In This Issue:
Articles

Chamber's Annual Dinner Successful
International Reps Visit Sheboygan County
Tourism Secretary
Deliberations
Coastal Connections
The Member Ship
Golf? Anyone?
Member Close-Up
Talk of the Town
Board of Directors
Welcome These New Members
First Friday Forum
Photos
June Events

Inserts

April Box Score
CC Power Hour
Aurora Business Link
Impact Direct Marketing
Art Armada
Business Connections
Golf Registration
Leadership Application
Children's Hospital
Badger Office City
O & W Communications
Capital Valuation Group

Chamber’s Annual Dinner Successful

These photos tell the story about the Annual Dinner. It was all about the 'fine art of schmoozing' and how to improve upon schmoozing to effect more gratifying relationships. It was a beautiful evening at The Osthoff. We compliment the chef and the service staff. Keynote speaker Julie Loeding was enthusiastically infectious and had the audience on their feet and working the new schmooze moves. Thanks to the many members who joined in the fun!

Top

International Trade Directors Visit Sheboygan County!

On May 16 Sheboygan County businesses had the opportunity to hear from six countries about exporting and importing. This was a great chance to hear what some of the pitfalls and advantages of exporting certain products. Some interesting facts shared by Brad Schneider, Wisconsin Department of Commerce, included that Wisconsin ranks 19th in total exports, Wisconsin leads the nation in exporting outboard engines, bicycles, agricultural products, fire extinguishers, compressors, padlocks, flax seed, just to name a few, and there are 105 known exporters in Sheboygan County. All of the International Directors agreed that when dealing with other countries, be aware of cultural differences, be flexible and understanding, and communication is vital. Chamber member with questions about exporting a product, should call the Wisconsin Department of Commerce (608-266-8738) and they will connect you with the appropriate contact.

Top

Truly impressed with the Sheboygan area, Kelli Trumble spread Wisconsin's good news tourism message to 40 hospitality industry people on May 15 at Blue Harbor.
The good news is that tourism pumped $12.83 billion into the state's economy in 2006 and provided 216,431 fulltime equivalent jobs resulting in $3.7 billion in resident income. Further, tourism accounted for $280.42 million in local tax revenue and $829 million in state tax revenue.

How does tourism affect you? Well, with out the tax revenue supplied by tourism, each taxpaying Wisconsin household would face an average of $950 in additional taxes annually to maintain existing government services.

Overall, the state is up 7.33%, and Sheboygan County fared remarkably well.
Sheboygan is the eighth highest ranked county in the state in terms of expenditures by tourists. An estimated $345.12 million was spent in Sheboygan County by tourists in 2006. That is up 21% over the initially reported $283.48 figure of 2005.
But while Trumble brought good news, she is not the type to soak up laurels.
There are challenges. One is to get tourism destinations certified as "Green," or environmentally friendly destinations, another is to keep after the legislators so they will continue funding the Department at least at the same level as last year in these difficult financial times.

She pointed out that even if funding stays the same, it amounts to a cut since media buy prices will certainly go up. At this point in the budget process, tourism has not been cut, while many other departments are experiencing a 2% cut.

"Our legislators like our $1 billion return on investment," she said. The other challenge is the joint task of branding Wisconsin's tourism experience and writing a new business plan for the Department.

"A bill is coming down that would call for a study commission on branding," Trumble said. "I don't want to see a study," she said, "we know we need to develop a brand. Let's get going on it."

Always big on branding, Trumble explained that a brand is not a slogan or a jingle. A brand is identifying an experience the customer has come to expect from your product (in this case, your destination), and then making certain they realize that experience.
She stressed the importance of diversification and adapting tourism inventories to all four seasons, indicating that most often ATVs can use the same trails in the summer as snowmobiles use in the winter. But, she stressed, an area must be united on its inventory. It is counter-productive when people in the same area contact legislators on different sides of issues.

