OCTOBER 2015 The Active Voice Newsletter

10.2015 \\ PORTAGE COUNTY, WISCONSIN

upcoming EVENTS \\ PIE BUSINESS-EDUCATION FORUM Tuesday, Oct. 13, 2015 \\ 2:00 P.M - 4:00 P.M. Stevens Point Area Public School District Professional Development Center

1900 West Zinda Dr | Stevens Point, WI 54481

» REGISTER PIE SOCIAL

Tuesday, Oct. 13, 2015 \\ 5:00 P.M - 7:00 P.M. Stevens Point Area Public School District Professional Development Center

1900 West Zinda Dr | Stevens Point, WI 54481

» REGISTER

BUSINESS X-CHANGE Wednesday, Oct. 14, 2015 \\ 7:30 A.M - 8:30 A.M. Portage County Business Council | Foundation Room 5501 Vern Holmes Dr | Stevens Point, WI 54482

» REGISTER

BUSINESS AFTER HOURS Monday, Oct. 19, 2015 \\ 5:00 P.M. - 7:00 P.M. Central Wisconsin Center for Non-Profits 1578 Strongs Ave | Stevens Point, WI 54481

» REGISTER

WINES OF THE WORLD Friday, October 30, 2015 \\ 6:00 P.M. - 9:00 P.M. Holiday Inn Hotel & Convention Center 1001 Amber Ave | Stevens Point, WI 54482

» REGISTER

Get Your Tickets for Wines of the World \\ October 30, 2015 \\ 6:00 P.M.-9:00 P.M.

CLICK HERE TO REGISTER The Portage County Business Council is excited to host the 14th Annual Wines of the World event on Friday, October 30, 2015. Don’t miss this opportunity to take part of an evening of fun, socializing, and education about wine. Proceeds from the event benefit member programs and new initiatives of the Business Council.

Join us that evening from 6:00PM – 9:00PM at the Holiday Inn Hotel & Convention Center.

What to expect you ask?

• 110 Wines for Tasting • A delicious array of food consisting of appetizer stations, dessert stations, meat carving stations and more • Wisconsin artisan cheeses and some imports • Various beer bars • Bourbon tastings and other spirits • Wine or liquor cocktail tastings • Live music • Door prizes • Jewelry raffle • Silent auction All this and more for the cost of $48 per person for PCBC Members,$55 per person for Prospective Members, $60 at the Door. Tickets are available at the Portage County Business Council office or Ski’s Meat Market.

Those in attendance will have a chance to win fabulous door prizes including a Unique Dining Experience for 6 (catered dinner for 6 people in the privacy of your home with Private Chef - Scott Rockman, owner of Rockman’s Catering).

One lucky winner will also go home with this stunning 14K White Gold Pendant holding 5 Round Brilliant Diamonds with a 14KT White Gold Box Chain valued at $2,750 donated by Lee Ayers Jewelers and Thomas Dailing Designs; masterfully hand-created by internationally recognized jewelry designer Thomas Dailing.

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 THANK YOU to our Sponsors to date: • 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 THANK YOU to our Sponsors to date: • 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 THANK YOU to our SPONSOR to date: • • • •

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 - SOLD OUT - THANK YOU to our Sponsor:

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) 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) Wine Stopper Exclusive Sponsorship - $350 • • • • • • •

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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)

THE ACTIVE VOICE \\ PORTAGE COUNTY BUSINESS COUNCIL NEWSLETTER

Rating (Pen) Exclusive Sponsorship - SOLD OUT - THANK YOU to our Sponsor:

HOLLY CARTER PH. 715-295-4057

Dinner Napkin Exclusive Sponsorship - SOLD OUT - THANK YOU to our Sponsor:

Cocktail Napkin Exclusive Sponsorship - SOLD OUT - THANK YOU to our Sponsor:

Additional Sponsors Presenting Wine Sponsor Thank You to:

Beer Sponsor Thank You to:

Food Sponsors Thank You to:

