The Door County Economic Development Corporation (DCEDC) sustains its mission, supports local business activity, and enhances the vitality of the entire community with the support of our public and private-sector investors. Working together, we create thriving communities and spearhead the future economic growth of Door County.
We thank the following for their investment and partnership toward a better Door County!
Find out how you can contribute to a thriving Door County economy by sending us your information below!
Since the year 2000, many successful DCEDC initiatives have been related to its efforts toward aligning educational programs with business needs, and in the process enrich the lives of students. The Business and Education Partnership Committee will ensure this success continues by connecting business leaders and educational administrators, teachers and counselors on a consistent basis. This committee will focus on unique programs to unite businesses and students, as well as promote the Youth Apprenticeship programs in Door County.
DCEDC’s Workforce Development Committee will focus on Door County Business needs for a skilled workforce. The committee will work with Door County employers to stay abreast of open positions and skills needed by qualified applications. The committee will work to ensure that all Door County residents have knowledge of education programs and the opportunity to pursue them. This committee will also implement DCEDC’s Live Door County campaign and work on programs geared toward attracting year-long residents to Door County.
The Attainable Housing Committee will concentrate on all aspects of housing in Door County, from understanding the evolving inventory of rental and sale properties, to assisting communities and landowners toward partnering with developers to understand what is needed for a successful housing development. This committee will also promote the existing programs in Door County toward financing and building housing developments.
Understanding how policies at the local, state and federal levels impact business attraction, retention, expansion and entrepreneurship is vital toward being strong advocates for enhanced economic development opportunities in Door County. The Public Affairs committee will not engage in candidate or partisan endorsements; the mission of this committee is to identify policy issues of importance to economic development and seek to inform and educate policymakers and the public regarding the importance of such issues in Door County’s economic growth.
MWS Associates has leased office space in the Business Center since the inception of our company in 2018 and from 2015-2018 with the previous company that I worked for. The Business Center was the clear choice for us to locate our main office for several reasons: location, cost effectiveness, reliable high-speed internet, services offered and full access to the conference room. It truly offers everything our company needs to headquarter our business from without the hassle of owning our own office building with the maintenance, yard care and snowplowing that goes along with ownership.
A major benefit for us is the ability to host in-person and online meetings in the newly renovated, state-of-the-art conference room. COVID changed many aspects of our business with a major increase in online meetings being one of them. Many companies struggled with technology issues to host or participate in online meetings with poor audio, video quality, background noise and unprofessional business settings negatively affecting meetings. The size, layout and quality of the A/V equipment of the conference room now allows us to host annual company-wide in-person meetings as well. Every October we bring our entire staff in from around the country for weeklong meetings and the conference room comfortably allows us to host 20+ people. The setting also allows us to host on-site meetings with key accounts. Clients appreciate being able to combine a business trip with bringing their family to enjoy a few extra days to experience all Door County has to offer.
Jeff Bruemmer joined DCEDC in July of 2001. Jeff is responsible for maintaining the DCEDC Business Center, located at 185 East Walnut Street in Sturgeon Bay. Jeff was born and raised in Kewaunee and moved to Sturgeon Bay in 1985.
Kathy Lasee is responsible for the organization’s financial operations, as well as the operations of the Business Development Center in Sturgeon Bay. A Door County native, Lasee graduated from Sturgeon Bay High School and earned a bachelor’s degree in music with a minor in business administration from the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay. Lasee is a charter member of the Peninsula Symphonic Band and previously worked as a music teaching assistant for the Sturgeon Bay School District. Prior to joining DCEDC in October of 2023, Lasee was the Office Manager of Kevin’s Automotive in Sturgeon Bay. During her professional career, she also worked in the loan office at Baylake Bank (now Nicolet National Bank) in Sturgeon Bay.
Devin Vandertie enjoys working with entrepreneurs and businesses to help foster economic growth in Door County. She is also passionate about helping nurture the next generation of the community’s workforce. Devin has recently earned a master’s degree in business administration from the University of Wisconsin-Parkside and is involved with Leadership Door County, which brings together professionals from diverse business sectors who are inspired to make a positive impact on the quality of life in Door County. A Door County native, Vandertie cares deeply about cultivating a community that is not only a desirable destination, but also an exceptional place to live and to work. In addition to her recent achievement of a master’s degree, Devin is a graduate of Southern Door High School and earned a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay. Prior to joining the DCEDC staff in October of 2023, Vandertie was the Laboratory Assistant Supervisor at Door County Medical Center in Sturgeon Bay.
Michelle Lawrie has more than twenty years of experience in economic development at regional and local levels. Michelle’s career in Washington, D.C., Arizona and Wisconsin has focused on serving the public interest through economic development, issue advocacy and coalition-building. Michelle began her economic development career at the Greater Phoenix Economic Council (GPEC), in Phoenix, Arizona. After serving in several roles at GPEC, Michelle became the President and CEO of the Western Maricopa Coalition (WESTMARC) in western Maricopa County, Arizona. Michelle later also served as Economic Development / Community Development Director for the communities of Goodyear, Arizona and DeForest, Wisconsin. Michelle has extensive experience working in development of strategies and performance measures for communities and organizations, as well as leading teams toward achieving goals desired by communities, businesses and residents. Michelle is a native of Phoenix, Arizona, and earned a Bachelor of Science degree from Northern Arizona University in Flagstaff.