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The Active Voice Digital Magazine is a monthly publication distributed among the Portage County Business Council members.
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EventsBusiness onthe Green 2016 Talent Development
LeadershipPortage County
LPC challenges participants to broaden their understanding of Portage County.
InsightsValue, Not Equation It was painfully clear that this model punished members for growth of their business.
NewsroomMid-State Students Place in Statewide
Skills Contest
Portage County Business Council
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Portage County Business Council @PoCoBiz Portage County Business Council
Todd Kuckkahn - Executive DirectorKaren Schanock - Director of Programs & EventsKayla Rombalski- Director of Talent Development
Kari Thompson - Director of OperationsTonya Kowalski - Director of Business Engagement
Angel Whitehead -Marketing Communications Coordinator
[email protected]@portagecountybiz.com
[email protected]@[email protected]
Portage County Business Council5501 Vern Holmes DriveStevens Point, WI 54482
715-344-1940 www.portagecountybiz.com
CONTACTS:
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How do you get 40 people
to meet at 7 a.m.? Coffee–lots of coffee–and great conversation about young professionals in Portage County! Sparked by the New ERA PC workshop, action teams are now forming and will be meeting soon. Email [email protected] if you’re interested in sharing your voice and talents.- Ignite Leadership Network Portage County
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4 Value Not equationThe response from the business community to our new value-based membership model has been astounding.
7 business after hoursWhat is Business After Hours? A social event designed for and hosted by Business Council members to give business professionals an opportunity to network, share ideas, and have their facility seen by other members.
8 They Key to employyee engagement is youWould you trust the care of your most beloved loved one to someone who didn’t like you very much? If you have disengaged employees you might be doing just that.
11 New ERa group selection At the end of April a 100 Day Check In was held to show progress since the date of the initial New ERA Workshop.
14 business on the greenWith over 200 golfers participating and additional business representatives attending the 19th Hole Networking Dinner, the event provided a great environment to expand contacts.
17 spring celebration reviewThe Portage County Business Council Foundation’s Annual Spring Celebration was held Tuesday, May 3, 2016. More than 100 people attended this evening of celebration.
18 leadership portage county During this relaxed LPC session participants reflected on their previous 9 months in the program and learned about LPC Alumni programs for them to participate in the future.
C O N T E N T S
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It has been
helpful
to hear the challenges
& opportunity ahead
impacting our economic
show that employees engaged in and who have a better understanding of their community, are more likely to stay as employees and community members. The recent LPC class just gave us some great advice on how to grow the program even further.
We have also learned that several businesses support us just because they know we are the leader in economic development, including member education, programs and events, and not because of chamber benefits They remind us that in those few instances where we might not have a direct impact on sales, we are very much about creating partnerships to keep our business and employee retention and attraction moving forward.
As I just celebrated my first year in my role as executive director, I am so honored and humbled by all of the support I have received from the Board of Directors, staff, business community, municipalities and education. As I continue to drink from the “firehose” of economic development information, please give me and the team more opportunities to listen to the needs of our community.
We can all only get better together!
The response from the business community to our new value-based membership model has been astounding. During our face-to-face meetings with the business community, it has been helpful to hear the challenges and opportunity ahead impacting our economic vitality.
Our old chamber membership model focused on charging a member based on the number of employees or hotel rooms or bank assets. It was painfully clear that this model punished members for growth of their business. That seemed odd for a chamber to punish growth. It also meant that businesses with more employees didn’t necessarily get more for their dollar. That’s the old way now!
We’ve heard loud and clear that as the economic development engine of our community, we FIRST need to listen. And we have! Where there are immediate concerns with simpler (but not easier) solutions, we have
passed them on to the best resource. For example, one business had concerns about bus/transit service for their clients as well as bike access. The municipality is now working on possible solutions.
We also listened and heard how we can better help businesses tell their story. We realized our website doesn’t need to solely be about us but should promote our members. Our new company profiles and digital marketing packages do just that, by helping us tell your story. These are just a few changes and with this new value-based model, there are many more!
Additionally, there is the long-term challenge of employee retention and attraction. We just finished another class of Leadership Portage County (LPC), which in its own right can be utilized by a business for employee retention and attraction. Studies do
VA L U E , N O T E Q U AT I O N S DIRECTOR’S INSIGHT - TODD KUCKKAHN
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I am continually
fascinated by the amount of good work being done in Portage County.
The other day, my son was asked “Where does your mom work?” and he replied “At a place that helps businesses.” I couldn’t have answered better myself. And, while PCBC strives every day to help businesses in Portage County, the truth is, often times our member businesses actually end up helping us!
Our members help us: learn new ways of doing things, support the local economy, challenge old ways of thinking, employ thousands of workers, provide leadership to area youth, cultivate an entrepreneurial spirit, give back to the community, contribute to economic vitality, and most of all, they help us make Portage County a great place to live, work, and play.