Print Sponsor Thank You to:

Centerpiece Exclusive Sponsor Thank You to:

Dessert Sponsors Thank You to:

PJ’s at SentryWorld

Hand Crafted Spirits Sponsor Thank You to:

Exclusive Sommelier Master Media Sponsor Thank You to:

Cheese Sponsor Thank You to:

Jewelry Sponsor Thank You to: and Thomas Dailing Designs

The Business Council is also seeking wine themed products or services to be auctioned at the Silent Auction during the event. As a Silent Auction donor, the Business Council promotes your business and the merchandise and/or service to over 350 business professionals in attendance. Your business will also be recognized with a creative display during the evening, which recognizes your business and donated item. To secure your sponsorship please contact Karen Schanock at: kschanoc@portagecountybiz.com or 715-344-1940.

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THE ACTIVE VOICE \\ PORTAGE COUNTY BUSINESS COUNCIL NEWSLETTER

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.

UNITEL INC Unitel Inc 2411 Post Road Plover, WI 54467 (715) 344-1962

anderson@unitelinc.com

Unitel Inc. is a Voice Communications Company specializing in the design and installation of business telephone systems and related equipment. We have offices in Central Wisconsin and the Fox Cities and have been a Portage County Business Council member since 1990.

We enjoy being a member because it keeps us connected to the community, offers opportunities to learn and has been a consistent business partner we’ve relied on for the past 25 years. Some of the best advice we received was “Customer service is not what you think it is, but rather what your customer thinks it is” and that principal is a reminder that success is really based on the customer’s perception of your services.

Today there are three options for business telephones: traditional, IP, or cloud based systems. Being a Toshiba Authorized Dealer, we offer all three of those options so we let the customer “define success” rather than try to lead them to a specific solution we provide.

Business owners know a salesperson has an agenda to sell, but they often don’t realize others at the table may have a hidden agenda. For example an in-house IT person may want a voice certification for a big name product to improve their resume, or an IT contractor’s job is to drive all revenue back to the kingdom (the IT Corporation) or the fact that a consultant may have pre arranged agreements with other vendors. So, often times the only person at the table without an agenda is the business owner.

With technology changing so fast we try to educate customers on our industry.

We created a YouTube video “SIP explained by Unitel Inc” that explains a new incoming line technology in about 3 minutes. It’s the next big thing in our industry. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GswQ3_jbhnw

WELCOME TO OUR NEWEST MEMBERS Goodwill NCW Dan Flannery 1017 Commons Circle Plover, WI 54467 (920) 968-6854 dflannery@goodwillncw.org

Wells Fargo Advisors Financial Network Christy Allar 1265 Main St., Ste 106 Stevens Point, WI 54481 (715) 544-1702 christy.allar@wfafinet.com

Northwestern Mutual Travis Kempf 5417 Vern Holmes Drive St 2 Stevens Point, WI 54482 (715)344-3934 travis.s.kempf@nm.com For nearly 160 years, Northwestern Mutual has helped clients achieve their financial goals. Our financial representatives build life long relationships with clients and help them plan for all of their financial security needs with confidence. Our financial representatives help clients meet a full spectrum of financial security needs including wealth and income protection, education funding, retirement planning, investment advisory services, trust and private client services, estate planning, and business planning.

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THE ACTIVE VOICE \\ PORTAGE COUNTY BUSINESS COUNCIL NEWSLETTER

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

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.

ABR Employment Services (ABR) has been ranked by Staffing Industry Analysts as one of the Fastest Growing US Staffing Firms. From 2010 to 2014, ABR grew at a compound annual growth rate of 20.6%.

To be considered for the 2015 list, US staffing firms had to have reported at least $1 million in revenue from 2010 to 2014 and have a compound annual revenue growth of 15%. This year’s list included 102 staffing firms.

