CENTERGYEconomic Summit

MAY 11, 2010

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Summit Agenda

• Welcome – Bill Tehan, Centergy President; RuderWare• Opening Remarks - Kathy Rhyner, Associated Bank• Keynote Address – David Ward, NorthStar Economics • Department of Commerce – Mickey Judkins• Executive Summary Reports – 2010 Plan

of Action• Branding & Marketing Updates• Call to Action

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7 Rivers RegionTrempealeau, Jackson, LaCrosse, Monroe, Vernon, Juneau

Thrive*Sauk, Columbia, Dodge, Jefferson,Iowa, Dane. Green, Rock

Milwaukee 7*Milwaukee, Ozaukee, Washington,Waukesha, Racine, Walworth, Kenosha

New North*Florence, Marinette, Oconto, Menominee, Shawano, Waupaca, Outagamie, Brown, Door, Kewaunee, Manitowoc, Calumet, Winnebago, Waushara, Marquette, Green Lake, Fond Du Lac, Sheyboygan

Centergy*Marathon, Wood, Portage

Grow NorthOneida, Vila, Forest, Lincoln County (north) (Langlade and Iron are informal participants).

Wisconsin’s Regional Business Organizations

*Governor’s Business Council Member

Momentum WestBarron, Dunn, Chippewa, Clark, Eau Claire, Polk, Pierce, Pepin, Rusk, St. Croix

As of January 2008, 58 of Wisconsin’s 72 counties are members of a regional business organization.

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CENTERGY REGION• Marathon, Portage, & Wood Counties – Population 282,945; Labor

force 148,226• Chambers of Commerce

– Heart of WI Business Alliance – MACCI– Portage County Business Council – Wausau Region Chamber

• Higher Education – UWSP, NTC, MSTC, UW Marathon, & UW Marshfield/Wood County

• Government• Led by Private Sector

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GUIDING PRINCIPLES

• Collaboration - Leverage resources across the entire region

• Competitiveness – Position Central Wisconsin for growth and prosperity

• Consensus – Clarity of vision & principles

• Capacity – Metrics to benchmark progress of higher paying jobs, improved economic well being, and enhanced quality of life

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REGIONAL APPROACH

• Board of Directors – 32 Board Members – 21 Private Sector– 11 Public Sector

• 85% Privately Funded• Executive Council – 41 Top Business Executives

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INAUGURAL INVESTORS

• The Judd S. Alexander Foundation• Dudley Foundation• B.A. and Esther Greenheck Foundation• Wausau Insurance/Liberty Mutual• Ruder Ware/First Wausau Tower• Wisconsin Public Service

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NorthStar Economics

New Opportunities for the

Centergy Region

Presented by David Ward

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WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT

Pre K-12

- Work with area tech colleges to launch gold collar careers

Incumbent Worker

- Sector Strategies with NCWWDB

- WorkKeys to certify skills

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WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT

North Central WI Higher Education AllianceAlumni Recruitment, articulation agreements, credit transfer provisions –

Example – UWSP Central Wisconsin Nursing Education Center

Chair – President Lori Weyers, NTC

Interim Chancellor Mark Nook, UWSP

President John Clark, MSTC

Dean Sandra Smith, UW Marathon

Dean Andy Keogh, UW Marshfield-Wood County

Libby Burmaster, Nicolet Area Technical College

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BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT

• Advanced Manufacturing – Launch Gold Collar Careers & Regional Manufacturing Alliance

• Agriculture & Alternative Fuels – Supply Chain Directory, support for WIST, rural energy education center

• Entrepreneurship – Expand risk capital, electronic business resource guide, regional business plan contest, business retention software

• Medical Sciences – Healthcare student standardization, promote medical records utilization, support WI Genomics Initiative

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COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT• Government Relations

– Municipal Leaders Council and Legislative Council

– Central Wisconsin Days

Sustainable technologies & biofuels

Rural Alternative Energy Education Center

Continued support for WIST & Supply Chain Mapping Infrastructure

Completion of Highway 10

Business 51 between Stevens Point and Plover

Highway 13 between Hwy 10 and Hwy 29

Highway 54 arterial between Port Edwards and Wisconsin Rapids

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COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT• Logistics/Infrastructure

- Central WI Airport

- Broadband deployment

• Quality of Place

- Marketing

- Attraction of Talent

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Centergy Branding Initiative

Marketing Update

Unveiling of Centergy’s Brand

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Call to Action • Manufacturing Alliance under full operation

• Buy local data base greater promotion of chamber’s membership directories

• Finalize linkage of investment networks

• Full executive of Marketing Plan

• Formation of Creative Council

• Economic Gardening – 2nd Stage Companies in Region

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THANK YOU

Barb Fleisner, Executive Director

500 First Street, Suite 15

Wausau, WI 54403

715.843.9563

715.321.2911 (cell)

bfleisner@centergy.net

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