Member Spotlight
Our Member Spotlight Program focuses on highlighting and promoting our Chamber members. This is a great way for members to get the word out about their business/organization and what products/services they offer. One member will be featured each month. Please email Cameron Day if you would like to be featured.
3/14: Springs at Sun Prairie
1. Give us some background on your business/organization. What makes your business/organization stand out? What are your products/services? How many staff? Where are you located?
2. How long have you been a member of the Chamber? Why did you want to join the Chamber?
3. What are your organization's core values?
4. What are your business's goals and overall mission?
5. What are some reasons you enjoy being a part of the Sun Prairie Chamber of Commerce?
6. What does the Sun Prairie community mean to you?
7. What more would you like to see the Chamber do?
2/3: Upper Iowa University
1. Give us some background on your business/organization. What makes your business/organization stand out? What are your products/services? How many staff? Where are you located?
Upper Iowa University [UIU] is a private non-profit university founded in 1857. The UIU Madison Center has been in the
Madison area since the early 1980’s. UIU caters to the working adult who wants to either finish a degree program they started earlier in life or complete a new degree program that will enhance their career.
UIU offers accessible and flexible course options in an online or self-paced platform. We offer four Associate’s, nineteen Bachelor’s, and six Master’s degree programs. We have many grant and scholarship opportunities, have local academic advisors to assist student needs immediately, and our generous transfer credit policy will take up to 78 college credits from 2-year institutions and up to 90 credits from 4-year institutions.
The UIU Madison Center is located at 1651 John Q Hammons Drive (2nd floor of the Starion Bank) in Middleton, WI.
Click HERE for more information.
2. How long have you been a member of the Chamber? Why did you want to join the Chamber?
UIU Madison Center has been a member of the Sun Prairie Chamber for two months. We have done a few job fairs and sponsored last years Corn Festival. That really made us feel that Sun Prairie and its business community would be a great place to explore collaborative efforts.
3. What are your organization's core values?
The UIU set of Core Values include: Integrity, Excellence, Accessibility, Respect, and Stewardship.
4. What are your business's goals and overall mission?
The mission of UIU is to provide quality educational opportunities accessible through varied delivery methods to inspire success and empower lives. Our vision is to be recognized internationally for academic excellence and continual innovation in student-centered learning.
5. What are some reasons you enjoy being a part of the Sun Prairie Chamber of Commerce?
The UIU Madison Center staff has had nothing but positive contacts with the chamber staff. Cameron was a huge help last year assisting us in our Corn Festival sponsorship. Barbara and Mary have been very good at letting us know what they need from us and are always attentive to our interests. Christina did our new member orientation and welcomed us into the chamber. That positivity and energy from the chamber staff energizes the membership, no doubt!
6. What does the Sun Prairie community mean to you?
The UIU Madison Center Director has many fond memories of Sun Prairie growing up. His Dad was born in SP in the early 1930’s, went to Sacred Hearts, graduated from SPHS, and got married at Sacred Hearts as well. His Dad was also one of the Corn Festival’s very first “drivers” bringing the corn in from the fields in the early days of the festival.
SP has changed a lot in the last four or five decades. It has been fun watching that progression (and the memories of listening to the “Sound of Sun Prairie” at the 1983 National Cherry Festival in Traverse City, MI). Those were the days
7. What more would you like to see the Chamber do?
UIU Madison Center is just excited to work in conjunction with the SP community. We would love to let everyone know about some unique HR grants that businesses could use to assist in recruiting and retaining their workforce. Once we have time to assess, we will work together to help move the chamber forward. We are happy to be a part of this organization. Thank You!
1/20: The Baker's Table
1. Give us some background on your business/organization. What makes your business/organization stand out? What are your products/services? How many staff? Where are you located?
The Baker's Table of Sun Prairie is a small-batch home-based baking business that specializes in freshly made pastries, baked using locally sourced ingredients. My husband and I started The Baker's Table of Sun Prairie during the height of the pandemic after I was furloughed from my job at the time. What started as a hobby that I would periodically post about on social media quickly grew into a small business that can now be found at the Sun Prairie Farmer's Market on Saturdays in the Summer months. What makes this business special is the community that helped bring it all together. From our ingredients to our location, we would not be anywhere if not for the love and support of the folks of Sun Prairie.