“With so many outstanding companies on the list, it is a great honor to be recognized as one of the fastest growing staffing firms in the nation” said Jim McNett, CEO of ABR Employment Services. “By delivering intelligent workforce staffing solutions that enable our clients to better manage hiring and leverage staffing for competitive advantage, we have been able to grow at an industry-leading rate. All of this would not be possible without our incredibly talented and committed employees throughout our network of 14 offices.”

Founded in 1987, ABR Employment Services provides administrative, call center, light industrial and skilled industrial employment opportunities to job seekers and staffing solutions to companies throughout Wisconsin and in Winona, MN. ABR is a consecutive recipient of Inavero’s Best of Staffing Award for providing remarkable service quality to talent and clients and recognized by Staffing Industry Analysts as a Fastest-Growing US Staffing Firm. /// Aspirus At Home, formerly Aspirus VNA Home Health, recently was named a Top Agency of the 2014 HomeCare Elite™, rating it among the top 25 percent of the nearly 10,000 home health agencies in the United States.

The HomeCare Elite is a compilation of the top performing home health agencies in the nation. Now in its ninth year, the HomeCare Elite identifies the top Medicare-certified agencies and this marks the seventh time Aspirus VNA Home Health has been recognized among the top 25 percent in the nation or higher.

The data used for the annual review is compiled from publicly available information that pertains to quality outcomes, process measure implementation, patient experience, quality improvement, and financial performance.

Aspirus At Home has offices in Wausau, Rhinelander, Antigo, Medford, Stevens Point, Marshfield, Wisconsin Rapids, Ironwood and Calumet.

It serves the skilled health care and the supportive home care needs of people from north and central Wisconsin and the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. /// Ellis Construction project superintendent Jeff Glodoski is celebrating 35 years with the company.

Glodoski joined Ellis upon graduation from SPASH when he entered the carpenter’s apprenticeship program. He has completed many training programs including foreman and supervisor training programs. His training and experience in all facets of construction prepared him for his current role of project superintendent, which he has held for over 31 years.

He has been involved in some of Ellis’s largest and award winning projects.

Glodoski was the project superintendent for the construction of the AIG Headquarters in Stevens Point, the renovation of the MSTC Stevens Point Campus, the Hendrickson Center Recreational Facility in Waupaca, the Marathon County Courthouse remodel, Port Edwards Wastewater Treatment Plant and currently is working on the Heartland Farms new office building in Hancock. ///

Investors Community Bank in Stevens Point has welcomed Earl Seliskar as a part-time customer service associate. In his role, Earl is responsible for performing routine and basic account services while responding to customer inquiries.

Earl is currently attending the University of Wisconsin Stevens Point, majoring in Business Administration. He resides in Stevens Point, where he also owns a small, community-based business.

Investors Community Bank is currently located at 3273 Church Street in Stevens Point, and a new banking office is currently under construction at 5517 Vern Holmes Drive that will open in early 2016. 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. County Bancorp Inc.’s common stock is traded on the NASDAQ market under the symbol ICBK. /// Riiser Energy and the R-Store locations are celebrating their 70th anniversary. R-Store associates invite you to stop in and see what they have to offer.

Arthur Riiser started the company in 1945. Arthur’s son, Tom, bought the company in 1960. “Over the 40 years I owned Riiser, we expanded the convenience stores by ten locations. We had a strong focus on growth and expansion, which laid the groundwork for the company’s success that followed,” stated Tom Riiser. Riiser Energy then was purchased in 1999 by Jim Kemerling and the late Dick Dudley. The company now owns twentysix R-Store convenience stores, three truck stops, a fleet of delivery trucks, and employs nearly 350 associates.

Riiser Energy is proud to be locally-owned and community-minded.

“This company was built on the promise to provide the ultimate buying experience to our customers by providing quality products and services,” stated President and CEO, Jim Kemerling who attributes Riiser’s success to their loyal customers and dedicated associates. “We have succeeded in our first 70 years, and intend to succeed in our next 70 years.” /// The Worth Company, a local manufacturer of metal stampings, wire forming, and screw machine products has announced plans for a major factory addition.

