Great M7 FaB network gathering in Milwaukee

Wisconsin has an amazing tradition of making safe, wholesome foods and beverages. I love this history and momentum.

Our Milwaukee regional economic development group is M7 - for the 7 great counties that comprise their region. M7 has a vibrant food and beverage (FaB) network. We gathered last Tuesday for the M7 FaB / Grant Thornton Executive Food Forum.

I am honored to be involved as an M7 FaB Advisory Council member.

It was fun to catch up with old friends and make many new friends.

The Milwaukee region is an amazing, globally relevant, food processing resource. Celebrate. Join us.


M7 FaB. Milwaukee 7 Food and Beverage site.

Grant Thornton Milwaukee. Thank you!

Creating a life of opportunity. The age of the DIY Innovator is here.

This blog is about humankind entering the Renaissance age of entrepreneurship and how we create sustainable enterprises to meet and maximize this opportunity. This future is arriving faster and brighter every day.

Here is a Ted Talk is by Peter Diamandis, founder of the X PRIZE that celebrates this fact. Mr. Diamandis offers a realistic and positive perspective that builds on the vision of Dr. Buckminster Fuller, among many others, about where we are and where we are going. We are creating ever increasing abundance for ever more people at ever more more accessible costs. We are welcoming ever increasing numbers of people to participate in this global advance. We are creating economies that can support all of us. We are creating sustainable work globally. We are slaying dragons along the way. Sounds like a plan to me.

You can't watch Mr. Diamandis' and not get a sense of just how widespread this amazing global entrepreneurship opportunity is right now. The day and age of the DIY (Do It Yourself) Innovator is here - right now.

Mr. Diamandis' wrote about his Ted Talk for CNN:

The future is brighter than you think.

By Peter Diamandis, Special to CNN:

"...four emerging forces give us the potential to significantly raise global standards of living over the next two to three decades,

• exponentially growing technology,

• the DIY (Do It Yourself) Innovator,

• the new breed technophilanthropist and

• the rising billion, the poorest of the poor who are finally plugging into the global economy."

"Abundance for all is actually within our grasp."

Amen. Thank you Peter Diamandis. Forward. Everyone.


CNN original story.

X PRIZE Foundation. Revolution through Competition.

Buckminster Fuller

Wisconsin - Food for the World

My friend Nick George is President of the Midwest Food Processors Association. Nick is featured in an article entitled 'Food for the World' in the May issue of Corporate Report Wisconsin.

Some great quotes from this article:

"But mankind does not live by cheese alone. While the dairy industry accounted for state exports of $231 million in 2011 (up from $213 million the year before), it is only the fourth largest food category export for Wisconsin. Cereal grains lead the way doing $380 million in business and beverages came in second with $318 million — not counting ethanol. Miscellaneous foods such as soups, sauces and the like are third with a $249 million export value in 2011, dairy is fourth and fifth is baking-related items (mixes and dough), reporting a value of $226 million."

"Food shipments out of Wisconsin have increased by 71.7 percent since 1997, according to the Midwest Food Processors Association. In 2010, that meant the state saw $35 billion in receipts."

"'It’s amazing what comes out of this state,' says Nick George, president of the processors association. 'I think the food industry everywhere just doesn’t get the credit it deserves.'"

"Wisconsin, he adds, is second in the nation behind California for total value of processed vegetable crops."

"George says Wisconsin food producers have a strong work ethic working in their favor. Regardless of the constant changes in the industry, the world knows the resourcefulness and resilience of the American Midwesterner."

'The challenges are amazing, but the industry adapts and keeps moving forward,' says George."

Thanks Nick and Corporate Report Wisconsin and to DATCP Secretary Ben Brancel for a great look at Wisconsin agriculture and regional business opportunities.

What jumps out at me is that specialty foods, such as soups and sauces, are ahead of dairy in total exports from Wisconsin. Amazing. Food processing facilities like the wonderful Wisconsin Innovation Kitchen can grow this story in many good directions. As we say in Wisconsin... Forward!

