Event Agenda
2023 Program
Presented by:
Dale Wilsher
Featured Speaker
Dale Wilsher is a professional development expert, executive leadership coach, CPLC, PCC,
CCSP, motivational speaker, and DISC personality trainer who knows the secret to employee
engagement, client attraction, and business motivation lies in mastering your meaning. As
the owner of Your Authentic Personality, she helps professionals and entrepreneurs make the
highest and best use of who they are, find and create deeply meaningful work, tap into their
unique purpose, and become all they are meant to be.
Program subject to change
Session Sponsored By
Pre-Conference
Tuesday, September 26
Theme for the Day: Focusing on You
9:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Boot Camp for New(er) Chamber Executives (includes lunch)
Conference
12:00 PM
Conference Registration
12:30PM
Welcome and Introductions
12:45PM
60 Ideas in 60 Minutes: Best Practices Sharing
Share your chamber’s best practice, idea or strategy to help inspire others and learn from each other
2:00PM
Fireside Chat
Hear from Stephanie about her career story, lessons learned about leadership, and the opportunities and challenges she’s faced in the chamber and tourism industry
Kurt Bauer
President & CEO, WMC
Stephanie Klett
President & CEO, VISIT Lake Geneva
3:00Pm
Opening Keynote: Meaning Matters: Define your Purpose
People don’t buy WHAT you do, they buy WHY you do it!
Dale Wilsher
4:00pm
Closing
5:00pm
Group Reception and Dinner Boat Cruise on Lake Geneva
8:00pm
Adjourn for the Day
Conference
Wednesday, September 27
Theme for the Day: Building Your Toolkit
7:00AM
Business at Breakfast
8:00am
Welcome and Introductions
8:15Am
Keynote: Management vs. Leadership
Understanding the key difference and what you should know
Rusty Schieber
Vice President of Operations Support, Brakebush Brothers, Inc.
9:00Am
Keynote: Lessons Learned about Building Relationships & Funding Your Mission
Wade Goodsell
COO, WMC; Executive Director, WMC Foundation
10:00Am
Like-size Chamber Discussions
10:45Am
Workforce Panel Presentation on Youth Apprenticeships, Fast Forward Grants, Career Pathways & Project-based and Experiential Learning
Rachel Ver Velde
moderator
Senior Director of Workforce, Education & Employment Policy, WMC
Jim Bender
Bender Consulting, Lincoln Academy Public Charter School
Beth Kaminski
Regional Career Pathways State Director, Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction
John Keckhaver
Youth Apprenticeship Section Chief, Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development
Nicholas Kelly
President, School Choice Wisconsin
11:45Am
Lunch
12:30Pm
Breakout Sessions
1. How to Build & Grow a Government Affairs Program
John Kirchner
Vice President of Midwest Region, US CHamber of Commerce
Amanda Payne
Senior Vice President of Public Policy, Waukesha County Business Alliance
Joe Venhuizen
Vice President of Membership, Envision Greater Fond du Lac
2. Small Chambers Rule
Russ Korpela
Executive Director, River Falls Area Chamber of Commerce & Tourism Bureau
3. Tips for Effective Membership Management
Wade Goodsell
COO, WMC; Executive Director, WMC Foundation
1:30pm
Repeat Breakout Sessions
2:30pm
Free Time & Personal Consultations with Dale Wilsher
5:30pm
Group Reception and Dinner Downtown Lake Geneva
8:00pm
Adjourn for the Day
Conference
Thursday, September 28
Theme for the Day: Making It Happen
7:00am
Business at Breakfast
8:00am
Welcome and Introductions
8:15Am
Executive Leadership Panel
Lessons learned about business and leadership, industry opportunities and challenges, and employee and community engagement
Kurt Bauer
moderator
President & CEO, WMC
Dr. Ryohei Tsuji
President & COO, Kikkoman Foods, Inc.
Kelly Norton
Senior Director of Culture & Communication, Grande Cheese Co.
Tim Oswald
Chief Human Resources Officer, Fairbanks Morse Defense
9:15AM
Keynote: Leading with Creativity for Programming & Events
Stephanie Klett
President & CEO, VISIT Lake Geneva
10:00AM
Fireside Chat
State & Local Chamber Partnerships Strengthen the Business Community’s Voice
Wade Goodsell
*host
COO, WMC; Executive Director, WMC Foundation
Kurt Bauer
President & CEO, WMC
11:00AM
Keynote: How to Keep the Urgent from Hijacking What’s Important
Dale Wilsher
11:45aM
Conference Takeaways
12:00PM
Adjourn
Pricing
Your WCCE Conference & Retreat registration includes educational programming, personal consultation with main speaker, meals, cocktail receptions and dinners, a boat cruise, conference materials and travel during the event. Hotel and travel to/from the resort are on your own.
- Pre-Conference: Chamber Boot Camp (Member) $50
Pre Conference: Chamber Boot Camp (Non-Member): $75
- Conference Individual (Member) *early bird $399
Conference Individual (Non-Member): $499
- Conference Individual (Member) *after August 31 $499
Conference Individual (Non-Member): $599
- Additional Member from the Same Chamber $299
- Guest (Significant Other) $250
Lodging
ROOM BLOCK
A room block has been reserved at The Abbey Resort for Tuesday and Wednesday nights for our group. The special room rate is $129 per night, plus tax. A resort services fee of $15 will be added to your reservation per night. Room upgrades for the pool view or harbor view are available for additional fee, and suites may be requested based on availability. Please reference “Wisconsin Chamber of Commerce Executives” when you call (800) 709-1323 before August 28th to reserve your room. To learn more about the hotel, visit www.theabbeyresort.com
Sponsors
Please contact Wade Goodsell or Susan Nyffenegger for more information on sponsorships available and how you can help support this event, (608) 258-3400.
Conference Sponsor
Presenting Sponsor
Registration Sponsor