Worth is planning a 30,000 square foot addition to its factory located in Whiting. The addition will extend to the south and east of Worth’s existing facility bringing worth’s total factory and office to space to about 105,000 square feet. The extra space will be used to expand Worth’s wire forming capabilities, and will also include an updated electroplating facility. Ellis Construction of Stevens Point has been named as the general contractor.

“We’re completely at capacity” said Tim Worth, operations director. “We currently have no room for additional equipment. This additional space will allow us to continue the growth we’ve experienced the last several years.”

Kris Crass, corporate vice-president indicated that the additional space will not directly add any positions. “We added quite a few positions over the last 18 months and expect similar steady growth to continue. Our last major addition was over twenty years ago, so this space has been desperately needed for some time.”

Worth produces metal components for the fishing, automotive and window industries, selling to about 3500 companies in the U.S. and about 60 foreign countries. The company turns out over a billion metal stampings, wire forms, key rings, and screw machine parts annually. /// continue page 6

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THE ACTIVE VOICE \\ PORTAGE COUNTY BUSINESS COUNCIL NEWSLETTER

business BRIEFS \\ continued KELLER, Inc., a Design/Build General Contractor with offices in the Fox Cities, Madison, Milwaukee and Wausau announces the promotion of Tyler Plate to Architectural Draftsman Lead.

CAP Services was recently recertified by the Denver Homeownership Center to provide secondary financing assistance in conjunction with FHA-insured first mortgages.

Plate has been with Keller for the past eight years working as an Architectural CAD Draftsman. As the Architectural Draftsman Lead, he assists with scheduling projects and coordinating project design and construction drawing flow.

“Recertification allows us to continue to offer people with FHA mortgages our full range of services,” said Beth Baar, CAP’s Director of Real Estate Services.

/// CAP Services was awarded a $20,000 Corporation for Enterprise Development (CFED) Family Financial Empowerment Initiative (FFEI) grant to help build the financial capabilities of low-income individuals and families.

Through the grant, CFED will provide 11 months of technical assistance, working with CAP to integrate financial capability services into CAP’s existing programs, including its Fresh Start and Skills Enhancement programs.

Fresh Start, a Waupaca-based YouthBuild program with an annual enrollment of 20, provides opportunities to at-risk youth ages 16-24 to work toward their high school equivalency diploma, pursue postsecondary educational opportunities, and develop workplace and life skills while they build affordable housing for low-income families.

“The focus of these programs on increasing participants’ earning capacity makes them well-suited for integrating financial capability activities,” said Erin Olson, CAP’s Project Development Coordinator.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

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THE ACTIVE VOICE \\ PORTAGE COUNTY BUSINESS COUNCIL NEWSLETTER

CAP typically helps 15 to 20 households each year buy their first home and helps another 50 to 75 households rehabilitate their homes. It has helped a total of more than 1,400 homebuyers and homeowners buy and/or rehabilitate homes.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------CAP Services Inc. was recently awarded $250,000 from the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) to relend under the SBA’s Microloan program.

The SBA’s microloan program provides loans up to $50,000 to help small businesses start up and expand. Intermediaries administer the Microloan program for eligible borrowers. CAP was approved as an intermediary lender in 2013 based on its experience in lending as well as management and technical assistance experience.

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. ///

AMBASSADORS SHOW THEIR SUPPORT FAREWELL TO DIRECTOR OF MEMBER RELATIONS, MARY JO MONDAY

Seek Careers & Staffing recently opened a Stevens Point branch located at 5474 US Highway 10E, Suite 5.

A ribbon cutting ceremony took place on September 2nd.

A new location of Culver’s broke ground the morning of September 21 in the Village Park in Plover.

The expected opening date is February 22.

I want to bid farewell to you as I leave my position here at the Portage County Business Council after nine years as the Director of Member Relations. I have accepted a position outside the organization and my last day is Friday, October 2.

