Photo on left: Governor Tony Evers, Monica Obrycki, Eau Claire Energy Cooperative, Casey Schumacher, Eau Claire Chamber, Andrew Neborak and Kathy Evers.  Photo on right: Governor Tony Evers, Jessica Zarnke, Meredith Hill Stockford, Sue Bornick and Kathy Evers. 

The Eau Claire Area Chamber of Commerce and long-time Eau Claire resident Dr. Eldon Hill, who established the Draper Hills Financial Literacy Endowment at the Eau Claire Community Foundation, received the 2019 Governor’s Financial Literacy Awards for Organizations and Legacies (respectively) on Wednesday, February 19, at the State Capital.
 
The Governor’s Financial Literacy Awards recognize organizations and individuals who make a significant difference in financial literacy education. The Eau Claire Area Chamber of Commerce was one of six organization recipients. The Chamber has worked creatively and in close partnership with the Eau Claire Area School District to instill financial literacy in the area.
 
Through collaboration with local institutions and school districts, the Chamber oversees a local Youth Apprenticeship Consortium, coordinates a financial literacy simulation called “Real Life Academy,” and recruits volunteers for career exploration opportunities that support students’ academic and career planning. These experiences are woven into the curricula of local schools to support long-term implementation.
 
The Eau Claire Area Youth Apprenticeship Consortium hosts approximately 85 students this year, with a goal of expansion in the years to come. In addition, during the past year, over 600 students attended Real Life Academy, which showed them how to budget for a month like a young professional.
 
Accepting on behalf of the Eau Claire Area Chamber of Commerce were Casey Schumacher, Andrew Neborak and Monica Obrycki.
 
The Legacy Award is given to “an organization, business, or individual whose purpose and heritage is ingrained in sustained financial literacy and capability, and whose reputation in doing so is held in high regard in serving as a model for others in carrying on the work of supporting financial literacy and expanding opportunities through financial capability. This lifetime recognition is intended to be conferred only once to recipients.”
 
Dr. Eldon Hill, a resident of Eau Claire for more than 30 years, was one of 5 legacy recipients.
 
Dr. Hill, who grew up in Loyal, WI, and graduated from its high school in 1938, had a vision of giving back to the community that had nurtured him. In order to realize that vision, he established the Draper Hills Financial Literacy Endowment Fund at the Eau Claire Community Foundation, which supports a comprehensive K-12 Financial Literacy Program in the Loyal School District.
 
Dr. Hill’s passion for financial literacy, and his giving heart, have so far impacted more than 300 students. His vision has spurred innovative ways to teach financial literacy in the classroom, through summer school programming, and in an after-school night class to enhance learning and fun when it comes to financial literacy.
 
The Eau Claire Community Foundation, which holds the Draper Hills Financial Literacy Endowment Fund, is proud to help fulfill Dr. Hill’s vision by ensuring that Loyal’s Financial Literacy program is supported both now and for years to come. 
 
Although Dr. Hill was unable to attend the Awards Ceremony, his daughter Meredith Hill Stockford, Financial Literacy Instructor Jessica Zarnke, and Eau Claire Community Foundation Executive Director Sue Bornick accepted the Legacy Award on his behalf.
 
For more information, please contact Sue Bornick at suebornick@eccfwi.org or 715-552-3801.

​
 

Congratulations to Metal Craft and Riverside Machine & Engineering, on receiving an EPIC award for innovation, production and service from Raytheon who has 10,000 worldwide suppliers.  With 160 employees, Riverside was recognized as "an exemplary partner" who "continually excel in delivering quality products".  Accepting the award are owners, Sean and Trisha Mowry.  

Congratulations to Sarah Gordee of Hookd Promotions on being named Ambassador of the Quarter.  Sarah is always willing to help out at various Chamber events throughout the year.  Thank you Sarah for all that you do for the Ambassadors and the Chamber!

