The 2023 Marathon County Local Indicators for Excellence (LIFE) Report is a data-driven depiction about the quality of life in Marathon County. Powered by Marathon County Pulse, the 2023 LIFE Report exists exclusively online, providing the community an immersive experience in local data, community context, and story.
The purpose of the LIFE Report is to:
Acknowledge community Successes & Progress.
Identify community Calls to Action.
Serve as a catalyst for change by advancing community conversations and partnerships.
The 2023 LIFE Report is broken down into seven sections that encompass nearly every aspect of life in Marathon County.
Each section of the report was developed by a subcommittee comprised of local experts. These subcommittees examined and selected local data, developed narratives based on community context, and identified Calls to Action and Successes & Progress to be included in their respective section of the LIFE Report. In total, the seven subcommittees identified 18 Calls to Action and 33 Successes & Progress.
Through a facilitated prioritization process, the Community Advisory Committee and the LIFE Steering Committee selected the top Calls to Actionand Successes & Progressto be highlighted in the 2023 LIFE Report.
In order to assess important issues regarding the quality of life in Marathon County, the LIFE Steering Committee issued a survey to Marathon County residents in June of 2022. During June and July 2022, the Survey Research Center (SRC) from University of Wisconsin-River Falls collected data on behalf of the 2022 LIFE Report Survey. The 2022 survey mirrored similar surveys done in previous years.
The LIFE Executive Committee provides the overall project oversight, planning, and coordination of the LIFE Report subcommittees. The Executive Committee is responsible for developing and leading the administration of the LIFE Survey. The United Way of Marathon County has contracted with the University of Wisconsin - River Falls Survey Research Center since 2017 to conduct the LIFE survey.
Tara Draeger, Chair, Aspirus Health
Becky Turpin, Marshfield Clinic Health System
Jeff Sargent, United Way of Marathon County
Amanda Ostrowski, Marathon County Health Department
Laura Scudiere, Marathon County Health Department
Kerry Thieme, Marathon County Health Department
Aaron Ruff, Marathon County Health Department
LIFE Steering Committee
The LIFE Steering Committee is comprised of members of the Executive Committee, chairs and co-chairs from each of the seven subcommittees, and community leaders. The Steering Committee guides the work of the seven subcommittees and prioritizes the final Calls to Action and Successes & Progress for the LIFE Report.
Tara Draeger, Chair, Aspirus Health
Jeff Sargent, United Way of Marathon County
Diane Sennholz, North Central Community Action Program
Pam Anderson, Marathon County Housing & Homelessness Coalition
Mike Beck, U.S. Workstories
Melissa Walsh, CW Solutions
Dave Eckmann, Greater Wausau Chamber of Commerce
Laurie Miskimmins, Marathon County Conservation, Planning and Zoning Department
Leah Giordano, Marathon County Public Library
Kelly Kapitz, Marathon County Special Education
Jeff Lindell, DC Everest School District
Chad Billeb, Marathon County Sheriff’s Office
Ben Bliven, Wausau Police Department
Amanda Ostrowski, Marathon County Health Department
Laura Scudiere, Marathon County Health Department
Mike Rhea, Aging & Disability Resource Center
Kerry Thieme, Staff, Marathon County Health Department
Aaron Ruff, Staff, Marathon County Health Department
Community Advisory Committee
The Community Advisory Committee is comprised of community members to review the Calls to Action and Successes & Progresses and provide their recommendations to the LIFE Steering Committee for final prioritization.
Liz Brodek, City of Wausau
Tara Glodowski, Community Partners Campus
Ozalle Tom, University of Wisconsin - Stevens Point at Wausau
Kat Becker, Cattail Organics
Brittany Eilers, Spencer School District
Stephanie Daniels, Woodson YMCA
Heather Maves, Greenheck Group
Sean Wright, Grand Theater Wausau
Helen Pearson, St. Vincent de Paul of Wausau
Toufue Xiong, Hmong American Center
Basic Needs Subcommittee
Diane Sennholz, Co-Chair, North Central Community Action Program
Pam Anderson, Co-Chair, Marathon County Housing & Homelessness Coalition
Erin Wells, Aging & Disability Resource Center
Juli Birkenmeier, Community Development Authority
Maikou Yang, Marathon County Social Services
Mallory McGivern, The Neighbor's Place
Jessica Katcher, The Salvation Army
Melissa Walsh, CW Solutions
Kathy Kloes, Forward Service Corporation
Erin Gregoria, Catholic Charities
Mark Kananen, Formerly with The Wausau Warming Center
Kerry Thieme, Staff, Marathon County Health Department
Connected Subcommittee
Melissa Walsh, Co-Chair, CW Solutions
Mike Beck, Co-Chair, U.S. Workstories
Ilizah, The Women’s Community
AyLee Her, Bridge Community Health Clinic
Greg Seubert, Wausau Metro Ride
Katy Lang, The Grand Theater
Adam VanNoord, Ethiopian Community Development Council, Inc.
Randy Winter, People's State Bank
Yang Xiong, Sentry Insurance
Kerry Thieme, Staff, Marathon County Health Department
Economic Environment Subcommittee
David Eckmann, Chair, Greater Wausau Chamber of Commerce
Randy Fifrick, City of Wausau
Mitchell Rupp, Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development
Eric Sonnleitner, North Central WI Regional Planning Commission
Jenny Resch, University of Wisconsin - Stevens Point
Aaron Ruff, Staff, Marathon County Health Department
Education Subcommittee
Kelly Kapitz, Chair, Marathon County Special Education
Sarah Dillon, Northcentral Technical College
Rachele Johnson, Childcaring Inc.
Erin Jacobson, D.C. Everest School District
Audrey Wittry, Marathon County Special Education
Michael Endreas, Spencer School District
Kara Rakowski, Wausau School District
Aaron Ruff, Staff, Marathon County Health Department
Energy and Environment Subcommittee
Laurie Miskimmins, Chair, Marathon County Conservation, Planning, and Zoning Department
Kirstie Heidenreich, Marathon County Conservation, Planning, and Zoning Department
Jeff Prichard, Marathon County Conservation, Planning, and Zoning Department
David Hagenbucher, Marathon County Solid Waste Department
Meleesa Johnson, Marathon County Solid Waste Department
Dale Grosskurth, Marathon County Health Department
Kelly Zagrzebski, WEC Energy Group
Kerry Thieme, Staff, Marathon County Health Department
Health and Wellness Subcommittee
Amanda Ostrowski, Chair, Marathon County Health Department
Tara Draeger, Aspirus Health
Jennifer Smith, Bridge Community Health Clinic
Becky Turpin, Marshfield Clinic Health System
Corrie Norrbom, MD, Medical College of WI - Central WI
Laura Scudiere, Marathon County Health Department
Jeff Sargent, United Way of Marathon County
Kate Dively, Healthy Marathon County
Michael Rhea, Aging & Disability Resource Center of Central Wisconsin
Erin Wells, Aging & Disability Resource Center of Central Wisconsin
Sheng Khang, Hmong and Hispanic Communication Network (H2N)
Tony Gonzalez, Hmong and Hispanic Communication Network (H2N)
Kerry Thieme, Staff, Marathon County Health Department
Aaron Ruff, Staff, Marathon County Health Department
Safety Subcommittee
Chad Billeb, Chair, Marathon County Sheriff’s Office
Christa Jensen, Marathon County Social Services
Becky Bogen-Marek, Marathon County Social Services
Jane Graham Jennings, The Women’s Community
Ruth Heinzl, Marathon County District Attorney's Office
Aaron Ruff, Staff, Marathon County Health Department
