In This Issue
Febr ua r y 2024
This month, we look forward to celebrating the accomplishments of Chamber Champion award nominees at the 2024 Chamber Champions Gala!
Upcoming Events From The Desk Of The CEO
02.13.24
Ribbon Cutting: Longhouse Axe Bar Lower Level
“Success is best when it’s shared.” — Howard Schultz I cannot believe how quickly January has flown by this year.
Deidre Martinez
February for the Chamber team marks a month of celebrating successes throughout our community, and we have a blast doing so. Thank you to everyone who submitted nominations for the Gala this year. Our judges are busy working through those nominations, and we hope you’ll join us for the big announcements at the upcoming Chamber Champions Gala. The event of the year will be held Thursday, February 22nd at the beautiful Osthoff Resort. We’ve got some exciting things in store and are thrilled to celebrate so many successes. We have very few tickets still available. If you have not registered yet, please call our office immediately so we can assist you. We also have several new faces at the Chamber. As we are now managing services for the Harbor Centre Business Improvement District, we are thrilled to add Kristin Bahr to our team. She will be serving the BID members and taking care of daily operations for the organization. We have a meet and greet scheduled for Tuesday, February 13th from 5:00 – 7:00 pm at the Chamber office. If you are in the BID district and/or would just like to stop in and introduce yourself to Kristin, we hope you will join us. To learn more and to register, please click here. Leah Bischoff has joined our team and will help newcomers moving to Sheboygan County for jobs get settled in our community. As the Transition Caoncierge Specialist for the county, Leah is here to support local employers with
02.14.24
Out to Dinner with Coastal YP’s: Legend Larry’s Sheboygan Falls
02.22.24
Chamber Champions Gala 2024
02.28.24
Out to Breakfast with Deidre Martinez: Shuffs
03.06.24
Maximize Your Membership
Roundtable Meetings: 02.13.24 HR MANAGERS 02.14.24 BUSINESS OWNER SUCCESS STRATEGY
their workforce attraction needs. She has spent the past several years as a realtor locally and is very familiar with Sheboygan County and all its offerings. We are busy adding the final touches to our targeted WFD Marketing and Attraction Campaign, and we will soon be launching it in several states surrounding Wisconsin, targeting areas of the state more than two hours away. If you are a Sheboygan County employer, hiring manager, human resource professional and/or responsible for recruiting workforce to Sheboygan County, we invite you to join us to learn more about this campaign and how employers can utilize these services free of charge. To learn more, please click here. This program has been made possible through the generosity of a grant from Sheboygan County to support the significant need to grow our population and bring more workforce to the area. We want you to Think BIG (betterment, improvement, growth), Influence Local! The Sheboygan County Chamber of Commerce is committed to providing expertise for fostering dynamic organizations throughout Sheboygan County. We are truly Better Together!
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Kierra Brooks - Special Events Coordinator & Office Assistant “If January is the month of change, February is the month of lasting change. January is for dreamers...February is for doers.” — Marc Parent Greetings everyone! I hope the new year is off to a fantastic start for each of you. As we embark on this journey of growth and improvement in 2024, I’m thrilled to be a part of it!
Kierra Brooks
To kick off February, we hosted a dynamic Speed Networking event on the 6th. This gathering provided an excellent opportunity for Young Professionals (YPs) and seasoned individuals (OGs) to connect, share insights and learn from one another. The event stemmed from the enthusiastic response we received during our Brews and Brainstorming event last year, and it turned out to be a significant success, with all Coastal YP spots filled. Looking ahead to March 7th, our Coastal Young Professionals will be hosting a first-time homebuyers event from 5:30 to 7:00 pm. This informative session will offer valuable insights into the homebuying process, presented by professionals with daily expertise in the field. The event will also be interactive, allowing participants to pose questions and gain a comprehensive understanding of each step involved. Snacks and beverages will be provided for a delightful evening. Excitingly, we’re gearing up for our Better Together Intern & Co-op Program, scheduled from June 6th to July 25th. If you’re anticipating interns or co-op participants this summer, consider enrolling them in this program. Our goal is to create an experience so enriching that they’ll be inspired to return to Sheboygan County after graduation, becoming valuable contributors to our workforce and community. Feel free to reach out to me for more details about this program. Lastly, for those interested in our Leadership Sheboygan County Class or those who know students that would benefit from our Junior Leadership Class, your opportunity has arrived! Applications will open this month for the next classes, set to commence in August. Keep an eye out for announcements, or feel free to contact me with any inquiries. Stay warm Sheboygan! Until next time!
