Eau Claire Hometown Media

The area has no shortage of stories of entrepreneurs who’ve built “board by board” and this series will highlight those individuals and their stories.  On the debut episode, we meetthe series host Randi McVinnie (owner of BONDS in Altoona) who details her own business story and the goal behind the show.  She shares insights into her successes and setbacks, the oddest things she’s had to overcome a...

Get ready to BEE amazed!  The 2nd AnnualChippewa Valley Bee Expo comes to the Northern Wisconsin State Fairground this April and Director Galen Klisiewicz gives us all the buzz about the event that will showcase everything about bees from pollination to the countless uses forhoney.  Along the way, we learn what the biggest issues are for bees in our area, the simple things everyone can do to stren...

As part of her first tour outside of Korea, Insun Park andher band The Generals will be coming to the Heyde Center on Thursday February 26th.   This fusion of traditional Korean music and mask dance rhythms with rock is very unique. Insun shares insights into what to expect from the show, her background and what she is excited most about withthis first tour coming to Western Wisconsin.

Nearly everyone has a credit score and on this episodePillar Bank’s Sylvan Erickson (Chief Credit Officer) and Tony Meyers (VP Commercial Loan Officer) discuss how to build your score and pitfalls to avoid.  Why is credit important?  What are things that improve it and ways it can be decreased? How can one master their credit destiny?

Taking your hobby and turning it into a side-hustle can tapinto a sweet reward for you.  We learn just that as Sam Schlewitz talks with Clear Water Sugar Shack co-owner BrettZacho.  He walks us through the process of not only how a sap from tree to table, but the steps to make sure everything with the business is legal.  From forming an LLC, to covering insurance to staying up to date on licensing...

The Chamber at UWEC share more than a century ofinterconnected history and the vibrant partnership is highlighted here as Interim Chancellor Dr. Michael Carney is the guest,  the university is a major source of economic and social identity for the community, and the organizations have collaborated on a number of areas over the years. -  The development of the new sciencebuilding and its potential...

Altoona AD Andrew Caudill gives us a mid-season update onthe Railroaders program and shares insights into topics at the forefront of scholastic athletics.  Including NIL in Wisconsin High School sports and participation numbers in certain sports. #highschoolsports #podcastrecommendations #youthsports#sportsinwisconsin #localpodcast

Presented by Fries Financial Group The philanthropic nature of the Chippewa community is soaked into the soul of residents. Helping to facilitate this for nearly 25 years is the Community Foundation of Chippewa County, which manages various endowments and last year dished out grants to almost 150 organizations The foundation's executive director Jill Herriges tells us about the organization's purp...

The role of school boards is oft-misunderstood and to helpclear up their responsibilities, objectives and goals is Altoona School Board VP Hillarie Roth.  She details what theboard does, and equally important, what it doesn’t do.  How does the line of responsibilities split between the board and the superintendent?  She touches on the challenge in keeping school board actions non-partisan and tryi...

Hosted by the Phoenix Taproom and Kitchen in downtown Eau Claire, this month's edition features representatives from the Boys and Girls Club, Northern Wisconsin State Fair and the Chippewa Steel Hockey team Find out who comes out on top as they answer trivia questions while enjoying a tasty beverage.

Brit and Susie invite Mickey Ganschow onto the podcast to highlight the bond between Feed My People Food Bank and Marshfield Clinic.  Mickey is the Community Benefits Coordinator with Marshfield Clinic, focused on bridging the hospital with the region such as lining up presenters for local civic club groups and performing community health assessments. She touches on importance of food, and access...

New podcast, who dis? Meet the host of this new podcast Hotdish and Headliners Zach Johnson! Frontman of the Eau Claire cover band Shovelhead, Zach has met many friends in the music scene and wants a space to talk about their projects, dreams, and the struggles that come with chasing the neon rainbow.

After years or livestock weigh-ins, signing concert acts and the unmistakable smell of fried food, Rusty Volk has retired from the Northern Wisconsin State Fair.  We get the chance to honor Rusty as he officially exists after 17 years in the role. -        Highlights and Challenges He Overcame -        Where the fair was and how he leaves it -        Advice for the area…we are in a transition peri...

