Start Up 2016

...well almost.

Volume One’s Guide to

bootstrapping your own business W O R D S B a r b a r a A r n o l d , To m G i f f e y • E D I T O R S To m G i f f e y, E r i c C h r i s t e n s o n •

brought to you in part by

__________

D E S I G N S e r e n a Wa g n e r, E r i c C h r i s t e n s o n

EAU CLAIRE AREA EDC

DYNAMIC FITN ESS EMPLOYEES CELEBR ATE WI N N I NG TH E PAR AGON AWARD FROM TH E E AU CL AI RE ARE A ECONOMIC DE VELOPMENT CORP.

ANOTHER DYNAMIC SUCCESS NEW FIRM FLEXES ITs MUSCLES IN FITNESS EQUIPMENT INDUSTRY on-the-job training, use of cutting-edge technology, and the endorsement a continuous improvement environment and culture. In a recent photo of a team huddle (not all 70 but close), the employees appear to revere the Paragon Award much like a team winning the Super Bowl would the Lombardi Trophy.

Curt Tambornino, who founded the company with his wife, Tammy, credits his employees for the rapid

AMONG DYNAMIC ’S PROD UC TS ARE POWER SLEDS, WH ICH ATH LETES USE TO IMPROVE TH EI R LEG , H I P, AN D CORE STRENGTH

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growth and success of the company. Daily, he and his team implement Kaizen, the practice of continuous improvement, and the 5S System, one of several lean manufacturing tools designed to improve workplace efficiency through facility-wide organization and cleanliness.

“One might read about or practice such methodologies but the reality of it all is simply applied common DYNAMIC FITNESS AND STRENGTH

In a former l ife, I was a gy m r at. Bar bells, weights, clangs, and grunts. Few women subscribed to this lifestyle then. The places were filled with testosterone and iron, black-colored equipment. They were dark, dank, and messy. Sometimes, this neatnik got a workout simply by putting things back where they belonged ... no matter how much they weighed.

Dynamic Fitness & Strength, the winner of this year’s Paragon Award from the Eau Claire Area Economic Development Corporation, has already transformed weight rooms as well as athletic and wellness facilities across North America with its new innovative and functional line of fitness equipment. The EDC presents the Paragon Award annually to a local business that is a “model of economic excellence through business expansion and development, job creation, and innovation.” Prior recipients include JAMF Software, Indianhead Foodservice Distributors, Hi-Crush Proppants, and Bush Brothers. The Paragon Award is sponsored by Royal Credit Union, the first recipient of the Paragon Award in 2001.

With a multimillion-dollar renovation, Dynamic Fitness & Strength has already breathed new life into the former 261,000-square-foot W.L. Gore/3M building at 2020 Prairie Lane in Eau Claire’s Gateway Industrial Park. By year’s end, Dynamic Fitness & Strength’s entire operation will be housed under one roof at the new location. Currently, the company is using four separate buildings at Banbury Place in Eau Claire.

Who’s behind this award-winning company? Seventy of the most dedicated employees – and more to come with the company’s intended expansion. Its leadership invests in the future and culture of its employees with

WOR D S : BARBARA ARNO L D

DYNAMIC FITNESS AND STRENGTH

TH E E AU CL AI RE YMC A WEIGHT ROOM IS OUTFIT TED WITH EQU I PMENT FROM DYNAMIC FITN ESS AN D STRENGTH

sense and good attitudes,” shares Curt.

According to the Ka i z e n Inst itute (us.kaizen.com), the 5S System is: 1. Sort. Sort out and separate that which is needed and not needed in a work area.

2. Straighten. Arrange items that are needed so they are ready and easy to use. Clearly identify locations for all items so that anyone can find them and return them once the task is completed.

3. Shine. Clean the workplace and equipment on a regular basis in order to maintain standards and identify defects.

4. Standardize. Revisit the first three guidelines on a frequent basis and confirm the condition using standard procedures.

5. Sustain. Keep to the rules to maintain the standard and continue to improve every day.

“These five simple steps are some of the founding principles of our innovations and way of life,” continues Curt.

“With that said, many of our customers – from professional sports teams and figures to Division I, II, and III universities, colleges, high schools, fee-for-fitness clubs, and wellness centers – have endorsed our product innovations and strategy.”

Serial entrepreneur Curt got his start at Hoss’s, his dad’s café on Bridge Street in Chippewa Falls, back in the 1980s. Likewise, Tammy began working at her dad’s J&D Manufacturing in Altoona. The idea for selling trailer hitch balls – which led to the birth of CURT Manufacturing in 1994 – evolved after a conversation between the couple and Tammy’s dad. Curt took a simple thing like a trailer hitch ball and took it to the next level. The rest is an entrepreneurial success story of customized trailer hitches and a company that is now the No. 1 manufacturer of hitches in North America.

Fast forward to a few years ago, and after almost 20 years in the business, Tambornino divested CURT Manufacturing to a private equity firm.

Why? To allow CURT Manufacturing to grow from something good into something great.

In 2011, Curt and his brother Jason founded Dynamic Fabrication & Finishing. Using more than 20 years of experience, this company specializes in contract steel fabrication and design.

The company uses state-of-the-art 2D and 3D laser cutting, welding, and powder-coat finishing. Located in Banbury Place, Dynamic processes sheets and tubes composed primarily of steel, aluminum, and stainless steel, serving many manufacturing industries, including wind power, gas, and oil companies.

