats along the way. We are freed by our choices.” Shawn Achor puts it this way in his great book, “The Happiness Advantage,” “By scanning our mental map for positive opportunities, and by rejecting the belief that every down in life leads us only further downward, we give ourselves the greatest power possible: the ability to move up not despite the setbacks, but because of them.” ••• Here’s one last thing to consider. If you want to be a positive, happy person, surround yourself with positive, happy people. Emotions are contagious. Researchers put individuals into a room with four other people who were told ahead of time to project either a positive or negative mood. Within two minutes the mood of the research subject began to mirror the mood of the group. We love to think about ourselves as individuals but we’re social creatures. It’s amazing how much clout the people we’re around have on us and our moods. Researcher Daniel Goldman compared it to secondhand smoke, saying that the leakage of emotions can make a bystander an innocent casualty of someone else’s toxic state. The people you surround yourself with couldn’t be more important. One of the longest-running psychological studies of all time – the Harvard men study – followed 268 men from their entrance into college in the late 1930s to the present day. The findings point to one thing that distinguished the happiest, fullest lives from the least successful ones: Love. Researcher George Vaillant, the director of the project for the past 40 years wrote, “70 years of evidence that our relationships with other people matter, and matter more than anything else in the world.”

More Inspiration

Check out Shawn Achor’s book, “The Happiness Advantage,” and his popular TED talk for more ideas to see what you can do to become a more positive, happy and successful person.

January 30, 2017 ♦ BUSINESS LEADER | 7

FEATURE STORY

Ice cream

on the tundra

New parlor owner seeks sage advice for selling cold treats in Wisconsin By Lauren French, Leader-Telegram staff

hen Blayne Midthun started plans to open Ramone’s Ice Cream Parlor in an up-andcoming neighborhood of downtown Eau Claire, he had more to consider for his business than flavors, venue and targeted demographic. “Inevitably the ice cream cone sales will take a large drop in the wintertime,” Midthun said of his financial forecast. “We’re not expecting long lines in the winter for people coming in to get ice cream.” Midthun’s business — winner of the 2016 Jump-Start Downtown Eau Claire Business Competition — is set to open in April on Galloway Street in the North Barstow Street area. Its destination theme centers on the 1920s. In a state that boasts hot summers and cold winters, local ice cream parlors inevitably have to alter their business model with the seasons. The whole ice cream industry slows down when the weather gets as cold as its product, but then spikes in the summer as demand rises. Companies made about a third less ice cream at the onset of last winter when compared to the start of summer. According to U.S. Department of Agriculture statistics, the U.S. made 118.4 million gallons of regular and low-fat ice cream combined in June 2016, compared to 79.3 million gallons in December 2015. So how do ice cream parlors stay afloat in sub-freezing weather? Midthun said he took some cues from longtime parlors around the area to help shape a plan for his business. Among those was Olson’s Ice Cream Parlor & Deli based in Chippewa Falls.

8 | BUSINESS LEADER ♦ January 30, 2017

Tried and true

“Patience and understanding that you’re going to have strong seasons and weaker seasons,” Hunt said, “and you have to make hay while the sun is shining.”

Olson’s Ice Cream Parlor & Deli’s legacy began in 1923, when the original Olson brothers started making their now locally-famous ice cream at Knapp Dairy. The business moved to No problem its current location on with heat North Bridge Street in Some ice cream 1944. business owners decided Ownership changed to skip the winter months over the years, but the altogether and operate business’ website boasts a summer-only setup. the base ice cream recipe Among those is Paul remains the same. Dan Braun, co-owner of Eau Hunt, current co-owner Claire mobile ice cream with his wife, said the shop 9 Degrees. key to longtime success “We always were with an ice cream thinking ‘ice cream on business in a four-season wheels’ and ‘outside,’” environment comes Braun said of the down to good sales in business he started with the summer and pushing Wayne Emberson, manager of Olson’s Ice Cream Parlor & Deli in Chippewa Falls, his wife, Pam, in 2003. serves up a few scoops of mint chocolate chip ice cream in a waffle cone. other products besides “That pretty much meant Staff photos by Steve Kinderman scooped ice cream in the that having a winter winter. business was not possible.” As the name indicates, Olson’s provides some solid Braun and his wife both work their own day jobs food options to accompany its ice cream. Hunt said hot outside of the business, but enjoy carting local Olson’s foods, such as soups and chili, are popular in the winter, ice cream to various events around Eau Claire over the whereas wraps and salads fare well in the summer. summer. Their bread-and-butter events are Tuesday And while customers aren’t usually in the mood for an ice cream cone from the store in the middle of winter, Night Blues at Owen Park, the Thursday night Sounds Like Summer Concert Series at Phoenix Park and Hunt said many enjoy a bowl of the frozen treat next to the fireplace in their own living room. The business takes advantage of that by packaging its product into quarts and half gallons to sell in local grocery stores, such as Festival Foods and Gordy’s Market. “That part of the business stays pretty steady throughout the winter,” Hunt said of Olson’s packaged ice cream. Olson’s Ice Cream Parlor & Deli also mixes up seasonal ice cream flavors that correspond to the holiday season, a decision management said sells well in the colder months. Some of those flavors include peppermint stick, cinnamon, pumpkin pie and Oktoberfest. However, when it comes down to it, Hunt said the biggest solution to low sales in the winter is knowing Ginger Winget, right, of Chippewa Falls, takes her grandchildren (clockwise from what to expect from the winter months. Plan on a yearbottom) Ranen Patrow, six months; Abbey Liddell, 12; Samantha Liddell, 5; and Sydnee Patrow, 6, all from Eau Claire; for a winter ice cream outing to Olson’s. round basis, he said, and take advantage of the good sales seasons. See page 10

