2008 Synergy Conference Presenters
Juliet Fox, Synergy Facilitator
Juliet has been working with communities for the past 10 years in community development efforts. She has served her community for two terms as a Dunn County Board Supervisor and continues as the Chair of the Dunn County Board of Adjustments. Currently, Juliet is the Executive Director for the Visioning Dunn County initiative for engaged citizen community development. Her work has earned national and regional awards for collaboration, engagement and citizen centered work. Recently Visioning Dunn County was recognized by The Case Foundation “Make It Your Own Awards” and chosen top 20 nationally for exemplary community engaged efforts. Juliet was also chosen as a Bush Leadership Fellow to work with communities to prepare for the effects of globally and technologically changing societies—specifically for rural areas. She has been teaching technology and media courses at the University of Wisconsin-Stout for the last eight years and often works with communities to understand change and how communities can prepare for it. Juliet has a B.S. in Business, an M.S. and finishing up a PhD in Human and Organizational Systems.
Bruce Siebold, Synergy Facilitator
Dr. Bruce Siebold is currently President and owner of Rusk Prairie Consulting Group, LLC. He offers over thirty years of leadership and management experience in change management, strategic planning, marketing research, economic development, and corporate management services.
Prior to forming Rusk Prairie Consulting, Dr. Siebold worked as the Director of the Phillips Plastics’ Technology Center in Prescott, Wisconsin. As Director of the Technology Center, Dr. Siebold lead the Corporation’s R&D efforts, facilitated the start-up of two new companies, and was responsible for the technology transfer back to ten manufacturing plants located in N.W. Wisconsin.
Dr. Siebold spent over 25 years in higher education at University of Wisconsin-Stout as a Business Professor. The last ten years he served as the dean of the College of Technology, Engineering and Management. During his tenure as dean, his oversight responsibilities included the Northwest Wisconsin Manufacturing Outreach Center, a campus business development incubator, the Stout Technology Industrial Park, and the introduction of several new technology and management programs. He also generated over $16 million in gifts during two major fundraising campaigns. During his entire time at UW-Stout, we was actively involved in the economic development community and held numerous board positions, including Wisconsin Economic Development Association (WEDA), Momentum Chippewa Valley, and Forward Wisconsin’s Regional Planning Commission.
Today, he serves on the Governor’s Technology Council, Minnesota Center for Engineering and Manufacturing Excellence, Menomonie Development Corporation, UW-River Falls College of Business Advisory Board, as well as several regional nonprofit boards.
Bruce Lindgren, President
Coalition for Eco-Industrial Development (CEID), Superior, WI
How Will Energy Shape How We Live, Work and Play?
Without revelation, energy is already playing a critical role in how we conduct our day-to-day lives; and has been for quite some time. Spiraling impacts channeling through the global and national markets have indeed hit home. As we look ahead, we can anticipate significant changes, decision making processes, opportunities and problems because of energy. By becoming more aware of these, we can become more proactive with how we choose to shape how we live, work and play. This session will feature both keynote presentation by the indicated industry expert as well as interactive dialogue among conference attendees, presenter and facilitator.
Bruce Lindgren is principal of B. Lindgren CONSULTING, which serves small businesses, school districts, local governments and non-profit organizations with technical writing, marketing communications and project management. His consulting work is currently focused on executive functions for the Coalition for Eco-Industrial Development, serving as Acting President and CEO. Bruce is a member of the Lake Superior Binational Forum where he serves as chair of the U.S. Delegation. He is a past president of Bayfield County Economic Development Corporation. For nearly 30 years, Lindgren lectured and designed instruction in the biological sciences at Normandale College in Bloomington, Minnesota. Lindgren holds a Master of Science degree from Minnesota State University-Mankato.
Dr. James Bensen, President Emeritus
Bemidji State University, Bemidji, MN
How Does the Global Market Affect Growth and Opportunities for Small Businesses?
By creating sustainable small business operations, west central Wisconsin can support growing the regional economy. Leaders across economic, workforce, financial, educational and the overall business community concur that developing entrepreneurial spirited opportunities within a global market is key. Other factors including awareness and access to research resources, cost of healthcare, workforce needs and funding mechanisms are important considerations when formulating a strategy that supports small business growth. Along with a keynote presentation by the indicated industry expert, this session includes an interactive dialogue among conference attendees, presenter and facilitator.
A native of northern Minnesota, Jim earned his bachelor’s degree from Bemidji State University, his master’s from University of Wisconsin-Stout and his doctorate from Penn State University. He retired as President of Bemidji State in 2001. Formerly, he served as President of the Dunwoody College of Technology and as Dean of the College of Technology Engineering and Management at UW-Stout. Jim chairs BemidjiLeads! and also co-chairs Destiny 2025. He currently serves on more than a dozen boards, writes, speaks and provides leadership throughout the world in educational excellence, quality, building a knowledge-based economy, managing change, and the future. Jim and his wife, Nancy live on Big Turtle Lake near Bemidji and have five children and five grandchildren.
Ed Barlow, President
Creating the Future, Inc., Saint Joseph, MI
How Can We Build, Attract and Maintain the Talented Workforce of the Future?
Among the top tier criteria that businesses use for establishing and growing their operation is access and availability to skilled workforce. This region of Wisconsin is unique given the locale of four university and two technical college institutions of higher education. The challenge of retaining student graduates within the area given existing job opportunities is something the entire state of Wisconsin is focused on solving. Formulating a strategic plan that addresses this gap is possible by utilizing existing data while drawing upon future-driven trends, needs and opportunities. As with the others, this session will feature both keynote presentation by the indicated industry expert as well as interactive dialogue among conference attendees, presenter and facilitator.
Ed Barlow is an internationally known and respected futurist. He has worked extensively with employers and communities in anticipating and developing future human resource and workforce development needs. This includes 50 community-visioning processes, five of which have received awards. He has a unique ability to translate the future to education related groups because of his experience as a high school teacher, K-12 system CEO, higher education vice president, university faculty member and consultant. Ed holds a Masters Degree in Business from Notre Dame, Higher Education Administration from University of Wisconsin and Bachelors in Political Science from Loras College.