ThinkEauClaire.com, the Eau Claire Chamber of Commerce’s interactive talent attraction campaign, was selected as a finalist for the Wisconsin Economic Development Association’s (WEDA) Talent Development award, presented at its event in Madison on September 11. The award is part of the Community and Economic Development Awards (CEDA) program established by WEDA to recognize businesses, projects and organizations that are making significant contributions to Wisconsin’s economy.  The Talent Development award honors initiatives or programs that have driven successful talent development efforts to strengthen the Wisconsin workforce. 

The first place winner in the Talent Development category was Western Technical College in La Crosse for its partnership with the City of La Crosse and La Crosse Central High School that provided over 440 students with hands-on instruction in the construction trades while building 35 new homes to ease that community's housing shortage.​

The Chamber’s ThinkEauClaire.com campaign was recognized as a finalist because it offers an interactive video and web-based platform that local businesses can utilize to help attract employees to the Eau Claire and Chippewa Valley region. The program provides a persuasive tool for area employers to highlight the unique attributes of living and working in the region, including the cultural, economic and recreational qualities desirable to potential employees. The platform was built in a way to allow businesses to customize the available media tools to promote their organization and tell their own story about company culture, pay and benefits.  ThinkEauClaire.com also supports and complements the State of Wisconsin’s Think-Make-Happen talent attraction marketing campaign. 

River Prairie wins Economic Development initiative category;
Nordson EDI, Chippewa Falls, a finalist for Business Retention & Expansion
   Also at the CEDA event, Altoona's River Prairie Project won first place in the Economic Development Initiative category, while another finalist from the Chippewa Valley was Nordson EDI of Chippewa Falls in the the Business Retention and Expansion category for its new combined facilities now under construction.

More information:
CEDA 2019 Awards
Nordson EDI finalist information
River Prairie Project Wins Prominent Economic Development Award​
​Western Technical College winner information
ThinkEauClaire.com

Posted by Scott Rogers, Governmental Affairs & Workforce Director
Rogers@eauclairechamber.org

Two Eau Claire Chamber members, Kelsie Beckfield of Great Northern Corporation and Deb Marshal of Wipfli, were among the finalists in the large employer category for HR Professional of the Year, an annual award presented by Wisconsin Manufacturers & Commerce at its Policy Day in Madison, which was held on August 13.  The award is sponsored by ​Ogletree Deakins.

Deborah Marshall of Wipfli was nominated because of her great work at Wipfli, both internally and in the community. Focusing on helping small to medium rural employers, she assists Wipfli clients as well as other HR professionals by serving as a strong resource and mentor. Deb started a “Human Resource Business Forum” to bring professionals together to meet and discuss important topics as well as network to grow professionally. She now runs these forums around the state. Internally, she constantly pushes for a team atmosphere and is able to ensure Wipfli employees are a united team to best serve their clients. She also originated the annual Western & Central Wisconsin Wage Survey, now in its 20th year.

Kelsie Beckfield of Great Northern Corporation has been an active volunteer with her local SHRM chapter for several years. As part this volunteerism, she is leading the effort to create a marketing video for the Chippewa Valley area titled “Make Chippewa Valley,” modeled on the Think.Make.Happen campaign from the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation. She has worked hard to grow local SHRM membership by 17% as she worked up the ranks all the way to President of the Chippewa Valley SHRM chapter. Internally at GNC, she has improved the company culture by, among other things, implementing an employee recognition and thank you system, monthly wellness challenges, and an updated flex policy to allow greater work life balance, resulting in a decrease in worker turnover – something critical in today’s job market.

Winner of the large employer category was Chuck Klein, Exact Sciences Corporation. 

“Human resources professionals may not always get the credit for the impact they have on business, but they are critical to recruiting, developing and retaining talent,” said Chris Reader, WMC Director of Health & Human Resources Policy. “Our winners deserve immense credit for the value they bring to the business community and their leadership in the human resources profession.”

Awards were presented to individuals of high moral and ethical standing who have demonstrated the value of the HR function with their organization through the implementation of best practices, organizational design and effectiveness, and alignment and accomplishment of the strategic direction of the organization.

