Havenwood Event Center
Monday–Tuesday, March 30–31, 2026
Showcasing business spotlights, presentations, conversations, and keynotes on AI ethics, entrepreneurship, workforce culture, housing, economic and community development, tourism, outdoor recreation, and more, the event will bring together thought leaders and innovators from across the region.
Monroe County Economic Development & Tourism Spring Conference
March 30-31, 2026 | Havenwood Event Center | Sparta, WI
Mark your calendars! The Monroe County Economic Development & Tourism Spring Conference is back March 30–31, 2026, at the beautiful Havenwood Event Center in Sparta, WI!
This two-day event will highlight businesses, keynote presentations, and in-depth sessions exploring the issues shaping communities across the region, including A.I. ethics, entrepreneurship, workforce culture, housing, economic & community development, tourism, and outdoor recreation.
While centered on Monroe County, the conference offers valuable insights and connections for leaders, businesses, and organizations across neighboring counties and cities looking to collaborate and share regional solutions.
It’s your chance to connect with regional leaders, innovators, and changemakers while gaining fresh insights into what’s driving growth across Monroe County and beyond.
Brand new this year! We’re excited to introduce Keynote Lunches as a new way to learn, connect, and recharge. Our tentative schedule will have sessions wrapping up by 3:30 PM on both days, making it easy to head home, pick up the kids, or get a jump on your week.
A full schedule will be released in early 2026, so stay tuned!
Follow the Monroe County Facebook page for updates and details on sponsorship opportunities.
Tickets
- 2-Day Ticket: $100 (Early Bird Ends March 2, 2026)
- Military/Veteran Ticket: $80 (Early Bird Ends March 2, 2026)
- Student: $50
Speaker Spotlight: Shobi Zietlow, Founder and Owner, RSS – Your Talent Partners
Shobi Zietlow is the Founder and Owner of RSS – Your Talent Partners, a locally owned staffing and recruiting firm serving Monroe County…
Speaker Spotlight: Errin Welty, Senior Downtown Development Director, Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation
Errin Welty is the Senior Director of Downtown Development at WEDC, working primarily with Main Street and Connect Communities which…
Presenters
More Presentors Coming Soon!
Cassie Mordini
Director
Wisconsin Office of Outdoor Recreation
Shobi Zietlow
Founder and Owner
RSS – Your Talent Partners
Stewart Eskew
Assistant Teaching Professor - Philosophy
UWL’s A.I. Ethics Certificate Program
Chris Hardie
CEO
7 Rivers Alliance
Cedric Schnitzler
Emcee & Host
Monroe County Board Chair
Kahya Fox
Executive Director
Habitat for Humanity of the Greater La Crosse Region
James Hanke
Vice President Wisconsin Community Support Program
CEDA
Sawyer Meisel
Regional Economist
Western Wisconsin at the Office of Economic Advisors
Rebecca Giroux
Community and Economic Development Officer
WHEDA (Wisconsin Housing and Economic Development Authority)
Sylvia Burgos Toftness
President
Wisconsin Agricultural Tourism Association
Claire Bakalars
Interim Director
Western Wisconsin Workforce Development Board
Errin Welty, CEcD, EDFP
Senior Downtown Development Director
Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation
Steven C. Deller
Professor & Community Economic Development Specialist
Department of Agricultural and Applied Economics within the UW-Madison & Division of Extension
Sheila Everhart
Executive Director
Wisconsin Agricultural Tourism Association
Business Spotlights & Representatives
Greg Zingler
Owner
Zingler Sign & Design
Melissa Revels
Owner
St. Mary’s Distillery
Brad Pfaff
Senator
Wisconsin 32nd District
Nancy VanderMeer
Representative
Wisconsin State Assembly
Jill Billings
Representative
Wisconsin State Assembly
Naming Sponsor
Platinum Sponsors
Gold Sponsors
Silver Sponsors
Contact
hello@exploremonroecounty.org
Address
124 N. Court St.
Sparta, WI 54656
Monroe County, WI
Get in touch
