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JANESVILLE experience the power of community • INSIDE THIS ISSUE • 14 S. Jackson Street, Suite 200 • Janesville, WI 53548 Phone: 608.757.3160 Email: forward@forwardjanesville.com www.forwardjanesville.com 2024-2025 BOARD OF DIRECTORS Derek Greene • Chair Baird Mick Gilbertson • Vice Chair The Developing Edge George Cullen • Treasurer JP Cullen David Hiller • Past Chair Prent Corporation Todd Anderson • Mercyhealth Joel Bailey • Johnson Financial Group Jon Ballard • Foremost Media, Inc. Todd Buehl • ABC Supply Co., Inc. Tim Cullen • Bushwood Golf Range Dave Holterman • First Community Bank Bob Kennedy • Rock Road Companies, Inc. Sean Kennedy • Graphite Hill Co. Mark Lewis • The Janesville Gazette Kyle Mair • Baker Tilly Cheryl Peterson • SHINE Technologies Christine Rebout • Janesville Area Convention & Visitors Bureau Kari Reents • Velvet & Tulle Boutique Joe Stadelman • Angus-Young Mary Jo Villa • Hendricks Holding Company Tanner Voss • BMO Letter from the President & CEO...........................................4 What’s Next, Janesville?.........................................................6 A Night to Remember .........................................................11 Cheers to our Quarter Century Club...................................12 Localize It.............................................................................16 How Did I Get Here - Shar Hermanson................................18 New Members of Forward Janesville...................................20 Designer: Mary Terry Design • Editor: Claire Gray www.forwardjanesville.com | 3 We are a direct extension of your brand. We do a little bit of everything to help manage your brand, look, and messaging across a variety of mediums. Ready to Start Your Project? Contact Us Today!
Janesville is more than just a place on the map—it is our home. It’s where we work, raise our families, and build our futures. As Forward Janesville Board Chair Derek Greene said during a recent WCLO interview, "This is my home, and I am proud of it. I want to make it a better place." That sentiment resonates with so many of us who are committed to the growth and success of this community. We believe in Janesville, its people, and the values that make this city strong. 2025 will be a big year for Janesville. The Woodman’s Sports & Convention Center is scheduled to open and the Children’s Museum of Rock County is set to break ground, with a grand opening expected in 2026. Both projects have family enrichment and economic development at their core, and each achieved major success in philanthropic giving, signaling strong community support. The Forward Foundation was a key partner on both projects. In 2024, the Foundation made additional impacts through its Vision Forward Fund and will expand on those achievements this year. One of the cornerstones of our work at Forward Janesville is ensuring that our existing businesses have the support they need to thrive and grow. That’s why the Forward Janesville Board of Directors prioritized Business Retention and Expansion (BRE) in 2024. From October to February, Forward Janesville conducted 48 in-person surveys that represented a cross-section of local businesses, from international corporations headquartered in Janesville to small businesses established on passion and grit. The purpose of the BRE survey was to understand Janesville’s business climate through the perspective of the businesses themselves. The outcome is to identify areas of strength and growth to ensure our community is doing everything it can to keep businesses expanding locally. Read about everything on the horizon in our “What’s Next, Janesville?” feature. You will also be inspired by our community’s momentum when you revisit Forward Janesville’s Annual Dinner in “A Night to Remember.” Fred Smith, Founder & Executive Chairman of FedEx Corporation, passed on pieces of wisdom during his fireside chat, the most important of which was to embrace change. When looking at all Janesville has accomplished during the last decade and a half, it is clear our community has already leaned into that message. And, we have no intention of stopping. When I asked the audience “What’s next?” that evening, we received more than 800 responses to our real-time Mentimeter poll. The top response by far was “growth.” Everyone is ready for more bold vision and strong action. There are already many people growing our community in new and different ways. In our “Localize It” section, read about what Cheryl Peterson, Ray Oswald and Edward Caceres are doing to build, connect, and innovate. We also want to give special acknowledgement to our Quarter Century Club members who have been part of Forward Janesville for 25 years or more. Thank you for being community champions who appreciate the value of chamber membership and understand the central role chambers play in a thriving business community. It's been wonderful to watch Janesville's reinvention over the past decade. From attending Forward Janesville events to now leading the organization, I am thrilled to be part of the change. In 2024, Forward Janesville was 585 members strong. We hosted 20 signature events that engaged an audience of 3,300+ and we connected with thousands more through our well-developed digital presence. With the growth trajectory strong for 2025, we can't wait to see where we - and the Forward Janesville network - go. Future Forward: What’s Ahead in 2025 4 | FORWARD JANESVILLE Shar Hermanson President & CEO Forward Janesville
