Talent attraction - Who's making Greater Green Bay home? - GREATER GREEN BAY CHAMBER | WINTER 2021
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G R E AT E R GREEN B AY CHAMBER | WINTER 2021 Talent attraction – Who’s making Greater Green Bay home?
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NWTC Career Services Ad Collective Impact Winter 2021.indd 1 1/8/2021 3:27:41 PM
Content WINTER 2021 | ISSUE 31
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03 President’s message
Collective Impact is published quarterly by the Greater Green Bay
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54303. PH: 920.593.3423. 06 Meet Morgan Doshi
COMMERCIAL LITHOGRAPHY
10 Talent attraction -
Who’s making Greater
Green Bay home?
18 Chamber partners with
ADVERTISERS Mission-Wisconsin to
00 Northeast Wisconsin Technical College
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02 UnitedHealthcare
05 Image Apparel Solutions
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07 Action Financial Strategies
08 Prevea Health
20 Why talent matters for
09 Greater Green Bay YMCA
09 Loyality manufacturing
09 Jackie Nitscke Center
10 Julie M. Gile Photography
24 Your Chamber team
17 Investors Community Bank
19 ERC Counselors & Consultants
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P
rosperity requires remote working opportunities accelerated by meaningful, impactful and relevant to our end
a comprehensive COVID-19. One piece of fulfilling the need to users. I recognize how important it is to be
approach. Talent, attract talent is highlighted in this issue. I am clear on the messaging so other people can
a key component of work- very pleased to introduce the Greater Green love Greater Green Bay as much as we do.
force development, is something Bay Community Concierge program, a new
the Chamber long ago recognized as offering to help businesses showcase all Great- This new, much-needed and much-anticipated
crucial to the future of our community. er Green Bay has to offer to candidates or offering builds upon all the other critical work
We realized the need to elevate workforce new hires. Its purpose is to significantly – and we are doing. The pandemic has prompted us
and talent, and defined it as so important to strategically – enhance the recruitment and to re-evaluate what we need to be competitive
our community’s vitality that we rewrote our integration process through a four-pronged and understand your business’s changing needs
mission statement to include it nine years ago. approach: talent recruitment, reception, inte- in a world that is still largely working remotely,
gration and retention. As with many of our working differently. Even CEOs of large corpo-
That need has only intensified. With the con- program offerings, the concierge program rations are telling us that a five-year strategic
tinued aging of the workforce and deepening wasn’t created in a silo; it is the culmination of plan may not be feasible as the world changes;
talent gap, attracting and retaining the right a nearly five-year process that involved business we need to be more flexible than that. So, we
talent has hit critical levels in many cases. This leaders, human resource managers and other are continuing to evaluate what we need to
hits business deeply as employees are the life- community stakeholders to bring this program be competitive with the business community
line/heartbeat of a business. to life. Read more about what this strategic as our customer. I have participated in numer-
plan offers to local business; Morgan Doshi, our ous 30-minute calls with each Chamber board
As the Chamber continues to evaluate our director of talent spearheading the program; member and one message has risen to the top:
scope, and ensure it is well-balanced and ho- and other insights in this issue. that while it is important to maintain a company
listic, we have introduced critical programming, or organization’s mission, it is equally important
services and initiatives. A significant one was Another item that has been in motion for to evaluate and re-evaluate what you are doing
the introduction of the Greater Green Bay two years: all the groundwork for establish- based on the needs of the customer. You, our
Economic Development Strategic Plan in May ing a Greater Green Bay community-branded members, are our customers, and the concierge
2017, a 76-page guidebook based on nearly website that tells the story of Greater Green program is the latest outgrowth of what YOU
400 community leaders’ input. That, in turn, Bay. We are well aware of the need of some- tell us you need. It is not the Chamber building
launched eight task forces led by community place online to send people considering a move it; instead, we are filling a need through these
members to drive 11 plan initiatives forward. here so they can read an encapsulated ver- ever-changing times. I am sure more change
All those initiatives fall under the umbrella of sion of who we are, why we are unique and awaits in 2021, and you can count on us for
economic development strategy and yet, many why they should move here. But, alas, a talent purposeful change that fits with our mission
also fit under the category of workforce devel- attraction website is not built overnight. I have and vision.
opment. Namely, work related to the need for been among those to learn the road to success
the acquisition of talent in a world driven by a is paved with thorough research and creative
global economy and an increasing number of processes, and our due diligence will make it
Winter 2021 | Collective IMPACT 3
Introducing the Greater Green Bay
Community Concierge program
L
et’s say you live thousands of miles away community. The program performs all of that across the nation including canvassing insights
from Greater Green Bay and are consid- – and more — by offer concierge services to from the La Crosse Chamber of Commerce
ering a career opportunity here. What both job candidates and new hires – as well as and concierge programs in Eau Claire, Wis.,
the Chamber has discovered through intensive serving as an adjunct to area businesses in exe- Iowa City and Phoenix.
research the past two years is that – beyond cuting and managing a talent attraction strategy
recognizing the world-renowned Green Bay and recruitment best practices. The resulting Greater Green Bay Con-
Packers – most people don’t have much of a cierge program’s potential impact cannot
reference point for Greater Green Bay. So they “Access to a skilled workforce is the crucial be overstated.
largely arrive on our doorstep with a blank slate. factor affecting the success of businesses today,”
said Eric Vanden Heuvel, vice president of talent “This role and program will have a direct impact
Talk about opportunity. And that’s where the and education, Greater Green Bay Chamber. on the success of our region’s talent attrac-
newly established Greater Green Bay Commu- “When creating the Economic Development tion and retention efforts,” said Laurie Radke,
nity Concierge program comes in. Strategic Plan, employers expressed a crucial president and CEO of the Greater Green Bay
need for a formal talent attraction strategy to Chamber. “We’re creating a holistic approach
The program, established in late 2020, is a key help fill their employment needs including a for talent development.”
outgrowth of the Greater Green Bay Economic talent concierge.”
