Tuesday, 12/13
9:00am-9:30am: Registration
Location: The Waters Lobby
9am-5pm: FYI Resource Center
A location to drop off or pick-up information from state agencies, associations, businesses or organizations.
Location: The Waters Lobby
9:30am-10:00am: Welcome Address – Governor Scott Walker
Location: Conference Center
10:00am-11:00am: Conversation with Leadership – Session 1
Each participating agency will provide a 3-5 minute briefing on the key issues in their agency as they pertain to Northern Wisconsin. The remaining time will be utilized for open forum questions. Panelists: Department of Natural Resources (DNR) Secretary Cathy Stepp; Department of Tourism Secretary Stephanie Klett; Department of Transportation (DOT) Deputy Secretary Mike Berg; and WEDC CEO, Paul Jadin.
Location: Conference Center
11:15am-12:15pm: Conversation with Leadership – Session 2
Panelists: Department of Revenue (DOR) Secretary Rick Chandler; Department of Workforce Development (DWD) Secretary Reggie Newson; Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection (DATCP) Secretary Ben Brancel; and Wisconsin Housing and Economic Development Authority (WHEDA) Executive Director Wyman Winston.
Location: Conference Center
12:15 pm-1:00pm: Lunch
Join us for a quick buffet lunch before moving on to the afternoon programming.
Location: The Water Lobby
1:00pm-5:00pm: CIM Mobile Lab
The Computer Integrated Manufacturing Mobile Lab is a trailer designed to provide rural high school students the opportunity to experience the equipment used in advanced manufacturing. The trailer includes both Computer Numerical Control (CNC) machine tools and a number of Computer-Aided Manufacturing (CAM) workstations to provide students the chance to earn both high school and college credit in learning the fundamentals of operating CNC equipment. We invite you to stop in and take a tour during this time.
Location: Parking Lot
1:00pm-4:30pm: Forestry Council Meeting
Location: Lake Tomahawk
1:00pm-5:00pm: WEDC Board Meeting
Location: Lake Evelyn
1:30pm-2:30pm: Workshop options
• Roundtable with DNR Secretary, Cathy Stepp: We’re from DNR and we’re here to help you! We want to listen to suggestions from you, the business community, citizens, and local units of government on how to improve processes and work together to accomplish mutual goals. Further, the DNR during the interaction will offer suggestions on how to navigate what could seem to be a complex web of regulations.
Location: Lake Clawson
• Northern Wisconsin Labor Market Outlook: The DWD Office of Economic Advisors will provide analysis of the labor market in northern Wisconsin, including background on current labor and employment trends throughout the area. The Office of Economic Advisors will present on trends in private-sector and manufacturing jobs, including sectors of growth for northern Wisconsin. Presented by: Dennis Winters, Chief Economist, DWD Office Of Economic Advisors; Jeff Sachse, Regional Economist, DWD Office Of Economic Advisors; John Westbury, Regional Economist, DWD Office Of Economic Advisors; and Tom Michels, Regional Economist, DWD Office Of Economic Advisors.
Location: Lake Kawaguesaga
2:45pm-3:45pm: Workshop options
• Building Collaborative Partnerships: A Roundtable with Higher Education and Business Leaders: UW Chancellors and WTCS Presidents will be joined by their regional business, industry and labor leaders to discuss the current values and priorities of both education and the workplace and to identify how best to build a collaborative higher education system that benefits all the citizens of Wisconsin.
Location: Conference Center
• Something Special from Wisconsin™ Means Business: The Something Special from Wisconsin™ program is a marketing tool that promotes Wisconsin’s authentic agriculture related products. Since 1983 the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection has provided this program to assist Wisconsin companies looking to enhance their brand. Hear how Something Special from Wisconsin™ has helped drive economic development across the state and ways you can put this highly recognizable and respected brand to work for you.
Location: Lake Kawaguesaga
4:30pm-6:00pm: Networking Opportunity
Join us for some end-of-the-day socializing.
Location: The Waters Lobby
Evening dinner is on your own.