In 2013, Curt, Jason, Tammy, and their team decided that the company’s future business strategy needed to go beyond being solely a job shop. They needed to develop a business around which a brand could be built. They took their personal and respective interests in fitness and strength training and began to develop and manufacture their own innovative line of fitness equipment and storage units. Thus, Dynamic Fitness & Strength was born. The business will generate 75 new jobs over the next three years, which will require many different skill sets from engineering, skilled manufacturing, purchasing, various administrative functions, and sales.

Dynamic Fitness & Strength and its associates all look forward to the future and to the opportunities it brings.

“We are truly grateful for the EDC and RCU for recognizing Dynamic Fitness & Strength for the impact we’ve made in 2015, and we are truly honored to have been chosen for the Paragon Award,” concludes Curt.

To learn more about Dynamic Fitness and its products, visit mydynamicfitness. com or find them on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

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GET READY TO LAUNCH U W - E A U C L A I R E ’ S E ntrepreneurial T raining P rogram helps budding businesspeople prepare their plans F O R S U C C E S S O n a T uesday eve ni n g , they leave their day jobs and families behind. They gather – this week, there are 14 of them – in a small classroom on the UW-Eau Claire campus, toting binders, notebooks, and – most importantly – dreams. These dreams of forming new businesses or expanding existing ones will be examined, amended, and honed over the course of 10 weeks. Ideally, by the end of that time, the participants in the Entrepreneurial Training Program will have business models and plans on paper as well as the knowledge and confidence to either launch their new ventures or to dream up new ones.

Once each semester, the UW-Eau Claire Small Business Development Center presents the Entrepreneurial Training Program. As the program’s promotional materials explain, “Understanding the full scope of what it takes to start and run a small business is overwhelming. The Entrepreneurial Training Program is a resourceful set of classes

designed specifically to help you develop a solid plan and learn what it takes to build a thriving business.” This semester’s participants include those hoping to pursue businesses ranging from drone photography and sports promotion to vehicle appraisal and music education.

“The concept of the ETP and the lean startPOQUET TE up model is increasing the chances companies will make it to the second stage,” explains Brad Poquette, a former executive and entrepreneur himself, who facilitates the class. In essence, the lean startup model focuses on putting a business idea in

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front of potential customers as soon as possible to test its viability. “Companies that fail don’t fail to produce an elegant service or product,” Poquette explains, “but inevitably (because) the customer doesn’t give a damn.” Using a tool such as business model canvas – a visual template that outlines what a business will deliver to customers, who those customers are, etc. – can help prevent costly, time-consuming mistakes for entrepreneurs.

Participants in the ETP complete both a business model and a more traditional, long-term business plan. “They’re both needed, but if you put the model before the plan, the plan becomes much more valuable,” Poquette said.

Poquette facilitates the class with the help of Luke Kempen, who directs the university’s Small Business Development Center, which provides no-cost services to new and growing businesses.

Participants hear from guests with real-world expertise in topics such as financing, human resources, and

legal issues.

On a recent Tuesday night, the guest was Mike Berry, a serial entrepreneur and founder of Superion Technology, an Eau Claire-based microchip design firm. Berry spoke about the mix of self-confidence and self-doubt that many entrepreneurs feel: They may be experts in a certain field, but they are unsure of themselves when it comes to launching a business.

For example, Berry recounted how he and the fellow engineers who founded his first business, Silicon Logic Engineering, were asked early on about their exit strategy. “We all looked around the room and said, ‘What’s an exit strategy?’ ” he recalled.

Carmi Simonson, a graduate of last fall’s Entrepreneurial Training Program, can relate to such uncertainty. While she had a veterinary degree and 10 years of experience as a small-animal veterinarian, she had never taken a business class before she decided to open her own animal hospital last year. “I had no clue how to make a business plan or even how

“

I t was a great guidance to get me organi z ed and focused. I don ’ t k now how I would have done it without the help I got.

– Carmi Simonson A N I M A L H O S P I TA L OW N E R A N D E N T R E P R E N E U R I A L T R A I N I N G P R O G R A M G R A D U AT E

”

to approach a bank to ask for money to get us off the ground,” she said.

“It did highlight all of the things I didn’t know, but that’s what it’s for,” she said of the program. “It’s eye-opening.” Among other things, the program helped Simonson prepare financial projectionss for her new business as

well as focus on marketing. Her business, Riverview Animal Hospital in Chippewa Falls, opened Dec. 1.

If she hadn’t taken part in the program, Simonson said, “I’m sure I would’ve made a lot more mistakes than the few that I have. It was a great guidance to get me organized and

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focused. I don’t know how I would have done it without the help I got.”

Poquette, the facilitator, knows that every Entrepreneurial Training Program graduate won’t become a superstar entrepreneur. (In fact, the class helps some participants realize their business goals aren’t viable, and thus saves them time and money.)

However, he added, “What we’re trying to do is get a higher percentage of them to be successful.” More successful entrepreneurs means a better economy, more jobs – and, ultimately, more dreams realized.

The Entrepreneurial Training Program runs for 10 weeks during each fall and spring semester from 6:309:15pm Tuesday evenings. The course costs $1,000, but the Wisconsin Economic Development Corp. will cover $750 of the price for those who complete business plans and take part in business plan counseling. To learn more contact the UW-Eau Claire Wisconsin Small Business Development Center at (715) 836-5811 or email ETP@uwec.edu.