Top

Our members are the greatest. You support the Chamber's events and programs. You provide great insight into ways the Chamber can be more helpful to you. You find the networking opportunities and make certain other business members feel welcome and you certainly believe the collective efforts of the Chamber can and will help define the improvement and quality of business in the area. Thanks for attending the Chamber's Annual Dinner. It's been a great success. The decision to circulate the Annual Dinner venue between the three larger, member properties seems to be well received by the members. I also want to thank the members who responded to our electronic survey regarding interest in a health insurance program. This is moving through the Workforce Development Committee and should be to the Chamber Board by mid to late summer.
A Strategic Implementation meeting was held with the Board of Directors in late April to bring clarity to the various Committee goals and align those goals with the intent and purpose of the Strategic Plan. The results are being communicated to the various Committees for adaptation and will receive a final review at the May Chamber Board meeting. The Location Committee continues to scrutinize various aspects of a suitable future location. At this time, it is expected they may have a recommendation to the Board in the near future.

The Chamber is seeking to fill a Business Development Director position. This new position will be key to the development of the Business Assistance Center and working with several business development initiatives defined in our new plan. We Mean Business for Sheboygan County businesses and to aid others in getting started. We would like to have a placement as soon as possible. If your company needs assistance with some aspect of your business, via counseling, referrals, data or information please contact the Chamber. Our partnerships with other groups, the LTC counseling and entrepreneurship assistance, as well as SCORE counseling are all available to you.

Although it is mid-May, we have already seen 80+-degree weather and a full summer calendar with many great events await us. The Chamber is receiving a number of calls relative to the U.S. Senior Open and the big pond (Lake Michigan) is open for business.

With Sheboygan County tourism on the upswing, and our ranking moving up to #8 of the 72 counties, we are geared for another incredible summer.

Top

Top

We have used this space in the past to expound upon the virtues of being active in the County Chamber of Commerce and we have also used it to discuss the wonderful people who are a part of the organization.
We are going to do the latter again this month.

There are so many people who have contributed in so many way to our community and it just amazes me how many of them are a part of the Sheboygan County Chamber of Commerce.

One of them is Bob Harker at the Sheboygan County Historical Museum. When was the last time you visited the museum? That is one of the disheartening things for people like Bob who put their hearts and souls into their causes. You get discouraged because you begin to think that people don't care.

Bob battles through that by focusing on the people who do care. It is for them that he and his staff and long list of volunteers are working.

At the prodding of his Directors who are determined to see more people become excited about the History Museum, they have taken on Third Saturdays, a program that does an in depth investigation of a different aspect of Sheboygan County history and puts it on display in an exhibition that is shown only on the third Saturday of each month. Shows so far have been on ice harvesting, maritime history, baseball and native Americans. Upcoming are displays on 1945-1955, The Taylor House, local circus history, log house living and railroads.

Of course, in Bob's case, the foresight and progressive thinking of his Directors is something of a double-edged sword. It is truly wonderful, but carrying it off falls squarely on his shoulders. Don't misunderstand here, he doesn't mind a bit, he loves the challenge. And his knack for being a leader and a hands-on, roll-up-your-sleeves kind of worker is obvious from the results of Third Saturdays.

Do support this effort, it is a good one. And Bob's a good man.

Another of those "I'm fortunate to know" Chamber people is Dan Merkel from American Orthodontics. We're working on a project (okay, so it is a baseball project, if you must know), and I've had the opportunity to spend some time with him these past few weeks.

If American Orthodontics isn't at the top of the orthodontic appliances and dental office appliances game, it is very near to it. The automation and technology applied at the plant is mind-boggling. The efficiency is a marvel.
But there is something else going on over there and that is the camaraderie of the workers, the frame of mind at which they go about their work, and the way they interact with each other and with "the boss." You can sense a kind of trust, a "we're in this thing together" sort of a feeling.

In walking through the plant with Mr. Merkel, you just wouldn't know that he was "the boss." The smiles, the waves, the "hi, Dans" were really a joy to experience.

Yessiree, folks, the Chamber is moving forward with its programs and its missions and its goals every day, but it is the good people of the membership who really make it tick.

Top

Golf? Anyone?

Just a reminder that the Chamber staff will begin taking tee times for the Sept. 11 Chamber Golf outing on June 1 at 8 a.m. - and not a moment before.