Click HERE for more information
2. How long have you been a member of the Chamber? Why did you want to join the Chamber?
We've been members of the Chamber for a little less than a year. We decided to join after watching, through Facebook, all of the work the Chamber puts into helping small business owners grow and succeed.
3. What are your organization's core values?
Community and integrity are two of the most important to us. As stated earlier, we would be nothing without this community, so we owe it to them to provide the best products we can.
4. What are your business's goals and overall mission?
We are not out here to change the world. We just want to provide a little sweetness to your day.
5. What are some reasons you enjoy being a part of the Sun Prairie Chamber of Commerce?
So far, I enjoy being a part of the Chamber because of their investment in the businesses they serve. The folks of the Chamber seem to care, personally, about the success and well-being of each of their members.
6. What does the Sun Prairie community mean to you?
Sun Prairie is home for us. It's where my husband and I would visit for date nights when we were just starting out as a couple. It's where we moved to after finally saving enough to become homeowners. It's where this business was born, and where we finally started our family. We've always felt supported here, and are looking forward to seeing what lies ahead in the years to come.
7. What more would you like to see the Chamber do?
So far, I think the Chamber is doing just about all it needs to do!
11/23: Peak Performance Chiropractic & Rehab
1. Give us some background on your business/organization. What makes your business/organization stand out? What are your products/services? How many staff? Where are you located?
Our clinic was started to help people experience evidenced based chiropractic care. We want to provide the people of Sun Prairie with an opportunity to experience a different type of care, one that does not sell long care treatment plans that can be financially crippling to people in need. We are a sports chiropractic clinic that combines chiropractic care with strength and conditioning to help people achieve their goals fast and provide them the tools they need to stay healthy on their own. We offer chiropractic care, physiotherapy exercises, dry needling, cupping, scrapping, Normatec compression therapy, and strength training. We are located right next to the Bank of Sun Prairie football stadium off of West Main Street.
Click HERE for more information
2. How long have you been a member of the Chamber? Why did you want to join the Chamber?
We have been a member of the chamber for 2 years, and Dr. Logan Georgeson has been an ambassador for both years. This year he is the vice president chair ambassador.
3. What are your organization's core values?
Our company core values are honesty, integrity, and innovation.
4. What are your business's goals and overall mission?
Our mission is to provide the people of Sun Prairie with the best musculoskeletal care possible. Helping people get back to their daily lives and athletes back to performing at their best.
5. What are some reasons you enjoy being a part of the Sun Prairie Chamber of Commerce?
We enjoy the community events and local meet ups. Everyone in the chamber has been very helpful and are great resources if we need anything.
6. What does the Sun Prairie community mean to you?
The Sun Prairie community is strong and close knit. To be lucky enough to be considered a part of this strong and close knit community means everything to us. It has gone through a lot in its time and its still growing and adding new people everyday because of how welcoming the people are. When people are in need, the Sun Prairie community gets together to help them, which makes us proud to be apart of it.
7. What more would you like to see the Chamber do?
The chamber is doing a wonderful job. I cannot think of anything else they can work on. They have been a great support and are always trying to help every business that is a member. They even go above and beyond and will offer a helping hand to non-members, which is a reflection of this great community.
10/10: Cassoulet
1. Give us some background on your business/organization. What makes your business/organization stand out? What are your products/services? How many staff? Where are you located?
Cassoulet was founded in 2017. We are a mother/daughter business. Nancy had spent 40 years in the banking industry and Alissa was a teacher for 18 years while working nights in restaurants. Seeing a need for fast and healthy meals in our community, we decided to create Cassoulet. We are a freezer to oven meal service company, helping families make mealtime easier. Customers can stop in and shop what we have made in the freezers or they can order online for pick up or home delivery. We also serve hot lunch to go from 11-1:30 Monday-Thursday each week. We have a staff of 8 people and are located at 1112 North Bristol Street in Sun Prairie. www.mealsbycassoulet.com
2. How long have you been a member of the Chamber? Why did you want to join the Chamber?
We have been a member of the Chamber since we moved to our Sun Prairie location in 2019. We wanted to join the Chamber in order to build connections, network with other business owners and access local resources.
