CENTERGY

Economic Summit MAY 11, 2010

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Summit Agenda

• Welcome – Bill Tehan, Centergy President; RuderWare • Opening Remarks - Kathy Rhyner, Associated Bank • Keynote Address – David Ward, NorthStar Economics • Department of Commerce – Mickey Judkins • Executive Summary Reports – 2010 Plan of Action • Branding & Marketing Updates • Call to Action 2

Wisconsin’s Regional Business Organizations

As of January 2008, 58 of Wisconsin’s 72 counties are members of a regional business organization.

Grow North

Oneida, Vila, Forest, Lincoln County (north) (Langlade and Iron are informal participants) .

New North

* Florence, Marinette, Oconto, Menominee, Shawano, Waupaca, Outagamie, Brown, Door, Kewaunee, Manitowoc, Calumet, Winnebago, Waushara, Marquette, Green Lake, Fond Du Lac, Sheyboygan

Momentum West

Barron, Dunn, Chippewa, Clark, Eau Claire, Polk, Pierce, Pepin, Rusk, St. Croix

Centergy*

Marathon, Wood, Portage

7 Rivers Region

Trempealeau, Jackson, LaCrosse, Monroe, Vernon, Juneau

Milwaukee 7*

Milwaukee, Ozaukee, Washington, Waukesha, Racine, Walworth, Kenosha

Thrive*

Sauk, Columbia, Dodge, Jefferson, Iowa, Dane. Green, Rock

*Governor’s Business Council Member

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CENTERGY REGION

• Marathon, Portage, & Wood Counties – Population 282,945; Labor force 148,226 • Chambers of Commerce – Heart of WI Business Alliance – MACCI – Portage County Business Council – Wausau Region Chamber • Higher Education – UWSP, NTC, MSTC, UW Marathon, & UW Marshfield/Wood County • Government • Led by Private Sector 4

GUIDING PRINCIPLES

• Collaboration - Leverage resources across the entire region • Competitiveness – Position Central Wisconsin for growth and prosperity • Consensus – Clarity of vision & principles • Capacity – Metrics to benchmark progress of higher paying jobs, improved economic well being, and enhanced quality of life 5

REGIONAL APPROACH

• Board of Directors – 32 Board Members – 21 Private Sector – 11 Public Sector • 85% Privately Funded • Executive Council – 41 Top Business Executives 6

INAUGURAL INVESTORS

• The Judd S. Alexander Foundation • Dudley Foundation • B.A. and Esther Greenheck Foundation • Wausau Insurance/Liberty Mutual • Ruder Ware/First Wausau Tower • Wisconsin Public Service 7

NorthStar Economics New Opportunities for the Centergy Region Presented by David Ward

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WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT

Pre K-12 - Work with area tech colleges to launch gold collar careers Incumbent Worker - Sector Strategies with NCWWDB - WorkKeys to certify skills 9

WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT

North Central WI Higher Education Alliance

Alumni Recruitment, articulation agreements, credit transfer provisions – Example – UWSP Central Wisconsin Nursing Education Center Chair – President Lori Weyers, NTC Interim Chancellor Mark Nook, UWSP President John Clark, MSTC Dean Sandra Smith, UW Marathon Dean Andy Keogh, UW Marshfield-Wood County Libby Burmaster, Nicolet Area Technical College 10

BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT

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Advanced Manufacturing

– Launch Gold Collar Careers & Regional Manufacturing Alliance •

Agriculture & Alternative Fuels

– Supply Chain Directory, support for WIST, rural energy education center •

Entrepreneurship

– Expand risk capital, electronic business resource guide, regional business plan contest, business retention software •

Medical Sciences

– Healthcare student standardization, promote medical records utilization, support WI Genomics Initiative 11

COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT

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Government Relations

– – Municipal Leaders Council and Legislative Council Central Wisconsin Days  Sustainable technologies & biofuels Rural Alternative Energy Education Center  Continued support for WIST & Supply Chain Mapping Infrastructure Completion of Highway 10 Business 51 between Stevens Point and Plover Highway 13 between Hwy 10 and Hwy 29 Highway 54 arterial between Port Edwards and Wisconsin Rapids 12

COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT

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Logistics/Infrastructure

- Central WI Airport - Broadband deployment •

Quality of Place

- Marketing - Attraction of Talent 13

Centergy Branding Initiative

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Marketing Update

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Unveiling of Centergy’s Brand

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Call to Action

• Manufacturing Alliance under full operation • Buy local data base greater promotion of chamber’s membership directories • Finalize linkage of investment networks • Full executive of Marketing Plan • Formation of Creative Council • Economic Gardening – 2 nd Stage Companies in Region 15

THANK YOU

Barb Fleisner, Executive Director 500 First Street, Suite 15 Wausau, WI 54403 715.843.9563

715.321.2911 (cell) [email protected]

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