Business Leader Fall 2015

FALL 2015

Own your retirem e  Local employee stock ownership

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♦ September 28, 2015

COVER STORY

FALL 2015

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Realityworks provides ESOP for workers.

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Tim Auth, Bryan Symes and Tim Runge profiled.

Catie.Carlson@ecpc.com

Editor ~ Liam.Marlaire@ecpc.com 715-833-9215 or 800-236-7077

T

his quarter’s edition of Business Leader includes the 2015 Honor Roll of Business.

The annual promotion celebrates all participating companies by listing the number of years they’ve been in business. Those that are more than 100 years old are welcome, as are those in their infancy and those that fall in between. It’s an opportunity for all to showcase their presence in the Chippewa Valley.

This year’s ages in the Honor Roll range from 157 years to 9. Connell’s Family Orchard’s roots date back to 1858.

To put that in perspective, it’s the same year that the first Macy’s opened as a dry goods store in New York City.

Sales came to $11.06 on its first day.

COMMUNITY PROFILES

Graphic Design & Layout ~ John Balgaard _________ Sales Director ~ Kathy.Hayden@ecpc.com ________________ Magazine Advertising & Distribution Coordinator ~

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FEATURE STORY

➤ Guest Columns ������������������������ Pages 9 & 11 ➤ Book Review ���������������������������������� Page 14 ➤ Honor Roll of Business �������������������� Page 21 ➤ Business Directory �������������������������� Page 27 ➤ Briefcase ��������������������������������������� Page 28 ➤ Crossword ������������������������������������� Page 32 ➤ Calendar ��������������������������������������� Page 33 ➤ By The Numbers ����������������������������� Page 38

Focus on Energy influence abounds.

For more information or to be included in the next Honor Roll of Business, contact magazine coordinator Catie Carlson at 715-830-5823 or catie.carlson@ecpc.com.

Startups, institutions This installment of Business Leader recognizes the longevity and success of several area companies and touts current efforts to further entrepreneurism. A healthy business climate strikes a balance with new ideas and established businesses. The Chippewa Valley seems to be enjoying success on both fronts right now.

As always, thanks go out to the advertisers and readers for making this publication possible.

Published four times per year by the Leader-Telegram advertising department. Copyright 2015 Eau Claire Press Co., 701 S. Farwell St., Eau Claire, WI 54701. All rights reserved. 800-236-7077. www.leadertelegram.com

COVER STORY

Own your retirement Staff photo

by Marisa Wojcik Realityworks general accountant Vicki Gindt, left, and marketing automation specialist Emily Kuhn both participate in the Eau Claire company's employee stock ownership plan, or ESOP.

By Eric Lindquist, Leader-Telegram staff

A

ll companies want workers to feel like they have a stake in their employer’s success.

But only a handful of westcentral Wisconsin companies put their money where their mouths are by making that stake financial and not just psychological.

Those companies, including Realityworks in Eau Claire, Short Elliott Hendrickson in Chippewa Falls and D&S Manufacturing in Black River Falls, make an owner out of all employees through an employee stock ownership plan, or ESOP. Overall, the National Center for Employee Ownership estimates there are roughly 7,000 ESOPs covering about 13.5 million employees across the country.

An ESOP is an employee benefit plan that is qualified by the Internal Revenue Service, resulting in favorable tax treatment for both participants and employers. The arrangement calls for employers to give workers an ownership interest in the firm by depositing shares of the company’s stock into a retirement account for each participant. The workers don’t pay anything for those shares, but they can rise in value along with the company.

➤ Realityworks Two of the guiding principles of ESOPs are emblazoned on a plaque on the wall at Realityworks in the form of quotes from co-founders Rick and Mary Jurmain at the time they announced the plan to employees.

“One of our strong values has always been that the people who do the work deserve the rewards. You do the work, so you deserve the rewards,” Rick Jurmain told employees.

Mary Jurmain added, “Realityworks’ future has always been in your hands. Now you will be rewarded for continuing its success.”

Company president Timm Boettcher said the ESOP ownership model fits perfectly into Realityworks’ all-for-one, one-forall culture in which employees always have been encouraged to adopt an ownership mentality.

“The goal is to make sure the people driving and building the Boettcher company are getting to reap some of the benefits as well,” Boettcher said.

The company surprised employees by launching

COVER STORY

the ESOP in 2012. Some attended the secretive announcement meeting feeling uneasy amid speculation the gathering could be to announce the sale of the company. The mood changed dramatically when the real purpose was revealed.

“It was a pretty awesome feeling that the owners of the company could basically gift part of their ownership to us,” said Vicki Gindt, an accountant who has worked at the firm for 18 years.

The arrangement came about when the Jurmains were looking for an exit strategy — a way to pull away from the company they created and still leave their baby in good hands.

Who better to leave in charge, they thought, than the people who make the company successful every day.

“They saw an ESOP as the best way to protect the mission and the vision and the jobs,” said Mary Stenvig, chief financial officer for Realityworks and a board member for the 200-member Wisconsin chapter of The ESOP Association.

Stenvig “It’s a great way to pass the torch.”

See page 6

Staff photo by Marisa Wojcik A poster at Realityworks highlights the company's ESOP.

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COVER STORY

from Page 5 Indeed, about two-thirds of ESOPs are used to provide a market for the shares of departing owners of profitable, closely held companies, according to the NCEO. The Jurmains, who were sole owners before launching the ESOP, remain majority shareholders and continue to serve on the board of directors of Realityworks, which makes experiential learning tools including a RealCare Baby infant simulator, a welding simulator and several other career preparation educational products.

It takes about 18 months for employees to be eligible for stock allocation, so at this point about 50 of the company’s 65 employees are vested in the ESOP. The value of their shares has risen to about $500,000, which is on top of their normal 401(k) retirement plans that include a company matching contribution, Boettcher said.

“It’s one more egg you have in your basket,” Emily Kuhn, a marketing automation specialist who has worked for the company for two years, said of the ESOP’s role in her retirement plan.

Since Realityworks adopted the ESOP model, employee engagement has definitely increased, Stenvig said.

“I feel employees look at the business differently now and look at how they can affect the results,” she said.

As a result, Boettcher said, managers talk about the long-term decisions they make and employees understand the reasoning behind those decisions.

Employees also feel free to make suggestions or even propose new product ideas.

“It’s not just a job anymore,” Boettcher said.

“You’re coming to work, but also coming to something you have an ownership stake in.”

Kuhn called the firm’s recent ESOP meeting incredibly motivating.

“There’s a strong sense that what you do matters and that the harder you work, the more you are rewarded,” Kuhn said.

➤ D&S Manufacturing When D&S Manufacturing launched its initial ESOP about two decades ago, it handed ownership of about a third of the company to employees.

The plan was successful enough that two years ago when company president Mike Dougherty, the son of late founder Jim Dougherty, was looking at succession planning he decided to expand the ESOP, making employees owners of 60 percent of the custom metal fabrication company.

“It’s always been a very community-focused company, and he wanted to do something for the

r o h h a

p m n q

h

p t

t o

C f Contributed photo An employee welds at D&S Manufacturing in Black River Falls.

The company has more than 45 welders certified through the American Welders Society.

E

employees so they would have something for retirement,” said John Barkley, vice president and general manager. “Now people really have an opportunity to become owners and control their own destiny to some extent. Everybody has some skin in the game.”

Along with making employees majority owners, managers opened up D&S’s finances so workers could understand how what they do affects the company’s bottom line as well as their own, Barkley said.

The company actively seeks input on corporate decisions, including designating an employee committee to review all large capital equipment purchases. As a reminder of their stake, the firm posts the purchase price on all machines.

Barkley said the company used to have the normal top-down structure but has drastically changed its culture since adopting the ESOP model, where nearly all of the firm’s 160 employees have a vested ownership interest.

“Having that kind of atmosphere here, there’s no question it’s been a plus,” Barkley said. “And from a competitive standpoint, 160 minds are better than three.”

While a small percentage of employees might

rather just do their job and not have to worry about the ownership aspect, Barkley said surveys show the vast majority have bought in and realize the ESOP gives them a chance to have a meaningful say in the direction of the company as well as providing a valuable financial benefit.

Barkley said he believes the ESOP has improved productivity, noting that D&S had 70 employees and $7 million in annual sales when it introduced the ESOP and now has more than doubled its workforce and more than quadrupled its sales.

“With that kind of growth, you can imagine what has happened to the stock,” he said.

That, in turn, has helped with employee retention.

“We don’t lose a lot of people, and I think the ESOP is a big part of that,” Barkley said. “But more than that, it’s how we treat people.”

➤ SEH In the engineering world, companies typically have one of three ownership models: publicly owned firms, partnerships or, in rare cases, ESOPs. SEH, which is based in St. Paul and has an office in Chippewa Falls, went the ESOP route 20 years ago and has found it to be an excellent recruiting and retention tool.

“It happens all the time that people come here because of the ESOP,” said Mark Broses, vice president and regional leader

for the firm’s Wisconsin, Michigan and Indiana operations. “It makes it very easy to recruit from the big publicly owned firms or tightly held firms because everybody wants to own a piece of the rock.”

And it’s no wonder, said Broses, who joined the firm a few months before the ESOP started, Broses because the company stock he has acquired through the program has grown into one of the larger components of his retirement nest egg.

“It’s great,” he said. “Even when we hit bad economic times, our company has managed to fund our ESOP fully every year.”

During the life of the plan, SEH has grown from less than 200 employees in seven offices to 750 people in 30 offices in nine states.

Broses said company officials work hard to promote the ownership mentality among employees, encouraging them to do everything they can to help the firm improve its profits, of which they will earn a share.

See page 8

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“People understand that they are owners,” he said, noting that they are treated accordingly by being granted full access to regular updates on the company’s financial operations.

Those hundreds of owners exercise their authority through the ballot box, electing representatives to a board of directors, including a CEO, that runs the company.

They also vote for ESOP trustees. Broses has served terms on both those panels over the years.

“It’s a heck of a responsibility,” he said, “but it makes you feel good in the sense that people trust you to make the right decisions.”

Contact: 715-833-9209, eric.lindquist@ecpc. com, @ealscoop on Twitter

For more information about ESOPs, go to the National Center for Employee Ownership website at nceo.org.

Obstacles d n a adversity Controlling emotions, objectivity critical to decision-making “Adversity has the effect of drawing out strengths and qualities of a man that would have lain dormant in its absence.”

Herodotus,

W

CEO SPEAK

Jeff West is the owner of Bear Down (beardowninc. com), an executive and executive team coaching company based in Eau Claire. He was a founder and CEO of Silicon Logic Engineering. He also currently chairs the local chapter of TEC (The Executive Committee) and Business Partners, a forum for small-business leaders.

West can be reached at 715-559-2195 or jeffatbeardown@gmail.com.

Greek philosopher

By Jeff West

ith the recent gyrations in the stock market, it seemed like the opportune time to discuss how we handle adversity and the obstacles that pop up in life.

The Chinese proverb, “May you live in interesting times,” certainly fits the world we find ourselves in today. In the past 15 years we’ve lived through two economic bubbles and their meltdowns, have had multibillion-dollar businesses pop up that didn’t even exist 10 years ago while older longtime industries disappear, world strife, civil unrest, etc. etc.

As the leader of your business you have every right for all of these factors to cause uneasiness, fear, discouragement and anger, right? Not necessarily. We can choose to react emotionally, get down in the dumps and lose our perspective or we can learn to see that outward appearances can be deceiving.

John D. Rockefeller started his career as a bookkeeper.

What helped propel him to the heights of the industrial world was his ability to remain calm and objective during even the most chaotic times. It was once said of him, “He was inclined to see the opportunity in every disaster.” Rudyard Kipling wrote in his famous poem: “If you can keep your head when all about you are losing theirs ... you’ll be a man, my son.” All of this points to the idea that there is opportunity within every obstacle if we choose to see it that way.

