October 2025 Chamber Newsletter

Hello-


Happy Manufacturing Month! Right on the heels of a busy Chamber of Commerce month, we are celebrating our manufacturing! This month we bring the 17th Annual Manufacturing & Trade Career Expo to High School and Middle School students at Washington County Fair Park. We are very proud of our partnership with The Chamber of Greater Menomonee Falls & Sussex bringing this free expo to the students.


We have been working on new community videos that highlight Germantown, Economic Development, Park & Rec, School District and the Chamber and they are now available to see! There will be opportunities for our business community to sponsor, more info on that coming soon. Thank you to all the members, who helped us out with content, pictures, video and locations! Click here to see all the videos.


Don't forget Christmas is around the corner and in Germantown we celebrate Christmas Festival in November! The Chamber provides opportunities for our members to sponsor, participate and volunteer and it is a great way to get in front of the community. See the event section for more information.


Lastly, we are hosting the US Small Business Administration in our board room through October so they can assist businesses and citizens that have been impacted by the recent floods. Please make sure to share this information with anyone that can benefit.


Hope you have a wonderful October and see you soon!


Joletta Kerpan, Executive Director

executivedirector@germantownchamber.org

Lynn Grgich, Executive Assistant

lgrgich@germantownchamber.org

Ben Stern, Marketing & Social Media Coordinator

bstern@germantownchamber.org

N112W16760 Mequon Rd

262-255-1812

In This Issue


Networking

What's The Buzz?

WIN


Events

MTCE

Christmas Festival


Resources & Education

Leadership Germantown

SBA Disaster Loans

Board Room Rental


Volunteering & Help Wanted



Promotion

New Members

Member News

Special Offers

Ribbon Cuttings

Germantown Videos


Community News

For best viewing of our Newsletter on a desktop, try viewing it in a web browser!

New Members

Kwik Trip

N112W18741 Mequon Rd, Germantown

262-253-1007

Website

Facebook & Instagram


What began as a single store in Eau Claire, Wisconsin, has grown into a trusted name across the Midwest. Since day one, Kwik Trip, Inc. has remained family-owned and committed to doing things the right way: from making our own products to putting people first. Today, we operate almost 900 stores and employ more than 38,000 co-workers, all working toward the same goal: to make a difference in the lives of our guests every day.

Visit us at our new location in Germantown soon!

Bright Eyed Productions

E-mail

Facebook & Instagram


Bright Eyed Productions is a local production company that prides itself in meeting all of our clients needs. From Photography, Video, Live Sound/Lights, Equipment Rental, Photo Booths, and so much more!

RISE Commercial District
2909 Rise Way, Jackson

E-mail

Website

Facebook & Instagram

LinkedIn


RISE Commercial District offers office space for leasesmall warehouse space for lease, and business storage space for lease. But, we don’t just offer these business spaces and leave our tenants to grow on their own. We take pride in being a turn-key facility for our businesses, whatever their needs may be. Looking for small warehouse space in Richfield that doesn’t nickel-and-dime you? RISE Commercial District has you covered. Our climate-controlled, all-inclusive units are conveniently located in Jackson, so inventory can roll in, couriers can roll out, customers can drop by, and you can pop over from home without burning time in traffic.

  • Flexible Lease Terms
  • Utilities Include
  • Shared Amenities
  • 24/7 Security


Ribbon Cuttings

We are happy to do ribbon cuttings for our members for Grand Openings, Re-openings,

Expansions, New Ownership.

We can also be a part of Ground Breakings

and Open Houses.

Just reach out and we can talk about it!

In early September, we celebrated the first anniversary of Relish Supper Club with a Ribbon Cutting. What a fun time with old fashioneds, cake and alot of networking. Make a point to visit Relish very soon!


In mid-September, we joined Visit Washington County Visitors Bureau and visited Apple Works Winery. We were introduced to their new event venue during our Business after Hours and the night capped off with a Ribbon Cutting. Good wine, good networking was had by all! Be sure to stop by their Tasting Room and check out all their offerings for your next event!

