Heart of the Valley Chamber of Commerce Publication September 2014

MEMBER SPOTLIGHT

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Member Spotlight: Carved Stone Creations

Meet the Members: Clint Broemer & Barb Bigalke

Business After Hours: CMIT Solutions, Advanced Professional

Services and Quickstart

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Mark your calendar for these

upcoming events!

MARKETPLACE OF IDEAS

Tuesday, September 09, 2014 8:00 AM - 11:00 AM

Little Chute Village Hall 108 W Main St | Little Chute, WI 54140

You’re ready to spend money to grow your business, but you

aren’t sure where your marketing dollars will have the greatest impact. This is the ultimate question, isn’t it? Get your questions answered in our Marketplace of Ideas.

Confirmed vendors: Autumn Hill Creative, Bouwer Printing, Virtualtech Website Design, The Post Crescent, Rely Local,

Valley Promotions and Apparel, Baer Performance Marketing, The Weidert Group, Premier Promotions, Stellar Blue

Technologies & Herrmann Advantage Consulting.

8am-9am – Doors Open/Marketplace of Ideas 9am-10am – Panel Discussion: “Best Practices In Advertising”

10am-11am – Marketplace of Ideas

Register online at: www.heartofthevalleychamber.com

BUSINESS AFTER HOURS

Thursday, September 18, 2014 5:00 PM - 7:00 PM

Abel Insurance

One Bank Avenue, Suite A | Kaukauna, WI 54130

Business After Hours is the Chamber's monthly networking event, allowing members to meet, exchange

ideas, make important long-lasting bonds in a comfortable setting. Join us at Abel Insurance for a fun event with appetizers, beer, wine and specialty drinks.

Register at:

www.heartofthevalleychamber.com

BUSINESS BETWEEN HOURS

SOCIAL MEDIA ANALYTICS

Wednesday, September 17, 2014 11:00 AM - 12:00 Noon

Chamber Office

101 E. Wisconsin Ave. | Kaukauna, WI 54130

This is a great seminar for those interested in

understanding the analytics behind their social media

efforts. You will learn how to navigate, understand and

track key performance indicators in Facebook Insights,

LinkedIn Impressions, YouTube Analytics as well as

discover some easy tools to measure Twitter, Pinterest

and Google+.

Register at:

www.heartofthevalleychamber.com

Presented by : Stellar Blue Technologies

CANDIDATE FORUM

Friday, September 19, 2014 8:00 AM - 9:30 AM

Little Chute Village Hall

108 W Main St, Little Chute, WI 54140

Candidates for the State SenateDistrict 1, Assembly District 5 and Assembly District 3 have been

invited. Candidates have been given a list of prepared questions to answer and if time allows we will take

questions from the floor.

Sponsored by:

4 Heart Beat | September 2014

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6 Heart Beat | September 2014

As last week’s QuickTip pointed out, many Americans are worried about information security and the safety of their online data. For good reason, too, news that broke last Wednesday indicates: a Russian crime ring has stockpiled the largest known collection of stolen credentials — 1.2 billion username and password combinations and 542 million unique email addresses. That tally was compiled by Milwaukee’s Hold Security, which discovered confidential data were compromised from 420,000 different websites, both large and small. Hold Security refused to cite the affected companies and sites, eliciting eliciting questions about the viability of the data, particularly after Hold started charging $120 for administrators to see if their sites were compromised. But many experts who examined the raw data said that the accumulation of credentials looked real — and that large corporations were included on that list, many of which knew their records had been stolen. “Hackers did not just target U.S. companies,” Alex Holden, founder and chief information security officer for Hold Security, told The New York Times. “They targeted any website they could get, ranging from Fortune 500 companies to very small websites. And most of these sites are still vulnerable.” This only adds to the avalanche of recent news detailing the dismal state of data security: Target’s loss of 40 million credit card numbers and 70 million addresses and phone numbers, which the company recently projected would cost them $148 million; a Vietnamese identity theft service obtaining 200 million records (including Social Security numbers!) from Court Ventures, a company owned by data brokerage and credit report firm Experian; and other serious bugs like the CryptoLocker virus and Internet Explorer flaw. Details of the Hold Security report indicate that none of the stolen records have been sold on the online black market; instead, they’re being used to hack email and social media accounts and send spam. But the revelation about the Russian hackers may lead to major changes in identity protection, which global technology research firm Gartner said represents the Internet’s next big challenge.

