Chippewa River Industries, Inc.

Team CRI in action! 🤠 Heather and Stacey spent a rewarding afternoon volunteering with Young Professionals, giving back to our community at . We're proud to support initiatives that make a difference!

CRI was able to provide individuals with community integration activities throughout 2023-2024 using grant funds from Xcel Energy Wisconsin. These are individuals who, due to funding issues, were not ordinarily allowed to experience these enriching community events. CRI collaborated with the general public by partnering with the local libraries, a mall, banks, parks, etc. to provide meaningful and fun educational experiences to our consumers.

Tonight we had our final crew of volunteers at the Northern Wisconsin State Fair.

We had so much fun serving our community this week!

Thank you to everyone who stopped by for some beverages and chat with our team.

We can't wait for summer 2025 to serve at the fair again!

Tonight we have our all-star team working for Ludacris!
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We are at the Northern Wisconsin State Fair Main Stage West Bar ready to serve you!

We are ready to serve all the country fans tonight for Lee Brice! 🎤🎶

Stop by the Main Stage West Bar for cold beverages before and during the concert!

Tonight's volunteers at the Northern Wisconsin State Fair are Dave, Stacey, Heather and Cindy.

Check out this awesome opportunity! Must register by JULY 15th!

This is an event that gives individuals with disabilities the ability to go out for a day of fishing. We have 20-35 registered anglers every year. Local guides & anglers offer up their expertise on the great fishing spots on the lake.

The Chippewa Valley Chapter provides adapted fishing equipment, demonstrates ways all individuals can enjoy fishing, and empowers people with a disability to pursue a hobby that may not otherwise be accessible. We have two pontoons with wide gates for wheelchair access in addition to volunteers and their pontoons and boats from the area.

In just over 2 months we'll be out on the water fishing. Participants, please remember to register by July 15th. Space may be limited. We still need a few boats or pontoons if anyone would like to volunteer some time Saturday the 14th of September.

Our team is serving our community every night at the Northern Wisconsin State Fair!

Stop by for a cold beverage and say hello!

Tonight's volunteers are Tricia, Rebecca, Sam and Cliff.

Come join us tomorrow!
NWSF Pig Pals Show
Wednesday, July 10, 2024
5:00pm Introduction | 6:00pm Show
At the Custer Coliseum in the Northern Wisconsin State Fair grounds.
CRI, Inc. is a proud sponsor of the 2024 Pig Pals Show. This great event gives special needs youth an opportunity to experience showing a trained pig with the support of youth mentors who are Chippewa County 4-H and FFA members.

Are you looking for som**hing fun to do on Wednesday, July 10th? CRI, Inc. is a proud sponsor of the 2024 Pig Pals Show hosted by the Chippewa County Quality Meats Animal Program at the Northern Wisconsin State Fair grounds! If you know someone with special needs who would be interested in participating, they have opened up registration to all ages. To register, please use the following *case-sensitive link: http://bit.ly/2024PigPals

Check out the Pig Pals website for more info: https://www.nwsfa.com/p/experience-the-fair/competitions/nwsf-pig-pals

NWSF Pig Pals Program

Today, we remember and celebrate the passage of the Declaration of Independence by the Continental Congress on July 4, 1776!
Have a happy and safe Independence Day!

Sunday mornings are for reading the newspaper. Or, in this case, the CRI second quarter newsletter! Check out the latest news and exciting happenings at our three locations!
You can also find our quarterly newsletter on our website under the "About Us" tab.
https://crind.org/about/newsletter/

📣 Meet Dustin!
He first came to CRI through the Chippewa Valley Correctional Treatment Facility's work release program. He worked with us for a few months as a project worker and was an exceptional employee.

Here is Dustin's story:
"I am 41 years old. I've struggled with an addiction to m**h on and off in my life since I was 19 years old. In and out of bars, playing in bands, and living a go with the flow lifestyle. It has cost me a lot of hardships and grief, and put me in prison 3 times.

