Episode 225

• The inspiration for opening a dog training school
• Training Techniques and Philosophy
• Dog Psychology and Human Behavior
• Running a Dog Training School as a business
• Advice for Dog Owners

Guest: Heather Mishefske, owner of Embark Dog Academy
Beverage Enjoyed: Lindermans Belgium Lambic Framboise

Episode 224

• What is AI?
• How one new to AI can access it
• Security and Confidentiality Concerns
• How NB uses AI
• Thoughts on how AI may evolve

Guest: Amanda Parkinson, AVP of Marketing at Northwestern Bank
Beverage Enjoyed: Singha, “the Original Thai Beer”, Product of Thailand

Episode 223

• The move to James Madison University
• Proudest Accomplishments at UWEC
• Campus Expansion
• Purchase of Sacred Heart Hospital by Blugold Properties
• Most missed things about Eau Claire

Guest: Chancellor Jim Schmidt of UW Eau Claire
Beverage Enjoyed: Gunpowder IPA, The Brewing Projekt

Episode 222

• The Sevens Project
• Badger of the Year
• Orchard Hills Development
• Oakwood Mall / Hills Area
• Downtown Transit Center
• Cannery District

Guest: Steve Nick, Attorney for the City of Eau Claire
Beverage Enjoyed: Divine Dramedy Abbey Dubbel, Modicum Brewing Eau Claire

Episode 221

• The Sevens Project
• Eau Claire’s Need for Class A Office Space
• Eau Claires Continuing Growth
• Growing Up vs Growing Out
• Out-of-State Hoeft Entities

Guest: Peter Hoeft, CEO and Owner of Hoeft Builders
Beverage Enjoyed: Montucky Cold Snack

Episode 220

• Completion of River Prairie
• Population of Altoona growing, nearing 10,000
• Container Park / Downtown Revitalization
• The health of Lake Altoona
• Leadership change on the horizon

Guest: Mike Golat, Administrator for the City of Altoona
Beverage Enjoyed: Piraat Ale, Belgium

Episode 219

• Perspectives as a Jazz Festival participant, organizer, and Board member
• Is jazz still relevant to young adults?
• What makes jazz unique as a musical art form?
• Advice to first-time Jazz Festival and Jazz Crawl attendees
• Preview of guest artists: John Clayton and Carmille Thurman

Guest: Amber Scharenbroch of Eau Claire Jazz, Inc.
Beverage Enjoyed: Maui Wowie Jungo Joose, The Brewing Projekt

Episode 218

• Qualifications for flying a drone
• How drones compare with traditional agricultural spreading equipment
• Turning a hobby into a business
• Most fun in the business
• Drone flying stories

Guest: Hayden and John Goodman, owners of Chippewa Valley Drones
Beverage Enjoyed: Spotted Cow, New Glarus Brewing

Episode 217

• Plans for large land purchased near St. Joseph’s hospital
• Enrollment Growth
• Great Books Approach / University of Dallas
• Role of Religion in School
• Alternative Educational Options

Guest: Beer Molly Bushman, President of McDonell Area Catholic Schools
Beverage Enjoyed: Guinness 0 NA Beer

Episode 216

• Can great players be great coaches?
• Molding girls from different schools into one team
• How school co-ops control WI girl’s high school hockey
• Pros and Cons of playing hockey all year
• Outlook for next season

Guest: Mikayla Hogan, Coach of the CFM Girl’s Hockey Team
Beverage Enjoyed: Moon Man IPA, New Glarus Brewing

Episode 215

• The history of the podcast
• Where one can find past episodes
• Notable shows from the past
• How guests are chosen
• How the beverage is chosen

Guest: Jerry and Scott
Beverage Enjoyed: Ayinger Oktoberfest and Samuel Smith Oatmeal Stout

Episode 214

• Update on NB
• Jerry J’s perspective on the economy
• Experience as a Board member of the Minneapolis Federal Reserve Bank
• Best things about being a Bank President

Guest: Jerry Jacobson, President of Northwestern Bank
Beverage Enjoyed: Leinie’s Original

Episode 213

• The new commission structure for real estate agents
• Local Market Insights
• Advice for Buyers and Sellers
• Real Estate Challenges and Predictions

Guest: Katie Warner, Broker / Owner of Eau Claire Reality
Beverage Enjoyed: Leinie’s Summer Shandy

Episode 212

• What is the Chippewa Valley Health Cooperative?
• Filling the void left by the closure of Sacred Heart and St. Joseph’s hospitals
• Staffing the new facility
• The value to the community of an independent hospital
• How to become a member