“Companies that rely on user names and passwords have to develop a sense of urgency about changing this,” said Avivah Litan, a security analyst at Gartner. “Until they do, criminals will just keep stockpiling people’s credentials.” So how can you protect your online security and keep your personal information out of the hands of hackers? These 5 steps aren’t 100% foolproof, but they will get you off on the right foot. 1) Change your passwords! If you use the same password for multiple websites and services (admit it, most of us do), you’re just the user that hackers love to target. Creating strong and unique pass-words at least eight characters long that mix upper- and lower-case numbers, letters, and symbols — think “P@ssw0rd#33” instead of “password33” — are a necessity for online security. 2) Always take advantage of two-factor authentication. Facebook, Twitter, Yahoo, Google, and many other major services are shifting more and more to this method, which requires a standard password and a unique passcode sent to your mobile device. It takes 30 extra seconds, but it’s definitely worth the effort. 3) Ensure that anti-virus software and security patches are up to date. This task is probably best left to your IT professional. Don’t have one? That’s where CMIT Solutions comes in. Our proactive maintenance and monitoring services include built-in anti-virus software that can often block malicious viruses before they infect your machine. 4) Employ a password management tool like LastPass and Dashlane. Both of these services rely on two-factor authentication; encrypt password data at storage and transfer points; auto-fill forms; and generate strong, randomized passwords. Want an “easy” button for password management? These tools provide it, offering particularly beneficial services for businesses subject to industry regulations like HIPAA, FINRA, and PCI. 5) Regularly check email, banking, and social media accounts to make sure they haven’t been hacked. In response to the one billion passwords stolen frenzy, many major services will probably prompt users to reset their passwords and use two-factor authentication. But since the affected sites haven’t been publicly announced, many won’t rush to notify you — especially if their sites are still vulnerable. If you’ve received a password change request or random verification code recently, check all of your protected accounts to make sure they haven’t also been hacked — and then CHANGE YOUR PASSWORDS!

RUSSIAN HACKERS AMASS ONE BILLION STOLEN PASSWORDS — MAKE SURE YOURS AREN’T NEXT

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8 Heart Beat | September 2014

Just a short drive from Wisconsin’s bustling cities and shopping centers, Sherwood offers panoramic views of

Lake Winnebago, rolling farm fields dotted with century-old family farmsteads and astonishing vistas of

the Niagara Escarpment. Sherwood features a dynamic community of agricultural, and recreational

businesses, with a wide selection of high-quality housing.

http://www.villageofsherwood.org/

WHBY is "The Voice of the Fox Cities," and your home for award-winning news

coverage, talk programming and sports coverage!

http://www.whby.com

At ThedaCare, you’re their top priority. At every clinic appointment, home visit or hospital stay and every phone call in

between, they want to make you glad you chose ThedaCare. http://www.thedacare.org/

As your local Ace Hardware, Carstens located in Kaukauna, Wisconsin is a member of the largest retailer-owned hardware

cooperative in the industry. Carstens Ace Hardware is unique and tailored to meet the needs of its local community and

customers. They are committed to being "the Helpful Place" by offer-ing their customers knowledgeable advice, helpful service and quality

products. As the helpful hardware folks, they promise that, "helping you is the most important thing they have to do today."

http://www.carstensacehardware.com/

At Stone Chiropractic, they are a healthcare facility in Kaukauna focused on helping patients reach their health potential by taking control of

their own health and lives. We utilize a variety of chiropractic techniques and related ancillary procedures, along with the most advanced

technologies, to remove subluxations and allow the body to heal itself.

http://www.mystonechiropractic.com/

At Wichmann and Fargo Funeral Homes and Crematories, their mission is to provide exceptional and meaningful funeral service experiences for

the families they serve through teamwork, dedication and professionalism; and to provide the community with comprehensive death, dying and

bereavement resources. http://www.wichmannfuneralhomes.com/index.shtml

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Want your business featured here? Email bbeckman@heartofthevalleychamber.com

Heart of the Valley Chamber of Commerce Gift Certificates

make the perfect gift for every one. From golf to gas, groceries to lumber, gift

certificates can be redeemed at over 100 area business.

