Dear Chamber Partners and Members: A Brief Pause for In-Person Programming

We are facing fluid and extraordinary times in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic. Effective immediately, in the best interest of you, your business, and our community, we are suspending all in-person networking, meeting and programming events for the rest of March & April. This is not just about COVID-19, but doing our part to ensure there is capacity at our medical facilities to be able to assist with ALL illnesses. This is not about us as individuals but about protecting people with vulnerable immune/compromised systems and our friends and family over 60.

Our office will remain staffed and open as usual as we will continue to serve you. I am confident we will find innovative ways to encourage business connections and engagement in new and technological ways. We will continue to meet one-on-one and get out to our members' places of business even more. We are working with WIN Technology on some virtual meeting options as well, and expect to announce those opportunities very soon.

Although we are postponing in-person events because they involve large gatherings, it’s important for all of us to continue to support local businesses with our individual patronage. Of course, continue to take appropriate precautions with healthy habits like washing your hands, avoiding direct contact and staying home if you’re sick.

We’re always available to you and would appreciate any and all input as we work through this together. To that point, here is a link to a brief survey that I would ask you to fill out and let us know how you are dealing with this situation. 

Please call, email and stay in close touch. Let's be proactive now and call things off for the short- term so that this crisis is mitigated sooner rather than later and we can get back to business as usual. We greatly appreciate your patience and consideration.

This is a true test of all of our leadership to ensure that Eau Claire and all of the Chippewa Valley business community can navigate through this challenging time. This too shall pass and we will be better individuals and businesses because of it.

Thank you for supporting our community through investment in the Chamber.

Thank you,

David W. Minor
President/CEO
Eau Claire Area Chamber of Commerce 
 
Stay informed: 

• Link to City/County Health Department
• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
• Guidance for Businesses and Employers – CDC
• Risk Assessment Guidance – CDC

On behalf of the Eau Claire Chamber Educational Foundation, we are proud to announce the transition of the “Real Life Academy” program to Royal Credit Union’s “Test Drive…Next Stop Reality.” The transition will be complete by the end of 2020.  Over the last several years, Royal has been the major supporter of Real Life Academy and operates its own reality fair, Test Drive, for high school students in other communities like Rice Lake and Eden Prairie, MN.  Both programs share the same mission and objective, to provide high school students a real-life simulation of money and finances.  By partnering on this initiative moving forward, the two organizations hope to expand the use of technology and the ability to positively impact even more local high school students.


The Eau Claire Chamber Educational Foundation will conduct the event formally through the 2020 calendar year with the major change being implementation of the curriculum for “Test Drive… Next Stop Reality” immediately. This will be in place for the Spring 2020 event and Fall 2020 event, with a full transition taking place in 2021. Through this partnership, we will continue to ask the business community to support this program by volunteering and interacting with the students, as that is a critical piece to its success.

Please see below for a joint CEO transition letter accompanying this announcement. 

If you have any further questions regarding this transition, please reach out to the following:

Casey Schumacher, Young Professionals & Educational Director with the Eau Claire Area Chamber of Commerce (schumacher@eauclairechamber.org)

and / or

​Jen McHugh, Director of Public Affairs & Financial Education with Royal Credit Union (jennifer.mchugh@rcu.org). 

The recently completed the 2019 Western & Central Wisconsin Wage Survey has revealed the average 2019 pay increases for all participating employers was 3.00% for non-exempt employees and 3.03% for exempt employees (excluding zero increases and non-responses). This shows continued wage growth consistent with 2018, which was 3.15% and 3.09% respectively. Notable is that participation in the survey improved significantly from 151 to 162 organizations.   

These figures have been updated since the original release of the survey due to one error in data entered by a participating organization, which resulted in an overstatement of the average pay increases.  The survey has now been re-released to all who purchased it.  The average 2019 pay increases reported on Page 2 of the document were updated and now reflect similar wage increases as seen across the USA, right at 3%.  The median (50th percentile) has been 3.0% since 2014.  


The average increase is an “indicator of positive wage growth and robust market conditions,” notes Deborah Marshall, Senior Manager, HR Consulting, at Wipfli in Eau Claire, who serves as the lead technical advisor for the survey. “Although there are always variations in numbers reported due to different employers participating (or not participating) and individual job fluctuations, the overall reported increases to base pay is still a fairly reliable statistic. 

