Dallas Texas, that’s where!  My reason for leaving this wonderful weather for a more southern destination was wind.  I was sent to Dallas to scout out our digs at the WINDPOWER 2010 Conference and Exhibition .  Due to the enormous growth of the wind industry, the show has outgrown many conference venues.  The Dallas Convention Center is one of the few conference centers with the capabilities of hosting such a huge conference (a little tidbit I learned).  The Dallas Convention Center is quite a sight to behold as it the city of Dallas.  I returned with an armful of books, maps and things-to-do pamphlets for our lucky show participants. 

Speaking of show participants – Very shortly, anyone connected with Wind should expect to receive an email with more detailed information on the Wind Power 2010 Conference and Exhibition.  More to follow because there is plenty to tell!

Not long ago, I found myself flipping, flipping, flipping through channels trying to find something of interest – picking up a book, housecleaning, all of the other things I should have been doing just did not seem like an option.  I finally settled on a documentary type show about Coca-Cola.  As I prefer Coca-Cola over Pepsi, I decided this was where I would remain.  In the end, I found it to be quite interesting.  One of the items they featured as their latest and greatest was the introduction of the Coca-Cola Freestyle .   The Coca-Cola Freestyle is a beverage dispenser capable of blending more than a hundred different drinks.  On the show, they went through the list of sodas available.  There were some sodas that I had not heard of in a long, long time.  You are also able to mix sodas; much to my own personal chagrin.  My son still proclaims that he enjoys the taste of 10 different sodas mixed together when given the opportunity to mix at the movie theater – yeah, sure it tastes good.  I cannot imagine what he would do if he had the ability to mix 100 flavors!!  Another cool part of the Freestyle is the customer tracking ability.  Because it is computerized, the Freestyle has the ability to send back all sorts of data metrics to Coke HQ, including what the popular flavors were, when and how much people were buying, and what locations were most favorable. Coke HQ even has a kill switch for any flavors they need to stop offering ASAP.  Can you imagine how powerful this wealth of customer knowledge would be for your business??  The COOLEST part about the Coca-Cola Freestyle is the fact that I just learned after reading an article today.  Plexus Corp. a Neenah, Wisconsin based company helped develop the technology for the Coca-Cola Freestyle and they are now tabbed to produce the “behind the service counter” version.  How impressive is that fact!!  So, in the end, I didn’t read a book and my house work was there for me after the show but obviously I retained what I watched AND it turned into something I deemed blog-worthy!

Although I had this done two days after this year’s Summit (remember there was a blizzard the day after the Summit) I diligently linked all of the Summit Video’s to our website.  YAY!  So, if you missed the Summit or if you just want to see a video that is near and dear to your heart, I am providing everyone with viewing opportunities.  The links are placed on the New North web site, under the Resource Library tab.  Please keep this in mind for future Summit video viewing. 

New North Summit 2009 Video

• Education in the New North
• Lakeshore Technical College Wind Program
• Mercury Marine
• Louis Woods River Outfitters
• Enzymatic Therapy
• Niagara Mill Closing
• The New North Elevator Speech
• NEW Manufacturing Alliance All-Stars Compilation 2009

Each morning, I boot up my computer and anxiously wait for my Outlook to come up.  I am on a couple of lists to receive automated emails from different sources.  This morning, I opened up a link to a newspaper article.  I decided to take the time to read it because of my minimal involvement – Wisconsin DNR Secretary Matt Frank visits Bassett Mechanical in Kaukauna to rally support for Clean Energy Jobs Act.  At the very end of the article, you can view my minimal involvement.  Jerry had me type up his speech.  I am not laying claim to writing the speech.  Jerry handed to me his hand written version which I then typed.  Most people’s hand-writing can take some time to get used to.  Jerry’s hand-writing takes a little longer.  That being said, I would like to think that some of the words (sentences) that I ended up having to inject my own spin may have grabbed the audience’s attention . . .   Maybe.  After having scanned the article thoroughly for anything I may have “written”, I went back to reread the article.  It still amazes me all of the dots I have yet to connect about what we do here at New North and our many collaborators.  The wheels are in motion to attend another wind show but when I first started I thought, why??  At the time, I thought, Wisconsin . . . Wind – dots not connecting.  After reading the article I am just another step further in making the connection. 

Along with everyone else that I know of, I have made a New Year’s resolution.  Unlike most, I am posting said resolution out on my blog for all to view.  My resolution THIS year (as opposed to resolutions of years past – promises to train for a marathon and/or giving up my MTV guilty pleasure) is something maybe more attainable; WEEKLY  BLOGGING about what is going on here at New North.   It’s not like there isn’t anything to write about.  There have already been meetings about next year’s Summit – no, I do not yet know the date but when I do, I will be sure to blog.  We have been meeting in preparation for the 2010 Wind Power Conference  and Exhibition , held this year in Dallas, Texas, May 23-26.  I have been taking calls from companies interested in the Niagara Biomass Supply Study – Phase I and Phase II .  Which brings up the whole cellulosic ethanol market.  Something completely new to me!!  So, once again, plenty to tell I just need to take the time to tell the story. 

I have returned from my Wisconsin Basic Economic course.  I drove to Madison on Monday and returned late (for me) last night.  The course was very informative on many different levels.  I feel like I am finally able to put all of the pieces of what we do here at New North together.  Talk about some light bulb moments.  We listened to many speakers; many of which are involved here at New North.  Brenda Hicks-Sorensen from Fond du Lac County Economic Development Corporation provided us with a quote that we bandied about “HCM” – you will have to ask her to explain.  Tim Schneider with Investors Community Bank used MM for million on his slides which had us trying to decipher its origin.  We also heard from Amy Pietsch with Venture Center who actually had the group enthused and interested even though the lunch hour was fast approaching.  My fellow Economic Development friends were quite impressed with New North.  So much so that whenever the waitress would come around to ask at lunch who was paying the bill someone always had to say, “I think New North should get this one” . . .   Let’s hope Jerry reads this before I turn in my expense report.

As if I have to remind anyone of this fact. 

This week has been jam packed with anything and

everything Summit.  My main task for the week was to

coordinate the sending out the Summit email invite. 

I had never done such a thing before. I had some very

patient teachers walk me through the process/concept. 

If you received a evite, please be sure to pass it along.

I do have some bad new for all of you waiting for my daily blog.

I will be out of the office at an Economic Development 101

Class starting next Monday but I will be sure to update

everyone on my new found economic development starts

upon my return! 

Have a great weekend. 

My name is Beth Sigmund and I am the Office Manager here at New North.  I have been with New North for about 9 months.  As it is my job to not only manage the office, I have the enviable task of coordinating Jerry’s schedule.  So, the powers that be (Jerry) have asked me to blog about the daily comings and goings of a life here at New North.  BTW – Life here at New North is no day at “The Office” but there is still plenty that happens!