14 S. Jackson Street, Suite 200 Janesville, WI 53548 PRE-SRT STD US Postage PAID Janesville, WI Permit No. 157
© Copyright 2025 Johnson Financial Group. All rights reserved. Products and services offered by these Johnson Financial Group companies: Johnson Bank and Johnson Wealth Inc. 55 years of helping your business build a better future. LET’S PLAN FOR MORE. Talk to our commercial banking team in Janesville to get started today. JohnsonFinancialGroup.com FORGE A PATH TO MORE. We care about your success as much as you care about your customers. Our commercial banking team is dedicated to helping you develop the right strategies and solutions to bring your unique vision to life—and create something more for your business and the communities you serve.
JANESVILLE experience the power of community • INSIDE THIS ISSUE • 14 S. Jackson Street, Suite 200 • Janesville, WI 53548 Phone: 608.757.3160 Email: forward@forwardjanesville.com www.forwardjanesville.com 2025-2026 BOARD OF DIRECTORS Mick Gilbertson • Chair The Developing Edge George Cullen • Vice Chair JP Cullen Sean Kennedy • Secretary/Treasurer Graphite Hill Co. Derek Greene • Past Chair Baird Joel Bailey • Johnson Financial Group Jon Ballard • Foremost Media, Inc. Todd Buehl • ABC Supply Co., Inc. Tim Cullen • Bushwood Golf Range Michael Davis • Nowlan Law Dave Holterman • First Community Bank Bob Kennedy • Rock Road Companies, Inc. Kyle Mair • Baker Tilly Kayla Murphy • SSM Health Todd Needham • Batterman Cheryl Peterson • SHINE Technologies Dr. Tracy Pierner • Blackhawk Technical College Christine Rebout • Janesville Area Convention & Visitors Bureau Kara Sankey • Mercyhealth Joe Stadelman • Angus-Young Mary Jo Villa • Hendricks Holding Company Tanner Voss • BMO Letter from the FJI President/CEO........................................4 Beating The Odds..................................................................6 Celebrating Excellence at the 2025 Forward Janesville Awards Luncheon..................................12 Driven to Help Our Community Thrive................................16 How Did I Get Here - Jamin Arn..........................................18 New Members of Forward Janesville...................................20 Launching Our Child Care Directory....................................22 Business Milestones.............................................................22 Editorial Team: Eric Schmoldt, Sommer Brockman Cover: Brande Crandall • Layout: Mary Terry Design www.forwardjanesville.com | 3 Blackhawk Technical College does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, gender identity, disability, or age in its programs and activities. The following person has been designated to manage inquiries regarding the nondiscrimination policies: Title IX Coordinator/Equal Opportunity Officer, 6004 S County Road G, P.O. Box 5009, Janesville, WI 53547-5009, (608) 757-7796 or (608) 757-7773, WI Relay: 711. (608) 757-6329 | WI Relay: 711 mmarkley4@blackhawk.edu . . . Our continuing education and professional development courses are designed to help you achieve your goals. SCAN the QR Code to view our course options.
Have you ever noticed a problem that just won’t leave your mind—something you feel compelled to fix? That’s the spark of entrepreneurship. For Tim Cullen, that spark came from seeing a field overrun with weeds. He transformed that neglected space into the Bushwood Golf Range. Best known as the President of the Rock Aqua Jays, Tim often says their world-class success stems from one thing: strong core values. That same spirit of problem-solving has long shaped Janesville. History is full of local leaders who built solutions from challenges. John P. Cullen built a bridge across the Rock River in 1886. Brothers Matthew and William Kennedy launched Rock Road Companies in 1913 to support railroad infrastructure. Thomas Baer began with playground equipment and eventually pivoted to found United Alloy, which now employs more than 500 people in Janesville. Entrepreneurship often begins by simply saying: “I’ll try.” That’s what Jose Massas-Caraballo did when he saw a gap in medical transportation. His vision started in Janesville and now spans the state. Another Forward Janesville Entrepreneur of the Year, Kelsey Paasch, is helping others take that same leap—guiding visionaries to clarify their goals and focus on the steps that matter most. Business coach Dennis Riley of Contour Consulting, one of our great Forward Janesville Ambassadors, is also available locally to help small businesses and nonprofits navigate the challenges of getting started. For those wondering if their idea could become a sustainable business, Janesville offers the support you need. The Janesville Innovation Center helps entrepreneurs move from garage operations to professional spaces, surrounded by a network of like-minded creators. It’s where Dave Farrell, founder of N1 Critical Technologies, took his idea from concept to company— despite having no prior experience in the industry. At Forward Janesville, we create connections across the business community—between seasoned leaders and those just getting started. This ecosystem of support helps people turn ideas into action and fosters a culture where local, family-owned businesses continue to grow and thrive. These companies are the backbone of our community, and it's our responsibility to support and preserve them. So the next time you notice a problem, ask yourself: What could I do to solve it? Then, take the first step. Chiropractor Andy Paull offers this simple advice: “Find someone who’s doing what you want to do—and start a conversation.” You’ll quickly find that many successful entrepreneurs didn’t start with all the answers— they just started. Forward Janesville is here to help you do the same. Learn more about how, and read about many of these aforementioned success stories, in this edition of the FJI Report. Let’s turn your problem into a plan—together. Shar Hermanson President & CEO Forward Janesville From Problem to Plan: How Janesville Empowers Entrepreneurs to Turn Ideas into Impact 4 | FORWARD JANESVILLE