The Janesville of 2025 is a much different city. The most dramatic change being the end of auto production at General Motors (GM) in 2008. When the dust settled, one out of three Janesville residents lost a job or had someone in their family who did, according to Washington Post reporter Amy Goldstein. Metamorphosis Following GM’s departure, Janesville persevered, grew, diversified, and expanded. The downtown is alive and truly vibrant for the first time in decades. Businesses that once showed their worst side to the Rock River now present a welcoming face, and the parking ramp has been replaced with a popular event area that includes Town Square, Festival Street (sponsored by Blackhawk Community Credit Union) and the Blain-Gilbertson Heritage Bridge. The mall, now known as Uptown Janesville, is about to be boosted by the Woodman’s Sports and Convention Center. Families will have a new resource and the resurging downtown will benefit from the thousands of expected visitors the Children’s Museum of Rock County will bring. And the city is planning to take ownership of the former GM/JATCO property with ambitious plans to redevelop the site. After the GM shutdown, Janesville’s leadership had to take stock of its new reality and what its future could be. Forward Janesville, through its charitable arm the Forward Foundation, stepped forward by partnering in Rock County 5.0, a unified economic vision that was instrumental in recruiting SHINE Technologies to the area; and ARISENow, which turned the tide and kicked the transformation of downtown Janesville into high gear. Tremendous progress has been made in the last decade, but the work of Forward Janesville and city leadership is by no means complete. New, exciting projects dot our landscape. Equally important is the commitment to maintain and grow our current businesses. 2025 will be a pivotal year for the city. A New Community Space The Woodman’s Sports & Convention Center, or Woodman’s Center for short, is a project that has been years in the marking. It will take a giant leap forward in 2025 with a grand opening set for later this year. Construction is underway and close to completion on the former site of Sears at Uptown Janesville. This massive $47 million project is expected to be a major boost to the local economy, with city officials estimating that it will create 228 jobs and $23 million in annual economic impact. At approximately 140,000 square feet, the Woodman’s Center will feature a year-round permanent ice arena and two large multi-use spaces for conferences, events and sports. Its opening promises to be a huge shot in the arm for Janesville’s north side - particularly for Uptown Janesville, the retail mall it sits next to. After a tough decade where Uptown Janesville lost three major anchor stores and numerous other retailers, the arrival of the Woodman’s Center is expected to reverse the mall’s fortunes in a big way. “We’ve lost so many of our stores,” says Julie Cubbage, general manager of Uptown Janesville. “I feel like it’s a skeleton out there. Amazon and COVID have really changed the way that people buy things. I’m hoping that (the Woodman’s Center) will revitalize the entire property.” Cubbage and the shopping mall’s owners, RockStep Capital, see the addition of the center as an opportunity to reinvent the mall and set a new course for its future.“I don’t see the property being a ‘mall,’” Cubbage says. “I see (it) being more of a mixed-use property. Still having [retailers like] Kohl’s and Dick’s and Ulta, but I see the actual mall itself being changed. “I’ve had a lot of requests for office space and things like that. So that’s putting money into vacant spaces that were normally retail and re-configuring them. Maybe a space here at the mall becomes a ghost kitchen for the caterers or the restaurants that cater events taking place in [the Woodman’s Center]. There is a whole plethora of ideas for things that could happen here. The mall will definitely What’s Next, Janesville? Big things are happening in 2025 By Jim Lyke When Forward Janesville formed in 1990, General Motors was the city’s largest employer. Parker Pen’s world headquarters were located on North Parker Drive. The Janesville Mall, full of stores and always busy with customers, was about to undergo a major remodeling. In the heart of downtown, a parking ramp covered part of the Rock River. Tremendous progress has been made in the last decade, but the work of Forward Janesville and city leadership is by no means complete. New, exciting projects dot our landscape. 6 | FORWARD JANESVILLE The Woodman’s Center will be a major facelift for Uptown Janesville and a revamp for the entire Milton Avenue commercial corridor (conceptual rendering) It's not just Uptown Janesville that’s going to benefit. All these businesses along Milton Avenue will benefit. You’re already seeing little bits and pieces of it. Once the facility opens, you’re going to see a lot more.