Guest: Patti Darley and Bob Kruse, Board members of the Chippewa Valley Health Cooperative
Beverage Enjoyed: Whole Cluster Pinot Noir, Willamette Valley Vineyards

Episode 211

• Why was Cray such a pivotal player in the computer industry?
• Attracting critical talent to the Chippewa Falls
• Role Cray played in helping to win the Cold War
• The impact of Cray on the Chippewa Valley
• Cray’s legacy

Guest: Four leaders of supercomputer legend Cray Research, Skip August, Jerry Brost, Dave Kiefer, and Terry McDougall
Beverage Enjoyed: Leinie’s Dark Lager

Episode 210

• What is a classical education?
• The demand for this type of education model in the Chippewa Valley
• Moving students from a traditional education model to a classical one
• Application process

Guest: Jonathan Gray, Headmaster of Veritas Classical Academy
Beverage Enjoyed: Buffalo Plaid, Fifth Ward Brewery Oshkosh, WI

Episode 209

• NIL (Name, Image and Likeness)
• Recruiting in the WIAC
• Impact of facilities on recruiting
• In season vs off season schedule
• Thoughts for the 2025 season

Guest: Coach Rob Erickson, Head Football Coach for UW Eau Claire
Beverage Enjoyed: Drop Dead Blonda, Stevens Point Brewery

Episode 208

• The transition to renewables
• Planning for future energy needs
• Electric Vehicles – Xcel energy’s position in that space
• Artificial Intelligence – growth and impacts to the grid
• Home solar installations

Guest: Tyrel Zich and Tim Bartels of Xcel Energy
Beverage Enjoyed: Hennepin Farmhouse Ale – Ommegang Brewery

Episode 207

• The growing popularity of technical school degrees
• Building renovations / new programs
• Most popular fields of study
• Lingering COVID impacts
• Non-traditional sports

Guest: Dr. Sunem Beaton-Garcia, President of Chippewa Valley Technical College
Beverage Enjoyed: Law’s Cask Bourbon

Episode 206

• The passion for pizza
• The road to opening Leona’s
• Impact of social media
• Staying resilient
• Opening plans

Guest: Jacob and Brittany Paulsrud, Owners of Covizza / Leona’s Pizza
Beverage Enjoyed: Wit’s Peak, Athletic Brewing

Episode 205

• Were the results of the recent elections a surprise?
• Pre-election polling
• Voting by economic class
• Partisanship of national media
• Impact of WI redistricting

Guest: John Frank, Political Analyst for WEAU
Beverage Enjoyed: La Croix sparkling water

Episode 204

• Types of entertainment Western WI enjoys
• Competing with other local venues and events
• Eau Claire’s selling / short comings with artists
• Last minute ticket buyers

Guest: Kathy Wright, Talent Buyer for the Pablo Center
Beverage Enjoyed: Three Philosophers, Quad Ale. Cooperstown NY

Episode 203

• Connecting UWEC with the community
• Why Eau Claire has blossomed into a music hub
• Reasons students choose UWEC for its music program
• AI and the viability of live music
• Jazz student internship program

Guest: Quentin Volk, Executive Director Eau Claire Jazz, Inc.
Beverage Enjoyed: Houblon Chouffe, Belgium IPA

Episode 202

• Functional Medicine
• Time spent with a Patient
• Medicating Children
• Physician Burnout

Guest: Dr. Laura Smith, Pediatrician with Spero Wellness Center
Beverage Enjoyed: Spindrift Sparkling Water

Episode 201

• Balancing Career with Family
• Working with Female Business Owners / Entrepreneurs
• Women in Leadership Roles
• Why Business Owners Look to NB for their Banking Needs

Guest: Lacey Logslett, VP of Business Banking at Northwestern Bank
Beverage Enjoyed: Stiegl Raspberry Radler, Salzburg Austria

Episode 200

• Return of United (Skyway) Airlines to EAU
• Maintaining Sun Country service to Fort Myers
• Need for regular, dependable flights both out of and into the Chippewa Valley
• Flight times and schedules

Guest: Charity Zich, Airport Director Chippewa Valley Regional Airport
Beverage Enjoyed: Schell’s Sangria, New Ulm Brewing MN

Episode 199

• Modicum Brewing Story
• Decision to Re-start Business
• Coffee Grounds Experience
• Future Plans

Guest: Eric Rykal, Owner of Modicum Brewery
Beverage Enjoyed: When I am King, Modicum Brewery

