NewsWave - Oshkosh Chamber of Commerce

May/June 2014
Vol. 19, Issue 10
25
years of
leadership
oshkosh
1990 - Now
1 NewsWave ̻ March 2013
A GREAT BANK
combines big bank knowledge
and small bank service.
A big bank offers business banking experience and a wide
range of resources. But if you’re not one of its biggest accounts,
you can’t count on service. Small banks offer service, but lack
business experience and resources. First Business is different.
Our bankers live and breathe business. We offer the resources of
a mega-bank, but when you call us, you talk to a real person and
when you visit us, we know your name. For big bank resources
and first class service, call us today.
(L-R) Mickey Noone, President
Will Deppiesse, Vice President
First Business Bank - Northeast
Member FDIC
www.firstbusiness.com
Commercial Lending : Treasury Management : Equipment Finance : Specialized Lending : Trust & Investments : Private Banking
Fox Cities: 920-734-1800
Oshkosh: 920-231-2400
Green Bay: 920-435-5442
3 NewsWave ̻ March 2013
NewsWave
NewsWave on the Cover
NewsWave
May/June 2014 Volume 19, Issue 10
More than 800 g raduates have completed
the L eadership Oshkosh pro g ram . The
cover showcas es only a s elec t numbe r of
g raduates who were chos e n at random . D o
you recog niz e anyone?
Feature Stories
President/CEO
John Casper
Editor
Kari Cassidy
kari@oshkoshchamber.com
6
Advertising
Kari Cassidy
Find NewsWave online at
www.oshkoshchamber.com/news.
NewsWave (USPS 020-309) is published
bimonthly at a subscription of $25 by the
Oshkosh Chamber of Commerce, 120 Jackson
Street Oshkosh, WI 54901
www.oshkoshchamber.com
Periodical postage paid at Oshkosh, WI.
25 years of Leadership Oshkosh
10
Youth Leadership Oshkosh
Class of 2014
13
8th grade career exploration
Events
Layout
Kari Cassidy
Cover Design
Kari Cassidy
6
14
Calendar of events
15
Chamber Members Spotted
Department
13
5
Chairman's message
12
Oshkosh Chamber Clips
16
Business Briefs
23
Member Spotlight: Creative Lawn Care
Postmaster
Send address changes to the
Oshkosh Chamber of Commerce
120 Jackson Street
Oshkosh, WI 54901
Phone (920) 303-2266
Fax (920) 303-2263
www.oshkoshchamber.com
E-mail address: info@oshkoshchamber.com
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Please pass along or recycle this magazine
The Oshkosh Chamber of Commerce is a 5-star
accredited chamber and proud member of the New
North working to serve business and the community.
4 NewsWave ̻ March
2013
May/June
2014
Chairman's Message
The Importance of Leadership
Oshkosh Chamber helping business professionals become leaders
What is Leadership? Leadership is a process of social influence,
which maximizes the efforts of others, towards the achievement of a
goal.
Effective leadership helps our nation through times of uncertainty. It
makes a business organization successful. It enables a not-for-profit
organization to fulfill its mission. The Oshkosh Chamber of
Commerce encourages Chamber members to be leaders in their
organizations and in the business community.
Our feature story this month is about leadership and the 25 year
history of the Oshkosh Chamber’s Leadership Oshkosh program. In
1989, the community saw an impending void in leadership and the
Chamber took action. The Oshkosh Chamber made it a strategic
initiative to begin the program to develop and motivate people to engage in the community.
The program helped identify up-and-coming leaders in Oshkosh and provided them with
a well-rounded experience of how Oshkosh works and what makes it such a great city to
live and work. Business professionals take part in Leadership Oshkosh for many reasons: to
network, be part of the community and even possibly run for office. More than 800
business professionals have graduated from the Leadership Oshkosh program. Our feature
story takes a look back at the beginning of the program and how it has progressed through
the years. Several individuals are also higlighted in the feature story on pages 7 through 10.
As a leader, it’s important to be involved and stay up-to-date on the issues that affect your
business. Recently, Oshkosh residents headed to the polls for the Spring Election. The
Oshkosh Chamber was happy to see a contested city council race, but disappointed that the
school board race had three uncontested incumbents. Elections are the time to be a leader
and take that step to run for office and be a voice for the business community. The
Chamber encourages you to follow people like Senator Ron Johnson and former state
representative Michelle Litjens, who took that extra step to be leaders within their
community. Moving forward the Oshkosh Chamber will have a more active role in recruiting candidates to run for office.
The Oshkosh Chamber of Commerce makes it a goal to provide the best leadership to
achieve a diverse balanced economy that enhances the quality of living and working in
Oshkosh. Please don’t hesitate to contact me or a Chamber staff member to see how you
can become a better leader TODAY!
Mike Floyd
2013-14 Oshkosh Chamber Chairman of the Board
and President of Continental Girbau
5 NewsWave ̻ March 2013
25
YEARS
Leadership
Oshkosh
Shaping
Leaders
By Kari Cassidy
I
f you looked back into the archives of the Oshkosh
Northwestern you would find an article dated June
11, 1989, marking the introduction of the Oshkosh
Chamber of Commerce’s Leadership Oshkosh program
to the community.
Ed Williams, president of the Oshkosh Chamber Board
of Directors in 1988, brought forth the idea of
Leadership Oshkosh to help fill the leadership void
Oshkosh was experiencing. During that time, companies
were consolidating and bringing new people into the
community that weren't as connected.
“We wanted to seek out emerging leaders in Oshkosh
and help them grow and become more engaged in the
Oshkosh community,” said Williams.
Through contact with a wide range of professionals, and
the “behind the scenes” knowledge gained, the goal was
for Leadership Oshkosh participants to have the
opportunity to expand their influence on the
community. With more than 500 leadership programs
across the country at the time, Oshkosh kicked off the
program in September 1989.
Twenty-five individuals from various organizations
signed up for the inaugural class. Participants met for
one day each month for eight months to explore the
challenges and decisions that face the community. The
classes were focused on business, government, arts and
culture, criminal justice, education, health and human
services and communications and technology.
“I lived with the program for the first year. I was at every
single session because I wanted to make sure it
succeeded,” said Williams.
