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Keeping the Chippewa Running

Conversations around disaster are never easy. Whether it is a cyberattack, natural disaster, or unexpected operational failure, the topic forces our local business leaders to confront risk, uncertainty, and worst-case scenarios. Yet CEDC knows those are exactly the conversations that must happen before a crisis or disaster ever occurs. That’s why CEDC partnered with the Dirks Group to help over twenty local business leaders gather for an executive-level seminar on the topic.  The goal was simple and essential: help our local employers keep their businesses running and protect jobs when disruption strikes. This work is especially important right now. Through ongoing  BEAR  (business expansion and retention) visits, CEDC continues to hear a consistent theme across industries: many local businesses are not adequately prepared for a major disruption. Some lack clear internal roles during [...]

Keeping the Chippewa Running2026-04-15T17:54:28-05:00

Verify Before You Click

Phishing emails are not just an IT problem—they are a real business risk for businesses across Chippewa and Wisconsin, including our CEDC investors.  Cybercriminals are getting more sophisticated at sending fake emails that appear to come from trusted local organizations, including the CEDC. Some even impersonate board members or business owners, using their names and email addresses. These messages are designed to prompt quick action—often clicking a link or opening an attachment—before you notice the warning signs. Scammers know you are more likely to trust messages from familiar names or organizations like us.  They often: Spoof the sender’s name – For example, using a board member’s name but sending from a free email account like Gmail instead of our official domain. Create urgency – Messages such as “We need you to pay this [...]

Verify Before You Click2026-03-09T14:51:30-05:00

CEDC Works to Strengthen Wisconsin’s Defense Manufacturing

Every October is recognized as Manufacturing Month, and this year, CEDC spotlighted innovation, collaboration, and opportunity within Wisconsin’s defense manufacturing sector. Through two key events — the Defense Manufacturing Supply Chain Conference (DMSCC) and the Collaborative Showcase at W.S. Darley & Co. — CEDC and its partners brought together manufacturers, educators, and defense industry leaders to strengthen local supply chains and highlight the vital role manufacturing plays in driving regional growth. Connecting Wisconsin’s Defense Manufacturers More than 60 manufacturers from across the Chippewa Valley and beyond gathered for the first time in Chippewa County to attend the Defense Manufacturing Supply Chain Conference, hosted at Chippewa Valley Technical College (CVTC). The conference was organized in partnership with CEDC, CVTC, the Wisconsin Procurement Institute (WPI), and NDIA Great Lakes. The sold-out conference focused on unlocking [...]

CEDC Works to Strengthen Wisconsin’s Defense Manufacturing2025-10-22T14:10:05-05:00

Revolutionizing Quality Control: How AI-Powered Vision Inspection is Transforming Manufacturing

The second session of the Manufacturing Competitiveness in the 21st Century series, held today at the Chippewa Valley Technical College (CVTC) campus in Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin, spotlighted the transformative potential of Vision Inspection with AI Deep Learning. Organized in collaboration with the UW-Stout Manufacturing Outreach Center (MOC), Wisconsin Procurement Institute (WPI), and CVTC, the event brought together manufacturing professionals eager to explore AI-driven automation as a catalyst for operational excellence. AI-Powered Machine Vision: A New Standard in Quality Control Dr. David Ding, Professor and Program Director at the University of Wisconsin-Stout's College of Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics, and Management, led discussions on how AI-powered machine vision systems are revolutionizing quality control and defect detection. Using advanced techniques such as pattern recognition, image segmentation, and deep learning, these systems achieve up to 99% accuracy [...]

Revolutionizing Quality Control: How AI-Powered Vision Inspection is Transforming Manufacturing2025-02-17T11:00:45-06:00

Navigating Cybersecurity: Insights from Our BEAR Lunch & Learn

In today’s digital landscape, the need for robust cybersecurity practices among Chippewa Valley businesses has never been more pressing. Recently, the Chippewa Economic Development Corporation (CEDC) and Chippewa Valley Technical College (CVTC) hosted a Lunch & Learn event dedicated to enhancing local businesses’ understanding of cybersecurity threats and strategies. The session featured Stephen Casselman, a cybersecurity instructor at CVTC, who provided valuable insights into the challenges and best practices for protecting digital assets. With a strong background in Cyber Operations and Cyber Defense, Stephen effectively communicated the current state of cybersecurity and the risks organizations face. A key focus of Stephen’s presentation was that a significant percentage of data breaches are caused by human error. He emphasized that while technology plays a crucial role in safeguarding information, it is equally important for businesses [...]

Navigating Cybersecurity: Insights from Our BEAR Lunch & Learn2024-09-20T16:13:26-05:00

Protecting Local Businesses: What Chippewa Valley Businesses Need to Know

In an era where digital threats are becoming increasingly sophisticated, the importance of cybersecurity practices for local Chippewa Valley businesses, especially those involved in sensitive sectors, cannot be overstated. Yesterday, the Chippewa Economic Development Corporation (CEDC) and the Chippewa Valley Technical College (CVTC) hosted a Lunch and Learn event on cybersecurity, aimed at equipping local businesses with the knowledge and tools needed to protect themselves against evolving cyber threats. The event, held at CVTC, brought together a diverse group of attendees eager to learn about the latest trends and strategies in cybersecurity. The keynote speaker, Doug Ebert, Vice President of Operations at Core Cabling & Integration (CCI), shared his expertise on the critical role of cybersecurity and security systems in today’s business landscape. Core Cabling & Integration (CCI) is a locally owned company [...]

Protecting Local Businesses: What Chippewa Valley Businesses Need to Know2024-09-03T09:50:12-05:00

Securing the Future: The Crucial Role of Cybersecurity for Chippewa Manufacturers

In today's digital age, the importance of cybersecurity cannot be overstated, especially for Department of Defense (DoD) manufacturers in the Chippewa Valley. These manufacturers are crucial to national security, making them prime targets for cyberattacks from state-sponsored actors, organized crime groups, and opportunistic hackers. A successful cyberattack on Western Wisconsin's DoD manufacturers could have catastrophic consequences, potentially compromising sensitive defense information, disrupting operations, and endangering national security. To address these critical cybersecurity needs, the Wisconsin Procurement Institute and UW-Stout Manufacturing Outreach Center (MOC), in collaboration with Chippewa Valley Technical College (CVTC) and the Chippewa Economic Development Corporation (CEDC), hosted a BEAR Discussion event. This event tackled the pressing challenges faced by the manufacturing sector. Expert speakers, including Stephen Casselman, IT-Network Specialist Instructor at CVTC’s Center for Cyber Defense, Ron Thomas, Senior Management Engineer [...]

Securing the Future: The Crucial Role of Cybersecurity for Chippewa Manufacturers2024-08-20T14:15:57-05:00
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