About Us

The Sawyer County Lac Courte Oreilles Economic Development Corporation Centers On:

  • Encouraging New Business Ventures
  • Supporting Existing Businesses to Grow for Long Term Stability
  • Bolstering the Local Workforce: Skills, Knowledge, Infrastructure

We are here to recruit new businesses to the Sawyer County / Lac Courte Oreilles communities. We also want to help our existing businesses thrive. Through partnerships between our area governments, municipalities, agencies and talented individuals willing to roll up their sleeves, we are moving forward in the areas of:

  • Job creation
  • Job retention
  • Workforce training
  • Community development for improved living
  • Housing development/availability

Meet our Board of Directors

The Board of Directors of the Sawyer County / Lac Courte Oreilles Economic Development Corporation is composed of all volunteers, dedicating countless hours to improving the business future of our area.

Monica Johnson
EDC President

NORTHLAKES COMMUNITY CLINIC

Monica is the Director of Business Development for NorthLakes Community Clinic an FQHC where she oversees and plans strategic service line growth, business expansion and sustainability in both existing and new markets across Northern Wisconsin. Monica owned her own successful real estate company prior to moving to Hayward in 2019 and has participated on numerous boards and committees related to economic development, education and public policy. 

EDC Vice President – Vacant

 

Mary Jo Becker
Frandsen Bank & Trust

A Sawyer County resident for the most part of her life, she moved her when she was two years old. It is her passion to bring a quality workforce within our communities.  As the Retail Banking Manager at Frandsen Bank and Trust, formerly People’s bank, Mary Jo has had the unique pleasure of meeting many in the community.  She has two children, Brady and Avery, that are the light of her life.  Mary Jo and her husband own Becker Property Maintenance, and enjoy the seasonal and full time residents they have the privilege of serving.  The young family  loves to fish, camp, and enjoy the beauty of the northwoods.  Mary Jo's extended family all live within the area and she enjoys watching her nieces and nephews in Hurricane sports and activities.

Jordan St Germaine
EDC Secretary

LAC COURTE OREILLES TRIBAL GOVERNMENT

Jordan St Germaine is the current Director of the Planning and Grants Department for the Lac Courte Oreilles Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Indians. Her priorities within this department are to form collaborative partnerships, seek financial resources, and create innovative programming to support the needs of LCO and to achieve the goal of ensuring Lac Courte Oreilles and the surrounding area are successful and sustainable for future generations.  

Jessica Wagner-Schultz
Executive Committee – Past President

LAC COURTE OREILLES OJIBWA COLLEGE

Jessica is the Director of Institutional Advancement at Lac Courte Oreilles Ojibwa Community College. In this role, she is responsible for fundraising, alumni engagement, marketing, and community engagement for the College.

As a fundraising professional with more than 10 years of experience WagnerSchultz most recently worked with the United Way of Greater Milwaukee & Waukesha County, most recently as the Manager of Donor Networks. In this role, she developed the donor engagement initiatives Retire United, IT United, Project LEAD, and was responsible for leading a team who raised more than $36M in revenue annually.

Prior to joining United Way in 2011, she served as the Executive Director for the Twentynine Palms Chamber of Commerce in Twentynine Palms, CA.

Jessica has a Master of Nonprofit Management from Regis University and a Bachelor of Arts in Nonprofit Leadership and Theology from Rockhurst University.

 
Michelle Beaudin
Lac Courte Oreilles Tribal Governing Board

Michelle Beaudin is a citizen of the Lac Courte Oreilles Band of Lac Superior Chippewa (LCO) and is a
member of LCO’s Tribal Governing Board. A mother of three children, Beaudin worked for LCO for 41
years, primarily in the areas of finance and healthcare. Her extensive experience earned her a role as the
Tribal Governing Board’s Secretary/Treasurer during the first two years of her first term.

Beaudin also serves on the Waadookodaading Ojibwe Immersion School Board (Chairperson), Big Fish Golf Corporation Board of Directors(Sec/Treas.), the Missing & Murdered Indigenous Women State Task Force, Midwest Alliance of Sovereign Tribes, Great Lakes Area Tribal Health Board, and the first-ever United States Secretary of the Interior Tribal Advisory Committee. Beaudin’s life-long commitment to serving her people and community and providing the support they need, and has truly been fulfilling.

 

Luke Beirl
Hayward Area Memorial Hospital & Waters Edge

Luke began is career in healthcare as a pharmacist before moving into administrative roles serving the Hayward medical community over the past several years and has worked on improving local access to care within the region.

Craig Olson

HAYWARD COMMUNITY SCHOOL DISTRICT

Craig grew up in Wausau, WI, and he and his wife Deb moved to Hayward 18 years ago. Craig spent 6 years as the Hayward Middle School Assistant Principal, 4 years as the Hayward Middle School Principal, and is currently in his 8th year as Hayward School District Superintendent.

Craig was requested to join the board in May of 2018.   He strongly believes that community cohesiveness is a key element to a community and school district moving forward in a positive direction. He enjoys working with a variety of business owners and advisory counsels to provide opportunities for all students to be career and college ready.

