Downtown Revitalization

and Historic Preservation

Member Profile :

Virtualtech

Healthcare Reform

Taste From the Heart

Meet the Members

101 E. Wisconsin Avenue | Kaukauna, WI 54130 920.766.1616

www.heartofthevalleychamber.com

What’s Inside

October 2013

2 Heart Beat | October 2013

Already Confirmed for 2013: Arla Foods, Baker’s Outlet, Buffalo Wild Wings, Cinder’s Charcoal Grill, Cold Stone Creamery, Culver’s of Darboy, Dunkin’ Donuts, Fox Banquets Rivertyme Catering, The Grand Meridian, High Cliff Restaurant, Hill-top Bakery, Landreman’s Family Restaurant, Little Chicago, The Marq, Ponzies, Prime Steer Supper Club, Simon’s Cheese, UNO Chicago Grill & Van Abel’s of Hollandtown

This annual event celebrates the unique flavor of Northeast Wisconsin by pooling culi-nary experts from local restaurants and eateries, highlighting their customer’s favor-

ites and new delights. The Taste From the Heart works in union with local businesses, residents, volunteers and visitors to build the local economy and sense of community.

As you start your culinary journey, your senses will be overloaded with the best of the best - from appetizers to main dishes! Just when you think your stomach (and your

pants) have reached their limit, be sure to make an extra bit of room for some decadent desserts from the areas finest!

You will also find Raffles, Silent Auction items and Games of Chance!

$30 each or 12 tickets for $300

The ticket is good for all the food you can eat (bring your elastic pants)! This buffet style event allows you to taste food from all the exhibitors. No

need to purchase samples. One ticket is all you need! Come and taste the best of the BEST!

To purchase tickets visit www.heartofthevalleychamber.com/events or call 920-766-1616 to order your tickets

by phone.

Thank you to these Sponsors:

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www.heartofthevalleychamber.com

The Government Relations Roundtable Group invites you to join their monthly group meet-ings. Each month we may invite to our meetings our Federal and State Legislators, our local elected and appointed leaders and our School Superintendents to engage in dialogue, keep-ing us informed of the latest issues. These meetings are designed to be a safe, respectful environment for both our business leaders and our legislators. Meetings are not open to the general public. The next monthly meeting is Friday, October 11, 2013 from 8:00 to 9:00 AM, at the Heart of the Valley Chamber of Commerce. State Legislators Jim Steineke and Al Ott have been invited in for an update on their work in Madison. If you have an interest in joining the Government Relations Round-table Group call the Chamber office for more information at 766-1616 or visit www.heartofthevalleychamber.com

These monthly meetings are sponsored by AT&T.

Let your elected officials know how they are doing For your House of Representative's information ... http://www.house.gov/ ... Enter your zip code in the upper right corner of the page near the USA For your Senator's information ...http://www.senate.gov/ ... Select your state in the upper right corner of the page

Government Relations Roundtable Group

“Where Business and Government Meet”

4 Heart Beat | October 2013

The Government Relations Roundtable Group invites you to join their monthly group meet-ings. Each month we may invite to our meetings our Federal and State Legislators, our local elected and appointed leaders and our School Superintendents to engage in dialogue, keep-ing us informed of the latest issues. These meetings are designed to be a safe, respectful environment for both our business leaders and our legislators. Meetings are not open to the general public. The next monthly meeting is Friday, October 11, 2013 from 8:00 to 9:00 AM, at the Heart of the Valley Chamber of Commerce. State Legislators Jim Steineke and Al Ott have been invited in for an update on their work in Madison. If you have an interest in joining the Government Relations Round-table Group call the Chamber office for more information at 766-1616 or visit www.heartofthevalleychamber.com

These monthly meetings are sponsored by AT&T.

Let your elected officials know how they are doing For your House of Representative's information ... http://www.house.gov/ ... Enter your zip code in the upper right corner of the page near the USA For your Senator's information ...http://www.senate.gov/ ... Select your state in the upper right corner of the page

5

6 Heart Beat | October 2013

7

Our newsletter is sent via email at the beginning of each month to over 1300 present and future Chamber members as well as a general public interest

group. It is also posted to our Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn pages. All ads are full color and can be linked to your company’s website at no addi-

tional charge. Black and white ads are acceptable.

Don’t miss out on your opportunity to be seen! Get an edge on your competition!

