Banker With A Beer: A Podcast Series by Northwestern Bank

• Updates on Downtown Projects
• Annexations to the City of Eau Claire
• Biggest Challenges facing Eau Claire in the next 5 years
• Impact of reduced air service to area growth

Guest: Aaron White, Economic Development Manager, City of Eau Claire

• Completion of River Prairie
• Working with Mayor Brendan Pratt
• City water restrictions
• Redeveloping ‘downtown’ Altoona
• Containers Up Project

Guest: Mike Golat, Altoona city Administrator Beer Enjoyed: Palm Ale, Belgium

• Inflation, its cause and impact
• Stock Market and Bond Market Retreat
• Teaching Economic History to Students
• Interest in Economics as a Field of Study

Guest: Dr. Wayne Carroll, Professor of Economics UWEC Beer Enjoyed: Three Philosophers, Ommegang Brewery Cooperstown, NY

• The goal with Pablo Group’s development projects
• Features tenants of downtown housing projects are looking for
• Is downtown Eau Claire reaching a housing saturation point?
• Managing the challenges of a tight labor market, sluggish supply chain, and rapidly raising costs

Guest: Jenny Fesenmaier, Director of Research and Development Pablo Group Beer Enjoyed: Kwak, Belgian Ale

• A child’s interest in weather
• Moving around the country
• Preparing for extreme weather
• Climate change

Guest: Mike Dandrea, WEAU Meteorologist Beer Enjoyed: Moonridge Brown Ale, Moon ridge Brewing Cornell, WI

• Why buy a baseball team?
• What changes (if any) should fans expect from your ownership of the Express?
• Carson Park improvements
• Balancing team ownership with operating a car dealership

Guest: Craig Toycen, Owner of the Eau Claire Express Beer Enjoyed: The Farmer’s Daughter, Lucette Brewing Company

Topics

• Challenges of being an entrepreneur at a young age
• The role of family in a small business
• Impact of the army in forming Tommy
• Advice to others considering opening a small business

Guest – Thomas Rocque, Founder and CEO Rocque Ridge Guides and Outfitters, Lake Holcombe, WI Beer Enjoyed – Badger Porter, Sand Creek Brewery Black River Falls, WI

Topics

• The differences between banks and credit unions
• Consolidation in the financial services industry
• Growing a career from an entry level employee to CEO
• Maintaining strong ties to the Chippewa Valley as RCU expands

Guest: Brandon Riechers, President and CEO of Royal Credit Union Beer Enjoyed: Leinenkugel’s Northwoods Amber

Topics:

• How top musicians are drawn to UWEC (Quentin’s personal story)
• Why UWEC is so success in teaching musicians to work past graduation
• The role of Robert Baca in the UWEC Jazz program
• The start and evolution of the Eau Claire Jazz Festival

Guest: Quentin Volk, Executive Director Eau Claire Jazz, Inc. Beer Enjoyed: Anti-Resin Hazy IPA, Six Point Brewery, Brooklyn NY.

Topics:

• Review of time as Alice in Dairyland
• Challenges of being Alice during COVID
• Future of the role of “Alice in Dairyland”
• Future plans of Julia

Guest: Julia Nunes, Alice in Dairyland Beer Enjoyed: Non-Alcoholic Ginger Beer