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Dear Friends,

Below is an excerpt from a patient’s essay for a college scholarship application.

“Lazy and naughty were the words that my early elementary school teachers may have used to describe me. Punishment rather than encouragement was used to attempt to get me to comply in a traditional classroom setting. It wasn’t until middle school that I learned my brain wasn’t broken; it was just wired differently. The diagnosis of ADHD is a defining characteristic that created unique personal experiences in my life, making me an exceptional candidate for your scholarship. While often thought about as a disability, I have embraced ADHD as a unique advantage that fuels my resilience, drive, out of the box thinking and helped me develop a leadership style uniquely mine. I was regularly punished for behaviors commonly exhibited by neurodivergent students forced into a traditional learning classroom. I knew I wasn’t the naughty, lazy boy my teachers made me out to be, but I didn’t know why I couldn’t learn like the other students in my class. The diagnosis was life changing. My parents increased my physical activity, made changes to my diet and sleep schedule, and moved me to a different school more suitable for my needed accommodations. The previously diagnosed anxiety and depression subsided as my teachers encouraged movement and hands-on learning. I learned how to benefit from ADHD by not allowing challenges to hold me back.

It is at Stout where I again will prove those early elementary school teachers wrong. I’m not naughty or lazy, just different. I am the student who will continue to work tirelessly to achieve my goals as I further my education at UW Stout as a student in the engineering department.”

As you can see, he has ADHD. You can also see the dangers of misreading what another person is going through.  

I can tell you this: There are a lot of people with ADHD and ADD that have been misread. There are a lot of factors that go into being neurodivergent, which is a fancy way of saying they learn in a different manner than a typical child. They also learn differently than the typical education system structure.

 

I have observed something else over the years: neurodivergent people have to be scrappy. They have to figure things out and adapt because of these differences in how they learn and how we teach. There is a huge advantage to this, which is that they learn very adaptive skills that translate into the real world.

I find some of the most innovative and successful people outside of a traditional school setting have been labeled as ADD and ADHD. My example above will be one of these people. In fact, I can guarantee that he will be writing checks to employees some day.

Why the rise in ADD and ADHD? Well , it is multifactorial in my assessment:

  1. Increased awareness and better diagnostic tools. Healthcare providers, parents, and teachers are better educated about how ADD and ADHD can play out in kids, and can address and help kids adapt earlier.

  2. Diet – Sugar, processed vegetable oils, refined wheat, added gluten, high fructose corn syrup… these are all products in much of our food that can stress the nervous system and can worsen ADD/ADHD symptoms

  3. Fortified wheat – folic acid fortification is a neurotoxin. We started fortifying in the 90’s, but folic acid needs to convert to folate to actually be put to use in the body. 44% of people have a gene that limits conversion of folic acid to folate. The gene is called the MTHFR gene. Its nickname is – well add some vowels to that! Yup. I have this gene- it is not rare

  4. Vaccines – No, all vaccines are not bad. Life isn’t so black and white. I am going to stay away from the arguments that you should or shouldn’t vaccinate. That is your decision and you should educate yourself on all sides of that issue. What I will tell you is that vaccines are created for people who have properly functioning immune systems. Most people do not have perfect immune systems…

  5. Sleep, exercise, and sunlight deprivation. These directly impact brain development and repair, as well as impacting the immune system.

Many things need to come together to support neurodivergent people in reaching their full potential! Proper sleep, diet, and exercise, creative learning environments, and a solid support system will help any brain to be more focused, creative, and calm. But these tools are especially beneficial for people with the added gifts and challenges that come with ADD and ADHD.

We have a few supplements that we love to use to support these brains!

OPC Synergy: has strong antioxidant effects that help balance brainwave activity, which can support concentration and focus in time!

Tuna Omega-3 Oil: these fish oil capsules have a high concentration of DHA fatty acids, which are especially supportive for brain health and cognitive function.

God bless,

God Bless,

Dr. Dan

OPC Synergy
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Tuna Omega-3 Oil
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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.