At D&M Interiors their own in-house installers provide you with a quality installation that they back with a Lifetime Warranty. Their full-time scheduling supervisor

coordinates installations in a timely manner, oversees 20+ installers, and handles installation delays and re-scheduling for you. D&M’s state-of-the-art showroom

includes an unmatched selection of carpet, area rugs, vinyl, luxury vinyl tile/planks, hardwood, laminate and ceramic tile. As a partner with Flooring America & CCA

Global, they increase their national buying power and pass the savings along to you! http://www.dminteriorsflooring.com/

Serenity Salon & Spa is a new full service Aveda salon located in the Fox Cities. Serenity Salon is an relaxing, modern and upscale salon the always makes you look and feel your best. Their friendly

and highly-trained staff always greet you with a warm and welcoming smile.

http://www.serenitysalonspakimberly.com/

Star Marketing, Inc. was founded in March of 1999 in an effort to establish an Independent Manufacturing Representative with a specific emphasis on the Industrial Customer Base of the Upper Midwest Marketplace.

With a combined 41 years of industrial experience our sales group can work to achieve the solution desired by the customer. With experience in Pulp & Paper, Food Processing, Power, Equipment Manufacturing, Refining

and Ethanol Production our products are designed to be of the highest quality while providing value and reliability.

http://www.starmarketinginc.com/

The Freedom Area School District, located between Appleton and Green Bay in east-central Outagamie County, serves 1620 students from Pre-Kindergarten through grade

twelve. Included within the District's seventy-six square miles are beautiful rolling hills, wooded parcels, meandering streams and level farm lands, all within minutes of the Fox

Valley. Freedom Area School District offers families the beauty and peace of a rural setting, proximity to larger cities for work, recreation and shopping, and a commitment to

quality education. http://www.freedomschools.k12.wi.us/

10 Heart Beat | September 2014

The difficulty with first impressions is that when you meet someone new, you don’t often know if that person could be highly valuable to you or your business. Yep, that random person at that restaurant or the baseball game that was just introduced to you by a friend could work for or own the company that you’re currently trying to sell your new product line to.

But you won’t know that until you walk into their office and realize that you've recently met. Let's just hope that you didn't make one of these 10 first impression killers.

1. You were wearing sunglasses. It doesn’t matter that it was the middle of the day and you were looking head on into the sun, your eyes are the gateway to who you are. They illustrate your confidence, sincerity and interest in the person you’re meeting, so do yourself a favor and take them off when you’re meeting someone new -- yes, even if they left theirs on.

2. Ever hear of "dress to impress"? I live in Los Angeles, so I’m well aware of how hip it is to look like you just crawled out of bed, but seriously, did you? Here’s another adage that you should pay attention to, “perception is reality.” If you appear like you do not care about yourself enough to be even moderately presentable, you probably don’t.

3. The limp grip. Yes, this one is in every “how to” article or book ever written, but it’s one of the most important, so it must be reiterated. You can tell a lot by a person based on their handshake -- soft equals weak, firm equals strong. It’s really that simple.

4. It looked like you couldn't care less. You didn’t know what they did for a living, so clearly they weren’t important, right? Wrong. You don’t know who they are or what they’ve done and if you don’t care about meeting them, they won’t care about meeting you.

5. Couldn’t seem to focus. Have you ever had a conversation with someone that seemed like they were looking beyond you, or better yet, kept glancing away at the baseball game on TV? Clearly they weren’t interested enough in you to focus and you noticed it. You must focus in on whom you’re talking to and treat them like they’re the most important person in your life at that moment.

6. You brought your own baggage. In general, people like dealing with other happy people, but you got up on the wrong side of the bed and it showed. It really doesn’t matter that you’re in a bad mood, because you only

get one chance, so put on a smile, at least until the interaction is over, then you can go back to being poopy.

7. You just couldn’t stop talking about yourself. There’s not much worse than being around someone that won’t stop talking about themselves or turning every story into one about them. It’s well known that people love the sound of their own voice, but you need to be smarter and use the opportunity to let the person you’re meeting do all of the talking. Trust me, they’ll like you for it.

8. Name dropping? Really? Nobody cares that you spent the summer sailing the Caribbean with XYZ celebrity or CEO, because it makes you look like you’re overcompensating, which you probably are. Slow it down and practice some humility, which will get you a lot further in both the short and long terms.

9. You wouldn’t put your phone away. This is a problem that has certainly come more to the forefront since the inception of the smartphone but really needs some attention. If you can’t put your phone away while you talking with someone new -- or really anyone -- it’s clear that you have absolutely no interest in them. Pretty simple.

