 Workforce InitiativesThe Workforce Connector is a monthly publication made possible by HSHS Sacred Heart Hospital, Marshfield Clinic Health System, Mayo Clinic Health System, Prevea Health, and Xcel Energy. The Eau Claire Area Chamber has many initiatives to help employers retain, recruit and develop employees. Many of these programs, committees, and events have been around for years; At the 2019 Annual meeting our CEO/President David Minor announced the intention of focusing on Workforce Challenges and Solutions in the Chippewa Valley. This publication and the initiatives highlighted on our website are the beginning, use the button below to "learn more". The chamber's workforce initiatives are led by the Workforce Development Committee Chair, Monica Obrycki of Eau Claire Energy Cooperative and Kaylynn Stahlbusch, Workforce and Program Director of Eau Claire Area Chamber. Programs & Services Sponsorship Opportunities: Breakfast in the Valley 2021Breakfast in the Valley celebrates the importance of agriculture in our local economy. We are excited to host another Breakfast in the Valley this year, with a little twist on tradition. To provide a safe, yet meaningful, event, slight changes have been made to the event. Breakfast in the Valley BOXES will be available for purchase in celebration of June Dairy Month and to continue support of our area agriculture. Boxes will be available only by pre-order and picked up in drive-thru format the morning of the event. All products will be donated or purchased from local creameries, dairy farms, and/or businesses. Below, find out more information about being an event sponsor, the link to register for a sponsorship, AND the link to pre-order a Breakfast in the Valley box! Wage Survey Deadline Extended to May 14th We are proud to be covering employers from nine chambers of commerce including: Chippewa Falls, Eau Claire, La Crosse, Marshfield, Menomonie, Portage County, Rice Lake, Wausau, and Wisconsin Rapids. The local chapters of Society of Human Resource Management in the Chippewa Valley, La Crosse, Wausau, and Winona are also involved. The contribution of area employers’ data is important because it keeps the wage survey viable and relevant. The data is kept confidential. Our process makes it simple to participate! Please review the instructions and complete the forms by May 14. The necessary documents for survey participation are on the Eau Claire Chamber's Wage Survey website. If you participate in the 2021 Wage Survey, you will be eligible to join us July 28 for a presentation from Deb Marshall of Wipfli explaining important wage trends and information from the final data results. More information on this event will be available as the date approaches. There is a minimal cost to receive the report when it is available in mid-July. Chamber, CVSHRM, and Wipfli HR Forum membership qualifies businesses for discounted pricing. If you have any questions, please contact Danielle Kummer (715-858-0618). Free On-site COVID-19 Vaccination Clinics The Eau Claire City-County Health Department is now offering FREE on-site COVID-19 vaccinations! Keep your workforce healthy by preventing your employees from getting COVID-19 and reducing absence due to illness or quarantine. (*quarantine is not required for close contacts once a person is fully vaccinated) How it works:
Dates available: We have openings on Tuesday, April 27th and Friday, April 30th to come to your workplace. Other dates are also available.
*For information about vaccine safety, effectiveness and other information, please visit the Eau Claire City-County Health Department at bit.ly/covid19vaccine-eauclaire. Additional vaccine FAQ is available here: https://www.dhs.wisconsin.gov/covid-19/vaccine-safety.htm. Virtual Eggs & Issues: Legislative Dialogue Friday, May 21, 2021 7:30 AM - 9:00 AM Cost to attend: $25.00 (Chamber Investor) $30.00 (Non-Investor) Join us for a discussion with the area legislators who represent the Chippewa Valley in the State Senate and Assembly in Madison. We'll take a timely look at deliberations underway for the 2021-23 state budget and explore legislative issues of concern to the business community. There will be a Q&A opportunity. The program will be recorded. A link will be sent to all registrants when the recording becomes available. If you can't participate during the "live" broadcast, register anyway and you'll receive the recording. Registration closes at 12:00 noon on Thursday, May 20. An email address is required for each attendee to register. A link to login to this session will be emailed to you about 4:00 p.m. on Thursday. ***PLEASE NOTE: If you do not receive the email containing the link to log in to the meeting, please be sure to check your spam folder. Thank you to our Perigon sponsors, Prevail Bank and Royal Credit Union. Applicants sought for Eau Claire City Council vacancyThe City of Eau Claire is looking for applicants interested in serving on the City Council to fill the final year of the term of At-Large City Council Member Mai Xiong, who resigned last month. Applicants will be invited to interview with the City Council and will be asked to make a brief presentation. Deadline to apply is May 18. Click here for full information. West Central Wisconsin Economic Development: Talent Attraction ToolIn West Central Wisconsin, there’s always something to do – in fact, you might even have a little trouble keeping up. With its standout quality of life in a spectacular natural setting, the 10-county West Central Wisconsin region offers a wealth of advantages, including standout higher education institutions, a superior transportation network and a deep pool of workforce talent. Discover the cities that make West Central Wisconsin a thriving place for business: Eau Claire, Chippewa Falls, Menomonie, River Falls, Hudson, Rice Lake and New Richmond. 2022 - 2025 Funding Now Available - United Way of the Greater Chippewa ValleyUnited Way of the Greater Chippewa Valley now has the application and related materials for 2022 - 2025 funding available on their website. Click the button below to find out more information. Retaining EmployeesIndeed: Nine Effective Employee Retention StrategiesThe employees of a company are crucial to its success. High turnover rates can affect a company and its ability to reach sales objectives. Developing an effective employee retention strategy can help you improve employee satisfaction rates and ultimately, decrease turnover rates. This article will show you nine effective strategies to help retain the most qualified employees. Listed below are the nine recommendations, follow the link the learn more:
SHRM: Learn How to Prepare for Unexpected Events that Trigger Turnover Why did you leave your last job? Did you come to the decision gradually, or did an abrupt personal or work-related event trigger you to act? At companies struggling to keep good workers, HR professionals must be able to respond to these sudden “shocks.” On average, 12 percent of workers leave their jobs voluntarily each year, according to the 2016 Human Capital Benchmarking study from the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM). Dissatisfaction with the position or organization has traditionally been seen as the primary reason people quit. Thus, in the past, retention plans were often broad and focused on the factors thought to be most closely related to job satisfaction, such as rewards, recognition and upward mobility. In recent years, however, some business leaders have developed methods for predicting which workers will depart based on the employees’ profiles—a fundamental shift away from the strategy of homing in on the traditional drivers of turnover. Taking this tack can help employers foster greater retention of key talent and decrease turnover costs. Perceptyx: The Connection Between Diversity in the Workplace & Employee RetentionThere are many benefits to diversity in the workplace. From the organization’s perspective, it allows access to the widest range of talent, not just talent reflective of a particular worldview or segment of society—and it helps provide insight into the needs and motivations of the organization’s entire universe of potential clients. These benefits result in documented higher profitability. But workplace diversity also delivers benefits to employees. In the Houston Chronicle, HR expert Ruth Mayhew outlined the various ways employees benefit from a diverse workplace:
