The Active Voice Digital Magazine January 2017

the Active

Voice

T h e A c t i v e Vo i c e | F e b r u a r y 2 0 1 7

2017 Annual Dinner

Entrepreneurship is the Lifeblood of Economic

Two local businesses and two industry leaders were singled out for honors at the Annual Dinner.

Leadership Portage County

Ignite

Celebrate Ignite Leadership Network 5th Anniversary!

T he Por t age Count y Bu sine s s Council

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MEMBER

CONTACT US 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 Business Council @PoCoBiz

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Portage County Business Council

Portage County Business Council, Inc. 5501 Vern Holmes Drive Stevens Point, WI 54482 715-344-1940 www.portagecountybiz.com

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2017 Annual Dinner Two local businesses and two industry leaders were singled out for honors on Thursday, February 2nd at the Business Council’s Annual Dinner.

Celebrate Ignite Leadership Network of Portage County’s 5th Anniversary!

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You won’t want to miss this Women in Business Luncheon and Fashion Show!

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You’re invited to the 2017 American Agriculture Appreciation Banquet on March 13th.

LPC’s Jan. Session began with Wendy Mitch continuing her presentation to the class on the outward mindset.

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Drive around anywhere in our community and you will see the foundation of economic development.

Fishing conditions along Bukolt Park’s waterfront in Stevens Point, were noticeably treacherous.

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Entrepreneurship T h e A c t i v e Vo i c e | F e b r u a r y 2 0 1 7

is the Lifeblood of Economic Development

Todd Kuckkahn, Executive Director Drive around anywhere in our community and you will see the foundation of economic development, better known as entrepreneurship.

Entrepreneurship comes in many sized packages. It is that culture and the continued growth of fledgling businesses that provides the foundation and lifeblood of economic development in our community.

Where do you find entrepreneurship in our community?

Amazingly, you can find it throughout our K-12 school systems. I personally witnessed it in Jodi Tuskowski’s 3rd grade class at Washington Elementary School where students developed their own business to raise money to support our community. PCBC, along with several businesses, was involved in a 3rd grade coding class in the Catholic schools. It is never too early to start supporting creative and entrepreneurial minds.

As students continue to move into high school, Project Lead The Way classes support the foundation of entrepreneurship, the students learn through hands-on opportunities to grow in both their mistakes and successes. As an entrepreneur, you need to be able to accept failure while growing.

Mid-State Technical College and UW-Stevens Point abound with entrepreneurs. UWSP has its own entrepreneur club as well as space in Nelson Hall for like-minded people to collaborate.

Entrepreneurship is not about sitting in a dark corner in your basement but getting out to collaborate, partner, engage, and

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network in the community to further hone ideas.

And speaking of collaborating and ideas, the IDEA Center, created by CREATE, is now a hub for that very thing. Located in downtown Stevens Point at 1039 Ellis, you can find innovators, designers, entrepreneurs and artists gathering to grow their ideas. The IDEA Center objectives include supporting the development and launch of new products, businesses, and initiatives, fostering a commitment to the newest ideas in all sectors, and attracting and retaining new professionals and innovators to our community.

There is also a great deal of support in our community for entrepreneurs.

For example, the UWSP Small Business Development Center (SBDC) has countless resources for starting and surviving in business, particularly in the area of a business plan. CAP Services offers assistance for those starting a business through coaching

and lending. SCORE (Senior Corps of Retired Executives) offers mentoring, workshops and resources to help someone get started and grow.

Two of the larger, more visible, examples of entrepreneurship are right on I-39 with Ki Mobility on one side and Skyward on the other. Both grew from seedlings of ideas and now are cornerstones of our region and state. They both conduct international business. Heartland Farms, which just won the PCBC decree of excellence, is a shining example in the agriculture business, as is Bev’s Floral & Gifts which won small business of the year.

Their work ethic, familiar to all of us, has established them as stable and significant businesses.

Make sure when you drive around our community you don’t blink or you might miss yet another example of entrepreneurship and what helps make our community thrive. After all, Portage County is where economic vitality meets quality of life.

PSB Holdings, Inc. Announces President Peter Knitt To Retire Next Year

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PSB Holdings, Inc. (OTCPK: PSBQ) (People State Bank) announced that President and Chief Executive Officer Peter Knitt plans to retire in January 2018.

Knitt, 58, who joined the bank as Vice President of PSB’s northern Wisconsin market in 2003, has served as Chief Executive Officer since June 2006.

