Welcome to the Eau Claire Chamber Blog

EO Johnson Business Technologies Locknet® Managed IT Services ranks among the world’s most progressive 501 Managed Service Providers (MSPs), according to Penton Technology’s 9th-annual MSP 501 list and study. This is the fifth consecutive year Locknet® has been recognized by MSPmentor, ranking in the Global Edition in 2014 and 2015 and in their North America’s top 200 list in 2012 and 2013. The top MSP 501 companies ranked this year include organizations from around the world and from diverse technology and business backgrounds. The 2016 MSP 501 list is based on data collected by MSPmentor and its partner, Clarity Channel Advisors.

Green Oasis announced its new window cleaning service. Starting in the summer of 2016, Green Oasis has certified and trained technicians for its new service is available for both home or commercial property owners. 

Bauman Associates is conducting the annual audit June 21-23 and will present a report to the Board at the August meeting.

The Board discussed the new Federal Overtime Legislation, which is slated to go into effect December 1, 2016. The Chamber will be hosting a seminar for members to learn about how this will impact their businesses.

The Chamber is monitoring Eau Claire County’s proposed Living Wage Ordinance as County Board Committees consider its potential costs and impact. More information to follow.

The Board will be going electronic at their August meeting.  All agenda items have been sent electronic for years but now instead of using Board books with printed materials, Board members will bring their own devices to the meetings to the agenda and supporting materials. The Chamber would like to thank Bob & Lois Krause for donating three IPads to the Chamber to be used at Board meetings.

The Chamber hired three interns: Shelby Sonnentag to input data for the Chippewa Valley Wage Survey, Peter Hienz, UWEC, who will be the Legislative Intern and Kelsie Wallace, ASU, who is working on Chamber projects for the summer.

The Chamber, UW-Eau Claire, Visit Eau Claire and a number of local companies will host nearly 200 UWEC Alumni, under the age of 35, on June 30 for a reception and a St. Paul Saints game.  The purpose is to talk to them about what Eau Claire is like today and job opportunities that are available and get them thinking about coming back to Eau Claire to work.

The Board heard reports form the Leadership Eau Claire teams about their group project. They worked on the following projects:  
American Cancer Society - recruited volunteer coordinator position
Children’s Museum of Eau Claire - Playful City designation
City of Eau Claire - poverty study and presentation
Vietnam Veteran's Group - planned event held in Carson Park in June 2016
Visit Eau Claire - did research for possible re-branding of area to Music Capitol of the North
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Approved 10 new members and 14 dropped members.

​Larson Companies announced that the new Staybridge Suites Eau Claire-Altoona has opened. The newly constructed 90,000 sq.-ft. Staybridge Suites is an innovative all-suite hotel brand designed to meet the needs of extended stay guests looking for upscale amenities. It is ideal for travelers seeking a residential-style hotel that is perfect for business, relocation or vacation.

HSHS Sacred Heart Hospital received the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association’s Get With The Guidelines®-Stroke Gold Plus Quality Achievement Award with Target: StrokeSM Honor Roll Elite. The award recognizes the hospital’s commitment to providing the most appropriate stroke treatment according to nationally recognized, research-based guidelines based on the latest scientific evidence.

HSHS St. Joseph’s Hospital’s L.E. Phillips-Libertas Treatment Center received the David ‘Mac’ Macmaster Award for pioneering efforts to address tobacco use in the behavioral health setting. The center was one of five facilities in the state to earn this year’s award.

Dr. Peter Myers received an $110,000 award from The Heritage Foundation Simon Center’s Visiting Fellowship in American Political Thought, a prestigious organization that has a long history of producing politically significant research.  Myers is a longtime UW-Eau Claire professor whose areas of expertise include political philosophy, American political thought and U.S. Constitutional law.

The Council on Undergraduate Research has announced that a University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire faculty member and the leader of support for research on campus has been named CUR's executive board general representative.
Dr. Karen Havholm, professor of geology, assistant vice chancellor for research and sponsored programs, and director of the Center of Excellence for Faculty and Undergraduate Student Research Collaboration at UW-Eau Claire, will begin her term in June.