Small Business: What are the Advantages of a Diverse Workforce?Attract & Retain Talent: A diverse workplace is essential for organizations that are looking to attract and retain talent. According to Deloitte, millennials tend to stay longer with companies that understand the needs of a diverse workforce. Compared to the previous generations, these people have grown up with the idea that diversity and inclusion are crucial. Therefore, they take these aspects into account when making a job decision. Striving for a diverse workforce can make your company more appealing to job seekers and existing employees alike. Organizations that embrace this approach are seen as socially responsible and have a better reputation. Accenture, Novartis, Gap, L'Oreal and Nestle are just a few examples, according to the Diversity and Inclusion Index published on the Thomson Reuters website. For example, nearly half of all new hires and one-third of executives at Accenture are women. The company has more than 513,000 employees in 120 countries, fostering a culture of equality. As a small-business owner, you can start by reaching out to specific communities through business networks and social media. Another option is to team up with agencies that help expats and immigrants integrate into their new communities. When you find the right people, provide them with the tools they need to succeed in their roles. Employees with disabilities, for example, may require height-adjustable desks, one-hand keyboards or speech recognition programs. Gallup Tool: A Checklist for Retaining Talent in 20212020 shook the workplace, but top talent will always be a competitive advantage. Learn how to optimize your employee experience to attract and retain stars and develop their full potential to perform. Employees First, Customers Second: Vineet Nayar | Ted Talk"Millions of employees walk through our organizations every day not just to get paid but to be inspired by the vision we have for them", says Vineet Nayar, former CEO of HCL Technologies and author of Harvard Business Press bestseller "Employees First, Customers Second" (EFCS) giving a compelling account of how this idea channelized the energy and passion of 100,000 employees to increase HCL's revenues and market cap over six times! In this must watch 18 minute video Vineet shares at least 8 simple ideas that can do wonders to your Employee Engagement scores and ensure happiness, passion and growth. Not surprisingly Vineet's EFCS philosophy and its execution at HCLT has been described as the "world's most modern management" by Fortune and got him a place in the magazine's first ever Fortune Global Dream-team alongside stalwarts like Steve Jobs. Vineet Nayar is the former CEO of HCL Technologies, founder of the Sampark Foundation and author of a book that is considered as a revolution in management, Employees First, Customers Second. He not only states simple philosophical principles but also applies them successfully: his company has succeeded the challenge of tripling its turnover ($4.2 billions today). Vineet Nayar has been elected best employer in Asia. His very simple idea of « management by trust » through challenging conventional management practices, was described by the American Fortune magazine as “the most modern management in the world”.He later created his charitable organization Sampark (“to be in contact” in Hindi), focused on the training of teachers. He is thus considered as the man who is resolving India’s problems. Indeed, in a country where tens of millions of children are dropping out of school, Vineet Nayar explains that he wants to “have an impact on millions of lives”. Upcoming EventsBusiness at the Gardens Wednesday, May 5, 2021 4:30 PM - 8:15 PM The Florian Gardens Conference Center Cost to Attend: $15 for Chamber Investors Come network and share your brand while celebrating Cinco de Mayo on May 5th!! Business at the Gardens will feature over 50 exhibitors, drinks, door prizes, Cinco de Mayo themed food, and fun! NEW THIS YEAR - Our "Sunset Reception" from 7:15pm to 8:15pm. Come and enjoy this post-party in the beautiful gardens area with music, cocktails and networking. Registration is now open, and we strongly encourage you to register online. Cost to attend is $15 ($5 from each registration will go to our Educational Foundation). Walk-ins are welcome but will be required to complete a registration prior to being admitted. **Per local COVID-19 guidelines and community expectations, the Chamber will take all necessary precautions to ensure the safety of all attendees and exhibitors. We do ask that masks be worn at all times when networking in person.** Business Salutes Eau Claire: Golf Outing Attention Golfers! The Chamber’s 36th annual Business Salutes Eau Claire golf outing is coming up later this summer! Check out the video below, featuring the Chamber’s own Phil Swiler and Dave Minor, committee chair Amy Wolfe and the One and Only Tyler Mickelson of WEAU 13 News to learn more about this event and some exciting changes for 2021! Registration will open soon so watch your email for more details! Eau What A Night Part Two: Party in the Park Wednesday, May 19, 2021 5:00 - 9:00 PM Phoenix Park Pavilion REGISTRATION IS REQUIRED Cost to Attend: No charge for attendees previously registered for EWAN 2020 Cost for New Registrants: $40 Eau What a Night – Party in the Park is drawing closer! This event is filling up quickly so we encourage you to register soon! As a reminder, this is a private event and registration is required for all attendees. If you were previously registered for the EWAN 2020 event or the 2021 virtual event, there is no cost but you do still need to register. Schedule of the Evening:
Per local COVID-19 safety guidelines and community expectations, the Chamber will take all necessary precautions including supplying hand sanitizers throughout the venue, ensuring safely spaced tables and encouraging the wearing of face coverings. We also ask that if you are experiencing any COVID-19 symptoms to please remain at home that evening. Click here for more information on COVID-19 symptoms. If you have questions about registration or would like more information regarding the event, please contact the Chamber.  The Eau Claire Chamber of Commerce testifies at the Joint Committee on Finance State Budget Public Hearing The Joint Committee on Finance held a public hearing at UW Stout on Thursday, April 22. Here, hundreds of Wisconsin residents waited in line for a chance to share with the Joint Finance Committee the projects and programs that mattered most to them and their communities. Members of the Eau Claire Area Chamber of Commerce also attended the public hearing to advocate for the second phase of funding for UW-Eau Claire’s Science and Health Sciences building.
As the advocate of business, the Chamber of Commerce supports a strong local and regional economy and advocates for policies that promote a good business environment and support efficient and effective government. The impact of the new science building is greater than just the local university campus. Rather, the Chamber recognizes that the building and partnerships with Mayo Clinic and Hewlett Packard Enterprise would attract greater talent in the STEM fields to Wisconsin in a way that no other current project would. Attending the public hearing, then, was a way to demonstrate to state legislators the Chamber’s and the local community’s commitment to the UW-Eau Claire science building project. “Two years ago, we came down for our lobbying days and you funded the first half of that project. The criticalness now, so that this building can be built once, is to put the second part of the funding into it,” President and CEO of the Chamber David Minor said. Minor emphasized that the current Phillips Hall is outdated and deteriorating, urgently needing to be replaced. The new building will be crucial to the mission of UW-Eau Claire and its future. The valuable partnerships with Mayo Clinic and Hewlett Packard Enterprise would also continue to grow UW-Eau Claire’s campus enrollment and draw students from all across Wisconsin and the nation. “One of the things Eau Claire has going for its project is one of the benefits of Mayo Clinic; their doctors who are going to come do research in Eau Claire, are going to teach in Eau Claire… when you line up private sector businesses to the size of Mayo Clinic and Hewlett Packard, the infrastructure they’re going to put in, it will change the Chippewa Valley and the Eau Claire area forever.” Chamber board members Scott Hoffmann and Mark Faanes and the Chamber’s Governmental Affairs intern Grace Hanson were also there to demonstrate local community support. Menomonie’s public hearing was one of three in-person hearings scheduled in April to gather public input on Wisconsin’s 2021-23 budget. The first one was held at UW-Whitewater on April 9 and the second was at Rhinelander’s Hodag Dome on April 21. The Joint Finance Committee will also host an online session on April 28. Budget comments may be submitted on the Public Comment Website until noon on April 30. More Information: Joint Committee on Finance State Budget Public Hearing- Menomonie (Wisconsin Eye) Wisconsinites give their input on Evers’ budget in public hearing (WQOW News 18) Public Comment Website (Joint Committee on Finance) Posted by Grace Hanson, Governmental Affairs Intern hanson@eauclairechamber.org  Posted by Grace Hanson, Governmental Affairs Intern
