In This Issue
This month, we look forward to our Friday Forum, focused on the Economic Impact of Tourism & Retail in Sheboygan County.
July 2023
From The Desk Of The CEO
“Then join hand in hand, brave Americans all! By united we stand, by dividing we fall.” – John Dickinson
Happy Independence Day Sheboygan County Chamber members! We are the most blessed country in the world and those blessings are certainly plentiful in our communities specifically.
We are thrilled to announce the hiring of our new transition specialist to assist with your workforce development efforts. Carlos will be joining our team officially on July 11th. His first couple of weeks will be filled with learning, but we invite you to stop in and say hi when you have the chance. He will be available full-time to help your new hires settle into our communities successfully. If you are interested in learning more about this program and the many resources available, to include recruitment support, financial resources for entry level workers to assist with moving and financial literacy programming, please contact Deidre at deidre@sheboygan.org.
We look forward to welcoming newcomers to our area and immersing them in all that Sheboygan County has to offer. We are in our final few weeks of the annual intern/co-op program and we have had so much fun getting to know so many visitors to our area. Our hope is that every one of these students will choose to relocate to Sheboygan County upon their college graduation and work for one of our wonderful employers. If you have interns that are not involved, please reach out to us right away so we can help them get involved and build relationships with other interns/co-op’s.
Upcoming Events
07.12.23
New Member Orientation
07.12.23
Better Together Intern & Co-op: Day of Caring
07.13.23
Coastal YP’s & LSC: Kickball Night
07.14.23
Friday Forum: Economic Impact of Tourism & Retail in Sheboygan County
07.14.23
Coastal YP’s & Interns: Comedy Night
Deidre Martinez
Upcoming Events
We are finalizing details for our Chamber Travel, November 3–14, 2023 as we experience the culture of India through several cities and National Parks. To learn more about this opportunity please visit our website or contact Deidre directly at deidre@sheboygan.org. Lastly, we are pleased to announce our 2024 travel to Ireland. All information for both of these trips can be found here.
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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Roundtable Meetings: 07.12.23 WORKSITE WELLNESS 08.02.23 NON-PROFIT 07.26.23 Out to Lunch with Deidre Martinez: Lake Street Café 07.27.23 Better Together Intern & Co-op: Appreciation Day/ Beach Bash 07.28.23 Ribbon Cutting/ Grand Opening: The Production Farm 07.20.23 vibe@5: Motorhead Auto Detailing
[ Continued ]
Kierra Brooks - Special Events Coordinator & Office Assistant
Hello July!
Remember, the road to success and the road to failure are almost exactly the same. -Colin
R. Davis
Last month kicked off our intern and co-op programming, and let me tell you, we’ve been busy with two events every week. The interns and co-op’s have been introduced to some of Sheboygan’s summer events like the Levitt Amp concerts in the City Green on Thursday nights and Food Truck Mondays in Vollrath park. They’ve also had a tour of the YMCA and received a free month of membership, took an intro to pistol class at Blackhawk Shooting Range, and participated in personal development with financial advice from Jacobs Financial Solutions – Thrivent.
Next month, we will be just as busy with a whole new calendar of events! The month is kicked off with our Day of Caring on July 12th. Interns and co-ops take a half day of volunteering at a local nonprofit in the area. Non-profits include, Above & Beyond Children’s Museum, Kohler Andre State Park, Nourish Farms, A Million Dreamz, Habitat for Humanity, and the Humane Society! If you’re involved with a local, Chamber member non-profit and are interested in getting involved next year, please don’t hesitate to contact me! At the end of July, when the program commences, we will celebrate with an Appreciation Day Beach Bash. We will re-connect with everyone over volleyball, bonfires, swimming, S’mores, and more!
The Young Professionals had a great turnout at our golf event, Birdies and Bubbles. Thank you to Kohler’s YP group for the partnership! We had about 60 young professionals all together that participated and enjoyed the beautiful Baths par three course and mini golf at Blackwolf Run. As always, the month is packed with exciting volunteer, professional development, and social events. To kick off the month, we are our monthly Dinner Date with YPs. Meet us at 3 Sheeps on July 12th from 5-8pm! You can bring your own food or order as a group as we play trivia starting at 7pm and socialize. This is the same day as the Day of Caring for the Interns/Co-ops, so they will be joining us to relax after volunteering. The Weill Center has been so kind to invite the Young Professionals and Interns to a comedy night on July 14th starting at 7:30pm with local, young comics. Since July’s anchor is volunteer month, our opportunity will be delivering meals with Fresh Meals on Wheels the week of July 24th-28th, email me at kierra@sheboygan.org if you are interested in signing up!
