November 2024 Better Together Newsletter

In This Issue

Thankful for Sheboygan County!

November 2024

Upcoming Events

From The Desk Of The CEO

“Small businesses are the engine of our economy and the heartbeat of our communities.” - Karen Mills, former Administrator of the Small Business Administration.

Deidre Martinez

As the holiday season approaches, we find ourselves surrounded by the warmth of community and the spirit of giving. This time of year, we have a unique opportunity to support the local businesses that are the heart and soul of our community. I want to take a moment to remind you of the incredible impact your shopping choices can have this season.

When you choose to shop locally, you’re not just purchasing a product: you’re investing in the dreams and livelihoods of your neighbors. Local businesses create jobs, foster innovation, and contribute to the vibrant character of our town. Each dollar spent in our shops circulates within our community, helping to fund local schools, parks, and services that benefit us all.

This holiday season, let’s make a concerted effort to celebrate our local businesses. Here are a few ways you can make a difference:

• Shop Early and Often: Beat the holiday rush by shopping locally now. This helps businesses manage inventory and keeps our community vibrant.

• Spread the Word: Share your favorite local shops on social media. Your recommendations can introduce others to the treasures we have right at our fingertips.

• Participate in Local Events: Attend holiday markets, parades, and local festivals. These gatherings not only support businesses but also strengthen our community bonds.

• Consider Chamber Cash: They’re perfect for those hard-to-shopfor people and ensure that your gift stays in Sheboygan County.

Maximize Your Membership: November Chamber Office Nov. 6 | 12:30 PM - 1:30 PM YP/OG Speed Networking Chamber Office Nov. 7 | 5:30 PM-7:00 PM YP Friendsgiving Longhouse Axe bar Nov. 13 | 5:00 PM - 7:00 PM Out To Lunch w/ Deidre Luigi’s Italian Restaurant Nov. 13 | 11:30 AM - 1:00 PM

Leadership Awards Dinner The Berkshire Nov. 14 | 5:00 PM - 8:00 PM

Nov. 19 | 5:30 PM - 7:30 PM

Nov. 20 | 5:30 PM - 7:30 PM

Ribbon Cutting

Oostburg State Bank, Sheboygan Falls Nov. 21 | 12:00 PM - 12:30 PM

Nov. 13 | 7:30 AM -

13 | 11:00 AM - Mid-Day Nov. 19 | 12:00 PM - Creative Professional YP Bowling & Social Odyssey Fun Center

Together, we can create a ripple effect that empowers our local economy, nurtures our community spirit, and makes this holiday season truly special. Let’s embrace the joy of shopping locally and show our appreciation for the hard work and dedication of our local business owners.

Thank you for your continued support of our chamber and the businesses that enrich our lives. Wishing you and your families a joyful and prosperous holiday season!

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!

Kierra BrooksProgram Coordinator

Hello everyone!

Reminder: You don’t need a special occasion to be thankful - there’s always something to be grateful for!

I’d like to take a moment to thank everyone who supported the Young Professionals and attended our annual OktoberFeast fundraiser. I hope you had a great time, met some new people, and enjoyed the evening as much as we did! A special shout-out to those who joined the Brews & Brainstorming last month to kickstart our planning for next year. We have some exciting work ahead and hope to see even more of you getting involved.

Keep an eye out for our YP calendar - events for the rest of the year are all set and ready for sign-ups. We’re also actively looking for new committee members to join our team! If you’re passionate about planning, attending, and helping us spread the word about our events, we’d love to hear from you. Don’t hesitate to reach out to Kierra@sheboygan.org if you’re interested!

As you know, Leadership Sheboygan County and Junior Leadership Sheboygan County are well underway. Both

Kierra Brooks

classes have been full of surprises, with participants eager to learn, grow, and share their leadership journeys. Next month is Criminal Justice Month, which promises to be an eyeopening experience - it’s always a favorite session. Stay tuned for updates and photos!

Wishing you all a wonderful month filled with quality time with family and friends. Happy holidays to you and yours!

Ellie Meyers - Director of Events

Hello Chamber Members!

As we approach the end of the year, we have a lot of exciting events and opportunities to connect and celebrate our community. Here’s what’s coming up:

Out To Lunch with Deidre

Date: November 13

Time: 11:30am - 1:00pm

Location: Luigi’s

Join us for a casual lunch with our CEO, Deidre.

