December 2016


Executive Director Update

 
Executive Director, Van Nutt, discusses how you can utilize the Middleton Chamber as you plan for 2017.   Most of what we do falls under our core competencies--Facilitate, Advocate, Community, Educate--but if there is something you need, just ask!  Look to us as your business resource.




Sit back at view this month's update. 


December News 


Happy Holidays from your Chamber Staff, 
Van, Brenda & Lisa

 
Upcoming Chamber Events
View our event photos

December 1, 7:30am

Get Moving Middleton
Hilton Garden Inn

December 1, 3pm
Ribbon Cutting
REACH-A-Child (6501 Watts Rd)

December 1, 4-7pm
Holiday Business Social Hour (Register)
The Community of Bishops Bay

December 6, 11:45am
Lunch & Learn: Holiday Safety (Register)
Chamber Office

December 7, 12pm
Chamber Office Closed - Board of Directors Planning Session

December 12, 11:30am
Ambassador Committee
Gilda's Club

December 14, 12pm
Annual Celebration Committee
Chamber Office

December 23
Chamber Office Closed at 12pm

December 26
Chamber Office Closed - Merry Christmas

December 30
Chamber Office Closed at 12pm

January 2
Chamber Office Closed - Happy 2017!

January 5, 7:30am
Get Moving Middleton (Register)
Hilton Garden Inn

View the Full Calendar



New Members

Budget Blinds of Madison
807 Liberty Drive, Suite104, Verona
(608) 827-2212 
www.budgetblinds.com/madison


Capital Flight, LLC
8264 Airport Road
(608) 332-6110  





Carbon World Health

340 S Whitney Way, Ste 100
(608) 709-8089


Easter Seals Wisconsin

8001 Excelsior Drive, Suite 200
(608) 237-1370


Homan Construction Management 
Verona 
(608) 417-9331 






Lemke Facial Surgery & Skincare 101

1200 John Q hammons Dr, Ste 101
(608) 829-7777


Mid-West Digital Marketing

730 Rayovac Drive
(414) 305-8258  


Robertson Cosmetic Center
3205 Glacier Ridge Rd
(608) 836-4044
www.robertsonplasticsurgery.com
 
Thirty State
    1651 Deming Way, Ste 110
(608) 598-9003 







Weldcorp Mfg
434 Vondron Rd.
(608) 413-0710


West Towne Mall

66 West Towne Mall
(608) 833-6330
www.shopwesttowne-mall.com



Zoup! Middleton

8391 Greenway Blvd.
(608) 841-2566  
www.zoup.com

Members on the Move
Announcements|Awards|Hires & Promotions
ANNOUNCEMENTS
KMA Bodilly Expands Into Verona, KMA Bodilly CPAs & Consultants has announced the acquisition of Hometown Tax & Financial, a Verona-based accounting firm.

Coldwell Releases October 2016 Real Estate Stats, Coldwell Banker Success has released the October 2016 Real Estate Statistics.

Bergs Selected for 2016 Emerging Leaders Program, Wegner CPAs is pleased to announce that Dan Bergs, CPA, Supervisor was one of only 20 participants chosen to participate in the esteemed Emerging Leaders Program at the Wolters Kluwer, CCH Connections User Conference.


HIRES & PROMOTIONS
Amundson Named City's Director of Public Lands, Recreation & Forestry, On November 1, the Middleton Common Council appointed Matt Amundson of Whitewater to be the City's new Director of Public Lands, Recreation & Forestry.

Local Moving Company Hires New Manager, Two Men and A Truck is happy to announce a new addition to the Madison francise, Taylor Strehle.


AWARDS  
Paul Named "Best in Business", Settlers Bank is pleased to announce that Cheryl Paul, CMB has been named the Madison Chapter's Best in Mortgage Leadership by the Wisconsin Mortgage Bankers Association.

Starion Bank Receives Five-Star Rating, Starion Bank earned a five-star "superior" rating for second quarter 2016 from BauerFinancial, the nation's leading independent bank and credit union rating firm.