hanson@eauclairechamber.org Loyal Student is Wisconsin State Winner of Prestigious Essay Competition  Loyal High School student Olivia Piller was recognized as the Wisconsin state winner of the SIFMA Foundation’s Fall 2020 InvestWrite competition with her essay on how challenges can create opportunities in the global economy and in life. The InvestWrite national essay competition bridges classroom learning in math, social studies, and language arts with the practical research and knowledge required for saving, investing and long-term planning. Piller was introduced to the InvestWrite competition through her participation in the Draper Hills Financial Literacy Program, which serves students in the School District of Loyal. This program is funded by the Draper Hills Financial Literacy Endowment, a fund of the Eau Claire Community Foundation. Founded by Dr. Eldon Hill, a native of Loyal who spent many years as a doctor in Eau Claire, the vision of the Draper Hills Financial Literacy Program is to “equip, encourage, and empower Loyal students to become financially free.” Save the Date: Healthcare Appreciation EventPlease join us on Thursday, April 22nd, for breakfast or lunch, or Friday, April 23rd for breakfast, as we show our appreciation for your dedication and hard work as we continue to push through this pandemic. Bring a business card or fill our your information to win some prizes! Eau Claire’s Women’s Giving Circle Invites the Community to its Annual Spring Gathering  Come join members of the Women’s Giving Circle for their annual Spring Gathering! This free online event will begin at 6:00 p.m. on May 3, 2021. This is a great opportunity to learn about the Women’s Giving Circle and hear from some of the nonprofit organizations they've supported. You don't have to be a WGC member to attend; everyone is welcome! The Women’s Giving Circle awarded the following grants for use in 2021:
Creative Economy Month Launches on May 1, 2021Eau Claire, Wis.: Eau Claire is celebrating the contributions of the arts to the economic and cultural fabric of our community in May, and events will include some big reveals for public art in the community. More than 20 events will take place throughout the month. Some highlights include a kickoff event featuring the artists at Artisan Forge Studios on May 1 and 2, a month-long Gallery Window Walk featuring local art exhibits at 26 businesses in Eau Claire, silk painting lessons, pasta making class, a culinary entrepreneur panel discussion, Pablo Center’s launch of the 2021 GO Paint! series, and Pablo Streams musical performances. Three events during May will provide public art for the community long after Creative Economy Month. Kicking off on May 1st at Artisan Forge Studios, the ”Scraposaurs” traveling exhibit by Dale Lewis, including 14 large dinosaur sculptures, will be revealed and on display for several months. The ever-popular Sculpture Tour Eau Claire will be installing and unveiling new sculptures for the 2021 season the week of May 17. The tour, now in its 11th year, will have the sculptures on display in the downtown area for the next 11 months. On May 29, a sculpture will be unveiled in Haymarket Plaza. Designed and created by San Francisco-based sculptor, Michael Szabo, the 16-foot Eddies sculpture will be on permanent display in the plaza. Phillips Medisize - Job Fair for Menomonie SiteBoys & Girls Clubs of the Greater Chippewa Valley - 2021 Virtual Youth of the Year GalaThe Boys & Girls Clubs of the Greater Chippewa Valley announces our 2nd virtual Youth of the Year Gala. Join us for the weeklong event from April 26th -30th . Throughout the week we will feature our Clubs located in Black River Falls, Chippewa Falls, Eau Claire, and Menomonie: highlights to include tours of the Clubs, Junior Youth of the Year Interview, and activities around our programming for that day, with Friday celebrating Art Day and a compilation of the week’s events. Join in the fun starting on Monday, April 26th featuring the Lunda Center in Black River Falls, highlighting how we keep kids active and engaged through our Sports & Recreation Programming! Tuesday, April 27th will be Leadership Day in our Chippewa Falls Center showcasing what the kids do throughout the community. Wednesday, April 28th is Education Day in our Menomonie Center highlighting our Academic Achievement programs. Thursday is Health & Wellness Day at the Lee & Mary Markquart Center in Eau Claire where you can watch the kids utilize the skills that they learn. Friday is an all-center Arts Day! Kids will be sharing various art projects that they have been working on for the last few months and that will be showcased in our silent auction! Business Partners & EPIC21 Peer Groups Bring Renown Motivational Speaker to Eau Claire Eau Claire, WI—The local Business Partners Peer Group and EPIC21 Peers-in-Conference are pleased to bring Dan Meers, Kansas City Chiefs Mascot to the area. His presentation will be delivered as a hybrid event by Perigon with WIN Technology at 29 Pines Conference Center in Eau Claire on Wednesday, May 5, from 8:00 am-10:00 am. Dan strives for the best in life and will encourage you to do the same through an entertaining event. He will encourage participants to enhance their personal and professional career through an impactful and inspirational speech, drawing from his own near-death experience on a bungee and zip line stunt at Arrowhead Stadium. Dan plummeted 75 feet into the stadium seats. He will share important lessons about leadership and life drawing from this harrowing event. Dan travels throughout the United States and the world entertaining thousands of people both in and out of costume. Dan is in high demand not only as a mascot but also as a humorous and motivational speaker to audiences of all ages. His enthusiasm, optimism, and love for life are contagious and makes Dan an inspiration to all those he meets.  Protect Your Identity with Free Document Shredding Services WESTERN, WI— Add document shredding to your spring cleaning list! WESTconsin Credit Union is offering free, community shred events in the area. Prepare for the new season by taking steps to protect your identity, and securely dispose of sensitive documents at one of the following times: Tuesday, April 27
Eau Claire Jazz Festival And Dean Kallenbach On Wisconsin Public Radio’s “Spectrum West” Eau Claire, Wis. - Director and Head of Jazz Studies at University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire Robert Baca joins host Al Ross on “Spectrum West” at 10 a.m. on Thursday, April 22 on The Ideas Network stations 88.3/Menomonie-Eau Claire and 88.7/River Falls. Baca previews the upcoming 2021 Eau Claire Jazz Festival, a virtual event set to take place on Friday, April 23. The event, “A Night of Local Legends” features Sean Carey, Sue Orfield, Jeremy Boettcher and Josh Gallagher. Ross continues to celebrate National Poetry Month with Bruce Taylor, UW-Eau Claire emeritus professor and former Eau Claire poet laureate. Taylor will share his recent work and reflect on the past year. Freshly retired as WPR’s western Wisconsin Regional Manager, Dean Kallenbach returns as a guest of the program. Kallenbach reflects on his 35-year career on public radio as regional manager and host of the regional news show “The West Side.” Special correspondent Jim Oliver is back, and shares his conversation with Patricia Skalka, author of the Dave Kubiak Door County mysteries. “Death Washes Ashore,” is the fifth and latest edition to the series. “Spectrum West” is a weekly program exploring the music, arts and humanities in western Wisconsin. The show is broadcast at 10 a.m. Thursdays on The Ideas Network stations 88.3/Menomonie/Eau Claire and 88.7/River Falls and streamed live at wrfw887.com/listen-live. It’s also heard at 7 p.m. Fridays on NPR News & Music stations 89.7/Eau Claire and 90.7/Menomonie. Archives of “Spectrum West” are available at wpr.org/programs/spectrum-west-al-ross. About Wisconsin Public Radio For over 100 years, Wisconsin Public Radio has served the people of Wisconsin with quality news, music, talk and entertainment. On air, online and in the community - we work for Wisconsin. WPR is a service of the Educational Communications Board and University of Wisconsin-Madison. Listen, learn more and donate at www.wpr.org. Earth Day On Wisconsin Public Radio’s “The West Side”Eau Claire, Wis. - Local farmers and their relationship to the western Wisconsin environment will be the topic on the Earth Day-themed episode of “The West Side” at 10 a.m. Friday, April 23 on The Ideas Network stations of Wisconsin Public Radio: 88.3/Menomonie-Eau Claire and 88.7/River Falls. Host Clara Neupert welcomes Steve Anderson from Anderson’s Maple Syrup in Cumberland, Randy Rykal, a honey bee keeper from Cadott, and Yvonne Swope, owner of the Meadowbrook Cranberry Company in Exeland. Neupert and her guests will discuss their work, and how they’re changing their businesses to meet demands for environmentally conscious, locally-produced goods. “The West Side” is broadcast each Friday at 10 a.m. on The Ideas Network stations 88.3/Menomonie-Eau Claire and 88.7/River Falls and live streamed at wrfw887.com/listen-live.html. Listeners may call in with questions and comments during the program at (800) 228-5615, or email the show at ideas@wpr.org. Archives of “The West Side” are available at wpr.org/programs/west-side. About Wisconsin Public Radio For over 100 years, Wisconsin Public Radio has served the people of Wisconsin with quality news, music, talk and entertainment. On air, online and in the community - we work for Wisconsin. WPR is a service of the Educational Communications Board and University of Wisconsin-Madison. Listen, learn more and donate at www.wpr.org Junior Achievement Awards Scholarships at Annual JA Business Challenge Eau Claire, WI—More than 50 students from 5 high schools across