Members interested in a tee time for a foursome can stop in, call (457-9491) in or fax (457-6269) their request beginning at 8 a.m.

Cost per person is $95 or $380 per foursome. Cost for 9-hole participants is $80 and cost for dinner only is $35. The outing will be held at The Bull at Pinehurst Farms. Tee times begin at 7 a.m. The Buffet Dinner is from 6 to 7 p.m. with awards and drawings commencing at 7 p.m.

Member companies that sponsored holes last year have been contacted to "re-up" for this year. Any member companies who did not sponsor a hole last year but are interested this year should call the Chamber office to get on a waiting list.
Members are asked to donate freely when the Ambassadors come around soliciting door prizes for the event. The door prizes, raffle prizes and auction items, when combined with the camaraderie of Chamber members all play a part in making the Chamber Golf Outing a great event.
----------
Good news for RV'ers who will be attending the US Senior Open. Golf Haven, directly across the street from Whistling Straits, will offer independent RV campsites during that week. Call 565-5322 for information.

Top

Member Close-Up

Fitness on Your Time
Is Anytime's Concept

Workin' out is hard to do. Sorry that excuse doesn't fly anymore.

Paraphrasing the Neil Sedaka song about breaking up may work for some who try to find time to stay fit, but not for the members of Anytime Fitness.

You don't have to rush over there before work, or after work, or between chasing the kids around. You can go anytime you want to.

That is because Anytime Fitness, located at 2918 South Business Drive in the Washington Square Mall, is open to its members 24-7. That's right, flash your card, walk in and go to work.

And if you need assistance or direction, Anytime Fitness is staffed from 9:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Friday, and 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday.

The staff of associates at Anytime Fitness takes pride in being friendly and knowledgeable, in the progress of the members with which they work, and also in the clean, non-intimidating atmosphere of the surroundings.

Anytime Fitness features state of the art cardio equipment such as treadmills, ellipticals, bikes, stairsteppers and a rowing machine. Equipment includes a full line of circuit weight machines as well as free weights.

Additional amenities include tanning, personalized workout programs, and showering facilities.

Included in the affordable rates is reciprocity to all other Anytime Fitness centers across the country.

Manager Greg Gold is anxious to answer your questions at 920-457-1700.

Top

Talk of the Town

Gellings Roofing & Siding is hosting its Annual Summer Party, June 23, from 4 P.M.- ?. Music, authentic Mexican buffet, an outdoor movie, open bar and beer truck, swimming, bon fire, and a vacation give away. Please RSVP to Gellings at 800-497-6643.

Maritime Insurance Group announces Board promotions: Wayne Sather has assumed the position as Chairman of the Board. Mike Mrdjenovich has been named President of Maritime Insurance Group. Mark Knepfel has assumed the position as Chief Operating Officer and Corporate Treasurer. Randy DeRoche has been named Executive Vice President and Corporate Secretary. Niel Larsen has assumed the title of Senior Vice President and Privacy Officer of the Corporation.

Derrick W. Hermann has been named Business Banking Officer for Community Bank & Trust's Plymouth location. Brenda Leonhardt has been named Customer Service Manager and Katia Kortchaguina has been named Assistant Vice President for Community Bank & Trust's Sheboygan corporate location. They have also recently presented City of Sheboygan Mayor Juan Perez with a check for $5,000 to help defray the expenses to celebrate the 40th Anniversary of the sister city relationship with Esslingen, Germany and to welcome an official delegation.

Sleep Inn & Suites of Sheboygan has again received the Choice Hotel International Gold Award.

Jim Pankow, Inc. has been awarded a Design/Build contract with Nemschoff Chairs in Sheboygan. Pankow has also been awarded a Design/Build Contract with Globe Lanes Bowling Alley Bar & Grill in Random Lake.

Lamers Bus Lines received three top honors.
1) 2007 Best of Wisconsin Meetings award.
2) Pupil Transportation Safety Program (PTSP) has approved Lamers as an approved carrier.
3) After a facility, terminal, and equipment (FTE) inspection conducted by Consolidated Safety Services, Inc., Lamers Bus Lines received a "one" rating. This rating indicates that Lamers is performing to the meticulous standards, and maintaining compliance with Department of Defense directives, FMCSR, and HazMat regulations.