One of the things I enjoy most about my job is being able to get out and meet many of our members. I am continually fascinated by the amount of good work being done in Portage County. Getting the opportunity to take facility tours, learn about success and challenges businesses face, and having conversations with professionals regarding the role PCBC plays in business growth has been invaluable.
So, THANK YOU to all of our members that work so hard day in and day out. Please know that you are making a difference! If I haven’t been out to meet you yet, I will be soon, and if you would like me to come visit at a particular time, give me a call or send me an email and we can schedule that visit right away!
Contact Tonya for ALL of your membership needs!
715-344-1940
H E L P I N G T O G R O W A C O M M U N I T Y TONYA KOWALSKI, DIRECTOR OF BUSINESS ENGAGEMENT
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6.8.16 \\ 7:30 A.M. - 8:30 A.M. PCBC FOUNDATION ROOM
NO COST TO ATTEND. CONTINENTAL BREAKFAST IS INCLUDED.What is the Business X-Change? A roundtable presentation which allows business owners and their employees the opportunity to discuss pertinent topics, learn from local industry leaders and, most importantly, learn from each other.
Business X-Change meets regularly throughout the year from 7:30 - 8:30am at the Portage County Business Council office.
TOPIC:“ARE MOBILE APPS REALLYWORTH THE HYPE?”
At this X-Change participants will learn:
1. Important mobile statistics and how mobile apps work.2. The differences between mobile apps and mobile websites.3. The advantages and disadvantages of developing a mobile app. 4. The right questions to ask when determining whether or not a mobile app is right for your business.
Brief Outline: Businesses of all shapes and sizes can agree that the digital environment ever-changing. There is always a “next big thing” that consumes seminars, blog posts and email newsletters.
With the exponential increase of smartphone ownership in recent years, mobile apps have taken center stage, but how do you know if this medium deserves exploring or is just a bandwagon that you should let pass on by?
About our Speaker: Katy Bailey is an Internet Marketing Consultant at the Little Online Agency, LLC. She graduated with a BBA in Marketing from the University of Wisconsin – Oshkosh and is a certified Google Analytics and AdWords Consultant. Katy has worked in the online
marketing industry for the past seven years and has experience in blogging, copywriting, social media, email marketing and SEO. Her passion is to help small business improve their presence online.
Special THANK YOU to Little Online Agency, LLC for their sponsorship of this program.
» CLICK HERE TO REGISTER
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Located at 800 Main Street (inside the Smith Scarabocchio Art Museum), downtown Stevens Point.
Parking: Readily available on the downtown square, on the street (corner of Water Street and Main Street), or directly across Water Street in the City of Stevens Point parking lots.
Enjoy complimentary hors d’oeuvres (including string cheese wontons, asparagus rolls, crab stuffed pea pods, stuffed cherry tomatoes, assorted pastry puffs, and mini fruit kabobs), assorted alcohol and non-alcoholic beverages (including punch from Great Northern Distilling), tours of the building, presentations from the artist curatorial steering committee for the Smith Scarabocchio Art Museum and the CWSO, a preview of what’s coming up for the museum and the CWSO, door prize giveaways and a 50/50 raffle.
What is Business After Hours? A social event designed for and hosted by Business Council members to give business professionals an opportunity to network, share ideas, and have their facility seen by other members. The member host furnishes refreshments and hors d’oeuvres for the evening. A different Business Council member hosts Business After Hours every month.
Members are welcome to co-host the event with another Business Council member. Please call Karen Schanock at 715-344-1940 or email at [email protected] to book the month you are interested in.
RSVP by Friday, June 17, 2016.
On May 12th members of our Ambassadors Club and PCBC staff visited new PCBC member Lettie W. Jensen Community Center located at 487 N
Main Street in Amherst. Special thanks to Cathy & Jodi from the Center for providing us a great
tour and details about the organization.
Members of our Ambassadors Club and PCBC staff joined Skyward as they celebrated their
New World Headquarters on May 24th. A ribbon cutting ceremony, building tours and
reception took place. Congratulations!
B U S I N E S S A F T E R H O U R SMONDAY, JUNE 20, 2016 , CWSO, NO COST TO ATTEND
Register Online View Map
Sponsored by
A M B A S S A D O R S S H O W T H E I R S U P P O R T
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Would you trust the care of your most beloved loved one to someone who didn’t like you very much? If you have disengaged employees you might be doing just that.
It is impossible for a disengaged employee to provide excellent customer service. It doesn’t matter how skilled the employee is, if they think of your business as the mere source of income, you/they won’t be wowing your customers.
Worse than that, those suffering from disengagement should be quarantined by the CDC as it is a highly infectious disease. One disengaged employee can make all of your employees reevaluate their level of happiness within your business. For this reason, employee engagement is one of the most important investments you can make in your company. The good news is, a lot of that is up to you.
