Chamber Professional Wisconsin Digest
May, 2016
At the Burlington Area Chamber:
Sweet deal for Chocolate City businesses last April
Burlington businesses can get some
sweet deals in mid-April courtesy of Nestle USA.
To show its appreciation to the
city’s corporate community, Nestle sold candy by the case to businesses
from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. last April at the Burlington Area Chamber of Commerce
office, 113 E. Chestnut St.
At the sale, businesses can
celebrate being a part of Chocolate City by purchasing Nestle products in bulk
on a first-come, first-served basis.
The sale event has changed this
year, chamber officials said. Businesses may purchase only one of each item
offered, and there will be no pre-orders.
Payments can be made paid in cash,
credit card or checks made out to BACC. Tax is included in the amount. Receipts
will be provided for cash payments. The sale will continue while supplies last.
Read more: Journal Times
#FamousChamber
of Commerce Quotations --- (Chamber Executive Resourcefulness)
“Great emergencies and crises show us how much greater out vital
resources are than we had supposed.” William James
Studer's business
challenge bolsters hopes for revitalization of downtown Janesville -
On Saturday
mornings, May through October, area residents flock to the downtown Janesville
Farmers Market to probe offerings of fresh produce, meats, cheeses and baked
goods.
They're
willing to pay a little extra compared to grocery store prices knowing that
what they tote home will be fresh and locally produced.
During Main
Street reconstruction last summer, the market shifted across the river. It
reopens May 7 and returns to North Main Street.
Through the
years, some adjacent businesses haven't been open Saturdays and thus failed to
tap this ready-made supply of potential new customers.
Maybe that
will change with what Quint Studer, his wife, Rishy, and daughter Bekki Kennedy
envision.
The Studers
live in Pensacola, Florida, but Quint once worked for the Janesville School
District and later Janesville's Mercy Hospital. He left Mercy to start a
consulting company that worked to make health care companies better. He
parlayed that venture into a fortune and sold it in 2014 for $325 million.
Late last
year, the Studers announced they bought and plan an elaborate revitalization of
three storefronts in the 100 block of North Main. When done, the buildings will
feature southern-style balconies and catwalks overlooking the river. Known
historically as Block 42, these are the oldest storefronts downtown. In last
Wednesday's Gazette, Neil Johnson reported details of
another intriguing aspect of the plan—the Block 42 Business Challenge.
Rishy
Studer plans to open shops in two of the storefronts. Bodacious Brew will offer
specialty coffees and a tearoom during days and wine and cheeses in evenings.
Bodacious Olives will sell olive oils, artisan breads and pastas and other
groceries.
The Studers
and their daughter will tap Forward Janesville and UW-Whitewater to help run
the business challenge, which starts with June seminars. The winner will get
guidance, $12,000 worth of free rent to open in the third storefront, plus
$25,000 in startup capital. Quint Studer hopes the shop complements Rishy's and
that it can open by the holidays. The mentoring won't end after one year but
could extend for three years. After all, the Studers want the business to
succeed, and they have the capital to assist.
The Studers
have invested nearly $100 million into redeveloping parts of downtown
Pensacola. Rishy's two Janesville shops and the business challenge will mirror
her successful stores and a contest that drew 50 entrepreneurs in Florida. Some
of those who didn't win developed plans and opened successful businesses
nearby.
Greater Beloit Chamber Downtown Dash 5K run
to be part of the fun
The Third Annual Greater Beloit Chamber of Commerce Downtown Dash
will help kick off the Farmers Market season on Saturday, May 7.
The 5K run and 1-mile walk will start and end at Irontek, 635
Third St. Runners and walkers will enjoy the route which starts in downtown
Beloit and runs along the scenic riverfront.
The run will begin at 10 a.m. and race-day registration will be
held from 8:30 - 9:30 a.m.
The registration fee is $25 for adults with a Downtown Dash
T-shirt and $20 without the shirt. For students and children the fee will be
$15 with a shirt and $10 without a shirt. For relay teams of four, the fee will
be $100.
For those who register in advance, race packets can be picked up
from 10 a.m. - 6 p.m. May 6 at Irontek. Read more: Beloit Daily News
Help Wanted: Wisconsin Employers
struggle to to fill jobs with qualified workers
If it takes a region to build a
workforce, the workforce in this region of Wisconsin is well under construction
– and the hoped-for building boom is coming none too soon.
