This Month's Member Matters is Sponsored by: 

A New Opportunity For Oshkosh Chamber Members 

Oshkosh Chamber is looking for the next member who wants to be in the "Member Spotlight". Any and all members can apply each month and all applicants will be voted on by Oshkosh Chamber representatives on the following criteria:

• Involvement with the Oshkosh Chamber
• #of events attended, program involvement, sponsorships, etc.
• Summary of “what it it means to be an Oshkosh Chamber member and how your business has benefited from becoming/being a member”.
• Supporting materials/testimonials

Oshkosh Updates

June Small Business Spotlights

If you or someone you know has a small business, wants to start a small business, or has the mind of an entrepreneur, the Oshkosh Chamber is here for all your needs. We would be happy to help you start, grow, develop, or transition your small business. 

If you’d like more information or have questions about this data, please contact Josh Koteski, Economic Development Director for the Oshkosh Chamber, at josh@oshkoshchamber.com or call 920.303.2265, ext. 20. 

2026 COMPENSATION TRENDS SURVEY OPENS JUNE 2ND

The 2026 Compensation Trends Survey will open for registration and submissions on Tuesday, June 2. Registration deadline is July 3. The results will be published in August.

This year, the survey covers questions on :

Compensation Strategies

Pay Adjustments

Market Data

Pay Structures

Pay Communications & Transparency

The final report will contain information on what organizations have done over the past 12 months and what organizations are planning to do over the next 12 months. The information can help organizations approach current talent challenges and prepare to make next year successful for an organization. In conjunction with the organization's philosophy, it can be used as a benchmark to develop a strong compensation strategy.

WISCONSIN'S 2026 STATE LEGISLATIVE RACES TAKING SHAPE

Many Wisconsin state lawmakers, including key legislative leaders, have announced they will not seek reelection in November, creating significant turnover heading into the next legislative session. Here’s an up-to-date snapshot of retiring WI lawmakers:

State Senate:

Senate Majority Leader Devin LeMahieu (R-Oostburg)

Ander Jacque (R-New Franken)

Jesse James (R-Thorpe)

Rob Hutton (R-Brookfield)

Steve Nass (R-Whitewater)

Van Wanggaard (R-Racine)

State Assembly:

Assembly Speaker Robin Vos (R-Rochester)

Assembly Speaker Pro Tempore Kevin Petersen (R-Waupaca)

Scott Allen (R–Waukesha)

Rob Brooks (R–Saukville)

Rick Gundrum (R-Slinger)

Dean Kaufert (R-Neenah)

Dave Murphy (R-Hortonville)

Jerry O’Connor (R–Fond du Lac)

Jesse Rodriguez (R-Oak Creek)

In addition, the following state lawmakers are running for higher office:

Robyn Vining (D-Wauwatosa) – Running for state senate

Jenna Jacobson (D-Oregon) – Running for state senate

Francesca Hong (D-Madison) – Running for governor

The number of retirements is higher than usual, signaling a major transition in Wisconsin politics. This wave of departures is creating numerous open seats, which could reshape party control and leadership dynamics after the 2026 elections. To sum it up, Wisconsin will be looking at a lot of new faces in the State Capitol next year, including a new Governor, as Gov. Tony Evers (D) announced last year he won’t seek reelection in 2026.

Again, these “retirements” could have a big impact on the outcome of the fall elections.

Here’s a brief overview:

• State Senate – Current 18-15 GOP Majority; Half of the Senate’s 33 seats are up for reelection
  • Path to Majority: Democrats need a net gain of two seats to flip control of the chamber. Battleground Districts:
    • 5th District (R-Brookfield): Leans Democrat – Harris won by 6 points
    • 17th District (R-Spring Green): Leans Democrat – Harris won by 1.1 points
    • 21st District (R-Racine): Leans Democrat – Harris won by 1.3 points
    • 31st District (D-Eau Claire): Leans Democrat – Harris won by 2.2 points

• State Assembly – 54-45 GOP Majority; All of the Assembly’s 99 seats are up for reelection
  • Path to Majority: Democrats need to gain five seats and hold all their current seats to flip control of the chamber.
    • Five current GOP Assembly members won districts that Trump lost/Harris won.
    • One Democratic member of the Assembly carried a seat that Trump won/Harris lost.

Read more:

Election Information Hub | Wisconsin Elections Commission

Wisconsin’s 2026 state legislative races take shape  • Wisconsin Examiner

August 11, 2026-Partisan Primary Election

Nominates candidates to be voted at the General Election and referenda (if necessary)

November 3, 2026-General Election

Election held in even-numbered years to elect the President of the United States (in presidential years), U.S. Senator, Representatives in Congress, State Senator, Representatives to the Assembly, District Attorney, Court Partisan Offices, and referenda (if necessary) 

Learn more about how to register to vote, voting in general, and additional information at https://myvote.wi.gov/en-us/

FutureYOU 2026 is looking for exhibitors and sponsors! 