January 30, 2017 ♦ BUSINESS LEADER | 9

Saturdays at the Eau Claire Downtown Farmers Market in the Phoenix Park pavilion. On any Thursday night at the Sounds Like Summer Concert Series, Braun said 9 Degrees serves around 300 people. They carry three core flavors — mint chocolate chip, strawberry and Mackinac Island fudge — and cycle in a fourth flavor weekly. While Braun said he greatly enjoys the summer ice cream season, he doesn’t regret centering his business on a seasonal model. “Every year when September rolls around,” Braun said, “we are very happy with our decision because we like hanging it up for the year at that point.”

Summer is the key

Based on his research and interactions with other parlors like Olson’s, Midthun has a game plan for Ramone’s after-dinner market. The parlor set to open in spring will sell takehome ice cream to combat low ice cream cone sales in the winter. Instead of making their own ice cream, Midthun is planning to sell ice cream from local producers, such as Olson’s and Nelson Cheese Factory. Midthun said Ramone’s will also serve other food, including pie supplied from Sue’s Deluxe Bake Shop on Birch Street, and gourmet coffee. Still, based on preliminary conversations Previously an insurance agency office, this building and research on at 503 Galloway St. in downtown Eau Claire will starting an ice reopen this spring as Ramone’s Ice Cream Parlor. cream parlor, Midthun said he thinks great summer sales is the most important element to success. “If you’re going to survive,” Midthun said, “you need to make enough money over the summer months.” Contact: 715-830-5828, lauren.french@ecpc.com, @LaurenKFrench on Twitter 10 | BUSINESS LEADER ♦ January 30, 2017

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- Guest Article -

In a Tight Job Market, Companies Should Consider

WORK-LIFE POLICIES to Improve Talent Attraction and Retention

By Bryan T. Symes – Ruder Ware, LLSC

In recent years, pundits have spilled much ink tackling the so-called “talent gap.” To that end, numerous local, regional and national studies have been commissioned for the purpose of solving the talent-gap conundrum— offering solutions ranging from more targeted skills-development to improved placemaking. No question, these considerations are potential pieces to the talent-gap puzzle that are worthy of continued exploration. However, one piece of the talent-gap puzzle that does not, in my opinion, receive enough attention, is how employers can address the talent-gap problem through the implementation of more employee-friendly [and, more specifically, Millennial-congruent] workplace policies to attract, engage and retain high-level talent. According to a recent study by Ernst & Young, 86% of Millennials would be more likely to stay in a job if it offered paid parental leave. Perhaps in response to the EY study or others like it, 3M recently announced that as of January 1, 2017, the company has expanded parental-leave benefits available to both biological and adoptive parents, increasing the amount of companyprovided annual parental leave to 20 weeks, 10 of which are paid. According to 3M, “[t]he expanded benefits are part of 3M’s continuing commitment to support greater work-life balance across the company.” This move is, no doubt, designed to bridge what researchers for the Council on Contemporary Families call the employee “happiness gap.” 3M is not alone, as publicly-traded companies including Adobe, Microsoft, Coca-Cola and Netflix, to name a few, have implemented similar work-life workplace policies. Although these leviathan organizations are certainly the outliers—“Main Street” is beginning to experiment with work-life policies too. In my position as the management-side employment and labor-relations attorney for many companies within our region, I regularly review and craft workplace policies and employee handbooks. Through my law practice, I have observed that companies within the Chippewa Valley are beginning to recognize the benefits of enhanced work-life workplace policies as a method of improving their respective employee value propositions. These policies are not for everyone, to be sure. However, for businesses within the Chippewa Valley that are interested in exploring work-life workplace policies as a means to attract, engage and retain talent in an increasingly tight job market, several types of policies are emerging on a national level including, but not limited to: (1) company-provided, paid parental leave policies; (2) loan-forgiveness programs; (3) job-sharing policies; and (4) telecommuting policies.

