Presentation by Lisa Geason-Bauer (WOW Workforce Development Board/Evolution Marketing) and Kathy Kuntz (Cool Choices) at the 12th annual Growing Sustainable Communities Conference (Oct 3rd, 2018). Abstract: To meet ambitious sustainability goals, leaders need to engage everyone — which means creating a value proposition that resonates across the whole community, regardless of partisan politics. In this session presenters will share a case study from Waukesha County, Wis., where advocates leveraged workforce concerns to engage business leaders in a program promoting environmentally sustainable practices. USA Today called Waukesha County the reddest county in the U.S. and yet more than 30 businesses recruited almost 600 people to be part of a sustainability initiative. Participants included climate skeptics who were, nevertheless, willing to adopt sustainable practices. Learn how organizers leveraged local concerns about workforce shortages to facilitate businesses engaging their employees on sustainability.

5. “At its essence, sustainability means ensuring
prosperity and environmental protection without
compromising the ability of future generations to
meet their needs. A sustainable world is one where people can
escape poverty and enjoy decent work without harming the earth’s essential
ecosystems and resources; where people can stay healthy and get the food
& water they need; where everyone can access clean energy that doesn’t
contribute to climate change; where women and girls are afforded equal
rights and equal opportunities”
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9. Communities vie
to be the places
people choose
to live and work

13. Recreation
• 77 lakes throughout
County
• City of Oconomowoc
has 2 lakes in our
downtown (one of two
Cities in all of WI)

14. ● 21,000 acres of public
parks (state, county, and
municipal)
● 129 miles of hiking and
biking trails
● over 70 miles of cross
country ski trails
● nearly 200 miles of
snowmobile trails
● 10 campground
● 20 challenging public
golf courses

15. Lots of nature in Waukesha County
(wild turkeys and polo ponies)
Used to be called “Cow County USA”

16. 11 day markets (May - Oct)
1 night market summer season
1 winter farmers’ market in Waukesha
County (Nov - March)
(Oconomowoc Winter Farmers’ Market)

17. • 2008 Wauk. County passed first sustainability Plan
• 2010 Wauk. County received funding through the State
of WI to create a Energy Independent Plan (i.e. 25x25
plan)
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• City of Oconomowoc was an EIC community in 2009 and
we created the first 25x25 plan in the county by a
municipality
• 2013 City of Oconomowoc updated their 25x25 Plan
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Waukesha Environmental Action League est 30 + yrs ago
Greener Oconomowoc, Inc. est. in 2007
Waukesha County Green Team est. in 2010

21. The WOW Workforce Development Board is made up of 24 volunteer members, who are appointed by the
County Executive and/or County Chairperson. The Board is employer led and is comprised of members
from local businesses, educational institutions, workforce and labor, community-based
organizations, economic development, and one-stop center partners. Board members develop
important workforce policies and explore innovative best practices to advance the quality and effectiveness
of residents and businesses of Waukesha, Ozaukee, and Washington Counties, Wisconsin.

22. Our Board’s concerned with..
● Labor shortages
● Talent attraction
● Talent retention
● Low unemployment rate
● Future labor pipeline
● Interfacing with youth
● Strategic positioning for the
future

23. Services that are offered
through our Workforce
Development Center

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31. We believe sustainability can only be
accomplished by taking a holistic systems
wide approach to management of the
business (organization).
(i.e. successful initiatives do not occur in a
silo, they require buy in at all levels within an
organization)

32. “Ride to the Barns” by Tall Pines Conservancy
(picture left)
(yrly bike rike between farms in Lake Country
to raise $ to support farmland preservation and
land trusts)
Community events - SummerStage (Delafield)
@ Kettle Moraine State Forest - Lapham Peak
Unit (picture below)

35. ● WI Green & Health Schools Programs participants
● Students are playing School version of “Cool Choices” within district
● AP Environmental Science class
● Last FFA Chapter in Waukesha County
● Strong rural ethic /farming community at OASD
● OASD hosted the Oconomowoc Winter Farmers’ Market for 1 year (due to a
fire at the greenhouse where the market typically takes place)
● Rosenow Creek -
Class 1 & 2 trout streams
behind Natural Hill School
● Composting Program, school
gardens & much more!

39. We’re a Catalyst

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41. Grant Opportunity!

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55. 27% new vs 34% new!

64. Success with the County-wide
Nature Challenge helped to
lay the foundation for our Cool
Choices game success