Act DecisivelyIf you have employees who are showing signs of being disengaged, don’t let it fester hoping it will go away. It won’t. It will spread. Before you even begin working on your company culture, tackle this problem head on. Talk with the individuals involved. See if you can’t come to an understanding of how you can both work on turning it around.
The one thing you don’t want is happy employees seeing disengaged employees sitting around doing the minimum with a lousy attitude and getting paid for it. Employees are not robots. No matter how many times you tell others to ignore your Eeyore in the
corner, the bad feelings are bound to disrupt the working environment.Some disengaged employees are too far gone. While you should give them the opportunity to turn it around, know that this is not always possible. In those cases, you need to help that employee begin the journey in finding what will light their fire.
Decide Who You Are and Communicate It
This idea is much easier if you start your business with a mission and you clearly convey it to everyone you hire. Your mission doesn’t have to be something as grand as ending world hunger. A mission can be as simple as being “Smithville’s favorite family ice cream shop.” Everything you do should focus on your business mission.
The importance of sharing your mission with your employees is that it becomes the basis for all decision making. If employees know and understand your mission, they can use it as a referral point asking themselves at each decision, “Is this inline with our mission?”
Hire for FitNext you need to hire in accordance to your mission and culture that you want to create. Skills can be taught easily, shaping one’s attitude to fit the culture is a lot more difficult. Keep in mind: each new hire either brings you closer to attaining the culture you want, or takes you further away from your goal. Don’t hire someone just to plug a hole in your payroll.
Give Them the Resources They Need and Get Out of
the WayHave you ever seen a poll about qualities you want in a manager? If so, maybe you’ve noticed the one thing that is never mentioned is “micromanaging.” No one wants to be spied on, told their way is wrong incessantly, or limited in their growth potential.
If you hire well and communicate expectations, goals and your mission, assuming your employees have the resources they need to succeed, they will begin to feel the company’s success is their success. To that end, use inclusive language like “we” when communicating where you want the business to go and how you’ll get there.
However, when giving specific direction or assignments forgo the “we.” No one knows who’s doing what when you talk in generic terms about specific roles like “We will check the Facebook page each morning.”
Check in OftenGiving employees the resources to perform their jobs isn’t your only role. You need to provide feedback often. You’ll find Millennials, in particular, are interested in guidance on their performance. It needn’t be a formal review process. Just a weekly or monthly check-in on how you think things are going but it should be a two-way conversation and not a monologue.
When someone exceeds your expectations, call attention to it immediately. Give examples of why this is ideal behavior. Don’t wait for an annual review to call it to everyone’s attention. It will get lost or forgotten by then.
Create a culture where peers can also give constructive feedback, especially praising one another. Receiving peer recognition helps in team building and building a cohesive team increases employee loyalty.
If you want your business to be successful, you need to have a team that can help you attain your goals. Investing in your employees and increasing their engagement level allows you to exceed your customers’ expectations and become a company that everyone wants to work for.
Christina R. Green teaches small businesses, chambers and associations how to connect through content. Her articles have appeared in the Midwest Society of Association Executives’ Magazine, NTEN.org, AssociationTech, and Socialfish. She is a regular blogger at Frankjkenny.com and the Event Manager Blog. (Image
THE KEY TO EMPLOYEE ENGAGEMENT IS YOU INSIGHT
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WELCOME TO OURNEWEST MEMBERS
Steel Shield LLC2408 Falcon CoveStevens Point, WI 54481
Owens Family Dentistry LLC2308 Wyatt AvenueStevens Point, WI 54481
Segmented Systems MFG5225 Joerns DriveStevens Point, WI 54481
Resource One Installation & Services5225 Joerns DriveStevens Point, WI 54481
Agrometrics 3233 Business Park DriveStevens Point, WI 54482
For more information on membership, contact our
Director of Business Engagement, Tonya Kowalski, at
715-344-1940 or
What are the BENEFITS OF MEMBERSHIP?
• Your business representat ives are invited to educat ional and networking events
• List your own business ’ events , jobs , and deals on portagecountybiz .com
• Receive referra ls f rom other PCBC members
• Become a specia l event sponsorto promote your business
• Display your market ing mater ia ls in the PCBC lobby and on the PCBC website
• Part ic ipate in your local community
Derek Boyd recently joined M3 Insurance as a Director of Risk Management, Property & Casualty. In this role, Derek oversees a team of risk management
professionals specializing in property & casualty. Together, they serve clients in the areas of safety, loss prevention, workers’ compensation, and claims management. He also works closely with clients and carriers to assess liability exposures by helping design and implement health and safety programs.
Derek brings 17 years of experience in industrial hygiene, corporate safety, property & casualty insurance consulting, operations management and distribution from his previous role with national organizations.
