the Active Voice red vest and ruroplex He was well-known for his red vest and was equally flamboyant.
we missed you! and so will thousands of 6th-12th grade students!
partners .in education Social & Golden Apple awards reception
GREAT NEWS FOR PCBC MEMBERS! We are now offering Member to Member Discounts! They are offers that are hand-picked by some of our members exclusively for other members to enjoy. To view the current Member to Member Discounts: 1. Go to our website www.portagecountybiz.com 2. Click on Member Login in upper right corner 3. Login using your credentials (if you do not know these- please let us know and we can give them to you) 4. Click on Member to Member Deals 5. Click on each deal for more details
If you have any questions, please contact Tonya Kowalski, Director of Business Engagement, 715-344-1940 or tkowalski@portagecountybiz.com
Like what you see and want to offer a discount from your organization? It is free and easy to post a Member to Member Discount: 1. Go to our website www.portagecountybiz.com 2. Click on Member Login in upper right corner 3. Login using your credentials (if you do not know these- please let us know and we can give them to you) 4. Click on blue box in upper right titled “Add Member to Member Deal� 5. Fill in all appropriate information If you to haveparticipating any questions, please contact Thank you businesses! Tonya Kowalski, Director of Business Engagement,
Mission Coffee House 715-344-1940 LLC or tkowalski@portagecountybiz.com Big Apple Bagels Colonial Life Manpower Colonial Life Buffalo Wild Wings A c t i v e V o BMO i c e Harris | A u g uBank st 2017 Star Business Machines Inc Marjorie's Steakhouse Point of Beauty LLC Jay-Mar Inc
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CONTENTS MAGAZINE 4 red vest and ruroplex He was well-known for his red vest and was equally flamboyant. Dreyfus was sometimes known as a Republicrat and believed in the Ruroplex.
5 inspire regional training, we missed you! The Inspire Central Wisconsin initiative brings together education and industry to help students and job seekers achieve their goals and address communities’ workforce development needs
6 Ignite adopt-a-highway
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Join Ignite for a evening of cleaning up Portage County!
8 wines of the world A taste-tempting array of fine cuisine prepared by the Holiday Inn Hotel & Convention Center and Rockman’s Catering, a silent auction, a beer bar by the Stevens Point Brewery and soft live jazz music will make the evening complete.
15 HR for your business »» p.6
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If you are a business owner or manager of a small business without a dedicated Human Resource (HR) expert on your staff, this is the workshop for you and your organization.
16 Last call for lpc applications Want to join the fun? Sessions begin NEXT WEEK, and continue each month through May.
17 partners in education social & Golden apple awards reception
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The annual PIE Social & Golden Apple Awards Reception strengthens business-education networks. Whether you are an educator, school administrator, business representative or interested community member we invite you to join us for this free event.
A c t i v e Vo i c e | A u g u s t 2 0 1 7
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R E D VE ST A ND R U R O PL E X TODD KUCKKAHN, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR the employees, many of whom had been there over 30 years. He shared the importance of service to the members and the value of committed employees. Their new space is a beacon to Sentry employees and a source of pride.
