08.2015 \\ PORTAGE COUNTY, WISCONSIN
Ag Tour 2015 is set for Tuesday, September 15th
upcoming EVENTS \\
from 11:45am to 4:30pm. Planned by the Agri-Business Committee of the Portage County Business Council, you and your business associates are invited to attend. The event includes 3 tour stops, bus transportation, a picnic lunch, guest speaker, socializing, and education.
SMALL BUSINESS X-CHANGE Wednesday, August 12, 2015 \\ 7:30 - 8:30 A.M. Portage County Business Council | Foundation Room 5501 Vern Holmes Dr | Stevens Point, WI 54482
» REGISTER
BUSINESS AFTER HOURS Monday, August 17, 2015 \\ 5:00 P.M. - 7:00 P.M. Thrivent Financial 3233B Business Park Drive | Stevens Point, WI 54482
» REGISTER
NEW BUSINESS TAX SEMINAR Tuesday, August 18, 2015 \\ 8:00 A.M. -11:00 A.M. Portage County Business Council | Foundation Room 5501 Vern Holmes Dr | Stevens Point, WI 54482
» REGISTER
The theme for this year’s event is “You Say Potato…”. The event begins with a picnic lunch featuring grilled hamburgers, brats, potato salad, calico beans, chips, dessert, and more. During lunch we will hear from Guest Speaker – Dick Okray, President of Okray Family Farms. Dick’s presentation is entitled “History of Potato Farming in Portage County”. After lunch, we will head to Hamerski Farms, Plover, WI, where owner Don Hamerski will lead the group. The farm raises 1,000 acres of potatoes for the fresh market, along with 1,300 acres of sweet corn, snap beans and field corn. Don readily embraces change, and is constantly looking to improve his farming operation with the latest, state-of-the-art technology and equipment. His irrigation systems are all operated remotely with control panels at the farm’s headquarters. His packaging shed utilizes a Lectro-Tek automatic sizer and an x-ray machine for hollow heart detection. Hamerski Farms was the first farm in the Midwest to use the Fuji Ace robotic palletizer, which can handle as much as 20 bags per minute and can lift up to 400 pounds. They also became the first potato farm in the US to use an electronic grader for russet potatoes, and the farm added the country’s first ozone generator with a water injection system. Attendees at our Ag Tour event will see this high-speed, technologically advanced robot, the many automated advancements to the farm including balers, baggers, graders, sizers, and view their process of potatoes from trucking, to packaging, and to the end result of shipping to the store. Another part of the event will be touring Great Northern Distilling. Great Northern Distilling is central Wisconsin’s first and only craft distillery making spirits from raw ingredients sourced from within 150 miles of their location in Plover. The tour will feature all aspects of production including recipes, mash cooking, fermentation, distilling, barrel aging and bottling. Products include their Potato Vodka, Herbalist Gin, Vanguard Whiskey and Opportunity Rum. Attendees will have the opportunity to take a seat at their mixology bar after the tour to enjoy one of their signature craft cocktails (NA is also available). Additional tour details to come. Registration is now open. Register soon as space is limited. Casual attire please! Cost is only $21 person. Click here to register and for further details about the event. For questions contact Karen Schanock at 715-344-1940 or kschanoc@portagecountybiz.com.
Tuesday, September 15, 2015 Agenda 11:45 am: Bus pickup at Great Northern Distilling, 1740 Park Avenue, Plover (PLEASE NOTE THAT ALL VEHICLES MUST PARK AT GREAT NORTHERN DISTILLING) 12:00 pm: 1:15 pm: 2:15 pm: 3:15 pm: 4:30 pm:
Picnic lunch and guest speaker at WPS Corporation Arrive at Hamerski Farms Arrive at TBA Arrive at Great Northern Distilling Event ends
Special thanks to our Presenting Sponsors: Guest Speaker - Dick Okray President, Okray Family Farms
2015 JOB FAIR PROVIDES OPPORTUNITIES FOR JOB SEEKERS On Wednesday, July 9, nearly 220 job seekers filed into the Noel Hangar, resumes in hand, intent on talking with one or more businesses about the job opportunities they had available. 54 businesses participated with hopes of filling over 230 jobs currently available. Space was available for job seekers to sit and complete applications as well as review the list of full and part-time jobs available and map out businesses they planned to talk with. New this year were tables available for businesses to conduct interviews on-site. A new service added this year was having Tim Solinger, Owner, Great Impressions Resume & Career Services, LLC on site to meet, one-on-one, with individuals to review their resume and offer suggestions / tips on enhancing the content. Feedback from exhibitors is still being collected and will be ready to share in the coming weeks. Many thanks to our sponsors, speakers, and participating businesses that added to the success of the 2015 Job Fair. Good luck to all the job seekers that attended the event. Thank you to Karen Schanock, PCBC Director of Program & Events, and the following Ambassadors who assisted with set-up, parking, and registration: • Juany Heck, Advanced Neck & Back Care Center • Richard Blue, FirstMerit Bank • Sarah Agena, Flexible Fitness Solutions • Chris Fish, Graphic House Inc. • Dave Acaley, NRG Media • Amber Haferman, Wellington Place of Whiting • Dan Blumenstein, Younger Enterprise Systems, LLC
THANK YOU TO THE FOLLOWING BUISNESS PARTNERS FOR THEIR INVOLVEMENT AND SUPPORT!