“We are thankful for Pete’s exceptional leadership during the past 11 years. He is a major reason PSB has experienced record profits and growth while maintaining a community bank focus,” PSB Chairman William Fish said. “When Pete informed the board about his retirement plans and expressed his enthusiasm to follow our transition process, we were able to put our succession plan into motion very effectively.”

“Mr. Knitt will remain in his current position until the search committee has selected a successor and will continue on the board of directors for a period of time to ensure a smooth transition,” stated Fish.

The board has formed a search committee and has retained Korn Ferry, a preeminent talent acquisition firm specializing in community banks. Fish added, “We wish to assure shareholders, customers, and employees that the board will conduct a thorough search and vetting of qualified candidates for an individual who will carry forward the bank’s tradition of strong executive leadership and continue our strategy to build shareholder value as an independent bank.”

“We expect to have the new CEO on board near the end of 2017, with the transition complete prior to the April 2018 annual shareholder meeting,” Fish said. “The bank will be looking at internal as well as external candidates.”

During Knitt’s tenure as President and CEO, the bank increased its assets from $500 million to over $800 million. Recognizing consistently higher than peer return on average shareholder equity performance, American Banker Magazine recognized PSB during 2016 as one of the Top 200 Community Banks in the United States, an award PSB has received for seven consecutive years.

More information about PSB, its management, and its financial performance may be found on its investor relations website at www.psbholdingsinc.com.

Community Park Gets Facelift with Donation from County Materials

Fishing conditions along Bukolt Park’s waterfront in Stevens Point, were noticeably treacherous. A roadway surrounding the lagoon left little space for people between the road and water, in some areas as little as three feet. Additionally, a steep slope down to the water prevented access, so many people chose to fish from the road itself. Prime Water Anglers, a community non-profit organization, came up with a solution to provide safer fishing conditions with the help of County Materials.

Prime Water Anglers designed five platforms and a center pier, all of which were constructed though partnerships with local businesses and the Stevens Point Department of Parks and Recreation. The five self-standing platforms were constructed using wood to overhang the water’s edge. The center pier is located along a walkway, allowing water to flow beneath and pedestrians to cross above. The center pier was constructed with ready mix concrete donated by County Materials.

Prime Water Anglers approached County Materials for a ready mix donation to help alleviate project costs. Construction began in short time. After a frame was built with metal rebar for reinforcement, County Materials delivered and poured two sections of the pier, each with 3.5 cubic yards of concrete.

Prime Water Anglers views fishing as a means of connecting communities. Every year they host Kids Fishing Day, a two-day program that introduces local youth to fishing basics. Through Kids Fishing Day and other programs, Prime Water Anglers engages kids and parents and helps foster outdoor family recreation.

For more information visit www.countymaterials.com.

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Two local businesses and two industry leaders were singled out for honors on Thursday, February 2nd at the Portage County Business Council’s Annual Dinner. The event was held at the Holiday Inn Hotel & Convention Center in Stevens Point with a record crowd of nearly 400 people! Each year Business Council members, guests and dignitaries gather to celebrate the best of the best in volunteers, businesses, education, government, and non-profit organizations. The Annual Dinner is a celebration of past accomplishments and it is an opportunity to recognize the achievements of the past year. We thank all those that attended the event, our sponsors and our silent auction contributors. Your support is greatly appreciated!

Ambassador of the Year - Dan Blumenstein The Portage County Business Council named Dan Blumenstein as the Ambassador of the Year.

Dan has been active in the Ambassador Club since 2014.

His enthusiasm and dedication towards volunteering for Portage County Business Council is outstanding! He was one of five Ambassadors that accumulated the most points during the year by attending business events such as ribbon cuttings, grand openings, ground breaking ceremonies, Business After Hours and many other events, visits to new and existing businesses and monthly meetings. Dan has definitely exceeded the membership requirements of the Ambassador Club and was voted by his Ambassador Friends as Ambassador of the Year!

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lend a hand whenever they see something that needs doing.

Last year alone, Dan and the entire Club gave back over 1,600 hours of volunteer time just for the Portage County Business Council.

Dan is the Director of Client Support at Rack Industrial, an IT support and business services company based out of Stevens Point and Knonenwetter. Besides his involvement with the Business Council, Dan gives back to the community in many ways. He is a big brother for Big Brothers, Big Sisters and is involved with Special Olympics. He also loves outdoor activities including kayaking,motorcycling, geocaching and scuba diving.

