About Centergy

Our Mission

Centergy is committed to advancing prosperity and vibrancy in the five-county region of Central Wisconsin: Adams, Lincoln, Marathon, Portage, and Wood Counties.

Centergy envisions itself as the Collective Voice for advancing prosperity and vibrancy in the region. The organization’s mission is to serve as the engine for regional growth and economic development through collaboration with local partners. Centergy’s decision-making, actions, and provision of services are guided by its core principles of Vision Forward, Accountability, Fiscal Responsibility, and Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (DEI).

To drive the mission, Centergy has identified four pillars of focus: Talent Growth, Regional Advocacy, Business Development, and Partner Engagement. These pillars provide a strategic framework to lead economic development and prosperity in Central Wisconsin into the future. Centergy aims to collaborate with businesses and partners to retain and attract in-demand talent throughout the region.

OUR BOARD

Get to Know Our Board Members

Paul Fowler, PhD, Chair

Executive Director, Wisconsin Institute for Sustainable Technology

Gautam Malik, Vice Chair

CEO at Gamber-Johnson LLC

Nick Faber, CPA, Treasurer

President/CEO at Simplicity Credit Union

Joe Schuchardt, Secretary

Director of North Central Operations at Findorff

James Matheson

Senior Vice President- Chief Strategy Officer of Aspirus

Melinda Osterberg

Regional Economic Development Director at Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation

Michael Smith

Senior Vice President, Secretary and General Counsel of Church Mutual Insurance Company

Manny Vasquez

Vice President and Partner at Pfefferle Companies

Denise Sonnemann

Executive Director Marshfield Area Chamber of Commerce & Industry

Brad Gast

Dean of Workforce Training & Professional Development and Apprenticeship at Northcentral Technical College

OUR STAFF

Meet Our Staff

Angel (Whitehead) Laidlaw

President/CEO, Centergy

Dawn Johnson

Administration

Northcentral Wisconsin Regional Planning Commission

Dennis Lawrence

Consultant

Northcentral Wisconsin Regional Planning Commission

The Centergy brand provides an effective way to leverage the collective economic power of the region’s five counties.

It allows us to unite the region’s efforts in talent attraction and development, regional brand development, business development, and promoting innovation and entrepreneurship within the business community.

We operate in partnership with a broad variety of organizations, institutions, and government entities throughout the Centergy Region. Among them are the region’s seven major chambers of commerce:

We collaborate with colleges, universities, and technical schools throughout the region.

We’re also allied with a long list of public economic development partners at the local level, as well as the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation, and the State of Wisconsin.

Centergy is proud of the region’s business resources and plays an important role in strengthening and growing the region’s economy, to ensure an even better quality of life for residents of the counties and communities we serve.

Partner Organizations

Read All About It

Centergy and Wisconsin Chinese Chamber of Commerce Form Partnership

March 13, 2024, Central WI – Centergy, the leading advocate for regional prosperity and vibrancy, and the Wisconsin Chinese Chamber of Commerce (WCCC) dedicated to fostering the success of Chinese/Asian/minority-owned ... Centergy and Wisconsin Chinese Chamber of Commerce Form Partnership

Centergy Launches "Central to Success" Campaign to Boost Regional Prosperity

In a strategic move to enhance regional vitality, Central Wisconsin proudly unveils the “Central to Success” campaign, a pioneering marketing initiative spearheaded by Centergy. This comprehensive effort is designed to ... Centergy Launches “Central to Success” Campaign to Boost Regional Prosperity

Centergy Announces 2024 Officers & Board of Directors

February 2, 2024, Central Wisconsin, WI – Centergy, a nonprofit regional marketing and economic development organization, announces the 2024 Board of Directors and officers.  The three newly appointed members bring ... Centergy Announces 2024 Officers & Board of Directors

Low-Interest Housing Modernization Loan, Expands Neighbor Helping Neighbor Program in Stevens Point

City of Stevens Point, through its Community Development office, officially announced in 2023 a low-interest loan program intended to assist residents in making repairs and updates to their homes. The ... Low-Interest Housing Modernization Loan, Expands Neighbor Helping Neighbor Program in Stevens Point

Childcare Legislation Circulating at the Capital

Centergy, the regional economic development organization for Central Wisconsin, is keeping a vigilant eye on the state capital as draft legislation concerning childcare made its way through the corridors at ... Childcare Legislation Circulating at the Capital

Central Wisconsin Days 2023 - Issues & Outcomes

Highlights from Wisconsin Budget Addressing Childcare, Tax Reform, and Housing August 14th, 2023, Central Wisconsin, WI – As the dust settles following the recent Wisconsin Budget announcement, Centergy Inc. and ... Central Wisconsin Days 2023 – Issues & Outcomes