16 | FORWARD JANESVILLE Lasting Impact TIM LINDAU Attorney, Nowlan Law Education Council When Tim first moved to Janesville in the early 2000s he attended a Forward Janesville annual dinner and thought “I would love to be part of this organization.” Fast forward to 2017, Tim was asked to join the Forward Janesville Board of Directors. In 2018, he joined the Executive Committee and became Board Chair in 202022, during the pandemic. The pandemic was a very challenging time for everyone, including FJI. The leadership of the executive committee and the dedication of staff helped navigate the organization through a successful recovery. Tim then transitioned his volunteerism to the Forward Foundation. In 2023, he became a member of FJI’s Education Council. What made you want to be part of Forward Janesville? The energy of that first event was amazing. It was great to be surrounded by all of these involved community members who were making a difference. If you look at all the important and groundbreaking initiatives in the community, Forward Janesville is always leading. It’s exciting and humbling to be part of an organization that’s constantly innovating and has a lasting effect. Everyone’s window to make an impact is small. I believe in taking advantage of now and leaving things better than the way they were found. Forward Janesville seizes the moment to improve the community. That’s what made me want to be part of Forward Janesville and that’s what keeps me involved. What motivated you to be part of the Education Council? Education is foundational to our community’s success. It’s the gateway to our workforce. It’s an important element in recruiting and retaining talent for our businesses. You can’t have a thriving business community without a thriving educational system. Plus, I’m a parent. I understand the importance of providing children - our future - with access to a high-quality education filled with opportunities to learn and grow. It’s fulfilling to be part of the Education Council because we’re building a strong partnership with the School District of Janesville to drive outcomes and achievement. As the chamber of commerce, we’re able to tap into the great knowledge of our business base and be a resource to the district as they build curriculum and programs to help students be career and college ready. What’s the most important thing to you? Creating memories with my wife Bridgett and my two boys. I love to golf. I love to travel. I love live music. But I really love it when I get to do all of those things with my family. KENNEDY HECKEL University Relations Officer, UW-Whitewater & UWWhitewater at Rock County Forward Janesville Ambassador Kennedy has been a Forward Janesville Ambassador for four years, first with the Janesville Jets and now with UWWhitewater/UW-Whitewater at Rock County. She’s tenacious, dedicated and brings her infectious energy to FJI events, especially our Annual Golf Outing where she assumed a role on the Planning Committee to make the event a hit. Kennedy is a University Relations Officer for UW-Whitewater and UW-Whitewater at Rock County. A connector and bridge-builder, she is constantly linking UWWhitewater, alumni and community partners together. What motivated you to join the Ambassadors? I was motivated to join the Ambassadors because I wanted to actively contribute to the Janesville community's growth and success. At the time, I was the Director of Community Relations with the Janesville Jets. Being an Ambassador in the community is very important to the Jet’s mission. Now, being in the education realm, I saw an opportunity to leverage my background to support local initiatives and Forward Janesville is full of doers. Tim Lindau served on the Board of Directors, the Forward Foundation, and is a founding member of the Education Council. Kennedy Heckel is an Ambassador and was on the Planning Committee for the Annual Golf Outing. Kelsey Paasch has guided JOIN Janesville, Forward Janesville’s partner organization, on a sustainable growth path and shared her expertise in leadership with the local organizations. Together, these member-leaders are making a lasting impact on our organization--and the community--with their volunteer involvement.
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