Food For the World. Corporate Report Wisconsin. May 2012. By Jen Bradley. Photo and quotes - credit Corporate Report Wisconsin. Thank you CRW.

Midwest Food Processors Association

Wisconsin Innovation Kitchen

New Friend - UW Extension Chancellor Ray Cross

Senator Dale Schultz visited Iowa County today and some of us gathered for lunch at the Buzz Inn Cafe in Barneveld to talk about opportunities in our region.

I made a great new connection during this lunch with the Chancellor of the University of Wisconsin Colleges and UW Extension Dr. Ray Cross.

It was flat-out energizing to talk about regional food systems with Chancellor Cross. He has previously managed many of the issues we're dealing with in Iowa County and Wisconsin right now. Chancellor Cross understands the job creating opportunities in regional food systems are big and yet to be tapped wisely.

Dr. Ray has practical, hands-on experience with something Wisconsin needs. What fun to share stories today.

Great to meet you Chancellor Cross!

Dr. Ray Cross bio

Wisconsin Senator Dale Schultz. Thanks for a great visit Dale and friends!

The Buzz Inn Cafe, in beautiful Barneveld, WI

Sector67 and House of Brews - Thanks everyone for a good visit as part of Entrepreneur Weekend, Madison 2012

What great fun at Sector67 in Madison last night!

I had a chance to make a presentation about food entrepreneurship with my new friend Page Buchanan, founder of of Madison's House of Brews.

Young friends and those helping young people - check out this cool offer from Sector67:

Sector67: Application. Free 2012 summer internships/memberships - 18 or younger.

"Sector67 is happy to offer 2012 summer makerships to area youth (opportunity available to anyone 18 or younger)! A makership is a 4 month opportunity to use Sector67 with a free membership and $100 for project materials as well as a mentor to help you complete your project. We’ll be taking applications through June 18th, but early submission is encouraged so we’re able to find sponsors and mentors for projects"

Thank you Sector67 for creating opportunities for young and old. Forward!


Sector67 in Madison.Thanks for the invitation, Chris and friends!

House of Brews. "Fermentation may have been a greater discovery than fire". David Rains Wallace.

Madison Startup Weekend 2012

Wisconsin Innovation Kitchen

Good food is good economic development. Photos from our Wisconsin Grilled Cheese Championship are in.

Good food is good economic development.

More than 600 people pre-registered for our First Annual Wisconsin Grilled Cheese Championship. More than 1,200 people attended from at least 6 states.

Professional photos of the event are linked below.

Here are a couple of economic development quotes the Dodgeville Chronicle just included in a nice piece about the event:

"Iowa County continues its leadership in creating innovative economic development opportunities around local agriculture and our wonderful quality of life in Iowa County."

"The 2012 Wisconsin Grilled Cheese Championship was a huge success and shows just what kind of strong interest people have in our area from across the region and neighboring states. This is a great place to live and work and these kind of events help highlight that fact."

Good food is good economic development. Check out the new professional photos of our First Annual Wisconsin Grilled Cheese Championship.


First Annual Wisconsin Grilled Cheese Championship photos

Photo credit Tyler Ensrude, Dodgeville, WI. Many thanks Tyler!

Dodgeville Chronicle article written by Jane Berns Jones. Thank you Dodgeville Chronicle.

Iowa County Area Economic Development. Come grow with us. Thanks ICAEDC Board Chair Lorin Toepper for creating this event and special thanks to my friend Beth R. for organizing and managing!

Thank you Wisconsin Milk Marketing Board for your sponsorship of the First Annual Wisconsin Grilled Cheese Championship.

The Madison region is open for business! Startup Week/Weekend and our Capital Entrepreneurs.

I'm looking forward to sharing a presentation on food entrepreneurship at Sector 67 as part of Capital Entrepreneurs Week and the Startup Weekend in Madison (WI) next Monday.

My new friend Chris Meyer is the Founder at Sector 67 in Madison. Chris created the beautiful 'Wisconsin Grilled Cheese Championship' toast pictured here for last weekend's First Annual Wisconsin Grilled Cheese Championship.

