HISTORY

Born of a strategic commitment to promote the general prosperity and quality of life in the Greater Green Bay Area, Envision was first established in 1990 as the Bay Area Community Council (BACC). The new Council was tasked by the Green Bay Area Chamber of Commerce with formally coordinating and aligning various special interest groups within the community to achieve strategic goals and objectives for the community as a whole.

From the start, this nonprofit was made up of volunteers representing business, education, nonprofits, and government, working together to engage community leaders in understanding and shaping the area’s future. It was and is governed by a board of 24 directors representing a cross section of the community.

The focus in the first thirty years was identification, analysis of and engagement with important community issues. The organization committed to being a thought leader to engage the community and monitor and report progress. (See list of key events and publications below.) In 2018, the Council piloted its first Strategic Foresight workshop by futurist Garry Golden for a cohort of eleven community leaders. Additional cohorts were trained each succeeding year.

In 2020, BACC committed to a complete rebrand, changing its name to Envision Greater Green Bay to reflect its new focus on bringing Strategic Foresight to the community.

• Greater Green Bay 2017: Envisioning the Future, 2018 published results, summit producer
• Journey to a Greater Green Bay, 2016 – Council’s first serious efforts to understand Strategic Foresight 
• Poverty in Brown County, 2015 updated, resulting in community meetings to create “Brown County Dreams for 2020”
• County Half-Percent Sales Tax FAQs, 2014
• “Brown County 20/20: Envisioning the Future,” 2012, summit producer, establishing community study groups in these areas:

• Education
• Connecting our Community
• Economic Development
• Personal and Community Health
• Self-Sufficiency

• LIFE Study, 2011, participant
• Alcohol Abuse in Brown County, 2010
• Transportation Needs of Low-Income Residents in the Green Bay Metro Area, 2009
• Immigration in Brown County; the Urgency of English Language and Assimilation Training, 2009
• Poverty in Brown County, 2007
• Wisconsin’s Perfect Policy Storm, 2005
• Social Capital, 2003, and “By the People” civic dialogue

NOTE: We continue to convene, inform and publish now as Envision Greater Green Bay. Please click on Publications to find our more recent publications.

During World Futures Day 2024, we paused to honor the memory of Phil Hauck, former Envision board president, who passed away in 2023. In this memorial video, we reflect on Phil’s contributions, leadership, and impact on our organization. Join us in celebrating his life and legacy.

Mailing Address:

PO Box 625
Green Bay WI  54305