Set to happen on Nov 10, 2026 at the Sunnyview Expo center, this year's FutureYOU Career Expo is shaping up to be the best one yet. We will once again have three rotating 25 min sessions, through three event zones, allowing the 8th graders from OASD and other area schools to explore career pathways through hands-on activities and interactions with business representatives from 8:45-2pm that day. We will also be including a time for local high school students to have their turns in talking to potential employers about YA Placements and post-graduation employment opportunities.

New this year are some amazing opportunities to get your name on this event and impact the accessibility of this event to our local small businesses. We are looking for one amazing partner to lead the initiative as our presenting sponsor in this impactful education experience, as well as one or two businesses to provide opportunities for up to 5 small businesses to participate through a Small Business Champion sponsorship! This allows small businesses, that would love to share their passion with growing minds to skip over the entry fee that might make the event sit outside of their budget. And we have the chance to support the sustainability of this event through supporting level sponsorships as well. 

This is an amazing opportunity to make a lasting impression on our future workforce! Please email Shannon@oshkoshchamber.com with any questions or to get more information! Spaces will fill up fast, so please register early! 

Also looking for a breakfast sponsor to provide breakfast for exhibitors and one more lunch sponsor. 

Amcor Recognized as 2026 Education Leadership Award Recipient

Due to the cancellation of the Oshkosh Area Community Foundation Celebrate Education event in March because of inclement weather, the Oshkosh Chamber took the opportunity this past Friday at our Chamber Board meeting to recognize Amcor as the 2026 Education Leadership Award recipient.

Amcor has demonstrated an exceptional, long-term commitment to strengthening education and talent development throughout the Oshkosh community. Over the years, the company has remained actively engaged in a variety of local education initiatives, including ongoing support of the Chamber’s Education & Talent Development efforts. This sustained investment reflects a deep dedication to building a strong and future-ready talent pipeline for our region.

In addition to their community involvement, Amcor prioritizes learning and growth within their own organization. Their robust Learning & Development framework focuses on building skills, cultivating leadership, and supporting continuous development for employees at every stage of their careers. This internal commitment reinforces their belief that lifelong learning is essential to both individual and organizational success.

Through this combination of external partnership and internal investment, Amcor serves as a model for advancing educational opportunities and workforce development in Oshkosh.

Please join us in congratulating Amcor on this well-deserved recognition

Pictured below: Rob Kleman-President/CEO Oshkosh Chamber, Chris Nimis-, Bill Wyman-

Youth Leadership Oshkosh

The final session of Youth Leadership Oshkosh for the Class of 2026 was on May 8th focused on reflection, personal growth, teamwork, and celebrating the accomplishments of the participants throughout the program. Students reflected on new lessons learned about leadership, community involvement, and themselves, while also identifying future opportunities where they can continue making a positive impact. Team-building activities at Oshkosh North High School encouraged collaboration, communication, and trust, reinforcing the importance of working together to achieve shared goals. The morning concluded with lunch at the Boys & Girls Club Hyde Family Community Center featuring guest speaker Anthony Miller, whose experiences inspired students to continue developing their leadership skills, resilience, and commitment to serving the Oshkosh community as they move forward.Following the lunch, was the graduation with 24 students graduating. School Administrators, family, friends, and alumni from the Youth Leadership Oshkosh Class of 2025 cheered on these students!

Amplify

Leadership Oshkosh

The final Leadership Oshkosh session called Opportunity Day, provided an opportunity to reflect on nine months of personal and professional growth while exploring how authentic leadership, values, and community engagement shape effective leaders. Through discussions, board experiences, fundraising collaboration, and presentations from community leaders, participants examined how their understanding of Oshkosh evolved and identified new opportunities for civic involvement. Activities focused on leadership reflection, personal and professional vision, imposter syndrome, and authenticity encouraged participants to build confidence in their leadership abilities and recognize the importance of leading with purpose and integrity. The experience also highlighted the value of collaboration, strategic thinking, and community service, inspiring participants to take actionable next steps toward creating meaningful impact in the Oshkosh community through continued engagement, board service, and leadership development.

44 graduated from the program on May 21st. The Class of 2026 organized the Trivia Night fundraiser and presented a check to the Oshkosh Area Community Pantry for $39,289.73. Notable is that each class transitions the learnings from organizing the event to the next class. This year’s class is now the Best Class Ever!

Propel Oshkosh Young Professionals