Recently the name of Lee Sherman Dreyfus came up. He had a very strong connection to our community having been, among other things, a UW-Stevens Point Chancellor and Governor of the State of Wisconsin. He was well-known for his red vest and was equally flamboyant. Dreyfus was sometimes known as a Republicrat and believed in the Ruroplex, a regional look at central Wisconsin beyond the limits of borders and boundaries. If you want to hear detailed accounts of him, just connect with Chuck Nason or Bob Williams, to name a few. Governor Dreyfus was a true leader and like any true leader, not everyone “liked” him. Jay Risch, WI Secretary of the Department of Financial Institutions, shared a Dreyfus story while he was in town recently. Jay did a presentation at the Portage County Business Council, made visits to the Sentry Credit Union and The Pineries Bank, and ended the day talking to the Rotary Club of Stevens Point, which
included guests from the Optimists. Along the way we crossed paths with many leaders. Throughout the day, Jay shared some stories about Foxconn building in southeastern Wisconsin. Scott Walker, our current state leader, played an integral role in their recruitment. Not everyone “likes” him either. He went above and beyond what most leaders would do in sharing what a partnership with Wisconsin would mean for Foxconn. Other states offered more. But we all know we have more to offer. Terry Gou, Foxconn’s leader, began his own entrepreneurial career by making the knobs on black and white TVs. He has personally committed to helping the local Wisconsin ginseng business grow in Asia, since his mother uses it for its benefits. I met Rex Fair, the leader of the Sentry Credit Union. Rex’s pride and leadership was clearly evident as he toured us around his offices and introduced us to the
We spent some time at The Pineries Bank with Paul Adamski. He is another early entrepreneur in the community and leader in so many facets of what our area has become. Paul proudly shared the progress of his new facility (being built locally by Ellis Construction). Rachael Gadbois and Justin Adamski from The Pineries Bank joined us along with Jay’s Assistant Deputy Secretary, Greg Reiman. You can see the pride in Paul’s office and, more importantly, in his remarks and respect for the history of the area. Leadership in our community and state correspond directly to the values of the Portage County Business Council; engagement, growth, innovation, leadership, network development and partnerships. I heard about it and saw it throughout the day. I learned a great deal more about how that leadership has impacted our community locally, regionally and throughout the state. Governor Dreyfus had tremendous foresight in understanding the Ruroplex concept and how borders and boundaries will only leave important community growth strategies behind. Maybe we need to resurrect the red vest and Ruroplex! Photo Credit: http://eaespeakers.com/ self-driven-leadership-development/
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MEMBER
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KEEP AN EYE OUT FOR EMPTY BOWLS PAINTING!
SAVE THE DATE Etiquette Dinner Wednesday, September 27 more details to come!
Backstage Pass to Portage County in The Great War Thursday September 14, 2017 5:30 PM – 7:30 PM REGISTER HERE! Join Ignite for a flash back to WWI. We will tour exhibits and learn about Portage County life during the war. Enjoy networking, snacks and beverages for this family friendly event. Don’t miss this limited time exhibit!
ADOPT-A-HIGHWAY AUGUST 16, 2017 5:30 PM - 7:30 PM Portage County roads are a bit cleaner because Ignite Leadership Network has adopted a highway! The twomile stretch of County HH from Post Road (at McDill Pond) to County R is be designated as Ignite’s section and is marked with a sign to display our commitment to the community.
Looking for more information on Ignite? Check out our newsletter!
VOLUNTEER HERE! Discounted Membership Can you believe we’re almost half way through 2017!? Not only is half the year gone, but half of Ignite’s membership fee is too! Beginning July 1, you can get a 2017 Ignite membership for $30--just over half of our normal cost. Trust us, it’s worth it! We’ve got some great events planned for the second half of the year including our Halloween Party and Jingle and Mingle Christmas party. Join today!
Are you looking to volunteer or join a committee? Ignite is looking for new innovative leaders! Contact us for more information on joining a Newsletter Here committee. A c t i v e Vo i c e | A u g u s t 2 0 1 7 ignitepoco@gmail.com
Thank You!
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Thank You and Congratulations to all of our Tiered Members! If you want more information or would like to learn about the increased value of our new tiered membership structure, contact Tonya Kowalski at 715-344-1940 or tkowalski@portagecountybiz.com today!
ASPIRE
Associated Bank BMO Harris Bank Ministry Saint Michael’s Hospital/Ascension Sentry Insurance