DRYWATER PRODUCTIONS Stephen and Cameron Pickering were in their early 20s when they married in the fall of 2005. He was a recent graduate of film school, and she was still attending college. In their Janesville Gazette wedding announcement, they wrote that they had formed a wedding video company called Drywater Entertainment. That article led to their very first booking as a company. Up until that first official client, Stephen and Cameron had filmed weddings for friends. In fact, Stephen filmed a wedding video on the morning of his own wedding. “We had some basic (equipment) and we had borrowed cameras for past projects,” he said. “Every wedding that we booked, that money went toward camera gear. We never really made a profit. It always just bought that next piece of used camera gear that got us to the next level, or bought us another computer, another software license.” The newlyweds continued to work other jobs while building their wedding video business on the weekends. Relying on word of mouth or networking at wedding shows, their business slowly grew, to the point where they incorporated in 2008 as Drywater Productions. But while weddings provided a great ground floor for the business, Pickering itched to move into more creative projects like television commercial competitions that offered cash prizes. Their first entry, an ad for Hormel Compleats, was a partnership with another video producer who, like Pickering at the time, was an expectant father. Their hope was to win enough prize money to purchase diapers for their new babies. Their work did indeed earn them a cash prize, and that success paved the way for more creative ventures and victories in several other competitions. The high point of their string of competitive victories was a Pizza Hut ad that aired nationally in the pregame coverage of the 2013 Super Bowl. But their growth did not come without facing a moment of truth. Not long after incorporating, the Great Recession hit, and the couple entertained thoughts of ending Drywater. “We lost all our business. All the clients who had hired us canceled,” Stephen Pickering said. “It was a weird, weird time. We had to endure, and we still had to have money to pay bills, so we lived very frugally.” Rather than folding their tent, Drywater took a friend’s advice and decided to pursue a much higher profile locally. They became members of Forward Janesville and exhibited at the Business and Marketing Expo, making valuable contacts in the business community. They also rolled the dice by doing pro bono work for local nonprofit organizations, in hopes the exposure would lead to paying jobs. “We started working a lot of late nights,” Pickering said. “Overdelivering, under-charging, but getting to know people. Getting involved in the community turned everything around.” Indeed, Drywater is now a go-to video provider for everything from corporate videos to event production to TV commercials for highprofile clients like Woodman’s Food Market. After working for years out of the Pickering home, Drywater made the move to a downtown office in 2023. Beating The Odds Nearly Two-Thirds of New Businesses Fail Within A Decade, But These Janesville Companies Are Thriving By Jim Lyke Without a doubt, new businesses are key to economic development and community growth. But starting a business and succeeding at it long term are horses of a different color. According to the latest data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, over 1 in 5 businesses fail to make it through their first year. Almost two-thirds of new businesses close within 10 years. What is it that sets apart the entrepreneurs whose businesses not only survive, but thrive? While there are dozens of reasons that businesses ultimately fail, speaking to those who have beaten the odds reveals that there is no one, clear, guaranteed path to success. Each story is unique. We started working a lot of late nights. Over-delivering, undercharging, but getting to know people. Getting involved in the community turned everything around. Stephen (right) and Cameron Pickering incorporated Drywater in 2008 6 | FORWARD JANESVILLE
The Janesville Culver’s Scoopie Night Pickering is the first to admit candidly that Drywater’s success had nothing to do with business acumen. “I really have no idea how to start or run a business,” he laughs. “I’m envious of people who do. I’ve got so many passions, but all my passions are doing creative things. I hate the business side of it.” Their success, he says, comes from “loving what we do. Because if it’s just about making money, there are other ways to make money. I enjoy what I get to do.” His advice for other entrepreneurs? “If you’re going to be a business owner, spend time talking to businesspeople. How much profit do you have to make to pay taxes? And then you start looking at the overhead, and insurance and all this other stuff. It’s daunting.” “On the flip side, had I known all this ... maybe I wouldn’t have gotten into business.” Fortunately for Janesville, he did. VELVET & TULLE Like Stephen Pickering, Kari Reents wanted to have a career in a field she loved, but she wasn’t quite sure how to go about it. Working as a legal administrator for a large law firm in Madison, her dream was to own a women’s clothing boutique. “I’d always had an interest in fashion,” Reents said. “And I really felt that there was a need in my local community for the products that I like to buy.” Two years before her Velvet & Tulle Boutique became a reality, Reents started the process of educating herself about the inner workings