Leadership is not just having the skills to lead, supervise or manage others.  Leadership Institute takes your leadership skills to the next level by showing what Sheboygan County can offer you, your co-workers or employees, and your friends and family.

By learning about all the different aspects of Sheboygan County, you will learn about those around you, the challenges they face, how issues impact the area, and so much more.  This knowledge will give you a better understanding of Sheboygan County and will expand your ability to be a great leader.

Find out all about the Leadership Institute and sign up to part of the 25th Anniversary, Class of 2014. Click Here!

Every year the Chamber awards a $2,000 scholarship to a distinguished student attending a member higher education institution (UW-Sheboygan, Lakeland College, Concordia, Silver Lake College, Lakeshore Technical College, or UW-Green Bay).  The scholarship is made possible by the generous support of the annual golf outing hosted every September. The Sheboygan County Chamber of Commerce presented Kelly Wieland the $2,000 annual scholarship to be used for her attendance at UW-Sheboygan this upcoming fall. Wieland won the scholarship for her winning essay on new and different activities/businesses she would bring to Sheboygan County to promote tourism over and above what is currently offered. Wieland suggested constructing an outdoor theatre/amphitheater on the lake for bands and festivals to use. “With this, we could develop a summer movie series that could draw teens, families, as well as senior citizens while enjoying the beautiful Wisconsin nights,” said Wieland. “This could also provide a venue for local bands to perform, which could include battle of the bands, that would draw music lovers from neighboring areas in support of their favorite bands.” (Presenting scholarship from left to right is Chamber Ambassador Bill Wessing, Chamber Executive Director Betsy Alles, Wieland and Chamber Ambassador Mary Jo Ploetz. Not pictured from the scholarship committee are Barry Kreft and Laura Gumm).

The Chamber Ambassador scholarship committee received more than 15 scholarship applications, all with creative ideas. Here is a summary:

• Segway tours/rentals utilizing current bike trails or along Lakeshore boardwalk
• Weekly Farmers Market – expand to include live music and demonstrations.
• Add outdoor theatre to current bandstand or build new facility (amphitheater similar to that in Oshkosh) at Lakefront.
• Seasonal “treasure Hunt” with maps to promote historical/seasonal/tourist locations
• Twilight concerts targeted to younger audiences and partnered with food trucks as mobile concessions
• Kayak races and rentals partnering with Yacht Club, Sea Scouts, and food trucks with possible sponsorships by local (sports) stores/businesses
• Surfing lessons
• Coupon books distributed by chamber/members and targeting families while visiting local colleges
• Official sized Indoor soccer facility on the former Triple Play site  for both competition and recreational tournaments
• Battle of the Restaurants or Taste of Sheboygan – possibly small themed (seasonal, ethnic or cooking style -grilling)
• Feature Sheboygan on Travel America
• Creative tour of a day of Farming
• Small ferry tours for a view from the water
• Have local baseball team (A’s) increase level of involvement to attract more visitors ( similar to that of Lake Shore Chinooks)
• Clean up the Quarry – add staff and concessions or encourage the foods truck to park there.
• Make Sheboygan attractions smart phone and ipad friendly
• Add beach volley ball tournaments (family, adults & team groups)
• Add greater variety of chain restaurants (Olive garden, Fazollis, Panera Bread) that are better recognized by travelers and will pull them in from I43
• Add carnival style rides/attractions to Deland Park (or vacant land areas-such as the former Pentair lot)- similar to Bat Beach
• Add Buss/trolley tours similar to those in Door County ( wine tours, moveable feasts, historic, seasonal/haunted/cemetery)
• Offer 5K, 10K, half marathons, triathlon, fun races (such as color races that celebrate health & happiness)
• Shopping attractions- add outlet mall, increase occupancy at Memorial Mall with food court and more diverse stores ( Macys, Crate & barrel, Cabella’s, Aeropostle, Old Navy)
• Clean up the beaches, repair the piers, offer designated areas for fires or build fire pits.
• Bring Casinos or riverboat casinos to South pier
• More Music events indoor /outdoor venues
• Add dance clubs/lounges to engage younger people
• More accessible public transportation (rail, train & cabs)
• Skiing and/or tubing hill to the western part of Sheboygan County

Five 2012-2013 Project G.R.I.L.L. teams unveiled their creations at the Sheboygan A’s Wildwood Park on Saturday, June 1st. G.R.I.L.L. (Growing Readiness in Learning & Leading) is a program designed to introduce high school students to career opportunities available in manufacturing. Since the 2007-2008 school year, participating high school students and their teachers have worked closely with sponsoring employers/mentors to design and make charcoal fired grills that really work.

For several months, teams representing Kohler High School and Kohler Co.; Sheboygan Central High School and Masters Gallery Foods; Howards Grove High School and Johnsonville Sausage; Oostburg High School and Nemak; and Random Lake High School and Curt G. Joa, Inc. worked together to develop their ideas and produce the components needed for their G.R.I.L.L. projects.

During the 30 weeks they participate in Project G.R.I.L.L., students learn valuable lessons in areas such as project management, team building, design, fabrication, finishing, assembly and quality control to prepare them for their post-high school plans. As explained by Mary, a participant in Project G.R.I.L.L., “After having the hands-on experiences from Project G.R.I.L.L., I knew mechanical design would be my chosen career path.”   According judges Mike Vandersteen, mayor of Sheboygan; Bill Gottsacker, LTC Culinary Institute head chef/instructor; Scott McMurray, owner, 3 Guys and a Grill; Rich Hoerth, LTC executive dean, trades and industry; and John Rogers program director, Sheboygan County Chamber — all teams passed with flying colors!