Ready to roll with it U W - S tout class helps farmer with fence cart invention T he Di scovery C e n t e r at UW-Stout takes p ri d e , among its varied services, in helping entrepreneurs flesh out ideas for products or businesses.

“We have a good process – an initial feasibility study – that asks people the right questions. We can get a good idea if it’s going to fly or not,” said Roger Gehring, a development engineer with the Discovery Center.

Gehring’s colleague, Gus Myran, a project manager, agreed. “We’re a third party. We’re not going to blow any smoke. We’ll give them our opinion,” he said.

So when Matthew Buvala, a farmer from Pepin County, contacted the Discovery Center about his invention, a cart on two wheels that makes it easier to move temporary fencing, Gehring and Myran took a good, hard look at it.

At first, Myran was skeptical that no one had come up with an idea similar to Buvala’s. The cart is not overly complicated but can save farmers considerable time and backbreaking labor. “There must be hundreds of them out there,” Myran said, recalling his first thoughts.

There weren’t. Not even one. That’s why the Discovery Center and UW-Stout teamed up to help Buvala guide the Buvala Fence Cart closer to production.

The cart is ideal for farmers who rotate grazing sites for animals such as chickens, goats, and sheep, and

E ngineering students J ordan R eidt , left , and T odd T ollefson wor k on the B uvala F ence C art . T hey helped redesign the cart for inventor M atthew B uvala .

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from student thinking toward professional thinking about product development and manufacturing,” Springer added.

R e a dy to r o l l Once manufactured to the new specifications, the Buvala Fence Cart, for fences from four to six feet high, can be shipped in a box and assembled with nine bolts. An attachment, sold separately, allows the cart to be stored vertically with fencing to save space.

Buvala is in the process of finding a manufacturer and a company to help him market the cart. He will also work with the Small Business Development Center at UW-Eau Claire.

“You have to work through the proE ngineering student C ole B ergman uses a drill press while wor k ing on the B uvala F ence C art .

frequently need to move their flexible fencing. Instead of bundling and moving fencing and the embedded posts by hand, farmers can load a section 200 feet or more onto the cart’s rack.

After the cart is pulled by hand – or hitched to a utility vehicle – to the new site and one end of fence section is anchored, the cart is rolled away and the fencing pulls cleanly off the angled, two-prong rack, falls to the ground in a line, and is ready to set up.

Buvala, who repaired camera equipment for 20 years in the Navy, was tired of moving 400 to 500 feet of fencing by hand about twice a week for his 275 free-range, grass-fed chickens. He had to hold the bulky fencing with one hand and stack it with the other; fence sections often became entangled.

“The fencing can be a mess to move,” Buvala said. “There had to be something better to move it from Point A to Point B.” After making six prototypes – a couple of years’ worth of getting up before sunrise and tinkering in his barn – Buvala developed a working model and arranged to have it made at Pepin Farm Implement in Pepin. He realized, however, that if he wanted to market the cart on a larger scale he would need to get the price down and make design improvements.

Taking it to the n e x t l e v e l Buvala came in contact with Eric Turner, executive director of the Dunn County Economic Development Corp., who suggested that Buvala work with the Discovery Center at UW-Stout.

Once Gehring and Myran determined that the invention had merit and was highly marketable – not just for farmers but municipalities and organizers of events that set up flexible fencing – they helped Buvala take the next step.

The Discovery Center provides innovative ideas and solutions for business and industry by using student, faculty, and staff expertise and by connecting with specialists from around the region.

The center connected Buvala with a senior engineering class taught by Professor Scott Springer. Four students in the class worked on the Buvala Fence Cart as a capstone project. After conducting a complete analysis, students wrote a detailed report that: Recommended changing the cart’s construction to round metal tubing instead of square. Round tubing can be bent so that fewer welds are needed.

Recommended making the cart with smaller components, making it easier to assemble and less expensive to ship.

Created a physical prototype model of the proposed design.

Conducted a weight safety analysis.

Provided Buvala with the engineering specifications a manufacturer will need for larger-scale production.

Provided solid model computer files of the various components.

The changes are expected to bring down the retail cost of the cart from $475 to $300.

Students who worked on the project are Cole Bergman, of Marathon; Brandon Lawson, of Minneapolis; Jordan Reidt, of Alma; and Todd Tollefson, of Manitowoc.

“This project is an excellent example of the many real-world projects our engineering and technology students have assisted regional companies and entrepreneurs with,” Springer said. “It’s a win-win situation; the students win by having the opportunity to develop a design for a real application, while the sponsors are provided with a fresh design and documentation for very little investment.

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cess to be successful and take the right steps,” said Luke Kempen, SBDC director.

The Buvala Fence Cart is ready to roll. “Now the maturity level of the product is right where it needs to be,” Myran said. “It’s a passion for the inventor.

It takes four or five years to get a new product to market.”

For more information about the cart, including how to purchase one, email Buvala at mbuvala@centurytel.net. To see a video demonstration of the cart, go to http://buvalafarm.com/cart-video. To learn more about UW-Stout’s Discovery Center, which includes the Manufacturing Outreach Center and Fab Lab, go to www. uwstout.edu/discoverycenter.

