2020 Taylor County Progress Section

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A supplement to

The Star News January 16, 2020

PROGRESS 2020

Thursday, January 16, 2020

THE STAR NEWS

Page 2

Taylor County economy is strong and varied Taylor County has been a hub for financial activity for decades. The county is served by 10 different financial institutions as well as by a number of insurance, financial planning and wealth management agencies that are there to assist people at every stage of their lives.

The financial sector of the local economy has been especially active in the past decade with a number of new names in the local area through consolidations and mergers as well as expansions. The financial services portion of the local economy remains well-positioned to continue to serve the needs of individual consumers as well as the financial needs of business and industry.

When asked what has changed about Forward Financial in the last ten years, Jennifer Sobotta, marketing director of Forward Bank replied, “Ten years ago, right around this time of year, Forward Bank did not have a presence here in Medford at all.” On top of a new branch, Sobotta also credited leaders such as executive vice president Dave Clark and lending specialist vice president Gene Knoll for making the transition to their new and current facility easy.

She was later asked what she is most proud of at the bank? “Really the impact that we make in a community,” replied Sobotta. She would go on to talk about the charity work they have done in the community and how much that means to the entire staff.

There are a few new things that have been happening at this branch, “Well, some new faces, we’ll start with Jesse Kreiner who joined us about a month ago,” said Sobotta. “So faces change a little bit, and technology is constant,” she continued. She proceeded to reference their continuous work on their apps and mobile banking. As technology continues to advance, you can be sure Forward Financial will advance with it.

“This is going to sound cliche, I don’t want to change anything,” said Sobotta when asked what she would like to see change at Forward Financial. “I could say I want to change the pace that we work at, but I would miss the energy it creates,” she continued. Sobotta seemed

Forward Bank came into the Medford market a decade ago. It has grown into one of the area’s premier lending institutions with a strong focus on business lending as well as a commitment to giving back to the communities they serve. very confident that Forward Financial was heading in the right direction and change was not a necessity at this time.

Looking ahead another ten years to 2030, “We want to maintain positioning in the community and being that resource,” said Sobotta. “Digitally the presence is going to be different and very, very exciting,” she continued.

Of course, the future is always unpredictable, however, Sobotta gave reassurance that there will always be physical buildings that customers can come to for faceto-face interaction. Though the future is uncertain, the positive attitudes and quality banking are a constant at Forward Financial.

Progress 2020 continued on June 17, 2019 with Debra Woods, CEO of Taylor Credit Union.

When asked about what has changed in the last ten years, Woods replied, “We added a branch 10 years ago in Abbotsford.” She continued on to speak about the remodeling of the Medford branch that was completed in March 2019. Woods also spoke about seeing new employ-

AbbyBank has a been a well-known name in the financial industry for decades. They have had a longtime presence in the Medford area economy and solidified that presence with the purchase of the former Fidelity National Bank and the extensive remodeling of the Medford branch location. ees walk in and out in the past 10 years.

“Medford has been wonderful,” said Woods when asked how the community has treated them over the years. Since opening its doors in 1951, Taylor Credit Union has been a big part of Medford, both through the services they offer and everything extra they do for the community. “We’re here for the people of the community,” Woods continued.

With Medford being home to seven banks, Woods was asked why people should bank at Taylor Credit Union.

“We provide excellent service, we bring that personal touch to people,” said Woods. With online banking and phone applications in such high demand, it is reassuring that there are still credit unions who serve to see their customers in person.

As far as changing Taylor Credit Union is concerned, Woods could not think of anything that needed to change. However, she was quick to tell about something

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PROGRESS 2020 THE STAR NEWS

Thursday, January 16, 2020

she did not want to change. “When people live and work in a community, you’ve got that support system,” she stated. “I’d hate to ever see that go away,” Woods concluded the question by speaking about her hopes to keep Taylor Credit Union as a good asset to the community.

Woods was then asked about how banking has changed in the past 10 years.

“We see fewer people actually coming into our buildings then we did probably even five years ago, but for sure 10 years ago,” was her response. She continued to say, “It doesn’t mean that the business is getting any less, it’s just people are choosing different ways to do their business.”

Woods said that the cause of this is the

increase in online banking and direct deposit. She also commented that she does not want to see the day when “people don’t need people.” Though technology and business will be forever changing, it is important to maintain some face-toface interaction.

“The credit union I still see as a growing and thriving financial, providing the same excellent service to the community that we are today,” was Wood’s response to where she sees the company in 10 more years. She hopes that the credit union can continue to expand, but mainly that they maintain the level of service that they have been providing for so long.

Medford’s AbbyBank was also a sub-

Page 3

ject of Progress 2020 as executive vice president Jenny Jakel spoke about the last 10 years.

“Technology is the biggest change, it’s moving at exponential rates,” said Jakel when asked what has changed in the last 10 years.

She continued on to mention that it is important to the bank to give their customers what they want, so keeping up with technology is very important to AbbyBank.

Jakel also spoke about the constant change of regulations.

“It is very important that we stay on top of that so that we’re meeting all the requirements that the federal govern-

ment expects of us,” said Jakel.

Over the last 10 years AbbyBank has opened and renovated a branch in Medford, and acquired another in Appleton.

When asked what it is about AbbyBank that makes her proud, Jakel spoke about renovations on the Medford branch and the bank’s incredible staff.

“We put major renovation into the interior of this building,” said Jakel.

She went on to mention the community room within the building that is open for non-profits and other businesses to use.

See FINANCIAL on page 4

About this section The one constant in life is change.

A decade ago, Wisconsin and the rest of the country was in the midst of clawing itself out a deep recession.

Those whose businesses and livelihoods were touched by the recession were changed by it, replacing unbridled optimism for the future with a new wariness.

From the consumer side it changed the way Americans spend and save money.

The past decade has been marked with slow and steady economic growth.

Area economic leaders in the Medford Area Development Foundation, and those in Rib Lake and Gilman have continued their work to diversify and grow the area’s local economy.

There have been phenomenal success stories in the past decade, thanks in large part to the exceptional leadership in those organizations.

Strong leadership at the individual business level have paid off in exciting growth. Companies such as Nestlé and Enerquip in Medford and Romigs and Gilman Cheese in Western Taylor County are just some examples of this leadership, but there are many others who seized opportunities and put in the long hours of hard work needed for success.

This section presents a snapshot of where area business have been, where they are now and where they want to be in the future. It presents an overview of different facets of the Taylor County economy from finances to food service and manufacturing to healthcare, Taylor County has a diverse economic base that builds connections spanning the globe.

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PROGRESS 2020

Thursday, January 16, 2020

THE STAR NEWS

Page 4

Financial institutions saw a decade of change, growth Continued from page 3 When asked why people should take their business to AbbyBank, Jakel responded, “I’ve worked at this bank for 43 years and I can say that in all of those years, it’s the people, it’s the personal contact.�

As far as changes are concerned, AbbyBank like all others are working daily to keep up with the everchanging technology phenomenon.

AbbyBank is also attempting to acquire another location in the east-central part of the state. “We always look for a community bank that is going to fit with our sense of community pride and customer relations,� said Jakel.

When asked about what she would personally like to see change, Jakel said, “Personally, I would like to see the regulations change so that it’s easier for our customers to bank.�

She mentioned that sometimes the regulations cater more to the larger banks and makes it tougher on small bank customers to handle their business.

Jakel also took the time to talk about how AbbyBank gives back to the community.

She mentioned things such as a charitable founda-

In 2019 Taylor Credit Union completed a renovation and expansion of their main office located on Hwy 13 in Medford. The credit union also has a branch in Abbotsford.

tion which gives a percentage of AbbyBank’s profits back to the community.

She also spoke about the numerous grants the bank has given to non-profits over the years as well as various community activities that the bank has participated in. “I see AbbyBank continuing to be community focused,� explained Jakel when asked where she sees the company in another 10 years.

