10.2013 The Active Voice Newsletter by Portage County Business Council, Inc.

10.2013 \\ PORTAGE COUNTY, WISCONSIN

upcoming EVENTS \\ Small Business X-Change Wednesday, October 9, 2013 \\ 7:30 am - 8:30 am Portage County Business Council, Foundation Room 5501 Vern Holmes Drive | Stevens Point, WI 54482

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Thursday, October 17, 2013 \\ 11:45 am - 1:00 pm Portage County Business Council, Foundation Room 5501 Vern Holmes Drive | Stevens Point, WI 54482

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Business After Hours Monday, October 21, 2013 \\ 5:00 pm - 7:00 pm Stevens Point Country Club, Club House 1628 Country Club Drive | Stevens Point, WI 54481

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Wines of the World

33RD ANNUAL NEW FACULTY AND STAFF SOCIAL WITH SPECIAL GUEST SPEAKER WILLIAM HENDERSON WAS A SUCCESS The Portage County Business Council and Foundation hosted the 33rd annual New Faculty & Academic Staff Social on October 1st at Pacelli High School. This year we were pleased to welcome 69 new faculty and staff members from the University of Wisconsin – Stevens Point, Mid-State Technical College, Stevens Point Area Public School District, Stevens Point Area Catholic Schools and the Tomorrow River School District. Keynote speaker, former Green Bay Packer #33 William Henderson spoke about the importance of education in his life and how that has contributed to his desire to give back to the community as well as his success both on and off the field. In addition two students, Alexa Haynes and Lucas Mancheski, seniors from Pacelli High School shared stories about special teachers who have been a strong influence in their lives. Along with the staff of the Business Council and Foundation, nearly 100 Community Hosts and Special Guests were on hand to welcome the new faculty and staff to Portage County. During the evening educators had the opportunity to become acquainted with Portage County and the business community. In turn, the community welcomed and thanked the educators for the valuable work that they do in preparing young people for the future. Special thanks to our speakers, William Henderson, Alexa Haynes and Lucas Mancheski. Also our sincere thanks to Brant Bergeron for serving as our Emcee, Stevens Point Area Catholic Schools and the staff at Pacelli High School for providing the venue, Country Inn & Suites for providing lodging for Mr. Henderson, Rockmans’s Catering, the Community Hosts and our Partners in Education sponsors. Your involvement is truly appreciated and helped make this a memorable evening!

Friday, October 25, 2013 \\ 6:00 pm - 9:00 pm Holiday Inn Hotel & Convention Center 1001 Amber Avenue | Stevens Point, WI 54481

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MAXimize Your Membership Wednesday, November 6, 2013 \\ 3:00 pm - 4:30 pm Portage County Business Council, Foundation Room 5501 Vern Holmes Drive | Stevens Point, WI 54482

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Photos continued on Page 3 >>

SMALL BUSINESS X-CHANGE 10.09.13 \\ 7:30 AM - 8:30 AM » REGISTER > Continental Breakfast served > No cost to attend but the value of the information may be priceless!

SPONSOR ABOUT OUR SPEAKER Dave Schalow has been at UW-Stevens Point since 2008. He grew up in Central Wisconsin and moved back here from Southern California. At UWSP Dave teaches marketing, sales, real estate, and entrepreneurship. He has worked in the This X-Change presentation will be a modern adaptation of the financial plan- insurance, mortgage, securities, and real estate industries. ning classic, “The Richest Man in Babylon.” Classic financial principals will be In addition to a Ph.D. in Finance, he has the following professional designations: shown that still work in today’s economic environment. • Chartered Life Underwriter (CLU) • Chartered Financial Consultant (ChFC) • Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) • Power of Passive Income • Certified Financial Planner (CFP) • Power of Compounding • Certified Residential Specialist (CRS) • Power of Discipline • Graduate Real Estate Institute (GRI) • Power of Financial Goals Dr. Schalow has authored a textbook and instructor’s manual, California Real • BONUS: How to Get out of Debt (Guaranteed) Estate Principles, published by Southwestern. He is a former real estate and mortgage broker (Cal., Nev. and Wis.) and was licensed in real estate sales, life and health insurance, property and casualty insurance and securities sales. A roundtable series of meetings that allow small business owners and their employees the opportunity to discuss pertinent topics, learn from local industry leaders and, most importantly, learn from each other.

