SHOP SMALL, THINK BIG—Helping Small Businesses Survive and Thrive, February 15, 2023

We all have our favorite locally-owned restaurants and shops, and we are saddened when we see a favorite close, like RiverTyme Bistro in Appleton at the end of 2022. Small businesses bring vibrancy to a region and make a community come alive. But how do small business owners cope with all the needs for their business? There are so many stressors these days:  the labor pool, material prices, employee wages, child care for workers, supply-chain issues, health care access and costs….the list is endless! And then what happens when the owner or one of her family members gets sick or injured and has to miss a significant number of days?

What can we do to help?

Main Street Alliance (MSA) is a nonprofit agency that works to ensure that small businesses have a voice in public policy that can help—or hurt—those businesses. Come hear directly from small business owners about their struggles, and how MSA priorities align with their needs.

Whether you’re a small business owner yourself or support small businesses with your dollars, you’ll want to attend to:

• Learn more about small business struggles and how to take impactful action;
• Learn about how state government can provide relief to small business owners;
• Learn how to amplify your voice by contacting your state representatives to let them know what you’d like included in the state budget.

Our speakers represent MSA and small business owners throughout the state:

Shawn Phetteplace is the Midwest Regional Manager for the Main Street Alliance/Action, covering Wisconsin and Minnesota. Joining MSA over 2 years ago, Shawn is extremely passionate about organizing with small businesses and building power. Previously he worked for 3 members of Congress, on high profile state legislative races and for two national non-profits across the Midwest, including the ONE Campaign. Shawn lives in Madison with his wife and 6 year old son.

Since immigrating to the US in 1998, Anna Steinfest has spent over 20 years developing programs to empower women, minorities and veterans.  Anna is best known for developing the Green Bay Packers Mentor-Protégé Program. With a Master’s degree in Economics, Anna’s focus is on developing sustainable programs that encourage community development through entrepreneurship and economic development by providing mentorship, training, and partnerships with established business leaders.

Michelle Tressler is the Chief Strategy Officer at Hinterland Brewery & Restaurant which she and her husband Bill founded in 1995. Michelle is primarily responsible for Hinterland’s corporate strategy; including finance, branding, and culture. Outside of Hinterland, Michelle holds leadership positions in community organizations such as Main Street Alliance and Discover Green Bay, and she mentors aspiring entrepreneurs at We All Rise:  African American Resource Center in Green Bay.