11.2014 The Active Voice Newsletter by Portage County Business Council, Inc.

11.2014 \\ PORTAGE COUNTY, WISCONSIN

upcoming EVENTS \\ Small Business X-Change Wednesday, November 5, 2014 \\ 7:30 AM - 8:30 AM Portage County Business Council, Foundation Room 5501 Vern Holmes Drive | Stevens Point, WI 54482

» REGISTER

13th Annual Wines of the World Friday, November 7, 2014 \\ 6:00 PM - 9:00 PM Holiday Inn Hotel & Convention Center 1001 Amber Avenue | Stevens Point, WI 54482

» REGISTER

Business After Hours Monday, November 17, 2014 \\ 5:00 PM - 7:00 PM Puroclean Restoration Professionals and AFLAC 2925 Welsby Avenue | Stevens Point, WI 54481

» REGISTER

POWER Breakfast Thursday, November 20, 2014 \\ 7:15 AM - 9:00 AM Stevens Point Country Club 1628 Country Club Drive | Stevens Point, WI 54481

» REGISTER

Leadership Portage County Thursday, November 20, 2014 \\ 8:00 AM - 4:30 PM Various locations throughout the year.

» ABOUT LEADERSHIP PORTAGE COUNTY PIE REALITY SHOP Wednesday, December 2, 2014 \\ 7:30 AM - 3:30 PM Stevens Point Area Senior High (SPASH) 1201 Northpoint Drive | Stevens Point, WI 54481

» VOLUNTEER

11.7.14 \\ HOLIDAY INN HOTEL & CONVENTION CENTER ONLY A FEW DAYS REMAIN TO GET YOUR TICKETS!

» CLICK HERE FOR TICKETS Don’t miss out on our 13th Annual Wines of the World event on Friday, November 7th. Register TODAY by clicking here or call our office at 715-344-1940. Event Highlights: • A chance to win a Unique Dining Experience for 6: You and five of your friends can enjoy a catered dinner in the privacy of your home. You design the menu with Private Chef – Scott Rockman, owner of Rockman’s Catering. You pick the date; travel within a 30 mile radius. • A chance to win a stunning , one-of-a-kind 3 Round Spessartite Garnet Pendant in 14K yellow gold with a yellow gold box chain designed for this event by Thomas Dailing Designs. Sponsored by Lee Ayers Jewelers and Thomas Dailing Designs. • Silent Auction items including wines from @1800, wine-themed gift baskets, lodging packages, a beautiful wine rack and much more! • Soft live jazz music to listen or dance to by the UWSP Jazz Quintet. • Not a wine drinker? Not a problem, the Stevens Point Brewery will be providing various beers & ciders for tasting. A cash bar will also be available. • A taste-tempting array of fine cuisine prepared by the Holiday Inn Hotel & Convention Center and Rockman’s Catering. • Wisconsin Artisan Cheeses and Imports by Ski’s Meat Market.

• NEW to the event specialty craft beers for tasting and bourbon tastings. • NEW – handcrafted spirits by Great Northern Distilling. • Of course, 100 wines for sampling from around the world by The Bottle Stop! • Additionally, any of the wines ordered through The Bottle Stop (by November 24th) will receive the 10% discounted pricing. Join us on Friday from 6:00PM – 9:00PM at the Holiday Inn Hotel & Convention Center, 1001 Amber Avenue, Stevens Point, WI. Event reservations are as follows: $48 per person for Business Council members $55 per person for Prospective members $60 per person the day of the event Will Call is Available Tickets are available at the Business Council office or Ski’s Meat Market. Order your tickets TODAY! PCBC office hours are 8AM until 4:30PM.

PRESENTING WINE SPONSOR Thank you to:

SOMMELIER MASTER MEDIA SPONSOR Thank you to:

NRG Media

FOOD SPONSORS Thank you to:

ROUNDTABLE GROUPS FORMING NOW » CLICK HERE TO LEARN MORE » CLICK HERE FOR APPLICATION

The following Roundtable groups are being formed: BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT ROUNDTABLE Participants are responsible for overall business/client development efforts for their company. CEO ROUNDTABLE Owners of small, mid-size, and large companies placed with owners of similarly sized companies.

round•ta•ble round t b l) Roundtable - often round table 1. conference or discussion involving several participants 2. meeting of peers for discussion and exchange of views 3. a discussion among participants who have an agreed (serious) topic The Portage County Business Council is pleased to announce the launch of our new Roundtables program beginning in January 2015. Feedback gathered in a recent member survey told us members were interested in being a part of a Roundtable group, if something were started through the Business Council. The primary objective of the Roundtables is to bring participants from non-competing industries together to share best practices and offer ideas on improving business performance through cooperative interaction. Each group is self-led, prioritizing issues and developing its own agenda. Groups meet monthly with the determination on date/time established by each group. Limited to eight to 10 owners, CEO’s, COO’s / CFO’s or primary decision-makers in various positions, each group is carefully selected through an application process, to complement each other’s businesses and add value to the discussions. Participants will pay a $75 annual fee. Facilitators will help keep meetings on track, assist in guiding discussions and assure each meeting is productive, focused and informative.