Upcoming

Kwik Trip Ribbon Cutting

Chamber Networking Events

What's the Buzz

Networking



Germantown Chamber & The Chamber of Greater Menomonee Falls & Sussex


Wednesday, October 1

7:30-9:00AM

Grace Commons, Menomonee Falls


Be prepared with your 30 second commercial & discussion about BUZZ topic

WIN - Washington County Interactive Networking



Germantown, Hartford & West Bend Chambers


Friday, October 17

7:30-9:00AM

Location: The Threshold, West Bend


Be prepared with your 30-second commercial

DID YOU KNOW ?

When you register for an event, you receive an email confirmation which includes the ability to add the event to your Google Calendar, Yahoo Calendar or iCal (Outlook, Apple or other) Calendar? How easy is that?

Chamber Events

Put the Christmas Festival Day of activities on your calendar!!

Jingle Bell Dash Signup

Christmas Festival Parade Signup

Christmas in the Park Candy Land Adventure Signup


Volunteer Opportunities Signup

Sponsorships available to support the Christmas Festival Day of events!

Open sponsorships include


Parade

Germantown Warchix

River City Christmas Band

Stilt Walkers

Clowns


Christmas in the Park

Secret Santa

Hot Chocolate


and

General Sponsorships $50-$1,200

Leadership Germantown

Meet the Leadership Germantown Class of 2026!

Resources & Education

The Germantown Area Chamber of Commerce is honored to be supporting the US Small Business Administration (SBA) in their stay in Washington County to provide assistance and inform homeowners, renters, businesses and most private non-profits in Washington County who were adversely affected by the severe storms, winds, flooding, and mudslides on August 9-12, 2025 that they can apply for a low-interest rate disaster loan to repair or replace their disaster-damaged property.


The SBA will be located at the Germantown Area Chamber of Commerce in October during office hours of Monday-Friday, 9AM-4PM to provide assistance and resources. Feel free to share this with anyone you think will need it.

https://www.germantownchamber.org/education-seminars

REGISTER TO ATTEND the Business Loan Pool Seminar! Click here...

Low-Cost Funding for Your Small Business

Get the funds you need to keep your small business moving forward with the Small Biz Loan.


Does My Business Qualify?

Before beginning the application process, be sure you can answer “yes” to the qualifications below:

  • My business is located in Washington County.
  • My business has been operating for the last 12 months.
  • My business has 15 or fewer full-time employees.
  • My business is for-profit and privately-owned.



WashCo Small Biz Loan at a Glance

Loan Amount: $25,000

Fixed Interest Rate: 5.50%

Term: 5 years

Amortization: Interest only payments only for 6 months followed by payments of principal and interest thereafter for the remaining 54 months of the note.


Click HERE for more.

These are just a few of the offerings available in October. Visit the SCORE website for more.

Harnessing Generative AI

Buying a Business 101

How to Write a 1 Page Business Plan

Save Thousands with Smart Bookkeeping


For more details on these online webinar sessions and more, click HERE

Wisconsin Early Childhood Association

Center for Policy, Research and Engagement

Learn more here by visiting our website.

Special Offers

This is another FREE benefit to our members to promote a product or service to both consumers and businesses.

Your offer doesn't have to be about the price or dollars off. It can be an invitation to attend or participate in. It can be educational and/or informational.

Click Here* to sign-up to receive a Special Offer notice whenever one is added (*click on pencil & paper icon to sign up!) Anyone and everyone can sign-up.

Don't know your login to the Chamber site? Contact us so you can start making your membership work for you more online

Volunteering & Help Wanted

Looking for something new or need to post an opportunity?

The Germantown Chamber website has a section dedicated to

job listings, volunteering and community needs.

Member News

Germantown Community

Blood Drive

Kiwanis & Germantown Library

Monday, October 6

12:30 - 6:00PM

Kiwanis & American Legion Post 1

Monday, November 3

1:00 - 6:00PM

PAC Community Series Friday October 3, 7pm

Germantown Performing Arts Center


A fundraiser supporting the Richfield and Germantown Fire Departments.

