Future 15 Program

PLAYBILL FUTURE 15 & YOUNG PROFESSIONAL AWARDS

2019 - 2020 Future 15 & Young Professional Awards | 1

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During this time, we have taken steps to make sure everyone is comfortable and safe while adhering to social distancing practices. Many individuals made tonight possible by thinking creatively and rolling with the punches. With that, we are proud to welcome ya’ll to the virtual Future 15 & Young Professional Awards. Thank you for being here and we are excited to celebrate the outstanding talent in this community.

OPENING REMARKS Emcees: Emily Deem, Rachel Manek and Pete Petoniak | WLUK FOX 11 WELCOME Presenting sponsor: The Donald J. Schneider MBA Program at St. Norbert College Remarks by Brenda Busch, associate director of graduate recruitment, and Dr. Daniel Heiser, dean, The Donald J. Schneider MBA Program at St. Norbert College PRESENTATION OF FUTURE 15 & YOUNG PROFESSIONAL PRESENTATION OF YOUNG ENTREPRENEUR OF THE YEAR Presented by Jenna Krawze | deposit and ePayments operations supervisor | Nicolet National Bank PRESENTATION OF NEXT GENERATION BEST PLACE TO WORK Presented by Sarah McKee | finance operations & data integrity analyst | PAi Retirement Services PRESENTATION OF YOUNG PROFESSIONAL OF THE YEAR Presented by Taylor Groenhout | customer experience leader | KBX Logistics CLOSING REMARKS Mallory Nash, program manager, Current Young Professionals JUDGES Brenda Busch, St. Norbert College Rashad Cobb, Greater Green Bay Community Foundation Robyn Davis, Brown County United Way

Tony Ehrbar, American Tent & Sidewall Jeff Mirkes, Downtown Green Bay, Inc. Tony Oczus, The Libertine Dan Terrio, Capital Credit Union

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PRESENTING

GOLD

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1995

AWARD

Young Professional of the Year

Young Entrepreneur of the Year

SILVER

MEDIA

DESSERT

PRINT

DECOR

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Next Generation Best Place to Work

MALLORY NASH Current Young Professionals program manager, Greater Green Bay Chamber Welcome! What a year it has been! I sincerely appreciate each and every one of you who made this evening possible. Tonight, we celebrate the remarkable talent throughout Greater Green Bay. Honorees, we see you and we thank you for sharing your talents with this community and especially with Current Young Professionals. Congratulations on your well-deserving accomplishments!

LAURIE RADKE President and CEO, Greater Green Bay Chamber It is an honor to welcome you to Current’s Future 15 & Young Professional Awards. This is a very special night to recognize and celebrate the significant impact young professionals make on our community. We know the vision we have for Greater Green Bay’s future is significantly influenced by this generation. We are fortunate to have so many gifted, talented and engaged young professionals who call this area home. I hope the stories of their achievements, goals, passions and purpose resonate with you and inspire you in your own personal and professional development.

THANK YOU TO OUR SUSTAINING PARTNERS

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Golf, Tennis, Dining, Swim

(920) 964-2376 | czehms@greenbaycc.org | greenbaycountryclub.com

Current Young Professionals is a program of the Greater Green Bay Chamber that works to attract, engage, develop and retain young talent in Greater Green Bay. Current provides an opportunity for individuals to participate in professional development, social networking and community engagement opportunities within Greater Green Bay. Current created the young professional awards in 2007 as a way to honor those who advance our mission by profiling best practices that could be adopted by other local individuals and organizations. Additionally, Current sought to recognize area young professionals in our community who are achieving noteworthy accomplishments and contributing to the overall quality of life in Greater Green Bay. FUTURE 15 | PG. 7 Future 15 annually profiles 15 area young professionals who are growing and excelling in their respective fields. These individuals are currently influencing the growth, prosperity and quality of life in Greater Green Bay and demonstrate the ability to positively impact the area in the future through professional accomplishments and community involvement.

YOUNG PROFESSIONAL OF THE YEAR | PG. 7 Young Professional of the Year is selected from the pool of Future 15 recipients. This honor is presented to an individual with a demonstrated commitment to Greater Green Bay through civic and business involvement, especially during the past year. The individual will possess values consistent with those of Current, including an unwavering responsibility to the community through involvement with local organizations that elevate the overall quality of life in Greater Green Bay and our ability to attract and retain young talent.

YOUNG ENTREPRENEUR OF THE YEAR | PG. 27 This award is presented to a local business owner who exemplifies and holds true a commitment to Greater Green Bay through their demonstrated business entrepreneurial accomplishments. Consideration includes but goes beyond financial success by evaluating the individual’s positive impact on the community as an entrepreneur.

NEXT GENERATION BEST PLACE TO WORK | PG. 31 This award is presented to a business that demonstrates a commitment to the development of young professionals, adapts work-life friendly policies, values generational differences and institutes attraction and retention initiatives for young talent.

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FUTURE 15 RECIPIENT

Kassie Batchelor

senior associate athletic director for compliance & studentathlete welfare/senior woman’s administrator at the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay

K

assie Batchelor sees her passion for student-athlete welfare and collegiate athletics as a game-changer in the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay’s support of education, diversity and inclusion in the community as a whole.

“Our team at the university believes we are in a critical position to help this community take the next step for a more diverse and well-educated population,” Batchelor said.

“In the next five years for my own action plan to get to this vision, I hope my work through athletics can bring diversity and inclusion into the community by better engaging our student-athletes and by utilizing the university’s front porch (athletics) to help grow enrollment and belief in the value of higher education.”

Batchelor developed and implemented leadership programming for collegiate studentathletes through the Phoenix Leadership Initiative, including sensitivity training, diversity and inclusion, community engagement, life skills and preparation for life after sport, helping nearly 250 student-athletes better prepare for life after college. She also secured a $400,000 grant to create a comprehensive nutrition center for student-athletes when she recognized the existing center was not at the Division I level.

Her initiative in creating and building on successful programs reaches beyond the campus.