Pine Haven Christian Home has recently hired Lynn Berg as the Director of Human Resources.

HSA Bank®, recently announced the promotion of Charlotte Kienbaum to Vice President - Operations Manager, Becky Seefeldt to Assistant Vice President - Marketing Director, Leah Miller to Business Relations Manager, and Karen Gollhardt to the position of Continuous Improvement Analyst.

The Schenck Small Business Center will be hosting a business improvement workshop on June 7 entitled “Record Retention: A Check-up on Your Business Records for Tax Purposes.” The seminar will be held at Pine Hills Country Club from 8:00 – 9:30 a.m. To register, visit www.schencksolutions.com/events or call Leanna at 920-803-3146.

The 2nd annual Alzheimer’s Association Sheboygan County Memory Walk® will be held on Saturday, September 22 at Sports Core in Kohler. Team leaders’ kick-off event scheduled for June 23 at Campus Life in Sheboygan. Advance registration for the walk is requested. Anyone interested in forming or participating on a walk team should call the Southeastern Wisconsin Chapter office at 414-479-8800.

Jan Scholke has joined Prairie Crossing as the director. Bringing an extensive nursing background to her new role, Scholke will oversee the operations of the new Pine Haven development.

Wholistic Health Center, LLC is expanding the Health Clinic to include a new 700 sq. ft. building addition to its current site. Andy Chappa Construction is the general contractor for the addition in conjunction with LJM Architects, Eric Jensen Architect.

The Alzheimer’s Association will present “Aging, Cognition, and Alzheimer’s Disease” on Friday, June 8, 2007 from 12-2pm, at Sheboygan Falls Community Bank & Trust. Registration, by June 1, is required as seating, please call 800-272-3900.

Chamber Members Salon Sase, Jomaji, & CityStreets Riverside are proud to host the 2nd Annual Fashion on the Lake. Friday, June 15, 6pm social hour, 7pm fashion show at How Divine. Cost is $30, limited seating please RSVP to 920-208-8501.

Wholistic Health Counseling Services, LLC 5934 South Business Drive, Sheboygan, announces the addition of Dr. Suzanne Grimm, M.D., Psychiatrist to its staff of mental health professionals.

Residents of Plymouth and nearby communities will be able to tour the brand new Aurora Health Center in Plymouth during an open house celebration slated from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. June 2. The health center is located at 2600 Kiley Way near the intersection of Highway 23 and Pleasant View Road.

Top

2007 Board of Directors & Officers

*Mary Brasseaux, Chamber President, St. Nicholas Hospital
Jeff Breit, The Sports Core
George Bruggenthies, Elkhart Lake’s Road America
Michael DeLany, Wells Fargo
Ed Felchner, ACUITY
David Gass, Rohde Dales
Patti Glaser-Martin, Plymouth Chamber of Commerce
Joseph Hilke, Human Resources Professional
*Jay Hogfeldt, Wind Mill Slatwall Products
*William Kerwin, Pemco, Inc.
Kristine Konen, Sargento Foods
Niel Larsen, Maritime Insurance Group
*Michael Leibham, O’Malley & Associates
*Mark Maurer, Heartland Business Bank
*James Maxon, M & I Marshall & Ilsley Bank
Paul Nemschoff, Nemschoff Chairs
Scott Niederjohn, Lakeland College
*Dee Olsen, Sheboygan County Chamber of Commerce
Susan Patterson, Al & Al’s Stein Haus
Lola Roeh, Elkhart Lake Chamber of Commerce
Dennis Roehrborn, Sargento Foods
Craig Roush, Rockline Industries
Steve Schmitt, Sheboygan Falls Chamber/Main Street
*Richard Scroggins, Harbor Centre BID, Scroggins Jewelers
Tom Slezewski, Random Lake Area Chamber of Commerce
David Sonnentag, Veolia Environmental Services
Bryon Zimmerman, ZDO
*Officers

