Even competitors can bond over a beer.  Paul Kohler, the market president at Nicolet Bank, comes inside Northwestern Bank to talk with Jerry and Scott.  Jerry and Paul both entered local banking at similar times and while at separate entities, have been contemporaries in theindustry for year.

His brief career in radio while in high school in Rice Lake

Why pursued a career in banking and defining moments earlyin his career

How leadership style has evolved slightly over the years

Advice to someone starting off in banking today

Role local banks play in the growing development in the area

How have customer expectations changed over time

Open Enrollment for Medicare is going on through December 7th, and Jesse brings in Keystone's Melody Schworoer to discuss upcoming changes and what you might need to look at for your Medicare situation for 2026.
Presented by Keystone Financial in Eau Claire, WI

Meet Mary Beth Pfeiffer, the new face of enrollment withMACS.  She has been with MACS in other roles but also has enrollment experience with a school in the Twin Cities.  She brings a fresh energy and passion for connecting with families.  She discusses enrollment for the 2026-2027 season and what families should know if they are interested.

And for a more direct perspective as to what it meansto be in the MACS community, a pair of seventh graders join the podcast.  Ellie and Jolie talk about life at Notre DameMiddle School.  What some of theirfavorite activities, including the Share-N-Care program

The Chippewa Valley's Talk Show of Record

Developing a puppy’s social skills can involve physicalinteractions whether it be in behavior classes, “play dates”, visits to parks, etc.  However, sometimes that isn’t practicalfor either the animal or owner.

In this episode, Heather explores how to help your puppygrow into a confident, well-mannered dog -even if traditional socialization scenarios aren’t possible. From introducing new sights and sounds at home to practicing calm behavior around distractions. This episode is perfect for new dog ownerslooking to raise a friendly companion.

This month, the Heyde Center is serving up laughs with the arrival of the Big Auntie Energy Comedy Show on November 15th. Headliner Trish Cook shares the inspiration behind this hilarious family-friendly show along with the joys, quirks and wisdoms she has picked up over a nearly 15 year career as a standup comedian.

Trish, and her team, are of Anishinaabe Native American decent, and with November being Native-American Heritage, we also learn why she takes significant pride in being able to represent her people on stage. Why comedy truly is something that breaks down barriers.

We also learn what goes into creating a comedy "set", how she deals with reading audience reactions mid-show and her advice to the growing group of aspiring comedians in the Valley

Presented by Jackie Hunt State Farm Agency

Let’s get tropical!  We highlight the annual Winter Daze Parade in Menomonie this December which will feature a tropical theme.  Downtown Menomonie, INC Executive Director Becca Schoenborn previews this year’s event.She also details the role that Downtown Menomonie, INC plays in helping to advocate and promote the nearly 100 different entities that comprise the district.  The priorities and challenges for these local businesses as 2025 turns to 2026.

Its a marketer to marketer to chat with Tracy Steeno the bank's Chief Marketing Officer and Sarah Meyer the bank's marketing coordinator.  They share their backgrounds, influences and passions and how those help shape how they work to showcase the mission of Pillar Bank throughout Western Wisconsin.

How does marketing for a local business differ from a national one?

The ways they come up with ideas and stay creative and what resonates more?

When they know its time to try something new?

What would be their dream campaign with an unlimited budget?

Success in a career starts with a proper work-life balanceand on this episode Sam Schlewitz tells us how learning to manage the two makes his a better person and attorney. He talks about how prioritizing hobbies, rest and social time provides more clarity in his career.  Why the advice of a mentor to avoid making “your home your office” has stuck with him. Its an inspiring reminder that being your best at work starts with taking care of yourself first.

This episode, Dan from Marcon talks about an advertising issue last week where Fox Media denied his request for free veteran advertisement. He discusses welfare programs like WIC, SNAP, and EBT that will not be receiving funds starting on November 1, due to the government shutdown and concerns over crime rates as a result. He compares the difficulty of getting VA benefits to the process of SNAP benefit applications and specifically points out that public help programs should be reevaluated especially in the case of immigrants. Dan emphasizes supporting the local community through going to local businesses and word-of-mouth support for a variety of local places.