ATHENA Awards Dinner 2024

Date: November 14

Time: 5:00pm - 8:00pm

Location: The Berkshire

This annual event honors outstanding women in our community. Don’t miss this chance to celebrate their achievements! Please register immediately to secure your spot.

vibe@5

Date: November 20

Location: Lush Lounge

Unwind and connect with fellow members at our vibe@5 networking event. Enjoy good company and great conversation.

Ribbon Cutting at Oostburg State Bank, Sheboygan Falls

Date: November 21

Time: Noon

Help us welcome Oostburg State Bank to our community! Join us for the ribbon-cutting ceremony and show your support.

Applications Open for Ambassador Committee 2025

We are looking for enthusiastic members to join our Ambassador Committee for 2025. If you’re passionate about promoting our Chamber, please apply!

Ambassador Informational Session

Date: December 4

Time: 3:30pm - 5:00pm

Location: Sheboygan County Chamber of Commerce Large Conference Room

Ellie Meyers

Friday Forum

Date: December 6

Time: 11:30am - 1:00pm

Location: Elks Lodge

Presentation by: Kurt Bauer, CEO of the Wisconsin Chamber

Join us for a compelling discussion with Kurt Bauer about the future of business in Wisconsin.

Save the Date: Gala 2025

Date: February 20

Location: The Osthoff

Mark your calendars for our annual Gala! More details to come

We look forward to seeing you at these events and appreciate your continued support of the Sheboygan County Chamber of Commerce.

Kristin Bahr - BID Member Services Director

Celebrate the Holidays with Harbor Centre BID’s Holiday Happenings!

Get ready to kick off the holiday season with excitement and festive fun at the Harbor Centre BID Holiday Happenings! We have a wonderful lineup of events designed to make your holidays merry and bright while supporting our local businesses.

Swag Bag Doorbuster Event - Saturday, November 30

Get a Free Swag Bag at Shop Small Saturday!

Be one of the first 400 shoppers to snag a FREE Swag Bag packed with samples and gifts from our participating businesses. This year, the Swag Bags are better than ever, featuring random Chamber Cash and amazing gifts from some of Sheboygan’s biggest companies, including Sargento, Johnsonville, 3 Sheeps, and many more. Don’t miss this chance to grab exclusive goodies and take advantage of one-day-only specials throughout the area!

Holiday Open House - Saturday, December 7, 12:00 - 4:00 PM

Join us for a festive afternoon full of special one-day promotions and fun activities in the Harbor Centre BID. Our local businesses will be offering holiday-themed events and fantastic deals, creating a perfect opportunity to shop for unique gifts and celebrate the season.

Visits with Santa at the Chamber

Make memories and capture the holiday spirit! Bring the little ones to visit Santa at the Sheboygan County Chamber of Commerce on the following dates:

• Saturday, November 30 from 10:00 AM to 12:00 Noon

• Saturday, December 7 from 11:00 AM to 1:00 PM

Kristin Bahr

Santa will be ready to meet the kids, hear holiday wishes, and take photos to remember the special day.

Join us for these festive events and experience the joy of the season while supporting Sheboygan’s vibrant local businesses. Your support makes a difference, and together, we can make this holiday season truly special for our community.

Happy Holidays from Harbor Centre BID!

Leah Bischoff - Transition Concierge Specialist

Connecting Our Community: A Note from Your Transition Specialist

As your Transition Specialist, I’m dedicated to making our community as welcoming and supportive as possible for new residents. From connecting individuals and families with housing and job options to sharing local resources, my goal is to ensure a smooth, enjoyable transition for everyone stepping into our vibrant region.

A large part of my work involves building bridges between local employers and job seekers. By partnering with businesses to understand their hiring needs, I connect them with enthusiastic talent ready to start careers right here. Our upcoming Lakeshore Community Job Fair on November 7th is a fantastic opportunity to bring together a diverse range of skills and showcase all our region has to offer!

I’m also committed to strengthening our community through impactful programs, like the Chamber’s Business Education Partnership, which empowers local talent and supports educational initiatives. In addition, I lead our Make Your Mark recruitment campaign, providing no-cost recruitment support to help job seekers and employers find the right fit within our community.

This work is about building a true sense of belonging and creating new growth opportunities. Together, as residents, businesses, and organizations, we’re shaping a community that’s increasingly welcoming, vibrant, and supportive for everyone.

Leah Bischoff

Anna Toman - Director Of Membership Development

Hello friends!

We are excited to welcome our latest members!