In its 20th year now, the survey results were compiled from submissions by 162 companies (up from 151 in 2018) in various industries.  There was also a significant increase in the actual number of employee pay rates included at 23,255 – a 28% increase from 2018.  Geographically, the coverage area encompasses the Chambers of Commerce in Chippewa Falls, Eau Claire, La Crosse, Marshfield, Menomonie, Portage County, Rice Lake, Wausau, and Wisconsin Rapids.  Also involved were local chapters of the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) in the Chippewa Valley, La Crosse, Wausau and Winona, MN. The survey is administered by the Eau Claire Area Chamber of Commerce.

Base pay levels for 153 jobs were included in the survey. Manufacturers represented 49% of the employers and 29% of the rates of pay in the survey.  The survey also has industry breakouts for healthcare, financial institutions, non-profits, and a general category for all other types of organizations.
Click here for a preview summary of the overall results

Accessing the full report with specific job detail
The full survey results are available to employers for purchase via the Eau Claire Chamber. A copy of the survey will be available at the Eau Claire Public Library. Participating members of the Chambers of Commerce and SHRM chapters receive a copy at a reduced price. 
Click here to access the online order form 

For more information, contact: 
Danielle Kummer, Eau Claire Area Chamber of Commerce
kummer@eauclairechamber.org 
715-858-0618. ​
​

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

The recently completed the 2018 Western & Central Wisconsin Wage Survey has revealed a 3.70 percent overall increase in its group of 35 benchmark jobs, an acceleration of last year’s increase of 2.99 percent.

The increase is an “indicator of positive wage growth and robust market conditions,” notes Deborah Marshall, Senior Manager, HR Consulting, at Wipfli in Eau Claire, who serves as the lead technical advisor for the survey. “Although there are always variations in numbers reported due to different employers participating (or not participating) and individual job fluctuations, the ‘overall’ number is still a fairly reliable statistic. Accordingly, actual average pay increase percentages awarded were up from last year as well.”

In its 19th year, the survey results were compiled from submissions by 151 companies in various industries, in an area encompassing the coverage area of the chambers of commerce in Chippewa Falls, Eau Claire, La Crosse, Marshfield, Menomonie, Portage County, Rice Lake, Wausau, and Wisconsin Rapids. Also involved were local chapters of the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) in the Chippewa Valley, La Crosse, Wausau and Winona, MN. The survey is administered by the Eau Claire Area Chamber of Commerce.

Employers in central Wisconsin were included for the first time this year, resulting in a 25 percent increase in the number of participating organizations. Base pay levels for over 18,000 employees were included in the survey, on 150 different job titles. Manufacturers represented 43 percent of the employers and 50 percent of the rates of pay in the survey, up significantly from last year. The survey also has industry breakouts for healthcare, financial institutions, non-profits, and a general category for all other types of organizations.

The full survey results are available to employers for purchase at the Eau Claire Chamber. A copy of the survey will be available at the Eau Claire Public Library. Participating members of the chambers of commerce and SHRM chapters receive a copy at a reduced price. The order for is available online or contact Casey Schumacher (715-858-0614).

​A special thanks to the early risers who helped get the breakfast running whether it was making coffee, firing up the skillets, directing traffic or serving guests. We appreciate those that brought a whole team from their company as well - we hope it was a good team building event! Thanks to everyone for making the breakfast a great success. Save the date for the 23rd Annual Breakfast in the Valley on June 14, 2019.
 
