In this issue . . .
Member News Social Media Update Ambassador of the Month New Members
JUNE 2015
Let’s solve common problem together
I
By Aaron Kapellusch, President/CEO ’m not sure how summer snuck up on us so quickly and, unfortunately, it seems to speed by more than any other season. At the Chamber, this is the time of year we are gearing up for our annual golf outing. I look forward to spending time out of the office at the Wausau Country Club with many of the great members and volunteers on Monday, June 22.
Golf is a game of great patience, skill, and a little luck. When golfers play a new course, they encounter many variables to consider. These challenges can transform a leisurely afternoon on the course into several hours of frustration. Fortunately, golfers can reach into their bag for various clubs built for a variety of shots. And the other golfers in their foursome can offer guidance, too. Many local businesses are trying a new ‘course,’ approaching one common, but unfamiliar challenge. What do I mean? We have more people set to retire than we have entering the workforce. Often, when I’m out in the community, I hear from our members about their struggles to find the workers that they need.
I’m a glass half full kind of person and history has proven that as a community and a country we can overcome just about any challenge thrown our way. The Chamber will continue to be a local leader in the collaboration of thoughts, ideas and resources around this important issue. We offer two very key initiatives to address this concern: the Workforce Hub and E3YP. The first is focused on broad collaboration with community partners and business groups. The second is a way to engage and excite young professionals. When people ask me the value of Chamber membership, it’s easy to talk about many of the obvious benefits (access to networking events, educational programs, buy local gift certificates, etc.). Often overlooked are our efforts to help solve problems the business community, and the entire community, faces as a whole. We need to continue to assign resources towards enhancing educational opportunities for those desiring training at all levels. We need to continue to develop our community and be competitive on a global level not just for business but also for talent and human capital. And we need to find new and effective ways to market ourselves as the best community to live, work and play. It might be a different course but we have the clubs in our bag to get this done. So let’s keep swinging!
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