COO / CFO ROUNDTABLE Top-level operations executives who are responsible for profit and loss, but do not have ownership of their organizations. HUMAN RESOURCES ROUNDTABLE Senior level managers who are responsible for overseeing all HR responsibilities for their companies. NON-PROFIT EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR ROUNDTABLE Executive directors of not-for-profit (501 (c) (3)). SALES MANAGER ROUNDTABLE Manager of a sales team who directly assists the company’s executive management. SMALL BUSINESS OWNER ROUNDTABLE Owner of a small business; typically sole proprietors. Applications will be accepted on an ongoing basis.

To learn more about how participation in a roundtable can benefit you and your business, contact Mary Jo Monday at 715-344-1940 or email mmonday@portagecountybiz.com.

CONGRATULATIONS TO SKYWARD!

Hundreds of people, including our Ambassadors Club came out on October 10th to celebrate the Groundbreaking Ceremony for Skyward - the site of the new $30 million, 180,000 square foot world headquarters. Congratulations to Skyward! The new world headquarters will be located in the Portage County Business Park on E.M. Copps Drive.

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.

Lada Xiong-Vang has recently joined Environments, a division of The Samuels Group as a Business Development Manager in the Wausau, WI office. Lada will focus on assisting commercial facilities create their perfect work environment through consultation, space planning, interior design, and furnishings. Lada previously worked for Ethan Allen and brings over seven years of design and sales experience to the Environments team. \\ The Central Wisconsin Symphony Orchestra, under the direction of Dr. Patrick Miles, welcomes Chaise Lounge in a holiday pops program for Saturday, December 6th at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday, December 7th at 4:00 p.m. All performances will be held at the Theater @1800 in the Sentry Insurance Complex, 1800 Northpoint Drive, Stevens Point. Tickets, available through the UWSP Box Office are $25 for adults, $20 for seniors and $10 for any student with an I.D. through college plus $2 handling charge on each ticket. Please contact the box office, located at 1015 Reserve Street, Stevens Point, by telephone: 800-838-3378 or via the internet: cwso.org/tickets. \\ Bobbie Bohen, a Crisis Counselor at CAP Services’ Family Crisis Center in Stevens Point, received the Governor’s Council on Domestic Abuse’s Courage Award from State Representative Katrina Shankland, D-Stevens Point, during a ceremony Wednesday, Oct. 8, in Madison. \\ Nathan Quinnell, Vice President at River Cities Bank was awarded a diploma on August 15, 2014, at commencement exercises during the 70th annual session of the prestigious Graduate School of Banking at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. \\ Jennifer Koenig, Personal Banker at Investors Community Bank in Stevens Point, recently attended a seminar on “Advanced IRAs.” Sponsored by the Wisconsin Bankers’ Association, the program addressed some of the more complex IRA issues that financial organizations may handle. The seminar built on Koenig’s knowledge of IRA basics and used real-world exercises to help her apply information to job-related situations, including resolving contribution issues, RMD and beneficiary issues, minimum distributions and advanced portability. \\ Ellis Stone Construction Company president Jim Anderson has been recognized by the UWSP Alumni Association with a Lifetime Achievement Award. Anderson is a 1989 graduate and has remained involved with UWSP through the Alumni Association, Foundation Board, and associate lecturer in the Department of Business and Economics. His commitment to the area has been exhibited through his involvement with many boards and civic organizations promoting businesses and improving the lives of area citizens. \\