Derek holds active memberships with the American Society of Safety Engineers (ASSE) and the American Industrial Hygiene Association (AIHA). He has also been the Property Casualty Insurers Association of America representative on the ANSI Z117 confined space committee. In addition, he has authored various occupational disease related articles and professional posters in trade publications, and at the American Industrial Hygiene conference & expo (AIHce).
http://www.m3ins.com/blog/boyd-joins-m3/
BOYD JOINS M3 INSURANCE AS A DIRECTOR OFRISK MANAGEMENT
The Portage County Business Council is pleased to have a new temporary office staff member!
Hired through Innovative Services, Inc. Alyssa began fulfilling clerical dutes in the PCBC office on May 23rd.
Alyssa will work with the Business Council for four weeks completing various projects and tasks. If you are in our office and see Alyssa smiling face, please be sure to say “hello” and introduce yourself!
A representative from Innovative Services , Inc. works side-by-side with Alyssa while she is here, and Innovative Services, Inc. pays Alyssa’s wages.If your organization would benefit from having a temporary staffer like Alyssa, please contact Colby West at Innovative Services, Inc. by phone: 715-544-6116 or by email:[email protected]
Some other PCBC member businesses that offer similar opportunities are:
Opportunity Development Centers715-424-2712http://www.odcinc.com/
CIC- Community Industries Corporation715-344-4563https://www.facebook.com/Community-Industries-Corporation-219998984678484/
Contact any one of these organizations today to add an individual to your team and lighten the workload for your staff!
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Join us for our June Women in Business as our guest speaker presents:
“TRAIN YOUR BRAIN FOR SUCCESS”.
When it comes to breaking records, Roger Seip walks the walk. Freedom Personal Development has consistently grown and broken records for more than 15 years. Roger is the author of “Train Your Brian for Success”, a national bestseller on how individuals can remember more, read smarter and break records in their lives.
Equally important, Roger is a master at teaching what works. He’s delivered more than 2000 presentations for organizations with audiences giving raving reviews for the improvement they immediately see, both professionally and personally. Roger also spent eight years as a professional stand-up comic, so you know there’s guaranteed laughter and fun with his presentation!
About our Speaker: Intelligent, Insightful...and Hilarious! These are the words that Roger’s clients use when they experience his programs. He has a knack for taking
principles of effectiveness that most of us struggle with, and crystallizing them into clear strategies and action plans that get Record-Breaking Results. He’s also one of world’s foremost authorities on how to train the incredible creative capacity of the human mind.
When it comes to creating Record-Breaking Results, here are some examples:
In his first sales career, Roger became one of the top 20 producers of over 200,000 in the 160 year history of the company. That’s the top 1% of the top 1% EVER.
Roger Co-Founded Freedom Personal Development, one of the world’s premier Personal Development firms. His company has thrived and broken records for more than 15 years.
Roger is the author of Train Your Brain for Success, a national bestseller on how individuals can remember more, read smarter and break records in their lives.
Special thanks to our Media Sponsor Midwest Communications
Radio Group
Location: SentryWorld Grand Hall, 601 N Michigan Avenue, Stevens Point
11:15 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.
Cost: $25/person PCBC Members$30/person Prospective PCBC Members
11:15AM Registration & Networking11:30AM Welcome11:45AM Lunch 12:00PM Master of Ceremonies, Radio Personality - Nikki Montgomery from Midwest Communications12:05PM Guest Speaker1:00PM Door Prize Giveaways and Closing
A delicious plated lunch will be provided consisting of: Strawberry Spinach Salad
(Sliced Grilled Chicken, Feta Cheese, Almonds, Strawberries, Hard-Boiled Egg
and Raspberry Vinaigrette Dressing), Coffee, Tea, Milk, Ice Water and a
Delicious Dessert (TBD).
(Vegetarian or Gluten Free Options available upon request)
Presented byWisconsin Public Service
Guest Speaker: Roger Seip, CEO,
Freedom Personal Development
Register here
THURSDAY, JUNE 23, 2016, SENTRYWORLD GRAND HALL
WOM E N IN BU S I N E S S
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T h e A c t i v e V o i c e | J u n e 2 0 1 6For questions on Women In Business contact
Karen Schanock at 715-344-1940 or [email protected].
Mark Your Calendars for these future Women in Business Events:
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
WOM E N IN BU S I N E S S
Thursday, September 26, 2016
To be held at
Stevens Point Country Club
Presented by Daubert Law Firm
Thursday, December 8, 2016
To be held at
Holiday Inn Hotel & Convention Center
Presented by
Berkshire HathawayTravel Protection
Education &
Innovation
Entertainment&
Recreation
Housing&
Infrastructure
Marketing&
Awareness
At the end of April, a 100 Day Check In was held to show progress since the date of the initial New ERA Workshop. At the check-in meeting, four key areas of focus were presented that came out of
the original New ERA workshop data. These four areas - Education & Innovation, Entertainment & Recreation, Housing & Infrastructure, and Marketing & Awareness - will become working groups of individuals who are interested in advancing that particular topic forward.