Thank you for being a member of this great organization. I’ve enjoyed the opportunity getting to know you and learn about your business over these years. I applaud the great things that you do in and for our community every day.

I wish you continued success.

Mary Jo Monday

Dr. Wade & Danielle Trzebiatowski hosted their ribbon cutting celebration for Elevate Life Chiropractic on September 10. The business is located at 5370 US Highway 10E, Suite B in Stevens Point.

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THE ACTIVE VOICE \\ PORTAGE COUNTY BUSINESS COUNCIL NEWSLETTER

DAYTA MARKETING IS BRINGING

DAYTA UNIVERSITY TO

Holiday Inn Convention Center 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM OCTOBER 29TH

A one day social media seminar designed for small business owners, entrepreneurs, and business professionals looking to harness the power of social media. Attendees will get the answers and actionable methods they need to make their social media marketing a success.

DAYTA University offers 9 unique classes designed with the beginner in mind. All classes are taught by the social media experts (SMEs) at DAYTA Marketing who live and breathe social media day in and day out. Whether you make your own custom class schedule or sign up for an existing class track, this will be a truly beneficial experience that you won’t regret! Come network, listen and learn.

TICKET PRICE: $249 INCLUDES: • Professional Headshot • Lunch • Drink Ticket for the networking after party

SPONSORS:

For class descriptions and information visit: DAYTAmarketing.com/Dayta-U For questions and reservations please contact: Ellie@DAYTAmarketing.com

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THE ACTIVE VOICE \\ PORTAGE COUNTY BUSINESS COUNCIL NEWSLETTER

ANNUAL AG TOUR EVENT HELD A sell-out crowd of nearly 60 people attended this annual Ag Tour event on September 15th sponsored by Roberts Irrigation Company, Inc., DelMonte Foods and the Agri-Business Committee of the Portage County Business Council.

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.

Dick Okray, President of Okray Family Farms, is guest speaker at Ag Tour event during luncheon.

Attendees get the opportunity to view the eye-popping Spudmobile designed and developed by the Wisconsin Potato & Vegetable Growers Association.

Amy Sue Vruwink and Trish Baker hear about the process of potatoes from trucking to packaging at Hamerski Farms.

Ag Tour attendees tour family-owned farm – Wysocki Family of Companies in Bancroft, WI.

The ladies from Rural Mutual Insurance enjoyed the stop to Great Northern Distilling.

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THE ACTIVE VOICE \\ PORTAGE COUNTY BUSINESS COUNCIL NEWSLETTER

BUSINESS AFTER HOURS 10.19.15 \\ 5:00 P.M. - 7:00 P.M.

» CLICK HERE TO REGISTER ONLINE » CLICK HERE FOR A MAP

HOSTED BY:

Hosted by: Central Wisconsin Center for Non-Profits 1578 Strongs Avenue, Stevens Point Directions: Building is on the corner of Strongs Avenue and Brawley Street. Building is also home of JusticeWorks and the 2617 Club; former home of the Masonic Lodge. Street parking is available.

The Central Wisconsin Center for Non-Profits will be offering complimentary Cranberry Punch. Featured complimentary hors d’oeuvres will include Mini Franks in Pastry, Bacon Wrapped Water Chestnuts, Veggie Pizza Squares, Italian Bruschetta and Deviled Eggs!

Attendees will also have the opportunity to tour the building and take part in a 50/50 Raffle. Don’t miss out!

Home of the Central Wisconsin Center for Non-Profits

Central Wisconsin Center for Non-Profits Monday, October 19, 2015 RSVP by Friday, October 16, 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.

SAVE THE DATE of Wednesday, January 27, 2016!

5:30 – 8:30pm Holiday Inn Hotel & Convention Center Sponsorships are limited and handled on a first come, first served basis. Please contact Karen Schanock with your commitment at 715-344-1940 or kschanoc@portagecountybiz.com.

Thank you for your support.

