John Rogers - Business Roundtables Facilitator
In My Wildest Dreams!
According to an AI generated definition I found on the Internet, an ‘influencer’ is “a person who has an online following and uses it to shape the thoughts, choices, and buying habits of other
Upcoming Events Summer's not over
Ribbon Cutting
Match Point Performance Center
Aug 11 | 12:00 PM - 12:30 PM
Maximize Your Membership
Sheboygan County Chamber
Aug 12 | 8:00 PM - 9:30 AM
Sheboygan County Community Marketing Focus Group
Sheboygan County Chamber Aug 14 | 7:30 AM - 9:30 AM
YP Event: Lakefront Bonfire Sheboygan Yacht Club Aug 19 | 5:00 PM - 7:00 PM
Annual Chamber Golf Outing 2026
Town & Country Sheboygan
Aug 26 | 8:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Boardroom Ready Training
Sheboygan County Chamber
Every other Wed in Sep & Oct 12:00 PM - 1:30 PM
people. They share content on social media platforms like TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube.” In the July 27, 2026 issue of TIME magazine, the article titled TIME 100 Creators has a subtitle ‘The Most Influential Digital Voices’. Of the 100 listed, I recognized one name, Alix Earle. Who? She was on the most recent edition of Dancing With The Stars and I do watch it with some degree of envy. I would love to know how to dance!
Alix has over 8.5 million followers on TikTok and she earns considerable sums of money as a result of being an ‘influencer’ with her own products and from others who pay her because she endorses, and may actually use, their products. In fact, she is on the back outside cover because of the hair product she uses.
I think you know by now that I truly enjoy facilitating the 8 different Chamber roundtables. Could I become an ‘influencer’ as defined earlier? I’m not on the various internet sites populated by influencers but perhaps The Buzz could expand? The Buzz might influence you to register for a roundtable but I know my numerous invitations and reminders are the vehicles that prompt most Chamber members to register. How do I know this? You’ve told me so.
Additionally, those who attend roundtables may in-turn become an ‘influencer’ because they get useful suggestions and answers from their peers OR they provide useful suggestions and answers to those who suggest a topic for us to discuss. Another ‘influencer’ for the roundtables is word of mouth because roundtables make most attendees happy and they tell others! So, in my wildest dreams, the Chamber roundtables get to be so popular that I get listed in TIME magazine the next time they need an ‘influencer’.
If I can influence you, join us for a roundtable soon. Find the upcoming roundtables on The Buzz or send me an email john@ sheboygan.org
Upcoming Roundtables
Safety: Thu. Aug 6 | 7:30 AM
Business Owner: Mon. Aug 10 | 7:15 AM
HR Managers: Tue. Aug 11 | 7:30 AM
Kristin Bahr - BID Executive Director
Summer Isn't Over Yet in Harbor Centre!
What an incredible summer it's been in the Harbor Centre Business District! Tuesday nights have come alive with great music, delicious food, local shopping, and hundreds of people gathering downtown during 8th Streatery. It's been wonderful to see our community enjoying everything downtown Sheboygan has to offer.
If you haven't made it to 8th Streatery yet, don't worry—there's still one more Tuesday to join the fun! Come out for an evening of food, drinks, shopping, and live entertainment featuring The Lonely Sidekick. It's the perfect way to wrap up another fantastic season.
The fun doesn't stop there! Make plans to join us for River Fest on Saturday, September 19. This family-friendly event features live music from Minor Worries and Buffalo Joe Band, local business vendor booths, food trucks, family friendly activities, 3 Sheeps Beer Tent, and much more. It's a great opportunity to spend the day along Sheboygan's beautiful riverfront.
Looking ahead to fall, be sure to mark your calendar for the Fall Wine Walk on Saturday, October 24. Tickets go on sale September 24, and this year we're excited to introduce a new VIP Wine Package with a limited number of tickets available. VIP guests will receive a specially curated swag bag featuring a full bottle of wine, additional merchandise, and an exclusive wine and cheese pairing.
Stay up to date on all Harbor Centre events and activities by visiting www.harborcentre. com
We look forward to seeing you downtown!
Joe Costello - Director of Membership Development
Strong communities are built through strong connections. When businesses, organizations, and community leaders work together, opportunities grow, partnerships flourish, and our local economy becomes stronger.
As a Chamber member, you're part of a network dedicated to helping businesses connect, grow, and succeed. Through networking, professional development, advocacy, and community engagement, we're committed to creating value for your business while strengthening Sheboygan County.