ENGAGE
Anderson O’Brien Delta Dental of Wisconsin Donaldson Company Inc Ellis Construction McCain Foods Skyward, Inc The Pineries Bank The Worth Company University of Wisconsin - Stevens Point
COLLABORATE
Atrium Senior Living of St Pt at River View Lodge Berkshire Hathaway Specialty Concierge LLC Chase Bank Community First Bank Community First Bank Dubay Waters Boating Marina and Storage First Weber, Inc. Great Lakes Educational Loan Services, Inc. Lands’ End Ministry Home Care, LLC Recycled Office Environments Resource One Installation & Services River’s Edge Campground/Bullheads Bar and Grill Rural Mutual Insurance Rural Mutual Insurance - Post Road Segmented Systems MFG Stevens Point Area YMCA Stratford Sign Sales Tiki Beach Bar and Grill LLC
GROW
ABR Employment Services ALL WOMEN EXPO Ameriprise Financial Services, Inc. Michael Smith & Associates Aspirus Stevens Point Clinic BioLife Plasma Services Colonial Life Cornerstone Technology Country Inn & Suites Crockett Septic, LLC Del Monte Foods Inc. Gamber-Johnson LLC Hausmann Johnson Insurance Heritage Farm Estates
GROW continued..... Huntington Bank Ki Mobility Office Enterprises Inc Old National Bank Opportunity Development Centers, Owens Family Dentistry LLC Panera Bread Pizza Ranch Point After Pub & Grill Provident Nutraceutical River Cities Bank Rockman’s Catering Secure Heritage Insurance Agency Spectrum Business Spectrum Insurance Group Steel Shield LLC Team Schierl Companies The Business News The Murphy Insurance Group, LLC Waterstone Mortgage Wells Fargo Advisors Financial Network, LLC, Member SIPC Whiting Avenue Estates
BUILD
Ability Builders Inc Advantage Group Adventure 212 LLC Agrometrics AIG Amherst Marine, Inc. Batteries Plus Bayland Buildings Inc Bob’s Plumbing & Heating of Central WI Inc Bone & Joint Clinic, S.C. Bria Bella & Co. Brookdale Stevens Point Buffalo Wild Wings BUILD continued.... Buzza Dreier & Johnson LLC Cellcom Centergy Checks Muffler Center Cobblestone Hotel & Suites Contemporary Photography Cooper Oil Company Inc Corex US LLC Dave’s Tap Cleaning Designers 2 Duralum Carpets Inc. Falk Cabinet Systems Inc Fire Pro Inc
FirstState Bank Flexible Nutrition Solutions LLC Flex-Staff Forward Financial Bank Gilchrist Dental Care Girls in Pearls Boutique, LLC Guzman Case Corporation Heritage Investment Company LLP Huntington Bank Impact Directories KPR Brokers K-tech Kleening Systems Lakeland Care Inc Lakeland Real Estate LLC Manpower Mary Kay Matsu Ya Sushi - Grill Mission Coffee House LLC Money Saver Magazine National Wellness Institute Northwestern Mutual Ontogeny Advertising & Design, LLC Paychex, Inc. Physicians Mutual Pioneer Bank Point Coating Point of Beauty LLC Point Title LLC Portage County Buyers Guide / Stevens Point City Times Prism Real Estate QDOBA Mexican Eats Regnier Consulting Group Inc Soik Sales Inc Springville Family Dentistry Stifel, Nicolaus & Company SYNERGY HomeCare The Windsor Thomas W Stout CPA SC TMA + Peritus Unitel Inc Velocity Clubhouse, LLC Wells Fargo Home Mortgage Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association Wisconsin River Golf Club
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16th Annual
Save the Date 10-20-2017
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The Portage County Business Council is excited to host the 16th Annual Wines of the World event scheduled for Friday, October 20, 2017. Join us that evening from 6:00PM – 9:00PM at the Holiday Inn Hotel & Convention Center, 1001 Amber Avenue, Stevens Point for an international journey as we sample a selection of wines from around the world featured by The Bottle Stop. A taste-tempting array of fine cuisine prepared by the Holiday Inn Hotel & Convention Center and Rockman’s Catering, a silent auction, a beer bar by the Stevens Point Brewery and soft live jazz music will make the evening complete. This event will provide an opportunity for guests to network, socialize and have fun learning about wine. An opportunity is also available for your organization to participate in various sponsorship levels with attractive benefits at each. (Members must be in good standing with their membership dues to participate),
CLICK HERE TO VIEW SPONSORSHIPS To secure your sponsorship please contact Karen Schanock at kschanock@portagecountybiz.com or 715-344-1940 by Thursday, August 31, 2017. The Business Council extends an invitation to an event like no other. Click Here to register online. Don’t miss this opportunity to take part in an evening of fun, socializing and education about wine. Special thanks to our Exclusive Sommelier Master Media Sponsor:
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The Ambassadors have been BUSY! 9