Her partnership with Inspire Sports and Green Bay Athletics created a platform to connect sports teams with individuals with special needs. She organizes monthly recess visits with athletes from all 16 teams in Recess with the Phoenix at Red Smith, to model healthy behavior and fitness on the playground. In addition, through Team IMPACT she has worked with three Phoenix teams to “draft” children facing life-threatening and chronic diseases to their rosters, giving them meaningful team experiences at the Division 1 level.

Her community service and leadership are part of her five-year action plan to continue to improve our community.

“I am so incredibly grateful to live and work in the Greater Green Bay community and am excited about the future and direction of where we are going,” she said.

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GROWING THE NEX T GENERATION OF LEADERS

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FUTURE 15 RECIPIENT

Joe Faulds human resources director, City of Green Bay

J

oe Faulds’ work on municipal issues may often be behind the scenes, but the results are very visible.

Along with Common Council approval, Faulds has drafted ordinances and implemented policies that positively affect our daily lives. That Pedal Pub traveling down the street? As assistant city attorney, Faulds drafted and advised the Common Council on the ordinance that established the rules and regulations for taverns and organizations that host those bicycle gatherings. Your dinner on a sidewalk café during the warm summer months? Faulds’ same collaborative work with multiple departments and the Common Council helped pass an ordinance that allows restaurants and taverns to serve food and beverages in the right way.

As HR director, Faulds oversees the day-to-day operations of the department and advises the mayor and City Council on personnel matters.

“I’m excited about the initiative we are taking to improve the municipality’s and community’s diversity and inclusion efforts,” he said. “We are implementing employee resource groups and hiring a diversity and inclusion coordinator to do our part in making the area a welcoming community.”

Investing in employees and coaching and mentoring a team were takeaways from early mentoring in his career. Faulds’ role in HR allows that investment daily and at a high level with policies that provide for work-life balance, giving honest feedback and providing training and resources for employees to succeed, all internal goals for his work.

“I truly believe that investing in our employees is a direct investment in improving our service to the community,” he said.

Faulds serves on the board of Wello, a well-being network focused on the complex factors that affect quality of life in Brown County. He also is a member of the Brown County United Way Emerging Leaders Society, primarily working with elementary school students on character traits such as communication, kindness, fairness, teamwork and self-control.

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FUTURE 15 RECIPIENT

Mario Gonzalez

communications and marketing manager, Wello

M

ario Gonzalez is a storyteller.

His own story includes work as a play-by-play announcer in Alaska, a television reporter and anchor in Indiana and a radio reporter in Wisconsin.

Now as communications and marketing manager for Wello, he is responsible for telling the story of its action-oriented, community effort to foster a culture of health and well-being for all in Greater Green Bay. His work has included leading a rebranding effort of the organization’s new name and mission through various communication and marketing efforts.

At a personal level, this summer he will begin his fourth season as a buddy for the Miracle League of Green Bay, which provides kids with mental or physical challenges the opportunity to play baseball. In this and in his work mentoring Elmore Elementary School fourth- and fifth-graders in character development, he finds his own character is strengthened while giving back.

Ongoing service with the Brown County United Way Emerging Leaders Society and Program Investment Council, the Boys & Girls Club of Greater Green Bay’s Teens 2 Work Program, the Green Bay Packers Teen Empowerment event and professional opportunities with the Open Streets planning committee, Frenzy on the Fox planning committee and Danz Elementary wellness committee, has created a broad range of opportunity to support Greater Green Bay. As Gonzalez looks to the next five years of the community’s development, he sees much more potential for him to contribute.

“A challenge we will continue to face is attracting and retaining talent,” he said. “A solution is to build a community that prioritizes quality of life by addressing social connectedness and our built environment. Through my role, I’m able to serve as a small part in tackling those issues.”

Gonzalez is a strong believer in including those most impacted by a problem in developing solutions, and he values building authentic relationships to bring people to the table who may not otherwise be heard.

“We must create a culture where all feel welcomed and believe they can thrive,” he said.

“That’s the community I want to help build over the next five years for my family and the Greater Green Bay community.”

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FUTURE 15 RECIPIENT

Claudia E. Guzmán

director of student life, University of Wisconsin-Green Bay

C

laudia E. Guzmán appreciates what her role as director of student life offers both her and the students with whom she works.

Among the most rewarding aspects of her job is being immersed in a learning environment each day, with every interaction offering a developmental opportunity for students growing and exploring their interests.

“I am always amazed by how much these conversations inspire and motivate me to reflect more on my own goals and progress,” she said.

Guzmán’s progress is impressive, and her goals indicate there’s more to come.

Guzmán is a member of the Leadership Green Bay Class of 2020 and joined the Brown County United Way board of directors in January. She supports the YWCA, Girl Scouts of the Northwestern Great Lakes, Women’s Fund of Greater Green Bay and Brown County United Way, and has established an endowment fund to support Latino women and girls in her hometown of Milwaukee.

In 2018, Guzmán was named one of Madison365.com’s Top 32 Most Powerful Latinos in Wisconsin and that same year received the UW System Board of Regents Diversity Award.

Other honors have included Academic Staff of the Year and Outstanding Small Program of the Year for the division of student affairs for her work at the University of WisconsinMilwaukee. In 2017, she was selected to present at the National Conference on Race and Ethnicity in Higher Education.

Her five-year action plan for moving the community forward includes increasing college access for local high school graduates, ensuring a positive, supportive experience at UW-Green Bay, and in particular supporting first-generation, low-income and underrepresented students.

“I hope to help all our students to become more informed, open-minded and engaged citizens who care about their communities, can engage in dialogue across difference and value and cultivate authentic cross-cultural relationships,” she said.

Guzmán moved to Green Bay in early 2018 and says she’s committed to continuing to learn about community needs while supporting the work of nonprofits that are improving lives and advocating for justice and opportunity.

“Green Bay is an up-and-coming city, and I want to play a role in helping to ensure that it is a vibrant and inclusive place for people of all ages to thrive,” she said.

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Congratulations

2019-2020

AWARD RECIPIENTS IMP ER I A L S UP P L IE S.C OM

HE ADQ UART ERED IN GREEN BAY

FUTURE 15 RECIPIENT

Beth Hudak

community engagement manager, House of Hope Green Bay

B

eth Hudak shows up.

