Profile: Central Wisconsin

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Our previous guests have all been well-established companies with years of experience, but on this episode of Profile, Todd and I have the opportunity to meet with a couple of entrepreneurs who are just past the start-up phase and are on the cusp of breaking boldly into the beverage market with a unique fruit and vinegar drink, called shrub.  Two strong women, Layne Cozzolino, who previously ran a non-profit focused on growing local food economies and her close friend, Mindy McCord, who spent years managing a café and experimenting with canned goods, first started making shrubs in their own homes to bring them to parties and events.  We hear the story of how they have made the rare leap of taking a craft product from the farmers market to the supermarket. 

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Todd and I visit with Josh Stolzenburg, CEO and co-owner of Northwind Solar.   Installers of solar electric, battery storage, and electric vehicle charging systems, Northwind was recently named the 2020 Wisconsin Renewable Energy Business of the Year.  Back In 2017, Northwind transitioned from an LLC to a worker-owned cooperative, so Todd and I also have a lot of questions about this business model and leadership structure.  Josh not only tells the story of Northwind, but he gives a great primer on cooperative worker ownership.  You’re sure to learn as much as we do. 

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On this episode of Profile, Todd and I have the pleasure of exploring the iconic Stevens Point Brewery.  The origin story of the Brewery is as old as our community itself, but joining us on this episode is current co-owner, Joe Martino.  After moving to the Midwest, Joe worked for some of the largest food and beverage producers in the country and was active in the product development of many household brands.  When an opportunity arose to purchase the Stevens Point Brewery, he just couldn’t pass it up. Joe leveraged his years of experience, ingenuity and big-market thinking to take a local regional brand and bring our Wisconsin-made flavors to a national stage. 

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In this episode, Ben and Todd get the opportunity to connect with Jared Linzmeier, CEO and co-owner of Ruby Coffee Roasters. Jared shares how he left Wisconsin and stumbled upon the industry of craft coffees.  He eventually returned to his childhood community to start his own business.  Ruby Coffee Roasters is now a nationally acclaimed business and was named the Best Roaster in Wisconsin by Food and Wine Magazine in 2018 and 2019.  Last year, Ruby also opened a café in Downtown Stevens Point.

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Todd and Ben have the opportunity to meet with Doug Munsey, president of Ki Mobility.  Doug is a modern-day inventor and entrepreneur.  After years of experience selling products in the rehab industry, he ventured out with a partner to start a business building wheelchairs for the long-term disabled.  In just 15 years, they have taken Ki Mobility from a workshop in a barn to a leading global brand.  

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On this episode of Profile, Todd and Ben visit with Rusty Mitch, president of Portesi Italian Foods.  The story of Portesi is one of a family business that has been producing the same high-quality frozen pizzas for the past 75 years.  Originally made locally and delivered locally, Portesi has now grown to a widely distributed brand known for their classic Italian-style frozen pizzas and their iconic cheese fries.  Rusty will also share with us how Portesi has continued to adapt and innovate and how the next generation of pizza makers are already involved in the business. 

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Introducing...Profile: Central Wisconsin.  Get ready for the launch of a new podcast about the roots of Central Wisconsin businesses.  Hosts Business Council Executive Director Todd Kuckkahn and Mid-State Technical College Stevens Point Campus Dean Ben Nusz profile the entrepreneurs who make central Wisconsin such a great place to live and do business. Take a deep dive into the origin stories of our local innovators, and find out what the future holds for this vibrant community we're proud to call home.

www.mstc.edu/podcast