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Josh Aschenbach - Director Of Membership & Workforce Development On January 10th and 11th, I had the privilege of participating in an incredible workforce development event for 7th and 8th graders called “Explore Your Future.” This event, sponsored by Acuity Insurance and held at the Lakeshore Technical College Cleveland Campus, has been around in some form for well over a decade. It provides students with invaluable insights into their personalities, coaches them on employability skills and gives them Josh Aschenbach the opportunity to engage in real-life discussions with professionals in their careers of interest. The Chamber’s Business Education Partnership Committee (BEP) dedicates countless hours each year to planning this event. “Explore Your Future” demands an impressive amount of volunteer hours and effort. Volunteers are asked to lead a 45-minute personality discussion and/or three 15-minute career conversations. At the very least, every volunteer is responsible for meaningfully engaging with the 1,181 registered 7th and 8th-grade students for 45 minutes. That’s a significant commitment — not one that I take lightly. As this was my first year helping to lead this event, I admit that I was nervous about getting volunteers to willingly engage with 1,181 registered 7th and 8th-grade students and to lead discussions on six personality types and 16 career clusters over three workshops and a day and a half. That’s a total of 66 roles to fill at a minimum — a number that would make any event planner have night sweats and nightmares. 87. That’s how many volunteers registered to help at “Explore Your Future.” Eighty-seven. The outpouring of volunteer support was absolutely astounding to me. Professionals from nearly every industry and profession imaginable willingly gave up their precious time not only to show up for this event but also to thoroughly prepare for all that would be asked of them. This wasn’t a trade show — we didn’t ask our volunteers to come and brag about their company or product. This event was about a much bigger picture: investing time, knowledge and experience into our future workforce, answering the questions that we all wish we could have had answers to when we were their age. I can’t overemphasize how truly unusual it is to have that kind of support and participation, regardless of the size of the organization. I’ve been a part of several nonprofits in different parts of the state throughout my career, and getting volunteers is always like pulling teeth. But I think there’s something I’ve always known: for our community, for our chamber members, it actually would be unusual to NOT have that type of support and engagement. See, that’s what makes our Chamber, our community, so unique. It’s not that we’re any more special than any other community; it’s that we care more. We give more. We show up more when it matters.
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So, from the bottom of my heart, thank you for showing up. Don’t ever change. If what I just shared gets you excited and you want to get more involved with the BEP or any of our incredible events and committees, reach out to me at josh@sheboygan.org SAVE THE DATE: STEAMfest 2024 - Thursday, October 17th at UWGB-Sheboygan
Pictured: Mark Edmond from Boys & Girls Clubs of Sheboygan County as he leads the Artistic/Creator Personality discussion.
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Christy Jacobs - Director Of Events And the Winner is…… Welcome to February and Gala season! We are busy preparing for an evening of celebrating the accomplishments of our members while creating new relationships and rekindling old ones. We can’t wait to see you at the beautiful Osthoff Resort in Elkhart Lake. It will be a night to remember and shine! If you have not registered, there is space in our Gala Viewing Room Party. Register here:
Christy Jacobs
Chamber Champions Gala As this month winds down, watch out for new programming to be announced, such as Small Business Boot Camp and Professional Development Opportunities. Both will be beneficial to our members, whether big or small, to help grow your business and connect with other Chamber members. I had to make this short and sweet this month with Gala projects looking to be completed! Looking forward to seeing you all at the Gala! Cheers! - Christy
John Rogers - Business Roundtables Facilitator Chamber Roundtables are a ‘work in progress.’ Since the beginning of time, things have changed either because of ‘natural’ agents such as the Colorado River and the Grand Canyon or on a much smaller scale. Sometimes, events cause us to change procedures, such as how a roundtable is facilitated. If you participate in 1 of the 8 Chamber roundtables [and I hope you do!], please read this!
