Posted 5:16 p.m. Friday, May 31, 2013
Many UW-L Alumni work everyday to attract business and tourism to the state of Wisconsin. Here are examples of a few of these professionals and what they enjoy doing most during Wisconsin summers.
Many UW-L Alumni work everyday to attract business and tourism to the state of Wisconsin. Here are examples of a few of these professionals and what they enjoy doing most during Wisconsin summers.
[caption id="attachment_3681" align="alignright" width="250"]
UW-L Alumnus Brad Toll[/caption]
BRAD TOLL, GREEN BAY
Brad Toll, ’85, a business administration major, has worked in tourism since he graduated. After traveling with the men’s chorus on an international tour of England and Ireland, he decided to pursue a career in travel. He worked for a tour company for 13 years buying travel before he took a job at the Saint Paul Convention and Visitors Bureau selling travel. He was brought on as CEO of the Greater Green Bay Convention and Visitors Bureau in 2006.
One of the best things Green Bay has to offer in the summer: A visit to the Packers training camp. The first practice of the year is July 26 and the training camp extends through the first pre-season game. Back in the 1960s a tradition started in Green Bay where neighborhood kids would go to the stadium with their bikes. Members of the team would meet them, hand their helmet to the child and ride the child’s bike down the sidewalk to the practice facility where they were met by more than a thousand fans. The event continues today. Find more about it at greenbay.com on the event calendar.
Favorite place to vacation at in Wisconsin in the summer?
Last year my wife and I rented a convertible and traveled all around the state to visit breweries. There is a brewery tour mapped out on TravelWisconsin.com. We printed that out and used it as a guide. It reminded us what a beautiful state we live in. It’s a gorgeous state. It really is.
[caption id="attachment_3695" align="alignright" width="550"]
UW-L Alum Kayla Shepard pictured at Riverside Park in La Crosse.[/caption]
KAYLA SHEPARD, LA CROSSE
Kayla Shepard, ’08, is director of media and membership for the La Crosse Area Convention and Visitors Bureau. The recreation management major oversaw programming at an island resort in Florida before moving back to La Crosse. Her job at the Convention and Visitors Bureau is the perfect fit, she says. Her primary job is managing websites for the Convention and Visitors Bureau, including the primary site at explorelacrosse.com. Other websites promote recreation or attracting large groups to the city such as the annual organic farmers conference. She also leads or serves on committees that organize major festivals and other events in the La Crosse area.
Best things the La Crosse area has to offer in the summer:
For me the huge draw to this region is the hiking and all the water trails in our region. I love hiking Hixon and the trails off Easter Road. Trempealeau has access to places like Perrot State Park. We also have the arts with the new performing arts center and the pump house. You can spend the day outside and then go to a show at night and see quality performances.
Favorite place to vacation at in Wisconsin in the summer?
If I have to leave, I like traveling up north toward Lake Superior — State parks like Copper Falls State Park.
[caption id="attachment_3699" align="alignright" width="250"]
UW-L Alum James Hill[/caption]
JAMES HILL, LA CROSSE
James Hill, ’76, a political science major, has been executive director of La Crosse Area Development Corporation for 30 years. LADCO has a three-prong mission to attract and retain industry and help small businesses get their start through the Coulee Region Business Center. Hill regularly attends trade shows and visits growing companies potentially looking to move to Wisconsin. As he is promoting Wisconsin as a whole, the message has changed over the years with new state leadership, but the state’s attributes such as it’s natural beauty remain a consistently strong attracting point.
Best things the La Crosse area has to offer in the summer:
Personally, I’d say the La Crosse Loggers. I’m a baseball fan. And we have great outdoor recreation such as fishing, hunting and silent sports. You can find more about silent sports such as kayaking, biking, hiking and birding.
Favorite place to vacation at in Wisconsin in the summer?
It takes a lot to pry me out of the La Crosse area. If I leave, I go to Vilas County in northern Wisconsin. The northern lakes are great for duck hunting and walleye fishing in the fall.
[caption id="attachment_3702" align="alignright" width="250"]
UW-L Alum Brian Hutchings[/caption]
BRIAN HUTCHINGS, MILWAULKEE
Brian Hutchings, '02, a philosophy major with a minor in physics, says experience working at the Marriott in college got him on the tourism track. Today he promotes tourism and convention travel as convention sales manager for the Milwaukee Convention and Visitors Bureau. He talks about Milwaukee being the 25th largest city in the country with an international airport, beautiful lakefront and attractions such as the Harley-Davidson Museum and the Milwaukee Art Museum, recognized as one of the “sexiest buildings on Earth."