Dan is a Scuba Divemaster, a Certified Scuba Diver, an ACA Certified Level 2 Kayak Instructor and teaches several classes a year on the fundamentals and

If you are interested in joining the Ambassadors Club or just want to hear more about it, contact Karen Schanock at the Business Council or email at kschanock@portagecountybiz. com.

Congratulations Dan!

Small Business of the Year – Bev’s Floral & Gifts

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Bev’s Floral & Gifts owner Debbie Freeberg received the Small Business of the Year Award.

The award is chosen based on: • Sales growth • Employment growth • Customer service • Community service • Leadership involvement • Innovative efforts adapting to marketplace changes

Bev’s Floral & Gifts has experienced 150% growth since owning the business in 2001, which can be attributed to community support, an ongoing goal to provide exceptional levels of customer service and retention of the best staff!

The Bev’s Floral & Gifts team is a collection of highly trained individuals with years of experience and training.

Ongoing commitment to the community is evident with Bev’s Floral & Gifts through donations, involvement and support to many organizations including, but

Business Council, Salvation Army, Place of Peace, Make a Difference Day, Portage County Health Care Center, UW - Stevens Point, Boys & Girls Club of Portage County, and many schools and churches.

In addition, Debbie herself has been a member of the Stevens Point Noon Rotary Club and has been instrumental in the success of their annual Rose sale for over 12 years, and this year alone the shop donated over $8,000 to the project.

Bev’s Floral & Gifts has been honored with the Teleflora Top 1,000 Award for eight consecutive years. Teleflora gives the award to recognize only the highest quality products and excellence in customer service and design work.

Teleflora has over 13,000 member florists throughout the U.S. and Canada, with an additional 20,000 affiliated florists outside North America. To receive this award is another true testament of why they were selected for Small Business of the Year.

Congratulations to Debbie and the team of Bev’s Floral & Gifts!

Decree of Excellence Award – Heartland Farms, Inc. The Decree of Excellence Award was presented to a business contributing to our area’s economic vitality – Heartland Farms, Inc! Award criteria includes: • Making capital improvements • Significant growth and development • Increasing employment base • Planning and implementing special marketing campaigns • Making significant community service contributions Heartland Farms is a fifth generation, 24,000 acre irrigated Potato & Vegetable farm operating in five counties in Wisconsin. They currently ship out of four locations including

Almond, Amherst Junction, Hancock and Plainfield. Jeremie Pavelski, President of Heartland Farms is the 5th generation of the Pavelski Family to hold the reigns of the family farming operation which started in 1873.

Heartland Farms is a world recognized leader in potato farming. They are known for their leading edge in technology and information management to enhance the

help ensure it continues to be a leader in the potato industry.

The investment included a $7.5 million dollar Farm Operations Technology and Training Center which is the hub for new growth of the company, employees, and the community. The Center is also used to aid in collaboration between private industry and public schools, all the way from K-12 to Graduate programs.

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They also invested into a new $4.5 million dollar potato storage facility with a unique in-floor ventilation design that utilizes the latest technologies in climate control and energy efficiency to help ensure a quality storage crop for their customers and have less waste.

In addition, they built a new, world class, $1.2 million dollar grading facility. Technology in the grading shed makes it the most advanced grading shed in the world for grading potatoes

going for potato chips.

Ongoing commitment to the community through the business and staff is evident through donations, involvement and support to many organizations including, but not limited to Portage County Business Council, Wisconsin Potato & Vegetable Growers Association, UW Stevens Point Foundation, and Saint Michael’s Hospital just to name a few. Heartland Farms and its owners committed

President’s Award – Lorraine Avery Each year the President of the Business Council is given the opportunity to select someone to receive the President’s Award. This award is presented to someone who through their outstanding commitment to volunteerism makes significant improvements and enhancements to the quality of life here in Portage County and demonstrates a spirit of cooperation and commitment to the Portage County Business Council, the Portage County business community and economic development of the area.

The President’s award was presented to Lorraine Avery, recent retiree and former Senior Vice President of Associated Bank.

She has made her mark as one of our community’s most 8

respected and influential leaders. Lorraine is a pillar of our community. She has been involved in many charitable endeavors and spent countless hours volunteering her time to better Portage County.

