Board Members | Professional Business Skills

Frank Alberts

SCORE
f.alberts@centurytel.net
(608) 784-4888

(608) 784-4888

Retired from Trane Company after serving many years as service as a foreman. He has lead SCORE as their president and aided many new business start ups as well as aiding small businesses with individual business needs. S.C.O.R.E. is a group of retired business owners and people who have experience to share with new businesses.


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Patti Balacek

Western Technical College
balacekp@westerntc.edu
(608) 785-9201

Patti Balacek grew up in La Crescent and graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in English and Math with a Secondary Education Licensure. After teaching high school and coaching competitive debate and speech for a number of years, Patti began organizing apprenticeship programs in the construction trades throughout Minnesota. Her role, based in Minneapolis, MN, expanded to include overseeing the creation and sales of an electrical training curriculum, customized training for electrical companies and legislative lobbying in support of the electrical construction industry.





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Larry Butz

President & CEO, GEA Consulting
LButz@gea-consulting.com
(507) 895-6826

Founder of GEA Consulting, a La Crescent based engineering consulting firm serving the global air-conditioning and industry. Previously headed Engineering & Technology Division for Trane International specializing in product development and technology globalization. Five years in France as engineering manager for Trane Europe/Middle East. Created and lead multi-cultural teams in technology transfer and JV start-up projects in China, Europe and to the U.S. Trane Technology and environmental spokesman to governments, industry and scientific groups and businesses around the world. Received BSME & MSME degrees from UW – Madison. Registered Professional Engineer in state of Wisconsin.





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Greg Flogstad

Manager, MRRPC
greg@mrrpc.com
(608) 785-9396

Greg has served as Director of the Mississippi River Regional Planning Commission (MRRPC) for the past 22 years. As Director he is involved in all planning and economic development activities of the MRRPC. The MRRPC provides land use planning, zoning, map production, public facility grant writing and loan and technology zone tax credit administration to local governments and businesses in a nine county region in Western Wisconsin. Prior to this positionhe served as an Economic Development Specialist in Trempealeau County involved in grant writing for public facility projects and business loan activity. Greg received an undergraduate degree from UW -La Crosse and a Masters in Urban and Regional Planning from Minnesota State University - Mankato. He lives in Onalaska with his wife Lynn and has two girls. In his spare time Greg enjoys mountain biking and boating and watching the Packers and Badgers. 



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Ann M. Hlavacka

Director, UW-La Crosse Small Business Development Center
hlavacka.anne@uwlax.edu
608-785-8782
608-785-6919 (fax)

Anne M. Hlavacka is the Director of the Small Business Development Center at the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse.  Prior to taking that position in June 2010, Anne practiced law for over 20 years with Reinhart Boerner Van Deuren s.c., a corporate law firm headquartered in Milwaukee, WI.   Her legal experience includes extensive work with general corporate and small business matters, government contracts, international/immigration law, dispute resolution and compliance with federal, state and local regulatory requirements.

Anne is a Board member of the UW-La Crosse Foundation and the Pump House Regional Arts Center.  She also serves on the Advisory Board of the Wisconsin Business Development Finance Corporation.

Anne was born and raised in La Crosse.  She graduated from UW-La Crosse in 1984 and Marquette Law School in 1987.  She is admitted to the Wisconsin Bar, the United States Circuit Court – Seventh and Ninth Circuits and the United States District Court – Eastern and Western Districts of Wisconsin.  She has received the Business Journal of Greater Milwaukee's Women of Influence Award, the Association of Women Lawyers Outstanding Mentoring Award and the Small Business Administration’s Legal Assistance Award for Wisconsin. 

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James Hill

Executive director, La Crosse Area Development Corporation (LADCO)
LADCO@Centurytel.net
(608) 784-5488

LADCO serves as the lead industrial development agent for the La Crosse Area, serving a three-part mission: the retention of industry, the attraction of industry and co-management of the Coulee Region Business Center, small business incubator. During his tenure Jim has been involved in the formation and tenancy of numerous industrial parks, the creation of three local revolving loan funds, the founding of the Coulee Region Business Center, the creation of Downtown Mainstreet, Inc., management of the La Crosse Industrial Park Corporation, the formation of the Mississippi River Labor-Management Council and the establishment of the Western Wisconsin Technology Zone. He currently serves on the Governor’s Council on Workforce Investment and the UW-La Crosse Foundation Board of Directors as well as in directors roles with several other organizations. Prior to joining LADCO, Jim headed up the district office of Congressman Al Baldus for five years and then worked as a lobbyist for the Wisconsin Farmers Union in the State Capitol for two years. He received his Bachelor of Arts Degree, University of Wisconsin-La Crosse in 1976 Jim is owner and operator of Hill Farms and co-owner with wife Sue of a small business, the Elite Repeat. Member of the Board - WI Governor’s Council on Workforce Investment, Northwestern Manufacturing Outreach Center, La Crosse Area Chamber of Commerce, Workforce, Downtown Mainstreet, Inc, UW-La Crosse FoundationPast Member, La Crosse City Council.