GOT AN IDEA? YOU CAN WIN BIG THE ANNUAL IDEA CHALLENGE HELPS SPUR ENTREPRENEURS H ave you got a g r e at b u si ness idea burnin g a h o l e in your brain? Since 2007, the

Idea Challenge, an annual contest sponsored by the Eau Claire Area Economic Development Corp., has been boosting local entrepreneurs. If you’ve got an idea, you can submit an application to the program anytime at www. theideachallenge.com.

The first round of awards are announced in November, when up to five ideas win cash and as many as three ideas win $1,000 for business services. Then the top

five winners have a chance to pitch their ideas to business professionals and investors to compete for the $5,000 grand prize, which is announced in December.

Professionals evaluate each idea submitted and offer free guidance, so you’ve got nothing to lose and everything to gain for putting your idea out there!

The Idea Challenge • Eau Claire Area Economic Development Corp. • 7 S. Dewey St., Suite 101 • P.O. Box 1108 • Eau Claire, WI 54702 • (715) 834-0070 • www. theideachallenge.com

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G orilla D umpster B ag W O N the 2 0 15 I dea C hallenge

LET’S GET STARTED! BUSINESS EVENTS CLASSES - STARTUP Business Plan Basics Feb. 26, noon-1pm • Western

Dairyland Business Center, 418 Wisconsin Street, Eau Claire • $15 • All Ages • 7158367511 • successfulbusiness.org/events/event.phtml Participants will learn how to create an effective business plan that can guide the launch and growth of a new or existing business. A formal business plan is a required document for anyone in search of funding to start a new business, expanding an existing business or launching a new product or service.

nication and feedback to improve performance. Easier said than done!

Supervisor Training: Critical Conversations May. 5,

8:30am-4pm; May. 6, 8:30am-4pm • Holiday Inn South, 4751 Owen Ayres Court, Eau Claire • $600 • 21+ • A fundamental skill for all effective leaders is the ability to facilitate difficult conversations. The more difficult a conversation is for you personally, the less likely it is that you will effectively facilitate it. We will discuss what makes conversations difficult for you, and how that influences your ability to participate in and facilitate those types of conversations.

CONFENCES & NETWORKING

Mechanics of Starting a Small Business Feb. 27,

T3 Annual Technology Conference Mar. 5, 9am-5pm

Business Plan Basics Mar. 22, 6-9pm • Western Dairyland, 418 Wisconsin St., Eau Claire • $29 • All Ages • 7158367511 • successfulbusiness.org Small business owners, entrepreneurs and aspiring business owners are invited to attend Business Plan Basics. Class participants will learn how to create an effective and engaging business plan that can be presented to lenders and used to guide the launch and growth of a new business. Pre-registration is required.

Women’s Business Network Event Mar. 9, 5:30-7:30pm • Glaze N Glass Creations, 2155 Eastridge Center, Eau Claire • $5 • 18+ • 715-836-7511 • successfulbusiness. org The Western Dairyland Women’s Business Center is facilitating a business networking event. Hors d’oeuvres and beverages will be provided.

2-4pm • Green Oasis Gardens, 1403 122nd Street, Chippewa Falls • $29 • All Ages • 7158367511 • successfulbusiness.org Western Dairyland will host a Mechanics of Business class for individuals who know what they want to do but need to know the practical, logistics for being able to launch their business and begin earning revenue.

After the class, attendees may request free, one-on-one assistance from Western Dairyland’s Business Development Specialists delving deeper into the individual small business needs.

Website Basics Mar. 25, noon-1pm • Western Dairyland

Business Center, 418 Wisconsin Street, Eau Claire • $15 • All Ages • 7158367511 • successfulbusiness.org Financial and technological barriers for getting your small business online have greatly diminished in recent years.

Learn how to reserve a domain name, find a web host and use software templates to quickly launch a professional looking website that will effectively promote your business. Pre-register online, on the phone, or at the Western Dairyland office.

Entrepreneurial Training Program Every Tuesday un-

til Apr. 12, 6:30-9:15pm • UW-Eau Claire Continuing Education, 210 Water St., Eau Claire • $250-1000 (depending on program package) • 715-836-5811 • wisconsinsbdc.org/eauclaire/attend/etp 10-week course hosted by the Wisconsin Small Business Development Center.

Learn how to write a business plan, find funding, managerial, hiring, and accounting practices, and much more.

Put your plan to the test at the end of the program. Learn more and submit your business plan online.

CLASSES - MANAGEMENT Supervisor Training: Learning to Lead Mar. 10,

8:30am-4:30pm; Mar. 11, 8:30am-4:30pm • Holiday Inn South, 4751 Owen Ayres Court, Eau Claire • $600 • 21+ • 7158364914 • uwec.edu Moving into a management role for the first time-or even moving into new roles over time-can be stressful for even the most seasoned supervisors. For those just starting out, though, the initial challenges can be overwhelming. Supervisor Training: Learning to Lead will provide participants with the knowledge and confidence they need to excel in this role.

Supervisor Training: Dealing With Conflict Mar. 17, 8:30am-4pm; Mar. 18, 8:30am-4pm • Holiday Inn South, 4751 Owen Ayres Court, Eau Claire • $600 • 21+ • (715) 836-4914 • uwec.edu Poorly managed conflict can create significant costs for organizations, negatively impacting engagement, productivity and profits. Much conflict cannot (and often should not) be avoided. Since some amount of conflict is inevitable in any organization, your goal must be to ensure that your current and future management staff have the skills they need to successfully manage conflict.