Nominate a deserving school, manufacturer, educator or community member for the second annual Excellence in Manufacturing/Education Partnerships Awards.

There are six categories for schools/educators:
- Career Pathmaker – Tech Ed Teacher
- Career Pathmaker – Administrator
- Career Pathmaker – Educator
- Manufacturing Partnership
- Brighter Image – Education
- Education Innovation

There are five categories for manufacturers:
- Leadership
- Youth Apprenticeship
- Educational Partnership
- Brighter Image
- Visionary
- Manufacturing Innovation

Nominations must be receive by June 10. Click here to submit a nomination.

There is an additional award for either an individual from the community or a community organization that has advanced manufacturing career exploration called the Community Partnership Award.

A full description of each award is included in the nomination form.  You can nominate for more than one category.  In addition, you may nominate your organization for the award.  Winners will be announced in late August with the Awards dinner being held on October 30, 2013.

For questions, contact Ann Franz at (920) 498-5587.

Join us for the most popular “fun in the sun” event of the year on September 11 in Elkhart Lake! This is an 11 am shotgun start of 50 foursomes. Enjoy getting out of the office on a beautiful golf course, networking under the sun, and a buffet style dinner right on-site after you finish on the links! Register and sponsor NOW (it fills quick)

With construction having already begun on the other projects, the groundbreaking ceremony took place at what will become a major focal point for the rails-to-trails project. This project, as a result of several years of collaboration between Sheboygan County, the City of Sheboygan, and local community members, will transform an old, unsightly former railroad corridor into a multi-use pathway for pedestrians, bicyclists, and other nonmotorized users. The 1.7 mile trail will travel through the City between Pennsylvania Avenue on south and Martin Avenue on the north. It greatly enhances the community, passing through dense neighborhoods and providing a convenient and attractive means by which residents and tourists can travel on bike or foot to the many destinations adjacent to the corridor.

Nonmotorized maps are available at no cost at the Chamber of Commerce.

Vote to give Sheboygan a mini makeover! Sheboygan is one of three communities in Wisconsin selected for the Benjamin Moore Paints Main Street Matters program. Benjamin Moore will partner with towns and neighborhoods to refresh up to 3 blocks of their main street with a fresh coat of paint to create an inviting business environment and reinforce community ties. If selected, Sheboygan will be one of 20 towns to receive a color paint makeover in the coming year.

The locations submitted include  N. 8^th Street and Michigan Avenue.

You can vote for Sheboygan every day here.

The paint and painting services would be provided by Benjamin Moore, with their local dealers and contractors, and Benjamin Moore would work with local partners and volunteers to gain appropriate approvals and execute the program.

Hot deals, networking, advertisements — oh my! As a new Chamber member, make sure you know all the benefits the Chamber has to offer. Join us for Maximize Your Membership, a free orientation, and learn how to make the most of your membership.

Click here to register.

The first full week of May is National Tourism Week, and the Tourism Alliance of Sheboygan celebrated by a hosting a breakfast featuring guest speaker Dave Fantle, Deputy Secretary of the Wisconsin Department of Tourism. “Deputy Dave,” as he is affectionately known by industry colleagues, offered an inspiration presentation of the department’s summer advertising campaign. Witty and crisp, the new ads highlight Wisconsin’s fun personality as the place to be for summer activities. You can check out the new television and print ads here.

National Tourism Week is also traditionally the week the Department of Tourism releases its industry economy report for the prior. Overall, the State of Wisconsin captured more than $10.3 billion in visitor spending in 2012. That’s a 5.01% increase from the prior year. In Sheboygan County, tourism rivaled the state’s percentage with a 6.15% increase in visitor spending worth more than $191 million ($11 million more than 2011). Sheboygan County also saw an increase in equivalent full-time jobs supported by tourism with a total of 3,442, and countywide, over $69.2 million in labor income was supported by tourism. Coming in at a 5.6% increase over 2011, tourism activity in the county also contributed $24.9 million to local and state taxes. And the biggest new for 2012 was $316.2 million in total business across Sheboygan County supported by tourism.

While this season had a rough start with a cold, wet spring, we’re certainly looking forward to robust peak season as we move toward warmer weather with many Midwest travelers just waiting for the opportunity to get away for a while.

Tidbits and Trivia

Here’s a tidbit you’ll pass along to your friends and family. This year, Sheboygan’s 4^th of July Parade will begin on 8^th Street and Center Avenue. The parade will march down 8^th Street this year—not 7^th Street as in year’s past.

Did you know that the city’s parade originally marched down 8^th Street until it was moved to 7^th Street because the 8^th Street Plaza was transformed to a pedestrian mall. Well, now that cars are running down 8^th Street again, so will the parade! Be sure to find your spot early to view the march of Sheboygan’s own Classic Reunion.

Upcoming Events

If you’ve always wanted to try it, don’t miss the annual SUP ‘n’ Surf EOS Series, stand-up paddle board competition on June 22 at Deland Park. You don’t have to compete to try out free SUP demos all day long. Click here for more information about the event.

Be sure to print off a copy of the annual Events Schedule at visitsheboygan.com for a full calendar of all this year’s events. The summer schedule is so packed, you’ll want to keep a copy for quick reference.