10. You couldn’t remember their name. I know this one is a bit more difficult but is absolutely worth improvement through practice. Do you know why? Because there is only one thing people like more than talking about themselves, and that’s hearing their own name. This is one of the most valuable "first impression" tools out there -- you must try to say their name as often as reasonably possible throughout and at the end of the conversation, which they will absolutely remember you for.

10 Ways You Can Blow a First Impression

Ever hear the saying, “you only have one chance at a first impression"? Of course you have, because you didn’t just fall off the turnip truck yesterday.

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Schenck is pleased to announce that the following employees have recently joined the firm: Michael Ball joined the firm as a Staff Accountant in the tax department. Tom Halfpap joined the firm as a Software Developer. Emily Wichman joined the firm as an Associate Accountant in the small business department and Wendy Pokorsky has joined the firm as an Investment Associate. Keller, Planners, Architects and Builders, a design/build general contractor with offices in the Fox Cities, Madison, Milwaukee and Wausau, will build a 5,100 square foot shop addition for Gibbsville Implement under the direction of Keller Project Manager, Bob Poch, and Architect, Steve Klessig. They will also design and build a 4,550 square foot bus maintenance facility for Lamers Bus Lines under the direction of Keller Project Manager, Mark Nysted and Architect, Steve Klessig. Keller has built over 30 projects for Lamers Bus Lines over the past 29 years.KELLER, Inc., announces the promotion of Tracy Huiting to Purchasing Agent, promotion of Richard Eiles to Supervisor, of Elliot Bogdonovich to Assistant Project Manager and the hiring of Tanya Van Groll as the Accounts Payable Administrator. Keller, Planners, Architects and Builders, a design/build general contractor with offices in the Fox Cities, Milwaukee, Madison and Wausau will build a 3,984 square foot office for Unison Credit Union under the direction of Keller Project Manager, John Elrick, and Architect, Steve Klessig.

RASMUSSEN COLLEGE CAREER FAIR AT THE FOLLOWING LOCATIONS: Appleton | Wednesday, September 10th | 3:30 P.M. – 6:00 P.M. On Campus 3500 East Destination Drive Suite 100 Appleton, WI Green Bay | Wednesday, September 10th | 3:30 P.M. – 6:00 P.M. On Campus 904 South Taylor Street Green Bay, WI 54303 Wausau | Tuesday, September 9th | 12:00 P.M. – 2:30 P.M. On Campus 1101 Westwood Drive Wausau, WI 54401 www.rasmussen.edu/careerfair/employer Frontier Builders & Consultants recently announced the addition of three seasoned veterans to its growing team of construction industry professionals. Steel erectors Dave Carmody, Brian Wagner, and Corey Bauman bring over 60 years of combined experience to the Frontier team. Jon Fischer joined McCarty Law LLP, Appleton. Goodwill Industries of North Central Wisconsin has added longtime state journalist Dan Flannery to its senior management team as vice president of community relations. Flannery, 57, joined Goodwill NCW on July 28, after 34 years as a journalist, including the past 28-plus years at Post-Crescent Media and Gannett Wisconsin Media, based in Appleton. Team Industries, Inc. has announced a three phase expansion at its Kaukauna, WI corporate facility. This is the largest and most aggressive expansion project in the company’s 27-year history.

12 Heart Beat | September 2014

Good News Is Worth Repeating

Any change or update within your business such as a promotion, new addition, award won, etc. can be included in this section. News must be submitted by the 15th of the month for the following month’s publication.

Send to: bbeckman@heartofthevalleychamber.com

A crocodile can't stick it's tongue out.

A shrimp's heart is in it's head.

People say "Bless you" when you sneeze because when you

sneeze,your heart stops for a mili-second.

In a study of 200,000 ostriches over a period of 80 years, no one

reported a single case where an ostrich buried its head in the sand.

It is physically impossible for pigs to look up into the sky.

A pregnant goldfish is called a twit.

More than 50% of the people in the world have never made or

received a telephone call.

Rats and horses can't vomit.

If you sneeze too hard, you can fracture a rib.

If you try to suppress a sneeze, you can rupture a blood vessel in

your head or neck and die.

On average, 12 newborns will be given to the wrong parents daily.

Rats multiply so quickly that in 18 months, two rats could have

over a million descendant.

Wearing headphones for just an hour will increase the bacteria in your ear by 700 times.

Outside the USA, Ireland is the largest software producing coun-try in the world.

