June 2017
Executive Director Update


Executive Director, Van Nutt, updates you from  one of our Member businesses.  In this month's video, he shares some excited member expansions and openings, as well as upcoming Chamber events you won't want to miss!


Sit back at view this month's update.  



Have a great June, 
Van 
Upcoming Chamber Events
View Event Photos


June 1, 7:30am
Get Moving Middleton
Hilton Garden Inn

June 1, 5:30-7pm
Grand Re-Opening & Ribbon Cutting
Middleton Jewelers (6629 University Ave)

June 8, 5-7pm
Grand Opening & Ribbon Cutting
Cabinet City by Dream (6649 University Ave)

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

June 14, 8am
Ask the Expert: Employee Retention - Register
Edgewood College - Deming Way Campus

June 14, 12pm
Golf Committee
Pleasant View Clubhouse

June 15, 4-6:30pm
Business Social Hour - Register
alphagraphics (3223 Parmenter St)
Stop by for some savory appetizers, a cool down sweet treat and refreshing drinks while you connect with other business professionals.

June 20, 11:45am
Lunch & Learn: Confident Speaking - Register
Middleton Community Bank (Monona Bank)

June 21, 12pm
Economic Development Briefing: Middleton Center Tour - Register
Middleton Center

June 29, 5:30-7pm
Ribbon Cutting
Noteworthy Venues & Events with Intelligence (Barn, 6991 County Road K)

July 6, 7:30am
Get Moving Middleton - Register
Hilton Garden Inn


View the Full Calendar


New Members


Forward Service Corporation

4600 American Parkway
(608) 244-3526  
fsc-corp.org

   
I Love Tacos
2644 Branch Street
(608) 841-1833
www.ilovetacosmiddleton.com


Reliable Property Services
5440 Willow Road, Ste 122, Waunakee
(608) 709-5545 
www.rpswi.com


Wells Fargo
1241 John Q Hammons Drive
(608) 833-3864


Wilson Law Group

7633 Ganser Way, Suite 100
(608) 833-4001
wilsonlawgroup.com


Members on the Move
Announcements|Awards|Hires & Promotions
ANNOUNCEMENTS
Good Neighbor Fest Gears Up for 5K, The Middleton Good Neighbor Festival will have a 5K Run/Walk on Saturday, August 26, beginning at 9:30am.

River Valley Bank Appoints New Board Member, River Valley Bank welcomed Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development Secretary Raymond Allen to their board of directors.

Canstruction 2017 a Huge Success, Hosted by Middleton Outreach Ministry, 15 teams from businesses, churches, schools and organizations around Dane County built giant structures made of canned goods and competed for awards in this year's Canstruction Madison.

Million Dollar Renovation at Baymont Inn & Suites Madison, The Baymont Inn & Suites has completed a 1.6 Million Dollar Renovation.

Easter Seals Golf Outing for Kids, The Easter Seals Golf Outing for Kids, presented by the Bank of Wisconsin Dells, returns on June 28 for its 17th year.

ALTUS Announces May Sale, ALTUS Commercial Real Estate is pleased to announce that Jeff Jansen has completed the sale of 1850 Ludden Drive, Cross Plains.

Coldwell Announces April 2017 Stats, Coldwell Banker Success is pleased to share the April 2017 real estate statistics for the Middleton area.

Fearing's Contributes to Winning Projects, InBusiness hosted the 10th Annual Commercial Design Awards on April 4 and two projects Fearing's contributed to won awards.

Bauer Selected By World-Renowed Diamond Setter, Jacob Bauer of Bauer Jewelers in Middleton has been selected by the world-renowed diamond setter Alexander Sidorov to attend a pave diamond setting class.


HIRES & PROMOTIONS
Zimmerman Named President of Murphy Desmond, Murphy Desmond S.C. is pleased to announce that Attourney Jane F. (Ginger) Zimmerman has been elected to serve as President of the firm.

SVA Welcomes New Human Resources Director, Heather Becker, PHR, SHRM-CP has recently joined SVA as the firm's new Human Resources Director.

Settlers Welcomes Intern, Settlers bank is excited to announce the addition of Jeremy Swanson to our team.