Marshall Sign, www.marshallsign.com

Valens M&A, www.valensma.com

The Obsidian Owl, www.theobsidianowl.com

Happy Nails and Spa of Sheboygan, LLC, http://Happynailsandspasheboygan.com

Lighthouse Recovery Community Center, www.lighthouserecoverycommunitycenter.org

We have released the 2025 Opportunity Guide. We have crafted some new and EXCITING sponsorship ideas for next year, including being a Cocktail Sponsor for either OktoberFeast or Best Under 40 Awards: your company will have naming and cocktail recipe rights, branded napkins, and bar signage. Sound like fun? Let’s partner together for your MARKETING needs!

In the month of November, I am excited to be learning from John Rogers, to facilitate a new Roundtable at the Chamber. At the forefront of our new Creative Professional Roundtable is the book The Artist’s Way by Julia Cameron. Although the book - and this NEW ROUNDTABLE might imply being creative is only for artists, designers, and musicians - being creative is also a valuable tool for business professionals. Here’s how it can help:

1. Encourages Clear, Reflective Thinking: Morning Pages, one of the core practices in the book, involves writing three pages of stream-of-consciousness every morning. This habit can clear mental clutter for business professionals, helping to approach challenges with a fresh perspective. Writing freely often uncovers insights and ideas that might otherwise go unnoticed.

2. Fosters Creative Problem Solving: Cameron’s exercises promote thinking outside the box. This practice can help business professionals see situations from new angles, leading to innovative solutions that add value to their work and make them more adaptable to change.

3. Reduces Burnout and Stress: The Artist’s Date, another key exercise, involves taking time each week to do something fun and stimulating. Cameron argues that this time away from work helps refill one’s creative “well”, which prevents burnout and keeps energy and focus sharp.

4. Builds Self-Confidence and Overcomes Limiting Beliefs: Many of the book’s exercises focus on challenging negative self-talk and limiting beliefs. For business professionals, building self-confidence is critical for effective leadership, networking, and tackling ambitious goals.

5. Promotes a Balanced Life: The Artist’s Way emphasizes the importance of balance between work and personal fulfillment. Business professionals often face high demands on their time and energy, and Cameron’s approach can help maintain a healthy

Anna Toman

equilibrium, making room for personal development alongside career growth.

6. Enhances Communication Skills: The practice of expressing thoughts freely in writing (Morning Pages) can also improve one’s ability to communicate ideas. This habit can translate into better interpersonal communication and presentation skills in a professional setting.

7. Encourages a Sense of Purpose: Cameron’s book encourages readers to explore their passions and desires, which can bring a renewed sense of purpose to their careers. When professionals align their work with their deeper values, they often find greater motivation, satisfaction, and resilience in their roles.

By integrating these techniques into a professional routine, our members can nurture creativity, build resilience, and enhance their overall effectiveness in the workplace. Our inaugural Creative Professional Roundtable will be Tuesday, November 19th, 2024, 12:00 PM, at The Sheboygan Collective, 921 N. 8th St, Sheboygan, directly above Rudnick Jewelers. I hope to see you there!

As always, if you need to reconnect with YOUR Chamber membership, please call me! I’m always here and excited to help.

Make it a great day, Sheboygan!

John Rogers - Business Roundtables Facilitator

Synergy

That was my one-word opener for the Manufacturing roundtable on October 31 when we met at Johnsonville. Why ‘synergy’? Because of the definition and all these synonyms: synergy

Definition of synergy, as in partnership, is the increased effectiveness that results when two or more people or businesses work together. A synergy has developed among the different groups working on this project.

John Rogers

Synonyms & Similar Words: partnership, collaboration, cooperation, coordination, kinship, teamwork, unity, community, reciprocity, symbiosis, solidarity, collegiality, oneness, fellowship, mutualism, communion, togetherness, cooperativeness.

Yes, I used the Internet to find all these words. Why are they useful? You can use each of them when you attend a Chamber peer-to-peer roundtable because you know from prior roundtables, that this is what you will experience. You can also use them as a one-word closer because you will have a first-hand understanding of what synergy really means. Of course, ‘better together’ is a 2-word synonym of synergy. Your facilitator allows two-word openers and closers!

Pay attention to The Buzz for what roundtables are on the Chamber calendar or if you have questions, send and email to john@sheboygan.org so we can synergize.

October In Review

Newsletter sponsorship opportunities now available! Please contact Deidre Martinez at 920.457.9491 or deidre@sheboygan.org for more information.