Bug Tussel to present county-wide broadband proposal to board
The public is invited to attend an informational meeting prior to Wednesday’s Brown County Board meeting on a proposal by Green Bay-based Bug Tussel wireless to provide access to high-speed internet to virtually every home in the county.
The meeting will be held from 5-6:30 p.m. Sept. 21 in the second floor event space at the Resch Expo, 840 Armed Forces Dr.
The board’s Administration committee last month unanimously approved a motion to direct the county’s lawyers to investigate the cost of hiring outside legal help to draft an agreement with Bug Tussel.
Following the information session, the matter will go before the full county board for possible action at its regularly scheduled 7 p.m. meeting.
The Bug Tussel proposal originally asked to use the county’s bonding authority to fund the nearly $29 million project.
But Committee Chair Sup. Richard Schadewald suggested the county could save nearly $7 million in interest over the 30-year life of the bond by paying upfront with county sales tax revenue.
Rural broadband is one of the four specific categories that county sales tax revenue can be used for.
Dino Stop stores sold
7E CO Holdings, LLC, has acquired Dino Stop Convenience Stores, headquartered in Green Bay.
Denver Based Monfort Cos. owns 7E CO Holdings and has been investing in and operating convenience stores — including multiple 7-Eleven locations — since 2016 with a focus primarily on rural markets, although the company has a more recent interest in urban locations.
Dino Stop has served the Green Bay area since 1971 with six stores spread throughout the area in Little Suamico, Abrams, Green Bay, Manitowoc, Ledgeview and New Franken.
“I owe much of the success of the stores to my wife Angela and our team members who helped through the years. Although the selling of the stores was a bittersweet experience, I knew it was the right decision for me and my family,” said Tony Wied, president of Dino Stop.
Cobb named COO of United Way
Rashad Cobb is set to join Brown County United Way as its new chief operating officer.
Cobb was formerly the director of equity and community initiative at the Greater Green Bay Community Foundation, where he led the foundation’s efforts in equitable practice-related programs areas, nonprofit capacity-building, collective impact work, grantmaking and other community-wide initiatives.
In his new role, Cobb will work closely with the president and CEO to implement Brown County United Way’s strategic plan and personnel management, interact with volunteers and build relationships with the community.
“I am excited to join Brown County United Way because of its mission and the people involved at every level of the organization,” said Cobb.
“We look forward to leveraging Rashad’s demonstrated leadership along with the depth and breadth of his experience for the success of Brown County United Way and the betterment of our community,” said Robyn Davis, president and CEO of Brown County United Way.
O’Connor receives ATHENA Award
The Greater Green Bay Chamber announced that Bridget O’Connor, president and owner of O’Connor Connective, has been selected as the recipient of the 2022 ATHENA Leadership Award.
First awarded by the Greater Green Bay Chamber in 1985, this nationally-recognized award highlights individuals who have demonstrated excellence in their field, contributed to the advancement of women and demonstrated devotion to serving their community.
“Bridget truly exemplifies what this prestigious award is all about and it is such an honor to present it to her,” said Laurie Radke, president and CEO of the Greater Green Bay Chamber. “Bridget’s impact on Greater Green Bay through both her professional and volunteer roles is long-lasting, and she is so very deserving of being named the 2022 ATHENA recipient.”
O’Connor will also be honored during the Chamber’s 140th Annual Dinner on Wednesday, Sept. 28.
Red Panda Day at NEW Zoo
The NEW Zoo & Adventure Park will be celebrating International Red Panda Day on Saturday, Sept. 17.
The special event, included with general admission, will involve educational activities and a sale of animal-themed crafts made by members of the Green Bay Chapter of the American Association of Zoo Keepers.
Proceeds raised from the event will benefit the Red Panda Network, a non-profit organization committed to conserving wild red pandas and their habitat.
SNC ranked among top 10
St. Norbert College (SNC) was recently ranked eighth out of 221 Catholic colleges by U.S. News & World Report.
SNC also ranked 111 overall — earning itself a spot in the top tier — on the 2022-23 “America’s Best National Liberal Arts Colleges” list, moving up six spots from the previous year’s ranking.