Lorraine has been a trusted Portage County Business Council Board of Director and has been an integral part of the Council’s Executive Committee and Business Engagement Committee.

With over 41 years of experience at Associated Bank and processor companies, Lorraine has been dedicated to providing the best service possible. She has been recognized in her profession as a pioneer in diverse positions. Lorraine is known for her professionalism and is respectful of others without fail and at every level.

She always sees the best in

$500,000 dollars over a threeyear period for the Ministry Health Care Breast Care Center and a continued donation to Schools of $440,000 dollars over three years.

With their expansions Heartland Farms will serve as a solid anchor of this community for years to come. We look forward to seeing what is next!

Congratulations to Heartland Farms, Inc! in people, believes in people and never doubts that good things will come with hard work and the right attitude.

Lorraine’s community involvement over the years has included dedication to the Portage County Business Council, Board of Director for the Humane Society of Portage County, Member of the Board of Visitors for UWSP, Member of Zonta – International service organization for women, Past President of the Woodland Girl Scout Council and Chairperson for the Fund Development Committee, Junior Achievement Board Member and extremely engaged in United Way of Portage County as one of only two people to have served as Campaign Drive Chair for more than one year.

In 2014 Lorraine received the Tina Peters Dedicated Service Award. This is one of the highest honors a person can receive from United Way of Portage County. It is presented to an individual that has shown exemplary passion and compassion to the residents of Portage County.

She has received honors of Women of the Year from the National Association of Professional Women and the International Women’s Leadership Association.

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Professional of the Year in Customer Service by Who’s Who Worldwide and selected by the University of Wisconsin as Best of the Brightest. She was also appointed by Governor Tommy Thompson to the Governor’s Task Force and Inductee of Worldwide Lifetime Achievement!

Lorraine Avery has been a true Congratulations Lorraine! partner in growing Portage T h e A c t i v e Vo i c e | F e b r u a r y 2 0 1 7 County. We are pleased to have her choose Portage County as SAVE THE DATE for next the place to ‘make a difference’…. year’s event Wednesday, because indeed, she has!!! She January 31, 2018 at the is loved as a friend, daughter, Holiday Inn Hotel & sister and mother, respected Convention Center as an executive and we are all proud of her accomplishments!

Thank You To Our Annual Dinner Sponsors and Silent Auction Contributors

The Business Council extends its appreciation to the many businesses, organizations and individuals for their generous support of our Annual Dinner.

Thank you to our Reception Frank’s Hardware Company, Inc Sponsors: General Beer

A special thank you to our Presenting Sponsor:

Much appreciation to our Award Sponsors:

Thank you to our Media Sponsor:

Thank you to our Silent Auction contributors: Adventure 212 Fitness Altmann Construction Company, Inc. Anderson O’Brien Associated Bank Bev’s Floral & Gifts Big Brothers Big Sisters of Portage County Blenker Companies, Inc. BMO Harris Bank Buffalo Wild Wings Central Wisconsin Symphony Orchestra Comfort Suites Community First Bank Contemporary Photography Country Inn & Suites Delta Dental of Wisconsin DigiCOPY Durclean Specialists Express Recycling Solutions, Inc.

Girls in Pearls Boutique Grazies Italian Grill Lands’ End Holiday Inn Hotel & Convention Center Lee Ayers Jewelers & Thomas Dailing Designs Ligman & Wille CPA LLC Maher Water Corporation Mission Coffee House Notable Impressions Pientka Auction Service Point Insurance Agency Portage County Gazette River Valley Bank Rockman’s Catering Sam’s Club Sentry Insurance Ski’s Meat Market Slumberland Furniture of Stevens Point Star Business Machines Stevens Point Area YMCA Stevens Point Brewery Stevens Point Country Club Team Schierl Companies The Bottle Stop The Pineries Bank The Portage County Bank The Wellness Spa UWSP – Athletic Department UWSP University Store & Text Rental Wisconsin River Golf Club WoodTrust Bank Wysocki Family of Companies 9

AMBASSADORS SHOW THEIR SUPPORT

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WELCOME TO OUR NEWEST MEMBERS Point After Pub & Grill 801 Second Street Stevens Point, WI 54481 (715) 344-7222 Physicians Mutual 1265 Main Street Suite 104 Stevens Point, WI 54481 (715) 344-1130 Stratford Sign Sales 2110 Birch Drive Plover, WI 54467 (715) 321-0607

Members of our Ambassadors Club and PCBC staff were honored to take part in the ribbon cutting ceremony for the grand opening of Velocity Clubhouse, LLC. Velocity Clubhouse is a new Portage County Business Council member located at 5100 Heffron Street, Stevens Point. Ambassador Club members, Joe Mayer and Sharon Kempen were excited to try out their HitTrax Pitching and Batting Simulator.