The odds of seeing three albino deer at once are one in seventy-

nine billion, yet one man in Boulder Junction, Wisconsin, took a picture of three albino deer in the woods.

Leonardo da Vinci could write with one hand and draw with the other at the same time.

Every human spent about half an hour as a single cell.

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Clint Broemer Personal Trainer PUSH Personal Fitness http://www.pushpf.com/

Q: How did you get started in your field? My journey began as a personal trainer one day in 2009 as I was working out. The manager of the gym asked if I would like to be a personal trainer. Of course I said yes even though I had no clue why she asked or what I was doing! Ironically enough the personal training manager at the time is my current boss at PUSH Personal Fitness. We connected after a freezing cold conversation outside of the gym in February of 2013. Q: Who is the one person that helped to make you who you are today? If I had to choose one person that made me who I am today it would be my amazing wife. Although we have only spent the last 3 years of my 32 on this earth together. She has been the one to push me into taking risks and reaching my goals. Without any doubt in her mind or reluctance that I would succeed. Q: What do you like most about working in the Heart of the Valley area? The Heart of the Valley area has amazing people!!! I've been introduced to so many successful professionals, it's hard not to chase that vision. The area is constantly growing, popping up new opportunities and possibilities every year. Friendly, convenient and safe. Q: What is the worst job you’ve ever had? The worst job I have ever had is unemployment!!! It was more work to find employment and file a claim every week then actually show up to your 8-5 and get something done. Absolutely dreadful and depressing sometimes. Sure, I got good at video games but didn't really help my work skills and you can't put that on an application. Q: OK, now the good stuff. What do you like to do for fun? Hmmmmm.....fun? What is that again? I have 4 kids. Just kidding! It's definitely spending time with my kids and finding

new ways to entertain them. I'm a big kid at heart so turning a local swimming pool into a shark tank or the trampoline into a soon to be ER visit is a blast!!! Anything to teach my kids you can make something out of nothing and have a good time. Without the little people by my side I love playing football with the Fox Valley Force. And challenging myself with new workouts. Oh, and landscaping but hopefully my wife doesn't read this or I may have a big honey do list. Q: What’s your favorite movie and why? Tough one but I would have to say Joe Dirt. Big fan of stupid humor. But mostly because he reminds me of myself when I was a kid. Big funny mullet that no parent should let there kid have and I had kind of a smart mouth but got picked on a lot. Q: Is your desk messy or organized? Currently my desk is my briefcase. So very messy! The desk I share at the studio is organized only if I am using it. Q: Green Bay Packers or another team? Dallas Cowboys since I was a youngster. Please don't judge. I'm aware we are terrible! Q: Where was your best vacation and why? Haven't been on a lot of vacations in my life. So I would have to say the vacation day my wife and I took a couple of months ago. Yes, I said only day. Lol. No kids, peace and quiet, ordered in food all day and watched movies. Doesn't sound exciting but believe me with our busy life it was amazing!!!! Q: What are the Top 3 items on your bucket list? Bucket List Top 3: Skydive solo Visit Finland Complete an Ironman

14 Heart Beat | September 2014

Give us a brief description/history of your business…. The Center for Suicide Awareness is continuing its efforts to raise awareness in our community and the state. We coordinate and collaborate with schools, law enforcement and agencies to help educate, prevent and support those who are affected by suicide. Our Center offers a variety of support groups for all ages – survivors of suicide, AODA and Life Transitions. We give presentations to schools and businesses on suicide prevention, coping skills, stigma reduction, QPR, ACT and how to know the warning signs and risk factors of suicide. We offer several trainings - all of which are provided for free. We also provide a text based support line for the whole state for people who need emotional support. We are a 501 © 3 nonprofit and started in 2011. We were honored to recently win the Telly award for the documentary we created right here in the Heart of the Valley. It won best documentary for a social cause. You can view it on YouTube – it is called “If You Only Knew What You Left Behind” Q: How did you get started in your field? I worked for the Department of Justice as a Victim Response Team Director. It is when I saw firsthand the life changing effects of suicide. I began facilitating support groups, then formed the Walk for Suicide Awareness in 2010. Q: Who is the one person that helped to make you who you are today? I have had many wonderful mentors weave in and through my life. I worked as a tour guide in the Grand Canyon in the summers during college in AZ. I was surrounded not only by the beauty of the Canyon but a diverse group of positive people from all walks of life. I truly gained so many valuable life skills and sense of purpose from so many of them. Q: What do you like most about working in the Heart of the Valley area? The “still a small city” values. You can have an open door policy and people really mean it!

