January 2020 News Break
Portage Area Chamber of Commerce
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Portage Chamber Annual Breakfast & Awards
It's time to recognize businesses and individuals for outstanding work and contributions. We invite you to join us at the Portage Area Chamber of Commerce Annual Awards Breakfast and be part of the Business Event of the Year! The awards celebration will be held as a breakfast at Dino's Restaurant on Friday morning, January 31.
Register online today. Space is limited.
We will be recognizing Chamber nominees in four categories: Business Excellence Award (20 or more employees); the Susan Weyh Business Excellence Award (less than 20 employees); Rising Business Star Award; Community Service Award. Nomination forms are due back to our office by Monday, January 20.
Click here for the awards nomination form.
For more information, contact the Portage Chamber at 608-742-6242 or email us at
pacc@portagewi.com
There is still time to be a sponsor this great annual tradition.
Join these sponsors of the 2020 Annual Breakfast & Awards:
Gold Level:
Community Bank of Portage
Wisconsin River Title Consultants
Sliver Level:
Portage State Bank
Bronze Level:
Don-Rick Insurance
Portage Printing
Miller, Brussell, Ebben and Glaeske LLC
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2020 Annual Chamber Breakfast Award Sponsors
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Advertise on new Portage maps!
The Portage Area Chamber of Commerce will be printing new City of Portage maps. The new maps will be larger, enabling more Chamber member businesses to advertise on the backside. A full 4"x9" panel is $400 and a half panel 4"x4.5" is $200.
The Chamber plans to print a quantity of 10,000 maps, a supply which typically lasts about three years. Maps are available at no cost to the public at many locations including local hotels, gas stations, campgrounds, realtors, and people relocating to and requesting information of Portage.
Spaces are limited! If you are interested in advertising on the map, please call the Chamber at 608-742-6242. There is still time to join these Chamber member businesses advertising on the map:
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Fort Winnebago Surgeons Quarters
Mercantile and Bon Bon and Bordeaux
Agri Business Insurance Services-
Rural Mutual Insurance
Pizza Ranch
Wisconsin River Title Consultants
Glacier Valley Campground
1st Choice Staffing
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Durward’s Glen
Pizza Hut
Neil’s Wine House
Saddle Ridge Golf Course
Historic Indian Agency House
Portage Center for the Arts
Bee Alive Yoga
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Welcome New Chamber Members
Chaos Management
Karen Piasecki at 864-325-2677
Advanced certified QuickBooks proadvisor who can take the chaos out of accounting, making
sense of your books so you can make better decisions about your business.
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January Chamber Business Luncheon
Space is limited! Please RSVP for the Business Luncheons!
The Portage Area Chamber of Commerce is offering another way to network with your fellow Chamber members and make those important connections that can help you in your business or career. Bring your business cards, brochures, or anything you wish to share with other members.
Our Speaker: Toby Monogue, Portage Park and Recreation Manager -
Toby will be talking with us about the programs and services that are available at the Park and Recreation Department here in Portage.
Location: Pizza Ranch
Time: Lunch at 11:30AM, Presentation at Noon
Cost: Pay for your lunch directly at the restaurant
Date: Tuesday, January 7, 2020
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Citywide Cookie Walk
The Portage Chamber held its Citywide Cookie Walk on December 7. The 150 cookie boxes available for sale were gone by 9:15am that Saturday morning, with stories emerging of those who missed out offering to buy boxes from those already on the walk who had boxes.
Just a reminder: Cookie boxes go on sale the week of Thanksgiving. Thank you to the following businesses for providing cookies and being a part of the event this year:
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1st Choice Staffing Solutions
Wholeistic Healing
Portage Furniture Store
Point B Wealth Advisors
Wilz Hometown Pharmacy
Portage Center for the Arts
Wisconsin Network Solutions
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Zombyte Repairs
The Mercantile
Forever Yours Jewelry
Hair Sensations
R. Condon Gallery & Studio
Head 2 Toe Salon
Neil’s Wine House
Allstate Insurance - Shelly Cibulka Agency
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Prairie Flower Beads
Soul Shine Spa
Nona’s Tailoring & Tuxes
Fancy Pants
Smart Woman
Solas & Kin Photography
Verlo Mattress Factory
Edgewater Home & Garden
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Culver's Breakfast with Santa
Santa Claus was ready in his big chair with candy canes by his side for the "sell-out crowd" of visitors to greet him at Culver's during the Breakfast with Santa event. Thank you to the families for your food items, to the St. Vincent pantry and to Culver's for the delicious food and continuing this great holiday tradition.
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Are you prepared for the
DOT Clearinghouse?
The Clearinghouse is a secure online database that will give employers, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMSCA), State Driver Licensing Agencies (SDLAs) and State law enforcement personnel real-time information about commercial driver's license (CDL) and commercial learner's permit (CLP) holders' drug and alcohol program violations. It will contain records of of violations of drug and alcohol prohibitions, including positive drug or alcohol test results and refusals.
Everyone who is involved with the DOT drug testing process is required to register with the Clearinghouse before January 6, 2020. This includes CDL Drivers, Employers, Consortia/Third Party Administrators and Medical Review Officers.