Affordable Advertising Opportunities

Prices:

1 Month 3 Months 6 Months 12 Months

1/4 Page: $100 $250 $475 $800

1/2 Page: $150 $400 $775 $1200

Full Page: $200 $525 $900 $1500

Back Cover: $300 $750 $1200 $2500

Your ad

HERE

8 Heart Beat | October 2013

On Wednesday, Green Bay, WI police received an

odd 911 call:

Truck driver: I hope it's not an emergency. I

didn't know who else to call. ... It looks like

there's a part (of the I-43 bridge) that's sag-

ging.

Dispatcher: A part that's sagging?

Truck driver: Yes, usually, I mean a bridge

goes like it's a hump. ... There's a section of

the bridge that's actually a dip.

Something didn’t smell right—kind of like that Roquefort sitting in the back of your refrigera-tor. Dubbed the “cheese dip,” part of the Leo Frigo Bridge (named after a cheese company executive) sank two feet forcing it to be closed indefinitely for repairs. The bridge carries 40,000 vehicles daily.

The Green Bay Press-Gazette reports that the state’s Big Cheese, Governor Scott Walker (R), signed an emergency declaration allowing the state to apply for federal funds for the repair. Investigators are determining whether the dip is a result of a structural failure or normal wear-and-tear of the 33-year-old bridge.

This incident reminds us that like a melted provo-lone on a Philly cheesesteak, bridges play an impor-tant role in binding an area’s economy together. Bridges allow goods and people to take more direct routes to their destinations, lubricating the (cheddar) wheels of commerce. However, there are thousands of bridges all over

the country in need of repair. The American Society of Civil Engineers’ 2013 Report Card for America’s Infrastructure gives bridges a C+ grade, slightly above mediocre. While in the last few years, state and local governments have made progress in re-pairing and replacing bridges, 11% are still classi-fied as “structurally deficient,” meaning they “require significant maintenance, rehabilitation, or replace-ment.” Further investments are needed.

After the reopening of the repaired eastern span of the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge, Janet Kavi-noky, Executive Director for Transportation and In-frastructure at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, urged Congress to think long-term to order to repair more bridges:

Congress and the Presi-dent should propose new or adjustments to the current Highway Trust Fund revenues that will avert the High-way Trust Fund's col-lapse, and provide sus-tainable, predictable, growing resources for core highway, transit and safety programs. Giving some certainty in

funding and in policy (equally important) so that the owners of these bridges – states, counties, cities and towns – can and do plan beyond the end of the construction phase. Thankfully no one was hurt, but this is a reminder that failing to invest in bridge repair and replace-ment will mean longer commutes, increased high-way congestion, and higher costs for businesses and families. To better understand the need for further invest-ments in bridge repairs, here’s an infographic from Transportation for America.

Bridge’s “Cheese Dip”

Melts Minds of Wisconsin Drivers

9

While technology has undoubtedly improved our lives in

countless ways, the reality is that it's made us less safe in

many ways, as well. Consider recent revelations rocking

the tech world: the National Security Agency spying on

American citizens, hackers breaking into “smart” home

automation systems, and worries about the iPhone 5S’ fin-

gerprint sensor putting individual privacy at risk.

But one of the most glaring examples of technology endan-

gering our lives is also one of the most endemic to modern

life: texting while driving. According to the National Safety

Council, each year, over 100,000 accidents are caused by

drivers texting

while behind the

wheel. A recent

AT&T survey for

ItCanWait.com

found that 98% of

respondents

agreed that send-

ing a text or email

while driving was

not safe. But

nearly half of

those surveyed

still admitted to

doing just that.

Dig deeper and you'll find even more staggering numbers.

In 2011, 3,331 people were killed in crashes involving a

distracted driver, while 387,000 people were injured. Stud-

ies routinely show that texting while driving increases the

chance of an accident by at least 23% — and can even be

more dangerous than driving after consuming alcohol.

Among teenagers, in fact, more deaths occurred in 2012

from crashes involving texting than crashes involving alco-

hol.

Luckily, the public push to end this dangerous practice is

reaching a fever pitch. Forty-one states and the District of

Columbia ban text messaging for all drivers; countless ad-

vertising campaigns have bluntly and emotionally targeted

texting and driving behavior; and AT&T’s “It Can Wait” cam-

paign recently hired renowned documentary filmmaker

Werner Herzog to direct a sobering short film about the

consequences of texting and driving.

Yet some people, like marketing guru Seth Godin, believe

that these intense pushes to end texting while driving won’t

work. Now, Seth doesn’t WANT people to text and drive —

he just wants to see technology rescue itself from a self-

generated conundrum. Listed below are two solutions that

could do just that, along with two more basic ideas for shift-

ing the paradigm on texting and driving. The quicker that

can happen, the quicker all of us will be safer on the road.