The Janesville Culver’s Scoopie Night change, and it will evolve as the Woodman’s Center evolves.” But it’s not just the inside of the mall that could change. Cubbage said she envisions the parking area behind the mall being developed into multi-family row homes. And multiple hotels have expressed an interest in building on the property. “There’s a lot of moving parts and a lot of different people with different ideas coming to the table,” says Cubbage. “It would be beneficial [for the conference center] to have a hotel right on this property. You’re going to book more events if you have that amenity within walking distance.” All in all, Cubbage sees the addition of the Woodman’s Center as a huge plus not just for the property she manages, but that entire retail corridor. In fact, she points to projects like the Culver’s expansion, Slumberland Furniture relocation and the upcoming Woodman’s convenience store as evidence that the Woodman’s Center is already having an impact. “It's not just Uptown Janesville that’s going to benefit,” Cubbage says. “All these businesses along Milton Avenue will benefit. You’re already seeing little bits and pieces of it. And I think once the facility opens, you’re going to see a lot more. “It’s exciting for the city of Janesville. You have this new amenity coming, and it’s an opportunity to show how the community can change and adapt to accommodate what this facility could potentially bring.” The Woodman’s Center will start with a high-profile tenant in the Janesville Jets, the city’s Junior A ice hockey team of the North American Hockey League (NAHL). Moving to the new facility from their current home at the Janesville Ice Arena will nearly double their seating capacity, according to Jerad Clark, Vice President of Business Development and Operations for the Jets. “We anticipate a large growth in fans,” says Clark. “There’s no bad seat in the house. And to play in front of more fans only attracts more and better talent for us.” Clark is gratified by the continuing support of the business community, which will enhance the experience for fans without a huge hike in ticket prices. “We’re going to keep it affordable,” Clark says. “This facility [is] coming at the right time. We are limited at the current place to do more and bigger things and engage more people, and garner more revenue to do these things. We would have had a hard time in the coming years continuing on, but this allows us to do a lot more. It solidifies a long future for us.” For Future Generations Also moving forward in 2025 will be construction of the Children’s Museum of Rock County (CMRC), expected to become a downtown anchor in the historic First National Bank building. Once complete, the museum is projected to produce an annual economic impact of $4.26 million. A long and winding road led to the current plans for this project. The idea to bring a children’s museum to Janesville started as group project for Leadership Development Academy (LDA) students in 2006. Initially, there were hopes to launch the museum in 2008-09, but the 2008 economic downtown and 2009 GM shutdown put those plans on hold. Eventually, a starter space was secured in Uptown Janesville in 2018, but CMRC board members turned their sights towards downtown in 2021. CMRC Board President John Westphal has been along for the entire journey. But his interest in downtown Janesville goes back much further. Owner of a four-generation family business, Westphal is a lifelong Janesville resident with a long history of public service. Among his many roles, he served on both the Forward Janesville Board of Directors and the Janesville City Council in the 1990s. “One of the things that we pursued [at that time] was riverfront development and downtown redevelopment,” says Westphal. “And those are two things that I’ve always been interested in. I’ve always felt that it was worth working for, to use the river as an asset. To clean up the river and use it as something we open up to and not turn our backs to. And also to try to save our downtown, because it’s beautiful and historic and vibrant.” But it’s not just adding another vital piece to the downtown that motivates Westphal. “Getting involved with [the CMRC] has really reminded me of the importance of educating young kids. Saving a little kid is a lot more important than saving an old building downtown.” Despite the stops and starts over the years, Westphal says he “never got disillusioned or lost heart.” And that has resulted in what Westphal believes is the largest private fundraising effort ever for a Rock County initiative, which sits at roughly $12.5 million at this writing. “It’s unbelievable,” says Westphal. “We have donors [ranging from] a little kid donating five dollars to a philanthropist donating seven figures.” Why did this project strike such a chord with the public that they opened their wallets? Westphal attributes the success to the museum’s “universal appeal.” “There’s nobody…that doesn’t think The Jets’ new home at the Woodman’s Center will almost double the seating capacity for fans The children’s museum will have an outdoor play space and the potential to boast an Art Infusion mural www.forwardjanesville.com | 7
