Meet the Venture Center Team

Tony was born in Appleton, Wisconsin. He has been very happily married for over 46 years. He and his wife Peggy have three children and eight grandchildren.  
 
After serving 4 years in the U. S. Navy and volunteering one year in Vietnam, Tony returned to Appleton to begin his family and his banking career.  In addition to his banking career, Tony has been active in many community organizations and churches for many years.  In 2004 Tony began as a SCORE Volunteer and for 14 years co-hosted a weekly radio program, BizTalk, every Saturday morning featuring motivated entrepreneurs and experts offering advice and inspiration to those in the listening audience thinking of starting their own business. 
 
Tony’s banking career spanned 30 years, from 1973 until 2003.  He spent 27 years in business lending starting as a credit analyst and ending as President of a community bank.  His last three years in business lending were spent at a $500 Million credit union as Vice President responsible for their business lending division. 
 
Tony served in many management capacities during his banking career, participating in all aspects of management including Credit Officer, Senior Loan Officer, Asset/Liability Management, and bank President. 
 
During his career as a business lender, Tony came to realize how important cash flow budgeting and break-even analysis is to the success of business owners and the success of the banking relationship.  He also learned the characteristics of the “motivated” business owner.  He has developed meaningful strategies that assist motivated business owners build strong, lasting relationships with their lenders.  
 
In 2003 Tony started his company, Priora® Cash Flow Management, LLC.  The vision and mission of Priora® Cash Flow Management, LLC are:

• Vision: “Applying financial literacy®.”  

• Mission: “To educate and advise motivated business owners in using meaningful, creative strategies to improve their business.”

• Priora® uses the phrase, Manage your banking relationship; don’t be managed by it®” to inspire motivated entrepreneurs to negotiate the best terms with their lenders. 
 
Since starting Priora® Cash Flow Management, LLC, Tony has assisted hundreds of motivated business owners to improve the performance of their businesses and their banking relationships.  In January 2005 Tony introduced Priora ® Business, a state-of-the-art cash flow budgeting and management system that also includes a system to determine the break-even performance of a business. Priora ® Business was developed to provide motivated business owners with the ability to control the cash flows of their business and to apply the financial principles that will improve their business.  

Benefits include:

• Improved financial performance of the business.

• A better understanding of their accounting system.

• The ability to attract and retain quality employees.

• Significant improvement in their relationship with their lender.

• The ability to make better, informed business decisions.

• Greater peace of mind. Sleep better at night! 
 
In addition to consulting with motivated business owners, Tony also consults with lending institutions involved in business lending. Services include training lenders, underwriting, process review focused on maintaining loan portfolio quality through strategic management practices, loan policy review and MBL portfolio review. The goal is to achieve efficiency in managing the risk of the loans in the MBL portfolio and to share with members the value of doing business with their lender. 
 
Tony has served his clients throughout Wisconsin, in Washington, Georgia, Texas, Maine, Virginia, Florida, California, Michigan and Alabama. In his capacity as a former Advisor to CUNA for over 14 years, he provided on-site assistance to credit unions around the country starting their own business lending/services program. Many lending institutions have adopted Priora® Financialyzer® to strengthen the underwriting of their business loans and to manage the risk in their business loan portfolio. 
 
Tony has been invited to speak to Associations and other business groups around the country on the topic of managing cash flow to improve the performance of the business and to build and maintain strong banking relationships. 
 
Since 2004 Priora® Cash Flow Management, LLC has developed and released the following systems to assist motivated users to apply financial principles critical to their financial success: • 2004, Priora® Business was released to assist motivated business owners to apply the financial principles critical to their success.  

• 2008 Priora® Financialyzer®, a financial statement analysis and loan underwriting software system for credit granting entities such as Credit Unions, Banks, Economic Development Centers, Small Business Development Centers and Chambers of Commerce.