• Mobile apps

like AT&T’s

“DriveMode®,”

which sends out

a customizable

auto-reply to

anyone who

texts a user that

is currently driv-

ing... [click here

to read more]

• Vigorous Mo-

bile Device Ac-

ceptable Use

Policies (MDAUP), like the one CMIT Solutions of-

fers... [click here to read more]

• Virtual texting-while-driving simulators... [click here to

read more]

• Future mobile-phone technologies that could make

texting while driving obsolete... [click here to read more]

CMIT Solutions cares about the safety of you, your family,

and your business. Contact us today to find out more about

our Mobile Device Acceptable Use Policy and why texting

and driving is one of the biggest tech problems we need to

solve now.

TEXTING AND DRIVING:

SOLVING TODAY'S SCARIEST TECH PROBLEM

Around Town

10 Heart Beat | October 2013

SUBWAY® brand is the world's largest submarine sandwich chain with more than 37,000 locations

around the world. They’ve become the leading choice for people seeking quick, nutritious meals that the

whole family can enjoy. http://www.subway.com/

Today, they are proud to begin their third generation with the automotive industry and their philosophy remains as it

was originally founded. Les Stumpf as Chairman and Corey Stumpf as President still lead this company in providing

total customer satisfaction through employees who provide reliable, courteous, and ethical service to our customers.

http://www.stumpfford.com/

What is a PONZIE? A Ponzie is a pocket of pizza dough folded in half and stuffed with all your favorite pizza toppings and then cooked to a golden brown.

Call 920-462-4039 and order your Ponzie today! http://www.ponzies.com/

Stop in and check out the view and peaceful patio which was added in 2009 along with their new bar area and enjoy their new menu items

and their great fish fry. http://theskyviewclub.com/

Orthopedic & Spine Therapy (OST) specializes in Manual Physi-

cal Therapy. OST physical therapists customize each patient's

physical therapy plan to fit their needs. OST also provides a pri-

vate, comfortable setting with one-on-one physical therapy and

new referrals seen within 24 hours. OST provides generous con-

tinuing education for their physical therapists to continue to be

leaders in physical therapy techniques. OST has 16 clinics

throughout Wisconsin to serve you!

http://www.ostpt.com/

The Stevi B's brand now stretches

across 8 states, with over 40 loca-

tions. They are still working hard

to exceed expectations and pro-

vide an excellent value.

http://stevibs.com/

"We keep all your auto needs simple!" Along with their car lot, their Service Department offers an extensive variety of auto service work. Their techs can perform anything from lube, oil, and grease jobs, to complete engine repair and

diagnostics. http://simonauto.net/

Can you imagine a world without the Big Mac? Or Chicken McNuggets? Or Happy Meals? Luckily, back in 1954, a man named Ray Kroc discovered a

small burger restaurant in California, and wrote the first page of their history. From that humble start as a small restaurant, they're proud to have become one of the world's leading food service retailer in 118 countries, with more

than 34,000 restaurants serving nearly 69 million people every day. http://www.mcdonalds.com

11

Want your business featured here? Email bbeckman@heartofthevalleychamber.com

Heart of the Valley Chamber of Commerce Gift Certificates make the perfect gift for every one. From golf to gas, groceries to lumber, gift certificates can be redeemed at over 100 area business.

Midwest Restoration is a local provider that special-izes in the restoration and reconstruction of residen-tial and commercial prop-erties damaged by fire,

water, storms, vandalism, or any other damage.

www.mwrestoration.com/

If your job requires you to endure harsh working conditions on a daily basis, Midwest Workwear literally has you cov-

ered. Whether you work as a mechanic, a rancher, a welder, a truck driver, or any other labor-intensive job, the clothes you need to protect yourself while you make a living are available

at their online store. http://midwestworkwear.com/

Family owned and operated since 1967! Specializ-ing in German cuisine, hand cut steaks, fresh sea-food and house specialties! *Next Time Out, Make