Throughout our lives we will come across obstacles both fair and unfair. If you really learn to pay attention you’ll notice what matters most is not the obstacle itself but how we see and react to it. Our reactions will determine how successful we will be in overcoming

them. One person’s crisis is another person’s opportunity.

If you read up on the prevailing wisdom of how to handle obstacles and adversity you’ll see things like: ➤ Imagine the worst it can be then take the first step in making it better. ➤ Remind yourself that adversity is part of life. ➤ Build your internal and external resources. ➤ Learn from others who have dealt with obstacles.

While all of these are fine ideas, I believe the best thing you can do is to study your own perceptions. In other words, we can choose to lose our heads during difficult times or choose not to.

The people I’ve known who handle obstacles best are those who have taught themselves they have a choice about how they respond to any situation. Creating discipline in our perceptions allows us to clearly see the opportunity in an obstacle and leads us toward the correct course of action without the typical panic and fear.

Like sharpening a knife, we can sharpen our ability to control and channel our emotional reaction to any situation. Like any other learned behavior, though, it takes practice. Many people either can’t or won’t work on this, condemning themselves to being slaves to impulses and instincts they’ve never questioned.

Even if it leads us in a direction we never anticipated, every obstacle has an opportunity within it and the opportunity for us to learn and grow. Seen this way, we can turn adversity into a new opportunity.

So what should we focus on in order to learn how to tackle even the biggest obstacles?

See page 10 September 28, 2015 ♦

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from Page 9

First, work hard to be as objective about a situation as crowd and immediately be consumed by all the negative you can. It’s amazing how fast our minds can paint our perceptions we can have about an adverse situation. Teach biases all over a situation that we then take as “the real yourself to take a cool and unflappable look at things world.” If you have trouble finding the objectivity you’d before jumping to conclusions. like, involve Fourth, focus others. The on what you more opinions can control and and points of don’t worry view you can about the things "No one opinion will be 100 percent right, get the better. No you have no control one opinion will be over. By taking the but looking at an obstacle from many 100 percent right, but steps necessary to scale different viewpoints is a great looking at an obstacle from an obstacle, you begin to many different viewpoints is feel in control of the situation way to find the common a great way to find the common again. By leaving alone the things denominator." denominator. you have no control over, you save Second, learn to control your your energy for what you can do. thoughts. Every emotion we have is And finally, always strive to keep based on a thought we had first. When things in perspective. When we learn to we learn to control our thoughts, we control perceive things differently we teach ourselves our emotions. When we control our emotions, to stop seeing the obstacle in front of us as a we begin to calm down and look at things more problem. objectively.

Find the opportunity within the obstacle and see Third, look for the positives. It’s easy to follow the how things begin to change in your life and your business.

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♦ September 28, 2015

Guest Column

Investing

on ta sprint

Bill Hilgedick, CFP, is a financial adviser with Edward Jones in Eau Claire.

He can be reached at 715834-5052 or bill.hilgedick@ edwardjones.com.

Long-term strategies more akin to a marathon

By Bill Hilgedick Edward Jones

I

nvestors sometimes may get frustrated with their investments because those investments don’t seem to produce quick results.

Perhaps that’s understandable in our fast-paced society, in which we’ve grown accustomed to instant gratification.

But investing is, by nature, a long-term activity. If you look at it in terms of an athletic event, it’s not a sprint, in which you must pull out all the stops to quickly get where you’re going. Instead, it’s more like the 26.2-mile race known as a marathon.

And as an investor, you can learn a few things from marathoners, such as: Preparation. No one gets up one day and is ready to run a marathon. Marathon runners train for months, and even years. As an investor, you, too, need to prepare yourself for the “long run.” How? By learning as much as you can about different asset classes, types of risk and all the other factors associated with investing.

Patience. Marathoners know they have a long haul in front of them, so they typically create a “game plan” — one that takes into account such factors as their physical condition, the weather on race day and the characteristics of the course, such as whether it’s hilly or flat. Investors should also create a strategy — one that encompasses their goals and ways of working toward them — and stick to this strategy.

Perseverance. Marathoners may deal with injuries, dehydration and other setbacks, either while training or during the actual race. But as long as they’re able to keep

going, they do so. As an investor, you too will face obstacles, such as market downturns. But as long as you continue investing and don’t head to the “sidelines,” you have a good chance of making progress toward your goals.

Vision. Marathoners study the course they’re on, so they know what’s ahead — and where they’re going. As an investor, you also need a vision of what lies in front of you — the number of years until your retirement, the type of retirement lifestyle you anticipate, what sort of legacy you plan to leave, and so on. Your vision will help drive your investment decisions.

Proper coaching. Not all marathoners have individual coaches, but many have at least gone to clinics or joined running clubs so they could learn more about the various aspects of this grueling event. As an investor, you can certainly benefit from guidance or “coaching” in the form of a financial professional — someone who knows your individual needs, goals and risk tolerance, and who has the experience to make recommendations that are appropriate for your situation.

Every marathoner is familiar with the difficulties of the challenge and the satisfaction of finishing the race. As an investor, you also will be tested many times. Furthermore, you’ll never really cross the “finish line” because you’ll always have goals toward which you’ll be working. Yet, by emulating the traits of successful marathoners, you can continue working toward your objectives — and perhaps you’ll avoid the blisters too.

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COMMUNITY PROFILE Tim Auth, owner of Auth Consulting & Associates, started the business 20 years ago. He previously worked at Cedar Corp. in Menomonie.

From farm to drafting table Auth Consulting & Associates marks 20 years in business

By Pamela Powers, Menomonie News Bureau

MENOMONIE

G

rowing up on an Eau Galle dairy farm taught Tim Auth the value of working hard.

“I bring a good work effort to the business and put in the hours and do what is required to get the work done,” said Auth, owner of Auth Consulting & Associates in Menomonie.

Auth, 55, of Durand, started the business in May 1995. He always had the goal of starting his own business to be in charge of his own destiny.

“The reward is seeing what you’ve done and your clients are satisfied and appreciate your services,” said Auth. He and his wife, Becky, have four grown children and five grandchildren.

“We want to make our clients successful in the businesses they do.

“They like to be involved with the process to make that successful. We are very responsive to clients’ needs.”

Auth Consulting & Associates provides planning, design, engineering and surveying for all types of projects. Auth has two surveying divisions – S&N Land Surveying in Hudson and Nelsen Land Surveying out of the Menomonie office.

After graduating from Durand High School in 1978, Auth went to UW-Madison and earned a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering. He worked for Wisconsin Power and Light and then for Goodrich Lumber Co. in Durand.

“If you have the drive and want to learn other facets of From 1987 to 1995, he was an electrical engineer and project manager for Cedar Corp. in Menomonie. He tended the business, he is very supportive,” Adams said.

Over the years, technology has continuously changed, to focus on industrial design and decided to branch off and with advancements such as computer-aided design, Auth start his own company. said. A challenge facing companies will be finding quality “We do quite a bit of electrical engineering for dairy people who understand how to use the technologies farms,” Auth said. “That is kind of back to my roots. We effectively. are into the nuts and bolts of To celebrate its 20th anniversary, America. The purchases you use, Auth rolled out a new website and food you eat and products that are quarterly newsletter to provide manufactured. clients with current information on “We work in engineering that Out of the Office ____ the company. affects all facets of life.”

Tim Auth enjoys traveling. He has In his free time, Auth enjoys The company also has worked been to Belize and went dove hunting in Argentina. He also has traveled to all 48 hunting deer and turkey as well as with schools, nursing homes lower states. “I want to go to Iceland," he fishing – at times flying to remote and industrial clients. It has seen said. "It has always interested me. I like areas of Canada. healthy growth over the past 20 going where it is cooler.”

Auth also enjoys horseback riding, a Dale and Cindy Quilling of years, starting with two employees pursuit he's practiced for about a decade.

Menomonie have known Auth and and expanding to a staff of 25.

“It's peaceful," he said. "You get to see his wife for more than 20 years Dale Adams, a designer and the world in a different way." and said they were not surprised project manager at Auth, has been

by Auth’s success. with the company 15 years.

“What I like about Tim is he is “He is focused, articulate and goal-driven,” Cindy Quilling said. an old-fashioned business man,” “Combine that with hard-working and passionate about his Adams said. “He understands family. He grew up on a work, and you get success.” dairy farm. I grew up the same way working in a field.”

Contact: 715-556-9018, pamela.powers@ecpc.com, Auth is very fair too, Adams said. Adams started in @MenomonieBureau on Twitter heating and air conditioning design, but Auth doesn’t limit his employees.

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Book Review

Try, try again Choppy memoir worth a read despite drawbacks

By Terri Schlichenmeyer The Bookworm

I

f at first you don’t succeed ...

Was there ever a more irritating thing to say to a kid who cried, “I can’t”? Try, try again. Give it another whirl. Quitters never win and anything worth doing is worth doing well – all advice you hated hearing as a child but that you took with you to adulthood. And, as you’ll see in the new book “Gold Standard,” so did Kym Gold.

As the third in a set of triplets born to parents who were expecting just one baby, Gold fought for everything she got from the moment she entered the world. When her parents split, moved on and started new families, she felt lost. She hated creating a scene, but she longed to be seen as an individual, rather than a triplet or one of what seemed like too many kids.

Though she was close to her sisters as teenagers, Gold said the girls were often at odds as they tried to find their own niches. Each of them The Bookworm is Terri had strengths that the Schlichenmeyer. Terri has been reading since she others didn’t have. Gold, was 3 years old and never the organizer of the trio, goes anywhere without a realized she had a flair for book. She lives on a hill in design and fashion, and Wisconsin with two dogs and 12,000 books. she hated hearing “no.”

Those personality assets served her well when, as a teen, she discovered that 14 |

♦ September 28, 2015

Title: “Gold Standard: How to Rock the World and Run an Empire.”

Author: Kym Gold.

Pages: 208.

Publisher: Skyhorse Publishing (c.2015).

certain clothing designers near her Malibu, Calif., home would sell to her their damaged-anddefective T-shirts for a pittance. Gold mended and personalized the shirts, then sold them for a tidy profit at a small booth on the beach. She named her new business and set about learning how to run it, then entered design school and tasted other careers.

During this time, Gold also got married, but she’d lost sight of a rule she’d learned from male family members in her childhood: Never rely on a man. Gold’s husband cheated on her so she divorced him and she married someone else not long afterward.

From there, Gold’s road to fame and True Religion jeans was a rocky one – she started and lost several clothing labels over the years, but she learned from each experience. She raised a family, and capital, for more endeavors. And in the aftermath of losing her second husband and her business on the same day, Gold found her resolve ...

So what?

Those were two words that came to my mind over and over. So the author started a series of businesses. So she flitted from idea to idea. So she made and lost scads of money. Stand in line. So what?

And then it hit me: try, try again. “Gold Standard” is the epitomical story of that old saying, and Gold has the tenacity of a terrier. Her life, as depicted in this book, is like one of those bop bags from childhood: She just kept bouncing back up.

So what? So motivational.

Keep in mind that this book is rough. It’s choppy, rambling, filled with childhood pity-partying and name-dropping, and it begs for a bit more formality – but overlook that, and you’ll find inspiration. For that alone, “Gold Standard” is worth a try.

Effort targets startups Ignite Wisconsin launched to boost entrepreneurs Leader-Telegram staff

The nonprofit Innovation Foundation of Western Wisconsin for several years has been working to help earlystage companies grow.

A challenge, according to Mike Finger, executive director of the organization, has been a lack of new businesses.

“There simply

“

based OEM Fabricators; and Shannon Zimmerman, CEO of River Falls-based Sajan.

A kickoff ceremony for the effort was slated for Wednesday, Oct. 7. Jack Kaiser of Cigan Properties was scheduled to talk about Banbury Place, a multiuse development measuring nearly 2

Simply stated: Wisconsin needs more entrepreneurs.