of a retail clothing operation. “I had never even worked at a retail store,” she said. “I had no idea how to run a cash register, how to purchase items, how to do accounting. I started going to trade shows, just to learn the lingo. “I went to other stores I liked that were locally owned in other communities and just started asking questions. I found that other business owners that had boutiques similar to what I wanted to open were very helpful.” When she and her husband, Shawn, felt they were financially secure enough to start the business, they “jumped in full bore.” “Instead of just trying it out and renting a space,” Reents says, “we bought a building. We refurbished the upstairs to be a rental and the downstairs to be my store.” Juggling her full-time job with “spending every other waking moment” renovating the 19th-century building with Shawn, Velvet & Tulle opened for business in downtown Janesville in January of 2018. “There were many laughs, but also a lot of tears,” Reents says about the lead-up to the opening. “Are we doing the right thing? It was hard to get any sort of business funding, not having been a business owner before. So we did finance it, mostly, ourselves. That was a challenge. It was scary, using our savings and our livable income, and putting it all into this.” Ultimately, they concluded that, “If it fails, we’ll just keep working and we’ll figure it out.” But Velvet & Tulle has done anything but fail, expanding to open a second store in Delafield in 2024. That success has come despite numerous obstacles over the life of the Janesville store. “We had the road shut down in front of our business (for construction),” Reents said. “We had the (Milwaukee Street) bridge out for longer than they expected, and COVID happened. All of those times, I’d think, are we going to survive?” Reents attributes their success to carrying unique products and providing friendly, helpful and honest customer service. “We don’t want to sell someone a pair of jeans just to make a sale,” Reents said. “We want them to look good on people, and we want people to feel good in them. We get comments from our customers all of the time that they appreciate our honesty and our transparency.” Besides attracting local customers, Velvet & Tulle’s uniqueness and approach has drawn many customers from the Beloit and Rockford areas, which gave Reents the idea of opening a second location in Beloit. But ultimately, Reents realized that a location there might cut into their Janesville business. “Delafield was a better fit,” Reents said. “(It was) far enough away to tap into a new market that wouldn’t compete with Janesville.” Her advice to entrepreneurs echoes that of Pickering: Talk to other business owners. Kari Reents opened Velvet & Tulle in 2008 Velvet & Tulle's downtown location came first, followed by an expansion to Delafield in 2024 I thought, no one is going to tell me their trade secrets. But I quickly learned that it's not a trade secret. We all want each other to succeed. www.forwardjanesville.com | 7
“There are resources available, but I don’t think it necessarily puts a realistic, everyday perspective on it,” Reents said. “So while it’s very important to research how to build a business plan and how to get financing, (you can’t be) afraid to talk to other business owners and get the true perspective of what it’s going to take financially, what it’s going to take from a time perspective, and what types of things might be a good fit for the community. “I thought, no one is going to tell me their trade secrets. But I quickly learned that it’s not a trade secret. We all want each other to succeed, so we’re there to help each other, not to compete with each other. We’re a very close-knit business community.” N1 CRITICAL TECHNOLOGIES Dave Farrell admits that he didn’t know anything about Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS) systems. “I knew nothing of the industry,” Farrell said. “I just know business. It doesn’t matter what you’re selling, sales is sales.” Farrell co-founded N1 Critical Technologies (N1C) in 2015, opening in the Janesville Innovation Center, an entrepreneurial hub on Janesville’s south side. For him, forming the business was the easy part. “(I was) tired of making other people wealthy,” says Farrell, N1C’s current CFO. “I had set up LLCs and S corporations (for others) in my past. So that didn’t intimidate me.” N1 Critical launched as a reseller of UPS systems. But even with knowledge and confidence, the initial going was slow. “What we found quickly was that nobody wants to talk to anybody who just starts a business,” Farrell said. “But (Mike Mathews at the Janesville Innovation Center) was very instrumental in putting us in touch with key players in the city of Janesville, and making introductions (for) relationships that we still have today.” A key moment in N1C’s success came when the company changed its business model in 2018, becoming manufacturers of lithium-ion battery UPS systems and no longer acting as resellers. “Now instead of going after individual businesses,” Farrell says, “we go after the large distribution resellers that are out there. That’s who we market to, and that’s who we sell to, and they do all the selling. So that allowed us to grow without adding employees. We can do a lot more with a lot less.” Farrell credits N1C CEO Jeff Hansing for having the vision to change the business model and says the change “really propelled our company to where it is today.” By being ahead of their competitors with their lithium-ion product, N1C established a market position that still serves them well. When N1C’s competitors eventually brought similar products to market, Farrell says that rather than being a negative, “it was the best for us because it validated us.” Farrell says N1C remains unique because they are the only