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World Down Syndrome Day

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Dear Friends,

I often talk about adversity and health. About how thankful we should be for the gifts we have been given, our souls’ journey and living up to our potential. Today is one of those days that encompasses so many of those messages.

Today is World Down Syndrome Day.  I have a two first cousin’s with Down syndrome.  One on each side of the family, and one of our office family, Josie, has a daughter with Down Syndrome as well. All I can say is you are blessed when you have a person with Down syndrome in your life.

My oldest cousin, Kirk, on my dad’s side was much older than me but I remember him as a very protected child and very limited in his abilities. He was raised in a generation that seemed to isolate the people with Down syndrome so to protect them. In a way, I think they looked at the deficiencies and lovingly tried to protect them.

I made a film reel for my family of all the tapes from our past and on there was a video of Kirky biking and playing with all the children in the family (this was before my time). I was astounded.  I knew him as very low functioning but oddly enough, when my aunt and uncle passed and he was placed in a group home he started to live up to his potential. Kirky started working, dating, and lost a ton of weight. Don’t get me wrong, he was very loved and taken care of by his parents. It is just as we learn and evolve we learn about the power of potential.

My other cousin Michael has an uncanning knack for naming people after musicians. If you ever met my sister, Dr. Gabrielle the “Doctor to the Rock Stars”, he calls her Cher. Spot on Michael! Heck, even Cher herself said she looked like her! He called me Michael Bolton…  What the heck?! He redeemed himself later by calling me Bruno Mars which I liked better but he probably was closer on his first guess! He is absolutely the life of the party!

Society today is better at realizing the untouched potential in people with Down syndrome than they 30 years ago. They realize that they can be protected yet still excel in our world and their potential is quite remarkable. Frankly, as a general statement, I think they teach us some very important lessons.

First, I feel they are extremely gentle, well evolved, souls.  Boy we could all take a lesson from that. Second, they tend to live in the moment which is another wonderful trait. And third, their potential is incredible when society doesn’t set limits. Which is no different than ours.

So on this World Down Syndrome Day let’s all reach for the sky and push our potential in mind, body, or spirit in honor of the wonderful people with Down syndrome!

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.