C H A M B E RJanuary 2019

Chippewa Falls Area Chamber of Commerce

CONNECTION

SAVE THE DATEJANUARY 28BUSINESS AFTER HOURS

JANUARY 30 CHIPPEWA VALLEY RALLY

MARCH 14WOMEN’S LUNCHEON

JUNE 4GOLF OUTING

COFFEE & COMMERCEJAN. 11 8:00-9:00A4:30AM COFFEE HOUSE

FREE NETWORKING EVENT

Chippewa Falls Area Chamber of Commerce

THE 108TH ANNUAL MEETING & LUNCHEON

MONDAY, JANUARY 21ST 12PAVALON HOTEL & CONFERENCE CENTER

1009 W PARK AVENUE, CHIPPEWA FALLS

Please join us to review the issues that shaped the year, highlight Chamber accomplishments, and discuss upcoming priorities.

FEATURED MEMBER: LUMBERJACK TOOLS $25 per person l $200 table of 8

Contact the Chamber at 715-723-0331 or maranda@chippewachamber.org to reserve a seat.

*No reimbursement after cancelation.

SPONSORED BY:

2 Chippewa Falls Area Chamber of Commerce

WELCOME OUR NEW MEMBERSJB Systems, LLC715-830-9375Gerald Bauer409 Main Street, Suite 1, Eau Clairewww.jbsystemsllc.com

Cricket Wireless715-861-7338Kay Bignell2751 Commercial Blvd, Suite 5, Lake Halliewww.cricketwireless.com

Northwestern Mutual715-835-2189Adam Ranum3610 Oakwood Hills Parkway, Eau Claire http://adamranum.nm.com

CHIPPEWA VALLEY RALLY

25TH ANNUAL

January 30 | MadisonAs the newly elected legislature convenes in January and a new Governor is inaugurated, early 2019 will be a pivotal time determining the direction of state policies that could significantly impact our state and local economy. This one-day event is jointly sponsored by the Chippewa Falls, Menomonie, and Eau Claire Chambers of Commerce.

The Chippewa Valley Rally is a critical opportunity for citizens like you and to meet and interact with lawmakers on vital economic issues like workforce, education, broadband, infrastructure, and more.

When you attend, you’ll spend a productive day taking part in issue briefings, small group meetings at legislative offices, a luncheon address by the Governor (invited), informal discussions with lawmakers and staff at the closing reception, and networking with others from our area who are interested in state government policy. And don’t worry if it’s your first time attending - you’ll be part of a team with an experienced group leader who has participated in previous Rallies.

Mark your calendar now and plan to be part of making good things happen for the Chippewa Valley. Register online, or call the Eau Claire Chamber office at 715-834-1204.

Optional round trip same-day bus transportation is available from Chippewa Falls, Eau Claire, or Menomonie, or you can travel on your own.

YOUTHAPPRENTICESHIP INFORMATIONAL

MEETINGThursday, January 31

9 – 10:30AChippewa Chamber

Learn about the Youth Apprenticeship (YA) program that integrates school-based and work-based learning to instruct students in employability and occupational skills defined by Wisconsin industries. Students are simultaneously enrolled in academic classes to meet high school graduation requirements, in a youth apprenticeship related instruction class, and are employed by a participating employer under the supervision of a skilled mentor.

Find out how you can be part of the April 17 YA Interview Day at the Chippewa Falls High School to hire a motivated student learner.

If you are not able to make the meeting but want more information, please contact Michelle at the Chamber. You can RSVP for the event on the Chamber website or by calling 715-723-0331.

BUSINESS AFTER HOURSJAN. 28 5:00-6:30P

$5 MEMBERS $10 NON MEMBER

HOST:ADVANCED LASER 600 CASHMAN DRIVE

HOW TO REDEEM CHAMBER BUCK$‘Tis the season for redeeming Chamber Buck$ gift certificates. When a customer comes in to your store, remind your employees to treat the gift certificate as a legal check. Chamber Buck$ can be deposited with your daily bank drop

and you will receive full face value.

3Chippewa Falls Area Chamber of Commerce

MOMENTUM WEST AND UW SYSTEM PARTNERS LAUNCH INTERNSHIP INITIATIVE

Momentum West and UW System Partners Launch Internship Initiative. UW-Eau Claire, UW-River Falls, UW-Stout, and Momentum West have created the University of Wisconsin Internship Network (UWIN), a shared ini-tiative aimed at encouraging more western Wisconsin businesses to establish internship and co-op programs.

UWIN’s goal is to connect more students at the three universities with small- and mid-size businesses in the 10-county region served by Momentum West, helping students gain professional experience and establish connections with area businesses. Ultimately, these internships will potentially result in permanent employ-ment for many of the participants, filling positions that have been challenging for these businesses to fill.

UWIN is built around the idea that internships and co-ops benefit both students and businesses, and that increasing the number of internships will help address workforce needs in western Wisconsin.

Growing the number of businesses offering internships will help more students discover the career oppor-tunities available in the region, which will encourage more students to stay in western Wisconsin after they graduate.

UWIN aims to grow awareness and understanding so more of those small- and mid-size businesses will participate.

For more information about the collaboration, see the UWIN website.