ones in the industry to offer a full 10-year warranty, as opposed to the more standard five years. “Inadvertently, we became a value leader,” Farrell said. “Not by adjusting our prices once our competitors came online, but by keeping our prices right where they are.” With the change to manufacturing, N1C retained space in the Innovation Center to use for warehousing and moved their offices to the former American Red Cross building on North Parker Drive. But the arrival of COVID-19 changed things for N1C and its 12 employees. Already cloud-based, N1C discovered that everyone could work well from home, making the office space unnecessary. “What we found was that we were amazingly productive out of the office,” Farrell said. Two days after COVID restrictions were lifted, employees were sent back home and the building was put up for sale. Now at 17 employees, Farrell says that N1C’s key to success under Hansing and COO Matt Hess has been “steady, sustainable growth. There are a lot of forces out there that want you to grow as big and as fast as possible.” “What sinks businesses is when they get overextended,” Farrell said. “Everybody tells them to grow, they borrow all this money, and then a market fluctuation or something happens, and suddenly you’re behind the eight-ball. Eliminating the building, we eliminated our debt. It was very liberating. We’re a cash business now, and we are very proud of that.” To anyone looking to start their own business, Farrell’s advice is simple: do it. Regardless of the product, Farrell says if you can do it yourself, you should do it. “You don’t need to bring the best thing ever to the market,” he says. “You just have to work for yourself.” PAULL CHIROPRACTIC FAMILY WELLNESS CENTER Andy Paull was studying to be a pediatrician when he began to get debilitating migraine headaches on a regular basis. After two visits with Dr. Brandon Crandall, an established Janesville chiropractor, the migraines had disappeared. The experience permanently altered Paull’s career path. “For me, it was like flipping the switch,” Paull said. “I had no idea what he did. Then he went through and explained everything to me. And after that, I signed up for Palmer College of Chiropractic.” After completing his degree and becoming a Doctor of Chiropractic, Paull worked in an office in Freeport, Illinois, for three 8 | FORWARD JANESVILLE N1 Critical Technologies was founded in 2015 N1C's Dave Farrell
Protecting Your Business is Simple Learn more at bankatfirstnational.com/VIP or call 800.667.4401 1 Insurance products are: NOT A DEPOSIT. NOT FDIC-INSURED. NOT INSURED BY ANY FEDERAL GOVERNMENT AGENCY. NOT GUARANTEED BY THE BANK 2 Requires additional activation to begin. 1 2 1
years. The opportunity for Paull to become his own boss found him in 2007, when Dr. Crandall called to say that he was retiring, and asked if Paull would be interested in returning to Janesville to take over the practice. Starting with two employees, Paull slowly adjusted to running his own office. “The hardest part was managing employees, having never had to do that before,” he said. “That was a hard skill to learn. It wasn’t something that came naturally to me.” Complicating matters was that chiropractic school focused mainly on clinical training rather than business training. “Those first handful of years were tough,” Paull said. “We had been growing, but it was slow. And not in the direction that I thought we would. We were struggling a little bit. I was a little stubborn, thinking I could do this on my own.” With his background in pediatrics, Paull wanted to grow the pediatric chiropractic side of the business, but he wasn’t sure exactly how to go about it. “I finally gave in and looked for people within the chiropractic profession who had done what I wanted to do, and looked to them for mentorship,” says Paull. In 2018, Paull started working with a business coach who specialized in chiropractic. The results were immediate. “Within six to eight months of working with them and learning more about managing the business side of things, we almost doubled in size,” Paull said. “And it took off from there.” Besides pediatric chiropractic, Paull Chiropractic now offers pregnancy care, sports chiropractic, doula services and yoga. The practice grew to the point of needing additional space, so Paull moved the office to a former bank building on West Racine Street in 2022. “Probably the biggest thing that has helped us grow has been seeking chiropractic mentorship,” says Paull. “That’s something I would recommend, to find someone within your field to work with as a mentor. I still work with my business coach/mentor.” Paull also feels that getting involved in community service has helped his business succeed. His personal involvement includes Downtown Janesville Inc. and Forward Janesville, and his wife Liz serves on boards with the School District of Janesville and the Children’s Museum of Rock County. “Local networking has helped a ton,” Paull said. “(It’s made) us more of a trusted chiropractic group in the area, because we are out there a lot.” From Paull’s personal experience, he advises budding small business owners to “find somebody who has done what you want to do and take their advice. “It’s a shortcut to growth.” 10 | FORWARD JANESVILLE LOCATED AT THE MDR HOUSE Real Estate & Lifestyle by Design mdrhouse.net Celebrating IN BUSINESS 1975 - 2025 50years We’ve been proudly providing Residential and Commercial Plumbing & HVAC services to the Janesville Area for over 50 years! Give us a call today! (608) 756-2626 2352 W HWY 14 JANESVILLE Paull Chiropractic Family Wellness Center started with two employees but has greatly expanded over the past two decades Local networking has helped a ton. (It's made) us more of a trusted chiropractic group in the area, because we are out there a lot.