“

Mike Finger, executive director of the Innovation Foundation of Western Wisconsin

weren’t enough active startups and prospective entrepreneurs for the services we were providing,” Finger said, “and discussion with other economic development organizations in the region showed us many were wrestling Finger with the same problem.”

In response to that issue, Ignite Wisconsin, an IFWW program, recently was launched. Its website — ignitewisconsin.org — features video testimonials from entrepreneurs.

Subjects on the site include Mark Tyler, president of Woodville

million square feet for which he is owner and president.

“It will be a great fit for prospective entrepreneurs who are worried about taking on the challenge of starting a new business,“ Finger said. “Think about the challenge of taking on Banbury Place.”

Finger has started five businesses during his career. The primary ventures were two management and consulting companies based out of the Twin Cities. After 15 years of growing the ventures to 50 employees, he successfully sold the businesses.

Finger, a longtime Woodville resident and volunteer firefighter, has been the IFWW’s

executive director for about 2½ years. He said Ignite Wisconsin’s handson efforts will concentrate on western Wisconsin, but its message will have a statewide audience.

“Simply stated: Wisconsin needs more entrepreneurs,” he said.

“So we designed our new effort to focus on encouraging prospective entrepreneurs in Wisconsin move from a place where they dream about owning a business to a place where they take active steps to make it happen.”

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Heat and cool your institution affordably ask us for a quote

786118 9-28-15

1710 TRUAX BLVD | EAU CLAIRE | 715-839-0707 September 28, 2015 ♦

| 15

COMMUNITY PROFILE

Local attorney specializes in representing professional baseball players

By Courtney Kueppers, Leader-Telegram staff

A

s a kid growing up in River Falls, Bryan Symes loved volunteering at the Kansas City Chiefs’ training camp.

Being in the locker room with the players ultimately inspired Symes’ current career endeavor as a certified sports agent.

Symes, 37, received his law degree from Chicago-Kent College of Law and now works at the Ruder Ware law firm in Eau Claire, where his duties include representing 13 minor league baseball players, five of whom signed Major League Baseball contracts this summer.

Although the players are the ones on the field, Symes said he shares their dreams of making it big and hopes to provide necessary guidance for his clients.

“Honestly it’s a dream come true for me too,” he said. “It’s really gratifying and incredibly exciting to be in the room and on the phone with the player and their family when they find out that they are going to become a professional athlete.”

As an agent Symes helps players understand the draft process, negotiate contracts, know realistic figures to sign for and get in gear for the season.

However, Symes hopes he provides more than just that for his players and their families.

“I’m a Christian and I wanted to bring some integrity and an alternative to players looking for that kind of an agent,” he said.

Symes first broke into the baseball world a few years back and spent a couple of years “pounding the pavement” and growing his network of scouts, personnel at clubs, trainers and coaches, he said.

Now he’s optimistic that his work will snowball and continue to grow.

Symes said while this kind of work is not commonplace in

just a phone call away” anytime he needs him.

Symes said it’s those Midwest “sensibilities and values“ his clients often compliment.

Since representing his clients demands a great deal of time, Symes said he is thankful to have the support of the firm, his family and his faith.

“I wouldn’t be in baseball if it weren’t for wanting to bring a Christian presence to the industry,” he said.

Like the players he represents, Symes is hoping to make the major leagues. He recently passed the nowmandatory Major League Baseball Players Association agent certification exam and is actively seeking a major leaguer to represent.

He also noted he is confident one or more of his current clients will be on a Major League Baseball roster in a year or two. If that’s the case, Symes said they are in good hands. “(Ruder Ware) is really in a good position to take on a major league player,” he said, noting the firm

Bryan Symes, an attorney for Ruder Ware in Eau Claire, is pictured at Carson Park's baseball field. Symes "divides his practice between private-sector management-side human resources law, labor relations law, health care law, and litigation," according to the firm's website. He also represents professional baseball players.

has more than 40 lawyers who specialize in an array of areas and could help a professional athlete in areas such as realty, taxes and establishing charitable foundations.

Despite being a self-proclaimed “big fan” of America’s pastime, Symes himself never played baseball at a level higher than Little League. It’s in part why he has so much respect for the people he represents and their tenacity, he said.

“I’m dedicated to helping these guys achieve their dreams that they’ve had since they were little,” Symes said. “That’s more important to me that the dollars and cents side of things.”

Contact: courtney.kueppers@ecpc.com, 715-833-9203

786745 9-28-15

communities of Eau Claire’s size, being in the center of the Northwoods League gives him a leg up.

It’s there that he met one of his current clients, Travis Neubeck, when he played for the Eau Claire Express last summer. Neubeck, 20, who is originally from Hugo, Minn., was drafted in the seventh round by the Miami Marlins last spring and he’s happy to have Symes along for the ride.

“He definitely cares a lot about me as a person; it’s not all about him,” Neubeck Neubeck said of his agent. “He cares for his players and watches out for their best interest, not his. Bryan is my agent, but when I am done playing baseball, he will still be a friend of mine.”

Neubeck said he finds comfort in knowing “Bryan is

WWW.SFBANK.COM • 4217 SOUTHTOWNE DRIVE • EAU CLAIRE • 715-833-7685

September 28, 2015 ♦

| 17

COMMUNITY PROFILE

Staff photo by Chris Vetter

Tim Runge owns Film Tech, which was founded in 1980.

Stanley company finds niche in high-tech sector

By Chris Vetter, Chippewa Falls News Bureau

T

STANLEY

im Runge says his business can’t compete with larger firms when it comes to technological advances or mass production.

His company, Film Tech, is growing because it is a boutique business satisfying the needs of his smaller clients.

“I win on service – I listen to our customers,” Runge said. “Customers come to us for unique solutions.

“It really depends on what the customer is trying to achieve.”

Film Tech, located at 799 N. Broadway St. in Stanley, was founded in 1980. The company makes film for medical product designers, packaging, bag makers and component manufacturers. Film can be clear or colored, and comes in flat or folded sheets. His business produces high-performance tape for 3M. “We’re making film for low-tech medical devices and medical packaging,” he said.

“Some of it is being used in operating rooms; some are non-critical packaging.”

18 |

♦ September 28, 2015

Runge purchased the business work into it. The (CCEDC) in 2006 and in the past decade committee liked his dedication watched it grow from 12 to his employees and that employees to 20 today. He he put money back into the describes himself as the general business, and it’s manager. grown.”

“Our sales have tripled since I The four purchased the business,” Runge production lines said, although he declined to at Film Tech are divulge sales details. operating 24 hours The company’s headquarters a day, Monday Walker is 22,600 square feet in size, but through Friday. a major expansion began in Runge’s goal is to have his five mid-September, as Runge has lines – including the new one – purchased a fifth production running nonstop, seven days a machine. week, in another year or two.

“The new equipment is taller, “It’s expensive to shut down so we’re pushing the roof up for the weekend,” he said. higher – our roof height is “We’re leaving a lot of money 60 feet on the table in that by shutting corner,” down.” he said,

I focus on growing However, pointing biggest my business. The limits his to a challenge are the limit of my section is finding of the quality imagination. facility. employees.

Tim Runge, The “It’s very owner of Stanley-based Film Tech expansion difficult to should be find people finished who want to by the end of the year, he work,” he said. added.

Runge said the best part of his The four existing production job is that he’s the boss, and he lines all print “monolayer doesn’t have to worry if he has blown film,” meaning it has the one really good or bad month. same thickness throughout. The “I don’t focus on foolish B.S. new equipment can make three politics – I focus on growing different levels of thickness in my business,” he said. “The one sheet. limits are the limit of my FilmTech was named one imagination.” of the four businesses of the Runge lives in rural year for 2015 by the Chippewa Chippewa Falls with his County Economic Development wife, Sheri. Their oldest son, Corp., and Runge’s firm was Jacob, attends University of honored at a banquet in May. Minnesota-Duluth, while “We looked at their their daughters, Abigayle and entrepreneurial spirit,” said Mikayla, attend Chippewa Falls CCEDC executive director High School.

Charlie Walker. “He rolled up Contact: 715-723-0303, chris. his sleeves and put some hard vetter@ecpc.com

“

“

Background

Tim Runge, 54, who owns Film Tech in Stanley, grew up in Green Bay. Runge attended Cornell College in Iowa, then went to graduate school at Michigan Tech, earning a degree ingeochemistry. He moved to the Chippewa Valley in 2006 when he purchased Film Tech.

“I was familiar with the blown film industry, andtheyhad a decent client list,” said Runge, who added that he was confident the business would have a positive cash flow.

Visit filmtechllc.com for more information about the company.

September 28, 2015 ♦

| 19

FEATURE STORY

Program having local effect Focus on Energy provides boost for school, agri-business

A

By Leader-Telegram staff

rnie Prokott, school manager of Crestview Academy in Eau Claire, contacted Focus on Energy when he began researching ways to improve the private institution’s lighting.

Focus on Energy is an energy efficiency and renewable resource program funded through state utilities. It’s been assisting residents and businesses since 2001.

Focus on Energy teamed with a trade ally, Next Step Energy, to help on the Crestview Academy project. Focus on Energy connects clients with trade allies, who are local professionals that can help customers select energy-efficient products and equipment and make energy-efficiency improvements.

“I had an excellent experience with both these groups,” Prokott said. “Things went pretty smoothly and they were easy to work with.”

Crestview earned thousands of dollars in incentives for a lighting project that began in 2014 and ran into this year. LED lighting replaced incandescent lights and an exit sign. Other costsaving improvements were made as well.

“I did notice some drop off in energy usage – not as much as I anticipated but heading in the right direction,” Prokott said. “The overall lighting experience in our classrooms has been very well received.

“Moving to LED lighting has decreased eye fatigue and, in some cases, headaches and migraines. The light is more natural, and students and staff have had a good transition to the new lighting.”

Focus on Energy’s expertise also was tapped

20 |

♦ September 28, 2015

recently for a new Hampton Inn & Suites in the village of Lake Hallie. A program adviser met with the customer and general contactor during the planning stages. Focus on Energy was able to help the owner earn incentives for lighting, heating, cooling, room energy management controls, commercial refrigerator/freezers, and water heating.

“We can look at a customer’s processes and help change how they think about energy,” said Tamara Sondgeroth, director of operations for Focus on Energy.

In the agricultural arena, Focus on Energy currently is helping Norm-ESondgeroth Lane Farm in Chili obtain a $500,000 incentive for expanding its anaerobic digester and gen-set system. Triple T Farms of Chippewa Falls recently earned incentives for LED lights in a newly constructed barn.

From 2011 to 2014, nearly 300,000 Wisconsin residents and businesses chose to complete projects with the Focus on Energy program. The projects and purchases during this time period resulted in energy savings of more than 28 billion kilowatt hours, 403,000 kilowatts and 1.2 billion therms. That’s the equivalent of powering more than 1.8 million Wisconsin homes in one year, according to a news release.

Visit focusonenergy.com/about/evaluationreports for a program evaulation report that assessed Focus on Energy’s performance from 2011 to 2014.

For more information about Focus on Energy, call 800-762-7077 or visit focusonenergy.com.

Honoring Businesses in the Chippewa Valley for over 130 years.

Welcome to the

H

2015

onor Roll of Business The businesses listed on the following pages are proud of the history they’ve formed with the Chippewa Valley and they want to share it with you. They know first hand how difficult it is to open and operate a successful business year after year. We salute these businesses for their years of service to the Chippewa Valley. Some have been here a very long time and others are just beginning.

Congratulations to them all!

Years in business are provided by the businesses represented.