Shannara Faupl has assumed duties as nurse director for primary care for Mayo Clinic Health System in northwest Wisconsin. As nurse director, Faupl will oversee the Family Medicine, Urgent Care and Express Care departments, along with the Mayo Clinic Family Medicine Residency Program. She has been employed with Mayo Clinic Health System for 15 yea

L.E. Phillips-Libertas Treatment Center in Chippewa Falls has recently promoted Carla Griggs, RN, to nurse manager of the center. In her new role, Griggs will coordinate and manage nursing personnel and resources and work with local organizations to best serve client needs at the center. Griggs holds a bachelor’s degree in nursing from the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire, where she is also pursuing her doctoral degree in nursing.Prior to serving as a registered nurse at the treatment center, she served as a registered nurse at the Wisconsin Department of Corrections.

 Marshfield Clinic Health System (MCHS) today announced its new "Caring for the Chippewa Valley" plan to build a hospital with attached cancer care on land the Clinic has purchased near its Eau Claire campus. MCHS officials said owning and operating a state-of-the-art hospital in Eau Claire is an important move that allows the organization to offer the highest level of care locally while gaining more control over the cost and quality of care it has provided in the community for more than two decades. The hospital will be built at 1202 W. Clairemont Ave., current site of the Plaza Hotel & Suites. MCHS has purchased the real estate, and the hotel business will continue to operate the Plaza through December. The building will be razed over the winter, and groundbreaking is scheduled for spring of 2017. The cancer care location is tentatively set to open in fall of 2017, with the hospital opening expected the following year, Turney said. Cancer care services will continue to be provided at Marshfield Clinic Cancer Care at Sacred Heart Hospital until the transition.

The 20th 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 9, 2017.

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
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
Mahlon Peterson,
Jennifer Roetter, U.S. Department of Agriculture
Brian Schneider, WRR Environmental Services Co., Inc.
Jon M. Schultz, City of Eau Claire
Dan Schwaegel, Edward Jones/Dan Schwaegel
Bob Sinz, Legal/Identity Theft Shield
Mary Stabenow, Nohre & Company, S.C., CPA's
LaVern L. Stewart, LL Stewart, Inc. & American Realty Partner
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 provided by Sam’s Club
Mushrooms provided by Altoona Family Restaurant
Slice cheese provided by Woodman’s Food Market, Inc. 
​Fresh muffins provided by Gordy's Market
​Cheese curds provided by Chippewa Valley Energy
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!

Becky Swanson, division director of marketing communications for HSHS Sacred Heart and St. Joseph’s hospitals, has been named a Hospital Marketer of the Year by DTC Perspectives, Inc. – a conference, training and publishing company for the consumer marketing of hospitals, pharmaceuticals and health care products. Swanson shares this year’s honor with only nine other marketing professionals nationwide. Honorees are judged based on industry reputation, accomplishments, innovations and notoriety among their peers, partners and media. Swanson joined Sacred Heart and St. Joseph’s hospitals in 2007 and has 30 years of health care marketing experience.

Citizens Community Federal N.A. (CCFBank) recently held a groundbreaking ceremony in Lake Hallie for its newest traditional branch. The new facility is scheduled to open late fall 2016. The bank broke ground for the new branch on Commercial Boulevard, located across the street from the Culvers. The new bank will provide full-service banking to individuals and businesses and will offer a complete range of personal and services.

Royal Credit Union (Royal) has named Jackie Leavesseur electronic payment manager at the Corporate Center. She is responsible for managing the team of electronic payment specialists. This includes coaching, training, process improvement, and efficiencies. She also is  involved in projects with the Product Settlement & Services team. Leavesseur comes to Royal with experience in the banking industry as she was most recently a branch manager at Associated Bank for nine years.