12 | FORWARD JANESVILLE Forward Janesville hosted its 2025 Annual Awards Luncheon, presented by RSM, on April 9 at the Holiday Inn – Janesville Conference Center, drawing a packed house to celebrate the outstanding individuals and organizations for their efforts in 2024 and for making a lasting impact in our community. This year’s honorees represented leadership, innovation and service across diverse industries. Steven Genin, left, of Angus-Young received the Emerging Leader Award, sponsored by BMO Bank. The Community Improvement Award, sponsored by Mercyhealth, went to the Leadership Development Academy for its continued commitment to empowering future leaders. “When I reflect on the impact LDA has made, I realize it’s not just about the projects we’ve completed over 20-plus years, it’s about the relationships we’ve built and the positive changes we’ve brought to our community together,” said Jamie Karns, Executive Director of LDA. “The growth of our community improvement efforts is a direct result of the collective energy and passion of our participants, alumni, organizations, and businesses who have supported us from the very beginning.” Greg Phillips of Blackhawk Technical College was named Educator of the Year, sponsored by UW-Whitewater at Rock County. Kelsey Paasch of Contour Consulting, right, received Entrepreneur of the Year, sponsored by First National Bank & Trust. And Clover Family Services, right, received the Diversity Award, sponsored by Minuteman Press. Lori Johnson of the Janesville Area Convention & Visitors Bureau was honored as Ambassador of the Year, sponsored by Boomerang Home Rentals. Johnson celebrated an impressive 30 years of being an FJI Ambassador. “I have met many businesses, new and established, made many friends, have learned a lot and of course laughed a lot,” Johnson said. “As a reminder, member businesses have the ability for one of their staff to become an Ambassador. It is well worth it, so please consider having a representative from your company join the Ambassador program.” Dave Holterman of First Community Bank received the Advocacy Award for his leadership efforts in Forward Janesville’s “Keep Kids Learning” campaign. “As part of a 2024 Forward Janesville Board retreat, we created the framework for ‘Keep Kids Learning.’ It represented an effort to help ensure our two local school districts, Milton and Janesville, would continue to have access to critical funding,” Holterman said in his speech. “I became chair of that effort and I’m grateful for the foundational knowledge that I gained through my involvement at Blackhawk Technical College, UW-Whitewater and the Milton School Board. “Access to quality education is critical. For us as a community, it’s the key to attracting and sustaining the jobs of the future. As an individual, it’s the key to obtaining a family-supporting career. Because of this, it has and will remain a focus for everyone connected to Forward Janesville.” This year’s Businesses of the Year were A Glo Spa & Salon (under 50 employees) and Boucher Automotive Group (more than 50 employees). The event concluded with Mark & Kathy Bush, right, who were presented with the Lifetime Achievement Award. "Hearing the award winners speak was incredibly inspiring,” said Shar Hermanson, President and CEO of Forward Janesville. “Each story reminded me why our community is so special—driven by passionate people who lead with purpose and truly make a difference. It was a powerful reminder of what’s possible when we support one another." Congratulations to all the 2025 award recipients and thanks to our sponsors! Celebrating Excellence at the 2025 Forward Janesville Awards Luncheon
www.forwardjanesville.com | 13 Water · Fire · Mold · Storm · Biohazard Property Damage? Call the Experts! 24 7 Commercial & Residential Service Call (608) 839-4100 When you bring your meetings home to Janesville, it’s not just about convenience— it’s about giving back to your community. Local events bring business to our hotels, restaurants, and shops, supporting your neighbors and making our local economy thrive. Plus, you’ll get more more value for your dollar than big-city venues. We can help with all the planning and our assistance is free. Call today! (608) 757-3171 B Y r M s Stay Close, Support Your Community, and Save on Costs janesvillecvb.com • Pictured: The Venue
14 | FORWARD JANESVILLE uww.edu/rock YOU EARNED THOSE CREDITS. WE COUNT THEM. continue your journey: BAAS degree completion program Corporate Employee Wellness Programs Pre-Employment Functional Screens Dry Needling and Cupping Strength and Dynamic Mobility Training Neurological Rehabilitation Orthopedic Rehabilitation Balance Therapy Headache and TMJ Pain (608) 728-8155 alaina@davisphysicaltherapyllc.com 415 W Milwaukee St, Suite 100 Janesville WI 53545 Expert Care, Tailored to You. Concierge Physical Therapy. OUR EXPERTISE: Follow On Facebook and Instagram for Updates
www.zilberpropertygroup.com Our dedicated team of professionals is ready to meet your commercial real estate needs in Rock County and beyond. We offer industrial buildings, development-ready sites, and secure trailer storage to help your business grow and operate efficiently. Contact us to learn more about our available properties or request an opinion of value on your industrial property. SPACE TO GROW. EXPERTISE TO GUIDE YOU. Contact Us Today
16 | FORWARD JANESVILLE Driven to Help Our Community Thrive TIM CULLEN Owner, Bushwood Golf Range and President, Rock Aqua Jays Water Ski Club Forward Janesville Board of Directors If you have spent any significant amount of time in Janesville, chances are you have run into Tim Cullen. Perhaps you have collaborated with him through his role in marketing. Or more recently you might have hit a bucket of balls with him at Bushwood Golf Range on the northwest edge of Janesville. Maybe the most likely of all is interacting with Tim through his roles with the Rock Aqua Jays over the past four-plus decades. He wears many hats and is passionate about local business. What motivated you to become more involved with Forward Janesville? I wanted to learn more about our local businesses and all the ways we can best support them and the residents. FJI is great because we are able to assist our community in so many ways—such as through public education, housing, local elections and more. There are so many fantastic businesses in town that could use more local support. If we can work more with these business instead of going out of state, or even the city, we all benefit. Your most recent entrepreneurial endeavor was overhauling Bushwood Golf Range. Why did that business speak to you? I bought the 22-acre