The failure rate for small business start-ups can be high, but Calumet County has worked to counter those statistics by offering small business counseling sessions through a partnership with the Small Business Development Center at UW Green Bay for over a decade. Business counselor Chuck Brys is retiring in June after years of offering these services to hundreds of small businesses in Calumet County and northeast Wisconsin. During that time, Chuck has had a positive impact on dozens of Calumet County businesses whose success today is a testament to his support over the years. A tribute to Chuck recently appeared in the Green Bay Press Gazette, and it is worth reading to understand the magnitude of his positive contributions.

One business that received support from Chuck is Hilde’s Deli and Bakery on Main Street in Chilton. Owners Hilde and Dennis Bennin reminisced on their work with Chuck. Chuck worked with Dennis and Hilde for nearly 3 years before their business opened in 2012, and they continue to seek his advice at the present time. The couple considers Chuck not only a sage business counselor and mentor, but also a friend. Dennis described his initial concerns about the difficulty of running a business and getting the numbers to work out. He recalled Brys’ advice, “When I work with a business, I get to know the people. Their character and quality speak volumes about how the business will develop, and I saw that in Hilde. That fact will help sell the business, and you’ll succeed.” And succeed is exactly what the Bennin’s have done in their business. “Chuck invests everything in his clients. We have a great deal of respect for him,” said Dennis. Brys coached the business through some challenging situations when they were getting started. They followed his advice, even though it was difficult for them to heed, and they’ve never regretted it. Visiting Hilde’s, it is immediately clear that Chuck’s business skills, Hilde’s cooking, and the couple’s business acumen were a great match that will last into the future.

David Stauffacher has been working with Chuck at the SBDC in a parallel role for the past few years and will step into a solo role in June.

Left to right: Steve Klessig and Mark Nysted Keller, Keller Inc.; WI Representative Ron Tusler; PPI General Manager Larry Dietz; PPI Owners Pat and Bob Endries; and Jennifer Garner, US Senator Tammy Baldwin’s office.

The team at PPI hosted over 600 visitors on Wednesday, May 16, 2018, including suppliers, vendors, customers, dignitaries, and members of the public. The team, while in full production, showed visitors its first class quality operation. Visitors were given full scale tours that lasted one hour and encompassed their 200,000 square feet facility. The tour included the new Team Center – Worklounge, Wellness Center, Collaboration Room, and Comfort Suite – along with the remainder of the production operation. Professional Plating Inc. celebrated with a ribbon cutting ceremony which included Larry Dietz, General Manager; Bob and Patricia Endries, owners; Steve Klessig and Mark Keller, Keller Inc., who designed and built the addition; and elected officials WI Rep. Ron Tusler and Jennifer Garner from US Sen. Tammy Baldwin’s office.

Kurt Hahlbeck is a founding member of Advancing AI Wisconsin (AAIW). According to Kurt, “automation by accident will not turn out well.” As someone who has worked in technology for most of his career, Kurt sees great opportunities for advancements in robotics, AI (artificial intelligence), and big data to help manufacturers in Northeast Wisconsin overcome labor challenges and continue their dominant role in the sector. It’s the lack of a comprehensive discussion among northeast WI manufacturers that most concerns Kurt. The May 15 feature article in Insight on Manufacturing dives into this topic and is worthwhile reading for anyone involved with the economy (hint – that’s most of us). 

 

Manufacturing representatives interested in this critical topic can hear directly from Kurt Hahlbeck, 8:00 to 10:00 am on June 14 by attending the annual meeting of the Northeast WI Manufacturing Alliance (NEWMA). Membership and registration information is available here.  

A new regular section in this e-newsletter will focus on a publicly owned local property in Calumet County. 

Thanks to Wisconsin’s Historic Tax Credit (HTC) program, what was once one of the state’s first vocational training schools – the long-vacant Beach Building in downtown Oshkosh – has been transformed into a bustling multi-purpose complex with 22 upscale apartments, a co-working space for entrepreneurs and start-up businesses, and a trendy new coffee shop.

The $3.5 million project to turn the 36,000-square-foot property built in 1911 into a modern residential, commercial, and retail space unique to the Fox Valley was made possible with $526,000 in state HTC tax credits. Read the Wisconsin Economic Development Association’s summary of the program here and learn more about the Oshkosh project.