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THE ACTIVE VOICE \\ PORTAGE COUNTY BUSINESS COUNCIL NEWSLETTER
Committee Hosts Legislative Breakfast
The Legislative Committee of the Portage County Business Council hosted its’ inaugural Legislative Breakfast on Friday, July 17 at the Holiday Inn Hotel & Convention Center. 52 business leaders and community members attended the two-hour event featuring the following local, state, and national officials or their representatives: • Senator Julie Lassa • Representative Katrina Shankland • Representative Nancy VanderMeer • Amy Sue Vruwink for Congressman Kind • Asst. Deputy Secretary David Anderson, Department of Workforce Development • Mary Ann Lippert, Department of Administration-Intergovernmental Affairs Invited, but unable to attend were Representative Scott Krug and Camille Solberg for U.S. Senator Ron Kind. Officials engaged in conversation with attendees over breakfast, discussing topics and issues that were important to them and / or their businesses. Individually, each official addressed the entire group for approximately 10 minutes on topics ranging from the current budget, workforce issues, healthcare, and more. Rob Manzke, Chief of Staff of the Office of the Chancellor at the University of Wisconsin – Stevens Point and Legislative Committee member, served as moderator for this portion of the event. The event was well received with future sessions similar to this one to be discussed at an upcoming Legislative Committee meeting. For questions about the Legislative Committee, please contact Mary Jo at the Portage County Business Council at 715-344-1940 or email to mmonday@portagecountybiz.com.
Deb Marten, Marten Machining, Rob Manzke, UWSP, Representative Nancy Vandermeer, MaryAnn Lippert, Department of Administration, David Anderson, Department of Workforce Development
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Legislative Breakfast 2015
THE ACTIVE VOICE \\ PORTAGE COUNTY BUSINESS COUNCIL NEWSLETTER
Mayor Wiza, Andrew Halverson, Ellis Construction, Paul Adamski, Pineries Bank, Rachel Gadbois, Pineries Bank
member of the MONTH \\
Each month the Active Voice features a PCBC “Member of the Month” selected from a list of members that begins with the same letter of the alphabet.
THE STEVENS POINT BREWERY 2617 Water Street Stevens Point, WI 54481 (715) 344-8897 http://www.pointbeer.com
What’s New? Stevens Point Brewery’s extensive collection of beer medals grew again at the annual U.S. Open Beer Championship held in Oxford, OH on July 4th. The annual competition’s expert judges awarded the craft brewer a Gold medal for Whole Hog Espresso Stout, Silver medals for Point Special Lager and JP’s Casper White Stout, and four Bronze medals for Ciderboys First Press, Ciderboys Grand Mimosa, JP’s Chai Tea Porter and local favorite, Point Premium Root Beer. The Stevens Point Brewery has been a member of the Portage County Business Council since 1976. A helpful piece of advice we received is to always be open to change and not be afraid of taking risks. The Stevens Point Brewery has learned to adjust to the changing beer market and developed several different styles of beers to appeal to the ever-changing palates of craft beer drinkers. Sales of Ciderboys Hard Cider continue to grow since its introduction in 2012. The reason the Stevens Point Brewery stands apart from their competition is the high quality, great tasting beers and ciders that are produced everyday on Water Street, Stevens Point. With six expansions in six years and an investment of $6.5M – the Stevens Point Brewery continues to improve our equipment and prepare for growth. Social media plays a huge role when marketing a fun product like Point Beer or Ciderboys. It’s a way we can hear directly from our consumer – where they would like to purchase our products and their opinions/ideas. It is also an opportunity to get new product information in front of our fans. A few years ago we attended a seminar brought to the Stevens Point area by the PCBC on exporting. I’m happy to say we currently export our products to the UK and Italy. In three words the PCBC has been: Dependable, Informative, and Innovative.
WELCOME TO OUR NEWEST MEMBER
Staples Inc. David Mueller 1250 Commons Circle Plover, WI 54467 715-344-5354
What are the benefits of membership? • • • • • •
Your business representatives are invited to educational and networking events List your own business’s events, jobs, and deals on portagecounty biz.com Receive referrals from other PCBC members Become a special event sponsor to promote your business Display your marketing materials in the PCBC lobby and on the PCBC website Participate in your local community
DO YOU KNOW A LOCAL BUSINESS THAT WOULD BENEFIT FROM MEMBERSHIP? CONTACT Mary Jo Monday 715-344-1940 \\ mmonday@portagecountybiz.com \\
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THE ACTIVE VOICE \\ PORTAGE COUNTY BUSINESS COUNCIL NEWSLETTER
business BRIEFS \\ The Business Briefs column is an avenue to spotlight noteworthy business and professional accomplishments, recognition and awards among our Business Council members. Submit items of interest, in 100 words or less, to: admin@portagecountybiz.com by the 24th of the month prior to the next newsletter issue.
Michael Smith, a Private Wealth Advisor with Michael Smith & Associates, a private wealth advisory practice of Ameriprise Financial Services, Inc. at 3241A Business Park Dr., Stevens Point, was named to the list of FT 400 US Financial Advisors 2015 published by the Financial Times. The annual list recognizes elite financial advisors who represent some of the highest levels of success in the industry. As a Private Wealth Advisor, Smith provides customized financial advice that is anchored in a solid understanding of client needs and expectations, and provided in a one-on-one relationship with his clients. Visit his website at: michaelsmithadvisor.com.
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Coldwell Banker The Real Estate Group is pleased to announce their Stevens Point office’s May 2015 Chairman’s Circle list: Todd Reilly, Tiffany Broecker, Betty Garski, Robin Novak-Nelson, Bob Plucker, Laura Trzebiatowski, Nicole Paye, Pete Meinholz Point Realty Group, Team Northwood. Coldwell Banker The Real Estate Group is the number one real estate company in northeast Wisconsin and has 18 offices with over 450 sales professionals. Locally, the Stevens Point office is located at 5725 Windy Dr., Suite E in Stevens Point. They can be reached at 715-295-5005. More information on The Real Estate Group can be found at www.ColdwellHomes.com.