PCBC is now looking for individuals
who wish to move these topics forward by joining one (or more) of these four work groups. Attendance at either event is not necessary to participate in the work groups. Please complete this short three question survey to tell us which category you are most interested in.
Are you intrested in joining contact Todd Kuckkahn at
Kayla Rombalski [email protected]
N E W E R A W O R K G R O U P S E L E C T I O N
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F A M I L Y - F R I E N D L Y T I P S T O E N C O U R A G E
G A R D E N I N G I N P O R T A G E C O U N T Y
“Planting a pollinator
garden in a school area
can lead to lessons in botany,
entomology, food systems
and native populations.”
By: Sherry Daniels, UW - Extention You might harvest more than flowers and vegetables by working outside in your garden. Research shows that other benefits come from nurturing plants in your backyard, or a school or community garden.
FAMILY GARDENSPlanting and caring for a family garden can be a great way to bring the family together. Start small. Window boxes or containers (recycled clean bleach or milk containers work well) can become planters.
Make your own compost. Find a location in your yard behind a tree, or dig a hole in the ground. Add rinds and peels from fruit,
coffee grounds, tea bags, and eggshells—never anything that swam, walked or flew. Wait several months for your compost to turn black and crumbly and then mix with soil and use for fertilizer.
SCHOOL GARDENSSchool gardens offer opportunities that span many fields, including biology, chemistry, mathematics, culinary arts, business studies and design. Finding the connections between these topics provides an engaging learning experience students can continue outside of class.
Students of all skill levels can participate in activities from designing the garden to gathering the harvest. Visual, verbal, interpersonal and a variety of other essential skills are needed for a school garden to flourish.
BE A GOOD STEWARD“Spring offers an opportunity to be a good steward of the land,” says Daniels. She has more ideas and activities to consider as you spend time outdoors this spring and summer.
Plant a rain garden to help protect the natural water supply. Storm water may pick up materials that can pollute water. Rain gardens are designed to capture this rainwater before it becomes runoff, protecting the environment and groundwater. Many plants suitable for a rain garden also attract pollinating insects, butterflies and birds.
Plant a pollinator garden. Food crops rely on honeybees, native bees, and other pollinators to survive. Attract and nurture these creatures by planting nectar-rich, flower-filled gardens.
Plant a tree. You’ve probably heard this one before, but the power of a tree cannot be underestimated. Trees purify the air we breathe, take up and store carbon, and help reduce the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. They provide food and shelter to birds and other wildlife, help reduce energy needs by moderating winter winds and summer heat, and even provide us with fruit.
To learn more about the benefits of gardening and healthy activity or for more information on this subject or an interview, contact Sherry Daniels, Family Living Educator at the Portage County UW-Extension office, 715-346-1321.
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Aspirus Wausau Hospital one of ‘100 Great Hospitals in America’
Becker’s Hospital Review has recognized Aspirus Wausau Hospital in its recently released list of “100 Great Hospitals in America” for 2016.
This is the second straight year Aspirus Wausau Hospital has made Becker’s annual list, which was released on April 19. Aspirus Wausau Hospital is one of three Wisconsin hospitals to make this year’s list.
The list recognizes hospitals throughout the nation for their quality of care, clinical advancement, innovation and service to community. According to Becker’s, the 100 hospitals on the list are considered overall health care leaders in their region, state or the nation.
Facilities are selected by an editorial team from Becker’s based on rankings and awards from a variety of quality rating organizations, including U.S. News & World Report, Truven Health Analytics, Healthgrades, the American Nurses Credentialing Center and The Leapfrog Group, among others. The other two Wisconsin hospitals selected are in Milwaukee.
A full list of the “100 Great Community Hospitals” can be found online at
www.beckershospitalreview.com
Five Mid-State Technical College (Mid-State) students placed in the top three in their respective events at the 43rd Annual State SkillsUSA Secondary Leadership & Skills Conference, a showcase of career and technical education students. Competitions were held April 26 and 27 at the Alliant Energy Center in Madison.
Skil lsUSA, a national nonprofit organization, describes itself as “a partnership of students, teachers and industry working together to ensure America has a skilled workforce.” A total of 16 students from Mid-State’s SkillsUSA chapter participated in five events: Sam Buehler, Jarett Kinney, and Derrick Mortenson competed in Diesel Equipment Technology; Jordan Esselman, Ken Edwards, and Matt Leja competed in Automotive Service Technology; Mike Hutwagner, Tyler Peterson, and Kody Hastreiter competed in Precision Machining; Maggie Hirzy, Jesse Gulke, Jose Martinez, and Travis Nehring competed in Computer Numerical Controlled (CNC) Milling; and Devon Frost, Kale Clark, and Kyle Glodowski competed in the welding event.