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1 Ascension Ministry Health Care Members of our Ambassadors Club, PCBC Staff, Mayor Wiza and community leaders joined Ascension Ministry Health Care for a ribbon cutting and blessing of the SPIRIT hanger at the Stevens Point Airport on July 12. Ascension Wisconsin and Ministry SPIRIT Medical Transportation Services have relocated the Marshfield based operations of the regions first medical transportation system to the Stevens Point Airport. 2 Provident Nutraceutical Our Ambassadors and PCBC Staff went to visit new PCBC member - Provident Nutraceutical on July 13th, a division of Ortho Molecular Products Inc, located at 3017 Business Park Drive, Stevens Point. Thank you Melissa Jurgensmier for the very informative tour. 3 Ministry Home Care On June 13th Ministry Home Care - Home Health & Hospice Services located at 1840 Post Road, Suite 5 in Plover held an open house for their new office location. Members of our Ambassadors Club and PCBC Staff took part in the ribbon cutting ceremony and blessing of the building. 4 CAP Services On July 18th CAP Services, Inc. staff and board members, PCBC Staff & members of our Ambassadors Club joined for a ribbon cutting ceremony to celebrate their office move to 2900 Hoover Road in Stevens Point. We were treated with food, refreshments, and a building tour. 5 Simplicity Credit Union On July 20th our Ambassadors Club and PCBC Staff took part in the ribbon cutting ceremony, tour and brat fry for Simplicity Credit Union located at 3101 Hoover Road, Stevens Point. The construction is done, the painter’s tape is cleaned up, and it was time to show off their sleek, new branch designs both on Hoover Road and on Post Road in Plover! 6 Stevens Point Brewery After months of planning and a month of painting, the Stevens Point Brewery, CREATE Portage County and artist Nick Goettling were thrilled to host a dedication and official unveiling of the mural celebrating the 160th anniversary of the Stevens Point Brewery on July 26th. Members of our Ambassadors Club and PCBC Staff were honored to be there to help celebrate! 7 Qdoba Wisconsin On July 27th we held a ribbon cutting ceremony for new PCBC member Qdoba Wisconsin, located at 5347 US Hwy 10, Stevens Point. Our Ambassadors and PCBC Staff were graciously treated to lunch by their amazing staff.
Dorothy Pientka Honored as Ambassador of the 2nd Quarter On a quarterly basis, the Ambassadors Club takes the opportunity to recognize one of its members for outstanding commitment. This commitment is measured by their participation in meetings, events, grand openings and ribbon cutting ceremonies during a three-month timeframe. During the second quarter of 2017, Dorothy Pientka was named the Ambassador of the Quarter. Dorothy retired from Community First Bank and now works with her husband at Pientka Auction Service. She has been an Ambassador since September, 1992.
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Congratulations Dorothy Business A con t i vyour e Vrecent o i c e achievement. | A u g u s t 2The 017 Council Board of Directors, Ambassadors Club and staff appreciate your efforts.
Photos from the June 22nd Women in Business event sponsored by Wisconsin Public Service Corporation
SAV E THE DATE
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THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 21, 2017 Presented by
Special Guest Speaker, Lorraine Avery presented “Women, Take Your Wings and Soar�
Thursday, September 21, 2017 11:15AM to 1:00PM Stevens Point Country Club (Club House), 1628 Country Club Drive, Stevens Point Cost: $26/Person for PCBC Members, $31/Person for Prospective Members Plated Luncheon will include: Chicken Caprese Wrap (Basil Pesto, Local Tomatoes, Buffalo Mozzarella, Greens & Balsamic Mayo on a Garlic Wrap), Pasta Salad, various Mini Desserts and Ice Water with Lemon. (Vegetarian or Gluten Free Options available upon request) Watch for more details about the event. For questions contact Karen Schanock at 715-344-1940 or kschanock@portagecountybiz.com.
REGISTER
Over 120 people enjoyed the beautiful Grand Hall of SentryWorld
Pictured L/R: Guest Speaker Lorraine Avery, MC & Media Sponsor Nikki Montgomery, Presenting Sponsor from WPS Kelly Zagrzebski, Tonya Kowalski, Ambassador Anastasia Sosnovske, and Ambassador Nickey Pietila A c t i v e Vo i c e | A u g u s t 2 0 1 7
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EVENTS
Business after
Hours
REGISTER 9.13.17 \\ 7:30AM - 8:30AM PCBC FOUNDATION ROOM
Join us for Business After Hours on Monday, August 21st hosted by ministry home care 1840 Post Road, Suite 5, Plover, WI 54467 (office complex near Family Video and Kwik Trip) 5:00PM to 7:00PM
No Cost to Attend Our host for the August event will be offering a variety of complimentary hot and cold appetizers, refreshments including beer and wine and door prize giveaways. Other fun things to enjoy will include chair massages, live music and a therapy dog in training for people to pet/play with!!! A 50/50 raffle will also be played. What is Business After Hours? 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. Please call Karen Schanock at 715-344-1940 or email at kschanock@portagecountybiz.com to book the month you are interested in.