MEMBER SPOTLIGHT OLD NATIONAL BANK

640 Division Street, Stevens Point, WI 54481 oldnational.com | 715-997-6590 | Bev Modrzewski

Crockett Septic, LLC 2811 West Grand Avenue Wisconsin Rapids, WI 54495 (715)-423-0539

W ha t a r e th e B E N E F ITS OF M E MBE R S HI P ?

Yo ur b usin es s r e p r e se nt a t ive s a re i n v i ted t o e d uc a t io na l a n d n etw o r k d e ve lo p me nt ev en ts L ist y o ur ow n bu s i n es s ’ e ve nt s, job s, a nd dea l s o n p or t a ge c o unt ybi z .c o m R e c e ive r e f e r r a ls fro m o th er PC B C me mber s B e c o me a sp e c i a l ev en t sp onsor t o p r om o te y o u r b usine s s

Old National Bank came to Wisconcin mid-September, 2016 when they partnered with Anchor Bank. Headquartered in Evansville, IN, Old National Bank has been around for more than 180 years. Today we offer the convenience of more than 200 banking centers across Indiana, Michigan, Kentucky and Wisconsin. We are a service and community focused institution with a mission to consistently exceed the expectations of our clients, associates and shareholders.

Your Bank. For Life. is more than a slogan at Old National. It’s our promise to provide the products, services and expertise that help manage your financial needs through each stage of life.

We have two Portage County branches located in Stevens Point and Plover.

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D isp la y y o ur ma rk eti n g ma t e r ia ls in t he P C BC l o bby a nd o n t he PC B C w ebs i te Pa r t ic ip a t e in y o u r l o c a l c ommuni ty

For more information on membership, contact our Director of Business Engagement, Tonya Kowalski, at 715-344-1940 or tkowalski@portagecountybiz.com

Business after

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Monday, February 20th Stevens Point Curling Club

Hours

1628 Country Club Drive Stevens Point, WI 54481 (turn in driveway of the Stevens Point Country Club) 5:00PM to 7:00PM No Cost to Attend Click Here to register online.

Click Here for map.

Enjoy complimentary hors d’oeuvres, refreshments (including beer and wine), door prize giveaways and a 50/50 raffle.

Participants will also have the opportunity to watch real live competitive curling at the event. Our hosts will also be encouraging you to come back on another date for a ‘learn to curl type clinic’.

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, February 17, 2017.

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American Agriculture Appreciation Banquet

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2016 event held at the Holiday Inn Hotel & Convention Center

Monday, March 13, 2017 Holiday Inn Hotel & The Agri-Business Committee of the Portage County Business Council invites Business Council members and their guests to the 2017 American Agriculture Appreciation Banquet on Monday, March 13th. The event will be held at the Holiday Inn Hotel & Convention Center, 1001 Amber Avenue, Stevens Point.

Presentations are made to students and their leaders in categories including: • 4-H Leadership in Agriculture Award • Outstanding FFA Seniors • Agri-Business Scholarships • 2016 Outstanding Contribution to Agriculture Award Be Sure To Attend!

6:00-7:00PM – Social 7:00-8:15PM – Dinner & Keynote 8:15-8:45PM – Awards 2016 Award and Scholarship Recipients

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Dinner will include a salad, plated entrée, baked potato, vegetable, fresh baked rolls, coffee, water, milk and a delicious dessert. (Vegetarian or Gluten Free options available upon request) An assorted, complimentary appetizer buffet will also be served with items donated by our local agri-businesses.

Want to become further involved in the banquet? Program sponsorships for the American Agriculture Banquet are available in a variety of categories including in-kind donations. Contact Karen Schanock at 715-344-1940 or kschanock@portagecountybiz.com for additional information.

CLICK HERE TO REGISTER

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Mid-State District Board Selects Presidential Finalists The Mid-State Technical College District Board is pleased to announce the selection of two finalists for the position of college president. Dr. Jon Mandrell and Dr. Shelly Mondeik will visit Mid-State to meet with the board and the college community during events planned for February 20th. In making the announcement, District Board Chairperson Betty Bruski Mallek added: “The board is delighted to have considered more than thirty great candidates for president. Both Dr. Mandrell and Dr. Mondeik are proven leaders in technical and community colleges, and both have the experience and skills to lead Mid-State in serving our always-evolving district.”

