Schultz Brings Fresh Perspective to Fish Creek Civic Association

by Vanessa McGowan, [email protected]

Karlie Schultz is the Fish Creek Civic Association’s new marketing and outreach manager, joining the organization following her work as the member-relations coordinator for the Oshkosh Chamber of Commerce. Schultz started with the association in September, commuting at first, before becoming an official Door County resident last week.

“I like being outdoors, and there are so many things to do up here,” she said about her inspiration to make the move. “The smaller community really attracted me. I like the tight-knit-community vibe.”

Schultz is looking forward to digging into her new role while getting to know her new home. 

“I’m excited to get to know the local hang-out spots that the tourists don’t know about,” she said. “I love wine, too, so I’m excited to be in Wine Country, Wisconsin!”

Schultz has a bachelor’s degree in marketing from UW-La Crosse, where she also double-minored in Spanish and organizational and professional communication. 

“My experience is in marketing hospitality, and I’m excited to get involved with this new community-marketing role,” she said. “The Fish Creek Civic Association is the destination-marketing entity behind Visit Fish Creek, so one of our main goals is promoting the area to potential visitors and showcasing the many amazing businesses we have here. Being an outsider, I think I’ll be able to bring a fresh perspective on some of the events we do.”

But Schultz is quick to point out that doesn’t mean she intends to change everything.

“You’ll still see the same events – just with some additional elements,” she said.

Those elements of course now include the virtual variety that have become a mainstay of this new, socially distanced COVID-19 world.

Schultz has worked with the association’s board and the Town of Gibraltar to respond to this year’s pandemic challenges, such as helping businesses to figure out safety, curbside pickups and carryout processes.

The county’s network of community associations has also worked together, communicating frequently to ensure that information about safety precautions is readily available to residents and business managers. 

During the off-season, Schultz and the Fish Creek Civic Association will brainstorm ways to best assist members if there are still limitations on the size of gatherings come spring. 

“We haven’t been able to have many in-person events,” she said, “so we’re taking all this energy and putting it into our 2021 event planning.”

Schultz encouraged business owners who need support or want to learn how the Fish Creek Civic Association can help their business to contact her at [email protected].

“I’m more than happy to sit down with business owners, listen to their concerns and see if we can find a way to get them the support they need,” she said. “We tend to focus on practical things, like helping people pivot, but I also have other resources I can put them in touch with if it’s something I’m not sure about.”

To highlight a local nonprofit by sharing your involvement with it, email Vanessa McGowan at [email protected].