I’d like to bring attention to an incredible opportunity we have on August 7th at Pine Hills Country Club. They’ve agreed to us using their members only, newly renovated pool for a Young Professional’s social!
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Kierra Brooks
This event will be an exclusive pool party for Young Professionals only for $35 which includes BBQ meal and a cash bar. If you are a member at Pine Hills, there is a discounted rate for you, just message me to sign up for that rate.
Now let’s discuss Leadership Sheboygan County, this program is not only an amazing way to grow in your leadership, but also to learn so much more about Sheboygan County and gain a connection with some other great leaders in our area. I graduated from this program this past May and it was one of the best experiences. I’ve lived in Sheboygan for 15 years already and still learned so much. Learn more here and find an application here to explore the benefits of joining the class of 2024! We are accepting applications until July 14th, so hurry! Please don’t hesitate to email me if you have any questions.
Lastly, I’d like to invite you all to join our text group. I send one text out at the beginning of each week to remind or notify of what’s to come for the week with YP’s. If you’d like to stay in the know, simply text CYPN to 218-226-8880. Stay connected by following YP’s on social media- Instagram @coastalypnetwork and Facebook at Coastal Young Professionals Network
Have a great month everyone and as always, stay connected Sheboygan!
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Christy Jacobs - Director Of Events
How can it be that we are entering into July? Unreal how fast time flies, especially the warmer months in Wisconsin.
We have 3 events planned for the month of July:
July 14th will be our second Friday Forum: Economic Impact of Tourism & Retail in Sheboygan County.
In 2022, Sheboygan County experienced a strong performance in the tourism sector. Sheboygan County saw a $439 million impact last year, a 12.8% increase from the year before. Approximately 3,349 jobs, part-time and seasonal work, were supported by visitor activities. This amounted to $108.9 million in revenue for the County, up 13.5% from 2021, according to a statewide report released by the Wisconsin Department of Tourism.
This will be a panel discussion featuring two representatives from the Mercury Marine Midwest Challenge boat races taking place in August as well as owners, executive directors, and mangers of local businesses. They will be discussing trends, results, ideas, and answering your questions. Join us at the Elks Lodge from 11:30 to 1:00 for this wonderful discussion, lunch, and a chance to network. Register here.
July 20th we have our vibe@5 hosted by Motorhead Auto Detailing. This is one you don’t want to miss! What they can do to a vehicle is amazing and the cars that were on display for their ribbon cutting…wow! Join us from 5:00 to 7:00 to learn more about Motorhead and to do some networking. Register here.
July 26th is Out to Lunch with Deidre at Lake Street Café. A great way to meet the CEO of the Chamber outside of a meeting or an event. What better way than lunch in wonderful Elkhart Lake. Register here
We are excited to announce that nominations are now being accepted for the first ever 2023 Workforce Development Symposium Education Awards! Award recipients will be announced and recognized during the Sheboygan County Workforce Development Symposium on August 23, 2023 at Pine Hills Country Club.
To nominate visit: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/K68JTKC
This event needs to be on your calendar! We have some amazing presenters coming in for you that day. We will have Jim and Courtney from MRA-The Management Association to discuss workforce and generational gaps, trends, myths, and truths and Dave Hataj, President of Edgerton Gear, Inc and founder of Craftsman with Character. If you have not heard Dave’s story and the project he is embarking on, you need to be here for this.
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Christy Jacobs
He has got a story to share with you. For more information on this event follow the link below. We are working very hard to join our community educators and business partners in a room to get the conversation going on workforce development in our community. Register here.
Looking to host or sponsor an event? Feel free to reach out, I would love to help.
See you at the next event!
Cheers!
~Christy
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John Rogers - Business Roundtables Facilitator
WHY IS ‘BETTER TOGETHER’ SO IMPORTANT?