Six employees of ABR Employment Services supplemental staff will receive $1,000 each between November 2014 to March 2015 to help pay their rent or mortgage during ABR’s ‘FREE RENT and a job!’ employee appreciation campaign. ABR employees (talent) will receive an entry in the drawing for each week they work in that particular month. During the campaign, American Sweepstakes and Promotion Company will draw the monthly winner’s name. \\ North Central Wisconsin Workforce Development Board (NCWWDB) recently selected and announced the award recipients of its 2nd Annual Erhard Huettl WIA Awards of Excellence. 2014 WIA - Youth Program Participant of the Year award recipient is Samuel Garvin, formerly of Land O’ Lakes, WI. 2014 - WIA - Adult Program Participant of the Year award recipient is Lisa Pionek of Milladore, WI. \\ Chevrolet has chosen to partner with UW-Stevens Point and a handful of other institutions of higher education that undertake energy-efficiency and renewable-energy projects. As part of a voluntary carbon reduction initiative, it is buying and retiring carbon credits from colleges that have reduced greenhouse gas emissions to permanently benefit the environment. The campus will receive an estimated $30,000 to $35,000 for its carbon credits, which will be reinvested in additional energysavings projects. For more information, visit www. uwsp.edu/sustainability. \\ Coldwell Banker The Real Estate Group is pleased to announce their Stevens Point office’s September Chairman’s Circle list. Congratulations Todd Reilly, Pete Meinholz, Josh Zimmerman, Tiffany Broecker, and Betty Garski. \\ Girls in Pearls was recently featured in “The Business News.” Girls in Pearls makes a difference in the community by working with the Back-to-Work program in Portage County which helps women who are returning to the workforce. Along with offering the program end-of-the-season new clothing from the boutique, Girls in Pearls also gives back to the community through donations to causes and people in need. ...See TheBusinessNewsOnline.com for more. \\ Flexible Nutrition Solutions was recently featured in “The Business News.” Flexible Nutrition Solutions helps others stay fit, look and feel their best. While Sarah Agena, owner of Flexible Nutrition Solutions, works with clients of all ages, many are of the baby boomer generation. “They’re getting older and realizing the importance of eating more healthfully and taking control of their health,” she said. “They’re realizing the value of investigating some dollars into their wellness.” ...See TheBusinessNewsOnline.com for more \\

Marten Machining Inc was recently featured in “The Business News.” Marten Machining Inc is involved in high-end specialized projects such as supplying components for the largest optical telescope in the Southern Hemisphere, cardiovascular pumps for animals, Anheuser-Busch bottling machines and more. “We’re really hoping that we can develop more of a relationship with the colleges in our area,” Marten said, mentioning the possibility of working with student interns from the universities. ...See TheBusinessNewsOnline.com for more \\ Ellis Stone Construction Company is pleased to announce that Andrew Halverson will be joining Ellis as Vice President of Business Development effective December 1, 2014. Jim Anderson, Ellis’ president said, “Given Andrew’s broad range of project history, construction background, and mindset, we felt he would be a great strategic addition to our company for the future. He has countless experiences in projects ranging from $300,000, to $30,000,000 in value.” Halverson said, “With Ellis’ focus on project targeting, general contracting, and most importantly, client service, this is a great company that I am thrilled to join.” \\ Congratulations to the Ambulatory Surgical Center of Stevens Point for reaching a major milestone – 10,000 cases. In mid-November the center will be performing their 10,000th case. This represents a significant milestone for the independent multispecialty surgical center which opened its doors to their first patients in August of 2006. “We are delighted to have reached this landmark. We are the best choice for outpatient surgical needs in the Stevens Point and surrounding area” says Beverly Sirvio, Nurse Manager. \\ Skyward Inc. broke ground October 10th at the site of its new $30 million, 180,000-square-foot headquarters and said its expansion will continue with as many as 1,000 new local jobs in the next few years. \\ Keller, Planners, Architects and Builders, a design/build general contractor with offices in Milwaukee, Madison, Wausau and the Fox Cities will build a 7,300 square foot arts studio for The Academy of Performing Arts under the direction of Keller Project Manager, Nathan Laurent and Architect, Rob Lindstrom. Owner, Stacy Tuschl, is building a new state-of-the-art facility including two large dance rooms, two private music rooms and a multi-purpose space for acting, group music and children’s dance classes. All rooms have convenient one-way parent view windows. To be located at 10001 West St. Martin’s Road in Franklin, construction has begun and is expected to be completed in spring of 2015.

11.2014 \\ PORTAGE COUNTY, WISCONSIN

BUSINESS AFTER HOURS

SMALL BUSINESS X-CHANGE

11.17.14 \\ 5:00 PM - 7:00 PM

11.5.14 \\ 7:30 AM - 8:30 AM \\ PCBC FOUNDATION ROOM

» CLICK HERE TO REGISTER » MAP

» CLICK HERE TO REGISTER

HOST \

SPONSOR

Hosted by: Aflac and PuroClean 2925 Welsby Avenue Stevens Point, WI 54481 No Cost to Attend Our host will be providing complimentary hors d’oeuvres, refreshments, and door prize giveaways. RSVP by Friday,November 14, 2014.

> Continental Breakfast served > No cost to attend but the value of the information may be priceless!

