WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT SYMPOSIUM 2025: Pine Hills Country Club

 

This dynamic, half-day event explores workforce development efforts at the local, regional and state levels. Attendees share best practices and concerns during facilitated conversations.

Whether you are a small, medium or large business owner, a company executive, human resource professional, K-12 administrator, educator or school counselor, post-secondary educator, technical education or community leader you will benefit from attending this educational and wide-ranging event.

This event will be a wonderful place for both the education sector and business sector to collaborate on developing Sheboygan's future workforce and retaining that workforce, while gaining a better understanding of different perspectives and potential partnerships in our community. 

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Speakers for Workforce Development Symposium 2025:

Wisconsin Economic Development (WEDC) Update by Mike Ward 

Mike Ward - Senior Vice President of Business and Community Development at WEDC

Mike Ward joined WEDC in September 2022 as vice president for business and community development. To his work at WEDC, he brings more than 25 years of experience in banking with U.S. Bank and its predecessors. Mike has held leadership positions in sales management, commercial lending, marketing, sales support and underwriting all focused on small business. Helping and learning about small businesses and the communities they support has been Mike's passion for his entire career. Mike has done volunteer work with a number of groups including various United Ways, the Wisconsin Women's Business Initiative Corporation, the Waukesha Redevelopment Authority and the Waukesha County Economic Development Corporation. He is a current board member of BizStarts and the Urban Economic Development Association as well as an active volunteer with Kiva. He also serves as a member of the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago's Wisconsin Economic Roundtable. A Madison native, Mike received his bachelor's degree in economics and a master's degree in business administration from the University of Minnesota. He lives with his wife in Waukesha and has three adult children.

Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development (DWD) Update by John Keckhaver

John Keckhaver - Section Chief for Youth Apprenticeship Program at DWD

John Keckhaver is a native of Milwaukee and a graduate of Beloit College and the University of Wisconsin Law School. Between the two, he served in the U.S. Army's Military Intelligence Corps. Since 2000, he has worked in public policy and legislative affairs and has been part of several commissions and boards, including a Legislative Council Study Committee on Workforce Development. John has been with the Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development since 2016 and currently serves as the Youth Apprenticeship Section Chief.

Local Success of Rocket Academy presented by Superintendent Liz Freeman and Director David Friend Rocket Academy is a tuition-free public charter school for 11th and 12th graders focusing on technical manufacturing and general employability skills, located in the Cedar Grove-Belgium School District but are open to any student who wants to experience hands-on learning and prepare for a successful career in manufacturing.

Liz Freeman - Superintendent of Cedar Grove-Belgium School District

Dr. Elizabeth Freeman has been serving as Community Unit School District 300's Chief Academic Officer in Algonquin, IL and has worked in District 300 since 2018 previously holding the Director of Professional Development and Programs Position also in District 300.  Dr. Freeman has also held the position of Assistant Superintendent of Innovative Learning, Teaching and Technology in Fremont School District 79 and Director of Curriculum, Instruction and Assessment Services in Rochelle Township High School 212. Dr. Freeman earned a Doctorate of Education: Curriculum, Instruction and Educational Leadership from Loyola University, a Master of Education: Curriculum, Instruction and Educational Psychology from National Louis University and a Bachelor of Arts: French from Northern Illinois University. A published author, Dr. Freeman has written about mindfulness, innovation, and professional learning communities, serves as a CODiE judge for innovative educational technology software, is a member of the state and national superintendents association, the state principal association Learning Forward, and ASCD.

David Friend - Director of Rocket Academy

I am honored to be Rocket Academy's first director. After serving as an instructor of agriculture and also an Academic and Career Planning, ACP, Coordinator for several years, I developed a passion for getting high school students on a lean pathway toward their career of choice. Few things get me as excited as seeing students excited about the learning opportunities within their individualized pathways. There are so many awesome manufacturing career opportunities in our area that will provide a comfortable and fulfilling lifestyle. I hope to help as many students as possible graduate with the knowledge and skills necessary to obtain the right job for them. I was raised in West Virginia where I developed a love for farming and the outdoors. I enjoy hunting, fishing, hiking, and just being in nature. Recently, I've developed a love for maple syrup production the Wisconsin way. I also enjoy traveling and exploring. We moved to eastern Wisconsin for my first teaching job and we fell in love with all of the outdoor, cultural, and educational opportunities. Our original intention was to live here for 2-3 years and then move back to WV, but we quickly realized this is where we wanted to raise our growing family. My wife and I have 3 awesome children. When they were young we hobby-farmed by raising chickens, pigs, goats, llamas, and a garden. As they grew and their interests drew them toward sports and theatre, we farmed less and coached, reffed, and sold concessions more. Though the schedules were exhausting, we loved juggling multiple events that kept us busy year-round. In recent years, mission work has become our passion. I organize an annual church mission trip back to my beloved Appalachian Mountains to volunteer making rural housing warmer, safer, and drier for families with little or no income. I'm proud that all of our kids have a sense of service to others and are becoming servant leaders themselves

Panel Discussion on the positive impact of Cell Phone Restrictions for students featuring Michael Trimberger - Random Lake Superintendent, Darin Holden - Camp Anokijig Executive Director, and Captain Michael S. Porter -  United States Marine Corps Executive Officer of the Milwaukee Recruiting Station.