3. What are your organization's core values?
At Cassoulet, we believe in family. We are a family run business and we strive to support your family through good food you can feel good about eating, even when you don't have time or energy to cook. We believe in quality ingredients and making as much from scratch as we can. Even our pasta is handmade.
4. What are your business's goals and overall mission?
Our Mission at Cassoulet is to support local farmers through sourcing and ingredients, to create meals that can be enjoyed even on your busiest days and to do this all at a cost lower than taking your family out to eat.
5. What are some reasons you enjoy being a part of the Sun Prairie Chamber of Commerce?
We love the opportunity to connect with other business owners and the visibility in our community.
6. What does the Sun Prairie community mean to you?
As a Sun Prairie resident, I have seen firsthand the strength, resilience and true sense of community we have here. I have raised my kids and started a business in this community. Throughout the pandemic especially, small businesses were supported by the people in this community. We have also witnessed true compassion by the number of people who have stopped to get meals for neighbors and friends as they deal with illness, injury or loss in their lives. What a great gift to give someone! A warm meal is always an appreciated gift. We are happy to be a part of that.
7. What more would you like to see the Chamber do?
We hope to see a continued support of small businesses in our city. Helping through networking, marketing and getting the word out to residents to let them know the services offered by small businesses throughout Sun Prairie.
9/26: Specific Health Massage Therapy
1. Give us some background on your business/organization. What makes your business/organization stand out? What are your products/services? How many staff? Where are you located?
I am a Licensed massage therapy business with over 9 years of experience. I opened up back in October of 2021 when I got a great opportunity to run my own business and share a space with other local small business owners. I provide therapeutic based massage with a relaxing feel, I have specialized training in hospice care, sports massage and Swedish techniques along with many others. I have a massage healthcare background with previously working in hospitals and hospice organizations, using a wide variety of techniques working with people and adapting my skills to their needs. I am a single person business owner located right off Main Street, 530 W. Main Street in Sun Prairie.
2. How long have you been a member of the Chamber? Why did you want to join the Chamber?
I have been a member of the chamber for less then 6 months. I wanted to be apart of a larger community of like minded individuals and businesses. I enjoy doing more for the community I work in and Sun Prairie has proven to be a great place to start a business and grow.
3. What are your organization's core values?
Respect, Compassion and Comfort. Providing an environment that is comfortable and safe for all through healing touch. I want my clients to have an overall great experience as soon as they walk in the door and walk out feeling like they have been heard and taken care of.
4. What are your business's goals and overall mission?
My goal is to provide quality care massages through a variety of techniques and modalities. Massage is more then a luxury and is inclusive to all no matter the age or condition. My overall mission is to provide massage to those seeking an alternative form of treatment in there lives though touch. I would love to be able to bring my skills and talents into other facilities and businesses and start and onsite program and in home services.
5. What are some reasons you enjoy being a part of the Sun Prairie Chamber of Commerce?
I have enjoyed meeting other individuals in the area who want to contribute there time to the community and meeting new people. I enjoy interacting with others and making business connections and finding ways to help the community. This has proven to be a great experience of referrals and other business connections.
6. What does the Sun Prairie community mean to you?
Sun Prairie is where I originally started my career early on when given the opportunity to work with another local business. When given the chance to come back into the area and be my own business I jumped at the chance. The area has been so welcoming early on and I wanted to continue to provide my skills and talents to a community that helped me early on in my career. The area has been more then welcoming and continues to grow.
7. What more would you like to see the Chamber do?
I think the chamber has done a great job of bringing the community and local businesses today and providing events to share Information and bring together connections.
9/12: Spotlight Events Company
1. Give us some background on your business/organization. What makes your business/organization stand out? What are your products/services? How many staff? Where are you located?