Development Strategic Plan’s efforts to bolster The program focuses on the basic needs of
talent attraction and retention in the Great- The “who” behind the concierge program not only individuals but their partners and
er Green Bay area. This program recognizes is the recently-hired Morgan Doshi as the families, providing them with authentic
that people considering a move here need to director of talent. The creation of her role community connections from the very
understand why it’s a great place in which to and the associated concierge program is the beginning of the recruitment process
live, work and belong. They need a warm wel- culmination of nearly five years of work by the with the goal of creating a sense
come, a customized tour of things relevant to business community including human resources of belonging and commit-
their interests, hobbies and passions and, (once leaders, Chamber member businesses and the ment to their organization
they agree to move here) integration into the Chamber. Doshi has compiled best practices and community.
4 Collective IMPACT | Winter 2021
The concierge Equally important,
it’s rooted in four
program’s approach additional foundational
elements: Being strategic,
integrative, customized and
is four-pronged: connection-oriented. The con-
cierge program offers a streamlined
process including customized com-
munity tours focused on the individual’s
interests, background and beliefs, new hire
Talent recruitment personal integration assistance and accom-
panying partner career support. It does so in a
systematic, strategic way that enhances their com-
munity experience. Businesses that tap the program
Talent reception can choose services a la carte for job candidates and new
hires alike.
“It’s really about helping candidates and/or new hires dis-
cover Greater Green Bay in a way that’s relevant to them
Talent integration and then jumpstarting their engagement in the community,”
said Doshi. “That opportunity to connect to the community
early in the recruitment process is crucial; it will provide
more personal satisfaction and ultimately result in long-
Talent retention term retention.”
To learn more, visit www.GreaterGBC.org/concierge or
contact Doshi at 920.412.0252 or mdoshi@greatergbc.org.
Winter 2021 | Collective IMPACT 5
Meet Morgan Doshi
Director of talent and the face of the Greater
Green Bay Community Concierge program
B
efore long, Morgan Doshi will hit the return to the workforce, she sought an oppor-
pavement (and grass, and even turf) tunity to give back to the community that has
throughout the community as she show- given her so much. The newly-created director of
cases all Greater Green Bay has to offer to both talent role with the Greater Green Bay Chamber
job candidates and new hires of businesses par- appeared to be custom-made in offering her op-
ticipating in the Greater Green Bay Community portunities to do her favorite things – including
Concierge program. connecting people and being inclusive.
The director of talent role with the What invigorates her most is developing rela-
Greater Green Bay Chamber is one tionships with people – influential and diverse
this born-and-raised Green Bay na- leaders, executives, human resources managers
tive is excited to hold. Doshi left and the dynamic individuals relocating to the
the area to attend Northern area. It’s something that Doshi does authentically,
Michigan University and although, “These relationships are invaluable to
after graduating from the the Greater Green Bay Community Concierge
University of Wisconsin-Green program, as well as my professional and personal
Bay, worked for BioLife Plasma growth.” she said.
Services for a decade – a variety of
roles that were travel-based and took The opportunities to provide warm, customized
her to Florida, Texas, Washington, Califor- welcomes, “soft landings” into the communi-
nia and New York. What it also provided ty and integration to job candidates and new
were points of comparison with various-size hires alike offers Doshi multiple opportunities
communities nationally. to impact people’s lives and the livelihood of
local businesses.
“My ability to travel and experience different
communities gave me a unique perspective on “I’m grateful to be in the position to help
where I wanted to live and raise a family. It con- businesses land top talent, which will make us
firmed the many reasons why I love Greater stronger as a community,” she said. “It’s exciting
Green Bay and continue to call it home.” to work with like-minded individuals who share
the same passion for Greater Green Bay and
Doshi’s family includes her husband, Mehul, want to make it a more diverse and inclusive
daughter Maya, 5, son Maddox, 3, and the fami- place to live.”
ly’s 2-year-old dog, Birdie. When it was time to
6 Collective IMPACT | Winter 2021
Doshi’s Greater
Green Bay top 5 list
1 How friendly, supportive, safe and family-
oriented the community is.
Experiencing the four seasons and
participating in activities during each, including
biking on the Fox River Trail, hiking and
snowshoeing in Peninsula State Park and
enjoying various water sports.
Close-by visits to family favorites –
Door County, Three Lakes, Chicago and
Marquette, Mich.
4 Bay Beach Wildlife Sanctuary, a family
favorite that Doshi loved as a child herself.