northwestern Wisconsin competed for scholarships last week at the Northwest Central Regional Virtual JA Business Challenge. After a morning of strategizing with local business professionals, high school students reaped the benefit of their efforts and won post-secondary scholarships. Junior Achievement is pleased to announce this year’s JA Business Challenge 2021 scholarship winners: First Place: Thor Sather, Kyle Jarmusic, and Wylee Huset from Chetek-Weyerhaeuser High School each won $600 scholarships provided by the Great Northern Corporation’s Mark Orendorff Memorial Scholarship. The team was mentored by Doug Westholm from Jennie-O Turkey Store. Second Place: Madison Andrews, Lacota Brown, and Kyle Lipke from Boyceville High School each won $400 scholarships provided by WESTconsin Credit Union. The team was mentored by Sam Gearing of State Farm Insurance Company. Third Place: Bash Nielson and Jacob Granley from Boyceville High School each won $200 scholarships provided by Market & Johnson. The team was mentored by Sam Gearing of State Farm Insurance Company. The first and second place teams will compete at the state Wisconsin JA Business Challenge competition set for Tuesday, May 4, 2021, through a web-based videoconferencing platform. Prevea Health now accepting walk-ins for COVID-19 vaccination at community clinic locations in Green Bay, Oconto Falls, Sheboygan and Chippewa Falls Green Bay, Wis. – In an effort to make receiving a COVID-19 vaccine even easier for our community, Prevea Health is now accepting walk-ins at four of its Prevea Community COVID-19 Vaccination Clinic locations in Wisconsin during specific times until further notice: Prevea Community COVID-19 Vaccination Clinic at UW-Green Bay, Kress Events Center, 2358 Leon Bond Dr., Green Bay Prevea Community COVID-19 Vaccination Clinic at HSHS St. Clare Memorial Hospital, 855 S. Main St., Oconto Falls Prevea Community COVID-19 Vaccination Clinic at UW-Green Bay, Sheboygan Campus, One University Dr., Sheboygan Prevea Community COVID-19 Vaccination Clinic at Jacob’s Well Church, 3211 N. 50th Ave., Chippewa Falls Walk-ins will be accepted at these locations at specific times of the day. This information can be found by visiting www.prevea.com/vaccine or calling 1 (833) 344-4373. Per the Wisconsin Department of Health Services, everyone in Wisconsin ages 16 and older is eligible to get a COVID-19 vaccine at no cost. Anyone who wishes to receive a vaccination at the above locations outside of the walk-in-hours, or at our other locations not listed above – must make an appointment. All Prevea Community COVID-19 Vaccination Clinic locations, times and vaccine information can be found at: www.prevea.com/vaccine How to make an appointment The fastest way to get an appointment scheduled is with MyPrevea; all available appointments will be current in MyPrevea. Visit www.myprevea.com to set up an account at no cost. You do not have to be a Prevea patient to make an appointment or to sign up for a MyPrevea account. MyPrevea is also available as an app on any smartphone or other device. If you do not have access or are unable to use the internet, please call 1 (833) 344-4373. About Prevea Health Founded in Green Bay, Wis. in 1996, Prevea Health is a health care organization that provides high-quality, primary and specialty health care in 80+ locations across Northern, Eastern and Western Wisconsin in clinic and hospital settings. It is partnered with six Hospital Sisters Health System (HSHS) hospitals across Wisconsin to provide patients a system of highly-coordinated care, close to home: HSHS St. Vincent Hospital and HSHS St. Mary’s Hospital Medical Center in Green Bay; HSHS St. Nicholas Hospital in Sheboygan; HSHS St. Clare Memorial Hospital in Oconto Falls; HSHS Sacred Heart Hospital in Eau Claire; and HSHS St. Joseph’s Hospital in Chippewa Falls. For more information, visit www.prevea.com. Free virtual presentation on non-surgical options for hip and knee pain: May 12 via Zoom with Prevea Health’s Dr. Berkin Ulgen  Eau Claire – Those who suffer from hip or knee pain are invited to a free virtual presentation hosted by Prevea Health on Wednesday, May 12, via Zoom. The presentation will be led by Prevea Health sports medicine and family medicine physician, Dr. Berkin Ulgen and will focus on non-surgical treatment options for hip and knee pain. The Q&A discussion will also highlight some of the newest options for treatments. There is no charge for the virtual presentation, but you must register ahead of time. Free virtual event: Hip and knee pain and treatment options with Dr. Berkin Ulgen
About Prevea Health Founded in Green Bay, Wis. in 1996, Prevea Health is a health care organization that provides high-quality, primary and specialty health care in 80+ locations across Northern, Eastern and Western Wisconsin in clinic and hospital settings. It is partnered with six Hospital Sisters Health System (HSHS) hospitals across Wisconsin to provide patients a system of highly-coordinated care, close to home: HSHS St. Vincent Hospital and HSHS St. Mary’s Hospital Medical Center in Green Bay; HSHS St. Nicholas Hospital in Sheboygan; HSHS St. Clare Memorial Hospital in Oconto Falls; HSHS Sacred Heart Hospital in Eau Claire; and HSHS St. Joseph’s Hospital in Chippewa Falls. For more information, viswww.prevea.com. HSHS St. Joseph’s Hospital offers community garden plot: Gardeners needed to grow and donate food Chippewa Falls, WI – For the ninth year, HSHS St. Joseph’s Hospital is offering free garden plots to community members who need fresh produce due to limited resources. Individuals, service organizations, and other groups willing to grow and donate their entire harvest to local food pantries and kitchens are also welcome to rent plots for $35. Roger Elliott, a long-time volunteer with HSHS St. Joseph’s Hospital says this program allows gardeners to get their hands dirty while helping their neighbors in the Chippewa Valley. “It’s always rewarding to see how many people come forward to help,” he said. “Sometimes families will rent a plot to teach kids about gardening and the importance of giving back.” Upkeep of the garden, located off Scheidler Road in Chippewa Falls, is provided by staff from HSHS St. Joseph’s Hospital. The garden is surrounded by an eight-foot-tall fence to deter wildlife. It is also protected by locked gates. An irrigation system is used, and a water hydrant is provided for gardeners to wash produce on site. Gardening tools are also available for use for those who don’t have their own. Elliott and other hospital volunteers accept the gardeners’ produce and deliver it to food pantries and kitchens weekly. To date, produce from the garden has provided a total of more than seven and half tons of food to families in need in Chippewa County. There are 24 plots available for rent; each is 12 feet wide by 24 feet long. Applications are being taken now and the garden plots will be ready for planting in mid-May. For more information, or to pick up an application, call Roger Elliott at 715-563-2069 or email him at rwelae@charter.net. About HSHS St. Joseph’s Hospital HSHS St. Joseph’s Hospital is sponsored by Hospital Sisters Ministries, the Hospital Sisters of St. Francis is the Founding Institute, and it is an affiliate of Hospital Sisters Health System. Since 1885, it has served the people of the Chippewa Falls area with health care that is high tech and high touch. Known locally for the quality of the care it provides patients, the hospital has been recognized nationally for its outstanding patient satisfaction levels. About Hospital Sisters Health System Hospital Sisters Health System’s (HSHS) mission is to reveal and embody Christ’s healing love for all people through our high quality, Franciscan health care ministry. HSHS provides state-of-the-art health care to our patients and is dedicated to serving all people, especially the most vulnerable, at each of our physician practices and 15 local hospitals in two states - Illinois (Breese, Decatur, Effingham, Greenville, Highland, Litchfield, O’Fallon, Shelbyville and Springfield) and Wisconsin (Chippewa Falls, Eau Claire, Oconto Falls, Sheboygan, and two in Green Bay). HSHS is sponsored by Hospital Sisters Ministries, and Hospital Sisters of St. Francis is the founding institute. For more information about HSHS, visit www.hshs.org. For more information about Hospital Sisters of St. Francis, visit www.hospitalsisters.org. REALTORS® Association of Northwestern Wisconsin Celebrates 100 YearsEau Claire, WI - 2021 marks 100 years strong for the REALTORS® Association of Northwestern Wisconsin. To commemorate this amazing accomplishment, RANWW is hosting an Open House at its office on Monday, April 26th from 10 a.m. - 3 p.m. "As an association, we've been through countless challenges, name changes, and jurisdiction expansions in the past 100 years," said REALTORS® Association of Northwestern Wisconsin Executive Vice President Brenda Barnhardt. "It is quite amazing to see the progress the association has made since its inception." RANWW began as the Eau Claire Real Estate Board in 1921 and went through multiple name changes before settling on the REALTORS® Association of Northwestern Wisconsin in 2003. RANWW members are invited to stop by Monday to learn more about the history of RANWW, enjoy a food truck, and win freebies and prizes. CVTC NewsCVTC Names Finalists in President Search: Public can meet the four candidates in virtual forums