Breakfast in the Valley Committee
Bob Bosold, Mid-West Family Broadcasting
Mary Kay Brevig, Eau Claire Energy Cooperative
Nikki Crotteau, Eau Claire Co-op Oil/Chippewa Valley Energy
Christine Gimber, Weld Riley, S.C.
Dave Graham, Northwest Enterprises
Ricki Gudis, Kwik Trip - Otter Rd
Mark Hagedorn, Eau Claire County
Steve Hunsley, Eau Claire Co-op Oil/Chippewa Valley Energy
Nicholas Mohr, Rhom Construction LLC
Bob Panzer, Pifer’s Auction & Realty
Jenny Rathke, WESTconsin Credit Union
Brian Schneider, WRR Environmental Services Co., Inc.
Jon M. Schultz, City of Eau Claire
Mary Stabenow, Nohre & Company, S.C., CPA's
LaVern L. Stewart, LL Stewart, Inc. & American Realty Partner
Michael Stoffel, Ayres Associates
Pat Sturz, CliftonLarsonAllen, LLP
Adam Wehling, Chippewa Valley Technical College
Justin Zoromski, Woita & Associates
 
Sponsors
Platinum Sponsor: Eau Claire Energy Cooperative
 
Eggs provided by Festival Foods
Ham, cheese and onions sponsored by the Aging & Disability Resource Center
Mushrooms provided by Altoona Family Restaurant
Slice cheese provided by Woodman’s Food Market, Inc.
​Kwik Trip fresh muffins sponsored in part by Chippewa Valley Energy
​Cheese curds provided by Marieke Gouda
Bananas and orange juice provided by Kwik Trip
Victor Allen's Coffee provided by Coffee Express
Milk provided by Kemps and McDonald’s
Traditional Dairy Breakfast Dessert – Culver’s Fresh Custard topped with strawberries provided by Rhom Construction LLC and General Mills corn flakes
 
Click here to see all the breakfast sponsors!

Thanks to all our Chamber members who attended the 2017 Business Expo & Job Fair. With more than 2,000 people in attendance, it was another great success thanks to the support of all our sponsors, exhibitors, Committee members and volunteers. Thank you to Emily Thompson of Woods & Water Realty for chairing the Business Expo & Job Fair Committee again this year.
A special thank you to the following:
Media Sponsors: Leader-Telegram, Mid-West Family Broadcasting (WAXX and WAYY) and WEAU 13 News.
VIP Reception Sponsors: Marshfield Clinic, M3 Insurance, Ruder Ware and Wipfli
Beverage Sponsors: General Beer Northwest, Infinity Beverages Winery & Distillery, Park Ridge Distributing, Inc.,  
Seminar Room & Bag Sponsor: Manpower
Parking Lot Shuttle Provided by: Trubilt Collision Center
Exhibitors’ Lounge Sponsors: Associated Bank, Five Star Telecom, Rhom Construction and Xcel Energy with lunch served from The Hubb.
Lanyard Sponsor: Miron Construction
Bag Sponsor: Manpower
Printing Sponsor: REALiving
In-Kind Sponsors: Badger Truck, Steamatic of Western Wisconsin and Sterling Water - Culligan

Food Samples Provided by: L.E. Phillips Career Development Center, Marieke Gouda, n& Café LLC, Princeton Valley Golf Course, Smiling Moose Rocky Mountain Deli, King Pin Management and Westgate Sportsman’s Club.

VIP Reception Door Prize Sponsors and Winners:

• Framed “Woodland” by Caroline Gold print donated by B-Framed Galleries – Dan Marcon of Marc-On Shooting
• Autographed Guitar by Florida Georgia Line donated by Country JAM – Debra White of Mayo Clinic Health System
• Notebook computer donated by Heartland Business Systems – Robert Budnik of Builders First Source
• Production Room Tasting donated by Infinity Beverages Winery & Distillery – Tracy Nelson of the Red Cross
• One Year Membership to the YMCA – Joanna Gohlke of L.E. Phillips Career Development Center

 
Booth Winners: Marketing students judged all the booths at the Business Expo & Job Fair. Congratulations to the following winner:

• Most Engaging Booth – WEAU 13 News
• Most Creative/Innovative Booth – Gator Garb Promotions
• Most Educational Booth – Dove Healthcare
  
  

Committee Members: Chair Emily Thompson, Woods & Water Realty; Matt Atkinson, Mid-West Family Broadcasting; Tom Bachmeier, Xcel Energy; Steve Bloechl, CliftonLarsonAllen; Lori DeMotts, Market & Johnson; Darrell Duval, Complete Insurance Services; Lexie Hennen, Regional Enterprises for Adults & Children, Inc.; Michelle Janicki, Regional Enterprises for Adults & Children; Terry McHugh, WEAU 13 News; Rollin Nelson, Impact Advertising; Jane Norby, True Compass Life Coaching; Mike Phillips, L.E. Phillips Career Development Center; Angela Welch, Woods & Water Realty; Cory Wiese, CliftonLarsonAllen; Amy Wolfe, Trubilt Collision Center and MaiVue Xiong of Weld Riley, S.C.