land in May of 2018 as I was primarily interested in the storage units. The old Hackbarth Hills clubhouse, mini golf and golf range came with it. The clubhouse had been vacant for 10 years and was in desperate need of some repair. The golf range looked more like a meadow at the time. It took some time to clean and update things, but I enjoyed the work. It’s been fun to watch it gain traction as more and more golfers learn about it. You’ve been involved with the Rock Aqua Jays since nearly 1979. How/why did you get involved? My family joined way back in the late 1970s—I think because it gave my mom a break in a house full of boys. The Rock Aqua Jays is the most successful water ski show team in the world because its members have good core values, a great work ethic and fantastic support from both the city of Janesville and the residents. It’s a true passion of mine for sure. I’m no longer skiing in the show but have stayed heavily involved, now as president. It’s still crazy to me to run into fellow residents who have never been to a water ski show. So that’s one of my missions—get everyone to at least one show. KELSEY HOOD-CHRISTENSON President & CEO, Family Services of Southern Wisconsin and Northern Illinois Government Relations Council Member Folks who have worked with and for Kelsey HoodChristenson describe her as a “doer.” Once she is informed about an issue that she is passionate about, she naturally wants to jump in and get to work. It’s a trait that helped her go from answering hotlines for Family Services 13 years ago to rising to become the organization’s President and CEO. It’s also a reason she sits on Forward Janesville’s Government Relations Council. What value do you find in being part of FJI’s Government Relations Council? I value our involvement with Forward Janesville because the success of the families we serve is absolutely integrated with all the other sectors in our community – housing development, childcare, local businesses. At Family Services, we work directly with families to build resilience after experiencing trauma and/or poverty, but that direct Between its Board of Directors, Government Relations Council and Ambassador group, Forward Janesville relies on roughly 100 volunteers to help us advance the initiatives of our member businesses, execute successful events, keep a pulse on the business community, and more. We are talking about go-getters who are not only passionate about their work but also about the local business climate and about their communities. Meet three of those highly active volunteers – Board member Tim Cullen of Bushwood Golf Range; Government Relations Council member Kelsey Hood-Christenson of Family Services of Southern Wisconsin and Northern Illinois; and Ambassador Dennis Riley of Contour Consulting.
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.
Be honest 1 2 3 { LIFE LESSONS} Be there in the moment Be content 18 | FORWARD JANESVILLE I was very close to my grandfather, and he was a huge supporter of me no matter what. My first boss was a man named Rick Liggett. He owned a pizza restaurant and was a hard man to please, but it gave me my first real insight into what it’s like owning and operating a business. My first job that landed me in my career was for Stanley Sheilds at Business Equipment. He believed in me, gave me my first shot at sales, and we still talk today. There have been a number of people along the way. Some of them have passed, like Ken Hendricks, and some are still around today, like Steve Scaccia. I have always been very fortunate to have older, wiser and more seasoned people in my life. The entrepreneurial spirit is one that forces survival. There is no time for excuses or being sick or not having a good day. It has taught me discipline, fortitude and humility. In my career, I have seen 9/11, the General Motors plant close, the housing bubble, recession, COVID and now tariffs. There were a lot of hurdles, including balancing personal life, having patience, creating a company culture that is healthy, and getting a bank to believe in me. My wife, Aimee, has been the best partner a man can ask for. She has truly been there for me along the way, helped me raise our six kids, helped me in our business since 2009 and is my best friend. There is no way in the world I could have lasted this long in business without her wisdom, guidance and support. HOW DID I GET HERE? success • challenges • life lessons • education • career • family • inspirations I got kicked off the school bus in ninth grade, because I was buying unopened packs of sports cards in bulk, and then selling them as packs at the back of the bus. The driver was not appreciative of my entrepreneurial spirit, as it caused a ruckus. And when I offered her a small piece of the pie to just turn her head, I was asked to permanently leave the bus. But I was mowing yards, picking up leaves and dog poop in our neighborhood for people a long time before that, so maybe my path to being a serial entrepreneur started then. In 2002, I purchased Big 10 Subs, which came with the City of Janesville’s concession stand business and an ice cream trailer. I was 100% leveraged and working 80-100 hours a week. It taught me a lot. I was a terrible boss back then – short-tempered, egotistical and had only one goal in mind: making money. I could have done things better, but I guess that is part of life – learning from your mistakes. I am grateful for those times, but I also look back and just shake my head and think I was a crazy man. • • • • I was always a hard worker, but I hated school and wanted to get on with my life. My goal back then was to make as much money as possible as fast as possible. So I dropped out of high school. I only needed two more credits, and I was able to attend night classes to obtain those credits. Then I moved from Henderson, Kentucky – where my family moved when I was 12 – back to Janesville in December of 1994, and started a lawn mowing business the next spring while still working a full-time and part-time job. JAMIN ARN PRESIDENT, OFFICEPRO { EDUCATION } 1992-1994 Henderson County High School { WORK EXPERIENCE } 2003 - PRESENT OfficePro 2005 – PRESENT Arn Properties 2002-06 Big 10 Subs 1999-2003 Indoff 1998-1999 Wagners Office Supplies 1997-1998 Business Equipment 1996-1997 Advance Machine and Manufacturing 1995 Arns Lawn Mowing We make it a purpose in our house to have family dinners once a month with our kids who are now all adults and living their lives. We know how important it is to stay connected as a family unit. As you get older, you understand that you only have so much time and that you can’t take all you have accumulated with you.