Eau Claire, WI - The Chippewa Valley Technical College District Board has selected four finalists in its search for a new president, Board President Paul Bauer announced Tuesday, April 20. The four candidates in alphabetical order are: Sunem Beaton-Garcia, Ed.D., is north campus president and vice provost for academic services and interim south campus president and vice provost for academic resources at Broward College in Fort Lauderdale, FL. She previously served as interim central campus president and vice provost for teaching excellence and learning at Broward College. Dr. Beaton-Garcia earned a Doctor of Education in Instructional Technology and Distance Education from Nova Southeastern University in Fort Lauderdale, FL; a Master of Arts in Library and Information Science from the University of South Florida in Tampa, FL; and a Bachelor of Arts in Business and Marketing from University of Phoenix in Tempe, AZ. Kathleen Linaker, Ph.D., is vice president of academics at Western Technical College in La Crosse, WI. She previously served as assistant vice president of academics at Mohawk Valley Community College in Utica, NY. Dr. Linaker earned a Doctor of Philosophy in Higher Education from Loyola University Chicago; a Doctor of Chiropractic from Northwestern Health Sciences University in Bloomington, MN; and a Bachelor of Science in Biology from the University of Alberta in Edmonton, Alberta, CA. Nicholas Ouellette, Ph.D., is superintendent/CEO of the School District of Hudson in Hudson, WI. He previously served as superintendent/CEO of Odebolt-Arthur and Battle Creek-Ida Grove Community Schools in Odebolt, IA. Dr. Ouellette earned a Doctor of Philosophy in Educational Leadership and Policy Studies from Iowa State University in Ames, IA; a Master of Arts in Educational Leadership from Aurora University in Aurora, IL; a Bachelor of Arts in Technology Education with a minor in General Industry from the University of Northern Iowa in Cedar Falls, IA; and a Certificate of Advanced Studies, Superintendent Endorsement from Iowa State University. Kristen Raney, Ed.D., is vice president of academic affairs at Saint Paul College in Saint Paul, MN. She previously served as interim vice president of student affairs at Saint Paul College. Prior to joining Saint Paul College, Dr. Raney served in multiple roles at CVTC between 2003-2015, including dean of academic development and services. Dr. Raney earned a Doctor of Education in Higher Education Leadership from Edgewood College in Madison, WI; a Master of Science in Education from University of Wisconsin-Stout; and a Bachelor of Arts in English from St. Cloud State University in St. Cloud, MN. CVTC Building Houses, Partnerships: College works with private construction companies on class project
UWEC NewsBlugold's custom fishing rod business takes off during pandemicJoe Swanson was looking for a way to fill his days early in the COVID-19 pandemic when he decided to start building more custom-made fishing rods, something the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire senior had learned to do when he was a kid. A year later, Swanson has built and sold nearly 300 custom rods, many to people in the Chippewa Valley who share his passion for fishing. The Osceola native has turned his love of fishing and his talent for making custom rods into Gold Standard Outdoors, a thriving small business that is taking his future career planning in an unexpected but exciting direction. “This is really taking off,” Swanson says of the business’ rapid growth during the yearlong pandemic. “I realized this past year that there is a pretty big market for custom rods in the Eau Claire area and no one else does it. Basically, because of COVID, I had time off from sports and that’s never happened in my life. Obviously, COVID isn’t a positive thing but it’s why I had time to focus on building rods and it’s led to things I never expected.” New grad takes research to a new level during her years as a BlugoldCaitlin Hedberg took undergraduate student research to a whole new level during her four years at the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire. In her time as a Blugold, Hedberg was part of five research projects involving three different faculty mentors. While she is a physics major, just one of the research projects came from within the physics department. “Caitlin has embraced research in a very different way compared to most students,” says Dr. Matt Evans, a professor of physics and director of the Blugold Fellowship program, a research scholarship program that connects freshmen and sophomores to research mentors. “I admire her persistence throughout her four years in searching out such varied projects. She has grown her skill set well beyond the boundaries of a single major.” Hedberg will graduate in May with a degree in physics, minors in mathematics and interdisciplinary linguistics, and a certificate in Mandarin Chinese. Summer Food Service Program to provide meals for UW-Eau Claire's Upward Bound participantsStressing the importance of offering nutritious meals to children during the summer months, the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire Upward Bound program announces the sponsorship of the Summer Food Service Program for its Upward Bound participants. The Summer Food Service Program, which is funded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture and is administered by the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction, provides nutritious meals to children during the summer, when free and reduced-price school meals are typically unavailable. Free meals will be made available to children 18 years of age and under. Persons over 18 years of age who are determined by a state or local public educational agency to be mentally or physically disabled and who also participate in a public or private nonprofit school program during the regular school year may receive free meals as well. Free meals will be served this summer at UW-Eau Claire's Hilltop Center for only those students enrolled in Upward Bound. The dates are Monday-Friday, June 14-July 16. The following week, Monday-Friday, July 19-23, is a scheduled field trip. Meals are provided to eligible children regardless of race, color, national origin, age, gender or disability, and there will be no discrimination in the course of meal service. The amount of reimbursement received by a Summer Food Service Program sponsor is based upon the household incomes of the enrolled children. Children who are members of households receiving Foodshare, FDPIR, W-2 (Wisconsin Works - Cash Benefits Only) benefits are automatically eligible to receive free meal benefits at eligible program sites. View USDA income eligibility guidelines in effect from July 1, 2021, through June 30, 2022. Virtual Invitation to Media EventYou’re Invited!
On Monday, April 26, UW-Eau Claire will announce our new partnership with Hewlett Packard Enterprises and the establishment of the Blugold Center for High-Performance Computing. You are cordially invited to virtually attend this media announcement, featuring: remarks from UW-Eau Claire, HPE, and UW System leaders; media Q&A; and videos featuring UWEC faculty, staff, and students. UW-Eau Claire and HPE Media Event Announcing the Blugold Center for High-Performance Computing Monday, April 26 | 1:00 p.m. https://uwec-edu.zoom.us/j/87699196630?pwd=ZklmcUZibWtDR0FaSkgzK0h5RnRzdz09 Meeting ID: 876 9919 6630 Passcode: 285887 Join meeting by phone: +1 312 626 6799 US (Chicago) Find your local number: https://uwec-edu.zoom.us/u/koFvehF6z The partnership and associated supercomputing equipment will promote nationally-distinctive undergraduate research experiences, as well as enhanced opportunities for area industries to conduct research, recruit interns, and develop an engaged, prepared workforce through collaboration with UWEC’s departments. We hope you will be able to join us. If you do have questions prior to or after the event, please send them to jwrasse@uwec.edu.
Congratulations to the Altoona School District on their ribbon cutting to celebrate the opening of their Early Education Learning Center!
2020 will be known as the year Altoona became stronger as a community said Mayor Brendan Pratt Scott Rogers speaking with Mike Golat (center) and Brendan Pratt (right) On Friday, April 16, the Eau Claire Area Chamber of Commerce hosted the annual State of the City-Altoona address. The event was streamed via Perigon at WIN Technology and was presented by Mayor Brendan Pratt and City Administrator Mike Golat. Here, the two city leaders explained how Altoona overcame the uncertainty brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic and celebrated the city’s accomplishments in the midst of a trying year. As Altoona reflects on the past year and looks towards the future, Golat explained that they have learned “businesses, employees and citizens of The Chippewa Valley are flexible, resilient, creative, and ingenious” and look forward to additional growth and development throughout the city in the upcoming year.