It Marks* http://www.markseastside.com/

Stellar Blue Web Design LLC, a digital marketing agency, launched a custom website for the newVoices, formerly known as White Heron Chorale. Stellar Blue has been a proud sponsor and website provider of the local singing group for many years. The American Grants and Loans Catalog is now available. The new and revised 2013 edition contains more than 2800 financial programs, subsidies, scholarships, grants and loans offered by the US federal government. Frontier Builders & Consultants has announced that it has been contracted by two Fox Valley companies that are look-ing to expand their operational space. Frontier Builders will be working with United Paper Corporation to construct a 6,600 sq. ft. addition to its building in Menasha. Frontier Builders & Consultants recently announced the addition of Joe Cartwright to their construction team. Sandy Goltz joined Network Health, a Menasha-based health insurance company, as director of self-funded ser-vices. Lamers Dairy in Appleton, WI, has more to celebrate than its 100

th anniversary this year. Lamers Dairy Dairyland’s Best

Milk was a first place winner in the prestigious World Dairy Expo Championship Dairy Product Contest recently held in Madison, WI. On Wednesday, September 18

th Fox Communities Credit

Union broke ground for its new location at 411 S. Military Avenue in Green Bay, WI. According to President Greg Hil-bert, “This location will be a full service branch with consumer and mortgage lending, easy access drive up and a drive up ATM. This location will be 4,400 square feet and is designed for 12 employees. Fox Communities Credit Union anticipates opening the office in early 2014. Miron Construction Co. recently hired Dan Goymerac to serve as its new vice president of industrial business develop-ment. Miron Construction Co., Neenah, was awarded two 2013 Build Wisconsin Awards as presented by the Associated General Contractors (AGC) of Wisconsin. Miron Construction recently hired Dan Goymerac to serve as its new vice president of industrial business

development. Miron’s Director of Conceptual Estimating, Dave Schaetz, will be honored with a Lifetime Achievement Award (as pre-sented by The Daily Reporter / Newsmakers of the Year Awards Program) at an awards banquet at the end of Octo-ber. Kevin Sullivan has joined Baker Tilly as a risk consulting director in the Financial Services team. Goodwill Industries of North Central Wisconsin has an-nounced two promotions and new hires in the Fox Cities. Nicole Ihlenfeldt has been promoted to assistant team leader for the New Goods team at Goodwill’s Shiner Center in Appleton. Dean Ward has been promoted to facilities re-gional team leader in Menasha. David Lindenstruth joined Goodwill’s retail team in Menasha as the leader of retail stores and training centers. Kimberly Miller is the new Pay-ment Partner team leader with goodwill’s Financial Informa-tion and Service Center in Menasha. Mark and Jean Landreman, owners of Landreman’s Family Restaurant in Kaukauna, were honored as the restaurateur recipients for the 2013 Salute to Excellence Awards, pre-sented by the Wisconsin Restaurant Association Education Foundation. Deb Barlament joined De Pere - based Alliance Construc-tion & Design, a design/build general contractor, as vice president of operations.

12 Heart Beat | October 2013

Any change or update within your business such as a promotion, new addition, award won, etc. can be included in

this section. News must be submitted by the 15th of the month for the following month’s publication. Send to:

bbeckman@heartofthevalleychamber.com

GOOD NEWS Is Worth Repeating

Www.WeMakeSoftwareWork.c

om

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Here are some of the great donations we have received for

Taste From the Heart!

Everything from garden lanterns, a stocked wine rack, grills, coolers, Keurig coffee maker, Dirt Devil floor steamer, a Kindle, stem wear, outdoor table and accessories, tote bags, even an

African Safari!!! The silent auction will feature a large assortment of baskets that are donated by local businesses. Want to fill a basket? The Chamber has a large selection if you would like to

stop in and pick one up!

14 Heart Beat | October 2013

15 Our next spotlight can be about your business. Call 920-766-1616 if interested.

Steve Engmann President / Owner Competitive Strategies, Inc. www.WeMakeSoftwareWork.com Year Established - 1997

Give us a brief description/history of your business…. Competitive Strategies, Inc. helps business owners and man-agers get the best management information possible through the use of software. We make software work! Q: How did you get started in your field? Going through the MBA program at Santa Clara University in the silicon valley of California really got me started with a tech-nology and business focus. In California I worked as a manu-facturing cost analyst and then as a consultant for the San Jose Minority Business Development Center before moving back to Wisconsin. Q: Who is the one person that helped to make you who you are today? There have been many. I try to learn something from every-one. Lots of interesting stories to tell. Q: What do you like most about working in the Heart of the Valley area? Down to earth, honest, friendly people. Great mix of available big-city type of activities, with a safe, small town appeal and little traffic. Q: What is the worst job you’ve ever had? You have to take the bad with the good. The grass is only greener on the other side until you get there, so make the most of each opportunity! The most fun job was serving free wine samples at a vineyard in the foothills of northern Califor-nia. Everyone was happy! Q: OK, now the good stuff. What do you like to do for fun? Morning workouts at the Y. Any sporting event with Badgers, Packers and Timber Rattlers leading the way. Q: What’s your favorite movie and why? Flashdance. I love the music, love to dance and love the message. “Take your passion and make it happen!”

