It's Not Luck...

Dear friends,

We press cider every year. It is the fruits of 17 years of labor from our orchard that I love so much. The orchard itself is a place where many connections have been made. Family, friends, neighbors, employees (who I consider friends) all come and pick apples, pears, cherries, and plums to do with what they please.

It is a very special place that beckons one to slow down and be grateful. Grateful for the bounty that the trees provide every year but that bounty, like a life blessed with bountiful health, does not come free.

Those trees were planted 17 years ago in drought year. My children were tiny and they were all given tress that were their responsibility: to water, prune, protect from deer etc. just in order to get the trees established.

Each year, the trees need to be pruned to give them the proper opportunity to let the sun in and have strong branch growth. Sometimes a tree gets sick or injured. We had three blow over the year the Cascade tornados went through. Those trees needed staking and TLC for a few years just to make it. Now they are productive members of the orchard again.

When the trees rest every winter, I spray them with a dormant oil to help protect them from bugs and disease. By doing that I can decrease the amount of spray I use to a very minimal dose.

Then comes time for the harvest. The yield depends on many factors so there is no quick fix but with the harvest, and with the journey to the harvest, there are many bonding moments. Cider Day is the best; where teamwork yields liquid gold, a gift for me to share all year long.

Much like the trees in my orchard, our bodies mimic this cycle. They all have different personalities and needs but ultimately, the body wants to be a good home for the soul…for it is the sole home.

When you adapt good lifestyle habits

  • rest when needed
  • strengthen when needed
  • rebuild when needed
  • nourish when needed

When all that is done, your body will yield incredible health and vigor. Your harvest is what you put into it. Health is not luck…it is work and you reap what you sow.

So sow great habits.

God bless,
Dr. Dan

Catalyn

Will help you build a strong foundation that is designed to help bridge nutritional gaps in the diet and encourage healthy cell function.

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.