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THE ACTIVE VOICE \\ PORTAGE COUNTY BUSINESS COUNCIL NEWSLETTER

BUSINESS X-CHANGE 10.14.15 \\ 7:30 A.M. - 8:30 A.M. \\ PCBC FOUNDATION ROOM

» CLICK HERE TO REGISTER

NO COST TO ATTEND. CONTINENTAL BREAKFAST IS INCLUDED.

Business X-Change meets regularly throughout the year at the Portage County Business Council office. These programs allow business owners and their employees the opportunity to discuss pertinent topics, learn from local industry leaders and, most importantly, learn from each other.

7:30 A.M. - 8:30 A.M. in the Portage County Business Council Foundation Room

TOPIC: “Being Prepared BEFORE the Disaster Strikes” Hurricanes and fires seem to get the majority of the “credit” for disasters in the world. As devastating as these both are, the reality in Central Wisconsin is we are just as susceptible to disasters by the way of large ice storms, tornadoes and fires. How prepared were you for the October storm of 2010 or the Christmas ice storm of 2008? If a disaster strikes tomorrow, would your family be prepared; what about your business? Wendy and Kelly have a fun opportunity to assess your preparedness and help you to be ready for the next disaster.

Key points at this X-Change: 1. Assess Your Businesses’ Preparedness for a Disaster 2. Establishing an Emergency Response Planner 3. Easy Ways to Report an electric or natural gas emergency 4. Being safe during a disaster

ABOUT OUR SPEAKERS: Kelly Zagrzebski, Community Relations Leader - Wisconsin Public Service, has worked for WPS since 1992. Working directly with emergency government and emergency responders during power outages and natural gas emergencies; Kelly has attended various FEMA sessions focused on community disasters.

Wendy Savage, Executive Director NorthCentral Chapter - American Red Cross, has been with the American Red Cross since 2010. As Executive Director, she provides leadership and direction to volunteers and employees, ensuring the goals and mission of the American Red Cross are effectively delivered.

(L/R) Kelly Zagrzebski, Community Relations Leader – Wisconsin Public Service and Wendy Savage, Executive Director North Central Chapter – American Red Cross

Special THANK YOU to Wisconsin Public Service for their sponsorship of this program.

PCBC HIRING FOR DIRECTOR OF BUSINESS ENGAGEMENT POSITION The Portage County Business Council (PCBC) is seeking a dynamic sales-oriented individual for the Director of Business Engagement position. This position is primarily responsible for Chamber of Commerce membership recruitment, retention and engagement. The individual will also play a role in economic development.

This individual works directly with businesses to understand their needs, assist with problem solving and locating resources to aid member growth. The director is visible in the community as an advocate for PCBC membership and programs.

Please submit a cover letter, resume, and three references to Todd Kuckkahn, Executive Director Portage County Business Council 5501 Vern Holmes Drive Stevens Point WI, 54482 E-Mail: tkuckkah@portagecountybiz.com.

The job description is available on the PCBC website at: www.portagecountybiz.com.

Application review will begin on Monday, October 19 with the goal of having the position filled on or around December 1, 2015.

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THE ACTIVE VOICE \\ PORTAGE COUNTY BUSINESS COUNCIL NEWSLETTER

SAVE THE DATE: WOMEN IN BUSINESS 12.10.15 \\ 11:15 A.M. - 1:00 P.M. \\ PRESENTED BY BERKSHIRE HATHAWAY TRAVEL PROTECTION

» CLICK HERE TO REGISTER » CLICK HERE FOR A MAP

Thursday, December 10th 11:15AM to 1:00PM Holiday Inn Hotel & Convention Center, 1001 Amber Avenue, Stevens Point Cost: $25/Members, $30/Prospective Members

Watch for more details in our November newsletter edition.

For questions contact Karen Schanock at 715-344-1940 or kschanoc@portagecountybiz.com.

PHOTOS FROM OUR SEPTEMBER EVENT AT THE STEVENS POINT COUNTRY CLUB WHERE NEARLY 125 PEOPLE WERE IN ATTENDANCE.