PAID PARENTAL LEAVE.

Perhaps in response to several mandatory paid family leave laws sweeping the nation, and to follow the lead of companies like 3M, employers large and small are increasingly considering enhanced, paid family leave policies. Study after study suggests that workers within the Millennial demographic find this type of work-life policy particularly attractive. These policies allow companies to supplement the family and medical leave gap when employers are either too small to fall within the purview of state and federal

family and medical leave laws, or when employees have not logged enough hours to become eligible for benefits. Although mandatory paid parental leave for smaller employers [those under 50 employees] has not come to fruition in the Chippewa Valley, the concept is gaining momentum—for example, President Trump championed the concept of enhanced mandatory family leave during several of his campaign stump speeches.

LOAN FORGIVENESS PROGRAMS

It is no secret that an alarming percentage of our newest entrants into the current job market are saddled with significant student-loan debt. It has been reported that many of these new job-market participants generally feel like their employers do not care about their longterm financial well-being. For this reason, companies are beginning to offer student-loan debt forgiveness programs for employees interested in longer-term employment commitments [in my experience, five or more years of continuous employment, assuming other key benchmarks are achieved as well—e.g., the employee must remain in good standing]. Although there are, from a legal perspective, several important drafting considerations, these policies can, in my experience, be an important tool to attract and retain talent long enough to increase the likelihood of a longterm employment relationship.

JOB-SHARING

Job sharing is generally thought of as two or more people who divide the duties of a single job to provide the equivalent of full-time coverage. Flexibility underlies the concept of job sharing, and is gaining steam regionally. To that end, the United Way of St. Croix Valley coordinates a “Family Friendly Workplace” certification program that promotes job-sharing policies, among other family-friendly initiatives. Many businesses have already seized upon this opportunity to set their respective workplaces apart. As with other types of work-life workplace policies, care must be given to certain conceptual aspects of the policy including, but not limited to, whether opportunities are temporary or permanent, and whether there are restrictions on eligibility. Failure to carefully consider these elements of a job-sharing program could make the program [and/or the employer’s implementation of the program] unnecessarily vulnerable to legal challenge based on discrimination [e.g., failure to reasonably accommodate under disability-discrimination laws;

alleged inconsistent application of the policy based on impermissible biases].

TELECOMMUTING

Recent disability-discrimination cases have taught that in connection with many types of jobs, an employee’s physical presence at his or her employer’s worksite—“facetime”—is not really essential to the employee’s ability to successfully perform the duties of the job. Against this backdrop, an increasing number of companies have taken a hard look at whether telecommuting—an employee’s right to perform productive work from a remote location—is possible while continuing to promote optimum productivity. In crafting such a policy, an employer must be mindful of legal distinctions between “exempt” and “non-exempt” employees, as well as guarding against “off-the-clock” work and data security breaches.

RESIST THE “PENGUIN EFFECT”

Economists have a theory called the “Penguin Effect,” which is often cited to illustrate the common phenomenon of general industrial reluctance to adopt emerging, not fully proven technological advances— based on the observed, “herd mentality” behavior of penguins who, although hungry, are reluctant to be the first bird to dive into the sea for fear of becoming lunch. Companies that are genuinely interested in attracting and retaining top-level talent must resist the Penguin Effect, and are encouraged to consider the implementation of one or more work-life workplace policies. In an increasingly tight job market, growthminded businesses can ill afford to be the last to embrace these in-demand workplace advances.

Bryan T. Symes, Ruder Ware, L.L.S.C.

