Around Town

Member Spotlight: Main event

Payroll Deductions -

do’s and don’ts

How to collect customer data without being

creepy

Health insurance subsidy—

understanding

it’s Importance

101 E. Wisconsin Avenue | Kaukauna, WI 54130 920.766.1616

www.heartofthevalleychamber.com

What’s Inside

March 2014

2 Heart Beat | March 2014

Emerging Leaders

Tuesday, March 04, 2014

11:45 AM - 1:00 PM

Little Chicago N9650 Friendship Road

Kaukauna, WI 54130

This month we will have a Business Card Exchange. Bring your business cards, brochures, coupons, etc to hand out! Make sure to work on your 2-minute

commercial – we will vote on who has the best 2-minute commercial

and that person who wins, will receive a $10 Chamber Gift

Certificate that you can use to pay your lunch!

Mark your calendar for

these upcoming events!

To register, visit www.heartofthevalleychamber.com

Business After Hours

Thursday, March 13, 2014

5:00 PM - 7:00 PM

Prime Steer Supper Club 704 Hyland Avenue

Kaukauna, WI 54130

Join us at the Prime Steer Supper Club for cocktails and networking.

Cost: Members $0 Non-members $20

Business Over

Breakfast

Tuesday, March 11, 2014 7:45 AM - 9:00 AM

Heart of the Valley

Chamber of Commerce 101 E. Wisconsin Ave. Kaukauna, WI 54130

Chris Weber: Leader of Talent

Management & Leadership Development Goodwill Industries of North will be speaking about

‘Hiring the Right People’.

www.heartofthevalleychamber.com

The Government Relations Roundtable Group invites you to join their monthly group meetings. Each month we may invite our Federal and State Legislators, our local elected and appointed leaders or our School Superintendents to engage in dialogue, keeping us informed of the latest issues. These meetings are designed to be a safe, respectful environment for both our business leaders and our legislators.

The next monthly meeting is Friday, March 14, 2014 from 8:00 to 9:00 AM, at the Heart of the Valley Chamber of Commerce. Stadtmueller and Associates have been invited in to update us on the Grand KaKalin riverfront development project. If you have an interest in joining the Government Relations Roundtable Group call the Chamber office for more information at 766-1616 or visit www.heartofthevalleychamber.com

These monthly meetings are sponsored by AT&T.

Government Relations Roundtable Group

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4 Heart Beat | March 2014

Similar to the responsibilities of tracking employee time worked and paying wages, employers also have the responsibility to withhold certain deductions from employee paychecks. Some deductions are required by law. Other deductions are not dictated by any regulation, but are made for various other reasons. Many times these deductions are assumed to be “legal” because the employer has legitimate reasons for withholding the funds, and the employees do not contest it. However, it is important to know what employers can and cannot legally withhold to keep the business compliant. First, let’s discuss what an employer must withhold, including deductions mandated by or in accordance with local, state or federal law. The most common deductions are taxes. There are different levels of taxes, depending on where employees live and work. Employers must calculate and withhold appropriate taxes from employee wages and pay them to the taxing authorities. Additionally, employers must withhold for any court-ordered deductions (garnishments and child support, for example). Any other payroll deduction requires additional documentation and a written agreement with the employee. Employees may authorize their employers in advance to withhold for certain deductions. This authorization must be in writing. Examples include insurance premiums and contributions to retirement plans. In both cases, there are specific forms that employees must fill out to grant their employers authorization to make deductions from their pay. Other deductions may be related to a union contract. Beyond those, employers should be very cautious about taking deductions from employee wages. Below are some common deductions and points to consider when applying them to payroll.

1. Uniforms – Employers that require uniforms can use payroll deductions to pass the cost of supplying or maintaining the uniforms on to the employees. An employee handbook should detail the payroll deduction policy and should be signed by the employees. It is important to remember that uniform deductions are not permitted if this withholding would drop the employee below the federal minimum wage of $7.25 per hour. Employers are, however, allowed to prorate the deduction over a period of time. Uniform deductions should be consistent for all employees, and the employer does have the ability to withhold for the cost of the uniform if the employee does not return it upon termination. 2. Advances – Employers that authorize payroll advances to employees may recoup the advances on the next payroll, regardless of minimum wage requirements.

There should be a written agreement with the employee at the time of the advance. 3. Loans – When an employee advance is going to be paid back over a period of payrolls, it is referred to as an employee loan. There must be a written agreement signed by the employee, which should include the total debt, the length of time for payback, and how much will be deducted from each paycheck. The employer may withhold only the stated amount, even in the event that the employee terminates. Any unpaid debt will need to be handled outside of payroll unless the employee agrees in writing to have the remaining debt deducted from the final check. 4. Purchases – If employees make a purchase through the company, from the company, or from a company store, they can set up payment as a payroll deduction. The employer must keep records of what was purchased and employees must sign for the payroll deduction. The employer does not need to consider the minimum wage threshold when taking these deductions. 5. Breakage or loss – An employer cannot deduct from an employee paycheck to cover ordinary breakage or cash shortages. These situations are considered a normal part of business operations. However, if it is proven that the employee was dishonest or willfully neglectful leading up to the breakage or shortage, the employer may take action to recoup the loss. The employer must follow proper legal channels before making any payroll deductions unless the employee authorizes the deduction in writing. 6. Tools – Deductions for the use of tools are similar to the rules for uniforms. Employers may have a policy to cover tool expenses through payroll deductions. This should be outlined in an employee handbook and signed by the employee. Deductions cannot drop wages below the federal minimum wage. If a tool is damaged or not returned because of willful neglect, the employer may deduct the cost of the tool. 7. Miscellaneous – Be very cautious when using a payroll deduction code labeled “miscellaneous.” Be sure you are legally allowed to make the payroll deduction and have documentation, with the payroll records citing the purpose of the deduction. For all payroll deductions, be sure to document the employee, the amount, and the purpose. Have current and up-to-date policies and procedures in your employee handbook. Whenever possible, have the employee sign and date the document as acknowledgment and authorization of the deduction. For more information or questions related to specific deductions, contact your Schenck representative for assistance.