• Priora® Debt Management Summary and Debt Consolidation

• Priora® 21 Economic Analysis

• Priora® Fluctuating Payment Calculator

• Priora® Job Profit Estimator

• Priora® Classified Loan Management System

• Priora® Financial Analysis  
 
In 2015 Tony was recognized by SBA as the Wisconsin SBA Financial Services Champion for his work supporting entrepreneurs in Wisconsin. Also in 2015 the Fox Cities Chamber of Commerce awarded Tony the Joyce Bytof Exceptional Volunteer Award for his many hours volunteering in his services in the Fox Cities area. 
 
Additional information and free DEMO downloads of the Priora® Business system are available by contacting Tony at tony@prioracfm.com or 920-450-2840.  Visit the Priora® web site at www.prioracfm.com.  

Brian Davis is a serial entrepreneur with a passion for small business and cycling. Three years ago Brian quit a full time corporate job to focus on his own ventures, launching cycling related products. Turning a life long passion into a profession.

Inspired by working smarter and not harder Brian is accomplished at outsourcing and delegating tasks in order to execute on ideas. In the past 3 years Brian completed 3 highly successful Kickstarter campaigns ($45,000, $82,000, $25,000) for 2 different products and is working on a fourth for Q1 2016. Brian shares his experiences with other inventors and start-ups about using outside resources to make a tremendous impact.

Brian combined his passion for cycling and business to launch the Fix It Sticks brand of cycling accessories. The product that Brian invented is a simple bicycle hand tool that works in a fantastically unique way. You can see a video of how the idea started and some of the key features at www.fixitsticks.com.

In 2015, Brian launched The BackBottle www.backbottle.com which is a hyper specific water bottle designed specifically for the jersey pockets of endurance athletes.

Brian engages audiences with real life examples and offers concrete, useable information to launch your idea. Brian brings direct experience in marketing, PR, designing, prototyping, packaging, shipping and anything else associated with taking a product from sketch to shelf.

​Paul Dozier is an instructor for Venture Center seminars. Paul is a consultant/advisor to small businesses. His goal is to provide the owner with simple but critical measurement tools that reveal when course corrections are necessary for improving profitability and cash flow. He works to guide owners in developing early warning signals of trouble and to avoid wrong-headed decisions.

His professional career began with an accounting degree plus additional post-graduate courses from the University of Kansas followed by military service as an accounting and finance officer in the U.S. Air Force. He has had extensive and varied experience in both public accounting and private industry management and leadership roles. In public accounting as audit manager with a national CPA firm and as owner or partner in local accounting and consulting practices. In private industry as controller, tax manager, or CFO in many different industries including: industrial real estate development; cement and concrete products manufacturing (NYSE); a public company operating a national network of medical and agricultural testing laboratories; chemical manufacturing; rubber injection molding; oil and gas exploration and production; transportation and warehousing; and not-for-profit organizations.

Paul is a member of the Wisconsin and American Institutes of CPAs and is a former director, committee chairman, and course instructor for the Colorado Society of CPAs. He currently volunteers for community non-profit organizations and serves on the finance committee for his church.

Jeff is an instructor for the E-seed™:  Entrepreneurship Training series and the Venture Center's business and entrepreneurship program. He is the founder and past president of Ebel Woodworking, Inc., an architectural woodworking company located in Scandinavia, Wisconsin. He has been in the woodworking and furniture industry for over 35 years and started Ebel Woodworking in 1989. After selling Ebel Woodworking in May of 2007, he took an eleven month sabbatical, working part time as a consultant and volunteering for a variety of non-profit organizations. He currently works as a Sales and Marketing Representative for SAINTS Health Services for Business, a Central Wisconsin occupational health services provider.

As a volunteer, Jeff is active in the AWI, Architectural Woodwork Institute, serving a second two year term as a member of the development council, assists the Chapter Development Committee with leadership training, and recently completed a two year term as President of the Wisconsin Chapter of the AWI. He is also a volunteer counselor for and Chapter Chair of the Central Wisconsin Chapter of SCORE, volunteers providing free counseling to small businesses. He is on the Board of Directors for Big Brothers/Big Sisters in Stevens Point and serves as an ambassador for the Portage County Business Council. His association with the many organizations provides myriad opportunities to utilize his skills as a presenter and leader.

