Door County Business Briefs

• The Door County Board of REALTORS® recently awarded Gretchen Porten of Coldwell Banker Door County Horizons with the Gale E. Zahn award for distinguished service.

The Gale E. Zahn award began as a tribute to Mr. Zahn, a longtime Door County REALTOR®. During his career, Zahn served on every Real Estate committee he could, gaining state and national exposure through his work with both the Wisconsin and National REALTOR® Associations. This award is presented only to those REALTORS® whom have gone above and beyond their board and committee duties with the Door County Board of REALTORS®.

“Gretchen exemplifies the true spirit of a Door County REALTOR®,” said Julie Henkel, 2008 MLS President and member of the DCBR Distinguished Award Committee.

For more information visit http://www.dcbr.org or call 920.743.9651.

• Ad Quest Promotions was launched in late 1993 when Judy Schumacher and her original business partner, Jill Falaschi, happened to enroll their Airedale terrier puppies in the same puppy kindergarten class. The dogs helped create a friendship that turned into a business partnership. Fifteen years later, a new Airedale terrier has taken over the duties as corporate mascot, but the goals of the company remain the same, to help clients both large and small “Get Remembered!”

The home-based business is now run by Judy and her husband Paul, who joined the company full time in 2005 when the couple moved from Racine to Sturgeon Bay. Ad Quest Promotions has remained a small business focusing on client needs first and providing service – not just going the extra mile, but going two extra miles, if necessary.

“Clients are our focus. We are a client-driven company, matching promotional product solutions to their goals,” explained Judy.

Ad Quest Promotions has sales representatives in Door County, Appleton, Burlington and Franklin. For more information call 920.746.9170, email [email protected] or visit http://www.adquestinc.com.

• Door County Lighthouse Inn, located in downtown Egg Harbor, would like to announce that their Sleigh Bells and Romance Packages are selling out fast. This package consists of a visit to two wineries, horse drawn sleigh ride, lunch at the White Gull Inn with trolley ride, dinner coupon at the English Inn and two nights stay with full breakfast each morning. The package cost is $348 – $448 and is good through March 29, 2009. For more information call 866.868.9088 or visit online at http://www.dclighthouseinn.com.

• Lake Side Surgical Associates, located in Sturgeon Bay, recently announced that Dr. Thomas Johnson joined their team of surgeons full-time. Not quite a newcomer, Dr. Johnson had been working with the Lake Side Surgical team one week out of each month for the past year.

“I’m happy that I am now able to commit 100 percent of my time to Lake Side Surgical,” said Johnson.

Dr. Johnson was raised in St. Paul, Minnesota and attended the University of Nebraska College of Medicine. Post Graduate work was completed at the University of Nebraska Medical Center, St. Paul Ramsey Medical Center and the University of Minnesota. Dr. Johnson is licensed in both Minnesota and Wisconsin. For the past nine years, Dr. Johnson has been on staff at St. Croix Valley Surgical Associates in Osceola, Wisconsin.

Lake Side Surgical Associates, S. C. is a team of surgeons specializing in General Surgery, Comprehensive Breast Care, Gastroenterology, and Vein Care. For more information contact the office at 920.746.1060 or visit online at doorsurgery.com.

• The Door County Economic Development Corporation (DCEDC) is supporting entrepreneurship programs offered by Sturgeon Bay and Gibraltar High Schools this year.

During the courses, the students will learn how to develop a business idea, select a business name, logo and slogan, and create a real plan for that business. Local businessman John (Jay) Blossom III, owner of Properties of Door County, has pledged a $1,000 seed capital prize to the best business plan from each class.

DCEDC Economic Development Manager Sam Perlman will make classroom presentations in both schools; and, students involved in the courses will tour the Door County Business Development Center, as well as be linked to local business owners.

Jeffrey Hirsch, a student at Sturgeon Bay High School, was the winner in 2008 of a $500 cash prize for the best business plan coming out of the entrepreneurship course “adopted” by DCEDC last year. Hirsch used the funds to start his own small company, Superior Lawn Service. Hirsch can be reached at 920.495.6448 or [email protected].

For more information contact Sam Perlman at 920.743.3113 x204 or [email protected].