Rebecca Beaufeaux, one of the teachers in the McDonell system, is joined by her daughter Delilah on the episode. We get a glimpse into why one family not only works with the system but believes its the best option for their children's education

The President and CEO of Pillar Bank, Shane Bauer, looksback at the last year and assess the goals they had set and where the bank succeeded.  He notes examples of “wins”they had with the community. Shane also addresses working to attract the younger generations to the bank, as the population of the area overall grows older.  Additionally, he also addresses the bank’s work to strengthen its intern...

Presented by Poquette, Donnellan and Schlewtiz Law As a local business, Poquette, Donnellan and Schlewtiz Law shares that bond with other local entrepreneurs and on this episode, Keenan Crawford introduces us to Stephanie Homann the owner of Intentional Journeys.  This is a local travel agency that can help individuals and groups plan that trip.  We learn the benefits of working with a travel agen...

The band DALLAHAN brings their blend of jazz, funk and popto the Heyde Center on Thursday January 15th.  On this episode, we talk with three of the band members, Benedict (fiddler), Ciarans (banjo) and Jack (guitarist andsinger) to learn more about the band, their influences and more. The band has been together for over a decade, winningnumerous awards in the UK, with a collection of mostly origin...

Hosted by the Phoenix Taproom and Kitchen in downtown Eau Claire, this month's edition features representatives from Northwestern Bank face Chippewa Valley Technical College Find out who comes out on top as they answer trivia questions while enjoying a tasty beverage.

Applying lessons beyond the classroom is the goal of school-based enterprise, a part of the business education at CHI-HI.  Heidi Warren, the business/marketing teacher at the school,  explains how the business classes are able to utilize what they learn through DECA competitions and endeavors like The Birdcage, which is a store within the school.  Senior students Kaia Petersin and Zoe Schoengarth...

Bragging about our area’s highlights is the job of Visit EauClaire’s Senior PR Manager Luke Alexopoulos.  He pulls back the curtain on how Eau Claire is marketed to the regionand the world, from showcasing different events, to telling the stories of the communities. He talks tourism, economic impact and what is really takes to get people to put Eau Claire on their travel map. Whether you’re a loca...

Presented by Fries Financial Group The McDonell Macks brought home the WIAA Eight-PlayerFootball Championship this Fall and the head coach Mark Maloney joins us for this episode.  He takes us through thewhirlwind championship tour the team went on through town and the state.  We gain insight into the adversity the teamovercame and when it all seemed the click.  The importance of the leadership of...

Longtime area business owner, Natasha Plank-Ottum knowsintimately the strain of healthcare on employees and employers.  Costs cut into business growth and employee paychecks.  As such, she has become an advocatefor Advancing Free Market Healthcare, a group of employers who are working to raise awareness among policymakers on the impacts rising costs are having. Dr. Usher and her discuss some roadb...

The number one concern amongst parents across the country is a fear of bullying at schools.  Altoona Middle School Guidance Counselor Kaitlyn Ingrebretsen and the Middle School Dean of Students Kyle Rundquist go in depth on the topic from a local lens. What defines bullying?  Is the perception its increasing accurate?  The role bystanderscan appropriately play and how does the school teach proper...

Presented by Visit Eau Claire The heartbeat of a community is downtown and Eau Claire isno different.  This area of the community has seen spectacular growth over the past 20 years, and during the holidays inparticular, shines with lights and activity.  Erin Klaus is a downtown business owner and president of Downtown EauClaire Incorporated, a non-profit that assists and markets this slice of the...

The warehouse at Feed My People Food Bank stores itemswall-to-wall and floor to ceiling, with a team that helps to manage it all.  On this episode, we meet two guyswho help to make sure it stays organize and run smoothly.  Warehouse Associates Carter Fridlund and Scott Mirkin, give us a perspective we don’t usually get.  Join us for this authentic conversation about community, teamwork and friends...