Supervisor Training: Orientation, Time Management and Delegation Apr. 7, 8:30am-4pm; Apr. 8, 8:30am-

4pm • Holiday Inn South, 4751 Owen Ayres Court, Eau Claire • $600 • 21+ • (715) 836-4914 • uwec.edu The ability to get things done through others is a critical skill for supervisors and managers. This requires an understanding of effective delegation and the use of commu-

resources & listings

their business ideas before a live audience and a panel of expert judges at the 2016 UW-Eau Claire Swim with the Sharks competition. Everyone is invited to watch the excitement.

Supplier & Product Pitch Day at The Local Store Mar.

31, 1-7pm • The Local Store at the Volume One World Headquarters, 205 N. Dewey St., Eau Claire • FREE • (715) 552-0457 • VolumeOne.org Calling All Makers.

Do you make any finished products you think would be a great addition to The Local Store? Or do you have the skills and the tools, but are open to ideas for what to create? We want to talk to you! By appointment only. Sign up by March 25. At your appointment, please have basic pricing, cost, and production time information ready to share, as well as samples of work to leave behind.

• Davies Center, UW-Eau Claire, 105 Garfield Avenue, Eau Claire • FREE • (715) 836-3727 • tomorrowstechnologytoday.org Tomorrow’s Technology Today (T3) is a professional business-centered conference for students interested technology. This full-day conference gives students the opportunity to learn about current business practices in technology, network with recruiters and challenge themselves through our annual Target sponsored case competition. Consists of various events and lectures all day.

Annual Red Cedar Watershed Conference Mar. 10,

7:30am-4:15pm • UW-Stout Memorial Student Center, 221 10th Avenue E., Menomonie • $35 before 3/8, $45 day-of, $20 for students • 715-232-2793 • uwstout.edu The conference, in its fifth year, will provide a forum for farmers, resource managers, businesses, organizations and educators from throughout the area to share ideas and create partnerships for action.

13th Annual Women’s Business Conference Apr. 21,

7am-5pm • The Plaza Hotel & Suites, 1202 W. Clairemont Ave, Eau Claire • $49 early bird registration, $69 after 4/1, $89 after 4/18 • (715) 834-3181 • plazaeauclaire.com At this full-day conference, attendees learn from established members of the business community in Western Wisconsin, talk to business assistance providers, and network with over 500 emerging entrepreneurs.

With over 500 participants from across the Midwest at the last year’s conference, we anticipate exceeding those numbers by continuing to specifically target female entrepreneurs who are starting, expanding and/or working to improve their businesses.

LECTURES & info SESSIONS John Karras: Successful Business Approaches Feb.

25, noon-1pm • The Volume One Gallery, Located inside the Local Store at the Volume One World Headquarters, 205 N. Dewey St., Eau Claire • FREE • All Ages • 715552-0457 • VolumeOne.org Join speaker John Karras, founder of urbanSCALE.com for a presentation sponsored by DECI. Learn some approaches for your business as well as why your business is significant in making your community more vibrant. Sponsored by Downtown Eau Claire, Inc. & Volume One.

Are You and Entrepreneur? Women’s Business Center’s Introductory Session - In-House Mar. 16, 5-6pm

• Western Dairyland, 418 Wisconsin St., Eau Claire • FREE • All Ages • (715) 836-7511 • successfulbusiness. org I introductory sessions to the Western Dairyland Business Center will be offered to provide information on how to qualify as a client of the Western Dairyland Women’s Business Center and access the many free and low-cost services and classes offered. Other topics covered include an inventory of entrepreneurial characteristics and information on common ways to finance a business.

PITCH DAYS UWEC’s Swim with the Sharks Business Idea Competition Mar. 8, 6pm • Davies Center, UW-Eau Claire,

105 Garfield Avenue, Eau Claire • FREE • (715) 8363727 UW-Eau Claire student entrepreneurs will pitch

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ROUNDTABLES & DISCUSSIONS Wenger CPAs Nonprofit Roundtable Feb. 26, 11am-

1pm • Holiday Inn South, 4751 Owen Ayres Court, Eau Claire • FREE • wegnercpas.com/seminars-education Wegner CPAs first roundtable session of 2016. The topic is “Maximizing Board Involvement”. In this roundtable we will explore practical applications to maximize board involvement. This would be a great session for the executive director and at least one board member to attend together. Session is free and open to the public. Check-in begins at 11, lunch at 11:30, and the presentation will last from 12-1pm.

Roundtable Discussion With the Department of Revenue Mar. 1, 11:30am-1pm • Mule Hide Manufacturing,

50 Bridge Street, Cornell • $10 (includes lunch) • 18+ • Join us to hear from the Wisconsin Department of Revenue (DOR) Secretary Richard Chandler. Chandler will share his objectives as the DOR Secretary and discuss his plans to implement good tax policy, with a particular emphasis on policies that will promote job growth.

Idea Lounge Discussion Series: Public Markets Mar. 3, 7pm • The Oxford, 1814 Oxford Ave., Eau Claire • FREE • All Ages • (715) 839-8877 • ecct.org Nation-wide, local food’s strong economic growth has led cities to reconsider the once commonplace public market. Eau Claire recently began a process to study if a year-round indoor market, potentially downtown, could serve our community. Whether you are a foodie or just interested, hear from experts and share your own ideas.