TOPIC: “YOUTH APPRENTICESHIP & SKILLS DEVELOPMENT: CREATING A WORKFORCE FOR ADVANCED MANUFACTURING OF THE FUTURE” Marten Machining has worked with the Youth Apprenticeship program for over 16 years. At this X-Change, we will be discussing how Marten Machining has worked on developing this program in their business, sharing some of what they have learned working with young people, and how they are planning to continue to work with local schools to promote and develop manufacturing careers in Central Wisconsin.

THE AMBASSADORS ARE GETTING IN THE CHRISTMAS SPIRIT The Ambassadors are kicking off their annual holiday basket program in November. They work in collaboration with Operation Bootstrap to help a Portage County family have a great Christmas season by purchasing items for their holiday meal and gifts for children in the family. Additionally, this year, they are kicking off Letters to Santa. A small committee with be assisting Santa Claus with sending personalized letters to individuals. If you would like a special person(s) in your life to receive a letter from Santa, along with a small trinket, please send their name(s) and $3.00 per letter to: Letters from Santa c/o Portage County Business Council 5501 Vern Holmes Drive Stevens Point, WI 54482 Proceeds from Letters to Santa will benefit the Salvation Army and Family Crisis Center. Checks can be made payable to PCBC. They are taking orders now, but letters will not be sent prior to the Thanksgiving holiday. In order for letters to be received by Christmas, our deadline for ordering will be December 12th. For questions, please contact Karen Schanock at 715-344-1940 or kschanoc@portagecountybiz.com.

THE ACTIVE VOICE \\ PORTAGE COUNTY BUSINESS COUNCIL NEWSLETTER

ABOUT SMALL BUSINESS X-CHANGE 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.

ABOUT OUR SPEAKER David Marten is Vice President of Marten Machining, a family owned CNC manufacturing business located in Stevens Point. David has worked at Marten Machining full time for 9 years and works with the manufacturing, quality, and human resources areas of the business.

David Marten

BE SURE TO ATTEND WOMEN IN BUSINESS 12.11.14 \\ 11:15 AM - 1:00 PM \\ SENTRYWORLD GRAND HALL » CLICK HERE TO REGISTER PRESENTED BY

ABOUT OUR SPEAKER Lizz Schneider is a Certified Financial Planner and has been counseling clients through difficult times by focusing on improving their outlook on life with a focus on their financial health. CliftonLarsonAllen is excited to sponsor Women in Business on Thursday, December 11, 2014. Join us that afternoon from 11:15AM to 1:00PM at the SentryWorld Sports Center in the new Grand Hall (formerly known as the High Court), 601 North Michigan Avenue, Stevens Point. Our guest speaker is Lizz Schneider, CFP, Senior Wealth Manager from CliftonLarsonAllen Wealth Advisors.

Lizz will lead a discussion about ways to look at the brighter side of things, whether you just woke up on the wrong side of the bed or you are really dealing with some tough times. Her presentation is entitled “Find Your Silver Lining: Every Day Empowerment” Points that you will learn as a result of attending this Women in Business: • Sharing / Venting is healthy (learn to move on) • Have a “go-to” support network • Everything happens for a reason • What Now? Plan of action for every day

AGENDA: 11:15AM Registration and Networking 11:30AM Welcome 11:45AM Lunch (Consisting of Mixed Garden Salad with dressing, Herb Dusted Chicken Breast, Seasonal Vegetable, Coffee & Water and Dessert) Vegetarian or Gluten Free Options available upon request 12:15AM Guest Speaker, Lizz Schneider 1:00PM Door Prize Giveaways and Closing To register online, Click Here. You can also call the Business Council office at 715/344-1940. Cost is $23/person for members and $30/person for prospective-members.

SAVE THE DATES Save the dates and mark your calendars for these 2015 Women in Business Events: • Thursday, March 19, 2015 fashion show at the Holiday Inn Hotel & Convention Center – Presented by Girls in Pearls Boutique • Thursday, June 25, 2015 • Thursday, September 24, 2015 • Thursday, December 10, 2015 Opportunities are available to Business Council members wishing to play a greater role in our Women in Business events for 2015. Contact Karen Schanock at kschanoc@portagecountybiz.com for all the exciting details.

JOIN US FOR POWER BREAKFAST 11.20.14 \\ 7:15 AM - 9:00 AM » CLICK HERE TO REGISTER PRESENTED BY

START YOUR DAY WITH BREAKFAST AND THE PORTAGE COUNTY BUSINESS COUNCIL. OUR FEATURED PRESENTER FOR THE NOVEMBER POWER BREAKFAST WILL BE MR. JOHN NOEL, CEO OF BERKSHIRE HATHAWAY TRAVEL PROTECTION. “GROWING A GLOBAL BUSINESS IN A SMALL COMMUNITY” ABOUT OUR SPEAKER:

JOHN NOEL

John Noel is CEO of Berkshire Hathaway Travel Protection, a provider of revolutionary travel-insurance products and services based in Stevens Point, Wisconsin. Noel has started and built several companies. He started Travel Guard in his basement in 1985 and grew it into one of the world’s most respected travel insurance and emergency-assistance providers. In January 2014, Noel sold the assets of Noel Group companies MyAssist and Insure America to Berkshire Hathaway Specialty Insurance. In May 2014, Berkshire Hathaway Travel Protection

was launched. In 1993, Noel, and his wife, Patty, established the Make A Mark Foundation, a nonprofit program that has built clinics, schools, and orphanages in developing countries. Noel earned his Bachelor of Science degree from UW-Stevens Point and was recognized as the university’s “Alumnus of the Year” in 1999. POWER Breakfast provides educational and professional development opportunities to Business Council members and the communities of Portage County. Information speakers will help you stay informed of business issues you need to understand.

AGENDA: 7:15 am – Registration 7:30 am – Welcome and Breakfast 8:15 am – Featured Speaker – Mr. John Noel 9:00 am – Closing Cost is $20/person for members and $25/person for prospective members.

11.2014 \\ PORTAGE COUNTY, WISCONSIN

welcome to OUR NEWEST MEMBERS \\

member of the MONTH \\

BMO HARRIS BANK - WAUSAU

IDEA ASSOCIATES

JEREMY CASTLEBERG Wausau \\ 715-847-4306 \\ http://www.bmoharris.com \\ Join Date \\ 9/05/14

JORDAN BAR & GRILL JOHN KOSHNICK

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. November features a business that begins with the letter “I”.

307 Green Avenue \\ Stevens Point, WI (715) 344-5230 \\ ideaassociates@prcounsel.us \\ Join Date \\ 09/1976

BOB WILLIAMS, OWNER, IDEA ASSOCIATES - PUBLIC RELATIONS COUNSEL HAS BEEN AN ACTIVE, SATISFIED MEMBER SINCE 1976

Stevens Point \\ 715-544-6732 \\ https://www.facebook.com/jordanbarandgrill \\ jkoshnick@yahoo.com \\ Join Date \\ 9/16/14

Portage County Business Council question: “What’s new and exciting at Idea Associates?”

COMPASS EMERGENCY SUPPLY

Since 1958 we have counselled with Wisconsin firms, and national businesses. Issues have included nuclear energy plant sittings, branch banking, agricultural irrigation and others. Partisan politics? Many contests electing Congressmen, Governors, and Wisconsin Supreme Court Justices. And local races including Sheriffs, District Attorneys and Judges.

KEATON SCHULTZ Plover \\ 715-498-1297 \\ http://www.compassesupply.com \\ keatons@compassesupply.com \\ Join Date \\ 10/15/14

POINT VAPER E-CIGS AND E-JUICES JASON MATTISON Stevens Point \\ 715-321-4114\\ http://www.pointvaper.com \\ store@pointvaper.com \\ Join Date \\ 10/27/14

A: Recently we completed counselling another successful political campaign. Secondly, we accepted a challenge to participate in an “Awareness Campaign” to warn Polio survivors of the impending ‘Second Act’ of that dreaded disease. Let me explain:

The campaign, mentioned above and still in progress began with the Stevens Point Rotary Club where my wife, Mary, is a member. Now, it appears that the entire Rotary District (43 clubs) will join in raising Mary brings over 25 years awareness about Post Polio Syndrome – using this local effort as a of University administration pilot project for the nation. experience and the writing skills of a public school

It is estimated that 50% of Polio survivors will contract Post Polio English teacher. Syndrome which may cripple them - sending them to crutches or wheel chairs. There could be as many as 10,000 new Post Polio Syndrome victims in Wisconsin. [My full disclosure: Polio Victim – 1954; Post Polio Syndrome patient since 2010 with prescribed therapy and exercise programs. Doing well! ]

DENESE MACE HONORED AS AMBASSADOR OF THE 3RD 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.

Most Polio survivors and health care givers (including physicians and nurses) are unaware of the possible epidemic ahead. Our business has accepted advising this campaign. PCBC: What makes your business stand out from the competition? A: We hoped our past successes – and my big, blue eyes. But, instead if the client accepts our terms and we believe in their case or issue, we will serve for $1 dollar. This keeps us busy in what might be our retirement years. It surely makes our clients happy. PCBC: Best business advice you have ever received? A: A UW-Madison Journalism Professor: “There is no limit to what one may accomplish if one cares not who gets the credit!”