TOPIC: THE RICHEST PERSON IN CENTRAL WISCONSIN

WHAT YOU WILL LEARN

ABOUT SMALL BUSINESS X-CHANGE

Briefs column is an avenue to spotlight noteworthy business and professional accomplishments, recognition and awards among our Business Council members. business BRIEFS \\ TheSubmitBusiness items of interest, in 100 words or less, to: admin@portagecountybiz.com by the 24 of the month prior to the next newsletter issue. th

Tim Solinger, owner of Tim Solinger Copywriting & Consulting, LLC, a Stevens Point-based provider of brand strategy, marketing and publicity, content development, and publishing services, served as project editor for Boomerang! Leadership Principles That Bring the Customer Back. The book has been published by 9th Street Publishing of Green Bay and is written by Dave Skogen, chairman of the board of Skogen’s Festival Foods, which operates 18 supermarkets across Wisconsin and has more than 5,000 employees. In Boomerang!, Skogen provides insights and lessons on his experiences over a period of nearly six decades in leading Festival Foods’ transformation from a single 3,000-square-foot grocery store into a regional supermarket chain. \\ Ellis Stone Construction Company has been awarded the contract to build the new Department of Military Affairs Field Maintenance Shop #13 for the Wausau Armory. The $9.2 million facility will be located on a 48.5 acre tract of land north of the Northcentral Technical College. The 33,000 square foot masonry building will provide space for support services and vehicle maintenance including lube and wash bays. The project will take approximately 16 months to complete. Architect for the project is HSR Architects of La Crosse. \\ Volunteers from Associated Bank helped paint rooms at CAP Services’ Family Crisis Center (FCC) in Stevens Point on Thursday, Sept. 26.

The project is part of an ongoing “Flip Our House” project, an effort at the FCC to improve shelter conditions during its 35th anniversary year. It is also part of the United Way’s Days of Caring effort, which Associated Bank participates in each year. Other “Flip Our House” activities have included Girl Scout Cadette Troop 6231 of Stevens Point, who recently pulled weeds and repainted the play set; an updated green space planning project; and additional efforts to update shelter. \\ Midstate Independent Living Consultants, (MILC) is excited to be one of the recipients of the Aspirus Health Foundation large grant award. Aspirus Health Foundation looks to develop critical resources necessary to advance the health of the community and in the region. With the grant received MILC will continue to fund necessary Mental Health services being provided in Stevens Point, Wisconsin. ROCC Point (Resources, Opportunities, Choices and Connections), is a unique concept inviting individuals with Mental Illness to participate in recovery supports, such as daily living skills training, support groups and 1:1 peer support services. According to Jennifer Fasula, Executive Director, 188,000 adults live with mental illness in the State of Wisconsin. “ROCC Point is open 5 days per week and provides an alternative for those individual wishing for an alternative versus going to the hospital. We are demonstrating that clinic based mental health services are not always what individuals need or want to be successful in their recovery.

THE ACTIVE VOICE \\ PORTAGE COUNTY BUSINESS COUNCIL NEWSLETTER

MILC hopes to continue to build awareness on the success of ROCC Point and this grant from Aspirus Health Foundation will further the mission and commitment to a healthy community. \\ Laura West, CAP Services’ director of Jobs and Business Development, successfully completed the Commercial Lending School which was held September 9-11 in De Pere. Sponsored by the Wisconsin Bankers Association, the curriculum is designed to provide bankers and other lenders with a basic understanding of the principles and concepts of commercial lending. The faculty is comprised of bankers who are considered authorities in their field. \\ The curtain will rise on the 65th anniversary season of the Central Wisconsin Symphony Orchestra on October 12 & 13, 2013. “To Your Health!” will celebrate the health of our community and its robust arts as well as joining forces with Ministry Saint Michael’s Hospital in its 100 year anniversary and Ministry Health Care highlighting the Breast Care Center and staff. The CWSO, under the direction of Dr. Patrick Miles, welcomes world-renowned violinist Rachel Barton Pine, performing Felix Mendelssohn’s “Concerto for Violin in E minor, op. 64. The artist’s performance is generously sponsored in part by Ruder Ware. \\

NEW FACULTY & ACADEMIC STAFF SOCIAL PHOTOS

BUSINESS AFTER HOURS 10.21.13 \\ 5:00 PM - 7:00 PM » REGISTER » MAP HOSTS\

Lucas Mancheski, Pacelli High School Senior, speaks to the crowd about an influential teacher.

Held at: Stevens Point Country Club Club House 1628 Country Club Drive Stevens Point, WI 54481

Enjoy complimentary hor d’oeuvres, refreshments, and door prize giveaways (including Golf for 4, Gift Baskets and something special from Lee Ayers Jewelers). Alexa Haynes, Pacelli High School Senior, speaks to the crowd about an influential teacher.

CLICK FOR MORE PHOTOS

No Cost to attend! Pre-registration is appreciated. Please RSVP by Friday, October 18, 2013.

