BEAR Discussions

Cherri Irwin of Irwin Construction is the guest of the latest episode of the B.E.A.R Discussion podcast. She tells about her experience as husband and wife co-owners with some insight into the current world of construction.

Jeff Deutschlander tells all about how to be a good an honest business owner in todays day and age while also talking about how it is ok sometimes to take a step back and relax.

General manager of Golden Calf Company Dagmar Beckel Machyckova tells us a good old fashion American dream story of her and her husband starting there company from the ground up.

Wisconsin Senator Kathy Bernier joins us in this episode of the B.E.A.R Podcast and talks about how it is ok for business to ask for help from legislatures.

CCEDC's Charlie Walker sits down with Tobi LeMahieu and talks about loans and the finances of starting up a business.

CEDC's Charlie Walker sits down with two Pauls to talk about their consulting endeavors, backgrounds in banking and financial planning, and best practices for starting and managing a business.

CEDC's Charlie Walker sits down with Barbara Bauer-Chen, co-owner of C&J's Candy Store & Scoop Shoppe in Menomonie, WI with her husband John. In this episode, we talk about pivoting during the pandemic, having fun while working with your spouse, and living the sweet life.

CEDC's Charlie Walker sits down with Aimee Mikl and her daughter Sydney to talk about finding a tribe, as well as the importance of working and playing together in an increasingly isolatory and tech-laden world.

CEDC's Charlie Walker and Lisa Bruhn sit down with Nicholas Wiener, owner of Josef's Cheesecakes in downtown Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin, to talk about carrying on the family legacy, expanding to a vacant building, and the secrets behind the sweets.

Andrew Gehrke, a Milwaukee native, moved to Eau Claire to attend school, and ended up moving back a few years later with his wife. Since then, he's dove deep into the downtown Eau Claire bar and restaurant scene, noticed that no one local was selling cocktail syrup, and decided to take matters into his own hands - and mix it up.

Meagan Pichler is a Community Health Manager for the Marshfield Clinic Health System Center for Community Health Advancement. As a practicing Certified Prevention Specialist in the state of Wisconsin and a Certified Health Education Specialist through the National Commission of Health Education Credentialing board, she leverages her skills and passion to help underserved populations by addressing...

CEDC's Charlie Walker sits down with Wade Latz, an instructor and entrepreneur with a passion for filling the workforce gap in manufacturing. Today, we talk about his new nonprofit, Manufacturing SOS Alliance.

CEDC's Charlie Walker sits down with Mike Coughlin - owner of Tech Breaker, a company that produces foam insulation for building foundations - to talk about entrepreneurship, the supply chain, and more.

CEDC's Lisa Bruhn and Charlie Walker talk with Teresa Wadell, owner of Abundant Acres, about raising goats, selling soaps, and the unquenchable entrepreneurial spirit.

CEDC's Charlie Walker sits down with Kathy Wright, General Manager of Country Jam, to find out the history of the festival, building the brand, and how she personally got into the entertainment industry. Turns out: the key to building the brand was in selling the experience, especially after the pandemic took that away from us.

CEDC's Charlie Walker sits down with Nicole Lillis, director of the Support to Communities Program offered by Workforce Resource. Listen to this episode to find out what that program is! For questions or additional information, contact Nicole Lillis at 715.619.0655 Ext. 1512 Send inquires to Nicole Lillis by email: Nicole.lillis@workforceresource.org

CEDC's Charlie Walker sits down with Rebecca Cooke, owner and founder of both Red's Merchantile and the Red Letter Grant. Why do they both have "red" in the name, you ask? Listen to the episode to find out!

CEDC's Charlie Walker sits down with Erica Zerr, Business and Industry Partnership Consultant for the Cooperative Educational Service Agency (CESA10), to talk about growing the local talent pipeline through cooperation between businesses and school districts.

CEDC's Charlie Walker sits down with two teachers from Chippewa Falls High School to talk about their upcoming STEAM Night on March 15th.

CEDC’s Charlie Walker sits down with Patrick Ley and Steven Birkholz of Applied Care Services (ACS). ACS is based out of White Bear Lake, Minnesota, and offers counseling and employment assistance to individuals that struggle with mental health or substance abuse issues, while also helping businesses save money by taking care of their packaging needs, effectively getting two birds with one stone a...

Jeremy Fisher's life and soul has been archery for most of his life. CEDC's Charlie Walker and Lisa Bruhn sit down with Jeremy Fisher, owner of Badger State Adventures and the Toxon App, to learn more about how his passion became his life's work and how he combined the bow and the bootstrap to expand the sport of archery.

CEDC's Lisa Bruhn sits down with Nycki Wallsch, a counselor, coach, community leader, and mom! In this episode, we discuss the ways that business leaders can help people struggling with addiction and mental health issues.

CEDC's Charlie Walker sits down with Cory White, owner of Small Business EH&S, to talk about safety and environmental regulations for small businesses.

CEDC's Charlie Walker talks with Roger Gostomski, owner and founder of Eau Claire Tours, to find out his journey from scouring museums for research to giving the only walking tour in Eau Claire.