Q: Is your desk messy or organized? Organized, but still too much paper. Q: Green Bay Packers or another team? Green Bay Packers. The 49ers are my second pick based on living there and attending games in the late 80’s when Joe Montana was the best and the Packers not so good. Q: Where was your best vacation and why? Work hard and play hard is something I truly believe in so I’ve had lots of great vacations. Most recent trips include Dublin Ireland this past summer and the Rose Bowl the past two years. Go Badgers! Q: What are the Top 3 items on your bucket list? No bucket list for me. My daily goals are to help others, have fun (or hang out with fun people), and stay healthy!

16 Heart Beat | October 2013

Meet The Members

17

Give us a brief description/history of your business…. Debbie Daanen purchased the studio, (Family Focus Studio) just over 30 years ago and her and I 'joined forces' about 11 years ago now. I became full time after college in 2006 and a few short years later became an official partner in the busi-ness. We are a high end portrait studio that combines classic and contemporary styles of photography.

Q: How did you get started in your field? I was always obsessed with photography and honestly I think 5th grade is when I made up my mind to do it profession-ally. (Back then, in my mind, I was going to work for National Geographic...but this works too! LOL) I was managing the small photography studio inside the Target store in Darboy while in high school and the yearbook director introduced me to Debbie Daanen. I started working part time for Debbie my senior year and came back every summer during college (I attended UW-Whitewater and graduated with a degree in photojournalism). I worked for a local newspaper while in school and upon graduation, Debbie invited me to come back to work with her.

Q: Who is the one person that helped to make you who you are today? I have been very blessed to be surrounded with wonderfully supportive people in my life. My parents have always been supported of my quirky/artistic side and encouraged me to follow my dreams. There where two teachers, Kathy Lorge (high school yearbook director) and Sam Martino (college journalism professor) who introduced me people who have given me the world and always pushed me beyond my limits, or so I thought. But of course, Debbie Daanen, has had a huge impact on me, personally and professionally. She con-stantly pushes me to take chances and grow as an art-ist. People wouldn't even recognize the shy girl I was in high school! ;)

Q: What do you like most about working in the Heart of the Valley area? I love how everyone 'knows' one another. You can get in-volved in local organizations and charities and are able to really get to know the families you are helping. The same

goes for doing business in the area. Over the years, clients have become more like friends.

Q: What is the worst job you’ve ever had. Again, I have been very fortunate in my career path. The only job I ever had that I was not in a management position or working in photography was when I was 15, I worked for a local greenhouse. I enjoyed what I did, but the 110 degree days, covered in dirt and picking weeds from flower pots, left a lot to be desired! HA! Q: OK, now the good stuff. What do you like to do for fun? I don't have a lot of free time these days, but when I can sneak away, I enjoy time with friends and family. I am a huge animal lover, obsessed with music and anything and every-thing 'artsy.' From poetry readings to art fairs, I am all about that sort of thing. My absolute favorite thing would be an out-door music festival....I live for things like Country USA and Oktoberfest each year! Q: What’s your favorite movie and why? Top Gun....It is an action packed love story with an awesome soundtrack and is a staple from my childhood. Q: Is your desk messy or organized? I would say organized...or at least, organized piles. Q: Green Bay Packers or another team? GO PACK GO! Q: Where was your best vacation and why? I traveled to Italy while in college. I would say that was my best vacation, partly because of the location and partly be-cause it was my first time on airplane. I have been so many amazing places since then, but that still sticks out as one of my favorites. Q: What are the Top 3 items on your bucket list? Travel to Australia, take a hot air balloon ride & (Not really sure that this is bucket list material, but...) get married/raise a family. :)

Ashley Schmit Photographer / Partner Debbie Daanen Photography www.debbiedaanen.com/ Year Established - 1982

Are You Ready

18 Heart Beat | October 2013

for the Redesigned $100 Note?

19

Welcome New Members

The Wisconsin Timber Rattlers are the Midwest League affiliate of the Milwaukee Brew-ers. The home of the Rattlers is Time Warner Cable Field at Fox Cities Stadium. The

ballpark was opened in 1995 and underwent a major renovation for the 2013 sea-son. The renovation added a club level with six suites and a banquet facility that allows

the team to host banquets, wedding receptions, meetings, and other events twelve months out of the year. The Timber Rattlers play from early April until Labor Day and

host both the WIAA State Baseball and the NCAA Division III College World Series. For more information on planning your next company event at the stadium, contact Liz Wock-

enfus at 920-766-4152 ext. 232.