It’s a life motto that she lives every day in both her personal and professional commitment to the community.

“Showing up is one of the most important, and sometimes one of the hardest, things that you can do,” she said.

Hudak almost makes it look easy. She focuses on creating a connected community, lifting up its most vulnerable members and helping everyone feel a sense of belonging.

Her impact can be found at House of Hope Green Bay, supporting young parents and children experiencing homelessness. Hudak works to bring the community to the shelter by establishing partnerships with local organizations, such as hospitals and community colleges, to bring services to her clients. She successfully advocated for the passage of an Assembly Bill to allow 17-year-olds experiencing homelessness to access emergency shelter throughout the state and, in her tenure at House of Hope, has helped to more than double her organization’s facility capacity and increase services offered to the community.

The successes have come through relationship building, strategic communication and a passion for the community.

“Competition does not bring communities together, nor does it fix problems,” she said. “Change starts when we come together and lift each other up.”

Her vision for the Green Bay area is strongly optimistic.

“Green Bay is on a precipice,” she said. “It is ready to become a place of compassion, connection and community: an open, welcoming attracter of young talent, much-needed diversity and civicminded individuals.”

Her own contributions include serving on the Brown County Plan Commission, League of Women Voters, Current Young Professionals leadership team and professional development committee, and the Adolescent Parenting Coalition. She sees her role as also helping others give back.

“Residents of our community genuinely want to give back and feel a sense of belonging, but they don’t always know how,” she said. “Through leadership and mentoring, I help others use their skills and passion to make a positive impact in Greater Green Bay.” Her role in all of this is rooted in that life motto.

“I will make mistakes,” she said. “I will pursue positivity. I will practice kindness. I will show up.”

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FUTURE 15 RECIPIENT

Ben Joniaux

chief of staff, University of WisconsinGreen Bay

B

en Joniaux is Northeast Wisconsin through and through.

While a student at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, Joniaux ran a successful legislative campaign and became the incoming legislator’s first employee. The opportunity positioned him to support work in Northeast Wisconsin, including securing an increase in the state budget for the BE GREAT: Graduate program of the Boys & Girls Club of Greater Green Bay. Joniaux was staff lead on other signature legislation that directed resources here, including a disability workforce bill and legislation that gave Brown County permanent access to Renard Island for recreation. Two years later, he joined the University of WisconsinGreen Bay as chief of staff and government relations director, cementing his dedication to this region.

His work here has included a new select university mission to be more outward-facing and the return of $250,000 in tribal gaming funds to UW-Green Bay’s First Nations Program.

He also led the effort to introduce three new branch communities to the university.

In the meantime, he has found his niche in personal support of the community. His interest in history and heritage led him to the Kewaunee County Historical Society where he presented on Cuisine in Immigrant Walloon Belgian Culture in an effort to help keep the history alive. He serves as president of the Kewaunee County Literacy Society, supporting adults in financial, health and English literacy. And as the first elected Grand Knight of the St. Louis Parish Knights of Columbus, he leads the organization in service, fellowship and membership. He also serves on the parish finance committee and has provided his expertise on the parish mission planning committee.

Firmly rooted here, he is considering the role he can play in key issues, primarily recruiting and retaining young talent and elevating first-and second-generation American families into the middle class, while bringing more arts and culture to Green Bay’s downtown.

“This is our time. The University of Wisconsin-Green Bay and the Greater Northeast Wisconsin region are positioned for transformative leadership in a big way,” said Joniaux.

“I’m just excited to be here and know my hard work will contribute to something greater than myself.”

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FUTURE 15 RECIPIENT

Sarah Krier

manager of digital marketing, Breakthrough

S

arah Krier wants to see Green Bay make room at the table.

She believes there is space here for everyone to not only grow but to incite change.

“So many brilliant ideas are lost when we fail to ask for partners that think differently than we do,” she said. “I want people to find their voices.”

Krier is doing her part at several levels.

As manager of digital marketing at Breakthrough, Krier considers herself an intermediary between the content experts and the average reader. She has launched the company’s content marketing program and built an industry-leading research library on its blog to educate and communicate with thousands of readers each month.

“I work with some of the brightest economists, researchers and thought leaders in our industry to bring clarity and simplicity to complex ideas,” she said.

Krier serves as chair of the Young Professionals Advisory Council fostering a collective vision for the committee and inspiring action among leaders. By working closely with local elected officials, Krier and this group are bringing visibility to projects across the community and advocating for the interests of young professionals in policy and economic development.

She also serves on the board of directors for Literacy Green Bay, a local nonprofit that offers English language learning and workforce development support to immigrants and families in the Greater Green Bay community. She graduated from Leadership Green Bay in 2019, supporting a project to raise funds for a summer camp that serves children experiencing grief and loss, and is a fifth-grade girls basketball coach for Notre Dame Academy’s Future Tritons program.

As a 200-hour registered yoga instructor, she excels at supporting people as they explore their physical, spiritual and mental wellness journey.

And her commitment to health and wellness extends to the workplace, where she founded and leads the internal wellness committee. The group renovated their corporate exercise space, introduced onsite fitness classes, provides wellness education resources and raises more than $5,000 annually in a fundraising walk for Shoes that Fit, buying new sneakers for students at Fort Howard and Howe Elementary Schools.

Her five-year action plan includes creating opportunities and accessibility to young professionals looking to interface with local business leaders, elected officials, events and investments.

“If you want to attract and retain talent, it’s time to ask that talent what they want – and it’s not pingpong tables and beer in the office,” she said. “My dream is to establish a scholarship fund that pays for professional mentorship, small business loans and event/networking admission for young people who need it so we can ensure our community is poised to achieve its most vibrant possibilities.”

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FUTURE 15 RECIPIENT

Kathryn Kroll

marketing manager, Downtown Green Bay, Inc.

K

athryn Kroll loves being the “face of fun” for Downtown Green Bay, Inc.

From overseeing all communications and developing creative ways to increase sponsorships and contributions, to coordinating district-wide promotions and building partnerships that strengthen impact, Kroll keeps the fun focused on the city’s downtown. She is the media liaison promoting more than 75 annual events and helped redesign key marketing materials to make them more effective, userfriendly and cost-efficient.