Through the Years
The Leadership Oshkosh program has far surpassed
everyone’s expectations. 25 years and more than 800
graduates later, the Leadership Oshkosh program
remains a prominent program that people want to be
a part of. The program has had three directors in its 25
years including Joann Zimmerman, Lynne Webster and
since 2003 Kathy Bermingham, a 1996 Leadership
Oshkosh graduate and a life-long resident of Oshkosh.
Class of 1990
2014
6 NewsWave ̻ May/June
March 2013
“Oshkosh is blessed with an incredible number of
caring, giving people very willing to give up their time
and talent to make Oshkosh a better place to live, work
and play. I’ve learned leaders come in all different shapes
and sizes and it takes all different shaped and sized
leaders to start and sustain initiatives, lead boards and
commissions and move the city to the next level,” said
Bermingham.
Over the past 25 years, the core value and mission of
Leadership Oshkosh has remained the same. Many of
the sessions remain – Government Day, Education Day
and Criminal Justice Day – but with objectives tweaked
to keep them current and relevant. In October, a History
of and Community Planning for Oshkosh: “Where We’ve
Been and Where We’re Going” Day has been added
to provide a solid, essential base to learn from for the
remainder of the year. The last session is aptly named,
“Opportunity Day,” allowing for reflection of opportunities realized throughout the Leadership Oshkosh year
and consideration of opportunities beyond Leadership
Oshkosh.
“Initially, classes met in small groups and worked on
projects for the betterment of the community. Starting
with the Class of 2000, we now place participants on
non-profit boards as adjunct board members during their
LO year. This experience helps prepare participants for
community service opportunities and gives them insight
into nonprofit organizations and governance,” said
Bermingham.
Tony Blando, current Chief of Staff for U.S. Senator Ron
Johnson and former president of Unified
Catholic Schools, served on the Oshkosh Area
Community Foundation board. “It was a great
opportunity to see a well-functioning board, all on the
same page, and all fully committed to the vision,
mission, and goals of the organization. The Executive
Director and Board members treated me like any other
board member. That experience, and the leadership
lessons I learned help me be a better leader for my own
Board at Unified Catholic Schools,” said Blando.
Leadership Oshkosh continues to draw people in. The
program is a stepping stone to get involved in the community no matter what your age. The program has seen
individuals in their early 20’s to mid-70 participate.
Leadership Oshkosh will open doors, help individuals
discover or reinforce their passions and interests, as well
as strengthen their leadership skills, which in return will
have an enormous impact on the community.
The 25th Class
The Class of 2014 will have a special place in the history
books as the 25th class to graduate from the Leadership
Oshkosh program. Thirty-eight individuals from various
organizations and industries started off the class in
September at a two-day retreat at the Osthoff Resort.
7 NewsWave ̻ March 2013
Q: Why did you take part in
Leadership Oshkosh?
A: I believe we should all try to make
Oshkosh a better place. To do so, we
need to understand our community
and we need to work in harmony with
others to improve it. Leadership
Oshkosh accomplishes both of these
by providing a venue for like minded
civic leaders to interact, and by
providing the knowledge and tools
necessary for each participant to
determine ways to serve Oshkosh
both during and after they graduate
from Leadership Oshkosh.
- Tony Blando, Chief of Staff for U.S. Senator Ron Johnson
Class of 2008
Q: What is one memory you have
from Leadership Oshkosh? What
was your favorite part about
Leadership Oshkosh?
A: The retreat. Being mandatory, I
had to go. I was getting married on
Saturday and had to make the choice
between attending a dinner with all
my relatives from out of town and
soon to be in-laws or the LO retreat.
In the end, I attended the retreat.
My favorite part was the people I met
Class of 1990
and the friends I made.
- Ben Ganther, President, Ganther Construction Architecture, Inc.
Q: What are the benefits of
participating in Leadership Oshkosh?
A: The benefits of doing
Leadership Oshkosh include learning
more about yourself and others in the
community, having fun, networking,
and learning more about Oshkosh.
I have met many wonderful people
from my LO class and from classes
after ours whom I met because of
their involvement in LO. Participating in LO gave me confidence to
serve in leadership roles on various
boards and to seek a seat on the
OASD Board of Education.
- Barbara Herzog, OASD Board of Education Member
Class of 1998
Q: What was your favorite part about
Leadership Oshkosh?
A: I grew up in Oshkosh and was
amazed on the many facets of
Oshkosh that I did not know about.
Very interesting covering a different
subject each month. Still remember
the tour of Curwood and the
products produced there.
- Tom Sitter, Owner, Managing Partner,
Richards Insurance
Class of 1992
Q: What is one memory you have
from Leadership Oshkosh? Do you
still keep in touch with classmates?
A: During Criminal Justice Day,
we had a court case scenario that we
play acted, and Kim Price, General
Manager of The Waters, played up
her role as the defendant. She was
outstanding!
Oh yes, we have a couple of members
who now serve on our Foundation
Class of 2009
board of trustees, a couple of others
who are Foundation volunteers.
- William Calhoun, Presdent & Regional Vice President, Affinity Health
System & Ministry Health Care
Karen Befus, the GM/Ad Director for Oshkosh Northwestern & Action Reporter Media took part in this year’s class
even though she grew up in Oshkosh. "As a person who
has returned to her home town after 25 years away, it has
offered an accelerated learning curve on catching up with
where Oshkosh was, is and needs to go in an abbreviated
amount of time. I truly believe it has cut years off of my
learning curve in gathering information on industry, community, education and more,” said Befus.
The nine-month program will soon come to an end when
individuals receive their Leadership Oshkosh certificate at
graduation on May 29th.
This year’s graduates include:
Dave Alban - Mercy Medical Center
Leadership Oshkosh and what were
Diane Abraham - Oshkosh Area Community
the benefits of the program?
