Tim Ryan, tryan@shawanoleader.com
Mary White, chief financial officer of Nueske’s Applewood Smoked Meats in Wittenberg, officially took over as president of the Shawano Country Chamber of Commerce at the chamber’s annual banquet Thursday, inheriting the gavel from Jim Feeney.
A Shawano area resident since she was 2 years old, White has been with Neuske’s for four years and was on the chamber’s executive committee last year as president-elect.
White said she feels it’s important to be part of the chamber for the support it provides businesses.
“Why go at it all alone?” she said. “Instead of leaving your future to chance, build your network that will be there to support you through thick and thin. The chamber offers many opportunities to network with others who are in one way associated with hundreds of local businesses.”
White said achieving success requires businesses helping one another.
“Success doesn’t focus on ‘What can this person do for me?’ but rather, ‘What can I do to help this person?’” she said. “Then the success magically follows.”
White said she hopes to work with others providing networking and educational opportunities that promote financial security throughout Shawano and Menominee counties.
She said the chamber would continue to be a resource for businesses to go to for help and advice, as well as staying abreast of new regulations and staying educated in such areas as finance, marketing and staffing.
“Another important area we need to stay focused on is the education of our youth,” she said. “We want to ensure we continue to offer opportunities to prepare them for their futures and enable them with the needed tools for future education beyond high school for a successful career. We can even hold high hopes they return to our area and bring back to us new, fresh business knowledge or even become an entrepreneur where their roots began.”
White said she hopes to see the chamber continue and enhance the “Shop Local” program, along with promotion of Miles of Art, the Bike the Barn Quilts ride and the new biking trail.
She said the chamber also has plans to generate some new ideas promoting the “vacation treasures” in Shawano County.
“This will require futuristic thoughts of how to best brand our tourism area so others can’t wait to visit us and enjoy the recreations of fishing, boating, snowmobiling, camping, snowshoeing, skiing, geo caching and ice skating,” she said.
White said she is proud of the chamber’s achievements over the past year, including its collaboration with Shawano County Economic Progress Inc. on the Vision 2017 program aimed at creating 1,000 jobs in the area.
White said the program has seen a lot of community support.
“This support has made others within our communities not only aware of the challenges our economy has presented to us but sparked excitement leading others to put a little skin in the game,” she said.
The program has raised $960,000 of its $1.27 million goal.
“We aren’t done yet, but we’re proud of what several dedicated individuals have done to secure our successful futures up to this point,” White said.
“The collected funds have allowed grants to be given to four businesses throughout Shawano County, allowing them to upgrade their business facades, and three additional businesses to enhance their interiors,” she said. “It has also awarded a local business a cash payment in recognition of several new jobs secured within their organization.”
White said other highlights of the past year include the continued success of the Leadership Shawano County program, which gives business leaders the chance to collaborate, share and learn from each other, and the successful launch of SAYPro (Shawano Area Young Professionals).
White said growing up in Shawano has made the success of the area business community important to her.
“My heart will always be here,” she said. “It’s important to me to ensure our counties thrive and remain successful, to ensure others continue to have the chance to raise families with the sense of belonging and community support I was lucky enough to experience.”