Save time and money Convenient prescription options: NEW Free home delivery. Call (888) 857-5188. Pick them up at a Mercyhealth pharmacy Area locations: • Mercyhealth East • Mercyhealth Hospital and Trauma Center • Mercyhealth Mall • Mercyhealth Milton Personalized service Shorter wait times Similar or lower costs compared to Walgreens and CVS mercyhealthsystem.org/pharmacy/home-delivery www.forwardjanesville.com | 19
Bank Of Brodhead Jen Nelson 144 Merchant Row Milton, WI 53563 (608) 674-4311 www.bankofbrodhead.com Baymont by Wyndham Janesville Kim Jacobs 616 Midland Road Janesville, WI 53546 (608) 718-1876 www.baymontinn.com Pet-friendly hotel Bricks and Minifigs Janesville Ryan Rabe 1401 Creston Park Drive Janesville, WI 53545 (608) 530-5420 www.bricksandminifigs.com/ janesville-wi Buy, sell and trade new & used Legos® Co-Staff Corp. Penny Kelahan 2132 Center Avenue Janesville, WI 53546 (608) 373-0710 www.co-staff.com Employment agency & human resource services Daniels Construction Kendall Kolb 919 Applegate Rd. Madison, WI 53713 (608) 271-4800 www.danielsco.com/ Everbrite Andy Schwarz 401 Koopman Lane Elkhorn, WI 53121 (262) 723-4040 www.everbrite.com/ Specializes in LED lighting solutions, thermoforming plastics and OEM parts Get Fit 45 Nick Larsen 1260 Milton Avenue Suite 130 Janesville, WI 53545 (224) 772-9996 www.getfit45.com 24-hour gym, daily classes, personal training Good Works Brewing Co. Josh Gibson 237 Parkview Dr Milton, WI 53563 (608) 352-1081 www.goodworksbrewingco.com Taproom & beer garden J.C. Heating and Cooling, Inc. Jason Cox 300 S. River Street Janesville, WI 53548 (608) 752-2472 www.jcheatingandcooling.net Family owned and operated HVAC business Jack & Jenny’s Joshua Pickering 15 N. Main Street Janesville, WI 53545 (608) 352-3421 www.jackandjennysbar.com Drinking, dining and entertainment experience Kunes GMC of Beloit Megan Swaney 2700 Milwaukee Road Beloit, WI 53511 (608) 367-5751 www.kunesgmcbeloit.com Mastercraft Ventures Mason Cook 645 3rd St. Beloit, WI 53511 (515) 954-9646 www.mastercraft.vc Medical Weight Loss & Wellness of Wisconsin Adam Aberle 1638 Plainfield Ave. Janesville, WI 53545 (608) 563-0877 www.medicalweightlossandwellness.com Physician-guided weight loss and wellness services Mega Media Xchange Rob Settecase 1323 Creston Park Drive Janesville, WI 53545 (608) 530-5227 www.megamediax.com/janesville Buy/Sell video games, game systems, movies, music, and electronics Newmark Travis Tiede 757 N. Broadway, Suite 700 Milwaukee, WI 53202 (414) 395-4682 http://www.nmrk.com Commercial real estate advisor and service provider Olivia G. McCarthy, J.D., Legal Content Creator Janesville, WI 53548 (608) 449-7935 www.oliviagmccarthy.com Freelance legal content creator Phoenix Media Group Ryan Rydell 4302 Parkwood Drive Janesville, WI 53545 (608) 205-8511 www.phoenixmedia.group Marketing, branding, design, and business development services Propel Forward Inc. Lizzie Menz Janesville, WI 53548 (608) 633-1418 www.pistonsprops.com/ Annual celebration of aviation, classic cars, and community spirit Q&A Pest Control Dustin Lange Janesville, WI 53548 (608) 580-2842 www.qapest.com Pest control services Red Hawk Wash Danielle Rogers 589 Chicago Street Milton, WI 53563 (608) 284-8616 www.redhawkwash.com Family-owned, 24/7 self-service and automatic vehicle wash facility Rock Rebounding Carrie Krueger 415 W. Milwaukee Street Janesville, WI 53548 (608) 239-0121 www.vagaro.com/us04/rock rebounding Female-only, fitness studio offering high-energy, low-impact mini trampoline workouts Safety Management & Training LLC Caleb Alexander Janesville, WI 53548 (608) 490-3448 www.safetymanagementand training.com/ Safety consulting firm Signal Health Group of Southern Wisconsin Jonathon Voss 101 South Main Street Suite 404 Janesville, WI 53545 (608) 351-3028 www.signalhgsouthernwisconsin.com Home care services to seniors and individuals in need The Boldt Company Charlie Dahl 660 John Nolen Drive Suite 120 Madison, WI 53713 (608) 250-8400 www.boldt.com Construction company The Dermal Institute of Wisconsin Angel Cradic 1400 Excalibur Drive Janesville, WI 53546 (608) 449-4535 www.thedermalinstitute.org Wisconsin’s premier aesthetics-only beauty school The Emersion Orchestra Rosalyn Ryan Janesville, WI 53548 (608) 618-3620 www.teorch.org The WorkSpace At Gray Goose Kelsey Paasch 207 N. Academy St. Suite 300 Janesville, WI 53548 www.workspaceatgraygoose.com Coworking space designed for entrepreneurs, remote workers, and small businesses Thysse Elizabeth Teubert 780 Cusick Parkway Oregon, WI 53575 (608) 249-6951 www.thysse.com Commercial printer and brand experience provider T-Mobile For Business Andrew Carlson Janesville, WI 53548 www.t-mobile.com/business Tricoci University of Beauty Culture Brizzella Alexander 2310 West Court Street Janesville, WI 53548 (608) 758-4810 www.tricociuniversity.edu Innovative cosmetology & beauty school Tri-County Contracting Chuck Zeka 1352 Excalibur Drive Janesville, WI 53546 (262) 679-6100 www.tricountycontractingwi.com Exterior contractors NEW MEMBERS OF FORWARD JANESVILLE 20 | FORWARD JANESVILLE Scan the QR code to find all of our Members in the Forward Janesville Membership Directory. Contact forward@forwardjanesville.com to receive membership information and join today! CHAMPIONS CLUB LEVEL INVESTORS
