08/03/2025
CELEBRATION!
*20 year Anniversary of the combined Marinette Menominee Area Chamber of Commerce
*10 year Anniversary of the (WAVE) Marinette Menominee Young Professionals
------MAKING THIS COMMUNITY HOME--------
-I can only try to communicate how valuable these organizations are to the community and how honored I am to work with the amazing individuals that are involved in them.
-The Health and Wellness of our Community is the focus of any individual who cares about this Community. The Chamber is directly involved with this. Yes, as a Chamber we are here to Support Businesses and Economy of our Community. However, the Benefits of the Chamber reaches so much further than business and economy.
-Blue Zones are areas in the world where people live active and healthy lives on average over 100 years of age. There are many factors in this. However, one factor that is often missed and is so very important is the Social Health and Social Connectivity of the Community. Every Single one of the Blue Zones have different diets, activities and culture. But there is one Quality that remains the same. That one Quality of a Blue Zone that remains the same throughout all of the Zones is the Wellbeing of the Community Feeling part of something greater than struggling through life alone. The Healthy Quality of being and feeling Connected with the others surrounding them in their life and their daily activities. In these Blue Zones Social Anxiety is null or very much eliminated. It sounds like a story; but so does Blue Zones. Places where people are not only living to be in their 100’s; but they are living happy and active lives after they are 100. They are having roles in the community, enjoying relationships with their spouses and being purpose for their community.
-I honestly wanted to go through all of the community events and sponsors of the events the Chamber of Commerce provides. However, I had to delete the first three pages after only starting. I came to the conclusion it would just be too long
But, to name a few,
-LIFE SKILLS; THE GAME OF LIFE- The "game" gives kids a sneak preview of life's financial challenges. After selecting a career and imagining life at the age of 29 and how they want life to be at that age; the students spend the day at the Expo. They start at the young adult life after high school and make decisions on how to spend their monthly income with the career they chose. They select and make payments on a house (including utilities, taxes and insurance). They make car and insurance payments, buy groceries, pay the phone bill, etc. This is very important and personally, I do not go a week without hearing people share how important these un-taught lessons are and how we should make a better effort in Teaching Life Skills to our Youth.
-CAREER OPPORTUNITIES EXPO- is a half-day event introduced to 11th & 12th grade students to different careers, career ladders and community role models. Being a speaker of this in the past for the Health Spectrum, I have firsthand experience with the information being shared and learned at this event. Everything is focused on giving information to our Youth to make wise decisions and giving them information to help them make choices to decide their future. We provide detailed information on different career choices they may be considering. We let them know the positives and negatives. We give them information on smart fiscal decisions with their choice of education as well as opportunities available right out of high school. There are so many programs and so much free money out there for our own community’s youth to utilize that can help them choose a fulfilling career and happy future with smart fiscal understanding. It is our responsibility to make the best effort to provide them this information and try to help them hear this information. I wish I had this information in high school way back in the day I was there.
-CONCERTS IN THE PARK-is where there is great music at our wonderful Stephenson Island, and Menominee Marina outdoor venues with no admission fees. Music is such an amazing Energy that helps Heal our Souls. These Free Concerts help everyone in our Community feel this healthy musical energy as well as feel being part of a Community and experience Healthy Social Connection.
-COMMUNITY LEADERSHIP ACADEMY- is a learning and networking opportunity that prepares people for positions of leadership in our community. It provides awareness with in-depth understanding of what it takes to keep our community running smoothly and how they can help improve the quality of life in our region. Each year they work to develop a non-profit program that specifically helps our community.
-BUSINESS AFTER HOURS- in which our last two hosts were Freedom for Patriots - Our services honor their service (a nonprofit org that supports our vets) and Biehl Bridges to Recovery (a nonprofit that supports those who have addictions looking for recovery) This is an opportunity to meet people and connect in ways to make this community stronger. Both of these programs provide needed help to those in need.
- Mini Business World- The one-day program, held at UW-Green Bay, Marinette Campus, gives students a taste of what it is like to run a large business. Students learn about financing, accounting, production schedules, marketing, human resources and other challenges faced when running a business. Small Business is not easy. During my dark years from 2017 to 2020 I was on the verge of Bankruptcy trying to run a small business as well as trying to figure out who I am with a lift that hardships just kept coming. This Program provides needed information to our youth who want to take on the challenge of starting a business for themselves or being part of starting something new that helps others.
-WOMEN'S BUSINESS NETWORK LUCHEON- is a gathering of area women in business that encourage one another's professional growth and business success. They are a diverse mix of business owners, entrepreneurs and key players in business-to-business services. It empowers Women to use what they have and gives them an ability to meet other women and share what they have to our community. It is a very strong program of the chamber.
Plus at the end of the day, all of the scholarships the Chamber provides our Youth (this community’s future) to use to brighten their future as well as to our Community.
-These are only a few things the Chamber, as well as the Businesses of the Chamber and the Dedicated People involved with the Chamber provide to the area that helps it to be a Healthier, more Socially Connected and Welcoming Community.
-I am very proud to be on the Board of Directors of the Chamber of Commerce since 2017 because of its involvement and the Health and Wellness it brings to our Community. However, I also want to highlight the Marinette Menominee Young Professionals as it was a Pathway for me to feel a bigger Connection to this Community as an outsider. It provided myself with a Welcoming Connection to this Community, A connection I will never forget it.
-I would not be here today if it was not for the MMYP and the Chamber of Commerce allowing me to meet amazing people, become more involved in this Community while making it a Healthy more involved connected community. The Social Health of our Community is so important when it comes to making this Community Stronger and Healthier. In a day of age, when sitting at home alone on a computer to feel connected, we need programs that work to engage the individuals of our community.
-Marinette Menominee Young Professionals
Their Mission: ‘To attract, welcome and retain young professionals into the Marinette Menominee region through professional development, community service and social networking.’ Their goal is to be active in the community providing networking and professional development opportunities for young professionals thereby bolstering the local talent pool for area employers and attracting new hires.
-Their Vision: To enhance the vitality of the Marinette Menominee region by creating a strong community of engaged young professionals.
-Their Values: Welcome, Attract, Value, and Engage!
We need to continue to strive to make this Community a Healthier and more Welcoming Community where everyone Feels Part of and wants to be More Involved in.
-We need to Strive to make this Area a Welcoming Community where professionals and hard workers to feel the need to Stay and become part of this Community.
-We need to Strive to provide a better Environment for people to feel more part of the Community and help us all to enjoy Healthier Activities, with Healthier Thoughts and Emotions.
-We need to continue to support Healthy Culture and programs that provide a Uniqueness to this Community where people want to come and stay.
-WE NEED TO MAKE THIS COMMUNITY A HOME!
-Please consider joining either of these Amazing Organizations if you are interested.
-Thank you for listening to me ramble on. If you made it through it. I tried my best to make it short.
