Menomonee Falls Community Chamber of Commerce: JCPenney in Menomonee Falls presented with community improvement award

Contact:

Sue Jeskewitz, Executive Director

Menomonee Falls Community Chamber of Commerce

Phone: 262-251-2430

Fax: 262-251-0969

sue@fallschamber.com

http://www.fallschamber.com

The Menomonee Falls Community Chamber is pleased to announce that the JCPenney store located on County Line Road in Menomonee Falls will be presented with the Community Improvement Award at the Chamber’s Annual Awards Banquet sponsored by U.S. Cellular on January 12th. JCPenney is being recognized for the outstanding renovation to their Menomonee Falls location and for the community support they have brought to Menomonee Falls since opening their doors.

JCPenney is one of America’s leading retailers and has been committed to providing its customers with style and quality at smart prices. JCPenney was first created by James Cash Penny in 1902 in Wyoming where it was originally called the “Golden Rule” store. Mr. Penny’s personal and business philosophy was to treat others like you would want to be treated, and JCPenney today remains to be committed to its “Golden Rule” beginnings. All JCPenney stores seek to serve and care for the communities where they are located in an ethical and responsible manner, and JCPenney has greatly demonstrated this in our community.

The Following Awards will also be Presented this Evening

Captain of Industry Award: Wacker Neuson Corporation

Menomonee Falls is lucky to have a great corporation like Wacker Neuson in the community because they have consistently worked to benefit our great village. Wacker Corporation started in Hartford, being the first production plant created in America by their parent company in Munich, Germany, and moved to Menomonee Falls in 1986. In 2008, Wacker merged with Neuson-Kramer thus creating Wacker Neuson Corporation. Since the merger, they have increased their world presence by offering many lines of construction equipment. Wacker Neuson started a task force six years ago with other local manufacturers to bring awareness to the diminishing talented and skilled workforce of fabricators, machinists, welders, painters, and assemblers. They started working with the Chamber in order to promote the need for well-educated and skilled workers by being a partner in the creation and organization of the Manufacturing Career Expo. Through their efforts they have brought a fresh and exciting new look to manufacturing that has opened the eyes of many young people in our community.

Captain of Industry Award: Harley-Davidson Powertrain Operations

Harley-Davidson is one of the most recognized names in the motorcycle industry today, and the amount they give back to the community is even larger. They have made significant contributions of time and talent to the planning and operation of the Manufacturing Career Expo in coordination with the Chamber. They also offer co-op opportunities for local students in order to give them first-hand knowledge and experience in the work environment. Harley-Davidson Powertrain Operations just recently contributed $4000 to the Menomonee Falls Community Chamber Scholarship Fund to help fund students that want to pursue an education in manufacturing. Harley-Davidson has a Volunteer Matching Hours Program for employees, which encourages them to volunteer and in turn the hours the employees contribute are matched with a contribution by Harley-Davidson. They also have the Harley-Davidson Foundation in which a portion of profits is earmarked for the Foundation every year, and is given to programs that focus on education, community revitalization, arts and culture, health initiatives, and the environment. Harley-Davidson has also been a corporate sponsor of the Muscular Dystrophy Association for nearly 30 years.

Volunteer of the Year: Michelle Greiner

Michelle is a lifelong resident of Menomonee Falls and has donated a great deal of her time to helping better her community. She has been on Leadership Menomonee Falls since 2002 and has served on the Board of Governors and is the Chair of the Alumni/Special Events Committee. She has also been the President of St. Mary’s School Board since 2007 and is Co-Chair of the Advancement Committee. Michelle has volunteered and served in several positions in church and in school including being a Greeter, a Sunday School Teacher, and a Destination Imagination Coach. While being a working mother having the position of Senior HR Generalist for JW Speaker, Michelle also finds time to be a Girl Scout Leader and Scout School Organizer.

President’s Award: Mary Brunner, SimplexGrinnell

Mary is a lifelong resident of Menomonee Falls, graduating from Menomonee Falls East High School, and has shown a strong dedication to our community. She has been a Chamber member since 2007 and has served on the Industrial/Manufacturers Committee, 2009 Golf Outing Committee, and the 2009 & 2010 Awards Banquet Committee. She has continuously volunteered for many community events and programs like the Big Pig Gig, the Menomonee Falls Fire Department’s Annual Safety Fair, the Girl Scouts, and events put on by the United Donauschwaben of Milwaukee. Mary has been an employee of SimplexGrinnell since 1997 when she started as a billing clerk, and is now the Office Manager. She has demonstrated great leadership at work and the areas she supervises have won numerous awards.

Chamber Business Award: Michael Stelter, ActionCOACH

Michael has been involved with the Chamber since 2005 and has been a Chamber Ambassador since 2007. He has been a great asset to the Chamber by bringing in and organizing volunteers for the 2007 and 2008 Big Pig Gigs which is essential to the success of the event. He also helped develop the Chamber Business Institute, a valuable program that is used by members to further develop their businesses. Michael was a facilitator in redesigning the focus of the Chamber and creating a plan to implement the changes. Among his many personal awards are the “Point of Culture” Award and “Top 100 World ActionCOACH” Award from ActionCOACH.

Community Betterment Award: Menomonee Falls Little League

Menomonee Falls Little League was established in 1991, and is a non-profit organization for boys’ baseball and girls’ softball. The program is administered by a board of 30 volunteers, has 95 teams and around 1170 kids participating, and relies on 250 volunteer coaches. Most Little League games take place at the “Complex” which is composed of nine fields and is leased from the Menomonee Falls School District to MFLL for $1.00 per year. Menomonee Falls Little League has provided children and parents with a great opportunity to be involved in the community and have fun for the past 20 years.

Larry Stewart Humanitarian Award: Jim Jeskewitz

Among his many football and coaching awards and honors, Jim’s most significant awards are his induction into the Wisconsin Football Coaches Association Hall of Fame, the Menomonee Falls Wall of Recognition, and the Menomonee Falls Athletic Hall of Fame. Currently he is very active in many volunteer organizations along with being a board member on the Village and County Board. Jim lends his time to co-organizing the Menomonee Falls Football Team’s senior citizens snow shoveling program. He is also the host on the local cable channel show “I Remember Menomonee Falls” along with doing a historical slide presentation and historical tours of Menomonee Falls. After 12 years of retirement from coaching football, Jim is again coaching. This time it’s the Junior Indians Football team which his grandson is a member. Remember “One Day at a Time?” He, also, serves as the “Schneider” of the Menomonee Falls Chamber.