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Daubert Law Firm LLC is pleased to annouce Attorney Michael A. Stueland has been selected to the 2014 (and 2013) Wisconsin Rising Stars list. Each year, no more than 2.5 percent of the lawyers in the state are selected by the research team at Super Lawyers to receive this honor. The Super Lawyers lists are published nationwide in Super Lawyers Magazines and in leading city and regional magazines and newspapers across the country. Super Lawyers Magazines also feature editorial profiles of attorneys who embody excellence in the practice of law. For more information about Super Lawyers, visit Super Lawyers.com. Offices in Wausau and Stratford Telephone 715.845.1805 or 715.687.2400 http://www.daublaw.com /// Attorney Michael A. Stueland of Daubert Law Firm LLC attended the 2015 Spring collection conference for the National Association of Retail Collection Attorneys in Nashville, TN. The National Association of Retail Collection Attorneys (NARCA) is a trade association dedicated to serving law firms representing clients in matters relating to legal debt collection. NARCA’s values are: Professional, Ethical, Responsible.
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Jason Krautkramer has joined Daubert Law Firm LLC. Attorney Krautkramer will focus his practice on business law, real estate, tax, probate, and trust administration. He is licensed to practice law in Wisconsin. He double majored as an undergraduate and has a B.B.A. in Accounting and Finance, Investment and Banking from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. He also has a Master of Accountancy with an emphasis in Taxation from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. He is originally from Marathon, Wisconsin, and recently moved back to the Wausau area after graduating from the University of Wisconsin Law School.
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THE ACTIVE VOICE \\ PORTAGE COUNTY BUSINESS COUNCIL NEWSLETTER
The Samuels Group Welcomes Greg Melander.
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Four employees at Investors Community Bank celebrated milestone employment anniversaries in the second quarter of 2015: Christine Schnell, Deposit QC Specialist (Manitowoc), 15 years; Becky Cookle, Customer Service Associate II (Manitowoc), 5 years; Terry Schott, Regional Market President (Stevens Point), 5 years; and Jessica Zurcher, Crop Insurance Administrative Assistant (Manitowoc), 5 years. Investors Community Bank is a wholly-owned subsidiary of County Bancorp Inc. and is committed to offering customized financial solutions to Wisconsin’s agriculture sector, agri-business and closely-held businesses. Founded in 1997, Investors has become one of the most successful bank startups in Wisconsin’s history. County Bancorp Inc.’s common stock is traded on the NASDAQ market under the symbol ICBK. For further details, visit www.investorscommunitybank.com.
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Peoples State Bank announces Jaime Weyneth as the new Vice President of Loan Operations. In this role Weyneth will oversee the operations of the mortgage processing, consumer processing, commercial loan booking, and loan servicing functions. Weyneth has 18 years of collective banking experience working as a credit analyst, loan processor, and most recently as a mortgage lender. During her tenure as a mortgage lender, Peoples has consistently ranked as one of the top mortgage originators in the markets it serves. Weyneth will work out of the 1905 Stewart Avenue location in Wausau.
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Jonathan Grubb, Stevens Point, recently joined CAP Services as Deputy Chief Financial Officer, working at CAP’s administrative headquarters on Hwy 10 E in Stevens Point. In the newly created role, Grubb supports CAP CFO Susan Henry in the management of the organization’s financial functions. His responsibilities include overseeing CAP’s loan portfolio, compliance and procurement procedures, and the 401K audit. “We’re excited to have Jonathan join the team here at CAP in this new position,” said Henry. Grubb comes to CAP with nearly 10 years of accounting and finance experience. His previous work includes positions at Sentry Insurance in Stevens Point; Poppe & Potthoff, GmbH U.S. subsidiaries in Wood Dale, Ill.; and Jonlyn & Associates, Inc. in West Chicago, Ill. “CAP does so much for the community,” said Grubb. “It’s great to be a part of the team that makes it all possible.” Grubb has an undergraduate degree from North Central College and an MBA from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. He is licensed as a Certified Public Accountant in Wisconsin and Illinois, and an IRS Enrolled Agent. CAP Services is a private, nonprofit community action agency that has been helping low-income people in Marquette, Outagamie, Portage, Waupaca and Waushara counties attain economic and emotional selfsufficiency since 1966. For more information about CAP’s work, visit capservices.org. continue page 6
business BRIEFS \\ continued KELLER, Inc., Planners, Architects, Builders, a Design/Build General Contractor with offices in Wausau, Milwaukee, Madison and the Fox Cities, will design and build a 7,195 square foot addition for Sunny Day Child Care & Preschool under the direction of Keller Project Manager, Vern Nystrom, and Keller Architect, Rob Lindstrom. Located at 1932 Godfrey Drive in Waupaca, construction has begun and is expected to be completed in November, 2015. KELLER,Inc., will design and build a 6,280 square foot bus storage and maintenance facility for Lamers Bus Lines under the direction of Keller Project Manager, Mark Nysted, and Architect, Steve Klessig. Keller has built over 30 projects for Lamers Bus Lines over the past 29 years. Owners, Allen and Kevin Lamers, are building the bus storage and maintenance facility to better serve the Mosinee School District. To be located on the corner of Highway 151 and Bobcat Drive in Mosinee, construction will begin in July and is expected to be completed in October, 2015. For more information on Keller, Inc., Top Metal Builder in the Nation as reported by “Metal Construction News� visit www.kellerbuilds.com.