Hirzy finished in first place in CNC Milling, and Esselman finished first in Automotive Service. Both qualified to compete in the National Leadership & Skills Conference in Louisville, Kentucky in June. Hastreiter placed second in Precision Machining. Martinez and Peterson took third place honors in CNC Milling and Precision Machining, respectively.
This is the second consecutive year
that Mid-State students took first place in the CNC Milling and second time in three years with a first-place finish in Automotive Service at the state conference. Last year, CNC Machinist Cody Friemoth competed at the National Skills and Leadership Conference in Kentucky and placed ninth nationally in his event.
In recent years, Mid-State has grown the number of participants and the SkillsUSA events they participate in, and Mid-State organizers expect that trend to continue with additional program areas in the future.
Mid-State, one of 16 colleges in the Wisconsin Technical College System, offers associate degrees, technical diplomas, and certificates in a variety of high-demand fields. The college’s supportive environment, state-of-the-art technology, and faculty with professional experience in the fields they teach provide Mid-State graduates with real-world skills, knowledge, experience, and confidence for in-demand careers. More than 9 in 10 Mid-State graduates are employed within six months of graduation. To learn more about Mid-State, visit the college’s website at www.mstc.edu
F I V E M I D - S TAT E S T U D E N T S P L A C E
I N S TAT E W I D E S K I L L S C O N T E S T
NEWSROOM
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The Ambassadors Club of the Portage County Business Council thanks you for your participation in our 27th Annual Business on the Green Golf Outing held Monday, June 6, 2016. With over 200 golfers participat-ing and additional business repre-sentatives attending the 19th Hole Networking Dinner, the event pro-vided a great environment to expand contacts.
Special Thank You To Our Sponsors!!!
Diamond Sponsors:
Double Gold Sponsors:CliftonLarsonAllen LLPOffice EnterprisesSentry Insurance
Gold Sponsors:Advanced Disposal Services MidwestAnderson O’BrienBMO Harris BankBull’s Eye Credit UnionC.H. Robinson Worldwide IncCommunity First BankDel Monte Foods Inc. Delta Dental of Wisconsin Donaldson Company
Figi’s Inc Klasinski ClinicPoint of Beginning Inc Rettler CorporationSchulist’s Custom Cabinets IncSimplicity Credit UnionSkyward The Murphy Insurance Group LLC The Pineries Bank
Gold (2) Sponsors:ABR Employment ServicesAT&TAtrium Health and Senior Living of Stevens PointCountry Inn & SuitesHo-Chunk Gaming NekoosaKeller IncMarshfield ClinicMinistry Employer SolutionsPat’s CARSTAR Auto BodyStevens Point BreweryTeam Schierl Companies
Hole-In-One Sponsors:Mark Motors Automotive Inc The Portage County Bank
Lunch Bag Sponsors:Comfort SuitesMembers’ Advantage Credit Union
Beverage Sponsors:First Weber Realtors – Steve Lane & Seth HornungMitchell’s Hilltop Pub & RestaurantPointe Precision IncRegnier Consulting Group IncStone Innovations IncUS Bank
Lunch Sponsors: Altmann Construction Company IncCoVantage Credit UnionPointe Precision IncRenaissance Learning IncS.C. Swiderski LLC
Putting Contest Sponsors:Associated BankBioLife Plasma Services
Silver Sponsor:Simplicity Credit Union
Thank You to Our Supporters:Advanced Neck & Back Care CenterAdventure 212Altmann Construction Company IncAmbassadors ClubArbuckles Eatery & PubArby’s RestaurantAssociated BankAtrium Health and Senior Living of Stevens PointAtrium Senior Living of Stevens Point at River View LodgeBig Apple BagelsBMO Harris BankBrookdale Stevens PointBushman Electric Crane & SignCliftonLarsonAllen LLPComfort SuitesCommercial RoofingCommunity Insurance & AssociatesCooper Oil CompanyDigiCopyDolce Digital Imaging & PrintingDuraclean SpecialistsEdward Jones Investments
B U S I N E S S O N T H E G R E E N
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Regnier Consulting Group Foursome Beverage Sponsor of Event
Simplicity Credit Union Foursome Gold & Silver Sponsor of Event
Thank You to Our Supporters:(continued)