[early childhood education is] worthwhile,” he says. “People do complain about their property taxes and the cost to educate kids, but nobody argues with the idea of how important it is to educate young children and to start when they’re really young. [And] the saving of the old bank appeals to people, too, improving a downtown and a riverfront.” CMRC Board Vice President Sara Iverson Smith, who has been in the construction industry for over 20 years working for large retailers and health systems, agrees that the bank building attributes to the appeal. “It’s taking an existing building and doing adaptive re-use,” says Smith, “which I think is a phenomenal way to do construction. The exciting part is you’re taking a building that’s been empty for a number of years and giving it new life. We’re keeping the character of the original building and then just enhancing it.” The CMRC acquired the bank building from the Forward Foundation, which purchased it in 2020 to assure a suitable re-use of the property. Buying the property was a logical step for the foundation after its involvement in the Rock County 5.0 and ARISENow projects. “The Forward Foundation has been a partner from day one on this,” says Smith, “and I can’t wait for us to complete it together. They’re so passionate about making sure that this is the right decision not only for Janesville and for Forward Foundation, but [they’re] also just so easy to work with on getting things done.” And once open, both Smith and Westphal see the museum as Janesville’s personal “Field of Dreams” - if you build it, they will come. “We’re talking about year one, bringing over 100,000 visitors to downtown,” says Westphal.” And when we’re up and running and stable, year three, we’re talking 80,000 visitors a year. Bringing [that many] people to downtown Janesville is going to be transformative.” “We don’t have a facility like this and many other communities our size do,” says Smith. “We think that it’s important to Rock County because it’s going to bring in people from all over. We think it’s going to be important to families because Wisconsin is known for its cold weather and it will give them one more opportunity to go someplace with their families in the wintertime, and we think it’s important to children because it’s for fun and it’s for learning.” Hometown Pride As exciting as new companies and projects are to the local business community, one cannot underestimate the importance of keeping and growing the businesses that already call Janesville home. According to research cited by the University of Florida, up to 80 percent of net new job growth comes from existing businesses. And efforts to retain existing businesses are less costly than attracting new industries. To that end, Forward Janesville launched a Business Retention and Expansion (BRE) initiative to keep the lines of communication open and determine what local companies are planning and what they need to be a continuing presence in the city. BRE is a traditional economic activity. Forward Janesville, as a representative of the private sector, is leading this effort as part of its overall economic development strategy and the City of Janesville is a key collaborator. Since October, local businesses have been participating in a BRE survey that queries them about their needs and plans. According to Forward Janesville President and CEO Shar Hermanson, the results so far have yielded a gold mine of information. “Eightyfour percent [of the respondents] say that the current business environment enables them to grow,” Hermanson says. “And 73 percent say they plan to hire, with 58 percent planning to expand in the next 12 months.” When the surveys are complete, overarching themes will highlight positives and growth opportunities for public, private and educational stakeholders. Tanner Voss, Vice President of Commercial Banking at BMO, has been the Forward Janesville board member serving as the chair of the BRE effort. According to Voss, BRE is going to be more than a one-time survey. “We are going to continue with [the initiative] after the initial results,” Voss says. “It will be a living, breathing effort to continue to have a pulse on the community to see how we can continue to improve.” Voss says that his banking position gives him insight that is helpful in chairing the BRE initiative. “One of my key [responsibilities] is getting out and speaking with businesses, so it aligns nicely with my day-to-day operations. We’re generally pretty early in the discussion pertaining to growth and expansion.” Both Voss and Hermanson have been encouraged by the feedback received thus far. “Businesses love the work ethic here,” says Hermanson. “They love the hometown values, and that the community is built of problem solvers.” Voss commented on the “glowing results” regarding safety, vibrancy and improvement of the downtown. But the survey also identifies areas of growth for Janesville to maintain its positive momentum. “Results have been very positive,” Voss says, “but we also want to identify areas where we can improve. There has been good commentary on where we can be better.” “Housing is a number one challenge,” says Hermanson. “We need more housing at all levels.” Voss concurs. “Business owners and leaders want to see affordable housing for their workers and new workers coming into town.” And both mentioned workforce readiness as an area of focus. 8 | FORWARD JANESVILLE We’re talking about year one, bringing over 100,000 visitors to downtown. And when we’re up and running and stable, year three, we’re talking 80,000 visitors a year. Bringing [that many] people to downtown Janesville is going to be transformative. The children’s museum’s exterior will be a blend of old and new with the brick of the historic First National Bank carried through into the new design
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“Employers are saying [too many] students aren’t workforce ready,” says Hermanson. The good news, however, is that the local business and educational communities have already recognized that situation and begun to address it. Innovative partnerships like Craftsman with Character and the Global Business Academy have brought local businesses together with the School District of Janesville and Blackhawk Technical College to introduce students to career opportunities with local employers. “We have made impressive inroads, but more needs to be done,” says Voss. “However, the narrative is starting to change, with more students open to going into the trades.” Growing programs like this is key, according to Hermanson. “We need every student to take advantage of local educational opportunities,” she says. “And we need [more] employers to provide