Dr. Jon Mandrell serves as the Vice President of Academics and Student Services at Sauk Valley Community College in Dixon, Illinois where he serves as the college’s Chief Academic Officer and Chief Student Services Officer. In that role, he provides leadership to the college’s academic departments and student services programs.

Since joining the college in 2008, he has also served as a faculty member and as Dean of Instructional Services. Prior to joining Sauk Valley, Mandrell served as a police officer in Oregon, Illinois. Dr. Mandrell earned a Doctorate of Education in Community College Leadership from Ferris State University, Big Rapids, Michigan, and Master’s and Bachelor’s degrees in Criminal Justice Administration at Western Illinois University, Macomb, Illinois.

Dr. Mandrell has led Sauk Valley Community College’s efforts in student success and retention, including through the creation of an award-winning First-Year Experience Program and a one-stop Student Services Center. He is active in numerous college partnerships with business and industry, K–12 and other organizations. He has served on

the Illinois Workforce Investment Board and on the Illinois Community College Board Dual Credit Taskforce. He also serves on the boards of directors of the Dixon Family YMCA, the Sauk Valley Area Chamber of Commerce, and the Sauk Valley Leadership Program.

Dr. Shelly Mondeik serves as the Vice President for Learning at Northcentral Technical College, headquartered in Wausau, Wisconsin. She serves as Northcentral’s Chief Academic Officer and provides leadership for all educational programming including college curriculum and student assessment. Since joining Northcentral in 2002, she also has served as a faculty member, program director, clinical coordinator and academic dean. She also has private sector experience in healthcare. Dr. Mondeik earned a Doctorate in Educational Leadership at Edgewood College, Madison, Wisconsin. She earned Master’s and Bachelor’s degrees in Career & Technical Education from UW-Stout, and an Associate’s degree at Northcentral.

Dr. Mondeik also serves in numerous leadership roles including the chair of the advisory council for the Community College Consortium for Agriculture Advancement, president-elect of the Merrill Chamber of Commerce, and on the board of directors of Wisconsin Women in Higher Education Leadership and the Medical College of Wisconsin Advisory Board. She also chairs the Workforce Hub Steering Committee of the Wausau Region Chamber of Commerce. As a leader in the Wisconsin Technical College System, Mondeik chairs the statewide Instructional Service Administrators Association and the Credit for Prior Learning Initiative. She has played an integral role in NTC’s growth by forging relationships with key stakeholders in business and industry and across many community partners.

The Mid-State Board began the presidential search following Dr. Sue Budjac’s announcement that she will retire in July,

2017. The board is being assisted with the search by Don Stevens + Associates of Sun Prairie, Wisconsin.

Visit the college’s website at www.mstc.edu.

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SEEKING NOMINATIONS

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Small Business

Breakfast 2016 Winner

2016 Winner

CAP

Great Northern

Seeking Nominations Services for Portage County Charitable Community Award In an effort to honor one nonprofit or notfor-profit organization in Portage County whose work has enriched the lives of Portage County residents, the Portage County Business Council welcomes your nomination for the 2017 Portage County Charitable Community Award.

This award recognizes the special nature of social service, cultural and other charitable efforts. The award recipient will be recognized at the Business Council’s Small Business Breakfast scheduled for Friday, May 5, 2017.

Click here for the Portage County Charitable Community Award nomination form including the award criteria.

Your nominations are due by Thursday, March 2, 2017. Self nominations are encouraged.

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Seeking Nominations for Entrepreneur of the Year Award The Portage County Business Council also invites you to nominate a business or businessperson for the Entrepreneur of the Year Award to be presented at our May 5th Small Business Breakfast event.

Click here for the Entrepreneur of the Year nomination form including award criteria.

Your nominations are due by Thursday, March 2, 2017. Self nominations are encouraged.

For more information on these awards, please contact Karen Schanock at 715-344-1940 or kschanock@ portagecountybiz.com.

Distilling

CLICK HERE TO REGISTER FOR THE SMALL BUSINESS BREAKFAST.