Sheboygan County Chamber of Commerce Staff (920.457.9491)
Dee Olsen, Executive Director (ext 2-302)
Denny Moyer, Director of Membership (ext 2-304)
Diane Hackbarth, Information & Workforce Development Coordinator (ext 2-301)
Lisa Hartman, Business Manager (ext 2-303)
Tammy Dickmann-Flunker, Executive Assistant (ext 2-305)
Amanda Shaker, Co-Op Student

Top

Welcome This New Member

Help-U-Sell Harbor Centre
811 N. 8th Street, Sheboygan, WI 53081
920-459-7355
Kirstin Fillion
Help-U-Sell is a new real estate concept for Sheboygan! We work as consultants to help you sell your house with a la carte services or for a flat fee we will do everything! We save money for our clients. A member of the local MLS, we do offer buyer agency representation as well.

Top

First Friday Forums

The May Friday Forum had a panel speaking on the Industrial/Business Parks throughout the County of Sheboygan (Mel Blanke, Plymouth Industrial Development Corporation, Mayor Donald Pohlman, City of Plymouth; Jack Hoffmann, President, Village of Oostburg; Mayor Randy Meyer, City of Sheboygan Falls; Paulette Enders, Director of Planning and Development City of Sheboygan, Mayor Juan Perez, City of Sheboygan, and James Hulbert, Director, Planning & Resources Department, County of Sheboygan). The attendees heard about how some of the Parks have marketed themselves or plan to market themselves, how many acres are available at the current parks, and available amenities.

They each echoed the sentiment of the quality workforce and the quality of life the Sheboygan area has as well as the communication that takes place within each community to help make Sheboygan County successful. Although each of the speakers said that finding additional workforce for the “basic-type” jobs is difficult and there does not seem to be a clear cut way to get additional people to move into the area.

The speakers also commented on how cooperative the business community has been when working with the Industrial Parks. Also, the TIF/TID option is critically important because it helps keep the property prices lower and makes the land more attractive to potential clients. The speakers also mentioned they wish they would have purchased more land when it was available because, in some cases, it is getting very tight on area that is available.

The panel was asked if each seperate community were in competition with each other. All of the communities said that there is not competition between each other, just a collaborative effort to get the company to move to the area. The biggest competition the commmunities deal with is from other states.

The June First Friday Forum will have the State Budget as its focus.

Top

Photos

A CHANGE IN OWNERSHIP AND NAME occasioned a ribbon cutting ceremony at Harbor House, 2629 Indiana Avenue. Harbor House officials in the center are Executive Director Lisa Crane, Resident Assistant Nettie Carter, Team Leader Tameika McPeak (seated), Associate Director Kelly Martin and, cutting the ribbon, Community Outreach Director Connie Thimmig. They are joined by the Chamber Ambassadors.

CAMPUS DIRECTOR Monica Smith with a little help from persons who have reserved homes, friends, neighbors and the Sheboygan County Chamber of Commerce Ambassadors cuts the ribbon on Cedar Landing at Elkhart Lake, a unique new living option for men and women age 62 and over.

A GRAND RE-OPENING enabled guests to check out the 6,000 square foot addition to Lakeshore Fleet Maintenance and the new remodeling at the Interstate Plaza C-Store, both part of the Primary Interstate Plaza of 4024 Hwy. 42 North. Participating in the ribbon cutting along with the blue-coated Sheboygan County Chamber Ambassadors, are, gathered around the scissors from left, vice president Don Mathiebe, Karen Mathiebe, Businss Development Director Shawn Fischer, Carla Buboltz and President Doug Buboltz.

Top

June Chamber Events

June 1
Tee-times taken for September 11 golf outing at The Bull. Call 920.457.9491 at 8am to reserve a spot.

June 1
First Friday Forum
12-1:15pm
CityStreets Restaurant
$10
Topic: The State Budget

June 14
Coastal Connections Power Hour
7-8am or 12-1pm
Fountain Park Restaurant
$5 for Coastal Connections members, $15 for non-members
Topic: Where Are You Going and How Will You Get There?-Retirement

June 19
Business Connections
Art Imig Clothiers
5-7pm
795D Woodlake Rd, Kohler

Top