16 | FORWARD JANESVILLE Localize It CHERYL PETERSON Community & Employee Engagement Manager, SHINE Technologies Forward Janesville Board of Directors Cheryl is a long-time community champion who built her career around getting people engaged and involved. Currently at SHINE Technologies, Cheryl has also worked for the YWCA Rock County and BMO, both in communityfacing roles that touched on charitable giving and emphasized relationshipbuilding. While at BMO, she joined the Leadership Development Academy (LDA) and was part of the group that hatched the idea for a children’s museum back in 2006. Now, that idea is becoming a reality. She became a member of the Forward Janesville Board of Directors in 2024. How do you view your role as a Forward Janesville board member? I view our role as board members as community ambassadors, business-builders and storytellers. I’ve worked for SHINE Technologies since 2017. SHINE is one of the innovative businesses helping to revitalize our city after the GM closure and I make sure every new employee knows Janesville’s story of resilience and grit, as well as the role that Forward Janesville (FJ), Rock County 5.0 and others had in bringing SHINE to Janesville. Being a board member is also about giving back. If I can give back some of my time and talent to organizations and causes that make our community a little bit better, I’m glad to do it. It’s also a great way to meet new people and learn something new along the way. What keeps you engaged with Forward Janesville? The people and connections. I’ve been involved with FJ for more than 20 years. During my career, each of my employers was a member so I could see the benefits firsthand. I’ve gained so many business contacts and made so many friends through FJ – especially by attending the Business After Five events. It really helps to have these local contacts if I need a resource for something for my work or personal life. I’d encourage new members to attend and bring your business cards! The way FJ engages with its members also keeps me close. Before joining the Board of Directors, I was on the Annual Awards Luncheon Planning Committee for many years. Taking time to show appreciation towards members and recognize their accomplishments is important to the legacy and growth of our community. If you could go anywhere, where would you go? David [my husband] and I went on a fantastic trip to Ireland last year. That trip really inspired me to walk the land in Scotland and Wales where my ancestors lived. I’m a very sentimental person and I have been appointed as the family historian. I keep the family photos and genealogy that goes back many generations. While I love to travel, I also love to walk. You can often find David and I walking our neighborhood with our mini-bernadoodle puppy, Millie! She brings us so much laughter and enjoyment. RAY OSWALD Market President, Sauk Valley Bank Forward Janesville Ambassador Ray is a master connector who joined the Forward Janesville Ambassadors in 2024. Originally from Edgerton, he’s back to his Rock County roots after 25 years of living and working in the Milwaukee area. He has a long career in financial services, and his role as Market President at Sauk Valley Bank is all about supporting the growth of small businesses and building resilience in the local agricultural community. Ray is also the Board President for Edgerton Community Outreach (ECO). His involvement with ECO has opened his eyes to the individual and community needs that exist in the area, as well as the power of community when people come together to solve them. When the sky is the limit, it can be easy to miss the opportunities around you. But, they’re everywhere. Cheryl Peterson is a board member with a long history of community involvement and a builder mindset. Ray Oswald is an Ambassador who embodies the spirit of connection and is always ready to lend a helping hand. Edward Caceres is an innovator focused on unlocking the potential of Latino entrepreneurs. Together, they’re focused on growing the local community in new and different ways, just like Forward Janesville.
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