Payroll Deduction Do’s and Don’ts –

You'd think the moment elementary schoolers stop crushing candies on i-devices, parents and teachers rejoice. Not so much. There's a new offline obsession in town, at least in New York City.

Two years ago, the pre-holiday craze among kids was Silly Bandz, rubber bracelets created by an American small business. This year it's, well, other rubber bands created by another entrepreneur. And--ask any 8-year-old--these new rubber bands, which are woven together to form bracelets on something called a Rainbow Loom, are having a moment.

Playground Must-Have

"It's an addiction," New York City Public School 107 principal Eve Litwack told local news site DNAInfo. "It was like the kids couldn't live without it. It was just getting to the point where it was really crazy."

So Litwack banned the Rainbow Loom bracelets from school grounds. She's not the first: A school on the Upper West Side of Manhattan, PS 87, also prohibits them.

Children weave together the rubber bands on looms to form the stretchy, rubbery, modern friendship bracelet (or belt, or jump-rope). From a retail perspective, both Silly

Bandz and Rainbow Loom are perfect fads: They are eminently collectable, appeal to a wide range of ages of kids and are inexpensive to produce. Perhaps the ban could further add to their appeal.

James Howard, the president of Zanybandz, a competitor of Silly Bandz, told the New York Times in 2010: "Pretty soon we were banned in six school districts there, and after we were banned in the first one, there was no looking back. Getting banned fuels the craze like a five-gallon can of gasoline on a campfire."

Where did this trend come from, anyway? Turns out that the entre-preneur behind Rainbow Loom is Choon Ng, a Malaysian immigrant to Detroit who was a crash-safety engineer at Nissan when he began testing out version after version of the small loom that could be used to weave rubber bands together. He spent the family's entire savings--$11,000--to create the first bands

and looms and to submit a pre-patent "invention record."

Ng started selling the loom-and-band kits in July 2011--but sales were non-existent. That's until a franchisee of Learning Express, named Cindy O'Hara, called Ng, and placed an order for 24 loom kits. She sold out in two days and shared the story with other Learning Express owners.

Today, the Rainbow Loom sells for $14.99 to $16.99 and is sold at educational and hobby stores around the U.S., including more than 1,000 Michaels craft stores, and widely online.

Forget Snapchat. NYC Schools Banning Latest Disruptive Invention

Handmade bracelets constructed from

non-latex rubber bands have become a

playground craze. Meet Rainbow Loom,

retail's latest kid-driven boom.

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6 Heart Beat | March 2014

In January 2014, Schenck discussed the basics of the Premium Assistance Credit, the subsidy that is available to some taxpayers who purchase insurance through the individual insurance marketplace. It’s important for all of us—as individuals and as employers - to understand the subsidy. Here’s why.

Individuals need to understand whether they qualify for a subsidy so they can make informed decisions

about health insurance coverage

While it is widely believed that having health insurance is prudent for a variety of reasons, there is a new reason to add to the list. Starting in 2014, unless exempt, individuals will incur a tax (penalty) for failing to have health insurance coverage for themselves and their dependents. While the penalty is a modest amount in 2014, by 2016 it is a much larger amount and may be more of an incentive to purchase insurance. The penalty is reported on and paid as part of a taxpayer’s income tax return.

Individuals that do not have employer-provided coverage are eligible for a subsidy if their income falls between 100% and 400% of the federal poverty level. Individuals who have employer-provided coverage offered to them need to understand the subsidy, because it is possible that insurance purchased through the marketplace could be less expensive than their employer-provided insurance.

As discussed last month, an individual that is offered employer-provided coverage will be eligible for a subsidy if purchasing insurance through the insurance marketplace only if their employer-provided insurance is unaffordable. An employee does not have to enroll in employer-provided coverage. They are free to decline it and purchase insurance elsewhere. They will only qualify for a subsidy if their employer- provided coverage is unaffordable, their income is within 100% to 400% of the federal poverty level and they purchase their insurance through the insurance marketplace.

Of course, the cost of the premium is only one consideration when purchasing insurance. There are many factors that need to be considered. Health insurance can be obtained in a variety of ways – through employer coverage, the insurance marketplace, an agent or an insurance company. The subsidy is only available through the insurance marketplace.

Small employers should consider why they offer health coverage, and decide if those reasons are still

relevant today

Small employers, defined as those with fewer than 50 full-time and full-time equivalent employees (with full-time defined as 30 hours a week or more) are not subject to the employer mandate to provide insurance to their full-time employees. They are free to not offer insurance or to offer insurance and pay for as little or as much as they would like.

