NextWave is a welcoming entry point for connection and engagement in Door County, designed for adults ages 18–45—whether you’re new to the area, building your career, or looking to get more involved in the community. Created by DCEDC leadership, NextWave is focused on engaging and enriching Door County’s next generation by creating opportunities to build relationships, strengthen professional and community connections, and grow as members and leaders of the community.
NextWave is designed by and for adults ages 18–45. The program was created by DCEDC leadership to help ensure the next generation of Door County’s workforce is engaged, connected, and invested in our community. NextWave is centered around three concepts described below: Give, Gather and Grow.
Encourage volunteerism and community engagement by connecting participants with meaningful ways to contribute their time, talents, and ideas to Door County. Get involved, make a difference, and help shape the community for the future.
Connect with others, build relationships, and expand personal and professional networks across Door County. Build meaningful connections through social events, networking opportunities, and shared experiences.
Support personal and professional development through opportunities to learn, build skills, and connect with resources and mentors. Explore new opportunities and build the skills and relationships needed to grow in Door County.
Join us or one of our partners at an upcoming events!
Join us for this free event in partnership with the Door County YMCA’s Social Collective!
Every first Wednesday of the month, we meet at a different local coffee shop from 7:30am-8:30am!
The Door County YMCA has created the Social Collective to engage all young adults!
Have questions about NextWave? Let us know!
Shauna joins DCEDC from Door County Health & Human Services where she served as a Public Health Strategist and Public Health Educator.
She also previously worked at United Way of Door County as the Community Impact Coordinator of Health and at Gunslinger Custom Paint as a project manager.
Shauna received a Bachelor of Business Administration, Marketing and Finance from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. She has a strong background in organizational strategy, data-driven decision making, and cross-sector collaboration.
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.