Ezzell Receives "Pay It Forward" Award, Settlers Bank is pleased to announce that Kelli Ezzell, MLO, has been selected to receive the Cindy Strange "Pay It Forward" Award by the Realtors Association of South Central Wisconsin.


JOB OPPORTUNITIES
Member Events
12/1

Open House, REACH-A-Child
12/1

Holiday Open House, Studio 262
More Info
12/1

Winter Frame Style Show, Isthmus Eye Care
12/2

Annual Shopping Event, Madison Breakfast Rotary
More Info
12/3

Fashion Tote Affair, Greenway Station
More Info
12/3-16

Mad City Ornament Gift with Purchase, Thirty State
12/3-4

Creating for a Cause Art Fair, Middleton Outreach Ministry
12/6

Non-Profit Success in 2017, SVA
12/7

Share the Night at Culvers, American Cancer Society
12/8

Financial Management Seminar, Smith & Gesteland
12/8

"Think it Over" Sales Seminar, Tingalls Graphic Design
12/8

Senior Luncheon, St. Luke's Lutheran Church
12/9

Toys for Tacos, Waterstone Mortgage
More Info
12/9

Holiday Open House, Dream House Dream Kitchens
More Info
12/9

Volunteer Orientation, Agrace Hospice
by 12/12

"Bundle Together" Coat Drive, Infratactix
12/13

Holiday Open House, Yahara Software
12/14

Music Theatre of Madison "Striking 12", Middleton Library
12/15

Organic & Paid Search Optimization, Tingalls Graphic Design
More Info
12/15-16

Coaches vs. Cancer at MHS, American Cancer Society
12/17

Frozen Lemonade Classic Hockey Game, Northwestern Mutual
12/31

Zimbrick Family Eve New Year's, Keva Sports Center





How Did You Get From There to Here?
Profiles on the vo cational journey
 
Interview by Ramona Larrow
Ramona is the Sales Manager for Days Inn & Suites and Best Western West Town Suites. Her days are filled with networking, bringing new business into the hotels, building relationships and having fun--doing it all with a finesse most people can't comprehend. When she isn't working, she enjoys downtime with her husband/best friend, reading almost anything that catches her interest, cooking, writing, and crocheting; she also owns Altered Words, a freelance copy-writing services company.
 
 
 
Meet:  Pam Christenson
Pam at the Ironman finish
Economic Development Director, Madison Gas & Electric
   
Describe a typical day in the life of an Economic Development Director for MG&E?  
I don't think there is a "typical day" because my job really isn't very typical. Each day presents me with new opportunities as well as some challenges which requires some problem solving. Because MGE is known as the Community Energy Company, I get to be involved in many different facets of our community. I'm currently on eight different boards, so I can often be found at a board meeting! My role has me working with civic leaders, community groups, entrepreneurs, existing businesses large and small, business organizations, five different chambers and lots of different people even within my own company. I work on projects, programs and partnerships with key stakeholders to make our community a great place for businesses and individuals. 

What are the most interesting aspects of what you do?
Economic development is definitely more of a marathon than a sprint. Many of the projects I work on take years to complete. But unlike a marathon which is something you do by yourself - economic development is definitely a team effort. I get to work with some amazing people within Madison Gas and Electric and incredible individuals all around our region. I really enjoy seeing something that starts out as a small idea, that then moves into plan. Sometimes I have the opportunity to help bring the right people together at the right time to assist in executing that plan. And when a plan comes together and you see positive results that can change a community - that's really rewarding. 

What are some important factors that contribute to your success?  
Not being afraid to try new things. Not being afraid to admit when I'm wrong (although my husband may disagree with my ability to do that!) Trying to be a good listener - it's amazing how much you can learn and how effective you can be at your job if you just listen to people. Having a positive attitude - since no one wants to work with a "Debbie Downer". And probably the most important - maintaining a high level of integrity. I can't do my job if people don't trust me.  