If a small employer offers insurance that is affordable to some or all of their employees, those employees are not eligible for a subsidy should the employees decide to purchase insurance through the marketplace. While employees are free to decline employer coverage and purchase their insurance through the marketplace, they are not eligible for a subsidy if they have affordable employer-provided coverage. If an employee is eligible for a subsidy it is possible that the premiums for policies purchased through the marketplace could be less than their share of the group insurance premium.

As a result, while small employers might think their employees will appreciate being offered group coverage, that may not be the case for those that are eligible for a subsidy. At some point down the road, small employers should evaluate the reasons why they offer group insurance and decide if anything has changed to make those reasons no longer relevant. An employer that offers affordable coverage to their employees may actually be causing their employees to pay more by making them ineligible for a subsidy.

The Health Insurance Subsidy –

Understanding its Importance

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Large employers should evaluate the possible penalties A large employer (one that has at least 50 full-time and full-time equivalent employees) is subject to the employer mandate to offer affordable health insurance to their full-time employees starting January 1, 2015.

If a large employer does not offer any health insurance or does not offer affordable coverage, the employer may be subject to penalties. Penalties are only assessed if full-time employees purchase their insurance through the marketplace and are eligible for a subsidy. In other words, if no employee purchases insurance through the marketplace and qualifies for a subsidy, there will be no penalty.

Large employers that do not offer any group insurance will be assessed a penalty if one of their full-time employees purchases insurance through the marketplace and qualifies for a subsidy. And if one employee qualifies for the subsidy, there is a $2,000 penalty for every full-time employee of the organization (minus the first 30), regardless of how many have actually purchased insurance through the marketplace.

If an employer does not offer coverage, the employer has to assume that at least one of their employees will go the marketplace to purchase insurance and will qualify for a subsidy. One of the requirements of the subsidy is to have household income between 100% and 400% of the federal poverty level. So unless all employees have household income at 400% or more of the federal poverty level, a large employer that does not offer group health insurance has to assume they will be subject to a $2,000 penalty for each full-time employee, reduced by 30 full-time employees.

If a large employer does offer group insurance to its full-time employees, the employer avoids a penalty only if the insurance is affordable for the employees. If employees with unaffordable insurance decide to purchase insurance through the marketplace and qualify for a subsidy, the employer will be subject to a $3,000 penalty for only those employees that receive the subsidy. This is in stark contrast to a penalty on all full-time employees when the employer does not offer insurance.

A large employer that offers insurance will first need to determine which employees are offered unaffordable insurance. Second, based on what they know about the

employee, the employer should try to determine if those employees could be eligible for a subsidy if they decide to purchase insurance through the marketplace.

A penalty may not be bad in all cases. When an employer who offers insurance incurs a $3,000 penalty for an employee it means the employee has declined employer coverage and purchased insurance through the marketplace and qualified for a subsidy. The employer is no longer paying premiums for that employee, which may be more than the $3,000 penalty. This may actually be a win for the employee and for the employer.

The large employer penalty is directly impacted by whether employees purchase insurance through the marketplace. Not every employee will purchase their insurance through the marketplace, for a number of reasons:

1. They won’t purchase health insurance at all

2. They lack knowledge about the marketplace and subsidy

3. They won’t qualify for a subsidy

4. They prefer to purchase their health insurance

through their employer’s group insurance or other traditional means

5. The perception or reality that the insurance through

the marketplace is not as good as their employer- provided coverage or other coverage they can purchase

6. They enroll in a spouse’s group insurance

7. They are on Medicare/Medicaid

As you can see, understanding the subsidy is critical for us all. If you have questions, please feel free to contact Terri Lillesand at 800-236-2248.

8 Heart Beat | March 2014

Winnebagoland Insurance Agency, Inc. is an Independent Insurance Agency. They do not work for an insurance

company; they work for you! They work on your side when you have a loss and follow through to see that you

get fair, prompt payment and service. http://www.winnebagolandinsurance.com

GameDay Sports Bar is your destination for amazing food and great drinks! From their amazing staff to over 50 tv's to catch your favorite

sports teams on! Need a place to hold your next event? Look no further than GameDay! We can also provide your next at home party with all of the same great food that we offer right here at GameDay! Check out our

website to see our bar and party menus! http://www.gameday-sportsbar.com/

At Pathways Church, their passion is to provide a place where individuals can find acceptance, real answers,

and hope. Whether you are a spiritual seeker who is just starting to ask questions about God or a committed

Christian who wants a place to grow and serve, you can find a home at Pathways.

http://www.pathwayschurch.us/

Ruffing Automotive Services, Inc. is a full-service auto repair and preventive maintenance center.

They have been performing their high quality and guaranteed automotive repairs in the Kaukauna and Darboy/Combined Locks/Kaukauna area

since 1996. http://www.ruffingauto.com/

Players Choice of the Fox Cities has it ALL! Baseball - Leagues, Instructors/Lessons, Camps and Sessions,

Development Academy, College Placement, Basketball, Conditioning, Football, Golf, Roller Derby, Softball, Volleyball,

Golf, Batting Cages, Facility Rentals, Field Trips, Group Outings! Check out their website for upcoming events.

http://www.pcfoxcities.com/

The mission of Wisconsin Retirement Solutions is to design “SOLUTIONS FOR EVERY

RETIREMENT” that grow assets safely, provide a lifetime income, protect against nursing home spend

down, and transfer assets to heirs in the most tax-efficient manner possible, avoiding probate.

http://wiretirementsolutions.com/

Insta Print Plus produces high volume digital printing and copying, high impact color copies, wedding invitations and

special event programs for your business and personal printing. From design to delivery, you will receive

professional customer service and rapid turn around time and deliveries. They use state of the art, direct to plate equipment which eliminates the time consuming and costly need for film

and plates. http://www.instaprintplus.com/

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Want your business featured here? Email bbeckman@heartofthevalleychamber.com

Heart of the Valley Chamber of Commerce Gift Certificates

make the perfect gift for every one. From golf to gas, groceries to lumber, gift

certificates can be redeemed at over 100 area business.

Just across the Fox River from Appleton and a short drive from Green Bay, the pet-friendly Quality Inn & Suites® hotel is near many outdoor activities including the CE

Recreation Trail. Attractions at their smoke-free property include the Green Bay Packer Hall of Fame, Lambeau

Field, Wisconsin International Raceway and Lake Michigan are a short drive away.

http://www.qualityinn.com/hotel-kimberly-wisconsin-WI242

Wisconsin Aging & Grading Cheese, Inc. (WAG Cheese) is your, wholesale, custom sourcing specialist

for procuring Quality Cheddar cheese to meet your specific needs. For over the past 13 years they have

and will continue to provide quality services and products for their customers. They offer a number of services from grading, aging programs, spot sales,

flavor profiling to warehousing and financing programs. http://www.wagcheese.com/

Fox Valley Tool & Die employs 150+ people at two 65,000 sq. ft. locations in Kaukauna, Wisconsin, in the heart of the

beautiful Fox River Valley. The Main plant provides precision machining, jig grinding, and wire and sinker edm,

while Plant 2 houses our stamping, tool & die, fixture/specialty machine, and design engineering departments.

Fox Valley Tool & Die, Inc. provides outstanding customer service, high quality precision manufacturing, and fair

prices. http://www.fvtd.com/

At Neal Diabetic Foot & Ankle Center, their mission is to provide the latest advances in

surgical and non-surgical treatments to every member of your family. Quality patient care is

the cornerstone of their practice. http://www.nealpodiatry.com/

Annual Dinner and Awards Event

Our 42nd Annual Awards Event presented by Baker Tilly was held February 26, 2014 at The Marq. The keynote speaker for the event was Mark Skogen, President and CEO of Skogen’s Festival Foods. Mark shared his story of growing up in the grocery business along with the success of the companies “Boomerang Theory” – empowering their associates to make decisions and take actions that will “Bring the Customer Back”. The businesses awarded found great opportunity for innovation, reinvention and growth. They are people and businesses that go above and beyond what is normally expected to benefit those around them. The outstanding achievements and contributions made by the award winners were an inspiration to all who attended. Team Industries was among those honored – receiving the Cornerstone Award. In 1987, a brave group of 20 workers took a bold step and it paid off: they purchased the holdings of their bankrupt employer and rebuilt it into a successful operation. The company has undergone several growth spurts over the last 27 years and continues to be held by some of the original investors. In 2008 they expanded to the Port Arthur Texas area and in 2012 they opened a facility in Oconto Falls as well as expanding in Kaukauna. They have a reputation for quality products, delivered on time, providing their employees with sustainable wages and worker friendly benefits. This year, The Chamber awarded The Business Achievement Award in 4 categories: Service, Agriculture, Professional and Manufacturing. The winner in the Service Category was Mark’s East Side. For 32 years, owner Mark Dougherty has owned one of the most successful restaurants in our area. He is a hands-on owner, cuts his own steaks and seafood and has a reputation as a generous and committed community member. The Agricultural Award went to Rick and Gary Vandeloo Farms, owners of Vandeloo Farms. In 2003, these brothers took over the family farm from their father. They have grown into an agriculture giant in

Wisconsin with 1000’s of acres of land and well over $5million in machinery and equipment. They continue to grow, acquiring new land and they have also started a very successful livestock sale business. Partners Kevin Eismann and Kathryn Blom from Epiphany Law, were awarded in the Professional Category. Epiphany has the reputation of being a hardworking, dedicated firm with the highest level of expertise and service. They frequently speak on business topics throughout the community and have started a group called Entrepreneurs Anonymous, with a mission to help business people learn “Best Practices. For 70 years, Roloff Manufacturing has been a fixture in Kaukauna. Now being lead by the 3rd generation, Dave Roloff, they continue to employee 40 people in an economy that isn’t friendly to the industry. When other businesses where closing due to government and environmental regulations they stayed on top of them and have been in compliance with every regulation that was placed on the industry. Roloff Manufacturing was awarded the Business of the Year for manufacturing. The Business Person of the Year went to Al Zierler, CEO of Capital Credit Union. Leading by example, Al is a firm believer of “people helping people.” He can be found with his sleeves rolled up, volunteering at events like Rebuilding Together, Great Wisconsin Cheese Festival, Special Olympics and other community events. He believes in treating his 180+ employees fairly and respectfully. He is known as a fair and honest person and is committed to our communities. New this year, the Chamber awarded an Inspir-ing Business Award. Kathy Peotter, Bouwer Printing, was awarded this honor. Kathy is dedicated to making both businesses and nonprofits in our communities stronger and more visible to the general public. She is a fountain of information that she feely shares with other small business owners to help them succeed. She brings together diverse interests to create beneficial connections between business owners and the people that can help them.

GOOD NEWS

Is Worth Repeating

10 Heart Beat | March 2014

11

Congratulations to all of our winners and a big “thank you” to

everyone who came out to celebrate!

To view all the photos from the event visit our Facebook page.

Lisa Natrop Owner Prime Steer Supper Club www.primesteersupperclub.com/

Q: How did you get started in your field? I grew up in the restaurant business and knew from little on this is what I wanted to do the rest of my life. :) Luckily, I was fortunate to marry Gary whose parents previously owned the Prime Steer so we bought it from them 19 years ago. Q: Who is the one person that helped to make you who you are today? Gary's dad Don taught me sooo much!! He was one of the smartest business people I have yet to meet! He taught me everything from business numbers to personal table touching!! He was a man who just knew everything and made me the successful business woman I am today. Q: What do you like most about working in the Heart of the Valley area? I love the small town closeness! Everyone in the community is there to help each other succeed. You can call your neighbors business and they will help you out however you needed!! You can't get that in LA!!! Q: What is the worst job you’ve ever had? I worked at Fleet Farm when I was 16 for a very short time for a second job!! Nothing against them, I just hated working as a cashier. Q: OK, now the good stuff. What do you like to do for fun? Go shopping!! I can't even lie! lol... Q: What’s your favorite movie and why? My all time movie is still GREASE! It’s just so fun and energetic...

Q: Is your desk messy or organized? Well, by whose definition??? According to my employees it is very messy but I know where everything is!!!! Q: Green Bay Packers or another team? Of course the Packers!!!! Love them!!!!!!! Q: Where was your best vacation and why? It’s every time i go to Mexico!!! I hate winter and I am truly meant to live somewhere hot!!! It is just so relaxing and beautiful there... Q: What are the Top 3 items on your bucket list? Go to Australia, go to Europe and retire in Florida.

12 Heart Beat | March 2014

Meet The Members

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Give us a brief description/history of your business…. We started Advanced Professional Services at the end of 2008. We are an executive search firm, now located in Appleton, where we help companies find their ideal candidates, and help passive candidates find new positions. Advanced professional Services specializes in accounting, finance, banking, engineering, human resources, and information technology positions. Q: How did you get started in your field? Out of college at UW-Oshkosh, I was selling software. I was recruited out of my sales job into recruiting at firm in Appleton. Q: Who is the one person that helped to make you who you are today? My dad is the hardest working person that I know, I wish I had his work ethic! I’d like to think that drive has rubbed off on me a little bit! Q: What do you like most about working in the Heart of the Valley area? I love that the Heart of Valley because it is still has a small city feel, yet it has many amenities of the larger cities. Q: What is the worst job you’ve ever had? I worked in temporary staffing for a brief stint and it really didn’t turn out be the type of work I wanted to be doing. Q: OK, now the good stuff. What do you like to do for fun? I have two young kids at home. 1 & 4 years old and they take up most of my free time! I find time to play in basketball and Flag Football leagues. Also I run and brew beer.

Q: What’s your favorite movie and why? I always go back to Major League. My younger brother and I would watch the TV version (without the profanity) of that movie over and over. I like it because I love baseball, Bob Uecker is in it and it is funny! Q: Is your desk messy or organized? It is usually a disaster but I did just clean it up today. I am guessing it will be a mess by the end of the week! Q: Green Bay Packers or another team? Packers fan all my life! Q: Where was your best vacation and why? Anywhere warm during the winter! My wife and I just got back from a Caribbean Cruise and that was very relaxing! Q: What are the Top 3 items on your bucket list? 1) I want to see my kids grow up and be happy 2) I would love to spend a summer traveling to every ball park in Major League Baseball 3) Visit every continent

Pete Bailen Senior Executive Search Consultant Advanced Professional Services, LLC http://www.apsofwi.com/

* If you are a Chamber member and would like to be featured, email Jamie! It’s free! *

Member Spotlight

14 Heart Beat | March 2014

ABOUT

When Jim Buchinger decided he wanted to sell his Main Event Steakhouse & Lounge last year, he didn’t have to look farther than his dining room to find a buyer. Employee Matt Fronsee, the new owner, has worked at the Little Chute supper club since it opened in March 2005. At the age of 15, he had started as dishwasher and worked his way up. He came back every summer while going to college, and after he’d graduated from UW-Madison he returned to help with management duties. “It’s always been the running joke here that Jim was going to retire and I was going to take over,” said Fronsee, who turned 23 years old last week.

But Buchinger saw that this kid who’d grown up in the ranks was now groomed and ready. It wasn’t a joke if he wanted to go for it. He did. Fronsee and his parents, Ken and Cindy Fronsee of Little Chute, managed to get the third bank they approached to give them a loan because of the strength of the established restaurant’s numbers and reputation. The three officially became Main Event’s owners on Nov. 1, with Matt the operating partner. They help out occasionally, as does his grandfather, Fran Lebick, who is handy with repairs and makes a good pot of soup. Fronsee has had just about every job at the restaurant over the years, from bartending to hosting to hiring and firing. He knows most of the customers by name.

920-788-MAIN (6246) 1727 Freedom Rd. Little Chute, Wisconsin 54140

Where you'll savor the finest hand cut steaks prepared to your liking, fresh seafood, and an impressive selection of lunch and evening entrées. The buffet varies throughout the week and features a tempting variety of main and side dishes flavorfully accented by a complete soup and salad bar. The restaurant's highly qualified chefs tempt even the most selective eaters to

sample their culinary specialties. Main Event continues the original vision of serving only the highest quality food at a reasonable price in an elegant, relaxing, and friendly atmosphere. Whether you're enjoying a satisfying meal with family and friends, private group event, or an intimate dinner for two, the Main Event invites you to enjoy the winning combination of fine food,

elegant atmosphere, and friendly, professional service.

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TESTIMONIALS

“We recently had our wedding and wedding dinner at the Main Event. It was an awesome experience. The owner Matt made sure that everything was just right. He was extremely accomadating and made sure that whatever we needed was available to us. His staff was outstanding as well. Everyone that we dealt with at the restaurant was extremely helpful. The food was outstanding as well. We had about 70 guests and the food was hot and served right on time. I would highly recommend this restaurant to couples and to people that might have a big group. Thank you so much to Matt and his staff. First class all the way.” - Steve Nikolay “My husband and I go here a lot. We always have wonderful service. Salad bar is always stocked. I always get the steak and have never complained. The drinks are great here too.“ - Holly R. “Excellent steaks! One of the best steaks I have had in a long time. Great thing about this place is they have daily specials on steaks, ribs and all you can eat buffets on the weekends. Will dine here every time I come to Little Chute. “ - T. Crozby “We really enjoy dining at the Main Event. Their bar is roomy with plenty of seating and snacks, drinks are excellent and the bartenders are attentive. The salad bar is always fresh and well stocked and contains peel & eat shrimp, different cheeses, fantastic salads and soups. I haven't tried their seafood buffet, but my husband has and says it's very good! The service is always top notch. If you haven't dined here give it a try...I'm sure you

won't be disappointed!” - Mrs. Ling

ABOUT (CONT’D) Even so, he still gets asked “Where’s the boss?” and has to explain that he is the boss. “Then I get the ‘how old are you?’ question. They’re shocked when I tell them my age,” he said. He wears a beard to look a little older, but still couldn’t pass for 30. Main Event has an established clientele with an average age of about 40, Fronsee estimates. “It’s been younger since you took over,” chimes in dining room manager Marlene Kringle. “There are a lot of new faces.” “We’re surprised, actually,” said Fronsee. “If they’re new faces, they’re usually under 35. That’s cool.” Fronsee plans on keeping the status quo for a while, including the same steak-and-seafood menu, prices, decor and staff of 31 employees. Where he’ll make his mark is in gradually adding in young perks.

“I’m working on getting a Facebook page going,” he said. “I’ll be adding new beers and wine. My generation likes microbrews.”He has already put Capital Wisconsin Amber and Lake-front Fixed Gear on tap. He replaced the ’60s tunes with acoustic music. But ask the wait staff, and they may roll their eyes over his choice of Sinatra on the satellite radio every Monday night.“I like it,” he said. “I dim the lights and people order more marti-nis.”Jim Buchinger still likes to drop in the supper club on weekends to help out and occasionally bartend. He says he’s impressed with how well things are going since the changeover.

“He’s been surpassing our numbers and it has grown,” said Buchinger. “Matt is meticulous and focused. He’s a mild-mannered, very reserved, in-control boss. He never gets shaken. He’ll do well.”

Sizzling Steak Dinners

Appetizers and Teasers

Sandwich Menu

Sunday Brunch Buffet Desserts

Combination Dinners

Kids's Menu

Impressive Dinner Specialties

Seafood Specialties Evening Specials

Friday Fish Specials

Lighter Side Dinners

MEETINGS

The Main Event Steakhouse is a great place for your next group business meeting or social event. Conveniently located just off Hwy 41 midway between the Fox Cities and Green Bay, the restaurant features a generously sized meeting room that will comfortably accommodate

up to 80 people. A wireless microphone and portable

screen are available.

Please call for availability and ask about our group menus and special pricing.

16 Heart Beat | March 2014

Serenity Salon and Spa

Serenity Salon & Spa is a new full service Aveda salon located in the Fox Cities. Serenity Salon is an relaxing, modern and upscale salon the always makes you look and feel your best. Our friendly and highly-trained staff always greet you with a warm and welcoming smile. Address: 819 Schelfhout Ln. suite 103 Phone: (920) 687-1162 Website: www.serenitysalonspakimberly.com

Express Gas Station in Kimberly held a ribbon cutting to celebrate the new owner - Randy Zaidel. Randy has been in the Convenience Store business since 2000 and currently owns and operates the Military Avenue Express Convenience Centers in Green Bay and the Taylor Street BP in Green Bay. He also operates the Kimberly Avenue Express Convenience Centers in Kimberly. Prior to the convenience store business, he worked for Wisconsin Optical Service for 7 years until 1999, when he then decided that he wanted to find something new and contacted a broker to look at businesses and decided on C-Stores. Randy said this about his new venture in Kimberly “I have learned so much in the last 14 years, about so many different aspects of business that I was very pleased to be asked to operate the Kimberly Express store. We plan on continuing the great service the past operators have provided, and learning more about the community we’re working in now.”

Congratulations to Harry Forbes from Forbes Financial - Allstate, Kathy Searl and Ann Koleske from Hands to Heart seen here who raised $100 for the American Heart Association during our Business after Hours that they sponsored at the Chandelier Club!

Gallup is out with its annual ranking of the happiest states in the U.S. and this year North Dakota grabbed the top spot, taking the title from longtime frontrunner Hawaii. Gallup measures happiness, or well-being, on a set of six

sub-indexes, which individually examine life evaluation, emotional health, work environment, physical health, healthy behaviors and access to basic necessities.

Here are the 10 states with the highest and lowest levels of well-being, according to Gallup:

The Happiest

Well Being: Top 10 States 2013 Index Scores

North Dakota 70.4

South Dakota 70.0

Nebraska 69.7

Minnesota 69.7

Montana 69.3

Vermont 69.1

Colorado 68.9

Hawaii 68.4

Washington 68.3

Iowa 68.2

January - December 2013

States in America

Well Being: Bottom 10 States 2013 Index Scores

West Virginia 61.4

Kentucky 63.0

Mississippi 63.7

Alabama 64.1

Ohio 64.2

Arkansas 64.3

Tennessee 64.3

Missouri 64.5

Oklahoma 64.7

Louisiana 64.9

January - December 2013

How did North Dakota move so far up in the rankings? North Dakota has experienced a serious boom in job growth:

For the fifth year in a row, that state topped all other states in employee perceptions of job creation at their workplaces in 2013, as measured by the Gallup Job Creation Index. North Dakota has also benefitted from a surge in its oil indus-

try and topped a recent list of payroll-to-population state rankings.

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It's amazing how two companies--competitors in a number of ways--can make some similar moves and yet get a completely different reaction in the marketplace. Today's example, from Nikki Baird at market analyst firm Retail Systems Research, looks at Amazon and Google. Although Baird writes for an audience of retailers, any type of company could learn a lot, given the drive to use customer data.

WHAT AMAZON IS DOING WITH DATA

Baird looks at recent developments at both companies. Amazon announced drone deliveries and coverage of its new patent on "anticipatory shipping," or sending goods to a geographic area "without completely specifying the delivery address at the time of shipment," and then, while they're in transit, giving the final address. As Baird notes, the idea of "forward positioning of inventory," or sending products to where you think you'll need them, isn't new.

Doing so with goods in transit and then specifying the delivery addresses is an interesting twist. You could send an assortment of products you suspect a group of people will need in a given area and then appropriately direct the products at the last minute as people place their orders, looking like you're a mind reader. (Many outlets have assumed that products would show up at customers without them having ordered, which doesn't seem to be the point from what I see.)

But back to Baird. Her point was that shipping products on the basis of what a company thinks customers will want could be considered creepy, except that there seems to have been relatively little bad reaction.

WHAT GOOGLE IS DOING WITH DATA

Now look at Google, which bought Nest, maker of "smart home" products such as thermostats that can program themselves according to your usage to save money. Nest

also makes a smoke and carbon monoxide alarm that tells you exactly what is wrong and where. Suddenly, there were a fair number of articles about people being uneasy with Google knowing that much more information about them.

Which company do you think has more practical information about its consumers, Google or Amazon? It's a tough one to answer--they both have large amounts of data that might be expected to make people uncomfortable. Yet Amazon, rightly or wrongly, largely avoids the security and privacy dogs that have followed Google for years.

WINNING THE PERCEPTION WAR

The difference between these two companies, as Baird pointed out, is in how they appear to use the information. Amazon wants to sell you things, certainly, but employs what it knows of you in ways to make life easier. You get recommendations for books or music or products, or maybe the office supplies you get from the company will start showing up amazingly fast after you place your next order. Amazon seems to keep the data inside and use it in a relationship with customers.

Google, on the other hand, gives things away and wants to make consumer data available, either directly or indirectly, to marketers from other companies that will pay to have advertisements delivered on the basis of that data. As Baird writes:

But for retailers watching the battle of these behemoths, and who's winning the perception war and who is not--it's worth learning something from the fact that even though these two companies are basically doing the exact same thing for the exact same profit motivations, for consumers, one is OK. And the other is not.

So, what data do you collect from consumers, and why do you do it? Are you trying to improve your direct relationship with them? Or are you like a promiscuous (in more ways than one) lover, picking up secrets from pillow talk in one bed and passing them on in another? If the latter, you may be popular for a while, until your practices come to light. Then don't be surprised if a competitor has managed to snag your prewarmed place.

How to Collect Customer Data Without Being Creepy

The more you know about your customers,

the better you can serve them. But what you

do with that data makes all the difference in

the world.

18 Heart Beat | March 2014

19

Nicolas Gremion is the founder and CEO of Paradise

Publishers, the company behind Foboko and Free-eBooks, an

e-book publisher. Despite picking up and moving to Costa Rica with his wife, his companies return double-digit growth each year. Here, he shares the three lessons that made it possible.

When I first came up with the idea for my business eight years ago, I was brimming with ambition. I had visions of creating an organization that would act as "the people's publisher," solving an array of problems with the traditional book-distribution model. Namely, that books were costly to print, carry, and distribute.

At the time, great books couldn't get a publisher's attention, customers had limited access to different titles, and books were expensive to purchase. I wanted to change all of that--and give authors and readers more control over what was published and read.

Although I'm thrilled with the success of our venture, I can't help but be surprised that things worked out as well as they did. When we first launched our site, I had just moved from Canada to Costa Rica, and I had no idea how to speak the local lan-guage. To further complicate things, I knew only slightly more about websites and publishing than I did about Spanish--and our initial investment capital didn't amount to much. Though I eventually did raise some in-vestment capital, I basically started with my credit card (in the very early days). Our first year we made just north of $50,000 in revenues. Since then, our revenues have dou-bled every other year.

Some would say I was taking quite a risk by moving 3,000 miles away, to a country with a language that was foreign to me, in order to start a business in a market I didn't understand--and with limited funds. But I was ambitious, and risk is ambition's natural bedfellow.

Luckily, I've been on the receiving end of some stellar advice over the years that has helped me navigate the risky waters of entrepreneurship:

1. Step out of your comfort zone. It's important to be willing to test ideas that don't follow your usual way of thinking. Not only will this help your

business to continue to evolve, it will allow it to outstrip the competition by finding new ways to stay ahead.

When my company was seeking a new way to boost income, our president recommended that we introduce a paid VIP membership. This made many of us uncomfortable, as the whole idea behind our website was to offer free e-books. After a good deal of pressing, he convinced us to try it, balancing a limited free membership with an unlimited VIP option.

Today, roughly 60 to 70 percent of our revenue comes from VIP memberships, and the backlash against the change was minimal. I had initially been concerned that we might offend existing and potential members, but the response has been overwhelmingly positive. Speaking of which....

2. Don't be afraid to offend people. It's natural to come out of the gates thinking you've got to please everyone, but if you aren't willing to try new ideas

that might put off potential customers or other team members, you'll pass up unex-pected opportunities for growth. Staying open to criticism is essential to making im-provements.

Let's be realistic--you can't please every-one. In fact, if you don't receive complaints, you're not doing enough business. There's never been a popular business that operated complaint-free.

3. Inspect what you expect. Your startup might seem like a small team in which everyone knows their own place at first, but someday, when things take off, you'll be working with a much bigger, more complex staff. It's important to analyze each member's work expectations and outputs from the get-go. Instilling a system of accountability will be much more difficult later on, after your company has grown.

By analyzing your company's operations early, you'll develop a better idea of how it works most efficiently. This will allow you to gain a better understanding of why certain goals are not met, how to re-evaluate when goals turn out to be unrealistic, and how to improve team interdependence.

Overcoming the risks inherent in business can be achieved fairly easily. Of course, to do this, you have to be able to cast aside your fear of dissenting opinions and analyze and learn from your mistakes. Without that, where would all of our great new ideas come from?

This CEO moved to Costa Rica with a credit

card and an idea for changing the book-

publishing business. Crazy? Maybe, but it's

working.

Best Advice I Ever Got:

Nicolas Gremion

20 Heart Beat | March 2014

How has this especially unforgiving winter season affected your employees' productivity? Perhaps very positively, suggests recent research by Harvard Business School Associate Professor Francesca Gino.

Gino and her colleagues examined preexisting employee productivity data from a midsize bank in Tokyo, she wrote in a recent Harvard Business Review blog post. During a two-and-a-half year period, the bank filed 56,000 loan applications, a process that involves huge amounts of data entry.

The researchers correlated those figures with Tokyo's meteorological data from the same time period. The results: when it rains, it pours (in the office).

"We found that an increase in rain correlated with a de-crease in the time it took for workers to complete their

tasks. To be precise, a one-inch increase in rain was related to a 1.3 percent decrease in worker completion time for each transaction," Gino said.

The findings are particularly surprising given that most employees feel that they are moreproductive when the weather is nicer. Before the study, Gino had polled about 200 workers asking them to predict the impact that sunny weather had on their productivity. More than 80 percent thought that nicer weather would result in an increase in their productivity.

So how can you use these findings to your advantage? Well, giving an extreme suggestion, Gino recommended locating your company's operations to a place with terrible weather.

But if that's out of the question, try maintaining an adjustable work schedule based on the weather, she said. In other words, if employees are going to be distracted on a beautiful day, you might as well cut them some slack. Besides, by the end of this bitter--and apparently productive--winter, they'll deserve it.

Good news: the polar vortex may not have

frozen your team's ability to get things done.

Recent research suggests bad weather is

good for productivity.

What This Winter Is Doing

A ten-year-old Norwegian boy came up with a novel excuse after he drove his parents' car into a snowy ditch on Wednesday morning… The boy lives near Dokka, a town about 110 kilometers north of Olso. Sometime before 0600 local time, he loaded his 18-month old sister into the car and headed for their grandparents, about 60 kilometers away, local police said. He drove more than 10 kilometers before he veered off the road. A snowplow driver found him and alerted the police. "The parents woke up and discovered that the children were missing and that someone had taken off with their car. They were pretty upset, as you can imagine," said Baard Christiansen, a spokesman for the Vest Oppland police district. "The boy told the snowplow driver that he was a dwarf and that he had forgotten his driver's license at home and got stuck when he tried to make a U-turn to go back

home for it." He asked for help to tow his vehicle so they could continue their journey. Police said no charges would be filed and the case was closed. "We have talked to them, and I'm pretty sure they're going to pay very close attention both to their children and to their car keys in the future," Christiansen said. The children were not injured and the car was not damaged, police said.

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Our newsletter is sent via email at the beginning of each month to over 1300 present and future Chamber members as well as a general public

interest group. It is also posted to our Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn pages. All ads are full color and can be linked to your company’s website

at no additional charge. Black and white ads are acceptable.

Don’t miss out on your opportunity to be seen! Get an edge on your competition!

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HERE

Prices:

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Personal connections 42%

Social Network 21%

Online Job Board 20%

Classified Ad 19%

Source: Jobvite/The Polling Company survey of 2,135 adults

Use your Chamber Membership to it’s fullest potential!

How did you find your favorite/best job?

A recent study polled these results.

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