‘It’s important to take care of the people who take care of us’

Lori Kaye Lodes

Contributor

May 13, 2024

RHINELANDER – Chad Swanson – agent and owner of American Family Insurance Chad Swanson Agency LLC – said he wouldn’t be where he is right now if he hadn’t had help along the way.

As a result, he’s the first to lend a hand, his time or his know-how to benefit others. 

“If I can be that person for someone else, that’s awesome,” he said. 

Swanson said it is something he strives to do every day in the greater Rhinelander community, which he’s called home since 2012.

Since becoming what he jokingly refers to as an “implant” in the community – a Red Robin native in Hodag territory – Swanson said he’s embraced it as his own, professionally and personally.

His approach to accomplishing this, he said, is one of gratitude and care that he has a platform to “do what he does” – which includes a mighty list of community activities.

Fortunately, he said his wife, Tara, is a community advocate as well.

Swanson said he credits his father, Arnie, with leading by example.

Though his father was involved in community activities for years, Swanson said he took it a step further by creating his own nonprofit with two other people about 20 years ago. 

“I was raised to help others – it is a big thing in my family,” he said. “My dad gives to everybody. I think it’s important for me, as a business owner, to take care of the people who take care of us. That’s why I do what I do.”

What began during his childhood as volunteering for Relay for Life, Swanson said evolved into fundraising and participating in activities alongside his dad.

Many of these activities, he said, benefited organizations or individuals with childhood diabetes, cancer and other causes.

Upon getting settled in Rhinelander, Swanson said he pursued involvement in the Hodag 4-Wheelers ATV-UTV Club.

An avid four-wheeler himself, he said he recognizes the huge draw the area’s vast trail system has for tourists and residents alike.

As such, Swanson said he enjoys helping maintain the area’s Enterprise ATV trail system and encouraging access to fun and safe ATV riding in the area. 

“Our trail system is spread out, unlike Minocqua or Eagle River’s, and I wanted to get involved with (something I enjoy) while meeting people,” he said. 

Swanson said he was previously the club’s vice president – serving 10 years in the role, as well as two and a half years as acting president of the club.

He said he continues to be involved in the club as he’s a self-described avid outdoorsman who enjoys ATVs as well as hunting and fishing.

“I came to this community to try to make it stronger, and what better way than to help the tourism in this northern Wisconsin town,” Swanson said. 

Hodag Sports Club

The outdoors, Swanson said, also came calling in the form of volunteering for the Hodag Sports Club, for which he volunteers as a banquet committee member and general volunteer.

He joined that club about four years ago, which he said began with a sponsorship that led to helping with the banquet. 

“This is right up my alley,” Swanson said. 

The annual banquet each February, he said, draws about 240 people, consistently selling out with a waiting list.

Swanson said he helps to plan and work the event – though he credits other volunteers with doing a lot of the legwork, with him primarily working the event the day of, setting up and selling tickets.

His involvement with the club, Swanson said, also spurred his involvement as a coach for the Rhinelander High School trap team – which he began doing about four years ago after meeting some people at the sports club who mentioned an opportunity to help the students. 

“I’ve always liked working with and teaching kids, and it’s nice to share your passions with newcomers,” he said. 

Swanson said he recently obtained advanced training and certifications for instructorship to bolster how he can help the students participating in the trap team.

Though involved in several sports in high school himself, Swanson said he recognizes not everybody is drawn to group sports, such as football, basketball and baseball. 

“There are some people who prefer a more individual (sport), and the trap club helps them, and they can still participate in a sporting event and compete,” he said. 

And though Swanson enjoys teaching the students about proper form and execution, he said coaching is about far more than that.

“Sports like this can help (kids) learn to navigate life while doing something they enjoy,” he said.  

Homelessness

Swanson said his connections with the ATV club spurred his involvement with yet another community group – the Northwoods Alliance for Temporary Housing (NATT) and its board of directors.

The Hodag 4-Wheelers ATV-UTV Club, he said, got involved in some activities to benefit NATT – offering rides on ATVs to individuals at the homeless shelter.

This, Swanson said, led to a conversation with the executive director, who asked him to get more involved.

One thing led to another and Swanson has served on the board for four years, devoting seven years overall to the organization focused both on preventing and ending homelessness.

Shortly after getting involved with the shelter, Swanson said the ATV club decided to partner with the shelter to do a Ride for the Homeless.

The ATV ride – which he said has about a five-county reach – is now its fourth year and raises money for the homeless shelter. 

“It’s (mission is) about giving people a hand up to get back on their feet and catch a break,” he said. “(Homelessness) can happen to anybody. These aren’t bad people. We’re a small community, but we still have homelessness.”

Chamber involvement

More recently, Swanson said he’s gotten involved with the Rhinelander Area Chamber of Commerce as a board member.

He said he credits a strong staff with driving the organization’s work forward, while he and fellow board members contribute to strategic planning and ensuring the organization is in a good place financially.

His chamber involvement, Swanson said, was an outgrowth of his acceptance into, and participation in, its Leadership Oneida County program – a nine-month program that brings together a cohort of professionals to engage in monthly sessions to learn about the community while challenging their thinking and inspiring them to improve the quality of life in the county.

Swanson said he and his small group within the program decided to pursue a community project near and dear to his heart – the creation of a directory, available via the chamber’s website, that serves local nonprofits who seek volunteers. 

“The thought is to offer a link where people can sign up right there to volunteer,” he said. 

Swanson said the group pulled together a list of more than 250 volunteers and is aiming to connect the nonprofits with the volunteers to effect change. 

“Nonprofits are challenged to find people to raise what they need to raise and do what they need to do,” he said. “Most nonprofits in our area are having challenges, and we wanted to make it easier to find a reliable person who can help, and make it so people can come to one spot to find it.” 

Community Strong

Swanson said he took a cue from his dad in creating what he calls the Community Strong program, which he offers through his business.

Every month, he said he buys a gift card from a local business and gives it away to a lucky recipient via a drawing.

Swanson said he also donates to a different nonprofit organization each month.

Though it started as a way to give back during the December 2022 holiday season, he said its popularity inspired him to keep the momentum going and now refers to it as Community Strong. Nowadays, Swanson said he promotes it through the agency’s Facebook page, promoting a particular local business and asking for followers to comment on what they’re going to do if they win the gift card.

And word, he said, spreads fast.

“I posted one, and within four hours, we had 30 shares and had reached more than 700 people,” he said. “We can reach upward of 6,000 people, which is huge advertising for the business. It’s a great example of how we all support each other.”

Swanson said he loves that Rhinelander is a tight, close-knit community that takes care of its own. 

“I’ve said it a billion times, if you have strong nonprofits in the area, you’ll have a strong community,” he said. “We all have to help each other.”

Swanson said he couldn’t do what he does without an amazing support staff and a super-organized wife who “has a heart of gold.” 

“I’m home quite a bit, as I do some of the things during work hours,” he said. “My staff runs the show while I’m gone, and my wife and I make it work.”

Reflecting on the last few decades, Swanson said he credits his dad with instilling the passion for giving in him early on and aims to continue leading by example in the community.

“Nobody has time, but take what you’re passionate about and… find a spot because every little bit helps,” he said.