I am an event planner and do any events/gatherings that you may need help with. From small intimate affairs to weddings, and everything in-between, I create unique experiences for my clients and their guests with my décor setup and layout. I stay at your event from the very beginning to the very end; making sure everything is okay and there are no issues. I am based in Sun Prairie, but travel all over. It’s just me right now, and sometimes my daughter will assist me.
2. How long have you been a member of the Chamber? Why did you want to join the Chamber?
I have been a member since June 2022. Sun Prairie is my home and I wanted to do more in my community, not only as a member but someone who also lives here. Since I have joined, I have made a lot of great friendships and have joined more clubs in Sun Prairie.
3. What are your organization's core values?
I focus on attention, customer service, professionalism, engagement, being approachable, and helpful. I also believe in honesty, having character, dependability, and trust.
4. What are your business's goals and overall mission?
To grow a stronger social media presence, grow my customer base, do more for the community, and to have better business networking (whether through being a Chamber member or my other clubs I am in).
5. What are some reasons you enjoy being a part of the Sun Prairie Chamber of Commerce?
Making business contacts by networking and connecting with other local business professionals is my number one reason, and the other reasons are the events that the chamber holds (festivals, coffee chats, etc), customer referrals, having the credibility being identified as a chamber member, and having the visibility in the community.
6. What does the Sun Prairie community mean to you?
A community is more than just a group of people living in a particular area. A community is a group of people we lean on when times are tough; our friends, family, and neighbors who are there for us when we need love, support and encouragement. I feel Sun Prairie is all of these things and more. We have so many activities/resources here and make sure all who come to Sun Prairie are welcomed.
7. What more would you like to see the Chamber do?
Sometimes the networking meetings are in the morning (most Chamber members have day jobs and can’t always attend the meetings, but want to), so maybe sometimes do some after work meetings at a local place in town where we could mingle, have a drink (if people drink, but don’t have to), and have appetizers or something like that. And not sure if you do this or not, but send out a monthly newsletter with upcoming events or things happening around town (a new business is opening up, etc), do educational seminars, and maybe do a monthly/quarterly business card drawing for a service or a product that is beneficial for all the chamber members.
9/12: Spotlight Events Company
1. Give us some background on your business/organization. What makes your business/organization stand out? What are your products/services? How many staff? Where are you located?
I am an event planner and do any events/gatherings that you may need help with. From small intimate affairs to weddings, and everything in-between, I create unique experiences for my clients and their guests with my décor setup and layout. I stay at your event from the very beginning to the very end; making sure everything is okay and there are no issues. I am based in Sun Prairie, but travel all over. It’s just me right now, and sometimes my daughter will assist me.
2. How long have you been a member of the Chamber? Why did you want to join the Chamber?
I have been a member since June 2022. Sun Prairie is my home and I wanted to do more in my community, not only as a member but someone who also lives here. Since I have joined, I have made a lot of great friendships and have joined more clubs in Sun Prairie.
3. What are your organization's core values?
I focus on attention, customer service, professionalism, engagement, being approachable, and helpful. I also believe in honesty, having character, dependability, and trust.
4. What are your business's goals and overall mission?
To grow a stronger social media presence, grow my customer base, do more for the community, and to have better business networking (whether through being a Chamber member or my other clubs I am in).
5. What are some reasons you enjoy being a part of the Sun Prairie Chamber of Commerce?
Making business contacts by networking and connecting with other local business professionals is my number one reason, and the other reasons are the events that the chamber holds (festivals, coffee chats, etc), customer referrals, having the credibility being identified as a chamber member, and having the visibility in the community.
6. What does the Sun Prairie community mean to you?
A community is more than just a group of people living in a particular area. A community is a group of people we lean on when times are tough; our friends, family, and neighbors who are there for us when we need love, support and encouragement. I feel Sun Prairie is all of these things and more. We have so many activities/resources here and make sure all who come to Sun Prairie are welcomed.