Her daughter, Maya, attended the 4k OAK
program at the Sanctuary, a “unique and
nature-based experience.” Doshi serves on the
FOWL board of directors and is committed
to maintaining and enhancing the amenities
at the Sanctuary so families can continue
to enjoy its beauty for years to come.
Convenience and short commute
to the different communities within
the Greater Green Bay area.
Winter 2021 | Collective IMPACT 7
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8 Collective IMPACT | Winter 2021MEMBERSHIP
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Winter 2021 | Collective IMPACT 9Fresh perspectives on
Greater Green Bay –
Six people’s stories
T
he reasons people move to Greater Green Bay Economic Development Plan.
Green Bay abound – career opportu- (We’ll save the intricate details on what
nities, they’re “accompanying talent” that all entails for another day, but work
to a spouse or partner pursuing a career op- includes a community website to tell our
portunity, family ties to the area, and let’s be story, co-branded advertising materials
honest, some are just plain die-hard Green for employers and more.)
Bay Packers fans who want to live in the
shadows of Lambeau Field. In many cases, With talent attraction weighing heavily on
though, what they think about the communi- the minds of employers across Greater
ty before arriving here and what they come Green Bay, there’s nothing like having some-
to realize after immersing themselves in one share their experience here to learn
life here can be downright transforma- what about our community clicks with them.
tive and enlightening. That’s part of Following, we share six stories of individuals
what’s prompting the work on tal- who have relocated to the community and
ent attraction as part of the Greater are finding ways to establish roots here.
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10 Collective IMPACT | Winter 2021Green Bay “growing”
in the right direction
By Katrina Marshall
A
s a Texas “transplant” people to come in and stay. It’s exciting to be a part
now living in Howard, of that growth and vision.”
Preston D. Cherry,
Ph.D., is a Certified Financial Dr. Cherry draws parallels between the growth of
Planner™ (CFP®) with this new program and the growth of Green Bay
more than 14 years’ in- as a city and Greater Green Bay as a community.
dustry experience, as well as
founder and president of Con- “The Cofrin School of Business is growing con-
current Financial Planning, LLC. tinuously and extending its identity to this area.
Last April he made a long-term com- Likewise, the nucleus of Green Bay is trying to
mitment moving to Greater Green Bay, push forward, elevate the area and keep the city
simultaneously running his business virtually growing. It takes vision to do that; from the re-
and teaching as an assistant professor of finance furbished buildings downtown to the convention
at the Austin E. Cofrin School of Business at the center to TitletownTech, I can just see the vi-
University of Wisconsin-Green Bay (UWGB). sion of what greater Green Bay aspires to be. It’s
really refreshing.”
“The university is all about growth and momen-
tum,” said Dr. Cherry, whose role includes publishing Originally from the international hub of Houston,
financial planning-based academic research, as Dr. Cherry believes a vibrant depth of diversity—in
well as leading courses on household insurance, ethnicity, age and thought—is “probably the num-
retirement and estate planning for the next gen- ber-one gift of a city.” This “melting pot” aesthetic,
eration of financial planners. He enjoys having combined with a midtown, family-oriented feel, hard
transformative conversations with students about work ethic, team spirit and Packers football pride,
financial wellbeing and financial literacy, “bringing “are part of the nucleus of Green Bay. All that is
it back around.” what brought me here. And I’m glad to have neigh-
boring cultural centers like Chicago right down
“We’re always learning; otherwise we’re not ad- the street!”
vancing our purpose in life,” he said. “Mentorship
toward helping students become better Dr. Cherry is a self-proclaimed believer in becoming
people so that they can make sound deci- an active member of any community he calls home.
sions themselves ... that’s what we do, “Greater Green Bay is going to be my home for a
and that’s our great responsibility while, for the foreseeable future, and I want to be
as educators.” a part of it,” he said. “Because I’m an entrepreneur
and a business owner, I’m a champion of chambers
Dr. Cherry also is respon- of commerce.” He also “puts his money where his
sible for helping to build mouth is,” serving on several national and local
UWGB’s CFP Board® Registered boards, including the UWGB Council on Diversity
Financial Planning Program. With a and Inclusion.
CFP® designation being the globally
recognized top designation in the financial “Wisconsin is unique socially; I’ve always watched
planning industry, goals of the developing pro- it from afar,” said Dr. Cherry. “It’s been very wel-
gram include increasing the number of financial coming. I’m glad to be a part of this growth stage
planning internships and entry-level jobs in the area, of Greater Green Bay. I see cities all the time trying
as well as connecting with professionals to build a to grow; it takes both the leadership and the com-
network of national resources and relationships. munity to push forward. This area, with its vision
and mission, is going in the right direction—and
“This program is so important to the Northeast doing a fairly good job, because they got me here!
Wisconsin community: Residents, students, finan- It’s been a good journey.”
cial planning firms...it’s really an opportunity to link
everyone through sound personal finance practice,” To learn more about Concurrent Financial Planning,
he said. “We’re future-minded and like to attract visit concurrentfp.com.