As a member of Downtown Green Bay Rotary, Kroll recently put its motto of Service Above Self into action with a life-changing trip to India to vaccinate children against polio. She finds similar satisfaction in her work as high school volleyball coach, using sports to teach about teamwork, leadership, strength in adversity and confidence – all while having fun.

“It’s not about the wins and losses but molding young minds and teaching kids skills that will take them further in life than sports can,” she said.

She credits her own mentor, her high school marketing teacher and DECA advisor Mark Bonetti, for leading her to the career that has made a difference in the community.

And Kroll considers Downtown Green Bay the heart and soul of that community.

“When a city’s downtown prospers, the whole city prospers,” she said. “Downtown development is essential to attracting and retaining top talent to our great city.”

Kroll sees future potential in demolishing Baylake City Center for a “Central Park” in the city’s downtown that would offer green space and a small amphitheater surrounded by attractions and restaurants. Vacant storefronts could become pop-ups selling unique items, with creators selling directly to the buyers in a hands-on experience that benefits both.

“These goals may seem more like lofty dreams than a five-year action plan,” she said.

“But it is the world I live in every day, and I will not quit until these goals become our city’s reality!”

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FUTURE 15 RECIPIENT

Samantha Maass

event & volunteer coordinator, On Broadway

I

f you’ve noticed a Pocket Park on Broadway, spent any time at the two-day Better Block Project demonstration or enjoyed various events in the Broadway District, you can thank Samantha Maass.

In just a year and a half with On Broadway, Maass and her team have received state and local recognition, hosted more than 60 annual events and engaged in more than 2,500 hours of volunteer work, including a 10-week free live music series, a wine walk, new volunteer programs and a new downtown website and guides.

Through the Better Block Project, she helped to showcase the potential for a pedestrian- and bicycle- focused community by providing pedestrian and bicycle amenities, games, green space, public art and more in a one block section in the Broadway District.

It earned Wisconsin Main Street’s 2018 Best Public-Private Partnership in Downtown Revitalization and 2018 Mayor’s Beautification awards. Her coordination of the Pocket Park installation turned unused space into a spot for rest, relaxation, outdoor meetings and an open area workspace.

Beyond the workplace, she has led a 15-person committee to coordinate a benefit for her cousin, diagnosed with Stage 4 cancer. The three-month project raised a six-figure amount to cover medical expenses and create Jordan’s Waves of Love, a nonprofit in her cousin’s name that helps to serve needs of community members facing childhood cancer.

Maass also volunteers at St. Peter Lutheran Church and has helped as an alumnus with her former high school dance team’s Kids’ Camp. And when she walks in the community, she takes the time to pick up trash in another effort to improve the community experience for us all.

Her goal is creating experiences, connecting the community and making neighborhoods better for everyone. New responsibilities include volunteer recruitment and retention, leading her to create opportunities to educate people on what’s happening in their neighborhoods and match their interests with volunteer opportunities.

She knows volunteering has been shown to positively impact people’s lives and is creating a volunteer program so that her community members can experience what it feels like to give back while doing something they enjoy.

“I want to personally improve our district by taking steps to help people feel more connected and engaged with their community,” she said.

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Eager. Committed. Passionate.

Innovative designs.

Community partnerships.

Active volunteering.

A focused effort on developing connections is how ISG strives to enhance the communities where its employee owners work and live.

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Architecture + Engineering + Environmental + Planning

Ken Mika

FUTURE 15 RECIPIENT

project engineer, Geosyntec Consultants, Inc.

K

en Mika’s title of project engineer for Geosyntec may belie the range of responsibility and experience he has in the field of civil and environmental engineering.

Mika has the ability to build and maintain cooperative teaming for the various organizations with which he is involved.

Mika’s practice excellence has been recognized by his colleagues. This recent award is one of many accolades Mika has already received in his career, including the American Society of Civil Engineers Wisconsin Distinguished Service Award, the UW-Platteville College of EMS Alumni Chapter Outstanding Alumni Award, STEM Forward Young Engineer of the Year, the ASCE Edmund Friedman Young Engineer Award for Professional Achievement and ASCE New Faces of Civil Engineering.

Mika opened Geosyntec’s Green Bay office where he leads business development, recruitment and branding in Northeastern Wisconsin. Since the office opened, he continues to grow the team to meet local client needs.

Through work with the ASCE Mentor Match program and the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay’s ASCE Student Chapter, Mika has mentored others in his field through encouragement and leading by example. Currently he mentors a student on career opportunities and is an advisor to the UWGreen Bay ASCE Student Chapter members.

“Both of these experiences are invigorating because I get great pleasure from helping individuals help themselves find their paths,” said Mika.

Mika is currently co-chairing the Infrastructure Report Card for the ASCE Wisconsin Section, providing information on the condition and performance of Wisconsin’s infrastructure. Additionally, he is the ASCE Region 3 Governor, on the ASCE Committee on Preparing the Future Civil Engineer and the Western Dredging Association Midwest Chapter vice president. He also has held various other positions with ASCE, WEDA and other groups.

And Mika is ready for more.

“My five-year action plan is to improve our community by getting involved in the community,” he said.

He serves on the Greater Green Bay Chamber’s Young Professional Advisory Council, engaging those in the STEM community along with elected officials on programming opportunities.

“With my connections in the national and international STEM communities, I hope to highlight the opportunities available in Green Bay, to hopefully draw individuals here,” he said.

In July 2019, Mika co-organized an international civil engineering conference in Green Bay. In March, Mika co-organized an international dredging conference in Green Bay to highlight the Fox River and the Port of Green Bay 2019 - 2020 Future 15 & Young Professional Awards | 19

FUTURE 15 RECIPIENT

Heather Milbach

community relations manager, Schreiber Foods

H

eather Milbach’s role at Schreiber Foods puts her in a unique position to impact the community. But her personal contributions have been equally significant.

As community relations manager, she is behind new corporate social responsibility technology that has improved processes and launched new programming for the company’s 6,000 partners in the United States with a global roll-out planned across 11 countries.