There are several factors that go into determining a college’s overall ranking, including first-year retention rate, graduation rate, peer assessment, faculty resources, student selectivity, financial resources and alumni giving.
“We appreciate this recognition and are proud to be among the nation’s best liberal arts colleges and to be ranked eighth among Catholic liberal arts colleges in the country,” said President Thomas Kunkel. “It’s our mission to graduate outstanding citizens who make a difference in the lives of others. What’s more, St. Norbert College’s student loan default rate is 1.6 percent, which means students benefit from their experience at St. Norbert and are getting good jobs upon graduation.”
LP expansion to create 30 jobs
Louisiana-Pacific recently broke ground on a $15 million expansion project at their Green Bay facility.
The expansion includes:
• Seven acres of land from an adjacent lot
• A fourth manufacturing line, doubling the capacity of the facility
• Upgrades to existing production lines
• New internal and external storage areas for finished products
As a result of the expansion, 30 new local jobs are expected to be created.
Construction on the expansion is expected to be complete later this fall.
Vote to help On Broadway bring back concert series
The Levitt AMP Green Bay Grant Awards were created by the Levitt Foundation to provide nonprofits with a matching grant of $90,000 over three years to produce their own free outdoor concert series.
On Broadway, Inc. hopes to qualify as one of the Top 20 finalists in the public voting phase of the Levitt AMP Green Bay Grant Awards after submitting their proposal for Green Bay to present the free music series in Leicht Park.
The proposal can be viewed on the Levitt Foundation website, along with the proposals of the other 36 communities from across the country that have made it to the voting phase.
Individuals can cast their votes for On Broadway, Inc. online at levitt.org/vote or via text to 866-AMP-2023 (866-267-2023) with the keyword GREENBAY.
Voting serves as a measurement of community support, so the total number of votes received for On Broadway, Inc. will be one of the key factors when the Levitt Foundation selects the grant recipients in November.
“We are so grateful to be moving into the public voting round of the LevittAMP Grant Awards. A music series like this really adds something special and new for our community to experience,” said Chelsea Kocken, director of special projects for On Broadway, Inc. “The partnerships it strengthens with other community organizations and the experiences it provides for our entire community are such an important piece of our organization’s mission.”
UWGB receives $3 million gift
The University of Wisconsin-Green Bay (UWGB) announced a $3 million gift from the David A. Cofrin Charitable Trust.
The $3 million will be used to continue the Cofrin family’s vision and support the mission of the Austin E. Cofrin School of Business to serve the entire northeast Wisconsin region.
“We are once again humbled by the generosity of the Cofrin family,” said Chancellor Michael Alexander. “This gift will further support the students in our university, allowing them to confidently invest in themselves through learning and innovation, and then share these talents within our communities.”
“This gift reflects the continued progress and maturation of the Cofrin School of Business to a size and quality capable of serving Northeast Wisconsin,” said Mathew Dornbush, dean of the Austin E. Cofrin School of Business.
DeLoye joins New North Inc.
Regional President for Associated Bank Dennis DeLoye has joined the board of directors of New North Inc.
New North Inc. is the regional economic development corporation for the 18 counties that make up Northeast Wisconsin.
DeLoye brings with him his more than 30 years of banking experience, a bachelor’s degree in business administration and finance from Carroll University and an MBA degree from the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater.
“Associated Bank has been a prominent supporter of New North and its initiatives since the organization’s creation more than 17 years ago,” said Barb LaMue, president and CEO of New North Inc. “We believe Dennis’ experience and regional perspective will provide an informed voice on economic development opportunities with our team and other members of the New North board of directors.”
Industry 4.0 unveiled at NWTC
Northeast Wisconsin Technical College revealed the reimagined and redesigned Engineering Technologies Atrium and College of Business entrance Tuesday, Sept. 13.
With the completion of the 4,500 square-foot renovation, students and members of the community now have access to all aspects of Industry 4.0 and its amenities — including an augmented reality/virtual reality experiential learning lab, interactive industry kiosks, additive manufacturing lab, artificial intelligence emotive response kiosk and more.