While I was incarcerated, I was offered a job at CRI. Working with the clients, the friendly work environment, and the sense of accomplishment from doing som**hing good, made me want to to come back and work there after my release.

This last incarceration was a lot more impactful for me. It gave me more time to cut all the negative influences out of my life, and focus on the positive people who were supporting me. I have now been clean and sober for almost 3 years.

I returned to CRI after my release and applied for a production position. I was offered a warehouse assistant position and gladly accepted. I look forward to all the opportunities and experiences this new life I have built has to offer. I am thankful for the support I recieved from the CVTCF work release program and CRI. Both played important roles in mentoring me to become a successful member of the community."

Stories like Dustin's are exactly why CRI loves partnering with the Wisconsin Department of Corrections. We are honored to be part of his journey to a healthy and successful future. We're glad to have you back at CRI as our new Warehouse Assistant, Dustin!

Our CRI, Inc. team has been having fun on the course this week!

Thank you, Chippewa Falls Area Chamber of Commerce, Helpful Hearts Foundation, and ARC, for bringing organizations together and providing us with the opportunity to connect!

Honoring those who perished for our freedoms, today and always.

Please remember why we "celebrate" Memorial Day.

Meet Lauren!

Lauren spent the last few months working as an intern in our Services Department. She spent some of her time as a Job Coach at several different businesses in the community, helping CRI consumers learn and perform their daily job tasks. She kept the consumers engaged and focused on their jobs. Lauren was also an amazing help in Prevocational services. She was always willing to try new tasks with a positive attitude. She was very caring and helpful with the consumers. Thank you for your dedication and sharing your time with us. You will be missed!

A special parting note from Lauren:
In my quest for an internship opportunity, I opted for the Vocational Rehabilitation Mentor role at CRI. The organization's mission resonated strongly with my studies at UW-Stout, aligning closely with my academic pursuits. I saw an opportunity to apply my theoretical knowledge to practical scenarios. Furthermore, CRI's exemplary learning services for clients and consumers greatly impressed me, presenting a chance for substantial personal and professional growth within the company. I recognized the potential for significant learning and contribution regarding this job opportunity right off the bat, and that made it really stand out to me.

During my tenure at CRI, I found fulfillment in every aspect of my role. It's challenging to single out a particular highlight, but engaging in job coaching and administrative duties, such as shadowing a Case Manager, were among my favorites. Working closely with clients during coaching sessions was immensely rewarding, fostering meaningful connections and a deeper understanding of their needs. Moreover, immersing myself in office operations provided valuable insights into the interconnected roles and functions within an organization, enriching my professional experience. Ultimately, the clients were the heart of my journey at CRI, enriching my time with invaluable relationships and insights that I wouldn't have gained elsewhere.

After graduation, my envisioned career path closely mirrors my experience at CRI. Becoming a Case Manager aligns with my aspirations. Furthermore, I aim to advance professionally by pursuing a Master's degree in Substance Abuse Counseling or Rehabilitation Counseling. I perceive a multitude of opportunities awaiting me, and I'm committed to progressing steadily towards them, one step at a time.

We were curious about what Lauren likes to do with her time outside of work/school. When we asked her, she said:
"Outside of my academic and professional commitments, I enjoy many hobbies. They especially include getting outside and going on a nice walk in the park, spending quality time with friends and family, and attending sporting events - especially hockey and volleyball - when I can. I also really enjoy visiting Arizona as I have some family out there. Som**hing that most people would be surprised to know about me is that I love the cold! I don't mind when it's warm, but oftentimes it's too hot for me. My favorite season is winter. I love sledding and getting out in the snow when I can."

Thanks again for allowing CRI to be a part of your professional journey. We wish you the best in all your future endeavors!