Volunteers: Abby Braatz, Sherwin-Williams Company; Pat Durch, Wipfli; Dan Ekblad, Overeater Wellness Coaching; Mary Glassbrenner, Group Health Cooperative; Joanna Gohlke, L.E. Phillips Career Development Center; Stephanie Herbert, Lasker Jewelers; Michelle Heinzen, Bremer Bank; Chris Howell, WEAU 13 News; Julie Kalpinski, Mayo Clinic Health System; Vanessa Klemish, Klemish & Johnson, LLC; Marianne Klinkhammer, Gator Garb Promotions; Ben Komro, RE/MAX Real Estate Group; Dawn Malcolm, Charter Bank; Nicholas Mohr, Rhom Construction; Andy Neborak, Eau Claire Express Baseball; Brandon O’Connell, Market & Johnson; Kaylynn Stahlbusch, Aging & Disability Resource Center of Eau Claire County; Jared Swyter, Associated Bank; Ben Trachsel, B&B Eletric, Inc.; Bill Wallo, Weld Riley, S.C.; Katie Warner, Woods & Water Realty; Matthew Woestman, Westgate Sportsman’s Club
 
And thank you to Amy Peterson-Foss and the staff at the Eau Claire Indoor Sports Center for all their help!

The 21st Annual Breakfast in the Valley was a big success thanks to more than 80 sponsors and over 300 volunteers. This year, we served 3,350 people from 5 to 10 a.m.! This event would not be possible without the Chamber members who volunteered to serve the breakfast and the Breakfast in the Valley committee that worked for several months to plan the breakfast. 

A special thanks to the early risers who helped get the breakfast running whether it was making coffee, firing up the skillets, directing traffic or serving guests. We appreciate those that brought a whole team from their company. We hope it was a good team building event! We also want to thank those that came for the less exciting part of the day, clean up! Thanks to everyone for making the breakfast a great success. Save the date for the 21st Annual Breakfast in the Valley on June 8, 2018.

Breakfast in the Valley Committee 
Bob Bosold, Mid-West Family Broadcasting
Mary Kay Brevig, Eau Claire Energy Cooperative
Nikki Crotteau, Eau Claire Co-op Oil/Chippewa Valley Energy
Jenn Engaldo, Kwik Trip - Otter Rd
Eve Fischer, Marshfield Clinic - Eau Claire Center
Christine Gimber, Weld Riley, S.C.
Dave Graham, Northwest Enterprises
Ricki Gudis, Kwik Trip - Otter Rd
Mark Hagedorn, Eau Claire County
Jim Hager, WRR Environmental Services Co., Inc.
Nick Heike, Heike Law Offices, LLC
Steve Hunsley, Eau Claire Co-op Oil/Chippewa Valley Energy
Nick Meyer, Volume One
Nicholas Mohr, Rhom Construction LLC
Jennifer Roetter, U.S. Department of Agriculture
Nate Rosenthal, JH Findorff
Brian Schneider, WRR Environmental Services Co., Inc.
Jon M. Schultz, City of Eau Claire
Mary Stabenow, Nohre & Company, S.C., CPA's
LaVern L. Stewart, LL Stewart, Inc. & American Realty Partner
Michael Stoffel, Ayres Associates
Pat Sturz, CliftonLarsonAllen, LLP
Jodi Thesing-Ritter, University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire
Adam Wehling, Chippewa Valley Technical College
Justin Zoromski, Woita & Associates

Sponsors
Platinum Sponsor: Eau Claire Energy Cooperative
​
Click here to see all the breakfast sponsors!

The Chamber recently honored 60 area high school seniors and their chosen educators at the 33rd Annual Excellence in Education Banquet. Students represent 10 area high schools. 

