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About


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About


Taylor County Initiative is a social campaign whose goal is to work collectively to advance stories of opportunity and positivity that empower others to make bold moves and chase their dreams.

We’re dedicate to improving the lives of people here in Taylor County and improving safety and prosperity for all!

Weather Shield


Medford Wisconsin Jobs

Weather Shield


Medford Wisconsin Jobs

We are Dale and Debbie Thomas. We grew up in Northern California where we raised two daughters. Dale was a foreman plumber for new residential homes for 25 years. After ten years of being a stay at home mom, Debbie went back to college and received her Associate degree in office administration where she went on to become an office manager for 12 years. On our 25th anniversary, we arrived in Taylor County to start a new adventure. We were looking to slow life down and be together. That is exactly what we found! We bought an old farmhouse on 40 acres. We are now in year ten of our five-year plan to restore it. We both work at Weather Shield Mfg. Debbie in Human Resources and Dale in production at Millwork. We enjoy riding to and from work together and making dinner together each night. One of our favorite things is looking out our living room window and watching our neighbors, who happen to be our three granddaughters, play. Moving to Taylor county has proven to be a great decision!

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Coop Transport


Coop Transport


 About Joe Mitchell: I grew up in Crosby, MN where I played sports throughout high school. After high school I went to work for my brother-in-law's construction company for a few years. I decided I'd like to be able to walk when I was 40, so I started my undergraduate program at Bemidji State University. I received a B.S. in Marketing Communications with a Minor in Psychology. I met my wife there and we ended up moving to Kansas City for a better job market and because my sister lived down there. I worked as a landscaping manager for a few years while I was going to grad school. Once I received my M.B.A. in Organizational Leadership from Ashford University, I started my career with Knight Transportation.  We had our first son, Noah at this time. They promoted me to the Terminal Manager for the Minnesota Division so we moved back there after about a year with Knight.

We were in Minnesota for about 3 years and we had our daughter Avery there. Work was good and they asked me to run the Pennsylvania Terminal for Knight, which was about four times the size of the Minnesota terminal so we accepted and moved out there. We were out there for about a year, and we decided the east coast wasn't for us. We had no support system and the kids really missed their extended families. We decided to look for something back here (either in Minnesota or Wisconsin). I found this job in the early summer of '16 and we moved to Taylor County, Wisconsin at the end of July that year. At the end of 2016, we bought the house we're in now in the City of Medford.

The following year, we had our son, Mason, and here we are. Aside from spending time with my family, my favorite thing to do is golf. I've golfed for most of my life and there's really no place I'd rather be than on a golf course! I like to fish quite a bit too. I'd say those are my two favorite pastimes. 

Frances L Simek Memorial Library Erica Clarkson


Frances L Simek Memorial Library Erica Clarkson


My name is Erica Clarkson and I am a mama of two rambunctious boys and the director of the Frances L Simek Memorial Library. I am a Medford native. I graduated from MASH in 2010. After high school, I drove daily to UW Marshfield/Wood County and also did UW Colleges online where I received my Associate's Degree. After my associate's degree, I went to UW Stevens point completely online for my bachelor's degree. The only time I went to Stevens Point during my college years was to receive two different awards and to graduate. My bachelor's degree is in American Studies with minors in Psychology and Political Science. When the director position was posted in the paper in my home town I was ecstatic! I took my boys to the library almost daily, and I thought how fun to work there. I applied and accepted the position. I then when to UW Madison online to fulfill my library director certification. Being a young mom, going to college with two children was hard but it was completely worth it because I get to work with and for such amazing people and community!

 

Forward Financial Bank


Forward Financial Bank


Dave Clark is President of Forward Bank and has been with the organization for 10 years. This Medford native has over 20 years in the banking industry working for community banks that support the success of our area. He and his family are active in our community and proud to be part of a growing Medford!

 

STOKHAUS MEDIA - JAMES & KATIE STOKES


STOKHAUS MEDIA - JAMES & KATIE STOKES


Hello! We're James & Katie Stokes. Together we have nine children and make our home in Taylor County, Wisconsin where we homeschool and run our businesses.

We moved in Taylor County, in 2007 right before we were married.

We both attended NTC and were able to work while going to school. Together, we purchased our first home in 2012 with the help of the Taylor County Housing Authority loan program that works with first time home buyers. After only being self-employed for two years, we were able to attain funding from a local financial.

In 2014, we were fortunate to be awarded a grant from the Medford Area Development Foundation to start a second business, STOKHAUS MEDIA, LLC. This grant helped us launch our marketing and consulting firm, which has successfully launched several brands, businesses, and online stores within the last 6 years.

As a full-time wedding & portrait photographers at James Stokes Photography, LLC we were able to create a lifestyle in Taylor County we have always dreamed of. We travel around the State, Country, & world photographing weddings, couples, individuals, & families. We have had the pleasure of traveling to Ireland, Utah, Boston, Chicago, and the Twin Cities for work and a little play!

Through STOKHAUS Media, we help businesses, non-profits, realtors, and entrepreneurs build their brands, expand their reach, and increase profits.

Our small business is our full-time profession for the last tens years and we enjoy every challenge and triumph it brings. We are truly blessed to do what we love and meet incredible people who value life, faith, & family, every day!

We believe photographs can change lives that transcend generations.

Along with our love for documenting life and serving our clients, is our love for our Lord Jesus Christ. We are blessed beyond words for the life we have been given and thankful each day for the promise of salvation!

We have found a church family here at FBC that we've longed for since we were missionaries as kids serving the local Lutheran Churches of Norther Central Wisconsin through OAFC.

For the past two years, we have been serving a local non-profit, Huey's Hideaway Children's Museum, as Director & Coordinator. Be believe very passionately in their mission of connecting families and building community through exploration, creative, lifelong learning and play.

We successfully launched a State Licensed Summer Camp, Huey's Academy and raised over $100,000 for an outdoor space expansion with the help of the Packer Foundation and other local businesses, volunteers, and other non-profits. As part of our campaigning for funds, our business was able to publish a book for the museum, called "Huey's Treasure: A Magical Quest."

With Peoples Choice Credit Union a story emerged that encourages youth and their loved ones to see people and relationships as being far more precious than anything else this world has to offer. As a community, we want not only to foster strong relationships and encourage wellbeing but also help facilitate financial literacy for all generations.

The proceeds from this book, which can be found on Amazon Kindle, will help fund the Museum for perpetuity.

Over the last decade, we have made Taylor County our home and have served our community in any way that we can from serving on Taylor County Broadband's Committee, Hotel Motel Board, Leadership Medford, Huey's Board, Medford Area Development Foundation, Cutting Edge Youth Center, Awana, MAES Substitute Teacher, MAMS Basketball Coach, & Abiding Care Volunteers just to name a few.

We just launched a passion project, Riv & Eve: Legacy Farm Tables, which was born out of a need during the COVID-19 pandemic.

We are so fortunate to live in a community that is safe and filled with so many people who love, care, and value us!