Wood County inmates learn about starting their own businesses in entrepreneurial boot camp

WISCONSIN RAPIDS - Starting a business is a challenging task for almost anyone, but for a group of people who went through the Heart of Wisconsin Chamber of Commerce's Entrepreneurial Boot Camp recently, the task seems even more difficult.

About 50 Wood County inmates on the sheriff's electronic monitoring program gathered in a conference room at the McMillan Memorial Library, Wisconsin Rapids, on Saturday to learn how to start a business. The chamber got a $17,000 grant from the Wisconsin Economic Development Corp. to offer the training to Wood county inmates.

"It's to spark an interest in small-business development, give people hope and also show them that past mistakes don't have to determine their future," said Melissa Reichert, Heart of Wisconsin president.

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Stephanie Henckel, 27, of Marshfield, said she's on probation and has some criminal charges. She said she's interested in pursuing a career, particularly her own business, and attended Saturday's boot camp to learn how to make that happen.

"I'd like to learn more about how somebody in my position can start a business and still achieve their goals despite those criminal charges getting in the way," Henckel said.

Wood County Sheriff Thomas Reichert, who is married to Melissa, said when the Heart of Wisconsin Chamber approached him about the entrepreneurial boot camp idea, he thought it was wonderful.

"It gave people who were incarcerated, who have been a little bit down on their luck, the opportunity to do something that would potentially be of great benefit to them," Thomas Reichert said.

The all-day boot camp consisted of six speakers, Melissa Reichert said. The instruction included business startup, how to market, available tools at the library and small-business successes, she said.

Jeff Manley, 37, of Wisconsin Rapids said he'd like to start a small mechanic shop or something similar. Manley believes the knowledge he gained by attending the boot camp will help him do that. He hopes having his own business will keep him from re-offending.

It's important that the community reach out to people who are trying to get their life together, said Matthew Chelinsky, 49, of Vesper. Chelinsky hopes the information he gained Saturday will help him start some type of carpentry business.

Thomas Reichert said he doesn't think all 50 of Saturday's participants will start their own businesses, but he hopes the program will see a few new startups.

"If we get a couple people that this makes a difference for, I think it's a great thing," he said. "For the other people that attend this, I think they were exposed to something that helps them think about where their future is going."

Henckel said the boot camp for inmates is amazing and there should be more like it. Drug addicts have a lot of potential, but a different type of mindset, she said. Addicts tend to have different brains and their individualist thinking should be good for starting a business, Henckel said.

There are future boot camps planned for the participants to attend, Melissa Reichert said.