With that, Milbach has developed a new granting process to improve stakeholder experience and ensure consistency and efficiency across 14 locations. The process measures impact beyond dollars donated and forms partnerships to set the company up as a key player in developing solutions and driving change.

At a personal level, Milbach serves on Howe Community Resource Center’s board of directors, Current Young Professionals community partnership committee, Women’s Fund of Greater Green Bay Power of the Purse committee and is a member of the Service League of Green Bay. She volunteers with Junior Achievement, Scholarships Inc., Encompass, Father Allouez Catholic School and Resurrection Parish.

“Everyone has the capability and responsibility to make a difference,” she said.

Milbach helps organize fundraisers for nonprofits as part of Schreiber’s CommIT team, this year raising more than $40,000. She also serves as the company’s Brown County United Way campaign chair and on the Schreiber Salvation Army, Einstein Expo and Encompass Big Event teams. In addition, she is a member of the company’s business resource groups and co-founded genS, Schreiber’s intergenerational BRG. She works to make community support not just a professional experience but a family affair.

“Although my kids are young, I seek ways to get them involved,” she said. “Because it isn’t always easy to find opportunities for preschoolers, I’m currently working with my parish to coordinate ongoing service projects for families with the goal to scale beyond our parish.”

Her role at Schreiber offers the opportunity to shape community engagement and do more than just award grants.

“My goal is to focus on strategic collective impact through identifying key partnerships and becoming a tactical player in working towards community solutions,” she said. “It’s also about holding our organization accountable for measuring impact and ensuring our efforts drive change.”

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FUTURE 15 RECIPIENT

Briana Peters

manager, Hawkins Ash CPAs

A

quick learner and a motivated team member, Briana Peters has a drive that charted the course for her own advancement.

Peters has been unafraid to tackle new roles and responsibilities, rapidly rising through the ranks at the regional accounting firm she joined just more than six years ago.

She immediately began putting in the hours and learning the ropes in order to move from associate to audit manager, working primarily on nonprofit organizations, employee benefit plans and small businesses.

In 2018, she was named director of training, a new position responsible for developing a firm-wide training program for new hires and interns. She took on the role at the same time her family was expanding, giving her a full plate both personally and professionally.

In 2019, she developed the firm’s intern training program, establishing consistent training and promotion of the firm’s culture.

One year ago, when the firm made an acquisition in the Milwaukee area, Peters oversaw training for all employees on software, policies and procedures.

“December was the one-year anniversary of the acquisition and we have not lost any employees in that office due to the acquisition,” she said. “This is a huge accomplishment, showing that my leadership efforts and change to our onboarding and training processes are paying off and making a big difference in the corporate culture.”

After serving as a Big for Big Brothers Big Sisters of Northeast Wisconsin for the past five years, she ramped up her involvement by joining the board of directors and executive committee in 2019 and serving as treasurer in 2020. Her work outside the firm also has included coaching and serving as treasurer and on the board of directors of the Pulaski Youth Soccer Club. She joined the Leadership Green Bay curriculum committee after graduating from the program in 2017 and volunteers for several local nonprofits including the Green Bay Botanical Garden, CP, The Salvation Army and St. John the Baptist Church in Howard.

Peters is committed to involvement and always looking for ways to continue giving back.

“We have so many great nonprofits in the area that I feel it is important to support them as much as I can,” she said.

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FUTURE 15 RECIPIENT

Kristina Shelton

program director, YWCA Greater Green Bay

I

f you know Kristina Shelton as program director at YWCA Greater Green Bay or as a member of the Green Bay Area Public School Board, you only have part of the picture.

Shelton’s experience includes teaching kindergarten-through-12th-grade health and physical education in the Philadelphia Public School District and at a Colorado-based public charter school. She has a master’s of science degree in health promotion management from Marymount University in Virginia and teaching experience as a full-time lecturer at Northern Virginia Community College. In her previous role as field manager for Action for Healthy Kids, a Chicago-based national nonprofit, Shelton managed a national grants program that awarded more than 1,000 school-based grants. While at Action for Healthy Kids, she facilitated the Urban School Wellness Coalition and initiated and led the diversity leadership team.

Today, Shelton is responsible for planning, implementing, overseeing and evaluating programs, events, projects and offerings for the YWCA, putting her skills, experience and passion to work serving the diverse needs of the Greater Green Bay community.

Elected to the school board in 2019, Shelton’s community contributions are wide ranging.

She has worked with the district to award grants for initiatives that support physical activity, nutrition and school breakfast, helping to host community breakfast and wellness events. Her work with the local Black Lives United group raised money for local backpack drives and drove monthly community conversations and annual outreach.

And living the motto, “We all do better when empowered women empower women,” she said. She served as Northeast regional coordinator for Women’s March Wisconsin, helping to host a community event and rally in January 2018 attended by more than 400 people.

“Equitable public institutions require active participation, authentic relationships and the building of collective power across communities with a common interest,” she said. “I am interested in building and supporting a learning community to grow knowledge and confidence in building social movements.”

That includes opportunities for inclusive, culturally-appropriate civic engagement.

“Nurturing equitable, intersectional opportunities for leadership and advocacy for our most marginalized community members is one of the most critical aspects of leading Green Bay into the next generation,” she said.

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FUTURE 15 RECIPIENT

Madeline C. Szymanski philanthropy advisor, CP; president & founder, Lucky 7 Dog Rescue

M

adeline C. Szymanski’s volunteer-run nonprofit has changed the lives of canines across the country. She has grown the team to more than 200 volunteers, and with them, rescued 1,000 dogs nationwide, educating others about animal welfare and connecting with rescue groups throughout Northeast Wisconsin; Houston, Texas; and Tennessee.

But it’s the leadership opportunities, internships and philanthropic advice she provides the humans involved in her work that really inspires her.

“I want to grow our leadership program through Lucky 7 and continue to help grow leaders in our community,” she said.

Szymanski has heard from volunteers who have grown through involvement with Lucky 7, having the courage to go back to school, change careers or start their own business or nonprofit. Szymanski has helped three other organizations launch and hopes to continue to share her expertise and encourage people to make a positive impact on the community.

“In the next five years, it is my hope that I can encourage others to find their voice and speak out about the subjects that matter to them, find their tribe and make a positive impact on Green Bay,” she said.