Joe Costello
Thank you for investing in our business community through your Chamber membership. We
Kristin Bahr
look forward to supporting your success and celebrating your achievements.
Welcome Our Newest Members
Please join us in welcoming the newest businesses and organizations that have chosen to invest in the Sheboygan County Chamber:
• Village Media
• PARADIGM Real Estate
• Redline Family Power Washing
• Electro Tech Inc.
• Oostburg Financial Services
• Oostburg Insurance Solutions
• Woodland Title Services
We encourage you to connect with our newest members, introduce yourself, and help them feel at home in the Chamber community.
Help Us Grow
Know a business that would benefit from Chamber membership? Member referrals are one of the best ways to strengthen our network. If you know a business that would be a great fit, please contact joe@sheboygan.org.
Together, we're building a stronger, more connected, and more prosperous Sheboygan County.
Ellie Meyers - Associate Director
August is bringing exciting opportunities to celebrate our members, strengthen relationships, and experience the connections that make our business community thrive. From welcoming new members to enjoying one of our biggest networking events of the year, we invite you to get involved and be part of what makes Sheboygan County Better Together.
Join us for two upcoming ribbon cuttings as we celebrate the growth and success of our members:
Ribbon Cutting: Inward Path Counseling - August 6
Help us celebrate Inward Path Counseling and welcome them as they officially mark one year, an exciting milestone with the Sheboygan County community.
Ribbon Cutting: Match Point Performance Center - August 11
Ellie Meyers
Join fellow Chamber members as we celebrate Match Point Performance Center and celebrate their new business.
Don’t Miss the Chamber Golf Outing — Registration Is Filling Up!
August 26 - Town & Country Sheboygan
The Chamber Golf Outing is more than just a day on the course, it’s one of the biggest networking opportunities of the year and a chance to connect with hundreds of local professionals in a fun, relaxed environment. With 216 golfers expected, this high-energy event brings together business leaders, teams, clients, and community members for a memorable day of networking, friendly competition, and fun.
Grab your foursome, bring your clients, and get ready for a day filled with games, contests,
great food, drinks, and plenty of opportunities to build valuable connections. Whether you are looking to strengthen business relationships, meet new contacts, celebrate your team, or simply enjoy a great summer outing, this is an event you won’t want to miss.
Registration is open now, but spots are limited and this event sells out every year.
We are also accepting raffle prize donations for the Golf Outing! Donations are a great way to showcase your business, support this popular member event, and provide participants with even more excitement throughout the day. Even more importantly, proceeds from the raffle help fund the Chamber Ambassador scholarship program, which awards scholarships to four Sheboygan County students continuing their education each year.
By donating a raffle item or participating in the raffle, you are helping support the next generation of local leaders and making a meaningful impact on students pursuing their educational goals. We would love to feature your business as part of this effort!
Don’t wait , secure your foursome, register your team, and consider contributing a raffle prize to help make this year’s Golf Outing a success for both our members and our students. Please visit Sheboygan.org to register and for more information.
We look forward to seeing you in August!
Alexis Schroeder - Program Manager
Leadership Sheboygan County Applications for the 2026–2027 class remain open, and we are excited to share that the class is already over half full! If your organization is looking to invest in its next community leader, now is the time to apply. We encourage interested individuals to register soon before the remaining spots are filled. For more information about the program, click HERE.
Junior Leadership Sheboygan County Planning is also underway for the 2026–2027 Junior Leadership Sheboygan County program! We are excited to welcome a full class of 26 high school juniors and seniors from across Sheboygan County this fall.
We look forward to helping these emerging leaders develop their leadership skills, explore local industries, connect with community leaders, and discover the many opportunities our county has to offer.
Better Together Summer Interns & Co-Ops
We wrapped up another successful Better Together Summer Interns & Co-Ops Program by celebrating our 93 participants on National Intern Day!
Participants spent the afternoon at Deland Park enjoying a cookout, yard games, a leadership panel, and networking opportunities with fellow interns and local business leaders. We were honored to welcome Ryan Baumann (Rehlko), Dan Vogtman (Sargento), Jordan Lindstrom (Johnsonville), Matt Andrews (Rhode Brothers), and Erica Gollhardt (FifthColor), who each shared their unique career journeys, leadership lessons, and why they believe investing in the next generation of professionals is so important. Their stories were inspiring and provided valuable insight for our interns and co-ops as they begin their own career paths.