“We are living in a revolution of digitization across all industries. As educators, it is imperative we meet the changing needs of the industries and communities we serve,” said Dr. Jeff Rafn, NWTC president. “It was important that we demonstrate how all elements of Industry 4.0 fit together and that we create central areas where students can learn and work together in a collaborative and innovative manner.”
The renovations were designed by Wild Blue, a firm based in De Pere that is renowned for its specialization in innovation strategies, branded environments and virtual experience.
“We are thrilled to continue to work with NWTC, where we have employed many of their talented graduates,” said Will Van Epern, Wild Blue Technologies. “This partnership was a terrific opportunity for us to help create an environment where we can encourage students to pursue new and emerging careers needed to support growth and innovation in Northeast Wisconsin.”
Train concert at Lambeau
A free concert featuring award-winning band Train will be hosted outside Lambeau Field on Saturday, Sept. 17, as a part of Kickoff Weekend, presented by SiriusXM, Ticketmaster, Polaris and American Family Insurance.
The concert will take place in the stadium’s northwest side parking lot, with free parking available in Lambeau’s other lots on a first-come, first-served basis.
Food and drink will be available for purchase in the Lambeau Field parking lot and at Titletown and concert-goers are encouraged to bring their own blankets or chairs to use during the performance.
Slezak, Piotrowski named BayCare partners
Jon Slezak, MD, and Joshua Piotrowski, MD, PhD, have been named partners with BayCare Clinic.
Slezak, an otolaryngologist with BayCare Clinic Ear, Nose & Throat, practices at Aurora BayCare Medical Center in Green Bay and Aurora BayCare Health Center in Kaukauna.
Piotrowski, a urological surgeon with Aurora BayCare Urological Surgeons, practices in Green Bay and Marinette.
As partners, Slezak and Piotrowski will have shared ownership in Aurora BayCare Medical Center, a greater voice in the resource allocation of BayCare Clinic and greater input on the healthcare experiences of patients.
Packers team with Duluth Trading
The Green Bay Packers announced a limited edition apparel collaboration with Duluth Trading Company for the 2022 football season.
Available only for a limited time, the collection will include better-built green and gold tailgating gear with a unique rendition of the Packers logo.
“We’re excited to introduce this unique apparel collection with Duluth Trading Company to help kick off the Packers season this year,” said Jen Pertzborn, Packers merchandise manager. “Our fans are always looking for new ways to show their support while they gear up for football season, and these high-quality items will be the perfect addition to any fan’s wardrobe on gameday and every day.”
“We’re thrilled to launch Duluth Trading’s first-ever NFL collaboration with the team right in our own backyard, the Green Bay Packers,” said Sam Sato, CEO and President, Duluth Trading Company. “The Packers were founded on the same tradition of hard work as Duluth Trading, and we’re honored to put the extra triple stitch in green and gold this fall. This collaboration was designed to provide Packers fans with the most durable, innovative and hardworking fan gear they need to enjoy gameday, whether at a tailgate, at a backyard barbecue or right in the stands at Lambeau Field.”
The collection will feature several different men’s, women’s and children’s styles and be available while supplies last online at PackersProShop.com and DuluthTrading.com and in-person at the Packers Pro Shop and Duluth Trading’s five Wisconsin retail locations.
Emergency Preparedness Month
Parents and educators are encouraged by ReadyWisconsin to take time during September, which is observed as Preparedness Month, to teach kids to be better prepared for the unexpected.
Children can be prepared by talking about what to do in case of emergency at home, school or out in the community, discussing who to contact, identifying a safe meeting place and putting together an emergency supply kit.
“Disasters can be scary for kids, but learning how to be prepared for tornadoes and floods can help to ease some of those fears,” said Wisconsin Emergency Management Administrator Greg Engle. “We encourage everyone to take an active role in helping children understand the possible dangers in their community and include them in planning for how to respond to an emergency.”
Stadium tour tickets available
Tickets are now available for purchase for Classic Tours, Champions Tours, Heritage Trail Trolley Tours and Alumni Tours of Lambeau Field stadium.
Tours run Friday through Monday during Sunday home game weekends, Saturday through Tuesday during Monday home game weekends and Tuesday through Friday for Thursday home game weekends.
Tickets for stadium tours can be purchased at packershofandtours.com.
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