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THE ACTIVE VOICE \\ PORTAGE COUNTY BUSINESS COUNCIL NEWSLETTER
BUSINESS AFTER HOURS 08.17.15 \\ 5:00 P.M. - 7:00 P.M.
» CLICK HERE TO REGISTER ONLINE » CLICK HERE FOR A MAP Held at: Thrivent Financial 3233B Business Park Drive Stevens Point, WI 54482
HOSTED BY:
(located in the Portage County Business Park) Enjoy complimentary hors d’oeuvres, refreshments, outdoor activities, music on the veranda, and door prize giveaways.
RSVP by Friday, August 14, 2015 No Cost to Attend A social event designed for and hosted by Business Council members to give business professionals an opportunity to network, share ideas, and have their facility seen by other members. The member host furnishes refreshments and hors d’oeuvres for the evening. A different Business Council member hosts Business After Hours every month. Members are welcome to co-host the event with another Business Council member. Members should call Karen Schanock at 715-344-1940 or email at: kschanoc@portagecountybiz.com to book the month they are interested in.
FREE BUSINESS TAX SEMINAR ON AUGUST 18th IN STEVENS POINT Hosted by Wisconsin Department of Revenue and the Portage County Business Council. The Portage County Business Council and the Wisconsin Department of Revenue are hosting a FREE Business Tax Seminar for new or existing businesses on Tuesday, August 18. New businesses will get a better understanding of basic tax regulations, while established organizations can make sure they have up-to-date information. Tuesday, August 18 8:00 – 11:00 a.m. Portage County Business Council Foundation Room 5501 Vern Holmes Drive – Stevens Point At the Business Tax Seminar, tax specialists will present on key topics including: • Business tax registration • Electronic filing with the My Tax Account online program • Withholding tax • Sales and use tax • Business tax incentives • Helpful resources available through the Department This event is free, but you must pre-register. Click HERE to register now or email: admin@portagecountybiz.com.
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THE ACTIVE VOICE \\ PORTAGE COUNTY BUSINESS COUNCIL NEWSLETTER
SMALL BUSINESS X-CHANGE 08.12.15 \\ 7:30 A.M. - 8:30 A.M. \\ PCBC FOUNDATION ROOM
» CLICK HERE TO REGISTER
NO COST TO ATTEND. CONTINENTAL BREAKFAST IS INCLUDED.
ABOUT OUR SPEAKERS:
7:30 A.M. - 8:30 A.M. in the Portage County Business Council Foundation Room
Tonia Simmons received her Bachelor’s degree from the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point with a major in Business Administration and a minor in Human Resource Management. Tonia facilitates the Caregiver Coalition in Portage County and has experience working directly with caregivers to help identify financial and emotional resources available.
Small Business X-Change meets regularly throughout the year at the Portage County Business Council office. A roundtable series of meetings that allows business owners and their employees the opportunity to discuss pertinent topics, learn from local industry leaders and, most importantly, learn from each other.
TOPIC: “Educational Resources to Help Employers Support Working Caregivers” Because a large percentage of family caregivers also work, it is important for employers to be aware of caregiving issues. Caregiving has a cost for both the employees and the employers. Employees caring for aging loved ones take time off for many different reasons, some positions then require a substitute while others leave work undone. Either way, the employer is paying for unproductive time. That cost can be minimized by fostering workplace environments that are supportive of the needs of working caregivers. This X-Change will look at the cost of caregiving and introduces participants to several cases that are typical of the struggles faced by working caregivers. It shares information regarding several tools developed by UW Cooperative Extension to help employers as well as aging network professionals and educators that work with employers. Key Points at this X-Change: 1. Identify the impacts of caregiving on both employees and employers. 2. Provide examples of the kind of caregiving situations typically experienced by employees who struggle to simultaneously balance work and elder care. 3. Access resources that will enable employers to foster a workplace environment that is more supportive of working caregivers.
Cindy Piotrowski received her Bachelor’s degree from the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point with a double major in Communication and Psychology. Prior to working with ADRC Cindy was the Executive Director at the Epilepsy Foundation of Central and Northeast Wisconsin for eight years. Other career highlights include working as the Director of Operations for St. Vincent DePaul in Plover, WI and the Communication Manager for CAP Services in Stevens Point.
Special THANK YOU to the Aging & Disability Resource Center of Portage County for their sponsorship of this program.
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THE ACTIVE VOICE \\ PORTAGE COUNTY BUSINESS COUNCIL NEWSLETTER
Tonia Simmons, Caregiver Support Services Director
Cindy Piotrowski, Aging and Disability Resource Center Director
AMBASSADORS SHOW THEIR SUPPORT On July 14, 2015 Ki Mobility broke ground for its new global headquarters. The wheelchair manufacturer’s new 75,000 square-foot facility will be located at 5201 Woodward Drive, Stevens Point. Construction by Ellis Construction is expected to be completed in the spring of 2016. Members of our Ambassadors Club attended the ceremony to celebrate the beginning of construction.
SARAH AGENA HONORED AS AMBASSADOR OF THE 2ND QUARTER
On a quarterly basis, the Ambassadors Club takes the opportunity to recognize one of its members for outstanding commitment. This commitment is measured by their participation in meetings, events, grand openings and ribbon cutting ceremonies during a three-month timeframe. During the second quarter of 2015, Sarah Agena was named the Ambassador of the Quarter. Sarah is the owner of Flexible Nutrition Solutions, located at 5501 EM Copps Drive in Stevens Point. She has been an Ambassador since July, 2010. Congratulations Sarah on your recent achievement. The Business Council Board of Directors, Ambassadors Club, and staff appreciate your efforts.
