How Speakers Can Stand Out Online with Kristin Adkins

Is the Future of Work Already Here? with Andrew Zimdars

Erik and Becki sit down with Andrew Zimdars, Director of Partner Services at GPS Education Partners, for a myth-busting look at the future of work-based learning and talent pipelines. Andrew shares bold insights into why the traditional four-year degree isn’t the only path to prosperity and why Wisconsin employers must shift gears to survive the “silver tsunami” of retirements. Vibrant stories from the front lines reveal how technical education is transforming students, businesses, and communities. Andrew’s direct perspective on generational change, soft skills, and the immersive apprenticeship model offers a powerful roadmap for business leaders navigating the shrinking labor pool. Episode Highlights: 04:03 - Everybody's heard about the millennial student debt thing, right? We all went to college for the experience instead of the pathway. And I think more and more students are feeling the pressure to know what they want to do when they get out of high school and to figure out, like, am I going to go to college? Am I going to go in the workforce? What do I want to be when I grow up? So, work-based learning provides them an opportunity to, at a low stakes, figure out, like, what they're good at, what are they interested in, what they want to do after high school, what are their skill sets? 08:22 - I think as a generality it's kind of seeing a student that comes in very immature, thinks they know what they want to do. Some career interest survey at the high school told them they were going to do this or that. Kind of felt like they had it figured out. And then to kind of be able to see that evolution of growth, to be just more informed and mature when they graduate. I think that's one kind of success that always stands out to me. 13:06 - They spend half of the day there finishing their high school curriculum, graduating with a diploma from their home high school because they maintain the status of being a student at the high school they're at. And the ed center has a bunch of different kids from a bunch of different high schools there. And then the rest of the day, we put them into a youth apprenticeship and they have to work and get skills through that and experience through that. What's really cool is that this kind of work-based learning, full circle happens where in the classroom they're being coached on things that are going to happen at the job. And then the employers are giving us feedback on what's happening at the job, and then we coach them in the classroom. Connect with Becki Schimpf LinkedIn [http://linkedin.com/in/beckischimpf] Connect with Erik Waisanen LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/erik-waisanen-9447489/] Connect with Andrew Zimdars LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrew-zimdars/]

Building Legacy and Community with Ben Westra

Ben Westra, fourth-generation builder and president of WDS Construction, joins the show for an inspiring conversation on family legacies, leadership, and giving back. Known for steering his company to national prominence while staying rooted in core values, Ben Westra shares real stories from his journey and reveals how partnership and perseverance are the foundation for business success. From humble beginnings working in his family’s yard to building a business that serves clients across 47 states, Ben Westra pulls back the curtain on the relationships, moments, and philanthropic spirit driving WDS forward. Episode Highlights: 03:43 - Well, I'm a fourth generation contractor and you know, WDS stands for William, Dewey and Steve. That's my great grandfather, grandfather, and father. So as a young kid, I still remember getting in the back of the car on a Saturday morning, driving around to job sites with my dad and my grandpa and just loved being on the job site, having my own little hard hat and being able to hear the stories from the backseat of what were they working on that week, what were they struggling with, and just left a real impression on me. And from there, I realized that construction was just in my blood. It's what I was meant to do. 06:59 - One of the things that I've realized over the last 20 years has been that where I originally thought construction is notoriously transactional, whether it's low dollar, low bid, whatnot. But the way we get repeat work is all relational, all because of our relationships. 80% to 90% of the work at WDS is with repeat clients. And it's all due to our people, to be honest with you. Right? They're the ones that are continually building those relationships. And that's completely foreign from the way I thought it was when we started. 17:58 - At WDS, our core purpose is to provide for WDS families and build communities through our passion for construction. And that doesn't just mean we're building the 250,000 square foot cold storage facility. And that's all we do, right? To be able to build communities, we need to help others and maybe help the least of these. Right? So how do we work with these nonprofits to make that happen? WSD Works makes that a priority. Like we're going to try to knock these jobs out of the park, just like we would for a massive pharmaceutical plant. Right? So they are the best ribbon cuttings you could go to. Not a dry eye in the room. Connect with Becki Schimpf LinkedIn [http://linkedin.com/in/beckischimpf] Connect with Erik Waisanen LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/erik-waisanen-9447489/] Connect with Ben Westra LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/ben-westra-70ba2419/]

Part 2: 130 Years of Community, Coffee, and CARE: Lessons in Thriving Local Banking

