For the City Times

STEVENS POINT – The Portage County Business Council (PCBC) Board of Directors recently welcomed new officers and board members.  PCBC’s priorities for its members and the community are retention and attraction of businesses and employees.  PCBC serves as the chamber of commerce, economic and talent development organization and is home to the Ignite Leadership Young Professionals and Ambassadors.

Eric Powers.

New officers include: President Deb Marten, Marten Machining; Vice President Jim Firminhac, WoodTrust Bank; Treasurer/Secretary Derek Nest, CliftonLarsonAllen; Past President Doug Ballweg, Delta Dental of WI; Erik Carlson, Ellis Construction; Keith Pilger, Anderson O’Brien; Jeff Salewske, Stevens Point Brewery; Lisa Sobczak, ABR Employment Services and Kelly Zagrzebski, Wisconsin Public Service.

New members to the Board of Directors include:

Lisa Sobczak.

Eric Powers graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point in 2003 with a Bachelor of Arts in Communications.  He has spent the past fifteen years as an employee of AIG Travel.  Currently he is the Director of Integration. As part of his successful career at AIG Travel, Eric was named the 2016 Rising Star in Travel Insurance at the Travvy Awards, an event recognizing top talent in the travel industry. Eric grew up in Wittenberg, WI, but has called Stevens Point home for the past nineteen years.  He is married with two children. 

Candace Taylor.

Todd Reilly’s Elite Realty Team is affiliated with Coldwell Banker-The Real Estate Group and specializes in residential buying and selling, working with first-time home buyers, new construction, relocation and residential development. For the past 20 years, they have earned the top position as Number 1 Residential Sales Team in Portage County. Todd and his wife moved to the Stevens Point area in 1989, where they raised their two children.  Their favorite past time is spending time at their cottage with their children, grandchildren and friends.

Todd Schroeder.

Todd Schroeder joined Sentry Insurance in 2008 as Business Unit Controller and held various senior management positions in Finance prior to moving into the Commercial Lines area in 2013 as the Assistant Vice President Commercial Lines Products. He was appointed VP of Life and Annuities in 2016 and CFO/Treasurer in 2017.  Prior to joining Sentry, Schroeder held senior financial management positions with a global manufacturing company and spent three years in public accounting.  Schroeder holds a Bachelor degree in Accounting from the University of Wisconsin Whitewater and a Masters of Business Administration degree from the University of Wisconsin Oshkosh. Todd resides in Stevens Point and is married with four children.

Todd Reilly.

Lisa Sobczak is Senior Branch Manager and Certified Staffing Professional with ABR Employment Services where she has been for over 26 years. Lisa is active in many organizations including Stevens Point Area Human Resources Association, Portage County Business Council, and North Central Wisconsin Workforce Development Board, just to name a few. She grew up in Central Wisconsin and graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point.  Along with fishing with her husband, Lisa also enjoys reading, traveling, and spending time with family and friends.

Candace Taylor has been employed with Associated Bank for 23 years. She is currently Vice President managing Quality Assurance, Training and Vendor Management. Candace is co-chair of the Wisconsin Mortgage Bankers Association. Candace is an active member of United Way of Portage County and the community, participating in volunteer events such as Learn for Life and Junior Achievement. She is married and her husband is owner of Tailored Stone, Inc., plus they have one daughter. She enjoys biking, reading, snowmobiling, and spending time with family and friends.