My family just met Chris and they concluded he's the perfect guy to rationalize putting metal things into plugged-in toasters to create food art. Don't try this at home.

Sector 67 represents amazing possibilities for economic development in our region and beyond.

"Sector67 is a non-profit collaborative space in Madison, WI dedicated to providing an environment to learn, teach, work-on, build, and create next generation technology; including software, hardware, electronics, art, sewing, pottery, glass, metalwork, iPhone/Android applications, games, etc."

I'll be making a presentation on food entrepreneurship at Sector 67 next Monday, April 30, along with House of Brews Founder Page Buchanan. Join us!


My Capital Entrepreneurs presentation at Sector 67 along with House of Brews Founder Page Buchanan

Visit Sector 67. Thanks Chris and friends for your sponsorship of the First Annual Wisconsin Grilled Cheese Championship and the upcoming startup events in the Madison area this week.

Capital Entrepreneurs

Wisconsin State Journal story about Startup Weekend

Thrive in our region. Advance Now.

On Wednesday of this week, our regional economic development group, Thrive, will meet to launch a new strategic initiative called Advance Now. Thrive represents the 8 counties of the Madison (WI) region.

My presentation will focus on the Thrive Region's plans to advance innovation and entrepreneurship. I have the good fortune of presenting this innovation strategy with Kevin Conroy, CEO of Exact Sciences.

The Madison region, with its world renowned university research budget, exceptional workforce, and the spectacular beauty of our natural environment make this a place you want to grow your life.

Our strategic physical and digital location make this one of the best regions in the world to create and grow globally relevant new enterprises.

Join us for our Madison region Advance Now strategy roll out this Wednesday, April 25.

Thrive. Economic development for the Madison Wisconsin region.

Exact Sciences.

First Annual Wisconsin Grilled Cheese Championship a resounding (and delicious) success!

What a wonderful day. What a great celebration of Wisconsin cheese and the glorious grilled cheese sandwich.

This competition was created by our Iowa County Area Economic Development Board Chair, Dr. Lorin Toepper, and supported and promoted by our entire board (as in sweeping floors and setting up tables - thank you!).

Our First Annual Wisconsin Grilled Cheese Championship was resoundingly supported today in Mineral Point by a wonderful community of grilled cheese lovers from near and far.

I know of people that visited today's event from at least 6 states. It also felt like most everyone from Iowa County and the Madison area were there too. This was really fun.

I'll report back on a full list of the competitors and winners as well as grilled cheese sandwich details soon.

Congratulations to all the competitors! Many thanks to all the grilled cheese lovers who joined us today in Iowa County for the First Annual Wisconsin Grilled Cheese Championship.

What a fun launch of an exciting new tradition!




First Annual Wisconsin Grilled Cheese Championship.

Iowa County Area Economic Development Corp. Come grow with us.

Wisconsin Grilled Cheese Championship - Saturday - Iowa County Fairgrounds. Be able to tell your friends you were at Wisconsin's first annual grilled cheese competition!

"April 21: Wisconsin Grilled Cheese Championship, Mineral Point. The name says it all, as amateurs and pros compete. There will be lots of grilled cheese sandwiches, tomato soup, beer and wine available for purchase, along with music. Free."

First Annual Wisconsin Grilled Cheese Championship


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"The season opener of food culminates with the inaugural Wisconsin Grilled Cheese Championship in Mineral Point. Both amateur and professional chefs will take part in this griddle-top contest, all looking for top honors in four categories: classic, classic plus one, classic plus extras, and classic dessert.

Organized by the Iowa County Economic Development Corporation, the championship is a showcase of Wisconsin cheeses, and multiple exhibitors will be on hand through the event. Attendees hungry from watching the contestants will be able to purchase grilled cheese sandwiches and tomato soup. Iowa County Fairgrounds, Fair St., Mineral Point, 10 a.m.-2 p.m., free admission. See Facebook, and call 608-341-6797 for more info."

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This one’s for all the cheddar: Prepare for the Wisconsin Grilled Cheese Championship

"April is National Grilled Cheese Month and, as with all things cheese, Wisconsin obsesses best.