823204 01-30-17

January 30, 2017 ♦ BUSINESS LEADER | 11

COMMUNITY PROFILE

The need for feed Sparta-based Star Blends expands in Chippewa Falls

By Chris Vetter, Leader-Telegram staff CHIPPEWA FALLS

The company describes the plant as a “closed-loop system,” new feed processing company coming to Chippewa which vacuums up any dust. Falls will employ 30 workers, help diversify the local Charlie Walker, Chippewa County Economic Development economy and benefit dairy farmers, area officials Corp. executive director, is excited about the new industry agree. coming to the city. He added that the company is using local Construction recently started on the Star Blends facility, contractors to construct the multi-million-dollar plant. which is expected to cost between $5 million and $7 million. “It’s a great step in our diversification efforts,” Walker The plant is being built at a 10-acre parcel the company said. “And it’s great for our dairy industry.” bought at Highway S and Commerce Parkway in the northeast corner of the city. Paul Hanson, manager with Star Blends, said the concrete Dairy boost foundation went in the ground on Dec. 27, and the steel Jerry Clark, Chippewa County UW-Extension agriculture beams were installed beginning Dec. 29. He said the structure agent, said having another feed company in the area will should quickly come together. only help dairy farmers, who have been struggling with low Star Blends has only one other facility, in Sparta. Hanson milk prices. said that when they looked at expanding, Chippewa Falls “It provides another access point for feed, feed additives was the right fit. and nutrition ingredients,” Clark said. “It can provide “It’s all the dairy cows competition to other up there and all the area feed distributors. agribusiness,” Hanson said. Competition hopefully Tom Lohr is general helps keep the prices manager of the Sparta plant, down.” which was founded in 2002 Clark explained that most and now has 42 employees. area dairy farmers give their Lohr agreed that Chippewa cows a mix of alfalfa, corn Falls was the right place to and corn silage, comprising expand. perhaps 80 to 90 percent of “It has a high population their food intake. The feed of livestock,” Lohr said. “It from a place like Star Blends has good infrastructure to will be protein-heavy, with move feed to all parts of the a mix of minerals and state.” vitamins, often coming from Lohr said the goal is for soybeans and cottonseed. the plant to open in late “It helps with milk September or early October. production,” Clark Chippewa Falls Mayor explained. Greg Hoffman is pleased The company also has The Star Blends plant in Sparta opened in 2002 and now has 42 employees. to see construction is promised to buy locallyContributed photo underway. grown corn, which also will “They are going to put up help area farmers looking a state-of-the-art building for more markets to sell that is an excellent addition to the community,” he said. their crops, he added. Hoffman liked that the company plans to dig a deep Lohr is proud of the feed the company manufactures, hole — 23 feet into the ground — to put the feed processor noting a lot of it is recycled. below ground level, which will keep down noise and dust. “It’s all byproducts of the human food industry,” Lohr 12 | BUSINESS LEADER ♦ January 30, 2017

explained. “We put that into an ideal supplement to feed back to the cattle. They are all custom To recipes that nutritionists Lake Wissota To 53 S formulate.” At a Chippewa County Economic Development committee meeting in July, Star Blends 178 officials said they will be providing feed to dairy farms in a 70-mile radius of Chippewa Falls. The building is expected to be about 28,000 square Lake View Dr feet with room to expand and add another 35,000 square feet. About 40 1st Ave truckloads a day would I Chippewa Falls leave the plant. Staff graphic “They are working with the larger dairies,” Hoffman said. “This is all hauled out in semi-loads — it’s all automated. I’d compare it to operating an ethanol plant, because everything is computerized.”

Star Blends

Commerce Pkwy

are looking to build there. The business park already is home to General Beer Northwest distributors and Chippewa River Industries. “They were looking at several locations,” Walker said of Star Blends. “The fact that the Lake Wissota Business Park is shovelready and has the infrastructure, were factors they chose us.” Because the Star Blends’ plant is farther north than other buildings in the business park, the company is installing its own septic system and well. At some point in the future when the city’s infrastructure extends to that location, Star Blends will be required to hook up to the city’s systems. Hoffman added that Star Blends did not approach the city for any tax increment financing dollars, and the company is paying for the entire project. Hoffman said the company is offering goodpaying jobs and has been good to work with. “I’m impressed with them — they seem like excellent people,” he said. Contact: 715-723-0303, chris.vetter@ecpc.com

STAR BLENDS

» To learn more about the company, visit starblendsllc.com.