www.forwardjanesville.com | 21 909 N. PARKER DR. • JANESVILLE, WI 53545 608.752.7888 www.congressglass.com EVERYTHING IN GLASS Congress Glass, Inc. is the area's leading window repair specialist serving Rock, Walworth and Green counties. WE SPECIALIZE IN: Congress Glass, Inc. • Shower door installation and repairs • Window repair • Car mirrors • Storm and screen repairs • Commercial and residential glass and glazing and more.
22 | FORWARD JANESVILLE Business Milestones Launching Our Child Care Directory Salvation Army Rock County – 140 Years www.centralusa.salvationarmy.org/rockcounty In 2025, The Salvation Army proudly celebrates 140 years of dedicated service in Rock County. Established in Janesville in 1885 and expanding to Beloit in 1886, it is the county’s oldest community support organization, committed to meeting human needs without discrimination. From its modest start in rented halls, The Salvation Army has grown to offer a wide range of services including emergency assistance, food and shelter programs, youth outreach and social services. Programs like the Pathways Transitional Housing support long-term selfsufficiency for residents. Seasonal campaigns such as the Red Kettle and Angel Tree provide vital aid during the holidays, while weekly events like Open Gym Night foster community engagement. As it marks this milestone, The Salvation Army Rock County remains a beacon of hope and compassion, steadfast in its mission to serve and uplift those in need across the community. Lloyd’s Plumbing & Heating Corporation – 50 years www.lloydsph.com This year, Lloyd’s Plumbing and Heating proudly celebrates 50 years of serving the Janesville community with trusted plumbing and HVAC services. Founded in 1975 when Lloyd LaReau purchased Kepp Plumbing, the company became Lloyd’s Plumbing. In 1985, HVAC services were added, and they became Lloyd’s Plumbing & Heating Corporation. Leadership passed from Lloyd to Brent Kepp in 1998, then to Brent Steinke in 2020. Throughout these transitions, the mission has stayed the same: to provide reliable, professional service with high-quality workmanship. “We are incredibly grateful for the loyal customers and strong relationships that have supported us through the decades. Your trust has fueled our success and growth. As we honor this milestone, we look forward to continuing our tradition of excellence for years to come. Thank you for being part of our journey!” ECHO – 55 years www.echojanesville.org Everyone Cooperating to Help Others is a nonprofit, faith-community sponsored charity organization. They have been working together to serve and support Rock County’s most vulnerable populations since late 1969. ECHO has evolved from a food pantry and clothing depot to a full-fledged charity organization called upon to help meet housing, food, transportation and other emergency needs for low-income families in Rock County, while addressing the barriers to self-sufficiency. ECHO seeks to help people help themselves through its programs and services and to assist them in utilizing other existing services and programs in the community. “We are so grateful for the donations and support we have received over the last 55 years. We couldn’t have done it without this wonderful community.” Learn more about ECHO at www.echojanesville.org. Forward Janesville celebrates our member businesses that are celebrating milestone anniversaries in 2025. To be considered in an upcoming edition, go to https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/977PVRV In June, we were excited to announce the launch of our Child Care Directory, a user-friendly online tool designed to help care seekers in Rock County navigate local child care options with greater ease and confidence. This valuable resource empowers parents and guardians to search for providers by location, age groups served, type of care provided and other key criteria—all in one convenient place. The importance of accessible, affordable and quality child care cannot be overstated. For working families, reliable child care is essential—not just for peace of mind, but for the ability to fully participate in the workforce. At the same time, local employers are feeling the impact of child care gaps, which directly affect employee retention and recruitment. Recognizing this critical intersection between child care and economic vitality, Forward Janesville’s Government Relations Council identified child care as a Policy Priority Area for the past two years. Our Child Care Work Group is actively developing tools and community resources to address the challenges families, employers and providers face. The new directory is one of the first major steps in this initiative. View the Child Care Directory at www.forwardjanesville.com/childcare
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy MTEwNzI5