Althoff: Bylaw changes result in board turnover

By George Althoff
Executive Director

We’ll be welcoming aboard two new faces and bidding farewell to four others on the Baraboo Area Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors in 2024. New to the board will be:

• Jill Quandt, who, along with her husband Fred, owns Baraboo Bluff Winery and Broken Bottle Winery. Jill was elected by the full Chamber membership for the Agribusiness position on the board. She will serve a three-year term and be eligible for a second term if she so chooses.
• Tiffany Sloan, a Business Banker at Baraboo State Bank, was elected by the Board of Directors in December to fill a newly created Financial Services position. That spot was created by bylaw changes that were approved by the board in November. After her initial three-year term, she also will be eligible for a second term.
  The four departures are:
• Brandon Green, owner of Pulse Fitness. Brandon was originally appointed to the board to fill an unexpired term, then served the maximum of two consecutive three-year terms.
• Jake Franzen, Operations Manager of Ski-Hi Fruit Farm, who served on the board for six years.
• Raegen Trimmer, Realtor with RE/MAX Preferred. Raegen’s one term on the board was highlighted by her ascension to President in her second year. However, due to the bylaw changes which call for reducing the size of the board from 17 to 11, Raegen was not eligible for a second term.
• Ana Torres, Owner of Las Milpas Restaurant and Store. Ana also served just one term, and like Raegen, her tenure on the board was cut short by the bylaw changes.
  On behalf of the Chamber staff and the remaining directors, I want to thank Brandon, Jake, Raegen and Ana for their years of service and their support of the organization. All four could be counted on to regularly attend meetings, take on leadership roles and help out at events. Though they will no longer be on the board, I’m hoping we can count on them for their continued support in the year ahead. I’m guessing that’s a safe bet.
  And thanks to Jill and Tiffany for agreeing to join the board. I’m confident that both will be great contributors who will bring fresh perspectives to the organization.

Szydlowski is new President, 2024 officers elected
Teddie Szydlowski, Mortgage Banking Officer for Community First Bank, will serve as board President in 2024 after having spent 2023 as Vice President. Her elevation to the presidency is dictated by the bylaws. Other officers elected at the board’s December meeting were Vice President, Shelley Mordini, Baraboo Tours; Secretary, Mary Dressen, Pizza Ranch; and Treasurer, Tony Jaynes, Wegner CPAs. Christian Herrild, Teel Plastics, will serve as Past President to round out the Executive Committee. Mordini begins her second term on the board after being re-elected by the full Chamber membership.