For tickets: https://gtownpac.vbotickets.com/events

3000 County Hwy PV

West Bend

2025 Tournament Schedule

Kettle Hills Golf Course


All events are 18 holes unless otherwise noted.

Event entry fee includes golf, cart, F&B, tax & prize/raffle fund.


Click HERE for a link to the schedule

More information at

WCHS Oktoberfest

WCHS Oktoberfest is an annual fundraising event benefiting the Washington County Humane Society presented by Jeff’s Spirits on Main! Join us to sample beer, seltzer, and wine against a backdrop of fall foliage amid the authentic German music of “The River City Blaskapelles!”

Other activities included with admission:

  • Up to 50 local craft beers, seltzers, and wine
  • Wine, water & soda
  • Complimentary dinner
  • Tons of raffles
  • Games including cornhole and hammerschlagen

In its 14 year history, Oktoberfest has drawn thousands of people and raised more than $350,000 for the care of animals at WCHS.

Oktoberfest is a great opportunity to combine your love for beer with your love of animals!

See what the Germantown Performing Arts Center has going this 2025-26 season!

Click here to see all the amazing options.

The PAC is located at Germantown High School.

Coming Together: Community Connections Help Strengthen Ties to MATC

Business leaders and community partners learn about college programs and plans at five sessions

Henry Bruno’s connection to Milwaukee Area Technical College runs deep.

After graduating from Milwaukee’s South Division High School, he attended classes at MATC before transferring to the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. “MATC provided the foundation,” said Bruno, who is now a relationship banker for the financial services company BMO.

On Tuesday, September 16, Bruno was at MATC’s Oak Creek Campus strengthening that connection.

Bruno was among nearly 50 community leaders at the campus for Community Connections, a session hosted by MATC President Anthony Cruz that spotlighted the college’s signature programs, celebrated its successes and deepened its collaboration with community partners.

The five sessions were held at each of the college’s four campuses and at the Walker’s Square Education Center during the past week. 

“This is a great idea,” Bruno said. “You can’t know enough about what is happening in your community. I believe it’s important to feel like you’re being seen, being heard, being appreciated and being served.”

For Dr. Cruz, the main objective of the sessions was to answer a simple question: How can we build a stronger college together? more...

Biergartens at Old Falls Village

October 3-4, 10-11

BINGO

Join us for Breakfast & Bingo!

The Gables of Germantown

Wednesday, October 8

$5 per player*

Breakfast 9am, Bingo 9:30am. 
Enjoy a tasty breakfast, prizes and fun!

N109W17075 Ava Circle, Germantown

RSVP by October 1 at gables-events.com.

*The $5 payment is non-refundable and due upon registration.

Join us on the 2nd Wednesday of every month in 2025! Questions? Call Becca at 262-345-1025 or email at rvana@capricommunities.com

October Library Programs

So many options at

https://germantownlibrarywi.events.mylibrary.digital/

Germantown Senior Center

Learn more about the activities and resources right here at the Germantown Senior Center.

For more information visit them at W162N11960 Park Ave or click here for more information

COMMUNITY NEWS

Our Board of Directors

Officers

President- Megan DeGeorge, WFA Staffing

Vice President- Dr. Christopher Reuter, Germantown School District

Treasurer- Randy Hellesen, TriCity National Bank


Directors

Sarah Bojarski, The Kind Gift Co.

Adam Chamorro, State Farm

Jen Gannon, Blissful Bites Desserts

Jennifer Gasper, J.W. Speaker Corp

Liz Juern, Froedtert & Medical College of Wisconsin

Adam Konitzer, Gehl Food & Beverage

TJ Lane, Community Member

Ann Lebiecki, Lebiecki & Co, Shorewest Realtors

Daniel Levy, Latitude Cafe

Kelsey Lofberg, Dielectric Manufacturing

Doug Loman, Doug Loman Photography

Jonathan Mies, Milwaukee Area Technical College

Germantown Area Chamber of Commerce
Office: N112 W16760 Mequon Road
Mail: P. O. Box 12
Germantown, WI 53022
262.255.1812
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