Monroe Joins The Alliance, Kyle Monroe has joined The Alliance as Vice President of Network Development and Provider Relations.


AWARDS  
Area Travel Agent Honored Nationally, Debbie Chase of Middleton Travel was singled out from thousands of travel professionals across the US to receive a Travel Leaders "Employee of Excellence" Award.

NARI Remodeling Company Receives Top National Award, The National Association of Remodeling Industry (NARI) announced the National CotY (Contractor of the Year) Winners, of which on company is a member of NARI Madison.

2017 Travel Leaders "Agency of Excellence" Awards Announced, Middleton Travel has received the coveted "Agency of Excellence" award, which is presented to the top echelon of Travel Leaders agencies.

Five Recipients Win The Alliance Health Transformation Awards, Five awards were given to individuals or organizations that have significant contributions to transforming health care in their community.


JOB OPPORTUNITIES
Bishops Bay Country Club - Administrative Assistant

Bishops Bay Country Club - Cook

Bishops Bay Country Club - Dishwasher/Kitchen Porter

Bishops Bay Country Club - Server

Settlers bank - Universal Banker II

Settlers bank - Universal Banker I

Middleton Cross Plains Area School District - Technology Education Teacher

SERVPRO of Dane County West - Team Member

I Love Tacos - Various Openings

Ideal Image - Registered Nurse

Ideal Image - Sales Representative

GrandStay Hotel & Suites - Front Desk Attendant

SupraNet Communications - Field Network Engineer

Allstate, Esser Insurance - Insurance Producer

Quality Cellular - Sales Associate
Member Events
6/2-6/3

Attic Sale, Attic Angel Community
6/4

Summer Movie Series: Zootopia, The Orpheum Theater
More Info
6/4

Spring Fling Party for the Arts, Rhapsody Arts Center
6/6

Financial Statements Workshop, SCORE Madison
More Info
6/7

Reason to Hope Breakfast, Alzheimer's Association
More Info
6/9

Bridges Grief Support Group, Agrace
6/10-6/11

Middleton Unity Art Events, Middleton Library
6/14

Girls Night Out at Craftsman, Middleton Outreach Ministry
6/15

Strategies for Big IDEAS, SVA
6/15

Gilda's Backyard BBQ, Gilda's Club
6/17

Cops & Bobbers Fishing Day, Middleton Optimists
6/20

Women in Business Breakfast, SVA
6/21

The Longest Day - Alzheimer's Association
6/21

Understanding Cash Flow in Your Business, SVA
More Info
6/21

Pie & Ice Cream Social, Middleton Historical Society
More Info
6/22

Planning for Strategic Growth, M&M Office Interiors
More Info
6/22

Outing on Lake Mendota, Holy Wisdom Monastery
More Info
6/24

CURVE Pop-Up Shop, Z.Bella Boutique
More Info
6/24

Grand Opening, Middleton Center
6/26

Golf Outing, Madison West Towne Middleton Rotary Club
6/27

Dane County Small Business Awards, UW Madison SBDC
7/1

Night at the Madison Mallards, REACH-A-Child





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:  Tom Brown 
Owner, Interstate Batteries
 
Describe a typical day in the life of a small business owner?
A typical day for me would be working out early which helps clear my mind for the day ahead. I open the store and registers, check email, phone messages, prepare and prioritize the day's deliveries. I also order batteries or supplies as needed, receive, and stock the floors for the drivers to pick from. I answer phones and messages from both entities and greet and service the needs of walk in retail customers. In addition, I stack and prepare old battery cores for shipping to the lead smelter. Since we deal in hazardous materials this is an important process we go through to make the batteries as safe as possible for handling. I then pay bills, monthly sales tax, payroll, schedule any maintenance for vehicles, and prepare deliveries for the next day.

 
What are the most interesting aspects of what you do?
The daily interaction with customers whether on the phone or in the retail store. Every customer has a different expectation, so each one is unique.
 

