Annually, participants in Leadership Fond du Lac County, a program of Envision Greater Fond du Lac, complete a community project to benefit Fond du Lac County and its communities. In the 2024-2025 cohort, 28 participants were placed into five teams: Team Pedal Pushers, Team In It to Win It for Veterans, Team Tables for Togetherness, Team Field 4tifiers, and Team Power Six. Each team worked with different partners and organizations within Fond du Lac County to address a specific community need. 

Team Pedal Pushers included Ashley Deiler (National Exchange Bank & Trust), Emily Nett (Grande), Mike Rhode (Envision Greater Fond du Lac), Steph Selle (Humana), Michelle Schumacher (J.F. Ahern Co.), and Ericka Wawrzyn (Fond du Lac Family YMCA). Pedal Pushers worked with the Fond du Lac Public Library to purchase an e-bike with custom storage to promote access to the library’s resources within the community. The e-bike will be able to travel to the local farmer’s markets and other events, schools, and residential settings, including apartment complexes & senior living facilities.

Team In it to Win it for Veterans comprised Ally Francis (Bank First), Scott Krause (City of Fond du Lac Police Department), Laura Nakielski (SSM Health), Will Nicklas (Mercury Marine), Jenny Nikolai (ThedaCare, Inc.), and Aly Sanders (Boys and Girls Club of Fond du Lac). This team renovated the Salute the Troops space to make it more comfortable and usable for existing veteran services. The upgrade included new signage, furniture, cabinetry, and artwork. 

Team Tables for Togetherness brought Andrew Hall (FVSBank), Andy Smedberg (C.D. Smith Construction, Inc.), Brooke Spanbauer (Marian University), Sarah Van Buren (Fond du Lac County), and Molly Waldschmidt Jaster (Fond du Lac Area Foundation) together to purchase and install outdoor tables at the Waupun Community Center to enhance the space for increased community engagement that is accessible to all.

Team Power Six (P6) included Rhiannon Diederichs (First Weber Inc.), Randy Fairbank (Wells Vehicle Electronics), Amy Mohr (Horicon Bank), Jake Roberts (MEC), Bridget Winterhack (BCI Burke), and Jordan Wood (The Arc Fond du Lac). Team P6 designed and installed “Path2Play” signage between Children’s Museum of Fond du Lac and Lakeside Park along an existing pathway to enhance visibility and create a stronger connection for visitors of the Children’s Museum and the Lakeside Park playground—encouraging multi-generational play and promoting accessible, fun play opportunities throughout the community.

Team Field 4tifiers included Leah Buteyn (SSM Health), Mitchell Hansen (Mercury Marine), Angel Rettler (Village of Campbellsport), Cheryl Starling (Society Insurance), Brennan Wagner (Fond du Lac County Sheriff’s Office). The team worked alongside the Fond du Lac Soccer Association to purchase and install new picnic tables at the Fond du Lac Soccer Complex.

In all, projects completed through Leadership Fond du Lac County gave back more than $20,000 to Fond du Lac County communities, including cash and in-kind donations. To date, the program has provided more than $700,000 to area communities. 

Leadership Fond du Lac County is currently accepting applications for the 2025-2026 class, a nine-month program that provides information and experiences to individuals who are willing to commit to serving their community. Accepted applicants learn about local institutions and issues and put their skills and knowledge to use through the required small-group community project. Through the program, individuals develop leadership, interpersonal and communication skills, and develop a strong network throughout the community. For more information, contact Envision Greater Fond du Lac at 920.921.9500 or email [email protected] 

For additional information, application, and tuition, please visit https://www.envisiongreaterfdl.com/leadership-fond-du-lac/