Save the Date

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OF OUR 4TH ANNUAL

WOMEN IN BUSINESS FASHION SHOW! Thursday, April 20, 2017

Presented by Girls in Pearls Boutique

11:15AM to 1:00PM Holiday Inn Hotel & Convention Center 1001 Amber Avenue, Stevens Point You won’t want to miss this Women in Business Luncheon and Fashion Show! Treat yourself to see the unique selection of clothing, accessories and one-of-a-kind pieces by Girls in Pearls Boutique. We will see what’s chic on the streets and trends to watch for this season.

Watch for more information in our March digital Magazine.

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

Future Women in Business Luncheons: Thursday, June 22, 2017 Presented by Wisconsin Public Service Corporation Thursday, September 21, 2017 Presented by Berkshire Hathaway Travel Protection Thursday, December 14, 2017 Presented by CoVantage Credit Union All Women in Business Events are sponsored in part by Media Sponsor Midwest Communications 15

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2016 IN REVIEW January

Two Portage County businesses and two leaders were recognized at the Annual Dinner with over 355 attendees.

February Kayla Rombalski joined PCBC as Director of Talent Development; PCBC collaborated with NEWaukee, area business leaders, and young professionals to host the New ERA Workshop .

April Reality Shops held at various Portage County high schools. Over 250 students learned how to create and adhere to daily living budgets.

June Business on the Green Golf Outing held at both SentryWorld and The Stevens Point Country Club provided network development, entertainment, and sponsorship opportunities to nearly 300 PCBC members.

August Over 3,000 copies of the 2016 Portage County Community Guide were distributed throughout the county.

October Portage County Business Council Job Fair was held. The networking of 64 employers and 250 attendees resulted in several applications, interviews, and job offers.

December Record-breaking attendance of over 130 members enjoyed holiday atmosphere, socializing, network development, and fun at this month’s Business After Hours.

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March New Tiered Membership model rolled out. The new structure brings more value and benefits to members.

May First distribution of The Active Voice Digital Magazine. It is an updated take on our previous newsletter, designed to be more mobile-friendly.

July PCBC Staff volunteered to collect and organize school supplies for Project Fresh Start; Members of Leadership Portage County, Leadership Portage County Alumni, and PCBC staff volunteered to paint bowls for Empty Bowls.

September New mission, vision, and values for the Portage County Business Council approved by Board of Directors; Sold-out Ag Tour showcased the state-ofthe-art operations at Heartland Farms.

November PCBC hosted an Economic Development Summit.

Nearly 100 attendees enjoyed panel discussions and guest speaker, Craig Culver.

only our future leaders, but are also making a h e A c t i v e Vo i c e | F e b r u a r y 2 0 1 7 positive Tclaim in our community now.” – Todd Kuckkahn, PCBC Executive Director.

“I am excited about the partnership between Ignite and Portage County Business Council.

Both organizations have been working towards connecting young professionals to the community through leadership development, social interaction and volunteer efforts. PCBC has numerous tools that will help Ignite broaden our mission of engaging and developing our young professionals in Portage County. Starting in early 2017, our members can expect to see increased programming and events as a result to this new collaboration.” – Jennifer Hoerter, 2017 Ignite President.

Ignite Leadership Network of Portage County is ready to kick off 2017 with some exciting news. Thanks to all of the member support these last past five years, Ignite has grown into a reputable and flourishing young professional organization.

With this growth, new opportunities emerge and we are excited to announce our new partnership with Portage County Business Council. This partnership will enable us to provide additional opportunities to our community while continuing to offer the same great events that members have always enjoyed.

Our 2017 resolution is to keep members connected to your community and career through events like our Backstage Passes, “The Ignite Leadership Network is a critical volunteer events like Adopt-a-Highway, and element to our quality of life and being a change the Lunch, Learn, Lead series with community agent for our community. The members aren’t leaders.

OFFICIAL REGISTRATION REGISTER HERE! Come celebrate Ignite Leadership Network of Portage County’s 5th Anniversary! We will toast the accomplishments of our past year and look ahead to what we have planned for 2017 at our anniversary party on Monday, Feb. 13 from 5:30-8 p.m. at Great Northern Distilling.

Learn more about Ignite while socializing with other young professionals and enjoying a complimentary nacho bar and dessert. Cash bar available, including an Ignite-inspired Great Northern spirit!

This event is sponsored by Investors Community Bank.

New members welcome! Please encourage your friends and co-workers to attend this FREE EVENT! Everyone who attends will receive a free promotional item!

