STURGEON BAY - Where most people see a challenge or problem, Jim Schuessler sees opportunity.

Schuessler is the new director of the Door County Economic Development Corporation and is greeted every work day by a list of eight challenges written on a white board facing his desk.

Each challenge, when solved, will open Door County to new opportunities, he said during an interview with USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin about his work at the DCEDC since he was hired in July.

Foremost on Schuessler's list are: workforce development, expansion of internet capability and developing affordable housing. The three challenges form a triangle that, woven together, could catapult Door County's economy.

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When the former director, Caleb Frostman, resigned from the position to pursue public office in May, the DCEDC board sought candidates with proven records of economic development in communities, said Darren Voigt, board president and chief lending officer at Bank of Luxemburg.

Schuessler excelled in his previous jobs as director of the Forest County Economic Development Partnership, followed by business development manager at Sheboygan County Economic Development, and rose above other candidates, Voigt said.

"Jim showed a passion for economic development and was able to demonstrate his past accomplishments," Voigt said. "He has a history working with business retention, entrepreneurial development, workforce development including employee recruitment and housing solutions. All of these are high priority items for DCEDC."

The Sheboygan County job had been the perfect fit for Schuessler's goals: it was challenging, close to family, a good solid Midwestern community, with scenery, parks and other amenities — exactly what he and his wife wanted.

"Then I saw the posting for Door County and I knew that the only place in Wisconsin where I would leave Sheboygan County is Door County," he said.

Schuessler was familiar with Door County and even more familiar with the DCEDC. Bill Chaudoir, the longtime DCEDC director had, in 2011, introduced Schuessler to the county's economic development model when Schuessler was hired to develop an economic development corporation in Forest County.

"I saw what other places were doing for economic development, too, but Chaudor's work here was so strong in entrepreneurial development and working with the existing economic clusters, I could see the DCEDC was doing everything it could to make sure they were solving their issues," Schuessler said. "The DCEDC was a shining star for how to do it right."

While Door County is unmatched for natural beauty, there's also a strong diverse economy. Schuessler said, but so are the county's manufacturing and agriculture sectors.

"When you have that diversity in an economy, it can weather the economic ups and downs," he said. That diversity is key to future growth and maintaining a robust economy during periods of recession, inflation and depression.

And that circles back to Schuessler's eight-point list.

"These are the things we have to really work on to ensure Door County's sustainability," he said.

The county has a vibrant manufacturing sector which is consistently seeking more workers hiring to fill family-sustaining jobs, he said.

"We have companies that would add shifts if they had the workforce," Schuessler said. "They're enjoying strong growth but they don't have the workforce they need for more growth."

Yet, nearly every community with a manufacturing base in Wisconsin is vying for skilled workers.

The DCEDC recently hired a workforce development project manager to focus on the issue, Schuessler said. Besides working with local manufacturers to promote and market job opportunities, Christine Studebaker is working with the county's schools to provide the resources to connect students with future careers in manufacturing.

Another impediment to workforce recruiting is the lack of affordable housing throughout the county. It's a problem with multiple facets and one Schuessler faced in Sheboygan.

"We added 1,000 housing units in Sheboygan," he said adding that a similar strategy could be adopted in Door County.

A housing survey of the county is being completed and will guide future developments, Schuessler said.

Poor internet access across the county also impedes job growth and worker retention.

"The proliferation of broadband happened rapidly and it's something that all of us have become very accustomed to having," he said. "The schools are well connected, but many homes aren't, so that makes it difficult when kids need the internet to do homework."

The lack of internet access also directly affects the DCEDC's campaign to attract people to relocate to their favorite vacation destination.

"That idea that you can work and live where you love to vacation doesn't mesh if you want to have a home-based business and there's no internet," Schuessler said.

The lack of services is worst among the northern Door County communities and Schuessler said he knows it's a frustration for business owners.

Every Door County community is responsible for completing a survey of its residents which will be used to guide the development of reliable internet services. The town of Liberty Grove surveyed folks during the November election and the village of Sister Bay is mailing the surveys to residents along with their tax bills, he said.

"We're going through Liberty Grove's surveys and here are some of the comments," Schuessler said. Among the frequent comments were "no one is offering service to my location," and also services are "very slow" and "very erratic."

Another resident also wrote: "I own a business owner and I am thinking of relocating out of Door County unless this issue gets resolved."

Schuessler said, "From the economic development standpoint, this is an absolute threat to our future."

While some of the infrastructure is in place, including a fiber optic line from southern Door County to the northern tip at Gills Rock, now, links need to be established to connect all the homes and businesses.

"It won't happen overnight. It's something that takes time to build out," he said.

Equally important with attracting workers, improving housing and developing a broadband solution are other projects on the white board including fostering the growth of an emerging food and beverage business cluster in northern Door County, nurturing more business development throughout the region,utilizing the vacant Younkers building in downtown Sturgeon Bay to improve the city's retail market, and marketing the DCEDC's services and space as a business incubator.

The solutions aren't simple, he said.

"Hard things are hard work and taken together," Schuessler said while pointing to his white board, "all of this is going to ensure our vibrancy going forward."