Szymanski’s impact has included oversight of the “Dream Without Limits” mural project by Beau Thomas on Broadway and serving as an exploratory leader at her own alma mater, Aldo Leopold Community School, encouraging kids to ask difficult questions and learn how they can make a difference.

“When we work together and encourage one another, a ripple effect happens,” she said. “If you smile at someone walking by, they are more likely to smile at a stranger that same day.

That same concept applies here.”

She volunteers 40-50 hours a week with Lucky 7, mentoring a leadership team, working with volunteers and offering growth opportunities to interns. As a philanthropy advisor with CP, she connects organizations focused on providing resources for individuals with disabilities.

All aspects of the work help her develop personally and professionally and give back to animals, people and the community.

“I believe in honesty, inclusion and kindness, and I believe that those traits in turn improve our community,” she said.

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FUTURE 15 RECIPIENT

Tynisha D. Willingham assistant vice president of academic affairs, St. Norbert College

H

er career started at an elementary school in rural south Texas. Later, Baltimore City Public Schools while pursuing a doctorate degree in language and literacy education. Now, Tynisha D. Willingham’s passion for education has brought her to St. Norbert College where she serves as assistant vice president of academic affairs.

Willingham’s mark on the college can be found all along her path from faculty member to co-chair of the education discipline to her current role. St. Norbert’s special education certification for students who graduate in four years is a result of her partnership with the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh. And her work to revise materials and build new processes allow students to access and complete forms online.

Her impact on the community overall has come as a mix of personal and professional accomplishments. Some are in the education realm: serving as co-chair for the African Heritage Emerging Student Leaders Institute, for example, and as a member of the Notre Dame Academy board of education.

Recognition for her work has included the Leonard Ledvina Award for Excellence in Teaching, the West De Pere School District Phantom Award for commitment to public education and diversity, the Bishop Robert F. Morneau Community Service Award and acknowledgment as one of the Women to Know for YOU Magazine.

Willingham was initiated into Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Inc. in 2019. She was in the first St. Norbert College cohort of women sent to the Higher Education Resource Services Institute, and she was the first employee to participate in the Center for Exceptional Leadership’s emerging leaders’ cohort.

Willingham credits both professional and personal mentors for the coaching that has impacted her growth. But it’s the role of serving as a mentor to others that has been uniquely rewarding.

“I have learned that as a mentor, it is not about having the answers but asking good questions that will help your mentee grow,” she said. “What I continue to learn is that strong mentor/ mentee interactions mean I grow, too.”

Willingham’s vision for the future is centered on education and includes addressing the diversity of our schools and economic disparities in our community.

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YOUNG ENTREPRENEUR OF THE YEAR FINALIST

Tyler Arkens

owner, Green Bay Floral & Greenhouse

T

yler Arkens notes that on any given day, Green Bay Floral & Greenhouse delivers sentiments for joyous occasions like weddings, births and declarations of love, as well as solemn occasions like funerals, apologies or illnesses.

That’s why the business culture is rooted in “delivering happiness.”

“That’s heavy stuff. It’s important stuff,” he said. “And the trust that needs to occur when someone asks you to deliver the sentiments of life is critical. We work to build that trust again and again.”

Arkens took over the florist in 2017 and has brought fresh life to it, in part out of necessity: The growth of the online floral industry has taken personal relationships out of the act of sending flowers, and Green Bay Floral & Greenhouse stands out for its meaningful engagement of clients and blooming customer service.

“This place used to be a hub in the community, and we wanted to rekindle that through a commitment to our customer experience,” he said.

A revamped online presence and an overhaul of the retail space at 1263 Shawano Avenue were the first steps. Arkens focused on unique partnerships, including Small Business Smashups, in which the team works with local shops to create unique products — maybe a donut bouquet with Uncle Mike’s Bakery, a Bro-Quet with Badger State Brewing and Maplewood Meats or a cupcake arrangement with The Cupcake Couture.

“As small businesses focused on our specific markets, talents, products and services, we absolutely need each other to survive,” he said. “If we can’t rely on others to help pick each other up and to benchmark and to idea share and to provide valuable insight as well as communication, we’ll never reach our potential.”

While long-term goals include additional brands that pair well with floral, the team is engaging new customers with a Mobile Floral Unit and Design Center and has reworked the growing space to better engage with customers and teach them about the work.

“It’s our hope that we’ve elevated our game to a point where people notice and to where they begin to care more. Because we do,” Arkens said.

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YOUNG ENTREPRENEUR OF THE YEAR FINALIST

DJ Kast & Mark Moran co-owners, Shift Visuals

I

f you’ve spent any time with nonprofit organizations or attended benefits in this community, you’ve likely shed a tear, shared a smile or been inspired by one of DJ Kast and Mark Moran’s creations.

The co-owners of Shift Visuals commercial photography and video production company have a broad portfolio, and it includes generous support of local causes, using their talent to bring those local causes to life.

In the past five years, Kast and Moran have donated nearly $250,000 in services and produced about 60 videos for local nonprofits. These services and a nonprofit discount are provided in an industry with limited budgets and sometimes-challenging stories to tell.

“The community would not be what it is without all the people working tirelessly to serve those in need, and we are extremely honored to do our small part in helping generate awareness for these causes,” they said.

No strangers to working tirelessly, Kast and Moran are a two-man show, by choice and with intention. Their dedication to quality is demonstrated through the personal relationships established with clients and the ability to work closely with them on all aspects of production.

Clients have ranged from the community’s largest companies to its smallest charities, and work has included a national television commercial and a project for Carnegie Hall’s Musical Explorers Program. They’ve received 15 ADDY Awards through the American Advertising Federation.

Shift Visuals is entering new markets, expanding to ongoing monthly production agreements and adding 10 new clients in the past year while retaining existing clients. They pride themselves on their responsiveness and intend to maintain the personal involvement from conception to final product in each of their endeavors.

In the next five years, Shift Visuals will likely move from North Broadway into a larger space, but Kast and Moran don’t ever see the principles the business was built upon changing.

“We never want to be a machine, mindlessly churning out content,” they said. “Our dedication to authentic, quality work and a personal connection with our clients is the defining element of our business that we hang our hat on.”

