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YEAR IN EVIEW R 2025-2026

PROGRAM & EVENT HIGHLIGHTS

GOLF OUTING The annual Golf Outing was held on June 22 at the Wausau Country Club in Wausau; more than 140 golfers participated in the sold out event which was followed by an awards dinner.

FUN@5 EVENTS Four networking events provided an opportunity for members to showcase their business and offer after-work fun to attendees.

TRANSFORMATIONAL LEADERSHIP 56 graduates in the Chamber’s Transformational Leadership program were recognized on May 19 at a ceremony held at the Holiday Inn & Suites in Rothschild.

BUSINESS EXPO Thousands of attendees visited Business EXPO 2026 on April 16. Visitors learned about the products and services provided by our members. Four members were recognized with Best In Show awards at the event which also included a livestreamed Small Business of the Year Awards program.

NEXT WAVE Bi-monthly meetings brought together young professionals in the formative stages of their careers to create essential connections, networks and offer a supportive community.

NEXT WAVE+ Debuting in 2026, this advanced professional development series had 16 individuals participate in six themed sessions

HOLIDAY PARADE VIEWING PARTY More than 170 attended this family-friendly gathering at the Chamber’s historic depot headquarters along the parade route. The event included music, activities, refreshments, an outdoor warming tent and more.

WOMEN’S LEADERSHIP CONFERENCE RIBBON CUTTINGS 39 members took advantage of a ribbon cutting or ground breaking opportunity this year. These members celebrated one of the following successes at their business: broke ground or opened a new facility, moved to a new location, remodeled an existing facility, welcomed new ownership or underwent a significant re-branding or name change.

More than 500 women attended the 11th annual conference to discover their highest level of personal and professional development. This conference was held on January 21 at the Central Wisconsin Convention + Expo Center in Rothschild.

GREATER WAUSAU MARKETING HUB Quarterly meetings brought together members to connect with other marketers and learn new skills and strategies.

AWARDS

SMALL BUSINESS OF THE YEAR AWARDS The Small Business of the Year Award recognizes business growth, community involvement, and innovative efforts in the Wausau Region. This award is also an opportunity to review the best business practices of successful entrepreneurs and set a benchmark of excellence for the years to come.

EXCELLENCE IN BUSINESS LEADERSHIP AWARDS NIGHT More than 300 attended the inaugural Excellence in Business Leadership Awards Night was held on October 9 at The Grand Theater in downtown Wausau. The event included Ryan Gallagher honored with the G. Lane Ware Innovator Award, Dr. Kristine Gilmore honored with the James J. McIntyre Cornerstone Award and Paul LaPree honored with the Liz Tillisch Heart of the Chamber Award. The 2025 ATHENA Leadership Award was presented to Laura Strek.

BUSINESS EXPO BEST IN SHOW AWARDS Exhibitors at the EXPO were judged by a panel of volunteers on how visually exciting their booth looked, the originality and uniqueness of their display and how well it creates traffic. Overall: S.C. Swiderski Best Theme: The Children’s Imaginarium Attention Strategy: Westphal Staffing Eats & Treats: El Tequila Salsa

NorthStar Restoration Services left, (Business-to-Consumer) and the Bridge Street Mission right, (Charitable Non-Profit) were named as the Wausau Region Chamber of Commerce’s 2026 Small Businesses of the Year recipients. The awards were presented at Business EXPO 2026 in a livestreamed program hosted by WAOW.

TRANSFORMATIONAL LEADERS Four graduates were honored with awards at the graduation (from left): Miranda GentrySiegel, Holly Nowak, Tim Morines and Tawnya Gonzales (not pictured).

NEW MEMBERS

These members joined the Greater Wausau Chamber of Commerce between Sept. 1, 2025 and Aug. 31, 2026: 7 Brew Coffee Rib Mountain

Finishing Touch Signs

Kappa Outdoors

Remodeling Journey

A&W Restaurant - Wausau

Firehouse Subs

KHROME

Resolve Restoration

All American Dumpster Rental

Floorology

Kintop Repair LLC

Rib Mountain Oral Surgery

focus on energy

Kutzler Dentistry

Riva Merchant Solutions, LLC

Forefront Dermatology Wausau

Lee’s Famous Recipe Chicken

Road Ready University

For One Gifting Studio

Legacy Lift Services LLC

Forte’