AMBASSADORS CLUB SHOW THEIR SUPPORT 2013 PLATINUM PIE INVESTORS

Ambassadors attend ribbon cutting / open house for the Stevens Point Care Center’s NEW Riviera Suites, 1800 Sherman Avenue, Stevens Point on September 5th.

10.2013 \\ PORTAGE COUNTY, WISCONSIN

a bit about OUR NEWEST MEMBERS \\ THRIVENT FINANCIAL DAN DEMERS Stevens Point \\ 715-313-4203\\ daniel.demers@thrivent.com Join Date \\ 08/28/2013

SCHOLFIELD GROUP LLC WILLIAM SCHOLFIELD Kronenwetter \\ 715-574-7007 \\ bill@scholfieldgroup.com \\ http://www.scholfieldgroup.com Join Date \\ 08/30/2013

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. August features a business that begins with the letter “V”.

VIRTUAL VISION COMPUTING COMPANY 1013 North 3rd Avenue \\ Suite 8 \\ Wausau, WI (715) 675-9194 \\ http://www.1hostingvision.com \\ andy.scott@virtualvision.net Join Date \\ 01/26/2011 What they have to say \\ Virtual Vision has been providing internet marketing and website design for 15+ years. We are based in Wausau, but are focused on growing. We are expanding this year, with a satellite sales office in Eau Claire in Oct 2013. Our growth model includes potential offices in Stevens Point, Appleton, Madison, and Minneapolis.

STUDINSKI LAW LLC JASON STUDINSKI Stevens Point \\ 715-343-2850 \\ aimee@studinskilaw.com \\ http://www.studinskilaw.com Join Date \\ 09/09/2013

TIM SOLINGER COPYWRITING AND CONSULTING LLC TIM SOLINGER Stevens Point \\715-570-3130 \\ info@timsolinger.com \\ http://www.tscopywriting.com \\ Join Date \\ 09/12/2013 About \\ Tim is a consultant, copywriter and editor with more than 20 years of experience in marketing and communications. He offers brand strategy, marketing and publicity, content development, and publishing services to help clients improve customer engagement, drive sales, attract media attention, establish thought leadership and meet other needs.

We are Central Wisconsin’s only fully staffed, full time internet marketing company. We have 14+ employees, including developers, programmers, internet marketing professionals, IT, graphic designers, content writers, Social Media and SEO experts, and “hands on” owners. We provide services to many of Central Wisconsin’s most successful businesses. At Virtual Vision, we feel that education is the key to successful internet marketing and business partnerships. Businesses that are struggling with what to do online, are welcome to join our FREE in house training and education events. We host 2 free events every month, and cover the many topics of internet marketing. We also open the floor to any questions, and networking opportunities. Sponsorship opportunities are available for these events as well. Virtual Vision is committed to excellence and works diligently to make sure that we meet or exceed our customers expectations. We continue to renew our membership because of the great networking opportunities, and the ability to provide free educational events to current members. We have received excellent feedback from local business owners who have attended our Portage County Business Council education events.

DO YOU KNOW A LOCAL BUSINESS THAT WOULD BENEFIT FROM MEMBERSHIP? CONTACT Mary Jo Monday 715-344-1940 \\ mmonday@portagecountybiz.com

THE ACTIVE VOICE \\ PORTAGE COUNTY BUSINESS COUNCIL NEWSLETTER

MARK YOUR CALENDARS FOR DECEMBER

WOMEN IN BUSINESS EVENT 12.12.13 \\ 11:15 AM - 1:00 PM PRESENTING SPONSOR Wisconsin Public Service Corporation

AG TOUR EVENT HELD A sell-out crowd of over 50 people attended this annual Ag Tour event on September 17th sponsored by Roberts Irrigation Company, Inc., DelMonte Foods and the Agri-Business Committee of the Portage County Business Council. This year’s event began with a picnic lunch and guest speaker held at Wisconsin Public Service Corporation. Participants toured the Lake Elaine Game Farm, Heartland Stables of Custer and the Orion Whitetails Farm as part of our “Specialized Animal Agriculture” theme. This event celebrates the agri-business industry in Central Wisconsin and tours of local agri-businesses are open to anyone interested in learning more about their great successes.

Join us on December 12, 2013 for our Women In Business luncheon at Best Western Plover Hotel & Conference Center. Catered by Rockman’s Catering. Watch for more information in the November newsletter. For questions contact Karen at 715-344-1940 or kschanoc@portagecountybiz.com

PICTURES FROM OUR SEPTEMBER 26TH EVENT

Jennifer Pape, Founder of Willow Creek Ranch in Amherst Junction speaks to Ag Tour participants during lunch at WPS. Thank you to our September Presenting Sponsor – the Arts Alliance of Portage County!