Carla Toft, certified nurse-midwife, recently joined the Obstetrics & Gynecology Department at Mayo Clinic Health System in Eau Claire. Toft earned her master’s degree in nursing from the University of Texas-El Paso and her bachelor’s degree in nursing at Mount St. Mary College in Newburgh, New York. Previously, Toft worked as a nurse-midwife at the San Antonio Military Medical Center in Texas and at the Darnall Army Medical Center in Fort Hood, Texas. She also served honorably in the United States Army for 26 years and retired last year at the rank of colonel. She is certified by the American Midwifery Certification Board and has been a certified nurse-midwife for 15 years.
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After many months of planning and fundraising in the community, the new playground project at the Chippewa Valley Montessori Charter School is coming to life. The project is funded by several private gifts and is made possible in large part due to generous grants from area businesses. Scheels’ partnership in the endeavor brought the project over the fundraising goal with their $40,000 grant. Businesses in the area who pride themselves on health and fitness have been supportive of the project.  The playground is also sponsored by a generous Hometown Health grant through Mayo Clinic Health System.  

Doug Richardson was recently hired as director of safety and business development for Heartland Contractors Inc.  He will be responsible for their safety compliance procedures and growing the client base throughout the Midwest. Richardson brings more than 20 years of management experience in the construction, retail, manufacturing and safety industries.  He has spent the past four years as a safety compliance specialist in the agricultural and transportation industry.  He earned his MBA and bachelor’s degrees from UW–Eau Claire.
 
WESTconsin Credit Union’s site building plan was recently approved by the Altoona City Council and construction plans are underway for breaking ground in late summer and opening in April 2017. The credit union selected Chippewa Valley-based Hoeft Builders as general contractor and construction manager. The new 8,000 square foot facility will be on the corner of River Prairie Drive and Bluestem Boulevard, right off of Highway 53. This will be WESTconsin’s 15th office offering full-financial services.

Chippewa Valley Technical College has been designated a Tree Campus USA site by the National Arbor Day Foundation. Earning the designation was the result of an effort begun a year ago by a Landscape, Plant and Turf Management student. Started in 2008 and sponsored by Toyota, Tree Campus USA seeks to promote healthy trees and student involvement, similar to the Tree City USA program, of which Eau Claire is a member. In Wisconsin only UW-Fox Valley, UW-Oshkosh, UW-Stevens Point and Western Technical College in La Crosse are recognized by Tree Campus USA. To gain the recognition, CVTC had to meet five criteria, including creation of a committee, a campus tree care plan, an Arbor Day observance and a service learning project. Last year as part of the efforts, the CVTC Horticulture Club held an Earth Day tree seedling giveaway.
 
Julie Cook has been hired as the business development officer in the Commercial Banking Department at CCFBank. Cook brings more than 25 years of experience in financial services and community banking. Cook will be based out of the CCFBank Altoona branch location.
 
Culligan International, world leader in water treatment technologies, recently awarded two Sterling Water Culligan dealerships with Top 25 Awards for revenue excellence in 2015. Sterling Water Culligan in Eau Claire and in Rothschild recently accepted the award at Culligan’s 80th Anniversary Bash in Huntington Beach. Top 25 Awards are given to Culligan dealers based on revenue growth in their respective market size, either small, medium or large. The 25 dealerships in each of these categories to yield the highest growth year after year are chosen for the award. This is not the first time Sterling Water Culligan has been recognized nationally. Both dealerships are previous Top 25 Award recipients, and they have also earned the E.J. Culligan award for being one of the top 15 performing dealerships in North America.
 