During the third quarter of 2014, Denese Mace was named the Ambassador of the Quarter. Denese is a Sales & Marketing Representative with Ministry Medical Group – Occupational Medicine. She has been an Ambassador since 2009. Congratulations Denese on your recent achievement. The Business Council Board of Directors, Ambassadors Club and staff appreciate your efforts on behalf of the organization.

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

Our friend of near 60 years, MEL LAIRD, taught me most of my campaign savvy, MARY WILLIAMS, now my editor, partner, and wife at Idea Associates

THE ACTIVE VOICE \\ PORTAGE COUNTY BUSINESS COUNCIL NEWSLETTER

SAVE THE DATE FOR THE 2015 ANNUAL DINNER & SILENT AUCTION 01.27.15 \\ 5:30PM – 8:30PM AT SENTRYWORLD IN THE BEAUTIFUL NEW ATRIUM & FIELDHOUSE » CLICK HERE TO REGISTER PRESENTING SPONSOR - SOLD OUT

•

Four (4) complimentary drink tickets.

special thanks to:

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. Registration is now open. Click Here.

AWARD SPONSOR

(Commitment Needed by December 12th) 2 available @ $800 (Special thanks to AT&T – Wisconsin and Delta Dental of Wisconsin as two of our Sponsors to date) Benefits for Award Sponsor: • Opportunity to introduce sponsored award on stage. One sponsor per award (Ambassador of the Year, Small Business on the Year, Decree of Excellence and Not-forProfit Quality of Life Award) • Logo and Award Sponsor recognition in event marketing including event program, newsletter, and PCBC web site. • Logo and Award Sponsor recognition during event award video presentation. • Recognition as Award Sponsor on all emails to over 1500 member contacts. • Verbal recognition at dinner. • Four (4) complimentary dinner tickets to event with reserved seating.

SILENT AUCTION DONOR

(Commitment Needed by December 31) Silent Auction Opportunity: • Recognition in Silent Auction program and newsletter. • Logo and Silent Auction Donor recognition during Reception. • Recognized with a creative display during the Reception promoting both your business and the merchandise and/or service

RECEPTION SPONSOR

(Commitment Needed by December 12th) 4 available @ $600 Benefits for Reception Sponsor: • Recognition in event program, newsletter, and PCBC web site. • Logo and Reception Sponsor recognition during event award video presentation. • Recognition as Reception Sponsor on all emails to over 1500 member contacts. • Verbal recognition at dinner. • Two (2) complimentary dinner tickets to event.

SMALL BUSINESS OF THE YEAR AWARD NOMINATIONS SOUGHT » CLICK HERE FOR NOMINATION FORM

The Portage County Business Council is seeking your nominations for the annual Small Business of the Year Award. A streamlined nomination form for the Small Business of the Year Award is available in this issue. Your nominations are due Friday, November 28th. Self nominations are encouraged. The Small Business of the Year Award is presented during the Business Council’s Annual Dinner on January 27, 2015.

Criteria: • Member businesses nominated receive a questionnaire form • Award selection is made from companies completing the form • All forms are confidentially reviewed • Criteria based on continued growth, customer service, economic health, community service, leadership and market change adaptability. For more information on this award and past recipients, please contact Karen Schanock at 344-1940 or kschanoc@portagecountybiz.com.

PROMOTE YOUR PRODUCTS AND SERVICES You have a unique opportunity to promote your business at the 21st Annual Silent Auction fundraiser event. The Business Council is currently seeking unique products and services to be auctioned at the Annual Dinner and Silent Auction on Tuesday, January 27th. Proceeds from the event benefit member programs and new Business Council initiatives.

Contribution ideas could be a specialty product and/or a service your business offers. Ideas might include a monthly floral delivery, one year hair care or drycleaning, oil changes, consulting services, golf lessons, artwork, jewelry, clothing or cellular phone services. Need more ideas? How about a weekend get-away package, home/office cleaning, a photography session or dining out certificates.

As a Silent Auction donor, the Business Council promotes both your business and the merchandise and/or service in all printed promotional material. Your business and donated item will also be promoted during the Annual Dinner to over 350 business people. Each donation will be recognized with a display at the Silent Auction, highlighting your business name.

Be creative…Don’t miss this chance to promote your business to the business community. For more information, or to register a Silent Auction contribution contact Karen Schanock at the Business Council Office: 715/344-1940 or kschanoc@portagecountybiz.com.

