www.forwardjanesville.com | 17 work can only go so far if there are governmental structures or policies impacting resources required for the success of these families, like adequate and affordable housing and child care. My participation in the GRC allows me to represent the experiences of the families we serve as we are looking at the issues impacting them most. When you’re not working or volunteering, where would we find you? Absolutely with my dog, Oscar. He is incredibly spoiled with a bed and toys in my office, so I can bring him in on the rare days I'm at my desk all day. He has an outfit for each holiday, and we take him in to see the residents at the nursing home my wife works at. Also, likely outside – kayaking, hiking, camping, attempting to keep things alive in my garden, and/or nose in a book. And of course, spending time with my family, especially my wife, mom, and nieces. As you have risen through various roles at Family Services, how have you balanced the success and history of impacting the local community for nearly 100 years with advancing new initiatives and writing the organization’s next chapter? There is a lot of pride in the history of our agency, and we take a lot from it. It is our history of being a local Rock County agency that allows us to have core relationships in the community to recognize new challenges facing families. Using our experience, we can create an initiative we know truly focuses on a sustainable solution. The Next Steps Family Resilience Center is a perfect example of this. It was our core relationships that provided so much support to an innovative service model built from the experience of providing housing to families experiencing multigenerational poverty. DENNIS RILEY Business Coach, Contour Consulting Forward Janesville Ambassador Dennis Riley has been an active member of Forward Janesville for many of the last 30 years, including the last two years volunteering with our Ambassador group. If you attend our events, you likely recognize Dennis as someone who is quick to introduce himself and help you make connections. And as someone who has started and operated his own businesses, he is a valuable resource to our members. What do you like most about being a Forward Janesville Ambassador? When I came back to Janesville to start my own business, the first thing I did was rejoin Forward Janesville. Mainly for networking at that time, however as my business progressed, I made time to get more involved. Ambassadors bring value to FJ and the community. We volunteer to help at FJ events to make sure they run smoothly, and to show our support for the chamber. We help the community by touching base with our member businesses, attending ribbon cuttings/open houses, Business After Five events, and spreading the word to the community about all the positive things going on in Janesville and at FJ. Stepping up as an ambassador has been rewarding in so many ways! Describe your current role with Contour Consulting and the business’ mission when it comes to helping local business owners. I’m a Business Coach with Contour Consulting, a fractional support resource dedicated to empowering small businesses and non-profit organizations. We partner with preentrepreneurs to validate their ideas and ensure they are developing viable, sustainable business concepts. For existing businesses, we provide tailored support by meeting them where they are and implementing actionable directional plans designed to drive growth and measurable outcomes. For non-profit organizations, we offer guidance in developing or refining strategic plans, equipping them with the tools needed to move forward effectively, and fostering collaboration with board members to ensure alignment and long-term impact. What are a couple of pieces of advice you would give to entrepreneurs in Rock County today? Surround yourself with people that complement your skills, not duplicate them. … Think long-term, act short-term. … And listen: to mentors, to customers, to employees – and even to competitors.
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