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THE ACTIVE VOICE \\ PORTAGE COUNTY BUSINESS COUNCIL NEWSLETTER
WOMEN IN BUSINESS 09.24.15 \\ 11:15 A.M. - 1:00 P.M. \\ PRESENTED BY WISCONSIN PUBLIC SERVICE CORPORATION
» CLICK HERE TO REGISTER ***When registering online, please indicate first name and salad choice in comments section*** » CLICK HERE FOR A MAP Thursday, September 24, 2015 Presented by Wisconsin Public Service Corporation Cost: $25.00 / Members $30.00 / Prospective Members
11:15 A.M. to 1:00 P.M. Stevens Point Country Club (Club House) 1628 Country Club Drive, Stevens Point
Timeframe of Event: 11:15AM Registration and Networking 11:30AM Welcome 11:45AM Lunch* (consisting of your choice of salad: Caesar Salad with Chicken or Asian Salad with Shrimp, Ice-water, and delicious assorted bars for dessert) 12:10PM Master of Ceremonies-Radio Personality Stacy Cole from 95.5 WIFC 12:15PM Guest Speaker- Kelly Greig, Edward Jones 12:50PM Door Prize Giveaways 1:00PM Closing *Gluten free options available upon request
Title of Presentation: “The Power of Positive Influence”
About Our Program: Every day, we are surrounded by people, places, and things that carry negativity and pessimism. Sometimes, it feels as if we can't surpass them. This is normal! We all know how this feels. The question is...Why are some people able to rise above? Why do some people always seem to finish on top? Why do things always seem to work out for some people? There is one thing these people have in common...and it is something each of us have the power to control in our own lives. It is The Power of Positive Influence. All Women in Business Events are sponsored in part by Media SponsorMidwest Communications
Guest Speaker: Kelly Greig, Financial Advisor with Edward Jones
About Our Speaker: Kelly Greig runs a successful business as a Financial Advisor with Edward Jones. She focuses on helping clients meet their financial goals through communication and education. She received her BA from Cal State San Bernardino and received her MBA in Marketing from UW Whitewater. Helping those around her is a critical component in Kelly's daily life. She is currently serving her second year as the President for the Antigo Rotary Club. She is also actively involved in horse rescue through grant writing, donations, and equine foster care. Kelly is also a proud mother of 3 amazing children, ages 13, 10, and 3. Having an autistic son has taught her how to be the best mother she can be, and has shown her what life is really all about. Having gone through 2 divorces, and raising her children alone has forced her to become strong and resilient. Through her successes and her failures, Kelly has remained hopeful that others around her will realize that they, too, can overcome. She is passionate about being a positive influence to all those she comes in contact with every day of her life.
For questions contact : Karen Schanock 715/344-1940 kschanoc@portagecountybiz.com
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SAVE THE DATE… Thursday, December 10th event will be sponsored by Berkshire Hathaway Travel Protection and will be held at the Holiday Inn Hotel & Convention Center, 1001 Amber Avenue, Stevens Point.
THE ACTIVE VOICE \\ PORTAGE COUNTY BUSINESS COUNCIL NEWSLETTER
Back to Business
Disaster Preparedness For Your Organization
Natural disasters and manmade catastrophes can bring day to day activities to a screeching halt. According to the Federal Emergency Management Agency, 40% of businesses impacted by a disaster never reopen. This workshop will help small-medium sized businesses, non-profit organizations and government offices to think about business continuity and disaster preparedness plans. This workshop will provide simple tools to make your business ready and resilient in the face of disaster. This workshop is FREE and open to businesses, non-profit organizations and government entities in Portage County. A complimentary lunch will be provided to all attendees.
Thursday, September 17, 2015 9:00 am—2:30 pm Holiday Inn Convention Center 1001 Amber Avenue Stevens Point, WI 54482
To register for this complimentary workshop, Please email: WEMPPP@wisconsin.gov
If you have any questions about the event, send an email to: Jennifer Laack
And include the following information: Attendee name(s)
WEMPPP@wisconsin.gov
Organization name Contact Phone Number Contact E-mail
This workshop is hosted by Portage County Emergency Management and Wisconsin Emergency Management with support from the Department of Homeland Security.
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THE ACTIVE VOICE \\ PORTAGE COUNTY BUSINESS COUNCIL NEWSLETTER
(608) 242-3238
Plan to attend 14th Annual Wines of the World Event \\ October 30, 2015 \\ 6:00pm-9:00pm
The Portage County Business Council is excited to host the 14th Annual Wines of the World event scheduled for Friday, October 30, 2015. Join us that evening from 6:00PM – 9:00PM at the Holiday Inn Hotel & Convention Center, 1001 Amber Avenue, Stevens Point for an international journey as we sample a selection of wines from around the world featured by The Bottle Stop. A taste-tempting array of fine cuisine prepared by the Holiday Inn Hotel & Convention Center and Rockman’s Catering, a silent auction, specialty beers, and soft live jazz music will make the evening complete. This event will provide an opportunity for guests to network, socialize, and have fun learning about wine. The Business Council extends an invitation to an event like no other. Click HERE to register online.