Is your bank doing more than just processing transactions? In Part 2 of this episode, we spotlight how Horicon Bank’s “heart” sets it apart, fueling community transformation, supporting arts and education, and championing a CARE-driven mission. Community impact isn’t a talking point here; it’s woven into every decision, from building athletic fields and supporting hospitals, to empowering staff for 40 hours of volunteer service a year. Ever wondered why some local banks become the glue that holds communities together? Hear stories that reveal more than just business success—they showcase a legacy of partnership and trust. Tune in to hear from Fred C. Schwertfeger, Frederick F. Schwertfeger, and Alex Solanki as they unpack what truly makes Horicon Bank “The Natural Choice” for over 130 years. Episode Highlights 01:06 – We're trying to be a community bank that participates in a meaningful way in each community. I would like to say, Becki, that one of our kind of mnemonics that we work toward at Horicon Bank is our CARE mission. Our CARE mission is defined as having an interest in our communities. And we use this word CARE and build it out to communities who value our presence, associates who are getting growing in their skills and success, and relationships that we have with customers who trust us. And then we have expectations to meet with regulators and shareholders and all that. And so that care mission is one reason why we think customers should bank with us. Someone asked me, a consultant asked me a number of years ago, well, why would I want to bank with you? And so it's quite easy to explain. We have a care mission. 07:14 – I would say that the fact that we empower our bankers to make the local decisions, it means we're making business decisions quicker than perhaps a bigger bank that has to go up the ladder of this approval process. But also, we invest in our communities, but we do that also with time. We allow every employee to have 40 hours of volunteer time to give back to their communities. So I think that's another sort of testament that we're making to our communities. 22:28 – And I think I have a good example of that one with a customer I started in his own business in probably the late '90s or the early '90s. And he started a manufacturing company in Horicon. And went on to sell it for a nice price. But along the way, I had an opportunity to, especially in retirement, to work with him and tell him the good news about the gospel, really, that Jesus died for his sins and he could trust in Jesus because he was ill, Eric, at that time, and he was in the Beaver Dam Hospital. He contributed to the new hospital that I talked about earlier, and I was invited to be the officiant at his funeral. So talk about from inception to grave kind of banking care. Connect with Becki Schimpf LinkedIn [http://linkedin.com/in/beckischimpf] Connect with Erik Waisanen LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/erik-waisanen-9447489/] Connect with Frederick F. Schwertfeger LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/frederickfschwertfeger/] Connect with Fred C. Schwertfeger LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/fredschwertfeger/] Connect with Alex Solanki LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/alex-solanki-92890bb8/]

Part 1 - 130 Years of Community, Coffee, and CARE: Lessons in Thriving Local Banking

Some banks chase profits; Horicon Bank builds legacies. Erik Waisanen and Becki Schimpf sit down with Horicon Bank’s Chairman & CEO Fred F. Schwertfeger, President Fred C. Schwertfeger, and Strategic Financial Analyst Solanki for a deep dive into 130 years of community banking, resilience, and forward-thinking leadership. Fred shares powerful family anecdotes, pivotal milestones, and timeless values that continue to shape both the bank and the region it serves. From surviving industry upheavals and economic downturns to expanding into the Milwaukee area, Horicon Bank’s story is one of adaptability, visionary risk-taking, and authentic local engagement. The team also explores how fun—yes, inspired by river otters—drives innovation and purpose at Horicon. Episode Highlights: 01:17 - Fred F. Schwertfeger: “I'm here with my son and my daughter, and we're really blessed to be part of Horicon Horicon Bank over these years. I've been with Horicon Bank coming on 50 years. Can you imagine that? And my son's been with us since the turn of the century, more or less. Once he did a parade with us and had to follow the horses through the parade as a Horicon Bank representative. So we've all kind of grown in our own way at Horicon Bank.” 17:41 - Fred C. Schwertfeger: "I think being in this one in Wauwatosa crossing into Milwaukee County was possibly one of the bravest things we've done. A lot more obligations to the community, a lot more competition. So that, that one is still fresh. Recency bias is affecting that answer there. But we've started a trust division and that was a new, new thing for us and, you know, over 130 years never having trust powers, but getting into that business was another milestone moment, I would say. Acquiring a fintech was another." 21:16 - Alex Solanki: "And that branch in particular involved a few extra risks that we took, including we built it to be geothermal, and this was a new idea for us to use geothermal heat to power the heat, to heat the building. And that was kind of went in line with our theme of being a natural bank centered on the marsh with enjoying nature and such things. And in addition to that, we also built the branch to include our very own coffee shop, which we called the Blue Goose. You know, our logo is a blue goose. And so we branded our own coffee and trained baristas for a while. And that was a fun way to enter that community and get some excitement and foot traffic coming into the branch to get their coffee." Connect with Becki Schimpf LinkedIn [http://linkedin.com/in/beckischimpf] Connect with Erik Waisanen LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/erik-waisanen-9447489/] Connect with Fred F. Schwertfeger LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/frederickfschwertfeger/] Connect with Fred C. Schwertfeger LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/fredschwertfeger/] Connect with Alex Solanki LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/alex-solanki-92890bb8/]

From Mission to Movement: Transforming Travel & Community with Angela Gorske

Grace Bruins sits down with travel specialist and neurodiversity advocate Angela Gorske to uncover how transformative experiences and educational travel can empower communities. Angela shares her inspiring mission to “improve the world” through hands-on adventures and uniquely tailored trips, especially for those with extraordinary needs. From field trips that bring history to life to creative business funding ideas, Angela takes us behind the scenes of her brand’s soft launch and how love—passed down from her grandmother—drives everything she does. Angela delivers heartfelt stories and practical advice on starting a mission-driven company, offering insights that entrepreneurs and changemakers won’t want to miss. Episode Highlights: 01:16 - That's what I started off with in January when I said, okay, I'm going to start a business if I don't get a job. And that's where we're at. 03:19 - We have a trip that is getting rescheduled. It was supposed to be next Thursday, but now I'm going to a conference. So it's getting rescheduled to next month to The Dome in Milwaukee. 05:21 - Right now, I'm working on a bucket list trip for a gentleman whose Parkinson's is currently not doing bad, so. 07:29 -  So if you're feeling like you've got a raven on your back or someone who's bringing too much negativity to the table, fly higher. Grace Bruins LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/gracebruins/] Angela Gorske LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/angela-gorske-3366b7190/]