Wednesday, 12/14
7:30am-1:00pm: FYI Resource Center
Location: The Waters Lobby
7:30am-8:15pm: Buffet Breakfast
Location: The Waters Lobby
8:15am-8:45am: Keynote Presentation: Lt. Governor Rebecca Kleefisch
Location: The Conference Center
8:45am-9:45am: General Session
Connecting Jobseekers to Jobs: The Workforce Development Board of Directors representing northern Wisconsin will each discuss the sector strategies they have proposed for the coming year and will be available to answer questions regarding workforce training efforts in northern Wisconsin. Secretary Reggie Newson will moderate the panel and will discuss statewide efforts to align DWD training resources with high-wage, high growth jobs and to promote resources available to help employers who are hiring. Presenters include: DWD Secretary Reggie Newson; Bay Area WDB Executive Director, Jim Golembeski; North Central WDB Executive Director, Rene Daniels; and Northwest Wisconsin WDB Executive Director, Mari Kay-Nabozny.
Location: The Conference Center
10:00am-11:00am: Breakout sessions
• Trends in the Forestry and Lumber Industries: Wisconsin is the #1 forest product manufacturing state in the nation; the industry’s economic impact is felt throughout the state. This presentation will cover both the growth and contraction throughout the forest and lumber industries as well as trends in product development and consumer demand – both domestically and from foreign markets. Attendees will learn about available services to help grow their existing business and take advantage of opportunities, domestically and abroad. Presented by Terry Mace, Forest Product Specialist, DNR and Jennifer Lu, Economic Development Consultant, DATCP.
Location: Lake Clawson
• WisDOT’s Freight Reform Initiative and Freight Summit: The Wisconsin Department of Transportation has begun a “Freight Reform Initiative” to stimulate and move Wisconsin’s economy forward safely and efficiently. WisDOT held the first Governor’s Freight Industry Summit on November 9 where industry and government leaders met to discuss freight reform ideas. Attendees will learn what discussion and outcomes occurred at the summit, what reform bills were signed into law, and what WisDOT’s Freight Action Agenda looks like that will help your business grow.
Location: Northwoods Room
• Energy-Savings Opportunities for Your Business: Wisconsin’s Focus on Energy program works with eligible Wisconsin residents and businesses to install cost-effective energy efficiency and renewable energy projects. Representatives from Focus on Energy will provide an overview of the resources and financial incentives available to help businesses implement energy-savings projects. Attendees will learn how Focus on Energy can help them manage rising energy costs, promote in-state economic development, protect our environment, and control the state’s growing demand for electricity and natural gas.
Location: Lake Kawaguesaga
• Economic Development Delivery under the New WEDC: The Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation is a public-private authority created to enhance the economic development functions transferred from the former Department of Commerce. WEDC staff will provide an overview of the organization's strategic and operations plans, discuss the resources available to businesses, and relay how the WEDC will work with local organizations to align the state's economic development services.
Location: The Conference Center
11:15am-12:15pm: Breakout Sessions
• Hire. Right. Now. New Tools to Find the Right Match: Having problems finding candidates? Want to learn more about the skills mis-match and about some new tools your business can use to find a better candidate? This session will walk through new tools and services available from Job Service and your local Job Center. Presented by Brian Solomon, Statewide Job Service Director; Brian Pelon, Bay Area WDB Job Service Director; and Chuck Gottschall, Northwest WDB Job Service Director.
Location: Northwoods Room
• Broadband Mapping, Planning and Deployment for Rural Economic Development in Wisconsin: Representatives from the Public Service Commission, the broadband service industry, the University Extension and economic development leaders from rural Wisconsin will provide an update on broadband mapping, planning, and deployment efforts in northern Wisconsin. Panel participants will provide their insights on the best places, best practices, and prioritization efforts being made to encourage additional broadband deployment in Wisconsin.
Location: Lake Clawson
• Know Your Destination Assets: Attend this session where The Wisconsin Department of Tourism will provide tools so local communities can implement a process to understand what makes them different from the competition, what they have that appeals to visitors and identify the development that may be necessary to drive more visitation and ultimately job growth. In this session learn how to initiate the process and the pieces that make a successful analysis.
Location: Lake Evelyn
• Serving Wisconsin Business and Industry: Nicolet Technical College presents its new architectural technician degree program and its development process using labor market trends; the UW-Stevens Point presents initiatives in sustainable technology (WIST) and aquaculture (NADF), and the UW-Extension presents resources available to entrepreneurs and small businesses.
Location: Lake Kawaguesaga
12:30pm-1:00pm: Wrap & Adjourn
Join us as we wrap-up the summit and pick up a box lunch for the road.