[caption id="attachment_3705" align="alignright" width="3000"]
Milwaukee Art Museum, recognized as one of the “sexiest buildings on Earth."[/caption]
Best things the Milwaukee area has to offer in the summer:
Obviously Summerfest: The World’s Largest Music Festival. Literally, it is. The event, like much of Wisconsin’s tourism, attracts many Chicago visitors.
This year during Labor Day weekend will be the Harley-Davidson anniversary celebration. In the summer there is an ethnic festival every weekend. There is always something to do in downtown Milwaukee during the summer.
Favorite place to vacation at in Wisconsin in the summer?
I do like getting back to La Crosse in the summer. That is home for me. (Hutching’s wife, Jessica, ’05, is also a UW-L alum. )
[caption id="attachment_3710" align="alignright" width="250"]
La Crosse Mayor Tim Kabat[/caption]
TIM KABAT, LA CROSSE
Tim Kabat, ’88, business major, says his college education provided great foundation for future work in the world of business. “UW-L was the foundation for more learning, knowledge and experience that came after,” says Kabat. As La Crosse’s new mayor, Kabat has been exploring ways to help promote tourism in the city. In addition to joining the silent sports movement, he started discussions with the La Crosse Center board about eventually adding on to the La Crosse Center to attract more entertainment and continue current commitments such as the organic farmers conference, which, with annual growth is “bursting at the seams,” says Kabat. When the weather is warm, the La Crosse area hosts a festival nearly every weekend and he plans to assist to help those events grow.
Best things the La Crosse area has to offer in the summer:
The river. In my former role as Downtown Main Street Inc. director, I would see so many people come to La Crosse because they were interested in checking out the Mississippi River. And it’s something we’ll continue to promote because everyone knows or has heard of the Mississippi. Anywhere that we have the river, we are trying to enhance public access and trail connections, outdoor dining and seating opportunities. All those smaller efforts add up. The more we can enhance the riverfront, the more we can attract people to La Crosse.
Favorite place to vacation at in Wisconsin in the summer?
My family and I love to camp. Perrot State Park is one of our favorite spots. Door County is another. But I also love to be able to go to Hixon Forest or hike in the marsh. I can be in the office and in five minutes be walking in the marsh trails or forest. To be able to get into nature on an everyday basis is awesome.
UW-L Alumnus Brad Toll[/caption]
BRAD TOLL, GREEN BAY
Brad Toll, ’85, a business administration major, has worked in tourism since he graduated. After traveling with the men’s chorus on an international tour of England and Ireland, he decided to pursue a career in travel. He worked for a tour company for 13 years buying travel before he took a job at the Saint Paul Convention and Visitors Bureau selling travel. He was brought on as CEO of the Greater Green Bay Convention and Visitors Bureau in 2006.
One of the best things Green Bay has to offer in the summer: A visit to the Packers training camp. The first practice of the year is July 26 and the training camp extends through the first pre-season game. Back in the 1960s a tradition started in Green Bay where neighborhood kids would go to the stadium with their bikes. Members of the team would meet them, hand their helmet to the child and ride the child’s bike down the sidewalk to the practice facility where they were met by more than a thousand fans. The event continues today. Find more about it at greenbay.com on the event calendar.
Favorite place to vacation at in Wisconsin in the summer?
Last year my wife and I rented a convertible and traveled all around the state to visit breweries. There is a brewery tour mapped out on TravelWisconsin.com. We printed that out and used it as a guide. It reminded us what a beautiful state we live in. It’s a gorgeous state. It really is.
[caption id="attachment_3695" align="alignright" width="550"] UW-L Alum Kayla Shepard pictured at Riverside Park in La Crosse.[/caption]
KAYLA SHEPARD, LA CROSSE
Kayla Shepard, ’08, is director of media and membership for the La Crosse Area Convention and Visitors Bureau. The recreation management major oversaw programming at an island resort in Florida before moving back to La Crosse. Her job at the Convention and Visitors Bureau is the perfect fit, she says. Her primary job is managing websites for the Convention and Visitors Bureau, including the primary site at explorelacrosse.com. Other websites promote recreation or attracting large groups to the city such as the annual organic farmers conference. She also leads or serves on committees that organize major festivals and other events in the La Crosse area.
