Work harder than anyone expected you to and be grateful for the opportunity. 1 2 3 { LIFE LESSONS} Show gratitude for the lessons of each day. It is during our time of struggle that we achieve new levels of growth. Wake up. Show up. Calendar up. 18 | FORWARD JANESVILLE One of the things that I love about my role at Forward Janesville is that it allows me to help students explore careers by introducing them to the opportunities of our business community. Ultimately, this is what gives me the most joy. People can build their lives and careers in Janesville, where we value family, a good quality of life, and live in a safe community. As a young professional, I was eager, overly confident and not patient. I had many mentors who invested in me to help me grow and break through to levels I never thought possible. It's wonderful to come full circle in my role at Forward Janesville and be able to be a mentor, while also working on programs that foster youth development and career exploration. I love flamingos, they are my favorite animal. When I go on vacation, I always have flamingo outfits for my travel adventures. Another fun thing about me is that I was a cheerleader and can still do the splits at 52. I started dating my husband during my senior year of high school. We were engaged after dating two weeks and married six months later. The most important thing to me is my family. My New Year’s Resolution each year is make a stronger effort to spend time with my family. We become busy and distracted and it is easy for time to pass quickly. Centering myself on spending time with family is my greatest joy. I enjoy work and have worked hard all of my career. However, balance is important. For balance, I start every day with some type of exercise. If I skip that time, I become tired and less focused. When I am not working, I try to fully unplug. That means putting the phone away for several days and driving out to a park to hike, camp and have a thrill-seeking adventure. Every year, I push myself to do something new. That goal has lead to me summitting mountains, whitewater rafting, hang gliding, ziplining, mountain biking, glacier hiking, and tapping trees to make maple syrup. These adventures often terrify me, but I enjoy the feeling of accomplishment at the end. I am currently training for a fall hiking trip. HOW DID I GET HERE? success • challenges • life lessons • education • career • family • inspirations I transitioned to chamber leadership in June 2024. Around the same time, I was slated to move up at Mid-West Family Madison. While I was thinking about that opportunity and the career change it would bring, I decided to think bigger and look at what else was around before making that leap. If you are making a change, why not make a significant change? The Forward Janesville leadership role had appealed to me for many years. At the Annual Dinner in 2009, I remember how John Beckord reminded us to approach the closing of General Motors with a glass-half-full mentality and that our community would be better in the long run. He was right. He had a growthminded vision that continues to carry us forward. I am proud to be part of that tradition and bring my own energy to be a change-maker. • • • My first marketing role was for The Jotter, a weekly shopper owned by the Janesville Gazette. I had two job opportunities at that time. The first was from the City of Janesville for $12/hr with vacation time and benefits. The second was from The Jotter for $5/hr and limited vacation time. I needed to decide whether to rely on the comfort of a steady job with a guaranteed pay plan or to bet on myself. I decided to bet on myself. After 30 days at The Jotter, I asked my manager to remove the $5/hr guarantee and place me on full commission. I never looked back. It was an opportunity to earn based on my effort and I was successful within the first few months. Those early relationships have served me well throughout my professional years. It’s never too early to work hard and make a good impression. Never be afraid to bet on yourself. SHAR HERMANSON PRESIDENT & CEO, FORWARD JANESVILLE { EDUCATION } 1995 - 1998 Bachelor of Arts, Marketing Upper Iowa University 1991 - 1995 Associate of Arts, Business Management & Marketing Blackhawk Technical College { WORK EXPERIENCE } 2024 - PRESENT President & CEO Forward Janesville 2019 - 2024 Mid-West Family of Companies 2011 – 2019 WJVL Radio 2010 – 2011 Adams Outdoor Advertising 2007 – 2010 Bliss Communications 1998– 2006 WJVL Radio
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy MTEwNzI5