In his spare time, Craig enjoys spending time on area lakes and in the woods hunting deer.

Ed Peters
Sawyer County Board

Ed joined the Sawyer County / Lac Courte Oreilles Economic Development Corporation Board in February 2017. A resident of the Town of Draper since 2005, he was elected to the Town of Draper Board of Supervisors in April 2009. Ed was a faculty member of the University of Nebraska – Lincoln as a Professor of Natural Resources, from 1975 to 2005. His teaching and research focused in fisheries and aquatic ecology. Prior to that Ed taught Biology at Mount Mercy College, Cedar Rapids, Iowa from 1972 to 1975. Graduate Studies: Brigham Young University, Provo, Utah 1967 to 1972; M.S. and PhD in Zoology, Botany and Geology. Undergraduate Studies: Wisconsin State University – Stevens Point 1962 to 1967; BS Conservation and Biology.

Ed's home town is West Allis, WI, and he graduated from West Allis Central in 1962. He has been married to his lovely wife, Dianne, since 1965. They have three children, seven grandchildren, and one great grandchild.

His interests include outdoor sports (hunting, fishing, photography, gardening, nature study, cycling, snow shoeing), writing, reading, music, and travel.

Mark Lundeen
Hayward Community Media
Originally from the Minneapolis area, Mark has been a resident of Hayward since 2013. He is a 40-year veteran of media production which includes audio, video, lighting, and photography, having worked in the broadcast, corporate, and educational markets throughout his career. 
 
For the past six years, Mark has served as an engineer for WOJB radio and on behalf of the station, participates in numerous community events throughout the region. As owner of Higher Definition Media, a media production company, he works on various independent projects in Sawyer County and the Lac Courte Oreilles (LCO) community. His work primarily focuses on video and multi-camera production of events, and he also leads community education in audio and video production through the LCO University Extension office.
 
As president and founder of Hayward Community Media (HCM), a new non-profit established to connect and serve the region through locally-produced programming sharing news, original community-produced content and updates important to residents and visitors alike. HCM is designed to provide training and resources for residents to create original programming for and about the Hayward, LCO, and greater area, and invites resident reporters and program producers to tell authentic stories about and from the area.
 
In the community, Mark serves as a board member for the Downtown Hayward Business Improvement District and Sawyer County Fair.
Dr. Leo Carlson
Norvado
Chris Ruckdaschel
Hayward Area Chamber of Commerce

Chris Ruckdaschel joined the Sawyer County/Lac Courte Oreilles Economic Development Corporation Board in 2017 and is the Executive Director of the Hayward Area Chamber of Commerce (HACC).  His HACC responsibilities include directing all activities of the chamber, including marketing, event execution, economic development, advocacy, membership communications and continuing education for the HACC membership.

Prior to joining the Hayward Area Chamber of Commerce, Chris was an Associate Director for the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) in Indianapolis, an Equal Employment Opportunity Specialist at the University of Iowa in Iowa City and a Human Resources Specialist for Systems Unlimited, Inc. in Iowa City. Ruckdaschel earned a B.A. in Communication Studies at the University of Iowa and an M.B.A from Anderson University.

Mike Stamp
Shell Lake State Bank

Mike joined the Board in September, 2018. He is a part of the team at Shell Lake State Bank bringing many years experience as a commercial lender and in management of financial institutions. Mike also has many years of experience in retail management. Past and current experience with Rotary, Junior Achievement, Kiwanis and Church Boards.

Stacey  Hessel

SAWYER COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORTS

Stacey has lived in Hayward since 1973.  Her greatest accomplishment is being a mother of three wonderful adults and a grandmother to twins. 

Her career has focused on customer relations and public service.  Stacey strives to make a positive impact on the community.

Ben Kanters

CHIPPEWA VALLEY BANK

Ben Kanters has called the Hayward area home for the past 30 years. He is excited to contribute to the continued growth and prosperity of the Sawyer County area as a part of this board. Ben spent 15 years as a part of the management team at Hayward Golf Club, contributing to record-setting results in numerous revenue and customer expansion categories. Ben has now shifted his passion for finance and joined Chippewa Valley Bank in Hayward as a loan officer. Ben and his wife Mary enjoy spending time hiking and camping in the outdoors with their 5 children.

Meet our Staff

Our small staff of the Sawyer County / Lac Courte Oreilles Economic Development Corporation is composed contract employees who dedicate time and energy to our community, making our organization more effective.

Dalton Hessel – Marketing/Communications Contractor

Dalton is a graduate of University of Wisconsin – Eau Claire with a degree in Elementary Education and Teaching.  Dalton is a lifelong resident of Sawyer County, an author, second grade teacher, small business owner and known to many as The Northern Nerd.  He spends much of his time working in and promoting the Northwoods of Sawyer County. 

Email Dalton at info@sclcoedc.com

Join us at our monthly meeting. For more information email: info@sclcoedc.com