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THE ACTIVE VOICE \\ PORTAGE COUNTY BUSINESS COUNCIL NEWSLETTER
An opportunity is also available for your organization to participate in various sponsorship levels (Members must be in good standing with their membership dues to participate), with attractive benefits at each. Here’s how it works: Bordeaux Table Sponsorship- $800
Corkscrew Exclusive Sponsorship - $350
• • • •
Requires Business Council approval before corkscrew order is placed • Corkscrew with company name given to all guests (350 corkscrews to be purchased by sponsor) • Company listed as sponsor on event program • Verbal recognition as Exclusive Corkscrew sponsor at event • One month pre-event recognition in Business Council newsletter • Company name listed on Wines of the World webpage • Four tickets to the event • A shared company reserved table for preferential seating at the event (VIP designated area)
Company listed as Bordeaux sponsor on event program Verbal recognition at event Two months pre-event recognition in Business Council newsletter Company logo displayed on Wines of the World webpage (including a “link” to company website) Eight tickets to the event A company reserved table for preferential seating at the event (VIP designated area)
• •
Chardonnay Table Sponsorship - $500 • • • • • •
Company listed as Chardonnay sponsor on event program Verbal recognition at event One month pre-event recognition in Business Council newsletter Company name listed on Wines of the World webpage Four tickets to the event A shared company reserved table for preferential seating at the event (VIP designated area)
Chianti Bistro Table Sponsorship - $250 • • • •
Company listed as Chianti sponsor on event program Company name listed on Wines of the World webpage Two tickets to the event A company reserved bistro table at the event (VIP designated area)
Stage Sponsorship - $500 •
Company banner hung at prominent location at event (banner provided by sponsor) Company listed as Stage sponsor on event program Verbal recognition at event One month pre-event recognition in Business Council newsletter Company name listed on Wines of the World webpage Four tickets to the event A shared company reserved table for preferential seating at the event (VIP designated area)
• • • • • •
Wine Charm Exclusive Sponsorship - $350 Requires Business Council approval before charm order is placed • Charm with company name given to all guests (350 charms to be purchased by sponsor) • Company listed as sponsor on event program • Verbal recognition as Exclusive Wine Charm sponsor at event • One month pre-event recognition in Business Council newsletter • Company name listed on Wines of the World webpage • Four tickets to the event • A shared company reserved table for preferential seating at the event (VIP designated area)
To secure your sponsorship please contact Karen Schanock at: kschanoc@portagecountybiz.com or 715-344-1940 by: Friday, August 28, 2015.
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THE ACTIVE VOICE \\ PORTAGE COUNTY BUSINESS COUNCIL NEWSLETTER
Wine Stopper Exclusive Sponsorship - $350 Requires Business Council approval before wine stop order is placed • Wine Stopper with company name given to all guests (350 wine stoppers to be purchased by sponsor) • Company listed as sponsor on event program • Verbal recognition as Exclusive Wine Stopper sponsor at event • One month pre-event recognition in Business Council newsletter • Company name listed on Wines of the World webpage • Four tickets to the event • A shared company reserved table for preferential seating at the event (VIP designated area) Rating (Pen) Exclusive Sponsorship - $300 Requires Business Council approval before pen order is placed • Pen with company name given to all guests (350 pens to be purchased by sponsor) • Company listed as sponsor on event program • Verbal recognition as Exclusive Rating sponsor at event • One month pre-event recognition in Business Council newsletter • Company name listed on Wines of the World webpage • Two tickets to the event Dinner Napkin Exclusive Sponsorship - $250 Requires Business Council approval before napkin order is placed • Napkin with company name given to all guests (500 napkins to be purchased by sponsor) • Company listed as sponsor on event program • Verbal recognition as Exclusive Dinner Napkin sponsor at event • One month pre-event recognition in Business Council newsletter • Company name listed on Wines of the World webpage • Two tickets to the event Cocktail Napkin Exclusive Sponsorship - $250 Requires Business Council approval before napkin order is placed • Napkin with company name given to all guests (500 napkins to be purchased by sponsor) • Company listed as sponsor on event program • Verbal recognition as Exclusive Cocktail Napkin sponsor at event • One month pre-event recognition in Business Council newsletter • Company name listed on Wines of the World webpage • Two tickets to the event
GROW YOUR
BUSINESS
Offering loans for: n n n
Commercial Real Estate Machinery & Equipment Operating Expenses
Benefits: n n n
Local decision-making No prepayment penalties Low Origination Fees
3.99% 5 Year Fixed
4.99% 15 Year Fixed
Your loan could be eligible for an
INTEREST REBATE!
Helping with all your business needs: Matt Meidl
Assistant Vice President Commercial Lending Matt specializes in commercial lending including real estate, equipment, operating, and line of credit loans. Matt serves members out of our Stevens Point office. Call 715-344-2110 ext. 4707 Advertised rates eligible for specific types of commercial loans and are available only to borrowers with Tier 1 credit. Other rates and terms are available. Minimum loan amount is new money of $100,000. Loan amortization up to 15 years. All payment terms must meet loan policy requirements. Rate and term are accurate as of 7/13/2015. Only eligible borrowers meeting CoVantage credit requirements may qualify.
715-344-2110 • 1200 Badger Ave., Stevens Point www.covantagecu.org • 800-398-2667 12
THE ACTIVE VOICE \\ PORTAGE COUNTY BUSINESS COUNCIL NEWSLETTER
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PORTAGE COUNTY BUSINESS COUNCIL FOUNDATION HAPPENINGS
August 2015 • LPC Committee Meeting (August 4, 2015 from 8:00 AM – 9:30 AM) • PIE Committee Meeting (August 5, 2015 from 7:30 AM– 8:30 AM) • TLPC (Teen Leadership Portage County) Orientation @ SentryWorld (August 11, 2015 from 5:30 PM – 8:00 PM) • LPC Opening Retreat (Aug. 20 & 21, 2015 from 7:45 AM – 4:30 PM) • Business-Education Forum (Tuesday, August 25, 2015 from 9:00 AM – 11:00 AM) September 2015 • LPC Committee Meeting (September 1, 2015 from 8:00 AM – 9:30 AM) • PIE Committee Meeting (September 2, 2015 from 7:30 AM – 8:30 AM)
Fundraising Changes for PCBCF Programs PCBCF programs are supported in part through school and business donations. In the past, separate asks were made for Partners In Education and Leadership Portage County programs. Then additional asks were made as needed. This year, PCBCF staff have combined all investment opportunities and sponsorships. The goal is to limit fundraising to July and August for all PCBCF programs. Donors can choose to make a payment right away or submit an investment form indicating the donation amount and the month to be invoiced. This allows donors to select the areas they would like to support, how much they would like to donate, and when they would like to provide payment so they can better budget for the donations. Think about how you want to support workforce development through PCBCF so you are ready when the new forms roll out.