Foundation
Lisa Angell - FVTC
A: I took part in Leadership
Karen Befus - Oshkosh Northwestern Media
Oshkosh to learn about Oshkosh, and
Theresa Bertram - Lutheran Homes of Oshkosh
how it works and to meet the people
Susan Boettcher - Silver Star Brands
who make it work. The benefits are
Theresa Brockman - Evergreen
feeling like you know who to
Todd Christopherson - Winnebago County Sheriff 's
approach with a problem because you
Office
have seen inside government,
Greg Daggett - Bergstrom Volkswagen of Oshkosh
education, the Courts, law
Amy Davis - Jay Manufacturing Oshkosh, Inc.
enforcement, non-profits, businesses,
Emily Dieringer - Winnebago County Health Dept.
and cultural and artistic insitutions.
Class of 2007
Kim Donat - University of Wisconsin Oshkosh
Maggie Faust - Hoffmaster Group, Inc.
- Karen Seifert, Circuit Court Judge, Winnebago County Courthouse
Mark R. Gross - CitizensFirst Credit Union
Laurie Hughes - LaSure's Inc.
Q: What adjunct board did you
Brian Kermath - University of Wisconsin Oshkosh
serve on?
David Krumplitsch - Best Western Premier Waterfront
Hotel & Convention Center
A: I was part of the Boys and Girls
Mary Kummerow Johnson - Clarity Care
Club of Oshkosh Board and had
Kathleen Leonard - Oshkosh Community YMCA
such a great experience that I'm now
Rebecca Lund - Schenck SC
serving on that board and stay active
Michael Mauthe - Lourdes Academy
with the organization throughout the
Angie McCarthy - Day by Day Warming Shelter, Inc.
year. Leadership Oshkosh has had a
Chad Miller - First National Bank - Fox Valley
positive impact on my career.
Julie Mosher - Oshkosh Area School District
- Glenn Curran, Vice President of
Nate Olson - Olson Legal Group LLC
Commercial Lending, Associated Bank,
Beth Hinds Oswald - Aurora Health Care Foundation
N.A.
Michael Rust - Winnebago Conflict Resolution Center,
Class of 2006
Inc.
Brenda Schrader - Curwood, Inc. - A Bemis Company
Nick Spude - Associated Bank
Q: Why did you take part in LeaderAndy Storm - Oshkosh Corporation
ship Oshkosh?
Jason Trembly - Oshkosh Coil Spring, Inc.
David Vickman - City of Oshkosh
A: Evergreen has sponsored a
Dayna Watson - Integrys Energy Group.WPS
number of people who have gone
Cristy Wildenberg - Community Volunteer
through the program. All of them I
Trina Woldt - Jewelers Mutual Insurance Co.
spoke with talked about how LeaderJohn Zarate - City of Oshkosh
ship Oshkosh helped them gain a
better understanding of the Oshkosh
“I’m so proud of this year’s class. They have been through
community and opportunities to
become more involved .
a lot of adversity and change and through it all have been
able to rebound and be unified and strong. They have been
- Ken Arneson, President/CEO, Evergreen
there for each other and for the community,” said
Class of 2000
Bermingham. To leave a mark as the 25th class, they have
Q: Why did you take part in
8 NewsWave ̻ March
2013
May/June
2014
organized a "1 by 1 for Day by Day" campaign for the
benefit of the Day by Day Warming Shelter, Inc. and plan
to present a check at graduation in May.
Q: What project were you a part of
during Leadership Oshkosh?
A: We worked on a river front
improvement project that highlighted many ideas to improve the Fox
River corridor. 20 years later many
of these possibilities have come to
fruition and more are on the drawing
board. That project also inspired me
to volunteer for the Gateways ad hoc
committee and the Oshkosh RDA.
- Tom Belter, Managing VP, National
Exchange Bank and Trust
Class of 1993
Q: What are the benefits of
Class of 2014
Applications are now being accepted for the 2015 Leadership Oshkosh class. You can find the application online at
www.oshkoshchamber.com. It must be returned by June
1st.
Why should your or one of your colleagues take part in
Leadership Oshkosh? Take some advice from past
graduates.
“It’s the best investment you can make in yourself if you
want to make an impact on your community – personally
or professionally." - Karen Befus, Class of 2014
"Don't hesitate, sign up! Whether you are a lifelong resident or new to the Oshkosh area, Leadership Oshkosh is a
great way to explore and learn about the community."
- Megan Hoopman Lang, First Weber Group, Class of
2002
"Go for it, it is time well spent. You get a behind the scene
understanding of how the city works." - Larry Spanbauer,
Retired, Class of 1997
"Whether they are local or new to the area, the attendee
will receive a broad understanding of how the area has
evolved from the birth of the city to where it is today." Wayne Youngwirth, President of Youngwirth Associates
LLC, Class of 1995
We asked several Leadership Oshkosh graduates about
their experiences, make sure to check out some of their
responses on the side of each page.
The Oshkosh Chamber of Commerce is proud of what the
Leadership Oshkosh program has accomplished and the
significant impact it has had on establishing leaders in the
community.
To see all responses from each individual please visit
www.oshkoshchamber.com and look in the "news" section.
9 NewsWave ̻ March 2013
Leadership Oshkosh and how has the
program helped you in your current
position?
A: Two that easily come to mind is
bonding with your class and having
thirty (30) or so contacts immediately
in the community AND getting a lay
of the land for Oshkosh – You
discover which organizations to reach
out to in order to get things done in
the community. Leadership Oshkosh
expanded my network and also put
me in touch with the various
organizations and leaders thereof
responsible for getting things done in
the community.
- Tony Renning, Attorney, Davis & Kuelthau, s.c.
Class of 1999
Q: What adjunct board to you sit on
during Leadership Oshkosh?
A: I sat on the YMCA Board of
Directors as my Leadership Oshkosh
adjunct board. That was during the
time the YMCA was fundraising for
the new 20th Street YMCA. It was a
great learning experience and I am
proud now when I am at the Y that I
had a small part in the outcome.
- Karlene Grabner, Director of Donor
Services, Oshkosh Area Community
Foundation
Class of 2001
Q: Why did you take part in
Leadership Oshkosh and what was
your favorite part?
A: I took part in the program
because I was new to the community and it was a great emersion into
Oshkosh. My favorite part was the
relationships that were made and
while many have moved away, I still
have stayed connected to many.