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YOUNG ENTREPRENEUR OF THE YEAR FINALIST

Taylor Pierce owner, The Cupcake Couture

S

ix months after graduating college with a dream of owning her own business, Taylor Pierce acquired The Cupcake Couture in 2016.

At age 23, she immediately developed new ways to delight customers and build community through the cupcakery. And she hasn’t stopped since.

“We go above and beyond to create happiness for our customers and make sure they leave with a smile,” Pierce said. “We want our customers to feel like family when they come in and to know that we care.”

When Pierce took over the business, she immediately began building a more inviting experience with a new website, rearranged the shop, added multiple new product types and baked goods made from scratch including her Great Grandma’s award-winning cheesecake.

A display freezer offers grab ‘n go products, gluten-, egg- and dairy-free options along with dog treats. And that was just the beginning. A move two years later added 800 square feet of space to make the storefront more family-oriented and created opportunities to cater large events and host her own events. The shop offers games, books and a mini-kitchen for the little customers.

The Cupcake Couture earned 2018, 2019 and 2020 Best of the Wedding accolades from The Knot and Wedding Wire, and Martha Stewart USA TODAY’s 2017 Best Bites award that recognized its delectable cakeballs, lending some national exposure to what locals already know: Tasty treats of all kinds can be found inside the doors of 310 Main Avenue in De Pere. Pierce stays connected to the community by donating products and time to more than 30 non-profits and school programs in the area. Pierce finds it rewarding to give back to the organizations that help grow the community and become stronger.

Growth has brought an ability to accommodate a variety of events and customize orders.

Amidst that growth, Pierce has established partnerships with other entrepreneurs for craft nights and mash-up events in which other local products are sold, boosting everyone’s customer base.

Pierce continues to develop new plans for the business, including expansion of glutenand dairy-free products and additional options for customers with varying food allergies.

Merchandise like do-it-yourself cake and cookie boxes are on the horizon, as are larger product lines to allow for more wholesale options with other businesses. She’s also considering the opening of a second storefront to create more employments opportunities for the community and grow the customer base.

2019 - 2020 Future 15 & Young Professional Awards | 29

Congratulations Future 15 and Young Professionals.

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St. Norbert College congratulates Future 15 honoree and SNC faculty member

Tynisha Willingham Assistant Vice President for Academic Affairs and Associate Professor of Teacher Education

NEXT GENERATION BEST PLACE TO WORK

Associated Bank

A

ssociated Bank recognizes and values that the company has colleagues from five generations interacting in its workplace.

How the company helps to bridge the generational gap and ensure all colleagues’ ideas and opinions are valued and heard takes many forms.

One of these is its instructor-led “Generations in the Workplace” course. This gives colleagues an understanding of core values and workplace characteristics for each generation. They keep the topic front and center with access to several eBooks and audio files on the topic in its eLearning Library.

To further encourage generational collaboration and broaden perspectives, the company’s Colleague Resource Groups launched a formal mentor program in Green Bay this year. They currently have 83 participants of all ages and tenure sharing expertise and experience across the company. Six Colleague Resource Groups support young professionals, LGBTQ+, veterans, women and multicultural colleagues, bringing together individuals with common interests or backgrounds in a supportive environment.

Since attracting and retaining young talent is critically important to the company, it created its Young Professionals Colleague Resource Group focused on developing leadership competencies, gaining self-awareness and growing professionally through networking, exposure to senior and executive management and hands-on community impact activities.

The group’s goal is to promote personal engagement, practical skillsets and relationship building to help attract, develop and retain the future leaders of the company. In addition, the company celebrates its colleagues’ desire to give back and empower them to do so through flexible working arrangements and volunteer time off.

Associated Bank also offers special recognition and rewards for outstanding service to nonprofit organizations to further engage and motivate colleagues to join in its culture of giving.

Associated Bank also recognizes the importance of work-life balance for all generations, and it offers multiple programs to support that. In addition to traditional health and retirement benefits, they promote employee well-being and demonstrate their colleagues’ value by providing some more unusual benefits. These include backup care (access to five subsidized back-up days of child or adult senior care each year), Care to Share (a time-off donation bank for catastrophic illness of a colleague, their child or spouse in the event an employee has exhausted all available leave) and family planning assistance (up to $2,500 for adoption or fertility treatment expenses).

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NEXT GENERATION BEST PLACE TO WORK

Howard-Suamico School District

T

he Howard-Suamico School District believes health and wellness means the ability to live life fully with vitality and meaning – both at school and at home.

That’s why the district is conscious of a healthy work-life balance that takes into consideration physical, emotional, intellectual, spiritual, interpersonal, environmental and social wellness.

To that end, the district provides a variety of benefits including a total compensation philosophy that provides employee choice related to their income, financial education and input on the compensation structures within the district. Employees receive the option of using paid time off to grant flexible time away from work or a monetary payout for unused days. In this fashion, the choice resides with the employee in selecting the option most valuable for their families related to work-life balance: time, money or a combination of the two. Wellness initiatives also include onsite, after-work health classes, programming and services to promote self-care.

The Howard-Suamico School District is mindful of how its K-12 educational environment creates a unique opportunity for individuals from multiple generations to collaborate on behalf of children in the community. Some of this relational connection occurs organically through developed systems and structures – including professional learning communities and student teacher experience.

For example, in the school setting, teacher teams connect through professional learning communities (PLC). A PLC is a group of educators who meet regularly to focus on what they want students to learn, how they will know when each student has learned it, and how they will respond when a student is experiencing difficulty in learning. A PLC is intended to create a culture of collaboration through the recognition that educators must work together to positively impact student outcomes. These teacher teams are often comprised of educators from different generations with varying degrees of experience and unique teaching philosophies. Regardless, these communities create an opportunity to focus on results and bridge the generational gap in order to meet the needs of our students.

Another example of relational connection that occurs organically is the student-teacher experience. As education majors enter their final semesters in college, they are partnered with a seasoned teacher in the district who becomes their mentor.

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NEXT GENERATION BEST PLACE TO WORK

ISG

I

SG’s “all in” mantra is not just a term tied to age or tenure—it is a core mentality of the firm’s culture that demonstrates how it operates on a daily basis to drive results.