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COMMUNITY PROFILE

New attractions Tourism director starts job as Menomonie lodging grows

By Pamela Powers, Leader-Telegram staff MENOMONIE

Growing market

rowing up near Wisconsin Dells, Leah Hauck experienced living in an area known for its tourism Visitors spent $46.7 million in 2015 on lodging, restaurants, attractions. recreation, attractions and tourism expenses in Dunn County, After attending UW-Stout and earning a degree in hotel, according to Wisconsin Department of Tourism statistics. That restaurant and tourism management in 2012, Hauck worked was up slightly from $46.4 million the year before. at the Whistling Swan, a farm-to-table restaurant in Door With two new hotels planned to open this year, including a County, and then as an assistant front desk manager at Hampton Inn in north Menomonie and a Cobblestone Inn on an upscale motel before deciding she wanted to work in Main Street, Hauck believes that will poise the city to attract tourism. more visitors. “I wanted to be in the tourism planning process and “Travelers who might have passed us before on I-94 may be determine what attracts people to a certain destination,” the more inclined to stop 26-year-old said. in Menomonie,” she Hauck returned noted. to UW-Stout and A new hotel on earned her master’s Main Street could degree in technical well drive travelers and professional downtown to communications in experience the Mabel May. Tainter Center for In September she the Arts and visit started working downtown shops, at the Greater Hauck said. Menomonie Hotel stays also Area Chamber of generate a 7.5 percent Commerce as the room tax, she noted, tourism director, which helps fund her replacing interim position and efforts to director Maggie promote the city. Foote. “Ideally the more “I like that my hotel tax we can focus isn’t so narrow collect the more I can on one business or do to run a campaign one hotel,” Hauck and promote said. “I get to work Menomonie in other with all tourism cities,” she said. partners.” Dingwall said Menomonie’s having more hotels chamber seemed like gives visitors options a perfect fit because and more reasons she had gone to to stop and stay in school at UW-Stout Greater Menomonie Chamber of Commerce tourism director Leah Hauck, who started in Menomonie. and knew the area. September, believes Menomonie is a great destination site for its historical buildings such Located one hour’s Michelle Dingwall, as the Mabel Tainter Center for the Arts. drive from the Twin the Menomonie Cities, Menomonie chamber’s CEO, offers a small-town getaway from the big city, Hauck said. said Hauck brings a fresh, new point of view to the tourism With the Red Cedar State Trail the city has biking and skiing director position with her education in hospitality, tourism for visitors. Menomonie also has bike trails within the city, and communications. which helps visitors explore the area. In 2018 a new trail over “The combination gives her a unique perspective to Interstate 94 across a former railroad track is scheduled to open. explore more areas in tourism,” Dingwall said.

14 | BUSINESS LEADER ♦ January 30, 2017

update the last one done in 2015. “I want it to showcase this is who we are and this is what we can offer,” she said. A contest called on local photographers to provide the pictures for the updated publication. Dingwall said this is part of a plan of the chamber to engage the broader community in tourism. “Not just hotels and restaurants benefit from tourism,” she said. “Everyone benefits from tourism.” On Feb. 11 Dunn County and Menomonie will be featured Barn quilts are becoming an attraction throughout Dunn County to encourage on Discover Wisconsin, to help visitors to travel around the county. One such barn quilt is located at The showcase the area throughout Yellow Barn, a special events and performance venue in the town of Hay River. the upper Midwest. Staff photos by Pamela Powers Hauck also wants to use social media more to promote The recent addition of barn the area. quilts on area barns also is attracting tourists to Dunn County. “Destination visitors want to feel like they are part of the “I took some people around to see the barn quilts and they are a community and belong,” she said. “The Twin Cities is a huge big deal now,” county Supervisor Jim Anderson said. “I just think market. We are an easy destination for Twin Cities people to we’ve got to promote rural Dunn County tourism more.” visit. We have a more of a small-town experience if they need a Anderson, who serves on the county’s Community Resources weekend away from the city.” and Tourism Committee, said Hauck has the educational Contact: 715-556-9018, pamela.powers@ecpc.com, background to help promote Dunn County. @MenomonieBureau on Twitter Hauck is working on a new Menomonie destination guide to Live performances by the Menomonie Theater Guild at the Mabel Tainter and UWStout theater program are another plus for the city as a destination. Otter Creek Farm in northern Dunn County hosts dressage and jumping shows that draw people to the area, Hauck said. Other attractions include disc golf courses, snowmobile trails and history sites such as Wilson Place Mansion, the Rassbach Heritage Museum and the Louis Smith Tainter House at UW-Stout. UW-Stout also draws students, conference attendees and alumni back to the community.

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January 30, 2017 ♦ BUSINESS LEADER | 15

CROSSWORD

2 3 4 5 6

7 8 9 10

11 12

13 14

16 17 18 19

22 23

Answers on Page 22

EclipseCrossword.com

Across 2. Curbside organics recycler in EC. 4. Top business travel tip. 6. No. 1 franchise, Entrepreneur.com says. 9. Wisconsin’s top mortgage lender for eight straight years. 12. New CEO for Dodgeville-based Lands’ End. 13. America’s most influential business leader, Forbes says. 14. Emily Anderson’s local graphics business. 16. Menomonie-based electrical contractor. 18. Menomonie’s soon-to-be-crowned small business of year. 19. It has a speculative credit rating of BB or lower. 20. Mondovi photographer. 21. Tony Liedl role at Menomonie chamber. 23. New Mike’s Smokehouse tenant. 26. Metal machining provider in Rice Lake. 27. Demand for additional funds due to adverse price movement. 28. “I find that the harder I work _ _ _ I seem to have.” Thomas Jefferson. 29. Maker of relit, historic sign in Chippewa Falls. 30. Osseo-based design/build company. 16 | BUSINESS LEADER ♦ January September 30, 2017 26, 2016

