Apr 1, 2021 | From our Leadership
Written by Dave Wegge
As we begin to emerge from the COVID-19 pandemic, it is interesting to note the language that is being used to speak of the new era that we are entering. A couple of items have particularly struck me. I have heard several people saying, “I can’t wait until we get through the COVID pandemic and return to normal.” While I am not a soothsayer about the future, I believe thinking about the past year as an “event” and looking forward to returning to “normal” may not be what is in store for us in the future. There are a number of questions that our experiences from the past year have raised for us.
(more…)
Apr 1, 2021 | BACC Archive
Click April 2021 BACC to read newsletter. Highlighted content is “What does COVID-19 tell us about our future? (Dave Wegge).”
Mar 1, 2021 | Economic Transformation Signals
Written by Phil Hauck
Northeast Wisconsin companies compete well nationally because of smarts and work ethic, but right now they risk “getting disrupted” by national competitors who better use new technologies to increase benefits to their customers. Why? [Link to read full article Avoiding Disruption]
Feb 1, 2021 | Upward Mobility Signals
Written by Heidi Selberg and Judy Nagel, with thanks to Dave Wegge and Jamie Lynch.
One can identify key signals for upward mobility – “The American Dream” – by comparing the Greater Green Bay area to the rest of Wisconsin and to the United States as a whole and also by comparing it to other industrialized countries. While self-determination has, historically, predicted upward mobility in the U.S., an emerging theory suggests that social supports are also clear signals of such success. Countries with more positive rankings, though, sometimes take unique approaches that are also worth studying. Here we present our key findings on the status of upward mobility in our area.
[Link to full Upward Mobility Article and Upward Mobility Power Point]
Feb 1, 2021 | Economic Transformation Signals
Written by Nan Nelson
It’s now becoming clear that the Covid-19 pandemic could threaten transformative changes. Women have been forced to drop out of the workforce at twice the rate of men (nearly a quarter of women with young children!) and even senior women report cutting hours or switching to less-demanding roles. (Link to full article Future of Work]
Feb 1, 2021 | From our Leadership
Written by Dave Wegge
I have been thinking a lot about doors recently. No, not the doors to our homes or places of work, but the doors of our lives.
The year 2021 provides a new door for all of us – and walking through new doors can be risky and/or provide opportunities. We need to be willing to take the right risks, but also have the strength to stand firm and close those doors that need to be closed. As we step across the threshold into 2021, I encourage you to make this a special year in your life or in the life of your organization by opening wide the doors to gratitude and growth.
(more…)
Feb 1, 2021 | BACC Archive
Click February 2021 BACC to read newsletter. Highlighted content is “Future of Work: Women Hold Key at Crossroads (Nan Nelson).”
Jan 3, 2021 | Economic Transformation Signals
Written by Dave Wegge
How can employers in the Green Bay Area find workers with the skillsets their organizations need? Clearly they can attract and retain new workers from outside our area, but they might want to consider training and retaining individuals right here in our area. And there’s a potential workforce available! [Click A Natural Workforce Solution to read the full article.]
Jan 1, 2021 | Economic Transformation Signals
January 2021
Phil Hauck, Economic Disruption & Transformation Signals Team
I was recently introduced to a futurist named Thomas Frey of the DaVinci Institute. In a recent blog post, he makes the point that all these high-tech advancements that are replacing jobs aren’t a negative, but historically have been a positive. The negative impact gets attention because it is “seeable,” an unemployment statistic. What’s unseen is this: When a robot replaces a job in a factory, the job-holder is theoretically now in a worse position, looking for another job and/or living on unemployment. But, Frey illustrates, the product that robot created will now appeal to more and more people, creating other jobs up the line, and provide a better quality of life. That, in turn, yields a more dynamic economy that spawns more jobs.
(more…)
Jan 1, 2021 | From our Leadership
Written by Dave Wegge
During this pandemic I have been watching a great deal of old shows on YouTube. Recently I saw bits by Rodney Dangerfield. He would always open his act by coming on stage, adjusting his tie, and saying “What a crowd, what a crowd.” I would revise that for this message as “What a year, what a year!”
(more…)