7. What more would you like to see the Chamber do?
Sometimes the networking meetings are in the morning (most Chamber members have day jobs and can’t always attend the meetings, but want to), so maybe sometimes do some after work meetings at a local place in town where we could mingle, have a drink (if people drink, but don’t have to), and have appetizers or something like that. And not sure if you do this or not, but send out a monthly newsletter with upcoming events or things happening around town (a new business is opening up, etc), do educational seminars, and maybe do a monthly/quarterly business card drawing for a service or a product that is beneficial for all the chamber members.
8/30: Nature's Preserve Pet Care
1. Give us some background on your business/organization. What makes your business/organization stand out? What are your products/services? How many staff? Where are you located?
Nature's Preserve Pet Care has been in business since June 2017. We are located at 791 Lois Drive in Sun Prairie. We have a small but growing staff including: 1 full-time Veterinarian, 1 part-time Veterinarian, and 6 support staff members. NPPC is a small animal practice that sees dogs and cats currently. We provide preventative care such as yearly exams, vaccines and parasite checks as well as care for sick pets. We also offer essential surgical services including: spays, neuters, dental cleanings and growth removals.
2. How long have you been a member of the Chamber? Why did you want to join the Chamber?
NPPC has been a member of the Sun Prairie Chamber of Commerce since 2017, the year we opened. We wanted to join the Chamber because we know joining local groups such as the Chamber is a great way to get the word out about our business as well as be able to discover ways to grow and better serve the Sun Prairie community.
3. What are your organization's core values?
We care for the pets of the Sun Prairie community like we would want our own pets to be cared for, with respect, compassion, and a high quality of medical care.
4. What are your business's goals and overall mission?
We have been steadily growing since NPPC opened in 2017, and our hopes are to continue to grow so that we can serve even more of the Sun Prairie community and be well-known as a trusted clinic to care for the community's pets.
5. What are some reasons you enjoy being a part of the Sun Prairie Chamber of Commerce?
I enjoy being a part of the Chamber because I feel that the COC is a trusted organization that people can look to for recommendations for services that they need in the city of Sun Prairie.
6. What does the Sun Prairie community mean to you?
As a resident of Sun Prairie for the last 2.5 years, I have been constantly impressed with the organization of community events, the upkeep of public areas such as the parks and library and the involvement of the residents in making and keeping Sun Prairie a great place to live. As a manager of a business in Sun Prairie, I have been constantly impressed by the gratitude shown by our clients for the services we provide for their pets, and it means a lot to know we are appreciated as a business in Sun Prairie.
7. What more would you like to see the Chamber do?
Continue to do a great job promoting the great businesses of Sun Prairie!
8/16: BioLife Plasma Services
BioLife Plasma Services offers one of the most innovative plasma donation networks in the world. We’re dedicated to collecting plasma to offer life-sustaining and life-saving medicines to the hundreds of thousands of people worldwide who live with rare and complex chronic diseases. We’re part of Takeda, a global biopharmaceutical leader committed to bringing better health for people and a brighter future for the world.
We’re located at 4122 East Towne Blvd and have 52 staff.
The need for plasma is more urgent than ever as demand for medicine developed from plasma has increased rapidly. We’d appreciate if local residents would consider donating plasma. As our way of saying thank you, our donors are compensated for their time and commitment.
2. How long have you been a member of the Chamber? Why did you want to join the Chamber?
We joined right before we opened in January 2021. Being located on the East Side of Madison, we felt that the Sun Prairie Market would be very important to our business! The Sun Prairie chamber staff has been very proactive and friendly!
3. What are your business's goals and overall mission?
Our goal is to innovate the plasma donation journey responsibly, with a personal experience where everyone can help change a life and save a life.
4. What are some reasons you enjoy being a part of the Sun Prairie Chamber of Commerce?
We’ve really enjoyed the Sun Prairie Chamber’s events! We’ve had a lot of great conversations with other local business leaders. Our personal favorite was the Mallards game. It was a great excuse to take in a baseball game! The Chamber’s staff has also been very positive and helpful!
5. What does the Sun Prairie community mean to you?
Sun Prairie has been a great community for our business. We have a lot of close ties to the Sun Prairie community. I am really looking forward to Corn Fest this year!