Down 1. Best-seller on NYT business book list. 3. Local organization for young business leaders. 5. Key service to bridge rural-urban business gap. 7. Gov. Scott Walker’s wager on Cotton Bowl. 8. Company’s name starts with Latin word for truth. 10. Top drink to order with your boss, according to Inc.com. 11. Showtime program about management consultants. 15. Bloomberg’s top two business schools of 2016. 17. Chippewa Falls-based job shop. 22. MSNBC eye-opening television show. 24. Recently sold Presto business segment. 25. “The New Celebrity Apprentice” host.

- Guest Article -

Is Your Website Profitable… or Just An Expense? Article by JC Anderl, Profit Peak Marketing.

Do you want a profitable website? Then don’t hire a “website designer” or “web design company”.

It might seem like common sense, but it’s actually a common mistake. That might sound shocking coming from someone like myself, who creates websites for a living! But the reality is, you don’t need a website. You need more customers, more clients, more patients, or more sales. If you think you need a website, you’ll probably hire a website designer, and you’ll get exactly that - a website. Heck, hire a good designer and pay a lot of money, and you might even get a really great looking website!

SO WHAT’S THE PROBLEM?

The problem is that dropping a big chunk of cash on a really great website does NOT, on its own, generate customers or clients or patients or sales. A website is one part of your digital marketing strategy, but not your ENTIRE digital marketing strategy. To maximize return on investment, you need a comprehensive digital marketing strategy that guides potential customers through the buying process from start to finish.

DIGITAL MARKETING STRATEGY

So now you’ve identified what you need. Where do you start to create this comprehensive strategy? It’s obvious that digital and online marketing has gotten exponentially more complex in the recent years and that trend will only continue. Perhaps you start to do some research on your own and hear people throwing around jargon like “SEO”, “Search Engine Optimization”, “Content Marketing”, “Pay Per Click”, or “Analytics”, and it’s only too easy to get wrapped up in the confusion. It’s also easy to fall into the trap of thinking that hiring a website designer will sufficiently cover your bases. Website design or programming does not mean you have business savvy or digital marketing skills.

HERE’S THE BIG CHALLENGE WITH DIGITAL MARKETING:

Currently there are eight key areas to a successful digital marketing strategy, and all areas overlap and work together in concert.

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January 30, 2017 ♦ BUSINESS LEADER | 17

BOOK REVIEW

B c

Lessons in laughter Lighthearted leadership wisdom can be found in ‘Peanuts’ comics

Title: “You’re a Leader, Charlie Brown.” Authors: Charles Schulz and Carla Curtsinger, foreword by Brian Tracy. Pages: 148. Publisher: SimpleTruths (c.2016).

By Terri Schlichenmeyer The Bookworm

18 | BUSINESS LEADER ♦ January 30, 2017

pretty darn fluffy and filled with cartoons. And yet, there’s no doubt that new MBAs will get a kick out of this warm-fuzzy reminder of the get-ahead ideas we all learned early on. CEOs will find good, useful advice wrapped in happy childhood memories and lightheartedness. And so, because you know that a little levity is what you need at this time of year, read “You’re a Leader, Charlie Brown.” You may never work for Peanuts again. The Bookworm is Terri Schlichenmeyer. Terri has been reading since she was 3 years old and never goes anywhere without a book. She lives on a hill in Wisconsin with two dogs and 12,000 books. 39th Annual

