For this episode, we will be joined by Craig Cook, owner of Fall Line Outfitters. After many years serving in the military, Craig took on the entrepreneurial task of starting his own business. With big ambitions, Craig has modeled Fall Line after iconic outdoor brands, and he is looking to build upon the history of Stevens Point to create his very own.   www.mstc.edu/programs www.portagecountybiz.com www.createyourcommunity.org/startup-sprint www.falllineoutfitters.com www.mstc.edu/podcast ..read more

Hello Listener, I know it’s been a while since we’ve posted an episode.  I’ve missed you too! Thanks for your patience while we make a few changes with the show. We’ve taken a moment to reevaluate how we connect with all of you to bring these vibrant and inspiring stories about Central Wisconsin. And, we decided to try something a little different for our next episode.  We want to invite you all to come participate. That’s right: We will be recording the next show LIVE in front of an audience, on Tuesday, February 7th at 5:30PM on Mid-State’s Stevens Point Campus. It will be the same ..read more

Welcome back to Profile: Central Wisconsin SEASON 3! On this episode of Profile, Michael and I visit with Sherri Galle-Teske, Executive director of the Humane Society of Portage County.  When I first asked Sherri to be on the show, she only wanted to talk about the animals, so that is just what we did.  However, when telling the stories of the animals of the Humane Society we were really telling the stories of how they touched our lives in significant and impactful ways.  You’ll hear not just of Sherri’s commitment to serving our pets and companions, but also of how she has ded ..read more

 On this episode of Profile, Michael and I visit with Lori Schlueter, Plant Manager of Donaldson Company’s Stevens Point location. Lori has a lifetime of experience in manufacturing.  She started off doing assembly work while still a teenager, working alongside her parents and siblings in a plant in southern Minnesota.  She kept working in the factory through college on nights, weekends and summers and after graduating, she took a position in the office rather than the assembly floor.  Through years of hard work and by taking every opportunity she found, Lori has worked her ..read more

On this episode of Profile, Michael and I visit with Jenny Riggenbach, CEO of the Community Foundation of Central Wisconsin. Jenny spent most of her youth right here in central Wisconsin, but left for college to earn a degree in Community Education and Engagement.  While such studies may seem commonplace now, this was a novel field of study. But what she learned about this new approach to civic engagement and enriching communities through action, shaped her and has allowed her to share this influence with all of us. Since then she worked for numerous community organizations in Milwaukee a ..read more

On this episode of Profile, Michael and I visit with Kelly Guay, owner of the Sunset Point Winery and her mother, Kathy Johnson, who is also the Tasting Room Manager and Vice President of the Stevens Point Alliance. Now, we all have hobbies, but what happens when your hobby becomes a passion, and that passion starts to consume more than just your free time?  This is exactly what happened to Kelly Guay and her husband, Don.  They started making wine at home for fun, which led to more wine and more experimentation. At some point, they decided to turn this hobby into a business. But the ..read more

On this episode of Profile, Michael and I visit with Dr. Shelly Mondeik, president of Mid-State Technical College.  Right out of high school, Shelly went to technical college, got her degree and took a job as a medical secretary.  But through hard work and an eagerness to take every opportunity, she advanced in the organization learning new skills and taking on leadership roles.  Fueled by a passion to teach others, she took a position as a technical college instructor.  It wasn’t long before she was promoted to Dean and the VP of Learning.  Then in 2017 she was welcom ..read more

On this episode of Profile, Michael and I visit with Ashley Schroeder, owner and wellness guide for the Garden, a wellness club that just opened in Plover. Ashley accrued years of experience working in sales, marketing, hospitality, fitness and event planning.  She has wrapped all of this together to now venture out to start a new business here in central Wisconsin.  We’ll learn from Ashley how the Garden is more than just a place to work out.  It’s a place for community to grow and be well together.  This podcast is a little different, because typically we talk to well est ..read more

On this episode of Profile, Michael and I visit with Sarah Jo More, owner of The Main Grain Bakery.  Sarah Jo first started baking with a couple of friends out of second story apartment, delivering a weekly supply of sourdough bread to an email list of friends and family.  Eventually, they took the leap and opened a commercial bakery to success that surprised even Sarah Jo.  The Main Grain has now become a Stevens Point staple and synonymous with delicious and innovative baked goods. Sarah Jo also takes us beyond the Main Grain’s downtown location to share some developments with ..read more

Welcome to Profile: Central Wisconsin, a podcast about the origins of the organizations that make our community thrive.    In early November, co-host Todd Kuckkahn resigned from the Portage County Business Council to embark on a new adventure.  On this episode of Profile, we have something special: two co-hosts and two guests.  First, Todd and I will interview the new Executive Director of the Portage County Business Council, Michael Witte.  We learn, of Michael broad range of experiences that have made him uniquely equipped to take the helm at the business council. T ..read more