“There’s something about the curious and creative journey of starting and running a small business that I’ve always found inspiring and satisfying, especially the overarching aspects of seeing the vision, mission, and goals of the endeavor into reality. The role that suits my passions most closely is being the ‘look-out’, seeing the grander scope, and finding co-creative (group strategy and solutions-oriented) ways to adjust the sails, for optimum outcome. It’s important when embarking on an entrepreneurial journey to know your unique gifts, and to also know which aspects you will need the most help with.”
~ Mark Gehrke, lifelong entrepreneur, and E-seed Express Entrepreneurship Training Instructor

Mark feels most inspired when he is exploring fresh ideas that help bring more meaning and connection to our lives. He takes great joy in helping to encourage other creatives to express their ideas and passions to start and grow their own businesses, especially when the business ideas lend toward making this world a better place.

Mark has 30+ years of experience starting and managing small businesses. After responding to an opportunity to step in and help run a small family business in his early 20’s, Mark discovered his interest for the creative ideas and innovation that comes with being an entrepreneur.

Through the years, Mark has seen several small business ventures come full circle and experienced goals and successes met, including award-winning salon and spa owner, cafe owner, eco-store owner, guest house owner, and voyageur canoe guide. He has also had his own social media consulting business and has created websites for small businesses and nonprofits.

Currently, co-owner of Loving Awareness, with lifelong family and business partner Savi, Mark co-teaches conscious life skill practices, meditation, yoga, and hosts wellness events, while also running a small herb farm (Loving Awareness Sanctuary) and herbal wellbeing product business in rural Waupaca.

Other related experience includes Mark’s background in online community development, online content management, podcasting, and blogging.

He was an active Appleton Downtown Inc. board member, serving as the marketing committee chair, and was involved in downtown Appleton economic development for many years. With eager enthusiasm and a determined, optimistic outlook, Mark looks forward to exploring your creative visions for business as you navigate seeing and seeding your dreams to reality.

Autumn is the co-owner of a marketing communications company in the Fox Cities called Autumn Hill Creative, founded in 2004. Autumn and her business partner are graduates of the E-seed program and proud alumni of the Venture Center. She has been an adjunct instructor at the Fox Valley Technical College Venture Center and Business & Industry Services since 2011. She teaches Online Newsletters with Constant Contact, Website Development with WordPress, Create Your Online Store with WooCommerce, the Website Development and Online Promotion Series, the E-seed Entrepreneurship Training Series, Marketing Made Lean, and Explore Starting a Business. She also teaches Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator, and InDesign at the beginner and intermediate level. Autumn is a personable instructor who emphasizes practical application in her training seminars at FVTC.

David is an instructor for the E-seed™: Entrepreneurship Training series. He moved to the Fox Valley in 1999 to use his electronics engineering degree to support product design, rapid prototyping, and global manufacturing.  While working full-time as a Project Manager, he started a side-venture, Appetize. That business opened Wisconsin's first HuHot Mongolian Grill restaurant in 2006 and within five years, it grew to operating seven restaurants in two states.  Appetize garnered local and national recognition, while employing a staff of over 400, servicing over one million guest visits per year, and donating in excess of $125,000 annually.  After selling the restaurants, David discovered his next business opportunity in 2016, deciding to purchase Van Zeeland Nursery & Landscape.  David and the talented team there immediately went to work, growing and reinvigorating the eighty-four-year-old business.  A graduate of Fox Valley Technical College's E-Seed™ and Pro-Seed™ programs, David aspires to help other business owners to realize their visions.

