Frostman Leaving DCEDC for Senate Campaign

Photo by Len Villano.

Caleb Frostman, executive director of the Door County Economic Development Corporation (DCEDC), announced that he will resign effective April 27, 2018 to pursue his candidacy for the State of Wisconsin’s First Senate District. The DCEDC Board of Directors accepted Frostman’s resignation at a special meeting yesterday.

“I’ve never had a more meaningful job in my career and feel truly honored to have served in this role for the last year and a half,” Frostman said. “I’m extremely proud of our quality programming delivered by our dedicated staff and feel deeply grateful to have worked for such an incredible organization and board of directors. Campaigning will be close to a full-time endeavor and DCEDC needs a full-time Executive Director to guide the ship. I am confident they will find the right candidate for the organization and for Door County.”

“Caleb’s time with the DCEDC has continued to move us forward as one of the model economic development organizations for the rest of the state,” said Darren Voigt, Chair of the DCEDC Board. “We thank Caleb for his leadership of DCEDC and his dedication to Door County. During his tenure, Caleb quickly integrated into the Door County community and served as a positive and passionate advocate for both DCEDC and its related programs. The Board wishes Caleb nothing but the best as he pursues his future endeavors.”

DCEDC’s signature accomplishments under Frostman’s leadership include:

• A highly successful 2017 Door Kewaunee Legislative Days with 130 attendees making significant progress on all five agenda items, including a 10-fold increase in broadband funding and a $3.6 million Harbor Assistance Program grant to Fincantieri Bay Shipbuilding.
• Introducing the very first Door County Manufacturing Days in October 2017 with 270 high school students and more than 400 members of the public visiting nine Door County manufacturers in Sturgeon Bay’s Industrial Park.
• Re-instituting the High School Home Construction Project after a 3three-year hiatus, involving 11 students from the four mainland schools.
• The implementation of the Inspire module, connecting more than 40 businesses with local youth for work-based learning opportunities.
• Working with public and private interests to deliver a comprehensive, county-wide housing study.
• Closing four new Revolving Loan Fund loans totaling $436,000, requiring the creation of 18 new jobs in the county and leveraging more than $5.5 million in private financing.

Frostman, serving as only the second DCEDC Executive Director since the organization was created in 1989, began his term in November 2016. During his tenure, he served on the Bay Area Workforce Development Board, boards of the Sturgeon Bay Visitor Center, Door County Visitor Bureau, Sunshine House, and as a member of the Door County Advisory Council for Big Brothers Big Sisters of Northeast Wisconsin.

DCEDC Board Vice-Chair, Patti Vickman will chair the search committee for Frostman’s replacement in collaboration with Human Resources Consulting LLC.