- Susan Panek, Executive Director,
Oshkosh Area United Way
Class of 1994
Q: What is the best part about the
Leadership Oshkosh program?
A: I think the best part of Leadership Oshkosh comes in your
eventual realization of how little
depth of understanding you started
with. You have no idea how much
you don't know about our community and Leadership Oshkosh is
a great way to start understanding
the complexities of our community
and the big picture goals that drive
many organizations both public and
private.
Class of 2012
- Christian A. Gossett, Winnebago County District Attorney
Q: What have you done to
encourage people to particpate in
Leadership Oshkosh?
A: Of the many governance boards
I've served over the years and currently represent, I've encouraged
the administrative leadership of
those organizations to participate
in Leadership Oshkosh if they
aren't already alumni. Most are. We
recently hired an internal candidate
as the new executive director for the
Oshkosh Housing Authority who
Class of 2005
acknowledged she would like a better
understanding of the larger Oshkosh
community. I strongly encouraged
her to apply for Leadership Oshkosh,
and sense she will in the next year or
two.
- Sean Fitzgerald, Publisher & Editor, New North B2B, Oshkosh
Common Council Member
Youth Leadership Oshkosh Class of 2014 graduates
Youth Leadership Oshkosh participants graduated on April 9th at the Boys and Girls Club in Oshkosh.
24 high school juniors completed the program. Congratulations to this year's class:
Lourdes Academy
Cecily Vandenhouten
Shay Mains
Evan Degler
Joseph Dolan
Valley Christian
Ryan Van Maanen
Evan Williams
Olivia Knitt
Karly Zelinski
Oshkosh North
Caitlin MacWilliams
Cassandra Buerger
Benjamin Leib
Nicholas Bauer
Kobe Schmitz
Shyann Sheppard
Taylor Captain
Mitchel Koehn
Oshkosh West
Kaitlyn Steinhilber
Sydney Schultz
Melissa Daniels
Michaela Muza
Joshua Boyce
Jacob Landgraf
Jacob Rost
Jesse Kettne
10 NewsWave ̻ March
2013
May/June
2014
Governor Scott Walker visits Oshkosh
Governor Scott Walker visited Oshkosh to sign Senate Bill 252. The
bill allows the Department of Revenue (DOR) to reduce the base value
of certain tax increment finance districts that have suffered significant
declines from their original values.
11 NewsWave ̻ March 2013
Governor Scott Walker visited Oshkosh in April to announce the
expansion of DealerFire, a custom automotive web design and Internet
marketing firm. The company will quadruple the size of its
headquarters when it moves to 531 N. Main St. The expansion will
bring in 123 jobs. The Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation
(WEDC) has awarded DealerFire up to $522,000 in economic
development tax credits for the project. WEDC also has awarded a
$250,000 grant to the City of Oshkosh to assist with the renovation
costs.
Chamber Clips
Share Your Good News with the
Chamber
Have a press release you'd like to share? Then you’re in luck
because the Oshkosh Chamber is posting press releases to
its LinkedIn page on the Discussion Board, free of charge
for members.
Press releases pertaining to promotions, awards and new
hires will also be posted to the LinkedIn page, as well as
published in either NewsWave or Member Matters.
Please send press releases/event notes to Kari Cassidy at
kari@oshkoshchamber.com.
Network Health Seminar
Series: Identify and Leverage Your
Leadership Strengths
Reduce Your Recruiting Costs
The Chamber of Commerce has partnered with NationJob,
the Internet’s premiere community based job site to provide
you with an Internet recruitment service. NationJob will
help you:
• Recruit better qualified applicants
• Reduce the time you spend posting your positions
• Significantly extend the reach of your recruitment efforts
• Maximize your return on investment
• Up to 90% off NationJob’s standard rates for Chamber
members
For more information please contact the Chamber or
NationJob directly at 888-256-1741 or e-mail atcommunity@nationjob.com.
What is “leadership”? And how does it drive business
growth and success? Join Amy Biersteker, MSE, of Schenck
on Thursday, May 15 from 7:30-9:00 a.m., as she discusses
the 10 competencies of leadership, and how to discover and
develop your own leadership strengths. Amy will help you
understand how to increase your own effectiveness, by
using your unique strengths to solve specific issues in your
business.
This seminar is offered at no charge for Oshkosh Chamber
members. Register online at www.oshkoshchamber.om
Oshkosh Chamber receives the Lourdes Academy Dr.
Stanley J. Spanbauer Education and Leadership Award
The Oshkosh Chamber of Commerce is proud to announce
it has received the Lourdes Academy Dr. Stanley J. Spanbauer
Education and Leadership Award. The award was given at
Celebrate Education, an evening put on by the Oshkosh Area
Community Foundation that recognizes and honors educators,
administrators and volunteers who enrich the lives of students
in our community.
More than $40,000 in grants were awarded to educators from
public and private schools in Oshkosh at Celebrate Education.
The event was sponsored by the Foundation, Oshkosh Area
School District, Oshkosh Chamber of Commerce, Oshkosh
Mid-Morning Kiwanis and Wisconsin Public Service, with
support from Oshkosh Rotary Southwest.
The Dr. Stanley Spanbauer Education and Leadership Award
recognizes an individual or group who has demonstrated a
long-term commitment to Lourdes Academy and to improving
the overall quality of education in the Oshkosh Area Community.
“Over the years the Oshkosh Chamber of Commerce has
explored the educational possibilities and expanded the
boundaries of the present. Through their many programs such
as Partners at Learning, Leadership Oshkosh, Youth Leadership Oshkosh they have opened new educational doors for our
community and in doing so have helped make education relevant so that the next change can take place,” said Bob Biebel,
President, Lourdes Academy.
12 NewsWave ̻ May/June
March 2013
2014
Bob Biebel and Patti Andresen-Shew pose with the award
on March 31st. Photo Courtesy: OACF
Oshkosh 8th graders focus on career exploration
By Kari Cassidy & Patti Andresen-Shew
The Oshkosh Chamber of Commerce and area schools are partnering up to
help Oshkosh 8th graders with career exploration.