20 Heart Beat | October 2013

Since our inception in 1988, Village Profile® has produced well over 3,700 community publica-tions that have been successfully sponsored, published and delivered to over 1,400 Chambers of

Commerce from coast to coast.

For many years we have specialized in the production of gears and sprockets but have expanded our machining capabilities with the addi-tion of several vertical machining centers, boring bar and new robotic arm CNC lathe. We apply a high level of precision to all our work to ensure the product meets your exact specifications and exceeds speci-fications for delivery and cost.

National Seating & Mobility is a custom mobility company, as well as we do adaptive seating systems. Our clients are often severely physically challenged. Most are pediatrics with diagnoses of birth defects, cerebral palsy, muscular dystrophy and spina bifida. We also serve teens, adults and seniors challenged with severe trauma, disease and skeletal disor-ders. When you choose to work with NSM, you can expect:

Professionals who have a comprehensive knowledge of wheeled mo-bility products, disease categories and treatment protocols

RTSs who expect to be active participants in the healthcare provider team - providing necessary product information and appropriate choices

Strong advocates for the best treatment for your patients of all ages Our mission is to provide our clients with the right chair and the best care to

meet the long-term therapeutic needs prescribed by their physician and/or therapist. National Seating and Mobility is located at N922 Tower View Drive in Greenville. For more information visit www.nsm-seating.com or call 920-364-9659.

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Need a reminder of why strong passwords should be at the top of your technological priority list? Consider the story of Houston, TX, parents Marc and Lauren Gilbert, who on August 10th discovered a hacker had compromised their video baby monitor and was shouting lewd comments at their sleeping two-year-old daughter. How did it happen? According to the family’s Internet service provider, a weak or nonexistent password for their Wi-Fi connection was the main culprit. Other high-profile password breaches include the Syrian Electronic Army hack-ing into the Facebook and Twitter accounts of national news outlets like The New York Post and Washington Post, along with the recent proliferation of security researchers (or “ethical hackers”) pointing out the vulnerabilities of home automation systems.

What does this mean for you? As CMIT has pointed out before, creating strong and unique passwords at least eight characters long that mix upper- and lower-case numbers, letters, and symbols is a necessity for online security. But what do you do with all of those unique passwords once they’re created? Write them down on a “secure” piece of paper? Count on your browser to remember them all? Hope you can figure them out when you’re using a mobile device?

That’s where the five password management tools listed below come in handy. Some are free, some charge a nominal fee, and some are capable of doing much more than just remembering that random string of characters you generated.

Dashlane (free for single-use; $20/year to sync computer and mobile accounts) [click here to read more]

LastPass (free for basic, $12/year for premium) [click here to read more]

Norton Identity Safe (free) [click here to read more]

RoboForm Everywhere ($9.95/year for first year; $19.95/year thereafter) [click here to read more]

1Password (From $49.99 - $99.99 depending on platform and number of licenses) [click here to read more]

But remember: passwords represent just one facet of robust technological health. If you’re concerned about the

safety of cloud computing, the critical nature of data backup and disaster recovery, or the essential need for anti-

spam software, call or email CMIT Solutions today. We take your online security seriously!

While strong, unique passwords are a must for online security, remember that they are only one facet of robust

technological health. If you’re concerned about the safety of cloud computing, the critical nature of data backup and

disaster recovery, or the essential need for anti-spam software, call or email CMIT Solutions today. We take your

online security seriously!