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Scott Koelbl

Loan officer, Associated Bank
Scott.koelbl@associatedbank.com
(608) 796-4243

As Vice President, Business Banking Scott has served this market for over 10 years. His local knowledge and understanding of this market complements his strong banking and lending experience. He previously held the positions of Assistant Vice President with First Federal Capital Bank and Assistant Vice President of State Bank of La Crosse where he was responsible for managing lending and deposit relationships. Scott holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Finance from the College of Business Administration at the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse. He has also attended numerous industry specific training including Risk Management Association, Commercial Credit Academy, Wisconsin Bankers Bank Management course. Scott is an Eagle Scout and continues to actively support the Boy Scouts by serving the Gateway Area Council in many functions. He is an active member of the United Way and the La Crosse Chamber of Commerce. He also serves as the Finance Chair on the Board of Directors for the Coulee Region Business Center. 


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Dave Loomis

Executive director, Coulee Region Business Center
cen71222@centurytel.net
(608) 782-8022

Dave has been the Executive Director of the Coulee Region Business Center succeeding Jan Gallagher, who was serving as interim manager prior to Dave starting in September of 1993. Dave has served as the Executive Director from the opening of the Business Center and has lead the Center through an expansion of 15,000 square feet almost doubling it’s size and the start up of a kitchen for food people to start their businesses. He has worked for major large companies, ran a small business and ran a catering business for several years. He has a Bachelors of Science Degree in Business and Human Resources.





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TJ Stenger

Founder and CEO, Three Rivers Technologies
tstenger@3riverstech.com
(608) 779-1323

Twenty years experience developing software solutions, serving clients, and establishing a strong technology consulting business. Nine years as Founder and CEO of Three Rivers Technologies. Previously Vice President of Software Development at Winnebago Software, Software Development Manager/Architect at Profit Solutions Inc. and Systems Analyst with EDS. TJ received his Bachelor’s Degree in Business from the University of Minnesota with an emphasis in Finance & Accounting. 




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Joe Veenstra

Attorney, Johns, Flaherty & Collins SC
joe@johnsflaherty.com
(608) 784-5678

 Joe is a partner at Johns, Flaherty & Collins, S.C., a La Crosse law firm that has been a fixture in the area for over 125 years. He is a litigator, involved in civil and criminal cases of many  stripes. He is also a supplemental court commissioner. Joe joined Johns, Flaherty & Collins after having graduated from the University of Wisconsin Law School and having clerked for the La Crosse County Circuit Court judges for a year.






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David Wagner

Treasury manager, Kwik Trip
dwagner@kwiktrip.com
793-6216

Dave has worked for 10 years at Kwik Trip Managing the Accounts Receivable and the Accounts Payable Departments. Dave has experience with billing, payment processing and collections work on past due accounts, and has also had experience conducting financial audits. In addition Dave has worked with non-profit organizations on strategic planning initiatives. Dave received his Bachelor of Science Degree from the University of Wisconsin La Crosse, with a major in Business Administration and minor in Accountancy.

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Ellen Wehrs

Employment and Employee Relations Specialist, Associated Bank
Ellen.Wehrs@associatedbank.com
(608) 796-4490

Ellen Wehrs is an Employment and Employee Relations Specialist with Associated Bank serving Western Wisconsin. Ellen understands that the greatest asset of any company, large or small, is the employees. Having been active in the Human Resource field for 17 years, she brings a wealth of real life experience to the table. Besides her community involvement with the Coulee Region Business Center, Ellen is an active member of the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM).





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Marc Wehrs

marc.wehrs@gmail.com
(608) 788-2234

A self-employed editor and writer, Marc Wehrs worked variously as a sports writer, copy editor, opinion page editor, sports editor, news editor, editor and online editor at the La Crosse (Wis.) Tribune and Winona (Minn.) Daily News from 1985 to 2010. An award-winning columnist, editorial writer and page designer, Wehrs supervised reporters and editors, and directed local news and sports coverage in a variety of roles. Marc lives in rural Coon Valley, Wis., with his wife, Kristine, and their children.



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Jeff Wrobel

Controller, Kwik Trip
jwrobel@kwiktrip.com
(608) 793-6380

Twenty-five years of Accounting, Finance, and Treasury experience, serving as Controller or Kwik Trip, Inc. since 1997 and Assistant Controller from 1988 to 1996. Responsibilities and experiences include financial statement preparation, general ledger accounting, banking relationships, accounts payable, inventory auditing, and various treasury functions. Experiences prior to joining Kwik Trip include Accounting Manager for Rau Oil Company for five years and a Public Accounting Internship. He is a Certified Management Accountant and received his Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Minnesota in 1983.