Q: What is the worst job you’ve ever had? Oh boy, in high school I worked at an ice cream shop in Milwaukee. The owner left one other high school student and I in charge always just in time for clean up. The worst time was when we accidentally shut off the main power to the coolers overnight and every single tub of ice cream melted into a huge mess on the floors. Funny, that was my last night I worked there! Q: OK, now the good stuff. What do you like to do for fun? I truly enjoy spending time with my family. My daughters and husband are always a whirlwind of chuckles. Add in two labs who are still puppies always adds to the fun too! I enjoy nature and love a good rummage sale, book and coffee. Q: What’s your favorite movie and why? Any movie that was made by Mel Brooks. I love silly movies that just make you laugh. Q: Is your desk messy or organized? An organized mess. Q: Green Bay Packers or another team? Green Bay Packers of course! Q: Where was your best vacation and why? Vacation – Hawaii. I have been blessed to be there several times. The first was on my senior class trip in high school. We had 3 weeks and 3 islands and great memories with people I still am friends with. But the best trip was one of the mission trips I have gone on. I would return from places from where people had so little but so rich in warmth and purpose of life. It a true dose of count your blessings. Q: What are the Top 3 items on your bucket list? Number One – go to Alaska. I have traveled a lot and have been to 49 of our US states but yet to get to Alaska. Can going to Alaska be all of my top 3? It truly is a big one!

Barb Bigalke Executive Director Center for Suicide Awareness http://suicidepreventionandresourcecenter.org/

* If you are a Chamber member and would like to be featured, email Jamie! It’s free! *

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16 Heart Beat | September 2014

Driven by a passion for natural stone and a strong desire for creative

expression, Carved Stone Creations was born in 2003. Prior to constructing the building and gardens you can’t help

but notice on Hwy. 41, between Appleton and Green Bay, owners Rob and Eileen Ripley also created a 100 acre

waterfront subdivision. Lake Sandia, just north of Pulaski on Hwy 32, boasts 8 natural stone fountains on cul-de-sacs

throughout the subdivision. The designing and construction of each of these unique fountains was an exciting and

gratifying experience for the Ripleys. That is when the idea struck to begin the business. After securing the property

at 2101 Progress Way, Kaukauna, the Ripleys began designing the building and grounds to showcase all forms of

natural stone products. These include fountains, statuary, flooring , fireplaces, columns, mosaics, sinks and

bathtubs, to veneer stone and custom architectural details.

MEMBER SPOTLIGHT

2101 Progress Way, Kaukauna, WI 54130 | Fax: 920-759-2020

Telephone: 1-866-759-1920

E-Mail: info@carvedstonecreations.com

Store Hours: Mon-Fri 8am - 5pm Sat 9am - 3pm Sun Closed

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Clients fly in from around the country to visit the world

class, one of a kind showroom and design center to

make their stone selection and begin the

design process. All products are hand carved over seas

with the stone being sourced from all over the world. It

arrives here via ocean container, rail and semi truck.

After inspection @ the Kaukauna facility product is

shipped to the jobsite anywhere in the world.

Installation by Carved Stone Creations has been done

all over the country including Hawaii and in the

Bahamas, to name a few. Customers can be anyone

with an appreciation for natural stone and know that it

is an intelligent choice based on the longevity and

quality of the stone. The Ripleys have met and

conducted business with many wonderful people over

the years. One never knows who will walk in the door

or shop on line for a unique and enduring stone item.

As a member of the HOV Chamber it is comforting to know some one is looking out for small businesses and

addressing issues at the government level that we sometimes do not have the time to deal with. Along with the

camaraderie of the after hour events several educational seminars provide for perfect networking opportunities.

A most unusual request was for a client’s fireplace. She was

very detailed about how she wanted herself to be carved in the

stone. It is always a thrill and very gratifying to receive praise

and compliments from clients that “we greatly exceeded their

expectations.”

18 Heart Beat | September 2014

Excalibur Edge Consulting We partner with our clients to help them accelerate business excellence. This is achieved by giving them the edge they need to succeed in: *Management *Planning *Leadership *Operations * Quality “Accelerating Business Excellence For Our Clients Since 2001.”