The Oshkosh Chamber, Lourdes Academy, Oshkosh Area School District and
Northwestern Mutual teamed up to offer Passport for Success. This career
exploration fair had more than 700 eighth grade students from both public
and private schools participate in the event held at Oshkosh West High School
in March. More than 70 community representatives from 16 different career
clusters with representatives from Oshkosh Chamber members, Fox Valley
Technical Collage, UW-Oshkosh, Marian College, elected representatives,
ROTC, City of Oshkosh, Winnebago County, Bemis, Oshkosh Corporation,
and numerous Oshkosh Chamber member companies took part in the event.
Students talk to representatives from Bemis at the
2014 Passport for Success
Early in April, the Oshkosh Chamber and the Oshkosh Area School District
offered Career & Life Path Day, a three-day job shadow experience held at 17
different employers and educational settings in Oshkosh. Eighth grade
students in the Oshkosh community have the opportunity to gain first-hand
experience in a business or organization of their choice. Career & Life Path
Day gives students the tools to help determine which career or life path option
to pursue, whether it is post-secondary education, the military, or entering the
workforce after high school graduation.
Prior to the events, the students work on career based curriculum to provide a
foundation to the Career Exploration Fair and on-location job shadows. These
exposures to adults in different careers give them the opportunity to tie real
people to their career interests. Students gain valuable information including:
• The education path required for a certain career / job
• The rewards and challenges of a certain career
Carl Traeger students work on marketing project at
• What day-to-day life is like in a certain job
• What students can do to prepare for a certain career including but Silver Star Brands during Career & Life Path Days.
not limited to part time jobs, volunteer work, and internships.
Benefits for Schools
• An opportunity to relate classroom learning to a real-life
experience
• A demonstration of the importance of education in the workplace
• Positive relationship-building with business/community leaders in the Oshkosh community
Benefits for Businesses
• A chance to positively affect the outcome of future generations
• The opportunity to be a part of the Oshkosh education system
• Promotion of business through community service
“The Chamber supports providing students with career exploration as part of the foundation for area workforce development.
Having the opportunity to interact with adults in different occupations and learning what type of training and education is
required first-hand provides the opportunity for some authentic learning experiences,” said Patti Andresen-Shew, Oshkosh
Chamber of Commerce Education and Workforce Coordinator.
The Oshkosh Chamber is always looking to further its involvement in career exploration and to partner with other area businesses to offer this great opportunity to high school students. If your business would like to take part in this great opportunity
to help further the education of our high school students, please contact Patti Andresen-Shew at patti@oshkoshchamber.com.
An 8th grader gets one-on-one time with a DealerFire
employee to learn about information technology.
13 NewsWave ̻ March 2013
A group of students get ready to learn about health
science at Mery Medical Center.
Calendar of
Events
May
Accidental Salesperson Series
May 7
8:30-11:30 a.m.
Oshkosh Convention Center
Cost: $101
Presented by Sparque, Inc.
Social Hub: Blogging
May 8
7:30 a.m.
Oshkosh Chamber building
Cost: Free
Sponsored by: Candeo Creative
Sales Club
May 13
7:30 a.m.
Oshkosh Chamber building
Cost: Free
2014
14 NewsWave ̻ May/June
March 2013
Business After Hours
May 13
5:00 p.m.
Vitale's Italian Cuisine
215 W. Murdock Ave.
Cost: $6 pre-registered, $7 at
the door
Network Health Seminar
Series: Identify & Leverage
Your Leadership Strengths
May 15
7:30-9:00 a.m.
Oshkosh Chamber building
Cost: Free
Presented by: Schenck
A.M. Oshkosh
May 20
Orthopedic & Spine Therapy of
Oshkosh, SC
2100 Omro Road
Cost: $2
June
Accidental Salesperson Series
June 4
8:30-11:30 a.m.
Oshkosh Convention Center
Cost: $101
Presented by Sparque, Inc.
Business After Hours
June 10
5:00-7:00 p.m.
UWO Alumni Welcome &
Conference Center
625 Pearl Ave.
Cost: $6 pre-registered, $7 at
the door
Sales Club
June 10
7:30 a.m.
Oshkosh Chamber building
Cost: Free
AM. Oshkosh
June 11
eBizResults, LLC
3475 Omro Road, Ste. 100
Cost: $2
Social Hub: Twitter
June 12
7:30 a.m.
Oshkosh Chamber building
Cost: Free
Sponsored by: Candeo Creative
Chamber Members Spotted
Out&About
Business After Hours hosted by WHBA
A.M. Oshkosh at EAA
Sales Club at the Oshkosh Chamber
Accidental Salesperson Series Day 1
Social Hub: Creating Your PR Strategy
Business After Hours at Sweetwater
Performance Center
15 NewsWave ̻ March 2013
Business
Briefs
First National Bank – Fox
Valley (FNB Fox Valley) is pleased to announce
its participation in the Federal Home Loan Bank of Chicago’s
(FHLBC) Downpayment Plus Program® (DPP®). This program
provides down payment and closing cost assistance to low and
moderate-income households for the purchase of a home.
The Schaefer Behnke Group (SBG) has partnered with Eiler Insurance and will have onsite team member, Abby Zubella,
as SBG’s insurance representative. SBG is working with Eiler
Insurance to offer additional investment options for clients
and establish itself as a one-stop-shop for the financial needs
of clients. Zubella is an agent through Eiler Insurance but an
employee of and the insurance representative for SBG.
Candeo Creative hired Kris Ulrich as its newest business
development manager. Kris is currently pursuing his MBA at
UW Oshkosh and has experience with project management in
the healthcare industry.
Trish Salomon has joined Lutheran Homes of Oshkosh,
Gabriel’s Villa. Salomon is the administrator for Gabriel’s Villa.
Trish is a Registered Dietitian and has 30 years of varied health
care experience. Trish also has a passion for health and wellness
which she incorporates in all her work.
Shea Electric & Communications, LLC, is pleased to
welcome Mike Schwab as Project Manager. As a master electrician, Mike brings 15+ years of project management experience
in a wide variety of industries including commercial, industrial,
healthcare, and institutional.
Experimental Aircraft Assocation named Dave
Chaimson vice president of business development. Chaimson
is a pilot and has more than 25 years of marketing, sales and
senior management experience.