WEBINARS Business Plan Basics Webinar Feb. 26, noon-1pm •

Western Dairyland, 418 Wisconsin St., Eau Claire • $15 • All Ages • (715) 836-7511 • westerndairyland.org The Western Dairyland Business Center invites entrepreneurs and business owners to attend Business Plan Basics, a live webinar. Participants will learn how to create an effective business plan that can guide the launch and growth of a new or existing business. Pre-registration required.

Are You and Entrepreneur? Women’s Business Center’s Introductory Session - Webinar Mar. 2, noon-1pm

• Western Dairyland, 418 Wisconsin St., Eau Claire • FREE • All Ages • 7158367511 • successfulbusiness. org Free introductory sessions to the Western Dairyland Women’s Business Center will be offered to provide information on how to qualify as a client of the Western Dairyland Women’s Business Center and access the many free and low-cost services and classes offered.

Other topics covered include an inventory of entrepreneurial characteristics and information on common ways to finance a business.

Website Basics Webinar Mar. 25, noon-1pm • Western

Dairyland, 418 Wisconsin St., Eau Claire • $15 • All Ages • (715) 836-7511 • westerndairyland.org The Western Dairyland Business Center invites entrepreneurs and business owners to attend this a live webinar. Tuition is $15 and includes class materials. Learn how to reserve a domain name, find a web host and use software templates to quickly launch a professional looking website.

Are You and Entrepreneur? Women’s Business Center’s Introductory Session - Webinar Apr. 6, noon-1pm

• Western Dairyland, 418 Wisconsin St., Eau Claire • FREE • All Ages • 7158367511 • successfulbusiness.org This introductory class will cover the fundamentals of what the business and job center does at Western Dairyland as well as explaining our goals, business models, and successes. Learn about Western Dairyland’s services, including business education courses and business loans.

This session will introduce you to a range of services and support offered by Western.

Ignite Wisconsin 800 Wisconsin Street, Suite D2-401,

LOCAL WHITE PAPER

TOP TIPS FOR STARTING (OR IMPROVING!) A BUSINESS IN THE CHIPPEWA VALLEY Opening a store or restaurant? Developing a new product or idea?

Or ready to take what you’ve got to the next level? We can point you in the right direction.

Download a free, comprehensive resource guide to all the local programs, and get tips from those in the know.

VolumeOne.Org/BusinessTips

BUSINESS LISTINGS

support each other by focusing on business growth, personal development and community involvement. CVE members will support each other and offer input in those areas where you have questions that someone else has already experienced.

Chippewa Valley High Tech Alliance • members@cvh-

ADVOCACY Chippewa Falls Area Chamber of Commerce 10 South Bridge St., Chippewa Falls • (715) 723-0331 • chippewachamber.org Seeks to improve the quality of life in the community by providing leadership to coordinate, support, and promote the business interests of its members. A leader of the business community by providing value through member benefits, quality programs, and political leadership resulting in a solid return on investment for members.

Chippewa Falls Main Street 514 N. Bridge St., Chip-

pewa Falls • (715) 723-6661 • teri@cfms.us • chippewafallsmainst.org Chippewa Falls has been a Wisconsin Main Street Community since 1989. Chippewa Falls Main Street helps promote and improve the downtown with rehabilitation projects, façade improvements, and numerous promotional activities including Pure Water Days, Paint The Town Pink, and the Bridge to Wonderland Parade.

Chippewa Valley Entrepreneurs • chippewavalleyentrepreneurs.org/hello-world Chippewa Valley Entrepreneurs is a free, member-led, confidential, peer-sharing group of like-minded entrepreneurs from the Chippewa Valley area. Meets monthly in groups of 7-10 people to

ta.com • cvhta.com A group of area technology-based businesses that have come together to raise awareness of the region as a leader in technology. A large number of companies – past, present and emerging – either employ technology as the core of their business, or rely on technology to deliver their products or services.

Eau Claire Area Chamber of Commerce 101 N Farwell St, Eau Claire • (715) 834-1204 • eauclairechamber.org Leader in progressive development of the business community in Eau Claire. Hosts numerous events to promote a healthy business community. Advocates for strong education systems and workforce readiness, promotes educational information and other resources to enhance development, and supports small business members by providing programs and services specific to businesses with 20 or fewer employees.

Greater Menomonie Area Chamber of Commerce 342 Main St. E, Menomonie • (715) 235-9087 • menomoniechamber.org Seeks to promote a successful business climate in the Greater Menomonie area through a variety of events, training seminars from experts, advertising opportunities, a broad professional network, and member-only programs. Hosts Business After Hours, a networking event hosted by and for Chamber members.

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Mail Box 9, Eau Claire • (715) 855-7681 • mfinger@ ifww.org • ignitewisconsin.org Ignite Wisconsin, a program of the Innovation Foundation of Western Wisconsin, helps prospective entrepreneurs in the region move from dreaming about owning businesses to taking active steps to turn those dreams into reality. The program provides encouragement, inspiration, and connection for entrepreneurs via online content, live events, and oneon-one connections.

Main Street of Menomonie Inc. 342 E. Main St., Menomonie • (715) 235-2666 • mainstreet342@wwt.net • mainstreetmenomonie.org Main Street of Menomonie Inc. is a non-profit organization with the purpose of working with downtown property owners and business owners to build a strong and vibrant downtown commercial district. The group’s four-point approach includes organization, promotion, design, and economic restructuring. Main Street of Menomonie is behind a number of annual events, including SummerDaze and WinterDaze.