Episode 198

• Closing COVID Educational gaps
• AI in the Classroom
• Phones / Digital Screens
• Age Children Can Begin their Career Search

Guest: Dr. Heidi Eliopoulos, Superintendent Altoona Public Schools
Beverage Enjoyed: Voodoo Ranger, IPA New Belgium Brewing

Episode 197

• Trends in bank fraud Most frequent fraud where customers lose money
• Business fraud
• How folks can best protect themselves from fraud and identity theft
• How AI will both increase fraud and improve fraud decetion
• Chippewa Falls Oktoberfest 2024 

Guest: Andy Henning, AVP of Compliance at Northwestern Bank
Beverage Enjoyed: Paulaner Oktoberfest

Episode 196

• Completion of Construction In River Prairie Affordable Housing Efforts
• City Expansion / East Neighborhood Residential Development Downtown Container Park
• Update Water Availability Beverage

Guest: Mike Golat, City Administrator of Altoona
Beverage Enjoyed: Oktoberfest, Athletic Brewing

Episode 195

• The Sonnentag Center will change the entertainment options for Western WI
• How the Sonnentag Center complements existing sports / music venues
• What the guest experience will be
• Types of events to be offered
• Three-year goal for the Center

Guest: Wyatt Tinnen, General Manager of the new Sonnentag Event Center
Beverage Enjoyed: Driftless Glen Bourbon

Episode 194

• Improvements in Blacktop
• Substitutes for Oil in Blacktop
• Forecast for 2025 based on Projects out for Bid
• Why should Someone Bank with NB?
• Challenges the Bank Faces Staying Independent

Guest: Darrin Senn, Owner of Senn Blacktop and Northwestern Bank Chairman of the Board
Beverage Enjoyed: Goose Island Bourbon County Double Barrel

Episode 193

• What is AI?
• Issues with accessing AI in an office setting
• Opportunities that AI offers for productivity
• How AI usage is impacting WIN’s network

Guest: Scott Hoffman, CEO WIN Technologies
Beverage Enjoyed: Wolf, 3 Sheeps Brewing Company

Episode 192

• Jazz for a Cause
• Role of Open Door Clinic
• Impact on Clinic of HSHS Closure(s)
• Services Provided
• Eligibility Criteria

Guest: Barb Stevens, President of Open Door Clinic
Beverage Enjoyed: Curieux, Allagash Brewing Co. Portland Maine

Episode 191

• Updates on construction activity throughout the city
• Impact of the closing of St. Joseph’s hospital
• Plans for the Chippewa Falls public pool and Marshal Park
• Strength of Downtown
• City Comprehensive Plan Update

Guest: Brad Hentschel, City Planner for the City of Chippewa Falls
Beverage Enjoyed: Franziskaner Weissbier, Munich Germany

Episode 190

• Hoofbeat (formerly Country Fest)
• Force Fields, a new Electronic Dance Music Festival
• Farm Technology Days
• Improvements coming to the fest grounds
• Wade’s favorite fest memories

Guest: Wade Asher, Festival Promoter Chippewa Valley Music Festivals
Beverage Enjoyed: Busch Light

Episode 189

We discuss 7 mega trends that are impacting the Chippewa Valley:

• Population Growth
• Demography
• Urbanization
• Economic Shifts
• Digital Disruption
• Climate Change

Guest: Aaron White, Eau Claire’s Community Development Director
Beverage Enjoyed: Smithwick’s Irish Red Ale

Episode 188

• Using chiropractic procedures as an alternative to drug therapy
• Offering chiropractic care in public schools
• Treating children vs adults
• The role of parents in school-based treatments
• Tracking results

Guest: Dr. Amanda Blonigen, Co-Owner of On-site Chiropractic
Beverage Enjoyed: Strongbow Hard Gold Apple Cider

Episode 187

• The growth of Kwik Trip
• Providing healthy options in food deserts
• Corporate Culture
• Planning for EV’s

Guest: John McHugh, VP of External Relations for Kwik Trip, Inc.
Beverage Enjoyed: Kid Kolsch, New Glarus Brewing

Episode 186

• EV Range issues in cold weather
• Servicing EV
• Hidden costs of ownership
• Where electric vehicles make sense
• Mike’s role in Nemtec Racing

Guest: Mike Farrow, NB bankers and owner of Nemtec Tuning and Nemtec Racing
Beverage Enjoyed: Moon Man from New Glarus Brewing

