A Joint Initiative Between     Heart of Wisconsin     Business & Economic Alliance and     Community Foundation of     South Wood County

Home About Us B2B Club Breaking News Contact Donate Events / Programs Feedback Ideas Incubator Industry Clusters Links / Resources Progess Funds Progress Teams Public Art / Murals Publications		Breaking News August 28, 2005 - Inventor clubs encourage new business development By Jonathan Gneiser, Central Wisconsin Sunday With inventors and entrepreneurs clubs burgeoning throughout central Wisconsin, organizers hope more people can find what they need to jump-start their own businesses or create their own products. About three years after its inception, the Juneau County-based Inventors and Entrepreneurs Club has "a bunch of little, mini success stories," said Dave Van Meter, club chairman. The club, which has about 75 dues-paying members, meets the final Thursday of each month at the Castle Rock City Centre, N9246 Highway 80, Necedah. Entrepreneurs share experiences and gain knowledge at club meetings, where guest speakers are invited to talk about subjects ranging from business plans to patents, Van Meter said. "We devote a lot of time in the meeting to networking," he said. "It's just nice to talk to other people who think the way you do." A Wisconsin Rapids-based Entrepreneurs Club also features experts who speak on a variety of topics relating to small business, said Connie Loden, executive director of the Heart of Wisconsin Business and Economic Alliance. The club, which started in June as part of the Community Progress Initiative in south Wood County, meets during the lunch hour on the first Wednesday of each month at the Wood County Courthouse Auditorium. Also as part of the progress initiative, Entrepreneurial Boot Camps are held quarterly to walk entrepreneurs through the business planning process, Loden said. A new Marshfield-based Inventors and Entrepreneurs Club plans to have an inaugural meeting by the end of September, said Barb Fleisner, executive director of the Marshfield Area Chamber of Commerce and Industry. Within a year, Fleisner said she hopes the Marshfield and Wisconsin Rapids clubs can merge to form one large club and rotate meeting locations and times. "We feel there may be some benefit to expanding the circle," said Fleisner, who added that more inventors will result in more creative thought. "Basically, it's to provide a venue to allow creative, like-minded people to get together," she said. "We're a fairly conservative community in central Wisconsin. It may help eliminate some of the risk if people know they have an area that they can share ideas." The ultimate goal of the club is to spawn new businesses, Fleisner said. "Clearly the whole goal is to create business development opportunities that may stem into the creation of jobs, providing wealth for the entrepreneur and inventor, and keeping those people in our community," she said. MACCI also plans to retain local talent by re-energizing the Marshfield Young Professionals network with a 90s trivia night at 7 p.m. Sept. 15 at the Daily Grind, 236 S. Central Ave. in Marshfield, Fleisner said.
		Copyright © 2005, Community Progress Initiative, South Wood County & Town of Rome