786904

Honor Roll 157 YEARS

Connell’s Family Orchard

136 YEARS

Leader-Telegram • Leader Printing The Country Today

usbank.com

715-723-5889 9 Open Daily 9-6 9--6 6 19372 Cty Hwy wyy O OO, Chippewa wa Fa F Falls

Member FDIC

786789 9-28-15

715-833-9200 800-236-8808

leadertelegram.com 786471 • 9-28-15

787063 9-28-15

130 YEARS

128 YEARS

of caring for our community.

Lamperts Lamperts Lamperts Lumber • Building Materials Lumber • Building Materials

127 YEARS Eau Claire has been the home of McDonough Manufacturing Co. since 1888, producing quality sawmill machinery for sawmills in Eau Claire and the world over.

112 Railway • Augusta, WIMaterials 54722 Lumber • Building

Specializing in what matters most.

112 Railway • Augusta, WI 54722 112 Railway • Augusta, WI 54722

Bus: 715-286-2271 Bus: 715-286-2271 Fax: Bus: 715-286-2273 715-286-2271 Fax: 715-286-2273 www.lampertyards.com Fax: 715-286-2273 www.lampertyards.com www.lampertyards.com

stjoeschipfalls.com

785940 9-28-15

786808_9-28-15

126 YEARS

134 YEARS Providing information and marketing services to Chippewa Valley readers and businesses.

U.S. Bank 65 area locations 715.839.6318

Est. 1858

WAGON RIDES

143 141YEARS YEARS (1872-2015) (1872-2013)

Apples, Pumpkins & Squash, Apple Donuts & Bakery, Jams, Jellies and Pure Local Honey. Live, working observation bee hive. Raspberries, pick your own and picked.

WEEKEND

of Business

124 YEARS

2320 Melby St. • Eau Claire, WI 54703 * American Workers * * American Materials * * American Ownership * 787239 9-28-15

117 YEARS

785943 9-28-15

127 YEARS

15 yrs. under Bill Sherman

My Place Bar 406-408 Galloway Street Downtown Eau Claire 715-835-LIVE (5483) Open at 6 am every day!

Best Drink Prices in Town!

Live Music No Cover Charge!

Free Pool Everyday 10am - 2pm Sat. 6am - 2pm

787237 9-28-15

114 YEARS

It all began on

October 7, 1889 when the first two HOSPITAL SISTERS came to Eau Claire.

Keeping Your Image Neat and Clean Since 1891

Premier Private Country Club www.ecgcc.com 715-836-8420 828 Clubview Lane, Altoona

3605 White Ave (715) 835-3101 1-800-666-3101 www.huebsch-services.com 786814 9-28-15

786812_9-28-15

111 YEARS

113 YEARS

Bill Volker and Stacy Pickerign

715-723-4649

787190 9-28-15

Your Locally Owned Community Bank

785992 9-28-15

100 YEARS

98 YEARS

A Family Tradition in fine diamonds since 1915

“Turn Your Memories Into A Lasting Memorial”

3rd Generation Downtown Menomonie 715-235-2220

Chippewa Falls 715-723-4461 Eau Claire 715-839-8642 northwesternbank.com Member FDIC

785974 9-28-15

787322 9-28-15

Serving Families Since 1917

715-723-5576 1-800-236-5576 3563 N. Prairie View Rd. Chippewa Falls www.johnsonmonument.com

787059 9-28-15

786827 9-28-15

786906

95 YEARS CLIFF INDUSTRIAL CORP. Serving Northwestern Wisconsin Since 1920

GENERAL MACHINISTS Repair Specialists Production ManufacturingGrinding Large CNC

Mill & Lathe Work Builders of Special Machinery Gears-Belts-Pulleys-Chain Bearings-Sprockets-Couplings

INDUSTRIAL SUPPLIES & CASTERS 613 Wisconsin St., Eau Claire

715-835-8314

785846 9-28-15

93 YEARS AUTO TOP SHOP LLC

93 YEARS

Conveniently located in Putnam Heights.

10954 E. Melby St Chippewa Falls

715.832.1691 715.723.7592

Leather Interiors Seat Heaters Eau Claire

715-835-3388 786816 9-28-15

77 YEARS

81 YEARS Serving Eau Claire Since 1934

“Serving the Eau Claire area since 1922”

Automobile Upholstery, Automobile Carpeting, Truck Cushions Rebuilt, Truck Accessories, Zippers-Sales, Repairs, Burn Damage Repairs, Convertible Tops, Boat Covers, Canvas Repairs

of Business

LIQUOR MART 301 E. Clairemont

www.hovlands-inc.com

715-835-8737

76 YEARS

71 YEARS

785996 9-28-15

786796 9-28-15

785422 9-28-15

80 YEARS

Honor Roll

787049 9-28-15

69 YEARS

“We are your one-stop shop for all of your refrigeration, heating/ cooling or foodservice equipment sales and service needs!”

Proudly Serving the Eau Claire Area Since 1939

3339 Fehr Road

1003 Harlem St, Altoona 715-834-3191 • 1-800-944-3604 www.benedictrefrigeration.com

(715) 839-5116

67 YEARS

66 YEARS

Eau Claire, WI 54701

786971 9-28-15

better water. pure & simple.

“Innovative Construction Solutions, Since 1948” Offices in Eau Claire & La Crosse

715-834-1213 www.marten.com

www.market-johnson.com

785999 9-28-15

64 YEARS

786002 9-28-15

64 YEARS

Sterling Water, Inc.

www.muldoons.com 1506 S. Hastings Way, Eau Claire

www.culliganh2o.com

Quality Clothing Since 1950

786966 9-28-15

63 YEARS

715-832-3502 1-800-942-0783

786004 9-28-15

60 YEARS LOCALLY OWNED & OPERATED SINCE 1955

Thank you to the Eau Claire and Chippewa Falls areas for your patronage

786924 9-28-15

Thank you Western Wisconsin for making our 65 years so successful.

715-834-9431 (800) 444-9431

Plumbing - Water Systems

BOHL & PROULX PLUMBING INC. 715-832-4795 715-723-9655

65 YEARS Big, Tall, Short or Small...

WE FIT THEM ALL

Serving the Chippewa Valley for over 67 years.

Leader in the Transportation Industry providing service to all 48 states, Canada and Mexico

71 YEARS 785707 9-28-15

715-723-2211

STUDENT TRANSIT ● EAU CLAIRE, INC.

If you want to see her smile, take her to Baker!

LP Gas • Tanks • Gasoline Fuel Oil • Bulk Lubricants

715-832-8249

310 Main St Chippewa Falls, WI 54729

1504 S. Hastings Way Eau Claire, WI 54701 785871 9-28-15

785875 9-28-15

John & Steve Thaler

Office: 715-723-2822 Or 1-800-472-0019 Cell: 715-829-5510

787070 9-28-15

24-HOUR SERVICE www.kurthheatingandcooling.com

Family owned & operated

786907

Honor Roll

of Business

59 YEARS

59 YEARS

Celebrating 59 Years!

THREE GENERATIONS OF CONTINUOUS CARING SERVICES

58 YEARS

57 YEARS We have been doing commercial painting and wall covering for the past 57 years.

We appreciate your continued support.

PUB We’re honored to have served communities in the Chippewa Valley for over 50 years!

We look forward to the next 50 in our new Altoona location!

ALTOONA 715.832.1400 CHIPPEWA FALLS 715.723.8514 CVOSM.COM

715.831.1300

FUNERAL CHAPEL AND CREMATORY

Est. 1956 • Funeral Director Erin Smith

Offering Onsite Cremation & Pre-Planning Services 715-832-1141 • SMITHFUNERALEC.com

More than pizza.

We serve traditions.

787444 9-28-15

787232 9-28-15

787054 9-28-15

57 YEARS

HAGEN

2812 London Road

57 YEARS

55 YEARS

Custom Builder • Remodeling

Since 1958

800-225-2591

715-834-3362

www.waltersbuildings.com

1913 Skeels Avenue Eau Claire, WI 54701

787241 9-28-15

54 YEARS

786798 9-28-15

51 YEARS

Adult Day Services Grace Apartments Edgewood Assisted Living Willowbrook Assisted Living Woodlands Memory Care School-Age Childcare Syverson Rehab and Health

786920 9-28-15

Agricultural • Equestrian Suburban • Commercial

Wilbert Statz Home Builder LLC

www.hagendecorators.com

785718 9-28-15

55 YEARS

There’s no home like the one you own BUILD WITH CONFIDENCE. . . .

BUILD WITH WALTERS BUILDINGS

DECORATORS, INC. Pleasant St. 715-835-4321

• Stone-Coated Steel Roofing • All Types Siding & Windows • Clog-Free Gutter System

3410 Sky Park Blvd., P.O. Box 287 Eau Claire, WI 54702 715.832.3003 www.graceluthfound.com

715-832-2246

51 YEARS

50 YEARS

787300 9-28-15

E A U C L A I R E PROFESSIONAL PRESSURE WASHING

Celebrating 50 years from 1965-2015

Practice est. 1961 Second Generation

Steven B. Mahler, D.D.S. 605 E. Clairemont Ave. Eau Claire

(715) 834-2174

2625 Morningside Drive Eau Claire

www.ervsmith.com

715.832.5085 www.brotoloc.com

• 1.800.472.8838

787288 9-28-15

48 YEARS

1225 Truax Blvd Eau Claire, WI 54703 • 715.836.8360

“Because we care, our customers become our friends” 785412 9-28-15

786006 9-28-15

47 YEARS Julson’s Auto Service L.L.C.

47 YEARS Your Independent

Nick Gardow is proud to continue the Sparkle Wash franchise serving Eau Claire for 37 years.

Sparkle Wash is your leader in asset protection & property appeal since 1965 715-832-4270 sparklewash.com/eauclaire Free Estimates • Fully Insured 787230 9-28-15

47 YEARS

Dealer

Ray’s Metal Work LLC

Jim & Steve Julson

AUTO/RESIDENTIAL/COMMERCIAL GLASS GARAGE DOOR AND OPENERS

Complete Auto and LT. Truck Service

4 LOCATIONS:

1505 Western Ave. Eau Claire, WI 54703

Eau Claire South • Rice Lake Chippewa Falls • Menomonie 786008 9-28-15

(715) 834-5832 786821 9-28-15

2135 N. Clairemont Eau Claire, WI 54703 715-834-7538

715-962-3601

Heating & Air Conditioning 24-hr Service & Free Estimates

786792 9-28-15

Pam Hansen, DVM Nate Meyer, DVM Duane Vollendorf, DVM Kathleen Nowak, DVM Karen Trott, DVM

786010 9-28-15

Thank you to our clients & their pets for letting us serve you for the last 47 years.

SINCE 1968

786909

46 YEARS

Honor Roll

46 YEARS

46 YEARS

of Business 44 YEARS

FAST & RELIABLE Service and Sales Ruth E. Harris M.S., Director

715.834.6603 787056 9-28-15

Hillsidedental.com William Hutchinson, DDS Tom Breneman, DDS Lonnette Breneman, DDS Christopher Johnson, DDS

44 YEARS

Tilden Auto & Towing

715-834-2754

or call 1-800-773-2605 2600 Stein Blvd., Eau Claire, WI northwestreadingcliniclimited.com

787188 9-28-15

CHILDREN • ADOLESCENTS • ADULTS One-on-One Educational Services for Reading, Learning Disabilities & Attention Deficit Disorders

41 YEARS

See Me for Your Used Car & Towing Needs!