RSVP by Friday, August 18, 2017. Click Here to register online. Click Here for map.
NO COST TO ATTEND. CONTINENTAL BREAKFAST IS INCLUDED. What is the Business X-Change? A roundtable presentation which allows business owners and their employees the opportunity to discuss pertinent topics, learn from local industry leaders and, most importantly, learn from each other. While there is no cost to attend, the value of the information may be priceless. TOPIC: “STRONG PASSWORDSWHY THEY ARE IMPORTANT” About the Program: Leave this X-Change with a thorough understanding of the importance of strong passwords. The program will also touch on password policies and management. Key Points of Program: • Authentication • Cryptography • Password Hacking • Password Policies • Password Managers
Guest Speaker Craig Haydock, Systems Engineer Wildcard Corp.
About our Presenter: Craig Haydock is a recent Master’s degree graduate of Boston University, with a Master’s of Science in Computer Information Systems, Security and Networking. With eleven years of experience in systems operations, Mr. Haydock is an expert in any type of operating environment be it Microsoft, IOS or Linux and how to secure them. He will speak from his experience along with industry trends and updates.
Special THANK YOU to Wildcard Corp. for its sponsorship of this program. For questions on this X-Change please contact Karen Schanock at 715-344-1940 or kschanock@portagecountybiz.com. A c t i v e Vo i c e | A u g u s t 2 0 1 7
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4 T IPS T O MAKE YO U R B USI NE SS MOR E LIK E A BL E NEWSROOM Written By: Christina R. Green Blogger at Frankjkenny.com and the Event Manager Blog. People buy from people they know, like, and trust. While you might be in the right place at the right time when someone is up against it, and they may buy from you once without knowing, liking, or trusting you, for them to return, you’ll need more than luck. Know and trust generally come along when you establish yourself as a likeable business with a human behind it. It’s difficult for people to like you if they don’t trust you, unless you’re a villain and then being untrustworthy is your business. For most ofus, that is not the case. You can’t like someone you don’t remember, so let’s get to work on establishing the like part of the sales equation. Share Your Reason Think of how filmmakers or storytellers get us to like the main character. One of the ways is that they place him on a quest, or up against a challenge, that we want him to succeed in. Often it’s one we identify with. Share your reason for doing what you do. There’s probably someone in your audience or potential audience who can identify with your convictions and story. Passion is contagious. Find Commonalities In order to find commonalities, you need to share things about yourself outside of your business and how it came to be. Share your likes, be positive. Share what you love about your community or your love for bacon. Be genuine and people who see your social media posts or read your content, will begin to identify with what you’re sharing. They’ll jump in and say “me too” and you’re one step closer to getting them to like you.
Ask Questions If they’re in your store or business ask them their opinion on something and really listen to their answer. On social media ask what they think or what their preferences are. Involve them in your rebranding by crowdsourcing some of your marketing decisions. People like being involved and if you really listen to, and then act on, their advice, they’ll remember it and like you more because they see you as someone who values what they think. That’s all a lot of us are looking for. Anticipate Your Customers’ Needs As a business you are in a position to help, whether it’s helping someone look better, feel better, be entertained, or whatever it is you do for your customers. But you are also in a position to solve problems or answer questions. Use your content and social media to help customers with problems they face in their lives. If you run a boutique, you can create posts about unique gifts for the women in your life. If you are a CPA create helpful checklists of things people should track throughout the year for effortless taxes. Be helpful. Anticipate what your customers need and then give it to them. If they know they can count on you, they will return again and again. In today’s competitive market place it’s hard for your product alone to set you apart. Often it’s the things behind your product that will help you make a name for yourself. It’s the service, personality, and assistance you provide. These are the things that make people like you and they are also what keeps people coming back. A c t i v e Vo i c e | A u g u s t 2 0 1 7
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W E CAN DO A N D MUST DO B E TTE R T O GETHE R NEWSROOM Bernie Sherry Ministry Market Executive, Ascension Wisconsin, and Senior Vice President, Ascension Healthcare