Episode 185

• How Eau Claire is viewed by UWEC students
• Is Eau Claire a desirable location for students to live post-graduation?
• Are major metro areas still desirable for students starting careers?
• Housing Affordability
• The NB internship experience

Guest: Ashley Milletics, NB’s Marketing Intern
Beverage Enjoyed: Lindemans Framboise, Raspberry Lambic Beer

Episode 184

• How the sale of land to Walmart launched Gateway’s expansion on the NW side of Eau Claire
• The fading focus of job growth with economic development
• Value of ‘mega’ projects for the Chippewa Valley
• County T Expansion (Gateway Northwest)

Guest: Jeff Halloin, Attorney with Landmark Company and member of Gateway Industrial Park Corp.
Beverage Enjoyed: Leinenkugal’s Northwoods Amber

Episode 183

• Pairing beer with food
• West Coast craft brewing vs Midwest Craft brewing
• The 3rd and Vine experience
• What is special about Eau Claire

Guest: Jared Bilhorn, Owner of 3rd and Vine and Jerry Bauer, NB Director
Beverage Enjoyed: Giant Jone’s Dubbel Diest

Episode 182

• Managing the growth of Eau Claire
• Challenges facing the city
• Creating affordable housing, residential density
• Infrastructure “Wish List”
• Eau Claire 2045

Guest: David Solberg, Deputy Manager of the City of Eau Claire
Beverage Enjoyed: A&W Diet Cream Soda

Episode 181

• Maintaining customer loyalty and positive client experience with fewer staff
• Accounting Automation
• Keeping financial Data Secure
• Less about bookkeeping, more about data analytics
• Preparing your own taxes

Guest: Traci Hollister, CPA and Partner Wipfli, LLP
Beverage Enjoyed: Schofferhofer Grapefruit Wheat Beer

Episode 180

• Sun Country Results
• EAU’s status as an Essential Service airport
• Change in the travelers utilizing the airport
• Airport Construction Updates

Guest: Charity Zich, Airport Director Chippewa Valley Regional Airport
Beer Enjoyed: Leinie’s Summer Shandy

Episode 179

• How to Think about Health Care and its Financing
• Pivoting away from Employee Provided health Insurance
• Incentivizing Folks to Take Charge of their Own Health

Guest: Karen Hebert, Group Benefits Broker of Spectrum Benefits Solutions
Beer Enjoyed: Two Can Play at this Game, Tripping Animals Brewing, Doral, FL

Episode 178

• Operational Referendum
• Challenges of Socia Media
• Career Readiness
• Mental Health of Youth

Guest: Jeff Holm, Superintendent Chippewa Falls Unified School District
Beer Enjoyed: Sprecher Root Beer

Episode 177

• Moving from New Jersey (in a pandemic)
• An outsider’s view of the Chippewa Valley
• Why journalism?
• Relevancy of TV news in 2024

Guest: Leeann Stapleton, Morning News Anchor for WEAU
Beer Enjoyed: St. Hacker Pschorr Munich Gold

Episode 176

• The role trusts play in transferring wealth from one generation to the next
• Services offered by trust companies
• Supporting family members who are unable to support themselves
• End of Life Planning Issues

Guest: Jason Munz, Vice President of Trust Point
Beer Enjoyed: St. Fevillien Grand Cru

Episode 175

• 2023 Wisconsin Banker’s Association “Banker of the Year”
• Healthcare Task Force
• Economic Health of the Chippewa Valley
• Future of Community Banking

Guest: Jerry Jacobson, President and CEO of Northwestern Bank
Beer Enjoyed: Leinenkugel’s Honey Weiss

Episode 174

• Coaching CEOs and Executives
• Stress in Leadership Positions
• Warning Signs of Stress
• Traits of a good CEO
• Suggestions for a healthy lifestyle for company leaders

Guest: Brent Hafele, CEO of Vibrancy Unlocked
Beer Enjoyed: Erdinger Dunkel, Erding Germany

Episode 173

• Current Information on the closing of Sacred Heart and St Joseph Hospitals
• History of the Hospital Sisters in the Chippewa Valley
• Likely impacts of the closures on the Chippewa Valley
• Benefits and Services being offered to existing patients and staff

Guest: Nick Berger, former Client Service Executive of HSHS (Hospital Sisters Health System)
Beer Enjoyed: Kwak Belgium Ale

Episode 172

• Trends in building construction
• Availability of materials and labor
• Working in the Chippewa Valley compared with the rest of the US
  Forecast for 2024

