Allow me to introduce myself…

Rich Palzewic

Staff

September 7, 2022

Hello, The Business News readers – allow me to introduce myself to those who might not know me or haven’t crossed my path.

My name is Rich Palzewic, a new staff writer for The Business News.

I couldn’t be happier or more excited to get this opportunity to work with the paper’s new editor, Heather Graves, and the rest of the crew.

I’ve only been on the job two weeks now, but I can already tell it’s a great group to work with and we’ll have lots of fun – all while bringing you great business-related stories.

A little more about me
I grew up in the small town of Wallace in the Upper Peninsula (U.P.) of Michigan – growing up on 162 acres with six sisters.
If you don’t know where Wallace is, it’s about 12 miles north of Menominee on U.S. Highway 41 – mostly well known for the DeYoung Zoo.

On some nights in calm weather, I could hear the lion roaring from my house.

I didn’t dare ever tell my parents – who have both since passed away – I was bored.

If I did, my dad would say, “You have 162 acres out there, go find something to do.”

Some people have asked me how I managed with so many sisters – five older and one younger than me – but it was a great experience.

My oldest sister is 60, while my youngest is only 10 1/2 months younger than me – an Irish twin.

For one year, all seven of us got on the school bus at the same time and took up three seats.

Two of my sisters currently live in the U.P., three are in the Green Bay area and one lives in Milwaukee.

After I graduated – in a class of 72 from Stephenson High School in 1990 – I headed north to Marquette for college and received my undergraduate degree in elementary education/English/social studies in 1995 from Northern Michigan University, before subbing for a year in my hometown district.

I later went on to obtain a master’s degree in education from the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point.

In 1996, I got a full-time teaching gig in Rhinelander, Wisconsin, teaching the sixth grade, a position I held for 11 years.

Because I like the outdoors – biking, hiking, skiing, etc. – Rhinelander was heaven to me.

During my Rhinelander years, I coached football, basketball and Nordic skiing, helping the high school Nordic team win a pair of state championships.
Those days were some of the best years of my life, and I often visit friends there.

After resigning from teaching in 2007, I moved to the Green Bay area and became a sports freelancer for the Green Bay Press-Gazette, mainly covering Green Bay Gamblers hockey and St. Norbert College football/hockey.

Following some changes at the Press-Gazette in 2014, I began writing sports stories for The Ashwaubenon Press under the guidance of Mike and Annette Aubinger.

When Mike passed away from cancer, the paper was eventually bought by Multi Media Channels (MMC).

I was retained by the company and became the sports editor in 2017, a role I kept until recently moving to The Business News.
I enjoyed writing about area sports and connecting with different people, and it was a special honor to be on the sidelines for 35 Green Bay Packers games during that time snapping photos.

When the COVID-19 pandemic hit in March 2020, like many other things, sports were put on hiatus.

The company had to cut staff, so in addition to covering the few sports things that were still happening, I covered municipality and school board meetings.

It was here I learned it’s not so much the subject matter that is appealing to me, but more the process of writing.

I learned a lot about government and how municipalities run efficiently and effectively – some better than others.

Outdoor enthusiast 
As I mentioned above, I like the outdoors.

In the summer of 2000, I biked across the United States from Seattle to Boston – a 4,300-mile trip that lasted nine weeks and averaged about 80 miles per day.

The mountains in the west and east were exhausting, but also exhilarating.

I still like biking, but now I’m happy with an hour ride most days of the week.

Nordic skiing is also another passion of mine, and I get out as much as I can, with Barkhausen and the Brown County Reforestation Camp being my favorite destinations.

I’ve completed the American Birkebeiner – North America’s largest Nordic ski race – four times.

Someday, I hope to through-hike the Appalachian Trail – a 2,200-mile trail from Maine to Georgia that passes through 12 other states along the way.

I also have a 12-year-old daughter, Francesca, who I call Frankie.

She likes running, watching sports, reading, playing with her cat and drawing.

Looking ahead
I’m looking forward to using my love of writing and telling a story with The Business News.

My dad owned a small business – so I have some experience with operations and finances – but there is much I don’t know about the business world.

I look forward to learning and growing as a writer in the years to come. 

If you ever have any business story ideas, questions or comments, feel free to email me at rich@thebusinessnews.com.
I look forward to hearing from you and helping share the stories of the many businesses and businesspeople that call Northeast Wisconsin home – thanks for reading.