COMING HOME Beth Jacobsen has plenty of childhood memories. Born and raised in Beloit, Jacobsen fondly recalls spending time outdoors with neighborhood friends, whether it was climbing trees, riding bicycles or swimming in her backyard pool. “Beloit was a neat place to grow up,” she says. “It was a fun and safe place to be.” After being gone for a number of years, Jacobsen is home again. An opportunity to work at Beloit City Hall
Festival on the Rock lights up the riverfront in Beloit Live music, carnival rides and spectacular fireworks are just some of the fun activities that have made Festival on the Rock, a popular celebration in the Beloit area for more than 20 years. “It’s a fun, family-style event for people of all ages,” says Bryce Patch, festival chairman. “It’s a great way to end the summer.” The three-day festival is held every year at Preservation
Leadership Development Academy of Rock County LDA members team up to help keep our communities clean. About a decade ago, some Rock County business leaders came together and determined they needed to create a leadership pipeline. With that in mind, they formed the Leadership Development Academy of Rock County (LDA), an organization that gives participants the opportunity to learn about Rock County’s history, economy, culture and government. “It’s a wonderful concept,” says executive director Russell
The Flying Pig has landed in Beloit. The Flying Pig, a popular treat shop known for its many shaved ice flavors and toppings, opened its doors in downtown Beloit in November 2014. “We wanted to expand and thought downtown Beloit would be the perfect spot,” says Lisa Dodd, who owns the business with husband, Greg. The Dodds and their four children moved to the area eight years ago, after living in Little Rock, Ark., where Lisa
The Ironworks campus is home to 13 different businesses occupying a million square feet on 24 acres. One of the most popular landmarks in Beloit is the Ironworks campus, located on the banks of the Rock River in the heart of Beloit’s City Center. For nearly 150 years this site was home to the Beloit Corporation. Like many industries in the region, Beloit Corporation struggled and ultimately closed its doors in 1999. But rather than
Regal has long been known as a company where talented people want to work. Regal is proud to say that their employees treat each other with mutual respect and dignity. They believe that no matter how large they grow, each employee can make a difference. They value a workplace where bureaucracy is discouraged, entrepreneurial thinking is fostered, and decision-making is streamlined by an “open-door” management style. Regal is dedicated to community service, making a positive difference in the communities where they live and work.
"The Greater Beloit area is the ideal location for our business." When K.Y. Taylor and his son Roger opened North American Tool in 1986, Curt Lansbery served as one of the first members of the company’s board of directors. Two years later, Lansbery sold his Beloit funeral home business to join the Taylors fulltime. The decision to join the thriving company, he said, was a relatively easy one. “I was impressed with the reputation of
With close proximity to the rich potato farms of America’s heartland, Beloit was a natural choice for Kettle Brand’s second U.S. potato chip factory. The 140,000 square-foot Kettle Brand plant opened in 2007 with 200 employees, earning the first Gold level certification for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED®). The Wisconsin facility was constructed with the goal of creating a great work environment for employees when it comes to physical space and indoor air quality.