787493 9-28-15

Not affiliated with Tilden Towing or Awesome Towing

38 YEARS

715-839-0707 or 1-800-307-9000 www.wiersgalla.com 786013 9-28-15

39 YEARS

301 N. Farwell St. Eau Claire 715-834-7707 1915 Talen St. Menomonie 715-235-3468 www.superiorautobodyinc.com

38 YEARS THE COUNTRY TODAY

Owned & Operated Since 1971

by LaVerne “Bud” Schreiner

11988 County Hwy. B Chippewa Falls 715-288-6421

Plumbing - Heating Air Conditioning

785861 9-28-15

An Experience That Will Leave You Smiling

Full-Service Repair Facility

617 W. Clairemont Ave. Eau Claire, WI 54701 715-839-5175 uwhealth.org 785987 9-28-15

37 YEARS

1102 Menomonie Street Eau Claire, WI 54703

715-835-7555

786823 9-28-15

35 YEARS

“The Newspaper That Cares About Rural Life”

1-800-236-4004

www.thecountrytoday.com 785945 9-28-15

34 YEARS Michael J. Bloss Owner

Specializing in Lawn, Landscape, & Irrigation Solutions Since 1978

St. Joseph’s Hospital Chippewa Falls, WI

• Mattresses • Bedroom Furniture • Futons • • Airbeds • Dining/Living Room •

901 W. Clairemont Ave Eau Claire, WI 54701

Phone: 715.839.0466

loveyouroutdoors.com 786810_9-28-15

32 YEARS

787303_9-28-15

32 YEARS

785985 9-28-15

#1 Homeseller Coldwell Banker Brenizer, Realtors 715-835-4344 715-723-5521 715-235-8443

31 YEARS

Website: pmsleepcenter.com 787725 9-28-15

31 YEARS

Commercial, Industrial & Residential, electrical work, and control work.

24 Hour Service

BRENIZER, REALTORS® Thanks to all of OUR Customers, Clients & Family for making us West Central Wisconsin’s

787078 9-28-15

• Siding: Vinyl, Steel, Seamless Steel & Cement Board • Soffit & Fascia • Seamless Gutters • Steel Roofing & Shingles • Window Replacement & Trim • Fabric Awnings • Decks & Room Additions • 3- or 4-Season Sunrooms 855 Industrial Drive, Mondovi, WI

715.832.6062

www.libertyexteriors.com

785857 9-28-15

• Landscape Management • Design & Installation • Irrigation Services

www.bandbelectric.com 1303 Western Avenue Eau Claire, WI

715-832-1676 832-1676

786015 9-28-15

www.ever-greenservices.com Locally Owned and Operated Since 1984 785424 9-28-15

786910

ECONOLAWN

Friendly, Dependable Service 2749 Alpine Rd. • Eau Claire 715-834-6044 or Toll Free 1-888-834-6044 Hours: Mon.-Fri. 8-5 Sat. By Appointment Mark J. Deutschlander - Owner 787298 9-28-15

28 YEARS

Serving the Chippewa Valley Since 1985.

We offer a full line of lawn maintenance & snow removal services.

Let us do the work while you enjoy your leisure time.

Call us at 715-533-8155 for a free estimate today.

Quality lawn care at affordable prices.

786017 9-28-15

28 YEARS

John’s Sewing Center

Network Design & Services Virtualization * Wireless Managed Services

786830 9-28-15

Cloud Services * Security

(715) 834-7712 www.imagineeringIT.com

30 YEARS

27 YEARS

Sewing Machine Sales & Service Service & Parts - All Makes

419 E. Madison St. Eau Claire

715-834-5252 888-834-5252

787306_9-28-15

787295 9-28-15

Serving the Chippewa Valley

ST. JOSEPH’S Home Health

715.726.3485 1.800.726.3485

786930 9-28-15

27 YEARS

1727 Western Ave. Eau Claire

• Septic Systems • Custom Skidsteer & Backhoe Projects • Total Site Dev. • Demolition • Poured & Block Walls • Floating Slabs • Retaining Walls • Garage & Basement Floors • Driveways, Patios, Sidewalks & Stoops • Snow Removal

EST. 1988

715-835-0761 northsidepethosp.com 787285 9-28-15

27 YEARS

NORTHSIDE SERVICE

THE ART OF TEPPANYAKI

JOHN MOLDENHAUER

Experience Authentic Japanese cooking at its finest, prepared at your table.

GREAT SERVICE KNOWLEDGEABLE MECHANICS 804 Bartlett • East side of Altoona, WI

Enjoy steak, chicken, Vegetables, fish, shrimp, lobster, scallops.

East side of Altoona, WI

787228 9-28-15

20 YEARS

Steve Odegard • Owner

Microsoft Dynamics GP Payroll/HR * Distribution Time/Attendance * CRM

Carpet Cleaning Air Duct Cleaning Fire & Water Damage Restoration

2426 London Rd. Eau claire, WI reservations: 834-0313 www.tokyoEauClaire.com

www.steamaticwwi.com

19 YEARS

18 YEARS

715-834-8822

786926 9-28-15

Doing

Right

It

24 YEARS

www.jaenkeconcrete.com

25 YEARS

804 Bartlett

832-3349

786806_9-28-15

28 YEARS

27 YEARS ASE CERTIFIED MECHANIC

2130 Brackett Ave. Eau Claire, WI 54701 715-832-2292

30 YEARS

John L. Webber

Professional Automobile Repairs

James A. Klug, D.C.

30 YEARS

785429 9-28-15

31 YEARS

of Business

787045 9-28-15

Honor Roll

1849 County Hwy. OO Chippewa Falls Offering Quality Home Furniture for Over 22 Years 715-832-2539 Wednesday • 10am - 4pm Thursday • 10am - 6pm Fri. & Sat. • 10am - 4pm

787042 9-28-15

(715) 831-9737 www.hoopsinc.com 786832 9-28-15

207 W. Lincoln St., Ste. 1 Augusta, WI 54722 715-286-2270 uwhealth.org 785988 9-28-15

Veteran owned business Over 60 years experience

1975 Olson Dr. Chippewa Falls WI 715-720-7012 or 1-888-882-7012

www.garberselectric.com

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briefcase Area firms present at business conference

Representatives of three regionally based companies anchored a panel at the fifth annual Governor’s Small Business Summit in Eau Claire on Sept. 9 labeled Homegrown Wisconsin Success.

Dick Leinenkugel, the eighth and current president of Chippewa Falls-based Leinenkugel Brewing Co.; David Ring, community relations manager for La Crosse-based Kwik Trip; and John Hermeier, executive vice president for Minong-based Jack Link’s, shared their companies’ success stories. “Each of these family businesses has grown into a massive enterprise,� said Lt. Gov. Rebecca Kleefisch, Leinenkugel who emceed the summit, which also featured a keynote address by Gov. Scott Walker, breakout sessions and additional panel discussions featuring state agency secretaries or their representatives.

Leinenkugel highlighted three keys to the business climate in Wisconsin: education, entrepreneurship and natural resources.

S T I F E N E B R ER OU

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EC center receives upgrades to facility

HSHS ST. JOSEPH’S OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH AND MEDICINE serves businesses and industries throughout western Wisconsin from these convenient locations:

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Film crew pays visit to Eau Claire companies

Discover Wisconsin TV recently filmed Eau Claire-based Gordo’s Food Truck for a spring episode of “Discover Wisconsin.� The episode will feature eight food trucks in the state and will premiere May 1. Jorge and Jessica Ortiz own Gordo’s Food Truck.

The crew also was at Suncrest Gardens Farm in Cochrane to film for a spring episode that premieres April 3. The piece will feature six farm-totable destinations in Wisconsin. “Discover Wisconsin� airs at 5 p.m. Sundays on WQOW (TV-18).

(To prevent work-related health & safety issues)

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Local company earns state recognition

MILWAUKEE — Ten category winners were culled from 33 finalists and more than 170 nominees for the 2015 Wisconsin Innovation Awards.

Winners in 10 categories were determined by a panel of 18 industry experts from around the state.

Applied Data Consultants of Eau Claire earned the recognition in the software service category. ADC’s EXTRA, a subsidiary, is a dispatch management tool that allows for one-click orders to generate manifests, routes and delivery data to be supplied directly to a delivery driver’s mobile device. “The real-time data algorithms allow for nimble response and efficiencies,� according to a news release.

Visit wisconsininnovationawards.com for more information about the program.

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Developer takes on downtown project

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The revamped Chippewa Valley Innovation Center, 3132 Louis Ave., recently held an open house.

Hoeft Builders is overseeing renovations at the facility. Major projects include a retooling of its loading dock so tenants can receive larger shipments and the construction of four new offices to meet increased demand. Bathrooms, the break room and other offices also have been renovated. Security has been increased and updates have been made to comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act. An $80,000 grant from the Otto Bremer Foundation helped fund the improvements.

The CVIC opened in 1988 and serves as an incubator for manufacturing and service-related businesses. Visit chippewavalleyinnovationcenter.org for more information.

♌ September 28, 2015

Brian Johnson, president of JCAP Real Estate in Eau Claire, purchased the six-story Wells Fargo building at 204 E. Grand Ave. Johnson plans to have commercial tenants — a restaurant, shops, offices or other businesses — in the first couple of floors and extensively renovate the top four floors’ office space into luxury apartments.

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briefcase Musical festivals lift local economy

Visit Eau Claire estimated the total economic impact of the Chippewa Valley's five major music festivals this summer at $35.6 million, with all that spending compressed into four weekends.

For more than two decades, the Chippewa Valley has been home to Country Jam USA, Country Fest and Rock Fest, events that have attracted hundreds of thousands of music fans to the region. But this year the Country Jam grounds added two new events — Eaux Claires Music & Arts Festival and Blue Ox Music Festival — to the summer lineup.

"I'm not sure there's another city our size in the country that has that kind of national-level music events representing such diverse genres,” said Linda John, Visit Eau Claire executive director. “I can't emphasize enough John how fortunate Eau Claire is to have these kinds of events.”

Woodman’s store opens in Altoona

ALTOONA — Woodman’s Food Market in the River Prairie development opened Aug. 27.

At 240,000 square feet, the new Woodman’s store is 2½ times as large as any other supermarket in the Eau Claire area. The grocery store and Woodman’s gas station will add an estimated $15 million in tax base to the city.

Woodman’s is based in Janesville.

In other grocery news: ■ Mega Co-op purchased Clipper's Foodliner in Whitehall. The location will be Mega's fourth grocery store. It has two locations in Eau Claire and one in Barron. Mega operates 19 convenience stores as well.

Corporate outing business launched

a certified survey map for the former Kmart site, 103 Oak Ave. N.E. The site on the city’s north side is being split into three lots. The former Kmart building along Oak Avenue would remain. It is on about 5.7 acres and is 248,853 square feet. According to a letter from broker Brian Brisky of Brisky Commercial, architectural services will be procured to remodel the existing building to accommodate three to six businesses.

Another lot would be about 0.86 acres and would have a 38,331-squarefoot building along Oak Avenue at the corner of Highway 25. Another lot would be 1.27 acres and have a 55,498-square-foot-building along Oak Avenue, according to information sent to the Plan Commission. They are being utilized for future retail/commercial development, Brisky noted in his letter.

Airport looks to draw more tenants

Eau Claire's airport is attempting to attract businesses to about 150 acres of vacant land it owns.

Located outside the airfield fence, the land could be used by aviation-related businesses and provide new rental income to Chippewa Valley Regional Airport, 3800 Starr Ave. "Certainly our overriding goal is to generate additional revenue," said airport manager Charity Speich.

Other regional airports are making similar efforts, she Speich said, which led to a committee meeting recently on the subject. Formed earlier this year, the Airport Development Committee will make recommendations to the Airport Commission.

Eau Claire's comprehensive plan update also proposes changing the airport's zoning to aid business growth there. Currently the airport carries the same public zoning that is also used for government buildings, parks and schools.

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Jennifer and Justin Fonfara of Rice Lake in August opened Tactical Escape 101 in Banbury Place, 800 Wisconsin St. The business offers escape rooms, adventure games in which groups of people are locked in a themed room and must solve riddles or decipher clues to escape within a set time limit. They're a popular option for corporate outings and other special events. The Fonfaras also have locations in Rice Lake and Hayward.

Visit tacticalescapel01.com for details.

Wisconsin universities form network

UW-Eau Claire and UW-Stout are two of six UW System institutions partnering to help connect industry with materials expertise, technology and research facilities on their campuses.

