CompraWise

Dear Friends,
When we were visiting my daughter, we were laughing about one of her trips back to Omaha from our house back in the fall. She was gabbing on the phone with a college friend and tried to get gas but the station was closed then kept neglecting the low fuel alert in the midst of her conversation.

Her quote that caught me was “I just never imagined the car would ever actually stop running.” 🙂 

It did!

And so do we!

Come on you had to see this coming. Our mind, body, and soul need fuel, rest, and stimulation. We need balance. My astrology sign is a Libra which is the image of the balance scales. Balance brings enduring health and wellbeing to all  facets of our life.

This same weekend Rachel was talking about how great it was living with her cousin Alex and how impactful Alex was on her. Alex is a special soul. She is unwavering in her ability to balance herself. I frankly have never met anyone who could so calmly do what is best for herself. She couldn’t be pressured to do anything she didn’t want to do.  

She knew what best served her and wouldn’t have fomo about anything if the timing didn’t work with her. This by the way isn’t selfish- but self reliant. Imagine if we were all self reliant. Yikes maybe our government would balance their budget. Ha! Do you know the only time that happened in my lifetime of 56 years?  It was with Bill Clinton and a republican congress actually working together. Imagine that: two sides working and compromising for sustainable change.

Compromise is important when you are trying to prevent your gas tank from running out. Why? Well abrupt change rarely is sustainable. Most people can’t do abrupt change unless they survived an empty gas tank, like a heart attack, cancer, or an accident. Something happens that creates an instant behavior change.  

That isn’t most of us. Most of us gain a pound or two a year. Or our sugar raises a tiny bit a year. It is the subtle effects gained year after year that creep up in the world of chronic disease. So change is best by making some compromises and changing/altering one or two habits at a time. 

That can build momentum.

So, look at some of your habits and find where you can compromise to make some improvements. Most people look at compromise as giving up something but really, it’s not so much. A good compromise is getting rid of something you really don’t need in place of something you do.  

It is wise to compromise. Just flip the M —compraWise!

God Bless,
Dr. Dan

Testimonial

Kurt Bassuener, President of MWS Associates, Inc.

MWS Associates has leased office space in the Business Center since the inception of our company in 2018 and from 2015-2018 with the previous company that I worked for.  The Business Center was the clear choice for us to locate our main office for several reasons: location, cost effectiveness, reliable high-speed internet, services offered and full access to the conference room.  It truly offers everything our company needs to headquarter our business from without the hassle of owning our own office building with the maintenance, yard care and snowplowing that goes along with ownership.  

A major benefit for us is the ability to host in-person and online meetings in the newly renovated, state-of-the-art conference room.  COVID changed many aspects of our business with a major increase in online meetings being one of them.  Many companies struggled with technology issues to host or participate in online meetings with poor audio, video quality, background noise and unprofessional business settings negatively affecting meetings.  The size, layout and quality of the A/V equipment of the conference room now allows us to host annual company-wide in-person meetings as well. Every October we bring our entire staff in from around the country for weeklong meetings and the conference room comfortably allows us to host 20+ people.  The setting also allows us to host on-site meetings with key accounts.  Clients appreciate being able to combine a business trip with bringing their family to enjoy a few extra days to experience all Door County has to offer.

Jeff Bruemmer

Physical Plant

Jeff Bruemmer joined DCEDC in July of 2001. Jeff is responsible for maintaining the DCEDC Business Center, located at 185 East Walnut Street in Sturgeon Bay. Jeff was born and raised in Kewaunee and moved to Sturgeon Bay in 1985.

KATHY LASEE

Accounting and Operations Coordinator

Kathy Lasee is responsible for the organization’s financial operations, as well as the operations of the Business Development Center in Sturgeon Bay. A Door County native, Lasee graduated from Sturgeon Bay High School and earned a bachelor’s degree in music with a minor in business administration from the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay. Lasee is a charter member of the Peninsula Symphonic Band and previously worked as a music teaching assistant for the Sturgeon Bay School District. Prior to joining DCEDC in October of 2023, Lasee was the Office Manager of Kevin’s Automotive in Sturgeon Bay. During her professional career, she also worked in the loan office at Baylake Bank (now Nicolet National Bank) in Sturgeon Bay.

DEVIN VANDERTIE

Director of Business Development

Devin Vandertie enjoys working with entrepreneurs and businesses to help foster economic growth in Door County. She is also passionate about helping nurture the next generation of the community’s workforce. Devin has recently earned a master’s degree in business administration from the University of Wisconsin-Parkside and is involved with Leadership Door County, which brings together professionals from diverse business sectors who are inspired to make a positive impact on the quality of life in Door County. A Door County native, Vandertie cares deeply about cultivating a community that is not only a desirable destination, but also an exceptional place to live and to work. In addition to her recent achievement of a master’s degree, Devin is a graduate of Southern Door High School and earned a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay. Prior to joining the DCEDC staff in October of 2023, Vandertie was the Laboratory Assistant Supervisor at Door County Medical Center in Sturgeon Bay.

Michelle Lawrie

Executive Director

Michelle Lawrie has more than twenty years of experience in economic development at regional and local levels. Michelle’s career in Washington, D.C., Arizona and Wisconsin has focused on serving the public interest through economic development, issue advocacy and coalition-building. Michelle began her economic development career at the Greater Phoenix Economic Council (GPEC), in Phoenix, Arizona. After serving in several roles at GPEC, Michelle became the President and CEO of the Western Maricopa Coalition (WESTMARC) in western Maricopa County, Arizona. Michelle later also served as Economic Development / Community Development Director for the communities of Goodyear, Arizona and DeForest, Wisconsin. Michelle has extensive experience working in development of strategies and performance measures for communities and organizations, as well as leading teams toward achieving goals desired by communities, businesses and residents. Michelle is a native of Phoenix, Arizona, and earned a Bachelor of Science degree from Northern Arizona University in Flagstaff.