Proof? The Iowa County Area Economic Development Corporation will host the first Wisconsin Grilled Cheese Championship this Saturday, April 21, (10 a.m.-2 p.m.) at the Iowa County Fairgrounds in Mineral Point. Competitors will vie, with spatulas at the ready, to prepare the most appetizing combination of bread, butter, and real Wisconsin cheese.

The ICAEDC created the event to promote regional agriculture and local products, says event coordinator Lorin Toepper. “We’re celebrating the grilled cheese. We’re celebrating Wisconsin’s dairy heritage, and we’re saying thank you to our farmers,” Toepper says. “We get what you do and appreciate what you do, and most importantly, we’re saying we understand without farmers out in these rural parts of Wisconsin our economy would be really bad off.”

There’s no better time to celebrate the simple charm of the grilled cheese sandwich, according to Lorin. “We see this trend repeating itself through history all the time. Whenever the economy tanks, people retreat back to the familiar comfort foods,” Lorin says.

Participants will compete as an amateur or professional in one of four categories depending on the complexity of their sandwich recipes. They will be awarded points for taste, appearance, and style.

Admission is free to watch the competition unwrap one slice at a time, visit the exhibits area, and listen to live music, all while experiencing a cheese overload. Of course, grilled cheese’s eternal partner in crime, tomato soup, will be available for purchase, along with beer and wine.

The grilled cheese sandwich is a part of the shared American experience, Lorin says. “For me that’s what Wisconsin’s all about. We’ve got cheese, we’ve got milk—some simple pleasures like that—and it’s good for you.”

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Viewers of Channel 27′s Wake Up Wisconsin were treated to examples of delicious grilled cheese sandwiches prepared by Dr. Lorin Toepper, executive director of economic and workforce development at Madison College and chair of Iowa County Area Economic Development Corporation (ICAEDC).

Anchor Dani Maxwell, who will also be one of the judges at the competition, interviewed Dr. Toepper about the Championship and then enjoyed several freshly prepared sandwiches featuring local Wisconsin ingredients.

Toepper cooked a sandwich representing his take on each of the four categories: Classic, Classic Plus One, Classic Plus Extras, and Classic Dessert.

For the Classic, Lorin featured Otter Creek’s Organic White Cheddar and Ramp on Oakhouse Bakery’s White Bread, along with real Wisconsin Butter! For the Classic Plus One, Toepper paired 5-year old Hook’s Cheddar with crumbled bacon from Neuske’s Applewood Smoked Meats (this was a favorite of meteorologist Brian Olson1) on the Natural Bakery’s Wheat Bread. Taking a French twist on the Classic Plus Extras, Toepper featured some President Brie on Madison Sourdough Wheat Bread with sauteed mushrooms from HiddenValley and fresh tarragon. Finally, Dr. Toepper paired Uplands Cheese’s Pleasant Ridge with Quince and Apple’s Strawberry and Rosemary Preserves for his take on the Classic Dessert sandwich.

Thanks to WKOW-TV’s entire crew for supporting our event!



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Spatulas up! In conjunction with the Wisconsin Milk Marketing Board (WMMB), the Iowa County Area Economic Development Corporation (ICAEDC) will celebrate National Grilled Cheese Month by hosting the first annual Wisconsin Grilled Cheese Championship (WGCC) on Saturday, April 21.

Amateur and professional grilled cheese makers will compete in pursuit of the perfect grilled cheese sandwich from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Iowa County Fairgrounds in Mineral Point, Wis.

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Lorin will also be on Wisconsin Public Radio's Joy Cardine show this Friday 4/20 from 6 to 7 AM talking about this great event.

Join us at the First Annual Wisconsin Grilled Cheese Championship! This Saturday. Iowa County fair grounds, Mineral Point, Wisconsin.

Register for free tickets to the First Annual Wisconsin Grilled Cheese Championship.

Visit Iowa County Wisconsin. All kinds of great lodging options

Iowa County Area Economic Development Corporation (ICAEDC).