Startup Current Dennis L. Heyde Entrepreneur Program, Schneider Social Science Hall 400D, 105 Garfield Ave., Eau Claire • 715-836-4636 • mgmtmark@ uwec.edu • startupcurrent.org Startup Current is a website designed to promote the culture of entrepreneurship on the UW-Eau Claire campus and throughout the community. It provides startup-related news briefs and information about entrepreneur-related events.

Startup Current is sponsored by UWEC’s Dennis L. Heyde Entrepreneur Program.

BUSINESS IMPROVEMENT DISTRICTS North Barstow/Medical Business Improvement District City of Eau Claire Economic Development Divi-

sion, 203 S. Farwell St., Eau Claire • (715) 839-4914 • downtowneauclaire.org Formed to allow business and property owners in the North Barstow and Medical districts of downtown to develop, manage and promote their respective districts and to establish an assessment method to fund these activities. Contact for information about the next meeting.

South Barstow Business Improvement District City

of Eau Claire Economic Development Division, 203 S. Farwell St., Eau Claire • (715) 839-4914 • downtowneauclaire.org Created to allow business and property owners in the downtown to develop, manage, and promote downtown Eau Claire and to establish an assessment method to fund these activities. The South Barstow BID is responsible for the flowers and music on Barstow Street. Contact to learn when the next meeting is.

Water Street Business Improvement District City

of Eau Claire Economic Development Division, 203 S. Farwell St., Eau Claire • (715) 839-4914 • downtowneauclaire.org Formed to allow business and prop-

erty owners in the Water Street business community to develop, manage, and promote their business district and to establish an assessment method to fund these activities. The Water Street BID stretches along both sides of Water Street from the Chippewa River west to Seventh Avenue. Contact for information about the next meeting.

West Grand Business Improvement District City

for protecting and developing your ideas, financing and funding programs, information regarding regulations and permits, and more. In addition to other financial resources, such as a variety of grant programs, they host the annual Idea Challenge, which is an ongoing contest for individuals or businesses with an idea for a new product or service with the chance to win a grand prize of $5,000.

of Eau Claire Economic Development Division, 203 S. Farwell St., Eau Claire • (715) 839-4914 • downtowneauclaire.org Created to allow business and property owners in the West Grand Avenue business community to develop, manage, and promote their business district and to establish an assessment method to fund these activities. The West Grand Avenue BID comprises the commercial area on the west bank of the Chippewa River from First Avenue to Second Avenue. Contact for information about the next meeting.

Momentum West 2322 Alpine Road Suite 7, Eau Claire • (715) 874-4673 • info@momentumwest.org • momentumwest.org Momentum West is a regional economic development organization serving Barron, Clark, Chippewa, Dunn, Eau Claire, Pierce, Pepin, Polk, Rusk, and St. Croix counties featuring startup, R&D, and Technology Transfer resources and much more.

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

Western Dairyland Business Center 418 Wisconsin

Chippewa County Economic Development Corporation 770 Scheidler Road Suite #3, Chippewa Falls •

(715) 723-7150 • chippewa-wi.com A certified economic development staff can assist offers multiple business solutions including loans, scholarships, incubators, initiatives & incentives, and an easy-to-use web-based tool designed to help entrepreneurs find a location for their business.

City of Eau Claire Economic Development Division 203 S. Farwell St., P.O.Box 5148, Eau Claire •

(715) 839-4914 • mike.schatz@eauclairewi.gov • eauclairedevelopment.com A division of the CIty of Eau Claire. Its mission is to grow local businesses, facilitate expansions, and incentivize businesses to locate in Eau Claire. Has resources available to assist in marketing & branding strategies, paperwork, permits & regulations, finding a properties to rent or own, and finding financial assistance through grants, loan & credit programs.

Downtown Eau Claire, Inc. (DECI) 203 S. Farwell St.; PO Box 5148, Eau Claire • (715) 839-4914 • downtowneauclaire.org A non-profit organization dedicated to promoting the development of business, housing, cultural resources, and activities within downtown Eau Claire. DECI offers grants, loan programs, and credit programs to help businesses that are creating new job opportunities, expanding their operations, or bringing new technology to Eau Claire. DECI can help with location expansion, buying equipment, paperwork, permits & regulations, marketing & branding strategies, and learning how to get started.

Dunn County Economic Development Corporation 800 Wilson, Suite 219, Menomonie • (715) 232-4009 • director@dunnedc.com • dunnedc.com/dunn Promotes economic growth and stability in Dunn County. Resources available include finding available or building new commercial or industrial locations, expansion, starting a new business, customer retention, and matching individuals and companies with funding sources and incentive programs.

Eau Claire Area Economic Development Corporation

7 S. Dewey St., Suite 101, Eau Claire • (715) 834-0070 • ec.info@eauclaire-wi.com • eauclaire-wi.com The Eau Claire Area Economic Development Corporation advances economic prosperity through business and job growth by assisting in the creation, enhancement, and expansion of local businesses. They have resources

SMALL BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT St., Eau Claire • (715) 836-7511 • westerndairyland. org The Western Dairyland Business Center targets historically underserved populations such as women, lowincome, minorities, veterans, and disabled individuals in our local counties offering group training, networking events, and an annual Women’s Business Conference.

