This is just the beginning, North Central Wisconsin

Heather Graves

Staff

January 9, 2024

Hello North Central readers –

By now, I imagine you have noticed the changes that have accompanied the newest issue of The Business News – great things are happening!

As of the first of the year, the three editions of The Business News – Northeast, North Central and West Central – have been reunited under the Dickman Media Group umbrella and Publisher Megan Dickman Renard.

As the editor of the Northeast edition, I will also serve as the editor of North Central and West Central.

I can’t begin to tell you how thrilled I am to lead these incredible publications into the future – bringing my more than 20 years of journalism experience to the strongly-supported publications.

I look forward to continuing the pieces that already make it great while adding things to further its strong mission.

This first issue is just the beginning.

The Business News team has been working hard over the last few weeks to relaunch The Business News North Central edition with the same knowledge, integrity, professionalism and passion as we have been doing with the Northeast edition.

My goal for the North Central edition is to intentionally keep readers in mind as we fill the pages of each issue and showcase the amazing businesses and business leaders that call North Central Wisconsin home, while digging deeper into what’s next.

A fresh look

As you page through this first issue of 2024, you’ll notice a few design changes design-wise – with a goal of providing an enjoyable flow and easy readability.

First and foremost, story teasers have been moved from page three to the front page to give readers an immediate peek of what they’ll find inside.

Though industry-specific pages no longer exist, each issue will continue to showcase the wide range of industries operating in North Central Wisconsin.

This allows for flexibility in sharing stories that are both industry specific and showcasing the meaningful intersections between industries.

In place of stock information from the previous week, we are now including market indicators, which aim to help readers plan for what’s on the horizon in terms of the market.

Drawing on the publication’s strong foundation, my team’s goal is to broaden the publication’s scope by focusing on staff-written content and expanding our talented pool of freelancers and guest columnists.

Each issue will also include a Business in Brief section that highlights newsworthy tidbits happening throughout the region across industries – from finance to health care and everything in between.

What won’t change is the publication’s values, high standards and continued focus on the region’s business community – together, we can accomplish great things here in our little slice of Wisconsin.

A bit more about me

Though I live in Green Bay, my ties to North Central Wisconsin run deep.

I grew up in the tiny Village of Aniwa – I know all too well that if you blink while driving north on Highway 45, you’ll miss it – and graduated from Antigo High School (rockin’ robin tweet, tweedle-lee-dee).

I earned a bachelor’s degree in mass communication with an emphasis in print journalism from the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay and have been working in the media industry ever since – minus a few years as a stay-at-home mom to my kiddos.

Though I moved to Green Bay for college and have remained here since, with family and friends still living in Shawano, Langlade and Marathon counties, I visit often, and the area is still near and dear to my heart.

Many of my weekends as an adolescent were spent perfecting my roller skating skills at the Wausau-area roller rink, and I took many class field trips to The Leigh Yawkey Woodson Art Museum.

Those fond memories have served as the foundation for my new exploration of the region’s business community as I strive to do my best to showcase it.

I’m an avid Green Bay Packers fan – and a recent Wisconsin Badgers fan as my son is now a proud member of the University of Wisconsin Marching Band, Go Badgers!

I have five children – ranging in age from 25 to 6 – with much of my free time devoted to them and their activities.

I’m a big fan of Ted Lasso and Doctor Who and often slip in anecdotes from the shows into daily conversations.

Okay, enough about me… tell me about you.

I am always open to ideas and look forward to talking with the many people who make North Central Wisconsin the exceptional place it is.

Is your business expanding?

Send it my way.

Did you hire new employees, or promote within?

Send over the information.

Did your business win an award or recognition?

Send it to my inbox.

Is someone in your business making a difference in the community?

I’d love to hear more.

Feel free to share your stories with me so that I may share them with the North Central business community.

Please feel free to reach out – heather@thebusinessnews.com – at any time.

This is just the beginning, North Central Wisconsin.