Waunakee Neighborhood Connection

WNC is comprised of almost completely volunteers.  Our leadership is passionate about helping others, and doing so by helping WNC fulfill its mission.   For information on our staff and program coordinators, please see the “Our Staff” page.

WNC Board of Directors

WNC’s Board of Directors is the governing body of the organization, ensuring WNC’s mission if fulfilled by building organizational continuity, financial stability, developing and managing to the organization’s mission and goals, and by being champions of the organization in our community.

WNC’s board consists of several members of the community along with two high school seniors that currently share a board position.  Our members are:  Genna Eaton, Mark McGuire, Sheila Weihert, Mike Ableidinger, Jim Holden, Keith Ryniak, Ellen Schaaf, Billy Van Wie, Sharon Cook, Brandon Jaeger, and Sara Vincent.  Read more below about our current board members and why they chose to work with WNC.

Genna Eaton – WNC, Executive Director

Genna Eaton is the founder of the Waunakee Neighborhood Connection (WNC), which she informally started in 2004, when she saw neighbors in need, whom no one else was helping. It started with coordinating through email with her friends to collect coats for kids Genna saw walking to school without any. From that Genna has created a non-profit 501(c)3 organization (officially created the corporation and started a store front in early 2007) that serves Waunakee area residents who are in need of assistance. Being president of the board of directors of a volunteer organization, Genna is responsible for managing the day-to-day activities of the organization, as well as providing strategic direction for the growth of the organization.

Michael J. Ableidinger  – Ableidinger Law, LLC, Owner

Attorney Michael J. Ableidinger is the owner of Ableidinger Law, LLC located at 1001 Arboretum Dr., Suite 2A, Waunakee, WI 53597. Mike has extensive experience in negotiating, preparing and reviewing contracts for a wide array of real estate transactions ranging from the purchase of a single family home to multi-million dollar commercial real estate loan closings. Additionally, Mike has extensive experience in negotiating and drafting residential and commercial lease agreements, purchase/sale contracts, condominium documents, easement agreements and a broad range of other real estate documents and agreements. Mike Ableidinger has also represented numerous business clients in purchasing and/or selling their businesses, the preparation and drafting of Articles of Incorporation/Organization, By-laws/Operating Agreements, Employment Agreements, Non-Compete Agreements and other business related documents. Lastly, Mike represents individual clients in a variety of family law, estate planning and general litigation matters.

While attending Marquette University Law School, Mike worked as a law clerk for several Waukesha County Civil and Criminal Court Judges as well as the Waukesha County Corporation Council. Additionally, he interned with the Honorable Neal P. Nettesheim, Court of Appeals Judge for the Wisconsin Court of Appeals – Second District. Upon graduation, Mike worked at a firm in Brookfield, Wisconsin specializing in real estate, business and construction law. Mike then moved to a firm on the west side of Madison where he concentrated on real estate law, business law and estate planning. Mike’s last position before opening up Ableidinger Law, LLC was a law firm in Sauk Prairie, Wisconsin, where he engaged in the practice of real estate, business, estate planning and family law.

In addition to owning and operating Ableidinger Law, LLC, Mr. Ableidinger is also a State of Wisconsin licensed real estate broker and owns a real estate brokerage company called Censaria, LLC.

Mike Ableidinger is a Waunakee native and currently lives in the Town of Springfield just outside of Waunakee with his wife Heidi and my two daughters Morgan and Addison.  Mike is an active supporter of WNC because of the great services WNC provides to the Waunakee community. He intends on using his legal and real estate acumen to assist WNC as it continues to grow and develop.

Sharon Cook – Crossroads United Methodist Church, Pastor

Sharon Cook is the Pastor at Crossroads United Methodist Church in Waunakee. Sharon and the Crossroads congregation partner with WNC several times a year. Sharon was ordained in 2008, but has been serving churches as a leader in many ways since long before that. Sharon brings experience in working with people, writing skills, and public speaking. She also has board experience having served seven years for the Board of Camp and Retreat Ministries for The United Methodist Church in Wisconsin. She has passion for taking things that are important to her (faith, caring for others, WNC) and making them relevant and important to others.

Sharon grew up in Neenah, just outside of Appleton, WI. She has lived and worked in the greater Madison area since 2004. She lives with her husband, who works for Second Harvest Foodbank, and a young daughter.

Jim Holden – Summit Credit Union, Vice President, Business Services

For the past 17 years Jim has been employed in the financial services industry concentrating on commercial lending in South Central Wisconsin. He was employed with Baraboo National Bank for 11 years prior to his position with Summit Credit Union. Jim assisted in the opening and management of a new branch office for a community bank in Portage, Portage National Bank.

Jim Graduated from the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse with degrees in Business Administration and Sports Management, and is a licensed State of Wisconsin Real Estate Salesperson.

Jim’s community involvement in during the past few years includes: Portage Area Chamber of Commerce-board member, South Central Ducks Unlimited- board member and secretary, Portage United Way- board member and treasurer, Baraboo Kiwanis-board member, Lake Delton Businessman Club-member.  He currently is the President-Elect for the Waunakee/Westport Chamber of Commerce.

Jim is an E licensed USSF soccer coach in Waunakee, and also coaches Waunakee Recreation Club softball.

Jim has been involved with Waunakee Neighborhood Connection for the past 2 years assisting the Executive Director with financial matters, delivering holidays meals and inspecting possible WNC store locations. I enjoy assisting Waunakee area residents who are less fortunate due to matters beyond their control. Making a difference in our community is a very gratifying feeling.