She continued on to talk about the fact that expansion is always a possibility but that they do not always seek out banks to purchase.

AbbyBank has been in business since 1968 and the last 51 years have shown incredible progress, and the last 10 have been no different.

Look for AbbyBank to continue climbing in the next 10 years.

CEO of Peoples Choice Credit Union, Mary Henrichs sat along side marketing coordinator, Billie Hartwig to discuss the past and future of the company.

Henrichs said that there has been some expansion in the last 10 years which has allowed for more office space and the ability to serve more members. “We have changed a little bit of our philosophy as well,� continued Henrichs.

The philosophy change has made the credit union much more community focused and has shown them some success. “Probably the biggest thing in the last 10 years was merging with Gilman Area Credit Union,� added Hartwig.

This allowed for the credit union to expand its range of service. “The growth in our membership and how we have been able to give back to them,� said Henrichs in response to what makes her proud to be a part of the company.

Henrichs reiterated that the customers truly come first at this credit union and that is not something that will change.

When asked why people should do business with Peoples Choice Credit Union, Henrichs again mentioned their focus on the community and their members.

Peoples Choice Credit Union has branches in Medford and Gilman. The credit union completed an expansion in Medford in 2018.

It was made clear that they serve the community and give back as often as possible. “Our big goal is to continue to grow and stay viable as a financial institution,� said Henrichs when asked where she sees the company in 10 more years.

She also emphasized the credit union’s focus on the “mom and pop shops� so expect more of the same membership focuses along with continued expansion and technological advances.

Time Federal One of the biggest stories in the financial sector of the regional economy is with Time Federal Savings Bank in Medford.

This Medford-based institution has served the area since it was founded in 1934. Over much of that time, the bank has focused on real estate and home lending growing into one of the premier home mortgage lending institutions in the northern half of the state with assets of $586 million.

Stability has always been a core tenant of the Time Federal story and it is noteworthy that in the 86 years since it was founded, the bank has only had four presidents/CEOs, each of whom has left a lasting impact on the organization.

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PROGRESS 2020 THE STAR NEWS

Thursday, January 16, 2020

At the same time, Time Federal, as all financial institutions have, has had to deal with increasing regulation and an explosion in technology. Consumers are demanding more from their financial institutions from being able to fill out loan paperwork online at any time of the day or night or being able to do their banking through smartphone applications.

This has presented challenges for financial institutions and has caused them to change with the times and with consumer demands. Current president/ CEO William Weiland, with the support of the board of the directors, is leading the financial institution into a new direction with the recent acquisition of River Cities Bancshares and River Cities Bank.

The purchase was an exciting one for Time Federal allowing it to tap into the business lending expertise of River Cit-

ies bank while extending its own mortgage lending expertise into new areas.

Following the acquisition, Time Federal has grown to have assets in excess of $800 million.

In addition to opening up new markets and expanding into commercial lending, Weiland noted that one of the biggest things to come out of the acquisition is the staff from River Cities. He noted that all of River Cities leadership has been retained bolstering Time Federal’s own leadership.

“This is a very positive arrangement for both banks to continue to focus on community banking while melding the consumer banking strengths from Time Federal Savings Bank with the business banking strengths from River Cities Bank,” said Weiland. “In addition, our physical markets are adjacent without

overlap. This will allow us to maximize our potential to keep all of our current employees working together as a team.”

The past year has been a busy one for the bank leadership as they have worked to implement the purchase with acquisition completed on November 1. However the transition is still ongoing.

Time Federal is using the acquisition and the availability of new products and services as an opportunity to rebrand its image. Later in January, Time Federal will be announcing a name change that will go into effect on Feb. 24.

While the name will change, the bank’s leadership and core value of having a commitment to doing its best for its customers will not change.

Other financial services Beyond banks and credit union, the financial needs of the area also include

Page 5 investment advisors such as those provided by Brian Hedlund at State Street Wealth Management. Hedlund uses his decades of experience in financial advising and insurance at Hedlund Agency to help clients plan for their future goals.

Since 1994 Damm Financial Tax Accounting has provided the area with sound financial and tax planning and advice, allowing business owners and individuals peace of mind.

Peace of mind is also a major part of what United Mutual Insurance offers its clients.

While United Mutual’s name is relatively new, the company has a long history of serving the area. It was formed last year with the 2018 merger of Little Black Mutual Insurance and Farmington Mutual. The company provides a wide range of insurance products for home and business clients.

Service sector plays major role

Time Federal’s success has a great deal to do with the experienced and talented leadership staff.

The service sector is a strong component of the regional economy.

Before any other consideration, economic growth requires businesses to have power when someone switches the lights on, clean water to drink and that waste goes where it should when someone flushes the toilet.

Since 1938 Taylor Electric Cooperative has been providing electricity to rural customers along nearly 900 miles of local power lines. The cooperative provides both single and three-phase lines for small commercial and industrial applications.

In addition, through its partnerships with Dairyland Power the cooperative has significant solar infrastructure providing clean and renewable energy to its customers.

While Clear Country Water Solutions is relatively new to the local area, its owner, Mike Troiber, is a familiar face with 13 years experience installing and maintaining water systems in the local area.

Clear Country provides water softener sales and service as well as iron filtration and salt delivery utilizing Hellbrand products. He services residential and commercial clients throughout the area.

Ken and Sandra Begalke of Ken’s Septic Cleaning of Holcombe serve septic system needs throughout the area.

The company is proactive working with customers to prevent future issues by answering questions and building relationships. The company has more than 37 years of experience.

Did you know the following facts about the Rib Lake

Rib Lake Elementary School has had the highest Forward Test math scores of the 53 CESA 9 elementary schools for a second consecutive year. RLES scored a rating of Exceeding Expectations on the 2018-19 report card.

The school district features programs that focus on opportunity, skill development, and cultural experiences. These traits are especially evident in our music, art, foreign language and career and technical education programs.

The Rib Lake Community Education program served 292 community members last year, while also offering community access to the fitness center and before and after school community walking.

Rib Lake High School had the highest ACT composite score as a district (21.2) in the CESA 9 region which ranges from Mosinee in the south to Northland Pines in the north.

Over the past two years, Rib Lake High School has had over 18% of seniors dually enrolled in a Technical College Certification Program scheduled for completion before high school graduation.

The Rib Lake School District received a rating of Exceeding Expectations on the past 2 years of state report cards.

Students at Rib Lake Middle School receive high quality instruction focusing on growth as both a student and person.

An instructional emphasis is placed on transitionary success, high school readiness skills, and adolescent development.

Rib Lake High School is 1 of just 7 Wisconsin high schools to receive a US Department of Education Blue Ribbon School designation this decade.

Rib Lake Elementary School was honored as a Wisconsin Title I School of Recognition as a high achieving school in 2019 and as a high progress school in 2016.

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PROGRESS 2020

Thursday, January 16, 2020

THE STAR NEWS

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Manufacturing is a major part of the county economy Manufacturing has always been an important tier in the state and local economy. Wisconsin is very much a state where people make things and this trend follows through to Taylor County where locally-based industries remain national players in manufacturing across a spectrum of areas.

Taylor County, like much of the northern third of the state, has an extensive logging tradition. Wood from the region helped built the great cities of America through the beginning of the 20th century. While those old logging camps are a thing of the past, their legacy lives on through value-added wood products produced locally.

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Strong corporate citizenship has helped make the area strong. Whether it is representatives from NestlĂŠ Pizza Division presenting a donation for an inclusive playground project or serving meals at the Senior Health and Wellness Fair, the entire community benefits from the generosity and corporate stewardship. tractors and while the number of orders continued to increase, the foundation of becoming a leading manufacturer of windows and doors was underway.

Today, Weather Shield remains familyowned, with three generations actively involved in the day-to-day operations of the company. Weather Shield continues to grow and thrive by striving to offer only the highest quality products. Over

the years, dedication to innovation has grown the company into one of the nation’s leading window and door manufacturers.