11.2014 \\ PORTAGE COUNTY, WISCONSIN

THE ACTIVE VOICE \\ PORTAGE COUNTY BUSINESS COUNCIL NEWSLETTER

PIE SOCIAL WELCOMES NEW FACULTY AND ACADEMIC STAFF Educators, administrators, community members and business leaders welcomed 82 new faculty and academic staff to the community on Oct. 14 at the Partners In Education 34th annual PIE social. The event was held at the new Mid-State Technical College Stevens Point campus where attendees enjoyed pie and coffee while networking. Featured speakers thanked new educators for their efforts and dedication. Their commitment to educate our students and future Portage County leaders is highly valued. Portage County has a long history of community partnerships and business-education networks, which were highlighted by the speakers.

owners of Marten Machining Inc.; Judy Rannow, Director of Workforce Development for the Portage County Business Council Foundation; Ray Ackerlund, Vice-President of Marketing for Skyward; and Steve Smith, Dean of Mid-State Technical College.

For more information about PIE or PCBCF programs, contact Judy Rannow at 715-344-1940 or fdn@portagecountybiz.com

PLATINUM PIE INVESTORS

Speakers included Attila Weninger, Superintendent of the Stevens Point Area Public School District; Bernie Patterson, Chancellor of the University of WisconsinStevens Point; Debra and Alan Marten,

YOUTH APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAM If you are looking for a way to connect with high school students while helping them develop career skills, you may want to participate as an employer in the Youth Apprenticeship (YA) Program. Wisconsin’s Youth Apprenticeship program is a part of a statewide School-to-Work initiative. It is designed for high school students who want hands on learning in an occupational area at a worksite along with classroom instruction. This one or two year elective program combines academic and technical instruction with mentored on-the-job learning. Portage County students have the ability to participate in the program through their high schools as a member of the Mid-Wisconsin School-to-Work/Career Prep Consortium coordinated through Mid-State Technical College. Stevens Point Area Senior High currently has seventeen YA students in the following areas: Auto Technician, Diesel Technician, Engineering, Finance, Hospitality and Manufacturing (machining).

The Youth Apprenticeship Program offers opportunities in the following areas: • Agriculture, Food & Natural Resources • Architecture & Construction • Art, A/V Technology & Communications • Finance • Health Science • Hospitality & Tourism • Information Technology • Manufacturing • Science, Technology, Engineering & Mathematics (STEM) • Transportation, Distribution & Logistics To hear about the YA program from an employer perspective, attend the November 5th Small Business X-Change.

» CLICK HERE TO LEARN MORE

If you are interested in learning more about the YA program or would like to participate as an employer please contact Judy Rannow at 715-344-1940 or fdn@portagecountybiz.com.

NEW HEALTHCARE JOB SHADOW/CAREER EXPLORATION RESOURCE For students wanting to explore health careers or participate in a healthcare related job shadow, they will now have to do so through the new North Central Wisconsin Healthcare Alliance Career Exploration program: http://ncwha.net/ncwha/ career-exploration/. Through the website, students can register to attend career exploration events and have access to career exploration resources.

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 fdn@portagecountybiz.com.

11.2014 \\ PORTAGE COUNTY, WISCONSIN

THE ACTIVE VOICE \\ PORTAGE COUNTY BUSINESS COUNCIL NEWSLETTER

LEADERSHIP PORTAGE COUNTY » CLICK HERE FOR AN APPLICATION » CLICK HERE FOR A BROCHURE LPC participants met at the library in Stevens Point on October 16, 2014. The theme was Government & Community. Participants heard from local and state government leaders, learned about effective meetings, discussed community planning, and practiced their negotiation and foresight/visioning skills. Thank you to everyone that helped make the session successful: Paula Cummings, Mayor Andrew Halverson, Senator Julie Lassa, Village of Plover Administrator Dan Mahoney, Town of Lanark Chairperson Michael Pagel, Representative Katrina Schankland, Jeff Schuler, and Scott Winn. If you are interested in information about or applying for the 2015-2016 LPC program click the links above.

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED FOR PIE REALITY SHOPS » CLICK HERE TO REGISTER AS A VOLUNTEER It is the time of year when students are learning about personal finance in their classes. The Reality Shop is an interactive financial literacy program preparing students to budget and make informed financial decisions. Students put their learned knowledge into action during the Reality Shop with the help of business volunteers. We are seeking volunteers to help with the SPASH Reality Shop on December 2, 2014. If you are interested in volunteering, register using the link above.