The institutions, which also include UW-La Crosse, UW-Madison, UWMilwaukee and UW-Platteville, announced the formation of the Regional Materials and Manufacturing Network, or RM2N. Visit wiscmat.org for more information.

Yoga studio wins DECI annual award

Latitude 44 Yoga Studio, 313 E. Madison St., won the grand prize in Downtown Eau Claire Inc.'s Jump-Start Downtown Business Plan Competition.

The yoga studio won $5,000, a $500 DECI media package, a year of free website hosting, a $250 credit toward a branding/website project and a brand development session with JB Systems.

The runner-up prize went to Casual Ore Formal, a custom jewelry business. That prize package included $500 in startup capital, one year of Web hosting and a DECI media package. The Innovative Idea Prize with a $1,000 scholarship to UW-Eau Claire’s Small Business Development Center went to Ashley Kosharek of AMK Cleaning Services.

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Former Kmart plan advances in Menomonie

MENOMONIE — The Menomonie Plan Commission in August approved

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briefcase From page 29

Menomonie organization names leader MENOMONIE – Darrek Orwig succeeded Brenna Long as executive director of Main Street of Menomonie. Long announced her resignation in June.

Orwig completed his undergraduate degree in history at Iowa State University and his master of arts in historic preservation from the Savannah College of Art and Design. While in graduate school he focused much of his coursework on revitalizing and administrating historic commercial districts.

Orwig’s professional experience includes working as a museum director and historic preservation consultant.

Orwig

WEDC, Doyenne partner on grant

MADISON — The Wisconsin Economic Development Corp. has awarded a $200,000 grant to Madison-based Doyenne Group to support women-led innovative ventures in Wisconsin.

The Doyenne Evergreen Fund will provide $400,000 in early-stage capital sourced from a WEDC Capital Catalyst Program grant and matching funds raised by Doyenne. The fund creates two types of financing opportunities with $200,000 earmarked for 40 grants of $5,000 each, and $200,000 designated for growth supporting equity investments to select companies depending on the business need.

Visit inwisconsin.com or doyennegroup.org for more information.

Hotel construction under way in Altoona

ALTOONA — Larson Cos. held a groundbreaking gala for a new 135-room Staybridge Suites at 1515 Bluestem Blvd. off U.S. 53 in the River Prairie Development.

Construction of the 90,000-squarefoot Staybridge Suites is expected to be completed late in the spring of 2016. Staybridge Suites is owned by a group led by Larson Cos. under a license agreement with Intercontinental Hotels Group. The project ownership group includes Richard Larson, Thomas Larson, Tim Pabich, Tim Olson and Tom Toy.

In other hotel news:

■ Haselwander Cos. broke ground on a new 9O-unit Fairfield Inn & Suites on the northeast side of Eau Claire in the Princeton Crossing development at the intersection of U.S. 53 and the North Crossing. The hotel is scheduled to open in April of next year. Hoeft Builders is the general contractor for the project.

The site of the new hotel, Princeton Crossing, is a 26-acre commercial development which also is home to a new Kwik Trip convenience store.

Parade of Homes winners announced

The Chippewa Valley Home Builders Association announced the People’s Choice award winners for the 2015 Parade of Homes.

This year’s parade featured 21 homes and drew more than 5,500 attendees — the most in more than 10 years — who voted for the award winners. The homebuilders chosen in each category followed by the addresses of the homes were: ■ Category I (under $250,000): C&M Home Builders & Real Estate, 278 Club View Lane, Altoona.

■ Category II ($250,000-$324,999): Wurzer Builders, 814 Sandalwood Drive, Altoona.

■ Category III ($325,000-$399,999): C&M Home Builders & Real Estate, 4665 Oakwood Hills Parkway.

■ Category IV ($400,000-$799,999): MyNextHome, 815 Sandalwood Drive, Altoona.

■ Category V ($800,00 and above): Peterson Custom Homes, 17038 59th Ave., Chippewa Falls.

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♦ September 28, 2015

Presto earns two defense contracts

AMTEC Corp., a subsidiary of Eau Claire-based National Presto Industries, was awarded two contracts from the U.S. Army to develop the next generation of 40MM training ammunition.

The contracts were competitively bid as contractors submitted designs, prototypes and production pricing to the Army for a new version in each of two categories of training rounds: high velocity and low velocity. The value of the low-velocity engineering development award was $2.99 million, while the high-velocity award was $2.985 million.

Merchants Bank tabs new leader

Larry Accola was named president of Merchants Bank in Eau Claire.

Accola has more than 25 years of experience in the Eau Claire market, including more than 20 at RCU, where he served as senior vice president of business loans and services.

Visit merchantsbank.com for more information about Winona, Minn.-based Merchants Bank.

In other banking news:

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■ Paul Rudersdorf joined Security Financial Bank as chief banking officer. Rudersdorf has 33 years of experience in the financial industry, with the last 22 years at River Valley Bank in Wausau, where he oversaw the business banking, retail and marketing functions for its 16 branches.

The bank has offices in Eau Claire, Bloomer, Durand and River Falls. Visit sfbank.com for more information.

■ U.S. Bank named Therese Pershall-Birmingham market president in Eau Claire. Pershall-Birmingham assumed market leader responsibilities for Eau Claire and will maintain her role overseeing its private banking group. She also will represent U.S. Bank in a leadership role within the community. U.S. Bank operates 130 branches and employs more than 5,100 people in Wisconsin.

Chippewa Falls company marks 20 years

CHIPPEWA FALLS — Chippewa Monument Co., 10485 Highway X, is celebrating two decades in business.

Owner and operator Jake Hoff has been in the memorial business for nearly 50 years. He began his career in South Dakota and moved to Chippewa Falls, where he started the business with his wife, Sandi, in 1995. The company “has installed thousands of monuments for local families all over northwestern Wisconsin,” according to a news release.

Visit chippewamonument.com for more information about the business.

■ MENOMONIE — Vets Plus recently held a 25th anniversary celebration. Vets Plus was founded by Raj Lall, current president and CEO. The company manufactures health and nutritional supplements for both food and companion animals.

■ Valley Feeds,1620 Indianhead Drive, celebrated its 25th anniversary.

Visit tinyurl.com/nhhx7hx for more information.

Menards planning for expansion at HQ

Menards is planning a significant expansion at its headquarters just west of Eau Claire, according to permit filings with the county.

The home-improvement retailer requested a conditional use permit to locate a temporary ready-mix concrete plant and related equipment on its land in the town of Union. The plant would supply concrete for a planned distribution center expansion north of Menard Drive and south of County Line Road at a site accessible by Town Hall and Kane roads. It’s expected to be in operation until at least July 2016.

According to the filing, six employees would work at the plant, which may be in operation 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The distribution center would include a shipping building, import warehouse, ponds, and employee and trailer parking.

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■ Brian Cornell, Target chief executive, elevated chief financial officer and Eau Claire Regis graduate John Mulligan to a new role. Mulligan, a longtime Target executive who has been CFO since 2012 and was acting CEO last year, was promoted to the newly created position of executive vice president and chief operating officer. He will be in charge of stores, supply chain and Mulligan properties.

■ Bruce Ommen was named executive vice president at Eau Claire-based Ayres Associates. Ommen joins company President Thomas Pulse and Tan Zander and Richard Schoenthaler, executive vice presidents, to form the engineering/architectural consulting firm’s executive committee. He will continue to serve as vice president of the firm’s Wisconsin and Arizona transportation operations.

■ Food trucks can now operate in three Eau Claire parks, but a proposal to allow them along streets will wait until winter. The City Council voted to back a policy allowing food trucks in Owen and Phoenix parks and the city’s Soccer Park but pledged that a more expanded version would be drafted in coming months. Previously, food trucks were only allowed to operate on private property with permission of landowners or as part of special events.

■ Eau Claire-based PESI, which provides continuing education products, entered into an agreement with Cross Country Healthcare to buy Cross Country Education. Cross Country Education employs 52 in Brentwood, Tenn., and PESI had offered positions to all of the company’s employees.

■ The Eau Claire Redevelopment Authority voted to change the name of the West Bank Redevelopment District to the Cannery Redevelopment District. The area north of Madison Street along the west bank of the Chippewa River once was home to Lange Canning, which operated in the early 20th century.

■ The Eau Claire law firm of Spangler Flory changed its name to Nodolf Flory following the resignation of attorney William Spangler. Visit nfattorneys.com for more information.

■ SEATTLE — Supercomputer maker Cray, which bases its manufacturing facilities in Chippewa Falls, announced the establishment of its European, Middle East and Africa, or EMEA, headquarters at the company’s new office in Bristol, United Kingdom. Cray also opened an office in Boston through an acquisition.

■ M3 Insurance, which has a location in Eau Claire, released its 2015 Trend Report, an annual publication on health insurance costs and plan designs in Wisconsin. Visit m3ins.com/trendreport for the complete report.

■ ARCADIA — Shareholders of Ashley Furniture Industries, after exploring potential investment options earlier this year, decided to retain all of their Ashley stock. Ashley had been consulting with Goldman Sachs about a possible sale.

■ LAKE HALLIE – Kris Becker, a certified public accountant and the owner of Becker Park Basketball training camp, pitched plans to build an 85,000-square-foot indoor sports complex in the village. The building would be large enough for six basketball courts along with space for a cardio exercise room, weight room, bathrooms and offices.

■ Goodin Co., a Minneapolis-based wholesaler of plumbing parts and other building components, unveiled plans to double the size of its Eau Claire location. The company submitted plans to add a 25,200-square-foot warehouse to its building of the same size already at 3542 Hogarth St. ■ CHIPPEWA FALLS — Dan Sweeney opened Chippewa Candy Shop, 322 N. Bridge St., in early August. The 1,500-square-foot building previously housed a Rada’s Men’s Wear clothing store, which closed in 2010.

■ NEENAH — Miron Construction Co. announced it would be opening an office in Eau Claire to better serve the western part of the state. The new office, slated to open in November, will be located at 3402 Oakwood Mall Drive, Suite 200. Leonard Borgen will manage the branch.

■ WEST ALLIS — Steve Strey of Osseo was selected as the champion in the Wisconsin Champion Auctioneer Contest at the Wisconsin State Fair. Strey is a 12-year veteran in the auction business, working closely with Northern Investment Co. on selling personal property and real estate.

■ Attorney MaiVue Xiong was named a shareholder for the Eau Claire law firm of Weld, Riley, Prenn and Ricci.

Xiong, a member of the firm’s business section, joined Weld, Riley, Prenn and Ricci in 2010. She advises clients Xiong in business transactions, including business formations and sales, banking and financing services, real estate, landlord/tenant and intellectual property law.

■ MENOMONIE — Lammer’s Food Fest, 1408 Ninth St. E., was sold to Dick’s Fresh Markets, which has grocery stores in River Falls, Amery and Osceola. Siblings Lucy and Pat Lammer owned the business, which had been in their family for four generations and 155 years.

■ Eau Claire-based Documation was the cover story in the August edition of Printing Impressions, a national publication and website that covers the printing industry. Visit tinyurl.com/nz8wu2x for the complete story.

■ MADISON — The Wisconsin Economic Development Corp. appointed Tim Weber to the position of regional account manager for its west-central and northwest Wisconsin region. He can be reached at 608210-6772 or tim.wber@wedc.org.

■ MENOMONIE — Local residents Jasen Bullock and Faith Cook purchased the nine-hole Pinewood Golf Course, N4545 440th St. The couple renamed the course Pinewood Golf Club & Restaurant, expanding the business’s dining options.

■ Mike and Connie Olson of Micon Theaters reached a tentative agreement to sell the Gemini Drive-in, 6730 U.S. 12 W., town of Union, and its 40-acre site to Eau Claire Co-op Oil Co. ■ The Sea Horse Inn was sold after a decade on the market, according to co-owner Sheilah Radack, 73. Chase Collins of real estate company Live in Eau Claire was set to buy the building and said he plans to use the space for real estate offices and eventually hopes to reopen the bar and restaurant.