internship opportunities.” Ultimately, the goal of BRE is to ensure businesses grow in Janesville rather than leaving the community to expand. GEA is a perfect example. After constructing an 86,000 square foot fabrication, repair, logistics and training facility, GEA chose to invest an additional $20 million in a technology center for alternative proteins as an expansion project at their new Janesville facility because all the conditions were right. A successful BRE initiative will yield more groundbreakings and growth for Janesville’s existing business base. From Quiet Partner to Major Force A key player in the workforce development programs has been the Forward Foundation, a funder of the Janesville Business Hub where Janesville Business Academy classes are held. Besides the aforementioned involvement in projects like ARISENow and the Children’s Museum of Rock County, Forward Foundation is evolving from a quiet behind-the-scenes force to a more public role. The launch of their Vision Forward Fund (VFF) in August 2023 provided a framework and a funding structure to expand the foundation’s impact and scope. Thanks to community partners that invested $500,000, the VFF is providing seed and booster funding to initiatives identified as growth opportunities in Janesville. One of those initial opportunities is in the area of local child care, identified as a Policy Priority Area by Forward Janesville’s Government Relations Council. The first step is the creation of a Child Care Directory. Claire Gray, Forward Janesville’s Director of Policy and Strategic Initiatives, says that the directory will serve the needs of three crucial stakeholder groups: parents, providers and employers. “When looking at the child care issue,” Gray says, “one thing we heard consistently across stakeholder groups was that they weren’t sure where to go to find care. The Child Care Directory will help eliminate that initial hurdle by providing a centralized location for care options in the Janesville area.” Gray says that the directory will contain a map view so careseekers can easily see where providers are located, an important function because parents often select a provider based on location. Each provider will have a profile that tells their story and provides key information about their operations and programming. There is also a “quick compare” view, so careseekers can easily evaluate providers side-by-side to make the best choice for their families. “The Foundation’s seed funding to get Forward Janesville’s Child Care Directory off the ground was essential,” says Gray. “We’re so thankful for the Foundation’s support and look forward to launching the Directory in the first half of 2025.” Responding to housing concerns identified by the BRE survey, Forward Foundation is partnering with the UW-Whitewater Fiscal and Economic Research Center (FERC) on a housing study to determine the extent of shortages or surpluses, identify supply and demand, and ascertain how income factors into the results. The FERC study was another VFF seed project. Forward Foundation helped develop, and will continue to update, its Community Dashboard, which captures forty metrics in ten categories, compiling valuable local data in relation to the economy, education, innovation, safety, infrastructure, business climate, and quality of life in one convenient spot. This important snapshot is a valuable tool that identifies trends, monitors progress, improves collaboration, and aids in datainformed decision-making. The Community Dashboard’s data is updated annually in partnership with Blackhawk Technical College, the City of Janesville, the Janesville Area Convention & Visitors Bureau, the Janesville Police Department, the School District of Janesville, the School District of Milton, the Southwest Wisconsin Workforce Development Board, and UW-Whitewater at Rock County. The Dashboard also utilizes publicly available data sources from the County Health Rankings & Roadmap, the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis, Rock County and the U.S. Census Bureau. Thanks to the community’s investment and input, Forward Foundation is moving from quiet partnership into bold, visible leadership. With the support of the business community, the Foundation will help keep the Janesville area moving in a positive direction on all fronts, not just in 2025 but for years to come. 10 | FORWARD JANESVILLE Eighty-four percent [of the respondents] say that the current business environment enables them to grow. 73 percent say they plan to hire, with 58 percent planning to expand in the next 12 months. GEA breaking ground on its Technology Center in 2024; the goal of BRE is to ensure more businesses expand in Janesville like GEA did
The Forward Janesville Annual Dinner brought together more than 650 guests for a night of connection, inspiration and celebration on Nov. 12. Held at the Janesville Conference Center inside the Holiday Inn Express, the event showcased the spirit of the Janesville business community. The highlight of the evening was an engaging fireside chat with Fred Smith, the visionary Founder and Executive Chairman of FedEx Corporation. Moderated by Brian Cullen, the voice of the Rock Aqua Jays and a long-time employee of FedEx, Smith shared stories of his journey from the company’s inception to its status as a global logistics powerhouse. His insights into innovation, leadership and focus on continuous improvement provided lessons for business leaders and entrepreneurs alike. One of Smith’s main messages was to embrace change. “You have to recognize that you have to work on change and make people comfortable with change every day. It’s your job as the [leader] to keep hammering on that. You have to change or go extinct.” Smith commended Janesville’s resurgence following the Great Recession in 2008 and closure of the General Motors plant in 2009. Rather than resisting change, Janesville embraced it. Today, the economy is more diversified, downtown