First Supply LLCFirst Weber Realtors – The Steve Lane Sales TeamFurniture & ApplianceMartGamber Johnson LLCGeneral BeerGrazies Italian GrillHo-Chunk Gaming NekoosaHoliday Inn Hotel & Convention CenterInvestors Community BankKnight Barry Title ServicesLauterbach LegalLigman & Wille CPA LLCManpowerMarshfield ClinicMidwest Renewable Energy AssociationMinistry Health CareNotable ImpressionsNRG MediaPat’s CARSTAR Auto BodyPoint Insurance Agency LLCPoint of BeginningPoint Title LLCPortage County GazettePortesi’s Italian FoodsPuroClean Restoration ProfessionalsRecycled Office EnvironmentsRiiser Energy R-StoresRiver Cities BankRiver Valley BankRockman’s CateringS.C. SwiderskiSentryWorld Shulfer’s Sprinklers Landscaping & Garden CenterSki’s Meat MarketSkywardSlumberland FurnitureStevens Point Country ClubTeam Schierl CompaniesThe Bottle StopUS Bank Home Mortgage – Jake HeyrothWAOW-TV9Wisconsin River Golf Club
Mark Motors Automotive Foursome Hole-in-One Sponsor of Event
Holiday Inn Hotel & Convention Center & First Weber Realtors Foursome – 19th Hole Host Site and Beverage Sponsor of Event
Golfers and Hole Sponsors gathered after golf for the 19th Hole Networking Event at the Holiday Inn Hotel & Convention Center
Shotgun start and SentryWorldGolf Course
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T h e A c t i v e V o i c e | J u n e 2 0 1 6
June06 - Business on the Green SentryWorld and Stevens Point Country Club Golf Courses 08 - Business X-Change PCBC Office, 7:30AM
15 - Business Education Summit: Entrepalooza Aging & Disability Resource Center of Portage County, 9:00AM
16 - SalesNet Holiday Inn Hotel & Convention Center, 11:45AM
20 - Business After Hours CWSO, 5:00PM
23 - Women in Business SentryWorld, Grand Hall, 11:45AM
22 - LPC Alumni Empty Bowls Painting PCBC Office, TBD
July04 - Office Closed in observation of Independence Day
13 - Business X-Change PCBC Office, 7:30AM
18 - Business After Hours Comfort Suites, 5:00PM
21 - SalesNet PCBC Office, 11:15AM
LPC Event
Purchasing Portage County gift certificates continues to be a successful way to “Buy Local”.
Portage County gift certificates make great gifts. Gift cer-tificates can be purchased at area banks, credit unions, the
Convention and Visitors Bureau or at our office. They can be used at any business with a Portage County address and are available in denominations of $5, $10, $20, $25, $50 & $100.
The PCBC would like to thank everyone who participates for helping make the program successful. We would also like to thank BMO Harris Bank for their financial support of the
gift certificate program.
PORTAGE COUNTY GIFT CERTIFICATES
Did you know you could post job openings, events and press releases
on your membership login?
ASK US HOW TO ACCESS YOUR LOGIN
ADVERTISE WITH US
www.portagecountybiz.com
Check out community Job postings HERE!
For questions on advertising, pleasecontact Angel at715-344-1940 or
2 0 1 6 E V E N T S MARK YOUR CALENDARS
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T h e A c t i v e V o i c e | J u n e 2 0 1 6Portage County Busniess Council Foundation
The Portage County Business Council Foundation’s Annual Spring Celebration was held Tuesday, May 3, 2016. More than 100 people attended this evening of celebration. Attendees were able to bid on silent auction items, play games, enter to win some great raffle items, and even take home whole pies with the chance of winning the PIE Pull game. The Spring Celebration was a fun night to recognize leaders while raising funds for Leadership Portage County (LPC) scholarships and Partners in Education (PIE) programming. The evening also collectively celebrated the accomplishments of Leadership Portage County (LPC) graduates, recognized the excellent educators that make Portage County’s schools great, and thanked those who contribute their time and efforts to assist with the work of LPC and PIE.
Eighteen Leadership Portage County graduates received plaques to commemorate their commitment to becoming better leaders and community members through the 10-month leadership training program. The new graduates join a network of more than 400 LPC Alumni throughout the country.
Nearly 100 teachers were nominated for the Excellence in Education (formerly Golden Apple) awards this year and were recognized at the Spring Celebration. To receive the award, a teacher needed to be nominated by a current or past
student. Many teachers received a nomination from more than one student.
Finally, the Leadership Portage County Excellence in Leadership Award was given to Mary Hansen. This award is given to someone who embodies the leadership lessons and curriculum instilled through participation in Leadership Portage County. Mary is the VP-Chief Information Officer at Community First Bank. She is an LPC graduate from the class of 2007-2008. Mary is an active volunteer on the Leadership Portage County steering committee, Partners in Education committee, and the very planning committee that coordinates this event.