Winter 2021 | Collective IMPACT 11Midwestern values provide
foundation for cross-
country perspective
By Katrina Marshall
W
hile living in Los Angeles, Green Bay- In a similar vein, Ellison noted a different work risk any time you start a business. I think that
born Tyler Ellison, co-founder and ethic here that he did not necessarily encounter risk is mitigated when you surround yourself
CEO of ChemDirect, was known during his myriad travels and employ. “In some with people of common values.” His like-
as “the guy with the 40-foot hello.” of the coastal regions, I think people wake up minded and tech-savvy colleagues include
every day thinking, ‘What can my employer do several interns and recent college graduates,
“That’s what we do in the Midwest!” he said. for me today?’ Here it’s more like, ‘What can as well as fellow “boomerang” employees origi-
“It’s different. You don’t have that appreciation I do for my employer?’ People feel compelled nally from the area who returned after spending
if you’ve never been here and come back. I to contribute. There’s a level of humility in the time living and working as far away as Chicago,
think moving around gives great perspective.” Midwest that’s just better.” Los Angeles and even Europe.
Throughout his career Ellison worked and re- With TitletownTech developed as a place “The worst thing to do is to have regrets. There
sided in several major cities across the country, to build, enable and invest in early-stage are so many people with great ideas who can’t
including Dallas and Portland. But his Midwest- businesses, Ellison describes the organization’s muster up the courage to pursue them. Doing
ern roots run deep, and in 2019 they guided value system as “very Midwestern.” so in an area of common values gives you a lot
him back to Greater Green Bay—this time to more confidence.”
start a business of his own. “Conceptually when you pitch an idea, inves-
tors either get it or they don’t. But here you As a native of this area, Ellison recalls a time
Ellison was based in Chicago when he had could just feel the positive energy,” said Ellison. when the Greater Green Bay brand was heavily
the idea for what eventually would be- Instead of questioning, “What is our return?” industrial. He explained that employees of local
come ChemDirect, the first purpose-built or “What are the numbers?”, he recalled the paper mills and trucking companies, and even his
e-commerce marketplace in the $5 trillion group inquiring about, “What support is needed own grandfather who was a Wisconsin farmer,
chemical market, funded by Microsoft. He to make the business succeed?” and, “What can have a great work ethic and provided the broad
made the decision to “go right to the top” we do to make sure that this business wins?” shoulders on which the community stands.
and reached out directly to Craig Dickman,
managing director of (then newly established) After successfully securing an investment “It is now a much stronger industrial technology
TitletownTech in his hometown. Not long after, relationship and office space with Titletown- center. Here, the heads of big businesses have
Ellison traveled to Green Bay, where he met Tech, ChemDirect launched in August 2018 heard about us and know about us. You can
with Dickman and the TitletownTech team to and moved to its current location in March showcase the TitletownTech offices and attract
continue the conversation that literally defined 2019. Today it is a thriving digital marketplace really great talent,” he said. “There’s a real intent
his next move. designed specifically for the chemical industry. and intentionality that the community wants to
The online company offers an innovative way to evolve their brand.”
“As an entrepreneur there are many appeals to purchase and discover chemicals—just “point,
the Midwest and a couple of key differences,” click and buy!” Customers can shop hundreds To learn more about Ellison and ChemDirect,
said Ellison. “Generationally in the Midwest, of thousands of products from vetted and rep- visit chemdirect.com.
there seems to be a lack of entitlement, and a utable manufacturers.
symmetry between effort and results. Every- For more information about TitletownTech,
thing you do, you have to work for. I think that’s For Ellison, nurturing his growing business is visit titletowntech.com.
just a mindset that’s passed on.” much like nurturing a child. “There’s inherent
12 Collective IMPACT | Winter 2021Proactive positivity
paves path to Packers
By Katrina Marshall
J
oidon Jennings, digital UX “It’s a good change of scenery,” she said. “In Balti-
coordinator for the Green Bay more, everyone’s in a rush to get everywhere. Here,
Packers, spent her 2020 Thanks- people let you merge over into lanes and wave at
giving holiday and birthday weekend you! They say ‘thank you’ and hold open doors!”
relocating to the area by way of And speaking of doors ...
Baltimore. Her first impres-
sion of Titletown? “Sports have really opened a lot of doors for me,”
said Jennings, whose “team-first attitude” and jour-
“In a way, it reminds ney into the world of athletics began at a young age
me of growing up in playing basketball. “I encourage everyone to be part
Alabama,” she said. “It’s of a team,” she said, citing how one can learn to see
slower than Baltimore, kind of things bigger than oneself and learn responsibility.
like Southern charm. I feel like I
can actually breathe. It’s refreshing.” Jennings earned a basketball scholarship to attend
the University of North Alabama, where she was
Although still getting used to the snow, a member of the women’s team, but soon realized
Jennings is enthusiastic about being a fresh that playing professionally was not going to be a
transplant in the area. So far much of her shopping realistic option moving forward. Instead she set
has been done at the Packers Pro Shop (“I didn’t her sights on a strategic trajectory to work behind
know the variety of things they had!”) and she is the scenes, majoring in sports management before
open to local recommendations. transferring to Miles College to concentrate on
public relations and journalism.