Michael Trimberger - Superintendent of Random Lake School District

Dr. Michael Trimberger has been the Superintendent for the Random Lake School District since July 2017. He has his PhD from the University of WI-Milwaukee. Trimberger is the President and Co-Founder of INSPIRE Sheboygan County and co-chair of Sheboygan Chamber of Commerce Business Education Partnership. As a member of the School District of Random Lake Team, we are now focused on three core principles: STRONG CLASSROOMS, STRONG SCHOOL CULTURE and STRONG CONNECTIONS TO COMMUNITY. We are generating Strong Classrooms by creating PLCs to produce a Guaranteed Viable Curriculum that addresses the academic needs of all our students. We are cultivation a positive school culture by implementing PBIS through 'The Ram Way' and teaching students positive behaviors. Strong Community Connections are helping excite students about learning by engaging our community in ways to get students of all ages exciting about career and college readiness. Our focus on community service and Career Pathways will ultimately help every student leave the School District of Random Lake with a Distinct Advantage. Public schools need strong leadership. I feel that public education is at a pivotal time in history. I am proud to be part of the solution for a stronger public educational system. #RLAdvantage

Darin Holden - Executive Director of Camp Anokijig

Darin came into the role of Executive Director after 27 years as the Program Director at Camp Anokijig.  Throughout his years as Program Director, Darin touched nearly every aspect of Camp.  He was in charge of summer staff recruitment and training, planning and supervision of rental groups, summer camp program development, marketing, and so much more.  Wearing his jack-of-all-trades hat, Darin can jump into any program area with ease, teaching campers skills ranging from horseback riding to sailing to archery.  Campers know, love, and respect him for his directional and organizational ability, as well as his unflagging positivity and strength of character.  Darin has been a solid member of the team through the ups and downs, a role model for staff and campers alike.  His years of experience at Anokijig and allegiance to the staff and campers make him uniquely qualified to take the helm of a ship he has dedicated his life to. Darin graduated magna cum laude from the University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee with a B.S. in Allied Health with a Community Recreation emphasis.  He is certified in CPR & AED for the Professional Rescuer, First Aid, and Lifeguarding.  Darin is also certified as an EMT Basic (First Responder), a Red Cross Lifeguarding Instructor, Instructor Trainer, and an avid horseback rider.

Captain Michael S. Porter - Executive Officer of the Milwaukee Recruiting Station for the United States Marine Corps 
Captain Porter was born and raised in Racine, Wisconsin and graduated from The Prairie School in 2017. From 2017 to 2021, he attended the U.S. Naval Academy and graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Aerospace Engineering. In May 2021, he accepted a commission as a second lieutenant in the United States Marine Corps. 
In August 2021, Second Lieutenant Porter reported to The Basic School (TBS) and then to Infantry Officer's Course (IOC), Marine Corps Base Quantico. Upon completion of IOC in June 2022, Second Lieutenant Porter reported to First Battalion, First Marines, Camp Pendleton, California. Second Lieutenant Porter served as Weapons Platoon Commander, Company C from June 2022 to May 2024. Second Lieutenant Porter was promoted to First Lieutenant in May 2023. From November 2023 to May 2024, he was deployed on the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit in Okinawa, Japan. In May 2024, First Lieutenant Porter was assigned as the Company Executive Officer, Company C. In March 2025, he executed orders to Recruiting Station Milwaukee. In August of 2025 he was promoted to Captain. 


Wisconsin Policy Forum - Presentation on Wisconsin Could Join Call for Change on Cell Phones in Schools by Mark Sommerhauser

Mark Sommerhauser - Communications Director/Policy Researcher for the Wisconsin Policy Forum

Mark Sommerhauser is Communications Director/Policy Researcher for the Wisconsin Policy Forum. He works in the Forum's Madison office, where he both contributes to research and helps to disseminate it to the public. Before joining the Forum, Mark worked from 2015 to 2019 as a Capitol reporter for the Wisconsin State Journal, where he covered the state budget, state agencies, transportation issues, and state and federal politics. Prior to that, he reported for three daily newspapers in Minnesota and Missouri. His work has received awards from professional journalism organizations in Wisconsin, Minnesota, and Missouri. Mark has dual bachelor's degrees in journalism and history from the University of Missouri-Columbia. He lives in Stoughton with his wife, Ava, and two children, Eloise and Nash.
 

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Nominees of the Workforce Development Golden Apple Awards 2025 will be recognized at this event and the winners will be announced.

Award Categories:
Workforce Development Educator of the Year - Sheboygan County
Workforce Development Business Education Partner of the Year - Sheboygan County

Nominees for the 2025 Workforce Development Golden Apple Awards
Nominees for Educator of the Year - Sheboygan County:

• Beau Biller - Plymouth High School 
• Craig Heeler - Sheboygan Area School District
• Dannielle Arneson - Sheboygan North High School and CHANGE Academy
• Jacks Grabowski - Sheboygan North High School
• Jaslyn Posewitz - Sheboygan South High School
• Kimberly Hager - Howards Grove High School
• Leighanne Metter-Jensen - Sheboygan Area School District
• Ryan Halverson - St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Catholic School
• Todd Williams - Plymouth High School

Nominees for Business Education Partner of the Year - Sheboygan County:

• CESA 6 Youth Apprenticeship
• Inspire Wisconsin
• John Michael Kohler Arts Center
• Johnsonville
• Sheboygan County Food Bank
• The Production Farm

Nominations are now closed.

 

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