Crowd hears about history of the Lake Elaine Game Farm located in Amherst Junction. Guest Speaker John Hartman, President of Contemporary Photography presents “Your Image Is Important!”.

Over 115 people attended our September Women in Business Luncheon held at UWSP, Dreyfus University Center.

Jenni Zinda and Anne Femal from Rural Mutual Insurance enjoy the tour at Heartland Stables of Custer.

10.2013 \\ PORTAGE COUNTY, WISCONSIN

12TH ANNUAL WINES OF THE WORLD EVENT TO BE HELD » REGISTER » BE A SPONSOR The Portage County Business Council is excited to host the 12th Annual Wines of the World event on Friday, October 25, 2013. Join us that evening from 6:00PM – 9:00PM at the Holiday Inn Hotel & Convention Center for an international journey as we sample a selection of 100 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, Wisconsin artisan cheeses and some imports from Ski’s Meat Market, a silent auction, a beer bar featuring the Stevens Point Brewery, soft live jazz music by the UWSP Jazz Quintet and a special performance by Vocalist, Sam Hightower will make the evening complete. This event will provide an opportunity for guests to network, socialize and have fun learning about wine. Those in attendance will have a chance to win fabulous door prizes including a trip to Door County with a Door Peninsula Winery Tour, dinner at the Door County Vineyard Restaurant and one-night hotel accommodations sponsored by Marathon Travel! One lucky winner will also go home with a stunning ONE-OF-A-KIND 14K White Gold Pendant holding 3 Round Diamonds with a 14KT White Gold Chain valued at over $2,500 donated by Lee Ayers Jewelers and created and designed for the event by Thomas Dailing Designs.

EVENT RESERVATIONS ARE AS FOLLOWS: $45 per person for Business Council members $55 per person for Prospective members $60 per person the day of the event Tickets are available at the Business Council office and Skl’s Meat Market

The Bottle Stop

CliftonLarsonAllen LLP Delta Dental of Wisconsin Donaldson Company Figi’s Inc Ministry Health Care Sentry Insurance

FOOD SPONSORS

CHARDONNAY TABLE SPONSORS

Holiday Inn Hotel & Convention Center & Rockman’s Catering

Investors Community Bank Skyward

SOMMELIER MASTER MEDIA SPONSOR

STAGE SPONSOR

NRG Media – HOT 96-7 & Big Cheese 107.9

Worzalla Publishing Company

CENTERPIECE SPONSOR

WINE STOPPER EXCLUSIVE SPONSOR

Bev’s Floral & Gifts

Pointe Precision Inc

PRINT SPONSOR

RATING EXCLUSIVE SPONSOR

Dolce Digital Imaging & Printing

R-Store / Riiser Energy

TRIP SPONSOR

DINNER NAPKIN EXCLUSIVE SPONSOR

Marathon Travel

The Boldt Company

JEWELRY SPONSOR

The Business Council extends an invitation to an event like no other. For more information on the event or additional sponsorship opportunities contact Karen Schanock at 715/344-1940 or kschanoc@portagecountybiz.com.

SPECIAL THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS TO DATE: PRESENTING WINE SPONSOR

Lee Ayers Jewelers with Thomas Dailing Designs

CHEESE SPONSOR

Ski’s Meat Market

BEER SPONSOR

Stevens Point Brewery

LEADERSHIP PORTAGE COUNTY SEPTEMBER SESSION Following a great opening two day retreat in August, Leadership Portage County met for their second session on September 19th. The morning began with a session about the character trait of Emotional Intelligence, led by Gary Yeast – Ministry Health. Following that, Dee Dee Peterson – Travel Guard led a presentation on Project Management. Ken Schroder – UW Extension facilitated the early afternoon discussion where the topic was Agribusiness in Portage County. The group then travelled to Paragon Farms for a hands-on tour. Special thanks to all of our presenters; you helped make the day a valuable learning experience. Thank you also to Community First Bank for providing a meeting room in the morning and Paragon Farms for the informative afternoon tour.

BORDEAUX TABLE SPONSORS

THE ACTIVE VOICE \\ PORTAGE COUNTY BUSINESS COUNCIL NEWSLETTER

Don’t miss this opportunity to take part of an evening of fun, socializing and education about wine. Get your tickets today!

Point in Common

LEARNING

Brain Research and Learning Community Speaker Series

Advancing ideas that stimulate and motivate actions, create excitement, and raise public investment, all to improve education in the community.

COMMUNITY EVENTS