FUTURE REALITY SHOP EVENTS: February 20, 2015 @ St. Peter Middle School April 7, 2015 @ SPASH

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED FOR PIE CAREER EXPLORATION PROGRAMS » CLICK HERE TO VOLUNTEER FOR CAREER CONVERSATIONS » CLICK HERE TO VOLUNTEER FOR EXPLORING CAREER CLUSTERS » CLICK HERE TO VOLUNTEER FOR JOB SHADOWING How does one go about starting in a particular field or career? Being able to talk to individuals who have successful careers in areas of interest or observing them at their place of business can help students make informed career choices. Informed choices lead to better career pathway preparation. PIE is looking for volunteers interested in meeting with individuals or small groups of students to tell them about their careers and how to prepare for a future in that career (Career Conversations & Exploring Career Clusters) and volunteers willing to let students come to their place of employment and observe them at work (Job Shadowing). If you are interested in volunteering to participate in our career exploration programs, click on the links above.

11.2014 \\ PORTAGE COUNTY, WISCONSIN

2014 pcbc / foundation board of DIRECTORS \\

meetings & other DATES \\

Executive Board

November 2014

Keith Pilger - President, Anderson O’Brien Ken Erler - Vice President, Sentry Insurance David McHone - Past President , Central WI Management Services, LLC Sue Wille - Treasurer, Ligman & Wille CPA LLC 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 Lori Dehlinger Van Alstine - Executive Director, Portage County Business Council, Inc.

3 12 18 19 20 27-28

Membership Marketing Committee Meeting, 8:00am, PCBC Executive Committee Meeting, 7:30am, Anderson O’Brien Ambassador Club Meeting, 8:00am, PCBC Board of Directors Meeting, 7:30am, Mid-State Technical College SalesNet Meeting, 11:45am, PCBC Office Closed for Thanksgiving

Board of Directors Tom Altmann - Altmann Construction Company Lorraine Avery - Associated Bank Lisa Bourget - Travel Guard, Inc. Patty Dreier - Portage County Executive David Eckmann - University of Wisconsin - Stevens Point Jim Firminhac - WoodTrust Bank James Gifford - Portage County Board Scott Glinski - Skyward Andrew Halverson - City of Stevens Point O. Phillip Idsvoog - Portage County Board Todd Kuckkahn - Stevens Point Area Catholic Schools Deb Marten - Marten Machining Cherrie Marti - Ministry Saint Michael’s Hospital Richard O’Sullivan - Mid-State Technical College Susan Placzek - SentryWorld Sports Center Dan Schlutter - Village of Plover Attila Weninger - Stevens Point Area Public Schools Ward Wolff - First Weber Group Realtors Rob Wyman - River Valley Bank (Ambassador) Gary Wysocki - Paragon Farms Robert Worth - The Worth Company (Director Emeritus)

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advertise with US \\ » CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFO For questions, please contact Amelia at 715-344-1940 or admin@portagecountybiz.com.

PORTAGE COUNTY GIFT CERTIFICATES

Board Advisors Sara Brish - Stevens Point Area Convention & Visitors Bureau Dan Mahoney - Village of Plover Michael Ostrowski - City of Stevens Point Steve Smith - Mid-State Technical College

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

Lori Dehlinger Van Alstine - 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 Amelia Ruzek - Administrative / Marketing Assistant

ldehling@portagecountybiz.com

Questions / Comments:

mmonday@portagecountybiz.com

Amelia Ruzek \\ admin@portagecountybiz.com

kschanoc@portagecountybiz.com fdn@portagecountybiz.com acctg@portagecountybiz.com admin@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

THE ACTIVE VOICE \\ PORTAGE COUNTY BUSINESS COUNCIL NEWSLETTER

Small Business of the Year Award 2014 Nomination Form In an effort to support and honor successful small businesses across Portage County, we welcome your nomination for the 2014 Small Business of the Year Award. This will be presented at the Business Council’s Annual Dinner on January 27, 2015. The nomination process has been simplified to encourage increased participation. Please indicate your choice for this award on the form below and mail, fax or email the information to the Business Council. Anyone may nominate a business for this yearly honor. Self-nominations are welcome.

Nominations due by Friday, November 28, 2014 Portage County Business Name _____________________________________________________________ I am nominating this business for Small Business of the Year because _______________________________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________________________ Nominated By ____________________________ Company_______________________________________ Phone_______________________________ Email Address_______________________________________ After you Nominate a Business: o All member businesses nominated receive a questionnaire to complete. o Selection for the award is made from companies completing the questionnaire. o All completed questionnaires are confidentially reviewed. Criteria Used in the Selection Process: o Continued growth and economic health o Dedication to customer service o Community service and leadership o Innovative efforts used to adapt to marketplace change Return nomination form to the Portage County Business Council • 5501 Vern Holmes Drive • Stevens Point, WI 54482 Fax: 715-344-4473 • Phone: 715-344-1940 • Email: kschanoc@portagecountybiz.com