Address: 3408 S. Whip-poor-will Lane. Phone: 920-810-4617

Website: http://www.excaliburedge.com

Welcome New Members

The Ambassador In effort to revive the history of this establishment, the Ambassador focuses on a classic cocktail genre featuring homemade bitters for our Manhattans, Old Fashions or whatever may "ale" you. Ambassador prides itself with a rotation of a craft beer selection as well as growing library of bourbons and wines to redden your nose and cheeks. Don't be fooled by the eclectic surroundings; we are Wisconsin Sport fanatics. All Wisconsin games are televised with in house game specific promotions. Behind the bar visuals and antics are free of charge. Ambassador is cleverly placed across the street from Houdini Plaza; we look forward to opening new avenues in your cocktail history. Address: 117 S Appleton St, Appleton, WI Phone: 920-277-9916

Website: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Ambassador

Ribbon Cutting at Culver’s in Little Chute

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Police say a California woman was cited after climbing into the giraffe exhibit at a Madison zoo and getting kicked in the face.

A police report says 24-year-old Amanda Hall, of San Luis Obispo, California, climbed over one fence and almost got over the second fence of the giraffe enclosure at the Henry Vilas Zoo about 5:30 p.m. Saturday.

A 2-year-old, 12-foot-tall giraffe named Wally gave Hall a lick, then turned and kicked her in the face.

Zoo staff told police that giraffes are capable of killing lions, so the woman was fortunate that her injuries were not life-threatening.

Police ticketed Hall for harassment of zoo animals, which has a fine of $686.

The police report says Hall told officers she climbed into the exhibit because she loves giraffes.

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20 Heart Beat | September 2014

Through my 44 years of coaching basketball (at the high school and college levels), I came to believe that the lessons learned in athletics can be valuable for leaders in any organization. Among the many lessons athletics can teach about leadership, three stand out: setting an example, listening and developing a strong failure quotient (or FQ).

1. Setting an example.

The teachings of St. Francis of Assisi are evoked in a saying “Preach the Gospel; if necessary, use words.” These words may convey the most important lesson a coach can learn about leadership: Certainly what the coach says to his team is important. But who he is, the values he stands for and the daily example he sets far outweigh his words.

A coach will never sell his team on hard work if he is not prepared for practice every day, consistently studying film and meticulously scouting opponents. He may address the importance of hard work, but if he's not demonstrating that value, his words will fall on deaf ears.

The example set by the leader of an athletic team or in any business organization will always be pre-eminent.

2. Listening.

Athletics is a great venue to learn how to listen. Both coaches and players must develop the ability to listen. Critical information must be absorbed by players during time-outs, particularly at the end of a game.

The University of St. Francis team I coached once had a championship game that was tied with 2 seconds to go. If one player did not listen attentively during the time-out and therefore didn’t execute his responsibility on the play diagrammed, the team would have lost. The players did listen and scored, sending the game into overtime, only to lose in double overtime. But I could not have been more proud of the team. They listened and they executed.

In another championship game, the players for Illinois' Providence High School team had the ball with 15 seconds left in a tie and they were going to get the last shot. At the

time-out, I gave the team some instructions. The players told me they could better execute the pass from the point position. I listened and agreed to the pass from the point instead of from the wing. They executed this move and won the championship.

In both cases, the gyms were packed with standing-room only crowds. Each situation was charged with emotion and listening was critical.

Leaders in business organizations must develop the ability to listen if their teams are to execute.

Listening can be examined at another level. Listening is respect. When someone is actively listening to another person, he or she is bestowing the highest form of respect. Great leaders are great listeners.

3. Developing the failure quotient.

One of the greatest lessons of sport is that a player's failure quotient or FQ is more important than the IQ. How often does an athlete fail and still have the resiliency to get back up?

A quality hitter in baseball fails 7 out of 10 at bats. A good three-point shooter in basketball fails 6 out of 10 shot attempts. Athletes have to develop short memories when it comes to failure. They cannot dwell on it. They can’t brood over it. They simply have to get back up and perform.

I always felt the most important practices in a season for a coach were the first ones after a loss. The coach has put a tremendous amount of time preparing for the game – watching film work, readying for practices, developing a game plan -- only to lose. Naturally, the coach is down, but he knows if the team is to perform better, he must arrive at practice after that loss prepared and passionate.