May is Mental Health Awareness Month!
There are so many resources available that people don't know about. Please share with everyone you know. You never know who might need it!
https://time.com/6694472/mental-health-in-the-workplace/?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTAAAR1ZtLYRbtH39jtvpLFtzwsAU5zKqhm8BICzhwNm4BtZ8zRVrvuC5CF1iFY_aem_ATZByTinuNYLK0ra9rVb7lxwi_fRxaZR4WmwtX9YS6B10TgHDRYK2kNnNq8k1ptB93GJH3_a2oTrbYAekfpqQAQ_

Thank you to our sponsors and all of the attendees who made our 2nd annual Tossing High for CRI, Co****le Tournament a success! We were able to raffle off over 40 gift baskets and had 62 teams battle it out for prizes due to our community's generosity! Because of all of you we are able to continue our mission to empower and support individuals to achieve their highest level of independence in the community. Special thanks goes to Chippewa Valley Co****le and Loopy's Saloon, Grill & Event Dome for making this event possible. We are truly blessed to have the support of so many businesses and community members!

THANK YOU!

Thank you to everyone who came to support our event today! Our amazing sponsors, guests, players, staff at Loopy's and everyone in between!

Fun was had by all. More photos to come in the next few weeks!

We had a great time at the 36th Annual Special Olympics basketball team VS the Chippewa Falls Police Department game! It was a nail biter, but despite the cops using one of their time outs to refuel with donuts, the Olympians still managed to pull off a 48-46 win! This is the Adult Special Olympics fundraiser that keeps the program going! Thank you to all who attended and donated to this great event!

🤩Tune in Tuesday! 🧐 Who/What is CRI?!
Last week several members of our leadership team spoke at different events, sharing their knowledge and supporting other local businesses. Our CEO, Dave Lemanski was honored to speak on behalf of the Chippewa Falls Area Chamber of Commerce at Hidden Timber Soul Sanctuary's ribbon cutting ceremony. If you are looking for a unique yoga experience, check them out!

We also hosted our quarterly All Staff meeting at our main campus in Chippewa Falls. These meetings allow our leadership team to connect with all of our staff collectively and provide updates on how each department is doing, communicate organizational goals, and notify staff of any upcoming changes. We want to thank all of you for taking time to put these presentations together and share your knowledge and insight.

Pictured below: Perry Cloud, sharing enterprise/production updates and Jessie Eisenreich, providing hiring and policy updates from our Human Resources department. If you are interested in reading quarterly highlights on the exciting happenings here at CRI, check out our quarterly newsletter: https://crind.org/about/newsletter/

“I get to make a difference in lives everyday😊
I have worked many jobs in my life and nothing has been as rewarding as working at CRI.” ~Sharon, Services Director
Visit our website to apply: https://crind.org/employment-application/

“CRI is the absolute best place I have worked the staff is understanding and caring about not just the clients but those who work as Temps etc..... I am so happy that I work at CRI because I get to do meaningful work.” - Heather O., Project Worker
Apply here: https://crind.org/employment-application/

Team registration is now open for the 2nd Annual Tossing High for CRI Co****le Tournament hosted at Loopy's Saloon, Grill & Event Dome!

Register via the Scoreholio app!

Spots are limited, secure your spot today!

Division Payouts:
Competitive: 1st: $400 2nd: $200 3rd: $100
Social: 1st: $300 2nd: $150 3rd: $75

“CRI has been able to find me the part-time work I needed to fit my availability. I enjoy working for CRI because of the people. It's so rewarding to see their skills grow and the changes in a client's behavior as a result of some coaching tips/suggestions I've had.”
~Jeremy, Job Coach

We are currently looking for support in Stanley, Bloomer, Chippewa, and Eau Claire. Visit our website to learn more about what we do and why you should be part of our team! These positions have a base pay of $14/hr with a $100 bonus for every 100 hours you coach!

Our finance team spent some time at The Community Table, Eau Claire last Thursday. We enjoyed some team bonding while slicing fruits🍎 and veggies🥕 for lunch 🍽. Volunteering in our community is such a rewarding experience!