What are some important factors that contribute to your success?
I have been with Interstate Batteries since 1987, starting as a warehouse/delivery person. Then route manager, distributorship manager, and then sales rep for the area. This made the next step of business owner much easier. I knew the model very well, and understood the factors to make it successful. Willingness to get my hands dirty, whether stacking cores, cleaning batteries, loading batteries, cleaning floors, or running routes is probably the biggest factor to my success. I enjoy working alongside my crew in all duties of the day.
 

Do you think the dynamic of having your wife work with you has been positive or more stressful? Does it solidify the partnership between you or do you think it makes it harder than having "strangers" working with you?
Let's just say the learning curve was a long winding one. We do just about everything together away from work, so certainly to work together was stressful at first. I think our partnership is better because of it. I did some of the bookkeeping early on when she commuted to Brookfield for her own business. I would have farmed that part out to a payroll company had she not committed fully to it. We both have a great appreciation for what each other does. You learn over time how to interact in situations, but there are still stressful moments here and there.
 

What takeaways from your experience as a sales manager for Interstate Batteries did you bring into your current roles as business owner? Do you think it prepared you for the task?
As I mentioned earlier, having known the Interstate Battery System helped immensely. Not only from the training and experience, but also the fact that I worked the area that I was buying into. A fair amount of my current customers are from my days in sales. I worked for, and met, many Interstate Distributors, most of who border my territory. Interstate has a business model for us to follow, but working for many successful ones along the way helped me when I started in Madison. Most distributors come from within the ranks as well, sort of a family.  
 

During our coffee meet we spoke lot about the impact of social media on our businesses and customer expectations. Do you think social media has bettered how businesses deal with customers or worsened the experience?
I would say both. The fact that I can advertise right to someone's phone, on Facebook, or through email was a game changer. But like anything new, it has it's downside. You try to limit the downside as much as possible. Thanks to my crew and the great job they do, we've had very little of the negative side. I think it's been a benefit for us.
 

What advice would you give the child version of yourself?
Whatever job you do, do it to the best of your ability, and earn your respect that way. Learn from the setbacks, don't sulk over them. Be positive, but humble. My dad was the hardest working man I ever met, and so I guess he helped me with many lessons both good and bad. After my first week of work at Interstate, my boss fired the guy who was training me. I came in that day to say I was quitting so I felt obligated to stick it out for a little while at least. Funny how things work out!
 
May Renewals
5NINES, LLC

ABR Employment Services

Accu-Clime Mechanical Services LLC

Adecco Group

AERIE Preferred Financial Group

Berndt CPA LLC

Bishops Bay Country Club

Boardman Clark, LLP

Brandon Eyes

Captain Bills Seafood

Career Momentum, Inc.

Cat Care Clinic

Chalmers Jewelers

Charles Schwab

Chartwell Wisconsin

Clasen's European Bakery

CLM Prescriptives, LLC

DirectNetworks, Inc.
First Weber Group -
Wills

Freska Mediterranean Grill

Greene-Niesen Insurance
Agency, Inc.

Group Health Cooperative of South Central WI

Hubbard Avenue Diner

Incredible Windows! LLC

James A. Lord, DDS, S.C.

Magic Wash Car Wash

Megna Financial, LLC

Middleton Ford

Middleton Travel Inc.

Monks Bar & Grill

Muscular Dystrophy Association of Southern Wisconsin

National Mustard Museum

Nonn's

Optimist Club of Middleton, Inc.

Pipers Mechanical Inc.

Prairie Cafe and Bakery

Preferred Realty Group

Purple Cow Organics, LLC

Radisson Hotel

Rush Wisconsin Soccer Club

Sam Simon Real Estate -
G. Simon

Sam Simon Real Estate LLC

Select One Mortgage

Short Elliott Hendrickson (SEH)

Stark Company Realtors -
Selin

T. Anton Investment House, Inc.

Villa Dolce

Wegner CPAs

Wisconsin Bank & Trust

Wisconsinmade.com

Wolff Kubly Hardware &
Time Center

5 Years
Habitat for Humanity of Dane County
LegalShield - Gene Sarmiento
WBUW CW57
Wegner CPAs

10 Years
Greene-Niesen Insurance Agency
Sam's Club
Villa Dolce

35 Years
Optimist Club of Middleton 

65 Years
Bruce Company
Middleton Ford

Thank You for your continued support!