Pat Lowney is an instructor for Venture Center seminars. Pat retired several years ago as President/CEO of Lakeview Credit Union.  During the 21 years he served in that role, Lakeview Credit Union grew from $20 million to $110 million.  When Lakeview merged with a larger credit union in 2014 it had three offices serving the Fox Cities.  Pat’s ability to develop a growth strategy and effectively implement that strategy is testimony to his leadership skills. 

In addition to serving as President/CEO, Pat volunteered countless hours serving his community and the credit union movement.  He was actively involved in Kiwanis, his church, the Fox Cities Chamber, Future Neenah and was very active in the Wisconsin Credit Union League Board for 9 years serving as Treasurer and Vice Chair.

With a happy demeanor and a hearty laugh, Pat is always approachable, willing to learn, and enjoys making contributions when his skills are needed.  As a leader, Pat enjoyed the respect of his employees, his peers in the community and the many members of Lakeview Credit Union.

Lowney holds an undergraduate degree in accounting, an MBA and is a CPA.

In addition, Pat currently is an active SCORE Mentor and is a co-host of a weekly radio program named BizTalk.

A leader, facilitator and collaborator with extensive experience in managing product design and development operations, and stewarding company engagements to improve their innovation performance. Helping companies and teams create new products, services, business practices, and organizations that consistently beat the competition and lead their markets.

Mike has built and led innovation teams achieving highly successful, award-winning portfolios. His extensive experience and practical approach provides the ability to manage change through large and small enterprises, and create solutions that generate sustainable performance improvement.

Category experience includes professional products, consumer packaged goods, design services, business equipment, and contract manufacturing. Career highlights include Director for Kodak’s pioneering Corporate Design Center, VP of Design and Development for KI, and Managing Consultant for Stage-Gate International.

Mike holds a M.S. in Mathematics from the Syracuse University. He was a longtime member and past Advisor for the Design Management Institute, and currently active with the WI and MN Product Development and Management Associations. Community activities include advising various local businesses, past Board President for the Children’s Museum of Green Bay, volunteer with the National Ski Patrol, and a frequent guest speaker for area professional and business networks.

Find Mike on LinkedIn

Mick Walsh is a visual recorder for the Pro-Seed™: Business Model Design session and Small Business Design, Plan and Grow series. Mick has spent over 35 years in the advertising, marketing, and creative arts industry. Mick has a Bachelors of Fine Arts degree from Northern Illinois University where he graduated with honors. He also completed graduate level courses in design, and photography from Northern Illinois University and educational marketing from the University of Phoenix. He has been a featured speaker and panelist at national and regional industry conferences and workshops presenting creative best practices. Mick has previously owned and operated his own design studio and advertising agency in Denver, Colorado. He was also Vice President of Creative for GEM, a global design agency with offices in 11 cities worldwide. He has created campaigns and projects for American Express, Boeing, 3M, Sears and Best Buy.

Mick has formed a creative services company called SketchBIZ, which provides clients with Visual Recordings, Whiteboard Videos and Storyboard Illustrations.

Eric Wulterkens is an instructor for Venture Center seminars. Eric is the owner and founder of Kings Ridge Media, a seller of media and books on Amazon.com as well as multiple other internet based outlets.

Shortly after leaving the Navy in 2004, Eric began selling items on Half.com as a side hustle to gain a little extra money while he worked a full time sales position for Cisco Systems. In 2006 this hobby had turned from a side hustle to a real business and it was incorporated in that year.

By 2009 the business had grown large enough that it no longer made sense for him to continue on his Cisco career path and at the end of the year left this position to pursue his business full time.

After 10 years of running a successful online selling platform, Eric decided it was time to launch a wholesale division of his company that would assist other Amazon sellers with finding profitable inventory that they could purchase to help grow their business. The wholesale division was launched in October 2019 and has shown steady growth since the launch.

​Eric brings a deep understanding of the Amazon.com platform, and how to source and find profitable inventory, and has a strong understanding of the challenges and risks someone will face when selling through the Amazon ecosystem and best practices to mitigate those risks.