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Leadership

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Portage County

Education & Workforce Development January 19, 2017 Session Recap

Lisa Schaufenbuel, UW-Stevens Point Randy Zietlow, Community First Bank The day began with Wendy Mitch continuing her presentation to the class on the outward mindset. She focused on discussing the four quadrants of the inward mindset: ‘better than’, ‘I deserve’, ‘worse than’, and ‘need to be seen’. The class participated in an exercise in determining which quadrants we tend to fall in with different people in our lives. She then moved on to locating and assessing the costs of inward “collusions” in our various relationships and how they can feed off each other. As a side note she recommended an autobiography by Jacques Lusseyran titled, “And Then There Was Light” – a blind hero of the French resistance.

Derek Heikkinen presented a summary of the Workforce Development Board as his participant speech. This provided the group with a great foundation for the day’s topic of Education.

Ryan Ourada facilitated a class discussion of the January interim assignment, learning about the educational opportunities in our area.

Todd Kuckkahn had the class serve as a focus group for the Portage County Business Council in brainstorming ideas to attract and retain talent to the central Wisconsin, Portage County area. The class was broken into four groups to provide separate input to four different, but similar questions.

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We had four great leaders within the Point area educational system host an Educational Leadership Café. We put the following individuals in the “hot seat” in small group

round robin Q&A discussions: Gregg Hansel, Director of Education at Pacelli Catholic Schools Volker Gaul, Stevens Point Campus Dean at Mid-State Technical College Greg Summers, Provost and Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs at UW-Stevens Point Connie Negaard, Director of Secondary Education, Stevens Point Area School District Ryan Kawski from SPASH discussed the SPASH Career Planning process highlighting that 6th grade is the time to begin certain elements of career planning and preparation in education. The Stevens Point area goal is to be able to provide individualized career planning for each student in the district.

Jeff Walker from Skyward, Dave Marten from Marten Machining, and Rene Daniels from the North Central Workforce Development Board participated in a panel discussion on workforce talent and needs in the community. They shared what each of their companies is doing within the community to attract and retain employees in the Central Wisconsin and Portage County areas.

SPASH POST-SECONDARY NIGHT

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& CAREER FAIR WHEN

Wednesday, March 15, 2017 5:30—7:30 pm WHERE

SPASH Fieldhouse

1201 North Point Drive, Stevens Point, Wisconsin

CONTACT

Gina Jordan

715-345-5468 • gjordan@pointschools.net • Please contact Gina

by February 15 if your business would like to participate

FEATURING • Over 70 Colleges & Universities • Area Businesses• Information Sessions • Refreshments

www.pointschools.net At the Portage County Business Council, we realize many businesses are having difficulties hiring new employees due to the workforce shortage.

We have a special opportunity for our members to reach out to students who will be graduating this spring. We would like to extend an invitation to you for the annual Post-Secondary Night and Career Fair held at SPASH (Stevens Point Area Senior High) on March 15th, 2017 from 5:30 – 7:30 p.m. in the SPASH Fieldhouse. Last year, we had over 80 colleges, universities, tech schools, trade

schools, apprenticeships, military representatives, and area businesses available to provide on-onone information. More than 1,000 area students from Stevens Point and surrounding districts attended with their families.

To RSVP, complete this Google Form: https:// goo.gl/forms/98lHTI3Gk4X3qj7E3.

If you have any questions about the event please call the SPASH Career Center at 715-345-5468.

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2017 EVENTS

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ebruary

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Executive Roundtable

SalesNet, 11:45AM, PCBC Office

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Ignite - Leadership Development Panel with Toastmasters, 5:30PM

Business After Hours, 5:00PM, Stevens Point Curling Club

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Business X-Change, 7:30AM, PCBC Office

13

American Agriculture Appreciation Banquet, 6:00PM, Holiday Inn Hotel & Convention Center

15

Post Secondary Night, 5:30PM, SPASH

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SalesNet, 11:45AM, PCBC Office

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Business After Hours, 5:00PM, Huntington Bank (Formerly known as FirstMerit Bank)

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Keynote Eric Frohardt Conference, 8:00AM, Holiday Inn Hotel & Convention Center

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Ignite - 5th Anniversary Party 5:30PM, Great Northern Distilling

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Did you know you could post job openings, events and press releases on your membership login?

ASK US HOW TO ACCESS YOUR LOGIN 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.

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www.portagecountybiz.com

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