“Ogletree Deakins is honored to be the presenting sponsor of the 2019 Human Resources Professional of the Year Awards,” said Keith Kopplin, Shareholder at Ogletree Deakins. “We congratulate all of the winners and thank them for their commitment to improving the industry.”

More information:
​HR Professional of the Year recognition (Wisconsin Manufacturers & Commerce)
Western & Central Wisconsin Wage Survey (Eau Claire Area Chamber of Commerce)

Posted by Scott Rogers, Governmental Affairs & Workforce Director
rogers@eauclairechamber.org

​Congratulations to Wally Wheeler of Image 360 for being named the Chamber's Ambassador of the Quarter.  Thanks Wally for all that you do for the Ambassadors and the Chamber!

Congratulations to Brooke Petska, Marawood Construction, on being named Chamber Ambassador Rookie of the Year.  Brooke's dedication and support of the Chamber for the past year has been very much appreciated!

Eau Claire-based construction firm Market & Johnson hosted an Apprenticeship Signing Day on May 17 for high school students who plan to join the North Central States Regional Council of Carpenters Apprenticeship after graduation. Much like the National Signing Day for student athletes, the event was to celebrate students who are choosing a career in the skilled building trades. 

"They are making a career path choice for a family supping career." It's also a way of getting an education without going into debt," said Steve Mann, Business Representative for NCSRCC. 

Students from area high schools signed a letter of sponsorship with a union contractor. Four high school seniors signed their apprenticeship papers, joining Carpenters Local 1074, and took the first step towards a career in the skilled building trades. John Schancer and Carter Verdegan, from School District of Flambeau, and Mason Thurston, from Eau Claire North High School, will be earning while they learn on projects with Market & Johnson, while Luke Mayer, from Neillsville School District, joined Kraemer Construction.

Jerry Shea, President, Market & Johnson agrees, “Market & Johnson is proud to team up with our local high schools and our labor partners to make the Youth Apprenticeship a success for all. We thank those leaders who have made this possible, and we welcome our Youth Apprentice Graduates to an exciting and fulfilling career in construction.”

Posted by Scott Rogers, Governmental Affairs & Workforce Director
rogers@eauclairechamber.org

To accomplish this, the Chamber partnered with Volume One, the local media organization that has been a significant catalyst in Eau Claire’s ascendance. It funded the production of the website and video to highlight the unique attributes of Thriving, Working and Living in the Chippewa Valley, including testimonials from individuals who’ve recently moved to the area. “The video is evocative of the spirit of the community and especially designed to appeal to individuals and families who would be drawn to the characteristics of Eau Claire that appeal to their lifestyles,” said Scott Rogers, the Chamber’s Governmental Affairs & Workforce Director.
 
By simply linking to the ThinkEauClaire.com URL, local employers can use it to tell the community’s story to complement their own company’s story and benefits. The website itself was carefully designed to be graphically interesting and both mobile and desktop friendly. There is an accompanying Facebook page: www.facebook.com/thinkeauclaire/

The project was built in a way that also makes it feasible for employers to customize the website and video to specifically promote their own organizations. The first to do this was Royal Credit Union, a major regional financial institution headquartered in downtown Eau Claire.  See: https://www.rcu.org/about-us/careers

The Think Eau Claire theme was also developed to support and complement the State of Wisconsin’s “Think-Make-Happen” talent marketing initiative, which especially targets Midwest millennials, Wisconsin alumni and former residents, and transitioning veterans.
 
The campaign was launched at the Chamber’s “Workforce Solutions Summit” on October 29, 2018. Since then, the video has achieved over 87,000 views, there have been more than 4,000 visitors to the website, and it appears near the top in Google search results for “Eau Claire relocation.” Website visitors have come primarily from Wisconsin, Minnesota and Illinois, but other states consistently in the top 10 include California, Virginia, New York, Oregon and Texas.