March 4th, 2026

"Swing hard,

in case you hit it!"


-Jesse Cole (Savannah Bananas)

Last week, about 40 men and women, participated at the Live2Lead Conference hosted by Dawn Brummel (Coaching for Life) and promoted by area chambers including the Elkhorn Chamber. This group was so fun we had them clapping, singing and dancing for more leadership training!


Live2Lead is a simulcast conference spearheaded by renowned leader and author, John C. Maxwell. Maxwell has written 208 books and sold over 35 million copies on leadership. To say he is an expert on the subject is an understatement, he's a master! And if you were in attendance, you also know "he's your friend"! Ha!


Maxwell's Live2Lead Conference has assembled an impressive list of speakers to present and share personal experiences and insights into the world of leadership. And this year's conference did not disappoint. My personal favorite was, Jesse Cole, from the Savannah Bananas. Cole wears an iconic yellow suit and hat and has wholly committed himself to a culture of Fans First.

Everything in Cole's world is banana themed from the dance team called the Banana Splits to his nonprofit focused on the foster care community called Bananas Foster. Instead of throwing t-shirts into the crowd, they toss Savannah Banana underwear to baseball fans, and our Live2Lead guests were just as lucky! During Cole's talk he bounced around the stage, hosted contestant games and shared his impactful five E's.

THE LUCKY WINNER!

Did I take notes? You betcha! Am I going to let ChatGPT do the heavy lifting...yep! Here we go!



1. Eliminate Friction

Remove anything that frustrates or slows down the customer experience.

  • Make processes simple and smooth.
  • Fix both big friction points (long wait times, confusing processes) and small ones (emails, invoices, signage).
  • The goal: make every interaction effortless.


2. Entertain Always

Cole believes every business is in the entertainment business.

  • Even routine experiences should be fun and memorable.
  • Surprise and delight people whenever possible.
  • The Bananas do this with dancing players, fan interactions, and humor throughout games.


3. Experiment Constantly

Avoid becoming predictable or boring.

  • Try new ideas frequently.
  • Encourage creativity from staff.
  • Small experiments can lead to breakthrough experiences.


4. Engage Deeply

Build genuine relationships with your audience.

  • Listen to feedback.
  • Respond personally when things go wrong.
  • Make people feel seen and valued.


5. Empower Action

Give your team the authority to create great experiences.

  • Employees shouldn’t need layers of approval to delight a fan.
  • Trust your team to solve problems and create memorable moments.


Core idea:

Focus on creating fans for life, not just transactions. When people love the experience, loyalty and growth follow.



#FansFirst


Kate Abbe

The Elkhorn Chamber


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MULTI-CHAMBER EVENT

Join us for a Multi-Chamber Spotlight Event

Wednesday | March 18, 2026 | 5pm-7pm

Pier 290: Gage Boat Showroom | 1 Liechty Drive, Williams Bay

 

Be among the very first to experience a bigger, buggier Balloon Adventure before we open to the public! Step inside our immersive balloon build, explore the creativity up close, and see what all the buzz is about. We’ll gather under the canopies for light refreshments, networking, and a first look at this year’s whimsical, larger-than-life creations. It’s the perfect opportunity to connect with fellow chamber members while experiencing one of the area’s most unique family attractions.

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The Elkhorn Chamber and it's staff continue to provide weekly

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PROMOTIONS

Sauk Valley Bank Expands Community with New Full-Service Branch in Walworth, WI


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JOB POSTING

This role combines front desk responsibilities with clinical support to ensure a smooth,

welcoming experience for every patient.

Responsibilities include:


 Greeting patients and managing check-in/check-out

 Scheduling appointments and answering phones

 Assisting Nurse Practitioner during patient visits

 Taking vitals and updating patient records

 Performing blood draws and handling lab specimens

 Maintaining a clean, organized, and professional clinic environment



If you love working with patients and want to be part of a whole-person approach to

care, we’d love to hear from you! Apply today or tag someone who might be a great fit.

All resumes should be submitted to kriffel@thewellnp.com by March 6, 2026.

(25-30 hrs/wk) Executive Assistant

To apply, please submit (mail or email)

a resume and cover letter by February 27, 2026 to:


Old World Foundation

Gwen Griffin, Executive Director

P.O. Box 347

Elkhorn, WI 53121

ggriffin@friendsoww.org

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