Richard Szymanski

CMIT Solutions of Appleton

Phone: 920.574.2585

Toll Free: 1.800.510.CMIT

www.cmitsolutions.com

5 PASSWORD MANAGEMENT TOOLS

AND WHY YOU NEED TO USE THEM

22 Heart Beat | October 2013

Companies in Wisconsin make world-class products, create opportunities, and strengthen our communi-ties. Applications are now being accepted for the 2013 Manufacturer of the Year Award program. Show your support for our state’s dynamic and prosperous manufacturing sector and the tremendous ad-vances made by leaders of the industry by nominating a manufacturer to receive this respected award. Now in its 26th year, the Manufacturer of the Year Award program pays tribute to the numerous manu-facturers in Wisconsin across all industries and sectors of the economy who remain devoted to keeping our great state prosperous and thriving. Nominees will be divided into four categories determined by size and may also apply the for Workforce Development award, which recognizes companies who have gone above and beyond to create and implement policies that help develop the workforce of tomorrow. The accounting and advisory firm of Baker Tilly Virchow Krause, LLP, the law firm of Michael Best & Frie-drich LLP, and the business association Wisconsin Manufacturers & Commerce sponsor the MOTY awards program. The sponsors will reveal and celebrate the winners at a ceremony February 27, 2014. Past winners have used the Wisconsin Manufacturer of the Year award in their marketing and recruiting programs and have received positive media publicity. Award winners have come from all corners of the state and reflect the strength of Wisconsin's manufacturing heritage. Last year’s winners include Green-heck Fan Corporation, Schofield; Walker Forge, Inc., Clintonville; Weldall Mfg., Inc., Waukesha; Power Test, Inc., Sussex; OEM Fabricators, Inc., Woodville; Alliance Laundry Systems, LLC, Ripon; HUSCO Automotive Holdings, LLC, Whitewater; and Nekoosa Coated Products, LLC, Nekoosa. The deadline for submissions is December 2, 2013. Self-nominations are encouraged. Applications and additional information and can be found online at www.wimoty.com or by calling (800) 362-7301.

23

For decades, a bustling downtown was the social, cul-tural and financial lifeblood of communities across Amer-ica. As people moved away from the downtown areas, so did the retail and service businesses. Now down-towns play an important role in a community’s economic development strategy. These commercial cores usually account for as much as 30 percent of a community’s jobs and 40 percent of its tax base. Downtown is also a com-munity’s crossroads – a place in our hearts and minds that evoke strong emotions and help define our identity. The benefits of downtown revitalization are clear. Revitalization protects the existing tax base. Private investment in banks, businesses and commercial prop-erty and public investment in streets, sidewalks and wa-ter and sewer lines are protected and enhanced. Revi-talization provides an incubator for new business. A vi-able downtown offers opportunities and incentives for the new entrepreneurs such as lower rent and technical as-sistance. Revitalization provides a point of focus and sta-bility. A vibrant downtown gives the whole community and region a sense of pride and positive self-image. It also serves as an anchor that holds the community to-gether and provides the stability necessary for economic growth. An invigorated downtown makes a very positive statement about the whole community. The Grand Kakalin project is the site of the historic pres-ervation and adaptive reuse of the former Eagle Mill and surrounding property on the Fox River in Kaukauna, Wis-consin. The fact that historic preservation stimulates downtown revitalization and economic development is irrefutable. Historic preservation projects have continued

to create jobs and financial investments in downtown communities despite the stagnant economy. It promotes interest and investment in historic downtown districts as destinations, resulting in the development of restaurants, art galler-ies, specialty good shops, living spaces and civic centers. Historic preservation is a catalyst for downtown revitalization, economic development and redefining a community’s identity. It is a critical component in any downtown revitaliza-tion and economic development effort. The Grand Kakalin project will provide a

new location for the Kaukauna Public

Library, creating expanded library

space including a community conference room, indoor

and outdoor reading areas, updated technology, art

display spaces and private study rooms. The project will

also create space for future commercial development, a

walking trail, great views of the river and 1000 Islands

Environmental Center and a vision for a newly revitalized

neighborhood. Both the Grand Kakalin and the Kauka-

una Library projects deserve our support.

Downtown Revitalization

and Historic Preservation

24 Heart Beat | October 2013

If the “Shale Gale” were a musician she’d deserve a

bow.

Unconventional shale energy development is a ma-

jor contributor to improved American energy security

according to the 2013 Energy Security In-

dex published by the U.S. Chamber’s Institute for

21st Century Energy.

The 2012 total Index score fell to 95.3 from 102.0.

The Index measures 36 metrics in four categories:

geopolitical: economic; reliability; and environ-

mental.

According to the report, increased unconventional

shale energy production “lowered U.S. energy secu-

rity risks in 2012 by

increasing supply

security, reducing

net imports, and

putting downward

pressure on en-

ergy costs and ex-

penditures.”

The report points

out that “the boom

in U.S. energy pro-

duction has come

about largely in

spite of national

policy rather than because of it.” According to the

Congressional Research Service, oil and natural

gas production has been increasing on private and

state lands while falling on federal lands.

While the Index fell, it did so off its 2011 record high,

and the report notes that energy security risk contin-

ues to be “uncomfortably high and is projected to

remain so.”

With the release of the Index, Karen Harbert, presi-

dent and CEO of the Energy Institute said,

We still have a long way to go, but the improve-

ments we’ve seen recently should give us hope that

continued development of America’s vast energy

resources will lead us toward greater energy self-

reliance and security.