Each participating school selects honored students based primarily on academic achievement, although other important attributes, such as leadership, character and community involvement also were considered. The Excellence in Education Banquet also recognizes an additional student from each school who has exhibited extraordinary qualities and effort, above and beyond what is considered normal or expected, and who is quite likely not a top academic achiever. Each student was asked to select an educator who incited a special interest in a specific subject or learning in general, demonstrated exceptional knowledge, served as a mentor or caused the student to do more than what might be considered possible.

For a list of all student and educator honorees, click here.

In addition, the following honorees received Special Educator Awards:

•    Innovation in Teaching Award – Sarah Hoplins, School District of Eleva-Strum
•    Innovation in Teaching Award – Rebecca Mattson, Robbins Elementary, Eau Claire
•    Contributor to Education Award – Holly Larson, Longfellow Elementary, Eau Claire
•    Unsung Hero Award, Sue Maenner, Augusta School District

5ive for Women Magazine Publisher and Editor in Chief Jen Theisen was the keynote speaker, and Bob Gallaher of WEAU 13 News was the emcee.  

The event is made possible by the following sponsors:

Platinum Sponsor: Marshfield Clinic

Gold Sponsors: Banbury Place, Bush Brothers, Chippewa Valley Technical College, Eau Claire Area School District, Eleva-Strum School District, Fall Creek Lions Club, Higgins Travel, HSHS Sacred Heart & St. Joseph’s Hospitals, Johnson Litho Graphics, Leader-Telegram, Mayo Clinic Health System, McDonough Manufacturing Company, NBI, Inc., Royal Construction, Royal Credit Union, SDS Architects, Senn Blacktop, Student Transit-Eau Claire and Weld, Riley S.C.

Silver Sponsors: Eau Claire Energy Cooperative, Lions Club of Mondovi, Manpower, Osseo-Fairchild School District, PESI, Inc., School District of Mondovi, UW-Eau Claire Foundation Inc.

Bronze Sponsors: Altoona Area Foundation, Altoona Board of Education, Associated Bank, Augusta School District, CliftonLarsonAllen, DeLong Middle School, Eau Claire Area Retired Educators Association, Eau Claire Association of Educators, Fall Creek School District, Hillside Dental, Kris Javurek, Kleven Real Estate, L&M Mail & Courier, Marten Transport, Ltd., Memorial High School Student Council, North High School Student Council, Realityworks, REALiving, Regis High School, Ryberg Law Firm, School District of Altoona, School District of Gilmanton, Sylvan Learning Center, United Bank – Eleva, Mondovi and Osseo offices, Unity Bank and Wipfli.

In-Kind Sponsors: Altoona High School, Brent Douglas Flowers, Johnson Litho Graphics, Bill Hoepner and UW-Eau Claire. 

Special thank you to the following Excellence in Education Committee members for planning this year’s event: Chair Kayann Bock - Sylvan Learning Center, Cherrie Bergandi - Chippewa Valley Technical College, Karen Hauck - Girl Scouts of the Northwestern Great Lakes, Bill Hoepner - UW-Eau Claire, Patti Iverson - Eau Claire Area School District, Lynette Livingston - Chippewa Valley Technical College, Joyce Orth - School District of Altoona, Dale Poynter - SDS Architects, Inc., Carrie Ronnander - Chippewa Valley Museum, Vicki Seltun - City of Eau Claire, Sue Tietz - McDonough Manufacturing Company and Jamie Trullinger - Security Financial Bank

Thank you to the sponsors, volunteers and committee members who made the spring Real Life Academy a success. We had 358 students from Altoona, Augusta, Fall Creek, Memorial, North and Regis high schools participated in the event on Wednesday, April 5 and experienced a day of "real life." 

Committee Members: 
Andie Auna, Mary Kay Brevig, Chris Brooke, Kristin Craker, Theresa Curtis, Tarese Dubiel, Susan Fanning, Eve Fischer, Kelly Hebert, Jackie Leavesseur, Lynette Livingston, Monte Lokken, Marsha Mohnsen, Kelly Ostrander, Kim Shult, Adam Sommers,  Phil Swiler,  Melissa Wait,  Greg Weaver, and Nicole Wilson

Major Sponsor: