Speaker Biographies
Speakers by last name: A-G | H-K | L-Z
Debby Lowe, West Wind Graphics
About Debby:
Debby Lowe is one of the owners of West Wind Graphics, located in Menomonie, Wisconsin. She started working for West Wind in 1982 as a part time employee. By 1986 she was working full-time hours, managing sales, finishing production and customer service. In 1988 she and her sister, Sherry Brier, took ownership of the small 2,000 sq. foot facility on Main Street. By 1994, under their leadership, the existing 12,000 sq. foot facility, located in the UW-Stout Technology & Business Park was built. They have continued to operate from this facility, expanding their print and marketing services to meet and to exceed their client's needs.
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Debby will be speaking at the following session:
- Business Success Stories (Session 4: 3:00 - 4:00 pm)
West Wind Graphics is also a Gold Sponsor and has an exhibitor table at the 2011 WBC.
Rick Montgomery, Northern Air Merchant Services
About Rick:
Rick Montgomery is owner of Northern Air Merchant Services, a Wisconsin-based business that provides credit card processing for small and medium-sized businesses through the First Data Corporation. Rick is a familiar face to many Chambers of Commerce, Banks, Credit Unions, and Trade Associations across Wisconsin as a helpful resource and presenter with his expertise in educating small businesses on Cash Flow and Profit Improvement, Keeping Operational Expenses in Check and Understanding the Electronic Payment World.
Rick and his wife Beth reside in Crandon, they have raised three children with a fourth still at home, and also relish the time they have with their four grandchildren.
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Rick will be speaking at the following session:
- Cracking the Code of Accepting Credit Cards (Session 2: 10:30 - 11:30 am)
Erin Nutter, Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade & Consumer Protection
About Erin:
Erin Nutter is a Food Safety Supervisor with the Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection. She supervises eight inspectors who license and inspect a myriad of food establishments including farms and food processors, warehouses, dairy plants, bulk milk weighers and samplers, milk tankers and any other company involved in the manufacture, processing and storage of food.
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Erin will be moderating at the following session:
- Roundtable: Food Industry (Session 2: 10:30 - 11:30 am)
Arlene Radtke, Chippewa Valley Toastmasters
About Arlene:
Arlene Radtke has spent a lifetime encouraging reading, writing, speaking and listening. As an educator and staff development expert, she has delivered numerous presentations and workshops. Arlene retired from the Eau Claire Area School District where she served as reading specialist, English department chair and yearbook advisor at South Middle School. In her retirement, Arlene has continued her service to the public through volunteer work. She has held leadership roles in professional organizations and is on the board of directors for several non-profit groups.
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Arlene will be moderating at the following session:
- Roundtable: Public Speaking (Session 3: 1:30 - 2:30 am)
Heather Rothbauer-Wanish, Feather Communications
About Heather:
Heather Rothbauer-Wanish owns Feather Communications, a local freelance writing and communications business. She enjoys providing seminars and workshops on leadership, business communication, writing effectively, and networking. Heather has over 12 years of management and marketing experience; she currently teaches business courses at Chippewa Valley Technical College and Lakeland College.
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Heather will be speaking at the following session:
- Listen, Learn and Leverage Your Connections (Session 1: 9:00 - 10:00 am)
Feather Communications is also a Silver Sponsor and has an exhibitor table at the 2011 WBC.
Mike Schatz, Economic Development Director, City of Eau Claire
About Mike:
Mike Schatz is the Economic Development Director for the City of Eau Claire and has been employed with the city for 26 years. Schatz won the Frederick Pearce Award from the Wisconsin Economic Development Association for Outstanding Individual Achievement in Economic Development. He has also been twice recognized as the Eau Claire Chamber of Commerce Public Employee of the Year.
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Mike will be speaking at the following session:
- Panel Discussion: Funding Your Small Business (Session 1: 9:00 - 10:00 am)
Marta Spendowska , PolishLab
About Marta:
Marta Spendowska is a web, graphic designer and illustrator working under her name and PolishLab.
Spendowska left Poland and attended school in the United States. After completing an internship and working for advertising agencies, gaining experience in both print and web, Marta realized she preferred to work independently. In late 2010, Spendowska left her job and became a freelance designer and illustrator, offering web design, social media services, illustrations, as well as print design, logos and collateral.
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Marta will be speaking at the following session:
- Business Success Stories (Session 4: 3:00 - 4:00 pm)
Becki Spina, Becki's Olive Salsa
About Becki:
Becki Spina is a very ordinary woman, who has walked down some extraordinary paths. Spina is a Music Therapist by education and career but has always been a Foodie, both by nature, and the nurture of a mother who is a great cook. Spina feels so fortunate to have found herself in this place, with a creative kitchen, surrounded by lovely women who share her passion for food, making mountains of Olive Salsa with love. What could be better?
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Becki will be moderating at the following session:
- Roundtable: Food Industry (Session 2: 10:30 - 11:30 am)
Jamie Swanson, The Modern Tog
About Jamie:
Jamie Swanson has been an entrepreneur since the age of 4, when she sold plain gravel rocks off a blanket in her yard. She graduated with a degree in Mathematics from the University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire and is currently a professional blogger and wedding photographer.
Her love of empowering people to reach their goals and her love of business marketing come together on The Modern Tog, where she shares business advice for photographers. She also owns and runs Lemon Tree Photographers, a Wisconsin wedding photography business. Jamie has over 5 years of experience speaking on a variety of topics to audiences ranging from just a few people to several hundred people and is known for taking complex topics and making them clear and easy to understand.
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Jamie will be speaking at the following session:
- How to Increase Your Profits by Embracing Blogging (Session 3: 1:30 - 2:30 pm)
Brenda Thalacker, Chippewa Valley Technical College
About Brenda:
Brenda Thalacker is an Accounting Instructor at Chippewa Valley Technical College. She also coordinates the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program for UW-Eau Claire. Brenda has over twenty years of accounting experience, working in both public and private accounting. Before teaching, she worked for Luther Hospital, Midelfort Clinic, Northern States Power Company (now known as Xcel Energy), and Coca Cola Company.
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Brenda will be speaking at the following session:
- Where Did My Money Go? (Session 4: 3:00 - 4:00 pm)
Marlys Waldo, Marlys Waldo Coaching
About Marlys:
With over 40 years in the non-profit world, Marlys Waldo has experience in training and mentoring leaders. She especially enjoys helping overwhelmed women find feasible strategies to create more fulfilling lives. During seminars and training, Waldo helps attendees find an achievable life balance while setting appropriate strategies and goals. Waldo has an M.A. degree in Guidance and Counseling and is a Certified Life Coach. She currently serves as the primary caregiver for her mother and is a home-based coach and consultant.
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Marlys will be speaking at the following session:
- Life Balance=????? (Session 4: 3:00 - 4:00 pm)
Marlys Waldo Coaching also has an exhibitor table at the 2011 WBC.
Speakers by last name: A-G | H-K | L-Z