With all you do between family, work, your various chamber duties and contributions, your restaurant, and being a triathlete (you go girl!), what do you do to relax (beside buying killer boots!) and how do you find the time to relax and unwind?  
I think you can almost always find the time to do anything that is important to you. It's all a matter of prioritization and balance. My husband and I set one night out of the week as our date night. And unless one of us has a really important work meeting or work event - we spend that night together relaxing and unwinding from our crazy schedules.   I also find all three sports that I do to train for my triathlons - the swimming, biking and running - to be a great way to unwind and burn off stress. Swimming in the morning when the sun is coming up is absolutely beautiful. Biking around Dane County is incredibly therapeutic - I have encountered some of the most amazing sights on deserted back roads. Running around Lake Monona, through the UW campus or Arboretum is soul soothing. Sometimes I do these things with friends and teammates, sometimes by myself.   I also enjoy every second I can on the lake whether it's boating, stand up paddle boarding or just sitting on the pier with a cocktail!

How do you think being a triathlete has helped in your career, if at all?  
I think the work ethic and discipline you need to complete an Ironman triathlon or marathon definitely carries over into your professional life and vice versa! You need to put in the work to get results whether your training for a race or striving for success in your career. I've learned perseverance and not to quit just because it gets hard. There is a sign that someone puts out on the Ironman course every year that says something like "Of course it's hard! If it was easy - everyone would be doing it!"   I love setting a long term goal whether it's related to my next race or my next project and then working hard to achieve it every day. 

You said that you think everyone should have to work in customer service (and I wholeheartedly agree). Can you share with readers why you believe this?
There are so many reasons I think every single person should work in some sort of customer service position during their life - but the two biggest reasons - to develop problem solving skills and to instill a sense of empathy. Whether you are waitressing, bartending, working at a retail establishment or other service job- you constantly need to think on your feet, solve problems and figure out how to keep the customer happy. Even more importantly though - once you've been on the other side - you will treat your waitress, bartender, retail clerk and others with so much more respect, kindness, patience (and generosity!) You can tell a lot about someone by how they treat a waiter or waitress!  

What words of wisdom would you share with the child version of you?
There is a great quote that I just love by Maya Angelou, "You may not control all the events that happen to you, but you can decide not to be reduced by them." I think that quote is incredibly powerful at any stage in life. However - it would have been a good mantra when I was younger to not worry about the things that were out of my control and instead focus my time and energy on the best way to react, respond and move forward.  
 
November Renewals
Alliance Benefit Group WI

Attic Angel Community

Bunbury & Associates Realtors

Capital Chaplains LLC

Capital Newspapers

Drake & Company, Inc.

Edgewood College - Graduate & Professional Studies

Encore Construction Inc.

Enterprise Systems Group

Fairway Independent
Mortgage Corporation

Friends of Pheasant Branch Conservancy

Fuddruckers

Gallant Knight Limousine


Godfrey & Kahn, S.C.

Hustad Companies, Inc.

Keva Sports Center LLC

Kiwanis Club of Middleton

KJWW Engineering

KMA Bodilly CPAs & Consultants, S. C.

Leukemia & Lymphoma Society

Loren Imhoff Homebuilder

Madison Gas and Electric Company

Madison Maximized Living

MHS Cardinal Booster Club

MP2 STRUCTURAL ENGINEERS

Premium Waters, Inc.

Printed Promotions, Inc dba Our Direct Mail Works

Restaino & Associates - Melissa LeGrand
Rowland Reading Foundation

Sertoma Club

SERVPRO of Dane County West

Sue-Z Schwab

TAS Consulting Group, Inc.

The UPS Store of Middleton

Total Administrative Services Corporation (TASC)

Total Awards & Promotions/ AwardsMall.com

Two Men And A Truck

UW Credit Union

Wayside Place

Wisconsin Chamber Orchestra

Z.Bella Boutique

5 Years
Bauer Jewelry Designs
Madison Community Montessori School
QPS Employment Group

10 Years
Drake & Company
Louisianne's Etc. Restaurant
William Sonny Simon VFW Post 8216

15 Years
Keva Sports Center
 


Thank You for your continued support!