“I found a passion for reporting, seeing sports woman in sports…I think that’s another chal- Her next turning point came in early 2020
through a different lens on and off the court,” lenge ahead of me: Managing work-life balance. during the pandemic. “I was wrapping up my
she said. “Press releases, media guides, learning But I knew what I wanted, and I knew that internship when COVID-19 hit,” said Jennings,
the design aspects…I discovered what I liked working in sports was something I wanted to who was caught in the midst of a five-month
and didn’t like.” do,” she said. interview process for her current position with
the Packers. “The Ravens called me in April and
But after graduating from Miles College in 2017 During the next few months, Jennings net- said they got approval from human resources to
with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Communi- worked on social media and at numerous keep me on for a second season, so I said ‘yes’
cation and Media Studies and still no clear idea sports-related career fairs. She even paid for and renewed my lease, but kept interviewing
of what she wanted to do full-time, Jennings her own plane ticket and hotel when invited with the Packers.” When the Packers called
decided to continue her education. In 2018, she to attend the 2019 NFL Scouting Combine in Jennings in the beginning of July and offered her
pursued a Master of Computer Applications Indianapolis. One Atlanta area hiring event in the job, she accepted but did not move here
degree from Alabama State, which she received particular was “a wake-up call. I got a lot of officially until November.
in 2019 while staying professionally active as positive feedback and constructive criticism.
the university’s sports information assistant. It was a good indication that I was on the As a self-proclaimed “firm believer” in the Law
right track, but I still saw that I needed to set of Attraction (the idea that positive or negative
“I had a lot of responsibilities, covering events myself apart,” she said. thoughts herald positive or negative experienc-
from women’s basketball, softball and track es into one’s life), Jennings strives to be positive,
and field to men’s soccer,” said Jennings, Several interviews later, Jennings secured a dig- confident and encouraging.
who explained that people generally see the ital media internship with the Baltimore Ravens
“glamorous” side of working in sports—not and moved out East, achieving the first step of “I feel like a lot of times, just because things
necessarily the roundabout way of getting there, her dream to work in the professional sports aren’t happening at the time you want them to,
40- to 60-hour internship work weeks, holidays industry. “Just believing in myself…that was a if you’ve been proactive and strategically work-
spent away from home and need for constant big turning point,” she said. ing toward your goals … anything is possible.”
availability in case of breaking news. “Being a
Winter 2021 | Collective IMPACT 13Community-building and
placemaking in Packerland
By Katrina Marshall
“I
was lucky enough “Much of my expertise has been in community- that I’d love to help build a community for
to meet a Green building and placemaking,” she said. “Playa Vista this area.” In 2017, her job as Titletown pro-
Bay local in Los is a 460-acre mixed-use community with 10,000 grams and events manager, and most recently
Angeles,” said Jackie Krutz, a native homes, two million square feet of commercial Titletown residential and programs manager
Texan who was attending graduate space and more than 200,000 square feet of for Titletown Development LLC, the real estate
school in California when she met her retail space. The challenge was: How does one development arm of the Packers, fell into place.
future husband Michael. “Born and raised in turn that urban oasis into a home? With that “Mark emailed me back directly and quickly—
Green Bay, he wanted to experience something amount of space and that many residents, it’s and that’s really amazing. I was very humbled
outside the Midwest. We spent almost 12 years not an easy feat and actually has been a long- to even get a response!” she said.
on the coast before deciding to pick up and term project for the company since the ’90s.”
move. That’s how I ended up here. I think a lot Today, Krutz’ vast experience in developing
of other ‘boomerangs’ like him want to come While Playa Vista is still in progress, Krutz was other locations is helping to build a stronger
back to be closer to family.” instrumental in the goals of Playa Vista of bring- community in Titletown and Northeastern
ing the community together through everything Wisconsin. Titletown is a thriving 45-acre
After more than a decade of traveling to each from small social projects and events to very mixed-use development just west of Lambeau
other’s hometowns, Krutz and her family now large activities to attract more people. Krutz Field, created with the intent of giving back
reside in Green Bay and regularly visit her explains the goal was to retain homeowners to the community and offering guests 365
in-laws in De Pere. She had experienced the who love where they live and share all aspects days of fun activities. As a member of both
area for about 10 years before actually mov- of the lifestyle with everyone there. Titletown’s core development team and com-
ing (including attending at least one Green munity relations committee, Krutz is able to use
Bay Packers game per visit!) and in that time Although she enjoyed her work, Krutz ex- her diverse skill set in a myriad of capacities,
witnessed the growth and change in Greater plained that, “it’s tough to raise a family in a including leading the strategic vision for Title-
Green Bay. large urban city without family nearby.” As town’s public space by creating and overseeing
she began her job search, Krutz interviewed the planning and production of many daily
“I remember the old Lombardi Avenue, with the in Austin and was offered a position, which programs and large events annually.