One of the greatest advancements in the firm’s evolution was its recent transition to a 100% employee stock ownership plan (ESOP). This was a natural transition for ISG to make as ESOPs not only offer monetary benefits and strengthens the firm’s stability, but aligns with the “all in” mentality.

New hires are welcomed with a StrengthsFinder 2.0 book and assessment to help individuals reflect and leverage their strengths to help achieve professional and personal growth initiatives. This paves the way for the strengths-based structure to propel employees forward and build upon their strengths as they are exposed to various areas within the firm.

ISG emphasizes accountability and implemented a “Starting Five” business model based on individual strengths and skillsets. In this approach, the top five professionals with the strongest skillsets are custom selected to lead project efforts based on what value they can bring to the specific effort, versus a more traditional approach of selecting a team based on title, years of experience or age. This open and strengths-based culture allows for the natural collaboration between team members, resulting in a fresh approach, new ideas and forward-thinking solutions. ISG’s open concept office environment fosters this methodology by offering collaboration space designed to encourage cross-disciplinary interaction and mentorship.

ISG is dedicated to the advancement of the industry and maintains a direct presence to attract and retain top talent. This starts with engaging and guiding the next generation of industry professionals through high school mentorship programs and collegiate internships. Throughout the firm’s 10 Midwest offices, ISG employs 30+ interns each year, working with individuals to help them define career goals, identify skillsets and recognize their passions. Understanding that introducing career possibilities at a young age can be more impactful as it helps shape skillsets and career tracks. ISG is active in a number of pre-K to 12 and collegiate externships that help individuals define career goals, identify skillsets and recognize passions.

To maintain agility and flexibility, ISG looks beyond surface-level benefits and utilizes virtual reality labs, college sponsorships, internal referral program, virtual desktops, direct IM/ Skype and other virtual platforms that allow employees the flexibility to engage anywhere, anytime— going beyond traditional job posting recruitment styles and career booths.

2019 - 2020 Future 15 & Young Professional Awards | 33

NEXT GENERATION BEST PLACE TO WORK

Nicolet National Bank

N

icolet National Bank banks on core values that guide every action and decision it makes. Just two of these, Be Real and Be Responsive, are reflected in formal policies and are part of allowing for a healthy work-life balance.

In addition to providing a robust and comprehensive benefits package, Nicolet National Bank is willing to adapt to an individual employee’s needs.

To that end, they offer an adoption assistance program. They offer a generous 401(k) plan and employee stock purchase plan. They also offer personal leave if an employee anticipates needing time off work and does not qualify for protected leave, with no paid time off available. In addition, thanks to ongoing partnerships with local medical providers, Nicolet offers its associates access to onsite health coaching and an employee assistance program to promote both the physical and mental health of employees AND their families.

And yet, while the company has numerous policies to assist with work-life policies, they say it’s the culture that supports and shapes work-life balance. They go “beyond policy” to support employees and provide a work environment that is in harmony with staff’s personal lives, encouraging employees to get out into the community, meet new people and volunteer during the workday.

Cultivating staff’s talents is key to culture as well. The company embraces generational diversity, and bridges generational gaps, by celebrating the differences in each individual at every stage of their career.

This includes recognizing there is an opportunity for each generation to learn from the other including through mentorships and internship programs. In 2019, 13 mentors and mentees paired up to develop goals and an action plan regarding the development of a specific skillset or career path. The company also provides educational assistance, Current membership and what it terms “grassroots” ways of cultivating talent. One specific example: Conducting “stay interviews” with current employees to learn what keeps them working there. Results of these interviews provided the framework to implement change; a year later, retention remained steady and employees were happy, citing increased communication, better teamwork and team bonding. The stay interview process asked for honest feedback, and managers not only accepted it, but embraced and acted on it.

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NEXT GENERATION BEST PLACE TO WORK

OSMS - Orthopedic & Sports Medicine Specialists

O

SMS – Orthopedic & Sports Medicine Specialists recognizes that “life happens.” And that’s exactly what they say to their employees when life throws curveballs and they need unplanned time off due to a sick child or a sudden family emergency.

That is just one small example of how the company lives a “culture first” approach to business. OSMS’s CEO makes a concerted effort to take care of employees and culture versus simply focusing on the bottom line. The company’s CEO knows the company will only be successful if team members are treated well and shown appreciation. This is why the CEO, physicians, physician-owners and leadership team aim to foster a positive culture in everything they do. This takes many forms including the company’s bonus bones and peerto-peer recognition activity feed via the company’s employee engagement platform, Fusion.

Along with recognition, employees are given bonus bones, reward points that can convert to paid time off, gift cards, company logo apparel and more. Employees receive a set allowance of bonus bones per month to recognize their peers, and they are able to save up their own bonus bones to spend on rewards.

Another way the company addresses generational differences is through their intranet platform called Fusion. While Fusion includes typical intranet assets, it also integrates live company-wide updates, instant messaging capabilities, a calendar of events and a peer-topeer recognition activity feed. These features allow employees to engage and interact and includes several social-media-type aspects, such as liking and commenting on news or event items. Fusion is friendly for all ages. The platform was selected because it is intuitive and easy to use.

Engagement is encouraged through the company’s eight cross generational committees, all of which are led by employees versus leadership team members. Anybody can serve on these committees, no matter what department an individual belongs to or what age they are.

Committees include the wellness committee, reward and recognition committee and culture committee which holds fundamental forums that focus on core behaviors and how to better team members’ work and personal lives. And because the company understands that certain benefits and initiatives attract different age groups, they offer benefits such as no waiting period for using paid time off and annual performance compensation. They also offer perks such as free popcorn and Door County Coffee in their breakroom every day, monthly treats, caterings, grill outs and luncheons.

2019 - 2020 Future 15 & Young Professional Awards | 35

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St. Norbert College

congratulates Future 15 honoree

Heather Milbach ’09, MBA ’19 and Young Entrepreneur finalist

Tyler Arkens ’07 Your alma mater is proud of you!

38 | 2019 - 2020 Future 15 & Young Professional Awards