Thursday, May 24, 2012

JA Thank You Luncheon

JA Board Members at the Thank You Luncheon
 
Great fut_ures - u responded!!  Over 75 JA volunteers, donors, educators and board members from Shawano and Menominee counties had lunch on JA Wednesday, May 23.  Local JA students shared their experiences from the 2011-2012 school year, 5 & 10 year volunteers were recognized along with retiring JA board members and Karen Preston from Olga Brener Intermediate School received the JA teacher of the year award.

Volunteers play a key role in bringing Junior Achievement to life.  JA appreciates everything you do!!  Together we contribute to the vitality of our community and a well-educated workforce.  Your leadership, expertise and support are critical to JA's success.  Thank You!

Student Christian Krueger from Shawano High School

Karen Smith, Olga Brener Principal; Karen Preston, 2011-12 JA Teacher of the Year; Todd Carlson, Shawano School District Superintendent

5 year volunteers Lindsay Johnson and Angie Kringle

10 year volunteers Maggie Anderson, Roger Olson, Don Pedersen, Char Larsen and Sandi Kane


                                                           
JA Board Member Fred Ponschok
JA Volunteers
Karen Preston accepting the JA teacher of the year award
Melissa Moore, JA Board Chair



Monday, May 7, 2012

Athletes as Entrepreneurs

BizTimes: Milwaukee and Southeastern Wisconsin Business News | BizTimes

Rodgers and Braun will open new restaurant

Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers and Milwaukee Brewers slugger Ryan Braun are teaming together to launch a new restaurant in Brookfield.

Oak Creek-based -based Surg Restaurant Group announced today that Wisconsin’s two athletic Most Valuable Players will open a new restaurant called 8*twelve.
The restaurant, located at 17800 W. Bluemound Road in Brookfield, will offer family cuisine, as well as steaks and seafood with much of executive chef Aaron Patin’s preparation taking place on a wood fire grill, a center point of the kitchen.
Fans of both players will see memorabilia in the bar area, which will feature several big-screen televisions. The grand opening for the new restaurant is slated for June.
"Wisconsin has the greatest fans in the country," Rodgers said in a press release issued by the SURG group. "This is an excellent opportunity for me to work with Ryan on a project that will create something for fans of the Packers, Brewers and sports in general, to take part in and enjoy."
The new restaurant is located in a spot that formerly housed Charro. Braun’s name also is on Ryan Braun’s Graffito, a Surg restaurant in Milwaukee’s Historic Third Ward.
"Aaron and I are not only great friends, but we both have whole-heartedly made long-term commitments to the sports fans of Wisconsin," said Braun. "We wanted to give them a home base to celebrate their favorite teams and enjoy some great food and service."
Omar Shaikh, co-owner of Surg, said the players both had input on the concept of 8*twelve and will make scheduled and unscheduled appearances throughout the year.
"Ryan's involvement with Graffito has been such a positive experience for both sides, so when another opportunity presented itself in Brookfield, we all agreed to move forward," Shaikh said. "Aaron had expressed interest in the business after visiting Graffito a few times and with his friendship with Ryan, 8*twelve just fell into place. This will be great for the Brookfield area."
Mike Polaski, chief executive officer and co-owner of Surg, said plans for additional locations of 8*twelve are being considered.