John Rogers
REVISED ROUNDTABLE REMINDERS The Chamber’s peer-to-peer roundtables are structured and emphasize the Chamber’s ‘Better Together’ philosophy. Key features include: EIGHT – Roundtable groups:
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ODD-NUMBERED MONTHS - Worksite Wellness, Mid-day EVEN-NUMBERED MONTHS - Nonprofit Executives, Safety Managers, Sales and Marketing, Human Resources, Business Owners FOUR PER CALENDAR YEAR - Manufacturers - This is both a ‘technology transfer’ roundtable as well as peer-to-peer interaction. STRUCTURE – In person or virtually, your facilitator will work to give all an opportunity to say their concerns for peer group discussion. You will have to wait for your turn to talk. RESTRICTIONS – The focus of a roundtable is peer-to-peer exchange to help you in your current role. The roundtables are not for selling your services or products. If you meet someone that could become a client, introduce yourself after the roundtable ends. OPENERS and CLOSERS – One word that expresses how you feel; think ice-breakers and post-scripts. TOPICS – Primarily what is of concern to you so your peers can provide an idea or two, or more! Topics are ranked in four categories: URGENT & IMPORTANT IMPORTANT, not urgent URGENT, not important NEITHER urgent nor important We try to cover all topics, time permitting. Sometimes, we have a guest presenter. ‘Silver bullets’ are not guaranteed! DISCUSSION with EMPATHY – Put yourself in their ‘shoes’ with your thoughts often based upon your own prior experiences. This is a judgment free zone. Yes, questions can be asked. CONFIDENTIALITY – The topics we discuss are to stay within the roundtable. NOTES – The facilitator will take notes and then send a recap for you to have a few days after the roundtable. The notes will be emailed to all who registered, and your email address will be known to all who registered [unless you object!]. CHAMBER BUZZ – Every Monday, The Buzz lists roundtables scheduled to occur within the next few weeks, plus a link so you can register. REGISTER – Please! Either use your Chamber Master password [do you have one?] or send an email to john@sheboygan.org. Send your questions to John, too. If you have a topic that is really URGENT & IMPORTANT to you and you want it to be a topic at the next roundtable, send it, and all who registered will be notified prior to when the roundtable convenes.
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Kristin Bahr - BID Member Services Director Hello! I’m Kristin Bahr, a seasoned business and marketing professional with a rich background spanning more than two decades in both for-profit and non-profit sectors. My expertise lies in developing effective marketing strategies and orchestrating successful events that foster businesses to grow and succeed. Growing up on a lake has instilled in me a deep appreciation for Kristin Bahr waterfront communities, making it especially thrilling to be part of one now. There’s a unique charm to Sheboygan Harbor Centre Business District that resonated with me, and I believe it holds something truly special. Beyond the professional realm, I love spending time with my husband of over 30 years and with our three wonderful daughters. We especially enjoy board games and time soaking up the sun on our boat. Please stop in at the Sheboygan County Chamber of Commerce and say hello. I’m thrilled to be able to contribute to the success of the Harbor Centre Business Improvement District, eager to forge stronger neighborhood connections and ready to assist in taking your business to new heights. Looking forward to working with you!
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Leah Bischoff - Transition Concierge Specialist Thank you for taking the time to learn more about me and how I can be of service to you! With over a decade of experience as a sales manager, I’ve developed a keen understanding of providing top-notch, fullservice care to clients while fostering a culture of continuous learning and growth. Now, I’m excited to apply my expertise and knowledge to support you on your journey.
Leah Bischoff
In my new role as a Transition Concierge Specialist, I’m dedicated to working with individuals from all walks of life to break down barriers and facilitate access to the opportunities available in Sheboygan County. Whether it’s navigating housing options, exploring employment opportunities, accessing essential services or discovering the vibrant array of events and establishments within our community, my goal is to ensure a seamless experience for everyone involved. During my leisure time, you’ll find my Fiancé, Devin, and I actively engaged in volleyball, supporting local theater productions, volunteering with Big Brothers Big Sisters and immersing ourselves in the outdoors through hiking excursions. Additionally, we take great joy in sharing our home with two cherished furry companions who never fail to bring warmth and happiness to our lives. Please feel free to reach out to me at any time with your questions or needs. I’m just a phone call away, and I’m here to support you in any way I can.
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January In Review
January 10
January 10 & 11th
January 16th
Out to Dinner with Coastal YPs: IL Ritrovo
Explore Your Future
Junior Leadership Sheboygan County Class Government
January 18th
January 18th
January 19th
2024 Economic Outlook Breakfast & Annual Meeting
Leadership Sheboygan County Class Government & Transportation
Coastal YP’s: Winter Wonderland
January 24th
January 25th
Out to Lunch with Deidre Martinez & Ribbon Cutting: Kame Ramen Sushi & Poke
vibe@5: Pine Haven Christian Communities - Haven Drive Campus
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Newsletter sponsorship opportunities now available! Please contact Deidre Martinez at 920.457.9491 or deidre@sheboygan.org for more information.
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