Just about everyone involved with
or affected by the region’s supply of qualified workers – from high schools and
colleges to chambers of commerce and county governments, from manufacturers and
mom and pop businesses to economic development organizations – is facing and
tackling the workforce issue, which has become most pressing for an economy
that continues to recover from the Great Recession.
Since 2010, when Great
Recession-related unemployment peaked for the region’s five counties (Adams
County at 12.4 percent, Marquette County at 10.9 percent, Juneau County at 10
percent, Columbia County at 8.5 percent and Sauk County at 8.4 percent), those
unemployment numbers across the region have dropped, according to state
Department of Workforce Development (DWD) statistics.
For 2015, Columbia and Sauk
counties’ unemployment numbers (consistently the lowest of the region’s
counties) were at 4.4 percent and 4.2 percent, respectively, while Juneau,
Marquette and Adams unemployment percentages were 5.2 percent, 6.2 percent and
7.4 percent, respectively according to the DWD.
Meanwhile, the number of jobs has
increased in Wisconsin, with almost all of the state’s 21 industry
classifications – from agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting to public
administration – showing an increase during the latest period measured, between
2013 and 2014, according to the state’s Quarterly Census of Employment and
Wages (http://wisconsinjobcenter.org/labormarketinfo/pdf/jobs_by_industry.pdf).
The good news, according to DWD, is
that "Wisconsin has never had more people employed, and the unemployment
rate is registering low levels not seen since the early 2000s.” The not-so-good
news, the department reports, is “that as has been discussed repeatedly over
the years, Wisconsin faces a quantity challenge and, as a consequence, a skills
challenge.”
The "skills challenge"
situation is certainly true for the south-central region's employers – from
resort and tourism operators in the Dells-Delton area to manufacturers in
Portage and Reedsburg.
“Talk to anybody recently, and you
know that in this area, many employers have jobs but can’t find skilled
workers,” said Scott Beard, associate dean for the North Region of Madison Area
Technical College (MATC), which serves the region with campuses in Portage and
Reedsburg.
“We are desperately looking for
people,” said Kristine Koenecke, executive director of the Reedsburg Area Chamber
of Commerce, reflecting a sentiment also expressed recently by her chamber of
commerce counterparts in Baraboo, Mauston, Portage, Sauk Prairie and Wisconsin
Dells. “It is definitely difficult for employers to find the workers.” Read
more: Wisconsin Dells Events
Baileys Harbor
Community Association event: The Annual Baileys Harbor Brown Trout Tournament
The Annual Baileys Harbor Brown Trout Tournament will be held
April 21-24. The event is sponsored by the Baileys Harbor Community Association
(BHCA). There is over $7,000 in prizes to be won, and tickets are only $25.
The first-place fish wins a $1,500 prize package including
$800 cash and a Door County Vacation Package. Participants can fish in both
Door and Kewaunee county waters on the bay and lake side. Fish can be
caught from a boat or from the shore.
There is a weigh-in station at the Baileys Harbor Fire
Station and Howie’s Tackle in Sturgeon Bay. The BHCA will be selling
drinks and there will be a food truck selling all kinds of food at the Baileys
Harbor weigh-in station throughout the weekend.
Tickets will be for sale until close of business Friday,
April 22, and can be purchased ahead of time using a credit card. For more
information or to purchase tickets, please visit BaileysHarbor.com, email us
at info@baileysharbor.com or call 920.839.2366.
Grow your global network with MMAC’s World Trade Association
Wisconsin
International Trade Conference
It takes more than one day to keep informed on the ever-changing
global business environment. That’s where membership in the Metropolitan
Milwaukee Association of Commerce’s World Trade Association steps in. WTA links
companies and individuals with common interests in exploring and expanding
their global business.
WTA provides programs and peer exchange forums you won’t find
anywhere else. Just ask WTA chairman Bruce Glaub, BMO Capital Markets, who
states, “WTA is great at identifying the needs of its members in the current
international business environment and developing programs accordingly.”
Henry
And while the Wisconsin International Trade Conference is our
premier event, monthly programs address issues ranging from getting accurate
market intelligence to handling foreign regulations. There’s no substitute for
in-depth conversations with your peers who have been there and done that. WTA
also hosts quarterly roundtable discussions for professionals focused on the
international issues surrounding compliance or manufacturing.
It’s all about membership
Our network is strong and growing. About half of our members have
been involved in international trade for more than 15 years, while 25 percent
are just getting started. WTA includes distributors, service providers and
representatives from educational institutions and government – everyone you
need to know in the international arena.