All Women in Business Events are sponsored in part by Media Sponsor- Midwest Communications For questions contact : Karen Schanock 715/344-1940 kschanoc@portagecountybiz.com

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THE ACTIVE VOICE \\ PORTAGE COUNTY BUSINESS COUNCIL NEWSLETTER

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 13

THE ACTIVE VOICE \\ PORTAGE COUNTY BUSINESS COUNCIL NEWSLETTER

Call or Visit us today!

LEADERSHIP PORTAGE COUNTY

Enjoy this letter from one of our 2015-2016 LPC Participants, reflecting on September’s LPC session: Leadership Portage County: Growing Stronger Written by Kym Buchanan More tourists, more empathy, and more potatoes per acre: this month was all about nurturing!

The 2015-2016 Leadership Portage County cohort met on Thursday, September 17, 2015 at the Stevens Point Area Convention and Visitors Bureau (SPACVB). Even as we shrugged off sleep with caffeine and sugar, there was a palpable enthusiasm among the group.

After last month's memorable Road Rally, we were eager to taste today's topics and surprises.

First up was tourism and agri-tourism. Melissa Sabel, SPACVB, talked about the different people with different desires who visit our area.

Tourism in Portage County feeds about 2000 full-time jobs, according to Sabel. Agri-tourism is the old made new: more consumers are curious about the sourcing and processing of our foods and beverages. Whether it's visiting a brewery or distillery, choosing communitysupported agriculture (CSA's), or shopping at the Stevens Point Farmers Market, Portage County's agricultural bounty is easy to pick.

Just how great is that bounty? Ken Schroeder, UW-Extension, broke it down for us. Portage County is #1 in Wisconsin for producing potatoes, snap beans (green beans), and sweet corn, and Wisconsin is a leading producer of those and many other crops. At the county and state levels, our cornucopia includes green peas, carrots, beets, cucumbers, and mm-mmm cranberries. Thanks to the "Central Sands" of Portage County, better agricultural science, and better technology, yields are substantially improving, even over the past twenty years. Our special thanks to Ken for his patience with ignorant city slickers' questions!

Our morning also included a lesson on emotional intelligence. Gary Yeast, Ministry Health Care, unpacked the inspirational and practical benefits to cultivating our self-awareness, self-regulation, self-motivation, empathy, and relationship skills. This foray into applied psychology was one of the most fruitful segments thus far! (Disclaimer: author is a psychologist.)

Our cohort clearly enjoys some friendly competition, so a high point of the morning was a visioning-and-communication exercise/race.

Each team included a CEO, two managers, and some employees. While the CEO had the vision of a sophisticated LEGO space-truck, the managers had to dice it into step-by-step instructions for the employees. But those hapless employees were blind-folded! All this lead to some frantic rushing back and forth between "headquarters" and the "factory," and some wry, teachable moments (e.g., "Next, use the red piece…." "Um… I'm still blind-folded."). During the debrief many of us harvested comparisons to our own organizations' triumphs and failures in shared vision and engagement.

We rounded off the day with a visit to Paragon Potato Farm. A part of the Wysocki Family of Companies, Paragon uses advanced technology in their fields and their processing plant. Not only is the plant "grading" 1.8 million hundredweight of potatoes every year, Paragon scientists are continually exploring new strains to improve quality and yield. Thus, we got to see first-hand the hard work and ingenuity of our local growers and packers, tying back to the proud statistics Ken Schroeder shared. Also, we got free potatoes.

Overall, we're peeling open new views of our county and its business sectors, while savoring the wisdom of our facilitator (Judy Rannow) and each other. We continue to grow our understanding of the challenges and strategies of leadership, planting the seeds for both our organizations' success and our own wellness. We look forward to what crops up next month!