Also included in the morning presentation were videos highlighting aspects of the Altoona community. You can view these videos here. 2020 began as a year with momentum “The year 2020 will be remembered as the year of the COVID pandemic but it will also be known as the year Altoona became stronger as a community,” said Mayor Pratt. “Through all of this, we saw a community that came together.” As Altoona concluded the year 2019 and began 2020, Golat said “going into 2020, we had amazing momentum.” Altoona had a 3.1% unemployment rate in March 2020 and was coming off a record 2019 residential development year with 182 new units. They had a $64,346,600 Total Valuation Increase from 2019 to 2020, an 8.67% increase, and celebrated the success of the first full year of operation at Solis Circle; a housing project to create homes for the homeless and low-income families. “It was a remarkable year,” Golat said, “and then, an uninvited guest showed up and all of our worlds changed.” The COVID-19 journey March 2020 marked the start of Altoona’s COVID-19 journey which brought much uncertainty, mandated business closures, emergency orders, new daily operational decisions, and a 14.1% unemployment rate to the city in April 2020. Golat said everyone faced similar business and personal challenges, “over this past year it felt like pushing that rock up the hill a lot of times.” As city leaders navigated the uncertainties of COVID-19, their priority was to make sure Altoona citizens, customers, families, and employees remained safe. At the same time, they strove to continue providing critical products and services such as police and fire services as well as services such as plowing the roads. The daily lives of employees and children also had to be accommodated as people began working from home and schools moved online. There were also budget challenges on both revenue and expenditures sides. “There were winners and losers in this over the past year, but without exception, everyone had to take a close look at their budgets,” Golat said. In response to the financial challenges placed on the city, Altoona set up accounting for COVID-19 related revenues and expenses, managed the budget in light of added expenses and lower revenues, and took advantage of available funding opportunities and lower interest rates. Maintaining effective public communication and engagement was also important. As guidelines on how to stay safe were continually updated and improved, it was important to stay connected with partners and members of the community. “When things get really difficult, it’s time to communicate more than ever with your customers, and in our case, it’s the citizens.” City accomplishments Despite all the challenges brought on by COVID-19, work still remained. Altoona remained focused on its strategic priorities including facilitating thoughtfully planned housing and commercial development. While 2019 was a record year for housing starts, 2020 ended up breaking this record and saw over 260 new residential units constructed. This success did not come without its challenges, however, “one thing we found out, very clearly, is what thoughtfully planned housing and commercial development is. It’s not objective. It is very subjective” Golat explained. The Lake road condo/townhouse project took a lot of time for the city this past year, but Golat is confident the city will continue to work through it. Additional city housing projects included the Prairie View Ridge Project, Hillcrest Phase 2 and In-fill Multi-family Housing. Commercial development remained strong, and the city is also looking forward to a new pub opening up in June or July of this year on the plaza right across from River Prairie Center. Looking to the future Altoona continues to strategically plan for the future. The city recently hired a consultant to do a space needs analysis and will be presenting the findings to City Council next month. Altoona also bought a piece of property outside of city limits on the corner of SS and highway 12 with the intention of creating new developments similar to River Prairie and in the hopes of growing the city at some point. Quality of life also continues to be a priority as the city updates its Parks, Recreation & Trails Master Plan to invest in current and future city recreational facilities. “We also were able, given the strong growth in 2019, to hire some additional personnel which was highly needed,” Golat said. Going into 2021, the city was able to budget for six new employees. Three in the fire department, one in the police department, one in public works, and Golat’s favorite new employee, their therapy dog Donut. Reflecting on the past year Golat explained that this past year, Altoona has learned that “businesses, employees and citizens of the Chippewa Valley are flexible, resilient, creative, and ingenious”. The city has also seen the Chippewa Valley set the standard for collaboration as people from various business interests have all come together to work on economic recovery. “No one else is doing this, guys. This is unique to the Chippewa Valley,” Golat said. Looking forward to the upcoming year, Golat said “2021 is a new year with new opportunities” and will see much more planning and additional growth and development. Altoona plans to invest more into more quality of life amenities and looks forward to their first-year operating The Fish House, the city’s new recreation center. The city is also excited to finally go back to safely having fun with more programming and events. Golat concluded the morning presentation by presenting two awards. The Altoona's Got Heart Award was given to Dave Burg "for embodying the Altoona Spirit by dedicating time, vision, and selfless leadership in representing the hospitality industry in the Chippewa Valley Economic Recovery Task Force." The Extra Mile Community Partnership Award was given to the Eau Claire City-County Health Department Staff "for providing thoughtful, compassionate, and courageous leadership in your efforts to keep our citizens safe during the COVID-19 pandemic. More Information: Altoona opening new building, bring back big events (Leader-Telegram $) City of Altoona Allinltoona.com Posted by Grace Hanson, Governmental Affairs Intern hanson@eauclairechamber.org  History In 1996, Dave Hanson founded HOOPS, an accounting software company based in Eau Claire, Wisconsin. Dave saw the need for a company that would help local businesses transition from paper-based accounting to computer-based financials. Starting with accounting software solutions, HOOPS has grown to offer a complete software solution for all business needs. After 10 years of working with local businesses and dealing with many hardware and network security issues, Dave noticed IT support lacking in the most crucial area — customer service. The need for a reliable IT service provider quickly became clear, so Dave purchased Imagineering Computer Consultants in 2007. In the early days, Imagineering provided basic server and workstation support. While that is still a strength, Imagineering has evolved and offers clients the latest in network security, automatic software and operating system updates, as well as cloud email and backups. Together, Imagineering and HOOPS are able to provide a full range of hardware and software solutions to local businesses across all industries. Dave retired in March 2020, when his son, Josh, became Owner and President after nearly a decade with the company. Josh is a lifelong Eau Claire resident who is committed to seeing the community succeed, and wants to help businesses grow financially and technologically.  Josh Hanson, President and Owner of Imagineering and HOOPS Services Business technology is the core of what Imagineering and HOOPS provide. As a local IT services provider, Imagineering offers personalized technology consulting for local businesses. You won’t find a helpdesk here. By receiving computer and email support from a dedicated consultant, Imagineering saves your business valuable time and money. Imagineering also provides cloud backups and wireless services, as well as cybersecurity services and training. Learn more: Starting as an accounting software support company, HOOPS has transitioned to a full business management software provider. From setup and integration to ongoing analytics and reporting, HOOPS consultants help guide your business every step of the way. Learn more: HOOPS Business Management Software, powered by Acumatica, handles every phase of your business, including Accounting, Distribution, Warehouse, Payroll, Field Service, and Customer Relationship Management (CRM) — all wrapped into one powerful solution, and all supported locally. A major step up from Quickbooks and Sage, Acumatica’s Cloud-based software keeps you connected to your business’s day-to-day operations anywhere, anytime. Utilizing a combination of superior customer service, business software, and technology tailored to fit specific business requirements in the ever changing and modern technology world, Imagineering and HOOPS empower business owners to reach their goals by providing the right technology at the right time.  Based in downtown Eau Claire for over 25 years, Imagineering and HOOPS have given back time, money, and services to the community as often as possible. Dedicated to working with the local Chamber of Commerces, Imagineering and HOOPS are fully engaged in the community’s future and seeing the community succeed.