Brandon Jaeger – Waunakee High School, Senior

Brandon Jaeger is a senior at Waunakee High School. He has been volunteering at Waunakee Neighborhood Connection for over a year and has recently been asked to join the WNC board. For this position on the board he will be giving his insights on the organization as a high school student and will spread the awareness of Waunakee Neighborhood Connection through his school. This will, in hopes, extend our volunteer base for WNC to a teenage level.

As for a personal touch, he works at the local Piggly Wiggly and vends up and down the stands at the Madison Mallards baseball stadium during the summer. He plays baseball for Waunakee High School also, and with all of these activities he is able to occupy his free time. During his leisure time he enjoys passing time with his friends, listening to music, and snowboarding.

His future plans include attending college for actuary. He is currently sending applications out to colleges and has hopes of attending UW Madison, University of Iowa, or UW LaCrosse. He is sure his college major will change many times, but as of now he has a general direction of where he wants to go and what he wants to do with his future.

Mark McGuire – Alice.com, President

Mark is the President of Alice.com, an online marketplace for household essentials which he co-founded in June 2008. Mark has spent his career in the high-tech start-up field, having started, grown and sold two other companies prior to Alice.com. Most recently, Mark co-founded Jellyfish.com, a comparison shopping engine, in June, 2006. As President and Co-Founder of Jellyfish, Mark led the company from conception to a private acquisition by Microsoft Corporation in less than two years. The Jellyfish.com search engine now serves as the framework for Microsoft’s Bing cash back program. Prior to Jellyfish.com, Mark co-founded NameProtect.com, a search engine for brand and trademark professionals, where Mark served as President until the company’s acquisition Corporation Services Company.

Mark holds degrees from the University of Wisconsin (BA with honors) and the University of Minnesota Law School (JD magna cum laude) and is a member of the Wisconsin Bar.

Mark has been a resident of Waunakee since 2002. He and his wife Sarah have three kids ages 16, 14 and 8. Mark thinks that WNC is a great example of why Waunakee is such a fantastic place to live. He is excited to have an opportunity to support the leadership team and the amazing volunteers at WNC that improve the lives of so many people in our community.

Ellen Schaaf – Waunakee/Westport Chamber of Commerce, Executive Director

Ellen Schaaf has been living in Waunakee for almost 9 years. She and her husband Vincent were attracted to the community for its small town atmosphere and its strong family values, which were primary to them as we raise our two young sons, Luke (9), and Isaac (7). Through her work at the Waunakee/Westport Chamber of Commerce she has seen positive results of effective partnerships. Ellen hopes to bring that perspective and experience to WNC. She believes that by working together and sharing our ideas and suggestions through the Board, much can be accomplished for the good of WNC and its mission within the community. Ellen looks forward to contributing and playing a positive role in supporting the future of WNC.

Billy Van Wie – image.works, Senior Vice President

For almost 15 years, Billy Van Wie has served as Senior Vice President at image.works, a marketing and design firm catering to financial institutions and healthcare organizations across the country. Billy graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire with a degree in communications.

Both Billy and his wife Amanda were raised in small Wisconsin towns and when it was time to find a place raise their children, they settled in Waunakee. The Van Wies were attracted to the community for its small-town feel and the friendly, welcoming atmosphere that reminded them of their own hometowns. They moved to Waunakee in 2004 and have three daughters (Morgan, Kaitlin and Lauren) and one son (Will).

Through his participation in WNC, Billy hopes to share the supportive, caring spirit of Waunakee with his neighbors in need. He is proud to be part of an organization that gives back to the community in so many ways.

Sara Vincent – Waunakee High School, Senior

Sara Vincent is currently a senior at Waunakee High School and loves to help out her community. Sara is ecstatic to help out the WNC by serving as a co-board member and as a liaison to the High School. She loves what WNC does for the families and individuals in Waunakee and can’t wait to help out more.

Sheila Weihert – Arboretum Elementary School, Principal

Sheila Weihert has been in the Waunakee community for twenty-one years as both a teacher and principal within the Waunakee Community School District. In her career in Waunakee, she has served as a sixth grade teacher, Pathways resource teacher, middle school assistant principal, Middle School principal, and Heritage Elementary principal. She currently serves as the principal at Arboretum Elementary as well as the Summer School Coordinator. Sheila has a passion for Waunakee families and is excited about her role within WNC.

When Sheila isn’t at school, she is likely spending time with her family. Her daughter Machesney (Chez) and son Griff keep her busy with numerous activities. Sheila also enjoys gardening, reading a good book, and traveling. Like WNC, she believes that people can and should make a difference. If you ever leave a voice mail for her, her ending line is always, “Make it a great day.”

Community Liaisons

WNC also has community liaisons that attend board meetings as needed and act as champions of WNC to the areas of the community they represent.  Read more about our community liaisons below.

Kevin Plendl – Waunakee Police Department, Chief

Chief Plendl has worked for the Waunakee Police Department for the last 23 years. This June, he will reach the 10 year mark as Chief. Kevin has been a patrol officer, sergeant, and lieutenant prior to becoming chief.

Kevin is excited to be a member of the WNC board. He enjoys working with various organizations, especially WNC. He was glad to accept WNC’s request for the Police Station to become a donation drop off site. Several times every week they have residents drop off items at the Police Department.

Kevin thinks the work WNC does is invaluable. Many people in Waunakee don’t realize the need for such an organization. Kevin was personally surprised to learn that WNC assists over 215 families and totally nearly 600 individuals in the Waunakee area.

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