Overcoming obstacles
We understand the challenges that come with exporting. Finding
partners you can trust; getting accurate market intelligence; handling foreign
regulations and compliance; and protecting your intellectual property are just
a few of the issues we can help you navigate. Read more: Biz Times
Wisconsin Manufacturing &
Commerce interest: 74th Annual Wisconsin Safety & Health Conference and
Exposition
Kalahari Resort, Wisconsin Dells,
May 16-18, 2016
Networking Reception Evening, May
17, 2016
Chamber Executive
Ongoing Education Weekly New Idea: "The Power of Broke: How Empty Pockets,
a Tight Budget, and a Hunger for Success Can Become Your Greatest Competitive
Advantage" by Daymond John
Daymond
John has been practicing the power of broke ever since he started selling his
home-sewn t-shirts on the streets of Queens. With no funding and a $40 budget,
Daymond had to come up with out-of-the box ways to promote his products.
Luckily, desperation breeds innovation, and so he hatched an idea for a
creative campaign that eventually launched the FUBU brand into a $6 billion
dollar global phenomenon. But it might not have happened if he hadn't started
out broke - with nothing but a heart full of hope and a ferocious drive to
succeed by any means possible.
Here,
the FUBU founder and star of ABC's Shark Tank shows that, far from being a
liability, broke can actually be "your greatest competitive
advantage" as an entrepreneur. Why? Because starting a business from broke
forces you to think more creatively. It forces you to use your resources more
efficiently. It forces you to connect with your customers more authentically,
and market your ideas more imaginatively. It forces you to be true to yourself,
stay laser focused on your goals, and come up with those innovative solutions
required to make a meaningful mark.
Drawing
his own experiences as an entrepreneur and branding consultant, peeks
behind-the scenes from the set of Shark Tank, and stories of dozens of other
entrepreneurs who have hustled their way to wealth, John shows how we can all
leverage the power of broke to phenomenal success. You'll meet:
.
Steve Aoki, the electronic dance music (EDM) deejay who managed to parlay a
series of $100 gigs into becoming a global superstar who has redefined the
music industry
.
Gigi Butler, a cleaning lady from Nashville who built cupcake empire on the
back of a family recipe, her maxed out credit cards, and a heaping dose of
faith
.
11-year old Shark Tank guest Mo Bridges who stitched together a winning
clothing line with just his grandma's sewing machine, a stash of loose fabric,
and his unique sartorial flair
When
your back is up against the wall, your bank account is empty, and creativity
and passion are the only resources you can afford, "success is your only
option. "Here you'll learn how to tap into that Power of Broke to scrape,
hustle, and dream your way to the top." --- Publisher Notes
Wisconsin sees a big boom is tourism growth
Governor
Scott Walker, made a stop in Eau Claire on Friday to highlight the State's
growth in the tourism economy.
This last
year, the new numbers show we are up to $19.3 billion in terms of the economic
impact tourism has on the state.
One county
in Northwest Wisconsin made it among the top ten counties in the state for
percentage growth.
"The
best part is when you look at Bayfield county specifically. we actually beat
the state averages in all but one of that categories, so you know, the tourism
industry in Bayfield County is alive and well," James Bolen, Executive
Director of Cable Chamber of Commerce.
Bayfield
County saw a 6.7% increase in its tourism economy.
James
Bolen, Executive Director of the Cable Chamber of Commerce, says part of what
fueled the boost is due in part to lower gas prices and an over-all uptick in
the economy.
He also
gives credit to the Ice Caves, which had an impact on the whole region.
"So
many people came up and Bayfield County couldn't house them all and so they
were staying in Ashland and Superior. and so we need to take a regional
approach," said Bolen.
Governor
Walker says marketing the state's tourism economy was one of his priorities
when he took office and he says the marking strategies has paid off. Read
more: Northlands News Center
Chamber interest: Gov. Scott Walker: The
Wisconsin Comeback continues
"Job
reports point to stronger economy."
This was
the headline on the front page of a recent Milwaukee Journal Sentinel edition,
and it is certainly good news for Wisconsin. Let's take a look at the latest
facts from the March jobs report:
■13,100
private-sector jobs were created, and the unemployment rate dropped to 4.5% —
below the national rate of 5%.
■Wisconsin
reached an all-time high for total employment with more than 3 million people
working.
■Wisconsin
is ranked fifth best in the country and No. 1 in the Midwest for job growth
from February to March.
■The labor
force participation rate was 68.8%, ranking Wisconsin sixth best in the
country.
■Wisconsin
had the best 12 months of job growth since 2004.