Photos from the September LPC session

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

PARTNERS IN EDUCATION

PARTNERS IN EDUCATION BUSINESS-EDUCATION FORUM 10/13/2015 2:00 P.M.-4:00 P.M. SPAPSD Professional Development Center 1900 West Zinda Drive, Stevens Point

» CLICK HERE TO REGISTER PIE Business-Education Forums provide business representatives, educators, community organizations and students the opportunity to discuss workforce development issues which impact them and brainstorm ways to address those issues. After each forum, the Partners In Education Committee reviews the information gathered and determines how best to address the issues that come up. Participation in forums is fluid and varied.

October 13, 2015 Business-Education Forum Focus: Engaging students in workforce development programs and learning what businesses in Portage County can do to attract and retain them* *Students from UWSP, MSTC and local high schools have been invited to participate in this event Thank you to the event sponsors:

Photos from previous PIE Business- Education Forums

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THE ACTIVE VOICE \\ PORTAGE COUNTY BUSINESS COUNCIL NEWSLETTER

Seeking Businesses to Offer Job Shadow Experiences Each fall PIE receives requests from high school students to Job Shadow at local organizations.

This year we have expanded the program to include students at UWSP. We are seeking businesses interested in having high school and college students spend between 1-4 hours at their location learning about available jobs.

As the host business you set the agenda for the visit. You select the areas the student can visit, what they can see and how much time they spend at your location.

This is a great opportunity to showcase your business to future employees.

“In the fall I did a job shadow with Point Heating and Cooling for the whole day. By the end of the day I was offered a job. I am still working with them today and will be working with them past my high school career. I think job shadows are a great thing and that more people should try them out.

It gives you an opportunity to get to know about the job and puts you right in the worker’s shoes.” ~ Alex Zorn after job shadowing Rob Schill, General Manager at Point Heating and Cooling

PARTNERS IN EDUCATION

Kick off the school year at the 35th Annual

PIE Social

welcoming new faculty & academic staff to Portage County

Tuesday, October 13, 2015 | 5:00 PM - 7:00 PM

Professional Development Center-SPAPSD | 1900 West Zinda Drive | Stevens Point BUS

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Join area business leaders for a pie and coffee social with new faculty & staff from University of Wisconsin - Stevens Point, Mid-State Technical College, and area K-12 public and private schools. This annual event is a great way to start and strengthen business-education networks.

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We will hear what’s happening in our local schools and businesses while learning more about Partners in Education (PIE), a program that implements and promotes effective workforce development educational programs focusing on employability skills and career exploration. During the event, we’ll hear from local leaders Lee Bush, Volker Gaul, Gregg Hansel, Bernie Patterson & more!

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$15 per person* Pie & coffee will be provided.

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**New Faculty and Staff members please register via email with Judy Rannow at: fdn@portagecountybiz.com.

All other guests click on the pie below to register. * Fee is tax deductible, and all proceeds go to support PIE programs.

**Register now by clicking on the pie!

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED!

Volunteers are still needed to help with PIE programming for the 2015-2016 school year. Please see the Partners in Education Volunteer Form HERE for a list of ways you can share your talents and gifts!

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

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 \\ OCTOBER 2015

8 Ambassadors Club Meeting- 8:00 A.M., PCBC Office 13 PIE Business-Education Forum- 2:00-4:00 P.M., SPAPSD Professional Development Center 13 PIE Social- 5:00-7:00 P.M., SPAPSD Professional Development Center 14 Business X-Change- 7:30 A.M., PCBC Office 14 Wines of the World Committee Meeting- 3:00 P.M., Holiday Inn Hotel & Convention Center 15 SalesNet Meeting- 11:45 A.M.-1:00 P.M., PCBC Office 19 Business After Hours- 5:00 P.M.- 7:00 P.M., Central WI Center for NonProfits 21 Executive Committee Meeting 30 Wines of the World- 6:00-9:00 P.M. Holiday Inn Hotel & Convention Center

CONNECT WITH US ON... www.PortageCountyBiz.com

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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 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:

kschanoc@portagecountybiz.com

Tonya Kowalski \\ tkowalsk@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