Pat Riley, a former LA Lakers coach and the current president of the Miami Heat, addressed the importance of the failure quotient after the Heat's loss at the finals in June, saying, "Losing is just as much a part of it as winning is. And when you're a team you deal with it." This is a time for "looking around the room now and finding out who's going to stand up" and going home and reflecting about “what are you going to do to come back and make the team better?”

Just like the coaches and athletes, business leaders also fail. After all, Thomas Edison did countless experiments before developing an electric light bulb that would stay illuminated for a long time. Leaders must develop strong failure quotients with the resiliency to get back up from failure.

Setting an example, listening and a strong FQ are essential qualities leaders can learn from athletics.

What Athletics Can Teach About the Characteristics of Great Leaders Contributor: Pat Sullivan

Abraham Lincoln and countless others have uttered some variation of this quote: "The best way to predict your future is to create it."

That statement was true when Honest Abe first said it, and even more true today, when the world is a whole lot less predictable than it was.

Oh sure, some things, like demographics, are still fairly easy to predict.

You can calculate, with a high degree of confidence, the world population in 2050 because:

1. You know how many people are alive today: about 6.8

billion.

2. You know how those people are distributed by age. That is, you know how many teenagers there are, how many

people over age 65, and so on.

3. That means you know how many people are in their twenties and thirties, when most people decide to have

kids.

4. And you know recent trends show people worldwide are,

on the whole, deciding to have fewer kids.

Studying data like this you can, as the United Nations did recently, say with a high degree of certainty that in the year 2050, there will be 8.9 billion people on the planet. And you can also make a number of fairly accurate estimates, such as how many diapers will have to be produced, how many gallons of water those 8.9 billion people will drink each day, and how much the United States will need to pay out in Social Security benefits at the midpoint of this century.

All that is terrific.

But it seems that less and less falls in the predictable category. When civil unrest in a place you would be hard-pressed to find on a map causes the U.S. stock market to fall and bellwether companies like Walmart or Pimco can't seem to get out of their own way and folks are talking about a "new normal" that is anything but, things just aren't very predictable.

And it is not just on the macro-level.

Is the world ready for your brand-new, never-before-seen product or service? That's another place where prediction really does you no good.

Here's the point: When the future is unknowable (Is starting something new a good idea? Will this prototype find a market?), how you traditionally reason is extremely limited in predicting what will happen.

We need a new approach. One of the best methods comes from the greatest entrepreneurs: serial entrepreneurs, people who have created two or more successful businesses. In the face of an unknown, unpredictable future, these entrepreneurs act. Specifically they:

Figure out what they want.

Take a small step toward making it reality.

Pause to think about what they learned from taking

that step.

Build that learning into their next step--and if that

means adjusting from the initial path, so be it.

In other words, the best way to create the future is to: Act. Learn. Build. Repeat.

If you take that approach, you may very well prove Abraham Lincoln to be correct.

21

The Best Way to Predict the Future

Try this approach--it will give you much

more control over what's coming.

22 Heart Beat | September 2014

How to Keep Your Top Employees From Leaving

23

How Well Do You Know Other Chamber Members?

1. Did you know we offer Knit and Crochet classes? Classes offered for students at all levels. From the basic beginner classes up to the advanced classes for those with knit or crochet

experience. Class size is limited so stop in and sign up soon. Class schedule available in store, Facebook or our website.

2. Did you know that we make bows? Any shape, size or color. Choose from our extensive line of ribbon and we will make a bow for you. Wedding bows for pews or candelabras,

gift bows for packages or baskets, decorative bows for wreaths, swags or baskets, holiday bows for Christmas trees and trims.

3. Did you know we sell 21 colors of M & M's? Great for showers, weddings, graduation, school events and more. Buy them by the pound for party favors, treat bags, baking specialties.

4. Did you know that we have a large selection of greeting cards that retail for .65-.85- $1.00- $1.25- $1.50- $1.75-

$1.95 every day? Beautiful, high quality cards. We take the time to "hand pick" all our cards rather than take an assortment from the manufacturer. We carry

cards from 6 greeting card companies choosing the best from each company. We also have a line of cards retailing $2.49 - $3.49.

5. Did you know we design awesome, air filled balloon creations? Looking for something different for your next company event, birthday party or wedding/baby shower? We can design a unique table top or

floor standing decoration that will "wow" your guests. Palm trees, Disney characters, sports figures, smiley face people, jungle theme animals, pillars, arches and more. Give us a call and we will design a spectacular balloon creation for your event. Our Facebook page

displays many of the creations we have done for special parties or events.

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