Alexis Schroeder
Following the panel, participants had the opportunity to continue conversations with our guest leaders and expand their professional networks. We also recognized the top three participants in our summer-long Sheboygan County Scavenger Hunt, celebrating their enthusiasm for exploring our community and engaging in all the program had to offer.
It was the perfect way to celebrate an incredible summer filled with new experiences, meaningful connections, and community engagement. A heartfelt thank you to all of our participating employers, volunteers, speakers, and sponsors for helping make this year's program such a success!
Thank you to our 2026 Intern & Co-Op program sponsors Sargento, Johnsonville & Masters Gallery!
Coastal Young Professionals
Our Coastal Young Professionals continued the summer with an exciting evening at Blackhawk Shooting Sports, where our members were graciously hosted for a hands-on introduction to the shooting range. Participants learned about firearm safety, received instruction from experienced range staff, and had the opportunity to practice in a safe and welcoming environment. For a few attendees, it was their first visit to a shooting range, making it a unique learning experience while also providing plenty of time to connect and network with fellow young professionals.
Looking ahead, we hope you'll join us on August 19 for our Lakefront Bonfire & Networking event at the Sheboygan Yacht Club. It's the perfect opportunity to enjoy a summer evening by the lake while building new professional connections.
We're also gearing up for one of our biggest events of the year — OktoberFeast! Be sure to purchase your tickets and join us for this annual community celebration. We look forward to seeing you there!
Board Room Ready
We're excited to announce that Board Room Ready will return this fall! Our next session is planned for September/October and registration is OPEN! In these 5 sessions, you will lWhether you're interested in serving on your first board or looking to become a more effective board member, this program provides the knowledge and confidence to make a meaningful impact.
Make Your Mark
With my recent promotion, I am excited to become more involved with the Make Your Mark program and continue supporting workforce attraction efforts throughout Sheboygan County. One of the things I am most looking forward to is how naturally this initiative complements the Chamber's other programs.
Whether it's welcoming interns and co-ops, connecting young professionals, developing future community leaders through our leadership programs, or introducing newcomers to opportunities for board service, these programs work together to create a strong sense of community and belonging. By helping new residents become engaged early, we can build meaningful connections that encourage them to not only work here—but to make Sheboygan County their home.
I'm excited to continue building these connections and seeing how each of our programs contributes to strengthening and growing the workforce in Sheboygan County.
If you would like more information or need assistance with registration for Leadership Sheboygan County, Junior Leadership Sheboygan County, the Better Together Summer Interns & Co-Ops Program, Board Room Ready, Make Your Mark or any Coastal Young Professionals event, please email me at alexis@sheboygan.org. I am always happy to help!
Better Together: Workforce Development Update
Investing in Our Future Workforce
As August arrives and students head back to school, the Chamber's focus on workforce development shifts into high gear. Through our Business Education Partnership (BEP), we work year-round to connect education and business, helping students discover the exciting career opportunities that exist right here in Sheboygan County.
One of the best ways to make an impact is by participating in STEAMFest 2026 on Tuesday, October 13. This hands-on event gives local businesses the opportunity to engage with students, showcase careers, and inspire the next generation of innovators, skilled professionals, and community leaders. A few hours of your time can leave a lasting impression on a young person's future.
Before then, I encourage you to join us for the Workforce Development Symposium 2026 on Wednesday, September 16, at Pine Hills Country Club. This event will bring together employers, educators, and workforce experts from across Wisconsin to discuss current workforce trends, share successful strategies, and explore innovative solutions to the challenges we all face. We'll also recognize our Golden Apple nominees and Business Friends of Education, celebrating those who are making a difference in education and workforce development.
The way we attract and retain talent continues to evolve, and collaboration has never been more important. Throughout August and September, the Chamber will also be hosting focus groups and community conversations to learn what makes Sheboygan County a great place to work, live, and play. Your feedback will help shape future talent attraction efforts, ensuring we continue to grow our workforce, strengthen our businesses, and welcome new neighbors to our community.
If you're interested in learning more about the Business Education Partnership Committee and our commitment to developing a strong workforce in Sheboygan County, I invite you to reach out. We'd love to share how you or your organization can become involved in supporting students, strengthening our workforce initiatives, and helping shape the next generation of talent.
When businesses, educators, and community leaders work together, we create opportunities that benefit everyone. That's the power of being Better Together.
Ribbon Cutting
925 | Jul 15