This year, Congress has worked hard to craft solutions to the real challenges being experienced in the healthcare marketplace. In many states, including Wisconsin, the individual insurance market needs to offer more health plan options at a lower cost. We need Congress to act now. Ascension Wisconsin has sought to be a voice for our patients by calling on Congress to pass legislation that meets three simple principles: (1) Preserve the safety net for those who are poor and vulnerable and continue the progress to assure access to affordable healthcare for all; (2) Stabilize and strengthen the individual market, because a vibrant
and sustainable individual and small group market is essential to a successful, equitable healthcare system; and (3) Provide sufficient resources to continue proactively transforming the financing for the delivery of care to one that is value-based rather than volume-based. We believe this is the key to lowering healthcare costs over the long run. Over the last several months, our national health system leaders have talked with members of Congress and their staffs to encourage them to craft legislation that achieves these three principles. Unfortunately, the discussion draft of the Better Care Reconciliation Act of 2017 (BCRA) released by the Senate falls short of achieving these goals. That said, I want to commend the Senate for some things it did well in this draft. The Senate tried to make sure that individuals with pre-existing conditions are not charged significantly more for healthcare coverage. It also moves toward a fairer tax credit than the House for older Americans who must buy insurance on the individual market. The Senate also proposed waiving an outdated Medicaid exclusion for inpatient treatment of those with addiction, which is sorely needed. Unfortunately, BCRA fails to meet our legislative reform goals because it would result in even deeper cuts to
Medicaid than the House version and put the care for millions of poor and vulnerable children, parents, adults, Americans with disabilities and the elderly at risk. In fact, it is the biggest restructuring of the Medicaid program in 40 years, which would impact the very people who need care the most. According to our estimates, this bill will cut $2.8 billion dollars from Wisconsin’s Medicaid program over the next 10 years and will likely force millions of people off of Medicaid coverage. We must do better. The Senate has diagnosed significant problems in the individual market but is prescribing the wrong medicine to address them. The draft bill as written would also further destabilize the individual insurance market by removing the incentive of continuous coverage that had been included in the House bill. States that have laws guaranteeing issue of insurance without at least a strong legal incentive for continuous coverage have seen losses of coverage and a severe deterioration in the insurance market that results in spiraling premiums. Thankfully, the Senate bill is a work in progress. I urge the Senate to address the crucial issues facing healthcare while “doing no harm” by: 1. Going back to the drawing board to find viable solutions that focus on the three principles above. 2. Immediately passing a shortterm bill to shore up the individual market and halt the spiraling costs and loss of coverage being experienced there. 3. Sitting down with your colleagues across the aisle to find consensus and lasting solutions. I urge the Senate to continue working to develop a viable short term and long term proposal that preserves coverage, stabilizes and strengthens the individual market and continues the transformation of healthcare delivery to improve quality and lower costs. A c t i v e Vo i c e | A u g u s t 2 0 1 7
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Darlyne Keller awarded Certified Credit Union Executive designation at CUNA Management School Darlyne Keller, Chief Administrative Officer of Simplicity Credit Union has earned the Certified Credit Union Executive (CCUE) designation as a member of the graduating class of CUNA Management School, which was held in Madison, Wis. from July 16-26, 2017. “On behalf of Credit Union National Association, I want to congratulate Darlyne Keller on completing the substantial undertaking that is CUNA Management School,” said Kristin Ryan, CUNA director of learning events. “Over the last three years, she has mastered the art of credit union leadership, proven her capacities as an executive and developed a unique, clear vision for success. I look forward to seeing how she will transform the movement.” CUNA Management School prepares attendees for roles as credit union leaders through three years of projects, activities, examinations and expert instruction. Studying under professors from the University of Wisconsin School of Business, participants learn about an enormous range of topics, including management, financials, internal controls, crisis management and organizational behavior. By completing all three years of the school, three exams, two projects and an oral presentation, attendees earn the CCUE designation, which signifies knowledge of and readiness for credit union leadership. 52 earned their designation in 2017.
To learn more about CUNA Management School, visit cuna. org/cms.
