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Staff Picks Wide

WVCC Staff Picks – Spring 2022 Edition

After receiving numerous requests to share a bit more about ourselves with our outstanding members and partners, we decided to publish a quarterly "Staff Picks" article for your reading enjoyment.

Get to know more about Saul, Christian, and Adam in our Spring 2022 Edition:

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Saul Newton - President & CEO

What are you most looking forward to doing this Spring?

Watching the Bucks get back to the NBA Championship. Also, the Brewers are back!

What Chamber event/program are you most excited for this quarter?

Veterans Light Up the Arts. It's by far my favorite event we host, the talent of the featured artists is amazing, and it all takes place at the iconic Milwaukee Art Museum.

What are you reading right now?

Ego is the Enemy by Ryan Holiday.

Seen any good movies/TV shows lately?

The Dropout

What jams are you currently listening to?

I've been on a mid-2000's hip hop streak lately.

What has been your favorite episode of Office Hours/WI Veterans Forward so far this year?

I really enjoyed hearing from Pam Dennis of Chef Pam's Kitchen. I'm enjoy cooking, so it's always great to hear from other veterans who share that passion and have been able to turn it into successful careers and businesses. (Watch/listen to the episode here)

Christian Thornton

Christian Thornton - VP of Membership

What are you most looking forward to doing this Spring?
Being able to be outside. I dislike the cold tremendously so I am really looking forward to warmer weather.
What Chamber event/program are you most excited for this quarter?
I'm looking forward to my first Veteran's Light Up the Arts. It's such a unique event with a great community focus. I've been in contact with so many artists who are looking to have their art displayed that it should be an amazing experience.
What are you reading right now?
I started reading a couple of different books, Mind Game by Iris Johansen and No Man's Land by David Baldacci but I've been rather distracted of late by other things going on so I've not been reading as much as I usually do.
Seen any good movies/TV shows lately?
There are honestly so many good programs out right now. It's part of why I'm not diving deeply into reading something new. I've been watching Moon Knight and UPLOAD primarily.
What jams are you currently listening to?
I've been driving a lot of late so I've been gravitating towards the old classics like AC/DC.
What has been your favorite episode of Office Hours/WI Veterans Forward so far this year?
Tying very much into being excited for VLUTA I really enjoyed the "How Can Art Or Creative Writing Help Disabled Veterans Heal From Trauma?" episode of Office Hours. (Watch/listen to the episode here)
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Adam Braatz - VP of Communications

What are you most looking forward to doing this Spring?
Working on my yard and garden with my family. Winter is so long I almost forget how beautiful it is around here.
What Chamber event/program are you most excited for this quarter?
Morning Formation: Bringing Your Products and Services to a Global Market is going to be insanely informative. Who would have thought that there are programs out there that will pay business owners to learn about international distribution? Free webinar, folks. It's a win-win-win.
What are you reading right now?
I just started The Obstacle is the Way by Ryan Holiday. I'm a huge fan of his writing!
Seen any good movies/TV shows lately?
I've been getting caught up on Ozark. It's entertaining, but nothing good ever happens. I have a bad feeling about how everything will end.
What jams are you currently listening to?
Silent Alarm by Bloc Party. It was released way back in 2005 but it's new to me. It's a nearly perfect album.
What has been your favorite episode of Office Hours/WI Veterans Forward so far this year?
I had a blast chatting with Justin Kern from the Red Cross of Wisconsin in "Why Effective Storytelling is Your Organization's Most Valuable Tool." I actually think it's my favorite of all time! (Watch/listen to the episode here)