is on the upswing, and community development projects like the Woodman’s Sports & Convention Center, the Children’s Museum of Rock County and the Boys & Girls Club are taking off. This was Forward Janesville President & CEO Shar Hermanson’s first annual dinner. Her remarks reflected on the organization’s accomplishments over the past year and highlighted our community’s resilience with a video that challenged the audience to think of “What’s Next?” Attendees helped answer that question in real-time. They submitted their ideas to a Mentimeter poll that generated a word cloud of our community’s aspirations. With words like growth, innovation, community, housing and family taking center stage, the path forward on “What’s Next?” is crystallizing. The event also served as a platform honor those who have contributed their time and talents to Forward Janesville’s growth. Current Forward Janesville Board Chair Derek Greene presented former Board Chair Dave Hiller with the annual Recognition of Service to Forward Janesville award. To Hiller, it meant a lot. “I’ve spent about a decade with this organization and am beyond thrilled with the change we’ve driven in the community and the relationship we’ve built with the School District of Janesville. Our community has tremendous momentum – we need to keep it going.” As one of the region’s premier business events, the Forward Janesville Annual Dinner once again proved to be an unforgettable evening, leaving attendees motivated to continue building a thriving business community. To relive the night, view a gallery of photos from the event and the full recording of the Annual Dinner, including an introduction from Janesville native and former Speaker of the House Paul Ryan, visit www.forwardjanesville.com/dinner. Attendees share their thoughts about “What’s Next?” for Janesville in a Mentimeter poll Word cloud results from the Mentimeter poll indicate what’s on the horizon for the community The evening’s engaging fireside chat with Fred Smith (right), the founder of FedEx, and moderator Brian Cullen (left) A Night to Remember Forward Janesville's 2024 Annual Dinner captured the energy of possibility By Megan Matuszeski www.forwardjanesville.com | 11 The Annual Dinner would not have been possible without the generous sponsorship of the following member-businesses: PLATINUM: ABC Supply, Baird, Bommerang Home Rentals, JP Cullen, Nowlan Law, Quint & Rishy Studer, & Zilber Property Group. GOLD: Angus-Young, Axley Attorneys, BakerTilly, Batterman, BMO Bank, City of Janesville, FedEx, Hendricks Commercial Properties, Johnson Financial Group, Mary Terry Design, Mercyhealth, Meridian, Pindel Global Precision, Prent Corporation, The Janesville Gazette, Three Pillars Wealth Management, TRICOR Insurance, & Whiton House Consulting. WINE: Turke & Steil. TABLE DECOR: Avondale Roofing & PremierBank.
12 | FORWARD JANESVILLE Adams & Sons, Ltd. Agrace AgSun Corporation Alliant Energy Alt Tax & Financial Services, Inc. American Awards & Promotions American Family Insurance | Mark Ackerman Agency Angus-Young Apfel Wolfe Funeral Home Arndt Farms, Inc. Baird Baker Tilly Black Bridge Family Dental Blackhawk Community Credit Union Blackhawk Technical College BMO Bank BRABAZON | Title Team Group, LLC Cambeck Petroleum Corp. Cedar Crest, Inc. Century 21 Affiliated City Ice, LLC City of Janesville Coldwell Banker The Realty Group Community Foundation of Southern Wisconsin, Inc. Congress Glass, Inc. Consigny Law Firm, S.C. Cost Cutters Crystal Computer Consulting Culligan Water Culver’s - Milton Avenue Data Dimensions Dean Health Plan by Medica Dean Medical Group - Janesville East DeGarmo Plumbing & Piping, Inc. Diversified Building Maintenance Dvorak Landscape Supply, LLC ECHO, Inc. Eric Richards Construction, Inc. Floral Expressions, Inc Gateway Professional Baseball, LLC/ Beloit Sky Carp Glacier’s Edge Council, Boy Scouts of America Harris Ace Hardware, LLP Holiday Inn Express & Janesville Conference Center J & W Transfer Jacob Homes Corporation Janesville Athletic Club Janesville Brick Janesville Country Club Janesville Foundation Janesville Noon Rotary Club Janesville Sand & Gravel Co./LYCON Inc. JNB Signs, Inc. Johnson Financial Group JP Cullen K & W Greenery, Inc. KANDU Industries L.A. Duesterbeck & Associates, Inc. Lamar Advertising LKQ Star Auto Parts Corp. MacFarlane Pheasants Inc. Mac’s Pizza Shack Marklein Builders, Inc. Marling Lumber & Marling Homeworks Co. MercyCare Health Plans Mercyhealth Minuteman Press Nowlan Law Olde Towne Mall Phones Plus.Biz, Inc. Prairie Woods Golf Course Premier Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery PremierBank Prime Quarter Steak House R. K. Smith Realty Rock Aqua Jays Water Ski Club, Inc. Rock County Honda Rock Energy Cooperative Rock Road Companies, Inc. Rotary Botanical Gardens RSM US LLP Schneider Funeral Directors, Inc. School District of Janesville Schwartz & Shea Insurance Agency Seneca Foods Corporation Signarama Simmons Fence and Specialty Products LLC Smile Doctors SW WI Workforce Development Board T.R. Mulligan Inc. The Diamond Center The Glass Garden LLC The Janesville Gazette The Pension Specialists, Ltd. The UPS Store Tim & Marcy Weber TRICOR Insurance Agency, Inc. United Way Blackhawk Region Uptown Janesville Van Galder Bus Company Voigt Music Center, Inc. Wells Fargo Advisors Red denotes Champions Club level membership The Quarter Century Club recognizes Forward Janesville members who have been members of our organization for 25 years or more. They are active community champions who play a key role in making the Janesville area vibrant and strong. They appreciate the value of chamber membership and understand the central role chambers play in a thriving business community. Cheers to our Quarter Century Club members for their support and partnership! QUARTER CENTURY CLUB
14 | FORWARD JANESVILLE
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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.