Kmart and other businesses,” she said. “And would have brought her closer to her family,
the transformation of the Broadway District but Michael suggested she also explore career “There’s really a mindset for future develop-
downtown…to see what it is today and how it possibilities in Green Bay. He had heard about ment, continued growth, increase in traffic and
looks completely different is incredible.” the new development the Packers were building guest satisfaction,” said Krutz. “It’s one thing
and thought that it could be a good fit with his being an avid fan (like my husband) and knowing
Krutz has experienced the strategic planning wife’s experience. the Packers are a community-minded organiza-
and effort that goes into shaping the heart of tion, but to know they actually live it…for me, I
a destination. In Los Angeles, she worked for Krutz’ career exploration highlights the con- thought, ‘Wow, that shows and says a lot about
a leading North American land developer and nectivity of this area. “Someone always knows the leadership within the Packers.’ ”
homebuilder, and her role as director of experi- someone who can get you the information you
ence and community project manager for Playa need. So I emailed Packers President and To learn more about Titletown and upcoming
Vista expanded significantly after an acquisition. CEO Mark Murphy, said I heard about the activities, visit titletown.com.
new development they were working on, and
14 Collective IMPACT | Winter 2021Beyond the reach of a
(not-so-small) town
By Katrina Marshall
O
riginally from Guyana, South Reflecting on her early years of living in
America, Jamila Seaton has Green Bay, Seaton wishes she had sooner
experienced her share of trav- tapped networking and resources like those
el—living in Virginia, attending graduate school the Greater Green Bay Chamber provides to
in Florida and eventually moving to Wisconsin to learn what activities and businesses exist and
work as a senior health care economics analyst get the best understanding of the local (profes-
for UnitedHealth Group. sional) climate. “I think that applies to any new
area,” she said, encouraging other ‘transplants’
“I first visited the area because of friends I met to do their research and get involved in the
through my cousin’s wife. She went to Lawrence community early on.
University in Appleton,” said Seaton. “I liked
the pace, I liked the energy, I was a Packers “The biggest thing that was a surprise that
fan … and let’s face it: Who wouldn’t want to helped make the transition easier is that Green
live near Lambeau Field?!” Bay isn’t as isolated as I thought it would be. It
has a much bigger reach than I expected, with
At the time, Seaton was living in many big corporations headquartered here! It’s
Tampa and enjoyed her job, but want- actually a great spot to be in—a good hub from
ed to expand her skills and “work east to west. That’s the appeal of the Midwest
on a few things professionally. for me, from a traveling perspective.
I wasn’t being challenged in
SAS [a health care pro- “The other thing is to have patience,” she said.“I
gramming tool], and think it’s easy to think of Green Bay as a ‘small
that was something town,’ and like with many small towns, their tra-
I really wanted to do.” ditions and culture are lasting. At first you might
When presented with an feel like an outsider, but the more you learn, the
opportunity to join the team more you realize Green Bay has a much bigger
of UnitedHealth Group and turn reach, and the people are culturally more open
her attention to analytics, she made to the concept of ‘other.’ Any time there is a lot
the decision to move to Titletown. “My of ‘new,’ people have to adjust. I definitely think
family was probably the most concerned people want to learn and are curious.”
that I hadn’t thought this through, but I said,
‘Why not?’ ” Today, Seaton remains actively involved with
several local initiatives, including the Emerg-
Six years later, Seaton still loves her job—and ing Leaders Society young professional group
the city she now calls home. She explains the of Brown County United Way, the Partners
health care industry is all about finding solutions, in Education board of the Chamber and Big
and from her perspective, Green Bay is one of Brothers Big Sisters of Northeast Wisconsin
the best places to find solutions because of its as a Big Sister and board member. Seaton adds
population size. “It’s an opportunity to see the that connecting with the Northeast Wiscon-
impact of intervention a lot faster,” she said. sin Alumnae Chapter of her Delta Sigma Theta
sorority also gave her a way to “root here a
Looking ahead to UnitedHealth Group’s move little bit more.”
to De Pere, Seaton says these are exciting
times for the company. “I didn’t know To learn more about UnitedHealthcare, visit
that this is what my career would uhc.com.
look like, but I’m very solution-
oriented, and when I think about
the future, I really hope to get
more involved in the business’ lead-
ership and decision-making.”
Winter 2021 | Collective IMPACT 15Safety specialist gets
along swimmingly in
Greater Green Bay
T
aylor Seyfried’s path into the When she saw an opening at Georgia-Pacific in
safety world was pretty much a Green Bay, it appealed to her because it was closer
given from early on; her mom is to home. She visited Greater Green Bay for the first
an environmental attorney and her aunt is a time in November 2019; like many, she was wowed
safety manager. What wasn’t as well-established by Lambeau Field, especially how the stadium is
was where she would pursue her safety career – tucked into a neighborhood as well as the devel-
one that brought her to Greater Green Bay about opments including Hinterland and the Titletown
a year ago. District. She and her boyfriend (now fiancé), Russell,
moved to the area in January 2020. And while she
Seyfried grew up in Noblesville, Ind., a suburb near had dabbled in several outdoor winter activities as
Indianapolis. She always was drawn to the water; a native of Indiana, Green Bay was her introduction
she lettered in swimming in college, was named to ice fishing, one of her favorite pastimes now on
academic all-state, her varsity swim team reached the Peshtigo River.
state twice, she served as diving team captain and
even worked as a lifeguard during her early college “I like to get up early, go out on the ice, set every-
years. College took her to the University of Findlay thing up and sit in the peace and calm and be in
in Findlay, Ohio, and her first internship wasn’t far sync with nature,” she said.
from there at Nucor Steel Marion, Inc., in Marion,
Ohio. What introduced her to a different envi- The couple’s dogs, Rambo and Avery, also tag along;
ronment was her second internship in Phoenix in addition to joining them for ice fishing, they like
with PepsiCo in summer 2016. to go for walks and hikes in the snow although the
Alabama-heralding dogs hadn’t been to exposed
“I quickly learned the West Coast to snow previously. The foursome likes to walk in
isn’t my style. I definitely missed their neighborhood, which is on the edge of the
green trees and everything that Suamico/Pulaski border, as well as visit different
grows outside [in the Mid- dog parks in the area. Dog parks have also been a
west],” she said. “I realized great social spot for the couple, who have made new
how much I like the seasons friends there as well as through church and their
and the people in the Midwest.” gym. “The community does a great job with public
amenities such as dog parks,” she said.