JUSTIN AND E RSON H AS BE E N PROMOTE D T O A SSISTANT VICE P RES ID E NT, COMME RCIAL RELATIONSHIP MANAGE R Associated Bank announces the promotion of Justin Anderson to the role of assistant vice president, relationship manager, Community Markets – Central Wisconsin. He is responsible for managing existing and new commercial client relationships in Stevens Point and Wausau. With more than 11 years of banking experience, Anderson has been a member of the Associated Bank team since 2006. Previously, he held the position of assistant vice president, senior branch manager at Associated Bank in Stevens Point, where he was responsible for leading the retail banking team and improving the financial wellbeing of their clients. Before that, he served as senior branch manager at Associated Bank’s Wausau Main branch. Anderson holds a Bachelor of Business Administration degree in business management from the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point. In the community, he serves on the board for the YMCA and the business engagement committee for the Portage County Business Council. He is also a member of the Stevens Point Rotary and volunteers for the Special Olympics and many other organizations. More information about Associated Banc-Corp is available at www. associatedbank.com.
Investors Community Bank nationally recognized as top producing ag lender Independent Banker®, the magazine of the Independent Community Bankers of America® (ICBA), has named Investors Community Bank a topproducing ag lender in the category “Top 20 agricultural lenders with more than $500 million in assets.” The magazine recently identified the top 120 commercial, consumer/mortgage and agricultural community bank lenders with the highest dollar-value percentage of loans to assets in 2016. The community banks recognized in all the listings also earned solid ratings from Kroll Bond Rating Agency. Based on this industry data, ICBA listed Investors Community Bank as number three in the nation as a top producing ag lender. “Ag lending is one of our primary focuses at Investors Community Bank, and we take pride in being able to deliver quality service to our agriculture customers that is built on relationships,” stated Tim McTigue, Senior Vice President – Ag Banking. “Because our ag banking team members all have first-hand backgrounds in agriculture, they know the issues facing farmers. We are their trusted financial partner.” “These top performers excel in today’s highly competitive and heavilyregulated market by focusing on banking fundamentals and keeping the needs of their customers and communities at the forefront,” ICBA Group Executive Vice President, Member Engagement and Strategy Chris Lorence said. “Their tenacity, dedication and commitment to service is why the community banking model has endured for more than 250 years and why community banks are essential to our nation’s financial stability.” For details visit www. InvestorsCommunityBank.com
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“HR For Your Business” - Tuesday, September 26, 2017 15
ACT FAST – SPACE IS LIMITED TO 20 PEOPLE TIME: 8:00 - 4:30 PM, LOCATION: PORTAGE COUNTY BUSINESS COUNCIL
About the Program: If you are a business owner or manager of a small business without a dedicated Human Resource (HR) expert on your staff, this is the workshop for you and your organization. If you have administrative staff that are performing HR duties as part of their responsibilities that are not an HR expert they too will benefit. This one-day interactive workshop is designed for business people responsible for HR. This workshop includes a review of the laws most often unknowingly violated and provides information on how to prevent these violations. In this workshop, topics covered include: • Laws Most Often (unknowingly) Violated • Job Descriptions • Recruiting and On-boarding • Interview Questions • Background Checks • Discipline and Documentation
REGISTER HERE
About Our Instructor: Karen Bender joined HausmannJohnson Insurance in 2017 with over 30 years of Human Resources experience. Her experience includes regulatory compliance (HR, Safety, and Environmental), benefits, wage and salary administration, employee relations, training, and payroll. She is knowledgeable in both union and non-union environments.
REGISTER ONLINE: WWW.PORTAGECOUNTYBIZ.COM or call PCBC at 715-344-1940 Cost: $275 for PCBC Members, $300 for Prospective PCBC Members
Karen also provides training services to the UW-Madison Small Business Development Center (SBDC) in HR areas and instructs a class for the UW-Madison Division of Continuing Studies. Further, she developed and teaches courses targeted at providing small businesses (less than 100 employees) with general HR guidance and employment law review to help them maintain compliance and improve their processes.
For questions please contact Karen Schanock at kschanock@portagecountybiz.com or 715-344-1940.
Outside of work, Karen enjoys farming, reading, and traveling. She has traveled to 23 foreign countries so far including hiking throughout Europe, a 1,000 mile snowmobile trip in Canada, and exploring off the beaten path in China.
The Portage County Business Council has partnered with Hausmann-Johnson Insurance and Karen Bender, Human Resources Consultant to bring you this workshop.