SCHOOLS 2 SKILLSWorkforce & Talent Development continue to be a focus for our Chamber. In partnership with Chippewa Falls Area Unified School District and McDonell Area Catholic Schools and the Chippewa Valley Technical College, we are working with businesses to educate 7th grade students about the career opportunities in Chippewa Falls. So far this school year, we have visited W.S. Darley, ITW Deltar Fasteners, TTM Technologies, Advanced Laser Machining, Dove Health Care – Wissota Heath & Regional Vent Center, and HSHS St. Joseph’s Hospital. Coming up are tours of Mason Companies, Great Northern Corporation, S.E.H., and Machine Tool Camp.

When asked what the students liked about the tour, they responded:

“The tour helped me learning about manufacturing and seeing engineers,

in different companies do different things.”

“The tour helped me decide what I want to be when I grow up.”

“I learned about the classes I can take in high school.”

4 Chippewa Falls Area Chamber of Commerce

MEMBER 2 MEMBER NEWSThe New Business of the Year Award goes to a business that was launched in the 2017/2018 Small Business Administration (SBA) grant year via services provided by the Women’s Business Center, and that is innovative, interesting, and has great potential for future growth and sustainability. Heather Marble, Blue Marble Pub was one of the 5 nominees of this award.

Charter Bank is proud to announce and welcome thefollowing new hires:• Daniel Pohnl, Assistant Vice President of Business Lending• Suzanne Twite, Mortgage Officer• Chad Plath, Branch Manager WNB Financial is pleased to annouce their plans to build a new, full-service office in Altoona. WNB currently operates as a Loan Production Office in Eau Claire located at 4330 Golf Terrace, Suite 111.

Junior Achievement of Wisconsin, Inc.,Northwest Wisconsin welcomes Carla Leuck, Marketing Officer at Charter Bank and Amanda Salwasser, Store Director at Festival Foods to their board of directors.

AMBASSADOR VISITS

Tammy McCartney, Beyond Bookkeeping

Wendy Kopp, Prevea360 Health Plan

CHAMBER VOLUNTEERS

The Chamber is grateful to for the help provided by our volunteers! Each month local volunteers assist with the newsletter and greet guests at the visitor center.

RIBBON CUTTINGCricket WirelessJanuary 18 12P2751 Commercial Blvd Suite 5Lake Hallie, WI 54729

Courtney BergVice President Consumer Retail BankingCCF Bank

Stacy PickerignOwner/Funeral DirectorPederson-Volker Funeral Chapel & Cremation Services

Rod Fisher Vice President General ManagerGeneral Beer - Northwest

Cathy LeibkeGeneral Manager Holiday Inn Express

WELCOME NEW BOARD MEMBERS

The Chamber would like to thank our outgoing board member, Lindsey Everson, Jacob Leinenkugel Brewing Company *According to the Chamber by-laws, additional nominations may be submitted by at least 10 members in good standing. If no nominations are received, the Board will declare these nominations official.

5Chippewa Falls Area Chamber of Commerce

MEET U

S

Chair Neil Mathwig Earth Blinds, LLC

Chair ElectBen Lane Wiley Law S.C.

First Vice ChairAmy Forcier Pabst Royal Credit Union

Treasurer Jamie Leibrandt Northwestern Bank Immediate Past ChairRolly Enderes ChemCeed, LLC

Mark Broses Short Elliott Hendrickson Inc.

Angela Eckman Chippewa Valley Technical College

Lindsey Everson Jacob Leinenkugel Brewing Company

Tom Hubbard Cedar Falls Building Systems

Sue Kern Mason Companies, Inc.

Erin Lorberter Country Inn & Suites by Radisson

John Lynn TTM Technologies

Mike Olson Micon Cinemas

Brandon Thorsness Chippewa Manor Nursing and Rehabilitation

Mayor Greg Hoffman Ex-OfficioDIR

ECTO

RS

Mike JordanPresidentKelly KuechenmeisterAdministrative Assistant

CHAMBER STAFFJackie BoosTourism DirectorMichelle FarrowMembership Coordinator

BOARD

The mission of the Chippewa Falls Area Chamber of Commerce is to improve the quality of life in our community by providing leadership to coordinate, support,

and promote the business interest of our membership.

Communications/Business & Technical24-7 & Wisconsin TelcomStrategic Communications LLCTLX Communications TSI Voice & Data

Computer Services & Equipment24-7 & Wisconsin TelcomAdvanced Retail TechnologyBack Office Accounting and Automation LLCCitizens ConnectedCiton Computer Corporation - Eau ClaireFirst Choice Recycling HPEImagineering, LLCKrista Computers Inc. Locknet- A Division of EO Johnson Office Tech. One Source Imaging S.A. Wallace LLC TSI Voice & Data

MEM

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Maranda MahrPrograms Director

Visitor Packets 59Visitor Walk-Ins 132Tourism Website Views 12,169Chamber Website 11,166

Novem

ber 2018BY THE NUMBERS

1 N. Bridge Street Chippewa Falls, WI 54729

PRSRT STDU.S. POSTAGE PAID

EAU CLAIRE, WIPERMIT NO. 1557

MON-FRI 7:30AM-5PM925 W. RIVER ST, STE 9

CHIPPEWA FALLS

CHIPPEWA FALLS OFFICE1680 E Park Avenue

(715) 723-2216westconsincu.org

Eau Claire, WI • 715.832.4254 charterbank.bank

10 North Bridge Street | Chippewa Falls, WI

800.472.5881 • sehinc.com

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