After a final co-op for BP in Toledo in
summer 2017, Seyfried graduated with Seyfried appreciates how close they are to Howard
a Bachelor of Science in Environmental, if they need to run to the grocery store – it’s about
Science & Occupational Health Management. a 15-minute ride – as well as her commute to work
She knew who her employer was before she fin- in Green Bay.
ished; Georgia-Pacific recruited her during a Future
Safety Leaders Conference during her senior year. “It’s a really short commute – the shortest one I’ve
What she didn’t know was where she’d be head- had in my life – but it’s enough time to wake up and
ing after participating in the company’s entry-level enjoy my coffee,” she said.
professional training in Atlanta. Soon, she learned
it would be Pennington, Ala. She admits to often stopping at Maplewood Meats
on her way home from work; she and Russ count
16 Collective IMPACT | Winter 2021the meat market’s ribeye steaks among their and close to a lot of the outdoor activities they Being new to
favorites. They are big fans of charcoal grilling enjoy. A new outdoor activity they experienced the community
year-round; the night he proposed to her on for the first time this past year was making was a little scary,
their patio, under the stars, was one they grilled maple syrup. A friend’s family welcomed them she admits, but when
out for dinner as well. to help tap trees, boil the sap and make maple you show your commit-
syrup over a wood-fire stove outdoors. “We ment and involvement in the
When they’re not grilling on the patio, the loved seeing the whole process from the sap community, people respond,
couple enjoys tacos at Vintage Cantina, pizza coming out of the tree to just enjoying being she said. She hasn’t met anyone
at Rustique and beer sampling at Badger State outside,” she said. more friendly than people attending
Brewing Company and Hinterland. “We were Packers tailgating parties, though; her
surprised by the number of breweries here,” Seyfried’s safety career aligns well with her per- first tailgate experience was during the play-
she said. sonal values, and Georgia-Pacific has offered her offs last year. “I was right next to the stadium
opportunities to use her skills and talents while and people were more relaxed than I thought
Seyfried loves cheese curds, counting Hinter- also becoming a more well-rounded person. they’d be,” she said.
land’s among her favorites, as well as frozen She is working on further improving her soft
custard from Zesty’s. “I consider myself a skills as well as her knowledge, and adapting Come April 3, the couple will have new reason
cheese curd connoisseur now and try them to changes as a result of the pandemic. “It’s to toast: They will marry at a location halfway
everywhere. And we have frozen custard back definitely made me stronger,” she said. “And between their two families – in the Smoky
home but this is great,” she said. Georgia-Pacific has been great about investing Mountains National Park.
in me and giving me tools to do my job.”
She has noticed the variety of neighborhoods Learn more about Georgia-Pacfic at gp.com.
in the community as well, each with its own She’s buoyed by how passionate people are as
vibe. She likes the contrast between downtown a whole, including about what they do. “Green
Green Bay, for example, and their county neigh- Bay definitely moves at a faster pace than the
borhood in Pulaski, and enjoys elements of both. south and that challenges me and everybody
The couple loves where they live because they else to be stronger and smarter, which is good,”
have a big backyard for the dogs and it’s quiet she said.
Winter 2021 | Collective IMPACT 17Chamber partners
with Mission-Wisconsin
to attract military talent
to Greater Green Bay
A
bout 250,000 “Steve Janke of Mission-Wisconsin is an indus- employment, education and veteran benefits as
veterans tran- try expert who can help to market Greater part of the candidate engagement process, all
sition out of Green Bay to veterans from all around the of which ultimately lead to higher retention by
military service every year, country. In doing so, we can build a solid pipe- the company that employs them or stronger
ready for their next opportunity. line of talent to our community, our companies roots in a startup ecosystem supporting them.
Greater Green Bay wants to posi- and the municipalities we serve.” The Chamber also seeks to energize the
tion itself as a viable destination for veteran entrepreneurial spirit through Mis-
these veterans – and that’s just what The partnership between the Chamber and sion-Wisconsin’s partnership.
it will do through its partnership with Mission-Wisconsin is made possible by a Wis-
Mission-Wisconsin. consin Department of Veteran Affairs grant “We want to connect vetrepreneurs to those
to the Chamber. It allows the two entities to resources specific to them through the virtual
This new partnership is an outgrowth of the work collaboratively in providing one solution front door to the entrepreneurial ecosystem
Greater Green Bay Economic Development to one of the biggest limiting factors to eco- in Greater Green Bay and let military families
Strategic Plan’s initiative to attract and retain in nomic growth: talent. know our door is open for them to build their
the area. Mission-Wisconsin is a veteran-owned lives here,” added Laurie Radke, president and
business that provides transition assistance to Mission-Wisconsin provides talent sourcing and CEO of the Chamber.