Works with entrepreneurs one-on-one to develop a business plan, marketing plans, website development, and business structure.

Western Wisconsin SCORE 500 S. Barstow St. Federal

Building Rm B11 (Lower Level), Eau Claire • (715) 8341573 • score@score-eauclaire.org • score-eauclaire. org SCORE is sponsored by the U.S. Small Business Administration and is comprised of retired entrepreneurs that offer advice to current entrepreneurs. Offers free management, bookkeeping, accounting, construction, design, and budgeting counseling, financial & loan resources, help with permits & regulations, and seminars from experienced entrepreneurs.

Wisconsin Small Business Development Center at

UW-Eau Claire 7 S. Dewey St., Suite 101, Eau Claire • (715) 836-5811 • KEMPENLS@uwec.edu • wisconsinsbdc.org/eauclaire The SBDC assists entrepreneurs at every stage of business development with financial, marketing, and management techniques and strategies at no cost. Provides professional consulting to entrepreneurs in an eight-county area of west-central Wisconsin. Also offers the Entrepreneurial Training Program, which helps entrepreneurs create business models and business plans and provides advice on accounting, marketing, financing, business structure, and more.

FINANCING Chippewa Valley Angel Network 2322 Alpine Rd. Suite 7, Eau Claire • (715) 878-9791 • cvangels@execpc.com • wisconsinangelnetwork.com Angel Investors provide equity capital to local entrepreneurs in order to bridge the gap between initial seed funding and institutional financing.

West Central Wisconsin Regional Planning Commission • (715) 836-2918 • wcwrpc@wcwrpc.org •

wcwrpc.org The West Central Wisconsin Regional Planning Committee has established the Regional Business Fund, which offers low-interest loans to businesses

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that expand within the region, diversify the economy, add new technology, revitalize buildings in the region’s downtowns, and create quality jobs and capital investment in the region.

Wisconsin Business Development 3610 Oakwood Mall Dr. Suite 201, Eau Claire • (715) 834-9474 • wbd. org WBD facilitates financial assistance for your business by working with your local lender and federal loan opportunities.

INCUBATORS Chippewa Valley Innovation Center 3132 Louis Ave.,

Eau Claire • (715) 836-2842 • chippewavalleyinnovationcenter.org The Chippewa Valley Innovation Center encourages new and emerging entrepreneurial business by allowing them to use community resources and by providing them a temporary start-up facility as well as managerial, technical, and financial assistance. CVIC offers flexible, low-cost building accommodations along with access to local economic development agencies.

CVTC Applied Technology Center 2322 Alpine Road, Eau Claire • (715) 833-6237 • dolson@cvtc.edu • cvtc. edu/atc/Pages/default.aspx The CVTC Applied Technology Center in Eau Claire, Wisconsin, is designed to accommodate the development of business start-ups for microfabrication and other advanced manufacturing technologies.

UW-Stout Discovery Center 278 Jarvis Hall, UW-

Stout, Menomonie • (715) 232-2397 • discoverycenter@uwstout.edu • uwstout.edu/discoverycenter/ The Discovery Center is the umbrella organization for UWStout’s research, outreach, and economic development efforts. The center aids local industry and the community thanks to the extensive expertise of UW-Stout faculty, staff, students and other specialists, fostering discovery and innovation. Among the center’s many programs and services are the Fab Lab, a digital fabrication lab that allows users to design, prototype, and built their creations; the Stout Technology and Business Park, a 403-acre mixed-use park; the Manufacturing Outreach Center, which helps regional manufacturers grow; and the Center for Innovation and Development, which helps inventors commercialize their products and technologies.

STATEWIDE AGENCIES Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation 201

W. Washington Ave., Madison • (855) 469-4249 • inwisconsin.com The Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation (WEDC) leads economic development efforts for the state by advancing Wisconsin’s business climate.

Wisconsin Entrepreneurs’ Network 432 N. Lake St., Suite 425, Madison • (608) 263-0398 • wenportal. org A statewide network that identifies high-potential entrepreneurs and helps move their businesses forward, and facilitates collaboration between entrepreneurs and outside organizations. Provides grants to help with business plan development and proposals for federal research and development grants. Expertise, coaching, and guidance with respect to technology assessment and commercialization, business planning, raising capital, and securing state and federal grants.

Wisconsin Housing and Economic Development Authority 201 W. Washington Ave. Ste. 700, Madi-

son • (608) 266-7884 • info@wheda.com • wheda. com WHEDA uses funds from Wisconsin’s State Small

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Business Credit Initiative to support programs that leverage private lending to help finance creditworthy small businesses. These programs include Capital Access Programs, loan guarantee programs, and venture capital funds.

Wisconsin Innovation Service Center 1200 Hyland

Hall, UW-Whitewater, Whitewater • (262) 472-1365 • innovate@uww.edu • uww.edu/wisc/ Wisconsin Innovation Service Center specializes in new product and invention assessments and market expansion opportunities for innovative manufacturers, technology businesses, and independent inventors.

Wisconsin Procurement Institute 10437 Innovation Dr., Suite 320, Milwaukee • (414) 270-3600 • info@ wispro.org • wispro.org NPO assisting Wisconsin businesses in creating, developing and growing their federal, state and local government sales by providing technical and professional expertise and experience to Wisconsin’s business community, specialized for disadvantaged, minority, woman, disabled and veteran owned firms as well as those located in designated HUBzone and distressed areas.

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