6. What more would you like to see the Chamber do?
Keep the events and opportunities to network coming!
7/28: Talamore Senior Living
1. Give us some background on your business/organization. What makes your business/organization stand out? What are your products/services? How many staff? Where are you located?
The Talamore is a community with continuity of care. We have Independent, Assisted Living, Memory Care and Enhanced Care. We are located on 275 City Station Drive, adjacent to Main Street. We will be celebrating our 1 year anniversary in August.
2. How long have you been a member of the Chamber? Why did you want to join the Chamber?
We joined the chamber in 2021. We joined for the wide variety of networking opportunities.
3. What are your organization's core values?
We are driven by our three core values:
Accountability, Teamwork, Compassion
4. What are your business's goals and overall mission?
Our goal is to create a vibrant, socially active senior community:
With plenty of luxurious gathering spaces, our community is welcoming for residents, families, and friends. We also provide social programming to help residents form new and lasting friendships.
5. What are some reasons you enjoy being a part of the Sun Prairie Chamber of Commerce?
We enjoy being a part of the Chamber of Commerce because the Sun Prairie Chamber is very active in our community and a great way to network with other local businesses.
6. What does the Sun Prairie community mean to you?
Sun Prairie, although a large community, still has the flavor of a small town due to the highly involved local businesses and long term residents. It is a wonderful, safe place to live.
7. What more would you like to see the Chamber do?
I would love to see the Chamber rotate to a variety of businesses for monthly meetings.
7/21: Frank's Fruit Trees
1. Give us some background on your business/organization. What makes your business/organization stand out? What are your products/services? How many staff? Where are you located?
Frank’s Fruit Trees was founded in June 2022 by my husband Frank and me (Taylor). Frank has had an interest in indoor citrus trees for years and began collecting them when he was in college. He has since learned how to graft trees, root cuttings, and care for the trees to get them to produce fruit while growing in a container! We noticed there was a large gap in the market for indoor citrus trees, but many people are interested in them. Plus, enjoying fresh fruit from a tree that you have personally cared for is so gratifying and exciting, not to mention delicious! For these reasons, along with Frank’s passion for growing and collecting citrus trees, we decided to open our local business.
We are now the only citrus nursery in the state of Wisconsin! We are both graduate students and work full time, so our business is run out of our home in downtown Sun Prairie. While we do not have a storefront, all of our trees are available for local delivery in the Madison/Sun Prairie area, nationwide shipping, or free pickup. We do not have any staff, so Frank and I manage all aspects of the business!
2. How long have you been a member of the Chamber? Why did you want to join the Chamber?
We have just become new members of the chamber, and are very excited! We know that the chamber has a lot to offer and we are excited to network with other small business owners in the area. We are also looking forward to participating in local events, such as the Sweet Corn Festival in August and the Sun Prairie Farmers Market!
3. What are your organization's core values?
Our core values are honesty, transparency, and integrity with our customers. Our mission is to be a local business that our community can trust. It is important to us that as we grow, we do good in our community (not “do well,” “do good”).
4. What are your business's goals and overall mission?
Our main goals are to provide excellent quality trees and customer service, and to get involved in our local community.
We take pride in personally caring for our trees to ensure that each one is healthy, thriving, and pest-free. We will never sell a tree that we have not personally cared for and grown. In addition, we make ourselves readily available both before and after a purchase for any questions or concerns that our customers may have. We want to make sure that the tree is an investment that pays off and produces quality fruit, so we provide a detailed care guide to every customer and have free information on our website as well. Lastly, we only use organic, non-toxic pesticides to ensure that it is completely safe to eat the fruit from our trees.
We also prioritize getting involved in our community. We have greatly enjoyed participating in the Sun Prairie Farmers Market this summer and will continue to do so, along with running a booth at Corn Fest! As our business grows, we are actively looking for ways to give back and hope to run fundraisers and other events to benefit Sun Prairie and our surrounding community.