www.forwardjanesville.com | 17 What motivated you to join the Ambassadors? I’m one of those boomerangs that started here [in Rock County], went away and then chose to come back to the area. Getting connected with Forward Janesville (FJ) and the Ambassador program has been a fun way for me to get involved with the business and philanthropic aspects of our community. In the grand scheme of things, I am still relatively new to the Ambassadors, having joined last April. The work I do at the bank is all about supporting people and businesses in the community. Being directly involved with FJ is a natural alignment for me personally and professionally. FJ opens doors and helps facilitate turning conversations into friendships. As an Ambassador, how are you connecting to the community? I firmly believe that relationships matter and are key to building long-term, mutual successes. FJ demonstrates that it has the same philosophy. I love it when I have an opportunity to introduce people and their ideas to others – and FJ does as well. My most fun days are those when I pop in to meet businesses and learn about ways that I can help them with their challenges and celebrate their successes. I am especially proud when Sauk Valley Bank can help sponsor and participate in local events that bring people together. There’s an old Zig Ziglar quote that has always resonated with me: “You can have everything in life that you want if you will just help other people get what they want.” When you’re not working or volunteering, where would we find you? If I’m free, I’m outside doing something with my wife, Tashia, and our attention-seeking goldendoodles. We have been working to maintain and restore a farmstead in Albion that drew us back to the area seven years ago. There will always be more projects than we will ever complete but we enjoy the challenge. I recharge listening to podcasts and music while mowing the lawn, tending gardens and pulling weeds. I love entertaining at our property. EDWARD CACERES Outreach Coordinator Adelante Janesville Edward has been involved with Forward Janesville (FJ) since 2016, when he was part of a private White House tour during one of FJ’s annual Washington D.C. trips. Then, he joined as a member for his own business, Business Advice & Solutions. His connection to Adelante Janesville was sparked at FJ’s 2023 Annual Dinner, and he joined the program as the Outreach Coordinator in 2024. Edward has extensive experience in developing small to mid-sized businesses in the Stateline area (northern Illinois/southern Wisconsin) and a strong commitment to supporting the growth of the Latino entrepreneurial community. Why is Adelante Janesville important? There is a large Latino community in Janesville and Rock County and many of them are entrepreneurs. However, they need help to navigate the system to establish their businesses and help them grow. This is where Adelante Janesville comes in and plays the crucial role of navigator. The energy at the very first Adelante Janesville event that I attended was electric. This community is ready to connect with each other. One of my first priorities as the Outreach Coordinator was to conduct a discovery assessment to determine the current challenges of the local Latino entrepreneurial community. The outcome of the assessment was to establish a series of educational workshops. Then, we began providing technical assistance to entrepreneurs and developed communication channels such as a Facebook page and a regular newsletter to reach out to the Latino community with relevant and reliable information to support business development. Without Adelante and Forward Janesville leading in this space, there would be a void in the community. Why are you such a passionate advocate for small businesses and entrepreneurs? Because of their energy and spirit. I started my first business when I was 16. I dove in at a young age and have been fortunate to have many mentors who helped me along the way. So, I know firsthand how important it is to have mentors in your life. The business wisdom shared by my mentors throughout many years helped me develop a professional skillset that prepared me to advise other entrepreneurs. In the past 15 years, I have successfully advised more than 1,500 entrepreneurs. It is truly rewarding to have the ability to help people make their dreams come true. What is the best piece of advice you’ve ever received? Don’t waste your time chasing money or fortune. Instead, focus on becoming the best version of yourself, achieving success and excelling in what you do. As a result, money and fortune will follow.