Guest: Peter Hoeft, Owner of Hoeft Construction
Beer Enjoyed: Montucky Cold Snack

Episode 171

• Trends in Chippewa Valley crime / security
• Effectiveness of security systems
• Monitoring a second home or your home when away
• Things everyone should do to protect their home / car

Guest: Chris Lokken Customer Service Manager, Tru Lock
Beer Enjoyed: Juneau Juice, Alaskan Brewing

Episode 170

• Types of products manufactured with a die
• Chippewa Valley position as epicenter of US die production
• Future improvements / trends

Guest: Doug Darrow, Owner of Allied Dies
Beer Enjoyed: Bundaberg Ginger Beer

Episode 169

• New school mascot
• Cyber Security Training Facility
• Record Enrollment
• Integration of programs with high schools and area universities
• Enhancing student extracurricular options

Guest: Dr. Sunem Beaton Garcia, President Chippewa Valley Technical College
Beer Enjoyed: Delirium Noel

Episode 168

• What is One Auto Group?
• Challenges / Benefits of selling vehicles of different manufactures.
• Role of a local dealership in the world of Tesla
• Are electric cars a good for the upper Midwest?
• Brands you would like to bring to the Chippewa Valley

Guest:Bill Bertrand, Co-Owner One Auto Group
Beer Enjoyed: Tweak, Avery Brewing Boulder CO

Episode 167

• The transition from CoLab to The Coven
• The role of entrepreneurship in the Pablo Group
• Colab’s place in the local entrepreneurial space
• Joining The Coven community

Guest: Elaine Coughlin, Director of Investment and Entrepreneurship, The Pablo Group
Beverage: Kul Mocks, NA Craft Mocktail

Episode 166

• Business Programs and services offered by Regional Planning
• What to prepare prior to meeting with WCWRP
• Favorite Start up Stories
• Advice for prospective entrepreneurs

Guest: Tobi Lemahiew, Fund Manager West Central WI Regional Planning
Beverage: Saranac Root Beer, Utica NY

Episode 165

• Turning your passion into your business
• Trends in youth sporting equipment
• Does spending more money for equipment yield better playing results?
• Will youth sports transition from school teams to club teams?
• The future of youth sports

Guest: Lance Gurney and Brian Stelle, Owners of Play It Again Sports
Beverage: Lazy Monk Scottish Ale

Episode 164

Chippewa Valley Growth:

• Opportunities and Challenges
• Retail
• Housing
• Transportation
• Career Opportunities

Guest:Tracey Smiskey, NB Eau Claire Area Market President
Beverage:Bourbon Barrel Stout, Central Waters Brewing Co. Amherst WI

Episode 163

• Status of elementary education post COVID
• Teaching students with learning gaps
• Falling ACT scores
• Advice for parents attempting to support their children academically

Guest: Dr. Heidi Eliopoulos, Superintendent Altoona School District
Beverage: Karmeliet Tripel, Belgium

Episode 162

• Role of Wisconsin Famers Union
• Kamp Kenwood
• Connecting consumers with the source of their food
• Development of Food Market in downtown Chippewa Falls
• Changing nature of farming

Guest: Jackie Boos, Facilities Director, Wisconsin Famers Union
Beverage: 3 Sheeps Pils (3 Sheeps Brewing Co - Sheyboygan) and Good City Pills (Milwaukee)

Episode 161

• Discussion on Mike’s new book ‘Forty Acres Deep”
• Prevalence of metal illness in the farming community
• Challenges / opportunities of self-publishing
• Wisconsin PBS Series:  ‘Michael Perry on the Road’
• Michael Perry and the Long Beds

Guest:  Michael Perry - Author, performer, musician, and occasional farmer
Beverage:  Guinness Non-Alcoholic Draught

Episode 160

• Project Updates
• Transit Center
• Block 7 (Menomonie Market Co Op & apartments)
• Cannery District
• Former Shopko Site
• Multi-family Housing
• Carson Park’s Future
• UWEC Projects

Guest: Aaron White, Community Development Director
Beer Enjoyed: Paulaner Salvator Doppelbock

Episode 159

• Development at Chippewa Crossings
• Wisconsin Farmer’s Union downtown market / relocation
• City expansion / industrial needs
• New battery factory
• State land transfer

Guest: Brad Hentschel, City of Chippewa Falls Planner
Beer Enjoyed: Paulaner Oktoberfest

Episode 158

• What is a food bank?
• Status of food security in western Wisconsin
• Newly expanded facili