5. What are some reasons you enjoy being a part of the Sun Prairie Chamber of Commerce?
Since we have just joined the chamber, we do not have a lot of experience yet. However, the interactions we have had so far have been overwhelmingly positive. It is clear that the chamber is here to help businesses succeed in achieving their goals, and we feel that we will benefit greatly from being a member.
6. What does the Sun Prairie community mean to you?
Sun Prairie is the first town that we have ever really settled in, and we feel very much at home here. The sense of community is very strong and we can safely say we have only ever come across welcoming and friendly people here. Sun Prairie is the perfect place for us to begin our venture into the small business world.
7. What more would you like to see the Chamber do?
We are very much looking forward to networking with other small business owners, as well as finding ways to get involved and represent our business in the community. As a new business, we want to get the word out about our awesome trees! We are hoping that the chamber lets us know about these types of opportunities!
6/16: Reach Dane
1. Give us some background on your business/organization. What makes your business/organization stand out? What are your products/services? How many staff? Where are you located?
Reach Dane provides Head Start and Early Head Start services to children ages 0-5 living in Dane and Green County. These programs provide high-quality early childhood programming and comprehensive family services to families living at or below the poverty line, homeless, or foster care. Nearly 1,000 local children receive our care each year thanks to the compassionate staff and supportive community devoted to giving back to a vulnerable community. In our center-based and home-based programs, children receive an educational foundation alongside the social, emotional, physical, thinking, and communication skills to succeed in school.
Our main office is in Fitchburg, and we have over 13 locations in Dane and Green Counties. We recently combined our two Sun Prairie programs in a newly renovated building on Main Street. This has been a tremendous update from the two buildings that formally housed the programs.
2. How long have you been a member of the Chamber? Why did you want to join the Chamber?
We joined the Chamber over a year ago as we continue to grow our Sun Prairie programs. There are several social opportunities to connect with the community on a deeper level with this membership. Many of our Sun Prairie site staff are already involved in neighborhood food pantries, churches, and family organizations, so this felt like a natural progression into the Sun Prairie community.
3. What are your organization's core values?
Our agency Core Values are building positive Environments, Relationships, Trust, Communication, Equity and Social Justice. We value healthy, creative, nurturing environments for children, families, and staff that model dignity and respect.
4. What are your organization's goals and overall mission?
Our mission is to change the lives of underserved children and families through education and supportive services. We practice positive guidance and trauma-informed care with a focus on parent engagement. Unlike other education centers, our policy prohibits expelling or removing children from our sites or programs due to behavioral issues.
As an agency, we practice trauma-informed care (TIC) in our programming, operations, and leadership models. All staff complete trauma-informed training and are encouraged to access the social-emotional resources built into operations. We are continuously finding ways to increase our reflective time, staff wellness and lead from our Core Values. A growing program called Your Journey Together works with children and families using reflective work to build resilience and self-regulation.
TIC is interwoven with social justice and equity and has helped support our work on this core value. We provide social justice training and reflective affinity groups to support this effort. It is imperative that the partnerships we choose to pursue are deeply aligned with our social justice goals.
5. What are some reasons you enjoy being a part of the Sun Prairie Chamber of Commerce?
Being a Sun Prairie Chamber member has been a welcoming experience. The Chamber staff have recognized us, some staff even by name, and continue to take an honest interest in the work that we do. There is a quality of family and warmth that was noticeable from the start. Notably, our participation in the Sun Prairie Corn Festival is always a fulfilling opportunity to mingle with other Chamber members and share updates about our agency.
6. What does the Sun Prairie community mean to you?
Sun Prairie community reminds us of our own attention on high quality over sheer growth. It is clear when visiting Sun Prairie that the businesses, public spaces, and residents value their community and have a sense of responsibility for how they show up within it. Particularly during the onset of the covid-19 pandemic, many staff and families shared a sense of belonging in the Sun Prairie community. The cohesion and strength really shined through at a challenging time.
7. What more would you like to see the Chamber do?
We would love to learn more about how other organizations and businesses are addressing poverty and community-wide vulnerabilities and how the Chamber can help support these goals. If a chamber member would like to provide philanthropic attention, we can help to connect them to our agency and similar organizations to fulfill those goals.