The report urges policymakers to see the present as

“an era of sustained energy abundance” and not an

era of scarcity, warning that:

Overreaching by regulatory agencies targeting coal,

limitations on ac-

cess to resources

on public lands, a

broken siting and

permitting process,

and a flawed nu-

clear waste dis-

posal policy, to

name a few, create

roadblocks that

could squander the

tremendous pros-

pect of a secure

energy future.

The shale boom isn’t only paying off with more jobs

and economic growth, it’s making the United States

more energy secure. With better energy policies that

tap into America’s energy abundance we will get an

encore.

More Shale Energy Means More Energy Security

25

26 Heart Beat | October 2013

America’s domestic energy boom has translated into impressive job growth according to the Energy Infor-mation Agency:

From the start of 2007 through the end of 2012, total U.S. private sector employment increased by more than one million jobs, about 1%. Over the same period, the oil and natural gas industry increased by more than 162,000 jobs, a 40% increase. Sixteen percent of all new jobs created since 2007 come from the oil and gas industry is impressive.

Imagine the number of jobs created if oil and natural gas production on federal lands wasn't decreasing? Or if the Keystone XL pipeline were approved? Or if New York State hadn't banned unconventional shale energy development?

Oil and natural gas has done well in creating jobs. Policies that encourage and not inhibit more develop-ment will keep the momentum going.

Wow! The Oil and Natural Gas Industry is a

Job-Creating Superstar

A crew drilling in the Eagle Ford Shale in Webb County, TX. Photographer: Eddie Seal/Bloomberg.

27

As millions of Americans wrestle with outstanding stu-dent loans, those with dreams of owning their own busi-nesses have started to reconsider their entrepreneurial goals. Total national student debt has reached a whopping $1.2 trillion, and students, on average, accumulate $40,000 in debt by graduation, according to Edvisors.com. In a recent Wall Street Journal article, Ruth Simon reported that this burden has not only made start up hopefuls abandon their dreams, but it has forced current small business owners to radically shift their strategies:

“Some academic experts say leftover loans are the biggest impediment to upstart entrepreneurship by those who recently re-ceived college or gradu-ate degrees. ‘I mentor students all the time,’ says Vivek Wadhwa, a fellow at Stanford Univer-sity Law School. ‘The sin-gle largest inhibitor to en-trepreneurship is the stu-dent loans.’” Let’s take a look at a few entrepreneurs who have been stymied by student loans, as noted in the Journal article: Christine and John Carney founded Thick & Thin De-

signs in Orono, Maine. These University of Maine students design cupcake toppers, selling individual pieces for $12 each. The husband and wife pair do not use a laser cutter to design their food accesso-ries, because they have $140,000 in student debt. “This prevents me from being able to take a lot of chances or risks that are usually necessary when starting a business," Ms. Carney says.

2009 Colorado College graduate Jackson Solway

created an online business last year to help businesses communicate with freelancers. However, after just one year, Solway was forced to give up on his entrepreneu-rial dream. He couldn’t continue his job and meet the re-quired $400 monthly payments on his student loans. “I love the startup world and would be a serial entrepre-neur, if it weren’t for my student loans,” he says.

Sara Gragnolati started her Boston-based com-

pany Cocomama Foods, which makes gluten-free cere-als and crunchy dried cereals for over 300 grocery stores nationwide. Although her business has taken off, Grag-nolati still needs to pay back $200 monthly for her stu-dent loans to make up the $90,000 she accumulated dur-ing her college years at Babson.

Levi Belnap and Alex Pak developed the Iphone applica-tion FindIt, which helps people locate specific messages on their phones. Although the tandem has garnered $200,000 in capital to help fund the business, Belnap and Pak still owe the Harvard Business School $250,000

in student loans. This li-ability has made them change their funding strat-egy and, according to Bel-nap, “forced [them] down a path, for better or for worse, because of that debt burden.”

Fortunately, a few states have taken steps to help these struggling entrepre-neurs. California passed legislation that will reduce tui-tion costs and make it easier for middle-class state resi-

dents to attend public universities. Rhode Island, specifically the state’s Student Loan Authority, also has researched ways to re-duce payments for students, so that they can follow their dreams once they graduate.

The only way to overcome this nation’s major post-recession economic challenges is by letting hardworking Americans build their own businesses. When these en-trepreneurs are free to pursue their career dreams, inno-vation thrives and jobs are born. They are the key ingre-dients to build this economy from the bottom up.

Student Loans

Stymie Entrepreneurs' Dreams

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