Jodi Jensema has recently accepted the Sales & Service Manager position at the Oshkosh Convention and Visitors
Bureau. She comes to the Oshkosh Bureau with 15 years of
hospitality experience.
eBizResults LLC hired Lindsay Walsh as inbound marketing
specialist and El Mahdi Bourhram as a computer programmer.
The Wellness Council of America of Wisconsin presented Well
Workplace Awards to the following organizations: Silver
Star Brands, gold level; silver level awards were presented to
Oshkosh Area School District, Oshkosh Corp. and
Winnebago County.
Ribbon Cuttings
Brad Baumann, CPA, was named a principal at
CliftonLarsonAllen, a national services firm in Oshkosh.
Baumann joined the firm in 2002 and has more than 13 years of
public accounting experience.
Stellar Blue Technologies, a digital marketing agency,
hired Jessica Webber as an administrative and marketing
assistant. Webber is a graduate from Ashford University with a
bachelor’s degree in human resources and management. Stellar
Blue Technologies, also hired Shelby Milock as a Social Media
Strategist.
Oshkosh Area Workforce Development Center
219 Washington St. Suite 107
Photo by Devan Strebig
Buying? Selling? Curious what’s
happening in today’s changing
Real Estate Market? My Team
of Experienced Realtors are
here to help with all your real
estate needs. Call us today!
-Andy Beiser, Broker/Owner
You Expect the Best.
We Demand it.
16 NewsWave ̻ March
2013
May/June
2014
920-582-4011
www.BeiserRealty.com
Meet Your Ambassador
Jody Piotter
Fox WorldTravel
How long have you been an Ambassador?
10 years and looking forward to many more.
Why did you choose to become an Ambassador?
I was looking for friends…no just kidding. I was looking for a networking
opportunity along with giving pack to the community.
What do you enjoy about being an Ambassador?
I love the camaraderie among the fellow Ambassadors and the friendships
that have been made. I enjoy the ribbon cuttings as this allows you the opportunity to learn about the new business and how you may be able to help out
with their new venture.
What are the benefits?
Being an Ambassador allows you the opportunity to make those business and personal connections that you may
find hard to accomplish otherwise. Business After Hours, AM Oshkosh and ribbon cuttings gives you the ability to network and learn about what’s going on in Oshkosh.We have FUN!! Heck, how many organizations sing
Happy Birthday to you at 7:30 am during the monthly meeting?
For those of you that know me, I am PASSIONATE about Oshkosh and am happy to help in any capacity to keep
this an awesome community to live in.
Want to become an Ambassador? Call Devan Strebig at (920) 303-2265, ext. 16 for more informatino.
Network at
Business After Hours
Tuesday, May 13, 5:00-7:00 p.m.
Vitale's Italian Cuisine, 215 W. Murdock Ave.
REGISTER FOR BAH
(920) 303-2266
www.oshkoshchamber.com/event-calendar
$6 pre-registered, $7 at the door (Register
by 1 p.m. the day of the event to receive the
$6 rate)
June Business After Hours
Beverage Sponsors:
Tuesday, June 10, 5-7 p.m.
UWO Alumni Welcome &
Conference Center
625 Pearl Ave.
A.M. Oshkosh
Credit Card, ATM and POS Processing Services
SMART BUSINESS
SOLUTIONS
Check Scanner
Remember when honesty, integrity
and service were everything?
We never forgot.
We strive to provide
the highest quality,
lowest cost solution
while maintaining
that personal touch
unrivaled by larger
companies.
Tuesday, May 20
7:45-9:00 a.m.
Terminal
with Printer
Orthopedic & Spine
Therapy of Oshkosh
2100 Omro Rd.
Retail and
Hospitality POS
We build bonds, not numbers.
Visit our Showroom at:
1600 S. Main St. • Oshkosh, WI 54902
1-855-POS-ATMS • www.CornerstonePS.com
SAM4s and Casio
Cash Registers
Coming up
Next Month
Wednesday, June 11
7:45-9:00 a.m.
“ Fox Valley Tech has
helped us attract some
of the best and brightest
students to our company.”
Jessica Stini, PHR
Recruiting Specialist
Miller Electric Mfg. Co.
Post your job openings on Wisconsin TechConnect,
your online resource for Wisconsin technical
college graduates. It’s fast, easy to use, and free!
eBizResults, LLC
3475 Omro Road,
Ste. 100
Register TODAY!
Phone (920) 303-2266
Wisconsin
TechConnect
Online www.oshkoshchamber.
com/event-calendar/
Wisconsin
TechConnect
Student
Connecting
SkillsEmployment
With Jobs Services
18 NewsWave ̻ March 2013
Wisconsin
www.fvtc.edu/ses-employers
(920) 735-JOBS (5627)
ses@fvtc.edu
A Service of Wisconsin’s 16 Technical Colleges
TechConnect
The cost is $2 per event for
Oshkosh Chamber members.
Small Business Patron Program
Thank you Oshkosh area Small Business Patrons. The Oshkosh Chamber of Commerce would like to thank our Small
Business Patrons that are helping foster the next generation of business owners in our community. We wish to extend our
gratitude for their continued support of small business.
New Members
The Oshkosh Chamber completed its latest Membership Drive bringing in a significant amount of new members. The
Oshkosh Chamber now has a total of 1085 members. Below is a current listing of these new members (current as of our print
deadline).
A+ Automotive Tire & Brake, LLC
Arby's
Air Oshkosh Flight Support
Bar 430
American Workforce Solutions,
LLC
Barley & Hops Pub
Aviation
525 W. 20th Avenue, Oshkosh
(920) 424-8090
Mr. Tim Brooks
Employment Agencies
375 City Center, Ste. B, Oshkosh
920) 235-5905
Ms. Lisa Emmer
19 NewsWave ̻ March 2013
Restaurants
2040 S. Koeller Street, Oshkosh
(920) 235-1808
Ms. Abbey Ramsey
Taverns/Nightclubs
430 N. Main Street, Oshkosh
(920) 230-1114
Mr. Brian D. Hamill
Taverns/Nightclubs
663 N. Main Street, Oshkosh
(920) 420-2158
Mr. Nathan Stiefvater
all Business Patron Program
Automobile Tires & Service
640 N. Main Street, Oshkosh
(920) 236-8881
Mr. Bryan Fritz
Check Advance
G. Earl Real Estate, Inc.
Chief Feeds & Daly Creek Tack
Glacier Ridge Animal Farm
Community Color Mailer
GT Mobility & Services LLC
Cooperative Care
Happy Hut
Financial Services
380 S. Koeller Street, Oshkosh
(920) 424-9952
Ms. Sally McCoy
Pet Supplies & Food
105 Indian Point Road, Oshkosh
(920) 598-0601
Tony & Cindy Tousey
Advertising - Direct Mail
520 Van Roy Road, Appleton
(920) 832-9199
Ms. Shari Middlestead
1010 W. 20th Avenue, Oshkosh
(920) 209-1569
Tracy Dudzinski
Creative Ad-Visions, LLC
Marketing Consultants
317 W. 17th Avenue, Oshkosh
920) 379-4144
Ms. Apryle Krause
Curvy Creek Gifts and Golf
Gift Shops
3120 County Road GG, Oshkosh
(920) 410-6564
Mr. Larry Seeley
E & A Residential Remodeling
Remodeling Contractors
120 W. 11th Avenue, Oshkosh
(608) 886-4606
Mr. Alfonso Fonseca
Efficient Electric, LLC
Electrical Contractors
1648 Western Street, Oshkosh
(920) 915-8881
Mr. Todd Healey
Express Convenience Center
Gas Stations
1801 Witzel Avenue, Oshkosh
(920) 232-1401
Ms. Jeanene Roberts
Family Video Movie Club/Marco's Pizza
Restaurants
350 Ohio Street, Oshkosh
(920) 231-1270
Ms. Brigid Mangen
Real Estate - Commercial
947 Trillium Trail, Oshkosh
(920) 426-0417
Mr. Gary E. Eake
Zoos
N9458 Ridge Road, Van Dyne
920) 688-3488
Mark & Michelle Schultz
Communications
2909 Green Hill Court, Unit J, Oshkosh
(920) 651-8890
Mr. Todd Nault
Restaurants
500 W. 15th Avenue, Oshkosh
(920) 988-4137
Mr. James Hanson
ICE Roofing
Roofing Contractors
600 W. Linwood Avenue, Oshkosh
(920) 376-3565
Mr. Adrian Gonzalez
Jansen's Bar & Restaurant
Restaurants
344 Bowen Street, Oshkosh
(920) 231-0690
Mr. Brad Cobb
Jimmy John's
Restaurants
70 Wisconsin Street, Oshkosh
(920) 230-2328
Mr. Brad Pachefsky
Ki to Health Therapeutic Bodywork
LLC
Massage Therapists
200 W. Wisconsin Avenue, Neenah
(920) 460-0229
Ms. Courtney Cowie
Krueger Family Chiropractic
Chiropractors
3180 Omro Road, Oshkosh
(920) 236-6000
Dr. Jeff Krueger, D.C.
LaVaque Professional
Ripon Area Roofing
Mechanical Services, Inc.
RunAway Shoes
News Talk WISS AM 1100/97.3 FM &
WAUH 102.3 FM The Bug
Rush Nutrition Club
Wholesalers
806 Oregon Street, Oshkosh
(715) 297-5021
Mr. Barry LaVaque
Automobile Repair/Service
3569 Sand Pit Road, Oshkosh
(920) 235-3169
Mr. Brian Seaman
Radio Stations/Broadcasting Companies
156 W. Huron Street, Berlin
(920) 361-3551
Ms. Tammi Eastling
Nutrition Supply Company
Health and Diet Food Products
1925 Jackson Street, Oshkosh
(920) 235-1350
Mr. Demetrius Alecos
OK Realty
Real Estate
P.O. Box 3824, Oshkosh
(920) 420-7522
Ms. Carissa Pahlow
Oshkosh Gymnastics Center
Gymnastics Instruction
2080 W. 20th Avenue, Oshkosh
(920) 235-7800
Ms. Julie Brady
Oshkosh Plating Technologies, Inc.
Metal Products
1228 W. South Park Avenue, Oshkosh
(920) 233-4522
Mr. Aaron Johnson
Peterson Properties
Real Estate Investments
210 Commerce Street, Ste. 4G, Oshkosh
(920) 230-2620
Mr. Paul Peterson
Ray's Sanitation
Toilets - Portable
5366 County Road S, Oshkosh
(920) 203-2485
Ms. Megan Wilson
Roofing Contractors
W13508 Tri County Road, Ripon
(920) 748-9371
Mr. Brian Wells
Shoes - Retail
520 S. Koeller Street, Oshkosh
(920) 230-7463
Mr. Ross McDowell
Associations
2409 S. Matthias Street, Appleton
(920) 358-0562
Mr. Jason Metz
Schrage Financial Services, LLC
Financial Services
1127 S. Main Street, Ste. B, Oshkosh
(920) 230-6464
Ms. Barbara Schrage
Service Oil Company, Inc.
Convenience Stores
2531 Omro Road, Oshkosh
(920) 235-9666
Mr. Gary R. Lerch
Straight Forward Crisis Management
Crisis Consultants - Professional
331 Mason Street, Oshkosh
(920) 216-8301
Mr. Larry Kamholz
Utica Golf Club Inc.
Golf Courses
2330 Knott Road, Oshkosh
(920) 233-4446
Mr. Greg Johnson
Vondrachek Lawn Care LLC
Lawn Maintenance & Installation
1362 Ceape Avenue, Oshkosh
(920) 540-8467
Mr. Jef Vondrachek
To learn more about the Oshkosh Chamber's new
members head to www.oshkoshchamber.com and
search them in the membership directory.
Asktheexpert
5 Tips for Time Management
Submitted by Melanie Marine,
Senior Lecturer, Reading Study Center
UW Oshkosh
“There aren’t enough hours in a day!” How often do
you say this? Balancing work and personal life can be
so difficult, especially if you are pursuing
a degree or playing taxi for one or more
children. Being more efficient with your
time can really help reduce the stress in
your life. In teaching various classes in the
Reading and Study Skills Center at UW
Oshkosh, I’ve learned that time
management seems to be a big area of
concern for most people. Here are five
tips I share with my people regularly:
1. You MUST keep a calendar. I know,
“must” is a strong word. But I mean it.