First, a little history because it can be relevant to what happens today! When I started at the Sheboygan County Chamber of Commerce, no one was responsible for a focused effort on economic development. In fact, a variety of economic development topics were my responsibilities. To address this, we assembled four different business-oriented committees including one labeled ‘Business Attraction.’ Quickly, we learned if a business was considering expansion into Sheboygan County, there was no contact person or agency, so we became a ‘better together’ group and developed ‘The Guiding Principles for Economic Development.’ It was signed by numerous elected officials and other leaders from around the county. What we did helped to form the foundation of what Sheboygan County Economic Development Corporation does now. SCEDC and the Chamber continue to work towards ‘Better Together.’
The Business Assistance Committee considered how to make existing AND start-up businesses better together. The program that began first, in November 2007, was the Operations Managers Roundtable. You’ve heard me [perhaps too many times] mention roundtables, but every roundtable since the first one has proven that ‘Better Together’ works! Consider reading this article from The Business News.
Another Business Assistance program that was developed because Chamber members requested it is the Deep Dive program. Those Chamber members wanted a different way to exchange information about each other’s businesses and help each other grow. At one time, there were five different groups. Those of you involved with a Deep Dive group know how well this ‘Better Together’ program works.
For start-ups, the Business Assistance Committee had the ‘A Team’ to hear and evaluate the business plan prepared by an entrepreneur for their new endeavor. Jeff Leismer, founder of VibeTechGlobal, was a presenter. He listened well, got some much needed start-up investments and continues to grow with new ideas for improving health. Check out VibeTechGlobal to learn more.
The Business Education Committee was where the idea to develop INSPIRE Sheboygan County began. When it was launched in 2013, our hope was that three area school districts would see the value and invest. Within 12 months, all public-school districts were a part of the INSPIRE program, as were numerous businesses and individuals who understood that a ‘Better Together’ mentoring relationship could result. Today’s version of INSPIRE is a powerful tool for everyone involved. Sometimes a ‘Better Together’ program can help you have a ‘Better Together’ understanding of where you have lived for either a short time
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John Rogers
or a long time. In 2007-2008, I was required to enroll in Leadership Sheboygan County, and I am so glad I did. Numerous friendships were developed, and I got a much deeper understanding of why Sheboygan County is a wonderful location for living, working and playing. Talk to others who are recent graduates of ‘Leadership,’ and you will enroll yourself or a staff member.
During a recent round of golf, I met a person who said he was part of the first-ever Chamber Golf Outing. There were four foursomes. Each person brought a prize to share, and all went home happy. Maybe that was before the Chamber’s Ambassador program. Do you have the 2023 version of the Chamber’s golf event on your calendar? You are too late to sponsor a hole, but there may still be another sponsorship opportunity available. Learn more here.
There will be more than four foursomes this year, and we will all be ‘Better Together’ at the end of the day. No rain, please!
Finally, a program that is booming in a ‘Better Together’ way is Coastal Young Professionals. Under the leadership of Chamber staff members Kierra and Klohie, plus all the Chamber member volunteers, they have numerous exciting events to entertain and educate. Are you a YP? Learn more here.
Have I missed a ‘Better Together’ program you enjoy, such as vibe@5 or another program? Be sure you get The Buzz every Monday and then read it to know all the Chamber has to offer.
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June 2
Justin H. & Gabrielle M. Chamber Ambassador Scholarship Recipients
June In Review
June 6
Deep Dive A: Collecting Donations for A Million Dreamz
June 8
Better Together Intern & Co-op: Welcome & Networking Kick-Off Event
June 13
Grace V. & Melissa P. Chamber Ambassador Scholarship Recipients
June 14 vibe@5: Summit Credit Union
June 16
United Way of Sheboygan County & PATH Program Golf Outing
June 18th
Juneteenth Celebration
June 21
Creating Inclusive Workplaces Session #3: Journey to Inclusion with Renita Robinson
June 24
Ribbon Cutting: Humane Society of Sheboygan County Dog Park
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June 28
Out to Breakfast with Deidre Martinez: Fountain Park Restaurant
June 29
Amazing Race with Chamber Leadership, Team Members & Chamber Members
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June In Review [ Continued ]
Newsletter sponsorship opportunities now available! Please contact Deidre Martinez at 920-457-9491 or deidre@sheboygan.org for more information.
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