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Developments

April 2015
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in this issue
Annual Meeting
Talent Attraction and Wellness Works
Legislative Days 2015
Young Professionals Network
Support NWTC Referendum
DCVB Summit
Buy Local Mixers
Mind Trekkers

DCEDC Annual Meeting   ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

DCEDC is pleased to announce the details for our annual investors meeting and luncheon on Wednesday, April 29, at the Stone Harbor Resort and Conference Center in Sturgeon Bay. The keynote speaker will be Wisconsin Manufacturers & Commerce president/CEO Kurt Bauer. His remarks will discuss "The State of Wisconsin's Business Climate."
 

In addition to the keynote address by Bauer, the annual investors meeting will include the presentation of the Door County Industry of the Year and Entrepreneur of the Year Awards. The luncheon meeting will also include the annual report to the community about the accomplishments of DCEDC during 2014.
 

The DCEDC annual investors meeting will start promptly at 12pm. Tickets for the April 29th luncheon are $35 per person or $330 for a table of ten. Tickets are available from the DCEDC office. For more information, please contact DCEDC at (920) 743-3113 x200 or by email at cindy@doorcountybusiness.com.


The 2015 DCEDC Annual Meeting has been generously sponsored by: Baylake Bank, Bay Shipbuilding Company, Cadence, Inc., the Door County Manufacturer's Association, ERA/Starr Realty, Main Street Market, N.E.W. Industries, Northeast Wisconsin Technical College, Soik Communications, Sturgeon Bay Florist, Sturgeon Bay Utilities, Therma-Tron-X, Wienke's Market, Wisconsin Public Service and Wood Orchard.

Talent Attraction and Wellness Works Local Mixers

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This year's annual meeting will include the debut of a new talent attraction video, produced by DCEDC and a number of local companies. The video, by filmmaker Brett Kosmider (www.borealsky.com), highlights the positive aspects of work and life in Door County that can assist local firms in recruiting the skilled workforce required for their continued growth in our community.
 

This year will also see the debut of the Wellness Works Awards, a collaboration between DCEDC, the Door County YMCA and Ministry Door County Medical Center, recognizing business leaders who encourage employee wellness.

Legislative Days 2015
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The seventh biennial Door/Kewaunee Legislative Days event will take place in Madison on Wednesday and Thursday, April 15-16. The purpose of Legislative Days is to educate state officials about Door and Kewaunee Counties, and to request state action to help address local issues and concerns. The Door/Kewaunee Legislative Days 2015 agenda includes seven items:

  • State Assistance for Protecting Groundwater Quality
  • Funding for Beach Water Quality Testing
  • State Support for Kewaunee Harbor Reconstruction Project
  • Winery Regulatory Reform
  • Technology Needs for Public Schools
  • Support for the Knowles-Nelson Stewardship Fund
  • Restore Funding for the DOT Harbor Assistance Program.

The main events are scheduled for Wednesday, April 15, when delegates will call on state legislators in the afternoon and enjoy a reception with legislators and guests that evening, featuring a showcase of Door and Kewaunee County foods and entertainment from Rogue Theater. The remainder of the two-day event will be reserved for visiting state officials and select state agencies.

Young Professionals Network

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DCEDC recently contracted with Caitlin Oleson of Sister Bay to research and explore the creation of a potential Young Professionals Network for all of Door County. This project aims to bring together young people from the manufacturing, tourism, hospitality, and service industries, and to provide networking and professional development opportunities for professionals between the ages of 21 and 40.


Oleson will create a steering committee to assist in this new initiative. She will be working with business leaders and HR representatives as well as surveying young professionals already living in the community. Interested volunteers should contact Caitlin directly. 

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DCEDC Supports NWTC Referendum

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Northeast Wisconsin Technical College is requesting voter support of a referendum to build new facilities and upgrade others at their Green Bay, Marinette and Sturgeon Bay campuses. The DCEDC Board of Directors recently voted unanimously to support the NWTC referendum. The referendum will appear on local ballots during the Tuesday, April 7 election.

 

Over the next 15 years, Northeast Wisconsin expects tremendous growth in high tech business and industry, which requires educating larger numbers of skilled workers. The proposed NWTC expansion will enable the college to expand programming in industries with high growth potential, including Energy, Transportation, Manufacturing, Construction, IT/Digital Media, Health Sciences and Public Safety.

 

Northeast Wisconsin Technical College is recognized locally and nationally as a leader in student success. The expansion proposal includes a $4 Million investment in the Sturgeon Bay campus. The successful referendum will have a modest tax levy increase of $7.50 per year for a $150,000 house for 15 years.  The last NWTC referendum was in 2001.

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DCVB Summit

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On Tuesday, May 5th, the Door County Visitor Bureau will host a Door County Travel & Tourism Summit from 9am to 4pm at the Stone Harbor Resort & Conference Center. DCVB has called upon nationally recognized, award-winning partners to share their insights and expertise in morning and afternoon break-out sessions to bring hospitality businesses up-to-speed on the latest tools and strategies needed to remain competitive in today's ever-changing digital world. DCEDC is providing panel discussion programming on Business Financing and Broadband/Telecommunications.
 

It will be a day of fun and learning, coupled with a National Travel & Tourism Week luncheon highlighting the "State of the County" address, announcing the CTA of the Year award winner; naming the recipients of the Spirit of Door County Carol Counard Scholarship, and culminating with the Genuine Ideas and Uncommon Sense of Dr. Lalia Rach as Keynote Speaker.

Buy Local Mixers in April, May, June

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Buy Local Logo

Door County Buy Local is holding a business networking mixer TONIGHT, Wednesday, April 1st, 5:30-7pm at Birch Creek Music School, 3821 County E, Egg Harbor. The event will feature a program by Tara Pierre from Edward Jones Financial, discussing "Small Business Retirement Plans." 

 The next Door County Buy Local business networking mixer will be held on Wednesday, May 6th, 5:30-7pm at From The Forty, S1579 Wisconsin 42, Maplewood/Sturgeon Bay. The event will feature a presentation from the Southern Door Business Association on what Southern Door has to offer and From The Forty owners Geoff and Holly Hansen talking about how their hobby turned into a business.

 The final Buy Local business networking mixer before the summer break will be on Wednesday, June 3rd, 5:30-7pm at Door County Brewing Company, 2434 County Road F, Baileys Harbor. The event will feature a program from John McMahon from the Brewery, discussing "The Door County Brewing Company Story."

Mind Trekkers

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Door/Kewaunee Business & Education Partnership and The Women's Fund of Door County invite you to attend the first-ever Door/Kewaunee Science & Engineering Festival featuring Mind Trekkers! The event will run on Saturday, April 11 at Southern Door High School from 9am-4pm and is free and open to the public.

 Mind Trekkers is an event that allows students to uncover the mysteries of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM), through fast-paced hands-on activities and one-of-a-kind experiences. Described as a "carnival of science," the event focuses on STEM experiments and gives students the opportunity to engage in over 100 hands-on activities that last between 30 seconds and 3 minutes. Kids of all ages can participate in experiments like racing floating Legos, walking on water, and eating ice cream made with liquid nitrogen.