■ MENOMONIE — The Dunn County Board of Adjustment unanimously approved a special zoning exception to allow for an agricultural event barn. John and Julie Govin plan to operate The Weddin’ Barn, E6544 627th Ave., in the community of Rusk. It will be used for weddings, reunions, corporate gatherings and other events. The previous month the board approved The Yellow Barn in the town of Hay River owned by Pat and Dawn McDonald.

■ CHIPPEWA FALLS — Chippewa River Distillery and Brewster Bros., a vodka distillery and micro brewery, plans to open by November.

Renovation and overhaul of the Celebrity Video building at 402 River St. began in March for the business.

■ HUDSON — Airworthy Aerospace, an aircraft interior provider, is expanding its operations in St. Croix County — a project expected to create 45 new jobs. The $4.6 million expansion marks the third time the company has added on to its facilities in Hudson since moving to Wisconsin from Minnesota in 2004.

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1. Beef jerky mascot.

2. DECI competition award winner.

3. Regional McDonald’s owners.

4. Cadott-based sink maker.

6. Top-paying job for recent business majors, according to PayScale.

8. Current Tony Robbins bestseller “Money: _ _ _.”

9. Chippewa Valley-based Grammy nominee.

10. 10,500-seat Green Bay venue.

12. Top CF elected official.

14. “ There is only one boss. The _.” Sam Walton, Wal-Mart founder.

15. How customers access goods or services.

16. Wisconsin DFI secretary.

18. New Main Street of Menomonie director.

19. Growing aircraft interior provider in Hudson.

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♦ September 28, 2015

ACROSS

5. Nos. 37 and 42, respectively, on SafeWise list of state’s safest cities.

7. AMK Cleaning Services owner.

11. O in ESOP. 13. New local effort to assist youth with disabilities.

17. New EC-based entrepreneurial effort.

20. Xcel Energy and football team staffing need.

21. Rotary Club of Eau Claire president.

22. Wisconsin state soil.

23. Fox stock market show.

24. “Don’t Leave Home Without It” company.

25. Rep. candidate rising in polls.

26. State’s top consumer complaint in 2014, according to Wisconsin agency.

27. Chippewa Falls trainer of miners.

28. Newly remodeled EC business incubator.

29. Chamber of commerce networking event.

30. Contents of award-winning prototype by UWStout packaging students.

October Ongoing n Women of the Valley, a project of the Western Dairyland Women’s Business Center, is a monthly business networking group focused on providing female entrepreneurs, business owners and professionals with access to professional development, volunteer and social activities. Upcoming meetings will be held at 5:30 p.m.

Wednesday, Oct. 14, and Wednesday, Nov. 11. For more information visit successfulbusiness.org or email wotv@successfulbusiness.org. n Several courses are scheduled in UW-Eau Claire Continuing Education’s Supervisory Management Certificate Program.

Courses can be taken individually or as part of the certificate program. Programs meet from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. each day. The schedule includes: n ”HR Management for Non-HR Managers,” Oct. 8-9 at Metropolis Resort and Conference Center, 5150 Fairview Drive. n ”Orientation, Time Management and Delegation,” Oct. 15-16 at Citizens State Bank, 375 Stageline Road, Hudson; and Oct. 22-23 at Metropolis Resort and Conference Center. n ”Negotiation Skills,” Nov. 5-6 at Citizens State Bank in Hudson. n ”Employee Evaluation and Performance Management,” Nov. 12-13 at Citizens State Bank in Hudson; and Dec. 3-4 at Metropolis Resort and Conference Center. n “Effective Change Management,” Nov. 19-20 at Metropolis Resort and Conference Center. n ”Improving Managerial Efficency,” Dec. 10-11 at Citizens State Bank in Hudson.

CALENDAR UW-Eau Claire also has sessions in its Nonprofit Workshops series approaching. The schedule includes: n “Getting Social! Social Media and Socialization for Nonprofit Professionals” will be from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 21, at Banbury Place, 800 Wisconsin St.; and again Thursday, Oct. 22, at Hudson Hospital and Conference Center, 405 Stageline Road. n “The Essentials of Effective Leadership: Integrity and Communication” will be from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 4, at Banbury Place; and again Thursday, Nov. 5, at Hudson Hospital and Conference Center.

For more information about the aforementioned programs, call 715-836-3636 or 866-893-2423 or visit uwec.edu/CE/. n MADISON — Stu­dents, teach­ers, par­ents and ad­min­is­tra­ tors are en­cour­aged to en­ter the 2016 ver­sion of Wis­con­sin Youth En­trepreneurs in Science. Wis­con­sin YES! is a statewide youth busi­ ness plan con­test mod­eled af­ter the Gover­nor’s Busi­ness Plan Con­ test. The dead­line for ini­tial en­tries from mid­dle- and high-school stu­dents is April 4. The con­test be­gins with a 250-word sum­mary sub­mit­ted through wis­con­sinyes.com. En­tries that ad­vance to the sec­ond phase of the com­pe­ti­tion will ex­pand their idea into a 1,000word ex­ec­u­tive sum­mary.

Oct. 1-2: The first-level program “Motivational Interviewing” will be from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. each day at the Clarion Hotel, 2703 Craig Road. The fee is $300, which includes lunch and materials. For more information call 715-836-3636 or 866-893-2423.

See page 34

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October

CALENDAR from Page 33 Oct. 2: CHIPPEWA FALLS – The Chippewa Falls Area Chamber of Commerce is holding its “Business ‘N Breakfast� program at 7:15 a.m. at Ojibwa Golf & Bowl, 8140 136th St. State Sen. Terry Moulton, R-town of Seymour, will discuss how the state budget affects the Chippewa Valley. The cost is $10 for chamber members and $20 for nonmembers. Register by calling 715-723Moulton 0331 or emailing kelly@chippewachamber.org. n Also on Oct. 2, the program “Advanced Grant Proposal Writing and Evaluation� will be from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Banbury Place, 800 Wisconsin St. Call 715-836-3636 or 866-8932423 or visit uwec.edu/CE/ for more information. n Also on Oct. 2, National Manufacturing Day will be celebrated. For more information visit mfg­day.com.

Oct. 2-4: The Eau Claire Startup Weekend will be held at the newly remodeled Lismore hotel, 205 S. Barstow St. The 54-hour event features developers, designers, marketers, product managers and startup enthusiasts coming together to share ideas, form teams, build products and launch startups.

Michael Norton of UP Global will facilitate the event. Visit ecstartupweekend.com for more information.

Oct. 5: CHIPPEWA FALLS – The Community Foundation of Chippewa County is holding its “Annual Report to the County� celebration from 5 to 6:30 p.m. at the Avalon Hotel & Conference Center, 1009 W. Park Ave. Visit yourlegacyforever. org for details.

Oct. 5-6: The fifth an­nual Lead­er­ship Wis­con­sin Con­fer­ence will be Oct. 5-6 at The Plaza Ho­tel & Suites, 1202 W. Claire­mont Ave. The event pro­vides op­por­tu­ni­ties to iden­ tify best prac­tices in lead­er­ship de­vel­op­ment through work­shops and speak­ers and cel­e­brate the suc­cess of com­mu­nity lead­ers. Scott Zim­mer, a speaker and mar­ket re­searcher for Min­neapo­ lis-based Bridge­works, will pro­vide a key­note ad­dress. Jake Wrasse, UW-Eau Claire stu­dent body pres­i­dent, and JAMF co-founder Zach Halmsted Halm­stad also are sched­uled to speak.

The cost for the full con­fer­ence is $149. Sin­gle-day and eventspe­cific op­tions are avail­able. Visit con­fer­ence.lead­er­ship­ wis­con­sin.org for de­tails.

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To All Of Our Customers

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Awarded by the The Eau Claire Area Chamber of Commerce Est. 1978

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♌ September 28, 2015

Oct. 6: The Western Dairyland Women’s Business Center is holding a marketing webinar from noon to 1 p.m. for rural small-business owners and entrepreneurs. The cost is $15, and participants will receive class materials and a link to the webinar site by email the morning of the event. For more information or to register, visit successfulbusiness.org or call 715-836-7511, ext. 1171. n Also on Oct. 6, free farmers market training will be from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Black River Area Chamber of Commerce, 120 N. Water St., Black River Falls. Participants will learn how to become a successful vendor at the markets in Arcadia, Whitehall and Black River Falls. For more information or to register, visit successfulbusiness.org or call 715-985-2391, ext.

1211.

Oct. 6-7: MENOMONIE – The Fall Career Conference will be from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. each day at the UW-Stout Sports & Fitness Center, which is at the intersection of Broadway St. and 13th Ave. The event is for UW-Stout students, alumni, faculty and staff. Visit www.uwstout.edu/careers/careerconference. cfm for details.

Oct. 7: A free kickoff event for Ignite Wisconsin will be from 5 to 7 p.m. at the Acoustic Cafe, 505 S. Barstow St. The effort is an Innovation Foundation of Western Wisconsin program that features video testimonials and other resources for entrepreneurs. Visit ignitewisconsin.org for more information.

Oct. 8: CHIPPEWA FALLS – “Safety Day 2015� will be from 7:45 a.m.to 3 p.m. at Chippewa Valley Technical College, 770 Scheidler Road. The event is designed for safety managers, human resources professionals, wellness coordinators, front line supervisors, maintenance employees and other workers looking to update their safety skills and knowledge. The cost is $64, which includes continental breakfast, snacks and lunch. Group discounts are available. Contact Jessica Janssen at 715-874-4644 or jcather@cvtc.edu for more information. n Also on Oct. 8, Fries Financial Group and Northwestern Bank are holding the free program “The Importance of Long Term Care & Estate Planning� from 10 to 11:30 a.m. and again from 2 to 3:30 p.m. at the Avalon Hotel & Conference Center, 1009 W. Park Ave., Chippewa Falls. Reserve a spot by calling 715-720-9605.

Oct. 13: RICE LAKE – A Leadership Conference is slated for 7:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at the Wisconsin Indianhead Technical College and UW-Barron County campuses. The event is intended for current and future leaders in business, government and nonprofit organizations. The seminar “Dare to Grow - How to Become an Authentic Leader� will feature motivational speaker and author Byrd Baggett, whose keynote presentation is on the same topic. The day also will include morning and afternoon breakout sessions and hands-on workshops. It will close with Lee Swindall, Baggett vice president of business and industry development for the Wisconsin Economic Development Corp., speaking on “Leading by Leaps: Owning the Risks and Rewards of High Stakes Change.� The registration fee, which includes lunch, is $149. For more information or to register, visit witc.edu or call 800-243-9482, ext. 5045.

October n Also on Oct. 13, UW-Eau Claire Continuing Education is holding the program “Cybersecurity: What Does it Mean for your Organization?” from 8 to 11 a.m. at the Clarion Hotel, 2703 Craig Road. The cost is $70. For more information or to register, call 715-836-3636 or 866-893-2423. n Also on Oct. 13, the “Chamber/CVTC Business Community Breakfast” will be from 7 to 8:30 a.m. at Chippewa Valley Technical College’s Energy Education Center, 4000 Campus Road. Visit cvtc.edu or eauclairechamber.org for details.

Oct. 14, Nov. 4, Dec. 2: MENOMONIE — The program “Innovations in Healthcare” will be from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. each day. The event will provide national experts who will offer insights in areas such as financing options, pharmacy clinics and wellness programs. Visit www.uwstout.edu/profed/ihc. cfm to register. For more information contact Taylor Schaa at 715-232-5506 or profed@uwstout.edu. n Also on Oct. 14, A Lunch and Learn Workshop will be from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Dunn County Government Center, 800 Wilson Ave., Menomonie.

