Manitowoc business news: Bank First makes moves Wisconsin biz plan contest starts - Herald Times Reporter

USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin

Published 3:31 PM EST Jan 3, 2019

Bank First appoints board member, names regional president

Manitowoc-based Bank First has named Stephen E. Johnson to its board of directors and Jim Lotter as regional president of its Western Region.

Johnson served as market president and CRA officer for Bank First and transitioned to his role with the board of directors on Jan. 1. Prior to joining Bank First, Johnson served as director of compliance and chairman of the board of First National Bank and chairman of the board of Waupaca Bancorporation, Inc. As chairman of those boards, Johnson was instrumental in the merger of Bank First and Waupaca in 2017. Preceding his move to the banking industry, Johnson was employed by Sentry Insurance A Mutual Company for more than 35 years.

Lotter joined Bank First in 2017 with more than 25 years of banking experience. Prior to his tenure with Bank First, he was responsible for maintaining the profitability of and managing the overall lending, deposit and treasury activities for Wisconsin Bank & Trust’s Sheboygan market.

Bank First National Corporation provides financial services through its subsidiary, Bank First N.A., which was incorporated in 1894. The Bank is an independent community bank with 18 banking locations in Manitowoc, Brown, Sheboygan, Outagamie, Winnebago, Waupaca and Barron counties. The company employs approximately 253 full-time equivalent staff and has assets of $1.74 billion as of Sept. 30, 2018. More details: www.bankfirstwi.bank.

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Chamber offers Business Connects with Government Jan. 14

Updates from local government officials will be shared during the next Business Connects with Government luncheon presented by The Chamber of Manitowoc County.

The luncheon will be from noon to 1 p.m. Jan. 14 at the Lighthouse Inn, 1515 Memorial Drive, Two Rivers. Admission is $12 per person for lunch for members. Info: 920-684-5575.

Bayshore to Lakeshore bike ride opens registration

Registration for the third annual BayCare Clinic Century Bayshore to Lakeshore bike ride is now open.

The ride offers a local biking experience for cyclists of all ability and age levels. It’s designed for families and individuals looking to enjoy a healthy, low-impact, outdoors experience.

The century ride is 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. on June 1. It will start and end at BayCare Clinic’s headquarters at 1035 Kepler Drive in the I-43 Business Park on Green Bay’s far east side.

Riders will select from 100-, 60-, 30- and 15-mile routes through scenic Brown, Kewaunee and Door counties. Century riders, those going 100 miles, will travel from Green Bay to Lake Michigan and back. Along the way, all riders will enjoy rest stops where they can refuel with snacks and beverages.

Entry fees start at $40 for the 100-, 60- and 30-mile rides. The 15-mile ride is $30. With each paid adult, one rider age 17 and younger is admitted free. All riders will receive a short-sleeved shirt. A commemorative biking jersey is an additional $65 when bundled with a registration. The deadline for registration-and-jersey bundle is March 31.

Proceeds from the ride benefit the BayCare Clinic Foundation, which supports causes and organizations that help provide improved health and livelihood to the people of northeastern Wisconsin.

More details and registration: baycare.net/baycare-clinic-century-bayshore-to-lakeshore/.

Statewide business plan contest open to entrepreneurs

The 16th annual Wisconsin Governor’s Business Plan Contest is accepting entries online for the 2019 competition through 5 p.m. Jan. 31.

The contest is designed to encourage entrepreneurs in the startup stage of tech-based businesses in Wisconsin. The contest links up-and-coming entrepreneurs with a statewide network of community resources, expert advice and mentoring, management talent and possible sources of capital.

Two workshops are scheduled for people who would like to learn more about entering:

Jan. 9 at the Coliseum Bar, 232 E. Olin Ave., Madison; and
Jan. 10 at the Tech Council Innovation Network meeting at the UW-Milwaukee Accelerator Innovation in Wauwatosa.

Finalists will share in more than $100,000 in cash and in-kind prizes.

For their initial entries, contestants will submit a 250-word (about 2,000 characters) idea abstract online at govsbizplancontest.com. That’s where contestants will also find business plan templates and other information, such as the Entrepreneurs’ Toolkit. The toolkit provides business startup information and assistance, networking contacts and technical resources.

Contestants who advance to subsequent contest rounds will expand their plan in stages. More than 80 judges drawn from the finance, sales, marketing, research and technology sectors across Wisconsin will score the entries and provide feedback on submissions.

To get started, contestants must create a free account at govsbizplancontest.com. All entries are submitted through the website. Contestants use their account to gain access to mentors throughout the process, as well as review the judges’ comments and feedback.

Since its inception in 2004, more than 3,700 entries have been received and about $2.2 million in cash and services (such as legal, accounting, office space and marketing) have been awarded. Contest categories are Advanced Manufacturing, Business Services, Information Technology and Life Sciences.

Wisconsin residents 18 years old and older are eligible, as are teams from Wisconsin-based businesses and organizations. Businesses or teams from outside the state are also eligible to compete if they demonstrate intent to base their business in Wisconsin. Entrepreneurs may also enter multiple ideas, though each idea must be separate and distinct. Companies or individuals that have raised less than $25,000 in private equity for their plans in a current form may enter.

The competition will take place in the following stages:

In Phase 1, which is open until 5 p.m. Jan. 31, the contest will accept idea abstracts on the website. Entries should be roughly 250 words (or no more than 2,000 characters, including spaces) and will be graded by the pool of BPC judges. The top 50 idea abstracts will advance to Phase 2.
In Phase 2, which runs from Feb. 18 to 5 p.m. March 11, the top 50 idea abstracts will submit an executive summary. The top 20 executive summaries will advance to Phase 3. A mentored “boot camp” for contestants will be held in early March.
In Phase 3, which runs from April 1 to 5 p.m. April 22, the top 20 executive summaries will prepare full business plans. Judges will review the plans and pick three finalists from each of the four categories to advance to the final presentation round. Mentored practice sessions will be offered to the top 12 in late May.

The top 12, or “Diligent Dozen,” will square off with oral presentations during the Wisconsin Entrepreneurs’ Conference on June 4 at Venue 42 in Milwaukee.

Past finalists have launched companies that have raised more than $200 million in angel, venture, grants and venture debt over time — all while creating jobs and economic value for Wisconsin. The contest’s major sponsors include the Wisconsin Economic Development Corp. It is produced by the Wisconsin Technology Council.

To enter, become a judge or learn about sponsorship opportunities, visit govsbizplancontest.com.

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