In addition to supporting the community and their customers, Imagineering and HOOPS are proud to sponsor YMCA events and scholarships, CVTC student scholarships, Pablo Center STEAM learning pod classes, and local female entrepreneurship opportunities through Red Letter Grant. To learn more — and redeem a free, on-site consultation to assess your business technology needs — visit imagineeringit.com or via the contact methods below: Imagineering / HOOPS 611 S. Farwell St. Eau Claire, WI 54701 715-834-7712 / 715-831-9737 sales@imagineeringit.com Follow Us: Prevea welcomes new nurse practitioner to Chippewa Falls Chippewa Falls – Prevea Health is pleased to welcome Bethany Schilling, APNP, FNP-BC to its team of family medicine providers caring for children and adults in Chippewa Falls. Bethany, a board-certified family nurse practitioner, specializes in the following:
“Meeting each patient where they are, listening to concerns and providing education to help them determine and achieve their individual health care goals is an important part of providing high quality care,” said Bethany. “I strive for prevention of acute and chronic health conditions as well as management of existing conditions to help prevent future complications.” Before joining Prevea Family Medicine, Bethany was part of the Prevea Urgent Care team for three years. She completed her Master of Science in Nursing from the University of Wisconsin – Eau Claire. She also received certification from the American Nurses Credentialing Center, the largest certification body for advanced practice registered nurses in the United States. Bethany joins Drs. Danielle Helmick, Steven Steinmetz, Matthew Tomcik and Berkin Ulgen at the Prevea Chippewa Falls Health Center. Appointments with Bethany at the Prevea Chippewa Falls Health Center can be made by calling (715) 723-9138 or online at www.prevea.com. About Prevea Health Founded in Green Bay, Wis. in 1996, Prevea Health is a health care organization that provides high-quality, primary and specialty health care in 80+ locations across Northern, Eastern and Western Wisconsin in clinic and hospital settings. It is partnered with six Hospital Sisters Health System (HSHS) hospitals across Wisconsin to provide patients a system of highly-coordinated care, close to home: HSHS St. Vincent Hospital and HSHS St. Mary’s Hospital Medical Center in Green Bay; HSHS St. Nicholas Hospital in Sheboygan; HSHS St. Clare Memorial Hospital in Oconto Falls; HSHS Sacred Heart -Hospital in Eau Claire; and HSHS St. Joseph’s Hospital in Chippewa Falls. For more information, visit www.prevea.com. WESTconsin Credit Union Hosts Annual Meeting Virtually; Announces Board of Directors WESTERN WI--WESTconsin Credit Union held its 81st Annual Membership Meeting on March 30, 2021. In light of ongoing concerns regarding COVID-19, the credit union held the meeting virtually via Microsoft Teams. During the meeting, Board Chairperson Gerald Wolf provided a review of the Board activities and highlights for 2020. Lora Benrud, Chief Executive Officer, reviewed the financial statement and annual report. Rita Lunderville provided the Audit Committee Report, followed by the announcement of the Board election results by Karen Flug. Prior to the annual meeting, members voted in the election process of two Board of Directors’ positions. The following individuals have been elected as Board Officers:
In addition to those already mentioned, Board Members include Todd Leipnitz, Dale Dahlke, and Colleen Mensing. The WESTconsin Credit Union Board of Directors and leadership team extend their thanks to retiring Board Member Rita Lunderville, as well as the members who participated in the election process and annual meeting during this unique time. David Johns Joins the Prevail Bank Bank Management Team Prevail Bank is excited to announce that David Johns has recently joined the Eau Claire team as our new Chief Retail Officer. David brings with him 15 years of experience in the financial industry, along with an outstanding track record of customer service, leadership, and financial management. “David John’s will be a great addition to the Prevail Bank team. His professional experience, energetic attitude, and excitement towards the Prevail Bank brand and vision make him a perfect fit for this new role. We are looking forward to new ideas he will bring to continue to help our customers Pursue what’s Possible,” states Nathan Quinnell, President of Prevail Bank. HSHS Sacred Heart Hospital launches neonatal virtual care with Children’s MinnesotaEau Claire, WI – HSHS Sacred Heart Hospital is now delivering more resources and expertise than ever before when it comes to caring for newborns. It has just launched neonatal virtual care services inside its Women and Infants Center in partnership with Children’s Minnesota, home to a neonatal team of experts caring for extremely premature babies born across three sites in St. Paul, Minneapolis and Coon Rapids. The neonatal virtual care features technology that allows HSHS Sacred Heart Hospital patients, families and the maternal care team to see, hear and communicate with newborn specialists at Children’s Minnesota Neonatal Intensive Care Unit. This new service allows our hospital to provide an enhanced level of care for babies who experience an unexpected medical complication that requires critical attention after delivery, such as breathing difficulties. “The addition of this technology means we can expedite and collaborate on the highest level of care for the precious little ones who need it most,” said HSHS Sacred Heart Hospital Women and Infants Center Manager, Maria Green. “Providing care close to home is important to us and this partnership allows us to bring specially trained neonatologists from one of the country’s most highly regarded hospitals to baby’s bedside in Eau Claire in minutes while also collaborating with our hospital care team and baby’s family.” Disney Publishing Shares the Love of Reading by Sending One Million Books to Boys & Girls Clubs of America Disney Publishing is doing their part to encourage kids and families to come together and share their love of reading, with its first-ever Summer Reading List. To help ensure that more readers have access to books this summer and beyond, and as part of Disney’s commitment to inspiring the next generation of storytellers, Disney Publishing is donating one million books to Boys & Girls Clubs of America across the country! This spring Boys & Girls Clubs of the Greater Chippewa Valley received 11,343 books totaling $137,350 worth of summer reading materials. Our outreach through our Club sites in Black River Falls – Lunda Center, Chippewa Falls, Lee & Mary Markquart Center in Eau Claire and Menomonie, totals more than 8650 kids! The goal is to get books into each kid’s hand, additionally each Club is connecting with school partners to distribute Disney books to them as well. Wisconsin's Public RadioNational Poetry Month On Wisconsin Public Radio’s “Spectrum West”Eau Claire, Wis. - Former Wisconsin Poet Laureate and University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire English professor Max Garland stops by to celebrate April’s National Poetry Month festivities with host Al Ross at 10 a.m. on Thursday, April 15 on The Ideas Network stations 88.3/Menomonie-Eau Claire and 88.7/River Falls. Eau Claire-based group The Jim Pullman Band has just released a new album, “Go On Boldly.” Pullman joins the program to talk about their music, his career and their upcoming Pablo Streams performance. The spring 2021 showcase “Music Legacies” is fully virtual this year for the Stand in the Light Memory Choir. Director Cathy Reitz joins Ross to break down planning the event and the music involved. Isa Small, director of programming and communications services at the L.E. Phillips Memorial Public Library in Eau Claire, concludes the program. She will discuss the major renovations set to take place at the library over the coming months, as well as their new temporary location on Mall Drive. “Spectrum West” is a weekly program exploring the music, arts and humanities in western Wisconsin. The show is broadcast at 10 a.m. Thursdays on The Ideas Network stations 88.3/Menomonie/Eau Claire and 88.7/River Falls and streamed live at wrfw887.com/listen-live. It’s also heard at 7 p.m. Fridays on NPR News & Music stations 89.7/Eau Claire and 90.7/Menomonie. Archives of “Spectrum West” are available at wpr.org/programs/spectrum-west-al-ross. Anti-Asian American Racism On Wisconsin Public Radio’s “The West Side" Eau Claire, Wis. - Anti-Asian American and Pacific Islander racism is the topic western Wisconsin on “The West Side” at 10 a.m. Friday, April 16 on The Ideas Network stations of Wisconsin Public Radio: 88.3/Menomonie-Eau Claire and 88.7/River Falls. Host Clara Neupert and her guests Mai Xiong, vice chair of the Governor Tony Evers’ Equity and Inclusion Council, formerly an Eau Claire City Council member, and Yee Leng Xiong, executive director at the Hmong American Center in Wausau and Marathon County board supervisor will address the area’s history of anti-Asian racism and today's racial violence and will explore community healing and solutions. “The West Side” is broadcast each Friday at 10 a.m. on The Ideas Network stations 88.3/Menomonie-Eau Claire and 88.7/River Falls and live streamed at wrfw887.com/listen-live.html. Listeners may call in with questions and comments during the program at (800) 228-5615, or email the show at ideas@wpr.org. Archives of “The West Side” are available at wpr.org/programs/west-side. About Wisconsin Public Radio For over 100 years, Wisconsin Public Radio has served the people of Wisconsin with quality news, music, talk and entertainment. On air, online and in the community - we work for Wisconsin. WPR is a service of the Educational Communications Board and University of Wisconsin-Madison. Listen, learn more and donate at www.wpr.org. Walk-ins Welcome at UWEC Zorn Arena Vaccination Site Beginning Friday April 16thEau Claire, WI- April 15, 2020 – Walk-ins are welcome to get vaccinated at the UWEC Zorn Arena COVID19 clinic beginning Friday, April 16th. Walk-in hours are Tuesday – Saturdays from 3:00 to 6:30pm. Beginning