In addition to being a major employer in the region, Weather Shield has an ongoing commitment to energy conservation and the environment.

From glazing options that maximize energy efficiency and personal comfort,

to reducing natural resource consumption through the availability of FSC certified woods, Weather Shield works to ease the burden on the environment not only through their products but also through their production facilities.

Weather Shield has been recognized by Wisconsin Manufacturers and Commerce with a “Business Friend of

See ENERQUIP on page 8

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THE STAR NEWS

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PROGRESS 2020 THE STAR NEWS

Page 8

Thursday, January 16, 2020

Enerquip builds off of a culture of service leadership to grow Continued from page 6 the Environment Award” for the company’s innovative pollution prevention and greenhouse gas emission reduction efforts.

Enerquip “Probably the biggest change occurred in 2011 when control of the company was basically turned over to more longtime employees of Enerquip,” stated CEO Jeanne Deml.

“That was the beginning of the current management team,” she continued.

Deml continued on to speak about the culture that Enerquip has developed in the past 10 years and how important it is to the staff to maintain that culture.

“We expect a lot, but in turn, we give a lot,” stated Deml.

With the culture change has come a change in the type of employees Enerquip will hire. Deml stated that Enerquip is looking for employees who mesh well with the culture in order to create a better work environment.

Director of sales and marketing, Ron Herman said another big change in the past 10 years is the services Enerquip is able to provide for customers.

“Outside of the food, beverage and dairy industry, we entered into the pharmaceutical market and now we are one of the leading suppliers in the world of the pharmaceutical market,” said Herman.

Herman went on to mention that Enerquip is now also involved in the renewable energy market, chemical refining market and the CBD market.

Production manager, Tim Strebig spoke about the renovations to both the outside and inside of the Enerquip building.

Jeanne Deml (right), president/CEO of Enerquip has led the company through tremendous growth. She credits the strong employee work ethic as being a key to the company’s success.

“We basically gutted the whole office, redid the whole office and on the outside, updated it, put some windows in for the employees,” explained Strebig.

He also said Enerquip has updated their machines in the past 10 years to remain efficient.

Enerquip has also put to use two storage towers in the last decade. The large storage tower is 56 feet tall and can hold 200 tons of material.

“We’ve actually had people from all over the Midwest come and visit us to look at that storage tower,” said Strebig.

Director of human resources and accounting, Shanna Scheithauer has also been busy in the past 10 years. Scheithauer was responsible for creating a playbook consisting of 31 plays that Enerquip employees swear by.

“We do a lot of stuff to grow the management team and grow the people within the company,” said Scheithauer.

She then explained that Enerquip will sometimes have NTC come in and teach a class just to help the employees continue to grow.

“I’d say the regulatory standards in most of the industries that we serve have evolved,” stated Herman when asked how the heat exchange industry has

changed.

Herman also said that because the regulatory standards change, so do the machines required to do the jobs.

Deml chimed in and mentioned that employee safety has evolved in the past 10 years. Jobs are beginning to require more dangerous machines, so naturally safety requirements are changing as well.

She also mentioned that the internet

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PROGRESS 2020 THE STAR NEWS

Thursday, January 16, 2020 has helped shape the heat exchange industry into what it is today. “It’s made us really have to look at what makes us different and what sets us apart,� said Deml.

When asked what makes her the most proud of Enerquip, Deml said, “It’s the culture that we developed, I love that we are so profitable that we can give so much back to our employees.�

She noted the closeness of the entire staff and called themselves a “family.� Deml says employees are quick to support each other and are truly unique.

Scheithauer was quick to agree with Deml. “Everybody is always there for each other, whether it’s work or personal, I could ask anyone to go help me shovel my roof off, and I believe they would,� said Scheithauer. “Not being just a number,� was Strebig’s response to what makes him most proud about Enerquip.

Strebig said that the shop employees are not separate from the office employees. They are simply Enerquip, they work as one and maintain a level of closeness that is difficult to match. “I’m very proud of the continued growth that we’ve seen over the last 10 years,� said Herman.

He also agreed that the family mentality at Enerquip is something to be very proud of. “Like every family, you’re not going to get along with everybody every day, but the way we all click together as a team is top-notch,� continued Herman.

As a company that changes with industry, Enerquip is always looking to change and expand. “Expansions into a few more of our international markets, probably Canada,� said Deml in response to be asked what Enerquip is working on changing.

Deml also said that Enerquip is working on its website for the future. This will allow customers to easily access Enerquip and purchase various needs. “We of course would see ourselves continually growing in the next 10 years,� replied Deml when asked what the next 10 years at Enerquip may look like.

Deml believes that expansion is likely within the next 10 years, but does not believe international expansion is likely. “We’ll look at new markets, emerging markets without ignoring our solid base business that we already

have,� added Herman.

There is a palpable excitement within the walls of Enerquip and you can bet that excitement will carry over into any endeavors they find themselves in within the next 10 years.

Great Northern Cabinetry Upon speaking with Great Northern Cabinetry’s vice president of sales and marketing, Cheryl Graumann, it became evident that a lot has changed in the past 10 years. “Changing and expanding our offerings, cabinet SKU’s (sizes or configurations), colors, that’s probably what has changed the most,� said Graumann.

She mentioned that due to customer preference and style always changing, so is the industry and Great Northern Cabinetry is always trying to keep up with the changes.

Ten years ago, the company had roughly 38 door styles and now 10 years later, they have 68 as a testament to the ever-changing industry.

Along with door styles, the color preferences of cabi-

Page 9 netry have changed from the past. “Ten years ago, translucent stains were much more popular, however, since then our solid color finishes have doubled making up over 50% of our sales today, with white being the most popular color choice,� Graumann noted. Ten years ago they had around 20 different finishes, they offer around 30 finishes currently. “With that, manufacturing has to follow suit, so if that requires different equipment to be able to provide those things, we have to be able to do that,� continued Graumann.

The company switched to a more user-friendly primer to accommodate the increase in white finishes which significantly helped speed up production. They also added a vacuum table to help minimize dust particles during the scuff sanding process for an improved finish.

Finally, they have also updated equipment in their door and drawer departments to aid and improve production of those items.

Great Northern Cabinetry specializes in kitchen and bathroom cabinetry but they are able to create cabinets for any room in a home.

See MANUFACTURING on page 10

Since 1983, Werner Sales and Service has been there for the area’s ATV, snowmobile and outdoor power equipment needs. Chow and Kurt Werner offer Canam ATVs, Ski-Doo snowmobiles and STIHL chainsaws, blowers, and more. The company is looking ahead to strong growth with growing interest in outdoor sports.

Ackeret Appliance and TV in downtown Medford has been serving people in the area for their appliance, sleep center and electronics needs since 1946.

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PROGRESS 2020 THE STAR NEWS

Page 10

Thursday, January 16, 2020

Manufacturing in region looks to continue to grow in coming years Continued from page 9 “We do great rooms, entertainment areas, bedrooms and closets by just changing the configurations of the cabinetry to work in other areas of the home ,” stated Graumann.

Graumann, who has been with the company for 38 years, said that she is most proud to be a part of this company because, “it makes a product that you can be proud of.”

Great Northern Cabinetry produces beautiful cabinetry which requires a lot of teamwork.

It is a very family-like place to work and events such as company picnics are a way to bond and give back to their 75 employees.

Great Northern Cabinetry is always looking for new opportunities to increase their dealer network and have recently tapped in to new areas.

“Right now we have dealers in about 30 states from Montana to Maine as well as Florida but are continuing to expand into other territories. We’re expanding some of our territories right now, we just introduced the southern territory of Texas, Louisiana, Arkansas and Oklahoma,” said Graumann.

As far as changing is concerned, the company does not currently have any major projects in the works, but Graumann said that they are always looking ahead to try and stay on top of any changes in industry.

She stated that they will continue to improve products and add new styles, storage options and accessories whenever possible to meet the market demands of the ever-changing kitchen trends.

She also mentioned the possibility of

introducing frameless cabinetry which is cabinetry that is made without face frames.

The company currently offers framed cabinetry which has face frames instead of being box constructions with their three product lines.

“That’s something totally different and would require different construction methods, materials and equipment to produce,” said Graumann on the topic of frameless cabinetry.

“Obviously, we’re looking to grow and continue to be a profitable company well into the future,” said Graumann when asked where she sees the company in 10 more years.

She was also hopeful that another recession would not be in the forecast for the next 10 years because it took the company a long time to recover from the last one.

Lastly, she mentioned that with the possibility of growth, comes the possibility of adding new types of equipment such as a drying oven or perhaps adding a second shift if the company sees an increase in business.

From tapping into new business markets to constantly changing their offerings, Great Northern Cabinetry has been a busy company over the last 10 years.

Expect that to continue as customer preference and style change through the years.

Sierra Pacific What has changed at Sierra Pacific Windows in the last 10 years? According to human resources manager, Cher Murphy and director of marketing, April Lucas, everything has changed.

Preston Sharp is touring the country to bring remembrance to veterans. He was in Medford earlier this fall and toured the Sierra Pacific plant here spending time with employees who are military veterans and thanking them for their service.

Sierra Pacific Industry, one of the largest lumber producers in the U.S. and parent company of Sierra Pacific Windows, acquired Hurd Windows and Superseal in Merrill over the last 10 years.

This brings new ownership, new goals, new employees and new systems.

With that, almost everything else began to follow suit.

Since then, the company has seen a lot of growth in the form of the doubling of the company size.

That brings increased capital which allows for the company to keep up with technological changes as well as continuing to add jobs.

As far the industry itself, Lucas said that it has changed a lot too.

“Some of the biggest things are energy efficiency and larger, more expansive windows and doors that everyone wants,” said Lucas.

“It is very architecturally driven, but overall we would say our consumer and architects keep driving for higher performance in products, and bigger,” she continued.

They, like many other companies, change as the wants and

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Thursday, January 16, 2020 needs of their customers change.

Their changes in process have been much the same. As technology changes, so does the ability to become more efficient and increase quality.

“The technology that’s out there has allowed them to produce better yields with the raw materials, so basically it has allowed us to increase a lot of efficiencies and improve our product lines,” said Murphy.

“I am extremely proud to belong to a company that feels like family,” said Murphy when asked what makes her most proud to be a part of the company.

She continued to speak about being proud of the changes they are able to make to the community such as helping the schools with something they may need.

Murphy concluded her answer by saying, “We can rest easy knowing we work for a financially stable company that wants to provide good pay, low cost benefits, a great retirement plan and provide

PROGRESS 2020 THE STAR NEWS

lots of career advancement opportunities.”

Lucas was equally as proud, but for different reasons.

“Sierra Pacific Windows is the kind of company you think only existed in text books,” she said.

Lucas admires the fact that the ownership truly cares about their employees and that their voices are heard. “We are valued, we get to contribute, and we’re rewarded for our hard work.”

The Sierra Pacific Foundation is responsible for giving back to the community when possible, and they are proud to do it.

According to Murphy, the foundation has awarded almost $8 million in scholarships to students enrolled in trade schools, technical certificate programs and universities or colleges.

These scholarships are awarded to the students of employees and are a great way showing that the company cares for both their employees and the families of em-

Dave’s Showcase Furniture and Flooring is an important anchor on Medford’s Main Street shopping district. The store features furniture, home decor and flooring for all your needs.

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ployees.

“In fact, I think last year there was maybe 225 students that applied and they all received scholarships, it’s just amazing,” said Murphy.

In addition to scholarships, the company also donates money to various community activities, buildings and schools.

As far as upcoming changes are concerned, Murphy and Lucas shared a message on behalf of company president, Tom Takach.

“The stigma attached to success in life being directly linked to getting a college degree. We have numerous and diverse career paths for hard working folks that don’t require a secondary education.”

This is not to say that the company is against college educations, however, squashing the stigma that college is absolutely necessary to get a good job is the most important thing that the company is trying to change.

For Murphy, personal changes to the company were not a big issue.

Page 11 “There are always some things that come up that we think could be better, but they don’t always work well for a company as a whole,” she said.

Although she could think of nothing specifically, she continued to note that changes need to benefit as much of the company as possible.

“The only change we seek is to continue doubling and tripling our business size,” said Lucas on the topic.

It was her hope that more people would discover the company and seek the opportunity to work for them.

Lucas and Murphy agreed that they see expansion in the future. They will continue to grow as they have been in the last 10 years.

On top of expansion, the two also foresaw the same great work environment, happy employees and growth opportunities that have been on display for the last 10 years. Both showed sincere excitement for the future and that the last 10 years are a great indicator of what is to come.

For three generations Strama’s Cenex in Medford has served as a community hub where people go to not only fill up on fuel, but to catch up on the happenings around town.

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PROGRESS 2020

Thursday, January 16, 2020

THE STAR NEWS

Page 12

Healthcare continues to grow in importance in local economy The healthcare segment of the Taylor County economy is strong and growing. While the cornerstone of regional healthcare needs and employment remains Aspirus Medford Hospital and Clinics, area residents have multiple other options which compliment the care received at Aspirus.

Aspirus has been providing Taylor County with great health services for over 15 years and are constantly researching to new medicines and techniques as well as always keeping up with new technology.

With that in mind, a lot has changed at Aspirus in the last 10 years.

“One of the things that has changed a

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lot is our volumes have increased,” said Aspirus CEO Dale Hustedt.

He said that 10 years ago Aspirus’ volumes for outpatient care and inpatient hospitalization was around 100,000 patient visits per year.

Last year, Aspirus saw a 39% increase which brought in 139,000 patient visits.

Hustedt attributes this in large part to the fact that Aspirus has added so many new services in the last 10 years, allowing for them to cater to a wide variety of patients.

“We added a kidney dialysis center, a lot of cardiac services, we added an in house MRI and we’ve opened up two clinics in the last 10 years,” said Hustedt.

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The two clinics that have opened in the last 10 years are located in Phillips and Athens and Hustedt stressed that when talking about Aspirus, you are really talking about the Medford campus and all of their “satellite clinics” such as the ones in Phillips and Athens.

“We’ve added chemotherapy and infusion services, we’ve added 3D mammography and we’ve just recently completed a facility project where we added a shortterm rehab unit in our facility,” continued Hustedt.

This rehab facility is for those who may have been cleared to leave the hospital, but are not ready to be on their own.

Perhaps one of the biggest changes in the last 10 years is Hustedt himself. He took over as CEO of Aspirus a little over a year ago and finds himself still learning about the company and community.

Hustedt said that the medical field as a whole has changed a lot in the last 10 years as well.

“Some of the big things are telemedicine and another big advancement is genomics (gene therapy),” stated Hustedt.

He spoke about how genomics allow for doctors to analyze someone’s genes and decipher which medication would work best for that person.

Hustedt said that has been a huge change that has helped a lot of people in the last decade.

“We like to think that we are pretty much a one-stop shop for most things,” said Hustedt when asked about the healthcare that Aspirus provides.

Hustedt admitted that while they do offer almost everything, one thing they struggle with is high level gastroenterol-

ogy and said that Aspirus would likely refer a patient to somewhere such as Wausau because they do not have a specialist on the Medford campus.

When asked what makes him most proud to be a part of the Aspirus team, Dale Hustedt Hustedt said, “The people that work here are the whole difference.”

He spoke a lot about how dedicated the team is and the fact that this job is much more than just a paycheck for these employees.

With around 600 employees, Hustedt said that they are all willing to go above and beyond for their patients and their fellow employees.

In the medical field, technology and research is always advancing and Aspirus does everything in their power to keep up.

One of the things they are currently working on is a new CT scanner. They are also working towards renovating the outside of their assisted living home, County Gardens. This building has been around for nearly 20 years so new siding and roofing is becoming necessary.

A new specialty clinic is also coming soon to Aspirus. This will provide enough room for about four out of town specialists to operate and work comfortably.

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PROGRESS 2020 THE STAR NEWS

Thursday, January 16, 2020 “The only thing I would say about change is that, right now we are looking for staff, we’ve got a few openings that I would love to see us be able to fill the positions,� said Hustedt when asked what he would personally like to see changed.

Currently, Aspirus has job openings for caregivers, nurses and other support staff.

As for the next 10 years, Hustedt said that Aspirus will continue to do what they have been doing, which is keeping up with technology and continuing the research of new medicines and treatments. “I expect that we will be recruiting more physicians and specialists over time, I expect that we will see more telemedicine services becoming available,�

Hustedt continued.

He also hopes that the personalized medicine that genomics can offer will continue to advance and become more

popular. “I expect that Aspirus Medford is going to continue to be here and thriving 10 years from now and continuing to grow,�

Hustedt concluded.

In 2018, IBM Watson Health named Aspirus a top 15 health system. In 2017, they were named one of the nation’s “62 Critical Access Hospitals to Know� by Becker’s Hospital Reviews, and on top of that they have been listed in the “100 Critical Access Hospitals� in each of the past seven years.

Great health service is key in being put on these lists, but so is great community work, and Aspirus goes above and beyond in this category as well.

In 2018, Aspirus either supported or sponsored over 110 program activities and their support stems out further than Taylor County.

They have supported programs for Colby Cheese Days, Price County Fair,

Since 1969 K&B Refrigeration of Medford has served the area’s appliance and sleep needs. The store prides itself on service and has been a reputation of quality in the region.

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In the future, expect Aspirus to continue their top of the line health services, while also giving back to the numerous communities that surround them.

Bone and Joint Clinic For more than 50 years Bone and Joint Clinic has provided orthopaedic services to Central Wisconsin.

The business was founded in 1969 by orthopaedic surgeon Thomas O. Miller who envisioned a medical practice devoted solely to bone, joint and muscle injuries. His vision came to life in 1969 when he opened a solo practice in Wausau.

Over the next few years he was joined by surgeons Richard L. Buechel, Donald H. Kranendonk and Alexander S. Foltz.

Page 13 Doctors Miller, Buechel, Kranendonk, and Foltz, became Bone and Joint’s charter group of orthopaedic surgeons. They set a standard for exceptional care, from admissions to treatment and recovery, that continues today.

A new clinic was built in Medford in 2002 to serve the needs of the community.

Three orthopaedic surgeons currently staff this clinic full-time.

Bone and Joint Clinic has offices in Medford, Wausau, Plover and Merrill with specialty care in neck and back, elbow hand and wrist, knees, hips, foot and ankle, pain management, sports medicine and physical and occupational therapy.

See TAYLORED on page 14

70

In 2018 Romig’s Hardware in Gilman celebrated 80 years of serving patrons in western Taylor County. The store features tools, housewares and appliances as well as providing plumbing and heating services. A popular feature for local residents and visitors is the old-fashioned ice cream bar where you can stop for a sweet treat and catch up on what is going on around town.

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PROGRESS 2020

Thursday, January 16, 2020

THE STAR NEWS

Page 14

Taylored Family Care offers a patient-centered healthcare model Continued from page 13 Taylored Family Care Clinic Through its direct-pay model, Taylored Family Care focus less on the business-side of medicine and puts more focus on direct patient care.

Rebecca Gilbertson, owner of Taylored Family Care Clinic, is a family nurse practitioner (FNP) with a doctorate degree in nursing practice (DNP).

Gilbertson believes healthcare should be affordable for all patient backgrounds and needs, providing the finest care without the need to rely on expensive insurance. They offer a direct pay model where pricing is clearly posted and every client knows prior to their appointment what they can expect for service and fees.

Patients pay at the time of their appointment, which allows Taylored Family Care Clinic to keep prices low by eliminating the need for billing or collections staff.

Taylored Family Care Clinic offers an array of af-

The Little Store located on Main Street in Medford sells hand-crafted items produced by area senior citizens. The store is run entirely by volunteers and provides an outlet for area seniors to sell their products and gain supplemental income. The store features yarn and fabric creations as well as wood-working items.

fordable services, including but not limited to: acute care visits including minor suturing, ear infections, sinusitis, strep throat, bronchitis, and care for sexually transmitted infections; annual exams; family planning, contraception and pregnancy counseling; pediatric care and well child visits; occupational health services; perimenopausal and menopausal care; hormone imbalance; nutritional and exercise programs and WIAA sports physicals.

In addition Dr. Gilbertson is also federally-certified to provide Commercial Drivers License (CDL) exams and certificates.

Wildberg Chiropractic Wildberg Chiropractic has been one of the area’s premier chiropractic providers for years.

Their offices are located on Hwy 64 near the Medford Area Senior High School campus and next door to

Located on Main Street in downtown Medford Circle of Faith Thrift Store is a community anchor. It features clothing, housewares, craft products, sports gear, children’s items and tools. Circle of Faith gives back to the community through support of benefits.

Taylored Family Care. they provide a wide range of services with the goal of providing superior health and balance through chiropractic. Their doctors follow the message that chiropractic care is more than just making the pain disappear. It is about learning, understanding and taking care of your body to improve your quality of life.

One of their top priorities is to protect the well-being of their valued patients. Dr. Michelle Evans has been with Wildberg Chiropractic since 2007 and does diversified, activator, Thompson, and Webster Chiropractic adjusting techniques as well as being certified for nutritional counseling.

Wildberg Chiropractic helps patients with pain relief, stimulation therapy, cryo-therapy and with relief following accidents.

Northland Outlet Store located on Hwy 13 in Medford is the go-to destination for party and home decor needs as well as tools, household goods, toys and craft supplies.

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Dental health Healthcare services in Taylor County include focus on all parts of the body.

For 47 years, the doctors of the Medford Dental Clinic have provided dental services to the area.

Procedures that they office include root canals, crowns, dentures, repairs, extractions, cleanings and exams.

They have two attending doctors Dr. Dan Miskulin, and Dr. Gary Krueger. Dr. Miskulin and Dr. Krueger are both grad-

PROGRESS 2020 THE STAR NEWS

uates from the Marquette University as Doctors of Dental Surgery.

Since 1977, Cosmetic and Implant Dentistry of Wisconsin offers a full range of cosmetic and restorative services with an emphasis on dental implants. Dr. Kim Gowey has been placing dental implants since 1981 and has extensive experience in the field. He uses advanced technology and finely honed surgical skills to provide stable, lifelike implant-supported restorations.

Counseling Connection moved into the former Thomas Floral building in December 2018. Counseling Connection provides counseling services to Taylor County and the surrounding area.

The building also includes a reception area and break room, as well as, a large garage space which has the possibility of being converted into a group therapy room.

According to Kelly Schultz of Counseling Connection, one of the major draws for the location was the combination of visibility along Hwy 64 and the space for parking and potential future expansion on the lot.

TAYLOR ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE

Page 15

With over three decades of experience, he can provide many types of implantsupported restorations with minimal discomfort and exceptional long-term results. Dr. Gowey is board-certified by the American Academy of Implant Dentistry (AAID). He also served as the former president of the AAID, and he is an international lecturer on the subject.

Healthy Skin and Body Your health has a direct impact on your skin and addressing skin issues can lead to a healthier life.

“Regardless of your skin problem, we are here to help you achieve your optimum skin wellness. We truly believe this is where skin and body wellness begins,” said Lisa Kraemer, owner of Healthy Skin and Body of Medford.

Kraemer has been a Wisconsin licensed aesthetician in Medford for 15 years. She is an instructor and consultant in the skin care industry and member of Associated Skin Care Professionals, specializing in holistic aesthetics. This approach takes all aspects of the individual

into account to personalize a treatment plan in an effort to heal and clear the skin from the inside out.

In January 2018, Kraemer moved to her current location on Main Street in downtown Medford where she continues her holistic approach to healing through creation of a tranquil and inviting space in her office that was designed with the client’s comfort in mind.

Black River Hemp Located in downtown Medford, Black River Hemp is owned by Misty and Derek Poehnelt. The store features locally grown industrial hemp products that are rich in cannabinoids (CBD) Misty is passionate about natural holistic health and healing. With a practitioner of healing arts degree, she has run an alternative health business, wellness coaching, massage therapy, and energy work. She went back to school and received a bachelors of science in health and wellness, specializing in behavior change and therapeutic lifestyle coaching.

BRI works with area developmentally handicapped individuals in job training and employment. In 2019 they opened a Spice Shop at their Medford offices. The spices are packaged and the shop is run by their clients.

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Taylor Electric Cooperative energized rural Wisconsin on March 18, 1938. Serving most of Taylor County and parts of Clark, Marathon and Lincoln counties, Taylor Electric’s member base has grown to over 4,400 with 867 miles of distribution line. The Cooperative is owned by the members it serves who, in return, receive capital credit dividends based on electric consumption. Seven directors, elected by the members at the annual meeting, comprise the board to advise management on business decisions. The Taylor Electric Cooperative is under the direction of CEO Ken Ceaglske and 12 full-time employees.

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PROGRESS 2020

Thursday, January 16, 2020

THE STAR NEWS

Page 16

Businesses work to bring farmer’s production to consumers

Members of the Zuleger family at We Grow use organic techniques and heirloom varieties of vegetables to provide the produce to members of their community supported agriculture operation as well as at area farmer’s markets. ing the farmers’ labors into value-added products. Wisconsin produces a lot of cheese. Industry experts estimate that the state produces more than 2 billion pounds of cheese each year in dozens of different varieties.

Marathon Cheese fills an important role in getting that cheese from manufacturing plants to consumers.

The company cuts, shreds, cubes and packages cheese for customers. Medford is one of four locations that the compa-

Dr. Kim Gowey & Dr. Mallory Gowey

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80885

1981

Taylor County Achievement Center began what is now BRI with a small group of community members.

A grant is secured by the Taylor County Achievement Center to assist in the establishment of a prime manufacturing project. As a result, people with 650 Jensen Drive, disabilities utilized their talents to produce Redwood Lawn Medford Furniture.

BRI receives the first of many passenger vehicles that have grown to 13 buses and 10 vehicles in 2020.

BRI begins commercial and residential lawn crews that are still in operation.

BRI receives its first contract with the Department of Vocational Rehabilitation to find community jobs for people with disabilities.

BRI secures its first RAM (Roadside Area Maintenance) contract with RFW (Rehabilitation For Wisconsin) to maintain three county waysides and the state’s first Rustic Roads monument for WIS-DOT. BRI begins providing bulk mailing services to local business that are still available today!

BRI celebrates 25th anniversary.

Operations are completely consolidated and shifted to our current building, 650 Jensen Drive.

BRI celebrates 30th anniversary, Memorial Park is built behind building.

BRI holds its first annual fundraising golf tournament for community members to show their support each June. New sponsorships are available.

BRI begins year round confidential shredding operations for personal and business document shredding which continues to accept new business and residential drop ins.

BRI celebrates its 35th anniversary.

BRI adds a 4,500 square foot recreational park to the south side of its building.

BRI starts its first Volunteer Program.

BRI celebrates its 40th anniversary.

BRI is the first stop on the Green Bay Packers Tailgate Tour.

BRI opens “The Store at BRI” selling bulk spices and gift baskets which are packaged by people at BRI “The Store at BRI” expands by introducing new bakery products for the community to purchase at 650 Jensen Drive.

We offer a variety of services for the highest quality dental care for our patients

80845

novating to stay ahead of the trends. As a category leader, we take pride in the many products we offer that consumers know and love. But we also know that to win with consumers, we have to disrupt ourselves with new innovations to add to our portfolio before we get disrupted.

Medford is an important part of this. The facility creates Nestlé’s delicious, ontrend pizzas,” said Harrison Allen a communications specialist with Nestlé USA. Pizzas are only one facet of the turn-

Black River Industries “Our History” 1973

ny has. It is headquartered in Marathon City and in addition to Medford has locations in Idaho and Mississippi.

In the summer of 1952, founders Ray and Marie Goldbach began packaging cheese in the basement of Marie’s parents’ home. They hired 10 employees and set up the first production line. Since that time that company has grown to employ hundreds and serving the needs of producers and retailers around the country.

While companies such as Nestlé Pizza and Marathon Cheese show the largescale success that can come with bringing value to regional agricultural production, others have worked to focus on keeping things small and personal.

We Grow is a produce farm located in northern Taylor County providing pastured heritage breed pork and free-range broiler chickens along with a wide-array of in season vegetables grown without the use of synthetic inputs in a community supported agricultural (CSA) system.

We Grow chooses to use only organic certified, non-GMO seeds. They sell weekly garden shares, direct off the farm during the growing season and at the Medford Farmer’s Markets on Tuesday afternoons and Saturday mornings. We Grow is currently undergoing USDA organic certification.

We Grow and other similar enterprises provide a local alternative to what people can purchase as far as food products.

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Agriculture has always been an important player in the regional economy.

As farmers produce milk, produce and livestock, much of it goes off to markets around the globe.

Over the decades, local industries have grown to use the fruits of the farmers’ labors to create value-added products.

Among the most recognizable of these products continue to be Tombstone Pizza and the other frozen pizza brands produced by Nestlé Pizza Division in Medford.

Tombstone had its birth in Medford and under the leadership of the Simek family grew into a nationallyrecognized brand name. It was eventually purchased by Kraft and is now owned by the multi-national food manufacturing company Nestlé.

Tombstone Pizzas continue to be produced in Medford along with Jacks, DiGiorno and California Pizza Kitchen.

Nestlé continues to be a major employer in the Medford area and looks to continue to produce pizzas here into the future.

“Consumer taste preferences are ever evolving, and Nestlé is constantly in-

PROGRESS 2020 THE STAR NEWS

Thursday, January 16, 2020

Page 17

Educational opportunities provide firm foundation for economic success Education provides the base for economic growth.

Modern workplaces need workers who are trained not only to do tasks today, but who are able to think and quickly adapt as technology brings innovation and opportunity to workplaces in the future.

The area’s school systems provide a firm educational foundation. The schools work closely with employers to make sure that students are prepared as they enter the workforce or continue on to higher education.

Even before young people enter grade school, education is a major part of their lives. Sand Box Childcare and Preschool is a major child care provider in the Medford area.

Sand Box is a nationally certified childcare facility with more than 40 years experience in serving the people of Taylor County. The facility has achieve five-star ratings in the state’s YoungStar program recognizing high quality standards within child care settings. SandBox works closely with area industries and

NTC moved into its new Medford campus building in 2014. The building provides state of the art learning opportunities allowing students in Medford to participate in classes around the college district and beyond. The number of programs offered at Medford has steadily grown.

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workplaces to meet the childcare needs of their workers while also preparing youngster to excel in school and in life. A firm foundation in early is a pathway to future success.

This education is continued through educational opportunities in the area’s three public school districts and two religious-based schools.

School districts such as Rib Lake Public Schools use project-based learning as well as extensive dual-credit programs to give their students a leg up when it comes to job opportunities in the future. Schools seek to build partnerships to ensure that students are graduating with the skills and knowledge needed to succeed.

Northcentral Technical College (NTC) works with learners from high school to those seeking retraining later in life.

NTC’s new Medford Campus offers a state of the art learning experience that blends classroom instruction with hands-on work.

Over 60 associate degrees or technical diplomas and nearly 50 certificates can be earned entirely on the Medford campus, while over half of the courses for many other NTC programs can also be completed in Medford.

Some popular programs in Medford include: nursing, nursing assistant, health care business services, accounting, early childhood education, medical assistant, human services, information technology, business management, emergency medical technician, health navigator and medical coding specialist.

Area businesses are also able to tap into the resources of the UW-System

and the regional universities that serve as economic hubs. The Medford Area Development Foundation and Medford Area Chamber of Commerce has partnered with the Small Business Development Center at UW-Stevens Point to provide educational opportunities and guidance for those seeking to open new businesses in the area. This is an invaluable resource to promote economic growth in the region.

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Rib Lake students Jolee Gehrke, Riley Johnson, and Ollie Robisch work with cell compound at a summer science camp held at the Mortgridge Institute for Research on the UW-Madison campus.

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PROGRESS 2020 THE STAR NEWS

Page 18

Thursday, January 16, 2020

Businesses help build community from the ground up Taylor County is a great place to live.

Whether you are looking for a place to raise a family, retire, or kick back and relax Taylor County has options available both in prebuilt homes and custom construction.

Wausau Homes of Medford Wausau Homes of Medford is a company that utilizes “stick building” to build custom homes for their customers.

Stick building is when pieces of the frame of the home is built in a factory and transported to the job site and put into place one by one by crew members operating heavy machinery.

In the case of Wausau Homes of Medford, these pieces of frame are built in the Wausau Homes factory located in Wausau, and then transported to wherever the job site may be.

According to owner, Jason Wanke, this type of technology is exactly what has changed at the company in the last 10 years.

“Things fit together much like a jigsaw puzzle and it basically speeds up the framing process,” said Wanke on the topic.

He spoke about the ability to save money for the customers because of the efficiency they are able to create through this tactic.

According to Wanke, another benefit of these new technologies is the accuracy in which the work is done.

The team at the Wausau plant is able to create the framework with precision accuracy because of the tools at their disposal.

Wanke feels that this is the direction that the entire industry is heading to-

Wausau Homes of Medford has won numerous industry awards for their work in homebuilding in the region. The company offers a variety of flexible options for homeowners to customize their dream homes. wards because of its efficiency and accuracy.

When asked what makes him the most proud to be a part of this company, Wanke stated, “What I’m most proud of, is that we have the same sub contractors and employees that we had 20 years ago, we use the same people and they’re like family to me.”

He attested to the fact that these people make his life much easier and they have become a very strong team over the years.

As far as changes are concerned, Wanke said that they are not looking to change much at this point in time.

Things are generally very strong at the company currently and Wanke in-

tends on seeing where the future will take it.

As for the next 10 years, Wanke believes the company will find even more efficiency.

“We’re trying to find efficiencies to make housing more affordable and at the same time, not compromising quality,” said Wanke.

Building homes is currently very expensive and it is hard to say if that will change in the next 10 years, however, Wanke feels that the technologies and efficiencies to change that could be on the horizon.

The cost of building a home is also the biggest challenge that the industry faces.

Many people will become discouraged after having a home priced and will take to buying an already existing home and remodeling it.

However, today, it seems that this may not be the best path to take because those who remodel struggle to break even when they attempt to sell the home.

Building a home, on the other hand, is quite an investment but a customer may come closer to breaking even upon selling.

“Your Way, Firm Price, On Time” is the motto of Wausau Homes and they truly intend on sticking to that. They are a company that wants to put customers in their dream homes. Not only do they want that, they also want to do it as efficiently as possible and as quick as possible without tampering with the quality.

“I want people to know that we have brought a retail atmosphere to home building, that’s really the secret to our success, a one-stop shop,” said Wanke.

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PROGRESS 2020 THE STAR NEWS

Thursday, January 16, 2020

Before you can build your dream home, you need to find the perfect spot.

Dixon Greiner Realty of Medford specializes in city and country residential properties, Northern Wisconsin lake homes, cabins, wooded hunting land, plus Wisconsin dairy farms and commercial properties.

Their real estate professionals have years of experience and the ability to connect people with their prop-

erty needs. Agents include Luke Dixon, Jesse Lukewich, John Knoll and John Marshall.

Since 1984 RJ Stockwell Land and Auction Company has served the area’s real estate and auction service needs.

The company has rapidly grown to become one of the leading auction companies in the industry.

Their sales associates and auctioneers attend many continuing education seminars and are active members of state

and national associations. RJ Stockwell auctioneers conducts several benefit auctions each year to help support many community service fundraisers and charities.

With RJ Stockwell agricultural and commercial auctions, clients benefit from the extensive background that the company has to offer, combined with the ability to provide services that meet the demands of the rapidly changing marketplace.

John S. Olynick, Inc. Any construction needs to start with a solid base and for generations John S.

Klingbeil Lumber celebrated their 80th anniversary in 2019. The store has been a go-to stop for contractors and do-it-yourselfers offering lumber, hardware, tools, paint and home and garden equipment. A growing area of the business is in tool and equipment rentals.

Page 19

Olynick, Inc. of Gilman has provided that foundation through a variety of services.

John S. Olynick, Inc. was founded in 1948 by John and Dolores Olynick.

Headquartered in Gilman, Olynicks has expanded over the past seven decades with three ready-mix plant locations: Cornell, Jump River, Stanley, Medford and Ladysmith, Wisconsin and over 30 gravel pits in northwestern Wisconsin.

Coupled with a portable crushing plant, Olynicks furnishes material for all types of construction.

A parade-goer gets sprayed with some cool water from a John S. Olynick truck during the Jump River 4th of July parade. Olynicks celebrated their 70th anniversary in in 2018. They are based just north of Gilman and have locations in Medford, Cornell, Jump River, Stanley and Ladysmith.

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PROGRESS 2020 THE STAR NEWS

Page 20

Thursday, January 16, 2020

Businesses offer plenty to see and do both locally and far away There is much to offer in Taylor County when it comes to recreation and leisure activities. The Broadway Theatre in Medford is celebrating nine years of ownership by Dave and Anne Fleegel and offers first run movies in a comfortable environment.

Area taverns and restaurants such as P&E Steakhouse in Medford offer patrons a place to relax, enjoy a special night out or kick back with friends.

P&E Steakhouse is owned and operated by Anne and Randy Brost of Medford who have continued on the traditional full-service bar and classic Wisconsin supper club steak restaurant built by founders Phil and Eleanor Howarth.

Travel Leaders For those looking to get away from the daily grind, Travel Leaders of Medford has decades of experience in helping people plan their destinations and more importantly being there as support when circumstances arise.

Since 1982, Travel Leaders of Medford has helped travelers plan their vacation getaways.

Darla Schulz has been with Travel Leaders since 1997 and in the past 23 years has seen many changes in the travel industry. She explains that despite the explosion in on-line booking options, travel agents continue to play an important role in ensuring that people’s travel plans go off with out a hitch.

“We do it all, start to finish,” Schulz said. This means that people can spend more time enjoying their vacation and less time worrying that they missed some important planning detail.

One of the important services provid-

ed by Travel Leaders is security. Schulz notes that there are many online scammers out there preying on unsuspecting travelers. That is not an issue with going through an established agency such as Travel Leaders.

Likewise, travelers can rest assured that the trip they booked is the experience they have. Schulz said the agents have first-hand experience in many of their most popular destination so they can avoid the potential bait and switch tactics of unscrupulous online sales sites.

Perhaps the most important service that Travel Leaders offers is the piece of mind of knowing you have a highlytrained professional just a phone call away and there to handle issues — not to mention to prevent issues from happening in the first place.

Schulz tells of one couple whose bag with their passports and credit cards was stolen from the baggage check. Travel Leaders was able to get them in touch with the local American consulate and within a day they had new passports and were able to continue with their vacation. In addition, the couple had travel insurance which reimbursed them for the lost day.

According to Schulz, travel destinations are literally all over the place. She said Mexico and the Caribbean remain popular but that people are going everywhere imaginable. She said they are seeing a growing number go overseas to places like Australia. One area that she said continues to grow is in all-inclusive resorts where everything is prepaid.

Members of the Medford business community gathered in October 2019 for the ribbon cutting to officially open the new offices at Travel Leaders. The agency has served the Medford area since 1982.

Marilyn’s Fire Station and Catering is a favorite spot for area residents to hold local community and private functions. It is also open on Mondays for the Village Cafe, Thursdays for lunch and pizza night and for Pub Nights on Fridays.

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PROGRESS 2020 THE STAR NEWS

Thursday, January 16, 2020

Page 21

Medford area has been an automotive destination for generations The automotive sector of the Taylor County economy remains diverse and strong with options ranging from new and used car sales to service and restoration work.

Medford Motors Ford has been part of the Medford economy since 1917. At the the time Herman Lemke was 15-years-old and came to work for the dealership owned

by Wells and Chase Agency. Lemke continued to work there through ownership changes, until he and partners Al Tylka and Bill Smith purchased it in 1944 and formed Medford Motors, it was formally incorporated in 1947 with the construction of the dealerships’ location in downtown Medford. The grand opening was held Jan. 14-17, 1948.

Dave Lemke officialy started working in the garage when he was in high school, but already had many years expe-

rience in shop growing up there. Lemke bought into the corporation in 1970 when he bought out Harold Pernsteiner’s share and ran it in partnership with Dick Werner until Werner retired in 1998. The third generation of Lemke family ownership is Dave’s son David “Beaner� Lemke who started at the garage when he was in eighth grade. In 1998 Beaner Lemke bought out Werner’s interest in Medford Motors and became a partner with his father. In 2008, the elder Lemke sold out and in 2010 Beaner’s son Ryan bought a major share in the business becoming the fourth generation of leadership.

Medford Motors completed major expansion and renovation project in 2015 which included new service areas, the expansion of the Quick Lane service area, new office spaces and facade and expansion of the sales lots.

Through the years, Medford Motors

Justin Grant took over ownership of Ed’s Auto Body in 2008 in the years since then, he has made significant upgrades to his shop to boost efficiency and provide a superior product to his customers. In 2016, Grant switched to waterborne paint products and recently installed high efficiency lighting with an eye to the environment.

Since 1990 members of the Larry Netzer family have operated Hickory Nutz located on Hwy 64 just west of Medford. The custom meat processing facility is noted for their sausage products and is a popular choice for hunters to have their venison processed into a wide variety of options.

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has focused on serving the needs of its customers, taking pride on selling vehicles to multiple generations of families.

Looking to the future, Medford Motors will continue to change and adapt to the needs of the automotive industry while ensuring that they meet the continued needs of their customers.

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Thursday, January 16, 2020

THE STAR NEWS

Page 22

Medford Cooperative offers area diverse range of services Medford Cooperative is a uniquely diversified cooperative with sales of nearly $100 million. They are headquartered in Medford with facilities in Medford, Rib Lake, Stetsonville, Prentice and Elcho.

The Cooperatives’ businesses include

the County Market supermarket; ACE Hardware; Blooms floral; Black River Spirits liquor store; residential, agricultural and commercial propane serving 12 northern Wisconsin counties; residential, agricultural, and commercial

Proudly located in Medford, WI

While many people are familiar with the Medford Cooperative through their supermarket, the cooperative offers a wide range of divisions including fuel sales, agricultural products, a hardware store, liquor store, convenience stores and florist.

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After running their gift and engraving business out of their home for a number of years, Steve and Michelle Schreiner of Personalized Treasuresin 2019 made the jump to opening a storefront to display their work at 814 McComb Ave. in Rib Lake.

Personalized Treasures offers custom laser engraving and sandblasting. In addition to the wide range of gift items including metal tumblers, glassware, custom camping signs and memory stones, Personalized Treasures also offers specialized engraving on unique items.

refined fuels (gasoline and diesel) serving most of northern Wisconsin and also several other states with tanker load commercial fuel; Tire and Auto Center; and convenience stores in Rib Lake and Medford. The company also has a large feed mill with 700,000 bushels of grain drying and storage capacity and a full service agronomy department including agronomist services, dry and liquid fertilizer, crop protection products and custom application.

In recent years Medford Cooperative purchased the old Copps grocery store on Hwy 13 and remodeled it. It is now home to the convenience store and several leased spaces that include the energy department, Asian Buffet, Subway, Northland Outlet store and soon an area for indoor baseball practice for our area youth.

They purchased and remodeled the former bicycle shop on Hwy 13 and now lease it to Freedom Choice Realty. They added 300,000 bushels of grain storage at the feed mill. In addition, they completely remodeled County Market and added 6,000 square feet to feature a state of the art natural foods department as well as the new Black River Spirits liquor store.

They converted to ACE Hardware and added a full service post office substation to the hardware store. They purchased a convenience store in Rib Lake, and built a new bulk propane storage facility in Elcho. Medford Cooperative also purchased the north half of the Medford Plaza, which includes County Market, Black River Spirits and the former Maurice’s space which is currently being used by the youth wrestling program.

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PROGRESS 2020 THE STAR NEWS

Thursday, January 16, 2020

According to CEO Graham “Chip” Courtney, the greatest achievement is the impact the Medford Cooperatives has had on the communities they serve.

“Not only do we employ hundreds of people but we’ve also paid millions of dollars in patronage refunds back to our customers. Perhaps most importantly there are very few community projects the Medford Cooperative isn’t heavily involved in. We are a significant donor to almost all area non-profit events and projects. Much of our staff is involved in the community on their own time as well. Over the past 10 years, we have donated hundreds of thousands of dollars back to several community improvement projects and I feel strongly that our community would look much different if not for the substantial support of the Medford Cooperative,” Courtney said.

Looking to the future, Courtney says the Medford Cooperatives’ diversity will be a strength but sees that there will be the same sort of challenges that face other retail establishments.

“With our diversity, most business challenges affect us in one way or another. We are not immune to any of the challenges that face all small businesses – on-line shopping, the concentration and growth of competition, changing consumer tastes and demands, government regulation, employee recruitment, commodity markets, weather, and much more,” he said.

“The key to overcoming those challenges is awareness and strategic planning. We spend a lot of time on those things and hopefully that will allow us to continue our tradition of growth and success,” Courtney said.

Looking ahead to the future, Courtney sees growth as being essential.

“Growth is one of our Strategic Imperatives and if history is an indication, that’s what we will continue to do. We have an aggressive mind set and a very strong balance sheet. Those things have us constantly on the lookout for opportunities. Our vision states “by providing quality, value and service with integrity the Medford Cooperative will achieve substantial growth, financial success and leadership in all the markets we serve.”

We have been doing that since 1911 and I fully expect that to continue,” he said.

Page 23

Fourmens Farm Home has been a retail fixture serving the needs of both residential and agricultural customers with an extensive hardware store, tools, housewares, paints and pet supplies in their spacious store. They also have a large garden center and greenhouse that is open seasonally. Across the parking lot is the power center that offers a wide range of products for sale and service including chainsaws, riding and push lawn mowers and UTVs. In addition to the Hwy 13 location in Medford, Fourmens has locations on Hodd Dr. in Colby and on Elm Dr. in Loyal. The Colby and Medford locations are open seven days a week with the Loyal location closed on Sundays.

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80849

814 McComb Ave., Rib Lake 715-905-0089

www.Personalized-Treasures.com

3

rd

Generation Serving the Medford Community for over 60 Years!

884 W. Broadway, Medford

82596

715.748.2736

80684

501 N. 8th Street, Medford, WI

Thursday, January 16, 2020

THE STAR NEWS

Page 24

Abbotsford tsf sfo for ford ord ord rd

1968

Celebrating our past, anticipating our future!

2020 Medford Wausau Abbotsford Weston

Gresham Shawano Appleton

80359

1-800-288-2229 www.abbybank.com