On top of
all of that, Wisconsin was one of just 10 states to have a better average
unemployment rate in 2015 than we did before the recession in 2007. These facts
are good news for working families all across the state.
It's no
secret that growing jobs, strengthening Wisconsin's economy and highlighting
our state's successes have been top priorities for my administration. Through
tax relief and government reforms, we worked to get the mighty hand of the
government out of the way and unleash the power of the private sector of our
economy. More than five years into our administration, we are seeing
measurable, positive results. Read more: Journal Sentinel Online Opinion
Chamber Executive Ongoing
Education: Importance of Motivation – Four Proven Principles to Motivate Your
Team
A teacher once said that what counts
most in life are the lessons learned by heart. The challenge lies on the
importance of motivation to encourage students to ‘learn’ from the trivial and
sometimes disconnected facts found in books.
These principles and proven
strategies are very effective not just in motivating students, but your sales
force, as well.
1. Link Learning to Life.
The importance of motivation is
emphasized by relating a lesson to a real life situation. When such an approach
is used, you may find that the majority of participants will have more than the
average retention rate in conveying the important concepts of the meeting. By
aligning lessons with true-to-life events, you can achieve success in helping
your salespeople appreciate shared principles and strategies better than by
simply flooding them with antiquated facts.
2. Exercise Positive Reinforcement.
To motivate participation, rewards
and recognitions should be handed out to those who actively participate, or
those who volunteer to share their best practices. On the other hand, always
make sure that the less active get their share, as well, especially if there
are significant improvements on their own. You’ll find your sales force more
attentive and competitive, not to mention better performing. The importance of motivation
is accentuated by using positive reinforcement to get positive results.
3. Engage Your Staff in
Discussions.
Make it a point to give everyone in
the meeting a chance to join major and minor discussions. Everyone will feel a
sense of purpose; therefore, motivating them to do better in both in the field
and in the conference room because they felt that they belong, that they were
part of something great. The importance of motivation is displayed by getting
your staff involved in every opportunity possible to boost confidence.
4. Practice Interactive Activities.
Holding an active discussion – a
debate, even – often proves essential to motivate participants. They exchange
intelligent ideas that are unusual in common day-to-day discussions. They become
active participants in charge of their own growth. They exert their best
efforts to express themselves, taking what they absorb to a much higher level.
The importance of motivation allows
deeper understanding and realization of the lessons acquired in school, in the
conference room, in the field, and in life, in general. Here, it is reflected
that motivation is the springboard of learning. Read more: ProfessionBiz
Fox Cities Chamber launches education
workshop series
The Fox Cities Chamber, in
partnership with Ansay & Associates and Herrmann Advantage Consulting, is
launching a small-business owner education workshop series tailored for
business owners with 50 or fewer employees.
Presented in six parts,
participants can choose one workshop or all six workshops. Topics include:
business diagnosis and valuation, business financial budgeting, product or
service pricing, marketing and sales, customer service and customer retention
and small business leadership.
“These sessions are not just a
sharing of information. They are hands-on workshops using your business’s data
to provide sustainable improvement to your revenue, profit and business value,”
said Don Herrmann, president of Herrmann Advantage Consulting LLC.
The program begins May 3 and
continues weekly. Workshops begin at 7:30 a.m. at Ansay and Associates, 4351 W.
College Ave., Appleton.
To register or for more
information, visithttp://foxcitieschamber.com/memberresources/small-business-workshops.
Wausau chamber CEO Aaron Kapellusch
resigns
The top executive at the Wausau Region Chamber of Commerce has
left the position, the board chairwoman said in an email Wednesday to Chamber
members.
"Aaron Kapellusch is no longer employed as the President/CEO of the Wausau Region Chamber of Commerce," Chairwoman Melissa Kampmann wrote. "Aaron is moving on to pursue other opportunities and we wish him the best in his future endeavors."
Reached at her office at the Ruder Ware law firm on Wednesday, Kampmann would not elaborate on Kapellusch's departure other than to say his last day was Tuesday and the staff was informed then. Kapellusch could not immediately be reached for comment.
Kampmann's email said the board is seeking an interim director to lead the Chamber while the organization searches for a long-term candidate. In the meantime, two current Chamber staff members, Sara Guild and Stacy Livernash, will take over Kapellusch's duties while they continue with their own responsibilities, according to the email.
