September 14, 2023

Attend the September Business After Hours and the launch of our Economic Development Magazine

You are invited to attend the September Business After Hours tonight, September 14 from 5 - 7 p.m. for an afternoon of networking. The event is being held at Appleton International Airport, and we are officially launching our new Economic Development Livability Magazine!

Please park in the Short Term or Long Term lot at ATW. You can either take a ticket or dip your credit card and your card will act as the ticket. Proceed to Door 2, and you will be given a parking validation sticker.

Grow with Google Grapevine:

Being an entrepreneur, or working with a very small marketing department is full of challenges. Design thinking can help supercharge your marketing efforts and contribute to your success. In this video, Grow with Google instructors Basim and Anna will help you learn how to create a collaborative environment where everyone is responsible for design. You will explore design challenges and sprints that can be incorporated into any workplace or startup, to unlock creativity and innovative thinking.

Watch the Video

Chamber Member Spotlight: Werner Electric Supply

Werner Electric has been headquartered in the Fox Cities since its inception as a Neenah-based appliance store and electrical contractor shop in 1948. Having operated from Neenah for many years, the company later constructed a cutting-edge, 200,00-sq-ft regional distribution center in Appleton. This facility has enabled their ongoing support for local organizations through volunteer initiatives, donation campaigns and meeting space offerings.

"The quality of the people in the Fox Cities region is top notch. Strong values, hard work and high integrity define the people in our communities, and this allows us to better serve our customers. They are what differentiate us in our markets."

Read the full spotlight and learn more about Werner Electric Supply here.

Chamber Ambassador Spotlight: Richard Parks

Richard Parks is the CEO of a Financial Services Firm within Modern Woodmen of America, a 140-Year-old Financial Firm operating in Northeast Wisconsin since 1887.

Why did you become a member of the Fox Cities Chamber?

Membership in the local Chambers has been a vital part of my financial services model for more than 20 years. I really find the Chamber beneficial to those that have the entrepreneurial spirit as a place to build relationships and make a difference in the community that we live in, play in and do business.

How do you help make the member experience an impactful experience at the Fox Cities Chamber?

I continue to help members navigate the Chamber to get the most out of the experience. Many people struggle with making and keeping connections and I hope to show them a path that they can plug into successfully.

Do you have any advice for someone considering joining the Fox Cities Chamber?

With the Member Connect program there is no reason to not make the Chamber part of your networking solution to business growth and relationships. It does take work and participation on your part to make membership a worthwhile investment of time and money.

Learn more about Richard and read his full spotlight here.

Octoberfest Golf Outing was a Hole-in-One!

Check out the photos

Congrats to Keller Williams on their grand re-opening!

View the photos

Fox Cities Businesses are invited to attend seminar on 'Reviews and Reputation Management'

The Fox Cities Chamber is offering a Grow Marketing Seminar on “Reviews and Reputation Management” on Wednesday, October 11. Studies show that 93% of consumers read online reviews about a local business before purchasing a product or service. So, how do you stack up against your competitors? Who is monitoring your online reputation and protecting your brand’s online reputation in reviews, social media, and Google? These foundational marketing elements are essential to drive customer activity and sales.

Attend this seminar to learn how to combat negative reviews and turn positive reviews into your best marketing! Presenters are Lisa Piikkila, Owner/Creative Director of Coalesce Marketing and Design, and Sterling Feathers, Digital Marketing Manager at Coalesce. The event will be held from 8 – 9:30 a.m. at Community First Credit Union, 1575 Dresang Way Neenah.

Learn more / Register

The Thought Leader: Emerging Leaders, Where Have You Been All My Life?

I’d made it. I was in my mid-20s, had my own tiny apartment to myself, an incredible group of friends, a job doing what I loved for a nonprofit I loved, and I was so proud of how I was crushing this whole “being an adult” thing. Looking back now, I see there was definitely something missing. That something was United Way Emerging Leaders.

By Vaya Jones, Vice-Chair, Emerging Leaders; Social Determinants of Health Lead, ThedaCare; Alderperson District 10, City of Appleton

Read the full Thought Leader blog here.

Gulfstream Completes latest strategic facility expansion

Gulfstream Aerospace Corp. today announced the official opening of its new world-class paint hangar in Appleton, Wisconsin, which is also home to a Gulfstream Service Center and a large-cabin completions facility. The expansion is part of a multiyear plan announced in 2021 that provides customers the flexibility to experience the entire aircraft completions process in Appleton. This strategic growth has significantly increased operations and created more than 200 jobs in the region.

“This latest expansion in Appleton is another example of our continued investment in people and facilities as we expand to meet the demands of the growing Gulfstream fleet,” said Mark Burns, president, Gulfstream. “Our customers already benefit from the quality and craftsmanship of our aircraft completions work and the unrivaled support we offer in Appleton. The opening of this new paint hangar means that we can provide even more convenience and options to Gulfstream customers.”

Read the full news release here. See photos and video from the day here.