the military community – including connecting so much more.
vetrepreneurs and attracting transitioning mil- Mission-Wisconsin is housed in the Greater
itary and their families to Greater Green Bay. “We provide comprehensive support to the Green Bay Chamber’s Urban Hub co-working
“We want to be inclusive in providing a re- military family as they transition out of service space in the Rail Yard Innovation District in
ceptive community for these transitioning and into our communities,” said Janke, CEO downtown Green Bay. You can reach Janke
veterans,” said Eric Vanden Heuvel, vice pres- and founder of Mission-Wisconsin. This in- at stevenjanke@mission-wisconsin.com or
ident of talent & education at the Chamber. cludes critical connections to the community, 608.697.6936.
18 Collective IMPACT | Winter 2021We’re more than your average
Employee Assistance Program. More responsive care
More appointment availability
More issue resolution
More HR and leader support
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Because in the midst of a mental health crisis,
you can’t afford to have an EAP that provides less.
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Winter 2021 | Collective IMPACT 19Why talent
matters for
manufacturing
G
reater Green Bay is known for being a manufacturing mecca,
with the likes of Green Bay Packaging, Georgia-Pacific and
Procter & Gamble, among others. And while innovation,
technology and more entries into the entrepreneurial ecosystem are
increasing, manufacturing is still a foundational industry in Greater
Green Bay.
With that comes a significant need for employees to serve the
sector that employs 23% of our industry. The need to attract
talent for a variety of careers in manufacturing prompted
the establishment of the Northeast Wisconsin Manufac-
turing Alliance (NEWMA) nearly 15 years ago, and
its focus on talent attraction has only heightened
over time – even during the thick of COVID-19,
says Ann Franz, executive director, NEWMA.
A few facts gleaned from the organization’s recent North-
east Wisconsin Manufacturing Vitality Index survey:
47%
of respondents will hire new
personnel the first quarter of 2021
40%
of respondents plan to hire each
quarter throughout the year
“That’s the trend for the whole year,” said Franz.
It’s why NEWMA exists: to help Northeast Wisconsin manufactur-
ers find the talent they need. Manufacturing has, much like other
industries, had an increasingly difficult time finding employees for
roles across the organization. Per the study, 71% of manufacturers
can’t find the talent they need. When the study was conducted in
2008, that number was 29%.
“There’s obviously a lot of opportunity here for people to work
in manufacturing, and finding them the talent they need is crucial.
If they can’t find talent here, those companies are going to go
elsewhere,” said Franz.
20 Collective IMPACT | Winter 2021A multi-pronged approach
NEWMA seeks to bolster manufacturing success by:
Promoting the breadth of opportunities.
NEWMA’s talent attraction efforts are broad; yes, they include plenty of jobs on the front lines on the production floor but
there are also roles in manufacturing, accounting, information technology as well as vast opportunities for engineers. “We need
all of them, and that’s why it’s been so important for us to work with NEWERA colleges to start and offer four-year engineering
degrees,” said Franz. “When we started there were no four-year engineering degrees in our region and so our kids had to go
away for engineering school. The question was, ‘Will they come back?’”
Offering bachelor’s degrees in engineering locally.
Through joint work, the region now offers bachelor’s degrees in engineering technology and mechanical and electrical
engineering. Students even can begin their schooling at a local technical college and transfer their credits in full to the
bachelor’s degree programs at the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay or University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh.
Teaching students about manufacturing careers early.
Franz is the first to acknowledge that attracting individuals to a career in manufacturing is NOT a “one commercial and it’s
solved” kind of situation. They knew they needed to start early in students’ lives; to that end, they created innovative “Get Real
Math” videos six years ago that show relevancy to what children are learning in school and answer the question of, “When am
I ever going to use this [this being whatever they’re learning in math class.]” Franz acknowledges students need to be exposed
to manufacturing throughout their academic career, and NEWMA created 60 videos to cover 4th grade to high school skills.
These award-winning videos are used all over the country; they’re free to schools and include lesson plans for teachers.
Change the perception of manufacturing.
One of the things NEWMA tackled in the vein of talent attraction is changing the image of manufacturing through its All Stars
program. Northeast Wisconsin companies nominate employees and NEWMA spotlights them in its careers magazine that includes
a digital version that links to a video of the spotlighted individual talking about his/her career and love for it. To date, NEWMA
has created 130 videos of local talent talking about their manufacturing careers.
“Having real people talk about their passion for their careers in manufacturing really resonates,” said Franz. “We’re seeing a shift
in people’s perceptions although there’s still more work to do.”
That’s complemented by a more recent effort to offer virtual plant tours with 30 manufacturing companies to give students
an “inside look” at what manufacturing environments look like. “We still combat the idea that all manufacturing jobs are ‘dirty’
jobs,” she said.
She’s heartened to showcase the opportunities in manufacturing and the many career pathways available. “We have lots of
stories of people who started as a general laborer and are now supervisors and plant manager,” said Franz. “There are so many
wonderful opportunities.”
Winter 2021 | Collective IMPACT 21You can also read