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HART & OLSON FAMILY DENTISTRY CELEBRATING 30 YEARS!
In November 1989, Dr. Gerald Hart purchased a dental practice and building at 318 DeWitt St. in Portage, WI (shown left). He started with one employee! Read along to reminisce with us on the history and milestones of Hart & Olson Family Dentistry:
1991--Dr. Hart grew the practice to include hygiene and now had 3 employees. The office started running on computers!
1993--The building was remodeled to fully utilize all three floors and now had 5 employees.
1995--An office manager is added.
2001--Digital X-rays and chairside computer patient charting are implemented.
2004--The big move to our current location! The new office was built at 225 Gunderson Drive where it remains to this day. The practice was fully relocated in November. There are now 8 employees. (We are celebrating 15 years in the current location this month!)
2006--Dr. Matthew Olson joins the dental practice.
2007--The name of the practice is changed from Gerald A. Hart, DDS to Hart Family Dentistry. There are now 10 employees.
2009--The name of the practice is changed to what you know now--Hart & Olson Family Dentistry! Up to 12 employees!
2016--225 Gunderson Drive is expanded and remodeled to accommodate 4 more operatories, a 3D digital Panorex, larger sterilization center, and breakroom. The office is now paperless and there are 16 employees.
2017--Dr. Brian Hart, Dr. Gerald Hart's son, joins the practice and we have a total of 20 staff members.
2019--Present Day! Thank you so much to all of our wonderful staff and patients who have helped us get to where we are today.
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Future Wisconsin Economic Update:
At Year-End, Wisconsin Sees Strong Wage Growth, Low Unemployment, but the Labor Force Has Contracted
As 2020 approaches, late-year employment data for Wisconsin is emerging. At 3.3 percent, the unemployment rate remains low, although it has increased since it reached a record-low 2.8 percent in May. Private sector employment continues to grow, but slowly; it has increased by less than one percent year-over-year for the last year and a half. The workforce has also contracted since its last peak in August 2017, with the state’s labor force participation rate losing 1.4 percentage points between then and now. Over the same period, eight other states saw their workforce shrink.
Wage growth, however, has been a bright spot for Wisconsin. In manufacturing, wages have increased by an average of 5.09 percent for the last three months. In general, goods-producing sectors have seen wage growth outpace that of service sectors, with growth rates of 4.58 and 2.12 percent, respectively, over the last three months.
Although most industries in the state have seen wage growth, the financial services sector has seen wages decline by 2.41 percent this year. For all industries, wage growth has been much stronger during the second half of the year. Wisconsin’s average private sector hourly wage has grown by about 1.55 percent year-over-year for all of 2019. Yet in October, wages were up by 3.43 percent from the same time last year. In 2018, the state averaged a 4.87 percent increase year-over-year.
Click here
to read more about recent employment data for Wisconsin.
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Rhyme chosen as 2019 Elite Dealer; celebrates 75 years in 2020
ENX Magazine announced that Rhyme was among the 137 companies chosen this year as a 2019 Elite Dealer.
ENX Magazine selected this year’s winners based on several criteria, including marketing prowess, digital transformation, leadership, work environment, technology, customer service and charitable endeavors.
“In our eyes, an Elite Dealer makes a concerted effort to produce a winning experience for not just its clients, but its employees and vendors as well,” said Susan Neimes, managing editor of ENX Magazine and ENX The Week In Imaging. “A defined corporate culture and a willingness to embrace new technologies—and share them with their customer base—also goes a long way. There’s no one ingredient behind an Elite Dealer—it’s a confluence of many factors that lifts these performers above the rest.”
Rhyme has consistently been recognized as an Elite Dealer and is celebrating 75 years in business this year, which it feels is a considerable achievement in a highly competitive industry. To celebrate reaching 75 years in business, a number of events are planned in the upcoming year as a thank you to clients, vendors, and employees, as well as publishing a magazine highlighting notable events throughout the 75-year history.
"The people of Rhyme make Rhyme a great place to work. Our people work hard every day to support each other and support our Clients and they enjoy doing so," said Mike Steinhoff, President of Rhyme. "This makes all the difference when it comes to our Clients getting exceptional service from us, whether it’s for their IT Infrastructure, printers or everyday office products needs, our people are ready to help."
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Did you know???
You can now shop the third floor of the Mercantile in downtown Portage. You will find more of the great gift ideas offered including kid's games, necklaces, candy, seasonal items and more.
Right now, save 25% on remaining holiday items!
The Mercantile is located at 117 W. Cook St. For more information, call 608-745-5768.
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Portage Daily Register office relocates
Portage Daily Register has closed its Portage office and has relocated staff to Baraboo. The new office is located at 714 Matts Ferry Road in Baraboo.
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ADRC seeking Transportation Coordinator
The Aging & Disability Resource Center of Columbia County, located within
Columbia County Health & Human Services, is looking for a a Transportation Coordinator.
The position plans, coordinates and manages transportation services for the ADRC of Columbia County with an ability to perform a variety of moderately complex office and clerical procedures, as well as assist in grant writing. The position is part time, 18.75 hours per week.