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TALENT DEVELOPMENT
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LPC Alumni Book Discussion Thursday, August 24, 2017 7:00 PM Mission Coffee House Daring Greatly by Brené Brown Join the LPC Steering Committee for the first alumni book discussion. We will read Daring Greatly by Brené Brown. Everyone is welcome! RSVP to Kayla (talent@portagecountybiz.com) or on Facebook.
volunteers needed Volunteers are needed to play a family role or to be a vendor/ service provider at the fall Poverty Simulation. Poverty simulations are an opportunity for individuals to obtain first-hand knowledge of many of the situations and decisions experienced by low-income households. The Portage County Business Council offers a poverty simulation as part of the Leadership Portage County (LPC) curriculum. LPC places a priority on educating the current and future leaders of our community, and poverty simulations are an eye-opening way to build awareness for low-income or struggling families. This simulation is open to all and we are seeking both volunteers to serve as vendors/service providers, and participants to be given a family scenario.
Last call for applications! Very few spots remain. Want to join the fun? {{Apply here!}} Sessions begin August 17-18, and continue each month through May. We are looking forward to another dynamic class. Please share with colleagues and friends. Please contact Kayla Rombalski, talent@ portagecountybiz.com or 715-3441940. Lean more at www.portagecountybiz.com/lpc.
To sign up, please go to: http://portagecountybiz.com/povsim/. A c t i v e Vo i c e | A u g u s t 2 0 1 7
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A c t i v e Vo i c e | A u g u s t 2 0 1 7
BMO Harris Home Lending
Mortgages
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Homeownership could be more affordable than you think. Free Homebuyer Seminar
Reserve your place
September 13, 2017 6:00 p.m. – 7:30 p.m. 1200 Commerce Pl Plover, WI 54467 Discover the ownership opportunities available to you at our next BMO Harris Homebuyer Seminar. Join us for discussion and refreshments as we explain the following topics: • Making homebuying easier and more understandable for first-time purchasers • Lowering your down payment with smart strategies • Exploring loan options that are available
For more information or to Click HERE to Register reserve your place, contact a mortgage banker today!
Let’s connect Jeremy Castleberg Market Manager Direct: 715-533-6011 Jeremy.Castleberg@bmo.com bmoharris.com/jcastleberg NMLS#: 523713
Click HERE to Register
• Getting pre-qualified quickly • Discovering how credit considerations can impact borrowing options • Taking advantage of grant programs Don’t wait — Sign up today!
Banking deposit and loan products and services are provided by BMO Harris Bank N.A. and are subject to bank and credit approval. BMO Harris Bank® and BMO Harris® are trade names used by BMO Harris Bank N.A. Member FDIC. © 2017 BMO Harris Bank N.A. (3/17)
A c t i v e Vo i c e | A u g u s t 2 0 1 7 bmoharris.com
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contact us Portage County Business Council, Inc. 5501 Vern Holmes Drive | Stevens Point, WI 54482 715-344-1940 | www.portagecountybiz.com
Portage County Business Council @PoCoBiz Portage County Business Council
Todd Kuckkahn Executive Director tkuckkahn@portagecountybiz..com
Mereta Walker Director of Operations acctg@portagecountybiz.com
Karen Schanock Director of Programs & Events kschanock@portagecountybiz.com
Tonya Kowalski Director of Business Engagement tkowalski@portagecountybiz.com
Kayla Rombalski Director of Talent Development talent@portagecountybiz.com
Angel Whitehead Marketing Communications Coordinator admin@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 most area banks, credit unions, the Convention and Visitors Bureau or at our office. They can be used at most businesses 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.
Did you know you can post job openings, events and press releases on your membership login? ASK US HOW TO ACCESS YOUR LOGIN www.portagecountybiz.com A c t i v e Vo i c e | A u g u s t 2 0 1 7
Check out member Job postings HERE!
UPCOMING EVENTS CALENDAR
August 17 salesNet, 11:45 AM,brookdale stevens point
September 13 Business X-Change, 7:30AM, PCBC Office 14 salesNet, 11:45 AM, PCBC Office
21 business after hours, 5:00 PM,
Ministry home care
23 Partners In Education Social & Golden
apple reception, 5:00 Pm, SKyward
24 LPC Alumni Book Discussion,
14 Ignite Backstage Pass: Portage County in The Great War, 5:30 PM, Heritage Park 15
legislative breakfast, 7:30 am, Stevens Point Country Club
18 business after hours, 5:00PM, Elevate Life Chiropractic 21 women in business, 11:15 AM, Stevens Point Country Club
7:00 PM, mission coffee house
26 HR for your business, 8:00 AM, PCBC Office 27
ignite etiquette dinner, 5:30 PM Stevens Point Country club