April 29th, walk-in hours will start at 11 am. Appointments through vaccinate.wi.gov are still preferred and will guarantee that you get a vaccine. By accepting walk-ins, we hope it is easier for some people to get their vaccine. “We encourage everyone that can get a vaccine to do so. The COVID-19 vaccine helps to prevent you from getting seriously sick from COVID-19. Protecting yourself also protects the people around you, like those at increased risk of severe illness from COVID-19 or those who can’t get vaccinated — like infants and young children,” says Lieske Giese, Director/Health Officer. Ashley Construction - Youth Build ProjectAshley Construction employees are volunteering their time and labor to assist in constructing the second home being built by area youth participating in Workforce Resource’s U.S. Department of Labor YouthBuild program. Ashley Construction is a family-owned and operated custom home builder serving Eau Claire, Chippewa Falls, Altoona and surrounding areas. The YouthBuild program is a community-based alternative education program for low-income out-of-school youth between the ages of 16 and 24 providing youth with leadership development, education and employment opportunities in in-demand industries and apprenticeship pathways. The YouthBuild model balances project-based academic learning and occupational skills training to prepare disadvantaged youth for career placement. While working side-by-side with Ashley Construction volunteers, youth are exposed to, trained in and engaged in hands-on experience in all facets of the home construction industry. The home, located at 910 Bluff View in Chippewa Falls, supports the goal of increasing affordable housing within communities by teaching youth construction skills learned by building homes for sale or rent to low-income families or transitional housing for homeless families or individuals. According to Jessica Oleson-Bue, Executive Director of Chippewa County Housing Authority, “The YouthBuild program has provided an outstanding opportunity for the development of affordable housing in our community. We have a family that is expecting to purchase and move into the property in July.” She added, “We are grateful to Ashley Construction for their assistance in helping us make progress toward our goal of completing the house by the end of June.” Workforce Resource welcomes others with experience in home construction to participate in this worthwhile project. For more information about the YouthBuild program and opportunities to volunteer in the construction of this home, contact Michaela Stendahl @ 715 225 4768 or stendahlm@workforceresource.org. HSHS hospitals encourage families to discuss health care decisions sooner, rather than later: April 16 is National Healthcare Decisions Day Eau Claire and Chippewa Falls, WI – Each year in mid-April families are encouraged to have the often-difficult conversation with their loved ones about health care decision-making. Putting your wishes in writing is one of the most important things you can do. “Decisions around advance directives, living wills and naming a health care power of attorney now while you are healthy and cognitively able can help ensure you get the medical care you want, and ease the burden on your family,” said Eric Butters, HSHS Sacred Heart and St. Joseph’s hospitals spiritual care manager. Butters said a written advance directive should be kept on file with your medical provider and a copy should be given to your designated health care power of attorney. National Healthcare Decisions Day was founded in 2008 to encourage families to discuss health care decision-making sooner, rather than later. “Many conversations may start with your family and lead to a discussion with your doctor,” Butters said. “Those beginning steps will ensure your wishes and those of your loved ones are expressed and respected, as well as followed.” Some topics to discuss are:
For help in starting those discussions, contact the HSHS Sacred Hospital Spiritual Care Department at 715-717-6594 or visit our website. To learn more about Advance Directives visit theconversationproject.org/nhdd. About HSHS Sacred Heart Hospital HSHS Sacred Heart Hospital is sponsored by Hospital Sisters Ministries, the Hospital Sisters of St. Francis is the Founding Institute, and it is an affiliate of Hospital Sisters Health System. Since 1889, it has been meeting patient needs in western Wisconsin with the latest medical innovations and technology, together with a Franciscan whole-person healing tradition. About HSHS St. Joseph’s Hospital HSHS St. Joseph’s Hospital is sponsored by Hospital Sisters Ministries, the Hospital Sisters of St. Francis is the Founding Institute, and it is an affiliate of Hospital Sisters Health System. Since 1885, it has served the people of the Chippewa Falls area with health care that is high tech and high touch. Known locally for the quality of the care it provides patients, the hospital has been recognized nationally for its outstanding patient satisfaction levels. About Hospital Sisters Health System Hospital Sisters Health System’s (HSHS) mission is to reveal and embody Christ’s healing love for all people through our high quality, Franciscan health care ministry. HSHS provides state-of-the-art health care to our patients and is dedicated to serving all people, especially the most vulnerable, at each of our physician practices and 15 local hospitals in two states - Illinois (Breese, Decatur, Effingham, Greenville, Highland, Litchfield, O’Fallon, Shelbyville and Springfield) and Wisconsin (Chippewa Falls, Eau Claire, Oconto Falls, Sheboygan, and two in Green Bay). HSHS is sponsored by Hospital Sisters Ministries, and Hospital Sisters of St. Francis is the founding institute. For more information about HSHS, visit www.hshs.org. For more information about Hospital Sisters of St. Francis, visit www.hospitalsisters.org. UWEC NEWSUW-Eau Claire students pass referendum to support Sonnentag ComplexUniversity of Wisconsin-Eau Claire students voted this week to help financially support operations of the proposed more than $75 million Sonnentag Complex Event & Wellness Center after it is built. A total of 61% (1,019) of the students who voted supported the referendum. During the three-day election, April 12-14, 38% (640) of students voted no. The referendum supported a fee of not more than $90 a semester for use and maintenance of the complex. Students would not begin paying the fee until building construction is completed and occupied. "The student body of UW-Eau Claire has officially made their voices heard and they are in support of the new Sonnentag Complex," reported Anna Ziebell, UW-Eau Claire’s student body president. "I am so excited to continue the work to move this project forward. The students deserve a building that is accessible and sustainable for their big events, like graduation, concerts, sporting events and more. This facility will strengthen our community relations, give UW-Eau Claire a state-of-the-art event center, and overall, positively impact this campus's future." The project will continue with finalizing the design and working through a detailed development schedule, including securing needed approvals from the UW System Administration. Construction of the complex on the land on Menomonie Street adjacent to Hobbs Ice Center and along the Chippewa River is expected to commence this year. Eau Claire Jazz Festival will be virtual, livestreamed event on April 23After a one-year hiatus because of the pandemic, the Eau Claire Jazz Festival is back in 2021 with a virtual, livestreamed concert featuring Chippewa Valley talent and online music education clinics for middle and high school students. The 55th Eau Claire Jazz Festival will take place on Friday, April 23. The event will feature live world-class entertainment originating virtually from Pablo Center at the Confluence in downtown Eau Claire. “Because of COVID, with great tragedy comes great innovation,” says Robert Baca, artistic director for the Eau Claire Jazz Festival and director of jazz studies at the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire. Among those innovations organizers developed is replacing the popular downtown Jazz Crawl — formerly 52nd Street — with an online concert featuring Eau Claire musicians at 7:30 p.m. April 23. Nursing simulation lab helps future speech-language pathologists gain new skillsBrooke Anderson quickly did a language assessment of her newly admitted patient, working to determine her ability to speak after she had a stroke.
The speech-language pathologist shared her findings with a nurse, who was checking the patient’s blood sugar levels and completing a head-to-toe assessment. That done, together they determined their next steps, including what foods to give the patient to bring her blood sugar levels back to where they need to be. Another day working on the neuro floor of a hospital? Try another day of learning at the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire. This spring, Anderson and several other communication sciences and disorders majors gained new skills and confidence working alongside nursing majors in the College of Nursing and Health Sciences’ simulation lab.
Congratulations to Merge Urban Development, our Newest Chamber Investor, on their groundbreaking for the New Andante Apartments project in Downtown Eau Claire
Congratulations to our Chamber Investor - Wisconsin Early Autism Project - WEAP, on their ribbon cutting celebration at their new facility at 1413 Winchester Way in Altoona!
|
Categories
All
Eau Claire ChamberThe Eau Claire Chamber of Commerce has more than 1,200 members. Archives
April 2021
|
RSS Feed
|
|
|
Contact Us
101 N Farwell St, Ste 101 Eau Claire, WI 54703 Phone: (715) 834-1204 Fax: (715) 834-1956 information@eauclairechamber.org |
|
Copyright © 2020 Eau Claire Area Chamber of Commerce. All rights reserved.
Privacy Policy
101 N. Farwell Street - Suite 101, Eau Claire, WI 54703
Phone: (715) 834-1204 | Fax: (715) 834-1956 | information@eauclairechamber.org
Privacy Policy
101 N. Farwell Street - Suite 101, Eau Claire, WI 54703
Phone: (715) 834-1204 | Fax: (715) 834-1956 | information@eauclairechamber.org