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Sometimes, you just have to laugh. That’s how it is with business: You have to laugh because if you didn’t, you’d cry. It’s been that way for the past few years: up and down, good and bad, and there’s always room for improvement. So why not find that help and laugh a little more by reading “You’re a Leader, Charlie Brown” by Charles Schulz and Carla Curtsinger. For most, if not all, of your life, you’ve chuckled at the antics of the Peanuts gang: the perseverance of Charlie Brown, the assertiveness of Lucy, the Zen of Linus. You’ve grown up with the comic strip — but did you ever think about the lessons you learned from it? Take Charlie Brown, for instance. He’s had a lot of failures with footballs, Halloween, a Little Red-Haired Girl, baseball and other issues of life. He might have gotten a bit discouraged now and then, but he always showed courage and tenacity with his goals, and he was willing to try again. There’s no doubt that Lucy was in-your-face, but she got everyone’s attention. That’s not to say you should be bossy, too, but assertiveness is a good thing, as is confidence and a willingness to speak up when you have something to say. The one bit of advice that Lucy might give: remember, it’s “not about you.” It might seem like Linus spends all his time in the pumpkin patch, but there are lessons there too. Practice good listening skills and show that you’re paying attention to what’s being said. Focus; ask good, pertinent questions; and then be silent. Use the 80/20 rule: Listen 80 percent of the time and speak just 20 percent of any conversation. Like Sweet Sally, being nice is important, as is the ability to be present when people are speaking. From Schroeder and his idol, Beethoven: practice, practice, practice. From Pig-Pen, learn to include everyone. Peppermint Patty would advise teamwork and to “own your personal style.” And Snoopy might argue that adaptability is essential: really, it’s not easy to sleep on top of a doghouse every night. Huh. I guess I never thought of a comic strip as motivational, but when you think about it … well, maybe “You’re a Leader, Charlie Brown” makes sense. Then again, there’s a lot of cutesy in this book. The late cartoonist Schulz was, after all, entertaining people, not advising them on business, even though there are parallels that have been sitting in plain sight for decades. Still, there’s no mistaking the fact that this book is soft,

GUEST COLUMN

Before leaving the working world, check off your retirement to-do list By Andrew Cooper Edward Jones Investments

At this time of year, your life is probably more hectic than usual — so you may have assembled an impressive to-do list. This can be a helpful tool for organizing your activities in the near future — but have you ever thought of developing a to-do list for long-term goals, such as a comfortable retirement? If not, you may want to think about it. Here are a few listworthy items to consider: • Examine — and re-examine — your planned retirement age. You may have long counted on retiring at a certain age, but are you sure that this goal is the best one for your overall financial situation? Think about it: If you like your job, and you stayed at it for just a few more years, you could significantly boost the funds in your 401(k) or other retirement plan. And you might even be able to delay taking Social Security, which would then result in larger monthly payments. • Put a price tag on your retirement lifestyle. When you retire, do you want to travel the world or stay at home pursuing your hobbies? Will you truly retire from all types of work, or will you do some consulting or take up parttime employment? Once you know what your retirement lifestyle might look like, you can better estimate your costs and expenses. This knowledge will help you determine how much you need to withdraw each year from your various retirement accounts, such as your IRA, 401(k) or other employer-based plan. • Be aware of retirement plan withdrawal rules. It isn’t enough just to recognize how much you need to withdraw from your retirement plans — you also must know how much you must withdraw. Once you turn 70½, you generally have to start taking money out of your traditional IRA and 401(k). These required minimum distributions (RMDs) are based on your account balance, age and other factors, but the key word to remember is “required.” If you don’t withdraw the full amount of the RMD by the applicable deadline, the amount not withdrawn can be taxed at a 50 percent rate. • Review your health care situation. When you turn 65 you will likely be eligible for Medicare, but you’ll want to become familiar with what it does and doesn’t cover, so you can establish an annual health care budget. And if you are planning to retire early, which might mean losing your employer-sponsored health insurance, you will need to be prepared for potentially large out-of-pocket costs.

Andrew Cooper is a financial adviser with Edward Jones Investments in Eau Claire. He can be reached at 715-833-3986 or andy.cooper@edwardjones.com.

• Think about long-term care. One service that Medicare doesn’t cover — or, at best, covers only minimally — is long-term care. If you faced an extended stay in a nursing home, the costs could be catastrophic. A financial professional may be able to help you find a way to reduce this risk. • Develop your estate plans. Estate planning can be complex, involving many different documents — such as a will, a living trust, power of attorney, etc. — so you’ll want to work with a legal professional to ensure you’re making the right choices for yourself and your family. By checking off these items, one by one, your retirement todo list will eventually get done. And when that happens, you may find yourself pretty well prepared to enjoy life as a retiree.