Kapellusch was hired in November 2013 to replace former Chamber President/CEO Jeff Zriny. He was the former business outreach coordinator at the Wisconsin Procurement Institute and had been a marketing manager for Nicolet Plastics and business development manager for Northern Lake Service. Read more: Wausau Daily Herald
"Aaron Kapellusch is no longer employed as the President/CEO of the Wausau Region Chamber of Commerce," Chairwoman Melissa Kampmann wrote. "Aaron is moving on to pursue other opportunities and we wish him the best in his future endeavors."
Reached at her office at the Ruder Ware law firm on Wednesday, Kampmann would not elaborate on Kapellusch's departure other than to say his last day was Tuesday and the staff was informed then. Kapellusch could not immediately be reached for comment.
Kampmann's email said the board is seeking an interim director to lead the Chamber while the organization searches for a long-term candidate. In the meantime, two current Chamber staff members, Sara Guild and Stacy Livernash, will take over Kapellusch's duties while they continue with their own responsibilities, according to the email.
Kapellusch was hired in November 2013 to replace former Chamber President/CEO Jeff Zriny. He was the former business outreach coordinator at the Wisconsin Procurement Institute and had been a marketing manager for Nicolet Plastics and business development manager for Northern Lake Service. Read more: Wausau Daily Herald
Commerce report: Metro Milwaukee economy
gains momentum
More area economic indicators
posted gains in March and the number of indicators posting gains in February
were revised upward, according to the latest economic trends report from the
Metropolitan Milwaukee Association of Commerce.
Last month the MMAC reported that
only 13 of 23 area economic indicators that it tracks posted gains in February.
Today, the MMAC said that revised data showed 15 of 23 area economic indicators
posted gains in February.
For March, 16 of the 23 indicators
posted gains, according to the MMAC report.
“March numbers indicate some small
improvements over revised February numbers, particularly among manufacturing
related indicators,” said Bret Mayborne, the MMAC’s research director.
“Nonetheless, overall job growth continues on a modest course with percentage
gains failing to reach national levels.”
Nonfarm employment in the area
averaged 849,100 in March, up 0.8 percent from a year ago. Six of 10 major
industry sectors posted year-over-year job increases in March. Employment in
the education and health services; and the trade, transportation and utilities
sectors rose 3.0 percent. Employment in the construction, mining and natural
resources sector rose 2.7 percent. Employment in the financial activities
sector fell 4.3 percent, employment in the leisure and hospitality sector fell
4.1 percent and employment in the information sector fell 2.8 percent in March,
year-over-year. Read more: Biz Times
#FamousChamber of
Commerce Quotations: Good Advice
It takes 20 years to build a reputation and five minutes to ruin it. If you think about that, you'll do things differently. - Warren Buffett
Top Five Daily Postings in the last month at Midwest Chamber of Commerce
Daily News – click to go there or Google search “Midwest Chamber of Commerce
Daily”
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Last Month’s Stories
Janesville business leaders hope
video attracts young professionals Channel 3000
#Chamber interest: School District of Milton:
FACT completes second 'data dump' meeting HGN NEWS
Door County Room tax provides marketing for tourism Green
Bay Press-Gazette
Green Lake County Chamber of Commerce 2016 Guide & Map - The Green Lake
County Chamber of Commerce 2016 Guide & Map is available
at the Green Lake County Chamber! Thanks to the Green Lake
County chamber team for their help and direction putting this together! Please email John Dussman jdussman@tspubs.com or call (847)-427-4633 if your
chamber would like a new Guide or map.
Heart of Racine County photo contest underway MyRacineCounty.com
Chamber Chuckle - Wacky Wednesday Weirdest Chamber Requests Are there
alligators under the cars there? (from a Wisconsin chamber)
Lake County (IL) Chamber, RAMAC, Kenosha Area, Antioch, Round Lake
Area, Union Grove Area, Waterford and North Chicago Chambers Regional
Connections
#FamousChamber of Commerce Quotation: Reinvent Your Guest
Experience - “Someone will always find a way to do what you
do for less expense. But people will pay more for an exceptional
experience with you.” - Clark Howard
Chamber
partnership: Entrepreneurs get new boon in Wausau Wausau Daily Herald
12 on Tuesday: Former GMCC
exec Mark Richardson Channel3000.com - Content from our
partner - Madison365
If you would like
delivery of a 2016 chamber directory, community profile or map in December of
2016, please contact me at your earliest convenience, or Click
here
John
John Dussman | Chamber Managerjdussman@tspubs.com | 847-427-4633 | Town Square Publications
Daily Herald Media Group
155 E. Algonquin Road | Arlington Heights, IL 60005
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