Best things the La Crosse area has to offer in the summer:
For me the huge draw to this region is the hiking and all the water trails in our region. I love hiking Hixon and the trails off Easter Road. Trempealeau has access to places like Perrot State Park. We also have the arts with the new performing arts center and the pump house. You can spend the day outside and then go to a show at night and see quality performances.
Favorite place to vacation at in Wisconsin in the summer?
If I have to leave, I like traveling up north toward Lake Superior — State parks like Copper Falls State Park.
[caption id="attachment_3699" align="alignright" width="250"] UW-L Alum James Hill[/caption]
JAMES HILL, LA CROSSE
James Hill, ’76, a political science major, has been executive director of La Crosse Area Development Corporation for 30 years. LADCO has a three-prong mission to attract and retain industry and help small businesses get their start through the Coulee Region Business Center. Hill regularly attends trade shows and visits growing companies potentially looking to move to Wisconsin. As he is promoting Wisconsin as a whole, the message has changed over the years with new state leadership, but the state’s attributes such as it’s natural beauty remain a consistently strong attracting point.
Best things the La Crosse area has to offer in the summer:
Personally, I’d say the La Crosse Loggers. I’m a baseball fan. And we have great outdoor recreation such as fishing, hunting and silent sports. You can find more about silent sports such as kayaking, biking, hiking and birding.
Favorite place to vacation at in Wisconsin in the summer?
It takes a lot to pry me out of the La Crosse area. If I leave, I go to Vilas County in northern Wisconsin. The northern lakes are great for duck hunting and walleye fishing in the fall.
[caption id="attachment_3702" align="alignright" width="250"] UW-L Alum Brian Hutchings[/caption]
BRIAN HUTCHINGS, MILWAULKEE
Brian Hutchings, '02, a philosophy major with a minor in physics, says experience working at the Marriott in college got him on the tourism track. Today he promotes tourism and convention travel as convention sales manager for the Milwaukee Convention and Visitors Bureau. He talks about Milwaukee being the 25th largest city in the country with an international airport, beautiful lakefront and attractions such as the Harley-Davidson Museum and the Milwaukee Art Museum, recognized as one of the “sexiest buildings on Earth."
[caption id="attachment_3705" align="alignright" width="3000"] Milwaukee Art Museum, recognized as one of the “sexiest buildings on Earth."[/caption]
Best things the Milwaukee area has to offer in the summer:
Obviously Summerfest: The World’s Largest Music Festival. Literally, it is. The event, like much of Wisconsin’s tourism, attracts many Chicago visitors.
This year during Labor Day weekend will be the Harley-Davidson anniversary celebration. In the summer there is an ethnic festival every weekend. There is always something to do in downtown Milwaukee during the summer.
Favorite place to vacation at in Wisconsin in the summer?
I do like getting back to La Crosse in the summer. That is home for me. (Hutching’s wife, Jessica, ’05, is also a UW-L alum. )
[caption id="attachment_3710" align="alignright" width="250"] La Crosse Mayor Tim Kabat[/caption]
TIM KABAT, LA CROSSE
Tim Kabat, ’88, business major, says his college education provided great foundation for future work in the world of business. “UW-L was the foundation for more learning, knowledge and experience that came after,” says Kabat. As La Crosse’s new mayor, Kabat has been exploring ways to help promote tourism in the city. In addition to joining the silent sports movement, he started discussions with the La Crosse Center board about eventually adding on to the La Crosse Center to attract more entertainment and continue current commitments such as the organic farmers conference, which, with annual growth is “bursting at the seams,” says Kabat. When the weather is warm, the La Crosse area hosts a festival nearly every weekend and he plans to assist to help those events grow.
Best things the La Crosse area has to offer in the summer:
The river. In my former role as Downtown Main Street Inc. director, I would see so many people come to La Crosse because they were interested in checking out the Mississippi River. And it’s something we’ll continue to promote because everyone knows or has heard of the Mississippi. Anywhere that we have the river, we are trying to enhance public access and trail connections, outdoor dining and seating opportunities. All those smaller efforts add up. The more we can enhance the riverfront, the more we can attract people to La Crosse.
Favorite place to vacation at in Wisconsin in the summer?
My family and I love to camp. Perrot State Park is one of our favorite spots. Door County is another. But I also love to be able to go to Hixon Forest or hike in the marsh. I can be in the office and in five minutes be walking in the marsh trails or forest. To be able to get into nature on an everyday basis is awesome.