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January 30, 2017 ♦ BUSINESS LEADER | 19

February - March

CALENDAR

Feb 6: “Growing a Business Faster: Success Tips!” a panel discussion on hiring local business consultants or strategists, 4:30-8 p.m., Hangar 54 restaurant, Chippewa Valley Regional Airport, 3800 Starr Ave. Cost: $15, includes refreshments. RSVP: 715-723-7150, info@chippewa-wi.com. Feb 8: “The Right Mix: Diversity + Inclusion at Work,” UW-Eau Claire management professors host workshop on topics ranging from recruiting, dress codes, affirmative action and other diversity in the workplace issues, 7:30-9 a.m., Ojibwe Ballroom, Davies Center, UW-EC campus. Cost: Free, includes coffee, refreshments. Register by Feb. 1 at tinyurl.com/zt9dkl9. Feb. 8: “Microsoft Excel Intermediate” class on medium-level skills for using the popular spreadsheet software, 8 a.m.-noon, Room 103, CVTC Chippewa Falls Campus, 770 Scheidler Road, Chippewa Falls. Cost: $89. Info: cvtc.edu. Feb 15: “Top 10 Social Media Trends,” local social media expert Shelly Cedarblade leads this small business training session, noon-1 p.m., Western Dairyland Community Action Agency, 418 Wisconsin St. Cost: $15, lunch included. Register: SuccessfulBusiness.org, 715-836-7511, ext. 1171. Feb. 22: “Microsoft Excel Advanced” class that teaches some of the higherend functions of the spreadsheet software, 8 a.m.-noon, Room 222, CVTC Business Education Center, 620 W. Clairemont Ave. Cost: $89. Info: cvtc.edu. Feb. 23: Ron Wirtz, director of regional outreach for the Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis, will give a presentation on the status of the regional economy followed by small-group discussion with Menomonie businesses, 8-10 a.m., Off Broadway Banquet Center, 1501 N. Broadway St., Menomonie. Cost: Free. Register: menomoniechamber.org/pages/federal-reserve. Feb. 23: Eau Claire Area Chamber of Commerce 2017 Sales Conference, 8 a.m.-1:30 p.m., The Florian Gardens, 2340 Lorch Ave. Cost: $69 chamber members, $99 for nonmembers. Register by Feb. 20 at EauClaireChamber.org or call 715-834-1204.

March 2: Chippewa Valley Technical College’s Manufacturing Show featuring hands-on demonstrations, 3 p.m., CVTC Gateway Campus, 2320 Alpine Road. March 2 & 3: “Supervisory Management: Learning to Lead” two-day course in the Supervisory Management Certificate Program offered through UWEau Claire Continuing Education, 8:30 a.m.-4 p.m., Citizens State Bank, 375 Stageline Road, Hudson. Same class will be taught in Eau Claire on March 16 & 17 at Holiday Inn South, 4751 Owen Ayres Court. Cost: $600, includes meals, course materials. Register: tinyurl.com/zh9sve2, 715-836-3636. March 7 & 14: “Microsoft Excel Basic” introductory class to using the spreadsheet software commonly used in workplaces, 6-9 p.m., Room 222, CVTC Business Education Center, 620 W. Clairemont Ave. Cost: $119. Info: cvtc.edu. March 10: “Consider Youth Apprenticeship” informational meeting on the state program that lets businesses provide credit and work experience to high school juniors and seniors, 9-10:30 a.m., Chippewa Falls Area Chamber of Commerce, 1 N. Bridge St. RSVP: 715-723-0331, kelly@chippewachamber.org. March 28-31: “Leadership Academy Phase I: Spring 2017” four-day workshop for executives, managers, supervisors and personnel leaders, Price Commons, UW-Stout, 1110 S. Broadway St., Menomonie. Cost: $975 by March 10, $1,175 after. Register: www.uwstout.edu/profed/leadership.cfm. March 30: Tourism roundtable sponsored by Western Dairyland Business Center, noon-1 p.m., Visit Eau Claire, 4319 Jeffers Road. Cost: $15, lunch included. Register: SuccessfulBusiness.org, 715-836-7511, ext. 1171. March 30 & 31: “Supervisory Management: Leading Intentional Customer Service” two-day course in the Supervisory Management Certificate Program offered through UW-Eau Claire Continuing Education, 8:30 a.m.-4 p.m., Holiday Inn South, 4751 Owen Ayres Court. Cost: $600. Register: tinyurl. com/ze23mn5, 715-836-3636.

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Wisconsin ended 2016 with its lowest seasonally adjusted unemployment rate since January 2001, according to the state Department of Workforce Development.

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January 30, 2017 ♦ BUSINESS LEADER | 21

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RIVER PRAIRIE

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January 30, 2017 â&#x2122;¦ BUSINESS LEADER | 23

Now that your business is growing, you could use a little advice. Or perhaps a lot of advice. When that happens it’s nice to know you’ve got someone in your corner to give you sound counsel on your next move. From financing to real estate, you know your business can do more. We’ve been advising growing businesses just like yours on taking that next step since 1920. Contact us today and we’ll help you get there.

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