The document discusses strategies for addressing talent and workforce challenges within the Chippewa Valley, highlighting the importance of collaboration among various community stakeholders. It outlines goals such as attracting and retaining talent, improving career pathways, and promoting apprenticeships to build a robust workforce. Additionally, it emphasizes the need for chambers of commerce to act as catalysts for business growth and community engagement while focusing on accountability and resource management.

1. Moderator: Scott Rogers
Governmental Affairs & Workforce Director
Eau Claire Area Chamber of Commerce, Eau Claire, Wis.

2. • Your name and role
• Your organization
• Why you’re here today

3. “Rip off and duplicate”

4. Catalyst for business growth
Convener of leaders & influencers
Champion for a strong community
 Source: Dave Kilby, Western Association of Chamber Executives

14. • What organization in your community represents the largest group of
employers?
• Make a decision to devote attention and resources to the issue
• Provide guidance and accountability with your strategic plan
• Your members and investors will see the value and will support it with their
time and money

15. Catalyst for business growth
Convener of leaders & influencers
Champion for a strong community
 Source: Dave Kilby, Western Association of Chamber Executives

16. Provide guidance and accountability
with your strategic plan

18. Goal: To be a champion for employers in the Chippewa Valley as they work to solve their
immediate and long term talent and workforce challenges. Implement the Employers Workforce
Initiative:
 Approach workforce as a critical supply chain issue. Identify area workforce-related activities among
education, government, non-profits, business and industry groups, and the private sector and assess
their value as part of the talent pipeline.
 Serve as a clearinghouse for Chamber members on workforce-related information and programs,
helping point them to resources that address their specific challenges.
 Communicate regularly with Chamber members to identify the most critical issues specific to our
region and its employers, and promote opportunities for direct action by those Chamber members.
 Participate and collaborate with other entities where the Chamber’s knowledge and resources can
provide value to achieving important goals.
 Maximize our area’s unique assets and value in attracting and retaining talent.
 Identify gaps and overlap in area workforce efforts and advocate for changes or action as needed.
 Serve as a catalyst to help assure cooperation, collaboration, communication, timeliness and
accountability across regional workforce efforts. Convene leaders as needed to tackle specific
opportunities and challenges. Support local, regional and state workforce initiatives that have a direct
impact employers.

19. • Identify the issues most important to your community
• Inventory local efforts and resources
• Take advantage of national, state, local resources for approaches
• Collaborate to prioritize the most important, then take action

20. workforce@uschamber.com

23. Recommendations
1. Attract and Retain Talent
2. Upskill Existing Workers
3. Improve Career Pathways
4. Promote Apprenticeships,
Youth Apprenticeships,
Internships and Other Work-
Based Learning for Students
5. Promote Career Awareness
6. Reach Disconnected
Groups
Economic Leadership LLC

25. 1. People, and organizations collaborate when it is in their
interest to do so.
2. Where you stand always depends on where you sit.
3. Collaboration is easier in times of plenty and hard in times of
scarcity.
4. When crisis > complacency = cooperation.
5. People collaborate when there is a chance of success.
6. People collaborate when they have something specific to do.
7. Collaborations work better with measurable goals.
8. Patience is a virtue for successful collaboration.

39.  Housing
 Transportation
 Immigration
 Meth/Opioid abuse
 Public Policy

40. Catalyst for business growth
Convener of leaders & influencers
Champion for a strong community
 Source: Dave Kilby, Western Association of Chamber Executives

41. How to Become a 3C Chamber – Podcast by Dave Kilby, WACE
https://w-a-c-e-s-chamber-leadership-podcast.simplecast.com/episodes/how-to-become-a-3c-chamber-abbc739e
ACCE Horizons 2025
https://secure.acce.org/main/horizon-initiative-chambers-2025/
US Chamber Talent Pipeline Management
https://www.uschamberfoundation.org/talent-pipeline-management
Minnesota Chamber of Commerce – Center for WorkforceSolutions
https://www.mnchamber.com/grow/center-workforce-solutions
Future Wisconsin Summit – Wisconsin Manufacturers and CommerceFoundation
TedAbernathy presentation https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SZiCDUWGuBE
Wisconsin Workforce Competitiveness Report https://www.wmc.org/wp-content/uploads/Future-WI-Report_FINAL.pdf
Winona Chamber – Hot Jobs Cool Companies
https://www.hotjobscoolcompanies.com/
UWIN – University of Wisconsin Internship Network
http://www.momentumwest.org/workforce/uwin
https://www.thinkeauclaire.com/
Rochester Chamber Hubsource
https://hubsource.mn/
US Chamber Business Leads Fellowship Program
https://www.uschamberfoundation.org/Fellowship-Program

42. Scott Rogers
Governmental Affairs & Workforce Director
Eau Claire Area Chamber of Commerce
rogers@eauclairechamber.org
715-858-0616