Give back to the community while connecting with your future workforce through upcoming events. To volunteer contact Judy Rannow at jrannow@portagecountybiz.com or 715-344-1940.
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THE ACTIVE VOICE \\ PORTAGE COUNTY BUSINESS COUNCIL NEWSLETTER
Business-Education Forum to be held on August 25th \\ Click HERE to Register
In June, the business and education communities came together during the first annual Business-Education Summit. The conversations and networking were invaluable. One item that came from the summit was a desire to have more opportunities to meet. In order to meet this desire, PIE will host three Business-Education Forums each year. Forums will be less structured than summits and provide greater opportunities for discussions around identified topics. PIE invites business, education, and community members to join us on August 25th from 9:00 AM – 11:00 AM at the Portage County Business Council for the next Business-Education Forum. The focus of this forum will be roles of business, education and community in preparing Portage County students to successfully transition from school to career through integrated community, business, education and career pipelines while working to meet local employer needs. Related discussion topics include skills gaps that impact students and employers; the difference between education and training; education and training roles, responsibilities and expectations for local businesses, schools and community organizations; and asset mapping to identify niche workforce development initiatives that contribute to the shared measurements. Shared Measurements: • Increase the number of students and businesses involved in career exploration and employability skills development • programs • Increase the number of students and businesses involved in formal school-to-work programs (PIE co-ops, internships and youth apprenticeships). • Increase the number of individuals obtaining CTE Act 59 Industry Certificates and Certifications. • Increase understanding of career assessments (Work Keys, ACT, SAT, and Accuplacer) and them in a meaningful way for students, employers and the community.
Summer School Class Focuses on Career Exploration
Stevens Point Transit
Pointe Precision presenting at Ben Franklin
Students attending summer school at Ben Franklin Jr. High learned quite a bit about careers from their teacher, Art Greco, and others in the community. The class focused on hands-on career exploration through business tours and guest speakers. Students really enjoyed learning about local businesses by visiting them. When asked what they liked about the class they talked about watching potatoes being processed, visiting such different businesses, and all the things people do in their jobs that they did not know about. For example, they were surprised to learn that police officers actually spend quite a bit of time doing paperwork. Thank you to the following individuals and organizations for making this summer class a great place to learn about careers: Ken at Whiting Fire Department, Deputy Megan Nowinsky at PC Sheriff Department, Noall at Holiday Inn, Ron at Pointe Precision, Tom at RPE, and Tom at Stevens Point Transit.
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THE ACTIVE VOICE \\ PORTAGE COUNTY BUSINESS COUNCIL NEWSLETTER
RPE
Exciting New PIE Programs in 2015-2016 Last year, PIE offered 8 new programs. 2015-2016 will be a year of continued expansion for PIE. We are excited to announce several new initiatives that showcase what PIE does best – connect business and education. Watch for program details in future issues of the Active Voice. • 3rd Grade Coding at Pacelli Catholic Schools • 8th Grade College and Career Readiness at Ben Franklin Jr. High • Lego League Pilots • Girls in Engineering • Local Talent Showcase
LPC 2015-2016 STARTS IN AUGUST
The LPC Committee has been busy getting ready for the start of the LPC program on August 19th. The ten-month leadership program kicks-off with a two-day opening retreat. This year, we anticipate a class of twenty-two. There are a few spots still open if you are interested in participating this year. For more program information and to access the application visit http:// portagecountybiz.com/leadership-portage-county/. To view tentative agendas, proposed class projects and other materials visit the blog at https://leadershipportagecounty.wordpress.com/.
7 WAYS FOR LPC ALUMNI TO RECONNECT 1. Be a Session Leader: view the tentative agendas for the 2015-2016 program by visiting the blog at https://leadershipportagecounty.wordpress.com/agendas/ and if you find a session you would like to help with just let me know. 2. Host a breakfast or lunch: if you or your organization would like to host a meal, let me know which meal for which session. 3. Donate to the Scholarship Fund: if you want to help future LPC participants attend without worry about the tuition cost let me know. 4. Help with Class Projects: take a look at the 2015-2016 project options (https://leadershipportagecounty.wordpress.com/ projects/) and let me know if you would like to help out with any of them. We are very excited about reconnecting with the Alumni this year for many of our projects. I know there are some of you that will probably want to help with the QR Code History Tour with Anton Anday. 5. Attend a Session: have you missed LPC or wish you were able to experience some of the new things going on in the program? If so, take a look at the agendas and let me know what session(s) you would like to attend. There is only a small fee to cover session expenses if you choose to participate. 6. Participant in an Interim Assignment: in mid-August take a look at the interim assignment options (https://leadershipportagecounty.wordpress.com/materials/interim-assignments/) and let me know if you would like to participate in one. This is a great way to connect with the new class and see something new. If you or your business would like to offer an interim assignment, we would love to hear from you. 7. Attend a LPC Alumni Event: Make sure to mark your calendar to reconnect with fellow LPC Alumni • Fall Picnic (October 2, 2015 from TBD) – UWSP Homecoming is October 3, 2015 • Holiday Social (December 17, 2015 from 5:00PM – 7:00PM) • Annual Meeting & Professional Development (February 2, 2016 from 8:00AM – 10:00AM) • Spring Social (March 17, 2016 from 5:00PM – 7:30PM) • Spring Celebration (May 3, 2016 from 5:00PM – 8:30PM)
For more information regarding Leadership Portage County, Partners In Education or Workforce Development contact Judy Rannow, Director of Workforce Development, at 715-344-1940 or jrannow@portagecountybiz.com.