An Associate Degree from an accredited vocational, college, or technical school and a minimum of one year of related office experience, or high school diploma and a minimum of two years of related work experience, or combination of training and experience equivalent to the above or specific to the job. Computer experience required.
Hire rate: $17.047/hr. All applicants are required to complete an application to be considered for the position. Obtain required application from the Columbia County website
www.co.columbia.wi.us.
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First Weber donates to Sleep in Heavenly Peace
First Weber Realtors Portage recently held a trivia night as a fundraiser for the Portage chapter of Sleep in Heavenly Peace (SHP). The Portage First Weber Office and the First Weber Foundation presented the organization with a check in the amount of $5000.
Pictured from left to right are: Brian Scheibach (local chapter President), Eric Sluga, John Heitke, Bonnie Dixon, Tom Weix, Nancy McConochie-Zuhlke, and Susan Leahy. Not pictured are Dawn Ferreri, and Scott Schroeder.
Anyone who would like to request a bed for a child can call toll free 1-844-432-BEDS. SHP was founded in Kimberly, Idaho with a mission of providing beds to children who don’t have one.
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Register for UW-Madison SBDC Spring and Summer classes
Spring and Summer 2020 UW-Madison Small Business Development Center class calendars
are now ready to view
! Check out the available classes, build your professional development plan, or help your aspiring leaders build new skills--and start your year off right!
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Let's Talk About Pain Medicines
Attend this free workshop on understanding opioid medicines, learning how to use them more safely and effectively, held at Divine Savior Healthcare, Café Classroom on the Lower Level, 2817 New Pinery Road, on Tuesday, January 14 from 5:30pm to 6:30pm.
Each participant gets a Drug Deactivation & Disposal System pouch and a chance to enter into a cash prize drawing.
Register by calling 608-745-6289.
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Money Smarts for Seniors
Learn how to protect and preserve your assets with Peggy Goodenow from BMO Harris Bank during this
Money Smarts for Seniors seminar, on Tuesday, January 28 from 1pm to 2pm in the Sanderson Room at Portage Public Library, 253 W. Edgewater St.
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Thomas Pandolfi at Portage Center for the Arts
Get your tickets to see Thomas Pandolfi perform at Portage Center for the Arts!
This American pianist and virtuoso is sought after by audiences worldwide. His warm and communicative tone uniquely sings, projecting the poetry and emotion of what he plays.
Catch his performance on Saturday, January 18 at 7:30pm at Portage Center for the Arts, 301 E. Cook Street. For more information, call 608-742-5655.
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Spread the word about Portage!
Use #portagewi in your social media posts.
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Check out the Chamber's YouTube Channel
HERE
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Job postings on portagewi.com
Check out these
job postings on our Chamber site from our member businesses. You are welcome to post job openings your business may have at any time. Call the Chamber office at 608-742-6242 for more information.
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Want to submit an article for this newsletter?
The Chamber's monthly newsletter deadlines the 20th of the month. Members are always welcome to let others know: about new products and services; introduce new associates or promotions; provide updates about their industry or business; give helpful tips; promote a sale or event. For more information, call the Portage Chamber at 608-742-6242.
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Text PACC to 51660
to receive information about upcoming Chamber events
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Facade loan program available
The Portage facade loan program is available to help Chamber member Portage businesses upgrade exteriors.
For more information about the loan program guidelines,
click here
. For the application,
click here
.
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Looking for a Hot Deal? See our list?
Check out our Hot Deals webpage for deals our Chamber members are
offering. Have a Hot Deal of your own you want others to know about? Post
your deals on our webpage and join the Hot Deal brigade! There is no charge
for posting a Hot Deal, so post away!
If you have questions, call the Chamber office at 608-742-6242 to get started.
Click here
to see the specials that are currently running!
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Text PORTAGE to 51660
to receive information about upcoming Portage events
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Join a Service Club
Rotary - Meets Mondays at Noon at Dino’s Restaurant, 2900 New Pinery Rd.
Lions Club - Meets the 2
nd Wednesday of the month at 5:30pm at Dino’s Restaurant, 2900 New Pinery Rd., summer month meetings change locations
Kiwanis - Meets on Wednesdays at Noon at Pizza Ranch, 2905 New Pinery Rd.
Optimists - Meets on Tuesdays at 7am at Dino’s Restaurant, 2900 New Pinery Rd.
Elks - Meets 2nd & 4th Tuesday at 7pm; 4th Tuesday only during July and August
Women's Civic League - Meets 2nd Wednesdays of the month at Dino’s Restaurant, 2900 New Pinery Rd.
Wauona Trail Women's Club - Meets 3rd Monday of the month at 11:30am at Dino's Restaurant, 2900 New Pinery Rd. (Sept-May)
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January Chamber Meetings & Events
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Business Luncheon at Pizza Ranch at 11:30am; speaker at Noon
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Ribbon Cutting for Chaos Management at Chamber office at 9am
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Ribbon Cutting at Seubert Dental at 5pm
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Annual Breakfast & Awards at Dino's Restaurant at 8am
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