ABC Supply Co., Inc. not only dominates Beloit's riverfront, but stands out in Beloit's employment landscape. ABC Supply's bold white building is a focal point of Beloit riverfront landscape. With their location on a hill overlooking the riverfront, employees have sweeping views of the river, lagoon and beautiful River Side Park. ABC Supply Co., Inc. not only dominates the Beloit riverfront, but stands out in Beloit's employment landscape. ABC Supply Co., Inc. is the largest wholesale distributor of roofing
Your College. Your Future. Take the Next Step! When you discover Blackhawk Technical College, you are on the road to success. As a proud member of the 16-school Wisconsin Technical College System (WTCS), Blackhawk Technical College relishes its role as an innovative and productive resource for Beloit and all of south central Wisconsin. It certainly isn’t any wonder that Beloit schools are the largest feeder system to Blackhawk. Those students, as well as students from
NorthPointe Health and Wellness Campus in Roscoe, IL Located just minutes from Beloit, NorthPointe’s 122-acre health and wellness campus is truly a unique health environment. Located on a rolling prairie setting near the corner of Willowbrook and E. Rockton Roads in Roscoe, with a convenient location off- I-90, the campus focuses on prevention, diagnostics and treatment. “The innovative, state-of-the-art health and wellness campus is a natural, healing environment for all ages,” explains Gus Larson, Director
Two years ago, Donna Sykora moved to Beloit for a new position. What she found here in southern Wisconsin was so much more. Donna is key account manager for Alliant Energy. In her role, she manages large industrial customers in the Beloit area. In addition, she represents the company on a number of local boards such as the Beloit Chamber of Commerce, Blackhawk Technical College Foundation Board and United Way Blackhawk Region. While taking care
RISING PROFESSIONALS PROMOTE BELOIT In an effort to get more young professionals involved in the community, the Greater Beloit Chamber of Commerce has created the Rising Professionals, an organization comprised of young professionals under the age of 40. The group was created to empower young professionals in the region, provide networking opportunities and promote civic engagement, professional development and mentoring. “We have plenty of young people here in Beloit,” said Tim Dutter, executive director of the
BUSHEL & PECK'S LOCAL MARKET Nine years ago, Jackie Gennett and Rich Horbaczewski of Grass is Greener Gardens, an organic farm located in Monroe, started selling eggs, lamb and chicken at the weekly Beloit Farmers’ Market. Little did they know it would open a whole new world for their business right here in downtown Beloit. The business partners are owners of the popular Bushel & Peck’s Local Market, 328 State St., which opened in 2008. The restaurant
NATURE AT THE CONFLUENCE: A PROJECT FOR 2020 "This is a process of rediscovery and trying to make the Confluence become a community asset once again.” Beloit is located at the Confluence of the Rock River and Turtle Creek. These streams have played a key part in the history and development of the city. They’ve provided diverse habitats for plants and animals, and also have a rich history of being utilized by people. The Confluence
FULFILLING A DREAM: DIANE HENDRICKS Diane and Ken Hendricks had a dream for how they wanted their lives to play out. “In 1982, Ken and I had a vision,” says Diane, chairman of ABC Supply Co., Inc., the company she co-founded with her late husband. “We wanted to be productive with our lives, make a difference in our industry and give back to those who helped us achieve our dreams. Ken and I were blessed to
FINDING A PLACE TO CALL HOME Derrick Wash could have made his home anywhere following college graduation. But he chose to move to Beloit where he’s happy to be home again. “There’s so much diversity in Beloit,” he says. “It’s not a small community, but it certainly doesn’t have a big city feel. Everything I need is within driving distance, and it’s a good place to raise kids. For the most part, you know everyone
HOME AT LAST Larry Arft has spent a 40-year career working in public service. He started in Berkley, Mo., before moving on to the Chicago suburbs, working as village administrator in Bolingbrook and Morton Grove. But he’s finally found a place he can call home in Beloit. “My wife, Karen, and I have lived in five communities in three different states, but we like Beloit the most,” says Arft, who was hired as city manager
MAKING A NEW HOME IN BELOIT Change is never easy. Uwe Schnell knows this firsthand. Schnell has been all over the world. A native of Germany, Uwe has also lived and worked in Belgium, India, Hungary and Brazil, before making his way to the United States. It’s been a long and winding road, but Uwe can’t imagine being anywhere else. “I enjoy the spontaneity and the business culture in the United States,” he says. “Germans
ROY CHAPMAN ANDREWS One of Beloit’s most famous citizens was Roy Chapman Andrews, an explorer, adventurer and writer. Andrews is best known for leading a series of expeditions through China in the early 20th century into the Gobi Desert and Mongolia that led to such discoveries as the first-known nests of fossilized dinosaur eggs. There were plenty of obstacles along the way, however, as he battled sandstorms, snakes, and bandit attacks. It is widely speculated