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
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A&J Property Restoration Melissa Frassetto 710 Little Potato Way DeForest, WI 53532 (414) 206-4021 ajrestores.com Full-service emergency and nonemergency fire & water damage restoration company Ayres Associates Inc. Melissa Hunt 20975 Swenson Dr., Suite 200 Waukesha, WI 53186 (262) 523-4488 ayresassociates.com Mechanical, electrical, and plumbing engineering services Beloit International Film Festival, Inc. Greg Gerard 635 3rd St. Beloit, WI 53511 (608) 466-9693 beloitfilmfest.org Better Business Bureau Tiffany Bernhardt Schultz 10019 W. Greenfield Ave. Milwaukee, WI 53214 (414) 847-6000 bbb.org Non-profit organization with a mission to advance marketplace trust Black Lab LLC Geoff Mongiat 4032 Wilshire Lane Janesville, WI 53546 (920) 203-9942 blacklab.llc Art supplies, scale models & dioramas Boot Barn Heather Schmitt 2900 Deerfield Dr., Suite 185 Janesville, WI 53546 (608) 305-2787 bootbarn.com Retail store with cowboy boots, hats, western wear, & work boots Celerity Staffing Jeff Flippin 1821 Milton Ave., Suite B Janesville, WI 53545 (608) 314-1186 celeritystaffing.com Staffing agency Cousins Subs Alec Dimmig 2117 W. Court St. Janesville, WI 53548 (262) 253-7700 cousinssubs.com/order/janesvillewest Wisconsin-based, family-owned, sub shop Dale Carnegie Training | Norman & Associates Jon Walrath 3513 Cross Hill Dr., Suite 303 Madison, WI 53718 (608) 445-8580 dalecarnegie.com/locations/ southwest-wisconsin/en/ Business training & consulting Dawn And Zac Travel Zac Fowler Janesville, WI 53548 (608) 247-3833 dawnandzactravel.com Travel agency Dorr Way Studios Sarah Dorr 13101 E. Rye Rd. Avalon, WI 53505 (608) 751-4968 facebook.com/dorrway/ Photography studio rental Drain Cleaning Brothers Skylar Pastorius 152 Buten St. Milton, WI 53563 (608) 480-9115 draincleaningbrothers.com Drain cleaning, augering, video inspection and more G&G Rooter Kory Garczynski Janesville, WI 53548 (608) 247-9371 gandgrooter.com Sewer and drain cleaning Great Smiles Dental, S.C. Scott Lipker 1336 Creston Park Dr. Janesville, WI 53548 (608) 755-1082 greatsmileswi.com Dental services Hacienda Real 3001 N Lexington Dr. Janesville, WI 53545 (608) 754-8835 haciendarealrestaurant.com/ Mexican restaurant Hamza Properties Alexis Walker 1951 Center Ave., Suite 150 Janesville, WI 53546 (608) 290-4815 Commercial property company dedicated to investing in developing the South side of Janesville Hometown Hub Dani Mason 1703 Plainfield Ave., #103 Janesville, WI 53545 (608) 931-0352 facebook.com/hometownhub nutrition/ Herbal drinks & supplements image.works Amanda Jezo 701 Deming Way, Suite 201 Madison, WI 53717 (800) 777-1663 imageworksdirect.com Bank and credit union marketing services intelIT Solutions Joseph Mueller 6403 S. Krueger Dr. Beloit, WI 53511 (608) 312-6410 intelitsolutions.com IT services for home or business JAA Storage Dave Marshall 1310 Plainfield Ave., Suite 120 Janesville, WI 53545 (608) 305-4087 jaastorage.com Indoor climate-controlled storage Jon Green Family Auto Gunner Green 1234 Gateway Dr. Milton, WI 53563 (608) 716-4400 jongreenfamilyauto.com Junior Achievement of Wisconsin, Inc. - South Central Region Lori Astell 2800 Royal Ave., Suite 207 Madison, WI 53713 (608) 288-8201 wisconsin.ja.org Non-profit organization that inspires and prepares young people for success Kittelsen Law Firm Robb Leach 916 17th Ave. Monroe, WI 53566 (608) 325-2191 kittlaw.com Lakeland Care Molly Burke N6654 Rolling Meadows Dr. Fond du Lac, WI 54937 (920) 906-5100 lakelandcareinc.com Long-term care services and support for elders and adults with disabilities Lon's Jon's Lonny Pastorius 7516 N. Sturtevant Rd. Whitewater, WI 53190 (608) 295-2700 lonsjons.com Portable restroom rentals Midwest IT Solutions Taylor Danz N1264 Park St. Pell Lake, WI 53157 (262) 562-2030 midwestmsp.com/ IT services for small business Panoramic, LLC Amanda Gonzalez 1500 N. Parker Dr. Janesville, WI 53545 (608) 531-7616 panoramicinc.com/ Custom thermoformed rigid food packaging RA Homes Realty Amy Curcio 3921 W. Rollingwood Dr. Janesville, WI 53545 (608) 352-0129 rahomes4u.com/ Real estate agency Reinhart Boerner Van Deuren S.C. Chase Kugler 22 E. Mifflin St., Suite 700 Madison, WI 53703 (608) 229-2200 reinhartlaw.com/ Law firm Riley Nilo Training Center Holly Yeko 450 S. John Paul Rd. Milton, WI 53563 (608) 751-7856 rileynilotrainingcenter.com Sports training center SCORE Dennis Riley Janesville, WI 53546 (608) 290-0725 score.org/madison/profile/ dennis-a-riley Small business mentoring NEW MEMBERS OF FORWARD JANESVILLE 20 | FORWARD JANESVILLE
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