Oct. 16: GREEN BAY — The fifth annual Wisconsin Summit on Financial Literacy will be at Lambeau Field. The conference is geared toward teachers, community outreach educators and workplace professionals who have an interest in enhancing financial and economic literacy. The cost, which includes lunch, is $95. Visit economicswisconsin.org/lambeau.html for details.

Oct. 20: The Eau Claire Area Chamber of Commerce’s “2015 Business Expo & Job Fair” will be from 11:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at the Eau Claire Indoor Sports Center, 3456 Craig Road. The event will include more than 150 exhibitors, seminars, a speed networking event and other networking opportunities. For more information visit eauclairechamber.org or contact Becky Seelen at 715-858-0615.

CALENDAR n Also on Oct. 20, the program “Microsoft Excel: Basic” will be from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. in Room 27 at the Chippewa Valley Technical College Business Education Center, 620 W. Clairemont Ave. The cost is $104. Visit cvtc.edu or call 800-5472882 for more information.

Oct. 22: The Western Dairyland Women’s Business Center is holding a website basics webinar from noon to 1 p.m. for rural small-business owners and entrepreneurs. The cost is $15, and participants will receive class materials and a link to the webinar site by email the morning of the event. For more information or to register, visit successfulbusiness.org or call 715-836-7511, ext. 1171.

Oct. 27: The program “Compressed Air: Identifying, Analyzing and Implementing Energy Reduction Opportunities” will be from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Hutchinson Technology Inc., 2435 Alpine Road.

Xcel Energy and HTI are hosting the program. The cost is $129.

Visit tinyurl.com/pvp3aa9 for more information or to register.

Oct. 28: CHIPPEWA FALLS – The program “Adobe Photoshop: Basic” will be from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. in Room 103 at Chippewa Valley Technical College, 770 Scheidler Road. The cost is $104. Visit cvtc.edu or call 800-547-2882 for more information.

Oct. 29: The free program “How to Prepare Your 990 for Success” will be from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Holiday Inn Eau Claire South, 4751 Owen Ayres Court. The presenter is Yigit Uctum of Wegner CPAs. Visit wegnercpas.com/seminars-education to register.

See page 36

Building a Better World for All of Us

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Located in downtown Chippewa Falls and committed to serving communities and businesses in the Chippewa Valley for more than 40 years.

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CALENDAR

November, December

from Page 35 Nov. 2-3: MENOMONIE – An International Organization for Standardization, or ISO, internal auditor training will be from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.each day at UW-Stout’s Memorial Student Center, 302 10th Ave. E. For more information or to register, visit www.uwstout.edu/profed/iso or contact Joni Geroux at 715-232-5270.

Nov. 4: CHIPPEWA FALLS – The program “Adobe InDesign: Tips & Tricks” will be from 8 a.m. to noon in Room 103 at Chippewa Valley Technical College, 770 Scheidler Road.

The cost is $59. Visit cvtc.edu or call 800-547-2882 for more information.

Nov. 4-5: MENOMONIE – The eighth annual Manufacturing Advantage Conference & Technology Showcase will be from 7:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. the first day and 7:30 a.m. to 3:15 the second day at UW-Stout. The event provides a forum for regional manufacturers to learn best practices and participate in interactive, hands-on breakout sessions, industry-expert keynote speakers, including Robert Tucker of The Innovation Resource Consulting Group, and networking opportunities. Registration is $169 through Oct. 15, $219 from Oct. 16-30 and $269 after Oct. 30. The fee is $50 for students. Email profed@ uwstout.edu or call 715-232-2793 for more information.

Tucker Nov. 5-6: The second-level program “Motivational Interviewing” will be from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. each day at the Clarion Hotel, 2703 Craig Road. The fee is $300, which includes lunch and materials. For more information call 715-836-3636 or 866-893-2423.

Nov. 6: MADISON — When Work Works, an initiative to promote effective and flexible workplaces, is accepting applications through this date for its 2015-2016 awards program that recognizes employers for innovative practices.

The Wisconsin State Council Society for Human Resource Management is a regional partner in the effort. Visit whenworkworks.org for details.

Nov. 10: The Western Dairyland Women’s Business Center is holding a business plan basics webinar from noon to 1 p.m. for rural small-business owners and entrepreneurs. The cost is $15, and participants will receive class materials and a link to the webinar site by email the morning of the event. For more information or to register, visit successfulbusiness.org or call 715-836-7511, ext. 1171. n Also on Nov. 10, free farmers market training will be from 6 to 8 p.m. at Western Dairyland, 23122 Whitehall Road, Independence. Participants will learn how to become a successful vendor at the markets in Arcadia, Whitehall and Black River Falls. For more information or to register, visit successfulbusiness.org or call 715-985-2391, ext. 1211.

Nov. 11: CHIPPEWA FALLS – The program “Microsoft OneNote” will be from 8 a.m. to noon in Room 103 at Chippewa Valley Technical College, 770 Scheidler Road. The cost is $59.

Visit cvtc.edu or call 800-547-2882 for more information. n Also on Nov. 11, A Lunch and Learn Workshop will be from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Dunn County Government Center, 800 Wilson Ave., Menomonie.

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♦ September 28, 2015

Nov. 18: The Eau Claire Chamber Educational Foundation’s Real Life Academy will be at the Lismore, 205 S. Barstow St. The interactive money management program will include students from Altoona, Augusta, Fall Creek, Memorial, North and Regis high schools. Visit eauclairechamber.org for more information.

Nov. 19: The program “Microsoft Excel: Intermediate” will be from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. in Room 27 at the Chippewa Valley Technical College Business Education Center, 620 W. Clairemont Ave. The cost is $104. Visit cvtc.edu or call 800-5472882 for more information.

Nov. 20: The date is the deadline for the 28th annual Manufacturer of the Year Award program. The recognition pays tribute to manufacturers in Wisconsin across all sectors of the economy that are “devoted to creating a better quality of life for the citizens of our great state,” according to a news release. Winners will be revealed and celebrated Feb. 25 at The Pfister Hotel in Milwaukee. Applications and additional information are available by visiting wimoty.com or calling 800-362-7301.

Nov. 24: The free program “Accounting & Audit Update” will be from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Holiday Inn Eau Claire South, 4751 Owen Ayres Court. The presenter is Dave Johnsen of Wegner CPAs. Visit wegnercpas.com/seminars-education to register.

Dec. 2: MENOMONIE – The program “Adobe Photoshop: Tips & Tricks” will be from 8 a.m. to noon in Room 105 at Chippewa Valley Technical College, 403 Technology Drive E. The cost is $59. Visit cvtc.edu or call 800-547-2882 for more information.

Dec. 3: A Holiday Open House for members will be from 3:30 to 6 p.m. at the Eau Claire Area Chamber of Commerce, 101 N. Farwell St. Dec. 4-5: MINOCQUA – The Governor’s Northern Wisconsin Economic Development Summit will be at The Waters of Minocqua, 8116 U.S. 51 S. The program includes presentations

by Gov. Scott Walker and Lt. Gov. Rebecca Kleefisch. The cost is $75 through Dec. 3 and $85 after that date. Visit northwoodssummit.com for more information.

Walker Dec. 8: The Western Dairyland Women’s Business Center is holding a “Mission Driven” webinar from noon to 1 p.m. for rural small-business owners and entrepreneurs. The cost is $15, and participants will receive class materials and a link to the webinar site by email the morning of the event. For more information or to register, visit successfulbusiness.org or call 715-836-7511, ext. 1171.

Dec. 10: The program “Microsoft Outlook: Effective Email Management” will be from 9 a.m. to noon and “Microsoft Outlook: Time Management with Calendars and Tasks” will be from 1 to 4 p.m. in Room 27 at Chippewa Valley Technical College’s Business Education Center, 620 W. Clairemont Ave. The cost for each is $49. Visit cvtc.edu or call 800-547-2882 for more information.

Dec. 16: The program “Microsoft Excel: Advanced” will be from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. in Room 27 of Chippewa Valley Technical College’s Business Education Center, 620 W. Clairemont Ave. The cost is $104. Visit cvtc.edu or call 800-5472882 for more information.

F W

L

Federal grant to assist Wisconsin exporters Leader-Telegram staff

MADISON – The U.S. Small Business Administration awarded the Wisconsin Economic Development Corp. a $712,000 grant to help state companies achieve their export goals.

The grant represents the fourth-largest amount received by the 40 states approved for a portion of the $17.4 million of funding available through the State Trade and Export Promotion Program. WEDC will leverage the funds to help companies participate in two of the agency’s export readiness programs.

First, funds from the SBA STEP Program will be made available to ExporTech participants. ExporTech is an export acceleration program funded by WEDC and administered by the Wisconsin Manufacturing Extension Partnership and the UW-Stout Manufacturing Outreach Center. ExporTech helps Wisconsin companies expand their global market reach through guided development of an international growth plan.

ExporTech participants will be able to utilize funds from the SBA STEP Program in increments of $2,500 up to a total of $15,000 to help them implement their export plans. Companies will chose from a list of eligible expense options, including export compliance, translation services, market assessments, trade shows, and partner or distributor searches. “ExporTech was designed specifically for manufacturers who need innovative ways to grow, and see international sales as part of the answer,� said Joni Geroux, assistant director of Professional Education Programs and Services at UW-Stout, in a recent Leader-Telegram story. “The program provides executive leaders with a systemic approach for entering or expanding in global markets.�

Separately, any Wisconsin company may tap STEP Grant funds to attend an upcoming trade venture organized by WEDC or the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection.

STEP Grant funds are available for exporting activities that take place from Oct. 1 through Sept. 30, 2016. To qualify, companies must meet SBA small business requirements, which for manufacturing companies require fewer than 500 employees and for agricultural companies stipulate annual revenues of less than $7 million. “Wisconsin leads the nation in its programs designed to help companies expand through global trade,� said Katy Sinnott, vice president of international business development for WEDC, in a news release. “Our STEP Grant award is a testament to the effectiveness of Wisconsin’s ExporTech program and our targeted export promotion strategies.�

WEDC recently expanded its global network to include trade representatives covering 79 countries who are able to provide the insights and contacts needed to fulfill marketspecific business development strategies.

For more information about WEDC export assistance, visit inwisconsin.com/export.

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September 28, 2015 ♌

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2,098 $27M+ 24,625 Number of combined home sales in Eau Claire, Chippewa and Dunn counties through August. The total is 18.5 percent more than in the first eight months of 2014.

Amount of the world's weather forecasting done by supercomputers made by Cray, which houses much of its operations in Chippewa Falls, according to the company.

Number of new business entities created in Wisconsin over the first seven months of the year, according to the state Department of Financial Insitutions. That is 3.4 percent more than in the year-ago period.

Area investment last year made by graduates of the Chippewa Valley Innovation Center, an Eau Claire business incubator.

60% 97

By the NUMBERS

Number of Wisconsinites who died due to work injury last year.

The annual average over the past decade is 98, according to UWMadison. Workplace deaths grew 2 percent nationally in 2014.

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When it Comes to Banking, It’s About Values “After 36 years serving the Chippewa Valley business community, Merchants Bank’s community focused values drew me to my new position as President of Merchants Bank in Eau Claire.”

Larry Accola

Here are a few reasons you should consider us:

• As a true community bank with more than $1.5 billion in assets, we are small enough to know your name and big enough to finance businesses and projects of almost any size.

• As a community bank our focus on local leadership ensures decisions are made with our community in mind.

• We’ll take the time to learn about you and what makes your business successful because we understand how important your banking relationship is for your long-term growth.

Give me a call or stop in for a visit at Merchants Bank. We’re located on Mall Drive, kitty-corner from Festival Foods.

Helping Build Businesses and Communities for 140 years 2728 Mall Drive • Eau Claire, WI 54701 • (715) 838-2404 • www.merchantsbank.com

Member FDIC

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