March 5, 2024

Join PULSE for a 'Night at the Museum'

PULSE is hosting its annual Night at the Museum on March 14! Join us at the Bergstrom Mahler Museum of Glass for guided tours, light refreshments, and a suncatcher glass activity. We love exploring the various museums in the area and are thrilled to be sponsored once again by the Harp Gallery. Sign up today and bring a friend for a night of beautiful art, networking, and the chance to bring some art home with you!

Upcoming Events

Coffee and Conversation

Our March Coffee and Conversation will be held at Sweet Lair in Menasha! Join us for a morning of networking and giving back as we collect donations for the Community Clothes Closet. Spring is in the air, so clean out those closets and donate your professional attire to those in need in the Fox Cities. Don’t have any clothes to donate? We will also accept monetary donations which the organization will use to stock their shelves. Register here.

March 12 | 7:30 - 9 AM | Sweet Lair

Future 15 Nominations

Nominations for our Future 15 Young Professionals will be opening at the end of the month. All are welcome to nominate deserving YPs who are making a difference in our community. Nominees need to either work or live in the Fox Cities and be 40 or under by the end of July. The YP of the Year will be selected from the Future 15 recipients, and new this year, we are awarding a YP Entrepreneur of the Year! Keep on the lookout for nominations to go live at the end of March and mark your calendars for the Future 15 event on July 25.

YP Appreciation Day

PULSE's YP Appreciation Day is back! Join us for a night of fun with food, drinks, trivia, and more as we celebrate you and all things PULSE. PULSE members can attend for FREE and any guest of PULSE is just $10. We’re excited to bring this event back in 2024 as a way to reflect on the growth of our organization and recognize our amazing members! Register here.

April 24 | 4:30 - 7 PM | Holidays Sports Bar and Grill

Rewind

Lunch ‘n Learn

The PULSE Lunch ‘n Learn put on by the Professional Development Committee was a great way to learn more about Cyber Security, Personal Branding, AI, and online presence. James Kilsdonk and Chris Burns educated those in attendance and provided lots of take aways. PULSE peeps in attendance enjoyed the topics and meeting new people. Check out pictures from the event!

Cocktails and Conversation

PULSE held its first ever “Cocktails and Conversation” on February 29 at Sante Wine Bar in Neenah. The event was attended by more than 25 YPs who enjoyed a casual evening of networking, and many new members of PULSE were able to attend. We are thrilled to announce that these will become routine – every other month! So, if you missed this one, keep your eyes peeled for our Cocktails and Conversation in April. We are excited to explore local spots in the Fox Cities and build our networks along the way.

PULSE Champion March Renewal

Fox Communities Credit Union is renewing their Champion of Young Professionals status for 2024! Fox Communities Credit Union continues to support, educate, and lead their YPs as they grow in their careers and beyond. Thank you FCCU for continuing to champion YPs!

If your business would like to become a Champion of Young Professionals, reach out to Jodie Federwitz or click here for more information!

Stay Connected

Join our LinkedIn Group! No fluff, no frills, just facts and quick reference points on what’s happening with PULSE.

Add your information to our PULSE Directory and connect with other YPs in our network. Fill out the form and start networking!

Young Professionals Poll:

Do you feel like your current employer provides enough flexibility for modern times?

Yes, and I love it!

No, my job has rigid hours and expectations

I have some, but not as much as I would like

Yes, but I like to stay structured

Last Month's Young Professionals Poll Results:

When searching for a new job, which benefit would you say is the most attractive/important?

Income and Retirement options - 53.3%
Flexibility (WFH options) - 20%
Volunteer opportunities - 20%
Insurance benefits - 6.7%

Just for fun:

What element is most important when considering a new position or company?

Salary

Benefits

Flexibility

Other

Last Month's Just for Fun Poll Results:

Do you celebrate Valentines Day?

Absolutely! Even if I don’t have a valentine! - 46.2%
I celebrate by buying the chocolate on sale afterwards - 38.5%
No – it’s not worth the money - 15.4%

Helpful Article

Easy Office Lunch Ideas

by Tasty Recipes

PULSE Member Spotlight

Meet James Kilsdonk

VP, Commercial Loan Officer

AbbyBank

Meet the PULSE President, James Kilsdonk! James is a native of the Fox Cities where he grew up playing sports like volleyball and graduated from Appleton East High School. He majored in finance and now works for AbbyBank as a Vice President, Commercial Loan Officer. Beyond work, James is incredibly involved with various nonprofits: Fox Cares Foundation, Big Brothers Big Sisters of East Central WI, United Way, St. Joe’s Food Program, and the American Cancer Society. He loves volunteering and giving back the community he loves.

What is your favorite thing about the Fox Valley?

“My favorite thing about the Fox Valley is the charm. To me, it has a lot of amenities and offerings for everyone but is still easy to navigate and allows for a community feel. I enjoy the friendliness of people. Being able to walk past someone, make eye contact, smile, and say hello. I like that the Fox Valley continues to be a place with career opportunities, social venues and has a nice balance of new growth while still balancing the history of our area.”

On a day off, you’ll likely find James on the golf course if the weather is nice or spending time with his twin 6-year-old sons. James has been golfing for 30 years and absolutely loves it – playing around 100 rounds per year!

What has been your favorite PULSE event?

“My favorite Pulse event is the Future 15 Awards. I really enjoy networking and coming together to honor past winners, celebrate the new winners, and learn more about each candidate. It gives us a looking glass into the future of our talent in our community and not only energizes me but provides comfort in knowing that the Fox Cities will continue to be a place to thrive for generations to come.”

Connect with James on LinkedIn.

PULSE Volunteer Opportunities

The Engagement Committee is running a professional clothing drive for the Community Clothes Closet. Through the month of March, drop off your new or gently used professional attire at the Chamber - get your spring cleaning on! The Community Clothes Closet serves the Fox Cities as a way to provide for our community, and as young professionals, we can donate to help others find the right clothes to take on a new job or interview. We will also collect clothing at our Coffee and Conversation on March 12th at Sweet Lair. Monetary donations are also accepted and will be used to purchase the clothing needed most by the volunteers that run the organization. Join us in our first “Give Back” campaign of 2024!

125 N. Superior St., Appleton | (920) 734-7101

www.FoxCitiesChamber.com