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THE ACTIVE VOICE \\ PORTAGE COUNTY BUSINESS COUNCIL NEWSLETTER
WISCONSIN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT INSTITUTE GOLF OUTING
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THE ACTIVE VOICE \\ PORTAGE COUNTY BUSINESS COUNCIL NEWSLETTER
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THE ACTIVE VOICE \\ PORTAGE COUNTY BUSINESS COUNCIL NEWSLETTER
2015 pcbc / foundation board of DIRECTORS \\ Executive Board Keith Pilger - President, Anderson O’Brien Ken Erler - Vice President, Sentry Insurance Sue Wille - Treasurer, Ligman & Wille CPA LLC Scott Glinski - Member at Large, Skyward Erik Carlson - Member at Large, Ellis Stone Construction Company Lisa Sobczak - Member at Large, ABR Employment Services Doug Ballweg - Member at Large, Delta Dental of Wisconsin Todd Kuckkahn - Interim Executive Director, Portage County Business Council
Board of Directors Tom Altmann - Altmann Construction Company Lorraine Avery - Associated Bank Dan Beighley - Wisconsin Public Service Corporation Lee Bush- Stevens Point Area Public Schools Patty Dreier - Portage County Executive David Eckmann - University of Wisconsin - Stevens Point Jim Firminhac - WoodTrust Bank James Gifford - Portage County Board O. Phillip Idsvoog - Portage County Board Gregg Hansel- Pacelli Catholic Schools Deb Marten - Marten Machining Cherrie Marti - Ministry Saint Michael’s Hospital Richard O’Sullivan - Mid-State Technical College Jeremie Pavelski - Heartland Farms Inc. Susan Placzek - SentryWorld Sports Center Tom Davies - Village of Plover Dawn Thrun - International Bank of Amherst Attila Weninger - Stevens Point Area Public Schools Mike Wiza - City of Stevens Point Ward Wolff - First Weber Group Realtors Robert Worth - The Worth Company (Director Emeritus)
Board Advisors Sara Brish - Stevens Point Area Convention & Visitors Bureau Volker Gaul - Mid-State Technical College Dan Mahoney - Village of Plover Michael Ostrowski - City of Stevens Point
meetings & other DATES \\ AUGUST 2015
4 LPC Committee Meeting- 8:00-9:30 A.M., PCBC Office 5 PIE Committee Meeting- 7:30 -8:30 P.M., PCBC Office 12 Small Business X-Change- 7:30-8:30 A.M., PCBC Office 12 Wines of the World Committee Meeting- 3:00 P.M., Amber Grill 13 Ambassadors Club Meeting- 7:45 A.M., PCBC Office 17 Business After Hours- 5:00 P.M.- 7:00 P.M., Thrivent Financial 18 New Business Tax Seminar- 8:00-11:00 A.M., PCBC Office 19 Executive Committee Meeting 20 SalesNet Meeting- 11:45 A.M.-1:00 P.M., NRG Media 20 & 21 LPC Opening Retreat- 7:45A.M -4:30 P.M., PCBC Office 25 Business - Education Fourm- 9:00-11:00 A.M.
SEPTEMBER 2015
15 AgTour- 11:45 A.M- 4:30 P.M.
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advertise with US \\ » CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFO For questions, please contact Tonya at 715-344-1940 or tkowalsk@portagecountybiz.com.
PORTAGE COUNTY GIFT CERTIFICATES Purchasing Portage County gift certificates continues to be a successful way to “Buy Local”. Portage County gift certificates make great gifts. Gift certificates can be purchased at area banks, credit unions, the Convention and Visitors Bureau or at our office. They can be used at any business with a Portage County address and are available in denominations of $5, $10, $20, $25, $50 & $100. The PCBC would like to thank everyone who participates for helping make the program successful. We would also like to thank BMO Harris Bank for their financial support of the gift certificate program.
the TEAM \\ they make things happen! PCBC / Foundation Staff
Email Addresses
The Active Voice
Todd Kuckkahn - Interim Executive Director Mary Jo Monday - Director of Member Relations Karen Schanock - Director of Programs & Events Judy Rannow - Director of Workfoce Development Kari Thompson - Business & Office Operations Director Tonya Kowalski - Administrative / Marketing Assistant
tkuckkah@portagecountybiz..com
Questions / Comments:
mmonday@portagecountybiz.com
Tonya Kowalski \\ tkowalsk@portagecountybiz.com
kschanoc@portagecountybiz.com jrannow@portagecountybiz.com kthompso@portagecountybiz.com tkowalsk@portagecountybiz.com
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PORTAGE COUNTY BUSINESS COUNCIL & FOUNDATION \\ 5501 VERN HOLMES DRIVE \\ STEVENS POINT, WI 54482 \\ P 715-344-1940 \\ F 715-344-4473
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THE ACTIVE VOICE \\ PORTAGE COUNTY BUSINESS COUNCIL NEWSLETTER