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10 | I NSIGH T • M a y 2 0 1 6 w w w . i n s i g h t o n b u s i n e s s . c o m UP FRONT R e g i o n a l R o u n d u p » 1 1 F a c e T i m e » 1 5 C o n n e c t i o n s » 1 8 A T R I O O F N E W N O R T H companies were rated tops among millennials in the workforce when NEWaukee announced its 2016 Bubbler Awards: Wisconsin's Best Places to Work for Young Professionals. West Corporation of Appleton, along with Society Insurance and Wisnet of Fond du Lac, received the honor this year. e companies were nominated by employees and evaluated and selected by a group of young professional leaders from across the state. "e Bubbler Awards shine a light on the companies who have made great strides to accommodate the interests and needs of a new and shiing workforce," says Angela Damiana, CEO of NEWaukee. e companies were recognized during the kickoff event of YPWeek Wisconsin, April 23, at the Platinum Flight Center of Appleton International Airport. For Wisnet, the award is a showcase for the company's efforts to bring in and keep young professionals. "It is a big honor for us to get the award because we really focus on empowering our young leaders and we are very involved within the community," says Gina Popp, president B y A n d r e w S c h a i c k You call them water fountains, we call them 'bubblers' ree New North companies win Bubbler Awards for young professional promotions of Wisnet. "It is important for us to recruit young talent because it is in our environment since technology is constantly changing and we look toward our younger demographic to help push that forward." Society Insurance was the other Fond du Lac business honored for promoting and recruiting young professionals. "Young professionals bring a new and fresh perspective with new ideas and can look at things differently," says Amy Collett, vice president of human resources for Society Insurance. "We have taken great strides in recruiting young professionals by providing an attractive career field and an attractive benefits package to make young professionals want to come here." Collett also says that having young professionals within a company creates a form of comaraderie among the staff, which helps retain and attract employees. Having two winners from Fond du Lac has bolstered organizers in the area, who say new efforts to help young professionals are being recognized by both the employees and the companies they work for. "Our main mission is to engage and empower current and future leaders in the Fond du Lac area through professional development, networking and social opportunities," says Jen Feuerhammer, director of communications for Fond du Lac Area Association of Commerce. "Our number of members has doubled within the last year, so we are growing steadily." Young Professionals of Fond du Lac is a program made up of professionals who are living and/or working in the Fond du Lac area and are typically between the ages of 21 to 40. Feuerhammer says the program encourages young professionals to join in hopes of exposing them to professional development "We have taken great strides in recruiting young professionals by providing an attractive career field and an attractive benefits package." – Amy Collett, vice president of human resources for Society Insurance