From the CEO: November 21, 2024

As we move into the post-election phase, it’s been fascinating to observe the individuals President-elect Trump is nominating for key cabinet positions. While everyone may have their own perspective on these selections, one nomination that stands out is former Congressman Sean Duffy for Secretary of Transportation.

Sean, a native of Hayward, is a person I’ve come to know well over the years. During my time as Chamber Director in Cable, I had the privilege of getting to know his family, who are highly respected in the region. I first worked with Sean when he served as Ashland County District Attorney, and later when he represented Northwestern Wisconsin in Congress. I was honored to collaborate with him as a board member of the St. Croix River Crossing Coalition, where he played a vital role in securing the funding for the new Stillwater Bridge.

If confirmed, Sean’s deep knowledge of our region and his understanding of the unique transportation challenges faced by rural areas will be invaluable in his role as Transportation Secretary. I look forward to working with him in the future.

On another note, Randy Romanski, Secretary of the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade & Consumer Protection (DATCP) and UWRF alumnus, recently met with our Government Relations Committee. During this meeting, he generously offered to connect us with experts from his office to speak on topics relevant to his department’s work. The first of these presentations will take place on Thursday, December 12th, focusing on how businesses can protect themselves from scams, fraud, and data breaches. I invite you to join us for this important session and register using the link found in the events section of the newsletter.

I recently came across an insightful article in the New York Times discussing the opportunities and challenges posed by automation, robotics, and AI. Over the next two decades, technology will profoundly reshape our economy. In response, the Chamber will be dedicating significant resources to helping our investors navigate and understand this transformation. Click here to read the full article.

For those interested in staying informed, we’ll also be sharing this article on the Chamber’s LinkedIn page, where we regularly post valuable insights and analyses on a range of important topics. I highly encourage you to follow us there for useful information without the extra noise. Click here to visit our LinkedIn page.

The Chamber staff and Board are hard at work developing our work plans and budgets for 2025, and we’re excited to share our program of work with you soon.

Finally, I wish safe travels to those heading out for Thanksgiving and good luck to all who are going deer hunting. Stay safe and enjoy the holiday season, and we will see you at River Dazzle!