Forgetting is an awful feeling, especially
when it affects someone else. I used to
keep a calendar at home, one at work
and one in my purse. I spent time every
Sunday evening making sure all three
matched. Then, my workplace switched
to Google Calendar and I really liked it!
So I synced it with my Android phone
and now I’m down to one calendar that is
always with me. So does your workplace
use an electronic calendar that you can
sync with your phone? Or would a paper
calendar work for you?
2. A To Do List is your friend. Years ago, I was
complaining to my doctor that I was having such a hard
time falling asleep at night. After a discussion with her,
I realized it was because I was repeating all the things
I needed to get done the next day over and over in my
head. I started carrying a pack of lined post-its with me
everywhere. Whenever I would remember something I
needed to do, I wrote it down. Then every night before
I went to bed, I would review that list. Now that I’m
in the 21st century, I use the “Task List” function on
Google Calendar. I write down everything (and I mean
everything) that I need to do. Even “simple” things like
“return library books” or “go to credit union” are on
that list. It is so satisfying to cross things off that list!
(And yes, it’s perfectly acceptable to write something
you’ve already done and immediately cross it off. We all
need motivation!)
3. Use the small chunks of time wisely. In field of Study
Skills, we call these “Dead Hours.” You know those 10
minutes you spend waiting outside your child’s school
after practice? DEAD! Those 7 minutes you’re sitting
in class waiting for the Professor to begin class? DEAD!
Could you do something productive during that time?
I’m an avid couponer, so coupons and scissors are
always in the car. While I’m waiting for a practice to
be over, I can be found clipping and filing coupons. Or
22 NewsWave ̻ March
2013
May/June
2014
writing the grocery list. Or grading papers. Or calling the
vet. Or paying a few bills online. Once my son’s judo practice
went over by 20 minutes. Instead of being livid that I “wasted” time waiting for him, I drove home on cloud nine because
I had crossed 5 things off my to-do list.
4. Learn to say no…tactfully. I have a very
hard time saying no. As I get older, I
realize that there are so many things I
want to do! However, I really need to
think about what is important to me.
When people approach you to join a
committee or volunteer at an agency, you
need to ask yourself some questions. Do
you WANT to do this? How does it relate
to your personal goals? Do you have the
time available to dedicate to this project/
experience? Years ago, I was asked to join
the school PTA. While I really WANTED
to, I knew I couldn’t. I had a Kindergartener and a toddler and crazy things were
happening at work. So I honestly thought
about it, talked it over with my husband,
but ultimately I said no. And felt guilty
for weeks. HOW you say no can help with
that guilt. “While I’m flattered that you
asked me to run for PTA president, I just
really think that at this stage in my life I
wouldn’t be able to give it 110%, which
is what a position like this deserves. I’d
be happy to volunteer at an event or two
this year and maybe when the kids are older, and work settles
down, I’ll have the time to dedicate to an important position
like this one.” That was the truth. And it was okay that I said
no. And guess what? I became PTA Co-president a few years
later, because I TRULY wanted to be involved in the kids’
school in that manner – not because I was “guilted” into it.
5. Make time management a habit. Finally, none of this will
help at all if you don’t commit to it. Just like starting a new
exercise regimen, it takes a while for things to become
routine. Bring your calendar to every meeting and have it
open in front of you. Keep it open on your desk. Have it be
the last thing you look at every night. If this is difficult for
you, try setting aside 20 minutes a day for “time management,” where you go over your to do list and calendar. If
you’re extremely busy, you may need to plan even more
carefully. I know people who sit down every Sunday night
and plan every single meal for the week and write it on their
calendar. Sometimes I get up 15 minutes earlier and run
errands before work – return library books, stop at an ATM,
get gas and pick up milk. (Hey, there’s a fridge at work! Just
put your name on it!) That way, when I leave work, I feel more
accomplished because those things are already done.
The bottom line is that each of us has 24 hours in a day.
While it can feel like it’s not enough, there are some fairly
simple ways to make the most out of each day!
Spotlight
MEMBER
41 Horseshoe Rd.
Oshkosh, WI
www.creativelawncareoshkosh.com
By Sara Stein, Marketing/PR Intern
Creative Lawn Care LLC strives for no-drama,
personable service that customers will still be
proud of years to come. It is a one-stop shop for
weekly, monthly and one-time lawn care maintenance services.
Creative Lawn Care prides itself in honest service and a strong attempt to give their customers
reasonable prices. Services include tree pruning
and removal, weed service, aeration, landscape
maintenance and installation, trimming, dethatching, fertilizing, leaf removal, gutter cleaning, snow removal and lawn mowing, maintenance, fertilization and aeration.
Creative Lawn Care owner Ben Peterson has
owned the company for the past three years.
Peterson said. “We try to be personal with our
customers because not only do we care about their
yards, we care about them. I know that’s cliché, but
it’s the truth.”
Creative Lawn Care is located at 41 Horseshoe
Road in the town of Algoma. Peterson, who is
also a fulltime pastor at the Oshkosh Foursquare
Church, says he likes having his business and family in Oshkosh because it has a small-town feel yet
many big-city amenities. He bought Creative Lawn
Care as a way to be creative in providing for his wife
and four kids outside of the church ministry.
Peterson says he joined the Oshkosh Chamber of
Commerce last year because he likes the connections not only for business, but for the sake of the
community.
“I like the thought of businesses coming together
and working together for the community,” Peterson
said. “It goes beyond business.”
Creative Lawn Care can take your backyard from boring
to beautiful with great landscaping.
“Our business is not simply about a well-tended
lawn or a grandeur landscaping project, but
about being genuinely happy with the outcome,”
23 NewsWave ̻ March 2013
For more information on Creative Lawn Care LLC,
go to creativelawncareoshkosh.com or call 3795346.
Oshkosh Chamber of Commerce
120 Jackson Street
Oshkosh, WI 54901