S P R I N G C E L E B R AT I O N R E V I E W
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T h e A c t i v e V o i c e | J u n e 2 0 1 6Portage County Busniess Council Foundation
MAY LPC RETREATThe final session of Leadership Portage County was held on May 19 at Wisconsin Lion’s Camp in Rosholt. During this relaxed LPC session participants reflected on their previous 9 months in the program and learned about LPC Alumni programs for them to participate in in the future. The group was up and moving throughout the day. The day began with some fun camp team-building games and a tour of Lion’s Camp. The participants then had the opportunity to explore new heights and try the climbing tower. The afternoon continued with some free time to hike or take the boats out on Lions Lake. It was a great day and a wonderful closing to this year’s LPC class.
Recruitment for the 2016-2017 LPC Class has begun. Click here to learn more and apply online.
Applications are now being accepted for Leadership Portage County (LPC).
LPC challenges participants to broaden their understanding of Portage County and develop their leadership skills through networking, education, activities and community involvement. We encourage anyone who is interested in this 10-month leadership program to apply and secure a spot in the 2016-2017 class.
Apply online for leadership portage
county class of 2016-2017
LPC Class of 2016-2017 Recruitment
Since 1993, LPC has offered opportunities for 400+ individuals to develop leadership skills, to discuss community issues and challenges, and to develop networks with a diverse array of professionals. The participants in this program learn how they can apply their individual strengths and skills to better serve their business or organization and the community. The program runs August 2016-May 2017, with participants meeting monthly on the third Thursday. Participants learn about Portage County history, the assets of our community and the challenges we face. The participants are also taught leadership skills so they can learn about how leaders can come together to overcome some of our challenges.
We look forward to another great year of Leadership Portage County!
L E A D E R S H I P P O R TA G E C O U N T Y
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T h e A c t i v e V o i c e | J u n e 2 0 1 6Portage County Busniess Council Foundation
ENTREPALOOZA Business-Education Summit
JUNE 15th at 8:45 a.m.
REGISTER HERE
We invite you to join us for Entrepalooza 2016, PIE’s Business-Education Summit. Entrepalooza brings together K-12 educators and administrators, post-secondary representatives, non-profits, businesses, and community members to talk about programs and projects that support entrepreneurship and contribute to the talent pipeline.
Who Should Attend: K-12 teachers, staff, and administrators, post-secondary education staff and representatives, non-profits engaged in youth career preparation and similar activities, businesses and community members.
What to Expect: Through a series of fast-paced (10 min or less) presentations from organizations and groups you will learn about talent development and entrepreneurship initiatives for all ages.
Program: 8:45 AM Registration & Networking
9:00-9:15 AMWelcome - Kayla Rombalski, Portage County Business Council
Introduction & Opening Remarks - Dave Eckmann, University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point
9:15-11:00 AMFast-paced Presentations (5-10 min. each) on a variety of topics, including:
UWSP Small Business Development Center - Mary WescottPacelli Catholic Schools 3rd Grade Coding/Computer Science - Gregg Hansel;
Scrum Team Exercises at Skyward - Klaven Embertson
Junior Achievement Programming - Serena Sblendorio
Heavy Metal Tour & NCWWDB - Derek Heikkinen; IDEA
Center, Makerspaces, and CREATE Portage County - Greg Wright; World of Business 9th Grade Class - Art Greco
Boys & Girls Club Programming - Danielle Belsky & Jordan Derber; Internships/Youth Apprenticeships at Marten Machining - Alan Marten
11:00-11:30 AMNetworking, Individual Q&A/follow-up time with presenters
Reality Shops for Amherst &Rosholt High Schools
On Friday, April 29 Partners In Education (PIE) hosted a field trip day for students of Rosholt and Amherst High Schools. Students toured UWSP, MSTC, attended a Junior Achievement Excellence Through Ethics workshop, and participated in a Reality Shop. At the Reality Shop students met with volunteers from businesses and organizations throughout the community who represented various vendors. Students had the opportunity to purchase a vehicle, house, and other products while trying to make their monthly budget balance. The students enjoyed the experience and many were amazed by “just how much everything costs, especially child-care!” Thank you to each of the volunteers who participated and to our hosts and tour guides at MSTC and UWSP. Thanks also to Junior Achievement for their partnership in this program.
50 years transforming people and communities
Job skills & economic security
Business coaching &
lending
Community & real estate
development
Housing &transportation
Child &family
development
Health,wellness &
safety
VisionIndividuals and families have the capacity
to achieve their goals and thrive in resilient, equitable communities.
Mission Transform people and
communities to advance social and economic
justice
PurposeSocial and economic equity strengthens our communities.
We are charged with advocating and creating opportunities to generate permanent, positive change.
Advocacy &community
engagement
capservices.org
CAP Services thanks the Portage County business community for its support of our mission and work,
and the Portage County Business Council for honoring CAP with this year’s Charitable Community Award.
Special thanks to our 50th Anniversary sponsors