David Nelson, chief financial officer at HSHS Sacred Heart and St. Joseph’s hospitals, was elected to serve on the Northwest Wisconsin American Red Cross Board as board chair. His one-year term in this role begins July 1. As the Board chair for the Northwest Wisconsin American Red Cross, Nelson will lead the board and set the tone for members. He will oversee governance and policy setting, with a focus on mission, direction priorities and evaluation. Nelson will have a significant influence on how the Board guides the chapter’s humanitarian services and programs for 17 counties in northwestern Wisconsin and will be instrumental in helping the Northwest Wisconsin American Red Cross board address fundraising goals.Nelson has served as a volunteer with the Red Cross since 2012 as a disaster action team member and a government liaison. Two colleagues from HSHS Sacred Heart Hospital recently earned advanced certification in their respective fields. Peggy Schlough, a registered nurse in the hospital’s critical care department, recently earned her cardiac surgery certification through the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses. This certification was introduced in 2005 for specialty certified nurses providing care to acutely/critically ill adult patients, particularly during the first 48 hours after cardiac surgery. Schlough also holds a cardiac medicine certification and has maintained her critical care registered nurse certification for more than 20 years. Kelly Schmidt, a registered polysomnographic technologist in the hospital’s sleep disorder center, recently earned her certification in clinical sleep health. Issued by the Board of Registered Polysomnographic Technologists, this certification validates the highest knowledge of sleep disorders and treatments. Earlier this year, Schmidt earned her clinical sleep educator certification.

Three Royal Credit Union Board members were recently re-elected to three-year terms— Jennifer McDonough, Douglas Olson and Stuart Schaefer. McDonough was elected to the Board in 1997. McDonough also serves as chairperson of the Audit Committee and serves on the Compensation/Governance Committee. Olson was elected to the Board in 1995. Currently, Olson serves as chairman of the Board, Compensation/Governance Committe, and Political Action Committee. Schaefer was elected to the oard in 2011. Currently, Schaefer also serves on the Credit Oversight Committee. At the Reorganization Meeting, Olson was elected chairman; Tom Huffcutt was elected Vice chairman; John Sackett was elected treasurer; and McDonough was elected secretary.   Nancy Beltz, Bill Blackburn and Schaefer serve as directors.
 
Mayo Clinic Health System recently awarded $200,000 in grant money to nonprofits in northwest Wisconsin to improve the health of communities in the region. Area non-profits that were awarded a grant through the Hometown Health Grant Program include:

• Altoona Elementary School: Four Seasons of Fun Fitness Trail, $20,000 – A two-mile fitness trail for all community members will be incorporated adjacent to the new elementary school. The trail will encourage outdoor fitness for people of all ages, and will provide information about local habitat, plants and animals by working with the Altoona High School science program.
  
  
• Boys & Girls Club of Greater Chippewa Valley: Healthy Lifestyles — Nutrition & Physical Fitness Program, $20,000 – Boys & Girls Club members will learn the basics of nutrition, fitness and personal wellness; including self-care and positive habits for personal hygiene and grooming. More than 1,000 children at centers in Eau Claire, Chippewa Falls and Menomonie are expected to benefit from this program.
  
  
• Chippewa Valley Free Clinic: Reducing Obesity in a High-risk Population, $14,000 – Clinical services will be enhanced by intervening with overweight and obese patients to prevent the incidence of serious-related disease. This clinical model will use education, counseling and treatment to engage patients in addressing and reducing obesity health risks.
  
  
• Chippewa Valley Montessori: Outdoor Environmental Project, $13,000 – Garden areas and green gathering and learning spaces will replace an existing play area that is more than 20 years old. Children and families from the community will be able to learn and play in areas that include an edible landscape and school garden, along with a restored prairie area.
  
  
• Feed My People Food Bank: Produce Initiative, $20,000 – This program will increase the amount of fruit and vegetables available to low-income residents in Barron, Buffalo, Chippewa, Dunn and Eau Claire counties. Approximately 180,000 pounds of produce is anticipated to reach 9,000 individuals in 3,000 households.
  
  
• Junior League of Eau Claire: Kids in the Kitchen, $8,000 – Kids in the Kitchen is offered in partnership with the Eau Claire Area School District. Cooking classes for fourth-graders will be offered at Forage in Banbury Place and will include food safety, food preparation and an art and fitness rotation, with activities including Zumba or yoga.
  
  
• School District of Augusta: Food — Small Choices, Big Changes, $16,000 – Classroom gardens will be created to teach students where food comes from, increase consumption of fruits and vegetables, and provide fresh produce to the school food service. Educational events will be held for families to learn and experience healthy food options.