Lo Que Sea International Treats

Soul Healing Bodywork & Wellness Center

Marathon County Crime Stoppers

Southport Mechanical

Baeseman’s Shoe & Clothing

Frasier’s Plumbing & Heating Inc

Bayland Buildings Inc

FSI Print & Design LLC

Marion Body Works Inc

Beltzy LLC

Golden Land Ginseng (USA) Inc

Midas - Wausau

Symmetry Natural Health

All Metal Stamping Inc Anovia Health Applebee’s Neighborhood Grill & Bar/IHOP Avenue117 and FizzFactory

Big Mama’s Bacon Wrapped BBQ Blue Hearts BrandSafway Industries LLC Bull Falls Brewing Co. CASA of Marathon County Cedar Creek Hotel & Conference Center Chick-fil-A Ck Power LLC Colliers - Wisconsin Dimensions Living- Wausau Dimond Bros Insurance Edgewise Elevate Business Solutions Engineering Tomorrow- Wisconsin Distribution Center FEARNOT

Gorman & Company IncWestside Commons Halcyon Staffing HBBA Chapter- Wausau Business Builders

Midstate Independent Living Choices Inc Midwest Restoration Miller Window and Doors LLC Myridian Living

Sourdough & Co St. David’s Academy Tech Turtle THE Dispensary- Weston Town of Minocqua Trident Maritime Systems Tusker Company Valiance Venado Wine Bar

Hooper Corporation

Nicolet Staffing - Wausau

Hy-Vee Fast & Fresh

Oliva’s At Gulliver’s Landing

Verlo Mattress - Wausau

Hy-Vee Inc

One Vision Fine Art/ Brian Taylor Photography LLC

Vertical Transit Elevator Village of Marathon City

Park City Credit Union Wausau

Wausau Child Care Inc

Iron House Gym J&P’s Tippling House Jacked-Up Potatoes & Dogs LLC Jimmy Johns - Weston

Pause Medicine Peter Kraus Fitness

Jimmy John’s - Wausau

Polito’s Pizza - Wausau

Jimmy John’s - Wausau Downtown

Prestige Roofing LLC Rasmussen Ballroom LLC

JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A

Red Meadow Engineering LLC

WI Cleaners LLC Wil-Kil Pest Control Wisconsin Cleaning Pros LLC WOOD AVEN Health and Rehabilitation Woodside Financial Services LLC WOW Logistics

FINANCIALS REVENUES: Other 3%

Affiliate Marketing Revenue 3% Contracts 4%

Membership Investment 48% Affiliate Contracts: Contracts with other organizations for the Chamber to provide administrative services.

Programs 42% EXPENSES: Occupancy 14%

Other 2%

Operations: Salaries, benefits, operating expenses, technology and marketing Occupancy: Rent, property taxes, utilities and depreciation

Programs 24%

Operations 60%

STAFF

Sharon Baumann

Stacy Cole

Tom Coleman

Special Projects Manager

Member Engagement and Storytelling Specialist

Dave Eckmann, Ed.D.

Brian Otten

Kaycee Packard

Sue Wokatsch

Business Development & Sales Manager President/CEO

Marketing and Programs & Events Workforce Specialist Development Director

Finance Director

Chris Pfender Intercity State Bank

Laura Huggins Connexus Credit Union

Dave Eckmann, Ed.D. Greater Wausau Chamber of Commerce

Wendy Furrer HOST: Central Wisconsin

Sean Wright Performing Arts Foundation Inc

Director at Large

OFFICERS

2025-2026

Jeffrey Wicklander Aspirus Chairperson

Dr. Darren Ackley Northcentral Technical Colllege Chairperson Elect

SPECIAL THANKS

Treasurer/Secretary

Immediate Past Chairperson

President/CEO

THANK YOU to all of our member businesses and organizations. We want to acknowledge the volunteers who assist with the Chamber’s various committees, programs and events.

We also want to thank all of the members who sponsored the Chamber’s programs and events over the last year. These members provided critical support for ongoing services and for the expansion of Chamber programs.

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

2025-2026

Bob Fieck Wausau Supply Company

Owen Jones Tommy Docks

Gerald Klein City-County IT Commission

Carolyn Schamberger Church Mutual Insurance Company

Charlotte Skinner Rickert Granite Peak Ski Area

Steve LaCerte Coldwell Banker Action Realty

Steven Lipowski Ruder Ware LLSC

Casey Nye DC Everest School District

Carrie Strobel Greenheck

Dennis Tan Schooley Mitchell

Kimm Weber MCDEVCO Inc

Our Mission To ignite business success for our Members through strategic engagement, partnership and innovation.

Our Vision To be the region’s indispensable provider of exclusive business advantages for our Members.